The Lost Treasure of Pim De Zwolle: A 17Th Century Pirate

By Lucidus Smith

This book has been written in two parts. Part 1 looks at the life and times of a Dutch pirate named Pim de Zwolle, the scourge of the Caribbean and East Indies. It covers the period from 1593 to 1653 and looks into Pims family background, his birth, upbringing, and the circumstances that turned him into a pirate. Part 2 skips to 1951 and picks up the story of Bertie Bannister, a retired sea captain, who goes in search of Pims lost treasure when an old map happens to come his way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481799683

Lucidus Smith

Lucidus Smith is British and was born in South London at the end of the Second World War. He is the youngest of four children, his father working as a wagon maker on the railways and his mother a housewife. He gave his heart to the Lord when he was eleven and was baptised with the Holy Spirit when he was thirty. He qualified as a Methodist lay-preacher in 1991 and during his years as a Christian has attended a range of churches which include Baptist, Methodist, Church of Scotland, Church of England, Christian Outreach Centre and various other evangelical house churches and fellowships. He left school at sixteen and first worked for a London Stockbroker's as a junior clerk and then joined a City financial group where he qualified as a Company Secretary. He next worked for IBM in a variety of roles for twenty years before going back to being a Company Secretary in 1991 with Lexmark International UK Ltd. He retired in 2001. He married Elizabeth in 1969 and they have three sons, all of whom are married and have children. Lucidus first started writing in 2005 on the premise that 'everyone has a book in them' and his first book, 'Blossom in Winter - Frost in Spring', was eventually published in 2010 and this book is now the twelfth that he has written and published.

Book preview

CONTENTS

Introduction

PART ONE—JOURNAL ONE

Background

Chapter 1

Alive And Well

Chapter 2

I’ll Be The Death Of You

Chapter 3

Half A Sack Of Soot

Chapter 4

The Duke Of Buckingham

Chapter 5

The Silver Shield

Chapter 6

The War Club

Chapter 7

Visitors

Chapter 8

Mia

Chapter 9

The Gunpowder Plot

Chapter 10

Africa

Chapter 11

The Merchantman

Chapter 12

Lombok

Chapter 13

Voc Vengeance

Chapter 14

Homecomings

PART ONE—JOURNAL TWO

Background

Chapter 15

Bad News—Good News

Chapter 16

My Dearest Wish

Chapter 17

Saint Toro

Chapter 18

The Venture

Chapter 19

Sheep!

Chapter 20

Mrs. Scott

Chapter 21

Some Fun

Chapter 22

Ralph And Barney

Chapter 23

Slavery?

Chapter 24

The Company

Chapter 25

Pim And Henny

Chapter 26

Sulphur

Chapter 27

A Lucky Break

PART TWO

Background

Chapter 28

The Treasure Map?

Chapter 29

The Letters

Chapter 30

Ted

Chapter 31

Blue Flowers

Chapter 32

Conclusion

Epilogue

Appendix

Appendix A.

Appendix B.

Appendix C.

Dedication

To Bill Smith—

The big brother everyone should have

INTRODUCTION

This book has been written in Two Parts.

Part One—looks at the life and times of a Dutch Pirate named Pim de Zwolle, the scourge of the Caribbean and East Indies. It covers the period from 1593 to 1653 and looks into Pim’s family background, his birth, upbringing and the circumstances which turned him into a pirate.

Part Two—skips to 1951 and picks up the story of Bertie Bannister, a retired sea captain, who goes in search of Pim’s lost treasure.

PART ONE—JOURNAL ONE

Background

It was Spring 1593, just two years after the Dutch rebels had re-taken the town of Deventer from the Spanish, when Amalia Schuyler, the only child of a wealthy wool merchant in the said town of Deventer, called by her father’s offices with a message from her mother and went straight to the desk of the head clerk, Diede de Zwolle, to find out where her father had gone.

I am sorry Miss Schuyler but your father has had to go out to the harbour and will not be back for several hours, Diede informed her, perhaps I could pass a message to Mr. Schuyler for you.

