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July 3.
Acheen. |
997. Commission to Samuel Juxon and Wm. Nicolls. The King of Acheen desiring that the Hector should leave a merchant in his country to draw hither commerce and trade, and the Guzerats not being able to come because of their wars with the Portugals, it has been thought fit to settle a factory at Acheen, and leave Juxon and Nicolls in charge of it. They are directed “to give some attendance” on the King when he goes abroad, according to the custom of the country, and respect both him and his nobility; to manage all business jointly so that there be no striving for superiority, to take, buy, or build a convenient dwelling house, for keeping the goods; to purchase pepper or other commodities fit for England; to advise Aldworthe at Surat of the state of the country and the goods in most request, as also [Jourdain?] at Bantam; and to send by the next ships to Bantam a copy of their journal and account of their business, according to the Company's desire. Signed by Capt. Arth. Spaight, John Sandcrofte, Edmond Aspinall, John Millward, John Yates, and John Parsons. [One page. O. C., Vol. III., No. 283.] |
July 4 ?
Acheen. |
998. Capt. Arth. Spaight to the General, Nich. Downton. Arrived in the road of Acheen 15th April. The king absent with the King of Jore (Jhor) who had married his sister. Oxwicke and others sent with King James' letters and the present to Pedeare (Pedir?), where they were kindly entertained by the king. The court business followed by Oxwicke, buying and selling by the other merchants ; jars between “the courtier” and the merchants; Oxwicke's proud and disdainful carriage to the king and the nobility caused him to be thrust out of the court, and afterwards out of the king's barge. Oxwicke gave such cross answers that he had been killed with a spear, by the king's command, by one of his guard, but for a Dutch captain, who pacified the king. Articles drawn against Oxwicke by the merchants; his removal by a council, and subsequent death from the flux. Took the court business in hand; privileges received from the king. The Thomas arrived 21st June. Means taken to procure the settling of a factory at Tecoe or Priaman. Great mortality in his ship [the Hector], having lost 22 or 23 men. Is forced to get black men for mariners. The King of Acheen about to depart with 150 sail of galleys and frigates to Malacca as given out, but it is uncertain. [One page. O. C., Vol. III., No. 284.] |
| July 4–7. |
999. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Admission of Henry Whiteaker (sic), servant to Nicholas Crispe, and of John Wheeler, with liberty to each to adventure 200l. in the joint stock. Suit of Wm. Garraway for allowance for cloves. Gratification to Capt. Conway for bringing in Capt. Gifford's ship from Cowes to Portsmouth. Capt. Saris permitted to increase his adventure to 1,000l. Fines remitted for the freedom of John and Rich. Dike, and the adventures of their father, Thos. Dike, set over to their account. Petition of Mr. Mountney, complaining of unkind speeches used by Mr. Treasurer, concerning his accounts; resolutions thereon. Auditors to view the treasurer's accounts, as he desires. Broke of Mr. Stiles remitted. Committee appointed for the Low Countries' business. Writings given by Sir Noel Caron to the governor, to persuade the Company to join with the Dutch East India Company in stock for pursuing the trade into the East Indies. Reasons against the proposition. The especial place which the English strive for, the Moluccas, cannot yield sufficient to counteract the excessive charges. The King intending to have the patience to hear it himself, it is resolved that Mr. Secretary conclude with Sir Noel to have these things argued; the Company in the meantime to prepare an answer to satisfy the King why they cannot join with the Dutch. |
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July 5.—Explanation of divers standing ordinances. Freedom by patrimony. Dividends declared; 6 per cent, for the 3d voyage, 16½ per cent. for the 5th, 50 per cent. for the 8th, a whole capital for the 6th on 31st October, a whole capital for the 12th on 30th November, and a whole capital for the 10th on 31st December. Sir Thos. Smythe chosen governor, and gratified with 1,000 marks for his extraordinary care and pains during the year past. Wm. Greenwell excuses himself from being again elected deputy governor, having served 11 years, and being old; he is gratified with 150l. for his past year's service, and an additional 100l. “for a token of their love at their parting with him.” Morris Abbott chosen deputy governor; Wm. Harrison, treasurer, and gratified “himself and his man” with 300l. for the year past; and the following committees:— |
