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A  CALENDAR  OF 

THE  COURT  MINUTES 

ETC.  OF  THE 

EAST  INDIA  COMPANY 

BY 

ETHEL  BRUCE  SAINSBURY 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES  BY 

WILLIAM   FOSTER 


PUBLISHED  UNDER  THE  PATRONAGE  OF  HIS  MAJESTY'S 
SECRETARY  OF  STATE  FOR  INDIA  IN  COUNCIL 


^3^ 


i^y(Q\ 


OXFORD 

AT  THE   CLARENDON   PRESS 

1912 


HENRY   FROWDE 

PUBLISHER   TO   THE   UNIVERSITY   OF   OXFORD 

LONDON,   EDINBURGH,  NEW  YORK 

TORONTO  AND   MELBOURNE 


INTRODUCTION 

'  These  are  our  hopes  and  desires,  and  wee  wish  wee  may  not 
come  short  in  any  of  them.  Yet  wee  are  fearfull  how  far  wee  shall 
be  able  to  performe  in  this  troublesome  tymes,  when  all  trade  and 
commerce  in  this  kingdome  is  almost  fallen  to  the  ground  through 
our  owne  unhappie  divisions  at  home,  unto  which  the  Lord  in 
mercie  put  a  good  end.  And  as  the  badnesse  of  trade  and  scarsity 
of  monyes  are  here,  so  is  all  Europe  in  little  better  condition,  but 
in  a  turmoyle,  either  forraighne  or  domestique  warr,  by  which 
meanes  monies  are  not  procurable  as  formerly.'  Thus  wrote  the 
Company  to  Surat  in  November,  1643,  when  speaking  of  their 
plans  for  the  following  spring ;  and  their  words  form  an  apt 
reminder  of  the  trouble  experienced  in  carrying  on  the  trade  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  period  covered  by  the  present  volume.  Civil 
strife,  with  its  concomitants  of  stoppage  of  communications, 
diminished  sales,  heavy  taxation,  increased  risks  at  sea,  and  general 
insecurity,  placed  almost  insuperable  difficulties  in  the  Company's 
path ;  and  further,  many  rich  merchants  who  had  been  prominent 
supporters  of  the  trade — such  as  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  and  Sir  Henry 
Garvvay — had  taken  the  King's  side  and  had  been  in  consequence 
proscribed  by  the  Parliament  Still,  the  more  resolute  spirits,  ably 
led  by  the  Governor,  William  Cokayne,  and  the  Deputy,  William 
Methwold  (formerly  President  at  Surat),  struggled  bravely  on, 
hoping  for  better  times — a  hope  that  was  not  realized  until  the 
restoration  of  the  monarchy  brought  about  a  general  tranquillity 
and  restored  public  confidence. 

At  the  beginning  of  1644  two  stocks  were  running  side  by  side, 
namely  (i)  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  which  had  been  started  in  1642 
and  possessed  a  nominal  capital  of  about  105,000/.,  on  w'hich  no 
dividend  had  yet  been  declared  ;  ^  and  (2)  the  First  General  Voyage, 

'  The  original  subscribers  had,  however,  been  credited  with  20  per  cent,  more  capital 
than  they  had  actnally  paid  in  (see  the  last  volume,  p.  xxvi).  This  represented  the 
estimated  increased  value  of  the  stock. 

a  2 


iv  COURT   MINUTES 

which  dated  from  1641,  when  an  equal  amount  was  subscribed.* 
A  Joint  Stock,  it  may  be  explained,  was  the  Company's  ordinary 
method  of  trading.  Its  operations  were  usually  spread  over  several 
years  ;  fresh  capital  might  be  raised  at  the  option  of  a  majority  of 
the  adventurers  ;  and  there  was  no  limit  to  the  time  the  Stock 
might  run.  A  '  Voyage ',  on  the  other  hand,  was  a  subscription  for 
the  investment  of  a  definite  sum,  the  proceeds  of  which  were  to  be 
realized  and  distributed  as  quickly  as  possible.  The  latter  was 
thus  the  form  more  in  favour  with  those  who  wished  to  avoid  heavy 
or  prolonged  commitments  ;  and  it  was  a  device  generally  resorted 
to  when  the  raising  of  a  fresh  Joint  Stock  was  seen  to  be  out  of  the 
question.  Most  of  the  smaller  ventures  gave  lucrative  returns  ;  and 
the  First  General  Voyage  had  already  distributed  amongst  its 
members  goods  to  the  value  of  their  principal  plus  twenty-five  per 
cent.  Both  of  the  current  stocks  were  managed  by  the  ordinary 
Committees  of  the  Company,  reinforced,  when  matters  of  impor- 
tance relating  to  the  First  General  Voyage  had  to  be  decided,  by 
eight  special  representatives  of  that  stock,  known  as  the  *  Mixed 
Committees ' ;  while  any  dispute  between  the  two  bodies  of  adven- 
turers was  referred  to  a  body  composed  of  the '  Mixed  Committees ' 
and  eight  men  specially  selected  from  those  who  had  subscribed  to 
both  stocks.  *A  Court  of  Committees,'  when  used  without  qualifica- 
tion as  a  heading  in  the  present  volume,  refers  always  to  the  Com- 
mittees of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock. 

In  addition  to  heavy  indebtedness  at  their  East  Indian  settle- 
ments, two  special  troubles,  both  the  outcome  of  the  Civil  War, 
weighed  upon  the  Company  at  this  time.  One  was  the  debt  of  over 
50,000/.  due  from  the  royal  treasury  for  the  pepper  bought  by  the 
King  in  1640,  as  described  in  the  last  volume.  The  non-payment  of 
so  large  an  amount  was  a  serious  embarrassment,  and  some  of  the 
members  were  inclined  to  blame  the  directorate  and  to  refuse  to 
adventure  further  until  something  was  done  (p.  2).  As  will  be 
seen,  efforts  were  made  from  time  to  time  to  recover  part  of  the 
amount  from  the  various  sureties ;  but  those  of  the  latter  who  were 

1  On  p.  293  the  capital  is  stated  at  104,537/.  i°^-  1°  <^-  ^-  '79^  the  round  figure 
of  105,000/.  is  given.  It  is  perhaps  worth  noting  that  an  alphabetical  list  of  the  157 
adventurers  in  this  Voyage  will  be  found  in  vol.  A  79  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Committee 
for  Advance  of  Money  {Public  Record  Office).    See  Mrs.  Green's  calendar,  part  i,  p.  25. 


INTRODUCTION  v 

still  within  reach  were  hard  hit  themselves  and  unable  to  meet  the 
liability.  In  the  Minutes  for  1649  details  will  be  found  of  an  attempt 
to  obtain  part  of  the  money  by  arresting  one  of  the  bondsmen,  viz. 
James  Maxwell,  Earl  of  Dirletoun;  but  this  measure  was  only 
moderately  successful. 

The  other  difficulty  was  a  more  general  one,  namely,  how  to  pre- 
serve the  Company's  monopoly  now  that  a  royal  charter  had  ceased 
to  possess  its  former  validity.  Not  only  was  Courteen's  Associa- 
tion actively  pursuing  its  rivalry  with  the  older  body,  but  others 
were  encouraged  to  plan  incursions  into  the  field.  Moreover,  in 
the  general  loosening  of  the  bonds  of  authority,  private  trade  by 
the  Company's  servants  had  largely  increased,  with  the  result  that 
the  illicit  importations  of  indigo  and  calicoes  seriously  affected 
current  prices.  Even  while  the  King  was  still  at  Westminster,  the 
confirmation  by  Parliament  of  the  Company's  privileges  was 
urgently  desired  (see  the  preceding  volume,  p.  115,  &c.) ;  and  at 
the  beginning  of  1644  we  find  the  Committees  anxious  to  obtain 
from  the  two  Houses  an  'ordinance'  which  should  at  all  events 
give  them  back  temporarily  their  old  control  of  the  commerce. 
As  we  have  seen,  such  an  enactment,  '  for  the  upholding  of  the 
trade  and  settling  the  government  of  the  Fellowship  of  Merchants 
of  London  Trading  to  the  East  Indies '  had  been  read  a  first  time 
in  the  Commons  on  November  22,  1643.  It  passed  the  second 
reading  and  was  referred  to  Committee  on  the  loth  of  the  following 
February;  and  when  the  annual  fleet  was  under  dispatch  the 
Company  were  hopeful  of  an  early  settlement  of  this  important 
question.  Progress  seems,  however,  to  have  been  much  delayed  by 
the  fact  that  the  ordinance  included  clauses  dealing  with  Courteen's 
claims,  and  agreement  on  these  was  not  easily  to  be  attained. 
There  are  several  references  to  the  consequent  negotiations  in  the 
Minutes  for  February  and  March,  1644. 

The  Company's  fleet  for  1644  consisted  of  four  vessels,  of  which 
two — the  William  and  the  Blessing — were  destined  for  Bantam, 
while  the  other  two — the  Crispiana  and  the  John — were  to  go  to 
Surat,  the  former  direct,  and  the  latter  after  a  preliminary  visit  to 
the  Malabar  Coast.  The  Crispiana  and  John  carried  between  them 
goods  and  money  to  the  value  of  nearly  55,000/.  In  company  with 
the  Blessings  they  sailed  from  the  Downs  on  April  7,  1644 ;  but 


vi  COURT  MINUTES 

the  William  was  forced  to  wait  for  some  rials  expected  from 
abroad,  and  did  not  get  away  until  June.  In  counting  the  vessels 
dispatched  during  this  season  by  the  East  India  Company,  we 
ought  also  to  reckon  the  Endeavour,  which  had  started  for  the 
Coromandel  Coast  at  the  end  of  November,  1643.  All  these  ships 
were  sent  out  on  behalf  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock. 

The  mention  on  p.  25  of  Captain  Bond's  intended  expedition  to 
Madagascar,  and  a  further  notice  on  p.  195,  recall  the  references 
made  in  two  previous  volumes  to  schemes  for  establishing  a  colony 
in  that  island.  From  a  letter  addressed  by  the  Company  to  Surat 
in  March,  1644  {Factory  Records,  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xii,  p.  117),  it 
appears  that,  in  addition  to  their  own  fleet,  five  ships  were  then 
preparing  to  start  for  the  East,  two  of  which — the  Thomas  and  John 
and  the  Loyalty — were  being  sent  by  Courteen  for  trading  purposes, 
while  the  other  three — the  Sun,  the  Hester,  and  the  James — were 
said  to  be  going  under  Bond's  command  '  to  erect  a  new  common- 
wealth in  Madagascar',  also  under  the  auspices  of  Courteen  and 
his  associates.  This  information  was  not  entirely  correct,  for  Bond 
does  not  seem  to  have  started  at  all.  The  fleet,  however,  carried 
out  men,  women,  and  children  to  the  number  of  140,  and  left  them 
at  St.  Augustine's  Bay  in  March,  1645,  under  John  Smart  as 
Governor.  A  settlement  was  formed,  but  the  island  proved  to  be 
very  far  from  the  Paradise  it  had  been  pictured  ;  and,  after  enduring 
many  hardships  and  losing  eighty  of  their  number,  the  settlers 
abandoned  the  attempt  and  sailed  for  the  Comoros  in  May,  1646.' 

In  June,  1644,  the  Mary  reached  England  from  Bantam  with 
a  cargo  of  pepper ;  but  the  market  proved  so  bad  that  a  large 
proportion  had  to  be  shipped  to  Italy  for  sale  there.  On  the  1 2th 
of  the  following  month  a  further  dividend  of  1 2  per  cent,  (in  indigo 
or  money)  was  declared  upon  the  First  General  Voyage.  The 
Mary  was  then  ordered  to  be  repaired  for  a  further  voyage  to 
Bantam.  Meanwhile,  three  new  vessels — a  ship  of  400  tons  and 
two  small  pinnaces  for  service  in  the  East — had  been  put  in  hand, 
the  Court  having  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  it  was  cheaper  after 
all  to  build  than  to  hire.  The  rest  of  the  year  furnishes  nothing 
calling  for  special  notice,  except,  perhaps,  the  rumour  mentioned 

*  See  0.  C.  1993  and  the  journal  of  the  Antelope  in  Marine  Records,  Miscellaneous, 
vol.  iv  ;  also  Brit.  Mus.  Addl.  MSS.,  no.  14037. 


INTRODUCTION  vii 

on  p.  49  that  five  or  six  ships  were  being  prepared  by  private  men 
for  dispatch  to  India ;  whereupon  representations  were  made  to 
Parliament  on  the  subject,  in  the  hope  that  the  long-pending 
ordinance  would  be  passed.  But  the  House  of  Commons  was 
occupied  with  affairs  of  far  more  pressing  importance. 

Towards  the  end  of  January,  1645,  came  the  startling  news  that 
the  John,  which  ought  some  months  before  to  have  reached  Surat, 
had  turned  back  from  Johanna  (one  of  the  Comoro  islands)  and 
had  gone  into  Bristol,  where  her  commander,  John  Mucknell,  had 
handed  her  over  to  the  royalist  authorities.  The  story,  as  related 
by  one  of  those  on  board,  is  given  on  p.  71  ;  and  numerous  other 
documents  bearing  on  the  subject  will  be  found  in  the  Original 
Correspondence.  Mucknell  is  alleged  to  have  boasted  afterwards 
that  he  had  planned  this  act  of  treachery  before  he  started  from 
England  ;  but  it  seems  probable  that  he  would  never  have  attempted 
to  carry  it  out,  had  it  not  been  for  the  strained  relations  that 
developed  during  the  voyage  between  him  and  Edward  Knipe,  the 
chief  factor  on  board,  with  the  result  that  Mucknell  had  reason 
to  fear  that  he  would  be  removed  from  his  post  on  arrival  at 
Surat.  Thus  nerved  to  a  desperate  resolve  he,  under  pretence  of 
a  reconciliation,  invited  all  the  merchants  and  chief  officers  to 
a  dinner  on  shore  at  Johanna ;  then,  slipping  on  board  alone,  he 
harangued  the  crew,  imploring  them  to  stand  by  him  and  carry  the 
ship  back  to  England  for  the  purpose  of  handing  her  over  to 
King  Charles.  To  this  the  bulk  of  the  men  agreed,  while  the  rest 
were  intimidated  into  acquiescence.  The  vessel's  sails  were  at  once 
shaken  out,  and  the  diners  on  shore  arrived  at  the  beach  just  in 
time  to  see  her  depart.  The  English  coast  was  reached  in  the 
middle  of  January,  1645,  and  the  John  was  taken  into  Bristol,  then 
being  besieged  by  the  Parliamentary  forces.  The  factors  and  others 
left  on  shore  at  Johanna  remained  there  until  the  arrival,  nearly 
a  month  later,  of  one  of  Courteen's  ships,  bound  for  the  West 
Coast  of  India.  In  this  they  embarked,  but  on  coming  across 
a  Dutch  vessel  from  Mokha  making  for  Surat  they  transferred  them- 
selves to  her,  and  reached  Swally  towards  the  end  of  January,  1645. 

The  direct  loss  caused  to  the  Company  by  Mucknell's  action 
(apart  from  the  damage  to  its  interests  in  India)  is  variously  given 
as  13,115/.  (p.  66)  and  2o,coc/.  (p.  96),  the  latter  figure  probably 


viii  COURT    MINUTES 

including  the  ship  as  well,  while  the  former  is  stated  to  be  merely 
the  value  of  the  cargo.  From  this  some  deduction  must  be  made 
on  account  of  the  coral  which  formed  part  of  her  lading.  This, 
being  absolutely  unvendible  in  Bristol,  was  found  untouched  when 
the  city  was  stormed  by  Fairfax's  troops  on  September  lo,  1645, 
and  after  some  delay  it  was  recovered  by  the  Company,  on  payment 
of  part  of  the  value  as  prize  money. 

The  three  new  vessels  built  by  the  Company  were  named  the 
Eagle,  Falcoft,  and  Lanneret,  and  were  all  destined  for  Surat. 
Together  with  the  Mary,  in  which  Aaron  Baker  was  going  out  to 
Bantam  as  President,  they  sailed  from  the  Downs  in  the  early  part 
of  April,  1645.^  Not  long  after  a  rumour  reached  the  Court  that 
Mucknell,  with  the  John  and  two  other  vessels,  was  about  to  sail 
for  the  Azores  in  the  hope  of  capturing  some  of  the  Company's 
homeward-bound  ships.  On  application  to  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty  instructions  were  issued  to  the  Parliamentary  com- 
manders to  do  their  best  to  protect  the  traders ;  and  as  a  further 
precaution  the  Company  arranged  to  dispatch  a  small  vessel  to  the 
Azores  to  warn  the  homecoming  fleet,  but  before  a  start  was  made 
this  arrangement  was  cancelled  and  a  gold  chain  was  promised 
instead  to  the  commander  of  one  of  the  Parliamentary  ships,  should 
he  succeed  in  capturing  Mucknell.  The  sequel  is  told  in  a  letter 
from  the  Company  to  Surat  in  March,  1646  {Letter  Books,  vol.  i, 
p.  177),  where,  speaking  of  Mucknell's  betrayal  of  the  John,  they 
say  that '  allthough  hee  came  with  the  shipp  etc.  safe  unto  Bristoll 
and  there  made  awaie  with  what  was  found  in  the  shipp,  yet  that 
was  not  an  ende  of  his  villanie,  but  others  also  suffered  much  by  his 
depredacions  and  robberies  in  those  parts,^  untill  some  of  the  Parlia- 
ments shipps  had  him  in  chase  and  forct  him  upon  the  rocks  of 
Sillie,  and  either  there  or  in  Mounts  Baye  the  shipp  utterly  perished. 
For  himselfe  he  escaped  to  doe  future  misc[h]iefe,  untill  Gods  hand 
or  the  gallowes  make  an  ende  of  him '. 

At  the  end  of  July,  1645,  the  adventurers  were  cheered  by  the 
arrival  from  Surat  of  the  Crispiana  and  Dolphin.     In  them  came 

>  From  0.  C.  1992,  2000  it  appears  that  three  interloping  ships,  the  Lioness,  Rebecca, 
and  Friendship,  were  dispatched  to  the  East  in  February,  1645. 

'  See  p.  88,  where  mention  is  made  of  the  Johtt  having  captured  three  ships  trading  to 
the  Canary  Islands. 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

William  Fremlen,  ex-President  of  Surat,  who  had  an  exciting  story 
to  relate  of  the  hardships  and  perils  encountered  on  the  homeward 
voyage.  He  had  left  Surat  in  the  Dolphin,  accompanied  by  the 
Discovery,  at  the  end  of  January,  1644.  All  went  well  until 
March  24,  when  a  fearful  hurricane  separated  the  two  vessels. 
The  Discovery  was  never  heard  of  more,  and  the  Dolphin  all  but 
went  to  the  bottom  as  well.  With  four  and  a  half  feet  of  water  in 
her  hold,  she  lay  '  for  more  then  an  howers  tyme  without  righting ', 
until  her  mainmast  was  cut  away.  Then,  the  storm  gradually 
abating,  she  struggled  to  Mauritius,  where  she  found  the  Hopewell, 
homeward-bound  from  Bantam.  This  vessel  had  likewise  suffered 
much  from  bad  weather,  and  the  two,  after  refitting  as  far  as  they 
could,  proceeded  to  Madagascar,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  the  fleet 
from  England  and  thus  obtaining  supplies.  After  waiting  for  some 
time  in  vain,  they  both  departed  for  the  Comoros,  where  they  were 
joined  by  the  Crispiana,  outward-bound.  As  the  Dolphin  needed 
a  new  mainmast  and  the  Hopewell  was  also  in  a  parlous  condition, 
it  was  reluctantly  decided  that  they  should  proceed  to  Surat  in 
company  with  the  Crispiajia.  All  three  reached  India  in  safety, 
and  the  Dolphin  sailed  once  again  for  England  at  the  close  of 
November,  1644,  followed  by  the  Crispiana  a  few  weeks  later  ;  the 
two  arriving,  as  already  mentioned,  in  the  following  July. 

Although  Fremlen  was  still  a  comparatively  young  man,  his 
eighteen  years  of  service  had  fatally  weakened  him,  and  he  only 
survived  his  return  from  India  by  about  seven  months.  From  his 
deathbed  he  sent  his  '  duty '  to  the  Court  of  Committees  and 
acquainted  them  that  he  had  bequeathed  500/,  to  the  Company's 
hospital ;  upon  which  the  Committees  desired  Methwold  '  to  present 
their  love  unto  him  '.  He  died  on  March  13,  1646,  and  was  buried 
in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Leonard,  Shoreditch.  A  fine  marble 
monument  '  of  the  lonick  order  '  was  raised  to  his  memory  on  the 
south  side  of  the  altar  {New  View  of  London,  vol.  i,  p.  311)  and  was 
still  there  when  Seymour's  Survey  of  London  was  published  in 
1735  (vo^-  i^  P-  724).  In  the  following  year,  however,  the  church 
was  pulled  down  and  rebuilt  by  the  elder  Dance  ;  and,  as  there 
is  now  no  trace  of  the  tomb,  we  may  surmise  that  it  was  destroyed 
at  that  time.  Besides  the  500/.  already  mentioned  as  left  to  the 
almshouse  at  Poplar,  Fremlen  bequeathed  200/.  to  St.  Leonard's 


X  COURT  MINUTES 

parish  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor.  This  charity  has  recently  been 
merged  with  others  in  a  pension  scheme,  under  the  orders  of  the 
Charity  Commissioners. 

The  loss  of  the  Discovery^  following  so  soon  the  betrayal  of  the 
John,  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the  Company ;  but  some  consolation  was 
afforded  by  the  arrival,  in  September,  1645,  of  the   William  and 
the  Blessing  from  Bantam.    It  was  now  decided  to  freight  two  ships 
for  Bantam  to  fetch  home  the  goods  remaining  there  on  account  of 
the  First  General  Voyage ;  and  the  Ulysses  and  the  Endymion  ^ 
were  accordingly  hired  for  this  purpose.    Meanwhile,  some  progress 
was  being  made  in  the  Commons  with  the  proposed  ordinance,  but 
it  was  still  delayed  by  disputes  over  the  protection  of  Courteen's 
interests.     His  affairs  were  by  this  time  in  a  hopeless  condition. 
At  his  father's  death  in   1636  he  had  inherited  an  estate  much 
embarrassed,  particularly  by  the  adventure  to  India  under  Weddell 
and  Mountney.     The  sinking  of  the  Dragofz  and  Katherine  on  their 
homeward   way   caused  a   loss  estimated   at    150,000/.  ;    and  the 
younger  Courteen's  fortunes  were  only  temporarily  restored  by  his 
marriage  to  the  Lady  Katherine  Egerton,  daughter  of  the  first 
Earl  of  Bridgewater  (and  therefore,  as  the  reader   will  at   once 
recollect,  sister  to  '  The  Lady '  of  Comus).     With  the  help  of  his 
aristocratic  connexions,  and  of  sundry  merchants  who  were  glad 
enough  to  take  the  opportunity  of  venturing  to  India  under  the 
protection  of  his  privileges,  he  was  able  to  set  out,  as  we  have  seen, 
several  fresh  ships ;  but  misfortune  still  followed  his  efforts.     The 
Bona  Esperanza  was  captured   by  the   Dutch   in   the  Straits  of 
Malacca  in  1643,  causing  a  loss  estimated  at  75,000/.;  while  the  Henry 
Bonaventure  went  to  pieces  on  the  island  of  Mauritius  during  her 
homeward  voyage.     Further,  the  Little  William^  outward-bound, 
was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Africa  in  June,  1643,  and  only  about 
5,000/.  in  gold  and  some  brass  guns  were  saved.   These  were  taken  to 
Madras  by  one  of  the  Company's  ships,  and  much  wrangling  ensued 
at  home  between  Courteen's  representatives  and  the  Court  of  Com- 
mittees as  to  the  payment  of  the  money.     Courteen  himself,  finding 
it  impossible  to  satisfy  his  creditors,  had  withdrawn  to  the  Conti- 

1  Her  master  appears  to  have  been  the  Robert  Knox  (Senior)  who  died  a  captive  in 
Ceylon  in  1661  (p.  112).  He  did  not,  however,  command  the  Endymion  this  voyage, 
as  he  was  superseded  just  before  she  sailed  (p.  133). 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

nent,*  leaving  his  wife  and  her  friends  to  save  what  they  could  from 
the  wreck  of  his  fortunes.  His  claims,  and  those  of  his  creditors, 
gave  no  small  trouble  to  the  Committees,  quite  apart  from  the 
embarrassment  caused  by  his  applications  to  Parliament  for  redress 
of  the  wrongs  he  conceived  himself  to  have  suffered  at  the  hands  of 
the  Company. 

Courteen  himself,  then,  about  this  time  dropped  out  of  the  com- 
petition for  the  East  India  trade  ;  but  his  place  was  taken  by 
a  group  of  merchants  who  had  been  acting  with  him  and  who  were 
equally  determined  to  disregard  the  claims  of  the  Company  to 
a  monopoly  of  Eastern  commerce.  Foremost  among  them  was 
Maurice  Thomson,  who  had  been  a  busy  trader  to  Virginia,  the 
West  Indian  islands,  and  Guinea,  and  had  twice  got  into  trouble 
for  disregarding  chartered  rights  (see  the  Calendar  of  State  Papers, 
Colonial^  1574-1660).  He  and  his  associates  were  strongly  imbued 
with  the  idea  of  establishing  English  colonies  in  the  East,  in 
imitation  of  the  Dutch  and  Portuguese  ;  and,  as  we  shall  see,  they 
were  able  later  on  to  force  their  views  upon  the  Company.  This 
movement,  which  was  evidently  the  outcome  of  the  general  tendency 
towards  colonization  that  marked  the  reigns  of  the  two  first  Stuarts, 
is  of  special  interest,  though  it  made  no  permanent  impression  upon 
the  Company's  policy  of  jealous  exclusiveness.  It  is  true  that  for 
ten  years  or  more  Thomson  and  his  supporters  exercised  a  very 
powerful  influence  in  the  directorate ;  moreover,  in  December, 
1657,  he  succeeded  Cokayne  as  Governor  and,  when  he  vacated  the 
chair  at  the  election  of  1659,  it  was  only  to  hand  it  over  to  Thomas 
Andrews,  who  had  acted  with  him  from  the  first.  But  the  Restora- 
tion put  an  end  to  his  career,  for  he  had  been  an  intimate  friend  of 
Cromwell  and  a  strong  supporter  of  his  government.  He  managed, 
however,  to  make  his  peace  with  King  Charles,  and  lived  quietly  at 
Stepney  until  his  death  in  1676. 

Reverting  to  the  closing  months  of  1645,  ^^^  fi"^  the  Company 
endeavouring  to  prevent  the  sailing  of  two  vessels  which  Thomson, 

^  He  died  at  Florence  in  1655.  His  son,  William,  who  changed  his  name  to  Charlton, 
made  extensive  collections  of  botanical  specimens  and  other  curiosities,  which  he  housed 
in  the  Temple,  where  they  aroused  the  admiration  of  Evelyn.  After  Charlton's  death 
they  became  the  property  of  Dr.  Hans  Sloane,  and  thus  passed  in  time  to  the  British 
Museum.  The  dried  plants  are  still  preserved  in  the  Natural  History  Department  at 
South  Kensington. 


xH  COURT  MINUTES 

Andrews,  and  others  had  prepared  for  a  voyage  to  India.  Find- 
ing their  efforts  unavailing  and  deeming  it  wise  to  prevent  at  any 
cost  such  undesirable  competition,  the  Committees  in  December^ 
1645,  agreed  to  purchase  both  ships.  These — renamed  the  Ante- 
lope and  the  Greyhound — departed  in  the  following  April  for  Surat, 
accompanied  by  the  Dolphi7i ;  while  at  the  same  time  the  William 
set  sail  for  Bantam.  All  four  were  on  account  of  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  The  Ulysses  and  Endymion,  hired  (as  already  related)  by 
the  First  General  Voyage  for  a  voyage  to  Bantam,  had  set  out 
just  before.  The  Crispiana,  being  practically  worn  out,  was  ordered 
to  be  sold. 

Towards  the  end  of  May,  1646,  the  Eagle  arrived  in  the  Downs 
from  Surat ;  and  in  the  following  month  it  was  decided  to  make 
a  further  division  of  40  per  cent,  to  the  shareholders  in  the  First 
General  Voyage.  Some  time  in  July  the  Mary  returned  from 
Bantam.  Part  of  the  pepper  brought  home  was  shipped  as  before 
to  Italy  for  sale  there,  doubtless  owing  to  the  deadness  of  the 
English  market. 

Early  in  September  a  general  court  was  held,  at  which  the 
measures  to  be  taken  to  maintain  the  trade  were  discussed.  The 
Governor  made  a  hopeful  statement  regarding  the  progress  of 
the  ordinance  in  the  Lower  House,  and  held  out  the  prospect  of 
its  speedy  enactment.  The  adventurers  in  the  Joint  Stock  were 
told  that,  if  they  refused  to  send  out  further  shipping  and  stock  to 
India,  there  were  private  merchants  who  would  not  hesitate  to  do 
so  ;  and,  moved  perhaps  by  this  consideration,  they  sanctioned  the 
Committees'  scheme  for  sending  five  vessels  (including  one  or  two 
pinnaces)  to  the  East  with  80,000/.  stock.  Thereupon  it  was 
decided  that  the  Mary  should  be  dispatched  to  Bantam,  the  Eagle 
and  Blessing  to  Surat,  and  a  new  pinnace  which  the  Company  was 
building  (afterwards  named  the  Farewell)  to  the  Coast.  The  pinnace 
sailed  about  the  end  of  the  year ;  the  others  departed  in  April, 
1647.     The  two  for  Surat  carried  out  a  stock  of  52,674/.  {O.C. 

1963)- 

On  December  5,  1646,  the  long-expected  ordinance  was  passed 
by  the  Commons  and  sent  to  the  Lords  for  their  concurrence. 
By  its  terms  the  Company  was  to  have  the  exclusive  trade  in  the 
regions  extending   from    the   Cape   to   Japan,  provided  that  its 


INTRODUCTION  xui 

membership  remained  open  ^to  any  one  willing  to  pay  5/.  for  the 
privilege.     Power  was  given  to  fine  and,   if  necessary,  imprison 
recalcitrant  members,  and  to  impose  an  oath,  the  terms  of  which 
were  to  be  approved  by  both  Houses.     Courteen  and  his  partners 
were  to  withdraw  their  ships  and  goods  within  three  years,  the 
Company  assisting  herein  and  making  a  reasonable  allowance  for 
any  buildings.  &c.  that  might  be  left  behind.    An  Act  of  Parliament 
was  to   be  prepared    in   due   course   to  confirm   the   Company's 
privil^es  ;  and  a  new  subscription  was  to  be  opened  for  continuing 
the  trade.     The  ordinance  was  read  a  second  time  by  the  Lords  on 
January  4,  1647,  and  was  referred  to  a  committee.     In  the  middle 
of  February  Courteen  presented  a  petition,  complaining  that  the 
Company  had  much  injured  him  by  its  opposition  to  his  servants, 
and  that  it  was  still  detaining  from  him  the  gold  saved  from  the 
wreck  of  the  Little   William ;  and  this  document^  was  sent  to  the 
same  committee  for  consideration.      On  February  27  Lord  War- 
wick reported  that   the  committee    recommended   the   passing  of 
the  ordinance  as  it  stood,  without  amendment.     A  fresh  petition 
from  Courteen  led  to  a  decision  that  counsel  for  both  sides  should 
be  heard  at  the  bar  ;   and  this  was  accordingly  done.     Then  on 
March  16,  1647,  in  an  assembly  numbering  only  eleven  peers,  the 
matter  was  debated.    A  motion  for  recommitment  was  negatived  : 
some  alterations  were  made  :  the  ordinance  was  read  a  third  time 
and  the  question  was  put  that  the  Lords  agreed  to  the  same  ;   but 
'  it  was  resolved  in  the  negative '  {Lords  Journals^  vol.  ix,  p.  81). 
The   reasons  for  its  rejection  are   not  known  ;   and  we  can   only 
conjecture  that  Courteen's  opposition,  and  perhaps  a  doubt  whether 
it  was  desirable  to  continue  the  Company's  monopoly,  were  the 
obstacles  that  proved  fatal.     That  the  arguments    for    throwing 
open  the  trade  had   made  an  impression  on  some  of  the  Lords 
seems  to  be  shown  by  the  document  printed  on  p.  187. 

Three  days  later  the  members  of  the  Company  assembled  to 
consider  the  situation.  The  Governor  referred  at  length  to  the 
efforts  made  to  secure  the  passing  of  the  ordinance  and  announced 
the  futile  result :  and  he  added  that  in  his  opinion  it  would  be 
best  to  draw  home  their  factors  and  goods,  for,  if  every  one  was 

*  Printed  at  p.  24  of  vol.  ix  of  the  Lords'  youmals.  There  are  several  subsequent 
refeieaces  to  the  matter  in  the  same  volume. 


xiv  COURT   MINUTES 

to  be  allowed  to  go  to  the  Indies,  depredations  would  be  com- 
mitted for  which  the  Company  would  be  held  responsible  by  the 
authorities  there  and  great  loss  would  result.  In  this  view 
Methwold,  the  Deputy  Governor,  who  was  usually  so  sanguine 
about  the  trade,  concurred ;  and  the  assembly  unanimously  re- 
solved not  to  proceed  any  further  upon  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
and  not  to  send  out  any  more  ships,  except  those  already  wait- 
ing to  be  dispatched.  That  the  position  was  not,  however,  re- 
garded as  hopeless  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  at  the  same  time 
the  adventurers  declared  their  willingness  to  continue  the  trade 
by  starting  a  fresh  Joint  Stock,  if  the  House  of  Lords  would  re- 
consider its  decision  and  pass  the  ordinance  as  approved  by  the 
Commons.  In  the  meantime  the  Committees  were  instructed  to 
take  steps  to  dissolve  as  many  as  possible  of  the  factories  in  the 
East,  to  reduce  the  number  of  merchants  employed,  and  to  arrange 
for  the  recall  of  the  ships.  The  measures  adopted  to  these  ends 
were  reported  and  approved  at  another  general  court  held  on 
March  24,  1647,  when  the  Governor  announced  his  intention  of 
waiting  upon  the  Speakers  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  to  ac- 
quaint them  with  the  Company's  resolution  and  '  to  desire  them 
to  take  notice  thereof  and  to  take  care  of  the  trade '.  The  result 
is  possibly  to  be  seen  in  a  message  sent  by  the  Commons  to  the 
other  House  on  April  16  'to  put  the  Lords  in  mind  of  an  ordin- 
ance formerly  sent  unto  them  concerning  the  East  India  Company ', 
and  in  the  consequent  reference  of  the  subject  to  a  committee 
to  draw  up  a  fresh  ordinance  (pp.  209,  276).  That  nothing  had 
been  done  in  the  matter  when  the  annual  court  of  election  was 
held  (July  2)  was  ascribed  by  the  Governor  to  '  the  troubles  of 
the  tymes '. 

At  that  meeting  it  was  decided  that,  in  spite  of  the  uncertainty 
hanging  over  the  future  of  the  trade,  an  attempt  should  be  made 
to  start  a  Second  General  Voyage  for  one  year ;  and  a  subscrip- 
tion list  was  opened  accordingly.  It  was  fortunate  that  just  at 
this  time  three  ships  arrived  from  the  East  with  good  cargoes. 
At  the  beginning  of  July  the  William  and  Ulysses  came  in  from 
Bantam,  bringing  pepper,  &c.,  on  account  both  of  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  and  of  the  First  General  Voyage  ;  and  these  were  quickly 
followed  by  the  Dolphin  from  Surat,  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock. 


INTRODUCTIO  N  xv 

As  a  result  a  dividend  of  twenty  per  cent,  to  the  adventurers  in 
the  First  General  Voyage  was  decided  upon  (August  20),  in 
addition  to  the  ten  per  cent,  which  had  been  declared  in  the  pre- 
ceding April.  This  brought  up  the  divisions  on  that  Voyage 
(including  the  return  of  the  capital)  to  207  per  cent.  (p.  294).  The 
shareholders  in  the  Joint  Stock  were  not  so  fortunate,  for  thus  far 
they  had  received  nothing ;  and  they  had  to  content  themselves 
with  looking  to  the  future.     The  bulk  of  the  Company's  estate 

the  East  belonged  to  them ;  and  this  was  estimated  in  July  at 
about  204,000/.  (p.  209).  In  the  following  October  it  was  deter- 
mined to  divide  a  quantity  of  indigo  among  the  adventurers  in  the 
Joint  Stock  ;  but  this  had  to  be  paid  for  (though  at  low  rates), 
whether  the  recipients  were  willing  or  not,  the  purpose  being  to 
discharge  part  of  the  heavy  debt  (p.  233). 

The  appeal  for  funds  to  set  forth  a  Second  General  Voyage  met 
with  a  prompt  and  liberal  response,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  the 
Company's  monopoly  had  practically  ceased  to  exist.  The  moment 
was  in  fact  a  favourable  one.  The  Civil  War  was  apparently  at  an 
end  ;  and  it  was  confidently  expected  that  the  negotiations  which 
were  going  on  between  the  King  and  the  leaders  on  the  other  side 
would  bring  about  a  general  pacification.  By  August  20,  1647,  the 
subscriptions  had  reached  125,000/.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
following  month  it  was  announced  that  there  were  still  many 
anxious  to  underwrite  ;  these  subscriptions  were  thereupon  ordered 
to  be  received,  and  on  September  14  a  further  extension  of  time 
was  granted.  When  the  books  were  finally  closed,  it  was  found 
that  in  all  194,600/.  had  been  subscribed  ;  but  this  was  subse- 
quently reduced  to  192,800/.  owing  to  one  member  failing  to  make 
good  his  undertaking  (p.  278).  Moreover,  only  three  out  of  the  four 
instalments  were  called  up  (p.  271),  and  members  defaulted  on 
these  to  the  amount  of  3,400/. ;  so  that  the  total  capital  received 
was  141,200/.  (p.  278).  It  should  be  noted  that  the  members 
of  both  Houses  of  Parliament  had  been  specially  invited  to  become 
adventurers  in  the  new  stock,  on  the  ground  that  their  co-operation 
'  would  much  countenance  the  action '  ^  (p.  218) ;   and  the  House  of 

^  Bruce,  who  could  believe  no  good  of  the  Long  Parliament,  suggests  {Annals,  vol.  J, 
p.  422)  that  this  was  done  because  'the  Court  were  satisfied  that  the  only  motive  which 
could  influence  the  leaders  of  this  assembly  was  the  prospect  of  gain  to  themselves  as 


xvi  COURT   MINUTES 

Commons,  in  thanking  the  Company,  expressed  its  approval  of  its 
members  joining  in  the  subscription  in  order  to  advance  the  trade 
with  India. 

For  the  management  of  the  New  Voyage,  sixteen  special  '  Com- 
mittees '  were  elected,  including  the  Governor,  Deputy,  and  Treasurer 
of  the  Company :  these  three,  together  with  any  four  of  the  rest,  to 
form  a  quorum.  Any  matters  afifecting  both  the  Joint  Stock  and 
the  Voyage  were  to  be  referred  to  a  mixed  body  of  sixteen,  in  which 
each  stock  was  represented  by  eight  delegates  (p.  227).  It  was 
agreed  that,  as  in  the  previous  case,  the  Second  General  Voyage 
should  have  the  use  of  the  Company's  offices,  &c.,  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  the  assistance  of  its  servants,  on  paying  to  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  one  per  cent,  on  all  '  quick  stock  '  sent  out  and  six  per 
cent,  on  all  goods  laden  on  its  account  in  the  East,  the  latter  pay- 
ment being  made  at  the  port  of  embarkation.  According  to  a  state- 
ment made  by  the  Governor  on  August  15,  1649,  this  arrangement 
resulted  in  a  loss  to  the  Joint  Stock  of  between  6,000/.  and  7,000/. 

It  is  important  to  note  that  among  the  prominent  subscribers  to 
the  Second  General  Voyage  were  Thomson,  Moyer,  Andrews,  and 
Blackman,  who  had  been  hitherto  '  interlopers '.  Later  on  (p.  369) 
they  alleged  that  at  this  time  they  were  preparing  to  form  a  separate 
stock  of  80,000/.  to  continue  their  operations  on  the  Malabar  Coast, 
and  that  they  only  consented  to  join  the  regular  adventurers  '  for 
the  good  and  benefitt  one  of  another,  as  well  as  for  the  publique 
weale  of  this  nation  '.  Among  their  schemes,  it  would  appear,  was 
one  for  the  settlement  of  a  colony  on  Pulo  Run  (in  the  Banda 
Islands),  which  had  been  recognized  as  British  by  the  agreement 
of  1623  but  had  practically  remanied  a  Dutch  possession.  Of  this 
idea  more  will  be  heard  later. 

A  curious  incident  occurred  at  the  start.  A  number  of  the  new 
adventurers  refused  to  take  the  usual  oath  prescribed  for  admission 
to  the  Company,  as  they  objected  to  the  clause  by  which  allegiance 
was  sworn  to  the  King.  This  occasioned  a  considerable  amount  of 
discussion,  as  some  other  members  were  disposed  to.  insist  upon  the 
stipulation.     In  the  end  a  compromise  was  reached,  by  which  the 

individuals '.  As  there  is  no  hint  in  the  records  that  the  members  of  the  two  Houses 
were  to  be  treated  in  any  way  differently  from  other  subscribers  (unless  perhaps  they  were 
to  be  excused  the  payment  of  the  fee  usually  demanded  for  admission  to  the  Company), 
it  is  not  easy  to  follow  his  reasoning. 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

recalcitrants  were  excused  the  oath,  on  condition  that  they  signed 
a  contract  not  to  prejudice  the  Company;  but  they  were  not 
enrolled  as  freemen  and  the  fines  they  had  paid  for  this  purpose 
were  returned  to  them. 

The  plans  of  the  Committees  of  the  new  Voyage  included  the 
dispatch  of  two  vessels  to  Surat  in  the  spring  and  of  two  others 
to  the  Coast  at  a  rather  earlier  date.  For  the  latter  purpose  the 
Dolphin  was  hired  from  the  Committees  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
and  the  Bilbao  Merchant  (re-named  the  Bonitd)  purchased  from 
a  private  owner ;  while  for  Surat  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  Golden 
Fleece  were  taken  up  on  freight.  The  Advice  was  also  chartered  for 
Bantam,  to  sail  in  January,  1648.  The  ships  for  the  Coast  appear 
to  have  departed  in  that  month,  and  those  for  Surat  some  time 
in  March.  They  were  followed  by  a  private  ship,  the  Loyalty, 
belonging  to  Maurice  Thomson  and  other  merchants — a  venture 
which  the  Company  had  vainly  petitioned  the  Parliament  to  pro- 
hibit (pp.  244,  246,  and  O.C.  2077).  The  William  was  also  hired 
from  the  Joint  Stock  by  the  Second  General  Voyage  for  dispatch 
to  Bantam ;  but  she  was  delayed  by  her  need  of  extensive  repairs 
and  did  not  make  a  start  until  the  middle  of  June. 

The  Endy^nion  had  arrived  from  Bantam  a  little  before  Christmas, 
1647,  bringing  pepper,  &c.,  for  both  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  and  the 
First  General  Voyage.  In  June,  1648,  no  less  than  four  of  the 
Company's  ships  anchored  in  the  Downs,  viz.  the  Mary  from  Bantam, 
and  the  Eagle,  Greyhojind,  and  Antelope  from  Surat.  Thus  en- 
couraged, the  Committees  petitioned  the  Lords  to  take  up  once 
again  the  question  of  the  East  India  trade  ;  with  the  result  that  on 
July  25  a  draft  ordinance,  on  the  same  lines  as  the  former  one,  with 
an  additional  clause  permitting  the  exportation  of  spices  ungarbled, 
was  introduced  into  the  Upper  House,  read  twice,  and  sent  to 
a  committee.  Some  months  passed  by  without  any  further  action 
being  recorded,  until  on  November  25  the  '  Committee  for  the 
Ordinance  for  the  East  India  Company '  was  directed  to  meet  the 
following  Monday  '  and  so  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  as  they  shall 
think  fit '.  Nothing,  however,  had  been  settled  when  the  House  of 
Commons  on  February  6,  1649 — seven  days  after  the  execution  of 
King  Charles — passed  the  famous  resolution  'that  the  House  of 
Peers  in  Parliament  is    useless  and   dangerous   and  ought  to  be 


xviii  COURT   MINUTES 

abolished'.  Thereupon  the  Upper  House,  now  reduced  to  half 
a  dozen  peers,  *  adjourned '  for  good,  without  waiting  for  the  passing 
(March  19)  of  the  formal  Act  which  decreed  its  abolition. 

In  the  meantime,  at  a  meeting  held  on  August  i5,  1648,  the 
shareholders  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  had  been  induced  to  sanction 
the  dispatch  of  three  or  four  more  ships  to  the  East,  and  the  bor- 
rowing for  that  purpose  of  80,000/.  or  100,000/.  The  arguments 
used  for  this  purpose  were  that,  even  if  the  Lords  passed  the  desired 
ordinance,  there  would  not  be  time  enough  left  to  raise  a  fresh  stock, 
and  that  meanwhile  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  uphold  the  trade 
and  make  use  of  their  factories,  servants,  &c.,  in  the  East,  the  cost 
of  which  must  continue  for  a  while  in  any  case.  In  pursuance  of 
this  resolution  the  Endymion  and  Anne  were  freighted  for  Bantam, 
while  the  Eagle  was  ordered  to  be  repaired  for  a  voyage  to  Surat, 
and  the  Greyhound  for  one  to  the  Coromandel  Coast.  The  last- 
named  vessel  and  the  Endymion  appear  to  have  started  before  the 
end  of  the  year,  but  the  other  two  did  not  get  away  till  March  or 
April,  1649.  The  Mary  and  the  Antelope  were  sold,  probably 
because  they  were  judged  unfit  for  further  voyages. 

In  September,  1648,  proposals  were  made  for  bringing  the  First 
General  Voyage  to  an  end  by  selling  its  remaining  estate  to  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock.  The  price  asked  by  the  Committees  was 
fifteen  per  cent,  on  the  capital  of  the  Voyage.  After  some  discussion 
the  demand  was  reduced  to  fourteen  per  cent.,  and  this  was  agreed 
to  by  the  Committees  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  at  a  meeting  held 
on  October  11,  1648.  Out  of  this  money  it  was  decided  to  give 
the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  one-quarter  per  cent.,  making 
the  net  payment  to  the  shareholders  13I  per  cent.  The  return 
on  the  First  General  Voyage  was  thus  raised  to  nearly  221 
per  cent. — a  very  satisfactory  result,  considering  the  special  diffi- 
culties of  the  period. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  year  a  suggestion  was  made  that  the 
remaining  quarter  of  the  capital  of  the  Second  General  Voyage 
should  be  called  up  and  used  in  equipping  a  fresh  fleet ;  and,  further, 
Maurice  Thomson  and  Samuel  Moyer  applied  for  permission  to  send 
out  a  ship  or  ships  to  recover  some  losses  sustained  in  a  previous 
venture.  Both  proposals  were  negatived  at  a  general  court  held  on 
November  30 ;  but  it  was  decided  to  open  at  the  beginning  of  the 


INTRODUCTION  xix 

new  year  a  subscription  for  a  fresh  Joint  Stock,  to  last  for  seven 
years.  A  'preamble'  for  this  purpose  was  read  at  a  general 
meeting  held  on  January  24,  1649,  and  a  subscription  book  was 
ordered  to  be  opened  accordingly  ;  but  the  attempt  proved  a  failure, 
for  only  10.000/.  was  offered  in  all,  owing  to  'the  distraction  of  the 
tymes '  (p.  342). 

At  the  beginning  of  the  new  year  the  Committees  for  the  Second 
General  Voyage  resolved  to  send  a  vessel  with  a  small  stock  to 
Bantam  to  fetch  home  what  goods  were  remaining  at  that  port ; 
and  Maurice  Thomson's  ship,  the  Ruth^  was  hired  and  dispatched 
accordingly. 

Nothing  of  special  interest  occurs  in  the  Minutes  for  the  next  few 
months ;  but  in  July,  1649,  we  find  mention  made  of  the  simultaneous 
arrival  of  no  less  than  seven  ships.  Six  of  these — the  Golden  Fleece^ 
Aleppo  MercJiant,  William,  Dolphin,  Bonito,  and  Advice — had  been 
sent  out  by  the  Second  General  Voyage  the  previous  year ;  while 
the  seventh  was  the  Stipply}  which  was  laden  chiefly  with  goods 
belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock.  Never  before  had  so  many  ships 
returned  together,  and  the  event  was  duly  celebrated  by  the  Com- 
pany. A  special  service  was  held,  at  which  the  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Edward  Terry  (chaplain  to  Sir  Thomas  Roe 
in  his  embassy  to  India) ;  and  this  was  followed  by  a  dinner  at '  the 
Shippe  Taveme  in  Bishopsgate  Streete'  (pp.  337,  347),  to  which 
festivity  the  commanders  of  the  seven  ships  were  invited,  as  also 
Aaron  Baker  and  Thomas  Ivy,  who  had  returned  from  Bantam  in 
the  fleet ;  while  the  expenses  were  defrayed  by  a  levy  on  the  Com- 
mittees of  ten  shillings  a  head.  These  rejoicings  tempted  Francis 
Lenton,  '  a  poett,'  to  present  the  Committees  with  a  copy  of  some 
verses  he  had  written  upon  the  occasion  ;  but  the  Court,  while 
rewarding  him  with  a  donation  of  3/.,  '  did  not  very  well  rellish  his 
conceits,  and  desired  him  neither  to  print  them  nor  proceed  any 
further  in  making  verses  upon  any  occasion  which  may  conceme 
the  Company'  (p.  348).  The  crestfallen  bard  appears  to  have 
obeyed  at  least  the  former  injunction,  for  no  printed  copy  of  his 
verses  can  be  traced. 

*  A  ship  of  300  tons,  which  had  been  boilt  at  Chanl  in  1639  ^^'^  ^^^^  bought  by  the 
Presidoit  and  Cotincil  of  Snrat.  She  was  apparently  the  first  India-built  vessel  to  reach 
the  Thames. 

ba 


XX  COURT  MINUTES 

The  arrival  of  so  many  ships  entailed  the  immediate  expenditure 
on  the  part  of  the  Second  General  Voyage  of  about  60,000/.  for 
customs,  freight,  &c. ;  and  this  was  a  larger  sum  than  could  be 
quickly  realized  from  the  sale  of  their  cargoes .  It  was  therefore  again 
proposed  (July  26)  to  call  up  the  remaining  fourth  of  the  capital  of 
the  stock,  but  this  was  negatived,  and  in  lieu  thereof  each  adven- 
turer was  required  to  lend  for  six  months  an  amount  equal  to 
a  sixth  of  his  paid-up  holding,  on  penalty  of  a  fine  of  four  per  cent. 
This  measure  more  than  met  the  necessities  of  the  situation,  for  on 
September  12  the  Voyage  had  so  much  cash  in  hand  that  the 
Treasurer  was  authorized  to  repay  on  demand  any  part  of  the 
money  thus  raised. 

Some  feeling  was  aroused  among  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage 
by  the  discovery  that,  while  their  ships  had  brought  home  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  goods  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  a  large  sum 
of  money  belonging  to  the  Voyage  had  been  left  behind  uninvested. 
It  was  out  of  the  question  that  the  proceeds  could  all  be  laden  in 
the  Ruth  (the  only  ship  the  Voyage  had  remaining  in  the  East) ; 
and  the  suggestion  that  the  balance  would  be  either  turned  over  to 
the  Joint  Stock's  account  or  brought  home  by  the  Joint  Stock's 
vessels  failed  to  appease  the  malcontents,  who  demanded  that  they 
should  be  satisfied  instead  out  of  the  Joint  Stock's  goods  now 
received.  The  result  was  that,  after  a  long  dispute,  it  was  agreed 
(September  19)  that  the  arrangements  previously  made  should  be 
cancelled  and  that  any  goods  received  from  Bantam  the  following 
year  which  had  been  bought  with  the  money  of  the  Joint  Stock 
should  belong  to  the  adventurers  in  that  stock,  while  any  goods 
purchased  from  the  funds  of  the  Voyage  should  be  assigned  to  the 
latter. 

A  week  later  (September  26)  a  division  (in  pepper)  of  50  per 
cent,  upon  the  paid-up  capital  was  declared  by  the  Second  General 
Voyage  ;  and  on  December  26  a  further  distribution  of  25  per  cent, 
in  money  (payable  in  April,  1650)  was  authorized.  The  adventurers 
in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  on  the  other  hand,  instead  of  receiving 
a  dividend,  were  obliged,  by  an  order  made  on  October  3,  to  accept 
and  pay  for  a  quantity  of  pepper  equivalent  to  sixty  per  cent,  of 
their  holdings,  under  penalty  of  the  said  pepper  being  sold  by  the 
Company  and  any  resulting  loss  charged  to  the  members  respon- 


INTRODUCTION  xxi 

sible.  It  is  true  that  the  price  paid  for  the  pepper  was  low,  that 
over  a  twelvemonth's  credit  was  allowed,  and  that  a  discount  was 
given  for  immediate  payment ;  but  the  distribution  (which  was 
probably  determined  upon  because  the  stock  of  pepper  was  so 
large  that  it  could  only  be  disposed  of  by  the  Company  in  a  mass 
at  a  low  price)  must  have  caused  considerable  inconvenience  to  the 
bulk  of  the  adventurers. 

Meanwhile  the  question  of  how  to  carry  on  the  East  India  trade 
had  become  pressing.  The  Fourth  Joint  Stock  was  moribund,  and 
its  shareholders  were  not  anxious  to  bear  the  burden  of  the  trade 
any  longer.  A  general  meeting  was  therefore  held  on  August  15, 
1649,  at  which  it  was  suggested  that  a  new  stock  should  be  launched, 
with  a  capital  of  300,000/.,  to  last  for  four  or  five  years.  Nothing, 
however,  was  settled,  except  that  the  matter  should  be  referred  to 
a  joint  committee  chosen  by  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage.  This 
committee  decided  to  recommend  the  opening  of  a  subscription  for 
a  period  of  five  years,  the  question  whether  the  venture  should  be 
called  a  '  Stock '  or  a  '  Voyage '  being  left  for  later  consideration. 
The  next  point  to  be  determined  was  at  what  rates  the  property  in 
the  East  belonging  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  should  be  taken  over 
by  the  new  adventurers.  The  details  are  of  much  interest.  The 
five  houses  at  Bantam,  Jambi,  Japara,  Macassar,  and  Banjarmassin 
were  valued  at  3,000/. ;  the  two  houses  at  Agra  and  Ahmadabad, 
with  the  Company's  garden  at  Surat,  were  put  at  i  ,500/. ;  Fort 
St.  George  and  the  customs  of  Madras  were  agreed  to  be  worth  6,000/.; 
and  the  share  of  the  customs  at  Gombroon  in  Persia,  estimated  to 
yield  at  least  2,000/,  per  annum,  was  valued  at  9,000/.  The  exact 
amount  to  be  allowed  for  ships,  stores,  furniture,  &c.,  was  left  to  be 
determined  on  the  spot,  but  it  was  agreed  that,  of  the  total,  10,000/. 
should  be  paid  at  Surat  and  a  like  sum  at  Bantam,  while  any 
balance  remaining  should  be  made  good  at  home. 

These  arrangements  were  approved  by  a  general  court  held 
on  September  27,  when  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to  open 
a  fresh  subscription  on  the  lines  proposed.  A  preamble  was  accord- 
ingly drawn  up  and  read  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  following  day. 
But  before  anything  could  be  decided,  one  of  those  present 
'  acquainted  the  Court  that  hee  had  heard  this  noone  Exchange 
that  there  was  an  Act  intended  to  bee  presented  to  the  Parlyament 


xxii  COURT  MINUTES 

for  a  plantation  upon  an  island  called  Assada,  under  colour  thereof 
to  trade  into  India.'  Hereupon  the  Governor  acknowledged 
that  the  intelligence  was  true,  and  he  caused  a  copy  of  the  bill  to  be 
read  to  the  assembly.  Its  contents  evidently  created  a  feeling  of 
dismay,  for,  upon  the  question  being  put  whether  the  adventurers 
were  willing  to  sign  the  preamble,  *  by  a  gennerall  erection  of  hands 
there  was  an  absolute  denyall.'  However,  as  a  suggestion  had 
been  made  that  negotiations  should  be  opened  with  the  promoters 
of  the  new  scheme,  in  order,  if  possible, '  to  bring  the  trade  of  India 
and  this  plantation  into  one,'  a  strong  committee  was  nominated 
for  that  purpose. 

The  inception  of  the  Assada  scheme  is  still  somewhat  obscure  ; 
but  evidently  Maurice  Thomson,  Samuel  Moyer,  and  Captain 
Blackman  were  among  the  principal  promoters.^  Some  idea  of 
making  a  settlement  on  that  island  ^  was  entertained  as  early  as 
1644,  when,  as  already  narrated,  a  body  of  'planters  '  was  sent  out 
to  Madagascar  under  John  Smart ;  for  the  James,  after  landing 
those  settlers  at  St.  Augustine's  Bay,  departed  for  Assada  to  pro- 
cure slaves,  and,  when  affairs  grew  desperate  in  the  new  colony, 
Smart  made  an  attempt  to  get  to  Assada,  but  was  foiled  by  bad 
weather  and  other  difficulties  {O.C.  1993,  1994)-  The  failure  of 
the  first  experiment  does  not  appear  to  have  discouraged  the 
adventurers.  In  the  Court  Minutes  of  January  28,  1650,  reference 
is  made  to  a  vessel,  called  the  Assada  Merchant,  having  been  dis- 
patched to  those  parts  in  the  spring  of  1649,  apparently  with  a 
fresh  body  of  settlers  under  Colonel  Hunt  as  Governor ;  and  it 
seems  clear  that  Thomson  and  his  colleagues,  now  that  the  Second 
General  Voyage  was  coming  to  an  end,  were  preparing  to  second 
the  attempt  with  vigour.  They  were  hopeful  that  a  plantation 
at  Assada  would  provide  them  with  a  centre  of  lucrative  com- 

'  In  an  agreement  of  March  22,  1649  {O.C.  2164),  the  following  sign  on  behalf  of  the 
adventurers:  Maurice  Thomson,  William  Pennoyer,  John  Dethick,  Matthew  Andrews, 
Thomas  Andrews,  and  Robert  Hurt. 

2  Now  known  as  Nossi-bi.  It  lies  off  the  N.W.  coast  of  Madagascar,  in  about  13°  17' 
S.  latitude,  and  is  described  as  being  mountainous,  well-watered,  and  rich  in  natural 
beauties.     The  French  established  a  colony  there  in  1841. 

A  map  of  that  part  of  the  coast,  includmg  the  island  and  bay  of  Assada  (Pasindava  Bay), 
will  be  found  at  p.  21  of  the  MS.  journal  of  Charles  Wilde,  purser  of  the  Bonito,  1650 
(British  Museum  Sloane  MS.  3231).  This  has  been  reproduced  by  Alexander  Dalrymple 
in  his  collection  of  charts. 


INTRODUCTION  xxiii 

merce  with  East  Africa,  Asia,  and  even  America,  especially  if 
their  other  plans  for  similar  settlements  on  Pulo  Run  and  (when 
circumstances  rendered  this  possible)  on  the  coast  of  India  were 
carried  out.  Further,  to  the  trade  of  India  they  desired  to  join 
that  of  Guinea,  in  which  they  were  already  interested,  and  which 
produced  the  ivory  and  gold  so  much  in  demand  in  the  East. 

Some  sort  of  parliamentary  sanction  being  judged  desirable, 
the  Assada  adventurers,  headed  by  no  less  a  person  than  Lord 
Fairfax,  addressed  a  petition  to  the  Council  of  State,  asking  that 
an  Act  should  be  passed  for  this  purpose.  As  a  counter-move,  on 
October  28,  1649,  ^^e  East  India  Company  presented  a  memorial 
to  the  same  body,  complaining  that  the  Assada  scheme  had  upset 
the  subscription  requisite  to  carry  on  the  trade  and  that  consequently 
the  latter  was  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch  ; 
they  therefore  urged  the  speedy  passing  of  an  Act  of  Parliament  to 
enable  them  to  support  and  continue  this  important  commerce. 
The  Company  also  drew  up  a  petition  to  Parliament,  praying  for  an 
Act  to  that  effect,  which  should  'hinder  the  proceeding  of  the 
pretended  planters  at  Assada  '. 

The  line  taken  by  the  Council  of  State  was  the  obvious  one  of 
endeavouring  to  effect  a  coalition  between  the  two  sets  of  adventurers. 
On  November  10  the  Assada  Merchants  put  into  writing  their 
objections  to  the  Company's  scheme,  and  at  the  same  time  sub- 
mitted the  terms  on  which  they  were  willing  to  join  in  the  new 
subscription.  These  included  the  establishment  of  settlements  in 
Assada  and  Pulo  Run  and  on  the  coast  of  India  :  the  absorption 
of  the  Guinea  trade  :  a  change  in  the  management  of  the  Company  : 
liberty  for  the  Assada  settlers  to  trade  freely  in  the  East,  provided 
they  did  not  interfere  with  the  trade  to  and  from  Europe :  compen- 
sation to  the  owners  of  the  goods  left  in  India  by  the  Ruth : 
permission  for  two  ships,  which  Thomson  was  then  preparing  to 
send  to  India,  to  fetch  saltpetre  for  the  service  of  the  State :  and  an 
assurance  that,  if  the  Company  declined  to  accept  proposals  for 
voyages  to  China,  Japan,  &.c.,  then  other  Englishmen  should  be 
allowed  to  undertake  them  on  their  own  account.  These  pro- 
positions were  sent  by  the  Council  to  the  Company,  with  direc- 
tions for  a  conference  between  the  two  parties.  The  result  is  seen 
in  a  memorial   from  the    Court   of  Committees  to   the    Council, 


xxiv  COURT   MINUTES 

stating  that  conferences  had  been  held  but  that  an  agreement 
had  not  been  reached.  They  were  willing  to  meet  the  other  side 
as  far  as  possible,  and  would  therefore  offer  no  objection  to  the 
settlement  at  Assada,  though  they  conceived  that  such  a  planta- 
tion had  small  chances  of  success  and  that  its  inclusion  would 
injure  rather  than  assist  the  new  subscription.  They  demurred, 
however,  to  the  demand  that  the  Assada  planters  should  be  al- 
lowed to  traffic  from  port  to  port  in  the  Indies,  to  the  proposal 
that  the  Guinea  factories  should  be  taken  over,  to  the  claim  for 
compensation  on  account  of  the  Ruth's  cargo,  and  to  the  dispatch 
of  the  two  fresh  ships  to  fetch  saltpetre.  These  differences  were 
evidently  not  irreconcilable ;  and  under  further  pressure  a  meet- 
ing took  place  on  November  21,  at  which  an  agreement  was 
formulated.  By  this  the  amount  of  stock  to  be  raised  was  fixed 
at  300,000/.,  and  the  question  of  the  form  of  government  to  be 
adopted  was  left  to  the  decision  of  the  future  shareholders.  As 
regards  settlements,  it  was  decided  to  proceed  with  the  planta- 
tion at  Assada,  the  former  adventurers  being  reimbursed  *  what 
they  have  layd  out  thereon ' :  that  a  *  settled,  fortifyed  habitation 
in  India '  should  be  established  as  soon  as  possible :  and  that  the 
island  of  Pulo  Run,  when  recovered,  should  belong  to  the  new 
stock.  The  Assada  settlers  were  to  be  allowed  to  trade  freely  to 
certain  parts,  but  not  from  port  to  port  in  India.  The  proposal 
relating  to  Guinea  was  postponed  for  the  present.  As  regards  the 
Ruth^  the  Company  agreed  to  do  its  best  to  recover  for  the  owners 
the  property  seized  in  India ;  while  Thomson's  agreement  with  the 
Government  regarding  saltpetre  was  to  be  taken  over,  and  also  his 
ship,  the  Lioness^  then  preparing  for  India.  Finally,  it  was  decided 
that  in  the  event  of  the  Company  rejecting  a  scheme  for  a  trading 
voyage  to  China,  Japan,  or  similar  places,  then  any  member  should 
be  allowed  to  make  the  venture  on  his  own  account,  providing 
he  gave  security  that  the  Company's  interests  should  not  suffer. 
This  agreement  was  signed  by  the  representatives  of  both  parties 
on  December  5,  1649. 

On  hearing  that  the  dispute  had  been  settled,  the  Council  of 
State  ordered  the  Company  and  the  Assada  adventurers  to  draw 
up  in  consultation  a  bill  for  upholding  the  East  India  trade.  This 
was  done  ;  and  the  draft  was  read  at  a  meeting  held  on  December  8, 


INTRODUCTION  xxv 

and  was  ordered  to  be  submitted  to  the  Council.  Apparently  the 
Levant  and  other  trading  companies  had  made  similar  applications  ; 
and  as  these  involved  '  some  restraint  to  general  liberty  of  trade ', 
the  Council  referred  the  whole  matter  to  the  consideration  of  the 
House  of  Commons,  with  the  result  that  some  months  later  an  Act 
was  passed  establishing  a  Board  of  Trade.  It  seems  to  have  been  at 
first  intended  to  leave  all  such  questions  to  that  body,  when  estab- 
lished ;  but  as  the  case  of  the  East  India  trade  was  urgent — the 
subscription  for  the  new  stock  having  been  opened  at  the  end 
of  December,  1649 — the  Parliament  on  January  31,  1650,  took  the 
matter  into  special  consideration.  The  Company's  petition  was 
read,  and  also  its  agreement  with  the  Assada  adventurers  ;  and 
thereupon  three  resolutions  were  passed.  The  first  was  that  '  the 
East  India  trade  be  carried  on  by  one  company  and  with  one  joint 
stock,  and  the  management  thereof  to  be  under  a  regulation,  in 
such  manner  as  the  Parliament  shall  think  fit '.  The  second 
authorized  the  exportation  of  20,000/.  in  foreign  coin  and  bullion,  in 
the  ships  East  India  Merchant,  Advice^  Bonito,  and  Lioness^  then 
ready  to  set  sail.  The  third  ordered  '  that  the  East  India  Company 
do  proceed  upon  the  grounds  of  the  articles  of  agreement  made 
between  them  and  the  adventurers  to  Assada  of  the  one-and- 
twentieth  of  November,  1649,  until  the  Parliament  take  further 
order  '  [Comrnons'  Jonrtials,  vol.  vi,  p.  ^Ss)-  Thus  the  new  stock — 
which  was  to  be  known  as  the  '  United  Joint  Stock  ' — had  ob- 
tained at  least  a  preliminary  sanction  for  its  exclusive  right  to 
the  trade. 

Among  minor  matters  dealt  with  in  the  present  volume  we  may 
note  that  this  period  was  marked  in  the  domestic  history  of  the 
Company  by  the  transfer  of  its  offices  to  the  spot  they  ever  after- 
wards occupied,  though  of  course  with  considerable  accretions 
as  time  went  on.  As  we  have  already  seen,  in  November,  1638, 
when  Crosby  House  was  given  up,  the  Company  moved  to  a  house 
on  the  south  side  of  Leadenhall  Street,  the  residence  of  its  then 
Governor,  Sir  Christopher  Clitherow  ;  and  after  his  death  they  still 
continued  in  occupation  of  the  premises,  though  not  without  an 
occasional  attempt  to  find  more  roomy  quarters.  For  example, 
early  in  the  present  volume  (p.  24)  we  find  inquiries  set  on  foot 
whether  Crosby    House  could  be  obtained  once  more ;  but  evi- 


xxvi  COURT   MINUTES 

dently  these  came  to  nothing,  possibly  because  the  Company 
wished  to  be  yearly  tenants  only,  without  incurring  the  responsi- 
bility of  a  lease. 

In  October,  1647,  a  proposal  was  made  that  the  Company  should 
move  to  a  house  next  door  to  Clitherow's  (on  the  western  side) 
belonging  to  '  the  gallant  Lord  Craven '.  The  latter  had  long  been 
on  the  Continent,  fighting  for,  or  in  attendance  upon,  the  Queen 
of  Bohemia ;  but  his  agent  had  full  power  to  let  his  London 
property.  The  house  itself  was  eminently  suitable.  Its  appear- 
ance is  fairly  familiar  from  views  taken  after  it  became  the  *  East 
India  House ' ;  though  by  the  time  these  were  drawn  its  aspect 
had  been  somewhat  altered,  as  the  top  floor  had  been  masked  by 
a  large  wooden  frame,  painted  with  ships  and  surmounted  by  the 
figure  of  a  sailor.  In  addition  to  the  house  itself,  there  were  ware- 
houses at  the  side  and  a  large  garden  in  the  rear,  to  say  nothing 
of  a  small  tenement,  which  apparently  covered  the  side  entrance 
from  Lime  Street. 

After  some  negotiations,  Methwold,  who  was  the  chief  agent  on 
the  side  of  the  Company,  informed  his  colleagues  on  November  10, 
1647,  that  the  whole  property  was  offered  for  230/.  per  annum,  on 
a  lease  for  twenty-one  years,  but  he  added  that  he  believed  that 
200/.  a  year  would  be  accepted,  and  that  he  was  himself  willing  to 
give  the  Company  a  rent  of  180/.,  should  the  bargain  be  repented 
of  at  a  later  date.  Nine  days  after,  it  was  announced  that  Lord 
Craven  would  accept  300/.  per  annum  ;  and  thereupon  the  Com- 
mittees resolved  to  take  the  house  and  to  give  notice  to  quit  their 
present  abode  by  the  following  Lady  Day.  Subsequently  it  was 
agreed  to  pay  rent  to  Mr.  Clitherow  up  to  May  i,  if  he  had  not 
found  a  fresh  tenant  before  that  date. 

In  the  middle  of  February,  1648,  information  was  received  that 
Crosby  House,  with  its  brick  warehouse  and  cellars,  might  be  had 
for  300/.  a  year  and  a  fine  of  700/. ;  and  thereupon  the  Committees 
made  an  offer  to  take  it  at  that  rental,  provided  no  fine  were 
required.  Evidently  the  latter  condition  was  unacceptable,  for  we 
hear  nothing  more  of  the  matter.  Thus  thrown  back  upon  Craven 
House,  the  Committees  proceeded  leisurely  with  their  preparations 
for  removal.  The  necessary  repairs  to  the  new  premises  were  not 
completed  till  May,  1648 ;  and  it  was  not  until  August  3  that  we 


r 


INTRODUCTION  xxvii 

find  the  Company  actually  installed  and  a  court  held  in  the  new 
home.^ 

Experience  soon  showed  that  the  house  provided  more  accommo- 
dation than  was  actually  needed  ;  and  in  November,  1648,  it  was 
proposed  to  let  the  part  nearest  to  Leadenhall  Street.  However, 
John  Spiller,  the  Company's  beadle,  who  was  already  in  occupation 
of  this  portion,  was  unwilling  to  remove  to  some  rooms  which 
it  was  proposed  to  allot  him  at  the  back  of  the  house,  and  he 
offered  to  take  the  front  portion  at  20/.  per  annum.  This  was 
accepted  on  December  i  ;  but  in  the  middle  of  the  following 
February  Spiller  begged  to  be  allowed  to  surrender  his  new  rooms 
and  take  up  his  quarters  in  those  formerly  assigned  to  him.  There- 
upon certain  of  the  Committees  were  instructed  to  let  out  the 
forepart  of  the  house  ;  but  this  resolution  appears  to  have  been 
deferred,  for  a  time  at  all  events,  owing  to  the  lease  of  the  house 
not  having  been  sealed  (p.  319).  On  September  12,  1649,  Mr. 
Deputy  Methwold  was  allowed  the  use  of  one  of  the  rooms  in  this 
part  of  the  building. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  the  foregoing  brief  summary 
does  not  by  any  means  exhaust  the  points  of  interest  in  the  present 
instalment.  The  student  of  the  Company's  history  will  find 
abundant  light  shed  upon  its  methods  of  business  and  the  some- 
what complex  machinery  by  which  two  or  more  stocks  were  kept 
running  side  by  side,  with  on  the  whole  a  remarkable  absence 
of  friction ;  to  the  local  antiquary  the  references  to  the  City  and  its 
suburbs,  especially  to  the  Company's  docks,  shipbuilding  yard,  and 
almshouse  at  Blackw^all,  will  be  of  much  value ;  while  the  genea- 
logist will  welcome  the  long  array  of  names,  including  not  only 
the  Company's  chief  servants,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  but  also 
most  of  the  principal  merchants  of  London  at  this  period,  and 
giving  in  many  cases  useful  hints  of  a  biographical  nature.  It 
is  of  course  a  special  advantage  of  these  calendars  that,  reflecting  as 

'  On  July  21  one  of  the  new  Sheriffs  asked  for  the  use  of  Lord  Craven's  house  for 
his  year  of  office ;  but  the  Company  replied  that  some  of  its  goods  had  already  been 
transferred  thither,  and  suggested  that  he  should  take  Clitherow's  house  instead,  in 
which  case  the  Company  would  vacate  the  premises  at  ten  days'  notice.  From  p.  300  it 
appears  that  Clitherow's  house  was  not  finally  surrendered  until  the  middle  of  September, 
1648. 


xxviii  COURT  MINUTES 

they  do  the  multifarious  activities  of  the  chief  English  trading 
company,  they  provide  information  bearing  on  many  different  lines 
of  research. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  two  preceding  volumes,  the  index  has  been 
prepared  by  Miss  Sainsbury,  who  has  also  read  the  proofs  of  the 
entire  work. 

It  may  be  well  to  note  that  the  Public  Record  Office  collection 
formerly  known  as  the  East  Indies  series  (and  so  quoted  in  the 
previous  volumes)  has  recently  been  renamed  Colonial  Office  77. 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 

OF  THE 

EAST   INDIA  COMPANY,    1644-1649 

The  Company's  Black  Book,  i 624-1 655  {Home  Miscellaneous, 
vol.  xxix.). 

A  record  of  the  'errors  and  misdemeanors'  of  the  Company's 
servants.  The  entries  for  1644-49  occupy  ff.  34-37.  The  persons 
mentioned  are:  Ralph  Cartwright,  Andrew  Cogan,  [Edward]  Collett, 
Francis  Day,  Henry  Greenhill,  Edward  Knipe,  Francis  Mountfort, 
Thomas  Owen,  Thomas  Penniston,  John  Swynerton,  Andrew  Trum- 
ball,  Humphrey  Weston,  Thomas  Whatmore,  Thomas  Winter,  John 
Yard,  and  Michael  Yates.     (5|  pp.) 

Documents  relating  to  the  Trade  of  the  Dutch  East 
Indl\  Company  {Public  Record  Office:  CO.  77,  vol.  vii,  no.  i). 

A  miscellaneous  collection,  including  general  regulations  for  the 
Company's  servants,  1641 ;  instructions  to  the  merchants,  Dec, 
1643  i  rules  for  the  wearing  of  flags,  etc.;  directions  for  sailing  to 
the  Cape  and  Bantam,  Dec,  1643;  an  account  of  the  monsoons; 
an  order  prohibiting  attacks  on  any  but  Spanish  vessels,  Dec, 
1643 ;  lists  of  ships'  stores ;  particulars  of  Indian  commodities 
received  during  1643  ;  etc,  etc.     [Dutch.     S^ff-) 

List  of  Piece-Goods,  etc.,  delivered  upon  the  dividends 
of  the  First  and  Second  General  Voyages,  January,  1644, 
to  December,  1649  {Home  Miscellatieous,  vol.  vi,  pp.  51-82). 

Giving  the  quantities  and  prices  of  the  goods,  and  the  names  of 
those  to  whom  they  were  delivered.     (27  //.) 

S.CM.  VU  B 


2  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  3,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  103). 

Beef  and  pork  to  be  shipped  for  Bantam  and  Surat ;  and  all  the 
old  anchors  to  be  mended  and  sent  to  the  latter  place  for  sale. 
Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  Job  Harby,  and  Sir  John  Nulls  desire  forbear- 
ance of  the  prosecution  of  their  bond  for  money  owing  to  the 
Company,^  asserting  that  if  the  times  had  been  '  open '  it  would 
have  been  paid  long  ago :  that  Lord  Cottington  was  the  means  of 
their  signing  this  bond :  and  that  now  he  is  Lord  Treasurer  they 
hope  he  will  absolve  them  from  it.  The  Court  replies  that  this 
debt  represents  as  much  as  half  the  Company's  stock,  and  many 
have  refused  to  adventure  because  nothing  has  been  done  about  it 
for  so  long ;  and  that  all  available  money  is  needed  for  the  four 
ships  about  to  be  dispatched.  The  Knights  plead  for  forbearance, 
as  the  debt  is  not  really  theirs,  they  having  been  '  drawne  in  for  the 
Kings  occasion ' ;  they  hope  shortly  to  hear  from  Oxford,  and 
intend  earnestly  to  solicit  the  King  and  Lord  Cottington  concerning 
the  matter.  The  Court,  after  long  debate,  resolves  to  try  to  obtain 
payment  of  the  bond  for  7,000/.,  with  the  interest  due  upon  it. 
Sir  Paul  Pindar  and  his  colleagues  are  told  of  this  resolution,  and 
reminded  that  great  consideration  has  been  shown  to  them  and  that 
their  security  is  much  lessened ;  and  they  are  told  that  a  positive 
answer  will  be  required  from  them  this  day  sennight.  Prosecution 
of  Mr.  Burton  and  his  securities  for  their  debt  is  to  be  forborne  for 
one  week,  but  not  longer  unless  some  satisfaction  is  received  from 
them  ;  and  meanwhile  Spiller  is  directed  to  procure  as  much  money 
as  possible  from  Samuel  Crispe.  Certain  Committees  are  desired 
to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  lack  of  stores  in  the  Blessing.    (2  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  5,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  105). 

A  list  of  the  Company's  debts  is  read,  whereupon  Spiller  is 
directed  to  put  John  Gearing's  bill  in  suit  if  it  is  not  paid  within 
the  month  ;  also  to  call  upon  Mr.  Rumsey  and  others,  and  to  report 
weekly  concerning  all  money  owing  to  the  Company.  The  account 
of  the  customs  for  the  five  ships  last  returned  to  be  cleared.   Number 

'  On  account  of  the  pepper  debt. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  3 

of  men  to  be  sent  in  the  William  to  Bantam.  Henry  Pinson  to 
receive,  as  executor,  the  rings  and  goods  belonging  to  his  late  son, 
Gerard.  It  is  decided  to  send  all  the  coral  in  the  John,  as 
Mr.  Knipe  is  going  in  that  ship  to  Cochin  and  other  places  on  the 
Malabar  Coast,  where  very  probably  he  will  sell  it.  The  Governor 
and  the  Deputy  are  accepted  by  the  balloting-box  as  securities  for 
gum-lac.     {i\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  10,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  106). 

All  wages,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  late  Gerard  Pinson  to  be  delivered 
to  his  father.  Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  Job  Harby,  and  Sir  John  Nulls 
appear  about  the  pepper  debt.  They  return  thanks  for  the  '  faire 
respect '  shown  to  them,  and  state  that  since  their  last  appearance 
they  have  received  a  letter  from  the  King  directed  to  the  Company, 
which  they  desire  may  be  read  ;  this  is  done  and  Sir  Paul  and  his 
friends  are  requested  to  withdraw  to  'the  parlour'.  The  King's 
letter  is  then  considered,  and  after  much  dispute  the  Court,  not 
wishing  to  give  His  Majesty  any  distaste,  yet  because  of  the  Com- 
pany's necessity  and  for  those  who  wish  to  become  adventurers  but 
take  exception  at  nothing  being  done  to  recover  this  debt,  decides 
to  accept  for  the  present  the  interest  due  to  last  Christmas  and 
forbear  the  principal  for  a  time,  hoping  that  the  King  or  Lord 
Cottington  will  take  some  means  to  satisfy  the  Company.  This 
decision  is  told  to  the  Knights,  who  promise  to  ascertain  the 
amount  of  the  said  interest  and  give  a  speedy  answer.  Stephen 
Burton,  Richard  Piggott,  William  and  Stephen  Bolton,  Samuel 
Crispe,  and  Captain  John  Brett  appear  about  a  debt  of  13,898/.  1  is.  2d. 
due  from  them,  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe,  and  others,  and  offer  to  transfer 
to  the  Company  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe's  adventure  of  2y^ocl.  and  to 
return  100  barrels  of  indigo  at  a  reduction.  They  are  told  that 
Sir  Nicholas  has  about  i,coo/.  in  the  Joint  Stock  and  1,500/.  in  the 
General  Voyage  ;  the  first  is  to  '  runne  on  in  adventure ',  but  two 
warrants  have  already  been  received  for  the  latter  to  seqr. ester  it  to 
Parliament,  though  hitherto  the  Committee  of  Parliament  has  been 
satisfied  that  the  Company  should  detain  the  money,  thinking  it 
reasonable  that  they  should  pay  themselves  first.  The  debtors 
declare  that,  though  the  adventure  is  in  the  name  of  Sir  Nicholas, 

B  a 


4  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

yet  it  can  be  proved  that  the  money  belongs  to  Samuel  Crispe,  and 
therefore  they  beg  that  it  may  be  accepted  in  part  payment.  Reply 
is  made  that,  when  they  shall  have  cleared  the  said  1,500/.  from 
sequestration  (provided  that  Sir  Nicholas  is  no  further  indebted  to 
the  Company),  this  shall  be  done ;  but  meanwhile  something  is 
expected  in  payment  of  this  long-outstanding  debt,  the  Company 
being  in  great  need  of  money.  Hereupon  a  speedy  part-payment 
is  promised.  The  unserviceable  ordnance  belonging  to  the  Company 
is  divided  between  the  Crispiana,  John,  and  William,  to  be  used  for 
kentledge,  with  instructions  to  the  masters  of  the  said  ships  on  their 
return  to  leave  it  behind  for  other  ships  if  they  do  not  need  it. 
Fotherby  is  directed  to  view  the  guns  bought  in  the  Peter  and 
Andrew,  those  upon  Tower  Wharf,  and  those  at  the  forts,^  and 
mark  such  as  are  serviceable,  that  these  may  be  put  aboard  the 
ships.  Mucknell,  master  of  the  John,  reporting  that  his  guns  are 
defective,  the  Court  orders  that  they  be  mended.     {i\  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  12,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  109). 

The  Court,  having  ascertained  that  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  is  indebted 
upwards  of  1,100/,  to  the  Company,  in  addition  to  the  money  owing 
by  him  and  others  for  indigo,  orders  that  all  divisions  due  upon  his 
1,500/.  adventure  be  detained  in  satisfaction  for  this  and  other 
debts.  Cable  supplied  to  the  Freeman  from  the  Company's  stores 
at  Sandwich.  It  is  resolved  that  no  warrant  for  payment  of  money 
upon  the  sixth  division  of  the  Third  Joint  Stock  shall  be  issued  to 
those  adventurers  who  have  not  yet  removed  their  goods  from  the 
Company's  warehouse.  The  factors  lately  returned  from  Bantam 
acquainting  the  Court  with  the  great  expense  incurred  by  keeping 
two  houses  in  that  place,  a  dispute  ensues  as  to  the  advisability  of 
leaving  the  upper  house,  and  building  lodgings  at  the  lower.  The 
reasons  for  so  doing  are,  that  the  upper  house  is  decayed  and  rotten 
and  would  cost  2,000  rials  to  repair,  whereas  4,000  or  5,000  rials 
would  suffice  to  build  convenient  lodgings  and  warehouses  to  the 
lower  house,  and  the  conveniences  arising  from  these  additions 

^  The  earthworks  thrown  up  rotind  London  in  the  spring  of  1643,  for  the  defence 
of  which  a  nnmber  of  guns  had  been  requisitioned  from  the  Company  (see  the  introduction 
to  the  preceding  volume,  p.  xxiv). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  5 

would  in  one  or  two  years  defray  the  cost :  that  the  distance  between 
the  two  houses  has  been  the  cause  of  many  disorders  and  fostered 
private  trading,  and  the  expense  of  twenty  men  watching  the 
Company's  goods  would  be  avoided  if  the  factors  themselves  were 
on  the  spot :  that  having  the  two  houses  is  a  double  charge  and  no 
profit  to  the  Company,  and  it  is  thought  that  the  King  of  Bantam 
would  consent  to  this  alteration  on  receiving  a  gratuity  of  6co  or 
700  rials.  For  these  reasons  it  is  generally  agreed  that  the 
President  and  Council  of  Bantam  shall  be  instructed  to  build  con- 
venient rooms  to  the  lower  house  with  all  due  economy  ;  and,  when 
the  building  is  finished,  to  leave  the  upper  house  and  inhabit  the 
lower.  The  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  in  their  last  general 
letter  having  desired  one  or  two  sampans  ^  to  carry  goods  between 
the  shore  and  the  ships,  and  the  ships'  captains  advising  that  such 
boats  could  be  built  better  at  home  than  '  in  India ',-  because  of 
the  '  ponderousnesse '  of  the  Indian  timber,  Steevens  and  some 
carpenters  who  have  been  to  Bantam  are  ordered  to  attend  the 
court  next  Wednesday  to  receive  directions  herein.  Davies,  who 
piloted  the  Endeavour  into  the  Downs,  is  appointed  to  pilot  to 
Erith  or  Gravesend  all  the  ships  intended  for  India  this  year.  At 
the  request  of  Mr.  Bailey,  master  of  the  Crispiana,  her  bread-rooms 
are  ordered  to  be  mended  with  plate,  the  cost  not  to  exceed  7/. 
Mr.  Bateman,  who  had  been  desired  to  move  the  Common  Council 
for  the  return  of  the  ordnance  lent  to  the  City,  or  for  money  for  the 
same,  reports  that  the  matter  was  referred  to  the  Committee  for 
Fortifications,  who  desire  the  Court  to  set  a  price  and  accept  the 
City  seal  for  the  money.  It  is  resolved  to  take  I2j.  per  cwt.  and  to 
accept  the  City's  seal  for  payment  in  twelve  months.     (3^//-) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  17,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  112). 

Mr.  Rich  is  desired  to  treat  with  Mr.  Cord  well  for  100  barrels  of 
powder  at  the  cheapest  rate  possible  for  the  outward-bound  ships, 
in  addition  to  the  fifty  barrels  to  be  provided  by  Sir  John  Gayre. 
It  is  decided  to  refund  Mr.  [Aaron]  Baker  the  50/.  he  paid  for  his 

^  A  tenn  used  in  the  Far  East  for  a  small  boat  or  skiff.  Something  larger  seems  to  be 
intended  here. 

^  Throaghoat  the  volome  '  India '  mast  be  takoi  in  the  larger  sense  of  *■  East  Indies  \ 


6  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

passage  home  in  the  Ulysses,  the  Company  to  pay  one  half  and  the 
owners  of  the  said  ship  the  other.  Steevens  is  ordered  to  build 
a  sampan,  to  carry  about  twenty-five  to  thirty  tons  of  goods  and 
not  to  draw  above  two  and  a  half  feet  of  water  when  laden,  to  be 
sent  in  the  William  to  Bantam.  Mr.  Deputy  moves  whether  it 
would  not  be  well  to  have  '  some  fortification  upon  the  Islands  of 
Banka  or  some  other  place  whence  all  their  pepper  is  brought ',  and 
leave  Bantam  altogether,  the  Company's  stock  not  being  sufficient 
to  do  as  suggested  there.  The  Court  is  willing  to  listen  to  this 
proposal,  and  directs  that  those  the  Deputy  pleases,  who  have  lived 
at  Bantam,  shall  attend  next  Friday  and  give  their  opinions.    {i\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  19,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  114). 

Benjamin  Robinson,  formerly  entertained  as  a  factor  for  Surat  at 
200/.  per  annum,  is  permitted  to  delay  his  departure  for  a  year  on 
account  of  urgent  business.  Mr.  Deputy's  proposition  to  settle 
a  residence  on  the '  Isles  of  Bankoe '  or  thereabouts  in  lieu  of  Bantam 
is  debated,  and  it  is  resolved  that  as  the  Company's  stock  is  now  so 
low  the  President  and  Council  shall  continue  where  they  are,  but 
be  desired  to  report  in  their  next  letter  whether  there  is  any  island 
near  on  which  it  would  be  more  convenient  for  them  to  live,  and 
which  would  be  more  suitable  for  the  Company's  occasions.  Calicoes 
sold  to  James  Martyn.  Samuel  Husbands,  a  factor  lately  returned 
from  Bantam,  is  ordered  to  satisfy  the  Court  for  certain  pepper  at 
the  rate  of  5J.  the  rial ;  this  he  agrees  to  do,  and  desires  to  be 
employed  again.  Being  a  good  linguist  and  accountant,  *  a  seasoned 
man  for  the  country,'  he  is  promised  that  his  request  shall  be  con- 
sidered,   (a^r  pp>i 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  24,  1644  [Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  116). 

The  Court  orders  payment  of  the  491/.  qS.  due  to  Samuel 
Husbands,  who  returned  in  the  Reformation ;  and,  because  he  has 
served  the  Company  ten  years  in  the  East,  he  is  entertained  as 
a  factor  for  Bantam  at  80/.  per  annum  for  seven  and  a  half  years, 
and  directed  to  sail  in  the  William.     At  his  desire  he  is  permitted 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  7 

to  leave  400/.  at  interest  in  the  Company's  hands,  for  the  main- 
tenance of  his  sister,  for  which  he  is  to  be  allowed  7I  per  cent, 
interest  until  his  return  or  death  ;  he  is  also  admitted  to  the  freedom 
of  the  Company.  Eaton,  beadle  of  the  Mercers'  Company,  demands 
in  the  name  of  the  said  Company  and  of  the  Lord  Mayor  and 
Commonalty  of  the  City  of  London,  too/,  due  for  a  fine  on  the 
lease  of  the  Exchange  cellar,  and  the  rent  due  since  last  Lady  Day 
[see  the  previous  volume,  p.  314]  ;  the  fine  is  ordered  to  be  paid, 
although  the  said  lease  is  not  yet  sealed,  and  when  this  shall  be 
done  the  rent  is  promised.  Mr.  Carleton  to  be  paid  the  rent  due 
for  the  little  vault  at  the  north  door  of  the  cellar.  Cloth  to  be 
bought  for  dispatch  to  Surat.  Mr.  Knipe  presents  a  list  of  sundry 
articles  he  wishes  to  take  with  him,  and  is  told  to  buy  them  and  the 
Company  will  defray  the  cost.     (2  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
January  37,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  118). 

William  Bailey,  late  master  of  the  Reformation,  is  allowed 
remission  of  20/.  on  the  cinnamon  he  brought  home  as  private 
trade ;  he  is  given  a  gratuity  of  50/.  for  making  the  Downs  his  first 
port,  and  his  account  is  ordered  to  be  cleared.  Messrs.  Xowell 
\see  p.  310  of  the  last  volutne],  Younge,  and  Wybome,  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Fortifications  for  the  City  of  London,  desire  the  Company 
to  allow  its  ordnance  to  remain  at  the  forts,  or,  if  payment  is  insisted 
upon,  to  wait  for  the  same,  as  an  acceptable  service  to  the  City, 
which  now  is  greatly  in  need  of  money.  The  Governor  replies  that 
the  guns  are  required  for  the  Company's  ships,  and  they  must  either 
have  them  or  buy  some  other ;  that  the  Company  is  also  greatly  in 
need  of  money  and  would  sell  the  ordnance  at  a  reasonable  price, 
for  at  present  it  is  at  a  double  charge,  each  member  paying  sepa- 
rately towards  the  maintenance  of  these  forts.  The  three  Com- 
mittees offer  IOJ-.  per  cwt.  at  twelve  months'  time  for  the  guns  ;  but 
the  Court  thinks  this  too  little  and  requires  either  12s.  per  cwt.  at 
twelve  months'  time,  or  10s.  per  cwt.  for  ready  money.  The  Com- 
mittees, having  no  power  to  decide,  depart,  promising  to  inform  the 
Common  Council.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  sell  the 
100  bags  of  garbled  pepper   upon   the  Exchange.     The  Deputy 


8  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

moves  that,  as  it  is  feared  there  may  not  be  sufficient  Spanish 
money  procurable  to  furnish  the  ships,  advice  be  sent  to  Holland 
for  rix  dollars.  Mr.  Massingberd  declares  that  there  is  a  still 
greater  need  of  English  money,  without  which  nothing  can  be 
done,  and  that  there  is  a  great  deal  to  be  paid  for  the  sixth  division 
of  the  Third  Joint  Stock  now  due,  and  for  other  occasions,  for  which 
he  must  be  furnished.  The  Court  promises  to  consider  this  and 
decides  not  to  send  to  Holland,  but  to  apply  to  the  Merchant 
Adventurers  and  allow  three  months'  interest  to  any  who  shall 
supply  this  want.  Gerard  Pinson's  account  to  be  examined.  Spiller, 
the  beadle,  is  directed  to  summon  a  general  court  of  the  adven- 
turers in  the  General  Voyage  for  next  Monday  afternoon.     (2  pp^ 

A  General  Court  of  Adventurers  in  the  General 
Voyage,  January  29,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  121). 

The  Governor  declares  that  they  have  met  to  consider  how  best 
to  dispose  of  the  remainder  of  the  pepper  returned  in  the  Blessing 
belonging  to  the  General  Voyage,  and  to  give  order  about  payment 
of  the  Company's  debt.  The  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
have  disbursed  20,000/.  for  the  General  Voyage  in  freight,  customs, 
etc.,  and  ready  money  is  wanting  to  set  forth  their  ships.  They 
have  as  much  pepper  shipped  to  Leghorn  as  the  Joint  Stock,  but  it 
will  not  furnish  ready  money  ;  there  are  also  goods  lying  in  the 
warehouses,  and  for  these  the  Court  of  Committees  has  appointed 
a  day  of  sale.  After  much  dispute  it  is  decided  that  each  adven- 
turer shall  underwrite  one  bag  of  the  said  pepper  for  every  100/. 
adventured  ;  that  the  pepper  shall  be  rated  at  \'2,d.  per  lb.  at 
a  month's  time,  the  money  to  be  paid  before  the  pepper  is  delivered, 
and  all  subscriptions  paid  before  the  5th  of  March  next  under 
a  penalty  of  40J.  per  bag ;  that  those  transporting  the  said  pepper 
shall  be  allowed  the  half  subsidy,  but  none  to  be  permitted  to  send 
any  into  Italy  upon  pain  of  forfeiting  5/.  to  the  Company  for  every 
bag.  This  subscription  is  to  remain  open  until  next  Saturday, 
when,  if  all  is  not  underwritten  for,  then  each  adventurer  may 
double  his  proportion  if  he  pleases.  A  preamble  to  this  effect 
is  accordingly  drawn  up,  read,  and  agreed  to.     (i^  pp.) 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  9 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  2, 1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  122). 

A  suit,  begun  in  the  Admiralty  against  John  Frith,  a  linendraper 
in  Comhill,  John  Totty,  master's  mate,  and  John  Ellyott,  carpenter, 
in  the  Crispiaiia,  about  some  indigo  taken  out  of  that  ship,  is  ordered 
to  be  stayed,  Richard  Wotton,  entertained  to  go  as  a  factor  to 
Bantam  in  the  William,  is  permitted  to  carry  ten  butts  of  beer  on 
his  own  account  and  to  take  with  him  his  son  Richard,  a  youth 
about  eighteen,  to  train  for  the  Company's  service.  The  lad  is  to 
be  allowed  his  diet  only,  until  the  Court  shall  hear  of  his  ability  and 
accord  him  a  salary.  Mrs.  Margaret  Eaton,  daughter  and  executrix 
of  the  late  John  Woodall,  to  be  paid  26/.  i^s.  ^d.,  the  division  upon 
her  father's  adventure.  The  said  Mrs.  Eaton  transfers  to  James 
Martin  100/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  General  V'oyage.  Imprest 
money  ordered  to  be  paid  to  one-third  of  each  ship's  company. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  7,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  124). 

It  is  resolved  that,  as  some  adventurers  are  out  of  town,  or 
employed  as  factors  in  India,  and  therefore  cannot  hear  in  time 
what  passed  at  the  last  general  court  concerning  the  pepper 
returned  in  the  Blessing,  others  shall  be  allowed  to  underwrite 
on  their  behalf  for  their  proportion.  It  is  likewise  decided  that 
the  fifteen  bags  of  pepper  due  to  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  shall  be 
underwritten  for  by  Mr.  Bowen,  '  the  benefitt  to  redound  '  to  the 
Company.  Sir  John  Gayer  to  be  paid  the  impost  of  the  pepper 
brought  back  in  the  Hopewell  and  sold  to  him,  Sir  George  Clarke, 
and  others.  The  Committees  who  were  desired  to  examine  Gerard 
Pinson's  accounts  recommend  that  all  moneys,  etc.  belonging  to  him 
be  detained  until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Coggan,  who  alone  can  clear  up 
uncertainties  concerning  these  accounts  ;  it  is  therefore  resolved  that 
all  wages  and  money  due  upon  the  said  Gerard  Pinson's  adventure 
shall  be  detained,  but  his  goods  and  jewels  given  up  to  his  father. 
Mr.  Willson  is  allowed  to  stow  elm  timber  in  the  yard  at  Blackwall. 
Nathaniel  Wyche  transfers  to  Gregory  Clement  800/.  adventure  and 
profits  in  the  General  Voyage,  upon  which  125  per  cent,  is  divided. 


10  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC,  OF  THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  February  7,  1644  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  126). 

Sale  of  cotton  wool,  Coromandel  indigo,  cinnamon,  pepper,  dust 
of  cloves,  '  merculees,  duttees,  sereias,'  and  turmeric,  with  prices 
and  names  of  purchasers,     (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  9,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  ia8). 

On  hearing  that  a  quantity  of  pepper  of  a  small  light  sort  was 
brought  home  as  private  trade  in  the  Blessing,  the  Court  resolves 
to  allow  the  owners  for  it  at  the  rate  of  40J.  per  cwt.,  to  pay  custom 
and  other  charges,  and  detain  it  for  the  Company's  use.  Steevens 
is  ordered  either  to  buy  or  build  three  small  skiffs  for  the  WiUiam^ 
Crispiana,  and  John,  The  Court  also  orders  two  guns  to  be  sup- 
plied to  the  John,  '  to  prevent  the  mischiefs  of  the  Mallabars,'  and 
one  or  two  blunderbusses,  to  carry  ten  or  twelve  musketshot  apiece, 
for  each  ship.  Cubebs  and  '  tamarine '  sold  to  Thomas  Thatcher. 
Thomas  Rich  and  Gilbert  Morewood  accepted  by  the  balloting-box 
as  securities  for  calicoes  bought  by  James  Martyn.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  settle  the  difference  between  the  Company 
and  Messrs.  Thatcher  and  Brewer  respecting  interest  due  upon 
bills.  A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read  and  Spiller  is 
directed  to  bring  an  action  against  Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  and 
others,  who  have  paid  nothing  in  satisfaction  of  their  debt ;  he 
is  to  acquaint  them  with  this,  but  make  no  arrests  until  the  next 
court.     Mr.  Gerard   and    Daniel   Andrews  are  also    to   be  sued. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  14,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  129). 

William  Pinson,  who  came  home  purser  in  the  Blessing,  desires 
re-entertainment,  but  as  all  vacancies  are  filled  he  is  referred  to  next 
year.  Henry  Wheatley,  late  master's  mate  in  the  Aleppo  Merchant, 
petitions  for  50/.  of  the  money  detained  from  his  wages  when 
he  came  home  purser  in  the  Great  James  ;  but,  the  Court  having 
lent  him  50/.  on  his  last  voyage,  he  is  refused  any  more.  Sambrooke 
is  directed  to  give  to  every  adventurer  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
credit  upon  his  account  to  the  value  of  30  per  cent.,  according  to  an 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  ii 

agreement  made  at  a  general  court  the  20th  of  September  last. 
By  request  the  Court  agrees  to  postpone  proceeding  against  Messrs. 
Burton,  Crispe,  and  others,  on  a  promise  being  given  of  daily  pay- 
ments towards  settlement  of  their  debt.  The  Governor  and  Deputy 
accepted  as  securities  for  calicoes  bought  by  James  Martyn.  The 
Governor  reports  that  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
appointed  at  the  reading  of  the  Company's  ordinance,  met  yesterday 
and  appears  willing  to  confirm  the  Company's  privil^es ;  so  that 
doubtless  the  said  ordinance  will  be  passed  within  the  week ;  that 
Mr.  Greene  ^  and  '  some  Parlyament  men  '  were  very  earnest  for  the 
Company  to  accommodate  Parliament  with  2,000/.  in  ready  money 
as  part  of  the  6,000/.  for  which  the  Company  had  promised  to 
engage  its  common  seal,  and  that  Sir  Henry  Vane's  clerk  is  await- 
ing an  answer  as  to  the  Court's  decision  on  this  matter.  After  some 
dispute  the  clerk  is  told  that  the  Company  will  furnish  500/. 
to-morrow,  another  500/.  between  this  and  Saturday,  and  1000/. 
more  between  this  and  Saturday  sennight,  with  which  he  is  desired 
to  acquaint  the  Committee  of  the  Navy.  John  Mucknell,  who 
came  home  master  in  the  Blessings  to  be  paid  for  disbursements 
made  at  Mauritius  and  Dungeness.     ( i  \  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  i6,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  131). 

John  Cartwright  to  receive  20/.  from  the  estate  of  his  late  servant, 
Humphrey  Tompkins,  a  factor  deceased  at  the  Coast,  on  giving 
security  to  repay  the  same  if  not  found  owing  when  the  accounts 
come  home.  Ten  more  oxen  to  be  bought  for  the  outward-bound 
ships  for  *  harbour  meate  '.  The  Company  sending  no  wine  out  and 
there  being  stowage  room  in  the  ships,  certain  Committees  are 
appointed  to  consider  a  proposition  that  two  or  three  of  the  Com- 
mittees be  allowed  to  send  out  *  Mallagoe  wyne '  on  their  own 
account,  the  money  realized  for  it  to  be  put  into  the  Company's 
cash  and  the  Committees  paid  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  per  rial  six  months 
after  notice  of  the  sale.  James  Martyn  and  John  Frith  accepted  as 
securities  for  calicoes  bought  by  the  former.  Mr.  William  Isackson 
entertained  to  proceed  in  the  jfohn  to  Surat  as  minister,  at  50/. 

'  Giles  Green,  who  is  mentioned  several  times  in  the  preceding  volume  as  chairman 
of  the  '  Committee  of  the  Navy  and  Customs '.     For  the  loan  of  6,000/.  see  ibid.,  p.  xxvi. 


12  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

per  annum,  with  a  gratuity  of  lo/,  to  buy  books,  on  condition  that 
he  shall  go  where  the  President  and  Council  think  fit,  if  Mr.  Baines, 
the  present  minister,  shall  not  have  started  for  England  before  his 
arrival.  Mr.  Isackson  is  also  desired  to  preach  '  a  sermon  or  two  ' 
to  the  Committees  before  his  departure.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John 
Pearse,  to  receive  three  months  of  her  husband's  wages  yearly. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  ai,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  133). 

Mr.  William  Isackson  is  desired  to  preach  next  Tuesday  afternoon 
at  St.  Andrew  Undershaft.  Ten  more  oxen  to  be  bought.  Ordered 
that  no  outward-bound  ship  carry  more  than  the  number  of  men 
formerly  agreed  upon.  Abraham  Chamberlaine  to  receive,  as 
executor,  the  division  due  upon  the  adventure  of  Nicholas  Askwith. 
A  bill  of  Thomas  Pitt,  gunfounder,  to  be  paid.  Two  pipes  of 
canary  and  two  butts  of  beer  to  be  sent  to  each  presidency. 
In  response  to  a  clause  in  a  letter  from  Bantam  by  the  Ulysses, 
Ralph  Cartwright,  who  is  President  there,  is  granted  a  salary 
of  300/.  per  annum,  to  begin  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Baker's  arrival 
in  England.  The  wages  of  Christopher  Willoughby,  who  three 
years  ago  went  as  a  factor  to  Bantam,  are  to  be  raised  from  20/.  to 
40/.  per  annum  ;  and  the  salary  of  20/.  conferred  by  the  President 
and  Council  on  James  Womell,  an  under-factor  at  Bantam,  is  con- 
firmed. On  a  warrant  from  the  Committee  of  the  Lords  and 
Commons,  dated  the  aoth  instant,  revoking  the  sequestration  of 
Sir  William  Cooper's  stock  and  adventure,  all  divisions  due  on 
the  same  are  ordered  to  be  paid.^  Captain  Hide,  commander  of 
the  Freeman,  to  pay  2^s.  per  cwt.  for  the  cable  he  borrowed  from 
the  Company's  stores  at  Sandwich.  Two  boats  and  five  cables 
to  be  sent  to  that  place  to  supply  the  shipping  expected  there  this 
year.  Richard  Goodlad,  master  of  the  Martha,  to  pay  for  a  boat, 
cables,  etc.  lent  to  him  by  the  Company.  It  being  thought  fit  that 
those  Committees  desirous  of  sending  '  Mallagoe  wyne '  on  their 
own  account  to  India  should  pay  7/.  per  ton  for  its  freight,  they 
desire  time  to  consider.     Cloth  and  lead  to  be  provided  for  the 

•  See  Mrs.  Green's  calendar  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Committee  for  Advance  of  Money, 
parti,  pp.  25,  137. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY 


13 


John  for  Mr.  Knipe  to  sell  at  Mozambique,  He  requests  that  his 
brother  may  be  permitted  to  accompany  him,  but  as  sufficient 
factors  are  already  entertained,  the  brother  is  told  to  apply  next 
year.     (2^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
February  23,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  136). 

The  Committees  who  intend  to  send  'Mallagoe'  wine  to  the 
Indies  as  an  experiment  are  to  be  allowed  to  do  so  at  the  rate 
of  40J.  per  ton  freight,  to  be  deducted  from  the  proceeds,  the  rate  of 
7/.  per  ton  formerly  fixed  being  considered  too  high.  Those  inter- 
ested desire  time  to  consider  before  deciding.  Andrew  Kendricke, 
a  Turkey  merchant,  is  accepted  as  security  for  20/.  paid  to  John 
Cartwright  from  the  estate  of  the  late  Humphrey  Tomkins.  The 
sister  of  John  James,  who  is  entertained  as  a  factor  for  Bantam, 
upon  notice  of  her  brother's  arrival  there  is  to  be  allowed  10/.  yearly 
from  his  wages.  The  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  attend  the  Parliamentary  Committee  which 
is  to  meet  next  Monday  to  confer  about  Mr.  Courteen's  business. 
Mr.  Fotherby  is  directed  to  pay  4/.  for  the  last  weekly  payment  of 
the  assessment  at  Blackwall  enjoined  by  an  ordinance  of  Parliament. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  i,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  137). 

Mr.  Isackson  is  desired  to  preach  next  Sunday  afternoon  at 
St.  Martin  Outwich,  when  the  Court  intends  to  be  present.  Davies 
is  ordered  to  pilot  the  four  outward-bound  ships  to  Gravesend. 
Henry  Austen  transfers  to  Sir  Thomas  Soame  600/.  adventure  and 
profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  upon  which  nothing  has  been 
divided.     {\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  6,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix.  p.  138). 

Charles  Cox  desiring  to   receive  money  due  to  him  upon  his 

adventure  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock,  he  is  told  that  there  is  a  seques- 
tration upon  it  ^ ;  he  is  advised  to  get  this  revoked  and  then  all  that 

'*■  See  Mrs.  Green's  calendar  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Committee  for  Advance  of  Money, 
parti,pp.  35,  173. 


14  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

is  owing  shall  be  paid  to  him.  Thomas  Clarke,  formerly  a  factor  at 
the  Coast  but  since  employed  in  the  counting-house  and  other 
offices,  whereby  he  has  obtained  insight  into  the  Company's  busi- 
ness, having  appeared  lately  very  ready  to  give  information  against 
the  Company  to  its  adversaries,  the  Court,  because  of  this  abuse 
of  trust,  orders  that  he  be  dismissed.  It  being  thought  that  the 
Company  is  much  wronged  by  too  many  billets  being  put  aboard 
its  ships,  the  Court  orders  the  Husband  to  send  down  a  man  to 
take  account  of  all  those  shipped  in  the  Blessing.  Henry  Bayn- 
brigge,  who  adventured  in  the  General  Voyage,  desires  to  receive 
his  division  in  cinnamon,  he  not  having  taken  it  out  when  others 
did,  through  being  *  restrained  of  his  liberty  '.  On  being  told  there 
is  no  cinnamon,  he  requests  that  a  like  quantity  may  be  allotted  to 
him  from  the  next  consignment ;  but  this  is  refused,  as  the  market 
for  it  may  then  be  better.  Finally  the  Court  decides  to  allow  him 
for  it  at  the  rate  of  y.  per  lb.,  to  be  paid  next  Midsummer,    (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  8,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  140). 

A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  being  read,  the  Court  resolves  to 
forbear  suing  for  the  money  owing  by  Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  and 
others,  because  of  the  illness  of  Mr.  Piggott :  to  sue  Nicholas  Back- 
house, if  he  does  not  pay  within  a  week  after  notice  given :  to  cause 
John  Gearing  and  Mr.  Garway  to  be  informed  that,  unless  they  pay 
their  debt  before  Lady  Day,  proceedings  will  be  taken  against  them, 
and  John  Holloway  to  be  told  that,  unless  he  pays  or  gives  some 
legal  security  for  his  debt,  he  too  will  be  sued.  John  King,  formerly 
apprenticed  to  Gilbert  Kindar,  is  made  free  of  the  Company  by 
service  on  payment  of  \os.  to  the  poor-box.  Upon  the  petition  of 
Williamott,  wife  of  Richard  Wallis,  who  went  out  as  master's  mate  in 
the  Hopewell,  the  Court  orders  the  said  Wallis  to  be  sent  for  home ;  if 
he  cannot  be  spared,  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  are  to  see 
that  he  remits  a  suitable  allowance  for  the  maintenance  of  his  wife. 
The  exchange  from  Leghorn  and  Genoa  being  very  low,  the  factors 
there  are  directed  to  remit  only  as  much  money  as  can  be  exchanged 
here  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  4d.  the  rial  ;  to  provide  the  proceeds  of  the 
pepper  in  good  weighty  rials  to  be  sent  home  if  required,  and  to 
reserve  the  remainder  for  other  occasions.     The  factors  at  Leghorn 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  15 

are  to  be  told  that  100  bags  of  pepper  are  left  to  their  discretion  to 
sell  at  what  price  they  think  fitting,  to  discourage  the  Dutch.  The 
sequestration  laid  upon  the  adventure  of  Charles  Cox  being  revoked 
by  order  from  the  Committee  of  Haberdashers'  Hall,^  he  is  to  be 
paid  the  125/.  due  to  him  on  division,  and  the  125/.  due  next  Mid- 
summer upon  discount,  on  condition  that  he  takes  away  from  the 
Company's  warehouse  all  goods  belonging  to  him.  The  Governor 
reports  that  the  Committee  of  Parliament  is  to  be  attended  this 
afternoon  about  the  Company's  ordinance,  and  that  in  all  probability 
proposals  of  accommodation  with  Mr.  Courteen  will  be  made ; 
therefore  he  desires  that  the  Committees  attending  may  have  power 
given  to  them  to  treat.  The  Court  begs  those  Committees  to  note 
that  Mr.  Courteen  may  dispeed  a  ship  with  his  own  goods  to  fetch 
his  remains,  and  that  the  goods  he  has  ready  shipped  for  India,  if 
not  of  much  value,  the  Company  is  willing  to  take  at  a  reasonable 
price.     {}\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  13,  1644  {Court  Book^  vol.  xix,  p.  142). 

Charles  Cox  is  allowed  to  leave  his  calicoes  in  the  Company's 
warehouse  for  a  month  at  his  own  risk.  He  asks,  as  administrator, 
for  the  600/.  due  upon  his  late  brother  John  Cox's  adventure  for  the 
use  of  the  children,  and  is  told  to  confer  with  Mr.  Acton  ;  meanwhile 
the  Court  orders  that  interest  at  the  rate  of  7  per  cent,  upon 
the  said  600/.  shall  be  allowed  to  the  children.  Upon  Mr.  Bateman 
reporting  that  the  six  pieces  of  ordnance  which  went  to  Holy  Island 
have  since  been  sent  to  the  garrison  at  Berwick,  and  the  Committee 
at  Goldsmiths'  Hall  concerned  in  this  matter  cannot  pay  ready 
money  for  them,  this  is  referred  entirely  to  him.  to  do  as  he  thinks 
fitting.  As  there  are  no  rials  to  be  had,  Mr.  Massingberd  is  desired 
to  buy  20,000/.  of  silver  bars,  which,  with  the  rials  in  hand,  may 
furnish  the  Surat  ships  about  to  be  dispeeded  ;  those  for  Bantam 
can  wait  a  little,  when  it  is  hoped  the  fleet  will  arrive  from  Spain 
and  supply  them  with  rials.  All  guns  to  be  provided  with  thirty 
shot,  instead  of  with  twenty  as  formerly.  Certain  Committees  are 
requested  to  value  the  houses  and  stone  wharf  at  Deptford.  The 
Committee  for  the  Tower  Hamlets  reports  that  a  trained  band  has 

*  The  Conimittee  for  Adifance  of  Money  (see  note  oa  p.  13). 


i6  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

to  be  raised  at  Blackwall  and  only  seven  men  capable  of  bearing 
arms  are  to  be  found,  the  population  consisting  mostly  of  seamen ; 
as  the  Company  has  a  storehouse  and  wharf  there,  it  is  requested  to 
find  thirty  men  and  arms.  The  Governor  replies  that  the  Company 
is  not  liable  to  any  such  charge,  for  it  receives  no  rent  for  its  house 
or  land  at  Blackwall ;  and  therefore  is  resolved  to  do  nothing  in  this 
respect.  Thomas  Thatcher  and  Thomas  Allen  are  accepted  as 
security  for  pepper  lately  bought  by  Mr.  Burnell.  Thomas  Thatcher 
having  bought  olibanum  is  to  be  allowed  half  the  impost,  provided 
it  does  not  amount  to  more  than  lo/.,  the  Company  to  receive  the 
other  half.  A  bill  of  49/.  9^.  to  be  paid  for  brass  weights  which  are 
to  be  sent  to  Surat.     (2f>p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  15,  1644  [Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  144). 

The  two  demi-cannons  from  the  Dolphin  to  be  put  aboard  the 
William.  Colonel  Gower,  William  Tilsley,  and  Richard  Ashhurst, 
allowed  40/.  on  damaged  sugar  they  bought  from  the  Company. 
William  Bailey,  master  of  the  Crispiana^  is  permitted  to  take  100/. 
with  him  for  private  trade,  on  condition  that  he  does  not  traffic  in 
the  Company's  commodities,  or  for  more  than  the  said  amount. 
Bailey  agrees  to  leave  600/.  with  the  Company ;  he  to  receive  fifty 
per  cent,  profit  on  every  hundred  deposited,  two  months  after  the 
arrival  of  the  Crispiana  at  Erith,  but  if  the  ship  miscarries  then  the 
Company  is  to  retain  both  principal  and  interest.  Bailey,  who  has 
adventured  aoo/.  and  is  an  old  servant,  is  made  free  of  the  Company, 
on  payment  of  20J.  The  account  of  John  Mucknell  to  be  cleared 
and  he  to  be  given  a  gratuity  of  ^t^J"  ^^'  ^^-  fo^  making  the  Downs 
his  first  port.  The  sister  of  Edmund  Style,  a  factor  entertained  for 
Bantam,  to  be  paid  10/.  yearly  from  her  brother's  wages.  The  wife 
of  Henry  Garry,  a  factor  for  Surat,  to  be  paid  annually  one-third  of 
her  husband's  wages,     i^ipp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  21,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  145). 

The  four  outward-bound  ships  to  be  dispeeded  to  the  Downs. 
As  sufficient  rials  cannot  be  procured  for  the  ships,  and  the  fleet  is 
expected  shortly  with  money  from  Spain,  it  is  suggested  that  Mr. 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  17 

Massingberd  or  Michael  Dunkyn  shall  be  supplied  with  a  letter  of 
credit  to  take  up  rials  at  Dover  and  ship  them  there  ;  but  no 
decision  is  come  to.  The  Court  orders  40,000/.  to  be  sent  this  year 
to  Surat  and  20,000/.  to  Bantam.  Of  the  money  for  Surat,  six 
chests  of  rials  are  to  be  shipped  in  the  yohn  and  the  rest  in  the 
Crispiana.  Mr.  Smith,  the  Commissary,  desiring  that  his  only 
son  John,  who  went  out  as  purser  in  the  Reformation  and  is  now 
a  factor  at  Jambi,  may  return,  the  Court  directs  Bowen  to  insert 
a  clause  to  this  effect  in  the  general  letter  to  Bantam  ;  the  said 
Smith  is  also  promised  that  his  request  for  his  son's  wages  to  be 
increased  shall  on  the  return  of  the  latter  be  taken  into  consideration. 
Margaret,  the  widow  of  Edward  Bridges,  to  be  given  40J.  upon  her 
late  husband's  account,  he  having  gone  out  in  the  Hart  long  ago 
and  died  in  the  Indies.     (1  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  22,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  146). 

On  account  of  the  great  inconveniences  arising  from  mariners 
being  allowed  to  take  up  rials  on  board  at  unreasonable  prices,  the 
Court  orders  that  no  money  shall  be  '  lett  out '  at  above  jj.  the  rial 
in  the  pursers'  books,  and  that  the  pursers  shall  not  be  permitted  to 
enter  any  above  this  rate  or  to  suffer  any  man  to  take  up  above 
one-third  of  his  wages,  on  pain  of  forfeiting  their  own.  Five  chests 
of  rials  ordered  to  be  shipped  in  the  Blessing  and  she  to  be  dispeeded 
with  the  Surat  ships  ;  the  William  to  stay  until  these  are  furnished 
with  rials,  and  then  fifteen  chests  to  be  put  aboard  her  ;  but  all  to  go 
to  the  Downs  together.  At  the  request  of  Robert  Fotherby,  the 
President  and  Council  at  Bantam  are  to  be  told  to  send  his  son 
either  to  Surat  or  the  Coast,  if  his  health  is  not  good  ;  and  the 
increase  of  his  wages  (he  having  been  taken  ashore  from  the  Hope- 
well, where  he  received  at  the  rate  of  24/.  per  annum)  is  also  referred 
to  Bantam.  A  dispute  arises  about  the  mariners  taking  the  National 
Covenant,^  some  thinking  it  very  necessary,  while  others  contend 
that,  as  the  chief  officers  have  taken  it,  the  mariners  need  not  ;  it  is 
finally  concluded  not  to  tender  it  to  them  this  time.  William 
Tulley,  merchant,  transfers  to  John  Blud worth  50/.  adventure  and 
profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,     (i  /.) 

*  Early  in  the  preceding  month  an  ordinance  of  Parliament  had  directed  that  the  Cove- 
nant should  be  taken  by  every  Englishman  over  eighteen. 


i8  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
March  29,  1644  {Court  Book,  vo\.  xix,  p.  148). 

A  letter  from  Sir  Thomas  Dacres  ^  is  read,  desiring  entertainment 
for  his  son  Edward,  who  has  been  bred  a  merchant  and  speaks 
Spanish  and  Portuguese  ;  the  Court,  in  regard  Sir  Thomas  is  always 
ready  to  favour  the  Company,  resolves  that  his  son  shall  take 
passage  in  the  William  for  Bantam,  and  that  the  President  and 
Council  of  that  place  shall  be  told  to  employ  him  if  he  is  competent. 
His  salary  is  to  be  arranged  when  his  capabilities  are  known,  and 
Sir  Thomas  is  to  enter  into  a  bond  of  500/.  as  security  for  him  ;  but 
if  he  is  not  thought  fitted  for  employment  there,  then  he  is  to  return 
to  England  by  the  first  ships.  Richard  Chaddocke,  who  six  years 
ago  was  in  the  Company's  service  in  India  but  has  now  lost  his  sight, 
is  given  40^'.  from  the  poor-box.  Davies  to  be  paid  20/.  for  piloting 
the  ships  to  Gravesend  and  the  Downs.  The  Crispiana,  John,  and 
Blessing  are  ordered  to  set  sail  at  the  first  fair  wind  and  to  leave  the 
William  behind,  as  she  is  not  yet  provided  with  rials.  In  the  event 
of  the  death  or  removal  of  Cartwright,  Thomas  Ivy  is  to  be  President 
at  Bantam  ;  but  if  he  is  not  there,  then  Richard  Wotton  is  to  supply 
his  place  until  he  arrives.  Thomas  Thatcher,  Thomas  Allen,  and 
Thomas  Handson  accepted  as  securities  for  pepper,  cubebs,  and 
tamarinds.  Richard  Wotton  to  be  paid  the  100/.  owing  to  him  by 
the  late  Gerard  Pinson  from  the  next  division  made  upon  the  latter's 
adventure  in  the  Voyage.  The  wife  of  Richard  Hudson,  who  is 
entertained  as  a  factor  for  Bantam,  to  be  paid  15/.  yearly  from  her 
husband's  wages.     (2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  3,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  150). 

Henry  Wheatley,  master's  mate  in  the  John,  complains  that 
owing  to  the  want  of  scuttles  in  the  cabins  the  mariners  are  deprived 
of  light  and  air,  which  in  hot  climates  will  endanger  their  lives  ; 
whereupon  certain  Committees  and  Steevens,  the  shipwright,  are 
desired  to  speak  with  Sir  John  Gayer,  who  supervised  the  building 
of  the  ship.     (|  p) 

1  M.P.  for  the  county  of  Herlford. 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  19 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  5,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  151). 

Steevens  is  directed  to  buy  elm  timber  from  Mr.  Southeme,  and 
to  report  what  timber  there  is  at  Blackwall  Yard.  Ursula  Palmer  to 
receive  all  money  and  wages  due  to  William  Bailey,  who  died  in  the 
Reformation,  for  the  use  of  his  executor,  John  Woodward,  who  is 
still  a  minor.  Susanna  Martyn  is  given  5/.  from  the  wages  of  her 
brother,  Henry  Olton,  who  went  as  a  factor  to  the  Coast  in  the 
Endeavour.  The  Court  resolves  that  William  Hurt,  formerl}- 
purser  in  the  London,  shall  pay  95/.  for  the  freight  of  his  goods  and 
5/.  as  a  fine  for  the  exorbitancy  of  his  private  trade  ;  this  fine  not  to 
be  mitigated  nor  the  order  of  the  Court  at  any  time  revoked. 
(4 /A) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  id,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  153). 

The  Court  refuses  to  take  calicoes  from  William  Hurt  in  payment 
*of  his  fine,  or  to  alter  its  former  decision  concerning  him.  It  is 
resolved  to  re-examine  the  charges  brought  against  Guy  Bath, 
formerly  a  factor  in  Persia,  on  his  giving  good  security  for  payment 
of  any  money  found  to  be  owing  by  him.  Andrew  Davies  to  be 
paid  8/.  for  piloting  the  Johi,  and  Richard  Punnitt  61.  for  piloting 
the  Blessing  from  Gravesend  to  the  Downs.  The  following 
resolutions  are  made  concerning  those  indebted  to  the  Company : 
for  Captain  Carleton's  debt  of  627/.  17^.,  there  being  no  probability 
of  procuring  satisfaction  for  it  in  England,  as  he  and  his  mother 
(who  is  bound  for  it  with  him)  are  in  Holland,  Bowen  is  directed 
to  write  to  Mr.  Whitaker  to  ascertain  if  the  Carletons  have  any 
estate  in  that  country  :  Spiller  is  ordered  to  call  upon  Stephen 
Bolton  and  request  payment  of  his  debts,  which  amount  to 
688/.  ds.  ^d.  ;  to  inform  John  Gearing,  William  Garway,  and 
Stephen  Burton  and  Company  that,  if  their  debts  are  not  presently 
paid,  their  securities  will  be  sued  ;  and  to  speak  with  the  father 
of  Nicholas  Backhouse,  to  whom  some  money  is  due  upon  division, 
and  ascertain  whether  he  will  clear  his  son's  liabilities.  For  John 
Brown's  debt  of  59/.  3^.,  there  being  some  money  assigned  by 
Parliament  upon  the  Turkey  Company  to  him,  it  is  resolved  to 
detain  sufficient  of  the  same  to  pay  what  he  owes.     Proceedings 

C  a 


ao  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

are  to  be  taken  against  John  HoUoway  and  Nicholas  Gerard. 
With  regard  to  the  great  debt  owing  by  Lord  Cottington  and 
others  for  pepper,  amounting  to  50,304/.  los.  Sd.,  it  is  absolutely 
resolved  by  erection  of  hands  that  Spiller  shall  take  out  a  latitat  ^  in 
the  King's  Bench  against  Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  Job  Harby,  Sir  John 
Nulls,  and  Sir  John  Jacobs,  and  shall  acquaint  them  therewith  ; 
if  no  money  is  paid  in  by  Friday,  further  action  shall  then  be  taken, 
but  no  arrest  is  to  be  made  without  the  Court's  order.  To  adjust 
the  account  between  the  General  Voyage  and  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock,  the  sixteen  Committees  formerly  appointed,  or  the  major 
part  of  them,  are  desired  to  meet  and  are  empowered  to  view  any 
of  the  Company's  books  of  accounts  or  any  papers  which  may  help 
to  perfect  them.  James  Acton,  the  Company's  solicitor,  is  permitted 
to  underwrite  for  100/.  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  The  Deputy 
proposes  that  some  ships  be  built  for  the  Company,  it  being  a  fit 
time  of  year  and  timber  to  be  had  at  cheap  rates,  as  the  Mary^ 
Hopewell,  and  Discovery  (expected  home  this  year)  are  thought  to 
be  unserviceable,  and  therefore,  unless  other  ships  are  built,  some 
will  have  to  be  bought,  for  which  the  Company  will  have  to  pay  at 
too  dear  a  rate.  William  Satterford,  an  almsman,  is  given  %os. 
from  the  poor-box.  Motion  is  made  to  appoint  Samuel  Sambrooke 
as  assistant  to  Jeremy  Sambrooke  in  the  counting-house,  but 
resolution  is  deferred  until  the  latter  has  been  consulted.     (3  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  12,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  156). 

The  Court  again  taking  into  consideration  how  to  obtain  the 
money  due  for  the  pepper  debt  from  Lord  Cottington  and  others, 
and  Spiller  presenting  the  latitat  taken  out  of  the  King's  Bench 
against  Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  Job  Harby,  Sir  John  Nulls,  and  Sir 
John  Jacobs,  after  some  dispute  it  is  decided,  on  the  advice  of 
Mr.  Acton,  that  Spiller  shall  serve  a  writ  of  guominus^  on  the 
aforesaid  knights.  Sir  Thomas  Dawes,  and  the  Lady  Wyche,  and 
sue  them  in  the  Office  of  Pleas  in  the  Exchequer  upon  the  bond  of 
14,000/.     On  hearing  of  a  rumour  circulated  upon  the  Exchange 

'  A  writ  summoning  a  defendant  to  appear  and  make  answer. 

*  '  An  Exchequer  writ  available  for  a  steward  or  debtor  to  the  King  against  one  indebted 
to  himself  {Oxford  English  Dictionary). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  21 

that  Coltman,  keeper  of  the  King's  warehouse  at  the  Custom-house, 
has  abused  many  merchants  and  also  the  Company  by  permitting 
William  Cary,  steward  in  the  William,  bound  for  India,  to  take 
good  indigo  from  the  warehouse  and  leave  in  its  place  a  base  sort 
of  Coromandel  indigo  not  worth  2od.  per  lb„  the  Court  orders 
a  letter  to  be  written  to  Mr.  Younge  to  desire  him  to  bring  Cary 
to  London,  when  if  Cary  cannot  clear  himself  he  is  to  be  dismissed, 
and  John  White,  his  mate,  to  take  his  place.  There  being  a 
quantity  of  timber  at  Blackwall,  it  is  decided  to  have  three  ships 
built,  one  of  the  same  burden  as  the  John,  one  of  the  same 
dimensions  as  the  Endeavoicr,  and  the  third  to  be  forty  tons  less ; 
and  Steevens  is  directed  to  present  an  estimate  of  the  cost.  Daniel 
Andrews  to  be  paid  all  money  due  to  him  on  assurances,  to  enable 
him  to  settle  his  debt  with  the  Company.     {^\PP^ 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  17,  1644  (Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  158). 

William  Garway  transfers  to  Thomas  Jennings  and  Gilbert  Keate 
1,100/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  On 
further  consideration  the  Court  resolves  that  Steevens  shall  be 
instructed  to  build  a  ship  of  400  tons  and  two  pinnaces,  one  of 
160  tons,  the  other  of  lao  tons,  and  be  strictly  enjoined  not  to 
exceed  these  limits.  William  Cary  appears  in  court  and  confesses 
his  attempt  to  cheat  the  Company  by  substituting  base  for  rich 
indigo  in  the  warehouse.  He  states  that  he  was  induced  to  do  so 
by  Coltman,  the  warehouse-keeper,  and  a  grocer  named  Rumsey, 
but  was  prevented  by  Mr.  Blunt,  who  returned  him  the  base  indigo. 
After  some  debate,  the  Court  resolves  not  to  dismiss  Cary,  who 
is  an  old  servant,  but  to  fine  him  15/.  and  cause  him  before  leaving 
to  give  a  written  statement  of  his  dishonest  contract  with  Coltman 
and  Rumsey  and  a  note  promising  to  render  on  his  return  a  true 
account  of  all  private  trade  taken  out  and  brought  back  in  the 
William.  Henry  Boone,  the  Company's  surgeon,  to  be  paid  2co/. 
for  surgery,  etc.  The  account  of  Samuel  Forster,  who  in  1639  went 
out  as  purser's  mate  in  the  Hopewell  and  is  since  deceased,  to  be 
cleared  and  his  bond  cancelled.  Sarah  Blackston,  daughter  and 
executrix  of  Thomas  Blackston,  who  died  in  the  Indies,  to  receive 
all  wages  and  debts  due  to  her  late  father.     {'2-\PP^ 


aa  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
April  26,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  160). 

William  Wintour  entertained  to  go  in  the  William  at  a  salary  of 
6s.  M.  per  month.  Oliver  Loe,  a  workman  at  Blackwall  injured  by 
falling  timber,  is  given  20.y.  White,  the  gunsmith,  to  be  paid 
•J^^l.  ^s.  o^d.  for  boring  guns  an  dallowed  to  buy  for  ao/.  a  demi- 
culverin  and  a  saker  which  broke  in  the  process.     (|  />.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  v^^ith  the  Mixed  Committees, 
May  3,  1644  (Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  161). 

On  receipt  of  a  letter  from  the  factors  at  Leghorn  stating  that 
they  have  sold  250  bags  of  pepper,  part  to  be  paid  for  in  wrought 
coral,  which  will  sell  to  good  profit,  and  asking  if  the  Company 
is  willing  to  accept  the  barter,  Bowen  is  told  to  write  and  confirm 
the  same  and  instruct  them  to  sell  the  coral  as  they  shall  think 
most  advantageous :  also  to  direct  them  and  the  factors  at  Genoa 
to  buy  as  much  coral  as  they  did  last  year  for  shipment  to  India, 
but  more  of  the  better  sort  than  formerly,  as  it  is  more  vendible 
than  the  ordinary  kind.  Payment  to  Richard  Davies  for  pilotage. 
It  is  also  agreed  to  give  him  in  future  4/.  for  piloting  ships  of  300 
tons  and  upwards  from  Blackwall  to  Gravesend,  and  40J.  for  those 
of  a  lesser  burden ;  for  piloting  vessels  into  the  Downs  he  is  to  be 
paid  the  same  by  the  Company  as  he  receives  from  other  men,  but 
if  any  ship  anchors  between  Blackwall  and  Gravesend  he  is  only 
to  be  allowed  the  rate  agreed  upon.  Mr.  Holloway  to  be  sued  for 
his  debt  of  4,596/.  7^.  6d.  Alderman  Ashwell  and  Mr.  Willson 
are  desired  to  read  the  lease  for  the  Exchange  cellar  before  it 
is  engrossed.  Charles  Deane  to  be  given  2o.y.  for  reading  prayers 
to  the  almsmen,    (i^  />/>.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
May  10,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  163). 

A  general  court  of  sales  to  be  held  next  Wednesday  week  in  the 
afternoon.  John  Holland,  in  a  letter  to  Sir  John  Gayer,  offers 
450/.  for  the  Company's  stone  wharf,  land,  etc.,  at  Deptford ;  this 
sum  is  thought  too  little,  and  the  Committees  negotiating  the 
business  are  advised,  if  Holland  will  give  500/.,  to  sell,  but  if  not, 
then  to  put  the  said  property  up  for  auction  by  the  candle.     A 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  23 

letter  from  Genoa  is  read,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  56,000  dollars 
are  shipped  in  the  Merchant  Bonadventure  for  the  Company's 
account;  after  some  dispute  it  is  concluded  that  13,000  dollars 
belong  to  the  General  Voyage  and  43,000  to  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  The  Court  orders  a  policy  to  be  drawn  up  to  secure  6,000/, 
laden  in  the  said  ship  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  The  factors  at 
Leghorn  report  that  Sir  Peter  Rychaut  attempted  to  sequester 
40,000  or  50,000  ducats  belonging  to  the  Company.  They  took 
the  matter  into  court,  and  the  judge  being  unwilling  to  proceed 
without  knowing  the  will  of  the  Duke  of  Florence,  Mr.  Willyams 
was  sent  to  the  latter  with  a  petition  for  hindrance  of  Sir  Peter's 
attempt ;  whereupon  the  Duke  ordered  that  no  sequestration  should 
be  permitted  of  any  English  merchant's  goods.  For  this  favour  the 
factors  desire  that  a  letter  of  thanks  may  be  sent  from  the  Company 
to  the  Duke ;  and  it  is  ordered  that  one  be  framed  accordingly. 
The  Court  decides  to  prosecute  Mr.  Holloway,  unless  he  makes 
a  bill  of  sale  of  his  silk  in  the  Exchange  cellar  towards  payment 
of  his  debt.  Thomas,  father  of  William  Wintour,  a  factor  at  the 
Coast,  is  permitted  to  have  100  '  sannowes '  (sent  to  him  in  the 
Blessing  by  his  son)  on  paying  2s.  6d.  per  piece  freight.  Rate 
of  interest  to  be  allowed  to  Sarah  Blackston.  William  Ayres,  one 
of  the  Red  Sea  pirates,  now  a  prisoner  in  the  Poultry  Compter, 
is  ordered  to  be  released  on  Mr.  Clement  giving  bond  that  Ayres 
will  not  go  to  India  without  the  Company's  consent.  The  King's 
'  weightors '  at  the  Custom-house  given  a  gratuity  of  61.     (2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees. 
May  17,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  165). 

Consideration  is  again  had  of  the  great  inconvenience  caused  by 
adventurers  leaving  the  goods  due  to  them  upon  division  in  the 
Company's  warehouse,  but  nothing  is  concluded.  The  particulars 
of  the  letter  to  be  sent  to  the  Duke  of  Florence  are  read  and  the 
letter  with  two  copies  ordered  to  be  forwarded  to  Mr.  Throgmorton 
and  Company  and  to  Messrs.  Mann  ;  but  if  it  is  found  by  them 
to  be  too  different  from  the  sense  of  what  they  wrote  home,  then 
the  letter  is  not  to  be  delivered.  Messrs.  Fortree  and  Vincent  to 
be  given  good  silk  in  exchange  for  what  was  defective  in  the  parcel 
they  bought  of  the  Company.     The  sale  of  the  stone  wharf,  etc.,  at 


24  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Deptford  to  John  Holland  for  520/.  is  ratified.  Mr.  Holloway'sbill 
of  sale  for  his  silk  is  read,  and  the  Court  declares  that,  if  the  silk 
does  not  fetch  sufficient  to  satisfy  his  debt,  he  must  arrange  to  do 
so  by  the  end  of  the  month.  Mr.  Keate  refused  allowance  for 
defective  silk.  Resolved  that  the  *  great  shippe  '  Steevens  is  building 
shall  be  ninety  feet  long  by  thirty-one  feet  broad,  which  is  four  feet 
longer  and  eight  inches  broader  than  the  John.  Certain  Committees 
are  desired  to  compound  with  Cutler,  the  Garbler,  who  has  started 
a  suit  against  the  Company  for  selling  ungarbled  mace.     (2^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
May  24,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  167). 

Garble,  '  fannings '  [i.  e.  siftings],  and  dust  of  cubebs  sold  to 
Thomas  Thatcher.  Agreed  that  the  Governor  and  Deputy  shall 
open  all  letters  coming  to  the  Company  from  Italy,  Flanders,  or 
Holland.  Alderman  Langham  to  be  paid  the  rent  due  for  the 
brick  warehouse  at  Crosby  House,  on  giving  the  same  security  as 
formerly ;  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  treat  with  the 
said  Alderman  about  Crosby  House  and  to  procure  it  as  cheaply 
as  possible,  if  it  is  to  be  had  at  a  yearly  rental,  as  the  Company's 
present  house  is  not  half  so  convenient.  The  request  of  William 
Cobb,  a  prisoner  in  the  King's  Bench,  to  be  released  on  account  of 
his  poverty,  is  refused.  William  Ayres,  late  master  of  the  Roebttck, 
appears  in  court  and  desires  that  the  suit  against  him  may  be 
stopped,  asserting  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  piracy  intended 
in  the  Red  Sea  until  he  opened  the  private  commission  on  arriving 
at  Cape  de  Verde,  when  he  and  Owfeild  requested  to  be  landed  : 
that  what  was  done  to  the  Moors  was  the  work  of  Jones  and 
Francklyn,  who  were  set  over  him  and  forced  him  to  permit  it. 
Glover,  surgeon  in  the  Roebuck,  testifying  to  this,  the  Court  orders 
the  actions  in  the  Admiralty  and  in  the  Sheriff's  court  to  be  stayed, 
on  Ayres  giving  a  bond  of  1,000/.  not  to  go  again  to  India  without 
the  Company's  consent.  Mr.  Younge  and  Michael  Dunkyn  to 
proceed  to  the  Downs  to-morrow  morning  with  letters  of  credit,  in 
order  to  be  ready  to  take  up  such  money  as  the  Company  shall 
need  from  the  ships  expected,  and  so  hasten  the  departure  of  the 
William,  now  lying  there  at  great  expense  for  want  of  rials.  A 
petition  is  ordered  to  be  drawn  up  for  presentation  to  the  House  of 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  25 

Commons,  praying  that  Captain  Bond,  whose  two  ships  are  ready 
at  Gravesend  to  go  to  Madagascar,  may  be  made  to  give  security 
not  to  do  anything  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Company  in  India. 
Rumsey,  the  grocer,  agreeing  to  pay  part  of  his  debt  at  once,  and 
the  remainder  by  weekly  instalments,  the  action  against  him  is 
to  be  delayed.  Thomas  Steevens,  who  last  year  came  home  master 
in  the  Crispiana^  is  entertained  as  commander  of  the  great  ship 
now  being  built  to  go  to  Surat.  Sarah  Blackston  to  be  allowed 
15/.  interest  on  money  belonging  to  her  that  has  been  in  the 
Company's  hands  the  last  two  years.     (2  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
May  30,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  169). 

It  is  resolved  to  move  the  general  court  this  afternoon  to  order 
any  goods  due  to  adventurers  upon  division  left  in  the  Company's 
warehouse  to  be  sent  to  the  owner's  house  or  placed  in  a  warehouse 
hired  for  the  purpose,  the  rent  of  which  shall  be  paid  by  the  said 
adventurers  ;  and  if  any  such  adventurer  is  indebted  to  the  Company, 
his  goods  remaining  in  the  warehouse  shall  be  sold  to  pay  his  debt, 
if  it  is  not  settled  in  a  convenient  time.  To  avoid  the  prejudice 
formerly  sustained  by  a  ship  not  being  sent  in  time  to  the  Coast, 
the  Court  resolves  to  dispatch  a  pinnace  thither  in  September,  if 
agreed  to  by  the  general  court.  Robert  Bateman  and  John  Massing- 
berd  having  for  many  years  past,  at  the  request  of  the  Governor, 
Deputy,  and  Committees,  bought  quantities  of  foreign  gold,  silver, 
and  bullion  of  silver  imported  by  many  persons  for  the  use  of  the 
Company,  desire  before  doing  so  again  to  obtain  security  to  save 
themselves  harmless  for  past  and  future  transactions  of  this  nature  ;  ^ 
whereupon  the  Court  orders  that  both  be  accorded  the  desired 
security  for  themselves,  their  heirs,  and  executors,  and  for  all  pro- 
perty belonging  to  them,  and  that  a  covenant  be  drawn  up  to  this 
effect,  sealed  with  the  Company's  seal,  and  an  ordinance  procured 
from  Parliament  at  the  Company's  charge  to  be  their  warrant  in 
these  transactions.  A  pardon  is  also  to  be  obtained  at  the  Company's 
charge  for  what  has  been  or  shall  be  done  by  them  in  this  respect, 
if  required  by  either.     (2  pp.) 

*  See  the  1635-39  volume  (p.  291)  for  an  action  brought  against  Massingberd  on  this 
account. 


a6  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales  and  a  General  Court, 
May  30,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  171). 

Goods  to  be  garbled  for  sale  in  town.  Sale  of  rice,  pepper,  mace, 
cloves,  nutmegs,  dry  ginger,  and  cotton  wool,  with  prices  and  names 
of  purchasers.  The  resolution  proposed  at  the  last  court  concerning 
goods  left  by  adventurers  in  the  Company's  warehouse  is  confirmed, 
but  it  is  resolved  that  the  Court  of  Committees  shall  decide  what  is 
to  be  done  with  the  goods  of  those  indebted  to  the  Company.  The 
resolution  to  send  a  pinnace  to  the  Coast  is  also  confirmed,  and 
it  is  decided  to  dispatch  the  vessel  of  160  tons  now  being  built,  with 
the  necessary  stock.  The  Governor  reports  the  departure  of  the 
Crispiana,  John,  and  Blessing  from  the  Downs  the  7th  of  April 
last ;  that  the  William  was  ready,  but  was  stayed  for  want  of  rials  ; 
and  that,  as  ships  have  arrived  with  Spanish  money,  it  is  hoped  to 
send  her  off  very  speedily.     (2  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
June  7,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  174). 

Mr.  Holloway's  bill  of  sale  for  his  silk  is  presented  sealed,  where- 
upon the  attachment  formerly  made  of  the  silk  is  ordered  to  be 
withdrawn.  The  request  of  Boatswain  Ingram  for  an  addition  to 
his  salary  is  refused.  A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  being  read, 
Spiller  is  directed  to  call  upon  Nicholas  Gerard  for  the  interest  of  his 
debt.  The  order  formerly  made  concerning  the  debt  of  Mr.  Burton 
and  Company  is  to  be  put  in  execution  at  the  next  court,  if  pay- 
ment is  not  made  in  the  interim.  Sir  Henry  Garway's  silk  to  be 
sold  in  settlement  of  his  debt.  The  wife  of  Mr.  Yardley,  who  is 
going  as  a  factor  to  Bantam,  to  be  paid  one-third  of  her  husband's 
wages  yearly,     (i^  //.) 

A  Meeting  held  at  the  Governor's  house  on  Whit- 
sunday, June  9,  \6^{Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  175). 

Intelligence  is  received  of  the  arrival  of  the  Merchant  Bonadven- 
ture  in  the  Downs  from  Leghorn  with  56,000  rials  of  eight ;  there- 
fore the  Committees  are  called  together  to  determine  what  shall  be 
done  with  this  money.  As  it  is  thought  that  the  William  can  carry 
the  said  rials  to  Bantam,  and  thus  save  the  necessity  of  sending 
a  ship  this  year  to  the  Coast,  the  Court  resolves  to  send  Spiller  to 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  a; 

the  Downs  with  a  commission  made  out  to  himself  and  John 
Younge  to  take  the  rials  out  of  the  Merchant  Bonadventure  and  put 
them  into  the  William.  If  the  Parliamentary  officers  shall  offer 
any  objection,^  a  deposit  of  two  per  cent,  is  to  be  made ;  but  if  this 
does  not  satisfy  them,  the  money  is  to  be  paid  outright  rather  than 
let  the  William  be  detained  any  longer.  Younge  is  to  write  to  the 
President  and  Council  at  Bantam,  telling  them  to  send  a  ship  to  the 
Coast  at  the  end  of  the  monsoon  with  such  stock  as  they  think 
fitting,  with  information  that  the  Company  does  not  intend  to  dis- 
patch a  ship  thither  this  year.  He  is  also  to  desire  the  Bantam 
factors  to  write  to  the  President  and  Council  at  Surat  not  to  expect 
letters  from  the  Company  this  year  by  way  of  the  Coast     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
June  14,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  176). 

The  Governor  opines  that,  as  the  Merdiant  Bonadventure  has 
escaped  the  Earl  of  Marlborough's  ^  ships  and  arrived  safely  in  the 
Thames  (though  with  the  loss  of  her  master  and  three  men),  it  is 
fitting  the  Company  should  contribute  towards  the  relief  of  the 
wives  of  the  men  slain  in  the  fight,  for  the  encouragement  of  others 
to  defend  themselves  against '  all  rovers  and  men  of  warre '  ;  where- 
upon it  is  resolved  to  give  the  men  one-third  per  cent,  upon  what 
was  uninsured  for  the  Company's  account,  and  the  Deputy  is  desired 
to  underwrite  20/.,  being  one-third  per  cent,  of  the  6,000/.  uninsured. 
The  Governor  also  moves  that  those  Committees  who  have  any 
insurance  upon  the  said  ship  shall  contribute  at  the  same  rate,  but 
this  is  left  to  each  man's  discretion.  Captain  Hosier,  commander 
of  one  of  the  Parliament  ships,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  5/.  for  bringing 
news  of  the  safe  arrival  of  the  Mary  on  the  coast  of  England. 
Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  treat  with  the  Garbler  con- 
cerning his  suit  against  the  Company ;  they  do  so  and  report  that 
his  demands  are  so  high  it  would  be  wiser  to  have  advice  before  pro- 
ceeding farther  ;  therefore  Acton  is  directed  to  consult  Mr.  Maynard. 
Letters  from  Leghorn  advising  that  the  William  and  Thomas  is 

^  To  the  loss  of  ctistoms,  owing  to  the  transfer. 

*  This  was  James  Ley,  the  third  Earl,  who  after  the  cession  of  Bombay  was  sait  to  take 
over  that  island  from  the  Portuguese.  On  June  lo,  1644,  the  House  of  Commons 
directed  that  the  Earl  of  Warwick  should  be  warned  '  concerning  the  Earl  of  Marleborough's 
sending  ships  into  the  Streights ',  and  should  be  desired  to  dispatch  two  vessels  to  guard 
incoming  merchantmen  against  attack  {Common^  Journals,  vol.  iii,  p.  5^4)- 


28  COURT   MINUTES,    ETC.,  OF  THE 

coming  to  England  with  dollars  for  the  Company's  account,  a  policy- 
is  ordered  to  be  drawn  up  to  insure  4,000/.  for  the  account  of  the 
Joint  Stock  upon  the  said  ship.  A  policy  is  also  ordered  for 
insurance  of  20,000/.  in  the  William  from  London  to  Bantam,  in 
which  every  adventurer  can  underwrite  one-third  of  his  adventure, 
and  if  all  is  not  underwritten  the  first  time,  then  they  may  enlarge 
their  insurances.     ( i  ^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
June  19,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  178). 

Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  compound  with  the  Garbler. 
The  factors  at  Leghorn  and  Genoa  to  be  directed  not  to  sell  the 
cloves  under  five  lire  per  lb.,  and  if  the  markets  yield  that  price, 
not  to  sell  above  one-third  of  the  cloves  at  that  rate,  and  the 
remainder  not  under  six  lire  per  lb.  The  sum  of  i/.  6s.  Sd.  assessed 
upon  the  Company  at  Blackwall  towards  maintenance  of  the  army 
to  be  paid.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Coggan,  late  Agent  at  the  Coast, 
who  came  home  in  the  Mary,  a  boat  is  ordered  to  fetch  his  goods 
from  that  ship  to  the  warehouse,  and  100/.  is  to  be  paid  to  him 
upon  account.  The  Court  orders  that  the  premium  for  underwriting 
in  the  policy  for  4,000/,  upon  the  William  and  Thomas  shall  be 
four  per  cent.,  and  that  upon  the  20,000/.  insured  in  the  William 
five  per  cent,     (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
June  21,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  179). 

Some  dispute  arises  as  to  how  much  of  the  34,000  dollars  shipped 
in  the  William  and  Thomas  for  the  Company's  account  belongs  to 
the  Joint  Stock  and  how  much  to  the  General  Voyage  ;  but  nothing 
can  be  decided  until  the  arrival  of  the  ship,  which  is  expected  daily 
from  Leghorn.  Meanwhile  it  is  thought  that  on  her  arrival  all  the 
money  shall  be  put  to  the  account  of  the  Joint  Stock,  and  what 
belongs  to  the  General  Voyage  refunded  when  particulars  are 
known.  As  only  4,000/.  was  insured  in  the  said  ship  for  the  account 
of  the  Joint  Stock,  it  is  put  to  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle 
matters  relating  to  both  stocks  and  decided  that  nothing  shall 
be  insured  in  that  ship  for  the  account  of  the  General  Voyage. 
Mr.  Cogan  is  questioned  concerning  matters  at  the  Coast.  He 
refers  the  Court  for  all  particulars  to  the  books  of  that  factory,  but 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  29 

says  generally  that  the  Company  is  in  debt  there  about  8,000/.  or 
10,000/.,  most  part  of  which  he  pretends  was  owing  before  he 
became  Agent.  He  also  intimates  that  Mr.  Day,  whom  he  left 
Agent  on  his  departure,  is  indebted  to  the  Company  for  about 
1,350  pagodas  upon  account  of  freight  made  to  Persia.  Many 
accusations  are  read  against  Trumball  (who  went  out  master  in  the 
Hopewell  and  returned  as  a  passenger  in  the  Mary),\y\\.h.  his  answers 
to  the  same ;  he  is  called  in  and  endeavours  to  excuse  himself,  but 
this  matter  is  referred  until  the  return  of  the  Hopewell,  in  which 
many  concerned  herein  will  arrive.     {^^  PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
June  38,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  181). 

A  letter  is  read,  dated  April  22,  1643.  from  Messrs.  Prowd  and 
Broadbent,  masters  in  the  Dolphin  and  Hind,  who  went  last  year 
for  Surat,  reporting  that  the  Dolphin  was  troubled  with  '  a  weeping 
quallity ',  so  that  they  were  forced  to  pump  '  300  stroakes  an  houre', 
and  that  the  new  ironwork  in  both  ships  is  '  extraordinary  badd  '. 
Hall,  the  anchorsmith,  and  Steevens,  the  shipwright,  are  commanded 
to  attend  the  next  court  to  explain  the  reasons.     A  note  is  pre- 
sented  of  the  names  of  those  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  who   have   not   paid  in   their    subscriptions,  amounting  to 
1,049/.  ^4-^-  ^^'^■>  ^he  last  payment  having  been  due  at  Christmas; 
also  a  list  of  all  in  the  said  stock  who  subscribed  for  its  supply  but 
have  not  paid  in  their  first  instalment    The  Court  debates  whether 
to  receive  these  if  tendered,  considering  that  a  great  part  of  the 
adventure  has  already  been  borne,  or  to  let  the  said  subscribers  be 
adventurers  only  for  so  much  as  they  have  paid  in.     It  is  finally 
decided  that  none  of  the  said  money  shall  be  received,  except  that 
of  Robert  Sainthill.     His  man  through  neglect  omitted  to  pay  his 
master's  third   instalment,  and   therefore   this   is   allowed   to   be 
received,  on  interest  being  paid  for  the  time  it  has  been  owing. 
The  sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  both  stocks  are  desired  to 
meet  once  or  twice  a  week  to  perfect  the  account  between  them. 
All  money  and  goods  belonging  to  the  late  Sir  Thomas  Morgan 
are  to   be    delivered   to   Messrs.   Edward,   William,   and    Joseph 
Vaughan,  on  receipt  of  their  bond  for  200/.  to  save  the  Company 
harmless.     The  subscriptions  of  those  adventurers  who,  contrary  to 


so  COURT   MINUTES,    ETC.,   OF  THE 

the  express  order  of  the  Court,  have  underwritten  for  more  than 
one-third  of  their  adventure  in  the  poh'cy  for  the  William  are  to  be 
made  void.  The  premiums  due  upon  any  insurance  made  for  the 
Company  to  Italy  to  be  paid.     (i|  pp.) 

Statement  of  the  Position  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock, 
June  30,  1644  {Home  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xxxix,  p.  169). 

Particulars  of  the  assets  and  liabilities  in  England.  A  deficiency  is 
shown  of  6 1 ,249/.  5  J.  2d.  (2  pp.  Much  damaged  and  in  part  destroyed) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle  all 
business  between  the  Joint  Stock  and  the  General 
Voyage,  July  a,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  183). 

Agreed,  according  to  a  former  order,  that  the  Voyage  may  make 
use  of  warehouse  room  not  wanted  by  the  Joint  Stock,  but  that  it 
must  bear  the  charge  of  any  new  warehouses  needed  for  its  own 
goods.  The  Committees  resolve  that  the  Joint  Stock  shall  allow 
to  the  Voyage  at  the  rate  of  22^.  per  pound  for  every  five  rials  of 
eight  which  came  in  the  Merchant  Bonadventure.  On  the  motion 
of  Sir  John  Gayer,  it  is  resolved  that,  as  nothing  can  be  decided  as 
to  what  the  Joint  Stock  shall  allow  to  the  Voyage  for  the  use  of  its 
money  at  the  Coast  until  the  return  of  the  Hopewell  (which  is 
coming  for  the  account  of  the  Voyage),  all  foreign  affairs  shall  be 
left  alone  until  then,  and  only  home  matters  and  what  has  been 
done  in  Italy  considered.  An  account  ordered  to  be  made  of  all 
cask  and  bags  used  by  the  Voyage,  and  of  all  other  charges,  that 
allowance  for  the  same  may  be  made  to  the  Joint  Stock  ;  also  an 
account  of  ships  and  stores.  Pepper  belonging  to  the  Voyage 
ordered  to  be  sold  at  1 2d.  per  lb. ;  the  sale  of  the  indigo  to  be 
resolved  on  later.  A  motion  to  make  some  insurance  upon  the 
Hopewell  is  referred  to  the  general  court,     (i^  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  -with  the  Mixed  Committees, 
July  3,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  184). 

The  following  orders  concerning  the  disposal  of  chips  in  the  yard 
at  Blackwall  are  read :  the  poorest  people  in  Blackwall  and  Poplar 
are  to  be  allowed  to  gather  up  the  chips  upon  appointed  days, 
about  once  a  month  :  any  surplus  quantity  stored  away  by  the 
workmen  to  be  sent  to  the  saltinghouse :  only  the  very  poor  in  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  31 

hamlet  and  the  wives  and  servants  of  those  employed  in  the  yard 
or  in  the  East  Indies  to  be  allowed  to  gather,  and  these  to  make 
one  gathering  only  on  the  appointed  days :  the  porter  and  his 
assistants  to  see  that  these  rules  are  carried  out  and  not  to  suffer 
chips  or  wood  to  be  taken  away  by  any  one  at  other  times.  Certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  examine  a  proposal  made  by  some  one 
who  came  home  in  the  Mary}  that,  if  the  Company  will  furnish 
a  ship  of  three  or  four  hundred  tons  and  a  smaller  one,  and  20,000/. 
of  quick  stock,  he  will  adventure  3,000/.  himself  and  go  to  a  place 
where  none  of  the  Company's  ships  have  ever  been,  and  in  thirty 
months'  time  return  with  60,000/.  in  commodities  vendible  in  Europe. 
A  son  of  the  Treasurer  [Bateman]  requests  that  the  Court  will  not 
again  nominate  his  father  for  the  post  of  Treasurer,  because  of  his 
age.  He  further  requests  that  the  salary  may  be  raised  again  to 
500/.  per  annum ;  he  is  told  that  a  committee  was  formerly 
appointed  to  lessen  the  charges  of  the  Company,  when  his  father 
consented  to  receive  35c/.  per  annum.  A  dispute  ensues,  but  no 
conclusion  is  arrived  at.  There  being  many  adventurers  to  whom 
cinnamon  is  due  upon  division,  and  there  being  none  left,  they  are 
to  be  allowed  ^s.  per  lb.  for  the  same.  Ropemakers  to  be  treated 
with  for  provision  of  cordage.     (2  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  3,  1644  (Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  189). 

William  Cockayne,  the  Governor,  informs  the  court  that  they 
have  met  for  the  annual  election  of  officers  of  the  Company.  He 
expresses  his  gratitude  for  past  favours,  desires  not  to  be  chosen 
again,  and  withdraws  ;  whereupon  he  is  nominated,  with  Sir  John 
Gayer  and  Alderman  John  Langham,  and  re-elected  Governor. 
On  being  informed,  he  resumes  his  chair  and  takes  the  accustomed 
oath.  William  Methwold,  Thomas  Burnell,  Rowland  Willson  and 
Thomas  Kerridge  are  then  nominated  for  the  post  of  Deputy,  and 
Methwold  is  re-elected.  Robert  Bateman  desiring,  on  account  of 
his  age,  not  to  be  Treasurer  again,  John  Massingberd  and  Richard 
Bateman  are  nominated  for  that  post  and  the  former  is  elected. 
Six  new  Committees  having  to  be  chosen,  it  is  debated  whether,  as 
formerly,  only  those  who  have  adventured  1000/.  shall  be  eligible  ; 
it  is  decided  that  any  man  who  has  adventured  500/.  may  be  chosen 

*  From  a  later  reference  (January  3,  1645)  t^  appears  to  have  been  Andrew  Cogan. 


32  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

a  Committee.  Thereupon  Sir  Thomas  Soame,  Thomas  Bownest, 
Richard  Bishopp,  John  Ellwayes,  Thomas  Freeman,  Nicholas  Gold, 
Thomas  Hodges,  William  Honnywood,  Christopher  Clitherow, 
Thomas  Hutchins,  Thomas  Jennings,  Alderman  John  Towse, 
Gideon  de  Lawne,  Jaques  Oyles,  Henry  Polstead,  Senior,  Robert 
Gayer,  William  Spurstow,  Richard  Trevise,  Daniel  Andrews,  and 
Thomas  Mann  are  nominated,  and  Jennings,  Mann,  Andrews,  Free- 
man, Gold,  and  Gayer  chosen.  Sir  John  Cordell,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad, 
Sir  George  Clarke,  Messrs.  Massingberd,  Churchman,  and  Beale 
retiring,  the  Committees  for  the  ensuing  year  are  Alderman  Sir  John 
Gayer,  Messrs.  Reynardson,  Ashwell,  HoUoway,  Willson,  Burnell, 
Styles,  Midleton,  Keate,  Kerridge,  Morewood,  Garway,  Bateman, 
Abdy,  Davies,  Bludworth,  Willyams,  Thomas  and  Daniel  Andrews, 
Mann,  Freeman,  Gold,  Jennings,  and  Robert  Gayer.  Richard  Swin- 
glehurst  is  re-elected  Secretary.  The  Governor  intimates  that  the 
Hopeivell  may  be  expected  shortly,  but  that  nothing  is  known 
regarding  the  value  of  her  lading ;  that  Trumball,  who  went  out  in 
her  as  master,  has  returned  a  passenger  in  the  Mary,  but  the  man 
who  has  taken  his  place  went  out  master  in  the  Swan  and  is  an  old 
servant  of  the  Company.  The  Committees  for  the  Voyage  desiring 
to  know  if  the  generality  wish  to  insure  10,000/.  upon  the  Hopewell,  it 
is  decided  by  erection  of  hands  not  to  insure  anything  in  her.  (af  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  5,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  192). 

Permission  is  given  to  the  factors  at  Genoa  and  Leghorn  to  sell 
cloves  according  to  the  market,  but  not  under  four  lire  per  lb. 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Francis  EUmore,  to  be  given  20/.  to  be  charged 
to  her  husband's  account.  The  following  men  are  chosen  as  officers 
of  the  Company :  Jeremy  Sambrooke  to  be  book-keeper  or  general 
accountant ;  Adam  Bowen,  '  writer  and  register  of  letters  into 
forreigne  parts '  and  keeper  of  the  calico  warehouse ;  Valentine 
Markham,  auditor  ;  John  Blunt,  warehouse-keeper  ;  James  Acton, 
solicitor  ;  Thomas  Rilston,  husband  ;  John  Younge,  purser-general ; 
William  Hurt,  paymaster  of  the  mariners ;  Samuel  Sambrooke, 
assistant  to  Bowen  ;  Spiller,  beadle,  porter,  etc. ';  Michael  Dunkyn, 
assistant  to  the  Treasurer ;  Edward  Steevens,  master  shipwright  ; 
Robert  Fotherby,  clerk  of  the  yard  at  Black  wall ;  Richard  Ingram, 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  33 

general  boatswain  ;  Giles  Shepheard,  porter  at  Blackwall ;  Richard 
Swinglehurst,  warehouse-keeper  of  the  Exchange  cellar.  The  ac- 
count of  the  late  Thomas  Morris,  a  factor  at  the  Coast,  is  presented  ; 
on  this  800/.  appears  due,  but,  he  having  been  a  great  private  trader, 
his  administrator  at  Rotterdam,  Mr.  Davies,  is  to  be  written  to 
before  anything  is  paid,    i^z  PP-) 

A  Meeting  of  Committees  for  perfecting  the  account 

BETWEEN  the  JOIXT  StOCK  AND  THE  GENERAL  VOYAGE,  JULY  9, 

1644  {Coitrt  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  193). 

Agreed  that,  as  the  charges  for  setting  out  ships  for  the  General 
Voyage  have  been  looked  into  by  Markham,  they  need  not  be 
further  examined.  Blunt  is  directed  to  hire  a  warehouse  and  put 
into  it  the  goods  left  by  the  adventurers  in  the  Company's  ware- 
house. He  is  allowed  more  time  to  perfect  his  account  of  casks. 
Consideration  is  had  of  the  stock  sent  out  for  the  General  Voyage, 
the  return  upon  it  brought  home,  how  the  goods  were  disposed  of, 
and  what  to  do  with  those  still  remaining ;  for  the  latter  it  is 
resolved  to  let  the  67  bags  of  pepper  lie  until  more  comes  for 
the  General  Voyage:  to  divide  ten  per  cent  to  the  adventurers 
upon  the  204  barrels  of  '  Sirques '  indigo :  to  set  aside  the  calicoes 
required  for  dividend  purposes  and  sell  the  rest :  to  dispose  of  the 
50  quilts  at  the  next  court  of  sales,  and  direct  Bowen  to  sell  the 
wrappers  to  the  best  advantage,     (i/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  io,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  I  Pol- 
Robert  Saynthill  transfers  to  Gilbert  Keate  and  Thomas  Jennings 
300/.  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  and  1000/.  in  the  General 
Voyage  with  all  profits,  they  undertaking  to  make  good  his  debt  of 
183/.  to  the  Company  if  Mr.  Garway  does  not  do  so  by  Michaelmas, 
and  to  pay  three  years'  rent  for  a  cellar  let  to  Saynthill  by  the 
Company  at  10s.  a  week.  The  men  in  the  Mary  are  to  be  paid 
their  wages  and  all  debts  due  to  them.  The  Secretary  reports  that 
he  has  been  served  by  the  Garbler  with  a  scire  facias  about  some 
pepper  in  the  Exchange  cellar  bought  of  several  men  by  Mr.  Ingram 
and  now  belonging  to  Mr.  Willson,  the  Garbler  pretending  that  the 
pepper  is  forfeited,  as  it  has  been  sold  without  being  garbled.     The 

S.C.M.  Ill  D 


34  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Court  does  not  think  that  this  concerns  the  Company,  but  agrees  to 
let  Willson  have  the  pepper  on  his  giving  a  note  to  the  Secretary 
to  save  him  harmless  from  the  Garbler.  Dorothy,  sister  of  William 
Bonney,  who  died  in  the  Mary,  to  be  paid  3/.  ()s.  4d.  due  upon  her 
brother's  account,  her  master,  Mr.  Mountague,  giving  a  bond  to  save 
the  Company  harmless.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet 
on  Friday  morning  at  seven  o'clock  and  see  Mr.  Coggan  about  his 
late  employment  at  the  Coast.  Others  are  requested  to  view  the 
private  trade  brought  home  in  the  Mary.  Mr.  Acton  reports  how 
far  the  suit  about  the  pepper  debt  has  been  prosecuted,  and  that 
now  a  plea  has  been  put  in  that  the  Company  have  by  agreement 
already  accepted  10,000/.  for  the  said  debt ;  the  Court,  considering 
this  '  was  not  fairely  done ',  instructs  Acton  to  take  what  course  he 
can  for  recovery  of  the  debt,  if  Sir  Paul  Pindar  and  the  rest  will  not 
waive  the  plea.  One  of  the  ships  now  being  built  is  to  have  two 
decks,  a  forecastle,  and  a  quarterdeck,  and  the  smaller  vessel  to  be 
furnished  in  like  manner,  if  convenient,  which  Steevens  is  to  decide. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  12,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  196). 

The  Court  resolves  that  the  Sarkhej  indigo  remaining  over  upon 
account  of  the  Voyage  shall  be  divided  at  la  per  cent,  at  the  rate  of 
4J.  ^d.  per  lb.  and,  if  there  is  not  sufficient  to  supply  all  the  adven- 
turers, those  not  receiving  the  indigo  are  to  be  allowed  ^s.  6d. 
per  lb.  in  money  at  six  months'  time.  Isaac  Vanpaine's  offer  to 
buy  all  the  Company's  cinnamon  at  p.  6d.  per  lb.  is  refused,  the 
price  being  thought  too  low.  Those  adventurers  who  do  not  take 
away  their  goods  are  not  to  be  paid  any  money  due  to  them  upon 
division  or  insurance  until  they  have  done  so.  The  Mary  to  be 
valued,  in  order  that  the  Court  may  resolve  whether  to  have  her 
broken  up  or  not.     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  17, 1644  {Court Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  197)- 

Richard  Goodlad,  late  master  of  the  Martha,  having  had  a  boat, 
cable,  and  other  things  from  the  Company's  store  at  Sandwich  and 
gone  to  sea  without  paying  for  them,  William  Garway,  one  of  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  35 

owners  of  the  Martha,  is  to  be  applied  to.  Hugh  Wood  and  WiHiam 
Limbrey  request  that  Charles  Long  may  be  entertained  as  a  factor 
at  Leghorn  in  the  room  of  Daniel  Oxenbridge,  deceased.  They  are 
told  that  no  one  is  to  be  entertained  in  his  place,  but  if,  when  John 
Collyer  returns,  they  renew  their  request,  it  shall  be  considered. 
Contract  is  made  with  James  Martyn  to  supply  guns  for  the  Com- 
pany's use.  Sir  Henry  Garway's  account  to  be  made  up  with 
interest  to  Midsummer  and  presented  to  him.  The  Treasurer  urges 
for  some  decrease  in  the  Company's  expenditure,  especially  in  the 
excessive  weekly  charges  at  Blackwall,  which  place  he  thinks  might 
be  sold,  and  ships  freighted,  not  built  ;  he  is  told  that  the  Company 
cannot  do  without  its  Yard,  for  though  ships  can  be  freighted  for 
quick  returns,  yet  there  must  be  '  great  shipping  in  India '  for 
defence  of  the  Company's  estate  and  to  preserve  its  reputation.  In 
order  to  satisfy  the  Court,  Markham  is  directed  to  make  up  the 
account  for  freighting  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  the  charge  of  send- 
ing out  the  Company's  own  ship  the  Crispiana,  both  vessels  having 
gone  out  and  returned  together.  After  some  debate  it  is  decided 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  look  into  this  business  of  freighting  and 
building  ships  and  how  to  lessen  the  charges  of  the  Company ;  but 
the  nomination  of  the  said  committee  is  deferred  until  Markham 
presents  the  account  for  the  two  ships.  Browne,  the  King's  gun- 
founder,  being  indebted  to  the  Company,  it  is  resolved  to  take 
a  small  gun  or  two  from  him  in  payment  of  his  debt.     {^\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  19,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  199). 

