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| Sept. 1. |
1017. Court Minutes of the East India Company. The Governor reports the return of the Globe and James, both well laden, their men in health and goods well conditioned; cause for thankfulness that their two ships had come home before either of the Hollanders which left two months previously, “when all parts of Christendom are destitute of such commodities as are now brought home.” Letters read from Edward Cristian, captain of the Globe, Nat. Salmon, master, and Peter Floris, principal merchant, from John Davies, commander of the James, and from Thos. Hounsell, master of the Attendant, written from Bantam; discoursing of their affairs, the disposing of the Concord, Thomas, Thomasine, Osiander and Darling, for sundry places to trade, and the Samaritan to return to England with Capt. Middleton; the hopes of profit by the use of those small ships to trade in the country, and their thankfulness to the Company for sending shipping to relieve the rest in their return homewards, and for reducing their several voyages and adventures into one joint stock, “which causeth their factors to go cheerfully forward in their business.” Intelligence of the safe arrival of Capt. Middleton with his ships and men at Bantam. Gratification of 1,000l. voted to the committees; detail of their services, the business growing great, requiring their daily attendance. [One page and three quarters. Court Bk., III., 471, 472.] |
Sept. 7.
Siam. |
1018. Consultation by John Gourney, Wm. Sheppard, and Lucas Antheuniss. The Solomon to delay her passage for Patani till April. Antheuniss having already embarked towards Patani, Bantam, and England, with the King of Siam's letters to the King of England, Sheppard also leaving for Bantam and Gourney likely to be absent, an inventory is to be taken of the goods which are to be locked up until the coming of some person from Patani to take charge of them; Benj. Farie thought fit to be principal of the factory of Siam. [One page and a half. O. C., Vol. III., No. 292.] |
| Sept. 8. |
1019. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Petition of Fras. Baildon for employment, referred. Part of Wm. Hollinshed's fine on admission, remitted. Petition of George Pley for a factor's place; “being found a married man, they were willing to entertain him to avoid such clamours as oftentimes do arise thereby.” The kind of persons to he employed as factors, “grave, staid men,” thought fitter than “young green heads,” but yet must of necessity take such as they can get. Daily change of committees to see the goods delivered and sent away, the hatches to be locked up at night. Goods delivered into Sir John Spencer's warehouse. Silks brought to the governor from the ships. The custom and impost of the ships' [the Globe and James] lading, computed between 12,000l. and 14,000l. Opinion of the auditors that three capitals may be delivered upon the 7th voyage, one capital and a half upon the 9th and 25 per cent. upon the 10th. Price of the pepper, 21d. and 25d. [per lb.] The turning over of the stock remaining upon the 9th voyage to the joint stock, referred. Mr. Bucke referred to the general court to be censured for a false scandal upon the committees. Admission of Thos. Stringer for a fine of 40l. Exceptions taken against some things set down by the secretary as unfit to remain recorded in their books; the particulars, being examined, were approved, to be continued in record. Dividends declared as above recommended by the auditors. A wrong done (and taken to heart) by a brother of the Company against the reputation of the committees. [Four pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 472–477.] |
Sept. 11
to
Oct. 25. |
1020. Journal of voyage [from Bantam by the Attendant and Assistant] to the mouth of the Jambee river, and to the town of Jambee, bee, where they arrived 21st October and found a great many Java and Chinese junks and a Portugal galleon. It is thought not to be difficult for a ship of 300 tons, in July, August, or September, to go up the river as high as Jambee. Small encouragement for quiet trade, the country abounding with thieves, and what by stealth they cannot purchase they seek to destroy by fire. Audience with the king, presents given to him; he was willing to grant the English free liberty to trade, but would not grant any land to build a house upon, having heard evil of the English nation from the Hollanders and Portugals “and therefore before he saw further of our carriage and good behaviour, he could not say anything else to us, but bid us beware of his people,” if they are taken in the act of thieving liberty is given to punish them even to taking away their lives. The English reported to be a rude and ungoverned nation, given to drunkenness and abusing of women, quarreling, fighting, and such like. The Hollanders imagined to be the authors of all this mischief, as it afterwards appeared they were. The same presents given, to the young king as to his father. House bought of a China man; the King refuses to let the English have it, saying that the Hollanders had been there a little before and had plainly told him, that if he gave the English leave to trade, they would no longer tarry in the country and he feared they both would quarrel and fight living so near together. Request that the king would send for them both to make them friends. [Four pages and a half. O. C., Vol. III., No. 293.] |
| Sept. 12. |
1021. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Adventure of Andrew Ellam in the joint stock set 'over to Robt. Ducye. Debt due from Mr. Kernshawe upon a bargain of timber delivered in Ireland. John Burrell to have commission to furnish the Company's ships which are forced into Ireland, with all things needful. Benefit of the trade to the East Indies to the King; customs for the two last ships returned, about 14,000l.; last year they were 13,000l.; in the Queen's time Mr. Customer Smith farmed them all at 12,000l.; His Majesty's gracious inclination and favour towards the Company. Committee to confer with the farmers of customs that matters may not be carried with too strict a hand against the Company. Mr. Salmon to see the ships discharged “to prevent all occasion of wrong.” Discontent of Mr. Ellam with some of the Company's proceedings about sale of the goods at the general court. |
