East Indies: December 1629 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, East Indies, China and Persia, Volume 6, 1625-1629. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1884.

Citation:

'East Indies: December 1629', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, East Indies, China and Persia, Volume 6, 1625-1629, ed. W Noel Sainsbury( London, 1884), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/east-indies-china-japan/vol6/pp692-699 [accessed 29 November 2024].

December 1629


	Date.	Name of Petitioner.		Subject of Petition.		Reference.

Dec. 16–26. The Hague.	875. Sir Henry Vane to (Sec. Lord Dorchester). Finds nothing but difficulty in the Amboyna business, and from private discourse that they will never depart from the judicature, but frame arguments of a concession of the cause on his Majesty's part, in the proceeding of his Ministers; which Vane ever protests against, and replies that if they will not give satisfaction to what his Majesty has demanded, he will send back the witnesses as they came, and if worse effects follow, the King will be justifiable towards God and the world, and they remain culpable. As soon as he receives answer from the States, will advertise his Lordship and desire further orders, being resolved to keep firm on his instructions. [Extract Holland Corresp.]
Dec. 21–31. In the Assembly of the States General.	876. Answer of the States General to the memorial of Sir Henry Vane [see ante No. 874]. Having examined his memorial, the States declare on the first point that the sovereign jurisdiction of the United Provinces and their subjects belongs to them exclusively, in conformity with all other States and Sovereign Princes. That accordingly they made enquiry in the East Indies concerning the proceedings at Amboyna, and caused an entire College of Judges to be recalled, and transported 3,000 leagues by sea, to render account of their actions; and have, with the sanction of his Majesty's Ministers, appointed seven irreproachable Councillors of the Courts of Holland, Zealand, and West Friesland, to take cognizance of this cause, and ordered the Fiscal General to proceed against the accused upon instructions submitted by Misselden, Governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers at Delft; that besides Mr. Carleton his Majesty's Resident has delivered to the Judges in a sealed box the informations taken in England and divers other pieces. But the Judges delegated have always desired to confront the English witnesses with the accused Judges. As to the second point, no Judge can declare before examination of witnesses on both sides, that they are good and competent witnesses, which, where life and goods are at stake is of the greatest importance, nor can the Ambassador's contention be accepted, that the witnesses should not be examined on other interrogatories besides those upon which they have been examined by his Majesty's Court of Admiralty, for the Judges have perceived that the declarations of the accused are directly at variance with the depositions of his Majesty's subjects now arrived here, which has the more induced them to instruct the Fiscal to insist that the English witnesses appear in person to be examined and confronted with the accused, and it would be prejudicial to both parties if the Judges were deprived of the power of putting interrogatories to such other the English witnesses as the cause may require. Touching the third point, the Ambassador will consider that since such order has been given as they are accustomed to give in differences of great importance between their own subjects and those of friendly or allied Princes, which admits of no communication of a sentence being given before it is delivered, the States can ill give any other order. And therefore having entire confidence in the experience and probity of the Judges, the States can find no better means of shortening the cause, than his Majesty leaving the English witnesses to be examined, in which case justice shall be rendered, as becomes the States, and they have always professed to be one of the principal pillars of their State. Require Sir H. Vane to make a favourable report of this declaration to his Majesty, and contribute his best offices thereto. French. Endorsed by Sec. Dorchester, "The States answer touching the Amboyna business." 6 pp. [Holland Corresp.]