A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  being  read,  the  following  orders 
are  given  ;  Mr.  Burton  and  Co.  to  be  proceeded  against  unless  they 
pay  before  next  Saturday  i,coo/.  of  the  13,000/.  they  owe:  Mr. 
HoUoway's  silk  to  be  viewed  and  sold,  he  promising  that,  if  it 
is  not  sufficient  to  settle  his  debt,  he  will  make  good  the  remainder 
from  his  estate  in  the  Company's  hands  :  Spiller  to  call  upon  Wil- 
liam Garway,  Nicholas  Backhouse,  Stephen  Boulton,  and  Captain 
John  Brett  and  desire  them  to  pay  what  they  owe :  an  action  to  be 
entered  against  Mr.  Rumsey  if  he  does  not  pay  by  to-morrow  night 
500/.  of  the  1,100/.  due.  Resolved  to  hold  one  court  only  every  week 
on  Friday  until  the  arrival  of  the  ships.     Joan  Mosely,  who  has 

Da 


36  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

lost  two  husbands  in  the  Company's  service,  to  be  given  ^s.  Jane 
Beckinsfield  to  be  paid  from  the  estate  of  Thomas  Cousens  for 
board  and  lodging  provided  for  his  wife.  William  Cutler,  the 
City  Garbler,  to  be  paid  30/.  by  way  of  composition  and  in  full 
satisfaction  for  the  Company's  selling  any  commodities  or  drugs 
ungarbled,  the  King  to  receive  a  like  sum.  Cutler  is  also  given 
20/.  for  fees,  he  undertaking  to  free  the  Company  from  all  claims 
concerning  the  not  garbling  of  goods  to  date.  Further,  he  is  to  be 
paid  100/.   for  some  special   semce  rendered   to  the  Company. 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company,  July  25, 
1644  {Factory  Records,  Java,  vol.  iii,  pt.  ii,  p.  795)' 

Acknowledges  their  letter  of  the  12th  instant.  'This  Company 
are  verry  confident  that,  for  all  the  disasters  befallen  them  in  India, 
yet  they  may  expect  seven  ships  from  thence  this  year.'  They 
have  as  yet  only  heard  of  them  from  '  your  ship  the  Mary  \  but 
expect  to  hear  further  when  the  London  post  comes  in.  This  week 
thirteen  ships  arrived  from  the  West  Indies  with  sugar  and  other 
goods.  They  report  that  between  England  and  France  an  English 
East  India  ship  from  Bantam  joined  them  ;  '  so  I  presume  you  have 
hearde  what  ship  for  this  Company  weare  come  to  Helena  or  gone 
from  thence.'  A  Danish  East  India  ship  homeward-bound  came 
with  them ;  she  had  been  driven  into  Farnabucke  [Pernambuco] 
through  contrary  winds  and  foul  weather  last  March,  and  waited 
until  May  for  their  company.  Gives  a  list  of  the  cargo  of  the 
thirteen  ships.  States  that  allowance  has  been  made  for  certain 
counterfeit  rials  sent  before.    (|  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  26, 1644  {Court  Booky  vol.  xix, 
p.  201). 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Coggan,  his  goods  are  ordered  to  be  brought 
to  the  East  India  House  and  the  Committees  appointed  for  private 
trade  to  view  them  and  deliver  to  him  what  they  think  fitting. 
Captain  Mynors  desires  that  his  goods  may  be  made  over  to  him, 
and  that  he  may  receive  the  money  he  left  with  the  Company 
at  50  per  cent,  profit,  together  with  satisfaction  for  a  pipe  of  canary 
wine  he  took  out  at  Captain  Battyn's  request,  for  which  he  was 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  37 

to  bring  him  back  a  tub  of  China  ware;  but  at  Bantam,  the  ship 
being  in  want  of  wine,  the  pipe  was  taken  for  the  Company's 
account.  The  Court  orders  that  his  goods  be  delivered  to  him  free 
of  freight,  that  he  be  paid  750/.,  being  the  principal  and  interest  of 
the  500/.  he  left  with  the  Company,  and  that  he  be  allowed  16/.  for 
the  wine.  Samuel  Wright,  who  came  home  in  the  Mary,  to  be 
paid  his  wages.  Dorothy,  widow  of  John  Leigh,  late  master's 
mate  in  the  Advice ,  to  be  paid  330  pagodas  for  sallampores  delivered 
to  Coggan  for  the  Company's  account,     {^^pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August    2,   1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  202). 

Hearing  from  Leghorn  that  there  are  30,000  rials  for  the  Joint 
Stock  and  10,000  rials  for  the  Voyage  aboard  the  Sampson,  the 
Court  decides,  after  some  debate,  not  to  insure  anything  in  that 
ship.  The  question  as  to  which  Stock  shall  pay  the  Garbler  the 
150/.  is  referred  for  decision  to  the  sixteen  Committees  appointed 
to  settle  all  matters  between  the  two  stocks.  Thomas  Mead  is 
allowed  to  pay  37/.  loj.,  due  last  Christmas  from  his  father  as  his 
third  payment  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  which  sum  by  reason  of 
his  father's  death  had  been  forgotten.  The  Treasurer  reports  that 
the  time  for  payment  of  the  6,000/.  formerly  lent  to  Parliament  by  the 
Company,  for  which  an  ordinance  was  made  for  the  same  to  be  paid 
out  of  the  excise  or  from  custom  due  on  goods  next  arriving  from 
India  for  the  Company's  account,  has  expired,  that  there  is  500/. 
and  upwards  for  which  the  Company  has  not  given  its  seal,  and 
that  Sir  Henry  Vane  has  sent  a  note  desiring  362/.  of  this  sum  ; 
hereupon  the  Treasurer  is  requested  to  give  a  bill  for  the  latter 
amount.  The  Governor  desires  to  know  whether,  as  the  Company 
has  lately  received  many  rials  and  more  are  expected,  a  ship  is 
to  be  sent  to  the  Coast  to  pay  the  debts  there,  as  a  very  large  stock 
has  already  been  sent  by  way  of  Bantam.  Reply  is  made  that, 
though  a  good  quantity  of  rials  were  sent  in  the  Williarn,  yet  since 
then  the  Mary  has  arrived  with  the  report  that  the  Company  is  much 
indebted  on  the  Coast  ;  and  it  is  added  that  the  stock  sent  in  the 
William  will  not  be  sufficient  to  pay  what  is  owing.  After  a  long 
debate  Sambrooke  and  Bowen  are  told  to  look  into  the  letters  and 
accounts  received  from  Bantam  and  the  Coast,  and  to  make  as  near 


38  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

an  estimate  as  possible  of  how  matters  stand,  and  present  the  same 
at  the  next  court.  Cider,  now  to  be  had  at  a  reasonable  rate, 
is  ordered  to  be  bought.  A  warrant  to  be  made  out  for  the  delivery 
of  Sir  Henry  Garway's  calicoes.  Richard  Swinglehurst  is  given 
loo/.  and  John  Spiller  loo  marks  'for  extraordinary  paines  about 
the  Companys  affaires '.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  9,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  304). 

The  pepper  brought  home  in  the  Mary  to  be  sold  at  i^d.  per  lb. 
the  ivhole  parcel ;  and  if  not  bought,  to  be  shipped  abroad.  Four 
chests  of '  Romane  vitreall '  to  be  delivered  to  the  Deputy,  who  is 
to  pay  for  it  at  the  rate  the  rest  is  sold ;  but  if  no  buyer  is  found, 
then  he  is  to  be  allowed  a  moderate  gain  on  what  he  shall  sell. 
Sambrooke  presents  an  estimate  of  the  Company's  estate  at  Bantam 
and  the  Coast,  by  which  it  appears  that  there  is  63,000/.  remaining 
after  payment  of  all  debts.  The  Governor  again  desires  to  know 
whether  a  ship  is  to  be  sent  to  the  Coast ;  whereupon  the  Deputy 
remarks  that  though  all  debts  are  paid,  yet,  as  there  is  a  ship  on  the 
stocks  formerly  intended  for  that  voyage,  it  would  be  as  well  to 
send  her,  if  only  with  5,000/.  or  6,000/,  stock,  for  if  not  the  money 
already  in  hand  and  what  is  expected  will  lie  dead  until  March. 
After  some  debate  it  is  resolved  to  have  the  said  ship  ready  as  soon 
as  possible,  but  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  ships  daily  expected  from 
Surat  before  determining  this  matter.  Thomas  Steevens  is  enter- 
tained as  master  of  the  great  ship  now  being  built  at  8/.  per  month, 
his  half-pay  to  begin  next  January.  Nicholas  Skynner  is  allowed 
to  make  his  third  payment  of  12/.  10s.,  due  last  Christmas,  to  com- 
plete his  subscription  of  100/.  James  Acton,  the  Company's 
solicitor,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  40/.,  it  being  five  years  since  he 
received  one.  Mr.  Cotton  to  receive  10/.  from  the  wages  of  his 
servant  Matthew  Nowell,  an  under-factor  at  Bantam.     {^\pp-) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  August  9,  1644  (Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  206). 

Sale  of  rice,  wet  pepper,  dust  of  dry  and  wet  pepper,  white 
pepper,  sugar,  cinnamon,  cloves,  dust  of  cloves,  cotton  yarn,  cotton 
wool,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     (i/.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  39 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  14,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  207). 

Mr.  Ganvay  intimates  that  he  has  heard  the  Company  has 
instructed  the  factors  at  Messina  to  remit  the  money  received  from 
sale  of  the  pepper  by  exchange  to  Leghorn  ;  this  he  asserts  will 
mean  a  loss  of  8  or  9  per  cent,  by  reason  of  the  low  exchange,  and 
he  advises  that  the  factors  should  take  silk  for  the  pepper  and  send 
that  to  Leghorn,  which  would  yield  8,  9,  or  10  per  cent.,  either 
there  or  here.  Bo  wen  is  directed  to  write  to  the  factors  accordingly. 
Daniel  Andrews  and  James  Fenn  refusing  to  pay  11/.  due  for 
interest  for  non-payment  of  money  in  time,  any  money  which  shall 
become  due  to  them  is  to  be  stopped  until  they  do  so.  Mr.  Hollo- 
way  to  receive  the  goods  due  upon  division  to  the  late  Mr.  Jesson. 
he  promising  upon  sale  thereof  to  pay  the  money  into  the  Treasury 
for  the  use  of  Jesson's  widow.  The  Militia  for  the  City  having 
about  two  years  ago  made  use  of  part  of  the  Company's  warehouse 
at  Leadenhall  to  store  ordnance  and  ammunition,  Bowen  is  in- 
structed to  demand  10/.  per  annum  from  them  towards  the  rent 
of  the  warehouse.  It  is  resolved  to  send  two-thirds  of  the  pepper 
returned  in  the  Mary  to  L^hom,  500  bags  to  Genoa,  300  to 
Venice,  and  100  to  Messina  ;  and  Mr.  Garway  undertaking  that  the 
London  Merchant  shall  carry  it  to  Leghorn  or  Genoa  as  cheaply  as 
any  vessel,  he  is  contracted  with  to  take  800  bags  to  Leghorn  and 
Genoa  at  two  dollars  per  bag  freight  in  the  said  ship,  which  is  to  go 
in  company  with  two  others  to  be  decided  on  at  the  next  meeting. 
Thomas  Perry,  master  of  the  Angel,  John  Millett,  master  of  the 
Aleppo  Merchant,  and  John  Bunducke,  master  of  the  Margaret 
Constance,  are  named  to  carry  the  remainder  of  the  pepper,  but  not 
contracted  with ;  and  the  three  ships  to  be  freighted  are  ordered  to 
be  at  Gravesend  by  the  10th  of  September  upon  pain  of  forfeiting 
half  freight.     (15//.) 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company,  August 
15,  1644  {Factory  Records,  Java,  voL  iii,  pt  ii,  p.  795). 

After  the  London  post  had  gone,  news  was  received  of  seven 
East  India  ships  for  this  Company,  two  of  which  are  '  well  arived 
in  Zelland  and  the  other  five  heere  in  the  Zee  ',  and   are   now 


40  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

unlading.  A  list  of  their  cargo  is  enclosed.  It  will  be  ten  days 
before  *  the  Seventeen  '  ^  meet ;  so  no  day  has  yet  been  appointed 
for  sale  of  the  goods,  which  may  be  a  month  hence  at  furthest. 
Trading  is  so  dead  that  as  quick  a  sale  and  good  prices  as  formerly 
must  not  be  expected.  These  seven  ships  came  from  Batavia  last 
December  and  the  beginning  of  January,  about  the  time  the  Mary 
came  from  Bantam.  They  brought  no  letters.  Though  their  cargo 
is  but  small  in  comparison  with  former  years,  yet  '  their  Generall  in 
India  hath  write  for  stoore  of  shipps  and  4  or  5,000  men  to  bee 
sent  him  this  yeare,  as  though  they  in  India  find  profitable  tradinge 
and  have  an  intention  to  make  some  greate  conckquest  in  India  if 
they  cane '.  Two  of  the  said  ships,  when  unladen,  are  to  be  trimmed 
and  sent  again  to  India.     (|  /.     Received  August  23.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  16,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  308). 

Sir  Thomas  Soame  transfers  to  Henry  Austen  600/.  adventure 
in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  with  all  profits,  and  Dame  Francis  Wylde 
transfers  to  John  Holloway  50/.  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  with  all  profits.  Calicoes  sold  to  James  Martyn.  Anthony 
Newport,  master  of  the  London  Merchant^  is  contracted  with  to 
carry  pepper  to  Genoa,  Leghorn,  Messina,  and  Naples,  at  two 
dollars  per  bag  freight.  Thomas  Perry  and  John  Bunducke  are 
also  contracted  with  to  carry  pepper  on  the  same  terms  to  Italy ; 
they  are  all  enjoined  to  be  at  Gravesend  by  the  15th  \sic\  September 
ready  to  sail,  required  to  keep  together  on  the  voyage  until  they 
arrive  at  their  destined  ports,  and  directed  not  to  touch  at  any 
port  in  the  West  Country  or  in  Spain ;  to  all  which  they  agree. 
Estimates  to  be  prepared  for  the  repair  of  the  Mary.  Some  of  the 
Committees  being  desired  to  go  to  Scriveners'  Hall  this  afternoon 
to  help  advise  concerning  the  debts  of  delinquents,  and  the  Court 
thinking  it  may  help  in  the  matter  of  the  50,000/.  owing  by  Lord 
Cottington,  the  Deputy,  Mr.  Morewood,  and  Daniel  Andrews  are 
requested  to  attend  and  acquaint  the  Court  with  what  they  hear. 

(i^  PP) 

The  seventeen  Directors  of  the  Dutch  East  India  Company. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  41 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  21,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  210). 

Thomas  Thatcher  and  Thomas  Allen  accepted  as  securities  for 
pepper.  The  great  inconvenience  caused  by  adventurers'  goods 
being  left  in  the  Company's  warehouse  is  again  considered  ;  the 
decree  of  the  general  court  is  ordered  to  be  enforced,  and  Sam- 
brooke  is  directed  to  give  Spiller  a  note  of  the  names  of  those  who 
have  left  goods  there,  that  they  may  be  acquainted  with  the 
intention  of  the  Court.  Calicoes  sold  to  James  Martyn.  The 
Deputy  reports  that  nothing  was  concluded  concerning  delinquents' 
debts  at  the  meeting  held  last  Friday  at  Scriveners'  Hall,  only  that 
'  every  man  should  bring  in  the  full  summe  oweing  unto  them  by  any 
delinquent ',  Another  meeting  to  consider  the  same  subject  is  to  be 
held  this  afternoon  ;  he  therefore  desires  to  know  whether  the 
pepper  debt  is  to  be  declared,  and  if  so,  whether  to  lay  it  wholly 
upon  Lord  Cottington,  or  partly  upon  him  and  partly  upon  Sir 
John  Harrison  ;  in  his  opinion,  if  Lord  Cottington's  lands  will 
make  good  the  said  debt,  then  it  should  be  laid  wholly  upon  him, 
'but  in  case  they  putt  in  for  50,000/.,  then  they  must  advance 
5,000/.  according  to  the  propositions.'  If  the  debt  is  not  declared, 
then  in  his  opinion  it  should  be  divided  between  the  adventurers, 
each  to  look  after  his  particular  share.  No  resolution  is  come  to  ; 
but  the  Court  desires  the  Deputy  and  the  other  Committees  to 
attend  the  meeting  to  be  held  at  Scrivener's  Hall  and  report  to  the 
Court  next  Friday.  Pryor,  of  the  Assurance  Office,  is  paid  20/. 
for  ten  policies  drawn  out  for  ships  to  India  and  Italy.  Birkdale, 
who  came  home  chief  mate  in  the  Mary,  is  allowed  to  have  the 
green  ginger  he  brought  as  private  trade  free  of  freight ;  but  the 
pepper  and  cloves,  being  the  Company's  commodities,  are  to  be 
kept  back  and  he  to  be  paid  the  cost  price.  John  Bunducke  is  released 
from  his  agreement  to  carry  pepper  to  Italy  in  his  ship  the  Margaret 
Constance^  he  wishing  to  touch  at  Alicant  and  the  Company  not 
being  willing  to  hazard  the  pepper.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  23,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  212). 

William  Bodiley,  master  of  the  Anne,  is  contracted  with  to  carry 
the  remainder  of  the  pepper  to  Italy  on  the  same  terms  as  the 


42  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

other  masters.  Bunducke,  who  has  given  up  his  intention  to  touch 
at  Alicant,  now  offers  to  carry  pepper  to  Leghorn  and  Venice,  and 
is  contracted  with  to  do  so  on  the  former  terms.  Steevens  presents 
an  estimate  amounting  to  1,223/.  ^^^  repair  of  the  Mary\  debate 
ensues,  and  one  Committee  declares  that  she  is  not  fit  to  be  repaired, 
being  nineteen  years  old  and  having  made  five  voyages.  To  this 
it  is  replied  that  the  shipwrights  have  declared  her  capable  of 
making  a  voyage  of  eighteen  or  twenty  months  ;  so  it  is  resolved 
by  erection  of  hands  that  she  shall  be  repaired  with  all  convenient 
speed  and  the  account  of  the  cost  kept  separate.  Richard  WalHs, 
who  came  home  a  master's  mate  in  the  Mary,  is  granted  his  wages 
(notwithstanding  his  bad  conduct  in  India)  and  allowed  to  have  the 
nutmegs  and  ginger  he  brought  home  as  private  trade,  but  his 
pepper  is  detained  (in  satisfaction  of  freight  and  because  he  wronged 
a  Portugal  in  India)  until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Fremlyn,  who  is  daily 
expected  from  Surat.  Richard  Swanne,  master  of  the  Diamond^ 
having  sent  some  cloves  towards  payment  of  his  debts  to  the 
Secretary,  the  latter  is  allowed  fifty  rials  per  pecul  at  ^s.  the  rial 
for  the  same.  There  remaining  in  the  Exchange  cellar  fifty-one 
bags  of  pepper  from  the  parcel  brought  in  the  Blessing  for  the 
account  of  the  Voyage,  it  is  suggested  that  the  Stock  should  buy 
this  ;  but  the  Court  resolves  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  Committees 
chosen  to  settle  all  things  connected  with  the  two  stocks.  Katherine, 
widow  of  John  Potter,  is  given  4.0s.  from  the  poor-box.    (2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  30,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  214). 

Sixty  cloths  of  specified  size  and  colour  to  be  provided  now  for 
dispatch  to  India  in  the  spring.  On  the  motion  of  the  Governor, 
530/.,  due  by  warrant  to  Sir  Henry  Garway  for  gratifications  when 
he  was  a  Committee  and  Governor,  is  ordered  to  be  put  to  his 
account.    (|  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle  all 

DIFFERENCES  BETWEEN   THE  TWO  STOCKS,  SEPTEMBER  4,  1 644 
{Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  215). 

The  Deputy  intimates  that  the  first  matter  to  be  settled  is  the 
disposal  of  the  pepper  remaining  of  the  parcel  brought  home  in 
the  Blessing  for  account  of  the  Voyage.     The  following  various 


EAST   IxNDIA   COMPANY  43 

opinions  are  expressed  :  that  it  would  be  best  to  keep  the  pepper 
until  the  arrival  of  the  Hopewell,  in  which  ship  more  is  expected 
for  the  Voyage's  account ;  that  it  should  be  shipped  to  Italy  ;  that 
if  the  Joint  Stock  will  buy,  it  should  be  sold  at  the  current  market 
price.  Two  Committees  present  hereupon  offer  14^/.  per  lb.,  in 
order  to  ship  it  on  their  own  account  to  some  part  of  Italy,  but 
dispute  ensues  as  to  whether  any  private  person  may  send  pepper 
to  Italy,  it  being  thought  contrary  to  the  express  order  of  the 
general  court.  Finally,  it  is  agreed  that  the  Joint  Stock,  if  willing 
to  buy,  shall  have  the  pepper  at  14^/.  per  lb.,  and  this  is  referred  to 
the  Court  of  Committees^  this  court  not  thinking  it  has  sufficient 
power  to  make  the  purchase.  The  Deputy  next  puts  before  the 
meeting  that  30/.  has  been  promised  to  the  Garbler  by  way  of 
composition,  30/.  as  a  fee,  and  ico/.  for  special  service  rendered  to 
the  Company,  also  that  30/.  has  to  be  paid  to  the  King  ;  he  desires 
to  know  to  which  account  this  sum  of  180/.  is  to  be  charged. 
After  some  dispute  it  is  agreed  that  the  Joint  Stock  shall  pay  the 
30/.  to  His  Majesty,  and  the  remaining  150/.  shall  be  put  to  the 
account  of  the  General  Voyage.     (iJ/>/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  6,  1644  {Cotirt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  216). 

The  Committee  of  the  Navy  desiring  to  have  in  ready  money 
the  remainder  of  the  6,00c/.  promised  to  Parliament,  the  sum  of 
214/.  i8i-.  'id.  due  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  It  is  decided  that  the 
Joint  Stock  shall  take  the  fifty-one  bags  of  pepper  belonging  to  the 
Voyage  at  14^.  per  lb.  ready  money,  the  impost  to  be  made  good 
by  the  Voyage  to  the  Stock ;  and  the  Court  resolves  that  the  said 
pepper  shall  be  shipped  in  the  Angel  for  Leghorn.  A  list  of  the 
Company's  debtors  being  read,  Spiller  is  ordered  to  give  notice 
to  Mr.  Burton  and  Company  that  they  will  be  sued,  unless  1,000/. 
of  the  12,352/.  5^.  long  since  owing  by  them  is  paid  by  next  Monday 
week;  also  to  notify  Pedwarden  Rumsey,  John  Taylor,  and  Stephen 
Boulton  that  a  similar  course  will  be  taken  unless  their  several 
debts  are  paid  within  ten  days.  Benzoin  to  be  sold  to  the  best 
advantage.  Fotherby,  who  for  twenty-six  years  has  been  clerk  and 
storekeeper  at  Blackwall  Yard,  petitions  that  his  salary  may  be 


44  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

increased  from  loo/.  to  120/.  as  formerly,  and  he  be  allowed  30/. 
yearly  for  maintenance  of  a  servant  to  assist  him  to  bring  in  his 
accounts  once  a  year,  as  he  is  now  two  years  behindhand.  These 
requests  are  granted,  and  he  is  promised  that,  when  his  accounts 
are  perfected,  consideration  shall  be  had  of  a  gratuity  to  be  given 
to  him  because  of  the  abatement  of  his  salary  these  last  two  years. 
Susan,  wife  of  William  Whitmore,  in  the  John,  to  receive  yearly 
two  months'  pay  from  her  husband's  wages.     i}-%pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  13,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  218). 

The  wife  of  Francis  Day,  a  factor  at  the  Coast,  to  be  paid 
one-third  of  her  husband's  wages,  including  arrears.  The  Deputy 
presents  a  bill  of  exchange  for  payment  of  2,478/.  to  Sebastian 
Deas  Perreira,  lent  by  him  to  the  factors  at  the  Coast ;  the  bill 
is  made  payable  at  ten  days'  sight  to  an  Italian  merchant  resident 
in  town,  as  appears  by  a  letter  from  Perreira,  in  which  he  desires 
that  the  commodities  to  be  bought  for  him  may  be  sent  in  the  next 
ship  to  be  dispatched  to  the  Coast.  The  bill  is  ordered  to  be  met, 
but  the  transportation  of  the  goods  is  refused.  Resolved  that,  if 
Bunducke  refuses  to  sign  the  same  agreement  as  all  the  other 
masters,  the  pepper  allotted  to  him  shall  be  shipped  in  the  Angel 
and  Anne.  Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  proceed  to  Dover, 
to  await  the  arrival  of  the  ships  and  prevent  the  landing  of  any 
private  trade.  The  proportion  of  pepper  to  be  shipped  in  each 
of  the  four  vessels  intended  for  Italy  is  determined.  After  much 
dispute  it  is  agreed  to  consign  all  the  pepper  to  be  sent  to  Genoa 
to  Messrs.  Wright  and  How,  and  not  to  join  with  them  the  two 
Ellams  as  proposed,  the  two  former  having  always  carried  them- 
selves faithfully,  and  Thomas  Jennings  and  Gilbert  Keate  promising 
to  be  their  securities.  Motion  is  made  for  security  to  be  taken  for 
the  goods  to  be  sent  to  Leghorn  ;  this  is  approved,  but  no  resolution 
is  come  to.  The  Governor  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to 
meet  at  Sir  John  Gayer's  house  next  Tuesday  afternoon,  to  consider 
some  propositions  to  be  presented  by  Mr.  Trumball.  Calicoes  to 
be  sold  by  candle  auction  next  Friday  morning  ;  also  benzoin, 
if  the  latter  is  not  already  disposed  of.     It  is  resolved  to  insure 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  45 

the  pepper  to  be  sent  to  Italy  for  20,000/.  Captain  Mynors  is 
given  a  gratuity  of  100/.  for  making  the  Downs  his  first  port  with 
the  Mary.     {2\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  20,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  220). 

Calicoes  sold  to  John  Massingberd  and  Thomas  Lambe.  John 
HoUoway  buys  Sinda  cloth  and  James  Martyn  cotton-wool.  No 
decision  is  come  to  regarding  a  request  of  Mr.  De  La  Noy's  to  be 
allowed  a  certain  tare  for  benzoin  bought  by  him.  The  Company 
buys  two  guns  from  James  Martyn.     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  27,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  222). 

Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  view  the  benzoin  brought 
home  as  private  trade  by  David  White,  master's  mate  in  the  Mary. 
The  Angel  being  in  the  Downs  and  the  three  other  ships  intended 
for  Italy  only  at  Gravesend,  the  Court,  fearing  the  masters  do  not 
intend  to  keep  together,  orders  a  copy  of  the  agreement  signed  by 
them  to  be  sent  to  Genoa  and  Leghorn,  with  directions  that  if  at 
the  arrival  of  the  said  ships  it  shall  appear  that  the  conditions  set 
forth  have  not  been  adhered  to,  then  one-half  of  their  freight  shall 
be  detained.  It  is  resolved  that  a  premium  of  2^  per  cent,  shall 
be  allowed  on  the  insurance  policy  taken  out  for  the  pepper  sent  to 
Leghorn  and  Genoa,  and  one  of  3^  per  cent,  on  that  dispatched 
to  Venice  ;  that  only  adventurers  in  the  Joint  Stock  may  underwrite, 
and  they  for  not  less  than  loc/.  and  for  not  more  than  300/.  in  any 
one  policy ;  and  if  the  said  policies  are  not  written  up  in  a  week, 
then  further  order  shall  be  issued,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  4, 1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  223). 

The  benzoin  brought  home  by  David  White,  not  being  thought 
merchantable,  is  to  be  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight.  The  ship  to 
be  launched  on  Monday  next  to  be  called  the  Falcon.  James  Cox 
to  be  paid  150/.  upon  account.  Mr.  Coggan  desires  that  his  account 
may  be  cleared,  and  offers  himself  for  future  service ;  if  entertained, 
he  is  ready  to  adventure  3,00c/.  with  the   Company.      He  also 


46  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

requests  that  the  wife  of  George  Gilson,  master  of  the  Swan,  may 
receive  some  black  pepper  sent  by  her  husband.  The  Court,  hearing 
that  most  of  the  black  pepper  brought  home  by  the  mariners  was  in 
the  Swan  and  suspected  to  belong  to  the  Company,  gives  positive 
order  that  none  is  to  be  delivered,  and  revokes  the  order  given  for 
Birkdale  to  receive  money  for  his  pepper.  Coggan's  account  is 
ordered  to  be  made  up  by  this  day  fortnight ;  but  as  the  private 
trade  at  the  Coast  is  so  exorbitant  he  is  suspected  of  connivance, 
and  therefore  the  Court  appoints  certain  Committees  to  examine 
the  complaints  presented  by  Trumball.^  The  time  of  year  for 
arrival  of  the  shipping  from  India  being  far  spent,  the  Committees 
who  went  to  Dover  to  await  it  are  to  be  told  to  return  to  London 
when  they  please.  An  action  is  ordered  to  be  entered  against 
Mr.  Burton  and  Company.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  ii,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  225). 

Stephen  Burton,  Richard  Piggott,  William  Boulton,  and  Humphrey 
Burre  desire  permission  to  transfer  the  adventure  of  1,500/.  in  the 
Voyage  entered  in  the  name  of  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  towards  satis- 
faction of  their  debt,  and  promise  to  pay  the  remainder  speedily 
when  this  shall  be  done.  They  are  told  that  this  adventure  has 
been  sequestered  by  four  several  orders  from  the  House  of  Commons 
and  Committees  of  Parliament,^  and  cannot  be  transferred  until 
these  are  all  removed.  The  applicants  produce  an  affidavit,  taken 
before  the  Committee  of  Sequestrations  at  Cambden  House,  made 
by  Samuel  Crispe  and  his  man,  stating  that  the  said  adventure  pro- 
perly belongs  to  Samuel  Crispe,  although  it  is  entered  in  the  name 
of  Sir  Nicholas  ;  they  likewise  show  a  certificate  that  the  said  Com- 
mittee is  satisfied  that  the  adventure  belongs  to  Samuel  Crispe  ;  in 
consideration  of  these  they  again  desire  that  the  adventure  may  be 
sold  and  the  money  taken  by  the  Company,  and  offer  to  save  the 
latter  harmless.  If,  however,  the  Court  will  not  agree  to  this,  they 
desire  a  certificate  stating  that,  upon  sight  of  the  affidavit,  the 
Court  thinks  that  the  adventure  belongs  wholly  to  Samuel  Crispe. 

^  Probably  the  charges  against  Day  and  others  contained  in  OX.  1784. 
'  See  the  previons  volume,  pp.  358,  360,  and  the  Calendar  of  the  Committee  jor  Advance 
of  Money,  part  i,  p.  146. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  47 

After  some  consideration,  the  Court  decides  not  to  transfer  or  sell 
the  adventure  or  certify  that  it  belongs  to  Samuel  Crispe,  because 
Parliament  might  tax  them  with  contempt  of  its  orders.  The 
applicants  are  informed  of  this  decision  and  also  that  the  Court  is 
willing  to  help  them  in  trying  to  remove  the  several  sequestrations. 
Two  or  three  Committees  will  therefore  be  sent  to  Mr.  Blackstone 
[see  the  previous  volume^  p.  358],  and  if  through  his  help  an  order 
can  be  procured  from  the  House  of  Commons  for  removal  of  the 
sequestrations,  then  they  will  consent  to  the  sale  of  the  adventure. 
Meanwhile  the  Company  is  in  need  of  money,  and  some  part  of  this 
debt  must  be  paid  or  the  suit  will  be  continued.  Burton  and  his 
companions  promise  to  pay  2.000/.  by  the  end  of  next  month  if  the 
suit  is  stayed  ;  and  this  is  agreed  to.     {'^\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  18,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  226). 

Giles  Shepheard  is  given  5/.  for  diligent  service.  Small  cordage 
to  be  sent  to  India  and  Bantam.  Clement  Mosse,  who  married  the 
widow  of  Thomas  Jesson,  an  adventurer  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock, 
desires,  as  the  said  Jesson's  adventure  of  2,400/.  was  left  tied  as 
a  security  for  payment  of  140/.  yearly  to  his  wife  during  her  lifetime, 
that  it  may  not  be  disposed  of  until  Mr.  Holloway  (who  has  bought 
it)  has  given  security  for  the  punctual  payment  of  this  annuity. 
Mosse  is  informed  that  1,500/.,  part  of  the  proceeds  of  this  adventure, 
has  been  paid  by  Holloway  into  the  Company's  treasury,  where  the 
remainder  (on  sale  of  the  goods)  is  also  to  be  placed  ;  and  that  this 
money,  if  agreed  to  by  all  parties,  shall  remain  with  the  Company  as 
security  for  payment  of  the  said  annuity,  and  Holloway  be  allowed 
six  per  cent,  interest  as  long  as  it  is  in  the  Company's  keeping ;  but 
on  the  death  of  Mrs.  Mosse  the  adventure  shall  be  free  from  this 
engagement  and  the  proceeds  shall  be  given  to  Mr.  Jesson's  two 
brothers.  Mr.  Mosse  is  desired  to  draw  up  an  agreement  to  this 
effect  for  all  parties  interested  to  sign.  Seaman,  an  attorney, 
demands,  on  behalf  of  the  executors  of  Sir  Edmund  Wright,  154/. 
due  to  the  latter's  estate ;  he  is  told  that  twenty  years  ago  a  mistake 
was  made  in  the  Company's  books,  which  has  only  been  discovered 
since  Sir  Edmund's  death ;  the  executors  may  examine  the  books 
and   see  this   for   themselves.      Mr.  Morewood   reports  that   the 


48  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Committee  for  letting  Bridgehouse  Lands  consents  to  the  sale  of  the 
Company's  lands  at  Deptford  to  Mr.  Holland ;  whereupon  Acton 
is  desired  to  perfect  the  agreement,  that  the  Company  may  receive 
the  money  as  formerly  arranged.  Because  of  the  many  complaints 
against  Cogan,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet  next 
Wednesday  morning  to  draw  up  a  charge  against  him,  and  he  is  to 
be  appointed  a  convenient  time  to  answer  each  particular  in  writing. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  25,  1644  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  228). 

Mr.  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  provide  and  ship  home  white 
oakum,  it  being  very  dear  in  England.  The  cost  of  the  Falcon  in 
the  river  being  40^-.  weekly,  a  motion  is  made  to  put  her  into  dock, 
and  debate  ensues  as  to  whether  she  shall  be  sent  to  the  Coast  or 
not ;  finally  it  is  resolved  to  dispatch  her  to  Surat  next  February  and 
not  to  the  Coast.  John  Gearing  offering  60/.  towards  payment 
of  his  debt  and  promising  to  settle  the  remainder,  the  suit  begun 
against  him  is  to  be  stayed.  The  London  Merchant  leaving  the 
Downs  after  the  Margaret  Constance,  the  Angel,  and  the  Anne, 
whereby  the  masters  of  the  said  ships  forfeit  half  freight  for  not 
keeping  together  according  to  their  agreement,  the  Court,  after 
some  dispute  concerning  the  insurance  policies  taken  out  for  these 
vessels,  resolves  that  a  fresh  policy  of  8,000/.  shall  be  drawn  up  for 
the  London  Merchant,  and  a  premium  of  three  per  cent,  allowed  ; 
those  who  underwrote  in  the  former  policy  to  erase  their  names 
from  it  and  subscribe  as  much  or  more  to  the  new.  The  following 
securities  to  be  accepted  for  the  factors  at  Leghorn  :  Job  Throg- 
morton  to  enter  into  a  bond  of  15,000/.  for  Messrs.  Collyer, 
Dethicke,  and  Rolt ;  Robert  Abdy  to  enter  into  one  of  5,000/.  for 
his  brother  Nicholas ;  and  William  Willyams  into  a  similar  one 
for  his  brother  Philip.  Stephen  Boulton's  request  that  the  interest 
due  on  his  debt  to  the  Company  may  be  remitted  is  refused.  The 
sequestrations  upon  the  adventure  of  Sir  Thomas  Hamersley  being 
revoked,^  and  250/.  of  the  said  adventure  appearing  to  belong  to 
Mr.  Cogan,  the  divisions  due  upon  the  same  are  ordered  to  be  paid 
to  the  latter.     {1  pp.) 

^  See  Calendar  of  the  Comfiiittee  for  Advance  of  Money,  part  i,  p.  306. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  49 

Ak  Attestation  by  John  de  Mio  and  Ranaldo  Valtier, 

PUBLIC  notaries,  OF  A  PROCURATION  FROM  SiR  PETER  RICAULT, 
Paris,  November  ^,  1644  {Hotne  Miscellaneous^  vol.  xxxix, 
p.  171). 

Giving  power  to  Dominicus  del  Re,  advocate  at  Venice,  to  attach, 
at  that  town  and  elsewhere,  all  merchandise,  money,  and  effects  per- 
taining to  the  East  India  Company,  for  securing  Sir  Peter  Ricault's 
share,  which  amounts  to  40,000  ducats,  of  the  divisions  of  the  capital 
of  the  said  Company,  Thomas  Cantarini,  Carlo  Humagho,  and  Gio. 
Batta  certify  that  John  de  Mio  and  Ranaldo  Valtier  are  public  and 
legal  notaries.     {Two  copies,  one  in  Latin,  the  other  in  English. 

9PP') 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  8,  1644  (Conrt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  230). 

A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read  and  special  notice  taken 
of  the  50,000/.  due  from  Lord  Cottington  for  pepper ;  whereupon 
Acton  is  called  upon  to  report  concerning  the  suit  begun  in  the 
Court  of  Exchequer  against  Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  Job  Harby,  Sir 
John  Nulls,  and  Sir  John  Jacobs.  He  declares  that  the  debt  is  in 
'  a  probable  way '  of  being  settled,  and  he  reads  a  petition  which  the 
said  sureties  have  presented  to  Parliament,  praying  for  help  to 
satisfy  the  King's  debt  for  which  they  are  engaged.  Hereupon  the 
Court  resolves  that,  as  it  will  be  a  year  or  more  before  judgement 
can  be  had,  if  the  sureties  will  'acknowledge  a  judgment  to  the 
Company ',  the  suit  shall  be  stayed  for  a  time ;  but  if  not,  then  it 
must  be  continued ;  with  which  decision  Acton  is  to  acquaint  Sir 
John  Nulls.  On  information  that  five  or  six  ships  are  being  pre- 
pared for  India  by  private  men,  the  Secretary  is  instructed  to  draw 
up  a  petition  to  Parliament  concerning  this  matter,  and  certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  inform  Mr.  Greene  of  the  same  and 
desire  him  either  to  report  the  ordinance  of  the  Company  formerly 
debated  at  the  Committee  of  the  Navy,  of  which  he  is  chairman,  or 
to  present  the  said  petition  to  the  House.  Mr.  Fotherby's  request 
to  be  allowed  150/.  per  annum  for  himself  and  his  two  servants 
is  refused,  the  Court  remaining  firm  to  its  former  resolution  concern- 
ing his  salary,  but  again  promising  that  when  his  books  are  per- 


50  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

fected  consideration  shall  be  had  of  a  gratuity  to  be  given  to  him. 
A  store  of  rials  having  arrived  from  Spain,  after  some  debate  it  is 
decided  not  to  provide  any  more  for  the  present,  as  many  ships  are 
expected  with  further  supplies  before  the  Company  will  have  need 
of  them,     {'^hpp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  15,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  231). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  the  Recorder  [John  Glynn],  on  being 
desired  to  present  the  Company's  petition  to  the  House,  made  so 
much  difficulty  about  it  that  the  Court  has  decided  to  send  Sir 
Henry  Vane,  Sir  Henry  Mildmay,  and  Sir  Thomas  Dacres  each 
a  copy  of  it  and  ask  them  to  further  the  Company  in  this  matter  as 
much  as  possible.    A  letter  is  read  from  Amsterdam  from  Benjamin 
Robinson,  who  last  year  was  entertained  as  a  factor  at  200/.  per 
annum,  but  obtained  leave  to  delay  his  departure  for  a  year.     He 
now  desires  to  go  in  the  next  ships  to  Surat ;  but  as  no  more  factors 
are  to  be  appointed  until  news  arrives  from  India,  his  re-entertain- 
ment is  deferred.     Messrs.  Burton,  Bolton,  Piggott,  and  Burr  present 
an  order  made  by  the  Committee  of  Sequestrations  for  the  City  of 
London  sitting  at  Cambden  House,  whereby  the  sequestration  laid 
upon  the  adventure  of  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  is  discharged,  and  desire 
liberty  to  transfer  this  adventure,  or  that  the  Company  will  take  it 
over  at  a  certain  rate.     They  are  told  that  there  is  a  debt  of  330/. 
due  from  Sir  Nicholas  and  Samuel  Crispe,  which  ought  to  be  satis- 
fied ;  and  that  before  anything  can  be  done  the  consent  of  Sir 
Nicholas  must  be  obtained ;  also  that  there  are  other  sequestrations 
from  which  the  Company  must  be  saved  harmless.    The  applicants 
produce  a  letter  from   Sir  Nicholas,  stating   that  the  adventure 
belongs  to  Samuel  Crispe,  and  they  promise  to  save  the  Company 
harmless.     Thereupon  Acton  is  directed  to  draw  up  a  writing  to 
that  effect ;  and  when  the  debtors  have  signed  this  a  meeting  shall 
be  arranged  to  settle  about  the  transfer.     Mr.  Kendricke's  bond, 
entered  into  for  payment  of  20/.  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Humphrey 
Tomkins,  is  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  John  Cartwright.     Duties 
allotted  to  the  several  Committees.     (3  //.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  51 

A  Court  of  Committees,  No\"ember  22,  1644  [Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  235). 

Zachary  Highlord  transfers  to  John  Smith,  merchant,  800/.  ad- 
venture and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage,  upon  which  the  principal 
is  already  divided  and  37/.  per  cent,  profits  ;  also  400/.  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  Mr.  Snow  appears  on  behalf 
of  Thomas  Davies  at  Rotterdam,  executor  to  the  late  Thomas 
Morris,  a  factor  at  the  Coast,  and  desires  payment  of  800/.  due  to 
the  latter's  estate  ;  he  is  told  that  Morris  entered  into  a  bond  of 
loco/.  (Davies  also  being  bound  with  him)  not  to  indulge  in  private 
trade,  and  as  the  Court  thinks  it  impossible  that  he  should  have 
amassed  such  a  large  estate  on  the  little  he  carried  out  and  therefore 
must  have  broken  his  bond,  a  fine  is  to  be  imposed,  and  they  desire 
Mr.  Snow  to  tell  Mr.  Davies  this.     ( i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  29,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  236). 

It  is  resolved  that  the  Joint  Stock  shall  allow  the  General  Voyage 
i^d.  in  the  pound  ready  money  for  every  five  rials  of  eight  of  the 
10,000  rials  brought  in  the  Sampson.  Richard  Wallis,  who  came 
home  master's  mate  in  the  Mary,  is  to  have  his  goods  delivered  to 
him  on  payment  of  25/.  William  Cobb,  who  is  imprisoned  in  the 
King's  Bench  for  piracies  committed  in  the  Red  Sea,  petitions  for 
release ;  answer  is  returned  that,  when  he  shall  have  confessed  in 
the  Admiralty  Court  the  particulars  of  all  the  proceedings,  his  re- 
lease shall  be  considered.  Thomas  Wyatt,  who  has  served  the 
Company  twenty-six  years  and  has  lost  his  jawbone,  is  given  45/.  to 
buy  a  boat.  The  Court  orders  that  henceforth  no  monthly  wages 
shall  be  paid  to  any  but  the  wives  of  mariners  without  especial 
order,  and  Hurt  is  directed  to  make  out  letters  of  attorney  to  wives 
only.  The  Court,  after  delivering  judgement  on  the  several  com- 
plaints brought  against  George  Willoughby,  late  President  of  Ban- 
tam, directs  that  Jeremy  Sambrooke,  his  executor,  shall  receive  his 
remaining  estate,     {lipp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  6,  1644  {Cot^rt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  238). 

The  Treasurer  reporting  that  there  is  money  remaining  in  cash 
belonging  to  the  General  Voyage,  it  is  decided  to  keep  it  in  the 

E  2 


52  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Company's  custody  until  there  is  sufficient  to  divide  to  the  adven- 
turers in  that  Voyage  ;  meanwhile  the  Joint  Stock  is  to  allow  the 
Voyage  six  per  cent,  interest  for  its  use.  William  Cobb  appears  in 
court  and  desires  to  be  released  from  his  imprisonment ;  this  is 
promised,  so  soon  as  he  makes  a  full  confession.  Messrs.  Burton, 
Bolton,  Piggott,  and  Burr  present  the  draft  of  a  writing  which  they 
are  prepared  to  seal  to  save  the  Company  harmless  from  any  claims 
made  upon  the  adventure  of  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  in  the  Voyage  and 
the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  They  desire  that,  if  the  331/.  owing  by 
Sir  Nicholas  and  Samuel  Crispe  to  the  Company  (which  is  to  be 
satisfied  on  sale  of  the  adventures)  shall  hereafter  appear  an  unjust 
debt,  it  shall  be  repaid  ;  to  this  the  Court  agrees.  Samuel  Crispe 
appears  in  court  and  on  behalf  of  his  brother  and  himself  transfers 
to  Messrs.  Burton,  Bolton,  Piggott,  Burr,  and  Brett  the  1,500/. 
adventure  and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage  and  the  adventure  of 
918/.  2s.  6^.  with  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  The  Governor 
reports  that  there  is  2,800/.  due  to  the  Company  from  the  Com- 
missioners of  Customs  for  the  half  subsidy  for  pepper  exported  to 
Italy  this  year,  and  that  Rilston  has  often  demanded  it  but  has 
always  been  put  off;  the  Court  orders  the  Husband  to  again 
demand  the  money  in  the  name  of  the  Court.  Markham  and  Sam- 
brooke  are  directed  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  Company's  estate 
belonging  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  On  hearing  that  about  7  cwt. 
of  black  pepper  has  been  brought  home  in  the  Mary  as  private 
trade  (contrary  to  the  express  orders  of  the  Company),  the  Court 
directs  that  the  owners  be  allowed  6d.  per  lb.  for  it,  the  Company  to 
pay  the  custom  and  all  other  charges.  A  list  of  the  Company's 
debtors  is  read  and  Sir  Henry  Garway's  debt  of  2,761/.  especially 
noted.  The  Secretary  intimates  that  a  division  of  silk  is  due  to  Sir 
Henry,  but  that  there  is  not  sufficient  to  satisfy  him  and  other 
adventurers  ;  it  is  therefore  resolved  that  all  other  adventurers  shall 
be  satisfied  first  and  Sir  Henry  have  what  remains  of  the  silk,  and 
the  rest  of  his  warrant  paid  in  money,  as  he  is  so  indebted  to  the 
Company.  Spiller  is  ordered  to  enter  an  action  against  John 
Taylor  for  payment  of  his  debt  and  cause  him  to  be  arrested. 
William  Garway  is  informed  that  the  London  Merchant  (of  which 
ship  he  is  part-owner)  did  not  leave  the  Downs  with  the  Anne, 
Angel,  and  Margaret  Constance  according  to  agreement,  thus  for- 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  55 

feiting  half  her  freight  and  causing  the  Company  to  waive  its  first 
policy  and  underwrite  for  another,  in  which  half  per  cent,  premium 
more  than  at  the  first  was  allowed ;  he  declares  his  wiUingness  to 
make  good  any  loss  sustained  through  the  late  departure  of  the 
vessel.     (2^  pp) 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company, 
December  9,  \6af\{Factory  Records,  Java,  vol.  iii,  pt.  ii,  p.  801). 

Acknowledges  a  letter  of  the  29th  ultimo.  Is  glad  to  hear  that 
the  Company  is  furnished  with  oakum,  as  he  has  been  unable  to 
procure  any.  With  regard  to  the  request  for  maces  and  nutmegs, 
he  cannot  send  any  yet,  as  '  the  Seventeen '  at  their  last  meeting 
resolved  not  to  sell  any  of  the  best  until  'the  browne  and  midle 
maces'  are  disposed  of.  Quotes  the  prices  of  mace.,  nutmegs,  pepper, 
and  of  '  Ardasse '  and  '  Lege  '  silk.     (|/) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  13,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  240). 

A  court  of  sales  is  ordered  to  be  held  next  Wednesday  afternoon. 
The  Commissioners  of  Customs,  being  again  applied  to,  refuse  to 
pay  the  sum  due  to  the  Company  for  the  half  subsidy  of  pepper 
exported  to  Italy,  saying  that  they  have  no  money  belonging  to  the 
State  in  their  hands.  The  request  of  George  Purser,  overseer  of  the 
making  of  cordage,  for  an  increase  of  salary  is  referred  to  certain 
Committees.  The  assessment  of  40J.  for  relief  of  the  poor  at  Black- 
waU  is  ordered  to  be  paid.     {\  p.) 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company, 
December  16,  i6i^[Factory  Records,  Java,  vol.  iii,  pt.  ii,  p.  801). 

Acknowledges  receipt  of  letter  of  the  6th  present  Expresses 
a  hope  that  the  three  ships  expected  by  the  Company  from  India  at 
the  end  of  the  month  or  beginning  of  January  may  arrive  safely. 

Cogan's  Defence  {O.C.  1751). 

He  reminds  the  Company  that  their  Presidents  are  empowered  to 
command  their  subordinate  factories  and  to  punish  delinquents  ;  and 
that  they  have  been  ordered  from  time  to  time  to  conclude  all  dis- 


54  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

putes  and  thus  avoid  trouble  at  home.  This  being  so,  *  the  Company- 
have  noe  reason  to  put  Your  Worshipps  and  myselfe  to  this  presente 
trouble  ;  however,  I  repine  not  at  yt,  in  regard  soe  many  worthie 
men  are  to  judge  the  buisnes.'  In  answer  to  the  charge  of  building 
Fort  St.  George,  '  which  hath  cost  from  the  first  March,  1639  [1640] 
to  the  30th  June,  1643,  the  summ  of  pa[godas]  new  9,250,'  Cogan 
replies  that  about  July,  1639,  when  the  Coast  was  subordinate  to 
Bantam  and  Ivy  chief  on  the  Coast,  Francis  Day  was  employed  to 
treat  with  the  Nayak  of  Madraspatam  for  a  plot  of  ground  within 
his  country  to  fortify  upon.  This  was  granted,  articles  were  drawn 
up  between  the  Nayak  and  Day  in  the  Company's  name,  and  the 
latter  returned  to  MasuHpatam  to  acquaint  Ivy  how  far  he  had 
proceeded.  Thereupon  a  consultation  was  called,  when  it  was  re- 
solved that  Day  should  return  to  Armagon  and  from  thence  main- 
tain relations  with  the  Nayak  until  orders  were  received  from 
Bantam  to  proceed  in  the  work.  The  articles  of  agreement  and  the 
letter  containing  Day's  relation  of  the  place  were  sent  to  Bantam. 
In  October,  1639,  the  Coast  was  made  subordinate  to  Surat.  Not- 
withstanding the  Company's  positive  order  to  dismantle  Armagon, 
the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  temporized  and  wished  first  to 
know  the  conveniency  or  inconveniency  of  that  place,  its  monthly 
charge,  and  how  it  was  in  repair.  They  were  told  by  letters  of 
November  8  and  18,  1639,  that  the  fort  was  much  out  of  repair  and 
would  require  some  thousands  of  rials  spent  to  make  it  merely 
habitable  ;  and  the  articles  of  agreement  concerning  Madraspatam, 
with  Day's  relation  of  the  place,  were  sent  to  them.  They  replied 
(the  8th  of  January,  received  the  6th  of  February,  1640)  that  Day's 
relation  of  Madraspatam  gave  fair  hopes  of  fortifying  there,  '  which 
wee  conceave  will  be  so  farr  advanced  that  our  direccions  will  come 
too  late  to  improve  the  accion  ' ;  and  added  that  they  doubted  not 
that  all  fitting  precautions  had  been  taken,  provision  made  for  the 
recovery  of  debts  at  Armagon  and  for  taking  away  from  thence 
whatever  belonged  to  the  Company,  and  that  nothing  had  been 
attempted  until  assurance  was  had  of  the  Nayak's  resolution  to 
receive  them  and  assist  in  the  fortifications  at  Madraspatam.  They 
agreed  that  '  some  such  place  is  very  necessary  for  provition  of 
paintings ',  more  especially  as,  according  to  report,  the  Nayak  of 
Armagon  had  abused  and  robbed  those  that  traded  with  the  English. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  55 

They  feared  that  the  notice  of  their  intended  desertion  of  his  place 
would  exasperate  the  Nayak,  and  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  get  the 
guns,  etc.,  away.  They  continued  :  '  yf  you  doe  goe  forewarde  with 
yt,  we  wish  you  resolve  on  to  purpose,  and  builde  no  such  mock 
forts  as  that  at  Armagon ' ;  and  they  concluded  by  leaving  '  the 
whole  accion  '  to  the  management  of  the  factors  and  wishing  them 
good  success  in  their  undertaking.  In  another  clause  of  their  letter 
they  said :  '  Trengumbarr  [i.  e.  Tranquebar]  (if  the  Danes  woulde 
parte  with  yt)  we  have  heard  is  a  convenient,  serviceable,  and  defen- 
cible  fortificacion.  Wee  beleeve  none  there  hath  power  to  dispose 
of  yt,  yet  if  theire  povertie  shoulde  induce  them  to  parte  with 
yt  and  that  you  founde  yt  so  useful!  and  serviceable  to  your  buisnes 
as  yt  hath  beene  reported,  that  place  woulde  merritt  oure  owneinge.* 
This  shows  that  no  objections  were  entertained  at  Surat  to  the 
acquisition  of  a  fort  on  the  Coast.  In  answer  to  a  question  concern- 
ing the  progress  made  with  the  fort  at  Madraspatam,  Cogan  states 
that  'three  bulwarcks  and  the  Tower  (or  house)  in  the  midst  is 
finished,  and  34  peeces  of  ordnance  mounted  er  I  came  from  thence, 
and  some  parts  of  the  materialls  provided  to  goe  on  with  the  rest ' ; 
and  for  the  Company's  better  information  he  presents  '  a  mapp  or 
draught  [not  extaiit]  of  the  fortt  as  yt  was  at  first  intended',  by  which 
may  be  seen  '  whats  donne  and  whats  to  doe '.  With  regard  to  the 
reported  cost  of  9,250  pagodas,  he  refers  the  Company  to  the  books, 
and  expresses  his  belief  that  this  charge  will  be  much  lessened  on 
a  closer  view  of  the  accounts,  as  the  various  charges  of  merchandise, 
shipping,  diet,  servants'  wages,  etc.,  must  have  been  met  whether  the 
fort  had  been  erected  or  not ;  '  and  for  the  interest,  twas  promised 
[April  4,  1640,  in  margin^  to  be  paied  by  Mr.  Day,  because  the 
Naigue  (as  he  pretends)  falcified  his  promise.'  On  this  being 
reported  to  Surat  (June  15,  1640)  the  President  and  Council 
approved  Day's  'readye  and  kinde  proffer  of  payinge  interest  of 
such  moneyes  as  shalbe  expended  untill  the  buildinge  of  the  fort  be 
finished ' ;  but  before  any  payment  was  due  they  wrote  again 
(February  12,  1641),  saying  that  upon  Day's  earnest  request  they 
had  decided  to  release  him  from  this  obligation.  All  this  plainly 
showing  that  the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  did  enorder  the 
building  of  the  fort,  Cogan  says,  '  I  ought  not  to  be  blamed  had  yt 
cost  far  more  then  yt  hath.'     In  answer  to  further  questions,  Cogan 


56  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

asserts  that  the  monthly  charge  of  the  soldiers,  wages,  food,  etc.,  has 
not  amounted  to  more  than  50  pagodas,  besides  the  portions  pay- 
able at  home  of  the  wages  due  to  the  English ;  that  since  their  first 
coming  to  Madraspatam  upwards  of  30,000  pagodas  worth  of  goods 
have  been  bought  and  shipped  away.  Concerning  Ivy's  private 
trade,  Cogan  states  that  he  has  already  sent  home  an  account  of  the 
same,  and  of  his  own,  and  that  Ivy  has  since  been  home  and  given 
full  satisfaction  with  regard  to  it.  Concerning  goods  belonging  to 
the  King  of  Golconda  landed  at  Gombroon  custom-free  without  the 
knowledge  of  the  factors  at  Surat,  he  asserts  that  this  was  only 
suggested  at  the  repeated  request  of  the  said  King,  and  it  was  for 
the  factors  at  Gombroon  to  decide  whether  to  pass  the  goods  free 
or  not ;  that  the  death  of  the  pattamar  was  the  sole  reason  why 
Surat  was  not  informed  ;  that  all  this  has  been  no  prejudice  to  the 
Company,  for  advices  have  since  been  received  from  Persia,  intimat- 
ing their  intention  of  remitting  the  Company's  share  of  customs  on 
those  goods,  as  in  any  case  '  not  one  penny  will  com  to  the  Com- 
panies share ' ;  and  this  remission  was  confirmed  by  the  President 
and  Council  of  Surat.  Concerning  the  '  totall  aversion  from  Bant- 
ham  of  all  the  carga[zoon]  designed  from  England  thither '  by  the 
Hopewell  (1640),  Cogan  says  that  the  books  of  accounts  will  show 
that  goods  were  returned  in  her  to  the  value  of  14,330  pieces  of 
eight,  when  the  cloth  and  lead  were  as  yet  unsold,  and  that  her  late 
arrival  on  the  Coast  only  allowed  of  a  month's  stay,  in  which  time 
no  more  could  be  provided.  Concerning  the  private  trade  said  to  be 
laden  in  her,  Cogan  declares  that  he  had  none  and  gave  no  orders 
for  any  to  be  received  ;  and  that  if  there  were  any,  the  President  of 
Bantam  should  have  seized  it  and  should  be  responsible  for  the 
same.  The  reason  why  the  Advice  was  not  returned  to  Bantam 
was  because  the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  positively  ordered 
her  to  be  sent  to  Persia  with  all  the  goods  provided  for  Gombroon, 
though  in  a  letter  dated  three  days  later  (received  ten  days  after  the 
said  vessel  had  sailed)  they  gave  permission  for  the  said  goods  to  be 
sent  in  a  junk,  a  Dutch  ship,  or  in  the  Diamond^  as  the  President's 
commands  were  so  positive  for  the  Advice  to  be  returned  to  Bantam. 
The  Diamond  was  sent  to  Bantam  for  want  of  a  better  ship.  She 
had  been  repaired  in  Bengal  not  a  month  before,  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
1, 000  pagodas,  and  it  was  even  proposed  to  send  her  afterwards 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  57 

from  Bantam  to  the  Coast  and  Surat  if  she  could  have  been  spared. 
As  to  the  damage  said  to  have  been  done  to  her  cargo,  Cogan  had 
been  told  by  her  master  that  it  was  but  slight ;  and  with  regard  to 
the  small  number  of  men  in  her,  it  is  well  known  that  never  till  then 
had  she  sailed  with  so  many.  Cogan  emphatically  denies  the  charge 
of  improvidence  in  the  expenditure  of  money  consigned  to  the  Coast 
and  refers  his  accusers  to  the  books,  where  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
predecessors  spent  more  in  a  month  at  Masulipatam  than  was  spent 
by  him  in  the  same  time  in  all  the  Coast  factories.  The  greater 
part  of  what  was  sent  was  employed  in  paying  interest  on  what  was 
misspent  when  Baker  and  Cartwright  lived  at  the  Coast,  the  former 
having  cost  the  Company  a  great  deal.  The  payment  of  the  before- 
mentioned  interest,  the  repairing  and  building  of  ships,  and  the 
building  of  the  fort  caused  the  great  expense  and  charge  at  the 
Coast,  not  his  (Cogan's)  prodigality.  He  spent  of  his  own  money 
yearly  more  than  his  wages,  and  this  none  of  his  predecessors  did. 
That  the  paintings  laden  in  the  Reformation  for  Bantam  were  so 
bad  he  cannot  believe,  as  they  were  bought  by  honest  men ;  the 
books  will  show  at  what  price  the  goods  were  sold,  and  this  will 
make  it  clear  whether  there  was  any  deterioration  in  quality.  Con- 
cerning the  debt  of  14,379  pagodas  at  two  per  cent,  per  month  in- 
terest at  the  Coast  at  the  departure  of  the  Reformation^  when  only 
lately  it  had  been  stated  that  Masulipatam  was  out  of  debt,  Cogan 
again  refers  the  Company  to  the  books,  where  he  says  it  will  be 
found  that  the  Coast  has  not  been  out  of  debt  since  1639  and  long 
before  that ;  but  at  the  time  when  the  statement  referred  to  was 
made,  the  President  and  Council  at  Surat  had  authorized  the  factors 
at  Masulipatam  to  draw  upon  them  for  the  whole  amount  of  the 
debt.  This  permission,  however,  was  withdrawn  as  soon  as  the 
Coast  was  transferred  to  Bantam,  and  so  their  indebtedness  was  not 
cancelled  as  was  expected.  In  reply  to  a  demand  for  the  reason  of 
their  *  newe  invented  waye  of  accompts  ',  Cogan  asks  that  the  same 
may  be  judged  by  the  Company's  accountant,  for  '  tis  not  all  gospell 
thats  writt  from  Bantam  '.  The  charges  of  building  the  fort  were 
put  into  the  general  accounts  of  Bantam  because  the  President  of 
Surat  declined  to  have  them  put  into  his,  as  the  Coast  was  no  longer 
subordinate  to  him.  Cogan  denies  the  charge  of  the  use  of  uncivil 
language  in  the  letters  and  journals.     With  regard  to  the  disposal  of 


58  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

the  stock  sent  in  the  Hopewell,  Cogan  says  that  Day  was  then  joined 
with  him,  and  with  his  consent  it  was  disposed  of,  without  any  pre- 
judice to  the  Company.  Had  not  the  debts  of  the  Third  Joint 
Stock  been  paid,  they  would  not  have  been  able  to  make  any  in- 
vestment at  Masulipatam,  and  the  result  was  '  rather  beneficiall  to 
the  Generall  Voyage  then  in  the  leaste  prejudicial! '.     (9  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  18,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  241). 

The  premiums  of  assurance  made  upon  any  vessel  to  India  or 
Italy  are  ordered  to  be  paid,  except  in  the  case  of  the  William, 
which  went  to  Bantam  last  summer.  Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  and 
Brett  report  the  sale  of  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe's  adventure  in  the 
Voyage  to  Mr.  De  la  Noy,  and  desire  that  the  same  may  be 
transferred  accordingly ;  the  Court  consents,  on  condition  that  the 
debt  of  331/.  \c^s.  ^d.  \sic\  is  paid.  The  applicants  plead  that  this 
may  be  settled  upon  sale  of  the  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  ;  but,  the  Court  remaining  firm,  they  submit,  and  the 
adventure  is  transferred  to  Mr.  De  la  Noy.  The  objections  brought 
against  Andrew  Coggan,  with  his  answers  to  the  same  \see  p.  ^"^^ 
are  read,  and  certain  Committees  formerly  entrusted  with  this 
business  are  desired  to  meet  twice  weekly  and  present  their  decision 
herein  to  the  Court.  Coggan's  request  for  200/.  upon  account  of  his 
wages  is  granted.  The  usual  annual  gifts  are  ordered  to  be  made, 
viz. — 10/.  to  the  poor  at  Poplar,  Limehouse,  and  Ratclifif ;  10/.  to 
poor  widows  of  men  who  served  in  the  East  Indies ;  and  20 j-.  and 
a  chaldron  of  coal  to  be  equally  divided  between  the  almsmen  at 
Blackwall.     (i^//.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  December  18, 1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  243). 

Sale  of  pepper,  cloves,  cotton-wool,  and  quilts,  with  prices  and 
names  of  purchasers.    {\p) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  20,  1644  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  244). 

The  larger  of  the  two  ships  now  being  built  is  named  the  Eagle, 
the  smaller  the  Lanneret.  The  proportion  of  men  appointed  to  go 
in  the  several  ships  is  as  follows  :  the  Mary  to  take  200  and  return 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  59 

with  130  ;  the  Eagle  to  take  no  and  return  with  75  ;  the  Falcon  to 
take  40  and  return  with  28 ;  the  Lanneret  to  take  28  and  return 
with  20.  Billets  [for  firewood]  allotted  to  the  ships.  The  Company's 
vessels  having  usually  been  dispatched  rather  late,  they  are  to  be 
hastened  in  order  that  they  may  start  by  the  end  of  February,  and 
the  Husband  is  directed  to  provide  the  necessary  provisions  and 
stores.  William  Mynors  is  again  entertained  as  commander  of  the 
Mary  at  the  same  wages  and  on  the  same  conditions  as  last  year. 
Andrew  Trumball  is  entertained  as  master  of  the  Falcon  at  7/.  per 
month,  and  Thomas  Tomblings,  who  came  home  purser  in  the 
Crispiana,  is  chosen  purser  for  the  Eagle.     {i^PP-) 

The  Company's  Bond  to  Sir  Peter  Ricault,  with  attesta- 
tions, January,  1645  [Ifovie  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xxxix,  p.  178) 

Promising  to  pay  Sir  Peter  Ricault  the  sum  of  1,6 ^61.  Dated 
February  9, 1643.  Attested  by  Lord  Goring,  Ambassador  to  France, 
John  King,  his  perfumer,  David  Xeale,  his  priest,  and  by  John  de 
Pucora,  public  notary  at  Rouen,  to  be  a  true  copy  and  translation. 
{Two  copies,  one  in  Latin,  the  other  in  English.     T^pp-) 

Receipts  given  by  the  East  India  Company  to  Sir  Peter 
Ricault,  with  several  attestations,  January,  1645  {Ibid., 
vol.  xxxix,  pp.  184-91). 

For  Sir  Peter's  various  payments  as  an  adventurer  between 
August  4,  1630,  and  February  17,  1643,  with  attestations  as  before. 
{Two  copies  of  each,  one  in  Italian,  the  other  in  English.  \'^\pp. 
in  all.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  3,  1645  (Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  345). 

Andrew  Trumball  to  be  paid  all  wages  due  to  him.  Many  bolts 
in  the  Mary  being  found  eaten  with  quicksilver,  the  Court  forbids 
any  man  to  take  out  this  commodity,  upon  pain  of  forfeiting  both 
it  and  his  wages  ;  and,  that  none  may  plead  ignorance  of  this  order, 
It  IS  to  be  made  one  of  the  conditions  of  entertainment  and  also  to 
be  notified  upon  the  mast  of  every  vessel.  The  Court  resolves  to 
send  out  50,000/.  or  60,000/.  in  money  this  year,  15,000/.  to  Bantam 
and  the  remainder  to  Surat ;   also  400  pigs  of  lead  to  the  latter 


6o  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF   THE 

place.  After  some  debate  concerning  the  present  state  of  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  and  whether  to  continue  it,  the  Committees 
present  decide  that  no  more  ships  or  stock  shall  be  dispatched  after 
this  year.  The  Court  is  informed  of  the  proposition  made  by 
Andrew  Cogan  to  dispatch  a  ship  and  a  pinnace  '  for  some  parts  of 
India  '  with  a  stock  of  30,000/. ;  this  is  referred  to  the  Committees 
formerly  appointed  to  investigate  Cogan's  business,  who  are  desired 
to  discourage  him  from  proceeding  this  year.  David  White  is 
entertained  as  master  of  the  Laufieret  at  6/.  per  month.  Mr.  Boone, 
the  Company's  surgeon,  to  be  given  200/.  to  provide  chirurgery  for 
India.  Two  more  pounds  to  be  added  to  the  10/.  already  given 
for  the  widows  of  men  who  have  served  in  the  East  Indies.  The 
widow  of  Vincent  Aiscough  to  be  given  \os.  from  the  poor-box. 
James  Birkdale  to  be  paid  for  the  black  pepper  and  cloves  he 
brought  home.  All  masters  of  ships  to  be  responsible  for  the 
rigging  of  their  vessels,  and  their  charge  to  belong  solely  to  them 
and  to  men  appointed  by  them ;  but  at  the  same  time  the  Court 
orders  Ingram  to  appoint  four  men  in  each  ship  to  assist  in  the 
rigging,  etc.     (2  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  10,  1645  {Court  Booky 
vol.  xix,  p.  247). 

Captain  Mynors  gives  several  reasons  to  dissuade  the  Company 
from  sending  the  Mary  to  Jambi  on  her  arrival  at  Bantam  ;  where- 
upon Aaron  Baker,  late  President  at  Bantam,  is  called  in  and  his 
opinion  asked.  He  thinks  that  the  ship  may  go  without  danger, 
if  she  is  dispeeded  in  good  time,  as  other  great  ships  have  gone  and 
returned  safely.  After  some  consideration  it  is  resolved  to  leave 
the  decision  with  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam,  who  are  to 
do  what  will  be  most  advantageous  to  the  Company  and  be  guided 
by  the  time  of  the  Marys  arrival.  It  is  also  resolved  to  send 
letters  to  Bantam  by  the  Dutch  ships  going  to  Jaccatra  [Batavia], 
with  advice  of  the  intended  dispatch  of  the  Mary,  and  to  desire 
that  sufficient  lading  may  be  prepared  for  her,  so  that  she  may  not 
be  detained.  Hearing  from  the  factors  at  Genoa  that  they  have 
kept  back  half  the  freight  due  for  the  pepper  laden  in  the  London 
Merchant,  she  not  having  arrived  with  the  other  three  ships  accord- 
ing to  agreement,  the  Court,  after  some  consideration,  decides  that,  as 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  61 

the  delay  cost  the  Company  115/.  extraordinary  charge  for  assur- 
ance, William  Garway  must  pay  57/.  ioj.,  and  that  notice  shall  be 
given  to  the  factors  at  Genoa  to  pay  the  whole  freight.  Thomas 
Chambers,  Thomas  Newman,  and  Thomas  Best  are  entertained  as 
pursers  for  the  three  ships  about  to  be  dispeeded  ;  Henry  Younge 
and  Thomas  Leaver  as  pursers'  mates  for  the  two  largest  vessels ; 
and  John  Webb,  Jethro  Matthews,  Richard  Knipe,  John  Johnson, 
William  Blackhurst,  and  Charles  Milward  as  stewards  and  stewards' 
mates.  They  are  required  to  attend  the  next  court  to  ascertain  the 
ships  to  which  they  shall  be  appointed,     (i^//.) 

'  A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  heare  the 

OBJECTIONS  against  MR.  COGAN  AND  HIS  ANSWEARES  THERE- 
UNTO,' January  13, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  249). 

The  objections  brought  against  Cogan  are  read,  with  his  answers 
to  the  same.  To  the  first  he  quotes  a  consultation  as  his  warrant 
for  building  Fort  St.  George  at  Madraspatam  ;  this  the  Committees 
desire  to  see,  and  Cogan  thereupon  declares  that '  such  a  consulta- 
tion hee  was  confident  hee  had,  but  that  hee  had  it  not  now  about 
him  ;  neverthelesse  at  their  next  meeting  hee  would  bring  the 
same '  ;  so  on  this  point  the  Committees  defer  judgement.  He  is 
next  asked  what  he  has  to  say  against  Aaron  Baker.  He  replies 
that  Mr.  Baker,  '  for  ought  hee  knew,  was  a  very  honest  and  able 
man,  and  one  that  is  very  fitting  to  serve  the  Company ' ;  that  he 
has  nothing  to  say  against  him  but  what  he  has  heard  by  report, 
and  Captain  Mynors  might  be  questioned  concerning  that.  He  is 
further  questioned  as  to  his  intended  voyage,  and  whether  he  intends 
to  proceed  on  it  this  year.  He  replies  that  some  of  his  friends  are 
'  willing  to  come  in  as  adventurers  with  him,  but  it  was  never  his 
intention,  or  ever  shall  bee,  to  proceed  without  leave  of  the  Company 
and  they  to  bee  adventurers  in  that  voyage ' ;  neither  does  he  intend 
to  touch  at  any  port  where  the  Company  has  trade  ;  that  the 
voyage  cannot  prejudice  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  *  but  onely  in  the 
retume  of  the  commodities  when  they  shall  arrive  in  England'. 
The  Committees  receive  this  assurance  in  good  part  and  represent 
to  him  that  the  year  is  now  too  far  advanced  for  anything  to  be 
done  with  regard  to  his  voyage,  but  if  he  brings  the  matter  forward 
next  year  '  they  may  then  peradventure  hearken  unto  him '.   {i\  pp.) 


6a  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear  Andrew 
Cogan's  business,  January  i6,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  250). 

Captain  Mynors  is  called  upon  to  state  his  complaint  against 
Aaron  Baker ;  he  avers  that  he  knows  no  ill  of  him,  but  that  he 
removed  the  first  mate  in  the  Jonah  (which  ship  came  from  England 
with  Jay  as  master)  and  put  Bernard  Dimsdale,  a  carpenter,  in  his 
place,  which  it  was  feared  might  cause  the  loss  of  the  ship.  Hereupon 
Baker  declares  that  Dimsdale  was  sent  out  as  master's  mate  in  the 
William,  when  Barnes  was  master,  and  remained  in  India  two  or 
three  years  as  master  of  several  of  the  Company's  ships ;  this 
explanation  is  thought  sufficient.  Cogan  is  then  required  to  produce 
the  consultation  ordering  the  erection  of  the  fort  at  Madraspatam ; 
he  asserts  that  he  has  searched  among  his  own  papers  and  in  the 
consultations  sent  home  to  the  Company,  but  cannot  find  it ;  so 
judgement  is  deferred.  He  is  next  questioned  concerning  130  bales 
of  private  trade  brought  from  the  Coast  to  Bantam  in  the  Hopewell 
in  1640 ;  of  this  he  denies  all  knowledge,  and  infers  that  the  master 
of  the  ship  or  the  President  of  Bantam  at  that  time  should  know 
all  about  it.  Baker,  who  was  President  then,  is  called  upon ;  but 
being  unable  to  give  any  information,  he  is  desired  to  ascertain  and 
report  at  the  next  meeting  the  quantity  of  private  trade  in  the 
Hopewell  belonging  to  himself  and  to  others,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  17,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  251). 

The  Court  being  informed  by  letter  of  the  safe  arrival  and 
housing  of  the  1,900  bags  of  pepper  at  Leghorn,  and  that  there  is 
still  pepper  remaining  there  from  what  was  formerly  sent,  the 
question  which  shall  be  sold  first  is  referred  to  the  sixteen  Com- 
mittees appointed  to  settle  the  business  of  the  Voyage  and  Joint 
Stock.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Rumsey,  proceedings  against  him 
are  to  be  forborne,  he  promising  speedy  payment  of  his  debt,  for 
which  Messrs.  Lisle  and  Webb  are  equally  bound.  The  order  for 
the  arrest  of  John  Taylor  is  also  rescinded  at  his  request,  money 
being  due  to  him,  with  which  he  promises  to  pay  the  Company. 
James  Birkdale  is  allowed  for  loss  of  weight  in  the  pepper  and 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  63 

cloves  he  brought  home  as  private  trade  in  the  Mary.  Very  ill 
reports  are  given  of  Thomas  Newman ;  so  he  is  dismissed  the 
service  and  Thomas  Fenn  entertained  in  his  stead  as  purser  in  the 
Mary,  with  Thomas  Leaver  as  his  mate  ;  John  Webb  as  steward, 
and  William  Blackhurst  as  his  mate  ;  Thomas  Tomblings  to  be 
purser  in  the  Eagle,  with  Henry  Young  as  his  mate ;  Jethro 
Matthews  steward,  with  Charles  Milward  as  his  mate  ;  Thomas 
Chambers  to  be  purser  in  the  Falcon,  with  Richard  Knipe  as  his 
mate^  and  John  Johnson  steward  ;  Thomas  Best  to  be  purser  of  the 
LatiJteret  and  William  Andrews  steward,     (i^  //.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear 
Andrew  Cogan's  business,  January  20,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  353). 

Mr.  Baker  reports  that,  with  regard  to  the  private  trade  alleged 
to  have  been  brought  from  the  Coast  to  Bantam  in  the  Hopewell,  he 
himself  had  four  bales,  valued  at  8co  rials  of  eight,  but  what  more 
there  was  he  is  unable  to  say ;  the  Committees  therefore  resolve  to 
question  Andrew  Trumball,  master  of  the  vessel  at  that  time. 
Cogan  is  next  interrogated  concerning  the  non-return  of  the  pinnace 
Advice  from  the  Coast  to  Bantam  ;  with  reference  to  this  he  quotes 
several  letters  and  promises  to  produce  them  at  the  next  meeting. 
The  next  point  touched  upon  is  the  dispatch  of  the  pinnace  Diamond 
from  the  Coast  to  Bantam  in  an  unserviceable  condition,  whereby 
the  Company's  goods  were  much  damaged  Cogan  replies  that  the 
pinnace  had  been  newly  repaired,  and  he  was  much  astonished  to 
hear  of  the  said  damage  from  President  Baker ;  the  latter  is  called 
in  and  maintains  that  what  he  wrote  home  concerning  the  damage 
is  true,  and  that  the  Diamond  on  her  arrival  at  Bantam  was  found 
in  a  very  faulty  condition ;  in  confirmation  of  which  he  produces 
a  certificate  signed  by  Yates,  master  of  the  Swan,  his  mates,  and 
the  carpenter;  hereupon  it  is  decided  that  the  master,  Thomas 
Whatmore,  shall  be  questioned  about  this  matter  on  his  return  to 
England.  The  accusation  brought  against  Baker  of  trading  with 
the  Danes  is  next  dealt  with  ;  but  Cogan  affirms  that  he  only  knows 
what  he  heard  reported,  and  Baker  strongly  denying  having  had 
any  private  trade  with  the  Danes  with  one  slight  exception,  he  is 
acquitted  of  this  charge,     (i  \  pp.) 


64  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  arbitrate 

BETWEEN  THE  FOURTH  JOINT  STOCK  AND  THE  GENERAL  VOYAGE, 

January  21, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  254). 

The  Committees  meeting  to  decide  concerning  the  sale  of  pepper 
sent  to  Leghorn,  after  a  full  debate  resolve  by  erection  of  hands 
{nemine  contradicente)  that  the  1,525  bags  of  pepper  remaining  un- 
sold and  belonging  to  the  two  Stocks  jointly  shall  be  first  disposed 
of,  and  then  the  1,900  bags  lately  sent  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock 
alone,  before  any  other  that  shall  hereafter  be  sent  thither.     {\  p,) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear 
Andrew  Cogan's  business,  January  23,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  255). 

Aaron  Baker's  former  answer  concerning  private  trade  said  to 
have  been  landed  at  Bantam  is  again  considered,  and  he  is  asked 
whether  he  believes  that  such  a  large  quantity  was  landed;  he 
replies  that  if  so  he  thinks  he  should  have  heard  of  it,  unless  it  was 
taken  direct  from  the  Hopewell  into  some  other  ship  and  conveyed 
away.  He  declares  himself  ready  to  take  oath  that  he  only  knows 
of  the  four  bales  before  mentioned,  two  of  which  belonged  to  him 
and  two  to  a  Dutchman.  Cogan  is  desired  to  read  the  letters 
he  has  brought  with  him  to  warrant  the  building  of  the  fort  at 
Madraspatam.  This  he  does,  but  none  of  them  appears  to  contain 
sufficient  warrant  for  his  action,  and  he  is  advised  to  prepare  some 
better  defence.    (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  24,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  256). 

The  Treasurer  reports  that  he  has  provided  a  good  store  of  rials 
for  the  ships  and  is  likely  to  need  money  to  pay  for  the  same.  He 
therefore  desires  that  the  Company's  debts  may  be  collected,  and 
presents  a  note  of  the  names  of  those  who  have  adventured  in  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  and  not  paid  in  their  subscriptions  ;  these 
amount  in  all  to  1,005/.  y-  4^«  He  also  informs  the  Court  that 
1,700/.  odd  is  due  from  the  Commissioners  of  Customs  for  the  half 
subsidy  of  pepper  sent  to  Leghorn  this  year ;  and  that  very  little 
has  been  received  towards  satisfaction  of  Messrs.  Burton  and  Com- 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  65 

pany's  debt  of  9,454/.  It  is  resolved  that  those  who  have  not  paid 
up  their  subscriptions  shall  be  warned  to  do  so,  with  interest  for 
the  time  they  have  been  due,  within  ten  days  or  they  shall  be 
accounted  adventurers  only  for  as  much  as  has  been  received,  and 
that  no  more  money  shall  be  taken  after  that  time.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  wait  upon  the  Commissioners  of  Customs  and 
request  speedy  payment  of  the  half  subsidy  for  pepper.  Spiller  is 
directed  to  notify  Messrs.  Burton  and  Company  that,  unless  they 
pay  i,coc/.  towards  satisfaction  of  their  debt  by  this  day  sennight, 
action  will  be  taken  against  them.  A  bill  for  six  sets  of  brass 
weights  for  India  to  be  paid.  It  is  resolved  that  the  three  ships  to 
be  dispatched  shall  go  direct  to  Surat  and  not  touch  at  Cochin  or 
Mozambique.  Robert  Beckett,  who  was  dangerously  injured  at 
Blackwall,  is  given  40s.  from  the  poor-box.  The  request  of  Marma- 
duke  Grimston,  who  has  been  appointed  chief  mate  in  the  Mary^ 
for  higher  wages  is  refused  ;  but  it  is  ordered  that  he  be  made 
master  of  the  first  ship  in  India  in  which  there  shall  be  a  vacancy. 
The  Court  decides  to  have  a  new  President  at  Bantam,  because  of 
the  ill  carriage  of  business  there.  Aaron  Baker  is  thereupon  chosen 
to  go  again  as  President,  at  the  usual  salary  of  300/.  per  annum  ; 
he  accepts  the  post,  and  agrees  to  remain  three  years.  The  pro- 
posals made  by  Mr.  Ferdinando,  a  Portuguese  merchant,  that  the 
Company  shall  transport  rials  for  the  Portuguese  in  its  ships  to 
India  at  a  reasonable  rate,  is  deferred  to  next  year  for  consideration. 
Oars  to  the  value  of  100/.  to  be  bought  from  George  Roper. 
Thomas  Kynnaston,  one  of  the  adventurers  in  the  voyage  of  the 
Samaritan  and  Roebuck,  now  imprisoned  at  the  Company's  suit  in 
the  Poultry  Compter,  expresses  sorrow  for  having  injured  the  Com- 
pany and  petitions  for  release  ;  the  Court  consents,  on  condition 
that  he  gives  good  security  never  to  go  to  India.  Sir  George 
Clarke  transfers  to  William  Methwold  1,000/.  adventure  and  profits 
in  the  General  Voyage,  upon  which  the  principal  and  yjl.  per  cent, 
is  divided,  and  300/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock. 
Thomas  Steevens  transfers  to  William  Methwold  300/.  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage.     {^\pp-) 


66  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  24,  1645  (Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  258). 

This  court  is  summoned  on  '  the  sad  and  unexpected  news '  that 
the  ^okft  has  been  carried  into  Bristol.  Henry  Brewster,  a  mid- 
shipman in  her,  comes  into  court  and  gives  a  full  relation  of  the 
affair.  For  this  service  he  is  awarded  5/.,  with  promise  of  further 
consideration.  The  Deputy  intimates  that  the  loss  is  not  so 
serious  as  was  at  first  supposed,  the  cargo  of  the  ^okn  being  only 
worth  13,115/.  2s.  After  debate  as  to  how  best  to  recover  this  ship, 
the  Court  resolves  to  inform  Parliament  and  to  ask  the  Committee 
of  Both  Kingdoms  for  leave  to  petition  the  King,  in  hopes  of 
restitution  of  the  vessel  and  its  cargo.  Such  a  petition,  with 
a  relation  of  the  affair,  is  ordered  to  be  drawn  up.  It  is  also 
decided  to  acquaint  the  Portuguese  Ambassador,  as  there  are  goods 
in  the  ship  belonging  to  a  Portuguese,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  25,  1645  (Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  259). 

The  petition  concerning  Mucknell's  treachery  in  carrying  the 
John  into  Bristol  is  read  and  approved,  and  certain  Committees 
are  desired  to  present  the  same  this  afternoon.^  Others  are  requested 
to  inform  the  Portuguese  Ambassador.  In  the  event  of  Parliament 
giving  leave  for  the  Company's  petition  to  be  presented  to  the 
King,  the  Deputy  and  Mr.  Garway  consent  to  undertake  this  im- 
portant business  and  to  go  to  Oxford  with  the  said  petition.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  31, 1645  (Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  260). 

Henry  Brewster  petitions  for  employment  as  master's  mate  in  one 
of  the  ships  about  to  be  dispeeded  to  the  East ;  there  is  no  vacancy, 
but  the  Court  resolves,  because  of  the  service  he  rendered  lately  to 
the  Company,  to  consider  his  request.  Meanwhile  he  is  required 
to  give  in  writing  a  full  account  of  the  treachery  in  the  John,  and 
state  the  names  of  those  who  were  for  and  of  those  who  were 
against  it  \see  pp.  71-4].  Many  petitioning  for  employment  as  factors 
in  India,  the  former  order  that  none  are  to  be  sent  out  this  year  is 
confirmed.     Captain  Coulson's  request  to  be  paid  124/.  due  upon 

^  The  presentation  is  recorded  in  the  Lords'  Journals,  vol.  vii,  pp.  158,  165,  and 
Common^  Journals,  vol.  i^•,  pp.  34,  38.    Nothing  seems  to  have  come  of  it. 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  61 

the  adventure  of  his  father-in-law,  Thomas  Roades,  is  refused,  the 
captain  producing  no  power  to  receive  it.  The  wife  of  Francis  Day- 
petitions  that,  as  many  accusations  have  been  made  against  her 
husband  by  Andrew  Trumball,  the  latter  may  be  detained  in 
England  until  her  said  husband's  return,  in  order  to  make  good 
these  charges.  Much  dispute  ensues  as  to  whether  Trumball  shall 
go  as  master  in  the  Falcon  or  not,  and  a  meeting  is  ordered  to  be 
held  next  Wednesday  expressly  to  determine  this.  It  being  con- 
sidered that  the  Falco?i  and  Lmmeret  are  undermanned,  the  Court 
orders  that  fifty  men  shall  go  out  in  the  former  ship  and  thirty-five 
return  in  her,  and  thirty-five  go  out  in  the  Laimeret  and  twenty- 
five  return  in  her.  Letters  received  from  the  factors  at  Leghorn 
stating  that  coral  and  21,000  pieces  of  eight  have  been  shipped  in 
the  Golden  Lion,  part  for  the  Joint  Stock  and  part  for  the  General 
Voyage,  it  is  resolved  that  a  policy  shall  be  dra^vn  up  for  assurance 
of  8,oco/.  for  the  account  of  the  Joint  Stock  only.  On  promise  of 
speedy  payment,  Mr.  Burton  is  given  another  week's  grace.  Ten 
Java  girdles,  one  buff  coat,  and  two  or  three  pieces  of  black  and 
crimson  plush  to  be  sent  to  the  King  of  Bantam.     (1^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  5, 1645  {Conn  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  262). 

The  Court  settles  the  number  of  guns  to  be  allotted  to  the  Eagle, 
Falcon,  Lanneret,  and  Mary.  The  following  propositions  concern- 
ing the  Company's  trading  in  general  and  '  his  owne  perticuler '  are 
presented  by  Aaron  Baker:  (i)  that  for  the  mutual  continuance  of 
friendly  intercourse  between  Surat  and  Bantam  the  Company  will 
assign  5,00c/.  of  the  stock  usually  sent  to  Surat  to  be  invested  for 
Bantam,  because  the  small  ships  which  bring  the  Surat  cargoes  to 
Bantam  are  unable  to  relade  with  pepper  to  the  same  value  as  the 
Surat  goods,  if  sufficient  of  the  latter  are  sent  to  supply  the  southern 
trade ;  this  has  always  been  a  cause  of  disagreement  between  the 
two  factories,  the  factors  at  Surat  saying  that  Bantam  draws  away 
stock  without  returning  its  equivalent  in  value :  (2)  that  the  Com- 
pany will  consider  the  expense  caused  by  keeping  up  two  houses, 
with  the  attendant  inconveniences  and  division  of  strength,  the 
necessity  for  repair  of  the  upper  house,  if  it  is  continued,  at  a  cost 
of  at  least  300/.  or  400/.,  whereas  a  new  and  substantial  '  mansion 

F  a 


68  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

house '  could  be  erected  at  the  marine,  if  permission  can  be  obtained 
from  the  King,  for  1,200/.  or  1,400/.,  which  cost  would  be  saved  in 
a  few  years  :  (3)  that  a  fitting  present  be  thought  of  for  the  Sultan 
and  Pengran,  to  procure  a  more  gracious  reception  for  the  Com- 
pany's servants,  more  peaceable  intercourse,  and  greater  security 
for  their  estates,  the  natives  being  naturally  addicted  to  all  villainy 
and  cruelty  upon  the  least  occasion,  and  the  English  only  able  to 
prevent  this  by  suitable  gifts :  (4)  that  a  godly,  learned,  and  well- 
demeaned  minister  may  be  sent  to  reside  at  Bantam  to  be  an 
example  and  a  comfort :  (5)  that  a  competent  stock  may  be  sent  in 
the  ship  now  designed  for  Bantam,  so  that  the  factors  may  be  kept 
well  employed  and  not  have  to  sit  idle  ;  and,  as  no  factors  are  to 
be  sent  out  this  year,  that  one  or  two  young  men  may  go  to  assist 
in  writing,  such  as  can  write  specially  good  hands  ('  else  I  desire 
them  not ') :  (6)  that  the  masters  and  pursers  of  the  ships  to  be 
dispatched  to  Surat  may  have  orders  to  buy  what  slaves  they  can 
procure  at  St.  Lawrence,  Mozambique,  Johanna,  and  the  islands 
they  touch  at,  where  these  may  be  had  very  cheap,  for  the  Com- 
pany's slaves  are  almost  worn  out,  and  work  done  at  Bantam, 
Jambi,  Benjar  [Banjarmassin],  or  any  other  place  will  cost  treble 
unless  slaves  are  employed.  Baker  then  proposes  on  his  own 
account  to  leave  1,500/.  in  the  Company's  hands  at  seven  per  cent, 
per  annum,  the  interest  to  be  for  the  maintenance  of  his  wife  in  his 
absence  and  to  be  paid  to  her  every  six  months  ;  and  to  invest 
500/.  with  the  Company  on  the  same  conditions  as  other  investors, 
to  which  end  he  desires  to  be  made  a  free  brother.  He  also  asks 
that  his  wife  may  be  allowed  to  send  out  to  him  yearly  free  of 
freight  beer,  wine,  and  butter  for  his  own  use,  and  that  he  may  be 
allowed  to  send  to  her  goods  (black  pepper  and  cloves  excepted)  to 
the  value  of  one-third  of  his  salary,  not  exceeding  one  hogshead  in 
weight ;  and  that  the  Company  will  not  give  credit  readily  to  wrong 
information  brought  home  by  delinquents,  for  the  President  who 
honestly  and  conscientiously  fulfils  the  charge  entrusted  to  him  is 
exposed  to  the  reproach  of  envious  tongues  and  cannot  please  all 
men,  and  those  who  behave  ill  and  wish  to  ingratiate  themselves 
again  can  heap  obloquy  on  the  very  best  servants.  To  all  this  the 
Court  replies  that  it  is  the  Company's  intention  to  send  5,000/. 
yearly  to  Surat  to  be  invested  in  cloth  suitable  for  the  southern 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  69 

factories,  for  which  the  President  and  Council  at  Bantam  are  to 
return  sandal-wood,  turtle  shells,  pepper,  or  any  commodity  vendible 
there.  Under  the  present  circumstances  the  Company  does  not 
conceive  it  fitting  to  build,  but  Baker  is  desired  to  treat  with  the 
King  of  Bantam  for  leave  to  erect  a  new  house  below,  but  not  to 
proceed  in  the  matter  until  he  has  received  positive  directions  from 
home ;  but  while  the  ships  are  lying  idle  in  the  road  the  mariners 
might  be  set  to  cut  timber  for  such  a  building,  though  not  a  penny 
is  to  be  disbursed  without  special  order,  except  for  some  small 
necessary  repairs  to  the  upper  house,  where  the  President  and 
Council  now  reside.  It  is  also  decided  that  four  coloured  cloths, 
costing  about  18/.  each,  be  bought  and  Baker  allowed  to  present 
the  King  of  Bantam  with  what  he  thinks  fitting  to  the  value  of 
100/.  A  hundred  pigs  of  lead  to  be  sent  in  the  Mary  to  Bantam. 
The  Committees  and  Baker  are  desired  to  look  out  for  a  minister 
suitable  for  Bantam,  and  Mr.  Swayle,  the  present  minister  (who  has 
not  '  demeaned  himselfe  as  hee  ought '),  is  to  be  sent  to  England  by 
the  first  opportunity.  The  Court  has  resolved  to  send  15,000/.  in 
the  Mary  and  5,coo/.  by  way  of  Surat,  but  no  more  factors.  The 
Court  also  orders  that  slaves  be  bought  at  St.  Lawrence  [i.e.  Mada- 
gascar], Mozambique,  and  Johanna,  and  that  the  President  and 
Council  of  Surat  be  directed  to  send  them  on  to  Bantam  as  soon 
as  possible.  With  regard  to  Mr.  Baker's  personal  requests,  it  is 
agreed  that  his  wife  shall  be  allowed  seven  per  cent,  interest  for  the 
1,500/.  he  is  leaving  in  the  Company's  hands,  until  the  new  stock  is 
raised,  when  according  to  his  wish  500/.  shall  be  adventured  on  his 
account  and  interest  allowed  to  her  on  the  remaining  i,ooc/,  to  be 
paid  half-yearly.  Baker  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
by  service.  His  request  to  receive  goods  from  and  send  goods  to 
his  wife  is  refused,  but  he  is  to  be  allowed  to  forward  what  is 
intended  for  her  to  the  Company,  when  they  will  do  with  them 
what  they  think  meet.  Concerning  false  reports  brought  home,  the 
Court  thinks  Baker  to  be  *  soe  moderate  a  man  as  that  hee  would 
not  deserve  to  bee  complained  of '  ;  and  they  doubt  not  that  he 
will  do  his  best  for  the  Company  and  endeavour  to  prevent  private 
trade.  The  premium  of  assurance  of  8,000/.  made  upon  the  Golden 
Lton  for  the  Joint  Stock  to  be  four  per  cent,  and  every  man  to 
write  for  what  he  pleases.     [SkPP-) 


70  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  7,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  267). 

A  list  of  those  indebted  to  the  Company  is  read,  and  the  Court 
orders  that,  unless  Mr.  Gale  appears  at  the  meeting  to  be  held  this 
day  sennight,  he  is  to  be  arrested  ;  that  an  action  be  entered  against 
Captain  Hall  unless  he  pays  very  speedily ;  and  that  Spiller  call 
upon  all  other  debtors  for  quick  payment  of  what  they  owe.  Thomas 
Kinnaston's  request  to  be  released  from  the  Poultry  Compter  on 
his  own  bond  is  refused,  but  the  Court  agrees  to  take  a  bond  of 
500/.  from  his  kinsman,  who  appears  on  his  behalf,  that  the  said 
Thomas  Kinnaston  shall  not  go  to  India  for  three  years ;  the  latter 
is  also  required  to  give  bond  never  to  go  there  without  the  Com- 
pany's consent,  and  is  informed  that,  when  he  shall  have  performed 
such  things  in  the  Admiralty  Court  as  Dr.  Eden  and  Mr.  Budd 
direct,  he  shall  be  discharged.  On  information  that  the  Hopetvell 
has  returned  to  Surat,  Bowen  is  instructed  to  write  there  and  to 
Bantam  and  order  everything  remaining  for  the  account  of  the 
General  Voyage  to  be  sent  home  with  all  convenient  speed,  that  the 
account  may  be  wound  up.  Mr.  Budd's  bill  of  5/.  4^-.  6d.  for  suits 
in  the  Admiralty  to  be  paid.  Motion  is  made  for  assurance  upon 
the  Hopewell  or  any  other  ship  for  account  of  the  Voyage,  but  no 
resolution  is  come  to.  Fotherby  appears  in  answer  to  a  summons  and 
informs  the  Court  that  the  two  horses  belonging  to  the  Company 
are  pastured  in  the  close  behind  the  Almshouse.  It  being  reported 
that  the  almsmen  neglect  prayers,  the  Court  orders  that  they  read 
the  psalms  and  chapters  appointed  twice  daily,  with  one  of  the 
prayers  '  at  the  end  of  the  Bible '.  The  premium  upon  the 
assurance  in  the  Golden  Lion  to  be  altered  from  4/.  to  4/.  loj. 
A  bond  is  presented,  in  which  Mr.  Young  stands  bound  for  payment 
of  one  per  cent,  for  the  coral  taken  out  of  the  Northumberland  last 
March  and  re-shipped  in  the  John}  This  the  Court  does  not  see 
fit  to  pay,  as  no  other  merchants  do  so,  and  as  the  coral  is  lost,  the 
John  having  been  taken  into  Bristol,     (i^  pp)) 

'  Apparently  the  coral  had  been  transhipped  in  the  Downs,  and  Young  had  given  a  bond 
for  the  duties  thereon. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  71 

Henry  Brewster's  Relation  concerning  the  John^ 
February  14,  1645  {O.C.  1917)- 

The  John  being  a  better  sailor  than  the  Crispiatui,  the  two 
parted  company.  The  former  reached  Mozambique  the  nth 
August  and  stayed  until  the  22nd.  There  she  took  aboard  a 
Portuguese,  his  wife,  and  about  fifty  other  passengers.  The  Portu- 
guese hired  the  roundhouse  from  Mucknell  as  far  as  '  Cutchene ' 
[Cochin]  or  Goa,  for  which  he  agreed  to  pay  200  rials.  The  pay- 
ment of  this  money  was  the  cause  of  the  first  falling-out  between 
Knipe  and  Mucknell,  the  latter  saying  that  he  would  not  take 
Knipe's  word  for  its  payment,  but  would  be  paid  upon  the  quarter- 
deck table.  The  second  falling-out  was  caused  by  a  note  sent  by 
Knipe,  Gary,  Bumell,  and  Hunt,  desiring  IMucknell  to  put  into 
Johanna ;  when  Mucknell  read  it  he  began  to  swear  and  asked 
'  whether  itt  was  a  consoltattion  or  a  muteny '.  and  declared  he  had 
already  ordered  the  ship  should  make  for  that  place.  The  25th 
August  the  Jo/m  put  into  Johanna  and  Mucknell  and  the  merchants 
went  ashore  ;  they  heard  that  the  Dolphin,  Hopewell,  and  Crispiana 
had  left  for  Surat  eight  days  before.  There  was  a  letter  concerning 
the  Discovery  that  Brewster  did  not  see,  but  he  heard  Mucknell  pity 
her  men  and  say  '  iff  there  was  noe  newes  of  her  att  St.  Helena  that 
she  was  loast'.  Between  Mozambique  and  Johanna  ^Mucknell 
plotted  to  invite  the  four  merchants,  three  of  his  mates,  the  minister, 
the  surgeon,  the  boatswain,  the  carpenter,  and  the  gunner  ashore, 
under  pretence  that  he  wished  to  be  reconciled  to  Knipe.  Edward 
Stannyon  and  the  cooper  had  quarrelled  and  went  ashore  armed 
intending  to  fight  Richard  Lowe,'  hearing  of  this,  told  Mucknell, 
who  under  pretence  of  seizing  these  two  men  left  the  company  and, 
meeting  the  cooper,  thrust  him  into  the  boat,  got  in  himself,  and 
ordered  it  to  put  off  for  the  John.  When  on  board  Mucknell  com- 
manded '  all  hands  aloft ',  and  told  them  that  Knipe  had  threatened 
to  turn  him  out  of  his  ship  on  arriving  at  Surat,  but  he  trusted  they 
would  not  see  this  done  ;  '  to  which  they  answered  and  said  that  they 
would  nott,  soe  longue  a[s]  life  lasted.'  Hearing  them  speak  thus, 
Mucknell  said  : '  I  sese  uppon  the  ship  John  for  the  Kinge  (this  was 
upon  the  29th  day  of  August) ' ;  and  promised  every  man  100  rials 
apiece  as  soon  as  they  should  be  clear  of  Johanna,  and  that  the 


72  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

chests  belonging  to  the  Portuguese  and  to  the  merchants  should  be 
broken  open  and  the  men  have  two-thirds  of  their  contents  and  the 
remainder  be  kept  for  the  King.     He  further  declared  his  intention 
to  '  set  these  blackes  ashoare  att  Comorow  and  then  we  will  awaie 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Read  Seas  and  see  whatt  purchas  wee  can  take 
ther  amoungst  the  junckes ' ;  then  to  make  for  St.  Kitts  to  hear 
what  news  there  might  be,  and  so  for  England.     He  promised  that 
the  men  should  have  two-thirds  of  the  money  or  money's  worth  that 
should  be  taken,  the  remainder  to  be  given  to  the  King  with  the 
ship,  saying :  '  I  will  bee  the  man  that  shall  answaire  for  you  all  and 
suffer  death  for  you  all.'    John  Perce  and  Richard  Clarke  desired  to 
go  ashore,  but  Mucknell  called  them  '  roundhed  doges '  and  swore 
that  if  they  spoke  such  another  word  he  would  cut  off  their  heads 
and  do  the  like  to  any  men  he  saw  talking  together.    Thus  those  on 
board  were  prevented  from  ascertaining  each  other's  views,  and 
being  without  weapons  were  helpless,  for  all  those  who  had  known 
of  this  design  had  arms,  and  the  rest  of  the  weapons  were  secured 
with  wire.     Within  an  hour  or  two  Mucknell  commanded  all  the 
Portuguese  to  be  put  into  the  'jellowat',  and  John    Perce   and 
Richard  Clarke  to  row  them  ashore.     Brewster  desired  to  go  too ; 
this  Mucknell  would  not  permit,  but  said  he  should  land  at  St.  Kitts, 
when  he  would  give  him  a  note  to  say  he  had  compelled  him  to  stay 
aboard.     There  were  so  many  in  the  'jellowatt'  that  they  feared  it 
would  sink,  but  Mucknell  threatened  to  shoot  them  if  they  did  not 
put  off.    The  weather  being  calm  the  John  kept  in  sight  of  Johanna 
about  twenty  hours,  though  Mucknell  was  so  anxious  to  get  away  he 
cut  the  cables  and  would  not  stay  to  weigh  the  anchor.    The  follow- 
ing day  the  chests  belonging  to  the  Portuguese  were  broken  open 
and  the  clothes  given  away,  but  the  money  was  put  into  a  box,  an 
inventory  taken  of  it  (there  was  about  70/.)  and  the  box  sealed  and 
put  into  the  roundhouse.     On  arriving  at  Comoro,  Mucknell  aban- 
doned his  intention  of  going  '  for  the  Indies,  becaues  hee  did  nott 
knowe  all  his  mens  minds ;  butt  he  would  keepe  the  blackes  and 
stronge  watters  and  cloath,  and  sell  them  att  St.  Christovers,  and 
soe  load  her  with  tobackow  for  Ingland '.     Plying  to  windward  to 
reach  St.  Augustine's,  they  met  the   Thomas  and  John  'of  the 
Squiers '  (Courteen).    Earle,  the  master,  was  sick  ;  so  sent  his  mate 
Archar  and  two  of  his  merchants  aboard  the  John,     Mucknell  told 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  73 

them  how  he  had  seized  the  John  for  the  King  and  had  left  twenty- 
three  of  his  company  at  Johanna ;  and  he  asked  that  two  letters 
should  be  delivered  to  them.  Earle  said  he  would  take  those  men 
thus  left  aboard.  Mucknell  demanded  'two  barells  of  powder,  12 
canes  of  mach,  som  candells,  and  the  Kinges  coulers ' ;  and 
threatened  if  they  were  not  given  to  board  the  ship.  Mucknell 
was  then  asked  for  his  commission  ;  whereupon  '  he  drew  his  cuttan 
and  toulde  hime  there  was  his  commishtion  and  if  he  had  nott  those 
things  within  a  glase  that  he  would  be  aboard  of  him  '.  The  things 
were  sent.  Mucknell  returned  one  of  the  barrels,  with  some  olives 
and  sweetmeats,  and  sent  word  that  anything  that  was  in  the  ship 
was  at  their  service.  So  they  parted  company.  On  arriving  at  St. 
Helena  a  letter  was  found  that  had  been  left  by  the  Mary,  saying 
that  she  had  gone  'for  Asention  to  turtell',  but  giving  no  news 
of  the  Discovery.  Mucknell,  hearing  while  there  that  William 
Whittmore,  William  Clay,  and  William  Poynter  had  some  design 
'  to  cutt  hime  and  his  partie  of,  and  soe  a  brought  the  ship  into  the 
Downes ',  sent  for  Poynter  to  come  aboard  and  '  seasede  his  hands 
to  the  maine  halerds  and  caused  one  of  the  blackes  to  cutt  of  one  of 
his  eares ',  without  examining  him  concerning  his  complicity  in  the 
reported  design.  He  then  sent  for  the  other  two  men  and  would 
have  served  them  in  like  manner,  but  so  many  begged  on  their 
knees  that  they  might  be  spared  and  sent  ashore,  which  would  be 
sufficient  punishment,  that  Mucknell  made  no  answer  but  went  into 
the  roundhouse  and  fired  a  pistol  at  his  own  breast.  It  would  not 
go  off,  and  as  he  was  about  to  cock  it  again  Edward  Owen  '  stayed 
his  hand  or  ells  hee  had  kilde  himselfe  '.  At  St.  Helena  he  left  six 
Englishmen,  one  Japanese,  and  all  the  blacks,  both  women  and 
children,  having  changed  his  mind  and  determined  not  to  go  so  far 
westward  as  St.  Kitts.  He  then  made  for  England.  No  sail  was 
encountered  after  Ascension.  Mucknell  had  intended  to  go  into 
Falmouth,  but  the  wind  was  easterly  and  the  ship  could  not  weather 
Scilly.  No  one  would  undertake  to  carry  her  into  Bristol,  and  she 
drove  at  night  between  Lundy  Island  and  the  mainland  without  see- 
ing the  shore.  On  the  15th  of  January  she  anchored  against 
'  Hartlie  Poyntt',  out  of  command  of  the  Fort.  Mucknell  sent 
Edward  Owen  and  the  boat's  crew  ashore  ;  they  were  all  detained 
that  night,  it  being  thought  that  the  John  had  been  forced  in  by 


74  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

foul  weather.  The  next  day  Captain  Saltter  came  aboard  and 
carried  the  ship  into  '  Kinroade '}  Mucknell  sent  Sir  John  Penning- 
ton word  that,  if  his  men  had  not  the  promised  quarter,  he  would 
blow  up  the  John.  Sir  John  replied  that  the  men  should  have  all 
that  was  promised,  and  sent  the  King's  broad  seal  as  evidence 
of  his  power.  Brewster  heard  Mucknell  say  that  he  would  have 
a  free  pardon  for  what  he  had  done,  in  the  King's  own  hand ;  and 
on  leaving  the  ship  he  called  his  mate  Hawarde  and  told  him  that 
nothing  was  to  be  given  up  until  he  heard  from  him.  Seven  guns 
were  fired  on  Mucknell  leaving  the  vessel,  and  that  night  he  went  to 
Bristol.  Brewster  left  Bristol  without  waiting  to  see  what  entertain- 
ment Mucknell  received.  {6\  pp.  The  names  of  thirteen  men,  to 
whom  Mucknell  before  reaching  Johanna  revealed  his  intended 
treacliery,  are  appended.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  14,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  269). 

Benjamin  de  la  Noy  transfers  to  Robert  Abdy  500/.  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage.  As  the  Golden  Lioft  is  expected 
very  shortly  in  the  Downs  with  coral  and  rials,  which  the  Court 
considers  it  best  to  have  landed  at  Dover,  Daniel  Skynner  is  to  be 
desired  to  look  after  their  receipt,  and  for  that  purpose  the  bills  of 
lading  are  to  be  sent  to  him.  Mr.  Kent  is  chosen  as  minister  for 
Bantam,  at  a  salary  of  50/.  per  annum,  with  10/.  to  buy  books.  He 
is  to  go  in  the  Mary  and  remain  in  India  five  years ;  and  the  Court 
desires  him  to  preach  before  them  at  St.  Peter-le-Poor  next  Sunday 
week  in  the  afternoon,  and  to  take  as  his  text  Genesis  xlix.  13.'^ 
Two  blunderbusses  to  be  provided  for  each  of  the  ships  ;  also  an  in- 
creased amount  of  firewood.  A  cable  to  be  sent  in  the  Eagle  for 
the  ships  at  Surat.  Two  principal  trumpeters  to  be  procured,  one 
for  each  vessel.  The  Eagle  being  at  Erith,  her  men  are  to  be 
victualled  ;  as  also  the  men  in  the  Mary  on  her  arrival  there.  The 
premium  on  the  Golden  Lion  is  again  enlarged,  this  time  to  5/.  per 
cent.  Charles  Harris  is  entertained  to  go  as  attendant  to  Mr.  Baker 
at  20J.  per  month,     (i^//.) 

'  King  Road,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Avon. 

2  '  Zebulun  shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  the  sea ;  and  he  shall  be  for  an  haven  of  ships : 
and  bis  border  shall  be  unto  Zidon.' 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  75 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  21,  1645  {Coitrt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  270). 

The  Merchant  Adventurers  requesting  the  loan  of  700  pepper 
bags,  it  is  resolved  to  sell  them  the  same  at  cost  price.  Captain 
Hall  desires  some  broken  ordnance  for  ballast  for  a  frigate  belonging 
to  the  Lord  Admiral  [the  Earl  of  Warwick]  ;  but  the  Company  not 
having  sufficient  for  its  own  use,  certain  Committees  are  entreated 
to  go  to  Wanvick  House  and  acquaint  His  Lordship  with  the  Com- 
pany's readiness  to  serve  him  but  its  inability  to  do  so  in  this 
instance.  The  Lord  Mayor  [Sir  Thomas  Atkins]  to  pay  \^d.  per  lb. 
for  pepper  lately  delivered  to  him.  Cables  and  hawsers  to  be  sent 
to  Surat  to  supply  the  small  shipping  there,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  28,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  271}. 

Staves  for  water  casks,  muskets,  bandoliers,  swords,  half-pikes, 
canvas,  '  Vittry '  canvas,^  two  tons  of  shot  of  saker,  round  and  cross- 
bar, and  one  ton  of  minion,  to  be  sent  to  Surat.  All  ships  to  carry 
forty  rounds  of  shot  to  each  gun.  Three  or  four  pipes  of  sweet  oil, 
twelve  dozen  knives  of  various  sorts,  ten  cwt.  of  elephants'  teeth, 
four  pieces  of  satin  and  four  pieces  of  velvet  to  be  sent  to  Surat  for 
merchandise  and  presents.  Aaron  Baker  is  permitted  to  take  with 
him  to  Bantam  two  butts  of  beer  and  t^vo  pipes  of  wine  for  his  own 
use.  The  distressed  condition  of  the  factors  left  at  Johanna  [by  the 
yokfi]  is  considered,  and  Bowen  is  directed  to  write  to  Surat  to  say 
that,  if  they  shall  arrive  there,  they  are  to  be  '  respected  according 
to  the  quallity  they  were  sent  from  hence '.  At  the  request  of  Mr. 
Baker,  twenty  or  thirty  muskets  are  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Bantam 
for  presents.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  confer  with  Mr. 
Bateman  about  the  1,700/.  due  for  the  half  subsidy  for  pepper 
shipped  to  Italy.  Three  pipes  of  canary  to  be  sent  to  Surat  and 
two  to  Bantam.  John  Holland,  who  bought  the  Company's  land, 
etc.,  at  Deptford,  is  to  receive  the  rent  due  last  Midsummer,  on 
condition  that  he  repays  what  is  owing  by  the  Company  to  the 
Bridgehouse.     (i  p.) 

*  Canvas  made  at  Vitr6  in  Brittany  (see  Oppenheim's  Administration  of  the  Royal 
Navy,  p.  98). 


76  COURT   MINUTES,    ETC.,    OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  5,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  273). 

Edward  Gray,  a  boy  who  went  to  India  last  year  in  the  John  as 
attendant  to  Knipe,  and  Thomas  Ratclifife,  another  boy  who  went  in 
the  same  ship  as  attendant  to  Mucknell,  are  to  be  sent  home  in  the 
first  vessel  returning  to  England.  The  Company  receiving  no  satis- 
faction to  its  oft-repeated  demands  for  the  half  subsidy  due  for 
pepper  sent  to  Italy,  it  is  resolved  to  petition  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  concerning  the  same,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to 
acquaint  Mr.  Greene  with  this  intention.     {\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  7,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  274). 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Isaackson,  whose  son  went  as  minister  to 
Surat  in  the  jfohn,  was  left  at  Johanna  and  so  lost  all  his  books, 
the  Court  orders  that  two-thirds  of  the  said  minister's  salary  be 
spent  in  buying  books  to  be  sent  out  in  one  of  the  Surat  ships  and 
delivered  to  him ;  but  in  the  event  of  his  death,  they  are  to  be 
returned  to  the  Company.  Mr.  Isaackson,  Senior,  is  to  give  a  list 
and  Mr.  Kent  to  be  asked  to  help  buy  the  books.  Mr.  Holloway 
reports  that  a  parcel  of  amber  has  been  entered  in  the  Custom- 
house in  the  names  of  Mr.  De  Lawne  and  the  Deputy,  to  be  shipped 
in  the  Eagle.  The  Deputy  absolutely  denies  all  knowledge  of  this ; 
Rilston  is  therefore  ordered  to  make  inquiries,  and  if  any  is  found 
it  is  to  be  brought  to  the  Company.  Cloths  to  be  shipped  in  the 
Eagle  and  Falcoti  for  Surat,  Much  dispute  arises  concerning  Mr. 
Knipe,  who  was  left  at  Johanna  by  the  jfokn,  and  information  is 
given  that  he  took  out  a  great  sum  of  gold  as  private  trade  and  that 
the  trade  in  coral  on  the  Malabar  Coast,  which  he  was  sent  out 
chiefly  to  prosecute,  has  since  lessened.  It  is  also  remembered  that 
he  was  unwilling  to  stay  in  India  longer  than  a  year,  and  that  his 
salary  is  200/.  per  annum.  The  Court  therefore  resolves  that  Knipe 
and  Thomas  Buckner,  who  went  out  as  his  attendant,  shall  return  to 
England.  Robert  Gale  asks  for  some  allowance  for  the  garbling  of 
pepper  bought  by  him  some  time  since,  and  is  granted  \d.  per  lb. 
On  information  that  a  broke  is  due  from  Gale  to  the  Company,  for 
pepper  sold  in  town  contrary  to  agreement,  much  debate  ensues ; 
but  resolution  is  deferred  until  next  court,  when  Sambrooke  is 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  77 

directed  to  have  Gale's  account  made  up.  A  letter  is  read  from 
Mr.  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam,  stating  that  he  has  had  no  gratuity 
for  the  last  four  or  five  years ;  the  Court,  in  consideration  of  his 
great  pains  in  delivering  the  Company's  protest  to  the  States  against 
the  Dutch  East  India  Company,  and  that  '  the  desperate  debt  made 
by  him  of  delivering  20c/.  to  Mr.  Holford  ^  was  not  wilfully  done ', 
is  pleased  to  bestow  a  gratuity  of  50/.  upon  him  for  all  services  up 
to  last  Christmas.     (2  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  14,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  276). 

The  Court,  thinking  it  probable  that  Mr.  Baines,  the  present 
minister  at  Surat,  who  is  coming  to  England  and  knows  Mr.  Isaack- 
son,  may  leave  him  some  of  his  books,  directs  that  only  20/.  of 
Isaackson's  salary  be  spent  in  the  purchase  of  books.  On  informa- 
tion that  Thomas  Steevens,  master  of  the  Eagle,  has  shipped  private 
trade,  the  Court  requires  him  to  give  a  list  of  the  same  ;  and, 
being  much  displeased  at  the  quantity,  resolves  that  all  the  goods 
enumerated  shall  be  consigned  to  the  President  and  Council  at 
Surat,  sold  there,  the  proceeds  put  into  the  Company's  cash,  and 
Steevens  given  a  bill  of  exchange  for  the  same  to  be  paid  in  England 
at  the  rate  of  5^-.  the  rial  of  eight.  Robert  Jennings  having  entered 
longcloth  and  '  rashees '  -  at  the  Custom-house,  he  is  questioned  and 
says  that  the  said  cloths  belong  to  Tomlings,  purser  of  the  Eagle ; 
whereupon  the  latter  is  ordered  to  attend  to-morrow  and  give  an  ac- 
count of  this  great  abuse.  The  Court  is  much  concerned  at  all  this 
and,  conceiving  that  rumours  may  be  spread  abroad  that  they  them- 
selves are  privy  to  these  abuses,  the  Governor  and  all  the  Committees 
present  swear  that  they  have  no  private  trade  in  the  ships,  neither 
do  they  intend  to  send  any  in  them.  The  Deputy  also  takes  an 
oath  to  the  same  effect,  but  declares  that  he  has  some  Venice  glasses, 
beer,  wine,  and  four  beaver  hats  he  is  sending  out  as  tokens  to  his 
friends.  Captain  Mynors  is  questioned  concerning  his  private  trade, 
and  replies  that  he  only  intends  to  take  commodities  in  which  the 
Company  does  not  trade,  to  the  value  of  50/.,  and  not  to  return  the 
proceeds  in  any  of  the  Company's  commodities.  He  is  released 
from  his  agreement  to  leave  500/.  in  the  Company's  hands,  and  pro- 

'  See  the  preceding  volume,  p.  340.  '  A  silk  or  worsted  fabric. 


78  COURT  MINUTES,    ETC.,   OF  THE 

mises  to  deposit  1,000/.  at  interest  for  the  use  of  his  wife  in  case  of 
his  death  on  the  voyage,  Trumball,  master  of  the  Falcon,  is  called 
upon  for  an  account  of  his  private  trade  ;  and  the  same  not  amount- 
ing to  much  over  50/.  in  value,  it  is  allowed.  On  information  that 
Henry  Brewster,  who  brought  the  first  news  concerning  the  John, 
was  sent  purposely  by  Mucknell  to  advise  his  wife  to  join  him,  the 
Court  resolves  to  discharge  Brewster  from  their  service,  but  promises 
to  re-entertain  him  next  year,  if  he  desires  it  and  they  see  fitting. 
The  Court  orders  the  Eagle  to  go  to  Gravesend,  and  that  500 
additional  billets  be  put  into  the  Lanneret.    (2^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  18,  1645  (Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  278). 

Ordered  that  the  money  be  shipped  in  the  Eagle  next  Thursday, 
when  she  is  to  proceed  to  the  Downs.^  Coral,  cloth,  and  chirurgeon's 
chests  to  be  put  aboard  the  ships.  The  mother  of  George  Hay  ward 
in  the  Mary,  and  the  mother  of  John  Snow  in  the  Falcon,  to  receive 
two  months  yearly  of  their  sons'  wages.     (^  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  19, 1645  {Court  Book^  vol. 
xix,  p.  279). 

Mary,  Countess  of  Dover,  transfers  to  the  Governor,  William 
Cokayne,  312/.  loj.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  Susannah  Farley,  administratrix  of  the  late  Roger  Farley, 
deceased  at  Bantam,  to  receive  all  money  due  upon  his  account. 
Four  spare  brass  trumpets  to  be  provided  for  *  practicioners  '  [i.e. 
learners]  in  the  Mary,  and  two  for  those  in  the  Eagle.  '  Romane 
vitreall '  sold  to  Henry  Box.  A  petition  is  presented  from  Thomas 
Tomblings,  purser,  Gervase  Russell,  Felix  Wombwell,  John  Elliott, 
Anthony  Fenn,  masters'  mates,  Richard  Robinson,  surgeon,  and 
Edward  Waterman,  boatswain,  all  in  the  Eagle  and  part-owners  of 
the  cloths  and  '  rashees '  shipped  aboard  her  as  private  trade  ;  they 
acknowledge  the  abuse,  promise  never  to  offend  again,  and  submit 
themselves  to  the  Company ;  whereupon  the  Court  orders  that  the 
cloths  be  sold  at  Surat  with  the  knowledge  of  the  President  or  some 
of  the  factors  there,  the  money  obtained  put  into  the  Company's 

^  The  House  of  Commons  this  day  authorized  the  Company  to  export  in  their  four  ships 
foreign  coin  and  bullion  of  silver  to  the  value  of  55,000/.  {Journals,  vol.  iv,  p.  83). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  79 

cash,  and  a  bill  of  exchange  given  to  the  owners  for  payment  in 
England  at  the  rate  of  js.  the  rial.  The  general  letter  to  the  Coast 
is  read,  in  which  special  notice  is  taken  of  the  great  charge  and  loss 
there,  for  want  of  honest  and  able  men  ;  whereupon  Mr.  Baker  offers 
his  services.  His  offer  is  accepted  and  he  is  desired  to  go  to  the 
Coast,  after  his  arrival  at  Bantam,  with  full  power  and  authority  to 
set  matters  straight,     (li//-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  21,  1645  (6>//r/  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  281). 

John  Totty,  master's  mate  in  the  Lanneret,  to  be  allowed  to 
return  home  after  staying  two  years  in  India.  Bowen  and  Younge 
are  directed  to  go  to  the  Downs  next  Monday  and  put  the  coral 
and  money,  now  in  the  custody  of  Daniel  Skynner  at  Dover, 
aboard  the  ships.^  Thomas,  son  of  Robert  Bateman,  is  admitted  to 
the  freedom  of  the  Company  by  patrimony.  Dispute  with  Birkdale, 
who  came  home  master's  chief  mate  in  the  Mary,  regarding  the 
payment  ordered  for  his  pepper  and  cloves  brought  home  as  private 
trade.     (1  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  28,  1645  {Co7irf  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  282). 

Mr.  Kent,  who  is  going  as  minister  to  Bantam  in  the  Mary,  is  to 
be  allowed  '  parte  of  the  rounde  house  of  the  said  shippe,  and  the 
study  in  it '.  A  motion  is  made  to  send  an  additional  5.000/.  in 
the  Mary  to  Bantam,  Mr.  Baker  thinking  that  the  amount  resolved 
on  will  not  be  sufficient  to  drive  the  trade  and  pay  all  debts  at  the 
Coast ;  but  the  Treasurer  intimating  that  the  stock  is  small  and  the 
charge  great,  this  motion  is  negatived.  The  Court  agrees  to  join 
with  the  Merchant  Adventurers  and  others  in  a  petition  to  Parlia- 
ment about  the  imposition  of  one  per  cent,  for  relief  of  captives 
in  'Argeire*.^     Birkdale  presents  his  account  and  is  granted  an 

'  In  Factory  Records,  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xxiv  (p.  63),  will  be  found  a  letter  from  Bowen 
to  the  President  and  Council  at  Surat,  dated  from  Deal,  April  i,  1645,  advising  them  that 
four  brass  cannons  have  been  put  on  board  the  Eagle  for  sale  to  the  Portuguese  or  others, 
and  also  warning  them  that  a  quantity  of  coral  has  been  smuggled  aboard  that  ship  in  the 
Downs  for  purposes  of  private  trade. 

*  The  'ordinance  concerning  the  captives  at  Algiers*  was  passed  by  the  Lords  on 
January  28,  1645.  Originally  the  levy  was  at  the  rate  of  one  per  cent,  on  all  exports  and 
imports,  but  by  an  ordinance  of  October  34,  1644,  this  was  reduced  to  a  fourth  of  that 


8o  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

additional  lo/.  He  desires  that  his  money  may  remain  at  interest 
in  the  Company's  hands  and  that,  in  regard  of  his  service  of  twenty 
or  twenty-one  years,  he  may  be  entertained  as  master  of  one  of  the 
ships  next  spring.  A  letter  is  read  from  Steevens  and  the  officers 
of  the  Eagle,  reporting  that  through  negligence  of  the  men  in  the 
Peter ^  bound  for  Barbadoes,  the  Eagle  fell  foul  of  that  vessel  and 
broke  her '  boltspritt '  and  part  of  her  head  at  Gravesend.  The  master 
of  the  Peter  comes  into  court,  presents  a  note  of  the  damage  done 
to  his  ship,  amounting  to  lol.  loj.,  and  requests  satisfaction,  in 
default  of  which  he  is  to  sue  for  it,  as  his  ship's  company  assert 
upon  oath  that  the  fault  was  with  Steevens.  The  Governor  is 
desired  to  confer  with  Mr.  Pennoyer,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Peter ^ 
and  come  to  some  amicable  conclusion,     (i^  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  2, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  284). 

Aaron  Baker  and  Captain  Mynors  write  that  they  are  without 
a  pilot,  as  Merritt  has  been  commanded  aboard  one  of  the  Parlia- 
ment ships  by  the  Lord  Admiral ;  also  that  eighty  men  are  wanting 
to  make  up  their  complement.  Hereupon  Davies  is  engaged  to 
pilot  the  Mary  into  the  Downs  and  to  provide  a  ketch  to  go  before 
to  sound ;  and  Hurt  is  directed  to  go  to  Gravesend  and  obtain  the 
necessary  mariners.  The  Governor  reports  that,  with  the  assistance 
of  Mr.  Morewood,  he  has  sent  100  pigs  of  lead  aboard  the  Falcon, 
on  information  from  Trumball  that  some  of  his  ballast  has  been 
taken  away  without  his  knowledge.  John  White  to  be  discharged 
from  the  Company's  almshouse  and  prosecuted  for  stealing  cordage 
while  picking  oakum  in  the  Yard.  A  letter  is  received  from  the 
factors  at  Venice,  stating  that  Sir  Peter  Rychault  has  sequestered 
the  pepper  and  all  else  in  their  hands  belonging  to  the  Company,  and 
enclosing  a  copy  of  his  demands,  which  amount  to  7,595/.  ^os.  lod.; 
some  suggest  that  Parliament  be  applied  to  for  protection  as  it  has 
seized  all  the  Company  had  of  Sir  Peter's  in  ready  money  and 
goods ;  but  finally  it  is  decided  to  consult  Dr.  Eden  and  to  have 

rate.  The  latter  arrangement  was  now  continued  until  December  1 1, 1645  {Lords'  Journals, 
vol.  vii,  pp.  33,  160,  161).  The  petition  here  mentioned  was  presented  in  the  Commons 
on  April  18,  and  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  {Commons'  Jotcrnals,  vol.iv,  p.  115). 
The  duty  was  several  times  renewed. 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  8i 

all  papers  concerning  this  matter  translated  by  next  Friday.  A 
policy  of  30,000/.  is  ordered  to  be  drawn  up  for  the  Eagle,  and 
another  of  10,000/,  for  the  Falcon,  every  man  subscribing  to  do  so 
for  three-fourths  in  the  former  ship  and  one-fourth  in  the  latter,  the 
premium  to  be  five  per  cent.  For  the  homeward-bound  ships,  the 
Discovery,  Dolphin,  Crispiana,  William,  and  Blessing,  a  policy  of 
60,000/.  is  to  be  drawn  up,  and  the  goods  to  be  rated  according 
to  their  prime  cost  in  India  at  loj.  the  rial  ;  no  man  to  write  for 
above  two-thirds  of  his  adventure  until  further  order,  and  the 
premium  to  be  2/.  \os.  per  cent.  It  is  left  to  the  Governor  and 
certain  Committees  to  decide  whether  the  three  ships  now  in  the 
Downs  shall  sail  without  the  Mary,  if  a  fair  wind  arises  and  she 
is  not  there.     (2  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  4,  1645  {Court  Booh,  voL 
xix,  p.  386). 

Hurt  is  directed  to  make  out  letters  of  attorney  to  wives  only, 
and  not  to  apprentices  and  others  without  special  order.  The 
Governor  reporting  that  1,200/.  has  been  taken  up  upon  exchange 
to  be  paid  at  Leghorn  and  Venice,  and  the  Treasurer  desiring  to 
be  excused  from  subscribing  any  more  bills  of  exchange,  the 
Governor  and  Deputy  are  entreated  to  do  so  for  the  future.  Two 
orders  from  the  Committee  of  Sequestrations  sitting  at  Cambden 
House  are  presented,  one  for  the  estate  of  the  Earl  of  Westmoreland,* 
which  has  been  put  up  at  interest  with  the  Company  in  the  name 
of  Mr.  Crosby,  the  other  concerning  the  estate  of  Sir  Peter  Richault.^ 
The  Court  tells  the  officers  who  bring  the  orders  that  the  Company 
neither  has  nor  has  it  ever  had  any  estate  of  the  Earl's,  but  it  has 
had  some  of  Mr.  Crosby's  for  the  last  ten  or  more  years  ;  that  the 
greater  part  of  Sir  Peter  Richault's  estate  has  already  been  seized 
by  Parliament,  for  which  he  has  taken  some  of  the  Company's  in 
Venice ;  and  that  the  Governor  with  others  of  the  Company  will 
attend  the  Committee  and  give  further  information  concerning 
these  particulars  if  required.  The  demands  of  Sir  Peter  Richault 
having  been  translated  are  read,  and  it  is  resolved  that  Dr.  Eden 

*  See  the  Calendar  of  the  Committee  for  Compounding,  part  ii,  p.  832. 
'  See  Ibid.,  part  ii,  p.  1252  ;    Calendar  of  the  Committee  for  the  Advanee  of  Money, 
part  i,  p.  134 ;  and  the  Lords'  and  Common^  Journals  (^passim). 


82  COURT   MINUTES.  ETC.,   OF  THE 

shall  be  consulted  about  them.  Three  Armenians,  who  came  from 
Persia  to  the  King  of  Poland,  are  allowed  passage  in  the  Mary 
to  Bantam  for  themselves  and  their  goods,  they  to  pay  aoo  rials 
of  eight  and  have  the  ship's  diet.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  i6,  1645  (Courf  Book,  vol, 
xix,  p.  287). 

The  Governor  reports  that  Dr.  Eden  has  drawn  up  a  narration 
of  Sir  Peter  Rychault's  business  for  presentation  to  the  Venetian 
Agent ;  that  the  latter  declares  he  is  no  Agent,  only  a  private 
gentleman,  but  promises  to  do  his  best  to  serve  them  ;  he  has  been 
supplied  with  two  copies  of  the  narrative  and  two  copies  of  the 
attachment  at  Venice.  The  Governor  further  declares  that  some 
parliamentary  men  advise  the  Company  to  apply  to  Parliament ; 
therefore  a  petition  has  been  drawn  up,  with  a  letter  to  the  Duke 
and  State  of  Venice  ;  these  are  read  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed.^ 
The  policies  are  presented,  and  it  is  resolved  that  any  '  good  man  ' 
may  underwrite  for  what  he  pleases  in  them  ;  but  in  the  policy  for 
the  homeward-bound  ships  only  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  may  underwrite.  Davies  to  be  paid  for  piloting  the  outgoing 
ships.  Sir  Peter  Rychault  not  having  paid  his  last  two  subscriptions 
to  the  Joint  Stock,  it  is  determined  that  his  whole  subscription  shall 
be  made  up  from  the  money  due  to  him  as  part-owner  of  the  PeUr 
and  Andrew,     {i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  25,  1645  (Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  288). 

The  Court  resolves  that  all  charges  incurred  by  Sir  Peter 
Rychaut's  business  shall  be  put  to  his  account.  Some  timber 
belonging  to  the  Governor,  fit  for  use  if  the  Company  decides  to 
build  ships,  is  allowed  to  remain  in  Blackwall  Yard.  A  dispute 
ensues  whether  to  build  any  ships  this  year  or  not ;  and  a  motion 
is  made  to  sell  Blackwall,  which  is  a  '  mighty  charge ',  and  to  freight 
ships  instead.  Bowen  is  instructed  to  survey  the  Yard  and  present 
'  a  platt '  of  it  at  the  next  court,  and  Fotherby  to  make  an  inventory 

*  The  letter  was  approved  by  both  Honses  on  April  22  (see  Commons'  yournals, 
vol.  iv,  p.  118,  and  Lords'  Journals,  vol.  vii,  pp.  328,  330,  where  the  letter  is  entered  at 
full  length).  In  the  sixth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission  (pp.  93,  144)  will  be 
found  references  to  a  similar  correspondence  with  the  Duke  of  Genoa  in  1646. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  83 

of  all  stores,  etc.,  there.  Mr.  Cogan  desiring  that  his  affairs  may 
be  settled,  the  Committee  formerly  appointed  for  this  work  is 
requested  to  meet  twice  weekly  as  before  until  this  is  done.  George 
Purse,  overseer  of  the  cordage,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  40j".  for 
extraordinary  pains.  The  request  of  Cullen,  a  grocer,  for  remission 
of  interest  upon  his  unpaid  account  is  refused.  Messrs.  Brett  and 
Vaughan  to  be  sued  unless  their  debt  is  paid  by  the  next  court. 
The  Treasurer  acquaints  the  Court  that  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
owes  the  General  Voyage  6,500/. ;  whereupon  seven  per  cent,  interest 
is  ordered  to  be  allowed  so  long  as  the  Stock  makes  use  of  this  sum. 
No  money  to  be  paid  by  Hurt  to  any  but  wives,  mothers,  and 
carpenter's  servants  without  especial  order.  On  information  that 
Mucknell  is  to  be  dispatched  with  the  John  and  two  other  vessels 
to  the  Western  Islands  [i.  e.  the  Azores]  to  surprise  the  homeward- 
bound  ships,  it  is  decided  to  petition  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty  that  some  Parliament  ships  may  look  after  them  ; 
and  the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  several  Committees  are  desired 
to  meet  to-morrow  morning  to  peruse  the  draft  of  the  said  petition 
and  to  attend  the  Lords  with  it.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  2, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  290). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  a  petition  concerning  Mucknell  and  his 
consorts  has  been  presented  to  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty  and  that  they  have  ordered  letters  to  be  written  to 
Captain  Swanley  ^  to  do  his  best  with  the  ships  under  his  command 
to  intercept  them ;  they  have  also  advised  the  Company  to  send 
out  two  nimble  pinnaces  to  scout  about  the  Western  Islands  and 
give  notice  to  the  homeward-bound  vessels,  and  in  case  any  shall 
be  surprised  to  bring  word  to  Captain  Batten  ^  that  he  may  deliver 
them.  On  this  a  motion  is  made  for  the  Commissioners  to  be 
solicited  to  allow  some  ships  of  the  third  rank  belonging  to  the 
State  to  be  employed  in  this  business,  the  Company  to  contribute 
to  the  cost ;  but  finally  it  is  decided  to  do  as  the  Commissioners 
advise,  and  the  Court  resolves  that  a  pinnace  and  a  ketch  or  two 

Richard  Swanley,  an  old  sen  ant  of  the  Company,  and  now  in  command  of  a  squadron 
in  the  Irish  Channel, 

'  Captain  William  Batten,  who  was  shortly  after  appointed  to  command  the  Parliamen- 
tary fleet  as  vice-admiral,  in  consequence  of  Lord  Warwick's  resignation. 

G  2 


84  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC,  OF  THE 

ketches  shall  be  provided  to  lie  about  the  Western  Islands,  and  the 
Governor  and  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  contract  for  the 
same.  It  is  also  resolved  to  send  Mr.  Younge  to  Mr.  Skinner  at 
Dover  to  desire  him  to  assist  in  procuring  a  pinnace  or  two.  The 
Governor  reports  his  attendance  on  the  Committee  of  Lords  and 
Commons  for  Sequestration  with  the  Company's  petition  concerning 
Mucknell's  estate,  and  their  advice  to  take  it  to  the  House  of 
Commons ;  that  this  has  been  done,  and  hopes  are  entertained  that 
the  Company's  request  will  be  speedily  granted.^  A  poor  Armenian 
priest  is  given  los.  from  the  poor-box.  The  Secretary  having 
received  a  ring  said  to  belong  to  Mr.  Knipe  from  Bartholomew 
Howard,  one  of  the  master's  mates  in  the  J^o/in  and  now  a  prisoner 
in  the  Poultry  Compter,  he  is  desired  to  keep  the  said  ring  and 
to  consult  Mr.  Budd  as  to  what  the  Company  shall  do  with 
Howard.  Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  consider  and  report 
on  the  business  depending  between  the  Company  and  Mrs.  Powell. 
Mrs.  Weddall  appears  in  answer  to  a  summons,  and  is  told  that 
Mr.  Courteen  has  taken  out  letters  of  administration  to  receive  her 
husband's  goods  and  what  is  due  upon  his  adventure,  the  same  being 
assigned  to  Courteen  by  Endymion  Porter,  and  that  Courteen  has 
assigned  the  said  adventure  to  Maurice  Thompson  ;  she  is  allowed 
until  next  court  to  consult  with  her  friends  about  this,     (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  9,  1645  (Cotirf  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  292). 

The  sum  of  i/.  6s.  assessed  by  ordinance  of  Parliament  on  the 
Company  at  Blackwall  for  the  maintenance  of  the  British  army  in 
Ireland  is  ordered  to  be  paid,  with  a  further  sum  of  2/.  15^.  for 
maintenance  of  the  army  under  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax.  Robert  Abdy, 
on  behalf  of  his  brother  John,  transfers  to  John  Holloway  1,100/, 
adventure  and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage.  John  Sayers  is  to 
continue  his  efforts  to  procure  a  pinnace  or  two.  He  is  also  desired 
to  act  as  arbitrator  for  the  Company  about  the  damage  done  to  the 
Peter  by  the  Eagle,  the  owners  of  the  former  ship  having  chosen 
Captain  Andrews  to  act  for  them.  Charles  Deane  is  given  10s.  for 
reading  prayers  in  the  almshouse,     (i  p) 

^  The  petition  was  considered  on  October  27,  when  the  Company's  application  to  be 
granted  Mucknell's  estate  was  refused  {Commons^  Journals,  vol.  iv,  p,  335). 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  85 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear 
Andrew  Cogan's  business,  May  13,  1645  {Court  Book^  vol.  xix, 

P-  293)- 

The  Committees  wishing  to  be  fully  satisfied  about  the  building 
of  Fort  St.  George  at  Madraspatam,  Cogan  is  called  upon  to 
answer  concerning  it  Portions  of  several  letters  from  Surat  to  the 
Coast  are  read  and  a  consultation  of  alLthe  factors  at  the  Coast 
produced,  in  which  it  was  decided  to  jproceed  with  the  said  Fort 
upon  Mr.  Day's  '  extraordinary  comendations  of  the  conveniencies 
which  would  accrew  to  the  Company  thereby ' ;  some  encourage- 
ment was  also  received  from  the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  to 
proceed,  '  if  it  were  begunne.'  Therefore,  though  in  the  opinion  of 
the  Committees  it  was  '  a  very  indiscreete  action  to  goe  about  the 
building  of  such  a  fort  when  the  Companies  stocke  was  soe  small, 
yett  if  ever  the  Company  have  a  plentifull  stocke  it  may  bee  very 
comodious  and  advantagious  for  them  ;  and,  since  it  was  the  joynt 
act  of  all  the  factors  there,  and  not  soly  or  perticulerly  of 
Mr.  Cogans,  and  if  it  should  not  proove  soe  advantagious  for  the 
Company  heereafter,  it  can  bee  charged  upon  noe  man  more  justly 
then  on  Mr.  Day ;  and  this  Committee  were  joyntly  of  opinion  to 
cleare  Mr.  Cogan  of  this  charge  '.  All  other  objections  against  him 
are  readj  with  his  answers  to  the  same,  and  it  is  decided  that  he 
has  done  nothing  to  justify  any  part  of  his  estate  being  detained  ; 
and  the  Committees  resolve  to  report  this  their  opinion  to  the 
Court  next  Friday.     (^  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  14,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  294). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  he  has  contracted  with  Mr.  Crispe  to  go 
to  the  Western  Islands  with  his  ship  of  about  70  tons,  carrying 
four  guns  and  fifteen  men  besides  himself  (one  or  two  of  the  latter 
to  be  provided  by  the  Company),  for  75/.  per  month  for  four  months, 
100/.  to  be  paid  in  advance.  These  particulars  are  agreed  to  by 
the  Court ;  and  it  is  resolved  to  procure  a  letter  (to  be  delivered  by 
Crispe  to  the  homeward-bound  ships)  from  the  Lords  Commissioners 
of  the  Admiralty  to  Captain  Batten  and  Captain  Swanley,  requiring 
them,  in  case  any  of  the  Company's  ships  shall  be  surprised  by 


S6  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

Mucknell  or  others,  to  do  their  best  to  relieve  them ;  sending  also 
a  letter  from  the  Company  to  give  notice  of  Mucknell's  treachery, 
with  caution  to  avoid  him  and  all  ships  bearing  the  King's 
commission,  either  English  or  strangers,  and  not  to  put  into 
Falmouth  or  Dartmouth.  It  is  also  resolved  to  send  some  one 
in  Crispe's  ship  to  observe  his  proceedings,  and  the  Court  orders 
that  a  suitable  man  who  has  been  to  India  be  looked  for  by  next 
Friday.  Crispe  is  to  be  commissioned  to  go  direct  to  the  Western 
Islands  and  stay  three,  four,  or  five  leagues  to  the  westward  of 
Flores  and  Corvo,  and  on  sight  of  any  of  the  Company's  ships  to 
make  for  them,  deliver  the  before-mentioned  letters,  and  accompany 
them  to  within  sight  of  Scilly  ;  then,  if  there  are  more  ships  to 
come,  to  return  to  the  Western  Islands  and  remain  there  until  the 
end  of  August ;  but  if  any  of  the  ships  meet  and  there  is  fighting 
by  the  way,  Crispe  is  to  hasten  to  the  Parliamentary  ships,  that  the 
latter  may  go  to  their  relief     (i|/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  i6,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  295). 

Four  or  five  of  the  mariners  out  of  the  yo/iu  having  been  sent  by 
the  Committee  of  Examinations  to  the  Marshalsea,  and  the  said 
Committee  wishing  the  Company  to  prosecute  them,  the  Secretary 
and  Mr.  Acton  are  desired  to  consult  with  Mr.  Hales  as  to  what 
course  shall  be  taken.  Richard  Gardiner  is  entertained  at  a  salary 
of  30J.  per  month  to  go  in  the  barque  to  the  Western  Islands  and 
give  an  account  of  the  voyage,  the  Company  to  pay  what  the 
master  of  the  barque  will  not  allow  of  the  said  salary.  John 
Suthan's  account  to  be  examined.     (5/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  23,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  296). 

Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  come  to  some  conclusion 
with  Mr.  Suthan  about  the  men  he  impressed  at  Blackwall.  The 
Secretary  is  desired  to  attend  the  Committee  of  Examinations  and 
acquaint  them  with  the  Company's  desire  that  the  mariners  from 
the  John  may  be  kept  in  prison  until  the  arrival  of  the  ships  from 
Surat,  in  which  it  is  hoped  some  of  the  men  left  by  the  John  at 
Johanna  and  St.  Helena  will  return,  who  will  be  able  to  prove 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  87 

several  things  against  the  said  mariners.  Crispe,  master  of  the 
Martha  and  Sarah,  not  being  able  to  obtain  men  to  go  with  him 
to  the  Western  Islands,  has,  with  the  approbation  of  several  Com- 
mittees, agreed  with  Mr.  Wood  for  the  Star,  burden  150  tons, 
20  guns,  and  3a  men,  Thomas  Hewett,  master,  to  go  for  four 
months  at  145/.  per  month.  Being  informed  that  Cogan  has  been 
cleared  of  all  charges  brought  against  him,  the  Court  orders  his 
account  to  be  made  up ;  also  that  for  the  cloves  he  brought  home 
as  private  trade  he  shall  be  allowed  at  the  same  rate  as  Mr.  Birk- 
dale  was,  but  pay  30/.  freight  for  the  China  stuffs  and  calicoes. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  30,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  297). 

A  paper  from  Mr.  Suthan  is  read  and  the  Secretary  directed  to 
close  the  account  between  him  and  the  Company.  John  Wood, 
part-owner  of  the  Star,  to  be  paid  100/.  upon  account  of  freight  for 
his  ship.  A  letter  from  Sir  Peter  Rychaut,  dated  at  Rouen  the 
26th  instant,  is  read,  desiring  the  money,  etc.,  due  to  him  as  an 
adventurer  with  the  Company ;  the  Governor  is  desired  to  inform 
the  gentleman  who  brought  the  said  letter  that  Sir  Peter's  goods 
and  money  have  by  order  of  Parliament  been  taken  from  the 
Company,  and  not  his  only,  but  the  property  of  many  others  who 
have  been  declared  delinquents.  John  W'hite  remaining  still  in  the 
almshouse,  the  Court  orders  his  expulsion,  as  well  as  that  of  the 
women  who  visit  their  husbands  there.  A  letter  from  Mrs.  Weddall 
is  read,  in  which  she  declares  her  intention  not  to  touch  the 
money  due  to  her  husband ;  whereupon  the  Court  directs  that 
Mr.  Thompson,  who  claims  the  said  money,  be  told  that  the  Com- 
pany will  inform  him  in  a  fortnight  whether  they  will  pay  it  to  him 
or  not.  The  amount  to  be  paid  to  Cogan  for  his  private  trade  is 
again  considered,  but  nothing  is  resolved  concerning  it.  His  account 
is  likewise  presented,  showing  that  718/.  15^.  id.  is  due  to  him,  part 
of  which  he  is  willing  to  leave  at  interest  in  the  Company's  hands ; 
but,  as  the  Treasurer  is  absent,  this  matter  is  referred  to  the  next 
court.     {\\  pp.) 


88  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Order  of  the  Committee  of  Examinations  of  the  House 
OF  Commons,  May  31,  1645  {Home  Miscellaneous^  vol.  xxxix, 
p.  199). 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  Walter  Williams  avers  that  he 
was  tailor  in  the  John.  He  denies  having  betrayed  that  ship  or 
that  he  received  anything  from  Mucknell,  but  confesses  that  he 
had  two  years'  pay,  at  the  rate  of  lis.  per  month,  from  Sir  John 
Pennington.  Richard  Swinglehurst  reports  that  Williams  was  in 
the  John  when  she  took  three  Canary  ships  belonging  to  merchants 
of  London,  that  he  was  put  aboard  one  of  them  and  there  taken  by 
the  Swallow.  The  Committee  orders  Williams  to  be  sent  for  trial 
to  the  Admiralty,  with  the  five  other  men  who  were  in  the  John 
but  are  now  prisoners  in  the  Marshalsea;  the  keeper  of  the  said 
prison  is  required  to  deliver  these  latter  up  to  an  officer  of  the 
Admiralty.     Signed  by  Stephen  Kirk,  clerk,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  6, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  298). 

Mr.  Suthun  agreeing  to  pay  10/.,  this  sum  is  accepted  by  the 
Company  in  full  of  all  accounts  between  them.  The  account  of 
Mr.  Weddall  to  be  examined  and  presented  at  the  next  court.  A 
list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read  and  the  Court  orders  an  action 
to  be  entered  against  Mr.  Burton  and  Company.  Spiller  is  also 
directed  to  prosecute  Messrs.  Bolton,  Brett,  Taylor,  Gale,  and 
Nicholls  for  their  several  debts.  Cogan  being  willing  to  enter  into 
bond  with  Benjamin  Robinson  for  the  payment  of  100/.  for  which 
Robert  Fotherby,  Robinson's  father-in-law,  stands  engaged,  the 
money  to  be  paid  from  what  is  in  the  Company's  hands,  it  is 
resolved  that,  when  Cogan  seals  this  bond,  Fotherby's  shall  be 
delivered  up  and  cancelled.  Cogan  to  be  allowed  ^^  rials  per  picul 
for  his  cloves,  and  to  be  paid  200/.  on  account.     (1  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  13, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  299). 

A  bill  dated  in  the  year  1635  is  presented,  on  which  the  Company 
is  to  pay  to  Thomas  Twyford  206/.  los.  The  bearer  is  asked  why 
the  money  has  remained  so  long  unclaimed ;  he  replies  that  it  is  not 
his  but  belonged  to  the  late  John  Moore,  who  put  it  out  in  his  name 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  89 

when  he  was  his  servant ;  Moore  afterwards  gave  it  to  Mr.  Dickenson, 
a  clerk  of  the  Council,  and  after  Dickenson's  death  his  children  were 
put  under  the  care  of  Sir  Charles  Harbert,  who  is  now  in  Holland, 
and  this  bill  was  given  by  Harbert  to  one  of  the  said  children, 
whose  husband  is  present  and  desires  satisfaction  for  it.  The  Court 
resolves  that,  as  the  money  belonged  to  Moore,  a  release  must  be 
obtained  from  his  executor  ;  that  Twyford  must  also  give  an  acquit- 
tance in  full ;  and  then  the  money  shall  be  paid.  The  Common 
Council  having  been  asked  for  the  money  due  for  ordnance  lent  by 
the  Company  to  the  City,  and  having  replied  that  there  are  many 
poor  men  to  be  satisfied  first  and  it  is  very  uncertain  when  the 
Company  will  be,  it  is  resolved  that  no  more  rent  for  hire  of 
warehouses  shall  be  paid  to  the  City  without  the  express  order  of 
the  Court.  Upon  examination  of  Captain  Weddall's  account  it  is 
found  that  he  underwrote  for  1,200/.  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock,  but 
only  paid  in  200/.,  and  bought  another  i  ,oco/.  from  the  Treasurer, 
so  there  is  only  1,200/.  to  be  divided.  Mr.  Thompson  is  called  in 
and  presents  several  assignments  from  the  Captain  to  Endymion 
Porter,  from  the  latter  to  Mr.  Courteen,  and  so  to  himself.  These 
are  read  and  advice  is  ordered  to  be  taken  concerning  them,  and 
Mr.  Acton  is  directed  to  draw  up  a  receipt  which  Thompson  is  to 
sign  for  the  Company's  indemnity.  John  Sparks,  Richard  Pitcher, 
John  Gibbs,  and  William  Glover,  who  went  out  in  the  Johti,  came 
from  Bristol,  and  are  now  imprisoned  in  the  Marshalsea,  petition  for 
release ;  there  being  many  complaints  against  them,  the  Secretary 
is  directed  to  prosecute  them  in  the  Admiralty  Court  and  not  to 
release  them  until  the  arrival  of  the  Surat  ships,  in  which  it  is  hoped 
men  may  come  who  will  be  able  to  throw  some  light  on  this  busi- 
ness. The  Court  approves  of  a  motion  made  to  treat  with  John 
Wood  and  free  the  Company  from  the  contract  made  with  him,  as 
the  season  is  so  far  advanced  that  it  is  very  probable  the  Company's 
ships  may  arrive  before  the  Star  can  reach  the  Azores  ;  and  certain 
Committees  are  given  full  power  to  act  in  this  matter  as  they  think 
best.  Robert  Knowles,  whose  arm  was  broken  in  a  lighter,  is  given 
20s.  from  the  poor-box.  Cooper  having  supplied  the  Company  with 
oars,  50/.  is  to  be  discounted  from  his  debt  and  Knappe  to  be  called 
upon  to  pay  the  remainder.  On  presentation  of  the  account  of 
Messrs.  Burton  and  Company,  amounting  in  all  to  4,539/.  13J.  i^-, 


90  COURT   MINUTES,    ETC..   OF  THE 

Spiller  is  ordered  to  inform  them  that,  unless  they  pay  2,000/.  within 
the  week  and  give  a  bond  for  the  remainder,  they  will  be  prosecuted. 
(i|/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  ao,  1645  {Court  Book,vo\.  xix, 
p.  301). 

John  Wood,  part-owner  of  the  Star,  consents  to  free  the  Company 
from  its  contract  with  him  on  receipt  of  two  months'  pay  at  the  rate 
of  145/.  per  month.  Gregory  Clement,  part-owner  of  the  Peter,  to 
be  paid  13/.  in  full  for  damage  done  to  the  said  ship  at  Gravesend 
by  the  Eagle.  The  Governor  intimates  that  Captain  Hall  is  to  go 
as  commander  of  the  Parliament  ship  Swallow,  and  that  he  declares 
he  will  do  his  utmost  to  suiprise  Mucknell ;  whereupon  the  Court 
resolves  to  promise  the  Captain  a  gold  chain  worth  100/.  if  he  is 
successful.     (I  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  27,  1645  {Court  Book,vo\.  xix, 
p.  302). 

At  the  request  of  Charles  Cox,  the  silk  and  calicoes  due  to 
the  children  of  his  brother  John  are  ordered  to  be  delivered  to 
Mr.  Holloway,  who  is  to  pay  the  money  realized  by  their  sale  into 
the  Company's  treasury  for  the  use  of  the  said  children.  A  dispute 
arising  concerning  the  account  of  Captain  Weddall,  Sambrooke  is 
directed  to  make  out  two  separate  accounts,  one  for  the  200/.  paid 
in  by  the  Captain  with  the  interest  due  for  the  unpaid  1,000/.  of  his 
subscription  to  the  Third  Joint  Stock,  the  other  for  the  1,000/.  he 
bought  from  the  Treasurer.  Captain  Brett's  request  that  Spiller 
may  call  upon  Mr.  Vaughan  for  67/.  he  owes  him  is  refused,  and 
Brett  promises  to  pay  it  with  the  500/.  he  owes  the  Company  for 
indigo.  Spiller  is  directed  to  enter  actions  against  Messrs.  Burton, 
Bolton,  Piggott,  and  Burr  for  their  large  debt  long  since  due.    {ip.) 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  3,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  303). 

This  being  the  day  appointed  for  the  general  court  of  election, 
the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  the  Treasurer,  some  of  the  Committees, 
and  others  of  the  generality  appear,  but  as  there  is  to  be  a  Common 
Hall  this  afternoon,  at  which  divers  of  the  Lords  and  Commons  are 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  91 

to  impart  some  business  of  consequence  to  the  City  from  Parlia- 
ment,^ there  is  not  the  usual  number  of  free  brethren  of  the  Com- 
pany present,  nor  will  there  be  sufficient,  it  is  thought,  this  afternoon 
to  perform  the  work  of  the  day ;  therefore  it  is  resolved  by  a  general 
erection  of  hands  to  dissolve  the  meeting  and  hold  the  court  of 
election  next  Saturday  in  the  forenoon.    (|  p.) 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  5,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  307). 

William  Cokayne  declares  to  the  generality  the  cause  of  their 
meeting,  returns  thanks  for  their  love  and  good  opinion  in  having 
formerly  made  him  Governor,  resigns  his  chair,  and  desires  that 
some  one  better  able  to  serve  the  Company  may  be  chosen.  He  is 
nominated,  with  Sir  John  Gayer,  Sir  John  Cordell,  Abraham 
Reynardson,  and  William  Ashwell,  and  unanimously  re-elected 
Governor.  William  Methwold  then  expresses  his  thanks  for  having 
been  elected  Deputy  Governor  two  years  in  succession  and  desires 
the  court  to  make  a  new  choice,  assuring  them  of  his  willingness  to 
serve  in  any  condition.  He  is  nominated,  with  William  Ashwell 
and  Thomas  Bumell,  and  by  general  erection  of  hands  re-elected 
Deputy.  John  Massingberd  resigns  his  post  as  Treasurer,  stating 
his  intention  of  living  in  the  country,  and  his  readiness  to  give 
the  Company  every  assistance.  He  is  nominated,  with  Richard 
Bateman,  and  re-elected  Treasurer.  Sir  John  Cordell,  Sir  Jacob 
Garrad,  James  Mann,  Ozias  Churchman,  Thomas  Hodges,  and 
Anthony  Bateman  are  elected  as  six  new  Committees  in  the  room 
of  Messrs.  Styles,  Ganvay,  Freeman,  Gayer,  Bludworth,  and  Davies, 
who  retire.  Thus  the  Committees  for  the  ensuing  year  are: 
Sir  John  Cordell,  Sir  John  Gayer,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad,  Messrs.  Rey- 
nardson, Ashwell,  Holloway,  Wilson,  Keate,  Jennings,  Midleton, 
Bumell,  Kerridge,  Thomas  and  James  Mann,  Morewood,  Abdy, 
Richard  and  Anthony  Bateman,  Willyams,  Gould,  Churchman, 
Thomas  and  Daniel  Andrews,  and  Thomas  Hodges.  Richard 
Swinglehurst  is  unanimously  re-elected  secretary  and  takes  the 
accustomed  oath.    {2%  pp.) 

*  This  was  the  meeting  at  which  were  read  the  King's  private  letters,  captured  three 
weeks  earlier  at  the  battle  of  Naseby,  and  afterwards  published  as  The  King's  Cabinet 
opened.     The  revelations  thus  made  of  Charles's  intrigues  did  his  cause  enormous  harm. 


92  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  ii,  1645  {Court  Book,vo\,  xix, 
p.  310). 

The  Governor  shows  a  letter  written  to  him  by  Lionel  Wake  of 
Antwerp,  certifying  that  he  has  been  advised  by  a  friend  living  in 
Paris  that  the  coral  carried  into  Bristol  in  the  John  is  still  in  the 
chests  as  it  was  shipped,  and  that,  if  the  Company  will  buy  it,  it 
shall  be  delivered  to  whom  and  where  they  please.  Wake  engages 
himself  for  payment  of  the  price  agreed  on,  but  the  Company  must 
bear  all  risks  if  the  coral  is  transported  by  sea,  except  from  the 
King's  ships,  against  which  they  shall  have  a  free  pass.  The  Court 
resolves  that,  if  leave  can  be  obtained  from  Parliament,  the  coral 
shall  be  bought,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  approach 
Parliament  on  the  subject ;  meanwhile  Mr.  Wake  is  to  be  told  that 
he  shall  have  an  answer  next  week.  Andrew  Cogan  requesting 
payment  of  money  due  to  him,  he  is  told  that  when  he  shall  pay 
the  100/.  for  which  he  stands  engaged  to  Benjamin  Robinson  a  bill 
shall  be  given  for  payment  of  what  remains  due  to  him  at  six 
months'  time.  The  request  of  James  Cocks,  a  prisoner  in  the 
Fleet,  for  100/.  is  refused,  but  the  Court  agrees  to  pay  him  50/.  on 
account  of  money  due,  on  condition  that  he  makes  up  his  account 
with  the  Company  by  the  end  of  August.  Captain  Goodlad,  one  ot 
the  late  owners  of  the  Peter  atid  Andrew  (now  called  the  Dolphin), 
to  take  away  seven  pieces  of  defective  ordnance  sold  with  that  ship ; 
he  is  to  be  allowed  for  the  carriages,  etc.,  at  the  rate  the  Company 
paid  for  them,     (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  35, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 

John  Wood,  part-owner  of  the  Star,  to  be  paid  290/.  to  free  the 
Company  from  the  contract  made  with  him.  A  release  from 
Mr.  Courteen  and  Maurice  Thomson  concerning  Captain  Weddall's 
adventure  is  presented ;  whereupon  the  Court  orders  a  warrant 
to  be  made  for  payment  of  991/.  is.  to  Thomson  in  full  of  the  said 
adventure,  he  having  already  received  the  divisions  of  silk  and 
calicoes  due  upon  it.  Officers  for  the  Company's  service  are 
chosen  as  follows  :  Jeremy  Sambrooke  to  be  book-keeper  or  general 
accountant ;    Adam   Bowen,    writer  and   '  register  of  letters '   to 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  93 

foreign  parts,  and  keeper  of  the  calico  warehouse  ;  Valentine  Mark- 
ham,  auditor  ;  John  Blount,  warehouse-keeper  of  indigo  and  cinna- 
mon, etc. ;  James  Acton,  solicitor ;  Thomas  Rilston,  husband  ;  John 
Young,  purser-general ;  William  Hurt,  paymaster  of  the  mariners  ; 
Samuel  Sambrooke,  assistant  to  Bowen  ;  John  Spiller,  beadle  and 
porter ;  Michael  Dunkin,  assistant  to  the  Treasurer ;  Richard 
Swinglehurst,  secretary  and  keeper  of  the  Exchange  cellar.  The 
officers  at  Blackwall  are  re-elected  on  condition  that,  as  the 
Company's  stock  is  small  and  it  is  uncertain  whether  the  dockyard 
will  be  retained  or  not,  on  receipt  of  three  months'  warning  they 
will  arrange  to  provide  for  themselves  at  the  end  of  that  time  and 
expect  no  further  salary.  Steevens  reporting  that  there  is  good 
timber  to  be  had  at  '  Foxes  Hall '  at  a  reasonable  rate,  the  same  is 
ordered  to  be  bought,     (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  i,  1645  {Coiirt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  313). 

On  information  that  one  who  is  employed  in  the  discharge  of  the 
Company's  ships  and  to  prevent  the  landing  of  private  trade  has 
dealt  treacherously  in  this  latter  respect,  and  that  there  is  a  man 
who  can  give  a  full  account  waiting  without,  the  Court,  not  wishing 
this  matter  to  be  made  public,  desires  certain  Committees  to  confer 
with  the  said  man ;  they  do  so,  and  he  delivers  to  them  a  signed 
paper  which  they  give  to  the  Governor.  An  account  is  ordered  to 
be  made  out  of  the  6,000/.  lent  to  Parliament,  with  the  interest  due 
upon  it,  that  payment  may  be  requested  for  the  same  from  the 
subsidy  of  the  goods  now  arrived  from  India.  A  motion  is  made 
to  provide  coral  to  be  sent  to  India  in  the  spring,  and  a  dispute 
follows  concerning  the  purchase  of  the  coral  from  Bristol  ;  finally  it 
is  resolved  to  '  lett  that  businesse  fall ',  and  the  Governor  is  requested 
to  write  to  Mr.  Wake  to  this  effect,  and  Bowen  is  directed  to  write 
to  Genoa  and  Leghorn  and  give  instructions  for  coral  to  be  provided 
there.    {i\  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  8,  1645  {Coitrt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  314). 

The  Court  resolves  to  present  a  petition  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons desiring  them  to  pass  the  ordinance  (which  has  long  '  layne 
dormant')  for  upholding  the  Company's  trade ;  and  the  Governor, 


94  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

the  Deputy,  and  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  attend  Par- 
liament with  it.  Dame  Mary  Hamersley  transfers  to  Andrew 
Cogan  [her  son-in-law]  448/.  6s.  Sd.  adventure  and  profits  in  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock.  Robert  Beckett,  who  broke  his  skull  last 
summer  in  Blackwall  Yard,  is  given  a  further  sum  of  40^.  The 
account  of  James  Cox  to  be  examined.     (li//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  15,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  315). 

William  Whitmore,  William  Poynter,  Thomas  Heath,  Matthias 
Hall,  Thomas  Ward,  and  William  Clay,  six  men  who  went  out  in  the 
^o/m  and  were  left  at  St.  Helena,  give  information  concerning  the 
betrayal  of  that  vessel ;  they  are  told  to  be  ready  to  answer  upon 
oath  any  interrogations  which  may  be  put  to  them  in  the  Admiralty 
Court  concerning  those  of  the  said  ship's  company  now  imprisoned. 
Each  man  is  given  40^.  for  his  present  wants,  with  promise  of 
a  further  gratuity.  As  Richard  Pitcher  and  William  Glover  are 
said  by  the  above-mentioned  men  to  be  innocent  of  treachery, 
their  release  from  the  Marshalsea  is  ordered.  The  private  trade 
brought  home  by  William  Fremlen  is  to  be  delivered  to  him  free  of 
freight,  in  consideration  of  his  twenty  years'  service.  Those  who 
brought  home  private  trade  in  the  Dolphin  and  Crispiatia  are 
desired  to  attend  the  Committees  appointed  for  this  business,  who 
will  remit  such  freight  as  they  shall  think  fit.  The  mariners  in  the 
said  ships  to  be  paid  their  wages,  if  there  are  no  objections  against 
them.     {\\pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  21,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  317). 

The  Crispiana  and  Dolphin  having  been  unladen,  they  are  to  be 
brought  into  Blackwall  dock.  Thomas  Adler,  for  many  years 
a  factor  in  Persia,  presents  a  relation  of  the  state  of  the  Company's 
affairs  there,  and  a  list  of  his  private  trade ;  as  a  reward  for  his 
good  service  some  of  the  latter  is  ordered  to  be  delivered  free  of 
freight,  the  remainder  to  be  sold  for  him  by  the  Company.  Several 
rings  which  belonged  to  the  late  John  Wilde,  who  died  at  Surat, 
are  delivered  by  Mr.  Fremlen  to  the  Governor,  who  entrusts  them 
to   the    Treasurer  till  further  order.     Andrew  Cogan  applies  for 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  95 

Sir  Thomas  Hamersley's  adventure  of  750/.  in  the  General  Voyage 
to  be  transferred  to  him,  he  producing  a  writing  signed  by  Lady 
Hamersley  with  an  order  from  the  Committee  sitting  at  Haber- 
dashers' Hall,  by  which  the  sequestration  formerly  laid  upon 
it  is  discharged.  The  Court  agrees,  on  condition  that  he  gives 
a  bond  of  1,000/.  to  save  the  Company  harmless  from  Sir  Thomas 
Hamersley.     {i^pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  28,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  318). 

The  Governor  intimates  that  a  general  court  is  called  for  the 
afternoon  to  resolve  on  the  course  to  be  taken  for  prosecution 
of  the  trade  ;  and,  for  the  information  of  the  Committees,  he  gives 
an  account  of  the  present  position  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock. 
After  some  consideration  of  these  particulars  it  is  resolved  to 
acquaint  the  general  court  with  them,  as  it  is  not  thought  fitting 
to  proceed  any  further  without  '  new  money'.  William  Fremlen  is 
admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  in  regard  to  his  long 
service.  Dame  Mary  Hamersley  by  a  writing  under  her  hand  and 
seal  transfers  to  Andrew  Cogan  75c/.  adventure  and  profits  (entered 
in  the  name  of  Sir  Thomas  Hamersley)  in  the  General  Voyage. 
Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet  next  Thursday  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  to  price  the  calicoes  brought  home  in  the 
Crispiana  and  Dolphin ;  while  others  are  requested  to  peruse  the 
letters  from  India.    {}\  PP) 

A  General  Court,  August  28,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  320). 

