|
April 4.
Hague. |
957. C. Edmondes to Sec. Winwood. The commissioners have had several conferences with the deputies since his last, which have brought the business of the East India trade to an end, unless the States take it up again. The point upon which they broke was the joining against the Spaniards in a vigorous and effectual war. Sends extract from the resolutions of the States General of 1 Nov. 1603, to show the course to be continued for maintenance of that trade, the Company being admonished, to disable their enemies by all possible means, for which cause, a union of the several companies was especially effected in 1602. The deputies consider His Majesty engaged by a treaty made with the States since the last truce, to assist not only their subjects upon the impeachment of trade in the Indies, but Indian princes molested by the Spaniards for admitting the Hollanders to trade. Sends explanation of the truce and other papers touching that point [wanting]. Incloses also copy of a remonstrance given to M. Barnevelt concerning the business of Greenland; account of their conference on that matter which he expects will be resumed. Barnevelt told Ambassador Wotton that there were but three ways to take touching their trade to the East Indies; either to leave it, or join stock with us, or undertake a vigorous war, “which was the thing they now stood for.” The States look upon this trade to the East Indies as a high point of state; they assist the company with great sums of money for maintenance of war; their stock weakened and wasted in building forts and maintaining garrisons, “besides they run at interest at home for 400,000l., for the reparation of all which they would gladly gain the assistance of our purses; and this is so well known, as every common man speaketh of it.” [Four pages. Holland Correspondence.] |
| April 4. |
958. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Letter read from Mr. Walter concerning the box of tokens sent by Langley. Captains Pepwell and Gifford certify that they had no intent to go into the East Indies, their ship being unfit for the voyage; resolution that it is expected they should put in good security to satisfy the State and this Company; answer of Capt. Pepwell; persuaded of the truth of his protestations; to be employed with the next shipping at Christmas. To write to Capt. Keeling by these ships, and give directions to send away some shipping for the Moluccas. Wages of Nicholas Emsworth; those of Raphe Preston, Edward Dodsworthe, and Thos. Mitford to be put into the joint stock. Application of Robt. Bateman, executor with Robt. Middleton, touching Sir Henry Middleton's estate; his widow debarred by the Lord Chancellor from meddling any further with any part of it, until Capt. David Middleton's return; no more money to be paid to her; the Company to pay 8 per cent. for what is in their hands. Difference in the accounts between the 3rd and 6th voyages referred to auditors to settle. Request of Mr. Ditchfeild for allowance for stained taffetas refused. Letters and commissions for the next ships to be read. Admission of John Bland, servant to Humphrey Walcott. Adventures of Mrs. Wright, late widow of John Stockley, to be set over to her husband Richard Wright. Report of the treasurer and Mr. Bell upon the proclamation restraining the exportation of money, that they have conferred with Mr. Attorney, who has promised to secure them a commission to except the East India Company. [April 3.] Proceedings of a meeting at Deptford, concerning various alterations and repairs in the wharf, &c., approved. Motion to have a clause inserted in the commission under the broad seal about exportation of money, to free the Company from the restraint of transporting goods in strange bottoms, “because no English ships go for Amsterdam, a place where good store of East India commodities are vented;” assurance of Mr. Governor that it was an unseasonable time to move for, but thought authority might be procured for their commanders to govern and punish their people abroad. Jas. Graves referred for the next fleet. Petition about the supply of nails referred. The ships not hastened away through want of beer. [Four pages and a half. Court Bk., III, 404.–408.] |
April 6.
