A REMONSTRANCE OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE NETHERLANDS East India Company presented to the Lords States Generall of the vnited Provinces in defence of the said Companie touching the bloudy proceedings against the English Merchants executed at Amboyna TOGETHER With the Acts of the Processe against the sayd ENGLISH AND The Reply of the English East India Company to the said Remonstrance and Defence Published by Authority Printed at London by Iohn Dawson for the East India Company 163◠¶ To the Reader Gentle Reader THe Remonstrance of the Netherlands East India Company hereafter in the first place following was by the same Company presented to the Lord States Generall of the vnited Provinces in November Anno 1624. for Answere of the Relation of the English East India Company touching the vnjust cruell and barbarous proceeding against the English at Amboyna and for justification of that infamous processe the Coppie of which Remonstrance being imparted to the sayd English Company they forth with writ the subsequent Reply and sent the same to be presented to the said Lords States Generall for a counter-poyson a-against the said Remonstrance At that time the English Company intended not to have publisht it in Print thereby to make so many Iudges of the cause as now they must but vpon faire hope then given them out of the Netherlands trusted by the justice of the Lords States Generall joyned with that of their owne Soveraigne to obtaine an issue of this cause according to the merits thereof But the Ambassadour of the said Lords States being here in England in Iune 1625. and moved by his Majestie for satisfaction for the lives of his subjects that were so treacherously but chered by theirs at Amboyna as also for restitution of their goods so made forfeit and recompence for the damage of the English Company by this and other actions vsed such excuse and cullor as it seemeth out of the ground of this Remonstrance which after many provisionall disputes finally concludeth for delay of tryall that at the last in September the same yeare they obtained of his Majestie a respit of 18. moneths for the calling home of the Governour Harman van Speult and the rest of the Iudges in the sayd bloudy processe from out of the Indies to answere the matter here themselues and for satisfaction of all the other Complaints of the English Company To whom although this respit was irkesome having already borne so long delay in a cause of such impatient nature as also having a suspition of the sinister intent of the Dutch Companie in this new respit neverthelesse considering that this was a favour craved by the said Lords States in their first Ambassage to his Majestie and their very congratulations of his happy successe to his rightfull Crownes they held it their duty to conforme themselues to his Majesties grace herein As also the same English Company having confidence in the sincere dealing of the Lords States Generall whose Letter of the 31. of December 1624. for calling home of the sayd bloudy Governour and others was committed to their conveyance and by them sent into the Indies hoped that their remedy though slow and long would yet at last be sure and serious and so they put on a new patience and expectation of some issue of this likely course But having waited out this respit which expired some years now past they finde all things fall out contrary to their hope so grounded vpon the Lords States promise and Letter but altogether verifying their suspition of the drift of the Netherlands Company before mentioned For the said Letter of the Lords States being by the English President at Iacatra safely delivered to Carpentier Governour Generall of the Dutch in the Indies he when Harman van Speult the late Governour of Amboyna and head of the bloudy treachery against the English there arrived at Iacatra received him with great honour yea with triumph and instead of sending him for Europe to answere the complaints of the English according to the direction and commandments of the Lords States by their sayd Letter made him cheife Commander of a fleete of ships sent from thence to Surat and other Northerne parts of the Indies The English President and Councell at Iacatra in vaine protesting here-against and vrging his remission to Europe in consequence of the Letter of the Lords States aforesayd Neither haue the Officers of the sayd Netherlands Company in the Indies in all that respit of 18 moneths nor in all the time since made any restitution or reparation to the English as was promised and pretended nor any preparation thereunto but rather haue added new grievances So that it now plainely appeareth that the sayd Netherlands East India Company in their earnest suite to the Lords States to procure