Difference between revisions of "MRP: 1st April 1663, Letter from John Bankes to Sir GO, London"
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===Cale Vela, East Indies=== | ===Cale Vela, East Indies=== | ||
| − | "have drawne off from the factory at Cale-Velea two persons, vizt. John | + | "...XXX, John Harrington , and Alexander Grigsby. At Mokha: Anthony Smith. In Persia: Nicholas Buckeridge (Agent), Stephen Flower, and Edward Swinglehurst..."<ref>''EFI 61-64'', p. 27</ref> |
| − | Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, well experienced in the trade of ..."<ref>''EFI 61-64'', p. 72</ref> | + | |
| + | "...the arrivall of our shipping there, have drawne off from the factory at Cale-Velea two persons, vizt. John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, well experienced in the trade of Porcat,<ref>Porcat (alias Purakkad</ref> with intention to settle them there and provide such quantities of cleane pepper, to be shipt off in October, as wee shall furnish them with stockes from hence to effect; and have left only two persons at Cale_Velea, for..."<ref>''EFI 61-64'', p. 72</ref> | ||
| + | |||
---- | ---- | ||
===East India Company=== | ===East India Company=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | "[December 4, 1663] By the commission given to James Snow, commander of the ''Hopewell'', that vessel was only ordered to sail to Porcat or Quiloane, there take in her lading of pepper, cassia lignum, and such calicoes as should come from Cale Velha, and not go to Cochin or any other port or place. The ''Hopewell'' had on board eleven parcels of opium, and ' baggs of chicqueenes of gold ', consigned to John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, the Company's factors at Porcat ; she carried no arms, ammunition, or contraband goods. Porcat is about fourteen leagues south of Cochin and is a place of no defence, having no garrison or fortifications ; only about five guns lying on a sandbank by the sea, and these are used more to salute friends than to offend an enemy. About 1649 the Company's ship, the Discovery, laded a large quantity of pepper at Porcat, and since then the English have traded there, being several times invited by the King or Rajah of that place and the country thereabouts, who is neither a Portuguese or Moor, but a Gentue, and tributary to the Samareene or Emperor, who lives up in the country and whose dominions extend from about Carwar to Cape Comorin and who is neither tributary nor vassal to the King of Cochin. The Dutch had not obtained any victory or conquest over the King of Cochin, who was not dependent upon, neither had he any protection from, | ||
| + | the Portuguese, being a free Prince and only tributary to the above-mentioned Samareene. His residence is in the upper town of Cochin, up in the country, so that the pretence of the Dutch to the conquest of the King of Cochin appears to be but a fallacy, as they only obtained the conquest of Cochin, which was in the possession of the Portuguese. In 1660 the President and Council of Surat sent factors to settle a factory and to reside at Porcat. They were very courteously entertained by the Rajah, who undertook to build them a house (which he did), and give it freely to the English, who should only pay the ordinary customs and be free from all molestation and encumbrances.."<ref>The Company to Sir George Downing [at The Hague], December 4, 1663 (''Letter Book'', vol. iii, p. 324, in [http://www.archive.org/stream/courtminutesetc00east#page/362/mode/2up Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), pp. 363-364])</ref> | ||
"The Court therefore, appointed Sir George Oxinden to be President at SURAT, with a Council of Eight, viz. Mr. Gerard Aungier, Mr. Mathew Gray, Mr. Thomas Rolt, Mr. Henry Young, Mr. Streynsham Master, Mr. Charles James, Mr. Philip Gofford, and Mr. Alexander Grigsby, five of whom were constantly to reside at Surat, particularly Mr. Aungier, Mr. Gray, and Mr. James."<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/ebooks/reader?id=g70_AAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&pg=GBS.PA252 John Bruce, Annals of the Honorable East-India Company: from their establishment by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the union of the London and English East-India Companies, 1707-8, vol. 2 (London, 1810),p. 252]</ref> | "The Court therefore, appointed Sir George Oxinden to be President at SURAT, with a Council of Eight, viz. Mr. Gerard Aungier, Mr. Mathew Gray, Mr. Thomas Rolt, Mr. Henry Young, Mr. Streynsham Master, Mr. Charles James, Mr. Philip Gofford, and Mr. Alexander Grigsby, five of whom were constantly to reside at Surat, particularly Mr. Aungier, Mr. Gray, and Mr. James."<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/ebooks/reader?id=g70_AAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&pg=GBS.PA252 John Bruce, Annals of the Honorable East-India Company: from their establishment by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the union of the London and English East-India Companies, 1707-8, vol. 2 (London, 1810),p. 252]</ref> | ||
Revision as of 21:01, January 15, 2012
1st April 1663, Letter from John Bankes to Sir GO, London
BL, Add. MS. XX,XXX, f. 82
Editorial history
04/06/09, CSG; Completed transcription
14/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki
Contents
Abstract & context
Suggested links
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
Transcription
This transcription has been completed, but needs to be checked
[BL, MS. XX,XXX, f. 82]
S:r
In y:e first place I wish yo:r health & happynesse & shall heartily rejoyce to understand y:e same by y:e next shipps not doubting but then the Comp:a expectations will bee fully answered & if you Can finde any opportunity wherein I may prove serviceable beleeve it S:r I shall bee willingly ready to serve you; as yo:r true ffreind and Countryman.
