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About Google Book Search Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web at |http: //books .google .com/I 9 m 2 '- ji*" ' i ' ^Ki iir PI m^^ <% p^w -^s ft. •*■ Iel^dStanfsrdJ? UNIVERSITV THE GIFT OF KjoYer ^Ifi'itofj^i'^ ^h< r- 1 •■ ■ -1. ••■- :.' '•f.'r-'"' ANNAIiS HONORABLE EAST-INDIA COMPANY, rkOM THB1K ESTABLISHMENT BY THE CHARTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1600, TO THE UNION OF THE LONDON AND ENGLISH EASTINDIA COMPANIES, 1707-8. By JOHN BRUCE, Es«. M. P. and F. R. S. Keeper of His Majesty s State Papers, and Historiographer to the Honorable East-India Company, VOL. I. LonSon : PRINTED, BY AUTHORITY OF THE HONORABLE COURT OF DIRECTORS, £y Cox, Son, and Baylis, Great Qufea Strut ; Aho publuhbd bt Black. Parby, and Kikosbubt, Bookiellbbi to tbb Hokobablb Eait-Ikdia Company, Lbadbmhall Stbbbt. 1810. k ■ '- >■ [jBntmn at ^tattonetis* i^aH.] 119397 . V TO THE HONORABLE THE COURT OF DIRECTORS or THE UNITED COMPANY OF MERCHANTS OF ENGLAND TRADING TO THE EAST-INDIES, THE ANNAL.S OP THB HOJVOR^MJLE B^ST'IJVBI.d COMP^JVY FROM TBEia ESTABLISHMENT BY THE CHARTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, 1600, • « • • •• • •••• • • • ( • • ••••• • •• ••••• • • • • • • ••••• •• • • ••••• »•••• ••••• •-.. ;.;• •.*.• ••••• • ••••• TO •'•'• ••/;• .••..• • • •• ••••• •.. • • •> THE UNION OF THE LONDON AND ENGUSB..' :! EAST INDIA COMPANIES, 1707-8 ; • ' • • « ^ J w. • * 9-3 IS MOST RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED^ BY THEIR MOST OBEDIEX'^. ,* AXD FAITBFUL aEBVASTy JOHN BRUCE. East-India Hoote^ 4th June, laia • « • • ••••• • • • ••.* • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •••• > • • • • • • • • • • • • ••^•! • • • •./*! • • • • * • ••• • • •• • • • • •••• • • • !:.. • •• • • •• . ••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • JP jR. xi jP Jjl C/ 1cj9 The Annals of jthe Ea^tr-India Company* from their Establishment in 1 600» to th^ Union <>{ the ]Londpn b * ztd English East-India Coinpanies, in V7Q7-^t form 9, subordinatje>.b]*a|nch of the |>olJtical and commercial Histoiy of England, and will unfold the rise .^nd progress of the greatest commercial Association, which has appeacod in.apY C9untnr.fjpr in any, age. >;. w. - J 1 ^ ». The evidence upon which r this - Review of East- India Afiair. ha» p^^peed^ has b«,„ drawn fion. - i documents pteseryjsd . ^n^png ; His Majesty*s Archives, iu the Stat^Papfer jQflSice,, ,and. from the Records qf the Company* in the Indian Register Office; and, /being pdrnted imdei; the ^ui^oifty , (^ ,jl^e Honorable . . . . Court T iv PREFACE. Court of Directors, is submitted to them, to the Proprietors of East-India Stock, to the Legislature, and to the Public. The events , which this, branch of commercial History ascertains, wilt explain the basis of the East-India Company's Rights, under their Charters, .and of the Rights acquired during the early periods of their exclusive privileges of trade; and the know- ledge of UhM^niky fe'feful to '^the-i i;.:V.viJif,a. •. u:-;.,,. ... > ^ai :•; J ^ In the^lNi^RoDijci'it^-^i^^ ti^feedi ifee'^^s^ and progress of the Portuguese and Dutch establish- ments m tii^'^ E^^St-Itidiesi ^th^U^ftdiiig 'characters of the A6i^ti thte^^^Londonr. Ea^ India Cbhipariy ; atid ^ ^the* ' 'p61itic«V ] aiid cbmmercisd ' relations, between Englaiiid 'and ■ thfe Maritime > Powers of Europe, duriftg -the- pc!ri6d%kfeft'"the^:4ii^ itrade, between ■« ' ' PR£FAC£. y 'between England and the • East-Indies, was first attempted and established. Chapter I. will comprehend the rise and pro- gress of the London East-India Company, from the ; Charter of Queen Elizabeth, in I60O, to the Restora^ tion of their Chartfer, by King Charles IL, in 166O-6I ; and will afford proofs of the enterprize and perseve- rance of this Cohipany, in forming a valuable trade to . the; reading * and in preserving that trade, under the shifting and • depressed aspects of ! the English Government. t w 1. a • •* Chapter IL, after tracing the political and eom- mercial relations of England, from the Restoration, in 1660-61 , to the Rievolution, in l688-8g, arid the events affecting the Indian Soverieignties, in th^- coun- tries in which the London East-India Company had established Factories,^ or seats of trade, will discover, ' in a' similar inanner,' the. persieverance of • this- Com- X pany , ; in maintaining ' their' ■ trade ' )and privileges, and their expensive and liazardoiis efforts, to .extend the J.CQI^meIC^^and Bavigation of the realm. < \ . I Chapter .vi BEEFACB. Chapter III., after referring to the political and commercial relations of England, from 1 688-89, to 1707-8, wUl discover the sources and characters of the successive speculations for an open, and for a separate trade, which terminated in the establishment pf a Second, or the jBnglish, East-India Company; . and will bring under notice, thp^acts which satisfied the Legislature, and the Public, , of the . necessity of entrusting the East-India trade, to the exclusive ma- nagement of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the E^t-lndies. ^ To the Annals of each of these periods are sub- joined Results, affording, from authentic evidence, the pr(^essive aspects of the Company's Rights,, under their Charters^ to their Factories and Settlements, ac- quired by authorized puichase, or by grants, from the Native Princes and States ; and of the Rights confer* red on them by the L^slati^re, and enjoyed as valuable privileges of trade. These real Rights of the Company, under their successive Charters, have been known, in their proceedings at home and abroad, un- der the general description oi **'J)ead ^ock^*^ ■ opposed to PRESAGE. tn to the large amounts vested in India Stock, in Ship-» ping, in Exports, and in Imports, known under the opposite description of " Quick Siock.^* For mc«^ than a century, or from 1707-8 to the present thne, the East-India Company have beea recognized, by a series of Acts of the Legislature, to have a real property in their Chartered Rights, which are perpetual, and with succession; though it will again be for the wisdom of Parliament to decide,, whether their exckisive privities, founded oa the solid basis of the experience of two centuries, ^laU be prolonged to them, or whether they must give way to exploded, or to specious, but hazardous, theories of commerce. In submitting this Work to the Honorable the Courts of Directors and Proprietors of the East-Indi^ Company, I embrace this opportunity to exp^ss my acknowledgements to the Right Honorable the Earl of Liverpool (late His Majesty*s Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department) for his permis^ sion to connect such information as could be col- lected • •• VIU PREFACE. lected from the State . Papers, with that which has been preserved in tl\e Records of tjbe, Honorable East- India Company. .\ .'•',,•. I have, ^Iso, to express my obligations to Mr. Jackson, the Keeper of the Indian Register OfBce, from whom I have received the most valuable com- municatitHis ; and . to Mr. Lemon, of the State-Paper Office. ^, : frpm his .facility ia reading and tran- scribing ancient Manuscripts, haS affo«kd me important assistanc^) in the examination of the nunierous Docu^ inents , on which this work has been founded* 1 , I , » > I.; . I ' ; \ J f ' r i: « i-t INTRODUCTION, PRELIMINARY DISSERTATION ON THE RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE INTERCOURSE OF THE EUROPEAN MARITIME NATIONS WITH THE EAST-INDIES. CONTENTS. Andent commercial Intercourse between Europe and the East^ Indies. Modem commercial Intercourse between Europe and the East-Indies Immediate Effects of the Discoveries of the Portuguese on Indian Trade. Historical Information required to unfold the Sources of the English East- Indian Tirade and Settlements. Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Portuguese Commerce and Power in the East-Indies, before the Union of the Crowns of Spain and Portugal. The Union of the Crowns of Spain and Portugal the Source of the Fall of the Portuguese Trade and Power in the East-Indies Portuguese Settlements and Trade in the East-Indies, at the beginning of the Seventeenth Century The B Separation CONTENTS. Separation of the Crowns of Spain and Portugal^ not an Event tvhich revived or restored the Trade and Power of the Portuguese in the East-Indies. . . . Sketch of the Rise and Progress of t/ie Dutch Com- merce and Power in the East- Indies. . . . Establishment of the Dutch East'Tndia Companies, and Progress of their Armaments^ to the Truce of Antwerp (1609). . . . Their Oppressions of the English and Portu- guese the Source of the extensive Commerce and Power of the Dutch Companies, in the East^Indies Their Measures, from the Expira^ tion of the Truce of Antwerp (1621) to exclude the other Maritime States in Europe, from Power or Trade in the East-Indies Their Measures, with the same Object, after the Treaty of Munster (l648) Sketch of the political and commercial Characters of the Native Powers in the Countries within the Limits assigned to the London East- India Company Sketch of the political and com- mercial Relations of England with the European Maritime States, from 1600^ when Queen Elizabeth established the East-India Company, to the Restoration of King Charles IL, 1 660 During the Reign of Queen Elizabeth During the Reign of King James I During the Reign of King Charles I. During the Interregnum. INTRODUCTION. X HE Commerce between Asia and Europe had^ from the Andentcom- mercial In- earliest ages, been carried on by a species of mixed naviga- tercour«e be- tween Europe tion and of land carriage, to the shores of the Mediterra- andtheEast- Indief. nean; the eastern spices and stnfis were embarked at the ports of that sea, and thence diffused, by the traders of the Free States of Italy, over the rest of Europe. Towards the close of the fifteenth century, discoveries Modern com- niercial In- had been rapidly makinfif in mathematics, physics, and as- tercourse be- '^ ^ ^ J r J ^ tween Europe tronomy, and the results from them had produced those arts f^d the East- • * Indies. which facilitate distant navigation : — Hence Columbus dis- covered America to Spain, and Vasco de Gama, by doubling the Cape of Good Hope (1497)9 the circuitous navigation to the peninsula of India ; and subsequently, by the same arts, the hitherto unexplored tracts in the Indian Seas, which opened the trade with the Eastern Islands and with China. The valuable cargoes which the Portuguese fleets brought immediate 1 ^ ^ effects of the to Europe from the East-Indies, and the riches with which the Discoveries ^ of the Portu- sales of them filled the treasury of the great Emanuel, g«ese on in- "^ ^ dian Trade. lowered the price of eastern commodities in the Italian markets, B 2 and INTRODUCTION. and created a spirit for distant navigation and commerce, among the rising maritime states in the north of Europe- When the Portuguese, by their perseverance and skill, acquired seats of trade and dominions on the East and West coasts of the peninsula of India, they found it necessary to establish guards at their factories, both to protect the districts which had been cede d to them, and the commercial privileges which they had acquired from the Native Powers, partly from the magnitude of their purchases, and partly from the impression of their superior military and naval skill. By this means, for more than a century, they engrossed almost the whole of the Asiatic trade, depressed the ancient limited commerce of the Itahan Republics, and continued undisturbed, both in their commerce, and in their Asiatic possessions, by the rivalships of the other European nations. The civil wars in the Netherlands, which depressed the commerce of Antwerp, created that of the States General of the United Provinces; and, towards the close of the sixteenth century, induced the Dutch to m^e several bold, though unsuccessful, attempts to discover a north-east passage, by sea, to India and to China. Tliis disappointment did not depress a people, who, though slow, were persevering in their character: — they, therefore, successivdy equipped considerable fleets, in 1595, 1598, and 160f?, which doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and notwithstanding the opposition they experienced from their enemies (for Spain and Portugal were at this time united) brought home that wealth, which formed one of the resources INTRODUCTION,' resources for maintaining those fleets and armies^ which were destined to uphold their independence in Europe. By these enterprizes they acquired, not only a share of the trade, but made conquests of several of the Portuguese settle- ments in India, and thus (during the union of Portugal with Spain) became the rivals, and, ultimately, the subverters of the Portuguese power in Asia. The political and commercial connexion between England and the Low Countries, had subsisted for centuries, and the successive Kings of England had uniformly protected the degrees of independence which the Seventeen Provinces, and th^ House of Burgimdy enjoyed ; and, by this policy, kept open the commer- cial exchanges, on a large scale, between this realm, the Netherlands, and the Hanseatic League, more particularly with the city of Antwerp, During the reigns of Charles V, and Francis I, the political object of England was to create and maintain a balance between the greater powers on the continent of Europe ; and the commer- cial object was, to preserve the intercourse between England and the ports of the Netherlands, considered to be the inlets to the trade of Germany. At the accession. of Queen Elizabeth, the whole of the Netherlands were subject to the crown of Spain; and it was the immediate interest of that wise sovereign to favor, according to circumstances, that crown, or the crown of France, that the preponderance might, upon all occasions, be in. that scale into which she might throw her influence. By this line of conduct the INTRODUCTION. the Queen protected the independence of her own dominions, and kept open the commercial communications of her subjects with the South and North of Europe. Connected with this poHcy were the pecutiar circumstances under which Queen Elizabeth was placed, both at home and abroad : — at home, she was the head of the Protestant interest^ and had to depress the rivalships for her crown ; abroad, she had to protect the Protestant religion, both in the north of Grermany, and in the Netherlands, where the Protestants held the more immediate commercial relations with her subjects. It is, perhaps, this view of the Queen's policy which has deservedly assigned to her the character of one of the wisest sovereigns, who, in any age, has wielded the sceptre of these realms; for, besides balancing the power of her mightier neighbours, by not allowing the one to be paramount to the other, she encouraged those internal checks on their government, which diverted their atten* tion from schemes of aggrandizement, and more particularly from attempts to interrupt the tranquiUity of her own kingdoms, or to obstruct the resources from which she drew the wealth, by which she was to maintain her naval and military importance. This outUne of the Queen's poUcy very early led to a secret^ and (as will be explained in the sequel) to the open alliance which she formed with the Seven United Provinces of the Netherlands. The whole of the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands, at first, by manly yet dutifiid means^ endeavoured to obtain from Philip, their sovereign^ the acknowledgement of their civil, as INTRODUCTION. ^ as well as of their religious privileges ; but, after \m violence had kindled a civil war, and, particularly when that violence had depressed the commerce of Antwerp, and driven its mer- chants and its trade from this emporium, either to the Dutch Netherlands, or to England^ the aUiance between England and the States General became indispensable to both. The industrious and brave Dutch were, at this crisis, directed by the talents of the great Princes of Orange : their leaders and their inclination, therefore, taught them to rely on the protection of England. The Queen, thus, connected the liber- ties of the Dutch with the independence of her own dominions ; and, by a provident foresight, decided, that should the whole of * the Seventeen Provinces be reduced to absolute submission to the crown of Spain, that crown would obtain, not only the means of overbalancing the power of France, but could obstruct, if not finally destroy, the commercial intercourse between England and the Netherlands, and Grermany ; prevent the sales of her most valuable exports, made up of English staples or manufac- tures, or the re-exportation of foreign merchandize ; and, at all events, would place the trade of England under the control of the crown of Spain, which would thus become absolute sovereign of the Netherlands, and whose plan for an universal monarchy, in Europe, she might not any longer be able, either to keep in check by foreign connexions, or to depress by her own naval or military means. Besides the immediate political and commercial relations between England and Holland, the spuit of commercial enter- prize 8 INTRODUCTION. prize had been carryings the English exchanges to other empo- riums in Europe. By treaties, as early as 1308, commercial and political relations had been formed Mrith the crown of Portugal, but, more particularly, during the century in which it may be considered to have monopolissed the trade to the East-Indies. <^) The trade, during this period, between the two countries, consisted of assortments of English staples and manufactured produce, sent to be exchanged for Portuguese produce, and a proportion of Eastern articles, particularly spices, which, at this period, were used as a principal article of luxury ; — events which could not fail of producing a desire in the English nation to become the importers from the East- Indies, of commodities which they had hitherto obtained by circuitous merchandize. . The knowledge, also, of the geography and of the navi- gation of these distant countries was daily becoming more genera], and the practicability of a direct trade to them was rendered more obvious, though it was foreseen, that in- terference with a political and commercial ally, in this ex- clusive seat of their greatest trade, might lead to difficulties, against which so wise a sovereign as Queen Elizabeth had to provide. J The trade to the Levant, also, had been early cultivated by the English, and had been the subject of negociation and of treaties. It recently had been made over to a company, trad- ing partly on a joint, and partly on a separate stock. Into (1).— Rjrmer'f Foedeia, vol. iii, page J07. INTRODUCTION. Into this trade the English staple produce and manufactures had been receired ; and the returns were partly made up of assortments of the produce of the countries at the difierent ports in the Levant^ and partly of Indian produce, which had been brought by the ancient routes of the Red Sea, and of the Persian Gulf, and by land carriage, to the Italian Republics. It therefore becomes a necessary prehminary, to mtroduce Historical in- ^ . ' . . • formation re- the annals of the London East-India Company with a disquisi- qaired to on- ^ ^ ^ foldthesour- tion on the following subjects, that the whole of the circum- ces of the . . . EngliAEait. stances which accompanied the rise and pn^ress of the English Indian trade trade to the East-Indies may be brought to bear upon the annals, menti . and on the successive situations of the London East-India Company. First : — ^To bring under notice the rise and progress of the Portuguese trade in Asia, from 1497> the date of its commence- ment, to 1660, as, during this period, its rivalship to the Dutch, and its opposition to the English, involved its transactions in the East-Indies, with those of the London Company, in the coun- tries to which their equipments were directed. Second : — To review the rise of the Dutch East-India trade from 1595, the chronology of which is so nearly coincident with that of the London East-India Company, that from the leading events in the progress of the Dutch, when they obtained settle- ments and factories, and had a decided pre-eminence, both in power and in Indian commerce, over the Portuguese and English, we may have facts, from which to estimate the successive oppo* sitions with which the London Company had to contend. VOL. I. C Third : 10 INTRODUCTION. Third :-— To take a general review of the aovereigndes and states within the limits of the East*India Company, not only at the period when it was established, but to the accession of Aurungzebe to the throne of Delhi, that we may ascertain the difficulties which the London Company had to encounter from the Native Princes or States, in connexion with the rivalships of the European maritime nations, who were dependent on the fluctuations of power in India. Fourth : — ^The knowledge of these subjects would form but imperfect preliminaries to the annals of the London Company, unless those annals shall be pre&ced by a review of the political or commercial relations of England with the European maritime states, participating in the East-India trade. It is in those rda- tions, only, that we can trace the powers which the crown possessed to grant authority to that body of its subjects, which it incorporated as a commercia] Company, to en^k^jr funds and send equipments, to create a direct trade between England and the Eajsrt-Indies ; or the relief which it could afibrd them, under the successive aggressions of the maritime nations, having trade or settlements within the limits of the London Company. The information on this interesting subject will be drawn from origi* nal public documents, in the series of years from the reign of Queen Elizabeth, to the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II. Sketch of the L The Portuguese, in 1497^ under Vasco de Gama, rise and pro- mts of the doubled the Cape of Good Hope, and having navigated along commerce the Coast of Mozambique, reached Melinda, where, by the tod power lA ^ aid r.** INTRODUCTION. |1 aid of an Indian pflot, they crossed the Indian Sea, and anived *« ^V'"" at Calicut; on the Malabar Coast, on the 18th May 1498 <^ Jjec^owniof from which port, after a profitable traffic, this fleet returned, by |P^|JJ *°^ the same route, to Lisbon, in September 1499. The discovery of this new trade, by a navigation, long indeed and circuitous, compared with ancient routes, oflfered the means of acquiring riches, by imports of large quantities of Indian produce, hitherto considered in Europe as administering rather to the luxury of courts, ilian to liie luxury of nations : A new scene of mdustry and adventure waa tjbius disclosed, and the nation which exclusively possessed it, did not cal- culate more on riches in imagination, than on riches, and on power combined with them, which it acquired in' reality* The difficulties which the Portuguese had experiimced in their first adventure, from the jealousies which the native powers felt against strangers, at the ports which they had visited, particularly those of the Zamorin, on the Malabar Coast, in- duced them, in their second voyage to India, in March 1501, to send out thirteen vessels, and fifteen hundred soldiers, under the conmiand of Don Alvarez Cabral. <^> In this voyage Cabral discovered and settied the Brazils, from which he proceeded to the Coast of Mozambique, and thence to Calicut, where he established the first Portuguese C 2 factory (1)— -HittoiredesD&OQverteset Conqaestes des Portugais, par Lafitau^ vol. i^ page 124.-— Souaa Oriente Conqaestado, page 2, (2)— Hlstoixe des D6coaverteiet Conqoestet detPbrtugais, parLafitau^ vol. i, page 157. 13 intkoductiok: iacUnj in India, tlKNigfa in a short time it was destroyed. ^) From this {dace he extended his trade to Cochin, Conhm, and Cananore, and then returned to Europe, and, in the homeward passage, discovered the Island of St. Helena. <^ The Portngnese having discovered the passages to the East- Indies and to South America, their equipments were enbuged, in pr oport i on as the certainty of the returns increased. FoDowing the fleets, however, which went with Vasco de Gama, in his second voyage, in 1502, consisting of a squadron of twenty sail, we find, that after endeavouring to bring the Zamorin to terms at Calicut, he formed an alUancewith the kings of Cananore and Cochin, to defend them agmnst the Zamorin, whmn they had acknowledged as their superi The next Pcnrtuguese fleet proceeded in 1503, with the object of ccnnmerce only, and to Uockade the two gulfs ; but Al- phonso Albuquerque, who comnKinded the detachment of this fleet sent to the Malabar Coast, found that the Zamorin had made war on the king of Cochin, in revenge for his having entered into an alliance with the Portuguese. Albuquerque landed his small force at Cochin, defeated the Zamorin, and obtained permission to erect a fortress at that port, the first which the Portuguese had in India, and which may-be considered (])— Lafitao, Tol. i^ pages 157 to 168. (3)— Ibid. 172 — 181. (3)— Ibid. 182—196. INTRODUCTION. 13 considered as the real foiindation of their power in the East- Indies ; — he then .concluded a treaty with the Zamorin^ re- established the Portuguese factory at Calicut^ settled a trade at Conlan^ and a factory at St. Thoin6, and returned to Portugal in 1504^ leaving Don Edward Facheco to defend these estabUsh- ments. <*> These events induced the King of Portugal to equip a large fleety in 1505^ and to send out Don Francis Almeida^ to re- side in India^ as viceroy. The first object of this officer, on his arrival^ was to compel the chiefs of difierent Indian ports to receive a factory and garrison in them, and to deliver the pro- duce^ at such i«*ices as the Portuguese might fix, particularly at pnore and Batticolo,, which belonged to the Eang of Visia- pore ; he next ccmcluded a treaty with the chiefs of Onore and Cananore, where he built forts ; thence he went to Cochin^ where he estaldished a king under the protection of the crown of Portugal. <^ For a considerable time the object pf this viceroy, was to form alliances with the lesser chiefs^ or kings,, on the Malabar Coast, who hitherto had acknowledged a dependency on the Zamorin, with the view of estabUshing the Portuguese ia the country of this chief. In the year 1506, a fleet of sixteen^ vessels was sent from Lisbon, under Tristian D'Acunha and Alphonso Albuquerque, with the object of establishing the Portuguese power on th^ Coast (1)— Laiitau, toI. h pig^s 198 to 223. W—im ,t.r,,..266 — aeo, 14 INTRODUCTION. Coast of Africa, so as to command the navigation of the Red Sea, and to exclude the Indian traders from it. The former of those officers having effected this object, arrived on the Malabar Coast, and assisted the viceroy, Almeida, in reducing the Zamorin ; the latter directed his course to the Persian Oidf, and took possession of the Isle of Ormus, in September 1507, where he built a citadel, with the object of obtaining the com mand of the Persian Gulf: the Portuguese conceiving that, by these measures, connected with their conquests on the Mala* bar Coast, they could engross the whole of the trade, and ac- quire considerable territories on the coast of India. <^> This island, however, in a short time (though the citadel was occupied by the Portuguese galrrison) revolted, and Albu* jerque failed in reducing it, from a mutiny in his fleet, his efficen havings mthout his consent, sailed for Goa, to make tibeir ccrnqplaints - to Almeida. Albuquerque retired to Sbco- tora. (^ At this juncture a new enemy appeared, in the Caliph of ^igyipt, to dispute the sovereignty cf the Indian seas with the Portuguese. Vfiih great labour the materials for huilcHng a fleet were brought from Alexandria to Suez ; the fleet was equipped and placed under the orders of Emir Hocem, who defeated the Portuguese squadron at Chaul, under the son of the viceroy. This viqtory raised the spirits of the Indian powers, who hoped they nught be able to resist the Portuguese ; the viceroy, how- ever, (1)— Lafitaa, Ttil. i, p^et 281 to 3^ (2)— IWi 382. INTBODUCTION. 15 CfeTi coUeetingtiiePbrtagKMMieet/sa^ took Dalral oeaTvChaal^ attackecl cold talally dispersed the CaUph's ieet^ near Din^ in Febmaiy 1509^ and compell^ Mm ixi miike peace with the PortugueBe. It was in thia situation of the fbr« tognese afikirs, that the celebrated Aljphonso Aibnqpiar^pe was appointed to gueceed Almeida^ as viceroy ctf India, ^^ Hitherto the Portuguese had met with no eflfeoturi opposition on the continent of India; but Emanuel, King of Partugal, af^pears to have been aware, that the extent of his Indian dcnad'- iiions n^piireid a person of high rank, in Ins service, to defend them, and to command his ships :'— with this view, a fledt cX fifteen ships and three thousand troops sailed, in 1509, under the command of Don Fernando Coutinho, maredbal of Porta- gal, with instructions to co-operate with the viceroy The first great operation was an attack Emanuel^ King of Portugal, was succeeded, in 1521, by John III, who appointed Don Edward Meneses governor of India ; but no event of consequence occurred, during the govern- ment of this viceroy, except an ineffectual attempt of the natives* to dislodge the Portuguese from the citadel of Ormus, and some petty wars with the King of Acheen.(^> It was at this time, that the il^peror Charles V. became jealous of the Portuguese power in the Indian Seas ; and, in 1519, sent out the celebrated Magellan, who discovered the westward passage to the East«Indies, by sailing through the straits at the southern extremity of America; and his^ fleet having reached the Island of Tidore, in the Moluccas, left a few men on it, and, in 1521, returned to Europe. It is not improba- ble that this circumstance induced King John to send out, in 1524, the celebrated Yasco de Gama, with sixteen ships and three thousand men, to consolidate that power in the East- Indies of which he had been the founder.(^> He reached Cochin,, but died soon after his arrival^ and was succeeded by i)on Henrique Meneses, who had come fitmi Europe with hmiS^ The Portuguese, in the East-Indies, after the death of Albuquerque, (I) — Lafitaa, voL iU^pages 317 to 376. (2)— Ibid. Hi, 1 —20. . (3.)— Ibid • 46—60. (4)— Ibid. 64 -^66. INTRODUCTiaN. I9 Albuquerque, appear, notwithstanding the large reinforcements sent to them from Europe, to have been rather employed in de- fending the possessions they had acquired, than in extending their power; for, at this juncture, they were besieged in the citadel of Calicut, by the Zamorin, and notwithstanding the bravery with which it was defended, it must have fallen, had not the viceroy arrived to its relief. <*> During the government of Don Henrique Meneses, who died in 1526, and of his imme- diate successors, the principal occurrences were disputes almost leading to revolts, between their servants, and the expulsion of the Spaniards from Tidore and the Moluccas. These disputes continued for several years, when the King sent Don Nugno D'Acunha^ in 1529, with eleven vessels and three thousand troops, and with full power to restore order in the Portuguese settlements, who found it necessary to arrest the governor and bis principal officers, and to send them prisoners to Lisbon, that he might re-establish tranquility and regular gov(MTiment.<^> In 1530, the natives expelled the Portuguese from the Island of Temate. <^) In 1531, the viceroy, with two detached squadrons, burned the principal towns, from Diu to the Red Sea ; one of his squadrons reduced Daman ; and, by treaty vrith the King of Cambaya, obtained possession of Bassein, which he fortified, and, in 1536, built a strong citadel at Diu, by permission of the King of Cambaya. <^) In 1538, the D2 . Grand (l,)*Lafitaii« voL ill, pages 66 to g4. (2)— Ibid •• 100 — 211. (3)-.Ibid. 221—238. <4)~Ibid. , •• ••239 — 296. afff) JNTRODUCTION. ^ Grand Seignior fitted out a strong fleet from Suez^ and besieg^ , I>iu ; but, after repeated assaults, was repulsed with loss. The successive appointments of viceroys, and the large fleets qiid .Increased, number of military forces sent from Portugal to India, folly evince ihe decline of their power, and that the inhabitants, recovering ircHn their first alarm, were acquiring that knowledge of the art of war, which epdangered the Portuguese settlement^, .at which their oppressions had rendered the natives ahnost desperate. In 1538, Don Garcia de Norogna was appointed viceroy, and sailed, with eleven vessels and seven thousand troops ; but, {With the exception of raising the siege of Diu, an4 again form- ing a treaty with the Zamorin^ and equipping a fleet to act against Suez^ which miscarried^ nolliing memorable occurred, till his successor, Don Martin de Sousa, arrived, in 1542, whose character, for cruelty and avarice, little qualified him to restore the Portuguese interests. With this governor, the cele- brated Father Francis Xavier, the Jesuit missionary^ arrived in India, with the object of converting the natives to Christianity, that the influence of the Church might more efiectually reconcile theiQ to the Portugeuse govemment.<^> Don Martin de Sousa was recalled^ in 1545^ and succeeded by Don Juan de Castro, during whose government the defience pf the Portuguese settlement at Diu^ against the second siege fit that place by the King of Cambaya, in 1546, appears to be the only transaction of importance ; <^) except his rebuilding the citadel, (l>-So!isa Oriente GonqaiBtado, page 1$. 0)«— Lafitaop. .¥ol. .iii#. pages 000 to 413- INTaODUCTION. jfl eitadel^ aftar the si€^.<^> He died in 1548^ and was succeeded by Don Garcia de Su, who was, in the following year^ succeeded by Dcm George Cabral.<^> During the administration of Cabral, the Portuguese power Was declining rapidly, and, in 1550, Don Alphonso de Norogna was sent out, with five yessels and two thousand men, to endear TOur to retrieve it« The high expectations formed of this vice- roy were hot reali^d, his transacticms being confined to an expedition to Ceyl In 1558, John, King of Portugal, died, and was succeeded by Sebastian. The Asiatic power of Pmtugal having declined, during the latter part of the preceding reign, Sebastian, on his accession, determined to re-establish it, by appointing Don Cionstantine Braganza, one of the royal family, to be viceroy, and vesting him with the fullest authority. During the four years of his administration, he appears to have directed his views to the forming a factory, and building a fortress at Daman, and to « (1)-— Lafitapj Vol* iv> page 2. (2)^Ibid pages 35 to 39. (3)— Ibid 100 — 171. (4)— Ibid;,. 173 — J94. 22 INTRODUCTION. to the reducing the King of Jafiiapatam to be tributary, and building a fort at Manaar. In 1562 he was recalled, and Don ' Francis Coutigno appointed viceroy ; but neither he, nor his' successor, Don An- tonio de Norogna^ effected any change, except the taking of Mangalore, and building a fortress for its protection. In 1560, Don Louis D*Ataid6 revived the Portuguese power, and placed it on a more solid basis than it had been since tlie death of Albuquerque. He reduced Onore and Barcelore; and formed aMiances with the native powers in the Decan. The onion of Th^ quick successions of viceroys exposed die' vigorous s^in^nd*^ cflforts of One, to the errors of his succeissors, particularly during 8(^urceoftfae the administration of Baretto, from 15/4 to 1576, and during Portuguese that of Dou Dicgo dc Meneses, to 15^9. At this last juncture, power in the when the Portuguese power had almost been dissolved, Don Louis D'Ataid^ was sent out a second time to be viceroy. Though he lived only one year, by his exertions he restored vigor to the government in India ; but dying in 1580, the same year in which' King Sebastian was killed at the battle of Larache, in Africa, ihe crown of Portugal was annexed to that of Spain, and the ^Portuguese interests, in India, left to their fate ;--for they ceased to be the principal object of attention to that sovereignty in Europe, which had created them. (^> It would be unnecessary to trace beyond these their first establishments, the situation of the Portuguese power in the East, after their union with Spain, in 1580, under Philip II, an ^l)--Lafi(aa^ vol. iv. pages 200 to 388. INTRODUCTION. 25 an event which damped their national character and spirit of adventure, and^ in a great measure, expatriated the Portuguese in Asia, from the Portuguese in Eurdpe, now forming only a depen- dency on the crown of Spain. From this period, except obtain- ing possession of the Island of Macao, in 1586, as a station for the China trade, no event occurred, beyond the defences which they were obliged to sud^e against the Dutch equipments, tiU Portugal again became, in 1640, a separate kingdom :— an enur meration, therefore, of the Portuguese possessions m the East- Indies, at the period when> the liondon Company obtained its first charter, which^precluded them from interference with Euro- pean powers in amity with the Queen, wiU give an obvious^ view of the difficulties which the first English eqjoipments had to experience, in opening a direct trade between England and the East-Indies. Following, therefore, a geographical line, we find the Por* Portague«e settlements tuguese, at the commencement of the seventeenth century, pos-* and trade in ^ , theEast- sessed of the ports which have been enumerated, viz. of Muscat, indies, at th©^ beginning of in Arabia ; of the Island of Ormus, at the entrance of the Gulf ^^e seven- teenth oen<» of Persia, and of Bussora, at its extremity ; of the forts of Diul, tary. on the Indus, and of Diu, in the Guzerat ; of a fortified factory, at Daman^ of the town and castle of Chaul, and of a factory at Dabul ; of the city of Bassein, the Island of North Salsette, and the town of Tannah ; of the town and fort of Goa, which they fortified and made the centre of their commerce and the seat of their power; of a factorj at Onore, at Barcelore, at Mangalore, at Cananore, and of the town of Calicut; of a factory 24 . INTaODUCTION. factorj at Cranganore, and of the port of Ciochin^ which they ha4 fortified; of a factory at Goulan^ at Qmloa, and at Taccatra; stations which obtained for them the exclusiTC command of the trade on the whole of the Malabar Coast. They had also (as ha^^ already been obserred) established themselves on the Coast c^ Ceylon^ and fortified JaGtiapatam. . Qn the Coromandel Coast^ they had stations at Negaiiatam^ Meliapore or St Thom6 } and though it does not appear that they had been allowed to fortify their factories in Bengal^ they had established commercial stations, or houses of trade, in tihiat province. They had also factories, or liberty of trade, at Vega, and traded up the river Martaban, a station at Junksdon ; and had taken possession o^ and fortified, the town of Malacca, considering this station to be of the utmost importance, as commanding the straits between the Indian and Chinese Seas. They do not seem to have made establishments of any consequence on the Islands of Sumatra, or Java; and this circumstance, perhaps, accounts for fiiose islands being first resorted to by the Dutch and by the London East-India Companies. <^) The conquests of the Dutch, the avowed enemies and the opponents of the Portuguese in the East (the Portuguese settle- ments not being reinfcurced by naval, or military aids}, had been a SO rapid and successful, that they were; enabled, in 1635, to ex- pel them from the Island of Formosa, which seemed a favorable s&tiQn for commerce with China At this juncture, also, the JDutdi fitted oaA a fleet j and soit forces ^r and to resist, at the period when the government of Great Britain was Vol. !• E convulsed, (1)— -LafitaUj HUtoire des D6couverte8 et Conquestes des Fortugais.— — Auderson's History of Ck)mmercej yol. ii^ page 464. 86 INTRODUCTION. comrulsed^ and^ for a time^ overset by republican licentiousness in an age when speculative principles of liberty were buoyed up by misguided religious enthusiasm. Sketch of the II.— It will be proper to review the rise of the Dutch nse and pro- * * S^atch^^conT E^*"I^^^ Company, from 1595 (the chronology of which so znerce and nearly coincided with that of the London East-India Corn- power in the ^ Eait-indics. pany), that from the leading events in the progress of the Dutch, when they obtained trade and factories, and had a decid- ed pre-eminence, both in power and in Indian commerce, over the Portuguese and English, we may have fiEicts from which to estimate the successive oppositions with which the London East- India Company had to contend. Portugal became a dependency of Spain in 1580, at the period when the civil wars in the Low Countries commenced, which must be dated from the Union of the Seven Provinces, at Utrecht, in 1579 :— it was, therefore, the obvious policy of Phili]^ n. to exclude his revolted subjects in the Netherlands, from inter- course with the Portuguese settlements in the East-Indies. This prohibiti E2 In (1)— Valentyn, Oost lodieo, vol. i, page i;i.^NieaweBeschr]rriiig, vol. 1^ page 6. *— Richesse de la HoDande, vol. i, page 35. (2)— Valentyn, vol. i, pages 172 to 185. 27 28 IN TB Ol^UCTI Olf. pany^ with exclusive privil^es Gnnpany commeiiced the trade Establish- In 160&y the States 6^:ieral found it expedient to ccMti8oli«- ment of the ^ ^ -n t • » Dutch East- date the several isocieties of East-India adv^turers, into o|iec India Com- . . paoy, and and to Constitute, by placart, or patent, the Ihitch East-India progress of its arma- Qqj ments^ to the truce of ^fjij Antwerp, 0^>- of 6^440,200 guilders ; or/ taking the guilder at 1». 8d, about «£536,600/^> The first fleets' of this jomt company att^npted a trade on the Malabar Coasts, nearly at the same time witH the first arrivals of the London Company's ships at Surat, ftOTik which the Portuguese, by every dflfort, endeavoured botli. Hie Dutch joint stoek havii^ t»dbled their compan^ to fit out large fleets^ in 1603 they idade an ineffectual attempt to dislodge the Portuguese £rom Mozambique and Goa, opened a eoknmunicaHon with the Island of Ceylbn, succeeded in es^peUii^" them from the Islnnds of Ainboymt and Tidore, in tibe Mblueott^ juid, hy degrees, engrossed the whole trade 6£ the Spice Islands.® . - The large equipments of the Dutch, on which they embariced ccmsiderabfe proportions of military force, under the most experi- enced and brave of their Commanders, to garrison any places they might take^ enaUed tibem to conquer the Moluccas and Bandas* ^ m - " w This company also fixed establishm^its in Sumalira and Java, in which island, at Jaccatra^ they afterwards built Batavia/ and made it the seat of their government, and the centre .of their trade. (l)»Nieuwe Beschryving> vol. i> page 7, on the authoritj of Groot Placaart Boek, Tol. vf^ page 1327. (2)— Valentyoj vol. i> page 192. INTRODUCTION. ^ 4ia^ As tibe P^rtiigiiese «eased to riBcdiv^ rdnforcements, the « Patch were enabled to ^ f{5tctoria3,at Fiillicaty Masulipatam, ami Negapatnam^ dn the Coromdndel. Coast; on the coasts of the Island of' Ceyl It was obvious, from the jarring interests of the two Their oppret^ ^ sioni of the companies, and the injuries which the English had experienced, English and Portuguese^ that force must soon be employed to expel one of them from power the somre of * "^ *■ ^ ^ the extensive and trade: a consequence which thenr respective sovereigns in commerce * AC ajjjj power of Europe anticipated, by forming, in 1619, a treaty for conciliating J^ ^'^^ch their difierences, which was specious in its conditions, but (as ^^® fiwt-ln- we «hall discover in the progress of the London East-India Com- pany) impracticable in its execution. This treaty constituted what was tertned a Council of jyefenee^ composed of an equal number of the members of both companies;— settled the pro- portions of naval and military force which each were to employ for the protection of the common trade of both nations, and-, at the same time, assigned two-thirds of the spice trade of the Moluccas to the Dutch^ and one-third to the English. This speculation of making the two companies politically equal, and coipmerciaUy unequal, was soon felt to be impracticable : — the very > (1)— Valenlyn, vol. v, part i, pages 1" to 7i«— - Rlchesse de la Hollander vol. i. -MSB. in the State Faper Office^ marked No. 156, page 205. go lUTROpUCTIONi yeiy a^empt ta carry it into effect led to tliose violences^ m by sj^ious excuses, may be palliated, but which a regular r^ign would neither authorize n6r excuse ; the treaty |herdSe>re,. be found to be a temporary expedient, only, io pre« $(rre the pacific conneidmi, in Europe, between England /fOid the States, but to have been the true source of the Violence and plunder, which subsequently disgraced the Dutch transactioni at Amboyna. (*^ Their mea- An cvcnt in EuTopc, or the expiration of the truce between theexpiration Spain and HoHand, in 1621, gave an opportunity to the Dutch of the truce of Antwerp in the East-Ifidics to recommence hostilities against the settle*^ exclude the mcuts of their ancicnt enemy ; aind as the Coundl of Ddence in other nuiri<* time states India had, as yet, been scarcely fintned, and, of ctnirs^ could not in Europe, from power proceed to moderate, or ke^ within boiv&ds, the transactions of or trade with the East- the respective con^aniesy the Dutdb, wlki bad fitted oiit largtf Indies. armaments to^ expel th^ S^ttish^Portuguese from the Indies, histead of limiting their attacks to the slnps and possessions of Spain, found themselves so strong thattbiey attacked their ally, the Epjglish, and, under the4)retext that there had been a prior figteex«ent betweai the imtives of the Bandas, who had placed lliemselv^ und^ the sorereigirty of the States General, seiz- ed on the English factories in those islands, the gimnlsr of which not being prepared for war with an ally, and not autho- rized to commence hostilities with the enemy of that aJfy, were unable to resist the attacks of the Dutch and the natives, and tiberefore experienced the most imjustifiable depredations and expuhiion (1)— Rymer's Focdera^ tol. :i^vii, page i;Ow<-— Anderson^s History of Commerce, fol. it, page 277.—— Ck>Uection of Treaties, published in J 732. INTRODUCTIONi 33; expulsion; for the principal part of the English . force^ at this, time, was at Bantam, and not sufficiently strong to detach the requisite assistance to the factories in the Spice Islands* i^\ This silcQsss stimulated the Dutch to engross the whole of the pQ^er and trade . in the Spice Islands, by expdling equally from them their enemies and their allies. The English were now reduced to the single settlement at Amboyna, at which they were entitled^ according to the terms of the treaty of 1619, to one-third of the] trade; and it was to divest them of this third (as the Dutch had acquired theBandas, and all the Moluccas, with this exception) that they accused the English factory, in lQ22y of favouring a revolt of the natives, ajid employed tortures to oblige the Company's servants to ccmfess crimes which had not been committed ; — a conduct which can only be accounted for on those republican maxims which remove odium from individuals, by diffusing it among numbers, and which can justify by specious pretexts, barbarities, secr^y prescribed by the love of gain, and openly vindicated by falsehood, because neither attach to individuals or to their families, but to their country. By this atrocity, however, the Dutch, in 1622, became the exclusive possessors of the Molucca and Banda Spice Islands; and though, in the subsequent detail, we shall find this to be one of the principal calamities which the London East-India Company had to experience, it is, in this place, unnecessary to go beyond the mere notice of it, as one of those VOL. I. F fatal (1)— YaletityD^ Oostlndien^ vol. y.—— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, pages 287, 288.— -^MSS. in the State Fiiper Office^ marked " Foreign Trade/* No. 156. 34 INTRODUCTION. fatal and expensive occurrences, which it had to stmnoimt, in acquiring, and endeavouring to preserve, the seats of its early trade in the East. The States General, in the subsequent year, 1623, when they received intelligence of the massacre at Ambo3ma, mstead of recurring to the convention by which the Council of De- fence had been established, or either questioning or exa- mining this atrocious breach of its conditions, looked solely to the large dividend of twenty-five per cent, which the exclusive possession of the Spice Islands had afforded them, and renewed the privileges of the Dutch East-India Company, for twenty-oi^ years, without even questioning its former conduct, or framing regulations for its future proceedings. <*> It does not appear that the government of England, at this period, took any decisive measure to vindicate the right of the London East-India Company, but rather contented itself with remonstrances and unavailing applications ; — the Dutch, there- fore, were left with an increasing trade, and consequently, with increasing naval and military means, to bear down on the remains of the Portuguese power in the East. In 1635, they expelled them from the Island of Formosa, in the Chinese Seas; and, in 1638, became, exclusively, masters of the coasts of the Island of Ceylon, and engrossed, with the fin^ spices from the Moluccas and Bandas, the trade in cinnamcm : — events which account for the large dividends which were made to their proprietors, (1)— MSB. in the Sute Paper Office, marked " Foreign Trade," No. \56.^---^ Narra- tive of the Cruelties of the Dutch in the Spice Islaodar, by R. Hall, 6va,J7l2. INTRODUCTION. 35 proprietors, partly in money, and partly in goods, which toge- ther made up an amount, not appearing in the bill oF sales of the goods in Europe, or of foreign merchandize, by their differ- ent chambers, but which, to the individual proprietors, produced considerable gains, and augmented the profits of their trade. <^> From the first interferences of the Dutch with the Portu- guese settlements and commerce in the farther Indies, they discovered, that Malacca had been considered as the important station which commanded the trade between the islands and the peninsula of India ; and, indeed, from all the Portuguese writ* ings upon the subject of the Indies, this station appears to have been held to be the strong outpost, which commanded the whole. The Dutch had made several ineffectual attempts to get possession of it, and though they partially succeeded in destroying, at different times, the Portuguese fleets which opposed them, they had not been able, from the strength of the place, to make any impression on its garrison: — at last, in 1640, they determined to send a strong armament, which succeeded in reducing it. On this event, they added to its fortifications, to render it impregnable, that they might levy customs from all vessels passing the Straits, and be in a situation to send reinforcements, either to the Spice Islands, which they had acquired, or to their possessions on the Coromandel or Malabar Coasts. Malacca, however, was always a subordinate station to the seat of their government at Batavia. <^^ F 2 In (1)— Valcntyn, vol, v, page 13. — Richegse de la Hollande. (2)— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 388.— Valentyn, vol. v.— MSS. in the Stsite Paper Office^ marked " iPoreign Trade/' No. 156. 3(J INTRODUCTION. In the following year, or 1641, (whether from the im» prudent zeal of the priests, who had exerted great indus- try in converting the Japanese, or from the intrigues of the Dutch agents, is unknown) the Portuguese, after experiencing a dreadful massacre, were expelled from Japan, and the Dutch trade estabUshed in it. It was, however, placed under the most rigid regulations, to prevent their priests from interfering with the opinions of the natives, the government having become sus- picious of a people known to be masters of the Bandas ami Moluccas, with which the Japanese formerly had had consider* able intercourse. <*> In this state of prosperity, and annually bringing to the Netherlands the produce of the East, the States General renew- ed to the Company, in 1643, their exclusive privileges, for twenty-seven years, on their paying to the pubUc 1,600,000 guilders. (^^ Their met- jn 1648, by the treaty of Munster (afterwards incorporated the same ob- Jnto that of Westphalia), Spain finally recognized, not only the rtie treaty of independence of the Dutch, as a nation, but their title to the i648. possessions in the East-Indies, which they had conquered, both during the period when Spain and Portugal were united, and after these cQuntries again became separate kingdoms ; and what appears to be a still stronger circumstance, Spain agreed to pro* hibit the inhabitants of the Spanish Netherlands frmn r66orting to (1)— Valentjn, vol. ▼, partii, page 33.— ADdenon*8 History of Commerce^ vol. ii^ page 392, (2)— ValentjD^ vol. ?.— — Andexson't Hiitoiy of Commercej tqL ii^ pigo 400u INTRODUCTION. to the places which the Spaniards^ fbrmerly possessed^ m the £a$t- Indies.O) Having, by these events, confirmed their power in the seas of the farther Indies, and having established a trade in thQ peninsula, the Dutch next endeavoured to strengthen the rela- tion between Holland and their East-Indian possessions, by set- tling a, colony at the Cape of Good Hope, under Van Riebek, in 1651. This officer had occasionally visited the promontory, as had their homeward and outward-bound ships, for water and other ne- cessaries ; and their officers had been in the practice of leaving their journals in a concealed place, at Robben Island, and, by this ex- pedient, information was conveyed, both to the East-Indies and to Europe, of the fleets or ships expected from the one or the other. Van Biebek, in this year, built and fortified Cape Town, and ex- tended the Dutcli possessions to the northward and eastward of the Cape Point. From the fertility of this country, the Dutch obtained provisions for their own ships, and for sale to the ships of other European nations, and, by levying customs, defrayed the charges of this settlement, considering it to be a better station than St. Helena, which they relinquished, and which, at this time, was taken possession of by the English. <^ This sketch of the progress of the Dutch, in the East- Indies, discovers, by a reference to the history of Portugal and of (1)— Printed copy of the Treity of Munftcr, dated 3d January 1648, in the State Paper Office. (2)_Valentyn, vol. v, page 124.— Bichesse de la Hollande, vol. ii, page 360.. Nieaw^ Beacbfyvlng^ vol. 1. 37 38 INTRODUCTION. of England^ at this time, that their success, both in acquiring the trade, and in getting possession of settlements, is rather to be ascribed to the political weakness of their European rivals, than to the probity of their own commercial proceedings. The Portuguese settlements in the East, when the Dutch first inter- fered with them, were strong ; but that strength was allowed to exhaust itself, by the crown of Portugal becoming a dependency on that of Spain : — fleets and reinforcements were no longer sent to enable the officers, who commanded, to resist the successive depredations and attacks of the Dutch. Hie English Company's equipments and force, in a simi- lar manner, were first weakened by the licences granted to individuals for private trade, contrary to the exclusive privileges of the London C!ompany ; and next, by those civil confusions, which arose out of the pretended enthusiasm of the leaders of factions^ for Uberties on which they were to trample, and to raise- themselves to power ; a power which, at last, centered in one usurper, who levelled all distinctions, but those which he made subservient to the maintenance of his authority. In this situation, a war between England and Holland ensued, in 1652 ; and when we come to treat of the actual situation of the London Com- pany's rights, at the time when peace was concluded between these powers, in 1654, we shall have to mention the restitution of Polaroon to the English, and a most inadequate compensa- tion which the Dutch paid, for their admitted atrocities at Am- boyna, in 1622. <0 If (D— Rapia's History of England, vol. ii, pagei 587, 588. Collection of Trea- lies, 1765, pages 46, 48, 51, 66. Thurloe's State Papers, Tol.ii, page 592. INTRODUCTION. 39 If the Dutch East-India Company were not able to continue their oppressions of the English in the East-Indies^ they re- doubled their efforts against the Portuguese, by attacking them, in 1655^ at Calicut, and expelling them from that port; and in the two subsequent years, by taking Manaar and Jafhapatam, and driving them from Columbo, they acquired a complete monopoly of all the spice trade, except pepper, which, from being the produce of so many countries, was, in some degree, left open, even to the Portuguese, now pent up in the settlements that remained to them on the Malabar Coast, and to tlie English, having factories, both to that coast, and on the Island of Sumatra. Following the Dutch enterprizes, we find that, in a few years, they expelled the Portuguese from Coulan, Cananore, Cochin, and Cranganore, on the Malabar Coast. It was in this situation of their fallen power in the East, that the Portuguese found it expedient to balance their acquisitions in the Brazils iagainst their losses in the East-Indies; and, in consequence, in 1661, the treaty was concluded between Portugal and Holland, on the basis of the Uti possidetis ^ by which the Dutch became the paramount £mx)pean power in the East-Indies, while Portugal was reduced to the mere possession of Groa, the seat of its once extensive power, and of some of the inferior dependencies on the Malabar side of the Peninsula. <*> III. This review of the progress of the European Mari- Sketch of the political and tune powers, which had trade and possessions in the East-Indies, commercial characters of requires (1)— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 464. 40 INTRODUCTION. the native requii'es, as a third preliminary subject, a general sketch fhTcountries of the Indian sovereignties and states^ from the establishment limitsassign- of the London Company, in 1600, to the accession of Aurong* London East zebe, in 1659, that the difficulties which the Company had to India Com- r* i • j • i_ /• • « paoy. encounter, from the native powers, during the first period of their annals, may be seen and appreciated, in connexion with the rivalships of the maritime European nations, at a period when the whole were dependent on the fluctuations of jpolitical power in India. From the imperfect knowledge which has hitherto been ob-r tained of the Coast of Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope (with the exception of the Dutch settlement on that promon- tory), it is only known, that the native states, or chiefs,^ from the Dutch limits to the straits of Babelmandel, were in that * state of barbarism, in which, even to the Portuguese, a species of simple barter only was practic^le on the Coasts of M ozajn? bique and Mombaza : though between M elinda and the Coast of India a better species of exchange appears to have existed, and navigation to have been understood : for it was at this port that Vasco de Gama obtained the pilot who steered his fleet acros9 the Indian Ocean, and enabled him to reach Calicut ; — but what proves the limited nature of the trade in this part of Africa, as well as of the powers which regulated it, is the fact, that the Portuguese stations on the Coast of Africa remained undis* turbed, either by the Dutch or the other maritime European states, who had divided, with them, the commerce in the East- Indies, except in the attempts which had been made by the French I . INTRODUCTION. 41 French to settle on Madagascar, and their actual settlement on the small islands of Bourbon and Mauritius. From the preceding account of the progress of the Portu- guese, it has appeared, that the leading object of their policy was to obstruct the transit of Indian produce, to Europe, by the Gulfs of Arabia and Persia, and to monopolize the whole of the Indian trade, by diyerting it from these ancient channels, into their circiutous navigation, which, would so increase the quantities and diminish the price, as to annihilate the former line of the trade, and thus render commerce subservient to that political influence, which the European art of war had given them, over many c^ the states bordering on the peninsula of Hindostan, and over the islands in the farther Indian Seas. The character of the native chiefs, on the African Coast of the Red Sea, remained nearly what it had been, at the time^ when the Portuguese made their first discoveries; and, with the exception of a conmiunication between India and Europe, by the Isthmus of Suez, and the Asiatic side of this Gulf being sub- jected to the Turkish Empire, the political situation of the natives may be considered, when the London East-India Com- pany obtained their charter, to be subject only to a precarious control, and, therefore, countries with which a safe or profit- able intercourse could not be formed. The other ancient inlet to Europe, or the Persian Gulf, on the Arabian side, was equally in a state of undefined barbarism, and trade impracticable, except at Bussora, which, from being a dependency on Bagdat, had been accessible to the ancient, as VOL. I. G well 42 INTRODUCTION. well as to the commerce of the period we are reviewing, and at the ports subject to the chiefs on the eastern side of this sea, who acknowledged their dependence on the Persian government j — the first of these outlets had been one of the routes of the ancient Indian trade to Europe, and the second we shall find became an early object of the London East-India Company, because one of the conditions in their charter prohibited them from interferences with the settlements establislied in the East, by nations in alliance with England. This condition in the charter did not apply to Persia, from the coasts of which the Portuguese obviously intended to exclude the exchanges from India, it having been one of their first objects to occupy the Island of Ormus, suppos* ed, at this time, to be a station at which, by fortifications and by armed ships, the trade from India to that gulf, might be excluded. Having thus looked at the poUtical and commercial circum- stances of the countries within the Company's hmits, physically disconnected with the peninsula of India, we have next to take a view of the political characters of the pow^s estabtished in this rich country, to appreciate the efEarts of the London Com* paay, when they attempted a commerce between England and the East-Indies. It would, perhaps, be impraeticable,2 pages 81 to gO«- Rennell's Introduction, page 55,«— — Orme*s Dissertation, pages 13, 15. 44 INTRODUCTION. The emperor^ Mahmood III, continued in possession of the wrecks of his capital for a few years, and died in 1413, and with him ended the first Patan, or Afghan dynasty .<*> The dynasty of the Patan, or Afghan sovereigns, was suc- ceeded, in 1414, by that of the Seids^ a race descended from the prophet Mahomet. Chizer, a Seid, claimed possession of the empire, on the pretension of holding it, as a right, firom the family of Timur, the descendants of whom retained the Panjab only, of his vast conquests in Hindostan. In this family the throne continued, amid a series of anar- chy, rebelfion, and invasion, till the year 1447, when Alia II, the last of the dynasty of the Seids, was dethroned, by an ad- venturer, named Beloli Lodi/^) Beloli established himself on the throne of Delhi, notwith- standing the continued convulsions in India, occasioned by the pretensions of successive chiefs^ and, after a long reign of forty years, left his dcHuinions, in 1488, to his younger son, Secun- der I, who, in the early part of his reign, had to suppress the re- bellions of his two elder brothers : — he, however, firmly settled himself in the empire, and^ in 1501, removed the royal resi- dence from Delhi to Agra, and died in 1516.(^> Such (1)— Dow*8 History of Hindostan^ vol. ii, pages 93 to 97.—— RenneH's Introductioo, page 55. (3)— Dow's History of HindosUn, vol. ii, pages 100 to IO9. Rennell's Introduc- tion, page 56, (3)— Dow's History of HindosUn^ vol. ii, pages J31 to 159. Renneirs lotroduc- tion, page 56 INTRODUCTION. 45 Such was the political situation and state of what after- wards became the Mogul Empire^ &t the period when the Portu- guese, under Vasco de Gama, for the first time visited India, in 1498^ and when their successors were making those impres- sions on the sea coast of the Decan, which have been described. The policy of the Portuguese, therefore, was rather directed to shut up the ancient inlets of the commerce from India to Eu- rope, than to seek out political relations with the existing pow- ers, of whose weakness, from a better knowledge of the art of war, they had had experience. Secunderl. was succeeded, in 1516, by his son, Ibrahim II. During his reign, one rebellion followed another, till the anarchy prevalent in Hindostan induced Sultan Baber, a descendant of Timur, who governed the country between the Indus and Samarcand, to make repeated incursions into Hindostan, with the object of recovering his Indian dominions : after various successes, a general action ensued between the armies of Sultan Baber, and the emperor Ibrahim, at Panniput, in the year 1525, in which the emperor was slain, and his army totally defeated ; and with his death the dynasty of Lodi terminated. After the battle of Panniput, Sultan Baber took possession of Agra and Delhi, assumed the empire, and completed the conquest of the dominions of Ibrahim, and the establishment of the empire of the Moguls.^^) The (1)— Dow*s History of Hindottan, vol. ii, pages 160 to 202.<-^* Renneil's Introduction, page 56. 46 INTROD^UCTION. The great object of Sultan Baber, after re-establishing the empire of the Moguls, was to comprehend the eastern provinces of Hindostan in his dominions, which, after much opposition from the Patans, he at length effected, and died in 1530, leaving the crown to his son, Humaioon/^> Humaioon had scarcely been seated on the throne of Delhi, when a rebellion was formed against him, by Shere Khan, a Patan chief, formerly an officer in the service of Sultan Ibrahim. After m^ny vicissitudes of fortune, Humaioon was compelled, in 1542, to take refuge with the King of Persia. Shere Khan now assumed the empire, and founded what is known, in the history of India, by the name of the second Patan Djmasty.^^) Shere Kh^^n, and his immediate successors, held the imperial power in Hindostan^ till the year 1554, previously to which period Humaioon, assisted by a Persian army, made several attempts to recover his dominions. This army, at length, under his son, Akbar, and his general, Byram Khan, after various successes, in 1554, entirely defeated the amiy of Secunder, the nephew of Shere Khan, who had been elected king, an event which was followed by the reduction of the cities of Delhi and Agra, and the re-establishment of the emperor Humaioon on the throne of the Moguls. The emperor survived this event but a short time ; for he died the following year (1555), and left his dominions in a state , of tranquillity to his son, Akbar.W The ( 1) — ^Dow*8 History of Hindosiao, vol. ii, pages 203 to 217* (2)— ftid 222— 242. (3)— Ibid 243, 288, 310. INTRODUCTION. The active and decided part which this young prince had taken in the restoration of his father to the throne, gave him a reputation for taknts, at that period of Kfe when other princes Me only educating for the exercise of them. Akbar, on his accession, had to control the Omrahs, and to reduce the provinces, from Agimere to Bengal, to his obedience* By his talents and by his firmness he effected both ; and having occupied the throne for the long period of fifty years, be not only established tranquillity in the different soubahs, but added new dominions to that empire which had been founded by Baber. It does not appear, that Akbar considered the reduction of the Hinctoo governments, which bordered upon his dominions, a^ which hi& successors had to resist, to be the leading object of his government, so much as the subjugation of the Decan, which he held to be the most formidable obstacle to the conscdidation of his empire. The I>ecan, at this period, was divided into the kingdoms or states of Candeish, Amednagur, Golconda, and Visiapore, go- verned by Mahoraedan chiefs, the period of whose conquests has been subjects only of conjecture. Akbar's conquests in the Decan were but partial, consist- ing of the western part of Berar, Candeish, Telingana, and Amednagur j — but it does not appear that the Camatic was held to be included in the Decan :— after this expedition, the emperor Akbar returned to Agra, and died in 1605, leaving Hindostan in a state of political tranquillity .0) Akbar (1) — Dow*s History^ in the reign of Akbar> vol. i]> pages 312 to 400.- Eenneirs IntroductioDj pages 59^ 141. Orme's Dissertation^ page 18. When Shah Jehan ascended the throne, he discovered that, in his own sons, he was to have rivals, who soon rendered the empire a seat of civil war. His leading poUcy was to remove the soubahdars, or governors of provinces, from place to place, that they might not be able to collect a force to resist his govern- ment. Sultan Dara, his eldest son, remained near his person ; Sultan Sujah, the second, was entrusted with the government of Bengal ; Aurungzebe^ Ihe third, was in the Decan ; and Sultan Morad, the fourth, had not any government assigned to him. The rebellions of his sons induced Shah Jehan to raise his eldest son, Dara, to a participation in the throne : — matters were, thus, rq>ening for a general civil war, and nothing was wanting but the incident which was to kindle it Shah Jehan was seized with a paralytic disorder, at Delhi, and his 30ns instantly flew to arms, that each might assert his claim. An* rongzebe, by his intrigues, and by his superior talents, defeated or seduced the armies of his brothers, and, at last, made the VOL. I. H emperor, (1)— Dow*8 History of HindostiD^ vol. ii^ page 405 } vol.iii^ pages X to 118.^ RtfiAell's iDtrodoctioD^ page ft). 50 INTRODUCTION. emperoi"^ his father^ a prisoner^ and, in 1659^ ascended the throne, under the title of Allumguire I. ^*> Having thus slightly sketched out the succession of sove- reigns in the Mogul empire, to the acceission qf Aurungzebe, with whose officers, or with whom, the London Eaist-India Company had to transact, either in the acquisition of trade or of factories, we have next to look eastwards, from the limits of the Mogul empire, to those coasts or countries at which their ships either contingently touched, or endeavoured, by agencies or factories, to open a trade. In the progress eastwards, from the peninsula of India towards the coasts of Aracan, Pegu, and Malacca, and towards China, including the islands in the farther Indian Seas, the political situation of the chiefs who governed in each, and the whole of them, do not appear, from the progress of the Portu- guese and Dutch, which has been detailed, to have proceeded On any other principle, than that of the sale, or barter, of such commodities, as the European traders could offer or receive from them : — and even this sale, or barter, had no other protection than that which arose from the apprehension of the power of the crews of the vessels, and the gradual introduction of military guards to the factories and seats of trade, the slightest fortifi- cations of which were sufficient to repel the continued propensi- ties of the natives to plunder the stores which had been made^ as (1)— Orme's Historical Fragments, page 3. Dow*8 History of Hindoslan, vol. ii, page 405; vol. iii, pages IXQ, 284.—— In Note 2 of Mr. Orme*8 Fragments is an enumeration of the Indian authorities on which he rested his observations ; and^ in Notet 5 and 6, an account of the European authors whose works he had consulted. INTRODUCTION. 61 as well of their own produce, as of the articles which they were willing Jo receive in exchange for it. IV. — The knowledge of the preceding subjects would Sketch of tho political aod form but an imperfect preliminary to the annals of the Loiklon commercial relatioDS of East-India Company, unless illustrated by a review of the Engiaad with the Etf« political and commercial relations of England, with the Euro- *'°P^*° *"*"• * ^ time statefi, pean maritime states, participatinsr in the East-India trade. It is ^''?™ V?^' * ^ IT r o when Queen from those relations, only, that we can trace the powers which ^^^ur^u^ the crown possessed, to grant authority to that body of its Jn^jf^^'n,. subjects, which it had incorporated, to open a direct trade Re°torationof between England and the East-Indies ; and the information, on n "f^**^^*^* this interesting subject, will be drawn from original public docu- ments', from the reign of Queen Elizabeth to the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II. The political relations of England, relatively not only to Daring the Scotland, (for Britain was at this time divided into two sovereign- Queen Eliza. « beth, ties), but to the continental powers, had not, for nearly half a century, been so undefined and weakened, as at the accession of Queen Elizabeth. Scotland, from factions, civil and ecclesiafitical, and from the minority of its sovereigns^ James V. and Queen Mary, had, with difficulty, supported its national independence; but Mary had married the heir apparent of the crown of France, who assumed the title of King of Scotland. France was governed by Henry 11, and the English had lost Calais, their last possession in the French dominions. H 2 Charles \82 INTRODUCTION. Charles V^ who had united in his person^ the Empire, the Low Countries, Spain, and the Indies, and considerable posses- sions in Italy, had divided his dominions between his brother, Ferdinand, who acquired the Imperial diadem, and his son, Philip II, who became sovereign of Spain, the Indies, and the Low Countries, but whose pretensions on England had terminated with the death of Queen Mary. Amid such complicated and difficult relations, we discover Subsidiary to this treaty, the Queen engaged auxiliary forces, to be levied by Count Maiisfeldt and the Duke of Brunswick, that she might have on the continent, armies which were to suppcMi: her influence^ eith» against France or Spain, according to the poUtical hue of conduct idle might deem it expedient to adopt, for balancing the power of either (1) — (Copy). Treaty concluded at Gateau Cambresis^ between King Henry II of France, and Queen Elizabeth^ 2d April I55g, in the Statb Pbper Office, Whitehall. INTRODUCTION. 5^ dther kingdom.<*> Hence the treaty of Berwick with Scotland,- in 1560,. rested on the principle of separating the local influence of France on her northern frontier ; and, in the same year, her treaty with the Towns of the Hanseatic League, to connect the influence of England with the north of Europe, and to preserve the commercial intercourse of her subjects with provinces, whose wealth, as well as principles, might have weight in the scale ; — (^ Hence, also, the treaty of Troyes with France, in April 1564, in support of the Protestant interest, which opened to the French refugees of this religion an asylum in the Low Countries, and in England/^) With the same policy, the Queen encouraged the Protestant interest in France, to fix the attention of Charles IX on the tranquilHty of his own dominions, instead of leaving him m a situation to make encroachments on the Low Countries. The Queen, thus, on the one hand, was laying the founda- tions of those means, by which she was io balance the power of ttie sovereigns on the continent, and, on the other, to connect this great pcditical principle, with the c<»nmercial intercdiurse of her subjects, at the greater mercantile ports in their dominions. With these objects she formed, in 1565 and 1566, treaties with liie Regent of the Low Countries, for arranging the intercourse of (l>*Original Subsidiary Convention between GUieen Elizabeth, and Otho^ Dake of Branswick, igth October 1559.—— Originiil Subsidiary Conyention between Queen Elizabeth and Volrad, Count Mansfeldt, February 1560. (State Paper Office). (2)— (Copy) .-i-Ratiiication of the Treaty of Berwick, by the Lords of the Congregation in Scotland, May 1560. (State F&per Office).-*-— (Copy). Commercial Convention between Queen Elizabeth and die Towns of the Hanseatio League^ 1560. (State Paper Office). (R^)— >Byiiier*t Tcedttia, ?oL sv^ pege640» 54 INTRODUCTION. of trade with England^ and, in 1568, the treaty with the Czar, for the protection of commerce in the East Sea/^> For some years, the Queen encouraged the project of an alliance with France, by a marriage with the Duke of Alen^on, af- terwards Duke of Anjou, that she might prevent a league among the continental powers, which might affect the independence of her crown ; and when this danger had passed, and could no longer in- fluence the potitics of France, she concluded the league of Blois^ in April 15^2, by which the crowns of France and England mutually guaranteed their respective rights, and each stipulated to fuLi^nish an aid of six thousand men, for this service, when required.^ At this period, the discontents in the Netherlands, and the prevalence of the Protestant interest in them, began to aflfect the relations between England and Portugal ; — the one, supporting the appearances of independence in the Low Countries ; and the other, jealous, if not apprehensive, of the probable attacks oi the Netherland ships in the Indian Seas : — circumstances which explain the treaty between Sebastian, King of Portugal, and the Queen, in October 1576, by which a mutual restitution of ships (1)— (Copy). Accord between Queen Elizabeth and the Regent of the Low Countries, for mutual intercourse of commerce, 30th November 1564. (State Paper Office). Original Agreement between the English and Spanish Commissioners, for prolonging of the Treaty of Intercourse between England and the Low Countries, 29th September 1565. (State Paper Office).-*— Rapin, vol. ii, page 88. (2)— (Copy). Articles delivered by the French Ambassador^ relative to the Marriage between Queen Elisabeth and the Duke of Alen^on, l6th April 157 ^ (State P^per Office). (Copy). Treaty of Blois, between Queen Elisabeth and Charles IX King of France, with Copies of the Oaths and Ratifications of both patties, iptb April 1572. (State Paper Office) INTRODUCTION. 55 ships and goods was stipulated, and commissioners appointed to ascertain the claims of both parties. By this treaty the English were to be allowed liberty to trade to the Portuguese dominions in Europe, to Madeira, and to the Azores/*^ V This temporary expedient, however, neither withdrew the Queen's attention from the Low Countries, which she had secretly encouraged in their project of independence, nor protected Spain or Portugal from the aggressions which they had apprehended from the fleets ti^hich the Dutch were fitting out for enterprizes in the Indies. The Union of the Seven Provinces, at Utrecht, took place in January 1579, and was ratified by the States in July 1581. This event laid the foundation of the independence of the States Greneral,(^> though it was not till 1685, that the Queen, by a public treaty with the States General, recognized this indepen- dence, when by a convention, she stipidated to send five thou* sand foot and one thousand horse to their assistance, under the command of the Earl of Leicester ; and, as a security for the repayment of the charges, obtained possession of the three cau- tionary towns of Flushing, Rammekins, and theBrieL^^) The (l)* Original Treaty between England and Portagal^ for restoration of mutaal inter* course between the two Kingdoms^ 29th October 157^. (State Paper Office). (2) — &ymer*8 Foedera, vol. xv, page 784.—— Groot Placaart Boek^ torn, i, page 75, (3) ^" Thyngs to be considered^ if the Queen's Majestie shall intend to ayd the Hol- ** landers^ in case that she can not procure the accord betwixt the Kyng of Spain and them.'* 21st January 1578, in Lord BurUigh*s Writing, (State Paper Office).— (Copy). Katiiication, by Queen Elizabeth, of a Treaty concluded between England and the States General of the United Provinces, 1585. (State Paper Office). SB INTRODUCTION. The Queen connected the arrangements, fc^r establishing the balance of power, with projects for extending the commerce of her subjects. In 1579, she established the Eastland Company^ and, in the year 1581, the Levant, or Turkey Company. (^> The treaty of 1585, with the Dutch, the Queen foresaw, would involye her in a war with Spain, already preparing for the invasion and conquest of England : — hence her treaties, at this period, with France, with the I>uke of Anjou, as Duke of Brabant, and with James VI of Scotland, for the ccnunon defence of their kingdoms ; (^> the object of the whole being to divide the attention of Philip, by the long protracted war between him and the States Greneral, while, by making advan- ces to Henry IV, as King of Navarre, and afterwards of France, she gave employment equally to her enemy, and to her ally, on the continent, and thus retarded that Armada, agaimst wluch she was preparing her forces and fleets, with the co-operaticm of the King of Scots* After the defeat of the Armada, the Queen prepared against a second attack, threatened by Spain, by forming treaties with Henry IV, in March 1592, and in October and Novem* ber 1593, by which she stipulated the assistance which England was to furnish to France, against Spain, .in the province of Britanny, in which she required to be put in possession of a sea-port, (2)— Rymer^s Foedera^ vol. iii^ page 799.—— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, pages }4Q, 152. (I)— Original Obligation of Francis, Duke of Anjou, to hold amity and alliance with Queen Elizabeth, and to defend the Low Countries and inhabitants thereof, 27th November 1^81. (State Paper Office). Rymer*s Fcedera, vol. xv, page 803. INTRODUCTION. 57 sea-port^ to which supplies might be sent to her troops. <^> With the same object, the Queen formed a treaty with Henry IV, in May 1596, whichwas followed by a convention, by which Henry stipulated not to make peace with Spain, without including Eng- land ; and the Queen agreed to send four thousand men to sup- port his interest, and farther succours, as soon as the rebellion in Ireland should be quelled ; and also engaged her influence, in October 1596, to form a treaty, between France and the States Greneral, by which the States agreed to adyance 450,000 florins per month, to Henry IV, and to furnish eight thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse. (^> This convention was of short duration, for, in 1598, Henry IV. concluded a separate peace with Spidn, and thus violated the most solemn engagements, not to treat with Spain, but in coi^unc^ tion with England and Holland. Under such circumstances, the Queen saw that the most eflectual plan she could adopt, for securing the independence of her crown, and forming a balance against France and Spain, was by a new and more intimate con- nexion with the States General; and therefore fbimed a con- VOL. I0 I vention (1)— R7mer*sFaedera, vol. xvi, pagega.— — Original Answer to the RemoDttraocoi of MonaT. Beanvais, the French Ambassador^ relative to 4000 English Troops proposed to be sent into Britannj, l6th November 1503. (State Paper Office). (2)— Attested Copy of the Ratification of King Heniy IV. of the Treaty concluded with Qneen Elizabeth, at Greenwich, I4th May I5g6. (State Paper Office). Origi- nal Oath of Henry IV. of France, for the observance of the Treaties concluded with Queen Elizabeth against Spain, dated at Rouen, igth October, IS96. (SUte Paper Office). (Copy).— Treaty of offensive and defensive Alliance against Spain, between England, France, and Holland^ 3 1st October Ijf 96. (State F^per Office). 58 INTRODUCTION. vwition with them, hy which obligations were given for the repayment of ^£800,000, which she had advanced, and the English auxiliaries, in the Netherlands, placed under the orders, and in the pay, of the States General. <^> Henry IV, sensible of the offence given to the Queen (for at this time the English and his subjects were making reprisals on each others* ships), proposed a convention, in 1599, to obviate these evils ; one condition of which was, that he would not supply military stores to the King of Spain. (^^ The death of Philip II. of Spain, which soon followed this event, and the cession of the Low Countries to the Archduke Albert, gave to the United Provinces better prospects from a different sovereign, than from him, against whom they had originally revolted. The death of Lord Burghley, and the rebel- Uon of the Earl of Essex, at this crisis, wrought up the mind of the Queen to an anxiety, which terminated in the disease that lost to England, in 1601, a sovereign, whose energy and wisdom had, for so many years, protected its independence, and maintained a balance of power, and of trade, in Europe. During the Such Were the political and commercial relations of England James I. "** ^^^ the continental maritime powers, at the period when Queen Elizabeth granted its first charter to the London East-India Company, which, while they affi>rd evidence of the reasons why she encouraged the marine and commerce of the States General, and (1)— Ryiner*8 Foedera^ vol. xvi, page 340: (2)— Draft of Article* proposed by France, as the basis of a commercial Treaty between EDgland and France^ 1599. (State Paper Office)^ INTRODUCTION. 59 and the adventurous spirit of the Dutch, did not prevent her from incorporating the London East-India Company, but, at the same time, explain the source of the condition in their first charter, that their enterprizes, in the East, should not interfere with the factories or trade of the European nations, in alliance with England. If Queen Elizabeth, in her relations with the Continent, had not been able to establish the balance of power, so as to render England arbiter of the disputes between the greater monarchies, she had, from the encouragement given to the States General, and to the Protestant interest, in the north of Europe, and from the separation of Spain from the Empire, supported the independence of her crown, and given encourage* ment to the commerce and enterprize of her subjects. James I, instead of availing himself of those advantages, at his accession, deviated from the wise policy of his predecessor in supporting the States General, by considering that most useful ally of his crown, as having originally rebelled against their lawful sovereign. His first public act was, therefore, to form,, in August 1604, an alliance with Spain, by which he agreed, for .the mutual support of the dominions of the two crowns, to give no encouragement to their opponents, without reflecting, that, by succeeding to the crown of England, he was strictly bound by treaty to the States General. (^> I 2 This (1)— (Copy). Translation of a Treaty of Peace^ Intercourse^ and Commerce^ between James I. and Philip Ul, King of Spain^ 18th August lG04. (State Paper OflBce). 60 INTRODUCTION. This political coimexion with Spain was followed, ia February 1606, by a commercial convention with France, by which the traders of the two nations were to have access to each others ports and markets, and tables of the rates and duties to be paid, in each country, were settled : — a measure evidently calculated, by the encouragement to the French, to depress the rising commerce of the Putch.<^> Though no precise limits were, at this time, assigned to the Levant Ck>mpany, their exchanges were connected with those of the East India Company, which, from its recent establishment, became an immediate object requiring the protection of the crown. The plan of the Levant Company was the trade with the Mediterranean Sea ; thatof theEast India Company, to lower the prices of Indian produce : — several of the finer articles which constituted the assortments of the Levant Company, were included in the assortments of the East India Company. The charter to the Levant Company was renewed, and granted in perpetuity, and Sir Thomas Glover was. sent ambassador to Constantinople, to procure privileges of trade for them, while that to the East^- India Company was weakened by licences to private merchants.^) Prince Maurice^ of Orange, perceiving, from, this wavering conduct of James, that he was not only receding frotn the treaties between Queen EUzabeth and the States,, but finom the last « (1)— Rymer's Feeders, vol. xvi« page 645* (2)-* Attested Copy of the Charter granted by King James to the Leran tor Turkey Company, 14th December 1 605. (State Paper Office).—-^ Attested Copy of Articles between the Levant Company and Sir Thomas Glover^ dOth April l606. (State Paper Office). INTRODUCTION. gl last treaty which he, himself, bad concluded, decided, that no reliance coidd be placed on bis support against Spain. Shifting, therefore, his politics, for securing the independence of the States, from James to Henry IV. of France, Maurice, by the mediation of France and England, concluded the truce of Antwerp, with Spain and the Archduke, for twelve years^ in April 1609: — Spain preferring this doubtful expedient to that of a treaty, and the Dutch interpreting it into the spirit of one, recognizing their independence.^) The fourth article of this truce, or treaty, specified the limits of the trade which the States were to be allowed ; the King of Spain wishing to confine it to the ports in Europe, the Dutch to extend it to the East-Indies : at last it was settled, that the States would be contented without the words, ** East-Indies," if the French and English ambassadors would certify, that this was the meaning, and agree, that the aids which the two crowns were to furnish to the States Greneral, should apply, not only to Europe, but to the East-Indies, to which these ambassadors assented. Prince Maurice, not satisfied with this general expla- nation, made a proposition, that the Dutch and English traders should associate in the East-Indies, against the Portuguese- SpaniardSy and be assisted in acquiring settlement and seats of trade, particularly in the Moluccas. This proposition produced the appointment of Dutch and EngUsh commissioners, to take this project into consideration: — their decisions, originally intended for the common security of the traders of both nations, we (0— Copy of the Trace of Antwerp^ in 1609. (State Paper Office). 62 INTRODUCTION. we shall, in the sequel, find to have been the source of their most bitter animosities. ^^^ The following year, 1610, James considered a strict alliance with France to be the best means for protecting his kingdoms against Spain, and, therefore, concluded a treaty with the Queen Regent (Henry IV. being assassinated in this year) in the name of Louis XIII, by which each party was to fiimish to the other, in the event of an attack, 6000 men and eight ships of war. (^> In the year 1616, James I, for the consideration of ^200,000, delivered over the cautionary towns to the States General, and thus terminated that influence in Dutch afiairs^ and that balance of power among foreign nations, which the wise Elizabeth had created. ^^^ ■ The reference which had been made to commissioners, to settle, under the fourth article of the treaty of Antwerp, in 1609, the respective commercial privileges of the Dutch and English East-India Companies, and the orders which were, in consequence, issued by the States General, were, by experience, found to have increased the disputes between the servants of both companies^ in India. These disputes became, at length, of (l)~Original Ratification by the States General, of the Treaty concluded with King James, on the 26th June 1608. (State Paper Office). " Brief et Sommaire de la '' Conference entre les Commissionaires de Sa Maje8t6 de la Graade-Bretagne, et les Etats '' G^n6rauX| tur TAccommodement da Traffique des Indet." (State Fisper Office). (2) — Original Treaty of Alliance between ;King James and Louts XIII^ King, of France, 19th August JL61O. (State Paper Office). (3)— Original Articles agreed on betwixt the Lords of the Privy Council and Sir Noel de Caron^ touching the rendering of the cautionary Towns of Vlishing and Briel^ May 21st 16x6. (State Paper Office). FNTRODUCTION. 63 of SO much consequence, that commissioners were appointed by King James, and by the States General, in 1618, to inquire into the sources of the evil, and, if possible, to frame articles of agreement, which might ascertain the respective rights of the English and Dutch Companies in India; After repeated conferences between these commissioners, it was, at length, agreed, by a treaty concluded at London,, between the King and the States General, dated the 7th July 1619, that the English Company should have one-third of the spiee trade in the Moluccas and Bandas, and the Dutch Com- pany two-thirds ; that a Council of Defence should be formed in India, to superintend the mutual commerce and protection of teade, which was to be composed of members of both nations ; and that the right of appeal, in case of differences, should be to the Directors of both compames^ in Europe, and, ultimately, to the King and to the States General : — speculations, which, from the very nature of them, became the source of discord abroad, and of negotiation at home. (^> By his connexion with Denmark, James was enabled to foruL an offensive and defensive treaty with that kingdom, in April 1620. W All the poUtical transactions of J)ames, during the years 1620, 1621, 1622, and 1623, were confined to two objects :— the recovefj of the Palatinate, and the marriage of Charles^ Prince (1)— Original Report of the Commissioners appointed by King James to negotiate with the States General, concerning the differences between the English and Dutch East- India Companies, X6ig, (State Paper Office)i (2)— Rymer's Fadera, vol. xvii, page 305. ^ INTRODUCTION. Prince of Wales^ with the Infanta of Spain ; bat his wavering conduct^ r^arding both objects^ ruined the affairs of Frederic in the Palatinate^ and the procrastinated expedients^ of he was the dupe, frustrated the latter plan, and obliged to enter into a defensive treaty, of the strictest kind^ with the States General, concluded the 5th June 1624, by which he agreed to levy six thousand British troc^s, to s^rve under the orders of the States General, till another truce with Spain, for eight, ten, or twelve years^ could be obtained, and the States stipulated to send a body of four thousand men, in case the British dominions should be attacked. <^> Still adhering, however, to his project of connecting his son With one of the greater monarchies on the continent, James opened a negotiation for the marriage of Charles with t)ie Princess Henrietta of France, but died in 1624, before it was accomplished. James, in the whole of his poUtical and commercial proceed«- ings, instead of availing himself of the influence in the balance of Europe, which the wisdom of Elizabeth had afforded him, not only lost that influence, but created discontents among his subjects, which fostered the factions that were rising up against his government, and thus brought himself into circumstances which made him unable to support the commercial privileges which had been conferred by his predecessor, and renewed by himself, to the London East*India Company, and ceased to be (1)— Copy of the Treaty of Defeniire Alliance between King James and the States General^ 5th June lG24. (State Paper Qfflee). INTRODUCTION. 65 be of importance to the continental powers, or to have con- fidence placed in him by the States General. From the impolitic conduct of James I, his son Charles, During the reign uf King at his accession, found the relations, between his kingdom and Charles i. the European powers, doubtful in their characters, and requiring strong measures to restore them to their ancient vigor, or to renew them, on terms which could bring Great Britain, again, to have influence in the balance of power in Europe. The first act of Charles, on his accession, was the accom- plishment of the treaty of marriage with the Princess Henrietta Maria of France : — Aware, however, of the resentment of Spain, for the ungenerous proceedings of James, regarding his marri- age with the Infanta, and to favor his projected support of the Elector Palatine, he formed a treaty with the States General, on the 7^h September 1625, by which it was agreed, that each party, in the event of hostilities, should furnish thirty thousand foot and five thousand horse; — large fleets were, also, to be equipped, on board of which troops were to embark, not only to make an attack on Spain and Portugal, but upon the foreign possessions of bodi countries. <^> It is remarkable, that, on the day subsequent to the signing of this treaty, a protest was taken, on behalf of the King, against the Dutch East-India Company, on account of the massacre at Amboyna, the parti- VOL. I. K culars {l)»Original Treaty of Ofieniire and Defeniive Alliance between King Charlei and the States General, 7th September 1625, (State Paper Office). C6 INTRODUCTION. calars of which will be detailed ia the annals of the JLondoa East-India Company. <^> Charles, notwithstanding this event, calculated . to excite animosities between the two nations, was desirous to make every efibrt for the recovery of the Palatinate. In conjunctioii vnih the States Grei^raL, therefore, he formed, in December 1625, a treaty with the King of Denmark, who waa to furnish an army of thirty thousand foot and seven thousand horse, to act in the north of Germany, on condition of receiving 300,000 floriQS, per month, from England, and 50,000, per mcmth, from the States. Charles, also, with the same object, engaged^ in Noveml^r 1626, four thousand foot and one thousand horse, from the Mai^rave of Baden. (^> . It might have been expected, that Charles's cp^nn^xion, by marriage, with the crown of France, would have prevented a rupture with that kingdom ; but, from the natural prejudice of the English against the French ecclesiastics, in the Queen's suite, Charles dismissed the greatest part oi her attendants, and, in 1627, declared war against France, — a war, memorable, only, for the imprudent proceedings of the Duke o£ Buckingham!, in his attack on the Isle of Rh6. After a desultory war of two years, (J)— Copy of a Trot est, on tht part of the King, against the Dutch East-India Com- pany, and demanding satisfaction for the outrages committed by the Dutch at Amboyna, 8th September l625. (State Paper Office). (2)— Copye of the Articles of the Treatye made at the Hi^gbe, betwixt the English and Denmarke Ambatsadort and Depotyes of the States, aoth December l^25.«— • Eymer'a Foedera, vol. xviii, pages 779* 780, 789- INTRODUCTION. ef years, a treaty of peace was concluded between England and France, by the mediation of the Republic of Venice, on the 14th April 1629. (*> This event obliged the unfortunate Prince Palatine to resign his claims to the arbitration of Charles, by a deed, dated at the Hague, 29th March 1630 ; and this act led to the treaty of Madrid, between England and Spain, in November 1630, by ' which England was prohibited from assisting the Dutch in any commerce with the Spanish dominions, though this condition was ccmtrary to the treaties between England and the States General. (^> Amid these nearer political transactions, Charles was not in- attoitivb to the more distant commercial interests of his subjects ; for, in his treaty with the Ottoman Pcni;e, in October 1641, it was stipulated, that the Levant Company should have free trade to the ports in the Turkish Dominions^ oh ' payment of a duty of three per cent, ad valorem ; and, by his treaty with Denmark, at nearly the same period, the rates cf duty were fixed, payable by English vessels passing the Sound. (^> K2 It (l)---Praft of the Rismonstrance to the French King, relative to the servants of Queen Henrietta Maria^ l62(5. (State Paper Office). Original Ratification of Louis Xlir^ of the Treaty of Peace between France and England 4th July ] 629. (State P^per Office}.— —>• Copy of the French King's Proclaoiatioo of Peace with Bogland^ 20th May 1^. (Sute Paper Office). :; ^. (2)— Original Instrument, whereby Frederic, King of Bohemia, referred the affairs of the Palatinate to the mediation of King Charles I, 29 March 1630. (State Paper Office).*— - Rymefs Fcedera, vol. xix, page 2]9.-^f— Otypyof King Charfes's Procla- mation of the Peace with Spain, 5ih Doeeniber 1630. (3)-ip<)rigio4.cx>iiun«rcial Treaty b^^^ofn fpgland and Turkey, SQdi OctobM^, i64l. (State Paper Office).-^^ Original commerdM Tre^ity belWOttDi Eoglaiid and DeDmatk 9M April 1640. (State Paper Office). 03 INTKODUCTION. It was at this janctare^ that the connexion between the crown of England, and the House of Orange, was formed, by the marriage of Prince William, afterwards William II, with Marj, eldest daughter of King Charles I. <^> In 1640, the Duke of Braganza assumed the government of Portugal, under the name of John IV, and again rendered that country an independent sovereignty in Europe. This event had the important effect of restoring the commercial relations between England^ the States General, and Portugal, by cutting off the supplies of East-Indian produce, which Spain had hitherto received through Portugal, and gave to the I>utch and English larger proportions of the East-India trade : it did not, however, restore the Portuguese power in the East, but rather tended to increase the animosities between their settlements, and those of the Dutch and English companies. The. last transaction of Charles was his treaty with the Ottoman Porte, in 1647, ^ favor of the Levant, or Turkey Company ; ^^^ for, about this period, the civil wars in England exposed this ill-fated monarch to disasters, which closed in a manner, as fatal to the sovereign, as disgraceful to the English nation. The weakening, if not the dereliction, of the system which Queen Elizabeth had begun, and was perfecting, for establish- ing (1)— Copjr.— TVeaty of Marriage bttween Priooa William of Orange> and the IVincess Mary of England^ 15th March 1640-1. (Statt Pkper Office). (2)— Copje of the Create Tarket Conferma6bn of the Agreement betwitt him and Sir Thomas Bendiibe, toni^ing the Bngliibe, 16I8. (State Riper Office). INTRODaCTION. 69 ing a balance of power^ between the greater continental states^ and placing England in a situation to keep them in equipoise^ had marked the conduct of James I; and Charles^ by folk)wing up this weak and unhappy policy of his father^ not only in- volved himself in ineffectual wars with these powers, which terminated in treaties that threw England out of the scale, but left its sovereign a prey to the factions which were forming in James's re^, and which gathered strength, when they observed the decline of Charles's influence on the continent, and his inability to protect the rising trade and navigation of his king- dom, from the aggressions equally of his successive enemies or allies. To understand the political and commercial relations between Daring the England and the continental powers, during the Interregnum, and while an usurper exercised despotic power, thoi^h nominaUy proceeding from his Ckmncil of State, and from a sort of parlia- ment supporting that council, it is necessary to advert to the cir- cumstances under which the continental powers were placed at this juncture : — these circumstances will explain their inability to control the afikirs of England, or to contribute to the restoration of its monarchy. In the year 1648, when the civil wars in England terminated, those of France commenced. In England, they had arisen from the disputes of ecclesiastical sects, coloured over by pretensions to civil rights ; in France, from pretensions to civil rights, engrafted to ecclesiastical dogmas : — but the civil wars in that kingdom lasted while Cromwell was consolidating his power in England, and J^O INTRODUCTION. and till he ajraumed the sovereignty, as Protector ; and even after Louis XIV. became of age, the factions ccmtinued their intrigues, and abridged his exercise of the sovereignty. Spain, at this juncture, was disposed to seize the opportunity of recovering the revolted provinces in the Low Countries, but neither had armies, nor resources, fitted for the enterprize, and, therefore, acquiesced in the treaty of WestphaHa. Though the States General afforded an asylum to Charles II, they were alarmed at the bold and decisive measures of the Eng- lish parliament, and, to avoid a war, recognized its authority. (^> Louis XIV, feeling, as a monarch ought, resentment against regicides, levied an army to support Charles II, and a war between France and England ensued.(^> Spain, less anxious for the fate of die English royal family, was disposed to enter into a convention with Cromwell and the Parliament, in the hope of gaining England to he a party in its project of reconquering the Netherlands ; and though this tedious negotiation did not terminate in a treaty, but subsequently in a war, it recognized the authority of the parliament and of the Usurper.(^> Cromwell and his council, in a short time, began to be sen- sible that a state of peace might lead to efibrte to restore the monarchy, <1)— -Thurloe's Stale Pftperij vol. i^ pages 1 15 to 124.—*— Original CooncU Book, 4ih September, J 649. (State Paper Office). (2) — Copy of French Declaratioo for prohibitiog Trade with Englaod, 2d September l64g, (State Paper Office). Council Book, 20th December 1649. (State Plaper Office). (3)— Traosactionft between England and Bfmu, 1650 to 1 053. (State Paper OfBct) . Tbnrloe'ft State Papers, vol. i, pages 750^ 7^^* INTRODUCTION. teofiarchy, and, theredbre^ judged it necessary to engage Engiatid in a foreign war^ in which events might be improved to eonsoli- date his power* For this purpose^ he availed himself of the national propensities in favor of their navy and commerce, and i6i the aggressicms of the Dutch against the latter^ and, there- f&re, demanded reparation of the injuries sustained by the English, on this p The naval war with the States General, gave CroeciwdQ opportunities to dismiss his parliament, and to be in circum- stances to conclude a treaty with the Dutch^ in April 1654 . by which it was agreed, that compensation should be made to the English, for injuries sustained by them in the East-Indies.; that the Dutch should not admit the oppoi^nts of the En^Uush government into their dominions ; and that they should restore, or refund, the value of twenty-two English ships, confiscated by the King of Denmark. — Commissioners were to be aj^^ted, to settle the losses of the 'English in the East-Indies ; and, in case of differences among them, appeal was to be made to the award of the Swiss Cantons.^^ These commissioners met in Lon- don, (l)—Tharloe'8 State Pftpers, rol i^ pages 177, 184.«— — Printed copy of theEoglish Manifesto against the States General, l652. (State Paper Office). (2)— Original Treatj of Peace between Oliver Cromwell and the States General^ 5th April 1654. (State Paper Office). 71 72 INTRODUCTION* don, and^ on the SOtlh August 1654, awarded that the Dutch East-India Company should pay to the London East-India Com- pany <£85,000, and JCSfilS to the heirs of Captain Towerson and others, murdered at Amboyna. (^> Denmark, on the conclusion of peace between England and Holland, found it expedient to form a particular treaty of peace and commerce with England, by whigh English and Dutch ships were to be exempted from payment <^ tolls, on passing the Sound, or ia the Elbe ; and, nearly at tlie same time, Cromwell con- 4duded a general treaty of peace and commerce with Christiana, Queen of Sweden. (^> Cromwell next formed a treaty with John IV, King of Por- ftugal, by which the English were to have a free trade to the Portuguese colonies in the West-Indies, and the Brazils, and, particularly, to enjoy the same privileges of trade to the Portuguese -settlements in the East-Indies, which had been granted to the Dutch, in 1641, or the year aflker Portugal had recognized the Duke of Braganza, as its king. (^> It was, probably, this treaty with Portugal, which suggested to Cromwell the project of making war with Spain, because, by its terms, he had an oppor- tunity of sending English fleets to the West Indies, which he accordingly ( With the object of pressing more effectually on Spain, Cromwell, in March 1657, formed an offensive and defensive alii- ance with Louis XIV., by which it was agreed, that an attack should be made on the Spanish Netherlands, by their combined forces. France was to furnish twenty thousand men, and Eng- land six thousand, and a large fleet, to serve against the sea ports of the Spanish Netherlands, while France pressed them by land. <*> These treaties were renewed, in March 1658, for another year, nearly in the same terms.^^^ Cromwell fulfilled his part of the engagement, by sendiag six thousand men, and getting possession of Dunkirk, in June 1658, but died, soon after this time, on the 3d of September. vol.. I. L The (1) — ^Memorial of the Spanish Ambassadors to Cromwell, proposing a Treaty of Alliance, 21st May l655. (State Paper Office) . Declaration of War by Cromwell against Spain, October 1655, (Slate Paper Office). (2)— Original Ratification of the Treaty of Peace between England and France, dated 23d March l657., (State Paper Office.) Abstract of Secret Articles between Louis XIV. and Cromwell, 9th May 165? . (State Paper Office). (3) — Original Ratification of aTreaty for continuing in force, for another year, the Trea- ty of 23d March 165^, between France and England, 24th April 1659. (State Paper Office.) 