No. 1. Extracts from the proceedings of the provincial Estates of Holland, 1581. [Reprinted from U. S. Commission, Report, Vol. 2, pp. 3–8.] Whereas the Estates are informed that an experienced person from England, who has made five voyages to the Indies, has proposed and offered to the aforesaid Estates to undertake again a voyage to the Indies aforesaid in the name of the cities of Holland, on condition that the cities of Holland provide to this end three or four serviceable war-ships, and place on board certain experienced persons, it being understood that he promises that the persons aforesaid upon returning shall be landed here in Holland, and that the cities of Holland shall receive such profits as the Estates shall be able to agree upon with the Englishman aforesaid, and that, moreover, the aforesaid Englishman shall give bond here in Holland for the aforesaid ships: Therefore the Estates have appointed a committee of one deputy of Amsterdam, one of Rotterdam, one of Enkhuizen, together with the Advocate, who shall fully confer with the aforesaid Englishman upon every detail, make a written draft of the conditions, and report the whole to the Estates. The Estates of Holland, having heard the further report of their committee as to their proceedings and the conference which they have held with Captain Butz, the Englishman, concerning the voyage which might be undertaken to the islands situated near the lands of Peru, to which the aforesaid Englishman had already made five voyages, and that in order to undertake this voyage with good security and with the greatest benefit to the State four war-ships should be employed and fitted out therefor, to wit, two ships of three hundred tons and more up to four hundred tons, each ship to be manned with one hundred and fifty men, and, moreover, two yachts, each yacht manned with eighty men, each ship to be provided with provisions for ten months, except meat, of which provision for three months would be enough, besides the ammunition required, the cost of which, besides the ships themselves, would amount to about forty thou 1 Note by Prof. Burr.-The name which appears here alternately as "Butz" and "Batz" was possibly the English "Butts." Nothing else has been learned of the man. Berg van Dussen Muilkerk suggests that he may be a certain Thomas Butts, of whom we know, through Hakluyt, that as a boy he was in the expedition to Newfoundland in 1536-a son of Sir William Butts, the royal physician. No. 1. sand pounds of forty groats provided that the war-ships here at Amsterdam and the great ship of about four hundred tons lying at Hoorn were employed therefor, in addition to which the crews shall be paid one month's wages to equip themselves for going to sea, on condition that upon their return the amount shall be deducted from their profits: Therefore the Estates, considering the importance of this matter, and that through the cutting off of navigation to Spain and Portugal it has become necessary that other trade routes be opened up, made known, and put to use, in order to keep the sailors employed at their trade; considering, also, that thereby great profits might come to these States, and that, moreover, certain public-spirited persons will at their own risk furnish the provisions required for the aforesaid war-ships; and, as for the profits which might result, that one-third thereof is to go to the ships, one-third toward the provisions and ammunition, and one-third to the commanders and crews, provided that they serve under the orders of the Stadhouder, and trusty persons be put in command, whereto, among others, Admiral Duvenvoorde offers his services, and whereto the aforesaid Englishman will also place himself at disposal with ships equipped at his own expense: Therefore the Estates, each in its own session, have taken a minute thereof, to make known their answer in the first meeting of the Estates at The Hague, and each by itself will take into consideration the declaration of the Englishman aforesaid, that in no case, or with the aforesaid ships, shall prizes be permitted to be taken from the enemy at sea, yet that on certain islands known to him, and which he shall be at liberty to visit, such quantities of sugar, hides, and other things may be obtained and laden, that therewith, above the expenses, good profits may be made. Regarding the point on the agenda concerning the voyage to the islands of India, which was to be undertaken by Captain Batz, the Englishman: The deputies of the nobility, and of Dordrecht, Haarlem, Delft, Gouda, and Gorinchem gave verdict that in furtherance of this voyage, and to the end that this voyage and travel to the aforesaid islands may become known in Holland also, and made use of, too, to the profit of the State, in case the navigation to Spain and Portugal remain closed, two or three wellappointed ships shall follow the aforesaid Englishman, provided he furnish sufficient bond that he will bring back the ships or their value, and that on returning he shall land with these ships here in Holland, in order that the State at large may also enjoy some of the profits thereof. The deputies of Leyden refused it, both in view of the great straits and lack of money, and of the fact that the warships may be needed. Those of Amsterdam submit that this should be done, not at the expense of the State, but of the merchants in private, in order to avoid all blame, these merchants to be |