Dec.	877. Considerations upon the [preceding] Answer of the States. As to the first point, the final and supreme judicature of the cause of Amboyna, the King reserves either to himself or at least to a joint bench of English and Dutch Judges, grounded upon the Treaty of 1619. The declaration on the States' part need not have been pressed at all, for his Majesty's act of sending over the witnesses was not to be understood as a submission of the cause but was done at the entreaty of the States and for satisfying the consciences of the Judges. The second point refers to the demand to have the witnesses acknowledged competent before examination, to the restraining said examination to such interrogatories as said witnesses have been formerly examined upon, and to the requiring the presence of the Ambassador or whomsoever he shall appoint. To the third point, requiring communication of the sentence before it be pronounced, the States give no negative, and in private it has been acknowledged as a thing that might pass, to give his Majesty contentment in case there were no greater difference. On the whole it is to be considered whether the King should do better to revoke the witnesses and give over all further thought of satisfaction or justice to be done by the States or suffer the proceeding to go on without speaking more in point of judicature, and give order to Sir Henry Vane to admit of the examination of the witnesses in all interrogatories the Judges shall think good, requiring only communication of the sentence before it be pronounced, presence at the examination, and a promise that the sentence heretofore given at Amboyna against the witnesses as traitors shall not make them incompetent; and with these conditions suffer the process to go on to sentence, which the Bewinthebbers by all the artifice they can have ever sought to delay. In case the States admit of no conditions at all, it will certainly be best that Sir Henry Vane immediately send home the witnesses, and signify to the States that his Majesty will take that course to right himself as he shall judge fitting. And it will be best the Prince of Orange be dealt with before anything be said to the States, he being able to do what he will in this matter if he be brought to take it to heart. Draft with corrections by Dudley Carleton. 9 pp. Also fair copy of same. [Holland Corresp.]
Dec.	878. Memorandum concerning the differences between the East India Companies of England and Holland. The discords between the two Companies are the cause of great loss to themselves and of decrease of treasure in Christendom to the enriching of Indians, Turks, and other nations. The commodities of Christendom might be vended in India at good prices and profit made by trading in India from port to port, and Indian wares bought there and sold in Christendom, Barbary, Turkey, &c. at reasonable rates to profit. If the Companies would but agree that each should participate in the gains of the other's trade for some reasonable proportion, and perform all offices of good correspondence with each other, all things for the good of the trade would then be soon agreed upon, and all jealousies and evil language be laid aside, which if continued may bring much more damage to both Companies and their countries too than yet appears. If the participation cannot be agreed upon for the trade in general, certain prices for cloves, mace, nutmegs, pepper, indigo, and silk may be agreed on, each Company to take off and furnish the other in India and here on request with such proportions and at such prices as shall be agreed on, the better to oblige each not to buy at higher or sell at lower rates than according to agreement. Such therefore as pretend peace for the good of both Companies shall do well to endeavour to bring to pass such good agreements. Concerning the present dispute the English demand of the Dutch more than 1,000,000l., and the Dutch of the English more than 300,000l. Since June 1629, these demands have been in dispute and neither side acknowledges anything due to the other. Meantime for want of some good reglement of trade each Company loses at least 100,000l. yearly. Were it not good to pass by present differences for a time and agree on the regulating of trade in the future; in likelihood then those great demands would soon be accommodated. As long as the Companies continue enemies there is little hope of any agreement concerning these large demands though they were just.1p. [East Indies, Vol. IV., No. 76]
Dec. 23.	879. Statement by the Deputies of the Dutch East India Company of their differences with the English Company presented to the King's Commissioners. That negotiations were stopped at their very commencement by a dispute about the language, that the validity of the Dutch Deputies Commission was then called in question, and that now a fresh matter of dispute has arisen about the manner of treating the English Company, pretending that answer should be given in writing to all points at once and afterwards to come to particular points. It is argued that the first point of the English demands should be taken in hand and then from point to point to go through to the end. Think a change in a manner of treating authorised by a happy success uncalled for, it makes them fear a tedious issue of the business; but that if the first points were agreed it would facilitate an accord of the others Consider that such a course as the English Company desire can only serve to draw the affair out into extreme length and confusion, and it makes the Dutch Deputies suspect the English Company has no desire to come to a conclusion, since they refuse to proceed in the ordinary way. Are ready and have been ready to proceed these 10 months without losing any time, and cannot sufficiently marvel that the English Company, who have made both hemispheres ring with their complaints, and have made everyone believe they are owed great sums, now that the Dutch Deputies are here, seek delays and refuse to treat in a manner judged to be the quickest and most convenient by his late Majesty and authorised by the success of an accord. Pray therefore that their Excellencies, having regard to the 10 months they have been made to languish, dispose the English Company to reason, that they may at last bring the business to a happy conclusion. Endorsed by Sec. Lord Dorchester, "The Dutch East Indian Company's relation of the state of the diffirents brought to me the 8th of Jan. 1629[–30]. French. 3 pp. [Holland Corresp.]