74 INTRODUCTION. The event of Cromwell^s death opened the succession to the Protectorate to his son Richard ; but as this choice was dictated by the impression made by Cromwell's talents, and the recollec- tions of the miseries experienced in the civil wars, if, for a short time, it continued the relations between England and the European powers, in an equally short time, it disposed the English nation to return to their allegiance to Charles II. The only treaties which were formed, between the death of Cromwell and the restoration of Charles II., were, one between Richard Cromwell and^Louis XIV., in January 1659, to which the States General were invited to accede, with the object of res- toring peace between Sweden and Denmark ; and another, between the Council of State and the King of Portugal, who was empowered to levy twelve thousand men in the British Islands^ for the defence of the Portuguese dominions against Spain/^^ These transactions prove the unsettled state of the Common- wealth, and that the minds of all parties began to be opened :^- the parliament became jealoui^ of the army ; the officers became suspicious of one another ; and, happUy for a country which had been so long convulsed. General Monk returned to his allegi- ance : — ^the King's declaration was accepted by the Parliament, and the monarchy restored on the 29th May 1660, This (1) — Original Ratification of a Treaty between England and France^ for facilitating a Peace between Sweden and Denmark^ 21st January 1658-9. (State Pa[>er Office.)-— * Original Ratification of a Treaty between England, Holland, and France, for mediating a Peace between Sweden and Denmark, 23d July 1659. (State Paper Office.) Copy of a Treaty between the King of Portugal and the English Council of State, or levying Troops in England, for the Service of Portugal, 28th April 166O. (State Paper Office.) INTRODUCTION. /S This review of the political transactions of England, during the Interregnum, establishes the truth, that, though an usurper, by conquests abroad, may create a power to himself, which ap- pears irresistible, that power vanishes with the terror of his name ; and when the incapacity of his successor is discovered by foreign nations, the usurpation no longer exists ; — ^from such a power^ indeed, may spring, as in the case of Cromwell, regulations which foster the useful arts and commercial prosperity of a people, but such regulations, unless supported by probity, indi- vidual and national, can never become the source of credit, or credit be the source of wealth among nations : — such regula- tions often spring from unguided theories, as we shall find those which had nearly overset the regulated trade of the East- India Company ; but with a mind, such as CromweU pos- sessed, snch theories disappeared, when examined by an appeal to experience. Over the public vices of the Usurper, his country can never draw a veil ; but the encouragement he gave to trade, by the Act of Navigation, and the compensa- tions, inadequate as they were, which he obliged the Dutch to pay to the London East-India Company, and the commercial concessions obtained from France, Spain, Portugal, and Den- mark, it must be admitted, laid solid foundations for the com- mercial prosperity of Great Britain. Having, in this disquisition, unfolded the rise and progress of the modem Asiatic commerce by the establishments of the Por- tuguese ; and the rise and progress of the Dutch interferences with their trade and power in the East-Indies ; and having traced L 2 the 76 INTRODUCTION. the political and commercial characters of the Indian sovereign- ties^ at the ports to which the Europeans resorted, with the political and commercial relations of the maritime powers^ whose subjects had embarked in the trade between £wY>pe and the East-Indies, we are prepared to trace the rise and progress of the London East-India C!ompany. CHAPTER I. r I REVIEW OF THE ANNALS OF THE LONDON EAST -INDIA COMPANY^ FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT BY THE CHARTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH (1600), TO THE RESTORATION OF ITS PRIVILEGES BY THE CHARTER OF KING CHARLES IL (1661). CONTENTS. The resources of the great monarchies in Europe^ during the cHAP. I. sixteenth century^ unequal to the progress of civilization. • . . . . Contents. New resources found in the protection given to the useful arts and to trade « The improvements in navigation combined the trade in staples, with that of foreign merchandize TTiis as much the source of the English enterprizes in foreign trade, as probity was of English credit. Associations in England, for extending foreign trade and credit Establishment of the Russia Com^ pany. Of the Levant, or Turkey Company The infor- mation derived from these Companies, the source of the direct trade between 80 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. between England and the East-Indies. Discoveries of Drake and Contents. Cavendish Memorial of the English Merchants, in 16 89, to Queen Elizabeth, for permission to send ships to the Indies Captain Raymonds experiment of trade to the Indies, in 1591 Messrs. Adams and Bromfeild^s project of a voyage to China, in 15 96, and the Queen's letter to the Emperor in their favor The progress of the Dutch led to the contract of the London Adventurers, in ^^999 for a voyage to the East-Indies, on a joint subscription. Committee-men or Directors appointed. Petition the Queen for a warrant to Jit out three ships, and to export bullion. Their voyage retarded by a treaty ^ pending between the Queen and the Crown (f Spain Their memorial, distinguishing the countries, in the Indies, to which the SpanishrPortuguese had trade, from those in which trade might be opened. Referred by the Queen to the celebrated Foulke Chevil. The Queeris consent to the project of the Adventurers signified by the Privy Council, and seventeen Committee-men, or Direc* tors, elected. Purchase ships Call in one-third of the sub- scriptions Prepare a draft of a patent of privileges Take up shipping for the first voyage. ..... Amount of stock and goods for this voyage First Governor, and twentyfour Committees, or Directors, elected in October 1600 A general meeting of the Adventurers call in the whole of the subscriptions, Appoint captains, officers, andfojctorsi and a mark for their goods. Pre^ cautions of the Queen, t^ guarding against disputes with the mari- time / V EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 81 time powers f in the projected Charter to the East-India Company ; CHAP, l and in defining the respective rights of the English incorporated Com- ^^"^^"^^• panics Charter planted hy Queen Elizabeth to the London East' India Company, on the 31 st of December 1600. . . . • . Rights of the "^ London East-India Company under this Charter Geog7*aphical survey of the countries within their limits Their transactions , from 1600 to 161 7-1 8, consisted chiefly of voyages of experiment ^ The Proceedings of the first Adventurers assimilated with those of the Company Subordinate association of the stockholders formed, ^ for the first experiment in the trade Equipments and stock for \/ the first voyage under the Charter Queeris circular letter of re- commendation of the captains and factors, to the princes and states in the countries uoithin the Company^ s limits Caution of tlw Com' pany, in waiting for the result of the first voyage, blamed by the Queen V/ Captain Lancaster forms the first treaty made by the Company in the Indies, at Acheen, and the next at Bantam Second Voyage King Jameses licence to Sir Edvoard Michelborne, the first viola-^ tionof the Companjfs Charter. Third Voyage. . . • . . Fourth voy^ age Fifth Voyage. Company^ s factors recommend a trade at Sural, Cambaya, and Priaman. Company petition King James for a confirmation of their Charter and enlargement of their privileges Charter of King James to the London Company, 3lst May 1609 Rights conferred by this Charter. Sixth Voyage • Seventh Voyage. ..... Eighth Voyage Captain DowntofCs report VOL. I. M on 82 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. on the Companifs Trade in the East-Indies Ninth Voyage. ..... Contents, pi^st Establishment of trade at Surat, under licence from the Gover- nor, and two Phirmaunds from the Great Mogul (Jehanguire). ..... First Joint Stock, in l6l2-13, for four successive Voyages Pro- portions of this Stock applied to the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth voyages Factories confirmed, or established, in the East-Indies, during these four voyages Trade opened with Japan Appli- cation to the Mogul for permission to fortify the factory at Surat ITie English ships at Swally attacked by the Portugese fleet Company^ s trade at Surat, in l6l4-15 Interview of Mr. Edwardes, the Company^ s Agent, with the Great Mogul. First aspect of the trade to Persia. . .... Attempt a trade between Bantam and the Spice Islands Sir Thomas Roe appointed Ambassador to the Great Mogul, in l6l4-15 Progress of his negotiations ...... Substance of his treaty with the Great Mogul. .... Progress of the trade on the Malabar Coast at Bantam at Amboyna at Tekoo at Japan Opposite Ftews of Sir Thomas Roe and the Company's Factors at Surat, of the expediency of the trade with Persia Reports by the Factors at Surat of the state of trade in 16I6-I6 Progress of the trade with Persicu Sequel of Sir Thomas Roe^s negotiations Stitfe of the trade at Bantam, in 1616-179 and cession of the Island of Polaroon by the natives to the English Review of the trade and settlements of the East^India Company, in l6l7* • • • • . a^ Surat. ... . at Acheen. .....at Tekoo at EAST-INDIACOMPANY. 83 at Bantam. . .... at Jaccatra at Jamhee at Potania CHAP. I. at Siam. at Japan at Succadania. . ... .at Banjarmassin Contents. . .^. . . at Maccassar and at Banda. 161 7-1 8. — The Annals of the London East- India Company y in this year^ first admit of a regular Review of their domestic and foreign transactions Formation of the Second Joint Stoch Appro- priation of it State of the Company's trade at Sural, and first establishment of a Dutch Factory at that port Sequel of Sir Thmnas Roe's embassy He seconds the efforts of the Factors at Sural y for a Persian trade Prefects of Sir Robert Shirley, in Persia hostile to the Company Arrival of a Spanish Ambas- sador at Ispahan Sir Tliomas Roe authorizes the Company's Agent at Ispahan to treat in the name of the King of England. Factory at Bantam oppressed by the Dutch. 16I8-19. — Dfferent constitution of the Dutch and London East- India Companies Memorial of the Dutch East-India Company to King James, complaining of the interferences of the London East^ India Company with the natives, at Bantam and the Spice Islands Answer of the Company Proceedings at Sural Treaty between Sultan Churrum and Sir Thomas Roe. Factors at Surat open a trade with Mocha, under licence from the Governor. ..... Sir Thomas Roe returns to England; Ids agreement with the Dutch Admiral, Hoffman, at Saldanha Bay, on his homeward voyage • Phirmaunds obtained for English trade in Persia. • • • • • Treaty between M 2 Persia * B4 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Persia and England, on the basis of these Phirmaunds. 7%e ontents. D^fch Continue to depress the English trade at Bantam and its Depen- dencies and at Acheen Treaty between the King of Ban- tarn and Sir Thomas Dale Jaccatra, or Batavia, taken by Sir Thomas Dale and the King of Bantam evacuated by the English. 1619-20. — Conferences of the English and Dutch Commissioners on the disputes between the London and Dutch East^India Companies Substance of the treaty , 1619, between the King and the States Generaly for adjusting the differences of the two Companies^ Establishment of the Council of Defence ^jSf^^^ ^f '^** treaty on the equipments and stock State of trade at Surat and in Persia Trade at Bantam j in Sumatra, at the Spice Islands, and in Japan, depressed by the opposition of the Dutch. 1620-I. — The individuals, who had sustained losses from the Dutch, petition the King for redress Two of the Directors of the Com- pany sent to Holland to give information to Sir Dudley Carleton, the King's Ambassador, to whom the business was referred. The King specifies the points on which redress urns required. The King addresses Letters to Sfiah Abbas, in favour of the Compam/s trade in Persia Captain Shillinge takes possession of Saldanfui Bay, in the name of the King of England. The Council of Defence in India oppose and decide against the English Claims at Bantain and the Spice Islands The English Factors state the impracticability of the tradcy unless the oppressions of the Dutch be checked. 1621-2. i BAST -INDIA COMPANY. 85 l62I-2. — Companj/s equipments and stock reduced this season, CHAP. L from the arbitrary proceedings of the Council of Defence ntenu, Reasons for this reduction given hy the Court to Sir Dudley Carleton Dutch Commissioner's arrive in England to negotiate on the explanations required of the treaty of 1 6 1 9 ; this negotiation hroketi off hy the King's Ministers Staie of trade at Sural and in Persia The English compelled to assist the Persians in resisting a Portuguese fleet in the Gulf of Persia The Council of Defence oblige the English Factors to leave Jaccatra and retire to Bantam, who represent to the Court the necessity of breaking off* the Dutch connexion The Company's Factors attempt to open a trade at Pullicat and Pettipolee, on the Coromundel Coast, but are obstructed by the Dutch The Council of Defence employ the combined English and Dutch feet to make captures of the Portuguese and Spanish ships at Manilla, against the wishes of the English Factors. 1622 3. — Equipments and stock for the season Renewal of the conferences between the Dutch Commissioners and the King's Ministers Company's servants and property at Surat seized, in consequence of the capture of some Mogul Ships by the Dutch. The English and Persians take Ormu^ from the Portuguese, and the Company acquire a right to a moiety of the customs at Gombroon, as a remuneration The English President and Council of Batavia propose to withdraw from that station^ The King of Bantam continues friendly to the English. 1623-4. 86 annalI of the honorable CHAP. I. 1623-4. — The equipments and stock of this season considerable/ Couteins. increased. Disputes between the Company and the Duke of Buck- inghamy on the proportion claimed by the Duke, as Lord High Admiral, and by the King, of the prize-money taken at Ormus The Company^s servants at Sural released from corifinement, and trade revived, y. .... Additional Phirmaunds obtained for trade in Persia, in consequence of King James's letter to the King Tyrannical pro- ceedings of Carpentier, the Dutch Governor General at Batavia Account of the massacre at Amboyna Remonstrance of the English President and Council of Batavia to the Dutch Governor General on this atrocity The Factory at Japan withdrawn Project of opening trade in the dominions of the King of Tanjore. 1624-5. — Company petition the King for authority to try their ser^ vatits, by common, and by martial law Effect of this authority on the Company^ s equipments Memorial of Sir Robert Shirley for a treaty between England and Persia Objections of the Company to Sir Robert Shirley's project Company petition the King for redress for the massacre at Amboyna, and appointment of a Committee of the Privy Council to investigate the business Negotiation between the King and the States General on the same subject State of the public feeling, and that of the Company, on this occasion^ Death of King James. The Presidency of Surat propose to remove to Dabul, on account of the oppressions of the Governor Trade in Persia depressed by the native merchants An SAST-INDIACOIICPANT. 8/ j4n Agent sent from Surat to Gfnnbroon, to report on the prac* ^HAP. L Contents. ticability of continuing the Persian Trade Compamfs servants retire from Batavia to the Island of Lagundy. 1625-6. — The measures for obtaining redress from the Dutch sus- pended during the frst year of King Charles /•.... 2%e Presidency of Surat postpone their plan of retiring to DabuL The Com- pany's servants abandon Lagundy, and return to Batavia* • • . • • The King of Bantam offers his protection Tlie Dutch engross the trade at Acheen and Jambee The English President and Council ai Batavia dispatch one of their servants to fx a factory at Armagon, on the Coromandel Coast. 1626-7. — JTie equipments considerable, from the Company's ex- pectation of protection from the Crown Company erect powder^ mills Sir Robert Shirley demands a compensation from the Company y which is re/used., Unsuccessful attempt of the English and Dutch, at Surat, to surprise Mocha and Bombay. « . . . • Critical situation of the Company's trade in Persia^ 1627-8. — Company petition the King for his interposition with the States General. Three Dutch homeward-bound ships detained at Portsmouth, till redress be afforded. . . • . • Company^ s equipment and stock this season on a limited scale. ..... Report of the English Pre- sident and Council at Batavia, on the expedients proposed for re-esta- blishing the southern trade. 1628-9. 88 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. 16128-9. — Company petition the House of Commons for redress from Contents. ^^^ jyutch Tlie King interposes with the States General in favor of the Company The States propose the London Company should send an Agent to Holland^ to be present at their judicial proceedings Dutch Ships released, on condition that Commissioners should be sent to England. Opinion of Sir John Coke on this subject Company refuse to send their evidences to Holland. Equipments for the season The Presidency of Sural dispatch a feet to cruize in the Persian Gulf and on the Malabar Coast State of the trade in Persia Armagon fortified, and the factory at Masulipatam removed to it,.^... English President and Council at Batavia remove to Bantam. 1629-30.— iVo redress obtained from the Dutch The equip^ ments of this year consigned tq Persia only Compamf petition the King for a renewal of their Charter with additional privileges The Presidency of Surat obtains a new PMrmaund from the Mogul, on condition of assisting him against the Portuguese Armagon becomes the principal English station on the Coromandel Coast Company s factory reestablished at Bantam. 1630-1. — Political situation of England at this period...... Company petition for licence to export foreign bullion. ..... Company's trade at Surat depressed by the Dutch Company^s ships attacked by the Portuguese feet, at Swally, and in the Gulf of Persia The Phirmaunds for trade in Persia rendered void by the death of Shah EAST-INDIACOMPANY. 89 Shah Abbas. \ .... The Factors on the Coromandel Coast propose to CHAP. l. resettle at MasuUpatam The Presidency of Bantam reduced to ^^^^^^•^ an Agency y subordinate to Surat. l6dl-2. — EstablishmetU of the Third Joint Stock. ..... Regulations for the administration of the Company's affairs King's proclama* Hon against the private trade of the Company's officers. ..... Com- pany's trade depressed on the West of India, in consequence of a famine : • • • % / Company's privileges in Persia renewed and confirmed by the new King, Shah SephL • • • . . The trade at Bantam depressed from the want of stq>plies from the Coromandel Coast. 1632'^ c^Prefudicial effects of the disputes regarding the internal administrqiion of the Company's affairs The Company obliged to assist the Khan of Shiras, in an attempt to drive the Portuguese from Muscat Phirmaund obtained from the King of Golcondah, allowing the Company to re-^establish their Factory at MasuUpatam. ..... Trade at Bantam precariousy from the opposition of the Dutch, and the reduced rank of the Agency. 1633-4. — Conferences between the Privy Council and the Dutch Amr- bassador, for adjusting the differences between the London and Dutch Companies. . . . Decision of the Privy Council. . . . Phirmaund obtained from the Mogul, allowing the Company to trade to Pipley, in Bengal. . . .. The Trade in Persia practicable only by Contracts with the King. 1634-5. — The disputes between the King and Parliament render redress to the Company from the Dutch hopeless The Council of VOL. I. . N Surat do ANNALS OF THE H0NORABL9 * CHAP. I. Surat acknowledge having been engaged in private trade Truce Contents, i^f^^en the Vicei^oy of Goa and the Presidency of Surat Trade in Persia precarious ^ from the character of the King. ..... Additional Phirmaund obtained from the King of GolOnuUA, fbr the extension of the English trade The Agency at Masulipatam first attempt the trade to Bengal^ on the basis of the Phirmaund obtained froim the Mogul in the preceding year The Agency at Bantam restortd to the rank of a Presidency, and the Agencies on the Coast, and in Bengal, made subordinate to it. 1635-6. — Sir ff^lliam Courlen ohtmns a Ueenee fhmn the King to form an Association for Trade to India Ckk^^ai^\petitim the King against this licence, as an infringement on their chartered privileges. • • . • » Compamfs equipment limited, and their instructions general to their foreign settlements The Presidency of Surat form a convention with the Viceroy of Goa .\ The Presidency of Bantam recommend, that the fortifications at Armagon should be strengthened. 1636-7. — Company disapprove of the convention with the Portuguese, and petition that a declaration should be obtained from the Crown of Spain, admitting their rights Company petition the King for re-- dress for the depredations of Courteris ships in the East-Indies. • . . . ; The Privy Council delay taking the stibject into consideration, but re- commend that letters should be written by the King to the Governor of Surat, disavowing these depredations. Ttds event the source of the subsequent piracies in India. . • • . • The trade at Surat suspended by the interference £AST-INDIA COMPANY. 91 interference of Courteris ships Correspondence between the Presi- CHAP. I. dent of Surat and Captain fFeddel, commander of Courten's ships. .... ^^^^«'>^»- New contract for silk, with the King of Persia The trade on the Coromandel Coast begins to be productive The Presidency of Ban^ tarn open a trade for pepper at Palambang and at Banjarmassin. 1637-8. — Privileges, nearly equal to those of the Company, con- f erred on Courten Compamfs petition and remonstrafice to the Crown, for relief, referred to the Attorney General and others, to report; -^but the grant to Courten confirmed ; — and the Company enjoined not to trade at the ports where Courten had established Factories Despondena/ of the Directors on this occasion Their order to the Surat Presidency to persevere in the trade. - • . . . Depressed state of the Companjfs trade in this year, from the interferences of Captain fVeddel ... ,. .Frauds of Agent Gribson in Persia President Fremliris report on the Persian trade. 1638-9. — Company petition the King for an arrangement of their trade with the Dutch, and with Courtevls Association. Referred to a Committee of the Privy Council, to suggest a plan for an union between the Company and Courtevis Association. ..... Present a second petition, when the King promise to renew their Charter Statement of losses sustained from the Dutch. . . . . . Effect of the proceedings of Captain JVeddel on the Company's trade. Presidency of Sura4 mediate in a peace between the Mogul qnd Portuguese . . New silk contract in Persia. ..... Armagon found an unfoinnrahle station for tra^jle. N 2 1639-40.— 92 ANNALS OF THE HONOKABLE CHAP. I. 1639-40. — Company renew their petitions to the King and Council Contents. King resolves to revohe CourterHs licence^ and to renew the Com- panj/s Charter y on condition of their raising a new Joint Stock. . . • . . Conditions of the projected Fourth Joint Stock Trade at Surat depressed by the Dutch searching Company^ s ships for Portuguese pro- perty, and by CourtevUs shipping. . . • • . Effect of the new regulations for the Persian trade Phirmdund obtained from the King of Got- condah for additional privileges of trade at Masulipatam The Naig of Madraspatam offers permission to the English to settle at that port J and the Portuguese at St. Thomi friendly to the project* 1 640-1. — The necessities of the Crown oblige the King to take the Company's store of pepper on credit, and to sell it at a reduced price ...... Report to the King on the failure of the profited subscription for a Fourth Joint Stocky and petition for redress of grievances Emr barrassment of trade at Surat ^ and in Persia, by, CaurtetCs Agents and the Dutch Trade opened at Bussorah Madras taken posses- sion of by the Company^ s Agent y on a grant fo^om the Naig of the dis>- tricty and Fort St. George erected. ...... The President and Council of Bantam make exertions to preserve that trade. l64l-2>— Z%e appearances of Civil War render the applications of the Company to the Croum unavailing. ...... Q^pany apply to Lord Cottington, and to the House tf Commons, for payment of the bonds granted by the King^ as security for the pdpper debt. ..... The Presi- « dency of Surat ^ on hearing of the separation of the Crowns of Portugal and BAST-INDIA CO MP ANY. 93 and Spaitiy form a convention with the Ficeroy of Goa^ for mutual CHAP. I. defence Trade in Persia precarious^ from its being unJcnoumy wh^- Contend. ther its King intended to protect the Company or Courten^s Association The Agency at Fort St. George rendered subordinate to Bantam . . • . • Presidency of Bantam borrow money from Portuguese Merchants, to purchase an investment. 1642-3. — Commencement of the Civil fVar. ..... Company dis- tressed by the iion-payment of the bonds for pepper Treasury propose to sell certain Crown lands to pay off* these bonds Sub- scriptions for the First General Voyage The trade at Suratrevived, on receiving information of the subscription. • . . . . Accession of Sultan Abbas to the throne of Persia, and measures adopted for reneimng the Phirmaunds First regular communications from Madras, and from Bengal. ..... Statement of the respective interests of the Third Joint Stock, and First General Voyage, at Bantam. 1643-4. — Effect of the Civil Wars on the Company^ s equipments and trade The trade chiefly directed to the Malabar and Coromandel Coasts Competition between the English and Dutch, for obtaining Phirmaunds from the Mogul and from his sons Jealousy if the Dutch, of the connexion of the English tvith the Portuguese The Courts orders for the Persian trade, from the situation of that country, could not be complied tvith. . ; • . . TTie trade between Madras, Bengal, and Bantam, preserved. 1644-5. — Ihe East-India trade affected by the continuation of the Civil fVdrs Discretionary orders given for the provision of invest- ments 94 ANKALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. fnents Surgeon BougktorCs influence at the MoguFs court, the Contents, fneans of cor^rming the English trade in Bengal. Dutch form a convention with the Portuguese at Goa Persian trade decreased, from silk not being so much u)orn in England as formerly/ Affairs at Fort St. George assume a promising aspect, 1643-6. — The Civil Wars render the sales of Indian produce uncer^ tain The convention between the Dutch and Portuguese depressed the trade between Sural and Goa The Dutch obtained fovorable Phirmaunds from the King of Persia, from having a large feet in the Persian Gulf. Phimmund solicited from the King of Golcondah far confirming the grant of Madras to the English. 1646-7. — The regular Government of England being overset, the Company^ s equipments were small, and the instructions discretionary The effect of the competition in the Sural trade, between the English and Dutch, obliged both parties to come to an accommodation Courten's Association form a colony at Madagascar, which ruins their trade New Phirmaunds obtained in Persia, but the Company^s trade depressed by CourterCs skips at Gombroon. 1647 8. — Company, with the approbation of the Parliament, project a new Subscription The English trade in Sural, and in Persia, in- jured by the Dutch imports of pepper and the finer spices Trade at Madras depressed by a famine and not receiving pepper from Bantam. 1648-9. — The fall of the Monarchy obliged the Company to act with secrecy in their equipments and stoch Trade at Sural revives, from the EAST-INDIACOMPANT, 95 the tmr between the Moguls and Persians The trade at Madras CHAP. I . affected by the wars between the Kings of Visiapore and Golcondah onienu. Trade at Bantam almost suspended for want of funds. . 1649-50. — Establishment of the Council of State A Fourth Joint Stock projected by the Company , as the basis of an application to the Council of State, for the renewal of their privileges Company^ s memorial to the Council of State, specifying their losses by Courten's Association and the Assada Merchants An union between the Com- pany and the Assada Merchants recommended by the Council of State Objections of the Assada Merchants to this union Company s answer to these objections. An union between the Company and the Assada Merchants agreed on Application of the Company to Par- Kamentfor an act confirming their privileges, on the basis of this union An United Joint Stock formed for this mixed trade. Equip- ments and instructions of the Court to their foreign settlements Difficidties of the Agents and Factors abroad, in appropriating the mixed funds of the Proprietors in the purchase of an investment TTie opposition, by Courteris ships, and by the Dutch, obstructed the- trade, though the stock received at Surat had lessened the debt. The Persian trade productive, but apprehensions entertained that the King would think unfavorably of the Company, from the calamities in England ...... Trade at Bantam depressed by the captures made by the Dutch. 1650-1. — Petition of the Company to Parliament for redress of grievances and compensation from the Dutch ; — referred to the Council of State 96 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAP. I. State Captain Blachnan appointed President ofSurat, with instruc- Contents, {(q^^ (q suppress private trade. Similar instructions given to the President and Council of Bantam TTie Presidency of Surdt obtain Phirmaunds from the Mogul for the enlargement of their privileges Company^ s credit at Surat improved, by a large receipt ofstocJc. . • • . The settlers on the Island of Assada offer to resign the plantation to the Pre- sidency of Surat Courteris Factors at Rajahpore, offer to transfer their factory to the Company The Persian trade and customs pre- carious, from the power of the Dutch in the Gulf ..... The trade at Madras, and Masulipatam, depressed, by the wars between the Kings of Visiapofre and Golcondah. The King of Golconddh proposes to form a joint coasting trade with the English. ...... The Portuguese, by inter- fering with the religion of the natives, expose the settlements^ the Europeans to great danger. 1651-2. — Commonwealth established, and a foreign war expedient to find employment for the fleets and armies. . . . Ccmpatky petition Par* Uament for redress of grievances from the Dutch ;'''Hindfor a fleet to protect their homeward-bound shipping ; — and authority to enforce obedi- ence in their servants in India Repeat their petition against the Dutch, accompanied mtk a statement of losses The investment at Surat limited, fmm an apprehension of a war with the Portuguese. .... The Persian trade and customs diminished by the large Dutch fleet at Gombroon The Council at Fort St. George remonstrate against the Courfs order for discontinuing the fortifications, as the Dutch had improved BAST-INDIACOMPANY. &J imprwed those at Pullicat Obtain a Phirmaund from the Nabobs CHAP. I. /or inland trade The Factors in Bengal obtain a Phirmaund for ^^^^^^^' trade, on payment of 3000 Rupees. 1652-3.*— -7%e Commonwealth confirmed, and applications of the Company, and of individuals, against the Dutch, encouraged by the Council of State Further petitions of the Company and of indi^ viduals to the Council of State, for redress from the Dutch ff^ar declared against Holland. ..... JTie accounts of the Fourth Joint Stock adjusted. The foreign Presidencies, and Agencies, vested with discretionary pouters. ..... The Presidency of Surat apply to the Mogul for protection against the Dutch. Obtain a Phirmaund for protection and increased privileges Recommend that Bombay and Bassein should be purchased from the Portuguese State of the trade in Per-- sia, before the intelligence of the Dutch war was received. After the Jcnowledge of that event reached Persia Measures at Fort St. George J on receiving intelligence of the war with Holland. 1653-4.— 7%e Parliament dissolved, and Cromwell declared Pro- tector. Company petition Cromwell to be allowed to make reprisals on the Dutch, and propose to raise a subscription for that Purpose The Mogul refuses to interfere in the war between the English and Dutch Trade at Surat suspended, on the appearance of a Dutch fleet off Swally Four of the Company^ s ships captured by the Dutch in the Gulf of Persia The Company^ s property removed from Bussorah to Gombroon. ^ . . . Fort St. George made a Presidency. ..... Inland VOL. I. O trade 98 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. trade on the Coast of Coromandel impracticable ^ from the convulsed Contents. ^/^^^ q^ fj^^ country ; and coasting trade hazardous^ from the superior force of the Dutch Fort St. George the only security to the £ng^ lish tirade on the Coromandel Coast. • . . . . The connexion between Madras and Bengal kept open Trade at Bantam nearly suspended^ on account of the war with the Dutch. 1654-&. — The Parliament summoned by Cromwell, beginning to ques- tion his authority 9 dissolved Company petition Cromwell, that Bassein and Bombay might be ceded to them. Treaty of Westminster , between England and Holland. Articles in this treaty, ascertaining the Com^ pany^s rights, and compensation for their losses Proceedings of the Commissioners appointed under this ti^eaty, to ascertain the respective claims of the London and Dutch East-India Companies. . .. . . Their award. TTie Adventurers in the United Joint Stock, joined with the Assada Merchants, petition the Council of State, that the trade to the East'Indies should be carried on by an open Company, each member having liberty to employ his own stock and shipping. . • . • . Answer of the East- India Company to this petition Reply of the Merchant Adventurers to the Company's answer The petitions and replies referred to a Select Committee of the Council of State, who remit the subject to the consideration of the whole Council of State. ..... The Company send orders to all their foreign settlements to reduce their establishments. .... TTie Merchant Adventurers ft out ships for India, and petition the Coun^ cil of State for liberty to export foreign bullion Expedients used by EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 99 hy the Presidency of Surat to obtain small investments^ and preserve the CHAP I. Company's rights. ..... The Persian trade suspended^ from the navigation ^^'*^®"*•• between Gombroon and Surat being impeded by the Dutch The trade at Fort St. George at a stand, from the inland wars^ and the superior force of the Dutch Measures for reviving the trade at Bantam. 1655-6. — Political situation of England. Treaty with France^ and probability of war with Spain The Council of State postpone their decision on the petitions of the Company and of the Merchant Adven- turers The Proprietors of the Third and Fourth Joint StocJcs, and of the United Stock, petition the Protector and the Council of St ate ^ each claiming the exclusive right to the Island ofPolaroon, and to the ^85,000 obtained from the Dutch. ..... The petitions referred by the Council of* State to arbitrators y and the money vested in trustees, till a decision of the respective claims should be pronounced. .... The Protector proposes to the Company to borrow the jESbfiOO, who agree to lend him X50,000 Company order their foreign Settlements to call in all debts, and vest the amount infne goods and saltpetre. General account of the debts and credits of the United Joint Stock, on the 1st September l655 The Protector acknowledged the rights of the Company, but gave commissions to the Merchant Adventurers, who fitted out three ships for India These mixed events produce an opinion in Holland, that the East^ India Company Iiad been dissolved » The number of the Company's servants reduced at the foreign Settlements, and the Court referred,for an account if their affairs in India, to the verbal information of their servants, who had returned to England, rather than to written documents. O 2 1656-7. 100 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. 1656-7. — IVar with Spain and alliance with France The Conu Conienis. pani/ and the Merchaiit Adventurers allowed to proceed tvith their respec- tive equipments Company petition the Protector for confirmation of their Charter hy Act of Parliament This petition referred to the Council of St ate ^ hy whom it is referred to a Select Committee Report of this Select Committee^ again referring the subject to the whole Council of State Decision of the Council qfState, that the East-India trade should be carried on hy the Company y or an United Joint Stock This decision confirmed hy the Protector , who declared his intention to grant a new Cfuirter to the East- India Company Retrospect of the argu-^ ments of the Merchant Adventurers^ for an open trade to the East-Indies, as rejected hy the Protector Instructions sent by their Merchants to their commanders and factors in India^ on this rejection, The Pre- sidency of Sural suspend all tradcy till the question of the Company^ s right should he decided in England, This suspension of the English trade enabled the Dutch to conquer Ceylon and blockade Goa Effect of the interferences of the Merchant Adventurers on the trade of Sural ; — and in Persia The trade at Fort St. George depressed by the Mer^ chant Adventurers y and hy the first invasion of the Camatic, hy Sevagee; — and the trade at Bantam^ hy the Dutchy and hy the desertion of several of the Company^ s servants. 1657-8. — Unsettled state of England. Parliament assembled and dissolved. Union between the Company and the Merchant Adven- turers , and formation of a New Joint Stock. Adjustment y under this uniony of the claims on the quick and dead stock of the Company. ...... General EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 101 General meeting of the Proprietors ^ for adjusting the rights of the respec- CHAP. I. five stockholders. . . . , • Petition Cromwell to protect their settlements ^^"^c»'«- against the depredations of the Dutch j4 new system of adminis- tration formed for Suraty Fort St. George, and Bantam Trade at Sural at a stand hy the wars for the succession, on the death of the Mogul, Shah Jehan ; — and in Persia, from the projects of the King, for con^ quests in India. 1658-9.— Dea/A ^f Cromwell, and dissolution of the Protectorate * Council of Officers assume the sovereignty Measures adopt- ed hy the Company during this convulsed period. .... Equipments formed on the New Joint Stock, and instructions to the foreign Settlements Trade revived at Surat, and the Company^ s credit restored hy the New * Stock State of Trade at Fort St. George Bantam continued blockaded by the Dutch. 1659-60. — The Parliament, dismissed by Cromwell in l653, reassem- bled. The Company give their servants abroad discretionary powers, it being impracticable to send specific instruction The Presidency of Surat adopt measures for the safety of the homeward-bound shipping Recommend that some station should befxed on, at which the Company's property might be deposited, in cases of emergency Project of a plan for getting possession of Muscats Trade on the Coromandel Coast oh- structed by Sevagee's wars in Golcondah and Visiapore. . . . Trade in Ben- gal in a more favorable state Bantam still blockaded by the Dutch. 1660-1. — Restoration of King Charles IL . . . .^ Renewal of the ancient alliances between England and the Continental Powers Peace with 102 ANNALS, &C. CHAP. I. with Spain. ..... The States Gevergl send Commissioners to England, to Contents, renew the ti^eaties of alUame^ and to restore the Island qfPolaroon Polar oon desolated hy secret orders from the Governor of the Bandas. . • • . Company petition the King for redress^ and to he restored to their pro^ portion of the spice trade Company s instrtictions to their foreign Settlements Company pet it io7i the King for the restoration of their Charter y and exclusive privileges. ..... Substance of the Charter granted hy King Charles IT. to the Company, April 3, 1661 Rights con- ferred or restored hy this Charter Affairs at Sural nearly in the same state, as in the preceding season, but the plan of getting possession of Muscat had failed. Trade reviving at Fort St. George. ..... The factory at Hughly threatened by Meer Jumlah, the Mogul General, in consequence of the Agent having seized one of his junks. Results from the preceding detail of events, ascertaining the Com^ panys rights, from Elizabeth to Charles II. CHAPTER I. REVIEW OF THE ANNALS OF THE LONDON EAST -INDIA COMPANY, FROM ITS ESTABLISHMENT BY THE CHARTER OF QUEEN ELIZABETH (1600), TO THE RESTORATION OF ITS PRIVILEGES BY THE CHARTER OF KING CHARLES II. (1601). The progress of civilization in Europe, during the sixteenth CHAP. i. century, had been general, and nations had been assuming those The resour- CCS of the aspects, which necessarily unfolded, to each of them, their great monar- chies in Ea- comparative strength and resources. On the continent, regular rope, during the sixteenth armies had been established, and, with discipline, had become century, un* equal to the more formidable than the temporary martial levies, which feudal progress of civilization. sovereigns could bring into the field ; but those armies were only embodied in the powerful monarchies, which, from the absolute nature of their governments, could command resources for their maintenance. The resources from the royal demesnes, and feudal tenures. New resour- ces from the bore no proportion to the magnitude of military charges, and protection it 104 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. L it was to obtain larger resources, that encouragements began usefu/arts ^ to be given to the useful arts, and to trade ; — as a return for such and to trade: encouragements, simis of money were paid, and annual duties, or taxes, levied on the inhabitants of the towns which enjoyed protection ; — these duties, or taxes, the industrious artisans and traders willingly paid, as the price of the privileges, which, in progress of time, became more defined in their characters, and were known under the description of the rights of incorporations. Improvement For a series of years, industry had few objects, and was in navigation combined the employed oiily in improving, by art, the staple produce of trade in sta- ples with that kingdoms and states, for the consumption of the inhabitants. of foreign merx:handize. The extent of improvement, thus, was limited, and the value which it could contribute to the resources of a state, narrow, if not precarious. When this industry had been employed on the staples (wine, cloths, &xr.) of different nations, and had rendered them articles of luxury or of necessity, to neighbouring countries, the intercourse of states and kingdoms began to be enlarged, and enterprize to be engrafted on industry. This new aspect of civi- lizing Europe was happily seconded by the discoveries in mathe- matics, and the natural sciences, which facilitated navigation, and rendered the productions of the most distant countries, articles of necessity and luxury to each : — civilization of manners, thus, encouraged industry, and the numerous branches of industry ftimished articles which reciprocally favoured civilization, and brought forward the useful arts and sciences, which improved the one, and refined the other. France, Spain, and Germany, are examples, on the continent, of this progress of civilization and industry; SAST-IKDIA COMPANY* 105 iDdiistry ; and the discovery of America, and of the passage to chap. i. the East-Indies, are examples of the aids, which the spirit of enterprise drew from the discoveries in the usefiil arts and sciences, which facilitate the intercora«e between the continent of Europe and countries which had been, hitherto, unknown, or to which the Europeans had but partially rescMrted. England, during this progress, if it did not possess, inter- This m much nally, many articles which could become subjects of industry, the English on so extensive a scale aisthe crreateF continental monarchies and ibrdgncnde, ^ ^ asprobt^was States^ firou t\m very circumstance was stimulated to enterj^zes, of Enghsh £Dr obtaining the produce oi athet countries, to become the materials upon which industry could be exerted,, or ingenuity empk^ed,. to increase the assortments required in trade, by adding to its staples the productk>ns of its manufactures : — by this expe- dient, England augmented its means for commerce, and the Ei^&ih mvchants csombined st^^ wiA foreign merchandize, in tbcir assortments of cargoesw l4 wtt» in this stage of Engliish industry, of useful arts,, of eommerce^ and of navigation, that we discover the gradual rise of a neiw principle, derived from probity a mercantile dealings, 0t tte principle of credit, which, for a time, experienced compe- tilions among the commercial and maritime powers of Europe, Ibiwt, ultimately, became proverbial :— navigation and commerce, by degrees, extended credit, and as^^ that of lAie English mer- ehants b^an to be better understood, its superiority was gradu- ^y recognised. The resources of the kingdom, by these means, Deoessarfly increased with its mercantile credit, and its influ- VOI-..I P ence lOff ANNALS OF THE HONOBAITLB CHAP. r. ence was admitted in the balance of power establishing, at this period, among the European nations. At one time it appeared as a check upon the ambitious projects of universal monarchy ; at another, it was the arbiter of the reciprocal projects of nations for aggrandizement : — the first was the state of Etigland, during, the reign of Henry VIII. ; the second, its state, during the long and able administration of Queen Elizabeth. Associations The spirit of enterprise in distant trade, which had; for a in England ^ '^ ' ' - foreiLtending ceutury, brought large rcsourccs to Spain and to Portugal, could and credit. ^^^ |j^^ difiuse itsclf, as a new principle, in the rising commerce of England : whence associations were b^inning to be fwmed^ the joint credit of which was to support experiments, for esctendio^ the trade of therealm» Establish- During the reign of Edward VI., the first instances occurred Russia^ ^ of voyages of discovery receiving the protectiim of the crown to ompany. ^j^^ adventurers, who were to embark thdr property in commercial schemes to the Northern parts of Europe ; and though the death of this young monarch took place, before a charter was granted to the Russia Company, this charter, which had recdved his encou- ragement, was obtained from Philip and Mary, in the year 1554-5, under the name of The Merchant Adventurers far the Discovery of Lands^ Countries^ IsleSy ^c, not before known to the English. As this project was supported by the first nobility and officers of state, the Company assumed a regular system of admi- nistration, by having a Governor (Sebastian Cabot) and twenty- eight persons, of whom four were to be ccmsuls, and twenty-four assistants^ EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 10/ assistants, and to have perpetual succession, and a common chap^, seal.(^) In the last year of Queen Mary's reign, the trade of this Company extended through Russia into Persia, to obtain raw- silk, &c. It was in the prosecution of this branch of the trade, that the adventurers met w^ith merchants from India and China, from whom a knowledge of the productions of those countries, and the profits of them in trade, was communicated, on their return to Enghmd. Queen Elizabeth, towards the latter years of her reign, when Establish- ment of tho the struggle she had to maintain with the continental powers, Levant, or ^® ^ ^ Turkey Corn- called for new and more enlarged resources, gave similar en- pany. couragements to a new mercantile association, or the Levant Company, having, previously to granting them a charter, settled preUminaries at Constantinople, for protection to her subjects, trading to Turkey. In the charter to this Company, in 1581, it was specified, that it was given " to obtain a good vent for the ^^ commodities of the realm, to the advancement of her honor and " dignity, and the increase of her revenue'' ; and it is remarkable, that the provisions in this charter, viz^ that the exclusive grant might be revoked, on one year's previous notice, and, if profitable to the kingdom, that it should be renewed at the end of seven years, afford the first instance of that cautious policy, with which the Queen conferred commercial privileges on her subjects. W P2 The (1)— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii. page 98. (2)— Ibid pages 152, 153. 108 ANNAJLS OF THB HONOSABLE CHAP. I. The Levant^ or Turkey Company, in the prosecution of The informa- their trade, having sent merchants, with cloths, from Aleppo to tion derived ^ ^ rr from tbeie Bagdat, and thence down the Persian Gulf, attempted to open the di^ °^ ®^ overland trade to the East-Indies, and having obtained tween* En- ^^^^ articles at Agra, Lahore, Bengal, and even at Malacca, fiit-indt^?* on their return to England, brought information of the riches to be acquired by a trade to the East-Indies. This inf(»ination first gave rise to llie project of opening a communication, by sea, between England and Asia. <^> Discoveries The imjMTession which this information had created, was of Drake and ^ o* • Cavendish, encouraged, previously to this time, by the voyage of Sur Francis Drake round the world, from 1577 to 1580, who, wk& five shqps, had navigated the Straits of Magellan, with tibe object 0f making prizes of the rich Spanish ships in the South Seas, and who, to avdd the Spanish criiizers, had returned to EiHt^, by the Moluccas and the Gape of Good EUipe. The example of Sir Francis Drake was fdknved, m 1S86, by Mr. Thomas Cavendish, who, in like mamier, navigated the Straits erf* Ma- I^Uan, and returned by ihe Cape of Good Hope. The wealth which these celebrated navigators brought to England in g(dd, silver, &c., though detained by making prises ^ the Spanish vessels, induced the English merdliants to form the opmion, tiiat, great profits and national advantages nught be ao^piired, by fitting out ships to fcXiow a direct tfade to Lidia, and, by sales or purchases, to increase die commerce, and improve the navigaticm, of the realm ;— and, besides, that they BUght have the (1)— Andenon'f Kitiofy of Gommeitej vd. ik pigd X7d« EAST-INDIA COMPANY^ 109 the chance of making prizes from the Portuguese and Spaniards^ chap. i. which would defray, in part^ the charges of the equipments. That this was a prevailing disposition among the English 1539. merchants at this time, appears Ifirom a memorial presented to |he Engi^^^^ the Lords of Council, in October 1589, Which is introduced ^^'i^X with a survey of the Portuguese settlements on the Malabar and ^tb^fo^per* Coromandel Coasts, their occupation of Malacca, and the ^^*Xp« to Bajadas and Moluccas, and which infers, that, in the countries ^ ^^' bordering on the Indian and China Seas, and in the peninsida of India, there were many ports which might be visited with ad- vantage by English ships, at which sales might be made of English cloths, and other staple and manufactured arddies, and purchases obtained of the produce of diose countries ; and concluded, that such a trade would, by d^rees, add to the shipping and seamen of the kingdom^ and to its naval foroe^ in the same manner as the Portuguese fleets had been increased :— They, therefore, requested the Queen's licence for three diips, the Royid Merchant^ the Susan, and the Edward, and three pinnaces, to be equipped, and protected in this trade, without being subject to any other condition, tihian that of the payment of the duties of customs on their return. (^> This memorial appears to have been favorably received, as, 1591. Captain Ray* in 1591, Capt^ Raymond, with three ships, was sent on this mond's ex- . ^ periroent of experimient ; apd although losses by sea disappointed the ad- trade to the £ast-Indief^ venturers in jtheir. speculfitjon, the knowledge which Captain in isgx. l^vicaster^ the survivor, had acquired of the practicability of the (I)— jyiemorial of divers Merchabti to the JLords of tbeConncU^ regarding the East- India Trade, Octqker 1589. (Egat-India Papers in the State Paper Office, vol. i. No. 2. (1 A).) dip ANNALS OP THE HONOAABLlEi CHAP. I* the scheme^ encouraged other adventurers, subsequently, to embark in a similar project. (0 1596. Though there does not . remain any account of equipments, Adam'and ^^ stock, of any adventure from England to the East-Indies, ^row?of * ^™ *^^^ period till 1596, it appears that, in this year, one or CbiM* iu more ships were prepared for a trade to China ; as Queen i'c^ueeni Elizabeth granted her letters of recommendation to the Emperor Emperorlir ^^ China, to Bichard Adam and Tliomas Bromfeildy merchants eir avor. ^^ citizcus of Loudou. It is memorable, that in this letter, besides reconunending those merchants to the Emperor's pro* tection, and vouching for the probity of their dealings, the Queen expressed her desire to be informed, through them, of those institutions, by nrhich the«npire of China had become so celebrated for the encouragement of trade; and, in return, offered the fullest protection to the subjects of China, '^ should they be disposed to open a trade, to any of the ports in her dominions. 'C^) 1599. Whether it was from the information cdlected from these of the Dutch detached voyages to the East-Indies, frt)m the example of the contract of ossociatious, which have been specified, as having received the the LondoD • i? i Adventurers, protection of the crowu, or from the Dutch, at this juncture, in 15SQ9 fpr a voyage to forming associations for a trade to the East-Indies, it is the £aftt-In- dies,onajoint impossible to decide; but it is probable, that the whole of iobfcription. these circumstances had the efiect, in 1599, to bring forward an association of Merchant Adventurers, to embark, what was then considered (1) — Anderson*! History of Commerce^ vol. ii, page 180. (2)-r (Draft). Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the Emperor of Cfaina^ dated at Greeawich, xGth July 1596. (East-India Papers in the State Papor Office^ Tol. i, No. 2). BAST-INDIA COMPANY. Ill considered a large stock, on a voyage to the East-Indies. The ^^^ ^_l ' contract of these Adventurers, citizens of London, is valuable, 1599. from its being the first authentic deed which occurs in the annals of our East-India trade ; — it is intitled, *^ The names of suche " psons as have written with there owne handes, to venter in the " ptended voiage to the Easte-Indias (the whiche it maie please *^ the Lorde to prosper), and the somes that they will adventure ; *^ the xxij September 1599/' (*> The fund subscribed amounted to ^30,133. 6s. 8rf., which was divided into one hundred and one shares or adventures, the subscriptions of individuals varying from ^100 to ^3000. On the 24th September 1599, a general meeting of these — whoap* 1111 i/»i-i !• point Com- adventwers was held, the result of which was, a resolution to mittec-mcn. . orDircctori, apply to the Queen, for her royal assent to a project, " intend- " ed for the honor of their native country, and the advance- ^^ ment of trade and merchandize within the realm of England ; ^^ and to set forth a voyage this year to the East-Indies, and ^^ other islands and countries thereabouts :"— a description which shows, that the project was general, and intended for opening a trade, at any of the ports in the East-Indies, at which it might be practicable to sell Europe, or purchase Indian produce. The precision with which the first general regulations were drawn, discovers that the project had already been matured^ and prepa- red to be carried into immediate execution. The first measure was to prevent the funds from being con- tributed (1)— M.S. in the Indian Register 0£5cej East-India House, marked 9, bound in green canvas^ being minutes of the First Courts of Adventurers for trade to the East-Indies. 112. ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLB CHAP I ^ri^'^^^^d ^^ "^y ^^^^^ ^^"^ ^^^^ money ; for it was agreed, that "iTqT^ no ship shotdd be received as the stock of any adventurer : — the next measure was, to place the management of the business in fifteen Committee-men, or Directws, who were appointed to prepare and regulate the projected voyage ; — farther, to simplify the business, it was resolved, that the share of no future adventurer should be less than «£2009 and that a call should be inade of twelve per cent, on each share^ to be emjdoyed as an immediate fond, for the purchase and equipments of vessds for the voyage. <*> ^tition As evidence of the preparation which had been made, fb(r for a warrant speedily Carrying the objects of this a^fsociation into execution^ tbipfraod^ the Committees, or Directors, at their first meetbg, on the 25th S^ ' September 1599, divided themselves into two Ccmmiittees ;--to one of which was entrusted the means of devising an applica- tion to the Lords of the Privy Council^ for privfl^es : and to the other, the provision of shipping fw the intended voyage. A petition, at the same meeting, having beeta prepaired, was appro- ved of by the Courts which stated, that ^^ divQPs merchants^ induced by the successe of the viage performed by the Duche Nacon, and being informed that the Duchemen prepare for a new viage, and to that ende have bought divers ships here, in Englande, were stirred with noe lesse aliecSon to advaunce the trade of their native ooui^e^ than y^ Duche Aiierchauhts were to benefite ^eire eotemonwealtlie, and upofn y^ aflfecSon have resolved (1)— Minutes of AdTenturers, 34th September 1599, {InditD Register Office.) t€ 4i EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 113 " resolved to make a viage to the East Indias :*' — they therefore 9^^^' ^ ' requested, that they might be incorporated into a company, 1599. with succession ; " for that the trade of the Indies being soe ^^ remote, could not be traded on, but on a jointe and united " stock ;'* — that their shipping should not be stopped, ^^as the " delay of one monthe might lose a whole yeares viage ;''— that they might be allowed to export foreign coin, and if there should be a want of it, that bullion should be coined for them in the Queen's Mint ; — and that they should be exempted from payment of customs, for six voyages, on the ground that the Dutch mer- chants were exempted, for several years, from payment of customs, on export or import.^*) This petition having been favorably received by the Privy Council, a Committee was again appointed, on the 4th October 1599, to continue the solicitations of the Adventurers to their Lordships. On the 16th October, the Queen's approbation of the voyage having been signified, the Conmiittee were directed to endeavour to obtain from the Privy Council, a warrant for allowing the Adventurers to proceed on the voyage, and that they might have liberty to carry out five thousand poimds weight of bullion, as a stock for the trade ; and also to frame a draft of privileges, which the Directors, on a future occasion, were to request from Her Majesty. (2) The zeal with which the East-India Adventurers, and their Their voyage ^ . t • J- 1 retarded, by Committees opened their proceedmgs, was, for a time, checked a treaty pend- ing between Q by theQueenand the crown of (1)— Minutes, 25th September isgg. ^P^*"- (2)— Minutesj 4th and l6th October Isgg, 114 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE by one of ihose public events^ which discovers the necessity of private interests being accommodated to the state of public affairs. At this juncture^ the negotiations between Queen Elizabeth and the crown of Spain, were under the con- sideration of the respective ministers of the two crowns, and aa any privileges, which the Queen might grant, must be accommo- dated to the teims of the treaty, the progress of the East-India voyage was, for a time, suspended. The Directors, however, anxious for the success of the undertaking, overlooked this public circumstance, and soUdted a warrant, that they might be allowed to proceed on the voyage, notwithstanding the treaty which was negotiating ; — but their petition was refused by the Privy Council, on the ground that ^^ it was more beneficiall for the generall state of merchandize to entertayne a peace, then that the same should be hindred, by the standing w^ y^ Spanishe <^ comissions, for the mayntayning of this trade, to forgoe the ^^ oportunety of the concluding of the peace ; whereuppon the Adventurors, fearing lest, after they were drawen into a charg, they shuld be required to desist ther viage, did proceade noe ^^ further in the matter, for this yere, but did enter into the " preparacon of a viage the next yere followinge."<*) Their memo- This event, instead of damping the spirit of enterprise by rial, dis- tingushing which those Advcuturcrs were animated, tended only to induce the Countries in the Indies them to make the most minute inquiries into the actual state of to which the Spanifth-Por- the couutrics to which the Spaniards might claim an exclusive trade. toguese had " trade, from j^ the Spanish commissioners ixdght refuse to ffive information on those in ^ ^ ^ which trade this might be ^^^"^ ' (n— Minntd of Cowt, October 1599, 4€ £ AST-INDIA COMPANY. 115 subject, the Adventurers presented a memorial to the Queen CHAP. i. and Privy Council, describing the countries or ports, to the 1599. commerce of which Spain could not pretend an exclusive right ; and, on the basis of this information, rested their petition for the Queen's licence, or grant, for permission to her subjects to trade to the East-Indies,without involving her in any questions which either might postpone, or could prevent the conclusion of the pending treaty between England and Spain. As this memorial compreh^oids more full information on the subject, than could have been expect- ed, at this early period of gec^raphical and historical knowledge, it is, in itself, an authenticated view of the grounds upon which the Queen^ and the Lords of the Council, listened to the petition of the Adventurers, and forms an interesting link in the annals of East-India trade, and is, as follows : —• ^^ Certayne Reasons^ why the English Marchants may trade into ^^ the JEast^IndieSy especially to such rich kingdoms anddomi* *^ nions as are not subjecte to the Kinge 6f Spayne and Por-- " tvgal; together vMh the true limits of the Portttgals con^ *^ quest and jurisdiction in those oriental parts. " Whereas, Right Honorable, upon a treatie of peace be- ^* tweene the crownes of England and Spa3rne like to ensue, yt is ^^ not to be doubted, but that greate exception wil bee taken " agaynst the intended voyage of Her MaH** subjects into the '^ East-Indies, by the Cape of Buena Speran9a ; therefore the ^^ Adventurers in the sayd intended voyage most humbly crave, Q 2 ''at it 116 ANKAXS or THE HONOBABLK ^^ at yo' Honors hands, to take perfecte knowledge of these fewe " considerations underwritten. " First, they desire, that it wold please yo' Honors to urge ^^ the comissioners of the Spanish peace, to put downe, under ^^ their hands, the names of al such islands, cities, townes, '^ places, castels, and fortresses, as they are actually, at this present, possessed of, from the sayd Cape of Buena Speran9a, along the Cost of Africa, on the Cost of Arabia, in the East- ^' Indies, the Malucos, and other oriental parts of the world * ^^ which, if they may bee drawne trulyandfaythfully toputdowne^ ^^ so that wee cannot be able, manifestly, to prove the contrarie, ** then wil wee be content, in noe sort, to disturbe nor molest ^' them, whersoever they are aheadie comanders and in actual " authoritie. ^* Secondly, if they wil not, by any meanes, bee drawne to " this themselves, then wee, for yo' Lordshippes perfect instruc- <^ tion in this behalfe, wil take the paynes to doe it for them. " Yt may please yo' honors, therefore,, to understand, that these << bee al the islands, cities, townes, places, castles, and fortresses, ^^ whereof they be, at this present, actual coihaunders, beyond ^^ the Cape of Buena Speran9a, eastward. " On the Coste of Africa : ^^ Sofala, or Zefala, ^^ Masambique, '' Sena. €i In EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 117 " In the Mouth of the Pe7^sia7i Gulfe : " Ormuz. " FVom the Persian Gulfe along the Coste of India, Southward : " Diu, ^* Damaon, " Ba9aim '' Chaul, " Goa,the seat of the viceroy '' Onor, *^ Bar9elor " Mangalor^ " Cananor^ *^ Cranganor, '' Cochin, ^* Coulaom, St, Thom6, or Malipur Negapatam, Manar, Colombo^ inCeilon, Malaca, Maluco, orTidore, Amboyna, Macao, Manilla, in the island of " Lu9on, one of the Philip- ** pinas, and certayne other ^^ forts upon that island. it €6 66 66 66 66 66 ^^ Thirdly, althe places which are under their government and comaund being thus exactly and truely put downe, and wee being able to avouch it to be so, by many evident and in- vincible proofes, and some eye-witnesses, if need require ; yt then remayneth, that al the rest rich kingdoms and islands of the East, which are in number very many, are out of their power and jurisdiction, and free for any other princes or people of the world to repayre unto, whome the soveraigne lords and governors of those territories Avil bee willing to admitte into their dominions : — a chiefe parte whereof are these here ensue- inge. The 118 ANNALS OF THE HONOSAB1.X " The blames of the chief e knoivne Islands and Kingdoms^ be- ^^ yand the Cape of JSuena SperangOy wholy out of the domi- " nion of the Portugalls and Spaniards, in the JEast, Southeast, ^^ and Northeast Parts of the World. ^^ The Isle of Madagascar, or San Lorenso, upon the " backeside of Africa. ^^ The Idngdoms of Orixa, Bengala^ and Aracan, in the " Gulfe of Bengala. ^^ The rich and mightie kingdome of Pegu. ^^ The kingdome of Jun9alaon. '^ The kingdome of Siam. *^ The kingdome of Camboia. ^^ The kingdome of Canchinchina. ^^ The most mightie and welthy empire of China. ^^ The rich and goulden island of Sumatra. ^^ The whole islands of Java Major, Java Minor, and Baly. ^^ The large and rich islands of Borneo, Celebes, Gilolo, *^ and Os Papuas. . ^^ The long tracte of Nova Guinea and the Isles of Solomon. ^^ The rich and innumerable islands of Malucos and the Spicerie, excepte the two smal isles of Tidore and Amboyno, where the the PortugaLs have only two smal forts. The large islands of Mindanao and Calamines. The goulden islands of the greate and smal Lequeos. The manifold and populos sylver islands of the Japones. The countrey of Coray, newely discovered to the north €C €€ €i if ii " east. i( In BAST-INDIA CDMPAKV^ 119 ^^ In all these, and infinite places more, abcnm£ng with chap. I- greate welth and riches, the Foitogales and Spaniards have « 11^ i€ ^^ not any castle, forte, blockhouse, or comaundment^ as wee iC are able prove by these authors or Mdtnesses following : €€ Portugalle Authors^ printed and written: ^^ Fernando Lopes de Castanneda, his larg volumes of y^ « " East-Indies. ^^ John Barros, his 3 decads df Asia. '* Antonio Galvano, of the Discoverours of the new World. '* Hieronymus Osorius, de rebus gestis Emanuelis Regis. " Duarte Sande, printed at Machao, in China, 1590. " The notable intercepted Register, or Matricola, of the ^^ whole government of the East-India, in the M adre de Deos, '' 1692. ^^ Spanish Authors pointed in Spayne : ^^ Gronsalvo de Oviedo, chronicler for the West-Indies to « Charles the V. ^^ John Gaetan. ^^ Francis Lopez de Gomara. " Italiens: ^^ The first volume of John Baptista Ramusius. *^ Caesar Frederic, which lived 18 yeres in y** Est-Indies, ^* and retum^s4581. Petrus J^laflfens, printed within these 7 yeres. / " Englishmen } \ i t / [ it 6i 120 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. L *^ JEngliskmen personally in the Mabicos^ Java^ and many other 1599. " parts of the Ea^t- Indies : " Sir Francis Drak's men, yet Uving, and his own writings ^^ printed. Mr. Thomas Candishe's Companye^^yet living, and his writings printed. " Mr. Ralph Fitche's travayles through most of the Portugal " Indies, in print. ^^ Mr. James Lancaster's and his companyes voyage, as farre ^^ as Malaca, printed. ^^ Hollanders : " John Huygen de Linschoten's worke, which lived above '' 7 yeres in India. " The first voyage of the Hollanders to Java and Baly, in ** printe. " The second voyage to Java, in Dutch and English. *^ The testimonie of William Pers, Englishman, with them " in y* sayd voyage. " The third retume of the Hollanders from the Est-Indies " this yere. " Fourthly, let them shewe any juste and laweful reasons, " voyd of afiection, and partialitie, why they should barre her <^ Ma^!"", and al other Christian princes and states, of the use of ^^ the vaste, wyde, and infinitely open ocean sea/ and of accesse ^^ to the territories and dominions of so many free, princes, kings, and EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 121 ^^ and potentates in the East^ in whose dominions they hare noe chap. i. ^^ more soveraign conf'amid or authorities then wee^ or anj 1599. " Christians whosoever." <*> The Queen was disposed to have the information contained —referred by * the Queen ta in this document^ fully examined^ before she granted the re- p^j^^^^^^f* quest of the Adventurers, and referred it to the celebrated ^''•• Fulke Grevile, to examine^ and give his opinion, on a subject of such national importance ; and if the memorial forms one link, in the events which led to the establishment of the London East-India Company, the answer of this distinguished person to Sir Francis Walsingham, becomes a second^ and a most in- teresting one, and is, as foUows :— S'. — ^You demaunde of me the names of ^ch kings as are absolute in the East, and either have warr, or traffique, ^^ w^^ the Kinge of Spaigne. I will beginne in Barbarie, with << the kingdoms of Fess and Morocco, w^^ have either of them *^ yj or vij pettie kingdoms imder them. Then followe the ^^ kingdoms of Gaulata, Tombuto, and Melly; wherof the ^^ firste is poore, and hath smale traffique ; the seconde populous, " and rich in corne and beasts, but wanteth salte, w^^ the Portu- ^^ gal supplieth ; the last hath store of come, flesh, and cotten- well, w^^ are carried into Spaigne in great abundance. The next is Guine, a greater and richer kingdome then the former, VOL. I. R *^ beinge (1) — ^Account of the Limits of the Portugals Jurisprudence in the £ait«>Indiei. (Eatt-InAia Pftperi^ in the State Paper Office^ No. 7.) £4 €1 122 ANNALS 07 ^ THB HONORAB£E ^^ beinge 500 myles in length ; and ther both Portngalls, French- ^' men, and . Netherlanders, use much trafScque. The Portu* ^^ galls hould a forte by the Cape of Tres Puntas, from whence " they take many Moores of that countrie prisonners, and make " them slaves, and are therfore much hated in Guine. Beyonde Guine is the mightie kingdome of Congo, wher the Portugalh have also trafficque, and a little forte called S^^ Paule : this ^* kinge^is hable to bringe 400"* armed men to the fielde. At ^Wne ryver Coanza b^nneth the kingdome of Angola, once ♦^ tributary x)f the Kinge of Congo, now absolute, and hable to ^^ levie a million of men in his owne countrie. In theis ptes the ^^ cheife trafficqg^e of the Portugalls and Spaniards is for slaves> ^^ whom they carry from hence by thowsands, to sell in other ^^ cuntries. From Angola, to the Cape of Bona Speranza, " alonge the coast, is the Kinge of Climbeby, and many other ^* pettie lordsy w^ admitt of noe tirafficque with strangers in their " dominions. Beyonde the Cape, to the ryver of Magnice, ^ lieth the kingdome of Buena, w^ hath some store of gotdde. /^ And at that ryver beginnetJi the kingdome of Sofala, w^ stretcheth alonge the sea to the ryver of Cuama, and is subject to the Portugall, onlie to avoyd the tyrrannie of the Kinge of M onomotapa, who is a mightie prince in the mayne, and hath manie legions of men and amazons, to guard his cuntrie. In ^' the mouth of Cuama the Portugalls have a forte, wher they ^^ traffique for gould^ yvorie, and amber, brought owt of Mono- ^^ motapa and cuntries adjoyning. At Cuama beginneth- the ^^ Utle kingdome of Angoscia ; and then the kingdome of Mo- sambique 4( EAST'INDIA COMPANY. 123 ^^ sambique, wher the ilands is possessed by the Portugalls^ and ^^ the Mayne, now divided almost into as many kingdomes, as " ther be townes. From the Cape of Bona Speranza to Mosam- " bique, the people are all heathens and idolaters; from ^^ Mosambique to the Red Sea^ al M aliometans, excepte a few " Christians planted there since the Portugals cominge. Before " Mosambique Ueth the greate iland of S'^Lam^ence, inhabited " by heathens^ and divided into fowre governments, wher they ^* have both mynes and other riches ; but never would traffique " w^ strangers, till of late the Portugalls beganne to use their ^^ havens, and carried from them amber, wax, sylver, copper, " rise, and other commodities, brought to them abord their " shipps, for otherwise they were not suffered to land in the ^^ iland. Ther be also many other ilands adjoyning, not yet " discovered. Beyonde Angoscia lye the kingdoms of Quiloa, ^^ Mombaza, and MeUnda, all possessed and wasted by the ^^ Portugalls : the people are still Mahometans ; and acknow- ^^ ledge the greate kingdome of Monemugi, ^y^^ lyeth behind " them in the continent, confyningw* NiUis, and Prester John. " That kinge also bartereth gold, sylver, copper, and ivory, for ^^ the cotton and lynnen w^^ the Portugalls doe bringe him. ^^ From Melinde to the Cape of Guardafuy are many petty " kingdoms, possessed by the white Mahometans, the cheif " whereof are Pate, Brava, Magadoxo, and Amffion* At the " said Cape the Portugalls yeerly lye in wayte for the Turkish ^* shippes, w^^ adventure to traffique without their Ucence,* ^^ houldinge themselves the only comaunders of these seas; R 2 From €4 124 jlnnals of the honobabjle '^ From the Cape to the mouth of the Red Sea^ are also many ^^ smale dominions of white Mahometans^ rich in goidd^ ^^ sylver^ ivory, and all kynd of victualls : and behind thes " cwitries> in the mayne, lyeth the great empire of Prester *' John, to whom the Portugalls (as some write) doe yeerly send '^ 8 shipps, laden w^^ all kynde of merchandise, and also furnish ** themselves w^^ many sayllers owt of his coast townes in the ^^ Red Sea. In the bottom of this sea, at a place called Sues, ^^ the Turckes build gallies, w^^ scoure all that coast, as far as ^^ Melinde, and everie yeere annoy the Portugalls exceadinge *^ much. Beyond the Red Sea, Arabia Faelix is governed by manie sultans of greate and alsolute power, both by sea and land, uppon the pointe therof standeth the rich and stronge ^^ cittie Aden, wher both Indians, Persians, iSSthiopians, Turkes, and Portugab, have exceadinge greate traffique« Beyond the Gujf of Persia that kinge possesseth all the coast, and hath great traffique w^^ the Portugals, w^^ pearles, carpetts, '^ and other rich comodities. The lie of Ormus lyeth in the mouth of this golf, and is subject to the Persians, but so that the Portugals hath a forte in it, and ther is the staple of all *^ India, Arabia, Persia, and Turkic, whither Christian m'chants '^ do also resort, from Aleppo and Tripolis^ twyse in the yeere. ^^ Beyonde the Persian lieth the kingdome of Cambaia, w^^ is the *^ fruitfullest of aU India, and hath exceedinge greate trafficque ; ^^ the Portugab possesse ther the towne of Dieu, scituate in an ^^ iland in the mouth of Indus^ wher he hath great trade w^^ the << Cambaians> aqd aU other nations in these ptes* Next is the '' cuntrie a u €€ U €€ EAST-INDIA COMPANY* 125 ^^ cuntrie of the M alabars^ who are the best souldiers of India^ and greatest enemies of the Portugals : it was once an entyer empier^ now divided into many kingdoms ; part is subject to the Queene of Baticola, who selleth greate store of pepper to the Portugals, at a towne called Onor, w^** they hould in her state ; the rest of Malabar is divided into fyve kingdoms, ^* Cochin, Chanonor, Choule, Coulon, and Calechut ; the last ^' was the greatest, but, by the assistance of the Portugals, *^ Cochin hath now prevayled above him. Beyonde the Malabars ^* is the kingdome of Narsinga, wher the Portugals also traffique ; then the kingdome of Orixen and Bengalen, by the ryver Granges^ as also of Aracan, Pegu, Siam, Tanassaria, '^ and Queda. The iland of Sumatra, or Taprobuna, is possessed by many kynges, enemies to the Portugals ; the cheif is the Kinge of Dachem, who besieged them in ^^ Malacca, and w^ his galHes stopped the passage of victualls ** and trafficke from China, Japan, and Molucco, till, by bl ^^ mayne fleete, the coast was cleared. The Kinge of Spaigne, ^^ in regarde of the importance of this passage, hath often* " resolved to conqoere Sumatra ; but yet nothinge is done. *^ The Kinges of Acheyn and Tor are, in lyke sorte, enemies to ^ the Portugals. The Philippinas belonged to the crowne of China, but, abandoned by him, were possessed by the Spaniards, who have trafficque ther w^^ the mrchants of China, which yeerly bring to them above 20 shippes, laden " w^^ all manner of wares, w^** they carry into New Spaine and ^^ Mexico. They trafficque also with the Chinois at Mackaa " and it €4 126 ANNALS OF THE H0N0RA3LB CHAP. I. ^^ and Japan. And, lastlie, at Groa, there is great resort of all 1599. *^ nations, from Arabia, Armenia, Persia, Cambaia, Bengala, ^^ Pegu, Siam, Malacca, Java, Molucca, and China, and the " Portugals suffer them all to lyve ther, after their owne man- ^^ ners and relligions ; only, for matter of justice, they are ruled " by the Portugall law. In the yeere 1584, many embassadours ^^ came to Groa from Persia, Cambaia, and the Malabars, and " concluded peace w**^ the Portugals ; 1586, the Arabians slew '' above 800 Portugals. " Theis collections I have made out of Osorius, Eden's ** Decads, and spetially owt of the voyages qf John Huighen, " havinge neyther meanes nor tyme to seak other helpes. This, " as it is, I recomend it unto yo"*, w*^ my love and good will: '^ From London, this X^^ of March 1599 (1600). " Yo' verie lovinge fmide, > ** FOULKE GrEVIL." <■) 1 fiOO '^^^ ^'^^^ general meeting of the Adventurers appears td The Queen's have been held at Founders' -Hall, on the 23d September 1600: consent to sr 7 the project of at which it was a^creed, " that, for the honor of their nativci the Adven- ° turerssig- « countric, and the advauucem^ of the trade of merchaundize, nified by the ' ' ^'\^ ^T^' " *^^y ^^^^ undertaken to sett forth a voiage for the discovery Mventeen ic Qf- ^^ trade of the East-Indyes ;'* and having obtained the men, or Di- Queen's consent, which was sicniified to the Adventurers by rectors, -^7-0 j ^^^^^ letters (1) — Report by the Right Hon. Foulke Grevil to the Secretary of State, respecting the places to whicb the English might trade in the Eait*Indies. (Eaat The activity of this Court, on its formation, may be judged Purchase siiips* of, from their having, on the 25th September, purchased the ship Susan for ^1,600; and this vessel, also (it is worth recording), was the first ship engaged in the service of the East-India Company. The terms on which the ship Susan was- purchased, affords evidence of the cautious frugality of the times, as the owners agreed to give a^800 for her, after her return from the first voyage. The next object of the Court was to specify a time, when- Call in one- third of the the third part of the stock which had been subscribed should be subscrip- tions. paid in to the general fund ;— and though the meeting, for this purpose, was held on the 26th September, the payments were directed to be made by the end of the month ; which short date for payment was the more necessary, as, at this meeting, it was agreed to purchase the ships Hector and Ascension. (2> On the 30th September 1600, a draft of the patent of Prepare a draft of a privileges to the Society of Adventurers to the East-Indies, patent of privileges. which had been prepared by a Mr. Altham (for which he was paid ^4), was read and approved of; (^> and ordered to be submitted to the Queen and Privy Council for approbation. In (1) — Minutes of a General Court of Adventurers, 23d September IGOO. (2) — ^Minutes, 25th and 26th September i600. (3) — Minutes, 30th September 16CX). 12B ANNALS OF THB HONORABLS CHAP. I. In this early stage of the business^ an erent occurred, which 1600. scarcely could have been expected, or an application of the Lord Treasurer, to the Court of Committees, recommending Sir Edward MIchelborne to be employed in the voyage ; and thus, before the Society of Adventurers had been constituted an East-India Company, that influence which, in the sequel, will be found to be equally adverse to the prosperity of their trade, and to the probity of their Directors, had its commencement. The Directors, however, notwithstanding the circumstance of their being as yet petitioners for their charter, had the firm- ness to resist an encroachment, which they considered would have the effect of obstructing the enterprize, and depriving them of the confidence of the proprietors. On consultation, they resolved ^^ not to employ any gentleman in any place of ^^ charge j^ and requested *^ that they might be allowed to sort ^^ theire business with men of their own qualitye, lest jthe sus- " picoon of the employm^ of gentlemen being taken hold uppon *^ by the generalitie, do dryve a greate number of the Adventu- *^ rers to withdraw their contributions.*' ^^ As the season was advancing, it became necessary to use dis- patch in taking up ships for the intended voyage. The ship, the Malice Scourge, which belonged to the Earl of Cumberland, was offered, on the 4th October 1600, to the Committees, for ^4,000, a sum which they deemed too large, but agreed to give <5^,500, which this nobleman refused ; but, on the following day, sold the vessel, with her stores, to the Society, for ^3,700. (^ On (1)— Minutes, 3d October iGOO. (2)— Mioutes, 4tb> 5tb, and 6th October 1600. BAST- INDIA COMPANY* 139 On the 8th of October 1600, the following shipping were ^Ji^]^- taken up, for the first voyage, and assigned over to five of the }^^:. *' •^ ^ ^ Take up ship- Committees, in trust for the Adventurers : f^k ^^^ tha ' firat voyage. Men. Tons. The Malice Scourge 200 600 The Hector 100 300 The Ascension 80 260 The Susan 80 240 A pinnace 40 100 500 1500 As the period of the voyage was calculated at twenty months, Amount of the charge for the provisions, it was computed, would amount goods for this voiraffe to ^6,600. 4^. lOd, and the investment, consisting of iron, tin (wrought and unwrought), lead, eighty pieces of broad- cloths of all colours, eighty pieces of Devonshire kersies, and one hundred pieces of Norwich stufi^, with smaller articles, intended for presents to the oiSEIcers at the ports at which the trade was to be opened, was computed at ^4,545, making toge* ther, exclusive of the price of the shipping, and the bullion, ^11,145. 48. lOd. The charges for the ofiSlcers commanding these ships, though not stated as a general article of expenditure, may be judged of, from the allowances granted to Captain Davis, appointed to the command of one of them, who was to have ^100, Wages, and ^200, on credit, for an adventure ; and, as an incitement to activity and zeal in the service, if, on his return, the profit of the voyage should yield two for one, he was to be VOL. I. S allowed 130 ANNALS OF THB HONORABLE CHARJ. allowed^SOO; if three for one, ^1,000; if four for one, ^1,600; 1600. and if five for one, ^2,000 ; or according to the mercantile ideas of the time, his remuneration was to correspond, in its amount, with his exertions and success. (^> First Gover- As the season advanced, the prospect of obtaining the nor and twenty. four patent of incorporation became more certain, Cfor, on the 30th Committees, *^ * 7 v ^ or Directors, Qctobcr 1600, it was sent to the Attomey-Greneral for his opini- ciecteci. 111 ^^^^ on) ; and it was resolved, at a general meeting of the Adventu* rers, that the management of the [af&irs of the concern should be conducted, in future, by twenty-four Committees, or Direc- tors, instead of seventeen. These twenty-four Directors were elected on the 30th October 1600, and Alderman Thomas Smith chosen the first Governor, whose name, with those of the other Directors, were to be inserted in the patent. It became obvious to this meeting of Adventurers, that as the business was now approaching to the incorporation of a com- pany, it would be expedient that each adventurer should pay up his subscription ; because, though the Privy Council had given^ th,eir consent to the voyage, the enterprize could not be underta- ken, without the certainty of the requisite funds : — and it is re* markable, that these payments were made by the whole of the Adventurers, with the exception of four only, who withdrew their subscriptions. The constitution and funds of the Society being thus provided for, the first meeting of the twenty-four Committees, or Directors,^ was held on the 31st October 1600. <^ The (I)— Minotes, 8tb October l600. (2)— Minntei^ dOth and 3Xst October l&O. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 131 The nearer the prospect of obtaining Letters Patent for the chap. i. Society, the more necessary it became for the Court to settle all 1600. those inferior arrangements, upon which the equipment and pro- gress of the voyage depended : — to the seamen, two months* pay was allowed in advance, to provide them with necessaries, and two months' pay, as an adventure, that they might have an inte- rest in the success of the undertaking. The crew for the Scourge (subsequently named the Red Dragon), was fixed at one hundred and eighty men ; for the Hector one hundred, for the Ascension, eighty ; and for the Susan, eighty ; making together four hun- dred and forty seamen. It was next settled, that thirty-six fac- tors, or super-cargoes, should be nominated for the voyage ; — three principal factors, or factors of the first class, who were to be allowed each s^lOO for equipment, and ,^200 as an adventure ; four factors of the second class, who were each to be allowed ^50 for equipment, and ^100 adventure ; four factors of the third class, who were to have 5^30 for equipment, and ^50 for an adventure ; and four factors of the fourth class, to be allowed ^20 each for equipment, and ^40 for adventure. These factors were each to give security for their fidelity, and for what was foreseen to be the greatest risk which the concern had to fear, that they would abstain from all private trader that being deemed, even at this time, the most probable source of breach of trust. (*> These measures appear to have occupied the attention of the Court of Committees for some time ; but as the certainty of ob- taining a Patent of Incorporation became more positive, a commit- S2 tee (I)— Miautes, 6tb, 7tb, lltb^ and 22d November 1600. 132 ANNALS OF TH£ HONORABLE ^^^l3' *^ ^^ appointed, to report on what letters it might be expedient 1600. to solicit from the Queen, to the princes and potentates in India, this being held to be the most obvious expedient for insuring a favorable reception, both to the ships, at the ports at which they might touch, and to the factors, who were to commence their commercial intercourse of sales and purchases* ^^^ A general For a similar reason, or the nearer approach of obtaining the meeting of *^ the Adiren- Patent, a ficeneral meetinc^ of the Adventurers was summoned, on turerscall in ^ ° ^ * the whole of the 8th December, to make up the fimd with which the voyage the subscript ... tioDs. ^as to be fitted out. At this meeting it was agreed, that the whole of the sum subscribed, by the Adventurers, should be paid in by the 13th of that month, and declared, as the shi^ were now ready to proceed to sea, that such of the subscribers as should not, at the preceding date, have paid in theur proportions, should be held to be liable for any losses that might happen, in consequence of the stipulated subscription not having been made good by them. <^> Appoint cap- The State of preparation in which the fleet at this time was^ and factors, required that the officers, who were to command the diflferent ships, should receive their commissions^ and have their respective ranks ascertained. Captain James Lancaster was appointed to the Red Dragon, and made General, or Admiral of the fleet ; and Captain Pavies, second in command, under the title of Pilot Major. Each of the ships had a factor of the first class on boards with a proportion of subordinate factors ; and that full provision might (1)— Minntes^ 4th December 1^00. (2)— Mioatet, 4tb and 6th December lOoa EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 133 might be made for this important part of the service, seven fac- chap, i. tors, without salary, were appointed to supply vacancies :— the 1600. amount of the security-bonds to be entered into by the factors was also fixed ; that for the factors of the first class being ^500 each; for the second class, 500 marks; for the third class, ^200; and for the fourth class, ^100. (^> The last transaction of the Society of Adventurers, adopting And a mark Y their own language, was, to order " that the goodes goods. '' shipped by the Companie, and the caskes, shaU be ^^ marked w^^ this gen'all marke, as in the mergent, and S^ ^^ that an iron be prepared, w^ shal make the saide '' marke. («)" That the sources, as well as the provisions of the charter of Precautions ' * of the Queen Queen Elizabeth, may be ascertained, it will be necessary to ^° ^^^f^f refer to the political relations, between the Queen and the Mari- f^J^a^itimc time states of Europe, because, out of those relations arose ^^e^projected the conditions, under which she placed the East*India Company Jhe^^Easuin- which she was establishing, and to fix the reciprocal rights of ^**^^"^P*"y* companies, already established, in so far as the articles in their trade might be afiected, by the projected commerce of the new company, which she was to authorize. At this critical period, negotiations with Spain,, we have seen, had protracted, for a year, the incorporation of the Society of English Adventurers to the £ast*Indies ; and though the alli- ance with Spain did not take place, till the commencement of the subsequent reign, the basis of that aUiance had been fixed. It (])~Minute8> l6th and 17th December 16OO. (2)— -Minutes, 3l8tDecember 16OO. 134 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE V ^j' It is also material to notice, that Spain and Portugal were, IbOO. g^ ^}jig time, united into one sovereignty, and, of course, that the crown of Spain had already possession of the principal ports in the East-Indies, to which the ships and factors of the new Company might probably resort. It is also proper to refer to the relative circumstances in which the Queen was placed, respecting the States General, or the mixed applications which they were making, for protection from France and from England ; and to the breach of the con- vention between Henry IV. and the Queen, with the approaches which Henry was making, to renew his alliance with England. These relations of Foreign States, even in a general view, rendered the privileges which the Queen was about to grant to the East-India Company, subjects for her mature consideration, to prevent poUtical discussions between the respective sovereign- !1 ties, that the Queen might uphold such protection as she might promise to her subjects. ; If these were subjects of political delicacy, affecting the Queen's conduct, at this juncture, they became still more delicate, from the events which occured, at this crisis, or the death of Philip II. of Spain, and the transfer of the Spanish Low Coun- tries to the Archduke Albert, and from the Queen's acknowledge- ment of the Dutch Low Countries, as held, in sovereignty, by the States General, because the more immediate connexion of the EngUsh nation with the Low Countries had been long established, and must be preserved, now that these countries were divided between two distinct sovereignties. The subject, thus,, became complicated SAST-^INBI A COMPANY. 135 complicated and mixed^ both in a political and commercial view, chap, i. and the knowledge of it discovers the source of those precautions 1600. in the charter, which reserved to the Queen the power of accom- modating the Indian trade to her European relations, or the trade carried on by her subjects, with neighbouring coimtries. It is next expedient, in order to ascertain the sources, as and in defining the well as the conditions in the charter, to refer to the privileges respective . rights of the which had been s^ranted to the Russia and Levant Companies ; English in- ^ corporated the former having been attempting, by an overland trade, to Companies. .connect the imports from Persia, with those from the Baltic, and the latter carrying on its commerce with ports in the Mediter- ranean, from which it was bringing, among its assortments, a proportion of Indian produce, the value of which might be af- fected by the imports brought into England, or, for the Europe market, by the circuitous voyages of the Company. With these explanations, we not only can perceive the soiu:- ces, but also the reasons, of the provisions, by which the Queen guarded,, in the new charter to the East-India Company, not only against political discussions with the European maritime nations, but against the complaints which her own subjects might bring, of encroachments on their trade, by the new pri- vileged Association of East-India Adventurers. It is, at the same time, to be recollected, that already the Queen had so far attended to, and encouraged the Association of Adventurers, as to allow them to fit out ships, and provide stock, for opening, as soon as they might obtain legal authority, a direct trade between England and the £a^-Indies :^The Queen thus, while 136 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLE CHAP. I. while she was preserving the rights of her crown^ with regard 1600 to Foreign Nations, was exercising, at the same time, that wis- dom, which she had manifested in her long reign, in encom*aging the navigation and the commerce of her subjects. Charter The Charter of Queen Elizabeth to the London East-India granted bjr <^"een Eliza- Company is dated 31st December, in the forty-third year of her London East- reign, or 1600, and, in its preamble, proceeded on the petition ^, on 3i8t Qf ^ numerous body of noblemen, gentlemen, and citizens, 1600. f^Y licence to trade to the East-Indies. By this Charter, the Queen, ^^ for the honor of the nation, ^^ the wealth of her people, the encouragement of her subjec^ts ^^ in their enterprizes, the increase of navigation, and the ad- ^^ vancement of lawful traffic," constituted the petitioners a body corporate and politic, by the name of ^^ 7%« Governor and *^ Company of Merchants ofLondon^ tra^drng to the East- Indies ^'^ with perpetual succession. They were empowered to purchase lands, &c., and to dispose thereof, and to have a common seal, to ratify and make public their acts : — the management of their concerns was placed under a Governor and twenty-four Com- mittee-men, to be annually chosen in July, in each year, who were to have the direction of voyages, provisions of shipping, and sale of merchandize :— the members of the Company, their sons, of the age of twenty-one years, and their apprentices, factors, and servants, were authorized to carry on trade to the East-Indies (that is, to all countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope, to the Straits of Magellan), for fifteen years, from Christmas 1600, provided that such trade should not be to any place EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 13^ place in possession of any Christian prince in ainity with the CHAP. i. Queen, who should publicly declare his objection thereto : — ^the 1600. Company were empowered to assemble, when they thought proper, and make bye-laws, or revoke the same, provided such bye-laws were not repugnant to the laws of England : — as the Company were inexperienced in what commodities were vendible in India, they were allowed to export any unprohibited goods from England, during their four first voyages, free of all customs and duties ; — ^to carry out ^30,000 in bullion, of which ,5^6,000 was to be coined at the Tower, for the first voyage, and the same sum, in any subsequent voyage, during fifteen years, or the con- tinuance of their privileges; and to re-export goods brought from India, in English ships, free of payment of customs : — the privileges of the Company were rendered entire and exclusive, and all other the Queen's subjects prohibited from any interfer- ence with them, except by the Company's Ucence, under penalty of forfeiture of ships and goods, one half to the Queen, the other to the Company, and imprisonment till they gave bond for 5^1000 :-r-the Company were empowered to grant licences, under their common seal, on specified conditions, to any per- sons, to trade to the East-Indies, and the Queen engaged not to grant such licences to any person, for that trade, without the consent of the Company : — ^the Company engaged to bring into England, as much bullion as they carried out, which was to be laden only at the ports of London, Dartmouth, and Plymouth, and the buUion imported, entered at those ports, without payment of customs ; the only reservation being, that should the exclusive VOL. I. T trade 138 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. trade of the Company not be profitable to the reahn, the crown 1600. reserved the right of declaring such exclusive privilege to be void^ on a notice being given to the Company, under the Privy Seal, of two years' warning : but even this reservation was modified, by specifying, that, on a petition from the Company, the said exclusive privileges should be continued to them, for fifteen years longer/^) Rights of the From the spirit and terms of this Charter, it appears, that London East- India Com- the London East-India Company were created a body corporate, pany, under this Charter, capable, by the laws of the realm, of purchasmg and holding property, as real rights, and suing, or being sued for the same^ in all competent courts of law, and that, as such, they were to be held as legal proprietors, in succession, ** in all times here- " after:" — ^that their property, so acquired, was, in general, described to be whatever might be necessary to render their transactions profitable to the kingdom, and comprehended their house and warehouses in London, and the houses and factories which they might establish, within the limits of their exclu- sive trade : — ^the former being acquired by them, agreeably to the laws of England, the latter, on the same foundation, but agreea- bly to the usages of the countries, within the limits to which they were authorized to trade ; it being explained, that in the exercise of this right, they were not to interfere with the corresponding rights, which other European powers might have acquired in those countries, so as to produce any disputes between the Queen and her European (1)— Letters Flatent^ 31 St December^ 43d Queen Elizabeth, (Printed Collection of East* India Charters^ page 8.) BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 139 European allies : and, it is worth observing, that even this limita- chap. I. tion establishes the right of the Company to acquire factories, or 1600. seats of trade, from any of the native powers or states, to whose dominions they might resort ; — ^that is, that the crown acquiesced in their real rights, under their charter, to factories or privileges, thus obtained. Before connecting the transactions of the Society of Ad- Geographical . survey of the venturers with those of the East-India Company, legalized countries within their by charter, it will be proper to take a general geographical and limits. political view, from one extremity of their limits, or the Cape of Good Hope, and stretching roimd the coasts of India, and the islands connected with it, to the other extremity, or the Straits of Magellan, that an idea may be formed of the practicability of a trade, consisting either of exchanges of merchandize, or of purchase, by the common medium of the precious metals, which would yield a profit to the Adventurers. At the period when the London East-India Company was incorporated, by charter, in 1600, they were to have a defined range, and not to interfere with the trade of any other of the incorporated companies, which, at this juncture,had limits assigned to them ; — hence, a supposed line from the two extremities of their limits was laid down, and it was understood, that their trade was to be confined to the countries, which could be geogra- phically described, as situated within this line. « The Cape of Good Hope, or the great Promontory of Africa, having been doubled by the Portuguese, vas considered by them, rather as a landmark, than as a commercial station^ and as T 2 such. 140 ANNALS OF THE HONOILABLB CHAP. L such, the Ihnits of the Company were defined, hy theur first Char* 1600. *^^' *^ ^^^ ^^ countries of Asia, Africa, and America, beyond the Cape of Bona Espcranza, to the Straits of Magellan, as another extreme point, or mark of limit. From this point of first discovery, therefore, in a geogra- phical view, we have only to enumerate the coasts and islands, in general, to which the Company's ships were to be permitted to trade, under public authority, with the exception of not interfering with the privileges and trade of the other European nations, occupying stations, or having exclusive factories; From the Cape of Good Hope, running along the Coast of Africa to the Straits of Babelmandel, the Portuguese had, al-^ ready, attempted commercial intercourse, and had fixed stations or factories. From these, they had obtained part of the assortments of their cargoes, at Mombaza and Melinda, on the Mozambique Coast, and from the Island of Madagascar, opposite to it; but neither they, nor the Dutch, had been able to fix factories, or fortified stations, at the Straits of Babdmandel, or the entrance into the Red Sea^ on account of the barbarous charac-* ter of the natives. The Coasts of the Red Sea were better known, because the navigation had been explored by the ancients ; and though little traffic had been practicable, on the African side, considerable mercantile interests had prevailed, on the Asiatic side, even in the most remote periods of antiquity^ It was by this sea^ that Indian produce had been brought to the Isthmus of Suez, and thence^ by caravans^ to the ports in EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 141 in the Mediterranean^ bordering on those countries which were chap. i. the ancient seats of civilization, and of those arts and refine* 1600 ments, which passed from Greece to Italy, but which were rather neglected, than forgotten, at the fall of the Roman Empire. On the revival of civilization, and of commercial intercourse, in Europe, this ancient channel, between it and Asia, was again resorted to, and became one of the principal inlets of that wealth, which raised the maritime republics of Italy to political influence, in Europe; an influence which declined, when the circuitous navigation, by the Promontory of Africa, had made it practicable to carry on the exchanges, "between Europe and Asia, on a larger and more profitable scale, and much more so, when, besides the Portuguese, the Dutch and English Companies were authorized, by their respective sovereigns, and with large funds, to become rivals to the Portuguese, and to each other. The Coasts of Arabia, between the Straits of Babelmandel and the Gulf of Persia, both from the barbarity of the inhabi- tants and the nature of the climate, had not, with the exception of the town of Aden, near the mouth of the Red Sea, afibrded, in any age, the practicabiUty of commercial intercomrse ; but the Indian commerce, in all ages, had been very extensive by Bus- sora, situated at the extremity of the Persian Gulf, from which the trade proceeded, by the Euphrates and the Tigris, to Bagdat, and thence was difliised, either through Persia, or by caravans, to Damascus, Aleppo, or Constantinople. After the circuitous navigation was opened by the Portuguese, one of their great objects, by possessing the Island of Ormus, at the 142 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^!^^; the entrance of the Persian Gulf, was to exclude the India trade 1600. from its ancient channels, by furnishing not only articles from that country, silks, &c., which might be exchanged in India^ for Indian produce, but Persian silks and drugs to make a part in the assortment of their cargoes for Europe ; and it was with this traffic, that the Dutch and English Companies will be found, early, to have interfered, and the latter, in a particular manner, to have established ^encies in Persia, the produce from which was better known in Europe, than in India, and, of course, a primary object in the early transactions of the London East- India Company. From the mouth of the Persian Gulf to the Indus, the nature of the country did not admit of commercial inter- course. Between this riverand the Gulfs of Cutch and Cam- baya, and thence along what is known by the name of the Malabar Coast, at the extremity of which, or Cape Comorin, in the vicinity of the Island of Ceylon, and thence up the Coromandel Coast, and that of Orissa, to the diilferent out- lets of the Ganges, and thence to the confines of Aracan, were situated the ports to which the Company's commerce was chiefly to be directed. Of many of those ports, or stations, the Portuguese, for a century, bad possessed the exclusive trade, and the Dutch were beginning to participate in it. As the rich and extensive provinces, in what is termed India, or the Peninsula of Hindostan^ were connected with those ports, the object was, to establish trade and factories, at the stations to which the Portuguese had not resorted. The EAST-INDIA COMPANY, 143 The limits of the London East-India Company, also, ex- tended to the coasts of Aracan, Pegu, and the Peninsula of Malacca, thence to the Islands of Sumatra and Java, and to what are commonly termed the Spice Islands, or the Moluccas and Bandas. On the first of those coasts, or Aracan, and Pegu, the Portuguese had traded, and they had established a fortification and town on the Peninsula of Malacca, it being, with them, a second leading object, by commanding this strait (for the Straits of Sunda were at this time little known) to exclude the other European nations from the China Seas, or commerce with that empire, or the islands connected with it : — they had also taken possession of the principal Moluccas and Bandas ; and though they had traded to Sumatra and to Java, these islands were the first that ofiered themselves to the Dutch and to the English, as the most practicable markets to which they could resort, or on which they could establish factories, or seats of trade. The Company's limits, also, extended from the Peninsula of Malacca round the coasts of Siam, Cambodia, Cochin-China, and the islands in the Chinese Seas, comprehending what has been subsequently denominated the Philippines, and the Japanese Islands. Having given an analysis of the letter and spirit of the 1601. Charter of Queen Elizabeth, and also of the Umits within which Sions^from the London East-India Company were to open a direct trade J^Vonifst^ with India, we are prepared to enter on the series of events aJe?of wpe^ which marked their proceedings. riment. It 144 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 9 ^^ ^ ^; It is, however, proper to explain, that in the early period 1601. of the trade, the commercial orders of the London Company consisted only of general instructions, which the Court of Committees gave to the respective commanders of their ships, and supercargoes, or factors, embarked on them, or sent to the stations at which they might find trade to be practicable : — ^these circumstances render it necessary to give to the Annals of the Lon- don East-India Company, from its establishment, in 1600, to the formation of the First Joint Stock, in 1617, the form of a narrative of voyages of experiment, with the effects which those experiments had, both in England and at the first seats of the Company's trade : — ^After, however, the commerce of the Com- pany was extended, by the formation of the First Joint Stocky and the seats of their foreign trade were estabUshed, the nar- rative of the Company's transactions admit of a more regular form, or that of Annals of its domestic and foreign affairs. The proceed- Th^ Annals of the London East-India Company, of the first Adven- ^^st of thcsc descriptions, open with connecting the measures, lated^wuh'" " already taken by the Society of Adventurers, with those Company, adopted by the Courts of Committees and Adventurers under the Charter. The equipments, for the first voyage, had been prepared, and commanders and factors had been appointed, at the time the charter was negotiating ; but, even at this period, resolutions of the Committees were required, to enforce the payment of the instalments of the Adventurers, to defray the charges of the equipment, and to purchase the first cargoes ; — subsequently, a still stronger resolution had been taken, or that of EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 145 of rendering the Adventurers, who might not have paid in their .chap. i. respective shares to the general fund, hable for any losses which 1601. the concern might experience, from any diminution of the funds, upon which the first voyage had been projected.. It was, however, found, as soon as the Charter had been ob- Subordinate Association of tained, that neither of those resolutions had produced the effect in- *,^® «tockhoi.. * ders formed^ tended by them, and, what must appear still more extraordinary, ^o^^^^f first ^ ' A * J ^ experiments that the Directors, acting under the Charter, either had not '° ^® ^^^®- power to compel the subscribers to pay in their proportions, or that they deemed it imprudent to exercise this power ; recourse, therefore, was had to the expedient of forming a subordinate Association of the stock-holders, who were willing to pay the sums required for the equipment and cargoes of the first voyage^ and, therefore, were exclusively to be entitled to the profits of the adventure, or to be liable to the losses with which it might be attiended ; but this subordinate Association was to act as the London^ Kast*India Company, and to be -^ responsible to its Governor and Court of Committees. This event explains^ fully,! the time which was required, for voyages of experiment, before the Company could be brought to act, either on a limited Joint Stock, and the still greater time which was required, before the trade could be established, on the general Joint Stock of the whole of the Adventurers^ or joint proprietors. This difficulty was what naturally might have been expected', from the conflict between the spirit of enterprize and mercantile caution. While the project was in contemplation, the list of subscribers was readily filled up, under the impression of . VOL. I. U large 14d ANNALS OF THE HONOBABJLE large profits ; but when this project came to be acted on, many of the subscribers (for they had had a year for reflection) became timid for the consequences, and were disposed to await the result of the first experiment, before they onbarked their private fcntunes in the speculation. Equipments The orifinnal subscription of the first society of Adventurers, and f tock for ° ^ ^ thePirstVoy- we have found, amounted to ^30,133. fo. 8rf. j but, notwith- age under the Charter. standing the reluctance of individual Adventurers, which has been referred to, the funds provided for the first voyage, under the Charter, amounted to ^68,373, of which ^39,77 1 ^^ appUed to equip four vessels, the Dragon, the Hector, the Ascension, and the Susan, being the same ships which had been purchased, and to which commanders had been ap)[K>inted by the Society of Adventurers : the tonnage and crews of these vessels have been stated in their transactions, and this fleet became the first regular ships of . the London East^^India Company. The cargoes provided for this fleet were estimated at ^28^42 in but- lion, and ^6,860 in goods, su{^posed to be calculated for the Indian markets, consistmg partly of British staples, cktfa, lead, tin, &c. partly of British manufisictures, culliery, glass, &c.5 and partly of foreign merchandize, quicksilver, Muscovy hides, &c. The command of this first fleet vras confirmed to Captain Jatnes Lan- caster, who sailed in 1601, and proceeded direct to ; Adieea, in the Island of Sumatra^ <^> The ♦ ■ (0— MSB. in the Indian Register Oflke^ mark^ IX ?./ No. *]. 