Bijdragen en Mededeelingen van het Historisch Genootschap. Deel 19
(1898)– [tijdschrift] Bijdragen en Mededeelingen van het Historisch Genootschap– Gedeeltelijk auteursrechtelijk beschermd
[pagina 231]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Verhaal van de inneming van Paramaribo (1665) door Generaal William Byam
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 232]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Zeeuwsche eskader in 1667, en van de inneming van Paramaribo door den Admiraal Abraham Crijnssen. Deze gebeurtenis is van groot belang, niet omdat zij eene heldendaad gelijkt, maar omdat Byam's verovering binnen kort aanleiding gaf, dat Suriname in ruil voor het afgestane Nieuw-Nederland in Nederlandsch bezit bleef; zoodoende vormt deze gebeurtenis een keerpunt in de geschiedenis der Nederlandsche en Engelsche koloniën. De bijzonderheden van generaal Byam's onderneming hier in het licht te geven, behoeft dus geene rechtvaardiging. G.E.
In anno 1665 there were seaven collonies settled on the coast of Guiana, one of the English, two of the Ffrench, and four of the Dutch: at Appiewaco, a river seaven leagues from ChyanGa naar voetnoot1), a small Dutch colony; at Chyan was the grand settlement of Ffrench, at Sin̄amar, ten leagues leward off it, they had another coloney, distinct from that of Chyan. In the province of Willoughby-land, which conteines the rivers of Marracome, Surinam, Saramica and Compenham, was the English colonie. At BarbishGa naar voetnoot2), above 50 leges leeward of Surynam, the Dutch had a strong ffort and some settlements at DesseceebGa naar voetnoot3), 30 leagues from Berbice, the antient Colonie, strongly ffortified. But there greatest of all they ever had in America was Bowroom and MorocoGa naar voetnoot4), alias New Zealand, a most fflourishing coloney, 16 leagues leeward of Discecabe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 233]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
In the same yeare, in the month of May, was the colony Willoughby Land in its meridian, and after this month had its declinacion and went ever retrograde. At this time we had neare 1500 men, but not halfe armed, nor halfe the armes fixed and provisable, no magazien, nor a gunn mounted. His Excellency Ffranciss Lord Willoughby of Parham, our generall and one of our Lord Proprietors, was then here, and sayld hence the 9th of this month, with whome and in other shipps a little after (out of discontent) went about 200 able men, and upon his Exccs arivall a sickness began at the towne of TararicaGa naar voetnoot1) and spred itselfe in the plantacions adjoyning, swept many away. Att his Excellencies departure I received orders for makeing a plattforme at the towne and mounted six gunns, which was accordingly done. Noe sooner was his Excellency gon but some jealousies posestGa naar voetnoot2) the inhabitants, which brake out into great discontents. The Collony imployed one Capt. Iohn Parker te Barbados to his Excellcy, whose so prudent and judicious management returned him with a sattisfactory declareation, which stopped many then upon the wing, ready to desert the collony to some place, where they might not be tenants at will. In November here arrived from his Excellcy. his Serjt. Majr. Ino. Scott, after his victory at Tobago, with a small ffleet and a regiment ffoote, under the carrecter of Majr. Genll. of Guiana, Cheife Commissioner and Commander in Cheife by land and sea. In few months his great ffortune and gallantry, prudent and industrious conduct made him master of all the great province New Zealand and Desseceeb, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 234]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
settled a peace with the Arrowayes, left both collonys in a fflourishing condition and well garrisond for the King of England, New-Zealand under the conduct of one Captaine Boxlson, and Dessecube under the comand of one Capt. Kenn, both old soldiers and sober gent. About two months after his arrival at Barbados the Indians, understanding he was not to returne, withdrew all commerce with the English in the fforts. Many (of) the Dutch French and Iews were soone upon ye wing to the ffrench islands Martinico and St Christophers etc., and those that remained grew discontent. I would be more particular but that I have writt lately of this gentlemans voyage to his Exccllcy, which I hope will not be lost. In August ffollowing one Cope was sent with supplyes for the releife of those collonys, and one yonnker Hendryck, a Switts, to still the Indians, that greatly distresed our collonys, which runn retrograde and only for want of supplyes (notwithstanning I did my endeavour) after many brave defences were forced to submitt themselves, many to the merciless French and in Aprill following to the Dutch. The loss of such a jewell cannot be sufficiently lamented. In the month of March 1666, before the loss of those colloneys, in persueance of my commission from my Lord Willoughby, I commissionated one Capt. Peeter Wroth with a considerable party of men and vessels to ataque the Dutch Collony of ApprowacoGa naar voetnoot1), which was executed with success: their armes, slavs and goods, ingeniossGa naar voetnoot2) to make sugar &c, were brought to Surynam and the collony distroyed. The May ffolowing (viz. 1666) two of our shallops | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 235]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