Dec. ?	880. Reasons why the Commissioners of the East India Company desire that the Commissioners of the Netherlands East India Company should give answer in writing to all the demands of the said English together in one body and not by piece meal as the said Netherlands desire; without which it is argued there can be no litis contestatio nor the question stated which is conceived to be the very essence of the due debating of every controversy, whether it be legally or summarily handled. 1¼ pp. [East Indies, Vol. IV., No. 77.]
Dec. 24. 1630. Jan 3. The Hague.	881. Sir Henry Vane to (Sec. Lord Dorchester). This morning having well weighed the fierce negatives given by the States to all he had proposed on his Majesty's part in the business of Amboyna. held it no way fitting to accept their answer, and therefore returned it to Randwick. Sends copy enclosed and will await his Lordship's further resolution; as also what to do with the witnesses, who remain to little purpose, for to speak plain English does not find they intend to give his Majesty any satisfaction in the way now proposed, nor will ever be brought to yield to a joint judicature. Always protests against concession of the judicature of the cause by admission of Judges on his Majesty's part, and affirms that all the King's Ministers have done the like; by reason whereof our merchants are kept without satisfaction or restitution of their goods since the commission of the fact, wherein the Dutch have been too crafty for them. Thinks therefore for the present our merchants should press the Dutch Deputies in England to come to a liquidation of accounts, in which if they be unreasonable his Majesty will have more and more just cause to multiply his indignation, and proceed against them by way of fact. Will never advise that this business should be slubbered up, though it may be wisdom in respect of his Majesty's other affairs to let it sleep for the present, and so keep the point of reparation of honour undetermined. [Extract, Holland Corresp.]
Dec. 29. 1630, Jan 8. The Hagne.	882. Sir Henry Vane to (Sec. Lord Dorchester). Two days after he returned the States' answer of the Amboyna business [see ante, No. 876] to M. Randwick, Randwick returned it to Vane's Secretary; but would not meddle with it himself, so commanded his Secretary to let Randwick know so much and civilly to return it; being resolved without his Lordship's further order, not to meddle with it. [Extract, Holland Corresp.]
	Petitions to the East India Company of Persons who solicit Employment, Increase of Wages, or Payment of Wages due to their Relatives, &c. in the Company's Service.
	1629.					Court Min. Bk.
	Jan. 7	Ames Mills		His wages		XI. 242
	" "	Richard Mayler and others		Remission of freight on goods, a legacy by John Thompson, deceased.		" "
	" "	Anne Major		Part of her husband's wages		" "
	" "	Anne, wife of Jas. Starling		Same		" "
	" "	Elizabeth, wife of Rich. Wilson		Same		" "
	" "	Anne, wife of John Gibson		Same		" "
	" "	Robert Floud, late mate in the Discovery.		His wages detained for freight		" "
	" "	James Browning, gunner's mate		Relief, having been cast away in the Morris.		" 243
	" "	Katherine, wife of Wm. Rockwell, gunner.		Part of her husband's wages		" "
	" "	Hugh Large		Wages of Thomas Horton		" "
	" 21	Mary, wife of Joseph Hopkinson, factor.		Part of her husband's wages		" 270
	" 23	Robert Floud, late mate in the Discovery.		His wages and remission of freight.		" 273
	" "	Margaret, widow of Martyn Hopkins.		Her husband's wages		" 274
	" 27	Bridget, wife of John Smith		Part of her husband's wages		" 280
	" "	Sir William Becher		Employment for his servant, Henry Quarles.		" "
	Feb. 4	Thomas Hughes		Satisfaction for loss sustained by the Dutch.		" 285
	" "	Jonas Colbach		Employment		" "
	" 16	Mary Whitfeild, widow Jane Lidget, widow		Charity; their husbands cast away in the Morris.		" 312
	" "	Susan Trippet		Part of her husband's wages		" "
	" 23	William Sallway and John Franck, keepers of the Exchange.		Enlargement of their yearly allowance.		" 324
	" "	Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Vans.		Charity, her husband having been slain in the Reformation, in fight with the French.		" "