his Majestie to giue respit for the due tryall of the cause of Amboyna inserted in the latter end of this ensuing Remonstrance intended nothing lesse then such a true tryall but a cooling and blunting of the edge and zeale of the English Company in pursuing of their due remedies hoping as it is in the fable of him that vndertooke to teach the Asse to speake that in long delay and respit of time something might happen vtterly to elude and frustrate the reall performance In the meane time besides the goods of the English that they detaine they enioy the whole trade of the Mulluccoes Banda and Amboyna the true though wretched motive of their abhominable processe against the Innocents and haue raised the Nutmegs Maces Cloues being by this meanes solely in their owne hands to more then double the price of that they were at in these parts when the English had their share in them Whereby it appeareth how sincerely this following Remonstrance slighteth this matter as a poore end though it so much enrich the Dutch Company as likewise how much not onely the whole Realme of ENGLAND but even all the Kingdomes and Common wealths in Europe that are thus served with those Spices at such high rates are interessed in this cause And yet besides all the premises the English Company finde another and more proper cause of their recourse to the presse at this present otherwise for all the rest they could perhaps attend other remedies But they finde that in this Interim of the cause and motives whereof the world could take no notice many not onely of the Dutch but English also begin to conceiue worse of the English cause presuming that if it had beene such as the discourses formerly published in this argument imported they thinke certainely ere this to haue heard of some exemplary punishment vpon so execrable a fact or at least of some serious preparation thereunto In particuler the English Company vnderstand that some of the bloudy Colledge of Iudges being returned into the Low Countries and living free and well countenanced there have of late vpon confidence as it seemes of the effectuall working of their elusory Artifice craked and vaunted that they will
justifie their processe of Amboyna even to the face of his Majestie which are their owne facing words although the same parties at their first arivall in Holland kept themselues close and were not â—owne where to be found when the Ministers of this state sought after them Which bold face being put vpon this bad matter hath so farre countenanced the same as that some of our owne Nation there allied to the Dutch â—â—ue in private stept vp in defence of the sayd barbarous butchery and seeme at least to thinke the matter aggravated above the true desert Wherefore least the poore innocent English that haue already suffered so many and so grievous â—â—rtures and afterwards a reproachfull death should now â—â—aine after death suffer in their good names also which is or ought to be dearer then life it selfe least also the English East India Company that haue likewise suffered too many indignities and such damages from the Dutch should seeme to haue made a great cry without as just a cause They now finde it high time to vindicate their owne reputation and the fame of their innocent servants and Country-men by accquainting the world with the true state of the businesse as also to defend and maintaine their former true relation from the exceptions taken against it by 〈◊〉 following Remonstrance of the Dutch And because the Acts of the processe of Amboyna are often mentioned as well in this Remonstrance as in the Reply therevnto the same also are inserted betweene both to cleare the relatiue passages on both parts ⸪ A REMONSTRANCE of the Bewinthebbers or Directors of the Netherlands East India Company lately exhibited to the Lords States Generall in iustification of the proceedings of their Officers at Amboyna against the English there Translated out of French High and mighty Lords THE Directors of the vnited Company and Society of the East-Indies did in the moneth of Iuly past present vnto your Honours a Deduction concerning that which was past in the Prouince of Amboyna and of the execution there made in March 1623 with a prouisionall answer of the Obiections which then were made and knowne against it But where this Cause by that meanes could not be ended and for as much as daily there are found spred abroad great Bruits against that which is mentioned in the Deduction aforesaid therefore the said Directors in regard of their charge and office as also for the defence of their Seruants so farre as reason permitteth and not to be thought destitute and naked of good defence yea that they may not leaue the matter for condemned as diuers haue spred abroad and gladly would