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1608.
Jan. 2–29. |
393. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Admission of Thos. Jeofferies and John Stoks, each under adventures of 110l. Elias Broadshawe and [John] Grimston to be paid for their work about the ships. Tritsram Eldrick’s accounts to be dismissed, and his yearly allowance of 40l. to cease. John Waldow’s services to be dispensed with on 25th March next. Those who do not give bond before going the voyage to be discharged. Thos. Cave to go as servant under the general. |
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Jan. 12.—Admission of Wm. Stoderd, adventurer of 200l., under Richard Deane. Forty shillings given to the widow of Samuel Taylor, who was hurt in the ships and is since dead. To agree with a preacher to go the voyage. Request of [Rich.] Rowles for a better allowance to sea than 40l.; recommends Goad as fit for a master’s mate. Mr. Sharpie to be engaged to go the voyage as general at 10l. per month, and 100 marks for his provision to sea. To hire another fit merchant. Forty shillings reward to those who took extraordinary pains with the Ascension when in great danger last evening by extremity of the ice. John St. Andrew to attend the general or lieutenant–general during the voyage, is content to adventure 150l. |
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Jan. 15.—Robt. Waadson and Rich. Howse, each adventuring 110l., under Humphrey Robinson, and Geo. Holman under Jef. Kirby, sworn free brethren. Thos. Blage chosen master’s mate. Woodcott not thought fit to be employed in the voyage; Clarke to be conferred with. Agreement with Sharpie for the voyage, who wishes his brother to go with him as servant; he and Rowles to give bonds for 500l. each, as others had formerly done. Provisions. Whether wine is more fit than cider. Building of the pinnace. |
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Jan. 19.—Thos. Joanes, boatswain of the Ascension, dismissed. Alexander Sharpie, general, to be allowed to adventure in the fourth voyage 100l., and Richard Rowles, lieutenant–general, 100 marks. [In the margin,] Sharpie offers to adventure 200l. in the general stock. Increase of Rowles’ allowance from 8l. to 9l. per month, and his provision to sea from 40l. to 60l. Pickled beef and mutton to be provided for the voyage. Gunners stores; six field targets for better defence and safety of the men when they go ashore. Factors and others to give bond. |
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Jan. 22.—Averie Drausfield and John Gearing, having each adventured 110l. under Jeof. Kirby, sworn free members. Agreement with Fras. Shapton to go as preacher, with a salary of 33l. 6s. 8d. per annum, and 20l. for his provision to sea. Richard Reave, chosen factor, for his skill in trade and languages, to have 4l. per month wages, and 10l. provision for sea. Robt. Giles, recommended as a factor, referred; Lucas thought unfit. Phillip Glascocke again elected a factor. Quality and quantity of the provisions; iron, lead, and other weighty commodities to be sent. |
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Jan. 26.—Sir Edward Michelborne’s account of the fittest places for trade in India; has found by experience that man’s health is best preserved “by labour and refreshing out of the ships," and in the hottest places by having plenty of meat and drink. Aden being a garrison town of soldiers, much peril and small hope of trade may be expected there; but about ten miles off is a town called Mocha, governed by merchants only, a place of special trade, right over against which is an island called Kedgee, where there is a good harbour and water. Dangers at Surat; the Portuguese have the sole command of those seas, and all people pay them tribute. The King of Cambaya resides two month’ journey from Surat; the bar shallow. Two days’ sail from Surat, at Lawrie in the River Syndus, is a good harbour; and two miles up the bay, “in a great city like London called Nigertuttie,” is plenty of indigo, calico, and other merchandise; the people there are free, and governed by King Acabar, who resides at Agree, some forty miles off. If our people behave themselves, ample and profitable trade may be had there, where cloth is in great request. Will inform Sharpie and Rowles of the particulars. Jecketta, in the River Syndus, a fit place “to right ourselves of such of those people that should offer us any wrong.” Bread for twenty–four months to be provided; number of men, including generals, factors, mariners, and others, 75 in the Ascension, and 65 in the Union. The men already hired, with their sureties, to be examined, and those found unfit displaced. Lawrence Pegion hired as surgeon in the Ascension, at 33s. 4d. per month and 17l. to furnish his chest to sea, and Thos. Yonger, surgeon’s mate, at 20s. per month only. A surgeon to be hired for the Union. Wages of Win, Revett, a factor, not to be increased. Committee to prepare presents to be sent to the Princes in the Indies. Fras. Shearer and Giles, suitors to be employed as factors. |
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Jan. 29.—Difference about Bramley’s adventure. The governor entreated to deal with Wm. Revett, a factor. Giles to be told the places are full for this voyage. Admission of Stephen Harvie, adventurer of 550l. A second preacher to be hired. Steel for the voyage. Thos. Cave to be bound to the Company for five years. Sam. Broadshawe to attend Mr. Rowles, the lieutenant–general. [Eleven pages. Court Bk., II, 69–75. |
| Jan. 31. |
394. Commission for Alexander Sharpey and Richard Rowles to govern such as are to go to the East Indies, and in case of necessity to execute martial law, the one as governor the other as lieutenant; prohibiting them from offering injury or violence to the subjects of any foreign prince in their voyage, or surpising any ships or goods, unless justly provoked and in their own defence, or for recovery of His Majesty’s subjects or their goods already in or near the East Indies. [Docquet. Domestic, Jac. I, Cal, p. 400.] |