20.«^^- Anderson*! Historj of Commeree, rol. ii> page l$9. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 14/ The commanders of this fleet received^ from the Queen, gene- ^hap. i . ral letters of introduction to the chiefs, or kings, of the ports to 1601. Queen's cir- which they might resort. As these letters were general, and the cuiar letter of recommen* foundation of all the recommendations, which were afterwards dation of the captaiDsand giTCn hy the crown, to the persons delegated by the London East- factors, to the • . ^ . , • • !• princes and India Company to manage their concerns, in the countries withm states in the . . • oountries their limits, and as they are a model of that wisdom with which within the Company's Queen Elizabeth directed all the interests of her subjects, the limits. terms in which they were expressed, are interesting, in this part of the detail. rthe, it may ^^ appeare to yo' Ma'^ that, by their meanes, you may be fumish- '' ed. C€ €i EAST -INDIA COMPANY, 149 '^ ed, in their next retourne into yo' portes, in better sort then ^ap.^l ^* you have bene heretofore supplied, ether by the Spanyard or 1601. ^' Portugale, who, of all other nacons in the ptcs of Europe, " have onlie hetherto frequented yo' countries w*** trade of mer- ^^ chaundize, and have bene the onlie impediments, both to our " subjects, and diverse other merchaunts in the ptes of Europe, *^ that they have not hitherto visited yo' countrie w*** trade, " whilest the said Portugales pretended themselves to be the sove- raigne lordes and princes of all yo' territories, and gave it out that they held yo' naoon and people as subjects to them, ^^ and, in their stiles and titles, do write themselves kinges of the " East-Indies: " And yf yo^ Ma** shall, in yo'^ princelie favour, accept, w* " good likinge, ibis first repaire of our m'chaunts mitoyo' coun« '^ trie, resortinge thether in peaceable traffiquc, and shall en* " tertaine this their first voiage, as an introduccon to a further " continewaunce of friendshipp betweene your Ma^^andus, for *^ commerce and intercourse between yo"^ subjects and ours, wee ^' have geaven order to this, our principall m'chaunt (yf yo' Ma^ ** shaU be pleased therw*) to leave in yo' coimtrie some such of " our said merchaunts as he shall make choice of, to reside in yo' " don inons, under yo' princelie and safe proteccon, untill the " retourne of another fleete, w^** wee shall send unto you, who may, in the meane tyme, learne the language of yo' countrie, and applie their behavio', as it may best sorte, to converse w^** your Ma'« subjects, to the end that amitie and friendshipp be- inge entertayned and begun, the same may the better be *^ continewed. 150 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLE ^i^5l3* *^ continewed, when our people shal be instructed, how to direct 1601. << them selves accordinge to the fashions of yo' countrie. ^^ And becawse, ilk the consideraoon of the enterteyniage ^^ of amytie and freindshipp, and in the establishinge of an *^ entercourse to be continewed betweene us, ther may be '^ required, on yo' Ma^^ behaulfe, such promise or capitulaoons ^' to be pformed by us, w^ wee cannot, in thdse our Ires^ take " knowledge of, wee therefore pray your Ma** to geave eare '^ therein unto this bearer, and to geave him creditt, in whatso- '^ ever he shall promise or undertake in our name, conceminge " our amitye and entercourse, w** promise, wee (for our pte), '^ in the word of a Prince, will see pformed, and wilbe readie ^^ gratefiilUe to requite anie love, kindnes, or favour, that our '* said subjects shall receive at your Ma^ handes ; prayinge yo' «^ Ma^% that, for o' better satisfacoon of yc^ kinde acceptaunce ^' of this our love and amytie offered yo' Highenes, you would, " by this bearer, give testymonie thweof, by yo' priacelie Ifes, ^* directed unto us, in w*^ wee shall receive very great contente^ " ment. And thus,'* &c. (^) Caution of It would appear, that the Court of Committees, or Direc- the Compa- . ny, in wait- tors, wcrc disposcd to await the return of their first fleet, before ing for the ^^ . result of the they took anv effectual measures for a second voyage. This First Voyage, ^ ^ blamed by cauticm, on their part, attracted the notice of the Queen imd theUueen. ' r ' Privy Council, who interpreted it into a neglect of the conditions under which she had granted her protection, and Charter of Incorporation (]).«<;ircular Letter from Queen Elizabeth to the Kings of Somatn and other places in the East- Indies. (East India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 5). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 151 Incorporation to the London East-India Company : the Privy cu^^-^y Council, therefore, addressed a letter, in October 1601, to the 1601. Company, signifying the Queen's surprize, that they were not preparing for a second voyage, both because she expected the equipments would be annual, and because such caution, or neglect, was contrary to the practice observed by the Dutch, who annually formed their equipments, and pushed on their trade, by increased funds and commercial exertions. ^^^ Captain Lancaster, on his arrival, delivered the Queen's 1602. letters to the chief, or king, of Acheen, accompanied with ^l^^^^^ presents, agreeably to the usages of the East, and formed a treaty trStt^made^ of commerce with this chief, in which the privileges of trade, un- p^^y^^at^"*' port and export, were granted to the English merchants, free of ^^^®®°- aSl payment of customs or duties : — ^he also obtained permission to settle a factory, and that the factor and his servants, in their own private concerns, might conform to the laws of England, but, in their transactions with natives, to the usages and laws of the country, and to have the right to dispose of their private property, by will, in the event of death. W In this first treaty, between the English and a native chief or king, in the countries within the Company's limits, it does not appear, that any positive price was paid for the privileges which were acquired ; but it may be inferred, as a necessary conse- quence, (1) — Letter from tlie Lords of Council to the Merchants trading to the East-Indies, October lOoi. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, vol. i. No. 4). (2)— Copy of Treaty with the " Mighty King of Dacheh and Sumatra/* (in the Indian Register Office, volume marked F. 1, unbound, page 1.) 152 AKKALS OF THE HONORABLE ^2!^^l3' ^^^°^^> *^^t t^^ presents which were given, and which so effec- 1602. tually reconciled the king of Acheen to grant those privileges, were a part of the funds of the Adventurers, and entitled the Eiist-India Company to resort to Sumatra. This is the first aspect of that Dead Stock to which they obtained a real right, consis- tently with their Charter, and with those exclusive privileges^ with which they were vested for a limited time. — andatBan- Not having procured, a full lading of pepper at Acheen^ Captain Lancaster sailed, by the Straits of Malacca, for Bantam, in the Island of Java, where it appears, he had similar success, in acquiring privileges of trade from its chief, or king, and settled a factory, or house of trade, and. received from the King a letter to Queen Elizabeth, with suitable presents, ex- . pressive of his satisfaction, in opening a ccnnmercial inter* course, between England and his dominions, and his resolution to consider the Spaniards as enemies to both nations.^) Captain Lancaster having completed his cargo at Bantam, returned to England in September 1603. (^ 1603. This experiment so fully convinced the Adventurers of the age. practicability of establishing the trade, that the same ships were repaired for the second voyage, the direction of which was giyei^ to Captain Middleton, who was to proceed, in the first instance, to* the factories which had already been established, but with permis^ sion to open a trade with the Spice Islands^ The sum subscribed for the (1) — Letter from the King of Baotam to Queen Elizabeth^ ifiba. (Eait-Iadui Ftopen in the State Paper Office^ No. 6). (2)— AnderioB*a History of Cenunetcey toI. ii, page 199. SAaX-^INBIA COMPANY. 153 the second voyage was ^60^450 ; and it is remarkable^ that, of CHAP. i. this sum, so large a proportion as ^48,140 was expended for the 1603. repairs of the ships, and for stores and provisions, and that only ^11,160 in bullion, and ^1,142 in goods, made up the cargo ; <*> which sum, with the subscription for the First Voyage, was carried into one entire account, amounting to ^128,823. This fleet proceeded first to Bantam, at which a fax:tory had been settled, by Captain Lancaster, where Captain Middleton laded two ships with pepper, and sent the other two to Am- boyna, for finer spices, at the time when the Dutch were en* deavouring to exclude the Portuguese, and establish themselves, as monopolists^ at that island. Captain Middleton returned to England in 1606, with the loss of one of his ships ; but, in this voyage, there remains no evidence to shew, that he had obtain- ed any new right of factory, to the Company. <^> The profits upon these two first voyages are stated to have amounted to ^95 per cent, upon the capital originally subscrib- ed, clear of all charges. <^> The success of these two first East-India voyages induced 1604. private merchants, who were not partners in the Company's ncence to sir stock, to endeavour to obtain a participation in the trade. King cheibome, ' James I, in 1604, granted a licence to Sir Edward Michelborne l.o^n of tiie** and others, to trade to *< Cathaia, China, Japan, Corea, and cXtJ ' VOL. I. X ^^ Cambaya, (1)— MSB. in the Indian Register Oflficc, marked D. P., No. 7- 20. (2) — Anderson's History of Commerce^ vol. ii, page 223. (3)— Sir Jeremy Sambrooke's Report on the East-India Trade. (MSS. in Indian Begiiter Office^ volume marked D. P. l— i.) 154 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^ Cambaya^ 8lc. ;'' and, it is worth notice, that this is the same person, whom the Lord Treasm^er had recommended to the first Association of Adventurers, which they refiised, under the impression, that employing any but men of their own quality, or merchants, would offend the proprietors, and might induce them to withdraw their subscriptions. This licence was a direct violation of the exclusive privileges granted by Queen Elizabeth to the London East-India Company, which vested in them the sole right of giving licences to individuals to trade within their limits ; a circumstance which is memorable, rather from its being the first appearance of Interlopers^ or Private Traders J endeavouring to counteract the commerce of the Com- pany, than from the success attending their undertaking. <*> 1606. The loss of one ship in the second voyage, did not discou- ThirdVojage. rage, either the former adventurers, or the othei* members of the Company ; for a new subiscription, amounting to .^63^500, was entered into, and three ships fitted out, in 1606, under the command of Captain Keeling, The expence of the repairs and equipment of this fleet amountedto ,^28,620, and the cargo was estimated at ^17,600 in bullion, and ^7,280 in goods. This fleet directed its course to Bantam, to receive pepper", and though it does not appear from any regular document what the quantity was, or whether any new rights were granted, there is evidence, that one of the ships (the Consent) had gone to Amboyna, where she purchased an assortment of cloves : — it is remarkable, also, (1) — Anderson's History of Crmmerce, vol. ii, page 223. Rynoefs Foedera^ voL xvi, page 582. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 155 also, that the original cost of the cloves was ^2,948. 15^., and ^^^^^ that they sold, on her return to England, in December 1608, for 160o, ^36,287 : — ^the profits, on the whole of this voyage, amounted to two hundred and thuiy-four per cent, on the original subscrip- tion. (») In 1607, a subscription of ^33,000 was entered into, and I6O7. Fourth Voy- two ships equipped, for the Fourth Voyage, the expence of which age. amounted to ^^14,600, and the cargo was estimated at .^15,000 in bulUon, and ^3,400 in goods. This voyage was unfortunate, equally in the East, and in Eiut>pe, for one of the vessels was wrecked on the coast of India, on the outward-bound voyage, and the other, on the coast of France, on her return. (^) What was termed the JFrfth Voyage, was, in fact, a branch 1608. Fifth Vovflce* of the Third y as the same Adventurers were the owners, who subscribed the sum of ^13,700, and sent out a single ship, in the year 1608, the equipment of which cost ^6,000, and the cargo was estimated at ^6,000 in bullion, and ^1,700 in goods; but the profits of this voyage are included in those applicable to the Thirds as already mentioned, or two hundred and thirty- four per cent. ^^> Hitherto, the projects for voyages, and the returns which Company's factors re- the sales yielded to the proprietors, constituted the only subjects commend a trade at Su- which the annals of the London Company afforded. In the year rat, Camba- _, ya, and Pria* X2 1608, man. (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, maxked D. P. No. 7-20. (Sir Jeremy Sam- brooke*s Report on East-India Trade> D. P. 1 — 1). (2) -Ibid. (3)— Ibid. 156 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE P^.^^y* 1608^ however, the Court of Committees received intdligence 1608. from their factors at Bantam, and in the Moluccas, that the cloths and callicoes, imported from Cambaya, were in great request, and that, if the factories should be furnished with them, they could be profitably exchanged for pepper and the finer spices ;-^the factors, therefore, recommended that a trade should l^ iattempted at Siirat and at Cambaya, and that two ships should be employed to purchase goods at those ports, to be isent, for sale, to Bantam and the Moluccas, which would have the effect, from the profits of exchange, to increase the general profits of the annual voyages ; and, farther, that it might be advantageous to extend the pepper trade, by establishing a fac- tory at Priaman, in the island of Sumatra. <^> ^ 1609. It is probable, that the inconveniences which the Company *VionKing had experienced, from the interference of private traders, or Confirmation interlopers, obtaining licences from the crown, cOntraiy to th6 ter, and en- exclusive right which had been conferred by their first Charter largement of • • * • their privUe- from Queen Elizabeth, induced them to make application to King ges. James, in 1609, for a renewal of their privileges, with such explanations of their chartered rights, as they deemed it expe- dient to have, to preclude all future pretexts for questioning their authority, or infringing their privileges of trade. Charter of After reciting the Charter of Queen Elizabeth, the King, by todie London Letters Patent, dated the 31st May 1609, confirmed the right to (]) — Letter from the Factors at Bantam to the Court of Committees of the EastJndia Company^ 4th December l606. (Letters from the Company's foreign Settlements^ in the Indian Register Office^ voL i^ No. 17). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 15^ to the Company^ to be a body, politic and corporate, for ever, CHAP. i. with perpetual succession, and to make bye-laws ; and this right 1609. was defined to be, to possess lands, and to alienate the same : — May aist' iGog, but, instead of limiting their exclusive privileges to fifteen years, *^ the whole, entire, and only trade and traffic to the East-Indies/' was granted to the Company, " for ever,'' and, by a prohibitory clause, all persons were enjoined, not to trade within the Com- pany's limits, except by licences obtained from them, under their common seal; — ^and, to prevent any apprehensions which the Company might entertain, of licences granted to interlopers, or private traders, being obtained from the crown, it is expressly stated, that the same should not be given without the consent of the Company ; — explaining, that notwithstanding these privileges, if the trade should not be found profitable to the realm, that such exdusi^ privileges were to cease and determine, after three years' wamin£ : (^> \ « From li (l)— Letteri Pate t, I fay Slst, 7th James I.—— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 246. Oath of a Freeman of teitCast'TntUa Company, under the Charier of King James, (iGog). '' Yon shall swearcst< be good and true to our Soveraigne Lord the King's Majestie, *' and to his beires and i^ essors ; you shall bee obedient, assistant, faithful], and true, to ^ the Governor, his Dep . e, and Company of Marchants of London trading into the East- '' Indyes : all statutes an^ irdinances which are, or shall be made, by the said Governor, his lar *' Deputie, and Fellowsh (standing in force), you shall tmely holdeand keepe, having no hi *' singuler regard to youn fe, in hurt or prejudice of the said Fellowship : the secrets and '' privities of the said Coi' ^ny, which shall be given you in charge by the Governor or his /e^ f Deputie to conceale^ yo hall heale and not bewray : all these thinges you shall holde and *' keepe 158 ANIMALS OP THE HONORABLB CHART. From the spirit and terms of this Charter, it is obvious, that 1609. the King had become satisfied, that the continuance of the Rights con- . i i i i_ • i ferred by this^ trade of the Company had been m danger, both by the irregular Charter. ■ i -j licences, which he himself had granted, and by the rapid acces- sion, of factories, and increase of trade, which the Dutch had acquired in India, from not having been exposed to similar domestic infringements on their rights, and, therefore, endeavoured to profit from experience, and from imitation of a foreign example ; for, to secure the Company, more fiiUy, against the first of those evils, he renounced the privilege of granting licences, without consent of the Company, and thereby rendered their exclusive privileges, as important as their chartered rights : but, as if doubtful of the rights he was conferring, he introduced, after the cautious policy of his predecessor, a reservation of withdrawing the exclusive privilege, on three years' notice, if the trade shoq|ld not prove profitable to the realm. ^ I The grant of Queen Elizabeth of the exclusive trade was, thus, experimental only, while that of the Kii^^ was perpetual, ■^^ ^ with " keepe, to the utmost of your power -, or else being justly cond/ med for making default " in any of the premises, you shall truely, from time to time, cor ^-ent and pay to the trea- surer of the Company, for the time being, all and every such sjKmes and penalties, which are, or shall bee limittedand set for the transgressors of the A^me : you shall not write for, nor colour any adventures in your name, for any men f]Viatsoever (not being free brethren of this Company), but directly for your owne particu/^ stockc, use, and accompt : " also, if you shall know any manner of person, or persons, J ^^ch intend any hurt, harme, " or prejudice to our said Soveraigne Lord the King's Majestiel or to hU landes, or to the •' foresaid Fellowship, or priviledges of the same, you shall giP" knowledge thereof, or cause *• it to be made knowne to the said Governor, or his DegutiJ^J^^ ^— So hdpo you God." (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 47.) v I i t t €€ i< €i it BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 159 with a reservation, as inconsistent with itself as impolitic ; or CUA F.L the right of annulUng this perpetuity ; marking, thus, in this early 1609. stage of the Companj^s annals, the difference between that decided policy which characterized a wise government, and that profusion of privileges, and yet indecision, which betrayed an imperfect knowledge of events, or of the consequences they might produce. The effect of this explanation and confirmation of the Char- SixthVoyage. ter of Queen EUzabeth to the Company, was, that it removed the apprehensions of interferences by private unlicensed traders, and gave the prospect of permanent privileges of trade, both from the precise terms in which they were granted, and from the mode pointed out for the exercise of them ; — Whence, what has been termed the Sixth Voyage of the Company, proceeded on the enlarged subscription of ^82,000, and consisted of three ships, under the command of Sir Henry Middleton, the equipment of which amounted to ^32,200, and the investment was estimated at ^28,500 in money, and ^21,300 in goods. This fleet sailed in the season 1609. The ships were of a larger size, and, of course, better fitted for distant navigation : — one of them (the Trade's Increase) being eleven hundred tons. The instructions sent by this fleet to the factors in India, furnish the first instance of a regular list of goods, descriptive of the articles, to the purchase of which they were to direct their attention, viz. raw-silk, fine book calicoes, indigo, cloves, and mace ; and, it is probable, from the restriction under which the Company placed their factors, that, in the preceding voyages, the profits of individuals, from the illegal sale of those articles, had *»•< 160 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. had alarmed the Court, as they prohibited them from private 1609* trade, in this their Sixth voyage, except to the amount which they had subscribed to the general stock. <*> The profits from this voyage are ascertained to have beai ^121. 13^. 4d. per cent. (« 1610. The Seventh Voyage, in the season 1610, consisted of a fleet ageroniT of four ships, in which Several classes of the Adventurers had Stock. ^^ tmited, from their being described as Joint Adveniurers : — ^the captains of the several ships had each their separate orders, and no chief command was assigned to any one of them. The subscript tion for this voyage amounted to ^^1,581, the equipment of the shipping cost ^42,500 ; the investment was estimated at ^19,200 in money, and ^10,081 in goods ; and the profits on this voyage amounted to ^218 per cent, on the sum originally subscribed. <^> 1611. Inl61 1, what has been termed the Company's Eighth Voyage age. ^ ^^' was undertaken : and ajs several of the classes of Adventurers, who had been concerned, separately, in the former speculations, were contributors to this Eighth Voyage, this also was termed the first Joint Stock, that is, a stock, not made up of the general funds, of the Company, but of the subscriptions of Adventurers, who, either as individuals or small societies, had embarked pro- perty in the former equipments ; an explanation of which mea- sure is necessary, to distinguish this first effi>rt to combine the credit (1) — ^Letter from the Court to the Fiictors in India^ 15th March 16O9-IO. (2)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, D. P. 7--20. Sir Jeremy Sambrooke'a Beport on East-India Trade.—— Anderson's History of Commerce, roL ii, page 241. . (3)^Ibid. BAST-INDfA COMPANY. 161 credit of a large proportion of the original members of the Com- pany^ to support a commercial speculation^ but not to convey an idea, that the whole funds of the original subscribers were enga- ' ged, or had become bound for this enterprize. The subscription for equipping the fleet, thus formed, con- sisting of four vessels (the Dragon, Captain Best ; the James, Captain Marlowe ; the Solomon, Captain Salmon ; and tlie Ho- seander, Captain Pettie) amounted to ^^7^,375, of which the large sum of ^48,700 was expended in building and fitting out the fleet, leaving only, for the uivestment, ^I7y&l5 in money, and The Court were now beginning to receive communications captain from their factories in India ; and though those communications report on the . - - - - Company's were not yet suniciently regular to enable us to state, separately, trade in the !/•• • n ^ r^ ••ni East-Indics. the domestic and foreign transactions of the Company, it will be sufiicient, for the purpose of exhibiting their proceedings, to mark the efiect which the intelligence they received had upon their subsequent enterprizes. Captain Downton (who had gone out with Sir Henry * Middleton) represented, this season, that imsuccessful eflbrts had been made to open a trade at Aden, and at Mocha, but that #t the Turks had opposed this project, had surprized one of the ships, and made the commander and seventy men prisoners. Disappointed in this scheme, the ships next attempted to open a trade on the West Coast of India; but every effort was obstruct- voL. I. Y ed (i)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ D. F. 7.-20. Sir Jerenay Sanibrooke*8 Report • on East-India Trade.—— Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 241. ^ ,. ^* i 162 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ed by the Portuguese, who prevented the natives from trading with the English : — ^persevering, however, in the great object of opening new seats of trade, the fleet directed its views to the establishment of a factory at Dabul, but here, also, they were opposed by the Portuguese, whose officers induced the King (Mogul), then resident at Agra, to refuse an answer to the letter of King James, which had been forwarded, or to grant the English a Phirmaund for trade. These officei's, being prevented from opening trade at the ports in the Red Sea, or on the West of India, determined to proceed to Priaman, in the Island of Sumatra, to fill up the ships with pepper ; — ^but recommended to the Court, to empower their commanders to make reprisals on the Moor's ships, going from Surat to the Red Sea^ to indemnify the Company, for the losses they had sustained, in the preceding commercial speculations, estimated at ^30,000. (^) # 1612. What has been termed the Company's ninth Voyage, consisted Ninth Voj- ^ • xt age- of a single ship only, the Expedition, Captain Newport, which ^ /sailed in 1612. The subscription amounted to ^87^200, of which ^5,300 was expended in purchasing and equipping the vessel, and the cargo was estimated at ^1,250 in' money, and ^650 in goods. The profits on this voyage are stated to have amounted to ^160 per cent. <^> ^ m» 1*1 *^ The _ • (1) Captain Pownton's representation to the Ck>urt> of the state of the Indian Trade^ dated Dabul, 2d February 1611-12. (Vol. i. No. 37.) (2)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, D. P. 7.-20. Sir Jeremj Sambrooke's Report 00 East-India T^ade.—- Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 241. 9Mr- BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 163 - • The account of the equipments of J;he Company has hither- ^2^J[;3 to comprehended only, the expences in England, and the general 1612. ; ' . ' First Esta- result of <1ie voyages, in yielding a profit to the Adventurers ; biiatoent of trac|ytSuratt but it will be proper, in this place, to follow the eflforts which under licence . ^ '^, from the ^- Captain Best, who was commodore of the Eighth Voyage, and vernor, and Mr. Kerridge, one of the principal supercargoes, made in India, ^^^* ^5?°* to open new sources of trade. *8(^ g^! (Jehan- * '^\ guire). Mr. Kerridge, m the Hoseander, in September 1612, was g^ the first servant of the Company who opened a trade with Surat, where he was well received by the merchants and inhabitants, though opposed by the Portuguese. Having • obtained permission to land some broad-cloths, lead, iron, and quicksilver, he procured, in exchange for them, such Surat cloths and goods, as had been recommended, in the preceding! instructions, to be suited for the purchase of pepper ^ ♦ ' and spices at Acheen. Captain Best, with the remainder of the ships, touched at Swally ; and if, prior to this period, intrigues with the natives, to oppose the English participating in the trade, marked the conduct of the Portuguese, they now employed force, and attacked the Company's ships at Swally, on the 29th No- vember 1612, with a large fleet, but were repulsed. In December following, the King's Phirmaund arrived, allowing the EngUsh to settle a factory at^Surat, at which Captain Best left • • • ten persons, with a stock of ^4,000, to* purchase goods, or provide an investment for hiin, to be tdxen on board on his return from Acheen : — ^this transaction ascertains the date of the first settlement of an English factory at l^at. Y 2* Tlie • • :W. * - ■ Sif 164 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE The factors stationediat Surat gave it as their opinion to the Court, tha* this port w^s the best situation in India, to vend Eng- lish goods, particularly broad-cloths, kersies, quicksilvef, lead, and vermilion, to be exchanged for indigo, calicoes, cotton-yam, and drugs ; and added a list of such goods, as might annually be disposed •^ of at Surat, viz, about four thousand pieces of broad-cloths, sword blades, knives^^d looking-glasses ; and that toys and English jttj^ bull-dogs should be sent, as presents ; but explained, that this trade could only be protected, by stationing five or six ships in the river of Surat, to defend the factory and trade against the * Portuguese. <^> The agreement with the governor of Surat, for allowing the English liberty of trade at that port, contained, in substance, the following stipulations : — ^that no measure should be adopted * ^ against the English, in (x>nsequence of a former dispute between Sir Henry Middleton and the government of the place; — that the English should have liberty io settle 'fijctories, at the cities of Amadevar (Ahmedabad), Surat, Gambaya^ and Goga, and that all their merchandize should be subject to a duty of three and a half per cent, only ; — that, in the event of the death of the Eng- lish factcNTS, an inventory ^should be taken of the Ckiinpany's property, which should be safely kq)t till the arrival of the next fleet; and that the Mogul's Phiilnaund, confirming this treaty, should be procured withiajprty days. By subsequent inforniation it appears, that this confirmation did not arrive till the 11th January following, (l)^Letter from the Fdcton at Sax||^to the Court, dated Surat, !^5tli January '^ teta^S, vol. i. No. 84. BAST*INI>IA COMPANY^ X^ fbUdwing, whea the Mogul's letter was deliyered; witb mucti ceremon^r^ to Captain Beat, fit Swally . <^> This factory appears to have been strengthened by a second Phirmaund from the Mogul, in March 1612-13 ; the agent, tibierefore, considering the trade as established^ recommended the fixing a factory at Dabul, to keep the Portuguese in check ; and suggested, as the Cape of Grood Hope, at this time, had no European establishmenf at it, that it would be expedient tp form a ^ factory at this place, to supply the outward and homeward-bound shipping with provisions and water. ^^^ The inconveniences which had been experienced, from sepa- 1613. classes of Adventwers, partners in the East-India Company, stock, in fitting out equipments on their' own particular portions of stock, four 8u While these four voyages were preparing, and actually in Faptoriescon- •^ ° firmeaor es- the course of performing, several events occurred in the East- taWished in ^ ^^ the East-In- Indies, afiecting equally the. Company's commercial proceed- ^^' ^»™S ings and the exercise of their • exclusive privileges. Though vojages. the knowledge of these events will not furnish a connected view of a system of Indian trade, we discover in them, the foundations of the rights, acquired at the few factories which had already been established, and the measures adopted for fixing new stations. In the year 1613-14, the object of the agents in India appear to have been, the forming a series of exchanges between 0" the West Coast of India, and the station, or factory, at Bantam. A factory, also, had akeady been estabUshed at Surat, and an opinion transmitted to the Court, that not only sales of EngHsh m • ' goods (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, D, P. No. 7-20. No. 129. Sir Jeremy Sambrooke*8 Report on East-India Trade, D.P.No. 1. 1. East-India Company's Com- bunion for the Second Voyage on the Joint Stocky 12tb Febroaiy 16J3-14> marked No. 1. 10B ANNALS or THE fiONORABLS CHAP I. goods could be effected at this port, but that they might be pushed 1613. on to the inland markets, and the adjoining sea-ports. Mr. Aid- worth, one of the Company's factors at Surat,* stated, that, in his journey to Ahmedabad, he *had passed through the cities of Boroatch (Bropich), and Bothra (Brodera), and had discovered, that cotton-yam, and baftees, could be purchased cheaper from the manufacturers in that country, than at Surat; — ^that at Ahmedabad, he could buy indigo at a low rate, but that, to establish such a trade, a stock, of from ^12,000 to ^15,000, i should be constantly in the hands of the factor, and that it woidd be expedient to fix a resident at the King's court at Agra, to solicit the protection of the Mogul and of his ministers. <^ This report, on the practicability of trade at Surat, and at the adjoining stations, wq,s recommended to the consideration of the Court, fix>mits importance to the purchases and sales at Ban- t^^m, the factors at which had particularly desired a supply of Broach fine calicoes ; and though their trade was proceeding, they had not yet been able to obtain the King's licence for a piece of ground, on which to build a factory, notwithstanding the offer they had made of 1500 rupees, as purchase money : — at Bantam, also, the project was in contemplation to bring goods ^ from China, into their assortments.^^) Tradeopened Captain Saris, who commanded a ship in the Seventh with JapaD. * * voyage, endeavoured, in the year 1610, to open a trade, in imitatkm (1)— Letter from Mr. Aldworth to the Courts dated Ahmedabad^ 13th Notiember j6i3, vol. i. No. 103. (2)«^Letter8 from the Factors at Bantam to the Court, Slst January .t6l3*14^ irol. i* No. ga .^— ^ Letter from the Factors at Bantam to the Factors at Surat, 12th Julj i 6l3. N0.97. # 4 ' EAST-IKBIA COMPANY. 169 imitatiou of the Dutch, with the empire of Japan : — for this chap. l. piirpose he had gone to Firando, and, hy presents, obtained 1613. from the King permission to trade, without payment of * • customs, and to establish a house, or factory, at that port ; and a licence to proceed on a voyage of discovery to Yeadza (Jesso), or to any other part of the Japanese empire. The factoiy at Firando was, in consequence, established ; and in June 1613, Mr. Peacocke, one of the Company's factors, arrived at Firando, and proceeded to the Emperor's court to solicit protection ; but he reported, that the prospect of sales of English goods was uncertain, and recommended rather the plan of opening a trade with Siam. ^^^ , The experiments for extending the trade in the West of 1614, India, in the year 1614-15, and of opening a trade with Persia, are particularly interesting ; white those resorted to, for opening a trade with the Spice Islands, in tibe same year, dis- cover the sources of that opposition, and of those animosities, which, in the sequel, led to unhappy extremes of commercial jealousy and violence, between the English and Dutch Com- panies. The first experiment was to extend the trade at Surat and the Application countries connected with it :— on the subject, the factors re- for j^rmw^ ' ported, that the Portuguese, having taken a Surat ship of great \he faJo!^^7t value, the Mogul had issued orders to his principal officers to proceed to Surat, and demand restitution, which if refused, VOL, I. Z war (I)— MSS. in Indian Register Office^ marked A^ bonnd, page?. Letter from Mr. Peacocke to the Court, dated Firando^ 2d December 1<713, No. 104. 4*. 1/0 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLS war was to be declared against the Portuguese nation. This event suggested to Mr, Kerridge, the Company's factor at Agimere, the expediency of applying to the Emperor for a Phirmaund, autho- rizing the English to fortify their factory at Surat, against any violence which the Portuguese might, in their opposition to the English nation, be disposed to offer. The Emperor (Jehanguire) referred this application to Mucrob Khan, the minister, by whose influence the original Phirmaunds, for trade at Surat, had been obtained. In this stage of negotiation, Mr. Kerridge requested the Court to furnish him with suitable presents for this minister, from whom it was also his intention, to solicit a Phirmaund for trade at Ahmedabad, because the licence for trading at that city had been procured from an inferior officer. As the season advanced, the war between the Mogul's sub- jects and the Portuguese became more general, the Portuguese fleet having burnt and plundered the towns of Broach and Goga; their recent defeat, by the English ships, ofi^ Surat, had raised the English reputation so high in the opinion of the Mogul's subjects, that protection to their factors and trade was readily granted. Under such favourable circumstances, Mr. Edwardes, the Company's factor at Ahmedabad, projected his mission to the Mogul's court, but desired that he might be vested with the character of the King's messenger, or servant, be- cause, in this Capacity, Jehanguire and his nobles would more readily listen to his solicitations, than if he appeared in the character of a merchant only. To balance the charges of this mission, Mr. Kerridge suggested^ that four hundred pieces of EAST-INDIA COMPANY. l/l of broad-cloths, of light colours, would sell at court, at great chap. i. profit, also a proportion of kersies, looking-glasses, and sword- 1614. blades ; but that these goods, for sale, must be accompanied with a proportion of toys, for presents. In January 1614-15, the Viceroy of Portugal arrived with The English ships at a large fleet off Swally, where he attacked the English ships, Swaiiy at- but was defeated, with the loss of three hundred and fifty Portuguese men : — several partial actions followed, between this period and the 9th February 1614-15, when the Viceroy with his fleet sailed f jr Goa. In this state of affairs, the Factors represented the trade at Company's trade at Sural Surat to be brisk, and that they had been protected in landing all in 1614-15. their cargoes, and had dispatched Mr, Edwardes, as their agent, to Agra, with presents to the Emperor and his ministers, of cloths, pictures, glasses, and sword-blades. That the Court might have information of the goods suited to this trade, the Fac- tors added, that quicksilver (should the market not be over- stocked) would sell to advantage, also good crooked sword-blades, light-coloured broad-cloths, elephants' teeth, lead, vermilion, corals, and pearls ; but that tin (from its being nearly as good in the country as that brought from England) and Muscovy hides, would not sell. Mr. Edwardes, in this state of affairs, proceeded to Agra, and jpterview of reported, that Mucrob Khan had procrastinated the settlement of wJrd^^," the the trade at Surat, by stipulating that the EngUsh should ^^g^m^^with engage to defend Surat, and the Mogul ships, against the Portu- m^uI?* Z2 guesCj IJi ANKALS OF THE HONORABLE guese, with whom the Emperor was at war. Mr. Edwardes m was presented, on the 7th February, by Asaph Khan, brother to the Empress, Noor-Mahal (so celebrated in Indian* histmy, for her beauty and elevation) to ,the Great Mogul (Jehac^uire)^ to whom he delivered King James's letter and picture, and those of the Royal Family, who expressed his satisfaction with the English nation, and his resentment against the Porti^uese ;-^ Mr. Edwardes next gave presents to Asaph Khan, Mahomet Khan, and to the favorite Sultana, and, obtained a Phirmauod, directed to the governor of Surat and Cambaya, allowing the English a trade in his dominions ; — and in his report to the Court, submitted that pictures, landscapes, particularly such as represented the manners and customs of England, portraits i^the nobility, and some fine beaver hats, might be fc^rwarded next season, as presents, for the Mogul and his nobles. Mr. Kerridge and Mr. Edwardes, at this time^ obtaiaed a . general and perpetual Phirmaund, for the English trade in the Mogul's dominions, <*) A second (1)— Letters from Mr. Kerridge and Mr. Ed ?yarde8, at Agimere, and from the Factors at Surat and Ahmedabad, 2ath September, 22d November^ 20th December, 1014^ 26th February and 20th March, l6l4-15. No. 152, I67, 176, 179, 180, 138, I07. The following description pf the strength and courage of the English mastiff dog, is given in the postscript of Mr. Kerridge*s letter of the 20th March, l6l4-15: '' Mr, Edwardes presented the Kinge a mastife^ and speakinge of the dog-s courage^ '' the Kinge cawsed a yonge leoparde to be brought to make tryall, w^ the dogge soe pinchtt, ^' thatt fewer howres after the leoparde dyed. Synce, the Kinge of Persia, w^ a preseott, " sent heather haulfe a dozen dogges*-the Kinge cawsed boares to be brought to fight w*^ *' them, puttinge 2 or 3 doggesto a boare, yet none of them seased 3 and rememberinge his " owne EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 173 • A second experiment made this season by the factors at CHA.P. i- Surat, was to open a« trade with Persia. This project had 1614. First aspect to Persia. been suggested by Mr. Richard Stell, or Steel, who had of the trad© gone . to Aleppo, to recover a debt from a merchant of that city : — the debtor had fled to India, and Mr. Stell followed him through the Persian dominions, and arrived at Surat. On the* « • report which he made to the factors, of the great .probability of advantages to be derived from a trade to Persia, they agreed to send him, and Mr. Crouther, one of the Company's servants, into Persia, to examine the practicability of the speculation, and what harbours were fit for shipping, allowing them j^l50 to de- fray their charges, and giving them letters of credit on Sir Robert Shirley, who had settled at Ispahan, and also letters to the King of Persia, and to the governors of the provinces through which they were to pass, Mr. Steel, having described Jasques, situated about ninety miles from Ormus, as a con- venient port at which trade might be commenced, was directed to proceed through Persia, by Aleppo, to England, and was strongly recommended, for his ability and knowledge, to the Court of Directors. ^*) The third experiment made this season (1614-15), was to Attempt a trade be- open a trdde between Bantam and the Spice Islands. With tween Ban- tam and the this Spice islands ^ owne dogg, sentt for hiai^ who presently fastened on the boare^ so disgraced the Persian •' doggs^ whercw*** the Kinge was exceedingly pleased. 2 or 3 fierce onastifies^ a couple of *' Irishe greyhowndes, and a couple of well taught waterspanyells, wold give him greate con- " tente." '(1)— Letters from the Factors at Surat and Ahmedabad to the Court, 28th November 1614, 2d January and 26th February 1614-15, No. 16^, 122, 107, 180, 174 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE this object, instructions were given by the factors at Bantam to send one of the super-cargoes to Lugho, and to endeavour to purchase cloves, at Hitto, information having been received, that the Amboynese were well affected to the English, not- withstanding their fear of the Dutch j and farther, if possible, to fix a factory at Lugho, three leagues from Amboyna. The super-cargo was next to direct his coxu^se to the Island of Banda ; and, should he find the natives disposed to open a trade with the English, he was to leave two factors and their servants at this island, to purchase the finer spices. (^) Sir Thomas Th^ information which the Court had received, in the pre- ed^mbaTsa-' Ceding scason, induced them to apply to the King, to grant his Great Mogul, royal authority, that an Ambassador should proceed, in his name, ID 1614-15. , ^ Ti-- 1 to the Great Mogul. King James, in compliance with the wishes of the Company, on the 14th January 1614-15, granted his commission to the celebrated Sir Thomas Roe, "to be Ambassador to the Great " Mogul, or King of India,'* the Company agreeing to defray the expences, in consideration, that under their exclusive privileges, they were to acquire such benefits as might result from this mission. 1615. S^ Thomas Roe sailed from England in Mardi 1614-15, on LTnegotU- ^^^^ *^^ Lion, Captain Newport, and arrived at Surat, from whence he proceeded to the Mogul's court, at Agimere, which he reached in December 1615, and on the 10th January 1615-16,. was (1) — InstnicCioDS given by the Factors at Bantam> for attempting a voyage to Amboyna and Banda^ 24th January 1^14-15, No. 114. tions. EAST -INDIA COMPANY, 175 was presented to the Mogul, as Ambassador from the King of CHAP I. England, when he delivered the King's letter and the presents :— 1615. of these, an English coach was the chief article, and with it the Mogul was pleased to express his satisfaction, and to give the Ambassador a gracious reception. From the Company's agents having already been too profuse in their presents to the ministers and favorites, Sir Thomas Roe found, that the articles which he had can-ied out, as presents, were not so highly estimated as he had expected ; he therefore informed the Court, that nothing less than valuable jewels would be deemed worthy of acceptance : — at the same time he advised, that " four or five handsome " cases of red wine *' should be sent, as presents to the King and • Prince, as, in his? words, " never were men more enamoured of that " drinke as these two,'* and which ^^ they would more highly ^' esteem than all the jewels in Chepeside." In describing his own situation, he stated, that the natives could not comprehend what was meant, in Europe, by the rank or quality of an ambas- sador, and that, in future, it would be preferable to employ an agent only, who could, without dishonor, bear those affronts, which an ambassador, from his rank, could not encounter : — that, from want of an interpreter, he had experienced much diffi- culty, in explaining to the Mogul, and to his ministers, the objects of his mission ; in particular, the grievances which the English had suffered from the Governor of Ahmedabad, because the native brokers, whom he was obliged to employ, were afraid to interpret literally, lest they should incur either the King's displeasure, or be disgraced by his ministers. In his application for redress. 1?^. ANNALS OF THE HOKO&ABLB CHAP. I. redress^ from the Governor of Ahmedabad, he discovered, that 1615. this officer was supported by Sultan Churrum, the Mogul's eldest m son, and Asaph Khan, the favorite ; by perseverance and firmness, however, the Ambassador at last obtained the relief he solicited. On the 24th January 1615-16, Sir Thomas Roe had a second audience of the Mogul, at which he complained of the injuries the English had sustained, from the arbitrary conduct of the Governor of Surat ; . and so effectual were his remonstrances, that this officer was dismissed. The Ambassador then proposed to renew the articles of. the Phirmaund, or treaty, between the Mogul and the English nation, and solicited to have the treaty ratified by the signatm*es of the Mogul and of Sultan Chiurrum ; which having procured, the treaty was concluded. Substance of The following is the substance of this treaty : — after the his trcatv with (he usual preamble, that there should be perpetual league and friend- ' ship, between the Great Mogul and the King of England, it was stipulated, that the English subjects should have liberty of trade, and be allowed to settle factories in any ports of the Mogul empire, specifying Bengal, Scindy, and Surat ;-i^that they should be furnished with all kinds of provisions and carriages by the inhabitants of the sea-ports, according to the ordinary rates of charge; — that the merchants should be protected agsunst any exactions or customs, in all sales, not exceeding sixteen rials of eight ; — ^that all presents sent to the Mogul should be protected from being opened at the sea-ports, and be forwarded to the English Ambassador at court, to be delivered, agreeably to hit instructions ;-^that the goods of the English merchants should be EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 177 be rated^ within six days after being landed at any port, and after payment of thestipulated duty, might be forwarded, free, to any other English factory ; — ^that the goods purchased by the English, in any part of the Mogul's dominions, should have a free transit to the ports at which they were to be shipped ; — ^that the property of the Company's servants, who might die in the Mogul's dominions, should be delivered to the Company's officers, or their successors; — that the provisions necessary for the shipping should be exempted from duty ; — that, in tlje case of dispute, a particular Phinnaund should be given, for explaining and confirming the English privi- leges ; and that copies of such Phirmaund should be forwarded to the respective Mogul officers. By a separate article, it was agreed, that the rate of customs^ on English imports, should be fixed at three and a half per cent, and two per cent, on rials of eight ; — ^that mutual assistance should be given against the enemies of either of the contracting parties ; — ^and, finally, that the Portuguese, at the desire of the King of England, should be included in this treaty, and six months allowed to the Viceroy of Goa, to notify his accession ; but, in the event of his refusal, the Portuguese were to be treated as enemies. ('> The farther progress of Sir Thomas Roe's negotiation with the Mogul, will appear in the transactions of the subsequent season ; his dispatches of this year, concluded with recom- mending to the' Company, as a commercial speculation, to VOL. I. A a send (1) — MSB. in the Indian Register Office, marked A, bound, page 113.—— Sir Thomas Roe's Journal, Printed Collection of Voyages, vol. i. 178 • ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE send out a large assortment of all kind of toys, annually, which would find a ready sale at the great festival of Noroose, in the month of March. (^> Progress of Though there are no direct communications from Surat« the trade on *^ ' Coasf ^'^^^"^ this season, the progress of the Ck)mpany's comtmercial specula- tions on the Malabar Coast, appears to have been considerable. As the commodities obtained on the Malabar side of the Peninsula, constituted a valuable part of the cargoes brought from India, Captain Keelinge, who conmianded one of the vessels which sailed in'1614-15, had his principal intercourse • with the Zamoiin's country. On his arrival at Cranganore (March 1615-16), he obtained liberty of trade, and permission to settle a factory ; and it was agreed by treaty, dated .the 10th March 1615-16, that the English and the Zamorin should join their forces, and expel • the Portuguese fitim Cochin, which, when conquered, should be ceded to the English, they paying one half of the expences of the expedition, and the Zamorin the other. <^> 8t Ban- The measures adopted at Bantam, for extending the Com- pany's pepper trade, and the trade to the Spice Islands, if they did not prove successful, at least opened, in this season, new markets to view ; but the commercial animosities which were daily becoming greater, between the Dutch and English. Com- panies, prevented the establishment of trade at them. Mr. (1) — Rymer's Foedera, vol. xvi, page 775.'-'"'^ Sir Thomas Roe's Journal, printed. — — Original Letter from Sir Thomas Roe to the Coart, dated Agimere, 25th January 1615-16, No. 187. (2)— Treaty concluded wUh the Zamorib by Captain Keelinge, 10th March 1615-16, MSB. in India Registec OfHce, marked A, bound, page 133: tarn. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. - 1?^ Mr. Boyle and Mr. Cockayne, who had been sent, in the chap, l preceding reason, from Bantam to' Amboyna, reported, that • 1615. notwithstanding the invitation given by the natives or Amboyna boyna. and Banda to the English, to open a trade with them, they had, after repeated efforts, been obliged to abandon the enterprize. Mr. Cockayne had gone to Maccassar, and fixed a factory at fhat place, although it -produced scarcely any other article but rice, on the presumption that, from its situation^ it might be made a central port, at which the spice trade might be establish- ed : — ^in this place, also, the Dutch endeavoured to excite the natives against the English ; Mr. Cockayne, therefore, sailed from Maccassar again to Banda, but was forced back, by the shifting of the monsoon, and then thought of the* expedient of fixing a factory at Poloway, which hitherto had not been visited by the Dutch. In the course of the season, he sailed to Neroe, in the Island of Banda, but found it impracticable, from the opposition of the Dutch, to fix a factory. Driven, in this manner, from station to station, he again proceeded to Amboyna, and, through the friendship of the natives, got possession of Cambello Castle, in June 1615. In this place he was attacked by a Dutch superior force, and though he made an obstinate defence, was again compelled to return to Maccassar. It, therefore, only remained 'to the factors at Bantam, to make efforts to extend the Company's trade in pepper. An ex- periment had previously been tried to open this trade, at Jambee ; but as this port had been • overstocked with Coromandel Coast goods A a 2 180 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE goods (the articles which the natives most readily received in exchange for their pepper)/ this expedient failed. (*> Captain Best, whoJiad carried letters from King James to the King of Acheen, formed, in 1615, a treaty with this chidP, by which, privileges of trade and liberty to settle a factory tit Tekoo, in Smnatra, were granted, on payment of seven per cent, on the imports and exports; — ^in return for which, the Company's servants were to have protection for their persons and property, on promises bein^ ^ade of lalrger presents. (^> — at Japan. The experiment which had been tried to open a trade with Japan had not been productive; for the pepper, lead, and quicksilver, brought from Bantam, itid not sell to advantage; and Mr. Coppindal, the factor, who had been left at Firando, recommended to the Court, that if a settlement could be obtained ' in the Spice Islands, it would be preferable to try a trade betweoi them and China, orSiam, though the factory at Firando might be kept open, as a dep6t for stores and provisicms. <'> In (I) — Letters from the Factors at Bantam to the Court, 20th December 1^15 s from Mr. Cockayne^ at Maccassar, l6th July I6l5 ; and from the Factors at Jambee^ llth February 1615-16. No. 226> igg, and igo. (2)— Ck>py of Treaty with the 'King of Acheen. (MSS. 'm the India Register Office, marked F. 1, unbound^ page 35.) Letter from the King of Acheen to King James I. (1615) vol. ii. No. 231. JVb/e.— Though, at this distant periqd, the natere of the presents requested may ap- pear whimsical, this demand, and the compliance with it, furnishes a striking pnx)f of the value which all nations put on whatever has novelty^ and 'that novelty will obtain favour in a remote country, however trifling the articles may be. The King of Acheen, by this treaty, requested that " ten mastiff dogs, and ten bitches, and a greate piece of cannon^ " that a man might set upright in, might be sent out to him.'* (3)-*Letter from Mr. Coppindal^ at Fiittndo, to the Court, 5th December I6l5. No. 233* EA6T-IVDIA COMPANY. 181 In the preceding seasons, while the four projected voyages chap. i. were actually performing, we have endeavoured to collect the 1616. projects of the Company's foreign factories, for extending their viewTof^Sir trade in the East-Indies, and in the season 1616-17^ we must and the Com- continue the same method, as the only practicable means, by at Surat, of which, we can connect their domestic measures with the foreign cy of the trade results of them, while the East-India Company were making e3q)eriments of trade, only. In the former year, although the information from Surat was deficient, yet the trade of the Company had been introduced lower down the Malabar Coast, partly by the directions of this factory, but chiefly by the exertions of Captain Keelinge, in his treaty with the Zamorin; and we were then able to trace the rise and first progress of Sir Thomas Roe's mission^ as Ambassador to the Great Mogul. In the season we are now reviewing, however, we dis- Report, by the factors at cover a jealousy in the factory of Surat, of Sir Thomas Roe, not- sarat, of the state of the withstanding his efibrts and success in obtaining phirmaunds, trade in from the Mogul, favourable to the factories at Surat and Ahme- dabad, and, in general, encouraging to the English trade in the Mogul dominions, for the factors represented to the Court, that a merchant, or agent, would be better qualified for a commercial n^otiator, than a King's Ambassador, and, in support of this opinion, referred to the practice of the King of Spain, who, on no occasion, would send an ambassador, but always a commercial agent; and stated that Sir Thomas Roe, besides, consider- ed himself to be vested with the exercise of a controlling power over 182 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE over the commercial speculations of the Surat factory, and held himself to be better qualified to judge of the English interests, Hby combining the political relations which he wished to introduce, between the Mogul and the King of England, than by forwarding any projects for trade, which the factory might devise, as applicable to the Mogul dominions. In explanation of these opinions, we shall advert, in the first instance, to the measures which the Surat factory adopted, and recommended to the Court of Directors, for their encou- ragement ; and next, to the views which Sir Thomas Roe took of the proceedings of the Surat factory, and of the Indian trade, of which it had the chief direction ; and, lastly, to the .oppol^ite opinions^ which the factors and the Ambassador entertained of the practicability, or the advantages of the Persian trade, on which, from the incidents, detailed in the preceding season, these agents had speculated, and had begun to act. The factors at Surat stated, that the Mogul dominions, from the probable death of the Emperor Jehanguire, were, at this period, in the most relaxed state of administration, the three sons of the Emperor being employed in drawing together their adherents, and preparing for a civil war : — that the transit of goods through the provinces, to Surat, from this circumstance, waiS exposed to depredations, in the countries in which each of the princes had their respective influence ; and that this precarious situation of trade was daily becoming more hazardous, as the event of the Emperor's death was held to be probable, or approaching :— ^ the port of Surat, however. BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 183 however, broad-cloth, lead, and tin, would sell well, provided the market was not overstocked, but quicksilver and cutlery were falling in price ; and, therefore, that considerable assortments of goods should be sent from England to Surat, which would enable the agents to meet the demands at Brampore and Ahme- dabad, and save the expences of continuing factories at these sta- tions ; but that, hitherto, they had not found it practicable to open a trade in the countries bordering on the Ganges, the Portuguese being in the exclusive possession of the commerce of that part of the Peninsula :-— concluding this general report, with observing, that private trade must be checked, because individuals in the fleets, undersold the Company, and that no further licences should be granted by . the Court, to voluntanes (pri- vate traders), because, when any misfortune happened to them, that is, when their projects, or their credit, failed, they either be- x^ame a burden on the Company, or embraced the Mahomedan faith, " to keep them from starving/' (*> The factory at Surat stated to the Court, that the attempt YtoetesA of which had been made to open an intercourse with Persia, had ^^^f^jj^pergia^ succeeded beyond their expectations, and that they had written to the factors, at Bantam, for a proper supply of pepper and spices, and such goods as the faxther Indies, afforded, because, from the information they had received, these articles would facilitate exchanges, or the purchase of Persian produce. On * (1)— Letters from the Agents at Surat and Agimere to the Court, 31st December l6l6, 26ch February^ 4thMarch^ 1616-17. No 289* 256* 184 ANNAI^ OF THE HOKOBABUB On coDSultatioii, they reported^ that in consequence of letters from the agent in Persia (notwithstanding Sir Thomas Roe's opinion being against the project), they were satisfied, that several kinds of English goods, which had not been found vendible at Surat, particularly broad-cloths, were in demand in consequence of the existing war between the Persians and Turks, in return for which Persian silks, which had hitherto been sent, through Turkey, to Europe, might be procured, and a foundation laid for a Persian trade; — they, tlierefore, resolved to send a small ship from Surat to Jasques, with an investment, consisting of broad-cloth, kersies, lead, tin, iron, quicksilver, vermiUon, cutlery, glass, and sword-blades, with 5^2,000 in money. This resolution they illustrated, by reference to letters from Mr. Barker and Mr. Connock, who had proceeded from Jasques to Mogustan, the residence of the governor of the province of Ormus, by whom they had been favorably received, and who granted them a licence to land their goods at Jasques ; — after leaving two factcxrs at Mogustan, they next intended to continue their journey to Ispahan, the capital, and requested a supply of English cloths, which would sell well, and enable them to purchase silks, and other Persian produce : — that it would also be expedient. to send four hundred tons of pep- per and spices, from Bantam, with a supply of Surat and Guzerat cloths, and a proportion of ginger, sugar, rice, opium, and wax, and presents to be offered to the King of Persia ; and concluded by stating, that the Persian trade was the more promising, from the decline of the Portuguese power, and the opinion of this people EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 185 people that the English would probably make an attack on Ormus. ^^^ ^^J ; Mr. Pley, in a subsequent letter, explained, that English cloths 1616. would find a ready sale in Persia, because the upper garments of the chiefs and soldiers were made of this staple, brought through Turkey. <*> We have next to advert to the progress of Sir Thomas Roe's Sequel of Sir \ ^ Thomas embassy, and to his opinion of the measures and projects of the Hoe's nego- tiations. factory at Surat, for extending the Company's trade. At the close of the preceding season, the Ambassador had his second audience of the Mogul, and had concluded a treaty, for the introduction of the English trade, into the Mogul domi- nions. In this year, he reported, that he had returned his thanks to Sultan Churrum, for the protection which he had afforded to the English, in relieving them from the extortions of Zulfeccar Khan, the late Governor of Surat, and had remon- strated against the partiality which had been shewn to the Portuguese, by representing to the Mogul that the King of Por- tugal had, in Europe, assumed the title of King of India, and that the Portuguese trade could never be so beneficial as that of England, from the fact, that the English annually exported from India, calicoes and indigo, to the amount of 50,000 rials ; — ^to strengthen this remonstrance. Sir Thomas Roe ofi^ed to pay to the Sultan 12,000 rupees per annum, on condition that the English should be exempted from payment of customs at the port of Surat; and then gave it as his opinion, that the voir, i^ B b plan (1)— CoDsultatioQ of the Agents at Surat, 2d and 6th October I6l6. No. 276.* Letter from the Eictort at Jasques to the Courts 19th January I6l6-17* Nos. 238, 288. 186 ANNAI.S OF THE HONORABLE plan of the agency at Surat, of keeping up permanent factories at Ahmedabad^ and other parts of the Mogul dominions^ ought to be abandoned, as it would be preferable to make the purchases of goods inland, by the natives (particularly the indigo brought from Agra, and the Bengal goods), who could obtain them at reasonable rates ; but if the Court were of opinion, that English fac- tors should be stationed at Agra, he recommended the sending the goods on carts, rather than on camels ; — ^and concluded this part of his report, by advising that agents should reside at Cambaya and Baroach, because, at those towns, the best cloths in India could be procured. The Ambassador's opinion of the Persian trade, it has already been noticed, was directly opposite to that of the Agent and Council of Surat : in paiticular, he held, that the expedient of sending a ship to Persia, was an ill-advised project, and, to take off the bad effect of it, he had written to Shah Abbas, that the ship had come to Jasques by accident ; — ^that, however, the speculation of a Persian trade was so far worthy of consider- ation, that he had addressed a letter to the King, offering to enter into a direct contract for Persian silks ; but that the plan of keeping up a fleet, for the defence of the Persians against the Portuguese, at Ormus, was extravagant, as it would exhaust the whole profits which could arise from the trade, and because, on the restoration of peace between Turkey and Persia, ,the silk trade would naturally revert to its ancient channel, by Aleppo ; — independently, however, of this circumstance, the heavy expences which would be incurred, by bringing the silk, by land carriage, to EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 187 to a port in the Persian Gulf, thence to be conveyed to Surat, thap. r. would render the price, at which the silks could be sold 1616. in England, higher than that at which they would seU, if brought from Aleppo ; — and, on the whole, that the project of a Persian trade should, for the present, be abandoned, as the Spanish-Portuguese would oppose it, by every obstacle in their power. ^^^ The measures adopted at Bantam, this season, furnished only State of thes a continuation of those detailed in the preceding year. It had tam in then been found, that the experiment of forming a settlement cession of the Island of at any of the Banda or Molucca Islands, was difficult, if not Poiaroon, by the natives, to impracticable ; the avowed plan of the Dutch being to monopolize the English. the Spice Trade; — ^that, therefore, this branch of trade could only be attempted, by fixing stations and factors in those islands, to which the Dutch had not hitherto resorted ; and with this view, a commission had been given, by the Agent and Council at Bantam, to the commanders of the ships. Swan and Defence, directing them to proceed to the Islands of Poloway and Poiaroon, with instructions to observe the utmost caution in treating with the natives, and to endeavour to obtain from them an absolute surrender of those islands to the King of England, by their stipulating to pay, annually, as a quit-rent, a branch of the nutmeg-tree, bearing fruit ; and that they should be allowed to remain subject, entirely, to their own laws and customs, provided they would agree to sell their spices to the English only. In the B b 2 event (1)— Letters from Sir Thomas Roe to the Court, 27th November and 1st December 1616. Nos. 281, 282. Letter from Sir Thomas Roe to Sultan Churrum, Ut Maj 1616. No. 265. 188 AKNALS OF THE HOKORABI^ CHAP^. event of such a treaty being formed, the English commanders 1616. were to endeavour to obtain ground at Polaroon, on which they were to build a house, to land their ordnance, and to fortify it as a station, and then, to intimate to the Dutch in the neighbourhood, that the island had been taken pos* session of, in the name of the King of England. Under similar instructions, they were next to endeavour to establish houses and factories in the Islands of Poloway, Pulo-Lantore, and Rosengin. (^> 1617* The following interesting survey of the English establish- tbrirade and mcnts in the East-Indies was transmitted to the Court of Com- theEwt- mittees, in the year 1617, or at the conclusion of the Joint pany ia the StOck of 1613. in 1617. ' Surat was the most commodious station in all India, at — at Surat. ^j^j^jj^ though English goods were not in great request, all the eastern parts of India could be supplied with cloths ; but those articles could only be procured by exchanges of China goods, spices, and money. — at Acheen -^* *^^ *^^ factories of Acheen and TekoOy on the Island of *° ^ ^' Sumatra, large quantities of Cambaya and M asulipatam goods might be disposed of, and, in return, gold, camphor, pepper, and benjamin, could be obtained. ^ at Bantam, Bantam was the greatest place of trade in the Indian Seas, where Cambaya and M asulipatam goods, estimated at fifty or sixty thousand rials, were annually imported, and, in return, in good (1)— Letters from the Agent and Council at Bantam to the Cfmi, 2gth October 1616 No. 27i. BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 189 good years, one hundred and fifty thousand sacks, and in bad ^^A^- J; years, sixty thousand sacks of pepper could be exported:— 1616. the price of pepper, however, had been raised treble, in the last few years, from the competitions in the market, between the English, Dutch, and Chinese. Jaccatra yielded arrack, rice, and fish, for shipping ; but a set- — atJaccatra. tlement at that place would be difficult, from the exorbitant sum demanded by the King, for ground on which to build a factory. Jambee had been recently settled as a factory, at which there — at Jambee. was an increasing demand for Cambaya and Coromandel cloths, and, in return, it would affi)rd about ten thousand sacks of pepper. At Potania, about ten thousand rials of Surat and Coro- —at Potania. mandel cloths might be sold ; but it ftunished few articles of export, and trade was on the decUne. At Siam, if the country were in a state of peace, Coroman- — at Siam. del cloth might be sold to the amount of forty or fifty thousand rials per annum ; in return, it* would yield gold, silver, and deer skins, for the Japan market. At Japany English cloth, lead, deer skins, silks, and other — at Japan. goods, would find a considerable market, and, in return, it would furnish silver, copper, and iron ; but the English cargoes hitherto sent to this place had been ill assorted, and the trade was on the decline. At SiLccadaniay diamonds, bezoar stones, and gold, might — at Sacca* daiiia. be obtained, had not this trade been ruined by the ignorance of the first factors. At •\» sar. 190 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAT>. I. At JBanjarmassin, in the Island of Borneo, diamonds, gold, 1616. and bezoar stones, could be procured ; but the character of the massin. natives was so treacherous, that it would be expedient to with- draw the factory. —at Maccas- As MaccossaVy the best rice in India could be bought, and about forty thousand rials per annum of Cambaya and Ck)roman- del cloths sold ; but this place was resorted to by the Portuguese, though abandoned by the Dutch. — at Banda. At Banda^ about forty or fifty thousand rials, annually, of Coromandel cloths could be sold ; and, in return, about a thou- sand tons of nutmegs and mace could be purchased, and a still greater quantity, could peace be established between the Euro- peans trading to it. (^> Though these accounts of the experiments which had been made to estabhsh trade in the countries within the Company's limits do not specify the amount of the charges, either in the en- terprizes, or in the settlement of factories, yet these charges must have been great, and must be considered as haying exhaust- ed a large proportion of the East-India Company's funds, under their obligation to the Crown to establish English trade in the East-Indies, under their Charter and exclusive privileges. (1) — letter from the Agent and Council atBantara to the Court, IQth January 1617-I8. No. 296. BAST -INDIA COMPANY. 191 1617-18. The Annals of the London East-India Company, from its chap. i. establishment in 1600, by Queen Elizabeth, to 1617-18, could 1617-18. only assume the form of a narrative of the commercial measures the London , - _ ^ , - East-India which had been devised at home, and of experiments by voyages Company, in to the countries within their limits, with the general object of admit of 'a re- gular review introducing the trade. of their do- ^ ^ raesticandfo- At the outset, though the subscriptions of the Adventurers reign trans- actions. were' considerable, those subscriptions were not acted upon as one joint stock, on which a direct trade between England ttnd the East-Indies could be attempted ; for whether we refer to the commercial caution of the first subscribers, many of whom wished for information on the practicability of the scheme before they embarked their property in it, or from the opinion of many » of the Adventurers, that it would be more safe to manage their own concern, than to entrust it to the Court of Committees, it is, at this distant period, difficult to ascertain ; but the fact was, that lesser and subordinate associations of the Adventiu'ers fitted but different independent equipments, though all of them acted in the name of the London East-India Company. Experience, however, discovered, that those detached equipments exposed the whole to dangerous results, in the East-Indies, in their attempts to establish trade :•— it was, therefore, practicable only, in this first 192 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAP. I. first aspect of Indian affairs, to give the form of a narrative of 1617-18. voyages of experiment. Formation of The inconveniences of detached voyages of experiment the Second Joint Stock, were felt in the year 1613, and called for the union of those subordinate associations, or what has been termed the First Joint Stock. On this larger fund, and with more defined conunercial objects, the Court of Committees, or Directors, were enabled to call for the support of the Crown, to protect the establishments which they were forming, against the jealousies audi opposition of the Portuguese and Dutch : — the Directors, with this suppprtj^* fixed on Surat and Bantam, as the principal seats of their « • > fc trade, and placed, as subordinate to the Presidents and Coimciis at those ports, such out-stations^ as had hitherto been subjects of commercial experiment, only, that they might annually aflS)rd instructions to those Presidencies, for the management of the trade, and for continuing, or relinquishing, such sta- tions as had been formed on the Peninsula of India, and in the countries bordering on the Gulfs of Persia and Arabia, on the one side, and on the Island of Java and the Spice Islands, and the countries which might be approached by the Chinese Seas, on the other. Having, however, arrived at that period (1617-18), when a large joint stock was to be employed, and when the interfe- rences of the Crown were required, to protect the East-India Company, as a body of its subjects, privileged to carry on a distant and extensive commerce, from being overset by the maritime European nations, with which, by treaties, England was SAST-INDZA COMPANY. 193 was in alliance^ it becomes practicable to give the regular form chap. i. of annals, to Indian Affairs, divided into the domestic and 1617-18. foreign transactions of the London East-India Company. The report which had been made in the preceding year (1616-17), of the actual commercial state of the countries, to which the Company's shipping had hitherto resorted, and the large expenditure which had been made of the first Joint Stock, of 1613, induced the proprietors, or Adventurers, this year, to form a new, or what has been known by the name of the Second Joint Stocky which amounted to the large sum of ^1,600,000. When this Joint Stock began to be acted on, the Company were possessed of thirty-six ships, of from one hundred to a thousand tons burden, and the proprietors of stock amounted to nine hundred and fifty-four persons. 0> The appropriation made of this large stock was as follows : Appropria- lion of it. the sum of ^800,000 was set apart to defray the charges of voi^. I. C c three (1) — Sir Jeremy Sacnbrooke's Report on East-India Trade. (MSS. in India Register Office^ marked D. P. 1. 1.)^-— List of Adventurers in the East-India Stocky 20th February ] 6 J 7- 1 8, and List of the Ships belonging to the Company, " at the coming in of the Second '' Joint Stocky \6\7r (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked D. P. 7,-20, and I2g). Note, In the year 1617-I8, King James granted Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Scotland, dated at Kinnaird, 24th May 1617, to Sir James Cunningham, of Glengamock, appointing him, his heirs, and assigns, to be governors, rulers, and directors, of the Scottish East-India Company, and authorizing him '^ to trade to and from ^' the East-Indies, and the countries or parts of Asia, Africa, and America, beyond the '' Cape of Bona Sperantia, to the Straito of Magellan, and to the Levant Sea, and " territories under the government of the Great Turk, and to and from the countries of *' Greenland, and all other countries and islands in the North, North-west, and North* *' east Seas, and other parts of America and Muscovy.** Which Patent, and all the rights and EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 195 of its transactions in the preceding year; but an accident chap. i. occurred in this season, which, though trivial in itself, became 1617-18. the foundation of a rivalship, and an animosity ,^ not anticipated by the East-India Company. Hitherto, the factory had only to reconcile the Mogul offi- cers to the introduction of trade, and to oppose the English sales and purchases to the long confirmed commerce of the Portuguese ; but, in this year, a Dutch ship being wrecked near Surat (10th July IfilD* and the goods saved from the wreck allowed to be disposed of in that city, this persevering people perceived the value and consequence of trade at this port ; and having disposed of their goods to advantage, left ten mer- chants, as the managers of a projected trade, and with the funds which had arisen from the sale of the ship's cargo, and the ^qiectation of receiving new stock and shipping from Europe, in the subsequent season, they determined to acquire a portion of the Surat trade. The English factory, thus, before it had been fully established, had not only to oppose itself to the Portuguese, but to the Dutch commerce. This event is memorable, fiwm its ascertaining the origin of the Dutch trade at Surat, and introducing their enterprizing servants into a rivalship with ., the English : — it is not less so, from its furnishing evi- f.''" dence, that the Dutch commercial relations had already been formed on the Coromandel Coast •, for, with the exception of the ten persons left at Surat, the remainder of the officers and crew pitKeeded, overland, to their factory at Masulipatam. C') C c 2 We (I)— Letter from the Factory at Surat to the Court, lOth November 1617, No. 392. 5' 196 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. We left Sir Thomas Roe, after concluding his treaty with the 1617-18. Mogul, soliciting Sultan Churrum to accept of the annual pay- Thomas Roe's ment of twelve thousand rupees by the English, in lieu of payment of customs at Siu'at, and have now to follow the progress of his embassy. Though Sir Thomas Roe appears, from his communications to Mr. Kerridge, the chief at Surat, to have procured a Phir- maund, through the means of Noor-Mahal, the Empress, or favorite Sultana, for the general good treatment of the English at Surat, and had desired, that an assortment of English goods, perfumes, &c. should be forwarded to him, as presents for her, and for Asaph Khan, her brother, yet he described the Governor of Surat as reluctant to shew that favour to the English, which the Phirmaund had enjoined ; — ^it, therefore, became a question with the Ambassador, as the Governor of Surat would not allow the English to strengthen or fortify their factory, for the protec- tion of their goods and servants, whether it might not be expe- dient to remove to some station, where the means of self-defence might be more practicable. At one time, he thought of Goga, and, subsequently, of Scindy ; but, after a review of the whole, decided that it would be more expedient to remain at Surat, though from the character of the natives, and the instability of the Mogul government, all grants of privileges must be con- sidered as temporary, and that any agreement, or capitula- tion for goods, which might be procured, ought not to be depen- ded on, as permanent ; and concluded, that though the general Phirmaund for trade in the Mogul dominions had been ob- taiped, EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 19/ tained, and, of course, a foundation laid for the English chap l. intercourse with the rich provinces of Bengal, yet the attempt 1617- 18. to enter on this trade would be unwise, from the Portuguese having the exclusive possession of it. <*> If Sir Thomas Roe, and the factory at Surat, in the prece- He seconds . , •••/*! • ^^^ efforts of ding season, had entertained opposite opinions of the expediency the Factors . . . at Surat,for a of opening a trade with Persia, it would appear in this year (as Persian trade. the trade had been opened at the port of Jasques) that he felt it his duty to afford them his assistance, in maintaining and extending the advantages which the agents had already acquired. In their report to the Court of Directors, dated at Ispahan, they stated that the opposition which they had chiefly to expect, arose from the interferences of the Spanish-Portu- guese, who were trying every expedient to engross the Persian trade, and to exclude the Enghsh from any participation in it. In this opposition, Sir Robert Shirley had been implicated, Projecu of Sir Robert who had left Ispahan, in October 1615, and gone to Europe, Shirley in Persia, hostile on a mission from the King of Persia, to form a contract to the Com- pany. with the King of Spain, not only to sell to his subjects the whole of the Persian silk, but to grant them licence to fortify the sea-ports, for the protection of their shipping and factories. Mr. Connock, the agent, therefore, recommended the necessity of an application to King James, by submitting to his consideration, the danger of allowing the Spanish-Portuguese to enjoy the exclusive (1)— Letter from Sir Thomas Roe to Mr. Kerridge, 21st October 1617, No. 387.— ibetter from Sir Thomas Roe to the Court, 14th February I6l7-I8j No. 306. 198 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^A P I. exclusive possession of a trade, which would render them the 1617-18, most powerfiil European nation in the East-Indies ; and, in the mean time, represented to the King of Persia, the necessity of seizing the Island of Ormus from the Portuguese, under the protection of which the Persian dominions would be suppUed by the English, with all kinds of Indian produce. Arrira! of a In this Critical situation of the Company's agents at Ispahan. Spanish Am- . r j -^ r > hassador at an Ambassador arrived from the King of Spain (June 1617), au- thorized to adjust and settle the contract, which Sir Robert Shirley had projected; — the English agent, in consequence, urged the factory at Surat, to dispatch the whole of the Compa- ny's ships to Jasques, for the defence of that port, as the Portuguese fleet had rendezvoused at Muscat, and had determined to blockade the passage into the Gulf of Persia, against the English trade. Sir Thomas Thcsc cvcnts induccd Sir Thomas Roe to grant a eom- Roe autbori- ,. ,. • i i r>t § ▼•■ zes the Com- mission and mstructions to the Company s agent at Ispahan, au- at Ispahan to thorizing him to treat with the King of Persia, in the name of treat in the ^, #* -n i name of the the Kinff of En^^land. ing of En- , 1 . 1 gland. The commercial advantages which would result from getting access to the Persian trade, Mr. Connock reported to the factory at Surat, would be, the immediate sale of all the English cloths and kersies, which might arrive in the fleet, should they amount even to two thousand bales, and the sale of about a hundred tons of tin, and some quicksilver, and vermilion; and that, from the money which these sales would produce, with two thou- sand rials in cash, he could purchase a valuable assortment of EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 199 of Persian goods, but added, that neither ivory, lead, nor ^^^^'l' ^word-blades, would sell in Persia ; — ^if this trade should be en- 1617 - 18. tered on with spirit, five hundred tons of pepper could be dispo- sed of, and as much sugar, and the finer spices, as could be pro- cured ; — and concluded, by requesting, that an English coach should be sent as a present to the King of Persia, for which the agent expected an order, for buying silk, might be obtained. (*^ The efforts which had been made under the directions of the The Compa- ny*8 Factors factory at Bantam, in the preceding season, appear, in this year, a^ Bantam to have succeeded ; for the Islands of Polaroon and Rosengin ^^^ Dutch. had been taken possession of, and fortified : — ^the Dutch had at- tacked the former with three ships, but, on finding the defences strong, had retired, though, on the voyage, they had seized the Company's ship Swan, in her passage to Rosengin, and hav- ing corrupted the crew of the Defence, carried the ship to a Dutch settlement. Against these proceedings, the fac- tory at Bantam protested, and demanded the ships, which were refused, unless the EngUsh would consent to surrender all their rights and claims on Polaroon, and the other Spice Islands. The Dutch practised the same conduct against the first French ships, which appeared in the Indian Seas, as they had exercised towards the English. Two French ships had arri- ved at Bantam, from Dieppe, in 1616-17 ; hut being com- manded by Dutch officers, they were seized, and the super- cargoes (1) — Letters from Mr. CoDQOck> agent at Ispahan, to the Court> 2d April and 2d June 1617, Nos. 332, 352. Letters from Mr. Connock to the Factory at Surat, 15th May and 8th June 1617, Nos.341, 455. Commission and Instructions from Sir Thomas Roe (0 the Agent in Persia, 6thOctoberl6l7, Nos- 378, 380. i200 ANKALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAPEL cargoes obliged to sell one of the vessels, at Bantam : — ^the other, I6I7 - 18. commanded also by Dutch officers, was intercepted, on her re- turn through the Straits of Sunda, and sunk. Two other French ships, subsequently, arrived from St. Maloes, from which the Dutch officers were also seized ; — and the English factors, con- cluded, that there was little probability of either of those vessels returning to Europe. (*> (1)— Letter from the Agent and Factors at Bantam to the Court, igtb January I6l7-18« No. 296. SA6T INDIA COMPANY. 80} 1618-19. When the knowledge of the events which had taken place ^^^^-j - in the Spice Islands reached Europe, the respective superiors of 1618- 19. Differeot the English and Dutch Companies became parties in the discus- constitution of the Dutch sions, each presentinc: memorials and remonstrances. and London '^ ° East-India While the English traded as separate adventurers, the Companiei. Dutch considered them, as seeking only a subordinate share of the East-India trade, but when a Joint Stock was enabling the London Company to send out large fleets, that they might acquire a participation in the trade, the jealousy of merchants, strength- ened by the experience of gain, superseded, in a distant country, the ties of alliance in Europe : — hence, in Holland, it was ex- pected, that any opposition which the Dutch Company might make to the projects of the EngUsh, in participating in the trade, would not, from the pacific character of King James, lead to any actual hostilities, but be subjects of remonstrance only ; — ^besides, the greater part of the Directors rtF the Dutch Company, in their different Chambers, were members of the States in the dif- ferent Provinces, and several of them members of the States Ge- neral ; whereas, m England, the Directors of the London Com- VOL. I. D d pany 202 AT^NALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^l^Ili' P^'^y were not vested with any political capacity, and could only 1618 - 19, approach the sovereign with petitions, praying for his interference and protection. Memorial of In all cascs of national aggression, the party committing the Dutch East-India the injury, is, generally, the first who complains : — the Dutch King James, Company, accordingly, in 1618, presented a memorial to oftbeinterfe-^ Kinff Jamcs, the substance of which was : — ^that beins: in pos- rences of the ° or i^d-^°°^*^ session of a trade at Bantam, the English factory had endea- M?v^*at^^^ voured to instigate the Materam, or Emperor, against them, and Sie°sTce^"^ had repeatedly assisted the natives, both of the Bandas, and lilanda. Moluccas, particularly at Amboyna, in violating those treaties which they had concluded with the Dutch Company, for the ex- clusive trade and control of those islands, and, therefore, prayed for the King's interference with the Directors of the London Company, to prevent any farther encroachments on possessions, of which the cession had been made to them, by the natives, or of which they had made a conquest from the Spaniards. Answer of the In reply, the London East-India Company enumerated the grievances and oppressions which their ships and factors had re- ceived from the Dutch commanders and fleets, during the last three years, in which they had only been endeavouring to retain their rights at Bantam, and to introduce their trade, in such islands, as had not hitherto been pre-occupied by the Dutch, and that they had made agreements with the natives, at ports in the Spice Islands, of this description, from which, by the superior force, military and naval, of that people, they had been driven, with great loss, both of men and of property ; and, as instan- ces. EAST-INBIA COMPANY. 203 ces, referred to the violence and opposition experienced from chap. i. the Dutch, both at Bantam, and at Polaroon, Rosengin, Am- 1618-19. boyna, and Tidore. (*> The opposition, in opinion, between Sir Thomas Roe and the Proceedings factory at Surat, noticed m the preceding year, appears, on at Surat. the return of the Ambassador to Surat, in the spring of 1618, to have subsided, as the efforts of both were united, to establish, by treaty, a distinct system for the Indian trade at Surat, and to improve on that hold, which the English agents were obtaining of the trade in Persia. It has already been stated, that Sir Thomas Roe had pro- •^ ^ Treaty be- cured from the Mogul a Phirmaund to the English, for a general twecn Suitan Churrumaod trade in his dominions, but that the relaxed situation of the Sii Thoma* Roe. government, which, under the administration of the Moguls, always preceded an expected succession to the throne, had, at this jimcture, rendered the Governor of Surat less obsequious to the orders of his sovereign, than the absolute nature of the constitution would otherwise have prescribed. Sir Thomas Roe, to improve on the general treaty, made proposals to Sultan D d 2 Churrum (])— Memorial of the Dutch East-India Company to King James^ and Reply of the London East-India Company thereto, in the year ]6i8. (East-India Papers in the State FaperOffice, Nos. 12 and 13). 204 ANNALS OF THE HONO&ABLE ^^^J [^; Chumim to enter into an alliance^ for resisting tl» preCebsLons of 1618-19 thePortaguese. After long discussions with this Prince, the treaty was concluded, and the following are its leading articles : — that the prince should take the English under his protection ; — that the Governor of Surat should lend ships to the English, to be employed in the defence of the port ; the English, however, to be allowed to land only ten aimed men at one time, but the resident merchants might wear arms ; — ^that the English might build a house in the city, but distant from the castle ; — ^that the Governor of Surat should Beoeive the Am- bassador and his smite, with marks of honcM* ; — that the English should enjoy the free exercise of their own reli^on, and be go- verned by their own laws ; — that in any disputes between the English and the natives, reference was to be made to the Go- vernor and his officers, who should decide, speedily and justly ; but disputes, among themselves, were to be decided by their own factory ; — ^that liberty of trade should be granted to the English, in its ftdlest extent, on payment of the usufal duties on landing the goods, from which pearls, jewdb, &c. were to be exempted ; — that freedom of speech should be granted to the English linguists and brokers, in alt matters regarding the trade of their employers ; — and, lastly, that all presents, intended for court, should be opened and examined at the custom-house at Surat, and then sealed and delivered to the English, to pass, duty free; but, if such presents were not made, the articles were to be liable to pay duty. The Phir-^ maund, EAST-INDIA COMPAKY. 205 maufid^ ratifying and confirming this treaty, was signed, sealed, CHAP, i. and delivered to Sir Thomas Roe. 0) 1618-19. During this season, the factors at Surat directed their The Factors . , at Surat open attention to the trade m the Red Sea, and <^ened an inter- a trade with Mocba^Qiider course with Mocha, on the principle that the articles ob- licence from the Governor* tained at this port, which had been in high estimation, previously to the discovery of the circuitous navigation, and since that period, might become also part of the Company's investment. Captain Shillinge, of the Company's ship Ann, went to Mocha in 1618^ and obtained a Phirmaund from the Governor, by which the EngUsh were allowed ii*eedom of trade^ and prcrtecticm to their persons and property, on condition of paying i^ree per cent, on merchandize, and three per cent, on money paid for all goods, which they might export from Mocha. On receiving information of these events. Sir Thomas Roe addressed a letter to the Crovernor of Mocha, requesting that these privileges might be confirmed by the Grand Seignior, and promising, on the part of the English, that Europe goods, of all kinds, should be regularly brought to Mocha, and that port be defended against all enemies, and, in particular, against ihe Portuguese. <^> This (1)— Sir Thomas Roe's Account of his Negotiations for settling a Trade and Factory at Surat, 161B. (MSS. in the Indian Register-Office, marked F. 1, unbound, p. 67).— Letter from Sir Tliomas Roe to the Court, 15th August I6I8. No. 484. (2)— Copy of Agreement with the Governor of Mocha. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked F. 1, unbound, page 55). Letter from the agents at Mocha to the 206 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. L This appears to have been the last transaction of Sir 1618-19. Thomas Roe in the East-Indies ; but, in his voyage home, he Sir Thomas iirMi-ii-r^ • -m.jr i i iiii Roeretarnsto touched at Saldanha Bay, m May 1619, where he met and held — his agree- a Conference with the Dutch Admiral, Hoffman, who commanded mentwiththe -»-ii-/y-ii ji i Dutch Admi- the outward-bound fleet. From this oflacer he learned, that the Tal, Hoffman, . • t-» at Saldanha respective governments in Europe, alarmed at the consequences Bay, on his homeward of the Commercial jealousies and animosities, between their voyage. subjects in the East-Indies, had appointed Commissioners to take the subject into consideration ; and it was, with a becoming sense of duty, agreed between them, that each should address a letter to the chiefs of their respective factories in India, recom- mending to them to abstain from any opposition^ or violence against each other, till each should receive specific instructions from their superiors, or be informed of the result of the con- ferences, between tjie Commissioners of the two nations^ iu Europe. (*> Phirmaonds At the close of the preceding season. Sir Thomas Roe had Kngiish trade given authority to the Company's agent at Ispahan, to negotiate a treaty between the English and Persian courts, which Mr. Barker, who had succeeded to be agent, effected this season. As preliminaries to this treaty, three Phirmaunds, in favour of the English, were issued: — ^by the first, they were to be paid, in money, for their goods ; by the second, the Sultan of Mynaw was the Court, June l6l 8. Nos. 471, 477.-^-^ Sir Thomas Roe's Letter to the Governor of Mocha, 16th February 16I8-I9. ^o. 427, (1) ^Letters addressed by Sir Thomas Roe, and the Dutch Admiral, Hoffman, to their respective Factories in India, dated Saldanha Bay, Cape of Good Hope, llthMay I619. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 14). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 20/ was enjoined to deliver up the goods which he had detained ^^J;^* from the English, with the strong expression, ^* that the worst 1618-19. " slave of the English should not he injured ; '' — by the third, a safe conduct was to be afforded to the English, in all their commercial proceedings in the Persian dominions. In return, Mr. Monnox, one of the principal factors, urged the pro- priety of sending, as presents to the King of Persia, a suit of armour for man and horse, some coats of mail, fire-arms, and several kinds of animals, particularly dogs and hawks, and a pair of globes. These Phirmaunds were followed by a treaty, which stipula- Treaty be- tween Per- ted, that perpetual friendship should subsist between England sia and En- gland^ on the and Persia, and that ambassadors should reside at the res- basis of these Phirmaands. pective courts; — that the governors at the different Persian ports should allow the English to land their goods, and should famish the shipping with provisions, at the usual market prices ; — that the Enghsh should enjoy the free exercise of their reUgion, and be permitted to wear arms for their de- fence ; — ^that the Enghsh Ambassador should be accommodated with a house at Ispahan, employ Persian servants, and be the judge of the English, according to their own laws, with power to appoint Consuls at the different Persian ports, and his Dro- goman to have equal privileges with Enghsh subjects; — ^that the English should be permitted to bury their dead, the property of the deceased be deUvered to the Ambassador, or Consul, and the orphans, whether by English women or Armenians, placed under the guardianship of the Ambas- sador 208 ANKAL6 OF THB HONORABI^S CHAP. L sador or Consuls ; — that, in all disputes between the English^ 1618-19. Armenians, and Jews, the case should be decided by the Cadi, in presence of the Ambassador or Consid, but that no En- glishman should be imprisoned for debt in Persia. It was farther stipulated, that the EngUsh should be authorised to attack the Portuguese, in all cases where they offered obstructions to their trade ; and that, in the event of any future treaty of peace, between Persia and Turkey, no stipulations should be introduced, contrary to the spirit and terms of this treaty be- tween Persia and England; and that the specifiecl contract for silk, should be faithfully observed by both parties. It was finally explained that the English should have liberty of export and import trade of all kinds of goods, without payment of duties or customs ; — ^that a fort should be built for them at Jasques, and that the Portuguese should be compelled to make restitution of whatever goods they had taken from them ; — ^and the go- vernors of the different towns were enjoined to fiimish the En- glish with <;amels and mules, for facilitating the transit of their goods. ^^) The Dutch The opposition and animosity of the Dutch towards the depress the English factory at Bantam, and the means which their superior at Bantam, uaval powcr, and military force, enabled them to employ, reii- pendencies. dcrcd it improbable that the English, with inferior means, could hold (1)— Letter from Mr. Monnox, at Ispahan, to the Court, 18th April i6lB. No. 473, A; — Copy of a Treaty between the King of England and the Sophi of Persia, 14th June l€l8. No. 468. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 209 hold out against rivals, whose avowed object was to extirpate 9^^^'3 them. At Bantam, the capture of the Company's ships, in 1618-19 the preceding year, had reduced the EngUsh factory to the most precarious situation ; and yet they sent two of their ships to the rehef of Polaroon and Lantore. These ships were taken by the Dutch ; but the small garrison on Polaroon, con- sisting only of thirty- two men, held out against every attack, though its fall was deemed inevitable, imless it coidd be sup- plied with provisions : — ^Lantore had also held out, with the assistance of the natives, and it was hoped that this station might be preserved, till the arrival of reinforcements from England. At Banda, the EngUsh factors, after the capture of the ships sent to their relief, had been obliged to sell the spices which they had collected, to purchase provisions ; — hence the project of extending the Company's trade to the Spice Islands was almost desperate. If reinforcements should arrive, the factors at Bantam entertained no doubt, that they would be able to establish stations at Cambello, and other ports on the Island of Amboyna. The conduct of the Dutch was equally violent to expel — and at Acheen. the EngUsh from Acheen, at which, and at Bantam, they had offered double prices for pepper, that they might engross the whole trade in that article. <*> Sir Thomas Dale had sailed from England, as commodore. Treaty be- tween the With six ships, in 1618, and had been vested by King James King of Ban- • tarn and Sir VOL. I. E e with ThomasDale. (I)— Letters from the Factory of Bantam to the Court, 7th September 1618, and 12th March 1616-19. (No. 495, 438.) 210 ANNAJLS OF THE HONOBABI.E CHAP. L ij^ritli a special commission^ to exercise civil, as well as mar- 1618-19. tial law, and, in particular, to prevent private traders, or in- terlopers, from disturbing the Company's commerce. <^> On his arrival at Bantam, he found the Dutch at Jac- catra, or Batavia, at war with the Javanese, and was called upon by the King of Bantam, of whom the Company held their factory, to give his assistance against the oppressions of the Dutch. This event led to a treaty between the factory of Bantam, on the one part, and the King of Bantam It does not appear, that the English kept possession of — evacuated , „ , by *he £ng- Jaccatra; but, on the contrary, it is asserted, by all the Ush. Dutch authors, that the Dutch, the following year (1619), built and fortified Batavia, the capital of all their East- Indian possessions. <^ Ee2 (i) — Copy of Treaty concluded by Sir Thomas Dale with the King of Jaccatra^ dated Jaccatra^ I8th January 16I8-I9. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked A, bound, pag« 27), Letter from Jaccatra, dated 14th January l6l8«J9. (No. 412.)— Articles of Ca- pitulation of the Fort of Jaccatra, 22d January l6l8*19. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, A, bound, page 39.) (2)— Valentyn, Oud et Nieaw Oost Jndien. 212 ANNAJUS OF THE HONORABLE 1619-20. CHAP. I. When the informatioD of the events in India reached 1619^ Europe, they became subjects of mutual complaint, by the English Confercnc»§ ^^^ Dutch Companies, to their respective governments ; con- Engiiih and ferenccs, therefore, were, for a considerable time, held, between Dotcb Com- 9 J y y 7 Se l^^rs"" Commissioners appointed by the King and by the States General ; )^^^n9nd *^^ Dutch Commissioners stated, that, by the explanations given India* Com- ^7 *^^ English and French Ambassadors, of the terms in the ^°*"' truce of Antwerp (1 609), England had agreed to support the Dutch traders in the East-Indies, which could not be done, without erecting new forts and factories ; — ^the English Com- missioners, in reply, asserted, that such assistance was merely defensive, and that the erection of new forts, or proceeding to offensive operations in the Indies, would involve the King in disputes with Spain. (^) Substance of After repeated conferences, a treaty was concluded at Lon- the Treaty of ifiigbetween don, ou the 7th J^ly 1619, between the King and the States the King and ^ ^ the States General, which, after speafymg an amnesty for all excesses. General, for ^ • i t« t • adjuitingthe committed by either party, m the East-Indies, and a mutual dinerences between the restitution of ships and property, declared the trade of the two Dutch and London East- nations, (1) — Original Report of the Commissioners appointed by King James to negotiate with the States General, concerning the differences between the English and Dutch East- India Companies^ J 618. (State paper Office.) EAST-INPIA COMPANY. 213 nations, in the East, to be free, to the extent of the respective ^^^^ ^ funds, or capital, which might be employed ; and specified, that 1619-20. ^^ . _ , India Com- the exertions of both Ck>mpanies should be directed to panies.— Es- 1 1 • • n t • a* ^ tablishment reduce the duties and exactions of the native officers at the of the Coun- cil of De- difierent ports ; — ^that the pepper trade at Java should be equally fence. divided ; — ^that the EngUsh should have a free trade at Palliacat, or Pullicat, on paying half the expences of the garrison ; — ^that the English, at the Moluccas and Bandas, should enjoy one-third of the export and import trade, and the Dutch two-thirds, and that commissioners should be appointed to regulate the trade ; — the charges of the garrisons to be paid in the same proportion ; — that each Company shoidd ftumish ten ships of war, for common defence, but that these ships were not to be employed to bring cargoes to Europe, but only in the carrying trade, from one part of the East-Indies to another ; — and that the whole proceedings should be under the regulation of a Council of Defence^ in the Indies, composed of four members from each Company. This treaty was to be binding for twenty years. (^> The immediate effect of the treaty of 1619, on the conduct Effect of /• 1 ^ --mil • I ^ ^^** treaty of the Company in England, was to induce them to fit out the on the equip. ments and greatest fleet which they had hitherto sent to the East, of which stock. the largest ship was one thousand tons burden, and several of the others seven hundred tons : the investment for this voyage was estimated at ^62,490 in money, and .3^28,508 in goods,. This fleet consisted of the number of ships which the treaty had specified, and it will immediately appear, that had the Dutch, in (1) — Rymcr's Foedera, vol. xvii, page 170. 