East Indies, China and Japan: September 1619

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, East Indies, China and Japan, Volume 3, 1617-1621. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1870.

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'East Indies, China and Japan: September 1619', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, East Indies, China and Japan, Volume 3, 1617-1621, (London, 1870) pp. 293-299. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/east-indies-china-japan/vol3/pp293-299 [accessed 17 April 2024]

September 1619

Sept. 1/11. Paris. 737. Sir Ed. Herbert to Carleton. Desires particulars of the instructions of the embassy of the Dutch, who are little in the good graces of this nation, of which the writer is not sorry, so as advantage is taken to enter into a stricter league with them, "which God send Sir Thos. Dale hath not spoiled." [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
Sept. 1-8. 738. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Letter read from Jas. Cartwright and John Cooper from Amsterdam, that the Dutch will carry the Company's money freight free to the East Indies, supposing there is the full sum of 20,000 ryals. Ralph, the brother of Sir Clement Edmondes, to be entertained a factor at his brother's request ; also John Holland. Concerning a dividend ; adventurers desirous to pay in, so they may have "defalcation" made, but there being no present need of money it was left to a more seasonable time. Robert Young's debt. Sept. 2.-Letters read from Sir Thos. Roe, Andrew Shilling, master, and James Bag, deputy to the farmers of customs, from Plymouth, with news of the arrival of the Anne from the East Indies ; from Sir Thos., Roe a general taste was received of the state of the Company's affairs at Surat, Persia, and Mocha, a place of excellent hopes for trade, and expectation of the return of the Expedition. Letter read from Robert Price about the taking of two Portugal frigates by the Expedition near Persia ; the Governor charged the committee to keep it secret, but if published to justify it as they well may. Arrangements for the Ambassador's coming to London. Sept. 3.-Great store of silk shortly expected from Turkey; resolved, therefore, to have the silk sent overland from Plymouth, out of the ship just arrived from the East Indies. 8,000 bales of silk may be had yearly out of Persia, whereof 2,000 bales are too fine to be of use here. Concerning a dividend on the first joint stock. Debts of John Halsey, Robert and William Angell, Richard Sleigh, Edward Williams, Gilbert Morewood, and Francis Taylor. Nich. Wolley to be entertained as a purser's mate. A hundred tons of cider to be provided at 5l. a ton ; 200l. worth of nails to be taken of Thomas Moore, of Deptford, the King's works not having used 40l. worth. Proceedings of committees at Blackwall. Sept. 8.-Reasons for not taking Moore's nails, "leaving him to give satisfaction to his creditors (by nails) if he will." Thos. Thompson to be entertained. Debtors to the Company. 600 cloths to be purchased, "being informed that the Red Sea will of itself vent 2 or 300 cloths." Petition of Robt. Burston to serve the Company with nails at Deptford, proportionably with Thos. Moore. John Clarke to be employed as a factor. Abraham Cartwright urged to perform his bargain of indigo. Agreement with Francis Oliver to make forty butts of cider at 5l. per ton. Wine vinegar, an excellent beverage, as used by John Hawkins, to be put aboard each ship. Adventures now paid in to have an abatement for time. Dividend on the first joint stock to be declared at a general court. [Seven pages and a quarter. Court Bk. IV., 400-407.]
Sept. 8. Firando. 739. Wm. Eaton to Capt. Cocks in Osaka, Fushamy, Miako, or elsewhere. Sale of goods. Knows not when Capt. Addames will go up, in that he is sickly and minded to take physic. Harwood returned from Nangasaki ; Nealson, Osterwick, and Burgis with the writer. Desires some liquorice may be bought for him if there be any ; if not, a kind of leaf "that they use to put in chaw" which tastes like liquorice. [One page, injured by damp. Endorsed, "Rec. in Fushamy, 24 Sept." O.C., Vol. VII., No. 811.]
Sept. 10. 740. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Concerning the dividend on the first joint stock. Petition of Edward Grant, returned purser in the Bull to be again employed ; also of George, brother and executor of Ralph Preston, factor, deceased, concerning his brother's property. Henry Short to be employed as a factor. [One page and a quarter. Court Bk. IV., 407-408.]
