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July 31 and Aug. 13.
Johanna, Comoro Islands. |
201. Consultations held aboard the Mary. Having received letters by John Burley, Master of the pinnace Intelligence, 30th, May, from the President of Surat, and from the agent in Persia, found themselves ordered by the President to attend at these Islands of Comoro, viz., Johanna, until the 20th Aug. for the India ships, but if they arrive not then to proceed with their three ships for Persia alone, deliver the goods consigned thither, stay till the 20th Oct., and if the other ships come not, then to come for Surat with the moneys and goods consigned thither, but prohibiting the receipt of any Persian goods that belong to the first or second voyages, before they had tried their fortunes with the common enemy on the coast of India. By the agent's letter are entreated to desist from coming for Persia first, but rather to make Surat their first port; and by Capt. Morton are advised to consider how the President's mind may be altered on receipt of the agent's letter.
Finding themselves so much straightened have rested doubtfully what course to follow. Resolved to follow the agent's advice, as by consultation of 14th June appears. But having since more seriously considered the President's express order without limitation, also how agreeable it is with the Company's order, and with the orders he has given to their expected friends to meet them here or follow them to Persia, made them divert their opinions and follow the President's order as most agreeable to the Company's intentions and the safest for the reasons set forth. It was thought fit to keep the pinnace Intelligence and carry her for Persia, and as for going for the discovery of Broome according to the Company's orders, through our long stay here, it cannot be performed without endangering our passage. Signed by James Slade, Hump. Pym, Wm. Minors, Peter Andrewes, John Pashley, [? Rich] Barnabe, and Wm. Hall. Endorsed, "Consultation aboard the Mary and (ships for the third voyage) in Augustine Bay, recd in London 20 Junii 1634 from Plymouth out of Cap. Quaile's ship." 2 pp. [O. C., Vol. XIII., No. 1365.] |
Aug. 7.
Aboard the Royal James, Ballambeen (Palembang) Paint, Sumatra. |
202. Consultation held aboard the Royal James. On consideration that the President and Council had intended their departure from Bantam with the Blessing if possible to attain Johanna by the fine of August, to meet the English fleet from Europe where the William from Coromandel was also designed, and in case they could not achieve the same, then to shape their course for the coast of India there to meet them and join forces by the 10th Oct. 1631, doubting the malice of the Portugals to prevent their entrance thither, and for that, having lost their monsoon, 2nd inst., came their barge which they had sent to Bantam with advice of their scarcity of provisions, together with the pinnace Dove with rice, arack, &c., bringing letters from the Agent and Council of 25th July, with copy of the Company's letter by the Hopewell of the 20th Nov. last, advising from Bantam they had resolved in March last to dispeed the London and Palsgrave with 2,000 tons of pepper ready for the Second Joint Stock; and that the President and Council's intent was to have borrowed some of said pepper for the second general voyage upon which account said two ships now go, to be repaid when supply should come for same, but now seeing the London and Palsgrave may be there so soon as themselves whereby those intents are frustrated; and for that they are informed from Bantam by copy of the Company's instructions to the Factors in the Hopewell that the Company intended to dispeed for Surat and Persia the Mary and Exchange and pinnace Speedwell, which with the William would not be of sufficient strength to encounter the malicious Portugal and their arrival at Bantam being uncertain and their meeting at the appointed place of rendezvous hopeless; and withall knowing that there is no relying on the Dutch, who would be glad to have us receive loss and disgrace; it was propounded by Jno. Skibbowe, that the James taking in the goods on the Blessing consigned from Surat for Bantam should proceed thither with the Dove, and that the Blessing taking in water and needful provisions
return with all possible speed to the rendezvous appointed for the expected fleet from England and go with them for Surat, which being discussed was generally applauded and thought requisite to be put in execution. Signed by John Skibbowe, John Banggam, Francis Stockton, Math. Morton, John Roberts, Thomas Beaumont, and John White. 2½ pp. [O. C., Vol. XIII., No. 1366.] |
Aug. 14.
