Difference between revisions of "MRP: 16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London"

Revision as of 09:29, January 24, 2012

16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London

Editorial history

06/02/09, CSG: Completed transcription
18/12/11, CSG: Page created
22/12/11, CSG: Posted transcription to wiki

Abstract & context

Suggested links

To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

(2) Check the date of this letter and also of the letter from Sir William Ryder supposedly dated August 22nd 1667. If anything, the apparently later letter seems to have been written before the earlier, since the earlier letter refers to Valentine Nurse's son as "Athick sculled peece." Nevertheless, the later letter starts with a reference to his former letter of April 16th, so presumably the "good character" of Nurse given by Sir George Oxenden to the EEIC was simply a favour to Sir William Ryder, and disguised Nurse's poor performance

Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[f. 114]

Right Worp:ll & my Hono:ed ffriend

I am now Constrained to pay yo:w my respects in short & undigested lines having at present A fitt of grauell [gravell?] one (sic) me so y:t I cannot replie unto yo:e severall lres w:ch I have rec:d from yo:w overland & by y:e Affrican, & to depend on my friend S:r George Smith,^[1] to advise yo:w I cannot who not muny dayes past was nie his end he being grone very weake & melancholly but meeting w:th a phesetion y:t lett him blood prevented his bleeding mire at nose & mouth stopped y:e refluxion, & he is now pretty Cherry intending, if possible to write yo:w heare w:ch I hope he will be able to complie w:th his good thoughts, y:t way, but now y:t this shippe Charles is to allter her designe & have her dispatch as to yo:w this eavening she having been long at Plimouth for y:m as yo:w maie pseive by o:e

[f. 115]

Generall lres y:t she was intended for y:e Coast & especially to fforte S:t George to rectifie abuses there w:ch could not be effected in time now I doubt will heardly be done w:th out a better head y:n wee can all at prsesent thinke on unless yo:w can spare yo:e 2:d there to goe thether (sic) of w:ch more by my next,

I hope o:e ship Returne Cap:t Stanton arrived w:th cago:w in safety & y:t w:t sent yo:w one her came safe to yo:e hands w:ch would be wellcome tiding to me, to heare,

The Affrican came safe but y:e Dorcas xx frazied [?] as yo:w will see in o:e generall lres to w:ch I must referr for alle Publique affaires & now tell yo:w y:t wee are one a tertie betweene us & Dutch w:ch I much feare will redownd little to y:e hono:e of o:e Nation but Gods will must be submited unto, & it is pasable y:t next post to plimouth I may be able to enlarge, on that & other pticulars ere this ship departure sends yo:w comfortable lines or Ligners [Liquers????] wee have chosen Comesioners of Committee, to attend his Maja:es Commisioners to Breda, y:e place apointed to treat in, & to conclude a peace w:ch God send may be hnourable, now o:e Comisioners are M:r Deputy Jolife & Hen. Coventry Esq:e , who are said to goe hereone this daie senitt (sic), wee are now upon Electing o:e Governer & deputy for y;e enseuing yeare & allsoe y:e 24 Comitys A list of w:ch yo:w may hand if ye shipp make any stay before she dept Plimouth wLch is like she may for Convoie, it not beeing safe to adventure her of y:e Coast w:th out Conduct of a man of warr or tow (sic)

M:r Cha:s Conyers died about 10 dies past God fitt us all for o:e end, I must againe begg yo:w to dispose of Y:e gunns y:t he bought of y:e Eagles owners,^[2] & if yo:w can to end w:th Benddas Giving him Gunns for y:e debt w:ch M:r Reminton o:e XXXXX deseted [?] friend J: B: whose sonne Jerimie is all most xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[f. 116]

drie [?] soe y:t I have small hopes to gett ought from him yett will runn A hazard rather Y:n poor Benidas shall lose all,

I have alredy advised yo:w of y:e sad fire w:ch hapned in y:e Cittie began y:e 2nd 7ber last where most of yo:e friends have been sufferers w:th M:rs Terells goods w:ch yo:w sent being detained y:e Comp:a warhouse were Consumed so y:t she & others must have patience

I must beg yo:e Pardon for my brevity but xx [worm hole obscures small word] I conclude must thanke yo:e kindness to my friends son va: [?] Nurse who I see is but Athick sculled peece [could be peere] & to xx pray yo:w to shew kindness to M:r Jn:o Portmans^[3] son who went on y:e Affrican as I am Informed

I presume upon conclusion of ye peace yo:w will want helpe & if y:n thinke fitt to recommend him w:th Erasmus Smiths^[4] kindsman & who else yo:w deeme fitt for service to Comp:a they mare fare y:e better for I can assure yo:w y:t y: whole Comitee have a great kindness & respect for yo:w so hath my selfe wife & son & daughter Middleton, & y:e rest of mine, for I desire to live not longer than to aprove my slefe

[RH SIDE]
yo:e Cordiall ffreind & servant
Will:m Rider

Pray give my respects to honest M:r Goodier^[5], M:r Gray^[6], M:r Tayler, & y:e rest of my ffreinds w:th yo:w; M:r Anger^[7] I deeme a fitt pson to send to fforte S:t George if yo:w cannot spare M:r Goodyer

Notes

Possible primary sources

TNA

C 6/151Pt2/28 Short title: Moudiford v Greaves. Plaintiffs: James Moudiford, Robert Dawes, Jonathan Dawes, William Rider, John Portman and Philip Scarth. Defendants: Abraham Greaves, Sarah Greaves his wife and Richard Hutchinson. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: answer only. 1659

1. ↑ Sir George Smith, London merchant
2. ↑ Sir William Ryder was one of the part-owners of the Eagle
3. ↑ John Portman's son was XXXX. John Portman wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated October 2nd, 1667, thanking Sir George for "so greate kindness shewed by yo: self unto my son, if y:t did afford greate measure of satisfaction to myselfe & my over much afflicted wife, our hopes being y:t God will overt his heart soe to behave himselfe by his dutyfull Carriage & deportment towards yo:w as may ever demonstrate his thankfullnes ffor ye greate ffavours he hath received from yo:w" (2nd October 1667, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London). William Ryder, prior to his knighthood, had been a part-owner of the 444 tun Thomas and William of London, together with James Modyford, Robert and Jonathan Dawes, John Portman, Phillip Scarth, John Robinson, Isaac Taylor, and the executors of Abraham ?Moace and Thomas Hodges. He, John Portman, and the other part-owners were plaintiffs together in a Chancery suit (C 6/151Pt2/28 f. 1), John Portman may have been the London goldsmith of that name (see C6/597/21 f. 1)
4. ↑ See March 1665/66, Letter from Eras Smith to Sir GO
5. ↑ John Goodyer
6. ↑ Mathew Gray
7. ↑ Gerard Aungier