214 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. L in the East, acted up to the spuit or letter of the treaty, the 1619-20. returns would have heen immense ; but nine of the English ships were detained in the East-Indies, and one only returned with an investment, the sale amount of which produced 5^108,887. (') state of the As far as can be collected from the Company's foreign trade at Surat /• i • ><-i /»i r^ nr\\ i and in Persia, correspondence of this season (lb 19-20^ the factory at Surat, and the stations dependant on it, on the Malabar Coast, con- tinued to act under the privileges which Sir Thomas Roe had obtained ; and the only object, which seems to have occupied the attention of the Company's servants on the West of India, was the improvement of the trade in Persia, under the Phir- maunds and treaty which had been concluded in the preceding season. The agents at Isaphan reported, that, on the return of the Shah, or King of Persia, to that capital, in June 1619, they had delivered King James's letter to him, in form, and in the pre- sence of the Portuguese, Indian, Turkish, Russian, Tartarian, and Usbeck Ambassadors ; — that the letter had been graciously received, and promises given, that satisfaction should be made to the EngUsh, for the losses they had sustained by the Portu- guese galliots ; — ^that all the conditions in the treaty with the EngUsb should be fulfilled, and, in a particular manner, the contract (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ marked ''Detached Accounts/' No. 10. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 1^15 contract for the exportation of silk by sea. Subsequently, the CHAP. i. King of Persia intimated his design of recovering Ormus from 1619-20. the Portuguese j and, on the arrival of the English caravan at Ispahan, when presents were made to the Shah, the agents solicited his permission to establish a factory at Gombroon, that port being eight days* journey nearer Ispahan than the port of Jasques. (^) The accounts from Bantam, this season, furnish only a Trade aiBan- short continuation of the disastrous events which marked the matra, at the Spice Islands, details of the preceding year. In the month of October 1619, andinJapan^ depressed by the Company's ships, under the command of Captain Bonner, the opposi- tion of the which had taken in their pepper at Tekoo, were attacked near Dutch. that port, by a Dutch fleet of six sail ; after a severe action, in which Captain Bonner was killed, his ship, the Dragon, was sunk, and the other three ships, the Bear, the Expedition, and the Rose, were compelled to surrender. ^^^ After such a calamity, it could not be expected that rein- forcements could be sent from Bantam to the new English settlements in the Bandas or Moluccas, which, therefore, in fact, remained in a defenceless situation, exposed to such attacks as the Dutch ships and armaments might be disposed to make on them. The factors in Japan, at this crisis, after receiving infor- mation of the capture of two of the Company's ships, and of the distressed situation of the English settlements in the Mo- luccas, (1)— Letter from the Agent and Factors at Ispahan to the Courts l6th October l6l9« (No. 532.) (2)<-*Letter from Mr. Hoare, at Bantam^ to the Courts October l6ig. (No. 550.) 2l6 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP L luccas, purchased a junk at Nagasaki, and dispatched her, 1619-20. with provisions, for their relief ; these factors, notwithstanding a]l their hardships, in this manner endeayoured to keep a hold on the Japan trade, and requested a supply of sapan-wood, deer skins, hroad-cloths, and lead, which woidd sell well in the Japan market. Mr. Cocks, one of the factors, had been at Meaco, to solicit the Emperor's protection ; but, even here, was opposed by a Dutch agent. As no ships from England had arrived, for three years, the English factors were distressed by the Dutch captures of the junks : — the Dutch, at this time, had been defeated by the Spanish fleet from the Manillas, and therefore turned their depredations on the Chinese junks ;-~ this event checked the indirect trade with China, whidb the factors had been endeavouring to support, who, therefore, re- presented, that unless the Company could open a direct trade with the Chinese empire, or establish a settlement in the Moluccas, the Japan trade ought to be abandoned, be- cause it was only with a view to the China and Molucca trade, that the Japan trade was worth keeping, as it furnished pro- visions of all kinds for the Company's shipping and factories ; under these circumstances, they had resolved to remove from Firando to Nagasaki, as this last port had an excellent har- bour, favorably situated for trading, either to China, or to the Spice Islands. <*> (1)— Letters from the Factors at Nagasaki and Firando, in Japan, to the Court, lOth March KJlQ-aO. (No«.521, 522, 523.) r. AST-INDIA COMPANY. 217 1620-21. Several events occurred in England^ during the season 1620-21, which discover, that the King and the Privy Council ^Z^^^ 1620-21 were disposed to afford protection to the East-India trade, and The indivi- , duals who that, in fact, the interference of the Crown had become indis- had sustained losses from pensable, as the encroachments of the Dutch Company threat- the Dutch petition the ened equally the rights and the trade of the London Company, ^ing ^or For a series of years, the numerous individuals who had suffered in their persons and in their property, from the oppressions of the Dutch, in the East-Indies had presented petitions to the King and Privy Council, praying for redress. Of this de- scription was the petition, in 1620, of Thomas Hewes, who represented that his father's ship, the Swan, employed by the East-India Company, had been taken and plundered by the Dutch ship. Morning Star, on the 2d February 1616-17, and that his father, after the capture, had been wantonly wounded by the Dutch officers ; — in support of his petition, he produced evidence, to establish that his losses amounted to ^4,000 sterling, and prayed, either that redress might be gi*anted to him, or that he might be permitted to make reprisals on the Dutch to that amount. <^> VOL. I. F f It (1)— Petition of Thomas Hewes against the Dutch East-India Companj, 10th October 1620. (£ast«India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 15). 318 AKNAL» OF THB HONORABLS CHAP. I . It would be unnecessary to specify the numerous petitions 1620-21. of this description, farther than to refer to them, as the Two of ihe ^ 1 1 • V • i_ i_ Directors of sourcc of that attention to the subject, which the urgency the Company •cut to Hoi- of the case required. This business was referred to Sir Dudley land, to give information Carlctou, the King's Ambassador at the Hague^ and the Company to Sir Dudley ^ * ^ Carieton, the sent over Sir Dudley Digges^ one of their Committees, or King's Ara- baiiwdor, to Directors, and Mr. Morris Abbott, their Deputy Goyempr, to whom the * r ^ - 7 Eatt-india solicit his good offices ; the Court of Directors, farther acU busioeM was referred. dressed a letter to him, stating that the King having reccw** mended the East-India Company, on account of their suiibr-* ings fpQfa the Dutch, to the States General, they had sent theM commissioners, to request he would affi>rd them Iw advice and assistance, in their appHcadon for redress* ^^^ The King The reference by King James to the States Geneia];^ foi^ points on rcdress of the grievances which the London East-India Company: ivhich redress _^ was required, had experienced from the Dutch Company, specified in plaiift terms, ^^ the points upcm which the Sang wouM cxmsent U> << such regulations, as the Council of Defence might, on consul- ^^ tation, agree to,'' as follows :*-^that the English ^d Duteh Companies should be authoi;ised: to make settlements, at the distance of ten leagues, at least, from each other, esu^pting in the Bandar, Moluccas, and Amboyna ; and, with regard to. these three stations, that two years' time should be allowed to each Company to advise and fix on those places which were to be fortified^ (I)— Original Letter from the East-India Company to Sir Dudley Carieton^ ]5th November 1620. (East-India F^pen in the State Paper Office^ No. 16). £AST-INI>IA COMPANY. 219 fortified^ but at the end of this period^ each Company might ^J|[;^^3' erect forts, at the most commodious situations for their trade ; I630«2i. — that the English Company should build a place for the resi- dence of the Council of Defence ; — ^that all new forts, erected by the Dutch, in the Moluccas, Bandas, or Amboyna, subsequent to the treaty (1619), should be demolished ; — that the number of ships to be employed in India, according to the treaty (1619), should be diminished, if consistent with the general safety ; — that each Company should take cognizance of offences commit- ted by their own members ; — ^that the point of sovereignty should be reciprocally suspended ; — ^that the English should be placed on an equal footing with the Dutch, with respect to the pay- ment and victualling of the garrisons ; — ^that the Dutch gover- nors in the East-Indies should be rebuked, and their infericMrs punished, for the injuries and insults committed by them, against the English ; — and the King promised the same, on the part of his own subjects, and that His Majesty, and the States Greneral, would give orders to the respective Companies to avoid all oc- casions of dispute. (^) The King, in this season, patronized the plan of the The King ad- dresses let- East^India Company, for extending their trade to Persia, An ^ers to Shah Abbas, in answer having been received, to the letters which the a^^ents of ^^^^^ ^^ }^^ ° Company's the Company had, in his name, presented to the Shah of Persia, ^!^^^ >° ^^' the King, on the 19th March 1620-21, addressed a letter to Shah Abbas, in which, after thanking him for the favor he had F f 2 shewn (])-*Faper entitled *' Points whereupon His Ma^ doth declare himself^ touching the East-India business/' 20th January 1 620- 1 . (East-India Papers in (he State Paper Office, No. 17) . 220 ANKAXS OP THJB HONOR ABIiOB ^HAP- I. shewn to the English merchants, requested a continuance of 1620-21. this protection, and that the additional privilege of having a mart-town, near the port of Jasques, might be conferred As the intercourse of the English and Dutch East-India The Council • 1 1 !_• 1 V - o. . of Defence in Companies had nitnerto been transient, at Surat, or m Persia, India, oppose and decide or on the West Coast op India, the proceedings of the againitthe English Council of Defence, appointed under the treaty (1619), regarded claims atBan- . . , ^3™ find the chiefly the English and Dutch transactions m the Island of Java, ^P<<^ isiandsr^. and at the Spice Islands. It appears, that the Council of Defence had been established at Jaccatra, agreeably to the terms of the treaty (1619) ; — that the Enghsh and Dutch Com- missioners had presided alternately,, every month, and that, though the general articles of the treaty had been carried into efiect, the particular injunctions of what formed the first article, or the restitution of the ships and goods taken by the Dutch, from the English, had been evaded. At (I)-— Proclamation on taking possessfon of the Bay of Saldanha, on the Coast of Africa^ a3d Joly 1620- (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, oiarked A, boand^ page I). S22 !ANNALS OF THE HOKOBA^LB CHAP. I . At a general conference lield by the English aitifl Datdh 1620-21. Commissioners, in July 1620, the latter consented to reijtote the ships, but refused to give up the goods or stores, takm by individuals, under the subterfuge, that these goods and stores had not been in the Dutch Company's poi^ession, and yet insisted on the restitution of goods taken by the English, without admitting a reciprocal refusal from the English Com- missioners, or that the goods were not in the possession of the London East-India Company. The next object of conference was the equal participation in the pepper trade by the respective Companies, which had been stipulated by an express article in the treaty. The Dutch Commissioners, without pretending to question the force of this article, insisted that, as a previous Btep to com- pliance, the English Company should indemnify them ibr the expences they had incurred at the siege of Bantam, and 'for the charges of erecting a large and strong fort at that place, for the protection of trade. A third subject of discussion was, the pretensions of t Ae Dutch, that they had acquired the rights of Royalty at JaccastnEi, and at all the places where they had erected fortifications, this claim the English Commissioners objected ; and the answered, that by the treaty they were only enjoined to allow the English to live in, and to carry on trade at those places, under the protection of the Dutch laws ; and, on the grotmd of right of Royalty, refused permission to the English settlers, to cut timber for the erection of houses or factories. A fourth A fourth subject of dispute wai?, the expences incuvi^ed ^ ^;^^ ' ^: by the Ihitdi^ iu building eighteen forts in the Moluccas and>^^0^2X at the Bauda Islands^ and the charges, of maintaiHiug them^ which they estimated at ^£60,000 sterling per annun}; and therefore^ previously to the English being admitted to a pror portioa in the spice trade^ the Dulch insisted^ that they were bound to pay one-hafaF o£ Uiose charges. To> this,, the English Commissioners answered, that many of those forts were built by the Ihitch, as defences against the Spaniards and Pbrtuguese, with whom the English were not at war, and in places, at which no produce, or spices, could be found or expected. The English Ciommissioners, therefore, represented to the ^^^^^"fj^^ Court, that notwithstanding the existence of the Council of J^^jll^P^f ^^* Defence, they had not been permitted to build a factory at J^^^^'/f^; Jaccatra, unless they would: consent to erect it in such an of ^th^J iDutch inconvenient situation as might be pointed out by the Dutch ; ^^^^ ^^^^^' and, farther, that no native workmen could be procured, but imder an order from the Dutch General, who had even com- manded an Englishman to be whipped, for denying the supreme authority of the Dutch at Jaccatra ; — ^the English Commissioners, therefore, submitted, that measures should be adopted, in Eu- rope, to check these overbearing proceedings, or otherwise, that it woidd be impracticable to carry on the Company's trade, (^> These proceedings were not confined to the settlements more immediately under the inspection of the Council of De- fence, (1) - Letters from the Factory at Jaccatra to the Ck>urt^ 12tb and 20tb July 1 620. (Not. 597i 601)* 22^ ASVA1J& CfT THS HOlRnABI^ CHATji. fence, for though intdligcnce had bcoi rcoared, this sason^ 1620-21. at AcHEEN, of the treaty (1619,) and of the oonsticiitioo of this Council, no alteration had taken pbce in the cxndiict of the Dutch, with respect to the English factory, so that there remained but one method^ onhr^ for estaWdnng the trade, or that the English should receire a ronfo roanait firom Europe, to make them equal, in naral and military povrer, to the Dutch* ^-> (1)— LettenfromtbeFactorjacAdieentotlieCoGit^ I5tli Jolj iGia (No. 597, B.) EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 225 1621-22. If the equipment of the year 1620-21 had been considerable, ^^JJ: because, under the treaty of 1619, each Company were bound 1621-22. Company's to send out ten ships, well armed, for the purpose of co- equipmenta and slock re- operating, in preserving the respective trade and settlements of duced thi« season, from England and of Holland, the detention, in the Indies, of the the arbitrary , , ^ . proceedings whole of the English proportion, with the exception of one ship, of the Coun- could not but have the effect of lowering that confidence, in this ^ence. treaty, which had led to the large equipments of the preceding season ; — ^the equipment, therefore, of the London Company, for the year 1621-22, consisted only of four ships, the car- goes of which were estimated at ^12,900 in money (Spanish rials), and at ^6,253 in goods. The fate of this fleet was equally unfortunate, with that of the preceding year, as one ship, only, of this fleet, returned to England, the remaining three having been detained in the Indies, for the protection of the English settlements and trade ; but the great loss, sus- tained by the Company, from this interruption of their trade, may be estimated, from the value of the cargo which was brought home, by this single ship, consisting of pepper, cloves, &c., which, at the sale, produced ^94,464. <*> VOL. I. Gg The (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ marked " Detached Aceoonts.*' No« la 226 AVVALS OF THE HOKORABLS 9^1^^'Jj The reasons of the Court, for this small equipment, are cx- Um-22. plained in their letter to Sir Dudley Carieton, the King's Am- H(M«on% for ttH>.rrauciion bsts.sador at the Hague, dated 28th July 1621, in which, after givi'ii by llio ^ o>nrf to Sir expressing their acknowledgements to him, for his great exertions Carieton. in carrying into effect the King's intentions with respect to the London Company, they unfolded what they apprehended would be the issue of the negotiation, or the sending of Dutch Com- mii!»sioners to England, to hold conferences with the Directors of the London Company ; — and submitted, that it would be expedient, as the subjects to be discussed were pdiitical as well as com* mercial, and involved the rights of the two Nations, as wdl as of the two Companies, that a part of the Commissioners should, if practicable, be members of the States Greneral, authorized to treat with his Majesty, and to determine on the two great points at issue, viz. the restitution of places and property, and the relinquishment, on the part of the Dutch, of the pretensions to exclusive sovereignty, in certain places in the Indies, under which the Council of Defence had evaded compliance with the terms of the treaty of 1619. <^> In explanation, it was specified, that the restitution required ought not to be of the goods or money, actually taken, but of the amount of both, according to the value which they would have produced in India, if they had not been seized, and divided by the Dutch ; and that the pretext of the English having assisted the (1)— Original Letter from tlie Directors of the Eait-lndia Company to Sir Dudley Carieton^ Ambassador at the Hague^ 28th July l62X. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No 39). EAST-IKDIA COMPANY. 227 the natives, was an evasion only, as the arms given to them cWi?.j. formed one of the conditions on which those natives had ceded 1621-22 the trade to the English in places not previously occupied by the Dutch. (*) The Commissioners from Holland arrived in England, Dutch Com- -rim "ri-Tfc- missioDcrs and met with the Lord Keeper, Lord ireasurer. Lord President, arrive in Eng- II- T iT^iii 1 land,to nego- Marquis of Hamilton, Lord Chamberlain, Lord Falkland, tiate on the explanations Lord Digby, Lord Brooke, Mr. Secretary Calvert, the Chan- required of the treaty ceUor, and the Master of the Rolls, who were delegated 1619:— -thi* negotiation to manage the conference, on the part of the King, and to broken off by the King's decide on the respectiYC claims of the two Companies. The Com- Ministers. missioners took into consideration, first, the important subject of restitution of the goods which the Dutch had seized in the East- Indies. It was, as a general principle, readily assented to, by both parties, that the restitution was just, and should be made, in money, in Holland ; but when the question came to be agitated, what should be allowed to the Dutch for the freight, assurance, and charges of bringing the goods to Europe, their Commissioners claimed so high a sum, as ^130 per last, for freight, and ten per cent, for assurance. To this demand the English Company answered, that ^25, or ^28, per last, was the highest freight that ever had been given, from India : — ^hence the difference between the demand, and the offer, was so great, that the Lords of the Council consented, for the termination of the G g 2 dispute, (1) — State of the Qaestion concerning Restitution between the English and Dutch East-India Companies^ 7th January 1621-22. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 20). 228 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^J'J; dispute, to allow, after consulting the most respectable merchants, 1621-22. ^35 per last. This, the Dutch Commissioners rejected; on which the Lords of the Council ofiered, that the London Ccmipany should agree to bring the same quantity of goods, from the Indies to Holland, freight free, and to allow the compensation to remain, as a security for the performance of this condition : upon which the Dutch Commissioners returned to their first exorbitant demand, and the Lords of the Council broke off the conference, and represented the substance of it to the King, that his Majesty might be prepared to obviate any claims which the States might make, on the subject, contrary to reason and to justice. ^^> State of The attention of the Company's factors in the Indies, in Trade at Su- ^ rat and in this year (1621-22), seems to have been wholly directed to the Persia. establishment of the trade between Surat and Persia, and to the proceedings of the Council of Defence, which, in the last season, was described to have commenced its sittings, at Jaccatra, or Batavia. At (X) — Report from the Lords of the Privy Council to the King, of a conferenee held with the Dutch Commissioners^ 9th February 1621-2, (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 21). Answers to the Reasons of the Dutch Company^ against Restitution in Holland. (East-India Papers^ without date^ in the State Paper Office^ No. 48).—— Complaints of the East-India Company against the Dutch. (East-India Papers^ without date, in the State Paper OfEcej No. 65). State of the Question between the English and Dutch Companies, about 1621-2. (East-India Papers, without date, in the State Paper Office, No. 68).— > Reasons of the East-India Company, to prove their offer of freighl reasonable. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, without date. No, 68.) EAST-IKDIA COMPANY. 229 At Suraty the factory proceeded upon the Phirmaunds and ^^^^; ^; privileges which had been obtained from Jehanguire, during the 1621-2. time of Sir Thomas Roe's embassy : — ^the Dutch influence at that port was, at this time, inconsiderable^ as their factors directed their chief attention to intrigues^ on the Malabar side of India, and at the Persian ports^ that they might connect the trade in Surat goods, with that of Persia. In November 1620, two of the Company's ships (the Hart Tiie English compelled to and Eagle) had proceeded from Surat to Jasques^ but on their assist the Persians^ on attempting to enter that port, they found it blockaded by a Por- the arrival of a Portuguese tuguese fleet, consisting of four gallions^ one large galley, and fleet in the sixteen (of what are described to be) frigates, or vessels of smaller Pe"ia. dimensions, under the command of Admiral Ruy Frere. The Hart and Eagle were obliged, from the superior force of the Portuguese fleet, to return to Surat, to obtain, if possible, reinforcements. At this port, they were joined by the London and Roebuck, and again sailed for Jasques, off which, an indecisive action ensued : — the Portuguese gave way, and allowed the English ships to enter the port ; and then retired to Ormus, to refit, but returned to Jasques Roads to renew the action : the conflict was obstinate, but terminated in favor of the English, who lost their commodore (Captain Shillinge) and then entered the port of Jasques. This action raised the English character for naval bravery, and facili- tated the purchases which the factors were making of Persian silks. Mr. Monnox, the Company's agent, had, at this time, sent a caravan from Ispahan to Jasques, with several hundred liales of silk : — on the journey, it was stopped in Mogustan, by the 230 ANNAI^ OF THE HONORABJLS CHAP, I . the Khan of Shu'as^ not so much with the object of interroptiDg 1621-22. the trade, as to force the English to assist the Persians against the Portuguese ; a measure to which they were unwilling to accede, lest such open hostility might lead to ^estions in Europe. On the arrival of the English, at Jasques, in De* cember 1621, the Khan refused to allow them to take in their cargoes, unless they would previously agree to assist the Persians, in repelling the Portuguese aggressions, and, as the ships had lost the monsoon, they were compelled to accede to this condition, or to interrupt the trade. <^> The Ckjoncii The proceedings of the Council of Defence, which had oblige the assembled at Jaccatra, and to which the £sictory at Bantam had tors to ]eave been removed, on the faith that the Dutch would act up to Jaccatra^ aod retire to the terms of the treaty, instead of relieving the London Com- Bantam, who i i /• i • i • i « represent to pany s servants, and trade, from the oppressions which the treaty the Court the necessity professed to remedy, tended, on the one hand, to raise the pow- of breaking off the Dutch er of the Dutch higher than it had been, and, on the other> connexion, to depress the English settlements and trade, and, in fact, to endanger the existence of both. This Council, instead of allowing the English their propor- tion of the trade in pepper, would not permit them to trade in any of the goods in which they themselves dealt ; the factors, therefore, intimated to the Court, that their intention was to return to Bantam, and again to open the pepper trade, between that ^poct and England, as from it, alone, ten ships, of eight hundred tons each, might annually be filled with pepper, if the Dutdi would allofr (1)— Account of Occurrences in Persia^ in 1619, 1620, l621-. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ No. 696)* BAST-XNBIA COMPANY. 231 allow the natives to bring it in, without obstructions ; but, ^^^J"' y ' on the contrary, they had determined to bear down the 1621-22. merchants of every other country, by raising the price, so as to render the trade unproductive to all other nations : — ^the factors farther reported, that the Dutch were continuing the same cruelty towards the English, as commercial rivals, of which they had, for so many years, been complaining, and, there- fore, submitted the necessity of dissolving the connexion with that nation, because, if continued, the business could not prosper. It had been, at this time, in contemplation, to establish The Compa- ny's factors exchanges between the English factories in Java, and the Coro- atiempt to open a trade mandel Coast, on the presumption, that Coast cloths would atPuUicat ^ and Pettipo- sell at the ports which affiirded pepper and spices, with a profit ^®®' ^" ^^^ that would enable the factors to enlarge their investments in ^^*^' ^^^ •^ are obstract- those articles, and that pepper and spices would produce a profit 5^ ^l ^® on the Coromandel Coast:— as soon, therefore, as the Com- pany's factors were informed of' the Establishment of the Council of Defence, under the treaty (1619), and after that Council had commenced its sittings at Jaccatra, English factors were sent to PuUicat, which was protected by Fort Geldria, and a Dutch garrison, to claim admission to a share in the trade. The Dutch, without absolutely refusing to admit them, stated that the accommodation they could give to the English, within the fort, would depend upon its being convenient for themselves, but that they might build a house without the fort, for their own acconunodation and trade, provided they would agree to defray their proportion of the charges of the garrison. By thus 232 ANNAJL.S OF THX HONORABLE CHAP. L thus adding to the expence of building a factory, a proportion 1621-22. of the charges of the gaiTison, the this plan was found to be impracticable: — the English President and Council at Jac- catra, therefore, gave it as their opinion, that the esta- blishing a trade on the Coromandel Coast, particularly at Pullicat, must be relinquished ; and, if such exchanges were to be tried, a factory ought to be fixed at Pettipolee, as this place was dis- connected with the Dutch settlements, and an intercourse with the native artificers and merchants might be opened. The Council The efforts of the Company's servants at Jaccatra, to con- of Defence employ the tinuc the trade to the Spice Islands, and to Japan, were, in the combined Engiith and same manner, obstructed by the Dutch, who employed every Dutch fleet to ' ^ ' . . ™«J^e VOL. I. H h (I)— Letters from the President and Council at Batavia to the Coart^ lOth December (1621. 22 Nos. 688. 639.) MSB. in the Indian Register Office, marked F. 1, unbound^ page 1Q9 — — Letter from the Factors at Firando^ in Japan> to the Ck>urt^ 20th September 1621. (No. 669.) 234 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 1622-23. CHAP. I. The equipments of the London Company, in 1622-23, ' were 1622-23. on as limited a scale, as in the preceding season, though the and rt«:k"for cargoes were, in a small dc^ee, increased. The ships were five in number, and the stock was estimated at <3^61,600 in money, and ^6,430 in goods : — the homeward ships, which had arrived safe, were, also, five in number, and the amount from the sales was large, or ^389,500 ; but whether this induded a proportion of the investment of the last season, does not appear from the Company's records. (^) Renewal of The conferences, between the Dutch Commissioners and rences, be- the Lords of the Privy Council, had, in a great measure , been Dutch Com- broken off, their Lordships having made a report to the King and the in the preceding season, of the unreasonable demand of the nisters. Dutch on the subject of restitution. In this situation of the business, reference had again been made to Sir Dudley Carleton, to endeavour to settle the precise points on which the Dutch would agree. The first article was general, or that the English Company should fix on some place, within sixty leagues of Jacca- tra, which should be fortified, and at which, and at Jaccatra, the Council of Defence should alternately reside for three months ; — this article was agreed to : — the Dutch next reqidr- ed, (i)-*MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ matked ^' Detached Accoonti/' No. H). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 235 ed, that the English should send ten ships to the Indies; — ^this CHAP^ i. article the Ambassador answered, by referring to the terms of the 1622 -23. treaty : — ^the Dutch then required a specification of sums, for the maintenance of forts and garrisons ; — ^the Ambassador again re- ferred to the terms of the treaty : — ^the demand, that the fugi- tives of each nation should be delivered up on requisition, was mutually admitted : — ^the proposition, for the punishment of the servants of each nation, for crimes, was omitted, by common consent: — ^the demand of the English, that neither Company should be liable to the charges for colleges, or schools, in the Indies, which might be established by the other, was mutually agreed to : — ^the terms of the letters of reprisal, it was settled, should be referred to His Majesty : — ^the building of forts in the Indies, had been settled by the twenty-fourth article of the treaty (1619), with the explanation, that the English and Dutch should enjoy equal benefit in the trade of India, in their re- spective proportions, of one-third to the English, and two-thirds to the Dutch ; and that the Island of Polaroon should be restpr - ed to the English : — :a general article being added, binding both .parties to the observation of the precise terms of this treaty. <*) In proportion as opportunities ofiered to the Dutch to evade Company'tf 8ervanisand the terms of the treaty of 1619, they availed themselves of their property at H h 2 predominant (1) — ^Explanation^ by Sir Dudley Carleton^ of the points in dispute relative to the Treaty ot 1619^ dated 4th January 1622-23. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ N0.27).— Propositions 236 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP^. predominant influence in the Council of Defence, in the Indies . 1622 -23 which increased the embarrassments of the Company's servants. Sural feized. At SuRAT, and, in general, on the West Coast of India, in conse- quence of the the Dutch ships, at this juncture, made prizes of several of the capture ^^ ^ . ^ j-^ rm tome Mogul Mogul ships, belonging to the Guzzerat. The governors of ships bj 3ie , , Dutch. these districts, not having had sufficient opportunities to distin- guish the different flags of the Europeans, resorting to these seas, considered the whole to have acted in concert, and therefore ordered the English agents and factors at Surat, at Agra, and at Ahmedabad, to be imprisoned, and their houses of trade, and goods, to be seized, to compensate for the losses of the Mogul subjects at sea : — ^the factors explained to the Mogul governors, that neither they, nor the EngUsh, had been con- cerned in, nor guilty of the robberies conunitted by the Dutch, and obtained their release, and the re-deUvery of their goods '^ but had been obliged to give presents, or bribes, to the principal officers. These expences, the factors proposed to compensate by resorting to the dangerous expedient of seizing on the Mogul ships which anually went from Surat to Judda, partly for the purposes of trade, but chiefly for the accommo- dation of the Mahomedan pilgrims, in their passage from India to Mecca. The English '^"^^ Critical situation of affairs did not retard the measures HP tike OxmuM ^^^ establishing a trade to Persia. In the preceding season, the Propositions for the Execution of the Articles of the Treatj^ and the Explanation thereof, between the two Companies. (£ast*India Papers in the State Paper Office^ without date^No.5.) EAST-INDIA COMPANY, 237 the English ships had defeated the Portuguese fleet off Jasques, ^^ f^^ [J; but had been obliged, in order to obtain leave to load Persian 1622-23. from the Por- produce, to agree to join the Persians, in opposing the Portu- tuguese, and the Company guese. Under this stipulation, an expedition^ consisting of the acquire a English ships and a Persian army, was prepared, and sent moiety of the afi^ainst Ormus : — ^the attack was chiefly conducted by the Ens- Gombroon, ^o J J o as a remu- lish, and the city and the castle taken, on the 22d April 1622 ; — aeration, the surrender was made to the English, and the Portuguese commander, Ruy Frere, and the principal officers, sent priso- ners to Surat. On this occasion, the English received a pro- portion of the plunder of Ormus, and a grant of the moiety of the customs at the port of Gombroon, which place, in the sequel, we shall find the principal English station in the Persian Gulf. The treaty of 1615, made by Mr. Connock, was also renewed, and an additional Phirmaund granted by the King, allowing the English to purchase whatever proportion of Persian silks they might think proper,^ in any part of his dominions, and to bring the goods to Ispahan, without payment of duties. (^^ The Company's servants at Jaccatra, or Bat a via, who. The English Presideiit and since the treaty 1619, had taken the title of President and Coun- Council at Batavia pro- cil, on receiving information of the expedition to, and capture P<^se to with- draw from of Ormus, condemned the measure, as having detained the ships that station. in the Gulf of Persia, and blamed the co-operation with the Per- sians, as a ' rash and ill-advised measure : because the pepper investment (1) — MSS. \h the Indian Register Office, marked E. 1, unbound, page 145.—— Narra- tive of Occurrences in Persia^ l62l, 1622. (No. 696.) King of Persia'^ Phirmaund to the English^ in 1622; (No. 762.)<^— ^ Aaderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 298. 238 ANNALS OF a>HE HONORABLE ?^^^l' investment lia;d been lost, from the Company^s ships not arriving 1622-22« at Aeheen as expected, and because the trade, in general, had suffered, from the shipping intended for the Java and Sumatra trade having beea detained by the factors at Sural The relative circumstances of the Dutch and English, at Batavia, continued in the same precarious situation, as in the preceding year. The Dutch, instead of defraying two-thirds of the expences of the factories in the Moluccas, had monopo- lized the whole trade, and applied only the one-third, paid by ■ the English, to defray the charges, both of the English and Dutch settlements. The general object of the Dutch, during the period in which the trade of the two countries might remain united, and regulated by the Council of Defence, being to raise the charges so high, that it might become impracticable for the English to participate in it; the English factors, therefore, deUberated, whether it would not be more wise to withdraw their factories from Amboyna, Banda, and the Moluccas, and to sell the remainder of their goods to their opponents, than to expose the Company to ruin, by incurring charges, and yet being exclu- ded from the trade ; stating, as the source of their distress, that the same oppressions which they had experienced by the conduct of the last Dutch general, Van Coens, had been continued by his successor, Pieter Carpentier, who openly asserted the right of sovereignty over the countries in which the Dutch trade was situated, and that the English had only a title, by the treaty, to act as subordinate traders. At EAST-IKDIA COMPANY. 239 At Bantam, indeed, the Pangran continued at war with the chap. i. I>utch, till they should agree to demolish the fort at Jaccatra : 1622-3. and this chief had offered to allow the English to return to Bantam con- Tfc 1 IT IV* 1 t «v tinues friend* Bantam, and re-establish their trade at that port ; but the lytotbeEog^ President and Council could not listen to the proposition, because the Dutch would interpret it into a breach of the treaty, and because the Enghsh had not a force to resist the attacks of their nominal ally, but real enemy.^ It was in this season,. that the English President and Council began to speculate on the importance of the exchanges between the factories in Java and Sumatra, and the Coromandel Coast, having received a considerable quantity of Coast goods from Masulipatam, which had sold to advantage, and therefore resolved, in consequence of the oppressions of the Dutch at Pullicat, to withdraw that fectory/'> (I) — Letter from the President end Council at Batayla to the Conrt^ 27th August l622, and gth February 1622-3. (Nos. ;33> 706) 240 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB 1623-24. CHAP. I. Notwithstanding the preceding unfavorable aspect of the 1623-24. Company's affau^s abroad^ five of their ships arrived in England, meDts and in the scason 1623-24, with considerable quantities of pepper, season consi- and the finer spices (cloves, mace, and nutmegs), which at crcaied. their sales produced ^485,593, exclusive of the sale of the Per- sian raw-silk, which amounted to ^97^000, and to these sums were added ^80,000, received this year from the Dutch, in compensation of the losses and injuries which the Ckimpany had sustained, previously to the treaty of 1619. These circum- stances account for the large equipment of this season (1623-24), which consisted of seven ships, with a stock estimated at ^68,720 (in Spanish rials), and ^17,345 in goods. (»> Disputes be- While this fleet was preparing for sea, a claim was made by Companyand t^^ ^^gy ^ ^ right of the Crown, and by the Duke of Buck- Buckingham, ingham, as Lord High Admiral, on the Company, for a pro- portionda[m- portion of the prizc-moucy, which their ships were supposed to Duke, as have obtained, in the seas bordering on the countries within Admiral, and their limits. These demands, it would appear, had proceeded of the prize- from the general impression, that immense sums had been at Ormus. acquired by the Company and their officers, at Ormus, and had been carried to their account, by their factors at Surat. For the purpose (1)— MSB in the Indian Register Office, marked " Detached Accounts^** No. 10. « EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 241 purpose of establishing a ground for those claims, references chap. i. were made, by the King and the Duke of Buckingham, to 1623-24, Sir Henry Martin, Judge of the Admiralty, and other civilians, to ascertain the King's, and the Lord Admiral's rights, the former to a proportion of prize-money belonging to the Crown, the latter to one-tenth of the prize-money, in right of his office : — the first question appears to have been admitted, the Gover- nor and Directors not feeling it to be their duty, to dispute any point with his Majesty ; the second question they resisted, on the plea that they had not acted under any letters of marque irom the Lord High Admiral, but only under their charter, and contended, that he had not any right to a tenth of the prize-money, which had arisen from their having made prizes of ships, or taken plunder from their enemies. In order, however to substantiate the claims, both of the King and of the Lord High Admiral, examinations were taken of Captain WeddeU, Captain Blith, Captain Clevenger, Captain Beversham, and Mr. Embrey, the commanders and officers of several of the Company's ships, which had made prizes, in the East-Indies, from the Portuguese, and particularly of those officers who had been employed at the taking of Ormus, from which it appeared, that, according to their statements, the amount of the prize-money, was, in general, calculated at about ^100,000, and 240,000 rials of eight .—but this amount was estimated, without taking into view the charges and losses in- curred by the Company in their equipments, or by their ships being ' called off from commercial engagements, to act as ships of war VOL. I- I i for 242 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^w!13 for the protection of their trade, and to assist the native powers^ 1623-24. by whom they had been compelled either to act, or to re- linquish that trade, in the acquisition of which they had ex- pended very large sums. In this state of the business, the ships of this season were stopped at Tilbury, the Company '^ put in arrest,'' and all their solicitations to the King, and to the Admiral, rejected. At last, they were obliged to compound, by paying ^10,000 to the Duke of Buckingham, to discharge his claim, and received an order from Sir Edward Conway, the Secretary of State, to pay, also, ^10,000 to the King. <*> The Company's fleet, being released from the arrest, as we shidl subsequently find, by their proceedings, sailed for the East-Indies ; and, in the meantime, the King was so far reconciled, as to interpose his authority, in favcH* of the Company, by again referring their business to the consideration of the Dutch Ambas- sadors, and the Lords of the Council, and by endeavouring to ob- tain the assent of the States General, to a set of regulations £6r the future (I)— Minutes of the Negotiations between the King, the Doke of Buekingbaaoj and the £a3t*lndia Company^ relative to Prixe-Money, from 23d July l623 to June l624. (East-India Pspers in the State Paper OflBce^No* 30). Examination of Officers, relative to the Capture of Portuguese Ships, and the taking of Ormos, December l623 and January l6a3-24- (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 31). Copy of the Duke oi Backingham's Receipt lor jfflO,000 from the East-India Company, 28th April \§24^ attested by Mr. Sherburne, Secretary to the East-India Company. (East-India Papers in th«; Slate Paper Office, No. 36) Copy of Letter firom Sir Edward Conway to the East« India Company, desiring them to pay jf 10,000 for the King's ose, 15th July 1624, attested by Mr« Sherborne, Secretary to the EniJiMfii Compaoy. (East-India Pspers in the Stale Filter Office^ No* 38)* EAST-INDIA COMPANr« 243 futore proceedings of the tiro Companies in the East-Indies, On ^^P^ ^- this basis^ the Governor and Deputy Governor of the London Com- 1623 - 24, pany addressed a letter to Sir Dudley Carleton, the English Am- bassador at the Hague, praying the continuance of his good offices, and that he would, irom his knowledge of the whcJe of the subjects which had been under the consideration of the Commissioners at London, attend to the adoption of the regulations by the States, and afford the Company his advice for their conduct. (^ ' The interruption which the trade at Surat had experienced, Tbe Compa- ny*» servantf in the preceding season, by the factors having been imprisoned at Surat re- 1 A 1 t 1 leased from at Surat, at Agra, and at Ahmedabad, though subsequently confinement^ and trade re* released, and allowed to proceed with the Company's business, vired. on giving presents to the Mogul officers, had, happily, not terminated in the rash expedient of obtaining a compensation, by seizing on the Mogul ships in their return from Judda ; affairs, ai: Surat, therefore, had proceeded without molestation, and the attention of the Agents had been chiefly given to support the factors in Persia, in their endeavours, to confirm the hold which the Company had got of the trade of that country, by the services of their officers at Ormus, and to obtain, from the King, Phirmaunds for a full right to the silk trade. The letters which King James had written to Shah Abbas, Additional 1« ^ Phirmaundi 1 Yi were (1)— Letter from the Governor and Deputy Governor of the East-India Company to Sir Dodley Carleton, 8th February 1623-24. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 23.) 244 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAP^j. were this season (1623-24) delivered to him, by two of the Ck>m- 1623-24. pany's factors, with the requisite solemnity and presents; — ^and, obtained ^o** ^ trade in Per- on the basis of the King's request for a grant of additional sia^ in con- sequence of privileges, they (after the Khan of Shiras arrived at Ispahan), King James's letter to the soUcited and obtained a Phirmaund, which allowed the English freedom of trade, with an exemption from aU duties, and a free passage through the country of Lar (Laristan). After receiving this Phirmaund, conferences were held by the King with the Company's agents, to settle the accommodation to be given to the English at the port of Gombroon : — ^the result was, that permission was given them to occupy two houses, though, from the jealousy of the English force, they were prohibited from building a house, lest they ^^ should give to it the strength " of a castle/' It was subsequently settled, that the English might have an agent at Ispahan, to negotiate their business, and that the silk which they purchased,^ might be brought, free of duty, to that capital ; but the proposal of their paying one-third of the price in money, and two- thirds in English goods, was rejected. Having thus described the privileges the English had ob- tained, the agent and factors informed the Court, that the plunder taken at Ormus, in money, jewels, and goods, had been sold by the captors at Gombroon, and that the amount had not been carried to the Company's accoimt ; — that the Per- sians had fortified the castles of Ormus, Kishm6, and Gom- broon, in so strong a manner, that ships might ride in those ports, in perfect safety ; — and that, even in this quarter of theijp EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 245 their trade, the Dutch had begun their interferences, and had 9^^^'^ * made large presents to the King, but without effect, to prejudice 1 623-24, that sovereign against the English. (^^ If the information received, continues only a description of Tyrannical proceedings the events which marked the predominant influence of the ^^ Carpen- * tier, the Dutch at Java, and the almost exclusion of the Eng-lish from a ^^^^^ Go- ' ^ vernor Ge- proportion of the trade, which had been stipulated to them, "^'l^^' ^^ ^^' under the treaty of 1619, the conduct of this people at the Spice Islands will furnish a memorable example of those public vices which attach to associations, but from which, individuals can shelter themselves, and escape punishment, by dividing the odium and guilt, among numbers. At Jaccatra, or Bat a VI a, the English President and Coun- cil represented to the Court, that the Dutch Governor, Carpentier, continued to exercise his power with positive tyranny, and had reduced the EngUsh to that defenceless situation, in which they neither could resist ill-treatment from the natives, nor resent wrongs and injuries : — ^that the EngUsh factory had been charged with every item of expence, without either having a voice in the disposal of the money, or of the force, or freedom, or privileges, in the management of the trade : — ^that the Council, instead of employing the fleet of defence for the mutual protection of the trade and settlements of the two Companies, had directed it to consolidate the sovereignty of the Dutch, and to projects for ruining the English stock and shipping in the Southern seas : — that, (1)— Letter from the Agent and Factors at Ispahan, to the Court, 23d October l623. (No. 778.) 246 AVKALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP; I. that, notwithstanding the promises of the States, and of ^be 1623-24. Dutch Ckimpany, in Europe, that they would allow the English a proportion of the trade to the Spice Islands, they not only had evaded this obligation, but had almost excluded them from any share in it ; and that, at Banda, they had, under the pretext of a conspiracy, executed great numbers of the natives ; and at Polaroon, under like pretences, desolated the island, and left it almost without inhabitants. Account of It was under these circumstances, that the English President the Massacre ^ at Amboyna. ^^^ Council at Jaccatra sent orders, in the beginning of the year 1623, to the agent and factors at Amboyna, to leave that station with their property, and to return to Batavia ; and it was at this critical moment, that the Dutch Governor and Council at Amboyna commenced those proceedings, which will, for ever, remain a disgrace to the Dutch East-India Company and Nation. This atrocity commenced by the Governor seizing on ten Japanese, in February 1622-3, and subjecting them to the most slow torture, to draw from them a confession, that they had been parties in a conspiracy, which Captain Towerson, the English Agent, had formed, to seize on the castle of Amboyna, and to expel the Dutch from the island. The unfortunate Japanese, who could not comprehend the sources of the animosity between the Europeans, sunk under their agonies, and allowed their tormentors to give any colour they chose to that fabrication, upon which they intended to inflict similar misery on Captain Towerson and the English factors : — ^these unhappy men were, therefore, individually exposed to the torture, and as their probity, and national EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 247 national firmness of character, induced them to refiise, amid ^^^^' l * their sufferings^ the confession of a project, which existed only 1623-24. in the commercial jealousies and avarice of their enemies, this firmness, and this probity, was held to be evidence of guilt, which instead of mitigating the ferocity of their oppressors, encreased it, till human nature, worn out with pain, sought a momentary relief, in confessing crimes which never existed : — ^but, even this extremity, could not satisfy the merciless Dutch, who availed themselves of the presumed confession, which the torture alone could have forced from them, and on the 27th February 1622-23, they executed Captain Towerson, nine EngUsh factors, nine Japanese, and one Portuguese sailor* If the names of the unfortunate English, who perished, upholding their character for probity and attachment to their country, ought to be recorded, the names of the Dutch, who perpetrated this pubUc murder, ought to be mentioned, that posterity may for ever hold in execration, crimes, which neither policy, nor subterfuges, can forget or forgive/^) When (1) — List of Sufferers at Amloyna, English. Captain Gabriel Towerson Agent at Amboyna. Samuel Colson _ Factor at Hitto. Eqnannel Tomsoa Assistant at Amboyna. Timothy Johnson Assistant at Amboyna* John Witheral Factor at Cambello. John Clark Assistant at Hitto. William Griggs Factor at Lerica*. John Fardo House Steward. Abel 248 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLE CHAP. I. When information of this event reached Jaccatra^ the 1623-24. English President and Council at that station presented^ with- stnm^of the out effect, the strongest remonstrances to Carpentier, the Dutch siden? and General, stating the intolerable injuries the English had received Council at Batavia to ITOm the Dutch Governor last of Sufferers at Amhoyna,^^cmitinued, General on this atrocity. Abel.Price Surgeon. Robert Brown Taylor. POBTCGUESE. Augustin Perez. Japanbsb. Hitteso. MigieL Queondayo. Tsiosa. P. Congie. Tsabinda. Linsa. T. Corea. Zanchoo. (History of the Cruelties of the Dutch in the East-Indies^ by R«' Hall^ 8ro. Londo» printed, 1712). '* A Note of all the Names off those that weare att the Councell off Amhoyna, when the 10 Englishmen, Q Japones, with one Portugall Marenar, wear beheaded, Tiz. Harman van Speult Governor. Isaac de Brown Fiscal!, or Judge. Marskalke Chiefe Merchante of the Castle. Crayvanger 1 > Two under Merchantes off the Castle. Taylor J Peter Johnson van Zent ChiefF Merchant off Ix>hoe. Raneer, alias Cozen . . Chieff Merchant off Larica. Carsbom Merchant off the Rotterdam. Windcopp Merchant off the Amsterdam. Cloaoke Merchant off the Flye Boat. Fisher Merchant off the Unicorne. Captain Vogle A Land Captain » theare sometimes. Captaine Newport Skipper off the Amsterdam. (East- India Papers iathe State Paper Office^ No 69). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 249 from the Dutch Governor of Amboyna ; that they had been 9^^^^^ ' denied pennission to trade, under the terms of the treaty of 1623-24. 1619 ; that the most unreasonable taxes had been levied from th^n at Batavia, and that an usurped authority had been exer- cised over British subjects, in every port and island under the Dutch influence ; and therefore desired his permission to with- draw their persons and property from Batavia, as soon as they could find a place of safety, in which they could reside, till they should receive instructions from England. In communicating these events to the Court, the President stated, in the strongest terms, the impossibility of continuing the trade, unless the English interests should be totaUy separa- ted from those of the Dutch ; and suggested, that an application should be made by the Ckimpany, to the King, representing that as negotiation had been found of no use, force, alone, equal to that of the Dutch, coidd enable them to continue the trade ; and therefore praying, that his Majesty would issue his orders, for liberating them from the intolerable yoke of the Dutch nation. It was in vain to demand the cession of Polaroon, because the in- habitants had been nearly extirpated, and the island left desolate ; ^^in these deplorable circumstances, the only expedient they could devise was, the taking possession of the Island of Great Bessee, which had a good harbour, was favorably situated for trade, and immediately under the protection of the King 4tf Bantam. VOL. I- K k On 250 ANNALS OF TH£ HONORABLE ^HARL The President and Council, at the same time, intimated^ 1623-24. that they had withdrawn the factory, from Japan, the servants 1 he Factoiy / , , "^ ^ ^ at Japan with- at which had arrived at Batavia, having left a power with the drawn. Dutch chief at Firando, to recover debts due to the English, amounting to 12,821 tales. — ^The factories at Siam and Potania, were also withdrawn. Project of These misfortunes at Java, and in the Spice Islands, trade*"fn"the depressed the hopes of the President and Council, of being able the King of to preserve for the Company, a proportion of the pq>per trade, notwithstanding the stock they had received from England had been sufficient for this purpose : but this trade was impracticable, from the overbearing power of the Dutch, who were afraid, if the iBnglish again attempted trade at Bantam, it might depress their newly erected sovereignty at Batavia. The exclusion, thus, from the pepper trade, as well as frx>m the Spice Islands, the English President and Council at Batavia represented, would render the factory of PulUcat, on the Coro* mandel Coast, of no use, because spices from the Moluccas, Amboyna, and Banda, were necessary for that market ; and because they would prefer accepting the oSkr which had been made by the King of Tanjore, to settle a factory, for Coast goods, in his country, where they could be had of better quality than at Pullicat or Masulipatam, and also a proportion of Malabar pepper, rather than to persevere in the trade of Java. In Tanjore, besidfA, they would be at liberty to prosecute trade, because the isovereipi of this country had refused permission to the Dutch, either to establish a factory, or to fortify a station in his dominions : — availing EAST-INDIA COMPANY, %5X availing themselves, therefore, of this invitation, the President CHAP^i. and Council had sent a ship, to endeavour to establish a factory 1623-24 in the dominions of Tanjore. <*> Kk2 (1)— Letters from the President and Council at Batavia to the Court, l4th December 1623, and 23d February 1623-24, (No. 786.770.)—- Memorial of the English President and Council to the Dutch General Carpentier, dated Batavia, 6th January 1 623*24. Resolution for dissolving the Factory of Firando, in JapaUj dated FirandOj l6th December 1623. (No, 792). 252 ANNALS Ol* THE HONOBABLS 1624-25* CHAP. I. The anxiety which was naturally felt by the Company, 1624-25. on the receipt of every dispatch from their servants abroad, petition the stating the proceedings of the C!ouncil of Defence to havc^ authority to been partial, and uniformly favorable to the Dutch, and try their ler- vanuby hostile and oppressive to the English factors, who had been by martial obstructed in providing mvestments, either of pepper or the law. finer spices, induced the Directors to carry their complaints to the King, and, by petition, to pray for protection and redress. The object of the petition was, that powers might be given to the Company, to authorize their commanders and agents to try their servants, by common and martial law. In compliance with this request, the King granted to them this au« thority, on the principle, that the exercise of it might do away the reciprocal complaints of the Dutch and English Companies against each other, and that, on the basis of judicial evidence and decisions, the authenticity of which could not be questioned, his Majesty might be enabled to frame remonstrances to the States General, and to demand their interference, and orders to the servants of the Dutch East-India Company, not only to abstain from future acts of injustice and oppression, towards the servants of the London East-India Company, but to grant redress XA8T-IKDIA COMPAVS^ 253 redress of grievances^ and compensation for losses, the ex* chap, l istence of which had been verified by legal process. ^^^ 1624-25^ This encouragement accounts few the equipment, in the f^^^rf/^Q year 1624-25, being more considerable than it otherwise would ^y?^ ^^^ have been, because, without this power^ the trade from^ Java, mentM. or the Spice Islands, would probably have been suspended. It can, however, only be collected from the Company's records,, that the equipments of this year consisted of five ships ; but no account remains of the amount oi stock, or exports in goods. W In tracinir the orimi of the attempts to open a trade be- Memorial of ^ ^ r r Sir Robert tween Surat and Persia, in the year 1616-17, we found Shirley, for a treaty be- tfaat the Agents had experienced opposition from Sir Robert tween Eng- Shirley, who had formed connexions at Ispahan, but who, sia* though an Englishman, had been employed by the King of Persia, to conclude a commercial treaty with the King of Spain; and, in the sequel, it has been discovered, that the principal difficulties the Company had to overcome, arose frt>m their being called upon by the King of Persia, to assist his forces, with their ships, in expelling the Portuguese from Ormus, and clearing the Gulf of Persia of their fleets. In 1624-25, Sir Robert Shirley returned to England, and presented a memorial to the King and Council, in which he stated, that a profitable trade in silk might be opened be- tween England and Persia, and that the Indian produce, which hitherto (1)— Rymer*8 Fcedera^ vol, xviii, page 450. (3)-^MSS. in the Indian Regitter Office, marked '' Detached Account^^" No. 10. 254 AKH AI^ OF THS HOKOEABLS CHk?^ hithoto had been brought into Persia, had been carried into 1624-25. the Turkish dominions, notwithstanding the state of warfisu^in which the two countries had been constantly placed ; — that, be- sides, part of this produce, as well as the Persian silks, had either been purchased or captured, by Ihe Portuguese ;— events which made the court of Persia disposed to entar into a com- mercial treaty with England. To render a treaty of this kind ^cient, Sir Robert Shirley advised, that the Ckimpany's ships should each carry out ma- terials, for constructing armed vessels, to enable the Parians to protect their own trade in the Gulf, and also, that the Com- pany should be obliged to famish tonnage, to bring the silks belonging to Persian merchants to the English market, sub- jecting the sales of them to the payment of English duties and customs only ; and should the sales of such goods not be prac* ticable in En^and, that the Persian merchants might be allowed to hire vessels, and to re-export their goods to other maiicets, without paying any new duties ; and concluded, that this trade would yield an annual revenue to the Crown, of ^500,000. Objections of This memorial of Sir Robert Shirley was referred to the the Conapany to Sir Robert Directors of the East-India Company, and the obiections which Shirlcy'spro- ^ ^ r jy j ject, they offered are interesting, as they mark the difference between the reasonings of a political theorist, and the good sense a practical merchant, and, in substance, were,*— that the sending frames for vessels, to be constructed in the Persian Gulf, could not be attempted, without incurring a large expendi- ture, and, from the shifting character of the Persian government, creating KAST-INBIA COMPANY* 255 creating a force, that might be employed, in future, against 9^^^' I ' the English trade : — ^that, therefore, if the Persians were to 1624-25. receive naval support from the English, that support could be best given (as in the case of the capture of Ormus^ by the Company's ships : — that the granting credit to the Persian mer- chants would be hazardous, as it could not be covered by any security from them : — ^that the quantity of silk, supposed to be produced in Persia, was, by no means, what had been repre- sented ; but, admitting it to be as great as Sir Robert Shirley had stated, one-third of it was manufactured in the country, and the remainder sent to various markets : — that the wild idea, of furnishing tonnage for the Persian merchants to bring their silk to England for sale, and the still wilder idea, of allowing them to hire vessels to carry it to other markets, was impracticable in trade, because those merchants had neither stock nor credit, on which such a re-exportation could be carried on :-*«and, therefore, that instead of the large sum which had been asserted the Crown would receive, as revenue, one-eleventh part of it could never be realized. (*> The Company, about the beginning of August 1624, Company received positive information of the massacre of their servants ?*"g ^"^ ?• * dress for the at Amboyna, and immediately made application to His Ma- ^^^^'^^g ** jesty, to interpose his authority with the States, that redress ^ent of^*°^ ;cnight be obtiuned, and that the persons who had been the guilty ^f^J^^ ^p^f^ instruments in this disgracefld transaction, might be punished. i^est^Mte A memorial '^" ^""""^' (1) — Letters from Sir Robert Shirley to the King and Cooocil^ in I6i24y and Answer of the East-India Company to his Propositions^ dated 20tb August lfi24, IA COMPANY. 357 it was followed by the King, or the order for detaining the Dutch chap, i, East-India ships, did not procure, from the States, that immedi*- 1624-25. States Gene- ate attention, or redress, which the urgency of the case required, rai, od the and which, indeed, was necessary, because the Court of Direc- tors could not, under these circumstances, frame such instructions to the commanders of their ships, or to their agents abroad, as were requisite, before the outward-bound ships could proceed on their voyage. On the 12th November 1624, the Directors addressed a letter to Secretary Conway, requesting that they might be allowed to send Mn Young, one of their number, as a special messenger to the Hague, and that he might be vested with the same powers, as if he had come from the King, to attend on the Ambassador, and to urge his immediate interference with the States, to issue their orders for reparation. The King complied with this request, and issued an additional order, dated 6th December 1624, through Secretary Conway, to the Attorney General, to prepare a commission for the London East-India Company, authorizing them to build forts in the East-Indies, for the security of their trade, conformably to the terms of the treaty of 1619. This measure brought a general, though not a satisfactory answer from the States ; in substance, that they would send orders to their Governor General in the Indies, to permit the English Company's servants to retire, Mdth their property and shipping, firom any of the Dutch settlements, without exacting any duties firom them ; — ^that in aU disputes, an appeal should be made to vols. X. LI the 258 ANNALS OF THB HONORABLE ^HAP^. the Council of Defence, and if the parties should be dissatified 1624-25, with its decision, the case should be referred to the States and to the King, but reserving to the Dutch ^^ the administration ^^ of politic government, and particular jurisdiction, both civil ^^ and criminal, in all such places as owe acknowledgement to ^^ the Dutch ;'' — and that the English might build forts, for the protection of their trade, provided suck forts should be situated at the distance of thirty English miles from the Dutch forts, and that they should not trench on their jurisdiction ; reserving to the Dutch, the exclusive right to the Moluccas, Banda, and Amboyna. This answer of the States marked their determination to retain their exclusive sovereignty, and to evade ordering that redress to the sufferers at Amboyna, which had been the imme- diate source of the application, and of the coercive measures which the King had adopted. From the measures to which it had been found expedient to resort, it appears, that the King and Council, and the Company, were equally dissatisfied with this general* and evasive answer. The Company, however, agreed to the first article, or that their servants might retire from the Dutch settlements, but stai^v that the second and third articles were so ambiguous, in their reserva- tions, that they left the Dutch General at liberty to repeat simSttr outrages with those of which the complaint had been made ; they therefore held, that remitting the case to the consideration and decision of the Council of Defence, was;- ib fact, impowering the Dutch to review and vindicate their own imjiist- proceedings, . and EAST-INDIA COMPAl^rY, 259 and equivaleDt to denying redress of any kind ; — that the case ^^^^^; required to he tried in Europe, hy Ckmimissioners, authorized by 1624-25. tile two nations^ more particularly as Van Coens, the Dutch Governor General, in whom the evasions of the treaty of }619 had originated, as his successor had only followed up his mieasures, was in Holland, and that Marskalk, one of the judges and perpetrators of the massacre of Amboyna, was at large^ at Amsterdam. Tlie state of the public mind in England, at this juncture, State of the public feel- may be judged of, from an alarm which the Dutch merchants, ing, and that of the Com* resident in London, took, at the nunfetous publications which P^^y- Were disseminated^ explaining the cruelties which the English had expierienced in the\East-Indies, particularly the massacre at Amboyna, which, they stated, might expose them to the rage of the people, already threatening their safety : — in parti- cular, they represented, that a picture had been drawn of the nUssacre at Amboyna, which was calculated to inflamie the public mind, and to bring "On them its vengeance, they therefore applied to the Privy Council, for protection from the danger to which they were exposed. The Directors of the East-India Company appeared before the CouncU, and stated, that with respect to the publications, in general, they had no control over them, but with regard to the pictm^, they acknowledged it was painted by their order, to be preserved in their House, as a perpetual memorial of Dutch cruelty and treachery. <*> L 1 2 These (J) — Memorial presented bj Sir Dudley Carleton to the States, relative to the business of Amboyna, the I7tb August 1624.— —* Minute of Council, relative to Reprizals on the Dutch ^260 ANNALS Ol rH£ HONORABLE CHAP. I. These measures of King JaEies, during the last months of 1624-25. his reign (for he died on the 27th March 1625), failed in their Death of efiects. It is true, he wished to give protection to his subjects. and, on this occasion, manifested an energy, which could not have been expected from the pacific system which he had ob- served, from his accession ; but his varying policy with the European powers, had taught each of them to consider England as of less weight in that balance of power, which Queen Eliza* beth had established, and the States Greneral, in a particular manner, to throw off their dependance on the Crown of England, of which the Queen had been the source. On this occasion, the spirit of the En^ish nation would have seconded a war against the Dutch, but that ccid people knew, that, by evasions, they could blunt the momentary rage of the English Court, and shun fulfilling, not only the terms of the treaty of 1619, but evade granting of redress, or giving any compensation for injuries, which they neither would have dared to conmiit, nor ventured to excuse, in the preceding reign. ThePresi- ^^ situation of the Company's servants abroad, at the Surat propose time wheu these inefiectual means were resorted to, in Europe, to remove to unll Dutch Ships^ September 1624. Order of Council to the Duke of Buckingham, 30th September l624. Letter from the Company to Sir Edward Conway, 1 2th November 1024. Letter from Sir Edward Conway to the Attorney General, 6th December 1624.— «- The States GeneraVs Answer to the three Articles, and the Company's Reply thereto, De- cember 1624. Letters firom the Company to Sir Dudley Carleton, 8th and 25th January, and igth February l624«5. (East-India Papers in the State Paper OflSce,No.39i 40,41,42, 43.) EAST-INI>IA COMPANY. 261 will discover, that their efforts on the West Coast op India, ^^^^l ' and in Persia, were still counteracted by the Dutch, who were 1624-25. Dabul, on endeavouring to participate in the trade of both, and to exclude accoantof the oppressions of the London Company from that share of either, which, with so thcGovernor. much expence, they had been endeavoiu*ing to acquire. In the preceding season, the depredations which the Dutch ships had committed on the coasts of the Guzzerat, had ex- posed the Company^s servants, at Surat, to imprisonment, and their property to seizure, and it was not till after seven months imprisonment, that they were liberated, or permitted to proceed with their sales and investments. Under such circumstances, the Agent and Council at Surat were attempting to find a more favorable situation, to which they might remove the centre of their trade, and were projecting to fix it at Dabul, because the inhabitants of this place had made the most friendly offers of accommodation and protection, if the English would remove to that port. This project was temporary only, for the ships of the season were dispatched from Surat to Europe, in the usual manner. <*> The trade between Surat and Persia, this season, varied in Trade in Per- V CIA flCDrCSSAfl its aspects. During the first months of it, though the Com- by the native pany's agents proceeded under the Phirmaunds which had been obtained, the prices demanded for silk, and other Persian ar- ticles, were so high, and the sales of English cloth and tin, so inconsiderable, that, on consultation, they were disposed to sell off (1)— Letters from the Agent and Council at Surat to the Court, 15th November 1624, and 14tli February 1624-25. (Noi. 813 and 79g). 262 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLE CHAP. I. off their goods, horses, household furniture, &c,, and to wind 1624-25. up their affairs. As the season advanced, it was resolved, as a last expedient, to apply to the King of Persia, to interpose his authority with his merchants, to prohibit those extortions. This request was re-- fused, and it was not till the English took measures for retiring from the trade, that the Persian ministers consented to restrict the King's merchants in their demands ; for though they could not oblige them to lower the prices, the King consented to make the English a present of two loads of silk, out of €very hundred, and to purchase from them whatever quantity of doth^ or tin , they might import. On this concession the Agent and Council at Ispahan resolved to persevere in the Persian trade^ till the {^ea* sure of the Court of Directors should be known : — ^if their instruc- tions, in the following season, should order the trade to be continued, it would be necessary, that a considerable stock should be furnished, and intelligent factors sent to manage the business. Towards the close of the season, Mr. Kerridge, one of the chief factors at Surat, stated that an agreement between the Khan of Shiras and Captain Weddel had been effected, by which the Company had a right to one-half of the customs at Gom- broon ; and that though the factor at this port, had received two hundred and twenty-five Tomands, on that account, the trade to it must soon become inconsiderable ; unless, therefore, an agent of rank should be sent by the King of England, with letters and suita-- ble presents to the King of Persia, and a strong force employed, to second BAST-INDIA COMl?ANY. 263 secondhis application, and to protect the trade from the Porta- ^^ A^-^; guese cruizers, it must decUne. 1624-26. It was in this situation of affairs, and awaiting instructions An agent sent from Surat to from England, that the Affent and Council at Surat granted a Gombroon, c> ^ 'c> *=* to report on commission to Mr. Kerridge, and other principial servafits of the ^^^ practica- ^ * * biiity of con- Company, to proceed to Gombroon, to examine and report on ^n'^»ng ^^e the expediency, either of re-settling, or of dissolving the Persian trade ; who reported, that, in consideration of the extensive privileges which the King of Persia had granted to the English, and their being allowed to settle at Gombroon, it would be for the interest of the Company to persevere in the Persian trade. <*> At the close of the former season, we traced the circum- Company** servants re- stances in which the English were placed,- after a knowledge of '^^e from Ba- the massacre at Amboyna had reached Jaccatra, or that the !*^*»^ ?^ . Lagundy. English President and Council, at that place, had petitioned Car- pentier, the Dutch General, for permission to retire, as soon as they could find any retreat, in which their persons and property might be in safety. Under their first agitation, they thought of settling on the Island of Great Bessee, protected by the King of Bantam ; but this expedient was soon abandoned, as they sent the ship Charles, Captain Swan, to take possession of some island in the Straits of Sunda, at which, it was hoped, they might get a proportion of the finer spices, to form a part of their (I) — Letter from the Agent at Ispahan to the Court, 28th August 1624. (No. BOg), — Consultations of Mr, Kerridge, and other Commissioners, at Gombroon, Ist January 1624-25. (No. 798). Letters from Surat to the Court, 15th November l624, and 14th February 1624-25. (No. 813, 799). 264 AKNALS OF THE HOKOKABLB CHAP. I. their inyestments for Europe. Captain Swan landed on the 1624-25. Island op Lagundy, to which he gave the name of Prince Charles's Island^ and in the subsequent season, we shall find, that this station was the retreat to which the English factors at Jaccatra retired, till they should receive orders from Europe. Under such coinpUcated misfortunes, the English factors at Batavia had endeavored to form a trade on the Coroman- del Coast, in expectation of receiving pepper, as well as Coast cloths ; but at Tanjore, where they projected an establishment, they were opposed by a new European rival (the Danes), who, for the first time, appeared to have become adventurers in the East-India Trade. (0 (0— Prodamatioo of Captain Swan, on Uking poisesnoD of an Island in the Stimits of Sunda> 29th Jdj 1624. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, naarked F 1^ unbound, page 121).—— Letter from the Agent and Council of Sorat to the Court, I4th Febmary lGa4*2i. (No, 799)' EAST-IlfDIA GOMFAHT. 265 1625-26. The East-In^a Company^ at the close of the preceding chap. i. season, were employed in solicitiilg redress, hy the interposition 1625-26. of the Royal authorY^, with the States General, not only for JJ^,"^^rob- the violation of the conditions in the treaty of 1619, but J^m" from reparation for the losses they had experienced at Amboy- '^^^^^^ nOy and* the pnmshmeB which consisted' of six ships, (^> we must presume, eitliar that the Company had detennined to persevere in main- taining tihieir proportion of the trade, or that these vessels were iiri^ndied to withdraw their servants and property from it ; but there remains no evidence, to ascertain the amount of the stock or goods, which these ships were to carry out, to be exchanged for Eastern produce. It is probable, that on the accession of King Charles I., the measures which had been adopted, before the death of the late King, for obtaining redress from the Dutch, were, for a time^ suspended ; as there is n6 evidence of the Court of VOL. I. Mm Directors' (])— MSS. iQ the Indian Roister Office, marked " Detached Accoants/' No/ 10. 266 ANNALS OF THE HOMaRABX«K ^^ ■ ^ ^l3 Directors having made applications to the Crown, or having 1625-26. liad any communication with the English Ambassador at tiie Hague. This situation of the Company's affairs may be accounted for, by the depressed state of the public revenue, at the accession of Charles, who was involved in a war with Spain and the Emperor, and borne down by large debts of King James, which he had not the means of dischargmg, and though the factions were, as yet, concealing their projects, they were watching op* portunities, in Parliament, to assert them. Without resources, and yet under engagements with foreign princes, the young monarch had not the means of assisting the States General, and,- of course, had not that iudSuence with them, which could induce them to grant the reckess which James had demanded, and, by warlike preparationis, was seek- ing to enforce : — ^the Company's ships of this season, therefore, sailed under general instructions ; and with a notice to their servants, that they would renew their applications to the Crown, as soon as the new gcwernment should take a decided character^ The Prcti- We have to continue the detail of the Foreign transactions rat postpone of the Company, while the factories wero unacquainted with retiriog to the cvcnts which had taken place in England, and could act Dabul. . . , only under the information, that vigorous measures had been taken for their future protection. Though BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 26/ Though the fax^tors at Surat, and Persia, had hesitated, CHAP, h whether they should continue tlie seat of trade at the former 1625 -SIG* port, or remove it to Dabul, and whether it would be expedient, to persevere in carrying on the trade with Persia, they had, on both subjects, resolved to await instructions from Europe, and, under this determination, remained at Surat, during the season 1625-26. The alarm of farther opposition from the Dutch had increa- sed, from an event calculated to make a deep impression on the English, or the appointment, by the Council of Defence, of Harman Van Speult, the man who had conducted the massacre at Amboyna, to be the Dutch General at Surat, leaving only to the English factory at Batavia, the imavailing expedient of pro- testing against an appointment, from which they anticipated the most atrocious proceedings. The English President and Council at Batavia, after the The Comp^- massacre at Amboyna, and the continuation of the restraints abandon La- gandy, and imder which the English trade had been placed, not only at return to Ba- tavia. Batavia, but wherever it had the least connexion with the trade of the Dutch, determined to retire to some station, where their persons and property might be in safety, till they should be reinforced with ships and men, sufficient to preserve them from Dutch aggression. With t^is object, the ship Charles had left Batavia, with the President, Council, and Factors, and had taken possession of the Island of La gundy, in the name of the King, aad given to it the name of Prince Charles's Island. Unfortunately, this island^ from its un- M m 2 healthiness 268 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE The King of Bantam of- fen his pro- tection. ^ ^^ ^^^; healthiness^ added sickness to the other calamities they had 1625-26. experienced, which obliged them to abandon it, pn the, Slst May 1625, and to return to Batavia, having no less than one hundred and twenty sick, out of two hundred and fifty, and not a sufficient crew to enable them to dispatch a single ship to any of the English factories. At Bantam, though the Pangran, or King, had offered the English factors every encouragement to re**assume their trade, they were unable, from want of men and supplies of every kind, to avail themselves of this expedient, and though the Dutch (as if to make a shew of reparation for the injuries and losses, which they were satisfied would be resented in Europe) had given their assistance to the English, cm their retiring from Lagundy, the President and Council recommended the necessity of separating altogether from them, for though the Company might have less trade, their ejqpeiices, also, would diminish in proportion, and their servants and property enjoy greater security. In Sumatra, the Dutch had been equally active ia their attempts to establish an exclusive trade, still shelteiiti^ thenl^ selves under the authority of the Council of Defence :«— witb such powers, they became parties in the wars between the Kingii of Acheen and Jambee, against which the English &ctom( could only protest. The English President and Covndl al Batavia^ therefore^ submitted to the Court, to direct dieir attention to the trade at ' Surat, and on the Coronuondel Cowt^ particulltfly In the expectation that the Court \i^Ould approve of the The English plan of fixing a trade on the Coromandel Coast, the Eng- Council at lish Agents at Batavia had, in addition to the factory at Masu- patch one of their servants lipatam, fixed ob a station at AttttAooK, situated, according to to fix a facto- ry at Arma- the ancient Dutch charts, between Nellore and PuUicat, irom gon, on the Coromandel which last place they had been obliged to retire, on account of Coast. the continued oppressions of the I>utch. Having obtained a piece of ground from the Naig, or Chief of the district, the English erected a factory at Armagon, in February 1625-26, and the Agent applied to the English President and Council at Batavia, for stock, to purchase plain and flowered Coast cloths, which could be exchanged for pepper, and the finer spices, or could be sent to Eiurope, for the home sales ; — ^but even at this station, the factors reported that the Dutch persecution had followed them, though they had got a grant for liberty of trade, on condition of paying one per cent, duty on goods imported, and three per cent, on exports. It (1)— Letters from the President and Council at Batavia to the Courts 3d August and I3th October \625, and 25th February 1625-26. 270 ANKAL8 OF THB HONOBABLB CHAP^. It was the intention of Mr. Johnson^ the chief factor at 1625-26. Armagon, to make this station a subordinate agency to Masu* lipatam, who reported, that to carry on the trade with ad-- vajitage, a proportion of pepper, and the finer spices, would be requisite, to facilitate the purchase of piece goods, and that it would be proper to strengthen the factory, by a slight for- tification, defended by a proportion of ordnance, to protect the Company's property, and the inhabitants, against the attacks of the Naig, who had repeatedly plundered it; and against the Dutch, who though they avoided open hostilities, had, by presents, excited the jealousies of this Chief against the English, and exposed the new establishment to risks and dangers, which might hazard its existence. ^^^ (1)— MSB. Id the Indian Register Office, marked B. page 90 to 146. SAST-^INDIA COMPANY. 2^1 1626-27. Though the disputes, in 1626, between the King and chap. i. the Parliament, were calculated to depress his influence with 162&-27. the powers of Europe, and particularly with the States General. The equip. * * ' * "^ ' ments con- £rom whom alone redress could have been obtained, for the »»^«^«We, ^ from the grievances of which the London Company complained, it ap- ^'^g'tion pears, from the magnitude of the equipments of this season jfom ^\he*^ (1626-27), that the Court of Directors looked forward to sup- ^''''^• port, and that they were determined to continue their efibrts to preserve their proportion of the East-India trade. The equip- ments consisted of seven large ships ; <^) but (as in the two preceding seasons) neither the amount of the stock, nor the destinations of those vessels, can be ascertained :— it may, how- ever, be presumed, that though their applications for redress, from the States General, had hitherto been without eflect, they were determined to persevere in the trade, because, from it alone, they could expect returns for the large stock which' the Adventurers had embarked. The Company, at this period, instead of depending entirely upon their sales, had been engaged in the manufacture of gun- «rcct powder- powder, as an expedient for adding to their profits ; and had established powder-mills in the county of Surry : — ^an application had been made to the King, by the inhabitants in the vicinity, to. (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked D. P. No. 129. fused. CHAP. L to have those mills removed, and an order had accordingly 1626-27, been issued for their den^olitiofi :— ^th? Com-t, in this season, petitioned the King for permission to erect new powder-mills, in the counties of Kent and Sussex, in situations to which the like objections could jffit he pa^^ ; an4 stsLl;¥|[|^ H^ai ijifis xp^v^^Mure was necessary, to enable djjeij? to bjrijoigintp,thp msgrl^^jt tbefstQ^^ of saltpetre in store, or ta dispx>se of the qi^^tit]^ of tJ^t ^i^l^ expected from InIA COMPANir. 273 of Persia, without forgetting his allegiance to his natural chap i. sovereign, the King of England. <*> 1626-27. The apprehensions which the Presidency at Surat had enter- Unsuccewfui attempt of tained, on the appointment of the infamous Harman Van Speult ^^^ English r ^ and Dutch at to be the Dutch General at Surat, were happily ^ removed Surat,to8ur- r y > prize Mocha in this season, by the death of that person. Among other plans and Bombay; which Van Speult had projected, was an expedition against the Portuguese, in the Red Sea, and as they were continually act- ing against the English, he persuaded, or rather, by threats, obliged the Presidency, to co-operate with him, in this expedi- tion. The squadron had sailed from Surat, and reached Mo* cha, at which Van Speult died, after losing, off that port, the largest of the Dutch ships, mounting forty-four guns. His successor, instead of supporting the English against the Por- tuguese, refused them his assistance to carry the Court's orders into execution, of forming an establishment on the Island of Bombaya, though the President proposed, that if this island should be reduced, it should be equally divided between the Dutch and the English, and fortified, to make it a station inde^ pendent of the native powers. This incident opens the first view of the plan of the English to form an establishment on an island, which was VOL. I. N n subs^uently (1) — Reasons why the Company will not advance £2000 to Sir Robert Shirley^ 28th March l6M. Letter firom Sir Robert Shirley to the Privy Council (original) 36lh July 1626. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, Not. 7 1 and 74). 274 ANNALS OF THE HONORABUS CHAP^. subsequently transferred to them by Portugal ; the factors at 1626-27. Surat^ as well as the Court, having found from experience, that forts, with proper guards to them, constituted the only security which could be reUed on, either for the Company's property, or for the permanency of their trade. This expedient was the more necessary, from the approaches of a civil war between the Emperor's sons, for the succession, which induced the Presi- dency to withdraw the agencies from Ahmedabad and Broach, and again to entertain the project of removing the seat of trade from Dabul, at which place, profitable exchanges might be made of pepper and spices, for Malabar and Coromandel cloths, and a supply of those articles procured for the Persian trade. It does not appear to have been practicable for the English, at this juncture, either to erect a fortress at Ormus, or to get an independent hold at Muscat, of which the Portuguese had becom e possessed. At Surat, however, the factors had made considerable purchases, and had got in store three thousand maunds of saltpetre from Agra, to become part of the invest- ment for the Europe ships, on their arrival. ^^> Critical tita- The situation of the Company^s affairs in Persia, in this ation of the Conipan/i year, had been rather precarious : — -the Shah, with his army, trade in Fcx^ M' had been employed in defending Bagdat, which was besieged by the Turks, and the Dutch agents had obtained a grant for a proportion of the silk trade, on terms rather more favorable than those which had been given to the English. This event induced the (1)— Letter from the President and Council at Sural to the Courts 14th December 1626. (No. 843). EAST-INDIA COMPAKT. 275 the Agents at Ispahan to address a letter to the King, and chap, i, to make a considerable present to one of the chief officers, 1626-27. for his influence, to get the contract with the English placed on the same terms as that with the Dutch, by representing that though the English had, for years, been exposed to the trouble of opening the Persian trade by sea, to the Euro^ peans, the Dutch were deriving the whole benefit. Under these circumstances, the Agents at Ispahan assured the Court, that, conformably to their instructions, they would continue the trade in Persia ; but that it would be necessary to send them large supplies of cloth and tin, from England, to en- able them to counteract the Dutch, in the market. In this year, the Company received three hundred Tomands, or ^900, as their moiety of the customs at Gombroon. <^> (1) — ^Letter from the Agent and Coancii at Ispahan to the Coart, 19th May and 14th Jane l§26. N n 2 ^^ AKNAJL8 OF THE HONORABLB 1627-28. CHAP. I. The Company's affairs in England^ in the season 1627-28^ 1627*28. were necessarily affected^ by the delays of the States General titioifT^e^' in granting redress for the losses sustained at Amboyna^ and Kiog. for his • -^ • • ,-% /*« •• m^^ -r^* interposition m bringing the perpetrators of the massacre to justice. The King^ with the States Gene- at this juncture, not having been able to obtain supplies from his ral. Parliament, imfortunately for himself, had recourse to the expedients of loans and ship-money; but he had wA been inattentive to the ccmiplaints of the £ast*India Company, who^ by memorial, at this time, stated,, that their Agents at Jaccatra had not only been refused their proportion of the pepper and spice trade, but even necessary provisions ; that they had been obliged to resort to the hazardous expedient of retiring to Lagundy or Prince Charles's Island, the unhealthiness of which had compelled them to return to Batavia ; and that, now, their circum*stances had become so desperate, that unless the King interposed his authority with the States, their factors would be compelled to relinquish this part of the East-India trade altogetlier.(^> In (1)— Memorial of the East-India Company to King Charles L 1628. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, No. 79-1.) SAST -INDIA COMPANY. 277 In the last year of the reign of King James, the delays of chap. i. the States General, in granting redress to the sufferers at 1627-28. Amboyna, had been anticipated, and events now proved, that homeward- bound ships this opinion was well founded : — this Sovereign had ordered the detained at 1 A • % Porttmoolh, Lord High Admiral to intercept the Dutch East-India ships, tin redress should be ob* and to bring them into an English port, to be detained till redress tained. should be given. In this year three large Dutch East-lndiamen, from Surat, had put into Portsmouth, where they were detained till orders were sent to Sir Isaac Wake, the King's Ambassador at the Hague^ to explain the reason of this seizure, and to require redress ; letters, also, were written by Lord Conway, Secretary of State, to the Dutch commander, explaining the cause of the detenticm, and promising, not only protection to himself, his officers, and crews, but security to the cargoes^ till the event of the remonstrance to the States should be known : — ^the Dutch officer however, either impatient under the restraint, or secretly informed of the evasions which the States intended to practice, attempted to elude this embargo, and to put to sea with his ships. This produced a second letter from Lord Conway^ ^cplaining, thai; should a war between the two countries be the consequence of this rashness, and force be necessary, he must be made responsible. The English Ambassador, agreeably to this resolution, applied to the States, and declared the King's kitentions to be friendly towardis them, but that, in duty to his subjects, he had been compelled to detain the ships, to obtain that redress, which, for years, he had in vain solicited. Tliese Sf^ ANNALS OF TH£ HONORABLB CHAP. 1. These public events, account for the Company's equiptnent, 1627-28. for the season 1627-28, bemg on a reduced scale, consisting only eqaipmenu of two ships and a pinnace. The Court of Directors were aod stock thit « . » season, on a sensible, that so small a fleet would give an opportunity to their linitod scale* enemies in England, to impress the public with an opinion, that the trade was either on the decline, or that the Company were not conducting it, in a manner calculated to preserve it, and there- fore assigned their reasons for this small equipment to be, that they had numerous vessels in India, which, from the obstruct tions they had experienced, from the Dutch, as well as from the state of their funds, had been unemployed in those seas ; — thai, though the ships were few, the stock intended to be sent aring to return to Europe, and had, at a visit of ceremony which he paid to the English President and Council on his departure, advised them not to attempt the trade at Bantam, as it could only bring on fresh troubles between the two naticms. Connected with this event, the Dutch historians afford an evidence, which strongly marks the decided resolution of the States Greneral, and of the Dutch East-India Company, to wave, not only grant- ing « redress to the sufferers at Amboyna, but, in general, compensation to the English, for the series of oppressions they had endured ; for they sent out, a second time. Van Coens, to be the Dutch Governor General, though, from the preceding evidence in Europe, and in the Indies, it had been proved, that Carpentier was only the active promoter of that system, which Van Coens had devised, for consolidating the Dutch sovereignty and monopoly in the Indies, and excluding the English from any participation in the trade, notwithstanding their right had been established, by the treaty of 1619.<*) These general proceedings of the Dutch affected the minds of the English President and his Council to so great a degree, that, notwithstanding their obedience to the Court's orders, to attempt the trade at Bantam, and the great mortality which had driven them from Prince Charles's Island, they again formed the plan of (1 )— Valentyn Ood en Nteuw Oost IndieD» vol. ir, pages 270, 277, and 367* £AST-IN1>IA COMPANY. 281 of returning, and fixing on some station on the main land of ^^ ^^; j' Lagundy, which, from observation, they had discovered might 1627-28. be fortified at a small expence, as the island afibrded the finest stone, for building houses and fortifications, of any country in India. This plan, however, they would only adopt, if they failed in the attempt to revive the trade of Bantam ; but, at either of those stations, they intended to open a trade with Maccassar, to the Chief of which, they had delivered King Charles's letter, which had been honorably received. They also intended again to attempt a trade to Japan, and requested a letter from the King to the Emperor, asking his protection ; and also a trade with China, though they anticipated difficulties from the jealousy of that people ; and it would be worth an ex- periment, again to try the practicability of a trade to Siam, Cambodia, and Pegu, because the commodities of those coun- triesi would facilitate the project of a trade to Japan.<^) (1)— -General Letters from the English President and Covmcil at Batavia to the Coart« 19th Jolj and 28th October 162?. (Nos. 846; 850). VOL. I. O O ?8? ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 1628-29. ^^^^^V Ip the circumstances in which Charles was placed^ in the 1628-29. two first years of his reign^ tended to lower his influence with Company petition the the European powers, particularly with the States General, from House of Commons whom, alone, compensation for injuries, or redress of grievances, for redress from the could be expected, or obtained, for the London East-India Corn- Dutch. . pany, his situation, in the year 1628-29, became more embar- rassing. The war with Spain had been unfortunate ; the dis« putes with France not less so; the resources, obtained by the Crown, from loans, had failed, and a Parliament had been summoned : — ^this assembly, instead of granting supplies, em- ployed itself, as a previous step, in framing a Petition of Rights, which, though it passed both houses, was evaded by the King, and the Parliament was prorogued. These public events will account, in some degree, for the proceedings of the London East-India Company, who despair- ing of obtaining redress from the States Greneral, brought their grievances under the consideration of the House of Com- mons : — to this expedient they were also led, by ^ the popular prejudices against monopolies which, at this time, prevailed. The Private Traders, or Interlopers, had availed themselves of the opportunity when dangerous political questions were agi- tating BAST -INDIA COMPANY. 283 tatmg^ to mask their projects^ under the specious pretext of chap. i. freedom of trade, and sought, in the spirit of party, the means 1628-29. of forwarding claims, which they were not entitled to assert, either by their property, as individuals, or by any real advantages which their scheme could bring to the nation. Under such diffi- culties in obtaining redress from the Dutch, and depressed by internal opponents, the Company presented a memorial to the House of Commons, stating, that the failure of the spice trade, and the difficulties ' which they had experienced, in opening a trade in piece goods, on the Coromandel Coast, had almost driven them from their factories; — that though these difficulties had partly arisen from the native powers, they were principally owing to the opposition of the Dutch, whose oppressions they were experiencing in every country within their limits; — that the advantages of the East-India trade to the realm, had been great, the Company having employed large sums to establish this branch of the British commerce ; — ^that their ships carried ten thousand tons, and employed two thousand five hundred seamen; — ^that the value of their exports of British staples (woollen, tin, &c.) had not only been an encouragement to the useful arts, but to agriculture; — that their imports of Eastern produce (spices, silks, &c.) had lowered the prices of those articles in the home market, and had encouraged English merchandize, and furnish- ed assortments for cargoes to the Mediterranean, and to the East-land or Russia trade. This memorial, founded on facts, would probably have made an impression on the House of Commons, had not the O o 2 events 284 ANNAJLS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. events referred to, and the prorogation of Parliament, prevented 1628*29. the subject from being taken into consideration. (*) The King Had Charles been in more prosperous circumstances, than with the those in which his disputes with his Parliament had placed rai.in favor of him, it is not improbable, that this application of the London the Com- r> r^ i i i • pany. Company to the House of Commons would have mvolved them in disputes with the Crown, from which all their grants, from their estabUshment, had issued; yet the King's authority was exerted to obtain redress from the Statei^, and no notice taken of the Company's application to the House of Commons, or of the Dutch Indiamen being detained, to guaranty the redress the King had solicited. The statei Of this resolution of the King, the States General appear to London have been sensible, from their offering a laboured defence of the Company should send delays which had occurred, in bringing to justice the persons who an agent to Holland, to had been accused of the massacre at Amboyna ; in which they be present at their judicial urged, that the detention of the ships would retard, rather than proceedings. accelerate, their decision ; — that they relied upon thfe treaties of friendship between the King and the States, and, on the basis of them, had appointed judges, to take cognizance of the business of Amboyna, even before the parties had returned to Europe, and previously to the detention of the Dutch Surat ships at Portsmouth ; — ^that the delays had arisen from the situation of the judges, who had been otherwise necessarily employed in the service of the States, and frx)m the time required to make translations of the documents * (l) — Petition and Remonstrance of the East-India Company to the House of Commons^ printed In 1628, referred to in Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, pages 329, 330. EAST-INDIA COMPANY- 285 documents which had been transmitted; — ^and concluded, that chap. L the detention of the ships, which, in value, far exceeded any 1628-29. compensation which could be expected, could only tend to bring ruin on the owners, and would excite animosities in Holland, which might affect the decision of the judges ; or, if a war should be the consequence, though the King might, at any time, seize on the homeward-bound Dutch East-Indiamen, yet, from the disparity of force in the Indies, greater evils would ensue to the London Company, than those for which they were now seeking redress. This statement was followed by a letter from the Dutch r>utch ship* released, on Ambassadors to the King, dated 23d July 1628, proposing, if condition -^ X 1 o thatCommif- the three Indiamen should be released, that special Ambassadors s'onen *■ should be from the States General, and Deputies from the Dutch East-India ?®°^ ^® ^"S- Company, should be sent into England, before the ensuing September ; and that speedy justice " should be done on the ^* business of the judgment at Amboyna/' r This proposal appears to have been acceded to, on the condition, that certain persons, who were on board the Dutch ships, should remain in England, to be examined by the Privy Council, as evidences, to ascertain the facts respecting the trans- actions at Amboyna ; and if the Dutch Ambassadors should accede to this condition, an order of Council would be issued, for liberating the ships from the embargo. That this compliance might not depress the hopes of the East-India Company, of obtain- ing compensation, Lord Conway, as Secretary of State, by the King's command, addressed a letter to the Privy Council, stating his 286 ANNAJLS OF THE HONORABLE ^HAP. I. his determination to afford to them his protection and encou- 1628-29. ragement. Opinioa of The Dutch Ambassadors, agreeably to the preceding decla- Sir John Coke on this ration, came to London, before September 1628 ; and the opi- subject. nion of Sir John Coke on the subject, in a letter addressed, hj him, to Lord Conway, Secretary of State, will afford the most distinct view of the business that can be given. Sir John Coke stated to Lord Conway, his own, and Lord Dorchester's opi- nion ^^ that the Lords at London should send for the East- ^^ India Companie, and acquaint them w*^ the letter w*^^ I writt ^^ by his Ma*^ comaundement to the Ambassadors of the States, ^^ whereof yoiur Lordship hath the copie ; that, theruppon, they ^^ should perswade the Companie to send over the witnesses in ^* the case of Amboina, not by way of comaundement or.direc- ^' tion, but that they might volontarily go, and psent themselyes ^^ to bee examined, so as neither the States might ptend they *^ wanted information in the cause, nor his Ma^** bee pjudiced ^' in the title of submission to a foreine justice. Besides the ^' witnesses, they are specially to be reqiured to send over ^^ the Bible, Table Booke, and other documents, whereby it ^^ appeared, under the hands of the parties executed, that *^ they protested their innocencie, w^ some attestation, under ^^ the hands of hable men, that the writings were their '' hands.'' Company To this, howevcr, the Company objected, because hav- their eviden- i^g Sent ovcr pcrsous and documents to Holland, they only land. ^ obtained an audience, twice, in eighteen months, and that there wa6 EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 287 was no article in the late treaty with the Dutch, compelling them 9^^^J^'^ (the Company) to send over agents to Holland. (*> 1628-29. Under these circumstances, the equipments for the season Equipments for the »ea- 1628-29 consisted of five ships, the destination of which was, «on. two, for the trade with India, and three, for the trade with Persia ; and though the estimated amount of merchandize, and money, which it was intended to embark on them, cannot be traced, it appears, from a petition of the Directors to the King, that they proposed to export ^60,000 in gold and silver, foreign coin, or bullion, on two of the ships des- tined to Persia, and, therefore, it may be inferred, that the value embarked on the whole fleet must have been considerable : — ^this may be farther presumed, from the Court having, at the close of the season, received information that their factory had been re-established at Bantam, the King of which had addressed a letter, and sent presents, to King Charles, which His Majesty acknowledged by his answer, requesting protection to his sub- jects resident in, or resorting to his country. The Dutch Ambassadors were alarmed at the effect which the delivery of the King's letter might have on the King of Bantam, by (l) — ConsideratioDi touching the Differences between the English and Dutch East-India Companies, 1628. (East India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 82). Letter from the Dutch Ambassadors to the Ring, 13-23 July l628. Original Letter from Lord Conway to the Earl of Marlborough, President of the Council, 6th August l628. Original Letter from Lord Conway to the Privy Council^ 3d September 1(528. Original Letter from Sir John Coke to Lord Conway, 4th September 1628. (East-India Papers in the State P^per Office^ Nos. 80, 81, 82) Reasons why the East-India Company object to tend over Commistioners to Holland. