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| Nov. 3. |
1048. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Hugh Handforde, Samuel Harlowe, and Thos. Polhill, admitted free brethren. Wages of Adam Denton, factor in the 7th voyage. Lucutello, the broker, recommended by Sir Rich. Smyth to be admitted for a fine of 40l. John Osborne and Thos. Edge to be admitted for fines of 20l. each, according to the governor’s promise. Letter from the Lord Admiral in behalf of Capt. Frobusher for employment as a commander in one of the Company’s ships; answer to be returned “intreating his lordship either to forbear to write any more in the behalf of any, or else not to take it ill from the Company that they do not yield unto his motions.” About the sale and price of the indigo. Mr. Trotter’s securities for cloves purchased. A Dutchman to be admitted for 100l. fine. Cordage from the Muscovy Company, and loan of 5,000l. to that Company. Great wrong to the Company by endeavouring to prevent the exportation of ungarbled pepper. Factors to be advised not to have any more silks bought, upon which there is so little profit. Suit of John Davies, who came home commander and master in the James, for his bond, seeing his voyage is performed, and the gratuity of 100l. promised by the Company for not putting into any of the Western ports; the gratuity to be paid when he brings in the journal of his voyage, “the Company desiring the discovery of things yet unknown or uncertain for the future good of posterity.” Admission of Robt. Freeman. Samuel Sharpe and — Salmon not accepted, their masters not being free when they were bound. Cotton yarn not to be sold yet, because it will not yield above two shillings per lb. Leaden Hall business. Sale of commodities, with the prices and names of the purchasers. [Seven pages. Court Bk., III., 537–543.] |
Nov. 5.
Aboard the
Hope, Gelbege
[Killybegg]
Harbour,
Ireland. |
1049. Edward Dodsworth to [the East India Company]. Found small store of goods provided for the ships at Surat, therefore concluded to send up into divers places of India to buy goods. They were not permitted to leave Surat until the end of November for fear the Portugals should assault Surat. Arrived at Ahmedabad in company with Mr. Edwardes on 15 Dec.; indigo bought there. Description of the Portugals’ arrival, forces, attempts, and success. The governors of the country generally are not well affected to the Christians, but for their own profit, and are ready to take part with the strongest. Advantages of the trade at Surat; two ships may be reladen yearly for England. Good trade from Bantam for spices, &c. Advises one ship to be laden yearly from thence, and to trade at Surat before sailing for England. Thinks the Portugals will not easily be put out of their trade at Surat, having so long enjoyed the sweetness of it, but that they will this next year make their strength to give the English a general overthrow, and redeem “their graces lost.” If a fleet is not sent this year, he questions whether Surat will not be taken, “for that the Mogor’s timorousness will then bring him to compound.” Met Capt. Keeling at Saldanha on 17th June; benefifs of a plantation which may be had there. Wreck of Holland ships. Sir Henry Folliot’s good offices to them in Ireland. Arrival of Capt. Mainwaring with two ships, having received his pardon. [Précis. One page and a half. O.C., Vol. II, No. 187., pp. 7–8.] |
Nov. 6.
Tecoe. |
1050. Capt. Rich. Rowe [of the Thomas] to the East India Company. Arrived at Tecoe from Bantam 11th May, where the merchants, going ashore, were utterly denied trade without getting the King of Acheen’s licence; at Priaman the like answer was received. Sailed for Acheen where they found the Hector and heard of the dispatch of the Hope for England and the Gift and Solomon for Bantam. Settled a factory at Acheen, paying 7 per Cent. customs; sold part of their goods and obtained a factory at Tecoe for two years. The King of Acheen givos out he is bound for Malacca, but Rowe does not think he means to go there being too strong for the king to deal with; he has three hundred and odd sail of junks, galleys, frigates, and prows, and pretends to carry over the straits near 100,000 men; he left for Pedir before their arrival. Fight between two Hollanders’ [vessels] from the coast of Coromandel and four galleons bound for Malacca “who put the Hollanders to the worst.” Consultations for disposing of the Ship’s goods and merchants, and determination to stay and trade at Tecoe and Priaman. News of the arrival at Bantam of two small ships from England, and their sailing for Japan and the east side of Sumatra; also of Capt. Keeling and his fleet for Surat, and the departure of a fleet of Flemings from Priaman. Hopes about the end of February the Thomas may be going for England from Bantam. Complains of the bad quality of the ship’s provisions. [Two pages. O.C., Vol. III., No. 308.] |
| Nov. 7. |
1051. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Thos. Wiech and Edward Barnes sworn free brethren. Motion concerning the rents and charges for buildings, to what account they should be put. Admission of Richard Creswell, Thos. Wiech the younger, and John Cocks, servant to Rich. Cocks. [Edmond] Wright referred for his freedom. Ships in the Indies and stores to be appraised and turned over to the joint stock. Capt. Best’s business to be ended. [Two pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 544–546.] |
Nov. 9.