The  Governor  states  that  the  calling  together  of  the  generality 
has  been  deferred  hitherto  in  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Wtl/tam  and  Blessing,  which  are  due  shortly,  news  having  been 
received  from  the  Dutch  at  Jaccatra  that  they  were  taking  in 
pepper  at  Bantam  in  January,  where  they  would  not  stay  more 
than  forty  days.  They  have  been  assembled  to  receive  an  account 
of  the  state  of  the  present  Stock  and  to  decide  on  some  course 
to  raise  a  new  one  for  prosecution  of  the  trade.  The  Governor 
proceeds  to  acquaint  them  with  the  following  details  :  this  stock  at 
first  amounted  to   105,000/.   but  the   loss  of  the  Discovery  cost 


96  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

46,000/.  [sic],  the  loss  of  the  J^oht  20,000/.,  and  money  paid  for 
interest  35,000/.  ;  the  Stock  is  indebted  i  ao,ooo/.  more  than  it  has 
in  England  means  to  pay,  but  the  quick  stock  in  India  amounts  to 
133,000/.,  and  the  shipping  to  45,000/. ;  so  that  the  real  stock  in 
India  and  Europe  (including  the  King's  debt)  comes  to  188,000/.  [sicl. 
The  Court  of  Committees  have  debated  what  course  to  take,  and 
are  of  opinion  that  it  will  not  do  to  send  out  more  money  to  run  at 
interest,  but  that  if  stock  is  dispatched  in  the  spring  the  charge  will 
be  the  same,  as  the  factors  are  able  to  do  ten  times  as  much  as  they 
do  now  at  the  same  charge ;  in  his  opinion  there  is  no  better  way 
than  to  send  out  fresh  money,  which,  if  encouragement  can  be  pro- 
cured from  the  State,  will  hearten  the  adventurers  and  invite  others 
to  come  in  and  uphold  the  trade  ;  it  remains  with  the  generality  to 
decide  whether  to  continue  the  trade  with  the  present  Joint  Stock 
or  upon  a  new  subscription.  The  Deputy  declares  that  the  trade 
itself  has  never  been  better,  but  for  want  of  encouragement  from 
Parliament,  and  because  of  the  present  disturbances  in  the  kingdom, 
he  fears  men  will  be  unwilling  to  adventure  their  estates  ;  therefore 
it  is  for  those  present  to  consider  how  the  trade  may  be  continued 
and  not  lost  to  the  nation.  Hereupon  it  is  moved  that  the  trade 
should  not  be  deserted  through  faintheartedness,  but  a  fresh  stock 
cheerfully  subscribed  to  uphold  what  has  been  obtained  with  so 
many  difficulties  ;  that  doubtless  some  encouragement  will  shortly 
be  procured  from  the  State,  and  to  that  end  Parliament  should  be 
again  solicited  by  a  fresh  remonstrance  or  petition.  Reply  is  made 
that  they  have  only  hitherto  managed  to  keep  the  trade  in  their 
hands  ;  that  of  104,000/.,  88,000/.  [sic]  has  been  lost ;  that  the  good 
of  the  present  Stock  must  be  looked  to  and  not  prejudiced  in  order 
to  provide  for  others  ;  and  that  if  there  is  66,000/.  at  Surat  and 
66,000/.  at  Bantam,  besides  shipping,  it  would  be  best  to  send  ships 
to  fetch  home  the  said  estate  and  the  factors,  and  wind  up  every- 
thing, unless  some  encouragement  can  be  procured  from  the  State. 
After  great  dispute  it  is  finally  resolved  to  dispatch  the  Crispiana 
and  the  Dolphin  without  stock  to  fetch  home  the  remains  from 
India  ;  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  view  these  two  ships, 
and  when  this  is  done  further  resolutions  are  to  be  made,     (i^  //.) , 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  97 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  3,  1645  [Court  Bookt 
vol.  xix,  p.  321). 

Clement  Mosse  desires  that  2,400/.  paid  by  Mr.  HoUoway  for 
the  adventure  of  the  late  Thomas  Jesson  may  be  retained  by  the 
Company  as  security  for  payment  of  the  annuity  left  by  Jesson 
to  his  widow  (now  Mrs.  Mosse) ;  the  Court  promises  to  do  him 
all  lawful  favour  in  this  particular,  Thomas  Ditchfield,  who  went 
out  in  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  served  the  Company  at  Surat  till 
his  return  in  the  Crispiana,  is  given  15/.  The  accusations  brought 
(principally  by  Cogan)  against  John  Yard,  formerly  a  factor  in  the 
Bay,  are  to  be  heard  next  Wednesday  ;  meanwhile  he  is  to  be  paid 
100/.  upon  account.  The  request  of  Captain  Steevens,  master  of 
the  London^  to  bring  his  ship  into  Blackwall  dock  is  refused- 
Michael  Dunkin  is  granted  an  increase  of  salary.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  10,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  ^2^). 

Payment  is  ordered  of  500/.  for  the  one  per  cent,  duty  for 
Plymouth  ^  on  goods  brought  by  the  Crispiana  and  Dolphin. 
Clement  Mosse  to  be  paid  70/.  due  upon  the  adventure  of  the  late 
Thomas  Jesson,  but  no  more  until  he  comes  to  some  settlement 
with  HoUoway  and  '  Mr.  Jesson  '.  John  Gibbs,  imprisoned  in  the 
Marshalsea  (he  having  been  in  the  John),  is  released  on  account  of 
severe  illness.  A  petition  of  Agard  Brooks  to  the  Committee  of 
the  Navy  concerning  78  parcels  of  private  trade  (which  Brooks 
pretends  to  have  bought),  taken  from  the  Dolphin  and  conveyed 
from  Dover  to  the  White  Hart  Inn  in  Southwark  and  there  seized 
for  the  Company  and  placed  in  the  King's  warehouse  at  the 
Custom-house,  is  presented,  with  a  reference  from  Mr.  Greene, 
requiring  the  Company  to  show  cause  why  the  said  goods  are 
detained  ;  the  master  and  purser  of  the  Dolphin  are  called  into 
court  and  questioned  touching  this  great  abuse ;  and,  it  appearing 
that  the  goods  were  in  the  custody  of  the  purser  and  he  denying  all 
knowledge  of  the  same,  though  the  contrary  is  proved  to  his  face, 
an  action  for  2,000/.  is  ordered  to  be  entered  against  him  and  he  is 

*  A  special  rate  imposed  npoa  imports  and  exports  to  provide  for  the  defence  of 
Plymouth  (see  the  previoas  volume,  p.  371). 

S.C.M.   UI  H 


98  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

arrested,  while  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  acquaint  the 
Committee  of  the  Navy  with  these  particulars.  The  six  men  who 
were  left  by  Mucknell  at  St.  Helena  are  to  be  paid  wages  from  the 
time  they  went  out  until  their  return  ;  and  William  Poynter,  who 
suffered  more  than  the  other  five  through  the  loss  of  his  ear,  is 
given  a  gratuity  of  40.^.  The  hearing  of  the  accusation  against 
John  Yard  concerning  the  buying  of  the  Endeavour  at  the  Bay 
is  deferred.     (i^/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  12, 1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  324). 

Isaac  Knight  and  William  Johnson,  merchants  at  Rotterdam,  to 
be  given  a  beaver  hat  each  for  the  pains  they  took  about  Mucknell ; 
5/.  to  be  paid  to  Maurice  Thomson  for  this  purpose.  Captain  Morris 
to  be  given  a  pair  of  quilts  for  sending  letters  intended  for  the 
homeward-bound  ships  to  Flores,  Corvo,  and  other  places.  Nathan 
Wright  offering  to  buy  pepper  and  cinnamon,  certain  Committees 
are  desired  to  treat  with  him  on  the  Exchange.  Richard  Cart- 
wright  and  Walter  Willyams,  who  went  out  in  the  jfohn,  and  are 
now  in  St.  Katherine's  prison,  to  be  released  on  account  of  their 
poverty.  The  widow  of  Walter  Clarke,  late  master  of  the  Comfort, 
petitions  for  her  husband's  estate  ;  a  list  of  the  things  belonging  to 
him  and  now  in  the  Custom-house  is  read,  and  these  are  ordered  to 
be  cleared  and  shown  at  the  next  court,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  17,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  325). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  he  went  with  two  Committees  to  the 
Committee  of  the  Navy  about  the  private  trade  taken  out  of  the 
Dolphin.  Brooks  was  there  with  Bradshawe,  the  counsellor,  and 
some  of  the  proprietors.  The  Committee,  after  hearing  the  business, 
were  of  opinion  that  Brooks  had  done  no  wrong,  as  he  bought  the 
goods  in  open  market ;  and  therefore  the  Company  could  not 
detain  them.  Hereupon  the  Secretary  procured  a  warrant  from 
the  Admiralty  to  attach  the  goods  for  freight.  They  took  the 
occasion  to  speak  to  Mr.  Greene  about  the  coral  at  Bristol,  and  by 
his  means  the  Company's  letter  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  was  recom- 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  99 

mended  by  letter  from  the  Committee  for  the  Admiralty,  and 
a  letter  procured  to  John  Ashe  from  his  brother  here,  and  from 
Mr.  Rouse  to  Mr.  Moore,  both  members  of  the  House  of  Commons 
and  commanders  in  the  Army,^  and  a  messenger  sent  with  the  said 
letters  ;  so  there  is  great  hope  of  procuring  the  coral,  if  it  is  still  at 
Bristol.^  The  Deputy  further  remarks  that  Mr.  Rushworth,^  secre- 
tary to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax,  is  in  town  and  it  is  very  necessary 
to  tell  him  of  this  business ;  whereupon  he  and  Mr.  Gould  are 
desired  to  see  him  and,  as  an  earnest  of  the  Company's  future  con- 
duct, if  the  business  is  accomplished,  to  present  him  with  what  they 
think  fit.  Upon  the  submission  of  William  Dalton,  purser  in  the 
Dolphin^  and  his  promise  of  information  concerning  the  goods  taken 
from  the  said  ship,  the  action  entered  against  him  is  ordered  to  be 
withdrawn  ;  but  the  other  owners  of  the  goods  are  to  be  prosecuted. 
An  order  is  produced  from  the  Committee  of  Lords  and  Commons 
at  Haberdashers'  Hall,  removing  the  sequestration  laid  upon  the 
estate  of  John  Beadle,  and  all  divisions  due  to  him  upon  his  adven- 
ture are  ordered  to  be  paid.  Part  of  John  Yard's  goods  are 
delivered  to  him,  he  to  be  responsible  for  the  freight  when  his 
account  is  cleared.  The  wife  of  William  Hall,  formerly  a  factor  in 
Persia,  who  it  is  feared  was  lost  in  the  Discovery^  to  be  given  20/. 
upon  account  of  her  husband's  wages.     {^\PP^ 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  September  17,  1645  {Court 
Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  337). 

Sale  of  cardamoms,  cinnamon,  skins,  Sarkhej  indigo,  indigo  from 
Lahore,  olibanum,  myrrh,  borax,  rice,  gum-lac,  pepper,  wet  and 
dried,  dust  of  pepper,  cotton  yarn,  Bengala  silk,  tapseels,  niccanees, 
hussanees,  populees,  charlees,  semianies,  eckbarees,  blue  baftas, 
ferrattchauns,  and  sallowes,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers. 

*  Ash  was  member  for  Westbury ;  and  Moore  was  probably  Thomas  Moore,  member 
for  Heytesbnry,  On  September  23  they  were  both  thanked  by  the  House  of  Commons 
for  their  great  services,  as  testified  in  a  letter  written  by  Fairfax  from  Bath. 

*  Bristol  had  been  stormed  by  Fairfax's  forces  on  September  10, 

'  This  was  John  Rushworth,  author  of  the  well-known  Historical  Collections. 


H3 


loo  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  19,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  330). 

Captain  Brett  buys  ten  barrels  of  indigo.  At  the  request  of 
Messrs.  Burton  and  Company  an  account  of  their  debt  is  ordered  to 
be  made  out  and  presented  at  the  next  court.  A  further  sum 
of  500/.  is  to  be  paid  on  account  of  the  one  per  cent,  duty  for 
Plymouth  on  the  goods  returned  in  the  Crispiana  and  Dolphin. 
Captain  Story  buys  blue  baftas.  Mrs.  Walter  Clarke  to  receive 
the  rings,  etc.  \list  given],  returned  in  the  Crispiana  belonging  to 
her  late  husband  ;  but  the  large  diamond  ring,  with  the  proceeds  of 
the  ambergris  and  musk,  to  be  kept  by  the  Company  until  Clarke's 
account  is  cleared,  when  she  is  to  be  allowed  six  per  cent,  interest 
for  the  same.  Tincall  bought  by  Benjamin  Delanoy  to  be  delivered 
to  him,  and  calicoes  to  James  Martin.  Estimates  of  the  worth  and 
cost  of  the  repairs  necessary  for  the  Crispiana  and  Dolphin  are  pre- 
sented ;  these  show  that  the  Dolphin  is  good  for  two  more  voyages 
of  two  years'  duration,  but  being  ten  years  old  she  is  only  worth 
600/.  and  it  would  cost  1,120/.  to  make  her  strong  and  serviceable ; 
the  Crispiana  is  fourteen  years  old  and  is  only  fit  for  one  more 
voyage  of  two  years  ;  she  is  worth  400/.  and  her  repairs  would  cost 
804/.  It  is  resolved  that  the  Crispiafia  shall  be  sold  and  the 
Dolphin  repaired.  Steevens  is  to  be  allowed  to  see  the  weekly 
accounts  at  Blackwall,  in  order  that  he  may  know  the  amount  spent 
on  the  said  repairs.     (2i/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  35,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  332). 

Robert  Sparrowe  is  given  40s.  for  bringing  word  of  the  arrival  in 
the  Downs  of  the  William  and  Blessing,  and  22^.  for  his  expenses. 
The  Deputy  reports  the  return  of  Mr.  Craven,  the  messenger  sent 
to  Bristol  about  the  79  chests  of  coral.  Craven  delivered  the 
Company's  letter  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  at  Bath,  who  referred  it  to 
Colonel  [Martin]  Pindar  and  Colonel  Leighton,  commanders  of  the 
army  at  Bristol,  and  they  send  the  Company  a  reply ;  this  is  read 
and  it  appears  that  the  coral  is  in  safe  custody.  Craven  delivers  the 
keys  of  the  warehouse  in  which  the  coral  is  kept  to  the  Court,  and 
is  given  a  gratuity  of  25/.  in  addition  to  the  10/.  he  has  already 
received,     (i  p.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  loi 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  26,  1645  {Court  Book. 
vol.  xix,  p.  '1,1'^). 

Provisions,  etc.,  to  be  bought  for  the  two  ships  to  be  dispeeded  in 
the  spring.  The  account  of  Messrs.  Burton  and  Company  is  pre- 
sented and  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  them.  The  petition  to  the 
House  of  Commons  concerning  the  coral  at  Bristol  is  read,  and 
certain  Committees  are  desired  to  entrust  it  to  a  member  of  the 
House.  Mr.  Midleton  is  ordered  to  pay  for  the  four  sakers 
formerly  sold  to  him.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  i,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  334). 

The  wages  of  the  men  who  went  out  in  the  Discovery  (which  it  is 
feared  is  lost)  are  to  be  paid  up  to  December,  1643.  Tare  of  131b. 
per  cwt.  to  be  allowed  to  all  who  bought  cinnamon  at  the  last 
court  of  sales.  On  certain  buyers  of  Lahore  indigo  complaining 
that  a  great  quantity  of  Sarkhej  indigo  was  found  with  it,  they  are 
allowed  15/.  for  the  same.  Dispute  with  Sir  George  Clarke  about 
pepper,     (i/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  3,  1645  {Court  Book, 

vol.  xix,  p.  0^'3,^\ 

Calicoes  bought  by  James  Martin  to  be  delivered  to  him  in  bales, 
on  condition  that  if  any  are  found  to  be  damaged  no  allowance  is  to 
be  made.  Beef  and  pork  to  be  provided  for  400  men.  The 
Secretary  is  directed  to  see  that  the  mariners  concerned  in  the 
indigo,  etc.,  taken  out  of  the  Dolphin,  are  prosecuted  in  the 
Admiralty  ;  he  is  also  desired  to  show  Messrs.  Whitaker  and 
Corbett,  Members  of  Parliament,  the  papers  received  from  Bantam 
about  the  ill  language  used  against  the  King  and  Queen  by  William 
Cary,  steward  in  the  William.  All  assurance  money,  except  for 
the  Eagle  and  Falcon,  to  be  paid.  The  private  trade  of  John 
Prowd,  master  of  the  Dolphin,  to  be  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight, 
except  the  indigo.  William  Bailey,  master  of  the  Crispiana,  to  be 
paid  900/.,  according  to  agreement  made  with  him  at  his  going  out. 
Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  attend  Mr.  Greene  about  the 


loa  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

coral  business.  Robert  Harrington  to  receive,  as  administrator,  all 
that  is  due  upon  the  estate  of  the  late  Martin  Bazill,  who  died  in 
Ireland.     Duties  allotted  to  the  several  Committees.     {aPP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  8,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  339). 

Some  question  arising  about  the  timber  sold  by  Mr.  Beresford  to 
the  Company,  it  is  ordered  to  be  re-measured.  The  Governor  and 
certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  attend  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  about  the  petition  of  Agard  Brookes.  Edward  Harrison, 
late  purser  in  the  Dolphin  and  now  purser  in  the  Hart,  to  be  sent 
home  by  the  next  ships  on  the  report  of  his  ill  carriage.  James 
Oyles,  coming  into  court  with  Serjeant  Jermin,  complains  that  the 
full  amount  of  cinnamon  he  bought  at  the  last  court  of  sales  has 
not  been  delivered  to  him  ;  the  Court,  finding  that  a  mistake  has 
been  made  *  by  error  of  the  penn ',  decides  (Oyles  being  a  good 
customer  and  an  adventurer  for  a  large  amount)  to  abate  one  half- 
penny in  the  lb.  for  the  whole  parcel  of  cinnamon.  The  request  of 
James  Cox  to  be  supplied  with  money  for  his  present  occasions  is 
refused,  and  he  is  told  that  no  more  will  be  given  to  him  until  his 
account  is  made  up.     (i^  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  10,  1645  {Court  Booh, 
vol.  xix,  p.  340). 

The  men  in  the  Blessing  to  be  paid  their  wages.  A  message 
being  left  with  Sambrooke  by  Mr.  Vassall,^  desiring  some  of  the 
Court  to  attend  this  afternoon  at  Westminster,  the  Governor,  the 
Deputy,  and  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  do  so.  The 
sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint  Stock  and  the  General 
Voyage  are  to  be  desired  to  meet  next  Tuesday  afternoon,  to 
examine  and  report  how  the  account  stands  between  the  Stock  and 
the  Voyage,  that  a  general  court  of  adventurers  in  the  latter  may 
be  called  and  acquainted  with  the  same.  The  Treasurer  to  provide 
rials  to  the  value  of  10,000/.  Baftas  to  be  delivered  free  of  freight 
to  Thomas  Adler,  formerly  a  factor  in  Persia.  John  Frith,  Thomas 
Hanson,  and  Thomas  Thatcher  accepted  as  securities  for  cardamoms 
bought  by  Frith,     (i  /.) 

^  Samuel  Vassall,  one  of  the  members  for  London. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  103 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  15,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol  xix,  p.  341). 

Sir  John  Gayer  reports  that  the  sixteen  Committees  met 
yesterday  afternoon  and  examined  the  accounts,  but  came  to  no 
agreement;  Sir  John  adds  that  in  his  opinion  the  goods  now 
returned  for  the  account  of  the  General  Voyage  should  be  disposed 
of  either  by  exportation,  candle  auction,  or  by  division.  The  Court, 
taking  into  consideration  what  ships  are  to  be  dispatched  for  both 
accounts  next  spring,  orders  that  the  sixteen  Committees  meet  with 
the  standing  Committees  next  Friday  to  debate  this  matter.  Agard 
Brookes  and  the  other  proprietors  of  the  goods  landed  from  the 
Dolphin  refer  themselves  to  the  Court  and  desire  to  be  dealt  with 
favourably  in  this  matter ;  whereupon  it  is  resolved  that  Brookes 
shall  be  paid  64/.  loj.  (over  and  above  the  200/.  he  has  already 
received) :  that  the  indigo  shall  be  sent  to  the  Custom-house,  and 
after  it  has  been  weighed  and  examined  some  fitting  agreement 
shall  be  made  concerning  it :  that  the  borax  and  ginger  shall  be 
given  to  whom  it  is  due,  and  all  other  goods  belonging  to  them 
delivered  free  of  freight.  Steevens  declaring  that  the  masts  for 
repair  of  the  Dolphin  can  only  be  procured  from  the  King's  stores, 
certain  Committees  are  desired  to  request  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Navy  to  furnish  these,  which  shall  be  paid  for  in  kind  or  by  some 
equivalent  to  their  value.  The  William  to  be  brought  into 
Blackwall  dock  and  examined  with  the  Blessing  ;  and  all  repairs 
required  are  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Yard.  A  court  of 
sales  to  be  held  '  the  next  day  after  the  next  fast  day ',  when  the 
diamond  belonging  to  the  late  Walter  Clarke  and  one  belonging 
to  the  Governor  shall  be  sold.  ]\Ir.  Tindall,  chirurgeon  in  the 
Crispiana,  to  be  paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him,  on  condition 
that,  if  any  goods  taken  from  the  said  ship  at  Rochester  are  found 
to  belong  to  him,  he  shall  be  fined  as  the  Court  shall  think  fit. 

A  Meeting  of  the  sixteen  special  Committees  and  the 

STANDING  COMAHTTEES,  OCTOBER  1 7,  1 645  {Court  Book,  voL  xix, 

p-  343). 

An  adventurer  in  both  stocks  intimates  that  upon  perusal  of  the 
Company's  letters  from  Bantam  it  is  found  that  there  are  600  tons 


104  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

of  pepper  there  for  the  account  of  the  Voyage,  but  this  does  not 
appear  in  the  accounts  received  from  thence ;  he  desires  to  know 
whether  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Voyage  think  it  fitting 
to  dispatch,  with  or  without  stock,  two  ships  to  fetch  this  pepper 
home.     Thereupon   another  Committee   states   that   the  Voyage 
formerly  was  allowed  by  consent  of  a  general  court  of  adventurers 
in  the  Joint  Stock  and  in  the  Voyage  to  send  out  2,000/.  stock,  and 
he  suggests  that,  if  the  Voyage  might  now  send  out  4,000/.  quick 
stock,  the  pepper  could  be  brought  home,  and  in  case  of  want  of 
lading  the  said  stock  might  help  to  fill  the  two  ships  ;  while  if  the 
Voyage  has  no  occasion  to  use  all  or  any  of  the  money,  either  the 
whole  or  what  they  do  not  dispose  of  might  be  handed  over  to 
the  Joint  Stock  at  a  certain  rate.     After  debate  the  following 
alternative  propositions  are  put  forward :  (i)  the  Stock  to  send  out 
shipping,  and  the  Voyage  to  have  the  remainder  of  the  money 
which  the  Stock  has  no  occasion  to  use  there  ;  (a)  the  Voyage  to 
send  out  shipping  and  the  Stock  to  have  the  remainder  of  the 
money  which  the  Voyage  has  no  occasion  to  use  there ;  (3)  the  Stock 
to  take  all  the  goods  and  money  belonging  to  the  Voyage  at  a 
certain  valuation.     Hereupon  it  is  affirmed  that  by  letters  received 
it  appears  that  there  is  a  certain  lading  for  two  ships  for  the 
Voyage,  but  none  for  the  Stock ;    therefore  the  Voyage,  having 
the  greater  adventure,  should  take  the  benefit  of  what  may  be  made 
rather  than  the  Joint  Stock,  which  has  the  less  adventure.     After 
much  dispute  it  is  finally  decided  to  send  out  this  year  two  freighted 
ships  to  fetch  home  the  estate  at  Bantam  belonging  to  the  Voyage, 
and  it  is  agreed  by  erection  of  hands  that  the  Voyage  shall  be 
allowed  to  send  out  4,000/.,  in  20,000  rials  of  eight,  on  condition 
that  the  said  rials,  or  so  many  as  shall  not  be  used  for  the  lading 
of  the  two  ships,  shall  be  handed  to  the  factors  employed  by  the 
Joint  Stock,  and  the  adventurers  in  the  latter  be  answerable  for  all 
such  moneys,  and  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  be  directed 
to  give  to  the  Voyage  four  bills  of  exchange  for  payment  of  the 
said  money  at  the  rate  of  5^.  the  rial  of  eight  within  two  months 
after  sight  of  any  of  those  four  bills  in  London.     It  is  next  agreed 
that,  if  any  of  the  pepper  be  returned  before  the  two  ships  arrive 
at  Bantam,  the  Joint  Stock  shall  help  to  lade  the  said  ships,  and 
if  there  is  more  pepper  than  the  two  ships  can  carry,  and  the  Joint 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  105 

StcK:k  has  any  vessel  to  spare,  it  shall  bring  the  pepper  home  at 
a  reasonable  rate ;  and  in  either  case  each  stock  to  pay  to  the  other 
such  freight  as  the  Voyage  shall  pay  to  the  owners  of  the  two  ships 
now  to  be  employed.  It  is  thought  fit  that  all  the  adventurers  in 
the  Voyage  shall  be  summoned  to  the  court  to  be  held  next 
Thursday  afternoon,  in  order  to  be  made  acquainted  with  these 
particulars,  and  either  to  approve  of  them  or  to  resolve  on  others. 
A  Committee  for  the  Voyage  desires  to  know  what  goods  were 
returned  in  the  four  ships  which  came  home  this  year  on  account 
of  the  Voyage,  and  how  they  are  to  be  disposed  of,  opining  that 
they  should  either  be  exported,  sold  by  the  candle,  or  bought  by 
the  Joint  Stock  at  a  reasonable  rate.  This  last  method  is  held  by  all 
present  to  be  the  best,  but  resolution  is  deferred  until  nextThursday's 
court ;  meanwhile  Sambrooke  is  directed  to  have  ready  an  account 
of  the  present  state  of  the  Voyage.     (2^  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  22,  1645  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  346). 

Benjamin  Charke  is  dismissed  with  a  gratuity  of  10/.,  there  being 

no  further  need  for  his  services.  The  alnager  ^  to  be  given  no  more 

quarterage  without  especial  order.    A  stop  is  requested  to  be  made 

to  the  delivery  to  Robert  Harrington  of  money  and  goods  due  to 

the  estate  of  the  late  Martin  Bazill,  a  kinsman  of  the  latter  stating 

that  a  sister  of  Bazill,  who  is  his  executrix,  is  living  in  Ireland,  and 

that  Harrington  has  taken  out  an  administration  for  the  estate  of 

Bazill's  father,  with  whom  he  has  nothing  to  do  and  therefore  the 

administration  is  void  ;    Harrington  denies  this,  and  affirms  that 

the  Mayor  of  Deny  reported  the  death  of  Bazill's  sister.     After 

much  dispute  the  kinsman  is  told  that  the  money  and  silk  have 

already  been  delivered  to  Harrington,  the  administration  not  having 

been  made  void  or  revoked;  but  the  calicoes  shaU  be  detained  until 

he  can  give  further  security.     The  men  in  the  William  to  be  paid. 

Blount  presents  a  list  of  the  weight  of  the  indigo  taken  from  the 

Dolphin  by  John   Colling%vood,   William    Pearse,   Michael    Bolt, 

ISIichael  Ashmore,  Richard  Husbands,  and  John  Vincent.     They 

are  ordered  to  pay  freight  at  the  rate  of  30/.  per  ton  for  all  the 

goods  that  come  from  Dover,  but  the  Court  agrees  to  allow  them 

^  An  official  vrtiose  doty  it  was  to  inspect  and  measure  cloth. 


io6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

25.  gd.  per  lb.  for  the  Sarkhej  indigo  and  3J.  gd,  per  lb.  for  the 
Lahore  indigo,  for  which  they  have  already  paid  freight,  custom, 
and  excise ;  they  are  to  pay  Rilston  the  money  he  has  disbursed 
for  this  business,  and  then  to  receive  all  wages,  etc.,  due  to  them, 
and  to  be  remitted  the  freight  of  such  goods  as  were  granted  by  the 
Committee  for  Private  Trade,     {ipp) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  General 
Voyage,  October  32,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  348). 

The  Governor  reports  that  the  eight  Committees  for  the  Voyage 
and  the  eight  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock  have  had  a  meeting 
and  arrived  at  some  conclusions,  which  they  wish  to  propose  to  this 
court,  to  ascertain  if  it  will  agree  to  the  same  or  resolve  on  some 
other  course.  The  result  of  the  said  meeting  is  read,  and  the 
Governor  intimates  that  this  court  has  been  summoned  to  consider 
the  fetching  home  of  the  goods  remaining  at  Bantam  and  the  dis- 
posal of  those  lately  returned  for  this  Voyage.  He  also  reminds 
the  Court  that  the  sixteen  Committees  have  power  only  to  end  any 
differences  which  might  arise  between  the  two  stocks,  but  none  to 
hire  ships,  sell  goods,  or  clear  accounts  with  the  factors  ;  therefore  it 
would  be  well  either  to  give  them  these  additional  powers  or  choose 
others  to  arrange  these  matters,  as  it  is  high  time  to  look  out  for 
shipping  and  provisions,  etc.  By  request  Sambrooke  states  what 
goods  were  sent  out,  what  have  been  returned,  what  there  are  to 
sell,  and  what  there  are  remaining  in  the  factories.  It  is  then  by 
general  consent  resolved  that  all  matters  whatsoever  shall  be  referred 
to  the  sixteen  Committees  formerly  appointed,  on  condition  that 
five  are  present  to  represent  the  Voyage  and  five  to  represent  the 
Joint  Stock  at  every  meeting.     (i|/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  24, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  350). 

Mr.  Hanford  of  the  Custom-house  is  presented  with  two  quilts. 
By  letters  received  from  Job  Throgmorton  and  other  factors  at 
Leghorn  it  appears  that  four  chests  of  coral  over  and  above  what 
the  Company  ordered  have  been  bought,  and  the  factors  desire  to 
know  whether  the  Company  will  take  them  or  whether  they  shall 
send  them  as  their  own  particular  adventure  ;  the  Court  decides  to 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  107 

buy  the  coral,  none  of  the  chests  being  worth  more  than  100/. 
Mr.  Harrington  to  receive  all  calicoes  due  to  the  late  Martin 
Bazill,  on  entering  into  a  bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless  for 
seven  years.  On  the  petition  of  Margaret,  widow  of  Thomas  Cox, 
late  master  of  a  ship  ^  belonging  to  Mr.  Courteen,  which  was  lost  on 
her  way  out  to  India  (Cox  took  passage  home  in  the  Blessings  but 
died  before  arriving),  the  Court  decrees  that  Mrs.  Cox  must  pay  at 
the  rate  of  25/.  per  ton  freight  for  the  goods  in  the  Custom-house 
belonging  to  her  late  husband.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to 
examine  and  report  on  the  account  of  the  late  Humphrey  Weston. 
Six  bales  of  calicoes  belonging  to  Mr.  Yard,  a  factor  returned  from 
Bantam,  to  be  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight.  Mr.  Adler  to  be 
paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him,  but  ^^l.  to  be  deducted  for 
payment  of  what  he  stands  indebted  in  the  Persian  account. 
Mrs.  Sybil  Wright,  a  widow,  who  for  three  years  has  maintained 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Wheeler,  formerly  a  factor  in  Persia,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  lost  in  the  Discovery,  petitions  that  some 
part  of  Wheeler's  estate  may  be  paid  to  her  in  satisfaction  of  what 
she  has  expended.  Fremlen  and  Adler  testifying  that  Wheeler 
cleared  all  accounts  before  leaving  Persia,  and  there  being  some 
cloth  in  the  Company's  custody  belonging  to  him,  the  Court  orders 
5/.  to  be  paid  to  Mrs.  Wright  on  account ;  meanwhile  INIr.  Clarke, 
Wheeler's  former  master,  is  to  be  consulted  on  the  subject.  Bowen 
is  directed  to  prepare  letters,  to  be  sent  overland  by  two  different 
routes,  to  Surat  to  advise  the  President  and  Council  to  moderate 
all  investments  for  Europe,  especially  indigo,  there  being  large 
quantities  of  the  latter  in  the  West  Indies  made  better  than  that 
which  comes  from  the  East,  and  not  to  send  above  300  or  400 
fardles  of  rich  indigo  and  200  or  300  fardles  of  Sarkhej  indigo  at 
the  most.     (2^//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  sixteen  special  Committees,  October 
28,  1645  {Court  Book^  vol.  xix,  p.  352). 

This  meeting  being  held  expressly  to  arrange  for  the  freighting 

of  two  ships  between  600  and  700  tons  to  fetch  from  Bantam  the 

estate  belonging  to  the  Voyage,  Sir  John  Gayer  proposes  that  the 

Crispiana  should  be  employed,  but  objections  are  raised,  and  it  is 

^  The  Little  William  (see  p.  iii). 


io8  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

decided  that  she  is  not  suitable  for  the  purpose.  The  following 
masters  of  ships  are  then  called  in  separately  and  offer  to  serve : 
Richard  Wilson,  master  of  the  Ulysses^  offers  his  ship  upon  freight 
at  the  rate  of  24/.  per  ton  ;  Anthony  Tutchin,  master  of  the  Anthony 
Bonadventure,  offers  his  for  23/.  per  ton ;  Richard  Ell,  master  of  the 
Prosperous^  offers  his  at  20/.  per  ton  ;  and  John  Swanley,  master  of 
the  Experiettce^  offers  his  at  25/.  per  ton.  Thereupon  each  man  is 
told  that  the  several  vessels  must  be  examined  before  any  contract 
can  be  made,  but  that  the  best  ship  offered  at  the  cheapest  rate 
will  be  chosen.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  repair  to  Black- 
wall  and,  with"  the  assistance  of  Messrs.  Prowd  and  Gee  and  sundry 
shipwrights,  to  examine  and  report  on  these  vessels.  It  is  then 
resolved  to  offer  the  pepper  returned  for  the  account  of  the  Voyage 
to  the  Joint  Stock  at  \^d.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months  from  Christmas. 
A  motion  is  made  for  the  4,000/.  adventure  brought  home  in  the 
Crispiana  and  Dolphin  for  account  of  the  Voyage  to  be  sold  to  the 
Joint  Stock ;  but  resolution  on  this  point  is  deferred  to  the  next 
meeting.     (2//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  sixteen  special  Committees  and  the 
STANDING  Committees,  October  31,  1645  {Court  Book^  vol.  xix» 
P-  354). 

The  Deputy,  reports  the  examination  of  the  ships  offered  upon 
freight,  and  after  some  dispute,  during  which  the  Crispiana  is  again 
proposed,  it  is  decided  to  freight  the  Prosperous  at  20/.  per  ton  ; 
and  certain  Committees  are  requested  to  treat  with  her  master  and 
owners,  or  with  any  others  who  shall  offer.  He  then  reports  the 
offer  to  the  Joint  Stock  of  the  pepper  returned  for  the  Voyage  ;  on 
this  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  are  desired  to  withdraw,  which 
they  do,  and  after  much  dispute  those  remaining  decide  that  the 
said  pepper  shall  be  bought  by  the  Joint  Stock  for  i^d.  per  Ibc  at 
four  six  months  from  Candlemas.  The  Committees  for  the  Voyage 
are  recalled  and  the  Governor  informs  them  that  the  terms  for 
purchase  of  the  pepper  are  15^?.  per  lb.  at  five  \sic\  six  months  from 
Candlemas ;  they  reply  that  they  can  only  agree  to  sell  at  that 
price  at  four  six  months  ;  these  terms  are  finally  accepted,  the  last 
payment  to  be  within  a  twelvemonth,  and  the  Voyage  upon 
a  month's  warning  (at  any  time  after  Lady  Day)  to  take  10,000/.  in 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  109 

part  within  six  months  upon  account  of  the  said  pepper.  The 
dust  of  pepper  to  be  kept  for  the  particular  account  of  the  Voyage. 
After  considerable  debate  the  Joint  Stock  decides  to  buy  the  4,000/. 
adventure  belonging  to  the  Voyage  at  '  prime  cost,  being  60,000 
mammod,  each  mammod  to  be  reckoned  at  i2d,  value ',  the  Voyage 
to  be  allowed  iM.  for  every  mahmudi  and  to  be  paid  at  Midsummer 
by  the  Joint  Stock.  An  order  is  read  from  the  House  of  Commons, 
in  which  Mr.  Greene  is  desired  to  report  concerning  the  Company's 
ordinance ;  ^  whereupon  certain  Committees  are  requested  to  wait 
upon  the  Speaker  [William  Lenthall],  the  Recorder  [John  Glynn], 
and  Messrs.  Maynard  and  Whitlocke,  and  to  attend  Parliament 
concerning  the  same  on  Monday.  The  father  of  John  Spiller, 
a  factor  in  India,  to  be  given  15/.  yearly  from  his  son's  wages. 
Michael  Bolt,  cooper  of  the  Dolphin,  and  owner  of  some  of  the 
goods  seized  at  Southwark,  is  allowed  to  have  some  of  the  indigo, 
which  is  worse  than  the  rest,  for  his  own  use,  on  paying  30/.  per 
ton  freight.  Robert  Harrington,  being  unwilling  to  engage  any 
friend  as  security,  offers  instead  to  make  over  a  piece  of  land  to 
the  Company  for  three  years,  but  the  Court  moves  him  '  to  acknow- 
ledge a  statute  staple  to  the  Company,  upon  which  there  should 
bee  a  defeazance,^  whereby  the  Company  might  bee  saved  harme- 
lesse'.  He  desires  time  to  consult  with  his  Counsel  before  con- 
senting.    (3  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  3, 1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  358). 

The  mariners  in  the  Crispiana  and  Dolphin  who  brought  home 
indigo  as  private  trade  to  be  allowed  3J.  per  lb.  for  the  Lahore  and 
IS.  for  the  Sarkhej  indigo,  the  Company  to  pay  the  custom.  The 
master  and  owners  of  the  Prosperous  will  not  consent  to  go  upon 
the  terms  set  forth  in  the  charter-party  of  the  Ulysses,  and  refuse 
to  take  any  pepper  which  may  be  damaged  by  defect  in  the  ship, 
or  to  allow  the  Company  for  the  same,  or  upon  her  staying  for 
lading  or  demurrage;  it  is  therefore  decided  to  treat  with  them 
again,  or  with  others  who  offer  to  serve  in  this  way.  The  Governor 
reports   the  attendance   of  himself  and   certain   Committees    on 

*  Commons*  youmal,  vol.  iv,  p.  325. 

'  A  condition  on  the  performance  of  which  the  obligation  is  made  void. 


no  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

Parliament  about  the  ordinance  for  the  Company's  trade,  and  that 
upon  Mr.  Greene's  report  of  amendments  and  provisos  the  said 
ordinance  was  referred  to  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House  to  be 
heard  next  Thursday ;  ^  meanwhile  some  of  the  Company  are 
desired  to  meet  in  the  Star  Chamber  this  afternoon  some  merchants 
who  are  opposed  to  the  passing  of  the  said  ordinance  and  to  try  to 
reconcile  the  differences  among  themselves ;  and  if  they  are  unable 
to  do  this,  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  will  endeavour  to  help, 
that  the  ordinance  may  pass  with  less  opposition  ;  for  this  purpose 
certain  Committees  are  desired  to  attend  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  this  afternoon.  David  Bourne,  a  former  adventurer,  who 
has  sued  the  Company  twice  in  Chancery  and  has  now  presented 
a  scandalous  petition  to  Parliament  against  it,  notwithstanding  that 
great  favour  has  been  shown  to  him,  is  told  that  he  can  take  what 
course  he  thinks  fit,  but  the  Company  will  have  nothing  further  to 
do  with  him.  The  wife  of  Hugh  Fenn,  a  factor  at  Bantam,  to 
receive  one-third  of  her  husband's  wages  yearly.  The  Secretary 
reports  that  he  was  sent  for  by  Dr.  Sams,  judge  of  the  Admiralty, 
who  delivered  to  him  the  depositions  taken  concerning  Bartholomew 
Howard,  master's  mate  in  the  yohn.  The  six  men  left  at 
St.  Helena,  the  Company's  witnesses,  having  sworn  for  him,  it  is 
thought  best  to  release  him,  for,  if  proceeded  against,  he  might 
recover  his  charges.  His  wife  also  petitioning,  the  Court  agrees  ; 
but  before  his  discharge  the  secretary  is  requested  to  inform 
Mr.  Corbett,  who  takes  the  chair  at  the  examinations.  The  men 
of  the  Crispiands  company  who  owned  the  private  trade  landed 
at  Rochester  are  ordered  to  attend  at  the  next  court,    (a  //.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint 
Stock  and  the  General  Voyage,  November  7, 1645  {Court 
Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  360). 

The  Committees  meeting  to  consult  about  the  hire  of  two  ships 
upon  freight  to  go  to  Bantam  for  account  of  the  Voyage,  the 
Ulysses  is  offered ;  but  having  previously  been  examined  and  found 
to  be  defective,  the  opinions  of  Steevens,  Pett,  and  Graves  are 
asked.     They  declare  that  if  440/.  were  spent  upon  her  she  might 

*  See  Commons'  ydurttals,  vol.  iv,  p.  331- 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  iii 

be  made  serviceable  for  two  voyages ;  whereupon  Mr.  Lee,  one  of 
her  owners,  and  Richard  Wilson,  her  master,  are  told  that,  if  the 
Company  agrees  to  freight  her,  she  must  be  repaired  according  to 
a  certificate  to  be  given  by  the  carpenters  above  named,  the  work 
to  be  overlooked  by  Steevens  ;  to  this  they  consent  and  also  to  the 
factors  having  the  use  of  the  great  cabin.  A  motion  as  to  the 
number  of  men  to  be  taken  out  and  returned  in  her  causes  some 
dispute,  and  nothing  is  settled.  Lee  and  Wilson  agree  to  her 
being  freighted  at  20/.  per  ton  and  on  the  same  conditions  as  those 
expressed  in  her  last  charter-party.  The  Deputy,  on  behalf  of '  some 
perticuler  men ',  again  offers  the  Crispiana  for  freighting.  Steevens 
giving  it  as  his  opinion  that  she  is  old  and  defective  in  many  ways, 
though  she  mJght  be  made  serviceable,  much  dispute  ensues,  but 
no  resolution  is  come  to.  Mr.  Vivian,  part-owner  of  the  Experience^ 
offers  that  ship  upon  freight  at  21/.  per  ton,  and  James  Mann,  part- 
owner  of  the  Anthony  Bonadventiire,  makes  a  like  offer;  both  are 
referred  to  the  next  meeting.     {2  PP') 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  7,  1645  {^Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  362). 

Sir  John  Gayer  acquaints  the  Court  with  what  took  place  at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock  and  the  Voyage. 
Steevens  reports  the  want  of  knee  timber  for  repair  of  the  IVil/tamy 
and  that  20  loads  of  straight,  and  40  loads  of  compass  timber  have 
come  into  the  river,  which  (if  all  are  bought)  can  be  had  at  ^Ss.  per 
load  ;  he  is  directed  to  buy  all.  He  also  informs  the  Court  that 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy  are  willing  to  furnish  masts,  etc., 
for  repair  of  the  Dolphin,  on  receiving  security  from  Sambrooke ; 
whereupon  the  latter  is  directed  to  enter  into  a  bond  on  behalf  of 
the  Company.  George  Jackson,  a  servant  of  Mr.  Courteene,  presents 
a  letter  he  has  received  from  his  master,  desiring  him  to  move  the 
Company  concerning  9,000  ducats  of  Barbary  gold  and  two  brass 
guns,  which  were  saved  from  the  wreck  of  Courteen's  ship,  the 
William^  and  with  the  master  [Mr.  Cox],  a  merchant  [Mr.  Hills],  and 
others  were  taken  on  board  the  Company's  ship  the  Endeavour ;  he 
desires  that  the  gold  and  guns  may  be  delivered  to  the  first  of  his 
ships  which  shall  arrive  on  the  Coast.  Mr.  Day  is  called  into  court, 
and  the  papers  which  passed  between  the  Company's  factors  and 


112  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Messrs.  Cox  and  Hills  are  read ;  by  these  it  appears  that  both 
parties  agreed  that  the  gold  should  be  paid  in  England.  Jackson 
is  told  that  money  was  lent  to  Cox  and  Hills,  and  that  they  and 
others  were  provided  with  food  and  clothing;  and  that,  when 
Courteen  shall  make  a  just  demand  for  the  value  of  the  said  gold 
and  guns,  with  an  account  of  what  is  due  to  the  Company  for 
money,  diet,  and  clothing,  the  balance  shall  be  paid  here.  Mr. 
Hayman  to  be  paid  lo/.  for  repair  of  the  wall  at  the  East  Marsh 
at  Blackwall,  ordered  by  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers.  At  the 
request  of  Mr.  Bagwell,  the  Court  consents  to  James  Cox  being 
paid  another  loo/.  on  account,  on  Bagwell  giving  an  undertaking 
that  Cox  will  not  trouble  the  Company  again  until  his  accourit 
is  perfected.  A  bill  for  provisions  supplied  to  the  William  and 
Blessing  by  three  Newfoundland  ships  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  The 
masters'  mates  in  the  William  to  be  paid  all  wages,  etc.,  due  to 
them,     (a  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  sixteen  special  Committees  and  the 
STANDING  Committees,  November  12,  1645  {Co?(rt  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  364). 

All  the  Company's  saltpetre  sold  to  Samuel  Cordell  at  4/.  io.r. 
per  centum  at  three  months,  discount  and  tare  to  be  allowed.  The 
Voyage  requiring  another  ship  to  freight  for  Bantam,  Mr.  Abdy 
offers  the  Endymion,  burden  300  tons,  master,  Robert  Knox,^  at 
20/.  per  ton  freight,  on  the  same  conditions  as  the  Ulysses ;  his 
offer  is  accepted,  provided  that  on  examination  the  ship  be  found 
fit  and  serviceable.     (|  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  November  12, 164^  {Coziri  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  s^S)' 

Sale  of  rice,  '  tamarine,'  cinnamon,  mace,  pepper,  flat  indigo, 
Coromandel  indigo,  ambergris,  musk,  morees,  sallampores,  gul- 
darees,  and  ginghams,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.  One 
large  diamond  sold  to  Benjamin  Delanoy  for  6il. ;  one  ring  with 
five  diamonds  to  Thomas  Rich  for  55/.  is. ;  and  one  ring  with  one 
diamond  to  Samuel  Moyer  for  16/.  ^s.    (i^  pp.) 

*  This  was  probably  Robert  Knox  the  elder,  who  died  a  captive  in  Ceylon  in  1661. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  113 

A  Meeting  of  the  sixteen  special  Committees  and  the 
STANDING  Committees,  November  14,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  367). 

The  Committees  requested  to  examine  the  Etidymion  report  her 
fit  for  the  voyage;  but  it  being  affirmed  that  she  ran  ashore  at 
'  Mallora',^  Steevens  is  questioned.  He  says  that  it  will  cost  500/.  to 
make  her  serviceable,  and  that,  having  heard  she  had  been  ashore 
near  Leghorn,  he  has  agreed  with  her  master  to  examine  her 
at  Blackwall  ;  the  Court  desires  him  to  give  in  a  certificate  of  her 
defects.  The  great  quantity  of  private  trade  brought  home  by  the 
men  in  the  Crispiana  and  landed  at  Rochester  is  discussed ;  and 
it  appearing  that  Frith,  a  linendraper  in  Comhill,  has  received  most 
of  it,  the  Secretary  is  requested  to  advise  with  Mr.  Heme  how  best 
to  proceed  against  him.  Alice,  mother  of  Anthony  Perrin,  to 
receive  two  months  yearly  of  her  son's  wages,  Mr.  Hodges  promising 
to  save  the  Company  harmless  if  the  son  objects  to  this.  Mr. 
Charnock  demanding  2,400/.  due  for  \  per  cent,  for  '  Argeir  duty  * 
on  goods  returned  in  eight  ships,  a  warrant  for  1,000/.  is  ordered  to 
be  made  out  to  him,  and  payment  of  the  remainder  promised. 
Thomas  Prowd,  master  of  the  Blessing,  his  mates,  Robert  Collyer 
and  William  Steevens,  and  John  Went,  boatswain  in  the  Dolphiti^  to 
be  paid  their  wages.  Sir  Jacob  Garrad  and  Messrs.  Gayer,  Jennings, 
Keate,  and  Rich  buy  indigo.  Hogan  Howell  and  Fabian  Stares- 
more  accepted  as  security  for  cinnamon.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  and  the  sixteen  special 
Committees,  November  19,  1645  {Co2iri  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  369). 

John  Peirson,  Daniel  Lewis,  Richard  Cogan,  and  Matthew  Adams, 
master's  mates  in  the  Crispiana^  and  John  Dyamond,  carpenter,  to 
be  paid  their  wages,  they  promising  that,  if  any  private  trade  landed 
out  of  the  said  ship  is  proved  to  belong  to  them,  they  will  pay 
freight  for  the  same.  Jane,  widow  of  the  late  John  Reynolds, 
chirurgeon,  to  be  paid  some  money  which  from  the  Bantam  books 
appears  due  to  her  late  husband.  The  red  earth  at  Blackwall  to 
be  brought  to  the  Stillyard  to  be  weighed.  Certain  Committees 
are  desired  to  examine  Mr.  Fremlyn's  account.     The  petition  of 

^  Meloria,  a  small  island  near  Leghorn. 

S.CM.  Ill  X 


114  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

John  Stamford,  who  lately  returned  from  Surat,  for  remission 
of  freight  ordered  to  be  paid  on  his  private  trade,  is  refused.  The 
dispute  between  Yates,  late  master  of  the  Hopewell,  and  some  of 
his  mates  concerning  the  said  ship  losing  her  voyage  to  be  heard 
next  Tuesday,    (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  24,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  370). 

Katherine,  widow  of  Walter  Clarke,  late  master  of  the  Comfort^ 
to  be  paid  100/.  of  her  husband's  estate.  Emanuel  Cornelius, 
administrator  to  Nicholas  Pearse,  who  died  in  India,  to  be  paid 
what  is  due  to  the  latter,  on  giving  a  bond  with  Mrs."  Thomas, 
a  silk-throwster,  to  save  the  Company  harmless.  Calicoes  to  be 
delivered  to  Jane,  wife  of  William  Becke,  on  payment  of  freight. 
Coromande  indigo  brought  home  by  Francis  Day  to  be  delivered 
to  him,  he  to  settle  about  the  freight  of  it  and  of  other  goods 
hereafter.  Thomas  Clarke,  master's  mate,  and  Samuel  Mayne, 
gunner,  in  the  Crispiana,  to  be  paid  their  wages  on  the  same 
conditions  as  the  rest  of  the  crew.  Fremlin's  account  for  2,320/.  to 
be  paid  ;  but  the  question  of  the  500/.  due  for  last  year  is  to  be 
decided  at  the  next  meeting.  The  demand  of  Sir  Walter  Devereux 
to  receive  what  is  due  to  William  Gibson,  formerly  Agent  in  Persia, 
is  refused,  Gibson  being  much  indebted  to  the  Company.     {1  p) 

A  Court  of  Committees  and  the  sixteen  special  Com- 
mittees, November  25,  1645  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  372). 

The  Endymion,  on  further  examination,  is  reported  fit  for  the 
voyage  to  Bantam  ;  whereupon  the  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock 
and  the  Voyage  contract  with  her  owners  to  freight  her  at  20/.  per 
ton  on  the  same  conditions  as  those  made  with  the  Ulysses. 
Steevens  is  directed  to  oversee  the  repairs  to  both  ships.  A  vessel 
being  wanted  at  Surat  to  prosecute  the  trade  at  the  Manilleis, 
it  is  resolved  that  the  Blessing  shall  be  repaired  at  a  cost  of  600/. 
for  that  purpose.  Colonel  Honnywood  is  to  receive,  on  behalf 
of  the  Lady  Wylde,  mother  and  administratrix  of  the  late  John 
Wylde,  certain  rings  and  seals  belonging  to  the  latter.  Susan 
Farley's  request  to  be  given  what  money  is  due  to  her  late  husband's 
brother,  Roger  Farley,  who  died  at  Bantam,  is  refused,  as  his 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  115 

estate  is  to  be  divided  bet\veen  his  brothers  and  sisters  and  nothing 
paid  out  until  his  executor,  Mr.  Cartwright,  now  President  at 
Bantam,  comes  home  next  summer.  Yates's  business  is  deferred  for 
hearing  until  next  Tuesday,  when  the  Court  determines  to  settle 
with  Mr.  Fremlyn  also.  The  bond  of  Thomas  Prowd,  late  master 
of  the  Blessifig;  to  be  delivered  to  him.    (i^  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  No\^mber  28,  1645  {Court  BooT:^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  374). 

The  petition  for  wages  of  several  of  the  men  who  were  cast  away 
in  Courteen's  ship,  the  William^  and  taken  on  board  the  Endeavour ^ 
is  refused ;  but  William  Masters,  a  cooper,  having  done  the 
Company  good  service,  is  given  10s.  and  promised  employment. 
Plymouth  Duty  amounting  to  500/.  to  be  paid  for  the  goods  returned 
in  the  William  and  Blessing.  Gee,  late  master  of  the  William 
to  have  his  bond  returned  to  be  cancelled.  Mr.  Day  to  be  paid 
for  two  pieces  of  grogram  and  a  jar  of  preserved  nutmegs  he  gave 
to  Colonel  Batten,  the  Vice-Admiral,  who  gave  two  butts  of  beer 
and  a  sheep  to  those  on  board  the  William  and  Blessing.  Robert 
Beckett  is  given  5^.  The  mother  and  executrix  of  Roger  Adams, 
who  died  in  India,  to  be  paid  her  son's  estate.  John,  brother  and 
executor  of  the  late  Thomas  Graves,  to  receive  the  latter's  estate. 
Nicholas  Wingrave  to  be  paid  the  wages  due  to  the  late  John 
Warner,  who  died  in  India,  for  maintenance  of  his  child,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  29,  1645  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  375). 

The  Governor  acquaints  the  Court  that  yesterday  he,  with  the 
Deputy  and  certain  Committees,  attended  the  Sub-Committee  of 
Parliament  (Sir  Walter  Erie  in  the  chair)  appointed  by  the  Grand 
Committee  for  the  passing  of  the  Company's  ordinance,  about 
a  proviso  inserted  concerning  Messrs.  Courteene,  Thomson,  and 
others  ;  the  Sub-Committee  thought  that  Thomson  had  better  meet 
some  members  of  the  Company  touching  an  accommodation  for 
taking  his  two  ships  now  being  prepared  for  India,  wth  the  goods 
provided  for  them,  and  the  bringing  back  of  goods  now  in  India 
at  a  reasonable  freight,  the  result  of  such  a  meeting  to  be  notified 
to  the  Sub-Committee  next  Monday.     Therefore  this  court  has 

I  2 


ii6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

been  called  to  appoint  Committees  to  treat  with  Thomson  and  his 
partners,  Alderman  Andrews,  and  Mr.  Russell.  It  is  moved  that 
the  treaty  concluded  with  Courteen  some  four  years  since  produced 
nothing,  and  that  such  may  be  the  case  in  this  instance  ;  and  after 
long  dispute  it  is  still  undecided  whether  to  buy  the  two  ships,  or 
to  let  them  go  to  India,  for,  if  they  are  bought  it  will  be  probably 
at  a  loss,  and  if  they  are  allowed  to  proceed  to  India  the  adventurers 
will  be  disheartened.  The  Deputy  and  certain  Committees  are 
therefore  desired  to  meet  and  treat  with  Thomson  and  his  partners 
on  Monday  morning,  and  a  court  shall  be  held  in  the  evening  to 
approve  of  what  they  resolve,  and  their  resolutions  notified  to  the 
Sub-Committee  as  desired.  The  Governor  further  reports  that 
Thomson  declared  before  the  Committee  of  Parliament  that,  if  he 
and  his  friends  join  the  Company,  it  will  be  necessary  for  their 
encouragement  that  '  all  favour  and  countenance  might  bee  afforded 
them  by  the  Parlyament ',  and  that  *  Pollaroone ',  which  belongs 
properly  to  the  King,  should  be  restored  by  the  Dutch,  as  for  want 
of  it  the  trade  is  much  decayed.  But  some  members  of  Parliament 
advise  that  this  be  let  alone  for  the  present,  as  it  may  *  clogge  the 
ordinance '.  The  Governor  intimates  that  the  ordinance  sets  forth 
that  the  Company  is  to  be  a  corporation,  and  only  those  belonging 
to  it  are  to  be  permitted  to  trade  '  within  Asia  beyond  Cape  Bone 
Esperanze  and  the  islands  of  Succatore  in  Africa ',  and  that  they 
are  to  have  liberty  to  water,  wood,  and  refresh  at  Madagascar  and 
other  places  as  before  ;  but  perhaps  it  would  be  as  well  to  consider 
if  anything  else  can  be  added  for  the  Company's  encouragement. 
Hereupon  it  is  proposed  that  to  prevent  private  trade  a  power 
should  be  granted  to  the  Company  to  seize  on  all  goods  for  which 
there  is  no  bill  of  lading,  and  to  prevent  any  coming  aboard  their 
ships  in  the  Downs  ;  but  some  thinking  these  additional  propositions 
may  hinder  the  passing  of  the  ordinance,  it  is  resolved  not  to  include 
them.  Nathaniel  Deards  and  Miles  Dixon  accepted  as  security  for 
musk,     (a  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  i,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  377). 

The  Committees  appointed  to  treat  with  Mr.  Thomson  return 
with  a  paper  from  him,  in  which  he  states  that,  if  Parliament  will 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  117 

not  permit  his  going  to  India,  he  will  submit  to  its  decision  'for 
the  good  of  the  publicke ',  in  which  case  the  Company  must  take 
his  ships  and  goods ;  his  ship,  the  Lion^  he  values  at  1,300/.,  she 
being  seven  years  old  ;  the  6"a'a«,  which  is  five  years  old,  at  1,350^1 ; 
and  his  goods,  consisting  of  coral  and  amber,  at  1,500/.  After  much 
debate  the  Court  agrees  that  it  will  be  best  to  buy  the  two  vessels 
to  prevent  any  hindrance  to  the  passing  of  the  ordinance.  Steevens 
is  therefore  to  be  directed  not  to  proceed  with  the  repairs  to  the 
Blessings  as  she  may  not  be  required,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  3,  1645  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  378). 

The  widow  of  John  Jefferies,  who  died  in  India,  to  be  paid  what 
is  due  to  her  late  husband,  subject  to  a  deduction  for  the  Portuguese 
goods  carried  in  the  Swan  from  Bantam  to  Surat  without  the 
direction  of  the  President  and  Council ;  she  is  also  to  receive  the 
ambergris  and  her  husband's  bond.     (^/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  3,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  378). 

The  following  complaints  brought  against  Michael  Yates  are  con- 
sidered :  his  ship  the  Hopewell  losing  her  voyage  from  Bantam  ;  his 
allowing  the  Portuguese  to  carry  goods  free  of  freight  in  the  Swafi 
from  Bantam  to  Surat  in  1641,  when  he  was  master  in  her,  without 
order  from  the  President  and  Council  ;  and  his  private  trade.  With 
regard  to  the  first  charge,  an  accusation  written  by  Richard  Cogan, 
chief  mate  in  the  Hopewell,  and  exhibited  in  Surat  against  Yates,  is 
read  and  his  answer ;  also  the  opinion  and  observations  of  the 
President  and  Council  at  Bantam,  in  which  the  fault  is  laid  upon 
Yates  and  the  ship's  company,  because  when  at  the  Salt  Hills  they 
found  37  inches  of  water  in  the  ship's  hold  they  did  not  bear  up  for 
Bantam,  but  (though  without  provisions)  steered  for  Mauritius,  when 
they  could  have  reached  Macassar  much  sooner.  In  justification  of 
this  Yates  pleads  several  consultations  held  on  board  during  the 
distress,  in  which  it  was  agreed  to  make  for  Mauritius ;  these  were 
signed  by  Cogan  and  the  rest  of  the  officers.  The  Court  agrees  that 
Yates  cannot  be  punished  for  this  neglect  and  abuse,  but  considers 
not  only  him  but  Cogan  also  unworthy  to  serve  the  Company  any 


ii8  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

longer.  With  regard  to  the  second  charge,  Yates  utterly  denies 
knowledge  of  any  goods  being  carried  but  what  he  had  tickets  for, 
which  he  delivered  to  the  President  and  Council  on  his  arrival. 
This  answer  not  satisfying  the  Court,  they  resolve  to  await  the 
arrival  of  Cartwright,  who  brought  this  accusation  against  Yates  ; 
meanwhile  the  latter  is  ordered  to  deposit  loo/.  with  the  Company, 
which  shall  be  restored  to  him  if  the  charge  cannot  be  proved,  but 
if  it  is,  then  he  is  to  allow  the  Company  for  the  said  freight.  A  list 
of  his  private  trade  is  presented,  and  it  is  resolved  to  take  his  indigo 
at  the  usual  rate,  and  for  the  rest  of  the  goods  to  order  him  to  pay 
6ol.  freight.  Lastly,  it  is  agreed  that  he  shall  be  allowed  at  the 
rate  of  61.  135.  4^.  per  month  until  his  arrival  at  Surat  in  the  Hope- 
■well,  and  from  then  to  his  arrival  at  Erith  in  the  Dolphin  at  the  rate 
of  4/.  per  month  ;  and  Sambrooke  is  directed  to  make  out  his 
account,  deducting  what  has  already  been  paid  to  him.     (2f //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  4,  1645  [Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  381). 

A  valuation  of  the  two  ships  belonging  to  Maurice  Thomson, 
made  by  Captain  John  Steevens,  Lambert  Pitches,  and  Edward 
Steevens,  is  presented,  whereby  it  appears  that  there  is  400/.  differ- 
ence between  their  estimate  and  Thomson's  demands  ;  the  Court 
resolves  to  bear  this  loss  rather  than  let  the  ships  go  to  India,  but 
to  have  a  statement  of  the  difference  drawn  up  and  shown  to  the 
Committee  of  Parliament  for  the  Navy  and  Customs  (Mr.  Greene  in 
the  chair)  and  leave  the  matter  to  their  decision.  Cardamoms  to 
be  delivered  to  Mr.  Day,  he  to  pay  for  their  freight  hereafter. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  5, 1645  {Court  Book,  wo\. 
xix,  p.  382). 

Robert  Harrington's  bond  to  be  delivered  to  him,  the  recognizance 
he  entered  into  to  save  the  Company  harmless  on  payment  of  Martin 
Bazill's  estate  being  acknowledged  ;  the  calicoes  due  upon  the  said 
Bazill's  adventure  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Mead,  who  bought  them. 
Tuesday  next  is  appointed  to  hear  Mr.  Fremlin's  business.  The 
Governor  reports  his  attendance  with  certain  Committees  on  the 
Committee  of  Parliament  about  Mr.  Thomson's  business  ;  that  they 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  119 

offered  the  latter  100/.  if  he  would  take  the  Lion^  and  to  take  the 
Swan  themselves  for  100/.  less  than  he  asked  for  her,  or  give  him 
200/.  and  leave  him  both  vessels  ;  the  Committee  of  Parliament 
desired  Mr.  Greene  to  settle  this,  and  therefore  the  Governor  and 
certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  meet  Mr.  Thomson  this  evening 
at  Mr.  Greene's  house.  The  Husband's  account  of  stores  ordered 
to  be  made  up  by  an  accountant.  Messrs.  Briggs  and  Robertson  are 
named,  but  resolution  is  deferred  as  to  which  shall  do  the  work. 
Luke  Blaikelock  to  pay  10s.  for  freight  of  indigo  taken  from  the 
Crispiana.  Humphrey  Weston  and  John  Stamford  to  be  paid  cer- 
tain sums  upon  account.     {\\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  10,  1645  {Cmirt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  383). 

John  Snow,  who  formerly  served  the  Company  in  India  and 
is  now  lame,  is  given  loi'.  An  award  signed  by  Mr.  Greene  is  read, 
enjoining  the  Company  to  take  both  Mr.  Thomson's  ships  and  the 
provisions,  and  to  pay  him  2,53c/.  for  the  same ;  whereupon  the 
Court  desires  Thomson  to  give  a  copy  of  the  agreement  made  for 
the  repair  of  the  said  vessels,  and  to  deliver  them  up  to  one  of  the 
Company's  servants,  with  the  keys  of  the  warehouses  containing  the 
provisions.  The  Husband  and  Fotherby  are  directed  to  take 
possession  of  these  on  the  Company's  behalf,  and  Thomson  is  pro- 
mised i.pcol.  now  and  the  rest  as  he  shall  have  occasion  for  it.  A 
motion  is  made  to  send  one  of  these  two  ships  to  the  Coast  to  let 
the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  know  what  stock  and  shipping 
to  expect  in  the  spring ;  but  advice  having  been  sent  already  over- 
land, and  by  the  Dutch  ships,  it  is  decided  to  prepare  the  Swan  by 
the  first  of  February  at  the  latest  and  send  her  direct  to  Bombay 
with  a  stock  of  5,000/.  A  question  arises  as  to  the  efficiency  of  the 
Endymion  and  whether  she  can  be  repaired  soon  enough  to  go 
to  Bantam  ;  Captain  Trenchfeild,  one  of  her  owners,  promises  to 
give  a  bond  for  i,oco/.  that  she  shall  be  at  Gravesend  by  the  last  day 
in  February ;  her  fitness  for  the  voyage  is  left  to  be  decided  by  the 
Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint  Stock  and  the  Voyage.  Thomas 
Gee,  late  master  of  the  William,  to  be  paid  the  50c/.  he  deposited 
with  the  Company  on  going  out,  and  50  per  cent,  profit  for  the  same, 
according  to  agreement.     Humphrey  Weston,  formerly  a  factor  at 


lao  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

Japara,  desiring  that  his  account  may  be  cleared,  his  wages  are 
ordered  to  be  paid  up  to  his  arrival  at  Surat  in  the  Hopewell,  with 
the  exception  of  170/.,  which  is  to  be  detained  until  further  informa- 
tion is  received  from  Bantam  concerning  him ;  meanwhile  he  is  to 
be  allowed  8  per  cent,  interest  on  the  money  detained  and,  having 
served  the  Company  twenty  years,  he  is  given  a  year's  salary  by  way 
of  gratuity,  which  is  not  to  be  looked  upon  as  a  precedent.  John 
Stamford,  formerly  a  factor  at  Surat,  to  be  paid  his  wages,  etc. 
The  Court  orders  3,000  bags  of  pepper  to  be  cased  to  be  sent  to 
Italy.  Aloes  Succatrina  sold  to  Messrs.  Hanson,  Frith,  and  Gold- 
smith. Samuel  Sambrooke  is  appointed  to  make  up  the  Husband's 
accounts  of  stores  provided  for  each  ship,  and  to  be  allowed  a 
yearly  salary  if  he  finds  he  can  do  this  as  well  as  his  own  work. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  sixteen  special  Com- 
mittees, December  la,  1645  (Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  386). 

Maurice  Thomson  reports  that  he  has  ordered  the  masters  of  the 
Lion  and  Swan  to  attend  the  court.  Grimes,  master  of  the  Swan, 
delivers  in  an  agreement  made  with  Pett,  the  carpenter,  for  repairs, 
alleging  that  work  costing  100/.  has  been  done  besides  what  was 
contracted  for.  Pett  and  Steevens  are  requested  to  examine  the 
two  ships  and  give  in  a  certificate  of  repairs  done  and  necessary  to 
be  done.  Grimes  is  asked  what  wages  he  would  want  as  master, 
and  replies  10/.  per  month.  He  is  told  that  so  much  has  never 
been  given  ;  therefore  he  must  reconsider  and  give  in  his  answer  on 
Monday.^  Pork  and  beef  returned  from  India  to  be  divided  among 
the  ships.  Cloth  to  be  provided  for  India.  Cordage  for  store  to  be 
sent  to  Bantam  and  Surat.  The  Crispiands  sails  to  serve  for  the 
Dolphin.  On  the  report  of  Gregory  Clement,  one  of  the  owners  of 
the  Endymion,  the  Court  is  satisfied  as  to  her  efficiency  and  directs 
that  her  owners  be  bound  to  have  her  at  Gravesend  by  the  last  day 
of  February.  The  Lioii  re-named  the  Antelope.  The  Court  orders 
that  10/.  be  given  to  the  poor  of  the  three  hamlets,  and  12/.  to  poor 
widows  of  men  who  have  served  in  the  East  Indies.  Quicksilver  to 
be  bought.     The  Swan  re-named  the  Greyhound.    The  Ulysses  to 

^  A  page  is  missing  from  the  volume  here ;   but  its  contents  have  been  jDieced  together 
from  the  index. 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  121 

be  at  Gravesend  the  last  day  of  February.  Vermilion  to  be  bought 
The  order  concerning  Humphrey  Weston's  wages  is  confirmed. 
Cloth  and  knives  to  be  provided  for  Surat  for  presents  ;  also  paper 
and  wine  for  household  use.  Lead  to  be  bought.  Cordage  to  be  sent 
as  merchandise,  with  '  tempered  stuffe  and  tarre '.  Bowen  is  in- 
structed to  ascertain  the  price  paid  for  elephants'  teeth,  quicksilver, 
and  vermilion  at  Amsterdam.  '  Shaken  caske  and  iron  hoopes '  to  be 
provided.  Water  for  the  ships.  The  proportion  of  men  appointed 
to  the  ships  is  as  follows :  70  for  the  Dolphin^  20  to  be  left  in  India ; 
60  for  the  Lion^  15  to  be  left  in  India ;  ^^  for  the  Swan,  15  to  be 
left  in  India;  no  for  the  William,  40  to  be  left  in  India  ;  [  ]  for 
the  Ulysses,  10  to  be  left  in  India  ;  [  ]  for  the  Endymion,  10  to  be 
left  in  India.    {^^PP) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  17,  164^^  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  388). 

Steevens  states  that  he  and  Pett  have  viewed  the  Lion,  and  on 
inquiry  have  found  that  nearly  8co/.  has  been  expended  on  her ; 
the  Court,  thinking  that  Mr.  Thomson  has  been  much  abused  by 
those  employed,  desires  him  to  repair  to  the  dock  with  Messrs. 
Morewood  and  Andrews  and  examine  the  books  of  wages,  etc. 
Steevens  is  directed  to  oversee  the  repairs  being  now  made,  and 
Tench  Young  to  take  charge  of  the  same  and  see  that  the  timber 
used  is  charged  for  separately.  Two  lasts  of  tar  to  be  put  aboard 
her.  Steevens  reports  on  the  repairs  required  to  the  Swan]  but,  as 
nothing  can  be  done  to  her  because  of  the  '  hardnesse '  of  the 
weather,  Grimes  is  directed  to  see  to  her  safety.  He  is  promised 
entertainment  as  master  at  the  same  rate  of  wages  as  the  master  in 
the  Lio7i,  and  the  Court  agrees  to  his  taking  three  servants  out  with 
him  and  returning  with  them  to  England  in  a  year's  time,  when  he 
is  to  have  the  same  wages,  even  if  he  does  not  come  as  master. 
Grimes  having  engaged  several  men,  among  them  Richard  Husbands, 
Michael  Ashmore,  and  Richard  Martin,  formerly  mates  in  the 
Dolphin,  who  'much  abused  and  affronted  the  Company  at  the 
Parlyament',  the  Court  refuses  to  entertain  them  and  orders 
the  others  to  appear  before  the  Committee  appointed  to  elect  ofl^cers 
and  men  for  the  ships.  John  Proud  is  entertained  as  master  of  the 
Dolphin  at  10/.  per  month,  Thomas  Gee  as  master  of  the  William 


122  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

at  8/.  per  month,  and  Thomas  Prowd  as  master  of  the  Lion  at  7/. 
per  month ;  all  promise  to  serve  faithfully  and  prevent  private  trade 
as  much  as  possible.  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Tindall,  to  be  paid  5/. 
of  her  husband's  wages.  Officers  and  men  for  the  ships  to  be  chosen 
on  the  9th  of  January,     (a  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  19,  1645  {Court  Book y 
vol.  xix,  p.  390). 

Bailey,  formerly  master  of  the  Crispiana,  to  be  paid  all  wages  and 
debts  due  to  him.  Peter  Pett  to  be  paid  100/,  on  account  of  work 
done  to  the  Swan,  and  to  be  given  a  gratuity  of  two  quilts  and  some 
spice.  Captain  John  Sayers  to  be  given  two  quilts  for  service  done 
the  Company  in  examining  ships.  Mr.  Wright  and  others  to  be 
paid  500/.  for  Plymouth  duty,  and  the  Commissioners  of  Customs 
2,000/.  for  custom  on  goods  returned  this  year  from  India.     (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  24,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  391). 

William  Mead,  executor  to  his  father,  Thomas  Mead,  transfers  to 
Gilbert  Morewood  400/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  General  Voy- 
age. Boone,  the  Company's  chirurgeon,  to  be  paid  200/.  on  account. 
Mr.  Pryor  to  be  paid  30/.  for  drawing  up  twelve  policies  amounting 
to  160,000/.  Fotherby  to  be  given  a  gratuity  of  20/.,  and  to  ease 
the  Company  from  keeping  a  man  at  8j.  per  week.  Thomas 
Andrews  reports  that  the  charges  for  repair  of  the  Lion  have  been 
examined  and  it  is  thought  best  to  let  Graves  continue  the  work ; 
also  that  there  is  a  pinnace  of  twenty  tons,  with  a  long-boat  and  a 
skiff,  which  can  be  had  at  a  reasonable  rate.  The  Court  resolves  to 
let  Graves  proceed  with  the  repairs  according  to  his  covenant,  but 
anything  extra  done  to  be  paid  for  at  the  decision  of  Messrs.  Pett 
and  Taylor,  and  Tench  Young  to  keep  account  of  the  weight  of  the 
nails  used  and  to  pay  the  men.  It  is  also  resolved  to  buy  the 
pinnace,  her  long-boat  and  skiff,  and  send  her  to  India,  where  she 
may  do  good  service  in  the  river  at  Surat.  Spice  to  the  value 
of  40J.  to  be  given  as  a  gratuity  to  Captain  Steevens  and  Captain 
Pitches  for  service  done  in  viewing  ships  and  stores.  Calicoes  to  be 
delivered  to  the  wife  of  Gilbert  Gardiner,  master  of  the  Expedition, 
on  payment  of  freight.  The  Court  bestows  i  $s.  on  Robert  Beckett. 
(2  pp.) 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  123 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  30,  1645  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  393). 

The  bills  for  the  Lion  and  Stuati  are  presented,  and  another 
1,000/.  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  Maurice  Thomson  on  account.  The 
freight  of  a  chest  containing  calicoes,  Persia  carpets,  etc.,  sent  by- 
Thomas  Penniston  to  his  father,  is  ordered  to  be  put  to  the  account 
of  the  sender.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  solicit  the  Bur- 
gesses of  the  City  that  one  of  them  may  move  a  resolution  in  the 
House  concerning  the  Company's  coral  at  Bristol,  James  Mann  in- 
timating that,  if  this  is  done,  his  brother,  John  Ash,  will  state  the 
whole  business.  Michael  Ashmore's  petition  for  employment  is  re- 
fused. A  certificate  is  presented,  signed  by  Peter  Pett,  Thomas 
Taylor,  William  Graves,  and  John  Hockston,  of  work  done  to  the 
Liofi,  amounting  to  170/.  more  than  named  in  the  agreement  made 
with  Matthew  Graves ;  this  sum  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  Humphrey 
Weston's  bond  to  be  delivered  to  him  to  be  cancelled.     (15 /A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  2,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  394). 

The  Court  refuses  to  employ  Richard  Husbands  or  Michael 
Ashmore ;  and  letters  from  Surat  showing  that  William  Whitmore, 
one  of  the  six  men  left  at  St.  Helena,  was  one  of  the  chief  in 
betraying  the  John,  he  also  is  refused  employment.  It  appearing 
from  the  said  letters  that  the  men  left  at  Johanna  were  'much 
respected  and  favoured  '  by  the  Queen  of  that  place,  the  Court 
orders  a  present  to  the  value  of  10/.  to  be  sent  to  her  by  the  next 
shipping.  Interest  to  be  paid  William  Kremlin  for  what  is  due 
upon  his  account ;  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle  his  affairs 
are  desired  to  examine  the  same,  and  Sambrooke  to  draw  up  the 
charge,  that  Fremlin  may  answer  it.     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  7,  1646  {Court  Booky 
vol.  xix,  p.  395). 

Richard  Wilson,  master  of  the  Ulysses^  to  be  paid  400/.  upon 
account  of  freight.  He  is  also  promised  payment  for  water  casks  if 
any  shall  be  taken  from  him  at  Bantam,  as  they  were  when  he  was 
last  there.    A  motion  is  made  for  him  to  take  ten  men  for  the 


124  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF   THE 

Company  in  his  ship  and  leave  them  at  Bantam,  but  he  asking  80/. 
for  their  diet,  and  the  Company  offering  only  60/.,  no  conclusion  is 
come  to.  Rowland  Wilson  reports  that  wine  may  be  had  at 
Madeira  for  9/.  per  pipe  the  best,  and  5/.  per  pipe  the  worst  kind, 
and  at  the  Canaries  for  13/.  or  14/.  per  pipe,  if  a  ship  touches  there  ; 
but  as  it  is  thought  this  may  hinder  the  voyage,  certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  provide  40  pipes  of  canary  for  merchandise 
and  40  pipes  for  the  ships'  use.  Other  Committees  are  requested 
to  attend  the  Committee  of  Lords  and  Commons  for  regulating 
the  Excise,  to  desire  some  abatement  of  the  great  excise  on  wine. 
Plymouth  duty  amounting  to  500/.  to  be  paid  for  goods  returned 
this  year  in  the  ships ;  the  remainder  to  be  paid  within  a  fortnight. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  9,  1646  {Court  Booky 
vol.  xix,  p.  397). 

The  Court  orders  1,000/.  to  be  paid  for  the  '  Argier'  duty.  Cer- 
tain officers  are  entertained  for  the  ships  to  be  dispeeded  this  year. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  13,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  398). 

The  Governor  intimating  he  has  been  given  to  understand  that 
some  of  the  officers  chosen  for  the  ships  are  not  fit  for  the  Com- 
pany's service,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  the  said 
men  and  report  their  opinions  concerning  them.  Rowland  Wilson 
having  a  friend  in  Ireland  who  offers  to  sell  300,000  or  300,000 
pipe  and  hogshead  staves,  this  business  is  recommended  to  the  care 
of  certain  Committees.  The  repairs  to  the  Endymion  proceeding 
very  slowly,  the  400/.  agreed  to  be  paid  to  her  owners  is  ordered  to 
be  detained  until  she  is  double-sheathed.     (li//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  examine 

THE  officers  CHOSEN  FOR  THE  SHIPS,  JANUARY  15,  1646  {Court 

Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  399). 

After  having  separately  examined  them,  the  Committees  are  of 
opinion  that  all  the  men  are  fit  for  their  appointed  posts  except 
William  Tuke.     They  think  that  each  officer  chosen  should  take 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  125 

the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  to  be  delivered  to  them  at  one 
time  by  the  Minister  of  the  parish ;  and  the  pursers  and  their  mates 
should  give  such  security  as  the  Court  shall  think  fitting,  which  was 
always  done  formerly  by  men  of  their  rank,     {i^pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  16,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  400). 

The  report  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  examine  the  officers 
chosen  for  the  ships  is  read  and  agreed  to.  Robert  Garth,  on 
petition,  is  elected  purser's  mate,  and  Mr.  Farham  of  Mitcham 
accepted  as  his  security.  The  officers  appointed  to  the  ships  are 
as  follows :  in  the  William,  Richard  Clarke  goes  as  purser  with 
Ambrose  Gilbert  as  his  mate,  and  William  Wheatley  as  steward, 
with  George  Cole  as  his  mate  ;  in  the  Dolphin,  Quarles  Browne 
goes  as  purser,  with  John  Adler  as  his  mate,  and  William  Cary  as 
steward,  with  Henry  Blanchard  as  his  mate  ;  in  the  Greyhoimd, 
Robert  Norwood  goes  as  purser,  with  Thomas  Blennerhassett  as 
his  mate,  and  Samuel  Eyans  as  steward,  with  James  Groby  as  his 
mate ;  in  the  Antelope,  Samuel  Browne  goes  as  purser,  with  Robert 
Garth  as  his  mate,  and  Edmund  Marchant,  steward,  with  Nicholas 
Bingham  as  his  mate.  Grimes  to  be  paid  100/.  on  account  for  the 
repairs  of  his  ship,  the  Greyhound.  Richard  Husbands  petitioning 
again  to  be  entertained,  the  Court  resolves  that  neither  he  nor 
Michael  Ashmore  shall  be  employed  in  any  of  the  ships.  No 
dividends  to  be  paid  to  any  adventurer  who  is  indebted  to  the 
Company.     (i|i^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  21,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  402). 

Stephen  Burton,  who  has  been  summoned  to  appear  with  his 
partners  about  their  great  debt,  is  told  that  if  he  and  they  make  up 
their  account  with  the  interest  due  and  seal  bills  for  both  principal 
and  interest  to  be  paid  at  a  given  time,  their  old  bills  shall  be 
delivered  to  them ;  he  promises  to  consult  with  his  partners,  who 
are  not  able  to  be  present,  and  bring  an  absolute  answer.  A  general 
court  of  sales  appointed  to  be  held  Thursday  sennight  in  the  after- 
noon. Francis  Day  desiring  that  his  private  trade  may  be  delivered 
to  him,  he  is  told  that  he  may  sell  his  goods  at  his  own  price  at 


i%6  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

the  next  court  of  sales.  The  Court  also  directs  that,  when  Day's 
answer  to  the  accusations  brought  against  him  by  Trumball  is  read, 
the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  are  to  be  desired  to  be  present,  as 
Day  was  entertained  a  factor  for  the  Voyage.     (li//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  23,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  404). 

Day's  request  for  the  morees  he  has  already  sold  to  be  delivered 
to  him,  and  that  on  his  naming  a  price  the  rest  of  his  private  trade 
may  be  disposed  of  at  the  court  of  sales  and  the  money  for  it  paid 
into  the  Company's  cash,  is  granted.  On  the  advice  of  some 
Members  of  Parliament  the  Court  directs  a  petition  concerning  the 
procuring  of  the  Company's  coral  from  Bristol  to  be  drawn  up  and 
presented  by  some  Committees  to  the  Committee  of  Lords  and 
Commons  for  the  Admiralty  and  Cinque  Ports.  A  list  of  the 
stores  wanted  at  Bantam  is  read,  and  Margetts,  the  Company's 
rope-maker,  is  instructed  to  find  a  man  who  can  be  sent  out  to 
make  the  great  cables  there  (which  are  useless)  into  smaller  ones ; 
other  stores  are  ordered  to  be  provided  for  Bantam,  and  four 
grapnels  for  Surat.  Thomas  Hodges's  offer  to  buy  pepper  is  refused, 
the  Court  thinking  it  may  be  sold  at  a  better  rate.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  30,  1546  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  406). 

The  Court  decides  not  to  send  a  rope- maker  to  Bantam,  as  the 
man  Margetts  presented  demands  such  high  wages.  It  being 
resolved  to  dispeed  the  Antelope  to  Surat  before  the  other  ships, 
and  to  send  in  her  5,000/.  of  stock,  for  which  a  warrant  must  be 
obtained  from  Parliament  before  it  can  be  put  aboard,  such  a  war- 
rant is  ordered  to  be  procured.^  A  general  court  of  sales  to  be  held 
on  the  6th  of  February.  Tuesday  next  is  appointed  for  Mr.  Day's 
business  to  be  heard,  and  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  are 
entreated  to  be  present.    (|  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  4,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  407). 

A  declaration  from  Steevens,  the  Company's  shipwright,  is  read 
concerning  the  many  expenses  incurred  these  last  four  years  in  his 
'  See  Common^  Journals,  April  17,  1646. 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  127 

journeys  to  buy  timber,  and  also  for  boat-hire  when  going  to  view 
ships ;  of  these  he  has  kept  no  particular  account,  but  estimates  the 
amount  expended  at  about  26c/. ;  the  Court  thinking  this  sum  very 
unreasonable,  Steevens  is  directed  to  make  out  an  account  as  well 
as  he  can.  Gregory  Clement  requesting  payment  of  the  400/. 
agreed  upon,  as  the  Endymion  is  now  double-sheathed,  he  is  told 
that  information  has  been  received  of  an  arrest  made  upon  that 
ship  by  Mr.  Grimston,^  a  Member  of  Parliament,  who  desires  that 
no  money  may  be  paid  by  the  Company  until  his  debt  is  cleared. 
Clement  confesses  that  there  is  about  40/.  due  to  Grimston,  which 
will  be  paid  on  his  return  to  town ;  so  the  Court  resolves  to  pay 
the  400/.,  on  the  owners  of  the  ship  sealing  a  bill  for  repayment  of 
the  same  if  she  is  not  dispeeded.  Merry,  a  factor  at  Surat,  having 
requested  that  100/.  of  the  money  due  from  sale  of  the  rhubarb  he 
sent  home  may  be  handed  to  the  Deputy  to  pay  a  man  to  whom 
Merry  is  indebted,  this  is  agreed  to.  Mr.  Thomson  to  be  paid  760/. 
in  full  for  the  Lion  and  Swan,  on  Captain  Swanley  (formerly 
master  of  the  Lion)  and  Mr.  Thomson's  man  giving  their  word  that 
all  stores,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  said  ships  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
Company.  The  letting  out  of  money  at  ']s.,  Sj-.,  and  9^-.  per  rial  to 
the  common  men  aboard  the  ships  being  thought  the  greatest  fur- 
therance to  private  trade,  the  Governor  suggests  that  a  chest  of  the 
Company's  rials  be  put  aboard  each  ship  and  let  out  to  the  men  at 
6s.  per  rial,  any  remaining  at  the  return  home  to  be  left  at  the 
factory ;  this  suggestion  is  well  received,  but  no  resolution  is  come 
to.     (2//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  6,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  409). 

Messrs.  Ashwell,  Kerridge,  and  Gould  are  desired  to  buy  what 
amber  they  think  fitting  to  be  sent  this  year  to  India.  Mr.  Day's 
business  and  his  answer  to  the  accusations  brought  against  him 
by  Trumball  to  be  heard  next  Wednesday.     (^  /.) 

^  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir)  H ^bottle  Grimston,  the  well-known  member  for  Colchester,  of 
which  city  he  was  then  Recorder. 


128  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  February  6,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  410). 

Sale  of  quilts,  pintadoes,  cotton-wool,  dust  of  indigo,  Messina 
silk,  cinnamon,  sugar,  and  dust  of  pepper,  with  prices  and  names  of 
purchasers.     (li//-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  ii,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  411). 

Lead  bought  from  Gilbert  Morewood.  A  general  court  appointed 
to  be  held  this  day  sennight  in  the  afternoon.  Beef  and  pork  to  be 
sent  to  Surat  and  Bantam.  Quilts  sold  to  Rowland  Wilson  at  40J. 
each,  flat  Sarkhej  indigo  to  Thomas  Andrews  at  y.  ^d.  per  lb. 
at  three  six  months  from  the  25th  of  March,  and  defective  ordnance 
to  Philip  White.  Jacob  de  Calander,  a  Persian,  formerly  a  servant 
of  the  Company,  is  allowed  to  go  in  one  of  the  ships  to  Surat,  he  to 
pay  50  rials  for  his  passage  and  diet,  and  the  amber  he  is  taking 
with  him  to  be  detained  until  the  said  payment  has  been  made. 
Thomas  Whitmore,  formerly  a  porter  at  the  Exchange  cellar, 
is  given  20s.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  13,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  413). 

Thomas  Jesson's  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  is  not  to  be 
disposed  of  without  notice  being  given  to  Clement  Mosse.  No 
payment  having  been  received  for  the  pepper  sold  to  Lord  Cotting- 
ton,  the  Court  resolves  to  sue  the  securities  in  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  their  bond  of  7,000/.,  but  before  doing  so  to  acquaint  them 
with  this  intention,  and  the  Secretary  and  Mr.  Acton  are  desired  to 
draw  up  a  letter  to  them  jointly  to  this  effect.  Leigh,  one  of  the 
owners  of  the  Ulysses,  intimating  that  the  master  of  the  said  ship 
objects  to  her  going  for  part  of  her  lading  to  Jambi,  it  being  a  very 
dangerous  road,  he  is  told  that  in  all  probability  there  will  be 
no  necessity  for  her  to  go  there,  as  her  lading  may  be  ready  at 
Bantam,  but  that  if  she  does,  the  voyage  may  only  take  14  or 
20  days  and,  if  she  stays  at  Bantam  more  than  60  days,  9/.  per  day 
will  be  allowed  for  demurrage.  The  owners  still  raising  objections 
and  demanding  300/.  over  and  above  what  was  agreed  upon  for 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  129 

wear  and  tear  of  their  ship,  and  the  Court  being  only  willing  to 
allow  ico/.,  they  are  desired  to  re-consider  and  state  their  decision 
at  the  next  court.  Mr.  Smith's  request  for  abatement  on  pepper 
he  bought  two  years  ago,  because  of  the  quantity  of  dust  found 
with  it,  is  refused.  The  letters  from  the  Committee  for  the 
Admiralty  and  Cinque  Ports  to  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  and  Colonel 
Pindar  about  the  coral  at  Bristol  are  presented  by  the  Secretary  ; 
in  these  it  is  stated  that  the  Company  is  willing  that  the  soldiers 
should  have  either  one-sixth  part  'in  specie',  or  1,000  marks  in 
money,  for  salvage  of  the  said  coral ;  whereupon  Mr.  Young  is 
desired  to  proceed  to  Bristol  with  these  letters,  and  certain  Com- 
mittees are  requested  to  procure  him  letters  of  credit  from  the 
Commissioners  of  Excise  for  i,coo/.  He  is  also  to  be  furnished  with 
a  copy  of  the  invoice  of  the  coral,  in  order  that,  if  the  soldiers 
choose  to  have  one-sixth  part,  he  can  apportion  it  from  each  kind 
equally ;  the  bringing  away  of  the  coral,  each  chest  of  which  is 
to  be  weighed  and  opened,  is  left  to  his  discretion.  The  rent  due 
from  the  Company  to  the  City  ^  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  Certain 
Committees  are  requested  to  treat  on  the  Exchange  with  some 
grocers  who  desire  to  buy  1,000  bags  of  garbled  pepper.     (2^//.} 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  17,  1646  {Court  Book ^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  415). 

Fifty  pipes  of  canary  wine  to  be  provided  for  merchandise  and 
provision  of  the  ships.  Thomas  Rich's  offer  to  buy  the  Company's 
cinnamon  on  behalf  of  a  friend  at  is.  lod.  per  lb.  is  refused,  the 
price  being  thought  too  low.     {\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  18, 1646  (Co^irt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  416). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  the  five  bales  of  cinnamon  returned 
in  the  Crispiana  belonging  to  Lewis  Riberio,  a  Portuguese  at  Goa 
who  has  done  the  Company  good  sei-vice,  consigned  to  Mr.  Fremlin 
or  to  the  Deputy,  who  was  desired  by  letter  to  take  care  of  it  and 
transmit  the  proceeds  to  Lisbon,  has  been  sold  with  the  Company's  ; 
he  therefore  desires  the  money  paid  for  it.     The  Court  consents, 

^  Probably  for  warehouses  (cf.  p.  7) ;  bat  this  is  not  stated. 
s.c.M.  in  K 


I30  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

and  because  of  Riberio's  many  good  offices  directs  that,  although 
there  are  i^  tons,  only  15/.  is  to  be  deducted  for  freight.  A  list  of 
the  Company's  debtors  is  read  and  the  following  resolutions  are 
passed :  Messrs.  Smith  and  Webb  to  be  spoken  to  about  their  debt 
before  being  prosecuted,  as  it  is  so  small ;  Messrs.  Burton  and 
Company  to  be  sued  for  their  long  outstanding  debt,  both  principal 
and  interest,  and  nothing  to  be  accepted  unless  on  account  of  both  ; 
Mr.  Rumsey  to  be  prosecuted  for  his  debt  of  398/.  14^.,  unless 
he  pays  100/.  and  seals  a  bill  with  Mr.  Lisle  to  pay  the  remainder, 
both  principal  and  interest,  within  three  months  from  the  time 
it  has  been  due ;  Stephen  Bolton,  Captain  Brett,  and  Robert  Gale 
to  be  sued  if  they  do  not  pay  what  they  owe  within  eight  days. 
Captain  Trenchfield  and  Mr.  Knox,  master  of  the  Endymiony 
inform  the  Court  that  the  said  ship  is  at  the  Company's  disposal  ; 
whereupon  it  is  resolved  that  the  owners  shall  be  allowed  200  marks 
for  wear  and  tear  if  she  goes  to  Jambi.  John  Millett,  master  of  the 
Aleppo  Merchant,  offers  to  carry  pepper  to  the  Straits,  but  objects  to 
go  until  he  has  a  considerable  lading ;  he  is  told  that,  if  he  carries 
any  for  the  Company,  he  must  leave  by  the  end  of  April  or  middle 
of  May,  keep  company  with  some  other  ships,  and  accept  two 
dollars  per  bag  freight,  on  which  conditions  1,000  bags  may  be 
assigned  to  him  ;  he  is  allowed  time  to  consult  with  the  owners 
of  his  ship.  John  Prowd,  master  of  the  Dolphin,  to  be  paid  all 
wages,  etc.,  due  to  him  and  given  a  gratuity  of  50/.  for  bringing  his 
ship  into  the  Downs  as  her  first  port ;  Thomas  Gee,  master  of  the 
William,  is  given  a  like  gratuity  for  similar  service  ;  but  by  erection 
of  hands  it  is  resolved  that  no  gratuity  shall  be  given  to  Bailey, 
master  of  the  Crispiana,  because  of  the  quantity  of  private  trade 
landed  from  his  ship  at  Rochester,  for  which  no  freight  was  paid. 
The  good  services  of  Thomas  Prowd,  master  of  the  Blessing,  are 
also  commended,  but,  his  ship's  lading  belonging  entirely  to  the 
Voyage,  resolution  concerning  a  gratuity  is  deferred  until  some 
of  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  are  present.  At  the  request 
of  Grimes,  certain  cordage  now  in  Fotherby's  possession  is  ordered 
to  be  paid  for  and  put  aboard  the  Greyhoimd.     (2^  //.) 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  131 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  20,  1646  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  xix,  p.  419). 

The  Company's  petition  concerning  the  thirty-three  pieces  of 
ordnance  lent  to  the  City  having  been  presented  to  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Aldermen  and  by  them  referred  to  the  Committee  for  Fortifica- 
tions (which  sat  this  morning  at  Coopers'  Hall),  certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  wait  upon  the  latter  Committee  and  request 
satisfaction  for  the  Company.  The  Court  makes  choice  of  the 
Aleppo  Merchant^  Society,  Anne  Cleare,  Prosperous,  and  Anthony 
Bonadventure  in  which  to  send  pepper  to  Italy ;  and  as  the  two 
last-named  will  be  ready  first,  500  bags  are  ordered  to  be  shipped 
in  each,  freight  to  be  paid  for  the  same  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars 
per  bag,  the  masters  to  sign  a  paper  to  keep  together,  and  to  depart 
as  speedily  as  possible  ;  the  other  three  ships  are  assigned  700  bags 
of  pepper  apiece  at  the  same  rate  for  freight,  and  directed  to  be  at 
Gravesend  by  the  middle  of  May,  and  to  keep  company  on  the 
voyage.  Philip  White,  John  Taylor,  John  Goodwin,  and  Robert 
Clements  accepted  as  securities  for  defective  ordnance  sold  to  Philip 
White,     {i^pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  24,  1646  {Conrt  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  421). 

A  box  containing  '  painted  chints  ',  etc.,  sent  by  Greenhill,  a  factor 
at  the  Coast,  to  his  relations,  is  ordered  to  be  delivered  and  5/.  for 
freight  to  be  charged  to  Greenhill's  account.  Gilbert  Kindar  trans- 
fers to  Andrew  Morewood  and  Thomas  Rich  200/.  each,  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage.  Coral  bought  by  Mr.  Thomson 
from  Francis  Tryon,  which  the  Company  promised  to  take,  is 
ordered  to  be  paid  for.     (i  p.) 

A  General  Court,  February  26, 1646  {Court  Book^  voL  xix, 
p.  422)- 

The  Governor  intimates  that  the  calling  together  of  this  court  has 
been  delayed  in  the  hope  that  the  ordinance  regulating  the  Com- 
pany's trade  might  have  been  passed.  This  has  not  yet  been  done  ; 
but  Parliament  is  satisfied  with  the  benefit  derived  from  the  trade 
and  has  resolved  to  uphold  it,  and  therefore  the  said  ordinance  has 

K  2 


132  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

been  referred  to  the  Grand  Committee,  who  after  several  meetings 
referred  it  to  a  Sub-Committee,  where  it  still  rests.  However, 
when  their  report  is  made,  it  is  hoped  that  the  ordinance  will  be 
speedily  passed.  Having  encouragement  from  Parliament,  the 
Committees  think  it  best  to  send  out  some  considerable  stock  for 
prosecution  of  the  trade,  as  the  charge  of  the  factors  in  India  is  the 
same  whether  stock  is  sent  or  not.  The  Governor  further  reports 
that  the  Dolphin  and  Crispiana  have  been  viewed  and  one  is  now 
ready  to  be  dispatched  ;  that  there  is  very  good  hope  of  obtaining 
the  coral  from  Bristol ;  that  the  Sub-Committee  of  Parliament  has 
prevailed  on  the  Company  to  take  Mr.  Thomson's  two  ships,  with 
1 ,000/.  of  coral,  which  he  intended  to  send  to  India  ;  so  that  there 
are  four  ships,  viz.  the  William^  the  Dolphin^  the  Antelope^  and  the 
Greyhound  to  be  dispeeded  this  spring  for  account  of  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  (besides  two  to  be  freighted  for  account  of  the  Voyage). 
These  ships  with  goods  and  money  may  bring  the  Company's 
adventure  up  to  about  80,000/.  The  generality  have  been  called 
together  to  resolve  upon  the  following  three  particulars :  whether 
to  send  out  any  more  adventure  upon  account  of  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  ;  whether  to  send  pepper  to  Italy  in  five  good  ships  and 
some  to  the  Straits  on  the  Company's  adventure  ;  and  whether  to 
insure  any  of  the  stock  expected  home,  or  to  be  sent  out.  After 
debate,  it  is  agreed  by  erection  of  hands  to  send  out  four  ships,  with 
such  a  stock  as  the  Court  of  Committees  thinks  fitting,  upon  account 
of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  ;  to  send  pepper  to  Italy  in  the  five  ships 
agreed  upon  ;  and  to  insure  only  on  the  homeward-bound  ships, 
viz.  40,000/.  upon  the  Eagle  from  Surat,  and  30,000/.  upon  the 
Mary  from  Bantam,  but  not  to  insure  the  pepper  to  be  sent  to 
Italy.     {p.\pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  27,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  425). 

Graves  to  be  paid  47/.  for  work  done  to  the  Antelope.  Mr.  Prit- 
chard,  a  minister,  to  be  given  61. 13^.  ^d.  for  bringing  from  Marseilles 
a  packet  of  letters  which  came  from  Surat.  Cinnamon  sold  to 
Thomas  Rich  for  is.  \\d.  per  lb.  at  six  six  months  from  Lady  Day. 
At  the  desire  of  Mr.  Jesson,  brother  of  the  late  Thomas  Jesson,  the 
Court  agrees  to  pay  the  interest  due  to  the  30th  of  February  on 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  133 

money  belonging  to  the  latter  to  Mr.  Holloway  (who  is  to  pay  70/. 
due  to  Mrs.  Mosse),  and  to  allow  six  per  cent,  on  the  remaining 
money,  and  to  keep  both  principal  and  interest  until  Mosse  and 
Jesson  come  to  some  agreement.  Stephen  Burton,  Richard  Piggott, 
and  Captain  Brett  acquaint  the  Court  that  they  have  sold  to  Wil- 
liam Willyams  the  900/.  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
belonging  to  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe,  and  desire  that  the  transfer  may 
be  entered  and  the  money  received  into  the  Treasury  in  part  pay- 
ment of  their  debt.  They  are  told  that  a^oo/.  is  due  for  interest 
on  their  debt,  and  that  any  money  paid  must  be  on  account  both  of 
principal  and  interest ;  and  as  they  are  not  willing  to  agree,  the 
Court  refuses  to  take  the  payment  offered  and  allows  them  a  fort- 
night to  consider  the  matter.  Meanwhile  their  transfer  of  the 
adventure  is  ordered  to  be  entered.  The  mariners  hired  for  the 
ships  to  be  dispeeded  this  year  are  to  be  paid  imprest  money. 
Messrs.  Clement  and  Robinson,  two  of  the  owners  of  the  Endymioiiy 
declare  their  unwillingness  to  allow  the  said  ship  to  go  to  Jambi, 
and  that  this  was  consented  to  by  Captain  Trenchfield  without  the 
approbation  of  the  rest  of  the  owners ;  they  agree,  however,  to  her 
going  oh  the  same  terms  as  the  Ulysses,  and  suggest  that,  if  it 
is  found  necessary  on  arriving  at  Bantam  for  one  of  the  ships  to  pro- 
ceed to  Jambi,  lots  should  be  cast,  and  for  wear  and  tear  of  the  one 
which  has  to  go  they  are  willing  to  accept  200  marks.     (2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  4,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  427). 

Thomas  Prowd,  master  of  the  Antelope,  reports  a  leak  in  his  ship, 
due  to  the  carelessness  of  those  who  repaired  her  ;  whereupon  the 
Court  directs  that  no  more  money  be  paid  to  Graves  without  special 
order.  Messrs.  Burton  and  Piggott  consenting  to  the  money  due 
for  the  sale  of  the  90c/.  adventure  being  received  on  account  both 
of  principal  and  interest  of  their  debt,  the  Court  agrees  to  accept 
the  same.  Some  Coromandel  indigo,  sold  to  Jeffery  Rowland, 
is  ordered  to  be  delivered,     (i  p) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  6,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  428). 

John  Robinson,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Endymion,  informs  the 
Court  that  Robert  Knox,  master  of  that  ship,  has  been  displaced 


134  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

and  Edward  Seaman  appointed  in  his  stead ;  the  Court,  though 
thinking  this  concerns  the  owners  of  the  ship  more  than  the  Com- 
pany, approves  the  change.  The  request  of  Captain  Hide,  master 
of  the  Freeman,  to  bring  his  ship  into  the  Company's  dock  at 
Blackwall  is  refused.  Alderman  Chambers  desires  that  his  son  ^ 
may  be  allowed  to  take  his  passage  to  Surat  in  the  Dolphin  with 
John  Prowd,  promising  that,  if  there  should  be  no  occasion  for 
his  services,  his  diet  shall  be  paid  for  and  he  shall  be  no  charge 
to  the  Company  ;  as  the  Alderman,  when  one  of  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Customs,  was  always  ready  to  favour  the  Company,  his 
request  is  granted  on  i6s.  Sd.  per  month  being  paid  for  the  young 
man's  diet,  and  the  Court  expresses  a  wish  to  see  the  latter  at  the 
next  meeting.  Monday  afternoon  is  appointed  to  hear  Mr.  Day's 
business.  The  grocers  wishing  to  buy  pepper  for  the  town,  if  the 
Company  will  make  a  price,  the  Court  resolves  to  sell  them  500 
bags  at  i^^d.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months,  or  100  bags  at  i6d.  per  lb. 
at  six  six  months.  The  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  certain  Com- 
mittees are  entreated  to  attend  Sir  Walter  Earle  and  Mr.  Greene 
to-morrow  morning  and  desire  their  speedy  report  to  the  Grand 
Committee  concerning  the  Company's  ordinance.  Mr.  Best  to  be 
paid  500/.  for  wine  bought  of  him.  Humphrey  Weston,  formerly 
a  factor  at  Bantam,  claims  127  pagodas,  disbursed  by  him  at 
Masulipatam ;  but  as  the  books  kept  there  only  credit  him  with 
95h  pagodas,  this  latter  sum  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  him,  the 
pagoda  to  be  reckoned  at  10s.  Defective  ordnance  bought  by 
Philip  White  to  be  delivered  to  him,  notwithstanding  that  Goodwin, 
one  of  the  securities,  has  not  signed  the  contract,  the  Court  accept- 
ing Messrs.  White,  Taylor,  and  Clement  as  securities.  The  pinnace 
with  the  long-boat  and  skifif  bought  from  Mr.  Thomson  to  be  put 
aboard  either  the  Antelope  or  the  Greyhound,  whichever  ship  has 
the  most  room.  Fifteen  chests  of  coral  returned  in  the  Henry 
Bonadventure  and  sundry  cloths  are  to  be  shipped  in  the  William 
for  the  Coast,  with  wine,  oil,  and  amber  for  Bantam  ;  and  five 
chests  of  coral  from  Genoa  to  be  shipped  in  the  Ulysses  for  the 
Coast.     (2^  //.) 

^  A  subsequent  letter  from   Surat   {JD.C.   2023)  shows  that   this  youth's  name  was 
John  Chambers. 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  135 

A  Meeting  of  Committees  to  hear  Mr.  Day's  business, 
March  9,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,  p.  430}. 

Day's  answers  to  the  charges  brought  against  him  by  Trumbali 
are  read  ;  but,  as  they  are  couched  in  very  general  terms,  one  of  the 
Committees  remarks  that  it  would  be  best  to  take  note  of  what  he 
acknowledges,  and  for  those  charges  which  he  wholly  or  in  part 
denies  to  file  a  bill  in  Chancery  against  him  ;  or,  if  he  will  submit 
himself  to  the  Company,  there  is  a  bond  for  1,000/.,  his  wages,  and 
an  adventure  of  500/.  with  which  to  make  satisfaction.  This  is 
generally  agreed  to.  The  Court  proceeds  to  note  the  22nd  article, 
in  which  Day  is  charged  with  having  had  400  bales  of  betel-nut 
(each  bale  weighing  350  lb.)  brought  from  '  Trinckumbar '  [Tran- 
quebar]  in  the  Hopewell  for  his  own  account,  and  only  30  bales  for 
the  account  of  the  Company.  To  this  he  answers  that  there  were 
180  or  190  bags  (not  bales)  of  betel -nut,  not  weighing  above  150  lb. 
or  160  lb.  each,  and  worth  400  or  500  rials,  which  were  bought  by 
'  the  aminah  ^  by  tale,  which  aminah  contained  1 2,000  nuts  and 
weighed  1 70  lb.' ;  he  confesses  that  half  the  said  betel-nut  belonged 
to  himself  and  half  to  the  Danish  President  He  presents  four 
receipts  signed  by  Trumbali  for  money  received  from  him  for  goods 
sold  for  his  account  in  Persia,  and  is  asked  what  goods  he  sold  there, 
to  produce  so  many  abassees.  He  is  unable  to  give  an  account, 
but  promises  to  look  up  the  particulars  by  the  next  meeting. 
Further  questions  are  deferred,  the  time  being  far  spent,     (il//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  ii,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol 
xix,  p.  432). 

It  is  resolved  to  dispeed  the  Antelope,  the  Ulysses,  and  the 
Endymion  as  soon  as  possible,  the  other  ships  to  await  the  arrival 
of  money  from  Spain.  Three  sakers  lying  at  Blackwall  belonging 
to  the  Crispiana  are  ordered  to  be  put  aboard  the  Greyhound,  with 
'  a  small  cablett '  bought  from  Humphrey  Rayment.  Alderman 
Chambers  presents  his  son,  consents  to  pay  the  sum  required  for  his 
diet,  and  thanks  the  Court  for  their  favour.  Mr.  Northey's  son 
presents  a  letter  of  attorney,  and  requests  what  is  due  upon  his 

*  Sir  Richard  Temple  identifies  this  as  the  measure  known  as  an  amotta  or  anumam^ 
equivalent  to  about  sf  bushels. 


136  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

father's  adventures  in  the  Joint  Stock  and  the  Voyage,  as  his 
creditors  are  all  compounded  with  ;  to  this  the  Court  consents  on  his 
promising  to  give  his  bond  to  indemnify  the  Company  for  anything 
done  or  likely  to  be  done  by  his  father.  Humphrey  Weston,  who 
refuses  to  take  the  sum  offered  him,  is  called  into  court ;  he  declares 
that  he  laid  out  his  money  eight  years  ago,  and  therefore  hopes  the 
Company  will  either  double  it  or  give  him  some  valuable  considera- 
tion for  his  forbearance ;  after  long  dispute  the  Court  orders  him  to 
be  paid  80/.  in  full  of  all  his  demands,  and  this  he  gratefully  accepts. 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Stock  and  Voyage,  March  13,  1646  (Cottri  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  434)- 

Firewood  for  the  Dolphin.  Thomas  Prowd  is  given  ^t^J'.  6s.  Sd. 
for  bringing  his  ship  the  Blessing  into  the  Downs  as  her  first  port. 
The  Deputy  reports  that  Mr.  Fremlin,  who  is  '  very  weake  ',  desires 
him  to  present  '  his  duty  to  the  Company  and  that  as  hee  had  gott 
all  his  estate  in  their  service,  so  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  thank- 
fullnes  hee  had  in  his  will  given  500/.  to  their  hospitall  at  Blackwall, 
the  care  and  disposure  whereof  was  wholly  left  unto  the  Company' ; 
the  difference  concerning  his  account  is  also  referred  to  them.  The 
Deputy  further  reports  that  Mr.  Fremlin  has  spent  1,500  rials  for 
'  bucklers  and  covers  for  launces '  for  the  Governor  of  Surat,  which 
he  requests  may  be  sent  in  one  of  the  ships  ;  to  this  the  Court  con- 
sents, and,  taking  note  of  his  bequest  to  the  hospital,  they  desire  the 
Deputy  '  to  present  their  love  unto  him  '.  The  Antelope  and  the  two 
freighted  ships  are  ordered  to  be  at  Gravesend  ready  for  the  voyage 
on  the  aand  instant,  and  from  thence  to  take  the  first  opportunity  to 
proceed  to  the  Downs  ;  and  to  avoid  all  delay  Bowen  is  directed  to 
have  their  letters  ready  by  Monday  for  perusal.  Mr.  Dowell  is 
called  upon  to  answer  concerning  some  Portuguese  goods,  which  in 
the  general  letter  from  Bantam  he  is  said  to  have  taken  when  he 
was  master  of  the  Advice;  for  these  the  Portuguese  demand  421 
rials,  and  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  have  detained  500 
rials  from  Dowell's  estate.  The  latter  endeavours  to  excuse  him- 
self ;  but  it  appearing  plainly  that  he  is  in  fault,  as  several  of  the 
things  demanded  by  the  Portuguese  have  been  found  in  his  '  scree- 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  137 

tore',  the  Court  considers  that  the  500 rials  have  been  justly  detained 
and  requires  Dowel!  to  give  a  bond  for  100/.  to  save  the  Company 
harmless  from  any  other  demands  of  the  Portuguese.  Dowell 
desires  to  be  paid  his  wages,  and  it  appearing  from  his  account  that 
6co/.  is  due  to  him,  mostly  from  men  now  in  India,  the  Court  thinks 
that  nothing  should  be  paid  till  the  debtors  return.  Dowell  asks  to 
be  treated  as  others  have  been,  for  he  himself  received  140  rials  from 
Ivy  which,  according  to  his  order,  he  paid  to  Mr.  JefFeries  on  his 
return  from  Persia,  yet  $61.  was  paid  to  Ivy  here  by  Sambrooke's 
means  before  Dowell  arrived  in  England  ;  so  he  has  paid  the  money 
twice  over.  Upon  this  the  Court  positively  directs  that  no  money 
charged  in  the  Company's  books  to  any  man's  account  shall  be  paid 
until  he  arrives  in  England,  and  orders  that  Mrs.  Jefferies  and  her 
husband  appear  next  Monday  afternoon,  and  Dowell  to  bring  his 
witnesses  (whom  he  is  advised  to  have  sworn  before  a  master  in 
Chancery)  to  prove  the  payment  of  the  money  to  Jefferies.  All 
else  due  to  Dowell  is  to  be  paid.  Henry  Dunne,  boatswain  of  the 
Greyhound,  to  be  given  three  months'  imprest  money,  and  his  wife  to 
receive  three  months  yearly  of  his  pay  during  his  absence.     (2^^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Joint  Stock  and  Voyage,  March  18,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  436). 

Thomas  Rich  to  be  paid  558/.  13J.  for  '  Argier '  duty.  Clement 
Mosse  to  be  given  a  copy  of  the  late  Thomas  Jesson's  account,  as  he 
desires  to  settle  with  the  brother  and  Mr.  Holloway  concerning  the 
payment  of  the  annuity  to  Mrs.  Mosse.  Messrs.  Leigh  and  Dickons, 
part-owners  of  the  Ulysses,  and  Wilson,  her  master,  except  against 
a  clause  in  her  charter-party  in  which  she  is  required  to  be  staunch 
and  strong  at  her  departure ;  this  they  consider  may  be  taken 
advantage  of  should  a  leak  appear  during  the  voyage.  The  Court 
decides  that  no  advantage  shall  be  taken  of  the  said  clause  except 
before  the  ship's  departure,  and  they  also  decide  that  a  reservation 
shall  be  made  to  the  clause  concerning  damaged  goods ;  these  are 
agreed  to  by  the  owners  and  ordered  to  be  endorsed  on  the  charter- 
party.  The  said  owners  then  object  to  the  clause  requiring  the 
Ulysses  to  keep  company  with  the  Endymion,  for,  if  any  accident 
should  befall  the  latter  ship,   the  Ulysses  may  lose  her  voysige  ; 


T38  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

whereupon  it  is  resolved  that  the  two  ships  shall  keep  together  till 
within  twenty  leagues  to  the  southward  of  the  Canaries  and  then 
please  themselves.  Laurence  Loe  and  John  Robinson,  part-owners 
of  the  Endymion,  agree  to  the  above  conditions  being  added  to  the 
charter-party,  but  request  that,  as  their  ship  is  only  300  tons  (30  less 
than  the  Ulysses),  she  may  carry  fewer  men ;  this  is  agreed  to  and 
66  men  are  appointed  as  her  complement.  Six  chests  of  rials  to  be  sent 
to  Bantam  and  six  to  Surat  upon  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock's  account. 
Maurice  Thomson's  request  that  the  Company  will  either  allow  him 
to  send  seven  chests  of  coral  in  one  of  their  ships  to  Rajapur,  or 
give  him  a  reasonable  price  for  it,  is  refused,  the  Company  being 
well  furnished  with  coral,  and  if  it  were  sent  to  Rajapur  it  might 
spoil  the  market.  Young's  account  for  bringing  the  coral  from 
Bristol  is  ordered  to  be  examined.  Benjamin  Whetcombe  is  given 
a  gi-atuity  of  25/.  for  his  services  concerning  the  said  coral,  he 
having  solicited  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax  about  it  before  Bristol  was 
surrendered  to  the  Parliament  and  written  many  letters  to  Mr. 
Rushworth,  Secretary  to  Sir  Thomas.     (2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  20,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol. 
xix,  p.  439). 

Dowell  and  May  (the  latter  married  John  Jefferies'  widow)  come 
into  court,  and  the  former  produces  two  affidavits  to  show  that  he 
paid  the  late  Jefferies  140  rials.  Dowell  also  states  that  he  is  in  suit 
with  May  and  his  wife  about  this  payment,  but  is  willing  to  refer  all 
to  the  Company ;  May  refusing  to  agree,  Dowell  desires  that  May 
may  be  stopped  from  proceeding  on  his  voyage.  The  Court,  con- 
sidering that  the  Company  is  abused  and  Dowell  wronged,  gives  the 
latter  leave  either  to  obtain  a  writ  of  ne  exeat  regnum  against  May, 
or  to  sue  a  bond  of  500/.  now  in  their  hands  belonging  to  the  said 
Jefferies.  On  the  petition  of  Margaret  Remnant,  whose  husband 
died  in  India  and  was  in  the  same  predicament  as  Dowell  is  with 
May,  the  Court  gives  her  permission  to  take  what  course  she  likes 
and  orders  her  to  be  given  20/.  of  the  27/.  due  to  her  late  husband 
for  wages.  A  letter  is  read  from  the  factors  at  Leghorn,  stating 
that  about  900  bags  of  pepper  belonging  to  Mr.  Thomson,  brought 
thither  in  the  William,  have  been  offered  them  at  an  easy  rate,  and 
desiring  to  know  if  they  shall  be  bought  for  the  Company  ;  after 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  139 

much  discussion  it  is  decided  to  instruct  the  factors  to  buy  the  said 
pepper,  but  not  to  pay  above  16  ducats  per  c\vt.  for  it,  the  money 
to  be  paid  at  Leghorn,  and  if  there  is  not  suflicient,  some  to  be 
taken  up  at  interest,  but  not  at  above  7  per  cent  Mr.  Thomson  is 
to  be  paid  337/.  ss.  6d.  for  seven  chests  of  coral  bought  from  him, 
Gabriel  Malaianovich,  a  Persian  ^  recommended  by  the  Spanish 
Ambassador,  is  allowed  to  take  his  passage  in  the  Dolphin,  paying 
50  rials  for  the  same.  Additional  billets  to  be  put  aboard  the 
Dolphin  ;  and  she  with  the  William  and  GreyJiound  to  proceed  to 
Gravesend.  William  Mead,  executor  to  his  late  father,  Thomas 
Mead,  transfers  to  Ozias  Churchman  200/.  adventure  and  profits  in 
the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.    (2  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  i,  1646  {Court  Book,  voL 
xix,  p.  441). 

There  being  no  room  in  the  ships  for  the  pinnace  bought  from 
Mr.  Thomson  to  be  taken  to  Surat,  and  the  Court  learning  that 
Cobb,  who  built  her,  is  to  be  paid  30/.,  with  22/.  for  the  long-boat 
and  skiff,  Mr.  "Wilson  is  entreated  to  offer  her  to  the  Guinea  Com- 
pany. Younge  reporting  that  on  searching  the  Dolphin  some  cloth 
was  found  in  the  roundhouse,  Prowd,  the  master,  is  questioned  and 
confesses  that  he  is  taking  cloth,  amber,  and  gold  and  silver  lace 
with  him  as  private  trade  ;  he  is  blamed  for  not  having  first  asked 
the  Company's  leave,  but,  as  he  has  done  good  service  and  '  this 
parcell  was  no  great  quantity ',  he  is  permitted  to  take  it.  Gee, 
master  of  the  William,  desires  an  increase  of  salary  and  to  be 
allowed  to  carry  private  trade  to  the  value  of  100/.;  his  first  request 
is  refused,  but  as  the  private  trade  he  wishes  to  take  is  mostly 
beavers  and  gold  and  silver  lace,  he  is  permitted  to  carry  200/.  worth 
of  these  commodities.  An  account  of  the  repairs  to  the  Greyhound, 
amounting  to  198/.  \\s.  8^.,  is  presented  and  approved.  Topmasts 
and  yards  for  store  to  be  sent  to  Bantam.  Messrs.  Younge  and 
Hurt  are  empowered  to  ship  men  at  Gravesend  or  in  the  Downs,  if 
necessary,  but  all  to  be  seamen  and  approved  of  by  the  several 
masters,  who  are  to  sign  their  entertainment ;  and  a  list  of  those 
who  ran  away  with  the  John  is  to  be  sent  to  Younge  so  that  none  be 
entertained,     {li  pp.) 

*  Or  rather  an  Annenian  (see  O.C.  2023). 


I40  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  3, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  443)- 

The  factors  at  Leghorn  write  that  the  pepper  sent  in  the  William 
is  being  sold  at  16  ducats  per  cwt.  and  that  certain  rich  Florentines 
are  in  treaty  for  it,  who,  it  is  supposed,  will  afterwards  raise  the  price 
to  18  ducats.  The  Court,  after  some  debate,  directs  Bowen  to 
advise  the  factors  that,  if  they  cannot  buy  the  said  pepper,  they 
must  sell  what  they  have  at  the  same  price  as  the  other  is  sold. 
The  Deputy  acquaints  the  Court  that,  by  reason  of  an  embargo  in 
Spain,  the  Spanish  ships  are  not  likely  to  arrive  yet  with  money : 
that  39,000/.  is  already  put  aboard  the  ships  for  Surat :  and  that  in 
his  opinion  it  would  be  better  for  them  to  go  with  that  than  wait 
for  more  and  perhaps  lose  their  voyage.  Thereupon  the  Treasurer 
remarks  that  sixty-eight  chests  of  rials  were  ordered  to  be  provided 
for  the  ships  this  year :  that  a  Dutchman  in  town  has  silver  ingots 
to  the  value  of  7,000/.,  but  only  to  be  had  at  a  higher  rate  than  any 
yet  bought,  and  if  these  are  taken  then  there  will  be  sixty-one  chests 
provided  :  that  though  formerly  it  was  decided  to  put  twelve  chests 
aboard  the  William,  he  thinks  six  would  be  sufficient.  It  is  resolved 
to  leave  the  providing  of  the  ingots  wholly  to  the  Treasurer,  to 
have  six  chests  put  aboard  the  William  with  what  more  can  be 
obtained,  and  to  dispeed  her  with  the  Dolphin  and  Greyhound  and 
the  rest  of  the  ships  designed  this  year  for  India  by  the  first  fair 
wind.     {^\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  8, 1646  {Court Book,vo\.  xix, 
p.  444). 

Payment  to  the  butcher  for  beef  had  of  Mr.  Thomson  is  deferred, 
the  casks  in  which  it  is  put  being  found  defective.  Richard  Waring 
and  Jeffery  Rowland,  grocers,  offer  to  buy  the  Company's  pepper 
for  iS\^'  PS''  lb.  garbled,  and  i^d.  per  lb.  sifted,  at  eighteen  months 
from  the  ist  of  June,  the  money  to  be  paid  in  upon  discount  by  the 
1st  of  May;  their  offer  is  refused,  as  the  Court  thinks  the  price  too 
low.  A  letter  is  read  from  Mr.  Courteen,  desiring  that  the  5,000/. 
saved  from  the  wreck  of  his  ship  the  Little  William,  and  received 
by  the  factors  at  the  Coast,  may  be  delivered,  with  two  brass  guns, 
to  his  servants  in  India ;   Mrs.  \sic\  Courteen,  Maurice  Thomson, 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  141 

and  Mr.  Newdigate  *  attending,  they  are  called  in  and  told  that 
nothing  can  be  decided  at  present,  as  there  are  certain  papers 
touching  this  matter  to  be  read,  but  if  they  attend  next  Friday  they 
shall  be  told  the  Court's  resolution  herein.     (li//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  10, 1646  {Court Book,  vol.  xix, 
p-  445)- 

An  offer  from  Messrs.  Hadley,  Cuttler,  and  Spencer  to  buy  the 

Company's  pepper  at  \^\d.  per  lb.  at  four  six  months  from  the  ist 

of  May  is  refused  ;  also  Messrs.  Waring  and  Rowland's  offer  to 

buy  500  bags  on  the  terms  they  proposed  at  the  last  court ;  and 

certain  Committees  are  desired  to  treat  at  the  Exchange  with  the 

grocers   about   sale   of  the    said   pepper.     Nichalao   Francoe,   an 

Italian  merchant,  buys  forty  bags  of  sifted  pepper  at  154^-  per  lb. 

for  transportation,  on  condition  that  it  is  not  sent  to  Italy.     The 

Lady  Katherine  (wife  of  William  Courteen)  and  Mr.   Newdigate 

desire  to  know  the  Court's  resolution  concerning  the  9^00  Barbary 

ducats  and  the  two  brass  guns  saved  out  of  the  Little  William  and 

received  by  the  Company's  factors  at  Fort  St  George;  they  are 

desired  to  withdraw  to  the  '  parlour ',  and  having  done  so,  it  is 

generally  agreed  to  show  all  possible  favour  to  Mr.  Courteen  and 

to  pay  to  his  factors  what  shall  appear  due  upon  account  either  at 

Fort  St.  George,  at  Rajapur  (where  he  has  a  factory),  at  Surat,  by 

bills  of  exchange  at  two  months'  sight,  or  in  England,  according  to 

the  Lady  Katherine's  choice,  on  condition  that  the  Company  is 

assured  that  the  money  may  be  paid  with  safety,  and  that  none  has 

formerly  been  taken  by  the  natives  (for  the  last  advices  received 

tell  of  war  in  that  country),  in  which  case  Mr.  Courteen  must 

himself  bear  the  loss.   This  resolution  is  told  to  the  Lady  Katherine 

and  Mr.  Newdigate ;  and  the  former  deciding  to  receive  the  money 

at  Surat  by  bills  of  exchange,  she  is  desired  to  send  a  servant  in 

the  afternoon  to  perfect  the  account  between  her  husband  and  the 

Company,  and  also  to  petition  Parliament  in  her  husband's  name 

for  the  passing  of  5,000/.  to  be  sent  in  foreign  coin  in  one  of  the 

Company's  ships,  that  their  factors  may  be  better  enabled  to  make 

the  said  payment.     Mr.  Perrin  to  be  paid  244/.  ^s.  6d.  for  68  cwt. 

of  coral.     (i|^.) 

*  Possibly  the  Richard  Newdigate  who  afterwards  became  Chief  Justice  and  a  baronet. 


142  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  15, 1646 (Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  447)- 

A  petition  is  read  from  John  Warren,  minister,  desiring  on  behalf 
of  John  Joyce,  executor  to  the  late  Thomas  Joyce,  to  receive  jewels 
now  in  the  Company's  custody  belonging  to  the  said  Joyce ;  the 
Court's  order  dated  February  5, 1 641,  concerning  this  matter  is  read 
and  confirmed,  on  Warren  giving  a  general  release  for  the  said 
jewels.  George  Purse  is  given  a  gratuity  of  40^'.  Fabian  Hopkins, 
who  has  served  the  Company  thirty-eight  years  and  been  to  India 
six  times,  is  admitted  to  the  Almshouse  at  Blackwall,  he  being 
decrepit  and  past  work.  The  following  attachments  are  made  on 
the  money  due  from  the  Company  to  Mr.  Courteen,  viz. :  3,000/. 
for  Mr.  Martin,  1,800/.  by  Thomas  Hawkes  for  Mr.  Holloway,  600/. 
by  Ralph  Hayes  for  Peter  Farneden  and  Samuel  Gott,  and  200/. 
for  Anthony  Bateman;  and  a  letter  is  read  from  Thomas  Kynnaston, 
requesting  the  Court  to  detain  what  money  they  have  belonging  to 
Courteen  and  not  to  part  with  it  without  Kynnaston's  consent,  as, 
he  having  been  an  adventurer  with  Courteen,  part  belongs  to  him. 
His  sister  and  Mr.  Maynett,  a  public  notary,  appear  and  desire  an 
answer  to  the  said  letter ;  they  are  told  that  Kynnaston  must  first 
prove  his  claim  to  the  money,  and  then  if  he  pleases  restrain  the 
Company  legally.  The  following  attachments  are  made  on  the 
estate  of  the  late  Richard  Glover  by  Kellum  Smith ;  viz.  200/,  by 
Nazareth  Pagett,  widow,  300/.  by  Peter  Blower,  300/.  by  Robert 
Newman,  200/.  by  Mary  Munnux,  and  200/.  by  Walgrave  Lodowicke. 
The  time  of  subscription  for  the  pepper  is  extended  until  8  p.m. 
to-morrow.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  17, 1646  (Court Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  449)- 

It  is  decided  to  send  700  bags  of  pepper  in  the  Anne,  700  in  the 
Aleppo  Merchant,  and  500  in  the  Anthony  Bonadventure  to  Leghorn, 
and  700  in  the  Society  and  500  in  the  Prosperous  to  Genoa.  A  pro- 
test made  by  Thomas  Kinnaston  against  the  Company  parting  with 
any  money  to  Courteen  is  presented  by  Mr.  Maynett,  together  with 
an  account  showing  that  Kinnaston  is  a  creditor  to  the  sum  of 
3,000/.  in  Mr.  Courteen's  books.    The  Court,  considering  all  this 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  143 

and  remembering  the  other  attachments  made,  requests  the  Secre- 
tary to  draw  up  a  brief,  obtain  the  advice  of  Messrs.  Heme  and 
Hales,  confer  with  Newdigate,  Mr.  Courteen's  counsel,  and  resolve 
how  the  Company  can  pay  the  money  safely  to  Courteen,  not  only 
in  regard  of  the  aforesaid  considerations,  but  in  case  a  statute  of 
bankruptcy  is  granted  against  him.  The  little  dock  at  Blackwall 
and  the  Company's  lighter  to  be  repaired.  Orsoy  and  'setta  de 
Meza '  silk  sold  to  Gilbert  Keate  at  22s.  Sd.  per  lb.  There  being 
little  business  doing,  it  is  resolved  to  hold  one  court  a  week  only, 
and  that  on  Fridays.  The  Treasurer  wanting  about  15,000/.  to  pay 
for  the  rials  provided  for  the  ships,  the  Governor  desires  the  Com- 
mittees to  furnish  what  money  they  can  spare  and  they  shall  be 
allowed  seven  per  cent,  interest.     i^iPP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  i,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  451)- 

Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  Bolton,  and  Brett  present  a  paper  con- 
taining particulars  of  the  remainder  of  their  debt  for  indigo,  and 
desire  that  the  interest  due  for  the  same  may  be  remitted  ;  this  the 
Court  agrees  to  consider.  A  letter  of  attorney  from  John  Diggs  is 
presented  by  George  Smith,  whereupon  silk,  calicoes,  and  money  to 
the  value  of  347/.  17^".  4^.  are  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  him.  The 
factors  at  Leghorn  writing  that  that  place  is  in  danger  of  being 
besieged  by  the  French,  it  is  resolved  not  to  dispeed  the  ships 
thither  until  further  information  is  received.  Some  Committees  are 
desired  to  speak  with  the  master  of  the  Society,  who  is  unwilling  to 
go  to  Genoa  with  the  pepper  consigned  to  that  place.  Charles 
Deane  is  given  20s.  for  reading  prayers  to  the  almsmen.  A  list  of 
the  Company's  debtors  is  read  and  Spiller  directed  to  inform 
Messrs.  Burton,  Bolton,  Brett,  and  Vaughan  that  unless  they  clear 
their  engagements  within  the  week  they  will  be  prosecuted.  Pett's 
bill  for  work  done  to  the  Greyhound  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  The 
Court  resolves  to  view  what  there  is  remaining  at  Blackwall  next 
Wednesday,  but  defers  deciding  about  repairs  to  the  Blessing  until 
she  has  been  examined.  Monday  afternoon  is  appointed  for 
Mr.  Day's  business  to  be  heard.  The  policies  for  assuring  the 
Mary  for  20,000/.  and  the  Eagle  for  40,000/.  are  read  and  the 
premiums  fixed  at  five  per  cent.,  no  adventurer  to  underwrite  above 


144  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

half  his  adventure,  one-third  in  the  Mary  and  two-thirds  in  the 
Eagle.  Hamond  Gibbon  transfers  to  Roger  Vivian  400/.  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage,  upon  which  550/.  6s.  2d.  is 
already  divided,     (a  pp.) 

A  Meeting  at  Blackwall,  May  6, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
P-  453)- 

The  Committees  after  examination  decide  to  have  the  following 
repaired  :  the  great  gate  at  the  entrance  of  the  Yard,  and  the  little 
door ;  the  walls  near  the  cooper's  house  and  the  slaughter-house ; 
the  wharf  next  the  river ;  Fotherby's  and  Steevens's  houses  ;  but  not 
to  have  Purbeck  stones  laid  down  in  the  slaughter-house,  or  to 
consent  to  a  new  cart-horse  being  bought.  The  stores  in  the  Yard 
are  next  examined  and  Fotherby  is  blamed  for  seven  new  anchors 
found  lying  about,  which  he  avers  were  brought  into  the  Yard 
without  his  knowledge  by  Mayhew,  the  storekeeper  of  iron.  Many 
old  stores  are  found,  and  a  list  and  valuation  of  them  ordered  to  be 
made  that  they  may  be  sold.  Fotherby  is  questioned  concerning 
Mayhew's  employment  now  the  ships  are  gone,  the  Committees 
deeming  it  needless  to  keep  him  on  at  8j.  a  week.  Three  long- 
boats are  next  ordered  to  be  sold,  but  two  skiffs  found  with  them 
are  to  be  kept  for  the  Company's  occasions.  Margetts  and  David- 
son with  two  or  three  '  Straights  masters '  ^  and  ropemakers  are  to 
be  directed  to  examine  the  cables  and  reserve  all  serviceable  ones 
for  the  Company's  use  ;  but  all  those  which  are  useless  are  to  be 
valued,  together  with  all  other  unserviceable  stores,  that  they  may 
be  sold.  Young  is  ordered  to  procure  Mr.  Elwood's  account  from 
Sandwich  with  a  list  of  the  stores  in  his  charge.  After  examining 
the  Blessing  and  hearing  the  opinion  of  Pett,  Taylor,  and  Steevens, 
the  Committees  think  that  she  should  be  repaired.  With  regard 
to  the  Crispiana,  the  Committees  think  that  she  should  either  be 
sold  or  broken  up  ;  but  this  with  all  other  matters  mentioned  above 
they  leave  to  be  finally  decided   by  the  Court   of  Committees. 

{AhPP') 

*  Masters  of  vessels  trading  to  the  Mediterranean. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  145 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  8,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  y\yt, 

P-  457)- 

Acton  presents  an  order  from  the  House  of  Commons^  protecting 
the  persons  of  Sir  Paul  Pindar,  Sir  John  Jacob,  Sir  Job  Harby,  and 
Sir  John  Nulls ;  whereupon  the  Court,  after  consideration  how  to 
proceed  about  the  pepper  debt,  thinks  it  best  to  petition  the  House 
of  Commons  for  relief,  but  no  resolution  is  come  to.  Steevens 
reports  that  timber  can  be  had  at  a  cheap  rate,  but  the  Court 
refuses  to  buy,  as  the  present  Stock  is  drawing  to  an  end  ;  where- 
upon the  Deputy  and  Messrs.  Keate  and  Kerridge  agree  to  purchase 
three  hundred  loads,  if  it  may  be  stored  in  Blackwall  Yard,  pro- 
posing to  sell  it  to  the  Company  at  the  present  price,  if  later  on  it 
is  needed,  on  condition  of  being  allowed  7  per  cent,  interest  for 
their  money ;  to  this  the  Court  agrees,  and  also  to  the  offer  of  Sir 
John  Gayer  to  buy  plank  on  the  same  conditions.  The  sixteen 
Committees  appointed  for  the  affairs  of  the  Joint  Stock  and  Voyage 
are  desired  to  meet  next  Wednesday  to  hear  Mr.  Day's  business. 
John  Yard,  formerly  a  factor  at  the  Bay,  desiring  to  be  paid  his 
wages,  certain  Committees  are  requested  to  examine  his  account 
and  the  charge  brought  against  him  of  buying  an  unserviceable  ship 
called  the  Endeavonr.  Samuel  Cordell  to  be  allowed  three  months' 
discount  on  the  saltpetre  he  bought.  The  order  concerning  under- 
writing in  the  policies  of  assurance  for  the  Mary  and  Eagle  is  to  be 
observed  until  Wednesday  evening,  after  which  time  the  adventurers 
may  underwrite  for  what  they  please.  The  opinion  of  the  Committees 
concerning  the  repairs  necessary  at  Blackwall  is  confirmed,  and  the 
Court  resolves  that  the  seven  new  anchors  found  in  the  Yard  shall 
be  kept  for  the  Company's  occasions.  After  serious  debate  it  is 
decided  to  sell  the  Crispiana  (as  she  is  old  and  would  cost  more  to 
repair  than  she  is  worth),  and  to  direct  Fotherby  to  make  an 
inventory  of  all  her  stores  and  provisions  for  this  purpose.  The 
Blessing  the  Court  decides  to  have  repaired,  on  learning  that  she 
can  be  made  serviceable  for  another  seven  or  eight  years  for  1,100/. 
and  that  there  is  sufficient  timber,  etc.,  in  the  Yard  for  this  work. 
Fotherby  is  directed  to  keep  a  particular  account  of  money  disbursed 

*  Possibly  that  of  May  14,  1645,  according  to  the  ex-Commissioners  of  Customs  'the 
privilege  of  Parliament ' 


146  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

on  her  account.  Elwood,  the  Company's  storekeeper  at  Sandwich, 
is  requested  to  make  up  his  account  of  stores  delivered  to  the  ships, 
with  those  remaining  in  his  custody.  The  cables  and  anchors  let 
slip  by  the  last  ships  on  leaving  the  Downs  are  to  be  examined  by 
pilots  and  if  found  serviceable  to  be  sent  to  London.  John 
CoUingwood  to  be  paid  20s.  for  his  beads  used  at  the  Cape.   (3  //p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  15, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  460). 

Alderman  Fowke  desires  a  copy  of  his  account,  and  states  that 
he  has  1,600/.  in  the  Stock  and  a,  100/.  in  the  Company's  three 
Voyages,  but  has  received  no  profits  as  others  have  ;  he  is  told  that 
it  is  not  known  how  much  stock  he  has,  and  that  some  legal  restraint 
must  have  detained  the  profit  due  to  him,  but  what  remains  is  ready 
to  be  delivered,  and  his  account  shall  be  made  up  by  next  week. 
A  valuation  of  the  cordage  at  Blackwall  is  presented,  with  the 
intimation  that  some  masters  of  ships  desire  to  purchase  it ;  here- 
upon certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  and  report  on  the 
same.  The  Committees  requested  to  examine  the  charge  against 
John  Yard  report  that  he  had  sufficient  warrant  for  buying  the 
Endeavour,  letters  from  the  President  and  Council  of  Surat  and 
Bantam  clearing  him  in  this  particular ;  with  this  the  Court  concurs, 
orders  all  debts  and  wages  due  to  him  to  be  paid,  and  in  token  of 
favour  admits  him  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company.  Steevens's 
request  for  certain  additional  repairs  to  be  made  to  his  own  and 
Fotherby's  house  at  Blackwall  is  granted,  but  he  is  told  that  in 
future  all  reparations  must  be  at  their  own  charge  'except  the 
principalis  or  foundation  shall  prove  deficient ' ;  he  is  also  given 
permission  to  plant  sycamore  or  elm  trees  about  the  house  at  his 
own  cost.  Leave  is  given  to  any  of  the  adventurers  or  '  any  other 
good  men '  to  underwrite  what  they  please  in  the  assurance  policies 
for  the  Mary  and  Eagle,  provided  they  underwrite  two-thirds  in  the 
latter  ship  and  one-third  in  the  former.  A  declaration  \fiot  extant\ 
of  the  treacheiy  of  Mucknell  made  by  Roger  Kaley,  formerly 
purser  in  the  John,  is  read,  but  nothing  is  resolved  concerning  this 
matter.     {2  pp.) 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  147 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  22,  1646  {Court  Book^  vol.  xix, 
p.  462). 

Alderman  Fowke  is  reminded  of  the  decree  made  in  Chancery 
against  him  in  1631  for  1,997/.  for  his  debt  to  the  Company,  and  of 
a  second  decree  made  in  1635  whereby  his  stock,  valued  at  1,460/., 
was  ordered  to  be  detained  in  payment  of  the  said  debt,  and  is  told 
that,  if  he  pays  what  still  remains  owing  within  a  short  time,  he 
shall  have  a  copy  of  his  account.  He  repeats  his  statement  made 
at  the  last  court  and  demands  interest  for  his  forbearance  and 
reparation  for  imprisonment  at  the  Company's  suit,  declares  that  he 
has  an  account  of  his  adventures  signed  by  the  Governor  and 
Deputy,  and  again  demands  a  copy  of  his  account  with  what  is  due 
on  his  adventures ;  being  told  that  he  must  expect  no  other  answer 
than  that  already  given,  he  leaves  the  court.  Certain  Committees 
are  desired  to  examine  the  cordage  at  Blackwall,  and  George  Purse 
is  ordered  to  attend  them.  Acton  acquaints  the  Court  that  Roger 
Kaley  has  shown  his  bond  with  the  Company  to  counsel,  whose 
opinion  is  that  he  has  forfeited  it ;  hereupon  it  is  thought  that 
some  course  should  be  taken  against  Kaley  and  his  securities  for 
satisfaction.  The  Leghorn  factors  writing  that  300  bags  of 
Thomson's  pepper  may  be  had  at  i6|^  ducats  per  cwt.,  which  price 
may  shortly  be  raised  to  18  ducats,  the  Court  resolves  that  if 
possible  this  pepper  shall  be  bought  for  the  Company's  account. 
The  Lady  Katherine,  wife  of  VVm.  Courteene,  and  Mr.  Newdigate 
appear  in  court,  and  the  latter  relates  that  he  has  met  Messrs.  Heme 
and  Hales  and  they  all  agree  with  regard  to  the  following  par- 
ticulars :  that  no  attachment  can  be  brought  against  the  Com- 
pany, because  the  gold  was  only  deposited  with  its  servants  for 
Mr.  Courteene's  use ;  that,  as  no  statute  of  bankruptcy  has  been 
issued  against  Mr.  Courteene,  the  Company  may  safely  pay  the 
money ;  and  that  Mr.  Kinnaston  can  only  claim  one-thirtieth  part 
of  the  gold,  so  that  amount  shall  remain  with  the  Company  to 
answer  his  demands.  Mr.  Acton  not  entirely  agreeing  with 
Mr.  Newdigate,  the  latter  is  requested  to  meet  Mr.  Hales  once 
more,  and  whatever  they  shall  mutually  agree  to  and  sign  the 
Company  will  accept.  Anthony  Bateman  declares  that  6oc/.  of 
the  money  belonging  to  Mr.  Courteene  is  attached  by  Mr.  Fameden, 

L  2 


148  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

and  that  all  the  adventure  in  the  Little  William  was  made  over  by 
Courteene  to  Farneden  ;  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  speak  of  this  at  the 
meeting  with  Mr.  Courteene's  counsel.  The  Deputy,  as  executor  to 
the  late  William  Fremlin,  moves  for  an  adjustment  of  the  latter's 
account,  but  the  matter  is  referred  to  next  Friday.  On  the  death 
of  Giles  Shepheard  many  applications  are  made  for  his  place  as 
porter  at  Blackwall ;  John  Pearse  is  appointed  temporarily,  and  the 
Committees  for  the  Yard  are  desired  when  there  to  make  choice  of 
a  fit  man  for  this  post.  Shepheard's  widow  is  told  that,  if  she 
leaves  his  house  within  fourteen  days,  she  shall  be  given  5/.,  but 
not  if  she  remains  after  that  time.     (3  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  29,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  466). 

Samuel  Gott  presents  a  deed  signed  and  sealed  by  William 
Courteene  in  1643,  showing  that  the  latter  had  made  over  to  him 
and  to  Peter  Farneden  all  goods  whatsoever  laden  or  to  be  laden 
in  the  Bone  Esperanze,  the  Plmtier,  the  William^  and  the  Little 
William^  empowering  them  to  seize  the  said  lading,  or  any  part  of 
it,  when  and  where  they  could  find  it,  in  satisfaction  of  810/.,  with 
the  interest  accruing,  owing  to  them.  Of  this  sum  Gott  has  already 
received  400/.,  and,  hearing  that  the  Company's  factors  have  in 
their  possession  some  gold  belonging  to  Courteene  saved  from  the 
wreck  of  the  Little  William,  he  demands  payment  from  the  Com- 
pany of  what  remains  due  to  him.  He  is  told  that  he  must  obtain 
some  legal  restraint  to  prevent  the  Company  paying  the  money 
away,  and  the  Court  advises  him  to  confer  with  their  solicitor. 
Cordage  to  be  examined  at  Blackwall.  John  Thomas,  an  old 
servant  of  the  Company,  is  appointed  porter  at  Blackwall.  The 
Lady  Katherine  [Courteen],  Maurice  Thomson,  and  Mr.  Harris 
come  into  court  and  the  Lady  Katherine  presents  a  note  signed  by 
Messrs.  Hales  and  Newdigate,  in  which  they  state  their  opinion  that 
the  money  may  be  paid  to  Mr.  Courteene.  Thomson  declares  that 
by  advices  received  from  India  it  appears  that,  if  the  gold  is  paid 
there,  it  will  enable  Courteen's  ships  to  be  laden  home ;  therefore 
ht  entreats  that  this  may  be  done.  By  request  he  and  the  others 
withdraw  to  the  parlour,  and  the  Court  after  serious  debate  resolves 
that  counsel  has  been  mistaken  and  that  nothing  must  be  paid  until 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  149 

they  have  consulted  again ;  to  enable  them  to  understand  this 
business  more  fully,  the  Secretary  is  directed  to  draw  up  a  detailed 
account  of  it,  and  Acton  is  desired  to  arrange  for  Messrs.  Hales  and 
Heme  to  meet  Mr.  Newdigate  to  consult  together  again  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  on  hearing  their  further  opinion  the  Court  will  act  on 
it.  The  Governor  and  Mr.  Ashwell  promise  to  meet  with  them. 
This  resolution  is  told  to  the  Lady  Katherine  and  her  companions. 
(2  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  5,  1646  {Cmirt  Book,  vol.  xix, 
p.  468}. 

The  Governor  informs  the  court  that  private  trade  has  been  con- 
veyed out  of  the  Eagle  in  three  barques,  one  of  which  was  seized 
and  97  parcels  taken  from  her  to  the  King's  warehouse  at  the 
Custom-house ;  another  was  seized  by  the  Excise  officers  at 
Rochester,  and  there  are  eighteen  parcels  of  indigo,  calicoes,  etc., 
in  the  Excise  Office  ;  hereupon  the  Secretary  is  instructed  to  pro- 
cure a  warrant  from  the  Admiralty  to  seize  the  said  goods  for  pay- 
ment of  their  freight.  The  Governor  also  reports  that  Messrs.  Heme, 
Hales,  Newdigate,  and  Glover  have  met  about  Mr.  Courteen's  gold 
left  at  Fort  St.  George,  and  the  Company's  counsel  are  of  opinion 
that  none  of  it  should  be  parted  with  unless  good  security  be  given, 
and  that  the  best  way  will  be  for  Mr.  Courteene  to  prefer  a  bill 
against  the  Company  in  the  Exchequer  and  to  leave  the  whole 
matter  to  the  judgement  of  that  court.  Thomas  Kinnaston  having 
procured  a  distringas^  against  the  Company  in  the  Exchequer, 
Acton  is  to  be  directed  to  see  to  it.  An  account  is  presented  by 
Sambrooke,  showing  that  42,000/.  belonging  to  the  Voyage  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  Joint  Stock ;  therefore  it  is  resolved  to  make 
a  division  of  40  per  cent,  to  the  adventurers  in  the  General  Voyage 
next  midsummer,  the  interest  and  account  to  be  perfected  in  the 
meanwhile.  Richard  Husbands  and  Michael  Ashmore  having,  not- 
withstanding the  Company's  injunctions,  gone  out  in  the  Ulysses 
and  the  Endymion,  it  is  resolved  that  they  shall  be  dealt  with  for 
this  affront  to  the  Company  on  their  return.  Colonel  [Martin] 
Pindar  is  presented  with  20/.  in  gold  for  his  readiness,  when  one  of 
the  Commissioners  for  the  Parliament's  army  at  Bristol,  in  assisting 

*  An  order  to  distrain. 


150  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

the  Company  to  recover  the  seventy-nine  chests  of  coral  landed 
from  the  John.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  attend 
Mr.  Greene  and  entreat  him  to  make  his  report  to  the  House  of 
Commons  concerning  the  Company's  ordinance  as  soon  as  possible. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  12, 1646  {jCourt  Book,\o\.  xix, 
p.  470). 

The  Governor  states  that  Frith,  a  linendraper,  has  entered  two 
bales  of  calicoes  at  the  Custom-house  from  the  Golden  Katherine 
from  San  Lucar,  Thomas  Merritt,  master,  which  is  a  false  entry, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  there  are  other  goods  in  the  ship  which  have 
been  taken  out  of  the  Eagle,  and  the  Secretary  has  been  directed 
to  procure  a  warrant  from  the  Admiralty  to  seize  these  goods.  The 
Court,  considering  how  much  the  men  in  the  Eagle  have  wronged 
the  Company  by  carrying  away  private  trade,  and  that  Frith  is  the 
chief  cause  of  this  abuse,  desires  certain  Committees  to  acquaint  the 
Committee  of  the  Navy  with  this,  that  Frith  and  the  masters  of  the 
ships  suspected  may  be  examined  as  to  what  goods  they  have 
bought  or  received.  Messrs.  Thurston,  Elder,  and  Bradbent,  who 
came  home  passengers  in  the  Eagle,  and  Steevens,  the  master,  are 
examined  separately  as  to  whether  they  know  of  any  goods  being 
carried  out  of  that  ship  ;  all  plead  ignorance  except  Bradbent,  who 
states  that  the  ship's  skiff  went  off  with  goods  near  Scilly  to  a  vessel 
called  the  Four  Sisters,  but  what  these  were  he  does  not  know. 
Hereupon  all  payment  of  wages  to  the  men  and  officers  in  the 
Eagle  is  ordered  to  be  stayed  until  further  order.  William  Thurston, 
formerly  one  of  the  Council  at  Surat,  requests  to  have  his  private 
trade  which  he  brought  home  in  the  Eagle  delivered  to  him.  It 
is  ordered  to  be  brought  to  the  court  next  Wednesday  to  be 
examined,  and  that  day  is  also  appointed  for  the  business  between 
Mr.  Fremlin  and  the  Company  to  be  heard.  Pepper  sold  to  certain 
grocers  at  i6d.  per  lb.  at  fourteen  months'  discount.     (1^  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  17, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xix,. 
p.  472). 

The  Governor  reports  that  the  Company's  petition  concerning 
private  trade  taken  out  of  the  Eagle  has  been  presented  to  the 
Committee  of  the  Navy,  and  they  have  appointed  next  Friday  to 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  151 

examine  Frith,  Brookes,  and  others ;  and  for  the  clause  desiring  the 
speedy  passing  of  the  Company's  ordinance,  they  promise  to  move 
the  House  to  appoint  a  day  for  Mr.  Greene  to  make  his  report. 
The  men  in  the  Eagle  to  be  paid  their  wages,  but  not  the  officers. 
Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  examine  the  private  trade 
brought  home  in  that  ship.  The  Deputy,  as  executor  to  the  late 
Mr.  Fremh'n,  declares  that  by  his  account,  now  presented,  2,oco/.  is 
due  to  his  estate  for  salary ;  that  by  a  consultation  dated  in  Surat 
in  1635^  (which  is  read)  18,000  \sic\  rupees  have  been  charged  to 
him  for  impresting  money  for  indigo,  contrary  to  order,  at  Agra  at 
67^  rupees  per  maund  ;  of  this  he  paid  a  good  deal  in  money  and 
goods,  but  the  25,000  mahmudis  remaining  unpaid  he  discharged 
himself  of  when  President ;  that  1,274/.  9^.  10^.  is  charged  at  i|  per 
cent,  [per  month  ?]  interest  for  non-payment.  The  Deputy  presents 
a  commission,  dated  in  1630,  given  to  Fremlin  by  Rastell,  which 
has  not  been  revoked,  and  states  that  the  impresting  of  money  for 
indigo  was  not  done  to  defraud  the  Company  but,  as  he  believes,  to 
uphold  the  trade  and  prevent  the  Dutch  from  getting  all  the  indigo 
into  their  hands  ;  while,  as  for  the  interest  charged  on  that  debt,  for 
twenty  years  the  Company  have  had  two-thirds  of  Fremlin 's  salary 
in  their  hands,  the  interest  on  which  would  exceed  the  sum  claimed  ; 
therefore  he  thinks  that  the  one  might  be  set  against  the  other. 
He  next  presents  a  letter  dated  in  1640,  in  which  the  Court  made 
Fremlin's  salary  500/.  per  annum,  to  end  at  his  return ;  because 
he  was  two  years  coming  home  on  account  of  the  disaster  to  the 
Dolphin,  some  dispute  may  arise  as  to  his  salary  being  paid  for  the 
last  year ;  but  in  his  opinion  the  meaning  of  the  letter  is  absolute  ; 
however,  he  is  willing,  as  Fremlin  always  was,  to  refer  everything 
to  the  Court.  The  Deputy  then  withdraws  and  the  Court  confirms 
the  resolution  of  the  consultation  as  to  the  justness  of  the  charge, 
but  resolves  to  remit  474/.  95'.  \cd.  of  the  interest  due  upon  the 
remainder  of  the  debt  and  to  allow  200/.  for  the  last  year's  salary. 
The  Deputy  freely  submits  to  this,  and  desires  that  any  debts  made 
by  Fremlin  at  Agra,  if  recovered,  may  be  paid  to  him,  to  which  the 
Court  consents.  It  is  resolved  that  henceforth  the  wages  of  all 
factors  shall  cease  from  the  time  they  go  aboard  ship  to  return 

^  See  The  English  Factories  in  India,  1634-6,  p.  112.     The  amount  there  mentioned 
as  surcharged  is  8,103  rupees,  including  interest. 


152  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

home,  the  same  to  hold  good  with  all  masters  of  ships  who  return 
home  as  passengers.  Dates  fixed  for  a  general  court  of  sales  and 
a  general  court  of  election.  On  the  petition  of  Roger  Kaley  he  is 
set  free,  and  the  Court  resolves  not  to  prosecute  him  because  of  his 
great  poverty ;  but  to  keep  his  bond,  in  case  hereafter  it  may 
'  please  God  to  blesse  him  with  an  estate ',  when  some  course  would 
be  taken  against  him.  The  men  left  at  Johanna  by  Mucknell,  and 
now  returned  in  the  Eagle,  to  be  paid  the  value  of  their  wages,  as 
a  reward  for  their  fidelity  to  the  Company  ;  and  Pearse  and  Clarke, 
two  of  them,  who  took  up  money  at  Surat  from  Fitch,  the  general 
purser  there,  to  buy  necessaries,  need  only,  if  it  is  the  Company's 
money,  pay  at  the  rate  of  5^.  per  rial,  but  if  it  belonged  to  Fitch 
then  the  Court  cannot  help  them.     (4  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  19,  1646  {Court Book,vo\.  xix, 
p.  476). 

At  the  request  of  the  Deputy,  and  according  to  an  order  made 
last  January,  seven  per  cent,  interest  is  ordered  to  be  allowed  upon 
what  appears  due  to  Mr.  Fremlin's  account.  Margaret  Remnant 
to  be  given  a  certificate  of  what  money  has  been  paid  on  her 
husband^s  account  to  Mrs.  Jefiferies.  The  Eagle  to  be  brought 
into  Blackwall  dock.  Billets  to  be  bought  from  Mr.  Long.  The 
Secretary  presents  a  list  of  some  of  the  goods  taken  out  of  the 
Eagle,  with  the  names  of  the  respective  owners,  and  promises,  if  the 
meeting  with  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  is  postponed,  he  will 
obtain  a  full  account  of  the  goods  with  the  owners'  names ;  he  is 
requested  to  attend  the  Committee  and  desire  them  to  put  off  the 
meeting  appointed  for  this  afternoon.  A  discussion  arises  regarding 
the  wages  of  Broadbent,  who  went  out  master  of  the  Hind  and 
returned  in  the  Eagle ;  and  on  hearing  that  if  Steevens,  master  of 
the  Eagle,  had  died  on  the  voyage,  Broadbent  was  ready  to  take 
his  duty,  the  Court  thinks  it  fitting  that  he  should  have  his  full 
wages  up  to  his  return.     (i|  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  26, 1646  {Court Book.volxix, 

P-  477)- 

Charles  Cox  requests,  as  trustee  to  his  brother  John's  children, 
that  607/.  10s.  due  may  be  paid  to  him ;  but  he  having  been 
appointed  trustee  only  during  the  children's  minority  and  one  of 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  153 

the  daughters  being  now  of  age,  the  Court  will  not  agree  to  pay  the 
money  without  a  discharge  from  her.  Upon  this  Cox  pleads  that 
the  money  is  specially  wanted  to  buy  clothes  and  necessaries  for 
the  children  ;  so  it  is  resolved  to  allow  him  100/.,  he  giving  his  bond 
to  save  the  Company  harmless,  and  another  100/.  on  receipt  of 
a  discharge  from  the  daughter  ;  the  Court  also  resolves  that  6  per 
cent,  interest  shall  be  allowed  on  the  money  from  the  time  it  was 
due  until  the  13th  of  March,  1644,  and  7  per  cent,  from  then  until 
it  is  paid.  A  new  warrant  is  ordered  to  be  given  to  Alderman 
Atkins,  he  having  lost  his  for  400/.  due  for  his  division  in  the  Voyage. 
John  Hopeman.  a  Dutchman,  who  has  served  the  Company  five 
years  in  India,  is  given  40i'.     (i  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  June  30,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  xix,  p.  478). 

Sale  of  China  ware,  pepper,  indigo,  olibanum,  gum-lac,  Orsoy 
silk,  cotton  yam,  tapseels,  ginghams,  niccanees,  '  Guinny  short 
stuffes',  and  calicoes,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.   (2|//.) 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  i,  1646  {Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  1). 

By  unanimous  consent  Sir  William  Cokayne  is  re-elected 
Governor,  William  Methwold  Deputy,  and  John  Massingberd 
Treasurer ;  of  the  Committees,  Sir  John  Cordell,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad, 
Messrs.  Keate,  Mann,  Andrews,  and  Hodges  retire,  and  Messrs. 
Garway,  Davies,  Gayer,  Bludworth,  Martin,  and  Riccard  are  ap- 
pointed in  their  stead  ;  so  the  Committees  for  the  ensuing  year  are : 
Sir  John  Gayer,  Abraham  Reynardson,  William  Ashwell,  John 
HoUoway,  W^illiam  Willyams,  James  Mann,  Thomas  Andrews, 
Nicholas  Gould,  Rowland  Wilson,  Thomas  Burnell,  Richard 
Midleton,  Thomas  Jennings,  Thomas  Kerridge,  Richard  Bateman, 
Gilbert  Morewood,  Robert  Abdy,  Ozias  Churchman,  Anthony 
Bateman,  William  Garway,  John  Bludworth,  Robert  Gayer,  Richard 
Davies,  James  Martin,  and  Andrew  Riccard.  Richard  Swinglehurst 
is  re-elected  Secretar>\     (2^  pp) 


154  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  3,  1646  [Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-3)- 

Cardamoms  sold  to  Mr.  Vandermash  at  3.^.  6d.  per  lb.  at  three 
six  months.  Captain  Brett  begs  that  the  interest,  amounting  to 
108/.,  due  on  a  debt  owing  by  him  and  Samuel  Crispe  to  the  Com- 
pany may  be  remitted  ;  the  Court  advises  him  to  pay  the  100/.  and 
they  will  then  consider  about  the  remainder.  Pepper  mixed  with 
indigo  bought  by  William  Hooker  to  be  delivered  to  him.  Thomas 
Mathews  and  Anthony  Tyther  accepted  as  securities  for  olibanum, 
and  Henry  Potkins  and  Thomas  Thetcher  for  indigo.  A  great 
quantity  of  calicoes  having  been  brought  home  as  private  trade  in 
the  Eagle,  it  is  resolved  to  charge  3^.  per  piece  freight  for  the  broad 
and  %s.  per  piece  for  the  narrow ;  Broadbent  is  to  pay  this  for  his, 
but  the  same  to  be  taken  into  consideration  later,  as  also  the  freight 
paid  by  all  honest  and  deserving  men.  Indigo  and  tincal  brought 
home  in  the  said  ship  to  be  detained ;  the  price  to  be  allowed  the 
owners  will  be  decided  on  later.  All  officers  returned  in  the  Eagle, 
with  the  exception  of  the  master,  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  them. 
On  reading  letters  received  from  Leghorn,  the  Court  decides  that  the 
400  bags  of  pepper  bought  by  the  factors  there  from  Mr.  Thomson 
at  17  ducats  per  cwt.  shall  be  put  to  the  Company's  account,  as 
then  all  the  pepper  at  Leghorn  will  be  in  their  hands  and  they  can 
raise  the  price  as  they  please.  Twenty  pieces  of  calicoes  to  be 
delivered  to  Katherine,  wife  of  Thomas  Hill,  a  factor  in  India,  and 
the  freight  charged  to  his  account.     (i|  //.) 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company,  July  9, 
1646  {Factory  Records^  Java,  vol.  iii,  part  ii,  p.  807). 

Acknowledges  letter  of  26th  ultimo.  States  that  the  Dutch 
Company  have  always  been  very  willing  to  forward  any  letters  com- 
mitted to  their  charge,  and  wishes  they  were  as  forward  in  giving  the 
English  Company  satisfaction  for  old  diflferences,  '  but  I  hope  eare 
longe  there  maye  come  a  time  to  sett  that  one  foote  again.'  Thanks 
the  Company  for  their  favour  concerning  the  business  of  John  Clutton, 
and  declares  his  willingness  to  follow  their  directions  therein  or  to 
let  Bowen,  on  his  behalf,  proceed  in  a  legal  way  with  it,  and  he  will 
give  the  Company  security,  which  he  hopes  Alderman  Rynards  or 
Alderman  Collome  will  undertake.     (^/.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  155 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  10, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  5)' 

Plymouth  duty  amounting  to  50c/.  to  be  paid  in  part  for  the  goods 
returned  in  the  Eagle.  Stalks  and  flags  of  pepper  lying  in  the 
Exchange  cellar  to  be  sold.  The  Deputy  states  that  on  perusing 
Mr.  Fremlin's  account  he  finds  2Co/.  less  than  was  charged  to  his 
credit  formerly  ;  so  that  the  legacy  of  500/.  bequeathed  by  Fremlin 
to  the  Company's  Hospital  at  Blackwall  cannot  be  paid.  The 
Deputy  declares  that  in  his  opinion  the  Company  could  be  enforced 
to  pay  the  500/.  for  Fremlin's  last  year's  salary,  but  he  is  willing  to 
submit  to  the  Court's  decision.  He  withdraws,  and  it  is  found  that 
the  book-keeper  has  made  a  mistake  in  taking  off  the  said  200/.,  and 
after  some  debate  the  former  order  concerning  Fremlin's  salary,  etc., 
is  confirmed.  The  petition  of  Alderman  Fowke  to  the  Lords  in 
Parliament  against  the  Company  about  some  saltpetre  sold  to  him 
and  Mr.  Bonneale  is  presented,  with  their  Lordships'  order  requiring 
the  Company  to  give  a  written  answer  by  the  20th  instant  and  to 
allow  Fowke  to  see  and  have  copies  of  all  orders,  etc.,  concerning 
this  matter  ^ ;  hereupon  it  is  resolved  to  petition  the  Lords  to  re- 
voke the  latter  part  of  their  order  and  desire  them  to  examine  the 
two  decrees  made  against  Fowke  in  Chancery ;  and  the  Secretary 
and  Acton  are  directed  to  obtain  the  advice  of  Messrs.  Heme  and 
Hales  on  this  matter.  Lahore  indigo  sold  to  Richard  Midleton  at 
4J.  4,d.  per  lb.,  and  pintadoes  to  the  Deputy  at  I2.y.  per  piece. 
Edward  Collett,  formerly  a  factor  at  Bantam,  who  returned  in  the 
Blessing  charged  with  purloining  a  parcel  of  pepper  at  Jambi,  is 
found  to  have  paid  for  the  same  in  India  ;  therefore  his  salary  is 
ordered  to  be  paid  and  freight  to  be  remitted  on  some  nutmegs  he 
brought  home.     ^\PP) 

Henry  Whitaker  at  Amsterdam  to  the  Company, 
July  16,  1646  {Factory  Records ^  Java,  vol.  iii,  part  ii,  p.  807). 

Thanks  them  for  advice  of  the  goods  expected  in  the  Mary,  and 
for  particulars  of  the  sale  of  the  goods  which  came  in  the  Eagle  from 
Surat.     '  The  Seventeen '  are  to  meet  on  the  30th  instant,  and  then 

Lords'"  Journals,  vol.  viii,  p.  422.  There  are  several  references  to  Fowke's  case 
in  the  calendar  of  House  of  Lords  papers  given  in  the  sixth  report  of  the  Historical  MSS. 
Commission. 


156  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

in  three  or  four  days  the  sale  of  the  goods  which  came  in  the  nine 
ships  will  begin,  particulars  of  which  he  will  send  hereafter.  Takes 
note  that  Mr.  Lewis,  the  administrator  of  Clutton's  estate,  has  been 
with  the  Company,  and  of  the  answer  given  to  him.  Declares  his 
readiness  to  refer  this  matter  wholly  to  the  Company  to  begin  a  suit 
for  revoking  his  administration  or  not,  as  they  shall  think  best,  the 
charges  of  which  he  will  pay  and  save  the  Company  harmless.  En- 
closes a  bill  of  exchange  from  Jean  Andrew  Tenzina,  in  place  of  the 
Company's  bill  on  him  payable  the  2nd  August  by  Giles  and  Pieter 
Van  de  Patt, '  the  prime  whereof  you  may  be  pleased  to  demand  of 
Mr.  Robert  Wake.'  Has  received  a  letter  from  the  Vander  Vorts 
with  four  prime  bills  of  exchange  for  the  Company's  account.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  17, 1646  {Couri  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  7)- 

Mrs.  Knipe  to  receive  the  calicoes  sent  by  her  husband,  and  the 
freight  to  be  charged  to  his  account.  Payment  to  be  made  to  the 
Commissioners  of  the  Navy  for  borrowed  masts.  A  bill  of  exchange 
payable  to  Thomas  Steevens,  late  master  of  the  Eagle,  for  200/.  for 
the  proceeds  of  his  private  trade  paid  into  the  Company's  cash  at 
Surat,  is  ordered  to  be  accepted  and  paid.  Thomas  Lewis,  as 
administrator,  to  receive  what  is  due  upon  the  late  John  Clutton's 
estate,  on  giving  a  general  release.  On  receipt  of  a  letter  of  attorney 
made  by  Dorothy  Mainwayring,  daughter  of  the  late  John  Cox, 
authorizing  her  uncle,  Charles  Cox,  to  receive  for  her  use  200/.  of 
her  father's  estate,  the  same  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  Benjamin  Albin, 
formerly  an  apprentice  to  the  late  Matthew  Craddocke,  is  admitted 
to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  by  service,  paying  the  usual  loj.  to 
the  poor-box,  A  gratuity  of  ic/.  is  given  to  Samuel  Calcott,  servant 
to  the  Secretary,  for  his  care  and  pains  in  the  Company's  business. 
Ordered  that  no  more  of  the  wages  of  William  Binglesse  be  paid  to 
Joan  Young.  Mr.  Baker's  offer  to  buy  all  the  saltpetre  at  4/.  per 
cwt.  is  refused,  and  Sir  John  Gayer  offering  to  find  a  better  '  chap- 
man ',  he  is  given  leave  to  sell  the  saltpetre  at  4/.  ^s.  per  cwt.  at 
three  six  months.  The  Governor  and  the  Deputy  accepted  as 
securities  for  indigo  bought  by  Richard  Midleton,  who  now  buys 
five  more  barrels,     (i^  pp.) 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  157 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  24,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  8). 