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 136). I. r^ 268 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^!1^L3' by inducing him to make a more vigorous and protracted defence 1628-29. against the Dutch ; and submitted to the Privy Council, that this letter was an infringement of the treaty of 1619 ; by which the English were bound to assist the Dutch, in defraying the ex- pence of the siege of Bantam, and were to enjoy the half of the pepper procured at that port ; and, therefore, requested, that this letter from King Charles to the King of Bantam, might not be deUvered to the East-India Company, or, if it had been delivered, that it might be withdrawn. <^> The Pre- The Opinion of the Presidency of Suhat, in the preced- sidency of * * ^"'^^h fl* ^^S season, that a large stock should be sent to that port, and to cmize in MasuHpatam, to enable the factors to make purchases of cloth. Gulf, and on ^j^j other Indian articles, suited to the trade in pepper and the Malabar ' ^ '^^ Coast. spices, and the destination of a large proportion of the fleet for Surat and Persia, mentioned in the home transactions, con- nected with the Courtis former intentions to persevere in the Persian trade, account for the measures which the President and Council of Surat adopted in this season. They granted a commission to Captain Swanley, who was appointed commander of (J)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked D. P. No. 129. Petition of the East-India Company to the King, for licence to export j£60^000> in Coin and Ballion^ 23d March 1628-29. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 85.) Letter from King Charles to the King of Bantam, 24th March 1628-29. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 86.)——^ Letter from the Dutch Ambassador to the Privy Council^ relatlre to the^Bantam Trade. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 137.) EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 289 of a fleet of five ships^ to proceed to the Persian Gulf, to act chart. against the Portuguese, and to endeavour to revive and increase 1628-29. the trade to Persia, The terms upon which the Enghsh at Surat were with the Mogul government, were favorable for such an enterprize, for Captain Swanley was ordered to take Kherat-Khan, who had been appointed by the Mogul to pro- ceed as his Ambassador to the King of Persia, on board his ship, and to treat him, and the Mogul subjects in his suite, with attention and respect. Captain Swanley was farther ordered to seize on all Portuguese vessels which he might meet on his voyage, and, in the first instance, to go direct to Jasques : — ^if, on reaching that port, he should obtain infor- mation, that the Portuguese had any force in the neighbour- hood of Ormus, after landing the Ambassador and his suite at Jasques, he was immediately to attack them in that quarter. Having efiected the mercantile and naval purposes of his voy- age in the Gidf of Persia, he was to return to the Malabar Coast, and go down as far as Dabul, and there seize on any vessels belonging to the Coast of the Decan, or to ports not subject to the Mogul Government ; one sixth part of the prize- money to belong to the captain and ship's crews, and the remainder to be carried to the Company's account. <"> The proceedings of the Agents in Persia, this season, in state of the carrying the commercial instructions of the Court into effect, p^„j^g|° cannot be ascertained from the Company's records ; but in the VOL. I. P p advices (1)— Letter from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 12th December 1628. (No. 862). 290 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^ PJ; advices from Gombroon to Surat, it is stated^ that the trade 1628f-29. had been materially injured, by the conduct of the Mogul Ambassador, who had, under the name of presents to the Persian Court, carried to Ispahan, two-thirds of the goods which came on the fleet, by which the payment of customs at Gombroon had been evaded, and the Company^s proportion of them ma- terially diminished. ^^^ , • Armagon Among the expedients to which the EngUsh President fortified, and . the tactory at and Couucil at Batavia had resorted, for recovering from the Masulipatam removed lo it. commercial embarrassments under which had they been placed, was the fixing a station at Armagon, on the Coromandel Coast, in the year 1625-26. It was not intended, at that time, to render Armagon an independent station, but an agency subordinate to Masulipatam ; a piece of groimd, therefore, had been purchased from the Naig; on which a factory had been erected, and ordnance mounted to protect the Company's pro- perty, and their servants, from the depredations of the natives^ and of the Dutch. This expedient appears, from the report of the Agents, to have been persevered in, and, notwithstanding various oppositions, they had succeeded in fortifying the factory; a precaution which was rendered more necessary, by the op- pressions which the English factors at Masulipatam, were experiencing from the native Governor of that port. To such a height had those oppressions been carried, that it was re- solved^ (1) — Letter from the Agent at Gombroon to the President and Council at Sorat, 20th February l628-2g. (No. 863). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 291 solved, on consultation (11th September 1628), to embark the CHARJ. Company's property and sei-vants, and to abandon the factory 1628-29. at Masulipatam, and proceed to Armagon : — this measm-e was accordingly carried into effect, on the 27th September 1628, leaving at Masulipatam one of the factors, only, to recover debts. On quitting this port, the Agent sent a remonstrance to the Governor, stating that his exactions had been so arbitrary, and his obstructions to trade, so great, that the English had no other alternative, but to abandon their factory, to which they would not return, on any other condition, than that of re- ceiving a grant of trade from the King of Golcondah, in whose dominions Masulipatam was situated. ^'^ Though no information can be collected in this season of English Pre- sident and the circumstances which induced the English President and Council at Batavia re- Council at Batavia to accept of the offers of the King of move to Bantam. Bantam, to permit the re-establishment of the EngUsh factory, this event has been ascertained to have taken place, early in 1628, by the letter from the King of Bantam to King Charles, accompanied with presents, and the answer of the King, re- questing protection for his subjects at Bantam ; and this fact prepares us equally for the measures of the Court, regarding Bantam, and the communications from that port, which will occur in the subsequent seasons. (^) Pp2 (1) — MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked B. I, bound, pages 169 to 200. (2)— Letter from King Charles to the King of Bantam, 24th March 162829. (East- India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 86). 292 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLfi 1629-30. CHAP. T. The domestic situation of the London East-India Company^ 1629-30. in 1629-30, furnishes only a continuation of the circumstances by No redresg obtained which it was aflfectcd, in the preceding year. The Directors, at from the Dutch. that time, had made an application to the House of Commons, for the general support of their trade, and, at the same time, were looking to the King, for information of the measures which s the States General were to take, to force the Dutch Company to comply with the subsisting treaty between the two nations ; and to obtain a judicial decision by the Commissioners, who had been appointed to examine the mutual disputes of the two Companies ; the one for wrongs sustained, and the other, for delaying, if not refusing, to grant compensation. The petition which the Company had, in the preceding year, presented to the House of Commons, had not been taken into consideration, before the prorogation (1629-30), but was lost sight of, when the Parliament was dissolved : — the Dutch ships, also, had been Uberated, and the redress expected in England became hopeless, and the evasions in Holland, con- firmed. The equip. Notwithstanding these distressing circumstances, the Com- ments of this year consign- pany determined, in this season, to equip four ships for Persia, ^^^y' but not to send any ships to India, and to rely on the return of those EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 293 those in the Indian Seas. (*> From the stock, however, which ^^^^ P i . they proposed to send, there is evidence that, though they 1629-30. were determined to push the trade in Persia, they were, at the same time, resolved to furnish their factories in India, with stock, for retrieving, and, if possible, regaining, their proportion of that trade. Under the original and continued grant of the Crown, by Company p©- ^ tition the which King James conferred on the Q)mpany an exclusive King for a renewal of trade to the East-Indies, it had been uniformly the practice, to their charter, with additi- obtain a licence to export silver bullion, or coin, to a certain onaipnviie- amount per annum : — ^the Company, on this ground, by peti tion to the King^ prayed for permission to export ^80,000 in silver buUion and coin, and ^40,000 in gold^ in each year, and that the exclusive right to the trade of India and Persia. might be renewed and confirmed, by a new grant. The appli- cation to the House of Commons, last season, did not appear to have created any prejudice in the King, against the Company ; for Sir John Coke, Secretary of State, by a reference, dated 5th October 1629, to the Attorney General, informed him, that the King was disposed to renew the grant of the sole trade of the Indies to the London Company, with the additional right to export yearly, ^80,000 in silver, and ^40,000 in gold, and directed him to prepare a warrant for the King's signature, to this effect; and also a separate warranty au- thorizing them to export ^10,000 in gold, as part of the ^40,000, (l)^MS8. in the Indian Register OflGice> marked D. P. No. 129. 294 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^53 ^"^^jOOO, on a small vessel, which, at this period, the Com- 1629-30. pany intended to dispatch to Persia. ^'> • The Prcsi- The circumstance, m the preceding season, of f he Ambassa- deocy of Su- rat obtain a dor from the Mogul to the King of Persia, having proceeded new Phir- roaund from to his destination, on board one of the English ships, com- the Mogul, oncondition mandcd by Captain Swanley, explains the degree of protection of assisting ^ him against whicli the Presidency at Sukat vi^ere receiving from the Mogul, guese. who now Considered the Company's ships as the most efficient force which he could employ against the Portuguese, with whom he was at war. To obtain this assistance, he granted a Phirmaund to the English, which was delivered to the Pre- sident at Surat, on the 5th April 1629, authorizing them to make reprisals on all Portuguese ships, both at sea and in port, within his dominions, and intimated, that he would require the assistance of the English ships in the following season. In communicating this information, the President and Council requested, that large supplies, both of stock and shipping, might be sent, to enable them to improve their trade at Surat, and to execute this service, should it be required. ' In conse- quence of this encouragement, they had dispatched all their ships for Europe, with fiill and rich cargoes ; but great supplies of (1)— Petition of the East-India Company to King Charles I, in \62g, and refe- rence of Sir John Coke to the Attorney General, dated 5ih October l62g. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office. No. 88.) EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 295 of stock would be necessary next season^ to invigorate the trade, chap. I. as they had entered into contracts for cloth at Ahmedabad, 1629-30, Broach, Brodera, and Surat, which, with the interest, would amount to ^100,000. O In the year 1628-29, the factory at Armagon had been Armagon •' ' ' becomes the established and fortified ; and, though exposed to opposition from &^*"n^^*^^, the Dutch, and extortion by the Naig, it had effectually resisted coromandel both, and was the retreat to which the oppressions of the ^^^*^" native Governor of Masulipatam had obliged the English factors at that port to retire. In this year, Armagon is described to be defended by twelve pieces of cannon, mounted round the fac- tory, and by a guard of twenty-three factors and soldiers. The Agent at MasuUpatam had embarked with the Company's property, for this station, having first protested against the extortions to which the English had been subjected, and de- clared that he would not return to Masulipatam, unless a Phirmaund should be obtained from the King of Golcondfth, for the protection of the English. Before proceeding to Armagon, the ships lay off Masulipa- tam, for several months, in expectation that the Governor would accede to the proposals of the Agents ; but finding that no redress was to be obtained, they sent in a remonstrance, in still more spirited terms, declaring that, unless payment should be made of the debts and losses of the Company, at that port, to the amount of 53,618 pagodas, they would make reprisals on the ships and ^ goods of the King of Golcondah, wherever they (1)— General Letter from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 27th April Ifefl. (No. 867). ^s ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. they might be found : — ^this remonstrance producing no effect, 1629-30. the ships sailed to Armagon ; and the Agents stated to the English President and Council at Batavia, that the fortifi- cations at Armagon must be increased^ a stronger guard kept up, and supplies of military stores sent, otherwise the place would not be tenable ; but that the charges of such an establishment would be less expensive than the presents for tem- porary indulgencies, which they were constantly obliged to pay, and that the trade at this port would be profitable, if the factory was in a state of security, ^^) The English factory having been re-established at Bantam, it becomes interesting to observe the circumstances of that settlement, at the period of the re-opening of the trade. The Pangran, or King of Bantam, was, at this time, at war with the Materam, or Emperor of Java, and had been obliged to con- clude a peace with the Dutch, but had stipulated with the Eng- lish td defend the port by sea : — ^these hostilities had prevented the cultivation of pepper, and disappointed the expectations of the President and Council at Bantam, of trade in this article ; — the war, however, in Java, had facilitated the re-establishil%ent of the English factory at Bantam, because the Dutch, who, for so long a time, had opposed this event, were fully occupied by the Company's factory re« established at Bantam* (1)— General Letter from the President and Council at Bantam to the Courts 28th October 1629. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked B 1, bound, pages 200 to 207) Protest delivered to the Governor of Masulipataro, 22d May 1629. (MSS. in the Indian .Register Office, marked B 1, bound, page 207). Letter from the Agent at Armagon to the President and Council at Batavi a, 25th June 1 629, (B 1, bound, page 224). BAST-XNDIA COMPANY, 297 the Materam of Java, who had besieged Jaccatra with an chap. i. army of eighty thousand men, and who, though repulsed by 1629-30, Van Coens, from the fortifications being strong, and the gar- rison numerous, was still in the field, and preparing for a new attack. (^> (1) — General Letter from the President and Council of Bantam to the Courts 28(h )pctober 1629. (No. 868.) VOL., I Q. q 1^8 JMSnUALS OF THE BONOBABLB 1630-31, CHAP. I. The dissolution of Parliament having left the King without 1630-31. resources, for supporting the war against France and Spain, he ation of Eng- was obliged to conclude a peace with those nations, at the crisis period. when the power of Europe was balanced between them, and when, perhaps, in a greater degree than at any former period, the weight of England in the scale, in favor of the one, or of the other, would have given it the preponderance. The King, however, was unable to assume, in his fleets or armies, that warUke attitude, by which alliances are upheld, or encroach- ments on national rights prevented, and this hard situation was the true cause of the rise of the factions in England, which obliged its sovereign to accede to the treaties of peace, and in- duced both France and Spain to shew that indulgence to the English prisoners, which lessened the national dislike at both, and turned it against the irregular levies of money, to which the King was obliged to resort, to supply his treasury. Tliese events explain the decline of the influence of England, on the continental powers, particularly on the States General, whose connexions with England were alone impUcated in the questions, regarding the comparative rights of the Dutch and of the London East-India Companies. It EAST -INDIA COMPANY^ 299 It would be foreign from the object of this Review, to go CHAP. r. beyond a general reference to the events in England, which were 1 630-3 !• daily weakening the power of the Crown, to grant protection, or to support the rights of a commercial Company, farther than to advert to the connexion between the prevailing prejudices against prerogative, and against exclusive privileges to mercantile bodies. It is, however, under these circumstances, that we have, in this season, to trace the measures which the London East-India Company adopted, to support their trade against so powerful a rival as the Dutch Company, at a crisis when they neither could derive support from the Crown, nor from a Parlia- ment, which the sovereign was not disposed to assemble, lest new and dangerous questions might arise, like those which had led to a dissolution, in the preceding season. In 1630-31, therefore, the East-India Company took such Company pe- measures, only, as were within their means, to uphold their cence to ex- trade, without harrassing the King, by applications for his inter- bullion. ference with the States General, for that redress which they now began to consider as hopeless : — the Directors, however, by petition to the King, represented, that having resolved to continue their efforts to support their trade, they intended to dispatch six ships, of which four (the Mary, the Exchange, the Speedwell, and the Hopewell) were consigned to their fac- tors in Persia, and the north part of India, and two (the Pals- grave and the London) to Bantam and the Southern Islands, and therefore prayed for licence to export, in this fleet, <^30,000 in foreign gold, as, by their Patent, they were not authorized to Q q 2 export 300 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAP. I . export gold, without a special grant for that purpose. This 1630-31, petition was referred by Mr. Secretary Coke to the Attorney General, directing him to prepare a warrant to that effect, for the King's signature. (*) Conipany*g The favorable circumstances in which the Presidency of trade at Surat ^ th^D^^^h*'^ SuRAT had been placed, in the preceding year, by the services which their shipping had rendered to the Mogul, both in keeping open his alliance with Persia, and in affording him assistance in his war with the Portuguese^ induced the Dutch, if they could not, by artifice, weaken the connexions between the English and the Mogul Government, to employ the mercantile scheme of depressing the Company's stock and credit. For this pur- pose, they lowered the prices at their sales, and raised them in their purchases ; — ^the Europe goods they sold at a great loss, and gave such high prices for Indian produce, as rendered the markets almost impracticable. By this expedient, they reduced the funds of the Presidency, and obliged them to give up the plan of forming new factories, on the Coromandel Coast. These events led the Surat Presidency to represent the nscessity of abandoning, altogether, the practice of particular voyages, and of calling for new subscriptions in England, to form (1) — Petition of the East-India Company to the King, for licence to export 0£*3O,OOO in gold, with reference, by Mr. Secretary Coke, to the Attorney General, dated Hampton Court, 24th October l630. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 89). MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked D. P. No. 129. BAST-INDIA COMPAQ V. 301 form a large Joint Stock : — mean time, they had resolved to chap. I. make every effort to improve the favorable light in which they 1630-31. were held by the Mogul Government, and requested that rich scarlet and violet coloured cloth of gold might be sent, as a present for the Mogul, which would be an inducement to his great officers to purchase similar articles, the sales of which would yield considerable profit. On the arrival of the Company's fleet of five sail, from Company's sbiDS sttflck* England, in September 1630, on which large supplies had been ed by the Portuguese embarked, a new obstacle to the progress of the trade arose fleet at Swal- \y, and in fit)m the Portuguese. The Viceroy of Goa, in the month of the Gulf of Persia. April, had received a reinforcement from Europe, of nine ships and two thousand soldiers, and projected the re-capture of the Island of Ormus. His first measure was, an application to the Governor of Surat, to use his influence with the Mogul, to expel the English and Dutch from his dominions ; to admit the Por- tuguese to settle at Surat ; and to have the exclusive trade of that port granted to them, but this application was rejected ; — his next project was, to prevent the entrance of the English ships into Swally : — a sharp action ensued, between the English ships and the Portuguese fleet, commanded by Don Francisco Coutinho, in which, without being decisive, the English ships had the advantage : — this action was followed by frequent skirmishes, both at sea and on shore, the English still being able to maintain their ground. Irritated by opposition, the Portuguese Admiral made an unsuccessful efibrt to destroy the English ships, by fire : the result again was, that the English vessels made good the 302 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE •»» CHAP. I. the landing of their cargoes. Under these circumstances, the 1630-31. Presidency represented to the Directors, the absolute necessity of sending out large equipments, to enable them to defend their houses of trade and ships, against the superior force of the Por- tuguese ; for though the Dutch, as well as the English, were at war with, this nation, no reliance could be placed on any assis- tance which they would aflbrd : — ^the urgency was the greater, from no shipping having arrived from Bantam at Surat, and from the naval power of the Portuguese being solely directed against the English. (^^ This conduct of the Viceroy of Goa was only preparatory to his project of reviving the influence of the Portuguese, in Persia, and excluding the English from any hold on that court, or any proportion in the trade. The English Agents in Persia, had, at this time, obtained two Phirmaunds, allowing them to bring silk from Ghilan to Ispahan ; but these Phirmaunds were rendered ineffectual, by a rebellion which had taken place against the new King of Persia, in which the stores of silk, in Ghilan, were exposed to an indiscriminate plunder by the rebels. The loss of the Russia merchants, alone, on this occasion, was calculated to amount to ^45,000 sterling. The Phir- In Persia, on the death of the Sovereign, all contracts or tnaunds for .ii /•ii.i- trade in Per- grants became void, unless confirmed by his successor, and, to this sia rendered ■. * i- • t • • • i void by the object, the Agcnts were directnig their principal attention, but death of Shah Abbas. could Only, this season, obtain an order for two hundred Persian soldiers (1)— General Letter from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 13th April 1630 and 6th January 1630-31. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 303 soldiers to proceed to Gombroon, to protect the English factory ^^a>p. L and shipping against any attack which might be made by the 1630-31 Portuguese : — ^the trade, thus, suffered by the death of Shah Abbas, and the accession of a new sovereign. The Portuguese Envoy had insinuated himself into the favor of the Khan of Shiras, who had given that nation permission to trade to Cong, and had presented their petition to the King, for the restoration of Ormus ; while the English Agent, who had only been able to procure a Phirmaund, authorizing him to purchase five hun- dred load, or a thousand bales of silk, per annum, for two years, was of opinion, that, on the whole, the new King was well dis- posed towards the English, and that, in more peaceable times, the trade might be rendered productive. ^^^ The English trade on the Coromandel Coast, from the The factors factors at Masulipatam having retired to Arm agon, in 1629-30, mand el Coast propose to had, in a great measure, been confined to this station. In this resettle at MasuTipatam. year, 1630-31, theAgent was obliged to return to Masulipatam, and compelled to trade, under the licence of the Governor : — ^to balance this disadvantage, another Agent had been sent to make an experiment for trade at Pettipolee, where the Coast goods could be purchased at half the amount of duties paid at Masuli- patam ; but he reported, that it would be indispensable to re- settle a factory at Masulipatam, because, at this port only, a proper supply of Coast goods, for the Southern factories, could be purchased : — on the whole, he stated, that it would be neces- sary (1) — Letters from the Agents at Gombroon^ and at the Persian Camp before Bagdat, to the Courts 6th October l630, andl^th March 1630-3 J. (Nos. 889, 87g). 304 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^!^L3 sary to strengthen the fortified factory at Armagon, by a rein- 1630-31. forcement of twenty soldiers, to resist the probable obstructions which the trade at Masulipatam and Pettipolee might experience from the native Governors. The factors at Armagon had pro^ ceeded with their purchases, under a pressure on trade which had arisen from the prevalence of a famine along the Coast, and were, in future, agreeably to the Court's orders, to act under instructions from the President and Council at Surat. ^*> The Presi- The circumstanccs of the re-estabUshed Agency at Bantam^ dency of ^ Bantam redu- in 1630-31, assumcd a new character : — ^instead of holding the ced to an A- gencj, sub- rank of a President and Council,, which they had continued to ordinate to ^ Surat. retain, even during their residence at Batavia, they now took the inferior rank of an Agency, and became subordinate to the President and Council at Surat, to whom they were directed ^ to report on the expediency of maintaining a factory, either at Masulipatam or Armagon, for supplying Bantam with Coro- mandel goods. In this new situation, they were allowed to draw upon the Presidency of Surat, for money and goods sufficient to purchase, annually, twelve hundred tons of pepper, and one hundred tons of cloves. The situation of Bantam, as an Agency, had been improved, hy the favorable manner in which they had been treated, both hy the King, and by the natives, and from the circumstance of hos* tilities, between the Materam of Java, and the Dutch at Batavia^ being rather suspended, than terminated. A change, (1) — General Letters from the Agents at Masulipatam and Armagon to the Courts 2d. November and 27th December l636. EAST-IKBIA COMPANY. 305 A change^ at this time, had taken place in the King of chap. i. Bantam's dominions, which materially affected the trade in pep- 1630-31- per. After the English had been expelled from Bantam, the demand for this article had diminished, and as the supphes of provisions had not arrived, as formerly, the natives had been obliged to employ themselves in the cultivation of rice and sugar-canes. These products being found to yield greater profit than pepper, it was estimated, that Bantam could not furnish more than five hundred tons annually, but fifteen hundred tons might be procured at Jambee, and eight hundred, on the Coast of Sumatra : — ^the trade at Macassar, however, was improving, as two hundred tons of cloves had been, this season, obtained from that station. (^> (J) — Letter from the President aod Couocil of Surat to the Agent and Coancil at Ban- tam^ 29th September 1630. (No. 34.)—*^ General Letter from the Agent and Coancil at Bantara to the Courts 6th December l630. (No. 897).—— General Letter from Sorat to the Coxat, 6th January 1680-3 1* voIn I. R r 306 ANNALS OF THE HON0BABL£ 1631-32. ^^^ J[ J/ The reparation for the wrongs sustained from the Dutch, 1631-32. which had occupied the attention of the Company, for so Establish- ^ '^ ^ . . ment of the long a time, was lost sight of, in their domestic transactions, in Third Joint Stock. the year 1631-32. The relative situation of the King with the European powers, more particularly with the States General, from the recent events on the continent, and from the growing strength of the factions in England, had rendered this subject as obsolete, as unavailing : — ^in this year, therefore, we have only to look at the measures of the Company, to recover their heavy losses, and the expedients which they adopted, for preserving the direct trade between England and the East-Indies. After calling in the balances of the old Subscriptions, which were found to be inconsiderable, it became necessary to unite them with a new Subscription, which amounted to ^420,700, and formed, what is known in the Company's affairs under the denomination of the Third Joint Stock. On this fund, seven ships were equipped for this season ; but whether those ships were intended to bring off, from their settlements, the con- siderable investments described in the foreign transactions of the preceding year, or for invigorating their trade, cannot be EAST-INDIA COMPANT. 307 be ascertained, as the amount of the money, or merchandize, chap. i. embarked on the ships, is not specified, (^> l()31-32. The attention of the Court appears, in this season, to have Regulations ** for the ad- been directed to two objects ; the domestic administration of the "l'"i^^'^^^''°. Company's affairs, by a Governor, Committees, and Court of P^^x** ^^^*^*- Adventurers ; and the ][)roviding against the encroachments on their trade, by the private traffic of the officers and seamen, on board their ships, whose gains were asserted to exceed, in proportion, those of the Company. On the first of these subjects, or the domestic administration of the Company, the Court had hitherto proceeded on a body of regulations, which had been formed at their first establishment, and which had arisen out of the conditions inserted in their first and successive Charters ; — ^at this time, complaints were made, that this Book of Orders had not been known, or under- stood, by the body of the Generality, or Proprietors, and an opinion was entertained, that new and shorter regulations might be. devised, particularly, to prevent the Governor from continuing in office longer than one year, and to limit the powers of the Court of Committees, in administering oaths to any of the Com- pany's servants, except those, for whom forms of oaths had been prescribed in the original Patents. After long discussions, it was resolved, that it would be dangerous to make any alteration in the Book of Orders, as such alteration might create doubts, respecting the powers of the Company, under their Charter. W R r 2 Though (1)— MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ marked D. P. No. I2g. Sir Jeremy Sambrooke's Report on the East-India Trade. (2) — Report on the Proceedings of a General Quarterly Court of Adureri^ 11th May 1631. (East-India Papers in the State Paper 0£fice^ No. 94). ii C6 308 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Though the next subject, or the private traffic of the Com- 1630-31. pany's officers, required regulation, the discussions on it, led King's Pro- . i i_ j i • i i cJamation to a more general question, or the hazards to which they, were PrivateTwde beginning to be exposed, by the encroachments of Private Tra- of the Com- t . i i -l ^ paDy's offi< ders. On this point, apphcation was made by the Company, to cers, , . the Crown, for protection, and a Proclamation was issued by the King, " for restraining the excess of the private or clandestine trade, carried on, to and from the East-Indies, by the officers and sailors in the Company's own ships/' This Proclamation furnishes the interesting commercial information, of the goods which the Company were permitted to export to, and import from the Indies, intoEngland : — the exports were, ^* perpetuanoes and drapery (broad-cloths^ &cO> Pewter, saffix>n, woollen stockings, silk stockings and garters, ribbands, roses, edged with gold lace, beaver hats with gold and silver bands, felt hats, strong waters, knives, Spanish leather shoes, iron, and looking glasses :" the imports were, " long pepper, white pepper, white powdered sugar preserved, nutm^ and ginger preserved, myrabolums, bezoar stones, drugs of all sorts, agate heads, blood-stones, musk, aloes soccatrina, amber* grease, rich carpets of Persia and of Cambaya, quilts of sattin, tafiaty, painted calicoes, benjamin, damasks, sattins ^' and ta&ties of China, quilts of China embroidered with gold, quilts of Pitania embroidered with silk, galls, worm seeds, sugar-candy, China dishes, and porcelain of alt " sorts." 0) As (1)— Rymer's.Foedera^ volxix, page 335. iC it ii EAST-INDIA COMPANY 309 As the Company's factories had been placed under the ^^hap i. controling power of the President and Council at Surat, and 1631-32. as the wishes of this Presidency, to have a large supply of stock, tmde de- ^ . • • • • i_ pressed on for invigorating the trade, had been complied with, by the the West of India, in con- formation of the new, or Third Joint Stocky (though the opera- sequence of a famine. tion of this ftind could not be yet felt in tlie foreign settle- ments) we have to follow up the measures which they devised, for maintaining the amicable relations, in which they were held by the Mogul Government, and to trace the temporary measures which they adopted, till they received funds from England, to support their trade. The general famine, which had prevailed in India, had raised the prices of Surat cloths, and other articles, in all the countries on the West Coast, and, from its duration, was accompanied by a pestilence : — ^these events augmented the distresses of this Presidency, and obliged them to request a large supply of stock, to meet the rise in the prices of cloth and indigo ; for though the investment of those articles would be small, the prices of them, in Europe, might be propdrticmally raised, from the Dutch having been obliged to suspend their purchases, by not having money to discharge the contracts into which they had entered. The representation which the Agents at Bantam had made to the President and Council at Surat, of the necessity of being sup- plied 310 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^HARi. plied with Coromandel cloths, to furnish that station, and the 1631- 32. Southern markets, with the means of increasing their investments in pepper and spices, had determined the Presidency to resettle the factory at Masulipatam, and to strengthen Ahmagon, that it might become a permanent station, because, to this port, the finer spices might be brought, which would find a ready market in Persia, though pepper was not in demand in that country. <*> Company's The representations which the Agents in Persia had made, privileges in Persia,renew- Jn the preceding year, of the effect of the death of Shah Abbas ed and con- * firmed by the on their privileges and trade, and of the danger of both being Shah Sophi. obstructed, till the new Sovereign should confirm them, explains their resolution to continue their appUcations at the Persian Court, till these objects should be obtained. Happily, in this season, their hopes were realised, for the reigning sovereign, Shah Sephi, confirmed all the former Pliirmaunds to the English ; but these grants could only be rendered effectual, by presents of fine cloths, and fine cutlery, being annually given to the King, and to his principal officers, to the amount of five hundred Tomands, or above ^1,500 sterling. In confirmation of the favorable light in which the English Agents were held by the King, an answer had been obtained to the letter of King Charles, of which a translation was forwarded. On the regrant of privi- leges, it was requu^ed that a contract should be made, by which the Agents became bound to take from the King, silk to the value of twenty thousand Tomands (above ^60,000 sterling) per an- num, (1)— Letter from the Pregident and Cooncil at Sarat to the Agent and Conncil at Ban- tam^ 8th September 1631. EAST-INDIA COMPANY, 311 num, of which one-third was to be paid in money, and two- chap^. thirds in goods. 1631-32. The rebellion in Persia, accompanied with an indiscriminate plmider, had been conducted by a Georgian Prince, and materially affected the trade in silk, of which article the late Shah Abbas had always kept large quantities in store, whereas the present King had not, as yet, formed any depots of this commodity. This event diffiised great quantities of silk over Turkey and Russia, where it could be bought cheaper, at the time the Agent wrote, than in Persia ; and till a store could again be laid up, the demand for immediate supplies necessarily raised the price. The Agent, at the same time, had been relieved from the rivalship of the Dutch in the market, by that people having incurred the displeasure of the new King. Under these circumstances, the factory at Gombroon was continued, and rendered the principal depot for silk ; — but this station subjected the Company's servants to journics, twice in every year, between Gombroon and Ispahan, in which, this season, they had lost not less than six factors ; and would be obliged to hold out temptations to the Persians, and to the Khan of Shiras, to bring the silks to Gombroon, at which port their stores would be in safety. During this season, they had re- ceived five hundred and fifty Tomands, as the Company's pro- portion of customs, which had been carried to their account. O The (1)— Letters from the Agent and Council at Ispahan, and at Gombroon, to the Court, 26th September and lOLh October 1631, and 22d March 1631-32. 312 ikNNAJLS OF THE HONOJEIABLS CHAP. I; Xhe situation of aflbirs at Bantam^ in this year, was 1631-32. rather unfavorable : — the Presidency of Surat had, indeed, far- fianum de- nished supplies of men and shipping, of which the Agents were pressed from i /• . i • n t the want of in great want ; and referring to their report of the preceding supplies from theCoroman- year, for an explanation of the cause of the decline of the del Coast. pepper trade, they stated, that they had procured only three hundred tons, but were in expectation of drawing about four hundred, from Jambee : the want of supplies of G>ast cloths, had been the more distressing, as those expected from Armagon^ from the continuance of the famine on the Coromandel Coast, had not arrived, because both the weavers, and the washers, had not beei;i able to furnish the quantity for which they had oon« tracted. <*> (])— -Letter from the Agent and Council at Bantam to the Courts 30th Janoary 1631-32* Letter from the Agent at Arraagon to the Agent at Bantam^ 24th December J 631* »AST-INDIA COMPANY. ^^^ 1632-33. The domestic events, affecting the London East-India cHAP. i. Company, dm-ing the season 1632-33, arose from the prejudices 1632-33, against monopolies, Which had become a subject of alarm, eS'ofthe as leading to an opinion, that new Companies, or Corpora- gSg the tions, might arise, notwithstanding new monopolies had been minutration aboKshed, by the last Parliament of King James. It is not ^ny'l affair! probable that this alarm would have produced any material sclhsatioh on tYie Company, if it had not been attended with those disputes, respecting the domestic administration of their ieifiairs, which certain meiribers of the Generality had promoted, and which; in *this year, were reported to the King, to prevent any idei being entertained, that the Company were going be- yond the powers which they were authorized to exercise, under their original, arid successive Charters. The equipments of the Company, for this i^eason, do hot appear on their records ; but it may be inferred, frdm the licence given to them by the King to export ^40,000 in foreign gold, (bullion) to Persia and to India, as part of the ^100,000 allowed to be annually exported in foreign silver^ that the cargoes aind stock, for maintaining their trade in the East-Indies, bore a proportion to those of the preceding year. (*) VOL. I. Sjs Though (1) — Report by the East-India Company to the Secretary of State, respecting disputes, at several Courts of the GeDeraliiy, in 1632. (East-India Papers m the State Paper Office, No. 94).—— Ryoaer*8 Foedera, vol. xix, page 386. 314 M' m ANN Aiiii^ F TH£ HONORABLB ?-■; CHAP. I. ^. 1632-33. ^ # ^^ *»; ^ The Compa- ny obliged to •yhough the commercial effect of the new Joint Stock formed assist the iai England, cannot be traced in the4eports of their settlements Kh^Of Shi- . . . ' •' ras,inanat- abroad^ in this season^ we discover, that the President and tempt todrive ^ ^'Ifff- the Bortu- '^ •* . --^ guese from Muscat *r*- '•■-■>• m i-t Council at Surat had sent supplies of Surat and Coast cloths to invigorate the trade at Bantam^ but that the cloths from Surat were less suited to thaf^^market, than those from the Coromandd Coast.(*> ^ : The Company's trade in Persia had, in the preceding sea- son, received additional support, from the confirmation of the Phirmaunds by the new Sovereign, Sultan Sephi, and from the unfavcM-able manner in which he had received the proposals of the Dutch ; but the commercial embarrassments which arose « from the royal depots of silk having been plundered, were still felt, as the supply of this staple article had been^mall, and the prices advanced. The project of the Agents, of having the silk brought to Grombroon by the Persians, to lessen the risks and expences of carriage, had failed ; for the goods, in their transit, luid been purloined by the Persians, to such an amount, that the '*' Agents had been •biiged to re- weigh all the silk, before it could be made up in bales, for exportation. The contracts entered into with the King, last season, had been fulfilled by both parties, and^ the amount paid in money and goods ; but these payments had however so abridged the funds, that large sup- *. plies (i)_I^tter from the Agent and Council at Bantam to the Court, lOth December 1632. (No.959)u Ufa '^ ;t. t»- It *? ^- i-f • ? ■r > The importa4i||p of th^Coromandel cloths, for facilitating PhirmauDd trade with Persia^ and particularly with Bantam;^ has appeared from the KingofGoI- in the foreign transactions of every year, sihce factories or condah, ai- ^ lowing the stations had been attempteS on that part of the Peninsula ; fox* Company to 4 re-e*labliih thouffh the oppressions of the native Governor of Masulipatam ^^^^^ factory (^ ^ , 4i* ^ ^ at Maiulipa- had compelled the ^glish fadtors at that port to withdraw ^™* to Armagon, they had been oblig^ to return, last season t — under all these disadvantages, they had, ^or some tirn^', been S s 2 making (l^ — ^Letters from the Agent and Council at Gombroon to the Court, 21st .October 1(^2, and 23d March. 1632.-33. ,*i # fr/- ^ ^I^XAST-IKDIA COMPANY. 315 plies^were required to meet the contract of the subsequent year ; chap. i. and in particular^ of Masulipataii|i> cloths^ which were now be- 1632-33. coming of more value in making up the quantity of goods^ !!!^^<^^ * were accepted as part of the price of the silk. It having become an important object to conciliate the fnendship of the Khan of Shiras, on whom the port of Grom- brobn more immediately depended-the Agents had been obliged to ofier the assistance of the English ships^ to co-operate with him^ in an expedition which he was preparing to dislodge the Portuguese from Muscat. This offer was made^ because the. Agents had only the alternative^ either oE incurring hii"dis<» pkasfdre^ or of giving an opportunity to the Dutch^ (who woidd readily have embraced it^) to regain the favor of the King^ "^^^ and of the Khan. The Agents^ to avoid simifakr embarraatfc-^ ments^ suggested to the Courts the exjpediency of having powers to take possession pf some plaoe^ on the Coast of Persia^ to which they could retreat, in the event of any emergency .<*> >^: 516 AKNA1.S OF THE HONORABLE ^^^^ J, ' making applications to the King of Golcondah, the sovereign- 1632*33. Qf this part of the Coast, for a Phirmaund to protect the English factory and trade from the extortions of his officers. In November 1632, this Phirmaund was obtained, which au- thorized the English to re-establish their trade at MaBulipa- TAM, and, in general, allowed them liberty of trade in the other ports in his dominions : — by this grant, the King re- mitted the heavy duties which had been; exacted from them, at Masulipatam, amounting to ^ight hundred pagodas, an- nually, and limited the amount to five hundred, pagodas per annum. In return, the English obliged themselves to import Persian horses, and, as the Phirmaund expresses it, *^ other " rarities/' into his dominions, of which, agreeably to; invoice, he was to have the preference of purchase ; or, if he rejected them, on account of the price, or from not having occasion for them, the JSnglish were to have permission to dispose of. them, without being liable to vexatious payments, either to the Governor, or to his subordinates. ' The Phumaund was ac- companied by a Cowle, or order to the Rajah of the district, enjoining obedience to the King's commands/^) TradeatBan- The Company's factory at Bantam, in this season, con- tain precari- . . ../•^txiti ous, from the tiuucd to Struggle agaiust the opposition of the Dutch, though opposition of i i i i i -i • the Dutch, they represented, on the whole, that the commerce was begin - and the redu- ced rank of uing to assumc a better aspect. Considerable difficulty had arisen the Agency. from the reduced state of their rank, and therefore they sub- mitted, (1) — Copy of Phirmaund granted by the King of Golcondah to the English, for trade to Masulipatam, &c. dated November 1632, called The Golden Phirmaund, (MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ marked B^ bound, pages 253^ 26l). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 317 mitted, the necessity of a commission being sent to them, with ^^^^P. r authority to take cognizance of offenders* and to bring them 1632-33. to justice, by inflicting capital, and lesser punishments ; daily occurrences having proved, that without such authority, sub- ordination could not be maintained. The Dutch had, in this year, prevented the English traders from obtaining supplies of spices from Amboyna and the Moluccas, the investment, therefore, depended entirely on the pepper which they could collect at Bantam, and at Sumatra, fit)m which the Dutch had annually procured so large a quantity as two thousand tons ; — ^the shipping, from these causes, must have returned empty, if they had not suspended the order from the Presidency of Surat, of prohibiting trade with the West Coast of Sumatra : if, however they were properly supplied with shipping and goods from the Coromandel Coast, the trade at Bantam might be revived, and again assume a prosperous aspect j but they had, with difficidty, been able to retain the factories at Jambee, Maccassar, and Japarra/*> (1) — General Letter from the Agent aud Council at Bantam to the Courts lOth December 1602. .::% ■* V .^ ''^ # ; • ^ USA 318 AKNALS or THE HONOKABJJ^ )»'^ j^ 4. -^ ^ff •* V 1633-34. % «!b ^SS # -# CHAP. f. From the distracted state of pubro opinion^ in this year. % 1633-34. between th^' King, who considered his right of deciding for ^ between the the good of his suli^ects, agTceaUy to the^^isages of his pre- PrivyCouncilA^ and the tiecessors, to be established^ and the leaders <^ disjointed par- Dutch Am- 1 »r» 1 • bassadon, for ties^ who held the measures oi the King, to obtain resources, ^. adjusting the r)^ differencea to be contrary to the Constitution,^ could not have been ex* between the '^ •* ^^ London anjL pected, that the protracted jubje^ of the encroachments of the (antes. ^ Dutch on the London Company would have become matter of ^ discussion between the Privy Council and the 2>utch Ambassadors. In October 1633, however, the Council nSd repeated conferences with the Dil|^ Envoy, and examined 4|||t^Directors of the London East-India Company, to ascertain some J^|^round, upcm which the dispute might, at last, be arnica!^ adjusted. The objecl^ of the Envoy was to obtain from the King^ an Order of Coun- cil, that the Dutch ships, proceeding to^ and returning from,. '^^ the East-In^es^ might not again be exposed t|K«.detention in England, explaining^ that no J^eaty could proceed with free- (3om^ while the I>utch ships were exposed to such a contin- ■'*' gency p as to prevent itif^ecurrence, tl^^ sailing of the Dutch fleets from Inoiifc^'andflrom Holland,^ad beeK countermanded r ^ — on the whole, that, the claims of the Engli^l on the Dutch Cqp^any ♦ ^ M ^ .f^ IR EAST-INDIA COMPANY. ^19 ^ '-'^ ... ■' ** Company must be examined and decided on^ article by article^ and CHAP. i. ^ not in a general manner^ which would only lead to a decision, to 1633 -*S4. ^.: which neither the States, nor the Dutch CqApany^ would accede. The Directors of the Lontfm Company, in answer, ^ stated, that in so far as r^arded their interest, the exami- nation, article^iy article, wapf^only a recurrence ^ the plan o(^ ^A .■^r> * ,«^ . , , , '^■ procrastination ^d delay, aira^produced^as they had^one at the former discussions) aS'^caiumeration' of the injuries which they had sustained from the Dutch^ who had asserted rights of sovereignty in the countries within their liAuts, and had excluded them, not only from ports at which they had a par^ ^' ticipation in the trade, but from stations, recognised to belong ^^ to them by subsisting treaties. m^ After successive conferences^ during the months c^ Octo- Decision of . . the Privy her and November 1633, the Privy Council decided, —^ that> CooncU. ^^ in their ^rdships' (pinions, it hath bene a greate imper* ^^ tinencie in the Netherlanders to stand soe obstinately upon ^^ the scruple touching the manner of the treaty, concerning ^^ the differences between our East-India Cfoaf^y and theyres; but, howsoever, to deim>n8trafetf^ good aflfeccon, on ouf parte, to compose and accorde the said differen^, their ^^ Lops resolve to^lArermle our said merchants, and to proceed ^^ in this treatie, artide by article, as the said Netherlanders '^ ^^ desire: — and because they would not have thdr labors and ^^ endeavors hw ein altogether fruitles, their Lops hold it neces- sane, that all such articles and matters, touching the said differences, wshall by &is treatie be agreed on, shalbe valid # 4i it « fflid ^ ^Jt --■;- '\ 320 ANNA|^ or THE HONORABLE CHAP. T. ^^ and binding, albeit they may not agree in all the articles 1633-34. " and points in question/' (i> It can only be collected from the Company's retords, that in this year, the equipments consisted of five ships, for India and Persia; but the amount of money, or of goods, embarked on them, cannot be ascertained. (^) ^ > f-r ^:>:» Pbirmannd obtained from the Mogul, al- lowing the Company to trade to Pipley in Bengal. The Company^s affairs atSuKAT, in this year, were receiv- ing the continued protection of the Mogul, by which means their factory and their trade, on that side of the Peninsula, proceeded without interruption, while it was gradually extend- ing to other parts of his dominions. A Phirmaund had been obtained, on the 2d February 1633t34, for Uberty of trade to the English, in the province of Bengal, without any other restriction, than that the English ships were to resort only to the port of Pipley. This event ascertains the precise period, when the English first obtained alright to enter the Ganges, and the countries which, in subsequent times, opened to them the most productive trade of any which they have enjoyed in the (1) — Copies of Orders in Council, relative to the Differences between the English and Dutch East-India Companies, October and November 1633. (East-India Papers in the State Paper OflSce, No. 98). (2) —MSB. in the Indian Register Office, marked D. P., No. 129. — — . Sir Jeremy Sambrooke*! Report on East-India Ti:ade. 1- m ■ «, •# # >» ■ ^ # I.* It ^ :e A s T - 1 N D I A cMlm P A n y. TT . ^Ql^ ie|^ 321 of the East and perhaps this trade was held to be of conse- chap, l tjuence, even at this early period, by the Fresi4^t and Coimcil 1633-34. of Surat, from the heavy 4bsses t^y had experienced in ' a contract for indigo, at Agra.^) r ^ ^ The trade to Perota, in this year, was prosecuted iRth Th^rade in 3t ^jt . . PeiWpracti- considerable advantage, " notwithstanding^^a great mortality cabiooniybjr ^ ^ ' contracts among the Company's servants. An explanation is given, of wiifthe . what the Agents held to be the Aftly practicable syste% . or^ V. if ' which this trade could be carried dh, or by contracts with . « * the King : — ^the private merchants, the]^^t.< 01^ — Letters from the President and Council at Surat to the Courts 21st February p*"^^* 1633-34. >■ >, itaj c 4 ♦ V » * * ^ #* % 'J ^ ^■e»A?.i:'^- V- 1 i- ^ # ->' •c' THE HONORABLE ;? ^■■■rw' Is ^ % t ■^ iii^uctions, whet^r the/ should co-operate with the Persians, 1633-34. ifi^the attacl^^rfl^cted against Muscat, being still under the fJis^greeable vJ^ernative ?H(as the %)utch would readily alTord this assistance) either?^ emplqSLthe English vessels in this s^ryic&j' or to fall under the dispt^urg^of the Court. In this year, ||^ Agent at Gombf^n had only received two hundred and forty-tjvo ToQyfands, as the Company's share of the * • - ^ M customs at that port. (^) !' ;W S&^ ^* ^^^^ ^^* appear, . piat any material changes had occurred c 7-1? - 4f^x Sit the factories, eitfer bn the Coromandel Coast, or at Ban- ^^ TAM, or at the suBdrdinate Agenciog, as nd detail of such events appears on the Company s records/ *».' (1) — Letters from the Agent and Council at Ispahan to the Coart^ 26th June and 28lh September l633. ^' ,%^ r '■ ^ • .»■ ■ ^'*- ■ ^ * • ^ • n- ♦9 ^ .». ^n-- ar" * # ■^•..•»' --i^V ■^ ^^. # ^ tk.^ # '^ *- di> ■*» . T^ EAST - INDIA COMPANY. #• , • 1634 -35, '^A 323 ,. . •V: ■J .-.•■■ .••tV. ' .<• ThTS conferences withr the Dutch Envoy, which had chap, i ^ife^ ^ occupied the attention of the raVy Council, and of the Court 1634-35..>?=. The dlspotef^'i^: of Directors, in the preceding season^ appear to have ceased between the , KingandPar- ivith the decision which has been detailed ; and, indeedj froiii Hament ren- der redresB to the convulsed aspect which the internal government of Eng- the Company tr-..? ■ .'- ' from . the l^H^ was assuming, at this juncture, it could not be expected ^^^^^ |^«f that the Company would renew their applications to the King, i^. on this protracted and hopeless business, at a time when the king- domwas almost without a *^vy, aridj altogether, without a regular • army, and when the powers on ttie continent were strengthening their military forces, and the King endeavouring to asscml)le a fleet, to keep Hp the national defence and character, by sea. ^^^ The resources from whlcii the suppoi^ of tlie navy were to ^ be drawn, was held to be conformable lo ancient usages, by one party, and to be unconstitutional, without the authority of Par- liament, by the other : — amid suchdivided opinions, it can only J-^'. ^I> be iSrilcctcd, that the equipments fSv preserving the India trade, Jr which the Directors i#cre preparing this season, were on a .^^, limited scale, consisting only orlhree slups, and no specifica- tion remains of the value embarked oiPthem, either in money .*v ' or goods, or of the destination assigned to thcm.^'^ ,,^ T t 2 Tl)ough |g|t *♦ (1)— MSS. in th^Jndian Register Office, marked D. P., No. liQ. Sir Jeremy .^>*'3!^anibrookc's Report on Hie East India Trade. «g^ dS ".»» 324 •*A ANNALS or THE HONORABLE ,> * > 4^- -A. .1 A' Coast* It # .a*. pr .J,. At Surat,. hitherto, the leading measure had been, to open % -*?. *^ ^ ^^', ^••* CHAP. L Though the relation between the Company's ^|reign ^cto^ jj^ 1634-35. ^^^^ ^^^> f^^ some years, been modell^^ with the object dr ' dUf^Su?at rendering Sub at the principal seat of trade, to whidi all their . hivii^rbeen^ Other factories were to look for instructions, this systeinj' in the pri^afelrade. y^^^ 1634-35, was found to haWbeen adopted, without a proper V ;jkA knowledge, either of the support which Surat could afford, or .. *^ ^i^;.. of the commercial relations which were practicable between it y and tll^irade at Bantam, connected with that on the Coromaudel ^; ■ .;^^ and;:|» establisK^^trade between the West of India anfl Per^^ • '.;•■ > ' '■"^'r- ^H.*. BAST-INDIA CTHaPANY. 325 *■/: * ;* BAST-INDIA Crni i|L Though the Surat cloths had sold in Europe, TOfe iu^go chap. i. brought from AgriBwas not found to be an IRicle of ready sale, 1634-35l^ ** • i.-Tft* -T^ !• !/♦ Truce be- ^ "*^ either m Persia or m Europe; and it was, therefore, determined, tween (he ^fj^ Viceroy of to withdrawK^e Ag^ju^y from Agra, and other places connected Goa and the wft * , Presidency of with it, and to endeavor to come to an accommodation with Surat. ^.. the Viceroy of Groa, to procure pepper on the Malabar Coast, jafirhich would form .a productive article in both m«jrl|^ets. — This agreement acc ^ . ■ ^^ ^^ ^^ The protection wich, in the preceding year, the Agents Trade in ^ . iflflpERSiA had experiencfl^from the King, in this season became rious from the character 4 i'^.^ more doubtful, that sovereign having become absorbed in dissi- of the King. "*^ation, and inattentive to business : — ^notwithstanding this change, the last contniSt for silk, to the value of thirty-two thousand Tomands, had been fulfilled on thk part of the Agent, who pressed his doubts, whether a new conjtract could be made on the ^^ ex- same ^MjF (D— General LeUef ^m the P)i|ident and Council ofSuf^'t lo^ll Courts 29th De- cember 1634.—— £xtr^|U>f Letter from Captain Weddel to the Court, dated 31st July 1634. (East^In djaP apert in the ^it Paper Office, No. 102).—- Attract of Letter to the Ea^_^ India CdfllEij; datgd Goa, 4(2th Jimoary 1634-35. (East- Inola Papers .ioifae State Paperjj^ Office, No. I02)^||i «^r= , :;A>- 4 ,.,-. ''^g^'.ifjr ' ' '^t-*^ t>' .. ' ; • p*' ^' #s ro!p THE HONORABLB ^IL^ 4 326 j.^ ANNALS i-. -..~ . ^, ^^ CHAP^. s^e adfantageou^K'terms, or what quantity 'pf silk could huBJ^' ^&i^^4-35. depended upon, bTOause tlte Dutch were ^vmg high prices, and had been very profuse in their bribes to the King aad,his officers ; ^S^ the Agent, therefore, was apprehen^^; tblj^ the Fi^ans, in the ^'^ next contract, irould insist on sellingi]ie»r silk for ready money only, as IntUltn goods had ceased to be in esteem in the Persian ^^ markeU'^ ', -J^'- ■< ".' ^ i- The value of the customs at Gombroon had declined, and w* ^ the moiety which belonged to the Company had, in this season,.;,;^ amounted, only, to three hundred and forty-one Tomands; tl^ Agent, 4jierefore, submitted, th||Jt would be preferable to give j&'^up this claim, and to accKtiiAAnnual specified allowance in lieu ^ ofit.o) '- >* ' ^..;" Additional The Company's factories on the Ckaf^MAHDEL Coast, from Pbirmaund ^ obiaiDcd the relation which their exportsJbad to die trade at Bantam, and from the f^ ** / iA. ' * King of Gol- from furnigtH^g articles?ffflf the EuHm in^sdiitmeDts, were becom- condah for ■ 7?. '^^' .*lSlt thecMenaion ing ofmorc importance. Mr. Joyce, on^pf the factors atB^ tarn, had been sent to make an a|^!cation to the King of Golcondah for an enlargement of the privileges of the English ^^ trade in his dominions: — ^^this appUcation had be^ successful, and a new Phirmaund obtained, granting penyission for trade at the different ports of the Gegilliondah dominions, nearly on the *tsame lo^ms with that of J632. On the basis of this new grant, the factory at\i^^wpHfam projectoiMhe fi^uog an Agency at Vcrasharoonj^^ituated about forty SUes no||^ ^ Masulipatam, -l^ ^-.. ** .rr'-v at ^ '' (\ii^Let^a^tom the A^nt and Council at Iipa^an lo tttk Conrt.^gW^^ 0. ^^,f^ •^*.^^ar^_r^ # «^ .V SO- i^j;. j*BAST-fNDIA C at whicMkiit was expected, coarse Coast cloths might he pur- chap, r* ^Imased, at reasonahle rates. As the Phirmaiind Jfrom the King 1634^3^^: of Golcondah had restored the factory II Masulipfttam, it was also ^ Jt^? % expected that articles, suited to the Persian trade, Aiight be ob- tained,' ' to the amount of ^20,000 per annum^'and, therefore, *^^. that it would not be necessary to incur any farther charges on f %^ the fadi>ry at Anfifagon^ whicji was already protected by a bat- ^ tery of twelve guns. 0) •' ■> ^^ -^ ^ Mr. Norris, one of the'^jReictors dt Masulipatam, had been The Agency *^ , 7 ' ^^ Masulipa- sent to Bengal, tp avail himself of the Emperor, Shah Jehan's tam first at- •TM • 1 It tempt the Phirmaund, to open a trade at the port of Pipley, and reported, trade to Ben- gal* on t^ that all kinds of provisions for subsisting the Company's facto- basis of Athe Phirmaund ries on the Coromandel Coast could be purchased in Bengal, at obtained from the Mogul, in reasonable rates, and an indefinite quantity of fine white cloths, the preceding «L . , v:" ■ year, ^ 2^ suited equally for the English, and for the Persian and Sduthem markets ; — th£ Phirmaund^ therefore, of Shah Jehan, iii ^, 1633-34, anJb the report of Mr. Norris, in this season, ascer- ::* ^ ^ tain the period at which the English opened a trade in Bengal. (^> The Agency at Bantam, at this period, having been restored The Agenry to the rank of a Presidency and Council, jliid Ifee Agencies on stored to the ^^^^. J J > ■■'.•■. rank of a Pre*— the Coast, and in Bengal, made ^fil^erviefit to it, the trade sidency, and assumed a new and more promising aspect : and this Pijsidency on the Coast ^^tf^- ^ fliid in Bengal reported, that CordD^ndel cloths had so ready a sale at Bantam, made subser- and (1) — rhirmaund granted by the King of Golcondah to the East-India Company, in vient to it. ^^, y -V^' 1634 or 1635. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked F. 1, unbound, p:ige 173). Letters frftm the Agent and Council at Masulifldam to the Court, dated 25ih October 1634. (2)— Letter from^tttAgent and Council at Masulipat{(||||bo the Court, 25th Octobe||f[ JL^-^ 1634. W %^ MBi ' ifJ^y-^ ^ 4Sr 4B. -tf •%f *• ♦ > « m ♦ t.~ 328 ; ' ANNAadk OF THE HONORABU^ ^AJ*'J; and at the Southern markets, that they constitutedlik kind of ^634-35. medium of exf^ange, for the purchase of pepper and the finflr spices ; but, as the white^oths of Bengal did not sell at Bantam, i^ the^had l^jv forwjy^ed to Maccassar, at this time the only * ^ % station at which clovesQfrom the obstruction of the Dutcff) could be procured : and that the Coast cloths had been sent to Japan and to Omusiy where they coiwi be readily 'TOchanged''(TOr the prompe of those coA|^triM. Wp however, this trade was to be prosecuted, eight vessels, 6f fromtwo hundred to three hundred and sixty tons each, must be buUt, and Saployed in it, and assortments sent from England, of fine broad-cloths, lead, glass, and hardware, or knives, which would sell at Japan and China, and facilitate the exchanges in trade. <') ^ j^ (1) — General Letters from the Preiident and Council of Bantam to the Court, lit De- .' oember l634, and 31st January 1634-35. J||| # m »■•■ ^ .*l' '"^i ^ >-■•, ^Ww^W ^t ... w • IA COMPANY 329 1635-36. .# • Though the public opinion was fi^ed, respecting the chap. i. t- • v:- importance of a nayy, for the protection of the kingdom 1635-36. and of its trade, * parties were divided in opinion on the me- Sir William • ^ ^ ^ Courten ob- thod of obtaining resources for supporting it. The royalists lainsa licence from the approved of the ancient forms, and their opponents contend- King to form *'*' • an Associa- ed, that the money had been raised by means repugnant tion for trade to the Uberties of the subject. One division of the fleet put to sea^ ^- -, -* ^ ^ • . ■ imder the Earl of Northumberland, and obliged the Dutch (without admitting the right) to pay a compensation for the privilege of fishing : — ^another division proceeded against the pirates of Sallee, whose depredations had so long been subjects of complaint, and succeeded in capturing and destroying them. These events, though apparently foreign to East-Indian affairs, were unexpectedly connected with them, by licences having been given, to obtain resources for the navy, to an Association, of which the King was the immediate Protector, to fit out ships, and send cargoes to the East-Indies, contrary to the Charter and privileges of the Company ; and jN:his circumstance, could not but depress the efforts, and abridge the equipments of the season. In the foreign transactions of the preceding year, it was stated, that a trupe had been concluded, ii^^ay or June 1634, ' *. *- .? VOL. I. U u between •*• . % 330 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. between the Viceroy of Goa and the President of Surat, which 1635-36. had led to a ces3ation of arms, between the Spanish-Portuguese and the English, in the East-Indies : — ^the truce was to continue in force, in India, for six months after the rejection, or acquies- cence in it, by the Kings of England and Spain. Captain Wed- del, who had sent notice of this event to the Court of Directors, and had returned to England, about the close of the year 1634, entered into a scheme with Sir William Courten and Endymion Porter, Esq. one of the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber to the King, of establishing a separate trade to the East-Indies, from which they hoped to draw large profits, by carrying out Europe goods to the Portuguese settlements in India, and bringing home Indian produce from them, for sale in England ; that is, to draw from the truce all the real advantages it could be sup- posed to yield, and leave the London Company to struggle under all t^ie disadvantages which they had experienced, from the opposition of the Portuguese ;— evincing by this conduct (what will, in the sequel, so frequently occur) that among the difficul- ties and rivalships which the London Company had to meet, and to overset, those from their own servants, who had made their fortunes in their employment, have been the most formi- dable. It became necessary to find some pretext for granting a licence, so directly in opposition to the Charters and exclusive privileges conferred by Queen Elizabeth and King James ; and though this pretext might have been devised by speculators in England, who were strangers to the expensive and continued efibrts EAST-INDIA COMPANY, , 331^ ^ efibrts of the London Company, to establish and fortify seats of ^^AP. L trade within their limits, yet when the project came from their 1635-36. own servants, who had been abroad, and who must have derived benefit from their protection, it was found to rest on a direct false- ' hood, attested by men who were fully instructed in the actual state of the Company's affairs. The preamble to the first grant to Sir William Courten, &c. (which was dated the 12th December 1635) proceeds upon asser- tions, which all the preceding evidencje, in this review of the transactions of the London Company, positively contradicts, or, " that the East-India Company had neglected to establish forti- ^^ fijBd factories or seats of trade, to which the King's subjects " could resort with safety ; — ^that they had consulted their own ^^ interests only, without any regard to the King's revenue ; — ^^ and, in general, that they had broken the conditions on which " their Charter and exclusive privileges had been granted to " them/'O) When the Court of Directors discovered that this Association Company pe- tition the of Interlopers (which in the sequel will be described as CourterCs King against tbislicence^as Association) had equipped four vessels, and engaged the Com- »" infringe. ment on their pany's naval and mercantile servants, as officers and supercargoes, chartered pri- and that they were to proceed to, the East-Indies, under authority, they were brought into the embarrassing situation of offering remonstrances to the King against his own licence. Alarmed at ' the danger in which their factories and trade were placed, they presented a petition to the King> praying that they might be U u 2 allowed (1)— Anderson's History of Commerce^ voL ii. page 372. t- -s Deral. j|32 ^ ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE -CHARJ, allowed to take their remedy at law against tlie persbn and estate^. ^^. J635-36. 6f Mr. Courten, (Sir William Courten having didB soon after '^ •*. the passing of the grant), for any act which his ships or servants might commit in India, contrary to the Charter aiid exclusive privileges of the Company, granted by Queen Elizabeth, and' confirmed by King James I., and then sent instructions to the Presidents and Councils at Surat, and at Bantam, and to their \- • • .' Agents in Persia, to refuse encouragement or assistance to these j; interlopers. ^^> Company's Though the number of ships, and the amount of the stock i^mfSd,^"and ^^^ ^om England by the East-India Company, in this season, ^^^< tio^ns to'the^r cahiiot be traccdjV it appears, from' the nature and objects of the ^ tiementrge- instructions given by the Court to tneir foreign factories, that neither were considerable. The instructions Vecommended that every effort should be tried, to procui;e pepper and the finqp spices, ■i 3,^ for facilitating the Coromandel trade^ aiid th|t to Persia ; and though the succdisive plans which had been adopted, for enlarging the Company's profits by extending their exchanges in the East, had been disappointed, and their losses had hitherto been great, yet the Court were resolved to keeplto the different branches of their trade, and to make the whole sbbservient.^o the purchase of investments for Europe, to ciqpsist of pepper and spices, Coro- ^ . mandel (i) — Petition of the East-India Company to the King against Courten's Association. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ without date, Nos. 158, 159). Letters ,. from the Court to^the President and Council at Bantam, 29th February l635-3^; (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, No. 3-- ]85).— — * Letters from tlM Court to the Agents a|ld Councils in Persia, ;i5th«.Ma7 1636. (No. 3— 201). .*' * 3«t ifi •^^1 ■^ >... **-t V -> •cj- t> -» EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 333 • . ." h "mandel and Surat cloths, and silks and cnhj^ Persian conmio- chap , i . dities, from Gombroon, in which latter country the factors were 1635-36. r^^. ' ordered to dii|^ose of the English goods in store, at such prices '. ■ ■ . « as they wotdd bring, and to vest the produce in Persian silks. 1. . As explanations had taken place between the Crowns of Spain and England, on the basis of the truce between the Pre- sident of Surat and tfaie Viceroy of Goa, the Agents in Persia were directed, notwithstanding the continuance of hostilities ^ * between the Portuguese and Persians, to avoid becoming parties, " or afibrding assistance to either ; — and letters were sent by King Charles to the King of PeriSk, requesting his protection to the^^^ ^J^L English, and the improvements of ' the commercial relatione v' ^--r. between the two cqmitries*, (*> "■f 'ii ^ ^ N..-^ The situation of the rresident and Council of Sueat, in this xhe presi. season, was materially changed, by the truce entered into, in suraf form a the preceding year, with the Viceroy of Goa ; and the events wUhThe °" which led to this change are explained to have been, that from G^a!'^^^ having had a controling power (ifjgr the Company's trade, on the West of India, and in Persia, they Had^ at Surat, experienced i-;*., much oppression in the'^de of that pdrty; from the Mogul Go- vemor. Q)«->6eneral LeUIrs frqip the Court to the PresiAm^. of BaDtam, J 9th FebiQ|rx «^ 1635-36^ and to the Agent and Cooocil at Ispahan, 25th May l63&. .i^MSS. Ukjhe tndi(Bit -^ Register Office/ No«'tf«-l 85. 201)* .V ^* ^ * ^"-^«j w \ • ■ , • ■ .*- r. • 334 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLB CHAP. L yemor ; — and in their efforts to support the Persian trade, from the 1635-36. insidious schemes of the Dutch, to depress their credit. ' To obvi- ate both difficulties, and to bring the investments for Europe more directly to bear on the home sales, they found it expedient to improve on the truce, and to enter into a regular Convention with the Portuguese Viceroy. This Convention was concluded at Goa, between the English President, Mr. Methwold, in person, and the Viceroy of Goa, on the 20th January 1635-36, on the basis of the treaty between England and Spain, of the 15th November 1630, and, like the truce, was to continue in force, for six months after the de- termination of the Crowns of En^nd and Spain, on the sub- ject, should be known in the Indies. The Surat Presidency proposed, in future, to limit the English trade to four annual ships, two of which would fi nd a lading at Goa, while the other two would either complete their investments at the other Portuguese ports, or at the English fac- tories on the Coromandel Coast, or Sumatra. <^> In prosecution of this plan of trade, the Presidency formed a factory at Scindy, and were soliciting a Phirmaund for settling a factory at Dabul : they built two pinnaces at Daman, and two at Bassein, for the Coast trade ; and tried a new experi- ment, or that of sending a pinnace, with a small investment, to Bussorah, situated at the bottom of the Persian Gulf, and subject to Turkey, and not liable to any questions with the Per- sian (1) — General Letter from the President and Council of Sorat to the Coort^ 29th Jana* ary 1635-36.— —Copy of Convention between the EngUab and Portogae^ at 60a, 20th January 1635*30. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office No, \W), EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 335 sian government. On the subjects of the trade to Persia, they ^^^J^^^y submitted, that from the uncertainty of the King's Phirmaunds 1635-36 in their effects, it would be necessary to try what quantity of silk could be procured, by a fair competition, in the sale of Indian and Europe goods, in the Persian ports, and not to renew the contracts for that article with the King. (*> The report from the President and Council at Bantam, The Presi- dency of after adverting to the Convention between the English and Bantam re- ^ commend Portuguese, intimated that their own trade was assuming a that the for- ^ ' ° tifications of more favorable aspect, from the general attention and civihties Armagon of the King, who, however, would not grant them permission strengthened. to build a factory j — ^that since the restoration of their rank, as a Presidency, they had taken a general view of the Company's affairs, not only at Bantam, the seat of their trade, but at its dependencies (Maccassar, Japarra, Jambee, Banjarmassin, Coast of Sumatra, and Coast of Coromandel), and had found, that the remains of the Company's estate amounted to 344,938 rials. This view of the Company's affairs induced them to recom- mend the propriety of being furnished with instructions to extend and improve the fortifications at Armagon, because a strong place of retreat on the Coromandel Coast (like that which the Dutch had at PuUicat) had been found, by experience, to be the only means of acquiring a share of the Coromandel trade, of so much importance in the Eastern markets, and to the investments for Europe. <*> (1)— General Letter fronoi the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 6th March 1635-36. (2) — General Letter from the President and Council of Bantam to the Courts 31st January l635«36. ^ ■ 9r •i./!' .f 336 4^ • ' , •■•* .ft. >5»- M^ -4 ANNALS OF THfi BONORItbLE .; ■ -1' ■»= *>' '^. ir V- 1636-37. A^ tV ••■■? '.^ igHAP. I. Though the Court of Directors had not, in the*preceding 1636-37. y^^^f received information o&! the Conveii^n conclu^tf^ in the S^pTe^oS West of India, jbetween Pifesident MethwoW and the Viceroy of wUh^fhe Por- Ooa, in time to jiake the safest into consideration, the trans- pefit?on' fhat actions of this season open with the alarm of the Company, «houi/beob" ^t the principle on which this Convention had been founded, the CrowiTS^ and on its probable effects on their factcfries and trade in the mhdng dieir East-Indies. On looking at the basis of the Convention, or the * 1. ^ j^eaties between the Crowns of England and Spain in 1630, and iiirl604, the Coiut decided, that the trade of the two countries could not rest on these treaties, because, at those early periods, » the EngUsh and Spaniards had no reciprooU interests in the East-Indies. — ^The Court, therefore, addressed! a letter to the Se- cretary of State, in which they requested, that before the Conven- tion shoq|d h^ finally approved, his Majesty would be pleased to apply to ^ V." ^ •■ ■%• the EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 337 of Spain, as would enable the Company to act on it, and ^^^^'^!,' promised, that they would readily acquiesce in any reasonable 1636 -37# conditions, which might be calculated to fix amicable relations, between the Spanish-Portuguese and the English factories and trade, in the East-Indies. <*) The licence given by the King to Courten's Association, in Company pe- the preceding year, had created considerable agitation in the K^ing for re- public mind, and had induced the Court of Directors to frame depredation* * ' of Courten • remonstrances against the Interlopers, whom they held to be ^^^'t'^^, invaders of their Charter and exclusive privileges. In this si- tuation, it is not improbable, that the subject might have remained for this season, as the civil commotions were beginning, which proved fatal to the public interests ; but on the arrival of one of the Company's ships from Surat, with information, that one of Courten's vessels had seized on two junks, belonging to Surat and Diu, had plundered them of their property, and exposed the crews to torture, and that, as soon as this event was known at Surat, the President and Council had been seized and imprisoned, and the Company's property confiscated, to make good the losses of the owners of the junks, the Court presented a memorial to the King, stating the sufferings of their servants, and their VOL. I. X X great (l)-»Letter from the East-India Company to the Secretary of State^ relative to the Convention of Goa, 1636. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 106.)— « Letter from the Governor aid Depaty Governor of the East-India Company to Lord Aston, Ambassador to the King of Spain^ 3d March 1636. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 114.) 338 ANNALS OF TUB HONORABLE CHAP. I. great losses^ which must terminate in the ruin of the East-India 1636 -37i trade, unless his Majesty should interfere in their behalf^ and be pleased to take the illegality of the licences, and their con- sequences to the East-India trade, into his ccMisideration. The subject was referred to the Privy Council, on the 6th January 1636^7 The Privy The Privy Council, instead of admitting the truth of the Council delay ^ v i taking the narrative, or that the outrage had been conunitted by Courten's subject into , . consideration, ships, wcrc of Opinion, that the business should be suspended but recom- mend, that till the return of these ships, wh^i an investigation of the trans-^ letters should be written by action should take place ; but that, in the mean time, the the King, to the Governor Kiuff shouM issuc his letters to the Governor of Surat, disclaim* of Surat, dis- *^ avowingthese {^g any powers having been given to English vessels to commit depredations, and desiring the release of the Company^s servants, and property. It vi^as intimated, by a separate note, to the Court of Directors, that they must suspend any proceedings at law, till the arrival of Courten's ships in England <*>. This event This event is, peiliaps, of consequence, not so much from subse- iije immediate effect of it, as from its havinfir be«a the first quent pira- ^ ^ in India, instance in which the Interlopers, or Private Traders, were per- mitted to carry on a kind of regulated commerce to ike East- Indies, and, under their licence, had been charged with, cxr had been guilty of depredation, which struck at the root of all the Phirmaunds^ (1) — Petition of the East-India Company to the King, eomplaining of piracies com- mitted by Courteh's ships, and Order of Council {thereon, &h January 1636-37. (East- India Papers in the State Paper Office^ Nos; i08, 109) • the que ties £AST*INI>IA COMPANY. 339 Phirmaunds, or Grants, which the London Company had pro- CHAP. i. cured, by heavy expences, from the Mogul Government ; and 163ft- 37- from its having been the source of those oppressions, and that injustice, by the native powers, which, in the sequel, often in- terrupted, and frequently endangered, the existence of the trade of England to the East-Indies : — ^nor was this the only con- sequence, for when these Interlopers were detected, and subsequently punished. Pirates, who could not be brought to justice, arose out of this example, the suppression of whom required, for more than half a century, the united efforts of the Crown and of the London Company^ The subordinate instructions of the Court to their servants abroad were in this season, chiefly directed to one point, or to the conduct of their Agents on the Coromandel Coast, who had acted without due subordination to the President and Council at Bantam, by diverting part of their purchases in Coast goods to the Persian trade, instead of sending goods to Bantam, to purchase pepper and the finer spices ; and for having expended large sumR, in obtaining Phirmaunds from the King of Grol- condah, and risked still larger sums, by granting credits to the native merchants and weavers : — ^the Court, therefore, en- joined them to confine the Coast trade to their export of cloths to Bantam^ and to the proportion of them required for the Europe investment. (^> Xx2 The (1)— Letter from the Court to the Agents and Factors on the Coast of Coromandel, S7th October 1636. (MSS. in the Indian Rq^i'ter Office, No. 3, p. 2Q9). 3^ AKKALS OF THE HONOBABLE CHAP.i. The Presidency of Sub at, while they were proceeding on the new plan of trade, explained in their communications of last Surat Bu«. year, reported to the Court, that the whole of their measures [^ inter/ had been disconcerted, by the arrival of Captain Weddel and Mr. TfirfiDccfl or Ck>artcng Mountney, the chiefs of Courten's Association ; who, in fact, had come out to draw all the profits which had been anticipated from the Convention of Goa, leaving only to the Company to trade under restraints, the removal of which had been the chief object of this Convention. dcT^* b^" When these Interlopers arrived, the President and Council of pTwident'^of •^^^^ ^^ ^^* heard of the reception which the Convention had CapteinWed. ™^* ^^*^ *^ England, either by the Directors, or by the King, d«r ofcSurl ^^^ ^^^^ ^^* comprehend the appearance of the ships of ten's ships. Courten, giving themselves out to be a new East-India Company, under the protection of the Crown. Captain Weddel addressed a letter to the President and Council of Surat, on the 29th August 1636, notifying his arrival at Johanna Roads, and his intention to proceed directly to Goa, and forwarding a cc^y of King Charles's letter, dated 30th March 1636, addressed ^* to the " President of the London East-India Company in the Indies,'* intimating that, under his authority, six ships, under the charge of Captain Weddel and Mr. Mountney, had been sent on a voyage of discovery to the South Seas, and that in this measure the King himself had a particular interest, and desiring that the President,. in £AST'-*IKDIA COMFANT. 34t in case of dktress^ should afford those ships every assistance. CHap.l Captain Weddel added his own wishes^ of heing on good terms 1636-37. with the Company's establishments. On receiving this unexpected and extraordinary notice, the President and Council, in reply, informed Weddel and Mount- ney, that they eould not give credit to the intelligence of a new East-India Company having been erected in the King's name, as they had neither received information,nor instructions for their con- duct from the Court of Directors ; — ^that such an institution was, in itself, incompatible, because two commercial Companies, from the same country,^ could not attempt to carry on trade in the East- Indies ; — ^that, with regard to the establishments of the London Company, they were under great distress, as they had not* recovered from the caliamities of war and famine j — ^that the President and Council at Surat had been seized and imprisoned for two months, and the Company's property taken possession of, to compensate for a depredation committed by an English vessel, not in the Company's service, which had plundered a Su- rat junk in the Red Sea ; — and that the Company's servants had only been released, on condition of paying 1,70,000 rupees, and coming under the obligation of an oath, not to molest the Mogul ships : — ^without, however, charging the pretended new Company with this attack, the President desired to know, what limits the King had assigned to it, and in what particulars its privileges differed from those of the London Company. Under this distress, and with a rival, whose character they could not comprehend,. 543 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB ^HAP. I. comprehend, we can trace the true source of the suspension of 1636<^7« the trade at Surat, during this season/^) uacT foJ^Biik ^' ^^^ been a question at Surat^ whether it would not be more Tf Peri^a^*"^ expedient, by simple purchase and sale at Gombroon^ to obtain Persian silks, than to renew the contract with the King of Persia : — ^in this year, however, Mr. Gibson, the Agent at Ispahan, had presented a petition to the King, for payment of the arrears of silk, and received a favourable answer, and this event had induced him, on the 16th July 1636, to form a new contract, for three years. By this contract, the King agreed, that a thousand loads of silk should be delivered to the £nglish, within this specified time, for which they were to pay forty-two Tomands, or above ^126 stei'ling, per load, one-third- in ready money, and two-thirds in broad-cloths, kersies^ and tin. This agreement discovers, that^ notwithstanding the Convention with the Portuguese, and the opposition from the Dutch, the English Agents were aut- thraized to retain a proportion of the Persian trade.^^^ The trade on The trade On the CoROMANDEL Coast, this season, from tbeCoroman- del Coast be- the factors having received supplies of stock from Bantam, was gins to be pro- ductive, assuming a more favourable appearance ; for the factors at Ma- sulipatam informed the Court, that they should be aUe to mvestments in Coast cloths, annually, to the amount of from ^40,000 or ^50,000 sterling, and for this purpose, they would require a proportion of broad-cloth, lead, and vermilion, and a regular (0— Letters between the President and Council of Surat and Captain Weddel, 29th August and 24th October l636« (2)— Letter from the Agent and Council at Ispahan to the Courts 22d January 1635-30 XABT-IKBIA COMPAlfT. S43 a regtilar supply of gold and silver, and, in general, tiiat the 9^^;/; returns would amount to ^60,0CH) per annum; but ihat, to en- 1636 --37- able them to carry on this trade, an additional number of factors and writers, properly qualified, wcmld be required fix)m England, and permission givai to build and employ two small vessels, as coasters : — ^in their transactions^however,. they had been exposed to the oppression of the naiire Govenior and ofiicers at Masulipatam^. who, with die Dutch, were endeavoring to excite die prejudices of the King of Golcondah against them, notwithstanding the Phirmaunds which he had so recently granted for their protection*^*) The President and Council of Bantam^ in their communica- The President /• 1 . J 1. • ^ ^7 ^ Bantam tions of this season,, represented the great importance of the opens a trade 1 /? -o J 1 ^ ^^^ pepper, at Coromandel trade to that of Bantam^ and the Southern stations, Paiambang , . . and Banj^r-^ and repeated their opinion of the necessity of strengthening massin. Armagon, because this port was the best security the Company could have, for the preservation of their privileges, on the Coromandel Coast; — ^that the amount of pepper obtained at Bantam, had been inconsiderable, not only from their want of stock and shipping, but from there having arrived from Holland, not less than twenty-two large ships, with pro- portionate stock :• — ^with the view, however, of keeping up the trade, they had sent a small vessel on an experiment, to Bau- jarmassin, which had returned with a hundred and fifty thousand pounds weight of pepper; — ^that they had fixed a station (1)— Letters from the Agent and Council at Masulipatam to the Court, 20th September, and l&t Decenaber 16364 344 AimALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP, L station at PaUambang, having obtained from its chief, permission 1636-37. ^ erect a factory, from which they hoped to receive, annually^ five hundred tons of pepper; — ^that, at Bantam, the King continued to refiise them permission to build a fiEictory, or additional store-houses, but had continued his general protection ; and that he still was at war with the Dutch, though, from the pacific disposition of their new Governor General, Van Diemen^ the prospect of a peace was becoming more probable.(^> X 1 )--Letter from the Freiideat and Couacil at Baatam to the Courts aoth December i&S. BAST-INHIA COMPANY- 345 # 1637-38 The disputes in England, had discouraged the Directors char I. of the London Company, from taking those decisive measures 1637-38. (which, by their Charter and exclusive privileges, they were nearly equal to those of entitled to do, to ward off the evils which they foresaw must the Compa- ^ ^ ny, conferred arise) from the protection afforded to Courten s Association, on Courten. The information which the Company had received, of the sei- zure of their property, and the imprisonment of their servants, at Surat, in consequence of the depredations on the Mogul junks, alleged to have been committed by Courten's ships, had compelled them to address a remonstrance to the Privy Coun- cil, from which they could only obtain a promise of the King's letter to the Governor of Surat, disclaiming any powers having been granted to Captain Weddel, and others, to commit such depredations, and that an enquiry would be instituted into the case, as soon as those ships should return to England. The Directors, formerly, could only send instructions to their servants abroad, to withhold any assistance or encouragement to Courten*s factors or shipping: — ^in this year, this precaution became in- effectual, because the question had assumed the more serious form of two Companies ; as Mr. Courten had obtained privi- leges almost equivalent to those which the London Company enjoyed. VOL. I. Y y To 346 ANNALS OF TH£ HONORABLB CHAPEL To bring this subject into distinct view, it mu§t be recol- 1637-38. lected, that Courten's project had arisen out of the CQnvention between Surat and Goa, and that his professed object was, to open a trade with places in the East-Indies, to jivhich the Gompany^s shipping had not resorted, that is, to participafe'in the advantages which might arise from this new opening to the Portuguese ports. Company's Several of Courten's ships had returned to England in this petition and * ; o rcmon«rance geasou (1637-38), and as they brought home large investments^ the^ Attorne *^^ salcs of which produced considerable profits to the adventu- ^err\' ^" - ^^^^ ^^ *^^ Association, the subject alarmed the Directors, as port on J threatening, not only the safety of their Joint Stock, but the preservation of those seats of, trade, which, with so much per- severance, and at such great expences, constituted the whole of their dead stock ; — ^a stock which must be irretrievably lost, if a check should not be given to the proceedings of this domestic rival, and if lost, must endanger the existence of the direct ^ trade to the East-Indies, and place the whole in the hands of the Portuguese and Dutch, against whom they had, for so many years, struggled. Under these circumstances, the Company presented ,a pe- '* tition to the Crown for protection, which was referred to Edward Herbert, Esq. the Attorney General, Sir Abraham Shipman, Philip Burlamachi, Esq. and others, with instructions to take the subject of East-India affairs into their consideration, and to « report the result. The Company, in this petition, represented, that they had experienced the greatest hardships from the op- ^ pressions *^ » .r w •rs EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 34^ pressions of the Portuguese and Dutch, and had, for a series of ^^a p. l years, though ineffectually, been soliciting the aid of the Crown, 1637 -38. for compensation, auad for redress of grievances ;— that they had, first, by a fcnice, and next by a Convention, been endeavour- ing to accommodate their differences with the Portuguese^ both in Persia, and at Surat, at which, from the recent famine and the oppressions of the native officers, their affairs were in a desperate situation; — that by the interferences of Courten's shipping at home, their sales had been clogged, and that they had been compelled to sell their saltpetre to Government, below the value; — that, from the payment of excessive customs, from the rivalship of the Dutch in Europe, and from the new Association, the Company's trade had almost been ruined ; — that although the present Joint Stock amounted only to ^425,000, the Company had, to support the trade, expended above ^800,000, * and stiU farther sums would be requisite, which could not be raised without the Eang's protections^ and the removal of those dis- couragements, with which their trade had been burdened; — ► and that they could not conceive any better means could be devised, for carrying on the East-India commerce, than by a Joint Stock, under the management of a Governor, Deputy, and twenty-four Committees, or^Directors, authorized and pro- tected by the Crown. <^> Yy 2 This (1)— ^Answer of the Governor and Court of Directors of the East-India Company to a Declaration exhibited to His Majesty^ respecting the East-India Trade^ l638« (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ Nos. 133^ 134). :Mk :-f 348 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE p^ ^P^ ^; This representation was offered, at the time when a new 1637-38, grant to Courten was in agitation, and was followed by a — but the , . , ^ grant to second petition, stating that the Company trusted no new powers Courten con- ^ ^ firmed: would be given to this Association, contrary to the Charter of the London Company, or in opposition to the instructions they had sent to their factories, in the preceding season; — that Captain Weddel, and his associates, might be enjoined to confine themselves to such ports, Avithin the Company's limits, as did not interfere with their established factories and trade ; — and that the Company might be allowed to institute prosecutions against Courten and his associates, for any irregularities which their ships might commit, and which might expose the Company's servants, and their property, to retaliation by the native powers/^^ This strong representation of the East-India Company^ and their subsequent petitions, do not appear to have had any eflfect on the King or Council, for a new grant was issued, in June 1637, t^ Courten's Association,, by 'which the King confirmed the former privileges given to them, and allowed them to trade, for five years, to all places in India, where the Old Company had not settled any factories or trade, before the 12th December 1635 ; and with permission .to export, during the said term, ^40,000, in gold and silver ^Million, to India, and to re-export India goods, free of customs. In this grant, William Courten, Esq. (I)— Petition of the East-India Company to the King. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, No. 79,-38). -r. ,t. af^ EAST-INDIA COMPANY. v349 Esq. was substituted in place of his father, Sir William Courten, CHAP^. who died soon after the parsing of the first grant.('> 1637-38. On receiving this new grant, Courten's equipments pro- — and the Company en • ceeded ; and when they were ready for sea, in the spring of joined not to ' ^ / ^ r 6 trade at the ^ 1637-38, a letter was addressed by Sir Francis Windebanck, ports where Courten had c .. Secretary of State, to the Governor of the London Company, established lacioncS' signifying to him the King's express command, that orders should be given to all the Captains of ships, and other servants of the East-India Company, not to trade at Batticolo (where Courten had settled a factory) or to any other parts on the Coast of Malabar and the Indies, where Mr. Porter, Mr. Courten, or their agents, had established their trade/^> The impression which these events, and this letter from the l^espondency Secretary of State, made on the Governor and Court of Com- ^f?^°" ^" ^ ' this occasion. . mittees, appears from the strong language in which, on the following day, the Court drew up their general instructions to the PreiSident and Council at Sur^t : — ^they say, " Wee could wish that wee could vindicate the reputacon of our nation in these partes, and do ourselves right, for the losse and " damage our estate, in those paii:s, have susteyned ; but of all ^^ these wee must beare the burthen, and with patience sitt still, '^'• <* untill we may find these frovraing tymes more auspicious to us *^ and to our affayres/' (l) — Ryraer's Foedera, vol. xx, page 145. Anderson's History of Commerce, vol. ii, page 372. ^. (2) — I^etter.from Sir Francis Windebanck to the Governor of the East-India Company, dated 15th March 1637-38. (£ast- India Papers in the State Paper OiEce, No. 1 15). ^^ • r i» >* r- • « 350^ ANNALS OP THI HONOBABLB ^ CHAP. I. Tiie Court directed the President and Council to perserere 1637-38. in the Surat trade, notwithstanding the authorized interference Their order ^ ^ i i j i • % t to the Sorat of Courten's Association ; — acknowledged the receipt of a large Presidencj to ^ • • i j pcr»evere in quantity of silk from Persia, but that it was m a damaged state ; the trade. ^ J ^ —and desired that they might continue their efforts to obtain pep- per from Goa, and even allowed them to grant bills on the Court, for any spare money which Captain Weddel might wish to leave with'lhem, or to purchase produce from him, at reasonable rates ; —and, that the trade might be encouraged^ on the Coromandel Coast, from the importance of the exchanges of piece goods ia the Javaa nd Sumatra markets. (^) % Depressed The State of thc Company's affairs abroad, in this season. •tate of the '^ '' ^ * . ^ Company •• can Only be collected from the information which the Court received trade^ in this "^ ^ year, from from Persia, and, indeed, ^om the circumstances under which tbeinterfer- ' ' ' faln^WeddeT "^^^^^ ^^^ placed, at the close of the last season, more particu* larly by the embarrassment from Captain Weddel's interfe- rences, it was not possible to make up investments, in any degree proportioned to those of preceding years. Agent Gib- The events in Persia imfold the reasons of the low state of * this trade. Mr. Gibson, who had been Agent in Persia, died this season, and pn examining his books, it was discovered, that instead of applying the Company's cash to the promotion of their trade^ (I)— General Letter from the Court of Directors to the Presidtmt dnd.Oouncil at Surat, l6th March 1637-38. (MSS. in the Indian Register (Mice, yd. ili. l634 to 1656). ^ .^ . EAST-INDIA COMFANY. 351 ^ trade, he had lent four thousand Tomands^ or above ^12,000 ^^^J;-^; sterling, to the Dutch, which had enabled them to obtain silk, 1637-38. and to bear down the English purchases of that article. This fraud had disgusted the Persian government at his successor, who informed the President and Council of Surat, that unless a new Agent of character should be appointed, the trade must be ruined, and that the diminution of the Customs at Gombroon ^ must be ascribed to this delinquency; — that, however, the accidental circumstance of the Dutch having borrowed money from the Armenian merchants, to the large amoimt of ^100,000, and not having stock to discharge this debt, had roused this power- ' ' fill class of people to make an application to the Court, to stop the export of silk by the Dutch, till the money due to them should be paid. While the trade at Surat*, and in Persia, was in this em- President barrassed situation. President Methwold returned to Europe, S^Jgian trade • and had been succeeded by Mr. Fremlen, who, on taking a view of the distressed state of the trade at both ports, had proceeded to Gombroon, at which he arrived in December 1636, and reported to the Court, — ^that the Persian maiket had hitherto not been properly understood, either in its imports or exports, for broad-cloth would sell fifty per cent, better at Surat, than in Persia, and less ^irofit would accrue from the exchange of cloth, than from the simple purchase of silk, with money ; — that the experiments which had been made, of a trade between Ma- sulipatam and Gombroon, had been profitable^ and if pro- perly supported, might be rendered more productive ; — and that the ^ . . V V 352 ANNALS OF THS HONORABLE ■:v CHAP. I. the trade between Gombroon and Tatta, which was better under- 4^ 1637-38. stood by the 'Persians, might also be improved, and have a pro- Citable result ; and, therefore, that a new system of regidations, for the management of the Persian trade, must be devised and enforced, otherwise the Phirmaunds, and high charges expended in acquiring them, would be unavailing ; — and that^ at the close of the season, the Dutch still remained in debt to the Persians twenty-one thousand Tomands, or ^65,000 sterling, and would ^ not be permitted to ship a single bale of silk, till this debt should VL be discharged. These general descriptions of the Company's affairs, in which no reference is made to the state of their trade, either on the CoROMANDEL CoAST, or at Bantam, were, by no means> sufficient to enable the foreign Presidencies to take measures, for invigorating their declining commerce, more particular- ly when they learned, that on Captain Weddel's delivering King Charles's letter to the Viceroy of Goa, permission was granted to him to hire a house, and to land his goods, though from jealousy of the English, he was not allowed to remain longer in that port, than till the end of the monsoon. <^> ./^ (i)— Letters from the Agents and Coancils at Ispahan and Gombroon^ 18th July and 5th October 1637, and 13th January 1637-38; BAST^INDIA COMPANY. 353 1638-39 Th£ dissentions in Britain^ between the parties which^ on chap. i. pc^tical subjects^ divided the nation, in this year appeared under 1638-39. different forms in England and in Scotland : — ^in England, parties JS?rthc if^ere employed in promoting their claims of rights ; in Scotland, arl^gcmenT parties were contesting for the form which the established re- ^th *^'Vh^^^ ligion in that kingdom should assume. Reference to these with Cour- subjects is made^ because they discover the difficulty with a^u>n, *'^** wluch the London Company could apply to the Crown, either £enp its interferences with the States General, to obtain redress ijoovsk the Dutch, or from Courten's Association, whose fleets had prooeeded to the East, under a protection almost equal to that by which the London Company had originally been estaUidied, and under which they had, for a series of years^ at much expence^. and wkh many risks, maintained « direct trade, to the East-Indies. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the London Company ptti^vered in their a^plicatimi to the King and Privy Council, for their into^ferencea to adjust the disputes with the Dutch, and ibr having a distinct line of conduct assigned them, with respect t9 Courten's Assoeiation. VOL. \. JZz The •A 354 ANNALS OI THE HONORABLE CHAP^. The Governor and Directors were heard before the King 1638-39. and Privy Council, on the 25th May 1638, on the subject of Heferred to a ^ ^ Committeeof their grievances, when the King was pleased to appoint a Com- the Privy . ^ Council, to mittee, consisting of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord suggest a plan for an Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Privy Union be- tween the Seal, the Earl Marshal of England, the Earl of Dorset, Company ' & ^ ^ and Cour- J^rd Cottington, Mr. Comptroller, Mr. Secretary Coke, and eiation. ]Vf j.. Secretary Windebanck, under instructions, to take into their consideration the propositions which the Company might ofier^ on the subject of the trade ; — ^to form regulations for this trade, which might satisfy the noblemen and gentlemen, who were adventurers in it, that their stock had been properly managed ;— to vary the principle on which the India trade had been con- ducted, or that of a general Joint Stock, in such a manner, as to enable each adventurer to employ his stock to his own ad*^ vantage ; — ^to have the trade under similar regulations with those observed by the Turkey, and other English Compa- nies ; — to consider how the differences with the Dutch might be accommodated, to his Majesty's honor, and to the satisfS^tion of the Company ; — and to devise a plan for uniting Courten's Association with the Company, without prejudice to his Ad- venturers ; — and, in general, to report from time to time, to his Majesty, on these subjects. <*> This reference discovers, not only that the King and Council were satisfied the claims on the Dutch were well founded, but ^ that (1) --Order of Council regarding the East-India Trade: (Eait-Iodia Papen iq tbo State Paper Office, 25th May 1638. No. 1 16). BAST-INBIA COMPANY. 356 that an opinion began to be entertained, that the continuance of chap. i. Courten's Association, and the London Company's trade, was 1638-39. incompatible, and that the only method of remedying an evil, of which complaint had been made by the Company, would be, to recommend an union between an established corporation, and a Ucensed association of private merchants. This Conunittee do not appear to have made any report on Present a se- cond petition, the subjects referred to them, as the Company were again under when the Kingpromisep the necessity, in September following, to present another petition to renew their Charter, to the King. To this petition his Majesty was pleased to declare his pleasure, as follows : — -to the first request, that justice should be done on the employers and commanders of the two ships sent to the Red Sea, for their piracies, the King decided, that a committee should be immediately appointed to investigate that business, and on their report, the Company should have satisfaction, according to law: — ^to the Company's se- cond request, to be released from payment of the new customs on East-India commodities, and for a longer time than one year, for exportation of their goods, reference was made to the Lm*d Treasurer and Lord Cottington, to examine the East-India Committees, and the Farmers of the Customs, and to report to the King their opinion on this point : — to their third request, that the King would interpose his authority with the States General, to obtain some satisfaction from the Dutch, and some station in the Molucca and Banda Islands, conform- ably to the treaty of 1619, it was answered, that the King had already entered into negotiations regarding that treaty, Z z 2 as S56 AKNALS OF THE KONaRABJOB C HAP, 1 ag some of the Company well knew : — ^to their fourth request^ 1638^9. or that the King would be pleased to renew the Companjr's Charter, with additional privileges, it was answered, that ^^ his Majesty was pleased nowe to expresse his gracious intentions to renew the said Companies Charter, and to grant them such '' fit enlargement of their priviledge, as may bee for their en- " couragement, and the better government of their trade,*' <*> Statement of The Company having received the King's assurances^ that losses sustain- ed from the he had entered into negotiations with the States General, to Dutch. ^ 1 • • obtain redress of their gnevances they drew up, at the dose of this season (March 1638-39) a statement of losses by the Dutch East-India Company, since the explanatory treaty of 1622, under the heads of general losses at 'PcAaixxm^ in Batavia, and at Jaccatra and Bantam, amounting to ^£214,798 ; besides particular losses at Bantam, and in the spice trade, and at Surat, amounting to ^\77y^^9 ^^^ the injuries to the State, by the plunder of* the native subjects of Po- laroon, to the amount of «s^l25,000 ; leaving his Majesty^ to seek reparation, as matter of state, for the injuries sustained by the Massacre at Amboyna, and the obstruction given to the privileges the Company had acquired^ and pur«^ chased, in Persia. (^ The (l)-^rder of Council, signifying his Majesty's declaration on the Petition of the East-India Company^ dated Oatlands 2d September 1638- (East-India Papers in the State Rpcr Office^ No. 11 8) . (2>— Abstract of Grievances sustained by the Easl-India Cooipany htm tte Diitcir^ 13th March l€38-39. