America and West Indies: April 1667

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1880.

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'America and West Indies: April 1667', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 5, 1661-1668, (London, 1880) pp. 459-463. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol5/pp459-463 [accessed 25 April 2024]

April 1667

April 2.
Whitehall.
1454. Warrant for the ship Antonio Guiseppe di Venetia, of 150 tons, manned with Italians, Antonio Dura, master, belonging to English merchants, of London, to sail to New England for fish, &c., and thence to Cadiz or Malaga and back to England. 1 p. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. XXV., p. 3.]
April 2-5. 1455. Minutes of the Council of Barbadoes. Act for payment of the charges of the Assembly read and passed 27 March. Particulars of round shot to be provided for the island to be presented to the Assembly. Ordered by the Assembly that Capt. Egginton send for half of same from New England.
April 3.Proclamation that no persons to whom press warrants have been granted presume to press any more persons by virtue thereof. Request of the Assembly that Capt. Morris' ship be ordered to sea, to the end ships trading hither may not be terrified to abandon the trade by the evil success of such as have within four hours been taken within sight of the island. Capt. Morris' instructions.
April 5.Warrant to search suspected places for seamen. 6 pp. [Col. Entry Bk., No. XI., pp. 157-162.]
April 4.
Jamaica.
1456. Gov. Sir Thos. Modyford to Sec. Lord Arlington. Sends copies of his last letters, since which has only received his Majesty's despatch of Nov. 15, with his Lordship's of the 24th of Nov. What his Lordship has written touching Gov. Modyford's brother's coming is not at all intimated by himself or any other, so is infinitely obliged for the knowledge of it. The French have had success on Montserrat and upwards of 600 of their inhabitants have come hither this month, extremely plundered, even to their very shirts, so that many would have perished, had they not been relieved by the charity of the planters, who are in great plenty of provisions, whereby the burthen will be the easier borne. Expects with much impatience the arrival of his only brother. p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 31.]
April 7. 1457. Ri. Watts to Williamson. Yesterday at Dover saw a letter from a merchant in Middleboro' to a merchant in Dover assuring him it was there strongly reported the Spaniards had entered on Jamaica and possessed themselves of it, and massacred men, women, and children of the English. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. CXCVI., No. 121, Cal., p. 17.]
April 11-16. 1458. Minutes of the Council of Barbadoes. On consideration of letters from Col. Russell, Gov. of Nevis, to Lieut.-Gen. Henry Willoughby that his presence is expected and will be a reviving to the inhabitants and a security to his Majesty's interest, ordered that he depart forthwith to Nevis and conduct the forces there, and that Col. Wm. Willoughby be received to supply his place in the Government, which resolves are to be laid before the Assembly. Order to Colonels Wm. Willoughby, Hugh Powell, Wm. Sharpe, and Rich. Bayley to discharge the guards of their regiments at the seaport towns, care having been taken for the guard of the island by sea. Warrant to Col. Wm. Willoughby and Fras. Tyrwhitt to pay certain charges of the meetings of the Governors, Council, and Assembly out of the account of 4 per cent.
April 12.Orders : To Major Bate to deliver 500 matchlocks and 1,000 lbs. of match on board the Norwich frigate for the Leeward Isles ; to William Byrdall to sell the 500 muskets to the inhabitants of Nevis, and deliver the match and shot to Col. Russell ; to Capt. Robert Worden of the Norwich, to sail forthwith for Nevis and follow the orders of Capt. Berry, and to Col. Wm. Willoughby, the treasurer, to pay 8,700 lbs. of sugar to Elizabeth Barnes, for the accommodations of her house. Answer of the Assembly to the resolutions of the Governors and Council of the 11th inst. concerning the administration of the government during the absence of Gov. Henry Willoughby.
April 16.The Assembly are desired to take into consideration the further fortifications of the island and to pass an Act to that purpose. 6 pp. [Col. Entry Bk., No. XI., pp. 162-168.]
April 12. 1459. Warrant for the ship Charity of 60 tons, manned with foreign seamen, Edward Kerton, master, to make a voyage to New England and thence to Bilboa. p. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. XXV., p. 5.]
[April 19.] 1460. Petition of Sarah, relict of Capt. John Whitty, to the King in Council. Petitioner with other planters in Virginia are owners of the ship America built in Virginia by Capt. Whitty. Prays for a license for said vessel with six mariners to proceed to Virginia. Indorsed, Received 19th April 1667. p. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 32.]