Alderman  Fowke  comes  with  his  son  into  court  and  desires  to 
know  whether  the  Company  have  answered  his  petition  presented 
to  the  Lords,  and  when  he  is  to  see  and  have  copies  of  the  orders, 
etc.,  he  wishes ;  he  is  told  that  the  petition  has  been  answered,  but 
that  another  order  of  a  later  date  has  been  made  by  the  Lords  ^  but 
not  yet  drawn  up,  and  therefore  he  must  forbear  pressing  to  see  the 
papers  until  this  is  done ;  he  uses  some  '  very  uncivill  language  ' 
and  leaves  the  court.  The  officers  of  the  Custom-house  who  rendered 
the  Company  good  service  in  discovering  and  seizing  private  trade 
conveyed  out  of  the  Eagle ^  and  spent  10/.  \os.  in  so  doing,  are  to 
be  given  100/.  (to  be  charged  upon  the  goods  seized),  to  be  distributed 
as  the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  certain  Committees  shall  think  fit. 
The  Court  resolves  to  ship  about  500  bags  of  pepper  in  the  Harry 
Bonadventure,  George  S wanly  master,  for  Genoa,  and  500  bags  in 
the  Dover  Merchant,  Roger  Phillipps  master,  for  Leghorn,  at  two 
dollars  per  bag  freight,  the  said  ships  to  be  at  Gravesend  by  the  loth 
of  August  next.  Messrs.  Garway,  Willyams,  and  Riccard,  part- 
o\vners  of  the  said  vessels,  promise  that  they  shall  keep  together,  on 
pain  of  forfeiting  what  shall  be  due  for  freight.  It  is  also  resolved 
to  ship  500  bags  of  the  Marys  pepper  in  the  Freeman,  Jacob  Hide, 
master,  and  500  bags  in  the  London,  John  Steevens,  master.  The 
Court  directs  that  the  division  of  \^iq>oI.  due  upon  Sir  John 
Wolstenholme's  adventure  in  the  General  Voyage  be  paid  to 
Mr.  Rolle,^  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  according  to  an 
order  of  the  Committee  for  Sequestration  dated  the  15th  of 
November,  1644.  Letters  from  Bantam  stating  that  the  Coast 
factors  have  had  to  take  up  money  there  at  i\  and  3  per  cent,  per 
month  interest,  it  is  resolved  to  send  a  ship  to  the  Coast  with  lo.coo/. 
stock,  and  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  view  a  Hull  ship  of 

^  For  the  Company's  petition  see  the  sixth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission, 
pp.  127,  131,  132.  It  was  read  by  the  Lords  on  July  22,  when  it  was  decided  to  hear  the 
cause  on  October  15,  and  that  Fowke  should  in  the  meantime  be  pennitted  to  see  the 
Company's  books  '^Lords'  Journals,  vol.  viii,  pp.  438,  439).  On  July  24  the  Lords 
ordered  that  the  Company  should  answer  the  Alderman's  petition  within  fourteen  days  and 
that  he  should  be  allowed  to  take  copies  of  all  relevant  documents  {Ibid.,  p.  443). 

*  John  Roll,  M.P.  for  Truro  (see  the  Calendar  of  Committee  for  Compounding,  voL  t, 
p.  2691). 


158  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF   THE 

about  150  or  200  tons  burden  ;  and,  as  the  ships  built  in  the  Com- 
pany's yard  do  the  best  service,  Steevens  is  asked  how  long  it  would 
take  to  build  a  vessel  of  this  size ;  he  replies  about  three  months, 
but  desires  time  to  give  a  positive  answer.  Meanwhile  he  is  directed 
to  hasten  the  repairs  to  the  Blessing  and  Eagle.  Baker  again  offers 
to  buy  the  Company's  saltpetre  on  certain  conditions,  but  to  these 
the  Court  will  not  be  bound.  Old  cables  to  be  sold.  William 
Gaskin,  injured  at  Blackwall,  is  given  loj.     {^\pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  31,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  II). 

The  son  of  William  Bolton  desires  a  warrant  for  200/.  due  upon 
his  father's  adventure  in  the  General  Voyage;  but  there  being 
a  debt  due  from  Bolton  and  others,  this  request  is  denied  till  the 
debt  is  paid.  An  order  dated  March  14,  1646,  from  the  Committee 
of  Gloucester  sitting  at  Dorset  House  in  Channel  Row,  is  presented, 
in  which  Sir  Peter  Rychaut's  estate  in  the  Company's  hands  is 
sequestered  and  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  Committee,  and  empower- 
ing them  to  see  his  account.  The  gentlemen  bringing  the  order  are 
told  that  the  money  due  to  Sir  Peter  has  already  been  sequestered 
by  several  orders  of  Parliament,  that  he  has  arrested  the  Company's 
goods  at  Genoa,  Leghorn,  and  Venice,  and  that '  the  sequestrations 
about  the  same  are  not  yett  ended  ' ;  therefore  the  Company  refuses 
to  part  with  any  money  due  to  Sir  Peter,  but  the  Committee  can  see 
his  account  when  they  please.  Another  500/.  to  be  paid  for  Plymouth 
duty  on  the  goods  returned  in  the  Eagle.  Jesson  and  Mosse  having 
come  to  an  agreement,  the  former  requests  that  the  Company  will 
detain  the  2,400/.,  the  proceeds  of  the  late  Thomas  Jesson's  adventure, 
and  allow  six  per  cent,  interest  for  the  same  for  two  years,  and  that 
the  adventure  itself  may  be  entered  as  belonging  to  John  Holloway  ; 
to  this  the  Court  consents,  Jesson  therefore  transfers  to  Holloway 
2,387/.  9^.  8^.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock, 
entered  in  the  name  of  his  brother,  Thomas  Jesson.  The  Court 
deciding  to  send  a  ship  to  the  Coast,  and  Steevens  stating  that  he  can 
build  a  small  pinnace  of  about  160  tons  soon  enough  to  be  dispeeded 
to  India  in  November,  he  is  ordered  to  do  so  with  all  possible  ex- 
pedition. William  Vincent,  who  desires  to  buy  pepper,  to  be  allowed 
to  do  so  at  15^.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months.     (i|//.) 


EAST  INDIA    COMPANY  159 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  7,  1646  {Cottrt  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  13). 

A  dispute  arising  concerning  repairs  to  the  Company's  ships,  one 
of  the  Committees  asserts  that  he  and  two  or  three  others  looked 
over  the  books  and  found  that  a  loss  of  2,000/.  or  3,000/.  had  been 
incurred  in  setting  forth  the  Blessing,  and  that  a  freighted  ship,  even 
if  40/.  per  ton  had  been  paid  for  freight,  would  have  been  cheaper  ; 
hereupon  certain  Committees  are  entreated  to  look  into  this  matter. 
Other  Committees  are  desired  to  go  aboard  the  Mary  next  Monday 
and  see  her  hold  broken  open.  William  Vincent's  offer  to  buy 
pepper  at  i^d.  per  lb.  at  four  six  months  is  refused.  A  bezar  stone, 
a  counterfeit  jewel,  and  gold  weighing  thirty-three  rials,  found  in  the 
Mary  in  a  box  of  writings,  are  brought  into  court  and  delivered  to 
Dunkin,  who  is  to  reserve  the  gold  for  his  own  use,  it  being  directed 
to  him,  and  to  keep  the  other  articles  until  claimed.  Mr.  Collett 
requests  that,  as  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  on  his  staying 
beyond  his  appointed  time  raised  his  salary  from  30/.  to  50/.  per 
annum,  this  latter  amount  may  be  allowed  upon  his  account ;  to  this 
the  Court  will  not  agree,  but,  in  consideration  of  his  good  services, 
consents  to  remit  the  freight  due  upon  the  remainder  of  his  private 
trade.  The  estate  of  Richard  Waples,  who  died  in  India,  to  be  paid 
to  John  Waples,  he  having  taken  out  letters  of  administration.  The 
petition  of  John  Last,  administrator  of  the  estate  of  Edward  Browne, 
is  read,  in  which  he  desires  to  be  paid  what  is  due  for  the  mainte- 
nance of  Browne's  child, '  which  is  under  his  tuition '  [i.  e.  guardian- 
ship] ;  the  Court  orders  80/.,  the  proceeds  of  Browne's  adventure  in 
the  General  Voyage,  to  be  paid  to  Last  for  the  use  of  the  said  child  ; 
but  the  latter  being  *  a  Citty  orphane ',  the  Secretary  is  desired  to 
acquaint  the  Common  Crier  with  this  before  the  money  is  paid. 
Sybil  Wright,  who  took  out  letters  of  administration  for  Thomas 
Wheeler's  estate  during  the  minority  of  his  child,  and  has  main- 
tained the  said  child  for  the  last  five  years,  is  ordered  to  be  paid 
another  10/.,  and  7/.  half-yearly,  to  begin  from  last  Midsummer,  for 
the  child's  maintenance,  these  sums  to  be  allowed  out  of  Wheeler's 
estate  ;  and  the  calicoes  in  the  Custom-house  belonging  to  Wheeler 
to  be  sold  and  the  proceeds  detained  by  the  Company  until  the 
child  comes  of  age  or  marries.     (2^  pp.) 


i6o  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  14, 1546  {Court  Book,  voL 
XX,  p.  15). 

The  indigo  and  tincal  brought  home  as  private  trade  in  the  Eagle, 
being  forbidden  commodities,  are  ordered  to  be  detained  and  the 
owners  paid  is.  6d.  per  lb.  for  the  rich  indigo,  is.  Sd.  for  the  flat  and 
round  indigo,  and  4/.  per  cwt.  for  the  tincal,  provided  all  are  as  good 
as  the  Company's  own  ;  the  maces  to  be  delivered  on  payment  of 
4/.  per  cwt.  freight,  and  the  '  lapis  tutia '  on  payment  of  20s.  per  cwt. 
freight.  Two  of  the  Committees  for  Private  Trade  are  desired  to 
proportion  the  amount  to  be  paid  by  each  owner  of  the  goods  taken 
out  of  the  Eagle  and  put  aboard  the  Golden  Katherine  and  the  Four 
Sisters  towards  the  100/.  to  be  given  to  the  Surveyors  of  Customs 
for  discovering  and  seizing  the  said  goods.  Edward  Waterman^ 
boatswain  in  the  Eagle,  who  is  very  ill,  to  be  given  40/.  on  account 
of  his  private  trade,  which  is  all  in  the  possession  of  the  Company. 
The  Governor  desires  to  know  when  a  general  court  is  to  be  called, 
as  the  time  is  going  apace  and  in  his  opinion  it  will  be  well  to  send 
out  a  stock  this  year,  but  first  to  ascertain  how  the  Company's  estate 
stands  at  Bantam.  This  cannot  be  done  without  Cartwright's 
accounts,  and  he  is  so  ill  that  he  has  not  been  able  to  perfect  them. 
Messrs.  Garway  and  Gould  are  desired  to  go  to  Cartwright's  lodging 
(close  at  hand)  and  see  how  he  is  ;  and  on  their  return  the  Court 
resolves  that  Cartwright's  books  shall  be  brought  next  morning  to 
the  Company's  house  for  him  to  perfect  with  the  assistance  of 
Sambrooke.  Agreed  that  advice  be  sent  to  the  factors  at  Venice 
to  provide  twenty  bullions  of  quicksilver  to  be  sent  next  year  to 
India.     (i|//.) 

Order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  August  19,  1646* 
{Home  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xl,  p.  i). 

Appointing  *  Thursday  next  come  seavenight '  for  the  report 
concerning  the  East  India  Company  to  be  made.  Signed  by  H. 
Elsynge,  clerk,     (i/.) 

'  Commons'  Journals,  vol.  iv,  p.  648. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  i6i 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  21,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  17). 

For  the  three  bales  of  'cosses'  \see  tJie  previous  volutne,  p.  29] 
brought  home  in  the  Eagle  from  Surat  as  private  trade,  the  owners 
are  to  be  paid  the  value  in  India  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  per  rial,  accord- 
ing to  an  order  of  the  Court  made  the  19th  of  March,  1645.  The 
tincal  detained  is  now  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the  several  owners, 
they  to  pay  3c/.  per  ton  freight,  besides  their  proportion  of  the  100/. 
to  be  given  to  the  Surveyors  of  Customs.  The  Marys  men  to  be 
paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  them.  Mrs.  Kent,  widow  of  the 
late  minister  at  Bantam,  to  receive  her  husband's  estate,  she  having 
proved  his  will.  Valentine  Markham's  request  for  an  increase  of 
salary  is  refused,  but  he  is  given  a  gratuity  of  30/.,  and  is  directed  to 
keep  a  register  of  all  errors  he  shall  find  in  the  Company's  books 
and  present  a  list  of  the  same  every  year  in  the  month  of  May. 
Jane,  mother  of  the  late  William  Smethwicke,  a  factor  deceased  at 
Bantam,  presents  a  letter  of  administration  for  her  son's  estate. 
The  Court,  being  informed  that  his  accounts  are  not  yet  returned, 
but  that  according  to  a  clause  in  the  letter  from  Bantam  260/.  is  due 
upon  the  inventory  of  the  sale  of  his  goods,  orders  50/.  to  be  paid  to 
her  on  account,  and  promises  that  on  arrival  of  the  accounts  she 
shall  receive  what  is  due.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet 
Captain  Mynors  and  examine  and  report  on  some  papers  in  his 
possession,    (a  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  28,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  19). 

The  Mary  to  be  brought  into  Blackwall  Dock  to  be  examined. 
Mr.  Martin  is  allowed  15/.  for  accepting  narrow  Surats  when  he 
originally  bought  '  derebauds '.  A  list  of  the  private  trade  brought 
home  by  Captain  Mynors  in  the  Mary  is  presented,  and  the  Court 
orders  all  (with  the  exception  of  some  black  pepper)  to  be  delivered 
free  of  freight.  Anne,  wife  of  Richard  Garrett  in  the  Hopewell,  to 
be  paid  four  months  of  her  husband's  wages,  Anthony  Mildemay 
promising  to  save  the  Company  harmless.  The  calicoes  sent  by 
Thomas  Winter,  a  factor  at  the  Coast,  to  his  father  are  to  be  detained 
until  the  son  arrives  home.     Francis  Herbert  presents  letters  of 

S.C.M.   Ill  M 


i62  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

administration  for  the  estate  of  Peter  Herbert,  who  died  in  India ; 
he  is  ordered  to  receive  what  is  due,  after  61.  has  been  deducted  for 
passage  and  diet ;  *  a  home  cupp  and  a  rough  agatt  boule ',  with 
other  jewels  of  little  value,  are  also  to  be  handed  over  to  him. 
John  Blount  is  given  a  gratuity  of  loo  marks  for  his  care  and  pains 
in  the  Company's  business,  he  not  having  had  a  gratuity  for  twenty 
years.  A  general  court  is  ordered  to  be  summoned  for  this  day 
sennight  in  the  afternoon,     (i^//.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  September  2, 1646  {Court Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  21). 

Sale  of  rice,  white  pepper,  dust  of  wet  and  dry  pepper,  round 
Sinda  indigo,  Lahore  indigo,  dust  of  indigo,  cloves,  benzoin,  quilts, 
ginghams,  percallas,  sallampores,  diaper  napkins,  betteelees,  morees, 
and  longcloth,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.     (3  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  4,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  24). 

Blunt  is  ordered  to  deliver  Coromandel  indigo  to  Messrs,  Martin 
and  Gould,  who  promise  their  dyers  shall  make  trial  of  it.  Cinna- 
mon and  pepper  sold  to  William  Hooker.  Premium  of  insurances 
to  be  paid.  Mr.  Delanoy  asserts  that  among  the  benzoin  he  bought 
at  the  last  court  of  sales  there  is  a  chest  which  does  not  contain  that 
commodity,  whereupon  the  Court  agrees  that  he  need  only  pay  half 
price  for  the  said  chest.  Tincal  sold  to  Mr.  Delanoy  at  5/.  12s.  per 
cwt.  at  three  six  months.  A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read, 
and  the  Court  directs  that  when  Spiller  returns  from  the  country  he 
shall  sue  Messrs.  Burton,  Gale,  and  Rumsey.     (|/.) 

A  General  Court,  September  4, 1646  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  25). 

The  Governor  announces  that  the  generality  have  been  called  to- 
gether to  decide  concerning  the  prosecution  of  the  trade  next  year  ; 
their  meeting  has  been  delayed  in  expectation  that  the  Company's 
ordinance  for  regulating  the  trade  would  have  been  passed,  a  report 
to  the  House  of  Commons  alone  being  wanted  to  effect  this,  but 
•  other  great  affaires  of  State  have  hindred  the  same  as  yett  * ; 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  163 

nevertheless  all  the  particulars  of  the  ordinance  have  been  voted  by 
the  several  Committees  to  which  it  has  been  referred,  as  well  as  by 
the  Grand  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons,  and  '  they  have 
beene  pleased  to  vote  the  Company  to  bee  incorporated  ;  they  have 
limited  the  bounds  of  the  trade  as  much  as  was  desired  ;  they  have 
forbidden  all  others  from  trading,  upon  forfeiture  of  shippes  and 
goods  ;  they  have  given  power  to  the  Company  to  fyne  and  imprison 
for  disobedience ;  they  have  ordred  that  any  man  shalbe  free  of  the 
Company,  paying  5/.  for  a  fyne  ;  they  have  likewise  thought  fitt  to 
vote  the  government  to  bee  as  shalbe  agreed  upon  by  the  major 
part  of  the  adventurers  at  their  generall  courts ;  they  have  also 
agreed  upon  a  provisoe  for  Mr.  Courteene  that  hee  nor  his  parte- 
ners  shall  send  any  more  shipping  thither,  but  they  shall  have  three 
yeares  tyme  to  drawe  home  their  estates  from  those  parts '.  These 
particulars  and  the  hope  of  the  speedy  passing  of  the  ordinance 
have  been  taken  into  consideration  ;  and  the  Court  of  Committees 
knowing  that  there  is  no  time  to  be  lost,  and  that  it  is  very  necessary 
for  the  Joint  Stock  to  send  out  ships  and  stock  this  year  (which  if 
the  adventurers  in  that  Stock  refuse  to  do,  then  particular  men  will 
undertake  it)  has  decided,  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  generality, 
to  dispeed  four  [sic]  ships  and  a  pinnace  this  year  for  all  parts 
of  India,  viz. :  a  pinnace  to  the  Coast  with  10,000/.  stock,  a  ship  to 
Bantam  with  20,000/.,  and  two  ships  to  Surat  with  50,000/.  The 
Governor  then  gives  the  following  details  :  the  capital  of  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  with  the  addition  in  the  year  1643,  was  104,540/., 
of  which  20,000/.  was  lost  in  the  J^o/m  through  Mucknell's  treachery, 
and  30,000/,  [sic]  by  the  loss  of  the  Discovery  with  her  lading ;  that 
interest  amounting  to  35,000/.  has  been  paid  in  England,  making  in 
all  85,000/. ;  that  the  Stock  is  indebted  in  England  '  more  then  there 
are  effects  in  Christendom  about  122,000/.',  and  to  satisfy  this  debt 
there  is  83,600/.  in  quick  stock  at  Surat,  60,731/.  at  Bantam,  besides 
eight  ships  at  Surat,  which  with  charges  cost  21,980/.,  and  nine  ships 
at  Bantam,  which  cost  9,200/.,  and  the  customs  at  Gombroon,  worth 
5,000/. ;  in  all,  180,511/.  That  it  is  greatly  hoped  that  the  profit  of 
the  returns  expected  from  the  quick  stock  will  nearly  clear  the 
122,000/.  ;  and  if  so  there  will  be  remaining  in  ships,  money,  ware, 
and  debts,  here  and  in  India,  to  the  value  of  180,000/.,  without 
reckoning  the  profit  of  the  voyages  to  China,  Manilla,  Bussorah,  and 

M  2 


i64  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

the  Red  Sea,  'which  wee  esteeme  onely  to  pay  the  interest  and 
charges  of  India.'  The  Governor  then  advises  that  the  homeward- 
bound  ships  should  be  insured  for  100,000/.  and  those  outward- 
bound  for  50,000/.  He  is  requested  to  put  the  foregoing  proposi- 
tions to  the  question.  This  he  does,  and  it  is  unanimously  agreed 
by  erection  of  hands  that  the  trade  for  the  ensuing  year  shall  be 
continued  upon  the  old  stock,  that  three  ships  and  two  pinnaces,  or 
else  four  ships  and  one  pinnace,  shall  be  sent  out  this  year  with 
80,000/.  stock,  and  that  the  homeward-bound  ships  shall  be  assured 
for  100,000/,  and  those  outward-bound  for  50,000/.     {'2<  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  9,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  27). 

It  is  resolved  to  send  the  Eagle  with  100  men  and  the  Blessing 
with  6^  men  to  Surat,  the  Mary  with  200  men  to  Bantam,  and  the 
ship  now  being  built  with  '^^  men  to  the  Coast.  Rilston  is  directed 
to  provide  the  necessary  victuals,  and  certain  Committees  to  see  to 
the  provision  of  cordage.  Captain  Mynors  declaring  that  the  bolts 
and  treenails  in  the  Mary  are  defective,  he  and  Messrs.  Pett, 
Steevens,  Godfrey,  Head,  Goad,  and  Jay  are  desired  to  examine  her 
and  report  to  Sir  John  Gayer  and  the  other  Committees  of  Black- 
wall  Yard,  and  request  them  to  view  her.  William,  Thomas,  and 
John  Bewly  accepted  as  securities  for  indigo  and  dust  of  pepper. 
Lewis  Bowen  to  have  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight  one  dupper  * 
of  tincal  sent  to  him  by  his  son,  who  is  master  in  the  Endeavour. 
A  warrant  for  540/.  due  to  Mr.  Holloway  to  be  accepted  in  part 
payment  of  goods  bought,  he  promising  to  pay  his  long-outstanding 
debt  with  the  interest  on  the  first  sale  of  his  goods.  Certain  Com- 
mittees to  examine  defective  calicoes  which  were  bought  at  the  last 
court  of  sales  and  proportion  the  allowance  to  be  made  for  the  same. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  16,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  29). 

A  bag  of  pepper  to  be  delivered  to  the  *  weighters'  of  the  Custom- 
house at  lid.  per  lb.    Ellen,  widow  of  Cassius  Cole,  formerly  purser 

*  Hind.  ^aMa//,  a  leathern  jar. 


EAST   L\DIA   COMPANY  165 

in  the  Hind,  to  be  given  57/.  due  to  her  late  husband.  Garbled 
Jambi  pepper  sold  to  William  Hooker  at  15^^.  per  lb.  at  three  six 
months.     {\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  18, 1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  30). 

A  warrant  for  2,000/.  to  be  made  out  to  the  Commissioners  of 
Customs  in  part  payment  for  goods  returned  in  the  Mary.  Mr. 
Chamocke,  receiver  of  the  '  Argier '  duty,  requests  its  payment  for 
goods  returned  in  the  Eagle  \  he  is  told  that  2,000/.  has  already 
been  paid,  which  it  was  expected  would  have  been  returned  before 
now ;  therefore  it  is  resolved  to  pay  only  half  and  keep  the  remainder, 
according  to  the  ordinance  of  Parliament.  Flat  indigo  sold  to 
Richard  Clutterbucke,  and  '  tamarine '  to  Messrs.  Mathews  and 
Tyther.  Mr.  Tutchin  complaining  of  yam  sold  to  him  is  advised  to 
make  trial  of  it  first.  Morees  and  sallampores  to  be  delivered  free 
of  freight  to  Mrs.  Polleyne.  Thomas  Corker,  one  of  the  men  con- 
cerned in  the  betrayal  of  the  John,  who  is  imprisoned  in  the  Marshal- 
sea  and  has  been  in  irons  since  Easter,  is  to  be  released  on  account 
of  his  poverty,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  25,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  31). 

The  Keeper  of  the  Marshalsea  to  be  given  39J.  gd.  for  an  allow- 
ance of  '^d.  per  day  to  Thomas  Corker.  The  sum  of  500/.  to  be 
paid  in  part  for  Plymouth  duty  for  goods  returned  in  the  Mary.  Mr. 
Delabarre  desiring  some  allowance  on  defective  calicoes  bought  by 
Captain  Lacy,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  and 
report  on  these.  A  list  of  particulars  of  merchandise,  provisions, 
and  other  necessaries  wanted  at  Surat  [Bantam  in  the  margin]  is 
read,  but  resolution  hereon  deferred.  Steevens  wanting  masts  and 
having  been  offered  fourteen  by  Mr.  Price  for  500/.,  the  Court  con- 
siders six  should  be  sufficient  and  that  Price  should  be  spoken  to  on 
the  Exchange,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  2,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  32). 

An  additional  2,000/.  to  be  paid  for  custom  on  goods  returned  in 
the  Mary.    Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  the  sallam- 


i66  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

pores  bought  by  Captain  Story  and  said  to  be  defective.  Captain 
Lacy  is  allowed  25/.  for  the  damaged  calicoes  sold  to  him  and 
to  Messrs.  Dowlins  and  Delabarre.  Garbled  pepper  bought  by 
Richard  Nelmes.  The  Court,  remarking  the  activity  of  Alderman 
Fowke  and  his  frequent  visits  to  the  '  Parlyament  house  '  with  re- 
gard to  his  petition  to  the  Lords  against  the  Company,  entreats 
certain  Committees  to  take  this  business  under  their  care,  advise 
with  counsel,  and  ask  such  Lords  as  they  know  for  their  just  and 
lawful  favour.  John  Barry,  who  returned  as  chirurgeon  in  the 
Hester  (a  ship  of  Courteen's),  to  be  paid  what  is  owing  to  him  for 
his  employment  in  the  Company's  service ;  but  Messrs.  Yeo,  Hatch, 
and  Smith,  factors,  and  Anthony  Steevens,  a  young  man  who  came 
home  in  the  Mary,  are  not  to  be  paid  anything  without  the  Court's 
especial  order.  Mr.  Ashwell  reports  that  he  with  the  Treasurer  and 
Mr.  Midleton  has  examined  Gerard  Pinson's  account  touching  the 
1,000  pagodas  pretended  to  have  been  taken  up  by  him  at  the  Coast, 
over  and  above  the  i  ,000  pagodas  formerly  charged  to  his  account. 
Pinson  allowed  1,000  pagodas  to  the  Company,  with  160/.  as 
interest,  when  he  was  in  England ;  but  for  the  second  sum  no  reason 
can  be  found  (and  they  have  examined  the  books,  letters,  and  accounts 
from  India)  to  lay  this  to  his  charge.  Hereupon  Pinson's  account  is 
ordered  to  be  cleared  of  this  charge,  and  Henry  Pinson,  his  father 
and  executor,  to  be  paid  all  moneys,  etc.,  as  are  or  shall  appear  to  be 
due.    {i\pp>i 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  9,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol. 

XX,  p.  '>,'^\ 

An  additional  500/.  to  be  paid  for  Plymouth  duty  on  the  goods 
returned  in  the  Mary.  The  accounts  of  Captain  Minors  and  of  Messrs. 
Godfrey,  Gardiner,  Ewins,  and  Curtis,  master's  mates  in  the  Mary, 
to  be  made  up.  A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read,  and  the 
Court  orders  that  Richard  Allen,  who  is  security  for  Mr.  Gearing's 
debt,  be  sued ;  also  Robert  Gale,  if  he  does  not  give  present  satis- 
faction, and  Mr.  Rumsey,  if  he  does  not  pay  the  greater  part  of 
his  debt  between  this  and  Monday.  Steevens  presents  an  estimate 
of  what  the  repairs  to  the  Mary  would  cost,  which  amounts  in  all  to 
1,097/. ;  and  after  long  debate  the  Court  resolves  that  she  shall  be 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  167 

repaired  with  all  possible  speed.     Messrs.  Tither  and  Mathews  are 
allowed  7/.  for  defective  'tamarine.'    {^^PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  14,  1646  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  zs)' 

The  Court,  on  information  of  the  death  of  Fotherby,  their  clerk 
at  Blackwall,  resolves  to  elect  another  man  in  his  place,  and  takes 
into  consideration  the  requests  of  Benjamin  Robinson,  son-in-law  to 
Fotherby,  Thomas  Tomblings,  who  has  been  four  times  to  the 
Indies  as  purser,  and  Samuel  Sambrooke ;  their  choice  falls  upon 
Tomblings,  who,  being  called  in  and  told,  promises  to  leave  1,000/. 
at  interest  with  the  Company  as  security  for  his  fidelity.  He  is 
directed  to  proceed  to  Blackwall  and  told  that  his  wages  shall  be 
settled  later.  Certain  Committees  are  also  desired  to  go  to  Black- 
wall  and  make  an  inventory  of  all  stores,  etc.,  there.  The  Treasurer 
is  requested  to  provide  rials  to  the  value  of  4,000/.,  and  if  he  can 
procure  5,000  or  6,000  more  at  4J.  dd.  per  dollar  to  do  so.  The 
Governor  is  given  leave  to  sell  thirty  barrels  of  indigo  at  4^.  dd. 
per  lb.,  but  not  under.  Roger  Brettridge,  executor  to  his  mother 
Anne,  widow  of  the  late  Roger  Brettridge,  transfers  to  Gilbert 
Morewood  112/.  lOi'.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock,  and  to  Andrew  Morewood  a  like  sum  in  the  same  Stock. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  30,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  36). 

Thomas  Godfrey,  Thomas  Dowell,  and  Robert  Tindall  apply  for 
the  post  of  master  in  the  Farewell,  the  ship  now  upon  the  stocks 
and  designed  for  the  Coast ;  Godfrey  is  entertained  at  7/.  per 
month.  Nicholas  Read  is  entertained  as  purser,  and  James  Kidwell 
as  steward.  Messrs.  Burton  and  Piggott  desiring  that  part  of  the 
interest  due  upon  their  great  debt  for  indigo  may  be  remitted,  they 
are  told  that  on  payment  of  2,000/.  some  Committees  shall  be 
appointed  to  treat  with  them  on  this  matter  ;  but  they  not  being 
willing  to  agree  to  this,  the  Court  resolves  to  sue  them,  and  Acton 
is  directed  to  consult  with  Mr.  Heme  and  report  at  the  next  court. 
The  request  of  Francis  Day  for  settlement  of  his  business  is  read, 


i68  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

and  the  Court  orders  that  any  six  of  the  Committees  formerly 
appointed  to  attend  to  this  matter  shall  be  accounted  a  full  com- 
mittee, provided  three  are  for  the  Stock  and  three  for  the  Voyage  ; 
and  the  Secretary  is  desired  to  wait  on  the  Lord  Mayor  [Sir 
Thomas  Adams]  and  ascertain  if  he  would  like  to  be  present  at  the 
hearing.  Margaret  Frith,  administratrix  of  Humphrey  Alcocke, 
deceased  in  India,  to  be  paid  all  wages  due  to  the  said  Alcocke. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  4,  1646  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  37). 

Sifted  pepper  sold  to  Nicholas  Franco  for  transportation  to  Spain 
for  \^\d,  per  lb.  at  three  six  months.  On  information  that  the  new 
ship  will  be  ready  to-morrow  to  be  launched,  she  is  named  the 
Farewell.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  hear  and  report 
on  the  matter  in  dispute  between  Captain  Mynors  and  Mr.  Cart- 
wright  ;  others  to  peruse  Mr.  Yard's  account  and  report  their 
opinions  concerning  his  demands.  Guns  to  be  bought  for  the  Fare- 
well   {%pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  6,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  38). 

Two  chests  of  tokens  brought  from  Bantam  by  Mr.  Cartwright 
are  ordered  to  be  viewed  at  the  next  court.  Taking  into  considera- 
tion the  scarcity  of  rials  and  that  many  will  be  wanted  for  the  ships 
to  be  sent  to  India  this  year,^  the  Court  discusses  whether  to  em- 
ploy a  factor  at  Hamburg  to  buy  them  there,  or  to  contract  with 
some  merchant-adventurers  here ;  finally  it  is  agreed  to  adopt  the 
former  course,  and  Francis  Townley  is  chosen  for  the  post,  Anthony 
Bateman  declaring  himself  willing  to  be  answerable  to  the  Company 
for  him  ;  a  letter  is  directed  to  be  written  to  Townley,  instructing 
him  to  provide  dollars  to  the  value  of  4,000/.  with  all  convenient 
speed  and  send  them  by  the  first  ship  bound  for  London.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Waller  and  Mr.  John  Tren chard ,^  members  of  the  House  of 

^  On  December  23,  1646,  the  House  of  Commons  gave  permission  for  the  exportation 
of  foreign  coin  or  bullion  in  the  Farewell  to  the  value  of  10,000/. 

*  Member  for  Wareham,  in  Dorset.  Waller  is  of  course  the  well-known  Parliamentary 
general. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  169 

Commons,  assert  that  they  have  been  told  the  Company  has  600/. 
due  to  Sir  Peter  Richaut  upon  his  adventure  in  the  Voyage ;  this 
sum  they  desire  may  be  paid  to  them,  according  to  several  ordi- 
nances of  the  House  of  Commons  when  his  estate  was  sequestered 
and  assigned  to  them  ;  and  they  promise,  if  this  is  done,  to  procure 
an  ordinance  of  Parliament  to  secure  the  Company  from  Sir  Peter 
for  whatsoever  it  has  parted  with  of  his  estate,  and  if  more  has  been 
disbursed  than  the  Company  had  in  its  possession,  the  same  shall  be 
paid  from  the  said  estate.  Sir  William  and  Mr.  Trenchard  are 
asked  to  '  walke  into  the  parlour ',  and  the  Court  after  a  long 
discussion  resolves  not  to  part  with  the  600/.  Hereupon  the  two 
gentlemen  are  recalled  and  told  that  the  Company  has  no  money 
of  Sir  Peter's,  and  has  spent  more  than  600/.  at  Goa,  Leghorn,  and 
Venice  in  protecting  its  goods  from  him.  Ralph  Cartwright  having 
renounced,  as  executor,  probate  of  the  will  of  the  late  Roger  Farley, 
what  is  due  upon  that  account  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  Mrs.  Farley, 
as  administratrix,  she  giving  security  to  save  the  Company  harmless. 
The  request  of  Benjamin  Robinson  for  remission  of  the  remainder 
of  his  debt  of  1,000/.  is  refused,  the  Court  remembering  its  former 
favour  accorded  to  him  in  July,  1643,  and  learning  from  Sambrooke 
that  he  still  owes  500/,,  for  which  there  is  no  satisfaction.  Katherine, 
widow  of  Walter  Clarke,  who  died  in  India,  to  be  paid  all  moneys 
due  to  her  late  husband  except  400/.,  for  which  she  is  to  be  allowed 
interest  at  the  rate  of  6  per  cent.,  if  on  the  arrival  of  the  ships 
so  much  is  found  to  be  due  to  her.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  ii,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  40). 

On  presentation  of  a  note  from  the  Commissioners  of  Sewers,  the 
Company  agrees  to  pay  its  share  for  repairs  to  the  East  Marsh  at 
Blackwall;  this  will  amount  to  about  5/.  16s.  Certain  Committees 
are  requested  to  go  to  the  Custom-house  and  examine  the  tokens 
brought  home  by  Mr.  Cartwright.  Flat  Coromandel  indigo  sold 
to  John  Brett  at  iM.  per  lb.  at  six  months.  The  Deputy  and 
Mr.  Andrews  are  desired  to  examine  calicoes  bought  by  Messrs. 
Mead  and  Woollnoth,  drapers,  said  to  be  defective.  John  Sheppy, 
a  bricklayer,  is  accepted  as  security  for  Mrs.  Farley.  Extracts 
from  the  letters  from  Surat,  Bantam,  and  the  Coast  being  read, 


I70  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

a  bale  of  broadcloth  is  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Bantam,  and  sixty 
butts  of  strong  beer  for  merchandise  ;  the  wages  accorded  to  James 
Wombwell  by  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  are  confirmed, 
and  Richard  Bladwell's  wages  ordered  to  be  increased  to  20/. 
per  annum  ;  at  the  same  time  the  Court  orders  that  any  increase  of 
salary  made  abroad  shall  stop  directly  the  recipient  goes  on  board 
ship  to  return  home,  from  which  time  he  is  to  be  paid  according  to 
his  original  salary.  Satins  and  velvets  to  be  provided  for  Surat 
and  Bantam,  and  a  piece  of  fine  scarlet  for  the  King  of  Jambi. 
Houghton,  the  brewer,  to  be  paid  200/.  for  strong  beer  supplied  for 
this  year's  ships  for  India,     {i^  pp) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear  Mr. 
Day's  Business,  November  13, 1646  {Court  Book,  vo\.  xx,  p.  41). 

Part  of  the  charge  against  Day  and  his  answer  to  the  same  are 
read  ;  '  the  great  exorbitance  of  his  private  trade  and  other  crimes 
laid  to  his  charge '  are  discussed,  and  a  motion  is  made  that,  as  he 
has  given  no  satisfactory  answer,  a  bill  shall  be  put  into  Chancery 
against  him,  when  he  will  be  forced  to  answer  every  question  upon 
oath.  After  much  debate  it  is  thought  best  for  the  matter  to  be 
settled  by  the  Company,  if  Day  will  consent  to  submit  to  its  cen- 
sure ;  and  this  he  willingly  agrees  to  do.  Particular  notice  is  taken 
of  his  having  carried  118  bales  of  private  trade  in  the  Hopewell  from 
the  Coast  to  Persia  and  hired  a  house  next  door  to  the  Company  to 
sell  it.  He  is  called  in  and  asked  to  whom  the  said  trade  belonged. 
He  confesses  that  100  bales  were  received  at  the  said  house,  fifty  or 
sixty  of  which  belonged  to  Trumball  and  forty-six  to  Winter,. 
Penniston,  and  Greenhill,  and  that  he  sold  all  for  them.  It  is  next 
debated  whether  to  hear  each  article  of  the  charge  and  fine  Day 
separately  for  each  one,  or  to  make  one  fine  for  the  entire  charge ; 
this  latter  mode  is  agreed  upon  and  the  Committees  decide  to  fix 
the  fine  at  500/.,  and  acquaint  the  Court  with  their  decision  before 
informing  Day.  The  latter  is  told  that  his  business  is  almost 
settled  but,  before  being  made  acquainted  with  the  Committees* 
decision,  he  is  to  give  in  a  note  of  the  names  of  the  owners  of  the 
118  bales  of  private  trade.    This  he  promises  to  do.     (i  p.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  171 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  14,  1646  {Coitrt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  42). 

A  letter  to  the  Governor  from  Sir  Nathaniel  Brent,  Judge  of  the 
Prerogative  Court,  is  read,  desiring  the  Company  to  forbear  pay- 
ment of  any  more  money  from  the  estate  of  the  late  Roger  Farley 
to  Susan  Farley,  as  a  certain  Captain  Farley  claims  it,  and  Mrs. 
Farley's  power  of  administration  is  to  be  revoked.  The  request 
of  the  widow  of  the  late  Robert  Fotherby  that  her  son-in-law  may 
be  allowed  to  perfect  the  books  left  by  her  late  husband  is  granted ; 
Robinson  asks  50/.  for  the  work,  but  the  Court  decides  to  give  him 
'^'^l.  6s.  Hd.  to  do  the  said  books  until  Tomblings  takes  up  his  work 
as  clerk  at  Blackwall  Yard.  Payment  to  Katherine  Furrall,  admi- 
nistratrix of  the  estate  of  Leonard  Couch,  who  died  in  India.  Mr. 
Godfrey's  account  ordered  to  be  cleared  and  he  to  be  given  the 
50  per  cent,  profit  on  the  400/.  he  left  with  the  Company  when  he 
went  out  as  master  of  the  Hart.  The  Governor  presents  a  letter 
from  a  gentleman  at  Dover,  giving  a  list  of  the  private  trade  from 
the  Eagle  and  Mary  entered  in  the  Custom-house  there,  and  offer- 
ing to  look  after  all  private  trade  that  shall  go  out  or  return  in  any 
of  the  Company's  ships  ;  the  Court  decides  to  accept  this  offer,  and 
a  letter  is  ordered  to  be  written  desiring  the  gentleman  to  take 
especial  care  in  this  matter,  and  it  is  resolved  that  his  services  shall 
be  considered  every  six  or  twelve  months  and  all  his  expenses 
allowed.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  18,  1646  {Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  44). 

The  proceedings  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  hear  Day's 
business  are  read,  and  the  decision  to  fine  him  50c/.  '  in  full  of 
all  his  delinquencies  '  is  confirmed  by  a  general  erection  of  hands  ; 
and  the  Court  agrees  that,  on  payment  of  the  said  50c/.,  Day  is  to 
be  given  the  remainder  of  all  moneys  due  to  him,  to  have  his  bond 
delivered,  and  to  have  the  benefit  of  his  adventure  in  the  General 
Voyage  when  any  division  shall  be  made.  William  Thurston  to  be 
paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him,  the  chests  of  stuffs  he  brought 
home  in  the  Eagle  to  be  delivered  to  him,  and  his  bond  to  be  given 
up  to  be  cancelled.     Coromandel  indigo  sold  to  James  Martin  for 


172  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

j%d.  per  lb.  at  six  months.  A  letter  is  received  from  Thomas 
Godfrey,  stating  that  owing  to  illness  he  does  not  think  he  will  be 
able  to  go  as  master  in  the  Farewell  this  voyage  ;  the  Court  sends 
him  word  that  they  will  wait  until  Friday  week  before  choosing 
another  master,  in  the  hope  that  he  may  recover ;  meanwhile 
Curtis,  the  chief  mate,  is  directed  to  get  the  ship  ready  for  her 
voyage,     {i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  ao,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  45). 

Berisford,  the  powdermaker,  is  to  mend  the  Company's  powder. 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  John  Davies,  a  labourer  in  Blackwall  Yard, 
presents  a  note  containing  many  complaints  against  Richard 
Burges,  another  labourer  ;  the  latter  is  called  in  and  questioned 
concerning  certain  iron  and  oakum  found  in  his  house.  He  affirms 
that  he  had  the  iron  from  the  William,^  which  was  lately  burnt  at 
Blackwall,  and  the  oakum  he  bought  from  Henry  Young ;  there 
being  no  one  to  prove  these  charges,  the  matter  is  referred  to  the 
Committees  for  the  Yard.  A  letter  from  Andrew  Cogan  to  the 
Deputy  is  read,  acknowledging  that  he  received  from  Captain 
Mynors  out  of  the  Mary  240  ounces  of  bezar  stone,  the  freight  for 
which  he  will  be  pleased  to  pay  if  it  is  demanded,  but  that  the  Court 
cannot  see  it,  as  it  has  been  sold.  Cogan  not  being  in  town,  resolu- 
tion herein  is  deferred.  The  small  pinnace  bought  from  Maurice 
Thomson  is  ordered  to  be  carried  in  the  Mary  to  Bantam.  Roger 
Vivian  and  Thomas  Rich,  two  Committees  for  the  General  Voyage, 
inquire  on  behalf  of  the  rest  of  the  adventurers  about  the  goods  come 
from  Surat  and  Bantam,  as  also  how  the  Voyage's  account  stands  at 
Leghorn  ;  they  are  told  that  next  Friday  they  shall  be  acquainted 
with  all  these  particulars ;  and  to  this  end  the  pepper  brought  home 
in  the  Mary  is  ordered  to  be  weighed,  and  Markham  is  directed  to  be 
ready  to  supply  all  information  that  may  be  required.  Spiller  is 
told  to  inform  Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  and  the  rest  of  the  con- 
tractors for  the  large  parcel  of  indigo  that,  unless  they  pay  in  1,000/. 
by  this  day  sennight,  action  will  be  taken  against  all  who  are  in 
town  without  further  delay.     On  reading  an  order  of  the  17th  inst. 

*  Not  the  Company's  ship  of  that  name. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  173 

from  the  Committee  of  the  Navy,  desiring  the  Company  to  pay 
to  the  collector  of  the  *  Argier '  duty  all  money  due,  the  same  is 
ordered  to  be  done.     {^hPP-) 

Francis  Townley  to  the  East  India  Company,  Hamburg, 
November  ai,  1646  {Home  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xl,  p.  15). 

Acknowledges  receipt  of  a  letter  of  the  6th  present.  Regrets 
his  inability  to  send  the  *  speaties  '  desired  by  the  Company,  as 
the  ships  are  already  laden  and  have  '  fallen  downe ' ;  but  pro- 
mises that,  if  they  are  detained  by  contrary  winds,  he  will  pro- 
vide these  goods  and  go  down  with  them  himself     (^  p.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  November  24, 1646  {Coun  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  47). 

Sale  of  percallaes,  ginghams,  morees,  sannowes,  sallampores, 
cosses,  wrappers,  cotton-wool,  indigo  shirts  [wrappers],  satin,  China 
roots,  myrrh,  dust  of  Coromandel  indigo,  Lahore  indigo,  mouldy 
pepper,  and  garbled  Jambi  pepper,  with  prices  and  names  of 
purchasers,     (i^  p) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  27,  1646  {Cotirt  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  48). 

The  action  ordered  to  be  entered  against  Mr.  Burton  and 
Company  is  to  be  deferred  for  a  week ;  and  all  proceedings  against 
John  Gearing  and  his  securities  to  be  put  off  until  next  Christmas. 
Thomas  Godfrey,  upon  whom '  it  hath  pleased  God  to  lay  his  hand 
of  visitation ',  being  unable  to  proceed  upon  his  intended  voyage, 
Michael  Yates,  Thomas  Dowell,  and  Robert  Tindall  offer  to  take 
his  place  as  master  of  the  Farrcvell ;  Tindall  is  chosen  at  a  salary 
of  61.  per  month.  Garbled  pepper  sold  to  Richard  Allen.  Cart- 
wright  appears  about  certain  money  claimed  by  Messrs.  Yates  and 
Weston,  I  go/,  of  the  wages  of  the  former  having  been  detained  by 
the  Company  for  freight  of  some  Portuguese  goods  taken  in  the 
Swan  (when  he  was  master)  from  Bantam  to  Surat  beyond  what 
the  President  and  Council  gave  commission  for ;  the  Court  thinks 
it  was  very  wrong  of  the  master  to  permit  the  purser  to  have  the 
goods  brought  aboard,  but,  as  the  latter  allowed  the  Company 


174  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

700  rials  for  frieght  of  these  goods,  Yates  is  excused  from  paying 
more ;  at  the  same  time  the  Court,  conceiving  him  to  be '  very  much 
faulty ',  because  of  this  misdemeanour  and  of  others  he  has  been 
formerly  charged  with,  declares  him  unworthy  to  serve  the  Company 
again.  Weston  presenting  a  written  statement  concerning  170/.  of 
his  detained  by  the  Company,  Cartwright  is  directed  to  give  in 
a  written  answer  to  the  same.  Messrs.  Allen  and  Ashhurst  accepted 
as  securities  by  the  balloting-box  for  calicoes,  Messrs.  Allen  and 
Shewer  for  mouldy  pepper,  and  Messrs  Allen  and  Herbert  for 
garbled  pepper.  The  following  proportion  of  men  to  be  sent  in 
the  several  ships:  90  in  the  Eagle,  60  in  the  Blessings  190  in  the 
Mary^2X\6.  ^om\}c\.i^  Farewell.     {i\  pp.) 

Francis  Townley  to  the  East  India  Company,  Hamburg, 
November  27,  1646  {Home  Miscellaneotis,  vol.  xl,  p.  15). 

Reports  that  after  the  departure  of  '  our  cloth  shipps  *,  two 
*  boyers  ',^  the  King  of  Hamburg,  and  the  Neptune  of  Hamburg, 
both  bound  for  London,  were  laden  with  com  and  piece-goods  to 
go  in  company  with  the  Spanish  ships  as  far  as  the  Downs. 
Townley  put  aboard  the  \Black'\  King  of  Hamburg  5,000  rix 
dollars  and  sends  the  bill  of  lading  by  this  post.  He  was  much 
'  staggered '  to  receive  news  this  evening  that  '  our  shipps  (who  wee 
well  hoped  [had]  gained  their  voyage)  are  still  at  Brownsbottle  * '. 
Is  undecided  what  to  do  about  the  said  money,  which  '  with  much 
trouble  and  noe  little  hazard  was  gotten  abord ' :  thinks  it  is  as  safe 
there  as  in  '  our  shipps,  in  regard  they  are  like  to  goe  in  company 
together ',  and  will  do  his  best  to  hasten  their  departure.  If  money 
can  be  had,  he  will  provide  about  7,000  or  8,000  r[ix]  d[olIars]  and 
send  them  in  the  Roebuck.  Prays  that  his  bills  of  exchange  drawn 
upon  the  Company  for  1,400/.  may  be  accepted  and  paid  ;  they  are 
.as  follows :  one  for  300/.  sterling  taken  from  Gabriel  Whittley,  one 
for  200/.  sterling  from  Jeanne  Baber,  one  for  500/.  from  John  Glinn 
and  Thomas  Smith,  and  one  for  400/.  from  George  Wakefeild. 
(I  /•) 

'  An  old  name  for  a  sloop. 

^  Brunsbiittel,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Elbe. 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  175 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  2,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  50). 

The  request  of  William,  father  of  Thomas  Winter,'  a  factor  at 

Madraspatan,  to  have  the  calicoes  sent  to  him  by  his  son  is  denied, 

the  latter  being  much  accused  of  private  trade  ;  the  Court  offers  to 

sell  the  goods  and  on  Winter's  return  (if  he  can  clear  himself)  to 

give  up  the  money  so  obtained,  but  the  father  does  not  wish  this 

course  adopted.     Andrew  Cogan  on  being  questioned  acknowledges 

that  by  rights  he  should  have  had  300  oz.  of  bazar  stones  from  the 

Mary,  but  he  only  received   240  oz.,   which   he   entered    at  the 

Custom-house,  where  he  attended  over  an  hour  to  obtain  permission 

for  one  of  the  officers  to   come  to  the  court  with  them  for  the 

Committees  to  see  the  stones,  but  he  could  get  no  one.     He  refers 

himself  wholly  to  the  Court  and  withdraws.     Upon  consideration 

of  his  offence  in  employing  the  factors  for  his  own  particular  private 

trade,  and  theirs  in  returning  him  such  a  quantity  of  bezar  stones, 

when  the  Company  can  never  get  such  a  parcel,  and  his  having 

them  conveyed  away  privately  from  the  ship,  it  is  agreed  that  he 

must  pay  100  marks.     Cogan  is  told,  and  desires  that  this  amount 

may  be  charged  to  his  account  in  the  General  Voyage  ;  he  also 

asks  that  a  small  bale  of  calicoes  sent  to  his  wife  may  be  delivered 

to  him  ;  both  these  requests  are  granted.     Messrs.  Markland  and 

Coldham,  grocers,  buy  garbled  pepper  at  155^.  per  lb.  at  three  six 

months.     The  Court  orders  aoo  or  300  bags  of  pepper  to  be  sent  to 

Venice,  there  being  only  five  bags  remaining  there.     James  Mann, 

one  of  the  owners  of  the  Anthony  Bonadventiire,  to  be  asked  to  repay 

money  taken  at  Leghorn  for  a  cable  and  anchor  supposed  to  have 

been  lost  but  since  found.     Gregory  Clement  transfers  to  William 

Methwold  2,coo/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  General  Voyage  upon 

which  3,547/.  y.  \od.  has  been  divided.     A  paper  drawn  up  by 

Ralph  Cartwright  in  answer  to  Humphrey  Weston  is  read  ;   but 

it  is  so  directly  contrary  to  Weston's  that  certain  Committees  are 

directed   to   examine    this   difference   and    report  to   the    Court. 

(i^  PP) 

^  On  p.  23  {supra)  the  names  of  the  £&ther  and  the  son  appear  to  have  been  inadTcr- 
tently  transposed  in  the  Minates. 


176  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

..  A  Court  of  Committees,  December  4,  1646  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  52). 

The  Court  orders  350  bags  of  pepper  to  be  sent  to  Venice,  and 
100  to  Messina,  in  the  Margaret,  George  Browne  master,  2^  dollars 
per  bag  to  be  paid  for  freight.  Mr.  Burnell  reports  that  there  are 
450  bags  of  pepper  due  to  the  Voyage,  which  the  adventurers  are 
willing  to  sell  to  the  Joint  Stock  at  15^.  per  lb.  at  five  six  months  ; 
there  is  also  2,229/.  is.  6d.  in  the  bulk  of  the  goods  returned  in  the 
Eagle  according  to  the  prime  cost  with  charges,  one-third  of  which 
is  calicoes,  for  which  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage  demand  fifty 
per  cent,  profit  at  "]$.  6d.  per  rial  of  eight ;  and  for  the  goods 
returned  in  the  Mary  they  demand  satisfaction  as  they  shall  be 
sold,  they  paying  custom  and  other  charges.  These  particulars  are 
made  known  and  any  Committees  for  the  Voyage  who  are  not 
interested  in  the  Joint  Stock  are  asked  to  withdraw ;  when  the 
Court,  after  some  dispute,  decides  not  to  buy  the  pepper,  as  the 
price  is  thought  too  high.  The  demand  concerning  the  goods 
returned  in  the  Eagle  is  thought  reasonable  and  the  money  ordered 
to  be  paid  next  July.  Discussion  concerning  the  goods  returned 
in  the  Mary  is  deferred,  and  as  the  Court  of  Committees  and 
the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage  do  not  agree  about  the  foregoing 
particulars,  the  sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint  Stock 
and  the  Voyage  are  desired  to  meet,     (i^  //.) 

An  Ordinance  of  Parliament  to  uphold  the  Trade  and 
settle  the  Government  of  the  East  India  Company 
[December,  1646]  {Public  Record  Office:  CO.  77,  vol.  vii,  no.  2).^ 

For  the  encouragement  and  support  of  the  said  Company,  which 
for  many  years  has  been  found  both  honourable  and  profitable  to 
the  nation,  but  lately  has  suffered  much  loss  and  damage,  so  that 
the  adventurers  are  utterly  discouraged  from  continuing  the  trade 
until  something  is  done  to  prevent  interloping  and  private  trading, 
by  which  they  have  suffered  greatly,  having  had  factors  and  stock 
seized  for  such  misdoings.     A  new  subscription  is  necessary,  both 

•  This  copy  is  undated ;  but  that  it  represents  the  ordinance  as  brought  from  the 
Commons  on  December  8,  1646,  is  evident  on  comparison  with  a  copy  of  that  date  pre- 
served among  the  papers  of  the  House  of  Lords  and  calendared  in  the  sixth  report  of  the 
Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  p.  143. 


\ 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  177 

from  the  present  adventurers  and  from  others,  to  prevent  the  trade 
being  lost  to  the  English  and  passing  wholly  into  the  hands  of 
foreigners,  who  have  long  endeavoured  to  effect  this,  and  also  to 
destroy  the  buildings  and  forts  which  have  been  erected  by  the 
English  at  a  cost  of  above  40,000/.  Therefore  the  Lords  and 
Commons  ordain  that  the  said  Company  shall  continue  a  corporation 
with  perpetual  succession ;  that  it  shall  be  called  the  Governor  and 
Company  of  Merchants  Trading  into  the  East  Indies  ;  that  the 
bounds  and  limits  of  its  trade  shall  be  from  '  beyond  Cape  de  Bona 
Sperance,  beginning  at  the  Isle  of  Succatora  in  Africa  and  the  Red 
Sea,  with  the  Coasts  of  Africa  bordering  thereupon  inclusive,  and 
all  alonge  the  Coasts  of  Asia  unto  Japan  inclusive,  together  with  all 
the  islands,  creekes,  and  places  adjacent ' ;  that  it  shall  have  power 
to  make  orders  and  constitutions  for  the  government  of  its  members 
and  trade  ;  and  that  no  one  shall  be  allowed  to  trade  into  any 
of  the  places  mentioned  above  but  those  free  of  the  Company,  and 
then  only  with  the  consent  of  a  general  court,  upon  pain  of 
forfeiting  their  goods  and  shipping,  provided  that  such  freedom  is 
not  denied  to  any  who  wish  it  and  are  willing  to  pay  the  stipulated 
fine  of  five  pounds.  That  the  Company  shall  have  power  to  impose 
reasonable  fines  upon  any  of  its  members  who  wilfully  disobey  its 
orders,  and  in  default  of  these  being  paid  to  distrain  or  imprison 
until  satisfaction  is  given  ;  also  to  impose  an  oath,  to  be  approved 
by  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  upon  its  members.  It  is  further 
ordained  that  a  bill  shall  be  prepared,  with  all  convenient  expedition, 
with  such  clauses  and  provisions  as  are  necessary  for  an  Act  of 
Parliament  to  settle  and  fully  confirm  these  privileges.  Notwith- 
standing anything  in  this  ordinance,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  William 
Courteene  and  his  partners  to  enjoy  free  liberty  of  trade  into  any 
ports  or  places  in  the  East  Indies  where  he  has  usually  traded, 
or  where  the  Company  has  not  settled  factories,  with  those  ships 
already  employed  by  him  there,  and  to  continue  without  hindrance 
or  molestation  until  his  ships  have  obtained  a  convenient  lading 
for  withdrawal  of  his  estate,  which  must  be  within  three  years  after 
notice  has  been  given  to  his  agents  or  factors  at  Goa,  Rajapur, 
or  any  other  place.  If  all  his  estate  cannot  be  brought  away  in  his 
ships  within  the  said  time  he  shall  be  permitted  to  bring  the  same 
to  the  Company's  factories,  and  if  the  goods  are  English  they  shall 

S.C.M.  in  N 


178  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

be  sold  there,  but  if  foreign,  the  Company  shall  bring  them  away 
with  the  proceeds  of  the  said  English  goods  in  its  first  shipping 
from  thence,  provided  they  do  not  exceed  one-sixth  part  of  the 
lading  of  the  ship  and  that  Mr.  Courteene  pays  a  reasonable  freight 
for  them.  If  the  said  William  Courteene  shall  leave  in  India  any 
houses  or  other  convenient  structures,  fortifications,  lands,  rents, 
customs,  or  other  profits,  erected,  purchased,  or  accrued  to  and 
enjoyed  by  him  or  his  father,  the  Company  shall  make  him  all 
reasonable  allowance  for  these ;  and  any  difference  arising  on  these 
points  shall  be  settled  by  arbitration,  two  persons  to  be  nominated 
by  the  Company  and  two  by  Mr.  Courteene,  and  in  default  of  such 
nomination  or  agreement  taking  place  within  six  months,  one  or 
more  umpires  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Lord  Keeper  of  the  Great 
Seal,  or  the  Commissioners  for  the  time  being,  who  shall  determine 
all  such  disputes.  If  while  the  ships  of  Mr.  Courteene,  his  heirs  or 
assigns,  trade  in  India,  any  of  their  commanders  do,  or  cause  to  be 
done,  anything  unlawful  or  to  the  detriment  of  the  Company,  upon 
proof  of  this  full  satisfaction  shall  be  made,  the  damage  done  to  be 
determined  by  arbitration  ;  and  a  like  reparation  shall  be  made  to 
Mr.  Courteene,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  if  they  receive  any  damage 
or  prejudice  from  the  Company.  For  the  speedier  and  more 
effectual  prosecution  of  this  trade  it  is  further  ordained  that 
a  preamble  for  a  new  subscription  be  prepared  by  the  Company 
for  the  approval  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  or  of  a  committee 
appointed  by  them,  and  that  all  stock  belonging  to  the  Company, 
or  to  any  private  person,  be  drawn  home  and  no  more  sent  out  only 
for  the  new  stock,  except  by  the  old  Company,  and  not  by  it  after 
the  1st  of  May,  1647.  And  for  the  furtherance  of  this  new  sub- 
scription it  is  ordered  that  every  city  and  town  within  the  kingdom 
of  England  or  dominion  of  Wales  may  combine  and  have  their 
respective  chambers  to  take  subscriptions  to  increase  the  new  stock 
and  for  managing  such  part  of  it  as  the  Company  shall  consent  to. 
This  ordinance  to  be  printed  and  published  for  the  information  of 
all  whom  it  may  concern.     (4^  pp) 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  179 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  ii,  1646  {Court  Book ^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  53). 

Anne,  widow  of  Giles  Shepheard,  to  be  allowed  to  make  half 
the  spiles  used  in  Blackwall  Yard,  and  John  Thomas,  the  porter, 
the  other  half.  The  Court  is  reminded  of  its  usual  custom  of 
giving  at  this  time  of  year  10/.  to  Poplar,  Limehouse,  and  Ratcliff, 
and  orders  that,  as  Poplar  '  had  dealt  somewhat  unkindely  with 
the  Company  in  their  assessments ',  only  40^,  is  to  be  given  to  each 
hamlet.  The  customary  vol,  to  be  distributed  to  the  poor  widows 
of  East  India  men.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet  next 
Tuesday  about  Mr.  Burton  and  Company's  debt  for  indigo  and 
consider  whether  any  abatement  is  due  for  want  of  weight,  etc. ; 
Blount  is  also  to  be  present,  and  the  acquittance  given  by  the 
Treasurer  for  600/.  pretended  to  have  been  given  to  Mr.  Fownes  in 
part  payment  of  the  indigo  is  to  be  examined.  The  Committees 
appointed  to  consider  the  dispute  bet\veen  Mr.  Cartwright  and 
Captain  Minors  are  desired  to  meet  next  Monday.  The  remainder 
of  the  interest  on  Captain  Brett's  debt  is  remitted.  Committees 
requested  to  ship  men.  The  sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  the 
Joint  Stock  and  the  Voyage  having  met,  a  report  is  made  to  the 
Court  that  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage  are  willing  to  sell  their 
pepper  to  the  Joint  Stock  for  i^d.  per  lb.  at  six  six  months  from 
Christmas  ;  this  offer  is  accepted,  on  condition  that  the  time  is 
extended  to  Candlemas.  It  is  unanimously  agreed  to  allow  the 
adventurers  in  the  Voyage  50  per  cent,  profit  for  the  goods  returned 
in  the  Eagle,  the  makmudi  to  be  reckoned  at  iid.,  and  the  money 
to  be  paid  next  July  or  before.  The  Joint  Stock  to  pay  the  Voyage 
for  the  goods  returned  in  the  Mary  as  they  are  sold,  *  the  Voyage 
allowing  interest  to  the  Joynt  Stocke  from  that  tyme  according  to  the 
tyme  that  the  said  goods  were  sold  for.'  All  money  due  to  the  late 
Roger  Farley  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  his  father  and  administrator, 
Rowland  Farley,  after  90/.  has  been  paid  to  Mrs.  Susan  Farley,  in 
addition  to  the  80/.  formerly  given  to  her.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  16,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  ss). 

The  Governor    reports  the  consent  of  the  adventurers  in   the 
Voyage  to  sell  their  pepper  to  the  Joint  Stock,  on  which  the  Court 

N  2 


i8o  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

accepts  this  offer  on  account  of  the  Joint  Stock,  at  the  price  and 
time  formerly  agreed  upon.  It  is  resolved  that  when  the  money  is 
paid  a  division  shall  be  made  to  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage. 
George  Purse  presenting  a  written  complaint  against  David 
Davidson  concerning  the  Company's  cordage,  he  is  directed  to  wait 
until  the  latter  attends  the  court.  The  Committees  to  whom 
Mr.  Yard's  demand  for  800  rupees  was  referred  report  that  they 
have  examined  the  '  BalHsara '  [Balasore],  Madraspatan,  and  Bantam 
books  and  find  this  sum  credited  to  Yard  in  the  two  former  but  not 
in  the  last  named  ;  whereupon  Yard  is  told  that,  if  he  cannot  show 
by  the  Bantam  books  that  such  a  sum  is  due  to  him,  it  will  prove 
very  inconvenient  for  the  Company  to  give  him  allowance  of  the 
same,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  18,  1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  ^6). 

Mr.  Yard  is  to  be  allowed  interest  at  six  per  cent,  for  the  800 
rupees  he  claims,  should  this  sum  hereafter  appear  due  to  him.  It 
being  thought  that  the  price  of  pepper  is  rising,  the  Court  resolves 
to  sell  the  Company's  garbled  Jambi  pepper  at  i5|^.  per  lb., 
garbled  Malabar  at  \6^d.  per  lb.,  both  at  three  six  months  for  town, 
and  sifted  pepper  for  transportation  at  iS^d.  per  lb.  at  six  six 
months  from  Candlemas,  no  man  to  buy  less  than  fifty  bags. 
Officers  for  the  ships  to  be  chosen  on  the  first  court  day  'after 
Twelfetide ',  viz.  the  8th  of  January.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Bolteale, 
the  Court  agrees  not  to  accept  the  bill  of  exchange  charged  on  the 
Company  by  Francis  Townley  of  Hamburg  and  made  payable 
to  Bolteale  and  Benjamin  Delanoy,  there  being  some  dispute 
between  the  two.  The  complaint  of  George  Purse,  overseer  of  the 
Company's  cordage,  that  David  Davidson  'offred  to  use  some 
tender  hempe  in  making  of  part  thereof,  is  heard,  and  Davidson  is 
cautioned  to  have  special  care  in  making  the  cordage  and  not  to 
discountenance  Purse  in  his  office.  '  Sweetmeats,  screetores,  sir- 
rupps,  pulpe,  acharre,  etc.  *  brought  home  in  the  Mary  by  Ralph 
Cartwright,  formerly  President  at  Bantam,  to  be  delivered  to  him 
after  the  Husband  has  noted  their  several  weights.  Mr.  Boone, 
the  Company's  chirurgeon,  to  be  given  200/.  upon  account  for 
surgery  chests  to  be  sent  this  year  to  India.     (i|//) 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  i8i 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  23, 1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  57). 

A  chaldron  of  coal  and  20s.  to  be  distributed  among  the  almsmen 
at  Blackwall.  The  Committees  to  whom  Mr.  Burton  and  Com- 
pany's debt  for  indigo  was  referred,  report  that  they  find  an 
increase,  according  to  the  invoice,  in  the  weight  of  the  indigo 
at  the  time  of  sale  of  38,008  lb.,  which  must  have  been  a  mistake 
made  by  the  factors  in  India ;  the  Court  refers  this  matter  wholly 
to  their  decision.  The  Committees  to  whom  the  dispute  between 
Captain  Mynors  and  Mr.  Cartwright  was  referred  are  desired  to 
meet  next  Thursday  week,  and  Mr.  Cartwright  is  directed  to  draw 
up  his  charge  against  Messrs.  Yeo,  Hatch,  Smith,  and  Steevens,  to 
be  ready  for  consideration  next  Tuesday.  Daniel  Elder,  who  has 
been  a  factor  in  India  many  years,  to  be  paid  all  wages,  etc.,  due  to 
him,  to  have  his  bond  delivered,  and  the  calicoes  he  brought  back 
as  private  trade,  on  paying  20/.  for  their  freight.  On  presentation 
of  an  assignment,  dated  the  nth  instant,  made  by  the  Lady 
Margaret  Lovelace,  executrix  to  Richard,  Lord  Lovelace,  to  William 
Petty  of  2co/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock, 
what  is  due  in  money  and  goods  upon  the  same  is  ordered  to 
be  given  to  him.  Taffaties  to  be  delivered  to  Mrs.  Baker,  and 
calicoes  to  Mrs.  Olton,  in  both  cases  free  of  freight,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  29, 1646  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  59). 

Francis  Day's  request  for  remission  of  some  part  of  the  fine 
of  500/.  laid  upon  him  is  refused,  the  Court  having  shown  him 
a  great  deal  of  favour  in  this  matter.  Cartwright's  complaints 
against  Messrs.  Yeo,  Hatch,  Smith,  and  Steevens  are  read,  and 
copies  ordered  to  be  given  to  each  of  the  said  men,  who  are  to 
deliver  a  written  answer  to  the  same.  The  Secretary  informing 
the  Court  that  the  best  way  to  further  the  passing  of  the  Company's 
ordinance  will  be  to  solicit  the  Lords  separately,  and  he  giving 
a  note  of  several  of  their  addresses,  the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and 
certain  Committees  are  requested  to  go  to  these  on  Monday  morn- 
ing and  desire  their  Lordships'  favour  herein.  The  Treasurer 
reports  that  Mr.  Burton  and  Company  have  proved  so  refractory 


i8a  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

that  the  Committees  appointed  to  deal  with  them  desire  that  others 
not  belonging  to  the  Company  may  be  named  to  treat  with  them  ; 
but  no  resolution  is  come  to.  Some  dispute  arising  concerning  the 
debt  of  173/.  owing  by  the  late  Alderman  Wright,  about  which  his 
executors  and  the  Company  are  at  law  ;  the  same  being  a  very  old 
debt  and  the  Company  fearing  to  be  worsted,  Mr.  Wilson  is  asked 
to  act  as  mediator.  All  jewels  in  the  Treasurer's  custody  to  be 
sold  at  the  next  court  of  sales.  Lewis  Powell,  administrator  for 
the  estate  of  John  Powell,  to  be  given  10/.  of  the  latter's  wages  on 
account,     (i^pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  5,  1647  {Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  60). 

Robert  Hatch,  formerly  a  factor  at  the  Bay,  presents  his  written 
answer  to  the  objections  brought  against  him  by  Cartwright,  with 
a  consultation  held  in  the  Bay  in  which  he  was  promised  that  the 
Company  .should  allow  him  interest  at  the  rate  of  2^  per  cent,  per 
month  for  one-third  of  his  salary  then  due,  which  had  not  been 
paid  for  seven  years.  The  Court,  on  hearing  the  answer  and 
seeing  the  attestation  of  Messrs.  Olton,  Gurney,  and  Travell  that 
Hatch  delivered  up  his  remains  fairly  in  the  Bay,  clears  him  of 
all  the  charges.  As  regards  his  claim  for  interest,  finding  that 
he  was  paid  '  the  said  thirds  '  at  Bantam, '  the  Court  did  not  thinke 
fitt  to  beginne  any  such  president '.  It  is,  however,  ordered  that 
all  goods  brought  home  by  him  in  the  Mary  be  delivered  free 
of  freight,  his  wages,  etc.,  paid,  and  his  bond  given  to  him  to  be  can- 
celled. John  Smith,  formerly  a  factor  at  Banjarmassin,  presents  his 
answer  to  the  objections  brought  against  him  by  Cartwright ;  this 
is  read,  with  two  discharges,  one  signed  by  Mr.  Gostwicke,  the 
other  by  Mr.  Husbands,  to  whom  Smith  gave  up  the  godowns  ^ 
placed  under  his  care  ;  the  Court,  conceiving  him  to  be  innocent, 
orders  his  wages,  etc.,  to  be  paid,  and  his  bond  to  be  delivered 
to  him.  At  the  request  of  John  Head,  who  has  served  the  Com- 
pany as  carpenter  for  thirty  years,  10/.  of  the  money  he  paid  to  the 
Husband,  for  freight  of  the  goods  he  brought  home  in  the  Mary,  is 
ordered  to  be  refunded  to  him.     (i  p) 

1  Warehouses. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  183 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  8,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  61). 

On  information  that  there  are  other  objections  against  Hatch, 
the  Court  orders  that  he  is  not  to  be  cleared  until  further  direction. 
The  thirty-three  guns  lent  by  the  Company  to  the  City  having  been 
brought  to  the  Tower  Wharf,  they  are  ordered  to  be  removed 
to  Blackwall  Yard.  The  following  officers  are  chosen  for  the  ships  : 
Captain  Minors  to  be  master  of  the  Mary  at  ic/.  per  month ; 
Thomas  Steevens  to  be  master  of  the  Eagle  at  8/.  per  month ;  and 
William  Broadbent  to  be  master  of  the  Blessing  at  61.  per  month. 
Godfrey  is  appointed  chief  mate  of  the  Mary  at  5/.  per  month  ; 
if  he  returns  as  a  mate  he  is  to  be  given  a  gratuity  of  ao/.  or  his 
wages  to  be  made  61.  per  month ;  but  if  there  shall  be  any  ship 
without  a  master  when  he  is  at  Bantam,  he  shall  be  appointed 
to  that  post  at  7/.  per  month.  Thomas  Steevens  to  be  paid  all 
wages  and  debts  due  to  him.  Clement  Fremlin  entertained  to  go 
as  attendant  to  one  of  the  masters  at  135.  4^.  per  month.  The 
following  men  are  chosen,  from  whom  pursers,  stewards,  and  their 
mates  are  to  be  selected  next  Wednesday  :  Jeremiah  Cartar,  Francis 
Winne,  John  Blunden,  Edward  Kinnersly,  Gregory  Downes,  John 
Smith,  Edward  Minors,  Charles  Rogers,  William  Palmer,  Richard 
Foy,  and  Richard  Newland.     (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  12,  1647  (Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  63). 

The  following  men  are  chosen  to  serve  in  the  Company's  ships  ; 
in  the  Mary,  Francis  Winne  to  be  purser,  with  Edward  Minors 
as  his  mate,  Gregory  Downes,  steward,  with  Ralph  Southwell  as 
his  mate  ;  in  the  Eagle,  Jeremy  Cartar  to  be  purser,  with  Edward 
Kinnersley  as  his  mate,  Jethro  Mathews,  steward,  with  Verity 
Roydon  as  his  mate  ;  in  the  Blessing,  John  Smith  to  be  purser, 
with  Richard  Newland  as  his  mate.  Richard  Foy,  steward,  with 
John  Thomas  as  his  mate.  Calicoes  to  be  delivered  to  Benjamin 
Delanoy  ;  and  the  80/.  owing  by  him  to  the  Company  to  be  charged 
to  the  account  of  his  adventure  in  the  General  Voyage,     (i  p.) 


i84  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  15,  1647  {Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  64). 

Mr.  Yard  again  requesting  payment  of  the  800  rupees  he  dis- 
bursed at  Balasore,  the  Court  confirms  its  former  order  concerning 
this  matter,  but  resolves  that  the  factors  at  Bantam  shall  be  asked 
why  this  sum  was  not  brought  to  account  in  their  books.  John 
Gearing's  bill  to  be  delivered  to  him  to  be  cancelled,  he  having 
paid  his  principal  debt.  The  cloves  sent  by  William  Gostwicke, 
a  factor  at  Bantam,  to  Deputy  Lisle,  a  grocer,  are  ordered  to  be 
sold  and  the  proceeds  put  to  Gostwicke's  account.  A  motion  is 
made  for  some  of  the  Company's  pepper  to  be  sent  to  Leghorn, 
a  ship  of  Mr.  Thomson's  ^  having  arrived  at  Plymouth  laden  mostly 
with  pepper,  which  may  cause  the  price  of  this  commodity  to  fall 
in  town  ;  after  debate  the  Court  resolves  to  sell  the  pepper  at  the 
next  court  of  sales.  Mr.  Edwards  presenting  a  letter  of  attorney 
from  Richard  Whitehall,  the  money  and  goods  due  upon  the  latter's 
adventure  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock  are  ordered  to  be  given  to 
Edwards.  George  Pry  or  is  given  10/.  for  drawing  up  two  policies 
of  53,000/.  for  the  Eagle  and  Mary.  The  Court,  at  the  request  of 
Mr.  Thomson,  agrees  to  send  seven  chests  of  coral  belonging  to 
him  to  Surat,  the  money  obtained  from  its  sale  to  be  put  into  the 
Company's  cash,  and  paid  in  England  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  per  rial  two 
months  after  notice  thereof.  Sixty  butts  of  beer  to  be  sent  as 
merchandise  to  Bantam  in  the  Mary.  '  Compasse  '  timber  bought 
by  Steevens  to  be  put  into  the  Company's  Yard.  Thomas  Den- 
wood,  a  carpenter,  whose  hand  was  injured  in  Blackwall  Yard, 
is  given  aoj.    (i|i>^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  20,  1647  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  66). 

Sanguis  Draconis  sent  by  Mr.  Gostwicke  to  Deputy  Lisle  to  be 
sold  at  the  next  court  of  sales  and  the  proceeds  put  to  Gostwicke's 
account.  The  Deputy  and  Mr.  Bowen  are  entreated  to  examine 
and  report  on  six  chests  of  coral  which  the  Governor  asserts  may 
be  had  at  a  reasonable  rate.  Broadbent  desiring  six  additional 
guns  for  the  Blessing;  he  is  referred  to  the  Committees  for  the  Yard. 

'  Probably  the  Lioness,  under  John  Brookhaven.  She  was  at  Madagascar,  homeward 
bound,  in  August,  1646  (O.C.  2000). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  185 

All  that  is  due  on  the  adventure  of  Thomas  Rhodes,  Senior,  to  be 
paid  to  his  son  and  Captain  Coulson.  The  Committees  to  whom 
the  business  between  Humphrey  Weston  and  the  Company  was 
referred,  having  read  all  the  various  papers,  wherein  it  appears  that 
Weston  delivered  up  *  the  screet  or  writing  wherein  the  Emperour 
of  Mattarran  ^  stood  obliged  to  pay  the  said  icoo  dollars  lent  him 
by  Mr.  Cartwright ',  and  that  the  pepper  received  from  the  Governor 
of  Japara  was  upon  account  of  what  was  owing  by  the  said 
Governor,  they  consider  Weston  liable  for  what  is  owing  by  the 
Emperor ;  but  he  wishing  this  matter  to  be  examined  in  his  own 
and  Cartwright's  presence,  they  are  both  called  in  and  heard,  and 
the  Court  resolves  that,  as  Weston  cannot  produce  the  '  screet ' 
given  by  the  Emperor,  the  170/.  must  still  be  detained  from  his 
wages,  but  if  he  wishes  to  write  concerning  this  to  Bantam  or 
Japara  it  shall  be  recommended  in  the  general  letters.  Imprest 
money  remitted  to  Henry  Bamett,  a  carpenter  entertained  in  the 
Farewell^  for  whom  there  is  no  further  need.  The  money  obtained 
from  sale  of  calicoes  belonging  to  James  Bridgman,  formerly  purser 
in  the  Mary,  to  be  given  to  him  and  no  freight  charged,  and  all  his 
wages  and  debts  to  be  paid.     (i|/^-) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  January  20, 1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  68). 

Sale  of  broad  diaper,  morees,  sannowes,  mace,  garbled  and 
ungarbled  cloves,  wet  pepper,  dust  of  wet  pepper,  long  pepper, 
Jambi  pepper,  Malabar  pepper,  benzoin,  flat  Coromandel  indigo, 
dust  of  Lahore  indigo,  indigo  mixed  with  pepper,  indigo  mixed  of 
several  sorts,  myrrh, '  lignum  aspartum,'  *  cubebs,  olibanum,  China 
roots,  and  '  bdelium  ',  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.     (2  pp,) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  22,  1647  {Court  Book. 
vol  XX,  p.  70). 

Maurice  Thomson  desires  leave  to  send  seven  chests  of  coral  to 
India  in  one  of  the  Company's  ships  and  to  have  the  proceeds  re- 
turned in  musk  or  diamonds,  or  to  sell  it  to  the  Company  at  the 
price  he  gave  for  it ;  the  Court  resolves  that  he  may  either  send 
the  coral  to  India  upon  his  own  account  and  have  the  proceeds 

*  The  Sultan  of  Mataram,  the  principal  native  niler  in  Java. 

*  Possibly  lignum  AspaiaCkum,  i.  e-  rosewood. 


1 86  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

returned  in  diamonds,  be  allowed  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  per  rial  for  the 
money  it  shall  fetch,  or  be  paid  as  he  was  last  year  for  his  other 
seven  chests  at  twelve  months.  Thomson  accepts  this  last  offer. 
Richard,  Thomas,  and  Ralph  Allen  approved  as  securities  for 
Coromandel  indigo  ;  and  the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  William 
Cockayne,  Junior,  Messrs.  Moyer,  Langley,  and  Wyche  for  pepper. 
Richard  Davies  transfers  to  William  Methwold  400/.  adventure  and 
profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  29,  1647  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  71). 

Upon  a  note  from  Benjamin  Delanoy,  consenting  to  the  transfer 
of  600/.  of  his  adventure  in  the  General  Voyage  to  John  Holloway, 
this  sum  is  ordered  to  be  passed  to  the  latter's  account,  he  giving 
his  bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless.  Daniel  Andrews  and 
Edwin  Browne  accepted  as  securities  for  pepper,  and  Thomas 
Thetcher  and  Thomas  Handson  for  indigo  and  calicoes.  Thomas 
Thomblings  to  be  paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him,  and  to 
have  his  bond  delivered  to  be  cancelled.  James  Mann  to  have  the 
Jambi  pepper  remaining  over  after  those  who  bought  the  several 
parcels  have  been  satisfied,  and  a  proportion  of  Malabar  pepper 
equal  to  what  each  buyer  had,  at  the  price  and  time  for  which  the 
pepper  was  sold.  The  question  of  insuring  the  homeward  and 
outward-bound  ships  is  deferred.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  2,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  72). 

Dr.  William  Forth,  son  of  William  Forth,  is  admitted  to  the 
freedom  of  the  Company  by  patrimony,  paying  the  usual  \os.  to 
the  poor-box.  John  Coltman,  one  of  the  keepers  of  the  King's 
warehouse  at  the  Custom-house,  states  that  he  is  sued  by  Hurst, 
a  sheriff's  officer,  for  detaining  twenty  bales  of  indigo,  private  trade, 
and  keeping  two  officers,  who  came  to  fetch  it  away,  in  the  ware- 
house all  night ;  he  desires  the  Company's  assistance,  as  he  did  this 
on  their  behalf  He  is  advised  to  write  a  short  account  of  the 
matter  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Greene,  and  to  petition  the  Committee 
of  the  Navy  and  Customs,  when  some  of  the  Committees  shall 
appear  with  him.     (2/-) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  187 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  5,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  T^). 

James  Martin's  request  for  the  Company  to  take  the  Coromandel 
indigo  he  bought,  which  is  worthless,  oflf  his  hands,  is  refused.  The 
*  coach '  upon  the  Mary's  deck  is  to  remain  there,  and  the  nineteen 
defective  guns  she  had  last  voyage  to  be  used  for  ballast.  Five  men 
to  be  added  to  the  Blessings  company.  A  letter  from  Mr.  Delanoy 
is  read,  in  which  he  desires  that  the  bill  of  exchange  charged  upon 
the  Company  by  Francis  Townley  and  payable  to  himself  and 
Mr.  Bolteale  may  be  accepted,  and  the  80/.  due  to  him  by  the  said 
bill  (as  will  appear  by  two  letters  from  Mr.  Body,  his  factor  at 
Hamburg)  paid  to  his  account ;  the  Court  consents  and  orders 
40/.  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Bolteale  and  80/.  credited  to  Mr.  Delanoy's 
account,  and  his  debt  to  the  Company  to  be  paid  from  the  same. 
Sarah  Satterford  is  given  los.  to  bury  her  husband,  who  was  an 
almsman  at  Blackwall.  Mr.  Colebume,  as  administrator  of  the 
estate  of  the  late  Robert  Glover,  to  be  paid  the  forty  per  cent, 
profit  on  the  latter's  adventure  in  the  General  Voyage.     {^\pp-) 

The  Company's  reasons  for  pursuing  its  trade  by  means 
OF  A  Joint  Stock,  February  8,  1647  {Public  Record  Office: 
CO.  T],  vol.  vii,  no.  4).^ 

Setting  forth  that  in  obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  *  Right 
Honorable  Committee '  they  disposed  themselves  to  answer  '  those 
perticulars  which  Your  Honours  directed '  ;  but  remembering  that 
some  years  since  they  had  presented  a  petition  to  the  Lords  and 
Commons  concerning  the  trade  to  the  East  Indies,  in  which  sufficient 
was  said  '  to  cleare  upp  the  pointe  of  honour  and  proffitt  annexed 
to  this  trade ',  and  not  wishing  to  repeat  the  same,  they  present 
unto  each  Committee  '  one  of  those  printed  bookes,^  wherein  they 
hope  Your  Lordshipps  will  finde  your  full  satisfaction  for  so  much 
as  is  there  contained '.  To  the  new  objection  against  pursuing  the 
trade  by  means  of  a  Joint  Stock,  the  Company  adduces  the  following 
arguments,  'collected  from  long  and  deare  experience'.     As  the 

*  There  is  a  copy  of  this  paper  amocg  Lord  Braye's  MSS.  (see  the  appendix  to  the  tenth 
report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  part  vi,  p.  i66).  The  document  appears  to  have 
been  addressed  to  the  Lords'  Conmiittee  then  considering  the  Company's  ordinance. 

'  See  the  previous  volume,  pp.  xxi,  143. 


i«8  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

Portuguese  and  Hollanders  are  competitors  for  this  trade,  from 
whom,  being  united,  the  Company  has  sustained  many  assaults, 
injuries,  and  indignities,  if  its  strength  is  weakened  by  division 
it  may  be  justly  feared  that  upon  the  first  occasion  of  difference 
it  will  be  totally  crushed  and  destroyed.  By  costly  experience  it 
has  been  found  that  when  divers  distinct  voyages,  under  one  govern- 
ment, were  in  agitation,  three  ships  for  three  separate  Stocks  have 
arrived  at  the  same  port  to  seek  for  lading,  and  to  that  purpose 
settled  factories,  each  in  the  endeavour  to  advance  its  own  stock ; 
and  this  being  observed  by  the  natives,  who  well  know  that  all  ships 
must  be  dispeeded  while  the  monsoon  serves,  they  set  so  low  a  value 
on  the  Company's  commodities  and  so  raised  the  price  of  their  own 
that  it  became  intolerable,  and  was  the  first  motive  which  conduced 
to  the  necessity  of  a  Joint  Stock.  The  voyage  to  and  from  the 
East  Indies  is  long  and  dangerous  and  subject  to  many  casualties, 
as  mortality  of  men,  loss  of  all  sorts  of  provisions,  and  of  masts, 
sails,  anchors,  etc.,  which  in  the  case  of  a  Joint  Stock  could  be 
provided  for,  as  the  magazines  in  the  chief  factories  in  India  are 
kept  replenished,  and  the  outward-bound  ships  well  supplied  for  the 
relief  of  such  distressed  homeward-bound  vessels  as  they  may  meet, 
a  rendezvous  having  been  appointed  for  this  purpose.  This  course 
has  been  the  means  of  preserving  many  valuable  ships,  and  the 
same  not  having  been  observed  by  Mr.  Courteen  is  thought  to  be 
the  reason  why  so  many  vessels  in  his  employ  have  miscarried. 
The  trade  to  the  East  Indies  is  settled  in  the  dominions  of  fourteen 
sovereign  Princes,  wherein  twenty-three  factories  are  maintained  and 
ninety-two  English  factors,  of  all  conditions,  employed.  Twenty 
ships  serve  these  factories,  the  greater  number  going  from  port  to 
port  to  procure  lading  for  vessels  to  be  dispeeded  at  the  proper 
season.  All  this,  it  is  conceived,  can  only  be  managed  by  a  Joint 
Stock.  The  Company  has  '  soe  much  smarted  for  the  depredations 
and  acts  of  hostillity  practised  in  India  by  some  of  our  nation ',  and 
knowing  that  by  its  treaty  it  stands  to  make  satisfaction  for  all 
injuries  perpetrated  by  the  English,  it  dare  not  venture  its  estates 
to  the  mercy  of  other  men,  '  with  whome  wee  have  noe  interest,  nor 
over  whome  wee  have  noe  commaund.'  The  irregular  proceedings 
of  Cobb,  Ayres,  and  Captain  Weddall  have  shown  what  insupport- 
able prejudice  the  Company  has  sustained,  and  the  Turkey  Company 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  189 

can  tell  what  it  paid  for  Sir  Kenelm  Digby's  '  assault  of  the  Vene- 
tians in  the  Roade  of  Scanderoone  '.*  All  methods  have  been  tried 
and  the  Company  has  found  that  *  one  Joint  Stocke  is  the  best  and 
onely  way  to  carry  on  this  worke  with  honour  and  proffitt  to  this 
nation ' ;  therefore  they  beseech  the  Committee  to  believe  that  they 
are  not  *  so  prodigall  of  their  reputations,  nor  soe  treacherous  to 
their  owne  or  other  mens  estates,  as  to  propose  the  mannaging  of 
them  in  a  knowne  way  of  prejudice  * ;  nor  have  they  such  interest 
in  the  present  government  as  may  insure  to  them  the  least  private 
advantage,  for  they  will  all  be  out  of  office  next  July,  unless  re- 
elected by  the  generality.  No  '  selfe '  or  indirect  ends  have  caused 
them  to  solicit  the  Committee's  countenance  and  encouragement 
for  support  of  the  trade,  which  they  desire  may  become  a  national 
one ;  and  notwithstanding  the  Company's  title  to  it  '  by  pattent,  by 
the  right  of  discovery,  treaty,  and  conquest  in  some  part  thereof, 
yet  any  man  has  been  allowed  to  adventure  in  it  for  a  small  con- 
sideratioa  As  regards  themselves,  they  declare  unanimously  '  that 
so  this  trade  may  prosper  as  to  the  kingdome,  they  can  bee  content 
to  bee  excluded.'     {lifp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  10,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  74). 

Mr.  Bolteale  states  that  he  has  received  a  letter  from  Mr,  Bode 
[su\  at  Hamburg,  in  which  he  desires  that  the  Company  will 
pay  the  120/.,  charged  on  them  by  a  bill  of  exchange  from 
Mr.  Townley,  to  Mr.  Bolteale  only,  as  there  is  an  account  remaining 
unsatisfied  between  Delanoy  and  Bode ;  he  is  told  that  the  order 
received  from  Townley  was  to  pay  Delanoy  80/.  and  Bode  40/., 
and  until  other  directions  are  received  the  Court  must  abide  by  its 
former  resolution  concerning  this  matter.  William  Methwold 
transfers  to  Thomas  Rich  200/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock.  Coromandel  indigo  sold  to  Penning  Alston.  The 
bread-rooms  in  the  Ea£^le  to  be  plated.  The  answers  of  Captain 
Minors  to  the  charges  brought  against  him  by  Cartwright  are 
read,  but  judgement  is  deferred  until  the  Captain  presents  his 
intended  charges  against  Cartwright,  which  he  is  to  be  desired  to 

^  In  Jane,  1628. 


I90  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

do  speedily.  The  Deputy  reporting  an  offer  made  by  a  Dutchman 
to  refine  the  Company's  tincal,  he  and  certain  other  Committees 
are  requested  to  confer  with  the  said  Dutchman  and  report  their 
opinions.  The  Secretary  presents  further  charges,  which  he  has 
drawn  up  from  several  letters,  against  Hatch  ;  these  are  delivered 
to  the  latter  and  he  is  told  to  give  in  a  speedy  answer  to  the  same, 
with  the  best  information  he  can  about  the  private  trade  indulged 
in  by  Cartwright,  Penniston,  and  other  factors.  The  estate  of  John 
Planner,  formerly  master's  mate  in  the  William,  not  to  be  paid  to 
the  administrator  without  further  order,  there  being  a  debt  of  33/. 
due  to  Boatswain  Went,  which  should  be  discharged  first,     {i^^pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  12,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  76). 

Ralph  Cartwright' s  request  for  a  copy  of  Captain  Mynors' 
answers  to  the  charges  he  brought  against  him  is  refused,  but  he 
is  allowed  to  read  the  said  answers  ;  he  desires  that  the  Captain 
may  state  speedily  what  charges  he  has  against  him,  that  he  may 
answer  the  same  before  Mynors  leaves  England  ;  the  latter  is 
called  in  and  told  to  present  his  charges  against  Cartwright  next 
Wednesday.  Captain  Mynors  requests  to  be  paid  all  wages  and 
debts  due  to  him,  to  be  given  the  usual  gratuity  for  bringing  the 
Mary  into  the  Downs,  and  allowed  for  100  gallons  of  canary  wine 
provided  by  him,  as  Cartwright  had  one  hogshead  of  the  wine  sent 
out  for  the  ships  taken  ashore  at  Bantam ;  the  Court  orders  his 
wages  and  debts  to  be  paid,  but  defers  coming  to  any  conclusion 
concerning  his  other  requests.  On  reading  Hatch's  answer  to  the 
additional  charges  brought  against  him,  the  Court  orders  all  wages 
and  debts  due  to  him  to  be  paid,  his  goods  to  be  delivered  free  of 
freight,  and  his  bond  to  be  given  up  to  be  cancelled,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  17,  1647  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  77). 

The  Court,  perceiving  from  certain  papers  now  read  that 
Mr.  Wotton  is  not  fit  for  the  Company's  service,  orders  that  he 
be  recalled.  Captain  Blackman,  formerly  master  of  Mr.  Courteen's 
ship,  the  William,  informs  the  Court  that  he  has  seven  chests  of 
*  Grezio  coral '  he  bought  at  Leghorn,  which  he  intended  to  have 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  191 

carried  to  India,  but  this  design  being  frustrated  he  wishes  to  be 
allowed  to  send  it  to  Malabar,  paying  reasonable  freight ;  and  he 
presents  a  letter  from  Mr.  Greene,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
the  Navy  and  Customs,  in  support  of  this  request.  The  Court, 
wishing  to  gratify  Mr.  Greene  and  conceiving  the  coral  will  sell  to 
advantage  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  resolves  to  take  it,  pay  his  bill 
of  exchange,  and  all  freight,  custom,  and  other  charges,  and  allow 
him  100/.  profit ;  to  this  Blackman  gratefully  consents.  The  bill  of 
exchange  made  payable  by  Mr.  Tovvnley  to  Messrs.  Delanoy  and 
Bolteale  is  ordered  to  be  accepted  and  40/.  of  it  to  be  paid  to  the 
latter,  and  80/.  accepted  in  payment  of  Delanoy's  debt  to  the 
Company.  Mr.  Cartwright  and  Captain  Mynors  are  called  into 
court  and  Cartwright's  charges  against  the  Captain  read,  with  his 
answers  to  the  same,  and  what  each  one  has  to  say  in  his  own 
defence  is  heard,  but  no  resolution  is  come  to.  Captain  Mynors* 
charges  against  Cartwright  are  next  read ;  the  latter's  request  to 
have  a  copy  of  them  is  granted,  and  he  is  desired  to  give  in  a  speedy 
answer  to  the  same,     (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  19,  1647  {jCourt  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  78). 

Messrs.  Ashwell  and  Jennings  are  nominated  to  settle  the 
difference  between  the  Company  and  Robert  Gale.  The  answer 
of  Ralph  Cartwright  to  the  objections  brought  against  him  by 
Captain  Mynors  is  read,  but  the  Court  defers  resolving  in  this 
matter.     (^/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  26,  1647  {Cmirt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  79). 

The  Deputy  acquaints  the  court  that  he  and  the  Committees 
appointed  have  conferred  with  Mr.  Cranehall,  the  Dutchman,  about 
his  propositions  to  refine  the  Company's  tincal  in  India,  and  have 
agreed  to  them  all.  These  are  now  read,  with  the  resolutions  of 
the  Committees  ;  but  after  serious  debate  the  Court  decides,  as  this 
Stock  is  almost  come  to  an  end,  not  to  move  in  this  matter,  but  to 
leave  it  to  the  consideration  of  the  new  Joint  Stock.  An  adminis- 
tration, with  a  will  annexed,  granted  to  Morris  Rogers,  father  of 
Thomas    Morris,  a   factor   deceased   in   India,   is    presented,   the 


192  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

executor  being  dead  ;  Morris's  account  is  called  for  and  it  appears 
that  600/.  is  due  to  him  ;  but  the  Court,  conceiving  that  he  in- 
dulged largely  in  private  trade,  defers  resolution  herein  for  a  week. 
Mr.  Cartwright  presents  a  paper  containing  answers  to  certain 
questions  put  to  him  at  the  last  court,  offering  to  leave  1,000/.  at 
interest  in  the  Company's  hands,  to  make  good  all  sums  that  may 
be  charged  to  him  from  Bantam,  and  desiring  to  have  what  is  due 
to  him  from  the  Company;  he  is  told  that,  as  soon  as  the  ships 
have  gone,  his  business  shall  be  taken  into  consideration  again.  He 
then  desires  that  his  goods  now  in  the  Custom-house  may  be  delivered 
to  him,  that  he  may  receive  some  money  for  his  expenses,  and  be 
permitted  to  go  into  the  country  for  a  fortnight ;  to  this  the  court 
agrees  and  orders  that  100/.  be  paid  to  him  upon  account,  and  his 
goods  delivered  to  him,  after  examination,  he  paying  the  charges  of 
warehouse  room  and  clearing.  William  Broadbent  desires  remission 
of  freight  on  some  calicoes  he  brought  home  ;  but,  there  not  being 
a  full  court,  resolution  herein  is  deferred.     {^hPP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  3, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  80). 

There  not  being  sufficient  ungarbled  pepper  to  make  up  the 
quantity  bought  by  Mr.  Andrews,  he  is  to  be  given  ten  bags  of 
garbled  pepper,  upon  his  allowing  the  difference.  Richard  Wade  to 
be  paid  10/.  of  the  wages  of  his  apprentice,  Thomas  Bland,  who 
went  out  in  the  Discovery  and  is  now  at  Surat.  Cloth  and  coral  to 
be  shipped  in  the  Mary,  Eagle,  and  Blessing.  Broadbent  is  refunded 
32/.  ^s.  for  freight  of  his  goods,  and  at  the  desire  of  the  Court  gives 
the  ^l.  A,s.  to  Mrs.  Brewin,  a  poor  widow,  about  to  petition  the 
Court.  A  letter  is  read  from  Mr.  Delanoy,  desiring  that  his  1,000/. 
stock  in  the  Voyage  may  be  transferred  to  Jaques  Oyles ;  the  Court 
thinks  this  cannot  be  done  without  the  approbation  of  the  trustees 
chosen  by  Delanoy's  creditors,  and  so  defers  resolution  herein  until 
some  Committees  have  conferred  with  the  said  trustees.  There 
being  much  unsifted  Malabar  pepper  in  the  Exchange  cellar,  and 
Mr.  Thomson's  not  as  yet  disposed  of,  the  Court  decides  to  have 
the  Malabar  pepper  sifted  and  sold  by  twenty  bags  in  a  parcel,  and 
to  this  end  a  court  of  sales  is  ordered  to  be  held  next  week.  It  is 
resolved  that,  as  the  stock  to  be  sent  in  the  Company's  ships  this 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  193 

year  is  very  great  ^  and  there  are  Irish  rovers  abroad,  the  three 
ships  must  keep  together  until  they  get  beyond  the  Canaries.  The 
Court  orders  Captain  Mynors,  who  is  the  '  auncientist  commander ', 
to  carry  the  flag  in  the  main-top  and  be  admiral,  the  Eagle  to  be 
vice-admiral  and  carry  the  flag  in  the  foretop,  and  the  Blessing  to 
be  rear-admiral  and  carry  the  flag  in  the  mizzen.  Steevens  and 
Broadbent  promise  due  observance  of  these  orders,     (i^  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  5, 1647  {Court  Book,wo\.  xx, 
p.  82). 

The  trustees  consenting,  the  Court  orders  Mr.  Delanoy's  1,000/. 
stock  in  the  Voyage  to  be  transferred  to  Jaques  Oyles,  the  latter 
giving  security  to  save  the  Company  harmless.  Captain  Mynors  is 
given  a  gratuity  of  100/.  for  bringing  the  Mary  into  the  Downs  as 
her  first  port,  but  is  refused  allowance  for  the  wine  he  provided. 
William,  son  of  Thomas  Northey,  having  by  virtue  of  a  letter  of 
attorney  from  his  father  received  all  money  and  goods  due  upon 
the  latter's  adventure,  the  Court  consents,  under  certain  precautions, 
to  the  bond  given  by  his  son  William  being  delivered  up  to  be  can- 
celled. The  account  of  the  late  Thomas  Morris  is  examined,  and 
800/.  found  to  be  due  to  him  ;  but  the  Court,  knowing  from  his  will 
that  he  left  England  not  worth  above  20/.,  and  therefore  thinking 
he  must  have  indulged  largely  in  private  trade  and  so  forfeited  his 
bond  of  i,ooc/.,  his  father  and  administrator,  Morris  Rogers,  is  told 
of  this  and  informed  that  something  must  be  taken  from  his  son's 
estate  for  this  offence ;  the  father  submitting  himself  wholly  to  the 
Court,  it  is  resolved  to  give  him  6co/.  in  full  of  his  son's  estate,  for 
which  he  must  grant  a  general  release.  Katherine,  widow  of  Walter 
Clarke,  requests  that  the  Company  will  give  instructions  for  the 
recovery  of  debts  owing  to  her  late  husband  at  Surat;  this 
Mr.  Bowen  is  directed  to  do.  She  also  asks  for  50/.  from  the 
money  belonging  to  her  husband  remaining  at  interest  in  the 
Company's  hands ;  the  Court,  learning  that  380/.  of  Clarke's  is  in 
their  possession,  orders  anything  remaining  over  350/.  to  be  given 
to  her.  The  Deputy  reporting  that  George  Oxenden  and  George 
Tash   have   been    specially  recommended    by  the   President   and 

*  On  February  30  the  House  of  Commons  gave  the  Company  leave  to  export  foreign 
coin  or  bnllion  to  the  value  of  66,000/.  in  the  Mary  and  her  two  consorts. 

S.C.M.   lU  O 


194  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Council  of  Surat  for  increase  of  salary,  their  covenanted  time  having 
expired,  the  Court  resolves  to  leave  it  to  the  President  and  Council 
to  do  as  they  think  fitting  in  this  matter,  and,  if  reasonable,  it  shall 
be  confirmed  here.  Helen  Taylor,  whose  husband  fell  from  the 
Eagle  into  the  river  and  died  the  next  day,  is  given  9^.  2d.  (the 
contents  of  the  poor-box)  and  'i.id.  by  each  of  the  Committees 
present.     (i|  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  ii,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  84). 

On  the  report  of  the  Deputy,  it  is  resolved  to  buy  six  chests  of 
coral  belonging  to  Mr.  Glover,  if  they  can  be  had  at  certain  prices, 
Mr.  Davies,  who  formerly  had  the  probate  of  mariners'  wills,  being 
dead,  David  Budd,  the  Company's  proctor,  is  appointed  to  this 
office.  The  Court  resolves  to  make  assurance  of  100,000/.  on  the 
goods  laden  in  the  ships  homeward-bound,  viz. :  the  Dolphiti,  Falcon, 
Greyhound,  and  Antelope  from  Surat,  and  the  William  from  Bantam, 
from  the  ist  of  November  last  to  the  30th  of  April  next;  and  of 
50,000/,  on  the  goods  laden  in  those  outward-bound,  viz. :  the 
Mary  to  Bantam,  the  Eagle  and  Blessing  to  Surat.  John  Planner, 
administrator  of  John  Planner,  who  died  in  India,  to  receive  all 
wages  and  debts  due  to  the  latter  except  29/,,  which  is  to  be  given 
to  the  wife  of  Boatswain  Went,  in  payment  of  a  debt  due  to  her 
husband,     (i  />.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  March  ii,  1647  {Court  Booky 
vol.  XX,  p.  85), 

Sale  of  Jambi  and  Malabar  pepper,  of  mace,  cloves,  and  cinna- 
mon, with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  17,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  86), 

Captain  John  Steevens,  master  of  the  London,  is  permitted  to 
transfer  300  of  the  500  bags  of  pepper  laden  aboard  his  ship  for 
Leghorn  to  the  Unicorn,  which  is  going  to  the  same  port,  he  to  be 
responsible  for  any  loss  or  damage  that  may  be  incurred  in  the 
transfer.     On  information  from  the  Secretary  that  the  ordinance  for 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  195 

continuing  the  trade  to  India  depending  before  the  Lords  was  dis- 
missed yesterday,  the  Court  conceives  that  the  Company's  best 
course  will  be  to  withdraw  its  factors  and  estate  from  India  as  soon 
as  possible ;  but  in  order  that  the  generality  may  be  told  of  the 
Lords' proceedings  and  enabled  to  signify  their  desires,  it  is  decided 
to  summon  a  general  court  of  all  the  free  brethren  for  next  Friday 
afternoon,  and  Spiller  is  directed  to  give  notice  of  this  by  setting  up 
bills  at  the  Exchange  and  leaving  special  directions  at  each  man's 
house.  Margaret,  widow  of  James  Remnant,  deceased  in  India,  to 
be  given  what  appears  due  to  her  husband's  account.  The  Governor 
reports  that  there  is  600/.  due  to  a  gentleman  [Sir  P.  R.^  in  the 
margiti]  for  40  per  cent  profit  on  his  adventure  in  the  Voyage,  who 
is  willing  to  give  good  security  to  repay  the  same  at  six  or  twelve 
months  with  interest,  if  any  question  concerning  payment  shall 
arise ;  the  Court  refers  this  matter  wholly  to  the  decision  of  the 
Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  the  Treasurer.  The  Governor  presents 
a  letter  from  Mr.  Courteene,  directed  to  his  factor  in  India,  Mr.  Farren, 
desiring  that  Andrew  Jackson,  a  servant  of  Courteene,  should  return 
home  in  one  of  the  Company's  ships ;  the  Court  resolves  that,  if 
Mr.  Courteene  writes  to  the  Company  and  requests  this  favour,  it 
shall  be  granted.     (15//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  19, 1647  {Court  Book^  vol. 
XX,  p.  87). 

Beef  and  pork  returned  from  India  sold  to  William  Stoddard  and 
Thomas  Fawcett,  the  casks  and  iron  hoops  to  be  returned  to  the 
Company.  A  petition  is  presented  from  Mrs.  Smart,  praying  the 
Company  to  give  order  for  one  of  its  ships  to  bring  home  her  hus- 
band, who  went  out  in  Courteene's  employment  and  is  now  with 
others  on  the  island  of '  Mayottees '  in  a  very  miserable  condition ; 
the  Court  is  willing  to  grant  her  request,  but  advises  that  an  order 
be  obtained  from  Parliament,  requiring  the  Company  to  take  these 
people  off  the  said  island,  or  a  letter  procured  from  Mr.  Courteene, 
desiring  the  Company  to  bring  them  home,  that  so  the  Company 
may  be  saved  harmless  and  know  who  shall  pay  the  charge  of  their 
diet.  Steevens  reports  that  timber  to  the  value  of  3,000/.  has  been 
offered  to  him ;  he  is  told  that,  as  the  Company's  ordinance  has 

^  Probably  Sir  Peter  Ricant. 
O  2 


J$6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

not  been  passed,  no  more  timber  or  plank  must  be  bought,  and  he 
is  directed  to  have  an  inventory  made  of  all  the  stores  in  the  Yard 
at  Blackwall.  The  Eagle  and  Blessing  to  go  to  the  Downs  as  soon 
as  the  money  and  surgeons'  chests  are  put  aboard.  The  request  by 
letter  of  a  Portugal  at  Amsterdam  to  send  a  chest  of  amber  in  one 
of  the  Company's  ships  to  Surat,  and  thence  to  Goa,  is  granted.  On 
inquiry  from  Anthony  Bateman,  it  is  resolved  not  to  give  more 
than  the  price  formerly  agreed  upon  for  Mr.  Glover's  coral.  Hutton 
is  entertained  to  go  as  Captain  Steevens's  servant  in  the  Eagle  at 
\os.  per  month,  on  the  promise  that  he  shall  not  go  ashore  in  India 
but  return  in  the  same  ship.     (li//.) 

A  General  Court,  March  19,  1647  {Court  Booh,  vol.  xx, 
p.  89). 

The  Governor  acquaints  the  generality  that  since  their  last 
meeting  letters  have  been  received  from  Surat,  certifying  that  the 
Company's  affairs  in  India  are  going  very  well  and  without  dis- 
couragement ;  that  the  chief  matter  concerning  the  Company  in 
England  is  the  ordinance  for  regulating  the  trade,  which  after 
a  great  deal  of  difficulty  and  expense,  both  of  time  and  money,  has 
passed  the  Commons  and  been  by  them  transmitted  to  the  Lords. 
They  after  reading  it  referred  it,  according  to  custom,  to  a  Com- 
mittee of  the  House,  who  met  and  heard  counsel  both  for  the  Com- 
pany and  for  Mr.  Courteene,  and  then  voted  that  the  ordinance 
should  be  reported  to  the  House  of  Lords  to  pass  without  any 
amendment.  This  report  was  made  by  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and 
the  Lords  ordered  counsel  to  be  heard  for  both  sides  at  their  bar, 
and  after  hearing  the  same  they  dismissed  the  ordinance.  There- 
fore the  generality  have  been  summoned  to  resolve  whether  to 
recall  the  factors  or  to  continue  the  trade,  'since  they  were  not 
likely  to  have  encouragement  from  the  State  as  they  expected  ; 
that  all  things  were  at  an  uncertainty  and  no  settlement  made.' 
The  Governor  adds  that,  if  the  trade  is  prosecuted  and  every  one 
allowed  to  go  to  India  and  there  trade  as  he  likes,  the  Company 
will  be  liable  for  all  depredations  committed  ;  these  have  already 
cost  them  100,000/.,  and  Courteene 's  trading  another  100,000/. ;  so 
that  in  his  opinion  it  will  be  best  for  the  Company  to  draw  home 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  197 

its  factors  and  estate,  and  upon  this  they  are  now  called  upon  to 
resolve.  The  Deputy  declares  that  he  can  add  little  to  what  the 
Governor  has  said,  *  onely  that  for  the  ordinance  the  Company  had 
given  satisfaction  to  the  greatest  number  of  the  Parlyament  of 
England  touching  it,  though  not  to  the  greatest  persons,  the  Lords, 
who  had  dismissed  it  their  House ' ;  he  agrees  that  it  will  be  best 
to  call  home  the  Company's  factors  and  estate  as  soon  as  possible, 
'  for,  when  any  man  may  trade  to  India,  with  200/.  worth  of  powder 
and  shott  in  the  Redd  Sea  by  piracy  [he]  may  waste  tlie  Company's 
estate  there  and  quickly  cost  them  100,000/.'  The  Governor  then 
informs  the  generality  that  the  Company  has  twenty-three  factories 
in  India  and  ninety  factors,  whose  salaries  amount  to  4,700/.  per 
annum ;  that  it  has  ten  or  twelve  ships  '  returnable '  and  trading 
from  port  to  port  in  the  Indies,  besides  the  three  now  ready  to  be 
dispeeded ;  that,  if  it  is  decided  to  discontinue  the  trade,  he  hopes 
they  will  think  it  reasonable  to  fetch  home  what  there  is,  that  the 
debts  in  India  and  in  England  may  be  paid ;  the  Company  has  two 
houses  at  Agra  and  Ahmadabad,  one  at  Bantam,  which  cost  10,000 
rials,  a  fort  at  Madraspatan,  and  half  the  customs  at  Gombroon, 
'which  would  yeild  some  money'.  By  desire  he  puts  it  to  the 
question  whether  to  proceed  any  further  upon  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock,  or  send  out  any  more  ships  upon  that  account  than  those 
now  ready  to  be  dispatched,  and  by  general  consent  answer  is 
returned  in  the  negative.  A  motion  is  made  to  proceed  a  little 
further  and  resolve  what,  by  the  remonstrance  and  several  papers 
delivered  to  Parliament,  has  already  been  shown,  that  the  trade 
cannot  be  maintained  without  a  Joint  Stock  and  '  convenient  privi- 
ledges '  granted  by  the  State.  Much  debate  ensues,  and  finally  it 
is  resolved  (Alderman  Fowke  alone  dissenting)  that  the  trade  shall 
be  supported  by  a  Joint  Stock  if  the  ordinance  passed  by  the  House 
of  Commons  be  confirmed  by  the  Lords.  It  is  next  resolved  to 
hold  another  general  court  next  Wednesday  afternoon,  by  which 
time  the  Court  of  Committees  is  desired  to  make  out  a  list  of  those 
factories  it  shall  think  fitting  to  be  dissolved,  of  the  factors  to 
be  called  home,  and  how  to  arrange  for  the  return  of  the  ships. 
(i|  PP) 


198  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  22,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  91). 

This  court  is  specially  summoned  to  consider  what  factories  shall 
be  dissolved  and  what  factors  called  home,  as  the  House  of  Peers 
has  not  passed  the  Company's  ordinance,  which  for  the  last  six 
years  has  been  before  the  House  of  Commons.  A  list  of  the  factors 
at  the  several  places  is  called  for ;  and  it  appearing  from  this  that 
there  are  forty-five  factors  employed  at  Surat  and  the  subordinate 
factories,  whose  salaries  amount  yearly  to  2,619/.  13^.4^?.,  and  forty- 
one  at  Bantam,  the  Coast  of  Coromandel,  and  the  subordinate  fac- 
tories, whose  salaries  amount  yearly  to  2,143/.  13^.  4</.,  so  that  the 
annual  charge  of  the  Company  for  salaries  is  4,763/.  6s.  Sd.,  the 
Court  conceives  it  very  necessary  that  the  expenses  be  lessened, 
and  orders  the  two  Presidents  and  their  Councils  to  be  advised  to 
draw  off  the  factors  where  there  is  no  permanent  factory,  and  to 
lessen  their  number  in  other  places,  and  send  them  home  by  the 
first  shipping.  Though  seven  factors  are  employed  at  each  of  the 
factories  of  Ahmadabad,  Agra,  Fort  St.  George,  and  Masulipatam, 
the  Court  conceives  that  the  business  at  each  place  may  be  done  by 
three,  and  orders  those  who  may  best  be  spared  to  be  sent  at  once 
to  England.  The  factors'  names  being  read,  it  is  absolutely  resolved 
that  the  following  are  to  be  sent  home,  viz. :  Edward  Knipe,  Henry 
Hunt,  Thomas  Hill,  Hugh  Fenn,  from  Surat ;  Richard  Wotton, 
Christopher  Willoughby,  and  Thomas  Owen  from  Bantam ;  Henry 
Oulton,  Thomas  Penniston,  Henry  Greenehill,  Thomas  Winter,  and 
Edward  Winter  from  the  Coast ;  their  combined  salaries  amounting 
to  993/.  6s.  8d.  William  Gostwicke,  who  receives  80/.  per  annum 
and  has  for  the  last  two  years  desired  leave  to  return,  is  to  be 
allowed  to  do  so,  and  order  to  this  effect  is  to  be  sent  to  Bantam  by 
the  Mary.  The  Presidents  are  also  to  be  told  to  ease  the  Com- 
pany's charges  as  much  as  possible,  not  only  by  reducing  the 
number  of  factors  but  by  dissolving  unnecessary  factories,  and  to 
take  especial  care  to  maintain  the  customs  at  Gombroon.  The 
factories  at  Fort  St.  George  and  Masulipatam  are  to  be  maintained 
until  further  advice.  It  is  also  ordered  that  all  attendants  on 
factors  be  sent  home,  the  Presidents  alone  to  be  allowed  an 
attendant  each.     In  the  general  letters  the  Presidents  are  to  be 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  199 

specially  advised  to  desert  all  unnecessary  factories,  to  pay  all 
debts,  and  arrange  that  all  factors  so  ordered  shall  be  ready  to  take 
their  passage,  according  to  the  advice  to  be  received  from  England 
next  year.  Care  is  also  to  be  taken  to  lade  home  as  many  service- 
able ships  as  possible ;  and  the  ordnance  from  the  small  trading 
vessels,  built  or  bought  in  India  and  not  fit  to  be  sent  to  England, 
to  be  put  aboard  the  larger  ships,  and  their  hulls  sold  to  the  best 
advantage.  It  is  thought  best  to  preserve  all  houses  belonging  to 
the  Company,  especially  those  at  Bantam,  Fort  St.  George,  Agra, 
Ahmadabad,  and  Gombroon,  until  next  year's  advices,  that  the 
stock  may  be  drawn  nearer  to  an  end.     {2^  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  24,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  93). 

Nicholas  Gerard  petitions  that,  as  he  formerly  gave  bond  to  the 
Company  for  John  Halsy  for  1,960/.  and  has  paid  the  same  to  his 
'  utter  undoing  ',  the  interest  may  be  remitted  and  his  '  specialties  ' 
delivered  to  him  ;  the  Court  on  account  of  his  poverty  is  willing  to 
do  something  for  him  but  cannot  remit  the  interest,  as  it  would 
afford  a  bad  precedent ;  and  therefore  promises  that  he  shall  not  be 
sued  or  troubled  about  the  matter  at  present.  Hurt  delivers  ic/., 
which  has  been  deducted  from  the  \2d.  per  pound  received  by  the 
pursers  '  for  registring  for  the  poore  '  ;  this  is  put  into  the  poor-box. 
A  bill  of  exchange  for  1,104/.  \^s.  id,,  due  for  the  coral  bought  from 
Captain  Blackman,  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  William  and  John 
Vincent   accepted   by   the  balloting-box  as  securities  for  pepper. 

A  General  Court,  March  24, 1647  {Court  Book,  voX,  xx,  p.  94). 

The  Secretary  reads  the  resolutions  of  the  Court  of  Committees 
for  reducing  the  factories,  shipping,  etc.,  in  the  East,  and  they  are 
unanimously  confirmed.  The  Governor  declares  that  he  and  some 
of  the  Committees  intend  to  wait  upon  'the  Speakers  of  both 
Houses  of  Parlyament '  to-morrow  morning  and  acquaint  them  with 
the  Company's  intention  to  draw  home  its  factors  and  estate,  desire 
them  to  note  this,  and  to  take  care  of  the  trade.  He  also  reports 
that  the  Court  of  Committees  thinks  it  best  to  insure  the  goods  in 
the  homeward-bound  ships  for  50,000/.  (instead  of  loo.oco/.  as  for- 


aoo  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

merly  resolved)  and  those  in  the  outward-bound  vessels  for  50,000/. 
This  is  unanimously  consented  to  ;  also  that  the  adventurers  shall 
underwrite  first,  each  man  for  half  his  adventure  in  one  policy  and 
the  remainder  in  the  other ;  the  subscriptions  to  be  received  until 
Saturday  week,  when,  if  all  be  not  underwritten  for,  the  Court  of 
Committees  shall  arrange  what  they  shall  think  fit.     (I5//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  3, 1647  {Court  Book,  voLxx, 
P-  95)- 

A  gentleman  appears  on  behalf  of  Mrs.  Cony,  from  whom  the 
Company  has  the  lease  of  a  dock  and  tenements  at  Deptford,  and 
states  that  these,  which  the  Company  is  bound  to  maintain,  are 
much  in  want  of  repair ;  he  is  told  to  come  again  later  on,  and  Mr. 
Acton  is  desired  to  read  the  lease  of  the  said  buildings.  The  two 
ships  bound  for  Surat  are  ordered  to  proceed  on  their  voyage,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  Mary,  if  the  wind  is  fair.  Captain  Blackman  to 
be  paid  for  coral,  and  Daniel  Rosewell  for  bringing  a  case  of  rials 
from  Amsterdam.  The  Court  orders  that  no  one  is  to  underwrite 
above  500/.  in  each  policy  more  than  his  adventure,  except  the  Lord 
Mayor  [Sir  John  Gayer]  and  Alderman  Reynardson,  who  may 
underwrite  for  1,000/.  more  than  their  adventures  ;  and  if  all  is  not 
underwritten  for  before  Wednesday,  then  others  may  underwrite, 
provided  they  be  '  good  men ',  and  Sambrooke  is  directed  to  take 
note  of  any  doing  so,  and  of  the  sums  for  which  they  underwrite,  that 
these  may  be  allowed  or  not  by  the  Court,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  9,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  96). 

George  Purse  is  allowed  20s.  for  boat-hire.  The  old  cordage  at 
Blackwall  to  be  examined.  There  still  remaining  4,500/.  not  under- 
written for  in  the  policies,  permission  is  given  for  any  '  good  man ' 
to  underwrite  500/.  more  in  each.  Warrants  are  ordered  to  be  made 
out  for  a  division  of  10  per  cent,  in  money  to  the  adventurers  in  the 
General  Voyage,  to  be  paid  the  24th  of  June  next,  or  within  a  month 
after.  Mr.  Glover's  creditors  to  be  paid  for  coral.  The  Deputy, 
having  occasion  for  plank,  is  to  be  allowed  to  have  as  much  as  he 
wants  from  the  Company's  Yard,  on  paying  for  it  at  the  rate  the 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  aoi 

Company  bought  it.  John,  son  of  Sir  John  Wolstenholme,  is 
admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  and  pays  the  accustomed 
loj.  to  the  poor-box.     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  14, 1647  {Court Book,  vol.xx, 
P-  97)- 

The  Husband  is  questioned  concerning  twenty-five  tons  of  beer 
sent  to  the  Downs  to  be  distributed  between  the  Mary,  Eagle.,  and 
Blessing,  but  all  taken  by  Captain  Mynors  aboard  the  Mary ;  it  is 
found  that  the  said  ship,  with  this  additional  quantity,  has  only  her 
right  proportion,  the  number  of  her  men  being  considered.  The 
masters  neglecting  to  return  the  casks,  the  Court  orders  that  they 
be  directed  to  do  so.  The  exchange  from  Leghorn  to  London  being 
4.f.  8^.  per  dollar,  the  Court  resolves  that  the  factors  there  shall  be 
directed  to  sell  the  remaining  pepper  at  i6|  ducats  per  cwt.  (if  no 
better  price  can  be  obtained)  so  long  as  the  exchange  remains  at  the 
same  rate  ;  also  the  Sarkhej  indigo  at  3I  'livres'  per  lb.,  if  no  better 
price  can  be  had.  Some  of  the  Committees  interested  in  the  Voyage 
think  that  if  the  account  between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage  were 
made  up,  more  than  the  ten  per  cent,  declared  at  the  last  court 
could  be  divided  ;  hereupon  Sambrooke  is  questioned  and,  desiring 
time  to  answer,  is  directed  to  make  up  the  Voyage's  account  to  the 
end  of  this  month,     (i  p) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  23, 1647  {Cotin  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  98). 

Joseph  Jackson  having  done  good  service  about  the  coral  at  Bristol, 
and  having  still  in  his  custody  some  nails  and  other  things  landed 
from  the  John,  the  Court  decides  to  present  him  with  5/.  '  to  buy 
him  a  beaver  hatt ',  and  he  is  to  be  desired  to  send  all  he  has  belong- 
ing to  the  Company  by  the  first  ship  coming  from  Bristol  to  London, 
and  charge  all  expenses  to  the  Company.  Steevens  and  Broadbent 
desiring  additional  men  in  their  ships,  the  Court  orders  the  Eagle  to 
be  supplied  with  six  more  men  and  the  Blessing  with  four.  Wil- 
liamot,  wife  of  Richard  Wallis,  to  be  given  two  months'  pay  from 
her  husband's  wages,  the  Governor  promising  to  repay  the  same  if 
Wallis  on  his  return  will  not  allow  it.  Mr,  Mell  appears  on  behalf 
of  Mrs.  Chapman  and  others,  from    whom  the   Company  leases 


20i  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

a  dock,  etc.,  at  Deptford,  and  desires  that  order  may  be  given  for 
repair  of  the  same  ;  he  is  told  that  these  premises  are  soon  to  be 
viewed,  and  if  he  returns  about  the  middle  of  May  he  shall  hear 
what  has  been  resolved.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  read 
the  papers  about  the  lease  and  inform  the  Court  concerning  them. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  30, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  99). 

The  account  of  Mr.  Holloway,  who  has  a  great  quantity  of  calicoes 
in  the  warehouse  at  Leadenhall  and  is  indebted  to  the  Company 
for  interest  and  goods,  is  ordered  to  be  made  up.  Allowance  to 
Mr.  Martin  for  defective  calicoes.  Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Wilkes, 
executor  of  George  Wilkes,  to  be  given  20/.  of  the  latter's  wages, 
Richard  Downing  being  accepted  as  her  security,     {^p) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  5,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  100). 

Richard  Spalding,  who  was  hurt  in  fetching  timber  from  Mr. 
Tranckmore's  Yard  to  the  Company's,  is  given  20s.,  and  Richard 
Chadwicke,  a  former  servant  of  the  Company,  10s.  Goodwife 
Davies,  whose  husband  was  formerly  shipkeeper  to  the  Company, 
complains  that  she  is  sued  by  Richard  Burgis  for  saying  that  he 
stole  a  cable  from  the  Yard ;  she  also  alleges  that  she  saw  Burgis 
take  away  about  a  bushel  of  pepper  from  the  Mary.  The  Court 
desires  Acton  to  look  after  the  suit  begun  against  Mrs.  Davies,  and 
directs  Spiller  to  procure  a  warrant  to  apprehend  Burgis  and  pro- 
secute him.  The  Governor,  William  Cockayne,  transfers  to  his  son 
Thomas  1,000/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock. 
(I/-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  12,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 

p.  lOl). 

The  Court  resolves  to  go  next  Friday  to  Blackwall  to  examine  the 
stores  there  and  decide  what  shall  be  sold.  A  list  is  ordered  to  be 
made  of  all  jewels  in  the  Treasurer's  custody,  that  these  also  may  be 
sold.  Sambrooke  presents  an  abstract  of  the  account  of  the  General 
Voyage,  by  which  it  appears  that  10,453/.  10s.  can  be  divided  ;  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  203 

Court  therefore  orders  warrants  to  be  made  out  for  payment  of  ten 
per  cent,  to  all  adventurers  in  that  Voyage  on  the  and  of  July  next. 
Thomas  Denwood,  a  carpenter  who  was  hurt  in  the  Yard,  is  gp'ven 
an  additional  20s.     (5/.) 

A  Meeting  at  Blackwall,  May  14, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  102). 

The  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  certain  Committees  examine  and 
value  the  old  cables  and  cordage  found  in  the  '  worke-house ',  the 
*  James  house  ',^  the  long  room,  and  the  upper  storehouse  at  Black- 
wall.  They  then  proceed  to  the  iron  warehouse  and  examine  the 
old  anchors,  nails,  etc.,  and  order  these  to  be  valued  and  a  day  set 
apart  for  them  to  be  sold,  with  the  old  cordage  and  the  ship 
Crispiana ;  they  decide  to  have  the  sixty-one  pieces  of  ordnance 
examined  and  reported  on  by  one  or  two  gunners.  Tomblings 
presents  a  list  of  repairs  necessary,  but  these,  with  all  other  par- 
ticulars, it  is  resolved  to  refer  to  the  Court  of  Committees.  Some 
of  the  Committees  return  to  London  by  water,  but  the  Governor, 
the  Deputy,  and  Alderman  Reynardson  visit  the  hospital  at  Poplar. 
The  garden  there  being  '  very  ruinous  and  overgrowne  with  weeds ', 
it  is  suggested  that,  if  Tomblings  will  undertake  to  keep  it  neat  at 
his  own  cost,  he  should  have  the  use  of  it ;  he  expresses  his  willing- 
ness to  do  this,  if  the  Court  approves.     {i.\  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  20,  1647  {Court  Book,  vo\.  xx, 
p.  104). 

The  resolutions  of  the  Committees  who  went  to  Blackwall  are 
confirmed.  The  list  of  repairs  given  in  by  Tomblings  is  read,  and 
the  following  are  ordered  to  be  done  :  the  '  eastermost  storehouses  ' 
to  be  retiled  ;  the  chimney  of  the  porter's  lodge  rebuilt ;  the  '  rozen 
house  '  and  the  '  rozen  celler  under  the  James  house '  to  be  mended, 
the  side  of  the  west  dock  next  the  Thames  to  be  repaired,  at  an 
estimated  cost  of  25/,  (resolution  is  deferred  concerning  the  other 
defective  parts  of  this  dock) ;  several  other  things,  such  as  the 
mending  of  glass  windows,  and  of  the  causeway,  and  cleansing  the 
ditch  on  the  west  side  of  the  gate  are  referred  to  the  Committees 
for  Blackwall,  who  are  to  examine  the  same  and  to  have  nothing 

*  Also  called  the  *  James  warehouse '.     The  origin  of  the  name  is  not  known. 


ao4  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

done  which  is  not  absolutely  necessary.  Tomblings  presents  a  note 
stating  that,  if  the  boats  built  in  the  Yard  were  made  '  abroad  *,  it 
would  save  the  Company  a  considerable  sum ;  but  nothing  is  resolved 
concerning  this.  He  further  informs  the  Court  that  the  ropemakers 
use  bands  for  tying  the  strands  together  before  the  rope  is  made, 
and  for  these  they  charge,  '  although  the  Company  have  not  the 
said  bands  ' ;  the  Court,  conceiving  this  to  be  an  abuse,  directs 
Tomblings  to  deduct  the  amount  charged  from  their  bills.  Order  is 
also  given  that  nothing  is  to  be  lent  from  the  Yard  without  special 
direction  from  the  Court.  Mr.  Acton  reporting  that  the  suit  between 
Goodwife  Davies  and  Richard  Burgis  is  to  come  on  next  Tuesday 
and  that  the  former  cannot  prove  her  accusation,  he  is  told  to  have 
nothing  more  to  do  with  this  business.  An  inventory  of  the  stores 
at  Blackwall  is  read,  and  the  Court  resolves  that  some  of  the  things 
shall  be  sold  by  the  candle  at  the  East  India  House  on  the  3rd  of 
June  next,  and  that  bills  shall  be  set  up  at  the  Exchange  to  give 
notice  hereof.  The  Deputy,  the  Treasurer,  and  Mr.  Hanson,  a  gold- 
smith, are  desired  to  view  and  value  the  jewels  in  the  Treasurer's 
custody,     (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  28,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  106). 

Rachael,  widow  of  John  Jejfferies,  desires  remission  of  701  rials 
charged  to  her  husband's  account  for  freight  of  certain  Portuguese 
goods  carried  in  the  Swan  from  Bantam  to  Surat  unknown  to  the 
President  and  Council ;  this  is  refused,  and  the  order  made  by  the 
Court  on  the  2nd  of  December,  1645,  concerning  this  matter  is  con- 
firmed. It  is  moved  that  a  division  in  indigo,  of  which  the  Company 
has  a  good  quantity  that '  will  not  vend  to  good  proffitt ',  be  made 
to  the  adventurers,  'and  they  to  pay  their  money  into  the  threasury'; 
but  the  Court  orders  that  the  indigo  be  first  offered  for  sale  next 
Thursday.  A  list  of  the  jewels  and  rings  in  the  custody  of  the 
Treasurer  is  read,  with  their  several  prices  ;  but  their  sale  is 
deferred,  and  the  diamond  ring  sent  by  William  Pearse  (deceased 
at  Jambi)  to  Edward  Elcocke  is  ordered  to  be  delivered  to  the  latter, 
and  four  small  rings  to  Mrs.  Powell,  on  demand.  A  letter  is  pre- 
sented from  Messrs.  Throgmorton  and  Collyer  at  Leghorn,  desiring 
the  Company  to  take  notice  that  the  former  wishes  to  resign  his 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  105 

place  to  John  Collyer,  Thomas  Dethwicke,  and  Edward  Rolt 
(former  servants  of  the  Company)  on  the  ist  July  next ;  the  Court 
consents  to  Mr.  Throgmorton  being  cleared  from  the  Company's 
employment  from  the  date  mentioned,  but  holds  him  answerable 
for  what  has  been  done  up  to  that  time.  Mr.  Collyer  states  his 
willingness  to  be  answerable  with  Mr.  Langhome  for  Thomas 
Dethwicke  and  Edward  Rolt  Dorothy  Griffen,  sister  of  the  late 
William  Smethwicke,  to  be  given  30/.  on  account  of  her  brother's 
estate,  she  having  a  letter  of  attorney  from  her  mother,  who  is  the 
administratrix.     {}\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  2,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  107). 

Steevens,  the  shipwright,  reports  that,  unless  the  easternmost  dock 
at  Blackwall  be  speedily  repaired,  it  will  be  much  endangered,  and 
he  estimates  the  cost  at  about  40/.  The  Court  desires  the  Com- 
mittees, when  they  go  to  Blackwall,  to  examine  this  part  and  give 
what  directions  they  think  fitting.  Alderman  Fowke  reminds  the 
Court  of  the  order  of  the  Lords  dated  the  6th  of  May,^  which  he 
has  already  shown  to  the  Governor ;  he  begs  that  it  may  be  taken 
notice  of,  and  somebody  directed  to  appear  before  the  Masters  of 
Chancery  about  the  damages ;  he  also  desires  to  see  the  books  of 
accounts,  etc.,  about  his  adventure.  He  is  told  that  nothing  can  be 
decided  about  the  Lords'  order,  as  there  is  not  a  full  court,  but 
that  one  shall  be  summoned  expressly  this  day  sennight,  when  it 
shall  be  seen  to  ;  his  request  to  see  the  books,  etc.,  is  refused. 
A  parcel  of  black  pepper  brought  home  by  Captain  Mynors  in  the 
Mary  to  be  delivered  free  of  freight  to  his  wife.  Thomas  Elhvood, 
keeper  of  the  stores  at  Sandwich,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  10/.  for  his 
extraordinary  pains  in  the  service  these  last  five  years.  George 
Saunderson  produces  the  will  of  Mary  Bostocke  (whose  husband 
was  an  adventurer  in  the  Company),  bequeathing  him  her  estate  ; 
he  therefore,  being  of  age,  desires  to  receive  what  is  due  ;  he  is 
referred  to  this  day  week  for  an  answer.     Half  the  yearly  amount 

1  Lords'"  JoumcUs,  vol.  ix,  p.  178.  It  was  ordered  that  the  Company  should  restore  his 
stock  to  the  Alderman  and  pay  him  damages  and  100/.  for  costs.  The  judgement  is 
recorded  at  p.  1 84  of  the  same  volume,  which  contains  several  other  references  to  the  case. 
See  also  the  Lords'  papers  calendared  in  the  sixth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission. 


2o6  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

due  to  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Olton,  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  her 
brother,  Henry  Potkin,  he  giving  his  bond  to  save  the  Company 
harmless,     (i^//.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  June  3,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
?cx,  p.  109). 

Sale  of  cotton-wool,  China  ware,  white  and  brown  wrappers, 
light  pepper,  dust  of  pepper,  scummings,  old  sails,  and  old  canvas, 
culverins,  demi-culverins,  sakers,  saker  drakes,  minions,  *  noble  iron  \ 
murtherers,  chambers,  and  one  faulty  anchor,  with  prices  and  names 
of  purchasers.  The  ship  Crispiana  is  sold  to  Robert  Jones  for 
305/.  at  six  months.     {^\PP) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  11, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  no). 

A  bill  of  Boatswain  Ingram's  for  boat-hire  to  be  paid.  Mr.  More- 
wood  reports  that  he  with  several  Committees  examined  the  wharf 
at  Blackwall  and  found  that  it  was  very  necessary  to  have  it 
repaired,  and  so  they  directed  the  workmen  to  make  it  serviceable 
for  two  or  three  years,  which  can  be  done  for  10/. ;  the  Court 
approves,  and  orders  that  the  easternmost  dock  be  also  repaired. 
Edward  Howes  ^  petitions  for  liberty  to  keep  a  school  in  the  alms- 
house at  Poplar,  where  the  hall  would  be  suitable  for  a  schoolroom 
and  the  room  over  it  for  a  library ;  he  proposes  *  to  read  prayers 
twice  a  day  to  the  almesmen  and  teach  children  and  seamen  the 
marriners  art,  etc'  His  request  is  referred  to  the  next  general 
court.  The  petition  of  John  Lullman  (who  was  entertained  to  go 
in  the  Mary  but  fell  ill  and  so  could  not)  to  have  his  bond  delivered 
on  repayment  of  30J.  of  the  40i-.  paid  to  him  for  imprest  is  granted  ; 
also  Benjamin  Charke's  petition  to  have  los.  of  the  wages  of  his 
son  Daniel,  who  is  in  India.  Alderman  Fowke's  request  to  see  the 
books  of  accounts,  or  that  they  may  be  shown  to  the  Masters  of 
the  Chancery,  is  referred  for  consideration.  A  motion  to  send  the 
old  cordage,  which  will  not  sell  in  town,  to  Lisbon  is  also  deferred. 

'  A  schoolmaster  of  this  name  was  in  1644  at  the  Ratcliff  Free  School.  He  was  a  fre- 
quent correspondent  of  Governor  Winthrop  of  Massachusetts ;  and  he  wrote  a  tract  on  the 
circumference  of  the  earth  (1623)  and  a  Short  Arithmetic,  issued  in  1659,  ^'  which  time 
he  was  Rector  of  Goldhanger,  in  Essex. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  207 

Debate  as  to  what  to  do  with  the  remaining  indigo  is  resumed, 
some  thinking  that  the  Lahore  indigo  should  be  divided  at  4s.  per 
lb.  and  the  Sarkhej  at  $s.,  every  man  to  take  out  his  share  within 
three  months,  and  if  this  is  not  done,  the  Company  to  dispose  of  it ; 
but  nothing  is  resolved  and  the  matter  is  postponed  for  three  months. 
George  Saunderson,  as  executor,  again  applies  for  the  money  due 
to  Mrs.  Bostocke ;  but  the  Court,  learning  that  he  is  only  nineteen 
years  old,  refuses  to  pay  anything  before  consulting  with  counsel ; 
so  he  is  told  to  apply  again  later.  John  Millett,  master  of  the 
Aleppo  Merchant,  desires  permission  to  careen  his  ship  in  the  Com- 
pany's dock  at  Blackwall,  but  this  the  Court  cannot  grant.  The 
Committees  appointed  to  hear  Mr.  Cartwright's  business  are  en- 
treated to  meet  next  Thursday.  Margaret  Leyland,  whose  husband 
was  lost  in  the  Discovery,  is  given  10s.     {%  pp.) 

Walter  and  Isaac  Vandervort  at  Venice  to  the  East 
India  Company,  June  19,  1647  {Home  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xl, 
p.  19). 

Omitted  to  advise  in  their  last  letter  at  what  price  they  sold 
ninety  sacks  of  pepper.  Note  in  the  Company's  letter  of  the  nth 
ultimo  what  bills  have  been  received  and  accepted,  and  question 
not  but  that  the  one  now  sent  will  be  accepted  also.  As  the  Company 
is  content  that  the  price  of  pepper  should  be  regulated  according 
to  that  sold  at  Leghorn,  they  have  continually  observed  the  same. 
Report  the  quantity  of  pepper  sold,  with  the  price,  which  they 
gradually  increase.  The  pepper  sent  came  well  conditioned ;  so 
there  was  no  question  about  the  freight.  Enclose  an  account, 
showing  the  amount  due  to  the  Company.  The  names  of  those 
indebted  are  noted  in  the  account.  Remit  two  bills  of  exchange 
upon  account  of  pepper,  one  payable  by  Theophilus  Bidulf,  the 
other  by  John  Gould,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  23,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  1 1  a). 

Margaret  Jackson,  mother  of  Anne,  wife  of  John  Osburne,  who 
is  in  India,  to  be  given  3/.  of  the  latter's  wages  for  maintenance  of 
his  wife  and  child ;  and  Mary,  wife  of  Robert  Tindall,  master  of 
the  Farewell,  three  months  yearly  of  her  husband's  wages.     On 


aaS  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

hearing  that  Pedwarden  Rumsey,  who  is  indebted  to  the  Company, 
is  in  the  King's  Bench,  the  Court  directs  Spiller  to  inform  his 
surety,  Mr.  Deputy  Lisle,  that  if  the  debt  is  not  paid  by  Saturday 
night,  action  will  be  entered  against  him  for  it.  Tomblings  report- 
ing that  several  men  have  inspected  the  cordage,  etc.,  remaining 
unsold  at  the  Yard,  he  is  given  permission  to  sell  it,  with  the  guns, 
carriages,  and  old  iron,  at  the  best  rate  he  can.  He  reports  that  he 
has  already  sold  eighteen  carriages  at  lys.  each.  Mr.  Martin  buys 
twelve  of  the  carriages.  Mr.  Berisford,  who  bought  the  Company's 
saltpetre,  desires  that  the  remainder  may  be  delivered  to  him  ; 
Rilston  is  hereupon  directed  to  make  out  the  account  for  the  same. 
Casks  to  be  made  in  readiness  for  the  spring.  Richard  Davies 
writing  that  some  scarlet  cloth  has  been  shipped  in  the  Eagle,  the 
Court  directs  that  he  shall  be  thanked,  and  desired  to  continue  his 
care,  and  report  if  any  private  trade  is  landed  from  the  ships  now 
homeward-bound.    ( i  ^  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  29,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  114). 

At  the  request  of  Mr.  Lisle  the  Court  consents  to  forbear  pro- 
ceeding against  him  until  Michaelmas,  by  which  time  he  promises 
that  Mr.  Rumsey 's  debt  shall  be  paid.  Mr.  Holloway  desiring  that 
his  calicoes  may  remain  at  his  own  risk  in  the  Company's  ware- 
house, the  Court  directs  that  they  be  examined  and  allowance 
made  for  those  that  are  defective ;  and  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to 
make  a  note  of  the  quantity  of  goods  remaining  in  the  warehouse, 
with  the  owners'  names,  and  to  arrange  so  that  the  latter  bear  all 
risk  of  damage,  etc.  Messrs.  Davidson  and  Margetts  to  be  paid 
50c/.  for  cordage.  At  the  request  of  Ralph  Cartwright  the  Court 
orders  200/.  of  his  wages  to  be  paid  to  him,  and  directs  Markham 
to  arrange  Cartwright's  accounts  so  that  the  Committees  appointed 
may  the  sooner  settle  them.  The  Governor  proposes  that,  as 
Parliament  has  as  yet  done  nothing  with  regard  to  the  ordinance 
for  regulating  and  continuing  the  trade,  the  Company  shall  take 
care  to  uphold  it ;  to  which  end,  if  the  Court  thinks  fit,  he  will 
move  the  generality  next  Friday  to  set  out  a  Voyage  (until  the 
said  ordinance  is  obtained),  not  to  be  connected  with  any  former 
Voyage  or  Stock,  and  for  which  Committees  shall  be  appointed  to 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  209 

arrange  some  allowance  for  any  factories,  etc.,  that  may  be  made 
use  of,  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock.     This  is  generally  agreed  to. 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  2,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  117). 

Before  proceeding  to  the  business  for  which  the  court  is  called, 
the  Governor  reports  the  arrival  of  the  William  and  Ulysses  at  the 
Isle  of  Wight  from  Bantam  with  pepper,  etc.,  for  the  Voyage  and 
Stock ;  and  declares  that,  though  unable  to  give  an  exact  account 
of  the  Company's  estate,  he  estimates  it  at  about  204,000/.  at  Surat 
and  Bantam.  He  then  asserts  that  for  the  last  four  years  he  and 
other  Committees  have  been  very  diligent  in  soliciting  both  Houses 
of  Parliament  to  pass  an  ordinance  to  regulate  and  continue  the 
East  India  trade,  which  ordinance  passed  the  House  of  Commons 
but  was  dismissed  by  the  Lords  ;  but  now  the  matter  has  been 
referred  to  a  new  Committee  of  the  Lords  ^  to  draw  up  a  fresh 
ordinance  to  support  the  trade,  though  because  of  '  the  troubles  of 
the  tymes '  nothing  has  been  done  yet  with  regard  to  it.  Therefore 
the  Court  of  Committees  thinks  that,  in  order  to  uphold  the  trade 
this  year,  a  book  of  subscriptions  should  be  opened  for  a  General 
Voyage  quite  independent  of  any  other  Voyage  or  Stock.  Here- 
upon it  is  moved  that  two  subscriptions  be  opened,  one  for  a  Joint 
Stock,  on  condition  that  Parliament  passes  the  ordinance,  and  another 
for  a  General  Voyage,  '  that  if  there  should  not  bee  enough  under- 
written for  a  Joynt  Stocke,  then  to  have  a  Perticuler  Voyage.'  It  is 
generally  agreed  that  it  is  necessary  to  send  out  ships  this  year  either 
upon  a  Stock  or  a  Voyage,  but  no  more  upon  account  of  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  ;  and  the  order  of  the  19th  of  March  last  to  end  this  Stock 
is  confirmed.  After  a  long  debate  it  is  resolved  by  erection  of  hands 
that  '  the  trade  should  bee  prosecuted  by  a  Gennerall  Voyage,  that 
onely  one  booke  of  subscription  should  lye  open,  and  that  for 
a  Second  Gennerall  Voyage,  and  lastly  that  the  booke  of  subscrip- 

*  The  appobtment  of  this  Committee  has  not  been  traced  in  the  Lords'  Journals.  On 
April  16,  however,  the  Commons  sent  a  message  to  the  Lords,  reminding  them  about  the 
Company  s  ordinance ;  and  on  the  same  day  the  Upper  Hoase  appointed  a  Committee  '  to 
consider  of  general  rules  for  the  regulating  and  ordering  of  trade  in  general.'  This  may 
be  the  Committee  referred  to. 


$no  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC,  OF  THE 

tion  should  bee  for  a  Perticuler  Gennerall  Voyage  for  one  yeare '. 
The  petition  of  Edward  Howse  for  leave  to  hold  a  school  in  the 
Almshouse  at  Blackwall  is  granted.  The  Governor  desires  the 
court  to  decide  whether  to  divide  the  indigo  to  the  adventurers  or 
to  offer  it  again  for  sale,  and  after  consideration  it  is  agreed  to 
defer  resolution  concerning  this  for  another  month.  William 
Cokayne,  the  Governor,  then  vacates  his  chair ;  but  is  nominated 
with  Abraham  Reynardson,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad,  and  Thomas  Jennings, 
and  chosen  Governor  for  the  ensuing  year.  William  Methwold,  the 
Deputy,  resigns  his  seat,  but  is  nominated,  with  Thomas  Burnell 
and  Thomas  Kerridge,  and  is  re-elected  Deputy ;  he  returns  thanks 
and  takes  the  oath.  John  Massingberd,  the  Treasurer,  pleads  old 
age  and  that  his  home  is  five  miles  from  the  city ;  but  he  is 
nominated  for  re-election,  with  Richard  Bateman  and  Thomas 
Mann,  and  is  again  chosen  Treasurer,  whereupon  he  takes  the 
usual  oath.  Sir  John  Cordell,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad,  Gilbert  Keate, 
Thomas  Mann,  Thomas  Hodges,  and  Daniel  Andrews  are  elected 
Committees  in  the  room  of  Messrs.  Ashwell,  Midleton,  Richard 
Bateman,  Bludworth,  Davies,  and  Churchman  ;  so  that  the  Com- 
mittees for  the  ensuing  year  are  :  Sir  John  Gayer,  Sir  John  Cordell, 
Sir  Jacob  Garrad,  Messrs.  Abraham  Reynardson,  John  Holloway, 
Rowland  Wilson,  Thomas  Burnell,  Thomas  Jennings,  Gilbert  Keate, 
Thomas  Kerridge,  Gilbert  Morewood,  William  Garway,  Robert 
Abdy,  Thomas  Mann,  James  Mann,  Robert  Gayer,  William 
Willyams,  Thomas  Andrews,  Nicholas  Gould,  James  Martin,  Thomas 
Hodges,  Daniel  Andrews,  Andrew  Riccard,  and  Anthony  Bateman. 
{A  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  7,  1647  {Conn  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  121). 

Mr.  Cartwright  acquainting  the  Court  that  he  has  something  to 
tell  concerning  Thomas  Owen,  who  lately  died  at  Bantam,  the  account 
of  the  latter  is  ordered  not  to  be  made  up  until  this  has  been  heard. 
Young  is  appointed  land  purser  for  the  William,  and  Spiller  for 
the  Ulysses,  and  both  vessels  are  directed  to  come  in  as  near  to 
Blackwall  as  possible.  John  Taylor  and  Philip  White  accepted  as 
securities  for  sakers  bought  by  the  former.  It  having  been  decided 
to  continue  the  trade  this  year  by  a  General  Voyage,  motion  is 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  211 

made  to  send  a  small  ship  to  the  Coast  to  trade  up  and  down,  those 
belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  being  old ;  debate  ensues  whether 
to  build  or  freight  one  for  the  purpose,  but  no  resolution  is  come 
to.  The  preamble  for  the  subscription  to  a  Second  General  Voyage, 
drawn  up  by  the  Secretary,  is  read,  confirmed,  and  ordered  to  be 
copied  into  a  book.^  Messrs.  Collyer  and  Langhome  are  accepted 
as  securities  for  the  factors  at  Leghorn  in  place  of  Job  Throgmorton. 
George  Saunderson  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  the  estate  of  Mary 
Bostocke.  Richard  Swinglehurst  is  given  a  gratuity  of  100/.,  and 
Acton  one  of  20/.  Samuel  Calcott,  servant  to  the  Secretary, 
petitioning  for  an  annual  salary,  he  is  given  20/.  and  promised  that 
when  there  is  a  new  Stock  his  request  shall  be  considered.  The 
order  for  Mr.  Budd  to  have  the  proving  of  wills  of  all  men  dying 
in  India  is  confirmed.     {2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  14, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  123). 

Blount  reports  the  sale  of  several  petty  commodities  which  have 
remained  unclaimed  in  the  custody  of  EUam,  Bowen,  and  himself 
for  the  last  twelve  or  fourteen  years.  These  fetched  30/.  \y.  9^/., 
of  which  he  desires  that  some  part  may  be  given  to  himself  and  the 
other  officers.  He  is  directed  to  pay  25/.  of  it  into  the  Treasury 
and  to  dispose  of  the  remainder.  Francis  Day  desiring  his  ten  per 
cent,  upon  the  division  of  the  General  Voyage,  he  is  reminded 
of  the  500/.  fine  imposed  upon  him  for  private  trade  in  the  last  voy- 
age, and  told  that,  when  he  has  balanced  his  account  with  the 
Company,  what  is  due  to  him  shall  be  paid.  He  then  demands 
satisfaction  for  the  170  pagodas  he  disbursed  for  the  Company 
in  his  first  voyage,  aflfirming  that  this  has  been  promised  to  him ; 
this  matter  is  referred  to  next  Friday  for  consideration.  The 
Governor  acquaints  the  Court  that  he  has  received  information 
from  a  friend  that  there  is  a  possibility  of  the  Company,  with  the 
assistance  of  Parliament,  procuring  the    70,000/.  from  the  Dutch 

^  For  the  terms  of  the  preamble  see  the  calendar  of  House  of  Lords  papers  contained  in 
the  sixth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission  (p.  194).  Subscriptions  were  to  be  paid 
in  four  quarterly  instalments,  commencing  at  Michaelmas.  The  time  limit  was  July  3 1 
for  residents  in  or  near  London,  and  a  month  later  for  those  in  the  country.  Any  one 
not  already  free  of  the  Company  was  to  be  admitted  for  a  fine  of  five  pounds. 

P  2 


aia  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

formerly  promised,  but  refused  because  of  the  proviso  made  con- 
cerning the  island  of  Pollerone  [Pulo  Run]  ;  at  his  desire  several 
Committees  are  appointed  to  see  to  this  business,  and  the  Secretary 
is  directed  to  draw  up  a  petition  to  the  House  of  Commons  about 
it.  Richard  Wilson,  master  of  the  Ulysses,  requesting  that  the 
sailors  in  his  ship  may  be  permitted  to  land  the  white  pepper  and 
sugar  brought  home  by  them  as  private  trade,  Spiller  is  told  to 
allow  them  to  do  so,  but  to  note  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
goods  so  landed,     (if//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  i6,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol  xx, 
p.  124). 

Two  bills  of  exchange  from  the  President  and  Council  at  Bantam 
presented  by  Nathaniel  Lumbly  (who  came  home  surgeon  in  the 
Ulysses)  for  payment  to  him  of  600/.  are  ordered  to  be  met. 
Upon  petition  the  fishmongers'  porters  are  employed  to  house  the 
goods  from  the  William  and  all  other  ships  except  the  Ulysses.  On 
hearing  from  the  factors  at  Venice  that  quicksilver  may  be  had 
there  at  a  reasonable  price,  the  Court  resolves  to  buy  100  bullions 
for  account  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  if  it  may  be  procured  for  or 
under  seventy  ducats  per  cwt.,  or  exchanged  for  pepper  under  that 
price.  The  Committees  appointed  to  see  about  the  restitution 
from  the  Dutch  are  desired  to  meet  next  Tuesday  and  by  then 
to  have  six  petitions  ready  to  present  to  their  friends  in  the  House 
of  Commons  concerning  this  business.  Pedwarden  Rumsey's 
petition  for  remission  of  his  debt  of  210/.  is  refused.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  go  to  Erith  next  Monday  to  see  the  William 
break  bulk.  Steevens  reporting  that  timber  can  be  had  at  a 
reasonable  rate,  the  Court,  though  refusing  to  buy,  yet  gives  per- 
mission for  private  men  to  do  so  and  store  the  same  in  the  Yard  at 
Blackwall,  and  agrees  to  pay  them  eight  per  cent,  if  it  is  bought 
from  them  afterwards.  Mr.  HoUoway  is  allowed  to  have  the  use  of 
one  of  the  Company's  horses  from  Blackwall.  The  widow  of  John 
Powell  petitioning  for  the  money  due  to  her  husband  and  for  two 
rings  belonging  to  him,  she  is  told  that  there  is  nothing  due,  but 
that  her  husband  was  indebted  to  the  Company ;  however,  on 
account  of  her  poverty  and  as  he  suffered  in  'the  Amboyna 
businesse  *,  she  is  given  10/.  and  the  two  rings.     (2  //.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  ai3 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  ai,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  136). 

Tomblings  reporting  that  guns  cannot  be  delivered  from  or 
brought  to  Blackwall  Yard  for  want  of  the  horse  lent  to  Mr.  Hol- 
loway,  he  is  ordered  to  hire  one  or  two  horses  for  the  Company's 
use  and  Mr.  Holloway  agrees  to  pay  the  cost.  On  information  that 
the  master  and  purser  of  the  Ulysses  have  brought  home  for  their 
own  account  thirty  bales  of  calicoes  marked  with  the  Company's 
mark,  they  are  questioned  and  confess  that  they  bought  them  from 
one  '  Whittom ',  a  Chinaman  at  Bantam  ;  that  they  sold  twenty- 
three  bales  to  James  Martin ;  that  one  bale  belongs  to  the  wife 
of  President  Baker;  another  to  Mr.  Adams,  a  minister  living  at 
*  Paules  wharfe  ' ;  and  the  other  five  to  certain  men  who  were  in  the 
ship.  Mr.  Martin  acknowledges  having  received  the  twenty-three 
bales,  and  hopes  that  by  doing  so  he  has  prevented  their  sale  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  market  ;  he  is  willing  to  deliver  them  to  the  Com- 
pany, or  to  keep  them  until  those  belonging  to  the  Company  have 
been  sold.  The  Court,  resolving  to  discover  to  whom  these  calicoes 
really  belong,  directs  Mr.  Acton  to  draw  up  some  interrogations  to 
be  answered  by  the  master  and  purser  upon  oath  before  the  Lord 
Mayor  ;  and,  if  they  refuse  to  answer  these,  a  bill  is  to  be  drawn  up 
in  Chancery  against  them  ;  they  promise  to  answer  every  particular 
before  the  Lord  Mayor.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  23,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  128). 

Many  gentlemen  who  are  out  of  town  desiring  to  underwrite, 
and  others  who  are  not  free  of  the  Company  and  unable  to  attend 
the  court  desiring  to  be  made  free,  it  is  resolved  that  any  man  shall 
be  permitted  to  underwrite  for  a  friend  on  promising  to  see  the 
subscription  paid,  and  that  any  not  able  to  attend  the  court  shall  be 
admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  on  paying  5/.  to  Sam- 
brooke,  and  shall  be  allowed  to  take  the  oath  some  other  time. 
Rowland  Wilson  informs  the  Court  that  his  son  has  a  servant 
named  Samuel  Wilson,  who  has  served  him  seven  years  and  who 
desires  to  be  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  ;  the  Court, 
learning  that  he  was  bound  to  Mr.  Wilson  before  the  latter  was 


314  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

made  free,  will  not  admit  him  by  service,  but  only  on  his  paying 
the  fine  of  5/. ;  but  out  of  favour  he  is  given  back  40^.  Thomas 
Vincent  and  James  Herbert  admitted  to  the  freedom,  each  paying 
5/.  Thomas  Tomblings  desires  to  underwrite  in  the  book  of  sub- 
scriptions and  to  be  made  free  of  the  Company  ;  having  served 
fourteen  years,  he  is  admitted  on  payment  of  20s.  to  the  poor-box ; 
and  the  Court,  remembering  that  he  has  been  Clerk  of  the  Yard  at 
Blackwall  for  nearly  a  year  without  any  settled  salary,  decides 
to  give  him  80/.  per  annum  from  last  Michaelmas,  promising  to 
increase  it  when  trade  is  better  and  the  work  at  the  Yard  greater. 
Mr.  Robinson  to  be  paid  40/.  for  making  up  Fotherby's  books, 
and  the  master  and  owners  of  the  Ulysses  2,000/,  upon  account  of 
freight.  The  Deputy  is  given  permission  to  underwrite  1,000/. 
in  the  Second  General  Voyage  for  and  in  the  name  of  Francis 
Breton,  President  at  Surat.  The  latter  having  served  the  Com- 
pany fourteen  years  and  no  complaint  having  been  made  against 
him,  the  said  1,000/.  is  to  be  paid  from  his  wages  by  the  Treasurer, 
on  condition  that,  if  Breton  does  not  give  a  good  account  of  him- 
self, the  said  sum  shall  not  be  counted  as  his  adventure,  but  the 
profit  and  benefit  thereof  shall  go  to  the  particular  account  of  the 
adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  Mr.  Breton  to  bear  any 
loss  that  may  occur.    {2  pp.) 

Walter  and  Isaac  Vandervort  at  Venice  to  the  East 
India  Company,  July  26,  1647  {Home  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xl, 
p.  19). 

Having  received  nothing  from  the  Company,  this  is  only  to  advise 
the  sale  of  nineteen  more  bags  of  pepper.  Enclose  second  bills  of 
those  mentioned  in  former  letter,     (f  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  30,  1647  [Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  130). 

A  letter  from  Thomas  Ellwood  at  Sandwich  is  read,  advising 
the  purchase  by  some  Dover  men  of  indigo  and  calicoes  from  the 
ship  Dolphin,  which  on  being  landed  were  seized  and  taken  to 
Walmer  Castle,  and  for  which  Ellwood  has  been  much  importuned. 
He  also  states  that  he  paid  4/.  to  the  Admiralty  for  an  anchor  and 
the  great  cross  of  another  anchor  which  were  swept  off  Margate. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  415 

The  Court  resolves  that  the  cross  and  anchor  be  sent  to  Blackwall 
Yard,  and  that  Ellwood  be  directed  to  inform  the  owners  of  the 
indigo  and  calicoes  that  on  payment  of  freight  the  said  goods  shall 
be  delivered  ;  but  that,  if  the  Company  can  discover  who  sold 
them,  freight  will  be  demanded  from  them  and  repaid  to  the 
purchasers.  On  information  that  Dyamond,  carpenter  in  the 
William,  together  with  the  gunner,  has  sold  goods  out  of  that 
ship,  their  wages  are  ordered  to  be  stopped.  The  request  of  John 
Prowd,  master  of  the  Dolphin,  to  leave  his  ship  in  the  care  of  Adam 
Lee,  a  passenger,  and  come  to  London  to  see  his  sick  wife,  is 
granted.  A  motion  is  made  that,  in  regard  of  '  the  present  dis- 
tractions in  and  about  this  citty  V  the  Dolphin  shall  stay  a  tide  or 
two  at  Leigh  or  Tilbury  Hope ;  but  no  order  is  given.  Certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  examine  sundry  tokens  belonging  to 
Christopher  Willoughby.  Henry  Boone,  the  Company's  surgeon, 
who  was  apprenticed  to  John  Woodall,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom 
of  the  Company  by  ser\-ice  and  pays  20s.  to  the  poor-box.  Henry 
Newton  and  Henry  Hall  are  admitted  on  payment  of  5/.  each  ;  and 
Robert,  son  of  William  Rolfe,  is  admitted  by  patrimony.  John 
Young  is  appointed  land  purser  for  the  Dolphin.  Thomas  Tomb- 
lings  suggests  that  the  Company  may  be  saved  100/.  per  annum  if 
the  following  rules  are  observed,  viz. :  the  guns  returned  in  the 
several  ships  to  remain  on  board  and  not  be  sent  to  the  Yard,  but 
put  into  the  hold  instead  of  ballast  when  the  ships  are  unladen, 
thus  avoiding  the  expense  of  carrying  them  to  and  fro :  the  top- 
masts of  all  the  ships  to  remain  on  board :  the  yards  to  hang 
by  the  ties  and  not  be  taken  down  every  voyage ;  and  no  '  coakt 
blockes '  ^  used  when  '  woodpine '  blocks  will  do  equally  well.  The 
Court  approves  of  all  these  particulars  and  orders  that  they  be 
observed ;  also  that  the  rigging  of  the  ships  be  kept  apart  and  not 
renewed  if  serviceable,  and  that  if  new  rigging  is  made  at  home  no 
store  of  it  is  to  be  sent  out,  except  for  vessels  in  India.     {2\pp.) 

Four  days  earlier  the  two  Houses  had  been  mobbed  in  turn  by  a  disorderly  crowd  of 
petitioners  from  the  City ;  and  the  army,  under  Fairfax  and  Cromwell,  was  in  consequence 
marching  aa  London,  which  was  entered  on  August  6. 

*  This  seems  to  mean  pullejrs  made  from  the  took  or  core  of  the  trees,  as  being  harder 
and  therefore  more  serviceable. 


ai6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF   THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  July  30,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  133). 

Sale  of  longcloth,  sallampores,  baftas,  wet  pepper,  dust  of  pepper, 
cloves,  dust  of  cloves,  garble  of  cloves,  sugar,  benzoin,  and  Coro- 
mandel  indigo,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     {i^pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  4,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  134). 

The  Court,  learning  that  the  Treasurer  has  refused  to  take  money 
for  goods  bought  of  the  Company  '  in  regard  of  the  dangerousnesse 
of  the  tymes ',  orders  that  any  money  owing  and  offered  is  to 
be  accepted,  and  discount  allowed  if  it  is  paid  before  the  required 
time ;  and  Dunkin  is  directed,  when  receiving  money  for  goods 
bought  at  the  last  court  of  sales,  to  tell  the  buyers  that  if  the  said 
goods  are  not  taken  away  they  remain  at  the  buyer's  risk,  as 
the  Company  will  not  be  responsible  for  them.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  entreated  to  examine  the  private  trade  brought  home 
in  the  William  and  Dolphin  and  arrange  concerning  it  as  they 
think  fit.  Debate  ensues  how  to  dispose  of  the  pepper  returned  in 
the  William  and  Ulysses,  whether  to  send  it  to  Italy  or  sell  it  in 
town  ;  but  no  resolution  is  come  to.     (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  6,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  135). 

It  is  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  master  and  pilot  of  the  Dolphin 
whether  to  unlade  her  at  Erith  or  Woolwich.  Thomas  Denwood, 
a  carpenter  injured  at  Blackwall  Yard,  is  given  los.     {^p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  ii,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  136). 

The  blacks  who  came  from  India  in  the  William  and  are  now 
working  in  the  Yard  at  Blackwall  are  to  be  allowed  6d.  each 
a  week  for  their  '  extraordinary  expences '.  It  is  resolved  to  offer 
the  pepper  for  i$d.  per  lb.  at  five  six  months  from  the  ist  of  Sep- 
tember next,  but  if  it  is  not  all  underwritten  for  then  the  sale  is  to 
be  void  ;  if  the  purchaser  sells  it  in  town  he  is  to  have  it  garbled  at 
his  own  charge,  but  to  be  given  the  impost  if  it  is  transported. 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  217 

Sambrooke  presents  a  list  of  the  names  of  men  desiring  to  become 
adventurers  in  the  new  General  Voyage,  and  of  others  who  wish  to 
add  to  their  subscriptions ;  the  Court,  having  no  power  in  this 
respect,  resolves  that  all  those  who  have  subscribed  to  the  preamble 
shall  be  summoned  to  appear  at  the  East  India  House  next 
Wednesday.  The  mother  and  administratrix  of  the  late  William 
Smethwicke,  a  factor  who  died  in  India,  to  be  given  200/.  of  her 
son's  estate,  on  account.  Jacob  Jacobs,  a  Dutchman,  who  came  in 
the  William  from  Bantam,  to  be  given  61.  for  his  services.  The 
private  trade  brought  home  in  the  Dolphin  is  to  be  sent  up  to  the 
Custom-house.  The  William  and  Dolphin  to  be  brought  as  soon  as 
possible  into  Blackwall  dock.     {}\pp-) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  August  ii,  1647  (Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  137). 

Sale  of  wet  and  dry  pepper,  dust  of  pepper,  garbled  pepper, 
sugar,  green  ginger,  and  ungarbled  cloves,  with  prices  and  names  of 
purchasers.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  18, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  139). 

Robert  Burdett,  servant  to  Nathan  Wright,  is  admitted  to  the 
freedom  of  the  Company  by  service ;  and  William  Langhome  and 
Theophilus  Biddolfe  by  paying  5/.  each.  The  Court,  understanding 
that  a  great  quantity  of  private  trade  has  been  conveyed  out  of  the 
Dolphin,  orders  that  none  of  the  officers  in  her  be  paid  their  wages 
without  special  direction.  After  some  debate  it  is  decided  to  sell 
the  William  and  Dolphin  or  to  let  them  out  to  be  freighted,  as  the 
Joint  Stock  will  have  no  use  for  them.    (^  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  August  18,  1647  {Court  Book,\o\.  xxii,  p.  i). 

