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| July 4–6. |
448. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Election of officers. Sir Thos. Smythe, Sir John Spencer, Sir Leonard Hallyday, Sir John Watts, Sir Wm. Romney, Sir Thos. Cambell, and Sir Thos. Hayes, put in nomination for governor; Sir Thos. Smythe elected, who, for his pains in serving as governor for five years and in procuring the first and second patents, is gratified with 500l, besides 150l. lately paid by his order to Mr. Farrington. But he utterly refused to take the oath of governor until the Company took back 250l., “the residue his worship kindly yielded to take.” Wm. Greenwell elected deputy governor, and the following 24 committees:— |
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John Eldred. |
Reynold Greene. |
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Nicholas Crispe. |
Wm. Burrell |
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Robt. Johnson. |
Brian Kinaston. |
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Wm. Harrison. |
John Stokeley. |
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Robt. Middleton. |
Humphrey Robinson. |
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Hugh Hamersley. |
Nicholas Leate. |
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Humphrey Basse. |
George Smythes. |
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Robert Bell. |
Robert Offley. |
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Raphe Freeman. |
Robert Cocks. |
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Thos. Styles. |
Edward Lutterforde. |
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Jeoffrey Kirbie. |
Wm. Jennyngs. |
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John Buzbridge. |
Wm. Millett. |
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Thos. Farrington, treasurer, and Wm. Leighton, secretary. The new charter of the Company, dated 30th May last, “with divers better conditions than was heretofore granted by the former charter” is read, and a resolution agreed to, that any of the Company not named in the new charter shall be as free of the Company as if they were expressly mentioned. Letter read from Paul Pindar from Aleppo, dated 16th January last; report of an Italian and a Portugal at Ormus of certain English ships, conceived to be the Dragon and the Hector; that the Portugals had taken from them 14,000 ryals of eight, and a pinnace with 20 or 30 men. A book to be offered to the Company to adventure for setting forth the new ships for the Moluccas “and those parts.” A brace of bucks sent by the Earl of Southampton to the Company “to make merry withal, in regard of their kindness in accepting him of their Company.” Committee appointed, who agree upon a dinner to be provided for the whole Company at the governor's house. |
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July 5.–Project for setting down and bringing in the money of each man's adventure; two ships to be built and made ready by January for the next voyage, the charge 50,000l.; any of the Company not adventuring in this present voyage to be excluded from doing so for three voyages. |
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July 6.–200l. of the adventure of Humphrey Robinson, grocer, in the third voyage, transferred to the account of Wm. Robinson, mercer. Ordnance for the small ship. Demands of Mr. Stephens for keeping the Company's accounts; to be offered 100l. per annum and no more; proposals for a counting-house for keeping the books of accounts. About setting down adventures. Impositions for cloves outwards. [Five pages and a half. Court Bk., II.,125–127.] |
July 12.
Surat. |
449. William Finche to [Capt. Hawkins]. Has written about 20 times, and protests it is only through negligence of the bearers that Hawkins has not received his letters. Congratulations upon the King making him captain over 400 horse &c. Disposal of the iron and lead; “our cloth will not by any means be here sold.” Desires to go to Cambaya, where he thinks their whole stock might be employed in rich indigo with other drugs. Would be glad to do anything for the good of the Company, “our household being divided, causeth double charges.” Purposes delivering 25 pigs of lead to Hoghee Careen; behaviour of his broker, in the time of Mocrow Bowcan being here; “he did me no more service than a cat,” but now he promises to become “an honest knave,” and to look out for sale of the goods a little better. Has made Saddow's brother an allowance. Five ships arrived at Goa in May last from Portugal, which had wintered at Mozambique and Bombase, bringing with them, as is reported, many Castilian soldiers; “the Portugals are still the fundamental causes of all our losses.” Andres Furtado to succeed the late Viceroy; he purposes to work wonders when Malacca is besieged. Has news of one of the Company's ships being at Priaman in safety. Since the receipt of the King's firman “we have lived at our heart's ease, for the fame of your worship's proceedings is here long before your letters.” Honors reported to have been conferred upon Hawkins, because of his having given the King a small coffer with seven locks, within which were such rare stones that they would lighten the darkest place, no candle being needed; of this the Governor himself, Emer Nooherdee, was fully possessed. Cannot as yet spare him more than 12,000 m. Has sold this day two elephants' teeth for 345 m. [Four pages. Indorsed,“Finch's letter to Capt. Hawkins.”O. C, Vol. I., No. 10.] |
| July 14. |
450. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Brian Kinaston sworn a committee. More ordnance and shot to be made. Benj. Greene, “having the Spanish tongue, and employed in those parts,” recommended by Sir Wm. Craven as a factor. Wm. Jennyngs' account of the Expedition. Future admission of members, whether by payment of a fine of 40l. or 50l., or otherwise. Thos. Stephens' allowance. [One page and a half. Court Bk., II,127–128.] |
July 14.