Bantam. |
959. John Jourdain to Rich. Wickham in Japan or elsewhere. Hopes his intended voyage for Siam will be more successful “than the other junk wherein went Mr. Peacocke.” They all serve now one master and one voyage, which is the joint stock. The remainder of all voyages, as goods, money, debts, to be valued at their worth in the country [where they are], and the account sent to Bantam to be brought to the account of the joint stock. Thanks for his courtesy; sends him a piece of satin for a suit of apparel. The James, Globe, and Samaritan are gone laden for England. The Concord for Amboyna and Banda, and the Thomasine and Thomas for Sumatra. Daily expects Capt. Downton with four great ships, “here will be employments for all men this next year at full.” [One page. O. C., Vol. III., No. 275.] |
| April 7. |
960. Court Minutes of the East India Company. No one to be employed in the ships unless approved by the governor or committees. Frauds in the King's customs and great wrongs to the Company committed by some in the city on pretence of shipping pepper; assurances of Mr. Wolstenholme's diligence to make examples of any found culpable. Purchase of timber. Common sailors require their imprest money; explanation of the order on that subject, and resolution to keep to it. Information of the governor that Capt. Pepwell has assured him the ship is suspected, “which Furbusher hath seen,” and is unfit for an East Indian voyage; and expresses his readiness to be entertained in the Company's service, and to give the best securities he can. Capt. Towerson's accounts referred to three of the committees at his own request. Writings exhibited by Robt. Bateman to prove his and Robt. Middleton's 3d share of the adventure of 1,000 marks in the 5th voyage. Employment of Capt. Castleton; the Lord Admiral unwilling to write in his behalf, but offers to send his secretary to give the Company satisfaction; finding him cleared from many suspicions and hearing his solemn protestations, it is resolved to entertain him at 10l. a month, and allow him 100 marks for his great pains and to help furnish him forth to sea; his wife is disposed of not to be troublesome to the Company. Petition of Nathaniel Eile for employment. John Mewe, servant to Thos. Shipton, admitted. Request of Robt. Jackson, midshipman in the Clove, for six months' imprest to get some instruments; two months allowed. [Three pages. Court Bk., III., 408–411.] |
| April 10. |
961. C. Edmondes, Robt. Middleton, and Morris Abbott, commissioners for the East Indies' business, to the King. Report of their proceedings touching the treaty, the substance of which has been already calendared in previous letters from Edmondes to Sec. Winwood. The subjects debated upon with the deputies are the privilege of free trade and merchandise to all parts of the world, particularly to the Moluccas; the joining with the Hollanders against the Spaniards to secure trade in the East Indies, “a man cannot secure his friend without terrifying his enemy and without depriving him of means to do harm,” this is what the States judge to be needful to preserve the Indian commerce. The deputies held for certain that no society for trade to the East Indies could be made profitable with hope to continue unless those who made the society resolved jointly to repel the violence of the Spaniards, Portugals, and others that hinder commerce with free princes and people, and accordingly forcibly to secure and defend those sent to trade in the Indies, those who trade with them, and the princes and people who permit the trade. Articles given in by the commissioners as a means to reduce their generalities to some particulars. Reply of the deputies, who “desire only to find some means which may more and more unite us in a profitable society to the one and the other.” Answer that their commission did not authorize the commissioners to enlarge any further as touching the Spaniards, and therefore if what they had offered would not be accepted they were to give an end to the treaty. On taking leave of the States, M. Barnevelt spoke of the reasons which moved the deputies to insist upon some course to break the power and violence of the Spaniards in the Indies, “assuring us that if this question had happened in any part of Europe we would, without any further delay, have accepted of the Union.” Concerning the fishing of the whale in Greenland; remonstrance and answer, reply and second answer, all previously calendared (see Feb. 1615). “Upon our coming away they gave us honorable usage, whereof we thought meet to advertise Yr. Majesty.” [Copy. Ten pages and a half East Indies, Vol. I., No. 45. Original in Holland Corresp.] |
| April 13. |
962. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Leave of absence for Capt. Castleton to settle his business, provided he be at Gravesend on Monday when the committees intend to see the ships dispatched away. He informs the Company of his confident opinion that Sir John Feme, Captains Pepwell, Gifford, and some others are going with five or six strong ships upon a desperate business to the Red Sea, and that they will furnish themselves where they can with necessaries; resolution to have a commission framed out of their letters patent, whereby they are authorized to surprise and take all English shipping presuming to frequent those parts without authority from the Company. Committee to go to Gravesend on the morrow to pay the rest of the imprest and hasten the ships away. Nathaniel Eile, entertained as a factor, for his master Mr. Hamersley's sake; the factors' wages to be hereafter considered as they shall deserve. Advance of wages to Mary, wife of Wm. Addames, employed at Japan in the Company's service. Consideration of making a trial for the discovery of the North-west passage from thence; Addames held very fit to be employed, if it be thought convenient by the factors there to be enterprised; to be enlarged upon in a letter to them, to procure the furtherance of the emperor so much as he shall be willing to contribute; a pair of globes and maps to be sent to them. [April 11.] Minutes of proceedings of the committees at Deptford; alterations and repairs, &c. Gratification to Mary Ashmore for the services of her late husband, Roger Ashmore. [Two pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 411–414.] |
April 15.