The  Governor  announces  that  82,600/.  has  been  underwritten  in 
the  preamble  for  the  Second  General  Voyage  within  the  time 
limited  for  subscription  ;  that  there  are  many  who  desire  to  under- 
write but  cannot,  the  time  appointed  for  so  doing  having  expired. 
In  his  opinion  none  should  be  excluded,  and  therefore  he  moves 
that  the  time  for  subscription  be  extended  to  the  end  of  the  month. 


ai8  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

After  some  debate  it  is  resolved  that  the  book  of  subscription  shall 
remain  open  until  Saturday  night  next  for  all  living  in  or  within 
ten  miles  of  London  to  underwrite,  as  well  for  those  who  wish  to 
add  to  their  subscription  as  for  others  who  have  not  yet  underwritten. 
The  Deputy  requests  to  be  allowed  to  underwrite  i,ooo/.  on  behalf 
of  Francis  Breton,  President  at  Surat,  to  be  paid  into  the  Company's 
cash  in  India  at  5^.  the  rial  upon  arrival  of  any  of  their  ships ;  to 
this  the  Court  consents,  on  condition  that  the  money  is  paid  upon 
receipt  of  the  Company's  first  letters  to  Surat.  On  the  Governor's 
suggestion  it  is  decided  to  present  to-morrow  morning  two  copies 
of  the  preamble  to  the  Lords  and  Commons  assembled  in  Parlia- 
ment so  that  those  of  them  who  wish  may  adventure  in  this  Voyage, 
it  being  thought  that  *  some  of  them  being  adventurers  it  would 
much  countenance  the  action ',  and  greater  power  would  be  obtained 
to  restrain  private  trade.  John  Massingberd  is  elected  Treasurer 
for  the  Voyage,  and  is  desired  to  buy  any  pieces  of  eight  procurable. 
The  Court  resolves  that  only  those  who  have  subscribed  at  least 
1,000/.  shall  be  elected  Committees  for  the  Voyage  ;  and,  the  names 
of  all  the  adventurers  being  read,  the  following  are  chosen :  Sir  John 
Gayer,  William  Cokayne,  William  Methwold,  Thomas  Andrews, 
John  Massingberd,  Thomas  Jennings,  Gilbert  Morewood,  Robert 
Abdy,  Robert  Gayer,  Nicholas  Gould,  Roger  Vivian,  Nathan 
Wright,  Maurice  Thomson,  Samuel  Moyer,  and  Captains  Jeremy 
Blackman  and  William  Ryder.  These,  or  any  seven  of  them,  are 
to  meet  '  at  this  house '  on  Friday  next  in  the  afternoon,  and  have 
power  to  meet  every  Wednesday  and  Friday  in  the  afternoon  and 
arrange  for  the  buying  or  freighting  of  ships,  or  any  other  matters 
concerning  the  Voyage  as  they  shall  think  most  advantageous. 
The  Governor,  Deputy,  and  Treasurer  to  be  present  at  each  meeting. 
It  is  also  resolved  that  no  salaries  or  gratuities  shall  be  given  to  the 
Committees  for  their  services  to  the  Voyage.     (2^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,^  August  30, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  140). 

A  division  of  twenty  per  cent,  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the 
adventurers  in  the  First  General  Voyage  between  the  ist  of  Sep- 

*  This  heading  will  henceforth  be  used  for  the  meetings  of  the  regular  Committees,  as 
distinct  from  those  of  the  special  Committees  appointed  for  the  new  Voyage. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  219 

tember  and  Michaelmas  Day.  The  following  men  are  admitted  to 
the  freedom  of  the  Company,  each  paying  5/. :  Michael  Gardiner, 
James  Jenkins,  William  Tutchin,  Francis  Tryon,  Martin  Nowell, 
Thomas  Cooke,  John  Hobby,  Francis  Sayon,  John  Fredricke,  and 
John  Gould.  James  Cooke,  servant  to  Richard  Lambe,  and  James 
Edwards,  servant  to  Alderman  Towse,  are  admitted  by  service; 
and  Richard  Mountney  by  patrimony.  The  freedom  of  the  Com- 
pany is  bestowed  upon  Christopher  Willoughby,  Thomas  Gee,  John 
Millett,  Adam  Lee,  and  Robert  Bowen,  who  are  '  auncient  servants ', 
each  paying  40^.  to  the  poor-box.  Thomas  Rich,  who  has  under- 
written for  400/.  in  the  new  General  Voyage,  is  admitted  on  pay- 
ment of  5/.,  but  has  3/.  returned  to  him.  Tomblings  reports  the 
sale  of  cordage  at  Blackwall.  Messrs.  Wright  and  Vivian  declare 
that,  according  to  the  account  made  up  by  Cartwright,  40,500 
dollars  are  due  from  the  Joint  Stock  to  the  First  General  Voyage  ; 
they  therefore  desire  goods  to  this  value  from  those  returned  this 
year.  The  Governor  replies  that  it  is  thought  there  must  be  some 
mistake  in  that  account,  and  it  cannot  be  taken  as  a  sufficient 
voucher  for  the  Stock  to  pay  so  great  a  sum  ;  therefore  the  Com- 
mittees for  the  Joint  Stock  and  Voyage  had  better  meet  and 
examine  Cartwright's  account  and  the  letters  concerning  the  Voyage 
next  Thursday  and  report  their  opinions.  The  petition  of  the 
officers  and  others  returned  in  the  William  for  remission  of  freight 
on  private  trade  brought  home  is  refused ;  but  Gee,  who  came  in 
her  as  master,  is  permitted  to  have  certain  sallampores  and  morees 
delivered  to  him  free  of  freight.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  20,  1647  (Conn  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  4). 

The  Governor  acquaints  the  Court  that  they  have  met  to  give 
directions  for  letters  to  be  written  to  Surat  and  the  Coast  to  inform 
the  factors  there  how  to  govern  themselves  concerning  this  Voyage. 
After  some  debate  the  Court,  considering  that  the  Stock  is  already 
125,000/.,  resolves  to  send  two  ships  to  Surat  of  about  350  tons 
apiece,  with  quick  stock  to  the  value  of  70,000/.,  of  which  10,000/. 
is  to  be  invested  in  goods  for  the  Southwards  and  transmitted  to 
Bantam.  These  two  ships  are  to  return  the  same  year,  if  possible, 
with  indigo,  calicoes,  pepper,  sugar,  nutmegs,  and  mace  (great  quan- 


220  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

titles  of  the  two  last-named  articles,  bought  at  reasonable  rates, 
having  been  brought  home  as  private  trade  in  the  Dolphin)^  cinnamon, 
and  saltpetre ;  and  what  falls  short  in  tonnage  is  to  be  made  up 
with  cardamoms  and  gum-lac.  To  procure  this  lading  the  factors 
are  to  be  allowed  to  take  up  at  interest  zopool.  It  is  also  resolved 
to  write  to  the  factors  at  the  Coast  and  inform  them  about  this 
Voyage,  and  that  it  is  hoped  to  send  them  30,000/.,  to  arrive  in 
April,  and  desire  them  to  provide  cloth  to  the  value  of  10,000/.  fit 
for  England  or  Bantam,     (i^  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  24,  1647  (Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  6). 

Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  inquire  for  two  ships  of  about 
300  tons  burden  apiece  to  send  to  the  Coast.  Some  of  the  Com- 
mittees appointed  to  manage  this  Voyage  not  having  taken  the 
oath  of  a  freeman,  copies  of  the  same  are  given  to  them,  and  they 
desire  time  until  Friday  to  decide  whether  they  will  take  it  or  not. 
Several  letters  to  be  sent  overland  concerning  the  provision  of 
goods  at  Surat  and  the  Coast  are  read  and  confirmed,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  27,  1647  (Court  Book,  voL 
XX,  p.  142). 

Mr.  Chettwin  desires  that  the  goods  of  William  Pitt,  a  factor  who 
died  in  the  Dolphin,  may  be  sold  while  the  market  is  good,  as  the 
executor  is  in  Virginia  ;  the  cabinet  belonging  to  Pitt  to  remain  in 
the  Company's  custody  until  letters  of  administration  are  presented  ; 
this  is  agreed  to.  Thomas  Styles  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  of 
the  Company  by  patrimony ;  Laurence  Lowe,  John  Birch,  and 
Francis  Osbaston,  on  payment  of  5/.  each  ;  George  Smith,  servant 
to  George  Smith,  and  Thomas  Hall,  servant  to  John  Wylde,  by 
service,  each  paying  \os.  to  the  poor-box.  Thomas  Dowell  is 
admitted  on  payment  of  5/. ;  but,  as  he  has  served  the  Company 
many  years,  3/.  is  returned  to  him,  the  remaining  2/.  being  put 
into  the  poor-box.  William  Kennon  is  admitted  on  payment  of  5/., 
and  because  he  has  served  the  Company  2/.  is  returned  to  him ;  the 
remaining  3/.  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  Treasurer.  The  freedom 
of  the  Company  is  bestowed  upon  Richard  Swinglehurst,  Samuel 
Sambrooke,  and  Michael  Dunkin  (they  having  served  many  years) 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  aai 

on  payment  of  los.  each  to  the  poor-box.  It  being  thought  requisite 
to  appoint  a  committee  on  behalf  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to 
treat  with  the  Committees  of  the  Second  General  Voyage,  the  fol- 
lowing men  are  chosen  :  William  Methwold,  William  Ashwell,  John 
HoUoway,  Thomas  Kerridge,  William  Garway,  William  Willyams, 
Andrew  Riccard,  and  Richard  Wylde.  They  are  to  arrange  with 
the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Second  General  Voyage  con- 
cerning the  charge  of  factories  and  shipping  in  the  East  which  the 
Voyage  may  make  use  of,  the  customs  and  forts,  the  charge  of 
warehouses,  factors,  and  servants,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  the  use 
of  Blackwall  Yard,  and  anything  else  that  may  occasion  dispute 
between  the  said  Voyage  and  the  Stock.  Laurence  Lowe  and 
Miles  Dixon  accepted  as  securities  for  pepper  bought  by  the 
Governor.  Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  and  report 
on  defective  calicoes.  Rebecca  Tynes,  executrix  to  Mr.  Mountfort, 
petitioning  for  what  is  due  upon  the  latter's  estate,  certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  examine  his  account.     (i|//-) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  i,  1647  {Coi^ri  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
P-  7)- 

The  Governor  reports  that  since  the  last  meeting  letters  have 
been  written  and  sent  overland  to  the  Coast  and  Surat ;  that  there 
are  many  who,  since  the  expiration  of  the  time  limited  for  subscrip- 
tion, desire  to  underwrite,  and  that  to  the  value  of  13,000/.  Here- 
upon their  names  are  read  out,  with  the  several  sums  they  wish  to 
subscribe,  and  it  is  resolved  that  all  shall  be  permitted  to  do  so,  but 
no  one  else  except  the  Lords  and  Commons,  and  they  not  after 
Michaelmas  next.  The  Governor  likewise  announces  that  some  of 
those  appointed  to  manage  this  Voyage  refuse  to  take  the  oath 
prescribed  for  admission  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company,  and  this 
is  contrary  to  the  preamble.  Some  present  declare  that  there  are 
things  mentioned  in  the  oath  which  they  do  not  conceive  to  be 
requisite.  After  great  debate  certain  Committees  are  chosen  to 
meet  and  treat  with  these  dissentients  to-morrow  afternoon  and 
endeavour  to  come  to  some  accommodation,     (i^  />/.) 


232  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  3,  1647  {Court  Booh, 
vol.  XX,  p.  144), 

Mr.  Berisford,  who  bought  the  Company's  saltpetre  and  paid  for 
part,  is  to  have  the  remainder  delivered  to  him,  on  making  an 
assignment  of  2,500/.  due  to  him  from  the  State  for  gunpowder. 
The  petition  of  the  widow  of  Walter  Clarke  for  what  is  due  upon 
her  late  husband's  estate  is  referred  until  the  arrival  of  the  ships 
from  Surat.  James  Martin  buys  all  the  'chints'  returned  in  the 
Dolphin.  Mr.  Willoughby's  private  trade  to  be  examined  and 
reported  upon.  A  small  bale  of  calicoes  sent  by  Aaron  Baker  to 
his  wife  is  to  be  delivered  to  her  free  of  freight.     {^\pp) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  September  3,  1647  (Court 
Book,  vol.  XX,  p.  145). 

Sale  of  rice,  dust  of  Coromandel  indigo,  shellac,  seedlac,  cowries, 
cardamoms,  myrrh,  Malabar  pepper,  calicoes,  tapseels,  quilts,  and 
cotton  yarn,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     (i^  //.} 

A  Vote  of  Thanks  from  the  House  of  Commons  to  the 
Company,  September  6, 1647  ^  {Nome  Miscellaneous,  vol.  xl,  p.  3). 

On  a  proposition  being  read  from  the  East  India  Company  for 
continuing  its  trade  this  year  by  means  of  a  General  Voyage,  the 
thanks  of  the  House  are  ordered  to  be  given  to  the  Company  for 
extending  the  time  during  which  members  may  join  in  the  subscrip- 
tion to  the  said  General  Voyage,  and  the  House  expresses  its 
approval  of  members  so  subscribing  for  the  better  advancement  of 
the  Company's  trade.     {Signed  by  H.  Elsynge,  Clerk.    |  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  8,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  9). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  the  Committees  appointed  have  met 
those  who  refuse  to  take  the  oath  for  admission  to  the  freedom  of 
the  Company,  but  no  resolution  has  been  come  to.  Alderman 
Andrews,  on  behalf  of  himself  and  others  who  refuse  to  take  the 

*  See  ante,  pp.  217,  321,  and  Commons'  youmals,  vol.  v,  p.  393.  A  similar  offer  had 
been  made  to  the  Lords  {Sixth  Report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  p.  194). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  223 

oath,  declares  that  they  have  framed  another  which  they  are  willing 
to  take  instead.  This  being  read,  it  appears  amply  sufficient  for 
the  good  of  this  Voyage,  but  the  expression  of  allegiance  to  the 
King's  Majesty  has  been  omitted.  On  this  being  urged,  the  dis- 
senting Committees  declare  they  have  already  taken  the  oath  of 
allegiance  and  see  no  necessity  to  do  so  again.  Thomas  Rich 
protests  against  the  oath  now  presented,  desires  to  be  permitted  to 
withdraw  his  subscription,  and  declares  he  will  not  be  present  if  it 
is  put  to  the  question.  After  much  debate  the  dissentients  with- 
draw by  desire,  and  hereupon  the  Deputy  remarks  that  they  had 
better  '  suffer  an  inconvenience  then  a  mischeife ',  and  that  it  is  not 
in  the  Company's  power  to  impose  an  oath  upon  any  man.  A 
motion  is  then  made  to  admit  for  this  Voyage  those  who  refuse  to 
take  the  oath  by  a  subscription  under  their  hands  that  they  will  do 
nothing  to  prejudice  the  Company.  Further  debate  ensues ;  but, 
as  no  resolution  is  arrived  at,  this  question  is  referred  to  a  general 
court  to  be  held  next  Tuesday,     (i^  //.) 

f 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  10,  1647  {Cotirt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  147). 

Sir  Jacob  Garrad  is  offered  an  allowance  of  10/.  upon  his  defec- 
tive calicoes,  but  refuses  this  as  insufficient.  Captain  Thomas 
Porter  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  on  payment  of  5/.,  but  he  having 
served  in  India  3/.  is  returned  to  him  and  the  other  2/.  put  into  the 
poor-box ;  at  his  request  he  is  allowed  to  pay  half  his  adventure  to 
the  Second  General  Voyage  now  and  the  remainder  on  the  last  day 
for  payment,  as  he  is  going  to  sea.  Robert  Abdy  buys  the  Malabar 
pepper  returned  in  the  Dolphin  for  \6d.  per  lb.  at  four  six  months 
from  Michaelmas.  Katherine  Furrall,  sister  and  administratrix  to 
Leonard  Couch,  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  the  latter's  estate,  on 
giving  security  to  save  the  Company  harmless.  Willoughby's  goods 
to  be  weighed  by  the  Husband,  who  is  to  report  on  their  quantity 
and  quality,  and  what  freight  is  thought  fitting  will  then  be  charged. 
Mr.  Burton  and  Company  to  be  sued  for  their  long-outstanding 
debt  without  further  delay.  Many  adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage  having  refused  to  take  the  'auncient  oath',  the 
Secretary,  who  has  drawn  up  a  case  about  this,  is  desired  to  con- 


224  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

suit  with  Messrs.  Hale  and  Heme  on  the  subject.  At  the  request 
of  Thomas  Andrews,  the  calicoes  he  bought  at  the  last  court  of 
sales  are  allotted  to  James  Martin,     (i^  />/.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  14,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  10). 

The  Governor  expresses  a  hope  that  some  way  of  accommodation 
has  been  arrived  at  to  remove  the  great  obstruction  caused  by  those 
refusing  to  take  the  oath.  The  Deputy  replies  that  something  has 
been  done,  but  he  desires  that  the  dissentients  will  withdraw  before 
it  is  stated.  They  do  so,  and  the  Deputy  informs  those  remaining 
that  since  the  last  court  a  case  has  been  drawn  up  concerning  the 
oath,  and  from  the  advice  of  learned  counsel  it  appears  that  the 
Company  may  alter  the  former  oath,  or  admit  for  this  Voyage 
those  who  refuse  to  take  it  but  agree  to  sign  a  contract  to  be  made 
between  them  and  the  other  adventurers.  After  much  debate,  it 
is  decided  to  admit  those  who  will  sign  a  contract  not  to  prejudice 
the  Company.  Certain  Committees  are  hereupon  appointed  to 
meet  with  the  dissentients  next  Thursday  and  draw  up  such 
a  contract  as  shall  be  thought  fitting  for  them  to  sign.  Many  men, 
who,  through  absence  from  town  or  other  reasons,  had  not  heard 
of  the  subscription  for  this  new  Voyage  and  desire  to  become 
adventurers,  are  allowed  to  do  so  provided  they  underwrite  by 
Saturday  night  next,  but  no  more  to  be  admitted  after  that  time. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  16,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  la). 

The  contract  by  which  those  who  refuse  to  take  the  oath  promise 
not  to  prejudice  the  Company  is  read,  and  the  dissentients  agree  to 
sign  and  seal  the  same.^  After  some  dispute  it  is  resolved  that  all 
those  who  refuse  to  take  the  oath  shall  have  the  5/.  fine  which  they 
paid  to  the  Treasurer  returned,  as  they  have  not  been  made  free 
of  the  Company.  A  debate  follows  concerning  the  ships  to  be 
sent  to  the  Coast,  and  it  is  resolved  to  dispeed  two,  their  combined 

•  Alderman  Andrews  was  one  of  these:  see  above,  p.  222,  and  also  the  appendix  to  the 
tenth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  part  vi,  p.  208. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  225 

burden  not  to  exceed  550  tons ;  to  freight  the  larger  and  buy  the 
other,  as  she  is  to  stay  in  India ;  but  decision  on  the  latter  point 
is  referred  to  the  Committees  appointed  to  provide  shipping,  who 
are  entreated  to  go  down  the  river  this  afternoon,  attended  by 
Steevens,  and  view  some  ships.  On  information  that  the  Atigel, 
bound  for  Amsterdam,  is  in  the  Downs  with  rials  to  the  value  of 
13,000/.  aboard  her,  some  of  the  Committees  are  desired  to  buy 
these  rials  if  possible.     {}\  PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  17, 1647  {Conrt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  148). 

Joachim  Mathews  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  on  payment  of  5/. 
The  William  is  ordered  to  be  repaired.  Captain  John  Brett  buys 
flat  indigo  and  dust  of  Sarkhej  indigo.  Freight  to  be  charged  on 
calicoes  brought  back  in  the  Dolphin.  An  offer  is  made  on  behalf 
of  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Voyage  to  freight  the  Dolphin 
to  the  Coast  at  3c/.  per  ton  per  month  for  twenty  months.  After 
some  debate  this  offer  is  refused,  and  the  following  terms  are  sub- 
mitted instead:  the  freighters  to  imprest  1,000/.;  to  pay  25/.  per 
ton  for  twenty  months,  if  seventy  men,  a  master,  and  a  boy,  are 
taken  aboard,  and  26/.  per  ton  if  eighty  men  are  taken  ;  350/. 
demurrage  per  month  to  be  paid  for  every  month  the  ship  shall 
stay  out  above  twenty  months,  and  so  for  days ;  and  in  case  she 
shall  miscarry  after  arrival  at  the  first  port,  350/.  per  month  is  to 
be  paid  from  the  time  she  is  ready  here  in  England  to  that  time. 
The  Committees,  being  made  acquainted  with  the  foregoing  terms, 
agree  to  give  their  answer  next  Monday.  Several  petitions  are 
presented  for  the  post  of  pulleymaker,  but  the  Court  orders  that 
the  widow  of  the  last  man  who  served  in  that  capacity  shall  supply 
all  pulleys  needed  by  the  Joint  Stock,  if  she  will  do  so  as  cheaply 
as  others,     (i^//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  21,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  -sixxi,  p.  13). 

Millett,  master  of  the  Aleppo  Merchant,  is  asked  if  he  will  let  his 
ship  be  freighted  to  the  Coast ;  he  replies  that  he  is  wilh'ng  to  do 
so,  but  that  she  is  in  need  of  repair  and  could  not  be  ready  until 
the  middle  of  November.    The  Committees,  considering  this  would 


226  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

be  too  late,  resolve  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  Joint  Stock  to  let 
them  have  the  Dolphin  to  freight  at  25/.  per  ton,  on  condition  that 
she  carries  76  men;  and  Steevens  is  directed  to  repair  the  said 
ship  with  all  expedition.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  aa,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  150). 

The  Committees  for  the  Voyage  accept  the  terms  proposed  by 
the  Joint  Stock  for  freighting  the  Dolphin^  but  desire  that  seventy- 
six  men  may  go  in  her,  to  which  the  Stock  consents.  Steevens  is 
directed  to  fit  and  repair  the  said  vessel  as  speedily  as  possible. 
Captain  William  Ryder  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
on  payment  of  5/.,  and  Nicholas  Brethers  on  payment  of  a  like 
sum ;  but  as  the  latter  has  served  the  Company  many  years  3/.  is 
returned  to  him  and  the  other  2/.  placed  in  the  poor-box.  Isabel 
Chin,  administratrix  of  George  Petty,  to  be  paid  381/.  45-.  "jd.  due 
to  his  estate.  A  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage  ordered  to  be  summoned  for  next  Friday,     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  23,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  14). 

To  determine  whether  to  buy  or  freight  a  small  vessel  to  send 
with  the  Dolphin  to  the  Coast.  It  is  suggested  that  use  be  made  of 
one  of  the  four  or  five  good  ships  now  in  India  belonging  to  the 
old  Stock,  but  the  Committees  think  it  not  safe  to  venture  the 
intended  stock  of  30,000/,  in  one  vessel  only,  therefore  Captain 
Blackman  and  Captain  [Ryder]  are  requested  to  treat  on  the 
Exchange  with  the  owners  of  the  Edward,  burden  about  330  tons, 
concerning  her  hire.     (^  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  24,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  151). 

Thomas  Millward  having  left  certain  money  with  the  Company 
to  pay  his  father's  creditors,  for  which  he  was  promised  3/.  \os.  per 
cent,  interest  yearly  so  long  as  there  remained  500/.,  now  requests 
that,  as  he  is  indebted  245/.  to  Dr.  Burton's  children,  of  which  he 
has  paid  aoo/.,  the  Company  will  give  him  the  remaining  45/. ; 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  227 

to  this  the  Court  consents,  if  a  discharge  is  obtained  from  the 
executor  of  Dr.  Burton.  Millward  further  requests  to  be  allowed 
interest  for  s^jl.  of  his  now  in  the  Company's  custody,  and  the 
Court  agrees  to  allow  it  on  the  300/.  and  on  any  sum  not  under 
100/.  Thomas  Gee  is  given  a  gratuity  of  60/.  for  bringing  his  ship 
the  William  into  the  Downs  as  her  first  port,  and  his  wages  and 
debts  are  ordered  to  be  paid  and  his  bond  to  be  delivered.  The 
widow  of  Walter  Clarke  petitioning  for  what  is  due  upon  her  late 
husband's  account,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  and 
report  on  the  same.  Robert  Bowen  is  chosen  master  of  the  Dolphin 
at  8/.  per  month.  John  Roberts,  John  Greene,  John  Head,  and 
John  Spiller  are  admitted  to  the  freedom  on  payment  of  5/.  each  ; 
but  as  Head  and  Spiller  are  old  servants  of  the  Company,  their 
money  is  returned,  each  paying  10s.  to  the  poor-box.  Walter 
Glasse,  administrator  of  William  Brewer,  to  be  paid  26/.  2s.  8d.,  on 
his  bond  to  be  responsible  for  the  same  in  case  the  Company  can 
prove  that  this  sum  is  not  owing.     (i^/A) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  24,  1647  (Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  15). 

Thomas  Rich  moves  that  as  '  hee  came  in  to  underwrite  in  this 
Voyage  in  love,  so  hee  might  have  liberty  to  vacate  his  subscription 
with  their  love,  for  that  hee  did  not  desire  to  bee  an  adventurer 
with  them  ' ;  yet,  not  wishing  to  appear  *  refractory  to  government  *, 
he  refers  himself  wholly  to  the  decision  of  the  Court.  John  Hollo- 
way  prefers  a  like  request.  Both  are  desired  to  withdraw,  and  then 
the  Court,  by  a  general  erection  of  hands,  refuses  to  permit  them 
to  make  their  subscription  void.  John  Wood  and  Captain  Juxon 
are  refused  permission  to  underwrite  in  this  Voyage.  The  Governor 
reminds  the  Court  that,  in  accordance  with  the  book  of  subscription, 
it  is  necessary  to  choose  eight  adventurers  in  this  Voyage  to  treat 
with  eight  of  those  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  and  agree  as 
to  the  terms  on  which  the  Voyage  may  make  use  of  the  servants, 
shipping,  etc.,  abroad  and  at  home,  '  and  whatsoever  els  may  fall 
in  dispute  betweene  this  Voyage  and  the  Stocke.'  Accordingly 
Alderman  Langham,  Thomas  Rich,  Roger  Vivian,  Charles  Snelling, 
Maurice  Thomson,  Edwin  Browne,  Jeremy  Blackman,  and  William 

Qa 


aa8  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Vincent  are  chosen  for  this  purpose.  The  Governor  announces 
that  direction  has  been  given  for  a  parcel  of  quicksilver  to  be  bought 
at  Venice,  and  wishes  to  know  if  it  is  to  be  purchased  from  the 
Stock  by  the  Voyage ;  but  the  Court  refers  this  to  the  determina- 
tion of  the  sixteen  Committees.  The  Treasurer  is  directed  not  to 
receive  any  subscriptions  from  adventurers  who  have  not  either  taken 
the  oath  or  signed  the  contract.  The  former  resolution  forbidding 
the  Committees  chosen  to  manage  this  Voyage  to  receive  any 
gratuities  for  their  pains  is  absolutely  revoked.    (2//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  27, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  17). 

The  Bilbao  Merchant  having  been  bought  from  Mr.  James  for 
2,700/.,  the  Court  orders  that  she  be  carried  into  Mr.  Castell's  dock 
at  '  Redderith '  [i.  e.  Redriff],  to  be  fitted  for  her  intended  voyage  to 
the  Coast ;  and  Captains  Blackman  and  Ryder  are  entreated  to 
arrange  about  this.  The  sixteen  Committees  to  be  summoned 
to  meet  to-morrow  afternoon  to  choose  a  master  for  the  said  ship. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  28,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  18). 

Mr.  James  is  requested  to  deliver  up  the  Bilbao  Merchant  to 
John  Prowd,  and  the  latter  is  desired  to  examine  and  report  on 
her  inventory.  Michael  Yates,  Thomas  Dowell,  and  Robert  Hogge 
are  nominated  to  go  as  master  in  her,  but  on  inquiry  the  Court 
does  not  think  fit  to  employ  any  of  them.  The  Deputy  proposes 
James  Birkdell  as  an  able  and  proper  man  for  the  post,  and  he 
being  at  Hull  the  Secretary  is  desired  to  write  and  advise  him 
to  come  to  London  in  view  of  this  being  offered  to  him.  The 
factors  for  the  Coast  to  be  chosen  next  Wednesday  week.  It  is 
resolved  to  buy,  on  behalf  of  the  Second  General  Voyage,  the 
quicksilver  provided  at  Venice  for  account  of  the  Joint  Stock,  and 
to  bear  the  adventure  and  pay  the  bills  of  exchange  for  it  as  they 
shall  be  presented,     {i^pp.) 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  229 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  i,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  153). 

Alderman  Thomas  CuUum,  Captain  Thomas  Davies,  Edward 
Wood,  Robert  Thurkettle,  Timothy  Wilson,  Nicholas  Searle,  EHas 
Jorden,  Job  Throgmorton,  William  Bewly,  George  Boothby,  Samuel 
Gibbs,  Joshua  Fowler,  John  Collyer,  Nicholas  Hurleston,  and 
Robert  Houghton,  are  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  on 
payment  of  5/.  each  ;  Henry  Spurstowe  and  Thomas  Cokayne  are 
admitted  by  patrimony;  and  Thomas  Dickons,  servant  to  James 
Cox,  by  service.  The  Court  gives  instructions  for  the  better  pre- 
servation of  the  chests  of  chirurgery  sent  in  the  ships  to  India  ;  and 
Boone,  the  surgeon,  is  desired  to  write  out  directions  how  these 
may  be  preserved  at  sea,  which  the  master  and  surgeon  of  each 
vessel  are  to  see  carried  out,  Edward  Rygate,  administrator  of 
the  estate  of  Edward  Johnson,  to  be  paid  20/.  in  full  of  the  said 
estate.  The  motion  for  a  division  to  be  made  in  indigo  to  the 
adventurers  is  again  brought  forward  and  referred  for  decision.  On 
information  that  the  Second  General  Voyage  has  accepted  the 
quicksilver  formerly  ordered  to  be  bought  at  Venice  and  promised 
to  give  satisfaction  for  it,  the  Court  signifies  its  approval  on  behalf 
of  the  Joint  Stock,     (i  |  //.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  i,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  19). 

Mr.  James  to  be  paid  2,700/.  for  the  Bilbao  Merchatit,  he  having 
delivered  her  up  to  John  Prowd.  Certain  Committees,  with  the 
assistance  of  Rilston,  are  desired  to  furnish  the  said  ship  as  soon  as 
possible  with  all  necessaries  for  a  voyage  of  twenty  months  with 
a  crew  of  forty-five  men.  It  is  decided  to  send  two  ships  to  Surat 
this  year,  and  Millett's  vessel,  the  Aleppo  Merchant,  is  hired  on 
freight  on  the  following  conditions ;  to  be  in  the  Downs  with 
eighty  men  and  everything  requisite  for  the  voyage  by  the  last  day 
of  February,  and  to  stay  at  Surat  for  her  lading  until  the  last  day  of 
January  :  to  receive  25/.  per  ton  for  Surat  goods  and  20/.  per  ton 
for  Bantam  goods  :  to  be  paid  for  demurrage  or  any  other  matter 
according  to  the  former  charter-party,  and  Millett  to  be  given  800/. 
before  his  departure.    i\Ir.  \A'hitaker  at  Amsterdam  is  to  be  desired 


230  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF   THE 

to  provide  to  the  value  of  5,000/.  '  in  ryalls  of  eight,  rix  dollers, 
crosse  dollers,  or  duccatoones,  but  all  to  be  ryalls  of  eight  if  possibly 
they  can  bee  procured,  and  of  the  Civill  [i.  e.  Seville]  coyne,  for  that 
the  Peru  money  is  both  light  and  nought '  ;  these  to  be  sent  from 
Rotterdam,  rather  than  from  Amsterdam,  in  the  first  ship  bound  for 
London.     (i|/i>.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  6,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  155). 

Thomas  Walters,  John  Stone,  Jacob  Bovee,  Stephen  Thornley, 
and  William  Bolton  are  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
on  payment  of  5/.  each;  Oliver  Neave,  servant  to  George  Humble, 
and  George  Robinson,  servant  to  Sir  Job  Harby,  are  admitted  by 
service ;  and  Cornelius  Mountney  by  patrimony.  Millett,  master 
of  the  Aleppo  Merchant,  desires  that,  as  the  Committees  for  the 
Second  General  Voyage  have  hired  his  ship  upon  freight,  to  be 
ready  by  February,  she  may  be  repaired  in  the  Company's  dock  at 
Blackwall,  there  being  no  other  fit  for  the  purpose  ;  after  some 
debate  the  Court  consents  to  this,  on  condition  that  Millett  pays 
for  the  use  of  the  dock  at  the  usual  rate,  for  the  opening  and  shutting 
of  the  gates,  for  any  damage  his  ship  may  do,  and  for  all  timber, 
plank,  etc.,  used,  at  the  highest  rates  ;  which  he  agrees  to  do.  On 
hearing  the  report  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  examine  Walter 
Clarke's  account,  the  Court  orders  all  that  is  due  to  the  same  to  be 
paid  to  his  widow,  except  600  rials,  which  are  to  be  detained  until 
the  arrival  of  the  Surat  ships.  On  the  petition  of  the  mother  of 
Thomas  Rogers  (who  died  at  Golconda),  she  is  told  that  there 
is  nothing  due  to  her  late  son,  but  that  he  is  indebted  to  the  Com- 
pany, and  that  all  books  belonging  to  him  shall  be  brought  into 
court  this  day  week.  Steevens  reporting  misdemeanours  committed 
by  Robert  Beckett  at  the  Yard,  the  latter  is  discharged  from  the 
Company's  service,     (i^  pp^ 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  6,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  21). 

A  proposal  that  one  of  the  ships  should  touch  at  the  '  Maldiva 
Islands  '  for  cowries  on  her  way  to  the  Coast  in  negatived,  on 
information  that  the  islands  are  numerous  and  the  harbouring  for 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  231 

ships  is  very  dangerous  ;  therefore  it  is  thought  better  that  a  junk 
should  be  sent  direct  from  the  Coast  thither.  Birkdell  not  having 
arrived  in  town,  choice  of  a  master  for  the  Bilbao  Merchant  is  again 
deferred,  but  James  Bridgman  is  appointed  to  go  in  her  as  purser. 
Rials  being  very  scarce,  Mr.  Whitaker  is  to  be  directed  to  provide 
to  the  value  of  5,000/.  in  gold  and  send  in  the  first  ship  bound  for 
London,     (i/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  8,  1647  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  157). 

Stephen  Andrews  and  John  Swift  are  admitted  to  the  freedom 
of  the  Company  by  patrimony,  Richard  Waring  on  payment  of  5/., 
and  Samuel  Wastell,  servant  to  Gilbert  Keate,  by  service.  Quarles 
Browne  is  chosen  purser  for  the  Dolphin,  with  William  Winter 
as  his  mate,  and  Matthew  Saunders,  steward,  with  William  Halsey 
as  his  mate.  Etheldred  Price,  administrator  of  Jacob  Price,  to 
be  paid  20s.  of  the  latter's  estate.  George  Cocke  to  be  paid  a  legacy 
of  20J.  from  Matthew  Crumpe's  estate.  On  information  that  there 
are  above  1,200  barrels  of  all  sorts  of  indigo  in  the  warehouse,  the 
Court  resolves  to  divide  the  same  to  the  adventurers  in  the  Joint 
Stock,  each  to  receive  a  proportion  according  to  his  adventure,  and 
to  pay  3J-.  6d.  per  lb.  for  Lahore  indigo  and  2s.  6d.  for  the  other 
kinds  ;  the  indigo  to  be  delivered  and  payment  for  it  made  by  the 
25th  of  March,  any  one  paying  before  then  to  be  allowed  8  per 
cent,  discount ;  and  all  indigo  not  taken  away  by  the  said  date 
to  be  sold  by  the  Company,  any  loss  arising  by  the  sale  to  be 
charged  to  the  owner's  account,  and  any  gain  to  go  to  the  account 
of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  A  general  court  is  ordered  to  be 
summoned  for  next  Thursday  afternoon,  that  the  approval  of  the 
generality  may  be  obtained  to  the  above  resolution.     (i|^.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  8, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  2a). 

It  is  resolved  that  the  following  commodities  shall  be  sent  to  the 
Coast :  five  or  six  cases  of  coral,  30  broadcloths,  150  pigs  of  lead, 
and  looking-glasses  and  knives  to  the  value  of  15/.  or  20/.  Benjamin 
Robinson  is  chosen  to  go  as  prime  factor  in  the  Dolphin  and  to 
return  in  her,  to  be  given  300/.  in  full  for  the  whole  voyage  and 


232  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

a  gratuity  for  good  service.  Robert  Doughty  is  chosen  to  go 
as  factor  in  the  same  ship  at  a  salary  of  40/.  per  annum,  he  to 
return  in  the  small  ship.  William  Leaver  is  chosen  to  go  as  factor 
in  the  small  ship  and  to  return  in  her,  at  a  salary  of  40/.  per 
annum.    {^^  pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  13,  1647  (Couri  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  159). 

Thomas  Purcell  and  John  Nicholas  are  admitted  to  the  freedom 
of  the  Company  on  payment  of  5/.  each.  The  Deputy  reporting 
that  Mr.  Hall,  Lord  Craven's  agent,  has  received  commission  to 
treat  with  the  Company  about  His  Lordship's  house,  the  Court? 
thinking  it  would  be  more  convenient  and  cheaper  than  the  one 
now  occupied  by  the  Company,  if  it  can  be  had  at  a  reasonable 
rate,  requests  certain  Committees  to  meet  Mr.  Hall  about  this 
matter.  Robert  Doughty,  who  supplied  the  place  of  writer  at 
Bantam  for  five  years  at  a  small  salary,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  15/. 
Robert  Bowen,  who  went  out  master  in  the  Endeavour  and  returned 
in  the  Dolphin^  is  paid  his  300/.  with  50/.  per  cent,  profit,  according 
to  agreement.  Elizabeth  Lassells,  administratrix  of  the  estate 
of  Edward  Johnson,  to  be  paid  14/.  in  full  of  the  said  estate. 
Thomas  Bott,  a  former  servant  of  the  Company  in  India,  who 
lately  returned  from  slavery  in  Algiers,  is  given  10s.     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  13, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  24). 

James  Birkdell  is  entertained  to  go  as  master  in  the  Bilbao  Mer- 
chant at  61.  I'^s.  4d.  per  month.  The  following  five  ships  are 
offered  to  be  freighted  for  Surat :  the  Ulysses,  a  new  ship  built 
at  '  Mauldin '  ^  the  Hercules,  the  Prosperotis,  and  the  Golden  Fleece  ; 
it  is  decided  to  hire  the  Golden  Fleece,  and  the  Committees  agree 
with  Roger  Vivian,  one  of  her  part-owners,  to  give  24/.  per  ton  for 
piece-goods  and  20/.  per  ton  for  pepper  and  saltpetre,  but  only 
to  freight  400  tons,  and  to  pay  at  the  same  rate  if  she  shall  bring 
home  goods  above  that  tonnage.  Ships  and  factors  for  Bantam  to 
be  chosen  next  Friday.    The  sixteen  special  Committees  are  desired 

*  Maldon,  in  Essex.    This  ship  appears  to  have  been  named  the  Advice. 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  233 

to  meet  this  day  week  to  consult  concerning  the  allowance  to  be 
given  by  the  Voyage  to  the  Stock  for  the  use  of  ships,  factors,  etc. 
(I  I /A) 

A  General  Court  of  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock,  October  14,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  160). 

The  Governor  acquaints  the  generality  with  the  proposed  division 
of  indigo  to  the  adventurers  to  enable  the  Company  to  pay  part  of 
its  debt;  also  with  the  conditions  agreed  upon  by  the  Court  of 
Committees.  The  Deputy  intimates  that  the  debt  owing  by  this 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  is  very  great  and  ought  to  be  paid ;  and  it 
is  added  that  the  report  of  the  division  of  the  indigo  may  prevent 
this  commodity  being  brought  from  Holland  and  other  parts.  The 
Governor  then  puts  it  to  the  question  whether  the  indigo  shall 
be  disposed  of  in  the  manner  proposed,  and  it  is  unanimously 
agreed  to.  The  Governor  further  acquaints  the  generality  that  the 
Dolphiti  has  been  let  out  upon  freight  to  the  Second  General 
Voyage  ;  also  that  the  Court  of  Committees  thinks  that  when  the 
said  ship  is  repaired,  victualled,  and  ready  to  set  out  to  sea,  she  should 
be  sold  ;  he  therefore  desires  to  know  if  the  generality  will  agree  to 
this,  or  decide  to  keep  her  for  the  account  of  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  It  is  resolved  that  she  shall  be  sold  at  the  next  court 
of  sales.  It  is  also  left  to  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Committees 
whether  to  let  the  William  out  upon  freight  or  to  sell  her.  Ped- 
warden  Rumsey,  who  is  insolvent  and  a  prisoner  in  the  King's 
Bench,  petitions  for  remission  of  interest  due  on  his  debt  for  goods, 
because  of  his  great  loss  by  their  sale,  and  '  divers  other  casualties 
by  bad  debts  in  these  distracted  tymes ' ;  the  Court  is  willing  to 
favour  him,  but  as  the  principal  and  interest  of  the  said  debt  have 
not  been  agreed  upon  by  Rumsey  and  Sambrooke,  the  matter 
is  referred  to  the  decision  of  the  Court  of  Committees.     (2^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  ComxMittees,  October  15,  1647  {Court  Book, 
voL  XX,  p.  162). 

Mr.  Hollo  way  to  have  some  of  his  calicoes  from  the  warehouse  on 
paying  for  them  before  delivery ;  and  his  great  debt  being  taken 
into  consideration,  Sambrooke  is  ordered  to  make  out  his  account 
and  show  to  Mr.  Acton,  who  is  to  draw  up  a  statement  for  Hollo  way 


234  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

to  seal,  whereby  the  Company  may  be  secured.  Stephen  Burton, 
Richard  Piggott,  and  John  Brett,  against  whom  an  action  was 
ordered  to  be  taken  for  their  long-outstanding  debt,  desire  that  the 
matter  may  be  settled  by  arbitration  ;  to  this  the  Court  consents, 
agreeing  that  three  men  shall  be  appointed  for  each  side  to  deter- 
mine the  business  between  this  and  the  end  of  November,  and 
if  they  cannot  agree,  an  umpire  is  to  be  chosen  who  shall  deliver 
judgement  within  ten  days  after.  Thomas  Hawkes  and  James 
Bridgman  admitted  to  the  freedom  on  payment  of  5/.  each  ;  but,  as 
the  latter  has  served  some  years  in  India,  20s.  is  returned  to  him. 
Richard,  son  of  Robert  Freeman,  is  admitted  by  patrimony.  A 
letter  is  read  from  Mr.  Whitaker,  the  Company's  correspondent  at 
Amsterdam,  reminding  the  Court  that  it  is  four  years  since  he  has 
received  a  gratuity  ;  whereupon  he  is  awarded  661.  i^s.  4d.  for  his 
past  services,     (i^pp-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  15,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  25). ' 

The  choice  of  factors  is  deferred  until  December.  A  bill  presented 
by  Prowd  for  payment  of  seamen,  etc.,  is  ordered  to  be  discharged. 
The  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and  four  of  the  Committees  to  sign  all 
warrants  for  payment  of  money.  All  acts  of  court,  all  accounts,  and 
the  cashbook  for  the  Voyage  to  be  kept  apart  in  particular  books, 
and  no  money  to  be  paid  for  any  provisions  until  the  account  for 
the  same  is  approved  by  the  Committees  who  bought  them.  It  is 
thought  that  the  accounts  might  be  kept  in  a  better  manner  than 
formerly,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  consult  with  Sam- 
brooke  concerning  this.  In  regard  that  1,300  tons  of  goods  may 
be  expected  next  year  from  Bantam,  the  Committees  think  that 
besides  the  Dolphin  (burden  300  tons),  which  is  to  go  from  the 
Coast  to  Bantam,  the  William  (burden  600  tons),  belonging  to  the 
Joint  Stock,  might  be  sent  next  May,  if  this  can  be  arranged  with 
the  Stock,  and  another  ship  of  300  tons  dispeeded  in  January.  The 
following  ships  are  offered  to  be  freighted  to  Bantam :  the  William, 
Ulysses,  Advice,  Arabella,  and  Sarah,  but  decision  herein  is  deferred. 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  2$$ 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  October  19, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  164). 

The  Governor  intimates  that  they  have  met  to  consider  a  matter 
which  very  much  concerns  them  all:  that  in  1629  this  Company 
sold  saltpetre  to  Alderman  Fowke  and  Daniel  Bonnell  to  the  value 
of  1,997/.  ijs.  and  after  it  was  delivered  the  Alderman  refused 
to  give  bills  for  payment  of  the  same,  whereupon  the  Company 
exhibited  two  bills  in  Chancery  against  Fowke  and  Bonnell  and 
obtained  two  decrees,  viz. :  that  the  said  debt  was  to  be  paid  in 
such  a  time,  and  (if  this  were  not  done)  that  the  Company  were  to 
pay  themselves  from  the  Alderman's  stock.  Fowke  did  not  stir  in 
this  matter  for  about  thirteen  years  and  then,  all  the  witnesses 
except  one  being  dead,  he,  having  privately  procured  sight  of  Bon- 
nell's  books,  petitioned  the  Lords  against  the  Company.  At  the 
hearing  it  was  found  that  the  chief  book,  Bonnell's  journal,  which 
was  part  of  the  evidence  produced  in  Chancery,  was  missing ;  here- 
upon the  Company's  counsel  declared  that  they  could  make  no 
defence  unless  the  evidence  produced  at  the  making  of  the  said 
decrees  was  extant,  and  the  Lords  on  the  6th  of  May  last  ordered 
the  proceeds  of  Fowke's  adventures  in  the  Second  and  Third  Persia 
Voyages,  and  of  his  adventure  in  the  Second  Joint  Stock,  with 
interest  after  the  rate  of  8  per  cent.,  to  be  allowed,  together  with 
100/.  for  costs,  and  Messrs.  Heath  and  Hakewill,  two  Masters 
of  Chancery,  to  audit  the  damages.  Fowke  brought  in  no  money 
for  his  adventures  in  the  two  Persia  Voyages,  and  all  had  been 
divided  to  him  on  his  adventure  in  the  Second  Joint  Stock  except 
\blank\  which  he  might  have  had.  By  the  advice  of  counsel  the 
Company  refused  to  produce  its  books  of  accounts  ordered  by  the 
Lords  to  be  audited  by  the  two  Masters  in  Chancery,  and  petitioned 
the  Lords  to  reverse  the  order.  Fowke  answered  the  petition,  upon 
which  the  Lords  made  another  order  of  the  7th  of  October  last,^ 
requiring  the  Company  to  produce  its  books  for  the  auditing  of  the 
damages  before  the  two  Masters  before  the  28th  present,  or  the 
sum  of  7,000/.  would  be  allowed  with  damages  of  costs  and  suit,  or 
otherwise  they  would  stand  committed  for  contempt.     The  Governor 

*  See  the  Lord^  Jmtmab,  vol.  ix,  p.  471 ;  and  the  sixth  report  of  the  Hist.  MSS.  Com- 
mission, p.  199. 


236  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

desires  the  generality  to  note  that  the  case  was  never  heard  before 
the  Lords,  yet  the  payment  of  7,000/.  claimed  by  the  Alderman  in 
his  petition  of  appeal  is  ordered,  and  that  the  money  is  to  be  paid 
by  the  present  adventurers,  who  have  no  interest  in  the  Stock 
to  which  this  business  belongs.  After  some  debate  it  is  resolved  to 
petition  the  House  of  Commons  for  relief  in  this  matter,  and  certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  consult  with  counsel  to-morrow  morning, 
and  draw  up  the  petition,  and  present  it  as  soon  as  possible. 
{2\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  20,  1647  {Couri  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  166). 

John  Boyse,^  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons,  desires  that 
his  subscription  of  200/.  in  the  Second  General  Voyage  may  be 
annulled,  as  he  does  not  think  fit  to  sign  the  contract ;  the  Court 
orders  his  money  to  be  accepted,  even  though  he  does  not  sign. 
The  Deputy  reports  that  he  and  some  other  Committees  consulted 
counsel  this  morning  concerning  Alderman  Fowke's  business ;  that 
counsel  is  of  opinion  that  the  Company  should  petition  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  has  agreed  to  draw  up  a  petition  to  be  presented  on 
Friday  morning.  The  Court  directs  that  all  the  adventurers  in  the 
Joint  Stock  be  summoned  to  meet  that  morning  at  Westminster  at 
the  Court  of  Requests  to  present  the  said  petition.^  The  Deputy, 
the  Treasurer,  and  Mr.  Garway  chosen  as  arbitrators  for  the  Com- 
pany for  Mr.  Burton's  business.  William  White  admitted  to  the 
freedom  on  payment  of  5/.  The  owners  of  the  Ulysses  to  be  paid 
3,540/.  I2J.  6d.  for  freight.  Francis  Day  requesting  the  division 
due  upon  his  adventure  in  the  First  General  Voyage,  he  is  told  that 
when  he  has  perfected  his  account  he  shall  receive  it.     (i^  //.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  22, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  27). 

Debate  arises  concerning  the  lack  of  rials  to  send  in  the  ships  for 
the  Coast,  and  certain  Committees  offer  to  furnish  5,000/.  in  Spanish 
money  within  three  weeks  on  the  Company's  adventure ;  this  offer 

*  John  Boys,  of  Wingham,  member  for  Kent. 

*  The  petition  was  read  in  the  House  on  October  22  and  referred  to  a  Committee, 
Fowke  being  in  the  meantime  prohibited  from  taking  any  further  action. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  237 

is  referred  to  the  decision  of  the  Treasurer,  who  is  also  desired  to 
buy  as  much  gold  as  he  can,  and  to  write  to  Dover  directing  that 
all  rials  procurable  there  be  bought.  The  William,  Ulysses,  Advice, 
Elizabeth  and  Anne,  and  other  ships  are  offered  to  be  freighted  to 
Bantam.  The  Advice  being  thought  most  fit,  one  of  her  owners  is 
told  that  if  she  is  freighted  by  the  Company  she  must  be  ready  at 
Gravesend  by  the  loth  of  January  to  proceed  to  Bantam  and  be 
employed  there  as  the  factors  shall  see  fit,  and  stay  until  the  last 
day  of  January  twelvemonth  for  her  lading  (if  not  dispeeded  before), 
but  demurrage  to  be  allowed  only  after  that  date.  These  conditions 
are  accepted,  on  20/.  per  ton  being  paid  and  sixty-five  men  allowed 
to  go  in  her ;  and  the  Committees  decide  that  she  shall  be  viewed, 
and  if  found  suitable  hired.  Wilson,  master  of  the  Ulysses,  declares 
that  he  cannot  undertake  the  voyage  on  the  above  conditions  under 
24/.  per  ton.  The  William,  offered  by  the  Joint  Stock  at  20/.  per 
ton,  is  accepted  on  condition  that  she  carries  110  men,  is  ready  in 
the  Downs  by  the  ist  of  April,  and  stays  there  until  the  loth  of 
May  if  the  Voyage  shall  think  fit ;  she  is  to  remain  at  Bantam  for 
her  lading  until  the  last  day  of  January,  1649,  ^^^  is  to  be  paid  15/. 
demurrage  per  diem  after  that  date.  Roger  Vivian,  part-owner  of 
the  Golden  Fleece,  to  be  given  i  ,000/.  before  her  departure  and  allowed 
the  same  terms  for  demurrage  as  the  Aleppo  Merchant.     {\\  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  26, 1647  {Court  Book,vo\. 
XX,  p.  167). 

David  Otgher  and  William  Barker  admitted  to  the  freedom  on 
payment  of  5/.  Mr.  Burton  and  Company  having  chosen  David 
Edwards,  Roger  Kilvert,  and  Oliver  Clobury  as  arbitrators  for 
their  business  with  the  Company,  the  Governor  and  Mr.  Keate 
agree  to  be  bound  for  the  Company's  abiding  by  the  decision  of 
the  arbitrators  chosen.  The  Deputy  reports  that  he  consulted  with 
Mr.  Hall  about  Lord  Craven's  house  ;  that  it  is  offered  at  200/.  per 
annum ;  that  there  are  warehouses  which  are  let  out  at  82/.  per 
annum  ;  that  it  would  be  repaired  ;  and  that  '  besides  hee  supposed 
they  might  have  a  little  tenement  of  16/.  per  annum  into  the  bar- 
gaine'.  There  not  being  a  full  court,  resolution  concerning  this 
matter  is  deferred ;  meanwhile  the  Deputy  is  entreated  to  confer 
again  with  Mr.  Hall.     The  Commissioners  of  Customs  to  be  paid 


238  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

1,000/.  upon  account  of  custom  of  goods  returned  from  India  this 
year.  Elizabeth  Bartlett,  sister  and  administratrix  of  Henry 
Bartlett,  to  be  paid  5/.  upon  account  of  her  brother's  estate,     (i  ^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  3, 1647  {Court  Book,vo\. 
XX,  p.  168). 

'Argier'  duty,  amounting  to  346/.,  to  be  paid  for  the  goods 
returned  in  the  William.  White,  the  butcher,  to  be  paid  100/.  for 
beef  and  pork  delivered  at  Blackwall  Yard.  Richard  Deane  and 
his  wife  Elizabeth,  who  have  taken  out  letters  of  administration  for 
Edward  Johnson's  estate,  to  be  paid  61.  os.  8^.,  the  remainder  of  the 
same.  Thomas  Bott,  who  for  the  last  twenty  years  has  been  a  slave 
at  Algiers,  is  admitted  to  the  almshouse  at  Blackwall.  On  the 
petition  of  Sarah,  mother  of  Thomas  Rogers,  certain  Committees 
are  appointed  to  examine  and  report  on  her  son's  account,     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  3,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  38). 

The  Master  and  Wardens  of  the  Company  of  Shipwrights  are  to 
be  requested  to  view  the  Advice,  lately  built  at  '  Mauldin '  and  now 
in  the  River.  Broadcloth,  elephants'  teeth,  and  lead  to  be  provided 
for  Surat.  The  factors  at  Bantam  only  asking  for  guns  and 
ammunition,  desired  by  the  King  of  that  place,  for  which  he  will 
pay  in  ready  money  or  in  pepper,  and  the  Committees  being  willing 
to  accede  to  his  request,  Mr.  Moyer  is  desired  to  obtain  the  consent 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  for  transportation  of  the  same. 
Though  several  meetings  have  been  arranged  to  take  place  between 
the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint  Stock  and  those  appointed 
for  the  Voyage,  as  yet  they  have  not  met ;  therefore  a  meeting  is 
specially  summoned  for  Wednesday  afternoon  next.  Captain 
Jeremy  Blackman's  request  to  take  with  him  500/.  adventure  is 
refused,  notwithstanding  his  offer  to  let  the  Company  sell  the 
proceeds  on  his  return,  or  keep  them  until  their  own  goods  are 
sold.  Much  discussion  ensues,  and  finally  it  is  resolved  that  as  the 
Captain  is  going  out  as  master  of  the  Golden  Fleece  he  shall  be 
given  '  as  a  merchant  the  summe  of  500/.  to  execute  the  businesse 
of  this  Voyage  at  Suratt  and  elswhere  during  his  being  abroad,  in 
case  hee  live  three  monthes  after  his  arrivall  upon  the  Coast  of 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  239 

India,  to  bee  paid  to  him,  or  to  his  executors  in  case  of  his  decease ' ; 
if  he  returns  in  the  Golden  Fleece  he  is  to  be  given  100/.  more,  on 
condition  that  he  wholly  forbears  all  private  trade  except  what 
he  is  allowed  as  master  of  the  vessel  with  the  rest  of  the  owners. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  10,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  169). 

Mr.  Vivian  is  given  permission  to  have  the  Golden  Fleece  repaired 
in  the  Company's  dock  at  Blackwall,  he  to  pay  20/.  for  the  use  of 
the  dock,  and  to  pay  also  for  the  opening  and  shutting  of  the 
gates,  for  any  damage  the  ship  may  do,  and  at  the  highest  rates 
for  any  timber,  plank,  etc.,  used  in  her  repair.  The  owners  of  the 
Aleppo  Merchant  to  pay  20/.  for  the  use  of  the  Company's  dock. 
Mr.  Chettwyn  requests  that,  as  William  Pitt's  executor  is  in 
Virginia  and  Pitt's  sister  has  taken  out  letters  of  administration,  all 
goods  belonging  to  the  deceased  may  be  sold  and  the  money  paid 
into  the  Company's  cash,  except  a  bale  of  carpets  designed  for 
Sir  Hugh  Windham  and  Pitt's  *  screetore ',  which  Chettwyn  desires 
may  be  sealed  up,  and  with  the  sword,  vest,  and  plate  (in  Mr.  Prowd's 
custody)  delivered  to  him ;  all  the  goods  are  ordered  to  be  brought 
for  examination  to  the  next  court,  when  their  disposal  shall  be 
resolved  on.  Frith,  a  linendraper,  offers  to  pay  freight  for  a  parcel 
of  goods  conveyed  out  of  the  Dolphin  ;  he  is  told  that  on  bringing 
the  money  to  the  next  court  consideration  shall  be  had  of  his  offer. 
William,  brother  and  administrator  of  James  Wombwell,  who  died 
in  India,  to  be  paid  all  that  is  due  upon  the  latter's  estate.  Thomas 
Adler  to  be  paid  ^^l.  i  li-.,  detained  from  him  for  a  debt  charged  to 
him  in  the  Persia  account,  he  giving  bond  to  repay  it  if  the  accounts 
of  1643  make  him  responsible.  The  Deputy  reports  having  again 
consulted  with  ]\Ir.  Hall,  who  asks  220/.  per  annum  for  Lord  Craven's 
house,  with  the  tenement  of  16/.  per  annum ;  for  this  rent  it  can  be 
had  for  twenty-one  years,  and  it  will  be  repaired  for  the  Company. 
The  Deputy  adds  that  he  believes  the  house  may  be  had  for  20oil 
per  annum,  at  which  rent  it  would  be  worth  the  money,  and  if  the 
Company  weary  of  it  he  will  take  it  from  them  for  20/.  less  a  year. 
After  some  debate,  resolution  herein  is  deferred  to  the  next  court. 
(i^  PP) 


340  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  is,  1647  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  171). 

On  information  that  Cuttler,  the  Garbler,  is  prosecuting  his  suit 
against  the  Company  in  the  Exchequer,  certain  Committees  are 
desired  to  treat  with  him  and  compose  this  business  as  they  think 
fit.  Richard  Deards  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  on  payment  of  5/. 
Peter  Deards,  executor  to  his  father  Nathaniel  Deards,  transfers  to 
Richard  Deards  400/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  The  Deputy  transfers  to  Richard  Wylde  100/.  adventure 
and  profits  in  the  same  Stock.  Mr.  Riccard  presents  an  account 
from  Mr.  Barnard,  consul  at  Aleppo,  showing  an  expenditure  since 
164a  of  90  rials  for  dispatch  of  the  Company's  letters;  the  Court, 
remembering  Barnard's  many  services,  and  that  he  has  received 
no  gratuity  for  five  years,  orders  50/.  to  be  paid  to  Riccard  for 
Barnard's  expenses  and  as  a  gratuity  for  his  pains.  At  the  request 
of  Mr.  Missleden,  a  clause  is  ordered  to  be  inserted  in  the  general 
letter  to  Surat  for  Hugh  Fenn  to  be  retained  there,  if  he  has  behaved 
well.  Mrs.  Peirson,  wife  of  the  late  master's  mate  in  the  Dolphin,  to 
have  her  indigo  delivered  on  payment  of  30/.  per  ton  freight.  The 
executors  of  Sir  Edmund  Wright  soliciting  daily  for  payment  of 
a  dividend,  for  which  they  are  now  suing  the  Company  in  Chancery, 
it  having  been  detained  in  payment  of  a  long-outstanding  debt,  the 
Court  orders  172/.  to  be  paid  to  them,  and  resolves  to  begin  a  suit 
for  payment  of  the  said  debt.  Several  meetings  between  the  Com- 
mittees for  the  Joint  Stock  and  those  for  the  Second  General  Voyage 
having  been  arranged,  and  each  time  some  of  the  Committees  for 
the  Stock  absenting  themselves,  the  Court  orders  a  meeting  to  be 
held  next  Monday  morning,  when  any  four  Committees  for  each 
Stock  are  to  conclude  the  business  for  which  the  meeting  is  called. 
On  hearing  that  one  Notting,  who  died  in  India,  has  made  the 
Company  his  executors,  the  Court  renounces  the  trust  and  directs 
that  the  brother  take  out  letters  of  administration.  Great  trouble 
being  caused  by  letters  of  administration  being  wrongly  taken  out, 
Sambrooke  is  directed  upon  the  arrival  of  every  ship  to  give  a  list 
to  Mr.  Budd  of  the  names  of  all  men  who  have  died  in  the  Com- 
pany's service.     (2//.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  241 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  12,  1647  {Court  Book,  \o\.  xxii,  p.  31). 

A  certificate  from  the  Company  of  Shipwrights  is  read,  stating 
what  is  requisite  to  be  done  to  the  Advice  to  fit  her  for  an  East 
India  voyage.  Her  master  is  asked  if  he  will  serve  the  Company 
on  the  conditions  formerly  agreed  upon  with  Mr.  Bodilowe,  but  he 
replies  in  the  negative,  as  he  is  not  willing  to  serve  so  long  without 
demurrage.  Hereupon  it  is  decided  not  to  employ  the  said  ship. 
The  Treasurer  is  desired  to  meet  a  bill  of  exchange  for  half  the 
quicksilver  ordered  by  the  Joint  Stock  to  be  bought  at  Venice  and 
taken  over  by  this  Voyage.  It  is  agreed  to  let  the  Joint  Stock  use 
a  considerable  sum  of  money  belonging  to  the  Voyage  and  now 
lying  idle,  on  payment  of  five  per  cent,  interest  for  the  same.  The 
following  ships  are  offered  for  freighting  to  Bantam  ;  the  Harry 
Boiiadvenhire  by  Mr.  Garway,  the  Ulysses  by  the  Deputy,  the  Angel 
by  Mr.  Gould,  the  Elizabeth  and  Anne,  the  Roebtick  by  Captain 
Blackman,  and  the  Samtiel  by  Captain  Ryder.  Any  Committees 
acquainted  with  the  masters  or  owners  of  the  said  vessels  are 
desired  to  ask  them  to  attend  the  court  next  Monday.  The  Bilbao 
Merchant  is  renamed  the  Botiito.  William  Doughty  is  accepted  as 
security  for  his  son  Robert.  Certain  Committees  are  requested  to 
provide  elephants'  teeth  and  cloth  to  be  sent  to  Surat.  Captain 
Blackman  informs  the  Committees  that  when  last  at  Goa  he  made 
a  contract  with  the  Viceroy  for  cinnamon  in  exchange  for  ammuni- 
tion, as  the  latter  would  yield  40  per  cent,  profit  there ;  the  Com- 
mittees approve,  and  Blackman  is  desired  to  bring  any  papers  he 
has  concerning  this  business  that  it  may  be  further  considered. 
(i|/A) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Special  Committees  for  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  and  for  the  Second  General  Voyage,  Novem- 
ber 15,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  173  ^). 

The  Deputy  intimates  that  they  have  met  to  consider  what 
allowance  '  by  way  of  provision '  is  to  be  given  to  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  by  the  Voyage  for  the  use  of  servants,  warehouses,  etc.,  at 
home,  and  of  factors,  warehouses,  small  shipping,  etc.,  abroad.    The 

'  This  meeting  is  also  entered  in  Court  Book,  vol.  xxii  (p.  35). 
S.C.M.  in  R 


242  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

agreement  formerly  made  between  the  First  General  Voyage  and 
the  Third  Joint  Stock  is  read,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  Voyage 
allowed  one  per  cent,  for  everything  used  at  home,  and  six  per 
cent,  for  what  was  made  use  of  abroad.^  To  this  it  is  objected  that 
this  Voyage  should  not  give  so  much,  as  its  stock  is  90,000/.  greater 
and  so  less  provision  is  needed  ;  to  which  it  is  answered  that  the 
greater  the  stock  the  more  factors,  etc.,  will  be  required.  It  is  then 
asked  whether,  if  the  same  provision  be  allowed  by  this  as  by  the 
last  Voyage,  anything  will  be  demanded  for  what  is  done  at  Goa  or 
elsewhere,  where  the  Company  has  no  factors.  The  Committees 
for  the  Stock  reply  that  nothing  will  be  expected  but  allowance  for 
such  shipping  as  shall  be  sent  to  those  places  ;  to  this  the  Com- 
mittees for  the  Voyage  consent.  It  is  also  agreed  that,  in  case  any 
of  the  factors  belonging  to  the  Stock  do  not  behave  as  they  ought, 
their  wages  and  bonds  shall  be  stopped.  After  further  debate  it  is 
resolved  that  the  Voyage  shall  allow  seven  per  cent,  to  the  Stock, 
viz.  one  per  cent,  upon  all  quick  stock  sent  out,  instead  of  any 
standing  charges  at  home,  as  gratifications,  house  rent,  etc.,  and  six 
per  cent,  upon  all  goods  laden  for  Europe,  this  to  be  paid  to  the 
factors  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  at  the  several  ports  where  the 
said  goods  shall  be  laden ;  and  for  this  the  Voyage  may  make  use 
of  all  factors,  factories,  warehouses,  shipping,  etc.,  belonging  to  the 
Stock  ;  but  if  any  men,  ammunition,  or  other  provisions  shall  be 
wanted  for  the  small  shipping,  this  the  Voyage  is  to  supply  at  its 
own  cost  and  remove  the  same  when  its  time  is  ended.     (2//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  15,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  33). 

A  petition  is  presented  in  the  name  of  the  owners  of  the  Advice, 
desiring  to  treat  further  concerning  her  hire ;  hereupon  Messrs. 
Fairvax,  Bodilowe,  and  the  master  are  called  in,  and  after  some 
discussion  the  Committees  agree  to  freight  the  Advice  upon  the 
following  conditions :  she  to  be  repaired  according  to  the  certificate 
given  in  by  the  shipwrights ;  to  be  ready,  properly  victualled  and 
stored,  with  t^  men  to  leave  Gravesend  by  the  loth  of  January  for 
Bantam,  and  be  employed  there  as  the  factors  shall  see  fit  until  she 


^  See  the  previons  volume,  pp.  xx,  195,  etc 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  243 

is  laden  for  England  ;  to  be  paid  20/.  per  ton  freight,  and  at  the 
rate  of  8/.  per  diem  for  demurrage,  to  begin  four  months  after  her 
arrival,  till  her  departure  for  England  ;  600/.  to  be  imprested  to  her 
owners  before  her  departure;  the  master  to  be  given  26/.  i^s.  ^d. 
as  a  gratuity  in  full  of  primage  and  average,  and  to  be  allowed  to 
take  out  five  tons  of  private  trade  and  bring  back  ten  tons,  but  not 
to  take  out  or  bring  back  any  commodities  traded  in  by  the  Com- 
pany ;  all  other  conditions  to  be  the  same  as  those  expressed  in  the 
charter-party  of  the  Ulysses.  If  they  have  need  of  money  at  Bantam, 
the  factors  there  to  supply  them  at  ^s.  the  dollar  with  as  much  as 
they  want,  to  be  paid  out  of  the  freight.  Upon  the  request  of  the 
owners,  a  covenant  is  to  be  inserted  in  the  charter-party  that  the 
ship  shall  be  dispeeded  from  Bantam  by  the  last  day  of  January 
[1649]  or  before,  or  else  kept  there  on  demurrage  four  months  or 
longer  in  employment,  but  not  beyond  the  15th  of  January,  1650. 
The  owners  declare  themselves  willing  to  accept  these  terms  and 
agree  to  be   bound  in   the   charter-party  for  their   performance. 

di  PP) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  No\t:mber  17,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  175). 

John  Coltman,  who  about  three  years  ago  took  charge  of  twenty 
bales  of  indigo  (which  had  been  taken  out  of  the  Dolphin  and  then 
seized  from  a  warehouse  in  Southwark)  and  locked  up  two  officers 
sent  with  a  replevin  *  to  recover  it,  for  which  act  he  has  been  sued 
ever  since,  is  given  8c/.  in  full  of  his  charges  and  pains,  he  having 
acted  on  the  Company's  behalf.  Mrs.  Cartwright  to  be  paid  icx)/., 
on  the  executor  giving  a  discharge  for  the  same.  Thomas,  son  of 
Captain  Millward,  to  be  paid  all  that  is  due  to  him,  on  giving 
a  sufficient  release.  The  gunner  and  carpenter  in  the  WiUiatn 
to  be  paid  all  wages,  etc.,  due  to  them.  John  Arnold,  master  of  the 
Advice,  is  allowed  to  bring  his  ship  (which  is  hired  by  the  Voyage 
to  go  to  Bantam  by  the  loth  of  January)  into  the  little  dock  at 
Blackwall  to  be  repaired,  on  payment  of  tAventy  marks  for  the  use 
of  the  dock,  and  of  all  other  customary  charges.  Francis  Day's 
request  for  remission  of  the  fine  of  500/.  imposed  upon  him  by  the 

*  An  action  to  recover  possession  of  goods  wrongfully  taken. 
R    2 


244  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

First  General  Voyage  is  refused,  but  his  further  desire  to  be  paid 
what  is  due  to  him  for  wages,  etc.,  is  consented  to,  the  500/.  to 
be  deducted  and  he  to  give  a  general  release.  The  business  of  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  being  now  small,  it  is  resolved  to  hold  only  one 
court  weekly,  and  that  on  Fridays.     (i|//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  17, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  37). 

It  is  resolved  to  send  the  ammunition,  etc.,  desired  by  the  King  of 
Bantam  in  the  Advice,  and  certain  Committees  are  requested  to 
provide  the  same  and  procure  a  licence  from  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  for  its  exportation.  Some  dispute  arising  as  to  the  burden 
of  the  Advice,  Steevens  is  directed  to  measure  and  report  her 
dimensions.  Four  heavy  sakers  not  wanted  in  the  Bonito  to  be 
sold.  The  Secretary  is  desired  to  procure  a  warrant  for  transporta- 
tion of  40,000/.  intended  to  be  sent  in  the  Dolphi7i,  Bonito,  and 
Advice ;  ^  and  the  Deputy,  with  Captain  Blackman  and  Mr.  Vivian, 
to  see  that  all  letters  to  be  sent  are  duly  prepared,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  19, 1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  177). 

The  Deputy  reports  that  Lord  Craven  is  willing  to  let  his  house 
to  the  Company  for  aoo/.  per  annum,  including  the  tenement ;  the 
Court  agrees  to  take  them  and  orders  that  Mr.  Cletherowe  be  given 
notice  that  the  Company  will  quit  his  house  next  Lady  Day.  On 
information  that  the  lease  for  the  warehouses  at  Leadenhall  expires 
at  Christmas,  the  Secretary  is  desired  to  make  inquiries  when  the 
Committee  for  letting  the  City  Lands  sits,  and  to  go  with  two 
Committees  to  renew  the  said  lease,     i^p-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  19,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  38). 

The  Secretary  announces  that  by  order  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mittees he  is  to  inform  them  of  three  particulars.  The  first  is  that 
Mr.  [John]  Durson  and  some  of  the  owners  of  the  Loyalty  intend  to 

*  On  November  23  the  House  of  Commons  gave  permission  for  the  exportation  of 
45,000/.  in  foreign  coin  and  bullion  in  these  three  ships  {jfournah,  vol.  v,  p.  367). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  345 

send  her  to  the  East  Indies,  and  by  a  petition  to  the  House  of 
Commons  have  obtained  liberty  to  export  6,000/.  in  foreign  coin.^ 
On  this  it  is  decided  that  some  course  shall  be  taken  to  hinder  her 
going,  as  if  the  said  ship  is  allowed  to  proceed  it  will  prejudice  this 
Voyage,  in  which  her  owners  might  have  been  admitted  adven- 
turers upon  reasonable  terms,  and  the  Court  of  Committees  is  to  be 
informed  of  this  their  resolution.  Secondly,  as  the  old  Joint  Stock 
is  indebted  at  the  Coast,  the  Committees  desire  that  the  adventurers 
in  this  Voyage  will  permit  5,000/.  to  be  sent  in  the  Dolphin  to  pay 
off  this  debt.  Hereupon  it  is  resolved  that  the  Stock  shall  be 
allowed  to  send  3,000/.,  4,000/.,  or  5,000/.  in  the  Dolphin  for  this 
purpose,  and,  if  after  payment  of  the  debt  any  money  remains,  that 
it  shall  be  used  by  the  factors  for  account  of  the  Stock,  but  not  to 
the  prejudice  of  this  Voyage.  Thirdly,  the  Court  is  informed  that 
a  quantity  of  lead  and  beer  has  been  put  aboard  the  Dolphin  as 
private  trade.  The  Committees,  considering  this  a  great  abuse, 
resolve  that  the  Dolphin  and  the  Bonito  shall  be  searched,  and  all 
the  private  trade  discovered  in  them  brought  to  Blackwall  Yard, 
and  the  names  of  the  owners  noted,  and  all  that  does  not  belong  to 
the  ship's  company  left  in  charge  of  the  master  or  boatswain  until 
the  Committees'  pleasure  concerning  it  is  made  known.     {^\PP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  23, 1647  {Cotirt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  39). 

The  letters  to  be  sent  to  the  Coast  are  read,  approved,  and 
ordered  to  be  '  faire  written  '.  It  is  resolved  that  Robert  Doughty 
shall  reside  at  the  Coast  so  long  as  any  considerable  stock  belonging 
to  this  Voyage  remains  there,  and  give  an  account  of  the  same 
at  his  return.  Resolution  concerning  Captain  Blackman's  contract 
for  cinnamon  with  the  Viceroy  of  Goa  is  deferred.     {\P-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  26,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  178). 

On  information  that  Mr.  Frith  has  paid  120/  into  the  Treasury 
for  freight  of  the  goods  conveyed  from  the  Dolphin,  the  Court 
accepts  this  sum,  and  orders  the  master  and  officers  in  that  ship  to 

*  Commons''  Journals^  vol.  v,  p.  349. 


246  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

be  paid  all  wages,  etc.,  due  to  them.  Gilbert  Keate  buys  Messina 
silk.  The  mariners  in  the  Dolphin  to  be  paid  imprest  money. 
The  freedom  of  the  Company  is  conferred  upon  James  Acton,  the 
Company's  solicitor.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Deputy  Isaackson,  his 
son,  who  is  a  minister  at  the  Coast,  is  to  be  allowed  to  go  to  Surat 
when  Mr.  Baines  comes  to  England.  Mr.  Cletherowe  is  told  that, 
as  the  Company  has  taken  Lord  Craven's  house,  they  will  quit  his 
between  this  and  Lady  Day,  but  will  pay  him  rent  to  the  ist 
of  May,  if  his  house  does  not  let  before  then.  The  Court  resolves 
to  give  the  usual  presents  of  spice  to  the  Committees  and  officers 
at  Christmas  ;  also  spice  to  the  value  of  lOo/.  among  gentlemen 
who  have  shown  courtesy  to  the  Company,  the  bestowing  of  this 
being  left  to  the  care  of  the  Governor.  {i\pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  36,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  40). 

After  a  long  debate  it  is  resolved  that  the  Bonito,  when  her  lading 
is  completed,  shall  return  direct  for  England  and  not  go  to  Surat. 
All  her  mariners  to  be  paid  imprest  money.  It  is  also  resolved 
that  two-thirds  of  the  money  to  be  sent  to  the  Coast  shall  be  shipped 
in  the  Dolphin,  and  one-third  in  the  Bonito.  Only  a  small  quantity 
of  lead  having  been  found  in  the  Dolphin,  and  this  belonging  to  poor 
men,  it  is  restored  to  them  and  they  ar£  permitted  to  have  it 
delivered  to  the  Company's  factors  at  the  Coast,  but  it  is  not  to  be 
offered  for  sale  until  the  lead  belonging  to  the  Company  is  sold. 
(I  A) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  December  i,  1647  [Conrt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  41). 

The  resolution  for  the  Bonito  to  return  direct  to  England  from 
the  Coast  on  completing  her  lading  is  confirmed.  Andrew  Coggan 
and  Mr.  Denham  are  accepted  as  securities  for  Benjamin  Robinson, 
and  Thomas  Leaver  as  security  for  his  son  William.  A  petition  to 
the  House  of  Commons  to  hinder  the  Loyalty  from  going  to  India 
'  for  some  perticuler  men,  not  freemen  of  the  Company  ',  is  read,' 

'  This  is  probably  the  petition  from  the  Company  which  was  read  in  the  Commons  on 
January  13,  1648,  and  referred  to  a  Committee  for  report. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  247 

approved,  and  ordered  to  be  engrossed,  that  it  may  be  speedily 
presented.  Two  cases  of  coral  belonging  to  the  Deputy,  which 
can  be  bought,  are  ordered  to  be  viewed.     (I/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  3,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  1 79). 

The  time  appointed  for  Mr.  Holloway  to  seal  an  indemnity  for 
his  debt  to  the  Company  having  expired,  he  is  desired  to  do  so  ; 
he  requests  that  part  of  the  interest,  which  amounts  to  1,300/.,  due 
for  goods  by  sale  of  which  he  lost  considerably,  may  be  remitted  ; 
after  some  consideration  the  Court  resolves  to  remit  one-eighth 
part  of  the  said  interest,  on  which  Holloway  consents  to  sign  the 
indemnification.  Roswell,  master  of  a  vessel  which  brought  two 
cases  of  rials  from  Amsterdam  for  the  Company,  acquaints  the 
Court  that  he  was  nearly  cast  away  and  that  it  cost  him  30/.  to  get 
help  from  another  ship,  which  sum  the  merchants  who  had  goods 
aboard  his  vessel  will  pay  ;  hereupon  the  Court  signifies  its  inten- 
tion to  pay  the  Company's  share.  Certain  Committees  are  requested 
to  examine  and  report  on  Mr.  Willoughby's  account.  Billets  sold 
by  the  Stock  to  the  Voyage.  At  the  request  of  his  wife,  Jeremy 
Roote,  who  has  been  gunner  at  Fort  St.  George  for  many  years,  is 
to  return  home  if  he  can  be  spared.  The  plate,  sword,  and  carpets 
belonging  to  the  late  William  Pitt  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Chettwyn, 
and  the  remaining  goods  to  be  sold.     {^kPP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  December  3,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  42). 

Robert  Bowen,  master  of  the  Dolphin,  requests  to  be  allowed  to 
make  the  fourth  payment  of  his  adventure  in  this  Voyage  in  India 
in  rials  of  eight ;  this  is  refused,  and  so  Bowen,  on  the  Committees' 
proposal,  agrees  that  it  shall  be  paid  from  the  interest  on  the  money 
he  is  leaving  in  the  Company's  hands.  On  consideration  of  the 
abuse  suffered  by  the  Company  through  private  trade,  the  Com- 
mittees order  letters  to  be  written  to  the  masters  of  the  Dolphin  and 
Bonito  requiring  them  to  command  their  boatswains  to  keep  a  strict 
account  of  all  goods  taken  in  and  out  of  their  vessels,  on  pain  of 
forfeiting  their  wages  and  suffering  such  other  punishment  as  the 
Company  can  legally  inflict.     These  letters  are  ordered  to  be  read 


248  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

at  the  mast  before  all  the  ship's  company.  It  is  resolved  that  one 
factor  shall  be  sent  to  Surat  but  none  to  Bantam.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  see  the  money  weighed  in  the  Treasury. 
(I  A) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  December  8,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  43). 

Millett  to  be  given  400/.,  half  the  amount  promised  to  be  paid 
him  before  his  setting  out.  The  Governor  announces  that  since  the 
last  meeting  letters  have  been  received  overland  from  the  Coast,  stat- 
ing that '  there  was  a  great  famine  and  that  they  were  in  warres ',  and 
for  this  reason  it  will  be  more  difficult  to  procure  cloth ;  he  suggests 
therefore  that  it  may  be  well  to  reconsider  their  decision  to  send  out 
30,000/.  The  Committees,  after  listening  to  one  of  the  said  letters, 
resolve  to  reduce  the  amount  to  about  a6,ooo/.  It  is  decided  that 
the  Bonito  shall  proceed  on  her  voyage,  but  that  a  clause  shall  be 
inserted  in  the  Coast  letters  to  say  that,  if  cloth  cannot  be  procured, 
the  factors  shall  send  the  greater  part  of  the  said  ship's  stock  to 
buy  sugar  and  silk  at  the  Bay.  Benjamin  Robinson  inquires  what 
part  of  the  300/.  promised  to  him  for  the  whole  voyage  shall  be  paid 
to  his  executors  in  the  event  of  his  death  before  or  after  the  Dolphin 
is  laden.  He  is  told  that  if  he  dies  before  the  ship  is  laden  his 
executors  shall  be  paid  a  proportionable  part,  but  if  after  they 
shall  be  given  the  whole  sum.  At  his  request  the  Committees 
order  that  his  wife  be  given  10/.  from  his  salary  every  six  months 
during  his  absence.  Quicksilver  to  be  bought  from  Abraham 
Chamberlaine.    (li//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  10,  1647  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  181). 

Rebecca  Tynes,  sister  and  administratrix  of  Francis  Mountfort, 
to  be  paid  50/.  upon  account  of  his  estate.  The  wife  of  Thomas 
Wilkes,  executor  to  George  Wilkes,  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  the 
latter,  Mr.  Vivian  giving  bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless. 
William  Bailey  is  chosen  master  of  the  William  at  8/.  per  month, 
Richard  Clark  purser,  with  George  Greenwell  as  his  mate,  and 
William  Cary  steward,  with  Richard  Parkes  as  his  mate.  Mr.  Hol- 
loway's  account  is  presented  and  he  is  desired  to  acknowledge  it ; 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  349 

he  promises  to  consider  it  and  return  his  answer  at  the  next  court. 
Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  treat  with  Cuttler,  the  Garbler, 
and  settle  with  him  as  they  think  fit.     (i|  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  17,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  18a). 

Nathaniel  Teemes,  who  has  been  a  factor  at  Surat  many  years 
and  has  served  the  Company  faithfully,  is  allowed  to  have  his  goods 
delivered  to  him  free  of  freight.  The  annual  distribution  of  10/.  to 
be  made  to  the  poor  widows  of  '  East  India  men ',  and  of  10/. 
to  the  three  hamlets  of  Poplar,  Limehouse,  and  Ratcliff.  On 
information  that  Lord  Cottington's  lands  are  '  likely  to  bee  con- 
verted to  the  mainteynance  of  the  army  in  Ireland',  the  Court 
resolves  that  His  Lordship  and  such  of  the  other  signatories  as  may 
be  legally  prosecuted  shall  be  sued  with  all  possible  speed  for  one 
bond  of  20,000/.  due  for  the  pepper  debt.     (|  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  December  17, 1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  44). 

John  Arnold,  master  of  the  Advice,  is  given  300/.,  half  the  sum 
agreed  to  be  imprested  to  him  on  account  of  freight.  Question 
arising  as  to  the  ability  of  the  mates  in  the  said  vessel,  it  is  decided 
to  send  in  her  a  pilot  or  chief  mate,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Com- 
mittees ;  to  this  Arnold  willingly  agrees  and  promises  he  shall 
be  allowed  5/.  per  month.  The  former  resolution  to  send  one  factor 
to  Surat,  but  none  to  Bantam,  is  further  debated,  and  finally  it 
is  decided  to  send  an  able  man  to  the  latter  place  in  the  Advice,  to 
give  an  account  of  the  negotiations  and  proceedings  of  this  voyage 
and  to  consult  with  the  President  and  Council  for  the  better  disposal 
of  the  goods,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  22,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  183). 

Mrs.  Smethwicke,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Jane  Smethwicke,  mother 
and  administratrix  of  William  Smethwicke,  desires  to  be  paid  part 
of  her  brother's  estate,  she  having  a  letter  of  attorney  from  her 
mother ;  the  Court,  hearing  that  the  mother  has  only  lately  been 
married,  desires  a  letter  of  attorney  signed  by  the  mother  and  her 


250  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

husband  before  giving  consent  to  any  money  being  paid.  Two 
additional  Committees  appointed  to  examine  Mr.  Willoughby's 
account.  Hearing  that  Steevens  intends  to  launch  the  William 
next  spring-tide,  the  Court,  considering  that  it  will  be  an  expense  if 
the  said  ship  stays  two  months  in  the  river,  directs  that  she  remain 
in  the  dock  until  further  order.  The  will  of  Richard  Dike  and 
a  letter  of  administration  granted  to  Henry  Jay  are  presented,  and 
it  is  stated  that  330/.  is  due  upon  Dike's  adventure ;  the  Court, 
considering  that  this  money  has  been  unclaimed  for  a  long  time, 
and  that  a  brother  of  Dike's  lives  in  Kent  and  is  known  to  Mr.  Bate- 
man,  desires  the  latter  to  communicate  with  the  said  brother 
concerning  this  matter.     (i-J//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  December  2a,  1647  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  45). 

After  some  dispute  as  to  his  ability,  it  is  decided  that  Robert 
May,  Mr.  Arnold's  present  mate,  shall  be  confirmed  in  his  post. 
The  attention  of  the  Committees  is  drawn  to  a  letter  received  from 
Bantam  by  the  Endymion,  advising  the  want  of  *  factors,  artifficers, 
and  other  materialls  there  *.  Hereupon  it  is  remarked  that  as  the 
Stock  is  allowed  seven  per  cent,  for  managing  the  Voyage's  business, 
care  should  be  taken  to  have  factors  sufficient  to  perform  this  work ; 
to  which  it  is  answered  that  the  Stock  will  perform  to  the  full  what 
it  undertook  to  do.  John  Yard  is  entertained  to  go  as  factor  to 
Bantam,  to  be  given  300/.  for  the  whole  voyage,  and  to  return 
in  the  last  ship  from  Bantam,  and  in  the  event  of  his  death,  if  he 
leaves  a  fair  account  of  the  affairs  of  the  Voyage  after  the  Advice 
is  laden,  his  executors  shall  be  given  that  sum.  George  Gawton  is 
entertained  to  go  as  factor  in  the  Golden  Fleece  to  Surat,  to  be  given 
133/.  6j.  8^.  for  the  whole  voyage.  The  Treasurer  reporting  the 
great  scarcity  of  rials,  he  is  desired  to  provide  to  the  value  of 
60,000/.  in  foreign  coin  and  bullion  at  the  best  rate  he  can.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  31,  1647  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  184). 

The  Governor  reports  that,  in  letters  received  from  Bantam  by 
the  Endymion,  advice  is  given  of  a  great  want  of  factors  there,  and 
as  the  Stock  is  to  receive  seven  per  cent,  from  the  Voyage  to 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  351 

manage  the  business,  it  is  necessary  to  send  some  factors  in  the 
Advice ;  therefore  he  has  appointed  four  men  out  of  some  chosen 
by  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  to  attend.  The  Court,  after 
reading  several  petitions,  makes  choice  of  Edward  Whiteway  at 
40/.  per  annum,  and  of  Daniel  Elder  at  70/.  per  annum.  Mr.  Garvvay 
reports  that  after  many  meetings  with  the  arbitrators  about  Mr.  Bur- 
ton's debt,  nothing  is  yet  arranged,  but  the  time  limited  has  expired  ; 
the  Court  consents  to  extend  the  time  to  another  fourteen  days. 
The  sum  of  171/.  12s.  due  from  William  Pitt  to  Mr.  Fremlin  is 
ordered  to  be  paid  to  Mr,  Methwold,  and  all  the  carpets  belonging 
to  Pitt  to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Chettwin.  Mrs.  Smethwicke  to  be 
given  10/.  upon  account  from  her  late  brother's  estate.     {^\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  7,  1648   {Co7iri  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  186). 

Mr.  Acton  is  directed  to  draw  up  a  bill  of  Scde  for  goods  belong- 
ing to  Mr.  Hollovvay  still  in  the  Company's  keeping,  which  Holloway 
is  to  seal  as  a  security  for  his  debt.  Edmund  Sleigh  admitted 
to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  on  payment  of  5/.  On  information 
that  Mr.  Hurt  has  shipped  a  boy  in  the  Bonito  without  the  consent 
of  the  Committees,  he  is  much  blamed  and  ordered  to  give  up  the 
20J.  he  acknowledges  to  have  taken  from  the  boy's  mother,  and  to 
pay  that  and  another  20J.  to  the  poor-box ;  and  the  Committees 
appointed  to  ship  men  are  desired  to  sign  Hurt's  books  every 
time  after  doing  so,  that  this  abuse  may  be  prevented  for  the  future. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  7, 1648  {Cmirt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  47). 

John  Yard  is  allowed  to  become  an  adventurer  in  this  Voyage  to 
the  amount  of  1,000/.,  he  to  pay  the  Treasurer  750/.  and  the  rest  to 
be  supplied  from  his  salary;  but  if  he  dies  before  the  Advice  and 
William  are  laden,  then  he  is  to  be  accounted  an  adventurer  only 
for  so  much  as  his  salary  shall  amount  to,  added  to  the  750/.  already 
paid  in.  On  information  that  George  Gawton  formerly  served  Mr. 
Courteene  in  India,  it  is  debated  whether  to  entertain  him,  as  it  is 
feared  that,  Mr.  Courteene  being  much  indebted,  the  estate  that 
Gawton  shall  manage  for  the  Voyage  may  be  seized  by  Courteene 's 


25a  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

creditors ;  but  finally  Gavvton's  entertainment  is  confirmed.  The 
Committees  resolve  to  send  14,000/.  or  15,000/.  in  the  Advice^  or  as 
much  of  that  sum  as  can  be  procured.  The  contract  made  by 
Captain  Blackman  to  supply  the  Viceroy  of  Goa  with  guns  and 
ammunition  in  exchange  for  cinnamon  is  confirmed,  and  certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  provide  the  ammunition,  etc.  A  general 
court  of  the  adventurers  in  this  Voyage  is  appointed  to  be  held 
next  Tuesday  to  seal  the  charter-parties  to  the  owners  of  the  ships 
to  be  freighted,     (i^  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  January  ii,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  48). 

The  Governor  announces  that  the  Sixteen  Committees  have 
agreed  to  seven  per  cent,  being  allowed  by  this  Voyage  to  the 
Stock.  A  debate  ensues  concerning  the  sealing  of  the  charter- 
parties  of  the  ships  to  be  freighted  for  this  Voyage,  and  after  much 
discussion  it  is  resolved  that  three  Committees  shall  sign  each 
charter-party,  and  that  those  who  do  so  shall  be  saved  harmless. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  14,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  187). 

Mr.  Garway  reports  that  the  arbitrators  appointed  to  settle  Mr. 
Burton's  business  have  met  several  times  but  come  to  no  conclusion, 
and  that  Major  Brett  has  some  commission  from  the  rest  of  the  part- 
ners to  treat  concerning  the  debt ;  the  Court  therefore  desires  Garway 
and  the  Committees  formerly  appointed  to  treat  with  Major  Brett. 
Mr.  Boone,  '  the  Companies  chirurgion,'  is  given  a  gratuity  of  80/. 
for  his  extraordinary  care,  and  for  curing  men  at  Blackwall  Yard 
for  the  last  five  years.  John  Bramston,  clothworker,  petitioning  to 
be  allowed  to  remain  in  his  house  (which  is  in  the  backyard  of  the 
house  lately  taken  from  Lord  Craven),  or  to  have  sufficient  time  to 
remove,  the  Treasurer  and  others  are  desired  to  view  the  said  house 
and  to  allow  Bramston  what  time  they  shall  think  fit.  An  account 
of  the  expenditure  on  the  Dolphin,  amounting  to  6,a66/.,  is  pre- 
sented, and  the  Committees  propose  setting  her  up  for  sale  for 
6,500/. ;  but  no  resolution  is  reached.     Cordage  ordered  to  be  sent 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  253 

to  Bantam  in  the  Advice  and  the  William.  The  Governor  reports 
that  a  conclusion  is  nearly  come  to  with  Cuttler,  the  Garbler,  but 
that  he  will  not  sign  a  bond  offered  to  him,  because  Derricke  Host, 
and  Messrs.  Oyles  and  Ottger,  who  bought  cloves  of  the  Company  and 
are  now  being  sued,  are  not  included  in  it.  Hereupon  it  is  stated 
that  by  statute  strangers  ought  not  to  buy  ungarbled  spice,  and  if 
any  incur  the  penalty  for  so  doing  the  Company  has  no  reason  to 
save  them  harmless.  Messrs.  Oyles  and  Ottger  are  sent  for,  and 
after  much  dispute  they  desire  the  Company  to  arrange  matters 
with  the  Garbler  for  them,  and  the  Court  promises  to  favour  them 
as  much  as  possible  in  this  business.  It  is  resolved  to  choose  an 
additional  factor  for  Bantam  next  Wednesday.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  14, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxu,  p.  50). 

The  Treasurer  is  requested  to  treat  with  Mr.  Fortree  for  the  nine 
chests  of  rials  he  has  at  Dover.  Committees  appointed  to  seal  the 
charter-parties  of  the  Dolpkiti,  Advice,  Aleppo  Merchajit^  Golden 
Fleece,  and  William.  Notice  to  be  given  to  those  adventurers  who 
have  not  paid  in  their  money  to  do  so.  On  a  motion  for  an  accoun- 
tant to  be  appointed  to  keep  the  books  of  this  Voyage,  it  is  decided 
to  desire  Mr.  Allington  to  attend  next  Tuesday's  meeting.  John 
Yard  is  given  permission  to  take  out  a  youth  as  an  attendant,  on 
condition  that  he  brings  him  back,     (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  19,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  189). 

The  sum  of  2,oco/.  to  be  paid  to  the  owners  of  the  Endymion 
upon  account  of  freight.  Some  Committees  for  the  First  General 
Voyage  are  summoned  and  told  that  the  pepper  returned  in  the 
Endymion  (part  of  which  belongs  to  the  Voyage)  is  to  be  sold  this 
afternoon  ;  they  are  asked  if  they  will  consent  to  their  share  being 
sold,  and  answer  in  the  affirmative.  As  the  truth  of  Cartwright's 
statement  that  40,600  \sic'\  dollars  are  due  from  the  Joint  Stock  to  the 
Voyage  is  questioned,  Mr.  Rich  moves  that  three  or  four  Committees 
for  each  Stock  may  examine  Cartwright's  account ;  hereupon  Sam- 
brooke  and  the  Auditor  are  desired  to  make  up  the  said  account 
with  all  possible  speed,  and  when  this  is  done  Committees  for  both 


254  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Stocks  are  to  examine  the  same  ;  Sambrooke  promises  to  do  this 
before  the  end  of  the  month.  Jonathan  Massey  is  chosen  to  go  as 
factor  to  Bantam  in  the  Advice,  to  stay  there  for  five  years,  or  for  as 
long  as  he  shall  be  wanted,  at  30/.  per  annum  the  first  year,  rising 
10/.  annually  until  he  is  in  receipt  of  70/.  per  annum.  Daniel  Elder, 
who  was  chosen  to  go  to  Bantam,  is  now  appointed  to  Surat,  as 
there  he  can  do  better  service,  having  been  before.  Question  arising 
as  to  the  price  to  be  put  upon  the  pepper  to  be  sold,  and  whether  to 
sell  it  garbled  or  not,  the  Deputy  and  Treasurer  are  entreated  to 
consult  with  the  Garbler,  and  the  matter  is  left  to  their  decision. 
It  is  resolved  that  the  Dolphin  (which  has  gone  for  the  Coast)  shall 
be  put  up  for  sale  at  6,500/.,  at  six  months'  time,  the  buyer  to  be 
allowed  for  any  stores  she  shall  leave  in  India,  and  to  make  allow- 
ance to  the  Company  for  any  with  which  she  shall  be  furnished  there 
at  the  rate  of  ^s.  the  rial  of  eight.     {i%pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  January  19,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  191). 

Sale  of  cloves,  mace,  nutmegs,  indigo,  sugar,  rhubarb,  opopanax, 
cotton-wool,  sannowes,  ginghams,  broad  baftas,  pepper,  quilts,  and 
Sinda  cloth,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.  The  Dolphin  is 
sold  to  the  Governor,  William  Cokayne,  for  6,510/.    (^pp). 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  ai,  1648  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  194). 

Spiller  is  directed  to  inform  Jeremy  Weddall,  who  gave  his  bill 
for  500  rials  to  the  President  and  Council  at  Surat  and  has  not  yet 
met  it,  that  the  Company  expects  '  sudaine  payment '.  Thomas,  son 
of  the  late  John  Juxon,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
by  patrimony.  There  being  33b/.  due  to  the  late  Richard  Dike 
upon  his  adventure  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock,  and  Thomas  [sic]  Jay 
having  taken  out  letters  of  administration  for  Dike's  estate,  a  letter 
is  read  from  the  latter's  son  (who  lives  in  Sussex  and  is  known 
to  Mr.  Bateman)  desiring  that  the  legacy  of  50/.  left  to  him  by 
Alderman  Jay  may  be  paid  to  hisrson.  On  being  told  of  this 
Mr.  Jay  '  condiscended  to  leave  50/.  in  Mr.  Anthony  Batemans 
hands  for  his  kinsman  Richard  Dike',  and  the  Court  orders  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  255 

remainder  of  the  money  to  be  paid  to  Jay,  he  giving  a  discharge  for 
the  whole.  At  Jay's  request  he  is  paid  in  money,  and  the  calicoes 
laid  by  for  Mr.  Dike's  dividend  are  sold  to  Anthony  Bateman.  A 
letter  is  read  from  Thomas  Codrington,  who  served  as  a  factor  in 
India  for  thirteen  years,  but  having  married  an  Armenian  woman 
was  dismissed  from  the  Company's  service ;  he  desires  to  be  re- 
entertained  and  that  what  is  due  upon  his  account  may  be  paid  to 
Nathaniel  Teemes ;  because  of  his  long  service  his  request  is 
granted,  and  as  he  knows  Persian  he  is  entertained  for  the  Custom- 
house at  Gombroon  at  60I.  per  annum,  subject  to  the  approval  of 
the  President  and  Council  at  Surat.  Lydia,  widow  of  Richard 
Shute,  who  was  killed  by  timber  falling  in  Blackwall  Yard,  is  given 
20J.  from  the  poor-box.     (i^//-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  21, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  53). 

At  the  request  of  the  owners  of  the  Advice,  the  Committees 
agree  that  her  master  shall  be  supplied  at  Bantam,  if  necessary. 
with  more  than  the  a,ooo  rials  agreed  upon,  if  she  is  not  dispeeded 
by  the  end  of  January,  1649.     (i/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  28,  1648  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  196). 

Acton  having  drawn  up  a  bill  of  sale  for  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes, 
now  in  the  warehouse  at  Leadenhall,  the  Treasurer  is  desired  to  in- 
form Holloway  that  unless  he  seals  the  said  bill  some  course  advised 
by  counsel  will  be  taken  for  recovery  of  his  debt.  Mr.  Roswell  to 
be  paid  61.  i^s.  for  bringing  2,400  rials  from  Holland  in  his  barque. 
Mr.  Weddall  promises  to  pay  the  500  rials  he  took  up  at  Surat. 
William  and  Thomas  Bewly  accepted  as  security  for  pepper  and 
calicoes.  Thomas  Mathews,  formerly  servant  to  William  Allen,  is 
admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  by  service,  paying  loj.  to 
the  poor-box.  The  Court  confirms  the  wages  of  John  Pollein,  late 
master  of  the  Advice,  who  has  been  entertained  by  the  President 
and  Council  of  Bantam  to  reside  there  for  two  years  as  a  factor  at 
60/.  per  annum,    (i  p.) 


35^  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  28,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  $^). 

The  President  and  Council  at  Bantam  to  be  directed  to  dispeed 
the  Dolphin  for  England  with  all  convenient  dispatch,  in  regard  of 
the  dear  freight  and  demurrage  to  be  paid  for  her.  Lead  to  be 
provided  for  Surat.  The  Deputy  is  allowed  to  send  to  the  President 
at  Surat  a  butt  of  canary  and  two  butts  of  beer.     (^  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  4,  1648  {Court  Booh, 
vol.  XX,  p.  197). 

The  father  of  William  Winter,  a  factor  at  Bantam,  petitions  for 
certain  morees  sent  to  him  by  his  son  about  a  year  ago ;  he  is  told 
that  his  son  is  accused  of  man}''  misdemeanours  and  may  be  indebted 
to  the  Company,  but  that,  on  account  of  his  (the  father's)  age  and 
the  long  journey  he  has  undertaken,  Bowen  shall  be  allowed  to 
assist  him  in  the  sale  of  the  calicoes,  and  anything  realized  over  50/. 
shall  be  given  to  him  ;  that  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  shall 
be  allowed  on  the  50/.,  and  if  at  the  return  of  his  son  this  amount  is 
found  to  be  due  it  shall  be  paid.  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Ralph  Cart- 
wright,  and  Abraham  his  brother  and  executor,  desire  that  550/. 
may  be  paid  to  the  widow ;  the  Court,  considering  that  she  has  only 
received  100/.,  consents  to  her  having  50/.  on  the  executor  giving  a 
discharge  for  it,  and  agrees  that  if  the  500/.  shall  appear  to  be  due 
when  her  husband's  account  is  made  up  she  shall  be  paid  it  with 
interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  from  this  day.  The  sum  of 
2,000/.  to  be  paid  to  the  owners  of  the  Endymion  upon  account 
of  freight ;  also  237/.  \os.  in  full  of  a  bill  of  exchange  for  so  much 
taken  from  Captain  Seaman  by  the  President  and  Council  of 
Bantam.  The  Governor  and  the  Deputy  accepted  as  security  for 
pepper  bought  by  the  latter.  The  sister  and  administratrix  of 
Samuel  Husbands,  a  factor  deceased  at  Macassar,  demands  a  bill 
of  400/.  belonging  to  her  late  brother ;  she  is  told  that,  if  she  will 
let  this  money  remain  in  the  Company's  hands,  she  shall  be  allowed 
six  per  cent,  interest  per  annum  and  the  bill  shall  be  made  out  in 
her  own  name.     {^hpP-) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  257 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  ii,  1648  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  199). 

The  widow  of  John  Peirson,  late  master's  mate  in  the  Dolphin, 
who  died  soon  after  arriving  at  the  Coast,  having  been  ordered  to 
pay  at  the  rate  of  30/.  per  ton  for  some  Lahore  indigo,  and  the 
Secretary  reporting  the  said  indigo  to  be  flat  and  of  a  base  sort,  the 
Court  orders  it  to  be  delivered  to  her  on  payment  of  5/.  for  freight. 
Beef  and  pork  to  be  provided  for  the  William  for  Bantam.  The 
Governor  informing  Mr.  Holloway  that  good  security  is  expected 
from  him  for  his  great  debt,  he  desires  time  until  the  end  of  April, 
when  he  hopes  to  settle  it ;  meanwhile  he  proposes  to  seal  a  bill  of 
sale  on  his  27,525  pieces  of  calicoes  in  the  custody  of  the  Company 
as  satisfaction,  which  can  be  sold  if  he  fails  to  pay  at  the  abovesaid 
time ;  the  Court  agrees  to  this,  but  stipulates  that  Holloway  shall 
do  nothing  in  the  meantime  to  prejudice  the  bill  of  sale.  It  is 
resolved  to  insure,  between  the  31st  of  October  last  and  the  ist 
of  May  next,  the  goods  expected  in  the  Mary  for  25,000/.,  those  in 
the  Eagle  for  35,000/.,  those  in  the  Blessing  for  20,00c/.,  those  in 
the  Greyhound  for  10,000/.,  and  those  in  the  Antelope  for  io,ooc/., 
the  rial  to  be  valued  at  8.r.  Gerard  Russell  transfers  to  George 
Smith,  merchant,  1,193/.  9-f-  "^d.  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  with  all 
profits.     {\\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  16,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  201). 

The  bill  of  sale  for  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  is  presented,  read, 
and  signed  and  sealed  by  him  in  court.  The  request  of  Wakefield, 
a  goldsmith,  that  his  brother  may  be  allowed  to  go  to  Surat  in  one 
of  the  Company's  ships  is  refused.  On  information  that  Crosby 
House  may  be  had  for  15c/.  per  annum  and  700/.  fine,  and  the  brick 
warehouse  and  cellars  for  150/.  per  annum,  the  Court  thinks  the 
House  would  be  '  most  commodious  for  the  Companies  occasions', 
and  that  then  there  would  be  no  need  of  Leadenhall  warehouse  ; 
therefore  Bowen  is  directed  to  acquaint  Alderman  Langham  with 
the  Company's  readiness  to  take  Crosby  House,  with  the  warehouse 
and  cellars,  for  30c/.  per  annum,  if  they  may  have  it  without 
a  fine.^     (i/-) 

'  Nothing  came  of  this  proposal. 


258  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  February  i8,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  54). 

Because  of  the  scarcity  of  Spanish  money,  it  is  resolved  to  send 
one  ship  for  Surat  in  advance  of  the  other,  with  30,000/.  in  foreign 
coin  and  bullion,  and  also  to  lade  100  cloths  aboard  her.  Captain 
Blackman's  instructions  to  be  drawn  up.  Canary  wine  and  fine 
scarlet  cloth  to  be  shipped  in  the  Golden  Fleece  as  presents  for  the 
Viceroy  of  Goa ;  also  knives  and  looking-glasses  for  presents. 
Captain  Blackman  desiring  that  another  factor  may  go  with  him  in 
the  Golden  Fleece  to  see  the  cinnamon  weighed  and  packed  at  Goa, 
Thomas  Billedge  is  entertained  at  100/.  for  the  whole  voyage,  and 
to  return  in  the  same  vessel.     {^\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  25,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  202}. 

Dust  of  Sinda  indigo  sold  to  Major  John  Brett  at  6^d.  per  lb.,  ready 
money.  The  William  to  be  launched  at  the  first  spring-tide  in 
March.  Peter,  son  of  Sir  Peter  Rychaut,  informs  the  court  that 
the  1,600/.  the  Company  has  at  interest  in  his  father's  name 
properly  belongs  to  him,  and  that  he  understands  it  has  already 
been  paid  ;  he  produces  an  order  from  the  Committee  of  the  Lords 
and  Commons  for  Sequestrations  showing  that  they  are  satisfied 
the  money  belongs  to  him.  After  some  consideration  the  Court 
tells  Mr.  Rychaut  that  the  said  money  was  not  known  to  be  his, 
and  that  the  bill  for  repayment  was  made  out  in  his  father's  name 
and  seized  by  order  of  Parliament ;  therefore  the  money  cannot  be 
paid  again.  Mr.  Rychaut  then  desires  that  as  the  order  to  pay  the 
1,600/.  expressed  that  the  Company  should  be  reimbursed  out  of 
the  customs  of  the  goods  next  imported  for  the  Company's  account, 
that  they  would  be  pleased  to  petition  the  Committee  of  Sequestra- 
tions for  reimbursement.  This  the  Court  refuses  to  do,  or  to  move 
in  the  matter  without  a  full  discharge  from  Sir  Peter  himself. 
Alderman  Chambers  thanks  the  Court  for  allowing  his  son  John  to 
go  to  India  in  the  Company's  service,  and  desires  permission  to 
send  50/.  out  to  him  in  such  things  as  may  not  prejudice  the 
Company.  The  Court  consents  to  his  sending  30/.  worth  of  goods, 
but  desires  a  note  of  the  same.     (li//.) 


EAST    INDIA   COMPANY  259 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  February  25,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  ^^. 

On  a  motion  being  made  to  send  a  minister  in  the  Golden  Fleece, 
the  Committees  express  their  willingness  to  give  20/.  towards  his 
maintenance,  but  leave  it  to  the  owners  and  master  to  decide 
whether  to  send  one  or  not.  Thomas  Pearle  having  made  no  pay- 
ment towards  the  500/.  he  underwrote  for  in  this  Voyage,  he  is  given 
a  week  to  decide  if  he  means  to  adventure.  The  draft  of  the 
charter-party  for  the  Aleppo  Merchant  is  read,  and  the  Committees 
agree  to  give  the  owners  22/.  loj.  per  ton  for  all  saltpetre  shipped 
in  her  not  exceeding  fifty  tons  ;  that  the  factors  at  Surat  shall 
deliver  to  Millett  as  many  rials  as  he  may  want  for  the  ship's  use 
at  5^.  the  rial  in  case  she  shall  be  kept  at  demurrage  after  the  last 
day  of  January,  1649,  this  to  be  deducted  out  of  the  first  payment 
of  the  freight ;  that  the  owners  shall  be  allowed  to  send  out  one 
cloth  to  be  sold  to  the  best  advantage ;  and  that  Millett  shall  be 
given  the  same  gratuity  as  he  received  before  in  full  of  primage 
and  average.  These  particulars  being  agreed  to,  the  charter-party 
is  ordered  to  be  engrossed,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  i,  1648  {Court Book, \o\.  xx, 
p.  203). 

The  owners  of  the  Endyviion  to  be  paid  1,000^  upon  account  of 
freight  for  goods  brought  from  Bantam.  After  some  dispute  it  is 
agreed  that  those  who  bought  the  Dolpliin  are  to  have  the  benefit 
of  the  imprest  money  paid  to  her  mariners,  as  it  appears  to  have 
been  included  in  the  price  at  which  she  was  offered  for  sale.  Sir 
Peter  Rychaut's  son  presents  an  order  from  the  Committee  at 
Goldsmiths'  Hall,  by  which  his  father's  estate  is  discharged  from 
sequestration  and  desires  an  order  from  the  Court  for  payment  of 
about  900/.  due  to  his  father  ;  he  also  desires  a  copy  of  the  order 
of  the  House  of  Commons  sequestrating  the  bill  for  1,600/.  The 
Court  consents  to  his  having  a  copy  of  the  said  order,  but  resolves 
to  pay  nothing  without  a  full  discharge  under  Sir  Peter's  hand  and 
seal  for  the  goods  and  money  already  paid  or  delivered  by  order  of 
Parliament;  they  also  require  the  delivery  of  the  bill  of  1,600/., 
and  the  repayment  of  the  charges  expended  in  several  suits  caused 

s  a 


26o  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

by  Sir  Peter  at  Leghorn,  Genoa,  and  Venice.  Hereupon  Sir  Peter 
himself  appears  and  requests  payment  of  his  money ;  he  is  given 
the  same  answer  and  told  that  the  order  now  presented  is  new  to 
the  Company ;  so  time,  until  this  day  sennight,  must  be  allowed 
for  it  to  be  considered.  Thomas  Pearle  is  admitted  to  the  freedom 
of  the  Company  on  payment  of  5/.     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  i,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  ^6). 

Millett  is  given  permission  to  take  out  with  him  five  half  and  two 
whole  cloths,  which  are  to  be  sold  for  his  advantage  by  the  President 
and  Council  at  Surat.  Objection  is  made  to  a  clause  in  the  charter- 
party  of  the  Aleppo  Merchattt  forbidding  passengers  to  be  carried 
in  that  ship  without  the  leave  of  a  Court  of  Committees  ;  after  some 
consideration  this  is  ordered  not  to  be  inserted,  on  Millett  giving 
bond  in  100/.  not  to  carry  any  passengers  without  leave  of  the 
Committees.  The  Golden  Fleece  and  Aleppo  Merchant  to  proceed 
to  Gravesend.    (i  A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  3, 1648  {Court Book,  vo\.^^, 
p.  305). 

Nathaniel  Herring  admitted  to  the  freedom  by  service  on  payment 
of  loj.  The  policies  of  assurance  for  100,000/.  upon  the  ships 
expected  from  India  are  read,  and  the  Court  resolves  that  the 
assurers  shall  be  given  five  per  cent,  premium,  that  only  adventurers 
shall  be  permitted  to  underwrite  in  the  policies  until  after  the 
a5th  instant,  and  for  not  above  100/.  more  than  their  adventures 
until  further  order,  and  that  the  following  proportions  be  observed, 
viz.  :  for  1,000/.  to  underwrite  100/.  in  the  Antelope,  100/.  in  the 
Greyhound,  200/.  in  the  Blessing,  350/.  in  the  Eagle,  and  250/.  in 
the  Mary ;  and  if  any  fail  to  comply  with  these  conditions,  their 
subscriptions  shall  be  accounted  void.  Messrs.  Clement  and 
Robinson  promising  to  give  a  gratuity  of  30/.  to  Captain  Seaman, 
master  of  the  Endymion,  the  Court  orders  her  owners  to  be  paid 
1,256/.  I7.f.  4</.  in  full  of  all  freight  of  goods  brought  from  Bantam. 
The  widow  of  Edward  Pearse,  late  water-bailiff  of  the  City  of 
London,  petitions  for  200/.  of  the  wages  of  her  son  Edward,  who 
has  been  a  factor  at  Surat  for  fourteen  years,  towards  the  marriage 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  261 

of  her  daughter  Mary  ;  part  of  a  letter  from  the  said  son  being  read 
in  which  he  desires  that  this  may  be  done,  the  Deputy,  to  whom 
this  matter  is  referred,  is  requested  to  pay  the  said  money  after  the 
marriage  has  taken  place.  The  request  of  Mr.  Breton,  President  at 
Surat,  to  be  allowed  to  return  to  England  by  the  next  shipping  is 
granted,  and  the  Court  appoints  Thomas  Merry,  who  is  now 
Accountant  at  Surat,  to  succeed  to  the  post  of  President.     {^\PP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  3,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  57). 

Captain  Blackman  to  be  provided  with  several  sorts  of  glasses 
for  presents.  Ordered  that  at  the  end  of  every  meeting  for  this 
Voyage  the  Secretary  shall,  before  the  Committees  disperse,  read 
the  notes  he  has  taken.     (^  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  8, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.xx, 
p.  207). 

Sir  Peter  Rychaut  acquaints  the  Court  that  his  sequestration  has 
been  removed,  and  desires  to  be  paid  the  money  due  to  him, 
promising  to  give  a  full  discharge  for  the  goods  delivered  by  order 
of  Parliament ;  the  Court,  on  hearing  from  the  accountant  that 
446/.  \6s.  ^d.  is  due  to  Sir  Peter  for  the  Dolphin  bought  in  1642, 
and  450/.  for  divisions  of  twenty  and  ten  per  cent  upon  his  1,500/. 
adventure  in  the  First  General  Voyage,  orders  the  total  to  be  paid 
to  him  on  his  giving  a  full  and  legal  discharge  for  the  same,  and 
also  for  600/.  paid  to  him  for  his  division  of  forty  per  cent,  upon 
his  adventure  in  the  First  General  Voyage  last  April.  Sir  Peter 
agreeing  to  do  this,  his  bond  for  600/.  is  promised  to  be  delivered 
up  to  be  cancelled.  Thomas  Viner,  alderman,  admitted  to  the 
freedom  of  the  Company  on  payment  of  5/.     (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  10, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  208). 

A  cable  to  be  sent  to  Sandwich,  in  case  the  Mary  or  any  other 
ship  coming  to  the  Downs  may  need  one.  The  Court,  having 
formerly  resolved  to  bring  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  an  end,  thinks 
fit  to  reduce  expenses  abroad  by  recalling  some  of  the  factors. 
The  names  of  the  several  factories  are  read,  and  it  is  resolved  to 


i6'2.  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

continue  those  at  Surat, '  Sinda  '  (Tatta),  Persia,  Banjarmassin,  Fort 
St.  George,  Agra,  Ahmadabad,  Jambi,  Macassar,  and  Bantam  ; 
but  to  dissolve  those  at  Mokha,  Basra,  Masuh'patam,  Achin,  Japara, 
'  Verasherone '  (Viravasaram),  and  'Bengala ',  but  this  is  referred  to 
the  care  of  the  respective  Presidents.  It  is  further  resolved  that 
Thomas  Merry  shall  succeed  Breton  as  President  at  Surat  when 
the  latter  leaves  for  England,  and  Edward  Pearse  succeed  Merry 
as  Accountant  there.  Mr.  Baker  to  be  allowed  to  return  in  the 
last  ship  from  Bantam  and  to  choose  a  President  in  his  place  with 
the  aid  of  his  Council.  Both  Presidents  to  be  enjoined  to  send 
home  such  factors  as  can  be  spared.    {^\pp^ 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  io,  1648  (Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  58). 

Isaac  Jackson  to  attend  next  Wednesday's  meeting  about  some 
timber  he  delivered  to  Christopher  Bull,  carpenter  in  the  Bonito. 
John  Merrywether,  entertained  by  the  owners  of  the  Golden  Fleece 
to  go  in  her  as  minister,  to  be  given  10/.  to  buy  books  and  other 
necessaries.  Mr.  Vivian  desiring  some  alterations  may  be  made  in 
the  charter-party  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  after  reading  the  same  the 
Committees  resolve  that  the  said  ship  shall  be  allowed  15/.  per  diem 
demurrage,  the  owners  to  repay  450/.  in  case  she  shall  be  dispeeded 
from  India  before  the  last  day  of  December,  1 648  ;  the  master  and 
ship's  company  to  be  allowed  to  take  out  five  tons  of  private  trade 
and  bring  back  ten  tons,  but  not  to  bring  any  cardamoms.  Vivian 
agreeing  to  all  this,  the  charter-party  is  ordered  to  be  engrossed. 
The  Golden  Fleece  and  Aleppo  Merchant  to  proceed  to  the  Downs, 
the  former  to  set  sail  from  thence  with  the  first  fair  wind,  but  the 
Aleppo  Merchant  to  await  further  orders,  there  not  being  sufficient 
money  for  her.^  Young  and  Spiller  to  go  to  Dover,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  Daniel  Skinner  buy  foreign  coin  and  bullion  to  the 
value  of  25,000/.  The  Committees  resolve  to  lade  aboard  the  Golden 
Fleece  26,000/.  (1,100/.  in  gold,  the  rest  in  silver),  100  cloths,  150  pigs 
of  lead,  7  tons  of  elephants'  teeth,  and  30  chests  of  quicksilver  bought 

*  On  March  6  the  House  of  Commons  had  authorized  the  Company  to  export  foreign 
coin  and  bullion  to  the  value  of  80,000/.  in  the  Golden  Fleece,  Aleppo  Merchant,  and 
William  {Journals,  vol.  v,  pp.  480,  481). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  26$ 

of  Major  Chamberlaine ;  and  in  the  Aleppo  Merchant  the  rest  of  the 
silver,  100  cloths,  250  pigs  of  lead,  and  50  chests  of  quicksilver 
expected  from  Venice  in  the  Scipio.     {i\pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  15,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  209). 

Stephen  Boreman  and  John  Hobson  accepted  as  securities  for 
pepper  bought  by  the  former.  The  William  ordered  to  be  launched 
at  the  next  spring-tide.  Samuel  Tyne  \sic\,  who  married  the  sister 
and  executrix  of  Francis  Mountfort,  a  factor  deceased  at  Bantam,  to 
be  paid  40/.  upon  account  of  the  latter's  estate.  William  Hodgson 
admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company  by  service  on  payment  of 
10^.  to  the  poor-box.  Beresford,  who  bought  some  saltpetre  from 
the  Company  and  made  an  assignment  of  2,500/.  due  to  him  for 
powder  for  payment  of  1,500/.  for  the  said  saltpetre,  reports  that 
he  is  shortly  to  be  paid  out  of  the  excise  and  that  he  must  have  the 
note  showing  that  the  2,500/.  is  owing  to  him,  in  order  to  procure 
a  warrant  from  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  for  payment ;  hereupon 
Spiller  is  directed  to  take  the  said  note  and  go  with  Beresford 
to  the  Committee,     (i  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  15,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  60). 

Messrs.  Young  and  Spiller  to  go  to  Dover  and  assist  Daniel 
Skinner  to  provide  10,000/.  in  bullion  to  be  shipped  in  the  Aleppo 
Merchant  with  the  quicksilver  expected  in  the  Scipio.  The  Trea- 
surer announces  that  a  considerable  sum  is  still  wanted  to  make  up 
the  amount  formerly  resolved  to  be  sent  in  specie  to  Surat,  but  that 
he  can  procure  4,000/.  more  in  bars  of  silver  at  5^.  1^.  per  ounce  ; 
hereupon  he  is  desired  to  buy  the  said  bars  and  as  much  more  as  he 
can,  to  complete  the  required  sum.  The  Committees  approve  of 
what  he  has  already  done  in  this  matter  and  undertake  to  save  him, 
his  heirs  or  executors,  harmless  for  procuring  bars,  Spanish  money, 
or  ingots  of  gold  for  this  Voyage.  It  being  doubtful  if  the  full  sum 
intended  for  Surat  can  be  procured,  Bowen  is  directed  to  write  to 
the  President  and  desire  him,  in  case  sufficient  money  is  not  forth- 
coming, to  take  some  up  in  India  by  exchange  not  exceeding 
6s.  the  dollar,  to  be  paid  on  the  arrival  of  the  ships  in  England  ; 


364  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

and  if  he  cannot  do  this,  then  to  take  up  money  at  interest  as 
cheaply  as  possible,  rather  than  let  the  ships  return  with  dead 
freight.  Captain  Blackman's  bond  accepted  as  his  security.  Jasper 
Homerton  accepted  as  security  for  George  Gawton  and  William 
Newball  for  Thomas  Billedge.     (i|//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  17,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  62). 

Millett,  master  of  the  Aleppo  Merchant,  and  Thomas  Hill,  master 
of  the  Golden  Fleece,  to  be  paid  30/.  apiece  as  gratuities  in  full  for 
primage  and  average.  Captain  Blackman  is  allowed  to  take  out 
six  cloths  for  his  own  particular  account.     (^/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  24,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  210). 

The  time  given  for  underwriting  in  the  assurance  policies  drawn 
up  for  the  expected  ships  from  India  is  extended  from  the  25th  to 
the  31st  instant.     {\  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  24,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  6$). 

In  the  event  of  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  Golden  Fleece  keeping 
together  until  they  arrive  at  Johanna,  the  quicksilver  and  as  many 
of  the  elephants'  teeth  as  possible,  with  ten  chests  of  silver  now  in 
the  Golden  Fleece,  are  to  be  transferred  to  the  Aleppo  Merchant. 
The  Scipio  being  detained  in  the  Gore  by  reason  of  contrary  winds, 
and  the  50  chests  of  quicksilver  in  her  stowed  away  under  currants 
belonging  to  Messrs.  Williams  and  Penning,  these  gentlemen  declare 
their  willingness  to  have  their  currants  unladen,  on  the  Committees 
agreeing  to  save  them  harmless  from  any  prejudice  that  may  arise. 
Mr.  Penning  offers  to  go  aboard  the  vessel  and  further  this  ;  so 
Mr.  Thomson  is  desired  to  accompany  him,  and  Samuel  Calcott  to 
attend  them.  The  latter  is  to  be  given  20/.,  of  which  he  is  to 
render  an  account  at  his  return.  It  still  being  doubtful  if  sufficient 
money  will  be  procured.  Captain  Blackman  and  Mr.  Millett  are 
given  two  commissions  to  buy  to  the  value  of  20,000  or  30,000  rials 
of  any  merchants,  masters  of  ships,  or  others  whom  they  may  meet 
in  the  Narrow  Seas,  and  charge  the  same  by  bills  of  exchange 
on  the  Committees,    (if//.) 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  265 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  30,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  211). 

The  Court  resolves  that  no  one  shall  be  allowed  to  underwrite  in 
the  policies  of  assurance  after  to-morrow  evening  until  further  order. 
The  time  limited  for  underwriting  for  the  indigo  belonging  to  the 
adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  having  expired  and  a  quarter 
part  thereof  still  remaining  to  be  underwritten  for,  a  general  court 
of  the  adventurers  in  this  Stock  is  ordered  to  be  summoned  for  next 
Friday  week  to  decide  how  to  dispose  of  the  said  indigo  ;  mean- 
while Sambrooke  is  directed  to  make  a  note  of  the  names  of  all  who 
have  underwritten  but  have  not  paid  their  money,  and  also  of 
all  those  who  have  not  underwritten.  It  is  also  thought  that 
jiberty  should  be  given  to  these  men  to  take  away  their  indigo  until 
the  25th  April,  they  to  pay  interest  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  cent,  for 
their  money  owing  from  the  25th  of  March  last,  and  none  to  be 
allowed  to  take  away  their  indigo  after  the  25th  April ;  and  a 
month's  interest  from  that  time  at  the  rate  of  eight  per  cent,  to 
be  put  upon  the  proportions  of  those  who  shall  not  have  under- 
written ;  the  remainder  of  the  indigo  to  be  sold  according  to  the 
resolution  of  the  general  court  of  the  14th  October  last.  The 
Governor  is  desired  to  acquaint  the  generality  with  these  particulars. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  7,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  212). 

The  resolution  of  the  last  court  giving  liberty  until  the  25th 
instant  to  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  take  away 
their  indigo  is  confirmed.  The  executor  of  the  late  Mr.  Pitt, 
a  factor  deceased  at  Surat,  is  allowed  to  have  the  latter's  will  and 
other  writings  from  the  '  screetore '  in  the  Treasurer's  custody,  and 
is  told  that  when  the  will  is  proved  what  is  due  to  Mr.  Pitt  shall  be 
paid.  Robert  Gayer  having  underwritten  700/.  in  the  policies 
of  assurance,  not  in  the  proportion  prescribed,  but  more  in  the 
smaller  ships  than  was  necessary,  after  some  consideration  the 
Court  confirms  his  subscription.  At  the  request  of  the  widow  of 
the  late  Mr.  Cotton,  a  minister  at  Surat  who  was  lost  in  the  Dis- 
covery, her  son  Francis  is  entertained  to  go  in  the  Williavt  to  Bantam 


266  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

at  5/.  per  month.  Several  men  desiring  to  buy  the  Company's 
saltpetre,  certain  Committees  are  requested  to  treat  with  them  and 
sell  that  commodity  as  they  shall  think  fit.  The  Court  resolves 
that  any  may  underwrite  in  the  five  policies  of  assurance  according 
to  the  proportions  formerly  prescribed,  but  no  subscription  to  be 
under  1,000/.  or  above  2,000/.,  and  no  one  to  be  permitted  to  under- 
write without  producing  a  note  signed  by  a  Committee  or  unless 
accompanied  by  a  Committee.     {^\pp-) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  April  7,  1648  [Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  214). 

The  minutes  of  the  general  court  held  the  14th  of  October  last 
are  read,  when  in  order  to  lessen  the  Company's  great  debt  it  was 
resolved  that  every  adventurer  should  receive  a  certain  proportion 
according  to  his  adventure  of  the  large  stock  of  indigo  remaining  in 
hand  and  take  the  same  away  by  the  25th  of  March  last.  The 
Governor  reports  that  notwithstanding  this  order  many  adventurers 
have  not  underwritten  for  their  proportion  nor  paid  in  their  money  ; 
that  the  Committees  on  consideration  hereof  are  of  opinion  that  all 
such  should  have  liberty  until  the  25th  instant  to  do  this,  but  refer 
the  matter  to  the  decision  of  the  generality.  Hereupon  the  minutes 
of  the  said  Court  of  Committees  (of  the  30th  of  March  last)  are  read 
and  confirmed  by  erection  of  hands  ;  and  in  order  that  all  the 
adventurers  who  have  not  yet  underwritten  may  be  informed  of  this 
decision,  the  Beadle  is  directed  to  leave  a  ticket  at  their  houses 
to  give  notice  of  the  same.  It  is  also  resolved  that  any  indigo  not 
taken  away  by  the  25th  instant  shall  be  sold,  any  loss  arising  to  be 
charged  to  each  man's  account  and  any  profit  to  go  to  the  Stock, 
in  accordance  with  an  order  of  the  14th  of  October  last.  The 
Governor  further  acquaints  the  generality  that  the  Committees  have 
thought  fit  to  assure  100,000/.  upon  the  Mary,  Eagle,  Blessing, 
Greyhoimd,  and  Antelope  expected  from  India,  for  which  about 
60,000/.  has  been  underwritten :  that  to-day  liberty  is  given  to 
'  strangers '  to  subscribe,  and  therefore  he  desires  that  such  of  the 
generality  as  are  willing  will  do  so  before  leaving.     (2  pp^ 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  267 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  14, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  ai6). 

Extracts  are  read  from  letters  received  from  Richard  Davies 
from  Dover,  relating  to  private  trade  conveyed  out  of  the  Company's 
ships,  and  a  gratuity  of  20/.  is  ordered  to  be  given  to  him  for  his 
costs  and  pains.  The  Court  resolves  that  any  '  able  '  man  shall  be 
allowed  to  underwrite  500/.  in  all  the  policies  of  assurance,  on 
observing  the  former  order  and  proportion.  The  Deputy  reports 
that  the  arbitrators  for  Burton's  business  have  met  several  times 
but  can  come  to  no  reasonable  conclusion  ;  hereupon  the  Court 
orders  one  of  Burton's  bills  to  be  put  in  suit,  and  Acton  is  advised 
to  consult  with  Counsel  and  take  out  a  latitat  from  the  King's 
Bench.  In  the  event  of  Davies,  the  pilot,  not  being  able  to  attend 
the  Williavi,  the  Masters  of  Trinity  House  are  to  be  asked  to 
appoint  a  pilot  for  this  purpose.  The  *  screetore '  with  its  contents 
belonging  to  the  late  William  Pitt  to  be  delivered  to  his  brother 
and  executor,  Thomas,  who  has  proved  his  will.  Dust  of  pepper 
returned  in  the  Endymioii  is  sold  to  Thomas  Andrews.     {ikPP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  April  14, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxli,  p.  6^). 

A  dispute  arises  concerning  the  dispatch  of  the  William  to 
Bantam,  rials  being  so  difficult  to  obtain  and  the  time  so  far  spent. 
In  answer  to  the  last  objection  it  is  stated  that  the  Ulysses  went 
out  in  June  and  returned  safely  the  following  July  twelvemonth, 
therefore  no  fears  need  be  entertained  if  the  William  leaves  by  the 
end  of  May,  by  which  time  sufficient  gold  and  silver  may  be  pro- 
cured to  send  in  her.  To  this  end  the  Governor  is  desired  to  write 
to  Mr.  Skinner  at  Dover  to  buy  rials  to  the  value  of  io,coo/.  as 
cheaply  as  possible,  but  not  to  give  more  than  ^s.  the  rial.  Captain 
Ryder  is  also  desired  to  write  to  his  correspondent  at  Antwerp 
to  provide  20,000  rials  and  send  them  by  the  20th  of  May,  the 
seller  to  bear  the  adventure,  and  the  Committees  to  give  '  $s.  per 
ryall  for  Civill  money  and  Mexicoe,  and  for  Peru  according  to  the 
rate  '.  Mr.  Aldington  \sic\  who  is  thought  a  suitable  man  to  keep  the 
accounts  of  this  Voyage,  to  be  desired  to  attend  next  Wednesday's 
meeting.     Sambrooke  is  directed  to  draw  up  an  account  of  what 


268  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

money  is  left  over  from  the  three  first  payments  of  the  adventurers 
in  this  Voyage,  including  all  money  and  commodities  sent  to  India 
upon  the  several  ships,  with  the  charges  of  the  setting  to  sea  of 
the  said  ships,  that  it  may  be  better  known  what  to  send  in  the 
William,     {i^pp) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  April  19,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  66). 

Timber  supplied  to  the  Bonito  to  be  paid  for.  It  is  resolved 
to  have  the  accounts  of  this  Voyage  kept  in  two  different  ways, 
Sambrooke  to  keep  them  according  to  his  method,  and  the  other 
accountant  to  be  appointed  as  he  shall  think  fit.  Mr.  Aldington 
declaring  his  willingness  to  serve  as  accountant,  the  Governor 
informs  him  that  the  stock  amounts  to  about  200,000/.  and  the 
work  will  not  be  difficult,  and  desires  to  know  what  salary  he  would 
expect.  Aldington  asks  to  be  allowed  to  give  his  answer  at  the 
next  meeting  ;  so  the  Committees  present  are  entreated  to  request 
any  accountant  they  may  know  to  attend  then  also,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  20, 1648  {Court Book,wo\.yi^, 
p.  217). 

Six  blacks  who  came  last  year  in  the  William  are  to  return  in 
her  to  Bantam,  and  Rilston  is  directed  to  buy  clothes,  bedding,  etc., 
for  them.  Certain  Committees  for  the  First  General  Voyage  desire 
that  a  settlement  may  be  made  between  the  said  Voyage  and  the 
Stock ;  to  which  the  Governor  replies  that  it  is  the  earnest  wish  of 
the  Stock  that  things  should  be  brought  to  a  conclusion.  Hereupon 
William  Garway,  Nicholas  Gould,  Thomas  and  Daniel  Andrews 
are  elected  Committees  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  Nathan 
Wright,  Roger  Vivian,  Robert  Abdy,  and  Thomas  Rich  for  the 
First  General  Voyage  ;  they  are  entreated  to  meet  next  Monday, 
and  then  from  time  to  time,  to  examine  and  adjust  the  account 
between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage ;  five  members  are  to  form 
a  quorum,  but  all  are  desired  to  attend  when  the  account  is  con- 
cluded ;  the  Deputy  is  asked  to  meet  with  them  and  render  all  the 
assistance  he  can.  The  mother  of  the  late  William  Smethwicke 
desiring  to  be  paid  what  is  due  upon  her  son's  account,  she  is  told 
that  on  the  arrival  of  the  next  ship  from  Bantam  this  shall  be  done. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  269 

At  the  request  of  the  wife  of  William  Mynors,  commander  of  the 
Mary,  the  indigo  to  be  deh'vered  upon  his  adventure  is  ordered  to 
be  sent  to  her  without  payment  of  interest,  but  a  *  broake '  is  to  be  put 
upon  her  husband's  account  from  the  25th  of  March  last.     {^\pp.\ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  28, 1648  {Court  Book,  woL-x.-ic, 
p.  219). 

The  time  for  underwriting  for  the  indigo  having  expired,  and 
there  being  still  a  quantity  of  this  commodity  (to  the  value  of 
9,600/.)  not  yet  subscribed  for,  a  general  court  is  appointed  to  be 
held  next  Wednesday  to  resolve  what  shall  be  done  with  it. 
Mr.  Baker,  a  broker,  is  given  a  gratuity  of  8/.  for  his  pains  in  selling 
saltpetre  to  Mr.  Beresford.  Upon  petition,  John  Bramston  is 
allowed  to  continue  in  his  dwelling  in  the  backj'ard  of  Lord  Craven's 
house  and  to  make  use  of  the  warehouses  until  next  Midsummer. 
The  Court  orders  what  is  due  upon  the  late  Matthew  Crumpe's 
account  to  be  paid  to  his  administrator,  Joshua  Giffen,  the  latter  to 
give  a  full  discharge  and  to  leave  all  the  legacies  in  the  Company's 
hands.  On  information  that  90,000/.  has  been  underwritten  in  the 
assurance  policies,  the  Court  orders  that  they  be  taken  to  the 
Assurance  Office  to  be  registered  and  that  no  more  be  underwritten. 
Mr.  Holl worthy  at  Marseilles  is  given  a  gratuity  of  10/.  for  his  pains 
in  conveyance  of  the  Company's  letters  to  and  from  India.  Mr.  Acton 
reports  that  although  Cuttler,  the  Garbler,  referred  his  dispute  with 
the  Company  to  arbitrators  and  they  placed  700/.  in  his  hands, 
300/.  of  which  he  was  to  keep  on  condition  that  he  forbore  all  suits 
against  the  Company,  Mr.  Swinglehurst.  and  Messrs.  Host,  Oyles, 
and  Ottger,  yet  now  he  has  three  informations  depending  in  the 
Exchequer  against  the  three  Dutchmen.  Cuttler  is  sent  for  and 
after  much  dispute  agrees  to  waive  all  suits  against  the  Company, 
but  not  against  the  Dutchmen  ;  so  Acton  is  directed  to  prevent  him 
prosecuting  this  term  and  then  to  consult  Counsel  as  to  the  best  way 
to  proceed.     {i\pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  May  3,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  221). 

The  Governor  acquaints  the  generality  that  the  chief  cause  of 
their  meeting  is  to  resolve  what  to  do  with  the  indigo,  there 
remaining  some  to  the  value  of  2,332/.  gs.  ()d.  not  underwritten  for. 


370  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

and  more  to  the  value  of  7,744/.  los.  underwritten  but  not  paid  for. 
After  some  debate  it  is  decided  that  a  court  of  sales  shall  be  held 
this  day  fortnight,  when  all  the  indigo  shall  be  sold ;  but  if  in  the 
meantime  any  of  the  adventurers  shall  pay  for  their  shares  before 
the  15th  instant,  with  interest  from  the  a5th  of  March  last,  they 
shall  be  allowed  to  take  the  same  away.  The  Governor  also  reports 
that  Mr.  Holloway  is  much  indebted  to  the  Company,  and  as 
security  has  made  over  by  bill  of  sale  a  large  parcel  of  calicoes  which 
were  to  be  sold  unless  the  debt  should  be  cleared  by  the  end  of 
April.  Hereupon  Mr.  Holloway  desires  an  extension  of  time,  and 
is  granted  until  the  first  of  June.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  5,  1648  (Couri  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  a2a). 

Major  John  Brett  appears  on  behalf  of  himself  and  his  partners 
concerning  their  debt  to  the  Company  ;  after  much  discussion  the 
Court  agrees  that,  if  800/.  is  paid  in  by  them,  the  matter  shall  be 
further  considered.  Hereupon  the  Major  expresses  his  own  and  his 
partners'  willingness  to  pay  the  said  sum,  and  the  Court  promises 
that  the  suit  against  them  shall  be  stayed,  their  bill  delivered  up  to 
be  cancelled,  and  consideration  had  as  to  whether  any  part  of  the 
said  sum  shall  be  returned  to  them  or  not ;  and  at  Brett's  request 
help  is  also  promised  them  with  regard  to  Mrs.  Burre,  whose 
husband  was  interested  in  the  purchase  of  the  indigo.  The  Secretary 
is  directed  to  accompany  Thomas  Millward  and  see  50/.  paid  to 
Mrs.  Alston,  one  of  his  father's  creditors,  she  having  refused  to  put 
her  hand  to  the  general  writing  signed  by  all  the  other  creditors. 
Thomas  Pitt  to  be  paid  400/.  from  the  estate  of  his  late  brother 
William.  Thomas  James,  master  of  the  William,  to  be  paid  9/., 
according  to  the  decision  of  Captain  Thomas  Davies,  for  damage 
done  to  his  ship  near  Blackwall  by  the  Company's  ship  William. 

iHPP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  May  5,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  67). 

The  William  to  proceed  to  Gravesend  at  the  first  opportunity. 
At  the  request  of  Joseph  Archer,  master's  mate  in  the  said  vessel, 
he  is  to  be  allowed  to  return  in  her.     Anthony  Tirrence  is  given 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  271 

permission  to  send  two  butts  of  beer  free  of  freight  in  the  William 
to  Jaccatra  [Batavia].  Mr.  Goodwin  offers  his  services  as  ac- 
countant for  100/.  per  annum,  but  is  told  that  so  much  will  not 
be  g^ven.  Hereupon  a  discussion  ensues  whether  to  have  any 
accountant  besides  Sambrooke,  and  the  question  is  referred  to  the 
general  court  shortly  to  be  held,  when  it  is  also  to  be  decided 
whether  the  fourth  payment  due  from  the  adventurers  in  this 
Voyage  shall  be  made  at  Midsummer  or  not.     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  12,  1648  (Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  224). 

Rebecca  TjTies,  executrix  to  Francis  Mountfort,  to  be  paid  50/. 
upon  account  of  the  latter's  wages,  and  also  promised  what  shall 
appear  due  to  him  on  the  arrival  of  the  ships  from  Bantam.  Jane^ 
mother  of  William  Smethwicke,  to  be  paid  loc/.  upon  account  of  her 
late  son's  estate.  The  sailors  entertained  in  the  Williani  for  Bantam 
to  be  paid  imprest  money.  The  account  of  John  Prowd,  who  came 
home  master  in  ih^  Dolphin,  to  be  cleared  and  his  bond  delivered  to 
be  cancelled.  Mr.  Martin  allowed  5/.  on  the  pepper  he  bought  of 
the  Company,  because  of  the  quantity  of  dust  found  with  it.  Certain 
Committees  are  desired  to  view  the  repairs  lately  made  to  Lord 
Craven's  house,  which  has  been  taken  by  the  Company.  Messrs. 
Host  and  Ottgher  are  promised  help  in  the  suit  brought  against 
them  by  Cuttler,  the  Garbler.     (i^/^.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  May  16, 1648  [Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  68). 

The  Governor  announces  that  this  meeting  has  been  called  for  the 
generality  to  signify  their  resolutions  concerning  three  things.  First, 
as  to  the  time  for  the  fourth  payment  for  this  Voyage  to  be  made ; 
most  of  the  third  payments  have  been  made,  and  when  all  are  re- 
ceived and  the  IF/Z/zawdispeeded  there  will  be  about  10,000/.  in  hand. 
After  debate  it  is  resolved  that  the  fourth  payment  shall  not  be  called 
for  till  there  is  occasion  to  use  the  money.  Secondly,  whether 
to  employ  another  accountant  for  this  Voyage  ;  two  men  have 
applied  for  the  post,  one  desiring  to  be  paid  100/.  per  annum,  the 
other  50/.,  but  Sambrooke  is  willing  to  do  the  work  as  the  Com- 
mittees shall  direct.      Hereupon  it  is   resolved  not   to   entertain 


272  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

another  accountant,  but  if  any  difference  shall  arise  between  the 
Stock  and  Voyage  to  let  it  be  settled  by  the  generality  of  the 
adventurers.  Thirdly,  some  of  the  Committees  refuse  to  seal 
the  charter-parties  for  the  freighted  ships,  notwithstanding  the 
adventurers  have  declared  they  shall  be  saved  harmless  for  so 
doing.  It  is  decided  to  let  this  business  rest  according  to  the 
former  order  made  about  it.  Colonel  Algernon  Sidney,*  who 
underwrote  for  800/.  in  this  Voyage  but  has  only  paid  in  400/., 
now  desires  to  be  an  adventurer  for  the  last-named  amount  only ; 
this  is  agreed  to.  Thomas  Dowle,  master's  chief  mate  in  the 
William,  to  be  allowed  to  return  in  that  ship.     (2  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  May  18,  1648  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  225). 

Sale  of  garbled,  light,  and  stony  pepper,  of  Sarkhej  and  Sinda 
indigo,  and  of  indigo  '  shirts ',  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers. 

(I  A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  26,  1648  [Conrt  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  226). 

Mr.  Chettwyn  applying  on  behalf  of  the  executor  of  the  late 
William  Pitt,  certain  Committees  are  requested  to  examine  and 
report  on  his  account.  Tomblings  reporting  certain  thefts  com- 
mitted at  Blackwall  Yard  by  John  Mixon  and  John  Fotherby, 
the  Court  resolves  to  prosecute  them.  The  sum  spent  on  timber 
and  plank  bought  from  certain  Committees  for  repair  of  the  Dolphin 
and  William  occasioning  some  dispute,  Steevens  is  directed  to  bring 
to  the  next  court  an  account  of  the  timber  delivered  and  of  what 
remains  to  be  sold.     (li//-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  June  2,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  70). 

The  Treasurer  reporting  that  he  has  about  twelve  or  thirteen 
chests  of  silver  and  gold,  these  are  ordered  to  be  sent  aboard  the 
William.  The  Committees  also  give  permission  for  200/.  or  300/.  in 
rials  to  be  sent  to  Bantam  in  the  said  vessel  in  lieu  of  the  five  tons  of 

*  The  celebrated  republican. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  27$ 

private  trade  outwards  allowed  her  owners  and  master.  The 
twenty-one  chests  of  quicksilver  that  came  too  late  to  be  shipped  in 
the  Aleppo  Merchant  are  ordered  to  be  put  aboard  the  William  for 
Bantam.     (|/.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  June  6,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  71). 

The  Treasurer,  having  ready  for  the  William  about  22,000/, 
in  gold  and  silver,  and  2,000  rials  for  the  master  and  owners  for 
private  trade,  desires  to  know  how  it  is  to  be  sent  aboard.  The 
Committees  order  it  to  be  sent  down  to-morrow  morning  in  two 
'  light  horsemen '  \see  the  previoits  volume,  p.  103],  and  because 
of  the  troubles  in  Kent  ^  ten  or  twelve  musketeers  to  go  in  each 
barge  for  their  better  security.  Spiller  is  to  go  in  one  of  them,  and 
Mr.  Bayley,  master  of  the  Williavi,  is  desired  to  accompany  them 
in  his  long-boat ;  to  prevent  them  being  stopped  at  the  blockhouse 
at  Gravesend,  Young  is  directed  to  go  there  this  evening  and  clear 
the  money  and  goods.     (^  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  7,  1648  (Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  227). 

It  is  decided  to  send  the  chest  containing  gold  to  the  value 
of  12,000/.  for  shipment  in  the  William  in  one  of  the  barges  with 
the  rest  of  the  bullion  and  quicksilver.  Mr.  Holloway  having  done 
nothing  by  way  of  satisfaction  for  his  debt,  it  is  resolved  that  his 
calicoes  shall  be  put  up  for  sale  this  day  fortnight,  and  the  Com- 
pany's saltpetre  at  the  same  time.  There  is  found  to  be  upwards 
of  1,100/  due  to  the  late  William  Pitt ;  but  as  his  account  cannot 
be  perfected,  some  of  the  money  obtained  for  his  goods  not  having 
been  paid  in,  the  Court  orders  that  Philip  Chettwin  be  given  6co/. 
for  the  use  of  the  executor.  The  Governor  stating  that  an  order 
had  formerly  been  made  by  the  Lords  for  an  ordinance  to  be  drawn 
up  to  regulate  the  East  India  trade  and  that  now  would  be  a  very 
fitting  time  to  solicit  Their  Lordships  concerning  the  same,  he 
is  desired  by  the  Court  to  attend  the  Lords  from  time  to  time  with 
the  Deputy  and  other  Committees  about  this  matter,     (i  p.) 

*  The  reference  is  to  the  Royalist  rising  in  that  county,  which  was  speedily  suppressed 
by  Fairfax. 


374  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  14,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  228). 

Mr.  Hollworthy  acknowledging  by  letter  his  gratitude  for  the 
Company's  intended  gift  of  10/.  and  in  his  letter  to  Mr.  Abdy 
expressing  a  desire  for  a  piece  of  plate,  and  the  Secretary  having 
provided  '  a  faire  standing  cupp  of  silver  ',  which  with  the  case  will 
cost  about  10/.  1 2 J.,  it  is  resolved  to  give  him  both  cup  and  case. 
James  Stanier  applying  for  the  division  of  indigo  due  upon  his 
brother  Richard  Deards'  adventure,  he  is  told  that  all  the  indigo 
has  been  sold  according  to  the  order  of  a  general  court,  the  time 
appointed  for  taking  it  away  having  expired.  Christopher  Wil- 
loughby,  formerly  a  factor  at  Bantam,  to  be  paid  100/.  upon  account. 
After  some  dispute  about  the  dispatch  of  the  William,  because 
of  the  late  revolt  of  the  Parliamentary  ships,^  some  thinking  it 
would  be  well  to  take  out  the  money  shipped  in  her  and  place  it 
in  Dover  Castle,  and  others  that  she  should  go  round  by  Scotland, 
it  is  decided  that  Captain  Bailey  shall  be  written  to  and  told  to 
proceed  on  his  voyage  in  the  ordinary  way  at  the  first  favourable 
opportunity.  At  the  same  time  it  is  resolved  that,  notwithstand- 
ing '  the  present  distempers  in  the  Downes  and  thereabouts ',  no 
letter  shall  be  sent  by  the  said  Captain  to  deliver  to  the  homeward- 
bound  ships  he  may  encounter  to  tell  them  not  to  put  in  to  the 
Downs  but  into  some  other  port  in  the  west  country.  Mr.  Holloway 
requesting  that  the  sale  of  his  calicoes  may  be  further  postponed, 
because  of  the  low  prices  offered  for  all  commodities  in  respect 
of  the  distemper  of  the  times,  and  promising  to  make  over  ^f)Ool. 
of  his  adventure  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  4,000/.  of  his 
assurance  as  additional  security,  the  Court  consents  to  defer  the 
sale.  Bowen  reports  the  sale  of  some  gum-lac  he  sent  to  Barbary, 
for  which  he  has  received  28/.  ^s. ;  he  is  told  to  pay  the  ao/.  into 
the  Treasury  and  to  keep  the  odd  money  for  his  care  in  this  matter. 

<2//.) 

Six  ships  had  matinied  in  the  Downs  on  May  27,  and  their  example  was  followed  by 
three  more.  The  bulk  of  the  fleet,  however,  remained  loyal  to  the  Parliament,  and  so  the 
mutineers  carried  their  vessels  over  to  Holland  and  placed  them  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Duke  of  York. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  1175 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  21, 1648  {Court  Book,  voL  xx, 
p.  230). 

John  Woods  made  free  of  the  Company  on  payment  of  5/. 
Mr.  Teemes  to  be  paid  8/.  in  full  of  the  estate  of  John  Mantell ; 
and  James  Morley,  administrator  to  Thomas  Morley,  to  be  paid  all 
that  is  due  to  the  latter's  account.  On  the  petition  of  Sarah,  mother 
of  Thomas  Rogers,  the  account  of  the  latter  is  ordered  to  be 
examined.  Younge  is  directed  to  stay  at  Dover  and  do  his  utmost 
to  send  any  ships  that  shall  come  into  the  Downs  up  to  the  Gore  or 
higher  if  possible.    (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  30, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol  xx, 
p.  231). 

On  information  that  large  quantities  of  private  trade  have  been 
removed  from  the  ships  lately  arrived  from  India,  it  is  thought  that 
the  best  way  to  procure  satisfaction  for  the  freight  and  to  ascertain 
the  names  of  the  owners  will  be  to  stop  these  goods  at  the  Custom- 
house ;  therefore  certain  Committees  go,  by  desire,  to  the  Com- 
missioners of  Customs  and  request  that  no  East  India  goods  may  be 
delivered  unless  their  custom  is  paid  by  the  Company,  and  the 
Commissioners  promise  all  possible  assistance  in  this  business. 
Other  Committees  are  desired  to  apply  to  the  Commissioners  of 
Excise  and  entreat  a  like  favour,  and  the  Secretary  is  directed  to 
attend  the  Commissioners  of  the  Navy  and  procure  a  letter  from 
them  about  this  matter.  Mr.  Burton  and  his  partners  state  that 
they  have  paid  in  the  stipulated  800/.  and  now  desire  that  part 
of  it  may  be  refunded  ;  after  a  long  debate  it  is  decided  by  erection 
of  hands  to  repay  100/.  and  deliver  their  bills  up  to  be  cancelled,  on 
their  giving  a  general  release  to  the  Company.     {^\PP^ 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  4, 1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  235). 

The  Governor  informs  the  generality  of  the  arrival  of  the  Eagle, 
the  Greyhotind,  and  the  Antelope  from  Surat,  and  of  the  Mary  from 
Bantam.  Then  he  states  that  the  chief  cause  of  their  present  meet- 
ing is  to  make  choice  of  a  Governor,  Deputy,  Treasurer,  and  Com- 
mittees to  manage  the  Company's  business  for  the  ensuing  year. 

T  a 


276  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Mr.  Holloway  presents  a  protest  from  himself  and  other  adventurers 
in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  against  the  Company  for  sending  out 
fresh  adventures  on  account  of  that  Stock  and  not  bringing  them 
to  any  conclusion,  with  several  other  matters.  Hereupon  the 
Governor  desires  to  know  if  the  annual  election  of  officers  is  to  be 
made  now  or  not,  and  after  serious  consideration  it  is  unanimously 
resolved  to  proceed  with  the  same ;  whereupon  William  Cokayne, 
by  general  erection  of  hands,  is  re-elected  Governor,  William  Meth- 
wold  Deputy,  and  John  Massingberd  Treasurer,  for  the  ensuing 
year.  After  some  debate  it  is  resolved  to  dispense  with  the  order 
formerly  made  to  admit  as  Committees  only  those  who  have 
adventured  500/.,  it  being  thought  that  as  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
is  about  to  be  closed,  the  help  of  those  who  have  formerly  had  an 
insight  into  the  Company's  business  will  be  wanted.  Thereupon 
William  Ashwell,  Richard  Midleton,  Richard  Bateman,  Ozias 
Churchman,  Andrew  Morewood,  and  Thomas  Rich  are  elected 
Committees  for  the  ensuing  year ;  and  Sir  John  Cordell,  Thomas 
Kerridge,  Thomas  Hodges,  Nicholas  Gould,  Andrew  Riccard,  and 
Daniel  Andrews  retire ;  so  that  the  Committees  for  the  ensuing 
year  are  Sir  John  Gayer,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad,  Thomas  and  James 
Mann,  Andrew  and  Gilbert  Morewood,  Richard  and  Anthony 
Bateman,  Robert  Gayer,  Messrs.  Reytiardson,  Holloway,  Ashwell, 
Wilson,  Burnell,  Jennings,  Keate,  Midleton,  Abdy,  Garway,  An- 
drews, Churchman,  Williams,  Martin,  and  Rich.  Richard  Swingle- 
hurst  is  re-elected  secretary.     (3^  />/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  7,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  239)- 

A  dispute  arises  as  to  what  course  to  take  to  obtain  an  ordinance 
from  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  it  being  time  to  set  forth  a  book  for 
subscriptions  for  prosecution  of  the  trade  this  next  year.  It  is 
stated  that,  although  the  Lords  refused  to  pass  the  ordinance 
transmitted  to  them  from  the  Commons,  yet  they  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  draw  up  another,  but  nothing  has  as  yet  been  done.  The 
Court  therefore  resolves  that  a  petition  shall  be  drawn  up  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Peers  next  Tuesday  morning  to  desire  them  to  revive 
the  Committee    formerly   appointed,  that   an  ordinance  may  be 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  277 

speedily  passed  for  the  better  maintaining  of  the  trade.^  Because 
of  an  order  from  the  Committee  of  the  Navy,  the  Governor  and 
certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet  them  at  Merchant  Taylors' 
Hall  in  the  afternoon.  Blount  informing  the  Court  that  he  wants 
room  to  stow  the  goods  now  returned,  he  is  told  to  hire  a  ware- 
house and  put  in  it  the  goods  belonging  to  several  adventurers  still 
in  his  custody  and  charge  the  owners  for  the  same.  The  names  of 
the  officers  who  served  the  Company  last  year  are  read  and  the 
Court  is  pleased  to  continue  them  in  their  several  posts  for  the 
ensuing  year.  Bowen  states  that  he  and  Thomas  Hull,  as  executors 
to  Mr.  Ruttland,  placed  360/,  at  interest  with  the  Company  for  the 
use  of  Ruttland's  children,  but  unfortunately  have  lost  the  bill; 
that  the  children  are  now  of  age  and  the  executors  desire  that  the 
said  money  may  be  paid  to  them,  and  promise  to  give  a  release  for 
it ;  to  this  the  Court  consents.  Ashenden,  a  grocer  of  Sandwich, 
desires  to  have  his  goods,  which  were  seized  by  order  of  the  Com- 
pany, pretending  that  he  bought  them  from  Captain  Thomson, 
master  of  the  Ruth ;  ^  he  is  told  that  the  goods  came  in  the  Eagle 
and  that  the   Company  is  resolved  to  make  good    their  arrest. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  14,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  240). 

The  Secretary  reporting  what  course  he  has  taken  with  the 
Admiralty  about  the  goods  conveyed  out  of  the  ships  lately  come 
from  India,  he  is  directed  to  consult  counsel  and  prosecute.  The 
Company  having  been  prevented  from  selling  pepper  lately  returned 
because  of  information  supplied  by  the  Garbler,  a  motion  is  made 
to  petition  Parliament  for  redress,  and  the  Secretary  is  directed  to 
consult  Mr.  Heme  about  this  also.     It  is  decided  that  the  Marys, 

^  For  this  petition  see  the  House  of  Lords  papers  calendared  io  the  Seventh  Report 
ol  the  Hist.  MSS.  Commission  (p.  36).  It  was  presented  on  July  11,  and  was  thereupon 
referred  to  a  Committee.  On  July  25  a  draft  ordinance,  on  the  same  lines  as  that  passed 
by  the  Commons  in  1646,  but  with  an  additional  clause  permitting  spices  to  be  re- 
exported ungarbled,  was  introduced,  read  twice  and  committed.  Apparently  it  did  not 
get  beyond  this  stage.  {Lords'  jfotirnals,  vol.  x,  pp.  394,  437,  460,  607 ;  Seventh  Report 
of  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  pp.  38,  45,  4S). 

'  A  ship  belonging  to  Maurice  Thomson,  which  had  returned  to  Esgland  at  the  same 
time  as  the  Eagle  {O.C.  2081). 


278  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

rigging  shall  not  be  taken  down,  but  that  when  she  is  unladen  con- 
sideration shall  be  had  whether  she  shall  go  out  again  or  be  sold. 
By  desire  of  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  the  Court  orders  10,000/. 
to  be  advanced  upon  the  customs  of  the  goods  now  returned,  to 
supply  Parliament's  occasions,  on  the  Commissioners  of  Customs 
giving  a  discharge  for  the  same.  Samuel  Calcott  petitioning  for 
a  salary,  he  having  served  under  Swinglehurst  for  seven  years, 
he  is  awarded  a  gratuity  of  30/.  and  promised  a  suitable  salary 
when  a  new  Stock  shall  be  raised.  Messrs.  Host,  Oyles,  Ottgher, 
and  Rushoult  apply  concerning  some  cloves  they  bought  from 
the  Company,  about  which  they  are  molested  by  the  Garbler ; 
they  are  reminded  that  this  matter  was  referred  to  arbitration  and 
that  when  the  Garbler  refused  to  stand  by  the  decision  arrived  at 
they  made  a  new  agreement  with  him,  so  that  their  present  trouble 
is  their  own  fault ;  on  hearing  this  they  beg  that  the  matter  may 
be  again  referred  to  arbitration,  but  there  not  being  a  full  court 
the  Governor  promises  to  consider  the  subject  at  the  next  meeting. 
iHPP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  July  14,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  72). 

The  principal  matter  for  consideration  is  how  to  dispose  of 
the  money  remaining  in  cash  from  the  three  first  payments  to 
this  Voyage.  The  whole  subscription  amounts  to  194,600/.  but 
Sir  Thomas  Soame  'falling  off'  for  his  subscription  of  1,800/. 
there  remains  192,800/.  The  three  first  instalments  amount  to 
144,600/.,  but  there  is  still  3,400/.  of  the  third  payment  not  paid  in. 
There  has  been  sent  to  India  and  expended  in  England  for  shipping 
and  other  things  129,673/. ;  so  that  there  is  remaining  in  cash 
11,527/.  After  debate  it  is  resolved  to  leave  11,000/.  at  interest  in 
the  hands  of  the  Joint  Stock  for  six  months  from  this  day  at  six  per 
cent.,  to  take  no  bill  as  an  acknowledgement,  the  Committees  con- 
ceiving that  its  being  registered  in  the  Court  Books  and  passed  to 
account  in  the  books  of  the  Joint  Stock  and  of  this  Voyage  will  be 
sufficient.  Brokes  are  ordered  to  be  charged  on  the  accounts  of 
those  adventurers  who  do  not  pay  in  their  money  by  the  appointed 
time,     {i^pp.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  279 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  21,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  242). 

The  offer  of  Thomas  Thetcher  to  buy  cardamoms  at  4^.  per  lb. 
is  refused,  and  it  is  resolved  to  sell  them  publicly  by  the  candle. 
Anne  Bigges,  whose  husband  died  in  the  Company's  service,  is  given 
\os.  It  is  resolved  that  the  dispute  between  jMr.  Host  and  the 
Garbler  shall  not  be  referred  to  arbitration  again,  the  matter  now  in 
no  way  concerning  the  Company.  The  Court  desiring  to  know  some 
particulars  about  the  great  quantity  of  private  trade  brought  home 
in  the  three  ships  from  Surat,  Jeremy  Carter,  purser  in  the  Eagle, 
is  questioned  as  to  what  was  transferred  from  his  ship  to  the  Rutk 
at  Saint  Helena  or  Ascension  Island  :  and  he  pretending  ignorance, 
Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  examine  his  bond  and  to  advise  what  course 
to  pursue  with  him.  Mr.  Pryor  is  given  20/.  for  making  and 
registering  seven  policies  for  insurance  of  189,000/,  upon  ships  to 
and  from  India,  and  it  is  resolved  that  in  future  he  shall  be  allowed 
4il  on  every  policy  drawn  up.  Sheriff  Browne  desiring  the  use  of 
Lord  Craven's  house  during  his  time  of  ofiRce.  he  is  told  that  the 
Company  already  has  some  of  its  goods  there  ;  but  that,  on  agree- 
ment with  Mr.  Cletherowe,  he  can  have  the  house  the  Company  is 
now  in  at  ten  days'  notice.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Richard  Moore, 
refusing  to  allow  Elizabeth  Dwayte,  who  has  kept  two  of  Moore's 
children  several  years,  any  help  for  their  maintenance,  the  Court 
orders  that  she  shall  receive  only  two  months'  ordinary  pay  of  his 
wages,  and  that  Elizabeth  Dwayte  shall  be  given  two  months' 
extraordinary  pay  of  the  same.  One  of  Sir  Peter  Richaut's  sons 
desires  the  Court  to  move  Parliament  for  allowance  of  the  1,600/. 
due  to  him,  formerly  paid  to  Parliament  by  the  Company,  and 
which  was  promised  in  an  order  of  the  House  of  Commons ;  here- 
upon the  Court  agrees  that  if  he  will  draw  up  a  petition  on  this 
subject  the  Company  will  present  it  to  Parliament.  The  Governor 
reporting  that  there  is  still  11,000/.  in  cash  belonging  to  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  which  the  adventurers  are  willing  to  leave  in  the 
hands  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Joint  Stock  at  six  per  cent,  for  six 
months,  the  Court  consents  to  this  being  done.     (i|^.) 


a8o  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  a8,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  244). 

Jeremy  Carter  presents  a  box  containing  397  small  diamonds, 
belonging  to  Richard  Fitch,  a  factor  deceased  at  Surat ;  these  are 
given  to  the  Treasurer  to  keep  until  further  notice.  Mr.  Hollo  way- 
giving  as  further  security  5,000/.  of  his  adventure  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  the  Court  is  pleased  to  extend  the  time  for  the  pay- 
ment of  his  debt  to  next  Lady  Day,  taking  six  per  cent,  interest 
for  their  money.  Holloway  having  had  the  use  of  one  of  the 
Company's  horses  from  Blackwall,  on  condition  that  he  should  pay 
what  was  spent  in  hiring,  and  Tomblings  stating  that  15/.  has  been 
paid,  Holloway  is  directed  to  pay  10/.  in  full  of  all  claims.  All 
timber  formerly  bought  by  the  Committees  is  ordered  to  be  bought 
and  paid  for  by  the  Company.  The  men  returned  in  the  Mary  to 
be  paid.  Joan  Jones,  whose  husband  died  in  the  Company's  service 
in  India,  is  given  %os.  on  condition  that  she  never  troubles  again. 
Edward  Howes,  who  was  formerly  given  leave  to  keep  a  school  in 
the  hall  of  the  Almhouse  at  Blackwall,  petitioning  for  the  use  of 
the  four  or  five  rooms  'which  Mrs.  Danvers  had',  certain  Com- 
mittees are  requested  to  view  them  and  report.  After  some  debate 
as  to  the  best  course  to  be  pursued  for  prosecution  of  the  trade 
and  for  bringing  home  from  India  what  belongs  to  the  Joint  Stock, 
the  Treasurer  is  desired  to  spend  10,000/.  or  15,000/.  in  purchasing 
rials  of  eight  for  account  of  the  said  Stock,  as  it  is  thought  that  it 
will  be  necessary  to  send  out  money,  and,  if  there  should  be  a  new 
Joint  Stock,  rials,  which  are  now  plentiful,  will  be  wanted.     (i|//-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  2,  1648  ^  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  246). 

Mr.  Chettwin  desires,  on  behalf  of  the  executor,  payment  of  what 
is  due  to  the  late  William  Pitt ;  he  is  told  that  354/.  is  due,  but  that 
1 10/.  has  been  deducted  for  freight  of  goods ;  he  not  being  satisfied, 
the  Court  refers  the  matter  to  the  next  meeting.  It  is  again 
debated  whether  the  Mary  shall  be  sold  as  she  is  or  broken  up, 
and  Captain  Sayers,  Captain  Minors,  Messrs.  Godfrey,  Pett,  and 

'  '  HouWen  at  the  Lord  Cravens  house. '  This  marks  the  Company's  removal  to  what 
was  to  be  its  permanent  dwelling-place. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  281 

Steevens  are  desired  to  examine  her.  The  Committees  for  Private 
Trade  are  requested  to  consider  the  freight  of  what  has  been  brought 
home  in  the  Mary  and  Eagle ;  also  of  that  in  the  Antelope  and 
Greyhound,  when  these  ships  shall  be  unladen.  Thomas,  son  of 
Henry  Hickford,  is  admitted  by  patrimony  to  the  freedom  of  the 
Company,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  4,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  247). 

It  is  resolved  that  the  Eagle  shall  be  repaired  in  readiness  for 
the  beginning  of  next  February,  the  GreyJiound  and  Antelope  by 
Christmas ;  the  Greyhound,  being  thought  the  better  ship  of  the 
two  latter  and  so  fittest  for  the  Coast,  is  to  be  repaired  first.  As 
regards  the  Mary  a  decision  will  be  taken  when  she  has  been 
examined  and  an  estimate  made  of  her  worth.  The  men  in  the 
Antelope  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  them.  The  powder  returned  in 
the  ships  to  be  mended  by  Beresford.  James  Pickering,  a  prisoner 
in  the  King's  Bench,  is  given  ic/.  for  services  rendered  the  Company 
'  about  1637  ',^  he  having  supplied  the  Reforinatioti  with  cables  when 
she  was  driven  into  Yarmouth.  The  Court,  thinking  it  advisable 
to  send  out  some  shipping  for  prosecution  of  the  trade  next  year, 
as  if  an  ordinance  be  obtained  '  they  could  not  have  a  stocke  to 
send  out  upon  a  new  subscription ',  and  conceiving  that  it  will  be 
well  to  take  the  quicksilver  from  the  Second  General  Voyage, 
giving  the  price  it  cost,  allowing  interest  for  the  money,  and  paying 
the  insurance,  the  Committees  for  the  said  Voyage  are  desired  to 
meet  this  day  week.     {^\PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  9,  1648  {Court  Book, 
voL  XX,  p.  249).  ' 

The  men  in  the  Greyhound  to  be  paid.  Widow  Blount,  whose 
son  died  on  the  return  voyage  in  the  Mary,  to  be  given  40.^.  from 
the  wages  of  Thomas  Lowe,  who  took  away  a  parcel  of  sugar 
belonging  to  the  said  son.  George,  father  of  Stephen  Harman,  who 
is  now  in  India,  to  be  given  10/.  of  his  son's  wages.  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  Ralph  Cartwright,  to  be  lent  20/.  to  supply  her  present 
need.     {\p.) 

*  In  1636  (see  the  volume  for  1635-39,  p.  205). 


282  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  ii,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  250). 

A  court  of  sales  is  appointed  to  be  held  next  week,  at  which, 
besides  the  goods  lately  returned,  29  bales  of  Legee  silk  belonging 
to  Mr.  Breton,  President  at  Surat,  are  to  be  sold,  and  two  bales  of 
Orsoy.  Pepper  from  Jambi  and  Malabar  is  ordered  to  be  garbled. 
The  Court  decides  to  put  the  Mary  and  Antelope  up  for  sale. 
A  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  be 
summoned  for  next  Wednesday  afternoon.  Certain  Committees 
are  requested  to  view  the  cellars  under  Crosby  House  and,  the 
Company  having  now  no  occasion  for  them,  to  offer  them  to 
Alderman  Langham,  or  to  let  them.  The  Deputy,  with  the  help 
of  other  Committees,  is  desired  to  view  the  Company's  present 
house  and  to  reserve  fitting  rooms  for  warehouses.  Mr.  Chettwin 
with  Thomas  Pitt,  executor  of  the  late  William  Pitt,  requesting  to 
be  paid  what  is  due  to  his  account,  and  consenting  to  take  over 
Mr.  Bewly's  bill  and  to  give  a  discharge  for  it,  they  are  told  that 
payment  of  the  account  has  already  been  ordered  and  that  they 
can  take  it ;  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Chettwin  a  certain  sum  charged 
for  freight  of  goods  sold  to  the  Company  is  deducted,  and  the 
executor  gives  a  release  for  the  amount  remaining.     {i-hPP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  11, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  73). 