Aboard the
Solomon, off
Pulo Caramon. |
1052. Consultation of factors, setting forth their reasons for riding at anchor off Pulo Caramon, and resolution to remain until the Holland ships reach Malacca when their ship [the Solomon] will be secure from the Portugals and Acheender. Signed by Lucas Antheuniss, Adam Denton, Raphe Preston, Thos. Brockedon, Hump. Elkington, and Timothy Mallory. [One page and a quarter. O.C., Vol. III., No. 309.] |
| Nov. 10. |
1053. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Sir Anthony Ager admitted gratis “for the good offices which he bath done for the Company, and expectation of the kindness in Parliament house.” Wm. Pope to be entertained. Capt. Best’s business ended. Thanks given to the governor for the bill from the King for the patent, “which at last with great difficulty he obtained.” Tracy, recommended “by word of mouth and not by letters” by Lords Southampton and Pembroke, Sir Foulke Grevil, and many other great personages, and a kinsman of theirs, to be entertained. Rastall to go to Plymouth to ascertain news of the Hope, from the Fleming still in the road. Speech of the Lord Admiral to the governor that he is willing to leave the Company to themselves in the election of their officers, notwithstanding his letters which are oftentimes forced from him; similar speech of my Lord of Worcester. Admission of Fras. Wadlowe. The Globe (sic) and James to be launched on Monday; resolution to dispatch them away presently, either separately or together; some of opinion that they should proceed to Surat, “and not be divided in regard of the Portugals,” others that they should go to Bantam; further resolution to send how much the yearly underwritten stock of 110,000l. will effect, how many ships it will set forth and to let provision be made accordingly. Robt. Burrage referred. An agreement likely to be made with [Benj.] Joseph. Edmond Wright sworn a free brother. Peter Clarke to be admitted. Committee to examine Mr. Johnson’s business, who went forth master’s mate in the Globe. Elephants’ teeth refused. Motion for some presents to be provided for the Emperor of China; Mr. Cock’s letters to be perused and a note made of the most material things concerning that business; “some picture likewise to be made if it shall be thought fitting.” Suit of Mr. Rudyer to have the silks he bought of the Company taken back; “the precedent not to be endured.” [Three pages and a half. Court Bk., III., 546–549.] |
Nov. 12.
Aboard the
Hector. |
1054. Capt. Arthur Spaight to the East India Company. Was appointed commander of the Hector by Nich. Downton; arrived at Acheen 15th April, and sent John Sandcrofte and Mr. Aspinall up the river, who had kind entertainment. John Oxwicke, chief merchant, accompanied by Samuel Juxon, delivered the King of England’s letters and the Company’s present, the King of Acheen being at Pedir, 25 leagues from Acheen. Oxwicke’s conduct will give his friends little content, and much rejoice his enemies, he not having done anything to procure the king’s licence for free trading at Priaman, Tecoe, and the adjoining ports. Took the court business in hand himself, and procured the licence, although at great charge, through the discontent Oxwicke had given to the king and his nobility. Death of Oxwicke of the flux; he was interred at Acheen. Sailed from Acheen 6th July, having lost many men, and left the Thomas there with Juxon and Wm. Nicolls in a settled factory, but although previously free of custom, they have now to pay 7 per cent, inwards and outwards. Arrived at Tecoe 5th Oct., after a very hard passage; the Thomas soon after brought news of Juxon’s death and the King of Acheen’s letter for settling a factory for two years; question whether such a licence were beneficial to the English nation. Reasons why the Hector was appointed to stay at Tecoe and the Thomas to go for Bantam. Makes no doubt but they will settle their business to the Company’s profit. The arrival of the Thomas caused the price of pepper to be raised; the prices demanded and paid; the country very full of it. [Three pages. Indorsed, “Read in Court 27 June 1616.” O.C., Vol. III., No. 310.] |
Nov. 12.
