nieuhoff's brazil. 



739 



for the general benefit as well of the company and fugar-mills, as the merchants and 

 faftors, it was agreed, that certain articles fhould be agreed upon for that purpofe ; the 

 greateft advantage the company pretended to reap by it being, that they fliould have a 

 fair opportunity of recovering fome of their debts, which were given over for loft. 

 Thefe agreements were wonderfully pleafmg to the council of Nineteen, who in the year 

 1645, °^ ^^^ ^^^^ °^ June, fent their approbation of a fecond agreement made with 

 one George Homo Pmto (which indeed was of as great confequence as all the other 

 contracts together) to the great council as follows : 



Approbation of the Agreement. 



- " Concerning the agreement by you (meaning the council) on the 14th of Decem- 

 ber laft, made with George Homo Pinto, we have had feveral debates, which we find 

 to have been brought to a conclufion, with the previous advice and approbation of the 

 counfellors of juftice and of the finances ; fo that both in refpe6l; of the fame, and of 

 the great benefit that is likely to accrue thereby to the company, we have thought fit to 

 approve of the fald agreement ; recommending to you the execution of it, with the fame 

 zeal as you have fhewn your condu6l and circumfpedion in the whole management of 

 thefe contracts." 



That thefe agreements were by all people, that had any knowledge of thofe affairs, 

 looked upon as greatly for the interefl of the company, is moft evident from hence, that 

 feveral other merchants that were fenfible of this advantage, made agreements with their 

 debtors much upon the fame terms as the company had done ; which, that it may be 

 put beyond all doubt, we will give you a copy of one of thofe agreements, from whence 

 it will plainly appear with how much circumfpedlion the council proceeded in this mat- 

 ter, betwixt the company, the mafters of the fugar-mills, and their debtors. 



The Copy of an Agreement. 



" Mr. Peter John Bas, and John van Ratsfield, counfellors of juftice of Brazil, by 

 fpecial commiifion from the Weft-India company, and John van Walbeeck, affeffor of 

 the great council, did appear before us on one fide ; and Manuel Fernando Cruz, Sieur 

 de Ingenho Tapicura, in behalf of himfelf and his heirs ; as alfo Benjamin de Pina for 

 ten thoufand fix hundred gilders ; Ifaac de Cofta for thirteen thoufand one hundred 

 and eight ; Jofeph Abenacar for four hundred and ninety ; Simon de Vale for three 

 hundred and twenty-five; Gafper Francifco and David Brandoa for eleven hundred 

 and thirty-three ; Abraham de Tovaer for one thoufand ; John Parente for three hun- 

 dred and fifty ; John Mendon9a de Moeribeca for four thoufand three hundred and fifty ; 

 James Gabay for one thoufand and fifty ; More de Leon for fix hundred ; Balthazar 

 de Fonfeca for fix hundred j Simon Gomes de Lilboa for five thoufand nine hundred 

 and ten ; Bartholomew Rodrlgues for nine hundred ; and Daniel Cardofa for nine 

 hundred and ten gilders; the whole amounting to forty thoufand five hundred and 

 twenty-fix gilders, being all creditors of the faid Manuel Fernando Cruz, and for the 

 moft part debtors to the company on the other fide, who profefs and declare to have 

 agreed among themfelves, that the before-mentioned Manuel Fernando Cruz, fhall pay 

 to the company the full fum of fixty thoufand feven hundred and ninety-five gilders, 

 viz, nineteen thoufand two liundred and fixty nine gilders upon his own account, being 

 by him owing to the faid company, and the remaining fum on the account of his credi- 



5 B 2 tors 



