|
| Dec. 3.–16. |
386. Court Minutes of the East India Company. Committee to prepare a pinnace to go this voyage. Gresham Howgan admitted an adventurer under Thos. Styles. Robt. More, gunner, and Roger Booth, gunner’s mate, hired for the voyage. Geo. Sheather to give his answer on Monday next whether he will go surgeon’s mate. |
|
Dec. 4.—A pinnace of 80 tons to be appraised and purchased if approved. Geo. Sheather, esteemed insufficient, is dismissed. Mr. Brooke, kinsman to Sir Thos. Lowe’s wife, recommended as a factor, being skilful in the Spanish and Italian tongues, and a traveller. Shirts and shoes necessary for the voyage, to be provided. |
|
Dec. 7.—Richard Rowles agreed with to go as Cape merchant, or next under in this voyage; his allowance. Touching a pinnance. Four factors chosen. Wm. Revett and Geoffrey Carlille to go in the first ship; John Jourdain and Phillip Glascocke in the second; their allowance; to give in their answers to–morrow. Names of factors and pursers to be agreed with if occasion so fall out. Discourse of Mr. Cumber, who had been as surgeon with the Netherlander at Bantam. The Dutch preparing 15 vessels to be ready to sail by 1st Jan. next for Malacca, to help their distressed ships, where they intend to stay one month and intercept the Portuguese junks. Hope of good lading for ships going to Bantam before them. The Dutch had discovered to him all their places of rendezvous. Complaint against Phillip Grove and Edmond Scott, that they had not informed the Company how he told them of certain spices before the Hollanders; Cumber’s punishment. 25l he had of Sir Wm. Romney for maps and instructions given last year. Advises the Company not to send a pinnace but two shallops; small hope of trade at Cambaya because of the Portuguese, who command the waters there, and the people there cannot be trusted. Intends to go for Mozambique, where he knows there is good hope of trade. Will shortly go to the Low Countries, where he will be ready to do the Company any service; but they conceived he had already instructed them as largely as he can, the instructions having been given to the generals of the last ships before their departure. |
|
Dec. 9.—A shallop of 18 tons to be prepared for the voyage and not a pinnace, by advice of Sir Jas. Lancaster and Mr. Burrell. Richard Rowles, examined by Sir Jas. Lancaster as to his fitness, appointed to go as chief man in the second ship; his half–pay to begin from this day. Rowles and others to take certain young men offered to the Company to be trained for future service. |
|
Dec. 12.—Richard Kenn to go purser at 20l. per annum, and continue in the Company’s service five years if they please. Rich. Wickham, elected factor in place of Phil. Glascocke. Agreement for making a shallop for 53l. Inquiry for a preacher. Candidates for surgeon’s mate. Mr. Rowles to look for a surgeon. Gunner’s room in the Ascension. Lawrence Femell cannot go as general this voyage. A court to be summoned for choice of “a chief man” to go the voyage. |
|
Dec. 15.—Concerning the election of “a chief man.” Mr. Sharpie to be made acquainted with Rowles’ agreement; the Company willing to do the like with Sharpie, who is to give his answer to–morrow. Sam. Broadshawe engaged for the Company’s service at home or abroad, as they see fit, at 16l. per annum. Daniel Burrell, at his own earnest solicitation and with his father’s consent, to be allowed to go the voyage “as a voluntary man” without wages, all places fit for him being already supplied; he is to adventure 200l. in the general stock, but abstain from private trade, and to have on his return, by way of gift, a piece of plate of the value of 20l. Tristram Eldred, for his loose dealing with the Company, to give in his accounts, and deliver up the remainder of the stores in his custody. Committee appointed to consider and draw out the commissions and letters as well from His Majesty as from the Company. Harsh proceedings of Grove; design of supplying his place. To consider of some fit course for drawing the ships on land to be free from danger of the ice. |
|
Dec. 16.—Mr. Sharpie to be hired as chief man to go the voyage; the wages to be offered him not to exceed 10l. per month, and 50l. for his provision to sea. [Ten pages. Court Bk. II., 63–68.] |
Dec. 16.