That is most kind of you Mr. de Zwolle, it was really just to remind him that he was supposed to collect something for my mother, which she urgently needed; but no matter, it will have to wait.

A parcel was delivered to your father this morning, which he did say was for your mother, could that be what you are seeking, by any chance? Diede enquired.

It must be; would you get it for me please so I can check.

Diede fetched the parcel from Mr. Schuyler’s office and waited while Amelia untied it sufficiently to make sure it was the right one.

Yes thank you Mr. de Zwolle, this is the right one, I will just tie it up again and then I will carry it home.

Did you come in the carriage Miss Schuyler or did you walk?

I walked here, why do you ask?

If that is the case, I couldn’t possibly allow you to carry the parcel, it is far too heavy for you, but I would be only too happy to carry it for you myself, as I am about to leave here in order to go and see a customer who lives near to your house.

Why thank you Diede, that is most kind of you, mother will be pleased! Amalia said smiling, not quite knowing why she was starting to blush in front of the handsome man, standing in front of her.

And that is how the romance between Diede de Zwolle and Amalia Schuyler started. They courted for a year and married in the June of 1594 and immediately took up residence in a fine building that had been owned by Diede’s parents and was just a few streets away from where Amalia’s parents lived. Diede’s father had been a Spice Trader and he and his wife had been drowned in the Bay of Biscay several years previously, when they were on their way to Portugal to buy spices and their ship went down in a terrible storm off the coast of northern Spain.

Life was good for the young couple and the wool trade blossomed, but the one disappointment in their lives, was that Amelia seemed unable to bear children. Twice she became pregnant and twice she had a miscarriage, each occasion being followed by the most awful periods of grief and depression, so to save his wife any more distress, Diede started to sleep in a different bed from his wife and their lovemaking ceased.

Their tranquil and pleasant lifestyle came to a sudden end in 1604, when Amalia’s father was on a business trip to Ostend. The town had come under attack from the Spanish and was retaken by General Spinola while her father was still present in the town and he was unfortunately killed in the fierce fighting which ensued, when the Spanish troops broke through the town’s defences. Diede courageously travelled to Ostend as soon as news of his death reached them and arranged for the body to be taken back to Deventer for burial, on one of the ships that Mr. Schuyler had often used to transport wool. As no-one else in the family had Diede’s extensive knowledge of the wool trade, he was elected chairman and took over the running of the business straight away.

Amalia was so saddened at the effect that her father’s death was having on her mother that she decided to try for a baby once again and in April 1605 informed her husband and her mother that she was ‘with child’. The pregnancy was difficult and Amalia thought she had lost her baby at least once, but this time the fates were kind to her and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl on the 16th November 1605. Sadly the whole experience was too much for Amalia and she passed away, three days later, still holding her beautiful baby girl in her arms.

Diede was devastated and immersed himself in his work, leaving Amalia’s mother and a nanny to bring up the child. Six years passed and the loss of his wife had lessened and his daughter Geertje was becoming a very independent and demanding little girl, to the extent that her grandmother called Diede to her house one day and told him that his daughter needed a mother and that it was high time he considered re-marrying.

Diede it is six years since Amalia died, you have grieved long enough my dear. It is different for me, I am too old to marry again, but you are still relatively young, you are just over forty and Geertje really needs a mother now. You should start looking for another wife.

I don’t know what to say, it is not something I have considered, but thank you for being so honest with me, I will certainly consider the matter.

With his mother-in-law having raised the matter of re-marrying, it was as if a great weight had slid from his shoulders and Diede realised that he had missed the company of his wife and her touch around the house and decided that he would start looking for a new wife soon, ‘perhaps after Christmas’ he said to himself.

It was in fact on Christmas Eve when Diede was on his way out of the Deventer Waag, or Weighing House, when he came across a young woman, looking very lost, standing just inside the busy entrance.

