States General of the United Netherlands

“ Therefore, being in every way willing to favor the aforesaid West India Company, we have after mature deliberation and with full knowledge of circumstances granted, and hereby do grant, that the aforesaid amplification, for the purpose aforesaid, be confirmed and ratified under our great seal. ”

“ Article XLIV The directors of this Company shall solemnly promise and swear that they will act well and faithfully in their administration and render good and just accounts of their transactions; that they will in all things consult the greatest profit of the Company and, as much as possible, prevent its meeting with losses; that they will not give the greatest participant any greater advantage in the payments or distribution of money than the least; that, in collecting and receiving outstanding debts, they will not excuse one more than another ”

“ Article XVIII That so often as it shall be necessary to have a general Assembly of the aforesaid Chambers, it shall be by Nineteen persons, of whom eight shall come from the Chamber of Amsterdam, four from Zealand, two from the Maze, two from the Noorderquartier, two from Friesland and Stadt ende Landen; provided, that the nineteenth person, or so many more as we shall at any time think fit, shall be deputed by us for the purpose of helping to direct the affairs of the Company in the aforesaid Assembly. ”

“ Moreover, we agreed and consented that the cities in which there are no Chambers, upon advancing out of their funds one hundred thousand guilders or more, on proper nomination by the chief participants and for each hundred thousand guilders might appoint a director in whatever Chamber they should think proper to invest their money. ”

“ And in order that no one may pretend ignorance hereof, we request and summon all authorities, magistrates and officers of justice within these United Netherlands, whom it may in any wise concern, to have this amplification proclaimed, promulgated and made public wherever it is customary to have such proclamation and promulgation made ”

“ Article XXXIX We have, moreover, promised, and do promise, that we will maintain and defend this Company against every person in [their rights of] free navigation and trade, and to that end will assist them with a sum of ten hundred thousand guilders, to be paid in five years, whereof the first two hundred thousand guilders shall be paid them when the first payment shall be made by the participants; provided, that we, with half the aforesaid ten hundred thousand guilders, shall receive and bear profit and risk in the same manner as the other participants of this Company. ”

“ Wherefore we expressly charge and command all governors, justiciaries, officers, magistrates and inhabitants of these United Netherlands to permit and suffer the Company and its directors to enjoy quietly and peaceably all the benefits of this charter, license and privilege, ceasing all opposition and obstruction to it. ”

“ And with respect to the other two provisions, we further declared that, by virtue of the thirteenth article of the aforesaid charter, Holland and West Friesland, and likewise all the other provinces, shall be free as formerly to cause the nomination of directors to be made in the manner which is for the best interest and advancement of the Company. ”

“ Article XXII The directors who by commission of the Company shall go from home to attend the aforesaid Assembly or otherwise, shall have for their expenses and daily allowance four guilders a day, besides boat and stage fare; it being understood that those who go from one city to another to attend the meetings of the Chambers as directors and managers shall receive no allowance or traveling expenses at the charge of the Company. ”

“ Article XXXVI That the persons or goods of the directors shall not be arrested, attached or encumbered in order to obtain from them an account of the administration of the Company nor for the payment of the salaries or wages of those whom they have employed in the service of the Company; but those who wish to make any such demands upon them must bring the matter before the ordinary judges. ”

“ Therefore we (our former proclamation of the ninth of June remaining in full force) have also interdicted and forbidden, and by these presents do interdict and forbid, the natives and inhabitants of this country, during the term of the aforesaid twenty-four years, to sail out of these Netherlands, as also out of any other kingdom or country, directly or indirectly, in the said salt trade to Punto del Rey, except in the name and on behalf of this Company ”

“ Article XVI That every six years a general accounting shall be made of all outfits and returns, as also of all gains and losses of the Company, to wit, one relating to trade and one relating to war, each separate ”

“ As a matter of fact, no such omission occurs, for the word stellen which appears further down in connection with the words deporterm ende af stellen, refers back to governors, troops and officers of justice.↑ Convoyen; import and export duties levied in 1572 by the province of Holland and after 1577 by the States General for the support of the navy and which entitled merchantmen sailing in company to protection by war vessels.↑ Licenten ”