	" "	Henry Hitch, surgeon of the London.		Part of his servant Wm. Westcott's wages.		" 325
	" "	Susan, widow of John Davis, drowned in the Morris.		Charity		" "
	" "	Margaret, wife of Thomas Hart		Wages of her son Thomas Hart		" 326
	" 25	Thomas (sic), wife of John Shery.		Part of her husband's wages		" 327
	" "	Katherine Tutt		Part of her servant Kirby's wages.		" "
	Mar. 2	John Franklyn		Part of his wages to Beckingham Bentum.		" 335
	" 4	Michael Yates		Freight of his goods		" 348
	" 6	Elizabeth, wife of Richard Preddis		Part of her husband's wages		" 351
	" 11	John Snowsell		Part of his wages to his wife		" 355
	" 16	Wife of James Oliver, factor at Mocha.		Part of her husband's wages		" 365
	" 18	Richard Towson		His mother to have part of his wages		" 369
	" 23	Francis Lloyd, late purser of the Dolphin.		Wages and freight		" 373
	Mar. 23	Robert Marshall		Part of his wages to his mother		XI. 374
	" 30	Robert Maulthus		Employment for his son Thomas		" 378
	" "	Edward Tynes, assistant to Mr. Sambrcoke.		Increase of wages		" 379
	Apr. 17	Mr. Blunt		The estate of Wm. Morley, drowned at Macassar.		" 402
	" 24	Sara, wife of Henry Short		Part of her husband's wages		" 409
	May 2	Katherine, wife of Wm.		White Same		" 416
	" 15	Philip Bearden		Re-employment		" 435
	" 20	Mary, wife of Edward Smith, gunner.		Part of her husband's wages.		" 438
	June 5	Rebecca Wood		Part of her son James Wood's wages.		" 448
	" "	Christopher Offly		His brother Justinian's estate		" 449
	" "	Robert Browne		Charity for 21 years' service		" "
	" 12	Mr. Hurt, of Bristol		Gratification for pilotting the Palsgrave, Dolphin, and Discovery into Ireland, &c.		" 453
	July 1	Mr. Chauncy		Gratification and increase of salary.		" 469
	" 3	Mary, relict and administratrix of Thomas Batten.		A debt out of the wages of Jeremy Suger.		" 472
	Names of Persons admitted and sworn Free Brethren of the East India Company.
	Date.	Free Brethren.		To whom bound.	By fine or otherwise.	Reference.
	1629.					Court Min. Bk. XI.
	Jan. 7	Warwick Founds [Fownes]		Hugh Perry	Service	243
	" "	Wm. Acton, Sheriff of London			Redemption by fine of 20l.	"
	" 14	Nathan Wright			Redemption by fine of 20l.	252
	" 19	Sir John, son of Samuel Back house.			Patrimony	260
	" 21	Odiell, son of John Woodward			Patrimony	269
	" "	John Eldred			Service and 5l. to poor box.	270
	" 25	John Le Thelieur, Merchant Stranger.			Fine of 40l.	277
	" "	Herriott, son of Robert Wash borne.			Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	"
	" 27	Edward Palmer			Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	280
	" "	Daniel Winch			Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	"
	" 30	Sir Gregory Norte n			Fine of 20l.	282
	" "	Roger Corbett			Fine of 20l.	"
	" "	Thomas Thorrold			Fine of 20l.	"
	" "	Charles Snelling			Fine of 20l.	"
	Feb. 4	John Gardiner			Fine of 20l.	285
	" "	Thomas Kerridge, President at Surat.			Service and 20s. to poor box.	286
	Feb. 6	Edward Ironside			Patrimony and 108. to poor box.	288
	" 11	Daniel Dobbins		Sir Hugh Hammersley	Service and 5l. To poor box.	294
	" 27	John Berry, a minister			20s. to poor box, on marrying the widow of Matthew Stocker, a freeman.	331
	" "	Sir Wm. Becher			Gratis	"
	Mar. 2	Richard Hall			5l. To poor box	"
	" "	"William Geare			5l. to poor box	"
	" 4	Henry Clitherow		Son of Ald. Clitherow	Patrimony and 108. to poor box.	347
	" 16	Henry Deereham [Derham], son-in-law to Jeoffrey Kirby.			Gratis and 10s. to poor box.	364
	April 22	Wm. Ivatt		Son of Thomas Ivatt, late searcher of the Port of London.	Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	404
	" 24	William Bladwell		Son of Richard Bladwell	Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	406
	" "	John Bladwell		Richard Bladwell	Service and 10s. to poor box.	"
	" 29	Richard Gay		Robert Burton	Service and 10s. to poor box.	416
	May 6	John Turnour		Son of James Turnour	10s. to poor box.	422
	June 19	Henry St. John		Humphrey Slany	Service and 10s. to poor box.	459
	" 26	John Jacob		Son of Abraham Jacob	Patrimony and 10s. to poor box.	465
	July 1	Robert Clarke		George Francklyn	Service and 10s. to poor box.	469
	Transfers of Adventures in the East India Company.