make the world beleeue cannot forbeare to make after due reuerence this more particular Instruction in forme of Remonstrance vnto your Honors In the first place then the Directors doe yet persist in their said Deduction because the same may serue to giue light to the whole cause And considering the waighty and infallible Inditia and euidence that preceded this discouery of the Treason of certaine English yea the same being notorious as also the proceedings which haue legally and according to Law passed against the Confederates as appeareth by the Iudiciall Acts signed as well by those which were examined as by the Councell of Amboyna which is a Colledge admitted and sworne and against which no proofe much lesse any vaine and friuolous suspition should bee admitted They the Directors absolutely beleeue so long as they see no more to the contrary that the said English Conspirators and other Confederates which were in our seruice were well apprehended and the fact in our opinions so well proued according to Law and the vse custome in such case obserued the proceedings haue been leg all in pursuir therof the punishment which they haue sustained was inflicted according to the common Law with good moderation of the rigour of Iustice with clemency Notwithstanding there haue beene many Writings and Deductions as the Directors vntill this time perceiue and discouer sowed and spred against this cause as well in England as in these parts among which for as much as we know the first is a summary of Newes out of Letters dated the 10 of Iune 1623 written by the English Factors at Batauia which immediately will be iudged by euery one who neuer so little and superficially shall reade the same to be full of passion contrary to the Truth and without any proofe For first the proceeding by the Iustice at Amboyna vpon the Confederates there is blamed therein and by preiudication called an vniust Murder wicked and barbarous the fashion and manner of the racke or torture likewise described and exaggerated with great vehemency and passion And also it is not true that therein is said that the other Indians besides the English confederates in the fact were Seruants of the English Company whereas it appeareth otherwise to wit that the Indian confederates were Seruants of the Dutch Company as is well knowne to be true and yet this writing hath taken great place amongst great and small and hath beene showed as a patterne or modell whereupon the other griefes haue beene formed against the said Iustice of Amboyna Vpon which incontinently followed a more large and ample Writing called The true Relation of the cruell and barbarous torture and execution committed by the Flemings vpon the English in Amboyna In the Introduction whereof proceedeth impertinently a description of Amboyna and of the Garison and force of the Dutch in the same place and this onely to the end as appeareth to show thereby that there is no appearance that the English should consult of the taking of the said place as a thing impossible As if by reason of the small vnderstanding and simple foundation which the Conspirators had to put their designe in execution and in effect omitting all other accusations they had not in any kind merited and deserued any punishment the contrary whereof appeareth to be practised daily in the like crimes And to cite this presumption vnto the annihilating of a truth so notorious and proued and against the proper confessions of the executed and other Confederates against the conscience and testimony of so many honest men and of credit which haue beene imployed in the cause and against a Colledge of Iudges publicke and sworne this cannot in any manner be admitted receiued nor had in consideration by such as haue vnderstanding in these affaires But to the contrary and besides all the reasons aforegoing the Dutch Company hath made it to appeare by good proofes that the English to the end to diuert and get forth of the Castle the forces of the Dutch had in the Countries and Ilands therabouts stirred vp induced and caused to rebell all the Ternatanes Ceraniens and the Indian nations bordering there openly and by publicke violence to make such vnaccustomed outrages vpon the Subiects of the Castle that the Gouernor might be constrained to goe forth from thence with all his forces
