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Dec. 1
Paris. |
469. Wm. Becher to Salisbury. The French have long aspired to make themselves strong by sea, and to that purpose “have now set on foot this invention,” a society to trade into the East Indies, and they intend making a stock of four millions of crowns. Understands that great part is already contributed, and four ships are making ready to depart from St. Malo for the first voyage. Low Country seamen engaged at great pay, and many of their ships bought, the French “pretending to go thoroughly in hand with the matter.” The States Ambassador complains of the enterprise for many respects. Dawnser is to serve the French and to have other ships added to his own, as they wish to be strong enough to encounter the Spaniard. Knows not how it is like to proceed, but certain it is if they can make their own men capable of the voyage they will never want money to set it forward, France being now very rich, and money at a very low interest. [Extract from Corresp , France.] |
| Dec. 1–2. |
470. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Admission of John Manistay, late aprentice of Geo. Smythe, goldsmith. Preparation of kerseys. Agreement with William Reynolds, skilful in spices, to be employed under the Cape merchant; and with Francis Slany, who speaks Spanish, and is willing to adventure 200l. Mr. Busbridge to provide 50 tons of iron at 14l. 10s. a ton. |
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Dec. 2.—Articles touching the prohibition against bringing in pepper by any but the Company, and the imposition upon it of 6d. per lb., after many meetings, allowed to be engrossed and sealed with the common seal of the Company. Sale of “the case and callico pepper,” and the prices. [One page and three quarters. Court Bk, II., 157–158.] |
| Dec. 5. |
471. Sir Ralph Winwood to Salisbury. The Company of the East Indies do now send forth into those parts nine ships which attend the wind at the Texel. The States purpose to have the places they hold there, inhabited with their own people, and send with this fleet many women, and have appointed a governor by commission to command there. [Extract from Holland Correspondence.] |
| Dec. 5–11. |
472. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Names of those aboard the Dragon. Sailors employed about rigging the ships to have 14d. a day. Francis Champney to go as steward. Appraisement of the old cordage. John Wright to go as steward's mate. |
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Dec. 6.—Request of the Lord Admiral for a loan of 300l. for three months; left wholly to be answered by the governor. Mrs. Cartwright, adventuring 400l. or 500l., to be admitted free, with power to admit all her sons free, by patrimony. Books of the sale of the pepper to be kept and audited monthly. |
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Dec. 7.—A box containing 74 pieces of East Indian taffeties, brought thence by Gabriel Towerson, and belonging, as he says, to one Cotton, the Company's servant there, to be sequestered until further order. Book calicoes, bought in certain junks near Socotra, at 4s. a piece, were sold at Priaman for three and four times that price; they are worth here 12s. a piece. The sailors to give bonds for their true service. Corn from France for this voyage to pay no custom. Letter received from Lisbon from Anthony Marlowe, declaring their release from prison upon, sureties, their great sickness, and that Wm. Squiers keeps the Company's letters from them. To confer with Nicholas Downton. |
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Dec. 8.—Agreement with Mr. Poynett for piloting the Dragon from Plymouth to the Thames. Doings of Cottingham; he promises to satisfy the Company. Jeffrey Hamlet to take an account of the Dragon's old stores. Andrew Roper unfit as a factor by reason of his age; George Cockayne, who speaks Italian and Portuguese, a suitor for employment, to be inquired about after Christmas, as well as all others of his rank. Apprentices to be employed in the East Indies. |
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Dec. 9.—Admission of Sampson Bennett. Offer of two Frenchmen to divulge a secret for the preservation of fresh water; to consider what they demand for revealing it. |
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Dec. 11.—Committee about Edmund Scott's petition and demands. Motion for appointing a day for launching the great ship, and if it be fitting for the Company to give His Majesty a banquet. Sir Edward Michelborne's pinnace to be bought, so the price does not exceed 600l. The new ordnance. Things taken out of the Dragon and sold at Plymouth. No officer or sailor in any of the Company's ships to have more than one chest of a certain size. Ordnance of the Dragon. [Six pages. Court Book, II., 158–160.] |
Dec. 13.
