Transactions - vol. 1: 1611

1611

16. 1 Jan. 1611. Award by Trinity House

By agreement of both parties, the dispute between John Davies, merchant, owner of the Abigall of Southampton, and Roger Newse and other mariners concerning wages for a voyage to Guinea was referred to Trinity House for settlement. The award is that the master, pilot and certain other members of the crew failed to do their utmost, contrary to the charter party dated 14 July 1610. Some mariners behaved in a factious and mutinous manner and no wages are due to them. They deserve a punishment greater than loss of wages, which is the only penalty which Trinity House can inflict upon them. Those who should lose their wages are Roger Newes, master, Thomas Adyson, pilot, John Adyson, master's mate, Matthew Sicklemore, boatswain, Thomas Mychenson [sic], Roger Stone, gunner, Henry King, Abraham Smith, Lawrence Teage, gunner's mate, and Thomas Mychenson [sic]. The rest of the crew should be paid. Hugh Merret, William Jurden, William Hare, Matthew Woodcott, Robert Rickman, Richard Chester, Thomas Best, William Jones.

17. [f.9. ? 8 × 28 Feb. 1610] Statement of wages [See 18–20.]

The monthly wages due for a voyage begun on 1 Jan. 1609 and ended at 'Candlemas last' [2 Feb. 1610]: Captain Holland, £10; John Anthony, £2 10s; Mr Cradle, £2 10s; Francis Warren, carpenter, £1 10s; Robert Morrey, surgeon, £3; Humphrey Crosser, boatswain, £1 6s; the gunner, £1; William Foster, £1; Peter Johnson, £1; the cooper, £1 5s; the boatswain's mate, £1; Andrew Tewell, 18s; Roger Stiles, steward, £1; the cook, £1; the cook's mate, 15s; Robert Parker, 15s; John Stricktson, 15s; William Downing, 15s; John the Indian, 15s; Rowland [blank], 15s; [total] £33 9s.

Monthly wages for the crew of the pinnace: the master, £2 10s; the mate, £2; the boatswain, £1; the gunner, £1; John Harper, £1; the carpenter, 18s; John of 'Sylly' [? Scilly Isles], £1; 'Pont' Shaner, 15s; [total] £10 13s [recte £10 3s].

18. [26 × 28 Feb. 1610] Sir Daniel Dun, admiralty court judge, to the privy council [See 17, 19–20.]

Captain Robert Holland of Dartmouth has complained that mariners and others are unpaid for a voyage to America because of his dispute with Captain Robert Harecourt. He was required to secure the assistance of Trinity House and either to settle the dispute or to [f.9v] express an opinion. He and Dr Treaver, admiralty court judges, obtained the help of Hugh Mearicke, master, and some of the most ancient members of Trinity House. They conclude that Holland hired the crew upon the instructions of Harecourt and that Harecourt agreed in writing to pay £46 10s a month in wages as from last Jan. 12-month. Harecourt has alleged that the greater part of the crew relinquished their claim upon him for wages in exchange for his bond to pay them upon a specified day; and that no account need be taken of Holland because he had been paid £50 beforehand and had taken the ship to a port other than that specified. Harecourt agreed to give a bond of £600 on or before the 12th of this month of February as surety for lodging £400 in the admiralty court on 1 March for the payment of wages. He also agreed that the remainder of the dispute concerning Holland's own allowance should be referred to Trinity House for examination and for a report by last Sunday, 25 Feb. Trinity House have reported that £43 a month is due to Holland and the mariners. Holland is content to accept this and to pay the mariners. There is no reason why this settlement should not be implemented, especially since Harecourt has neglected to give sureties contrary to his agreement. The mariners clamour for their wages. Holland insists, contrary to the allegation of Harecourt, that the voyage was well performed. Further proceedings are stayed, pending the instructions of the privy council. Hugh Merret, master; William Bygate, William Joanes, Robert Kytchen.

19. [f.10] (fn. 1) June 1611. Trinity House to Sir Thomas Fleming and other justices of king's bench

On Monday [27 May] the court referred the dispute [18] to them, the master and 4 ancients of Trinity House, for settlement or an opinion by the Saturday after the 'xviii of St Trinity' [? 8 June]. On Wednesday 29 May 2 men came on behalf of Harecourt to choose 4 brethren to hear the case and Holland accepted their selection. A day was appointed but Harecourt failed to appear and thrice subsequently although Holland did appear. That Harecourt is deliberately delaying proceedings appears to be confirmed by the fact that when the privy council referred the case on about 8 Feb. 1610 to Sir Daniel Don, admiralty court judge, and Trinity House, no settlement could be reached because of Harecourt's default. Holland has a copy of the certificate then given [18].

