The Memoirs and Memorials of Jacques de Coutre: Security, Trade and Society in 16th- and 17th-century Southeast Asia

Appendix III: Affidavit of Simon Lambertsz. Mau confirming that the senior merchant Lambert Biesman of Nijmegen was garrotted in prison in Manila, etc.

294 A P P E N D I X III Affidavit of Simon Lambertsz. Mau confirming that the senior merchant Lambert Biesman of Nijmegen was garrotted in prison in Manila, etc. The following affidavit touches on the execution of Lambert Biesman and his men at Manila and forms part of the bound bundle of affidavits (described under appendix I) collectively titled Boeck Tracterende vande Wreede, Verradische ende Hostile proceduren der Portugesen In Oost-Indien. The affidavit by Simon Lambertsz. Mau is dated 10 October 1604. According to chapter XVI of the autobiography, De Coutre arrived in Manila around the time of the naval confrontation between the Spanish and the Dutch in Manila Bay (14 December 1600) and acted as an interpreter during the formal proceedings against Lambert Biesman and 17 of his mates who had been captured. Of the prisoners, 13 were subsequently executed in the city of Manila, the others were set free because they were still young. It is uncertain whether the “person who had lived in the East Indies on a permanent basis” mentioned by Simon Lambertsz. Mau may have been in fact Jacques de Coutre.  The Hague, Nationaal Archief, Collectie 102, Baron H. van Zuylen van Nyevelt, suppl. 2, no. 13 (2.21.179.01 no. 13), Boeck Tracterende vande Wreede, Verradische ende Hostile proceduren der Portugesen In Oost-Indien, pp. 84–5. A transcript of the Dutch original has also been published in Coolhaas, “Een bron van het historische gedeelte van Hugo de Groots De Jure Praedae”, BMH 79 (1965): 493–4. Translated from Dutch by Dr Corinna Vermeulen, Noctua Taal en tekst, Leiden. 25 MJdC.indd 294 10/24/13 5:31:57 PM 295 Appendices: Appendix III Affidavit that the senior merchant Lambert Biesman of Nijmegen was garrotted in prison in Manila, etc. Before me, Geeraert Vreem, notary public admitted by the Court of Holland upon nomination by the City of Amsterdam, and the witnesses mentioned below, appeared skipper Simon Lambertsz. [Mau], having made three voyages to the East Indies, now 46 years of age, and at the request of the Gentlemen Directors of the East Indian Company of this city declared, gave testimony and attested that it is true that Olivier van Noort, sailing from Rotterdam with his ship and cutter, subsequently arrived at Manila near the Philippines. There two ships or galleons came sailing, intending to come alongside the aforementioned Olivier, so that one ship or galleon was sunk by gunfire from Olivier and his crew, and Olivier’s cutter was subsequently taken by the other ships or galleons. Lambert Biesman was captain on this cutter, and was imprisoned in Manila. The witness also declares having spoken with a person who had lived in the East Indies on a permanent basis, declaring that he had visited Lambert Biesman in prison and that Lambert Biesman had been garrotted in prison. The witness has declared that all this is the truth and is prepared to confirm it under oath at any time as well as in case of a request for further investigation. The witness furthermore consents to the execution of this deed by me, notary. Done formally on 13 September 1604, in the presence of Gilles Michielsen and Mathys Claessen, witnesses requested for this purpose, and signed. Quod attestor rogatus, Vreemd, notary public.  The name is also variously spelled ‘Vreemd’ below.  Ms. Hove van Hollandt.  Ms. here and subsequently: Manielges.  Ms. ontrent de Phillippinen.  This meant it was taken by the two aforementioned enemy craft. These were two vessels under the command of Dr Antonio de Morga.  Ms. Lambrecht. Biesman, according to an editorial comment by Coolhaas, “Een bron”: 493, note 3, was the son of a burgomaster of Nijmegen. He was originally hired as an oppercommies (similar to a factor) and in the course of Van Noort’s expedition became skipper of the Eendracht (Unity, Concordia). See also Morga, Sucesos, pp. 165, 181, “Lamberto Viesman of Rotterdam”.  This is almost certainly De Coutre, who is known to have acted as a translator during the formal proceedings against Biesman and his men. In his affidavit, reproduced as appendix I, Van Neck confirmed that De Coutre had spoken to Biesman in prison about a week before he was executed.  Ms. erroneously reads ragatus. The phrase means: “To which I bear witness, having been requested to do so.” 25 MJdC.indd 295 10/24/13 5:31:57 PM The Memoirs and...