Tecoe. |
1055.Rich. Stanly, purser of the Hector, to [the East India Company]. The New Year’s Gift and Solomon part company with the Hector which goes for Acheen, the former for Bantam. Eight men from the Hector dead; Arthur Spaight made her chief commander, John Oxwicke, chief merchant; John Sandcrofte, Edm. Aspinall, and Sam. Juxon, factors; Robt. Johnson and E. Butt, assistants. Great hindrance, loss of lives, and worm–eating of the ships through Oxwicke’s pride who grew into disgrace with the King of Acheen, and was not admitted to have speech with him. Oxwicke displaced and Art. Spaight put in his place. The Thomas came from Bantam to Acheen to procure the king’s licence for trade, which the Hector’s men dissuaded them from, by reason of the charge. Lost 25 men at Acheen in three months. Were detained three months between Acheen and Tecoe by contrary winds. Price of pepper. Arrival of the Thomas at Tecoe; licence procured to trade for two years in the name of Wm. Nicolls, and not of the Company. Death of Juxon, chief factor at Acheen. Reasons to dissuade the Thomas from settling a factory at Tecoe, which afterwards goes for Bantam. Three Dutch ships put into Priaman, who came out of England with David Middleton, one of them lost 170 men by sickness. The Hector has lost 38 men in all. Precis. [One page. O.C., Vol. III., No. 313.] |
Nov. 12
to
Dec. 23. |
1056. Contents of letters received from Bantam by the New Year’s Gift in 1616,” viz.:— No. |
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1.—Rich. Stanly to [the East India Company]. Tecoe, 12 Nov. 1615. [Abstract, No. 1055.] |
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2.—John Sandcrofte and Edm. Aspinall to same. Tecoe, 13 Nov. 1615. [Col. No. 1057.] |
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3.—Cassarian David to same. Bantam, 23 Dec. 1615. [Cat. No. 1076.] Also
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Note of allowances to be made to Capt. Downton’s and to Rich. Bathe’s executors. |
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Certificate from Geo. Chauncey, assigning the cause of the dissolving of the factory at Macassar to be the taking of a Portugal vessel by Geo. Bale at Macassar as he came from the Moluccas. And
|
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Notes to be remembered in the letters to Bantam:— |
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Because of the difference of price to take as many nuts as possible but few maces. The purser of every ship to send the account of every man that dieth, and the day of his death; the factors to do the like, and the chief factor to give continual advice where the factors are employed, &c. Not to buy Coromandel indigo. Ships always to be hastened away from Bantam. Weights and measures to be had from Bantam and all other places. A stronger order to be given against payment of more than one third of mariners and factors’ wages in the voyages. [Three pages. Indorsed as above. O.C., Vol. III., No. 313.] |
Nov. 13.
Tecoe. |
1057. John Sandcrofte and Edmond Aspinall to the East India Company. Have laboured to get a price set upon their goods by the governors, without whose allowance the country people dare neither buy nor sell with them; and have brought the business almost to an end, by giving many presents to the chiefs, and promising more. Arrival of the Thomas the cause of pepper advancing in price from 15 to 24 ryals. Millward publicly read in the Custom House the King of Acheen’s licence to have a factory in Priaman, Tecoe, and other places for two years, against their advice. Dispute as to whether the Hector or Thomas should trade at Tecoe, and the willfulness of Millward. The Hector to remain and the Thomas sail for Bantam, whither they have sent 4,000 ryals, “perceiving their wants,” and hoping to make sale of goods that will supply them at Tecoe. Millward determined to remain to see the goods sold out of the Thomas. [One page and a half. Indorsed, “Entered.” O.C., Vol. III., No. 311.] |
Nov. 13.