Hague. |
963. C. Edmondes to Sec. Winwood. Hears the deputies are come to town again to propound some further matter for accommodating the business of the East Indies, which he hopes will not hold them long. Answer received to the commissioners' remonstrance concerning Greenland; endeavours of the Hollanders to weaken His Majesty's title, by assuming to themselves the advantages of that discovery; encloses copy of their reply. Preparations at Amsterdam and other parts for a strong fleet of ships and men-of-war, as went last year for that fishing. Annexed,
|
|
963. I. Remonstrance of His Majesty's commissioners to the States General, relative to the exclusive right of the English to the whale fishery on the coast of King James his New Land [Greenland], reciting the voyages of Willoughby in 1553, Frobisher in 1576–7–8, Pet and Jackman in 1580, Davis in 1585–6–7, Hemskerke and Company in 1596, and of Wm. Cornelis Van Moyden in 1612. 10 April 1615. [Together three pages. Holland Corresp.] |
| April 15. |
964. Sir Thos. Smythe to Sir Thos. Edmondes, ambassador in France. Entreats his favour in behalf of “our East India Company,” Paul Triggs having certified that he is to use the ambassador's name in prosecuting their suit. Sends an advice, and although no English ships are expected from the East Indies, requests him to inquire into the business and use means to make stay of the goods if they belong to an English ship. Incloses,
|
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964. I. Extract of a letter from, Rochelle, that the captain, an Italian, of a ship of war, has ridden post to Paris to deal with the admiral to sell the lading of a prize, said to be of pepper, cloves, and nutmegs. 5 April 1615. [East Indies, Vol I., Nos. 46, 46 I.] |
April 15.
Aboard the
Hector,
Acheen. |
965. “A note of presents, duties, and compositions which we gave and paid in the procuring of our licence to trade at Priaman, Tecoe, and Barouse [Baros], without which presents we could obtain nothing.” Two copies. [Four pages. O. C., Vol. III., No. 276.] |
April 17.
Hague. |
966. C. Edmondes to [Sec. Winwood]. Five ships and two men-of-war preparing at Amsterdam for Greenland, likewise two great ships and a man-of-war at Rotterdam, besides what may be preparing in other places, which will equal the number of last year's shipping. By their answer to the remonstrance they seem to depend upon Sir Noel Caron negotiating with His Majesty. Audience of M. Barnevelt, since his last, concerning the business of the East Indies; a further overture now expected, as also an opportunity to propound to the deputies the heads approved by His Majesty for joining with them in the East Indies. Hopes after they once come to conference to bring it to a speedy end one way or the other. State of the Hollanders' trade, their main capital wasted with wars, and the maintenance of 10,000 soldiers they keep in pay in the Indies; if what is offered will not serve to repair all this according to their expectation nor be accepted, the commissioners must return with patience. Impossibility of drawing the English into partnership for such an undertaking; the Dutch so far in arrears, that if for the next five years they bring home 500,000l. a year, and be at no loss nor charge in the meantime, they will hardly recover their principal and 10 per cent. interest. A pinnace arrived at Rotterdam with news from the East Indies that the Spaniards have as yet attempted nothing there against the Dutch; she brings letters for Sir Thos. Smythe and the East India Company. This coming week will be the critical week of the success of his employment. [Three pages and a half. Holland Corresp.] |
April 18.