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 120,) fiAST-lTNDIA COMPANY. 35^ The situation of afllairs at the foreign settlements^ this season^ chap. i. (1638-39) can best be collected^ from the proceedings of Captain 1638-39. Weddd, with the ships of Courten's Association, in his inter- proceedings ferences with the Company's trade, and from the effect which Weddei on his irregularities produced on the native powers, in jHrejudicing panjr's trade. them against the trade of the English. It will be recollected, that when Captain Weddei sailedi from England on his second voyage, he was rendered indepen- dent of the London Company^ by the new grant to Courten's Association, and empowered to form distinct factories and trade : — On his arrival at Goa, (at which port, frx>m having been a Company's servant, he was known), he fixed an agency, an4 contmenced trade : — ^fromGroa, he proceeded to Batticolo, at which he also fixed an agency, and obtained part of his investmeflft : — from this port he stretched over to Acheen, at which he got a grant for a factory, and having money, as part of his stock, purchased produce: — ^from hence he proceeded to Canton, where he met with opposition from the Chinese and Portugu^e, and, in revenge^ attacked a fort at Canton, which he carried, and collected about seventy bales of China goods, but, on account of this violence, had been obliged to leave the China Seas, and to return to Masulipatam to refit : — ^here, again, he had recourse to violence, and though he got part of his investment, he was not permitted to settle an agency at that port, but sub- sequently 358 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^■^f-'^ sequently fixed one at Rajahpore^ in the King of Visiapore's 1638-39. dominions/^) Presidency of With such a rival> and, at the same time, having to strug* Sural mediate a peace be- g\e against the Dutch, accidental events supported the Company Moguiandihe at SuRAT, rather than the shipping: or stock, which had arrived Portuguese. from England ; — a new Governor (Mirza Mulk) had been ap- pointed, and having been directed by the Mogul to come to terms with the Portuguese, and restore peace, he had applied to the English President to become mediator, and to assist him in the negotiation. This event obtained protection for the English, and facilitated their sales and purchases ; — the President, however, explained to the Court, that the war between the Mogul and Portuguese' had, on the whole, been favorable, both to the English and Dutch, because the Surat merchants would not trust their goods in the Indian shipping, but had sent them, on freight, on board English and Dutch vessels, by which they had derived the profits of the carrying trade,W » Newsilkcon* The Company's trade in Persia, had received sup- tract in Persia. port, from the effect produced on the King, on receiving King Charles's letter, and the pictures of the Royal Family, an incident which ' (1)— General Letter from the Presidency of Surat to the Court, 2gth Deoenber l6Sg. 'Letter from the Agent and Council at Masulipatam- to the Presidency of Sorat^ 26tb July 1(538. (2)— General Letter from the Presidency of Surat to the Court, 15th Jantiary 1^8-39. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 359 which Mr. Merry, the new Agent, had endeavored to improve ^^^^ J; by entering into and obtaining a new contract for silk, one Phir- 1638-39. maund for the fulfilment of it, and another, to enable him to recover the debts due under the old contract. On this encou- ragement. Agents had been dispatched to the different provinces, in which silk could be procured, but had been obliged to make large presents to the different Persian ministers. The customs at Gombroon, this season, had been incon- siderable, from the low state of trade, and from a collusion which the Agent had suspected, between the Engtish commanders, the factors on shore, and the Persian officers, which it would be his object to trace, and to prevent, in the subsequent season, and he hoped for support from the favorable disposition of the Ettaman Dowlut, or Vizier, though he was apprehensive he might be checked by the Shahbunder, who was inimical to the EngUsh.(*) The Company's trade on the Coromand£l Coast, at this Armagon fouadan an- juncture, had experienced repeated checks, fit)m the oppressions fevouraWesi- tuation for of the officers of the Kang of Golcondah, who had prevented trade. their receiving from the native merchants and manufacturers, the goods for which they had contracted, and from no attention having been paid to the solicitations of the Agents for relief. Under these circumstances, the Agent at Masul^patam stated^ that though Armagon was a necessary station for preserving the Company's stores, its situation was not favorable to the increase of (l)—- Letters from the Agent and Council at Ispahan to the Court, 21st April and 12th November l638. 360 ANKALS OF TH£ HONOEABl^S CHAPJ^ of commerce, and that it would be expedient to select some 1638r39. other place on the Ojmst, which, from being better situate. would enable the English to acquire a laiger share m the COTomaodel trade/^) (l)~Letter from the Agent and Council at Ma6uU|iatani to the Agent at Gdboiidah. 26th April 1638. Letter frooi the Agent and Council at Mandipatan) lotbe Presidency of Surat, i;tb Majf 1633. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 361 1639-40. If the struggles between the parties, which now assumed a chap. i. more regular character, had, in the preceding year, obliged the 1639- 40. London Company to confine their domestic transactions to peti- renew their tions to the King and Council, for redress of grievances from the King and from the Dutch, or from the interferences of Coiurten's As- sociation, the situation of the Government, in 1639-40, was daily becoming more unfixed and perilous. A civil war, in Scotland, had commenced, against which the King called on his English subjects for military support, but this war terminated by a treaty, which left the royal interests weakened, and the opponents of the King more firmly estabUshed in their projects. While public affairs were in this situation, the East-India Company again presented a petition to the King, in which they enumerated their grievances, nearly in the same terms, as in the preceding season ; and concluded by stating the absolute necessity they should be under, of abandoning the trade, miless the protection they prayed for was afforded them. This peti- tion appears to have so far attracted the attention of Govern- ment, that the claims of the Company, and of Courten*s As- sociation, were referred to a Committee of the Privy Council, who were directed to investigate the business, and to report VOL. I. 3 A on 362 ANNALS OJE* THE HONORABLE CHAP- I. on it, that the King might be enabled to declare his pleasure 1639-40. on the subject. (^) The King re- This Committee of the Privy Council having called before them solves tQ revoke Cour- the Farmers of the Customs, the principal Adventurers in Sir ten's licence, and to renew William Courtcu's Association, and the Governor, Deputy, the Com- pany's Char- and Committees of the London Company, and having investi- ter, on condi- * -^ o tion of their crated their several claims and demands, made a report to the raising a new ° * Joint Stock. King, on the 2d November 1639, who, on the 10th December following, was pleased, in presence of Mr, Courten, the Farmers of the Customs, and the Committees of the East- India Company, to declare his pleasure on the petition of the London Company, on the following points : — ^that in respect to the wrongs and injuries done by the Dutch, the King had proceeded so far in the treaty, for the Company's satisfaction, that the same was now in a fair and hopeful way of accommo- dation; — that, with respect to the depredations committed by Cobb and Eyres, in the Red Sea, the King allowed the Company leave to right themselves, by the ordinary course of lawj — that, in regard to the customs or imposts, the King was pleased to grant the Company the same liberty, in point of time, for exportation, as formerly, and to allow them, from six months to six months, for payment of duties ; — ^that. His Majesty would revoke all Patents, formerly granted, for plantations beyond the Cape of Bona Speranza, and grant no more of the same kind ; allowing. (1)— -Petilion of the East-India Company to the King, and Order in Council thereon^ 27ih October 1639. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office^ No* 3—215). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 363 allowing, only, to Mr. Courten and his adventurers, reasonable chap. i. time to withdraw their settlements, and to bring home their goods 1639-40. and shipping ; — and that a new Subscription should be entered into by the East-India Adventurers, for carrying on the trade on an extensive Joint Stock ; and when such Subscription should be completed. His Majesty would renew the Company's Charter, and grant such additional privileges as might be found necessary and expedient " for carrying on soe greate and important a " trade/* A Court of the Generality, or Proprietors, was to be immediately summoned, at which, by the King's command, Lord Cottington was to be present, to declare to them His Majesty's gracious intentions in their favor. (^> On the basis of this declaration of the King, it became Conditions of t •N -rx 1 ^ • ^^® projected necessary for the Governor, Deputy, and Committees, to meet Fourth Joint Stock. the Adventurers in a General Court, for the purpose of sub- mitting to them the Preamble for a new Joint Stock, as one of the conditions upon which His Majesty was disposed to renew the the Company's Charter and exclusive privileges, with such addi- tional powers as would enable them more effectually to carry on their trade. This Preamble proceeded on the frequent calls which the Proprietors had made on the Court, to close the former, or Third Joint Stock, and to bring home the remains, on account of the difficulties which the trade had experienced, from the infringements on the Charter, by Courten's As- sociation, in England, and from the oppressions of the 3 A 2 Dutch (I)— Order in Council, relative to the East-India trade, 10th I>ecember 1639. (East^ India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 123). 364 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Dutcli, and Courten's ships, in the East Indies ; — it was there- 1639-40. fore proposed, on account of the encouragement and protec- tion which had been promised them, and the prospect of re- establishing their settlements and trade, to raise a Subscription for a new, or Fourth Joint Stock, on the following conditions : — 1st. That the Subscription should be paid in four years, and that it should be determined, by the majority of subscribers in a General Court, in what manner, and by whom, the same should be managed ; — ^the managers to be elected annually. 2d. That the subscription should be open to all persons, as well foreigners as English, till the 1st of May 1640, and the instalments paid quarterly. 3d. That in case of default of payment of the instalments, one and a half per cent, per month should be levied, as a fine, till such payment should be 'I made. 4th. That no Englishman should be allowed to subscribe less than ^500, and no foreigner less than ^1,000. 5th. That if any Englishman should buy any share, after the books were closed, he should pay 5^20, and a foreigner ^40, as a fine, far his freedom, to the proposed new Company. 6th. That to prevent' inconvenience and confrision, the old Company,; cbt Adventurers in- the TAiVd Joint Stock, should have sufficient time allowed for bringing home their property, and should send no more stock to India, on. that account, . after the month, of May 1640. (0 The (1)— Preamble to a Subscription for a new J6int Stock for Trade lo the East-Indies, 28th January l63g*40. (East-Iodia Papers in tlie State Paper Office, No. 124). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 365 The state of the Company's afTairs, at this crisis, dis- CHAP, i. covers, that the King and Council had become sensible of 1639-40. the impracticability of preserving the direct trade to the East- Indies, by any other means, than by a chartered Company, with exclusive privileges, as the Patents to Courten were to be withdrawn ; and, that without a New Joint Stock, to in^ vigorate the trade, the losses which the Company had sustain^ ed, from domestic and foreign rivals, had been so great, that unless they should be recovered, the trade, even on new and lai^e fimds^ could not he preserved.. Though the improved situation of the Presidency of Trade at Su- rat depressed, SuKAT, in tlie preceding season, originating in the desire of the by the Dutch searching Mogul government to come to terms of peace with the Portu- Compan/a guese, and the selection of the English President, as the mediator tuguese pro- in the negotiation, had placed the Company's trade at Surat in Courien's shipping* more favorable circumstances than it had been for years, the complaint of the oppressions of the Dutch, at this time, assumed a new aspect. Instead of opposing the English by commercial projects, or intrigues with the native powers, they asserted their right of searching the Company's vessels on the Malabar Coast, find, at the same time, carried on an active war against the Portuguese, in which the English had neither ship- ping nor authority to assist their allies, under the Convention ; the President, therefore, stated that unless reinforcements should arrive. 366 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. arrive, Goa was in danger of falling into the hands erf the 1639-40. Dutch. At Surat, and along the whole range of the Malabar Coast, the Company's trade was, from this aggression of the Datch, exposed to obstruction and to plunder ; and, in such cir- cumstances it had become indispensible to obtain some station, where their servants and property could be in safety, against any attacks which might be made on them. Rajahpore appeared to be (with the exception of Bombay) the best station, if a fort could be built, and a proper guard fixed at it ; but, in the meantime, they had remained at Surat, and kept up the factory at Scindy, which promised to be an useful station for obtaining cloths, both for the English and Persian markets. The obstructions to trade had also been increased on the West of India, by the interference of Courten's factors and ship- ping : — Captain Weddel had landed his goods at Rajahpore, and got permission from the Governor to send an Agent, with a present, to the King of Visiapore, to solicit a Phirmaund for trade in his dominions, who had been so favorably received, that Weddel had made a quick investment of pepper and saltpetre, and this would render his voyage so profitable, that he would, probably, on his return to England, solicit the enlargement of his privileges. The Company's Resident at Rajahpore, protest- ed, as this port lay to the north of Goa, that the attempt of Captain Weddel to interfere at it, was contrary to the King's licence for his trade ; — but disregarding this protest, Capt. Weddel settled factories at Batticolo and Carwar ; encroachments which the Presidency could not prevent, from not having a force suffi- cient BAST -INDIA COMPANY. 367 cient to resist them : it was, therefore, submitted, that measures CHAP^. should be adopted in England, to put a stop to the encroach- 1639-40. ments of Courten's people, and, at all events, to confine their trade to the southward of Goa. With, however, the exception arising from the proceedings of the Dutch and Courten's people, the Company's trade at Surat, this season, had on the whole been prosperous, and in particular, a very large and cheap in- vestment of indigo had been made at Agra. (^^ The effect of the new re^rulations, which were introduced by ^^^^ ^^ ^}^^ o ^ J new regula- the President of Surat, for the trade in Persia, and the orders of p^^^gn^Jg^*^® the Court to sell off their furniture at Ispahan, and concentrate their trade at Gombroon, began now to be felt. Phirmaunds had been obtained by the Agent at the Persian Camp, for the delivery of two hundred and sixty-five loads of silk, and for the payment of the arrears of customs at Gombroon : — in this situation, the Agents hoped to obtain the whole of the silk con- tracted for, but were apprehensive that it would be difficult to bring the Persian ministers to enter into a new contract. At Gombroon, the customs had annually decreased, from the fraudulent dealings of the Shahbunder, and from a misunder- standing which had taken place between the King of Persia and the Mogul, who had prohibited his subjects from trading to that port. W The (I) — General Letters from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 28th Janu- ary and 26th February 1639-40. (2)— Letters from the Agent and Council at Ispahan to the Court, dated 3d December 1639, and 28th February 1639-40. 368 ANNALS or THE HONQRABLS ^^^■^'3 ' ^^^ embarrassed situation of the Company's trade at Masu- 1639-40. lipatam, induced that Agency to represent to the CJourt, PhirmauncT obtainedfrom the nccessitv of obtalninfiT some station on the Coromandd the King of "^ ° Goicondah, Coast, that would be more favorable to trade, and at which their for additional privileges of servants and property could be placed in greater security : — and juiipatara. repeated the Opinion, that the fortifications at Armagon ought to be continued, for the protection of the trade on that part of the Coast. Another Agent had been sent to the King of Goi- condah, who had obtained a Phirmaund, for a free trade to the EngUsh Company in his dominions, and prohibiting his sub- jects from again withholding the goods for which they had con- tracted, or refusing the payment of debts due to the Company, In these appUcations the Agent had been opposed by the Dutch, who, notwithstanding the lai'ge presents which they had made, had not been able to obtain a Phirmaund, equally favorable with that panted to the Company. The Naig of Though these, Phirmaunds had so far relieved the Agent and offers perniis- Council at Masulipatam, they still persevered in the plan they had sion to the English toset- submitted to the Court, of finding a situation on the Coroman- tle at that port, and the del Coast, better calculated for the protection of the trade than Portuguese at St. Thora6 Armagon : — ^for this purpose they sent Mr. Day, one of the friendly tothe ^ ^ ^ / ... project. Council, to examine the country in the vicinity of the Portuguese station of St. Thom6, who reported, that Madraspatam was a situation, at which, in his opinion, the best Coast goods could be procured, and that, on his application to be permitted to establish a station at it, the Naig of the district had offered to build a fort, at his own expence, at which, if the EngUsh would BAST-INPIA COMPANY, 369 would settle, they should be exempted from all customs on chap, i . trade. This offer the Agent at Masulipatam recommended to 1639-40. the attention of the Court, as proper to be accepted, without delay, more particularly as the Portuguese at St. Thom6 had behaved in the most friendly manner, and had offered to give every assistance in forming this establishment. <*> (l)-*-Letter from the Agent and Council at Masulipatam to the Courts 28th October 1639. Phirmaund from the King of Golcondah, granting privileges of trade to the English Company, dated in August 1639. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, marked F., unbound, page 195). VOL. I. 3 B 370 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 1640-41. CHAP. I. The events, in Great Britain, in this year, tended to 1640-41. unhinge the whole frame of the established government j — lities of the the charges of conducting an army against the Scots, obliged Crowo oblige the King to the King to assemble a Parliament, conceiving, as his opponents taketheCom- pany'i itore in Scotland had been detected in a correspondence with the of pepper on credit, and to King of France, that the jealousy of the English of foreign sell it at a re- . i • t duced price, interference, would induce the Parliament to grant him supphes : — ^in this expectation he was disappointed, and afraid of losing the only resources on which he had hitherto relied, he dissolved it, after a session of only twenty-two days. This event encreased the discontents, and having broken off with the Scots, led to the ineffectual treaty of Rippon. In this emergency a new Parliament was summoned, to which the King made every possible concession, but without effect ; and these transactions prepared the kingdom for a civil war. Amid such complicated distress, we have to look to the conduct of the East-India Company, struggling to preserve their privileges, and, if possible, to uphold their trade. Among the expedients to which the King, in his necessity, was obliged to have recourse, and which immediately affected the East-India £AST*INDIA COMPANY. 37l East-India Company^ was his obliging them to sell to the chap. i. Crown, the whole pepper which was in store, in their ware- 1640-41. houses, amounting to 2,310 bags, or 607,522 lbs., which was bought by the King, on credit, at 2*. Id. per pound, or 5^63,283. 11^. Irf., for which four bonds, of ^14,000 each, and one for 5^7^283, were given by the Farmers of the Customs, and Lord Cottington, to the Company, and one of these bonds was to be paid regularly every six months : — ^this pepper was sold by the King to different merchants, for ready money, at one shilling and eight-pence per pound, or ^50,626. 17^. Id. (^) This expedient, to which civil commotions alone could iieporttothe King on the have induced the King to resort, could not but affect, indepen- failure of the projected sub- dently of all other circujnstances, the Subscriptions to the new wription for a Fourth Joint Joint Stock, required in the preceding season to be the Stock.andpe- tition for re- basis, upon which the Charter and exclusive privileges of the dress of grie- Company were to be renewed and enlarged ; and it is interest- ing, in the reasons which the Company gave for the failure of this Subscription, to observe, that the sale of the pepper, on credit, is not mentioned ; Vrhich can only be explained, by the expect- ation of favors being obtained from the Crown, and from that reserve which the pubUc confusions necessarily imposed on the minds of men, habituated to act on the principles of mer- cantile caution. In the memorial presented, this year, by the Company to the Privy Council, they introduced their account of the failui-e 3 B 2 of (])«.Statement of the Pepper boaght of the East-India Company by the King. (East- India Papers ia the State Paper Office, No. 125). vances. 372 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. of the Subscription, by recapitulating the substance of the 1640-41. Order in Council of the 10th December 1639, and stated, that as the new Subscription amounted only to ^22,500 (which was totally incompetent to carry on the trade) it now became their duty to inform His Majesty and the Council of the failure of this project, that other measures might be devised for sup- porting the East -India trade, and preventing its falling en- tirely inta the hands of the Dutch, and that, to the following causes, might be attributed the unwillingness of the Pro- prietors, or Adventurers, to enter into the new Subscription, viz. — ^that no recompence had hitherto been obtained for the injuries suffered from the Dutch ; — ^that no trade could, with safety, be carried on with the East-Indies, unless specific re- gulations should be settled by public treaty with that na- tion ; — that whatever restitution or recompence might be obtained from the Dutch, it should be made in Europe, be- cause, in the East-Indies, the English were unable to cope with them by force, as they were, at this time, attacking Goa, the Capital of the Indian possessions of the Portuguese ; — i that the very heavy duties, or customs, levied in England, pre- cluded them from following up the trade, on equal terms with the Dutch ; — ^that, notwithstanding the Order in Council, Mn Courten was fitting out ships from England, and establishing factories in the East-Indies ; — and that regulations had been introduced, relative to the internal management of the Company,, by the Order in Council, particularly in the election of the Governor and other officers^ which the generality of the Adven- turers would not approve. These BAST-INDIA COMPANY^ 3^3 These events, and this plain statement of facts, affect- ^^A P; J; ing the domestic situation of the East-India Company, at this 1640-41 . crisis, afford a view, not only of the sources of the grievances which they had experienced, but the true cause, why the only means, by which their trade could have been restored, or a Fourth Joint Stocky could not be raised. This circumstance is farther interesting, in a public view, as affording evidence of the important services which the Company had rendered to the public, by forming, and by continuing to uphold, a valuable branch of the trade of the nation, at a crisis, when the convul- sions of the State were affording an opportunity to the other maritime powers of Europe (in a particular manner to the Dutch, whose power, at this time, was so paramount in the East) to overwhelm equally the credit, and the speculations, of interlopers, or hcensed Enghsh merchants^ The embarrassments of the Presidency of Sujiat, Embarrass- mcnt of trad© from the power which the Dutch had assumed, of searching atSurat; English vessels, and, in general, fix)m their asserting an exclusive right of trade along the Malabar Coast, had led the President and Cbuncil to recommend the necessity of fix. ing on some station (as Rajahpore) at which the servants and the property of the Company might be protected* The project, however, does not appear to have proceeded on any fixed plan^ except that of selecting some place, at which such a station might 32r4 ANNALS OF THE HONORABl^B CHAPJE^ might be established ; — the President, on this occasion, stated 1640-41, the difficulty he had found, in carrying the Court's orders into ^fiect, for opening a trade, by the Indus, to Scindy and Lahore, for the purchase of cottons and other Indian articles, at a cheaper rate than at Surat, because the Dutch were giving high prices, for large investments, and because the quantity of cloths required by the pilgrims, who had proceeded in great numbers to Judda and Mecca, had raised the prices ; the ex* pectation of receiving Malabar goods from the connexion with ^ the Portuguese, had, also, been disappointed, from the Dutch shipping and force being greater than that of the Portuguese and Enghsh united, and from the country ships having been exposed, to the Dutch, who, without discrimination, had cap- tured them, and carried the crews prisoners to Batavia : — farther, that the expedient of employing Surat seamen in their coasting vessels had not answered, because they discovered to the native Governors the particulars of the cargoes, and, in the event of an attack, refused to defend the ships : — ^these circum- stances had made an unfavorable impression on the natives, who, on all occasions, abandoned that European nation whose power appeared to be on the decline. At the close of the season, the Presidency, having received information that the King was disposed to aiibrd protection to the Company, both against the Dutch, and against Courten's Association, and that the Adventurers had been called on for subscriptions to a new Joint Stock, suited to the exigencies of their foreign trade, had adopted measures in expectation of resources EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 3^5 resources from this fund^ for providing large investments for chap. i. the ensuing season^ but requested, that a supply of men might 1640-41. be sent in each ship, qualified to navigate, and to command the coasting vessels upon which the Malabar trade depended. (^^ The effect of the new regulations which had been introduced ?n^»? Persia, ^ by Courten'g by the President of Surat, during his survey of the trade and ^^^^ ^^^ ports in Persia, and the Company's orders to withdraw the Agency from Ispahan, and to concentrate the trade at Gom- broon, would probably have restored the trade of Persia to its former extent, notwithstanding the bribes and negotiations of the Dutch at Court, bad not, in this season,' Courten's ships and Agents arrived at the Persian ports : — ^the Company's Agent, on this occasion, represented, that the infringements made on the Phirmaunds which the Company had obtained in Persia, by these Agents and shipping, added to the weight which the Dutch stock and shipping had acqidred, had given to them a preponde- rance in the market, and, therefore, unless effectual measures should be taken in England, absolute ruin, not only in this quarter, but of the English trade, in general, must be the con- sequence in every part of the East-Indies. Under such cir- cumstances, the Agent and Council had found it indispen- sable to continue their residence at Ispahan, till they should receive a confirmation of the Comi:'s order to withdraw from it ; and, should this reach them, they submitted the necessity of (l)-^6eneral Letter from the Presideat and Council of Surat to the Courts dated 29th December 1640. 37*5 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^A ^^^; of the Residency being fixed at Shiras, the heats at Grombroon 1640-41. being so violent, as to have produced a great mortality among the Company's servants. At Gombroon, the factors had received two hundred To- mands, in part of the arrears of the customs of the former season, and estimated the customs of the current year at five hundred Toman ds : — ^if, however, the Company would resolve to employ force (and every other expedient had failed) the Agent was of opinion, that their proportion of the customs might be raised to six thousand Tomands per annum.('> Trade open-^ j^ ^j^^ y^^j, 1639-40, and while the Presidency of Surat, as rah. ^^u j^g tiig Agent in Persia, were making every effort to defend themselves against the Dutch and Courten's Association, Mr. Thurston and Mr. Pearce had been dispatched on a voyage of experiment to Bussorah, with the object, if possible, of opening a trade in the Persian Gulf, at a port not subject to that monarchy, and at which it might be more practicable to coun- teract the Dutch, by influence in Europe. These Agents arrived at Cong, in Persia, in April 1640, reached Bussorah on the 31st May, and obtained a licence from the Turkish Bashaw to land their goods, under more favorable circumstances than any other European nation enjoyed. To this market they reported, that Turkish goods, of all descriptions, were brought from Aleppo, by Caravans, but that the sale of Europe goods did not afford much encouragement, the whole of (1) — Letters from the Ageat and Council at Ispahan to the Courts 5ih and 10th June 1G40. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 3^7 of their cargo not producing more than thirty thousand rials, chap. i. owing to the arrival of a large Portuguese fleet from Muscat, 1640-41. by which the market had been glutted : — ^but submitted to the Presidency of Surat, that if the trade to Bussorah should be persevered in, it would be necessary to fix a permanent factory at that port, which would give the Bashaw , more confidence in the trade with the English, than could be expected from single and contingent voyages/*> It had, for a series of years, been the opinion of the Agents MadrastakcD •^ * possession of at Masulipatam, that a fortified situation on the Coromandel ^y the Com- pany 8 Agents Coast was required, to afford protection to the Company's servants ^° « sj^*"^ and property, both against the Dutch, and the native Governors, ^^'? ^^ *^^ and, upon this principle. Fort Armagon had been erected ; but, ^^ ^^• in the two last seasons, the trade in piece goods had not been ^^^* found productive at this station, and, in the preceding year, an Agent (Mr, Day) had obtained an order for trade from the Naig of the district, in the vicinity of St. Thom6, and the offer of building a fort at Madraspatam, at which the English factors would be ia security. The station of Madraspatam was considered to be of such consequence, that, without waiting for the Court's orders on the subject, Mr. Day, who had made the original agreement with the Naig, commenced the building of a fortification, at the expence of the Company, allowing the town to retain its Indian appellation, but giving to the fort the name of Fort St. George. VOL. I. 3 C As (l)-^Letterfrom the Factors at Bussorah, to the Presidency of Surat, 22d June and 18th August 1640. 378 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHA P. L As soon as the strength of this fort offered a security to the 1640-41. native workmen and merchants^ they resorted to it, and expecta-^ tions were entertained, that large and profitable assortments of piece goods might be procured at this place, suited equally to the markets at Bantam, and in Europe/*) dMTt^Ind' Whether the Company's affairs at Bantam had, in the Bantam °^ preceding seasons, been embarassed, from not having received ^Q^^il^^l^^^ supplies from Europe, or whether the Court, during the con- trade/^^' fiisions in England, had been unable to relieve them, or had not received intelligence of the actual circumstances of this branch of their trade, it is difficult to ascertain ; but it would appear, that the President and Council had, for several years, persevered in the trade, as in this season (1640-41) they reported, that the experiment of obtaining pepper at Banjarmassin had failed; — ^that their principal reliance for that article, was on Jambee, at which port they had in store four himdred tons, ready for the ships on their arrival ; — and that, though the pepper crop had failed at Bantam, from excessive rains, they had dis- patched the Caesar, with nearly five hundred tons, for England, on account of the Third Joint Stock/^> (1) — General Letter from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 2gth December l640. (2)— Letter from the President and Council at Bantam to the Court, 17th November 1(540. BAST-INBIA COMPANY. 379 1641-42. The disputes between the King, and the opponents to his chap, i prerogative, which, in the preceding season, had threatened 1641-42. commotions, dangerous to the peace of the reahn, in this ancesof^ii season, unhappily augmented, and led to those trials, which the appiica« were so fatal to distinguished individuals, and to those mea- Company to -.- ,/%,, • n *^® Crown, sures, wmcn were not less fatal to the ancient usages of unavailing. the constitution. In the Annals of the East-India Company^ we have only to refer to these events, to account for the suspen* sion of the applications which the Company had made for re« dress of grievances, by the Dutch, or for protection against Courten's Association ; for, at the close of the season, the King had retired to York, and the civil wars, in fact, were ap^ preaching. In the preceding season it was mentioned, that the King, Company ap- in his distresses to find money to support his authority, had pur- Coitington/ chased the whole of the pepper, in the C5ompany's warehouses, on House of credit, for ^63,000, and had sold it, to different merchants in for payment V , /» 1 • i* • • A , of the bonds London, for ready money, at an inferior price. As a security, granted by the King^ as bonds had been granted by the Farmers of the Customs, and by security for , , the Pepper Lord Cottington ; and as those Farmers were more immediately Debt. bound to pay this debt by instahnents, at specified times, the Company now pressed them to make good their obligations, and 3 C 2 thev 380 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^v^^^Li/ *^^^y> ^f course, applied to Lord Cottington, for relief, under 1641-42, whose influence they had signed the bonds. In the letters of the officers of the Customs to Lord Cottington, of the 20th January 1641-42, they stated, that although the Company had been paid ^13,000, or that amount had been deducted from the duties owing by them, there was still due ^22,500, and another bond for ^14,000 would become due in the ensuing March : — the Deputy of the Company, and the Committees, on that day, had demanded payment, and threatened to put the bonds in force, and arrest the Farmers of the Customs, who declared themselves utterly unable to discharge the debt ; and therefore prayed Lord Cottington, (as he had pledged himself, that even his lands should be sold unless the Company were paid), that immediate steps might be taken for the payment, consistently with honor and justice. (*) In this situation, the Company presented a petition to the House of Commons, stating that there was now. due to them, on the Pepper Debt, above ^47,000, and as the customs due by them amounted to above ^12,000, prayed that this sum might be allowed, in liquidation of part of the debt, and measures taken, to enable them to recover the remainder, of which they were in much want, being under a very heavy debt at interest. <^> (1)— Letter from the Farmers of the Customs to Lord Cottington^ respecting the Pepper Debt to the £ast*India Company^ 20th January 1641-42. (East-India Papers in the Sute Paper OflBce, No. 125). (2) — Petition of the East-India Company to the House of Commons^ relative to the Arrears of the Pepper Debt. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 143). EAST-IKDIA COMPANY. 381 These events shew, that, at home, the Company had to ^^^l^^* struggle eiqually against the grievances from the Dutch, and 1641-42, against Courten's Association, and that their foreign settlements irere left to uphold the trade, by such expedients as they could devise, without deriving any aid from their superiors in England. The expectations communicated by the Court to the Pre- The Presi- dency of Su- sidency of Surat, at the close of the preceding season (1640-41), ^^ on hear- ^ ingofthese- had raised the hope of protection from the King, and supplies paction of the Crowns from the new, or Fourth Joint Stock: — ^these hopes not having ^^ Spain and ' ^ ® Portugal, been realized, from the events which were takinii^ place in Eng:- ^®^"? ^ ^?".- ^ & r -& vedtion with land, we have to foUow up the series of temporary measures, *^® q^^^^P for preservinfiT those privilefices which the Phirmaunds of the "°*»^ ^®- r o r o fence. -Mogul had given, and that inferior portion of the trade^ which the Dutch had not, hitherto, been able to wrest from them. The separation of the crowns of Spain and Portugal had taken place in the year 1640, the intelligence of which reached the East-Indies in this season ; the Presidency of Surat, there- fore, anticipated, that the Portuguese settlements in the East- Indies would, on reverting to that sovereignty under which they had been originally established, become of such consequence to its resources, that they would regularly receive supplies of money, and of troops, for their defence. Though the States Ge- neral 382 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE neral had acquired their independence, m consequence of a war with Spain, in Europe, and had, while Spain and Portugal were united under the same sovereign, just grounds for wresting from the Portuguese their settlements in the East-Indies^ now that Portugal was again a separate kingdom, the Dutch could not make war on their settlements in the East-Indies, without^ at the same time, openly declaring war against their European dominions. The President and Council of Surat, on this occasion, dispatched one of their ships, with an Agent, to Groa, to con- gratulate the Viceroy, on the accession of the House of Braganza to the Crown of Portugal, and, at the same time^ to solicit his permission to fix an Agency at Goa, for the purpose of purchas- ing assortments of Malabar goods, pepper^ cardamoms, &c., and to represent, as a Convention had been made for mutual support and accommodation, between the London Company's settlements and those of the Portuguese, that the ships and Agents of Courten's Association ought to be excluded from the Portuguese ports. To induce the Viceroy to accede to these propositions, the Presidency- of Surat accompanied their application with a review of the existing power and commerce of tlie Dutch in the East-Indies, and an estimate of their European investments, with the number and force of their fleets, and the resources which had enabled them to acquire the command of the trade of Japan, China, and the Spice Islands; to take possession of Malacca, to raise the siege of Columbo, which the Portuguese would EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 383 would Otherwise have taken, and to make prizes of their ships, ^^^P. J- and, in great measure, to keep Goa, the seat of their govern- 1641 -42. ment and trade, in a state of blockade. The Viceroy of Goa had already been making exertions to revive and re-establish the ancient relations between the Crown of Portugal and the native princes and states; the Agent, therefore, offered the co-operation of the London Company, to preserve the relative trade and settlements of the two nations, till information should arrive of the measures of the two Crowns in Europe, who probably would fix some arrange- ment with the States General, for placing the interests of the three nations in the East, in future, in a state c^ greater security. The Vicercyjr listened to these propositions, and a friendly intercourse was settled, as the dispatches to his Court were put on board one of the Company's ships, to be delivered either to the Portuguese Ambassador at London, or forwftrded, accord- mg to circamstances, to Lisbon. 0) The difficulties of the Company's trade in Persia were Trade in Per- *- "^ siaprecarioasi referred to the continuance of the intriffues of the Dutch, and f*'^^^ *^* *'®* ^ * ing unknown to the interferences of Courten's agents and shipping: — ^the ^1^®^*^?^ ^^® former were selling Europe goods at a loss, that they might ®J^ to protect emnross the Persian produce, and the latter were raising °/ Courtcn*« o r ^ o Association. doubts in the Persian Government, of the degree of protec- tion which the King of England would give to the London Company. (1) — General Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 27th Janoarj l64i-42. 384 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Company. These circumstances, and the situation of the factory 1641-42. at Gombroon, the irregularities in that market, the difficulty of recovering debts, and the continued burden of making pre- sents to the King, to procure Phirmaunds on each distinct subject, had frequently made the charges exceed the profits of the trade ; but the Agents determined to preserve the right to the customs at Gombroon, which in this year, yielded seven hundred Tomands, though this sum was not equkl to the Com- pany's moiety, from the constant evasion of the Dutch, and the theft of the Persian merchants. (^> The project of fixing a factory at Bussoh^ui, had become more difficult from a civil war in that province ; • the President therefore sent the goods intended for Bussorah to Mocha, at which the market was open, and the articles better suited for the trade of India, and the investments for Europe. <^> The Agency * jt had been, not only an opinion of the Company's factors George rcn- at Masulipatam, but of the Presidencies of Bantam and Surat, dered subor- ^ dinate to f^j. several years, that the purchase of Coromandel Coast goods was of great importance for the Southern trade, and bene- ficial in the exchanges with Persia, and an important source of articles for the Europe sales ; but, in the immediately preceding season, it was found, that though Fort Armagon was a station which (1) — General Letter from the President and Council at Sarat to the Courts 27th January 1641-42.—— Letters from the Agent and Council at Ispahan to the Courts 8th June 1641. (2) — General Letter from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 27th ^anuary 1641-42. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 385 which could control the oppression of the native Governor of Ma- P^^^ ^l* sulipatam^ and afford a retreat to the Company's servants and 1641 -42. property at that port, yet that the goods obtained on this part of the Coast, were neither equal in quality, nor quantity, to those got at the Portuguese station of St. Thom6 : and, therefore, a station was fixed at Madraspatam, and the building of Fort St. George commenced. It appears, from the Surat correspondence, that the Court considered the plan of establishing a station at Madraspatam to be hazardous, but, at the same time, had referred the expe-. diency of continuing it, to the President and Council of Surat; who, from the superior quahty of the piece goods obtained at this station, directed the establishment of Fort St. George to be continued ; — and, as the commercial relations were more imme- diate between the Coromandel Coast and Bantam^ this new station was, by the Court's order, to be subordinate to the latter Presidency. <^> The Presidency of Bantam had, in the preceding year. Presidency of Bantam bor- reported to the Court, the failure of their experiments to obtain row money fromtwoPor- pepper and the finer spices, either at that station^ or at its depen* tuguese mer- , ^ chant8,topur- dencies : but, in this season, they represented, that as they chase an in- * "^ vestment. had not received money from England, or piece goods from the Coromandel Coast, sufficient to make the necessary purchases of pepper, they had been obliged^ in order to complete their invest- ment, to borrow six thousand rials from two Portuguese mer- voL. I. 3D chants, (1)— General Letter from the President and Council of Surat to the Coart^ 27th January 1641^2. 386 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP^. chants, but that, even with this fund, they had not been able to 1641-42. procure more than thirteen hundred tons of pepper at Bantam, and at the factories of Japarra, Banjarmassin, and Jambee, for the homeward-bound ships : — if, however, the Court would furnish them with the requisite supply of stock, shipping, and men, they could procure at Siunatra a full assortment of pepper for the Europe and Indian markets, without running the risk of obstructions or opposition by the Dutch, (*> These details discover, at a period when the commotions and civil wars in England were depriving the Company of support from the Crown, and rendering an appeal to any other source impracticable, that the foreign Presidencies and factories of the London Company were, by laudable expedients, preserving, under many difficulties, the direct trade between England and the East-Indies. (1)— Letter from the President and CJouncil of Bantam to the President and Couneil of Surat^ dated 2d August 1641. SAST*INI>IA COMPANY. 38^ 1642-43. In the season 1642-43, the adherents to the Royal cause, ^(^^ ^• and to the Parliament, assumed distinct and decided charac- 1642 -43, Comcnence- ters, and the confusions in Scotland, and the Irish Rebellion ment of the occurring at the same time, the fatal civil war, which was to overset the monarchy, commenced : — successive negotia- tions, for the purpose of abridging the prerogatives of the Crown, and establishing the claims of the Commons, terminated, from time to time, in the military transactions of the adherents of both ; and though the King still endeavored to preserve the forms of the established government, his opponents suc- ceeded in altering the ancient constitution, and laying the foun- dations of a system, which was more conformable to their parti- cular interests and views. The civil or military events, which occurred on this ap- proacliing change of the government, are sufficiently known, and require only to be appealed to, in the Annals of the East- India Company, to account for that uncertainty under which they were placed, both respecting their Charter and privileges, and the measures which they could devise for preserving the trade. The exigencies of the King, in 1640-41, had obliged him, ^^^^^"J ^ among other expedients, to purchase pepper from the East-India ^em of^th' Company, on credit, to the value of ^63,000, which was re-sold ^^" '^*/''' 3 D 2 at 388 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. at reduced prices, and the Company, in the preceding season, 1642-43>. despairing of that protection from the Crown, which, in better times, they might reasonably have expected, sought to preserve their own credit, by recovering this debt, and threatened to put the bonds of the Farmers of the Customs into force ; — ^in this year, however, when the civil wars were commencing, and the unhappy King had been obliged to retire to York, we discover an interesting view of the Royal mind, to relieve his servants, who had entered into obligations to dischai^e this debt. Lord Cottington, in a letter to the King, dated 1st April 1642, stated, that the Parliament had resolved to compel the East-India Company to repay the ^12,000 they had received, as a deduction from the customs due by them, which obliged them to put the bonds in force, particularly his Lordship's, who pur* chased the pepper for the King ; and as this must prove his utter ruin, he prayed His Majesty, that some measure might be adopt* ed, to relieve him, and to satisfy the Company. The King, willing to protect Lord Cottington, and, at the same time, to do justice to the Company, addressed a letter to the Commissioners of the Treasury, dated York, 12th April 1642, desiring them to send for the Governor and Committees, and to signify to them His Majesty's request, that they would forbear any proceedings, to the prejudice of those who had been bound in his behalf, and that they would devise some means, by which they might be satisfied, both for principal and interest of the debt due to them ; and, on the same day, address- ed a letter to the East-India Company, to the same effect. The EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 389 The Commissiouers of the Treasury, in answer to His Ma- CHAP, i^ jesty's letter, stated, that there was now owing by His Majesty, 1642-43. Treasury to the East-India Company, about <5£54,000, for liquidation of propose to sell certain which they proposed, that as His Majesty had several parks, Crown lands, to pay off which were of little use and great charge, some of them might these bonds. be sold, in fee-farm, reserving a small rent to the Crown ; — ^that the King's rents of the manors of Bradbury and Hilton, in the Bishoprick of Durham, produced ^500 per annum, and might be sold for ^9,000 or ^10,000, and that assignments for the remainder of the debt, might be made on the timber and soil of Dean Forest, which was valued at ^7^000 per annum. (*> These events most strongly mark the cruel situation to Subscription which the King was reduced, and the distressed state of General Voy- the Company's affairs, both in their rights and credit; and sufficiently explain the secrecy which had, for several years, been observed, respecting their equipments, and the amount of the money and goods which they exported, and the failure of subscriptions to the projected Fourth Joint Stock, which was to become the source of a renewal of their Charter and privileges. At last, some fund, to become a substitute for that stock, be- came indispensable ; — ^relinquishing, therefore, at this crisis, any subscription, beyond what an immediate supply to the trade re- quired, lest it should be exposed to risks, from the wants of the Crown (1) — Letter from Lord Cottlngton to the King, 1st April 1642.-—— Letters from the King to the Commissioners of the Treasury and East-India Company, dated 12th April 1542.—— Proposals for liquidating the Pepper Debt. (East India Papers in the State Paper* OflSce, Nos. 125, 126, 127). 390 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP 1. Crown, or the demands of its opponents, the Adventurers formed 1642-43. a new Subscription, of ,^105,000, which they cautiously describ- ed to be, for the purpose of the First General Voyage. This Subscription, in part, conesponded with the project of the Fourth Joint Stock, which was to be paid by instalments, and applied to successive voyages, but on a narrower scale, to enable the Company to fit out one general voyage, for this season. The same distinction, however, was observed, as had been proposed, and had been introduced, between the Third and Fourth Stocks, or, to keep distinct accounts of them, as belonging to separate classes of Adventurers. The Coxirt, therefore, intimated to the President and Council of Surat, that the stock and goods sent on this General Voyage, should be cor- rectly distinguished from those which had been embarked on account of the former stock, and specified the proportions of the ^105,000, which were to be applied to obtain investments at the different factories. The same instructions were repeated to- wards the close of the season, and the following orders added, on the manner in which the trade was to be carried on : — in general, to encrease the purchase of Coromandel cloths, the sales of which, at Bantam, it was hoped, would enable that Presidency to encrease the investments in pepper, and the finer spices ; — in particular, to maintain the Company's trade at Surat, and to improve the sales, both of Surat and Coast cloths, at Sumatra, from which profitable returns were expected. The purchase of Persian silks was to be discontinued, the price of that ar- ticle, in Europe, having fallen so low, as to render the trade unproductive j — EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 391 unproductive ; — but agencies were to be continued at Ispahan ^^J^ and Gombroon, to dispose of the Europe and Indian articles 1G42-43, in store, and to recover the Company's debts ; — the trade to Mocha and the Red Sea, at the same time, was to be extended, as the articles obtained in that quarter had been found to be profitable in the Europe market. (^> If the Presidency of Surat had, in 1641-42, been disap- The trade at Siuat revi- pointed in the funds from the new or Fourth Joint Stock, and ved, on re- ceiving infor- in the expectations they had entertained of a new Charter, mationofthis subscription. excluding Courten's Association, they, in this season, receiv- ed information of the Subscription for the JFlrst General Payagey and formed their accounts in such a manner, as to keep this fund distinct from the Third Joint Stock, which they were to wind up, agreeably to their instructions. They do not seem to have approved of the conduct of the President and Council at Bantam, whom they accused of having contracted much debt, and yet procured but scanty investments ; but this complaint will be found to have proceeded from disgust at the new establishment at Fort St, George, and the Coast factories having been made subordinate to Bantam : — at the same time, they described the connexion between Surat and Goa to be improving, the (])— Letters from the Court to the President and Council of Surat, 29th November 642]^ and 24th March l642-43.^olume marked No. 22). 392 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP L the Viceroy having declared his intentions to maintain amicable 1642-43. relations between the Portuguese and English. The Company's trade at Surat, in this year, was productive, from having procured a large quantity of indigo from Agra, at rates which induced them to take up ^20,000 at interest ; —the purchases at Ahmedabad and Scindy had been consider- able, both in cloths and indigo. A large supply of stock would, however, be required, without which the present favorable aspect of trade could not be preserved : and the Ck>mpany must build ships of their own, for the Indian trade, rather than take up ships on freight, because, independently of the superior strength with which their ships would be constructed, the President and Ck>uncil could exercise more authority over their own captains and officers, than over those of freighted ships. O SuTt^ Abbaf "^^^ political situation of Persla, in this year, had change^, of PersS ^y *^^ ^^^*^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^' ^* Casbin, in May 1642, and the adopteTfor ^^cession of his son, Sultan Abbas ; the attention of the Agents, HTiriundl!^ therefore, had been directed, in compliance with the usages of that government, to solicit the renewal, or rather confirmation^ of the former Phirmaunds, and to renew the contracts. On both of these subjects, they had to struggle against the intrigues of the Dutch, but their applications had been favorably received by the new King, at Casbin, and the greater part of the Phir- maunds and contracts renewed and confirmed ; they had not^ however. (1)— L^tterf from the President and Council of Sarat to the Courts 1 7th January and 20th March 1642*43. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 393 however, been able to procure a grant for the redress of the P^^^l' frauds committed at Gombroon, which had precluded them 1642-43 from receiving the Company's proportion of the customs. With respect to the Persian trade, in its connexion with India, the President and Council of Surat stated, that Decan and Coromandel goods formed a more profitable article of sale in Persia, than the English produce sent out by the Company^ in the disposal of which they were und^sold by the Persian merchants, who brought EngUsh cloths from Aleppo. ^^> The first regular communication firom Madras, or Fort St. p*"' regular comraanica* George, occurs in this season, in which the Agent and Council !»<>" ^^^^ ^ ' ° Madras; informed the Court, that though they regretted the building of Fort St. George had not met with their approbation, they, at the same time, represented, that if either the Coast or Car- natic trade was to be persevered in, the erection of this fort was absolutely necessary, it having been, by experience, found, that the strengthening the houses at Surat and Bantam, by fortifying them, had been the means of acquiring or recovering the trade, and that the example of the Dutch was a case in point, who, by fortifying Pullicat, had acquired a large share of the Coromandel trade : — ^in obedience to the Court's orders, the Agents at Madras would, in future, act as subordinate to the President and Council of Bantam ; the chief factory on the Coast had been removed from M asuhpatam to Madras, and it would be equally necessary VOL. I. ' 3 E to (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts dated ]7th January and 20th March 1642-43. 394 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHA P. I . to bring all the Company's stations on the Coast to act in 1642-43. subordination to the Agency at Fort St. George. (*> — and from In this season, also, the Company received its first regular Bengal. dispatch from Bengal. The same Agent, Mr. Day, who had been so successful in establishing the station at Madraspatam, had proceeded on a voyage of experiment to Ballasore, at which he found there had existed a regular and profitable coasting trade between the Coromandel Coast and Bengal, in which the exchanges of Coast for Bengal goods had yielded considerable profit ; and, therefore, he recommended to the Court to fix a sta- tion at Ballasore, which, if well supplied with goods and money, would open a profitable trade, and, at all events, that it would be unwise, either to neglect, or desert the speculation of a trade in Bengal. (^) Statement of The President and Council of Bantam having, this season, the respective j^J^^^^^st of the received information from England, of the Subscription for the Stock and ^^^ qj. General Voyage, and the Court's instruction to keep the F'rst Gei.eral J^'^ ^ r Voyage, at accounts of the Third Joint Stock, and those of this new fijnd, distinct, completed the account of the Third Joint Stock, and found, that the desjierate debts with which it was burdened, at Bantam, and at the subordinate factories, amounted to 92,267 rials, and its quick stock to 109,800 rials, which, therefore, should be kept as a separate concern ; meantime, that they would employ (r) — Letter from the Agent and Council of Fort St. George to the Court, 5th Novem- ber] 642. (2)— Letter from Mr. Day to the Court, dated Ballasore^ 3d November l642. EJIST- INDIA COMPANY. 395 employ every exertion to purchase pepper and spices, to form an ^^^L/' investment for the First General Voyage. 1642-43, On taking into consideration the Courtis orders of placing Madraspatam, as subordinate to the Presidency of Bantam, the President and Council had hitherto only been able to examine the. charges incurred in building Fort St. George, which, with the Court, they held to have exceeded what ought to have been laid out on this project ; but, at the same time, considered Coast cloths to be of the highest importance, in promoting the success of the pepper trade at Bantam, and at its subordinate factories. (^> 3 E 2 (I)— Letter from the President and Council of Bantam to the Court, 13th January 1042-43. 396 AKNALS OF THE HONORABL.E 1643-44. CHAP^ Ip it was necessary, in the preceding year, to refer to the 1643-44. civil war whicTi was threatening the existence of the monarchy. Effect of the . . . i ^ , civil war on and raising its opponents to undefined power, we must, (in the Compa- , ny's equip- order to comc at the circumstances which compelled the Lon- ments and trade. don East-India Company to seek immediate support from a limited subscription of the Adventurers,) refer, also, in 1643-44, to the civil war, which had become general over the three kingdoms, and to the varied success which attended the enter- prizes of the Royalists, and of the forces which assumed the name of those of the Parliament ; that we may bring into notice the embarrassments under which the useful arts and commerce were placed, and assign to the London Company the merit of having still kept up their shackled commerce and navigation, that they might preserve to their country its share, with the other maritime nations of Europe, of a foreign, and (had it been supported) valuable trade to the realm. In November 1643, the East-India Company prepared, vidth the same secrecy and caution, their shipping and stock of money, and merchandize for the outward voyage. Whether the resources for either, were drawn from a part of the stock of the EAST-INDIA COMPANY, 397 the General Voyage, or from credit, does not appear, though, ^^^p^l from the nature of the instructions given to the foreign Presi- 1643-44. dencies, the hope of supporting the trade appears stronger in this, than in the preceding year. In 1642-43, the Company were disposed to relinquish the The trade ^ ^'^ ^ ^ ^ chieflydirect- silk trade, or that of Persia, and to confine the proceedings of ed to the Malabar and their Agents to selling off their goods and getting in their dehts ; Coromandei Coasts. to try purchases at Mocha, and to push the trade on the Ma- labar and Coromandei Coast, to invigorate the trade at Ban- tam, that assortments of pepper and cloth might be brought into the Europe market. In 1643-44, the Court receded, in some degree, from this narrow system, for they gave instructions to the foreign Presidencies to endeavor to find out new markets, in the countries within their Umits, at which produce might be ob- tained, suited to the home sales, particularly to enlarge the in- vestment in indigo and piece goods ; but explained, that their ex- ports of British produce and merchandize coidd only be made on a low scale, from the pubUc confusions having enhanced the prices, particularly that of the important article of lead, and, therefore, whatever they might have in store, might be raised in price, as the same causes, which prevented them from ob- taining this article, affected the purchase of it, either by their foreign or domestic opponents. After explaining this depressed situation of their affairs, they informed the Presidency of Surat, that they had built two new ships, expressly for the country trade, and had directed them to touch at Mosambique, and take in such articles as might be 398 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. be saleable in India. With these, and the stock on board, 1643-44. they were first to proceed to Masulipatam and Madras, at which having made an investment of piece goods, one ship was to go to Surat, and supply the trade from that port with goods, suited to the demands of Gombroon or Persia, and the other ship was to proceed to Bantam, .and there dispose of the Coast goods for pepper and spices ; it being remembered, that the sums apportioned to each of these branches of trade, should not be diverted to any other channel or purpose, and that the general object of both should be, to make up a full and valuable invest- ment for the Company's home sales. (*> The plan which the Dutch had, for years, been pursuing. Competition ...... . between the of directing their intrigues with the native powers, to undermine English and ^ /^ r ^ Dutch, for and subvert the privileges of the London Company, at Surat, obtaining ^ r j y Phirmaunds and, in general, on the West of India, in this year exhibited a from the •^ Mogul, and more extensive line of influence ; for besides ne£^otiations with from his sons. ^ the Mogul, they now became jealous of the relations which had been established, between the Viceroy of Goa and the President and Council of Surat. At the Mogul's court, they had been profuse in their presents, both to that Sovereign, and to his sons, with the object of acquiring immediate and successive Phirmaunds, that if the throne should become vacant, their trade, in the different provinces and ports, might be protected by the successful (1) — Letter from the Court to the President and Council of Surat, dated 17th November 1643. £AST-IK1>IA COMPANY. 399 successful competitor: considering, thus, the sums they paid, chap. i. as all directed to the admission to the Mogul ports of tbeir ship- 1643-44- ping and trade, and an exemption from the payment of cus- toms, and obtaining a decided preference in the market over the English Company. It is interesting to look, at this time, at the inferior light in which the Mogul and his sons held the commerce of the Euro* peans, when that profusion of presents, to which the Presidency refers, is estimated only at nine thousand rupees : this circum- stance maiks, also, the low state of the Company's funds, when the Presidency informed the Court that, on consultation, it had been resolved to make this advance of money, to follow the example of the Dutch, and make large presents to the Mogul and his 6ons, to induce them to grant to the English, similar Phir- maunds with those which the Dutch had acquired. The jealousy of the Dutch, of the increasing amity between Jealousy of the Viceroy of Goa, and the Presidency of Surat, would appear the connexion only a continffency, if the form which it assumed did not li^^ ^^»*^^ ^^^ •^ o .^ ^ Portuguese. lay open the sources of, those negotiations, which, in a few years, we shall find terminating in the dereliction, by the Por- tuguese, of their power in the East-Indies, by reducing it to a few ports, on the acknowledgement of their exckisive right to the Brazils. The Dutch Governor General at Batavia, Antony Van Diemen, at this time sent a Commissary, Peter Borel, to Goa, to negotiate a treaty of peace with the Viceroy, evidently with the object of weakening the relations between the Portuguese and 400 ANNALS OF THS HONORABLS CHAP. I. and English^ which, he could not but observe, were becoming 1643-44. stronger, since the accession of the House of Braganza to the Crown of Portugal. Van Diemen was probably instructed from Europe, of the probable re-establishment of the political relations betwen England and Portugal, as this kingdom was again separa- ted from Spain ; availing himself, however, of the low state of the Portuguese force in the Indies, and particularly of the advantages which the Dutch fleet had gained over them at sea, Borel proposed, that the Portuguese should cede to the Dutch their possessions in the Island of Ceylon ; but the forces of the Portuguese having been successful in that island, where, after a severe conflict, they had defeated the Dutch, and taken Negom- bo, the Viceroy rejected the proposition as inadmissible. As the cession of Ceylon was the basis on which the projected treaty was to proceed, the negotiation broke off, and the Dutch re-as- sembled their fleet off Groa, and renewed the blockade. These events account for the difliculties under which the Presidency and Council at Surat were placed, independently of the low state of their funds, in making up their investments, which was farther depressed by Courten's shipping, which had established a factory at Acheen, and obtained a proportion of pepper. (^> The Court's ^s the Agency at Ispahan, though ordered by the Court to Pc^sianir^^^^^^ bc relinquished, was, upon consultation, found to be necessary, ail'o'n lirtliat ^^ obtaining the Phirmaunds from the new King, which we left the (I)— Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, dated 17th January and J 2th February 1643-44. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 401 the Company's servants soliciting at Casbin, it was resolved to cha p, i. continue it, till specific instructions from the Court should be 1643-44* country could received, or positive orders from the Presidency of Surat, to not be com- plied with. which they were subordinate ; and this necessity was rendered more urgent, by the importance of additional Phirmaunds to preserve the Company's right to the customs at Gombroon, and to recover the arrears ; — ^it being remembered, that a Phirmaund from the King was uniformly requisite, either to confirm rights or to recover debts. * Though these proceedings do not explain the actual state of trade in Persia, in this season, they discover that the Presidency of Surat had resolved to continue it, and to preserve the rights at Gombroon ; and this resolution was farther confirmed, by their determination to continue the factory at Bussorah, which was beginning to yield advantages, and encouragement to continue the trade to the Gulf of Persia. 0> From the communications between Bantam and M adbas. The trade be« tween Ma- in 1642-43, it has appeared, that, notwithstanding the doubts dras, Benga]> and Bantansj which the Court had repressed, of the expediency of erecting preserved. Fort St. George, that at Bantam (subordinate to which Madras had been placed) and at Fort St. George, the opinion of the necessity of this station continued to prevail. At Bantam, the President and Council stated, that if it was intended to continue VOL. I. 3 F the (1)-— Letter from the Agent and Coancil at Ispahan to the Coort, dated 11th August 1043.— —Letter from the President and Cooncil at Snrat to the Courts dated 17th Jaooary 1643-44. 402 AIJNALrS OP THE HONORABLE ^^^^ the Coast trade, the fortifications at Madras, (the first indepen^ 1643-44. dent station the English had acquired in India,) must be consider- ably increased, as this would have the effect of inducing the native artizans and merchants to settle in a town which would he under the English protection, and of which, in a short time, the revenues would be suflficient to defray the charges of the garrison ; — that the privileges obtained from the Naig were extensive, provided the Presidency of Bantam could furnish stock sufficient to invigo- rate the trade. In this season, however, the trade had experi- enced considerable embarrassments, from the prevalence of wars between the different Naigs, in the provinces adjoining the fort. The connexion between Bantam and the Coast, and between Madras and Bengal, had been preserved, with a view to com- mercial exchanges ; the orders of the Court, therefore, were re- quested, whether the factory formed in Bengal should be continu- ed or dissolved. At Bantam, the Presidency were protected by the King, and a considerable supply of pepper was this season expected, not only at this station, but from the subordinate factories, provided sufficient stock and goods should arrive from England, to facilitate the purchases of this article, and of the finer spices, described by the Court, to be of so much importance in the home sales. In the Eastern Seas, the Dutch had, this season, been suc- cessful in their conquests, having got possession of M accassar, and, by this event, of the inlet to the Spice Islands ; and, not-. withstanding BAST-INDIA COMPANY, 403 withstanding the just right of the Enghsh to the Island of Pola- chap. i. roon, they had refused to cede it to the Company, unless they 1643-44, should receive positive orders irom the States General to that effect. (») (1) — Letters from the President and Council at Bantam to the Court, 9th December 1643, and lOth January 1643-44*— Letter from the Agent and Council at Fort St Greorge to the President and Council at Bantam, 25th August 1643. 3 F 2 404 ANKALS OF THE BOKORABX.E 1644-45. CHAP. I. From the period at which the Royal authority was abridged^ 1644-45. and therefore unable to grant to the London East-India Company The East-In- dia trade af- that redress which they had solicited, and, more particularly, fected by the , t . i i x^ t -r • continuation from the period at which the projected Fourth Joint Stock was of the civil , wart. to become the basis of the renewal of their Charter and privileges, to enable them to resist Courten's Association of Interlopers, it has been necessary to refer annually to the convulsions in the government of England, which were desolating the British do- minions, that we might discover the real causes of the decline of the useful arts and commerce, the obstructions in the ex- ports by the outward ships, and the hazards run in bringing Indian articles for the home sales. Amid these public evils, the proceedings of the Company appear the more meritorious, when it is considered, that, by those proceedings, the right of the nation to the trade to the East-Indies was preserved, which otherwise must have fallen into the hands of the Dutch. If, in 1643-44, it was doubtful whether the Royalists, or what was termed the army of the Parliament, would prevail, the success of the one, in 1644-45, though promising in some quarters, was as doubtful, as the submission of the other ; and the most material circumstance, perhaps, which occurred in this year, was the rise of the power of the Independents. This event. EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 405 event, at first, created a division among the opponents of the ^^^;3 King, by the great authority which the leaders of this sect had 1644-45. acquired, and rendered the war more doubtful in its issue, at the close of this, than it had been in the preceding year. At all events, therefore, neither the King, nor the leaders of the Parliament, could afford protection to the London East-India Company, who, at home, depended on expedients to preserve their Charter and trade, and abroad, gave discretionary powers, rather than distinct instructions, to their establishments and factories. This situation of the Court of Directors, appears from the Discretionary -..V 1. ii/»i*i • orders given description they gave to their servants abroad, of their domestic for the oro- distresses : — ^they informed them, that they had continued their vestments. equipments, and had sent a proportion of stock and goods, but that they must leave to their discretion, the selection of such articles for the home market, as they might think would most readily find a quick and profitable sale ; — ^that whatever Lahore indigo, or Coast cloths, they might ship for Europe, ought to be of such qualities, as, by their intrinsic value, would find pur- chasers, but not to send any articles on speculation ; — that the articles sent from England were proportions of broad-cloth and lead, with corals from Italy, in the hope that these might be disposed of in the Persian market j — ^that the proportion of money sent, was in foreign coins, and silver in bars, to purchase pepper and cardamoms on the Malabar Coast, and that the silver, in particular, would purchase Coromandel cloths with ad- vantage, either to be sent to Bantam, for pepper and finer ^ spices, 406 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE c^P^- spices, or for the home sales ; if any surplus should remain, it 1644-45. was to be invested in Surat and Scindy cloths, or in silks, if they could be obtained from Persia ; always considering the station at Gombroon to be preserved, on account of the customs, and to recover debts, rather than from ultimately expecting that the Persian trade would be productive. ^^^ burgeon It had been a resolution of the President and Council of Bough ton's influence, at SuRAT, in 1643-44, to Counteract the influence which the Dutch the Mogul's Court, the jj^d acquired at the Court of the Mogul, by presents to that coDfirming sovereign, and to his sons, to obtain, for the London Company^ trade in Ben- Phimiauuds, equally favorable with those which their rival had acquired : — ^this expedient had obtained an order for the abate- ment of the duties on customs, on the goods purchased at Ah- medabad, Agra, and Brodera. An incident, in this state of rivalship of the two European nations, occurred, which, from the important effects that ensued, could not have been augured. The surgeons of the English Indiamen had acquired, for their skill in curing the disorders of the principal Mogul officers, a reputation, which made them known at Court. Assalet Khan, a nobleman of high rank, ap- plied to the Presidency of Surat to recommend a surgeon to reside at Agra, and they selected Mr. Gabriel Boughton, surgeon of (1)— Letter from the Court to the President and Council at Surat, dated 29tli March 1G44, (Vol. 22). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 40/ of the Company's ship Hopewell, for that duty, who was after- pHAP^i. wards appointed surgeon to the Emperor. His success gave to 1644-45. the English an influence in the Mogul's Court, which, in the sequel, we shall find to be the source of the valuable privileges which the London Company acquired in Bengal. The Presidency of Surat reported, that the competition of the Dutch, in the Agra market, had raised the price of indigo so high, as to render it difficult to meet the Court's orders for large purchases of that article, and that the sale of the English jbroad-cloths had been obstructed by the great quantities import- ed, and brought to market, by the private traders « The project of the Dutch, of opposing the English trade. The Dutch continued' in every part of India, and though the Portuguese at vemio^n wUh Goa had acted up to the stipulations in the Convention, the gueseTtGoa. negotiation between Van Diemen and the Portuguese Viceroy, which in the former year had been broken off, was renewed in this season, and on the 1st November 1644, a treaty was concluded, between these nations, by which the prizes taken by either were to be given up, and a moiety of the cinnamon ceded to the Dutch. This event had rendered the English Convention with the Portuguese more precarious, because it had introduced Dutch traders into the Portuguese ports, and caused a competition for such articles, as the Enghsh had hitherto been able, exclusively, to purchase, under the terms of the Convention : — this accounts for an abridgment of the investment from the West of India, in . this season. The 408 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. The Presidency of Surat continued to be harassed by Cour* 1644-45. ten's shipping, one of which (the William) was this season wrecked, one hundred and fifty leagues frcmi the Cape ; but anxious to draw, even from this incident, adyantage to the Company, the Presidency had purchased the remains of the wreck, and granted bills on the Court for the vahie, giving the surviving crew a passage to Madras, where they were taken into the Company's service, to recruit the garrison. This act, however humane, had not the effect of lessening the opposition of Courten's Agents, to the plans which, under the instructions of the Court, the Presidency had been adopting, for eictending the trade to all the countries within the Company's limits ; for, notwithstanding their knowledge that the Presidency had sent the Hind, a small vessel, on a voyage of experiment to Macao and Manilla, under the charge of Mr. Thurston, and Mr. (afterwards the eelebrated Sir Greorge) Oxenden, and letters of recommendation ttom the Vice- roy of Groa, Courten's Agents obtained similar recommendatioDs, and dispatched one of their ships to China, to wrest, if possible, the advantage of this experiment from the Company. <*> Persian trade It does not appear, that either the President at Surat, or decreased, * ^ * from silks the Company's Ag^its in Persia, had, as yet, received those much worn instructions from the Court, under which the trade in that conn- in England as formerly, try could be relinquished, or persevered in:— whence, in this year, we have only to contemplate the measures which the Pk-e- sident of Surat adopted, for continuing the Persian trade, and keeping (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Court; 28th November J 644, and 3d January 1644-45. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 409 keeping up the right to the customs at Gombroon, and the report ^^^^'\' which those Agents sent of the actual state of that trade. 1644-45. At first, the Agents, by presents to the King and to the Shahbunder, tried to preserve the Company's right to the cus- toms at Grombroon ; but the trade at that port had so declined, that they expressed a doubt, whether the amount of customs would balance the charges incurred in the collection, as they had not exceeded, in the last year, six hundred Tomands : — they had applied, however, to the King, for the four additional Phir- maunds which had been promised, on the subjects of the contracts of silk, and the customs, and it is singular, that though, hither- to, all die efforts of the Agents in Persia had been directed to obtain the largest possible quantity of silk, in this year these Fbiirmaunds were refused, because the English did not take off the same quantity, which, hitherto, they had been accustomed to receive under the Royal favor ; and it is not less singular, and a memorable proof of the efl^t of the political distractions in England, at this period, that the Agent was compelled to explain to the King of Persia, the reason of this change to be, the dis- tracted state of the Government in England, in which the rigid and austere manners of the Republicans had rendered silks (an article of former luxury) less an article in demand, than under the polished manners of a court ; a mdtmcholy ecample of the effect of poUtical anarchy, on commercial prosperity. If the convulsed and austere manners of En^and thus struck at the prosperity of the Compan/s trade in Persia, it m a remarkable contrast to find, at the same juncture, that the VOL. I. 3 6. settled. 410 ANNALS OF THE HO^QEABLE ^w^' settled, though absolute government of Turkey, was favoraWe 1644-45. to the introduction of the Company's trade j because, under such a government, articles of foreign import found a ready sale for the luxury of the great, while this luji^ury facilitated the ex- ports of Turkish produce, favorable to the sales of the English, and therefore, the Presidency of Surat desfuibedi ]the ^M^ry at BussoRAH, to have become one of the most imp0r^^t centres of exchange which the Company, at this time, enjoyed, as, at that port, they were, as yet, unmolested by the Dutch. ^*> AfFairsatFort Affairs at Fort St. George, in this year, assumed a more St. George assume a important aspect, than hitherto they had done; — the expences promising as- i -r-i 111 rs pect. of building the Fort amounted, already, to ^2,294, and would stUl require ^2,000 more, to render this station impreg- nable to the native powers. The country was, M this time, desolated, and the trade obstructed, by the contending interests of the Moors and Hindoos ; should, however, the fortifications be completed, a garrison of a hundred soldiers, with proper officers, would be required for its defence ; and though the profits of the trade would not, as yet, compensate for the charges of a garrison, the Company would soon acquire a valuable proportioa of the Coromandel trade from this station, both for Bantam and the Southern markets, for exchanges in Bengal, and more par- ticularly for the home sales.: <^^ (l)..^LeUer from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 28th November 1^44. Letter from the Agent and Council at Gombroon to the Court, 27th March l644. (2)— Letter from the Agent and Council of Fort St. George to the Court, 8th Septem- ber 1644. EAST^INDIA COMPANY. 411 1645-46. In the successive years of the Civil War, which was deso- CHAP. i. lating the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 1645-46. ■ ^ . , 1 , . TheCivil arts and trade were necessarily borne down, and the commerce of Wars render the sales of the East-India Company, in a particular manner, was exposed Indian pro- .... duce uncer* to distress, from their exports being abridged m quantity, and tain. increased in price, and from the sales of their imports having become hazardous. In 1645-46, the alternate success of the armies of the Royalists, and of the Parliament, increased those difficulties, and terminated in the battle of Naseby, which depressed the Royal- ists, and rather raised to power the leaders and generals of the Parliament, than led to those political changes, which were held out to their followers and dependents, as benefits to the people. Reference to this internal situation of Great Britain and Ireland, accounts for the instructions which the East-India Com- pany sent to their foreign Presidencies, being expressed with reserve, concerning the civil commotions, and for discretionary powers being continued, to purchase, rather valuable articles of Indian produce, than large quantities of them. (^> 3 G 2 The % (1)— Letter from the Court to the President and 0)Dncii of Surat^ 26th March 1646« (Vol. iii. No. 221). 412 ANKALS OF THE HONOBABLB CHAP. I. The promising appearances of commercial advantages at 1645-46. SuRAT^ and on the West Coast of India^ by Fhirmamids from tion betwMD ^^^ Mogul^ gave way^ in this season (1645-46)^ to the superior and Porta- means of the Dutch, to purdiase those grants. The benefits pressed ^he from the Conyention, between the Ihresident of Surat and the Surat aod Viceroy of Goa, were also decreasing, in consequence of the treaty between the Dutch and the Portuguese ; a treaty which was a matter of necessity with die Viceroy, but which compelled him to give the preference, in the Portuguese ports, to an 6Ld enemy, now become a new ally. As if those evils had not been sufficient to overset the Presidency of Surat and its dependencies^ they were accompanied by another, which became the source of a most serious alarm : — Courten's Agents and shipping having been unsuccessful, the credit of these Interlopers, of course,, declined ; and it was apprehended, that they would seise on the vessels and cargoes belonging to the native powers, as an inune- diate resource, to relieve them from losses and distress. The impression that such would.be their conduct had become general, for the Governor of Surat, and the Dutch, declared to the Presi- dent and Council, that they would hold them to be responsible for any depredations which their countrymen might commit, at a time, when they most have observed, that the Company's Presi- dencies and Ajrents had prohibited any of Courten's ships or Agents, entering any of the ports, at which the Company's fac- tories EAST-INDIA COM PANT. 413 twies were settled. These embarrassments account for the invest- chap i. ment from Surat and its dependencies being small ; for, at Cochin? 1645 - 46. and along die Malabar Coast, the Portuguese, since their treaty with the Dutch, refused to give the English a proportion of pepper, cinnamon, or cardamoms ; and, from the prevailing warp in the Guzzerat, doth could not be procured, either in quantity, quality, or price, as formerly. At Surat, however, the President and Council turned their attention to a trade to Manilla and to the Red Sea. The vessels sent to Manilla, last year, had returned with a cargo of very fine bullion and sapan-wood, which had sold at very considerable profit ; butthe fisurther prosecution of this trade would depend on the Court sending out shipping fitted for it, and furnishing iron and saltpetre, in request in that market : — ^with these means, the President was of opinion, that liberty of trade could not only be obtained, but also pennissicm to settie a factory at Manilla. As the trade in Coromandel goods, between Surat and Mocha, was promising, a vessel was freighted for a voyage of experiment to Swakem, in the Red Sea, at which, it was hoped a trade might be opened ; but the Presidency explained that this project would require a good ship, well armed, to be constantly em- ployed between the Coromandel Coast and the Red Sea. <^> The Dutch had, hitherto, by presents and by intrigues, The Dutch obtain favor- obtained a share in the trade of Persia ; but, in this season, they able Phir- * _ roaunds from resorted to what the Ei^lisfa Agents had often recommended, the King of the (i)--66iieral Letters from the President and CouilGil of Somt to the Courts 3Ut Marcb 1645^ and 3d January 1645-46. 414 ANNAJU5.0F THE HON0RABI.E CHAP. I. the employment of force, to compel the Persians to give them 1645 -46, almost an exclusive right to the trade in their country. Be*- havinga large sidcs bringing a large fleet into the Gulf, the Dutchy fleet in the . Persian Gulf, in the autumn of 1645, embarked on it a military foFce, with which they made an attack on the castle of Kishmi^ t — this event so alarmed the King and the Shahbunder, that they solicited an armistice from Commodore Block, the- commander of the Dutch, and offered to make peace with that nation, and to grant them the most favorable terms of trade :—• Commodore Block was even permitted to proceed to Ispahan, and was graciously received by the King, and though he died at that city, soon after his arrival, the terms of peace were adjusted*, and hostilities ceased between the Persians and Dutch, who ob-^ tained a licence to purchase silk in any part of Perisia they might please, and to export it free of customs ; this- change not only depressed the English trade in Persia, but affected that which they had been forming, between the Coromandel Coast and that country, of which the Dutch now got possession, and followed up their superiority so effectually, that they immediately directed eight of their ships to proceed up the Gulf to Busso- rah, where they almost ruined the English factory. The Company *s factory at Gombroon, during these events, was every day in a more precarious situation, though the Agents still kept up their claim to the proportion o^" customs, of which they had received, for last year, six hundred and sixteen To- mands ; but such had been the effect of the Dutch power on the Persian government at this port, that Commodore Block, the BAST- INDIA COMPANY. 415 the Dutch commander, demanded the restoration of four thou- chap, i. sand nine hundred Tomands of money, extorted from the Dutch 1645 -46. Agents, on former occasions. It was in this situation of affairs, and to avoid the consequences of the war between the Dutch and Persians, that the Agents found it necessaiy to embark the Company's property at Gombroon, and send it to Bussorah, as a place of i greater security, at which it arrived in safety, in June 1645. 0) On the CoROMANDXJL Coast, the Company's trade was Pbirmamjd ^ "^ solicited from gradually becoming of more importance, which determined the p®,^*"| ^ Agent and Council at Fort St. George to send an Agent, with a f^"^ confirm- present, to the King of Golcondah, to obtain a confirmation from °^ Madras to him of the grant and privileges which had been originally pro- cured from the Naig of the district ; — assigning as a reason, that, if properly supplied with shipping and stock, they should be able to procure Coast cloths, not only sufficient to supply the demands for Surat and Bantam, but to become a valuable article in the home sales. <^> (1)— Letter from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 3d January 1 645-6. Letter from the Agent and Council of Ispahan to the President and Council of Surat, 7th September 1645. Letters from the Agents at Gombroon to the Court, l6thMayand l6th November l645.— — Letter from the Agent at Bussorah to the Court, 31st July l645. (2)— Letter from the Agent and Council of Madras^ or Fort St. George, to the Court, dated 1st October l645. 416 AKKALS OF THB HONOR ABLB 1646-47. CHAP. I. The public events of 1646-47 must, for ever, hold oaf m 1646-47. memorable example of the issue of civil dissensions, and of dieir gorernmu calamltous effects on any people. The unfortunate Monarch, beingoverset, almost reduced to despair, took refuge in the Scotch army at ny's equip- Newark, which, though his native subjects, had united with smaU, and the English Parliament, and hesitated only for a short time, tions dUcre- between betraying their King, and obtaining the arrears of their pay : at last, they delivered up their Monarch to the Commission- ers of the Parliament, and, after this ungenerous proceeding, returned with infamy, to their own country. The humiliation of the King was followed by the general desire to lessen, if not to disband, the army of the Parliament, as the heavy taxes which had been imposed for its maintenance, were bearing hard on the people. The army, which was composed chiefly of Independents, of whom Cromwell was the leader, resolved to resist the Parlia* ment, composed chiefly of Presbyterians ; this state of afllairs led to the formation of a Council of Officers, and the nation, divided between Royalists and Parliamentarians, were now divided be- tween the army, and that Parliament which had subverted the Royal power ; as the Monarch was now a prisoner at Hampton Court, and the r^ular Constitution almost dissolved. In EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 417 In «uch a, situation, the arts of peace, and the commerce ^^^^' h they nourish, were necessarily suspended; and all we can 1646-47. icoUect of the conduct of the East -India Company, in this trying situation, is, that they formed their equipment on a limited scale, and (as in the preceding season) accounted to their V foreign Presidencies for the small cargoes and stock, by the pres- sfuit under which they were placed ; leaving to their servants discretionary powers to form inyestments of such articles as would find a sale^ even should the unsettled commercial circum- ^ stances of their employers continue : — at the same time, the Court conveyed their opinion, that the trade at Gombroon did not yield a sufficient sum to defray the charges ; that the trade be- tween Surat and the Coromandel Coast bad been conducted in the most irregular manner ; and that the trade between Madras and Bantam had'been totally neglected. ^'> Such were the shifiting aspects which the Dutch and English The effect commerce at Subat, and the West of India, assumed, that the J^tiSn IT' report of one year, in this distracted period, can seldom become frade,tetween . the ground of conjecture, respectmg the state of affairs in the Ind Du!ct succeeding season. In 1645-46, the Dutch had acquired a JaS^"" complete ascendency over the English- in 1646-47, the high a^mi^a- prices of indigo obliged both to come to an accommodation, and to agree to give the same price for this article, and for other VOL. I. * 3 H goods; (I)— Letter from the Court to the Pretidencj of Surat, 26th March 164S. 418 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLI^ CHAP. I. goods ; that is, to allow the market to recover its level. This 1646 - 47. event gave to the English the power of obtaining a larger iu-* vestment, than otherwise they could have made j for neither the Phirmaunds which the Dutch had puixhased, nor those which the English had recently acquired, could overcome the prejudices which the subjects of the Mogul had taken, against selling salt^ petre to Europeans, from the idea that, if thiey could prevail them from purchasing saltpetre, they could deprive them of the means of maintaining their naval superiority : — ^these evagits placedi the Dutch and English factors on a fair competition in the, mai'ket, in purchasing cloths, indigo, and other articles, for the Europe investment. The Surat Presidency, however^ still remained under embarrassments, from the treaty between the Portuguese and the Dutch, and to relieve themselves from its effects, persevered in the project of making experiments of trade to Judda and Mocha, (even under a competition with the Mogul's shipping,) and in the trade to Manilla, to which they were en- couraged, by the last vessel, sent to that station, having cleared forty thousand rials, after paying all charges ; but the continu- ance of this trade would depend on the English Government obtaining a licence for it from the King of Spain. Courteous Courteu's Association had, hitherto, borne down the Corn- Association forms a Co- pany^s factories and shipping, but the low state of the credit lony at Ma- dagascar, of these adventurers, and the wild projects to which they re-? which ruins 1 .r j their urade. sorted, began to press hard on the trade of the Dutch and Portuguese. la the year 1645-46, they formed the plan of estivblishing a colony at St. Augustine's Bay, on the Island of St. EAST-INDIA COMPANT. 419 St. Laurence, or Madagascar : — ^from this station they hoped to chap. i. emharrass the trade, equally of the Dutch and of the Company : 1646-47. —•this project was beyond their means, and the colony was, in a short time, reduced to great distress ; one of their ships, which had gone to Mocha, would have been seized, had it not been relieved by the Company's Agent, who advanced a small sum, to enable her to leave that port; one of their Agents, also, who had fixed a factory at Carwal:-, oflered to sell it to the Pre- sidency of Surat, which was reiused. In these circumstances they had recourse to the desperate measure of coining counter- ieit pagodas and rials, at Madagascar ; a plan, which, had it only exposed themselves, might have had a good eflfect on the Company's trade ; but the natives of India, not being able to distinguish between them and the Company, considered this proceeding as a stain on the English character, as merchants. To this project of establishing a colony on the Island of Ma- dagascar, which brought misery on the settlers, and, at the * same time, lowered the English character in India, may be ascribed the failure of Courten's trade, which began to be as odious in the Indies, as it had been commercially dishonorable in England :— hence we discover the reason, why the invest- ments from Surat were small this season, and filled up with articles the qualities of which were neither such as were requir- ed by the Court, nor suited to the demands in the English market. (*> 3 H 2 Another (1) — Letter from the President and Council of Sorat to the Courts 30th March 1646^ and 25th January and 26th February 1646-47*— - (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, Tol. iii, 1(535 to l65g, No. 53). tv 420 ANNALS OP THE HONOjELABLJS CHAP. L Another proof of the shifting aspects of the preponde- 1646-47. ranee of the European nations in the eastern markets^ occur- New Pliir* ** *. maunds ob- red this year, in Persia. The fleet and forces which the tia, but the Dutch had employed, in 1645-46, in the Gulf, had oh- tradedepress- taincd for thcm almost exclusive grants of the trade, and ed by Cour- ^ , ten's ships at nearly ruined the English factory at Bussorah : m 1646-4/9 GombrooD. however, though the English trade, both at Gombroon and Ispahan, had declined, they still had been able to support their right to a proportion of it, because silk had fallen in price for some years, which made it practicable to the English (if they could not obtain equal privileges) still to hold a share in the trade, and to obtain the promise of the King for three Phirmaunds, one for releasing them from the payment of four per cent, on goods sold at Ispahan; another, authorizing them to rebuild their house at Gombroon, which had been destroyed by an earthquake ; and a third, for regulating the payment of customs at Gombroon ; — ^favors which they ascribed to the appointment of a new Vizier, or Ettaman Dowlut, whose disposition the Agents represented as more favorable to the £n<- glish, than that of his predecessor. The trade, therefore, as well as the Company^s rights at Gombroon, might have revived, had not the arrival of one of Courten's ships at that port, against which the Agent protested, again thrown aflkirs into confusion ; for the Shahbunder received the commander, and allowed him to land his goods, without pay- ment of customs, on his promising, at his return, to take off all the King's silk at that port. ^ The .^- EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 421 The -Court do not appear to" have received, this season, any ^^^^' Jl' direct information, either from Bantam, or from Madras, hut 1646-47. '^ only to have learned from Surat, that the former Presidency had ^ been disappointed, in not receiving investments of Coast cloths, and the latter, of pepper and spices ; articles of such importance for the Persian trade, and for the investments for Europe. (^> (1)-— Letter from the President and Coandl of Sorat to the Court, 2Sth January 1646-47.—— Letters from the Agent*and Council of Gombroon to the Court, 9th Maj 1646. .* ■' '* ^ 422 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE 16 47 -4 8. CHAP. L The power of the Independents/^ided by Cromwell, hav* 1647-48. i"g gjv^i^ the ascendency to, the Parhanient, which had overset iiyrwith"the *^^^ Royal authority, and reduced the King to be a prisoner, ofPariia-"^" t^^ monarch, unhappily for himself, escaped to the Isle of Tnew Sub^^^ Wight, where he fell into the hands of the .Governor, who was ^ '°"' a violent Independent. In this hard situation, propositions were made by the Parliament, amounting nearly to a resignation of the Royal alithority :— this oppression roused the Royalists, both " in England and in Scotland, again to take arms, to rescue the m ' "* King ; and hence what has been'termed the Second Civil War. Amid these distractions, the East-India Company (perhaps • *• more than any corporation in the kingdom) felt the greastest difficulty in sup|)orting their Charter and privileges, and in fol- lowing^ line of conduct, that should keep out of view questions regarding their rights, and yet make an impression on the pub- lie, of the importance of the East-India trade, to the manufac- turing and commercial part of the community. The measure adopted by the Company, on this occasion, was to bring forward the plan of a new Subscription to support the trade, which was communicated to the ParUament ; and as the Court were satisfied, that the only motive which could influence the leaders of this as- sembly, was the prospect of gain to themselves, as individuals, . . an ,"*■. JBAST-INDIA COMPANY. ■/:" an advertisement was published, stating that a limited time * *.- '*V ** _ would be allowed to the subscribers to fill up the list, but, in deference to Members of the j^arliameril^ tlje period would be prolonged in their favor, that they might have an opportunity to consider of tlie subject, and to become* subscribers. This plan succeeded, and the approbation of the Commons was ob- tained, not only of the plan itself, but of the advantages which it held out to such of their number as might be disposed to become subscribers, or members of the East-India Company, and, being accepted by the Parliament, it, in fact, recognized, or gave a public sanction to, the rights and privileges of the Com^ pany. ^*> 423 CHAP. I. 1647-48. "WW '< f^ -4 ces. The President and Council of Surat were, in this vear. The English ^ J > trade at Sarat compelled to employ the limited stock which they possessed, in fn^i" Persia preserving their rights, and in making up their scanty investments ; J^® ^^l^of and were, at the same time^ expased to the consequences of ?h^^'^er"8* i- being made responsible for the depredations apprehended from Courten's shipping. The chief reliance was on the imports of pepper and spices from Bantam and Acheen^ required for the Surat and Persian markets ; but the Dutch stock being large, and their shipping numerous, they were enabled to bring to Surat a large importatioB of pepper and spices, which they sold at reduced prices, (I) --Order of the House of Commons, relative to the projected Subscription for the East-India Trade. (MSS. in the Indian Register OflSce, vol. iii, \63, 4to. l65g, No. 227.) i 424 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLS P^ 4-^' prices, and thus rendered the smaJl proportion which the Pre- lo47-4o. sidency possessed, not saleabj^e : it was therefore laid up in store, to become a part* of the Europe investment, concejying that these articles would bring greq^ter profits at home, than could be drawn, by exchanges, for Surat or Persian produce. The - prices, besides, of indigo, were high, and therefore, to prevent \ the ships being dispatched half laden, they were filled up with saltpetre and gruff goods. The orders of thfe Court, to dispose T of the ships, could not be obeyed, as they could not be sold with- ; out a great loss, and if purchased by the country traders, on the Malabar Coast, might probably be employed as pirates; or, should this not be the case, the sale of them would "^ produce an impression on the natives, that the Company intended to^ withdraw from the trade, which would be ujurious to their cre- dit, and prevent the recovery of their debts. The trade to Persia, in this year, became more precarious, than at any former period, from the expence of obtaining Phir- maunds for almost every transaction; the charges for which lessened the profits, independently of the circumstance of the failure of imports of pepper and spices from Surat, so necessary to facilitate the purchase of Persian produce. Trade at Ma- The trade at Madras, in this year, was difficult, if not drag depres- sed by a fa- impracticable, from the prevalence of a famine, and a general not receiv- ^^LT on the Coromandel Coast, and had not a vessel with pro- log pepper ^ ^ ^ '^ ^ fromBantam. visions arrived from Surat, for its relief, thte garrison would have been deprived of the means of subsistence : — ^the Coast cloths, also, intended for Persia, procured by exchanges of pepper - ^ EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 425 pepper and spices from Bantam^ could not be made up for the chap, i . Persian market/ a circumstance which necessarily had its effect 1647- 48, on the investments in that quarter : differences^ also^ had arisen between the Portuguese and English settlements on the Coast^ notwithstanding the friendly assistance formerly received from the officer commanding at St. Thom6 ; but measures were taken to accommodate this dispute. As an addition to the investment, Bengal silks had been purchased, which, it was hoped, would meet with a good market in England. The trade at Bantam and Acheen, in this season, had also been depressed by the superior stock and naval means of the Dutch; the investment, therefore, of pepper was inconside- rable. (0 (1) — General Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 3 lit March and 7th October l647, and 6th January 1647-48. vol.. 1. 3 1 426 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 1648-49. CHAP. I. During the calamitous year 1648-49, the armies which 1648-49. ^^ assembled in England, and which had marched from Jhe Monar^^ Scotland, to treat with the King and with the Parliament, ^e Company ^^ *^^ ™^^* Opposite principles, were each disappointed in to act with se- j-j^^jj. vicws, by the profound policy and military talents of and itwfk ^* Cromwell, whose power, and that of his ojSicers, at last became supreme: — ^the unfortunate monarch was first brought a pri- soner from the Isle of Wight to Windsor, and next to London, where, after undergoing the dreadful forms of an ignominious trial, he fell a victim to the guilty ambition of his enemies ; leaving an awful example of the danger to the English people, and to every nation, of becoming the dupes of men, who, under the pretext of improving the constitution of the country, and the condition of the people, lead them to those crimes, which have left an indelible stain on the English character. While these public evils were approaching, the London East-India Company preserved a cautious mercantile silence, by not becoming the partizans of any faction, and, by the projected new Subscription, drew from the leaders in the Parliament an acknowledgement of their rights, and the importance of their trade to the realm, and followed up this conduct, as the best means y-" V e 1 EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 427 means of keeping out of public view, tlie speculations of the CHAP. i. Private Traders. 