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| Aug. 8–31. |
454. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Request of John Greenwood. John Stokeley sworn one of the committees. Letter read from Wm. Keeling, dated from Bantam 2 Nov. 1608, with a short discourse of his voyage and proceedings, and hope of his speedy return to declare all matters at large himself. Letters also read from Lisbon from Anthony Marlowe and Francis Bucke, the Company's servants, concerning their going to Surat, their mishaps and being taken prisoners to Lisbon; their request to the Company for enlargement, and that their affairs may not be prejudiced in their absence; the Lord Treasurer to be petitioned and a committee appointed for their relief. Petition of Thos. Stephens, account keeper to the Company for seven years, to be continued in his place on an allowance of 100l. per annum, but not to have any gratuities; his request granted and the oath administered to him. |
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Aug. 14.–Proposal that all money adventured for setting forth the next voyage be brought in and paid by the governor, and a weekly or monthly account given of it. Letters sent by John Eldred to Anthony Marlowe and Francis Bucke at Lisbon; also to Wm. Keeling, Wm. Hawkins, and all other the Company's officers and servants, in behalf of the officers of the King's customs, “and for reserving of all strange fowls and beasts, &c., for the King and Council.” The Lord Treasurer's kindness about the Company's suit to His Majesty. For admission of under-adventurers on payment of a fine of 10l. or 15l.; and of “a mere merchant” of 20l.; the governor not to admit more than ten until further order; shopkeepers, warehousemen, retailers, or tradesmen, of 40l.: not more than five to be admitted. Rules for admission of apprentices. |
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Aug. 18.–Form of oath to be administered to every brother of the Company agreed upon [see No. 444]. Robert Fipps, apprentice of Edmund Nicholson, grocer, deceased, sworn a free brother for a fine of 10s. to the poor; also Edmund Howes, Michael Nicholson, and John Hall, merchant, for fines of various amounts. All fines not exceeding 40s. to be put into the poor box. Fee of 2s. 6d. to the secretary and 1s. to the beadle for each man's freedom. The consideration of all things with Mr. Lynton, touching his book of navigation, to be referred to the governor, deputy, and committees. Allowance of the order giving power to the governor to admit certain persons. The money for setting forth the next voyage to be paid to Richard Atkinson, cashier. |
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Aug. 19.–George Scott, an adventurer in the first voyage, and Rich. Locksmyth, an adventurerer in the fourth voyage, sworn freemen of the Company. Gratification of 5l. to Sarah widow of Richard Nashe, accidentally slain in the Company's service at Deptford by an axe. |
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Aug. 23.–Suit of Mr. Bayley, clerk of the alienations, for his freedom, he adventuring 200l. in the present voyage, referred to the governor, “the rather for that such kind of men may be beneficial and helpful unto the Company in their suits and otherwise.” A store to be built at Deptford for the Company's rope. About the proportion of men and victuals for the new ships. Admission of John Hall and Thos. Uredge, on payment of fines. |
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Aug. 30.–Agreement for making ordnance and shot. Advance of the wages of Anthony Pearce, sailor in the Expedition, to his wife Elizabeth. John Grimston's petition for allowance for his services. Difference with Edmund Scott. Proportion of victuals for 250 men for 24 months. |
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Aug. 31.–Robt. Crewes and Nathaniel Deards, adventurers in the fourth voyage, under Thos. Wheatley, sworn free brethren. [Ten pages and a half. Court Bk., E. I. Comp., Vol. II., fol. 131–136.] |
Aug. 30.
Surat. |
455. Account of the prices of goods in India, including various sorts of indigo, cotton wools, cotton yarn, calicoes, cloths, spices, gumlack, rice, opium, and other drugs, &c. Also goods to be brought from England, vendible in India, and their price, including cloth of all kinds of light and pleasant colours, quicksilver, red lead, tin, lead in pigs, vermilion, elephants' teeth, red coral, Almain blades,— “the Governor of Cambaya, who is also our patron here, called Mocrow Bowcan, desireth 1,000 for himself, but I doubt whether he would be as big as his word or no,”—new drinking glasses, trenchers for sweet meats, but especially looking glasses, large ones would be highly accepted by the King, who affects not value but rarity, “insomuch that some pretty new-fangled toys would give him high content, though their value were small, for he wants not wordly wealth or riches possessing an inestimable treasury, and is, it is thought, herein far exceeding the great Turk.” Of weights and measures, and value of the moneys of the country. [Four pages. O. C, Vol. I., No. 11.] |