Captaine of the Slaves aged 36. yeares borne in Bengala Confesseth That two moneths since he was asked by a Iaponeze called Hytieso in the name of Captaine Towerson if hee would together with the Iaponezes assist the English in the taking of the Castle the which he consented to Thus confessed in the Castle of Amboyna the 3. of March 1623. The Worshipfull Harman Van Speult Councellor in the Indies Governour in Amboyna c. having seene and vnderstood the conformable confessions of divers persons and Nations being kept in divers places and examined at divers times doth not think any wayes necessarie by reason of the enormitie of the offence that the cause could nor ought not to suffer any reference because at the present they were charged with more then 40. Prisoners and they did not know what enemies might be besides either within or without Yet notwithstanding for the abundant satisfaction of the Honourable English Companie and Nation it was thought sit to bee debated by Councell whether the cause could suffer any referring or no. Wherevpon by a generall voyce it was judged and resolved that the fact and crime should be punished in the place where it was conceived and concluded for example to others and the rather because at the present the Tarnatans and Mores hereabouts contrary to their custome did a while since in likelihood by the instigation of the English beginne to rebell and had slaine and killed certaine of the Dutch Nation and servants of the Companie Therefore his Worship caused the Fiscall Brune for to forme such demaund and conclusion against the said Prisoners as in reason he should thinke fitting Thus done and resolved the 8 of March 1623. Subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Iohn Iohnson Vischer Iohn Van Leeumen Iohn Iacobson Wincoop Leonard Clocq Martin Iohnson Vogell Iohn Ioosten Iacob Cooper Iohn Van Nieupoort Peter Iansen Van Zanten Harman Crayevanger Rowland Tailler Vincent Corthals Secretarie Whereas by the preceedent Acts and confessions it appeares sufficiently that Gabriell Towerson Agent for the Honourable English Companie in Amboyna with his creatures and Confederates aforesaid hath committed treason and sought the overthrow of the State of the priviledged Company of the Low-Countries in Amboyna wherein depends the greatest part of the prosperitie of the said Company and by a horrible murder and efusion of bloud wholy to ruinate the same Therefore the Advocate Fiscall Isaack Brune nomine officij forming his Demaund concludes that the said Gabriell Towerson with all the other Delinquents as well English as Iaponezes aboue named except Ephraim Iohn Paul Assistant to the English Thomas Sharke and Iohn Sadler should be carried to the place accustomed for execution of the Law and Iustice and that they should there be beheaded and put to death with the confiscation of all their goods And that the said Towerson after his death should be cut in foure quarters and his head should bee set vp vpon the Gate vpon a pole every-quarter should be fixed vpon a Gibbet Done in the Castle of Amboyna the 8. of March 1623. And it was signed Isaack de Brune Advocate Fiscall The Worshipfull Harman Van Speult Councellor of the Indies Governour of Amboyna c. with the ordinary Councell of his Worship as also those in the ships named the Rotterdam Amsterdam the Vnicorne Edam and the Little-Hope having heard the demaund and conclusion of the Advocate Fiscall de Brune made against the said Delinquents after they had called vpon the name of God that hee would be pleased to assist them in their course during this heavie assembly and to inspire into them nothing but equitie and justice after mature consideration in all that was necessary To you the Delinquents aswell English as Iaponezes to wit Captaine Gabriell Towerson Samuell Coulson Emanuell Tompson Timothy Iohnson William Grigs Iohn Clarke Abell Price Robert Browne Iohn Wetherall Iohn Fardo Augustine Peres Marinho The Slaues Hytieso Sidney Migiell Pedro Conge Thome Corea Tsiosa Quiandao Sinsa Tsavienda and Zancheo Declare that you having committed treason having conceived and complotted together a horrible massacre treason to bee Masters of the Castle and so haue compassed not onely to overthrow and ruinate the State of the East-India Company in the vnited Provinces of the Low-Countries which the conservation of this place much concerneth but also to ruinate the Vnited Low-Countries themselues and their prosperities partly consisting in Navigation and trafficke to the Indies which by this meanes would haue beene vndermined and weakened In pursuite whereof and in the name and in the qualitie of Governour of the high and mighty Lords the States Generall of the Vnited Provinces of the Low-Countries haue condemned the said Delinquents as by these presents we condemne them to be carried to the place where Law and Iustice is ordinarily executed and there to be punished with the sword in such sort as death may ensue with the confiscation according to the Law of their goods proper and in particular And the heads of Gabriell Towerson Sidney Migiell Hytieso and Pedro Conge for example vnto others shall be set vpon poles Thus pronounced in the Castle of Amboyna the ninth day of