Consideratien ende redenen der e. heeren bewind-hebberen vande geoctrojeerde West-Indische Compagnie inde... Vereenigde Vrye Nederlanden overgelevert, nopende de teghenwoodridge deliberatie over den treves met den Coning van Hispanien.
4to. 32 pp. Unbound. Very good overall. For the directors of the West India Company, there was a constant fear that peace might break out at any moment. The Company was making enormous profits by conducting private war against the Spanish (and, especially, as Boxer has pointed out, against Portuguese territories). Piet Heyn’s seizure of the Spanish Silver Fleet in late 1628 had resulted in spectacular, unprecedented (and never again to be equaled) dividends for the investors for that year. The author of this blast puts making peace with Spain in unfavorable terms. No mention, of course, of economic motive, but everyone involved had probably just pocketed their dividend and knew what peace would cost them.
The title in Asher’s English translation is: Considerations and reasons of the noble Directors of the Chartered West-India Company, delivered in the assembly of their High Might. the States General of these Free United Netherlands, on the present deliberations on a Truce with the King of Spain. With Conscientious Reflections on the question: Whether one can in Conscience make peace with the King of Spain.
* Alden-Landis, European Americana 629 101; Sabin 15,930; Asher 130; Knuttel 3909; Kress 463; NUC s.v. Nederlandsche West-Indische Compagnie.
Price: $400.00