East Indies, China and Japan: August 1621

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: August 1621', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, East Indies, China and Japan, Volume 3, 1617-1621, (London, 1870) pp. 443-450. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/east-indies-china-japan/vol3/pp443-450 [accessed 25 March 2024]

August 1621

[Aug.] 1065. List of the names of such men as were of the Council [of the Fleet of Defence] in the second Manilla voyage. Capt. Wm. Johnson, (Dutch) Admiral ; Capt. Robert Adames, Vice-Admiral ; and six Dutchmen and six English, viz., Charles Clevenger, Joseph Cockram, Edmond Lenmis, John Munden, Arnold Browne, and Mathew Morton. [One page. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 974.]
Aug. 1. 1066. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Freeman's offer of 2d. a lb. for whale fins not accepted. Davies and his contract for timber. Barrett's salary. Motion of Towerson to contract for bread now while corn bears a low price. Request of Mrs. Wickham touching the estate of her son, deceased, in the Indies, who had left a will and named Sir Thos. Smythe and Capt. Pring executors. Arguments touching the election of officers whose places are to be void yearly on 24 June and to be re-elected this day ; whether by the balloting box or otherwise ; the balloting box to be used "in all ambiguous and weighty affairs and in all gratuities above 10l." The first so elected. Robt. Bacon, secretary, Andrew Ellam and Christopher Lanman, bookkeepers, Jeremy Sambrooke and Adam Bowen, clerks in the counting-house, and John Capper, remembrancer ; their salaries and gratuities. Richard Atkinson re-elected ; his salary reduced from 150l. to 100l. per annum. Rich. Mountney's election suspended until he deliver in his account ; also John Lamprier and Walter Mountfort's. Elias Bradshawe and Giles Marshall re-elected, but at the reduced wages of 10s. per week. The porter at Blackwall to have 20l. per annum. Motion of Mr. Misselden to have a letter written by him in French to one Mr. Scott, concerning the English and Dutch Companies returned to him, utterly refused ; Misselden to be called hence, "for that there are some particulars therein that the court thinks will not be avowed." [Four pages. Court Bk. V. 31-35.]
Aug. 2/12. Gnoffiquia Machian. 1067. John Goninge and Michael Holman to the East India Company. The factories of this island Machian now settled ; there are three places of residence, Taffasolo, the principal, where John Goninge remains supervisor of the other factories ; Gnoffiquia, the more profitable, where Holman remains ; and Tabelolo, the third, where John resides, all yielding cloves. The charges of the first three months for the garrisons in said factories and forts amount to 2,300 ryals of eight. Motir, within three leagues of this island, a place of great charge and small profit. The Dutch have left 75 persons, merchants and soldiers, in Taffasolo, in Gnoffiquia 50, and 40 in Tabelolo. The abuses of the Dutch have been referred to Jacatra to be decided ; their interpretation of the 12th article of accord and of certain articles of instructions of the Council of Defence, touching the "custom, tax, and imposition" for payment of soldiers, fortifications, and other charges. The Dutch will not suffer them to have to do with the payment of the soldiers, mardykers (hired blacks to labour in the forts, &c), but compel them to pay one-third in ready money upon their (the Dutch) accounts and pay the wages themselves in commodities which they force the soldiers to take to the great profit of the Dutch. Think they ought to pay in the same way as the Dutch, or else that both should pay in ready money. Intend to deny payments until they may have the managing of the business as well as the Dutch. Desire the Company to take order expressly for these things, and send their interpretation of the aforesaid articles at large. Houtman is now governor in the Moluccas, and in what they are wronged is by his orders. [One page and a half. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 975.]