Savoy. |
967. Geo. Lord Carew to Sir Thos. Roe, “Ambassador for His Majesty with the great King of Mogor in the East Indies.” In March last, Mr. Edmondes, clerk of the Council, Abbott, a brother to the archbishop, and Middleton, another London merchant, went as the King's commissioners, to the States General of the United Provinces to settle the East Indian and Greenland trade, but nothing is effected; thinks nothing will be concluded, the Hollanders insisting that we should bear an equal charge of their garrisons and fortifications, and join with them in a war offensive and defensive against Spain in that eastern world, whereas our desire is that we and the Hollanders may freely trade in every place where the other resideth. The merchants of Loudon for discovery of the North-west passage have set forth a small bark victualled for nine months, under the charge of Robert Bilot who has been thrice in Hudson's Sound, they have also sent a pinnace commanded by one Fotherlye to find out the North-east passage by the Pole. [Extracts from DOMESTIC, Jac. I., Vol. LXXX., No. 85, Cal., p. 284. Printed in “Letters of Geo. Lord Carew,” for the Camden Society, 1860, pp. 5–7.] |
April 18.
Aboard the
Hector,
Acheen Road |
968. Capt. Arthur Spaight to Nich. Downton, general of the Surat fleet, or in his absence to Thos. Elkington, captain of the English house at Bantam. Account of his voyage to Sumatra, where he arrived 13th present. Death of Mr. Salloes and Rowland Wolldreth. Oxwicke and Jackson gone to deliver the King's letter and the present to the King of Acheen; but little can be done till their return, the king having engrossed all the pepper into his hands. Iron very much inquired after, the king building galleys to go for Malacca. “Our people are very kindly entertained; but with a beggarly kind of people, nothing to be done without presents.” Three Flemish ships in the road. “Mr. Oxwicke doth not change with the air as I had thought he would;” complains of him refusing to show the writer invoices of the goods. Sandcrofte and Aspinall who went up to the town to know the state of the country were very kindly entertained. Goods sent ashore for a sample. Commendations to Martin Prince and Thos. Elkington. [Three pages. O. C., Vol. III., No. 276.I.] |
| April 18. |
969. Court Minutes of the East India Company. John Towse, bound to George Holman, admitted a free brother. A double jacobus given to the wife of Henry Allen who died in the James. Patterns of velvet, satin, and taffetas to be sent to Japan, where the silk and workmanship being cheap, it is supposed it may be profitable to have some from. China gold, a very good commodity here for embroidered work, so it be kept from taking wet. Concerning a petition from the Company to the Lord Treasurer for leave to import spices and other commodities which have been transported to foreign parts and is not permitted by the farmers by reason of a restraint against any importations of the old Merchant Adventurers. Doubts and questions arising concerning Capt. Pep well's business, and suspicions renewed touching Capt. Castleton and his brother being acquainted with it; motion made to have the Turkey Company solicit the Lords and inform them of the dangers that threaten their Company, and the East India Company will second their complaint. Letter read from George Robins to Robt. Bell, signifying the preparation that is making by two great ships at Brest for the East Indies; Paul Cuppur being in France purposes to send further intelligence. Amber for Surat. Names of committee to go to Gravesend. Commissions to be dispatched. [One page and three quarters. Court Bk., III., 414–415.] |
April 20.
Hague. |
970. Edmondes to Sec. Winwood. The deputies endeavour to show the necessity of an undertaking against the Spaniards in the East Indies for maintenance of the common utility. Incloses copy of paper delivered to the commissioners [wanting] which though the same in effect as former ones they would not discover it nor what expedient was conceived on their part, hoping to reduce what the deputies propounded under the fairer name of a vigorous defence to such terms as might clearly deliver either party from mistakings. The deputies find in the four first Articles little security for the maintenance of that trade; they take time to consider the first, concerning the support of the charge they were at in the Moluccas; doubts they will accept it. Incloses the state of the Dutch East India Company as taken from their books of accounts. Hears nothing of the remonstrance touching Greenland delivered to the states ten days since. Incloses,
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970. I. “The state of the East India adventure taken out of their books of account at Amsterdam.” Names of the ships and pinnaces, “that are yet out for the ten years,” with their cost; total 46. Calculation of certain yearly charges of the Company. [Together four pages and a half. Holland Corresp.] |
April 20.