I do not wish to worry you young lady, but this is an extremely busy doorway and I am fearful you will get knocked over if you stand here long enough. Can I assist you in some way?

Thank you sir, I am looking for my father, he left home without his lunch today and I have brought it for him, but have no idea where he might be working. His name is Mr. Aart Rietveld, would you know him by any chance, he is a clerk here?

If you go up those stairs over there, he said pointing across the main hall, and go to the first floor and turn left, I think you will find your father in the second room down. I was talking with him just ten minutes ago.

Oh thank you so much sir, I am afraid I do not know your name, for I am certain that Papa would want to thank you himself.

My name is Diede de Zwolle, Miss Rietveld and I am pleased to be of service.

Angelien, by name is Angelien, Mr. de Zwolle.

It was the following week before Diede was in the Waag again and for some reason he could not explain, made a point of seeking out Aart Rietveld and spending time in conversation with him.

I met your charming daughter here before Christmas, Diede said. Did she manage to find you eventually?

Oh, yes Mr. de Zwolle, thank you for putting her right, in all the confusion of Christmas I had managed to leave my lunch at home.

Yes, so she told me. I was fearful that she would get knocked over, standing in the doorway downstairs, you know how hectic it can get there sometimes. Your daughter struck me as a very charming young woman, you must be very proud of her Mr. Rietveld.

Indeed I am, she’s a good girl is our Angelien and bright as a button; between you and me, I am hoping to get her a job here Mr. de Zwolle, as soon as one becomes available and the other clerks agree to it, of course.

A job here eh! I would have thought a pretty young woman like her would be courting by now, if not actually married, said Diede, probing.

Well at twenty three she should be, but with six other children at home, her mother could not do without her assistance right now.

But if she does work here in the Waag, surely her mother would have to manage on her own then, wouldn’t she?

That is true, but then Angelien would still be able to help her mother when she got home from work at night and her wages might enable us to have a scullery maid or such like.

Ah, of course! Is your daughter good with figures, do you happen to know, as I do need to employ a junior accounts clerk and would be more than happy to give her a job, if she could handle the work.

Well that is most generous of you Mr de Zwolle and yes, she is good with figures, perhaps I could tell her to come and see you and you could test her ability for yourself.

What a good idea, I am away for a day or two, but tell her to come and see me next Tuesday at nine o’clock and I will see if she is suitable.

What do you mean she can go to work for Mr. de Zwolle? Who will help me in the house and with the children? Mrs Rietveld enquired of her husband when he got home from work that night.

She is twenty three and it is high time some of the others started to pull their weight around here. Besides, he will pay her a lot more than she will earn at the Waag and we could use the money to get a scullery maid to help you, if we needed to, he said thoughtfully.

What are you smirking about Aart Rietveld? There’s more to all this job nonsense than you are telling me, isn’t there?

The man is a widower with a young daughter and when we were chatting about our Angelien today, he was smiling at me and I have not seen him smile since his wife died. Am I right in thinking that you know someone who works at his dead wife’s mother’s house? Maybe you could ask some questions of her!

Are you suggesting what I think you are suggesting Aart Rietveld?

I am suggesting nothing wife, just looking out for my daughter, like any good father would.

Angelien went for the interview, got the job and started with Diede de Zwolle’s company right away, at a very generous salary. Her mother did speak to Mrs. Schuyler’s cook, who recounted word for word the conversation that had taken place between her employer and Diede, before Christmas.

You were right husband, he is looking for a wife, if we play our cards right here, we could do very nicely out of this match.

Do you think we should say something to Angelien about all this? Aart asked.

No. Definitely not, for the moment, just let things run their course and allow her to settle into her new job.

I am not sure about that, he replied sceptically.

Leave Angelien to me Aart and I will speak with her when the time is right, a mother can say things that a father cannot.