from the Mannatoe coast, neare the great river AncahonesGa naar voetnoot1), touched at Chyan in their returne to Surynam, by whom I received news of the eruption of warr between the two crownes from monssyeur de LeysizGa naar voetnoot2), Governor (of) Chyan, with his freindly compliment that, though he might have sezed the two vessells, yet to evidence how great a servant he was to this colony, he had lett them goe in peace and earnestly solissited that, notwithstanding the warr in Europe and the Caribee Leeward Islands, yett wee might continue freinds, as the Englisch and French had done in former warres in the Leeward Islands. The same did Monsieur de Neell, Governor of SynnamarraGa naar voetnoot3), request in several letters. The collony was not at that time in a condicion to offend nor well to defend it selve. And glad I was that adresse for nutrallity came from him to me, to whom I returned this answare: that it lay not in my power to conclude an absolute newtrallity, for I was most strictly to observe the comands of my King and his Generll. of Guiana, and till his orders comand the contrary I should continue newtre, and since he had showed him selfe soo exraordinary civill to the collony, in case orders should arrive to breake the neutrality, I should like a gratefull and noble enemy give advice thereof before I acted any hostillity, but to Monsieur de Neel, who had not been so obliging, I call God to wittness I never promised any such thing, though he hath very ignobly reported the contrary. Before this I had presented the naked state of the province to his Excellcy. and variously solicited | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 236]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
for a large supply of armes and aminucion, but noe shipp ariveing and findeing our condicion very sad and exposed, I advised with the councill and summoned the assembly, which passed an act for every tenth workeing negroe throughout the colony to be sent (to) PremoraboGa naar voetnoot1) to prepare materials for a ffort, and I ordered five filles with a comission-officer out of the other companies to attend constantly there to reinforce the company at Pramorabo and monthly to be releived, out of wich I ordered a watch at the riversmouth to give notice of the enemies approach. June last the guard was fixed and the negroes began to worke, at which time a vessel arrived from Barbados with the sad news of the loss of St Christophers, and bronght me orders from his Excelley to erect a ffort at Pramorabo and to send a party against Syn̄amara and Chyan, whereupon I issued forth a declaracion to be read at the head of any company, inviting all volunteers with great incouragement and ordering them to appeare in compleate armes at Pramorabo, ye 27th of July, and that which encreased their number was the forward profer of Serjt. Major James Bannister to conduct them, in case be could raise two hundred men well armd. In the mean time I tooke all possible care for Indians, able periagoesGa naar voetnoot2), provisions for the ffleet. At the place and time prefixed many appeared, but of vollunteers short of the number of 200 and many ill armd. At this time the assembly presented to me and the councill the great danger of sending soo many of the ablest men to windward, whilest we lay exposed to the threatned invasion of Ber- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 237]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
ganasyGa naar voetnoot1), Governor of Barbece, and the Arwacas from leeward, and therefore for the prevension of the suspected danger I ordered abont 70 men against the Ffrench, under the conduct of Captn. Wm Cowell, and abont 80 more leeward against ye Dutch and Arwacas, and to releive our deare countrymen at Dessecebe and Bawrooma, who we feared were in distress, under the command of Capt. Christopher Rendar; and that Capt. Cowell might be rightly informed of the strenth aud power of the enemy and that I might punctually performe my parole with Monsieur de Neell, (....) with another inclosed to Monsr. De Lesie, Governor of Chyan, importing that I had received possitive orders from his Excellcy. the Lord Generall that I should have noe neutrallity with them. This letter