	Date.	From	To	Amount.	Name of Stock.	Reference.
	1629			£		Court Min. Bk. XI.
	Jan. 14	Lionell Wright, Esq.	Richard Davis	3,200	Second joint stock	252
	" 21	John Woodward	Odiell Woodward	3,000	Same	269
	" 23	Thomas Sorocold	Henry Lee	800	Same	272
	" "	John Clifton	Alderman Garway	600	Same	276
	" 30	Henry Brooke	Elizabeth Crews	1,200	Same	283
	Feb. 23	John Holloway	Alderman Whitmore	500	Same	325
	" 25	Mr. Wayte	Robt. Bateman	12th and 13th half capitals.	Same	327
	" 27	Sir Francis Wortley	John Elwaies	4,000	Same	332
	Mar. 4	Thomas Smethwike	Robert Bateman	1,600	Same	347
	" 6	Richard Bateman	William Ashwell	200	Same	349
	" 13	George Mynn	Philip Burlamachi	4,000	Same	359
	Mar. 13	George Mynn, entered in the name of Sir George Calvert, now Lord Baltimore.	Philip Burlamachi	2,000	Second Joint stock	359
	" "	Anthony Wither	Same	1,000	Same	"
	" "	Same	Robert Bateman	10th and 11th Divisions £ 125	same	"
	April 1	John Stone, executor to Wm. Stone.	John Massingberd	1,600	Same	382
	" "	Same	Richard Bateman	1,400	Same	"
	" 13	Robert Bacon, attorney for Benedict Garrard, of Maldon, in Essex.	Richard Beresford	400	Same	393
	" 17	Thomas Melling and John Cuffe, executors to Thomas Melling.	John Cuffe	600	Not stated	402
	" 24	Thos. Ivatt, executor to Thos. Ivatt.	William Ivatt	1,200	Second join stock	408
	May 8	David Papillion, sen.	John Milward	2,600	Same	424
	" "	Same	Abraham Chamberlain	The 12th and 13th Divisions of same £ 301 12s. 2d	Same	425
	"13	Henry Elwes, by direction of Sir Robert Jenkinson.	John Milward	600	Same	432
	" "	Same	John Eaglesfeild	600	Same	433
	" "	Rowland Squire, executor of Robert Kempton.	Bartholomew Nokes	200	Same	"
	" 20	Robert South, administrator to James Briarly, and executor of his mother, Johan Briarly, deceased.	Jeoffery Kirby	3,000	Same	437
	" "	Matthew Stocker, deceased, by Mrs. John Berry, his widow.	John Berry	800	Same	438
	" 22	Sir Wm. Russell	Alderman Freeman	1,600	Same	440
	June 17	Richard Dorothy Ashcroft, executor to Richard Ashcroft, deceased	Thomas Kerridge	400	Same	457
	" 26	Charles Edmonds	The East India Company conditionally.	1,200	Same..	466
	July 3	Elizabeth Crews	Mr. Cockram	1,200	Same	473