It took Diede less than a month to find some pretext for Angelien to go to his house and meet his daughter and the pair hit it off immediately. A couple of visits later, Mrs. Schuyler just happened to be visiting and once again she took an immediate liking to the younger woman and told her son-in-law soon after, that he could do a lot worse than marry Angelien Rietveld. Armed with this assurance Diede spoke with Aart the next day about the possibility of his daughter accepting a proposal of marriage from him.

Mr. de Zwolle, I don’t know what to say! he said, feigning surprise, I had no idea you were romantically interested in our Angelien. Does she know of this interest at all?

I don’t believe so and please call me Diede, if I may call you Aart. Both my daughter and my mother-in-law think the world of her and she is such a talented young woman, that she would make any man an excellent wife. Please speak with her on my behalf and let me know what she says, assuming that both you and your wife would support the match, that is.

I can assure you Diede that both my wife and I hold you and your family in the highest regard and would warmly welcome you marrying our daughter. Leave it with me and I will get back to you very soon.

But Mamma, he is my employer and I do respect him, but I don’t love him and do not wish to marry him, said Angelien when told of the request from Diede.

Her mother turned round and took the heavy strap she used to beat the children with, off the wall and snapped it loudly several times in front of her.

Are you disobeying me girl? she shrieked, snapping the strap again. Do you remember what happened the last time you disobeyed me?

Angelien remembered all too well what happened the last time she had challenged her mother. She was thirteen and thought she could answer her mother back. She was not able to sit down for a week after the belting her mother had given her.

No, no mother, there is no need for that, said Aart, stepping between them and taking the strap off his wife and hanging it back on the wall, I am sure Angelien just needs a little time to think things over, don’t you my dear.

Yes Papa, thank you, she replied, ashen faced and shaking.

Let’s you and me go out into the garden and talk about it calmly, I realise this has come as a shock to you Angelien.

He took his daughter by the arm and gently led her out into the garden and sat down under the old tree and held her hand.

Your mother just wants what is best for you, she doesn’t want you to have to slave away all your life, the way that she has had to. You do understand that dear, don’t you?

Yes Papa, she replied, as the fear and hatred of her mother welled up inside her. I was going to tell you that I have spoken several times to a young man that I meet on the way to work and he did say that he would like to speak with you. I think he would like to court me Papa and he is a lot closer to my own age than Mr. de Zwolle is.

Angelien, you are twenty three, we don’t know how old you might be before this young man you mentioned, might be able to afford to marry you, it might be many years from now, we just have no way of knowing. My advice my dear, is to accept this proposal from Diede, after all you might never get another one and I do not know what your mother might do, should you refuse him!

Angelien knew that she was now bigger and stronger than her mother and could certainly defend herself against her, should she decide to try and cause her harm. She also knew it would cause a scandal which would bring disgrace on the family and force her to leave home and who knows what retribution her mother would wreak on the other children if that happened. After a sleepless night and much crying and soul searching, she spoke with her parents about the matter again, over breakfast the next morning.

I have thought long and hard about it all night and have come to realise that you were quite right Papa, in what you said to me and have decided that I would be delighted to accept Diede de Zwolle’s proposal of marriage.

Diede and Angelien started to court each other straight away and got married in August 1612. It was a simple ceremony at their local church and after a short honeymoon in Antwerp, they started married life together in the same house that Diede and Amalia had started their married life in, sixteen years previously.

CHAPTER 1

Alive and Well

Can we go down to the harbour and see the big ship arrive this afternoon, please mother? Geertje asked Angelien over lunch, one sunny day in July 1613.

At what time do you finish your lesson today Geertje, as I got into serious trouble with your tutor last week, when we went out to the park together.

Mr. Houben said we would finish at two today and Father said the ship was due in at three o’clock. Please say we can go mother, please!

Very well, but we will have to walk as your father is using the carriage today and your Grandmother is away for a few days, but it is a lovely day and it will not take us too long to walk down to the harbour.

They finished their lunch and Geertje returned to her studies for an hour or so and then the two of them set off, hand in hand, promptly at two o’clock. It was only about a mile down to the harbour, but some of the roads were still muddy from the heavy rain of the previous week, so they had to pick their way carefully through the streets. They reached the harbour in good time and met the firm’s new shipping clerk, who had gone down to speak with the captain about a cargo they were expecting on the ship.

