|
Sept. 7.
Firando. |
146. Richard Cocks to Sir Thomas Smythe, Governor, and the
Committees of the East India Company. Refers to his last letter
of 30 Sept. 1621 (see No. 1112, previous volume of Calendar).
Ten ships of the Manilla fleet, five English and five Dutch, safely
returned to Firando, having made a far richer voyage than last
year. Has received instructions from Fursland to leave off our
consortship of the fleet of defence with the Hollanders, and to send
our five ships to Jacatra, the Palsgrave and Moon to take in their
lading of pepper at Jambi, the Peppercorn to stay on the coast
of China, and the Elizabeth and Bull to come direct to Jacatra;
and bring away all left in Japan, leaving John Osterwick with
two assistants and a cargo of 5,000 taies. The Hollanders this
year made an attack on Amacao (Macao) with 14 or 15 ships, but
were repulsed with a loss of from 300 to 500 men, and four ships
burnt; the King of China having at length allowed the Portuguese
to fortify the place, and ordered the Viceroy of Canton to assist
them with 100,000 men, if necessary, against the Hollanders They
are now fortified near to Isla Formosa, called the Isla de Piscadores,
where they report a very good harbour, and give themselves out to
be English, only to bring our nation in disgrace with the Chinese;
but this contradicted by our China friends in Japan. Is afraid that
their attempt against Macao will cause both their nations to be
driven out of Japan, for it has overthrown the China trade in these
parts, yet our China friends say we may have trade into China if
we will; the wars of the Tartar and the death of three kings of
China in one or two years the cause we have not entered before
now; the Hollanders will never be suffered to enter on any conditions whatsoever. Went with Osterwick and two of the Dutch
factors to Yedo, with presents for the Emperor, but after being
detained three months they met the King of Firando, from whom
they had many fair promises, yet now order is come that the
Emperor will have all the goods of the prize frigate for himself,
and they were constrained to deliver them "will we or nill we."
Two friars who came in the frigate from Manilla, and 12 other
Spanish and Portuguese friars, have been roasted to death at Nangasaki; and the captain, a Japanese, and 112 other Japanese men,
women, and children have been put to death by fire and sword for
harbouring them. Also some friars who arrived at Shasma from
Caggalion, in the Manillas, under the guise of merchants, were
found out and sent prisoners to Nangasaki, where it is thought
they will be roasted to death; whilst the Chinese are in danger of
losing their lives, and the goods seized upon of Andrea Dittis, the
China captain (our friend). Some Spaniards and Portuguese are
imprisoned, condemned, and all their goods confiscated for attempting to carry off one of the friars "which was roasted;" and two
Japons (in the Hollanders' service) with their wives and children
executed. "This Emperor Shongo Same being such a mortal
enemy to the name of a Christian, especially of Papistical Christians." When at the Emperor's court at Yedo he was often asked
whether the English were Christians, and explained the difference
between the English and the Spaniard's religion, "which seemed
in some sort to give them content." Has stood out long for the
prize goods of the frigate, but that would not serve the Tono or
Chief Justice of Firando, who threatened to put Capt. Leonard
Camps and himself to death, and the seizure of all his goods; and
in case of resistance to have burned all our shipping and put us
all to the sword. "God send us well out of Japan, for I doubt it
will be every day worse than other. * * * And so let this
suffice for the present state of Japan." Particulars of sales of
goods and stock. The Hollanders sent a ship from Jacatra by
Siam to Japan, with goods, which captured three rich Portugal
frigates bound from Macao to Malacca or Goa. This letter was
sent in the Dutch ship Trow, but being forced back by stormy
weather is now sent by the Bull. Continued, see No. 175. [Four
pages and a half. O.C., Vol. IX., No. 1078.] |
Sept. 9.
Jambi. |
147. Robert Johnson and Marmaduke Stevinton to Edward
Harvey, chief at Indraghiri. Are sorry to hear of the great loss by
untimely fire by villainous people; they must have patience till they
can avenge it. Wish he had sent particulars of the losses; are
persuaded that pepper will not burn, and hope the cloth was removed in time. He is to come away at once if possible. He must
take care that the pepper and 600 ryals which he proposes to
capture do not belong to friends. [One page. O.C., Vol. IX.,
No. 1079.] |
| Sept. 11. |
148. Locke to Carleton. The States have done little or nothing
since his last, the English Commissioners having failed to meet
them several times. The East India merchants not the only men
that complain. [Extract Domestic Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXXXIII.,
No. 12, Cal., p. 446.] |
Sept. 14.
The Hague. |
149. Carleton to Sec. Calvert. A small fleet now going out
from Amsterdam of ten ships, under one Hermite, admiral, who
has heretofore traded into the East Indies. He has 1,500 men,
and victuals for sixteen months. All that is known of the voyage
is that it is westward, and in all appearance by the proportion of
victuals as far as the Indies, though the voice goeth most for
Momorra (?) in assistance of the Moors against the Spaniards. The
Ambassadors in England have written hither very comfortable
letters, of a good inclination in the King to set a final end to their
long differences, which must be only done by his authority. [Extract from Holland Corresp.] |
| Sept. ? |
150. Order of his Majesty concerning the islands of Pooloroon
and Lantar. The question being debated at large by the Commissioners on both sides on the 13th present, the King ordered, at
Theobalds, on the 15th, in presence of the Commissioners, that the
former agreement for Pooloroon should hold good, the island having
been surrendered to the King of Great Britain in 1616 by a solemn
deed, according to the custom of the country; and that henceforth
in Lantar there should be a friendly union between the English
and Dutch East India Companies, and that the natives be again
brought back and replanted upon the island, to which the States
Commissioners readily assented, and "the business touching those
two islands was thus settled." [Four pages. East Indies, Vol. II.,
No. 21.] |
Sept. 16.