20. [f.10v] 11 June 1611. Trinity House to the same [See 17–19.]

[On 8 June] the court sought the views of the writers by next Wednesday, the last day of term, according to their former order. Today Holland and 2 gentlemen on behalf of Harecourt appeared but the case is difficult and more time is needed. Both parties were asked to enter bonds to accept the award of Trinity House, but while Holland was prepared to do so, Harecourt's representatives deferred presumably to gain time.

Robert Ryckman, master; William Wye, warden; William Bygate, Matthew Woodcott, William Jurden, Thomas Milton.

21. 15 June 1611. Certificate by Trinity House

In view of a patent dated 25 June 1571 for the confirmation of an act of parliament (fn. 2) concerning malmesies and other sweet wines of the Levant landed at Southampton, Robert Chambers of Southampton has asked what is the westernmost part of the Levant Sea. Their opinion is that it is the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar, anciently called the 'Straites of Marocke'. It extends eastwards to all gulfs, ports and places in the 'middle earth sea'.

Robert Rickman, master; William Wye, John Osborne, wardens; Ro. Kytchen, Thomas Norres, wardens' deputies; William Bygate, Peter Hills, Thomas Milton, Jo. Vassal, William Hare, Hugh Merrit, assistants; Thomas Best, assistants' deputy; Nicholas Diggons, William Jurden, Richard Chester, Matthew Woodcot, William Goodlard, Robert Bradshewe, John King.

22. [f. 11] 17 July 1611. Trinity House to the East India company

The company sought their opinion on the wages due to the crew of the Union. Those who died on the outward or homeward voyage up to her arrival on 'our' coast should be paid up to the date of their death because they had done their best, the ship was laden, and she might still have reached home. Those who left the ship near the coast when she was in distress, taking money and goods of great value 'towards their satisfaction though not to the full', deserve no wages unless the company decide to have compassion upon them. Those who remained in the ship until she came ashore should be paid because they did their utmost, even though it was insufficient. Moreover it was not they who put the ship ashore. The French found her at sea in distress, pillaged her, and cast her away. The king of France has compensated the merchants.

Ro. Ryckman, master; John Osborne, William Wye, wardens; Robert Kytchen, Thomas Norres, deputies; William Jones, W. Bygate, Hugh Meret, Thomas Milton, Nicholas Dygens, John Vassall, Matthew Woodcott, William Jurdaine, Thomas Best, William Ivie, Robert Bradshew, John King.

23. [ff.l lv–13] 24 and 26 Oct. 1611. Depositions and evidence relating to Henry Hudson's voyage in search of the Northwest Passage, and the opinion of Trinity House [Printed in Historical Manuscripts Commission, 8th Report, Appendix, i.236–7, but omitting details of the crew: (a) Turned adrift with Henry Hudson on 23 June: John Hudson, his son, Arnold Ladley, John King, quartermaster, Michael Butt 'married', Thomas Woodhowse, a mathematician who was in deep distress when turned away, Adam Moore, Philip Staff, carpenter, Cyriack Fanner 'married'. (b) Died: John Williams (on 9 Oct.), Ivet (on the voyage home). (c) Killed: Henry Greene, William Wilson, John Thomas, Michael Peerce. (d) Returned home: Robert Billet, master, Abecocke Pricket, a landsman put in by the adventurers, Edward Wilson, surgeon, Francis Clemens, boatswain, Adrian Motter, Bennet Mathues, a landsman, Nicholas Syms, boy, Silas Bond, cooper. For Pricket's account of the voyage, see Henry Hudson the navigator, ed. G. M. Asher (Hakluyt Society, 1860).]

24. [f.13v] 1611. Trinity House to lord Elsmore, lord chancellor

Thomasin Nelme, the petitioner, and her neighbours at Poplar have asked for a certificate of the misfortunes of her husband, William. He was master of a ship of 'Apsam' [? Topsham] in Devon which was unjustly arrested and taken by the Turks of Algiers while lying at anchor within the Straits at Cape Gata, not far from 'Cape Paule' [? Cape Palos]. He was thrown into prison, where he remains, the ship and her goods detained, and the crew enslaved in the galleys. Unless a ransom of £200 is paid, the crew are likely to perish, as will Nelme's wife and 5 small children, for want of sustenance.