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Robt. Middleton. |
Henry Garraway. |
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Robt. Offley. |
Jeoffrey Kirbie. |
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Wm. Holliday. |
Christ. Cletherowe. |
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Thos. Westrow. |
Robt. Salmon. |
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Robt. Johnson. |
Robt. Bell. |
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Nicholas Leate. |
Robt. Bateman. |
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Humphrey Basse. |
Wm. Stone. |
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Reynold Greene. |
Hump. Handforde. |
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Wm. Burrell. |
Hugh Hamersley. |
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Humph. Smith. |
Wm. Russell. |
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Nich. Crispe. |
Hump. Browne. |
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Lawrence Greene. |
Thos. Munnes. |
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The husband, two book-keepers, secretary, and beadle of last year re–elected. Gratification to the committees for last year referred for want of time. |
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July 7.—Complaint of the price of the wrought iron at Deptford. Iron ordnance offered at 9l. a ton. Two Flemish bottoms to be bought to transport timber. Concerning Mr. Wright, the mathematician, “of whom the former prince had so good an opinion as that he intended to make [him] his library keeper; desire of the prince [Charles] that the Company should lend Wright some money upon his books; reasons for the Company declining to do so. Money offered to the Company at 8 per cent. refused. Permission to Mr. Maplesden to adventure 200l. [Eight pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 435–443.] |
| July ? |
1000. Reasons produced by the Merchants of London trading to the East Indies, showing the inconveniences and impossibilities of a joint stock to be held with the Hollanders, as touching a trade in those parts. Also, |
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Reasons proving that the benefits which the Hollanders pretend to both nations, by the joint stock, may be effected otherwise. And |
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Considerations how this trade may be continued by the two nations with as good security and greater advantage by a just defence, without joining of purses. [Together four pages. East Indies, Vol. I., No. 48.] |
| July 7, 8. |
1001. “Meetings [of the East India Company] about the Low Country business.” Reasons drawn by Edmondes, Middleton, and Abbott read against joining in stock with the Hollanders; [see previous article]; matters argued and very many reasons read to prove it impossible; the secretary commanded to make an abridgment of them. Reasons set down on the 8th to show how the trade may be carried on between the Hollanders and the English, with certain articles propounded for the King's better satisfaction, to be drawn out by the secretary and taken to Mr. Sec. [Winwood] to peruse against the time of meeting Sir Noel Caron. [Half a page. Court Bk., III., 446, 447.] |
July 8.
Paris. |
1002. Sir Thos. Edmondes to King James. Has made known to the Ministers of State, according to His Majesty's command, that certain Englishmen were about to embark in ships preparing at Brest and other ports of France to go to the East Indies, “upon a design to ravage and spoil the people of those countries, to the disturbance and ruining of the peaceable and orderly trade which His Majesty's subjects do enjoy there,” and that he was specially charged to deal effectually with their Majesties to hinder those unlawful courses by dismissing the English in the ships, and staying the vessels and not suffering them to depart without giving double caution, according to the treaties, that they should not attempt anything to the prejudice of the common allies of the State. Copies of the commission and of the association were shown to him by Mons. de Buisseaux, who alleged that the State would undertake to answer any misdemeanors committed by their means. Incloses,
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1002. I. Remonstrance delivered, by Edmondes to the King and Council to the above effect. French.
