America and West Indies: Addenda 1614

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 9, 1675-1676 and Addenda 1574-1674. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1893.

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'America and West Indies: Addenda 1614', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 9, 1675-1676 and Addenda 1574-1674, (London, 1893) pp. 53-54. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol9/pp53-54 [accessed 26 March 2024]

Addenda 1614

1614. Jan. 2.
Paris.
84. Sir Thos. Edmondes to the King. "I made it appear unto Mons. de Villeroy by many instances, that the interest which the French pretended to have in the discoveries which we had made with great peril and charge (concerning the which he had before spoken to me much out of square) was contrary to the received custom and practice of all nations; wherewith he was so well satisfied, as he said that he would no more dispute that matter with me." [Extract, Correspondence, France.]
Oct. 11/12.
Paris.
85. La Marquise de Guercheville to Secretary Winwood. I have learnt the obligation I am under to you, before having the happiness of knowing you, which makes me doubly thank you, and entreat a continuation of your courtesy for the reparation of the great wrong which has been done me, and for the recovery of the Frenchmen who remain in Virginia. I promise that I shall be infinitely obliged for what shall be returned in so just a restitution and even more will ever be your most obliged and affectionate to serve you. French. Holograph with two seals and silk. Addressed, "A Monsieur Weinood." 1 p. [Corresp. France.]
Dec. 12.
Paris.
86. Sir Thos. Edmondes to Sec. Sir Ralph Winwood. Account of his conference with Mons. de Villeroy and audience of the King and Queen of France, in reference to sundry complaints of his Majesty's subjects against the French. "Whereunto the Queen made me no other answer than that the complaints were so great which she received, of the spoils which were committed upon the French by his Majesty's subjects, as she was forced to make an extraordinary instance for the redress of the same." (This has reference most probably to the above complaints of Mad. de Gucrcheville against Captain Argoll.) See Admiral de Montmorency's letter to King James I. in the first volume of this Calendar, p. 15; see also No. 88. [Extract, Correspondence, France.]
Dec. 30.
Paris.
87. Sir Thos. Edmondes to Sec. Sir Ralph Winwood. Sends herewith copy of the Memorial which he has exhibited to Mons. de Villeroy, of as many, both general and particular, complaints as he could call to remembrance.
87. i. Memorial of complaints concerning the subjects of the King of Great Britain, which his Majesty's Ambassador presents to their Majesties [of France] and the Lords of the Council, in order that it may please them to give orders to have said complaints redressed and prevented in future. A document in French of 21 pages, some of the complaints dating back 25 years. They include the following: In the year 1606 Sir Ferdinando Gorges Governor of Plymouth, and some others, equipped and, put to sea a ship named the Richard, under the command of one named Captain Chaloner, to traffic and obtain a footing (prendre pied) upon the coast of Virginia. This ship was taken at sea with all her merchandize and provisions, to the value of 14 or 15,000 livres, by a ship belonging to two merchants of St. Malo, Louis, and Servant Graves (the Captain being Alphonse Camache), and taken to Bordeaux. One named Tucker prosecuted Camache before the Parliament of Bordeaux, but after endeavouring for two years to obtain justice, an arrest (decree) was passed, 20 Feb. 1609, dismissing his suit for not having put in security, though he did so a little while after (peu aprés) it was demanded of him. 21 pp. French. [Correspondence, France.] This is at variance with Chalmer and with Burke's History of Virginia, I., 85–92, who say this ship was commanded by Henry Challoner, and was taken by a Spanish fleet and carried into Spain. See also Holmes' American Annals (2nd edition), I., 125.
1614. 88. Answer to the Complaints presented to the King by the Sieur de Buisseaux, French Ambassador, at the Court of his Majesty. To the first complaint concerning Newfoundland, sets forth the title of England to the fishery there, which is carried on every year with at least 200 vessels and more than 6,000 persons in the English colony, who have always treated the French well, and protected them in their fishing, and allowed them to leave their vessels until they return to fish the next year. That the French do not inhabit any part of Newfoundland, but are much farther away in a place called Canada, which they call New France, therefore the accusation against the English is most unjust, and far from the truth, seeing they have never been near New France neither hindered nor disturbed the French fisheries, nor done them any injury. To the fourth complaint concerning Virginia, Captain Argoll acknowledges that he took the French ship in question within the limits of our colony because she tried by force to intrude there against the privileges granted to said [Virginia] Company, by virtue of his commission under the seal of said Company, derived from the special power granted by his Majesty to said colony under the Great Seal, but that nevertheless said ship had been restored at the request of the French Ambassador. Nevertheless his Majesty wishing the Ambassador to understand his desire to give every possible satisfaction has ordered said Captain Argoll to give an account of his reasons for this arrest whenever the Ambassador shall desire, and that Turner, his Lieutenant, shall do likewise as soon as he is able to return. To the eighth complaint, concerning the Marquise de Guercheville, she has no reason to complain, nor to expect any reparation, seeing that her ship forcibly entered the territory of the said colony to settle and traffic without their permission to the prejudice of treaties, and good intelligence between our Kings. See ante, Nos. 85, 86. Extracts, French. Endorsed, "For the French Am[bassador], Mr. Winwood 1614, Answer to the French Complaints." [Corresp., France.]