Aug. 3. 1068. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Petition of Edward Boate touching his over-sudden discharge, the wages due to him, and the loss in his estate through serving the Companies ; answered in all particulars. Gouldstone and his son, the Company's purveyors for timber, discharged. Robt. Fotherbye confirmed in his place and salary. Geo. Marshall discharged. Swanley and Hockett continued in their places and wages. Edward Seagar and John Waulker employed in the Company's storehouses, the former, "a pretty clerk and no exception to him," re-elected, the latter suspended. Robt. Washborne employed, in the Company's storehouse at the Exchange, to hold his place until Michaelmas only. Thos. Chauncey, John Blunt, Edward Withers, and Edward Lee, employed in gathering in the Company's debts, continued ; as also John Grimstone Hall, the Company's solicitor, to be employed only and paid as the Company shall need him. Boatswain Francis' wages reduced from 50l. to 30l. per annum. Sir Thos. Roe informs the Company that he had entered into communication with the Turkey Company for employment as ambassador to Constantinople ; that some of the Company had reported grudgingly of the 1,500l. given to him on his return, which he presumed he had deserved, if in nothing else, yet in the frugality of keeping their house ; also there was given him (as he understood) 200l. per annum pension, "but it seems the Company meant it not so," which was the occasion he could not pay in his adventure ; has paid in 800l. and is 300l. behind, which will be paid by Sir Henry Roe at Christmas. The Company ceasing the 200l. pension "the only thing that made him look another way ;" his offer of his adventure in the old joint stock refused ; through his intended employment and the increase of his family he will be driven to larger lodgings, desires to buy velvet hangings and Persian carpets ; these the Company bestowed upon him as a token of their good wishes, regretting they were so unhappy "as to lose the employment of so well a deserving gentleman, yet their loves should follow him." Calicoes to be sold. Sir Lawrence Hide and his adventure. Competitors for building the ship at Blackwall ; Stephens elected to build her for 400l. and to be launched at Christmas. [Four pages. Court Bk. V. 35-39.]
Aug. 5. Patani. 1069. John Jourdain to Edward Long at Siam. Begs he will credit this factory with the receipt of 1,000 ryals of eight sent to him, and send away the junk as soon as he can with provisions, that she may be here the middle of October, and so not lose her monsoon for Jacatra, for he has rice, rack, and boards and other provisions to load her with. That he will get a letter from the King of Siam for trade at Ligor, for the King of that place is desirous the English should have trade there, as he has already advised him. Christopher Bogan departed hence in the Peppercorn the eleventh of June last. [One page. Mutilated by damp. Endorsed, "Recd. 30 Aug. 1621." O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 976.]
Aug. 7. Patani. 1070. John Jourdain to Edward Long at Siam. Wrote to him two days ago by a Siam junk wherein went Nokada Secua, with his and the Netherlanders' pass. Sends 220 peculs of mild pepper for trial, which Wm. Webbe, Jourdain's second, says is worth thirtyfive ryals the bahar (?). Has divers letters for their President at Jacatra. It will be a good business to get trade with Ligor, which is under the King of Siam's protection. Has spared Thomas Spettie, the surgeon of their house, to go in this junk, but he must return again ; "entertain him as he shall carry himself." [One page and a quarter. Mutilated by damp. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 977.]
Aug. 7. Tacomy (Moluccas). 1071. Phill. Harison to Wm. Nicols, [chief] agent for the English [Molucca factories] in Malaya. Their sales have been little, but now are nothing at all, for the Dutch have brought such abundance of white cloth, which is all the commodity vendible in this place. [One third of a page. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 978.]
Aug. 8-10. 1072. Court Minutes of the East India Company. The use of the ballot box settled. The great saving now in the building of ships ; the Diamond, a ship of 60 tons less burthen cost more than double the price of the one now building ; Stephens well reported of. Names of officers recently elected, sworn. Petition of Thomas Farindon concerning timber sold to Wm. Gouldstone. The reduction in officers' wages to begin from Midsummer last. Message from the Privy Council to know when the Company will have the mayors to come over from Holland ; it was answered between 15th and 20th Sept., that they desire to be righted upon the Dutch Company by sea, and that the coming over of the mayors should be no impediment to that his Majesty's purpose ; committee to attend the Lords thereon. Drury Forward's bond to be cancelled. Complaint of John Juxon, sugar baker, about a purchase from the Company. Debts of John Holloway, Wiseman, and Robt. Hall. Claim of Rachel, widow of Samuel Squier, against the estate of Hugh Greete, jeweller, deceased. Aug. 10.-Business between Lamprier, clerk of the stores, and Younge, purser general at Blackwall. Request of Brookes, master of the Tryal. Freeman, the Company's carriage maker, desires to be their tenant at Deptford. Robinson to enter upon Marshall's place and leave his own. Request of Thos. Brighte, a factor in the Tryal, for part of his wages to be paid to John Ling of London, Salter. Note to be made of the sums due to the joint stock of the India and Muscovy Company ; Freeman's debt of 12,000l. ordered between the two Companies. Inventory or survey to be made of the Company's houses and lands. To prevent the landing of the goods at Plymouth from the ships expected out of the Indies. [Eight pages. Court Bk. V. 39-46.]
Aug. 10. 1073. Minutes of a General Court of the East India Company. Sale of commodities, with the names of purchasers and prices. [One page and a half. Court Bk. V. 47-48.]