Tecoe. |
1058. John Millward to the East India Company. Acquaints them with the success of the voyage of the Thomas upon the coast of Sumatra. Both their request for trade at Tecoe and Priaman and their presents rejected; and they were forced to take for an answer that no nation should have any trade without warrant from the King of Acheen. Sailed to Acheen; the king sent his chape for them to go ashore, without which it is unlawful for any to do so. The best course for disposing of the goods of the Hector and Thomas. The conditions upon which the merchants of the Hector procured trade for eight months at Tecoe and Priaman, considered dangerous and dishonourable. Resolution to treat with the king for a factory. The King of England’s letters and a present taken to the King of Acheen, who was with the King of Jhor in a place built on purpose for the receipt of strangers; they were used very kindly. Factory granted at Acheen, on condition of paying seven per cent. Factories at Tecoe and Priaman at first utterly refused, the king saying that it would be the undoing of his own subjects, the chief officers relieving themselves by bribing and trading to those parts. Conditions upon which a factory was afterwards obtained for two years. Sold some quantity of goods; all in the ships would have been bought but they had no ryals, and the country gold being base is not valuable in any other place, and there were no commodities to make any profitable return. Since the English victories over the Portugals at Surat, the Guzerats dare not bring any cloth to this coast. Intolerable abuse of the Company’s generals and captains in rating goods for the advancement of their own voyage. The Guzerats at Acheen live very slavish to the king, and yet many of them are of great wealth and credit; his voyage to Malacca against the Portugals, with 300 galleys and 100,000 men, 12 of the galleys having 28 and 30 oars of a side; all things were fitted very orderly by a Portugal who, when they were finished, the King cast before an elephant, and brake his bones. The Admiral galley had a turret built in the stern covered with plates of massive gold. The Guzerats great enemies to the English settling at Acheen, which heretofore was very profitable to them, but now they are like utterly to be deprived of. The King of Acheen’s conduct to the Dutch; he refuses to allow them to land, and reject their presents. The Hector sailed for Tecoe on 6th July. Death of Samuel Juxon 9th August. On 17th August the Thomas sailed for Tecoe. Wm. Nicolls and Abraham Bond left at Bantam. Arrived at Tecoe 27th October. Hopes the factory they have procured will prove profitable. Reasons for sending the Thomas away, and for his staying with the Hector, for settling the factory and selling the goods committed to his charge. [Four pages and a half. Indorsed “Read in Court 27 June 1616. Entered.” O.C., Vol III., No. 312.] |
| Nov. 17. |
1059. Articles of agreement between the Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East Indies and Edward Connok, of London, merchant: to remain as a factor in the East Indies live years, and be paid 1,500l salary at the end of his service. [One page. Court Bk., III., 549, 550. This is the last entry in the volume. The next Court Book, labelled IV., begins 19th Sept. 1617, so that the minutes for nearly two years are wanting. They were probably entered in a book now missing.] |
Nov. 19.
At the bar of
Osaka. |
1060. Raphe Coppindall to Rich. Wickham in Miako. Has received a letter from Capt. Cocks in answer to his from Miako before going to the emperor. Cocks seems discontented that Wickham stays not at Yedo, and desires him to go to Firando, he having appointed Eaton to stay at Miako. “Make speed to Firando, that we may be merry before my departure, for grief will help nothing.” [Half a page. O.C., Vol. III., No. 314.] |
Nov. 23.
Dec. 3.
Lisbon. |
1061. Hugh Lee to [Sec. Winwood?]. A carack arrived in safety from the East Indies, but lost above 200 persons by infirmities Another carack hourly expected; a third sunk at the Cape of Good Hope, with all her lading and ten or twelve persons. This country very quiet; no preparation for wars, nor report of anything done in the East Indies, either against the English or Hollanders, notwithstanding the great bruit of preparations to be made against them at or near Surat [Extract from Corresp., Portugal.] |
Nov. 24.
Acheen. |
1062. Wm. Nicolls to Millward and Yates at Tecoe. Makes no question but that by this time they have proved his words true, that the people are fraudulent and spiteful, and not one of them “constant of word,” but daily taxing them by new impositions. Goods sold. More danger to be feared from the people’s “despight” than any thing else; they have tried to rob him many score times, and would gladly have taken his life, because they feared he would discover to the king the customs he had paid, and which they divided among themselves. Sold little or nothing for six months, but has since made a profitable reckoning for the Company, nevertheless he knows “that one swallow maketh not a summer, neither a man a market.” Advantages of being able to have at Acheen a certain sale of Surat commodities; if “those people persevere in doing us continual wrong by restraint of free trade, either the place must be left, or the former benefit specified to the king [by the payment of a high rate of customs] granted.” Replies to the false opinion had of him “through that sicophantic fool.” Desires their friendly letter to Bantam. Complains of his chargeable place; would like to go to Tecoe or be sent to Surat. The King of Acheen is at Malacca walls, which the writer doubts are too strong for him to enter. [Three pages. O.C., Vol. III., No. 315.] |