was delivered about 3 of the clock on Satterday in the afternoon, and about 4 on Sunday morning Capt. Cowel with great courage and resolucion fell on the forte and tooke it, and slew 7 men, tooke their shallope aud brought away there Governor and about 50 more prisoners, utterly distroying the whole colony, and that without the losse of one man. Nor was Captn. Rendar unsuccessfull at leeward, having stormed two warehouses of the Arwacas, and had other Bickernings with them, wherein he slew about 30 men and tooke 70 captives. But for the releife of our men at Dissekebe he came too late, who about 3 weekes before, thorough want of ammunicion and iresistable hungar, were forced to surrender themselves and 12 hundred slaves which they had taken, to BurgunasGa naar voetnoot2), a Dutch Generall who beseiged them, but on good articles, which these | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 238]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
complaine hee afterwards broke, and as for our poore men at Bawrooma they were also for want of timely supplies destroyed by the French, who most unhumanly (after they were starved out of the fort) delivered them to the cruelty of the Arwacas at the mouth of that river to be massacred. This was informed me by one of that fort, who was absent when it was taken, who learned it from the Indians. But since I understood the maine fort was not taken untill the coming of the ffleet from Zealand 1667. And now in August Gods justice most scarply visited our transgressions, the sickness spreading througout the whole collonie with that violence and continuance, that it cutt of above 200 of our men, and very many women and children, and so universall and raining was the contagion at one time, that wee could not make a hundred sound men in the country to oppose an ennemie, and not a family that I know escaped it. Miserable were the cryes and dijected the spirits of all, few or none knew the nature or cure of the disease, nor were there any cordiall meanes or medicins proper for it in the whole country; it was a most strange, violent feavor, burning within, yett it had not the same operacion on all. Never was there like sad affliction seen in the collonie; most of all of our masons and many negroes, which were at worke on the fort, were most sadly visited, the which, with the difficulty of cutting our stones from under the ground with axes, very much retarding the worke. In this month Capt. John Skewes arived from Barbados, and brought us from his Excellcy 6 barrels of powder and some match, which was exceeding welcome, for wee very greatly needed it. Att the returne of Skewes I shipt off most of the choisest of the french prisoners for Barbados, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 239]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
and also sent of Capt Ennis the Provost Marchall to present to his Excellcy the sad and dangerous condition of the collony, to solicite for some ammunition &c. In November I was advised by one of our men, which came from Amazonah at Chyan, he saw 7 saile of schipps. I was then weake and exceeding lame and had been so for two months ffore, where upon sent for Capt. Nathaniel Clarke, a gentleman of the councill whome I well know to be vigilant, care full and active, and gave him a comission to the Deputy-Governor, and theu ordered six periagoes to be a guard at the river's mouth till the gates of the fort were sett up, and we in a better posture of defence. About the latter end of December Captn. Ennis returned, but unfortunnately fell leeward te Saramica, and brought with him what possible the Governor of Barbados could procure for me, but noe powder, for none was then to bee had, and presented us with the dismall news of the burning of London and of the loss of his Excellcy and his ffleete, and that we might dayly expect a ffrench ffleete from leeward, who were victorious, there to attack us. I was then weake and soe misufferably lame with the gout, that then I was not able to stand; yet to forward our defence I went to the fort in the beginning of January, where I found the gates of it then sett up, but the wall in some places not six feet high. I then sommoned the councill and assembly about many bussinesses of great importance, and amongst other things there past an act for the paye.....Ga naar voetnoot1) support of a standing compagnie of fifty men besides officers to be constant in the fort dureing | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 240]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
