荷属东印度公司的章程(英文)

ATRANSLATIONOFTHECHARTEROFTHEDUTCHEASTINDIACOMPANY:

PeterReynders,Translator

RupertGerritsen,Editor

PeterReynders,RupertGerritsen,AustralasianHydrographicSocietyPublishedby:

AustraliaontheMapDivisionoftheAustralasianHydrographicSociety2009

POBox8145

AustralianNationalUniversityCanberra

ACT2601

ATRANSLATIONOFTHECHARTEROFTHEDUTCHEASTINDIACOMPANY(VERENIGDEOOSTINDISCHECOMPAGNIEorVOC):GRANTEDBYTHESTATESGENERALOFTHEUNITEDNETHERLANDS,20MARCH16021,2

TheStatesGeneraloftheUnitedNetherlandssaluteallthosewhowillbeshownthis.

WeletitbeknownthatastheprosperityoftheUnitedNetherlandsisprincipallyaresultofourmercantiletradeandcommercethathasundergonepraiseworthyincreasesfromtimetotimeandthattheNetherlandshavebeeninvolvedtherewithsincethedistantpast,notonlywithneighbouringkingdomsandregions,butalsowiththoselocatedfurtherawaythanthese,inEurope,AsiaandAfrica.

Overthepastdecadeseveralprominentmerchantsfromtheabovementionedcountries

commencedpraiseworthyshippingtradeandcommercewiththeEastIndies.Thesefollowersofthemercantiletradeandcommerceinforeignlandshave,atgreatcost,effortanddifficulties,foundedacompanyintheCityofAmsterdam,acommendableshippingenterprisetradingintheEastIndies.Shortlyafterthatacompanywassetupandthiswasfoundtobemostworthwhile,anumberofothermerchantsincludingfromZeelandandfromalongtheMeuseaswellasfromtheNorthquarterandWestFrieslandfoundedsimilarcompaniesandimmediatelyjoinedtheshippingtradeandcommercementionedabove.

Thiswasconsideredbyus,theStatesGeneral,andgivendueweightinrecognisinghowmuchimportancetotheunitedprovincesandthegoodresidentsthereofwastheretoattachedthatthisshippingtradeandcommercebemaintainedandallowedtoincreasethroughapplicationofanappropriategeneralorganisationofitspolicy,ourmutualrelationsandadministration.

TheDirectorsoftheabovementionedcompanieswerethenceinvitedtoconsultwithusandproposethatthesecompaniesbeunitedandwouldthereinparticipate,asitwouldnotonlybeofserviceandprofitablefortheunitedprovinces,butalsoforallwhohadcommencedthiscommendabletrade.Throughthecreationofafixed,secureandorderlyentitytheywillbebondedtogether,managedandexpandedforthegoodofalltheresidentsoftheunitedprovinceswhowouldliketoparticipateinit.

Therepresentativesfromtheabovementionedcompaniesunderstoodthiswellandaftertheycametoagreethroughvariousdiscussions,explanatorysessions,andreports,wehave,afterhavingconductedduedeliberationstakingintoconsiderationtheprogress,serviceandwelfareoftheunitedprovinces,jointlysucceededinbringingaboutaunion.

Wehavealsoapprovedandconfirmedthisonthebasisofoursovereignpowerandauthority,applyingourbalancedunderstanding.Thepoints,privilegesandadvantagesaredeclaredasfollows:

Firstly,thatinequippingfortheserviceandtheadvantageofthisCompany,the

ChamberofDirectorsintheCityofAmsterdamwillhavetoadvanceanddeliveronehalfoftheinvestment,theChamberofZeelandaquarter,andtheChambersoftheMeuseandofNorthHollandandWestFrieslandone-eightheach.