What is the ship called mother and when will it be here? Geertje asked, as boredom started to creep in.

It is called De Blauwe Kruis (The Blue Cross) she replied, but it appears to be late; let’s go and ask the custom’s man over there, he should be able to tell us what has happened to it, Angelien replied and led the little girl over to the Custom’s Office and went inside.

Excuse me, she said, we have come to see The Blue Cross arriving in port, it appears to be late, is there a problem of some sort?

We think so Mrs. de Zwolle, there is no sign of it yet, so it may have missed the tide. I should warn you that we are having some minor trouble with the dockers at the moment, so in my opinion it is probably safer if you and your little girl do not hang around here any longer but leave right away, he replied.

Thank you, we will, she said and turned round and left the office, only to meet her husband’s clerk outside, who had been looking for her.

Mrs. de Zwolle, I am so glad I have found you, there is trouble with the dockers and we need to get you home as soon as we can, if you follow me, I have a carriage waiting for you. It might be easier if I carry the little girl, if you are in agreement, he said.

Of course, whatever you think best. Where is the carriage? Angelien enquired.

That one over there, quick, someone else is trying to take it. Hey you, I have booked that carriage, find your own, he bellowed to the man and woman who were just climbing into it.

On your way driver and be quick about it, if you expect a good tip, the man ordered, with which the driver cracked his whip and the carriage took off down the street.

I am so sorry Mrs. de Zwolle, but we will just have to walk and I will try and hail another carriage for you.

It isn’t your fault, you have done your best, let us be on our way Geertje, would you mind accompanying us please? she asked the clerk.

Of course I will and see you safely all the way home.

They had walked for about ten minutes when they heard some shouting ahead of them and decided to make a detour down a side street, despite it being rutted and muddy. They had only walked down this lane for a few yards when a crowd of men came surging out the back door of a tavern and spotting the three of them and thinking them easy pickings, headed in their direction. They turned round and ran back the way they had come but the clerk caught his foot on something in the road and went flying, dropping the little girl as he fell. Angelien quickly picked Geertje up and was about to help the clerk, when he called out; Run for your lives. Run! So she did. The mob pounced on the fallen man and after knocking him unconscious, stole everything of value, including his coat, hat, trousers and boots and then proceeded to run after Angelien and Geertje. They had now got back onto the main street and headed back the way they had come, down to the harbour. Angelien looked round to see where the mob was and as she did that, her foot caught in her petticoat, causing her to fall forward onto the road. Luckily for her, she fell into some soft mud which cushioned her fall and caused Geertje to let out a loud shriek, as she landed with a thud besides her mother.

She looked up to see the mob running towards them and fearing the worst, held Geertje close to her body in an effort to protect her. Just at that moment there were several loud retorts and half a dozen pistol-armed cuirassiers, rode down the street to where they were stretched out in the mud. One of the mob had been wounded and the rest ran for their lives, carrying their injured friend with them. The officer ordered his men to stand guard while he dismounted and helped Angelien and Geertje to their feet. She immediately told the officer about the fallen clerk, who sent one of his men to check on the man’s condition. Whilst he was badly injured, he was still alive and Angelien insisted he be taken back to her house so he could receive proper attention for his wounds. The officer put the man on one of the horses and he and the soldier accompanied the mother and daughter back to the safety of their own home.

One of the servants ran to fetch Diede from the office and then went on to the doctor’s house to ask him to come and see to the injured clerk, who had been put to bed. Although the man had been hit over the head with a wooden cudgel, he had no broken bones and was able to be taken to his own home the next day and was back to work the following week, where he was warmly praised for his courage by Diede, who backed up his gratitude with a generous gift of money. It was several days later before Angelien had got over her fright and was able to discuss the incident with her husband.