1648-49. It may be presumed, as there are no traces of the dispatches of the Company to their foreign stations, this year, that they were secret ; — a caution indispensable in their critical situation, as the least knowledge of their affairs would have exposed them to pay money, to gratify the avarice, or administer to the wants of those men, who had an usurped power to support. Hence, in this season, the real state of the Company's affairs must be gleaned from the letters, or dispatches, of their Presidencies or Agencies abroad, removed from the hard situation in which the Directors were placed at home, and employing the funds which were entrusted to their discretion, to preserve the rights of the Company abroad, and to impress the public, from the magnitude of the imports, with an opinion of the prosperity of the East- India trade. A** The President and Council of Surat, in 1647-48, from a TradeatSurat revived, from deficiency in stock, and from the failure of imports, either fvoia the war be* ^ ^ JT ' tween the Bantam or from Madras, had been obliged to resort to expedients, ^^* ^"^ to preserve their rights, and to avoid selling their ships, which would have excited, among the natives, an impression that they were about to relinquish the trade. In the early part of this season, they had, under the Court's orders, attempted to purchase finer spices from the Dutch factory and shipping, 312 but 428 AKNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. but to such a degree had the jealousy of this people arisen^ that 1648-49. rather than allow these articles to form a part of the Company's investment, they sold them, at mider rates, to the natives, that it might become impracticable for the English to send any con- siderable quantity of spices to the Eiirope market. Towards the close of the season, however, the President and Council received information of the projected Subscrip- tion to a new or Fourth Joint Stock, and instructions to keep the accounts of it distinct from the former funds : — ^this, added to the embarrassment under which they were placed, by having separate proportions of their investments assigned to two distinct stocks, induced them to intimate to the Court, that it would be almost impossible, in the purchase of smaller quantities of goods, to give to each of those classes of Adventurers, their respective shares, but that when the new stock should come to be acted on, separate books would be opened for each. The Agents and shipping of Courten's Association con- tinued to harrass the trade, though their credit had sunk so low, that Mr. Hicks, and other factors, had been seized and imprisoned for debt ; yet, even this situation could not prevent them from reporting, that their managers in England were about to obtain assistance and protection from the Parliament. The trade between Surat and Bussorah had, this year, been unproductive, from the superior means which the Dutch prossessed of engrossing it ; and the trade between Surat and Judda, and Mocha, had decreased, from the XAST-INDIA COMPANY. 429 the great number of Arabian ships which had been em- ^^^' ployed in itO) 1648-49. An approaching war between the King of Persia and the Mogul, in this year, had a favorable effect in raising the Com- pany's trade in Persia, from the low state to which it had sunk in the preceding season. The Persian army was advancing in great force, towards Candahar, and threatening an invasion of the Mogul provinces, in the vicinity of the capital. During this war, the Persian and Indian goods, which had hitherto proceeded by land, between those kingdoms, were necessarily embarked, which gave the carrying trade to the Dutch and English; from which the English would receive a proportion of freight, corresponding to the number of ships which they could detach for that service. The circumstances of the factory at Gombroon continued to be precarious, though a small quantity of Persian produce had been procured ; but, even this, it was of importance to preserve, to keep up the Company's right to their moiety of the customs, of which the Agents had only received six hundred and thirty-five Tomands, though their fair proportion was, on an average, estimated at five thousand Tomands per annum. ^^^ The (l)-«Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 5th April 1648, and 3l8t January l()4S-49. (2)— Letter from the Factors at Gombroon to the Court, 12th April 1648, and from Surat to the Court, 31st January J 648-49. 430 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE • CHAP. I; The factory at Madras was beginning to recover from tbe 1648 -49, distresses occasioned by the famine of the preceding year, and The trnde at i -i.t • • • Madras iTom the conscqucnccs or the petty wars among the Naigs m its the wars be- vicinity, whcn a war of a more general description broke out, tween the Kings of between the Kings of Visiapore and Golcondali, whose irregular Visiapore and Goicon- troops had laid waste the neighbouring provinces, and had, in a dah* particular manner, ruined the three principal towns of Tevene- patam, Porto Novo, and PoUacherry, at which the greatest proportion of Coromandel cloths had hitherto been purchased. The trade between Bantam and the Coast, and between Madras, Tennessee, and Pegu, had been kept open ; but should the Court be of opinion, that commerce with these coun- tries ought to be persevered in, two ships, of a hundred and twenty tons burthen, must be sent from England, to be em- ployed between the Coromandel Coast and those stations. The accounts of the former Joint Stock had been made up, which amounted to one hundred and two thousand rials, of which about forty thousand were considered as bad debts ; but every effort should be made to recover the arrears, and to applyt he amount for the benefit of the Adventurers in this stock.('> Trade at Ban- For several years, information respecting the circumstances tam almost ^^ ^ r>i 9 t% • i -rk i-i suspended, of the Company s Presidency at Bantam, and its dependencies, for want of , funds. had been irregularly received, a circumstance which may be accounted (1)— Letter frora the Agent and Council at Fort St. George to the Court, 23d Septem- ber 1648, . r 4.: -¥9 EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 451 axx^ounted for, by the preponderance of the Dutch power in chap. i. '• that quarter, and which, in part, may be explained, by there 1648-49. frequently appearing, on the letters, a difference of two years,, between their date, and the time when they are marked, as received by the Court. The actual state of afiairs at this 1^ Presidency explains the difficulty with which they procured, or could send off, pepper and the finer spices, either for Surat or Europe ; for the Dutch had, (without questioning the right of the English to the Island of Polaroon, and to render it of no use, should it be ordered to be delivered up by the States General,) sent, every year, a number of people, under guides, to cut down and destroy the nutmeg-trees on the Island, that they might consoUdate their monopoly at the Bandas and Moluc- cas ; and that no part of the finer spices might come, either to India or to Europe, but through the medium of their imports ; and, therefore, the Presidency of Bantam submitted to the Court, that it would be more practicable to purchase nutmegs and mace at Surat, to which the Dutch annually sent large quantities, than at Bantam, under the restraints imposed by them. The Presidency reported, on the China trade, that this Em- pire was in the most distracted state, having been recently conquered by the Tartars, and that, in particular, the sea-ports of it had become inaccessible, from being infested by numbers of pirates. As this Presidency had received information of the project of a new, or Fourth Joint Stock, being formed in England, and 432 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. L and the Court's instructions to keep the account of it, and of 1648-49. the Second General Voyage, distinct, they intimated, that these orders should he regularly observed, (^^ (1) — Letter from the President and Council at Bantano, directed to the Adveoturers in the Fourth Joint Stock, 10th January l648-4p. 'MJ 4 k' =36 ^ ^ EAST ^ *'•; ^ n< v E A S T - I K D lA COMPANY. *Jf^ m- as: 431 jf ' /" ^ n> 1649-50. ^^ .1 >^ A* *^v .4ir «^ ^' vr ■lit* il. * i>^ 1^. i ; From the commenpeftient of the Cavil War, to what may GH ap. i. be denominated the fi^t termination of it, or the fatal de^th of 1^49-50. ^ ' • .. * JH Establish- Charles?-!., it became nfecessary to refer to the successive aspects ment of the / -^ , ^ Council of of the Government, ^to explain the measures wh^ch the Lopdon State. * - Company adopted, to d^iid their privileges ' from domestic in- fringements, and to obtain the redress of ^ose grievances, virhich ' ^- • "• . * they had experieru[jed from a foreign and powerful commercial rival . ^ : Afler the parties, fvhich had united against the Sovereign, and si^^verted the throne, ceased to ha^ this common object of union, it is necessary, for a like reason, ta refer to the aspects which the Government assumed, to discover the source of tlie proceedings of the London East-India Company. ^ , * TMfe Regicides were .divided into parties, andjeach of them sought to assume the preponderance ; one, contendQjl for the vnlfl * project of a perfect republic ; aj^bther, for the equal partition of "^ ^> property and power ,j a third, for Ae subversion of the establish- ed laws, and the intrdduction of more simple rules of justice. These opposite prejudice!!^ and iinpracticable^ schemes, not only injured morals, but degraded manners, and produced a tempo- rary suspension of all government. In a short time, it b^ame obvious, that the power of controling the whole rested with the jfirmy, chiefly JFormed of Independents, and directed by Oliver Croriiwell. i?' ^ ■^t *ir VOL. I. 3 K > 1^- A Council •1 #' > t^ 'ja- *(» ■s- ^* ,r ♦ ■ •% ".. ^. ^.'f- /-M. +' * *-" ''• "« . '^' * • - »^ 434 ^ ''^ - ^ ,ANVALS OF THE HONORABLE v. ^ 4, ^2!^^ -. A Council ofStfete, therefore^ waSformed,cdnsisting of tfiirty- -' i 1649-51),, eight persbns, sefected, in general, from the officers 6f thelttmiy, ^ who assumed the right of rjeceivipg all addresses, o^ issuing oil ^ders to generals and admirals", of exeditirig the laws, aj^d of^ ^ ^: . preparing the business to be introducedlixto the Parliament, whie^ now consisted of a 'small number of■ 2Jr 1K- - It was, therefore, to this Council of State, and to this Parliament, actl^ under its direction, that the London East- 3IN •'^ if. India* Company were to look for protection, or redress of grie- ^^ tk> vances j^inrstock For several years^ the Company had attempted ^ ob* A Fourth _ - 4tB - '*i _ w the^ Compa- tain a renewal of theilT Charter from the King, and had pro- ^ basis of an jected a . Fourth Joint Stock, to becodie the fund upon which the Council their trade'wa&rto be extended, and their foreign factories pre- "^ * of State for renewal of served ; but this Charter not having been obtained, antl being their privile- ^ • ' * i n '• n • * i' • i • ges. afraid of innovations, and of mfnngements on then* exclusive t*^ rights, they proceeded, in theif^iomestic transactions, with mer- ^ eantile cautionj and left their Ibreign Presid^cies and factories, with discretionary powers to preserve their trade and settlements, f<- till the support of the Govermnent, at home, should enable tl^em • to re-assume those rights and privileges, which, for half a cen- tury, they had, with much perseverance, and under heavy losses^ -^ • been struggling to maintain. SSr"al\o The first acl of the Company, und«!f these difficult circuril- ^ the Couflt4 gtancei^ was to present a memorial to the Council of State^ spe- ^ * • , cifying^ * ■' .'■ t-' n\ *^. *r^* .Sic . ^ * ,^j^ EAS?T- INDIA COMPANY. -' 435 ■'\ ^ **^ ^ cifying that, \inder their Charter, they had carried^ on a trade to ^^^^' y * V the East-Indies, with great advantages to the pubUc revenues, 1649-50, ^ . ^ ^ " vv of State, spe- which, during the lasfe^ twenty-five years, had drawn from it cifying iheir ^^ ^ T*, " ' losses by w kbove ^500,000 ; that, in prosecuting this trade, they had Courtens : ' ^ ■ ' ^i. Association, experienced heavy looses fi'om the Portuguese, though by a truce, and by the ^ •*' '' . Assada Mer* within the last fourteen years, tho^t nation had accqpmodated mat- chants. ■,j% ■ ters with them;— that hcences had been granted, in the laterejgn, to Courten's Association, to carry on trade, and establish facto- ries in the countries within their limits ; aijd that the depredations, by the shipping of this Association, on the native traders, had ex- posed the Company's servants to imprisonment, and their property ^ to heavy losses, which they estimated at ^100,000 ; — that this same Association was now applying to the Parliament, for j^rmis- sion to form a settlement on the Island of Assada, near Madagascar, and was preparing shipping, and engaging settlers for that pur- pose ; — ^that the consequence of such an establishment would be, thgtt these ships, under the pretext ^of trade, would rqnew their depredations on the shipping and trade of the native states in India, and again expose; the Comp^y's factories, snipping, arid servants, to seizure and imprisonment ; and that the ultimate ef- ^ feet must be, to exclude the English nation from trade in the East- ^ Indies : — ^they, therefore, prayed, that the 0)uncil of State would > recommend to the House of Commons, that an act should pass, •„ * for the support and encouragement of the East-India trade, as managed by the Company. <"> ^ ' * ' 3 K 2 The (1) — Petition of the East-India Company to the Council of State, for an Act of Parlia- ment for support of the East-India trade> 28tb October l649« (East-India Papers in the Stal^e Paper Office, No. 170). ^ f- >' ^■i» » i^t ^ ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE .»..* Company and the Assada Merchants^ recommend ed by the Coancil of State. '> The Council of State, without entering on tbie question of 1649-50. the Company's rights^ or of the infringement of ^them by the Union be- • . - *? ^ ^ ^ tween the establishment of Courten's Association, ^ (whicm now took the^ name of the Assada Merchants,^ recommended to both parties^ to hold conferences, and to tome to an agreement, as the best method by wh^h they could terminate the disputes which had so long subsisted between them. Objections of To this plan the Assada Merchants demurred, on the ground the Assada Merchants to that it would be more profitable for them to carry on their ^trade this Union. . to their plantations in Gumea and Assada, and thence to I^dia, than to join with the East-India Company, in one great Joint Stock, for a voyage or adventure of five years, as that Company had proposed ; but, to shew that they were willing to give up their private interests for the public benefit, they proposed to join the East-India Companyon the following terms : — 1st, that a stock of ^300,000 should be subscribed, within two months, to be paid, by instalments, in four years ;— ^d, that a person should be sent to HoUand, to endeavor to reconcile aU difierences with the Dutch, and procure the irestoration of the Island of Fo^ laroon ;'^--3d, that a valuation should be takea of all their houses, shipping, and goods, remaining in India;— 4th, thatthe Island of Assada should be planted and settled ; — 5th, that the trade to the Coast of Guinea should be joined to the East-India trade; — 6th, that a fortified station should be fixed on, in India, for both Companies ; — ^7th, that regulations should be adopted, for the management of the joint trade, in England, and none holding less than a ^^500 adventure should have a vote; -^•- »r #i ;* < f. 4. i^ iis '^ EiliferT- INDIA COMPANY.^ - 43/ vote ; — 8th, that salaries, both in India and England, should be ^^ ^'J; reduced ; — 9th, that encouragement should be given to Planters 164^-50. to settle ^t Assada, and that they should have licence to trade 4r from thence to all ports in the Red Sea, Persia, India, and elsewhere; — 1 0th, thatldl Indian godds, spices, &c., should 4 be the joint property of both Companies ; — 11th, that the stock of the ship Ruth, seized in India, sl^oidd be made good by the East-India Company ; — 12th, that the two ships fitted out by the Assada Merchantts, for saltpetre^ should be permitted to sail this season, as well'ks the Coiiq>anv's ships; — and 13th, that any members of the Assada Association should be at liberty to trade, in places where the Company had not yet sent out ships for that purpose. <^> The Governor, Deputy, and Committees of the East-India Company;! answer to Company, reported to the Council of State, that, in obedience these objec- tions. to their order of the 12th^ November, they had met a Committee of the Assada Merchants^ and attentively considered their pro- positions, but were unable,, in some points, t6 come to aniii^, w agreement with them ; an^, therefore, submitted their answers to the consideration and approbation of the Council of State, ^ which, in substance, were i — ^that they agreed to the first, se- eond,^ and third propositions y — ^that, with respect to the fourth, although they were sensible that the plantation on Assada was an encroachment on their exclusive limits, under their Char- ter, yet they consented that island should be planted, as the Adventurers (l)-!-Fropo8]tion8 of the Assada Merchants to the East-India Company^ foraUnioO/ 10th November 1649. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 171.) •^v »t< m - ^fi * ' ♦ t »'•** '" . >^ ' ^ *r- A * ^ ,-. ^M '^^■' * T> » *^ ,1 • *> V • *> ■ * i . Vchants^ to consider of the proposals of the one party, and the 1649-50. *, ^ '3, ^!>- ^ and the As- ^ answers of the other ; when it was finally settled, that, in ge* sada Mer- '** V. ^ chants a- neral, the East-India Cpmpany should agree with the Assada greed on. Merchants/ exteept that the planters of Assadq, should not be ^allowed to trade, from port to port, in Ijldia, but might proceed direct firom 'Assada, to any ports on the Coasts of Asia, Africa, ' and America, to sell their produce and purchase necessaries, *and return direct to Assada ;' and that they should be allowed a free ^ trade, without restricijpn, to the Coast of Melinda, the River of: Sofala, Mozambique, and part^ adjacent. The Committees farther agreed, that the trade to Guinea, for gold and ivory, . shoul4>Jn future, be united with the East-India trade, ancL 4' ♦ :: Jlx *>.' > ■*■--. . ■ .•■■J"- m i^ # % therefore petitioned tl^g^Couricil of State*'(aU parties having adjusted their diflferencei)' that a recommendation should be _ ^ made by the Council, to t^he Parliam1§nt, for an Act to settle the '/ > trade j^that, in future, it<«hould not be prejudiced by interlopers, and that the pr6t'ection of the Statie should %e afibrded them, against the Hollanders, ^^r This agreement was followed by a petition of the East- Application v t ./*4 , . of the Com- India Company to the P&rUattient, praying for an Act for reffola- pany to Par- • - ^ ^ ^ ' r / & o liament for ' ting the trade; which was taken into consideration, on the an Act, con-^/ >.* firming their 31st January 1649-50, when it was resolved, "that the trade P"^^^«g®*>^"^ *** *' ^ ^ , the basis of ^ ;'^ to the East-Indle^i should be carried on by one Pompany, and ^^^* ""^®"- '* withj^, one Joint Stocky and the management thereof to be I 66 r undei* .•n^ x^ f. ^. (1)-^ Agreement between the East-India Companj s^ the Assada Adventurers^ 2 1st . NoTCfnber 1649. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 173). i.f an. »- % :*«* !«?* -^ A* •>, 440 ANNALS OP THE *■ BAST-Il^DIA COMPANT. 441 A -yj^ ^ The actual state of the Company's trade, at this junc- *cHaP. i. tarey caa only be cdUected from the foreign transactions of 1649-50* their Presidencies and Factories ; a circumstance which may the Agenu be accoonted for, by that mercantile secrecy which was a abroad!^ in paramount cUity in the Court of Committees, at a time when ?^c mS°^ the nation wa« convulsed by civil dissensions, and the esta- Proprietor! ia IT 11 1 ^ -r -B • •« • *^® purchase bushed government subverted. In this period, a ptopottion ofaninveit- • nient. of the projected Fourth Joint Stock had been raised and acted on, and also fonds had been employed, which took the denomi- nation of the Second General Voyage. It has appeared, from the foreign transactions of the preceding years, that orders had been given, to keep the accounts of each of these funds distinct, and to apply proportions of them in the investments, for the bene* fit of the holders of shares in the First General Voyage, in the Fourth Joint Stock, and in the Second General Voyage. In thi« season, each of the Presidencies complained of the difficulty they experienced, in making these distinct appropriations of the invest-* ment to different ^classes of Adventurers or Proprietors; and recommended (if it might be pratbticable) that the Court should obtain an Act of the IWliament, to combine the whole of these separate stocks into otie United Stock. The knowledge of the events which had t^en place in England, eouM not, in the eariy part of thi» season, have reached the Compaf^y^» settlements in^ India;, when they reportted vou I. 3 L the 442 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAPM. the actual state of their trade to the Court ; we have, therefore, 1649-50. to trace the commercial and political restraints under which they were placed, at each of their stations, and the measures which they adopted. Theopposi- The proportions of the difierent funds, which the Presi- Courten'8 deucv of SuRAT had received, enabled them to discharfi^ a con- •hips, and by •' ^ the Dutch, sidcrable part of the large debts which they had contracted, th^u'^h^th while they were left without supphes from England, and obli- ceWed at S^^ *^ adopt expedients for defending their factory, and preserv- kssenedlhe ^^S ^ proportion of the trade, notwithstanding the opposition ^^^^' of the Dutch, and the encroachments of the factors and shipping of Courten's Association ; for, at this crisis, they were rather exposed to oppressions from their European rivals,^ than to any change of conduct in the native powers. The effect of having discharged a large proportion of their debt was, that the Company's credit rose so high, at Surat, that one of the native merchants advanced to them a lack of rupees, with which they had made large purchases of indigo, cloths, &c., suited either to the Persian, or to the home market j but the English cloths had not sold with the profit expected, at Scindy, and, therefore, they proposed to withdraw that factory, and to increase their purchases at Agra, and even at Lucknow ; — that, however, they had not (as recommended by the Court) obtained nutmegs and cloves from the Dutch shipping at Surat, because the Dutch factors would not allow their stores to be opened, even for sale to the natives, till after the departure of their fleet for Europe ; this had obliged the Presidency to give high pricefr EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 443 prices for the small quantity of spices included in their invest- ^^ap^i. ment ; — that, besides, it was difficult to obtain cinnamon from 1649-50. the Portuguese, who preferred including their proportion of it in their own cargoes for Europe ; — that, though they had got about two hundred and sixty-four bales of Agra indigo, the price had been high, which, with the misfortune of one of their cara- vans being robbed, induced them to send Mr. Davidge, as an Agent, to Agra, to solicit (after offering suitable presents) the redress of this grievance, and additional Phirmaunds, to protect and enlarge the English trade : — the Presidency, at this time, recommended, that a proportion of quicksilver, vermilion, and elephants' teeth, which were in great de- mand, should be sent on the ships of the ensuing season, with a supply of money, to enable them to keep up their credit in the market. Such was the general view of the trade at Surat, in this season ; but it appears, that the profits, fr(Hn exchanges in India, had been depressed, by a jealousy between the Presidencies of Surat and Bantam : — the former had directed their atten- tion to keep up the trade between Surat, Grombroon, and Bussora ; the latter, instead of disposing of the English broad- cloth At Acheen and Johore, and purchasing spices suited to the Surat and Persian markets, had sent the English cloths to the Coromandel Coast for sale, where they were not in demand ; which had obliged the factories, on that Coast, to return the cloths to Surat ; and, at the same time, had detained the home- 3 L 2 ward 444 ANNALS OJ TBaB HONCJbABLB CHAP^. ward-bound shipping at Bantam, wluch bad mateidaUjf injured 1649-50i the investment. The Presidency of Surat, under all these didiculttet^^ cook tinned to be alai^med^ by the irregular proceedifig9'of Gourten^Si Association^ which kept a hovering squadron c^ theiv shtpsr in the Indian Seas, the depredations of which mi^t agmn be retaliated on the Company's property and* servaats^^:-— this wa»^ the more to be apprehended^ from; their dishonorabte exps^ dient^ of passing baae coin (rupees and pagodas}- m ik& Indian markets^ for which Captain Durston, one ^ tiieiit commanders, had been seized and. imprisoned. Their ehamcter was, from this cause, brought into such disrepute, that the Gibver* nor of Rajahpore^ at which they had^ a factory, offered the tlE^ade of that port to the Residency of Surat, and to restore the Company^s cloth detained at that place, one half Jn moneys and the other by remission of customs ; an oiler which was accepted by the Presidency, because, at Rajahpore, t^y could obtain pepper and cardamoms, without being ea^osed to oppo-* sition by the Dutch* <^) The Persian The English trade in Pbr&ia was, this year, pajjly afiected trade produc- tive; butap. by the war, between the Mogul, and the King of Persia,^ which prehensions enterutned abridged the demand for English cloths, and pardy by the Surat that the King ^ woaid think Presidency not haring received from Bantam, the spices required unfavorably . . mt -i of the Com- ^q the Persian market ; and yet theprofitson the trade had been pany^ from •* * the calamities morc in England. (1)— LcUcri ffona the President and. Coonoil of Siwat to the Court, 5th April 1^, and. 22d January and 20th March 1649-50, * ,. BAI^TP-rNBIA COMPANY. 445 more considerable in this, than in any of the preceding ^hap. i. seasons, havitag' yielded about four thousand Tomands, or above 1649-50. ^12,000 sterling'. The power of the Dutch in the Persian Gulf, at this time, wus so grfeat, that they had obtained additional privileges, rather ftomr fear than from any respect to them, as a nation, and had been jiromised the confirmation of them, by PhirmaundS, on the return of die Kixlg to Ispahan, from his' wars with the MtegUi : but if the trade had beeii more productive, the custonls^ at Gombrtobn Were deficient, notwithi^anding the friendly dispoidtion of thfe new Governor of that port. The Agents ascribed this deficiency to the rumours of the civil wars in !]£ngland^ wtiich had' reached Persia, and the- ^^ tragicall storye of the' KHnge^s beheadinge, which would cause the Empefor and the Persian nobles* to consider the English as a base^ contemptible, unworthy nation ; and that they were apprehensive; ther Persian nobles would, from this circum- stltoce, seek occasion to break the league between the English and Persians, and deprive tHem of their moiety of the cus- toms at Gombroon, which had hitherto been collected in the name of the IQng of England/' <^) There does not appear from the Presidency of Bantam, Tradt at Ban- tam depress- this season, any evidence of that jealousy in them, which had ed,bythecap. •^ *' 'f tures made occurred at Surat ; for they informed the Court, that they had by the Dutch. not (1) — Letters from the Agent and Council at Gombroon and Ispahan to the Courts dated 26th July, and l6th and 27th November 1649.——- Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 20th March 1649-50. ^ 14b' ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE ^^^AP' \ not received any supplies from England for three years, which 1649-50. explains the reason of their having sent the English broad- cloths to the Coroniandel Coast, that they might draw, from the sale of them, resources for the pepper trade. Under such embarrassments, we find evidence of the activity and perseverance of the President and Council at Bantam, to enlarge their purchases of pepper ; for in this year, on an invitation from the Governor of Padang, in Sumatra, one of the Company's ships was dispatched to that port, and to Indrapore^ on a voyage of experiment : and this circumstance marks the first trade and settlement of the English, at those stations. This experiment succeeded beyond expectation, for the ship completed her cargo of pepper, at Indrapore ; but on her leaving that port, was attacked and seized by two large Dutch ships, which had been dispatched, for this purpose, by the Dutch General at Batavia : — after taking out the whole of the pepper with which the English ship was loaded, the commanding officer informed the captain that the Dutch had an exclusive right, from the Queen of Acheen, to all the pepper on the coast. When the Presi- dent and Council at Bantam complained of this outrage to the Dutch General at Batavia, he returned for answer, •^ that the English were traitors, and had no King, and that ^^ he would do them all the injury in his power.'* (^> (1)— Letters from the President and Council at Bantam to the Courts 13th October and 15th December I649. BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 447 1650-51. The reference to the state of public afTairs, made in intro- chap. r. ducing the Annals of 1649-50, must be continued in 1650-51, 1650-51. that the measures of the Londcm Company may be folly Company to J - Parliament, appreciated. for redress of After the battle of Worcester, and the escape of Charles II. and compen- rM t sation from to France, large armies were sent to Ireland .and to Scotland, in the Dutch. the name of that Parliament, which Cromwell had formerly duped, but which now had become the passive instrument of this Usurper, and of that Council of State, which he had selected from his oflScers and dependents. The situation of the London East-India Company becomes more interesting in this^ year, than it hitherto has appeared, because the injuries which it had suffered from the Dutch, were not only subjects of complaint to the Council of State, but matters of deliberation and decision to this body, who now had assumed the Sovereign Power. The Company, on the 14th of November 1650, presented a petition to what they termed *^ the Supreme Authority of ** this Nation, the High Court of the Parliament of England,'' in which they enumerated the grievances they had suflered from the Dutch, in violation of the treaty of 1619, or, that they had been expelled, by them, from the Island of Polaroon, their ancient inheritance,. 4' ■* 448 ANNALS OF THS HONORABLE CHAP. I. inheritance, and from the Islands of Lantore, Molucca, Banda. . . # 1650-51. and Amhoyna, where their factors and servants had been barbarously murdered; — ^that the spice-trees in Polaroon had " been cut down by the Dutch, and the Company's houses and stores at Jaccatra burnt, and their treasure taken away ;-~that Bantai^ had been blockaded by the Dutch, for si^ yeojrs together^ whepeby the Pngjish wiere depriveij of the benefit of t]i»t trade j — ^that the shipping and subjects of the Mogul had feieepi protected by the Dutch, against the English ; — ^that tjj,e X)u|:ch h^d conamitted piracies in the Red Sea, under the English flag, for which the Company had to pay 103,000 rials of eight ;-Htliat a great quantity of pepper had, in the year 1649, bee^ tajken by the Dutch, out of one of the Company's ships a^; Indrapons ; and that, on the whole, they had, during the last twenty years, sustained losses from the Dutch, to tjie amQUQt of t9fo millions sterling; — ^that tbey had repeatedly represei|ted- their gi'ievances to the late King and his Council, but never could obtain any reparation ; and therefore prayed, that their pasp might be taken into consideration, and that satisfaction should be demanded from the States General, for the losses which they had sustained, and particularly that the Island of Pol^jroop i^hpuld be restored to them. —referred to The Company had evidently been encouraged to present of State. this petition, from its being intinediately ta^en into copsii- deration, and from the reference which was made by thp Parliament to the Council of State, at this period, looking forward to an approacl^ing war witt^ tljtp Dutch ; for, oc^ the saoftP day ■^j. EAST* INDIA COMPANY. 449 day on which it was presented, it was resolved, by a vote of the ^HAP. L Parliament, that the petition of the East-India Company should 1650-51. be referred to the consideration of the Council of State. (*> The encouragement and protection which the ParUament Captain Blackman and Council of State were expected to afford to the Company, appointed ^ ^ ^ r ^? President of discover the source of the new regulations which the Court of S"^^^* ^*^^ ^ instructions Committees of the East-India Company established for their two *° »uppres» '^ •' Private foreign Presidencies. At Surat, the President and Council had, '^^*^- besides their allowances, been permitted to trade in articles, not included in the Company's investments, or had opportu- nities to engage in commercial projects, which were now held to be inconsistent with the full discharge of their duties : — To remedy these evils. Captain Jeremy Blackman was appointed President at Surat, who was to receive, as a compensation, a salary of ^500 per annum, for five years, to commence from the day of his leaving England, and to continue till his return : — He was instructed to make a general survey of all the dependen- cies of that Presidency ; to reduce the charges at each of them, as far as might be consistent with the promotion of trade ; and, as the Company were now connected with the Assada Mer- chants, he was, on his outward passage, to examine the state of this colony, and to afford the Agent such directions as would more fully establish the intercourse between Assada and Surat, By this regulation, the Court expected to render the union, between them and the Assada Merchants, as practicable, as VOL. I 3 M the (1)— Petition of the East-India Company to the Parliament, and Vote of Parliamen thereon, I4tb November l650. (East India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 176.) 450 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP- I. the relative situation of this colony, and the Company's settle- 1650-51. ments, would permit. <^> Similar in- Similar instructions were framed, and sent to the President structions given to the and Couucil of Bantam, which, after enumerating the arbitrary snd Council proceedings of the Dutch, in excluding the English from the of Bantam. Spice Islands, and, by their vast imports of pepper, lowering the price of that article in Europe, ordered, that in future, the investments from Bantam should consist of as large a propor- tion of nutmegs, mace, &c., as could be obtained; and that the spare tonnage only should be filled up with pepper ; and this pepper to be sent for sale to Surat, that the tonnage might be filled up with goods from that port, because the Europe market had been so glutted by the quantities of peppar imported by the Dutch, that it would not sell, at the Com- pany's home sales, but at a loss. The ship Supply, Captain Bearblock, consigned this year, to Bantam was, also, in her outward voyage, to touch at Assada, and to take in such articles as that colony afforded, suited to the Bantam market. These instructions to Surat and Bantam discover the real state of the Company's affairs at home, at the time when it began to act in connexion with the Assada Merchants, and that the Court was disposed to give a fair trial to the experiment of uniting the trade of the Company, with this projected ex- periment of trade, on the Coast of Africa. ^^) The (1) — Commission and Instructions from the Court to Captain Jeremy Blackman, as President of Surat, 14th March 1650-51, (2)— Letter from the Court to the President and Council at Bantam, 29lh May l650. — Instructions from the Court to Captain Bearblock, of the ship Supply, for his voyage to Assada and Bantam, 1st May l650. BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 451 The Presidency of Surat, though informed of the fall of ^^^ p^l the Monarchy, could not, in this season, be acquainted with 1650-51. The Presi- tlie transactions, between the Company, the Parliament, and the dency of Su- rat obtain Council of State ; and therefore remained under the necessity of Phirmaund* from the adopting such measures, for the preservation of their factory and Mogul, for trade, as local circumstances required, and to obtain as large ment of their . privileges. a proportion of indigo, and finer cloths and saltpetre, as might be practicable, to meet the cwders of the Court. As the season advanced, they found it expedient to dispatch Mr. Davidge, as their Agent, to the Mogul^s court, to solicit redress for die loss of one of their caravans, which had been robbed, and Hiir- maunds for their trade, in the different Mogul provinces. On reaching Delhi, he was so fortunate as to obtain the protection of Sultan Darah, the Mc^Fs eldest son, and after a long nego-^ tiation, to receive five separate Phirmaunds, for liberty of trade to the English in the Mogul provinces, with an exemption from payment of duities, and a promise of satisfaction being made to tlie Company, in the event of any of their caravans being stopped, or robbed. Under this encouragement, the Presidency of Surat resolved, that, as it had been determined in England to continue the trade on an United Joint Stock, they would persevere in forming an investment ; not because, at this crisis, the trade was profitable, but because, in those troublesome and dangerous times, it was necessary to preserve the trade from passing entirely into the hands of the Dutch. 3 M 2 If 452 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE v_,^0' If the remittances from the funds of the Second General clnn an 's ^^J^S^y ^"^ ^^ *^^^ Fourth Joint Stock, had, in the last year, rltlmprovrd ^"^^^^^ t^is Presidency to discharge a large proportion of their ceipt^7^ ^^ debts, and raised their credit, the information of the intentioa of Stock. ^Yie Company to form an United Joint Stock, had, this year, so greatly improved that credit, that, without difficulty, they could, at any time, borrow ^20,000, at twelve per cent. Under the new Phirmaunds, the Presidency obtained a good investment of indigo and finer cloths, and, with difficulty, a small quantity of saltpetre ; but, as soon as they should receive intelligence that the Company's affairs had been settled in Eu- rope, and that their sales had again become regular, the utmost effi)rts would be made to increase the trade. SL^San" of ^^ information of the agreement which had taken place in t^*re1tgn°fhe England, between the Company and the Assada Merchants, fhrpres^iden- ^^^ n^* ^^^n received at Surat, the Presidency reported to the cyof Surat. q^^^^ ^j^^^ ^j^jg plantation had failed, by the persons sent to it having been reduced, by sickness, to a small number, and that the survivors had offered to resign the plantation to the Com- pany, and to place it at the disposal of the, Presidency : — an event, which was almost a commentary on the answers which the Court had made to the Council of State, of the preca- rious and unpromising project of uniting that trade with the English settlements in the East-Indies; illustrating thus, by fact, that however promising, in speculation, the schemes of the Interlopers might be, in England, a short experiment had proved them to be impracticable ; and, as a farther evidence of this £AST-IKI>IA COMPANY. 453 this truth, that, last year, Courtea's factors at Rajahpore had 9^ AP. i. ojQTered to transfer their right to that port to the Company ; and, 1650-51. Courten's in this year, so low had their character sunk, that one of their factors at Ra- jahpore offer ships hadbeen seized, by order of the King of Visiapore, as a ro transfer ^ ' -^ . . ^^^'^ factory security for the payment of the debts, due to him, and to his to the Com- * "^ pany. subjects. (*> The evils which the Agents in Persia apprehended, in the ^^^ ^^d^^^ preceding year, when the King, and his nobles, should receive ^rio"*from intelligence of the disastrous issue of the civil wars in England, ^^^ ^^^®^ ?^ were probably prevented, by the continuance of the war between ^^® ^^^^' the King of Persia and the Mogul, and by the danger to the Persian dominions, of an invasion by an army of Usbeck Tar- tars: towards the close of the season, however, the war with the Mogul had terminated, and the trade at Gombroon, be- tween the Mogul's subjects and the Persians, began to revive, which having been inland, by caravans, during the war, had not, as yet, increased the customs at this port, and, of course, had left the English proportion of them, low, and not equal to what might have been expected, when the naviga- tion of the Gulf had again become open. A change, however, had taken place, in this year, which materially afiected the trade of Persia : — -the Dutch factory at Gombroon had received large stock, and ten of their ships had arrived at this port, which had ^ven them a preponderance in the trade : — ^the Portuguese, also, had (1) — Letters from the President and Council at Surat to the Court, 24th October 1650^ and 2lst February i650-5i.— — Letter from the Agent and Council at Agra to the Court, Sth March 1650-51. 454 ANNALS OF THE HOKOBABLE CHAP. I. had been expelled from Muscat, and could no longer resist the 1650-51. Dutch in the Persian Gulf; and though, on their again becom- ing a separate sovereignty in Europe, they concluded a kind of truce, yet not having received reinforcements or supplies ftir two years, it was probable that the Dutch would take advan* tage of their defenceless situation, and renew the war witit them, and, if so^ would expel them from the Indian Seas. <^> Hie trade at The districts in the vicinity of Madras and M asuupatax x^adras and Masuiipatam had not recovered from the effects of the desultory war in 1648-49^ deoressed by the wars 'be- between the Kings of Visia|K)re and Golcondah, which had tween toe Kings of Vi- almost mined the cloth trade at the principal towns j and this siapore and Golcondah. had induced the Agents and Factors at Fort St. Geoi^e, to fit out a vessel for Pegu, with a small stock, to endeavor to open a trade with that country ; and another, imder the com« mand of Captain Brookhaven, to attempt trade, either at Bal- lasore, or to estabUsh a factory at Hughly, on the basis of the Eang's Phirmaund for a free trade in Bengal; but the seas, between the Straits of Malacca and the Ganges, were, at this time, so covered with Dutch cruisers, that the results of these experiments were precarious. To recover the trade at Fort St George, or at the Com- pany's factories at Masulipatam, Verasheroon, and Pettipolee, the fort must be strengthened, and have a sufficient garrison ; and the subordinate factories must either receive fiiU repairs, or the Company's (1)— Letter from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 24th October and 2i8t Febraary i6iO-5 1 -— Letter from the Agent and Council at Gombroon to the Court> 21 St February 1650-5}. EAST -INDIA COMPANi:. 455 Company's trade on the Corom^idel Coast^ be confined to chap. i. Madras only. An inventory, at this time, was taken of ail the 1650-51. quick and dead stock, and debts of the Second General Voyage, and the balance carried to tlie credit of ftie United Stock. Tlie station of Madras having been obtained from the King; ^^^ ^»ng ^f ^ ° Golcondah of Golcondah, and the English trade appearing to him to be of proposes to great consequence, he made a proposal, this season, to the Agent ^.^J"'' "8 *rad« and Council, of forming a Joint Stock with the Company, on ^"&^'*^^ which a coasting trade might be carried on, between the ports of his dominions, and those of the other Indian powers. When Fort St, George was first established, the Portuguese The Poriu- guese, by in- at St. Thome had afforded assistance to the English Agents, and terferipgwith Ihe religion of the two settlements had continued on the best terms, though the the natives, expose the Portuguese had not always, by their improvident zeal to make settlements . . . . : . . ^^ ^^® ^"'■°- converts, remained in amity with the natives ; and, in this sea- p^ans to great danger. son, an incident occurred, which had nearly endangered the permanency of their establishments at St. Thom6 :— one of their Padres had refused to allow a procession of the Hin- doo rehgious ceremonies to pass his church ; in this dispute the English, most wisely, avoided interfering, and, after relating the transaction, gave the following opinion to the Court, of the impracticability of overcoming the religious prejudices of the natives : — '' by this, you may judge of the lyon by his paw, and ^' plainely discerne, what smaU hopes, and how much danger ^' wee have of converting these people, y* are not lykey^ naked " and brut Americans, but a most subtle and pollitique nation, ^* who are so zealous in their religions, or rather superstitions, U yt 456 ANNALS OF THE HONOllABLE CHARi. *< yt even amongst their owne differing casts^ is grounded an irrc- 1650-51. " concilable hatred^ w^^ often produceth very bloodie eflfects/* <*> Trade at Ban- In 1650-51, the Presidency of Bantam continued to ex- lam contiDu- ^ ^r *° db t^ P^"^^^^ oppressions frcSn the Dutch ; but the Company's affairs Dutch. jjg^j jjggjj conducted with more than usiial accuracy, and this station had remained safe, though the trade was difficult. In obedience to the orders from England, they informed the Court, that they had transferred the money and goods belonging to the Second General Voyage^ to the amount of 158,000 rials, to the credit of the Fourth Joint Stock, and drawn bills on England for the amount, at the rate of five shillings and six- pence sterling, per rial of eight. (^> ( I )-^ Letter from the Agent and Council at Fort St. George to the Court, 18th January 1650. Letter from the Agent at Masulipatam to the Court, 28th Februarf 1650-51. (2) — Letter from the Fre«ident and Council of Bantam to the Court, dated 21st December 1650, £AST-IKDIA COMPANY. 45^ 1651-52. mies. In 1651-52, Admiral Blake reduced the European de- ^[^^^ pendencies of the kingdom (Jersey, Guernsey, &c.) and forced 1651-52. Common- the Portuguese to acknowledge the sovereignty of the Council wealth esta- blished^ aad of State ; General Ireton subjugated Ireland, and Greneral a foreign war expedient, to Monk, Scotland ; and the Commonwealth was establishing : fi°d empioy- raent for the but as the large army and navy, now at its disposal, were ^eet» and ar- no longer wanted in England, and might become dangerous to Cromwell, and to the other leaders, it was necessary to find a foreign enemy, in a war with whom, riches might be acquired by the English leaders, and employment given to the forces which had overset the Monarchy. During the civil wars, the Dutch observed a neutrality; but, from the connexion of the English Royal Family mth the House of Orange, the States General hesitated, after the King's death, to pass immediately from their alliance with the Crown of England, to connexions with the Usurpers of the govern- ment. It was foreseen, that, prizes might be made of the Dutch shipping in the European seas, which would furnish resources to the new Government of England ; and though the republican party in Holland, after the death of Prince William VOL. I. 3 N of 458 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. of Orange, acquired the ascendency, all their advances to 1651-52. CromweU were ineffectual : — hence the two nations, which, ia Europe, had been united, from the reign of Elizabeth, were preparing for that naval war, which could only weaken the real strength of both. What rendered this war popular in Eng* land, was the Act of Navigation, which passed in this year, and the oppressions experienced by the London East-India Com- pany, which were adduced by the Council of State, as one of the reasons of the declaration of war against the States General Companype- In the year 1650-51, the Company had presented a petition ment for re- to the Parliament, praying for redress of grievances from the grievances Dutch, and this petition had been referred to the Council of from the * Dutch; State: — ^in 1651-52, they renewed this application, to mark their reliance on the Coimcil, and to keep out of view, questions respecting their privileges, which might lead to dis- cussions prejudicial to their Charter. The Company, after adverting to their former petition to the Parliament, and to the reference made to the Council of State, renewed their application to this Council, on the 9th May 1651^ in which, after repeating their former grounds of complaint, they prayed, that as Ambassadors were expected from the States General, the affairs of the East-India Company might be reconsidered, and satisfaction, at last, obtained, for the in- juries they had sustained from the Dutch Company. This petition was accompanied with a statement of the real losses from the Dutch, subsequent to the treaty of 1622, estimated at ^1,681,996 EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 459 5^1,681,996. 15*., besides interest, which would amount to a chap. i. larger sum than the principal. (^) 1651-52. When the war with Holland became more probable, the Com- 7"^°^, ^^^ ^ ^ ' fleet, to pro- pany, in the month of June, presented a third Petition to the {f^^^g^^gr^ Council, in which they expressed their apprehensions for the ^P^"^ **"P' safely of their homeward-bound fleet, consisting of five ships, with valuable cargoes, particularly saltpetre, the importation of which they had directed their Presidencies and Factories to make a principal article in the investment ; and prayed that ships * of war might be stationed off the Land's-End, or the Isles of Scilly, to protect their fleet into the Downs. (-^ Having been, for years, without proper authority in the -^andforau Presidencies in India (more particularly since Courten's shipping ^^^^^, °^^|^ had made encroachments on their trade) to enforce obedience in J^^^"^* *" the English subjects within their limits, the Company presented an address to the Council of State, praying that powers might be given, under the Great Seal of England, to their Presidents and Councils in India, to enforce obedience in ^ Englishmen, resident within their jurisdiction, and to punish offenders, conformably to the laws of England. (^) 3 N 2 While (])^Petition of the East-India Company to the Council of State, gth May 1651, and Account of Losses sustained from the Dutch, accompanying it. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, Nos. 179> J80)- (2)— Petition of the East-India Company to the Council of State, respecting their homeward fleet, 2l8t June 1651. (East- India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 181). (3)— Petition of the East- India Company to the Council of State, respecting a Grant of powers to enforce obedience to their orders in India, 22d October l651. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office^ No. 183). 16L> ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB ^^^ |^;^V a weight in the Persian market^ the English trade was neces- 1651-52. sarily on thedecUne; both from a scarcity of money, and from the sales of their imports having been dull: — a proportion of goods had, however, been sent to Ispahan, by two caravans^ and the CJourt's orders had been executed, of estimating all the quick and dead stock by appraisement, and carrying the ujnount to the credit of the United Stock. The Company's pro- portion of the customs at Gombroon, this season, amounted to seven hundred and fifty Tomands, which had beep the principal resource of the Agent, who trusted, that when the troubles in England should subside, and the requisite funds be remitted, the example of the Dutch, who had sent a strong fleet into the Persian Gulf, would be followed, as a more efficacious plan, for reviving and invigorating the Persian trade, than the precarious expedient of negotiation/') 1 hf Council The Agent and Council at Foet St. George having re- CuH»rgtiVe. reived the Court's directions to keep the fort, in its present situa- HKi«iniit\h(i tion, and not to add to its strength, that the charges might be kept it»i iiiii^Mi- IIS low as possible, expressed their deep regret at this hazardous tiiMirii^hiM\», measure; because Fort St. George formed the only security to liaU iiupr^^ve^l the iuluud trade, and the principal protection to the Company's *^^^«< slixpping. Of so much importance was this fort, that the Agent \mi\ l^Mineil attributed the prosperity of the Dutch trade, on the ( 'onunandel Coast, to their having added to the fortifications at PuUicat, 1^ l^fllfrA from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 8th April and 30th ^KUkM \MX% *tMl lOth January 1651-52. Letter from the Agent and Council of Gom- W^s^M u^ IW IVurt, Hth May l65i. £AST*INDIA COM PAN V. 463 Pullicat, and increased the eflective strength of its garrison ; and CHA P, i . they had sent a Commissary, to solicit an enlargement of their pri- 1651-52. vileges from the Nabob, and to be allowed to rent some of the neighbouring towns, for which they had offered to pay consi- derable sums^ if a free trade should be allowed them, without payment of customs : — ^this Dutch agent was coolly received by the Nabob, and referred to the King of Golcondah, then at Gundicotta, to which place he had proceeded, but, at the close of the season, 4;he result of this negotiation was not known. These facts induced the Agent and Council of Fort St. George to submit^ that if the Company wished to extend their trade on the Coromandel Coast, permission must be given to add to the strength of the fort, and to encrease the garrison. An additional Phirmaund had been obtained from the Na- Obtain a Phirmaund bob, authorizing the Company to make purchases of Coast from the Nabob for cloths and other goods,^ without restriction, in all the towns of inland trade. his district ; the effect of this grant had hitherto been inconsi- derable, from the existing wars between the Kings of Golcondah and Visiapore, and the Hindoos. As no notice is taken of the alarming dispute between the Portuguese and the Natives, it is probable it had been compromised. Tli£ investment in cloths, from these circumstances, was not considerable, and a small quantity, only, of saltpetre could be collected on the Coast. The Factors in Bengal had been more successful, having, The Factors ^ in Bengal for three thousand rupees, obtained a Phirmaund for free trade, obtain a * ^ Phirmaund without payment of customs. This expence, (if the Company's ^^^ ^"^^^ 5^" trade in that country could be supplied with sufficient stock.) ^^^^f ^^°"" J ^^ yy sand rupees* would 464 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABLE CHAP; I. would soon be reimbursed : but, what was of most importance^ 1651-52. an indefinite quantity of saltpetre could be purchased in Bengal, particularly at BaUasore, and at Hughly ; the Dutch in this year, and indeed annually, having shipped above two thousand tons from Pipley, the port at which the English first obtained the Mogul's Phumaund for liberty of trade. <*> (0— Letter from the Agent and Council of Fort St. 6eorg< January 1651-52. BAST-INPIA COMPANY. 465 1652-53. It has hitherto been required, from the changing aspects 9^^^- ^; of the EngUsh government, from a Monai'chy to a Com- 1652-53. The Com- monwealth, to refer, annually, to the forms which it assumed ; monweaith confirmecl, because the London East-India Company were under the neces- and applica- tions of the sity of accommodating their applications to the existing go- Company, and of indi- vernment, or to the Protector, and the Council of State, as viduais, a- gainst the they appeared either disposed to listen to their complaints, or ^^^ch, en- •^ ^^ ^ * couraged by inclined to afford protection to their chartered rights and exclu- ^^ Council sive privileges. — ^As Cromwell carefully concealed his real reasons of State, for engaging in a war with the Dutch, the Company were obliged to accommodate their applications to the probable appearances of the differences, between the Commonwealth and the Dutch, being adjusted, or to the actual prospect of war. At the beginning of this season, the disputes between, the English and Dutch, seemed to be in a train of adjustment ; but complaints by individuals, and by the Company, of injuries sus- tained from the Dutch, were invited, and readily received by the Council of State : — all these complaints went to one point, or to impress the public with an opinion, that war with the Dutch had become a matter of necessity. After, however, the war actually commenced, those complaints were necessarily suspended ; and the Council of State had an opportunity of impressing the VOL. 1. 3 O public. 466 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^J' J; public, as well as the Company, with an opinion, that, should 1652-53. the issue be fortunate, the grievances of the nation in the £ast« Indies would be redressed, and a full compensation made, for the losses which they had sustained. CromweD, thus, rendered the aggression of the Dutch a justifiable cause of war, and conciliated the minds of the public to this event, from a belief that the encouragement of trade, and the protection of the English nation, were the real motives for those hostilities, which, in fact, proceeded from the necessity of the Usurper to find a foreign'enemy, against whom he might employ that army, and that navy, which had levelled the Throne, and which, if un- employed, might have reflected upon the crimes, of which they had been made the deluded instruments. Farther peti- While negotiation with the Dutch was practicable, ap- tions of the Company and plications for rcdrcss of grievances were readily received, and of individuals totheCouncii individuals and their families, or representatives, encouraged to of State, for • • . . redress a- offer them, not only by specifying the original sums at which Dutch. they computed their losses, but the accumulation of interest on those sums, and the probable profits to which (had the owners of them been allowed to proceed with their trade) they would have amounted, at the date of the applications. It was not, however, left to particular applications, calculated, (by the natiu^ai interest taken in them in ahnost every part of England,) to turn the popular feeling against the Dutch, but the East- India Company, also, were encouraged, while the treaty was pending, to renew ttieir applications for redress totheCouncii of State. By EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 467 By a petition, in the early part of 1652, the Company re- ^^^^' capitulated the injuries and losses they had sustained from the 1652-53. Dutch East-India Company, and that they had not been able, hitherto, to obtain that redress, which they trusted would now be insisted on, in the negotiations pending between England and Holland, and particularly, that the Islands of Polaroon and Polaway should be restored to them. At this crisis, hostilities commenced between Admiral Blake War declared against Hoi- and the Dutch Admiral, Van Tromp ; but this event, instead of *»^^- producing an immediate declaration of war, induced the States to send Adrian Paaw, as Ambassador Extraordinary, to attempt the accommodation of the dispute. The Company, strangers to the motives of Cromwell and his Council, and uncertain whether a treaty, or a war, might T)e the result, presented anotKer peti- tion, in July 1652, praying, as they understood the Dutch had given in an account of pretended losses from the English, in the East-Indies, to an amount exceeding that which the English had really experienced, that a copy of this account might be afforded them, that they might give a just and accurate an- swer thereto, ^' whereby to make the right appear/* but in the month of August 1652, as neither the Council of State, nor the Dutch Ambassadors, would recede from the terms upon which each had insisted, the negotiations broke off, and formal manifest tos, and declarations of war, were published by both parties. ('> 3 O 2 While (1) — Petition of Richard Newland to the Council of State, for satisfaction of losses sus- tained from the Dutch in the East-Indies^ and ioterett thereon* Maj 1652. PetitioQ 468 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. While the Court were under this uncertainty, respecting 1652-53. the issue of their applications to the Council of State, they were the Fourth employed in making up the accounts of the Fourth Joint Stock, Joint Stock adjusted. for PetitioQ and Affidavit of Pleasance Pane^ widow of Michael Pane, for satisfaction of lossea in the £ast«Indies, in the year 1618, and interest thereon, to the amount of jf 10,000. April 1652. Petition and Affidavit of John Tucker, for satisfaction of losses in the year 1619, and in- terest, to the amount of 4^12,000. April l652. Petition of Henry Coolson, for satisfaction for the murder of his brother, Samuel Coulson, at Amboyna, in l622. Petition of Jane Staunton, widow of Robert Staanton, for losses sustained from the Dutch, in 1619, to the amount of jf400. Petition of Joan Battichel, widow of Henry Battichel, for losses sustained from the Dutch, in 1619, to the amount of ^2,500. Petition of Captain Hackwell, for losses sustained by his brother, William Highet, for losses sustained, in the year 16L9, to the amount of df 2,500. Petition of Margery Carter, widow of Thomas Wool man, for losses sustained, in 1619, to the amount of s£l ,200. Petition of Sarah Wills, widow of Joseph Wills, for losses sustained, in 1CI8, to the amount of aS4O0, with interest. Petition of Thomas lloswell, for losses sustained, in 16L&, to the amount of eSSOO. Petition of Katherine Dover, widow of William Rockwell, for losses sustained, in 16I8, to the amount of ^3,000. P«tition of Rachel Fletcher, widow of Thomas Fletcher, for losses, in 16\6, to the amount of sS2,000, Petition of Henry Abdy, son of Philip Abdy, for losses, in I6I8, to the amount of #^3,000. Petition of Joan Butler, widow of Kenelm Butler, for losses, in 1619, to the amount of ^2,000. Petition of Katherine Dover, sister of Hugh Woodlock, for losses, in 1619, to the amount of ^10,000. Petition of Nicholas Smith, for losses, in 1619, to the amount of ^2,000. Petition of Joan Cotter ell, widow of William Cotterell, for losses^ in 1619, to the anK>unt of jf 3,000. Petition BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 469 for the pui-pose of merging it into the United Stock After long ^hap L investigation, this was effected, on the 22d December 1652, when 1652-53. a Greneral Com-t of Committees of both Stocks was held, and the amount of the Fourth Joint Stock, made up to November 1651, was laid before them, amounting to ^30,246: — this General Court decided, that ^20,000 should be paid to the holders of the Fourth Joint Stock, as a part of the sums due to them, and that the remainder should be adjusted, and finally settled, at a subsequent meeting of the Generality. (^) It does not appear, in the home transactions of this season, The foreign Presidencies that any specific instructions had been framed, or conveyed to the and Agencies . • 1 1 /• vested with Company's foreign Presidencies and Factories, and, indeed, from discretionary powers. the Petition of Martha Vitry, widow of William Vitry, for losses, in 1619, to the amount of ^300. Petition of Jane Webber, widow of William Webber, for losses, in 1622, to the amount of near j£l,000, and interest. Petition of Matthew Wills, heir of Matthew Wills, for losses, in 16I8, to the amount of jg3,000. Petition of Sarah I^ne, widowof Jacob Lane> for losses, in l6l8> to the amount of ^3,500. Petition of Elizabeth Swanley, widow of Richard Swanlcy, for losses, in iGid, to the amount of above 5^1,500. General Petition of the Captains^ Seamen^ Widows, and Orphans, for losses and injuries^ sustained from the Dutch in the East-Indies, subsequent to the year 1619. (East India Papers, in the State Paper Office, No. 185.) Petition of the East India Company to the Council of State, for redress of grievances sustain* ed from the Dutch, particularly the Massacre at Amboyna and the Seizure of Polaroon. (East India Papers in the State Paper Office, 1632, No. 135.) Petition of the East India Company to the Council of State, requesting a copy of the demands of the Dutch. 9th July, l6S2. (East India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 186.) (1) — ^Minute of a Meeting of the Committees of the Fourth Joint Stocky and United Stock, 22d December 1652. (Vol. iii. No. 241). 470 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB CHAP. I. the events which had taken place between the Company and 1652-53. the Council of State, it was scarcely possible that any thing, beyond the discretionary powers with which, during the troubles, they had been obliged to vest them, could have been devised. In a preceding season, from the low price of pepper in Europe, the Presidency of Bantam had been directed to send such quantity of this article, as they might have collected, to Surat, for sale, and not to ship any for Europe : — ^the Presidency of Bantam, how- ever, disregarding this order, had shipped pepper to a large amount for England, for payment of which they drew one bill on the Court, in favor of the executes of one of their Council, and another, in favor of a Dutch merchant of Amster- dam ; both bills the Generality, or Court of Proprietors, ordered to be dishonored, and directed the Presidency of Bantam to sell the pepper in the country, and with the money it might bring, to discharge the debt ; adding, that, in future, the Court would expect implicit obedience to their orders.(') The Presi- In the preceding season, the Phirmaunds of the Mogul had dency of Surat apply supported the Company's trade at Surat, by the money saved by for protection exemptions from the payment of the duties, and customs : but against the Dutch. the investment was small, from the vague information which the Presidency had received of a probability of a war in Europe, be- tween England and Portugal, which had obliged them to proceed with (1) — Letter from the Court to the President and Council at Fort St. George, loth February 1652-53. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 4^1 with caution towards the Portuguese, not havmg fleets or force chap. i. to act offensively, either against their shipping, or their fortified 1652-53. stations ; and, in this year, they were farther alarmed, by accounts from Europe, of war having been declared, between the Com- monwealth of England and the States General, The immediate effect of this intelligence was, that the native merchants were afraid to load their goods on board of English vessels, lest they might be captured by the Dutch fleets. In this situation, the President and Council had recourse to the expedient of sending an agent to Delhi, to represent to the Mogul, the hazardous state in which their Fac- tories were placed, by being exposed to a powerful European enemy, and to pray for his protection. In communicating this measure to the Directors, they submit- ted the necessity of applying to the Parliament, for four or five large ships of war, and seven or eight lesser armed vessels, to proceed direct to the Indian Seas, both to afibrd protection to the Company's Presidencies and Factories, and to act offen- sively against the Dutch. The Agent sent to the Mogul succeeded in his mission ; for a Obtain a Phirmaund Phirmaund was obtained, granting general privileges of trade for protec- tion^ and in- to the English, and an exemption from being questioned for creased privi- any irregularities or depredations, which the other European nations might commit in the Indian Seas. This Phirmaund ap- pears to have been founded on a contract, concluded between the GovenKM* and principal inhabitants of Surat, and the President and Council, which stipulated, that the Company were to be allowed free trade, at the different ports, and inland, in the Mogul's 472 ANNALS Ol THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. 1652-53. Recommend that Bombay and fiassein should be purchased from the Portuguese. Mogul's dominions, from Scindy to Bengal ; — that their Agents, attending the transit of their goods, were to be charged only the usual rates of caniage ; — and that they were to be allowed, under their former Phirmaunds, to ship their goods from one port in India to another, without repeating the payment of duties ; — that their servants were to be permitted to recover their debts, agreeably to the laws of the country, and, in the event of death, that their property was to be presented, and delivered to the re- presentatives of the Company ; — and, lastly, that the President and Council were to pay a fixed rent for their house and factory at Surat, for the term of seven years. As such grants constituted the only security which the Company could obtain, at the ports, or in the dominions of the Mogul, the Presidency of Surat were looking for some insular or fortified station, in which their property and persons might be secure, should a civil war break out, or an Eu- ropean enemy attack their defenceless factories, or houses of trade ; and gave it as their opinion, that, for a reasonable con- sideration, the Portuguese would allow them to take possession of Bombay, and of Bassein. The report on the trade was, that they had disposed of the greatest part of the English broad-cloth at Agra, where it had been sold to greater advantage than in Persia, to which they had not shipped any this seiison; — that as Indian goods could be obtained at the same prices at Agra, as at Lucknow, they had withdrawn the factory from the latter place ; and, on the whole, had collected a moderate investment for the shipping expected EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 4/3 expected irom Europe, though they had experienced considerable 9^^^' I' embarrassment, from the interferences of the private traders, who 1652-53. could not be checked in India, but must (if the Company's trade was to continue) be placed under restraints in England. ^*> The situation of the trade in Persia, in 1652-53, was af- state of the trade m Per- fected by the information of the war, which had taken place 8»a#beforc the * intelligence in Europe, between England and Holland. Before this intel- ^f the Dutch war wat re- ligence reached Persia, the Dutch, by the magnitude of^**^®**- their fleets and stock, and by their unwearied applications to the King and to the Shahbunder, at Gombroon, for privileges equal, if not superior, to those of the English, had so far succeeded, that their credit was raised in the country, and the commercial transactions of the English depressed. These circumstances obliged the Agents to apply to the King for a Phirmaund, to declare that the Dutch wtre liable to the pay- ment of the English moiety of customs at Gombroon, though, by grant, they were exempted from the payment of the moiety belonging to the King ; but the Agents despaired of re- covering the Company's just proportion, unless the appearance of an English fleet, in the Persian Gulf, with forces to co- operate with it, should give to them that power, by which the Dutch had acquired a preponderance in the trade. It was the magnitude of their fleets and cargoes, the former VOL. I. 3 P consisting (I) — Letters from the Presidency of Surat to the Court, 10th December 1652, and 17th January and 23d March 1652-53;— —<- Contract between the Governor and principal Inba* bitants of Surat and the Company, and Copy of Phirmaund confirming this Contract, dated the 25tb of Shah Jehanguire, (l653). (East-India Papers in the Indian Register Office, marked F. 1^ pages 213^ 229), 4^4 ANNALS OI* TRB HONORABLS ^^ P' \ consisting of fifteen sail, the latter estimated at 40^50 165^-53. Tom^mds, which had enabled the Butch^ this season^ not Only to obtain a favorable reception to a Commissaiy whom they had sent to Ispahan^ but to make purchases of a large proportion of Persian produce: — such, however^ was the efiect of the long subsisting commercial intercourse be* tween the 0>mpany and Persia, that the application of the Dutch Commissary to the King, for the same privileges whidi the English had enjoyed, was refused, and the reason assigned was, " that the Dutch had not performed the same services to the " King, which the English had done : ^'—Combining, however, commerce with intrigue, the Dutch Ccmimissary had, from the large stock of which he had the command, entered into a con- tract to purchase silk, on very high and disadvantageous terms, with the sole object of rendering the English investment in this article, inconsiderable. The English Agent at Ispahan had been well received at Court, and had obtained permission to purchase silk, in any of the Persian Provinces ; and this had enabled him to collect an assortment of it, for the investment, at reasonable rates. — After the After the intelligence of the war in Europe, between the knowledge of that event English and the Dutch, had reached Persia, the Agents at Goxxk^ reached Per- }^^' broon and Ispahan became apprehensive, that the large fl!e,%t& in the Gulf might induce the King to grant privileges to the Dutch, equal to those which the English enjoyed, and might expose the Company's ships, between Gombroon and Surat, to capture :-^ This alann was increased, when it was discovered that the Dutcb> Dutcb^ on receiving intelligence of the war, 1md proposed a 9 ^^J'^: cessation of hostilities, in India^ between ^iliem and ihe For- 1^52*&3. tuguese^ that they might direct the whole of their fwce against the English trade and factories : the Agent at Ispahan, however, trusted that the Portuguese, from their having a large naval force in die Indies, and a considerable proportiwt of it iStationed in the Persian Gulf, would not accede to this proposal. The account given of the state of the market at "QqoAtoou, was discouraging, as ^ae Agent had not received any new su|>- ply of Inroad-doths this year, which had obliged him to raise the price of the small quantity in store; — an inventoiy, how<^ eyer, had been made of all the Company's goods, remaining in Persia, which were estimated at upwards of ^40,000, and eight hundred Tomands had been received at Gombroon, as the Company's proportion of customs, for last season/^> The Agent and Council at Fort St. George, having Measures received intelligence of the probability of a war, between George, after ° A .^ ' receiving m- England and HoUand, gave it as their opinion, to the Pre- {^*^'^°^^j^^ sidency of Surat, that whatever might be the issue of such a H^^^^^^- war in Europe, the C;>:.rpany, from the superiority of the Dutch power in India, must be sufferers : — ^in the prospect of it, the fortifications of Fort St. George ought to be completed, and in particular, a curtain towards the sea must be built, without which the place could not be in a state of security ; and a reinforcement 3 P 2 sent (1) — Letters from the President and Conndl of Surat to the Courts 26tb November i653, and 18th January 1653-54.—— Letters from the Agents and Councils at Ispahan and Gombroon^ to the Courts 4tb Aprils 6ihJS/laj, 18tb August^ and 30th September 1653. 476 ANKALS OF THE HONORABLE CHA P. I. sent for the garrison, which, at this time, amounted only to 1652-53. twenty-six English soldiers. It had required the utmost vigilance of the Governor and Council to prevent the native merchants and artisans from deserting the town, which would do material in- jury to the Company's trade, both in sales and in purchases, and lower the amount of duties, which went, in part, to defray the charges of the establishment. <^> The Court not having received, in this season, any direct communications from Bantam, the state of the trade, at this Presidency, can only be collected from the references which will foe made to it, in the Annals of the subsequent year. (1)*-Letter from the Agent and Council of Fort St. George to the President and Council at Surat^ dth February 1652-53* EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 477 1653-54. Ip the establishment of the Council of State, and the obse- chap. i. quiousness of the Parliament to its orders, had hitherto main- 1653-54. tained the administration of the Commonwealth in England, '^entdll^h' and if a foreign enemy had been selected by Cromwell, to divert cromweii x^- ^ 1 , 1 , declared Pro- mich he had assumed, tector. events, in this year, occurred, which altered the frame of the government : — ^the army, devoted to Cromwell, was selected by him to counteract the opposition, which appeared in that very Parliament, which had been the source of his ambitious projects, but which he now, by force, dismissed. To find supplies, he selected another Parliament, consisting of persons little qualified to discharge their duties ; which, after sitting five months, resign- ed their authority into the hands of the Council of State, by whom Cromwell was declared 'Protector of the Commomuealthy with the title of Highness, and, as such, acknowledged by the three kingdoms. Though the English and Dutch had been alternately suc- cessful in this eventful year, the superiority of the English fleets was established, and the States General began to make ap- proaches to a treaty of peace. Reference is made to these events, to mark the actual state of the Government, and, from it, to 476 AKNALS OF THB HONOSABLS P^ ^^ ^y to trace the measures which a subordinate body, like the East* 1653-54. India Company, adopted; and they will afford an interesting view of the public feelings, when the sovereignty was so rapidly passing into the hands of the Usurper. Company pe- Th^ London East-India Company, at this critical period, lowed^to^^^^ endeavoured to accommodate Iheir proceedings, not only to the *°?s^o '^X*" shifting aspects which the Government was assimiing, but to the ^ro ^oseTo* popular feelings respecting the war with the Dutch ; — ^mstead of •crrtfor^for repc3,ting their general complaints for redress of grievances, they that purpose, presented a petition to the Council of State, praying for per- mission to become parties in the war, and to send a fleet of armed ships to the East-Indies, that they might obtain, by force, reparation for those injuries, which, for so many years, they had, in vain, endeavoured to procure, by negotiation. This petitien stated, that as the London East-India Company had sustained damages from the Dutch, to the amount of some hundred thou- sand pounds, and, notwithstanding applications tD Government for twenty-nine years, had been unable to receive satisfac- tion, it had at last become their wish (if they should obtam per- mission from the Council of State) to open a new Subscription to defray the charges of some ships of war to be sent to the East-Indies, to make reprisals on the Dutch, and, there- fore, prayed the Council of State to lend them five or six frigates for this purpose, and to grant protection from impress to the seamen to be employed in this service. ('> Annexed (2 }— Petition of the East-India Conapany to the Council of State, for five or fix sbipt to Annexed to this petition^ the Company submitted the Pre- ^^a p. i. amble for the Subscription which was to defiray the charges of 1655-54. this armament : — ^it set forth^ that the Company, having taken into their consideration the insupportable damages and wrongs whichy for a long serks of years, they had sustained from the Netherlands East-India Company, particularly the massacre at Amboyna; the dispossessing them of the Islands of Lantore and Polaroon; the seizing by force the ship Endymion, in the year 1649, and still retaining the cargo of this ship ; the excluding them from the trade from this period, and the capture of four of their ships in the Gulf of Persia, the crew^ of which were kept in irons, which had brought dishoiior on the nation, and injury to the London Company; had resolved to send ships of war into the East-Indies, to make reprisals on ihe Dutch, and to recover their losses, as well as to vindicate the character of the natipn ; the profits and losses from this expedition, to be divided among the subscribers : — ^they, therefore, proposed that all persons should be allowed to sub- scribe such sums as they might cflfer likrge bribes to the Go- vernors of Surat and Ahmedabad, to induce them to obstruct the English factors, in purchasing cloths, and other articles, ft* the ihVejrtment. At Ahiliedabad, they completely succeed- ed; for the Gdvemor detained all the Company's saltpetre, which hdd been collected for the shipping of the ensuing season. These VOL. I. 3 Q 482 ANNALS OF THE HONOBABIiE CHAP. I These events materially affected, both the stock of money^ 1653-54. and goods, which were at the disposal of the Presidency o€ Surat, and obliged them to keep in store the investment which they had provided for this season. This distress was also heightened, by the impracticability of trade between Surat and Persia, in which goods, estimated at 5^50,000, were de- tained, it being unsafe to ship them, on account of the large Dutch fleet which had complete possession of the seas, and commanded equally the Malabar Coast, and the Persian Gulf. (0 Four of the The fleet which had appeared off* Surat, soon after the Company's •hips captur- declaration of war by the Dutch against England, and which. ed by the Dutch in the had sailed for the Persian Gulf, captured the Company's ship& *^^ Roebuck and Lanneret, off Jasques ; and soon afterwards the Blessing, and drove the Supply on shore^ where she was totally lost. Severe as these losses were, the Agent and Council at Grombroon considered them of less moment, than the effect which this event would have in Persia, on the English character,, hitherto held by that people as eminently distinguished for bravery ; a quality which had contributed, more than any other^^ to obtain for them the Phirmaunds and grants, which have been enumerated. Company's ^ ^^^^ critical situation, recourse was had to n^egotiation, moved from through the Shahbunder, which hap^nly was seconded, by intelligence arriving of the victory which the Ei^lish fleet had obtained (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Court, 26tb November l653, and 18th January 1654-54. Bussorah to EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 483 obtained, over that of Holland, off Portland : — ^this had raised ch ap, i . the hopes of the Agents, who wrote to the Court, that they 1653-54. trusted the oppressions which they had, for so many years, endur- red from the Dutch, would be removed, and that this people would be made " to pay severely for the bloodie Ambojrna busi* *^ nesse," which, in fact, they said, had been the real cause that had raised the Dutch power in India, to its present height. Every measure of precaution was taken, under such peri- lous circumstances, to preserve the Company's property and rights. Orders had been sent to the Agent at Bussorah, to bring away the stock and goods from that factory, it being appre« bended, the Dutch would make an attack on it. At Gombroon, presents had been made to the Hew Shahbunder, to induce him to make payment of the Company's moiety of customs, of which seven hundred and twenty Tomands had been recovered j but the Agents were in want of articles, for presents to the King, and nobles, without which nothing could be done. This report on the general state of the Company's trade in Per- sia, concluded, by recommending to the Court of Directors, rather to purchase silk, with ready money, by fair competition, than to persevere in the practice of making contracts with the King and his nobles, which had, hitherto, been attended only with trouble and great expence.<^> 3Q2 The (i)*-Letters from Gombroon, 4th April and 6th May 1653^ and Letters from Tspahaoj Sth August 1653. 41^ ANNAJLS QF THl^ Qd^OBABXI! » C H AP , t . The Agei^t and CpiWicil at Foet St. George were,^ ia Ais^ 1^53-54* y$^> (1653-54) raised to th« rank of a Presidency^ a ooN^asivr^ Fort St. ' George made c^culated to enable then> to act with greater eS^t^ in e^- . a Presidency, ^ lao^ging tltibe C^romandel trade. Inland trade Tliifi Presidency nepres^nted to^ tbe Coifrt, tUikt satisfied gf on the Coast /» Tt>r i ^^ of Coronian- the danger of sending cargoes from JV^dras^ to Qoe^ aw^ to del impracti- cable, from Surat^ by SQa, they w^d wiUii^ly Qave complied with th^^r theconrulsed state of the orders, and have sent them over land to those ports ; bipjb tlie country, and coasting trade chargcsc were so great, and the ri^ks in t}ie ti therefor^, they h^d, uf^idi^r i^m^ an etner^ gency, laden Coast goods iiai 9, country v^s^^^4i WPtJi)^ round to Goa, as the least hazai:dous «3f p^dilept whicl^ ijney i!qu^ df^vise* Fort si. Ttq orders of the Cou^t,, Uh almdjge the charge had arisen, from mi ofier which the Danes had made ta deliver up the fort at Traaquebar to the Dutch, on conditicHi of paying their debts ; and this would put asotfaer strong fortification on» the Coast, inta the hands of tlie enemy,, and add to their power, as well a& to their influence^ oTrer the Corotaandel tarade« The connexion between the trade of Madras and BengaIt The con- had been preserved, though the sums which the factors in tween Madras the latter country had paid, to be exempted from duties and kept open. customs, it was conceived, would counterbalance the profits from this trade, and rather be a benefit to the private trade of the Company's servants, than to their investments. ^*> The irregularity of the communications between the Presi- Trade at dency at Bantam and the Court is accounted for, by the more nearly sus- exposed situation of the trade and shipping at that port, and account of from its nearer vicinity to the seat of the Dutch Government at the Dutch.' Batavia. As no intelligence had arrived, of the circumstances under which the Company^s factory and trade at Bantam had acted, since the season 1650-51, when they carried the balance of (1)— Letters from Fort St. George to the Court, llth November X653, and I2tb January 1653-54.—— Letter from Bantam to Fort St. George, 15tb July l653,-*— • Letter firom Sorat to the Court, 18th January i653«54. 486 ANKALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. of the Second General Voyage, to the credit of the Fourth Joint 1653 - 54. Stock, and drew bills on England, for the amount, at five shil- lings and six-pence per rial of eight, we now discover, that du- ring this interval, or up to the year 1653-54, they had strug- gled to preserve their proportion of the trade, till the Dutch pro- claimed war against England. This event checked them, in the p.x>ject of opening . trade with Cambodi., and had, indeed, so intimidated them from continuing the coasting trade, from port to port, to obtain pepper or the finer spices, for the Indian or Europe markets, that the trade at Bantam, at this crisis, was, in fact, at a stand. (^> (1) — Letters from the Presidency of Bantam to Fort St. George^ 15th July 1053, and to the Courts 10th December 1653^ and lOth January 1653-54 ▲ jST-IXYDXA COMPANY. 487 1654-55. Though the Protectorship of Cromwell had been esta- chap. i. blished in 1653-54, and though the war with the Dutch had 1654-55. • • /* V J TheParlia- engrossed the public attention, and negotiations for peace had ment sum- moned by been in progress, yet the treaty of Westminster was not ratified Cromweii, beginning to by the Protector, tiU the 5th April 1654 ; references, there- question his authority, fore, to the actual state of the Government of England, must be dissolved. continued, that, from them, we may trace the source of the pro- ceedings of the London East-India Company. In this season^ it will be sufficient to mention, that the peace had been scarcely concluded with a foreign nation and a commercial rival, when the secret causes, which had induced the Usurper to call off the attention of the force, by which had raised hi m self to power, began again to influence his conduct. By the Act of Govern- ment J under which he had been elevated to the Protectorate, Cromwell solemnly agreed to make frequent appeals to a Parliament : this condition obliged him, on the 3d September 1654, to summon an assembly, under this name, which, not- withstanding his intrigues to constitute it of members who might be submissive to his wiU, entered into discussions on the foundations of his authority, resembling those which had overset the monarchy : — taught, therefore, by experience, the conse- quences of indefinite political speculations which might lead to questions^ 4W ANNALS OP THE HOIVORABLE CHAR I. questions^ as dangerous to his assumed power, as they had 1654-55. been to the recognized rights of the Sovereign, Cromwell found it necessary, on the 23d January 1654-55, to dissolve thii ass*embly« Company pe- While the treaty with the Dutch was pending, the East- tiiion Crom- r o^ well, that India Company, presuming that their rights and privileges would ^?»^ become the subjects of one or more articles in it, addressed the ratght DO ' ceded to Protcctor, in the hope that he would support the establishment which they had, for so many years, maintained ; and, therefore, submitted to his consideration, as he was endeavouring to settle the national trade to India, that the town of Bassein, and port of Bomibay, on the Coast of India, and the town and castle of Mosambique, on the Coast of Africa, would be the most convenient stations for the trade and factories of the East- India Company. (^> Treaty at It will be rccoUccted, that, befwethe commencement of the ZZ'::^"' civil wars, and indeed, ever since the event of the massacre at Holland. Amboyna, petitions had been almost annually presented by the London East-India Company to the Crown, praying fot the redress of the grievances which they experienced from the Dutch in the East-Indies. After the Monarchy was overset, and while the Commonwealth was absorbing itsdf into a Protec- torate, the Company, looking up to the existing power, repeated their applications of the same description, and, in the preceding year, projected a subscription, to defray the charges (1)— Addrew of the East-India Company to the Protector* iTdtotifc to the settlement of the trade in India, 1654. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 197) i EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 489 Charges of a naval force, to be employed in the East-Indies, to ^^^^'^j retaliate on the Dutch, the injuries which the Company had 1654-55. suffered; and it will also be remembered, that among the .other causes of the war, the refusal of the Dutch to grant redress for these grievances, had been appealed to, by CromweU, to con- ciliate the pubUc to the measure : — ^the petitions and com- plaints of the Company had been favorably received by the Protector and Council of State, and therefore, when the treaty was concluded, on the 5th April 1654, articles were introduced, expressly to redress the grievances of the English in the East- Indies, and to ascertain the respective rights of the English and Dutch East-India Companies. By the 27th article, it was agreed, " That the Lords, the Articles in this treaty " States General of the United Provinces, shall take care, that ascertaining the Compa- ^^ justice be done upon those who were partakers or accomplices ny'srighu 1 Ti f -r A andcompe- " in the massacre of the English, at Amboyna, as the Republic •ation for * their losses, *^ of England is pleased to term that fact, provided any of them *^ be living. '^ By the 30th article, if was agreed, ^^ That four Com- ^^ missioners shall be named, on both sides, at the dme of ex- ^^ changing the ratifications, to meet here at London, on the ^* 18th of May next, according to the English style, who, at the ^^ same time, shall be instructed and authorised, as they are ^^ instructed and authorised by theise presents, to examine and ^^ distinguish all those losses and injurys, in the year 1611, and ^^ after, to the 18th of May 1652, according to the English VOL. I. 3 B! ." style 490 AKNALS OF THS HONOBABLE CHAP^ " style, as well in the East-Indies, as in Greenland, Muscovy^ 1654-55. " Brazil, or wherever else either party complains of having '^ suffered them, from the other : and the particulars of " all those injurys and damages shall be exhibited to the ^' said Commissioners so nominated, before the aforesaid ^' 18th of May, with this restriction, that no new ones, shall be admitted after that day. And if the said Com- missioners do not agree about adjusting the said difierences^ so particularly exhibited and expressed in writing, within the space of three months, to be computed from the said 18th of May, in such case the said differences shall be submitted, as *^ fhey are by these presents submitted, to the judgment and ^^ arbitration of the Protestant Swiss Cantons, who shall be " required, by the instrument already agreed on, to assume that " arbitration, in such case ; and to delegate Commissioners of " like nature, for the same purpose, so instructed, that they " shall give judgment, within six months next following the " expiration of those three mpnths ; and whatsoever such " Commissioners, or the major part^ shall determine, within ^^ the six months, shall bind both parties, and be well and truly^ " performed/' to Proceedings That this treaty, and its consequences, as far as regarded missioners the Loudon East-Iudia Company, may be connected,' as a puh- Treaty, to as- he transaction, with the measures of the Court of Directocs certain the claims of the in this scasou^ it may be proper to subjoin the proceed- London and mgs (l>— Original Treaty of Peace, between England and Holland^ dated at Wc8tmioster> ^th April 1654^ preserved in the State Paper Office> WhitehalL EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 491 ings of the Commissioners constituted under the thirtieth CHAP, i; article of it. Eight Commissioners^ four Dutch and four 1654-55. English, met in London, on the 30th August 1654, to decide India Com- p3nies. on the respective claims of the English and Dutch Companies, for compensation for the damages, which each asserted they had sustained : — the English Company stated the amount of their damages, as established by a series of accounts, from the year 1611 to the year 1652, at ^2,695,999. 15*. : to counter- balance this statement, the Dutch brought forward accounts, in which they estimated their damages, at an amount still greater, or ^2,919,861. 3*. 6d. After long deUberation, the Com- Their award. missioners pronounced their award; in substance, that there should be an oblivion, by both parties, of p^st injuries and losses ; — ^that the Island of Polaroon should be restored to the English ; — ^that the Dutch Company should pay to the London Company the sum of ^85,000, by two instalments; — and farther, that the sum of ^3,615 should be paid to the heirs, or executors, of the sufferers at Amboyna, in 1622-23. These sums were paid by the Dutch East-India Company, confonnably to this award. (^> Though the oppressions of the London Company by the Tiie Adven- tiirers in the Dutch, in the East-Indies, during the last years of the late United Joint , Stock, joMi- reign, and while the government which succeeded it, was «<* with the Afisada Mer- assumincc successive aspects, precluded the introduction of chants, peti- ^ r ^ r tiontheCoun- questions by the separate traders, leading: to discussions which ^>* ^^ State, o -n n .1 that the trade 3 K 2 might to the East- (l)^Awardof the English and Dutch ConDmissioners for regulating the East- India Trade, dated at London, August 1654. (Printed in the Collection of Trealies^ published iA J 782, vol. ill. page 49) .7—— Thurloe's State Papers^ vol. ii^ page 592. 49^ ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP, h might have affected the Charter or privileges of the Company^ 1654-55. the preceding award, which finally settled the opposition, bcf be carried on twecn a foreign rival and the London Company, was no by an open . . i i ■ Company, sooner pronounccd, than a new opposition arose, calculated^ each meraber . .^ j-i j/'i having liber- from the general impression of extending the trade of the realm, ty to employ his own stock to attract the notice of the Protector, and of the Coyncil of and shipping. State. This opposition did not arise from either disconnected Private Traders, or lesser Associations of them ; but from that class of Adventurers of the United Joint Stock, which had formerly been parties in the Union between the East-India Conj- pany and the Assada Merchants, in 1649, who, by petitions to the Council of State, dated the 21st September and 14th No- vember 1654, prayed, that the East-India trade might, in future, be carried on by a Company, but with liberty for the members of such Company, individually, to employ their ownt stocks, servants, and shipping, in such way, as they might conceive most to their own advantage. Answer of The East-India Company were necessarily alarmed at an the East-In- ,. . i • v i dia Company apphcation which, they foresaw, must bring their Charter and to this peti- tion, privileges into discussion, by the Council of State, and, therefore, presented a petition to the Protector, stating, that as the time of their present Joint Stock was nearly expired, it had been found expedient to call a general meeting of the Prc^rietors (who signed the petition) who gave it as their unanimous opinion^ founded on the experience of forty years, and on the reasons which had been offered to the late Parliament, viz. the com- petitions^ £ A3 T- INDIA C O M P A K f. 493 petitions with the Portuguese and Dutch ;-^the experience of ^^^- '• the failure of distinct voyages, which had proved the necessity 1654-55 of a Joint StocU ; — the expences of the equipment, which Courten's experiment had shewn could only be supported by a, Joint Stock ; — the Company's factories being situated in the dominions of not le3s than fourteen different sovereigns ; — and, above all, the engagements which the Company were under to the native powers, to make good any losses which their subjects might sustain, from the depredations of Englishmen, not under the control of the Company, that the only method of carrying on the trade, for the benefit and honor of the country, would be, by a Joint Stock : and, therefore, prayed the Protector, that, as they had been discouraged from entering into a Subscription, sufficiently large to accomplish so desirable an object, for want of His Highnesses support, he would be pleased to renew their Charter, with such additional privileges as had been found necessary, to enable them to carry on the trade ; that private persons should be prohibited from sending out shipping to India ; and that they might be assisted in recovering and resettUng the Spice Islands ; when, they did not doubt, they should be able, not only to procure a large Subscription at present, but establish the £ast*India trade on a permanent and secure basis, for the ftiture. In reply to this petition, the Merchant Adventurers to the Reply of the East-Indies stated, that the East-India trade, as managed, for Adventi^ers forty years, by Joint Stocks, had not been so profitable to the pany'g an- subscribers or the country, as separate voyages would have been, and 494 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLS 9^^^ J; and adduced, as eicamples, the manner in which the Turkey, 1654-55. Muscovy, and Eastland trades were carried on, under free Companies, and that all the rights and privileges of the Com* pany, in India, had been purchased by the New Adventurers, as appeared by the articles of agreement dated the 21st Novem* her 1649, between Mr. Cockayne and Mr. Methwold, on the part of the then United Joint Stock and Company, and Mr. Maurice Thomson and Mr, Moyer, on behalf of the New Adventurers, who, in consequence, became possessed of an equal right to the trade of India, as the Company, and were now fitting out fourteen ships for that ti-ade. The Peiitiong The Council of State, by an order of the 2d November 1654, referred to a referred these different claims to a Committee, who reported, that Select Ccm- mittee of the they had attentively considered the petitions and allegations of both Council of State, who parties, and found that the trade to the East-Indies was oi much remitted the subject to the conscqucnce to the country ; that every thing depended on the consideration of the whole proper management thereof; and that the reasons alleged by each ^^^^^- party were so strong, that they deserved the most serious con- sideration ; that the Committee did not think fit to offer their decided opinion, on a siibject of so much importance, and, therefore, remitted the whole matter to the consideration of the Council of State, for their judgment and decision. <*> The (])*-Original Representation by the Adventurers in the East-India Trade to the Council of State^ 21st September ]654.— -^ Petition of the East-India Adventurers to the Council of State, 14th November lC54. Original Petitions of the Governor and principal £ast*India Proprietors, on behalf of the East- India Company, to the Council of State^ November 1 654. •«-*« Answer of the East^India Adventurers to the Petition of the East- EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 49& The apprehensions of the Company, that the issue of their ^^^^' ^; applications to the Protector and to the Council of State would 1654-55. The Compa- be ineffectual, may be judged of, from the terms of their instruc- ny send or- ders to all tions to their foreign Presidencies and Factories^ to reduce the their foreign Settlements charges to the lowest scale, and rather to wind up, than to to reduce their esta- extend, their concerns : — in particular, they ordered the President blishment*. and Council at Fort St. George to reduce their civil establish- ment to two factors, and the garrison, to a guard of ten soldiers only ; and the factory at Masulipatam to have one factor only ; and so strong was the impression of the Company, of the urgency of such reductions, that they dispatched a vessel on purpose, oia which were embarked two Commissioners, with authority to carry these orders into immediate execution. (^^ The expectations of the Merchant Adventurers, on the xhe Mer- contrary, were so general, that the Protector and Council of venturers" fit State would enter into their views, that they presented a petition, lodia, and stating that the time for the United Stock being expired, the council of East-India trade would be lost to the nation ; to prevent which, berty to ex- they had fitted out several ships, with cargoes of the manufac- bullion. tures and produce of the country, but had experienced much dif- ficulty in procuring foreign bullion ; and, therefore, prayed, they might be allowed to export what they had already collected, free of East-India Company^ 5th December t654.— -^ Report of the Committee of the CoHncil of State^ to whom the Petitions of the East-India Company and the Adventurers were referred, 10th Janaary 1654-55. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, Nos. 188, 189, 190, 191, 192* 193, 194.) (i)«-Letter from the Court to the President and Council at Fort St. George, 31st: January l654. (vol.iii^ No. 245). 496 ANKALS OF THE HONORABLE 9^^^' l * of customs^ and that the same liberties and privileges might be 1654-55. allowed to them, as had, in times past, been granted to others. (^> Expedients ^^ Company's Presidencies and Factories, from their great Presidency of distance from England, were unprepared for the changes which Sn'^lmau'iS' ^^ *^®° P^^^> ^^^^^^ ^J ^^^ Treaty of Westnrinster, with the and"pre«rve Dutch, or by the rfsc of the Merchant Adventurers, soliciting ufB righu^" 2n alteration in the East-India trade j or what was equivalent, the substitution of themselves, as a new species of India Com- pany, originating in a sort of purchase of the factories and sta^ tions of the London Company, in 1649. In this season, it is an interesting branch of the Anfials of the London Company, to trace the proceedings of th^ different Presidencies and Factories abroad, at a time when, at best,* they had to act on the defensive, against the Dutch, and to priesS^Te the Company's settlements from being seized on^ by th& native powers ; and, at the same time, to struggle against the d^pegs of Courten's Interlopers, reduced, indeed, in credit, but frota that cause, under stronger temptations to conmiit depredactiotts oh the country shipping, and again expose the Company's property and servants to seizure and imprisonment. Though (J)— Petition of the Adventurers, or East-India Merchants, to the Protector and Council of State, for liberty to export foreign Bullion, Custom free, February 1654-55* (East-India Papers in the State Paper OfSce, No. 196}. EAST-INHIA COMPANY. 497 Though the Presidency of Surat had been refused the chap. i. protection of the Mogul, against any violence of the Dutch, they 1654-55. continued, in the year 1654-55, again to solicit it, on the prin- ciple, that, by marking their reliance on the government, they would induce this Sovereign to allow the privileges granted by himself, and his ancestors, to remain undisturbed ; and reported, that they had purchased an investment of indigo at Agra, and obtained a proportion of saltpetre^ both from this Agency and from the Decan, but had gone no farther in their purchases, than what the sale of the broad-cloths would pay ; — that they would withdraw those stations, as soon as they could do so with safety to the Company's general privileges ; — that they had dissolved the factory at Scindy, and, by the vessel which had brought off the factors, had unexpectedly received a quantity of cloves, which would go into the Europe investment; — ^that they would make every exertion to support the Factory at Gom- broon, to keep up the Company's claim to the moiety of the customs, and preserve the stores at that place ; but that, in this year, they had experienced a new danger, from the licentious character of the crews of their own ships, among whom it had been difficult to preserve subordination, and from whom the risk of the ship and cargo was almost as great, as from the enemy. At the close of this season, the intelligence of peace with the Dutch reached India, and it was hoped by the Presidency of Surat, that this information would stop the hostilities of their opponent; but as they were ignorant of the conditions, and much more so, of the reparation expected for injuries, they VOL. I. 3 S would Dutch. 498 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. would follow the orders of the Court, to promote the sales of 1654-55. goods in store, and limit their investments to their actual means, till they should learn the real situation of the Company's privileges in England. (*> The Persian 'Hie Superiority of the Dutch, in shipping and in funds, trade sus* pended, from which, in 1653-54, had thrown the greatest part of the trade of the naviga- tion between Persia in their favor, continued, in 1654-55, to give them a Gombroon i -r» t i a andSarat decided preponderance. As yet, the English Agents were being impe- ded by the unacquainted with the treaty of peace, between England and Holland, and of the award of the Commissioners, for a compensation to the London Company for the injuries which, for so many years, they had suffered from the Dutch ; they were also cut off from communications, by sea, with the Presidency of Surat, and, like it, compelled to keep the Per- sian produce, which they had provided for the investment, in store ; afraid, if they should venture to send it by the Company's ships, (of which four had been taken or lost in the preceding season), or by country ships, that they might be captured by the enemy : the trade at Gombroon, therefiwre, was at a stand, and the sales, either of Indian or Europe produce, had become unproductive. At Ispahan, though the Agents had the command of considerable funds, the revolutions in the govern- ment had rendered applications to the King, or nobles, unavail- ing ; — Whence, with the Dutch fleet, on the one hand, shutting up the navigation of the Gulf, and the convulsions in the country, on (1) — Letters from (he President and Council of Surat to the Courts dated 12th May, ■nd 13tb November 1^54^ and 15th March 1654-55. EAST-INDIA COMPANY- 499 on the other, obstructing equally the sales of Europe goods and char i. the purchases of Persian produce, trade was so much at a stand, 1654-55. that the Agents were almost reduced to the necessity of sending the silks which they had purchased, to Aleppo, and thence, by the Mediterranean, to England. (') The embarrassments at Fort St. George, from the pre- The trade at ' ^ Fort St. dommant naval power of the Dutch, not only on the Coromandel ^^j^®/ ^ * Coast, but in the seas between Madras and Eantam, and in ^^^ "^^^"? , ^ ' wars, and the those between Madras and Bengal, had continued, which left it of£ Dmcr only in the power of the Presidency of Fort St. George to effect very limited sales of Europe produce. The armies of the Kings of Golcondah and Visiapore were in the field, and laying waste the Camatic, which had obstructed the purchase of Coast goods. The Nabob, also, had thrown off his allegiance on the King of Golcondah, and involved the provinces, in the vicinity of the Fort, in all the calamities of a civil war. The commercial relations between Madras and Bantam had been obstructed by the superior naval force of the Dutch, to remedy which, it would be necessary to send stout armed vess^s from England, able to keep open this navigation, ajid suitable presents to the King of Bantam, and to the chiefs in the countries in which subordinate factories had been fixed ; for, however inconsiderable those presents might appear, experience had proved the importance of annually making them : — the telescope which the Company had 3 S 2 sent (J)— GeDcral Letters from the Agent at Gombroon to the Court, Qth April 1634, and from the Agent at Ispahan, 8th September l654. 