Theobalds. |
151. Sec. Calvert to Carleton. Yesterday was debated before
the King the possession of the Island of Lantar, taken by the
English since the making, but before the publication, of the treaty.
It was accommodated to the contentment of the Hollanders, that
the fort shall be demolished, the place remain as it was, and the
trade be common to both, according to the proportion limited in
the treaty; that is, one part to us and two parts to them. They
acquainted the King with their resolution for setting forward the
West Indian Company, and offered to receive the English into the
association. [Extract from Holland Corresp.] |
Sept. 20.
Batavia. |
152. Answer of Richard Fursland, President, and the Council, to
John Peterson Coen, General of the Netherlands Company, and
his Council. About the taking of the goods of a China junk, in
the Straits of Banca, which was done without their orders, but
being taken they think it right to keep them, as the Dutch did
those taken by the Gallias last year out of a China junk, and as
a set off against the robbery of the Unicorn, and debts owing by
the Chinese. Some of the delinquents will be sent home to be
judged by the Company. "Rejoinder to the Duplique of the
Fiscal." It is out of their "elements to deal with fiscals," for, "as
it is a craven cock that cannot crow upon his own dunghill, so he
is no true fiscal that cannot prate for his wages, and sustain any
matter (though never so false) without blushing, if it make for
his advantage;" but they will "answer briefly that rabble of
suborned stuff inserted by him." Here follows "a brief declaration
of the circumstances in taking the China junk in the Straits of
Banca, drawn up from our people's examinations upon their oaths."
That the English boarded her with drawn swords in the night,
and more than 100 Chinese leaped overboard and some were
drowned, "is one of the grossest lies of all the rest." Narrative
of the facts as they really happened (see ante, No. 124). Think the
matter according to the last article of the accord ought to be settled
by the Companies at home. "Answer to the triplique of the
advocate fiscal, concerning the taking of the China junk, delivered over in the Fort Batavia, 10 Oct. 1622." A further statement,
signed by Tho. Brockedon, Aug. Spaldinge, and Will. Methwold, was
delivered to the Dutch General in the fort of Batavia, 7 Nov. 1622.
[Ten pages and a half. O.C., Vol. IX., No. 1080.] |
| Sept. 21. |
153. The King to the Lords Commissioners for the Treaty with
the Ambassadors of the States. This is a copy (dated 21 Sept.)
of the original despatch from the King, dated 21 Oct. 1622, see
No. 166. Bradshaw has endorsed this copy, "21° 7br 1622. The
Kgs Lre to ye Lds Comrs for ye treaty wth ye Duch touchg ye E. Inda
Busines." [East Indies, Vol. II., No. 22.] |
| Sept. 25. |
154. Locke to Carleton. The States proceed but slowly in their
business. Mons. Aerssens told Mons. Beaulieu they had been eight
times at Whitehall by appointment of the Privy Council and lost
their labour, wherewith they were not very well pleased. [Extract
from Domestic Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXXXIII., No. 25, Cal., p.
449.] |
| [Sept. 28.] |
155. Commission from the King to the Lord President of the
Council and others. To inquire into the causes of the decay of
trade, and among other things to find out whether the East India
Company justly perform their contract concerning the exporting
of coin, and to consider by what means that trade which is specious
in show may really be made profitable to the public, without
exhausting the treasure of the kingdom. [Domestic Corresp., Jac. I.,
Vol. CXXXIII., No. 27., Cal., p. 450] |
| 1622 ? |
156. "A calculation of what moneys less will drive the trades
of silks, indigo, and spices by Cape Bone Spei, than by Turkey."
It is argued that the exportation of money for India and Persia
by way of Cape Bone Spei is not the cause of scarcity of silver,
but the money transported for Turkey from Marseilles, Leghorn,
Sicily, and Venice. Cost of Persian silk bought in Turkey and
transported yearly to Christendom, and the probability of drawing the
money hither when the trade by way of Turkey shall be diverted.
Difference between the present cost of the spices and indigo now
imported, and when they came by way of Turkey. The whole
sum exported by sea is less than would buy the like quantity in
Turkey, which is yearly 1,178,366l. 13s. 4d., and the land is better
served. [Two pages and a quarter. Endorsed as above. East
Indies, Vol. II., No. 23.] |
| 1622 ? |
157. "Reasons to prove that it is not the East India trade
which doth consume the gold, silver coin, or other treasure of this
kingdom, but rather that the said trade is an excellent means
greatly to increase the same." From the foundation of the trade in
1601 till July 1620 the Company only shipped away 548,090l. in
Spanish ryals, although they might have exported 720,000l. They
have in the same term exported to the value of 292,286l. in broad
cloths, kerseys, lead, tin, &c. During the last years more goods
have been sent to the Indies than in the 16 years before. Thirtyfour ships have been employed in the trade. Goods bought in India
for 356,288l. have produced in England 1,914,600l. The Company
now ship yearly 50,000l. in divers wares. Proportion of the trade
which it is hoped may yearly be brought into England. Great
cause for suspecting that the Dutch will break their agreement.
[One page and a half. East Indies, Vol. II., No. 24.] |
| 1622 ? |
158. "Reasons alleged to prove that the trade from England
unto the East Indies doth not consume, but rather increase the
treasure of this kingdom." Somewhat longer but to the same effect
as the preceding. [Two pages and three quarters. East Indies,
Vol. II., No. 25.] |
| 1622 ? |
159. Treatise by Ed. Bennett on the inconveniences of importing tobacco from Spain, containing also a vindication of the
East India Company from the charge of their being the cause of the
scarcity of silver by their exportation. [Six pages. Domestic
Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXXXV., No. 56, Cal., p. 477.] |