I really thought they were going to kill me or even worse assault me Diede, if the soldiers had not come along at that precise moment in time, I hate to think what fate we would have suffered.

I know Angelien, I know, it does not bear thinking about. I really should write to their commanding officer and thank them for what they did. Did you happen to hear the officer’s name by any chance?

No, I didn’t, I just took Geertje upstairs to her room, but Filip did speak with him, before he came to fetch you, perhaps he asked for his name.

I will go and ask him, perhaps it would do us all good to go away for a few days and try and forget this whole unpleasant affair.

Diede did speak with Filip later that day, who informed him that the officer was a Spanish gentleman, by the name of Luitenant Hernan Medina.

Well that makes a pleasant change Filip, Diede observed, a Spaniard finally doing some good for this family.

Now whether he forgot or changed his mind, we do not know, for he never mentioned the subject to Angelien again and the letter of appreciation was never sent to Luitenant Hernan Medina’s commanding officer.

The family and retinue finally left on their holiday in early August and went to the market town of Bad Bentheim which was just a short distance over the German border and was where Mrs. Schuyler often used to go, when she was first married. They remained there for the whole of August and returned to Deventer at the start of September fully recuperated from their ordeal. As soon as they had returned home, Mrs. Schuyler commissioned a well known local artist, to paint a portrait of herself along with Geertje, Diede and Angelien, which was hung in her library for all to admire.

The next twelve months passed very peaceably for the de Zwolle household but around mid September 1614 Mrs Rietveld, Angelien’s mother became unwell, so Angelien got into the habit of visiting her mother most days and in assisting her younger sister in running the household. Towards the end of October, Mrs Rietveld started to improve and the daily visits became weekly visits, as she started to take control of things once again. One day in November, after visiting her mother, Angelien was later than normal in returning home and Diede was beginning to get worried about his wife, when she came rushing in through the front door, tearful and dishevelled.

My dear, where have you been, what on earth has happened to you? he asked in alarm.

Oh Diede, I am so sorry, she cried, and started to weep.

There is nothing to be sorry about, just calm down and tell me what has happened.

Eventually Angelien stopped crying and explained that her mother had taken to her bed once again and she had been late in leaving her parent’s house, so she took a short cut through a section of town that was badly paved and did not have a good reputation, but saved ten minutes on her journey time.

How many times have I told you never to go through there after dark! he exclaimed.

I know Diede, it was foolish of me, but I knew you would start to get worried and decided to take the risk, but I had only gone a few hundred yards when I was set upon by a couple of young thieves who pushed me over and tried to snatch my purse. Although I was very frightened Diede, I was not going to give it up to them, so I fought and shouted and eventually several men came running to help me from the nearby houses and the boys ran off. One of the men then kindly walked me back to the top of our street, to make sure I got home safely.

You poor thing, it must have been dreadful for you, Diede said, Geertje, come here and give your mother a cuddle, while I go and get her a stiff drink, I think she needs it.

Christmas and New Year came and went and then in February Angelien started to be sick and knew for certain that she was pregnant and would have to tell her husband about her condition.

Did the doctor have any idea why you have been sick these past two days? he asked one evening.

Yes Diede, he did. He confirmed what I had already suspected; I am going to have a baby.

But how is that possible Angelien, for you and I have not made love since that unfortunate incident last November, when you were assaulted on your way home from your parent’s house?

I know Diede, I know. I was so ashamed at what happened to me that night that I did not tell you the whole truth.

You lied to me Angelien! Why would you do such a terrible thing?

I did go the way I said, but it was not after dark, it was still daylight. I was happily walking along, minding my own business; when who should come walking towards me but Luitenant Hernan Medina, the Spanish officer who saved me and Geertje from the dockyard mob the year before last.

So was it Luitenant Medina who tried to rob you then and not the boys, like you said?

No he was very pleasant, he asked me how we all were and told me that he was due to leave for Spain the next day, as his father had died and his mother had asked him to return home to run the family estates. She paused at this stage to wipe a tear from her eye and then continued with her story.

