François Caron
Governor Verburg then circumvented the normal procedure for trying a libel case by declining to have it heard by the Council of Formosa, based on the supposition that Frederick Coyett, a member of that council, would rule in favor of Gravius. He fined Gravius 1,000 guilders (a considerable sum) and then "launched a vitriolic campaign against [Gravius] and against clerical power generally."" The authorities in the colony descended into squabbling factions and a commissioner was sent from Batavia to sort out the mess. This commissioner, Willem Verstegen, found fault on both sides and recommended that clergymen be removed from judicial duties to avoid further conflict. Gravius went to Batavia in 1651 to appeal to Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies Carel Reyniersz and his follower Joan Maetsuycker against the verdict handed down by Verburg. (In the same year the Council of the Indies were also dealing with Cornelis van der Lijn and François Caron, who were sent back to Holland, being accused of unfair trade.)