Aug. 10. 1074. Articles in brief out of a letter John Jourdain received from Edward Longe, chief factor in Siam, wherein he certified the vile carriage of one Newrode, chief factor in Siam for the Netherlanders' Company, in reference to a Chinaman and two Japanese, prisoners in the English house, who were attempted to be rescued, and John Dodde, second factor, taken and kept prisoner ; with note by Jourdain, "Pray send this letter to our President, if this ship goeth to Jacatra." [One page. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 979.]
Aug. 10/20 and Aug. 18/28. 1075. Consultations by the Council of Defence, Fredrick Houtman, first councillor of India, governor and director over the Moluccas [President]. Touching the price at which Wm. Nicolls, agent for the English East India Company, was to sell his loose rice ; the price having been twice lowered to effect sales, viz., from 20 lbs. to Christians and 16 lbs. to the Moors for a ryal, to 24 lbs. and 20 lbs. for a ryal, which was consented to by Governor Houtman, "though something loth." [One page and a half. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 980.]
Aug. 11. St. Martin's Lane. 1076. Sec. Calvert to Sir Dudley Carleton. Sir Noel de Caron hath earnestly desired to know his Majesty's pleasure for the time when the States Commissioners should come, which his Majesty hath referred to the Council, and they have delivered their opinions that the fittest time will be about the 17th or 18th of next month. [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
Aug. 13. Hague. 1077. Sir Dudley Carleton to Sec. Calvert. The States have not hitherto nominated the deputies they intend to send to his Majesty, which they defer till the assembly of Holland the beginning of this next month ; believes they will be Gogh of Guelderland and Joachim of Zealand, both well known to his Majesty by former employments, and Muys of Holland, a plain man and very well minded. [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
Aug. 14. Patani. 1078. Robt. Hughes and John Parker to the East India Company. A cargo of goods sent from Agra to Surat robbed and spoiled by the De Cane army ; hope to obtain a full restitution. Have made some trial with the commodities of this place to Surat. All their goods sold off at Patani. Bengala silk bought and sent to Agra. Other commercial intelligence. [This document is so mutilated as to be almost unintelligible. Two pages. Endorsed, "Received by the Hart, 8 June 1622." O.C. Vol. VIII., No. 981.]
Aug. 17-23. 1079. Court Minutes of the East India Company. John Freeman's estimate for making ordnance carriages ; his offer to rent the stone wharf [at Blackwall] referred to a committee. Petition of Robt. Fraunce against his salary of 50l. being reduced to 30l. per annum ; objections against him. He voluntarily resigns his place, delivers an account of what remains in his charge. No account heretofore kept of ordnance anchors, and ordnance lent eight years since by Sir Thos. Smythe to the Bermudas Company. Harrison's account for silk bought of the Company. Boatswain Ingram's petition for increase of wages much disliked ; a resolution to dismiss him ratified. To prevent abuses on the return of ships. Concerning the sale of musk and diamonds. Aug. 22.-Committees to view the building of the ships at Blackwall and Deptford. Warrant to be drawn for the payment of 600l. to Mr. Bagg, the younger, of Plymouth. Inventories of the stores of the Bull, Bear, Defence, and Unity given to Mountney. Fotherby to be removed from Deptford to Blackwall. 5001. voted to be divided equally between Sir Dudley Diggs and Mr. Deputy for their employment into Holland ; some of the directory of the East India Company there expected daily, and the weight of the treaty must lie principally upon these two ; to summon them to a new service before the Company had acknowledged the old, would not be comely to be kept secret. Accounts of Hall, late the Company's solicitor, and Williams, a proctor of the Arches, ordered to be paid. Aug. 23.-Consideration of the state of affairs between the East India and Muscovy Company, their debts, &c. Account of the Greenland voyage to be made up. Thos. Edge to bear his proportion. Letter read from Misselden. [Thirteen pages. Court Bk. V. 48-61.]
1621 ? 1080. Memorial to the Privy Council. Information touching the Muscovy Company and the state of their trade. Demand of the Emperor of Russia about three years since, being then at war with the Poles, for a loan of 100,000 roubles from his Majesty. The East India Company commanded by the King to join with the Muscovy Company in furnishing that sum, and Sir Dudley Diggs sent ambassador with 20,000l. to capitulate with the Emperor upon the conditions and privileges. About 10,000l. with the King's letter sent to Moscow by Mr. Finch, Digg's secretary, Sir Dudley bringing back the rest. Finch commanded by the Emperor to deliver up the money without further capitulation, and licensed to depart with letters to his Majesty. His provisions cast away. Finch stays at Archangel, and the Company know not how they stand with the Emperor. The losses of the Muscovy Company, specially by the fire at their warehouses at Archangel last year. Resolution of the East India Company, at a general court, not to adventure further in that trade, and like resolution of the Muscovy Company, whereby the trade is wholly deserted. The inconveniences that must necessarily follow, and the proposed remedies. [Sir Dudley Diggs went ambassador to Muscovy in April 1618, and returned in October of the same year. See ante, No. 467 ; also Calendar Domestic State Papers, James I., 1619-1623, pp. 537, 585, 587. Two pages and a half. Domestic Corresp., Jac. I., Addenda.]