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Sept 15.—Pepper bought of the mariners not to be meddled with, but reserved to pleasure the Lord Mayor and the King's grocer and some others that expect favour from the Company, to supply their particular houses. Resolution to send a ship presently to Tecoe, Bantam, and other places where factories are established, and not to go by Surat, which is a greater charge; also to send money, mariners, and commodities for Japan. Deceit used by the Chinese; their silks not worth bringing over; only raw silks to be purchased; drugs, especially China roots and rhubarb, which prove rotten, not to be bought; these things referred for consideration. Ships ready for the next fleet. Good report of Mr. Bodman for honesty and sufficiency. About 10,000l. in ryals to be provided for “this ship” and 20,000l. sent with the next fleet. Offer of 5s. per pound for 1,200 weight of cloves sent home by Mr. Pettye. Payment of Mr. Briarlie's adventure. Tally of 529l. 10s. from the Exchequer for tonnage of the Charles, Unicorn, and Rose. Adventure of Rich. Wiseman in the eighth voyage set over to Wm. Russell. Offer of glasses foiled from Amsterdam, refused, the Company having found great inconvenience in such kind of commodities. |
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Sept. 19.—Offer of Mr. Burlamachi to supply the Company with ryals from time to time, “so the matter might be carried privately.” Adventurers who bring not in their adventures before the ships return, to be debarred, it being a great wrong to the rest of the adventurers for any man to work upon the advantages of good or ill news. A ship to be hired to send away alone before the fleet. Adventures of John Gilbert, deceased. Suit of Rich. Turner, woollen draper, for employment, refused, “he never having been abroad further than Gravesend.” Lease of house at Blackwall; a smith's forge to be built. John Bird entertained as steward or mate. Suit of Mr. Tovey, physician, in behalf of Capt. Marlowes' brother and his executor touching Capt: Marlowes' goods; his writings to be perused. Mrs. Pettye's cloves bought. Warrant to Gregory Allen. Mariners to be entertained. Admission of Edwards, “the merchant, who was the great assurer.” Proceedings of the committees for Black wall and Deptford, 15th August, 1615. |
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Sept. 22.—Mr. Burnell and Rich. Dike about pepper. Suit of Walter Bennett, master's mate in the James, for his goods brought home. Capt. Marlowe's writings perused. Commodities considered excellent for Surat, Coromandel, and Japan, including coral, lead, quicksilver, and elephants' teeth. Sugar to be brought from Surat, rather than suffer any vacant places to be left in the ships, to be dispatched yearly from thence. 15,000l. in ryals to be sent by each fleet to remain in the country on all occasions. Cloths to be provided for Surat, Persia, and Japan; also sword blades, knives and fowling pieces; no pictures to be sent this year until intelligence be received “of what esteem those are which have been already sent.” Things considered fit to be sent as presents; two mastiffs, little “island dogs,” greyhounds, &c. Intelligence sent by Mr. Cocks at Japan, advising to have a letter procured from His Majesty with a present to the Emperor of China, Mr. Cocks desiring to be the messenger. Mr. Gourney advised to have another sent to the King of Velleir, [? Vellore] which is an excellent place for trade. Advice from Adam Denton from Patani to send over dyed skins which will sell well upon the coast. Twenty barrels of vermilion, held a good commodity in many parts of the Indies, to be procured, “if it may be gotten, because there is but one maker thereof in Christendom as is informed.” Warrants for pepper. Names of the ships for the next fleet. |
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Sept. 25.—Richard Turner recommended for employment by Sir Roger James, referred. Sheppard, noted to be worth 8,000l. sterling, though a raw youth when pressed upon the Company by some friends, to be sent for home. The Globe to be double sheathed. Distribution of the pepper. The farmers of customs agreed with for the indigo, &c. Death of Mr. Floris, legacies left by him; his book concerning the settling of some factories and many other material things observed in his voyage, dedicated to the Company; arrangements for his funeral. His “own particular account” said to be over 4,000 ryals. Reasons for declining the request of Capt. Towerson to be entertained for another voyage. Nominations for a chief commander; Benjamin Joseph to be entertained. Mr. Connok to be conferred with, as sufficient for a merchant. Richard Cocks having given good intelligence concerning China, is held “worthy of that employment according to his motion and desire.” Wm. Methwold and Geo. Muschampe to be entertained. Diamonds to be weighed and sorted. Thos. Bodman and Wm. Taylor to be entertained. Securities of Burlamachi, Edward Lutterford, and Leate. Fear of Backhouse and others that they shall be prohibited from exporting their pepper by the new patent of the merchants adventurers. [Fourteen pages and a quarter. Court Bk., III., 477–491.] |
Sept. 30.
Bantam. |
1022. John Jourdain to the East India Company. Arrival and departure of English shipping at Bantam: General David Middle ton on 13th February, with the Samaritan, Thomas, and Thomasine, the last sailing for Amboyna and Banda on 24th February, the Thomas for Tecoe and Priaman on 14th March, and the Samaritan for England on 3d April. Departure of the Osiander 10th April for Patani and Japan. The Darling laid up at Patani, insufficient for service, her capital being in the hands of Robt. Larkyn. All the English save one brought from Macassar by a Holland ship, leaving their goods behind them, for fear of the Spaniards who had fought with the Flemings. General Downton arrived 12 June with the New Year's Gift and Solomon, the Hector having gone to Acheen. The Solomon left 21st July for Patani, with China commodities, and from thence for Masulipatam. The Advice and Attendant arrived 24th July. General Downton died 6th August. The Advice sailed for Japan the 12th. The Concord came from Succadana 14th August, having re–established the factory of Macassar, and received again the goods left there, and being beaten away by the Hollanders' forces from the Moluccas, although the country people were willing to receive them. The Thomasine cast away coming from Macassar, all her men saved, but the ship and cloth lost to the amount of 5,000 ryals. Has thus made a brief discourse of all the shipping in the country. Very bare of money at Bantam. Will do his best to dispatch the New Year's Gift, Hector, and Thomas by November. Is very sorry Mr. Elkington is determined to return this year, as the writer was in good hopes to have gone home. [One page and a half. Indorsed. “Rec. in London, 14th June, 1616, by a Holland pinnace. Answered.” O. C., Vol. III., No. 294.] |