500 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^^' ^' sent to the King of Maccassar^ and the fire-arms to the King of 1654-65. Bantam, had conciliated their favor, and with respect to these markets, Engtish cloths, of a fine kind and bright colours, must be sent, to counteract the influence which the value and rich- ness of the Dutch cargoes had created. <*> Measures for The embarrassments under which the President and Council reviving the trade at Ban- of Bantam had been placed by the Dutch fleet, were not re- tain. moved, even after they received intelligence of peace having been concluded in Europe, between England and the States General. While the war subsisted, the exchanges, between the Coromandel Coast and Bantam, were interrupted ; and therefore the recipro- cal support from the profits of those exchanges cut off : as soon, however, as the intelligence of the peace was received, the Presidency at Bantam purchased a junk, which they sent to Maccassar, loaded with Surat and Coast cloths, to be exchanged for cloves, mace, and pepper, to be in readiness for the Europe investment ; but the civil wars, between the chiefs in the countries producing either the finer spices or pepper, had, in a great degree, obstructed exchanges and purchases, and rendered the investments for Europe less than intended : the great mortality, besides, among the Company's servants at Bantam, added to those diflSculties, from not having factors qualified to take charge of their distant and unconnected inter- course with the native merchants. (^^ (1)— Letter from the President and Council of Fort St. George to the Court, 18th September 1654. (2)— Letter from the President and Council of Bantam to the Court, gth December 1654. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 501 1655-56. This year furnishes a memorable example of the situation chap. r. of a country, m which the regular government had been sub- 1655-56. verted by factions, pretending to give greater liberty and hap- tuaiion of piness to a people ; and of the success of these factions, reducing them to be the passive instruments of one ambitious chief : — this year also furnishes a not less memorable example of the pre- carious tenure by. which such power is held ; for Cromwell was obliged to find out a foreign enemy, against whom he might direct the public force, that its attention might be diverted, both from the sources, and from the exercise of his authority. The war with the Dutch terminated by the Treaty of Treaty with France, and Westminster, in 1654, and, in this year, Cromwell declared probability of war with war against Spain. He divided the English naval force into Spain. two great squadrons, one of which, under Admiral Blake, proceeded to the Mediterranean, and the other to the West-In- dies, under Admiral Fenn, who captured Jamaica. The irregular war with France was also terminated by a treaty, in October 1655, by which, and by the peace with the Dutch, the services of the English fleet were no longer required, either in the Channel, or in the North Sea, and therefore ready to be em- ployed against an enemy, from whom more brilliant conquests might 502 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. might engage the public attention, and greater resources be 1655 - 56. found for the government. Though these expectations were fulfilled, they could not prevent domestic conspiracies in a nation, which, though for a time deluded, was disposed to return to its ancient govem- vernment and laws : — these conspiracies, however, enabled Cromwell to perfect the military system which succeeded the anarchy ; for, at the close of this year, he divided the kingdom into eleven military districts, each commanded by a Major General, from whom there lay no appeal, except to the Protector himself. The Council Under such a government, the London East -India of State post* pone their de- Company had to struggle for their Charter and privileges, cision on the ^ i -aj- i_ a i •■ • petitions of against the Merchant Adventurers, whom, m the preceding the Company i /* ir • . andtheMcr. season, we left offenng applications to the Protector, who chant Adven* lurers. referred the business to a Committee of the Council of State, by whom it was returned to the whole Council, as a subject of such national importance, as to be fitted only for their decision, and that of the Protector. The Council of State kept the subject before tliem, during the whole of this year, %\nthout coming to a positive decisicm, either to di%Tst the London Company of their privileges of trade, or to constitute the Merchant Adventurers a free Com- pany, on their claim of having purchased the factories of the I^ndon Company, in 1649, or their less defined pretensions, of being able to extend the commerce of England to the East- Indies, more profitably by separate voyages, than by Joint Stocks. The EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 503 The Council of State, independently of the magnitude of ^^^;3' the subject at issue between these two parties, were necessarily 1655-56. The Proprie- led to postpone their decision, by the Proprietors of the several tors of the Third and stocks of the London East-India Company presenting different Fourth Joint ^ ^ "^ ^ ° Stocks, and petitions, stating their separate rights, not only to the Island of of the United Stock, peti- Polaroon, which, it had been a^eed, was to be restored to the tion the Pro- ° tector and the English, but to the ^85,000, which the Dutch were to pay as Council of State, each a compensation for iniuries. claiming the * ^ exclusive The surviving Proprietors, and the heirs of the deceased J'f ^^^ °^ 1,^® Proprietors of the Third Joint Stock of the London East- Maroon, and to ^ the ,£85,000 India Company, presented a petition, in May 1655, to the obtamedfrom Protector, stating, that the Dutch having agreed, by treaty, to restore the Island of Polaroon, and to pay ,5^85,000 for damages sustained by the Enghsh in the Indies, and that the Adventurers in the United Stock and the Fourth Joint Stock of the East-India Company claimed the right to the Island of Po- laroon, and to one-third part of the money, the whole of which, and the right to the Island, they conceived to be the exclusive property of the Third Joint Stocky they prayed His Highness that the ^85,000 should be placed in safe and responsible hands, till the decision of the respective claims thereon should be pro- nounced, and that, in the meantime, it might be declared by His Highness, to whom the said Island should belong. This petition was referred by Cromwell, on the 23d May The petition referred by 1655, to the consideration of a Committee of the Council of the Council of State to State, who, on the same day, reported as their opinion, that Arbitratora, * and the all the matters in dispute, between the Proprietors of the several money vested * * in Trustees, Stocks 504 ANNALS OF THB HONORABLE CHAP. L Stocks of (he East-India Company, should be submitted to the 1655-56. arbitration of Dr. Walker, Dr. Turner, Dr. Exton, Alderman * 1 1 _fl * * oftherespec Thomson, and Mr. Kendal; and that the ^85,000, paid by tivc cldims should be the Dutch, should, in the meantime, be deposited in the hands pronouDced. of Sir Thomas Vyner and Alderman Riccard. CO The Protec- In consequence of the report of this Committee, the tor proposes % ^r 3 to the Com- ^85,000 was deposited in the hands of Sir Thomas Vyner and pany to bor- row the Alderman Riccard ; but Cromwell, having occasion for money, jL&5,0OOf \9ho agree to from the exigencies of the State, made an appUcation to the lend him .£50,000. East-India Company to borrow the whole sum ; which proves, that he, at this time, acknowledged the East-India Company, in their corporate capacity, and with their privileges of trade, though he was giving encouragement to the Merchant Adven- turers, in their projects. The East-India Company, in their answer to this proposal, stated, that their losses from the Dutch far exceeded, in amount, the sum which had been allowed as a compensation ; that the Stocks, among which this ^85,000 was to be distributed, w^ere above ^50,000 in debt, and that many of the Proprietors were in distressed circumstances j but that the Company, willing to testify their gratitude to Cromwell for his protection, consented to lend him ^50,000 of this sum, on having an agreement, under the Great Seal, that it should be repiiid in eighteen months, by equal instalments ; and requested that (l>— Original Petition of the Proprietors of the Third Joint Stock of the East-India Company to the Protector^ and original reference of the same (signed by Secretarj Thurloe). dated 23d May i655, to a Committee of the Coancil of State^ and Report (copy) of that Committee thereon, dated the same day. (East-India Papers In the State Paper Office, No. 198. BAST*IKDIA COMPAITY. SOS that the remaining 5€35,000 might be directly assigned to the 9^^^3 ' £ast-India Company, to enable them to defray their most 1655-56. pressing debts, and to make a dividend among the Proprietors* (^> Such were the public transactions of the London East- Compaoj order their India Company, with Cromwell and the Council of State ; and foreign Set- * •^ ^ ^ tlemenu to we have to connect them with the measures which they adopted, call in all debts, aod still acting as a Company, under their Charter and privileges, vest the and prepared either to maintain their ris^hts, or to wind up fine goods *^ * o ^ 4 and saltpetre. their afikirs, should they be overpowered, by a preference being given to the Merchant Adventurers, In the letters of the Coiirt to the Presidents and CouncQs of Surat and Fort St. George, they desired to be furnished with such goods, of the finest kind, as could most readily be disposed of in the home market, and a large proportion of saltpetre, from both stations, that they might be enabled to meet the probable demands of the State, for that necessary article ; but, at the same time, instructed them to call in their debts, and realize their funds, and send them home, in invest- ments of the preceding description, that their business might be wound up, and those funds be divided among the Proprietors of the Stocks ; whatever might be the event of their own, or the application of their opponents, to the Council of State, respecting East-India Affairs. <^) VOL. I. 3 T Such (I)— Answer of the East-India Company to the proposal of the Protector, to borrow thG£S5,O0O, in the hands of Sir Thomas Vjner and Alderman Riccard, 19th Julj l655» (East-India Papers in the Stale Paper Office, No. 200.) (2) — ^Letters of the Court to the Presidencies of Surat and Fort St. George, 24th August 1655. 506,.. ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE . ^^^J^^' Such was the alarm of the Court, at this juncture, that 1655-56. they subsequently dispatched a vessel to Fort St. George, with a stock of ^5,000, to be invested in the finest cloths, to en- crease their funds for the Proprietors ; and ordered a pinnace to be sent from Fort St George to Bengal, with directions ta seQ off all the Europe goods at that station, and to vest the produce in Bengal goods, of the finest quality, to complete the investment from Fort St. George. (^> QeDerai That the Court might put the Proprietors in possession the debts of the actual state of their affairs, a general account of the of the Uni- debts. Credits, and balances of the United Joint Stocky was stockTon made up to the 1st of September 1655, of which the following i& the Ist Sep- leDiberl655. a COpy :— » (1)— -Letter from the Court to the President and CouncU of Fort St. George, 2Ai\L September lQ§5. EAST-INDIA COMPANY 507 o H S C< « H ;^ "H CO o 00 \ti 00 CO !>• O ^ O 00 CL. a ■ Si G so J- 1 c S "• ea o pq GO CO c9 d o •c o OS Of g '^ o CO •X •N o o o ^ CO CO CO CO o o o o o o o o o o o o o ^ o ^ »o c< c< l^ 00 00 CHAP. I. 1655-56. < o ^; O u u CO o o o o o CO o o o o o c 2 ® O 00 o o o CO 00 I i:: CO CO 00 00 s •5 I ® in 3 T a BA0T-IKDIA COMPANY. 509 mission, and to have a proportion of the dividend, on his CH^J- J; return.<^> 1655-56. When intelligence of these mixed aspects of Indian aflkirs These mixed events pro- in England reached Holland, it was concluded, that Cromwell duce an opinion in had dissolved the London East-India Company, when, in fact, Holland, ^ f that the Lon- he had only invaded their privileges, hy allowing the Merchant East India Adventurers to fit out ships, and to trade to the countries within ^^ dissoiv- their limits, without being liable to interruption, either by the Court of Directors at home, or opposition from the Presidencies abroad ; — ^and this alarm in Holland became so general, that the Dutch concluded the exertions of Cromwell would be direct- ed to subvert the power of their East-India Companies/^) The intelligence which the foreign Presidencies had received. The number this season, of the critical situation in which the privileges of pany's »er- the Company were placed, in England, not only from the award «* the foreign /• 1 ^ • . , • settlemenis, ot the Commissioners having adjudged a sum, as compensation, and the Court ^ r ^ refened, for madequate to the losses which the Company had sustained but ^° account of ^ r ^ 9 their affairs in from the pretensions of the Merchant Adventurers, leadins^ ^"^^^^ ^^ *^® ' o verbal infor- to an infringement on their privileges, accompanied with ge- ^^f*®" °^ neral instructions from the Court, to reduce the number of l^T' ^*'° . had returned their ^^ ^°8land, (I)— Instructions from the Committee of Adventurers in the ships Hopeful, Benjamin, and William, for the voyage to Surat and Fort St. George, 13th November 1655. (MSS. in the Indian Register Office, vol. xxvii). Commission and Instructions to Mr. Bomeford aad Captain Bayley, 25th March 1650. (2)~Thurloe'8 State Papers, vol. iii, page 80. 510 AKSAhS OF THE HONOKABLS m CHAP. I. their servantis at their different Presidencies and Factories, to 1655-56. recover their debts by every possible means, and to vest the written doGu- limited stock sent to them, in articles of a finer description, led them to conclude, that the Company considered their privileges to be in danger, and that nothing remained, under all circumstances, but to wind up their afikirs, and give way to the wild speculations of the Merchant Adventurers, which the Protector was encouraging. In compliance with the orders of the Court, the President and Council of Sue at stated, that the different establishments had been reduced in number, and the supernumeraries permitted to return in the sliips of the season, to Europe; and to. the most intelligent of those servants, they referred the Company for information of the actual state of their afiairs, conceiving it more safe, that information should be derived from this channel, than to hazard reports in writing, which might fall into the hands of their opponents, and furnish them with mate* rials favorable to their insidious projects. This caution accounts for a deficiency of information, re- garding the whole of the Company's settlements and factories in the East-Indies, during this season ; a circumstaiice which is more remarkable, when it is contrasted, either with the fiill details in the former, or those which will appear in the subse- quent years : — ^it can, therefore, only be collected from the letters of the President and Council of Surat to the Court, that the reduction of the factors, at that establishment, had lObliged them to withdraw the Agency from Brodera; — ^that they EA'ST -INDIA COMPANY. 511 tbey had procured some supplies of silk from Persia, and of chap. i. cloths from Scindy ; — that they had withdrawn the factory from i^^rk ^^ Agra, but had collected as much Surat and Coast cloths, and> indigo, as their means would afford ; and, by sending a vessel to* Mocha, obtained produce from that quarter, to make up the best possible investment for the Europe sales, that they might contrast, in the pubUc opinion, the value of the imports of the Company with those of the Private Traders, with whose inter- ferences in the Indian markets, . this year, they had been severely pressed.<*> If such was the situation of the Presidency of Surat, it is a fair inference, as the reduced servants of the Company, at ^e other settlements, were permitted to return to Europe, that the information they gave to the Court, must have been analogous, . and ecpially discouraging in.it& substance. (0— Otters from the Pmident and Council of Surat to the Courts 20th October l65i, and 19th Jaouaiy 1655«5& 512 AVNAI.S OF THE HONOBABLX 1656-57. CHAP. I. Though, at the close of the preceding season , the Govern- 1656-57 ment of Cromwell had assumed a militiEiry aspect, as best ^^rt edcukted to prevent conspiracies against kis a«h«i.y. *»en Prance! ^*^^ this Strong measure, he found, cotdd subsist for a short time only, unless sanctioned by a Parliament, the assembly, in which, on all occasions, the English nadon had been habituated to place their confidence ; — ^in September 1666j therefore, he summoned a Parliament, but selected the.miembers irho coniposed it from his immediatie adherents, and, in April 1^57^ this Assem- bly made him an offer of that Crown, of which the fkctions hiEid deprived Charles I. It was, thus, proposed, that England, after it had gone through the temporary forms of a Commoilwealth, and of a Protectorate, was to submit to an Usurper of the Cirown ; but the strong mind of Cromwell was satisfied, that the object of all his ambition would be dangerous in possession, from the general feelings of the English nation, which were now begin- ning to turn in favor of the exiled Monarch. It became obvious, that war with a continental power could, alone, divert the attention of the English nation from examining the sources of Cromwell's authority, and, therefore, the better to ensure success in the war against Spain, he entered into a treaty, offensive and defensive, with France, on the 13th / EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 513 13th March 1656-57, at the time when Charles II. formed ^^• a treaty with Spain, which recognized his rights : by these 1656-57. transactions, Cromwell connected his own power with the ap- parent interest of the English nation, in the war ; while Charles 11. became, by treaty, connected with Spain, at this time at war with England. We have, therefore, as in the preceding season, (consi- dering the situation of the English Government, and the ab- solute power with which Cromwell was vested) to trace the measures of the London Company, for preserving their privi- leges, and also the expedients of the Adventurers, who had endeavoured to undermine them. The London East-India Company, and the Merchant The Compt. Adventurers, had submitted their respective claims to the Pro- Merchant 1^ •i/'o t 1 « Adventureri tector, and to the Council or State ; but such was the difficulty allowed to proceed with of deciding on them, that the Company were allowed to proceed their respec* tive equip* with their equipments, while the Adventurers* obtained a com- menu. mission, authorizing them to fit out ships, and appoint supercar- goes to direct them, and to open a trade in the countries within the Company's limits. At the opening of the season, therefore, it was undecided, whether the East-India trade was to be conducted by a privileged Company, on a Joint Stock j or whe- ther a new Company was to be established, the members of which, like those of the Levant or Muscovy Companies, were to be permitted to trade, each upon his own capital. VOL. I. 3 U The 514 ANNALS OF TH£ HONOR ABLB CHAP^. The East-India Company proceeded with their equipments^ 1656-57. and presented a petition, in their corporate capacity, to the Protector, for leave to export ^15,000 in bullion, and dispatch* ed three ships, under instructions to vest this amount in the finest kind of India goods, and, particularly, refined saltpetre. Company pe- In October, the Company presented a second petition to Protector for the Protector, stating that they had been at great expences, for confirmation of their Char- many ycars, in purchasing privileges, and erecting factories, ter by Act of oxo o Parliament; in various parts of the East-Indies ; — ^that the time of the United Stock being expired, and many ships having been sent by indi- viduals, under licences, the interferences of which had tlie effect to raise the price of Indian produce, from forty to fifty per cent., and to lower the price of English manufactures, in an equal proportion, they prayed, that the Protector would be pleased to renew their Charter, and that it might be confirmed by Act of Parliament, with such additicmal privileges as had been found necessary to carry on the trade. This pefiiion Tliis petition, by a reference, signed with the Protector's own rciisrr&Q to the Council hand, and dated the 20th October 1656, was submitted to the whom it is consideration of the Council of State. ^^^ Select Com- The Council of State, in obedience to the reference of the mittee* Protector, made an order, dated the 3d November 1656, refer- ring the petition of the East-India Company to a Select Com- mittee (I) — Petition of the East-India Company to the Protector, for renewal of their Char- ter, and original Reference to the Council of State, dated 20th October 1656. (East-Iodia Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 207.) EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 515 mittee of their number^ consisting of Colonel Jones^ Lord chap. i. Lisle, Lord Commissioner Fyennes, the Earl of Mulgrave, 1656-57. Sir Charles Wolseley, Lord Strickland, Colonel Sydenham, and the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who were directed to take the subject into their consideration, to peruse the Charters of the East-India Company, and to report their opinion to the Council, ^^ in what manner the East-India trade might be best managed, ^^ for the public good and its own encouragement;'* — ^the par- ticular care of this business was entrusted to Colonel Jones. ('> That the appUcations of the Company might not meet with interruption, by sepajrate petitions from the subscribers to the Fourth Joint Stock and the United Joint Stocky the Court of Directors held frequent meetings, for the purpose of adjust- ing the respective claims of these stock«holders, without, how- ever, being able to come to any positive decision on the subject; but these meetings had the effect of preventing any appli- cations being made to the Council of State, which might have retarded its decision on the East-India trade. <^> The Committee of the Council of State, to whom the Reportof thii -m. x T ^ n Select Com- petition of the East-India Company was referred, reported, »ittee, again referring ihe on the 18th December 1656, that they had carefully con- subject to iiia whole CouQ* sidered the petition of the East-India Company ; and that c»l o£ state. they might have the fullest information on this important 3 U 2 subject, (1)— Original Order of the Council of State, on the Petition of the East-India Company, dated 3d November l656, signed by Mr. Jessop, Clerk of the Council. (East-India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 208). (2) — Minute of the Meeting of the Committees with the Fourth Joint Stock and United Joint Stock, 10th November l656. (Vol. iii. No. 251). 516 ANNALS OF THE HON OB ABLE ^ ^f ^^' J ; subject, had directed notices to be affixed on the Ex-' 1656-57. change, appointing a day for all persons concerned in the East-India trade to attend them; in consequence of which, several merchants attended, and a full hearing was given to the arguments of both parties ; on the one side, for carrying on the trade, under an United Joint Stock, and, on the other, for a free trade, under a Company, on distinct capitals. The Committee, after examining the respective arguments, and perusing the written propositions of both parties, reported to the Council of State, that, though it was their private opinion, the trade ought to be conducted on an United Joint Stocky yet .they considered the business of so much importance, that they would not come to any positive determination on the subject, but referred the whole case, with the papers, to the Council of State for their final decision. This report was signed by Colonel Sydenham, Sir Charles Wolseley, and Colonel Jones. <*> ^^^**Coundi ^^^ Council of State, on receiving this report of the th E ^sNindta Committee, to whom the petition of the East-India Company beSrrieron ^^^ ^^^" referred, appointed, on the 27th January 1656-57, the by the Com- Qovernor and Committees of the East-India Company, and the Stock^ ^° "^ principal Merchant Adventurers to the East-Indies, to attend them on the following day ; when, after a full hearing of the claims of both parties, the Council gave it as their advice to the Protector, " that the trade of East-Indya be mannaged by a " United (1) — Original Report of the Committee of the Council of State, on the Petition of the East-India Company^ 18th December l656, (East- India Papers in the State Paper Office, No. 210). EAST-INDIA COMPANT. 617 " United Joynt Stock, exclusive of all others ;'* and, on the ^JJ^j^- 10th February 1656-57, t^^ Protector signified his approbation 1656-57- . This decision of the advice of the Council of State, relative to the East-India confirmed by the Protector, trade, and a Committee of the Council vi^as appointed, to con- who declared liis intention sider of the Charter to be granted to the East-India Company. (^> »o grant a ^ new Charter In this situation of their affairs, the London East-India to the East- India Com- Company do not appear to have, this season, sent any par- pany. ticular instructions to their foreign Presidencies, both from the expectation of receiving their Charter, and from their having, in the preceding year, sent ships, with orders to vest the stock entrusted to each Presidency, in articles of the finest kind ; and to recover, as far as might be prac- ticable, the debts due to the Company, that their concern might be wound up, should their applications to the Pro- tector and to the Council of State (the issue of which, at that time, was uncertain) be rejected ; which orders it would have been hazardous, at this crisis, to alter. It will throw light on the important subject of the East- Retrospect o X • • ^^® argu- India trade, (f^&sumned and discussed at a period when the ru- mentsof the '^ I' ^ ^ ^ Merchant ling power was rathj^r disposed to question than to confirm ancient Adventurers for an open establishments,) to brinij under notice the arguments which the t^d© ^ the '^ ^ ^ East-Indies, Merchant Adventurers offered to the Protector, and to the as rejected bj the Protector. Council of State, to induce them to substitute their project, in place of the privileges of the East-India Company ; and these arguments are the more memorable, as they disclose a specula* tive (l)«-£xtracts from the Books of the Coancil of State, preserved in the State Paper Office, Whitehall, 27tb January, and 5th, 6tb, and 10th Febraary 1656-57. 518 ANNALS OF Tltfi HONOitABL£ CHAP. I. tive system of Eaist-India trade, differing^ indeed, from that 1656 -57* which the subordinate associations of Interlopers had hitherto acted on, but, from being more specious in theory, was more hazardous in practice: these arguments are menyDrable, also, from a more public reason, that they were rejected by Crom- well and the Council of State, who held it to be a more solid foundation, that the East^India trade should continue with the Company, on a Joint Stock, than that it should be a free re- gulated trade, where each merchant was to act on his own capital. The petition of the Merchant Adventurers to the East- . Indies proceeded upon the principle, that it would be better not to carry on the trade on a Joint Stock, as formerly, but by a more distinct and particular method, under regulations, like the Turkey Company ; — and the reasons on which this opinion was founded, are stated in the following terms. ^^ 1st. A free trade, regulated^ will encourage industry ^^ and ingenuity, which hath latitude and scope to exercise ^^ itself, whilst each person hath the ordering of his owne ^^ affaires; whereas, on a joint stock, it is impossible for one to *^ improve either, only to stand idle, without an opportunity to ** make use of his own talents/' *^ 2d, As a consequence of the former, a r^ulated trade *^ is the only way for propagating skilfall merchants, who being ^^ left to the management of their particular concernments, *^ must needs augment their owne experience, and derive the ^^ same to their sonnei^ and servants, w^*" cannot be done in a ^V joynt stock, that being understood but by a few persons, and *^ those BAST-JKDIA COMPAKT. 519 " those also having other employments^ and acting not ^H^^ -^J; ^^ for themselves alone^ want the care and circumspection w*^** 1656-57. '^ their peculiar and single interest would excite them to ; for^ in *^ a joynt stocky noe man can make it his business to be an ^^ East-India merchant/' " 3d. According to the number of experienced merchants " will be an increase of trade^ and a proportionable increase of ^^ custome^ and of shipping and mariners : a thing of noe meane " concernment to thebenefit, strength, and service of the nation^ ^^ and only to be expected from an inlarged regulated trade/' " 4th, The greater the number of traders is, and the ** more generall their trading, the cheaper will forraine comodities ^^ be afforded here, in England, for the publique advantage, ^' when so many severall persons have the disposall of them, ^ and not one joynt body, as in a joynt stock." " 5th. A free regulated trade gives opportunity to persons *^ to adventure their estates, at any time, and in such maner as ^^ themselves may find convenient, without such hmitation or ^^ restrictions as in joynt stocks is usuall, where any one, not " furnished with money at the Companies set time of subscrip- *^ tion, must needs be excluded for many yeares after, and so " made incapable of employing his stock: and, besides, a joynt ^* stock admits of nothing but ready money, whereas, in the way *^ of trade proposed, one may employ either goods or shipping ^^ that he is master of." " 6th. This regulated way of trade, we humbly conceive, ^^ will give us some advantage above the Putch, as going at ^^ less 520 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHA P. I . <( less charge, and having more opportunity to improve y* in- 1656-57- *^ dustry of the managers in India, who being whetted on by " their own interest and the competition of others, will, in " reason, turn eveiy stone for discovering of new trades, above " those who only manage their principall's money in Holland, *^ the effects whereof themselves are already so sencible of, that *^ their Actions in Holland are fallen a third part." <*> Instructions The application of the Merchant Adventurers to the East- sent b\r these merchants to Indies, and the reasons which supported it, having been reject- manders and cd by the Protcctor and Council of State, who had decided, factors in In- i-mTTiiii % • dia, on this that the trade to the JCiast-lndies should be managed, m rejection. . , ... future, by an United Joint Stock, it is interesting to observe the instructions for the management of this trade, which the Committee of these Adventurers sent, in this season, to the commanders of the ships which had sailed last year, under the Protector's licence. These instructions were drawn, partly with reference to the relations of England with foreign powers, at this period, and partly to the state of the markets in England. On the first subject, they informed them, that they had received information, previously to the treaty with France, of three or four French ships having been fitted out at Brest, intended to act against the English in the East-Indies; — they next stated, that war having been declared, between England and Spain, a more powerful armament was preparing at Dunkirk and Ostend (then (1) — Petition of the Adventurers to India for a free regulated Trade, 17th November 1Q5Q. (East-India Papers in the Stale Paper Office, No. 209). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 521 (then Spanish ports), for the like purpose; — and, lastly, after ^^^^ ] - Cromwell became the ally of France, and both were preparing 1656 -Sf. armies to attack the Spanish Netherlands, and, of course, Holland, that there was a probability of a war, between England and the States General, which would expose them to still great- er hazards. On the second subject, or the low state of the market, for Indian produce, in England, they inform ed them, that the num- ber of disconnected Interlopers, or private merchants, had much increased; and that they had brought home great quantities of Indian commodities, of inferior quality, particularly cottons, drugs, and spices, which had overstocked the market : the super- cargo, therefore, was instructed to be as cautious in the prices he gave for Indian produce, as in the assortments with which he was to complete the ships' lading for the homeward voyage ; an instruction which affords evidence, that while the Merchant Adventurers were themselves ready to invade the privileges of the London East-India Company, they were, at the outset, satisfied, that private merchants, of another kind, had become dangerous competitors to themselves, in that very market, the trade of which they were endeavoring to engross,^*) (l)'-Letten from the Committee of the Adrentaren to Mr. Borneford and Captain Baylejy 2ad May« 20th October^ and 24th December 1656, 18th March 1656^7, and 23d April 165;. (VoL marked No. 27). I. 3 X 'T ^22 ANNALS OP THE HONORABIX CHAP. !• Th^ information which the Court transmitted to their ft^ 1656-57. reign Presidencies, in 1655-56, of the alarming situation of the I^ncy'^'' Company in England, from the mterferences of the Merchant SrSadertm Adventurers with their privileges, determined the President and inhrSS Council of SuRAT to reduce their factories and the number of Ihouidbffi their servants ; in 1656-57, therefore, this President and Council land. *" "^' resolved on a temporary suspension of their exertions, and refer- red the Court to their servants, who had been allowed to return to Europe, for a full report on their real distresses. This snspen- The powcr of the Dutch had, at this time, also, increased, sion of the English trade in proportion to the weakness of the Portuguese, and to that enabled the ^ ^ Batch to con- confiision which the supercargoes and conmianders of the ship* quer Ceylon and blockade pinff of the Merchant Adventurers had occasioned, on their Goa. ^ ^ ' arrival in India. The Dutch had got possession of Ceylon, from which they had excluded the Portuguese, and were block- ading the port of Goa : should this seat of the Portuguese power fall, it was expected the Dutch would next attack, and carry the little Island of Diu, which commanded the entrance into Swally Stiver; acquisitions which would give them the complete qommand of the trade on the Malabar Coast, and enable them to impose duties on the English trade, which it could not bear : — if, there- fore, the privileges of the Company should not, in a short time, be recovered in England, they submitted to the Court, the abso- lute necessity of winding up their affairs, and sending licences to their servants to return to Europe with the Company^s property. The « 1 rat. EAST-INDIACOMPANY. < 5583 The interferences of the supercargoes and shipping of the ^^^^^y Merchant Adventurers were described to be calculated to add 1656-57. Effect of the to the distresses which the circumstances of the European interferences of the Mer- nations in the Indies had already produced, and had rendered the cbant Adven- turers on the purchase of investments almost impracticable : — these private, trade of Su- but now authorized traders, had brought out large quantities of English goods, and sold them below prime cost, and with the money, with which they had been entrusted, had given high prices for such Indian articles as they had collected ; — ^the consequence was, that the Company's servants had been ren- dered contemptible in the opinion of the natives, not only in the provinces, in which their Agents had been accustomed to purchase goods, but at Surat, and the other ports, to which the goods had been usually brought, to be shipped for Europe. From public motives, the Company's servants had reduced their salaries, and tried aU manner of expedients to keep up the appearance of trade ; but such expedients could be tempo- rary only, and a feeble barrier against the encroachments of the Dutch, equally strong in shipping and in funds, who must, in a short time, engross the whole of the India trade, and render the relinquishment of it a matter of necessity to the English nation. In this situation, therefore, they resolved, that they would await information from England, respect- ing the fate of the Company's privileges; would continue to narrow their transactions (having left only one Agent at Scindy and another at Ahmedabad) ; and would keep them- selves in a state of readiness (should the Dutch be allowed to 3X2 contiime sia. 524 ANNAL.S OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. L continue their progress of conquest without interruption), to wind 1656-57. up the trade, till they should learn whether the Protector would renew to the Company their exclusive privileges. ^^^ — andinPer- The Company's trade in Persia, and their rights to the moiety of the customs at Gomhroon, had been almost ruined^ by the information which the commanders of the Merchant Adventurers' shipping had brought from England, and, with much assiduity, propagated in Persia, that the London Company had been dissolved, and the trade laid open to them, as free Merchants ; the Persian Government, therefore, held, not only that the treaty, which Shah Abbas had entered into with the Company, on the capture of Ormus, was no longer binding, but had, in a measure, suspended all the subsequent grants, under which privileges of trade had been allowed them, in the Persian dominions : — ^the licences, thus, granted to the Private Adventurers, in England, brought into danger, not only the Compan/s rights in Persia, but the practicability of continuing the trade in that kingdom. <^> The trade at The general report, this season, from the President and George de- Couucil of FoRT St. George, was, if possiblc. Still morc alarm* Dressed by the Merchant ing, both from the wars which were continuing in the Camatic, •/Adventurers and by the ' and from the effect, which the interferences of the supercargoes first invasi- jr*- r i^ nr onof theCar- and shipping of the Merchant Adventurers had on the market. natic by Se- ,^- xt u t_ i_ yagee : The Nabob, who had revolted against the King of Gol- condah, had been defeated, and it was uncertain whether he woiQd (1) — Letter from the President and Council of Surat to the Courts 28th Januarj 1656-57. (2)— Ibid. BAST-INDIA COMPANY, 525 would be able to recover his power: a more formidable ene- chap, l my, the celebrated Sevagee, at this time appeared, who was 1656-5/. fomiding a powerful state in the countries which he had con- quered from the Kings of Visiapore and Golcondah ; — the President and Council, therefore, represented, that indepen- dently of the interferences of the Merchant Adventurers, goods had become scarce in the provinces, and when purchased, the transit of them to Madras, most hazardous and uncertain ; the Merchant Adventurers, besides, had sold their Europe im- ports at low rates, and bought Indian articles at advanced prices, which had rendered it impracticable to conform to the orders of the Court, to purchase an investment of the finest goods, that would yield a profit to the proprietors. The ships of the Adventurers had touched, and made purchases at the ports of Negapatnam, Porto Novo, and Tranquebar, and, by exorbitant prices, had drained the country of goods; which had reduced the Presidency to the necessity of purchasing such . Coast cloths, and such proportions of pepper and spices, as could be collected at Bantam, to make up a small investment for Europe; they, however, would continue their efforts, in the hope that a Joint Stock would be restored, and the Com- pany's privileges again confirmed, without promising that these efforts would either come up to the Company's expecta- tions, or to their own vrishes. Under these circumstances, they had withdrawn the factories from Bengal, which they regretted. *rt 526 ANNALS OP THE HONORABLE CHAP. L regretted, as it might not (should the Company's privilegfes be 1656-57- restored) be either easy or practicable to replace them. <^^ —and the If ttt^ power of the Dutch, on the West Coast of India, tara^bythe' had threatened the ruin of the trade at Surat and in Persia, bythedeser- and if the convulsions in the Carnatic had, in like manner, rai of the obstructed the inland trade, so much connected with the Presi- •ervants. dency of Bantam, the evils arising from the power of the Dutch at this port, and the interferences of the Merchant Ad- venturers, assumed a still more serious aspect. Bantam was blockaded by the Dutch, the whole of this season, and, con- sequently, trade at a stand, which had obliged the Presi- .dency to recall the Agent from Cambodia, where small quantities of the finer spices had hitherto been collected: — but the Adventurers had produced an evil, as yet unknown at the other Presidencies, or seducing, by large bribes, se- veral of the Company's servants to desert their duty, and to assist them in their projects : by lAiis evil, the Presidency, being without authority or powers to punish such conduct, or funds to carry on the trade, were almost reduced to despair ; their commercial connexion with the Coast had been cut off, and their hopes of deriving assistance from Europe, diminishing every day. Under these distresses, however, they stated, that they would endeavour to hold out, and preserve their privileges, because, (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Fort St. George to the Court, 10th November \656, and 28th January 1 65(5-5 7. Letter from the Presidency of Fort St. George to the Presidency of Sarat, 7th July 1656- EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 52^ because^ should the Company*s affairs in Europe be restored, ^^ap. r, this station would again become valuable, in the exchanges re- 1656-57. quired in the East-India trade ^^^ (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Bantam to the Courts 17th Julj iQs6, and lOtb January and 9th March 1656-57 528 ANNAIiS OF THE HONORABLS 1657-58. CHAP. L The alliance with France, and the war with Spain, ki- 1657-58. 1656-57, were expedients, to which the Usurper resorted, to state of draw off the attention of the nation from the source and from Parliament the exercise of his authority ; these expedients, however, had assembled anddissolved- not prevented conspiracies against his person, but led to a military system, and to the summoning a Parhament, which he hoped would induce the EngUsh nation, from its habitual con- fidence in such an assembly, to recognize and to confirm his power. In 1657-58, Cromwell sent six thousand men to co-operate with the French army in Spanish Flanders ; the French became masters of Mardyke, and, agreeably to the treaty, it was delivered to the Enghsh : — ^but this war, instead of increasing his popularity in England, contributed to depress it. In January 1657-58, he was again obliged to call a Parliament, and, that he might give to it an appearance more conformable to English opinions, respecting that assembly, he divided it into two Houses J — ^this plan also failed, as many of the exclu- ded members of the House of Commons were re-admitted, and, on the question being agitated, to examine the validity of the Jlct of Gavernmenty by which Cromwell had been declared Protector, he found it necessary, to prevent the effect of such discussions, to dissolve this assembly. It BAST«IN1>IA COMPAKY. 529 It was obvious, from these circumstances, that to the Pro- ^^^^^^; tector^ alone, the Londk>n Company could make application to have 1657 ~ ^^* Union be- thesr Charter renewed, on the basis of the resolutions of the tween the Company Council of State, of the 27th January 1656-57; and that andtheMer- chant Adven- this Charter was granted in this season, will appear from turers, and formation of. the reference made to it, in the petition of the East-India a new Joint OtOCK* Company to Cromwell, in the subsequent year, though no copy of it can be discovered, among the records of the State, or of the Company. Such, however, was the reliance which the Com- pany placed upon this Charter, and the impression that, under it^ they were Restored to the full exercise of their rights, that a Coalition todk place, between them and the principal members of the Merchant Adventurers to the East-Indies, and a sum of ^^86^000 was subscribed, to form a new Joint Stock. <^> Preparatory to this Subscription, a Committee of the Old, Adjustment, or United Joint Stock, held frequent conferences with a Com- Union, of the ^ claims on the fldttee of the subscribers of this New Stock, that the dead ^">^ «°? ^ dead stock of stock of the former subscribers might be made over, in right, *^® Compa- 117. to this New Joint Stock ; and, to prevent all disputes, it was agreed, on the New Stock paying ^20,000, in two instalments^ to the United Stock, that the forts, privil^es, and immunities^ ^ in India and Persia, should be made over, in fiill right, and the three ships, and ^14,000 in bullion, prepared for the voyage of this season, transferred, at prime cost, to the New Stock ; that, on the arrival of these ships at the Company's VOL. I. 3 Y factories, ' -«CreBeraI Letter from the Coort to the Agent and Council at Bengal^ 31st December 1657. 530 ANNALS OT THE HONOEABLS CH^. L factories^ the goods, furniture, and stores, were to be trans* 1657-58. ferred to the new account, at the valuation of six shillings and sixpence sterling, per rial of eight; — 'that Ihe servants of the New Stock should assist those of the United Stock in recovering their debts ; — and that the United Stock should be charged with the expences of the settlements and trade, till the arrival of the shipping of the New Stock, when the Agents of this Stock should take charge, and be entitled to receive the customs at Gombroon, after the 1st October 1658. The settlements, the rights to which were to be transferred from the old, or United Joint Stock, to the New Stock, were Fort St. George, and the several factories on the Coromandel Coast, and in the Bay of Bengal ; the factory at Surat, and its dependencies ; the factory at Gombroon, in Persia, and its dependencies ; and the factory at Bantam, and its dependencies of Jambee and Maccassar. ^^> General The Committees of the London East-India Company, and the proprie- the principal Merchant Adventm-ers, forming together the New torS) for ad- t % ^ ^ t • n • >^ i^ ;#^' justing the StocK, held their first meetmgs as a Generahty, or Conrt of rights of the ^ i -^.t respective PiTOprietors, on the 20th November and 8th December 1667, ftock-holders at which it was agreed to admit as freemen and members of the Company, such persons as had served an apprenticeship to the members of the Joint Stock, on paying a fine of ^5 ; and that the persons who had been possessed of shares in the fiormer trade, and, on that account, had property in the Indies, were not to be The different interests in Indian affairs, in England, having, g^^J^^J^^,j ^^ by the preceding arrangements, been adjusted, and domestic PJfJj^^^®**^ opposition or rivalship, for the time, terminated, the East-India ^g"^^^^^ Company, who were preparing their equipments for the season, o^^^^^^^'^^- with new and considerable funds, to revive and invigorate their trade, deemed it expedient to present a petition to the Protector, stating, that the East-India Company, notwithstanding the trea- ty with Holland, had lately sustained many losses, insults, and indignities, from the Dutch Company in the East-Indies ; that they were again compelled to solicit the protection of His High- ness, and prayed that directions might be given to the English Ambassador in Holland, to represent the circumstances to the I>utch East-India Company, that positive orders might be issued to their Greneral at Batavia, and to the commanders of their ships, to abstain from any acts which might interrupt the ami- cable relations between the two Companies ; and if the Dutch Company refused to comply, the London Company trusted, that the Protector would take proper measures to vindicate the honor of the English in India. (^> 3 Y 2 Having (1)— Minutes of the Courts of the Generality or I^roprietors of Stocks^ 20th Novem* ber and 8th December 1657. (Vol. iii, Nos. 2(^1 and 262). (2)— Petition of the London £ast-India Company to the^ Protector^ praying redress against the Dntchy and enclosing Narrative of their late Proceedings, J 9th January 1657-58* ^st-India Papers in the SUte Paper Office, No. 213). 532 ANNALS or THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Having taken these measures to settle their Charter and 1657 -58, exclusive rights in England^ the Governor and Court of Com** of^adrmnis^ mittees established a new arrangement for their foreign Presi-* 7Z'°Z. dencies ^d Factories, (he whole of which were, in fat««, to George, and be subordinate to the President and Council of Surat, andy Bdiatam* -r^ • • • . more particularly, the Factories and trade in Persia* The Presidency of Fort St Greorge was to be continued, and the Factories on the Coromandel Coast, and in Bengal^ were to be subordinate to it, and the inferior Agencies at Gossimbnzar, Ballasore, and Patna, were to be subordinate to the Factory at Hughly; and such out-stations as the Company possessed, in what was then termed the Southern Seas, were to remain dependent on the President and Council of Bantam. To prevent the irregularities which had arisen from the private traffic of the Company's servants, this practice was prohibited, and increased salaries allowed to the Presidents and Members of Council, and to the subordinate servants ; but, previously to being paid these salaries or allowances, they were to sign secui*ity bonds, or covenants, to specified amounts, to observe this condition, and to keep diaries of their proceedings, the originals to remain at the Presidency, Factory, or Agen-* cy, and certified copies annually transmitted to the Court. ' Under these new regulations, the Court re-appointed the Presidents and Councils, and, in general, their civil servants, to take charge of their affairs ; and explained, that the new Stock was not to be liable to any debts, which those servants might »t I t K BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 633 might have contracted, while they were iti the employment of chap; i. the. United Joint Stock, whether such debts were due to 1657*68. Europeans, or to the native powers or merchants, but that these creditors might recover the debts due to them, by the laws of the ' country where they resided* Under this system, the ships of the season were fitted oUt for each of the Presidencies : — ^the ship for Fort St George, besides her cargo, carried a stock of ^15,500 iii btdlion, one half of which was to be invested in Coast goods, and the other half remitted to the factories in Bengal : — three ships were con<» * . signed to Surat, Persia, and Bantam, and one of them was to touch at the Coast of Africa, to take in what gold, elephants' teeth, &c. could be obtained, for the Iildian market :-~ the ship for Bengal was to bring home an investment of fine cottons and :^s of that country, and on her return to Fort St. George, to receive what proportion of cinnamon and the finer spices had been collected, and such quantity of saltpetre as might be in store s ^^the commajider, as well as the £EM^tors in. Bengal, were t^ conform themsdves to such orders, as they might receive frmtt the President and Council of Fort St George. <^> The (I) — ^Letters from the Coart of Committees of the London Company to the Agent and Council at Hughlj, 3l8t December 1657, and 2irth February and 22d March 1657-58.— ^ Letter from the Committee of the late United Stock to the Agent £md Cdoocil at Haghly ; 27tb February 1657-^8. ^4 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE 1 I ^^^^'3' ^^ situation, both in respect of rights and of trade, to 1657-58. which the Company's Presidencies and Factories had been re- Trade of So- . • >- rat at a stand duced, in 1656-57, continued in 1657-58 ; so much so, that, by the wars for the sue- in this year, detached accounts, only, from Surat and Persia; cession on the "^ death of the reached Enfirland : and the Court were left to trust to the Mogul, Shah ^ ' Jchaa. exertions of their servants at Fort St. Greorge and Bantam, at the time, when, fortunately for the East-India trade of England, the Company's Charter and privileges were restored to them, by the Protector and the Council erf State. • At SuBAT, events had taken place, which materially afiected the whole of the European trade in the West of India : — ^the death of the Emperor Shah Jehan, which happened in this year, brought on a civil war between his four sons, in all the provinces^ of the Empire ; and as the armies of each of these competitors, for the succession, were laying waste the provinces occupied by the others, the useful arts and trade were necessaiily suspend* ed and interrupted. The efiect of these events on the privileges or trade of the Company, was described, in very forcible language, by the President and Council of Surat : — ^they observed, ^^ that it was equally dangerous to solicit, or to accept of protection, it being impossible to foresee who mighty ultimately, be the Mogul.'' Surat, itself, did not escape the evils of this civil war, for one of the competitors took possession ef the castle, while his Greneral (for resources), pillaged a great part J EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 535 part of the town. In these contests the English factors ^^a p. L prudently avoided taking any part ; but this caution did not 1657-58. prevent their being obliged to make partial advances of stores to the successive conquerors of the place : their eflbrts, there- fore^ were limited to the purchase of small quantities of salt- petre at Ahmedabad and at Scindy^ and could not be extended, till they received information from England, whether any farther supply of stock or funds could be ex- pected. <*> The civil war which prevailed in India, had offered a And in Per. sia^ from the temptation to the Kingof Persia to invade the Mogul provinces, projectsofthe ^ King for con- both in the hope of being able to add some oi them to his quests in In- dia* empire, and, by tributes, to fill his treasury. In this situation, ^e Compan/s Agents at Gombroon gave a natural description pf their distress, by observing, they k^pt possession of their house only, that they might not lose the right to it, or their claim to the moiety of the customs ; but that they did not expect either to provide an investment of Persian produce, or had attempted the sale of English goods, for such had been the effect of the report that the East-India Company had been dissolved, that the Bashaw of Bussorah had taken possession of their factory and stores :^the trade, therefore, in the Persian Gulf, was, as far as r^arded the EngUsh, at a stand. ^^) (l)-^General Letter from the President and Council of Siirat to the Court, 5ih November l657, and l6th January 1657-58. (2)— Letter from the Agent and Council at Gombroon to the Court, 12th December 1657. ^ ^ -^ . < » • 536 ANNALS OF THE HOj^ORABLX 1658-59. CHAP. I. The shifting aspects in the Government, to which it ha& been 1658-59. necessary to refer, for a series of years, to explain the sources of Crom^^eii, th^ measurcs taken by the East -India Company, assumed^ in the t^northe" year 1658-59, new and important characters. In the first period of this season^ the war in the Spanish Netherlands, carried on by the French and English, against Spain, gave to them the possession of Dunkirk^ in Jane 1658, which was delivered to the English, according to treaty; but^ soon after this event, the death of Cromwell,, on the 3d Sq)tember 1658, by removing the Leader of the Commonwealth^ [prepared the kingdom for new civil convulsions. Though Richard Cromwell was raised, for a short time, to the Protectorate, his incapacity for this perilous situation was soon discovered; the cabals of the officers against him ter-^ minated in forming the Great Council of the Army, and this Council and the Parliament, which Ridiard CromweH had assembled, in January 1658-59, having opposite interests, he was obliged, on the 22d April 1659, to dissolve it; ant event Council of Officers assume the Sovereignty; EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 53^ event which transferred to the Council of Officers, the only au- ^^^^J; thority which existed in England, who nominated Major Gene- 1658-59. ral Fleetwood to be General. The Company, during these events, rested on the resolution Measures of the Council of State, to confirm their Charter and exclusive the Company privileges, and continued their applications to Cromwell, to al- convulsed period. most the period of his death. In the short interval in which Richard Cromwell held the Protectorate, they avoided making any applications to him, or to the Council of Officers, but confined themselves entirely to the appropriation of their funds, and to the equipments of their outward-bound fleets, giving only general instructions to their foreign Presidencies. Though the East-India Company had formed a coalition with the principal Merchant Adventurers, Cromwell, early in this season, granted a licence to a Mr. Rolt, (without con- suiting the Company,), to export to India, on his own account, three mortars, and twenty thousand shells, consigned to a Colonel Rainsford at Surat, who must have proceeded to India on some of th^ ships of the Merchant Adventurers, or Assada Merchants, and probably had retained this title, from having held a commission in some of the corps of the Parliament army, which had been reduced, after Cromwell assumed the Protector- ate ; for it subsequently appears, that this Ucence was an indul- gence to him, on a representation to the Protector, that he could dispose of them to Aurungzebe^ described as ^^ Prince of Ra- '^ jahpore/' This licence alarmed the Con^pany, who applied VOL. I. 3 Z to 538 ANNALS OF THE ^ONORABLB ciiA?.jj to tbe Protector to prohibit this illicit trade, and directed the 1658-59. President and Council of Surat to seize on the articles, and dis-^ pose of them, on their account. (0 The last application which the Company made to Cromwell was by a petition against some recent injuries by the Dutch i^ the East-Indies ; — the petition stated, that, notwithstanding the Protector had renewed their former Charters, and granted them additional and exclusiye privileges, and, also, notwithstanding the late treaty with the States General, the CcMtnpany continued to suffer many indignities from the Dutch, particularly by their having blockaded the port of Bantam, and prevented the Company's ships from obtaining their cargoes of pepper^ and by seizing four ships belonging to the Merchant Ad- venturers, off Bantam, and on the Coast of Sumatra ; — that though the Company were not (as a corporate body^ inte-^ rested in the loss of those four ships, yet they were com- pelled, frran the interruption their* commerce was likely to experience, to represent tfee circumstance to the Protector, and to pray, that he would require from the States General, satisfaction for the damage already sustained, and assurances from them, that the trade to Bantam should not, for the lieiture, be impeded by the Dutch, whose object and inten- tion was to acquire the same monopoly of pepper, as they had already done of the finer spices. This petition of the East- (l)_Minatef of Court, lOth to 17th May 1658. (VoL \r, lOSB to iCSg, No. 082 to 285). BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 53d East-India Company to the Protector, was accompanied by ^ ^^^' V one from the Merchant Adventurers, concerned in the four 1658- 58* ships seized by the Dutch, praying for restitution of the ships and satisfaction for their losses/^> After the death of Cromwell, the Company appear to have Equipmenu formed on proceeded with their equipments on the New Stock, and to have the New Joint Stocky and confined themselves entirely to ireneral instructions to their instructions ^ ^ ^ tothefo- foreign Presidencies and Factories. »^eign settie- ^ . ^ ^ ments. The first general instruction regarded the application of the stock, and the investment which the Court would require, to recover the home market, that they might im* press the governing power, and the public at large, with the importance and value of the East-India trade^ The equipments of the season consisted of four ships, on which the stock in money, exclusive of goods, on board each vessel, amounted to ^10,000, and among the goods (the more efiec- tually to check Mr. Rolt and Colonel Rainsford's speculation) were sent large quantities of ordnance^ mortars, shells, &c., which the diflferent Presidencies were directed (remaining them- selves neutral in the wars of the four sons of Shah Jehan for the succession) to dispose of, at the best price, to the first of the competitors who might apply for them. One of tlie shiptf^ was consigned to Surat, one to Fort St. George, and two to 3 Z 2 Bantam (1)— Pbtitioni of the East-India Conapany and of the Merchant Adventurers^ for satts&ction for Losses sostained from the Dutch at Bantaoii I2th August J 658. (East- India Pftpers in State Pftper Office^ Nos. 214^ 215), S40 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. L Bantam and Maccassar, but to touch at Fort St. George for liS58-59. Coast cloths^ to be disposed of at Jambee, and then return tb. Bengal and to Forf St. George, to take in Bengal and Coromandel goods for Europe. This instruction was intend- ed to revive the system of exchanges between their Settle- ments, that, from the profits of such exchanges, they might increase the resources, and, at the same time, provide a more valuable investment for the home sales. A second general instruction was, that a proportion of the stock should be left at each of the Presidencies and Factories,, that their servants might have funds to take advantage of the markets, when goods could be obtained at the most reasonable rates ; intending, by this expediejit, equally to recover the trade, and the Company's credit. A third general instruction was, to endeavcMr to recover a proportion of the trade in pepper, and in the finer spices;, and, wkh this view, one of the ships was to proceed direct to Ban- tam, Acheen, and Maccassar, to take in pepper,, cloves, &o.^ and then to return to the Coromandel Coast, and,- if possible, obtain at Fort St. George (from its vicinity to Ceylon) a propor- tion of cinnamon for the Europe sales. The last general instruction was founded on the con- nexion which the East-India Cmnpany had been compelled to form with the Assada Merchants ; one of the ships was ordered to touch at the Coast of Africa, at Cprmantine Castle (since called Cape Coast Castle), and endeavor to ex- change BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 541 « change English cloths and manufactures for gold, ivory, & The Presidency of Surat, hefore receiving information Trade revi- that the Company's rights and privileges, in England, had been andtheCom- confirmed by the Protector and Council of State, reported to restored by ^ * the new the Court, that the trade had been depressed by the wars, be- -^oint Stock. tween the Mogul's sons, for the succession, and that these wars had prevented the purchase of the goods required for the in- vestment, although the funds they had received, had restored the Company's credit in the opinion of the natives ;— the purchase of indigo and saltpetre had again been practicable at Agra and Surat, and the trade was opened with Ahmedabad, though the competitions of the Merchant Adventurers, by draining the country of produce, and raising the prices, had rendered it diffi- cult to procure the goods, either in quantity or quality, as requir-. ed by the instructions of the Court ; they had, however, expended the sum of ^80,000, agreeably to orders ; for after retaining what was required for the Surat market, they remitted -5^10,000 to (1)— Letters from the Court to the President and Council of Fort St. George^ 18th September >658, and 26th January 1658-59.— — - Letters from the Court to the Agent and Council at Hughly, 27th March ]658> and 28th January 1658-59. 543 AlBTNAUS OF THE HONORABX^B CHAP. X. to Pensia, ^6,000 to Bantam, and ^6,000 to Mocha : — thh 1658-69. stock, tfaongh large, was not sufficient to re-establish the trade of the Company on the West of India, and therefore they submitted, that it would be more advantageous to borrow money in England, where it could be readily procured, at four per cent., than to allow them to take up money at Surat, at the rate of eight or nine per cent. : — the sale of exports from England, from the state of the country, was slow, and the ordnance and stores remained in the warehouses, not being in demand, from the decided superiority which Aurungzebe had obtained over the other competitors : — though the New Stock and credit had revived the general trade of the Company, vessels, of from two hundred, to two hundred and fifty tons burthen, sufficiently armed, must be sent from England, to be employed in the coasting trade, from port to port, on the Malabar Coast, and thence to proceed to Bantam and to Fort St. George, and then returning to Surat, increase the resources of this Presi- dency, by the profits from circuitous exchanges. Having given this general account of their trade, the Fre^ sidency submitted, that, to obviate the difiSk^ulties which ha4 been experienced from the rivalship of the European pow^*s, application ought to be made to the King of Portugal, to issue his orders to the Viceroy of Goa, to frame a new comr mercial treaty, between the Portuguese and the Eii^lish, in the East-Indies; and an application to the States General, for orders to their Governor General at Batavia, to put the English X'AST -INDIA COMPANY, 543 English in possession of their trade at Bantam^ and the Island of ^^^^y*. Polaroon, the !Dolch having, by the conquest of Ceylon, en- 1658-59. grossed the whole of the trade in the finer apices, and by their blockade of ISantam, endeavored to includie pepper in then* monopoly. The Presidency of Surat, to restore the Company's authority, had given notice to the English seamen^ who had entered on the country ships^ daring the interruption c^ the privileges^ to return to Surat^ or be liable to be sent to England ; which they refused to comply with, unless an or- der from the Protector should be issued, enjoining them to obedience* The Rresidency of Surat (for there is no report this season from the Company's Agencies in Persia), added, that the charges of supporting the Factory at Gombroon had nearly absorbed the small proportion of customs which had been recovered, and, indeed, the whole profits, this year, of the Persian trade. (^> The intelligence of the confirmation of the Company's state of trad© rights and privileges reached Fort St. George in the month of George. August 1658, and was forwarded to the Factories in Bengal ; the covenants^ required from their servants, had been ex- ecuted at both stations : — ^the proportions of the stock intended for Fort St. George, and for Bengal, had been applied, agreeably to (1)— General Letters from the President and Coancil of Sarat to the Court, ^^^»' October 1658, 15th January 165S'5Q, and 12th April 1659.— — Letter from the Presidel^t and Council of Snrat to the late United Joint Stock, 20th January 1658-59.— Letter firom the President and Council of Surat to Captain Langford relative to English Seamen on. board country shipping,^ 15th November 1568. 544 ANNALS OV TH£^ fiONORABI^ ^HA P. I. to the orders of the Court, and proportions of cthe gold, obtained 1658-59. at Cormantine Castle, had been added to the^lntuls for the invest- ment on the Coaq^y^and sent to Bengal, at which saltpetre^ of the finest kind, cotid be obtained, as well as goods, at reason- able rates, for the shipping of the subsequent season. (^> Bantam con- The blockade of Bantam by the Dutch, referred to in the tinned block- aded by the report of the President and Council of Surat, accounts equally Dutch. . • r r>t for the interruption of the Company's trade in that quarter, and for the ignorance in which the Court was kept, in this season, of the real state of their Southern trade. . (l)---Letter from the President and Council of Fort St. George, to the Agent and Council in Bengal^ 23d August 1658. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 545 1659-60. CHAP, I. In 1659-60, the Government continued to be unsettled: ^ — nA^ ifi^Q fin and though the Council of Officers, which was directed by xhe Padia- Fleetwood and Lambert, in fact, constituted the ruling power, ^^by crom- they soon found, that the English nation could only be con- ^assembled/ ciliated, by restoring a Parliament. These leaders had already discovered, that the assembly convoked in the preceding year, under that name, neither could acquire respect, nor grant authority, and, therefore, resolved to re -assemble the Par- liament which had been dismissed by Cromwell, in 1653, on the presumption, that its legality would be more generally recognized ; and that Richard Cromwell, who had the name, only, of Protector, and General Monk, who conmianded in the North, would probably submit to its resolutions. The event answered their expectation with respect to Richard Cromwell, and, apparently, with respect to General Monk : Fleetwood was appointed by the Parliament Commander-in- Chief, for one year, and the Speaker was to sign aU military commissions. This disjointed system could not continue ; con- spiracies of the Royalists were every day forming, and the disputes between the officers, guided by Lambert, who approached London with the army, were bringing the authority of |his VOL. I. 4 A Parliament 546 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP, I. Parliament into hazard. Fleetwood's commission was annulled^ 1659-60. and Lambert appointed General by the Officers, who again form- ed a Council of Safety, for the administration of the Government, The power of the officers, though supported in the capital, by the presence of Lambert and the army, began to decline, while Monk advanced with another army from the North, and by his prudence and policy, conciliated the Council and the City of London. These events, at the close of this season, produced a kind of temporary arrangement in public affairs, which, in the sequel, we shall find, led to the Restoration of the Monarchy^ The Compa- In this situation of afikirs, the London East-India Com* Dygive their servants pany, as merchants, observed the same caution, which had abroad dis- * cretionary marked their proceedings at the period when the Monarchy was powers, it i g x v *^«»"g>"?- subverting, and giving way to the Commonwealth; instead c^ send specific oriving: instructions to their foreign Presidencies or Factories* situated at so remote a distance irom England, they thought it wiser to leave their servants to act according to circumstances, and from a sense of duty, than either to convey information of the shifting forms of the Government, or to hazard ^he safety of the Company's property, by orders, which it might have been as impracticable to execute, as, if proceeded on, it might have been dangerous to connect with the actual circum- stances of the Company in England. While BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 547 While the administration of the Company^s affairs in ^^^J- [ - Enfi^land was, from the preceding events, in a great measure 1659-60. ® ^ ^ The Presi- suspended, it becomes interesting to look at the expedients dencyof which their foreiarn Presidencies devised, when left to stniffffle measures tor ° °° the safety of with difficulties, and under no restraint but a sense of duty. ^^^ ^^me. •^ ward- bound The President and Council of Surat, in the beginning of s*»>pp'»ng this season, described the Mogul provinces to have, in general, submitted to the Aurungzebe ; as the other competitors were not, either from capacity or resources, in a situation to resist, his authority : the Dutch power, at the same time, was daily increasing, from the strong fleets which they had on the Malabar Cloast, which obliged the Presidency to detain the Company's ships in port, under the protection of the Mogul Governor, from an apprehension of a war between England and Holland. Afiairswere in this situation, when letters were received from Aleppo, informing the President of the death of Cromwell ; on which a considtation was held at Surat, by the President and Council, and the commanders of the Company's ships, on the 26th December 1659, at which it was resolved, that the Company's homeward-bound ships should sail as a fleet, and that the commanders should enter into an obligation, of ^6,000 each, not to separate, as far as might be practicable ; — that they should, in the first instance, proceed to St. Helena, and, 4 A 2 if 548 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. if separated, rendezvous at that island ;— on their making 1659-60. this port, they were to act according to the intelligence which they might receive from England, respecting the state of the Government and of the Company ; in the event of their not obtaining information which could be relied on, they were to direct their course to the Island of Barbadoes, at whicAi they were to remain, either till they should receive intelligence from England, of the state of the Government, or such information as would enable them to provide for the safety of the Company's shipping. Recommend It was during this emergency, that the Presidency of Surat that some , t g^ station should informed the Court, that, in obedience to their instructions, they be fixed on, , , , . • , -^^t r-^ /* i- ,. at which the had been examimng the West Coast of India, to discover some Company's . , i • v u i /• property stroug Situation, which could be fortified, to become a place of might be de** posited, in safety to their servants and property ; and recommended to cases of emergency, its choice, Dandah-Rajahpore, Bombay, and Vissava, and that an application should be made to the King of Portugal, to cede one of those places to the English ; — ^and concluded by reporting, that from their want of money, and from the difficulty of obtaining credit, except at exorbitant inte- rest, and from the great mortality among their servants, the sales of the Europe exports had beeii limited, and their purcha- ' ses of Indian produce could not enable them to promise, that the investments for the shipping would be considerable. <^> Similar (1)— Letters from the President and Council of Sarat to the Court, 30th September l65g, and 13th January 1659-60. Consultation of the President and Council and con^ manders of shippings held at Surat^ 26th December l65g. (Vol. xxiij No. 2032). EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 549 Similar unfavorable accounts are given of the state of the ^^^^; V trade in Persia^ from the great power of the Dutch in the 1659-60, Project a Gulf, and from the prevailing opinion, that the Company plan forget- ting possessi- had been dissolved : — in this situation, the Presidency of on of Muscat; Surat projected the plan of obtaining possession of Muscat, as a port which would place their shipping in safety, and enable them, if the Company's fleets could be increased, to overawe the Persian Government, and again recover their proportion of that trade. With this view, they employed Colonel Rainsford (the same person who was described,, last season, to have come to Surat on some of the Merchant Adventurers' shipping, and to' whom the ordnance purchased by Mr. Rolt had been consign- ed), to negotiate the occupation of Muscat ; conceiving that this port, in the hands of the English, would have a beneficial effect on their Coast trade on the West of India ; as, from it, they could, in retaliation, seize on the Malabar junks ; and, at all events, it would tend to the preservation of the Company's right to the customs at Grombroon. This plan had so far succeeded, that the negotiation had been commenced with the Grovernor of Muscat^ and should this port be acquired for the Company, it would be necessary to have a garrison, of at least a hundred soldiers, to defend it. 0) The same measures which the President and Council at Trade on the Fort St. George had adopted, in the preceding year, to recover Coast ob- stnicted by their trade, and to provide investments, were, in this season^ Sevagee's wars in GoU continued, condah and VisiaporCi (1) Letters from the President and Council of Surat to the Cour^ 12th Aprils and dOth September l65g, and 13th January l659-60» 550 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE C HAP. L continued, or one part of the new fiinds which they had received, 1659-60. was applied to purchase investments on the Coast, and the other to support the trade in Bengal, from which the Agents had not withdrawn, when accounts arrived, of the settlement of the Company's rights in England. It is prohable, that the distracted state of the Camatic, from the conquests of Sevagee in Grolcondah and Visiapore, had become more general, and that those events had obstructed the re-establishment of the Company's trade ; for there remains no evidence of the actual circumstances of their affairs, on the Coromandel Coast, during this season. Trade in Ben- The application of the proportion of the goods and money gal in a more favorable sent to Bengal, had an immediate effect on the trade, for though English cloths and manufactures had not sold to great advantage (as the demand for them in Bengal was inconsiderable), salt- petre of the best quality had been purchased at reasonable rates, and considerable quantities of raw-silk and taffaties, which were new articles in the investment. This encouraging circumstance induced the Agent to represent the necessity of building new and large warehouses, for the accommodation of their stores ; but, at the same time, he mentioned, that the conduct of the Nabob had been oppressive, and had frequently alarmed them for the permanency of a branch of trade, which otherwise might, in a short time, be increased to any amount, and rendered valuable, from the fine qualities of the goods. <*> It (l)*-Letter from the Agent and Council at Hugbly to the Court, 23d November 1659. BAST-INDIA COMPANY. 551 It can only be collected, from the information obtained by CHAP. i. the Court, from the President and Council of Surat, that the 1659-60. blockade of Bantam stiU continued, and that communications blockaded by between it and the Coast, and Surat, were suspended : — this blockade induced the Presidency of Surat to dispatch one of their ships to Acheen, to obtain pepper, the Government at that port having offered U} give protection to the Company's factors and trade, which vessel, after leaving Acheen, was to proceed to Maccassar,^ to procure a proportion of the finer spices ; those articles being of so much consequence in the investments for Europe, and in any opening which might again introduce the Company's trade into Persia. (1)— Letter from the Presidency andCouDcil of Surat to the Courts 30lk September 1659. 255 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLB 1660-61. CHAP. I. The shifting forms, which the Government of England had 1660-61. assumed in the preceding year, were all evidently tending to the of King Restoration of the Monarchy. General Monk was appointed Captain General of the Armies of the three kingdoms. The Parliament, having previously repealed the Oath of Ahjuration against the King, dissolved themselves, and issued writs for a new Parliament, to meet on the 25th April 1660 : — ^when this assembly met, Charles II, that he might reconcile General Monk to his interest, and obtain his support, sent him a secret commission, appointing him Captain General of his armies ; — matters being thus prepared, Sir John Greenvill, in the name of the King, presented a declaration to the Lords, promising a free and general pardon ; on which the Lords, early in May 1660, voted, that the Government of England ought to be vested in King, Lords, and Commons ; and the House of Com- mons, by a vote, came to a resolution to the same effect : — ^this was followed by the proclamation of the King, in London, who, on the 29th May 1660, arrived at Whitehall, and was restored -to the throne of his ancestors. Renewal of 'pjjjg great event was accompanied by the renewal of the twlwnEn*^ political and comm^cial relations, between the King and the c^ntincntaf^ Continental powers, and reference must be made to those P"^'"- relations EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 553 relations^ which more immediately affected the trade of England chap. i. with the East-Indies, before we can bring under review the 1660-61. measures which the London Company adopted. Philip IV. of Spain, on receiving inteUigence of the Peace with c Restoration, issued a declaration, ordering his officers to desist ^^"^ from hostilities against England : this was the more to be expected, from his having entered into a treaty with the King, during his exile, at the time when Cromwell had declared war against Spain. In return for this declaration. King Charles, by a proclamation, restored to their full force the treaties of Madrid, 1630, and of London, 1604, and on the basis of these treaties, the commercial relations of the two kingdoms were re- established. <^> The States General, on the 5th October 1660, appointed Th® statei General send Prince Louis of Nassau, and Mynheers Van Hoorn, Van Commission- ^ ^ ers to Eng- Goch, and De Ripperda, their Conmiissioners, to proceed to ^^"^' ^^ '^ ' * * ' ^ new the England, to congratulate the King on his Restoration ; and to treaties of ^^ alliance^ ano propoise a renewal of the treaties of alliance and commerce j^jg^^^^p^® which had subsisted between the two coimtries : — ^this nego- **'^°' tiation was protracted for a considerable time, as the treaty was not concluded till September 1662. <*> VOL. I. 4 B At (1) ^Printed Copy of Articles of Peace between King Charles 11. and the King of Spain, 20th September 1^60. Proclamation declaring the Cessation of Hostility, and preserving an entire Amity between His Majesty and the King of Spain, JOth September 1660. (Preserved in the State Paper Office, Whitehall). . (2)'— Original Commission of the States General to Prince Louis of Nassau and others^ ^o conclude a treaty with Great Britain, 5th October l660. (Preserved in the State Paper Office, Whitehall). .' 1 554 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^ ^ij/ At the opening of this negotiation, the Commissioners 1660-6L presented a copy of the order which the States General and the Dutcli East-India Company had issued to tlie Governor General of Batavia, to cede the Island of Polaroon to the London East-India Company, as a possession, recognized by treaties between the Crown of England and the States, as exclusively belonging to England. Upon this order of the States, the King granted a Ccmimission to the Londcm East* India Company to take possession of the Island oi Pblaroon, and to send officers, and form a colony of the King's natural subjects on it, to be protected by a military force. Polaroon de- The States General appear to have made tkis cession of the solated^ by secret orders Island of Polaroon, not with a view of allowing the English to R "Ifc ^^ *^^ participate in the spice trade, ^conformably to the treaties between the two nations,) but, obviously, to l&cilitate the renewal tii the treaties in Europe; for the Governor General at Batavia issued secret orders to the Governor of the Bandas, to destroy aU the spice trees on the Island of Polaroon. Company pe- On receiving information of this outrage, the London East- tition the King for re- India Company presented a petition to the King, praying that dress, and to be restored His Maiestv would be pleased to remoiKstrate with the States to their pro- •! ^ r portion of Grcneral on this proceeding, and that Commissioners should be •'^^®' appointed to carry into eiect the rights of the English Com- pany, to their proportion of the spice trade. <*> In (1)— Copy of Order of the States General to the Governor of Batavia, to deliver the Island of Polaroon to the London East-India Company, November 1600.— Copy of Commission from King Charles II. to the East-India Company, to repossess and fortify die EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 555 In the measures of the East-Iadia Company, at the time ^^a p. J, when they were turning their attention to regain, from the 1660-61. Company's Crown, the confirmation of their privileces, we discover the instructions ' ^ r & > ^ to their important fact, that, during the Interregnum, as well as diuring the foreign set- tlements. reigns w^ch had preceded it, their Charter, as a corporate body, had been recognized, though their exclusive privileges had been frequently infringed and endangered ; they, therefore, acted in their equipments, and in their instructions to their servants, as if they had been in the full enjoyment of both, at the time when they were preparing appHcations to the Crown, to have both confirmed. Withthese views, they sent instructions, in September 1660, to their Agents at Hugfaly, to provide a large assortment of silks and tafiaties for the home investment, to foe in readiness for the ships of the ensuing season, hut not to send more than two hundred tons of sakpetre^ which might be provided at Patna; and, in luture, not to purchase any Bengal sugars.<^) The embarrassed «tate x)f the Company's funds, at this particular period, may be inferred, from the resolutions they had taken, to xeHnquish many of their out-stations, and to limit Iheir irade, in the Bsninsula of India, to the Presidencies of Surat 4uid Fcurt St. Geofge, and their subordinate Factories ; to withdraw the Factories from Agra, Ahmedabad, Mocha, and 4 B 2 Bussorah, the-Uand-of Polarooo^ Decereber l66(X— — PaUtion of.tl».EistJiidia Company^ to the Xin^, relative to the Island of Polaroon, 1630-61. (MSS. in the Indian Register .Office, marked F. 1, unbound, pages 245, 24Q, No. 7g, 45). (1 )— Letters from the Court to the Agent and Council at Hughly, I4th September l660, andiiith Febnury ]660«6l. 556 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE CHAP. I. Bussorah ; to continue those at Gombroon, Scindy, Rajah- 1660-61. pore, Carwar, and Caile-Velha; and to make the Agency in Bengal subordinate to the Presidency of Fort St. George.(*> Company Thcsc private measures were precautionary only, and petition the King for subservicnt to the application which the Company intended to restoration of their Charter make to the King ; as His Majesty manifested a disposition to and exclusive privileges. . re-establish all the legal rights and privileges, which either had been interrupted, or infringed, during the Interregnum ; more particularly, such as tended to restore the commercial relations between his Crown and the maritime powers. Though Cromwell had compelled the Dutch, by treaty, to make compensation to the East-India Company, for the inju*- ries they had sustained, and to promise restitution, these conditions had been evaded ; and they were satisfied, that they could not be enforced in any effectual manner, but by new Letters Patent, recognizing their ancient rights, with such additions as would more fully ascertain and re- invigorate the direct trade between England and the East- Indies. *^^»*jpce of King Charles II., in consideration of these circumstances. the Charter rranted by granted to the London East-India Company his Letters Patent, King Charles . tr ^ y IT to the bearing date the 3d April 1661, in the thirteenth year of his^ April 1661. reign. The preamble tg this Charter stated, that the Company had been, for a long time, a corporation, for the honor and profit of the nation, and that they had enjoyed certain hberties and privil^es (1)— Letter from the Coart to the President and Council of Sorat, 27th March \G6\. EAST-INDIA COMPANY. 55/ privileges, granted to them by Queen Elizabeth and King James ; ^H A p. i. — ^that great disorders had been committed, to the prejudice of 1660-61. the Company, and the interruption of their trade, both by the King's subjects, and by foreigners ; for redress of which, at the petition of the said Governor and Company, they were declared, by this Charter, to be a body politic and corporate, in deed and in name, with perpetual succession ; and capable, in law, to purchase and possess, and to alienate, sell, and dispose of lands, tenements, &c. ; — ^that they might sue and be sued, in all courts and places, in the same manner as any other sub- jects of the King, and that they might, under their pommon seal, change or alter what might be for the common interest of the Company ; — that they might hold general courts, and make bye-laws; — ^' that they shoidd, for ever hereafter, have, use, " and enjoy, the whole, entire, and only trade and traffic, to " and from the East-Indies ;'' — ^that no person should trade thither, without their licence, imder their common seal, and that no licence to individuals should be granted by the Crown, without consent of the Company; — ^that the Adventurers should vote according to their stock ; ^500 stock, to constitute a vote; — ^that all plantations, forts, fortifications, factories, or colonies, in the East-Indies, acquired by the Company, should be under their control ; and, that they were to have the appoint- ment of all governors and officers;: — ^that they might export military stores, and be empowered to make peace and war with any prince or people, not being Christians,*^ — that they might erect fortifications at St. Helena, and elsewhere, within their limits^ 558 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLE ^^^^'^j limits, and carry out such a number of men as might be willkig 1660-61. to go thither; — ^that they might seize unlicenced persons, and send them to England ; and that they were not to trade in the dominions of any Christian prince or people, in amity witli England, without the consent of such prince or people.<*> Rights con- Qn comparing these Letters Patent of King Charles II. with Ch^^t^^ '^^* those which had been originally granted to the London East-India Company, by Queen Elizabeth, in 1600, it will be found, that, in their spirit, though not in their terms, they corresponded with each other ; for the Queen constituted the London East-India Com- pany, at its estabUshn^nt, a body politic and corporate, with succession, but only gave them the exclusive trade to the East- Indies, ^^ for Jif teen years /' but, by the grant (^Charles II., these exclusive privileges were given " far ever.^' On comparing, next, the Letters Patent of King Charles II. with the Letters Patent of King James I., dated the 13th May 1609, it «will be found, ihat, in their spirit and terms, they agreed with ^ach other, as both constituted the London East-India Company, a body politic and corporate, with perpetual succession, and granted to them, to have, ''for ever^^ the entire and exclusive trade in the E»st- Indies, specifying, in the same manner as the preeeding :grants bad done, that if this right of ^an exoluidve trade, or the con- tinuance of it, should not be dxMind ^profitaUe to the King, or to the realm, that, aEfter ihree years' notice, under the Privy -Seal or Sign Manual, it should cease or deteimine. The (L)— Letters Patent^ dd April l66i, 13th Charles II. (Printed CoUtction 4f ^Ckarlera of ihe Bast-India Cooipan/, quarto, page M). BAST-INDIA COMPANY, 559 Tlie precaution which had been taken by the President chap. i. and Council of Surat, of dispatching the Company's home- 1660-61. Afiairsat Su* ward ships to St. Helena, and (if intelligence should not be rat nearly in , . thesame state obtained there) to Barbadoes, to await information from Eng- as in the pre- ceding sea- land, gives a strong description of the embarrassment under son, but the plan of get- which the Company's Presidencies and Factories, in India, were ting posses- sion of Mus- placed, from neither knowing in w^hom the Government in cat had failed. England was vested, nor under what circumstances their immediate superiors, the Grovemor and Court of Committees, were acting. It was impossible, that any of the foreign stations of the m Company could know, in this season, either the events affect- ing the Company's rights, which preceded the Restoration, or those which followed it ; and, therefore, the accounts of their affairs, in the Indies, are, as might have been expected at such a period, detached and broken. It had been previously settled by the Company, proceeding on the authority given them by Cromwell, to fix the principal •» seat of their trade at Surat, but to make Fort St. George the centre of their trade on the Coromandel Coast: — ^it can be « cdlected, only, from the former station, that they had acted under the precautions, described in their reports of the preceding year, without having been able to obtain possession of Muscat^ or to revive the trade in Persia. From r 560 ANNALS OF THE HONORABLS CHART. From Fort St. George the information is more precise, 1660-61. and extends, on the one hand, to the Company's trade to the Trade revi- , • • t* ving at Fort eastwards, and, on the other, to their proceedings m Bengal. St, George. The bullion which had been received from Europe had been coined into pagodas, at the Company's mint at the Fort, and one part of it had been sent to Acheen, Jambee, and Maecassar, to purchase pepper and spices ; and another proportion to Bengal, to piu-chase saltpetre, silks, muslins, &c., which, with part of the spices to be obtained from these ports, were to go to Surat, as means to re-open the trade with Persia, and, with Coromandel cloths, to fill up the investment for Europe : but the homeward-bound ships, from Fort St. George, were first to proceed to Bengal, to take in goods from that country, to render the investment more complete. <^> The Factory From the favorable appearances of the Company's trade threatened in Bengal, in 1659-60, an opinion was entertained, both at Jumlah, the Surat and at Fort . St. George, that it would rapidly become Mogul's General, in valuable and productive, if the oppressions of the Nabob consequence of the Agent could be prevented : — In 1660-61, however, an event occurred, having seized a country which threatened the ruin of this trade. The oppressions of the Nabob had been so great, that the Agent at Hughly resorted to the rash measure of seizing a country junk, in the river Ganges, as a security for the recovery of debts : — ^this act was consi- dered by Meer Jumlah, the celebrated General of Aurung- zebe, as unjustifiable, who threatened not only to retaliate on the (1)— Letter from the President and Council of Fort St. George to the Court, 11th January ] 660-61. junk. BABT-INSIA COMPANY^ 561 the Company's out-agencies^ but to seize their house and factory chap. i. at Hughly. Alarmed at this danger^ the Agent appUed to the 1660-61. President and Council of Surat for instructions^ by whom he was directed to repair the junk^ and offer to re-deliver it to the Mogul General* Should these concessions not be accepted, he was ordered to call in all the out-agencies, and to have all the Company's stores and property, at Hughly, ready to be shipped, and to leave the place ; — ^the Agent was also warned to be on his guard against the address, as well as the actions, of the Mogul d£cers, the leading features of whose character are described in the following terms : '^ that they usually offered civilities, at the very moment when they intended to have recourse to violence and depredation/' (^> (1)*-Letter from the Preiidencj of Surat to the Agent and CounoU at Hughly^ 21st Juno 1^60. yoh Ml 4 C 562 AiCIf AJUS OF THB HONORABLS CHAP. I. This Review of the Annals of the London East-India RESULTS Company, during the first period of its history, or from its ceding detail establishment by Queen Elizabeth, to the restoration of its of events, as- ^-m i tt /• i i ••11 certainingthe privileges by King Charles II, founded on original documents, "Company's rights, from authorizes the following results :— £lizabeth to Charles II. /. — ^Tliat the discovery of the circuitous navigation to the East-Indies, by Vasco de Gama, which coincided nearly in point of time with the discovery of America, by Columbus, opened new and valuable sources of wealth, and produced a more enlarged system of politics, and of commerce, among the European nations : — ^That, during the century in which Spain discovered America, and Portugal the passage to the East-Indies, the resources and power of both kingdoms were increased to that height, as to become subjects of political and commercial jea- lousy to the other maritime nations of Europe ; and though, during this century, the ancient routes of the East-India trade, to the ports in the Mediterranean, were kept open, yet this trade was gradually on the decline : — ^That, after the revolution in Holland had separated the United Provinces from Spain, the Dutch were roused to make efforts to acquire a part of the East- Indian trade, and their example stimulated the Enghsh nation to the like enterprize ; naval strength, thus, began to be as much a subject of national importance and jealousy, as the great aniiiet BAST- INDIA COMPANY. 563 armies of the continental states^ which were contending for ^^ ^p^l ' paramount power in Europe ; and it was from these sources, results. that the prevailing principle of a Balance of Power was combi- ned with the new principle of a Balance of Trade. —That it was with the object of adding to the maritime strength of England, on which its defence against the Spanish Armada had so recently depended, and of invigorating the balance of trade, that Queen Elizabeth, by Charter^ established the London East-India Company, with exclusive privileges ; and as, at this juncture, the other European maritime powers were directing their efforts to other sources of commerce, the English and Dutch East-India Companies became the rivals of the Por- tuguese, in the direct trade to the East-Indies, when the poUtical interests of those three nations were combining to form alliances in Europe, intended to defend their respective territories, against the aggrandizement, either of Spain, or of France. ///. — ^That, from a general review of the Portuguese conquests in the East-Indies,^ it appears, their settlements and trade, during the period in which they were administered by the officers who had established them, were extensive and conso- lidated ; but that, from the time when the Crown of Portugal was annexed to that of Spain, the Portuguese settlements in the East were lefk without resources, or the adequate means of defence, and gradually became acquisitions to the Dutch :— That after Portugal again became a separate sovereignty, its 4 C 2 national 5G4 ANNALS OF THE HONOEABLB national spirit was broken^ till at last^ by its treaty with Holland (under the mediation of England^ in 1661), it relinquished Um claims on the Dutch conquests in the East-Indies^ on condition that the States Greneral should recognize its rights to the Brazik* IV. — ^That the commercial enterprizes and conquests of the * Dutch ^ in the East-Indies, arose from the defenceless situation of the Portuguese and English establishments ; from the Dutch East-India Company being supported by large funds and fleets^ and assimilated with the States General (many of their Direc- tors being also members of the States) ; and from the varying politics of the English Government, which successively infringed on the exclusive privileges of the London East-India Company ;— - events which abridged their equipments, and prevented theAi from extending their commerce at the few factories which they cbiild preserve, or from defraying the heavy charges of those factories, and the repeated losses^ in stores and shipping, to which they were exposed. V. — That the native states in the East-Indies, at whose ports tlie London East-India Company opened a trade, were unequal in their power, either to admit, or to protect, their shipping or their factors :^— That from the Cape of Good Hope to the Indus, a mixed barter, only, could be attempted ; that from the Indus to the Ganges, though the Mogul Empire had been established, and reduced to a regular system by Akbar, the frequent civil wars^ for the suct^sion, rendered commercial intercourse diffi* cult^ €ult| and tlie tenures, by Phirmaunds, or grants, from the chap. i. Moguls, or from their officers, precarious and expepsiTC ; and RESULiii those from the inferior chiefs oa the Malabar or Ccnromandel Coasts still more temporary and uncertain : — That the chiefs, in the Islands, eastwards of the Peninsula, did not possess power sufficient to protect the strangers who sought commercial inter- course at the ports of their dominions ; and, from their frequent wars with tach other, often requested the assistance of the European traders which reduced them to become, either their ft dependents, or their subjects. 77. — That though the Charter of Queen Elizabeth distinct- ly defined the corporate and exclusive rights of the East-India Company, the death of this wise Sovereign, while their voyages were experimental only, exposed them to the varying policy of her successor ; who, a stranger to the rising English com- merce, introduced, by licences, the interferences of Private Merchants, or Interlopers, contrary to the express terms of the Queen^s Charter : but this infraction of the Company's privi- leges was, in a few years, admitted, by King James, to be as unwise, as it was unjust ; for, in 1609, he renewed the Company'^ Charter, and made their exclusive privileges permanent : — That, on the basis of this Charter, the First Joint Stock of the London Company was formed, to provide stifficient funds foi four years, or four successive voyages, and Sir Thomas Roe, at the Com- pany's expence, sent as the King's Ambassadw to the Mogul : — That, in 1617-18, when the Second J<»nt Stock was formed, the ^^ ANKALS OP THB HONOBABJLB ^^^'J; the funds and equipments of the London Company excited the RESULTS, jealousy of the Dutch, who considered that this large stock, and proportionate equipments, would raise the English trade m the East-Indies to the same height as their own, — ^an event which led to the treaty of 1619, and the appointment of a Council of Defence, constituted in such a manner as to depress the trade and exertions of the London Company, and to become the source of those aggressions, which produced mutual complaints to their respective sovereignties, but did not terminate in any definitive arrangement ; and this situation of the English and Dutch affairs in the East, led to the massacre at Amboyna : an outrage, reparation for which was not obtained, at the death of King James L —-That, though King Charles I., at: his accession,, an4 during the first years of his reign, not only attempted to obtaiU| by negotiation, redress from the States General, for the losses of the Company, but proceeded to retaliation on their homeward- bound ships, yet the rising factions in England lessened the authority of the Crown, and obliged the King to recede from those spirited measures, which the Company hoped would have procured them redress from the Dutch : — That, from the year 1630 to 1635, though the Company formed their Third Joint Stock, and established regulations for the suppression of private traffic, the disputes between the King and the Parliament, not only prevented the increase of their trade, but left them still exposed to the oppressions of the Dutch : — ^That, from 1635 to 1638 EAST-INT>IA COMPANY. 5(57 1638, the King encouraged, and granted licences to Courten's ^^^ P. i . Association, which became a kind of second East-India Compa- results. ny ; the equipments and factors of which, from being under no regulations, not only invaded every branch of the London Company's trade in the East, but exposed • their servants and their property, to imprisonment and seizure by the native powers : — ^That, in 1638^39, the Privy Council, aware of these de- structive interferences, proposed a coalition, between the East- India Company and this Association ; and though the King, in 1640, offered to revoke Courten's Ucence, and to confirm the Charter and privileges of the Company, his necessities, in 1641, obliged him to seize their imports of pepper, for which he granted them the only security, which his hard situation would allow him to offer : — and that, during the whole of the ca- lamitous period, from 1642 to 1649, the Company were obliged to depend on the limited Subscriptions, known in their history as the First General Voyage, and the Fourth Joint Stock ; which were applied to keep up a proportion of the Malabar trade ; to preserve their right to the customs at Gombroon, and the grants for trade in Persian pn>duce ; to form settlements on the Coro- mandel Coast; to revive, by exchanges, the trade at Bantam; and to preserve that proportion of the spice trade, to which they were entitled by the treaty of 1619. VJII. — That, from the period when the Monarchy was subverted, the Loudon East-India Company were compelled (not knowing in wIkhu the sovereignty might ultimately be vested) to keep 568 AKI7AL8 OF TBS H0170BABZJi CHAP^. teep out of view, as much as might be practicable, the subject RESULTS, of their Charter and exclusive privileges ; to wave any ques- tions respecting the intrusions of Courten, and the other Inter* lopers, which had arisen in England, during the weakened period of the late reign ; and to preserve, by temporary additions to their stock, the public opinion of the importance of the East* India trade ; while their servants, ^abroad, were exposed to depre« dations and imprisonment, occasioned by the irregularities of these Interlopers, and by the predominant fleets of the Dutch : — That, in 1649-50, when Courten's Association assumed a new character, by estabUshing a colony at Assada, the East-India Company applied to the Council of State for an Act of Par- liament to encourage their trade ; but were compelled to coalesce with these Assada Merchants, and to form, for the support of the East-India trade, what was termed an United Joint Stock :— « That, after this Union, they presented a series of petitions to the Council of State, and to ParUament, for redress of the grievances they had experienced from the Dutch, and, as the war with HoUand approached, entered into the views of the Protector, by opening a Subscription, to fit out an armament to be sent to the East-Indies, to obtain, by force, that reparation for the massacre at Amboyna, which had, in vain, been sought by negotiation. /X — ^That, in 1654, when the Protectorate was established, and a compensation (though inadequate]) obtained from the Dutch, by the treaty of peace, and when the London Company expected EAST -INDIA COMPANY. 569 expected to be supported in their Charter and privileges, ^^^^j^^- Cromwell and the Council of State granted commissions or ^JESULTS. licences to a more formidable domestic rival (the Merchant Adventurers trading to the East-Indies), than any to which the Company had, hitherto, been exposed: — ^That, notwith- standing petitions to the Protector and his Council, both by the Company, and by the Merchant Adventurers, their claims were, for a time, left undecided ; partly from the prevalence of innovation, and partly from the claims of the successive stocks of the East-India Company, for proportions of the compensation recovered from the Dutch : — but, during this period, both the Company and the Merchant Adventurers fitted out shipping, and sent stock to be invested in the Indian trade, which had the effect of creating an opinion, both in Holland and in the East-Indies, that the London Company had been dis- solved : this, in the former, led to the idea that the English fleets were to be sent to bear down the Dutch settlements in the East-Indies ; and, in the latter, to suspensions, and, in some cases, to the loss of those privileges, which the Company had purchased from the native powers. X. — ^That though, for two years, Cromwell listened to the applications of the Merchant Adventurers, and hesitated, whe- ther he should withdraw their exclusive privileges from the London East-India Company, and though he had, during this period", granted licences to the Merchant Adventurers to fit out equipments for trade to the East-Indies, yet the Council of yoL. I. 4 D State, 670 ANNALS Of TUB' HONORABLE ^AP^L State, on the fulldst examination of ?*7 E