Sept. 11. London. 741. Chamberlain to Carleton. Sir Thos. Roe come home rich, they say, from the East Indies, and also that our men there have repaid themselves and repaired our honour upon the Hollanders. [Extract from Domestic Corresp. Jac. I., Vol. CX., No. 54, Cal., p. 75.]
Sept. 15. Jacatra. 742. Samuel Foxcrofte to the East India Company. Sailed from Saldanha Bay 15th May. Journal of the voyage. Spied four Flemish ships, having 94 pieces of ordnance, at anchor, at the straits of Sunda, which suffered them to pass, but afterwards came up to their ship. The master called up all the people, and propounded to them whether they were willing to fight, which all with one voice yielded unto ; "whereupon, having drunk together, every man, to our thinking, prepared himself to his quarter for defence ;" but the commander, John Hinchley, said half the company were not to be found ; the men were unwilling to fight upon such disadvantage. Conference with the Duch commander, who said they had got the upper hand, having chased away Sir Thos. Dale, Capt. Jourdain, General Pring, with all English ships from these parts, and that they were appointed to wait and take all English ships, therefore commanded the English to surrender. The conditions. James Ferdinando, Samuel Jenkins, and others, taken by the Dutch on their way to Bantam in a skiff. How the English company were dispersed aboard the several Dutch ships, which sailed for Jacatra and set them ashore. His disputes with his commander, John Hinchley, and protest read before Hinchley, Edward Brand, John Rawlins, and Jacob Lane, which he also showed to Timothy Johnson, surgeon, and others. On 3rd Sept. Ferdinando, Jenkins, and others stole away in a prow without victuals or necessaries, whither is not known ; the master's perverseness, the cause of their desperate course. Begs the Company to suspend their judgment until they hear further. The Black Lion taken by Sir Thos. Dale, but afterwards by misfortune burnt ; he also chased away the Dutch general and all his ships from these parts, and about the middle of April sailed, leaving neither ship nor factory at Jacatra or at Bantam, only Philip Badnedg and three others to keep possession of Bantam House. The Dutch general arrived at Jacatra on 18 May with fifteen sail, and on the 20th took and burnt Jacatra, where they have built a fort ; but the country people have all fled, only Dutch and some Chinese remaining. The Dutch keep Bantam blockaded by sea, are at mortal enmity with the people, have 22 sail at Jacatra and about Bantam, and expect five or six more ; they are exceedingly strong in these parts, but exceedingly hated and abhorred of the inhabitants. News that they are driven from Masulipatam ; but nothing heard of Sir Thos. Dale and the rest of the fleet ; only that Jourdain is at Patani. The master and others sent to Sakadanne [Succadana] in a Dutch ship, as they desired. Resolution of the writer and others to go to Patani. Hears a murmuring among the Flemings that Sir Thos. Dale with a fleet is upon the coast of Coromandel, and has joined with the Portugals and taken the Flemish fort at Palacatto [? Pulicat], and beaten them from the other parts upon the coast ; cannot resolve upon the truth of this. [Endorsed, "Of the rendering up of the Star." Four pages. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 812.]
