PROPOSALS
Of
the
Undertakers
for
setling
a
Free
Port
in
WEST-INDIA
.
WHereas
many
and
great
Advantages
have
been
Reapt
by
most
Nations
of
Europ
,
from
and
by
the
discovery
of
that
Rich
and
spatious
Country
West-India
,
and
yet
many
Rich
and
valuable
Discoverys
both
of
profit
and
place
in
the
same
,
convenient
for
setlement
are
hitherto
unknown
and
unposest
by
Europeans
.
Which
the
Undertakers
having
been
conversant
in
these
parts
,
are
ready
to
demonstrate
when
occasion
requires
with
the
advantages
,
that
will
acrue
to
all
who
shall
be
willing
to
adventure
therein
,
either
in
person
or
purse
.
And
for
the
publick
and
universal
Improvement
of
the
said
Advantages
in
this
and
time
to
come
,
the
Undertakers
intend
to
manage
the
same
by
a
Society
to
be
called
and
known
by
the
name
of
the
general
European
Company
for
West-India
.
And
for
the
more
free
and
easie
management
of
this
great
and
good
undertaking
,
the
Company
do
declare
,
that
they
will
setle
a
free
Port
and
Trade
upon
some
convenient
place
in
the
said
Countries
,
for
the
Seat
of
Commerce
between
that
and
Europe
,
as
well
as
other
parts
of
the
World.
And
since
every
man
ought
to
be
informed
of
the
particular
Advantages
,
before
Adventure
be
made
,
none
are
obliged
to
subscribe
any
sum
upon
their
Admission
into
this
Company
,
but
the
terms
of
such
Admission
shall
only
be
subscribing
to
the
Conditions
upon
the
Roll
here
underwritten
.
And
he
who
is
admitted
in
manner
aforesaid
,
shall
ever
after
by
himself
,
or
Deputy
,
be
duely
informed
of
all
the
succeeding
undertakings
,
and
have
vot
and
share
in
the
same
suteable
to
his
Adventure
,
which
is
not
to
exceed
ten
thousand
Gilders
in
principale
stock
for
any
one
man
at
any
time
for
the
first
three
years
.
And
the
same
Company
do
resolve
from
time
to
time
,
to
defray
all
and
every
part
of
the
Charge
of
their
several
undertakings
by
their
joynt
consent
and
common
stocke
.
And
as
it
may
be
necessary
for
the
said
Society
in
time
to
come
in
some
particular
undertakings
to
make
their
Application
to
the
High
and
Mighty
States
,
and
other
Governments
of
Europe
,
as
well
as
particular
persons
,
so
this
as
all
other
things
,
shall
be
done
,
as
need
require
,
by
advise
of
the
Company
,
and
Charge
of
the
Common
stock
.
The
Company
think
fit
at
present
only
to
give
this
general
account
of
things
and
publick
Invitation
for
persons
to
subscribe
reserving
the
secrets
of
Trade
,
and
the
Company
to
the
assembly
,
or
such
as
they
shall
order
from
time
to
time
.
Those
that
are
willing
to
enter
into
this
Society
,
but
would
conceal
their
names
for
a
time
,
may
enter
,
or
cause
to
be
enterd
what
other
name
they
please
,
and
take
a
note
from
the
Steward
,
to
signify
,
that
such
name
is
only
in
trust
for
him
provided
,
alway
that
such
notes
of
Trust
shall
be
produced
,
and
the
right
Names
enterd
when
the
Assembly
shall
please
to
order
it
,
least
by
such
means
one
,
or
a
few
persons
under
several
names
should
engrose
to
themselves
too
great
an
interest
in
this
undertaking
.
The
Members
who
have
already
subscribed
,
have
chosen
and
appointed
Rest
Fenner
,
Bookseller
,
near
the
Exchange
in
Amsterdam
,
being
one
of
the
Company
,
the
present
Steward
to
keep
the
Rolle
,
and
take
Subscriptions
until
the
meeting
of
the
Assembly
.
All
the
persons
who
live
at
a
distance
from
Amsterdam
,
may
send
their
Order
in
writting
to
any
Friend
,
to
doe
it
for
them
;
but
such
Orders
must
be
filled
up
for
the
warrant
of
every
one
who
subscribes
for
his
Friend
;
and
such
Resolutions
of
the
Company
as
are
needful
to
be
made
publick
,
shall
be
given
in
the
Courants
or
by
other
publick
Notice
from
time
to
time
.
The
Underwritten
is
the
Copy
of
the
Rolle
for
Subscription
.
Whereas
the
Freedom
and
Liberty
of
the
Worship
of
God
,
according
to
the
holy
Scriptures
,
is
the
first
and
most
desirable
thing
,
and
in
the
next
place
the
Security
of
the
Liberty
,
and
property
of
the
persons
and
Estates
of
every
man
to
him
and
his
posterity
so
far
as
humane
prudence
can
extend
it self
for
the
common
good
of
mankind
ought
to
be
preserved
;
Wee
therefore
doe
resolve
and
agree
by
Gods
permission
to
setle
a
free
Port
and
Trade
for
all
Nations
in
an
Eminent
part
of
West-India
,
whereunto
we
are
invited
by
a
great
and
populous
Empire
,
where
we
shall
not
only
by
the
Divine
Assistance
be
capable
of
promoting
the
true
Worship
of
God
,
but
also
of
enriching
our selves
,
and
all
that
shall
be
concerned
with
us
,
and
therefore
We
propose
to
our
own
and
all
other
Christian
Nations
,
who
are
desirous
to
joyn
in
so
glorious
and
great
an
undertaking
to
incorporate
with
us
;
resolving
to
give
and
allow
equal
Priviledges
and
Advantages
to
all
,
according
to
their
Merits
.
And
because
so
great
an
undertaking
cannot
be
effectually
carried
on
without
the
concurrence
of
many
persons
of
ability
and
Substance
,
We
do
resolve
and
agree
that
when
we
have
received
the
Subscriptions
of
Seventy
persons
to
this
undertaking
,
a
general
meeting
shall
be
appointed
and
held
,
where
the
whole
Affair
shall
then
be
debated
,
and
such
Officers
,
both
Military
and
Civil
as
may
seem
convenient
,
shall
be
setled
with
the
methods
for
effecting
this
great
glorious
and
advantageous
Affair
,
which
we
question
not
but
God
that
hath
inspired
us
in
the
undertaking
,
will
bless
and
prosper
to
the
accomplishing
thereof
;
but
in
regard
all
things
are
intended
to
be
managed
by
a
Comon
Stock
,
and
the
Advantages
destributed
according
to
the
Quantum
of
every
persons
subscription
,
which
cannot
be
brought
to
the
desired
perfection
,
without
some
present
Charge
.
It
is
therefore
agreed
that
every
Subcriber
shall
deposite
the
sum
of
twenty
Gilders
upon
his
Subscription
,
to
be
imployed
for
and
towards
the
necessary
charge
of
the
promoting
and
obtaining
the
Subscriptions
,
and
meeting
of
the
said
Assembly
of
Seventy
,
to
whom
affair
and
just
Account
shall
be
given
at
their
meeting
,
and
then
the
Remainder
of
that
Money
and
all
such
Sums
as
shall
then
and
after
be
subscribed
,
shall
be
ordered
and
disposed
as
they
and
future
Subscribers
shall
agree
upon
and
direct
from
time
to
time
.
Whe
whose
names
are
hereunto
subscribed
,
do
ingadge
with
,
and
incorporate
our selves
into
the
Society
pursuant
to
the
Ends
above
written
.