" Therefore, We being desirous to afford sufficient security thereto, as we have proceeded herein only uprightly, sincerely and in good faith, did and do Declare hereby, that Our intention was none other than to proceed in good faith, and by means of the aforesaid General Company earnestly and zealously to cause Navigation and Commerce to be undertaken as well to the West Indies and the Coasts of Africa as to Guinea; consequently that the Charter which this General Company will obtain in this regard, shall not convey any power or clause to enable any person to take advantage thereof against others, in case Trade shall not be speedily undertaken and prosecuted by said Company as well in the other various Quarters as on the Guinea coasts, or in case the Trade to the other Countries should, through any impediment, by want of profit or through any other cause, happen to fail, be interrupted or cease but that in such case and then, the Guinea Trade shall be again free, common and open ;

to every one as it has been to this day in every respect, as if no Charter had been granted ; And in order that those at present trading to Guinea may not be injured, it is our meaning, that those who have gone, or have been sent, to the Coasts of Guinea from this or other countries previous to the date hereof, or who shall proceed there within the present year 1614, shall continue their Trade to the sale of their goods and to their return to this country and no longer, provided that after the 1 January 1615, no person shall have liberty to send out any ships and goods ; Nevertheless, however, in case the sum of four, five or six Millions of guilders shall not be subscribed in the year 1615, by this General Company, before the 1st May, the Traders to Guinea shall have power to send out their ships for that year, and to continue trading until the aforesaid Capital or such Capital, as his Excellency [Prince Maurice] and the Lords States General shall declare sufficient to effectually put this project into operation, shall be subscribed, and until the sale of their goods.