Notice  is  ordered  to  be  left  at  the  houses  of  those  adventurers 
who  have  not  sent  in  their  three  first  payments  to  this  Voyage  that 
unless  they  do  so  before  next  Saturday,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of 
8  per  cent,  from  the  time  the  money  has  been  due,  the  same  will 
not  be  received.  It  is  resolved  to  let  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  have 
the  quicksilver  lately  received  from  Venice,  the  said  Stock  to  pay 
what  it  stands  the  Voyage  in  already  and  allow  8  per  cent,  interest 
to  this  day  and  %\  per  cent,  for  bearing  the  adventure.     (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  16,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  251). 

A  letter  is  received  from  Gloucestershire,  from  Henry,  father  of 
Thomas  Fenn,  a  factor  at  Bantam,  desiring  a  loan  of  100/. ;  some 
demur  is  raised  when  it  is  found  that  only  ^'>J,.  is  due  to  the  son's 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  483 

account,  but  on  the  Treasurer  and  the  Secretary  agreeing  to  give 
security  for  the  other  50/.  the  request  is  granted.  The  money 
due  to  the  late  Wilh'am  Smethwicke  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  his 
mother.  Thomas  Fitch,  executor  to  Richard  Fitch,  to  be  given 
the  diamonds  belonging  to  the  latter  which  were  brought  home 
in  the  Eagle.  The  Recorder  and  Messrs.  Prideaux  and  Heme 
are  desired  to  appear  with  the  representatives  of  the  Company  next 
Monday  before  the  Lords.  The  Court  being  desired  to  give  order 
for  payment  of  more  money  to  the  Commissioners  of  Customs  on 
the  goods  now  returned,  it  is  resolved  to  detain  2,000/.  of  what  is 
due,  in  order  to  pay  the  1,600/,  claimed  by  one  of  Sir  Peter 
Richaut's  sons,  and  interest  for  the  same,     (i^  pp^ 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  August  16, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  253). 

The  Governor  states  that  the  chief  cause  of  the  meeting  is  to 
consider  how  to  uphold  the  trade,  so  that  the  Joint  Stock  shall  not 
be  a  loser ;  he  reminds  them  how  the  Company's  ordinance  was 
passed  by  the  Commons  but  rejected  by  the  Lords,  who,  however, 
appointed  a  Committee  to  consider  about  another,  concerning  which 
nothing  was  done  for  some  time ;  but  lately  an  ordinance  was  drawn 
up  and  presented  to  the  Lords,  read  twice,  and  referred,  as  is  the 
usual  custom,  to  a  Committee,  who  should  have  met  yesterday, 
but  there  not  being  a  full  number  the  meeting  was  put  oflf  until 
Monday.  The  Governor  further  remarks  that,  even  if  an  ordinance 
is  obtained,  a  new  subscription  cannot  be  raised  this  year,  or  ships 
sent  out  upon  a  new  account ;  therefore  the  opinion  of  the  gene- 
rality must  be  ascertained  as  to  their  willingness  to  consent  (not- 
withstanding a  former  resolution  passed  on  the  19th  of  March,  1647) 
to  uphold  the  trade  this  year  upon  the  account  of  the  old  Joint 
Stock.  The  Court  of  Committees  thinks  it  advisable  to  send  out 
more  on  this  Stock's  account  for  the  two  following  reasons :  to 
prevent  the  loss  of  ships  in  India  and  save  the  charge  of  factors ; 
and  because  the  Company  is  able  to  pay  its  debts.  As  advice 
must  be  sent  out  overland  to  India  within  ten  days,  some  resolu- 
tion must  be  arrived  at.  The  Governor  thinks  that  not  less  than 
three  ships  should  be  dispatched,  one  to  the  Coast,  one  to  Surat, 
and  one  to  Bantam.     Hereupon  the  Deputy   intimates  that  this 


284  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,    OF   THE 

proposal  is  for  the  advantage  of  the  adventurers ;  that  no  money 
is  required  from  them,  as  it  can  be  had  at  a  reasonable  rate ;  and 
that,  if  nothing  is  sent  out,  the  charges  will  still  continue,  and  the 
Fort  at  the  Coast,  the  houses  at  Bantam,  Agra,  and  Ahmadabad 
will  be  lost,  as  well  as  half  the  customs  at  Gombroon  (which  are 
never  worth  less  than  a,ooo/.  per  annum),  and  the  ships  now  in 
India  and  not  returnable  will  also  be  lost,  though  the  men's  wages 
and  the  cost  of  their  diet  will  still  have  to  be  paid.  Then  the 
Governor,  by  desire,  puts  it  to  the  question  whether,  notwithstanding 
a  former  resolution,  three  or  four  ships  shall  be  sent  out  for  account 
of  the  Joint  Stock,  laden  with  stock  to  the  value  of  80,000/.  or 
100,000/. ;  and  by  a  general  erection  of  hands  answer  is  given  in 
the  affirmative.     (i|//-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  33,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  254). 

Mary,  widow  of  William  Hall,  to  be  given  64/.,  detained  on 
account  of  a  debt  charged  on  her  late  husband  in  the  Persian 
account,  she  to  give  security  to  repay  this  sum  in  case  it  shall 
be  found  owing  by  Hall,     (i/.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  August  23,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  iss)' 

Sale  of  rice,  cotton  yarn,  '  Rawbagge  '  yarn,^  green  ginger,  sugar, 
benzoin,  Sarkhej,  Sinda,  and  Lahore  indigo,  gum-lac,  seed-lac,  and 
shell-lac,  olibanum,  myrrh,  tincal,  cardamoms,  Orsoy  silk,  coloured 
baftas,  tapseels,  pintadoes  and  pintado  quilts,  serijas,  niccanees, 
'  Guinny  stufifes ',  morees,  and  merculees,  with  prices  and  names  of 
purchasers.     {2^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  25,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  257). 

A  certificate  is  presented  signed  by  Giles  Greene,  chairman  to 
the  Committee  of  the  Navy,  showing  that  Laurence  Lowe,  being 
much  indebted  to  Laurence  Chambers,  assigned  unto  him  about 
two  months  ago  his  adventure  of  500/.  with  all  profits  in  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  which  adventure  Mr.  Greene  requests 
may  be  now  transferred ;   the  Court  is  unable  to  accede  to  this, 

^  Cotton  yam  from  Raybag,  in  the  Deccan. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  285 

as  no  writing  signed  by  Mr.  Lowe  is  forthcoming  ;  therefore  they 
resolve  that  the  assignment  shall  be  noted  in  the  books  and  no 
transfer  made  of  the  said  adventure  without  the  knowledge  of 
Greene  or  Chambers.  William  Wight,  broker,  is  accepted  as 
Widow  Hall's  security  for  payment  of  the  64/.  given  to  her  at  the 
last  court.  Francis  Reeve,  brother-in-law  and  administrator  of  the 
late  John  Turner,  to  be  paid  300/.,  with  promise  that  on  arrival 
of  the  ships  from  India  he  shall  receive  what  shall  appear  due 
to  Turner's  account.  A  serviceable  horse  to  be  bought  for  use 
at  Blackwall  Yard.  On  information  that  Boatswain  Ingram  has 
employed  *  divers  shippe  keepers '  whom  he  knew  to  have  been 
charged  with  felony,  Ingram  is  warned  that  if  he  does  this  again 
he  will  be  dismissed  the  Company's  service.     {^% pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  i,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  259). 

Cinnamon  sold  to  Messrs.  Brightwell  and  Edwards  for  is.  ^d. 
per  lb.  at  two  six  months  from  the  ist  October  next.  It  is  de- 
cided to  sell  the  Mary  for  650/.  and  the  Antelope  for  250/.,  with 
certain  reservations,  both  ships  to  be  put  up  by  the  candle  and  all 
the  Company's  other  goods  next  Wednesday  fortnight,  when  a 
general  court  of  sales  is  appointed  to  be  held.  Mary  Beeton, 
administratrix  to  William  Beeton,  to  be  paid  ^'>J^.  due  to  his  account, 
notwithstanding  an  attachment  of  30/.  made  by  Thomas  Porter. 
The  Deputy  reports  meeting,  with  other  Committees  for  the  Joint 
Stock,  some  of  the  Committees  for  the  First  General  Voyage  about 
adjusting  the  accounts  of  the  Voyage  ;  they  find  there  are  *  desperate 
debts'  at  Banjarmassin  amounting  to  7.900  rials  of  eight;  also 
40,000  rials  charged  by  Mr,  Cartwright  upon  the  Joint  Stock  for 
which  the  Deputy  sees  no  reason.  After  much  dispute  the  Com- 
mittees present  appointed  for  the  Voyage  are  desired  to  make  such 
proposals  as  may  conduce  to  '  a  loving  and  freindly  accommodation.* 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  8,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  260). 

The  Company  having  formerly  had  in  their  hands  200/.  left  by 
George  Morgan  for  the  use  of  his  son  George,  and  having  about 
three  years  ago,  at  the  request  of  the  mother  and  father-in-law, 


286  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

parted  with  this  sum  on  the  latter  and  one  Jones  giving  security  to 
repay  it  when  the  boy  should  attain  his  majority  ;  that  time  having 
arrived  and  the  money  not  being  paid,  because  of  the  father-in-law's 
insolvency,  Jones  appears  and  promises  to  pay  loo/.  to-morrow  or 
Monday,  and  to  give  a  bond  for  payment  of  the  other  loo/.  in  six 
months'  time.  Cowries  sold  to  Mr.  Kendall  at  6/.  los.  per  cwt.  at 
six  and  six  months.  Nathan  Wright  and  Roger  Vivian,  two  Com- 
mittees appointed  for  the  First  General  Voyage,  report  their 
meeting  with  some  of  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Joint 
Stock  for  adjustment  of  the  accounts  between  the  two  Stocks,  and 
present  an  account  drawn  up  by  them  to  which  Sambrooke  has 
taken  some  exception  ;  hereupon  Sambrooke  is  directed  to  give  in 
his  exceptions  and  state  all  the  differences,  and  this  being  done  the 
sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  both  Stocks  are  desired  to  meet 
next  Wednesday  afternoon  and  endeavour  to  come  to  an  amicable 
settlement.  Messrs.  Frith,  Hanson,  and  Thetcher  accepted  as 
securities  for  benzoin,  ginger,  and  tincal.  Abraham,  brother  and 
executor  of  Ralph  Cartwright,  applies  for  1,500  rials  of  eight  re- 
ceived by  Aaron  Baker  for  the  said  Ralph's  account ;  but  the 
widow  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Aaron  Baker,  desire  that  this  money 
may  be  detained  until  the  account  is  adjusted,  as  legacies  are  due 
to  them  from  the  estate,  which,  if  the  money  is  paid  to  the  exe- 
cutor, they  fear  they  will  not  receive,  as  he  has  not  kept  a  former 
agreement  made  on  the  4th  of  February  last.  All  parties  referring 
themselves  to  the  decision  of  the  Court,  the  executor  is  directed  to 
give  a  discharge  for  50/.  formerly  ordered  to  be  paid  to  Mrs.  Cart- 
wright,  and  the  Court  decides  that  if  500/.  shall  appear  due  to  the 
account  of  the  deceased,  it  shall  be  paid  to  his  widow ;  in  the 
meantime  interest  shall  be  allowed  her  for  it  at  the  rate  of  six 
per  cent. ;  the  1,500  rials  shall  be  detained  for  the  present,  and 
interest  for  the  same  allowed  to  the  executor  at  the  rate  of  six 
per  cent,  per  annum.  A  letter  is  read  from  Thomas  Merry  at  Surat, 
requesting  that  two-thirds  of  his  salary  may  be  paid  to  the  Deputy 
to  settle  debts  owing  in  England ;  resolution  herein  is  deferred. 
A  petition  is  read,  drawn  up  in  the  Company's  name  by  Sir  Peter 
Richaut's  eldest  son  and  directed  to  the  House  of  Commons, 
praying  that  as  the  1,600/.  paid  by  the  Company  by  order  of  the 
House  really  belonged  to  the  said  son,  the  Company  may  be  reim- 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  287 

bursed  for  it  out  of  the  next  customs  due  from  them  ;  the  Court  not 
approving  of  the  petition  as  it  is,  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  either  to 
amend  it,  or  draw  up  another  with  the  advice  of  Sir  Thomas  Beding- 
field,^  which  may  be  presented  without  prejudice  to  the  Company. 
Certain  Committees  are  requested  to  provide  cloth  to  be  sent  this 
year  to  India.     (3  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Governor  and  several  Committees, 
September  8,  1648  (Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  263). 

Several  letters  intended  to  be  sent  overland  to  India  are  read  and 
ordered  to  be  '  engrossed '  by  next  Wednesday.  Jambi  pepper  sold 
to  William  Wight,  broker,  for  Thomas  Willyams  for  transportation 
for  i5i^.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months.  Wight  is  given  a  gratuity  of 
40s.  for  his  pains  in  this  business.     (^  />.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  13,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  264). 

Premiums  on  the  insurances  of  all  ships  returned  are  ordered  to 
be  paid  to  all  who  are  not  indebted  to  the  Company  above  two 
months.  Those  who  undenvrote  in  the  Blessing's  insurance  to  be 
paid  only  10s.  per  cent.,  she  not  having  returned.  The  arbitrators 
appointed  to  settle  the  dispute  between  the  Company  and  the  Garbler 
having  awarded  the  latter  300/.  of  the  700/.  deposited  with  him,  the 
Court  accepts  their  decision,  but  thinks  that  Cuttler  should  either 
refund  the  remaining  400/.  or  work  it  out.  It  is  resolved  to  appoint 
masters  to  the  Eagle  and  Greyhmind  next  Friday,  and  certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  provide  beef  and  pork  sufficient  for  the  said 
two  ships.  The  Court  decides  to  hire  a  ship  for  Bantam  in  the 
spring.  It  not  being  safe  to  sell  pepper  because  of  the  difference 
between  the  Company  and  the  Garbler,  it  is  resolved  to  ship  1,000 
bags  of  it  to  Leghorn,  700  to  Genoa,  and  300  to  Venice  ;  in  regard  of 
the  present  danger  by  sea  because  of  *  the  revolted  shipps ',  it  is 
deemed  very  necessary  to  procure  the  approbation  of  the  adven- 
turers in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  but  no  resolution  is  come  to  about 
holding  a  general  court.  According  to  Mr.  Merry's  former  request, 
two-thirds  of  his  salary  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  Deputy.  A  list 
of  Captain  Minors'  goods  brought  home  in  the  Mary  is  presented, 

*  A  well'known  lawyer  of  the  time,  who  was  shortly  after  appointed  Justice  of  Com- 
mon Pleas. 


288  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

and  the  Court  orders  that  they  be  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight. 
Thomas  Godfrey,  having  brought  home  many  more  in  the  same 
ship,  is  ordered  to  pay  freight  on  all  above  15  cwt.     {2  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  and  the  First  General  Voyage,  September  13,  1648 
{Court  Booky  vol.  xx,  p.  0,66'). 

This  meeting  being  held  to  compose  all  differences  between  the 
two  stocks,  an  account  is  presented  by  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage  and  debated,  but  no  conclusion  is  arrived  at,  as  it  does 
not  agree  with  one  given  in  by  Sambrooke.  After  some  dispute 
it  is  agreed  to  allow  the  Voyage  six  per  cent,  on  the  money 
received  for  its  pepper  sold  at  Leghorn.  It  appears  by  a  letter 
received  from  Bantam  (by  the  William  and  Ulysses)  that  the  Stock 
is  indebted  to  the  Voyage,  and  the  President  and  Council  there 
desire  that  this  debt  may  be  satisfied  out  of  the  goods  returned 
in  these  ships ;  Sambrooke  having  rated  that  debt  in  his  account 
at  ^s,  the  rial,  and  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  at  \os.  the 
rial,  after  some  debate  the  latter  value  is  generally  agreed  to. 
The  accounts  being  altogether  so  intricate,  a  motion  is  made  to 
bring  them  to  a  conclusion,  and  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage 
declare  their  willingness  to  pass  over  everything  both  in  England 
and  India  to  the  Joint  Stock  at  a  certain  rate  ;  they  withdraw,  and 
after  debate  return  and  acquaint  the  Committees  for  the  Joint 
Stock  that,  by  the  account  delivered  in,  there  is  12/.  loj-.  per  cent, 
coming  to  them,  that  there  are  also  several  debts  in  India,  and 
'  other  pretences  upon  accompt ',  which  if  they  prove  good  will  pro- 
duce five  per  cent,  more,  yet  they  are  willing  to  leave  everything 
to  the  Stock,  and  to  disclaim  all  interest  both  in  England  and 
India,  provided  they  are  given  15  per  cent.  The  Committees  for 
the  Stock  hereupon  decide  to  meet  next  Monday  to  consider  this 
proposal,  and  promise  a  speedy  answer,     (i^  pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  15,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  267). 

A  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
to  be  summoned  for  next  Thursday  afternoon  in  order  to  resolve 
concerning  the  proposal  to  send  pepper  to  Italy.     Sarah  Coaster 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  289 

and  Sarah  Foster,  whose  husbands  went  out  in  the  William,  to 
be  given  the  usual  two  months'  pay  of  their  husbands'  wages. 
Messrs.  Abdy  and  Willyams  desiring  to  have  back  the  bonds  for 
5,000/.  given  by  each  as  security  for  their  two  brothers,  both 
formerly  factors  at  Leghorn  but  now  dead,  Markham  is  directed 
to  examine  the  accounts  of  the  deceased  so  that  order  may  be 
given  accordingly.  Mary,  widow  of  Robert  Woodriffe,  who  went 
out  in  Courteene's  employment  but  died  in  the  Company's  service, 
to  be  given  what  has  been  received  by  the  sale  of  his  goods  and 
told  that  if  any  salary  is  found  to  be  due  she  shall  be  paid  the 
same.  Chints  and  quilts  sent  home  by  Davidge  to  Thomas  Cul- 
ling to  be  delivered  free  of  freight.  The  petition  drawn  up  by  the 
son  of  Sir  Peter  Rychaut  and  since  amended  with  the  advice  of 
counsel  by  Acton,  is  read,  agreed  to,  and  signed  by  the  Deputy. 
The  estate  of  Richard  Fisher,  who  was  employed  by  the  Company 
and  died  in  India,  to  be  paid  to  Katherine  Fisher  and  Anne  Clinke, 
his  executrices.  The  Treasurer  states  that  he  has  furnished  Mr, 
Holloway  with  200/.,  and  that  the  latter  desires  that  this  may  be 
repaid  from  the  money  due  to  him  for  insurances,  which  far  ex- 
ceeds this  sum  ;  to  this  the  Court  will  not  agree,  as  it  is  contrary 
to  their  former  order  regarding  the  payment  of  insurance  money ; 
but  they  resolve  that  it  may  be  repaid  from  the  division  which 
will  shortly  be  due  to  Mr.  Holloway  as  an  adventurer  in  the  First 
General  Voyage.     (i|//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  20,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  259). 

At  the  general  court  of  sales  to  be  held  this  afternoon  it  is 
decided  to  abate  6d.  of  the  price  set  upon  calicoes  before  the  last 
court  of  sales,  and  to  sell  them  in  eight  lots ;  to  sell  Jambi  pepper 
at  \^d.  per  lb.  and  Malabar  at  \6d.  per  lb.,  both  garbled,  the  buyer 
to  advance  \d.  per  lb.  above  the  set  rate.  Brown  duttees  and 
brown  and  blue  guzees  sold  to  James  Martin,     (i  />.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  September  20,  1648  {Court 
Book,  vol.  XX,  p.  270). 

Sale  of  small  cinnamon,  of  '  course  cinamon  or  Tramboone,'  of 
Jambi  and  Malabar  pepper,  Persia  silk,  longcloth,  diaper,  sallam- 


390  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

poores,  percallas,  and  morees.     The  hull  and  masts  of  the  Mary 
sold  to  Henry  Young  for  ^^^l.  at  two  six  months.    (i|  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  September  ai,  1648  {Court  Booky  vol.  xx,  p.  271). 

The  Governor  states  that  they  have  met  to  consider  how  to  dis- 
pose of  their  pepper,  as  it  cannot  be  sold  to  merchants  for  trans- 
portation without  being  garbled,  and  this  would  be  a  great  expense 
to  the  Company ;  therefore  the  Court  of  Committees  has  resolved 
to  send  it  to  Leghorn,  Genoa,  and  Venice.  After  some  debate  the 
said  resolution  is  agreed  to  and  confirmed.     {\p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  aa,  1648  {Cottrt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  27a). 

Beresford's  offer  to  buy  the  Company's  saltpetre  at  3/.  ^s.  per 
cwt.  is  refused,  the  Court  resolving  not  to  part  with  it  under  3/.  10s. 
per  cwt.  at  four  six  months.  It  is  decided  to  ship  the  pepper  in- 
tended for  Leghorn  in  the  Freeman,  the  Anthony  Bonadventure, 
and  the  Golden  Katherine,  for  Genoa  in  the  Margaret  and  Society, 
and  for  Venice  in  the  Sun,  and  to  pay  two  dollars  per  bag  freight 
to  Leghorn  and  Genoa,  and  two  and  a  half  ducats  per  bag  freight 
to  Venice ;  the  masters  of  these  vessels  promising  to  leave  Gravesend 
by  the  end  of  October,  and  to  send  their  pursers  or  others  to  see 
the  pepper  weighed  at  the  Exchange  warehouse.  Sambrooke  pre- 
sents a  warrant  for  payment  of  lao/.  to  the  late  Walter  Robbins, 
deceased  in  India ;  but  the  Governor  refuses  to  sign  it,  as  the  account 
has  not  been  examined,  and  an  order  is  made  that  no  warrant  be 
henceforth  issued  for  payment  of  money  upon  foreign  accounts  until 
the  latter  have  been  examined  by  two  of  the  Committees.  Richard 
Davies  and  Henry  Rapier  accepted  as  securities  for  silk  sold  to 
the  former,  and  Henry  Younge,  Richard  Swinglehurst,  and  Thomas 
Tomblings  for  the  ship  Mary.  The  Mary's  boat  to  be  delivered  to 
the  Secretary,  he  having  had  a  share  in  her  purchase.  The  buyers 
of  Legee  silk  at  the  last  court  of  sales  to  be  given  ^Ib.  allowance 
upon  each  bale  bought.  The  Anne,  the  Endymion,  and  the  Elizabeth 
and  Anne  are  offered  for  freighting  to  Bantam  ;  but  resolution  herein 
is  deferred  until  next  Thursday,  when  a  court  is  to  be  held  and 
choice  made  of  masters  for  the  Eagle  and  Greyhound,    {ipp.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  291 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  28,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  274). 

Messrs.  Brightwell,  Hussy,  and  Edwards  are  allowed  12/.  for 
a  bale  of  defective  cinnamon  sold  to  them  at  the  last  court  of  sales. 
The  estate  of  the  late  George  Travell,  a  factor  who  died  at  Masuli- 
patam,  to  be  paid  to  his  brother  and  executor,  John  Travell.  Garbled 
pepper  sold  to  John  Cuttler  and  George  Hadley  for  14//.  per  lb.  at 
three  six  months.  After  some  dispute  the  Court  resolves  to  send 
two  ships  of  about  600  tons  burden  to  Bantam,  it  being  declared 
that  there  are  about  300,000  dollars  there,  besides  a  store  of  pepper. 
The  master  of  the  Endymion  and  Mr.  Robinson,  one  of  her  owners, 
offer  that  ship  upon  freight  for  Bantam.  They  are  told  that  she 
must  leave  Gravesend  by  the  end  of  December  and  wait  for  her 
relading  until  January  twelvemonth  :  they,  however,  wish  her  to  go 
upon  the  same  conditions  as  the  Advice  went  last  year,  and  on 
being  informed  that  the  ship  must  stay  six  months  for  certain 
without  demurrage  at  Bantam,  or  elsewhere,  as  the  factors  shall 
think  fit  to  employ  her,  they  refuse  these  terms  ;  and  Badiley  \sic\ 
master  of  the  Anne,  who  has  proffered  his  ship  upon  freight,  refuses 
them  also.     {}-\Pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  4,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  275). 

Upon  the  representation  of  Tomblings,  Messrs.  Steevens  and 
Graves  are  directed  to  pay  certain  money  owing  by  them.  Cordage 
is  ordered  to  be  provided  for  the  Eagle  and  Greyhound,  three  old 
anchors  in  Blackwall  Yard  to  be  sold,  and  the  money  owing  by  the 
owners  of  the  Golden  Fleece,  Aleppo  Merchant,  and  Advice,  for 
materials  supplied  for  repair  of  their  ships,  to  be  charged  upon 
their  several  accounts.  Acton  informing  the  Court  that,  in  accord- 
ance with  several  orders  of  Chancery  made  about  seven  years  ago, 
some  goods  due  upon  the  adventure  of  Nicholas  Askwith  were 
delivered  to  Abraham  Chamberlaine,  he  and  his  brother,  Major 
Chamberlaine,  giving  bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless  ;  that 
the  decree  upon  which  the  said  orders  were  made  has  since  been 
reversed  by  Parliament,  and  the  executors  have  released  all  demands 
to  Abraham  Chamberlaine  ;  and  that  the  latter  now  desires  that  his 
own  and  his  brother's  bond  may  be  yielded  up  and  he  will  give  his 

u  2 


29^  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless  ;  order  is  given  accordingly.  The 
ofifer  of  Captain  Seaman,  commander  of  the  Endymion,  to  freight  his 
vessel  to  Bantam  upon  the  same  terms  as  the  Advice  went  is  accepted, 
and  the  Court  agrees  to  his  taking  only  sixty-eight  men,  as  his  ship 
is  somewhat  smaller  than  the  Advice ;  the  Captain  promises  to  leave 
Gravesend  before  the  middle  of  next  December.  John  Prowd  is 
chosen  master  of  the  Eagle  at  8/.  per  month ;  and  because  he  had 
a  quantity  of  private  trade  conveyed  out  of  the  Dolphin  in  his  last 
voyage,  the  Deputy  now  joins  with  him  in  a  bond  of  500/.  to  restrain 
him  from  allowing  any  goods  to  be  taken  from  his  ship  at  sea  or 
from  landing  any  within  three  days  after  his  arrival  in  the  Downs. 
Robert  Norwood  is  chosen  purser  of  the  said  ship,  with  William 
Makins  as  his  mate.  Thomas  Godfrey  is  chosen  master  of  the 
Greyhound  at  7/.  per  month,  with  Samuel  Browne  as  purser  and 
William  Palmer  as  his  mate.     {'2,  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  6, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  277). 

Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  view  the  Company's  house 
and  report  which  of  the  rooms  not  in  use  are  suitable  for  letting. 
The  Antelope,  with  all  materials  offered  with  her  at  the  last  court 
of  sales,  is  sold  to  John  Ellyott  for  300/.  Christopher  Willoughby, 
a  former  factor  at  Bantam,  desiring  his  account  may  be  examined, 
certain  Committees  are  requested  to  do  this  and  report.  All  the 
garbled  Jambi  pepper  being  sold,  more  is  ordered  to  be  garbled. 
Messrs.  Wilson,  Bradgate,  and  Archer  accepted  as  securities  for 
garbled  pepper.  Thomas  Steevenson  is  chosen  steward  for  the 
Eagle,  with  Richard  Southwell  as  his  mate  ;  and  James  Grooby  is 
chosen  steward  for  the  Greyhound.  The  last  letters  received  from 
India  advising  the  want  of  young  men  for  the  counting-house,  Bowen 
is  required  to  prepare  abstracts  from  the  said  letters,  and  the  Court 
decides  to  consider  this  matter  at  the  next  meeting.  A  motion  is 
made  to  send  Thomas  Steevenson,  who  was  bred  up  a  linendraper, 
as  a  factor  in  the  Greyhound,  and  it  is  resolved  that  if  any  are  sent 
he  shall  be  the  first  considered.  Mr.  Hunt,  part-owner,  and  Badiley, 
master  of  the  Anne,  offer  her  upon  freight  for  Bantam  on  the  same 
conditions  as  the  Advice  went,  but  as  they  desire  9/.  per  day 
demurrage  and  the  Company  will  only  allow  8/.  they  refuse  the 


1 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  293 

terms.  Captain  Seaman  is  given  permission  to  have  the  Endymion 
sheathed  in  Blackwall  Dock,  on  condition  that  he  agrees  to  pay 
20/.  for  the  use  of  the  dock,  to  pay  for  opening  and  shutting  of  the 
gates,  for  any  damage  done,  and  at  the  highest  rate  for  all  materials 
used  in  her  repair.     (2 /A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  ii,  1648  {Court  Book^  vol. 
XX,  p.  279). 

Acton  reports  a  meeting  of  the  Company's  counsel  to  consider 
the  statute  for  garbling,  and  the  licence  granted  to  the  Company 
by  letters  patent  of  King  James  to  transport  pepper  and  other 
spices  ungarbled  ;  ^  with  counsel's  opinion  that  the  Company  may 
either  sell  ungarbled  pepper  for  transportation  or  transport  it  them- 
selves. Acton  is  requested  to  draw  up  a  case  concerning  this  busi- 
ness and  to  take  the  advice  of  the  solicitor  upon  it.  Defective 
garbled  pepper  is  sold  to  Wright,  a  grocer,  for  13^^.  per  lb.  at 
twelve  months.  Tomblings  is  given  permission  to  sell  the  Ante- 
lope's guns,  some  small  cordage,  anchors,  etc.,  after  they  have  been 
examined  by  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Yard.  It  is  resolved 
to  send  some  factors  to  Bantam  and  the  Coast,  but  their  selection 
is  deferred  to  the  next  court.  Henry  Olton,  a  factor  at  Bantam, 
is  ordered  to  be  sent  home  because  of  his  '  great '  wages,  and  for 
other  reasons.  On  information  that  money  has  been  paid  into  the 
Treasury  by  some  adventurers  in  the  Second  General  Voyage,  the 
Court  declares  that  interest  shall  be  allowed  as  before,  but  not  on 
sums  less  than  500/.  An  account  of  the  estate  of  the  First  General 
Voyage  is  presented  by  Mr.  Vivian,  who  states  the  willingness  of 
the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Voyage  to  pass  over  all  its 
remains  to  the  Joint  Stock,  together  with  its  debts  in  India,  on 
being  allowed  fifteen  per  cent.  By  the  said  account  it  appears 
that  the  capital  stock  was  104,537/.  \os.  od.,  that  fifteen  per  cent, 
amounts  to  15,680/.  r^s.  od.,  and  the  foot  of  the  account  only  shows 
i4>3^5^-  I9-S'-  9^-,  so  that  1,294/.  ^.  3<a?.  is  wanting  to  make  up  fifteen 
per  cent.,  and  249/.  5^,  3^.  to  make  up  fourteen  per  cent.  From 
a  letter  received  by  the  Mary,  the  money  owing  at  Banjarmassin, 

*  The  reference  is  probably  to  letters  patent  of  May  22,  1609,  now  in  the  India  Office 
(no.  4  of  the  Parchment  Records).  A  facsimile  was  recently  published  in  Relits  of  the 
Honourable  East  India  Company  (1909). 


294  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF   THE 

Japara,  and  Jambi  is  shown  to  amount  to  6,888  rials,  and  these 
debts  are  considered  *  doubtfull  and  desperate ' ;  but  in  the  event  of 
fifteen  per  cent,  being  allowed,  1,400/.  ready  money  would  be  given 
towards  payment  of  bad  debts.  After  some  consideration  the 
Governor  informs  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage  that  fifteen  per 
cent,  cannot  be  allowed,  as  there  is  nothing  to  make  it  good  but 
bad  debts.  Hereupon  the  Committees  declare  their  willingness  to 
take  fourteen  per  cent.,  in  order  that  this  Voyage  may  be  brought 
to  a  conclusion.  This  offer  is  accepted  on  behalf  of  the  Stock,  and 
a  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  the  First  General  Voyage  is 
ordered  to  be  held  next  Tuesday  in  the  afternoon  to  confirm  it. 
(2  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  13,  1648  (Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  282). 

John  Young,  boatswain's  mate  in  the  William,  who  had  his  leg 
broken  and  received  other  injuries  in  that  ship,  is  given  5/.  The 
Court  refuses  to  lend  Sir  Peter  Rychaut  1,000/.  for  three  or  six 
months  on  his  own  and  his  son's  bond,  as  by  so  doing  trouble  might 
ensue,  and  the  Company  itself  is  obliged  to  borrow  money  to  set 
out  its  ships.  The  petition  of  Captain  Grimes,  who  came  home 
master  in  the  Greyhound,  for  remission  of  freight  on  nutmegs  is 
refused,  but  he  is  given  a  gratuity  of  24/.  for  past  services,     (i  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  First 
General  Voyage,  October  17, 1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  283). 

The  Governor  intimates  that  this  meeting  is  held  to  inform  the 
adventurers  that  the  Committees  appointed  for  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  and  those  appointed  for  the  First  General  Voyage,  with 
Sambrooke,  the  accountant,  have  met  several  times  and  examined 
the  accounts  of  the  Voyage  both  at  home  and  abroad  ;  they  find 
that  the  adventurers  have  received  divisions  in  goods  and  money 
amounting  to  207  per  cent.,  and  have  decided  to  allow  them  another 
fourteen  per  cent.,  but  as  there  is  only  14,385/.  19J.  9^.  remaining 
to  the  Voyage's  account,  the  Joint  Stock  has  agreed  to  allow  it 
249/.  5^.  3^.  (the  additional  sum  wanting  to  permit  of  a  division  of 
fourteen  per  cent,  being  made)  and  to  take  over  all  the  Voyage's 
debts  in  India  on  condition  that  all  future  claims  for  interest  or 
otherwise,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  be  given  over  to  the  said 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  295 

Stock.  Sambrooke  reads  the  account  agreed  upon  by  the  sixteen 
Committees,  and  the  court  is  asked  to  decide  whether  they  will 
accept  of  the  fourteen  per  cent,  in  full  satisfaction  of  their  adven- 
tures in  this  Voyage.  By  desire  the  Governor  puts  it  to  the 
question,  when  by  a  general  erection  of  hands  it  is  accepted  and 
agreed  to.  On  a  motion  made  by  one  of  those  present,  it  is  further 
resolved  to  give  the  sixteen  Committees,  who  have  taken  such 
extraordinary  pains  in  examining  and  finishing  this  account,  one 
quarter  per  cent,  of  the  fourteen  per  cent,  now  to  be  divided,  and  it 
is  generally  agreed  that  13/.  15^.  per  cent,  shall  be  accepted  by 
each  adventurer  in  full  of  all  debts  etc.  belonging  to  this  Voyage. 
The  Governor,  Sir  John  Gayer,  and  such  of  the  standing  Com- 
mittees as  are  not  included  in  the  said  sixteen  Committees  are 
desired  to  allot  the  said  money.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  18,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  285). 

Dorothy,  wife  of  John  Lawrence,  who  is  at  Fort  St.  George,  to  be 
given  5/.  of  her  husband's  wages  on  account  of  her  poverty  and 
because  she  has  been  plundered  at  West  Chester  ;  and  the  Agent 
at  the  Coast  to  be  desired  to  send  Lawrence  home  at  the  first 
opportunity,  as  his  wife  is  in  distress.  Certain  Committees  are 
entreated  to  examine  defective  sallampores  bought  at  the  last  court 
of  sales.  Richard  Shute,  having  bought  a  parcel  of  indigo,  which 
has  not  been  delivered  as  it  is  not  yet  sifted,  desires  extension  of 
the  time  of  payment ;  this  is  denied,  but  he  is  allowed  40/.  in  full  of 
all  damage  caused  by  the  delay.  He  further  desires  to  buy  the 
indigo  and  dust  of  indigo  now  in  the  warehouse,  but  is  told  that 
this  is  to  be  sold  by  the  candle.  The  owners  of  the  Etidymion  to 
be  paid  60c/.  imprest  money,     {^^PP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  30,   1648  {Court  Book, 

vol.  XX,  p.  286). 

Defective  sallampores  and  Sinda  cloth  sold  to  Messrs.  Barron 
and  Mead  at  reduced  rates,  and  '  Trambone '  cinnamon  (now 
shipped  in  the  Samuel)  sold  to  Mr.  Ash  well  at  16^.  per  lb.,  the 
Company  to  receive  the  impost.  The  following  young  men  are 
chosen  as  factors  for  Bantam  ;    Richard  Wotton,  Francis  Winne, 


296  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Thomas  Steevenson,  Christopher  Perrott,  John  Swinnerton,  William 
Lovell,  Thomas  Parke,  William  Bradbent,  and  Walter  Massey ; 
resolution  as  to  their  respective  positions  and  salaries  is  deferred. 
At  the  request  of  Mr.  [James]  Martin,  Hopton  Martin,  a  youth,  is 
to  be  permitted  to  go  to  Surat  and  be  employed  in  the  coun  .ing- 
house  four  years  at  no  charge  to  the  Company  except  for  diet, 
Mr.  Martin  undertaking  to  be  liable  for  his  good  behaviour,    (i^pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  a4,  1648  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  288). 

Richard  Clutterbucke  buys  all  the  Company's  saltpetre  at  3/.  12s. 
per  cwt.  at  three  six  months  from  the  ist  December  next.  The 
Court  refuses  the  request  of  Mr.  Cuttler,  a  grocer,  to  be  allowed 
extension  of  time  for  payment  for  pepper  as  he  cannot  have  the 
'  Tramboone '  cinnamon  he  bought ;  but  gives  him  7/.  in  full  of  all 
damage  sustained  by  not  receiving  the  cinnamon.  All  goods 
remaining  in  hand  are  to  be  sold  at  the  next  court  of  sales.  Acton 
is  given  20/.  for  his  extraordinary  pains  in  the  Company's  suits  with 
the  Garbler,  Fowke,  and  others,  and  is  promised  that  his  request 
for  an  increase  of  salary  shall  be  considered  on  the  formation  of 
a  new  Stock.  Edward  Ingler  appointed  steward  in  the  Eagle^  in 
the  place  of  Thomas  Steevenson,  who  has  been  elected  a  factor. 
Resolved  that  henceforth  factors  shall  only  be  allowed  half-pay 
on  their  voyage  to  and  from  India.  Thomas  Steevenson  chosen 
as  a  factor  for  the  Coast  at  20/.  per  annum  the  first  year,  rising 
10/.  yearly  until  he  is  in  receipt  of  60/.  per  annum.  Christopher 
Perrott  appointed  a  factor  for  Bantam  at  20/.,  with  an  annual 
increase  of  5/.  until  he  is  in  receipt  of  40/.  Richard  Wotton  chosen 
steward  for  Bantam  House,  and  Francis  Winne  factor  for  Bantam, 
both  at  a  standing  salary  of  40/.  per  annum  for  five  years.  Walter 
Massey,  a  youth,  entertained  as  a  factor  for  Bantam  at  twenty 
marks  per  annum.  All  are  engaged  for  five  years,  or  for  so  long 
as  the  Company  shall  have  need  of  them,  and  are  told  that  only 
half-pay  will  be  allowed  them  during  their  voyage  to  and  from 
India.  Thomas  Harrison,  a  youth  who  writes  a  fine  hand  and  is 
experienced  in  accounts,  is  to  be  employed  under  Sambrooke  in 
the  counting-house  for  a  year,  as  all  the  posts  abroad  have  been 
filled.     {2\pp) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  397 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  27,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  290). 

Blount  is  directed  to  give  notice  to  all  adventurers  who  have 
goods  in  the  Company's  warehouse  to  fetch  them  away,  or  a  ware- 
house will  be  hired  to  receive  them  and  the  cost  charged  to  the 
owners.  Breton,  President  at  Surat,  desires  in  a  letter  to  the  Deputy 
that  the  proceeds  of  twenty-nine  bales  of  silk  sent  home  in  the 
Surat  ships  may  be  paid  to  his  brother,  a  minister,  who  cow  appears. 
It  \s  conceived,  however,  that  Breton  is  a  great  private  trader, 
especially  as  Thomas  Fincham  has  acknowledged  receiving  goods 
from  India  by  the  Ruthy  and  these  goods  were  sent  to  Rajapur  in 
the  Blessing  under  the  name  of  one  Francis  Xorbett  of  Surat,  who 
is  suspected  to  be  none  other  than  Breton  himself.  The  Court 
therefore  refuses  to  give  up  all  the  proceeds,  which  amount  to  about 
3,000/.,  but  orders  looo/.  to  be  paid  to  the  brother  and  resolves  to 
allow  Breton  for  the  remainder  at  the  rate  of  six  per  cent,  from 
now.  The  great  injury  done  the  Company  by  private  trade  being 
so  very  obvious,  it  is  resolved,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  chief 
offenders  herein,  that  the  names  of  Steevens,  who  came  home 
master  in  the  Eagle,  and  of  Knipe,  who  returned  as  merchant  in 
that  ship,  shall  be  included  in  the  bill  now  in  Chancery,  and  that 
a  new  bill  shall  be  entered  against  John  Prowd,  who  returned  in 
the  Dolphin.  William  Bradbent  is  entertained  as  an  under-factor 
for  the  Coast  at  twenty  marks  per  annum,  and  William  Lovell  and 
Thomas  Parke  are  entertained  for  Surat  at  20/.  per  annum,  all  to 
remain  five  years  and  to  receive  only  half-pay  on  the  voyage  to 
and  from  India.  John  Swinnerton,  who  has  served  six  years  in 
India  and  only  received  10/.  from  the  President  on  leaving  Surat, 
is  given  a  gratuity  of  20/.  The  factors  entertained  for  the  Coast, 
Bantam,  and  Surat  are  appointed  to  the  ships  in  which  they  are  to 
go.  The  wife  of  Edward  Hill,  surgeon  in  the  Blessings  to  receive 
one  month's  pay  of  her  husband's  wages,  and  Mr.  Boone,  who 
spent  30/.  '  towards  setting  him  to  sea ',  to  receive  two  months'  pay 
of  the  same.  Some  cinnamon  and  pepper  belonging  to  the  Company 
having  been  lost  when  in  charge  of  William  Galleon  and  Thomas 
Miller,  who  deny  all  knowledge  of  the  same,  their  examination  is 


^98  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

deferred  until  Jennings,  '  a  comfitt-maker,'  who  answered  for  his 
brother  Miller's  honesty,  can  be  summoned  to  appear,     {i^pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  i,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  293). 

The  petition  of  John  Lightfoote  to  be  entertained  as  a  factor  is 
refused,  and  the  Court  resolves  to  entertain  no  more  factors  this 
year.  The  Deputy  reports  that  he  has  with  certain  Committees 
viewed  the  house  the  Company  now  resides  in  and  they  find  that 
four  rooms  with  a  garret  next  the  street,  the  parlour,  and  the  low 
room  next  the  street  might  be  turned  into  a  shop  and  let  out  to 
good  profit,  and  they  have  besides  found  accommodation  for 
Spiller  with  two  or  three  rooms,  a  kitchen,  and  a  yard  ;  the  Court 
approves  of  the  idea  of  letting  out  the  rooms,  but  at  Spiller's  request 
decides  to  forbear  doing  so  'presently',  and  to  allow  him  to  remain 
there  with  his  family  until  Candlemas.  Hereupon  Spiller  offers 
20/.  per  annum  for  the  rooms,  to  allow  the  Company  the  use  of  the 
parlour,  and  not  to  sublet ;  resolution  concerning  this  matter  is 
deferred.  An  adventure  of  600/.  in  the  Joint  Stock  belonging  to 
the  late  Nicholas  Abdy,  who  died  at  Leghorn,  is  ordered  to  be 
transferred  to  his  brother  and  executor,  Robert  Abdy.  Thomas 
Goad  to  be  paid  a  portion  of  the  wages  of  his  late  apprentice, 
John  Cousins,  on  giving  security  to  save  the  Company  harmless. 
Two  of  Francis  Breton's  brothers  apply  for  another  1,500/.  of  the 
proceeds  of  Breton's  silk,  in  regard  they  have  made  a  contract  with 
Lord  Cokayne  ^  for  some  lands  for  their  brother's  use,  for  which 
a  great  deal  of  money  will  be  wanted ;  the  Court  refuses  their 
request,  it  not  being  yet  known  how  much  the  Company  has  been 
prejudiced  by  Breton's  private  trade,     (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  3,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  294). 

After  long  debate  it  is  decided  to  hire  another  ship  to  go  to 
Bantam  as  soon  as  possible,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired 

*  This  would  seem  to  be  Charles,  son  and  heir  of  Sir  William  Cokayne  (Lord  Mayor 
in  1619-20).  He  had  been  created  (in  August,  1642)  Baron  and  Viscount  CuUen  in  the 
Irish  peerage.  He  was  an  ardent  royalist,  and  was  said  to  have  lost  50,000/.  in  the 
cause. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  ^99 

to  treat  with  such  masters  and  owners  of  vessels  as  they  shall  think 
fit.  Messrs.  Andrews  and  Abdy,  who  have  examined  Willoughby's 
accounts,  give  particulars,  showing  that  he  has  been  a  great  private 
trader.  The  Court  considering  that,  because  of  this  great  abuse, 
he  should  be  made  an  example,  he  is  called  in  ;  and  being  unable 
to  give  any  satisfactory  explanation  of  his  misconduct,  he  expresses 
his  sorrow  and  refers  himself  wholly  to  the  Court.  After  serious 
consideration  of  his  offence,  it  is  resolved  by  erection  of  hands  that 
he  shall  be  fined  500/.,  this  sum  to  include  payment  for  freight  of 
his  goods.  Willoughby  submits,  but  expresses  a  hope  that  at  some 
future  time  the  said  fine,  which  in  his  opinion  is  very  heavj'-,  may 
be  lessened.  Pepper  sold  to  Mr.  Jordan  and  dutties  to  Mr.  James 
Martin.  The  account  of  Hugh  Fenn,  a  factor  returned  from  Surat, 
is  ordered  to  be  cleared.  John  Prowd,  having  been  serv^ed  with 
a  writ  to  answer  a  bill  issued  against  him  in  Chancery,  requests  the 
Company  not  to  sue  him  and  offers  to  give  such  satisfaction  for  his 
private  trade  as  the  Court  should  expect;  the  Court  does  not  think 
fit  to  revoke  its  former  resolution,  but  gives  Prowd  liberty  to  present 
at  the  next  court  a  written  account  of  the  private  trade  brought 
home  by  himself  and  others  ;  this  he  promises  to  do.  John  Dunn, 
a  poor  black,  to  be  given  40s.  and  such  employment  at  Blackwall 
as  he  is  able  to  do.  Joan  Carteere,  a  poor  widow,  is  also  given  20s. 
Spiller  is  directed  to  sue  Jones,  who  has  not  paid  the  200^  for  which 
he  stands  bound  to  George  Morgan's  son.     (2^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  8,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  297). 

Captain  Hurleston,  master  of  the  Society,  is  granted  permission 
to  take  300  bags  of  pepper  to  Leghorn  instead  of  to  Genoa,  and 
the  Court  orders  350  bags  of  pepper  to  be  sent  to  the  latter  place 
in  the  Scipio.  (Godfrey  being  disabled,  through  illness,  from  going 
as  master  in  the  Greyhoutid,  Adam  Lee,  Gilbert  Grimes,  and 
Richard  Swanne  offer  their  services.  Lee  is  chosen,  at  a  salary  of 
7/.  per  month.  The  account  of  Gilbert  Grimes  is  ordered  to  be 
cleared.  Badiley,  master  of  the  Aiine,  to  be  treated  with  about 
freighting  his  ship  to  Bantam,  and  it  is  decided  that,  in  the  event 
of  an  agreement  being  made,  Richard  Swanne  shall  go  in  her  as 
master  if  Badiley  does  not,     (i  p.) 


300  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  November  8, 1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  398). 

Sale  of  pepper,  cotton-wool,  cardamoms,  indigo,  indigo  '  shirts  ', 
cloves,  and  sanguis  draconis,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  10, 1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  299). 

George  Purse  to  oversee,  as  formerly,  the  making  of  cordage, 
a  quantity  of  which  is  to  be  provided  for  Surat  and  Bantam.  A  bill 
of  Boatswain  Ingram's  to  be  paid.  Messrs.  Brett,  Bolton,  and 
Herbert,  and  Richard  and  Ralph  Allen  accepted  as  securities  for 
indigo,  pepper,  and  cloves.  Guns  and  powder  at  Blackwall  to  be 
sold.  Mr.  Cletherowe  complaining  that  some  of  the  Company's 
books  were  not  removed  from  his  house  till  the  middle  of  September, 
it  is  resolved  that  he  shall  be  given  three  quarters'  rent  in  full  of 
all  demands,  in  consideration  that  he  has  permitted  the  Company 
'  to  make  a  light  into  his  garden ',  which,  however,  is  to  be '  stopped 
upp  when  hee  desires  the  same '.  At  Willoughby's  request,  100/. 
is  remitted  of  the  500/.  fine  imposed  upon  him.  Hunt,  part-owner, 
and  Badiley,  master  of  the  Amie  Cleave  \sic\  agree  to  that  ship 
being  freighted  for  Bantam,  on  the  owners  being  allowed  9/.  per 
diem  demurrage,  the  loan  of  500/.  over  and  above  the  600/.  to  be 
paid  them  for  imprest,  and  all  other  conditions  to  be  the  same  as 
those  set  forth  in  the  Endymion's  charter-party.  Badiley  promises 
to  inform  the  Court  within  ten  days  whether  he  intends  going  as 
master  in  the  said  ship.  John  Prowd  presents  a  paper,  in  which  he 
states  that  he  brought  home  in  the  Dolphin  170/.  belonging  to 
Mr.  Breton,  who  was  to  allow  him  fifty  per  cent,  for  the  same ; 
316/.  belonging  to  the  late  Mr.  Fremlen,  which  he  handed  over  to 
his  executor,  the  Deputy;  and  also  a  few  tokens  and  his  own 
private  trade.  This  not  satisfying  the  Court,  it  is  resolved  that 
Prowd  shall  be  examined  upon  oath,  and  Acton  is  desired  to  draw 
up  some  interrogatories  concerning  this  business  by  the  next  court. 
Mr.  Martin  allowed  7/.  for  defective  seed-lac.     {i\pp.) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  301 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  15, 1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  302). 

Old  ordnance  from  Blackwall  Yard  to  be  used  as  kentledge  for 
the  Greyhound.  All  that  is  due  to  the  late  John  Price's  account  to 
be  paid  to  his  sister  and  executrix,  Margaret  George.  'Saboones'^ 
sold  at  15^.  per  piece  to  Messrs.  Norton  and  Mead.  The  Court 
decides  to  send  10,000^  in  money  to  the  Coast  and  only  3,000/.  to 
Bantam,  as  according  to  an  account  given  in  by  Sambrooke  there 
are  *  205,167  dollers  in  stocke '  at  the  latter  place  and  the  subordi- 
nate factories.  The  Treasurer  is  desired  to  procure  a  warrant  for 
the  transportation  this  year  of  70.000/.  in  foreign  coin  and  bullion.' 
The  Garbler  applies  for  payment  for  garbling  several  commodities ; 
on  examination  of  his  charges  they  are  thought  to  be  excessive,  and 
it  is  unanimously  resolved  not  to  pay  him  anything  unless  he  will 
discount  with  the  Company  for  the  400/.  due  to  them  from  him ; 
this  sum  he  absolutely  refuses  to  pay.     {^kPP') 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  17, 1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  303). 

Mr.  Acton  presents  an  affidavit  to  which  Prowd  is  to  swear  before 
a  Master  of  Chancery.  Prowd  earnestly  desires  to  be  excused 
doing  this,  but  the  Court  is  resolute,  and  he  promises  to  comply. 
He  then  declares  that  he  has  served  the  Company  many  years  as 
master  in  several  ships  and  always  received  10/.  per  month,  but  now 
as  master  of  the  Eagle  he  is  only  allotted  8/  ;  hereupon  his  wages 
are  increased  to  10/.  per  month.  Willoughby's  account  is  ordered 
to  be  delivered  up  on  his  giving  a  release.  The  sister  and  adminis- 
tratrix of  Samuel  Husbands,  who  died  at  Banjarmassin,  to  be  paid 
what  is  due  to  his  account.  John  Peirce  is  refused  re-employment 
on  account  of  former  misconduct,     (i  /.) 

1  Some  kind  of  piece^oods. 

*  On  December  36,  1648,  the  House  of  Commons  anthorized  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  to  permit  13,000/.  in  foreign  coin  and  bullion  to  be  shipped  in  the  Greyhound  v\A 
Endymion ;  and  on  March  14  following  a  similar  permission  was  gixen  for  the  exportation 
of  65,000/.  in  the  Eagle,  Ruth,  and  Anne. 


3oa  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  aa,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  304). 

Rebecca  Glover,  executrix  to  Matthew  Cradocke,  transfers  to 
William  Cokayne  537/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock.  John  Prowd  desires  to  be  excused  from  taking  an  oath, 
not  because  he  wishes  to  conceal  anything,  but  because  he  is  *  very 
scrupilous  and  tender '  of  taking  one  ;  after  some  consideration  the 
Court  orders  him  to  affirm  under  his  hand  the  truth  of  those  parti- 
culars to  which  he  formerly  offered  to  make  oath  ;  this  he  thankfully 
promises  to  do.  Some  pepper  and  cinnamon  having  been  lost 
coming  in  a  lighter  from  the  Eagle  in  charge  of  two  guardians, 
Miller  and  Gallyand  \sic\,  who  with  the  lighterman  absolutely 
deny  having  taken  these  goods  away,  Jenny  [sic],  Miller's  security, 
is  told  that  he  will  have  to  make  satisfaction  for  them.  A  motion 
is  made  to  limit  the  money  taken  up  at  interest  by  the  factors  at 
Surat,  as  it  is  feared  that  they  make  use  of  the  Company's  money ; 
but  no  resolution  is  come  to.     {^\Pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  24,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  306). 

Sailors  being  wanted  on  the  Coast  of  Coromandel,  the  Court 
orders  that  sixty  men  be  sent  there  in  the  Greyhound,  fifty  to  return  in 
her.  A  smaller  quantity  of  pepper  and  cloves  having  been  delivered 
from  the  warehouse  at  Bantam  than  was  received,  the  loss  entailed 
is  ordered  to  be  charged  to  the  account  of  the  warehouse-keeper  and 
notice  of  this  to  be  given  in  the  general  letter  to  Bantam.  Captain 
Ryder  requests  that  he  and  several  others,  who  have  become  free- 
men of  the  Company  and  adventurers  in  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  may  have  liberty  to  send  out  '  a  shippe  or  more  for  India 
according  to  their  stockes '.  Hereupon  the  preamble  to  the  book 
of  subscription  for  the  said  Voyage  is  read,  whereby  it  appears  that 
this  Voyage  was  only  started  with  the  intention  of  upholding  the 
trade  for  a  year.  The  Governor  informs  the  Captain  that  every- 
thing possible  has  been  done  to  procure  the  passing  of  an  ordinance 
to  regulate  the  trade,  but  it  is  still  with  the  Lords  ;  if  it  passes,  it  is 
hoped  to  get  a  new  Stock  in  which  every  one  who  desires  may 
join  and  underwrite  for  what  he  pleases.     The  Company  wishes  to 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  303 

put  an  end  to  the  old  Stock,  but  it  is  necessary  to  send  out  ships  to 
prevent  the  loss  of  the  trade  and  to  keep  the  factors  and  ships  at 
work.  All  that  is  being  done  on  the  Joint  Stock's  account  was 
settled  at  a  general  court  of  adventurers  in  that  stock,  but  to  insure 
'  a  faire  understanding '  between  the  said  Stock  and  the  Second 
General  Voyage  the  sixteen  Committees  appointed  for  the  Voyage 
shall  be  desired  to  meet  next  Monday  and  consider  this  business. 
Wednesday  being  '  the  fast  day ',  a  court  is  appointed  to  be  held  on 
Tuesday  in  the  morning,  and  a  meeting  in  the  afternoon  to  dis- 
tribute the  sum  of  261/.  6s.  lod.  given  by  the  First  General  Voyage 
to  the  sixteen  Committees,     {^kpp-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  27,  1648  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  74). 

This  meeting  is  called  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Thompson  and 
Captain  Ryder,  who  have  presented  two  papers  to  the  Court  of 
Committees  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  desiring  that  the  fourth 
payment  for  this  Voyage  may  be  called  in  and  sent  out  this  year. 
Hereupon  the  minutes  for  this  Voyage  of  the  i6th  May  last  are 
read,  wherein  the  reasons  for  not  doing  this  are  stated,  and  in  pur- 
suance of  a  resolution  then  made  the  Committees  for  the  Voyage 
on  the  14th  July  last  placed  what  they  had  remaining  in  cash 
at  interest  in  the  hands  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  for  six  months, 
and  on  the  nth  August  last  sold  the  quicksilver  from  Venice 
to  the  said  Stock.  From  all  this  the  Governor  infers  that  there  is 
no  intention  to  call  for  the  fourth  payment,  or  any  addition,  to  send 
out  this  year  for  the  account  of  this  Voyage,  which  was  only 
intended  for  the  one  year.  To  uphold  the  trade,  the  adventurers  in 
the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  agreed  on  the  i6th  August  last  to  send  out 
four  ships  this  year  and  provision  was  made  accordingly  ;  therefore 
this  motion  of  Mr.  Thompson  and  Captain  Ryder  has  come  too 
late.  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Moyer  desire  permission  to  send  out 
'  a  shippe  or  shipps '  upon  their  own  account  to  recover  a  pretended 
loss  of  15,000/.  or  16,000/. ;  their  request  is  thought  very  unreason- 
able, and  a  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  this  Voyage  is 
appointed  to  meet  next  Thursday  afternoon  to  be  informed  of  this 
demand  and  shown  that  it  cannot  be  permitted.  Four  guns  left 
behind  by  the  Bonito  to  be  sold.     {i\pp.) 


304  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  28,  1648  {Cotirt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  307). 

*  Argeir '  duty  amounting  to  546/.  gs.  ^d.,  for  goods  returned 
in  several  ships  since  July,  1647,  is  ordered  to  be  paid.  Mr.  Totty's 
goods  to  be  delivered  to  him,  he  paying  the  charges  of  the  suit 
in  the  Admiralty  together  with  freight  and  custom  due,  and  promis- 
ing to  ship  them  away  on  delivery.  His  account  is  likewise  ordered 
to  be  cleared.     Pepper  sold  to  Richard  Allen.     (|/.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  November  30,  1648  [Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  7S\ 

The  Governor  informs  the  generality  of  the  requests  made  by 
Mr.  Thompson  and  Captain  Ryder  at  the  last  meeting.  The 
minutes  of  the  general  court  of  the  i6th  May  last  are  read,  with 
other  orders  and  resolutions  of  the  Committees  for  this  Voyage,  and 
the  Treasurer  having  stated  that  money  never  was  so  scarce  as  now 
(it  being  more  difficult  to  procure  than  it  was  last  year,  when  he  was 
forced  to  buy  ingots  at  a  high  price,  which  has  since  increased),  it  is 
generally  agreed  to  confirm  the  order  made  at  the  said  general 
court  to  reserve  the  fourth  payment  to  this  Second  General  Voyage 
until  there  is  occasion  to  use  it  for  payment  of  freight,  custom,  and 
other  charges  at  the  return  of  the  ships  sent  out  by  the  adventurers 
in  this  Voyage.  The  generality  express  their  approval  of  the  Com- 
mittees' action  in  letting  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  have  11,000/.  at  six 
per  cent,  interest,  and  in  selling  them  the  quicksilver.  Several  pro- 
posals are  made  to  uphold  and  continue  the  trade  by  opening 
a  subscription  for  a  new  Joint  Stock  to  continue  for  five  or  seven 
years,  for  all  men  to  have  liberty  to  adventure  in  ;  others  desire 
that  a  subscription  may  be  opened  for  another  General  Voyage,  and 
others  that  both  may  be  set  on  foot,  so  that  if  there  is  not  sufficient 
subscribed  for  a  Joint  Stock  another  Voyage  may  be  started.  The 
Governor  declares  that  if  money  enough  is  not  subscribed  to  carrj'' 
on  the  trade,  whether  the  ordinance  be  procured  from  Parliament  or 
not,  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  should  send  out  no  adventure  after 
April  next.  Finally,  it  is  resolved  by  a  general  erection  of  hands 
that  a  book  of  subscription  shall  be  opened  to  carry  on  the  trade  for 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  305 

seven  years  by  means  of  a  Joint  Stock,  the  said  book  to  remain 
open  for  all  men  to  underwrite  from  the  ist  January  next  to  the 
25th  March  following.  The  request  of  Mr.  Thompson  and  others 
to  send  out  a  ship  or  two  to  the  East  Indies  on  their  own  account 
is  unanimously  refused.^     {^  Pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  i,  1648  {Coiiri  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  308). 

The  Court  accepts  the  offer  of  John  Collyer  to  give  a  bond  with 
Mr.  Langhome  of  10,000/.  as  security  for  the  factors  at  Leghorn. 
A  paper  is  presented  by  Sambrooke  containing  the  following  pro- 
posals :  that  upon  the  arrival  of  the  ships  a  near  estimate  may 
be  given  of  the  net  weight  of  the  goods  received  into  the  ware- 
house, to  be  compared  with  the  invoices  in  order  that  any  dis- 
crepancy may  be  noted ;  that  when  the  goods  are  weighed  after 
being  sold,  the  several  parcels  may  be  made  up  and  Sambrooke 
have  the  warehouse  books  at  the  end  of  each  month  to  balance 
every  man's  account  ;  that  all  officers  who  have  money  given  to 
them  to  disburse  for  shipping  or  in  the  several  warehouses  may 
bring  in  their  accounts  once  a  quarter  to  be  entered  in  the  general 
books.  The  Court  orders  these  particulars  to  be  punctually  ob- 
served by  all  the  officers  concerned.  Calicoes  belonging  to  John 
Totty,  William  Smith,  and  Mr.  Cranmer  to  be  delivered  on  payment 
of  freight,  custom,  and  other  charges  expended  about  them,  the 
owners  promising  not  to  sell  any  of  them  in  London  or  within  forty 
miles  of  that  city.  The  owners  of  all  goods  bought  or  divided  and 
not  weighed  are  to  be  notified  that,  if  the  same  are  not  weighed  and 
taken  away  within  a  week,  some  one  will  be  appointed  to  weigh 
them  and  the  owners  will  have  to  bear  all  loss  or  hazard.  The 
owners  of  the  Anne  Clear e  to  be  paid  600/.  upon  account  of  freight. 
The  fore  part  of  the  Company's  house,  consisting  of  '  two  roomes 

*  On  December  i  Alderman  Andrews,  Maurice  Thomson,  Samnel  Moyer,  Stephen  Est- 
wick,  James  Russell,  and  others  presented  a  petition  to  the  House  of  Lords,  complaining 
that  their  goods  sent  out  in  the  Ruth  had  been  seized  on  the  Malabar  Coast  by  Courteen's 
creditors  and  their  merchants  imprisoned,  and  pra3ring  that  they  might  dispatch  ships  to 
recover  their  goods.  The  House  resolved  thereupon  that  the  petitioners  should  be  per- 
mitted to  fit  out  the  RiUh  and  a  pinnace  for  that  purpose,  unless  the  East  India  Company 
could  show  cause  to  the  contrary.  Five  days  later  the  Company  submitted  a  petition, 
praying  that  the  vessels  should  be  stopped,  {jfonmals,  vol.  x,  pp.  617,  634  ;  seventh  re- 
port of  Hist.  MSS.  Commission,  p.  66,  and  tenth  report,  p.  173.) 
s.cM.  m  X 


3o6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

on  the  ground,  one  wainscott  roome,  and  two  roomes  over  that,  and 
two  garretts,  all  next  the  streete ',  is  let  to  Spiller  at  20/,  per  annum, 
the  Company  to  have  the  use  of  the  parlour,  and  Spiller  not  to  sub- 
let any  part  of  the  rooms  after  Candlemas,  and  only  to  have  his 
wife  and  servant  to  live  with  him.  It  is  also  resolved  that  the 
money  taken  at  the  door  from  the  market  women  shall  be  put  into 
the  poor-box.     Alum  to  be  bought  for  the  Coast.     (2//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  8,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  310). 

The  Treasurer  is  directed  to  accept  the  offer  of  a  gentleman 
to  furnish  the  Company  with  English  coin  to  the  value  of  26,000 
rials  of  eight,  to  be  repaid  at  Leghorn  in  three  months'  time  at 
5^.  the  rial ;  if  the  pepper  there  is  not  sold  by  that  time,  then  61. 
per  cent,  is  to  be  allowed  for  two  or  three  months.  The  sum  of 
2/.  lis.  8d.  to  be  paid  for  mending  the  pipes  to  bring  the  New 
River  water  into  the  Company's  house.  Mariners  in  the  Greyhound 
to  be  paid  imprest  money.  Richard  Linney,  an  almsman,  is  given 
20J-.  Jambi  pepper  is  sold  to  Richard  Nelmes  at  157^.  per  lb.  and 
Malabar  at  1 6\d.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months,  and  it  is  ordered  that 
any  pepper  sold  between  this  and  Lady  Day  shall  be  paid  for 
at  a  similar  rate.  The  Company  having  no  use  for  the  cellars 
at  Crosby  House,  these  are  ordered  to  be  let,  and  the  casks  and 
other  things  in  them  removed  to  the  cellars  under  the  Com- 
pany's present  house.  Captain  Minors  is  given  100/.  for  making 
the  Downs  his  first  port  with  the  Mary.  Badiley  not  being  able  to 
go  as  master  in  the  Anne  to  Bantam,  Richard  Swanne  is  entertained 
in  his  stead,    (i^  />/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  13,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  311). 

The  Company's  almsmen  to  be  given  a  chaldron  of  coal,  as 
is  usual  at  Christmas  ;  10/.  to  be  given  to  the  poor  of  the  hamlets 
of  Poplar,  Limehouse,  and  RatclifTe,  and  a  like  sum  to  poor  widows 
of  '  East  India  men '.  The  accounts  of  all  the  officers  returned 
in  the  Eagle  to  be  cleared  except  those  of  the  master,  purser,  and 
steward.  George  Sprake,  a  poor  Persian,  is  given  40J.  to  enable 
him  to  get  to  Holland  and  from  thence  to  his  own  country.    A  letter 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  307 

is  read  from  James  Cockes,  a  prisoner  in  the  Fleet,  desiring  to 
be  paid  some  money  upon  his  account,  and  30c/.  of  what  is  due  to 
the  children  of  his  brother  John  ;  both  requests  are  refused.  A  son 
of  the  said  John  Cockes  applies  for  the  money  due  to  his  father's 
children,  but  is  told  that  James  Cockes  also  lays  claim  to  it,  and  as 
the  Court  has  not  decided  concerning  the  same  he  must  come  later 
for  an  answer,    (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  15,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  312).  '- 

The  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  to  be  desired  in  the  general 
letter  to  send  home  Francis  Mountfort's  child,  who  is  living  there. 
Messrs.  Jackson  and  Adams  at  Bristol  to  be  directed  to  sell  such 
things  saved  out  of  the  John  as  they  have  in  their  custody.  A  dis- 
pute arises  concerning  the  pepper  and  cinnamon  lost  out  of  the 
lighter  coming  from  the  Eagle,  but  no  resolution  is  come  to.    (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  20,  1648  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  313). 

Edward  Anthony  to  be  allowed  for  a  small  parcel  of  clay  found 
in  some  silk  he  bought.  Mr.  Acton  is  directed  to  enter  an  action 
against  Jennings,  he  having  passed  his  word  for  the  honesty  of 
Miller,  who  had  charge  of  the  pepper  and  cinnamon  which  was 
lost  from  the  lighter.  Additional  billets  ordered  for  the  Greyhound. 
Malabar  pepper  sold  to  Allen,  a  grocer,  and  preserved  plums  to 
Thomas  Rich.     Lead  to  be  bought  for  Surat.     (|  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  22,  1648  {Co7irt  Book 
vol.  XX,  p.  314). 

Deals  to  be  paid  for.  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Francis  Scattergood, 
who  died  in  India,  to  be  given  10/.  of  her  late  husband's  wages, 
Mr.  Stileman  giving  bond  to  repay  the  same  if  so  much  is  found 
not  to  be  due  to  Scattergood.  Stephen  Trottle,  master's  mate  in 
the  Greykouttd,  to  be  allowed  to  return  in  her  or  in  the  first  ship 
coming  from  Bantam  to  England.  Solomon  Houghan  is  enter- 
tained as  storekeeper  at  Sandwich  in  the  room  of  the  late  Mr. 
Ell  wood.     (I/.) 

X  2 


3o8  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  29,  1648  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  315). 

Robert  Abdy  is  given  permission  to  send  three  Venetian  looking- 
glasses  to  Bantam  or  the  Coast,  the  money  received  for  them  to  be 
paid  into  the  Company's  cash  and  repaid  in  England  at  ^s.  the  rial. 
The  President  and  Council  at  Surat  requesting  to  be  supplied  with 
300  cloths  of  different  colours  for  Surat  and  Persia,  this  number  is 
ordered  to  be  shipped  in  the  Eagle.     (|  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  i,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  78). 

William  Pennoyer  complains  that,  on  tendering  his  third  pay- 
ment, the  Treasurer  refused  to  receive  the  same ;  he  is  told  that  it 
should  have  been  paid  in  March,  1648,  and  that,  according  to  an 
order  of  the  nth  August  last,  every  adventurer  in  this  Voyage  was 
required  to  bring  in  all  arrears  by  the  19th  of  that  month,  and  no 
money  was  to  be  received  after  that  date ;  that  now  it  cannot  be 
received,  as  there  are  many  other  adventurers  in  arrears  who  would 
expect,  if  his  were  taken,  to  be  accorded  a  like  favour.  The 
Governor  announces  that  they  have  met  to  resolve  whether  to  send 
a  ship  to  Bantam  to  fetch  home  what  remains  for  the  account  of 
this  Voyage.  Mr.  Vivian  declares  that  59,000/.  has  been  shipped 
to  Bantam,  and  according  to  computation  43,300/.  will  relade  the 
ships  to  Europe ;  so  that  if  4,000/.  be  deducted  for  charges,  and 
3,000/.  for  the  three  freighted  ships'  imprest,  there  remains  10,000/. 
at  Bantam ;  therefore  it  is  necessary  to  send  a  vessel  with  some 
small  stock  to  bring  home  the  remains.  After  some  consideration 
it  is  resolved  to  send  a  ship  of  300  or  400  tons  to  Bantam  for  this 
purpose,  with  stock  to  the  value  of  5,000/.,  and  that,  if  sufficient 
lading  be  found  already  in  hand,  the  5,000/.,  or  so  much  of  it  as  is 
not  made  use  of,  shall  be  paid  into  the  Company's  cash  there  and 
repaid  in  England  by  bills  of  exchange  at  a  rate  to  be  agreed  upon 
by  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage  later  on.  Bowen  is  directed  to  write 
to  this  effect  to  the  President  and  Council  at  Bantam.     {^\pp) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  309 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  3,  1649  {Court  Book,  voL 
XX,  p.  316). 

Calicoes  sold  to  Messrs.  Mead,  Bathust,  Knight,  and  Griffith. 
The  estate  of  the  late  John  Chamberlaine  to  remain  in  the  Com- 
pany's hands  until  the  suit  depending  in  the  Prerogative  Court 
between  the  executors  is  ended.  Lazarus  VVeeden  entertained  as 
porter  at  the  Calico  Warehouse  in  place  of  Thomas  Graunt, 
deceased.  Graunt's  widow  is  given  40^-.  Mr.  Weston  demands  170/. 
with  interest,  which  sum  he  pretends  is  unjustly  detained  by  the 
Company ;  he  is  told  that  there  are  75c  rials  due  from  the  Mattaran 
at  Japara  for  which  he  has  a  bill,  and  until  he  gives  up  that  the 
Company  will  not  part  with  the  1 70/.  The  proposals  of  the  adven- 
turers in  the  Second  General  Voyage  regarding  the  dispatch  of 
a  ship  to  Bantam  are  approved.     {T-kPP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  5,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  317). 

Humphrey  Weston  to  be  sued  in  Chancery  for  recovery  of  a  bill 
that  he  received  for  a  debt  due  to  the  Company  from  the  Mattaran 
at  Japara.     {\p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  17, 1649  {Court  Book,  vcL 
XX,  p.  318). 

The  request  of  John  Ellis,  one  of  the  executors  of  the  late  John 
Chamberlaine,  for  the  latter's  estate  is  refused,  and  he  is  told  that 
until  the  suit  depending  between  him  and  William  Bateman  (another 
of  the  executors)  is  ended,  none  of  the  said  estate  will  be  given  up. 
Upon  the  petition  of  Elizabeth  Guillyams,  sister  of  the  late  Miles 
Fisher,  the  Court  orders  that  no  part  of  Fisher's  estate  be  paid 
without  notice  being  given  to  her.  Mr.  Bumell  to  be  allowed  any 
charges  which  may  arise  for  transportation  of  the  cardamoms  he 
bought  of  the  Company,     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  17, 1649  {Cottrt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  79). 

The  Committees  meeting  to  decide  concerning  the  freighting  of 
a  ship  to  Bantam,  it  is  resolved  that  the  one  to  be  chosen  must 
carry  twenty  men  for  every  hundred  tons,  be  out  of  the  Downs  by 


3IO  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

the  end  of  March,  go  direct  to  Bantam  and  stay  there  or  go  from 
place  to  place  as  the  factors  shall  direct,  for  four  months  gratis,  after 
that  time  to  be  allowed  demurrage  and  stay  as  long  as  the  factors 
see  fit,  but  to  be  reladen  for  England  by  the  end  of  January,  1650. 
Mr.  Thompson  offers  his  ship,  the  Rtith^  on  these  conditions  at  1 8/. 
per  ton.  Captain  Trenchfield  tenders  the  Northumberland,  but 
asks  20/.  per  ton  and  1,000/.  imprest.  The  Defence  is  also  offered, 
but  it  is  not  thought  that  she  can  be  ready  in  time.  The  Com- 
mittees think  the  Rttth  the  most  suitable  ship  and  direct  that  she 
be  examined,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  24,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  319). 

Thomas  Prowd,  who  returned  home  master  in  the  Antelope, 
desiring  to  be  paid  what  is  due  to  him,  a  clause  of  a  letter  received 
in  1646  from  the  President  and  Council  of  Bantam  by  the  Endymion 
is  read,  in  which  it  is  stated  that  when  Prowd  was  master's  mate  in 
the  Reformation  and  the  Javas  were  murdered  by  the  Dutch,  the 
President  and  Council  went  aboard  and  required  every  man  to  pro- 
duce such  goods  as  he  had  belonging  to  the  Javas ;  that  Prowd 
concealed  a  box  and  broke  it  open,  but  the  contents  are  unknown  ; 
and  that  since  this  the  Javas  have  demanded  500  rials,  which  it  is 
*  very  doubtfull  Mr.  Prowd  had ' ;  therefore  it  is  desired  that  so 
much  may  be  detained  from  his  wages.  Prowd  acknowledges  that 
he  had  such  a  box  and  opened  it,  but  took  nothing  out,  and  delivered 
it  to  the  President.  The  Court,  thinking  Prowd  faulty,  resolves  to 
detain  125/.  from  his  wages  to  indemnify  the  Company  in  case  the 
500  rials  are  paid  in  the  East,  but  if  this  is  not  done  then  to  pay 
him  that  sum  with  interest  for  the  time  it  shall  have  been  detained. 
The  Governor,  when  perusing  some  of  the  late  Countess  of  Dover's  ^ 
papers,  found  a  letter  from  Thomas  Wilson  to  'her  Honour',  an- 
nouncing that  he  was  on  board  a  Dutch  ship  bound  for  Batavia, 
from  whence  he  intended  to  go  to  Bantam,  and  desiring  her  to 

*  Mary,  widow  of  Sir  William  Cokayne  (see  p.  298  «.),  married,  as  his  second  wife,  Henry 
Carey,  Earl  of  Dover.  She  was  buried  in  St.  Paul's  on  January  8,  1649.  The  Governor 
of  the  East  India  Company  was  the  son  of  Thomas,  the  younger  brother  of  Sir  William 
Cokayne's  father,  and  was  thus  Lady  Dover's  first  cousin  by  marriage.  It  is  interesting 
to  note  that  the  Governor's  son,  William,  married  Susannah,  daughter  of  William  Meth- 
wold,  the  Deputy  Governor. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  311 

mediate  with  the  Company  that  he  might  remain  there.  The  Court, 
being  informed  that  Wilson  is  a  '  deboist '  man,  resolves  that  he 
shall  return  to  England  and  orders  the  Presidents  at  Surat  and 
Bantam  to  be  advised  to  that  effect.  Susan  Martin,  whose  late 
husband  was  free  of  the  Company,  is  given  40J.  from  the  poor-box. 
Mr.  Acton  reports  that  there  is  a  bill  exhibited  in  Chancery  by 
James  Cox  against  Charles  Cox  and  the  children  of  John  Cox,  in 
which  the  Company  is  neither  interested  nor  mentioned,  and  that 
Mr.  Maynard  advises  the  Company  should  pay  what  is  due  to 
John  Cox's  children,  they  being  of  age ;  the  Court  agrees  to  do 
this,  on  the  children  giving  a  bond  to  save  the  Company  harmless. 

A  General  Court  of  all  the  Freemen  and  Adven- 
turers, January  24, 1649  {Court  Book,vo\.  xx,  p.  320^). 

The  Governor  announces  that  it  has  been  resolved  to  desist  from 
sending  out  any  more  adventure  for  the  Stock  or  the  Voyage  after 
the  last  day  of  April  next,  and  that  a  preamble  has  been  drawn  up 
for  a  new  Stock  to  uphold  the  trade,  in  which  all  who  desire  may 
underwrite.  This  preamble  is  read,  and  it  appears  that  the  new 
Stock  is  to  have  '  no  relation  to,  or  dependance  upon,  any  former 
Stocke  or  Voyage ',  and  to  take  no  houses,  factors,  etc.,  from  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  but  what  shall  be  desired.  Mr.  Vivian,  desiring 
to  know  particulars,  is  told  that  when  the  Stock  is  undervvritten  for, 
Committees  will  be  chosen  to  manage  everything  concerning  it,  and 
to  buy  houses  and  ships,  etc.  Hereupon  the  Deputy  declares  that 
there  is  '  a  faire  fire-free  bricke  house  '  at  Bantam,  which  cost  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money ;  a  good  house  at  Japara ;  two  houses  at 
Macassar  and  Jambi  '  not  worth  much ' ;  and  at  the  Coast  '  a  fort  ^ 
of  a  considerable  strength,  and  land  about  it,  with  the  customes  of 
that  port,  which  if  they  would  not  buy,  it  might  bee  sold  to  the 
Grovernour  of  that  place '  ;  that  the  customs  at  Gombroon  are 
worth  '  at  the  worst  2,000/.  per  annum ' ;  that  at  Surat  there  is 
a  garden,  but  no  house,  and  at  Agra  and  Ahmadabad  two  houses, 
'  which  may  bee  had  at  a  cheape  rate.'     All  these  may  be  either 

*  A  duplicate  will  be  found  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  81). 

*  Fort  St.  George,  Madras. 


312  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF   THE 

taken  or  left.  As  regards  the  charge  in  India,  none  of  the  factors 
belonging  to  the  Stock  or  Voyage  are  to  be  retained  but  such  as 
shall  be  employed  by  this  new  intended  Stock,  and  they  to  be 
agreed  with  as  cheaply  as  possible.  As  no  estimate  can  be  given 
of  the  value  of  the  Company's  houses,  ships,  etc.,  in  the  East,  resolu- 
tion is  deferred  until  the  new  Stock  and  the  adventurers  in  it  shall 
be  known.  The  preamble  is  again  read,  approved,  and  ordered  to 
be  entered  in  a  book,  which  is  to  remain  open  in  the  counting-house 
for  any  to  underwrite  in.  All  except  the  adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage  are  requested  to  withdraw,  and  the  Governor  in- 
forms those  who  are  left  that  it  has  been  decided  to  dispatch  a  ship 
to  Bantam  this  spring  to  bring  home  the  stock  remaining  there. 
The  Ruth  and  the  Northumberland  have  been  offered  on  freight  for 
this  purpose,  the  former  for  1 7/.  [sic]  per  ton,  and  the  latter  for  20/. ; 
after  some  discussion  the  Ruth  is  chosen  at  17/.  per  ton,  all  other 
conditions  to  be  the  same  as  those  made  in  the  case  of  the  Endymion. 
Samuel  Moyer  and  John  Langley,  sent  from  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  and  Customs  at  Westminster  and  the  Commissioners  for 
regulating  the  Navy  and  Customs  sitting  at  Mincing  Lane,  desire 
the  Company,  in  regard  of  '  the  present  urgency  of  the  State  for 
money ',  to  lend  4,000/.  or  5,000/.  '  to  sett  forth  a  fleete  of  shipps 
this  spring ',  for  which  security  shall  be  given  *  out  of  the  monethly 
payment  of  the  customes,  being  16,000/.,^  formerly  allowed  to  the 
sixteen  judges ',  with  eight  per  cent,  interest ;  the  said  money  to  be 
employed  only  for  *  securing  of  the  seas  from  the  Irish  rebells  and 
other  pyratts ',  and  to  be  repaid  by  four  quarterly  instalments, 
beginning  on  March  25.  Most  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage  having  left,  the  Governor  puts  it  to  those  remaining, 
who  declare  their  willingness  to  lend  part  of  the  desired  sum,  but 
unanimously  refer  this  business  to  the  determination  of  the  sixteen 
Committees.     (2  //.) 

*  It  appears  from  the  Commons^  Journals  (vol.  vi,  pp.  121,  161)  that  the  salaries 
of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Great  Seal  and  sundry  judges,  amounting  to  17,505/.,  had 
been  hitherto  charged  upon  the  receipts  from  customs;  but  on  March  10, 1649,  an  Act  was 
passed  by  the  House  of  Commons  transferring  this  charge  to  general  revenues,  and  devoting 
the  amount  thus  set  free  to  the  purposes  of  the  navy. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  313 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  January  29, 1649  {Court  Book^  vol.  xxii,  p.  84). 

Samuel  Moyer  presents  a  letter  from  the  Commissioners  for 
regulating  the  Navy  and  Customs,  desiring  a  loan  of  5,000/.  towards 
setting  out  a  fleet  to  preserve  the  trade  of  the  kingdom.  The 
minutes  of  the  last  general  court  relating  to  this  desired  loan  are 
read,  in  which  the  Committees  present  are  given  leave  to  lend  as 
much  of  the  sum  named  as  they  please.  It  is  agreed  that  4,000/. 
shall  be  advanced  for  the  required  purpose,  to  be  repaid  from  the 
customs  of  the  goods  first  arriving  from  India,  eight  per  cent,  to  be 
allowed  for  forbearance.     {}-\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  January  30,  1649  {Cmirt  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  322). 

Malabar  and  Jambi  pepper  sold  to  George  Hadley  and  John 
Cuttler.  John  Cotterell  is  given  40^-.  towards  the  repair  of  his 
*  light  horseman ',  injured  in  carrying  bullion  to  the  Endyviian  and 
Greyhound.  James  Quoy,  a  former  servant  of  the  Company  in 
India,  is  admitted  to  the  Almshouse  at  Blackwall.  Samuel  Tyne, 
brother-in-law  to  the  late  Francis  Mountfort,  desiring  to  be  paid 
what  is  due  to  the  latter,  is  told  that  his  account  shall  be  settled 
three  months  after  the  arrival  of  the  first  ship  from  Bantam. 
Mr.  ScivdelV  a  traveller,  and  a  friend  of  the  Governor,  is  given 
permission  to  go  in  the  Eagle  to  Surat  and  return  in  her,  he  paying 
for  his  diet  and  leaving  700/.  in  the  Company's  hands  as  security 
that  he  will  not  indulge  in  private  trade,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  7,  1649  {Court  Booh 
vol.  XX,  p.  323). 

Shot  to  be  sent  to  Surat  to  furnish  the  small  ships  there.  The 
Court  refuses  to  lend  Sir  Peter  Richaut  800/.  for  three  months  until 
his  petition  to  Parliament  for  repayment  of  his  1,600/.  (handed  over 
by  the  Company  to  Parliament)  is  read,  this  having  been  delayed 
'  in  regard  of  the  great  affaires  agitated  by  the  Parlyament '.  A 
petition  to  be  presented  to  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  for  per- 
mission to  deduct  from  '  the  money  due  upon  the  last  customes  '  an 

^  Later  (p.  317)  termed  '  Sivedall'. 


314  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

amount  owing  to  the  Company  by  the  '  Threasurers  for  the  Argeir 
duty ',  which  duty  is  '  now  ceasing '.  Laurence  Lowe  transfers  to 
Laurence  Chambers  500/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  375/.  of  which  is  already  paid  in,  and  Mr.  Chambers 
is  to  make  good  the  remainder.  The  Eagle  to  be  launched  at  the 
next  spring-tide.  Mrs.  Ralph  Cartwright  to  be  lent  10/.  The  Court 
refuses  to  part  with  the  estate  of  the  late  John  Chamberlaine  to 
either  of  his  executors  until  the  suit  concerning  it  has  been  decided. 
The  owners  of  the  Thomas  and  John  request  satisfaction  for  nearly 
three  months'  diet  supplied  to  23  men  taken  into  their  ship  on  the 
20th  September,  1643,  from  Johanna,  where  they  had  been  left  by 
Mucknell ;  they  are  promised  an  answer  this  day  fortnight,    (i^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  14,  1649  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  ^25). 

Sir  Andrew  Cogan,^  by  a  deed  dated  the  loth  January  last, 
transfers  to  Mr.  Methwold  538/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  and  i ,000/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Second  General 
Voyage.  Spiller  declares  his  wish  to  surrender  the  fore  part  of  the 
house  he  took  from  the  Company,  he  having  no  use  for  it,  but 
desires  to  be  allowed  the  rooms  formerly  assigned  to  him ;  here- 
upon certain  Committees  are  desired  to  see  to  the  fore  part  being 
re-let.     (i/.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  February  17,  1649  {Court  Book^  vol.  xxii,  p.  85). 

Consideration  had  as  to  certain  particulars  to  be  inserted  in  the 
Ruth's  charter-party.  Mr.  Thompson  not  being  content  to  accept 
the  same  demurrage  and  imprest  allowed  the  Endymion  (she  being 
a  smaller  vessel),  it  is  resolved  that  10/.  per  diem  demurrage  and 
800/.  imprest  shall  be  allowed,  and  to  this  he  agrees.     (|/.) 

*  The  date  at  which  Cogan  became  Sir  Andrew  has  not  been  ascertained.  He  had 
taken  part  in  the  Kentish  rising,  the  failure  of  which  forced  him  to  flee  to  the  Continent. 
Evidently  he  was  anticipating  the  confiscation  of  his  estate,  which  followed  soon  after 
(see  the  Proceedings  of  the  Committee  for  Compounding).  In  1657  ^^  declared  that  he 
bad  lost  34,000/.  in  the  King's  cause ;  and  three  years  later  his  daughter  put  the  amount 
at  40,000/.  His  baronetcy  was  no  doubt  intended  as  some  reward  for  his  services  in  this 
respect. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  315 

A  Court  of  Committees,  February  21,  1649  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  326). 

A  list  is  presented  of  goods  brought  home  in  the  Mary  by  William 
Gostwicke,  formerly  a  factor  at  Macassar  ;  the  calicoes  are  ordered 
to  be  examined  and  then  the  freight  payable  shall  be  decided  on. 
The  owners  of  the  Thomas  and  John  demand  25c/.  for  providing 
diet,  etc.,  to  the  men  left  by  Mucknell  at  Johanna  ;  the  Court  offers 
them  120/.,  which  they  accept  with  thanks.  The  daughter  of 
Miles  Fisher  requesting  payment  of  money  belonging  to  her  late 
father,  and  there  being  some  question  whether  a  sufficient  discharge 
can  be  obtained  from  her,  the  Secretary  is  directed  to  consult  Mr. 
Budd.  Samuel  Tyne  to  be  paid  50/.  of  Francis  Mountfort's  estate, 
on  condition  that  he  does  not  trouble  the  Court  again  until  a  ship 
arrives  from  Bantam.  Charles,  son  of  Captain  Slade,  is  permitted 
to  ship  as  a  common  sailor  in  the  Eagle.  Arme  Biggs,  whose 
husband  died  in  the  Company's  service,  is  given  5J.  from  the  poor- 
box.     (i|^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  2,  1649  {Cmirt  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  328). 

William  Francklin,  who  stood  security  for  William  Pearse,  a  factor 
deceased  at  Jambi,  is  desired  to  give  some  satisfaction  for  Pearse's 
debt  of  400/.  odd  ;  hereupon  he  requests  that  some  jewels  belonging 
to  Pearse,  which  he  thinks  have  been  underrated,  may  be  re- valued  ; 
to  this  the  Court  consents.     {\  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  7,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  329). 

After  some  debate  the  Secretary  is  directed  to  frame  a  petition  to 
the  House  of  Commons  praying  them  '  to  passe  an  act  to  the  effect 
of  the  ordinance  they  formerly  graunted,  with  such  additions  as 
should  bee  thought  fitting  for  encouraging  gentlemen  to  write  a  new 
stocke  for  following  of  the  trade '.  The  Governor  is  given  permission 
to  send  tapestry  hangings  to  Surat  to  be  sold  for  his  account  and 
the  proceeds  put  into  the  Company's  cash  there  and  he  paid  at  the 
rate  of  $s.  the  rial.  An  assessment  of  24/.  levied  upon  the  Company, 
and  of  8/.  levied  upon  the  landlord  '  of  this  house ',  for  arrears  due 


3i6  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

upon  several  assessments  for  the  army  under  command  of  Lord 
Fairfax,  to  be  paid.  John  Dunne,  a  black  who  has  served  the 
Company  many  years,  is  given  20s.  Velvets,  satins,  and  knives  to 
be  provided  and  sent  to  Surat  for  presents.  The  Treasurer  of  the 
Company  of  Merchant  Staplers  demands  rent  for  part  of  a  warehouse 
at  Leadenhall  which  the  Company  has  used  for  six  or  seven  years  ; 
he  is  told  that  the  Company  never  hired  any  warehouse  from  the 
Staplers  but  had  that  part  of  the  warehouse  mentioned  lent  to  it  gratis 
by  Captain  Carleton  ;  therefore  at  his  demand  alone  will  any  rent  be 
paid.  The  sum  of  579/.  oj-.  5^.  is  ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  children 
of  John  Cox,  they  having  come  to  town  purposely  to  give  bond  for 
the  same.  William  Gostwicke  to  pay  100/.  for  freight,  his  account 
to  be  cleared,  and  his  bond  delivered  up.     (i^//-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  March  12,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  86). 

A  motion  having  been  made  to  send  out  three  ships  and  a  pinnace 
to  lie  off  Land's  End  and  give  notice  to  the  ships  expected  from 
India  for  the  account  of  this  Voyage  of  *  the  dangerousnesse  of  the 
seas  by  reason  of  piratts  ',  the  Committees,  considering  the  cost  to 
be  incurred  and  the  prejudice  which  the  Company  might  receive  by 
private  trade  being  conveyed  out  of  the  homeward-bound  ships  by 
these  vessels,  decide  not  to  send  out  any,  but  to  move  the  Council 
of  State  for  two  or  three  ships  belonging  to  the  State  to  be  stationed 
off  the  bank  of  Scilly  to  look  out  for  the  East  India  ships  and 
conduct  them  into  the  Downs,     (i  /.) 

A  Court.  OF  Committees,  March  14, 1649  {Court  Book,  wo\. 
XX,  p.  330). 

William  Gostwicke  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
by  service  and  pays  los.  to  the  poor-box.  Mr.  Acton  having  some 
communication  which  he  does  not  think  necessary  to  divulge  to  the 
whole  court,  the  Deputy,  the  Treasurer,  and  Mr.  Wilson  are  en- 
treated '  to  heare  the  businesse ;  whereupon  they  walked  into  the 
garden,  and  after  a  little  space  they  came  into  court  againe  '.  The 
Deputy  declaring  that  in  their  opinion  the  business  should  be  made 
known  to  the  Court,  the  Governor  announces  that  Acton  has  been 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  317 

informed  that  they  might  arrest  Mr.  Maxwell  ^  for  the  pepper  debt, 
with  the  hope  that  if  this  were  done  it  would  take  good  effect.  In 
reply  it  is  urged  that  this  would  not  stand  with  the  honour  and 
reputation  of  the  Company,  as  many  present  have  signed  the 
Farmers'  petition  lately  presented  to  Parliament  concerning  the 
payment  of  the  said  debt  out  of  the  late  King's  lands.  After  long 
debate  it  is  resolved  that  Acton  shall  procure  a  copy  of  the  said 
petition,  'take  Mr.  Hales  ^  advice  upon  the  whole  matter,'  and  act 
accordingly.  Cotton  yam  sold  to  Mr.  Tutchin.  Certain  Com- 
mittees are  desired  to  treat  with  some  men  who  desire  to  buy  sugar. 
Blount  is  given  permission  to  sell  by  the  candle  at  the  next  court  of 
sales  some  cloves  belonging  to  Mr.  Holloway.  Mr.  Shute  is  to  be 
requested  to  weigh  the  indigo,  myrrh,  and  gum-lac  bought  by  him, 
and  either  pay  for  the  same  or  give  proper  security ;  and  Mr. 
Clutterbucke  to  do  the  same  with  the  saltpetre  he  bought.  John 
Prowd,  master  of  the  Eagle,  is  allowed  to  carry  out  as  private  trade 
two  cloths,  and  goods  to  the  value  of  100/.  Mr.  Ellis,  applying 
again  for  John  Chamberlaine's  estate,  is  told  that  a  final  settlement 
shall  be  made  about  it  this  day  week.  Mr.  Bateman  is  to  be 
informed  of  this  resolution.     (i|/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  21,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
^x,  p.  332). 

Sir  Thomas  Eveling's  request  that  his  son  may  go  as  a  factor  to 
the  East  Indies  is  refused,  the  factors  to  be  sent  out  having  been 
already  chosen.  The  Treasurer  reports  that  the  provision  of  money 
is  short  ot  what  he  hoped  to  procure,  and  therefore  he  has  only  42 
chests  for  the  Eagle,  three  chests  on  account  of  the  old  Stock  to  be 
shipped  in  the  Anne,  and  five  chests  to  be  sent  in  the  Ruth  to  Bantam 
for  the  Second  General  Voyage  in  specie.  A  bond  is  read,  whereby 
Henry  Sivedall  engages  to  pay  for  his  diet  in  the  Eagle  and  not  to 
indulge  in  private  trade ;  it  is  decided  that  he  shall  pay  30j-.  per 
month,  and  be  allowed  to   remain  one  year  in  India.     Anthony 

^  James  Maxwell,  of  Inderwick,  who  had  been  usher  to  James  I  and  Usher  of  Black 
Rod,  in  which  capacity  it  fell  to  him  to  arrest  the  Earl  of  Strafford.  He  was  created  Earl 
of  Dirletoun,  it  would  seem  about  this  time  (cf.  p.  360).  He  died  in  the  early  part 
of  1650. 

»  Probably  the  celebrated  lawjer,  afterwards  Sir  Matthew  Hale,  Chief  Justice  of  the 
King's  Bench.    Roger  North  always  spells  the  name  *  Hales '. 


3i8  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

Daniell  is  permitted  to  go  in  the  Eagle  to  Surat  (Mr.  Abdy  under- 
taking to  pay  for  his  diet) ;  if  found  capable  he  is  to  be  employed 
there,  and,  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  President  and  Council, 
he  shall  be  given  a  salary.  Old  anchors  from  Blackwall  Yard  to  be 
sent  to  Surat  for  sale.  Application  is  again  made  by  the  executors 
of  the  late  John  Chamberlaine  for  his  estate  ;  after  a  long  debate 
the  Court  resolves  to  pay  none  of  it  until  a  sufficient  discharge  is 
received  from  the  executors,  and  Alderman  Bateman  and  Anthony 
Bateman  promise  to  save  the  Company  harmless  from  any  detriment 
which  may  arise  from  this  resolution.  The  Court  orders  no  men 
to  go  in  the  Eagle,  in  regard  of  '  the  dangerousnesse  of  the  tymes  ', 
*A  writing  of  consortshippe  '  is  read,  which  is  to  be  sealed  by  the 
masters  of  the  Eagle,  Anne,  and  Rzitk,  engaging  themselves  to  keep 
company  as  far  as  the  Canary  Islands,  and  it  is  resolved  that  the 
authorities  at  Bantam  and  Surat  shall  be  given  notice  to  order  the 
homeward-bound  ships  to  sail  to  St.  Helena  and  there  await  one 
another  until  May  20th.  At  the  request  of  Thomas  Bownest, 
executor  of  Henry  Ellwayes,  the  adventure  of  the  latter  in  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  is  transferred  to  his  son  John  Ellwayes,  who  is 
admitted  to  the  freedom  by  patrimony,  paying  20s.  to  the  poor-box. 
Mrs.  Sherburne,  widow  of  the  Company's  late  Secretary,  having 
'  bin  deprived  of  all  her  estate  in  these  sad  tymes ',  is  given  lol.  in 
recognition  of  her  husband's  services.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  23,  \6\^  {Court  Book,  vq>\. 
XX,  p.  335). 

Mr.  Deputy  represents  that  Henry  Younge,  who  went  out  five 
years  ago  as  purser's  mate  in  the  Eagle  and  has  continued  at  Surat 
in  the '  Writing  Office '  at  1 8/.  per  annum,  has  asked,  in  a  letter  to  his 
father^  John  Younge,  that  his  salary  may  be  increased,  as  he  is  now 
acting  as  Secretary,  in  which  post  his  predecessor  received  50/.  per 
annum  ;  the  Court  agrees  to  give  him  "i^dl.  per  annum.  Hopton 
Martin,  a  youth  at  Surat,  to  be  allowed  20/.  per  annum  for  clothes 
and  other  necessaries,  to  be  charged  by  bill  of  exchange  upon  Mr. 
Martin,^  who  promises  to  pay  the  same.     (^/.) 

James  Martin,  one  of  the  Committees. 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  319 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  27, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  ^^6). 

Mr.  Prowd  reporting  that,  unless  he  removes  provisions  already 
shipped  in  the  Eagle,  he  cannot  stow  the  anchors  for  Surat,  he  is 
told  to  carry  as  many  as  he  can  and  return  the  rest  to  Blackwall, 
The  governor  proposes  that  Theophilus  Calcott,  whose  father  has 
done  the  Company  very  good  service,  be  employed  in  the  Eagle  as 
a  seaman  ;  but  it  is  decided  to  entertain  him  as  a  '  landman  '  in  the 
said  ship  at  12s.  per  month.  The  Court  resolves  that  all  goods  or 
money  belonging  to  the  Second  General  Voyage  remaining  at 
Bantam  after  the  ships  for  that  Voyage  are  laden  shall  be  valued  by 
the  factors  there,  turned  over  to  the  Joint  Stock's  account,  and 
repaid  in  England  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  6d.  the  rial  at  three  months  after 
sight.  This  arrangement  is  agreed  to  by  such  of  the  Committees 
for  the  Voyage  as  are  present,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  March  30, 1649  [Court  Booky  vol. 
XX,  p.  331)' 

John  Prowd,  whose  wages  were  raised  from  8/.  to  10/.  per  month 
last  November,  is  to  receive  half-pay  from  that  date.  Resolution 
concerning  turning  the  fore  part  of  the  Company's  house  into  a  tene- 
ment is  deferred  until  the  lease  is  sealed.  The  Eagle  to  be  insured 
for  30,000/.,  the  premium  not  agreed  upon.  John  Sictor,  a  Bohemian 
minister,  is  given  20s.  from  the  poor-box,  and  a  like  sum  is  given  to 
Anne,  widow  of  Giles  Shepheard.  From  an  account  presented  by 
Sambrooke  of  the  *  poores  stocke '  at  interest  in  the  Company's 
hands,  it  appears  that  1,894/.  ^s.  2d.  is  due,  and  there  being  nothing 
in  the  poor-box  a  warrant  is  ordered  to  be  made  out  to  the 
Treasurer  for  20/.  to  be  placed  there.  A  poor  Persian  is  given  ^os. 
to  enable  him  to  get  to  Holland,  from  whence  he  intends  to  take 
passage  for  India.  Cuttler,  the  Garbler,  requests  payment  for  sifting 
and  garbling  pepper,  etc.;  he  is  referred  to  the  Court's  former  order 
of  the  15th  November  last,  and  told  that  when  he  pays  the  Company 
the  400/.  due  from  him  his  account  shall  be  settled.     {i\pp.) 


320  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  4,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  338). 

Daniel  Skinner  at  Dover  reports  a  great  scarcity  of  rials,  that 
'  a  Hamburgher '  is  daily  expected  with  a  good  quantity,  and  that 
the  person  to  whom  they  are  consigned  demands  45.  \Qd.  per  rial ; 
the  Court  directs  that  Skinner  be  desired  to  provide  5,000/.  sterling 
in  '  Civill '  [Seville]  and  Mexico  money  as  cheaply  as  possible,  not 
to  exceed  4j.  \Cid.  per  rial,  and  not  to  buy  any  Peru  money.  Sam- 
brooke  is  directed  to  perfect  the  account  between  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  and  the  Second  General  Voyage.  The  Stock  having  furnished 
the  Voyage  with  rials  bought  some  four  or  five  months  ago  (which 
were  sent  to  Bantam  in  the  Ruth),  it  is  thought  that  interest  should 
be  allowed  for  these  from  the  time  of  their  purchase  until  they  are 
repaid.  A  policy  of  insurance  for  some  of  the  lading  of  the  Eagle 
is  read,  and  the  Court  directs  that  she  be  insured  for  40,000/.  and 
only  adventurers  in  the  Stock  permitted  to  underwrite  in  the  same 
and  none  for  above  10,000/.  until  this  day  week.  Mr.  John  Heme 
appears  on  behalf  of  James  Maxwell,  who  is  arrested  and  in  the 
custody  of  the  Under-Sheriff  of  Middlesex  for  the  pepper  sold  to 
Lord  Cottington.  Mr.  Heme,  while  agreeing  that  the  debt  is  just 
and  ought  to  be  paid,  yet  maintains  that,  as  ten  more  men  were 
bound  by  several  bonds  for  payment,  it  is  '  somewhat  harsh '  that 
the  whole  60,000/.  or  70,000/.  should  be  expected  from  one  man. 
He  declares  that  Maxwell,  before  hearing  of  the  suit  against  him, 
had  decided  to  go  to  Scotland,  his  estate  there  being  in  some  trouble 
and  supposed  to  belong  to  the  Earl  of '  Lanericke  ^ ',  his  son-in-law  ; 
'  and  therefore  for  his  better  performance  of  that  journey  hee  was 
entred  into  a  course  of  phisicke,  and  if  hee  should  not  bee  permitted 
to  goe  home  to  his  house,  hee  thought  in  his  opinion  hee  could 
not  live  three  monthes,  especially  as  hee  is  an  aged  and  an  unweildy 
man.'  Mr.  Heme  therefore  begs  that  Maxwell  may  remain  in 
custody  in  his  own  house.  After  some  debate  it  is  resolved  that,  if 
the  latter  will  make  some  proposal  about  the  payment  of  all  or 
a  considerable  part  of  the  debt,  a  suitable  answer  shall  be  given  to 
him.  Mr.  Heme  promises  to  endeavour  to  procure  some  such 
proposition  by  Friday  next.     (i|//-) 

1  William  Hamilton,  who  as  Earl  of  Lanark  and  Duke  of  Hamilton,  was  prominent  in 
the  politics  of  the  time,  had  married  Elizabeth,  Maxwell's  eldest  daughter. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  321 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  April  4,  1649  {Court  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  340). 

Sale  of  pepper,  mace,  cotton-wool,  cloves,  bro^vn  Sinda  wrappers, 
and  coloured  calicoes,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.   (i|  />^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  6, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  341)- 

Mr.  Heme  acquaints  the  Court  that  Mr.  Maxwell  has  a  very- 
good  estate,  but  the  principal  part  of  it  is  in  Scotland  ;  that  he  has 
lent  Parliament  12,000/. ;  and  in  the  contract  of  40,000/.  to  be  paid 
to  the  Scots,  30,000/.^  is  paid,  and  by  articles  of  agreement  (signed 
in  January,  1647)  50,000/.  more  is  to  be  paid  to  particular  men  from 
Goldsmiths'  Hall,  of  which  Maxwell  is  to  receive  3,866/.  i-^s.  ^d.;^ 
this  sum  he  offers  to  assign  to  the  Company  and  to  add  in  money 
sufficient  to  make  it  up  to  7,000/. ;  or  if  the  debt  from  Goldsmiths' 
Hall  should  be  lost,  he  will  pay,  as  his  share,  5,000/.  in  money. 
After  consideration  of  this  offer  the  Court  decides  that  if  Mr.  Max- 
well will  propose  a  payment  of  at  least  10,000/.,  a  reasonable 
answer  shall  be  given  to  him.  Certain  linendrapers  buy  six  lots  of 
the  Company's  calicoes,     (i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  7,  1649  {Court Book,  voL  xx, 

P-  342). 

Mr.  Calcott,  the  Under-Sheriff,  who  took  great  care  and  pains 
about  the  arrest  of  Mr.  Maxwell,  to  be  given  30/. ;  and,  if  that  does 
not  content  him,  another  10/.     {^p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  9,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  343)- 

Daniel  Skinner  having  wTitten  that  a  ship  from  Hamburg  is 
expected  at  Dover  with  a  considerable  sum  of  Spanish  money, 
he  has  been  directed  by  the  Governor  to  provide  to  the  value  of 
6,000/.  in  Seville  and  Mexico  money.  After  some  consideration 
the  Committees  resolve  that  Skinner  shall  be  desired  to  provide 

*  This  and  the  preceding  amount  should  be  200,000/.  and  400,000^  respectively. 
»  See  Commons"  Journal,  January  12,  1647,  and  Calendar  of  Domestic  State  Papers y 
1645-47.  PP-  514*  528- 

SXJ(.  UI  V 


322  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

to  the  value  of  ii,ooo/.  in  good  Seville  and  Mexico  coin  (but  not 
to  give  more  than  4s.  iid.  the  piece  of  eight)  and  to  deliver  the 
same  by  tale  to  Captain  Prowd,     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  ii,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  344)- 

Cuttler  again  applies  for  payment,  but  is  denied,  as  he  refuses 
to  submit  to  the  award  formerly  made  concerning  his  debt  to  the 
Company.  Owners  of  indigo  left  in  the  Company's  warehouse  are 
ordered  to  pay  2s.  per  annum  for  warehouse  room  upon  every 
barrel  so  left.  Ursula  Colley  to  be  paid  two  months  yearly  of  the 
wages  of  Robert  Barnes  and  of  her  husband's  wages.     (^  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  13, 1649  {Couri  Book,  vol.  xx, 

P-  345)- 

The  Court  debating  whether  to  send  abroad  for  sale  some  of  the 
cotton  yarn  remaining  on  hand,  which  is  not  likely  to  be  vented 
here  at  present,  mention  is  made  of  Mr.  Tutchin's  offer  to  take  the 
whole  parcel  at  3J.  per  lb. ;  hereupon  it  is  resolved  to  offer  it  to 
him  at  ^s.  ^d.  per  lb.  and  tell  him  of  the  alternative  decision  to 
send  it  abroad.  Deputy  Lisle,  who  stood  security  for  Pedwarden 
Rumsey's  debt,  is  desired  to  take  some  course  towards  payment  of 
the  same ;  he  replies  that  he  hopes  the  Company  will  be  considerate, 
as  Rumsey  has  been  a  loser  on  goods  bought  of  them  and  is 
insolvent  and  a  prisoner  in  the  King's  Bench.  Resolution  herein 
is  deferred  until  the  next  court,  which  Rumsey  is  to  attend.   {t^^PP) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  18, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  346). 

Pepper  to  be  sent  to  Italy.  Mr.  Tutchin  declining  to  give  more 
than  3^.  per  lb.  for  the  Company's  cotton  yarn,  it  is  decided  to 
send  ten  bales  to  Rouen  and  ten  to  Amsterdam  to  be  sold  there. 
Mr.  John  Calcott  is  given  10/.  in  addition  to  the  30/.  already  be- 
stowed upon  him  for  arresting  Mr.  Maxwell,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  April  a4, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 

P-  347). 

Hannah  Bowden  is  given  5/.  on  account ;  her  husband,  Nicholas 
Bowden,  who  was  to  have  gone  out  chirurgeon  in  the  Antelope^  having 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  333 

been  left  behind  and  his  apparel  and  other  things  taken  to  Surat. 
Mr.  Acton  asks  whether  he  is  to  sue  Mr.  Maxwell  on  a  bond  of 
16,000/.  for  which  he  has  counter  security,  or  on  one  for  10,000/. 
for  which  he  has  no  such  security ;  he  is  directed  to  sue  him  for 
the  latter.  All  the  remaining  cotton  yam  is  sold  to  Mr.  Tutchin  for 
y.  id.  per  lb.  at  three  six  months ;  the  other  goods  remaining  in 
the  warehouse  to  be  disposed  of  at  a  court  of  sales.     (|  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  5,  1649  {Court  Book^  vol.  xx, 
p.  348). 

Captain  Nathaniel  Goodlad  transfers  to  Thomas  Rich  600/.  ad- 
venture and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  The  Court  agrees 
with  Captain  Trenchfield,  commander  of  the  Northumberland,  and 
Captain  Phillips,  commander  of  the  Dover  Merchant,  to  carry 
pepper  to  Leghorn  at  two  dollars  per  bag  freight.  At  the  request 
of  Mr.  Knipe,  who  came  home  in  the  Eagle,  a  court  is  appointed  to 
be  held  next  Thursday,  at  which  the  charges  brought  against  him 
are  to  be  examined.  William  Gar  way  intimates  that  he  is  unable 
to  pay  his  debt  of  900/.  odd  to  the  Company,  and  announces  his 
intended  journey  on  business  to  Italy ;  he  informs  the  Court  that 
he  has  700/.  adventured  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  as  a  further 
security  he  has  assigned  a  parcel  of  land  worth  10,000/.  to  William 
Williams  and  Andrew  Riccard  as  '  feofees  in  trust ' ;  they  are  to 
pay  such  debts  as  are  named  in  a  schedule  (the  Company's  among 
the  number)  and  to  allow  five  per  cent,  (or  more  if  desired)  interest 
for  forbearance.  The  Court  conceives  that  the  offer  is  a  very  fair 
one  and  that  the  security  is  good,  but  defers  resolution  herein  until 
Acton  shall  have  perused  the  papers.  It  is  resolved  that  the  sale 
of  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  shall  be  delayed  no  longer,  and  Bowen 
is  iitstructed  to  make  a  list  of  them.  Mr.  North  of  Whitechapel 
presenting  a  written  relation  of  the  taking  of  cloth,  cordage,  etc., 
out  of  the  John  at  Bristol  by  one  Salter,  late  master  of  the  Jeremy, 
and  its  being  put  aboard  the  Hope,  bound  for  Lisbon,  he  is  told 
that  if  any  satisfaction  is  obtained  for  the  said  articles  his  '  recom- 
pence'  shall  be  considered.  A  young  man,  sent  by  Mr.  Ellis, 
demands  payment  of  the  estate  of  the  late  John  Chamberlaine  ;  he 
is  told  to  refer  Mr.  Ellis  to  the  Treasurer,  who  will  give  him 
satisfactioiL     {i.\  pp,) 

Y  2 


324  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  9, 1649  {Court  Booh,  vol.  xx, 
p.  ZS'^')- 

The  Recorder,  James  Chamberlaine  (one  of  the  executors  of  the 
late  John  Chamberlaine),  and  a  Doctor  of  Civil  Law  come  into 
court  and  declare  that  it  is  not  safe  for  the  Company  to  part  with 
any  money  from  this  estate  unless  a  discharge  is  procured  from 
both  executors,  though  it  cannot  be  denied  that  one  may  give 
a  discharge.  Hereupon  the  Treasurer  intimates  that  both  executors 
have  consulted  him  many  times  about  this  business,  and  that  he 
does  not  think  it  wise  to  allow  the  Company  to  be  sued  for  6,000/., 
for  it  might  call  their  credit  into  question.  After  much  discussion 
it  is  resolved  to  abide  by  the  order  given  at  the  last  court.  Sam- 
brooke  presents  an  account  of  Mr.  Garway's  debt,  which  with 
interest  amounts  to  1,209/.  i^r.  id.,  the  Governor  standing  security 
for  202/.  of  the  same ;  it  is  decided  that  the  whole  debt  shall  be 
entered  in  the  schedule,  the  Governor  still  to  be  responsible  for 
202/.  and  the  interest  to  be  six  per  cent. ;  Mr.  Garway  willingly 
consents  to  this.  Mr.  Tutchin  is  allowed  for  damaged  cotton 
yarn,     (i  p.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  May  9, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  S5^)- 

Sale  of  pepper  and  nutmegs,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers. 
{\P-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  18,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  Zh"^)' 

Tomblings,  Clerk  at  Blackwall  Yard,  is  given  permission  to  use 
*a  small  waste  peece  of  ground  neare  the  ditch  and  the  smithes 
shoppe'  to  deposit  coal,  he  promising  to  give  it  up  on  demand. 
A  warrant  to  be  made  out  for  15/.  for  payment  of  the  labourers  and 
almsmen  at  Blackwall  for  the  past  three  weeks.  John  Heme,  the 
Company's  Counsel,  forwards  a  petition  from  Adiell  Gurney,  servant 
in  the  counting-house  to  Sambrooke,  in  which  he  pleads  for  mercy. 
The  Court  being  ignorant  of  his  offence,  Sambrooke  informs  them  that 
Gurney  has  counterfeited  his  hand  in  several  tickets  to  Mr.  Hurt,  and 
that  since  the  i6th  March  217/.  has  been  paid  on  these  false  tickets ; 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  325 

and  on  discovering  this  Sambrooke  entered  an  action  against  Gumey, 
who  is  now  in  the  Poultry  Compter.  The  Court  resolves  that  Gumey 
shall  be  examined  by  one  or  two  Committees,  in  order  to  discover 
his  confederates  and  what  has  become  of  the  money  ;  also  that 
Sambrooke  must  make  good  the  loss,  inasmuch  as  Gumey  was  his 
servant  and  not  the  Company's.     (|  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  33,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  353)' 

Captain  Crandley  buys  garbled  pepper.  This  day  week  is 
appointed  for  hearing  Mr.  Knipe's  answer  to  the  charges  brought 
against  him.  Angello  Jaccobus,  a  poor  '  Grecian ',  is  given  20s. 
from  the  poor-box.  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  and  other  goods  in 
the  warehouse  to  be  sold  this  day  fortnight.  An  adventure  of  500/. 
in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  belonging  to  the  late  Robert  Gayer  is 
transferred  with  all  profits  to  his  brother  and  executor,  Sir  John 
Gayer.  A  full  confession  is  presented  from  Adiell  Gumey.  In 
this  it  is  alleged  that  Mr.  Hurt  commonly  paid  less  than  the  full 
sum  named  on  the  tickets,  that  he  '  had  at  tymes  betweene  20  and 
30/.,  and  that  hee  paid  one  summe  to  a  woman  at  a  taveme,  for 
which  hee  had  20s.  and  paid  her  a  great  deale  short ;  to  whome  hee 
said  that  shee  came  with  false  bonds  etc.  to  cheate  the  Company 
of  their  money,  and  that  shee  might  very  well  give  him  halfe.* 
Gumey  is  sent  for  and  vouches  for  the  truth  of  his  narrative ;  he 
expresses  much  sorrow  for  his  offence  and  begs  for  mercy.  Two 
or  three  Committees  are  desired  to  take  him  into  the  garden 
and  examine  him  further.  The  Court  noting  that  two  Scotch 
women  appear  from  the  said  narrative  to  have  been  prime  actors 
in  this  business  and  to  have  received  a  good  part  of  the  money, 
Thomas  Randoll  is  set  to  find  and  apprehend  them  as  soon  as 
possible.  Hurt  is  called  in  and  that  part  of  the  story  relating  to 
his  proceedings  is  read  to  him  ;  he  denies  everything,  except  that 
he  received  small  gratuities  upon  payment  of  money,  and  that  he 
paid  one  woman  at  a  tavem  and  had  somewhat  of  her,  but  does  not 
remember  how  much.  The  Court,  remembering  how  often  he  has 
abused  the  Company  in  many  ways,  suspends  him,  by  general 
consent,  from  his  employment  until  he  can  clear  himself ;  and  he  is 
required  to  pay  what  money  he  has  into  the  Treasury  and  to 


326  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

perfect  his  accounts.  To  prevent  further  abuse  of  this  nature,  it  is 
ordered  that  whosoever  shall  fill  his  post  shall  be  forbidden  to  take 
money  from  any  poor  person.  Samuel  Calcott,  who  has  served 
the  Company  faithfully  for  eight  years,  is  appointed  in  the  room 
of  Hurt ;  and  Adiell  Gurney  is  ordered  to  be  released  on  finding 
security  for  his  appearance  this  day  week.  James  Mann  requests 
that,  as  Messrs.  Abdy  and  Wylliams  are  dead,  the  pepper  to  be 
shipped  to  Leghorn  may  be  consigned  to  his  two  sons  ;  resolution 
on  this  matter  is  deferred.     (2^^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  May  30,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 

Some  Committees,  who  were  absent  from  the  last  court,  object  to 
Gurney  being  released  from  prison,  in  regard  he  is  not  the  Com- 
pany's servant  but  Sambrooke's,  who  will  have  to  make  good  all  the 
money  lost.  Sambrooke  states  that  this  will  not  be  much,  as  Gurney 
has  several  adventures  in  India  to  the  value  of  73/.,  which  may  pro- 
duce 140/.  or  150/.,  and  part  of  the  money  will  be  repaid  by  those 
who  received  it.  After  some  debate  it  is  finally  agreed  that  Sam- 
brooke must  make  good  the  money  lost,  and  that  he  shall  be  allowed 
to  use  the  Company's  name  to  help  him  to  effect  this.  Markham, 
after  auditing  Hurt's  accounts,  reports  that  there  is  973/.  5 J.  ^d, 
remaining  in  his  possession,  received  since  the  beginning  of  March 
last.  A  letter  is  read  from  Hurt  desiring  to  be  taken  into  favour 
again  and  declaring  that  he  is  a  poor  man  and  has  no  lands,  houses, 
or  anything  left;  not  understanding  how  this  can  be,  the  Court 
orders  his  attendance  at  their  next  meeting.  A  letter  is  read  from 
Mr.  CoUyer,  stating  that  it  will  be  very  inconvenient  if  the  pepper 
to  be  sent  to  Leghorn  is  consigned  to  him  and  to  Messrs.  Mann  ; 
after  much  discussion,  James  Mann  withdraws  his  request  for  its 
consignment  to  his  sons.  The  Garbler  intimates  that,  if  the  Com- 
pany will  settle  with  him,  •  hee  would  make  it  appeare  that  the 
Company  went  on  in  a  destructive  way  in  their  businesse  in  the 
Exchequer ' ;  and  Mr.  Acton  reporting  that  the  Company  has  to 
answer  and  plead  to  an  information  of  Guttler's  next  Monday,  the 
Court  decides  to  hear  him,  and  requests  certain  Committees  to  meet 
the  Company's  Counsel  (who  has  already  conferred  with  the  Re- 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  347 

corder)  and  resolve  upon  an  answer  to  Guttler's  information.  Two 
exiled  German  ministers  are  given  40s.  from  the  poor-box  to  help 
them  return  home.     {^zPP-} 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  i,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 

p.  357). 

A  letter  is  read  from  Mr.  Hurt,  stating  that  he  has  not '  where- 
withal! to  satisfy  the  Company ',  and  pleading  on  account  of  his 
poverty  that  extreme  measures  may  not  be  taken  against  him  ; 
after  debate  the  Court  resolves  on  his  arrest,  which  is  referred 
to  the  Secretary.  The  Garbler  offers  that,  if  the  Company  will 
refer  the  matter  in  dispute  between  them  to  two  counsellors  and  pay 
him  300/.  on  account,  he  will  defer  his  suit  until  next  term  and 
endeavour  to  do  the  like  for  the  Dutchmen ;  this  is  agreed  to, 
on  condition  that  Guttler  names  his  arbitrators  and  gives  a  bond  to 
abide  by  the  award  they  shall  make.  Captain  Trenchfield  desiring 
to  leave  behind  100  bags  of  the  pepper  he  is  to  carry  to  Leghorn, 
these  are  ordered  to  be  shipped  in  the  Dover  Merchant  with  those 
she  already  has.  Semiuel  Calcott  to  be  given  100/.  to  pay  mariners' 
wages.  Rowland  Elcocke,  who  came  from  Messina  to  Paris  about 
recovery  of  some  goods  taken  from  the  Greyhound  by  the  French 
(among  them  six  bales  of  Messina  silk  belonging  to  the  Company), 
reports  that  the  Court  of  Admiralty  in  Paris  has  adjudged  the  said 
ship  and  goods  to  be  a  prize,  zmd  therefore  there  is  no  hope  of 
recovering  anything.  Elcocke  is  advised  to  call  a  meeting  of 
all  who  had  goods  in  the  GreyJiound,  when  a  representative  from 
the  Company  shall  join  them  to  consider  what  is  to  be  done 
in  this  business.  Paul  Waldegrave  is  given  5/.,  he  having  presented 
the  Company  with  a  book  in  answer  to  a  scandalous  one  written  by 
Mr.  Boothby  concerning  Madagascar.^   {?-\PP') 

'  Richard  Boothby's  grievances  have  been  mentioned  already  ia  the  two  preceding 
volumes  of  this  series.  His  book  here  referred  to  was  published  in  1646,  under  the  title  of 
A  Brief e  Diucroery  or  Description  of ...  .  Madagascar.  \Vald^rave's  Answer  to  Mr. 
Boothbies  Book  of  the  Description  of  the  Island  of  Madagascar  (1649)  replies  also  to 
Walter  Hammond's  Madagascar,  the  Richest  and  most  FruUfuU  Island  in  the  World, 
publi^ed  in  1643.  Waldegrave  had  been  a  member  of  the  colony  taken  out  by  Smart, 
and  no  doubt  he  was  genuinely  indignant  with  the  men  whose  extravagant  eulogies  had  led 
to  that  disastrous  experiment. 


328  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  6, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  358). 

The  Garbler  having  made  good  his  promise  agreed  upon  at  the 
last  court,  he  is  to  be  paid  300/.  on  account.  Mr.  Holloway's 
calicoes  to  be  sold  this  afternoon.  Mr.  Vanpaine's  offer  to  pay- 
four  per  cent,  interest  on  his  debt  is  accepted.  Samuel  Sambrooke, 
who  has  served  the  Company  fourteen  years  at  40/.  per  annum 
and  assisted  his  cousin  and  Bowen  in  keeping  the  books,  requests 
some  increase  of  salary ;  resolution  herein  is  deferred,  but  he  is 
promised  encouragement  within  a  month  or  two.  A  paper  is  read 
from  Mr.  Hurt,  giving  particulars  of  losses  he  has  sustained  and 
requesting  release ;  he  is  sent  for  and  questioned  as  to  what  satis- 
faction he  can  make  for  the  money  due  to  the  Company,  but 
only  returns  frivolous  answers  and  confesses  he  paid  360/.  for 
'  two  daughters  portions  last  terme '.  He  is  told  that,  unless  he 
can  give  the  Company  satisfaction  or  security,  he  must  return 
to  prison,    (i^  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  June  6,  1649  [Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  360). 

Sale  of  Malabar  and  Jambi  pepper,  cotton-wool,  brown  Sinda 
cloth,  guldarees,  ferrattcaunes,  and  sallowes,  with  prices  and  names 
of  purchasers.     (|/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  13,  1649  {Court  Book^  vol.  xx, 
p.  361). 

Mr.  Abdy  to  be  made  some  allowance  for  damaged  calicoes. 
Captain  Richard  Crandley  and  Roger  Vivian  accepted  as  securities 
for  garbled  pepper.  *  Cochea  cloth,  cossus,  and  byrams '  bought  by 
Mr.  Bathust.  Raphael  Price,  who  has  taken  out  letters  of  adminis- 
tration for  the  estate  of  Richard  Evans,  deceased  in  India,  desires, 
with  some  other  creditors,  payment  of  what  is  due  on  Evans's  account; 
and  two  friends  of  a  child  of  the  said  Evans  request  that  his  money 
may  be  detained  for  a  while  by  the  Company.  The  Court  resolves 
to  keep  the  money  until  the  end  of  the  month  and  then  deliver  it  to 
the  administrator,  if  there  is  no  order  to  the  contrary  from  the 
Prerogative  Court.    Samuel  Calcott  to  be  given  100/.  for  the  account 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  329 

of  the  Joint  Stock,  and  50/,  for  that  of  the  Second  General  Voyage, 
to  pay  mariners'  wages.  Spiller  is  directed  to  go  to  Mr.  Hurt,  who 
is  imprisoned  in  the  King's  Bench,  and  ask  what  he  has  done  with 
the  Company's  money,  and  tell  him  not  to  expect  any  favour  until 
he  has  given  satisfaction  for  it.     (i  p.) 

The  Council  of  State  at  Whitehall  to  the  Generals 
AT  Sea,  June  15,  1649  {Public  Record  Office  :  S.  P.  Dom. :  Inter- 
regnum,  I.  94,  p-  233). 

There  are  six  or  seven  ships  just  coming  from  the  East  Indies, 
which  will  be  a  great  advance  to  the  customs,  besides  the  interest 
of  particular  men ;  for  their  better  preservation,  we  desire  you  to 
order  some  ships  to  ply  along  the  channel  by  Scilly,  and  so  on 
to  about  30  leagues  off  the  Land's  End,  to  prevent  danger  by  pirates 
or  enemies,  who,  if  they  should  surprise  any  of  those  ships,  would  be 
thereby  further  enabled  to  continue  their  spoils  upon  our  merchants. 

Colonel  Edward  Popham  at  Whitehall  to  John  Stoakes, 
commander  of  the  h ector  at  guernsey,  june  l8,  1 649 
{Public  Record  Office:  S.  P.  Dovt.:  Interregnum  I  123,  p.  6^). 

There  are  several  ships  from  the  East  Indies,  etc.,  expected  ; 
some  ships  of  the  enemy  are  looking  after  them,  and  their  sur- 
prisal  would  be  a  very  'great  loss  to  this  commonwealth  and 
advantage  to  the  enemy.  You  are  therefore  to  stand  out  for  the 
Land's  End  or  Scilly,  with  the  ship  under  your  command,  and  join 
with  the  Phoenix  and  Constant  Warwick,  appointed  to  guard  that 
coast ;  and,  in  your  way,  to  look  out  for  those  ships,  and  if  you 
meet  with  them  accompany  them  into  the  Downs.  If  you  meet 
first  with  Captain  Harrison,  of  the  Phoenix,  you  are  to  follow  his 
directions  until  you  either  meet  with  those  ships,  or  are  informed 
for  certain  that  they  have  passed  by;  then  you  are  to  repair  to 
the  Downs,  or  where  else  you  hear  I  am.  With  note  of  a  similar 
letter  to  Thos.  Sparling,  commander  of  the  Mary  about  Guernsey. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  20, 1649  {Court Book,  \o\.  xx, 
p.  362). 

The  sale  of  all  the  Company's  sugar  to  Gilbert  Keate,  Colonel 
Gower,  Thomas  Cullen,  and  Richard  Ashurst  is  approved.  The 
Governor  is  granted  permission  to  sell  pepper  at  the  current  price 


330  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

to  several  men  who  wish  to  buy  it  for  exportation.  The  ships  from 
India  being  daily  expected  and  many  goods  still  remaining  in  the 
warehouse,  where  all  the  room  will  soon  be  wanted,  Blount  is 
directed  to  go  with  a  notary  and  two  witnesses  to  those  men  who 
have  not  taken  away  their  goods  and  tell  them  that,  if  they  do  not 
fetch  them  away,  the  goods  will  be  sent  to  their  houses.  Captain 
Crandley  and  Mr.  Kilvert  to  be  desired  to  act  as  arbitrators  in  th-e 
dispute  between  the  Company  and  the  Garbler.  Sir  George 
Stroade,  who  has  been  absent  from  the  kingdom  some  time  but 
is  now  'upon  his  composition ',  requests  payment  of  8a i/.  iSs.  id. 
due  upon  his  adventure  in  the  Third  Joint  Stock;  and,  that  no 
prejudice  may  be  received  by  the  Company  because  of  his  former 
sequestration,  he  produces  an  order  from  the  Commissioners  for 
compounding  with  Delinquents  sitting  at  Goldsmiths'  Hall,  requir- 
ing them  to  pay  the  said  money  ^ ;  he  also  desires  that  some 
interest  may  be  allowed  for  its  use  during  his  absence.  The  Court 
orders  payment  to  be  made  to  him  and  interest  allowed  at  the  rate 
of  five  per  cent,  on  the  800/.  from  two  months  after  it  was  due  until 
the  present  time.  Mr.  Knipe  states  that  he  hears  exceptions  have 
been  taken  to  the  great  charge  of  the  *  caphila '  [i.  e.  caravan]  he 
brought  down  with  indigo  from  Agra,  and  also  with  regard  to  some 
bad  indigo  he  bought ;  from  these  he  hopes  to  clear  himself  He 
is  told  that  a  bill  against  him  is  exhibited  in  Chancery,  which 
he  will  be  expected  to  answer ;  and  after  being  informed  of  some 
other  particulars  he  promises  to  read  the  bill  and  draw  up  answers 
to  the  chief  heads,  and  the  Court  agrees  to  meet  this  day  week 
at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  hear  the  same.  A  petition  to  be 
presented  to  Parliament  (drawn  up  by  the  Secretary)  for  redress  of 
abuses  committed  by  the  Garbler  is  read,  and  Mr.  Acton  is  desired 
to  show  it  to  Counsel,  and  to  draw  up  an  act  to  be  presented  with 
it  for  confirmation  of  its  contents,    (i^//*.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  June  27, 1649  {Court Book,  vol.  xx, 
p-  364)- 

On  Mr.  Acton's  advice,  the  petition  to  Parliament  against  the 
Garbler  is  directed  to  be  shown  to  the  Attorney-General.     The 

^  See  the  Calendar  of  the  Proceedings  of  tfie  Committee  for  Compounding,  part  iii, 
p.  2050 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  331 

masters  of  the  Northumberland  and  Dover  Merchant  refusing  to 
sign  the  present  bills  of  lading,  the  Court  orders  the  bills  to  be 
drawn  up  as  they  used  to  be.  Mr.  Knipe  presents  an  answer  to 
some  heads  of  the  bill  exhibited  in  Chancery  against  him,  and 
Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  report  concerning  the  same  at  the  next 
court.  Knipe,  being  questioned,  states  that  some  of  the  musk  he 
sent  home  belongs  to  Thomas  Adler,  some  to  Robert  Cranmer,  and 
the  rest  to  himself.  Indigo  belonging  to  Mr.  Gould  to  be  weighed 
and  placed  in  the  Company's  cellars  until  Gould  has  occasion  for  it. 
After  conferring  with  Hurlocke,  one  of  Lord  Craven's  agents,  about 
the  house,  the  Deputy  reports  that  Hurlocke  is  content  to  take  the 
Company's  seal  as  security  for  the  rent  and  to  divide  the  quarter's 
rent  about  which  there  was  some  dispute.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  4,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  l^^)- 

Etheldred  Blount  to  be  paid  for  goods  belonging  to  her  late 
son,  Jacob  Price.  The  Governor  proposes  to  inform  the  generality 
at  the  court  of  election  to  be  held  this  afternoon  that  the  intention 
to  give  them  an  estimate  of  the  Company's  estate  has  been  de- 
ferred until  the  ships  which  are  daily  expected  shall  arrive;  this 
is  approved.  Judgement  having  been  given  against  Mr.  Maxwell, 
now  in  the  King's  Bench,  the  Company  may  charge  *  either  body 
or  estate  '  ;  therefore  Mr.  Acton  is  requested  to  charge  the  execution 
on  the  estate,  if  he  can  find  any.  Knipe's  answers  to  some  heads  of 
the  bill  presented  in  Chancery  against  him  are  read,  but  not  thought 
satisfactory.  He  refers  himself  wholly  to  the  Court  and  is  told 
that  if  he  will  pay  1,000/.  forfeiture  of  his  bond,  and  forfeit  his 
wages,  the  bill  shall  be  withdrawn.  He  is  given  a  fortnight  to 
consider  this.  Robert  Beckett,  a  poor  man  hurt  at  Blackwall 
Yard,  is  given  los.  Mrs.  Hurt's  petition  for  the  release  of  her 
husband  is  refused.  Calicoes  bought  by  Mr.  Martin  to  be  de- 
livered, by  request,  in  bales.  Scummings  and  trash  of  pepper  found 
in  the  Exchange  Cellar  to  be  disposed  of  by  the  Secretary  as  he 
thinks  fit.     {\\pp.) 


332  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  General  Court  of  Election,  July  4, 1649  {Coun  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  369). 

William  Cokayne,  by  unanimous  erection  of  hands,  is  re-elected 
Governor,  William  Methwold  Deputy,  and  John  Massingberd 
Treasurer,  for  the  ensuing  year.  Sir  Thomas  Soame,  Thomas 
Kerridge,  Richard  Davies,  Thomas  Hodges,  Andrew  Riccard,  and 
George  Smith  are  chosen  as  the  six  new  Committees  in  the  place 
of  Andrew  Morewood  and  Robert  Gayer,  deceased,  and  of  Alder- 
man Midleton,  William  Garway,  Ozias  Churchman,  and  Anthony 
Bateman,  who  retire.  Therefore  the  Committees  for  the  ensuing 
year  are :  Sir  John  Gayer,  Sir  Thomas  Soame,  Sir  Jacob  Garrad, 
Thomas  and  James  Mann,  Messrs.  Reynardson,  Bateman,  Ashwell, 
Holloway,  Wilson,  Burnell,  Jennings,  Keate,  Morewood,  Kerridge, 
Martin,  Abdy,  Andrews,  Davies,  Williams,  Rich,  Hodges,  Riccard. 
and  Smith.     Richard  Swinglehurst  is  re-elected  Secretary,      (a//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  6,  1649  {Courf  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-37I)- 

The  Court  resolves  to  sell  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  at  an  abate- 
ment of  3s.  '  per  peece  round '  on  the  price  he  formerly  paid  for 
them.  Mr.  Garway  promises  to  give  satisfaction  concerning  his 
debt  at  the  next  court.     (^/.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  July  6,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  372). 

Sale  of  brown  sereias,  brown  Sinda  cloth,  longcloth,  '  amberta '  ^ 
cloth,  calicoes,  cotton-wool,  Jambi  and  Malabar  pepper,  with  prices 
and  names  of  purchasers.     (|  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  13,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  373). 

Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  advise  with  Counsel  about  suing  Lord 
Cottington  and  the  Lady  Wyche  for  recovery  of  the  great  pepper 
debt.  A  petition  is  read  from  Edward  Howse,  the  schoolmaster 
living  at  the  Company's  almshouse  at  Blackwall,  complaining  that 
the  town  would  force  him  to  be  collector  for  the  poor,  or  else  to  take 
'  See  The  English  Factories  in  India,  i6i8-2i,p.  i6i. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  333 

an  apprentice  ;  hereupon  the  Secretary  is  desired  to  attend  the 
meeting  of  Justices  to-morrow  afternoon  at  Poplar,  show  them 
Howse's  petition,  and  desire  redress.  The  names  of  the  officers 
employed  by  the  Company  are  read,  and  it  is  generally  agreed  to 
continue  each  in  his  place  for  the  ensuing  year,  Samuel  Calcott  is 
granted  a  salary  of  50/.  per  annum  as  Paymaster  of  the  Mariners. 
Captain  Steevens,  who  came  home  master  in  the  Eagle,  requests 
that  the  suit  in  Chancery  against  him  may  be  discontinued ;  but  he 
being  questioned  as  to  his  private  trade  and  giving  unsatisfactory 
answers,  it  is  generally  agreed  to  let  the  suit  proceed.  Mr.  Williams 
declares  that  the  writing  passing  over  Mr.  Garway's  land  to  himself 
and  Mr.  Riccard  as  security  for  money  owing  to  the  Company  and 
others  has  been  sealed  ;  but  Mr.  Acton  intimating  that  the  schedule 
annexed  (which  ought  to  have  been  filled  up  first)  is  still  blank  and 
therefore  the  paper  is  useless  from  a  legal  point  of  view,  he  is 
directed  to  see  that  security  is  obtained  for  the  debt  to  the  Company. 
Mr.  Bathust  is  granted  allowance  for  damaged  calicoes.     {^\pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  18,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  374). 

The  ships  being  expected  shortly,  Mr.  Young  is  directed  to  go  to 
the  Downs  or  to  Dover  to  prevent  the  landing  of  private  trade  and 
furnish  them  with  such  necessaries  as  shall  be  required.  Mr.  Knipe 
desires  that  a  favourable  construction  may  be  put  upon  his  actions 
and  refers  his  private  trade  wholly  to  the  Company  ;  he  is  advised 
to  write  out  what  he  can  in  his  own  defence  and  is  granted  per- 
mission to  see  any  letters  he  may  wish.  Captain  Ashley,  com- 
mander of  the  Sampson,  asks  to  be  allowed  to  have  his  ship  repaired 
in  one  of  the  Company's  docks  at  Blackwall,  as  there  is  no  other 
dock  in  the  river  fit  for  her ;  he  offers  to  give  bond  in  i  ,coo/.  to 
bring  her  out  when  told  to  do  so,  and  to  pay  what  shall  be  thought 
fit ;  answer  is  deferred  until  Steevens,  the  carpenter,  has  been  spoken 
to.      (I/.) 

Order  of  the  House  of  Commons,  July  19, 1649  ^  {Home 
Miscellajiemis^  vol.  xl,  p.  17). 

Annulling  the  sequestration  of  Sir  John  Wolstenholme's  estate, 
and  requiring  the  Commissioners  for  Composition  at  Goldsmiths' 

^  See  Common^  ydumals,  voL  vi,  p.  264. 


334  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

Hall  and  other  Committees  of  Sequestration  and  their  Agents  to 
take  notice  of  and  yield  obedience  to  this  order.  {Signed  by  Henry 
Scobell,  Clerk,     i  p.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  20,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  375). 

The  Governor  and  other  Committees  are  desired  to  dispose  of 
Mr.  HoUoway's  calicoes  by  treaty  at  such  price  and  time  as  they 
shall  think  fit.  Permission  is  given  for  the  Sampson  to  be  repaired 
in  one  of  the  Company's  docks  at  Blackwall  on  certain  conditions. 
The  dispute  between  the  Company  and  Mr.  Taylor,  and  between 
the  Company  and  the  Garbler,  having  been  referred  to  arbitration 
and  the  arbitrators  chosen,  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to  get  the  bonds  of 
arbitrament  sealed  by  both  sides,  the  dispute  in  question  to  be 
settled  by  the  end  of  August  next ;  and  the  Secretary  and  Mr. 
Acton  are  requested  to  enter  into  bond  that  the  Company  will  stand 
by  the  award.  Mr.  Greene,  executor  of  Samuel  Goldsmith,  reports 
that  the  latter  at  his  death  had  1,000/.  at  interest  in  the  Company's 
hands  and  in  his  will  has  left  the  Company  the  30/.  interest  due  on 
the  same.  Richard  Clutterbucke  transfers  to  Richard  Shute  400/. 
adventure  and  profits  in  the  Second  General  Voyage,     (i^//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  July  24,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  87). 

Directions  given  for  unlading  and  weighing  the  goods  returned  in 
the  seven  ships  lately  arrived.  Demurrage  to  be  allowed  to  the 
freighted  ships  if  not  discharged  within  thirty  days.  After  con- 
sideration how  to  raise  money  for  payment  of  custom,  freight,  and 
other  charges  likely  to  arise,  the  Court  orders  the  adventurers  in  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  pay  all  money  at  interest  in  their  hands  for 
account  of  the  Voyage ;  it  is  also  proposed  that  each  adventurer  in 
the  Voyage  shall  bring  in  10/.  per  cent,  according  to  his  subscription, 
or  that  money  shall  be  taken  up  at  interest  for  a  little  while ;  but 
final  decision  is  referred  to  the  next  general  court.     (li/A) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  335 

The  CounciLv  of  State  at  Whitehall  to  the  Lieu- 
tenant OF  Ireland,  July  34,  1649  (Public  Record  Office :  S.  P. 
Dom. :  Interregnum,  I.  94,  p.  317). 

There  are  seven  English  ships  come  into  the  Downs  from  the 
East  Indies,  in  which  there  is  a  good  quantity  of  saltpetre,  so  that 
we  hope  that  want  will  be  supplied  for  this  year. 

A  General  Court  of  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  July  26,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  88). 

The  Governor  announces  that  the  Golden  Fleece,  Aleppo  MercJiant, 
William,  Dolphin,  Bonito,  and  Advice,  which  were  sent  to  India  for 
this  Voyage's  account,  have  returned  safely ;  that  the  stock  sent  in 
them  has  been  for  the  most  part  laid  out,  but  there  remains  at 
Bantam  and  the  Coast  30,000/.  All  goes  on  well  in  India,  and 
there  are  great  hopes  that  the  King  of  Vizapore  [Bljapur]  will  give 
order  for  release  of  the  forty  cloths  seized  at  Rajapur  for  Mr. 
Courteene's  debt.  He  desires  the  court  to  consider  the  best  way  to 
raise  money  to  defray  the  charges  of  custom,  freight,  etc.,  which  may 
amount  to  about  60,000/.;  and  after  mentioning  one  or  two  suggested 
methods,  he  puts  it  to  the  question  whether  they  will  consent  to  the 
Joint  Stock  furnishing  the  Voyage  with  the  said  60,000/.  at  six  per 
cent,  interest.  This  being  refused  by  the  major  part  of  the  generality, 
a  dispute  ensues  whether  to  call  up,  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  '  fourth 
payment  which  is  behind  and  unpaid '.  Finally  it  is  agreed  that 
'  every  adventurer  in  this  Voyage  shold  by  the  loth  of  August  next, 
upon  the  forfeitur  by  way  of  broaks  of  4/.  per  cent.,  for  six  moneths 
tyme  bring  in  one-sixth  parte  of  what  hee  had  formerly  paid  in  by 
way  of  his  adventure,  and  that  the  said  broaks  shold  accrew  to  the 
Voyage'.     {\\pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  July  27,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
P-  377). 

A  petition  is  read  from  '  the  Tacklehouse  porters '  employed  in 
taking  up  and  housing  the  Company's  goods,  desiring  increased  fees 
because  they  are  forced  to  give  larger  wages  to  their  labourers  and 
servants  than  formerly,  and  also  on  account  of  the  dearness  and 
excessive  rates  of  all  provisions,  and  of  the  taxation  imposed  upon 


336  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

them  ;  they  further  allege  that  other  merchants  of  meaner  trades 
allow  higher  rates  than  the  Company.  They  are  advised  to  apply 
to  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General  Voyage,  as  the  greater 
part  of  the  goods  returned  belong  to  that  account ;  and  the  Court 
promises  that  the  Joint  Stock  will  do  what  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage  determine  in  this  matter.  Richard  Shute,  James  Oyles, 
William  Methwold,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Brett  are  accepted  as 
securities  for  indigo,  and  the  Governor  and  Deputy  for  calicoes. 
Silk,  cloth,  and  rhubarb  sent  in  the  Golden  Fleece  by  Thomas  Merry 
to  the  Deputy  to  be  delivered,     (i  /,) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  July  30,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  90). 

Mr.  Arnold,  master  of  the  Advice,  requesting  to  know  when  his 

ship  can  be  unladen,  is  told  that  the  Golden  Fleece  and  the  Aleppo 

Merchant  come  first,  and  that  the  number  of  men  to  be  left  aboard 

for  his  ship's  security  is  left  to  his  own  discretion.     The  Tacklehouse 

porters  petition  for  augmentation  of  their   fees  and  are  promised 

a  gratuity  of  20/.  when  the  seven  ships  are  unladen  and  the  goods 

housed.     Captain  Blackman,  on  behalf  of  many  adventurers,  desires 

to  know  how  the  goods  bought  with  money  left  in  India  belonging 

to  the  Voyage  are  to  be  brought  home ;  he  is  told  that  they  may 

come  in  the  Anne,  Endymion,  and  Ruth.    He  further  asserts  that 

they  expect  that  the  value  of  that  money  in  goods  the  next  year, 

though  bought  for  the  use  of  the  Joint  Stock,  should  be  'transmitted' 

to   the  Voyage's   account.     This  is   not   thought  reasonable,  the 

William  not  having  left  the  Downs  until  June  or  arrived  at  Bantam 

until  November,  so  that  her  stock  could  not  be  invested  in  time  ; 

and  if  the  goods  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  had  not  been  laden  in 

the  Voyage's  ships,  these  would  have  returned  with  a  quantity  of 

dead  freight.     One  of  the  Committees  desires  that  liberty  may  be 

given  for  shipping  to  be  sent  to  fetch  back  the  remains  of  the  Voyage; 

this  is  thought  just  and  reasonable,  and  the  Deputy  declares  that, 

if  any  adventurers  in  the  Voyage  are  not  satisfied  and  will  summon 

another  meeting,  Messrs.  Baker  and  Ivy  shall  t^  present  to  give 

them  further  satisfaction.     {}\pp) 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  337 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  i,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  378). 

Erasmus  Peeters,  a  Dane,  who  came  from  Bantam  in  the  Williavi, 
is  allowed  to  take  from  that  ship  three  chests,  one  containing 
accounts  belonging  to  the  King  of  Denmark,  another  belonging  to 
his  comrade,  William  Morris,  and  the  third  containing  his  own 
apparel.  Dr.  Walker,  on  behalf  of  Raphael  Price,  requests  that  the 
latter,  as  administrator,  may  be  paid  the  estate  of  the  late  Richard 
Evans,  the  Court  of  Delegates  having  revoked  the  last  decree  of 
Sir  Nathaniel  Brent,  Judge  of  the  Prerogative  Court,  whereby  the 
administration  stands  good.  This  the  Court  refuses  to  do,  having 
been  advised  not  to  part  with  any  of  the  money  until  the  suit 
depending  in  the  Prerogative  Court  is  ended.  In  recognition  of  the 
great  mercy  of  God  in  sending  home  the  seven  ships  in  safety,  the 
Court  thinks  fit  to  have  a  sermon  of  thanksgiving  preached  by- 
Mr.  Terry  (a  minister  formerly  in  India  ^)  next  Tuesday  week  in 
the  forenoon  at  St.  Andrew  Undershaft,  and  to  have  a  dinner  after 
at  the  Great  James  Tavern  in  Bishopsgate  Street,  at  which  the 
twenty-four  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock,  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage,  the  seven  commanders,  Mr.  Baker,  and  Mr.  Ivy  shall  be 
present.  Each  Committee  (except  Captain  Blackman)  to  pay  10s. 
to  defray  the  cost  of  the  dinner.     ( i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  3,  1649  {Coitrt  Book^ 
vol.  XX,  p.  379). 

The  Governor  intimates  that  the  books  of  accounts  from  the 
ships  have  come,  and  Sambrooke  has  promised  to  draw  up  an 
account  of  the  Company's  estate  by  next  Wednesday.  Then  it 
will  be  as  well  to  let  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock 
know  what  estate  they  have  in  India,  and  desire  their  resolutions 
as  to  what  course  they  think  fit  to  pursue  for  the  prosecution  of 
the  trade.  Syth,  widow  of  Walter  Godwin,  who  was  blown  up  by 
gunpowder  in  the  Hart  when  that  ship  was  fired,  and  Austine, 

'  This  is  the  Rev.  Edward  Terr)-,  who  acted  as  chaplain  to  Sir  Thomas  Roe,  1617-19, 
and  published  an  account  of  his  Indian  experiences  in  a  well-known  volume.  His  sermon 
was  duly  delivered  on  September  6,  and  was  afterwards  printed  nnder  the  title  of  The 
Merclianis  and  Marimrs  Preservation  atid  Thanksgiving. 


338  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF   THE 

widow  of  Thomas  Coachman,  who  was  killed  in  India,  petition  for 
help  for  themselves  and  their  children  ;  the  Secretary  is  desired  to 
make  inquiries  concerning  the  truth  of  their  statements.  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  Francis  Wales,  is  to  be  paid  the  small  sum  due  to  her 
husband  without  being  required  to  take  out  letters  of  administration, 
on  giving  security  to  save  the  Company  harmless,     (i  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  3,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  91). 

More  Committees  are  appointed  to  superintend  the  weighing  of 
goods  from  the  ships.  In  a  discussion  concerning  the  bringing 
home  the  stock  remaining  in  India  for  account  of  the  Voyage  it  is 
stated  that  considerable  shipping  and  stock  sufficient  to  lade  it 
home  were  at  first  sent  out,  and  since  then  the  Ruth  has  been 
dispatched  with  additional  stock  in  rials  to  the  value  of  5,000/. 
The  Governor  reports  that,  including  the  last-named  sum,  there  is 
43,000/.  remaining  in  the  East  for  the  Voyage's  account,  and  as 
all  this  cannot  be  laden  in  the  Rtitk,  it  is  necessary  to  make  some 
arrangement  to  bring  home  the  rest,  there  being  too  much  to  be 
turned  over  to  the  Joint  Stock.  He  therefore  presents  his  opinion 
in  writing  to  the  following  effect :  if  the  factors  at  Bantam  observe 
the  last  commission  given  to  them  by  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage,  then,  after  the  Rtith  has  been  laden,  all  stock  remaining 
belonging  to  the  Voyage  will  be  turned  over  to  the  Joint  Stock, 
to  be  paid  by  exchange  in  England  at  ^s.  6d.  the  rial.  In  this 
case  it  is  desirable  that  some  agreement  be  made  in  England 
whereby  the  Voyage  may  have  the  benefit  of  the  remains  turned 
over  to  the  Stock,  and  he  suggests  that  the  agreement  should  be 
as  follows,  viz. :  (1)  the  agreement  made  for  turning  over  the 
remains  of  the  Voyage's  stock  (after  the  Rtith  is  laden)  shall  be 
void,  and  no  advantage  taken  of  it ;  (2)  the  Joint  Stock  having 
appointed  three  ships  to  lade  home  this  next  December  and  January, 
whatever  is  laden  in  any  one  of  them  for  the  Stock's  account 
and  provided  by  the  Stock  shall  be  sold  for  the  Stock's  account ; 
and  whatever  more  shall  be  laden  in  them  shall  be  for  account  of 
the  Voyage ;  (3)  some  way  shall  be  considered  (if  more  than  the 
provision  made  by  the  Joint  Stock's  proper  effects  shall  be  laden 
in  the  said  three  ships,  or  any  of  them)  to  determine  '  where  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  339 

Voyage  shall  beare  there  adventurs  of  that  interest  they  may  have 
in  the  said  shipps ',  and  also,  '  if  any  bee  for  them  in  any  of  the 
foresaid  three  shipps  (as  the  overplus  aforesaid),  in  what  kinde 
of  goods  their  said  interest  shall  bee.'  This  is  read,  and  a  copy 
ordered  to  be  given  to  Mr.  Vivyan,  that  he  and  other  Committees 
for  the  Voyage  may  consider  whether  it  be  just  and  equal  to  be 
agreed  upon  between  the  Voyage  and  the  Stock,     (i^/^.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  8, 1649  (Court  Booh,  vol.  xx, 
p.  380). 

Captain  Bailey,  commander  of  the  William,  whose  ship  is  not 
to  be  unladen  yet,  is  given  leave  to  come  ashore,  on  condition  that 
he  leaves  honest  men  in  charge.  Syth  Godwin  is  given  los.  and 
Austine  Coachman  30J.  in  charity.  At  the  petition  of  Margaret 
Simkin,  who  was  left  a  legacy  of  5/.  by  Richard  King  (deceased  in 
India)  and  'cousened'  of  part  of  it,  the  Court  orders  what  remains 
due  on  the  said  King's  account  to  be  detained.  Sambrooke  presents 
an  account  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock's  estate  in  India :  and  dis- 
cussion ensues  as  to  the  best  means  of  ending  the  said  Stock  and 
prosecuting  the  trade  this  year.  The  Deputy  declares  that  the 
trade  must  be  carried  on  either  by  a  new  Joint  Stock,  which  should 
take  all  shipping,  houses,  etc.,  in  India  at  a  fixed  rate  from  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock,  with  the  customs  at  Gombroon,  which  are 
'  worth  at  least  2,000/.  per  annum ' :  or  else  by  another  General 
Voyage,  which  should  take  all  shipping,  houses,  etc.,  or  give  the 
Joint  Stock  'such  a  considerable  value  per  centum  in  leiwe  of  all 
charges  as  the  Stocke  might  not  loose  thereby '.  Hereupon  it  is 
thought  fit  to  summon  a  general  court  of  all  freemen  and  ad- 
venturers to  meet  this  day  week  to  consider  how  to  carry  on  the 
trade  ;  and  that  they  may  know  what  the  Stock  has  in  India,  Sam- 
brooke is  directed  to  make  out  a  list  of  all  factors  and  their  wages, 
with  an  inventory  of  the  shipping,  houses,  and  customs  in  India 
belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock,  and  an  estimate  of  their  value ;  and 
to  help  him  in  this  work  he  is  to  request  the  assistance  of  Messrs. 
Baker  and  Ivy,  who  lately  came  from  India.  The  Deputy  informs 
the  Court  that  the  petition  of  the  Company  concerning  the  exporta- 
tion of  ungarbled  spices  was  presented  yesterday  to  Parliament, 

z  a 


340  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

read  twice,^  and  according  to  custom  sent  to  a  committee,  which 
met  in  the  afternoon  and  asked  some  questions  touching  the  act 
presented  with  the  said  petition,  and  ordered  the  attendance  of  the 
Garbler  this  afternoon  ;  the  Court  desires  the  Governor,  the  Deputy, 
and  as  many  of  the  Committees  as  can  to  be  present  also.     {^\pp) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  ii,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  93). 

Mr.  Vivian  desires  to  know  if  the  Stock  has  sufficient  in  India 
to  lade  home  the  three  last  ships  dispeeded  there  ;  he  is  informed 
that  14,000/.  was  sent  in  the  said  vessels,  which  would  in  all 
probability  lade  them.  In  answer  to  a  further  question,  he  is  told 
that  no  agreement  was  made  with  the  Joint  Stock  that,  in  the 
event  of  ships  for  the  Voyage  arriving  in  India  and  there  being 
goods  ready  bought  for  the  Stock,  these  should  be  laden  for  the 
Voyage's  account,  they  paying  interest  for  the  money  which  bought 
the  said  goods  ;  and  that  any  desiring  to  be  convinced  of  this  may 
read  the  letters  sent  for  the  Voyage  last  year  to  India.  After  much 
dispute  it  is  agreed  that  the  Governor's  proposals  shall  be  presented 
to  the  Committees  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  their  answer  to 
the  same  desired.  Sugar  sold  to  Thomas  Cullmand  and  William 
Ashhurst.  Marmaduke  Grimeston  to  be  paid  300/.  in  part  of  a  bill 
of  exchange  given  to  him  by  Aaron  Baker  in  payment  for  calicoes. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  15,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  381). 

Messrs.  Burton,  Piggott,  and  Brett  having  signed  the  release 
desired  by  the  Company  (though  Sir  Nicholas  Crispe  still  refuses 
to  do  so)  the  Court  decides,  on  certain  conditions,  to  pay  the  100/. 
promised  and  to  deliver  up  their  bill  to  be  cancelled.  Sambrooke 
presents  an  estimate  of  the  remains  in  India  belonging  to  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  with  the  customs  at  Gombroon,  and  a  valuation  of  their 
worth.  This  is  read  and  a  motion  made  that  the  generality  be 
asked  in  the  afternoon  to  consider  how  the  trade  is  to  be  prosecuted, 

*  It  appears  from  the  Commons'  Jottmals  (vol.  vi,  p.  275)  that  it  was  the  bill(ioT  the 
exportation  of  pepper,  spices,  etc.,  ungarbled)  that  was  read  twice  and  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee. 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  341 

*  for  that  this  Stocke  cannott  beare  the  charge.'  Margaret  Smith, 
whose  husband  was  killed  in  the  Hart^  is  given  20J-.  Thomas 
Lewis,  servant  of  Edward  Darling,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom  by 
service,  paying  los.  to  the  poor-box.  The  daughter  of  William 
Browne,  who  in  1639  went  out  in  the  Advice,  to  be  paid  two  months 
yearly  of  her  father's  wages,  her  mother  being  dead,     (i  /.) 

A  General  Court  of  all  Freemen  and  Adventurers, 
August  15,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p,  383). 

The  Governor  tells  of  the  necessity  for  a  speedy  resolution  as 
to  how  the  trade  is  to  be  carried  on,  as  advice  must  be  sent  within 
the  next  fortnight  to  the  factors  in  India,  or  they  will  be  unable  to 
provide  goods  in  time  to  return  to  England  this  year.  He  declares 
that  in  his  opinion  there  are  but  three  ways.  viz. :  by  a  new  Joint 
Stock ;  by  a  supply  to  the  last  General  Voyage ;  or,  rather  than 
the  trade  should  fall,  by  the  old  Joint  Stock.  If  it  is  decided  to 
have  a  new  Joint  Stock,  then  all  shipping,  houses,  etc.,  must  be 
taken  by  it  from  the  old  Stock ;  if  a  supply  to  the  Second  General 
Voyage  is  decided  on,  then  a  better  allowance  must  be  given 
than  was  accorded  by  the  last  General  Voyage,  for  '  the  Stocke 
had  lost  betweene  6  and  7,000/.  by  serving  of  the  Voyage ' ;  and  if 
both  these  fail,  then  the  old  Stock  must  carry  on  the  trade,  for  it 
is  *  no  good  husbandry  to  lett  their  servants  and  shipping  stand 
still  and  the  trade  fall'.  He  gives  the  following  estimate  and 
valuation  of  the  remains  in  the  East  belonging  to  the  old  Joint 
Stock :  twelve  ships  worth  8,200/. ;  five  houses  at  Bantam,  Jambi, 
Japara,  Banjarmassin,  and  Macassar  worth  3,000/. ;  two  houses  at 
Agra  and  Ahmadabad,  and  a  garden  at  Surat,  worth  1,500/. ;  at 
Madraspatan  a  fort  called  St.  George  wth  its  houses,  provisions, 
stores,  etc.,  worth  5,000/. ;  the  Company's  customs  there,  upon 
importation  of  20,000/.  yearly  and  exportation  of  the  like  sum  at 
4^  per  cent,  inwards  and  outwards,  come  to  1,800/.  per  annum, 
worth,  at  five  years'  purchase,  9,000/. ;  the  customs  of  strangers 
trading  thither  esteemed  worth  400/.  per  annum,  whereof  the  King 
hath  one  half  and  the  Company  the  other  valued  at  five  years 
purchase,  1,000/. ;  the  customs  at  Gombroon,  esteemed  at  2,000/. 
per  annum  at  least,  at  five  years'  purchase,  10,000/.  ;  general  stores 


342  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,    OF  THE 

at  Bantam,  1,650/.;  'house  moveables  in  all  the  foresaid  houses,* 
1,200/. ;  besides  some  stores  at  Surat  and  other  places,  the  value  of 
which  is  not  certainly  known.  He  desires  the  generality  to  decide 
on  one  of  the  three  methods  mentioned.  The  proceedings  of 
a  general  court  of  the  24th  January  last  are  read,  '  when  the  trade 
was  laid  open  for  all  men  that  pleased  to  come  in  and  adventure,' 
and  the  preamble  to  a  book  of  subscriptions  then  confirmed,  to 
which  only  10,000/.  was  subscribed.  The  Deputy  declares  that  the 
chief  impediment  to  that  subscription  was  '  the  distraction  of  the 
tymes ',  and  that,  since  a  subscription  for  one  year  produced  19,000/.^ 
he  does  not  doubt  that  for  four  or  five  years  300,000/.  might  be 
subscribed.  The  Court  decides  to  appoint  Committees  from  the 
generality  and  from  the  Joint  Stock  to  consider  how  to  carry  on 
the  trade  to  the  best  advantage,  and  chooses  William  Barkley^ 
Samuel  Moyer,  Maurice  Thomson,  Roger  Vivian,  Nathan  Wright,. 
William  Vincent,  Captain  William  Ryder,  Captain  Jeremy  Black- 
man,  and  Aaron  Baker  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  former,  and  William 
Cockayne,  William  Methwold,  William  Ashwell,  Rowland  Wilson, 
Gilbert  More  wood,  Thomas  Jennings,  Gilbert  Keate,  James  Mann, 
and  Thomas  Andrews  to  act  on  behalf  of  the  latter.     (2^  pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  17,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  97). 

A  letter  addressed  to  the  Governor  and  Committees  for  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  is  presented, '  being  the  desires  of  divers  of  the 
adventurers  in  the  Voyage.'  It  suggests  that  all  the  goods  now 
come  from  Bantam  in  the  William,  Dolphin,  and  Advice  ought  to 
be  for  the  account  of  the  Second  General  Voyage,  these  ships  being 
freighted  and  imprest  money  paid  to  them  by  the  said  Voyage  and 
the  Governor  having  often  been  heard  to  say  in  court  ('although 
this  be  not  booked  downe ')  that  '  wee  might  not  expect  to  have 
our  shipps  come  home  full  fraight,  but  that  the  Joynt  Stock  had 
a  good  quantity  of  pepper  and  other  goods  ready  at  Bantam  and 
other  adjacent  parts,  which  should  be  laden  for  accompt  of  the 
said  Voyage,  they  allowing  interest  to  the  Stock  for  the  time  they 

*  An  error  for  190,000/.  The  reference  is  to  the  capital  subscribed  for  the  Second 
General  Voyage. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  343 

should  be  out  of  purse  of  their  moneys  in  providing  the  said  goods  '. 
If  it  had  been  expected  othenvise,  the  Stock  would  no  doubt  have 
provided  its  own  shipping  and  not  laid  the  burden  upon  the  Voyage. 
Yet  wishing  to  comply  with  the  desires  of  the  Stock  rather  than  to 
create  a  difference,  the  subscribers  will  waive  the  undoubted  right 
of  the  Voyage  to  the  said  goods,  provided  that  a  like  quantity  of 
goods  may  be  laden  for  account  of  the  Voyage  in  the  Etidymioii 
and  Anne  this  ensuing  year,  which  cannot  in  justice  be  denied,  since 
letters  from  the  factors  report  that  they  go  on  buying  goods  for 
account  of  the  Voyage  ready  to  lade  on  the  ships.  It  is  further 
proposed  that  no  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  order  for  turning 
over  the  remains  of  the  Voyage  to  the  Joint  Stock  at  s^.  6d.  the 
rial,  and  that  it  be  understood  that,  when  the  Ruth^  Endymion,  and 
Anne  are  laden,  what  remains,  if  it  does  not  exceed  10,000  or 
12,000  rials,  may  be  transferred  to  the  account  of  the  Stock,  'for 
that  we  desire  to  putt  a  period  to  the  Voyage.'  ^  After  considera- 
tion this  letter  is  approved,  confirmed,  and  directed  to  be  presented 
to  the  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock.  There  being  an  allowance 
of  five  per  cent,  made  by  the  book  of  rates  upon  all  linen  cloth, 
Mr.  Vivian  proposes  that  the  Committee  of  the  Navy  and  Customs 
may  be  petitioned  for  a  similar  allowance  upon  calicoes  ;  -  this  the 
Court  consents  to  do  if  the  allowance  is  denied,  but  not  before.  The 
Council  of  State  wishing  to  buy  the  Company's  saltpetre  for  the 
use  of  the  Commonwealth,  it  is  resolved  that,  if  an  officer  is  sent 
about  this  business,  the  Committees  shall  be  called  together  to 
treat  with  him.  Mr.  James,  formerly  master  of  the  Bilbao  Merchant 
(now  called  the  Bonito),  bought  for  this  Voyage,  is  given  10/.  as 
a  gratuity  '  for  parting  with  his  shippe '.  No  pepper,  calicoes,  or 
saltpetre  to  be  sold  at  the  next  court  of  sales.     (2^  pp.) 

*  The  following  names  are  appended:  John  Robinson,  Nicholas  Coisellis,  William 
Pennoyer,  Thomas  Hall,  Robert  Thompson,  Samuel  Pennoyer,  William  Harris,  Richard 
iiatson,  Michael  Davison,  William  Thomson,  John  Woods,  Martin  Noell,  Cornelius 
Mounteney,  James  Houbolon,  John  Casier,  Adam  Laurence,  Hugh  Norris,  William  Boene, 
Thomas  Harris,  and  Ahasuerus  Regemont. 

*  Later  on,  when  it  was  a  question  of  paying  duty  on  calicoes  on  the  ground  that  they 
were  linens,  the  Company  disputed  this  classification,  but  without  success  (see  Pepys's 
Diary,  s.  d.  February  27,  1664). 


344  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  on  August  15 
AND  OF  the  Committees  for  the  Joint  Stock,  August  ai, 
1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  94). 