AsoftenaswouldbeneededageneralmeetingorBoardconsistingoftheabovementionedChambersshallbeheldcomprisingseventeenpersons.ThereintheChamberofAmsterdamshallappearwitheight,Zeelandwithfour,twofromtheMeuseChamber,andtwofromNorthHolland,providedthattheseventeenthpersonwillbenominatedinturnsbyChambersofZeeland,theMeuseandNorthHolland,shallbeelectedbyamajorityofvotes.AllbusinessofthisUnitedCompanyshallbetakencareofbythesepersons.

WhenevertheabovementionedBoardmeets,itshalldeterminewhentheequippingofshipswilloccurandhowmany,wheretheyshallbesentandothermattersrelatingtothetrade.

TherespectiveChambersofAmsterdam,Zeeland,theMeuseandNorthHollandshallimplementtheresolutionsofthesaidBoard.

TheconveningandmeetingsoftheabovementionedBoardshalltakeplaceinAmsterdamforthefirstsixyears,andforthetwosubsequentyearsinZeeland,andsoon.

DuringthisperiodiftheDirectorsthatservetheUnitedCompanyneedtojourneyfromhomeinordertomeetasrepresentativesoftheaforementionedBoardoronotherbusinessaswelltocarryoutotherduties,theyshallhaveadailyexpenseallowanceforfoodoffourguildersperday,inadditiontothecostofbargeorwagon.ThisisontheunderstandingthatthosepersonswhotravelfromonecitytotheotherintheirroleasDirectorsinordertovisittherespectiveChambers,shallbeexcludedfromsuchrecompense,andwillreceiveneitherdailyallowancenorreimbursementoftravelcosts.

ShoulditoccurthattheBoardmembersareunabletoreachagreementonbusinessofconsiderableimportance,orareconcernedaboutoverrulingeachotherinregardto

this,thensuchmattersshallbedeferredandforwardedforourconsiderationanddetermination.Anyresultingapprovalsshallbedulyfollowedandactedupon.

ThisUnitedCompanyshallcommenceoperationsintheyearof1602,andshallcontinueforaperiodoftwenty-oneconsecutiveyearsprovidedthatthereisageneralauditeverytenyears.3AftertenyearsanyonemaydeparttheCompanyandtakehiscapitalwithhimontheunderstandingthatinrespecttothecurrentequippingandthoseshipsthatwillsailthatyear,thereshallbeanextraordinaryaudit.

Theparticipantsofthesecondaccountsshallberesponsibleforandshallpayhalf,orlessasreasonablydeterminedbytheBoardofSeventeen,oftheinvestmentthatshallhavebeenpaidbytheshareholdersinrespectofthefirstaccountrelatingtotheEastIndiesorbeyondtheStraitsofMagellanwherethisCompanywillhavebeentrading,andwhichwillbetotheprofitandadvantageoftheshareholdersinvolvedinthesecondaccounts.

Wherethenextscheduledvoyageisconcerned,ifanyparticipantwhodoesnotwishtobepartofthisunionandwantstheirinvestmentbackorwantstocanceltheirpledgedamount,theyshallbepermittedtodosoprovidedthatinterestispaidofatleast7.5%ofthepledgedamount.

AlloftheresidentsoftheseUnitedProvincesshallbeallowedtoparticipateinthisCompanyandtodosowithaslittleorasgreatanamountofmoneyastheychoose.Shoulditoccurthattherearemoremoneysofferedthanareneededforthevoyage,thosewhohavemorethan30,000guildersintheCompanywillhavetodecreasetheircapitalproratainordertomakeplaceforothers.

Withinthemonththatfollows,theresidentsofthislandshallbeinformedofthesedevelopmentsbymeansofpublicposterspostedinthoseplaceswheretheyareusuallyposted,fromthefirstofAprilnext,thattheywillbeadmittedintothisCompanywithaninvestmentthatmaybepaidinthreeinstalmentsonemonthafterbeinginvoicedbythedirectors,thatis,aboutone-thirdfortheequippingintheyear1603,anotherthirdfortheinvestmentoftheyear1604,andtheremainingthirdfor

outgoingshipsintheyear1605.