April? 1461. Private instructions [from Col. Nicolls] to [Robt.] Needham, [Thos.] Delavall, and Mr. Van Ruyven [appointed by a Commission dated 16 April 1667] Commissioners to Esopus. 1. To examine first the papers of complaints and make choice of the most notorious. 2. To read their commission in the hearing of all the people at Esopus attended by a file of soldiers ; Wm. Fisher to be first tried because a man was killed, and witnesses to be examined whether there was malice or former grudges ; whether knives were drawn against him when the quarrel began ; considering the testimonies of the doctor and surgeons Nicolls conceives the Commissioners will find him guilty of manslaughter, and they will let the people know that the laws of England direct them so, for if the Dutchman ran upon the sword to assault Fisher it may have happened in his own defence. 3. When they examine the rising in arms they will find that Broadhead only offered to fling a dish at the brewer but did not, and also to draw his sword but could not ; that the brewer made the first assault, and that the King's officer is not of so mean a quality as to be struck by a burgher. They will then call the most violent actors and promotors of the riot before them, and open the case by telling them that the rising in arms against an established garrison of his Majesty's is by the laws of England no less than treason ; to admit of no reasonings, but to tell them that Nicolls once forgave some of the inhabitants the same crime, and their names are upon record in the town book. They are to call these double offenders to an account for all the rest, and the most notorious, not exceeding six to sentence guilty of a treasonable and malicious riot, the final sentence of punishment to be remitted to Nicolls, to be sent with a guard of Musqueteers to the Redout prisoners and brought in the sloop with the Commissioners. 4. They will find Broadhead hath broken Nicolls' instructions several times, so they will suspend him from his employment for keeping the brewer in prison after being ordered to release him, the rest will be committed to Nicolls. 6. Needham may best speak what deserves to be sharply resented against the soldiers, Delavall and Van Ruyven [against] the burghers. 7. Nicolls looks upon Albert Heymans and Anthony D. Elba as great incendiaries and disaffected live persons ; if their words be proved they shall not be suffered to in this Government ; if actors in this riot pitch upon them for ring-leaders and secure their estates. The lieutenant headed the men, he cannot be excused. 8. Leaves it to their discretion to alter instructions formerly given to Broadhead, "because the alteration of men's humours may require some alteration of instructions." 9. Engage as little as may be in slight matters ; discourage not the soldiers too much in public lest the Boors insult them ; appear favourable to most of the latter but severe against the principal incendiaries, and tell them freely that Nicolls will proceed against every man as shall lift arms against his Majesty's garrison, as rebellious subjects and common enemies. 10. As they are not tied to carry on a commission by jury, they will avoid much trouble by admitting very few where they sit, two witnesses to one matter are as good as 20. 11. As it is impossible for Nicolls' to direct them in many things, much latitude is left to their discretion and good conscience. To govern themselves in this Commission by the main vote, whereunto the third dissenting is to acquiesce. Draft with corrections in Nicolls' hand. Printed in New York Documents, III., 149, 150. 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 33.]
April 20/30
Quebec.
1462. Gov. Tracy to the Capt. and Commissaries of Albany. Has written so full an answer to their Governor-General as also to themselves that it will not be necessary to make repetition thereof. Will endeavour to acknowledge the civil respect they seem to bear him as far as the [French] King's service will permit him. Should be sorry they should think he could believe they had either directly or indirectly a hand in the murder of those gentlemen by the Iroquois, and must confess that the French have been obliged to the Dutch for having withdrawn many of them out of the Indians' hands ; but the Dutch gave them the just acknowledgment that the French have hindered the Algonquins from making war on the Dutch. Since their Governor-General orders them not to interpose in the French affairs with the Iroquois they'll do prudently to obey him. Could have desired they had never made any proposition on the subject, for they would have been less sensitive of Tracy's displeasure at the death of those gentlemen. The Dutch bastard has no commission further than to deliver these present. French, 1 p. [Col Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 34.]
April 20/30
Quebec.
1463. An English translation of the preceding, in which the Iroquois are called the Maquaes, Printed in New York Documents, III., 150, 151. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 35.]
April 20/30.
Quebec.
1464. A Dutch translation of the above. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 36.]
April 20/30.
Quebec.

