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A26328
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A brief relation of the surprizing several English merchants goods by Dvtch men of warre their carrying them into Zealand and there condemning them for prize upon no other force or account but that they were English mens / by Edward Adams.
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Adams, Edward.
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1664
(1664)
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Wing A477; ESTC R27092
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10,081
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15
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They seemed to be very glad to receive a Letter from his Majesty of Great Britain being the first they ever had from him at least since his happy Return to his Kingdoms But refused to return answer at least by me telling me it was not their custome to Write to any Prince without the Order of the States Generall or at least first making them accquainted therewith But their resolution was recorded of which they ordered me a Copie the Translation whereof is as followeth Extract out of the notes or resolutions of the Honourable States of Zealand The 2d of August 1660. BY which being deliberated upon the Contents of a Letter from the Kings Majesty of Great Britaine writ in favour of some Merchants of London who pretend that several Merchandizes laden for their particular Accounts aboard the Golden Sun whereof was Master Nicholas le Breton and taken at Sea by private Commissions of this Province and brought to Flushing Is resolved that the aforesaid Owners or Interessed shall addresse themselves to the Lords of the Court of Admiralty residing here with full assurance That in this cause of reclaiming and following of their Goods they shall receive all possible expedition and just Judgement Agreeth with the above mentioned notes or resolutions Peter de Huybert This Answer or resolution was an invitation or introduction to a Law-Suit which I was very much averse from entring into well knowing what bad success some of our Country men had had by such like proceeding in Zealand neither could I obtain a resolution or Order that in case of making due proof of the Propertie I should have the English Interest cleared and restored to me But several Merchants and other Persons as well Natives as others residing in Zealand men that were not concerned with the Capers but rather abhorrers of their proceedings and some such are there though many are interessed with them with whom I happened to have discourse understanding my case were of opinion that would consequently follow and the rather because his Majestie of Great Brittaine appeared in the business and the Goods being then in esse and intire therefore they incouraged me to proceed according to the States answer or resolution however I was resolved first to advise with my friends in England and being in my return a passenger with me in the Packet Boat one Vandersteen a Native of Zealand but had a pretence to some Lands in Ireland of his own accord hearing my name and knowing somewhat of my businesse in Zealand told me undoubtedly I should have good successe therein for that the States of Zealand in a Letter they had written in his behalf to his Majesty of England took notice thereof That part whereof that concerned me I got copy of and translated is as followeth The Lords States of Zealand have upon the recommendation of his Majestie of great Britain very earnestly recommended the cause of Edward Adams Abraham Jacob Robert Carre and other Merchants to the Lords of the Admiralty in Zealand residing at Midleburg That to the said Cause should be given a short and prompt expedition of Justice with the which the interessed friends shall be assured of due satisfaction as in Justice and Equity shall be found to be due Done in the presence of John Ed. M. 7. August 1660 new stile This and the Resolution also proved in the End but a decoy and delusion to entice and drill us into further Mischief and inconvenience for the manner of the Zealanders is to get what they can into their power and then seek and cast about for arguments and specious pretences to palliate the detaining it and seldom or never do they part with any thing though ever so unjustly taken unlesse compelled thereto Upon conference and advising with friends here in England 't was thought fit we should Prosecute our Claimes in the Admiralty of Zealand according to the States direction and chiefely for this reason That we could not have any great cause of complaint or make out an aggrievance whereupon to beg relief from his sacred Majesty our gratious Soveraign till we were denyed Justice there it not being known but that they would decree to us our Goods with damages and withal being informed that the Lords of the Admiralty could if they pleased in short time bring the cause to sentence their custome being to sit in Court 3. days in a week I therefore gave order for proceeding with a Claime before them in the names of my several friends interessed And for proof of their property did referre to the Evidence in the possession of the Capers as the Commanders Book the Bills of lading Invoices and Letters of Advice of which they had second and third Via's also and my friends as yet none at all for it happen'd that a few days after viz. on the 27. or 28. May old stile the three remaining Capers or Men of War near the place where the 4. surpriz'd the Golden-Sun met with the ship Experience of London Commanded by one John Kingsman coming from the Port of Bahia in Brazil whom they also surprized aboard which ship my friends aforenamed had Goods likewise to the value of 1200 l. ster and upwards and in her company took 2. Portuguesse Vessells that came from the Rio de Janeiro the same Port whence the Golden Sun was laden and in them 2d and 3d. avizo's of what had been laden for account of each particular person respectively aboard the said ship Which by command of the Lords of the Admiralty being brought before them into Court there appeared there were consigned unto them aboard the said ship for their own accompts 271. Chests and 11. Fechos Sugars all except some few whites 〈…〉 worth 5000 l. ster which was afterward confirmed and made out by such like Evidence which came to my friends own hands from Brazill When I began to follow my Claim I soon found the Adverse parties that appeared against me were very great and powerfull persons in Zealand viz. besides the Commanders of the Men of War who had alliance strong enough there the whole West-India Company of the Netherlands as Granters of the Commissions Everard Gyselinck who was at the same time Burgo Master for Flushing and consequently one of the States of Zealand Jacob Van Hoorne Everson of Flushing and several other considerable persons as Owners setters out of the men of War And the Capers of Flushing are esteemed men of such desperate inclinations and so impatient of being demanded to give account of or restore ought they have any way got into their power that hardly could I get any One to follow in my absence my Claime against them And there was a whispering of a suspition went up and down the world as well in Zealand as other parts That the Lords of the Admiralty themselves were concerned as well as other great men of that Country in setting out men of War Whether they are so concern'd or not I will not say