the warr, under the command of Capt. Wm. Cowell. About the midle of Febry the company was compleated with volunteers. We then also resolved to fitt up a shallop, that was on the stocks, und send her with speed to Barbados for amunition and inteligence. I then disperst orders to all the officers in the collonie what they should doe upon the arrivall of ye enemy, and ordered all settlers to build private houses over swamps and in remote parts and to cary part of their provissions thither, and to remove all their cattle and their provissions out of their plantacions, that their wives, children and slaves upon an alarme might retire to them, and also ordered all able boates to be fitted up and every man to be ready and well fix'd and provided constantly with 12 dayes victualls before hand. The creeks of Para and Serenoe I ordered to be dammed up with great trees to be fallen into it, and ordered all about Promorabo to prepare themselves hutts in remote parts in the wood, or where the women and children might upon occasion fly to. Ou the 15te of Febri I received the alarme of ye arrivall of eight saile, who we verily beleived to be ffrench, upon which I presently sent orders into the country, and pulled downe and fired all the houses within musquett shot of the fort. Our fort or rather halfe a fort, was on a plaine, close by the riverside, of a pendegonicall forme, consisting of five bastions, pallizaded and perfected; the other were ten foot high, excepting one curtaine and bastion, wich faced the river, the which, by reason of the ground, was but eight or nine foot in heith. The bastion and curtaine was then finished, which were also to the face of the river, lyeing very much higher then all the rest, became soe exposed to the land, that from thence the enemie | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 241]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
could without danger beat our men from of them. I had twelve gunns mounted, whereof one a whole culvering, a demy culverine, a saker, the rest minjon and falcon; besides these there were nine other small gunns, for which cariages were preparing, severall of which were brought from Aparawarka and Sinnamarre. I had about a hundred men and sixty negroes, part of those which were on the worke, and all my stock of powder exceeded not four barrells, and for balls for the whole culverine, which was the most serviceable gun I had, not one that would fitt, all being to high, and the wall about the platforme where shee stood was soe low that it reached not the heith of a mans knees; nor had we sufficient earth brought in for our men to stand upon, to fix over the parapett, butt insted thereof raysed plancks on totering stones, on which, by reason of their heith and for want of breadth, our men could not possibly oppose with the least convenieney. On the 30th of December, stilo novo, there was set forth by the States of Zealand a ffleet of seaven saile, viz. fouer frigatts, a victualler, a doggar boate and a gally, in all which were about a thousand men, soldiers and seamen, under the command of Myne heere Abraham Crynsens. In the bay of Biscaye they lost their gally, at the Canaryes they took a small Irishman. They toucht at Cheyan, where they understood that Monsieur La BarrGa naar voetnoot1) was dayly expected from the Leeward Islands with a fleet, designed for this place. The Governor earnestly desiered them not to putt in here. The Dutch, concealeing their intention too be leeward on the coast for windward of this part, mett with a small New- | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 242]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
England ketch, one Evans Master, who supposing he had bene leeward of Surinam, kept five days beating up tot windward, till he became a prize to the fleet. On the 15th of Ffebry they arived in the river, eight sayle in all, and on the 16th came to anchor about halfe a league below the ffort, and then sent in this summons in Dutch and Ffrench: Sir, Being come hither by the command of the High-puissant Lords the States my Masters, to incorporate the fort with your command, this is the reason I send you this drummer with this letter, to the end you may render it, promissing you that in such case your selfe and all the inhabitants of the countrey shall absollutely retaine the entire property and possession of what they have, without loss of the least thing, but in case you refuse it, I am resolved to atack yon by sea and land, with the designe of killing all that shall oppose, not giving quarter to any on. You may regulate your selfe here upon, whilst I attend an answer to this letter within one quarter of an hower without any delay. Dated in the ship Zealand the 26th of Ffebry 1667. Abraham Crynsens.
Too whom I returnd this answere: Sir, I have received your peremptory summons and as you ar commanded by your masters to take this fort, soe am I commanded by my King and his Generall of Guiana to keep it, which I shall endeavour to doe against all opposers, and so you may act your hostilities as soone as you please. Willoughby Fort, Febry the 16th 1667. William Byam.