ThesameannouncementshallbemadeinthemonthofMarchpriortotheendofthefirstelevenyearsofthislicence;thatis,intheyear1612.

Shipsuponreturningfromtheirvoyageshallreturntotheharbourthattheysailedoutfrom.Andthoseshipsandtheirgoodsthathaveleftfromonequarterandbecauseofbadfortuneofweatherorwindhavebeenforcedtolandinanother,suchasthosethatsailedfromAmsterdamorfromtheNorthernQuarterandlandedinZeeland,orfromtheMeuseorfromZeelandthathavelandedinHolland,shallberetainedbyandunderthemanagementandadministrationoftheChamberfromwhichtheydeparted.

OneconditionforthisisthattheDirectorsofeachChambershallbeobligedtobepersonallypresentattheplacewheretheshipsandtheirmerchandisehavearrived.Theyshallnotbeallowedtoappointanyagents,butintheeventthattheywouldnotbeabletomakethejourneythemselves,theyshallcommittheDirectorsoftheChamberwheretheshipshavearrivedtocarryouttheiradministration.

ShouldoneChamberoranotherhavereceivedspicesorothermerchandisefromtheIndies,andotherChambershavenoneorhavenotyetreceivedany,theChamberthathasbeenstockedup,shallsupplytheotherChambersaccordingtoitsabilityandsendthemthemerchandise,andmoreshouldtheyhaveagainsoldout,ifsorequested.

Theaccountsconcerningthecrewandequipmentoftheshipsandallthatisrelatedtothisshallhavebeenrecordedthreemonthsaftertheshipshavesailedout.OnemonthafterthatacopyshallbesenttotherespectiveChambersandthesamestatementofthereturnvoyageshallbesenttoeachChamber,wheneverrequestedtodoso.Theaccountsfromthesevoyagesshallbeclosedassoonasisfeasible,whilstthegeneralaccountsafterthetenyearperiodshallbemadepublicthroughpastingofpostersannouncingittoanyonewhowishestobepresentduringtheauditingoftheaccounts.

TheChambersshallberequiredtoprovidethoseProvincesorcitieswhoseinhabitantshaveinvested50,000guildersormore,wheneverthereturncargoarrives,withastatementlistingthegoodsreceived,andwhatthestatethecargoisin.Andwhatthe

proceedsreceivedfromsaleofthemerchandiseareshallalsobeprovidedtotheProvincesorcities,whentheyrequestthis.

ShouldanyProvincewishtoappointanagenttocollectmoneysfromtheinhabitantsoftheprovincetoinvestthecollectedsuminquestionaspartoftheoverallsuminvestedandtoeffectpaymentfromtheproceedsofthereturnvoyage,theChamberwheresuchanagentbringsinsuchmoneysmustadmittheagenttoitspremises.Theagentshallthenhavetherighttobeinformedofexpenditureandreturns,includingwhatcreditsanddebtsareduewiththeadministration,providedthattheinvestmentbroughtinbytheabovementionedagentshallamounttoasumof50,000guildersormore.

Assoonas5%ofareturncargohasbeencashedshallitbedistributedtotheparticipants.

TherespectivechambersshallbemanagedbythepresentDirectors,namely:

TheChamberofAmsterdambyGerritPieterszoonBicker,ReynierAdriaenszoonPauw,PieterDirxszoonHasselaer,JaquesdeVelaer,JohanJansszoonKaerel,BernardBerrewijns,JohanPoppen,HansHunger,HendrikCorneliszoonBuyk,LouisdeleBeeque,DirckvanOs,Fran?oisvanHove,ElbertLucaszoonHelmer,IsaacLeMaire,SyvertPieterszoonSem,GerardReynst,MarcusdeVogelaer,JohanHermanszoon,GeurtDirxszoonvanBeuningen,HuybertWachtmans,LeonaertRaey,AlbertSymonszoonJoncheyn,andArenttenGrotenhuys.