And next I wish my kindsman’s Alexander Grigsbyes[1] wellfare for whome (when I had y:e opportunity to kiss yo:r hand) I did acquaint you I had á kindness; The Comp:a haveing entertayned him upon my request, & I shall Rejoyce to understand hee prove á good servant, haveing beene soo to mee some yeares & was never sent thither upon any other acco:t than as aimeing at his prefrment I doo hope by y:e next shipp to understand y:e efforts of yo:r promised kindeness to him as knowing yo:r Countenance cann onely bee his happyness, & I may say while hee was heere, hee was Injenyous & apt to busyeness & very honest, & hope hee soo Continues By his last lres hee was at Cale Vela[2], whither to remove him, or Continue him ??replace him to any other imploym:t I wholy submitt to your good Judgem:t & long experience, it is onely my desire hee may doo well, & live to bless god, & ever show himselfe obedient too you for all yo:r kindnesse I begg yo:r favour y:t y:e inclosed may bee conveyed to him, whither at Cale Vela, or else wheare affarding [affording?] you I remaine.
S:r
Yo:r affectionate humble
Serv:t
John Banks
London y:e 1:st April 1663
Notes
Cale Vela, East Indies
"...XXX, John Harrington , and Alexander Grigsby. At Mokha: Anthony Smith. In Persia: Nicholas Buckeridge (Agent), Stephen Flower, and Edward Swinglehurst..."[3]
"...the arrivall of our shipping there, have drawne off from the factory at Cale-Velea two persons, vizt. John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, well experienced in the trade of Porcat,[4] with intention to settle them there and provide such quantities of cleane pepper, to be shipt off in October, as wee shall furnish them with stockes from hence to effect; and have left only two persons at Cale_Velea, for..."[5]
East India Company
"[December 4, 1663] By the commission given to James Snow, commander of the Hopewell, that vessel was only ordered to sail to Porcat or Quiloane, there take in her lading of pepper, cassia lignum, and such calicoes as should come from Cale Velha, and not go to Cochin or any other port or place. The Hopewell had on board eleven parcels of opium, and ' baggs of chicqueenes of gold ', consigned to John Harrington and Alexander Grigsby, the Company's factors at Porcat ; she carried no arms, ammunition, or contraband goods. Porcat is about fourteen leagues south of Cochin and is a place of no defence, having no garrison or fortifications ; only about five guns lying on a sandbank by the sea, and these are used more to salute friends than to offend an enemy. About 1649 the Company's ship, the Discovery, laded a large quantity of pepper at Porcat, and since then the English have traded there, being several times invited by the King or Rajah of that place and the country thereabouts, who is neither a Portuguese or Moor, but a Gentue, and tributary to the Samareene or Emperor, who lives up in the country and whose dominions extend from about Carwar to Cape Comorin and who is neither tributary nor vassal to the King of Cochin. The Dutch had not obtained any victory or conquest over the King of Cochin, who was not dependent upon, neither had he any protection from,
the Portuguese, being a free Prince and only tributary to the above-mentioned Samareene. His residence is in the upper town of Cochin, up in the country, so that the pretence of the Dutch to the conquest of the King of Cochin appears to be but a fallacy, as they only obtained the conquest of Cochin, which was in the possession of the Portuguese. In 1660 the President and Council of Surat sent factors to settle a factory and to reside at Porcat. They were very courteously entertained by the Rajah, who undertook to build them a house (which he did), and give it freely to the English, who should only pay the ordinary customs and be free from all molestation and encumbrances.."[6]
"The Court therefore, appointed Sir George Oxinden to be President at SURAT, with a Council of Eight, viz. Mr. Gerard Aungier, Mr. Mathew Gray, Mr. Thomas Rolt, Mr. Henry Young, Mr. Streynsham Master, Mr. Charles James, Mr. Philip Gofford, and Mr. Alexander Grigsby, five of whom were constantly to reside at Surat, particularly Mr. Aungier, Mr. Gray, and Mr. James."[7]
Possible primary sources
TNA
- ↑ Alexander Grigsbye was XXXX. See Missing faces
- ↑ Cale Vela was XXXX
- ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 27
- ↑ Porcat (alias Purakkad
- ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 72
- ↑ The Company to Sir George Downing [at The Hague], December 4, 1663 (Letter Book, vol. iii, p. 324, in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), pp. 363-364)
- ↑ John Bruce, Annals of the Honorable East-India Company: from their establishment by the charter of Queen Elizabeth, 1600, to the union of the London and English East-India Companies, 1707-8, vol. 2 (London, 1810),p. 252