This was done on Satterday in the afternoone, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 243]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
about 7 or 8 of the clock. On Sunday morning neare high waters they all weighed and came all fower frigatts to an anchor just before the fort, which we never suspected, and then wee mutually plyed our gunns as fast as we could, which continued for the space of 2 or 3 howers, and then the enemie sent their doggar boate, a ketch and a shallop, as full of men as possibly they could hold, and rane ashore in a bay above the fort, and to welcome them I had commanded an ensigne with fower files out of my small number to attend their arrivall. That part of the fort, wich was imperfect towards the river being very low, the enemy shott over and commanded from their decks a quarter deck, above halve the inside of the fort scowring two of the curtains, where oure men were to oppose. In one of our bastions, where we thought our men secure, they shivered two of our mens leggs and thyghs, and placed some of their shott within 3 foot of the foundation of the wall withinside. Besides, the fort being high where the curtaine and bastion were compleated and low towards the land, but ten foote, the enemies shott would not permitt a man to stand on them. Our negroes, whome I had armed with launces to oppose an assault, lay fflatt on their bellies, two of our guns were dismounted, our powder began to be very low, but a barrell of fifty, and a quarter lost. In this condition, foreseeing an impossibility to keep the fort from the aproaching storme, I sent for all the commission- officers and one of the councill, who was then with mee, and the cheife gunner, who with the rest of the gunners behaved thiem selves exceeding well, and advised with them whether the place were tenable or not, who all concluded it was not, because we wanted ammunicion, and the enemies shott commanded the inside | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 244]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
of the curtaine, where our men should stand to defend, and therefore I thought it discresion to yeild on honorable termes if to be had, then to oppose to noe purpose. But if conditions of honour were denyed us, we were resolved to dye in the fort with honour, whereupon I caused a flagg of truce to be hung ont and a parley to be beaten, and proposed my termes to the admirall which he granted, and they were these: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Willoughby-fort, Febry 17th 1667.Itt was this day concluded and agreed upon between Lieutt. Genll. William Byam, Governor of the province of Willoughby-land, and Monsieur Abraham Crynsens, comander in cheife of the Dutch fleet, now before the said fort, that the said Lieutt. Genll. Byam is to march forth without of the said fort with all his officers and soldiers with flying coulers, light matches, drum beating, ammunicion for every soldier, viz 12 shott a peice, with their armes; and both they and all the poore people aboute the fort to have liberty to take away all that they have therein as soone as they can, and also to have free liberty to goe up into the country or where they please. And the said fort with all the ammunition or artillery therein and all the provisions that were set in for the use of the soldiers, to be delivered up to the said monsieur Crijnsens or order, butt anything else that is not here expressed besides the artilliry, ammunicion and the said provisions, the said monsieur Crynsens is not to expect. In wittness whereof the said Lieutt. Genll. William Byam and the sayd monsieur Crynsens have interchangeably sett their hands and seales to two of these articles of the same tenor and date. Abraham Crynsens. The fort being surrendered, the commissioners | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 245]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
who were appointed by the States for the land, required the armes of the soldiers after they were marchd out, which I tould them was contrary to the articles, whereupon there arrose a dispute, to suppress which they published a declaracion at the head of the company, assureing all the inhabitants in and about the fort, that they should fairely injoy their estates and have all privilidge, if they would lay downe their armes and sware fidellity to the States, the which some for gaine, others for feare, did, and soe were dismist. This day Capt. Goose arrived in the river and was taken. Before night severall of our men inlisted themselves in the Dutch servis and told them they would show them every creeke and corner of the country and direct them where our provisions, cattle and negroes were hid. The sixty negroes that were in the fort marcht forth with me, and I ordered a person to launch a boate and cary them up into the country, which whilst he was doeing the soldiers by order stopt and put them into the fort and contrary to the articles detaind them. That night I left the fort and abuit 2 o'cloek in ye morning, two leagues from ye fort, I mett Capt. Clark with 14 periagoes from above, comeing downe to my assistance, whome I informed the necessity of the surrender, and soe wee went up to the towne of Toorarica, where I expected severall of my soldiers, which were in the fort, would have followd me, but the enemie had putt all the boates adrift, that they could not come up. Here I found our men devided: some were for peace, heareing the faire pretences of the enemy that they came not to distroy but to build, and that all should enjoy their estates; and others were for warr and would | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 246]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