He walked with me for a while and said I should not be walking on my own and offered to escort me back home. It would have been rude to refuse, so I said yes. He then said he needed to tell his steward that he was going to be delayed and would I mind a slight detour, by way of his house, so he could let his steward know. I said yes and we continued to walk along, chatting together. When we got to his house, he called his steward several times, but he did not come to the door, so he asked me if I would mind waiting in the hallway, while he went in and spoke with him.

Why on earth did you agree to go into the man’s house and stand in his hallway? You were asking for trouble Angelien.

I realise that now, but it had started to rain and there were some unpleasant looking people just down the road from his house and I thought I would be safer inside. He returned with his servant and he then gave some sort of order in Spanish and the two jumped on me, pushed me into the bedroom and the servant held me down, while Luitenant Medina had his way with me. When he had finished, he slapped me hard in the face and told me to get out of his house. The servant walked back here with me, telling me the whole time what terrible things he would do to Geertje if I should dare to say anything to anyone.

I don’t know what to say Angelien, I am speechless. Why wait till now though, why didn’t you tell me earlier?

I was not expecting to become pregnant Diede. Think of the number of times you and I have made love, but I never became pregnant. Plus I was so ashamed of what had happened to me and how stupid I had been, I did not want to bring any disgrace to you and your family. If you want to divorce me and send me away, I quite understand and would not blame you. You must do what you think best. I am just so sorry this has happened. You are such a good man Diede, you do not deserve all this trouble, and you are far too good for me.

Diede did not answer, who knows what thoughts were racing through his head right then. Two days later after a lot of thought and prayer, he broached the subject with Angelien again.

I have thought it all over and have decided that I will treat the child, when it is born, as my own. Whilst you were very silly, you could not have expected that the man who had saved your life would then have violated you in that way. Perhaps if I had written to his commanding officer and officially praised him for his actions, all this might not have happened.

That is most generous of you Diede and what about me? What do you want me to do?

You are the baby’s mother and my wife; you will remain here of course. Just two conditions though, which I need you to accept. Firstly, you and I will never make love again. Secondly, whilst the baby will be treated as my own, if it is a boy, he will not be my heir, but I will make a generous allowance for both of you, should I pre-decease you. Do you accept these terms?

You are being most generous to us, I accept them gladly.

On the 1st of September 1615 a baby boy was born to Angelien de Zwolle and he was named Pim Aart de Zwolle. There was much boisterous celebrating in the Rietveld household, over the birth of their first grandchild, with a much more sober form of celebration taking place in the de Zwolle household.

The early years of Pim’s life were very pleasant, almost idyllic, a mother and father who both truly loved him, an elder sister who adored him and grandparents who just loved to spend time with him and take him away on trips to the country with them. The only shadow over all this, was Geertje’s grandmother, Mrs Schuyler, who despised him from the word go and would not allow him in her house, much to Angelien’s dismay.

On one such trip to the country with the Rietveld’s in August 1620, Pim was allowed to try his hand at milking a very docile cow and quickly managed to get the hang of it and squirted his granddad’s boots with milk. As the old man bent down to wipe his boots with some straw, he looked up to see big red blisters on the underside of the cow’s udder.

What the heck are those? he shouted at the milkmaid in horror.

Oh no, cowpox! she screamed at him and ran out to get the farmer.

The farmer quickly returned and confirmed the diagnosis and the cow was taken outside and destroyed and Pim and the cow-maid were kept inside their respective houses to await developments. Ten days later they both had the red blisters on their own bodies, but luckily for Pim, there were none on his face, just his arms and neck.

Pim was most upset to have to spend his birthday in bed, but he was a very fit and healthy little boy and was up and about in just over three weeks and was well enough to return home, the first week in October.

