America and West Indies: April 1630

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: April 1630', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 112-114. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp112-114 [accessed 27 April 2024]

April 1630

April 2.
Whitehall.
79. Order of the Privy Council. The merchant adventurers to Canada and Mons. De Caen and all on that side to be admitted on Monday next before the Lord Mayor, to make an offer for the beaver skins now in dispute between them. The money to be deposited, by those who offer the most, with the Lord Mayor, until it is determined to whom it shall be paid. [Copy.]
[April 7.] 80. List of the names of the Captains bound for Canada in six ships belonging to the King of France, to be ready to set sail in six weeks at furthest. Identical with those noted in No. 74, viz, Chev. de Montigny [Admiral of the Fleet], Chev. de St. Clair [Monteclair? in above list], Sieur de Nest of Fecamp, Sieur de Lombards, Capt. Daniell, and Capt. Arnaud. [De Vic inclosing a similar list in a despatch from Paris of this date says, that he received it from a good hand, and that other preparations go on but slowly for want of money. See Corresp. FRANCE.]
April 9. 81. James Cambell, Lord Mayor of London, to Sir. Hen. Marten. Has called the parties before him according to an Order in Council of 2nd April. [See ante, No. 79.] Mons. De Caen having offered 25s. per lb. for the beaver skins, to which the adventurers of Canada have agreed, he will appoint a person to weigh and deliver them.
April 9.
Whiteball.
Order of the Privy Council. The beaver skins to be counted, weighed, and given up by Sol. Smith, Marshal of the Admiralty, to Abrah. Taylor for the Lord Mayor, who is to deliver them to M. De Caen upon receipt of the money, after the rate of 25s. per lb. [Copy. Colonial Corresp., 1630, April 2.]
[April 13.] 82. Account of the number of men, robust, and courageous, and skilful in agriculture, also soldiers who have served in Holland, together with magazine of clothing, arms, ammunition, and provisions, &c., which Mons. Vassall thinks necessary to send to Virginia. French. Endorsed by Boswell, "Recd 13 Ap. 1630."
April 15. Sec. Dorchester to Sir Isaac Wake, Ambassador in France. Mons. De Chateauneuf seemed to go away ill satisfied that he could not obtain a direct promise from the King for the restitution of Port Royal, adjoining Canada, where some Scotchmen are planted, under the title of Nova Scotia. This plantation was authorized by King James, although not begun until towards the end of the war with France. Chateauneuf having earnestly pressed King Charles that all should be put in the same state as before the war, His Majesty, without refusing or granting, has taken time to advise of it. The King is content that Quebec should be restored, but this advertisement is only for Wake's information. [Copy. Corresp. FRANCE.]
April 15.
Virginia.
83. Gov. Sir John Harvey to Sec. Dorchester. Arrived at Virginia after a long and tedious passage, by reason of a leaky ship; was forced to go to Cape Verd, where he found about 40 Holland ships bound to the West Indies, which were nearly taking his ship with them. The heat of the climate caused a general sickness throughout their company, and this great sickness prevented him calling an Assembly until the week before Easter. Found the people miserably perplexed for want of corn, which they had generally neglected to plant. An act was passed to augment the quantity of corn, and restrain the excess of tobacco. It was agreed to make a fortification at Point Comfort, and to continue the wars against the natives. Propositions were made for setting forward divers staple commodities; hopes next year to give good account of them. Purposes to survey the country this summer. Has already, notwithstanding his weakness, made a journey to the iron works, which the Indians have demolished. Hopes to discover a saltpetre mine in the Bay. Will find out if there be any silver mines. Excuses himself for not writing to the Privy Council.
April? 84. Memorial [from the government of Virginia]. To supplant English tobacco, which hinders the sale of Virginian, and will cause the plantations to be deserted, and utterly disabled from planting useful commodities. To order that all masters of ships give bond to the Governor of Virginia to take all commodities laden from that colony to England. Endorsed by Sec. Dorchester, "The Government of Virginia's Memorial."
April? 85. Petition of Sir John Harvey, Governor of Virginia, to the Privy Council. On his arrival, he found the colony engaged in a necessary war with the natives, which has exhausted all their powder, nor can the store he took over last long. Prays that two or three lasts may be sent by the next ships.
April 20. 86. Instructions by way of indenture between the King and Sir Robert Heath, to be observed in the plantation of Carolina; no aliens to be allowed to settle without special direction, nor any but Protestants who conform to the discipline of the Church of England; all former instructions to be void; these only to remain in force according to the King's patent of 20 Oct. 1629. [Copy.]
April? Petition of Humphrey Slaney, Nicholas Crisp and [sic], merchants, to the Privy Council. In Jan. 1629 they sent the Benediction of London, 300 tons, to trade to the river of Senaga [Senegal] in Guinea "being their accustomed trade," but she was surprised by a French man of war in the June following, and carried by Capt. Bontemps to Dieppe, to the petitioners' loss of more than 20,000l. Pray for relief upon such French goods as are now under sequestration, or for letters of reprisal. [DOMESTIC Corresp. Car. I., Vol. CLV., No. 59, Cal. p. 145.]
April? 87. Petition of General De Caen to the Privy Council. Capt. Kirke and his company will neither give up the beaver skins, for which the petitioner has offered the highest price, nor the keys of the warehouse to the Lord Mayor, as may apear by his certificate annexed. Prays that they may be speedily delivered to him or his assigns, and Capt. Kirke and company condemned to pay all costs and damages. Annexed,
87. I. James Cambell, Lord Mayor of London, to the Privy Council. Has received their order of 9th April. Capt. Kirke refuses to give up the keys of the warehouse wherein the beaver skins are. Perceives they will not be delivered to De Caen until further orders from their Lordships. Jaques Reynard appointed to act for De Caen, who cannot stay longer in England. 1630, April 28.
87. II. Affidavit of Wil. De Caen, Lord of La Motte, General of the Fleet of New France, for costs and damages. With authority to Reynard to receive the beaver skins. 1630, April 12.
87. III. Affidavit of "Josua Mainet," public notary, that he applied to Mistress Kirke, widow of Jarvis Kirke, to Capt. David Kirke her son, to Wil. Berkeley and Robt. Charlton, Merchant Adventurers of Canada, but can-not obtain the keys of the warehouse wherein are the beaver skins.