The  minutes  of  the  general  court  of  the  15th  inst.  are  read,  and 
the  Deputy  announces  that  they  have  met  to  consider  how  best  to 
carry  on  the  East  India  trade.  They  must  first  resolve  whether 
this  shall  be  done  by  means  of  a  new  Joint  Stock,  a  new  General 
Voyage,  or  by  the  old  Stock.  After  discussion  it  is  agreed  that 
the  best  way  will  be  by  a  subscription  for  five  years.  Whether 
'  this  pursuance  of  the  trade '  is  to  be  termed  a  Voyage  or  a  Stock 
is  left  to  be  determined  later  by  the  adventurers.  The  amounts 
subscribed  are  to  be  paid  as  follows : — one-third  part  the  first  year, 
one-fourth  part  the  second  year,  another  fourth  part  the  third  year, 
and  one-sixth  part  the  fourth  year.  This  being  decided,  some 
accommodation  remains  to  be  made  with  the  adventurers  in  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  about  taking  or  leaving  houses,  shipping,  etc., 
belonging  to  them  in  the  East.  Their  twelve  ships  have  been 
valued  at  8,200/.,  but  to  this  some  objection  is  made.  It  is  there- 
fore agreed  that  the  said  twelve  ships  shall  be  valued  at  7,000/.,  on 
condition  that,  if  any  '  shall  by  miscarryage  or  deficiency  not  bee 
reigning  ^  when  the  servants  of  the  new  adventurers  shall  come  into 
India ',  their  several  values  shall  be  abated.  The  valuation  of  the 
five  houses  at  Bantam,  Jambi,  Japara,  Macassar,  and  Banjarmassin 
at  3,000/.  is  agreed  to  be  'a  fitt  rate' ;  while  as  to  the  two  houses 
at  Agra  and  Ahmadabad  and  the  garden  at  Surat,  valued  at  1,500/., 
it  is  decided  that  they  shall  be  taken  or  left  according  to  the 
decision  of  the  new  adventurers'  servants  on  arriving  in  India. 
The  Joint  Stock  has  also  a  '  stronge  fort  at  Madraspatan ',  which 
with  the  customs,  etc.,  is  valued  at  15,000/.,  '  which  castle  hath  the 
commaund  of  the  towne  and  four  miles  round,  and  (as  it  is  man- 
naged  at  present)  there  is  15,000  people  or  thereabouts  which 
make  clothing,  etc.  in  that  towne.'  It  is,  however,  generally 
conceived  that  there  is  a  mistake  in  this  valuation,  for  if  '  the 
Stocke  desired  ^  the  trade,  the  benefitt  of  the  customes   did   of 

^  'A  ship  doth  commonly  reign  about  thirty  years'  (T.  Hale,  1691).     This  use  of  the 
word  is  now  obsolete. 

^  Possibly  an  error  for  '  deserted  *. 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  345 

necessity  fall  away '.  Mr.  Baker,  being  questioned,  puts  the 
valuation  of  the  Fort  'with  all  appurtenences '  at  6,000/.,  and  this 
by  general  consent  is  agreed  to.     (2|  //.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  22,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  385). 

Damaged  pepper  on  board  the  Advice  to  be  examined.  Mr.  Ivy's 
request  to  have  his  goods  delivered  to  him  is  refused.  Pepper 
remaining  from  the  old  store  to  be  sold.  The  men  who  returned  in 
the  William  to  be  paid  off.  A  paper  is  read  containing  demands 
made  by  twenty  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Second  General  Voyage 
on  behalf  of  themselves  and  other  adventurers  in  the  said  Voyage  ; 
answer  to  this  is  deferred,     (i  p.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  consider 

THE   BEST  WAY  TO  CARRY  ON  THE  EaST  INDIA  TRADE,  AUGUST 

22,  1649  {Coitrt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  99). 

The  valuation  of  the  customs  at  Gombroon  belonging  to  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock,  put  at  10,000/.  at  five  years'  purchase,  is 
considered,  the  said  Stock  receiving  from  them  at  least  2,000/.  per 
annum.  It  is  declared  that  the  factors  in  Persia  advise  in  their 
letters  that  this  2,000/.  per  annum  is  not  one-third  part  of  their 
due,  or  of  what  they  might  receive  if  they  could  keep  two  pinnaces 
in  Gombroon  Road.  Hereupon  it  is  demanded  what  the  Company 
has  to  show  as  '  a  graunt  or  otherwise '  from  the  King  of  Persia  for 
these  customs  ;  the  Deputy  replies  he  has  heard  there  was  a  '  fir- 
maund'  from  the  said  King,  but  he  has  never  seen  it.  To  an  inquiry 
regarding  the  valuation  of  the  said  customs  when  passed  from  the 
Third  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  answer  is  made  that  this  is  not 
known,  it  having  been  done  *  in  a  lumpe '.  Methwold  further 
declares  his  willingness  to  give  9,000/.  for  the  said  customs  and  to 
allow  all  Englishmen  their  customs  free,  on  condition  that  he  may 
return  the  value  of  what  he  receives  in  silk  in  the  Company's  ships 
to  England,  paying  freight  for  the  same.  After  much  dispute  it  is 
resolved  that  9,000/.  is  a  fitting  valuation  for  the  customs  at 
Gombroon.  The  valuation  of  '  house-moveables  and  other  stores  ', 
at  Surat  and  Bantam  is  left  to  the  factors  of  the  Joint  Stock  and 
those  sent  out  by  the  new  adventurers,  they  to  have  liberty  to  take 


346  COURT    MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

or  leave  them  as  they  think  fit.  Whether  the  money  for  the  houses, 
shipping,  etc.,  shall  be  paid  in  India  or  in  England  is  left  for  future 
discussion.     {i\pp-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  24,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  loi). 

Sale  of  some  odd  calicoes  (which  will  not  interfere  with  the  sale 
of  calicoes  in  lots)  is  allowed.  Two  gentlemen  sent  from  the  Council 
of  State  desire  to  know  the  lowest  price  at  which  the  Company  will 
sell  its  saltpetre ;  after  some  debate  they  are  told  that  the  price  is 
4/.  5^.  the  cwt.  ready  money.  It  was  added  that  the  reason  why  it 
is  so  high  is  that  it  cost  twenty  per  cent,  more  in  India  than  last 
year,  the  rials  that  bought  it  cost  ten  per  cent  more,  and  onl}- 
a  small  quantity  was  brought  this  year  to  England  ;  while  ready 
money  is  asked,  because  this  Voyage  is  only  for  a  year  and  the 
adventurers  expect  their  money  as  soon  as  their  goods  are  sold. 
If  the  State  pleases,  payment  may  be  made  for  the  saltpetre  out 
of  the  money  due  for  customs  on  the  goods  returned  for  this  Voyage. 
A  certificate  is  presented  of  damage  done  to  the  pepper  in  the 
Advice,  and  her  master,  Mr.  Arnold,  is  told  that  some  allowance 
will  be  expected  for  this.  At  his  desire  he  is  paid  1,500/.  on  account 
of  freight.  Messrs.  Brett  and  Day  wishing  to  buy  indigo  and  car- 
damoms are  told  that  these  commodities  are  to  be  sold  by  the  candle. 
Committees  to  examine  and  price  calicoes,     (a  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  a8,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  386). 

The  following  answer  is  returned  to  the  demands  made  at  the 
last  court  by  some  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Second  General  Voyage  : 
that  in  order  to  maintain  'a  faire  and  loving  correspondence  betweene 
the  Stocke  and  Voyage,  they  are  content  (though  it  wilbe  very 
prejudiciall  to  the  Joynt  Stocke)  that  what  goods  soever  shalbe  laden 
at  Bantam  to  be  returned  this  next  yeare,  1650,  either  in  the  RutA, 
Endymion,  Anne,  Greyhound,  or  any  other  shippe  or  shipps,  the  said 
goods  shalbe  accompted  two-fifths  for  the  Voyage  and  three-fifths 
for  the  Fourth  Joynt  Stockes  accompt,  and  so  the  adventure  to  bee 
borne  accordingly '.  They  are  also  content  to  waive  the  order  of 
the  27th  March  last  that  all  remains  should  be  turned  over  to  the 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  347 

Stock  at  5$-.  dd.  the  rial.  It  being  likely  that  Lord  Cottington's 
lands  will  be  disposed  of  by  Parliament,  Mr.  Acton  is  desired  to 
draw  up  a  petition  to  that  body  about  His  Lordship's  debt  for 
pepper  to  the  Company.  Richard  Breton  is  refused  any  more  of 
the  money  received  on  account  of  the  silk  sent  by  his  brother  Francis 
to  England,  he  having  already  had  1,500/.  of  the  same.  The  Court 
resolves  that  the  thanksgiving  sermon  [seep.  337]  shall  be  preached 
next  Thursday  week  at  'this  parish  church',  and  the  dinner  be 
given  at  '  the  Shippe  Taverne  in  Bishopsgate  Streete '.  John 
Polleyn's  account  to  be  examined.  The  owners  of  the  Golden  Fleece 
and  Aleppo  Merchant  to  be  paid  5,000/.  in  addition  to  what  they 
have  already  received  on  account  of  freight.     {}\PP-) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  August  28, 1649  {Conn  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  103). 

The  answer  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  the 
paper  containing  the  desires  and  demands  of  several  adventurers  in 
this  Voyage  is  read.  After  discussion,  as  the  reply  is  not  deemed 
satisfactory,  it  is  decided  that  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle 
all  differences  between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage  shall  meet  next 
Friday  afternoon  to  consider  the  said  demands  and  answer,  and  to 
determine  the  business  as  they  think  fit.  If  all  the  Committees  do 
not  meet,  the  generality  are  to  be  informed,  in  order  that  others  may 
be  chosen  in  place  of  those  who  are  dead  or  absent.     {^kPP-) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  August  30,  1649  {Court  Book, 
voL  XX,  p.  387). 

Sale  of  aloes,  indigo,  cloves,  cinnamon,  cardamoms,  Persia  silk, 
benzoin,  ginger,  brown  dutties,  niccanees,  populees,  and  tapseeles, 
with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     (il//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  August  31,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  389). 

The  owners  of  the  Dolphin  to  be  given  2,500/.  upon  account  of 
freight,  in  addition  to  the  1,500/.  already  paid;  and  the  owners 
of  the  Golden  Fleece  and  Aleppo  Merchant  an  additional  3,000/.  for 
each  ship.  Several  commodities  belonging  to  the  account  of  the 
Second  General  Voyage  having  been  sold,  the  Committees  for  that 


348  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

Voyage  are  desired  to  meet  twice  weekly  to  take  the  security 
tendered  for  such  goods.  Mr.  Acton  having  drawn  up  the  petition 
to  be  presented  to  Parh'ament  concerning  Lord  Cottington's  debt 
for  pepper,  he  is  directed  to  consult '  Mr.  Recorder  [William]  Steele ' 
and  Mr.  Hales  about  it.  Henry  Norton  and  James  Hayes  accepted 
as  securities  for  calicoes.     (|/.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  4, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  104). 

All  who  buy  and  pay  for  goods  belonging  to  this  Voyage  to  be 
allowed  eight  per  cent,  interest  on  their  money  from  time  of  pay- 
ment. The  Committees  resolve  to  meet  every  Wednesday  afternoon 
and  every  Friday  morning  to  expedite  business.  George  Hudley 
and  Thomas  Hanson  buy  garbled  cloves  at  ']s.  7^.  per  lb.  A  meeting 
is  appointed  to  be  held  to  decide  on  the  number  of  Committees  to  be 
considered  a  quorum  at  the  meetings  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Joint  Stock.  The  men  in  the  Bonito  to  be  paid  their  wages.  Those 
appointed  to  value  the  houses,  shipping,  etc.,  in  India  not  having 
done  this  as  desired,  they  are  to  be  summoned  to  meet  next 
Friday  and  then  all  proceedings  are  to  be  reported  to  the  general 
court.     {\\pp) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  5,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  390). 

Out  of  a  sum  of  15/.  received  from  John  Frith  (being  the  costs  of 
a  suit  in  Chancery  for  contempt  in  not  answering  the  Company's 
bill)  Francis  Lenton,^  who  wrote  a  poem  on  the  arrival  of  the 
Company's  seven  ships,  is  given  3/. ;  but  the  Court  '  did  not  very 
well  rellish  his  conceits,  and  desired  him  neither  to  print  them  nor 
proceed  any  further  in  making  verses  upon  any  occasion  which  may 
concerne  the  Company '.  William  Hurt's  petition  for  release  from 
the  King's  Bench  is  refused.  The  Supply  to  go  into  dock,  and  the 
William  also  as  soon  as  she  is  unladen.  Anne,  widow  of  John 
Polleyn,  to  be  paid  1,000/.  upon  account   of  her  late  husband's 

^  A  notice  of  this  egregious  individual,  who  was  rather  a  butt  for  the  wits  of  the  time, 
will  be  found  in  the  Dictionary  of  National  Biography.  The  reference  to  him  in  the  text 
disposes  of  Rimbault's  conjecture  that  Lenton  died  in  1642. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  349 

estate,  and  to  be  allowed  interest  at  the  rate  of  five  per  cent  from 
now  on  what  shall  appear  due  to  her  on  arrival  of  the  Bantam 
ships,     (i  p) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  Appointed  on  the  15TH 
August  last,  September  7,  1649  {Cotirt  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  391). 

The  several  valuations  of  the  shipping,  etc.,  belonging  to  the 
Joint  Stock  are  read,  and  debate  ensues  whether  the  money  shall 
be  paid  in  England  or  in  the  East.  It  is  decided  that  10,000/. 
shall  be  paid  at  Surat,  and  10,000/,  at  Bantam  '  upon  the  delivery 
of  such  goods  to  the  next  Voyages  factors,  if  the  goods  in  those 
severall  factories  did  amount  unto  so  much,  after  the  rate  of  ^s.  6d. 
per  ryall  of  eight ;  and  the  remainder,  if  it  amount  to  more  then 
20,000/.  paid  for  in  India,  should  bee  satisfyed  by  the  next  Voyages 
undertakers  to  the  adventurers  of  the  Fourth  Joynt  Stocke  in 
sterling  money  here  in  England '.  It  is  further  decided  that  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  shall  trade  no  more,  either  outwards  or  home- 
wards, but  send  two  empty  ships  to  fetch  home  their  remains  and 
to  pay  their  debts,  after  which  the  Voyage  is  to  receive  all  the 
benefit.  William  Pennoyer's  offer,  on  behalf  of  the  State,  to  buy 
all  the  saltpetre  at  3/.  10s.  per  cwt.  is  refused,  the  Company's  price 
being  4/.  ^s.  the  cwt.     {^zPP-) 

A  General  Court  of  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  7,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  106). 

The  demands  made  by  some  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage 
and  the  reply  returned  by  the  Committees  of  the  Joint  Stock  are 
read  and  discussed,  and  it  is  generally  agreed  that  the  answer  is 
not  satisfactory.  Only  ten  remaining  of  the  sixteen  Committees 
originally  appointed  to  settle  any  differences  which  might  arise 
between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage,  the  rest  being  either  dead  or 
absent,  it  is  decided  that  six  or  eight  of  the  said  Committees  (three 
or  four  for  either  side)  shall  be  empowered  to  settle  all  disputes, 
and  if  they  cannot  do  this,  then  to  report  to  a  general  court  It 
being  asked  by  what  authority  goods  belonging  to  the  Voyage  have 
been  sold,  answer  is  made,  by  the  Committees  chosen  by  the  Voyage  ; 
and  it  is  agreed  that  the  sale  appointed  for  next  Thursday  shall  be 


350  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

held,  and  Committees  desired  to  price  the  goods,  but  after  then  no 
more  goods  belonging  to  the  Voyage  shall  be  sold  without  general 
consent.  The  Court  orders  letters  to  be  sent  overland  to  India  to 
authorize  the  factors  to  provide  goods  for  the  next  Voyage's  account 
to  the  value  of  20,000/.  or  thereabouts.     (2  //.) 

The  Council  of  State  at  Whitehall  to  William 
Pennoyer,  September  ii,  1649  {Pnhlk  Record  Office:  S.  P. 
Dom. :  Interregnum,  I.  94,  p.  429). 

We  desire  you  to  deal  with  the  East  India  Company  for  their 
saltpetre.  They  have  offered  it  to  the  Ordnance  Officers  at  4/.  ^s. 
per  cwt.,  but  if  you  can  get  it  lower,  do  so  ;  if  not,  hold  them  to 
what  they  offered.  Get  what  time  you  can,  as  the  pay  will  be  good, 
being  upon  150,000/.  on  the  excise  for  Ireland,  which  will  come  in 
within  two  months,  perhaps  sooner ;  use  diligence,  it  being  a  con- 
siderable service  to  the  commonwealth. 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  12,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  392). 

Messrs.  Steevens,  Pett,  and  Bearblocke  to  examine  the  Supply 
and  report  as  to  her  fitness  for  another  voyage  to  India.  Elizabeth, 
widow  of  John  Burroughes,  to  be  paid  3/.  in  full  of  her  husband's 
account ;  her  son  not  to  be  given  any  wages,  but  to  be  allowed  his 
passage  and  diet  free.  A  bale  of  morees  sent  to  William  Winter  in 
the  Dolphin  by  his  son  Thomas  to  be  delivered  on  payment  of 
freight.  Aaron  Baker  presenting  a  list  of  his  goods  brought  home 
in  the  William  and  Supply,  he  is  granted  permission  to  have  them 
delivered  at  his  house  on  condition  that  he  does  not  sell  the  morees 
until  those  belonging  to  the  Company  are  disposed  of.  The  Deputy 
is  allowed  the  use  of  one  of  the  rooms  in  the  fore  part  of  the  Com- 
pany's house,     [i^pp') 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  September  12,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  393). 

The  demands  made  on  behalf  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage  are  read,  with  the  answers  to  the  same,  and  the 
Governor  intimates  that  many  of  the  said  adventurers  are  not  satis- 
fied, but  think  the  goods  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  brought  home 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  351 

in  the  ships  belonging  to  the  Voyage  should  be  theirs,  not  consider- 
ing that  if  the  ships  had  not  been  so  laden  they  would  have  returned 
with  much  dead  freight,  or  else  been  obliged  to  stay  nine  or  ten 
months  upon  demurrage,  and  that  the  Joint  Stock  is  willing  to  per- 
form a  like  service  for  the  Voyage  at  any  time.  Of  the  sixteen 
Committees  formerly  appointed  to  settle  all  disputes  between  the 
Stock  and  the  Voyage  only  ten  remain ;  and  as  the  consent  of 
at  least  five  on  each  side  is  requisite,  '  if  any  one  of  them  of  either 
side  were  missing,  then  they  would  determine  of  nothing.'  Here- 
upon it  is  generally  resolved  that  (as  already  sanctioned  by  the 
adventurers  in  the  Voyage)  anything  arranged  and  ordered  by  six 
of  the  said  Committees  (three  for  the  Stock  and  three  for  the 
Voyage)  shall  be  agreed  to  and  done.  The  Governor  informs  the 
court  of  the  agreement  concluded  by  the  Committees  appointed  on 
August  15  regarding  the  payment  to  be  made  by  the  new  Voyage 
for  the  shipping,  etc.,  of  the  Joint  Stock.  A  motion  is  made  for 
a  letter  to  be  written  at  once  to  India  (as  was  done  last  year),  for, 
if  some  advice  is  not  given  soon  to  the  factors,  the  adventurers  will 
have  to  pay  twenty  per  cent,  dearer  for  goods,  and  would  perhaps 
be  unable  to  procure  any  considerable  amount  to  lade  home  the 
ships  to  be  dispeeded  next  March.  After  some  dispute  (the 
amount  necessary  to  be  borrowed  being  put  at  20,000/.),  the  Deputy 
intimates  that  'there  is  a  necessity  to  write  such  a  letter  at  present '  ; 
if  the  new  adventurers  please,  they  can  confirm  the  arrangement : 
if  they  refuse,  it  will  be  offered  to  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  :  and  if  they  also  refuse,  then  the  subscribers  who  sign 
the  said  letter  will  be  obliged  to  make  good  the  agreement  to  take 
up  the  2c,ooo/.  at  interest.     i^^PP) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  la,  1649  {Court  Book,  wo\.  xxii,  p.  108). 

Arnold,  master  of  the  Advice,  to  be  paid  2,500/.  on  account 
of  freight  over  and  above  the  1,500/.  already  received  by  him. 
There  being  a  good  quantity  of  money  in  cash  and  more  expected 
daily  from  sale  of  the  goods  belonging  to  this  Voyage,  it  is  left  to 
the  discretion  of  the  Treasurer  whether  to  give  back  to  those  who 
desire  it  the  money  paid  in  upon  the  sixth  part  of  the  adventure  by 
way  of  loan.    Mr.  Pennoycr  renews  his  offer  to  buy  the  Company's 


352  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

saltpetre  for  the  use  of  the  State,  and  is  told  that  he  can  have  it  at 
4/.  5j.  the  cwt.  ready  money,  and  must  take  it  away  within  six 
months'  time  ;  he  defers  his  answer  until  the  morrow,  and  the  Com- 
mittees resolve  that  if  he  refuses  these  terms  a  general  court  shall  be 
summoned  to  ascertain  the  opinion  of  the  adventurers  in  this  matter. 
James  Anfosse  and  Sheriff  Viner  accepted  as  securities  for  benzoin, 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  September  13,  1649  {Court 
Book,  vol.  XX,  p.  395). 

Sale  of  sugar,  mace,  pepper,  cloves,  and  Sinda  cloth,  with  prices 
and  names  of  purchasers.     (^  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle 
Disputes  between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  396). 

The  Deputy  informs  the  court  that  the  object  of  the  meeting 
is  to  compose  a  difference  which  has  arisen  between  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  and  the  Second  General  Voyage.  Certain  demands 
made  by  the  latter  are  read,  and  the  Deputy  declares  that  the 
Stock  has  already  consented  to  the  second  of  these,  viz.  to  waive 
the  order  that  all  remains  should  be  turned  over  to  the  Stock  at 
5^.  6d.  per  rial  when  the  Ruth  is  laden.  With  regard  to  the  first 
demand,  the  Deputy  points  out  that  the  William,  which  went  on 
account  of  the  Voyage  to  Bantam,  was  not  dispeeded  until  the 
middle  of  June,  did  not  arrive  until  November,  and  returned  for 
England  the  following  January  ;  therefore  the  stock  laden  in  her 
could  not  possibly  have  been  invested,  as  there  is  no  money  to  be 
procured  upon  credit  in  Bantam  ;  and  so,  if  the  Stock's  goods  had 
not  been  laden  in  the  Voyage's  ships,  they  must  have  returned  with 
a  great  deal  of  dead  freight,  or  else  stayed  ten  months  upon  demur- 
rage. The  charge  of  the  Stock's  factors  amounts  to  17,000/.  per 
annum,  while  only  6,000/.  is  received  from  the  Voyage  ;  and  it  seems 
unreasonable  that,  if  the  Voyage  has  no  more  goods  to  lade  in  their 
ships,  the  goods  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  should  not  be  laden 
in  them  upon  payment  of  freight,  rather  than  they  should  return 
with  dead  freight.  For  the  Voyage  to  demand  all  goods  brought 
home  in  the  Anne  and  Endymion^  because  the  Stock  has  had  some 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  35$ 

goods  brought  home  in  the  William,  Dolp/iin,  and  Advice,  is  very- 
unfair.  An  adventurer  in  the  Voyage  remarks  that,  in  regard  the 
Ruth  will  bring  home  goods  equal  in  value  to  those  the  Endyviion 
and  A7ine  will  bring,  this  answer  is  not  'proportionable'.  Another 
adventurer  infers  that  it  was  expected  that  the  Stock  '  should  per-, 
forme  with  the  Voyage '.  The  Deputy  replies  that  during  the  First 
General  Voyage,  which  continued  five  or  six  years,  there  were  never 
any  such  disputes,  '  but  the  same  was  begunne,  continued,  and 
ended  with  a  great  deale  of  love  and  amity.'  It  is  further  objected 
that  there  are  fifty  bales  of  goods  at  Masulipatam  ready  to  be 
shipped  which  were  refused  to  be  taken  into  the  Boniio,  whereby  the 
adventurers  in  the  Voyage  are  deprived  of  the  benefit  which  might 
redound  from  them.  To  this  the  Committees  for  the  Stock  cannot 
answer  and  desire  that  it  may  be  inquired  into.  Another  adven- 
turer in  the  Voyage  asserts  that  it  is  reported  that  the  Stock  has  at 
Bantam  and  thereabouts  an  estate  of  60,000/. ;  this  he  wishes  con- 
firmed. Hereupon  Sambrooke  declares  that  there  is  63,000/.  quick 
stock  at  Bantam  and  the  several  factories  under  that  Presidency, 
'  good  estate,  all  bad  debts  abated.'  After  much  dispute,  by  com- 
mand of  the  Deputy,  a  letter  of  the  i8th  December,  1647,  is  read, 
to  show  the  Voyage  '  how  really  the  Joynt  Stocke  intended  to  this 
Voyage '.  Finally,  in  order  to  satisfy  some  adventurers  who  are 
still  unconvinced,  it  is  agreed  that  Messrs.  Thomson,  Vivian,  and 
Blackman  shall  be  allowed  to  examine  accounts  and  letters  or  any- 
thing else  concerning  the  Voyage  they  shall  think  fit.     (i|  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  19,  1649  (Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  398). 

Simon,  son  of  Alderman  Edmunds,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom 
by  patrimony,  paying  los.  to  the  poor-box.  Mr.  Acton  reports 
that  Lord  Cottington  has  lands  worth  6co/.  or  700/.  per  annum  not 
yet  assigned  to  the  Lord  President  of  the  Council  of  State,  or  to  any 
other  ;  and  that  Sir  George  Ratcliffe  has  lands  in  England  worth 
30c/.  a  year.  Acton  is  directed  to  consult  with  Counsel  about  this  and 
follow  the  advice  given  ;  and  also  to  draw  up  a  petition  to  Parlia- 
ment, with  the  advice  of  Counsel,  concerning  the  abuses  committed 
by  the  Garbler,  who  is  playing  '  fast  and  loose '  about  his  dispute 
with   the   Company.     Certain    Committees   are  desired   to   frame 

S.C.M.  lu.  A  a 


354  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

a  letter  to  be  sent  overland  to  Surat  to  authorize  the  factors  to 
provide  goods  to  the  value  of  20,000/.  to  lade  in  the  ship  or  ships 
to  be  sent  out  this  next  spring.  Mary,  sister  and  administratrix  of 
Samuel  Husbands, deceased  at  Banjarmassin, applies  for  her  brother's 
estate ;  on  examination  this  is  found  to  be  974/.  i^.,  but  as  it  was 
made  through  private  trade,  notwithstanding  Husbands'  bond  of 
1000/.  not  to  indulge  in  the  same,  the  Court  offers  to  pay  800/.  in  full 
of  all  demands  ;  the  sister  asks  for  time  to  consider  this  offer. 
Francis  and  Margaret  Reeve,  administrators  of  the  late  John  Turner, 
who  died  at  Surat,  are  told  that  1,142/.  iis.  ^d.  is  due  to  their 
brother's  estate,  and  part  of  a  letter  dated  from  Surat  in  January, 
1647,  is  read  to  them,  showing  that  the  said  Turner  and  Maximillian 
Bowman  bought  a  ship  at  Achin  for  their  own  private  trade,  and 
employed  seven  Englishmen  in  her  whose  wages  were  paid  by  the 
Company.  The  administrators  refer  themselves  wholly  to  the 
Company,  and  accept  with  gratitude  1,000/.  in  full  of  Turner's 
estate.  The  Supply  to  be  brought  into  dock,  but  not  repaired  until 
further  order.  Dorothy,  wife  of  Richard  Swanne,  master  of  the 
Anne,  to  be  given  300/.  from  the  estate  of  John  Polleyn,  being 
a  debt  due  from  the  latter  to  Swanne.     (li/A) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  settle 
Disputes  between  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage,  September 
19,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  400). 

Captain  Blackman  announces  that  he  has  read  the  letters  and 
accounts  concerning  the  estate  of  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage,  and  is 
well  satisfied  concerning  the  quick  stock  remaining  '  in  India  * 
belonging  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  ;  but  the  question  in  dispute  is 
about  the  distribution  of  the  estate  at  Bantam  upon  its  arrival 
in  England,  of  which  two-fifths  have  been  proposed  to  be  put  to  the 
account  of  the  Voyage  and  three-fifths  to  that  of  the  Joint  Stock. 
The  adventurers  in  the  Voyage  conceive  that  the  RutJis,  lading  will 
be  as  valuable  as  that  brought  home  in  the  Anne  and  Endymion^ 
and,  as  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  Greyhound  will  go  to  Bantam  or 
not,  in  his  opinion  her  lading  should  be  put  to  the  account  of  the 
Stock.  The  order  of  the  27th  of  March  last,  by  which  all  remains 
after  the  lading  of  the  Ruth  are  to  be  turned  over  to  the  Stock,  is 
read  and  disputed,  and  finally  it  is  agreed  that  this  order  shall  be 


EAST   INDIA    COMPANY  355 

waived  altogether,  and  the  Court  resolves  that  all  goods  arriving  in 
England  this  next  year  from  Bantam,  which  by  letters  and  invoices 
shall  appear  to  have  been  bought  with  money  belonging  to  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  shall  be  put  to  the  account  of  that  Voyage, 
the  said  Voyage  to  bear  the  adventure ;  likewise  any  goods  arriving 
this  next  year  from  Bantam,  which  shall  appear  by  letters  or 
invoices  to  have  been  bought  %vith  money  belonging  to  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  shall  accrue  to  that  Stock  and  be  put  solely  to  its 
account,  the  said  Stock  to  bear  the  adventure  of  the  same.     (^^PP.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  September  21, 1649  {Court  Book^  vol.  xxii,  p.  109). 

After  some  dispute  it  is  resolved  that  Mr.  Pennoyer  shall  have 
the  saltpetre  for  the  use  of  the  State  at  the  price  and  time  formerly 
agreed  upon,  and  be  allowed  six  months'  rebate.^  Garbled  cloves 
sold.  A  letter  to  Surat,  drawn  up  by  the  Committees  for  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock,  is  read,  concerning  the  taking-up  at  interest  of 
about  20,000/.  to  be  invested  in  goods  to  be  laden  in  the  ship  or 
ships  to  be  sent  out  this  next  'March.  The  Committees  think  that 
the  adventurers  in  the  next  intended  Voyage  should  have  the  offer 
of  taking  or  refusing  this  sum  ;  if  they  decline  it,  then  the  adven- 
turers in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  should  have  a  like  offer ;  and  if 
they  refuse,  then  those  who  have  subscribed  the  letter  must  have  it ; 
any  adventurer  in  the  Stock  or  Voyage  to  be  free  to  sign  the  letter. 
There  being  much  business  to  perform,  the  eighteen  Committees 
appointed  on  the  15th  of  August  last  are  to  be  summoned  to  meet 
to  perfect  their  report  concerning  the  valuation  of  houses,  shipping, 
etc.,  in  India  ;  and  a  general  court  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Voyage 
is  to  be  held  to  appoint  a  day  of  sales  for  the  goods  returned  for  this 
Voyage.     {i%pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  September  26,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  401). 

John  Turner's  bond  and  certain  rings  belonging  to  him  to  be 
given  up  to  Francis  Reeve.  Resolution  is  deferred  as  to  the  disposal 
of  the  pepper  belonging  to  the  Stock,  and  also  concerning  the  speedy 

»  For  references  to  Pennoyer's  [contract  for  gunpowder  see  State  Papers,  Domestic^ 
Interregnum,  I.  63,  pp.  98,  437. 

A  a  2 


^5^  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

dispatch  of  two  ships  to  Bantam.  Margaret,  wife  of  Thomas  Fisher, 
to  be  paid  30/.  upon  account  from  the  estate  of  her  late  brother, 
William  Smethwicke.    (I/.) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  September  26,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  no). 

The  Governor  announces  that  all  differences  between  the  Stock 
and  Voyage  have  been '  lovingly  and  freindly  composed  and  ended  ', 
the  Committees  both  for  the  Stock  and  the  Voyage  being  severally 
content  to  acceptthe  goods  bought  with  their  own  money  for  their  own 
several  accounts,  notwithstanding  the  order  of  the  26th  \sic\  March 
last,  which  by  general  consent  is  waived.  Upon  an  order  made  by 
the  Committee  of  the  Navy  for  payment  of  10,000/.  to  the  Merchant 
Adventurers,  on  account  of  the  customs  upon  the  goods  returned  in 
the  seven  ships,  5,000/.  is  ordered  to  be  paid  on  account  of  the 
Voyage,  and  a  like  sum  on  account  of  the  Stock.  A  petition  having 
been  presented  to  the  House  of  Commons  and  an  Act  drawn  up 
concerning  liberty  to  transport  ungarbled  pepper,  spices,  and  drugs 
without  incurring  the  penalty  of  the  statute  made  in  the  first  year 
of  King  James,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  go  to  Westminster 
and  forward  this  business.^  All  goods  returned  in  the  seven  ships 
being  warehoused,  after  some  discussion  it  is  agreed  to  divide 
to  every  adventurer  50/.  per  cent,  of  what  he  has  paid  in,  two-thirds 
in  Jambi  pepper  at  14^.  per  lb.  and  one-third  in  Malabar  pepper  at 
\^d.  per  lb.  The  Committees  nominated  by  the  Voyage  are  given 
leave  to  sell  certain  commodities  by  treaty,  provided  these  have 
already  been  put  to  the  candle  and  not  sold,     (i^//-) 

A  General  Court  of  all  the  Freemen  and  Adven- 
turers, September  27,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  402). 

The  resolutions  of  the  last  general  court  are  read  and  confirmed, 
and  the  Governor  announces  that  the  Committees  appointed  by 
that  court  have  met  several  times,  and  after  serious  debate  are 
of  opinion  that  the  trade  will  be  most  advantageously  carried  on  by 
a  Voyage  to  continue  for  five  years,  each  adventurer  in  it  to  pay 

*  The  bill  was  considered  on  October  4  and  passed  the  following  day  {jCommom 
yournah,  vol.  vi,  pp.  303,  304). 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  357 

one-third  of  his  subscription  the  first  year,  one-fourth  the  second 
year,  another  fourth  the  third  year,  and  one-sixth  the  fourth  year. 
This  being  resolved  on,  the  Governor  desires  that  the  following 
valuation  of  ships,  houses,  forts,  customs,  etc.,  made  by  the  said 
Committees  be  read,  for  the  court  to  approve  or  alter.  The  twelve 
ships  in  India  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock  the  Committees  value 
at  7,coo/.,  on  condition  that  if  anything  shall  have  happened  to 
them  when  the  factors  for  the  new  undertakers  arrive  in  India  their 
several  values  shall  be  proportionately  reduced.  The  five  houses  at 
Bantam,  Jambi,  Japara,  Macassar,  and  Banjarmassin  they  value  at 
3,000/.  ;  the  houses  at  Agra  and  Ahmadabad,  and  the  garden 
at  Surat,  at  1,500/.,  with  liberty  to  take  or  leave  them,  as  the  factors 
for  the  new  undertakers  upon  their  arrival  shall  think  fit.  St. 
George's  Fort  at  Madraspatan,  and  the  benefit  of  the  customs,  they 
value  at  6,000/.  ;  and  the  customs  at  Gombroon  at  9,000/.  The 
valuation  of  the  house-movables  and  stores  in  all  parts  of  India 
they  leave  to  the  factors  of  the  Joint  Stock  and  those  to  be  sent  out 
by  the  new  undertakers,  the  latter  to  have  liberty  to  take  or  leave 
what  they  shall  think  fit.  For  the  ships,  houses,  forts,  customs, 
movables,  etc.,  taken  by  the  factors  for  the  new  undertakers,  10,000/. 
shall  be  paid  at  Surat  and  10,000/.  at  Bantam  at  the  rate  of  55-.  td. 
the  rial,  if  the  goods  in  each  Presidency  shall  amount  to  so  much, 
but  if  they  come  to  more  than  20,000/.  the  surplus  is  to  be  paid  in 
England  to  the  Joint  Stock  in  sterling  money.  The  Joint  Stock  is 
to  trade  no  more,  either  outwards  or  homewards,  and  no  ships 
to  be  sent  to  India  but  by  the  new  undertakers,  except  four  empty 
ships  containing  1,000/.  a  piece,  two  on  account  of  the  Joint  Stock 
and  two  on  account  of  the  Voyage,  to  fetch  home  their  goods 
remaining  in  India  ;  these  four  ships  to  be  dispeeded  before  the  ist 
May  next.  All  goods  remaining  in  India,  after  the  said  four  ships 
have  left,  are  to  be  turned  over  to  the  account  of  the  new  under- 
takers at  the  rate  of  55.  6^,  the  rial.  The  ships  at  Surat  and 
Bantam  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  factors  for  the  new  undertakers 
within  fourteen  days  after  their  arrival,  or  sooner  if  possible.  The 
new  undertakers  are  to  have  the  benefit  of  the  customs  from  Gom- 
broon after  the  ist  October,  1650.  A  consultation  is  to  be  called 
by  the  factors  for  the  new  undertakers  and  the  former  adventurers 
within  fourteen  days  after  their  arrival  at  Surat  and  Bantam,  to  con- 


35^  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

sider  the  entertainment  of  the  factors  and  servants  belonging  to  the 
Joint  Stock,  and  the  new  undertakers  are  to  pay  the  wages  and  bear 
the  charge  of  those  they  engage  from  the  time  of  calling  the  said 
consultation.  All  factors  and  servants  not  entertained  are  to  return 
home,  the  Joint  Stock  to  pay  their  wages  and  charges  of  return. 
The  new  adventurers  are  to  see  that  no  mariners  or  seamen  in  India 
not  entertained  by  them  be  any  charge  either  to  them  or  to  the 
Joint  Stock.  The  Stock  engages  to  secure  the  new  adventurers 
from  all  '  damage  and  incumbrance  whatsoever  by  reason  of  any 
debts  or  contracts  made  by  the  Fourth  Joynt  Stocke  in  all  parts  of 
India '.  All  the  foregoing  valuations,  etc.,  are  approved,  and  the 
Governor  announces  that  in  his  opinion  400,000/.  will  be  a  com- 
petent stock  to  follow  the  trade  for  the  five  years  proposed,  and  that 
a  preamble  should  be  drawn  up  inviting  men  to  underwrite ;  and 
although  letters  have  already  been  sent  overland  for  goods  to  the 
value  of  20,000/.  to  be  provided,  '  yett,  if  they  will  not  loose  the 
best  flower  of  their  garden,'  it  will  be  best  to  send  a  ship  to  the 
Coast  in  December  next.  It  is  agreed  that  the  Voyage,  to  be  con- 
tinued five  years,  shall  begin  in  December,  and  no  more  stock  shall 
be  sent  out  by  it  after  May  i,  1653.  It  is  further  unanimously 
resolved  that  a  preamble  shall  be  drawn  up  to  a  book  of  subscrip- 
tion for  the  said  Voyage  to  the  East  Indies,  and  the  Governor,  the 
Deputy,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  perfect  this  preamble 
to-morrow  morning.     {3pJ>.) 

A  General  Court  of  all  the  Freemen  and  Adventurers, 
September  38,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  405). 

The  preamble  to  the  proposed  book  of  subscription  for  continuing 
the  trade  to  the  East  Indies  for  five  years  is  read  ;  and  thereupon 
an  adventurer  announces  that  he  has  heard  upon  the  Exchange  that 
an  Act  is  to  be  presented  to  Parliament  '  for  a  plantation  upon  an 
island  called  Assada,  under  colour  thereof  to  trade  into  India'. 
This  the  Governor  acknowledges  to  be  true,  and  causes  a  copy  of  the 
said  intended  Act  to  be  read.  The  Deputy  remarks  that  what 
is  desired  is  of '  so  large  a  latitude  that  if  it  bee  graunted  it  wilbe 
sufficient  to  undoe  any  East  India  Company ',  but  he  confidently 
hopes  that  the  said  Act  will  not  be  passed  before  the  Company, 
who  are  resolved  to  oppose  it  *  as  much  as  lyes  in  their  power ', 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  359 

have  been  heard.  Mr.  Moyer  (who  is  mentioned  in  the  Act)  sug- 
gests that,  'seeing  it  had  putt  a  stop  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
subscription  upon  the  preamble  aforesaid/  a  committee  should  be 
appointed  to  treat  with  some  of  those  who  are  to  manage  that 
plantation,  to  see  whether  '  there  might  bee  a  composure  of  this 
difference  or  not,  whereby  to  bring  the  trade  of  India  and  this 
plantation  into  one '.  Before  this  motion  is  considered  the  Governor, 
by  request,  puts  it  to  the  question  whether  the  adventurers  are  willing, 
after  hearing  this,  to  underwrite  the  preamble  ;  he  is  answered  by 
'  an  absolute  denyall '.  Hereupon  the  Governor,  the  Deputy,  and 
certain  Committees  are  nominated  '  to  treate  with  such  gentlemen 
as  are  of  the  Assada  Plantation  '  about  such  things  as  they  conceive 
fitting,     (ikpp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  3,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  406). 

Though  Tomblings  reports  that  pipestaves  and  clapboards  are  to 
be  had  cheaply,  none  are  ordered.  It  is  resolved  that  the  Williatn 
shall  be  repaired  and  sent  in  March  or  April  next  to  Bantam  to 
bring  back  the  goods  belonging  to  the  Joint  Stock,  and  that  a  small 
ship  of  about  300  tons  be  dispatched  thither  about  the  10th  of 
January  next  to  make  two  voyages  to  Jambi  to  help  lade  the 
William  and  to  procure  her  own  lading.  The  Dolphin  and  others 
are  named,  and  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  treat  with  masters 
and  owners  for  the  freighting  of  such  a  vessel.  After  debate  as  to 
the  disposal  of  the  pepper  belonging  to  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  it 
is  resolved  to  divide  to  each  adventurer  60/.  per  centum  in  pepper, 
every  adventurer  to  pay  for  it  at  the  rate  of  i  id.  per  lb.  at  twelve 
months  from  Christmas.  Any  man  paying  in  his  money  to  be 
allowed  eight  per  cent,  discount  from  the  time  of  payment, '  with 
two  monthes  in.'  No  one  to  be  allowed  to  take  out  his  division 
in  pepper  without  either  paying  in  his  money  or  giving  good 
security  for  the  same.  Garbled  Jambi  pepper  is  to  be  rated  at 
\i\d.  per  lb.  and  Malabar  at  I3^<^.  per  lb.  Mr.  Johnson  is  paid  for 
planks.     {\\pp.) 


36o  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  October  3,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  407). 

Sale  of '  garble  '  and  '  dust '  of  cloves,  mace,  and  cinnamon ;  ginger 
from  Bantam  and  from  China  ;  cassia  lignum  ;  benzoin  from  Cam- 
boja ;  silk  from  Bengal ;  salampores,  morees,  and  ginghams ;  with 
prices  and  names  of  purchasers,    (i^//.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  10,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  409). 

John  King  is  paid  43/.  for  deals  to  floor  the  Company's  cellars. 
The  Governor  relates  that  he  has  settled  the  difference  between  the 
Company  and  Mr.  Maxwell  ('  the  now  Earle  of  Darleton ')  about  his 
share  of  the  pepper  debt,  and  has  accepted  Eliab  Harvy's  bond  for 
payment  of  4,000/.  next  November.  This  bond  the  Governor 
delivers  to  the  Treasurer,  and  Mr.  Acton  presents  the  discharge 
to  be  given  to  Mr.  Maxwell,  which,  according  to  agreement,  is  to  be 
sealed  with  the  Company's  common  seal ;  this  the  Court  orders  to 
be  done,  if  on  Counsel's  advice  it  is  found  to  be  legal.  Adventurers 
to  be  allowed  until  the  last  day  of  December  to  underwrite  for  their 
proportion  of  pepper,  the  division  of  which  was  agreed  upon  at  the 
last  court ;  any  pepper  remaining  after  that  date  to  be  sold  by  the 
candle,  and  any  loss  accruing  to  be  charged,  in  proportion,  to  the 
accounts  of  those  adventurers  who  have  not  underwritten  for  their 
share.  The  Governor  announces  that  yesterday  he,  with  certain 
other  Committees,  met  Messrs.  Thomas  Boone,  Maurice  Thomson, 
Samuel  Moyer,  and  Nathaniel  Andrews  about  the  Act  concerning 
their  plantation  at  Assada  and  trade  into  India.  These  gentlemen 
intimated  that  they  had  expected  to  receive  some  proposals  from 
the  Company  about  an  accommodation ;  they  were  told  that  such 
a  proposition  should  come  from  them,  whereupon  they  asked  for 
and  were  given  a  copy  of  the  preamble  to  the  present  subscription, 
and  promised  to  make  some  reasonable  proposal.  Mrs.  Comey, 
*  landlady  to  the  Company  for  something  they  hold  by  lease  of  her 
at  Deptford,'  which  has  been  sub-let  to  Peter  Pett,  is  promised  that 
when  Mr.  Pett  shall  re-assign  this  lease  and  the  Company  re-assign 
their  interest  to  her,  if  she  accepts  the  same,  she  shall  be  given  10/. 
Some  ships  having  been  offered  for  freight  at  18/.  per  ton,  their 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  361 

owners  and  masters  are  to  be  desired  to  attend  the  next  court. 
Blount  complaining  of  want  of  room,  he  is  directed  to  hire  a  ware- 
house and  put  in  it  the  goods  not  taken  away  from  the  Company's 
warehouse,  and  charge  the  rent  to  the  owners  of  the  said  goods. 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  12,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  112). 

Robert  Doughty,  who  came  home  merchant  in  the  Bonito,  to  be 
paid  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him  and  his  bond  to  be  cancelled. 
Messrs.  Hanson,  Lucy,  and  Thetcher  accepted  as  securities  for 
cardamoms.     {\p^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  17,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  411). 

At  Cuttler  the  Garbler's  request,  certain  Committees  are  appointed 
to  treat  with  him  and  endeavour  to  come  to  a  peaceable  conclusion  ; 
and  they  are  to  persuade  him  to  stop  all  proceedings  in  the  Ex- 
chequer. Beef  and  pork  to  be  provided  for  the  William.  The 
Secretary  reports  that  '  a  Parlyament  man '  told  Thomas  Andrews 
that '  Mr.  Thomson,  who  had  endeavoured  to  gett  a  pattent  to  trade 
to  the  Island  of  Assada,  intended  to  carry  some  passengers  with 
two  shipps  upon  freight,  and  then  to  goe  for  India  and  pillage  for 
his  money,  which  was  seized  on  at  Rajahpore  for  Mr.  Courteenes 
debts  out  of  the  Ruth '.  Mr.  Andrews,  thinking  that  Parliament 
should  be  petitioned  for  redress,  has  drawn  up  his  '  sense  of  the 
businesse '.  This  is  read  and  approved,  and  the  Secretary  is  desired 
to  draw  up  a  formal  petition,  desiring  that  either  Mr.  Thomson 
be  stayed  in  his  intended  proceedings,  or  made  to  give  good  security 
to  answer  for  any  damage  he  may  do  the  Company  in  India.  The 
Deputy,  observing  that  the  Lord  General  Fairfax  is  named  first  in 
the  patent  for  Assada,  thinks  that  some  of  the  Company  should 
wait  upon  him  and  acquaint  him  how  destructive  this  voyage  will 
be  to  the  East  India  trade.  This  motion  is  approved  but  nothing 
resolved  on.  The  following  ships  are  offered  on  freight  to  Bantam : 
the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  the  Advice  at  18/.  per  ton,  and  a  new  ship 
of  330  tons  belonging  to  Captain  Newport  at  17/.  per  ton.  The 
new  ship  is  accepted  on  certain  conditions,  and  is  to  be  ready  at 
Gravesend  by  the  loth  January.     {}\pp.) 


362  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  17,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  113). 

The  sum  of  2,000/.  to  be  paid  to  the  Commissioners  of  Customs 
upon  account  of  goods  returned  this  year  for  this  Voyage.  Messrs. 
Vivian  and  Abdy  accepted  as  securities  for  cloves.  The  Advice, 
Sampson,  and  Aleppo  Merchant  are  offered  on  freight  to  Bantam, 
but  no  resolution  is  come  to.  Mr.  Vivian's  offer  of  his  ship  the 
Golden  Fleece  to  be  freighted  at  18/.  per  ton  is  accepted,  but  resolu- 
tion as  to  imprest,  demurrage,  etc.  is  deferred.     {^\Pp-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  18,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  413)- 

Messrs.  Mead  and  Norton  offer  to  buy  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  ; 
but  after  a  long  debate  the  Court  decides  to  take  the  said  calicoes 
for  the  Company's  use,  abating  3^.  4^/.  per  piece  of  the  original  price , 
and  promising,  if  they  are  sold  at  a  less  abatement  than  3^.  \od.  per 
piece,  to  allow  Mr.  Holloway  for  the  same.  Cloves  sold  to  Messrs. 
Cuttler  and  Brewer,     (i^  pp.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  October  18, 1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  414). 

Sale  of  longcloth,  salampores,  morees,  betteelees,  sannoes,  hum- 
mums,  and  sugar,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.     {^\pp.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  19, 1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  114). 

Maurice  Thomson  advising  that  according  to  a  general  order  he 
paid  in  250/.,  the  sixth  part  of  his  adventure,  but  the  note  given  to 
him  for  receipt  of  the  same  was  by  mischance  lost,  the  Committees 
direct  that  another  note  be  given  to  him.  Messrs.  Hanson,  Soame, 
Thetcher,  and  Frith  accepted  as  securities  for  sugar.  It  is  resolved 
to  freight  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  the  Golden  Fleece  to  Bantam  on 
certain  conditions ;  the  former  to  be  allowed  11/.  per  day  demurrage 
and  600/.  imprest,  and  the  latter  1 2/.  per  day  demurrage  and  800/. 
imprest.  It  is  also  resolved  that  a  clause  shall  be  inserted  in  all 
charter-parties  stating  that,  if  any  ship  brings  back  damaged  goods 
and  the  Company  refuses  them,  the  owners  are  to  allow  \os.  for 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  363 

each  rial  of  what  the  said  goods  cost,  the  Company  to  pay  no 
charges  of  freight  or  otherwise  after  the  goods  are  shipped.  Over- 
tures being  made  for  purchase  of  the  unsold  calicoes,  and  the  Com- 
mittees not  having  power  to  sell  at  a  private  court,  a  general  court 
is  appointed  to  be  held  to  ascertain  whether  power  will  be  given  to 
them  to  sell  or  not.  No  demurrage  to  be  allowed  the  DolpJmi  for 
the  time  she  lay  in  the  river,  she  having  arrived  within  twenty 
months  ;  all  damaged  calicoes  returned  in  her  to  be  taken  by  the 
owners,  the  Governor  promising  to  see  that  sufficient  allowance  is 
made  for  them.     (i|/>/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  20,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  416). 

The  Committees  appointed  relate  that  they  have  consulted  with 
the  Garbler  and  his  friend,  Mr.  Forth,  and  the  former  pretends  that 
4,500/.  is  due  to  him  for  fees  for  goods  sold  ungarbled  since  1640, 
and  that  after  deducting  what  it  would  have  cost  to  garble  the 
goods  the  amount  stands  at  2.700/.  Mr.  Forth  advises  that  1,000/. 
over  and  above  the  700/.  already  given  to  him  should  be  paid  to 
Cuttler,  as  '  the  charge  would  bee  great  in  withdrawing  the  informa- 
tions in  the  Exchequer,  and  other  perticulers  which  were  not  at 
present  to  bee  divulged '.  The  Committees  considered  this  demand 
so  unreasonable  that  they  came  to  no  conclusion,  and  hence  this 
court  has  been  called.  It  is  thought  best  to  apply  to  Parliament 
for  redress,  and  a  petition  drawn  up  for  this  purpose  is  read  and 
approved,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  take  care  of  this  business, 
whose  directions  the  Court  resolves  to  follow,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  24, 1649  {Court Book,wo\. 
XX,  p.  417). 

Mr.  Rich  reports  that  Cuttler  has  told  him  he  thinks  the  Com- 
pany has  been  much  abused,  for  he  knows  many  things  spoken  in 
court  about  his  business,  and  the  names  of  those  who  are  opposed 
to  him.  The  Committees  conceiving  it  a  great  breach  of  trust  to 
reveal  what  is  said  in  court,  a  motion  is  made  for  all  present  to 
clear  themselves  of  this  aspersion,  and  the  Governor,  the  Deputy, 
the  Treasurer,  and  all  the  Committees  declare  upon  oath  that  they 
have  not  done  this ;  and  the  Secretar>-  and  Samuel  Calcott  make 


364  COURT  MINUTES,    ETC.,  OF  THE 

a  similar  declaration.  Mr.  Holloway's  calicoes  sold  to  Mr.  Norton 
upon  the  Exchange  at  ^s.  Sd.  per  piece  abatement,  at  four  six 
months  from  the  ist  November.  Mr.  Norton  gives  20s.  to  the 
poor-box,  and  at  his  request  the  time  for  delivery  of  the  calicoes  is 
altered  to  the  nth  November.  The  Governor  announces  that  he 
and  other  Committees  attended  the  Speaker  [William  Lenthall], 
who  gave  them  good  encouragement  to  petition  Parliament  con- 
cerning the  Garbler,  and  the  intended  Planters  at  Assada.  The 
petition  concerning  Cuttler  is  read  (having  been  perused  by  Counsel) 
and,  after  some  alterations  made,  approved,  and  those  appointed  to 
deliver  it  are  desired  to  continue  their  care  herein.  Thomas  Ivy  to 
be  paid  ^,^ool.  in  full  of  a  bill  of  exchange  charged  on  the  Com- 
pany by  the  President  and  Council  at  Bantam,  for  20,000  rials  paid 
by  Ivy  into  the  Company's  cash  there,  to  be  repaid  in  England  at 
5^.  ^d.  the  rial.  Mr.  Acton  desiring  to  know  whether  to  put  all  or 
some  of  the  bonds  for  Lord  Cottington's  debt  in  suit,  he  is  directed 
to  sue  first  for  one  bond  only.  The  wife  of  Henry  Olton  to  be  paid 
30/.  upon  her  husband's  account.  The  Governor  and  Deputy  accepted 
as  securities  for  calicoes,  and  Joseph  Heme  and  Thomas  Allen  as 
securities  for  ginger.  Alice  Fisher,  widow  of  a  labourer  at  Black- 
wall,  is  given  30J.     (i^^) 

A  General  Court  of  the  Adventurers  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  October  24,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii, 
p.  117). 

The  Deputy  announces  that  this  meeting  has  been  called  to 
appoint  a  day  for  the  remaining  goods  to  be  sold,  and  to  ascertain 
whether  in  the  interim  the  Committees  chosen  for  this  Voyage  may 
have  power  to  sell  goods  previously  put  to  the  candle  and  not  sold. 
After  some  discussion  it  is  generally  agreed  that  the  said  Com- 
mittees shall  have  power  to  sell  calicoes,  indigo,  and  cloves  by 
treaty,  provided  the  price  set  up  for  them  by  the  candle  is  retained. 
A  court  of  sales  is  appointed  to  be  held  this  day  fortnight,    (if//.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  October  26, 1649  {Coiirt  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  118). 

Pepper  to  be  garbled.  Resolution  as  to  the  demurrage  to  be 
allowed  the  Golden  Fleece.     The  Advice  not  having  been  accepted 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  365 

to  freight  for  Bantam,  Mr.  Arnold  offers  her  for  Surat  on  whatever 
terms  the  Company  pleases  ;  he  is  told  that  no  ship  is  to  be  freighted 
to  that  place  by '  this  committee  ',  but  his  offer  shall  be  made  known 
to  those  who  wish  to  freight  any  thither,     (i  p) 

Petition  of  the  East  India  Company  to  the  Council  of 
State,  October  28, 1649  {Public  Record  Office:  C.  O.  77,  vol.  vii, 
no.  5). 

Recalling  how,  for  the  honour  of  the  English  nation,  increase  of 
navigation,  and  advancement  of  trade,  they  were  first  incorporated 
by  a  charter  granted  by  Queen  Elizabeth ;  since  when  by  great 
charge  and  industry  they  have  not  only  discovered  regions  formerly 
unknown  to  the  English,  but  also  by  treaties  with  the  princes  of 
those  parts  settled  residences  and  factories  in  their  dominions  upon 
equal  and  honourable  conditions.   They  were  opposed  by  the  Portu- 
guese, who  *  pretended  the  sole  title  to  that  navigation,  as  well  by 
discovery  as  donation '.    For  defence  and  safety  of  their  trade,  they 
have  been  obliged  to  dispatch  yearly  considerable  fleets  of  warlike 
ships,  which  have  been  forced  to  remain  abroad  to  defend  the  trade 
until  the  arrival  of  others,  and  then  only  could  with  safety  seek 
their  lading.     By  the  blessing  of  God,  they  not  only  made  good 
their  commerce  in  their  several  residences,  but  came  off  victorious 
in  several  signal  fights  against  their  determined  enemies,  the  Portu- 
guese, notwithstanding  the  incredible  advantages  possessed  by  the 
latter  both  in  men  and  ships.     After  thirty  years  of  hostility  the 
Portuguese,  finding  by  dear-bought  experience  that  they  could  not 
prevail,  and  wearying  of  war,  proposed  peace,  which  was  accepted 
and  agreed  upon  in  the  year  1635  by  the  Company's  President  and 
factors  residing  in  India.     The  Company's  hopes  of '  reaping  the 
precious  fruits  of  so  great  hazard  and  expence'  were,  however, 
frustrated  by  some  of  their  servants  combining  with  Endymion 
Porter,  Sir  William  Courteen,  and  others,  favoured  by  the  late 
King,  and  endeavouring  to  divert  the   advantage  of  this  dearly 
bought  peace  to  their  own  ends.     These  men  prepared  six  ships 
and  a  pinnace  to  pursue  the  trade,  and  dispatched  two  other  vessels 
commissioned  by  the  same  persons  and  authority  '  to  raunge  the 
seas  all  the  world  over,  and  to  take  all  shipps  and  vessels  whatso- 
ever whose  proprietors  were  not  subject  to  such  princes  as  were  in 


'^(^e  COURT    MINUTES,  ETC.,   OF  THE 

amity  with  the  King  of  England  '.     Thus,  besides  the  prejudice  of 
competition,  the  Company's  servants  and  estates  were  seized,  the 
former  imprisoned  for  depredations  and  misdemeanours  perpetrated 
in  India  by  virtue  of  the  aforesaid  commissions,  and  damage  sus- 
tained by  the  Company  to  the  value  of  100,000/.  at  the  least,  besides 
the  dishonour  accruing  to  the  English  nation  and  to  their  Christian 
profession.     Labouring  under  these  disadvantages,  and  sustained 
only  with  '  comfortable  promises  of  seasonable  redresse '  both  from 
the  Council  and  the  House  of  Commons,  and  having  solicited  the 
latter  ever  since  they  first  began  to  sit,  the    Company  at  last 
obtained  from  them  a  draft  ordinance,  which  was  transmitted  to 
the  House  of  Lords,  but  lay  dormant  there  until  their  dissolution. 
Yet   in   confidence  of  receiving  encouragement  for  so  important 
a  trade,  the  Company  met  frequently  and  debated  what  would  best 
conduce  to  its  support.     They  drew  up  a  preamble  for  a  subscrip- 
tion to  an  adventure  to  continue  for  five  years,  and,  finding  men 
*  chearefully  affected ',  they  hoped  to  have  seen  a  sum  subscribed 
answerable  to  so  great  an  undertaking.     But  on  discovery  of  an 
endeavour  (under  pretence  of  a  plantation  upon  the  island  of  Assada) 
to  obtain  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  trade  into  Asia,  Africa,  and 
America,  and  information  that  ships  were  prepared,  which   after 
landing  goods  and  passengers  at  Assada  were  to  sail  from  thence 
to  India  and  '  surprize  such  shipps  as  they  can  conveniently  meete 
withall ',  the  Company,  knowing  their  obligation  to  make  good  all 
damage  done  by  any  of  the  English  nation,  became  wholly  dis- 
couraged.    '  Thus  in  all  probabillity  this  rich  trade  to  East  India, 
which  hath  bin  discovered  with  soe  much  charge  and  difficulty, 
supported  with  so  much  valour  and  resolution,  continued  to  this 
nation  so  long  tyme,  and  with  so  much  advantage,  that  besides  the 
common  good  in  the  reduction  of  all  Indian  commodities  to  the 
halfe  of  that  value  for  the  which  they  were  sold  before  this  trade 
was  sett  on  foote,  ther  hath  bin  paid  for  custome  within  five  and 
twenty  yeares  last  past  above  five  hundred  thousand  pounds,  which, 
together  with  the  great  addition  which  this  trade  contributes  to  the 
navigation  of  this  kingdome,  will  render  it  soe  valueable  to  Your 
Honours  grave  consideration,  that  your  petitioners  hope  you  wilbe 
pleased  to   take  care   that  it  fall  not  wholly  into  the  power  of 
a  neighbouring  nation,  who  have  formerly  grasped  after  it  with  an 


EAST  INDIA   COMPANY  'i/S^ 

outstretched  hand,  to  your  petitioners  extreme  dammage,  and  they 
still  look  upon  it  with  an  avariti[ous]  eye ;  from  whome,  if  once 
lost,  it  wilbe  hardly,  if  ever,  recovered.'  They  therefore  pray  that 
the  ordinance,  drawn  up  about  two  years  ago  by  a  Grand  Committee 
of  the  whole  House,  may  be  revised,  and  anything  in  it '  superfluous 
or  defective '  removed,  and  that  an  Act  may  speedily  be  passed  for 
support  and  continuance  of  the  trade,  and  for  encouragement  of  the 
adventurers.     (2  pp^ 

A  Court  of  Committees,  October  30,  1649  (Couri  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  418). 

Mr.  Hurt  to  be  proceeded  against  this  term.  The  petition  to 
Parliament  directed  to  be  drawn  up  to  desire  '  an  Act  for  encourage- 
ment to  prosecute  the  trade,  and  to  hinder  the  proceeding  of  the 
pretended  planters  at  Assada  *,  is  read,  and  it  is  resolved  that  a  copy 
shall  be  shown  to  the  Council  of  State  at  Whitehall,  and  another  to 
Lord  Fairfax.  The  Deputy  announces  that  letters  have  already 
been  written  to  the  Coast  and  Surat  directing  the  factors  to  pro- 
vide goods  for  next  year,  but  that  it  is  also  necessary  to  send  ships 
to  both  places  ;  he  thinks  the  adventurers  in  the  Joint  Stock  should 
be  called  together  and  told  how  things  stand,  and  that  it  is  '  fittest 
for  them  to  send  out  shipps  who  beare  the  charge '.  Another  motion 
is  made  to  call  all  freemen  and  adventurers  together  and  see  what 
they  will  do  concerning  the  new  subscription,  but  no  resolution  is 
come  to.  Daniel  Skinner  at  Dover  to  be  directed  to  buy  Seville 
and  Mexico  money  to  the  value  of  5,000/.  at  the  best  rate  possible, 
as  rials  are  scarce  and  there  will  be  need  of  them  before  long. 
Captain  Bailey's  private  trade  to  be  delivered  to  him  free  of  freight. 
(I  A) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  November  7,1649  {Coitri  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  41 9). 

Sale  of  silk,  cloves,  pepper,  indigo  '  shirts '  or  bags  and  indigo 
skins,  morees,  broad  ginghams,  salampores,  sannoes,  baftas,  and 
rowladoes,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers.     (2//.) 


368  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  9,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  421). 

The  Governor  and  Deputy  accepted  as  securities  for  calicoes, 
and  Richard  Chambers,  Senior,  and  Junior,  for  180/.,  being  60/.  per 
centum  division  in  pepper  of  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock.  Mr.  Kerridge 
informs  the  Court  that  he  has  heard  from  some  factors  lately  come 
from  *  the  Southwards '  that  if  four  ships  are  sent,  as  intended,  to 
Bantam,  there  will  not  be  sufficient  goods  to  lade  them  home- 
Mr.  Baker  is  also  of  this  opinion,  and  declares  the  Company's 
business  is  likely  to  suffer  much  from  lack  of  factors ;  hereupon 
certain  Committees  are  desired  to  meet  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
Messrs.  Baker  and  Ivy,  examine  and  report  on  the  Bantam  accounts. 
Mr.  Ivy's  calicoes  to  be  delivered,  he  to  pay  freight  and  to  promise 
not  to  sell  them  in  town.  On  the  receipt  of  a  bill  of  exchange  from 
Bantam,  the  Court  orders  5,000  rials  to  be  paid  to  Aaron  Baker, 
at  the  rate  of  5^.  6d.  the  rial,  he  having  paid  so  much  into  the  Com- 
pany's cash ;  all  wages  and  debts  due  to  him  are  likewise  ordered 
to  be  paid,  his  bond  to  be  given  up,  and  certain  calicoes  brought 
home  by  him  to  be  delivered  free  of  freight.  Francis  Day,  who  is 
summoned  to  London  to  answer  to  a  bill  exhibited  against  him 
and  others  of  the  Company  by  Richard  Bateson  touching  Mr. 
Courteene's  gold,  is  desired  to  wait  on  Mr.  Acton  and  give  in 
his  answer  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  and  his  charges  shall  be 
paid.  Mr.  Aschman  at  Middelburg  and  Mr.  Whitaker  at  Amster- 
dam to  be  directed  to  provide  Mexico  and  Seville  rials  and  ingots 
to  the  value  of  5,000/.,  but  i,coo/.  of  this  to  be  in  gold,  if  it  is  to  be 
had.     (li/A) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  10,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  423). 

Mr.  Acton  reports  that  yesterday  the  Company's  petition  con- 
cerning the  Garbler  was  read  in  the  House  of  Commons  and  referred 
to  the  Committee  of  the  Navy,  who  made  an  order  to  hear  it  next 
Tuesday.^  Meanwhile  the  suit  is  going  on  in  the  Exchequer,  and 
Mr.  Attorney  Prideaux  lately  moved  that  the  Company  might 
put  in  a  plea  to  Cuttler's  bill ;  to  which  the  Company's  Counsel 

^  See  the  Comvions'  journals,  vol.  vi,  pp.  314,  315,  321,  338. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  369 

answered  that  the  business  was  deferred  by  consent,  and  Cuttler 
had  submitted  to  a  new  reference,  but  had  trifled  away  this  vacation. 
The  Barons  of  the  Exchequer  have  given  Mr.  Attorney  until  next 
Tuesday  '  to  show  why  the  Company  should  not  change  their  plea 
or  stand  upon  the  old  plea '.  The  Governor  announces  that  this 
meeting  has  been  summoned  at  the  desire  of  those  Committees  who 
yesterday  presented  the  petition ;  they  had  some  conference  with 
Mr.  Withering,  who  proffered  that  the  Garbler  should  end  the 
business  peaceably,  but  the  latter  not  appearing,  the  Court  resolves 
to  follow  their  petition  now  it  is  referred  to  the  Committee  of  the 
Nav}%  who  are  to  report  their  opinion  to  Parliament ;  and  it  is 
thought  the  Barons  will  stay  proceedings  in  the  Exchequer  now 
that  Parliament  has  taken  notice  of  it.  Taylor,  the  informer  in  the 
Exchequer  against  the  Company  about  the  Dutchmen,  having 
behaved  very  civilly  and  being  still  willing  to  refer  all  to  arbitration, 
he  is  desired  to  '  stay  awhile ',  and  told  that  he  shall  not  repent  his 
forbearance,    (i  /.) 

The  Assada  Merchants'  Propositions,  November  10,  1649 
{Public  Record  Office :  C.  O.  77,  vol.  vii,  no.  6  *j. 

They  object  to  the  proposed  Joint  Stock  for  the  following 
reasons:  i.  They  hope  it  will  be  far  more  profitable  for  them  to 
trade  to  Guinea  and  Assada  and  from  thence  to  India  than  to  join 
in  one  vast  stock  for  India  for  a  Voyage  of  five  years.  2.  A  Joint 
Stock  has  produced  neither  profit  nor  encouragement  to  the 
adventurers,  whereas  both  have  resulted  from  Particular  Voyages. 
3.  They  consider  that  a  free,  well-regulated  trade  might  be  more 
advantageous  to  the  nation  than  a  Joint  Stock.  4.  A  five  years' 
Voyage  is  not  according  to  their  agreement  when  they  were  invited  ^ 
from  the  settlement  of  the  Malabar  trade  and  were  under\vriting  for 
a  stock  of  8o,oco/.  to  carr}-  it  on.  When  they  did  join  together,  it 
was  for  their  mutual  benefit  and  the  public  good,  and  on  the  agree- 
ment that  what  ships  or  goods  each  had  abroad  should  be  brought 
home  without  question  or  molestation.  It  was  then  intended  by  the 
favour  of  the  State  to  settle  the  agreement  with  the  Dutch  that 

'  No.  7  is  another  version  of  the  same  doccmeiit.  The  chief  variations  are  noted 
below. 

*  '  Drawne '  in  the  other  copy. 

S.CM.  HI  B   b 


370  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

Polleron  [Pulo  Run]  might  be  planted,  and  so  mace  and  nutmegs  of 
their  own  growing  obtained,  and  a  free  trade  in  the  South  Sea  as 
formerly,  plantations  and  fortifications  settled,  and  a  scale  of  trade 
established  in  those  parts  under  English  government.  It  was  also 
understood  *  that,  untill  a  nationall  setlement  would  be  obtained, 
wee  should  send  forth  upon  Voyadges '.  They  now  maintain  that 
this  agreement  has  been  broken  in  the  following  respects:  When 
the  Ruth  came  home,  leaving  her  cargo  behind,  the  factors  of  the 
Joint  Stock  '  annimated  the  people  to  stay  the  same  ',  under  pre- 
tence that  no  more  English  would  come  there  to  trade.  They 
prepared  the  RutJi  again  for  India  to  fetch  home  the  said  cargo,  but 
her  dispatch  was  denied  and  voted  against,  and  the  Second  General 
Voyage  was  not  allowed  to  dispeed  any  ships,  though  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock  was.  Secondly,  the  subscription  for  the  proposed 
Voyage  for  five  years  '  is  not  for  a  nationall  setlement  as  intended  '. 
Thirdly,  although  no  considerable  stock  may  be  underwritten  to 
carry  on  the  trade,  yet  all  other  Englishmen  will  be  prohibited 
from  trading  (to  the  prejudice  of  navigation  and  trade)  whilst 
'  strangers '  have  liberty  to  trade  in  those  parts  ;  and  this  is  abso- 
lutely against  the  national  liberties,  and  destructive  to  the  public 
good  to  hold  more  places  than  can  be  planted,  fortified,  and 
managed.  However,  'to  manifest  that  wee  are  Englishmen  and 
seeke  the  publique  good  of  this  nation  as  well  as  our  perticuler 
proffitts,'  they  are  willing  to  lay  aside  their  own  schemes,  and  join 
with  the  Company  on  the  following  conditions  :  i.  That  a  stock  of 
300,000/.  at  the  least  be  underwritten  within  two  months,  to  be  paid 
in  four  years  as  proposed  in  the  preamble.  1.  That  immediately 
after  the  said  stock  is  subscribed  some  fit  person  be  sent  by  and 
with  the  authority  of  the  State  to  Holland  to  settle  all  differences 
with  the  Dutch,  and  to  procure  an  order  from  the  States  for  the 
settlement  of  Pulo  Run, '  the  English  Island  which  beareth  nutmeggs 
and  mace,'  and  free  trade  in  the  South  Sea.  3.  That  an  'equall ' 
value  be  set  upon  all  houses,  ships,  and-remains  in  India.  4.  That 
the  Island  of  Assada  be  planted  and  settled  under  this  government  ^ 

^  For  the  rest  of  this  clause,  the  second  copy  reads :  '  and  5,000/.  value  per  anniim 
agreed  to  be  sent  by  the  Company  in  snpplyes  of  servants  and  necessaryes,  for  erecting 
plantacJons,  building  pinnaces,  and  making  discoveryes  and  settling  trade  thereabouts ; 
besides  what  all  particular  planters  shall  send.' 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  371 

and  a  convenient  supply,  to  be  agreed  upon  by  the  adventurers,  sent 
out  yearly.  5.  That  the  trade  of  Guinea  for  gold  and  teeth  may  be 
purchased  and  joined  to  the  India  trade.  6.  *  That,  as  soone  as 
may  be  with  conveniency,  wee  obtaine  a  setled,  fortified  habitation 
under  our  owne  government  upon  the  coast  of  India,  that  soe  we  may 
not  ly  at  the  mercy  of  the  heathens,  as  now  wee  doe.'  7.  That  for 
the  government  of  the  Stock  fifteen  able  merchants  be  *  chosen  of 
the  Grand  Committee '  to  manage  the  affairs  of  Guinea,  Assada, 
and  India  for  the  first  three  years  and  then  five  of  the  fifteen  to  go 
and  five  others  to  be  chosen,  and  so  to  continue  from  year  to  year. 
Of  these  fifteen,  five,  or  any  three,  are  to  make  *  a  Committee  for 
India ',  whereof  one  constantly  to  be  of  the  quorum  ;  and  similarly 
for  Guinea  and  for  Assada.^  That  any  seven  of  the  fifteen  shall  be 
a  Grand  Committee,  whereof  the  '  president '  (who  may  be  chosen 
monthly  or  by  turns)  shall  be  one,  to  determine  general  affairs. 
None  with  an  adventure  under  500/.  to  have  a  voice  in  election,  but 
those  who  have  adventured  so  much  to  have  *  a  ball  in  the  ballance- 
ing  [sic]  box '  in  the  event  of  any  question,  that '  soe  the  Stocke  may 
governe  the  Stocke '.  8.  That  the  salaries  both  at  home  and  abroad 
be  reduced  to  such  a  reasonable  proportion  as  the  trade  will  bear.^ 
9.  That  encouragement  be  given  to  all  free  planters  who  mil  go  or 
send  to  Assada  or  to  the  town  in  India  '  where  you  make  your  chiefe 
aboad  and  the  scale  of  trade ',  to  settle  at  their  own  charge ;  that 
they  may  be  transported  there,  paying  10/.  per  head  for  passage, 
and  4/.  per  ton  for  goods  outward,  or  else  be  allowed  to  freight 
ships  *  to  carry  them  under  your  govemement ' ;  these  planters  to 
have  the  same  liberty  as  the  free  burghers  of  Goa  and  Batavia  have 
to  build  ships  to  trade  up  and  down  to  the  coast  of  Melinda,  the 
Red  Sea,  Persia,  India,  or  elsewhere,  paying  custom  at  Gombroon,^ 
and  5/.  per  cent,  in  all  the  Company's  other  factories  and  i/.-  per 
cent  for  sales  and  returns,  whether  sold  by  themselves  or  the 
Company's  agents,  for  all  goods  brought  into  their  ports,  and  to 
trade  under  the  name,  government,  and  protection  of  the  Company, 

1  The  other  copy  adds  here :  '  That  ont  of  those  fifteen  there  be  three  able  experienced 
marchants  chosen  to  be  of  the  secret  Conncell  of  India  yearely.' 

'  The  other  version  provides  instead  that  the  salaries  at  home  shall  not  exceed  2,003/. 
a  year,  and  those  abroad  5,000/. 

'  The  other  copy  specifies  ten  per  cent,  as  the  rate. 

*  The  other  copy  says  *  2/.' 

B  b  2 


372  COURT  MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

whose  factors  are  to  be  enjoined  to  give  them  all  assistance  in  their 
shipping  and  goods.  lo.  That  all  spices  (as  pepper,  cinnamon, 
cloves,  mace,  nutmegs),  indigo,  calico,^  benzoin,  and  cardamoms 
laden  for  Europe  to  be  the  Company's  commodities,  no  one  else  to 
buy  them  in  India,  but  only  negroes'  clothes,  calico,  and  all 
necessaries  for  Assada  and  parts  thereabouts.^  Money  raised  by 
the  burghers  by  planting  or  trading  may  be  paid  into  the  Company's 
cash  in  India  by  exchange  thirty  days  at  least  before  any  ship  leaves, 
at  5 J.  the  piece  of  eight,  to  be  paid  in  London,  as  the  Dutch  do  at 
Batavia  for  Holland ;  so  that  from  what  shall  be  produced  by 
European  goods  sold  in  India,  and  by  returns  from  Guinea  and 
Assada,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  in  a  short  time  there  will  be  no 
occasion  to  send  money  out  from  England  to  supply  that  trade. 
II.  That  the  Company  shall  make  good  to  the  owners  the  Ruth's 
stock  remaining  in  India,"  as  by  this  agreement  they  will  be  de- 
barred from  further  adventure  thither.  la.  That  the  two  ships 
preparing  *  to  fetch  saltpetre  for  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth  be 
permitted  to  go  freely  this  year,  as  well  as  the  two  for  the  Second 
General  Voyage,  and  four  for  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  all 
conditions  made  by  Maurice  Thomson  to  be  complied  with.  13. 
That,  if  the  Company  shall  refuse  to  send  ships  to  trade  to  China, 
Japan,  or  any  other  places  remote  from  their  habitation,  and  to 
make  discoveries  to  enlarge  trade  and  navigation,  then  any  member 
of  this  Company  or  others  under  this  government  shall  be  allowed 
to  do  so.^  *  This  being  the  substance  that  wee  propose  for  a  nationall 
setlement,  if  others  shall  not  concurr  with  us  therein,  wee  desire 
they  would  proceed  in  their  way,  and  leave  us  to  proceed  in  ours  ; 
and  all  in  a  way  of  regulation  and  governement  as  may  be  further 
agreed  on,  that  soe  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  our  endeavours, 
each  agreeing  in  love,  may  seeke  the  benifitt  of  the  publique,  as  alsoe 
the  good  of  each  other.'     (2  //.) 

^  The  other  copy  adds  saltpetre. 

*  The  other  copy  adds  :   '  all  other  the  Companyes  commodityes  for  Europe,  except 
diamonds,  pearles,  etc' 

'  The  other  copy  requires  the  Company  to  recover  this  property  and  return  it  to  the 
owners  in  saltpetre,  calico,  pepper,  etc. 

*  The  other  copy  adds ;  '  by  the  order  of  the  Council  of  State.' 

'  The  other  copy  adds  :  '  14.  That  some  fit  incouragements  be  proposed  to  seamen  in 
such  a  way  as  may  be  least  prejuditiall  to  the  Company.' 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  373 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  14,  1649  {Court^Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  424). 

Certain  Committees  are  desired  to  attend  the  Committee  of  the 
Navy  to-morrow,  when  the  business  concerning  the  Garbler  is  to  be 
heard.  An  order  of  the  Council  of  State  is  read,  in  which  the 
Company  is  directed  to  meet  Mr.  Thomson  and  other  Assada 
adventurers  and  endeavour  to  compose  the  difference  between  them  ; 
and  a  motion  is  made  for  some  Committees  to  meet  and  consider 
an  answer  to  the  propositions  presented  to  the  Council  of  State. 
This  is  approved  and  a  court  is  ordered  to  be  summoned  for  this 
purpose.  Blount  being  '  very  sicke  and  not  likely  to  continue  their 
servant  long ',  Samuel  Sambrooke  is  appointed  to  take  care  of  the 
warehouses  formerly  in  Blount's  charge  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  latter's  son,  to  make  an  inventory'  of  all  the  goods  contained  in 
them  ;  and  if  any  difficulty  shall  arise  in  the  weighing  of  commodities 
to  apply  to  Messrs.  Jennings  and  Abdy.  Captain  William  Minors 
is  chosen  commander  of  the  William  at  8/.  per  month,  his  half-pay 
to  begin  from  the  launching  of  the  said  ship.  The  Commissioners 
of  Customs  to  be  paid  what  remains  due  for  custom  on  goods 
returned  this  year  from  India.  Abraham  Cartwright,  brother  and 
executor  of  Ralph  Cartwright,  petitioning  to  receive  what  is  due  to 
the  latter,  certain  Committees  are  desired  to  examine  and  report  on 
his  account.  Some  jewels  now  in  the  custody  of  the  Treasurer  to 
be  disposed  of  at  the  next  court  of  sales.     {^\PP') 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  14,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  119). 

Longcloth  sold  to  Messrs.  Vivian  and  Andrews  at  30J.  per  piece 
at  three  six  months,  and  indigo  to  John  Brett,  Lahore,  at  5?.  3^.  per 
lb.,  and  Sarkhej  at  4J.  '^d.  per  lb.  at  four  six  months'  time.     (I/.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  for  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  November  16,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xxii,  p.  120). 

The  remainder  of  the  longcloth  is  sold  to  the  Deputy  for  exporta- 
tion at  30J.  per  piece  at  three  six  months  from  January  next.     (^/.) 


374  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF  THE 

The  East  India  Company's  Answer  to  the  Assada 
Adventurers'  Propositions,  November  19, 1649  {Public Record 
Office:  C.  O.  77,  vol.  vii,  no.  8).^ 

Stating  that,  in  obedience  to  the  Council's  order  of  the  12th  inst. 
they  have  conferred  with  the  adventurers  to  Assada,  but  notwith- 
standing their  utmost  endeavours  they  still  differ  in  some  particulars, 
and  therefore  they  present  the  following  answers  to  the  propositions 
made  by  those  adventurers,  i.  They  agree  that  a  stock  of  at  least 
300,000/.  should  be  underwritten  to  carry  on  the  trade  to  East 
India,  and  are  of  opinion  that,  if  the  Assada  adventurers  had  not 
interposed,  a  far  greater  subscription  would  have  followed  the  pre- 
amble. 2.  They  join  with  the  Assada  adventurers  in  begging  the 
Council,  'when  Your  Honours  shall  judge  it  to  bee  most  convenient,' 
to  '  owne '  their  just  complaints  against  the  Dutch  East  India  Com- 
pany, '  that  so  wee  may  receive  satisfaction  for  what  is  past,  and 
a  reglement  for  the  future.'  3.  This  proposition  they  conceive  to 
be  already  complied  with,  as  a  Select  Committee,  nominated  by  the 
generality,  including  Maurice  Thomson,  Samuel  Moyer,  Captain 
Blackman  and  others  of  the  Assada  adventurers,  after  several  debates, 
agreed  upon  a  valuation  of  the  ships,  houses,  fort,  customs,  and  all 
other  remains  in  India.  4.  Although  the  plantation  upon  Assada  is 
an  encroachment  on  the  limits  assigned  to  the  Company  by  its  charter, 
by  which  '  it  is  not  permitted  to  any  other  of  this  nation  to  saile  to 
the  eastward  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ',  yet  to  gratify  the  Assada 
adventurers  they  consent  to  the  island  being  planted  in  such  manner 
as  those  who  are  engaged  therein  shall  think  fit.  5.  They  are  yet 
'  strangers  to  the  trade  of  Guinney  ',  and  *  somewhat  shy  to  become 
ingaged  in  the  purchase  of  an  unknowne  trade  '  ;  yet  they  think  the 
proposition  very  fair,  provided  all  who  are  interested  may  be  duly 
satisfied.  6.  They  desire  '  a  settled  fortifyed  habitation  as  much  as 
any ',  and  have  sometimes  endeavoured  to  obtain  one,  but  without 
success ;  '  but  if  this  fortification  must  bee  erected  by  conquest,  wee 
apprehend  soe  many  difficulties  as  will  render  it  more  unfeezible 
then  if  it  were  to  be  attempted  in  Fraunce,  Spaine,  or  any  other 
European  nation.'  7.  They  are  willing  to  submit  to  any  form  of 
government  which  will  encourage  adventurers  to  underwrite  a 
sufficient  stock  to  carry  on  the  trade.     8.  To  this  they  agree  in  all 

'  Addressed  to  the  Council  of  State. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  375 

particulars.  9.  They  promise  not  to  discourage  any  planters  who 
wish  to  go  or  to  send  to  Assada,  and  to  afford  them  transport  for 
themselves  and  their  goods  in  the  Company's  ships  for  India,  upon 
such  reasonable  conditions  as  shall  be  agreed  upon ;  but  with 
regard  to  allowing  them  to  trade  from  port  to  port  upon  the  coast 
of  Melinda,  Arabia,  Persia,  and  India,  they  '  crave  leave  to  insist 
upon '  the  ordinance  drawTi  up  by  the  House  of  Commons,  which 
appropriates  to  the  Company  '  the  whole  trade  of  so  much  of  Asia 
as  lyeth  beyond  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  which  is  all  of  Asia  that 
was  not  formerly  graunted  to  the  Turkey  Company '.  10.  If  the 
Assada  plantation  prospers  according  to  expectation,  the  Company 
^\^ll  not  oppose  the  sale  of  the  fruits  of  the  island  in  India,  nor  the 
return  of  negroes'  clothes,  calicoes,  or  any  other  necessaries  to 
Assada,  provided  the  conditions  offered  in  this  proposition  are  duly 
obser\'ed,  that  so  the  whole  trade  from  England  to  India  and  back 
may  be  invested  in  the  East  India  Company.  1 1.  This  proposition 
they  totally  decline  as  unreasonable  and  destructive  to  the  new 
subscription,  '  wondring  that  private  persons  should  demaund  satis- 
faction from  a  Joynt  Stocke  not  yett  underwritten.'  12.  The  two 
ships  for  the  Second  General  Voyage,  and  the  four  for  the  Joint 
Stock  are  all  subordinate  to  the  Company,  whereas  the  two  pre- 
paring to  fetch  saltpetre  are  not,  and  therefore  ought  not  to  sail  for 
India.  Why  the  Company  cannot  serve  the  State  as  faithfully  and 
ably  as  Mr.  Thomson  or  any  other  person  *  wee  cannot  understand, 
no  more  then  wee  doe  those  conditions  made  by  Mr.  Maurice 
Thomson,  to  which  he  would  have  complyance '.  13.  When  the 
Company  is  settled  and  the  adventurers  are  knowTi,  if  any  of  them 
shall  propose  to  the  generality  a  new  voyage  or  discovery,  and  the 
same  is  approved,  in  all  probability  the  Company  will  undertake  it. 
'  If  not,  it  is  not  unlikely  but  that,  upon  good  caution,  there  wilbe 
leave  given  to  such  persons  to  prosecute  [it?]  upon  their  owne 
accorapt.'  In  conclusion  they  are  not  convinced,  notwithstanding 
the  aforesaid  debates  and  propositions,  that  Assada  can  be  made 
profitable  to  the  planters,  it  being  a  small  island  not  far  from  '  the 
great  island  of  Madagascar,  which  hath  bin  so  fatall '  to  Portugal, 
Holland,  France,  and  England.  Neither  do  they  think  it  would  be 
advantageous  to  the  East  India  Company,  as  it  is  at  least  2,500 
English  miles  from  the  nearest  of  their  factories  upon  the  coast  of 


376  COURT   MINUTES,    ETC.,   OF   THE 

India,  and  it  is  upon  the  most  populous  part  of  Madagascar,  where 
the  people  are  very  perfidious  in  peace  and  resolute  and  active  in 
war.  They  therefore  think  that  if  the  preamble  for  a  new  subscrip- 
tion is  set  forth  '  clogged  with  this  plantation,  it  would  bee  a  great 
hinderance  to  that  nationall  undertaking,  which  all  of  all  sides  seeme 
so  much  to  desire '.  Yet  if  the  Council  think  well  enough  of  the 
project  to  make  it  subordinate  to  the  East  India  trade,  and  com- 
mend it  to  the  care  and  charge  of  the  next  Joint  Stock,  the  Company 
are  not  '  so  sullen  as  not  to  submitt  to  what  Your  Honours  shall 
order  in  this  perticuler ' ;  for,  thinking  their  trade  of  so  great 
importance  to  the  nation,  they  do  not  wish  to  be  guilty  of  the 
least  appearance  of  deserting  it,  and  so  letting  it  fall  into  the  hands 
of  the  Dutch,  or  even  of  dividing  it,  which  in  their  opinion  would  in 
a  short  time  bring  it  to  certain  ruin.  They  have  not  had  time  to 
consult  the  generality,  but  they  think  that  *  to  invite  all  to  under- 
take a  trade  of  so  great  concernment,  the  conditions  of  the  preamble 
should  bee  as  plausible  as  can  bee  contrived '.     {'^kPP-) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  ai,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  425). 

A  list  of  debts  due  to  the  Company  is  read,  and  Spiller  is  directed 
to  desire  all  those  who  owe  money  (due  last  August)  to  make 
speedy  payment.  Mrs.  Towse,  who  is  to  have  a  division  in  pepper, 
is  to  be  allowed  warehouse  room  for  the  same.  Charles,  son  of 
John  Blount,  lately  deceased,  to  be  entertained  as  assistant  to  the 
officer  who  shall  be  appointed  in  his  father's  place  ;  his  salary  to  be 
considered  later.  At  the  petition  of  Pedwarden  Rumsey,  the  Court 
orders  that  if  he  or  his  surety,  Mr.  Lisle,  pay  in  100/.  by  this  day 
week,  his  debt  to  the  Company  shall  be  cleared,  and  his  bond  shall 
be  delivered  up  to  be  cancelled ;  Rumsey  returns  his  humble 
thanks,  and  Mr.  Lisle  promises  to  make  the  said  payment  by  the 
time  appointed.  An  administration  granted  to  Michael  Glover  and 
his  wife,  Anne,  of  the  estate  of  the  late  Richard  Evans  is  presented, 
and  payment  desired  of  what  the  Company  has  belonging  to  the 
said  Evans ;  the  Court  resolves,  as  there  are  other  claimants  to  this 
estate,  to  detain  the  money  for  a  month,  and  if  at  the  end  of  that 
time  Glover's  administration  remains  vaHd  to  pay  it  to  him.  John 
Tredlesse,  who  came  as  a  seaman  in  the  Supply  from  Bantam,  to  be 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  377 

paid  50J-.  for  service  rendered  in  that  ship.  Mr.  Andrews  reports 
that  he  and  other  Committees  have  examined  Mr.  Cartwright's 
books  and  found  '  very  great  miscarriages  by  way  of  private  trade ', 
for  which  some  deduction  should  be  made  from  his  estate ;  resolu- 
tion herein  is  deferred.  Marmaduke  Grimeston,  who  came  home 
in  the  Williafn,  to  be  paid  for  calicoes  bought  of  him,  he  to  pay 
for  their  freight  from  the  Coast  to  Bantam.  Mrs.  Fotherby,  ad- 
ministratrix of  the  late  Robert  Fotherby,  to  be  paid  200/.  upon  the 
latter's  account,     (i^pp.) 

The  Agreement  between  the  East  India  Company  and 
THE  Assada  Adventurers,  November  21,  1649  {Public  Record 
Office  :  CO.  yy,  vol.  vii,  no.  9;.^ 

At  a  meeting  of  divers  Committees  of  the  East  India  Company 
with  others  of  the  adventurers  to  Assada,  held  November  21,  1649. 
the  Deputy  announces  that  they  have  met,  according  to  the  order 
of  the  Council  of  State,  to  endeavour  an  agreement,  that  the  East 
India  trade  may  be  effectually  prosecuted  for  the  benefit  of  the 
adventurers  and  for  the  honour  of  the  nation.  Hereupon  the 
proposals  of  the  Assada  Adventurers  are  read,  with  the  Company's 
answers  formerly  presented  to  the  Council  of  State,  and  after  debate 
and  consideration  it  is  agreed  :  i.  That  a  stock  of  300,000/.  at  least 
is  necessary  to  be  underwritten  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  trade. 
2.  That  when,  by  the  assistance  of  the  State,  restitution  shall  be 
obtained  from  the  Dutch  for  damages  sustained  and  Pulo  Run 
restored,  '  the  island  should  bee  to  the  new  intended  adventurers, 
and  that  which  shalbe  received  for  dammages  to  the  Third  Joynt 
Stocke,  to  whome  it  appertaines  '.  3.  The  valuation  formerly  made 
of  the  Company's  houses,  fort,  shipping,  etc.,  in  India  is  unanimously 
agreed  to  be  'an  indifferent  valuation'.  4.  'It  was  consented  unto, 
that  there  should  bee  a  plantation  on  Assada  and  that  it  should  bee 
carried  on  at  the  charge  and  under  the  government  of  the  new 
intended  stocke,  and  that  the  planters  should  have  encouragement 
to  plant,  and  should  have  liberty  to  carry  the  fruits  of  Assada  to 
any  parts  of  the  coasts  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  America  and,  after 
sale  of  their  Assada  commodities  there,  to  buy  clothing  and  other 

1  This  report  was  evidently  made  to  the  Council  of  State.  The  agreement  is  also 
entered  on  the  minutes  of  the  Company  (see  p.  382). 


378  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC.,  OF  THE 

necessaries  for  their  plantation,  but  not  to  trade  from  port  to  port 
in  India.  And  that  they  should  pay  the  rest  of  the  proceed  of 
their  Assada  commodities  into  the  Companies  cash  in  India,  to  bee 
repaid  here  in  England  at  the  rate  of  ^s.  per  ryall.  And  for 
commodities  of  the  island,  they  might  bring  them  home  into 
England,  but  no  India  commodities.  And  that  the  planters  should 
have  free  trade  to  the  coast  of  Melinda,  the  river  of  Sophila, 
Mosambique,  and  the  parts  adjacent.'  5.  It  is  agreed  that  the  trade 
of  Guinea  for  gold  and  teeth  shall  be  united  with  the  East  India 
trade  in  one  body  and  regulation  by  the  authority  of  the  State ; 
but  this  cannot  be  effected  at  present.  6.  It  is  resolved  'to  en- 
deavour a  settled,  fortifyed  habitation  in  India  by  all  partyes '. 
7.  It  is  decided  that  the  model  and  form  of  government  (when  the 
adventurers  are  known)  shall  be  settled  by  the  major  part  of  the 
adventurers ;  and  that  none  shall  have  a  voice  in  this  matter  unless 
he  has  500/.  stock  ;  but  if  five  men  have  underwritten  for  100/.  each, 
they  may  choose  one  to  have  a  vote  for  them, '  and  so  of  other 
summes  amounting  to  500/.'  8.  This  is  agreed  to  in  all  particulars. 
9.  This  also  is  agreed  to,  reference  being  had  to  the  answer  given 
to  the  fourth  proposition.  10.  And  the  like  for  this.  11.  It  is 
agreed  that  the  Company  shall  do  their  utmost  to  gain  restitution 
of  the  Ruth's,  stock,  which  is  detained  in  India  by  the  natives,  and 
return  it  home  for  the  benefit  of  the  owners.  12.  The  Company 
and  Mr.  Thomson  are  content  to  serve  the  State  with  saltpetre  on 
the  terms  already  arranged  by  the  latter.  13.  It  is  'conceived' 
that,  when  the  Company  is  fully  settled  and  the  adventurers  known, 
if  any  of  them  shall  propose  a  new  voyage  to  the  generality  and 
they  dislike  it,  '  it  was  not  unlikely  but  that  upon  good  caution 
liberty  would  bee  given  to  such  persons  to  prosecute  the  same  on 
their  owne  accompt.'  And  thus  all  parties  being  agreed,  they 
humbly  pray  the  Council  to  favour  them  and  recommend  to  Parlia- 
ment that  '  an  Act  may  speedily  passe  for  the  settlement  of  the 
trade,  that  the  adventurers  may  not  bee  prejudiced  by  enterlopers 
and  private  traders  as  heretofore,  and  that  the  Company  may  have 
the  favour  of  the  State  to  countenance  and  protect  them  from  such 
wrongs  as  the  Hollanders  have  formerly  putt  upon  them  '.     (2  //.) 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  379 

A  Meeting  of  divers  Committees  and  others  of  the 
AssADA  Adventurers,  November  27,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  427)- 

A  Committee  for  the  Second  General  Voyage  being  present, 
Mr.  Martin  buys  '  1 80  skinns  which  came  about  the  calicoes '.  An 
order  of  the  Council  of  State  is  read,  requiring  the  Company  to 
meet  with  some  of  the  Assada  adventurers  and  draw  up  such  an 
Act  as  they  desire  may  be  passed  for  upholding  the  East  India 
trade.  Hereupon  the  Ordinance,  which  formerly  passed  the  House 
of  Commons,  is  read,  several  alterations  are  agreed  upon,  and  the 
Secretary  is  requested  to  draw  it  up  afresh  by  to-morrow  morning, 
when  Messrs.  Thomson,  Moyer,  Nathaniel  Andrews,- and  Captain 
Blackman  are  desired  to  meet  with  some  Committees  to  perfect 
this  business.     (^  p.) 

Privileges  desired  by  the  Company  but  not  contained 
IN  THE  Ordinance  passed  by  the  House  of  Commons  in 
1646  {Public  Record  Office :  C.  O.  ']'],  vol.  vii,  no.  3).^ 

The  confirmation  of  their  former  letters  patents :  to  assemble  at 
such  time  and  place  as  they  shall  think  meet,  and  the  major  part 
of  them  to  make  choice  of  a  Governor  and  such  officers  as  they 
shall  think  fit  for  the  managing  of  their  trade :  the  Governor  and 
such  officers  to  be  removable  for  misdemeanour,  and  in  such  case, 
or  in  the  event  of  any  death,  to  have  a  new  election  :  to  trade  from 
'  Cape  de  Bone  Esperanse  to  the  Streights  of  Magelan ' :  to  have 
power  to  hold  courts  in  any  part  of  the  nation :  to  put  such  laws 
and  orders  as  they  shall  make  in  execution  :  to  have  power  to  sell 
the  distresses  made  for  non-payment  of  fines :  that  if  any  person 
employed  by  the  Company  shall  contract  for  the  due  execution  of 
his  place,  either  here  or  beyond  sea,  and  shall  break  his  contract, 
the  Company,  upon  proof  thereof  before  the  Governor  (who  hath 
power  to  take  an  oath),  shall  fine,  and  for  non-payment  seize  or 
sell :  to  have  six  months  and  six  months  for  payment  of  customs 
or  other  duties,  upon  their  bond  :  to  transport  foreign  bullion  of 
silver  or  gold  not  exceeding  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  per 

'  The  document  bears  no  indication  of  date ;  but  it  is  conjectured  to  relate  to  the  draft 
Act  referred  to  above  and  on  pp.  384,  385. 


38o  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,   OF   THE 

annum,  and  any  to  sell  or  exchange  the  same  to  the  Company  for 
that  purpose,  the  same  to  be  entered  and  shipped  from  the  ports 
of  London,  Dover,  the  Downs,  Southampton,  Dartmouth,  Plymouth, 
Bristol,  or  any  place  or  chamber  of  trade,  without  custom  :  to  have 
sole  trade  to  the  Indies,  and  if  any  trade  not  free  of  the  Company, 
to  seize  their  ships  and  goods  where  they  find  them,  the  one  half 
to  go  to  the  Company,  all  charges  deducted,  the  other  half  to  the 
Commonwealth  :  to  have  liberty  to  fortify  and  plant  in  any  their 
places  of  trade,  and  to  transport  such  men,  women,  and  children  as 
shall  be  willing,  and  such  shipping,  seamen,  landmen,  and  ammuni- 
tion as  they  shall  think  fit,  free  of  custom,  and  none  to  dispose  of 
and  enjoy  the  plantations  but  the  Company :  none  employed  by 
the  Company  to  carry  any  goods  but  such  as  shall  be  licensed  by 
the  Company,  and  if  any  other  be  found  the  same  to  belong  to  the 
Company  :  that  none  come  on  board  their  ships  at  their  return  to 
contract  for  or  buy  any  goods,  or  convey  any  away,  upon  pain  of 
forfeiture  of  such  goods  or  the  value  of  the  same,  one-third  to  go  to 
the  Commonwealth,  another  third  to  the  Company,  the  rest  to  the 
informer :  that  no  entry  be  made  of  any  East  India  goods  without 
the  knowledge  of  an  officer  to  be  appointed  by  the  Company,  who 
hath  power  to  stay  them  till  it  be  made  appear  they  are  not 
brought  from  the  Indies  :  to  appoint  Presidents  on  shore,  and 
captains  at  sea  to  govern  the  people  under  their  respective  com- 
mands, and  to  give  them  commission  under  their  common  seal  to 
govern  and  punish  according  to  martial  law  :  no  commander  of  the 
Company  to  meddle  with  any  friends  of  this  State,  their  ships,  or 
goods,  unless  they  shall  attempt  surprisal  or  injury,     (i  /.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  November  28,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  428). 

Chirurgeons'  chests,  beef,  pork,  and  all  other  necessaries  to  be 
provided  for  the  William  and  Bonito.  George  Smith  and  William 
Vincent  accepted  as  securities  for  60/.  per  centum  in  pepper  due  to 
the  former,  and  Messrs.  Hanson,  Thetcher,  and  Tutchin  as  securities 
for  mace  and  aloes.  Captain  Bailey,  and  his  mates,  as  also  the 
boatswain  and  carpenter,  ordered  to  pay  50/.  towards  satisfaction  of 
damage  done  to  calicoes  brought  home  in  the  William.  Abraham 
Cartwright  requests, as  executor,  tobepaid  his  brother  Ralph's  estate; 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  381 

he  is  told  that  the  latter,  notwithstanding  his  bond  of  1,000  marks 
not  to  engage  in  private  trade,  has  much  wronged  the  Company  in 
that  particular,  thereby  forfeiting  his  said  bond,  and  that  his  accounts 
are  '  so  confusedly  made  up  as  that  no  man  could  rectify  them '. 
His  executor,  having  nothing  to  say  to  these  accusations,  refers 
himself  wholly  to  the  Court,  and  they,  after  much  debate,  resolve 
to  impose  a  fine  of  400/.  for  private  trade  and  all  other  offences 
committed  by  the  said  Cartwright,  upon  payment  of  which  the 
money  remaining  shall  be  handed  to  the  executor,  the  500/.  formerly 
ordered  to  be  paid  to  the  widow  being  deducted.  To  this  Abraham 
Cartwright  submits.  Robert  Gardiner,  whose  estate  in  the  Com- 
pany's hands  was  formerly  sequestered  by  order  of  Parliament,^ 
produces  an  order  from  the  Committee  of  Cambden  House 
releasing  it  from  sequestration,  and  at  his  request  is  paid  what  is 
due  to  him,  he  giving  a  bond  of  1,000/.  to  save  the  Company 
harmless.     (i| />/».) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  November  28, 1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  430). 

Sale  of  Persia  '  vests '  and  carpets  ;  of  Agra  taffetas ;  of  salam- 
pores,  morees,  betteeles,  brown  cloth,  percallas,  ginghams,  cossaes, 
sannoes,  Bantam  sugar,  and  benzoin  ;  of  numerous  rings  and  precious 
stones ;  of  pearls,  ambergris,  and  bezoar  stones  ;  with  prices  and 
names  of  purchasers.     (3^  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees,  December  5,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  434). 

A  list  of  the  Company's  debtors  is  read,  and  Spiller  is  given 
particular  instructions  concerning  some,  and  directed  to  call  upon 
all  and  report  to  the  Court  every  fortnight.  The  Articles  of 
Agreement  made  between  some  Committees  on  behalf  of  the 
Company,  and  Mr.  Thomson  and  other  adventurers  to  Assada  are 
read,  and  all  agreed  to  except  the  7th,  'which  was  to  bee  ex- 
plained to  this  purpose :  that  every  500/.  adventure  should  have 
a  ball  in  the  ballating-box  upon  decyding  of  differences  ;  which 
being  so  altered,  the  Court  did  by  erection  of  hands  direct  and 

'  See  Proceedings  of  the  Committee  for  Compounding,  part  ii,  p.  1070. 


382  COURT   MINUTES.   ETC.,   OF  THE 

consent  that  Mr.  Governour  and  Mr.  Deputy  should  signe  the  said 
Articles  on  the  behalfe  of  the  adventurers  in  the  Fourth  Joynt  Stocke, 
Mr.  Thomson  and  Mr.  Moyer  also  subscribing  the  same  for  them- 
selves and  adventurers  to  Assada '.  Mary  Hevvson,  whose  husband 
died  lately  in  the  Company's  Almshouse,  is  given  20s.  Mr.  Birk- 
dell,  who  went  out  and  returned  master  in  the  Bonito,  and  Mr. 
Dowell,  who  came  home  chief  mate  in  the  William,  offer  to  go  as 
master  in  the  Bonito,  but  that  ship  not  being  yet  bought,  election 
to  this  post  is  deferred,     (i/.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  December  5,  1649  {Court  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  435 1). 

After  debate  it  is  resolved  that  the  Aleppo  Merchant  and  the 
East  India  Merchant  shall  be  dispeeded  to  Bantam  in  the  middle 
of  January,  and  the  Golden  Fleece  and  the  William  to  the  same 
place  in  March.  The  following  Articles  of  Agreement,  made 
November  21,  1649,  between  the  East  India  Company  and  'divers 
gentlemen,  adventurers  to  Assada',  are  read,  confirmed,  and  sub- 
scribed by  the  Governor  and  Deputy  on  behalf  of  the  adventurers 
in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  and  by  Maurice  Thomson  and  Samuel 
Moyer '  for  themselves  and  freinds,  adventurers  to  Assada' :  i.- '  It 
is  agreed  that  a  stocke  of  300,000/.  at  least  is  necessary  to  bee  under- 
written or  procured  for  the  carrying  on  of  the  East  India  trade  ; 
which  being  effected,  it  is  further  agreed  as  foUoweth,  vizt.  Secondly, 
it  is  agreed  that  when  by  the  States  countenance  and  assistance 
restitution  shalbe  obtained  for  the  dammage  which  the  Company 
have  sustained  by  the  Hollanders,  and  the  island  of  Pollerone 
restored,  that  the  island  should  bee  to  the  new  intended  adventurers, 
and  that  which  shalbe  received  for  dammages  shalbe  to  the  Third 
Joynte  Stocke,  to  which  it  appertaines.  Thirdly,  it  is  agreed  that 
the  valuation  formerly  made  of  the  houses,  fort,  shipping,  etc.,  in 
India  belonging  to  the  Company,  and  approved  of  by  the  gennerallity 
and  consented  to  by  all  partyes  to  bee  an  indifferent  valuation. 
Fourthly,  it  is  consented  unto  and  agreed  that  there  shalbe  a  planta- 

*  Entered  also  (with  the  omission  of  the  'Articles')  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  121). 

*  The  agreement  is  printed  at  full  length  as  it  differs  in  some  important  respects  from 
the  version  summarized  on  p.  377. 


EAST   INDIA   COMPANY  383 

tion  on  Assada,  and  that  it  shalbe  carryed  on  at  the  charge  and 
under  the  government  of  the  new  intended  stocke,  and  the  former 
adventurers  reimbursed  by  them  what  they  have  layd  out  thereon. 
And  that  the  planters  shall  have  encouragement  to  plant  and  trade, 
and  shall  have  liberty  to  carry  the  fruits  of  Assada,  Madagascar, 
and  Africa  to  the  eastward  of  Cape  Bone  Esperanze  to  any  part  of 
the  coasts  of  Asia,  Africa,  and  America,  and  after  sale  of  those 
commodities  there  to  buy  clothing,  and  any  other  necessaryes  for 
their  plantation  and  trade  of  Madagascar  and  Africa,  but  not  to 
trade  from  port  to  port  in  India,  unlesse  for  victualls.  And  that 
what  money  they  should  raise  from  tyme  to  tyme  by  the  proceed 
of  their  commodities  above  the  necessary  supplyes  of  their  planta- 
tions and  trade  in  Africa  shalbe  paid  into  the  Companies  cash  in 
India,  to  bee  repaid  here  in  England  by  bills  of  exchange  at  the 
rate  of  5?.  per  ryall  of  eight.  And  for  the  commodities  of  the  island 
of  Assada,  Madagascar,  and  Africa,  they  might  bring  them  home 
into  England,  but  no  India  commodities.  And  that  the  planters 
shall  have  free  trade  to  the  coast  of  Melinda,  the  river  of  Sophila, 
Mosambique,  and  the  parts  adjacent.  Fifthly,  it  is  agreed  and  they 
are  all  of  opinion  that  the  trade  of  Guinny  for  gould  and  teeth  should 
bee  united  with  the  East  India  trade  in  one  body  and  regulation  by 
the  authority  of  the  State  ;  but  upon  conference  with  some  gentle- 
men interessed  therein,  it  is  found  that  the  businesse  cannott  bee 
effected  soone  enough  this  yeare.  Sixthly,  it  is  resolved  to  endeavour 
a  settled,  fortifyed  habitation  in  India  by  all  parties  as  soone  as  it 
may  bee  procured.  Seventhly,  it  is  agreed  that  the  modell  and 
forme  of  the  government,  when  the  adventurers  shalbe  knowne, 
shalbe  settled  by  the  major  part  of  the  adventurers,  and  that  none 
shall  have  a  voice  in  settling  the  government  unlesse  hee  have  500/. 
stocke.  And  in  case  five  men  underwrite  each  100/.,  that  they  may 
choose  one  to  have  a  vote  for  them,  and  so  for  other  summes 
amounting  to  500/.  Eighthly,  it  is  agreed  that  the  charge  of 
sallaries  should  bee  reduced  to  the  best  advantage  of  the  stocke. 
Ninthly,  it  is  agreed  that  the  East  India  Company  shall  use  their 
uttermost  endeavour  by  their  factors  and  agents  in  ^India  to  gaine 
restitution  of  the  Ruthes  stocke  detained  in  India  by  the  natives, 
and  to  returne  it  home  to  the  benefitt  of  the  proprietors.  Tenthly, 
it  is  agreed  and  they  are  content  to  serve  the  State  with  saltpeeter 


384  COURT   MINUTES,   ETC.,    OF  THE 

on  the  same  termes  as  Mr.  Thomson  hath  contracted.  And  for 
the  shippe  Lionesse,  Mr.  Thomson  is  desired  to  proceed  in  making 
all  provisions  ready  for  the  voyage,  and  by  the  25th  of  December 
the  Company  promiseth  to  take  off  the  said  shippe  for  accompt  of 
the  new  stocke.  and  performe  all  agreements  which  hee  hath  made, 
and  accept  of  such  merchants  and  marriners  as  hee  hath  provided, 
and  pay  the  money  hee  hath  disbursed  for  her,  or  els  it  is  free  for 
Mr.  Thomson  to  dispose  of  her  as  hee  pleaseth.  Eleventhly,  it  is 
agreed  that  on  motions  made  to  send  out  shipps  to  trade  to  China, 
Japan,  or  any  other  places  remote  from  the  Companies  residencies, 
and  to  make  discoveryes  to  inlarge  trade  and  navigation,  if  the 
Company  shall  dislike  of  such  motions,  then  it  shalbe  lawfull  for  any 
freeman  of  the  Company  under  their  government  to  proceed  on  their 
owne  accompt,  giving  such  good  caution  as  the  gennerallity  shall  ap- 
prove off.  Twelfthly,  it  is  agreed  that  all  the  debts  of  the  East  India 
Company  of  the  former  and  last  Joynt  Stockes,  and  all  engagements 
and  incumbrances  in  India,  should  bee  cleared  by  the  adventurers  of 
the  Fourth  Joynt  Stocke  and  Second  Generall  Voyage,  for  what  con- 
cemes  each  accompt  respectively.  Thirteenthly,  it  is  further  agreed 
that  in  case  of  difficulties  arising,  that  every  adventurer  for  each 
adventure  of  500/.  shall  have  a  ball  in  the  ballating-box  for  decyding 
of  such  difficulties.'  A  valuation  of  the  Bonito  with  her  stores, 
amounting  to  1,268/.  i8j.  9^.,  is  read,  and  it  is  resolved  that  she, 
with  all  appurtenances,  shall  be  sold  to  the  Joint  Stock  for  1,300/. 
for  the  use  of  the  new  adventurers.  A  master  to  be  chosen  for  her 
later  ;  meanwhile  Steevens  is  directed  to  repair  her  with  all  conve- 
nient expedition.     (2|  pp) 

A  Meeting  of  divers  Committees,  December  8,  1649 
{Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  438). 

It  is  agreed  that  one  half  the  adventure  of  the  money  expected 
from  Amsterdam  and  Middelburg  shall  be  borne  by  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  and  the  other  half  by  the  Second  General  Voyage, 
and  that  a  premium  at  the  rate  of  3/.  per  centum  shall  be  allowed 
to  the  Stock  and  Voyage,  to  be  paid  by  those  who  make  use  of  the 
money,  or  of  so  much  as  shall  arrive  safely  in  London.  The  draft 
of  an  Act  of  Parliament  for  upholding  the  East  India  trade,  which 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  385 

has  been  perused  by  Counsel,  is  read  twice,  and  after  serious  con- 
sideration the  Court  approves  of  it  being  presented  to  the  Council 
of  State,     (i  p) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  December  la,  1649  {Court  Booh, 
vol.  XX,  p.  439  ^)- 

Thomas  Brightwell  and  Thomas  Hussy  accepted  as  securities 
for  744/.,  being  the  60/.  per  centum  division  in  pepper  for  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  of  John  Ellwayes ;  also  Thomas  and  Samuel 
Browne  for  670/.,  for  the  division  on  the  adventure  of  Thomas 
Freeman.  William  Vincent  and  George  Smith  accepted  as  securi- 
ties for  Ccilicoes.  John  Langham  transfers  4,000/.  adventure  in  the 
Second  General  Voyage  in  three  equal  parts  to  William  Cokayne, 
William  Methwold,  and  Gilbert  Morewood,  with  50/.  per  centum 
division  in  pepper  and  all  other  profits.  The  sum  of  12/.  to  be 
distributed  among  poor  widows  of  East  India  men,  and  10/.  among 
the  poor  of  Blackwall,  Limehouse,  and  Ratclifif,  in  accordance  with 
the  usual  custom  at  Christmas.  Abraham  Cartwright  to  be  paid 
all  that  is  due  to  his  late  brother,  Ralph,  with  the  exception  of 
500/.  to  be  detained  for  the  widow.  Matthew  Hollworthy,  who 
lately  resided  at  Marseilles  and  has  done  the  Company  good  service 
in  dispatching  letters  overland  to  India,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom 
gratis  and  gives  los.  to  the  poor-box.  Michael  Yates  is  chosen 
master  of  the  Bonito  at  6/.  13^.  /\d.  per  month.  Mr.  Thomson 
moves  that,  since  the  State  expects  to  be  supplied  with  saltpetre, 
and  stock  to  the  value  of  60,000/.  is  intended  for  Surat,  which  is 
too  much  '  to  send  upon  one  bottome ',  two  ships  be  dispeeded  to 
that  place ;  this  is  approved,  and  the  Committees  present  are 
desired  to  request  such  masters  and  owners  of  ships  as  they  think 
fitting  to  make  offer  of  their  ships  next  Friday.     (i|//.) 

A  General  Court  of  Sales,  December  12, 1649  {Cotirt  Book, 
vol.  XX,  p.  441). 

Sale  of  sannoes,  salampores,  dustataes,  gurraes,  dimities,  Sinda 
cloth,  and  pepper,  with  prices  and  names  of  purchasers,     (il//-) 

'  Entered  also  in  vol.  xzii  (p.  123). 

S.C.M.   III  C  C 


386  COURT    MINUTES,   ETC.,  OF  THE 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage,  December  14,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  44a  ^). 

Richard  and  Edmund  Waring  accepted  as  securities  for  864/.,  on 
account  of  the  division  in  pepper  belonging  to  Ozias  Churchman. 
After  some  debate  the  former  resolution  to  send  to  Bantam  two 
ships  for  account  of  the  Voyage  and  two  for  account  of  the  Joint 
Stock  is  confirmed,  notwithstanding  intelligence  received  from 
Surat  that  the  Blessing  is  to  be  dispeeded  from  thence  to  Bantam. 
It  is  also  further  resolved  to  dispatch  two  ships  to  Surat,  besides  the 
Lioness  already  prepared  by  Mr.  Thomson.  The  Love,  the  Bendish, 
the  Sampson,  the  Freeman,  and  the  Advice  are  offered  for  this 
service,  and  certain  Committees  (who  are  not  owners  of  ships)  are 
desired  to  consult  concerning  the  fittest  ships  and  masters  to  be 
employed.  Abraham,  son  of  the  Worshipful  Abraham  Reynardson, 
is  admitted  to  the  freedom  by  patrimony  and  pays  the  accustomed 
%os.  to  the  poor-box.     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  make  choice 
OF  ships  for  Surat,  December  15,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  444). 

Captain  Ryder  offers  the  Love,  Mr.  Gould  the  Bendish,  Captain 
Ashly  the  Sampson,  Captain  Blackman  the  Advice,  all  leaving  the 
choice  of  masters  to  the  Company.  The  Freeman  is  also  offered, 
but  it  is  not  thought  that  she  can  be  ready  in  time.  After  con- 
sideration, the  Committees  agree  that  18/.  per  ton  for  pepper  and 
saltpetre,  and  23/.  per  ton  for  other  goods,  is  '  an  indifferent  rate  to 
bee  given,  nett  cleare  of  all  tare '.  On  hearing  this.  Captain  Ryder 
refers  himself  wholly  to  the  Committees ;  and,  Mr.  Gould  not  being 
sure  whether  the  Bendish  can  be  ready  in  time,  it  is  resolved  that 
this  business  shall  be  further  considered  next  week,     (i  /.) 

A  Meeting  of  the  Committees  appointed  to  make  choice 
of  ships  for  Surat,  December  18,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx, 
p.  445)- 

Mr.  Gould  declares  that  the  Bendish  will  be  ready  in  time  for 
the  Company's  occasions.  After  consideration  of  each  ship  offered, 
the  Committees  unanimously  resolve  that  the  Love  and  Advice  are 
*  Entered  also  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  125). 


EAST   INDIA  COMPANY  387 

fittest  to  be  freighted  by  the  Company,  on  the  following  conditions  : 
the  Love  to  carry  ninety  men,  a  boy,  and  a  master  approved  by  the 
Company,  to  be  paid  18/.  a  ton  for  pepper  and  saltpetre,  and  22/. 
a  ton  for  all  other  goods,  net  clear  of  all  tare ;  and  the  Advice  to 
carry  seventy-five  men,  her  master  to  be  approved  by  the  Company, 
and  17/.  per  ton  to  be  paid  for  all  goods  laden  in  her.  Each  ship 
to  carry,  in  addition  to  her  complement,  five  men  for  the  Company, 
without  any  allowance  for  victuals.  A  dispute  ensues  whether  to 
send  the  Advice  to  Surat  or  Bantam,  her  master  in  his  last  voyage 
having  done  good  service  in  procuring  his  lading  at  Sillebar.  Finally 
the  Committees  resolve  to  report  that  in  their  opinion  the  Advice 
should  go  to  Bantam  and  the  Williavi  to  Surat.  The  Love  and  the 
Advice  to  be  examined  and  a  certificate  given  of  their  sufficiency. 
(I  A) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Voyage,  December  19,  1649  {Court  Book,  vol.  xx,  p.  446  ^). 

The  result  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Committees  appointed  to 
make  choice  of  two  ships  for  Surat  is  read,  whereby  it  appears  they 
think  the  Love  and  Advice  fitting  ships  for  this  employment,  and 
that  it  would  be  for  the  honour  of  the  Company  if  they  sent  their 
own  ship  the  William  to  Surat  and  the  Advice  to  Bantam  in  her 
stead.  A  dispute  arises  because  the  Bendish  is  not  to  be  freighted, 
and  that  ship  and  the  Advice  are  put  to  the  ballot ;  the  Advice 
receives  eighteen  balls  and  the  Bendish  only  six.  It  is  thought 
that  the  William  is  too  large  to  be  sent  to  Surat,  and  that  it  would 
be  difficult  to  procure  sufficient  saltpetre  to  lade  in  her ;  therefore 
it  is  unanimously  resolved  that  she  shall  be  sent  to  Bantam.  A 
motion  is  made  for  the  Aleppo  Merchant  to  go  to  Surat  and  the 
Advice  to  Bantam,  as  the  master  of  the  latter  ship  did  the  Company 
good  service  formerly  in  those  parts,  and  there  would  be  a  saving 
of  400/.  by  this  alteration.  Some  of  the  owners  of  the  Aleppo 
Merchant^  being  present,  consent  to  her  going  on  the  same  terms  as 
the  Love ;  the  Court  approves  of  her  master,  accepts  her  for  Surat, 
and  directs  that  she  be  ready  at  Gravesend  by  the  loth  March,  if 
on  examination  she  is  found  satisfactory.  Benjamin  Spencer, 
minister,  is  allowed  to  have  the  rooms  in  the  Company's  Hospital 

'  Entered  also  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  127). 

c  c  a 


388  COURT  MINUTES,  ETC,  OF  THE 

at  Blackwall  formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  Howse,  and  'to  exercise 
such  offices  of  piety  to  the  almesmen  as  is  requisite'.  Jarvice 
Locke,  formerly  servant  to  William  Lee,  is  admitted  to  the  freedom 
and  pays  20s.  to  the  poor-box.  The  estate  of  the  late  Richard 
Evans  to  be  paid  to  his  administrator,  Michael  Glover,  if  nothing 
appears  against  his  administration  within  the  week.  The  estate  of 
the  late  William  Smethwicke  to  be  paid  to  his  mother  and  adminis- 
tratrix, after  500/.  has  been  deducted  for  his  '  private  trading  and 
other  misdemeanors  '.    ( 1 1  pp.) 

A  Court  of  Committees  with  the  Committees  for  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  December  22,  1649  (Court  Book,  vol. 

XX,  p.  448 1). 

At  the  desire  of  Alderman  Atkins,  who  claims  part  of  the  estate 
of  the  late  Richard  Evans,  as  he  was  executor  to  Alderman  Ridge, 
the  Court  decides  to  detain  all  that  is  due  to  this  account  for 
a  month,  and  if  by  then  nothing  appears  in  writing  from  the 
Prerogative  Court  against  Michael  Glover's  administration,  to  pay 
all  to  him.  Richard  Waring  and  Richard  Salwey  accepted  as 
securities  for  1,440/.,  being  60I.  per  cent,  division  in  pepper  belonging 
to  Thomas  Ivy.  Thomas  Allen  and  Joseph  Hieron  accepted  as 
securities  for  Bantam  ginger.  A  certificate  is  presented  by  those 
appointed  to  examine  the  Love  and  the  Advice,  showing  that,  when 
repaired  as  the  owners  intend,  they  will  be  able  and  sufficient  ships  ; 
hereupon  they  are  accepted,  but  consideration  of  the  demurrage, 
imprest  money,  etc.,  is  deferred,     (i  p.) 

Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  State,  December  24, 1649 
{Public  Record  Office :  S.  P.  Dom. :  Interregnum,  I.  G-i^,  pp.  423-5). 

Alderman  Pennington  and  Sheriff  Wilson  to  be  a  committee  to 
see  the  engagement  entered  into  by  all  merchants  resident  here,  in 
pursuance  of  the  order  of  Parliament  of  last  October ,2  according  to 

^  Entered  also  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  129). 

2  On  October  31,  1649,  the  House  of  Commons  ordered  that  the  engagement  to  *be 
true  and  faithful  to  the  Commonwealth  of  England,  as  the  same  is  now  established,  with- 
out a  King  or  House  of  Lords',  should  be  taken  by  the  officials  and  members  of  all  Com- 
panies trading  into  foreign  parts  {Journals,  voL  vi,  p.  317).  It  was  accordingly  sub- 
scribed by  the  East  India  Company  on  January  5,  1650. 


EAST  INDIA  COMPANY  389 

instructions  sent  them ;  and  to  confer  with  the  Governors  and 
Deputies  of  the  East  India,  Turkey,  Muscovy,  Eastland  Adven- 
turers, and  French  Companies,  and  appoint  a  day  and  place  this 
week  where  the  engagement  may  be  taken. 

Sheriff  Wilson  to  confer  with  Mr.  Methwould,  to  know  if  it  will 
stand  with  his  affairs  to  be  employed  as  agent  to  the  court  of 
Spain,  and  reside  at  Madrid,  promising  all  reasonable  encourage- 
ment ;  and  to  return  his  answer  next  Wednesday.^ 

A  Court  of  Committees  w^th  the  Committees  for  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  December  26, 1649  {Co7irt  Book,  vol. 
XX,  p.  449  2). 

It  is  resolved  that  a  division  of  25/.  per  cent,  in  money  shall  be 
made  to  the  adventurers  in  the  Second  General  Voyage  and  paid 
the  loth  of  April  next.  A  preamble  for  the  new  Stock  is  read  and 
approved,  and  many  present  underwrite  for  several  sums,  and 
a  general  court  is  appointed  to  be  held  that  all  who  desire  may 
underwrite.  Mariners  to  be  shipped  for  the  Bonito.  Richard 
Bateman,  as  executor  to  his  father  Robert,  transfers  433/.  6j-.  8^. 
adventure  and  profits  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock  to  himself,  William, 
Thomas,  and  Anthony  Bateman.  Francis  Sayon  transfers  to 
Gilbert  Morewood  1,200/.  adventure  and  profits  in  the  Second 
General  Voyage,     (i  p^ 

Proceedings  of  the  Council  of  State,  December  31, 
1649  {^Public  Record  Office :  S.  P.  Dom. :  Interregnuvi,  I.  63,  p.  449). 

To  report  to  the  House  that  several  companies  of  merchants,  and 
especially  those  of  the  East  India,  Levant,  and  Eastland  trade, 
taking  notice  of  a  power  given  to  Council  for  encouragement  of 
trade,  have  addressed  desires  which  carry  some  restraint  to  general 
liberty  of  trade,  which,  if  judged  necessary,  are  proper  for  Parlia- 
ment, to  whom  therefore  they  refer  the  same,  that  speedy  course 

^  Apparently  Methwold  refused,  for  soon  after  Anthony  Ascham  was  appointed  to  the 
post. 

'  Entered  also  in  vol.  xxii  (p.  131). 


390  COURT   MINUTES,  ETC. 

may  be  taken,  the  business  being  of  great  weight,  and  the  recovery 
and  establishment  of  those  trades,  or  the  loss  thereof,  depending 
upon  expedition.^ 

*  This  resolution  was  reported  to  the  House  on  January  ii,  1650;  and  thereupon 
instructions  were  given  for  the  preparation  of  a  bill  to  establish  a  board  of  commissioners 
to  regulate  all  matters  relating  to  trade.  The  Act  was  passed  on  August  i,  1650,  and 
thus  originated  the  present  Board  of  Trade.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  Jeremy 
Blackman  was  proposed  as  a  commissioner  but  rejected  {Commons'  Jourtials,  vol.  vi, 
p.  451). 


INDEX 


Abbasis,  135. 

Abdy,  Johfl,  84, 

Abdy,  Nicholas,  his  security,  48,  289; 
deceased,  289,326;  transfer  of  adventure 
belonging  to,  298. 

Abdy,  Robert,  223,  274,  299,  308,  318, 
328,  373  ;  elected  a  Committee,  32,  91, 
153,  210,  218,  268,  276,  332  ;  accepted 
as  security,  48,  289,  362  ;  adventure 
transferred  to,  74,  298  ;  transfers  adven- 
ture, 84 ;  offers  a  ship  for  freighting,  112. 

'  Acharre,'  1 80. 

Achin,  262,  354. 

Acton,  James,  Solicitor  to  the  Company, 
»5.  20,  145, 147,  301, 323,  330.  360,  368 ; 
adventures  in  the  Fourth  Joint  Stock,  20 ; 
re-elected  Solicitor  to  the  Company,  32, 
93;  reports  made  by,  34,  49,  147,  204, 
269,  291,  293,  311,  316,  317,  326,  353, 
368;  instructions  given  to,  34,  147,  148, 
149  (2),  200,  202,  208,  279,  307,  323, 
331  (2),  333»  334f  364;  gratuity  given 
to,  38,  211,  296 ;  to  consult  with  Coun- 
sel, 27,  86,  155,  167,  267,  269,  330,  332, 
353;  made  free  of  the  Company,  246; 
agreements,  etc.,  to  be  drawn  up  by,  48, 
50,  89,  128,  213,  233,  251, 287, 289, 293, 

300,  330,  347,  348,  353- 

Adams,  Daniel,  307. 

Adams,  Matthew,  113. 

Adams,  Roger,  115. 

Adams,  Sir  Thomas,  Lord  Mayor  (1646), 
131,  168. 

Adams,  — ,  a  minister,  213. 

Adler,  John,  125. 

Adler,  Thomas,  107;  presents  a  relation 
of  the  Company's  trade  in  Persia,  94 ; 
goods  belonging  to,  102,  331  ;  payment 
to,  107,  239. 

Admiralty,  the,  214,  277;  Judge  of,  see 
Sams,  Dr.  William;  actions  entered  in 
the  court  of,  9,  24,  51,  70,  88,  89,  94, 
101,  304;  Lords  Commissioners  of,  to 
be  petitioned,  viii,  83  (2),  85;  warrant 
from,  98,  149,  150  ;  Committee  for,  99, 
126,  129. 

Admce,  the,  xxv,  63,  250,  251, 291,  292  (2), 
336,  353  ;  master  of,  see  Arnold,  Dowell, 
Pollein;  men  serving  in,  37,  249,  250, 
341  ;  ordered  to  Persia,  56  ;   offered  and 


accepted  for  freighting  to  Bantam,  xvii, 
234,  237,  242,  243,  255,  361,  362,  387; 
to  Surat,  364,  365,  386  (2),  387,  388;  to 
be  examined  and  repaired,  238,  241,  243, 
244,  387  ;  cost  to  be  defrayed  by  her 
owners,  291 ;  ammunition  and  stock  to 
be  shipped  in,  244,  252  ;  factors  sent  out 
in,  251,  254 ;  her  charter-party,  253  ;  her 
return,  xix,  335  ;  damaged  pepper  on 
board,  345,  346. 

Agra,  debts  incurred  by  Fremlen  at,  151  (2)  ; 
factors  and  factory  at,  xxi,  197,  198, 
284,  311,  341,344,  357  ;  to  be  continued, 
199,  262  ;  goods  from,  330,  381. 

Ahmadabad,  factors  and  factory  at,  rxi, 
197,  198,  284,  311,  341,  344,  357;  to  be 
continued,  199,  262. 

Aiscough,  Vincent,  60. 

Albin,  Benjamin,  156. 

Alcocke,  Humphrey,  16S. 

Aldington,  or  Allington,  — ,  proposed  as 
accoxmtant  for  the  Second  General  Voy- 
age, 253,  267,  268 ;  rejected,  271,  272. 

Aleppo,  Consul  at,  see  Barnard. 

Aleppo  Merchant,  the,  35,  237,  273,  336; 
master  of,  see  Millett,  John  ;  men  serving 
in,  10,  97;  offered  for  freighting  to  Italy, 
130,  131;  to  Surat,  xvii,  229,  387;  to 
Bantam,  361,  362  (2),  3S2  ;  goods  and 
money  shipped  in,  142,  263,  264 ;  her 
repair,  207,  225,  230 ;  cost  of,  to  be  paid 
by  her  owners,  239,  291 ;  her  charter- 
party,  253,  259,  260;  her  dispatch,  260, 
262  ;  return,  xix,  335 ;  payment  to  her 
owners,  347  (2). 

Algiers,  232,  238 ;  payment  of  levy  for 
relief  of  captives  at,  79,  113,  124,  137, 
165,  173,  238,  304,  314. 

Alicant,  41 ,  42. 

Allen,  Ralph,  174,  186,  300. 

Allen,  Richard,  166 ;  buys  goods,  173,  304, 
307 ;  accepted  as  security  for,  174,  186, 
300. 

Allen,  Thomas,  accepted  as  security  for 
goods,  16,  18,  41,  186,  364,  388. 

Allen,  William,  255. 

Alnager,  the,  105. 

Aloes,  120,  347,  380. 

Alston,  Mrs.,  270. 

Alston,  Penning,  189. 


392 


COURT  MINUTES,   ETC. 


Alum,  306. 

Amber,  76,  117, 127,  128,  134,  139,  196. 

Ambergris,  100,  112,  117,  381. 

Amboyna,  212, 

America,  xxiii,  366,  377,  383. 

Amona,  or  amonam,  a  measure,  135. 

Amsterdam,  48,  121,  196,  225*^322;  the 
Company's  Agent  at,  see  Whitaker,!Henry; 
letters  from,  36,  39,  50,  53  (2),  77,  154, 
155  ;  rials  from,  200,  247,  384 ;  to  be 
bought  at,  229,  230,  368. 

Anchors,  144,  145,  146, 175,  206,  214,215, 
319;  to  be  sold,  2,  203,  291,  293,  318. 

Andrews,  Captain,  84. 

Andrews,  Daniel,  10,  21,  39,  40,  121,  169, 
186,  192  ;  elected  a  Committee,  32,  91, 
210,  268  ;  retires,  153,  276. 

Andrews,  Matthew,  xxii  m. 

Andrews,  Nathaniel,  116,  305  tz.  ;  confers 
with  Committees  concerning  the  intended 
plantation  on  Assada,  360,  379. 

Andrews,  Stephen,  231. 

Andrews,  (afterwards  Sir)  Thomas,  Lord 
Mayor  (1649),  ^i>  ''"j  ^^>  xxiiw.,  122, 
299,  361  (2),  377  ;  elected  a  Committee, 
32, 9i>  153, 210, 218, 268,  276,  332,  342  ; 
buys  goods,  128,  224,  267,  373;  refuses 
to  take  the  oath  for  admittance  to  the 
freedom  of  the  Company,  222,  223,  224«, 

Andrews,  William,  63. 

Anfosse,  James,  352. 

Atigel,  the,  39,  45,  48,  52;  master  of,  see 
Perry,  Thomas  j  goods  and  money  shipped 
in,  43,  44,  225  ;  offered  for  freighting  to 
Bantam,  241, 

Anne,  the,  48,  52,  318,  354;  master  of,  see 
Bodiley  and  Swanne ;  goods  and  money 
shipped  in,  44,  142,  301  «.,  317,  336, 
343  (2),  346,  352,  353,  354;  offered  and 
accepted  for  freighting  to  Italy,  41,  131 ; 
to  Bantam,  xviii,  290,  291,  292,  293,  299, 
300  ;  payment  to  her  owners,  305. 

Anne  Cleare,  the,  see  Anne,  the. 

Antelope,  the,  281 ;  master  of,  see  Prowd, 
Thomas;  men  serving  in,  125,  322  ;  to 
be  paid,  281  ;  the  Lion  re-named  the, 
120;  designed  for  Surat,  1 26 ;  money,  etc., 
to  be  shipped  in,  126,  134;  her  repair, 
132,  133,  281  ;  her  dispatch,  xii,  132, 
135,  136;  return,  xvii,  275;  insurance  of 
goods  in,  194,  257,  260,  266;  to  be  sold, 
282,  285  ;  sold,  xviii,  292. 

Anthony,  Edward,  307. 

Anthony  Bonadventure,  the,  master  of,  see 
Tutchin,  Anthony;  owners  of,  175;  offered 
and  accepted  for  freighting,  108, 1 1 1, 1 31 ; 
pepper  shipped  in,  142,  290. 

Antwerp,  92. 

Arabella^  the,  234. 

Arabia,  375. 


Archar,  — ,  mate  in  the  Thomas  and  John, 
72. 

Archer,  Joseph,  270. 

Archer,  Robert,  292. 

Armagon,  debts  at,  54 ;  the  fort  at,  to  be 
dismantled,  54,  55  ;  Nayak  of,  54,  55. 

Armenians,  allowed  passage  in  the  Mary, 
82  ;  gratuity  given  to  an  Armenian 
priest,  84. 

Army,  the,  84,  99,  100. 

Arnold,  John,  master  of  the  Advice,  243, 
336,  365  ;  payment  to,  249,  346,  351. 

Ascension  Island,  73  (2),  279. 

Ascham,  Anthony,  389  n. 

Aschman,  Jeronimo,  368. 

Ashe,  John,  99,  123. 

Ashenden,  — ,  277. 

Ashhurst,  Richard,  16,  174,  329. 

Ashhurst,  William,  340. 

Ashley,  Captain,  commander  of  the  Sampson, 
333.  386. 

Ashmore,  Michael,  105  ;  refused  entertain- 
ment, 121,  133  (2),  125;  defies  orders, 
149. 

Ashwell,  (afterwards  Sir)  William,  22,  127, 
149,  166,191,  295;  elected  a  Committee, 
32,  91,  153,  221,  276,  332,  342;  retires, 
210  ;  nominated  for  election  as  Governor, 
91 ;  as  Deputy,  91. 

Askwith,  Nicholas,  12,  291. 

Assada,  Island  of,  xxii,  xxiii ;  Parliament  to 
be  petitioned  for  leave  to  settle  a  planta- 
tion on,  xxi,  xxii,  xxiii,  358,  359,  361, 366; 
the  Company's  opposition  to,  358,  359, 
364  ;  conference  concerning,  360,  379  ; 
Parliament  to  be  petitioned  to  hinder  the 
proceedings  of  the  intending  planters  on, 
xxiii,  364,  367 ;  the  Assada  Merchants' 
Propositions,  xxiii,  369-372,  373 ;  read, 
377 ;  the  Company's  answer  to,  xxiii, 
374-376,  377;  agreement  between  the 
Company  and  the  intending  adventurers 
to,  xxiv,  377-378,  381,  382-384  ;  resolu- 
tions passed  by  Parliament  concerning, 

XXV. 

Assada  Merchant,  the,  xxii. 

Assurance  Office,  41,  269. 

Assurance  policies  taken  out  by  the  Com- 
pany. 23,  28  (3),  41,  44,  45  (2),  48,  53, 
61,  67,  81,  82,  122,  132,  143,  145,  164, 
194,  199,  200,  260,  264,  265,  266,  267, 
279,  320;  conditions  for  underwriting  in, 
28,  30,  45,  82,  144,  145,  146,  200  (3), 
260,  264,  265,  266,  267,  269,  320;  pre- 
miums allowed,  28,  30,  45,  48,  53,  58, 
81,  143,  162,  260,  287. 

Atkins,  Sir  Thomas,  Lord  Mayor  (1645), 
75,  153,  388. 

Attorney-General,  the.  See  Prideaux,  Ed- 
mond. 


INDEX 


393 


Ansten,  Henry,  13,  40. 

Ayres,  William,  formerly  master  of  the 

Roebuck,  23,  24,  188. 
Azores,  the,  ships  to  go  to,  viii,  83  (2),  84, 

85,  86  (3),  87,  89. 

Baber,  Jeanne,  1 74. 

Backhouse,  Nicholas,  his  debt  to  the  Com- 
pany, 14,  19,  35. 

Baftas.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Bagwell,  — ,  1x2. 

Bailey,  William,  19. 

Bailey,  William,  master  of  the  Crispiana, 
5,  16,  380;  late  master  of  the  Reforma- 
tion, 7;  master  of  the  William,  248, 
273.  274,  339  ;  gratuity  given  to,  7  ; 
withheld  from,  1 30 ;  his  private  trade,  7, 
16,  367  ;  made  free  of  the  Company,  16  ; 
payment  to,  101,  122. 

Baines,Andrew,mimsteratSurat,i  2, 77, 246, 

Baker,  Aaron,  former  President  at  Bantam, 
xix,  12,  56,  67,  60,  75,  79,  80,  286,  336, 
337.  339.  340.  368 ;  payment  to,  5,  6, 
368  ;  complaints  against,  61,  62,  63,  64, 
69  ;  re-entertained  as  President  for  Ban- 
tam, viii,  65 ;  his  propositions  concerning 
the  Company's  trade,  67-69  ;  his  wife, 
68,  69,  181,  213,  222,  286  ;  made  free  of 
the  Company,  69  ;  his  servant,  see  Harris, 
Charles ;  to  settle  affairs  at  the  Coast, 
79;  his  offer  to  buy  saltpetre  refused, 
156,  158 ;  permitted  to  return  home,  262  ; 
elected  a  Committee,  342  ;  his  valuation 
of  Fort  St.  George,  345  ;  goods  to  be 
delivered  to,  350,  368;  his  bond  to  be 
given  up,  368. 

Baker,  — ,  a  broker,  269. 

Balasore,  180,  184. 

Balloting-box,  3,  10. 

Banjarmassin,  68  ;  factor  at,  182  ;  deceased 
at,  301.  354;  debts  at,  285,  293,  294; 
factory  at,  xxi,  341,  344,  357;  to  be 
continued,  262. 

Banka,  Island  of,  6. 

Bantam,  5,  37,  79,  120,  123,  217,336,  337; 
President  at,  see  Baker,  Cartwright,  Ivy, 
and  Willoughby  ;  provisions  and  stock 
for,  2,17,  26,47,56,  59,67,68,69,75(2), 
120, 128, 134, 138, 139,  163,  165, 170(2), 
184,  190,  219,  220,  253,  272,  273,  300, 
301,  308,  320;  ships  for  and  from, /aj^zV«; 
proposal  to  build  at,  4,  5,  67,  68,  69 ;  to 
vacate,  6  ;  private  trade  at,  5,  62,  63,  64, 
213  ;  factors  at  and  for,  6,  9,  12  (2),  13, 
16,  17,  18,  26,  38,  68,  78,  107,  no,  123, 
124,  134.  165.  184,  198  (2),  238,  249, 
250,  251,  253,  264,  255.  256,  282,  292, 
293.  295,  296;  deceased  at,  114,  161, 
210,  263;  all  who  can  be  spared  to  be 
sent  home,   198,  262 ;    wanted  at,  250, 


251 ;  fectory  at,  xxi,  197,  284,  311,  341, 
344,  367  ;  to  be  continued,  199,  262  ; 
steward  chosen  for,  296  ;  letters  from,  12, 
37,  loi,  103,  136,  146,  157,  161,  169, 
250  (2),  288;  letters  to,  17,  27,  60,  70, 
302,  307  ;  accounts  at,  37,  103,  104,  113, 
180,  368;  the  Company's  estate  at,  37, 
38  (2),  96,  103,  104,  105,  106,  107,  160, 
163,  209,  291,  301,  308,  336,  342,  345. 
349.  353.  354 !  the  Coast  subordinate  to, 
64,  57  ;  cause  of  disagreement  between 
Surat  and,  67  ;  minister  to  be  chosen  for, 
68,  69  ;  entertained,  see  Kent ;  slaves  to 
be  sent  to,  68,  69 ;  stores,  etc.,  wanted  at, 
126,  250;  rope-maker  for,  126;  goods 
from,  69,  168,  172,  204,  234,  259,  360, 
302,  346, 360, 381,  388  ;  bills  of  exchange 
from,  104,  212,  256,  308,  364,  368;  Baker 
to  choose  a  President  for,  262 ;  money  to 
be  paid  by  the  new  adventurers  at,  xxi, 
357 ;  King  of,  5,  68, 69 ;  presents  for,  67, 
69 ;  ammimition  desired  by,  238,  244 ; 
Pengran  and  Saltan  of,  68. 

Barbadoes,  80. 

Barbary,  in,  141,  274. 

Barker,  William,  237. 

Barkley,  William,  342. 

Barnard,  — ,  Consul  at  Aleppo,  240. 

Barnes,  John,  62. 

Barnes,  Robert,  322. 

Bamett,  Henry,  185. 

Barron,  — ,  295. 

Barry,  John,  166. 

Bartlett,  Elizabeth,  238. 

Bartlett,  Henry,  238. 

Basra,  163,  262. 

Batavia  {or  Jakatra),  95,  371,  372  ;  ships 
for,  60,  271,  310;  ships  from,  40, 

Bateman,  Anthony,  75, 168,  196,  255,  318  ; 
elected  a  Committee,  91,  153,  210,  276; 
retires,  332 ;  claims  money  from  Courteen, 
142,  147 ;  money  left  in  the  care  of,  254; 
adventure  transferred  to,  389. 

Bateman,  Richard,  nominated  for  election 
as  Treasurer,  31,91,  210;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 32,  191,  153,  276,  332  ;  retires, 
210;  executor  to  his  father,  389. 

Bateman,  Robert,  Treasurer  to  the  Com- 
pany, 5,  15;  promised  security  for  pur- 
chasing money,  25 ;  requests  not  to  be 
re-elected  Treasurer,  31  ;  his  salary,  31 ; 
his  sons,  see  Anthony,  Richard,  Thomas 
atid  William  Bateman. 

Bateman,  Thomas,  79,  389. 

Bateman,  William,  309,  317,  318,  389. 

Bath,  99«.,  100. 

Bath,  Guy,  19. 

Bathust,  John,  309,  328,  333. 

Batson,  Richard,  343  «.,  368 

Batta,  GioTanni,  49. 


394 


COURT   MINUTES,  ETC. 


Batten  (c?^  Battyn)  Captain  William,  36,  83, 

85,  "5- 

Baynbrigge,  Henry,  14. 

Bazill,  Martin,  concerning  payment  of  his 
estate,  102,  105,  107,  118. 

Bdellium,  185. 

Beadle,  John,  99. 

Beads,  146. 

Beale,  John,  32. 

Bearblocke,  James,  350. 

Beavers,  139. 

Becke,  Jane,  114. 

Becke,  William,  114. 

Beckett,  Robert,  money  given  in  charity  to, 
6«j,  94,  115,  122,  331;  dismissed  the 
Company's  service,  230. 

Beckinsfield,  Jane,  36. 

Bedingfield,  Sir  Thomas,  287, 

Beef,  to  be  shipped  for  India,  2,  128  ;  re- 
turned from,  120,  J95  ;  as  provision  for 
sailors,  loi,  257,  287,  361,  380 ;  payment 
for,  140,  238. 

Beer,  allowed  to  be  sent  or  taken  to  India 
by  private  persons,  9,  68,  75,  77,  256, 
271 ;  sent  to  India  by  the  Company,  12, 
170,  184;  provided  for  the  ships,  115, 
170,  201;  payment  for,  170;  private 
trade  in,  245. 

Beeton,  Mary,  285. 

Beeton,  William,  285. 

Bendish,  the,  386  (3),  387. 

Bengal,  Bay  of,  56 ;  ships  repaired  and 
bought  at,  56,  98 ;  factors  at,  97,  182  ; 
silk  and  sugar  from,  99,  248,  360 ;  reso- 
lution to  dissolve  factory  at,  262. 

Benzoin,  45,  286,  352  ;  sold  and  to  be  sold, 
43,  44,  162  (2),  185,  216,  284,  347,  360, 
381 ;  private  trade  in,  45  (2)  ;  the  Com- 
pany's special  commodity,  372. 

Beresford,  — ,  powder-maker,  timber  bought 
from,  102;  to  mend  powder,  172,  281; 
buys  saltpetre,  208,  222,  263,  269;  his 
offer  to  buy  it  refused,  290, 

Berwick,  15. 

Best,  Thomas,  61,  63. 

Best,  — ,  134. 

Betel-nut,  135. 

Betteelees,  162,  362,  381. 

Bewly,  John,  164. 

Bewly,  Thomas,  164,  255. 

Bewly,  William,  164,  229,  255. 

Bewly,  — ,  282. 

Bezoar  stones,  159,  172,  175  (2),  381. 

Bidulf,  Theophilus,  207,  217. 

Bigges,  Anne,  279,  315. 

Bijapur,  335. 

Bilbao  Merchant,  the,  renamed  the  Bonito, 
•2.\i ,  343 ;  master  of,  see  James  and  Birk- 
dale ;  men  serving  in,  231 ;  bought,  xvii, 
228  (2)  ;  to  be  paid  for  and  fitted,  229. 


Billedge,  Thomas,  258,  264. 

Bills  of  exchange,  from  Snrat,  77,  79,  141, 
156,  318;  Bantam,  104,  212,  256,  308, 
364,  368;  Amsterdam,  156  (2);  Ham- 
burg, 174,  180,  187,  189,  191 ;  Venice, 
207,  214,  228,  241. 

Bingham,  Nicholas,  125. 

Binglesse,  William,  156. 

Birch,  John,  220. 

Birkdale,  James,  formerly  chief  mate  in  the 
Mary,  46,  87  ;  proposed  and  entertained 
as  master  of  the  Bilbao  Merchant,  228, 
231,  232,  382  ;  his  private  trade,  41,  60, 
62,  63,  79;  his  account,  79,  80. 

Bishopp,  Richard,  32. 

Bishopsgate  Street,  xix,  337,  347. 

Black  Book,  the,  i. 

Blackhurst,  William,  61,  63. 

Blackman,  Captain  Jeremy,  xxii,  226,  228, 
244,  261,  336,  337,  353,  354,  390 w.; 
formerly  master  of  Courteen's  ship,  the 
William,  190 ;  master  of  the  Golden 
Fleece,  238  ;  his  coral,  190,  191,  199  ;  his 
private  trade,  238,  239,  264;  elected  a 
Committee,  xvi,  218,  227,  342,  374  ;  offers 
a  ship  for  freighting,  241 ,  386 ;  his  con- 
tract with  the  Viceroy  of  Goa,  241,  245, 
252,  258  ;  his  bond  accepted  as  his  secur- 
ity, 264 ;  commissioned  to  buy  rials,  264 ; 
to  confer  with  others  about  Assada,  374, 

379- 

Blackston,  John,  M.P,  for  Newcastle,  47. 

Blackston,  Sarah,  21,  23,  25. 

Blackston,  Thomas,  21. 

Blackwall  {see also  Yot^Iox) ,  22,  30,  31, 113, 
210,  214,  270;  Clerk  at,  see  Fotherby 
and TomhMngs;  porter  at,  see  Shepheard, 
Pearse,  and  Thomas ;  almshouses  and 
almsmen  at,  see  Poplar ;  assessment  at,  1 3, 
28,  53,  84;  trainband  to  be  raised  at,  15, 
16;  election  of  officers  for,  32,  33,  93; 
yard,  35,  80,  144,  179,  202,  204,  213, 
238,  245,  301  ;  ordnance  and  timber 
stored  at,  9,  19,  82,  135,  145,  183,  184, 
200,  212;  ships  built  at,  21,  204;  Com- 
mittees for,  103,  144,  148, 164,  172,  203, 
293  ;  thefts  at,  272  ;  docks,  93,  97,  134, 
207  ;  ships  to  be  brought  to,  examined, 
and  repaired  in,  94,  103,  108,  143,  152, 
161,  164,  217,  230,  239,  243,293,333, 
334 ;  workmen  at,  80,  1 79,  299 ;  injured 
or  killed  at,  22,  65,  94,  158,  184,  216, 
255,  331  ;  retrenchment  necessary  at,  35 ; 
proposal  to  sell,  82  ;  men  impressed  at, 
86;  accounts  at,  100;  repairs  at,  112, 
143.  144.  145»  146,  169,  203,  205,  206; 
stores,  etc.,  to  be  inspected  at,  143,  144, 
146,  147,  148, 167,  200,  202,  203;  inven- 
tory to  be  made  of,  196,  204;  ship  burnt 
at,  172  ;  James'  house  at,  203  ;  loan  of  a 


INDEX 


395 


horse  from,  212,  280;  horse  to  be  bought 
for  use  at,  285 ;  anchors,  etc.,  to  be  sold 
at,  219,  291,  293,300,  318;  waste  ground 
at,  324. 
Bladwell,  Richard,  170. 

Blaikelock,  Luke,  119. 

Blanchard,  Henry,  125. 

Bland,  Thomas,  192. 

Blennerhassett,  Thomas,  125. 

Blessing,  the,  19,  159,  193  ;  master  of,  see 
Mucknell,  Prowd,  and  Broadbent ;  men 
serving  in,  10,  113,  174,  183,  187,  201, 
297;  to  be  paid,  102,  113;  goods  re- 
turned in,  8,  9,  10,  23,  42  (2),  115; 
money,  etc.,  shipped  in,  14,  17,  189,  192, 
201 ;  private  trade  in,  10,  297 ;  her  dis- 
patch, 18,  26,  196;  return,  x,  95,  100, 
136;  insurance,  81,  194,  257,  260,  266, 
387  ;  to  be  docked,  103  ;  her  repair,  114, 
i^7»  I43j  144.  145,  158;  provisions  sup- 
plied to,  112, 115  ;  togotoSurat,  xii,  114, 
164 ;  to  Bantam,  v,  386 ;  passengers  in, 
^°7?  i,o5  ;  surgeon  in,  see  Hill,  Edward. 

Blount,  Charles,  373,  376. 

Blount,  Etheldred,  331. 

Blount,  John,  warehouse-keeper,  21,  105, 
2H  ;  re-elected,  32,  93;  duties  allotted  to, 
33,  162,  179,  277,  297,  317,361 ;  gratuity 
given  to,  162  ;  his  duties  undertaken  by 
Samuel  Sambrooke,  373;  his  son,  see 
Blount,  Charles. 

Blower,  Peter,  142. 

Bludworth,  John,  adventure  transferred  to, 
17  ;  elected  a  Committee,  32, 153;  retires, 
91,  210. 

Blunden,  John,  183. 

Board  of  Trade,  xxv,  390  n. 

Bodiley,  William,  master  of  the  Anne,  con- 
tracted with  for  freighting  his  ship  to  Italy, 
41;  to  Bantam,  299  (2),  300;  refuses 
terms  proffered,  291,  292,  293 ;  unable  to 
go  in  her  as  master,  306. 

Bodilowe,  — ,  241,  242. 

Body  (^  Bode), —,  187,  189. 

Boene,  William,  343  «. 

Bolt,  Michael,  105,  109. 

Bolteale,  — ,  dispute  concerning  bill  of  ex- 
change made  payable  to,  180,  187,  189, 
191. 

Bolton,  Stephen,  300 ;  his  debt  to  the  Com- 
pany, 3,  4,  19,  50,  52;  to  be  sued  for, 
35,  43,  88,  90,  130,  143;  desires  remis- 
sion of  interest  on,  48,  143. 

Bolton,  William,  his  debt  to  the  Company, 
3,  4,  46,  47,  158 ;  request  of  his  son,  158 ; 
made  free  of  the  Company,  230. 

Bombay,  119. 

Bona  Esperanza,  the  (Conrteen's  ship),  x, 
148. 

Bond,  Captain  John,  vi(a),  25. 


Bonito,  the  {see  also  Bilbao  Merchanf), 
xxv,  244,  247,  251,  303,  353 ;  master  of, 
see  Birkdale  and  Yates  ;  men  serving  in, 
xxii  «.,  262,  389 ;  to  be  paid,  246,  348 ; 
the  Bilbao  Merchant  renamed  the,  xvii, 
241 ;  money,  stock,  etc.  sent  in,  244,  246, 
268,  380;  her  dispatch,  248  ;  return,  xix, 
246  (2),  335  ;  passengers  in,  361 ;  to  be 
repaired  and  sold,  384. 

Boimeale,  Daniel,  155,  235. 

Boimey,  Dorothy,  34. 

Bonney,  William,  34. 

Boone,  Henry,  surgeon  to  the  Company,  60, 
229;  payment  to,  21,  122,  180,  397;  made 
free  of  the  Company,  215;  gratuity  given 
to,  252. 

Boone,  Thomas,  360. 

Boothby,  George,  229. 

Boothby,  Richard,  327. 

Boras,  99,  103. 

Boreman,  Stephen,  263. 

Bostocke,  Mary,  205,  207,  211. 

Bott,  Thomas,  232,  238. 

Bourne,  David,  no. 

Bovee,  Jacob,  230. 

Bowden,  Hannai,  322. 

Bowden,  Nicholas,  322. 

Bowen,  Adam,  'writer  and  register  of 
letters,'  and  keeper  of  calico  warehouse, 
9,  154,  184,  211,  256,  274,  277,  328;  his 
appointment,  32,  92;  his  assistant,  see 
Sambrooke,  Samuel ;  instructions  given 
to,  17,  19,  22,  33,  37,  39(2),  70,  75,  79, 
82,  93,  107, 121, 136,  140, 193,  357,  263, 
292,  308,  323. 

Bowen,  Lewis,  164. 

Bowen,  Robert,  formerly  master  of  the 
Endeavour,  164,  232 ;  master  of  the 
Dolphin,  227  ;  made  free  of  the  Company, 
219 ;  his  adventure,  247. 

Bowman,  Maximilian,  354. 

Bownest,  Thomas,  32,  318. 

Box,  Henrj-,  78. 

Boyer,  an  old  name  for  a  sloop,  174. 

Boys,  John,  M.P.  for  Kent,  236. 

Bradbent,  William,  296,  297. 

Bradgate,  Martin,  292. 

BradSiaw,  John,  President  of  the  Council  of 
State,  98,  353. 

Bramston,  John,  352,  269. 

Braye,  Lord,  187  «. 

Brent,  Sir  Nathaniel,  Judge  of  the  Preroga- 
tive Court,  171,  337. 

Brethers,  Nicholas,  226. 

Breton,  Francis,  President  at  Surat,  his  sub- 
scription to  the  Second  General  Voyage, 
214,  218  ;  allowed  to  return  home,  261 ; 
to  take  up  money  at  interest,  363,  364; 
his  private  trade,  282, 297,  298,  300,  347 ; 
his  brothers,  297,  298,  347. 


396 


COURT  MINUTES,   ETC. 


Breton,  Richard,  347. 

Brett,  Captain  John,  346 ;  his  debt  to  the 
Company,  3,  4,  35,  58,  90,  133, 143,  270  ; 
to  be  sued  for,  83,  88,  130, 143  ;  remission 
of  interest  on,  154, 179;  adventure  trans- 
ferred to,  52  ;  buys  indigo,  100,  169,  225, 
258,  373 ;  accepted  as  security  for,  300, 
336 ;  his  bill  to  be  cancelled,  340. 

Brettridge,  Anne,  167. 

Brettridge,  Roger,  Junior,  167. 

Brettridge,  Roger,  Senior,  167. 

Brewer,  William,  227. 

Brewer,  — ,  10,  362. 

Brewin,  Mrs.,  192, 

Brewster,  Henry,  reports  the  betrayal  of  the 
John,  66 ;  his  relation  concerning,  71-74; 
desires  employment,  66 ;  to  be  dismissed 
the  Company's  service,  78. 

Bridgehouse  lands,  48,  75. 

Bridges,  Edward,  17. 

Bridges,  Margaret,  1 7. 

Bridgman,  James,  185,  231,  234. 

Bridgwater,  Earl  of.    See  Egerton,  John. 

Briggs,  — ,  119. 

Brightwell,  Thomas,  285,  291,  385. 

Bristol,  89, 149,  380 ;  the  yohn  betrayed  at, 
vii  (2),  66  (2),  73,  74 ;  coral,  etc.,  out  of 
the  John,  landed  at,  70,  92,  93,  98,  99, 
100,  129,  132,  138,  201,  307,  323;  Par- 
liament to  be  petitioned  concerning,  loi, 
102,  123,  126;  stormed  by  Fairfax,  viii, 
99^.,  138. 

Broadbent,  William,  master  of  the  Hind, 
29,  152  ;  of  the  Blessing,  183  ;  returns  as 
passenger  in  the  Eagle,  150  (2),  152  ;  his 
private  trade,  154,  192  (2) ;  desires  addi- 
tional men  and  guns,  184,  201. 

Broadcloth,  170,  231,  238. 

Brokes,  fines  levied  for  non-compliance  with 
the  rules  of  the  stock,  76,  269,  278,  335. 

Brookhaven,  John,  master  of  the  Lioness, 
184  «. 

Brooks,  Agard,  97,  98,  102,  103,  151. 

Browne,  Edward,  159. 

Browne,  Edwin,  186,  227. 

Browne,  George,  176. 

Browne,  John,  gunfounder  to  the  King,  19, 

35- 
Browne,  Quarles,  125,  235. 
Browne,  Samuel,  125,  292. 
Browne,  Samuel,  385. 
Browne,  Sheriff,  279. 
Browne,  Thomas,  385. 
Browne,  William,  341. 
Brunsbiittel,  1 74  n. 
Buckner,  Thomas,  76. 
Budd, David,  the  Company's  proctor,  70  (2), 

84,  315  ;  appointed  to  prove  the  wills  of 

all  men  dying  in  India  in  the  Company's 

service,  194,  211,  240. 


Bull,  Christopher,  262. 

Bunducke,  John,  master  of  the  Margaret 
Constance,  41,  44;  contracted  with  to 
carry  pepper  to  Italy,  39,  40,  42. 

Burdett,  Robert,  217. 

Burges,  Richard,  172,  202,  204. 

Bumell,  — ,  171. 

Bumell,  Thomas,  16,  176,  309;  nominated 
for  election  as  Deputy,  31,  91,  210; 
elected  a  Committee,32, 91, 153,  210, 276, 
332. 

Burre,  Humphrey,  his  debt  to  the  Company, 
46,  47>  6°>  52,  9°;  liis  wife,  270. 

Burrowghes,  Elizabeth,  350. 

Burrowghes,  John,  350. 

Burton,  Dr.,  226,  227. 

Burton,  Stephen,  his  debt  to  the  Company, 
2,  3. 4. 46, 47>  50. 52, 58. 64,  65,  100,  loi, 
125, 143,  179,181,  i82;tobesued,  10,19, 
26,  35.  43'  46,  88,  89,  90,  130,  143,  162, 
167,  172,  173,  223,  267  ;  action  deferred, 
II,  14,  67,  133 ;  to  be  settled  by  arbitra- 
tion, 234,  251,  252,  267;  arbitrators 
chosen,  236,  237 ;  his  bill  to  be  cancelled, 

275>  34°- 
Butter,  68. 

Byrams.     See  Cotton  goods. 


Cables  {^see  also  Cordage),  4,  12  (3),  34,  74, 
76,  126,  144,  146,  158,  175,  203,  261  ;  a 
small  'cablett*,  135. 

Calcott,  John,  Under  Sheriff  of  Middlesex, 
320,  321,  322. 

Calcott,  Samuel,  264,  363;  gratuity  given 
to,  156,  211,  278;  to  succeed  William 
Hurt  as  paymaster  of  mariners,  326,  327, 
328,  329,  333. 

Calcott,  Theophilus,  319. 

Calicoes  {see  also  Cotton  goods),  keeper  of 
warehouse  for,  j£«  Bowen,  Adam  ;  porter 
at,  see  Graunt  and  Weeden;  15,  19,  38, 
44,  95,  100,  105,  107  (2),  114,  122,  123, 
143.  i54»  156,159.176,181, 183,202,219, 

289.  305.  332,  340.  364.  372,  375,  377; 
sold,  6,  10,  II  (2),  40,  41,  46,  loi,  153, 
222, 255, 309, 321  (2),  331,  332,  346,  364; 
divisions  in,  32,  92,  118 ;  private  trade  in, 
v,87,i49, 150, 164, 161, 176  (2), 181,214, 
216.  222,  315,  368  ;  damaged  or  defective, 
164,  166,  166,  169,  202,  208,  221,  223, 
328,  333,363, 380;  securities  accepted  for, 
10,  II  (2),  186,  336,  348,  364,  368,  385  ; 
proposal  for  an  allowance  to  be  made 
upon,  343. 

Cambden  House,  46,  50,  81,  381. 

Camboja,  360. 

Canary  Islands,  138,  193,  318;  seizure  of 
ships  from,  88 ;  wine  from,  1 2,  36,  37,  75, 
124,  129,  256. 


INDEX 


397 


Candle  auction,  22,  44,  103,  105,  204,  379, 

285,  295.  317.  346,  356,  360,  364- 
Cantarini,  Thomas,  49. 
Canvas,  75,  206. 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  xii,  1 16, 177, 374, 375, 

379.  383- 

Cape  de  Verde,  24. 

Cardamoms,  118,  154,  220,  26a,  309,  346, 
361,  372  ;  sold,  99,  222,  284,  300,  347  ; 
price  of,  154,  279. 

Carey,  Henry,  Earl  of  Dover,  310  m. 

Carleton,  Bigley,  7. 

Carleton,  Captain,  19,  316. 

Carpets,  123,  239,  247,  251. 

Carteere,  Joan,  299. 

Carter,  Jeremiah,  183  (2),  279,  280. 

Cartwright,  Abraham,  his  demands  concern- 
ing his  brother  Ralph's  estate,  256,  286, 
373,  380,  381,  385. 

Cartwright,  Elizabeth,  payment  to,  from  her 
husband's  estate,  243,  256,  286,  381,  385  ; 
loan  to,  281,  314;  her  daughter,  286. 

Cartwright,  John,  11,  13,  50. 

Cartwright,  Ralph,  President  at  Bantam,  i, 
S.  18,  27, 57,  60,  117,  207,  210,  285,  385  ; 
his  salary,  12;  his  accusations  against 
Weston,  Yates  and  others,  117,  iiS,  173, 
174,  175,  181  (2),  182,  185 ;  his  accounts, 
160,  308,  219,  253, 373;  dispute  between 
Minors  and,  168,  179,  i8r,  189,  190,  191 
(2) ;  his  private  trade,  168, 169, 180, 190, 
192,  377,  380,  381 ;  executor  to  Roger 
Farley,  115,  169 ;  his  brother  and  execu- 
tor, see  Cartwright,  Abraham ;  his  wife, 
see  Cartwright,  Elizabeth. 

Cartwright,  Richard,  98. 

Cary,  William,  21  (2),  loi,  135,  248. 

Casier,  John,  343  n. 

Casks,  201,  208;  'shaken  caske,'  121. 

Cassia  lignum,  360. 

Castell,  — ,  228. 

Chaddocke  or   Chadwicke,   Richard,    18, 

203. 

Chamberlaine,  Abraham,  executor  to  Nicho- 
las Askwith,  12,  291 ;  quicksilver  bought 
from,  248,  262,  263. 

Chamberlaine,  James,  324. 

Chamberlaine,  John,  dispute  concerning  his 
estate,  309  (3),  314,  317,  318,  323,  324. 

Chamberlaine,  Major,  291. 

Chambers,  Alderman,  134,  135,  258. 

Chambers,  John,  134,  135,  258. 

Chambers,  Lawrence,  284,  314. 

Chambers,  Richard,  Senior,  368. 

Chambers,  Richard,  Junior,  368. 

Chambers,  Thomas,  61,  63. 

Chancery,  suits  in,  no,  135,  147,  155, 170, 
335,  240,  297,  309,  311, 330,  331  (3),  333, 
348 ;  Masters  of,  137,  205,  206,  235,  301  ; 
orders  of,  155,  235,  291. 


Channel  Row,  158. 

Chapman,  Mrs.,  201. 

Charke,  Benjamin,  105,  206. 

Charke,  Daniel,  206. 

Charlees.    See  Cotton  Goods. 

Charles  I,  iii,  v,  xi,  xv,  xvii,  loi,  366  ; 
pepper  bought  from  the  Company  on  be- 
half of,  iv,  2,  96  ;  letter  from,  concerning, 
3 ;  Parliament  petitioned  for  payment 
from  lands  belonging  to,  317  ;  his  ware- 
house, 21,  97,  149,  186;  his  'weightors', 
23;  fee  from  the  Company  to,  36,  43 ;  to 
be  petitioned  concerning  the  John,  66 ; 
the  John  seized  for,  vii,  71-74;  his 
'colours'  and  seal,  73,  74;  his  ships,  92  ; 
to  be  avoided,  86 ;  his  private  letters  cap- 
tured, 91  «. ;  some  refuse  to  swear  allegi- 
ance to,  xvi,  xvii,  323;  money  lost  by 
Cogan  in  the  cause  of,  314  «.;  favours 
Courteen,  Porter,  and  others,  365. 

Charlton,  William,  xi  n. 

Chamock,  — ,  113,  165. 

Chettwin,  Philip,  applies  concerning  Wil- 
liam Pitt's  estate,  220, 239,  272,  380,  382  ; 
part  of  the  same  to  be  delivered  to,  247, 
25i»  273. 

Chin,  Isabel,  226. 

China,  xxiii,  163,  372,384;  ware,  37,  153, 
206;  stuffs,  87;  roots,  173,  185  ;  ginger 
from,  360. 

Chintz,  131,  222,  289. 

Churchman,  Ozias,  139,  386;  retires  from 
being  a  Committee,  32,  210,  332 ;  re- 
elected, 91,  153,  376. 

Cider,  38. 

Cinnamon,  7,  113,  220,  291,  373  ;  sold,  10, 
38,  98,  99,  102,  112,  128,  129,  162,  194, 
285,  289,  347,  360;  divisions  in,  14,  31 ; 
price  of,  31,  34,  129,  132,  3S5,  295;  tare 
allowed  on,  loi ;  contract  for,  241,  245, 
252,  258  ;  'Tramboone,'  289,  295,  296; 
belonging  to  the  Company  lost,  297,  303, 

307  (2). 
Cinque  Ports,  the,  126,  129. 
Clapboards,  359. 