TheChamberofZeelandbyAdriaenHendrickszoontenHaeff,JacobBoreel,JohanLambrechtszoonCoolen,JacobPietersdeWaert,CornelisMunicx,AdriaenBommenée,LaurensBacx,EverartBecker,ArnoultleClerq,ArnoutVerhoeve,GeraerdtvanSchoonhoven,NicolaesPieterzoon,BathazarvanVlierdenandBalthasardeMoucheron.

TheChamberofDelftbyJohanJanszoonLodesteyn,ArentJacobszoonLodensteynDirckBruynsssenvanderDussen,GerritDircxszoonMeerman,CornelisAdriaenszoonBogaert,MichielJanszoonSasbout,WillemJoostenDedel,Dirck

GerritszoonMeerman,JohanRaet,JacobSanderszoonBalbaien,HendrickOtteandJasperMeerman.

TheChamberofRotterdambyFopPieterszoonvanderMeyden,WillemJanszoonFranck,GerritHuygenzoon,PieterLenartszoonBusch,JohanvanderVeken,WillemJanszoonvanLoon,JohanJacobszoonMus,AdriaenSpierinckandCornelisMatelieffdeJonge.

TheChamberofHoornbyClaesJacobszoonSijms,CornelisCorneliszoonVeen,WillemPieterszoonKrap,PieterJanszoonLiorne.

TheChamberofEnkhuysenbyLucasGerritszoon,WillemCorneliszoondeJong,JohanPieterszoonScram,HendrikGruytter,JohanLaurenszoonvanLoosen,DirckDircxszoonPelser,GijsbrechtvanBeerensteyn,BarthoutJanszoonSteenhuysen,JacobJacobszoonHinlopen,Fran?oisduGardijn,enWillemBrasser.4

ShouldanyoftheabovementionedDirectorspassawayorotherwisenotbeabletocarryouthisduties,hisplacemustremainvacantandnobodyelseappointedtobesubstitutedforthedeceasedorfillthevacancyuntilthenumberofpersonsintherespectiveChambershadreachedtothefollowingnumbers:

TheChamberofAmsterdamat20persons,

thatofZeelandat12persons,

thatofDelftat7,

thatofRotterdamat7,

thatofEnkhuysenalso7,

andthatofHoorn:likewise7

Butifsomebodyfromtheprescribednumbersdiesorhispositionbecomesvacantforanyotherreason,thentheremainingdirectorsofanyChamberwherethisoccurred,shallwithinthetimeoftwooranabsolutemaximumofthreemonths,proposethenamesofthreesuitableandqualifiedpersonstotheGentlemenoftheProvincial

StatesinwhichtheBoardislocated,ortothosethattheyanswer.Theyshallelectonepersonofthosethreetoreplacethedeceasedorthepersonwhoseseathasotherwisebecomevacantinaccordancewiththerelevantregulation.

TheDirectorsshallsolemnlyswearanoathontheirhonourandfaiththattheyshallcarryouttheadministrationproperlyandhonestly,keepgoodandhonestaccounts,andincollectingthemoneysfortheequippingandinthedistributionofprofitsobtainedfromthereturncargoesshallnotfavourthegreatershareholdersoverthelesserones.

ThosewhoaresubsequentlychosentobeDirectorsshalleachstakeintheCompanyatleast1,000Flemishpounds,thoughtheDirectorsatHoornandEnkhuysenmaylimitthistonolessthan500suchpounds.

TheDirectorsshallfurthermorereceive1%commissionofthecostsoftheoutwardjourneyandthesamepercentageoftheprofitsobtainedfromthereturncargoes,whichtheyshalldisburseasfollows:halftotheChamberofAmsterdam,aquartertotheChamberofZeeland,andtotheChambersoftheMaasandNorthHollandoneeightheach,withouttakingintoconsiderationwhetheroneortheotherhasputinmoreorlessmoneysorhassoldagreaterorlesserquantityofspicesthanitsshare.ProvidingalsothattheDirectorsshallneitherborrowmoneysfromtheCompanynorbenefitfromitswares.TheyshallnotappointsomeoneelsetoclaimoutgoingstobuysuchwarestothedetrimentoftheCompany.