March one thousand six hundred twenty three And it was subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Iohn Iohnson Vischer Iohn Van Leeuwen Iohn Iacobson Wincoop Leonard Clocq Martin Iohnson Vogell Iohn Ioosten Iacob Cooper Iohn Van Nieupoort Peter Iansen Van Zanten Harman Crayevanger Rowland Tailler Vincent Corthals Secretarie Whereas the said Governour Van Speult for the service of the honourable English Companie hath thought good to spare two of the said English Merchants Pro tempore for the grace and pardon of the Lord Governour Generall Peter de Carpentier to the end that with other Deputies of his Worship they might looke to the goods of the said honourable English Companie His Worship for certaine reasons hath chosen for one of them Iohn Beomont English Merchant in the Factorie of Lohoe And ordaineth that M. Collins M. Thomson and M. Coulson should draw lots betweene them three which of them should enjoy the like favour Declaring notwithstanding that their proper goods shall bee perticularly confiscated according as the others And his Worship pardoned Ephraim Iohn Paul Thomas Sharke and Iohn Sadler as having little and no knowledge of the said plot Done and resolved the 8. of March 1623. Master Coulson Thomson and Collins being brought in a place together and the Lots being presented to them after a short prayer which every one made they drew first M. Thomson next M. Collins and last M. Coulson the which being opened it fell to M. Collins to be saved Done in the Castle of Amboyna the day aforesaid Subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Iohn Iohnson Vischer Iohn Van Leeuwen Iohn Iacobson Wincoop Leonard Clocq Martin Iohnson Vogell Iohn Ioosten Iacob Cooper Iohn Van Nieupoort Peter Iansen van Zanten Harman Crayevanger
Rowland Tailler Vincent Corthals Secretarie Whereas Augustine Peres Marinho of the Slaues had knowledge of the treason and conspiracy aforesaid and being that he promised his ayde it is concluded of him as is aforesaid and that the wife of Augustine Peres which hath beene a Slaue of the honourable Dutch East India Company who was given to the said Augustine in hope of his good carriage for the present shee shall returne to her ancient Maisters of the said Companie vntill such time that shee shall be otherwise disposed of by the Governour Done in the Councell of Amboyna the 9. of March 1623. And was subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Iohn Iohnson Vischer Iohn Van Leeuwen Iohn Iscobson Wincoop Leonard Clocq Martin Iohnson Vogell Iohn Ioosten Iacob Cooper Iohn Van Nieupoort Peter Ianson Van Zanten Harman Crayevanger Rowland Tailler Vincent Corthals Secretarie We here vnder-named doe declare for a truth in stead of an oath that Gabriell Towerson after he was examined concerning the said plot and the Governour Van Speult condoling with him for that which is aforesaid asking him if that was the recompence of his former friendship shewed to the said Towerson The said Towerson with a deepe sigh answered him and said alas if it were to beginne againe it should never be done Done the 9. of March in the Castle of Amboyna Subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Harman Crayevanger Peter Van Zanten Leonard Clocq The 9. of March 1623. in the Castle of Amboyna it was resolved That the English Prisoners that were for the present reserved to the pardon of the Lord Generall de Carpentier as M. Beomont and M. Collins as likewise those that had none or little knowledge in the said intended Treason should be againe remitted to the English lodgings with others appointed by the Governour Van Speult to keepe and looke to the goods of their Companie vntill the arrivall of some English Shippe for to dispose thereof as should be found most necessary and profitable for the said Companie Thus done in the Castle of Amboyna the day aboue written Subscribed Harman Van Speult Laurence de Marschalck Clement Kersseboom Iohn Iohnson Vischer Iohn Van Leeuwen Iohn Iacobson Wincoop Leonard Clocq Martin Iohnson Vogell Iohn Ioosten Iacob Cooper Iohn Van Nieupoort Peter Iansen Van Zantem Harman Crayevanger Rowland Tailler Vincent Corthals Secretarie Vnder was written collationed with the Originall and found to agree with the same in substance Done the 29. of March 1623. in the Castle of Amboyna Subscribed Fredericke Houtman Martin Souck Iohn Iacobson Wincoop Garrit Fredericke Delbit Vesterman Laurence de Marschalck Iohn Van Leeuwen Leonard Clocq Isaack Migielson Bogace Peter Iansen Van Zanten Wee whose names are here vnder-written being servants vnto the honourable English Companie in the East-Indies having beene required by the Worshipfull Harman Van Speult Governour of Amboyna to examine the processe of Captaine Towerson and his Complices being