Sept. 15-17 743. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Employment of Sir John Hampden, recommended by Sir John Leigh, as commander of a ship, although it be under a general that is no knight. Mr. Greenwell taxed by Sir Richard Bingley for some speeches he made in court about the employment of one Manley ; the committees desire to have it searched out who did that ill office, that he may be censured, for the example of others. Edward Collins to be employed in the counting-house for the sake of Sir Nicholas Salter. Young Perpoint, "of a dull and heavy disposition" and unfit for the Company's service, to be bound to some trade. Notice of the arrival of the Anne in the Downs, and the landing of the Lord Ambassador, whose expenses with his lady's are to be defrayed to Gravesend, where a committee will assemble to-morrow to conduct them to London ; a dozen coaches to be ready at Tower wharf to carry him to his house ; John Capper to proceed to Rochester to bespeak a breakfast there, if so resolved on. About procuring ryals from Spain. Letter read from the Earl of Lincoln from Cambridge about payment of his father's adventures. Humphrey FitzHerbert to be conferred with about his going to Bantam. Captain Shilling thought upon for Surat. Christopher Pine, lately returned in the Dragon, to be employed as a purser's mate. Sept. 17.-The wreck at Yarmouth of one of the Greenland ships appertaining to the account of the united Companies. Arrival of eighty tons of cordage from Muscovy. Care to be taken not to exceed the number of ryals [which] in their patent [the Company are allowed to send out of the kingdom]; as to procuring them from Spain, committees to confer with Sir Thos. Roe about "the business at the Cape" (i.e., supplies being sent there for the company's ships), in which business M. Boreel says the Dutch intend to join with the English. Being informed that Sir Thos. Roe, meeting with the Dutch Admiral, and hearing there were great hopes of a friendly conclusion they both wrote to the English and Dutch severally that in regard of those hopes they should surcease from all hostility until they received further directions, it was commended "for a very wise and worthy course, hoping it would be a means to withhold them there from further hurt and mischief." Proffer by Alderman Halliday of his house for the Lord Ambassador's use ; resolved that the Company bear the charges of his entertainment until he has delivered his message to his Majesty ; the letters brought by the Ambassador for the Dutch to be delivered to M. Boreel. Edward Grant, desirous of employment, condemned for being of a mutinous disposition, a fosterer of such persons, and very forward in private trade, and therefore held unfit. Mr. Steele, returned with my Lord Ambassador, much condemned for his unworthy carriage abroad, having performed nothing that was intended at his departure, but hath brought home a great private trade, put the Company to an extraordinary charge by a wife and children, and wronged my Lord Ambassador by a false and surmised contestation, and arrogating a higher title and place to himself than ever was intended ; held unworthy of the salary first granted. Information that private trade is returned in this ship (the Anne), both of Captain Towerson, Mr. Steele, and many others, in great quantities, all of which the Ambassador has marked with the Company's private mark ; all such goods to be brought up to the Governor's house, and kept there until the Company resolve what is to be done with them. The Anne to unlade at Woolwich. [Four pages. Court Bk. IV., 408-412.]
Sept. 18. The Hague. 744. Carleton to Chamberlain. Hears nothing of Mr. Abbott, of whom he wrote, but is gladder he spake with him than with Mr. Bell, who sounds in such cases very faintly. A secretary of the Dutch East India Company is now in England to set us right again, after these new accidents, if it be possible. [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
Sept. 22-25. 745. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Grant of 40l. upon petition of Richard Dove towards releasing certain English captives from Turkish pirates. Concerning Lord Warwick's men entertained in the Indies by Capt. Pring. Petition of Margery, widow of Peter Bell, accidentally killed on board the Anne ; dishonest conduct of the coroner. Names to be given to the new ships now building ; the great ship at Deptford to be called the London, that at Blackwall the Exchange, and others the Hart, Eagle, and Roebuck. Mr. FitzHerbert, thought to be a very worthy commander, to be conferred with for the chief place. Sir John Hambden referred for future consideration. Petition of a son of Sir John Watts to be employed in some place of command. Letter read from my Lord of Buckingham on behalf of Capt. Pennington, who was in the action with Sir Walter Ralegh, and is suitor for the chief place. Consideration as to the disposal of the fleet ; "the intent of the Dutch being to have both fleets, the English and Dutch spread themselves upon the coasts in India to disperse the Portugals, wheresoever they shall find them, and keep them from drawing to a head." Committee to accompany the Lord Ambassador to attend his Majesty at Whitehall to receive answer of his embassy and presents. Sept. 23.-This meeting called purposely to consider in what manner to proceed with the sale of the silks, whether publicly or privately ; opinion that the sooner it be sold the better, because the town is at present bare and empty, and a great ship expected daily from the Straits with great quantities ; to prevent combination, four nobles to be the first price and not under, and to be sold in two equal parts. Sept. 24.-Consideration about the sale of the Persian silk ; the raw silk divided into two parcels of 35 and 36 bales each, and sold respectively to Richard Danes and Sheriff Hamerslye for 26s. 10d. per lb. Two Lahore carpets, 4 yards wide, sold for 13l. 10s. and 10l. respectively. Sept. 25.-Sir Thos. Roe having been with his Majesty and given account of his embassy, it was made known that he purposed likewise to give satisfaction to this court of his proceedings and service performed, and will deliver up some journals and accounts he hath in his custody. Survey taken by Sir Thos. Roe of the several dispositions of the Company's factors at Surat and those parts, and those who have most basely and injuriously traduced Sir Thos. in their letters, especially John Browne and Wm. Biddalph, "noted to exceed in the highest measure, putting upon him as much as malice can possibly invent with all the spiteful disgrace that may be." Most of the factors there joined in a confederacy amongst themselves, being jealous that any strange eye should look into their actions. Examinations to be taken, and some severe course put in execution against them. Fursland's letter to be looked out, who writes they keep a commonwealth amongst themselves. The most culpable to be gleaned out and sent for home by degrees until all be weeded thence, and to be careful that they be not permitted to get their estates out of the Company's hands until satisfaction be given for the honest gaining of them. [Four pages and a half. Court Bk. IV., 412-416.]
