28 JOUBNAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



numbers of Tulips on the market, with the result that bulbs depreciated 

 immediately. 



Then came the panic and everyone wanted to sell and no one wanted 

 to buy. Waermondt tells us, that on February 3, 1637, a few florists 

 met at an inn, and endeavoured to push the trade again by holding a 

 mock auction, but without result. 



On February 24, 1637, delegates were appointed from the towns of 

 Haarlem, Hoorn, Alkmaar, &c, who met at Amsterdam and drew up the 

 following agreement : " That all sales of Tulips made to the end of 

 November 1636 should be binding. Transactions after that date could be 

 cancelled at the option of the buyer, upon payment of 10 per cent, of the 

 amount purchased to the seller, providing notice is given before March 

 1637." But this was not accepted. Gaergoedt gives us an idea of the 

 times when, pointing to Waermondt, he says, " When my buyer pays me 

 I will pay you, but he is nowhere to be found." 



1637. January 18 bought from Pieter Willemss van Eosven one ' Terlon,' 

 318 — weighing 275 azen when planted, for the sum of Three hundred & 



eighteen Florins, the Bulb planted in Cornelis Verwer's Garden. 



Wine Money 12 Stuijvers. F. 318. 



Wouter Tulleken. 



[Copyright: James Murray & Sons. 

 Fig. 9. — Facsimile and Teanslation of the Eecoed of the Sale of a Bulb. 



The Law Courts became crowded and, as no one knew what to do, the 

 Magistrates of the towns were asked to intervene. 



A petition was handed to the Governors of Holland and West 

 Friesland, at The Hague, pressing for the cancelling of all the trans- 

 actions entered into during the past winter. In their reply the Court 

 declared " there was not enough information in the papers furnished to 

 enable the Court to come to a legal decision, but they advised the 

 Magistrates to endeavour to induce the parties to come to terms in a 

 friendly manner, and to keep the Court informed how matters were 

 progressing." 



A decree dated April 1637, issued by the Court of Holland, by which 

 authority was to be given to the sellers to sell all Tulips sold for future 

 delivery, after giving the buyer due notice, or hold them at their own 

 risk, and that the buyer would be answerable for any differences in the 

 amounts realized. Further, it was to be taken for granted that all Tulip 

 contracts were to be suspended, and not acted upon until this matter had 