written in Dutch and English Wee haue heard and read the said Processe in two Languages and according to our judgements and as we can comprehend it the substance of both the translations agree in substance Thus done in the Castle of Amboyna the 23. of May 1623. Stilâ— Angliae And is subscribed by those whose names hereafter follow To wit Richard Welding Iohn Cartwright Henry Gill Iohn Van Nieupoort Rowland Hollers George Williams Collation being made of this Translation with the Authentick Copy sent from the Indies and subscribed as aforesaid is found to agree therewith The 12. of August 1624. By me the Secretarie of the States Generall of the Vnited Provinces I. Van Goch FINIS A REPLY TO THE REMONSTRANCE of the Bewinthebbers or Directors of the Netherlands East-India Companie lately exhibited to the Lords States Generall in iustification of the proceedings of their Officers at AMBOYNA against the English there THe Directors of the Netherlands East-India Company finding it needful to defend their Officers at Amboyna by this Remonstrance referre themselues in the first place vnto a former deduction which they had exhibited vnto the Lords States in Iuly last Wherein they professe still to insist And considering say they the infallible Indicia that preceded the discouerie of this conspiracy and the iust and Legall proceedings vsed against the Complices appearing by the iuditiall acts signed aswell by the parties examined as by the Gouernor and Councell of Amboyna who are a Colledge or Court of Iudges admitted and sworne against which no proofe much lesse any vaine and friuolous suspitions ought to be admitted they therefore conceived vntill they see the contrary that the Consperators as they call them were lawfully and rightly apprehended the fact well prooued according to the Law and Custome of the Low-Countries and consequently that the punishment was lawfully inflicted with moderation of the rigour of Iustice and with clemency This deduction of the moneth of Iuly heere mentioned hath not beene yet imparted to the English East-India Companie Otherwise they would haue examined the same as they did the Relation printed in the Scheme of a letter Missive Which yet they verily beleeue to be the verie same in effect and compiled by the same pen for that it appeareth by comparing of the printed Pamphlet with the Acts of this Processe at Amboyna here mentioned copie whereof was communicated to the said English Companie that the body of the said Pamphelet the preamble excepted was wholie taken out of the same acts onely with some sophistication of the act touching Master Towersons pretended voluntarie confession noted in the Answere to the same Pamphlet Wherfore although it may be supposed that this deduction here referred vnto is already sufficiently answered in the said answere to the Dutch Relation yet because in this very recitall of the Directors there are certaine generall heads either recapitulated out of that deduction or laid for new grounds of the justification of the Dutch proceedings it will not be amisse to examine them as they lie And first for the infallible Indicia pretended to haue preceaded the discouery it is shewed in the answere to the Pamphlet that the Indicia to torture the first Iapon which was the beginning of the whole Processe were insufficient in law the behauiour that this Iapon vsed and vpon which he was apprehended being none other then that which is and may be vsed by any Souldier in the place where he serueth without blame or suspicion For other Indicia there was not the least neither of prouisions of the English for such an exployte nor of Letters to or from any Complice nor of suspitious conferences messages or intelligencies nor of flight or close keeping of the parties nor any other agreeing with the rules or examples giuen by the Law or the Authors commenting thereupon But being destitute of these and the like lawfull Indicia the Dutch Officers were faine to fetch their Indicia out of the Racke and to make the confession of one tortured
euident that there is a great difference of the stuffe betweene the Iudges of Amboyna and all other Iudges in the parts of Christendome yet the honesty and credit euen of the best Iudges is no sufficient defence for them against such apparant proofes of Iniustice as are extant in this cause euen in the acts of the Processe it selfe as is before declared For the Iudge that in his Processe obserueth not the order prescribed by the Law is reputed as a priuate person Otherwise indeed the Iudge is not without proofe to be presumed to haue done vniustly but this will not serue these Iudges Neither is any partie accused to be presumed guiltie without Indicia or euidence but euery man to be presumed good vntill the contrary be prooued