|
1614. Jan. 2.
Paris. |
84. Sir Thos. Edmondes to the King. "I made it appear unto
Mons. de Villeroy by many instances, that the interest which the
French pretended to have in the discoveries which we had made
with great peril and charge (concerning the which he had before
spoken to me much out of square) was contrary to the received
custom and practice of all nations; wherewith he was so well
satisfied, as he said that he would no more dispute that matter with
me." [Extract, Correspondence, France.] |
Oct. 11/12.
Paris. |
85. La Marquise de Guercheville to Secretary Winwood. I
have learnt the obligation I am under to you, before having the
happiness of knowing you, which makes me doubly thank you, and
entreat a continuation of your courtesy for the reparation of the
great wrong which has been done me, and for the recovery of the
Frenchmen who remain in Virginia. I promise that I shall be
infinitely obliged for what shall be returned in so just a restitution
and even more will ever be your most obliged and affectionate to
serve you. French. Holograph with two seals and silk. Addressed, "A Monsieur Weinood." 1 p. [Corresp. France.] |
Dec. 12.
Paris. |
86. Sir Thos. Edmondes to Sec. Sir Ralph Winwood. Account
of his conference with Mons. de Villeroy and audience of the King
and Queen of France, in reference to sundry complaints of his
Majesty's subjects against the French. "Whereunto the Queen
made me no other answer than that the complaints were so great
which she received, of the spoils which were committed upon the
French by his Majesty's subjects, as she was forced to make an
extraordinary instance for the redress of the same." (This has
reference most probably to the above complaints of Mad. de Gucrcheville against Captain Argoll.) See Admiral de Montmorency's
letter to King James I. in the first volume of this Calendar, p. 15;
see also No. 88. [Extract, Correspondence, France.] |
Dec. 30.
Paris. |
87. Sir Thos. Edmondes to Sec. Sir Ralph Winwood. Sends
herewith copy of the Memorial which he has exhibited to Mons. de
Villeroy, of as many, both general and particular, complaints as he
could call to remembrance. |
|
87. i. Memorial of complaints concerning the subjects of the
King of Great Britain, which his Majesty's Ambassador
presents to their Majesties [of France] and the Lords of
the Council, in order that it may please them to give
orders to have said complaints redressed and prevented
in future. A document in French of 21 pages, some of
the complaints dating back 25 years. They include the
following: In the year 1606 Sir Ferdinando Gorges
Governor of Plymouth, and some others, equipped and, put
to sea a ship named the Richard, under the command of one
named Captain Chaloner, to traffic and obtain a footing
(prendre pied) upon the coast of Virginia. This ship was
taken at sea with all her merchandize and provisions, to
the value of 14 or 15,000 livres, by a ship belonging to two
merchants of St. Malo, Louis, and Servant Graves (the
Captain being Alphonse Camache), and taken to
Bordeaux. One named Tucker prosecuted Camache
before the Parliament of Bordeaux, but after endeavouring
for two years to obtain justice, an arrest (decree) was
passed, 20 Feb. 1609, dismissing his suit for not having
put in security, though he did so a little while after
(peu aprés) it was demanded of him. 21 pp. French.
[Correspondence, France.] This is at variance with
Chalmer and with Burke's History of Virginia, I.,
85–92, who say this ship was commanded by Henry
Challoner, and was taken by a Spanish fleet and
carried into Spain. See also Holmes' American Annals
(2nd edition), I., 125. |
| 1614. |
88. Answer to the Complaints presented to the King by the
Sieur de Buisseaux, French Ambassador, at the Court of his
Majesty. To the first complaint concerning Newfoundland, sets
forth the title of England to the fishery there, which is carried on
every year with at least 200 vessels and more than 6,000 persons
in the English colony, who have always treated the French well,
and protected them in their fishing, and allowed them to leave
their vessels until they return to fish the next year. That the
French do not inhabit any part of Newfoundland, but are much
farther away in a place called Canada, which they call New France,
therefore the accusation against the English is most unjust, and far
from the truth, seeing they have never been near New France
neither hindered nor disturbed the French fisheries, nor done them
any injury. To the fourth complaint concerning Virginia, Captain
Argoll acknowledges that he took the French ship in question
within the limits of our colony because she tried by force to intrude
there against the privileges granted to said [Virginia] Company,
by virtue of his commission under the seal of said Company,
derived from the special power granted by his Majesty to said
colony under the Great Seal, but that nevertheless said ship had
been restored at the request of the French Ambassador. Nevertheless his Majesty wishing the Ambassador to understand his
desire to give every possible satisfaction has ordered said Captain
Argoll to give an account of his reasons for this arrest whenever
the Ambassador shall desire, and that Turner, his Lieutenant, shall
do likewise as soon as he is able to return. To the eighth complaint, concerning the Marquise de Guercheville, she has no reason
to complain, nor to expect any reparation, seeing that her ship
forcibly entered the territory of the said colony to settle and traffic
without their permission to the prejudice of treaties, and good
intelligence between our Kings. See ante, Nos. 85, 86. Extracts,
French. Endorsed, "For the French Am[bassador], Mr. Winwood
1614, Answer to the French Complaints." [Corresp., France.] |