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1002. II. Answer to the remonstrance maintaining that the persons who set forth the ships do so by virtue of a commission granted by the French King, verified in Parliament, they being an associated body of divers principal merchants and other persons of account of France, who have the same designs to establish a course of trade in the Fast Indies as other nations have done, and against which there was no reason to take any exception. French. [Together four pages. Correspondence, France.] |
| July 11. |
1003. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Jeremy Sambrooke to be trained up under the account keeper and allowed 20l. per annum. Secrets to be kept close. Henry Austin's adventures set over to Mr. James, Tudor Roberts' to Fras. Tailor, and 50l. of Sir Thos. Cambell's, deceased, to Geo. Bennett. Mr. Offley to underwrite the petitions of mariners' wives for part of their husbands' wages, the governor being so troubled with their clamours and petitions as that he cannot have that freedom in his house which is needful for preservation of his health. Walter Thompson and Henry Havers to be sent to the Marshalsea. 6,000l. or 8,000l. to be received from Sir Henry Montague at 8 per cent. Motion about taking up money of the chamber of London. Shipping against next year. Letter read from Thos. Rastall from Paris about stay of the English there from proceeding to the East Indies. Hugh Hamersley and Robt. Bateman chosen auditors. [Two pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 444–446.] |
July 12.
Macassar. |
1004. John Skinner to Adam Denton [in Patani]. Certifies the death of Capt. Essington, John Brigg, and five others [named]. Stratagem practised at Masulipatam to get in the Company's debts, which Peter Floris was unable to do; seizure of the governor's son, and carrying him off to the ship in the presence of 3,000 men, “where we ‘cepete’ (kept) hira six days, in which time we had all our debts sent aboard.” Arrived at Bantam in January, in 26 days from Masulipatam; the James, Osiander, and Concord there. Left Bantam in the Concord for the Moluccas, taking George Ball, chief merchant, and Geo. Chauncey. Arrived at Macassar 7 Feb. and at Banda 7th March. The Dutch, who had seven very tall ships there, would not let them trade there, and when they left sent two ships to keep them (the English) from trading at any of the other islands. Amboyna and other of the Molucca islands visited; behaviour of the Hollanders. Grant of trade at Ceram, where the Hollanders have no castle, but two houses; built a house there, upon which the Hollanders made war against the country people; the island given by the people to the King of England. At Cambello the Hollanders would not suffer them to go to the castle, which the country people gave them hostilities; some men killed, and threat of the Hollanders to sink them; arrival of the Dutch general from Banda; obliged to abandon the castle, which was taken by the Hollanders; arrived at Macassar 24 June; Chauncey fled in a Dutch vessel, to the great wrong of the Company and his own discredit, leaving goods to the matter of 2,000 ryals; commendations of Rich. Bishop, who “told them all he would live and die with the Company's goods, and would not budge come life come death.” Pitiful tragedy played at Macassar by the Hollanders, who murdered the King's most dearly-loved nephew, more like cannibals than Christians; vow of the king that no Christians should ever trade in his country again, all the Portugals commanded hence; through Cokayne and the wise management of Ball, the English are allowed to trade. Cokayne to remain chief; the Dutch will never be entertained there again, and are exceedingly hated both at the Moluccas, Banda, and all these parts; the Bandanese will lose their lives before they will be under the Hollanders. The Globe gone home very rich. Ready to sail for Succadana and Bantam. [Six pages. O. C., Vol III., Nos. 285 and 287.] |
| July 14. |
1005. Court Minute of the East India Company. James Palmer sworn a free brother of the Company, according to an order of 12th November 1614. [Court Bk., III., 447.] |
July 16.