Aboard the Royal James, seven leagues to leeward of Ballambeen (Palembang) Point (Sumatra). |
203. John Skibbowe and John Banggam to the President and Council of Surat. Gave advice of their safety 13th May by the William near Cape Comorin, which departed for the coast of Coromandel. Since the Royal James and Blessing have proceeded together on a tedious voyage and lost their monsoon. July 8th fell in with the coast of Sumatra, and having plied to windward till the (Sumatra). 14th, and finding themselves driven to leeward and their provisions nearly spent, resolved to send their barge to Bantam with letter to the Agent and Council requiring supplies. Plied to windward till the last of July and their water near spent, furnished themselves at Palembang Point, the southernmost land of Sumatra. On 2nd Aug. the barge and the Dove came from Bantam with provisions, otherwise they should have been forced to have borne room for Selebar, the current being so strong out of the Straits that they were discouraged of getting their port, but by the southern coast of Java. Received letters from the Agent and Council of 25th July with copies of their letters to Surat of 15th June and one intended to be sent by the Dutch, and copies of letter of 20th Nov. from the Company to that factory by the Hopewell, and of instructions to the Factors coming in her. They will perceive by the Company's letter that on advice from Bantam by the London of 2,000 tons of pepper ready for the Second Joint Stock, they had determined in March past to send the London and Palsgrave for it, which may be expected at Bantam as soon as themselves; whereby their hopes of borrowing pepper from that account will be frustrated, and they put to a plunge, but have thought on a remedy. Held it not fit to go in the barge, as well in regard of the danger of the passage as that Mr. Willoughby would withstand their authority, but merely wrote of their coming. It was also ordered by consultation that no man should send any particular letters, and it seems that Mr. Willoughby presumes on the Company's order by the Hopewell, that the factory of Armagon was to be subject to Bantam; but that takes not away Bantam from being subordinate to Surat, which they will stand upon and observe their commission so near as they can. It has been a great neglect at home that in neither of their letters to Bantam have they advised of their being subordinate to Surat; whereof Mr. Willoughby takes hold in his letter of the 15th June, and it is well they have the Company's letter whereby it will plainly appear that their order is so. Refer to letters herewith sent for the state of business in these southern factories. Seeing they had lost their monsoon, and understanding how weakly the Europe fleet comes this year and the malice of the Portugals, it was resolved by consultation that the James should take in the Blessing's goods and proceed for Bantam, and the
Blessing return to meet the English fleet and so go for Surat. Purpose to ply up for Bantam either by the coast of Sumatra or Java. The Swallow went for England in December last, and the Star coming too late for her pretended voyage to Macassar, is employed to Jambi and expected thence in Sept. with pepper. They will perceive how Mr. Willoughby intends to send the Star for England with pepper in Nov., but conceive their best course will be to take her lading into the James with what can be compassed by the fine of Sept. and the cloves they have for the Second Joint Stock, and so attain Surat by the fine of November if possible, not to lose their monsoon; and if the Portugals are busy there, the President and Council may send some ships on the coast to meet and strengthen them. In this case the Star must stay till the end of the year for providing pepper to fill her from Jambi or elsewhere. The Agent and Council's letter men tions 24,000 Rs. in goods for the second general voyage in Bantam, which, with their cargazoon of 40,000 Rs., will amount to a good quantity of pepper, and they cannot see but one of the three ships for that account must be returned next year to transport the same. Have been troubled with the Dutch passengers, the basest fellows that ever came amongst men; the two that came in the James have fallen by the ears amongst themselves in their drink, and had they not been prevented the one had killed the other; if they brought anything into the ship, it was only rack and sugar consumed privately in their cabins, and they have had as much respect and fresh victuals as themselves or more, and every morning some bread and a cup of sack, and at dinner and supper the like or more; but now in their drink they upbraid us that they have been used like boys and almost starved, because they cannot have to gormandize all day at their pleasure; and the painter that was aboard the Blessing exclaims against them also, though he had as much as the Master or Mr. Banggam, and the rest. They are a people "desagradecido and inhumane." Writes the larger that they may be ready to answer the Commanders if these Dutch should write anything. Intended to have gone on the Dove for Bantam, but the Master said she is a slug, and made account their ships would turn it up better. Resolved on the 8th to transport the Blessing's lading aboard the James to come seven leagues to leeward, where they found a very good harbour and good store of water and refreshing. Send copies of two invoices delivered by the Purser of the Blessing on the death of John Lawrence, late Surgeon of the Blessing, but five bales appear not and they doubt some bad dealing by the Purser, who now confesses he owes Lawrence M. 3,000, which the President and Council may demand of him and bring to the Company's account, as the proceeds of these 16 bales taken aboard here shall be. Also send copies of three consultations made since coming from Surat, viz.:—For dispeed of the barge for Bantam; for removing from the Point of Ballambeen to leeward; and for not permitting any letters to be sent by the barge. 6 pp. Two copies. One copy endorsed, "sent p the Blessinge." [O. C., Vol. XIII., Nos. 1362 and 1368.] |
Aug. 21.
Constantinople. |
204. Sir Peter Wyche to Sec. Lord Dorchester. It has been advertised from Aleppo that the Portugals should have recovered Ormuz with their Armada, but other particulars he has none. [Turkey Corresp.] |
Aug. 25.
Bantam. |
205. Declaration by Nicholas Norber, Master of the Falcon, now riding at Bantam. That yesternight, aboard the Royal James, George Willoughby made a motion unto him, that seeing Capt. Matthew Morton had prohibited any boats putting off from the James that night except the Falcon's boat, Willoughby desired Norber to carry him on shore, saying he had some business there, whereto he condescended, not knowing otherwise but by his place of Agent he was still his Commander, yet nevertheless, staying aboard the James somewhat late to salute and to visit his newly arrived friends, Willoughby's desire was not effected. 1 p. [O. C., Vol. XIII., No. 1369.] |
Aug. 29.
Bantam. |
206. Declaration of Gitting, Chinaman, resident in Bantam delivered to the Agent and Council in Malayan language, and interpreted by Anthony Verneworthy and Christopher Reade. Being this day at Caywan Sadeepa's house, the young King's Protector, a younger sister to his wife said, if he would stay for her at his own house, she would come and tell him some news, and by friendly persuasion she delivered this relation:—That Nosseene (Chinaman), yesterday evening came to the Court and intreated the said Protector, in behalf of George Willoughby, late Agent, and at present prisoner aboard the Royal James, to use all possible means with the King to prevent his carrying away for Surat, on what promises or conditions she knew not, but she had heard the Protector, her brother-in-law, say he would do his utmost for Willoughby's detention. Endorsed, "Translated by Ant. Verneworthy & Christopher Reade, 29 Sept. 1631." 1½ pp. [Q. C., Vol. XIII., No. 1370.] |