Which should haue mooued those Iudges of Amboyna to haue beene tender and carefull in the Indicijs that were made the pretexts to torture the first Iapon and not to torture a poore man for asking an vsuall and harmelesse question yea and needfull in the place of his seruice as is shewed in the answere to the Dutch Relation Much more ought they in this respect to haue beene tender of taking the extorted confessions of the Iapons for a sufficient Indicium against Maister Towerson not onely in regard of his qualitie as being the Agent and Cape Merchant for the English there but also of his innocent and harmelesse yea godly behauiour at Amboyna and all his life before For as he was a man of note and knowne to most men of his qualitie here in England so all that knew him especially that were well acquainted with him whereof there is no small number ioyne and iumpe in this one opinion commendations of him that he was of a most faire condition and sweet disposition harmelesse and without spleene or gall and in a word the vnlikeliest Englishman that euer went into the East Indies to be a plotter or practiser of such a fact as he was condemned of The Remonstrants hauing thus finished their answere to the English Relation affirme that by their deduction of Iuly and this answere they haue sufficiently iustified the proceedings of their Officers at Amboyna neuerthelesse ex abundanti they produce further euidence out of an attestation of Signeur Houtman their late Gouernour in the Moluccoes Which because it is afterwards againe repeated in seuerall Articles shall be there with the rest answered In the meane time they appeale to the Lords States generall whether they haue not by all this giuen sufficient satisfaction and cause to the English Company to abate and let fall their suit leauing the blame vpon the Authors of this abhominable conspiracie as they call it and of their owne misfortune Neuerthelesse not daring to goe to tryall of the maine cause vpon these their allegations and proofes they pray that there may be no precipitation vsed but a fit respite granted them for the exact enquiry of the truth in the Indies and that in the meane time they may haue the protection of the Lords States and all misunderstanding and contrary deductions may cease at least prouisionally For put case say they that their Officers be truely guiltie as the English pretend yet they must be heard before they can be condemned And in their opinion say they the ground of the Conusance of this cause must come from Amboyna to Battauia and thence hether and time conuenient being giuen there will doubtlesse come daily more and more cleare proofes and light in the cause As for themselues they at last plainly confesse that they cannot answere the obiections and circumstances alledged and proposed but that this must and can be done by them onely whom the cause toucheth and concerneth to wit their Officers at Amboyn◠Here they renounce all the defence and iustification which they haue alreadie made as impertinent and insufficient They might haue done well then to haue spared all this labour and at first to haue left the cause to them whom it concernes as the English Company by their Letters requested them As for precipitation in the cause the English Company require none But because the Acts of the Councell at Amboyna themselues containe all that can be legally pleaded in iustification of the Officers for if in them there be no iust ground of the condemnation and execution of the English all superuenient proofes come too late to excuse the Iudges euen by their owne Lawes therefore the English Company presume and maintaine that there is already ground sufficient out of the same Acts and out of the Treatie whereof this Processe is a plaine breach for the Lords States generall by an Act of State publiquely to declare the Nullity and Iniustice of the Processe But for the iudiciall proceedings against the particular persons that haue cōmitted this vnparareld Iniustice there may be such order and course taken as his Maiestie and the Lords States shall finde the nature of the cause to require Wherein also the greatest care and expedition that can be vsed for the apprehension of the parties will be no precipitation considering the manifest proofes of their Iniustice appearing in their owne Acts as is before declared Hauing finished their prayer to the Lords States generall to the effect aforesaid the scope and drift of all being onely for Dilation and respite in the cause yet as it were repenting them of their former reare and declination of a present tryall they come on a fresh with new proofes which they affirme to be so strong and vigorous that they are of power more then sufficiently to giue their Officers an entire discharge and to