Macassar. |
1006. George Cokayne to Sir Thos. Smythe. Refers to previous letters, and doubts whether they have come to hand. According to Sir Henry Middleton's directions in July 1613, it was thought requisite to establish a factory at Macassar, having a great cargo of cloth, and not being suffered to go to Amboyna by the Hollanders, who threatened the country people with the loss of their heads if they dealt with the English, “so what we did was by stealth.” Capt. Jourdain, after settling the business in Macassar, left the writer, Benj. Farie, and another, there. The Hollanders abuse of the English nation. Was informed by the King of Macassar of the desire of the people of Banda to have the English there; told him that the death of the General [Middleton] and the loss of the great ship was the reason they had not yet visited them. Arrival of a small junk from Bantam with China silks, and within three days of a China junk, the first that ever came to Macassar; China commodities selling cheaper than at Bantam. Glut of clothing through 30 junks having been driven in by the monsoon. Earnest desire of the people of Pollaya [Pooloway] to trade with the English, “much marvelling that we came not.” Design to settle a factory there before the Hollanders, who it was reported were about with their whole force to fortify a castle there; but the pinnace “was not able to fetch the place.” Macassar yields nothing but rice, which is carried to all places in the Moluccas; the Portugals only trade in Macassar is to buy spices second-hand out of junks from Banda, Amboyna, and the Moluccas. Prices at which he bought rice and mace. On 6th Feb. George Ball and Geo. Chauncey brought directions from Capt. Jourdain for the writer to proceed the second time to the Moluccas, and leave Chauncey chief at Macassar. Arrived in the Concord at Niroe [Neira] in Banda 14th March, before the Dutch castle; visited with Mr. Ball the Dutch General, who “marvelled wherefore we should come to those places which they lay claim to, and being in wars to ‘quonquer’ the same, we ought not to come to molest or trouble them . . what we could alledge for our coming thither in civil and peaceable trading was by them held as folly and scoffed at, that we should intermeddle where they had to do;” their boat searched by the Flemings. Went to the town of Lontore [Lantor] to capitulate with the Arankayos; pointing to the Fleming castle, two of the old inhabitants of the country said, “it makes old men to weep, and will the child that is unborn, as God hath given them a country, to them and theirs, so he hath sent the Hollanders as a plague unto them, making wars upon them, and by unjust proceedings seeking to take their country from them.” Hostile attitude of the Hollanders to the English, forbidding them to land anywhere; the General's threats to Cokayne, “saying we were rogues and rascals, not having anything but from Thos. Smythe of London, most vilely railing of our honorable Company,” and that the Dutch Company had and have more favour of His Majesty than the English Company. A Dutch ship followed them part of the voyage to Pooloway; found the Concord there, “the people much rejoicing of our coming;” landed their goods, and left Sig. Saffone there to act according to his discretion, either to lade the pinnace and leave the place, or remain till the next supply. Arrived in the straits of Amboyna before Hitto, on 27th May, and heard that an English ship had departed thence some ten days. Spoke very secretly with Capt. Hittoe, the principal of the place, for publicly he durst not for fear of the Hollanders; he told them there were no cloves in the country, but if there were, none of the inhabitants durst sell them to the English, and that “they were not masters of their own, but in time they did hope for a remedy.” Met the Thomasine at Lugho, with John Baily and Edmond Blitheman. Secret conference in t
he woods with the principal man of the country, the people being so terrified with the threats of the Flemings “concerning our trading, in brief words, he plainly told us to deal in holes and corners, as he did, when I was there with the Darling he could not nor durst not, although the country were their own; but if we were as strong as the Flemings, we should have the whole trade of this land, although they have made some contract with the Hollanders, and being partly forced there unto it, they are vilely abused by them;” the only cure, for the English to have a house and settle a factory in the country, but this the Flemings would not suffer. Another conference with all the Arrankayos of Lugho and Cambello in the hills among the bushes; their reverence for the King and honorable Company, which they would show if they durst, and promise, if the English would not leave them, to give them full authority to have houses at Lugho and Cambello, and to trade as in other places, “this done themselves appointed out our ground, desiring us to come and set up our colours and roundly to apply the same business, which on the 5th day following was effected.” Account of the Dutch Governor of Amboyna Castle shooting at their houses and castle, and killing some of their people, “the reason