[Madrid.] |
451. Sir Charles Cornwaleys to Salisbury. News has arrived that in the East Indies between the Cape of Buena Speranza and Mozambique, the Hollanders have sunk and burned “five of our carracks and six of our galleons of war,” which last year departed from Lisbon furnished with 4,000 soldiers. This accident is yet held secret, but not so close but it hath already walked the streets. [Extract from Corresp., Spain.] |
July16/26.
Lisbon. |
452. Hugh Lee to Thos. Wilson. Arrival of a galleon from Goa built in the East Indies, laden with merchandise. News of only one of the fourteen ships that sailed from Lisbon, and she entering the bar of Goa, and, being pursued by the Hollanders, got out the better part of her lading, and was set on fire by command of the Viceroy, to prevent the Hollanders having any benefit from her. Great discomfort to the hearts of these people, the overthrow of many anticipated before long, no more shipping from thence expected this year ; these and former losses have brought this country to a low state. The Hector, a ship of London, trading to Surat, where she arrived in August last, intercepted by four Portugal frigates 3rd October following and taken prize, and the men prisoners for using commerce within their conquest without the King of Spain's licence; value of the goods, 2,000l.; 19 prisoners carried to Goa, three brought to Lisbon, the rest at Goa. Fras. Bucke and Anthony Marlowe, Walter Romney died on the ship's arrival, prisoners in the Trunk in Lisbon, in great necessity, without apparel, money or other means. Will do his best to relieve them, and has signified their cause to the English ambassador at the court of Spain; they are kept from the speech of Englishmen. [Extract from Correspondence, Portugal.] |
| July 17–28 |
453. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Arbitrators in Edmond Scott's difference award 30l. per annum, which Sir Jas. Lancaster agreed with him as a third sort of factor at Bantam. |
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July 19.–Committee to set down a proportion of men, victuals, and provisions for the new ship and pinnace. Money to be kept back, the proceeds of the two first voyages, for discharge of dead mariners' wages, and other matters, before the residue is divided. Small pinnace of about 30 tons to be made and carried in the great ship, and carriages for the ordnance. Ipswich canvas for sails. Thos. Farrington to clear his accounts. Committee to end the difference with Sir Jas. Lancaster and the Company [in the margin “the difference for dead shares”]. Allowance of 10s. a week to a person to overlook the making of cordage. Allen Cotten's suit concerning supplies adventured by his brothers, and for freedom of the Company. Mr. Stephen's willingness to accept the Company's offer; he is required to petition for the appointment, and bring in the money he owes. The difference with Edmund Scott to be ended, “in regard of his extraordinary service and dangers at Bantam.” |
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July 27.–Petition of John Midnall to the King, declaring his ten years' travels, and charge of 3,000(sic) in the discovery of a rich trade in the dominions of the Great Mogul, and praying that he and his coadventurers may be permitted to enjoy the privileges he had obtained there. Referred by the Lord Treasurer to Sir Walter Cope, Arthur Ingram, Hewett Staper, and Nicholas Leate, to deal with the East India Company and report thereon; the petition read and a committee appointed on the part of the Company. Thos. Westwray's suit, for allowance of interest. None to be allowed to write in the book who did not set down their adventure before 25th July inst., nor any who are not free of the Company, without sufficient reason. The whole adventure of 50,000l. being so fully set down, to be paid in three instalments; every one to have his share of the money for cloves as it is paid in. Request of Oliver Styles to be an adventurer for 1,000l. in the intended voyage, provided the Company will accept; his warehouses at Ratcliffe for 500l. Mr. Stephen's salary. |
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July 28.–All to be admitted free of the Company who adventured 110l. and upwards in the fourth voyage, for a fine of 40s. John Hodges, an adventurer under Richard Poyntell in the fourth voyage ; Allen Cotten, executor and adventurer for his brothers, Wm. and Roger, in the second and third voyages, and Sir Robt. Leigh, who married the widow and executrix of Geo. Coles, all admitted free of the Company. Half of the adventure of 500l. in the third voyage and 550l. in the fourth voyage of Frances Clarke, widow and executrix of Alderman Roger Clarke, deceased, set over to her son–in–law James Askewe,aliasAyscough. Leave to Rich. Burrell's son, wanting about three months of 21, to adventure in the present voyage. Power to the governor, deputy, and committees to make certain acts for the admission of sons, servants, and others, also children under age, having right to their freedom. No goods to be henceforth adventured in any voyage that do not belong to a brother of the Company. The setting down of each man's adventure, the times allowed for paying it in, and the notice to be given.[Six pages and a half. Court Bk, II,128–131.] |