stand it out till the last and goe up the ffalls, or breake into the woods and distroy all before the enemie should injoy it, and those that would cleave to the enemie and refuse to joyne with them should be the first whose houses and caves they would turne, and whose plantacions they would ruine. I was exceeding sorry to heare of these divisions which aboded not good, and to see that many had not observed my orders in bringing downe with them 12 dayes provisions, for they already called out for want, and would needs home, whose dwellings were remote. I then tooke some care for there present supplie and sent for the councill and assembly to meet on Thursday following, and imediately dispatched two men to remaine at the mouth of Saramica, to advise how things stood, if any of our ships should fall in there, for we were advised that Capt. Colliete and others would suddainly be on the coast. The next day I was advised from Barra that the ensigne there, when be heard the fleet were Dutch and not French, stript his colours and refused to fight, and some of the soldiers; others mutined aganist their officeir, others remained at home and would not stire, and of 90 men in the creek but 40 apeared in armes, severall of ye cheifest gentlemen, who intended to stand it out, foreseeing the incureable ruine and missery in case of long opposition, and the Freuch fleet dayly expected, and how they must leave many of their freinds, who lay exceeding sick, as a pray to the enemy, inclined to peace, soe it might bee on very honorable termes, and haveing received some overtures from the enemie, of his complyance in honor, I thought it prudence to prevent the ruine of severall of the most considerable plantacions which lay exposed to their furie and rapine as they came up, and before they had treated with | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 247]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
us, and therefore I sent the marshall with a letter to the admirall, that, if he intended the good of the inhabitants as hee profest, I desiered him to forbeare the acting any hostillity till wee had treated, and in the meanetime I advance towards him with a periago-fleet, consisting of fourteene, in which were Christians and Jews, 168 men, ould and young, sick, lame and sound, besides negroes and some Indians, that padled the beates. I had many Indiams come with me with bundles of warre-arrows, but broughte not a bitt of bread, soe that hungar enforced them quickly to returne. I cannot omitt the gallantry of the inhabitants of Serynoe, who, after they had dam'd their creek with store of imoveable trees, they nobly sent unto me that they desiered (the enemie knowing their habitacions were inaccessible) and would readily come over into the river whenever I would apoint them, who had noe less then eight myles of sad way to travell over. On Wednesday night I received a freindly answare of my letter from the Admirall, who desiered two gentlemen for hostages in lieu of two he would send us. On Thursday as many of the councill as were able, which were three, whereof but one (viz. Capt. Clarke) was well, mett, to whome I imparted the reallity of all transactions and sent for the assembly, and told them: though I might now by force take from the inhabitants what necessity required, yett as I never yett levied any thing without their consent, soe neither would I now in time of warr without their aprobation, soe long as I could call them together, and earnestly desier(ed) now in this grand necessity, they would speedily order sufficient provisions for the present supply of our fleete from all the neighbouring plantacions, and a store up | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 248]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
higher in thee river, where wee might be furnished when wee should bee forced to retreat. The gentlemen after consultation returned with this answare, that their persons and estates were devoted to serve their king, and for the defence of their country they desiered that I would send officers to take what I wanted and where I pleased, but humbly desiered that I and the councill would seriously pruse and consider of the paper which they presented, which containeth this: To the Honble Lieut.-Genll. William Byam and the rest of the councill, to his Excellency Ffrancis Willoughby of Parham. The humble address of representacion of the Assembly, being ye representative body of the colony of Suryname, sheweth: That whereas wee being deeply sencible as well of the trust reposed in us by the inhabitants of this coloney, as of our present dangerous estate, haveing so powerfull an enemy in the midst of us, whose force we ar neither able to resist or expell, and it being the earnest and important desiers of the good people of this colony, that this present juncture of affaires, even when wee are engageing unto blood with soo much disadvantage and in all probabillity soo little hopes of success, wee should now represent unto your honors their miserable and sad condition under the following consideracions, which we humbly offer to the prudent judgments and most seriovs thonghts. That thorough the late heavie visitacion of sickness one forth part of ye ablest men are swept away, and of those few of us which remaine alive, one third part are still sick, weake, unfitt for service and unable to contribute any thing of defence against an enemie so farr surmounting us in numbers, equipage and all for warr, and such of us as are | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 249]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
