Difference between revisions of "MRP: 24th March 1662/63, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO, London"

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24th March 1662/63, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO, London

BL, AddMS. XX, XXX, ff. 44-45

Editorial history

22/05/09, CSG: Completed trasncription
13/12/11, CSG: Restructured page

Abstract & context

The London merchant, Christopher Willoughby, had been a factor in Bantam in the early to mid 1640s. He had gone out to Bantam in either 1641 or 1642, and had his wages raised in February 1644 to £40 per annum."^[1] It was resolved on March 22nd 1647 by the court committees to send him home from Bantam, and he was admitted to the freedom of the Company on August 30th 1647 as an "auncient servant."^[2]

Suggested links

See 17th March 1662/63, Letter from George Willoughby to Sir GO, London
See March 1662/63, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO
See 6th March 1665/66, Letter from Christopher Willoughby, XXXX
See March 1665/66, Letter from George Willoughby to Sir GO
See 15th April 1667, Letter from George Willoughby to Sir GO, London
See April 1667, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO
See 11th August 1667, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO, Bishopton
See October 1667, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO
See October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO

See October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO

To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript in BL

Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but needs to be checked

[BL, Add. MS. XX,XXX, ff. 44-45]

[f. 44]

My ever hon:d Noble Freind

S:r Geo: Oxinden London y:e 24: March 1662/3

I hope these will find you in good health & y:t all things are there setled to yo:r Content, & Satisfaction & then I am sure it wilbe to y:e hon:r & proffitt of y:e Comp:a

S:r out of y:e goodness of yo:r Nature you were pleased to pmitt me to give you y:e trouble Annually in those things allowed by y:e Comp:a; And on y:e Score here Inclosed send you firsst bill of Exch:a for 6000: Mam:s payable unto you: 10: dayes after Sight, Y:e w:ch I humbly desire may be ptly Invested in Diamonds, none under:4:graines & not exceeding:10:graines, & y:e rest in good white ?ounce Seed Pearle, such as yo:r better Experience knowes to be here most in Request, or you may please to Invest y:e whole in either of y:e prementioned Commodities as you shall thincke may most conduce to my Advantage being highly satisfied w:th y:r ffav:r & Integrity towards me, my Cozen M:r Geo: Willoughby^[3] hath alsoe made bold w:th you, in somethings w:ch are licenst, be pleased

[f.45]

To pdon y:e Trouble & comply w:th his desires soe farr as they are Modest w:ch ffavo:r I shall alsoe esteeme as done unto me & Rest Obliged for y:e Same

In Cap:t ffisher^[4] in y:e Affrican I have sent you a Tunn of Strong beare of w:ch desire yo:r Acceptance, In said shipp goos out a Mate one M:r Rich:d Scott^[5] who was last Voyage in y:e Eagle I shall desire yo:r ffav:r towards him, in case any good opportunity shall present as to his staying in y:e Countrey & please to take ny word y:t you shall find him a Stayd, Sober, honest man, he hath beene a Cheife Mate many yeares of good Shipps in these Seas, he married my Wives Siste:rs daughter^[6].

I have beene Instrumentall in y:e ?prucy of y:e Chests of Corrall N:o A: & B: they are y:e best ever I saw of y:e Peice I gave M:r Friar in y:e open Trade:3:ll p halfe of this is as good as y:t was yet it advances above 30: p ?C:t being sold by M:r Bowen^[7] in the Aleppo Merch:t I hope this, as alsoe y:e 5: Chests of small Corrall will pcure as much or greater profitt & y:t by yo:r lres to y:e Comp:a they will have occasion to give y:e pruc:es of it thanckes it is as good againe as y:t Chest w:ch was opened in yo:e presence in y:e great Parler.