confound their Aduersaries and that without helpe of the points before alledged And to make good these great words they produce eleuen seuerall Articles taken by deposition of Laurence Maerschalck their late Cape Merchant at Amboyna and now returned into Holland and sworne to the same Articles before the Senate of Delfe the 4. of Nouember last stilo nouo whose name in this Remonstrance they conceale Next they annexe the report and deposition of Signeur Houtman their late Gouernour at the Moluccoes before mentioned And in the last place they repeate some points already by them alledged in this Remonstrance and so shut vp their whole Worke. For the testimony of Maerschalck it is to be considered in the generall that he is a partie being the second man of the Councell of Amboyna and therefore what is before said against the whole Councell falleth vpon him in his particular with more enforcement Neuerthelesse this protestation against his incompetency to be a Witnesse in this cause being thus premised wee will peruse and examine the particulars of his Attestation yet with this leaue a little to inuert the order of the Articles but without preiudice of the substance of them thereby to take all the matter of one nature together to auoyd prolixitie and needlesse repetition of the same thing in diuers parts of the answere The first second and third
Signeur Houtman touching the person of his brother Gouernor Van Speult and his Councell It is a point of ciuilitie in him to helpe them with a good word in the generall but it is farre too light to lay in the scoale against the seuerall and pregnant proofes of their foule Iniustice before in this reply at large specified by the witnesse of all our English that were saued as well those that were absolued as the rest by cleare circumstances of the whole businesse and by the Acts themselues of the Councell of Amboyna Lastly for the Water torture it appeareth without Signeur Houtmans testimony to be vsed by the Dutch in the Indies The poore Polarones and the English witnesse it with a mischiefe But to make it lawfull it should be prooued to be vsed in the Low Countryes as hath beene alreadie shewed But why doth Signeur Houtman nor the Remonstrants in all this discourse say nothing for the Fire-torture which was also vsed and that in most barbarous manner and degree vpon the poore Iapons and diuers of the English The Remonstrance hauing thus pressed the testimony of Maerschalck and Signeur Houtman in the next place being the 13. Article telleth vs without any witnesse that diuers persons which the English Relation mentioneth to be tortured with Fire and Water were neuer once touched If this were true and certaine it had beene easie for the Remonstrants to haue named the persons touching whom such error is committed The English Relation nameth none but Iohnson Thomson and Clarke to be tortured with Fire Which of these will the Remonstrants denie to be so handled against such cleare euidence of our part The foureteenth Article promiseth that the particulars and pettie matters as they are here tearmed shall be disprooued by the depositions of those that were in presence and should haue knowne them if any had beene Therefore vntill they be thus disprooued which will neuer be let them remaine for true especially being alreadie prooued by the oath of credible persons and carrying truth in the very circumstances Lastly for the extraordinary signes that happened at the time of the execution which are here scoffingly tearmed miracles the same are also prooued by oath and further by Letters written from some of the seruants of the Dutch themselues at Amboyna readie to be exhibited vpon occasion And as it had beene a sillie part of the English to haue feigned such matter so is it no lesse impudence to deny that which so many as well Dutch and Indians as English saw and knew to be notorious After all this new charge so confidently giuen yet the Remonstrants fall off againe and not desiring to put the triall of the cause vpon these nor all the rest of their allegations they returne by way of conclusion to pray the Lords States Generall that there may be a conuenient respite giuen for the better examination of the whole matter and to that end that they will mediate with his Maiestie to content himselfe also therewith But the English East India Companie vpon the grounds before at large deduced doubt not but that the cause will appeare as well to his Maiesty as the Lords States to be ripe and readie for such an Act of State as is desired and for the apprehension of the Authors of this odious and execrable Processe as soone as they or any of them can be gotten And then the iudiciall Processe against them may follow as shall appertaine to so foule and infernall a Fact ⸪ FINIS