States General of the United Netherlands

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”