Eachbookkeeper,teller,servantormessengerwillbepaidasalarybytheDirectorsof

therespectiveChambersandthisshallnotbeattheparticipants ’expense.

ShouldanyofthedirectorsofoneChamberoranotherfindshimselfinsuchapositionofbeingunabletodischargehisresponsibilityregardingthemoneysentrustedtohiminhiscapacityasaDirector,anydamagesresultingfromthiswillbe

paidfromthatChamber’smoneysandnotbealiabilitytotheCompany’sreserves.ThusshallthosemoneysinthecompanythatarethepropertyoftheDirectorsbeespeciallyreservedfortheiradministration.

TheDirectorsoftherespectiveChambersshallberesponsiblefortheirtellers.

ToensurethatthepurposesofthisUnitedCompanyareachievedtothegreaterbenefitoftheseUnitedProvinces,tomaintainandexpandtradetoprofittheCompany,wedoherebylicencetheabovementionedCompanywiththeconditionsasfollows.Nopersons,regardlessofconstitutionorcapacityapartfromthoseoftheabovementionedCompanyshallbepermittedtosailfromtheseUnitedProvincestoreacheastoftheCapeofGoodHopeorthroughtheStraitsofMagellanforthenexttwenty-oneyearsatpainofconfiscationofshipsandcargoes.Thisperiodshallcommenceintheyear1602inclusive.WherepermissionhaspreviouslybeengrantedtosomeCompaniestotraveleastbeyondtheCapeofGoodHopeorthroughtheStraitsofMagellanthisshallremainvalidforthefulllengthofthepermit,providedthattheysendtheirshipstodepartfromthesecountriesnolaterthanfouryearsfromtoday’sdateorsufferlosingthebenefitofabovementionedmentionedpermission

Similarly,eastoftheCapeofGoodHopeandinandbeyondtheStraitsofMagellan,representativesoftheaforementionedCompanyshallbeauthorisedtoenterintocommitmentsandenterintocontractswithprincesandrulersinthenameoftheStatesGeneraloftheUnitedNetherlandsorthecountry’Governmentsinordertobuildfortificationsandstrongholds.

Theymayappointgovernors,keeparmedforces,installJudicialofficersandofficersforotheressentialservicessotokeeptheestablishmentsingoodorder,aswellasjointlyensureenforcementofthelawandjustice,allcombinedsoastopromotetrade.Inrespecttotradeandcommercetheabovementionedgovernors,thejudiciaryandmilitaryshallberequiredtoswearanoathofloyaltytotheStatesGeneral,ortotheabovementionedgovernmentandtotheCompany.Theseinturnmaydismisstheabovementionedgovernorsandmembersofthejudiciaryshoulditbefoundthattheyhaveactedcorruptlyanddishonestly,ontheunderstandingthattheaforementionedgovernorsandofficersshallnotbepreventedfromcomingforwardtoexpresstoustheirconcernsanddissatisfactionsshouldtheyhaveany.

UpontheshipsreturningtheCompanyofficialsshallberequiredtoinformtheGentlemenoftheStatesGeneralinrespecttothosegovernorsandofficersthattheyhaveappointedintheabovementionedestablishmentsandfortressessothattheirappointmentscanbeapprovedandratified.

ShouldanyofthoseoftheabovementionedCompanyhavebeencheatedorbeenmistreatedinsomelocationorhavetrustedthattheywouldreceivepromisedmoneysorbepaidforpartofadealanddidnotreceivethatreimbursementorpayment,thelosstheyhavesufferedshallinaccordancewiththecircumstancesofthematterbecompensatedforbythosemeansthataremostappropriate.