Clarke,  Sir  George,  9,  32,  65,  loi. 
Clarke,  Katherine,  petitions  concerning  her 

late  husband's  estate,  98,  193,  222,  237; 

interest  to  be  allowed  her  on,  100,  169 ; 

payment  to,  114,  169,  193,  230. 
Clarke,  Richard,  72,  125,  248. 
Clarke,  Thomas,  14. 
Clarke,  Thomas,  114. 
Clarke,   Walter,  his  widow,   see  Clarke, 

Katherine. 
Clarke,  — ,  152. 
Clarke,  — ,  207. 
Clay,  William,  73,  94. 
Clement,  Gregory,  23, 127,  360  ;  adventure 

transferred  to,  9;   transfers  adventure, 


398 


COURT  MINUTES,  ETC. 


175 ;  part-owner  of  the  Peter  and  of  the 
Endymion,^o,  120,  133. 

Clements,  Robert,  131,  134. 

Clinke,  Anne,  289. 

Clitherow,  Sir  Christopher,  32,  279 ;  con- 
cerning his  house  let  to  the  Company,  xxv, 
xxvi,  xxvii  «.,  244,  246,  300. 

Clobury,  Oliver,  237. 

Cloth,  56,  68,  72,  107,  248,  335,  336,  381 ; 
to  be  provided  for  India,  7,  12,  42,  72, 
78,  120,  134,  192,  241,  258,  262,  263, 
287  ;  from  Sinda,  45,  254,  295,  332,  352, 
385;  for  presents,  69,  121,  258;  private 
trade  in,  78,  139,  264,  323;  'cochea,' 
328;  'Amberta,'  332;  allowance  made 
on  all  linen,  343. 

Cloves,  68,  253,  278,  302,  364,  372;  sold, 
10,  26,  38,  58,  162,  185,  194,  216,  217, 
254.  300,  317,  321,  347,  352,  355,  360, 
362, 367  ;  dust  of,  10,  216,  360;  price  of, 
38,  32,  348  ;  private  trade  in,  41,  42,  60, 
63.  79,  87,  88. 

Clutterbucke,  Richard,  165,  296,  317,  334. 

Clutton,  John,  154,  155(2). 

Coachman,  Austine,  337,  338,  339. 

Coachman,  Thomas,  338. 

Coal,  58,  181,  306,  324. 

Coaster,  Sarah,  288. 

Cobb,  — ,  pinnace  built  by,  139, 

Cobb,  William,  1 88 ;  petitions  to  be  released 
from  prison,  24,  51,  52. 

Cochin,  3,  65,  71. 

Cocke,  George,  231. 

Cocks,  James,  92,  307. 

Cocks,  John,  307. 

Codrington,  Thomas,  255. 

Cogan,  Andrew,  formerly  Agent  at  the 
Coast,  1,  9,  34,  37,  S3,  88,  92,  246  ;  his 
return,  28  ;  his  statement  concerning 
debts,  etc.,  at  the  Coast,  28,  29,  57  ;  pro- 
position made  by,  31  «.,  60,  61  ;  his 
private  trade,  36,  46,  48,  56,  62,  63,  64, 
87  (2),  88,  172,  175  ;  desires  re-entertain- 
ment, 45  ;  complaints  against,  46,  48, 
58,  61,  62,  63,  85;  his  defence,  53-58, 
61 ,  64,  85 ;  adventure  transferred  to,  48, 
94>  95  (2)  ;  transfers  adventure,  314 ; 
cleared  of  all  charges,  85,  87 ;  his  mother- 
in-law,  see  Dame  Mary  Hamersley. 

Cogan,  Richard,  113,  117  (3). 

Cokayne,  Lord  Charles,  298. : 

Cokayne,  Thomas,  202,  229. 

Cokayne,  William,  Governor  of  the  Com- 
pany, references  to,  passim  ;  accepted  as 
security,  3,  11,  156,  186,  201,  237,  256, 
324,  336,  364,  368 ;  re-elected  Governor, 
31,  91,  153,  210.  276,  332;  adventure 
transferred  to,  78,  302,  385 ;  transfers 
adventure,  202  ;  to  be  present  at  a  con- 
sultation about  Courteen,  149  ;   reports 


made  by,  149, 150(2),  160, 163,  164,  195, 
275,  283,  294,  304,  311,  316,  338,  341, 
356,  360 ;  to  attend  the  Lords,  etc. ,  con- 
cerning the  Company's  ordinance,  134, 
181,  273;  visits  Blackwall  and  Poplar 
hospital,  203;  his  proposals  for  upholding 
the  trade,  xiii,  208,  338,  339,  341,  342 ; 
buys  pepper,  221 ;  allowed  to  sell  it  for 
exportation,  329, 330 ;  to  sign  all  warrants 
for  payment  of  money,  234;  buys  the 
Dolphin,  254 ;  allowed  to  send  tapestry 
to  Surat,  315  ;  to  attend  a  Parliamentary 
Committee,  340 ;  elected  a  Committee, 
xvi,  218,  342  ;  to  treat  with  the  members 
of  the  Assada  Plantation,  359,3603;  signs 
an  agreement  made  with,  382  (2). 

Cokayne,  William,  Junior,  186,  310  «. 

Coldham,  — ,  a  grocer,  175. 

Cole,  Cassius,  164,  165. 

Cole,  Ellen,  164. 

Cole,  George,  125. 

Colebourae,  — ,  187. 

CoUett,  Edward,  1, 155,  159. 

Colley,  Ursula,  322. 

CoUingwood,  John,  105,  146. 

CoUyer,  John,  35,  326 ;  his  security,  48  ;  to 
succeed  Job  Throgmorton,  204,  205  ;  ac- 
cepted as  security,  211,  305  ;  admitted  to 
the  freedom,  229. 

CoUyer,  Robert,  113. 

Coltman,  John,  21  (2),  186,  243. 

Comey  {or  Cony),  Mrs.,  200,  360. 

Comfort,  HOR,  98,  114. 

Common  Council,  the,  5,  7,  89. 

Common  Hall,  the,  90. 

Commons,  House  of  (^see  also  Parliament), 
the  Company's  ordinance  referred  to  a 
Committee  of,  vii,  x,  1 1,  162,  163  ;  passed 
by,  196,  197,  198,  209,  276,  283,  366, 
375>  379  ;  petitions  to,  24,  25,  49,  50,  84, 
93,  123,  145,  212  (2),  236  (2),  245,  246, 
286,  315,  356,  368;  orders  from,  46,  47, 
88,  109,  145,  160,  169,  259,  279,  333-4, 
388  ;  members  of,  99, 109,  157,  168,  169, 
236  ;  Giles  Greene  desired  to  report  on 
the  Company's  ordinance  to,  109,  150, 
151 ;  permission  for  exportation  of  foreign 
coin,  etc.,  given  by,  78  ».,  168  «.,  193  n., 
244«.,  245,  262  n,,  301 «. ;  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  the  Company  from,  222. 

Commonwealth  or  State,  the,  222,  383  ;  to 
be  supplied  with  saltpetre,  xxiii,  372,  378, 
383,  384,  385  ;  all  merchants  to  engage 
to  be  true  and  faithful  to,  388. 

Comoro  Islands,  vi,  vii,  ix,  72  (a). 

Constant  Warwick,  the,  329. 

Cooke,  James,  219. 

Cooke,  Thomas,  219. 

Cooper,  Sir  William,  1 2. 

Cooper,  — ,  89. 


INDEX 


399 


Coopers'  Hall,  131. 

Coral,  67,  74,  76, 184  ;  shipped  in  tiie/ohn 
and  landed  at  Bristol,  viii,  3,  70,  92,  93, 
98,  99,  100  (3),  129,  132,  138;  Parlia- 
ment petitioned  concerning,  loi  (2),  102, 
123, 1 26 ;  recovery  of,  150,  201 ;  provided 
in  Italy,  22,  93,  106,  107,  134;  private 
trade  and  trade  in,  76,  79  «. ;  belonging 
to  Maurice  Thomson,  117,  131,  132, 138, 
184,  185,  186;  to  Glover,  194,  196;  to 
the  Deputy,  247 ;  payment  for,  131,  141, 
199,  200  (2);  '  Grezio,'  190,  191. 

Corbett,  Miles,  M.P.  for  Great  Yarmouth, 
loi,  no. 

Cordage  (see  also  Cables),  80, 206,  291,  323; 
makingand  providing  of,  31, 164,  180(2), 
204,  300;  to  be  sent  to  India,  47,  120, 
121,252;  examination,  valuation  and  sale 
of,  146,  147,  148,  200,  203,  208  (2),  219, 
293 ;  overseer  of,  see  Purse,  George. 

Coidell,  Sir  John,  91,  153,  210,  276. 

Cordwell  (or  Cordell),  Samuel,  the  King's 
powdermaker,  5,  112,  145. 

Corker,  Thomas,  165  (2). 

Com,  174. 

Cornelius,  Emmanuel,  114. 

Comhill,  9,  113. 

Coromandel  Coast,  vi,  xvii,  30,  11 1,  220, 
303,  377 ;  Agents  at,  see  Cogan,  Day,  and 
Ivy;  indigo  from,  10,  21,  112,  114,  133, 
162,  169,  173,  185,  186,  187,  189,  216, 
222;  factors  at  and  for,  ii,  14,  17,  19, 
23.  33.  44»  51,  131,  140.  161,  198  (2), 
232.  245,  246,  257,  293,  297  ;  instructions 
to,  220,  248,  367  ;  ships  for,  passim ;  the 
Company's  debts  and  estate  at,  28,  29, 
37  (2),  38,  57.  79.  245. 335  ;  private  trade 
at,  46,  62,  63,  170  ;  subordinate  to  Ban- 
tam, 54,  57  ;  to  Surat,  54;  no  objection 
at  Surat  to  a  fort  being  built  on,  55  ; 
stock,  etc.,  for,  57,  134,  157,  163,  231, 
245,  246,  248,  301,  306;  money  misspent 
at,  57;  taken  up  at  interest,  157,  166; 
great  charge  and  loss  at,  79 ;  letters  from, 
85,  169,  248;  letters  to,  219,  221,  245; 
famine  and  war  at,  248;  Minister  at,  see 
Isaackson,  William.  See  also  Armagon, 
Fort  St.  George,  Madras  and  Masnli- 
patam. 
Corsellis,  Nicholas,  343  n. 
Corvo  Island,  86,  98. 

Cossaes,  cosses  or  cossus.  See  Cotton  Goods. 
Cotterell,  John,  313. 

Cottington,  Francis  Lord,  Lord  Treasurer, 
money  owing  for  pepper  bought  on  behalf 
of  the  King  by,  3,  3,  20  (2),  40,  41,  49, 
1 28,  320,  332, 347,  348,  364 ;  probabiUty 
of  his  lands  being  confiscated,  249,  347 ; 
estimated  value  of,  353. 
Cotton ,  Francis,  Minister  at  Surat,  265. 


Cotton,  Francis,  Junior,  265. 
Cotton,  — ,  38. 

Cotton  goods  and  calicoes,  baftas,  99,  100, 
102,  216,  254,  284,  367 ;  byrams,  328 ; 
charlees,  99;  cossaes,  cosses  or  cossus, 
161,  173,  328,  381  ;  derebauds,  161  ; 
diapers,  162,  185,  289 ;  dimities,  250, 
254,  355 ;  dustataes,  385  ;  dutties,  10, 
289,  299,  347 ;  eckbarees,  99 ;  ferratt- 
chauns,  99,  328;  guldarees,  112,  328; 
g'lrraes,  385  ;  gnzees,  289 ;  hummums, 
362  ;  hussanees,  99 ;  merculees,  10,  284 ; 
morees,  112,  126,  162,  173,  185,  219, 
256,  284,  290,  356  (3),  360,  362,  367, 
381  ;  niccanees,  99,  153,  284,  347  ;  per- 
callas,  162,  173,  290,  381  ;  piece  goods, 
174;  pintadoes,  128,  155,284;  populees, 
99,  347 ;  rashees,  77,  78 ;  rowladoes,  367  ; 
saboones,  301 ;  sallampores,  37, 112, 162, 
165  (2),  173,  216,  219,  389,  395  (2),  360, 
362,  367,  381,  385;  sallowes,  99,  328; 
sannowes,  23,  173,  185,  254,  362,  367, 
381,  385  ;  semianes,  99  ;  serias,  10,  284, 
332  ;  Surats  narrow,  161 ;  tapseels,  99, 
153,  322,  284,  347. 
Cotton-wool,  sold,  10,  36,  38,  45,  58,  128, 

173,  206,  254,  300,  331,  328,  332. 
Cotton  yam,  38, 99,  153,  165,  223, 384,  317, 

322  (2),  323,  334. 
Couch,  Leonard,  171,  223. 
Coulson,  Captain  William,  66,  67,  185. 
Council   of  State,    xxiii,    316,    367,    385 ; 
President  of,  see  Bradshaw,  John ;  instruc- 
tions from,  329  (2),  335  ;   desires  to  buy 
saltpetre,  343,  346,  349,  350,  351,  352, 
355  ;  Assada  adventurers  petition,  xxiii  ; 
the  Company's  petition  to,  xxiii,  365-7; 
orders  from,  xxiv,  373,  374,  377,  379; 
proceedings  of,  388-9,  389-90. 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  128. 
Court  of  Delegates,  337. 
Court  of  Requests,  236. 
Courteen,  Lady  Katherine,  x,  140,  141  (2), 

147,  148,  149. 
Courteen,  Sir  William,  365. 
Courteen,  William,  v,  vi,  x,  xi,  13,  15, 188, 
196;  proposed  concessions  to,  xiii,  15, 
115,  116,  141,  143,  163,  177,  178;  ships 
belonging  to,  vi,  vii,  x,  72,  148, 166,  190 ; 
loss  of,  x,  107,  III,  115  ;  desires  restitu- 
tion of  gold  and  guns  saved  from,  x,  xiii, 
III,  112,140;  petitions  Parliament  con- 
cerning, xiii  (2)  ;  part  of  Weddell's  estate 
assigned  to,  84,  89,  92  ;  a  former  treaty 
concluded  with,  116  ;  men  in  the  service 
of.  III,  112,  195  (2),  251,  289;  attach- 
ments made  on  money  due  to,  142  (2), 
147,  148  (2),  149  (3),  368  ;  what  his 
trading  cost  iJie  Company,  1 96 ;  his  credi- 
tors, 351 ;   goods  seized  by,  305  ».,  335, 


400 


COURT  MINUTES,  ETC. 


361 ;  his  death,  xi  n. ;  his  son,  see  Charlton, 
William  ;  his  counsel,  see  Newdigate  and 
Glover  ;  his  wife,  see  Courteen,  the  Lady 
Katherine. 

Courts,  of  Committees,  passim ;  to  be  held 
once  a  week  only,  35, 143,  244 ;  a  breach 
of  trust  to  reveal  what  passes  at,  363 ;  of 
Election,  31,  91,  153,  209,  275,  332  ; 
postponed,  90 ;  General, passim ;  of  Sale, 
passim. 

Cousens,  Thomas,  36. 

Cousins,  John,  298, 

Covenant,  the  National,  1 7. 

Cowries,  222,  230,  286. 

Cox,  Charles,  15,  90,  311  ;  his  adventure, 
13,  14,  15  (2)  ;  administrator  of  his 
brother's  estate,  15,  152,  153,  156. 

Cox,  James,  45,  229,  311 ;  his  account,  94, 

102,  112. 

Cox,  John,  15,  90,  152,  156,  311,  316. 

Cox,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Liitk  William, 
III,  112  ;  petition  of  his  widow,  107. 

Cox,  Margaret,  107. 

Craddock,  Matthew,  156,  302. 

Crandley,  Captain  Richard,  325,  328,  330. 

Cranehall,  — ,  190,  191. 

Cranmer,  Robert,  305,  331. 

Craven,  Lord,  xxvi ;  the  Company  treats 
about  a  house  belonging  to,  xxvi,  232, 
237>  239,  269,  331 ;  agrees  to  lease,  xxvi, 
244,  246 ;  to  be  inspected,  252,  271,  282, 
292  ;  report  on,  298  ;  use  of,  desired, 
xxvii «.,  279;  Court  held  at,  xxvii,  280  n. 

Craven,  — ,  100  (2). 

Crispe,  Sir  Nicholas,  iii;  his  debt  to  the 
Company,  3,  4  (2),  9,  50,  340 ;  his  ad- 
venture, 3,  4  (2),  46,  50,  52,  58,  133. 

Crispe,  Samuel,  his  debt  to  the  Company, 
2,  3,  4,  II,  50,  154;  his  adventure,  46, 
47.52. 

Crispe,  — ,  master  of  the  Martha  and  Sarah, 
85  (3),  86  (2),  87. 

Crispiana,  the,  v,  ix,  9, 10,  35,  71  (2),  120, 
I32>  135  ;  master  of,  see  Baily  and 
Steevens ;  men  serving  in,  9,  59,  94,  97, 

103,  no,  113,  114;  stock,  etc.,  to  be 
shipped  in,  4,  17  ,  her  dispatch,  18,  26, 
96;  return,  viii,  ix,  94;  insurance,  81; 
repair  and  valuation,  5,  100 ;  goods  and 
private  trade  brought  home  in,  94,  95, 
97,  100,  103,  108,  109,  no,  H3,  119, 
129,  130  ;  to  be  sold,  xii,  100,  144,  145, 
203 ;  sold,  206  ;  offered  for  freighting, 
107,  108  (2),  III. 

Cromwell,  Oliver,  xi,  215  w. 

Crosby,  — ,  81. 

Crosby  House,  xxvi,  the  Company  desires 
to  rent,  xxv,  24,  257  ;  cellars  and  ware- 
house at,  xxvi,  24,  257,  282,  306. 

Crumpe,  Matthew,  231,  269. 


Cryer,  the  Common,  159. 

Cubebs,  10,  18,  24,  185. 

Cullen,  or  Culling,  Thomas,  83,  289,  329. 

CuUmand,  Thomas,  340. 

Cullum,  Alderman  Thomas,  154,  229. 

Currants,  264. 

Curtis,  — ,  166,  172. 

Custom-house,  217,275;  King's  warehouse 
at,  21,  97,  149,  186;  officials  at,  21,  23, 
106,  164,  186  ;  gratuity  given  to,  157. 

Customs,  2,  27  «.,  275,  379,  380;  paid  and 
to  be  paid,  8,  10, 106, 109, 165,  304,  305, 
3i3»  356;  payment  desired  from  money 
due  for,  37,  258,  278,  283,  286,  287,  346  ; 
Commissioners  of,  129,  275,278;  money 
due  to  the  Company  from,  52,  53,  64,  65, 
75  ;  payment  to,  122, 160,  161,  165,237, 
238,  283,  362,  373;  at  Gombroon,  56, 
163,  197,  198,  311,  341,  345,  357  (2)  ;  at 
Fort  St.  George  and  Madras,  xxi,  311, 
34i>  344.  345.  357  ;  Committee  of  the 
Navy  and,  118,  191,  312,  343;  desire 
a  loan  from  the  Company,  278,  312,  313. 

Cuttler,  John,  141,  291,  296,313,  362. 

Cuttler, William,  the  Garbler,  254,  340,  363; 
his  suit  against  the  Company,  24,  27,  28, 
33.  240,  249,  253,  269, 287,  296,  368,  369; 
against  some  Dutchmen,  269,  271,  278, 
279,  327,  369  ;  Committees  to  treat  and 
settle  with,  249,  253,  287,  326,  327,  330, 
334,  361  ;  prevents  the  sale  of  pepper, 
277,  287 ;  Parliament  to  be  petitioned 
concerning,  277,  330  (2),  353,  363,  364, 
368,  369,  373- 

Dacres,  Edward,  18. 

Dacres,  Sir  Thomas,  M.P.  for  Herts,  18,  50, 

Dalton,  William,  97,  99. 

Danes,  the,  55,63,  135. 

Daniell,  Anthony,  318. 

Danvers,  Mrs.,  280. 

Darling,  Edward,  341. 

Dartmouth,  86,  380. 

Davidge,  Richard,  289. 

Davidson,  David,  144,  180  (2),  208. 

Davies,  Andrew,  pilot,  19. 

Davies,  Elizabeth,  172,  202,  204. 

Davies,  John,  172. 

Davies,  Richard,  186,  267,  290;  elected 
a  Committee,  32;  retires,  91,  210;  re- 
elected, 153,  332 ;  reports  concerning 
private  trade,  208,  267. 

Davies,  Richard,  pilot,  5,  13,  80,  82,  267; 
payment  to,  18,  22. 

Davies,  Thomas,  33,  51. 

Davies,  Captain  Thomas,  229,  270. 

Davies,  — ,  194. 

Davison,  Michael,  343  n. 

Dawes,  Sir  Thomas,  20. 

Day,  Francis,  Agent  at  the  Coast,  i,  58, 11 1, 


INDEX 


401 


*34.  236,  346,  368;  his  wife,  44,  67; 
treats  for  ground  with  the  Nayak  of  Ma- 
draspatam,  54  ;  promises  to  pay  interest 
on  money  borrowed  for  the  erection  of  a 
fort  at,  55 ;  recommends  its  erection,  85  ; 
accusations  brought  against,  29,  67,  126 
(2),  137,  135,  170;  Committees  to  hear, 
145,  167,  168,  170,  171 ;  goods  to  be  de- 
livered to,  114, 118;  payment  to,  115, 171 ; 
his  private  trade,  125,  126  (2),  170, 171, 
181,  211,  243,  244- 

Deal,  79  n. 

Deane,  Charles,  22,  84,  143. 

Deane,  Elizabeth,  238. 

Deane,  Richard,  238. 

Deards,  Nathaniel,  116,  240. 

Deards,  Peter,  240. 

Deards,  Richard,  240  {2),  274. 

De  Calander,  Jacob,  128. 

Defence,  the,  310. 

Delabarre,  — ,  165,  166. 

Da  La  Noy,  Benjamin,  58, 183;  buys  goods, 
etc.,  45,  100,  112,  162  (2);  transfers 
adventure,  74,  186,  192,  193;  dispute 
between  Bolteale  and,  180,  187,  189, 191. 

De  Lawne,  Gideon,  32,  76. 

Delinquents,  40 ;  Commissioners  for  com- 
jwnnding  with,  330. 

Del  Re,  Dominicus,  49. 

De  Mio,  John,  49. 

Denham,  — ,  246. 

Denmark,  36,  337. 

Denwood,  Thomas,  184,  203,  216. 

Deptford,  200,  202,  360;  houses  and  wharf 
at,  to  be  valued,  15;  offer  to  buy,  22; 
sold,  23,  24,  48;  rent  of,  75. 

De  Pucora,  John,  59. 

Derebands.     See  Cotton  Goods. 

Deny,  the  Mayor  of,  105. 

Dethick,  John,  xxii  n. 

Dethicke,  Thomas,  48,  205  (2). 

Devereux,  Sir  Walter,  1 14. 

Diamond,  the,  42,56;  master  of,  see  Swanne 
a«<^Whatmore ;  sent  to  Bantam,  56,57,63. 

Diamonds,  185,  186,  280,  283;  in  rings, 
100,  112,  204;  sold,  103,  112. 

Diapers.    See  Cotton  Goods. 

Dickenson,  Edward,  89. 

Dickons,  Thomas,  229. 

Dickons,  — ,  137. 

Digby,  Sir  Kenelm,  188. 

Diggs,  John,  143. 

Dike,  Richard,  250,  254,  255. 

Dimities.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Dimsdale,  Bernard,  62. 

Discovery,  the,  71,  73,  192;  deemed  un- 
serviceable, 20 ;  insurance  of,  8i  ;  loss  of^ 
ix,  X,  95,  96,  loi,  163;  men  lost  in,  99, 
107,  207,  265. 

Distringas,  a,  149. 


I  Ditchfield,  Thomas,  97. 
]  Dividends  (or  divisions),  goods  due  upon, 
delivered,  i,  39;  due  upon  adventures, 
4, 12  (3),  15  (2),  48,  157, 158  ;  in  money, 
XV,  XX,  15,  157,  200,  302,  203,  211,  318  ; 
in  cinnamon,  14,  31 ;  in  silk,  52,  93  ;  in 
calicoes,  32, 33, 92,  n8  ;  in  indigo,  xv,  33, 
34,  204,  207,  210,  229,  231,  233,  265  (3), 
266,  369,  270,  274 ;  in  pepper,  xx,  xxi, 
356,  359.  360,  367,  385,  386,  388;  none 
to  be  paid  to  those  indebted  to  the  Com- 
pany, 125. 

Dixon,  Miles,  116,  221. 

Dollars,  23,  28  (2),  39,  157,  167,  168,  176, 
201,  253,  263,  291,  323 ;  rix,  8, 174,  230 ; 
cross,  330. 

Dolphin,  the  {see  also  Peter  and  Andrew, 
the),  16,  71,  92,  118,  I30,  132,  136,  139, 
215,  216,  217,  297,  353,  363;  master  of, 
see  Prowd  and  Bowen ;  men  serving  in,  94, 

97.  98,  99.  i°2.  109.  "3.  m  (2).  "5, 
231  , 2),  240,  257 ;  to  be  paid,  245,  246  (3) ; 
leak  in,  29;  insurance  of,  81,  194;  her 
return,  viii,  ix,  xiv,  xix,  94,  130,  335; 
private  trade  brought  home  in,  94,  97,  98, 
loi,  103, 105, 109, 139,  214,  216, 217(2), 
330,  225,  239,  243,  245  (2),  246,  292  ; 
goods  brought  home  in,  95,  97, 100,  108, 
222,  223,300,  350,  363  ;  her  dispatch,  xii, 
96,  132,  140,  256;  valuation  and  repair, 
100,  103,  III,  226  (2),  273  ;  passengers 
in,  134.  139,  315,  330,  333  (3),  348; 
disaster  to,  ix,  151 ;  decision  to  sell,  217, 
233.  252,  254;  sold,  254,  359,  261 ;  to  go 
to  the  Coast,  xvii,  225,  226,  333,  334,  354, 
342  ;  to  Bantam,  334,  359  ;  stock,  etc,  to 
be  sent  in,  244,  245,  246 ;  her  charter- 
party,  253  ;  payment  to  her  owners,  347. 

Dorset  House,  158. 

Doughty,  Robert,  232  (2),  241,  345,  361. 

Doughty,  William,  341. 

Dover,  44,  46,  74,  79,  84,  275,  333,  380 ; 
private  trade  landed  at,  97,  105, 171,  314, 
267 ;  rials,  etc.,  to  be  bought  at,  17,  237, 
253,  263,  263,  267, 330,  331,  367  ;  Castle, 
374. 

Dover,  Earl  of.     See  Carey,  Henry. 

Dover,  Mary  Countess  of,  78,  310. 

Z'<7Z'fryl/^n-Aa«/,the, master  of.JtftfPhillipps, 
Roger ;  pepper  to  be  shipped  in,  157,  333, 

327- 

Dowell,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Advue,  167, 
173,  228,  272  ;  accused  of  appropriating 
certain  Portuguese  goods,  136,  137  ;  his 
suit  against  May,  1 38  ;  made  free  of  the 
Company,  220 ;  offers  to  go  as  master  in 
the  Bonito,  382. 

Dowlins,  — ,  166. 

Downing,  Richard,  203. 

Downs,  Gregory,  183  (3). 


od 


402 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


Downs,  the,  reference  to,  passim  ;  ships 
brought  into  and  dispeeded  from,  5,  7,  i6 
(2),  17,  18,  19,  26,  45  (2),  48,  80,  100, 
136(2),  190,  193,  225,  227,  275,  306, 
309,  335,  336  ;  ships  mutiny  in,  274  n. 

Dragon,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  x. 

Ducatoons,  230. 

Ducats,  23,  49,  III,  140, 141, 147, 154,  201, 
212. 

Dungeness,  11. 

Dunkyn,  Michael,  17,  24,  159,  216;  ap- 
pointed assistant  to  the  Treasurer,  32,  93 ; 
his  salary,  97  ;  made  free  of  the  Company, 

2  20. 

Dunn,  Henry,  137. 

Dunn,  John,  299,  316. 

Dupper,  a,  164. 

Durson,  John,  244. 

Dustataes.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Dutch,  the,  xi,  15,  95,  372,  378  ;  East  India 
Company,  77, 154 ;  documents  relating  to 
the  trade  of,  i  ;  directors  of,  40,  53,  155  ; 
find  profitable  trading  in  India,  40 ;  Pulo 
Run  to  be  restored  to  the  English  by,  1 1 6, 
212,  369,  370  (2),  377,  382;  ships  be- 
longing to,  vii,  119,  310;  captured  by,  x  ; 
competitors  for  the  East  India  trade,  xxiii, 
151, 188, 366,  567,  376  ;  the  English  Com- 
pany hopes  to  procure  restitution  from, 
211,212  (2),  377, 382  ;  Javanese  murdered 
1*7)  3^0;  Dutchmen  sued  by  the  Garbler, 
253,  269,  271,  278,  279,  327,  369. 

Dutties.    See  Cotton  goods. 

Dwayte,  Elizabeth,  279. 

Dyamond,  John,  113,  215. 

Eagle,  the,  24,  25,38,58,  loi,  155,193,290, 
518  ;  master  of,  see  Steevens  and  Prowd  ; 
men  serving  in,  59,  63,  74,  77,  150,  160, 
174,  '83, 194,  201,  279, 292  (2),  296,  315, 
318  (2),  319;  payment  to,  150,151,154, 
306 ;  petition  from,  78  ;  letter  from,  80  ; 
stock,  etc.,  to  be  sent  in,  67,  74,  76,  78 
(2),  79  «.,  192,  201,  287,  291,  301 «.,  308, 
317,  319;  private  trade  in,  76,  78,  149, 
150  (3),  151,  J52.  154,  157. 160  (2),  161, 
171  (2),  208,277,281 ;  her  dispatch,  78(2), 
196,  314  ;  to  go  to  Surat,  viii,  xii,  xviii, 
164  ;  damages  the  Peter,  80,  84,  90  ;  in- 
surance of,  81,  132,  143,  144,  145,  146, 
184, 194,  257,  260,  266,  319,  320  ;  her  re- 
turn, xii,  xvii,  275;  passengers  in,  150, 
152,297,313,  317,  318, 323; to  be  docked 
and  repaired,  152,  158,  189,  281;  goods 
returned  in,  176,  179,  283,  302,  307  (2); 
duty  paid  on,  155,  158,  165. 

Earle,  — ,  master  of  the  Thomas  attd  John, 

Earle,  Sir  Walter,  Lieutenant-General  of  the 
Ordnance,  1 15,  134. 


East  India  Company :  Governor,  see  Co- 
kayne,  William ;  Deputy-Governor,  see 
Methwold,  William ;  Accountant,  see 
Sambrooke,  Jeremy  ;  Auditor,  see  Mark- 
ham,  Valentine ;  Beadle,  see  Spiller,  John ; 
Husband, j-eeRilston,  Thomas;  Secretary, 
see  Swinglehurst,  Richard  ;  Solicitor,  see 
Acton,  James;  Surgeon,  j^^  Boone,  Henry; 
Treasurer,  see  Bateman,  Robert,  owa^Mas- 
singberd,  John ;  money  owing  for  pepper 
bought  in  the  King's  name  from,  iv,  2,  3, 
20  (2),  34.  40,  41.  49.  145.  347,  360  ;  in 
great  need  of  money,  2,  4,  7,  8, 143,  294; 
ordnance  lent  to  the  City  by,  5,  7, 89,  131, 
183 ;  money  left  at  interest  with,  7, 68,  69, 
77.  78, 80, 87,  119, 120, 158, 171, 182, 193, 
226,  227,  247,  256,  258,  286,  319,  334; 
its  debts,  iv,  8,  29,  37,  38,  57,  266,  384; 
its  trade,  iii,  xii,  xiii ;  ordinance  desired 
for  regulating,  v,  vii,  x,  xii,  11,  15, 49,  93, 
94,  "6,  117, 131, 134,150, 151, 162,176- 
178,  208,  302,  304,  315,  366,  367,  375, 
379;  referred  to  a  Committee  of  Parlia- 
ment, 109  (2),  110,  115,  132, 163 ;  passed 
by  the  Commons,  xii,  196,  197,  209,  283, 
379 ;  the  Lords  to  be  solicited  concerning, 
xii,  xiii,  xiv,  181,  273,  277  ;  they  dismiss 
it,  xiii,  194,  195  (2),  196,  197,  198,  209, 
276,  283 ;  propositions  presented  by  Baker 
concerning  the  trade  of,  67,  68,  69;  by 
the  Governor,  xiii,  xiv,  341 ,  342  ;  reasons 
for  pursuing  it  by  means  ofa  joint  Stock, 
187-189,  197  ;  Committees  appointed  to 
consider  how  best  to  carry  it  on,  342 ; 
meeting  of,  345-6 ;  draft  read  of  an  Act 
of  Parliament  to  uphold,  384,  385  ;  loan 
desired  by  Parliament  from,  11,  37  ;  by 
the  Navy  from,  312, 313 ;  foreign  coin  and 
bullion  to  be  bought  for,  15, 102, 140, 167, 
237,  250,  262,  263  (2),  264,  267  ;  protec- 
tion promised  to  those  buying,  25,  263  ; 
exportation  of,  authorized  by  Parliament, 
xxv,  78«.,  168 «.,  193  «.,  244  «.,  245, 
262  n. ;  its  proposed  accommodation  with 
Courteen,  Thomson,  and  others,  xiii,  15, 
115, 116, 117, 118, 119  (2),  163, 177. 178; 
restitution  of  gold  and  guns  desired  by 
Courteen  from,  xiii,  111,  112,  140,  141, 
142,  143,  148;  loss  caused  by  the  trading 
of  Courteen  and  other  interlopers  to,  196, 
365, 366 ;  men  and  arms  to  be  provided  by, 
16 ;  sale  of  land  belonging  to,  23,  24, 48, 
75  ;  land  offered  as  security  to,  109  ;  its 
assurance  policies,  23,  28  (3),  41,  44,  45 
(2),  48.  63,  61,  67,  81,  82,  122,  132,  143, 
145,  164,  194,  199,  200,  260,  264,  265, 
266,  267,  279,  320;  Sir  Peter  Ricaut tries 
to  sequester  money  and  goods  belonging 
to,  23,  49,  80,  81,  158,  169;  Parliament 
to  be  petitioned  concerning,  82  ;  bond 


INDEX 


403 


given  to  Sir  Peter  by,  59 ;  ships  to  be  built 
for,  vi,  viii,  xii,  20,  31  (a),  24,  34,  38,  57, 
158,  164,  167  ;  bought  by,  xii,  117,  119; 
suit  brought  by  Cuttler,  the  Garbler, 
against,  24,  27,  28, 33,  240,  249,  253,  269, 
287,  296,  330,  334,  368, 369  ;  Parliament 
to  be  petitioned  concerning,  277,  330  (2), 
368 ;  desires  to  rent  Crosby  House,  24, 
257  ;  Lord  Craven's  house,  232,  237,  239, 
244,  331 ;  to  sub-let  part,  298,  305,  306, 
319,  350;  decides  to  quit  Clitherow's, 

344,  246;  its  warehouses,  39,  89,  129, 
202,  255,  257;  orders  concerning  goods 
left  in,  23,  25,  36,  33,  34,  41,  208,  316, 
377.  297.  305.  322,  330,  361 ;  its  seal, 
25>  37,  33i>  360 ;  petitions  Parliament 
concerning  Captain  Bond's  intended  ex- 
pedition, 25 ;  the  dispatch  of  ships  to 
India  by  private  men,  vii,  xvii,  49,  244, 

345,  246,  305  «. ;  concerning  Mucknell 
and  the  coral  landed  from  theyoAn,  66(2), 
84,  loi,  102, 123  ;  the  claims  of  Alderman 
Fowke,  155,  235,  236  (3) ;  concerning  the 
exportation  of  ungarbled  spice,  339,  340; 
petitions  the  Admiralty  concerning  Muck- 
nell, S3  (2),  1 26 ;  concerning  private  trade, 
150;  proposal  made  by  Cogan  to,  31  «., 
60,  61 ;  election  of  officers  for,  31, 32,  33, 
91,  92,  93,  153,  210,  276,  277,  332,  333  ; 
duties  allotted  to,  50,  102  ;  retrenchment 
of  its  expenses  xirged,  xiv,  35,  198  ;  orders 
concerning  those  indebted  to,  2  (2),  10, 19, 
30  (3),  36,  35,  40,  41,  43,  52(3),  65,  70, 
88,  90  (2),  125,  130,  143,  147,  162,  166, 
172,  208,  329,  376,  381  ;  its  factors  and 
mariners,  51,  59,  60,  66,  127,  137,  151, 
152, 170, 188,  261,  262,  295,  296  ;  its  fac- 
tories, 1S8,  198,  199,  261,  262  ;  fee  paid 
the  King  by,  36 ;  petition  to  the  King  from, 
66  (2) ;  letters  to,  36,  39,  53  (2),  77,  154, 
155.  173,  174,  207,  214  ;  letters  from,  vi, 
viii,  98,  100 ;  its  special  commodities,  41 , 
372  ;  Christmas  and  other  charities  given 
by,  58,  60,  120,  179,  181,  246,  249,  306, 
319J  327,  385 ;  slaves  to  be  bought  for, 
68,  69  ;  '  Argier '  and  Pljinouth  duty  paid 
by,  79,  97,  100,  "3,  "5,  "2,  124  (2), 
137,  155.  158,  165,  166,  173,  238,  304. 
314 ;  cost  of  buildings  and  forts  erected 
by,  177;  injuries  and  loss  sustained  by, 
vii,  viii,  188,  196;  proposal  for  a  new 
Voyage  or  Stock  to  be  started  by,  xiii,  xiv, 
xviii, xix,  xxi,  208, 209, 304, 305, 31 1, 313, 
339,  341,  356,  357,  35^,  366;  preamble 
for,  xix,  xxi,  311,  312,  341,  358,  366,  374, 
376,  389 ;  subscriptions  to,  xiv,  xxv,  389; 
hindered  and  stopped,  xix,  xxii,  342,  359, 
366,  374,  376;  money  and  goods  to  be 
provided  for, 350,  351,  354, 355,  357,  358; 
all  remains  in  India  to  be  turned  over  to. 


357  ;  Parliament  to  be  petitioned  concern- 
ing, 315;  granted  a  licence  by  King  James 
to  transport  pepper,  etc.,  293  ;  assessment 
levied  upon,  84,  315,  316;  means  to  be 
taken  to  safeguard  its  homeward-bound 
ships,  viii,  316,  318,  329  (2);  hopes  to 
obtain  restitution  from  the  Dutch,  311, 
213  (2),  377,  382  ;  its  mark,  213;  some 
Committees  rdfiise  to  take  the  oath  pre- 
scribed for  admittance  to  the  freedom  of, 
xvi,  xvii,  220,  221,  222,  223  (2),  224;  a 
vote  of  thanks  from  the  House  of  Com- 
mons to,  222  ;  dinner  to  be  given  by,  xix, 
337,  347 ;  determines  to  oppose  the  in- 
tended plantation  on  Assada,  358,  359; 
petition  to  the  Council  of  State  concern- 
ing, xxiii,  365-367 ;  to  petition  Parliament 
concerning,  xxiii,  364,  367 ;  the  Assada 
merchants'  propositions  and  their  objec- 
tions to  the  Joint  Stock  proposed  by,  xxiii, 
369-372,  373,  377  ;  answer  to  made  by, 
xxiii,  374-376,  377  ;  agreement  between 
the  Assada  merchants  and,  xxiv,  xxv,  377- 
378,  381,  382-384  ;  resolutions  passed  by 
Parliament  concerning,  xxv ;  privil^es 
desired  by,  v,  379-380 ;  to  subscribe  the 
engagement  to  be  true  and  faithful  to  the 
Commonwealth,  388,  389. 

East  India  House,  xxvi,  36,  204,  217. 

East  India  Merchant,  the,  xxv,  361,  382. 

Eastland  Adventurers,  the,  389  (3). 

Eaton,  Margaret,  9  (2). 

Eaton,  — ,  7. 

Eckbarees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Eden,  Dr.  Thomas,  70,  80,  8r,  82. 

Edmunds,  Alderman,  353. 

Edmunds,  Simon,  353. 

Edward,  the,  2  26. 

Edwards,  David,  237. 

Edwards,  James,  219. 

Edwards,  — ,  184. 

Edwards,  — ,  285,  291, 

Egerton,  John,  Earl  of  Bridgwater,  x. 

Egerton,  the  Lady  Katherine.  Su  Coof- 
teen,  the  Lady  Katherine. 

Elcocke,  Edward,  204. 

Elcocke,  Rowland,  327  (3). 

Elder,  Daniel,  150,  181,  351,  354. 

Elephants'  teeth  (ivory),  75,  131,  338,  341, 
362,  264,371,378,383. 

Elizabeth,  Queen,  365. 

Elizabeth  and  Antu,  the,  237,  341,  390. 

Ell,  Richard,  master  of  the  Prosperous,  108 

(2). 

Ellam,  — ,  44,  311. 
Elliott,  John,  78. 
Ellis,  John,  309,  317,  323. 
Ellmore,  Elizabeth,  32. 
EUmore,  Francis,  33. 
EUwayes,  Henry,  318. 


Dd  2 


404 


COURT  MINUTES,   ETC. 


EUwayes,  John,  32,  318  (2),  385. 

Ellyott,  John,  9,  292. 

Elsyng,  Henry,  160,  222. 

Elwood,  Thomas,  storekeeper  at  Sandwich, 
144,  146,  214;  gratuity  given  to,  205; 
deceased,  307. 

Endeavour,  the,  vi,  5,  21  ;  master  of,  see 
Bowen,  Robert;  passengers  in,  19,  iii, 
115. 

Endeavour,  the,  John  Yard's  purchase  of, 
98,  145,  146. 

^«rf)/;«w«,  the,  137,300,312,313,314,336, 
343  (2),  346,  352,  353. 354  J  master  of,  see 
Knox  and  Seaman  ;  men  serving  in,  1 2 1 , 
1 38, 149 ;  offered  for  freighting  to  Bantam, 
X,  xii,  xviii,  112,  114,  120,  290,  291,292; 
to  be  examined  and  repaired,  113,  114, 
119,  124,  293  ;  her  owners,  119, 120,  133, 
138,  291 ;  payment  to,  127, 130,  253,  256, 
259,  295;  her  dispatch,  135  ;  letters  re- 
ceived by,  250  (2),  310;  goods  returned 
in,xvii,  253,  267;  foreign  coin  and  bullion 
to  be  shipped  in,  301  n. 

Erith,  5,  16,  118,  212,  216. 

Estwick,  Stephen,  305  w. 

Evans,  Richard,  claims  made  for  his  estate, 
328,  337,  376,  388  (2). 

Eveling,  Sir  Thomas,  317. 

Ewins,  Nathaniel,  166. 

Exchange,  the,  165,  226;  goods  sold  on,  7, 
98,  129,  141,  364 ;  cellar  warehouse  at,  7, 
22,  23,  33,  42,  155,  192,  290,  331 ;  keeper 
of,  see  Swinglehurst ;  porter  at,  see  Whit- 
more  ;  rumours  on,  21,  358 ;  notices  to  be 
posted  at,  195,  204. 

Exchequer,  the,  326  ;  suits  in  the  Court  of, 
ao,  49,  149  (2).  240,  361,  363,  368,  369  ; 
Barons  of,  369. 

Excise  Office,  149,  275. 

Expedition,  the,  122;  master  of,  j^e  Gar- 
diner, Gilbert. 

Experience,  the,  108,  m  ;  master  of,  see 
Swanley,  John. 

Eyans,  Samuel,  125. 

Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas,  99,  138,  367  ;  in  com- 
mand of  the  Parliamentary  army,  84,  2  73 
».,  316 ;  storms  Bristol,  viii,  99  n. ;  letters 
to,  98,  100,  129;  letters  from,  99 «. ; 
marches  on  London,  215  w. ;  named  in 
the  patent  for  Assada,  361 ;  his  secretary, 
see  Rushworth,  John. 

Fairvax,  — ,  242. 

Falcon,  the,  viii,  45,  48  ;  master  of,  see 
Tmmball,  Andrew ;  men  serving  in,  59, 
63,  67,  78  ;  stock,  etc.,  to  be  shipped  in, 
67,  76,  78, 80 ;  insurance  of,  81,  loi,  194. 

Falmouth,  73,  86. 

Fane,  Mildmay,  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  8i. 

Farewell,  the,  167,  168,  172  ;  master  of,  see 


Godfrey  awaTTindall;  men  serving  in,  167, 
174, 185;  stock,  etc.,  to  be  shipped  in,  168, 
168  w. 

Farham,  — ,  125. 

Farley,  Captain,  171. 

Farley,  Roger,  claimants  for  his  estate,  78, 
114,  169,171,  179. 

Farley,  Rowland,  179. 

Farley,  Susannah,  169  ;  claims  her  brother 
Roger's  estate,78, 114, 115, 169, 171, 179. 

'  Famabucke.'     See  Pemambnco. 

P'ameden,  Peter,  142,  147,  148  (2). 

Farren,  — ,  195. 

Fawcett,  Thomas,  195. 

Fenn,  Anthony,  78. 

Fenn,  Henry,  282. 

Fenn,  Hugh,  no,  198,  240,  299. 

Fenn,  James,  39. 

Fenn,  Thomas,  63,  282. 

Ferdinando,  — ,  a  Portuguese  merchant,  65. 

Ferrattchauns.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Fetty,  William,  181. 

Fineham,  Thomas,  297. 

Fines  {see  also  Brokes),  7,  21,  177,  257,  379; 
on  admission  to  the  freedom  of  the  Com- 
pany, 163,  177,  213,  214;  for  private 
trading,  19,  51,  170,  171,  175,  181,  193, 
211,  215,  243,  244,  299,  300. 

First  General  Voyage,  the,  iii,  iv,  58,  in, 
1 26  (2),  1 75, 353 ;  dividends  and  divisions 
of,  vi,  XV,  I,  14,  33,  149,  153,  157,  169, 
180,  200,  201,  202,  203,  211,  218,  236, 
244,  261  (2),  294  ;  adventures  in,  iv  «.,  3, 
8,  18,  136,  146,  157,  158,  159,  171,  183, 
195,  289  ;  transfer  of,  9  (2),  33,  46,  51, 
52,  58,  65  (2),  74,  84,  95  (2),  122,  131, 
144,  186,  193  ;  goods  and  money  belong- 
ing to,  iv,  xiv,  xvii,  8,  23,  28,  33,  37,  42 
(2),  43.  51.  52,  64,  67,  103,  104, 105, 106, 
108  (2),  109, 130, 149, 172, 176,  202,  253, 
288,  293,  294  (2),  295 ;  adjustment  of  ac- 
counts, etc.,  between  the  Fourth  Joint 
Stock  and,  8,  20,  28,  29,  30,  42,  51,  52, 
62,  64,  102, 106,  107,  108,  no,  113, 114, 
136, 137.  168,  176,  179  (2),  219,  253, 268, 
285,  288,  293,  294,  295  ;  money  lent  at 
interest  to  the  Joint  Stock  by,  52 ,  83, 104, 
149,  288  ;  to  be  brought  to  an  end,  xviii, 
70,  103,  104,  288 ;  ships  freighted  for,  x, 
xii,  no,  112,  114,  132;  agreement  made 
between  the  Third  Joint  Stock  and,  24a  ; 
all  its  remains  and  debts  to  be  passed  over 
to  the  Joint  Stock,  xviii,  293,  394,  395 ; 
gratuity  given  to  Committees  appointed 
for,  295,  303. 

Fisher,  Alice,  364. 

Fisher,  Katherine,  289. 

Fisher,  Margaret,  35a 

Fisher,  Miles,  309,  315. 

Fisher,  Richard,  289. 


INDEX 


405 


Fisher,  Thomas,  356. 

Fitch,   Richard,  general  purser  at  Snrat, 

152  ;   deceased,  280,  283. 
Fitch,  Thomas,  283. 
Flags,  I,  193. 
Flanders,  24. 
Flanner,  John,  190,  194. 
Planner,  John,  194. 
Fleet  prison,  the,  92,  307. 
Florence,  Courteen  dies  at,  xi  «. ;  merchants 

of,   treat  for  pepper,    140;     Duke   of, 

23- 

Flores,  Island  01,  86,  98. 

Forster,  Samuel,  21. 

Forth,  Dr.  William,  186. 

Forth,  William,  186. 

Fortifications,  Committee  of,  for  the  defence 
of  London,  5,  7,  131. 

Fortree,  — ,  23,  253. 

Fort  St.  George,  284  ;  cost  and  progress  of 
building,  54,  55,  56,  57  (2);  Cogan's 
warrant  for  erecting,  61,  62,  64,  85  ;  gold 
and  guns  belonging  to  Courteen  received 
at,  141,  149  ;  factors  and  factory  at,  198, 
199,  295,  262  ;  estimated  value  of,  with 
customs  of  Madras,  xxi,  311,  341,  344, 
345,  357 ;  gunner  at,  see  Roote,  Jeremy. 

Foster,  Sarah,  289. 

Fotherby,  John,  272. 

Fotherby,  Robert,  clerk  and  storekeeper  at 
Blackwall,  32,  70,  130,  144,  214;  duties 
allotted  to,  4,  13,  82,  119,  145  (2)  ;  his 
son,  17  ;  his  salary,  43,  44,  49  ;  gratuity 
given  to,  122  ;  his  house  at  Blackwall  to 
be  repaired,  I44,  146 ;  his  death,  167  ;  his 
widow,  171,  377;  his  son-in-law,  see 
Robinson,  Benjamin. 

J''our  Sisters,  the,  150,  160. 

Fourth  Joint  Stock,  the,  61,  iii,  217,  226, 
282,  283,  287,  329,  336,  341,  367,  384; 
capital  and  statements  concerning,  iii,  iv, 
30,  95,  96,  163 ;  adventures  in,  3,  20,  37, 
47)  F>^>  58,  64,  136, 146,  274  ;  orders  con- 
cerning, 10,  II,  29,  45,65,  82,  128,214, 
280,  323;  transfer  of,  13,  17,  21,  33,  40, 
51,52,65,78,94,133,  139,167,  186,189, 
202,  240,  257,  302,  314,  318,  323,  325, 
389 ;  adjustment  of  accotmts,  etc.,  between 
the  First  General  Voyage  and,  8,  20,  28, 
29,  30,  42,  5i>  52,  62,  64,  102,  ic6,  107, 
108,  no,  113,  114,  136,  137,  168,  176, 
179  (2),  219,  253,  268,  285,  288,  293,  294, 
295  ;  money  and  goods  belonging  to,  xiv, 
xvii,  xix,  23,  28,  37, 64, 67, 104,  105,  106, 
209,  282,  290, 355,  359  ;  insurance  of,  23, 
28,  67,  69 ;  money  lent  at  interest  by  the 
First  General  Voyage  to,  52,  83,  104, 149, 
288  ;  estimate  of  estate  belonging  to,  52, 
95,  96,  163,  339,  340,  341,  344,  345,  349, 
353,  357  ;  ships  and  stock  dispatched  for 


account  of,  v,  vi,  xii,  xiv,  xvii,  xviii,  132, 
138,  163,  164,  283,  284,  303,  317,  349, 
357,  359,  370,  372,  375,  386  ;  resolve  to 
discontinue,  xiv,  xxi,  60,  145,  178,  191, 
197,209,261,268,276,303,304,311,312, 
339,  349>  35  7  5  quicksilver  and  rials  bought 
for,  212,280, 282,303,304, 384;  dividends 
and  divisions  of,  xv,  xx,  xxi,  231,  233,  265 
(2), 266,  359,360,385;  Committees  chosen 
to  treat  with  the  Second  General  Voyage 
on  behalf  of,  xvi,  221,  349,  351,  355  ; 
agreement  made  with  the  said  Voyage  by, 
xvi,  241,  242,  245,  250,  251,  252,  272, 
303.  308,  319,  338,  339,  346,  349,  350, 
351,  355,  356  ;  factors  employed  by,  to 
be  recalled,  261,  262,  312  ;  annual  charge 
of,  352  ;  to  take  over  all  stock  and  debts 
belonging  to  the  First  General  Voyage, 
xviii,  294,  295  ;  gratuity  to  be  given  to 
Committees  acting  on  behalf  of,  295,  303  ; 
order  for  all  goods  and  money  at  Bantam 
belonging  to  the  Second  General  Voyage 
to  be  turned  over  to,  319,  338  ;  order 
rescinded,  343,  346,  347,  352,  354,  355, 
356  ;  dispute  between  the  Second  General 
Voyage  and,  xx,  336,  340,  342,  343,  350, 
351,  352,  353>354»  356  ;  agreement  made 
with  the  new  adventurers  by,  xxi,  344, 
355,  356,  357,  358  ;  articles  of  agreement 
between  the  Assada  adventurers  and, 
377-8,  382-4. 

Fowke,  Alderman,  146,  147,  197,  296 : 
petitions  Parliament  against  the  Com- 
pany, 155,  157,  166,  205,  235  ;  the  Com- 
pany counter-petitions,  155,  157  «,,  235, 
236  (2) ;  requests  to  see  the  Company's 
books,  205,  206. 

Fowler,  Joshua,  229. 

Fownes,  Thomas,  1 79. 

'  Foxes  Hall,'  93. 

Foy,  Richard,  183  (a). 

France,  36,  374,  375 ;  Ambassador  to,  see 
Goring,  Lord  George. 

Francklin,  William,  315. 

Francklyn,  — ,  24, 

Francoe,  Nichalao,  141,  168. 

Fredricke,  John,  219. 

Freeman,  the,  4,  12,  134;  master  of,  su 
Hide,  Jacob ;  pepper  (shipped  in,  157, 
290 ;  offered  for  freighting  to  Surat, 
386  (2). 

Freeman,  Richard,  234. 

Freeman,  Robert,  234. 

Freeman,  Thomas,  32,  91,  385. 

Fremlen,  William,  President  at  Surat  (1639- 
1644),  94,  95,  129,  251 ;  his  own  and 
his  Council  s  attitude  towards  the  pro- 
jected building  of  Fort  St.  George,  54, 
55,  56,  85  ;  his  return  home,  ix,  42  ;  perils 
encountered  on  the  way,  ix,  151 ;  his  pri- 


4o6 


COURT   MINUTES,  ETC. 


vate  trade,  94,  300 ;  his  account,  1 13, 114, 
115,  118,  123,  136,  148,  150,  151,  152, 
155  ;  death  of,  ix  ;  bequests  left  by,  ix, 

X,  136,  155- 

Fremlin,  Clement,  183. 

French,  the,  143,  327  ;  Company,  389. 

Frith,  John,  9,  120,  245,  348  ;  accepted  as 
security,  11,  102,  286,  362  ;  receives 
private  trade,  113,  150,  151,  239. 

Frith,  Margaret,  168. 

Furrall,  Katherine,  171,  223. 

Gale,  Robert,  76,  77,  191  ;  his  debt  to  the 
Company,  70,  88,  130,  162,  166. 

Galleon,  William,  297,  302. 

Gardiner,  Gilbert,  master  oiihQ  Expedition, 
122. 

Gardiner,  Michael,  219. 

Gardiner,  Richard,  86. 

Gardiner,  Robert,  381. 

Gardiner,  — ,master'smate  in  the  Mary,i66. 

Garrad,  Sir  Jacob,  113,  223;  retires  from 
being  a  Committee,  32,  153;  re-elected, 
91,  210,  276,  331 ;  nominated  for  election 
as  Governor,  210. 

Garrett,  Anne,  161. 

Garrett,  Richard,  161, 

Garry.     See  Gary. 

Garth,  Robert,  125  (2). 

Garway,  Sir  Henry,  iii,  38,  42  ;  his  debt  to 
the  Company,  26,  35,  52. 

Garway,  William,  21,  33,  39  (2),  66,  160; 
his  debt  to  the  Company,  14,  19,  35 ;  offers 
security  for,  323,  324,  332,  333 ;  elected 
a  Committee,  32,  153,  210,  221,  268,  276; 
retires,  91, 332 ;  part-owner  oiihcMartha, 
34>  35  ;  of  the  Lotidon  Merchant,  52,  53, 
60,  61 ;  of  the  Dover  Merchant  and  the 
Henry  Bonadventure,  157,  241 ;  chosen 
as  arbitrator,  236,  252. 

Gary,  Henry,  16,  71. 

Gaskin,  William,  158. 

Gawton,  George,  250,  251,  252,  264. 

Gayer,  Sir  John,  Lord  Mayor  (1647),  5, 18, 
22,  30,  44,  107,  III,  164,  200,  213,  295  ; 
buys  pepper,  etc.,  9,  145;  nominated  for 
election  as  Governor,  31,  91  ;  elected  a 
Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210,  218,  276, 
332  ;  permitted  to  sell  saltpetre,  156  ; 
adventure  transferred  to,  325. 

Gayer,  Robert,  113,  265;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 32,  153,  210,  218,  276;  retires, 
91  ;  deceased,  325,  332. 

Gearing,  John,  his  debt  to  the  Company,  2, 
14,  19,  48,  166,  173  ;  paid,  184. 

Gee,  Thomas,  master  of  the  William,  108, 
119;  his  bond  cancelled,  115,  227;  enter- 
tainment and  salary,  121,  122,  139;  gra- 
tuity given  to,  130,  227 ;  his  private  trade, 
139, 2 19 ;  made  free  of  the  Company,  219.    1 


Genoa,  14,  23,  60,  134 ;  instructions  to 
factors  at,  22,  28,  32,  61,  93  ;  pepper  sent 
to,  39.  40,  44>  45,  142,  143,  157,  287, 
290  (2),  299  ;  the  Company's  goods 
seized  at,  158,  260  ;  Duke  of,  82  n. 

George,  Margaret,  301. 

Gerard,  Nicholas,  10,  20,  26,  199. 

Gibbon,  Hamond,  144. 

Gibbs,  John,  89,  97. 

Gibbs,  Samuel,  229. 

Gibson,  William,  114. 

Giffen,  Joshua,  269. 

Gilbert,  Ambrose,  125. 

Gilson,  George,  master  of  the  Swan,  46. 

Ginger,  sale  of,  26,  217,  284,  347,  360; 
securities  accepted  for,  286,  364,  388 ; 
private  trade  in,  41,  42,  103. 

Ginghams,  112,  153,  162,  173,  254,  360, 

367,  381. 

Glasse,  Walter,  227. 

Glinn,  John,  174. 

Gloucester,  order  from  the  Committee  of, 
158. 

Gloucestershire,  282. 

Glover,  Anne,  376. 

Glover,  Michael,  376,  388  (2). 

Glover,  Rebecca,  302. 

Glover,  Richard,  142. 

Glover,  Robert,  187. 

Glover,  William,  89,  94. 

Glover,  — ,  surgeon  in  the  Roebuck,  24. 

Glover,  — ,  194,  196,  200. 

Glover,  — ,  149. 

Glynn,  John,  Recorder  of  London,  50,  109, 
283,  324.  326. 

Goa,  71, 129, 169, 177, 196,  242,  371 ;  Vice- 
roy of,  contract  for  cinnamon  made  with, 
241,  245,  252  ;  presents  for,  258. 

Goad,  Thomas,  164,  298. 

Godfrey,  Thomas,  164,  280,  288  ;  master 
of  the  Farewell,  167  ;  of  the  Hart,  171  ; 
of  the  Greyhound,  292;  illness  prevents 
him  serving,  172,  173,  299, 

Godfrey,  — ,  mate  in  the  Mary,  166,  183. 

Godwin,  Syth,  337,  339. 

Godwin,  Walter,  337. 

Golconda,  56,  230. 

Gold,  76,  159,  379;  purchase  of,  25,  237, 
263,  368 ;  saved  from  the  wreck  of  the 
Little  William,  x,  iii,  112,  147,  148, 
149,  368 ;  to  be  laden  in  the  ships,  262, 
267,  272,  273  ;  from  Guinea,  xxiii,  371, 

378,  383- 
Golden  Fleece,  the,  250,  336,  364 ;  master 
of,  see  Blackman,  andHiW  ;  freighted  for 
Surat,  xvii,  232  ;  for  Bantam,  362  (^2), 
382  ;  payment  to  her  owners,  237,  347 
(2)  ;  her  repair,  239,  291  ;  charter-party, 
253,  362  ;  money  and  goods  shipped  in, 
258,  262,  264,  336  ;  factors  and  minister 


INDEX 


407 


to  go  in,  250,  358,  2-;9,  262  ;  her  dis- 
patch, 260,  262  ;  return,  xix,  335. 

Golden  Kaiherine,  the,  150,  160,  290 ; 
master  of,  see  Merritt,  Thomas. 

Golden  Lion,  the,  money  and  goods  shipped 
in,  67,  74 ;  insurance  of,  67,  69,  70,  74. 

Goldsmith,  Charles,  120. 

Goldsmith,  Samuel,  334. 

Goldsmiths'  Hall,  15,  259,  321,  330,  333. 

Gombroon,  56  (^2),  255,  371  ;  customs  at, 
estimated  value  of,  xxi,  163, 197, 284, 311, 
339.  340.  341.  345>  357  (2) ;  to  be  care- 
fully maintained,  198  ;  the  Company's 
house  at,  to  be  kept  up,  199, 

Goodlad,  Captain  Nathaniel,  92,  323. 

Goodlad,  Richard,  master  of  the  Martha, 

".  34- 

Goodwin,  John,  131,  134,  271. 

Gore,  the,  264,  275. 

Goring,  Lord  George,  Ambassador  to 
France,  59. 

Gostwick,  William,  182,  184  (2),  198  ;  his 
private  trade,  315,  316  ;  made  free  of  the 
Company,  316. 

Gott,  Samuel,  142,  148. 

Gould,  John,  307,  219. 

Gould,  Nicholas,  99,  127,  160,  162,  331  ; 
elected  a  Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210, 
218,  268 ;  retires,  276  ;  ofifers  a  ship  for 
freighting,  241,  386  (2), 

Gower,  Colonel,  16,  329. 

Graunt,  Thomas,  309. 

Graves,  John,  115. 

Graves,  Matthew,  123. 

Graves,  Thomas,  115. 

Graves,  William,  132,  291 ;  to  help  examine 
and  repair  ships,  no,  122,  123,  133. 

Gravesend,  5,  18,  22,  So;  ships  to  go  to, 
^3.  39»  40,  78,  "9)  120,  121,  139,  237, 
242,  260,  361,  3S7;  to  leave,  19,  290, 
291,  292  ;  ships  at,  25,  45,  80,  90,  131, 
136,  157  ;  men  to  be  shipped  at,  80, 139 ; 
block -house  at,  273. 

Gray,  Edward,  76. 

Great  James,  the,  10. 

Great  James  Tavern,  337. 

Great  Seal,  the,  178. 

Green,  Giles,  Chairman  of  the  Comjnittee 
of  the  Navy  and  Customs,  1 1 ,  76, 97, 1 1 8, 
191,  284,  285  ;  desired  to  report  on  the 
Company's  ordinance,  49,  109,  no,  134, 
150,  151  ;  to  be  consulted,  98,  loi,  186; 
to  arbitrate  between  the  Company  and 
Maurice  Thomson,  119  (3). 

Greene,  John,  227,  334. 

Greenhill,  Henry,  i,  131,  170,  198. 

Greenwell,  George,  248. 

Greyhound,  the,  134,  281,  290,  313,  346, 
354 ;  the  Swan  renamed  the,  1 30  ;  master 
of,  see  Godfrey,  Grimes,  and  Lee;    men 


servmg  in,  125,  137,  292  (2),  302,  307  ; 
to  be  paid,  281,  306;  her  repair,  135, 139, 
143,  281  ;  cordage,  etc.,  for,  130.  135, 
387,  391,  301,  307  ;  her  dispatch,  xii, 
xviii,  133,  139,  140;  insurance,  194,  357, 
360,  266 ;  return,  xvii,  275  :  coin  and 
bullion  to  be  shipped  in,  301 «. ;  goods 
taken  by  the  French  from,  327. 

Griffen,  Dorothy,  305. 

Griffith,  — ,  309. 

Grimes,  Captain  Gilbert,  125,  130;  master 
of  the  Swan  (renamed  the  Greyhound), 
1 20,  121;  gratuity  given  to,  294 ;  his 
account  to  be  cleared,  299. 

Grimston,  Sir  Harbottle,  M.P.  for  Col- 
chester, 127. 

Grimston,  Marmaduke,  65,  340,  377. 

Groby,  James,  125,  292. 

Grogram,  115. 

Guernsey,  329  (2). 

Guillyams,  Elizabeth,  309. 

Guinea,  the  trade  of,  xi,  xxiii  (3),  xxiv  (3), 
369.  371.  372,  374.  378,  383;  the  Guinea 
Company,  139;  stuffs  from,  153,  284. 

Guldarees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Gum-lac,  3,  99,  153,  220,  274,  384,  317. 

Gunpowder,  5,  222,  281,  300. 

Guns,  to  be  sold,  293,  300,  303 ;  saved  from 
the  wreck  of  the  Little  William,  x, 
III. 

Gumey,  Adiell,  324,  325  (3),  326  (3). 

Gumey,  William,  183. 

Gurraes,     See  Cotton  goods. 

Guzees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Haberdashers'  Hall,  15,  95,  99, 
Hadley,  George,  141,  391,  313. 
Hakewill,  — ,  Master  of  Chancery,  235. 
Hales,  Mr.  (afterwards  Sir  Matthew),  to  be 

consulted,  86,    143,  147  (2),  148,   149, 

155.  224,  317,  348. 
Hall,  Captain,  commander  of  the  Swallow, 

70.  75.  9°- 
Hall,  Henry,  29,  215. 
Hall,  Mary,  99,  284,  385. 
Hall,  Matthias,  94. 
Hall,  Thomas,  220,  343  w. 
Hall,  William,  99,  284. 
Hall,  — ,  Agent  to  Lord  Craven,  332,  237, 

239- 
Halsey,  William,  231. 
Halsy,  John,  199. 
Hamburg,  168, 180,  187;  letters  from,  173, 

174,  189;  ships  from,  174,  320,  321. 
Hamersley,  Dame  Marj-,  94,  95  (3). 
Hamersley,  Sir  Thomas,  48,  95  (3). 
Hamilton,  William,  Earl   of  Lanark   and 

Duke  of  Hamilton,  320. 
Hammond,  Walter,  327  n. 
Handson,  Thomas,  buys  goods,  l3o,  348; 


4o8 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


accepted  as  security  for,  i8,  102,  186, 
286,  361,  362,  380. 

Hanford,  — ,  106. 

Hanson,  — ,  a  goldsmith,  204. 

Harbert,  Sir  Charles,  89. 

Harby,  Sir  Job,  desires  forbearance  of  prose- 
cution for  the  pepper  debt,  2,  3  ;  sued  for, 
20  (2),  49 ;  order  for  protection  of  his 
person,  145  ;  his  servant,  230. 

Harman,  George,  281. 

Harman,  Stephen,  281. 

Harrington,  Robert,  administrator  of  Martin 
Bazill's  estate,  102,  105,  107,  109,  118. 

Harris,  Charles,  74. 

Harris,  Thomas,  343  n. 

Harris,  William,  343  n. 

Harris,  — ,  appears  on  behalf  of  Courteen, 
148. 

Harrison,  Captain,  commander  of  the 
Phoenix,  329. 

Harrison,  Edward,  102. 

Harrison,  Sir  John,  41. 

Harrison,  Thomas,  296. 

Harry  Bonadventure,  the,  master  of,  see 
Swanly,  George;  134,  157,  241. 

Hart,  the,  master  of,  see  Godfrey,  Thomas ; 
men  servingin,  17,102;  killed  in,  337, 341. 

Hartly  Point,  73. 

Harvy,  Eliab,  360. 

Hatch,  Robert,  166  ;  charges  brought 
against,  181  (2),  182,  183,  190  (2). 

Hats,  for  presents,  77,  98,  201. 

Hawarde,  — ,  mate  in  the  John,  74. 

Hawkes,  Thomas,  142,  234. 

Hayes,  James,  348. 

Hayes,  Ralph,  142. 

Hayman,  — ,  112. 

Hayward,  George,  78. 

Head,  John,  164,  182,  227. 

Heath,  Thomas,  94. 

Heath,  — ,  Master  in  Chancery,  235. 

Hector,  the,  329. 

Henrietta  Maria,  Queen,  loi. 

Henry  Bonaventure,  the  (Courteen's 
ship),  X. 

Herbert,  Francis,  i6i. 

Herbert,  James,  214. 

Herbert,  Matthew,  1 74,  300. 

Herbert,  Peter,  162. 

Hercules,  the,  232. 

Heme,  John,  the  Company's  Counsel,  283, 
324,  368,  385  ;  to  be  consulted  concerning 
Courteen,  143,  147,  149  (2)  ;  private 
trade,  113,  277  ;  Alderman  Fowke,  155; 
debts,  167,  320,321,332,353;  the  Com- 
pany's oath,  223,  224  ;  the  Garbler,  326, 

330.  364- 
Heme,  Joseph,  364. 
Herring,  Nathaniel,  260. 
Hester,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  vi,  166. 


Hewett,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Star,  87. 

Hewson,  Mary,  38a. 

Hickford,  Henry,  281. 

Hickford,  Thomas,  281. 

Hide,  Captain  Jacob,  commander  of  the 
Freeman,  12,  134,  157. 

Hieron,  Joseph,  388. 

Highlord,  Zachary,  51. 

Hill,  Edward,  297. 

Hill,  Katherine,  154. 

Hill,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Golden  Fleece, 
264. 

Hill,  Thomas,  factor  at  Surat,  154,  198. 

Hills,  — ,  a  merchant,  iii,  112. 

Hind,  the,  29, 152 ;  master  of,  see  Broadbent, 
William, 

Hobby,  John,  219. 

Hobson,  John,  263. 

Hockston,  John,  123. 

Hodges,  Thomas,  32,  113,  126;  elected  a 
Committee,  91,  210, 332 ;  retires,  153,  276. 

Hodgson,  William,  263. 

Hogge,  Robert,  228. 

Holford,  — ,  77. 

Holland  {see  also  Dutch,  the,  and  States- 
General),  8,  24,  89,  306,  319,  370,  372, 
375  ;  East  India  ships  arrive  in,  39,  156; 
rials,  etc.,  from,  233,  255 ;  mutineers  take 
their  ships  to,  274  n. 

Holland,  John,  Ijuys land,  etc.,  at  Deptford, 
22,  23,  24,  48,  75. 

Holloway,  John,  45,  76,  90,  142,  248,  249, 
289,  317  ;  his  debt  to  the  Company,  14, 
20,  22,  23,  24,  35,  164,  202,  233,  247, 
251,  270,  273;  calicoes  and  silk  belong- 
ing to,  26,  35,  202,  208,  233,  255  ;  to  be 
sold,  257,  270,  273,  323;  to  receive  part 
of  Thomas  Jesson's  estate,  39,  47,  97  (2), 
132, 133, 137,  X58  ;  adventure  transferred 
to,  40, 84,  158,  186;  elected  a  Committee, 
32,  91,  153,  210,  221,  276,  332  ;  refused 
permission  to  withdraw  his  subscription 
to  the  Second  General  Voyage,  227  ;  pro- 
tests against  the  continuation  of  the  Fourth 
Joint  Stock,  276. 

Hollworthy,  Matthew,  269,  274,  385. 

Holy  Island,  15. 

Homerton,  Jasper,  264. 

Honnywood,  Colonel,  1 14. 

Honnywood,  William,  32. 

Hooker,  William,  154,  162,  165. 

Hope,  the,  323. 

Hopeman,  John,  153. 

Hopewell,  the,  ix,  29,  30,  32,  43,  71 ;  mas- 
ter of,  see  Trumball  and  Yates;  men 
serving  in,  14,  17,  21,  114,  117,  161 ; 
deemed  unserviceable,  20  ;  insurance  of, 
30,  32,  70  ;  private  trade  in,  56,  58,  62, 
63,  64,  135,  170;  her  arrival  at  Surat,  ix, 
70,  118,  120. 


INDEX 


409 


Hopkins,  Fabian,  143. 

Hosier,  Captain,  37. 

Host,  Derrick,  253,  269 ;  sued  by  the  Gar- 
bler,  271,  378,  279. 

Houbolon,  James,  343  n. 

Hotighan,  Solomon,  307. 

Houghton,  Robert,  170,  229. 

How,  Roger,  44. 

Howard,  Bartholomew,  84,  110. 

Howell,  Hogan,  113. 

Howes,  Edward,  332,  338,  388;  petitions 
for  leave  to  keep  a  school  in  Poplar  alms- 
honse,  206,  210;  for  additional  rooms, 
280. 

Howland,  Geofrey,  133,  140,  141. 

Hudley,  George,  348. 

Hudson,  Richard,  18. 

Hull,  157,  228. 

Hull,  Thomas,  377. 

Hnmagho,  Carlo,  49. 

Humble,  George,  230. 

Hummums.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Hunt,  Colonel,  xxii. 

Htmt,  Henry,  factor  atSurat,  71,  198. 

Hunt,  — ,  part-owner  of  the  Anne,  292, 300. 

Hurleston,  Nicholas,  229. 

Hurleston,  Captain,  master  of  the  Society, 
399. 

Hurlocke,  — ,  Agent  to  Lord  Craven,  331. 

Hurst,  — ,  a  sheriff's  officer,  186. 

Hurt,  Robert,  xxii  n. 

Hurt,  William,  paymaster  of  the  mariners, 
32.  93>  199.  251.  324;  ^^  private  trade, 
19(2)  ;  instructions  given  to,  51,  So,  81, 
83,  139;  suspended,  325,  326,  327;  im- 
prisoned, 328,  329,  348  ;  his  wife's  peti- 
tion for  his  release  refused,  331 ;  to  be 
proceeded  against,  367  ;  his  successor,  set 
Calcott,  Samuel. 

Husbands,  Mary,  7,  256,  354. 

Husbands,  Richard,  105,  149;  refiised  en- 
tertainment, 121, 123,  135. 

Husbands,  Samuel,  182  ;  his  re-entertain- 
ment, 6  (2);  leaves  money  at  interest  with 
the  Company,  6,  7  ;  admitted  to  the  free- 
dom, 7 ;  deceased,  256 ;  pa)'ment  of  his 
estate  to  his  sister,  301 ,  354. 

Hussanees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Hussy,  Thomas,  291,  385. 

Hutchins,  Thomas,  32. 

Hutton,  — ,  196. 

India,  47,  50^  58,  60,  65  (3),  148,  393. 

Indigo,references  to,  Jxissim ;  private  trade  in, 
^»  9>  98.  99>  loi,  109  (2),  119,  149,  160, 
186,  214,  215,  243;  from  the  Coast,  10, 
21,  112,  114,  133,  162,  169,  171,  173, 
185,  187,  189,  216,  222  ;  from  Sarkhej, 
33>  34>  99'  ioi>  ^°6»  i°7)  109,  128,  201, 
307,  235,  372,  284,  373;  from  Lahore, 


99,  Id,  106,  109,  155,  162,  173,  185, 
207,  231,  257,  284,  373 ;  from  the  West 
Indies,  107;  from  Sinda,  162,  258,  272, 
284;  from  Agra,  330;  price  of,  21,  34, 
128,  155,  160,  167,  169,  171,  201,331, 
373  ;  divisions  in,  34,  204,  207,  210,  229, 
231.  233,  265  (2),  266,  269,  270,  274; 
dustof,i28,i62,  258,  295  ;  indigo  '  shirts,' 
bags  or  skins,  272,  300,  367. 

Ingler,  Edward,  296. 

Ingram,  — ,  pepper  bought  by,  33. 

Ingram,  Rictiard,  boatswain,  26,  32,  60; 
payment  to,  206,  300  ;  cautioned,  285. 

Ireland,  84,  102, 105,  124,  335, 

Isaackson,  Deputy,  76,  246. 

Isaackson,  William,  minister  for  Surat,  11, 

1 2  ;  at  the  Coast,  246  ;  desired  to  preach, 

13  (2),  13;  left  at  Johanna,  71,  76; 
books  to  be  bought  for,  76,  77. 

Italy  {see  also  Genoa,  Leghorn,  an</ Venice), 
24,  30,  41 ;  pepper  to  be  diipped  to,  vi, 
xii,  8,  40,  41  (2),  43,  44,  45  (3),  52,  53, 
75,  I30,  131,  132,  322. 

Ivory,  xxiii,  75,  121,  238,  241,  263,  264, 

371.  378,  383- 
Ivy,  Thomas,  xix,  137,  336,  337,  339,  368, 
388  ;  nominated  as  President  for  Bantam, 
18;  Chief  at  the  Coast,  54;  his  private 
trade,  56,  345,  368 ;  payment  to,  364. 

Jaccobns,  Angello,  325. 

Jackson,  Andrew,  195. 

Jackson,  George,  iii,  112. 

Jackson,  Isaac,  262. 

Jackson,  Joseph,  201,  307. 

Jackson,  Margaret,  207. 

Jacobs,  Jacob,  217. 

Jacobs,  Sir  John,  to  be  sued  as  one  of  the 
sureties  for  the  pepper  debt,  20  (2),  49  ; 
petitions  Parliament  for  help  to  satisfy, 
49  ;  order  issued  to  protect,  145. 

Jakatra.     See  Batana. 

Jalba,  an  Arab  boat,  72. 

Jambi,  68,  155,  294  ;  factors  at,  17,  204, 
315;  ships'to  goto,  60,  128,  130,  133, 
359;  pepper  from,  165,  173,  180,  185, 
186,  194,  282,  287,  289  (2),  292,  306, 
313,  328,  332,  356.  359  ;  ^ouse  at,  xxi, 
262,311,341,344,357;  King  of,  present 
for,  170. 

James  I,  293,  356. 

yames,  the,  vi  (2),  xxii. 

James,  John,  entertained  as  a  factor  for 
Bantam,  13. 

James,  Thomas,  master  of  the  IVilliam,  370, 

James,  — ,  sells  the  Bilbao  Merchant,  338 
(2),  229,  343. 

Japan,  xii,  xxiii,  177,  372,  3S4. 

Japara,  185,  393;  factors  at,  119,  120; 
factory  at,  xxi,  311,  341,  344,  357  ;  to  be 


4IO 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


dissolved,  262  ;  Mattaram  at,  money  due 
from,  309  (2). 

Java,  67,  185  «. ;  Javanese  murdered  by  the 
Dutch,  310. 

Jay,  John,  164  ;  master  oi  the  ^ona/i,  62. 

Jay,  Henry,  250. 

Jay,  Thomas,  254,  255. 

Jefferies,  John,  dispute  concerning  the  dis- 
posal of  his  estate,  117,  138  (2),  152, 
204. 

Jefferies,  Rachel,  117,  138,  152,  204. 

Jellowatt.     See  Jalba. 

Jenkins,  James,  219, 

Jennings,  Robert,  77. 

Jennings,  Thomas,  44,  113,  191,  373;  ad- 
venture transferred  to,  21,  33  ;  elected  a 
Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210,  218,  276, 
332>  342  ;  nominated  for  election  as 
Governor,  210. 

Jennings,  — , '  a  comfitt-maker,'  298,  302, 

307- 

Jeremy,  the,  323  ;  master  of,  see  Salter. 

Jermin,  Serjeant,  102, 

Jesson,  Thomas,  disposal  of  his  estate,  39, 
47,  97  (2),  128,  132,  133,  137,  158. 

Jesson,  — ,  97,  132,  133, 137,  158. 

Jewels,  159, 162, 315,381 ;  in  the  Treasurer's 
custody,  182,  202,  204,  373. 

Johanna,  264  ;  slaves  to  be  bought  at,  68, 
69;  the  John  puts  into,  vii,  71,  72,  73, 
74;  factors  and  others  left  at,  vii,  71,  75, 
76,  86,  123,  152,  314,  315;  Queen  of, 
present  sent  to,  123. 

y^Aw,  the,  18,  21,  24;  master  of,  j<?fi  Muck- 
nell,  John ;  men  serving  in,  18, 44,  71-74, 
84,  94,110,  146;  imprisoned,  86  (2),  88, 
89,  97,  98,  165  ;  coral,  etc.,  shipped  in,  3, 
13.  i7»  70,  92,  150,  201,  307;  kentledge, 
etc.,  for,  4, 10  (2)  ;  passengers  in,  11,  71, 
76  (2) ;  her  dispatch,  v,  18,  19,  26  ;  be- 
trayal, vii,  viii,  x,  66  (2),  70,  78,  94, 123, 
139,  165;  Brewster's  relation  of,  71-74; 
estimated  value  of  her  cargo,  66,  96, 163  ; 
to  be  sent  to  the  Azores,  83  ;  fate  of,  viii. 

Johnson,  Edward,  229. 

Johnson,  Edward,  232,  238. 

Johnson,  John,  61,  63. 

Johnson,  William,  98. 

Johnson,  — ,  359. 

Jonah,  the,  62  ;  master  of,  see  Jay,  John. 

Jones,  Joan,  280. 

Jones,  Robert,  206. 

Jones,  — ,  24. 

Jones,  — ,  286,  299. 

Jorden,  Elias,  229,  299. 

Joyce,  John,  142. 

Joyce,  Thomas,  142. 

Juxon,  Captain,  227. 

Juxon,  John,  254. 

Juxon,  Thomas,  254. 


Kaley,  Roger,  146,  147,  152. 

Katherine,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  x. 

Keate,  Gilbert,  24,  44,  231,  237  ;  adventure 
transferred  to,  21,  33;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 32,  91,  210,  276,  332,  342  ;  re- 
tires, 153;  buys  goods,  113,  143,  145, 
246,  329. 

Kendall,—,  286. 

Kendricke,  Andrew,  13,  50. 

Kennon,  William,  220. 

Kent,  250,  273. 

Kent,  — ,  chosen  as  minister  for  Bantam, 
74)  76,  79;  his  estate  to  be  paid  to  his 
widow,  161. 

Kentledge,  4,  301. 

Kerridge,  Thomas,  127,  145,  368;  nomi- 
nated for  election  as  Deputy,  31,  210; 
elected  a  Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210, 
221,  332;  retires,  276. 

Kidwell,  James,  167. 

Kilvert,  Roger,  237,  330. 

Kindar,  Gilbert,  14,  131. 

King,  the,  174. 

King,  John,  apprentice,  14. 

King,  John,  perfumer  to  Lord  Goring,  59. 

King,  John,  paid  for  timber,  360. 

King,  Richard,  339. 

King  Road,  74. 

King's  Bench,  the  Court  of,  20,  267,  331 ; 
prison,  24,  51,  208,  233,  281,322,329, 
348. 

Kinnersly,  Edward,  183  (2). 

Kirk,  Stephen,  88. 

Knappe,  — ,  89. 

Knight,  Isaac,  98,  309. 

Knipe,  Edward,  i,  7,  13,  84,  156;  to  go 
as  chief  factor  in  the  John,  v,  3,  13; 
quarrels  with  Mucknell,  vii,  71 ;  left  at 
Johanna,  76;  his  servants,  76(2);  to  re- 
turn home,  76,  198  ;  charges  against,  76, 
297»  323,  325,  330,  333;  iiis  answer  to, 
331- 

Knipe,  Richard,  61,  63. 

Knives,  75,  121,  231,  258,  316. 

Knowles,  Robert,  89. 

Knox,  Robert,  master  of  the  Endymion, 
112,  130,  133  ;  his  death,  x«.,  112  ». 

Kynaston,  Thomas, petitions  for  release  from 
prison,  65,  70 ;  claims  money  from  Cour- 
teen,  142  (2),  147,  149. 


Lace,  gold  and  silver,  139  (2). 

Lacy,  Captain,  165, 166. 

Lahore,  indigo  from,  99,  loi,  106,  109, 155, 

162,  173, 185,  207,  231,  257,  284. 
Lambe,  Richard,  2 1 9. 
Lambe,  Thomas,  45. 

Lanark,  Earl  of.     See  Hamilton,  William. 
Land's  End,  316,  329  (2). 


INDEX 


411 


Langham,  Alderman  John,  to  be  applied  to 

concerning  Crosby  House,  24,  257,  2S2  ; 

nominated  for  election  as  Governor,  31  ; 

elected    a    Committee,    227;    transfers 

adventure,  385. 
Langhome,  William,  stands  security,  205, 

211,  30.; ;  admitted  to  the  freedom  of  the 

Company,  217. 
Langley,  John,  186,  312. 
Lanmret,  the,  viii,  58,  67,  78;  master  of, 

see  White,  David;  men  ser^■ing  in,   59, 

63.  67,  79. 
'Lapis  tutia,'  160. 
Lassells,  Elizabeth,  232. 
Last,  John,  159. 
Latitat,  a,  20  (2),  267. 
Laurence,  Adam,  343  n. 
Lawrence,  Dorothy,  295. 
Lawrence,  John,  295. 
Lead,  56,  80,  128,  263,  263,  307  ;  to  be  sent 

to  India,  12,  59,  69,  121,  231,  238,  256, 

307  ;  private  trade  in,  245,  246. 
Leadenhall  Street,  the  Company's  house  and 

warehouses  in,  xxv,  xxvii,  39,  202,  344, 

255.  259,  316. 
League  and  Covenant,  the  Solemn,  to  be  taken 

by  all  naval  officers,  124,  125. 
Leaver,  Thomas,  61,  63,  246. 
Leaver,  William,  232,  246. 
Lee,  Adam,  master  of  the  Greyhotmd,  215, 

219,  299. 
Lee,  William,  388. 
L^hom,  81,  172,  184,  207;  pepper,  etc., 

sent  to,  8,  14,  15,  22,  39,  40,  42,  43,  44, 

45.  64  (2),  140,  142,  154,  157,  194,  287, 

288,  290  (2),  299,  323,  326  (3),  327; 
rate  of  exchange  at,  14,  39,  201,  306; 
factors  at  and  for,  14,  23,  35,  48,  211, 

289,  305  ;  instructions  to,  22,  28,  32,  39, 
93>  I39>  140.  201  ;  advices  and  ships 
from,  26,  27,  28,  37,  62,  67,  106,  138, 
140,  147,154;  the  ^wofywzwM  ashore  near, 
113;  in  danger  of  being  besieged  by  the 
French,  143 ;  the  Company's  goods 
arrested  at,  158,  169,  260. 

Leigh,  215. 

Leigh,  Dorothy,  37. 

Leigh,  John,  37. 

Leigh  (or  Lee),  Richard,  iii,  128,  137. 

Leighton,  Colonel,  100. 

Lenthall,  William,  Speaker  of  the  House  of 

Commons,  109,  364. 
Lenton,  Francis,  xix,  348. 
Levant  Company,  the,  xxv,  389. 
Lewis,  Daniel,  113. 
Lewis,  Thomas,  156  (2). 
Lewis,  Thomas,  341. 
Ley,  James,  Earl  of  Marlborough,  27. 
Leyland,  Margaret,  207. 
Lightfoote,  John,  298. 


Lighthorseman,  273,  313. 

Lignum  Aspalathum,  185. 

Limbrey,  \N'illiam,  35. 

Limehouse,  gifts  to  the  poor  at,  58,  120, 
.179.  249,306,385. 

Lime  Street,  xxvi. 

Linney,  Richard,  306. 

Lion,  the  (Thomson's  ship),  120,  121  ; 
master  of,  see  Prowd  and  Swanley ;  valu- 
ation of,  117;  the  Company  decides  to 
buy,  xii,  117, 119,  123, 127;  renamed  the 
Antelope,  120  ;  repair  of,  121,  122, 123. 

Lioness,  the  (Thomson's  ship),  viii  w.,  xxiv, 
xxv,  184  w.,  384,  386;  master  of,  see 
Brookhaven,  John. 

Lisbon,  129,  206,  323. 

Lisle,  Deputy,  184  (2) ;  accepted  as  security, 
62,  130,  208(2),  322,  376. 

Locke,  Jarvice,  388. 

Lodowicke,  W^algrave,  142. 

Loe,  Lawrence,  138. 

Loe,  Oliver,  22. 

London,  46,  50,  380  ;  earthworks  and  ord- 
nance for  defence  of,  4  «.,  5,  7,  89,  131 ; 
Militia  for,  39  ;  goods  not  to  be  sold  in, 
305 ;  Recorder  of,  see  Glynn  and  Steele. 

London,  the,  19,  97,  157,  194;  master  of, 
see  Steevens,  John. 

London  Merchant,  the,  master  of,  see  New- 
port, Anthony ;  to  carry  pepper  to  Italy, 
39,  40  ;  insurance  of,  48 ;  to  forfeit  half 
freight,  52,  53,  60. 

Long,  Charles,  35. 

Long,  —,152. 

Longcloth,  sale  of,  162,  216,  289,  332,  362, 
373  (2). 

Looking-glasses,  231,  258,  261,  308. 

Lord  High  Admiral.  See  Rich,  Robert, 
Earl  of  Warwick. 

Lord  Keeper,  the.     See  Lane,  Sir  Richard. 

Lord  Mayor.  See  Adams,  Atkins,  Andrews, 
Gayer,  and  Reynardson. 

Lords,  House  of  {see  also  Parliament,  the), 
to  be  solicited  concerning  the  Company's 
ordinance,  xii,  xiii,  xiv,  xvii,  181,  276, 
283 ;  they  reject  it,  xiii,  194,  195,  196, 
197,  198,  209,  276,  283,  366;  petitions 
to,  305  n. ;  orders  from,  205,  235,  236, 
273 ;  resolution  passed  for  abolition  of, 
xvii,  xviii,  388  w. 

Lord  Treasurer.  See  Cottington,  Lord 
Francis. 

Love,  the,  386,  387  (3),  388. 

Lovelace,  Lady  Margaret,  181. 

Lovelace,  Lord  Richard,  181. 

Lovell,  William,  296,  297. 

Lowe,  Laurence,  220,  221;  transfers  ad- 
venture, 284,  285,  314. 

Lowe,  Richard,  71. 

Lowe,  Thomas,  281. 


412 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


Loyalty,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  vi,  xvii,  244, 

245,  246. 
Lucy,  Lucas,  361. 
Lnllman,  John,  206. 
Lumbly,  Nathaniel,  212. 
Lundy  Island,  73. 

Macassar,  117  ;  factors  at,  256, 315  ;  factory 
at,  xxi,  262,  311,  341,  344,  357. 

Mace,  24,  53,  160,  219,  370  (2),  372,  380; 
sale  of,  26,  112,  185,  194,  254,  321,  352, 
360. 

Madagascar,  xxii,  116,  375,  376,  383; 
Bond's  intended  expedition  to,  vi  (2),  25  ; 
slaves  to  be  bought  at,  68,  69  ;  ships 
at,  ix,  184 «.;  books  describing,  327, 
327  K. 

Madraspatan  i^see  also  Fort  St.  George), 
175,  180,197;  Day  treats  for  ground  with 
the  Nayak  of,  54;  fort  at,  see  Fort  St. 
George ;  trade  at,  56 ;  estimated  value  of 
customs  at,  xxi,  311,  341,  344,  345,  357. 

Madrid,  389. 

Magellan,  Strait  of,  379. 

Mahmudis,  109,  151,  179. 

Mainwayring,  Dorothy,  156. 

Makins,  William,  292. 

Malabar  Coast,  the,  v,  191,  305  «. ;  trade 
on,  xvii,  3,  76,  369;  pepper  from,  180, 
185, 186, 192, 194, 222, 223,  282, 289 (2), 
306,  307,  313,  328,  332,  356,  369; 
pirates,  10. 

Malaianovich,  Gabriel,  139. 

Maldive  Islands,  230.J 

Maldon,  232,  238. 

Manillas,  the,  114,  163. 

Mann,  James,  111,175, 186;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 91,  153,  210,  276,  332,  342;  his 
sons,  326  (2). 

Mann,  Thomas,  elected  a  Committee,  32, 
91,  210,  276,  332;  retires,  153;  nominated 
for  election  as  Treasurer,  210. 

Mann,  — ,  23,  326  (2). 

Mann,  — ,  23,  326  (2). 

Mantell,  John,  275. 

Marchant,  Edward,  125. 

Margaret,  the,  176,  290. 

Margaret  Constance,  the,  39,  41,  48,  52  ; 
master  of,  see  Bunducke,  John. 

Margate,  214. 

Margetts,  — ,  ropemaker  to  the  Company, 
126  (2),  144,  208. 

Markham,  Valentine,  Auditor  to  the  Com- 
pany, 32,  93;  duties  allotted  to,  33,  35, 
52,  161,  172,  208,  253,  289,  326;  gra- 
tuity given  to,  161. 

Markland,  — ,  grocer,  175. 

Marks,  38,  162,  175. 

Marlborough,  Earl  of.    See  Ley,  James. 

Marseilles,  132,  169,  385. 


Marshalsea  prison,  men  detained  in,  86,  88, 
89.  94.  97.  165. 

Martha,  the,  12,  34,  35;  master  of,  see 
Goodlad,  Richard. 

Martha  and  Sarah,  the,  87  ;  master  of,  see 
Crispe. 

Martin,  Hopton,  296,  318. 

Martin,  James,  9,  35,  45,  142,  162,  208 
buys  calicoes,  etc.,  6,  10,  11  (2),  40,  41 
45,  100,  lor,  161,  171,  187,  213,  222 
224,  289,  299,  331,379;  allowed  for  de 
fective,  202,  271,  300;  accepted  as  secu 
rity,  II,  296,  318  ;  elected  a  Committee 
153.  210,  276,  332. 

Martin,  Richard,  121. 

Martin,  Susan,  19,  311. 

Mary,  the,  36,40,  59  (2),  73,  74,  155,  159, 
187,  261,  290,  293  ;  master  of,  see  Minors, 
William  ;  men  serving  in,  34,  37,  41,  45, 
51,  58,  63,  65, 78, 79,  166, 174, 183,  185, 
206,  281  ;  to  be  paid,  33,  i6i,  280;  her 
return,  vi,  xii,  xvii,  27,  37,  45,  190,  275, 
306 ;   passengers  in,  28,  29,  31,  32,  74, 

79,  82,  166 ;  goods  and  private  trade 
brought  home  in,  34,  38,  39,  52,  63,  159, 
161, 171,  172, 175,  176, 179,  180, 182  (2), 
202,  205,  281,  287,  288,  315  ;  customs 
paid  on,  165  (3),  166  ;  to  be  valued  and 
repaired,  34,  40,  42,  164,  166,  167,  281  ; 
to  go  to  Bantam,  vi,  xii,  60,  164,  198; 
stock,  etc.,  shipped  in,  67,  69,  79,  172, 
184,  192,  193  M.,  201 ;  her  dispatch,  viii, 

80,  81,  200;  insurance,  132, 143, 144, 145, 
146,  184,  257,  260,  266;  to  be  docked, 
examined,  and  sold,xviii,  277,  278,  280, 
282,  285, 290. 

Mary,  the,  329;  commander  of,  see  Sparling, 
Thomas. 

Massey,  Jonathan,  254. 

Massey,  Walter,  296  (2). 

Massingberd,  John,  Treasurer  to  the  Com- 
pany, 45,  89,  90,  166,  214,  216,  236,  241, 
254.  283,  316,  323,  324,  351,  360,  363; 
to  buy  rials,  etc.,  15,  17,  102,  140,  167, 
237,  250,  263,  280,  306 ;  promised  secu- 
rity for  so  doing,  25  ;  to  procure  a  warrant 
for  transportation  of,  301  ;  elected  Trea- 
surer, xvi,  31,  91,  153,  210,218,276,332; 
resigns  the  post  of  a  Committee,  32  ; 
elected  a  Committee,  xvi,  218  ;  urges  re- 
trenchment, 35  ;  reports  made  by,  37,  51, 
64,  79.  83,  140.  181,  272,  317;  jewels, 
etc.,  placed  in  his  custody,  94,  182,  202, 
204,  265,  373  ;  his  assistant,  see  Dunkyn, 
Michael. 

Masters,  William,  115. 

Masnlipatam,  54,  58,  353;  expenditure  at, 
57  (2)j  134;  factors  at,  57,  198 ;  deceased 
at,  291  ;  factory  at,  198  ;  to  be  dissolved, 
262. 


INDEX 


413 


Mataram,  Soltan  of,  185,  309  (2). 

Mathews,  Joachim,  225. 

Mathews,  Thomas,  154,  165,  167,  355. 

Matthews,  Jethro,  61,  63,  183. 

Mauritius,  Island  of,  ix,  x,  11,  117. 

Maxwell,  James  (afterwards  Earl  of  Dirle- 
toun),  motion  to  arrest,  v,  317,  322; 
Counsel  appears  on  behalf  of,  320  ;  pro- 
posed payment  to  the  Company  by,  321 ; 
to  be  sued,  323,  331 ;  settlement  inade 
with,  360. 

May,  Robert,  138,  250. 

Mayhew,  — ,  144. 

Maynard,  John,  M.P.  for  Newport,  27,  109, 

3". 

Ma3me,  Samuel,  114. 

Maynett,  — ,  a  public  notary,  142  (2). 

Mayotta  Island,  195. 

Mead,  Philip,  calicoes  delivered  to,  118  ; 
buys  calicoes,  169,  295,  301,  309,  362. 

Mead,  Thomas,  37,  122,  139. 

Mead,  Thomas,  Junior,  37. 

Mead,  William,  122,  139. 

Melinda,  371,  375,  378,  383. 

Mell,  — ,  201. 

Meloria  Island,  113. 

Mercers'  Company,  the,  7. 

Merchant  Adventurers,  the,  8,  75,  79,  356. 

Merchant  Bonadventure,  the,  dollars,  etc, 
shipped  in,  22,  26,  27,  30 ;  money  awarded 
to  men  serving  in,  27. 

Merchant  Staplers,  the,  316. 

Merchant  Taylors'  Hall,  277. 

Merculees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Merritt,  Francis,  80. 

Merritt,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Golden 
Katherine,  150. 

Merry,  Thomas,  Accountant  at  Snrat,  127, 
286,  287,  336  ;  appointed  President  at 
Surat,  261,  262. 

Merryweather,  John,  262. 

Messina,  39,  32  7 ;  pepper  sent  to,  39,  40, 
176;  silk  from,  128,  246,  327. 

Methwold,  Susannah,  310  n. 

Methwold,  William,  Deputy  Governor,  40, 
236,  254,  256,  268,  aS6,  287,  289,  292, 
316,  340,  363  ;  accepted  as  security,  3, 
II,  156,  186,  256,  336,  364,  368;  re- 
elected Deputy,  31,  91,  153,  210,  276, 
332  ;  goods  belonging  to,  38,  76,  77,  247  ; 
consigned  to,  127,  129,  336;  adventure 
transferred  to,  65  (2),  175,  186,  314.385; 
transfers  adventure,  189,  240;  reports  and 
statements  made  by,  66,  140,  191,  193, 
344.  339.  352, 353  ;  buys  goods,  145, 155, 
200,  373  ;  executor  to  Fremlen,  ix,  I48, 
151,152,155,251,300;  to  help  examine 
and  report  on  goods,  169,  184,  204 ;  to 
attend  the  Lords,  etc.,  about  the  Com- 
pany's ordinance,  134,  181,  273;   visits 


the  hospital  at  Poplar,  203 ;  underwrites 
in  the  Second  General  Voyage  for  Breton, 
214,  218;  to  sign  all  money  warrants, 
234  ;  negotiates  and  reports  concerning 
Lord  Craven's  house,  xxvi,  239,  298, 331 ; 
offers  a  ship  for  freighting,  241  ;  his 
daughter,  310 «.;  his  views  concerning 
the  Company's  trade,  xiv,  339,  342,  367; 
his  offer  for  the  customs  at  Gombroon, 
345 ;  allowed  the  use  of  a  room  in  the 
Company's  house,  xxvii,  350 ;  his  opinion 
concerning  the  intended  plantation  on 
Assada,  358  ;  to  treat  with  its  members, 
359  ;  signs  an  agreement  made  with,  383 
(2) ;  offered  the  post  of  Agent  to  the 
court  of  Spain,  389. 

Mexico,  money,  to  be  bought,  267,  330,  321, 
322,  367,  368. 

Middelburg,  368,  384. 

Middlesex,  320. 

Midleton,  Richard,  166 ;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 32,  91,  153,  276;  retires,  310, 
333  ;  buys  indigo,  etc.,  loi,  155,  156. 

Mildemay,  Anthony,  161. 

Mildmay,  Sir  Henry,  50. 

Miller,  Thomas,  297,  398,  302,  307. 

Millett,  John,  masXtioidxe  Aleppo  Merchant, 
207,  260  (2),  264 ;  offers  his  ship  for 
freighting,  39,  130,  225,  229,  230,  259; 
admitted  to  the  freedom,  219;  payment 
to,  248,  259,  264. 

Millward,  Captain,  243. 

Millward,  Thomas,  226,  227,  243,  370. 

Milward,  Charles,  61,  63. 

Mincing  Lane,  313. 

Minors,  Edward,  183  (2). 

Minors,  Captain  William,  commander  of 
the  Mary,  60,  80,  161,  166,  201 ;  of  the 
William,  373 ;  his  private  trade,  36,  37, 
77,  78, 161,  172,  287,  288;  payment  to, 
36,  37.  190;  gratuity  given  to,  45,  193, 
306;  his  re-entertainment,  59,  183,  373; 
his  complaints  against  Aaron  Baker,  61, 
62 ;  dispute  between  Cartwright  and,  168, 
179,  181,  189,  190,  191(2);  his  wife,  78, 
205,  269. 

Missleden,  — ,  240. 

Mitcham,  125. 

Mixon,  John,  272. 

Mokha,  vii,  263. 

Monsoons,  an  accoimt  of,  i. 

Moore,  Elizabeth,  379. 

Moore,  John,  88,  89  (2). 

Moore,  Richard,  279. 

Moore,  Thomas,  M.P.,  for  Heytesbury, 
99. 

Morees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Morewood,  Andrew,  131,  167,  376,  333. 

Morewood,  Gilbert,  10,  40,  47,  80,  121, 
128,  206;  elected  a  Committee,  32,91, 


414 


COURT  MINUTES,    ETC. 


153,  210,  218,  276,  332,  342  ;  adventure 
transferred  to,  122,  167,  385,  389. 

Morgan,  George,  285,  299. 

Morgan,  George,  Junior,  285,  286,  299. 

Morgan,  Sir  Tiiomas,  29. 

Morley,  James,  275. 

Morley,  Thomas,  275. 

Morris,  Captain,  98. 

Morris,  Thomas,  concerning  payment  of  his 
account,  33,  51,  191,  192, 193. 

Morris,  William,  337. 

Mosely,  Joan,  35. 

Mosse,  Clement,  his  request  concerning 
Thomas  Jesson's  adventure,  47,  97  (2), 
128,  133,  137, 158. 

Mosse,  Mrs.,  annuity  left  to,  47, 97, 133, 137. 

Mountagiie,  — ,  34. 

Mountfort,  Francis,  i  ;  payment  desired  and 
made  of  his  estate,  221,  248,  263,  271, 
3i3>  315;  his  child,  307. 

Monntney,  Cornelius,  230,  343  n. 

Mountney,  Nathaniel,  x. 

Mountney,  Richard,  219. 

Moyer,  Samuel,  xxii,  112,  186,  238,  312, 
359 ;  elected  a  Committee,  xvi,  218,  342, 
374 ;  requests  permission  to  dispatch  a 
ship  or  ships  to  India,  xviii,  303,  305  n. ; 
confers  with  the  Company  concerning  the 
intended  plantation  on  Assada,  360,  374, 
379 ;  signs  an  agreement  concerning,  382 
(2). 

Mozambique,  13,  65,  71,  378,  383;  slaves 
to  be  bought  at,  68,  69. 

Mucknell,  John,  master  of  the  yohn,  4,  11, 
76,98;  gratuitygivento,  16  ;  his  betrayal 
of  the  John.,  vii  (2).  viii,  66,  71-74,  86, 
88,  146,  163  ;  to  attempt  to  surprise  the 
Company's  homeward-bound  ships,  viii, 
83  ;  reward  promised  for  his  capture,viii, 
90 ;  the  Company  petitions  for  sequestra- 
tion of  his  estate,  84. 

Munnux,  Mary,  142. 

Muscovy  Adventurers,  the,  389. 

Musk,  100,  112,  116,  185,  331. 

Myrrh,  99,  173,  185,  222,  284,  317. 

Naples,  40. 

Naseby,  91  n. 

Navy,  the.  Committee  of,  49, 110,118,  150, 
152,191,263,  278,  301  «.,  343;  petitions 
presented  and  to  be  presented  to,  76,  97, 
98  (2),  102,  150,  186,  313;  referred  to, 
8o«,,  368,  369,  373;  leave  to  transport 
guns  and  ammunition  to  be  obtained  from, 
238,  244;  order  from,  173,  277,  356; 
Commissioners  of,  desire  a  loan  from  the 
Company,  11,43,  312,  313;  masts,  etc., 
obtained  from,  103,  11 1,  275. 

Neale,  David,  59. 

Neave,  Oliver,  230. 


Negroes,  372,  375. 

Nelmes,  Richard,  166,  306. 

Neptune,  the,  1 74. 

Newball,  William,  264. 

Newdigate,  Richard,  Counsel  for  Courteen, 
141  (2),  147,  148;  the  Company's  Secre- 
tary and  Solicitor  to  consult  with,  143, 
147,  148,  149  (2). 

Newfoundland,  112. 

Newland,  Richard,  183  (2). 

Newman,  Robert,  142. 

Newman,  Thomas,  61,  63. 

Newport,  Anthony,  master  of  the  London 
Merchant,  40,  361. 

New  River,  306. 

Newton,  Henry,  215. 

Niccanees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Nicholas,  John,  232. 

Nicholls,  — ,  88. 

Noell  (or  Nowell),  Martin,  219,  343  n. 

Norbett,  Francis,  297. 

Norris,  Hugh,  343  n. 

North,  Roger,  317  «. 

North,  — ,  323. 

Northey,  Thomas,  135,  136,  193. 

Northey,  William,  135,  136,  193. 

Northumberland,  the,  310,312,  323;  com- 
mander of,  see  Trenchfield,  Thomas. 

Norton,  Henry,  301,  348,  362. 

Norwood,  Robert,  1 25,  292. 

Nossi-be,  xxii  n. 

Netting,  — ,  240. 

Nowell,  Martin.    See  Noell. 

Nowell,  Matthew,  38. 

Nowell,  William,  7. 

Nulls,  Sir  John,  desires  forbearance  of  pro- 
secution for  the  pepper  debt,  2,3;  sued 
for,  20  (2),  49  ;  petitions  Parliament  con- 
cerning, 49  ;  order  from,  for  protection  of 
his  person,  145. 

Nutmegs,  53,  115,  219,  370  (2);  sold,  26, 
254,  324  ;  private  trade  in,  42,  155,  230, 
294. 

Oakum,  48,  53,  80,  172  (2). 

Oil,  75.  134- 

Olibanum,  16,  99,  153,  154, 185,  284. 

Olives,  73. 

Olton,  Elizabeth,  181,  206,  364. 

Olton,  Henry,  19,  182,  198,  293. 

Opopanax,  254, 

Ordnance, 35(2), 39,45, 55,199;  Lieutenant- 
General  of,  see  Earle,  Sir  Walter ;  un- 
serviceable, to  be  used  for  ballast  and 
kentledge,  4,  75,  187,  301 ;  lent  to  the 
t-'ity.  hi  1,  15.  89,  131.  183;  supplied  to 
ships,  10,  16,  79«.,  135,  168;  sold,  32, 
92,  loi,  128, 131,  134,206,  208;  at  Fort 
St.  George,  55  ;  at  Blackwall,  203 ;  for 
Bantam,  238  ;  for  Goa,  252. 


INDEX 


415 


Osbaston,  Francis,  220. 

Osburne,  Anne,  207. 

Osbume,  John,  207. 

Ots^her,  David,  237;  his  dispute  vnih  the 
Garbler,  253,  269,  271,  278. 

Owen,  Edward,  73  (2). 

Owen,  Thomas,  i,  198.  210. 

Owfield  (or  Oldfield),  Richard,  34. 

Oxenbridge,  Daniel,  35. 

Oxenden,  George,  193. 

Oxford.  2,  66. 

Oyles,  Jaques,32, 102,  336;  adventure  trans- 
ferred to,  192,  193  ;  his  dispute  with  the 
Garbler,  253,  269,  278. 

Pagett,  Nazareth,  142. 

Pagodas,  29,  55,  56,  57,  134,  166,  211. 

Palmer,  Ursula,  1 9. 

Palmer,  William,  183,  292. 

Paris,  49,  92,  327. 

Parke,  Thomas,  296,  297. 

Parkes,  Richard,  248. 

Parliament  (see  also  Lords,  House  of,  and 
Commons,  House  of),  19,  91,  96,  116, 
121,  208,  304;  adventures  and  estates  se- 
questered by,  iii,  3,  4,  46,  47,  48,  50,  81 
(2),  87,  95,  99,  157,  158,  259,  333,  334, 
381  ;  Committee  of,  3,  13,  15,  46;  loan 
desired  by,  ir,  43,  278;  repayment  of, 
37,  93;  ordinance  of,  13,  37,  79«.,  84, 

165,  176-178;  to  be  procured,  25,  92,93, 
94,  169;  petitions  to,  49  (2),  79,  8o«., 

82.  93,  94.  loi.  iio>  123,  141,  155,  157, 

166,  187,  209,  276,  277,  279,  313,  317, 

3.^0  (2),  339.  340,  347,  348,  353»  358, 
361,  363,  364,  367 ;  ships  belonging  to, 

83,  86,  90 ;  mutiny  of,  274,  287 ;  Com- 
mittees to  attend,  102,  109  (2),  110,  115, 
116, 118,  119,  124,  199  ;  orders  and  war- 
rants from,  87,  126,  158,  195,  258,  381, 
388 ;  resolves  to  uphold  the  Company's 
trade,  131, 132;  Bristol  surrenders  10,138; 
its  army  at,  149  ;  the  Company's  privi- 
leges to  be  confirmed  by  Act  of,  v,  xiii, 
177  ;  to  assist  the  Company  in  obtaining 
restitution  from  the  Dutch,  211,  212; 
money  lent  by  James  Maxwell  to,  321  ; 
Acts  desired  from,  xxiii,  366,  367,  36S, 
378,  379,  384,  390 ;  desires  for  restraint 
to  general  liberty  of  trade  addressed  to, 
XXV,  389,  390. 

Pearle,  Thomas,  259,  260. 

Pearls,  381. 

Pearse,  Edward,  260. 

Pearse,  Edward,  Junior,  260,  261,  262. 

Pearse,  Elizabeth,  12. 

Pearse,  John,  12,  72,  14S,  152. 

Pearse,  Mary,  261. 

Pearse,  Nicholas,  114. 

Pearse,  William,  105,  204,  315. 


Peeters,  Erasmus,  337. 

Peirce,  John,  301. 

Peirson,  John,  113,  240,  257. 

Penning,  — ,  264. 

Pennington,  Alderman  Isaac,  member  of  the 

Council  of  State,  388. 
Pennington,  Sir  John,  74,  88. 
Penniston,  Thomas,  i,  123,  170,  190,  19S. 
Pennoyer,  Samuel,  343  «. 
Pennoyer,  William,  xxii  k.,  80,  308,  343  «. ; 

negotiates  for  saltpetre,  349,  350,  351, 

352,  355- 

Pepper,  references  to,passim;hought  by  Lord 
Cottington  on  behalf  of  the  King,  iv,  2, 
3,  20  (2),  40,  41,49,  145,  347  ;  securities 
for,  to  be  arrested  and  sued,  30  (2),  34, 
49,  128,  249,  316,  317,  320,  321,332; 
disposal  and  sale  of,  8,  9,  10,  16,  26,  33, 
38,  42,  43  (2),  58,  64,  75,  76.  99, 108  (2), 
109,  112,  153,  162  (2),  166,  173,  185, 
206,  207,  214,  216,  217,  254,  272,  300, 
304,  321,  324,  325,  329,  345,  353,  355, 
367,  385;  price  of,  8,  10,  30,  38,  43  (2), 
53,  108  (2),  134,  140  (2),  141,  147,  150, 
158,  164,  165,  168,  175,  176,  180,  184, 
201,  316,  254,  287,  2S9,  291,  393,  306, 
3£9;  sent  to  Italy,  vi,  xii,  14,  15,  39,  40, 
41  (2),  42  (3),  43,  44,  45  (2),  52,  53,60, 
62,  64  (2),  65,  75,  131,  132,  138,  140, 
142,  157,  175,  176,  287,  288,  390,  299, 
322,  327;  private  trade  in,  10,  41,  42, 
46,  52,  60,  62,  79,  212  ;  half  subsidy  due 
for,  64,  65,  75 ;  dust,  scummings,  and 
trash  of,  128,  129,  162, 164,185,  216,  217, 
267,  271 ;  from  Jambi,  165, 173, 180,  185, 
186,  194,  282,  287,  289  (2),  292,  306, 
313,  328,  332,  356,  359;  from  Malabar, 
180,  185,  186,  192,  194,  222,  223,  282, 
289  (2),  306,  307,  313,  328,  332,  356, 
359  ;  securities  accepted  for,  186,  256, 
263,  292,  300,328,380;  licence  to  trans- 
port, 293,  356  ;  divisions  in,  xx,  xxi,  356, 
359.  360,  367,  376,  385,  386,  388. 

Percallas.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Pemambuco,  36. 

Perreira,  Sebastian  Diaz,  44. 

Perrin,  Alice,  113. 

Perrin,  Anthony,  113. 

Perrin,  — ,  141. 

Perrott,  Christopher,  296. 

Perry,  Thomas,  master  of  the  ^»^^/,  39, 40. 

Persia,  {see  a/so  Gombroon),  29,  56,  82,  239, 
308,  371,  375  ;  Agent  in,  see  Gibson, 
William  ;  factors  in,  19,  94,  99, 102,  107, 
137,  345;  factory  in,  to  be  continued,262; 
relation  presented  of  the  Company's  trade 
in,  94 ;  carpets,  etc,  from,  123,  289,  347, 
381;  private  trade  sold  in,  135,  170; 
Voyages,  235  ;  King  of,  reported  farman 
from,  345. 


4i5 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


Peru,  money  from,  230,  267,  320. 

Peter,  the,  80,  84,  90. 

Peter  and  Andrew,  the  (ySee  also  Dolphin, 
the),  4,  92. 

Pett,  Peter,  122,  143,360;  to  help  examine 
and  report  on  ships,  no,  120,  121,  122, 
123,  144,164,  280,350. 

Petty,  George,  226. 

Phillipps,  Roger,  master  of  the  Dover  Mer- 
chant, 157,  323,  331. 

Phoenix,  the,  329  ;  master  of,  see  Harrison, 
Captain. 

Pickering,  James,  281. 

Piece-goods.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Piggott,  Richard,  his  debt  to  the  Company, 
3,  4,  10,  14,  46,  47,  50,  52,  58,  90,  133 
(2),  143,  167,  172,  234,340. 

Pindar,  Colonel  Martin,  100,  129,  149. 

Pindar,  Sir  Paul,  desires  forbearance  of  pro- 
secution for  the  pepper  debt,  2,  3  ;  to  be 
sued,  20  (2),  34,  49;  order  for  protec- 
tion of  his  person,  145. 

Pinson,  Gerard,  3  (2),  18;  his  account  to 
be  examined,  8,  9,  166. 

Pinson,  Henry,  to  receive  his  son  Gerard's 
estate,  3  (2),  9,  166. 

Pinson,  William,  10. 

Pintadoes.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Pipestaves,  124,  359. 

Pirates,  10,  329. 

Pitcher,  Richard,  89,  94. 

Pitches,  Lambert,  118,  122. 

Pitt,  Thomas,  gunfounder,  12. 

Pitt,  Thomas,  267,  270,  282. 

Pitt,  William,  disposal  of  his  estate,  220, 
239.  247.  251,  265,  267,  270,  272,  273, 
280,  282. 

Planter,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  148. 

Pleas,  Office  of,  20, 

Plymouth,  184,  380;  payment  of  custom 
levied  on  goods  to  provide  for  the  relief 
of,  97,  100,  115,  122,  124,  155,  158, 165, 
166. 

Poland,  King  of,  82. 

Pollein,  Anne,  165,  348,  349. 

Pollein,  John,  255,  347,  348,  349,  354. 

Polstead,  Henry,  32. 

Popham,  Colonel  Edward,  329. 

Poplar  {see  also  Blackwall),  30 ;  Christmas 
gifts  to  the  almsmen  and  poor  at,  58,  1 20, 
179,  181,  249,  306,  385  ;  orders  concern- 
ing, 70,  87  ;  men  admitted  to  the  Com- 
pany's almshouse  at,  80,  142,  187,  238, 
313,  382  ;  payment  to,  324;  bequest  to, 
ix,  136,  155;  garden  at,  203;  Howes 
petitions  for  leave  to  keep  a  school  at, 
206,  210,  280,  332,  333;  mmister  at,  see 
Spencer,  Benjamin. 

Populees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Pork,  to  be  shipped  for  India,  2,  128  ;  re- 


turned from,  120,  195  ;  as  provision  for 
sailors,  loi,  257,  287, 361,  380  ;  payment 
for,  238. 

Porter,  Endymion,  84,  89,  365. 

Porter,  Captain  Thomas,  223,  285. 

Portugal,  375. 

Portuguese,  the,  xi,  65,  79«.,  365;  Ambas- 
sador, 66  (2);  aboard  the  yohn,  71,  72 
(2)  ;  goods  belonging  to,  66,  72,  117  (2), 
129, 136,  137,  173, 174,204;  competitors 
for  the  East  India  trade,  188,  365. 

Potkins,  Henry,  154,  206. 

Potter,  John,  42. 

Potter,  Katherine,  42. 

Poultry  Compter,  the,  a  prison,  23,  65,  70, 

84.  325- 

Powell,  John,  182,  212. 

Powell,  Lewis,  182. 

Powell,  Mrs.,  84,  204,  212. 

Poynter,  William,  73,  94,  98. 

Prerogative  Court,  the,  171,  309,  328,  337 
(2) ;  Judge  of,  see  Brent,  Sir  Nathaniel. 

Price,  Etheldred,  231. 

Price,  Jacob,  231,  331. 

Price,  John,  301. 

Price,  Raphael,  328,  337. 

Price,  — ,  165. 

Prideaux,  Edmond,  Attorney-General,  283, 
330,  368,  369. 

Pritchard,  — ,  a  minister,  132. 

Private  Trade.     See  Trade. 

Prosperous,  the,  master  of,  see  Ell,  Richard ; 
offered  and  accepted  for  freighting,  108 
(2),  109,  131,  142,  232. 

Prowd,  John,  29,  134,  215,  229,  234,  239, 
319;  master  of  the  Z>(7^Am,  121;  of  the 
Eagle,  292,  301 ;  private  trade  taken  out 
of  his  ship,  97,  98,  292,  300;  his  private 
trade,  101,139,  299,  300,  317;  to  examine 
and  report  on  ships,  108,  228;  gratuity 
given  to,  130 ;  his  account  to  be  cleared, 
271 ;  bill  entered  in  Chancery  against, 
297,  299,  301,  302. 

Prowd,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Blessing, 
113;  of  the  Lion  (renamed  the  Antelope), 
122,  133,  310;  his  bond  to  be  given  up, 
ii.") »  gratuity  given  to,  130,  139;  accu- 
sation against,  310. 

Pryor,  George,  paid  for  drawing  up  insu- 
rance policies,  41,  122,  184,  279. 

Pulleymaker,  225. 

Pulo  Run,  proposed  settlement  on,  xvi,  xxiii 
(2),  xxiv;  concerning  its  restoration  to 
the  English,  116,  212,  370  (2),  377. 

Punnitt,  Richard,  pilot,  19. 

Purcell,  Thomas,  232. 

Purse,  George,  53,  147,  180  (2),  200;  gra- 
tuity given  to,  83, 142. 

Queen,  the.    See  Henrietta  Maria. 


INDEX 


417 


Quicksilver,  59,  120,  121,  248,  262, 264(2), 
*73  (2),  281  ;  from  Venice,  160,  312, 
228  (2),  229,  241,  263  (2),  283,  303. 

Quilts,  sold,  33,  58,  128  (2),  162,  222,  254, 
284;  as  presents,  98,  106,  122,  289. 

Quoy,  James,  313. 

Rajapur,  138,  297 ;  Courteen's  factory  at, 
141,  177;  cloths,  etc.,  seized  at,  335,  361. 

RandoU,  Thomas,  325. 

Rapier,  Henry,  290. 

Rashees.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Rastell,  Thomas,  late  President  at  Surat,  151. 

Ratcliff,  gifts  to  the  poor  of,  58,  120,  179, 
249,  306.  385. 

Ratcliffe,  Sir  George,  353. 

RatclifTe,  Thomas,  76. 

Raybag,  284. 

Rayment,  Humphrey,  135. 

Read,  Nicholas,  167. 

Recorder,  the.    See  Glynn  and  Steele. 

Redriff,  228. 

Red  Sea,  the,  23,  24,  51,  72,  164,  177,  371. 

Reeve,  Francis,  354,  355. 

Reeve,  Margaret,  354. 

Reformation,  the,  6,  7,  57  (2),  281 ;  master 
of,  see  Bailey,  William ;  men  serving  in, 

i7»3io- 

Regemont,  Ahasuerus,  343  «. 

Remnant,  James,  138,  152,  195. 

Remnant,  Margaret,  138,  152,  195. 

Replevin,  an  action  to  recover  possession  of 
goods  wrongfully  taken,  243. 

Reynardson,  Sir  Abraham,  Lord  Mayor 
(1649),  200,  203;  nominated  for  election 
as  Governor,  91,  210;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 91,  153,  210,  276,  332;  his  son, 
386. 

Rejrnardson,  Abraham,  Junior,  386. 

Reynolds,  Jane,  113. 

Reynolds,  John,  113. 

Rhodes,  Thomas,  67,  185. 

Rhubarb,  127,  254,  336. 

Rials,  reference  to,  passim ;  rate  of  exchange 
for,  6,  14,  17,  42,  77,  79,  81,  104,  127, 
152,  161,  167.  176,  184,  186,  218,  257, 
259.  267,  288,  308,  319,  320,  322,  364, 
368,  378,  383  ;  taken  up  on  board  by 
mariners,  17;  proposal  to  transport  to 
India  for  the  Portuguese,  65  ;  from  Spain, 
50 ;  Amsterdam,  200,  225,  229,  230,  247, 
255  ;  Antwerp,  267;  to  be  purchased,  225, 
253, 264. 267,  280, 320;  difficult  to  obtain, 
267,  367. 

Riberio,  Lewis,  129,  130. 

Ricaut,  Sir  Peter,  attempts  to  sequester 
money,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  Company, 
33,  49,  80,  81,  158,  259,  260;  procuration 
from,  49 ;  the  Company's  bond  and  re- 
ceipts to,  59 ;  his  estate  sequestered,  81, 


87,  158, 159  ;  discharged  from  sequestra- 
tion, 259,  261  ;  letter,  narration,  and 
petition  concerning,  82  ;  his  impaid  sub- 
scription, 82  ;  dividends  due  to,  169  (3), 
195,  261 ;  refused  a  loan  by  the  Company, 
294,  313  ;  his  son,  see  Ricaut,  F^ter. 

Ricaut,  Peter,  his  demands  and  petition 
concerning  his  father's  estate,  258,  259, 
260,  279,  283,  286,  387,  289. 

Riccard,  Andrew,  240,  323,  333  ;  elected 
a  Committee,  153,  210,  221,  332  ;  retires, 
276;  T^ajX-o\yntx  oi  iht  Dffver  Merchant 
and  the  Harry  Bonadveniure,  157. 

Rice,  26,  38,  99,  112, 162,  222,  284. 

Rich,  Robert,  Earl  of  Warwick,  Lord  High 
Admiral,  xiii,  75,  80,  83  w.,  196. 

Rich,  Thomas,  5,  10,  129,  137,  172,  253, 
363;  buys  goods,  113,  113,  132,  307; 
adventure  transferred  to,  131,  189,  333; 
his  subscription  to  the  Second  General 
Voyage,  219,  223,  327;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 227,  268,  276,  332. 

Ridge,  Alderman,  388. 

Rilston, Thomas,  Husband  to  the  Company, 
119,  120,  180,  223  ;  re-elected  Husband, 
32,  93  ;  instructions  to,  52,  59,  76,  119, 
164,  201,  208,  229,  268. 

Rings,  100,  112,  204,  355,  381. 

Robbins,  Walter,  290. 

Roberts,  John,  337. 

Robertson,  Benjamin,  119. 

Robinson,  Benjamin,  50,  231,  246,  248. 

Robinson,  Benj  amin ,  son-in-law  to  Fotherby, 

88,  92,  167,  169,  171,  214. 
Robinson,  George,  230. 

Robinson,  John,  343  «. ;  part-owner  of  the 

Endymion,  133  (2),  138,  260;  offers  her 

for  freighting,  291. 
Robinson,  Richard,  78. 
Rochester,  private  trade  landed  and  seized 

at,  103,  lie,  113,  130,  149. 
Roe,  Sir  Thomas,  xix,  337  «. 
Roebuck,  the,  34,  65,  174,  341. 
Rogers,  Charles,  183. 
Rogers,  Morris,  191,  193. 
Rogers,  Sarah,  330,  238,  275. 
Rogers,  Thomas,  330,  238,  275. 
Rolfe,  Robert,  215. 
Rolfe,  William,  215. 
Roll,  John,  M.P.  for  Truro,  157. 
Rolt,  Edward,  48,  305  (2). 
Roman  vitriol,  38,  78. 
Roote,  Jeremy,  gunner  at  Fort  St.  George, 

247. 
Roper,  George,  65. 
Rosewell,  Daniel,  200,  247,  255. 
Rotterdam,  33,  51,  98,  330. 
Rouen,  59,  87,  333. 
Rouse,  Francis,  M.P.  for  Truro,  99. 
Rowladoes.     See  Cotton  goods. 


£e 


4i8 


COURT   MINUTES,   ETC. 


Roydon,  Verity,  1S3. 

Rumsey,  Pedwarden,  21  ;  his  debt  to  the 
Company,  2,  25,  35,  43,  62,  130,  162, 
166,  208,  212,  233.  322,  376. 

Rushoult,  — ,  278. 

Rnshworth,  John,  secretary  to  Sir  Thomas 
Fairfax,  99,  138. 

Russell,  Gerard,  257. 

Russell,  Gervase,  78. 

Russell,  James,  116,  305  n. 

Ruth,  the  (Maurice  Thomson's  ship),  xix, 
XX,  277,  279,  297,  336,  343,  346,  352, 
353,  354 ;  foreign  coin,  etc.,  to  be  shipped 
in,  301  M.,  317,  320,  338;  offered  to  and 
accepted  by  the  Company  for  freighting 
to  Bantam,  xix,  310  (2),  312,  314,  318; 
restitution  to  be  sought  for  money,  etc., 
taken  from,  xxiii,  xxiv,  305  «.,  361,  372, 

378>  383. 

Ruttland,  — ,  277. 

Ryder,  Captain  William,  226,  228,  267,  303; 
elected  a  Committee,  218,  342  ;  admitted 
to  the  freedom,  226;  offers  a  ship  for 
freighting,  241,  386 ;  refused  permission 
to  send  ships  to  India  on  his  own  account, 
302,  304.  305- 

Rygate,  Edward,  229. 

Rynards,  Alderman,  154. 

Saboones.     See  Cotton  goods. 

St.  Andrew  Undershaft,  12,  337. 

St.  Augustine's  Bay,  vi,  xxii,  72. 

St.  Christopher,  72. 

St.  Helena,  36,  71,  279,  318;  men  left  by 
Mucknell  at,  73,  86,  94,  98,  no,  123. 

Sainthill,  Robert,  29,  33. 

St.  Katherine's  prison,  98 . 

St.  Kitts.     See  St.  Christopher. 

St.  Lawrence.     See  Madagascar. 

St.  Leonard's  church  and  parish  in  Shore- 
ditch,  ix,  X. 

St.  Martin  Outwich,  13. 

St.  Peter-le-Poor,  74. 

Sallampores.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Sallowes.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Salter,  — ,  master  oit\it  Jeremy,  74,  323. 

Salt  Hills,  the,  117. 

Saltpetre,  158,  220,  266,  273,  335,  372  n., 
386;  price  of,  112,  156,  259,  290,  296, 
346,  349.  350.  352;  bought,  145,  208, 
222,  263,  296,  317;  Parliament  petitioned 
concerning,  153,  235;  to  be  procured  for 
the  State,  xxiii,  xxiv,  343,  350,  351,  352, 

355.  372,  375.  378,  383,  384,  385. 

Salwey,  Richard,  388. 

Samaritan,  the,  65. 

Sambrooke,  Jeremy,  Accountant  to  the 
Company,  20,  51,  137,  160,  169,  213, 
233,  234,  271,  294;  instructions  to,  10, 
37»  41.  52.  76,  90>  i">  "8,  123,  200, 


201,  233,  240,  253,  265,  267,  268,320, 
337»  339 ;  re-elected  Accountant,  32, 92  ; 
accounts,  etc.,  presented  by,  38,  106,  149, 

202,  217,  288,  290,  295,  301,  319,  324, 
339>  340 ;  proposals  offered  by,  305 ; 
brings  an  action  against  Adiell  Gurney, 
324,  325,  326 ;  his  assistants,  see  Gurney 
and  Harrison. 

Sambrooke,  Samuel,  20,  167 ;  assistant  to 
Bowen,  32,  93,  328;  duties  allotted  to, 
^20,373;  the  freedom  of  the  Company 
bestowed  upon,  220. 

Sampan,  5,  6. 

Sampson,  the,  37,  51;  commander  oi,  see 
Ashley,  Captain ;  her  repair,  333,  334 ; 
offered  for  freighting,  362,  386  (2). 

Sams,  Dr.  William,  Judge  of  the  High 
Court  of  Admiralty,  1 10. 

Samuel,  ih.t,  241,  295. 

Sandal-wood,  69. 

Sandwich,  261,  277;  stores  at,  4,  12,  34; 
list  of,  to  be  furnished,  144,  146;  store- 
keeper at,  see  Elwood  and  Houghan. 

Sanguis  Draconis,  184,  300. 

San  Lucar,  150. 

Sannowes.     See  Cotton  goods. 

Sarah,  the,  234. 

Sarkhej,  indigo  from,  33,  34,  99,  10 1,  106, 
107, 109, 128, 201,  207, 225,  272, 284,  373. 

Satin,  75,  170,  316. 

Satterford,  Sarah,  187. 

Satterford,  William,  20,  187. 

Saunders,  Matthew,  231. 

Saunderson,  George,  205,  207,  211. 

Sayers,  Captain  John,  84,  122,  280. 

Sayon,  Francis,  219,  389. 

Scattergood,  Elizabeth,  307. 

Scattergood,  Francis,  307. 

Scilly,  viii,  73,  86,  150,  316,  329(2). 

Scipio,  the,  263  (2),  264,  299. 

Scivdell  (or  Sivedall),  Henry,  313,  317. 

Scobell,  Henry,  334. 

Scotland,  274,  320,  321. 

Screetore,  a  writing  desk  or  cabinet,  1 80. 

Scriveners'  Hall,  40,  41  (2). 

Seaman,  Edward,  master  of  the  Endymion, 
134.  256,  260,  292,  293. 

Seaman,  — ,  an  attorney,  47. 

Searle,  Nicholas,  229. 

Second  General  Voyage,  the,  329,  341,  384; 
goods  delivered  upon  dividends  of,  xx.  i, 
356,  389  ;  resolution  to  start,  xiv,  xv,  209, 
210(2);  preamble  for,  drawn  up,  con- 
firmed, and  read,  211, 217, 221,  302,  342 ; 
copies  to  be  presented  to  Parliament,  2 18 ; 
subscriptions  to,  xv,  xvi,  214,  217(2),  218, 
219,  221,  223  (2),  227,  236,  247,  251, 
259,  272,  302,342,362;  payment  of,  xviii, 
XX,  268,  271 (2),  278,  282,  293,  303,  304, 
308,  335,  35i»  3^2;    orders  concerning, 


INDEX 


419 


218,  ai9, 234,  234, 334,  335;  Committees 
and  Treasurer  elected  for,  xvi,  a  18,  228 ; 
ships  and  stock  sent  out  on  account  of, 
xvii,  xix,  219,  224,  225,  326,  228,  230, 
333,  234,  243.  252,  308,  309(2),  312,  317, 
335.  338.  342,  352,  357.  375.  386 ;  Com- 
mittees appointed  to  treat  on  belialf  of  the 
Fourth  Joint  Stock  with  the  Committees 
of,  xvi,  221,  227;  refusal  of  some  adven- 
turers in,  to  take  the  usual  oath,  xvi,  221, 
322,  223(2),  224  ;^2);  quicksilver  bought 
from  and  sold  to  the  Joint  Stock  by,  228 
(2),  229,  241,  281,  282,  303,  304;  money 
lent  at  interest  to  the  Stock  by,  241,  242, 
278,  279,  303,  304,  334;  arrangements 
made  with  the  Stock  by,  xvi,  241,  342, 
245.  250.  252,  272,  303,  308,  319;  its 
accounts,  234,  253,  267,  268,  271,  272, 
353;  Robert  Doughty  entertained  by,  245; 
goods  and  stock  belonging  to,  268,  271, 
278,  279.  308,  336  (2),  338;  transfer  of 
adventures  in,  284,  285,  314  (2),  334, 
385,  389;  drawing  to  an  end,  xxii,  311, 
312,  343,  370 ;  money  lent  the  State  by. 
312,  313,  dispute  between  the  Stock  and, 
XX,  336,  338,  340.  342,  343,  350.  351. 
352,  353,  354.  355.  35^ ;  Committees  for, 
to  be  present  at  a  dinner  to  be  given  by 
the  Company,  337 ;  customs  to  be  paid 

by,  356,  362. 
Second  Joint  Stock,  the,  235. 
Seed-lac,  284,  300. 
Semianes.     See  Cotton  goods. 
Sequestrations,  of  adventures  and  estates,  iii, 

3,  4,  46,  47,  48,  50,  81  (2),  87,  95,  99, 

157,  158,  259,333,334,381. 
Serias.     See  Cotton  goods. 
Seville,  money  from,  to  be  bought,  267,  320, 

321,  367.  368. 
Sewers,  Commissioners  of,  orders  from,  112, 

169. 
Shell-lac,  284. 

Shepheard,  Aime,  148,  179,  319. 
Shepheard,  Giles,  porter  at  Blackwall,  32, 

47  ;  his  widow,  148,  179,  319. 
Sheppy,  John,  169. 
Sherborne,  Mrs.  Edward,  318. 
Shewer,  William,  1 74. 
Ship  Tavern,  the,  xix,  347. 
Shipwrights,  the  Company  of,  238,  341. 
Shute,  Lydia,  255. 
Shute,  Richard,  255. 
Shute,  Richard,  295,  317,  334,  336. 
Sictor,  John,  a  Bohemian  minister,  319. 
Sidney,  Colonel  Algernon,  272. 
Silk,  23  (2),  24,  26,  35,  39,  105,  143,  390, 

297,  307,  336,  345,  367  ;  divisions  in,  52, 

92;    Ardas,   53;    Bengal,  99,  248.  360; 

Legee,  53,  282,  290;  Messina,  128,  246, 

327;  Orsoy,  143,  153,  282,  284;  Persia, 


289,  347  ;  '  setta  de  Meza,'  143  ;  'a  silk- 
throwster,'  114. 

Sillebar,  387. 

Silver,  15,  25  ;  Parliament  authorizes  ex- 
portation of,  78  «.;  leave  desired  to  export, 
379 ;  laden  in  the  Company's  ships,  362, 
263,  264,  267,  272 ;  price  of,  263. 

Simkin,  Margaret,  339. 

Sinda,  cloth  and  indigo  from,  45,  162,  254, 
258,  272,  284,  328,  332,  352,  385 ;  factory 
at,  to  be  continued,  262. 

Skynner,  Daniel,  74,  79, 84;  to  assist  in  buying 
foreign  money,  262,263,267,320,321,367. 

Skyimer,  Nicholas,  38. 

Slade,  Charles,  315. 

Slade,  Captain  James,  315. 

Slaves,  68,  69. 

Sleigh,  Edmund,  251. 

Smart,  John,  vi,  xxii,  195. 

Smart,  Mrs,,  195. 

Smethwicke,  Jane,  administratrix  to  her  son 
William,  161, 205, 2 17,  249, 268, 271, 283. 

Smethwicke,  Mrs.,  349,  251. 

Smethwicke,  William,  claims  for,  and  pay- 
ment of  his  estate,  161,  205,  217,  249, 
268,  271,  283,  356,  388. 

Smith,  George,  143,  257;  elected  a  Com- 
mittee, 332  ;  accepted  as  security,  380, 
385  ;  his  servant,  see  Smith,  George. 

Smith,  George,  220. 

Smith,  John,  merchant,  51,  129,  130. 

Smith,  John,  166, 183  ;  purser  in  the  Refor- 
mation, 17  ;  in  the  Blessing,  183;  com- 
plaints against,  181  (2),  182. 

Smith,  Kellum,  142. 

Smith,  Margaret,  341. 

Smith,  Thomas,  174. 

Smith,  William,  305. 

Smith,  — ,  the  Commissary,  1 7. 

Snelling,  Charles,  227. 

Snow,  John,  78,  119. 

Snow,  —,51. 

Soame,  Sir  Thomas,  32,  278,  362  ;  adven- 
ture transferred  to,  1 3 ;  transifers  adventure, 
40  ;  elected  a  Committee,  332. 

Society,  the,  master  of,  see  Hurleston,  Cap- 
tain; pepper  to  be  shipped  in,  131,  142, 
143.  290,  299. 

Socotra,  116,  120,  177. 

Sophila  river,  378,  383. 

Southampton,  380. 

Southeme,  — ,  19. 

South  Sea,  the,  370  (2). 

Southwark,  97,  109,  243. 

Southwell,  Ralph,  183. 

Southwell,  Richard,  292. 

Spain,  40,  168,  374 ;  money  and  ships  from, 
8,  15,  16,  26,  50,  \2,i,  140,  1 74,  236,  258, 
263,  321,  322  ;  Methwold  offered  the  post 
of  Agent  to  the  court  of,  389. 


420 


COURT   MINUTES,  ETC. 


Spalding,  Richard,  202. 

Sparks,  John,  89. 

Sparling,  Thomas,  329. 

Sparrowe,  Robert,  100. 

Spencer,  Benjamin,  minister  at  Poplar,  387, 
388. 

Spencer,  — ,  141. 

Spices  {see  also  Cloves),  372  ;  presented  by 
the  Company,  122  (2),  246;  ungarbled, 
not  to  be  bought  by  strangers,  253  ;  licence 
to  transport  ungarbled,  293,  356 ;  Parlia- 
ment petitioned  concerning  exportation  of, 

339>  340,  356. 

Spiller,  John,  Beadle  to  the  Company,  duties 
allotted  to,  2  (2),  8, 10,  19,  20  (2),  26  (2), 
27>  35.41.43.52,65,70,88,90(2),  143, 
162,  172,  202,  208,  254, 262,  263  (2),  266, 
273. '299, 329,  376,  381 ;  re-elected  Beadle, 
32,  93  ;  gratuity  given  to,  38  ;  appointed 
land  purser  for  the  Ulysses,  210,  212  ;  ad- 
mitted to  the  freedom,  227 ;  certain  rooms 
in  the  Company's  house  let  to,  xxvii,  298, 
305.  306,  314- 

Spiller,  John,  a  factor  in  India,  109. 

Sprake,  George,  306. 

Spurstowe,  Henry,  229. 

Spurstowe,  William,  32, 

Stamford,  John,  114,  119,  120. 

Stanier,  James,  274. 

Stannyon,  Edward,  71. 

Star,  the,  87  (2),  89,  90,  92  j  master  of,  see 
Hewett,  Thomas. 

Star  Chamber,  the,  no. 

Staresmore,  Fabian,  113. 

States-General,  the  {see  also  Holland),  77. 

Statute  staple,  a,  109. 

Steele,  William,  Recorder  of  London,  348. 

Steevens,  Anthony,  166,  181  (2). 

Steevens,  Edward,  Shipwright  to  the  Com- 
pany, 100,  103,  145,  195,  205,  212,  250, 
291  (  333  ;  to  build,  buy,  and  repair  ships, 
6,  10,  21,  24,  34,  158  (2),  226,  384;  in- 
structions to,  5,  18,  21,  29,  117  ;  to  buy 
timber,  19,  93,  iii,  165,  184,  272;  re- 
entertained,  32  ;  to  help  examine  and 
report  on  ships,  42,110,  in  (2),  113,  114, 
118, 120,  121  (2),  144, 164, 166, 167,  225, 
244,  280,  350 ;  expenses  incurred  by,  126, 
127  ;  his  house  at  Blackwall  to  be  re- 
paired, 144,  146. 

Steevens,  Captain  John,  master  of  the  Lon- 
don, 97, 157, 194 ;  helps  value  ships,  118; 
gratuity  given  to,  122. 

Steevens,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Eagle,  65, 
80, 152, 201 ;  his  entertainment  and  salary, 
25,  38,  183(2);  his  private  trade,  77,  150, 
156,  297,  333  ;  his  servant,  see  Hutton. 

Steevens,  William,  113. 

Steevenson,  Thomas,  292  (2),  296  (2). 

Stileman,  — ,  307. 


Stilly ard,  the,  113. 

Stoakes,  John,  commander  of  the  Hector, 

329- 

Stoddard,  William,  195. 

Stone,  John,  230. 

Story,  Captain,  100,  166. 

'  Straights  masters,*  masters  of  vessels 
trading  to  the  Mediterranean,  144. 

Stroade,  Sir  George,  330. 

Strong  waters,  72. 

Style,  Edmund,  16. 

Styles,  Thomas,  32,  91,  220. 

Sugar,  16,  36,  219,  248,  317,  381;  sold,  38, 
128,216,217,254,284,329,340,352,362. 

Sun,  the,  vi,  290. 

Supply,  the,  xix,  348,  350,  354,  376. 

Surat,  references  to,  passim ;  Presidents  at, 
see  Breton,  Fremlen,  and  Merry  ;  stock, 
etc.,  for,  V,  xii,  2,  7,  16,  17,  59,  67,  68, 
74.  75  (3),  76,  120,  121,  126  (2),  128, 
138,  140,  163,  165,  170,  184,  196,  204, 
219,  238,  241,  256,  258,  263,  300,  307, 
308,  313.  318,  319,  385  ;  ships  for,  v,viii, 
xii  (2),  xiv,  xvii,  xviii,  15,  17,  24,  29,48, 
67.  65,  70,  71,  114,  122,  126,  139,  163, 
164,  194,  200,  219,  229,  232,  258,  283, 
386  (2),  387  (2) ;  ships  from,  viii,  ix,  xvii, 
38,  132,  155.  161,  194,  275,  386;  factors 
at  and  for,  16,  17,  50,  56,  94,  97,  120, 
127,  134,  198  (2),  248,  249,  250,  254, 
260,  296,  297,  299, 318;  deceased  at,  265, 
280,  354 ;  the  Coast  made  subordinate  to, 
54  ;  cause  of  disagreement  between  Ban- 
tam and,  67  ;  instructions  sent  to,  75,  78, 
79.  ^07.  198,  219,  220,  354,  367  ;  letters 
to,  iii,  vi,  79 w.,  221,  354,  355;  letters 
from,  85,  123,  132,  146,  169  ;  the  Com- 
pany's estate  at,  96,  163,  209,  341,  342, 
345.  349.  357  ;  presents  sent  to,  136,  316 ; 
money  to  be  taken  up  at  interest  at,  220, 
263,  302,  355  ;  resolve  to  continue  the 
factory  at,  262  ;  garden  at,  xxi,  31 1,  341, 
344.  357  ;  money  to  be  paid  by  the  new 
adventurers  at,  xxi,  357;  accountant  at, 
see  Merry  awa^Pearse;  minister,  see  Baines, 
Cotton,  and  Isaackson. 

Surats,  narrow.    See  Cotton  goods. 

Sussex,  254. 

Suthan,  John,  86  (2),  87,  88. 

Swallow,  the  (belonging  to  Parliament),  88, 
90  ;  commander  of,  see  Hall,  Captain. 

Swally,  the  port  of  Surat,  vii. 

Swan,  the  (Maurice  Thomson's  ship),  32, 
46,  63  ;  master  of,  see  Gilson,  Grimes, 
and  Yates ;  bought  by  the  Company,  xii, 
117,  119,  123,  127;  renamed  the  Grey- 
hound, 120;  her  repair,  120,  121,  122. 

Swanley,  John,  master  of  the  Experience, 
108  ;  of  the  Lion,  127. 

Swanley,  Captain  Richard,  83,  85. 


INDEX 


421 


Swanly,  George,  master  of  the  Harry 
Bonadventure,  157. 

Swanne,  Dorothy,  354. 

Swaiine,  Richard,  master  of  the  Diamond, 
42,  299;  of  the  Anne,  299,  306,  354. 

Swayle,  — ,  minister  at  Bantam,  69. 

Swift,  John,  231. 

Swinglehurst,  Richard,  Secretary  to  the 
Company,  42, 88,  no,  129, 181, 190,269, 
361,  363;  re-elected  Secretary,  32,  91, 
153,  276,  332  ;  keeper  of  the  Exchange 
cellar,  33,  93 ;  gratuity  given  to,  38,  211 ; 
instructions  to,  49,  84,  86,  128,  143,  149 
(2),  150,  152,  155,  159,  212,  223,  224, 
228,  244,  270,  3I5j  333.  334.  338,  379: 
made  free  of  the  Company,  320 ;  accepted 
as  security,  283,  290  ;  boat  to  be  delivered 
to,  290 ;  his  servant,  see  Calcott,  Samuel. 

Swinnerton,  John,  i,  296,  297. 

Swords,  75. 

'  Tacklehouse '  porters,  petition  for  increase 

of  fees,  335,  336  (2). 
Taffetas,  181,381. 

Tamarinds,  18,  167;  sold,  10,  112,  165. 
Tapestry,  315. 

Tapseels.     See  Cotton  goods. 
Tar,  121  (2). 

Tare,  allowed  on  goods,  loi,  112,  386. 
Tash,  George,  193. 
Tatta,  262. 
Taverns,  Great  James,  337  ;  the  Ship,  xix, 

347- 

Taylor,  Helen,  194. 

Taylor,  John,  his  debt  to  the  Company,  43, 
52,  62,  88;  accepted  as  security,  131, 
134,  210. 

Taylor,  Thomas,  122,  123,  144. 

Taylor,  — ,  334,  369. 

Teemes,  Nathaniel,  249,  255,  275. 

Tenzina,  Jean  Andrew,  156. 

Terry,  Edward,  chaplain  to  Sir  Thomas 
Roe,  xix,  337. 

Thatcher,  Thomas,  10,  279;  buys  goods,  10, 
16,  24;  accepted  as  security  for,  16,  18, 
41,  102,  154,  186,  286,  361,  362,  380. 

Third  Joint  Stock,  the,  58,  345  ;  divisions 
in,  4,  8  ;  adventurers  in,  13,  89,  90, 158, 
181,  184,  254,  330;  agreement  between 
the  First  General  Voyage  and,  242  ;  pay- 
ment due  to,  377,  382. 

Thomas,  John,  porter  at  Blackwall,  148, 179. 

Thomas,  John,  steward's  mate  in  the  Bles- 
sing, 183. 

Thomas,  Mrs.,  114. 

Thonias  and  John,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  ^^, 
72,  314,  315  ;  master  of,  see  Earle. 

Thompson,  Robert,  343  «. 

Thomson,  Maurice,  xi,  xxii,  xxii  k.,  98,  121, 

264,  303,  353.  362,  375.  378, 384*  385 ; 


Weddell's  adventure  assigned  to,  84,  87, 
89,  92  ;  ships  bought  from,  xi,  xii,  117, 
118,  119  (2),  120,  123,  137,  132,  134, 

138,  139,  140,  172, 184,  384,  386;  coral 
and  pepper  belonging  to,  1 3 1 , 1 3  2 , 1 38  (  2 ), 

139,  147, 154, 184,  185,  186, 193  ;  elected 
a  Committee,  xvi,  218,  227,  342  ;  requests 
liberty  to  send  ships  to  India,  xi,  xii,  xviii, 
xxiii,  xxiv,  115,  116,  117,  303,  304,  305, 
372  ;  confers  with  the  Company  about  the 
intended  plantation  at  Assada,  360,  374, 
379  ;  signs  an  agreement  concerning, 
377-8,  381,  382  (2). 

Thomson,  William,  343  n. 

Thomley,  Stephen,  230. 

Throgmorton,  Job,  23,  106,  211;  accepted 
as  security,  48  ;  wishes  to  retire,  204,  205  ; 
made  free  of  the  Company,  229. 

Thurkettle,  Robert,  229. 

Thurston,  William,  150  (2),  171. 

Tilbury  Hope,  215. 

Tilsley,  William,  16. 

Timber,  20,  21,  69,  82,  102,  121,  127,145, 
268,  272  ;  to  be  bought,  19,  93,  280;  no 
more  to  be  bought,  195,  196,  212  ;  billets, 
247,  307 ;  clap-boards,  359 ;  compass,  in, 
1 84 ;  deals,  307,  360 ;  knee,  1 1 1 ;  planks, 
200,  359. 

Tincal  (crude  borax),  100,  154,  160,  161, 
164,  284,  286 ;  price  of,  160,  162 ;  Dutch- 
man's offer  to  refine,  190,  191. 

Tindall,  Mary,  122,  207. 

Tindall,  Robert,  master  of  the  Farewell, 
122,  167,  173,  207. 

Tindall,  — ,  surgeon  in  the  Crispiana,  103. 

Tirrence,  Anthony,  270. 

Tobacco,  72. 

Tomblings,  Thomas,  purser  in  the  Eagle, 
59,  63,  203,  208,  290,  293 ;  his  private 
trade,  77,  78;  entertained  as  clerk  for 
Blackwall,  167,  171,  214;  his  bond  to 
be  cancelled,  186 ;  undertakes  the  care  of 
the  Poplar  hospital  garden,  203 ;  allowed 
the  use  of  a  piece  of  waste  ground,  324 ; 
suggestions  to  save  the  Company  expense 
made  by,  204,  215  ;  admitted  to  the  free- 
dom, 214;  reports  made  by,  213,  219, 
272,  280,  291,  359. 

Tomkins,  Humphrey,  11,  13,  50. 

Totty,  John,  9,  79,  304,  305. 

Tower  Hamlets,  the,  Committee  for,  15. 

Tower  Wharf,  the,  4,  183. 

Townley,  Francis,  168 ;  letters  from,  173, 
174;  bills  of  exchange  from,  180,  187, 
189,  191. 

Towse,  Alderman  John,  32,  219. 

Towse,  Mrs.,  376. 

Trade,  private,  21,  52,  77,  78,  114,  117, 
122,  125,  126,  156,  160,  213,  222,  279, 
333  (3).  354.  377  ;   ^^  Bantam  and  the 


433 


COURT  MINUTES,  ETC. 


Coast,  5,  46, 56,  62, 63,  64,  69, 170, 213; 
remission  of  freight  granted  on,  7,  41, 42, 
46.  76,  87,  94  (2),  loi,  106,  107,  159, 
161,  182,219,267;  in  indigo, pepper,  etc., 
V,  10,  41,  42,  46,  52,  60,  62,  79,  79«., 
109,  118,  139  (2),  149,  160,  161,  186, 
212,  213,  245;  fines  imposed  for,  19,  51, 
170,  171,  175,  193,  211,  243,  244,  381  ; 
Committees  to  decide  concerning,  36,  94, 
150, 151, 154,  160,  216,  281  ;  information 
volunteered  about,  93,  171,  208,  267; 
seizure  of,  97,  98,  149,  157;  landed  at 
Rochester,  103,  no,  113  (2),  130,  149  ; 
proposals  and  measures  to  prevent,  44, 
116,  127,  218,  247,  275,  292,  297,  313, 
316,  380 ;  loss  caused  the  Company  by, 
176,  247,  297,  378;  allowed  to  masters 
and  owners  of  ships,  139,  239,  243,  262, 

273  (2),  317- 

Tranckmore,  — ,  202. 

Tranquebar,  55,  135. 

Travell,  George,  182,  291. 

Travell,  John,  291. 

Tredlesse,  John,  376. 

Trenchard,  John,  M.P.  for  Wareham,  168, 
169. 

Trenchfield,  Captain  Thomas,  commander 
of  the  Northumberland,  310,  331  ;  part- 
owner  of  the  Endy}?iion,  119,  130,  133  ; 
contracted  with  to  carry  pepper  to  Leg- 
horn, 323,  327. 

Trevise,  Richard,  32, 

Trinity  House,  267. 

Trottle,  Stephen,  307. 

Trumball,  Andrew,  master  of  the  Hopewell^ 
I,  44,  59,  63  ;  returns  home  in  ihtMary, 
29,  32  ;  accusations  brought  against,  32  ; 
his  complaints  of  Day  and  others,  46, 67, 
80,  126,  127,  136  ;  entertained  as  master 
of  the  Falcon,  59,  67  ;  his  private  trade, 
78,  170. 

Trumpeters,  74,  78. 

Tryon,  Francis,  131,  219. 

Tnke,  William,  124, 

Tulley,  William,  17. 

TurkeyCompany,the,  19,188, 189,375,389. 

Turmeric,  10. 

Turner,  John,  285,  354,  355. 

Turtle  shells,  69. 

Tutchin,  Anthony,  master  of  the  Anthony 
Bonadventure,  108,  165. 

Tutchin,  William,  219,  324,  380;  buys 
cotton  yarn,  317,  322  (2),  323. 

Twyford,  Thomas,  88,  89. 

Tyne,  Samuel,  263,  313,  315. 

Tynes,  Rebecca,  221,  248,  263,  271. 

Tyther,  Anthony,  154,  165,  167. 

Ulysses,  the,  6,  12,  109,  112, 114,  133,  138, 
243,  267,  288 ;   master  of,  set  Wilson, 


Richard ;  men  serving  in,  12 1, 149 ;  offered 
and  accepted  for  freighting,  x,  xii,  108, 
no.  III,  123,  134,  137,  138,  214,  234, 
237,  241;  her  dispatch,  120,  121,  135; 
objections  raised  by  her  owners,  128, 129, 
137 ;  her  return,  xiv,  209,  210,  213  ;  sur- 
geon in,  see  Lumbly,  Nathaniel. 

Unicorn,  the,  194. 

United  Joint  Stock,  the,  xxv. 

Valtier,  Ranaldo,  49. 

Van  de  Patt  (Vandepitt  or  Vandeputt,  in 
previous  volumes),  Giles,  156. 

Van  de  Patt,  Pieter,  156. 

Vandermash,  — ,  154. 

Vandervort,  Isaac,  letters  from,  1 56, 207, 2 14. 

Vandervort,  Walter,  letters  from,  156,  207, 
214. 

Vane,  Sir  Henry,  11,  37,  50. 

Vanpaine,  Isaac,  34,  328. 

Vassall,  Samuel,  102. 

Vaughan,  Edward,  29. 

Vaughan,  Joseph,  29. 

Vaughan,  William,  29,  83,  90,  143. 

Velvet,  75,  170,  316. 

Venice,  77,  81  ;  pepper  sent  to,  39,  42,  45, 
^75>  ^i^t  287,  290  (2) ;  seizure  of  the 
Company's  goods,  etc.,  at,  49,81, 83, 158, 
169,  260 ;  Agent  at,  82  ;  Duke  of,  82 ; 
letters  from,  80,  207,  214;  quicksilver 
from,  160,  212,  228  (2),  229,  241,  263, 
282,  303. 

Verasheroone.     See  Viravasaram. 

Vermilion,  121  (2). 

Vincent,  John,  105,  199. 

Vincent,  Thomas,  214. 

Vincent,  William,  23,  158,  159;  accepted 
as  security,  199,  380,  385;  elected  a 
Committee,  228,  342. 

Viner,  Thomas,  261,  352. 

Viravasaram,  262. 

Virginia,  xi,  220,  239. 

Vitr^  (in  Brittany),  757/. 

Vivian,  Roger,  172,  219,  244,  308,  339,  340, 
343>  353,  373 ;  adventure  transferred  to. 
144;  part-owner  of  the  Experience  and 
Golden  Fleece,  in,  232,  237,  239,  262, 
362  ;  elected  a  Committee,  218,  227,  268, 
286,  342  ;  presents  an  account  of  the 
estate  of  the  First  General  Voyage,  293  ; 
accepted  as  security,  248,  328,  362. 

Vizapore.     See  Bijapur. 

Wade,  Richard,  192. 
Wake,  Lionel,  92,  93. 
Wake,  Robert,  156. 
Wakefield,  George,  174. 
Wakefield,  — ,  a  goldsmith,  257. 
Waldegrave,  Paul,  327. 
Wales,  Elizabeth,  338. 


INDEX 


4^3 


Wales,  Francis,  338. 

Walker,  Dr.,  337. 

Waller,  Sir  William,  168,  169. 

Wallis,  Richard,  14,  42,  51,  201. 

Wallis,  Williamot,  14,  201. 

Walmer  Castle,  214. 

Walters,  Thomas,  230. 

Waples,  John,  159. 

Waples,  Richard,  159. 

Ward,  Thomas,  94. 

Waring,  Edmund,  386. 

Waring,  Richard,  offers  to  buy  pepper,  140, 
141  ;  accepted  as  security  for,  386,  388  ; 
admitted  to  the  freedom,  231. 

Warner,  John,  115. 

Warren,  John,  minister,  142. 

Warwick,  Earl  of.     See  Rich,  Robert. 

Warwick  House,  75. 

Wastell,  Samuel,  231. 

Waterman,  Edward,  78,  160. 

Webb,  John,  61,  63. 

Webb,  William,  62,  130. 

Weddall,  Jeremy,  254,  255. 

Weddell,  Captain  John,  x,  188;  his  account, 
88,  89,  90,  92. 

Weddell,  Mrs.,  84,  87. 

Weeden,  Lazarus,  309. 

Went,  John,  113, 190,  194. 

Western  Islands.     See  Azores. 

West  Indies,  the,  36,  107. 

Westminster,  v,  236,  312,  356. 

Westmoreland,  Earl  of.  See  Fane,  Mild- 
may. 

Weston,  Humphrey,  r,  107,  123;  payment 
to,  119  (2),  120,  121 ;  claims  money  from 
the  Company,  134,  136,  173,  174,  175, 
185,  309 ;  to  be  sued,  309. 

Whatmore,  Thomas,  master  of  the  Diamond, 
I,  63. 

Wheatley,  Henry,  10,  iS. 

Wheatley,  William,  125. 

WTieeler,  Thomas,  107,  159, 

\Mietcombe,  Benjamin,  138. 

Whitaker,  Henry,  the  Company's  Agent  at 
Amsterdam,  19;  letters  from,  36,  39,  53 
(2)>  77»  154,  155 ;  to  be  desired  to  provide 
rials,  etc.,  48,  239,  230,  231,  368;  gra- 
tuity given  to,  77.  234- 

Whitaker,  Laurence,  M.P.  for  Oakhampton, 

lOI. 

White,  David,  master  of  the  Lanneret,  45 

(a),  60. 
White,  John,  mate  in  the  William,  21. 
White,  John,  an  almsman  at  Blackwall, 

80,  87. 
White,  Philip,  buys  defective  ordnance,  128, 

13 1  >  134;  accepted  as  security  for,  310. 
White,  William,  236. 
White,  — ,  gunsmith,  aa. 
White,  — ,  butcher,  238. 


Whitechapel,  323. 

Whitehall,  329  (2),  335,  350,  367. 

Whitehall,  Richard,  184. 

White  Hart  Inn,  97. 

Whiteway,  Edward,  251. 

Whitlocke,  Bulstrode,  M.P.  for  Great  Mar- 
low,  109. 

Whitmore,  Susan,  44. 

Whitmore,  Thomas,  128. 

Whitmore,  William,  44,  73,  94,  123. 

Whittley,  Gabriel,  174. 

Whittom,  a  Chinaman,  213. 

Wight,  Isle  of,  209. 

Wight,  William,  285,  287  (2). 

Wilde,  Charles,  xxii  ti. 

Wilkes,  George,  202,  248. 

Wilkes,  Mary,  202,  248. 

Wilkes,  Thomas,  202,  248. 

William,  the,  18,  212,  227,  250,  251,  253, 
267,  268,  270,  271,  273,  288,  339,  342, 
350>  353.  380  ;  master  of,  see  Bailey, 
Barnes,  Gee,  and  Minors;  men  serving 
in,  21,  32,  62,  loi,  121,  125,  190,  215, 

216,  317,  248,  370,  272,  289,  394,  382  ; 
to  be  paid, 105,  112,  243,  371,  345  ;  to  go 
to  Bantam,  v,  vi,  3,  6  (2),  9,  i8  ;  offered 
and  accepted  for  freighting  to  Bantam, 
xvii,  234,  237  (2),  272,  352,  359,  382, 
387;  stock,  etc.,  to  be  shipped  in,  4,  10, 
16,  17,  26,27,37,112,  115,  134,140(2), 
257,  272,  373  (3),  361,  380  ;  insurance  of, 
38  (2),  30,  58,  81,  194  ;  passengers  in,  6, 
9,  18,  265,  268,  337,  377  ;  private  trade 
in,  21,  139,  3i6,  219;  her  dispatch,  xii, 
24,  26,  132, 139,  140,  258,  263,  267,  270, 
274,  336;  return,  x,  xiv,  xix,  95,  100, 
130,  209,  335,  352  ;  to  be  docked  and 
unladen,  103,  212,  317,  250,  348;  her 
repair,  xvii.  Ill,  225,  272,  359;  custom 
paid  on  goods  returned  in,  115,  238  ;  to 
be  either  sold  or  let  out  for  freighting, 

217.  233- 

William,  the  (Courteen's  ship),  138,  172, 
190 ;  master  of,  see  Blackman,  Captain 
Jeremy. 

William,  Little,  the  (Courteen's  ship), 
master  of,  see  Cox,  Thomas ;  wreck  of,  x, 
xiii,  107,  111,  115,  140;  guns  and  money 
saved  from,  x,  xiii,  140,  141,  148. 

William  and  Thomas,  the,  27,  28  (2). 

Williams,  Walter,  88,  98. 

Willoughby, Christopher,  12,  198,  215,  274; 
admitted  to  the  freedom,  219;  his  private 
trade,  222,  223,  299,  300;  his  account  to 
be  examined,  347,  250,  292,  301. 

Willoughby,  George,  a  former  President  at 
Bantam,  51. 

Waison,  Rowland,  9,  33,  33,  34,  124(3), 
128,  139,  182,213,  316,389;  nominated 
for  election  as  Deputy,  31  ;   elected  a 


424 


COURT   MINUTES,    ETC. 


Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210,  276,  332, 

342,  388. 
Willyamsj  Philip,  48,  289,  326. 
Willyams,  Thomas,  287. 
Willyams,  William,  23,  157,  264;  elected 

a  Committee,  32,  91,  153,  210,  221,  276, 

332  ;  accepted  as  security,  48,  289,  323, 

333  ;  adventure  transferred  to,  133. 
Wilson,  Richard,  master  of  the  Ulysses,  123 

212;  offers  his  ship  for  freighting,   108, 

III,  137,  237. 
Wilson,  Samuel,  213,  292. 
Wilson,  Thomas,  310,  311. 
Wilson,  Timothy,  229. 
Windham,  Sir  Hugh,  239. 
Wine,  68,  75, 77,  i?i,  134(2),  193;  Malaga, 

to  be  exported  by  certain  Committees,  1 1, 

12,  13  ;  Canary,  12,  36,  37,  75, 124,  129, 

190,  258  ;  Madeira,  124. 
Wingrave,  Nicholas,  115. 
Winne,  Francis,  183  (2),  295,  296. 
Winter,  Edward,  198. 
Winter,  Thomas,  i,  170,  198;  goods  sent 

home  by,  23,  161,  175,  350, 
Winter,  William,  23,  175,  256. 
Winter,  William,  22,  231. 
Withering,  — ,  369. 

WoUaston,  Sir  John,  Lord  Mayor  (1644),  7. 
Wolstenholme,  Sir  John,  157,   201,   333, 

334- 

Wolstenholme,  John,  201. 

Wombwell,  Felix,  78. 

Wombwell,  James,  12,  170,  239. 

Wombwell,  William,  239. 

Wood,  Edward,  229. 

Wood,  Hugh,  35. 

Wood,  John,  227;  contracted  with  for  the 
Star,  87  (2),  89,  90,  92. 

Woodall,  John,  9,  215. 

Woodriffe,  Mary,  289. 

Woodriffe,  Robert,  289. 

Woods,  John,  275,  343  n. 

Woodward,  John,  19. 

WooUnoth,  — ,  draper,  169. 

Woolwich,  216. 

Wotton,  Richard,  18  (2),  190,  198;  enter- 
tained as  a  factor,  9,  295,  296. 

Wotton,  Richard,  Junior,  9. 


Wright,  Alderman,  182. 

Wright,  Sir  Edmund,  47,  240. 

Wright,  Edward,  44,  293. 

Wright,  Nathan, 98,  122,  217,  219;  elected 

a  Committee,  218,  268,  286,  342. 
Wright,  Samuel,  37. 
Wright,  Sybil,  107,  159. 
Wyatt,  Thomas,  51. 
Wyborne,  — ,  7. 
Wyche,  James,  186. 
Wyche,  Lady,  20,  332. 
Wyche,  Nathaniel,  9. 
Wylde,  Dame  Francis,  40,  114. 
Wylde,  John,  94,  114. 
Wylde,  John,  220. 
Wylde,  Richard,  221,  240. 

Yard,  John,  1,  107,  253  ;  accusations 
against,  97,  98,  145,  146 ;  admitted  to 
the  freedom,  146  ;  money  claimed  by, 
168,  180(2),  184  ;  entertained  as  a  factor 
for  Bantam,  250;  adventures  in  the 
Second  General  Voyage,  251. 

Yardley,  Christopher,  26. 

Yarmouth,  281. 

Yates,  Michael,  i  ;  master  of  the  Swan,  63; 
of  the  Hopewell,  117  ;  of  the  Bonito,  228, 
385;  complaints  brought  against,  114, 
115,  117,118,  173,  174. 

Yeo,  — ,  166,  181  (2). 

York,  James  Duke  of,  second  son  of  the 
King,  274  n. 

Young,  Henry,  61,  63,  318. 

Young,  Henry,  172,  290  (2). 

Young,  Joan,  156. 

Young,  John,  purser-general  to  the  Com- 
pany, 70,  138,  139;  re-elected  purser,  32, 
93 ;  duties  allotted  to,  21,  24,  27,  79,  84, 
129,  I39>  144.  210,  215,  262,  263,  273, 
275.  333;  his  son,  318. 

Young,  John,  boatswain's  mate  in  the 
William,  294. 

Young,  Tench,  121,  122. 

Younge,  — ,  7. 

Zealand,  39. 
Zuider  Zee,  the,  39. 


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