The wool business continued to expand under Diede’s direction and in June he travelled to Paris to make arrangements for opening an office in the capital city of France. The negotiations went well and after a farewell dinner with the new manager, he travelled back home to Deventer, to find Angelien and Pim waiting at home for his return, but his daughter Geertje had gone to Bad Bentheim for a holiday with her grandmother. While he had been away, he realised how much he truly loved his wife and missed not making love to her, so that evening, they put the past behind them and spent the night in each other’s embrace. By the third night he was not feeling very well, so Angelien called the doctor who came to the house and was horrified to find small reddish spots on his mouth, tongue and throat.

I believe you have smallpox Mr. de Zwolle, have you been anywhere near an epidemic lately?

I spent a week in Paris about a fortnight ago and I know they have had smallpox there recently, but I was never directly in contact with it, as far as I know.

The house was isolated the servants made to leave and Diede, Angelien and little Pim were left to fend for themselves. The servants left food and drink on the front step and Angelien collected it each day for a week or so and then she became too ill herself and the duty of collecting the food and feeding his parents fell to Pim.

Angelien had made up beds for them all downstairs, which made things easier for Pim, but he really could not understand why his father no longer consumed the food or drink that he took for him. A week after his father died, his mother died too and little Pim was left all alone in the big house. Luckily, when the fire started he was out in the garden climbing a tree and although the house and all of its contents were completely destroyed, the little boy was safe in the back garden, alive and well, when the doctor found him.

CHAPTER 2

I’ll be the Death of You

He is not stopping in my house and that is an end to the matter, Mrs Schuyler informed the doctor when he took Pim round there later that day, after giving the boy a good wash and a change of clothes. Take him round to his mother’s parents and see if they want the child, because I most definitely do not.

But Mrs. Schuyler he is Geertje’s half-brother, surely it is best if the two of them stay together at this sad time, in order to be a comfort to each other?

I will comfort my granddaughter over the loss of her father and his grandparents can comfort him if they want to and as for being her half-brother! at which point Geertje appeared at her grandmother’s side and called out to Pim, but the door was slammed shut and the doctor was left wondering what to do.

He was in the process of turning round and heading back to his carriage with the boy when the front door opened again and the tutor Mr. Houben came out, closing the door behind him.

Doctor may I have a word with you on your own please, he asked.

Mr. Houben; of course you can. Pim, just go and sit in my carriage while I speak with your tutor for a moment. The boy did as he was told and sat there chatting with the coachman.

I hope you have come to tell me that Mrs. Schuyler has had a change of heart, the doctor said.

"I am afraid not and to be honest with you Doctor, I do not think that is ever going to happen; for some reason I do not understand, she really dislikes the boy.

So what is it you wish to say to me then?

Miss Geertje is very concerned about him and has suggested that the boy should come and stay with me and my wife and says that she is prepared to pay for his keep out of her allowance. She has told me that Pim is fearful of his grandmother whom Miss Geertje knows can be very harsh with children and she also worries that he might be put out to work and not allowed to finish his education.

I think she is quite right and her suggestion would seem to be an excellent way out of this unfortunate situation Mr Houben. I presume that you do not have any concerns that your wife might object to having a lodger who has so recently been with parents who have died of the smallpox.

I do not believe so Doctor and since our own children are now grown up and away from home, there is plenty of room for the boy in our house. May I suggest that I take him home with me right now since you have the unenviable task of informing his grandparents of their daughter’s death and the arrangements we have made for young Pim.

The Rietvelds were not surprised to hear of Angelien’s death but were amazed to hear that Pim had survived when the doctor called to see them.

Well it is very kind of Mr. Houben to take the boy, but he should come here to live with us, said Mr. Rietveld, he is our grandson after all.

Are you out of your mind husband? his wife shrieked at him. Without Angelien’s financial contribution each week, we will be struggling to feed ourselves, let alone a hungry boy as well and we will have to get rid of the scullery maid and I will have to do all the work again. It is better all-round if he stays with the tutor and you can go there and see him if you want to, but I don’t want him living in my home, any more than Mrs. Schuyler does, do you hear?

Mr. Rietveld shook his head in disbelief and he and the doctor walked outside together and