Uponarrivaloftheshipsbackinthisland,theyshallreportaboutthecircumstancesofthemattertotheBoardoftheAdmiraltyofthequarterwheretheyhavelanded.ShouldanymembersoftheAdmiraltyexpressthemselvesintermsthatmembersofthisCompanytakeexceptionto,theymaylodgeanappealwithus.

Ontheconditionthatasatisfactoryinventoryisprovided,thegoodsshallbereceivedbyofficialsoftheCompany,unlesssomeoneotherthantheCompany’sfinancialofficermakesclaimtobethecontractingpartyandclaimsthegoodsforhimself.Shouldthishappen,theaforementionedgoodsmustbeadministeredandkeptsafeinaccordancewiththedirectionoftheAdmiralty.

IfitshouldoccurthatSpanishorPortugueseshipsorthoseofanotherenemyattacktheshipsofthiscompanyandshouldduringsuchfightsomeshipsbecaptured,thecapturedshipsandgoodsshallbeapportionedinthewayitisusuallydoneinthecountrythatis,sharedoutwiththecountryandtheAdmiralbeinggivenafairshare,providedthatshouldtheCompanyhavesufferedanydamageintheencounter,thiswillbesubtractedinadvance.

ThemembersoftherespectiveAdmiraltieswheretheshipsshallhavearrivedwillalsobemadeawareofthelegitimacyofthebounty.Inthecourseofanylegalchallenge,thegoodsshallremainundertheadministrationoftheCompany,subjecttoaproperinventory,asmentionedpreviously,andthosewhofeeldisadvantagedbythe

decision,shallbefreetolodgeanappealwithus.

Spices,ChinesesilkandcottoncloththatthisCompanywillhavebroughtfromtheEastIndiesshallnotbetaxedmorethantheyarenow,neitheruponentrynorupondeparture,butinaccordancewiththetaxationscheduleandthegeneraldeclarationsattheendofthedocumentdealingwithsuchgoodsthatarenotspecificallylisted.

ExceptwithconsentoftheCompany,noneoftheships,cannonorammunitionthatbelongtotheCompanyshallbeusedintheserviceofthecountry.

AllofthespicesthattheCompanysellsshallbesoldaccordingtoacommonweightstandard,beingthatofAmsterdam.

ThemembersoftherespectiveChambersshallbeabletokeepthestorageoftheirspices,whetheronboardtheshipsorinawarehouse,andtheseshallnotbesubjecttoanyduties,taxesorweighingfees.Thismustbesubjecttothecondition,thatthespiceswillnotbetransportedbeforeaspecifiedweightisdeterminedbutshallbeweighedwhentheyhavebeensold,weighingtaxesbeingpaidatthetimethattheyaresoldorremoved,aswithanygoodsthataresubjecttoweighingfees.

Likewise,neithertheDirectorsnortheirgoodsshallbesubjecttotaxorburdenedinanywayinordertogainaccesstotheiraccountswiththeabovementionedCompany,

oranyclaimsmadeontheincomesofanyoftheclerks,ship’scaptains,navigators,sailors,oranyservantsoftheCompany.Anypersonwhowishestoimposeanimpostonthemwillhavetobringthembeforearegularmagistrate.

TheCompany’sProvostsmayapprehendsailorsonlandwhohavevolunteeredforthatserviceandbringthemonboardwherevertheymaybe,whateverthecity,placeorjurisdiction,providedthattheabovementionedProvostshalldiscussthisinadvancewiththeofficialsandtheBurgomastersofthosecitiesandplaces.

InrecognitionofthisLicenceandtheaboveterms,therepresentativesfromtheabovementionedCompanyshallpayusthesumof25,000poundsof40Flemishgroatseach.Weshallinvestthisamountinthepreparationsforthefirstten-year

accounts.Anyprofitsandrisksaccruingfromthisshallbeforthebenefitorliability

oftheStatesGeneral,thesameappl