May 2/12.
Montreal.
1465. M. De Tracy to M. Corlart [Arendt Van Curler]. Has received his letter of 14 Feb with those of his Governor-General and Commissaries, and sends his answers. Will send the news when the expected ships arrive from Europe. The news of the great victory the Dutch have gained over the English is confirmed ; it came from Amsterdam, where they do not puff out victories of smoke or wind. Has offered such reasonable conditions to the Annies [Mohawks] and all their tribes, as he doubts not they will accept peace, and has given them till the 16/26 June for their resolution. The Bastard Fleming ought to return, and will be treated favourably for Curler's sake ; has had him accompanied by Frenchmen of consideration to the head of Lake Champlain ; and he has also Tracy's passport to the end of June next, which will serve him to go and return. Is obliged to his Governor-General and himself for their kindness to the Sr. des Fontaines. If he can come to Quebec this summer he shall be entertained with all his power, Tracy having great esteem for him, though personally unknown. The Bastard Fleming says that he has given some presents which have not been responded to ; will inquire into the truth from the Per Chamonot, who is at Quebec. Corlart can tell the Annies that at their return they shall receive full satisfaction. Printed in New York Documents, III., 151, 152. French, 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 37.]
April 20/30.
Quebec.
1466. Gov. Tracy to [Col Nicolls]. In answer to his of the 31st August last, will tell him that M. de Courcelle, Governor-General of this country, signifying a desire to make some inroad on the Iroquois, Tracy gave him permission to take as many soldiers as he thought fit ; whereupon he advanced within 15 or 20 leagues of the villages of the Annies [Mohawks], but his guides conducting him a wrong way he did not meet with them till he surprised some in two small huts near the village. M. de Courcelle had no intention to infringe the peace, for understanding that he was on Dutch lands (for till then they had no intelligence that New Holland was under any other dominion), he hindered his companies from falling into the village or taking provisions, &c. The French nation is too much inclined to acknowledge courtesies not to confess that the Dutch have had very much charity in redeeming from the Iroquois divers who would otherwise have been burnt. Is also persuaded that they had a sincere intention for the conclusion of a firm peace between the French and Iroquois, and they ought to believe that the French have always forbidden the Algonquins to make war upon or kill them. By his letter of 14th July last to the Dutch gentlemen, and his request to the Reverend Father Bechefer, he will see his confidence in their friendship. It is true the death of some gentlemen who went a fowling in confidence of the letter of those gentlemen of 26th March 1666 (which was published in his garrisons) gave him a great deal of discontent, and obliged him to change his design of adventuring the persons of the Rev. Father Bechefer and others, but he never thought of accusing those Dutch gentlemen of holding intelligence with the Iroquois in so foul an action, but wrote only to oblige them to counsel the Iroquois to deliver up the actors of that murder. Tracy's letter of 22nd July to the Commissaries at Albany might have informed him what the Sr. Cousture was, and he is very sorry Nicolls took the pains of a voyage to Albany to have discourse with an ordinary messenger. Nicolls' intention of embracing always the interest of Europe against the Indians of America is very commendable, as also the passion he expresses for the interest of his Majesty of Great Britain. Returns thanks for his desires for mutual correspondence of civility and respect. Has served the King in Germany in the most considerable commands of his armies, when Tracy's son (not himself) was known to Nicolls in Flanders, where he commanded his Majesty's foreign cavalry, and had a very particular respect for the person and the great merit of the Duke of York. Nicolls has no reason to expect less services from him than he might have received from his son. Nicolls must have heard from divers of his nation how he has done them courtesies with passion ; has therefore cause to complain that a ship of Boston took in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in June 1665 (five months before the declaration of war) a barque belonging to Tracy laden with strong waters, &c. from France, but as he knows no interest but that of his Majesty, he will easily forget that loss till the conclusion of peace. French, 3 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 38.]
April 20/30.
Quebec.
1467. An English translation of the preceding. Printed in New York Documents, III., 152-154. 6 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. XXI., No. 39.]
April? 1468. Petition of James Ward to the King. His wife was convicted at the Oxford quarter sessions of stealing goods value 3s. 4d. ; prays for an order for stay of execution, and for her transportation to any of his Majesty's Plantations. [Dom., Chas. II., Vol. CXCVIII., No. 15, Cal., p. 48.]
April 26. 1469. Warrant to permit the ship Scout, of 70 tons, manned with foreign seamen, to make a voyage to his Majesty's Plantations in America on giving security to return. p. [Dom. Entry Bk., Chas. II., Vol. XXV., p. 6.]