Transactions - vol. 1: 1623

1623

202. [f.70] 30 Apr. 1623. Certificate by Trinity House

At the request of the bearer, Elizabeth Haines, they certify that her husband Thomas, mariner of Bristol, was on a voyage to the Straits in the Jacob of Bristol when the ship was surprised by Turkish pirates on 'St Steven the Martyr's day last' [26 Dec.]. The ship was sunk in the fight, and all were killed or drowned except Haines and another who were saved by swimming and were taken up by the Turks. He was carried to Algiers and will remain there in miserable captivity unless charitable provision is made for his ransom, which is great and which he cannot pay because his adventure was lost. His wife and children are likely to starve in his absence.

Messrs Salmon, Case, Gunston, Vassall, Geere, Cooke, Downinge, Chester, Coytmore, Bennet.

203. 22. Feb. 1623. Privy council order for Sir Henry Martin, admiralty court judge, and Trinity House to consider a dispute about wages involving the East India company [Printed in APC 1621–3, 429–30.]

204. [f. 70v] 6 May 1623. [Sir] Henry Martyn [admiralty court judge], Robert Salmon, John Bennet, Walter Cooke, and Samuel Doves [of Trinity House to the privy council]

In accordance with 203 they have considered the demands of the petitioners concerning goods taken from them by the Hollanders and wages for the time of their captivity. The petitioners have no 'colourable' claim on the East India company for the goods because the company apparently received no restitution for them. Indeed the agreement made with the Hollanders and confirmed by the king releases the Dutch from liability for goods taken from English seamen unless it appears that 'such goods came with effect to the use of the Dutch East India company', which the petitioners can hardly demonstrate. The writers were not prepared to examine whether the seamen should have wages as of right from the company for the time of captivity, but since the company had previously paid one-third by mediation of the admiralty court judge, they did not rest until they had persuaded the company to pay the residue, subject only to the deduction of what the company could prove had been given to the petitioners by the Hollanders either in cash or in valuable goods during the period of captivity. Should there be any dispute, they reserved, with the company's assent, the right to impose their rule as to equity and hoped that they had done enough to ensure that the privy council need be troubled no further.

205. 14 May 1623. Certificate by Trinity House

They certify at the request of the bearers, Audrey Noble of Wapping and Jane Micho of Battlebridge in Southwark, that their husbands, Richard Noble and Matthew Micho, were diligent seamen of good life and estate. They were in the Hermitt of London, William Sherwyn of Rotherhithe master, having all or most of their substance with them, when on coming out of Oporto on 18 Sept. last, Turkish pirates of great force surprised them. After a fight, the crew were taken to Algiers where they are kept in extreme captivity. The captives and their friends are unable to procure without charitable aid the ransoms of £50 for Noble and £60 for Micho. Their wives and small children are likely to starve and, not paying their rents, to be turned out of doors by their cruel landlords.

Messrs Salmon, Geer, Cooke, Bennet, Wattes, Gunston, Case, Beck, Doves, Vassall, Ivy, Coytmore, Davis.

206. [f.71] 23 June 1623. Chelsea. [Earl of] Middlesex [lord treasurer] to Trinity House

They are to send a note of all iron ordnance for which they have given certificates during the last 6 months for supply to Dutch ships, signifying the names of the ships and of the masters or owners, details of the ordnance and the dates of the certificates.

207. 24 June 1623. [Trinity House to the earl of Middlesex] lord treasurer

In reply to 206, they have prepared a note of certificates [not entered] granted since 2 Sept. for Flemish ships upon affidavits according to the lord admiral's directions before the admiralty court judge that the ships belonged to the king's subjects. Yet they fear that indirect means may still be used on behalf of Flemish ships, for sundry Hollanders, shippers of Dutch ships, have of late secured letters of denization to free them, it is supposed, from the Dunkirkers and to procure English ordnance. Thus there is now in the river a great Holland ship of 400 dolls^*. Her master, Nicholas Ryser, a Hollander and a 'batcheler', has got letters of denization, and he and John Triggs have made affidavit that the ship belongs wholly to Riser and to other denizens who are the king's subjects and he has asked Trinity House for a certificate for 26 pieces of ordnance, which they have not granted until they are further satisfied.

Ro. Salmon, Walter Cooke, Michael Gere, Jo. Bennet.

208. 25 June 1623. Chelsea. [Earl of] Middlesex [lord treasurer] to Trinity House

In reply to 207, the case of the great Holland ship will be considered at the next meeting of the council and no certificate is to be granted until further order.

209. 25 June 1623. Privy council to Trinity House about the supply of iron ordnance to ships owned by denizens [Printed in APC 1623–5, 27.]

210. [f.71v] 21 Nov. 1623. Privy council to Trinity House about the Lizard lighthouse [Printed in APC 1623–5, 119.]

211. [1] Dec. 1623. Ratcliff. Trinity House [to the privy council. Cf SP 14/155/1; CSPD 1623–5, 122.]

In reply to 210, they consider that the lighthouse lately erected at the Lizard is altogether unnecessary. Ships never seek the channel from the ocean at night. Besides, seamen seldom make their landfall at the Lizard but commonly at Plymouth or Dartmouth. The Lizard is very seldom seen outward or homeward bound, and the channel is there so broad that men may sail 'by course' at night or day without fear. As to the collection, they cannot justly certify, but conceive it may be about £400 a year, which is a great burden on seamen. Owners and masters here complain of paying 10, 15 and 20s every voyage in the port of London for such a needless light.

Robert Salmon, Walter Cooke, Michael Geere, Walter Whitinge, T. Best, William Case, John Bennet, [Richard Chester, Rowland Coytmor, John Davis, Joshua Downinge, William Ivey, John Osborne, John Vassall]. (fn. 1)

212. [f.72] 17 Dec. 1623. Certificate by Trinity House

At the request of John Duffe of 'St Maries', London, a Scotsman, they certify that he was master and owner of the Angel of London, which was cast away in foul weather at the Isles of Scilly coming from Ireland to La Rochelle, to his great loss.

Messrs Salmon, Cooke, Case, Davis, Whitinge, Downinge, Best, Coytmore, Bennett, Love, Dove, Geere.