wherefore the country could not tell;” and obliging the English, by superior force, to abandon a castle, which the country people had delivered into their hands in the name of the King of England, and on which the English colours were planted. “At a word the abuse of the Flemings is so much that if it be put up [with] by your Honr., we shall attain no favour in these parts.” All countries where they come hate them. “If the English Company doth join with the Dutch, the hearts of the people of all these countries which now doth love and affect us for our plain and honest proceedings, will then as much loathe us.” Found, on returning to Macassar, their people gone, the business left with no head, and the king greatly discontented with the past proceedings of the English and Dutch; but by diligent means he was brought to draw articles for re–establishing their factory in his country. Refers to the King of Macassar's letter with Geo. Ball for particulars. Reasons for his resolution to repair to England. [Ten pages and a half. O. C., Vol. III., No. 286.] |
| July 18. |
1008. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Wm. and Raphe Allen's adventures set over to Morris Abbott and John Holloway, and those of Thos. Bownest to Robt. Pinchin, Step. Burton, and Thos. Heies. Nicholas Banggam's wages. Charges disbursed by the late Mr. Adderley to be examined. Forty shillings given to Robt. Covett. Letter read from Patrick Copland, giving to understand how much the Indian youth, recommended to his care, had profited in the knowledge of the Christian religion, so that he is able to render an account of his faith, and desiring to receive directions concerning his baptism, “being of opinion that it were fit to have it publicly effected, being the first fruits of India.” Mr. Deputy is entreated to speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Company being desirous to understand his opinion before they resolve any thing in so weighty a business. Thompson and Havers about their enlargement. As to launching the new ship. Com, plaint of the governor that some of the committee have dealt without orders with Capt. Best about his employment in the next ships. Mr. Parker of Plymouth, and Capt. Adams, recommended for sufficient commanders. Letter from the English ambassador in France read, that the French king could not debar any merchants of France from lawful trade in the East Indies, neither could he refuse the service of any people that were willing to serve under him in lawful actions, but the King promised to take good caution that they should proceed upon no unlawful attempts, which was all he could do, or that could be expected from him. Thos. Rastall sent back with letters in reply. Mathew Stocker's broke remitted. No discount to be allowed off adventures, “there being no need of money in cash.” Adventures of Fras. Evington deceased, set over to Sir Robt. Napier. About taking up money at 8 per cent, interest in “the chamber of London.” John Holmeden's diet. Wm. Starkey's money to be paid to the Earl of Thomond. Money taken up in France by Sir John Ferae paid in England by Wm. Newman, who is suspected to be interested in the matter. Meetings at Deptford and Blackwall read and confirmed. [Six pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 447–453.] |
| July 21. |
1008. Consultation by the Merchants of the Thomas. Acheen being well known to the English nation as a place of great exaction, and that nothing can be effected without great presents and bribes, especially to certain of the nobility, it is resolved to give the presents described to the king and others, to confirm to the English trade at Tecoe for two years. Signed by John Millward, Wm. Nicolls, and John Yates. [Copy. Half a page. O. C., Vol. III., No. 282. I.] |
| July 28. |
1009. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Provision of iron hoops from Spain. Difference between Palmer and Rudd. Freeman's dividend upon the sixth voyage. Cloth to be bought and dyed for the next voyage. Leaden Hall (sic) held unfit for the Company's use ; all the rooms cannot be had, Mr. Wroth hath his dwelling within it, the staplers have also certain rooms reserved; the place itself can be used but upon certain days in regard of the markets, and the Company are well accommodated at the Exchange and Lord Compton's. About sealing the Bridge House lease. Mr. Cason's adventure in the ninth voyage. Proposal to have a ship victualled for three or four months, to be sent to the islands to relieve the ships returning from the East Indies. Relief to sailors' wives. A course how to suppress pirates referred. Captain Blageden's release. Letter from the Lord Admiral to Capts. Gifford and Pepwell, on behalf of Thompson and Havers. Allowance to John Lamprey, officer at Blackwall. Gratification to Mr. Kitchen. Part of Thos. Westwrow's adventure in the seventh voyage set over to Henry Garraway. Two hogsheads of beer to be provided for the men at the launch of the new ship at Deptford. The auditor's report of Mr. Mountney's accounts. Canary wines, ldquo;like to continue very scarce this year,” to be viewed. [[Four pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 453–458.] |