Sept. 25. Macassar. 746. Thos. Staverton to the East India Company. Was appointed to this factory in January 1617-8 by George Ball, when he sent the Solomon, Thomas, and Attendance to lade near upon four hundred tons of rice for the Bandas and Moluccas under the command of Cassarian David, but through foul weather the ships were separated, and the Solomon and Attendance taken by four Dutch ships near Pooloroon, "after resistance in continuing fight to their power, and carried into Neira, for which great victory the Hollanders made such triumph for certain days as if they had won the world, and how slavishly they use your servants (their captives) is by some of their own letters worse than Turkish." The Hollanders have twice within twelve months made incursions into this road to see what they could filch, and to make this country afraid, but the people are their deadly enemies. The Company's ships have been these two years intercepted from Banda and surprised by the Hollanders ; last year no ships went thither ; yet the English hold out at Pooloroon in spite of all Hollanders. This country admits a settled factory to none but the English, and was formerly planted by Capt. Jourdain ; the Portugals much frequent here, but are not permitted to settle any residence. The two kings of this island have ever been kind to the Company's servants and willingly embrace trade with them. The King of Tolo is anxiously expecting "the gratification" sent to him by Capt. Pring's fleet, and which has arrived at Bantam. [One page and a half. Endorsed, "Received by the Dutch White Bear, 1 January 1620[-1]." O.C., Vol. VII., No. 813.]
Sept. 25. Firando. 747. Wm. Eaton to Rich. Cocks at Osaka, Sakaii, Fushamy, Miako, or elsewhere. Capt. Addames has sent Mr. Sayer's "scretore." Arrival of another Dutch ship from Patani, one of those which took the Sampson and the Hound, Capt. Jourdain, the commander, being killed in the fight. The master of the Hound, Wm. Gordone, and Michael Paine, the carpenter, are here in the English house, having been got ashore by Capt. Addames' means. Hears from them that the English are like to be beaten out of the Indies by the Dutch, who came against the English fleet with 18 sail of great ships, the which Sir Thos. Dale and Capt. Pring hearing of, and fearing the worst, with some 11 or 12 sail departed from Bantam. Where the English house stood, the Dutch have built two strong castles, and besides are like to have Bantam in their possession. The English ships are to meet at Priaman and join with those come from England this year, and all fight the Dutch. The Dragon and her fleet have been in fight with the Portugals, and, as they think, the Lion, and it is expected are lost or taken by the Portugals or Dutch, for there is no news of them. Death of Wickham at Jacatra of the flux, worth, it is reported, five or six thousand pounds sterling. West likewise dead, having been killed by a Dutchman at Jambi. Ball is captain of the New Year's Gift, Spaldinge captain of the Unicorn and to be President at Bantam, as Capt. Jourdain is dead. Adam Denton is principal at Patani. Totten gone home in the Little James ; Osterwick to Nangasaki. Knows not how to make money to pay their way. [One page and a half, much injured and torn. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 814.]