healthy are divided and dispersed at great distances, which of necessity must be so, otherwise they or their familys must sudainely starve and perish, provisions being at this time in so great a scarcity; That both the Lieutt-Genll. by his infirmity and great distemper, and also his Serjant-Major at present very dangeronsly sick, are unable for action and destitute of their conduct in this our great necessity; That if we stand out in long opposition, the enemy will dayly burne, ruine and distroy our habitacions and settlements, and we unable to check or hinder them, and our slaves, when once in distress, if not sooner, will fly away from us; That from the French, of whose merciless cruelty the English in the neighbour islands have lately had very sad experience, a fleet is howerly expected, and we also feare the invasion of the Arwaca Indians, who will effect such mischeife as will consequently produce the inevitable ruining of us all; That many of our men are already most traytorously fallen to the enemie, who will prove very pernicious to us in guiding them to all our creeks and private places and discovering our provisions, cattle and goods as also all or most of our Christian servants and persons dishonest and in debt will undoubtedly very speedily desert us and repair to them; And lastly considering that, as we have few or no medicines for wounded men, our whole store of ammunicion exceeds not six barrells, and, that expended, we must surcease ye contest by warr and betake our selves to the miserable refuge of flying into the woods with our wives, children and familys for safety, and at last, after a fineall ruining if we escape all other perils, the necessities of nature will force us to a shamefull yeilding up ourselves, for | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 250]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
any releife, as in all licklyhood we can expect none from his Majys mort gracious Soveraigne, soe have we not soo much hopes of any from our proprietors, who never yett assisted us but with six barrels of powder and a little match, nor can we have thoughts of any kindness or succour from Barbados, who soe lately were very unwilling to spare a little limestone, for all which reasons we doe as well in the behalfe of ourselves as of the inhabitants of the colonie intrusting us, earnestly pray your honors as well for the removeing of the before recited danger and sad inconveniences, soe for the preserving of those fortunes and estates which many of us brought hither, and others by many yeares industry and the painefull swet of of their browes have attained, that you will rather seeke a speedy accommodacion and embrace composition upon safe and honorable termes then to perish in a warr, which we have noe abillitties to performe, and which must unavoydably procure the utter ruineing of us all our children and posterity; But in respect that we suppose the enemie, for their owne interest and out of their desier to settle the trade of this collonie in themselves, which will undoutedly much promote their advantage and gaine, or we conceive in themselves inclinable to a treaty, and that we onely for the causes aforesaid, to prevent that soudaine devastacion, which they will bring upon us, have made this motion of peace, we humbly desier that such articles of treaty as shall be proposed, may be such as may certainely secure us in our estates and liberties and leave noe staine of dishonour or cowardice upon us, or have any concequence of abjuring that allegiance wee owe to our naturall souveraigne Leige-Lord his Majtie of Great-Britain. And we also humbly desier for ourselves and the | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 251]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
people (the) high favour of your honours that the body of articles you agree upon may be imparted to us before sent to the enemie. Robert Collinsin, Stephen Neale, Iubz Whittaker, Angus Story, Tho. Sergeant, Ino. Hespeth, William Parker, Ino. Thorne. After a considerable view of the paper we found the representatives had fully and truly stated our condition, and heareing the defection of many of our men flyeing to the enemys and of the insolencies of our negroes killing our stock, breakeing open houses, threatning our women and some flyeing into the woods in rebellion, and finding the generallity inclyning to a peace (the enemie haveing sent emissaryes) our owne men applauding their cruelty, extoling their promises and asserting the assurance of supplies, which we ever wanted, we sent Capt Angus Story and Mr Wm Parker ffor hostages aboard and in the meane time drew up these proposals. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Proposealls to the enemie.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 252]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 253]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 254]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 255]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