Paris. |
473. Wm. Becher to Salisbury. Arrival of two captains from Holland for conducting the ships of the Society of the Indies, “which is here embraced with much expectation.” President Janin laid the foundation of it at his voyage into the Low Countries. [Extract from Correspondence, France.] |
| Dec. 13–29. |
474. Court Minutes of the East India Company. For prevention of bringing in pepper. Gratification of 100 nobles each to Robt. Bell, Hugh Hamersley, and Thos. Styles. Cloves and other things sent home by Mr. Hippon in the Dragon to be given up to his wife, on payment of custom, but at his return home Hippon to be effectually dealt with, for using private trade contrary to his bond. Seven cwt. of cloves and all other things belonging to Gabriel Towerson to be delivered to him, except his pepper, for which the Company give him 1s. 6d. a pound, and pay the custom. Silks and other things belonging to Capt. Keeling and one Cotton, the Company's servant at Bantam, as Towerson affirmed, to be detained until further order. Suit of Wm. Walley, to be employed as a factor. |
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Dec. 15.—Custom of things brought home in the Dragon for the use of the Company, except the silk, amounts to 7,306l. 1s. 4d., Edmund Scott. Agreement with Samuel Squier, the younger, skilful in navigation. |
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Dec. 19.—Canvas for sails and cable. Agreement with Nicholas Stevenson to repair the pinnace before 25 Jan. for 100l. Committee to appraise the Dragon's old stores, and provide ryals beyond the seas. Opinion of Mr. Mollineux touching Surat and Dabul, and the depths there, &c., set down in writing; he is requested to bring his plat of those parts, and to give the Company a copy. The Indians brought in the Dragon to be conferred with. Merchandise appointed to be provided for the next voyage, and by whom. Wm. Kent to be agreed with; his salary not to exceed 100l. per annum. |
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Dec. 20.—Charles Hawkins, an adventurer of 300l. in this 6th voyage, sworn a free brother for the fine of 40l. The commodities to be sold by the candle. The governor and Sir Wm. Romney to be bound for payment of the impost of pepper. |
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Dec. 22.—Boatswains to attend Mr. Burrell and Mr. Middleton. Richard Burges and Thos. Meriam to take care of the Dragon. Thos. Ivett to be hired as boatswain's mate. A long boat to be made. John Lancellot to attend on board the Dragon as purser; the mariners' wages to be paid by Rowland Webb, purser. Payment of part of Hippon's wages to his wife and daughter, Mrs. Erminge. To consider of some course against bringing in pepper. Inquiry to be made for Hugh Greete and other fit men skilful in jewels. Payment of Mr. Mollineux' wages. Number of men to be appointed to the great ship. |
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Dec. 23.—For re-delivery of the things borrowed of Sir Wm. Monson from the King's ships. Agreement with Thos. Glemon, willing to adventure 100l. and to serve for seven years. Warrants to be passed for three bags of pepper to Wm. Barrett for His Majesty's provision, and one bag to Wm. Beerblock. Examination of mariners, now come home in the Dragon, how certain things were stolen out of the hold of the ship by divers officers, and sold at Plymouth. Thos. Ivett entertained as boatswain's mate. |
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Dec. 29.—Admission of Anthony Abdey, apprentice of Nicholas Pearde, and an adventure of 200l. in the sixth voyage. Preparations for launching the great ship on the morrow, and entertaining the King at a banquet on board, on china dishes; salutes to be fired. Agreement with George Cockayne, who speaks Italian and Portuguese, to serve the Company for seven years. Committee to confer with Sir Henry Middleton, concerning his going general this intended voyage to the East Indies. [Eight pages and a half. Court Bk., II, 160–164.] |
Dec. 28.
Paris. |
475. W. Becher to Salisbury. About the 3d instant Robert Sherley, the Persian ambassador, and divers Englishmen in his company, amongst whom was [Toby] Mathew, son to the Archbishop of York, passed towards Spain by Marseilles. [Extract from Corresp., France. ] |
Dec. 30.
London. |
476. John Chamberlain to Dudley Carleton. The King, Queen, and Prince went this morning to the launch of the Great Indian ship, newly built, where they were to have a great banquet, and Sir Thos. Smythe to be graced with a great chain of gold, and a medal to put about his neck by the King's own hands. [Extract from DOMESTIC Corresp., Vol. L., No. 92. Cal, p. 576.] |