Bantam. |
387. Gabriel Towerson to the East India Company. Gave an account in his last of 4th October of the state of “our business,” of all cloth sold, debts owing, and pepper in store. Captain David Middleton arrived with the Consent of London on 14th November, now gone to the Moluccas and Banda, taking with him Henry Sydall and Augustin Spalding, interpreter for Bantam. Account of goods discharged at Bantam by Capt. Middleton. Arrival of the Dutch Admiral Mataliphe, who seized a Chinese junk for trading at Tornatta [Ternate ?] with the Spaniards, and took the pilot with him on his voyage. Places visited by the Hollanders on the coast of China; at Maccan [?Macao] six great caracks “fitted to fight” obliged the Hollanders to flee; at Canton they sent ashore their Chinese pilot, with letters to entreat trade, but were forced to run again and leave their messenger behind, being pursued and beaten from the coast by the Portugals. Further proceedings of the Dutch; great danger of the sinking of a pinnace built in the bay of St. Lucia where the carack of Admiral Warwick was fain to seek for succour. “Threats and brags” of the Hollanders, if Captain David Middleton offered any succour to the Spaniards; the captain’s answer. Arrival of 16 men of Siam, sent by the King on an embassy to the King of Holland; the admiral gave them very little countenance, being angry with the merchant that brought them; doubtful whether he will take them to Holland or send them back again. The Gilderland of Holland and other vessels arrived, visited Marotta between the main and Madagascar, took a small ship of Mocha, and sailed to Calicut, where they went ashore to request the King that they might trade with his people, which was granted on condition they should help him in his wars; this the Flemings refused to do, but gave him good words and a present and departed. A Portugal ship chased ashore by the Hollanders and all the company drowned but two or three. The Portugals have a strong fort at Corracoreen [?Tuticorin], lying in 8 deg. [Two pages and a half, injured by damp. Indorsed, "Received 14 Sept., 1608." Read 19 Sept., see No. 418. O. C, Vol. I, No. 2.] |
| Dec. 23. |
388. Court Minutes of the East India Company. For payment of 300l. to Sir Jas. Lancaster and 200l. to Sir John Watts out of Mr. Alabaster’s account. Paul Bannyng’s accounts. Mr. Chambers’ debt; his request to have it defalcated out of the fifth division denied. Committees appointed to confer about sending any letters or instructions to those employed in the East Indies by the adventurers of the third voyage. 50l. to be paid to Hugh Hamersley, the purchaser of the share of Thos. Tried, deceased. Lumber to be sold and payment made to John Gee, on account of John Rodrigoe, deceased. About Mr. Bramley’s adventure and Agnes Smyth; to whom the money should be paid. Gratuities to be equally borne by the adventurers in the first three voyages. The remainder of the spices to be sold. [Two pages and a half. Court Bk., II., 68–69.] |
| Dec. 28. |
389. Licence for the Governor and Company of East India Merchants to transport out of the realm all such foreign coin as they have procured or shall procure from beyond the seas, not exceeding the value of 20,000l., without new coining or altering the stamp; to be employed in their intended fourth voyage to the East Indies. [Docquet. Domestic, Jac. I, Cal, p. 391.] |
1607. Dec. 31./1608. Jan. 10.
Madrid. |
390. John Jude to Thos. Wilson. Fourteen or fifteen ships preparing at Lisbon to go next spring to the East Indies, with purpose to repair the losses received there by the Hollanders, and the hope of utterly rooting them out of those parts. [Extract from Correspondence, Spain.] |
1607?
“From our
Royal Court.” |
391. “King Abbas [of Persia], the servant of the King of Kings,” to the King of England. After the usual eastern compliments, “leaving aside your greatness,” the King gives His Majesty to understand that as they are equals, their friendships ought to be united as one. Certain religious men, sent from some of the great Christian potentates for the stronger confirmation of the King’s brotherhood, have arrived in safety, and been willingly heard. The King thought of sending one of his own subjects to answer the Christian Princes; but having great confidence in Robert Sherley, “to us most dear and beloved,” who has been many years in the King’s service, he is sent to all the Christian Princes, “because he understands our state, kingdom, and what we desire.” Is ready with a potent army to assault the Turk, “to the end he might be wholly ruinated,” and is determined to blot out his name, “so shall the Christians and our confines be united, and as neighbours grow strong in friendship.” Commendations of Sherley; prays His Majesty to honour and favour him for the writer’s sake. Desires confidential ministers may pass between the two kingdoms to confirm and establish their friendship, and give news one to the other. If there is anything in the Persian kingdom serviceable to His Majesty he is to command it freely. “From our Royal Court, in the month of Rammizan (sic), in the year of our great Prophet Mahomet a thousand and nineteen.” [English translation. Royal Letters, Turkey and Persia, 1st series, p.171. Printed in “The Sherley Brothers,” for the Roxburghe Club, pp. 60, 61. Indorsed, "i. e., A. D. 1607. The King of Persia’s letter to His Majesty, in English. Presented at Hampton Court the 1st of Oct. 1611, by Mr. Robert Sherley, ambassr. from that King to His Majesty."] |
| 1607? |
392. King Abbas [of Persia] to Lord Treasurer Salisbury. In favour of Capt. Powell, who has been long in the Persian dominions and understands much of the King’s state and forces, having been in the company of Robt. Sherley and done great service in all the King’s actions, sieges, and battles against the Turks. Capt. Powell, who returns with Robt. Sherley, “Our Ambassador to all Christian Princes,” can satisfy all demands, and tell how much the King of Persia loves and respects Christianity, and especially the English nation, and how desirous the King is for Christians to frequent his dominions. Desires that ministers of confidence may pass to and fro to strengthen the love and friendship between the two Kings. [Orig. in Persian. Royal letters, Turkey and Persia 1st series, pp. 170, 172. Indorsed, “Letter of the King of Persia to my Lo. Treasurer in behalf of Captain Powel. Rd. 1st of Oct. 1611,” with an English translation. See "The Sherley Brothers," p. 61.] |
