Herewith, Honorable, Upright, Wise, Most Prudent, we commend you to the protection of Almighty God, and remain, Your good friends, I. The Plenipotentiaries shall, in their negotiation, take for a general basis and chief foundation of the proposed Treaty, the alternative offer, here before repeatedly made to the King of Great Britain, and laid down in writing in the despatch written on the sixteenth of September of last year by their High Mightinesses to his Majesty, namely: That it be left to His Majesty's choice to make peace by a reciprocal restitution on both sides of what is seized by force of arms or detained from the other, either before or after the commencement of the war; or else that the one party retain what it hath taken by force of arms or otherwise seized from the other, as well before as after the commencement of the war. 1 Gerard van ReeDE, Lord of Nederhorst, Kortehoef, Vredeland, Overmeer, Horstweert, was son of Godard van Reede, Plenipotentiary at the peace of Munster, and Emerentia Oom van Wyndgaarden. He was proprietor of a Colonie in New Netherland extending along the west side of the Hudson river from about Caldwell, Rockland county, New-York, to near Hoboken, New Jersey. It never was improved nor settled, owing to the opposition of the Indians. M. van Nederhorst was twice married: first, in 1649, to Anna Elizabeth van Lokhorst tot Zuilen; secondly, in 1657, to his Niece, Agnes van Reede tot Drakestein. He died in the year 1670. Kok, XXIV., 114. - ED. - JOHN VAN REEDE, Lord of Renswoude, uncle of Gerard van Reede, Lord of Nederhorst abovementioned, was born about the year 1590. He purchased the Lordship of Renswoude in 1623, whereby he became a member of the States of Utrecht. In 1644 he was sent Ambassador to England, and the following year created a Baron by King Charles I. Besides this, he filled the office of Ambassador to Denmark. In 1652 he was President of the States of Utrecht, and resigned all his offices in the year 1671. He was, notwithstanding, again appointed President in 1674, and died in February, 1682. Ib., 117. II. Said Plenipotentiaries are especially recommended to promote the interests of the State in the Carribbean Islands and the countries thereabout, and, indeed, generally in regard to the Islands and Colonies which will be freed from the power and oppression of the English by the French auxiliary arms, to further the restitution thereof, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' resolution of the third of March last, if, by any unforeseen accident, such Island and Colonies still be out of the occupation and power of this State. And if other Islands and Colonies which the French have taken directly from the English, should, by the intended Treaty between France and England, remain and be left to the French, they, the Plenipotentiaries, shall make use of and perform all good offices and efforts, to the end that the King of France may be disposed to cede some of them to the State on reasonable and fair terms, in regard that his Majesty, in such case, remain sole possessor and proprietor thereof for an equivalent or more which this State relinquishes, namely New Netherland and other Islands and Colonies taken by the English from the abovementioned State; but, in case the King of France should, for any unexpected reason, not be disposed thereto, they shall stipulate and agree in the best form for free trade and commerce to the aforesaid Islands for the inhabitants of these United Provinces, and if France should resolve to cede the aforesaid Islands by Treaty to England, they, the Plenipotentiaries, in like manner, shall duly endeavor that such shall not result otherwise than to the preservation of free trade and commerce thereto for the inhabitants of the Allies, to wit, France, Denmark and this State. Folio 142. Zealand. Utrecht. Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of Resolutions of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] Friday, 5th August, 1667. The Deputies for the Provinces of Zealand and Utrecht, have, for reasons applicable thereto, urged in the Assembly that no Mandamus of appeal from the judgments pronounced by the officers of the West India Company here, within the limits of its Charter, should be granted by their High Mightinesses nor any appeal lie from said judgments to any Provincial Court in this country, but that all relating hereunto be left to the disposition of the aforesaid Charter; and, furthermore, that the Mandamus of appeal be rescinded which the late Mr. Henrick van der Capelle tho Ryssel1 obtained from their High Mightinesses on the 10th of April, 1653, against a judgment pronounced to his prejudice in New Netherland. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that the papers relating to the aforesaid subject, delivered in by the said Deputies, shall be placed in the hands of Mess" Van den Steen and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company of this country, to inspect, examine and report thereon. 1 HENDRIK VAN DER CAPELLE, Lord of Ryssel and Esfelt, son of Gerlach van der Capelle, had been Burgomaster at Zutphen in 1620, and was inscribed among the Nobles of the Duchy of Cleves in 1631. He had been frequently deputed to the States-General, of which body he was an influential member, and by which he was sent Minister to Brandenburg in 1648, and to Munster in 1657. M. van der Capelle was proprietor of a Colonie on Staten Island, which was cut off by the Indians in 1655, and during his lifetime took great interest in promoting the settlement of New Netherland. He died, unmarried, in the year 1659, and was buried at Zutphen, in Gelderland. Kok, IX., 123. — ED. Sir. Great Victory obtained in the Virginias. [From a Broad-sheet in the possession of James Lenox, Esq., New-York. } We, in Zealand here, received a galiot from the Virginias which brings us these good tidings, that Cornelis Evertz, of Zealand, hath burnt many ships and houses in the Virginias and committed great damage there, to the great loss of the English. Said Commander hath caused much damage in the Virginias by burning ships. A Barbadoes trader was also lying in Zealand which was brought in by Andries Meesters. Commissary Bourse to the States-General. [From the Register of Ingekomen Brieven, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] High and Mighty Lords. Folio 786. Information. Commander Crynssen arrived here to-day with the men-of-war under his command; we understand from him that, after the battle with the French against the English near Nieves, said Commander Crynssens sailed to the Virginias, where he fell so unexpectedly, in James river, on six and twenty English vessels, most of them having full cargoes, and one of which was a man-of-war, carrying forty-six guns, as to capture them all, without one escaping; but, being unable to man all of them, he set on fire or scuttled the major part of them, bringing with him now eleven ships with full cargoes of Virginia Tobacco, so that they cannot expect any Virginia fleet in England this year, as it has arrived safe here in Zealand. Herewith, Flushing, 25th of August, 1667. High and Mighty Lords, &c. A. BOURSE. Folio 158. Commissary Bourse. sens. Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of West India Affairs, 1664-1670, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Tuesday, 30th of August, 1667. Received a letter from Commissary Bourse, written at Flushing the 25th inst., Commander Cryns- stating, among other things, that Commander Crynssens had arrived there on the same day, who had informed him that, after the battle with the French against the English near Nieves, he had sailed to the Virginias, and in James river there had Capture of English fallen so unexpectedly on six and twenty English vessels, most of them having full cargoes, and one of which was a man-of-war, carrying forty-six guns, as to capture them all without one escaping; but, being unable to man all of them, he set on fire ships in the Virgi nius. or scuttled the most of them, bringing with him eleven ships with full cargoes of Virginia tobacco. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded to transmit the same to the Board of Admiralty in Zealand, that it may communicate to their High Mightinesses, at the earliest moment, pertinent information of the whole state of the aforesaid matter, and a list of the ships and of their cargoes captured by the abovenamed Commander Crynssen with the public force, in order that the same may be used here as is proper. Folio 234. States-General to the Zealand Board of Admiralty. [From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States-General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] Honorable, &c. Commissary Bourse hath informed us, by his letter written at Flushing the 25th instant, that Commander Crynssens had arrived there on the same day, from whom he had understood that, after the battle with the French against the English, near Nieves, he had sailed to the Virginias, and in James river there had fallen so suddenly on six and twenty English vessels, most of them having full cargoes, and one of which was a man-of-war, carrying 46 guns, as to capture the whole without one escaping; but, being unable to man them all, he set on fire or scuttled the most of them, bringing with him eleven ships with full cargoes of Virginia tobacco. Wherefore we have resolved to request and earnestly to require you hereby to transmit to us, at the earliest moment, pertinent information of the entire state of the aforesaid case, together with a specific list of the ships and cargoes captured by the aforesaid Commander Crynsen with the National force, in order to make use of the same as may be found proper. Wherewith ending, etc. The Hague, the 30th August, 1667. Folio 158. Resolution of the States-General. [From the Register of West India Affairs, 1664-1670, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] Saturday, 1 October, 1667. Mr. Heuygens and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for Naval Affairs, pursuant to the Resolution of the 29th September last, examined the despatch from the Board of Admiralty in Zealand, written at Middelburgh the 26th of that month, Reported to the effect that the English having, in the last of the year 1664, without any Proclamation of war, caused a great number of merchantmen belonging to this country to be captured and detained, their High Mightinesses, by reason of so grievous a surprise, did, on the 17th January, 1665, issue a Proclamation declaring that to the inhabitants of this country should be reserved the right to claim the abovenamed ships at all times and wheresoever they may be able to enforce it, in order to obtain the benefit thereof as old right owners. And as Commander Commander Cryn tion. Ships taken by Abraham Crynsen hath captured, with his squadron in the Virginias, and brought sen in the Virginias. here divers ships, some of them were claimed by inhabitants of this country, who pretended, by virtue oft he abovementioned Proclamation, that the right of Vindication belonged Right of Vindica- to them; therefore, the said Board of Admiralty could not forbear submitting to their High Mightinesses the following Points: First, In favor of what ships ought the aforesaid right to claim be exercised; of those only which put into a harbor in England, in distress, or passing the English coasts without apprehending any hostility, were taken and captured- or should the aforesaid right be construed in favor of those who, well aware of English hostilities, nevertheless were taken, but before war had been solemnly proclaimed in England against this State; and at what time was Proclamation made according to which the right to claim should be understood to cease? Secondly; did the aforesaid right appertain to the inhabitants of this country even against National ships which they might have captured, or did their High Mightinesses' intention include only those who might purchase such ships and seek profit through the loss of the inhabitants of this State, in order thus to deter every one from the purchase of such ships and by that means to frustrate the English, as much as possible, from the profits? And in case 'twas to be understood that the property of such ships should remain reserved to the inhabitants of this State, whether the captors thereof ought not to receive special salvage, the rather as the above named ships, after having been confiscated and sold in England were first retaken and liberated after such a long lapse of time? Lastly; as the time for claiming was not limited in the aforesaid placard, whether such claim has not been occluded by the treaty of peace and the cessation of hostilities. Requesting, therefore, early communication of their High Mightinesses' resolution and decision on all the aforesaid, in order to regulate themselves accordingly; which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded that letters be sent to all the Boards of Admiralty, to communicate, as soon as possible, to their High Mightinesses their opinions and advice on the aforesaid subject. Folio 159. Admiralty in Zealand. Resolution of the States-General. [ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1664-1670, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] Wednesday, 12th October, 1667. On consideration, it is resolved and concluded that the Board of Admiralty in Zealand be written to, to communicate to their High Mightinesses, forthwith and without any further delay, pursuant to their despatch of the 30th of August last, full and circumstantial information respecting Commander Crynssens' recent expedition mander Crynssens. in the Virginias with the National ships; also, to transmit their High Mightinesses a correct list of the English ships and their cargoes captured by the abovenamed Commander Crynssens with the National force. Expedition of Com |