Siam. |
971. Minutes of a Court of Merchants held in Siam 20th April 1615 by John Gonrney, chief merchant of the 9th voyage, Wm. Sheppard and Thos Brockedon, factors, and Lucas Antheuniss, Cape merchant of the Globe, being instructions for Thos. Brockedon to proceed to Patani and join with Adam Denton for better performance of the increased business of the 9th voyage. Signed by the above. [Two pages. O. C., Vol III., No. 277.] |
| April 21. |
972. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Letters read from Clement Edmondes and the Commissioners in the Low Countries, of the 7th inst.; concerning their conference about the East Indies, and that nothing is like to be gained or effected but fair words and delays, and the great preparations the Hollanders have made of men of war to be sent to maintain their right of fishing at Greenland. Papers delivered to the States General, showing the right of the English, with the answers of the Hollanders. Letter also read from John Jourdain and George Ball, factors at Bantam, of 31 Oct. last [see ante, No. 783], sent by way of the Low Countries, but being “in characters,” the commissioners there could not read it, so desired a copy. Answer to be sent to encourage their factors to attempt both Amboyna and Banda, supposing that although the Hollanders threaten to take any who do but peep into those parts, they will be better advised than to proceed with open force to make the English their enemies; in the meantime to go on with our course of trade and give them good words, without any show of fear. Mr. Hamersley to become bound for his servant, Nath. Eile. Capt. Castleton being informed of the suspicions against him, desires to take an oath to give the Company satisfaction, who believe his discretion; his opinion concerning Capt. Fuller. [One page and a half. Court Bk., III., 416–417.] |
April 21.
Siam. |
973. “Copy of a court held in Siam about buildings to be divided.” Lucas Antheuniss and Peter Williamson Floris, principal merchants of the seventh voyage, having been constrained to provide good and sufficient houses at Patani and Siam, at heavy charges and extraordinary expense for presents, to preserve the goods from fire, thieves, and other accidents, and having regard to the trade for Masulipatam and Coromandel, require John Gourney, principal of the ninth voyage to contribute half of the charges; if he refuse Antheuniss declares he will sell the houses for the benefit of the seventh voyage. [One page. Indorsed, as above. O. C., Vol. III., No. 278.] |
| April 28. |
974. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Capt. Keeling's letter of 3d March 1615, about sending his wife to him in the Indies, referred. Accounts of Ric. Woodward, employed at Blackwall. 3,000 biscuits to be sent to the Downs, a bread-room in one of the ships being empty. Whether Mr. Lanman should undertake Mr. Ellym's accounts. Great prejudice to the Company through divers adventurers having only sent in their first year's payments; such men work cunningly, by reason if any disaster should befall the shipping, they will then stand only upon their adventure already brought in; the matter to be propounded at a general court. John Waldoe to assist Mr. Bradshaw in perfecting his account at Deptford. Masts. Capt. Towerson's business ended concerning payment of freight and a debt; question as to a parcel of indigo. The ship at Brest to be bought. Richard Hounsell suspected of a design to go from France to the East Indies, “by reason he moved Richard Furbisher to accompany him, but yet would not discover unto him the place whither he is to go;” to be sent for by the governor's authority and examined. Wm. Wignall, a gentleman, admitted for a fine of 20l. [Two pages. Court Bk., III., 417–419.] |
| April. |
975. Overture of the Deputies of the States General for a second treaty, “given in without a title” [in the margin]. That no Company for trade to the East Indies can ever continue unless they resolve to repulse the violence of the Spaniards, Portuguese, and others who impede the traffic and vigorously to defend and keep in safety those who are sent to the Indies to trade. “This is the summary of the overture made by us in writing as well as by word of mouth.” With answer contained in five articles. French. [One page and a half. Holland Corresp.] |