On Friday the 4th March, stilo novo, came the States-commandors to Toorarica, viz Capt. Lidenborge and Capt. Rame, commanders of standing companies in Zealand. There were with me the Councill, Serjt Major Tho: Neell, miserably weake, hardly able to goe, Capt. Nathan Clarke and Mr. Olliver Humphreys, who was very weake thorow the long sickness. The first and sharpest (...) in our treaty arose about our allegiance to our King, and after a long contest we concluded on the oath in the article, which we presume noe subject in our condition but might take it salvo honore et conscientia; The next thing wich they bogled at was his Excellcy's estate and the interest of all absent persons, which we stood stiffly to reserve and uphold, but at lenth they told us that they could proseed noe further unlesse we yeilded to the confiscation of them, for they were strictly bound up by their ordens from the States not to treat unlesse we consented to the forfiture of them. Att lenth we | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 256]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
desiered to lay aside and (...) not such Articles as for the present we could not agree upon and proseed and see what we mutually would assent unto; The treaty was tedious, we not understanding Dutch well neither they English, so that all things were twice translated, by which delay thorough the insinuateing infidellity of some of our men the better understood the distraction and weakness of our condicion, which made not them onely receed from what they intended to grant, but to impose more difficult termes on us, and amongst the rest they demanded no less than 50000 of Sugar for a present to the States. We profered them 30000, and they would have taken 50000, had not the forward and ignoble prodigallity of some profered in their heareing very laregely, so that a peace were concluded, and that they might save their estates, which made them not abate an ounce of 100000. Every day they would alter some thing and propose higher demands, and therefore we thought it best considering our totering condicion, and howerly feareing the arrivall of ye French fleet, which would have lessened the honour and goodnees of our articles, to delay no more time, but to hasten to a conclusion, for we could not expect the least releife, and therefore on the 6th of the aforesaid month about twelve at night these articles were signed: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Articles concluded upon between Commandt. Abraham Crynsens, Admirall of a sguadron of shipps, belonging unto the noble und mighty lords the states of Zealand, and coll. William Byam, late lieut.-genll. of Guiana and governor of Willoughby-Land.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 257]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 258]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 259]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 260]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Abraham Crynsens. William Byam.
In April 1667 Capt. Crynsens sayld for Surynam for the takeing on the Island of Tobago, leaving | |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 261]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Capt. Ram, commanding of this land for Governor for the Lords of Zealand. Besides these there were others which the commandor (of) Surynam would not have placed in the generall articles, for the performance of which they engaged their honour:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
[pagina 262]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
It may be expected that I should give a perfect accompt what men were in the colony at the fleets arrival, which I shall very faithfully doe. In July last I had an exact list of all the four companies, which amounted to more than seaven hundred men; I have now received perfect lists, which I am to deliver to the commissioner according to the articles, and I find in all, both officers and soldiers, about 500 men, from which if we deduct the superannuated, the sick, the weake, the lame, which were really so at present, I justly averr we had not 300 men sound in the whole countrey, and those at very remote distances by reason of their dispersed settlements. To conclude, an universall and continued sickness, an imperfect half-built fort, the vast distance of our settlements, an unable and divided people, the age, sickness, weakness, and backwardness of many, the infedellitty of more, the want of ammunition, the insolent disorders of our owne negroes, the dayly expectacion of the merciless French and the utter dispaire of any releife, were the confluence of united judgments, which our sinns had ripened, all concuring to subject us under the yoake of our enemies.
Will. Byam. |
|