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| May 5. |
976. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Suit of Mrs. Keeling, to be sent to her husband in the East Indies, referred. Woodward's accounts satisfactory. Ric. Hounsell entertained for three years. Letters read from Capt. Castleton, Nat. Eile, and Mr. Foster from the Downs, ready to take the first opportunity for departure. Difference betwixt Anne Countess Dowager of Dorset and Mr. Beale about sale of his adventures to her. Return of the commissioners, Middleton and Abbott, from the East Indies. The Hollanders East India Company rests generally as it did, only they have razed a fort which they held at Tidore, and abandoned the place; they have 51 ships in the East Indies, a stock of 900,000l., sterling, and owe 400,000l. sterling at interest, “which is a great discouragement to their adventurers.” Great good thought to be done “by the going of these commissioners.” The English have built a new fair house at Bantam, which proves that the Dutch have not engrossed all the pepper. Good report of Mr. Edmondes' extraordinary care and diligence since his employment. Reasons for bestowing a gratification of 300l. upon him; 200l. each given to Middleton and Abbott, all which the governor gave in charge to have kept private, “because no exception should be taken by the generality, who have no means to consider of the causes moving to bestow so liberally upon them.” The ship at Shoreham; Capt. Pepwell and others have given out that they must be gone; plain demonstration of their evil pretences, from their inquisitiveness of what goods are brought into the Red Sea, &c.; to join with the Turkey Company to petition the Privy Council for their stay, and persuade their lordships to consider the threatened dangers if they be not hindered, and also to signify the proclamation of the French and Dutch prohibiting their subjects being employed in those parts for any other nation. Money to be recovered from the Turkey Company, contributed to the extraordinary charges they were at in “the action that fell out in the Red Sea.” [Three pages and a quarter. Court Bk., III., 419–422.] |
May 6.
Hague. |
977. The States General of the United Provinces to King James. Thank His Majesty for having sent commissioners to treat for accommodation of the differences between their respective subjects, touching trade in the East Indies. Are greatly rejoiced to have remarked in them an affectionate desire to arrive at that end, and hope that the being informed of the whole state of affairs in India, will give to this work so well begun a complete finish. As touching the Greenland fishery, the remonstrances and replies are referred to, and a hope expressed that in this business likewise all differences may be satisfactorily accommodated. French. [One page and a half. See Holland Correspondence, May 1615.] |
| May. |
978. Papers delivered by the Deputies of the States to the English Commissioners, upon their coming away. Summary of the conference between the Commissioners of the King of Great Britain on the one part, and the Deputies of the States General of the United Provinces on the other part, for an accommodation of trade to the East Indies. Memorial of the convenience of the union, and the inconvenience of the diversity of the companies trading to the East Indies. French. [Nine pages. Holland Correspondence.] |
May 12.
Jacatra. |
979. John Jourdain to Rich. Wickham at Firando. Arrival of the Clove and Defence at Bantam; cannot provide their lading this year, because of the great scarcity of pepper, they are therefore sent by order of the Company to the Moluccas to see what good is there to be done, “doubting much that we shall have some bickering with our overthwart friends, the Hollanders, for they do threaten us very much if they meet us at Banda or the Moluccas.” Great hopes of store of silver from Japan. The Gift left for England 22nd Dec. Expects orders to return to England next year. [Three quarters of a page. O. C., Vol. III., No. 279.] |
| May 12–22. |
980. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Petition of Wm. Carmychell, a Scot, who had lived 30 years in the service of the Portugals in the East Indies, craving employment in some of the Company's shipping, to fetch home his wife and children now at Goa; his conference with the Commissionners in the Low Countries; knows all the forts, ports, and creeks belonging to the Portugals in those parts; has been in China and speaks more of the state of that place than any others the Company have heard; opinion that if leave were procured for building a fort under the King of Jhor, very good use of it might be made against the Portugals, as also for procuring a trade into China; reasons for refusing his services; he dissuaded from the trade at Surat, his long service with the Portugals, and dissimulation in favouring a stranger rather than his own prince. Palmer and Rudd's business. Rich. Hounsell bound to the Company for three years. Exportation of Mr. Edwardes' pepper; the farmers of customs not satisfied with his assertion. The auditors of opinion that dividends may be declared of 6 per cent. upon the third voyage, and 16½ per cent. upon the fifth. Wages of Stathum, the cooper. 45l. to Mr. Collins, having finished the stone wharf. |
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May 22.—Letter written to Sir Thos. Edmondes, ambassador in France, by the Privy Council, on the Company's complaint, importing the stay of a ship at Brest intended for the East Indies, and commanding the ambassador to charge the English officers and men upon their allegiance, to desist from their purposed voyage and repair to England. Other letters read on the same subject. Thos. Rastall entertained to follow the business in France. [Two pages. Court Bk., III., 422–424.] |