Aug. 23. Norwich. 1081. Sheriffs of Norwich to the Privy Council. Samuel Turner, condemned for horse stealing, reprieved "from execution of law," and delivered to Sir Thos. Smythe, governor of the East India Company, to be conveyed beyond the seas, with a proviso that if he should refuse to go, or should afterwards return without warrant, his reprieve to be of no force. He has returned without any warrant, and has since been indiated, and adjudged to death for horse stealing. Crave their Lordships' directions. [Domestic Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXXII., No. 85, Cal., p. 284.]
Aug. 24. Hague. 1082. Sir Dudley Carleton to Sec. Calvert. The States Commissioners will be in readiness to find his Majesty in England by the time the Lords of the Council have advised as fittest for their coming. Will do his endeavours to have them sent instructed and authorized touching a common standard and valuation of moneys with their other affairs. [Extract from Holland Corresp.]
Aug. 27. Masulipatam. 1083. Mathew Duke to the East India Company. The Globe, after some few days' stay at Pulicat and landing her merchants there, arrived in Masulipatam Road 15th June, without staying at Pettapoli. Narrow escape of the loss of his vessel in going from Pettapoli to Masulipatam. The Globe sailed immediately after his departure, and yesterday, the 26th, before he got on shore was quite out of sight ; hopes she will have a speedy voyage to Jacatra. Methwold has thought good to dissolve the factory of Pettapoli ; if he might have persuaded, it should have remained another year, till better experience had been had of Pulicat. Account of sales and the state of the factory when he left Pettapoli ; the porcelain unsold which with some lead was left in charge of Richard Smith, but not to sell unless for ready money. Has been four years tied to tedious accounts, and although he has earnestly requested to be freed therefrom, is by Methwold again appointed accountant and cashier in Masulipatam ; complains of the uneven moneys which breed intolerable fractions not fitting merchants' accounts. Would rather serve otherwise without wages than with double wages be tied to these intricate accounts. Encloses,
1083. I. Abstract of invoice of goods sent to Jacatra aboard the Globe, John Roe master. [Together six pages. O.C., Vol. VIII., No. 983.]
Aug. 28. 1084. Wm. Chesterman to Sir Edw. Conway. An English fleet preparing for sea to meet with the Hollanders coming from the East Indies ; the news has caused the States to prepare commissioners to be presently sent over to treat of the satisfaction to be given to our East India Company. [Extract from Domestic Corresp., Jac. I., Vol. CXXII., No. 94, Cal., p. 285.]
[1621. Aug. 28.] 1085. Names of the ships and frigates maintained by the Company of the Netherlanders at the siege of Bantam to this present, 28 August 1621. [Three quarters of a page. O.C., Vol. VII., No. 947.]
Aug. 29-31. 1086. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Walter Mountford, kinsman of Mountney, blamed for not coming to the court ; his accounts questioned. On the request of Mr. Deputy, 300l. out of the gratuity of 500l. ordered to be equally divided between Sir Dudley Diggs and himself for their pains taken in their journey to Amsterdam as commissioners for the Company, for which he gave thanks, was given to Sir Dudley Diggs, the other 200l. to himself. Mr. Governor received his charge of secrecy in this particular. Sir W. Russell's debt to the Muscovy Company. Thos. Parker's complaint against Walter Mountfort. John Blunt and his family to lodge in the East India House. The porter to have 20l. per ann. wages ; the like to the porter of Crosby House. Misselden requested to attend a court. Complaint against the sailmakers ; Pruson arrested. Request of Ann, widow of John Taylor, of Finchamstead [co. Berks], touching the delivery of oak timber at 20s. 6d. and 21s. the load. Timothy Watson relieved. 2,000 trenails lent to Sir Ferdinando Gorges, captain of H.M. castle at Plymouth. Aug. 31.-Offer of Pampillion to buy the Company's diamonds. Conference with Misselden about a letter written to him out of Holland, containing "matter much importing the Company," with the Dutch. Difference between Walter Mountford and Thos. Parker, touching an assault. Mountford's account ; Lanman to satisfy the court thereupon. Ten tons of white wines to be bought. Hugh Catlin to be made an example for taking imprest and running away. [Eleven pages. Court Bk. V. 61-73.]