IX. That the Havens belonging to both Parties were to be free for either Men of War or Merchant-Men.
X. That the Netherlanders Trading in Portugal, might go Arm’d, take Houses and Store-houses.
XI. That the Goods laden in an Enemy’s Ship might be declar’d free Prize.
XII. That the Portuguese in Brasile should pay their Debts which they ow’d to the West-India Company, or any other Person or Persons; to which purpose three appointed Commissioners were to Sit at Lisbon, to hear and determine the Causes that should be brought before them, and without the usual Circumstances, pass their Sentence, which was to be Executed by a higher Power.
A few days after this Agreement was concluded, the Portuguese Ambassador, Henrico Sousa Tovares, went for Lisbon, where he arriv’d on the last day of September.
The States of Groningen and others, disapprove the Peace with Portugal, and condemn Schulenbergh.
Not onely Guelderland and Zealand, were much dissatisfi’d with this Agreement, but also Groningen accus’d their Deputy Schulenbergh, that contrary to Orders he had been too forward in concluding the Peace with Portugal, and that he had consented to that which the States of Groningen had not permitted him; for they resolv’d to make Peace on no other account, but that Portugal should pay the eighty Tun of Gold in ready Money, and that in a short time; whenas on the contrary, he had allow’d of the payment in Merchandise, and that in a long time. Wherefore the States of Groningen (who for this Fact and several Accusations brought against Schulenbergh, condemn’d him to be Beheaded, which Sentence had been Executed upon him, had he not made his Escape) together with those of Omeland, and others, who disapprov’d of the Peace concluded with Portugal, drew up many Reasons why they dissented, and look’d upon it as both dishonorable and disadvantageous; however, the Articles being Sign’d, and the States General, taking into consideration how impossible a Work it would have been to have gone about to renew a War with the Portuguese in Brasile, being at that time in firm possession of all, and that for the Interest of a few, in respect of the whole Common-wealth, they were forc’d to rest satisfi’d, and together with the West-India Company, to sit down with the loss of those Places in Brasile, which had cost so much Blood and Treasure to gain.
The West-India Companies Memorial deliver’d in to the States.
Nevertheless the West-India Company put in a Memorial at the Hague, of all that had been done them from time to time, wherein they themselves had been great Sufferers, and the Common-wealth very much advantag’d, as namely, That at first they put in a Stock of seventy four Tun of Gold, sent out divers Fleets under the Admirals Willekens, John Dirkszoon Lam, Boudewyn, Henrickszoon, Peter Hein, Adrian Pater, Henrick Lonk, Dirk Uitgeest, Peter Ita, Loos, Cornelis Houte-been, Lichthart, Bankert, and others, at several times, which had much weakned the Spanish Power, to the great advantage of the United Netherlands, because the Spaniard was not onely forc’d to disperce his Power to defend America, but also lost great Riches on the Coast thereof, which being the Sinews of his War, prevented him from oppressing that State; That to their loss they suffer’d their Forces to stop the Enemy, when he broke into the Veluwe, at that time when the United Netherlands seem’d to hang by a silken Thred; That it would probably have been the ruine of Holland, if the mighty Spanish Fleet which Engag’d with Martin Tromp in the Downs, had been assisted by sixty six Sail, which La Torre was forc’d to send to the Coast of Brasile, against the West-India Company; That this Companies Concern was so great a Nursery of Mariners in the Year 1629. that they had above a hundred Ships at Sea, and fifteen thousand Men in their Service; which the United Netherlands considering, and judging that Charge too great for the Company to maintain, had resolv’d to contribute a certain Sum towards it yearly, which had not yet been paid; which made them take up Money upon Interest, and put in a Supply of thirty Tun of Gold for the payment of the same; That the Expedition of Henrick Brewer to Chili had put them very much behind-hand, because the Enemy having notice of it, secur’d himself, yet was often terrifi’d with it; for Brewer having found out a Way to go from Reciffa to the Province of Chili in two Moneths, and accordingly to do great mischief to the Spanish Power, whose Riches lay bare all along the South Sea; this and many other things forc’d to make that honorable Peace with the Netherlands, concluded on in Munster, Anno 1648.; That their Losses, computed and deliver’d in to the States General, amounted to sixty six Tun of Gold, and forty three thousand two hundred and ninety Guilders, which forc’d them to take up Money to pay Interest for what they had before, yet that they still kept fifty great Ships at Sea, and were resolv’d to prosecute their Trade with fresh vigor, as soon as Satisfaction should be given from the Portuguese Crown, as was promis’d them in the Articles of Agreement, and they could obtain of their Lordships, to have their Patent prolong’d for a considerable time; That they were still indebted to those Orphans and Widows who furnish’d them with Money to set out their Forces, which in the first twelve years did the Spaniard so much hurt, that the Damage is reckon’d to amount to one thousand one hundred and eighty Tun of Gold.
These things being taken into consideration by the States General, they granted the Company their Request, and gave them a new Patent, by virtue of which they now Trade to Africa and the Caribbee-Islands, since they were forc’d to quit all they had possess’d in Brasile.