But not farther to divert you from yo:r more Serious affaires & Craving yo:r pardon for y:e Trouble imposed on you w:th this further request to doe y:e like by me if in ought in this place you shall Judge me Capable to Serve you: I committ you to y:t good protection of y:e Almighty & ever Remaine

S:r
Yo:r most humble & ev:r
Affectionate Freind & Serv:t
Christ:r Willoughby

[LH SIDE AT SAME LEVEL AS SIGN OFF AND SIGNATURE]

My Wife desires her most
Cordiall Respects may be
Presented unto you
Pray lett y:e returne be
Sent by Cap:t Millett^[8]

Notes

George Willoughby, President, English factory, Bantam, 1644

"[November 29, 1644] The Court, after delivering judgement on the several complaints brought against George Willoughby, late President of Bantam, directs that Jeremy Sambrooke, his executor, shall receive his remaining estate"^[9]

Christopher Willoughby, return from Bantam, 1647

"[March 22, 1647] The factors' names being read, it is absolutely resolved that the following are to be sent home, viz. : Edward Knipe, Henry Hunt, Thomas Hill, Hugh Fenn, from Surat ; Richard Wotton, Christopher Willoughby, and Thomas Owen from Bantam ; Henry Oulton, Thomas Penniston, Henry Greenehill, Thomas Winter, and Edward Winter from the Coast"^[10]

Christopher Willoughby, Bantam, private trade, 1647

"[November 3, 1648] Messrs. Andrews and Abdy, who have examined [Christopher] Willoughby's accounts, give particulars, showing that he has been a great private trader. The Court considering that, because of this great abuse, he should be made an example, he is called in ; and being unable to give any satisfactory explanation of his misconduct, he expresses his sorrow and refers himself wholly to the Court. After serious consideration of his offence, it is resolved by erection of hands that he shall be fined 500/., this sum to include payment for freight of his goods. Willoughby submits, but expresses a hope that at some future time the said fine, which in his opinion is very heavy, may be lessened."^[11]

Christopher Willoughby & Maurice Thompson, the Jonathan, 1656

"The ship Jonathan of London was freighted by Maurice Thompson, Thomas Canham, Christopher Willoughby, John Page and company, and set forth from London upon a trading voyage to the East-Indies, and from thence back again to England. And in the month of January, 1656, the said ship took in on the coast of Cormandel a great quantity of goods to be carried to Bantam, and vended there. But in her course thither, about the aforesaid month of January, 1656, near an island called Palliapanjan, within few leagues of the road of Bantam, they met with five ships belonging to the Dutch East India company, who told the master and company of the Jonathan, that they must nor should goe intp Bantam; for that they lay there by order of the general of the Dutch East India company at Batavia, to oppose them or any other ship from England, that should endeavour to go thither."^[12]

Possible primary sources

TNA

1. ↑ 'A Court of Committees with the Mixed Committees, February 21, 1644' (Court Book, vol. xix, p. 133), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1644-1649 (Oxford, 1912), p. 12
2. ↑ 'A Court of Committees, August 30, 1647' (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 140 (Court Book, vol. xix, p. 133), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1644-1649 (Oxford, 1912), pp. 218-219
3. ↑ George Willoughby, London merchant
4. ↑ Captain Robert Fisher, commander of the African
5. ↑ Richard Scott's will is possibly that of PROB 11/373 Drax 52-101 Will of Richard Scott, Mariner of Woolwich, Kent 02 June 1683. See Missing faces
6. ↑ Christopher Willoughby's wife was XXXX. It is unclear which sister and daughter is being referred to. See Missing faces
7. ↑ Possibly Captain Robert Bowen, who in a later letter refers to selling diamonds to Christopher Willoughby. See October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO, BL, MS. XX, XXXX, f. 22:)
8. ↑ Captain Nicholas Millett, commander of the Loyal Merchant
9. ↑ 'A Court of Committees, November 29, 1644' (Court Book, vol. xix, p. 236), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1644-1649 (Oxford, 1912), p. 51
10. ↑ 'A Court of Committees, March 22, 1647' (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 91), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1644-1649 (Oxford, 1912), p. 198
11. ↑ 'A Court of Committees, November 3, 1648' (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 294), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes of the East India company, 1644-1649 (Oxford, 1912), pp. 298-299
12. ↑ Thomas Birch, A collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Esq: Secretary, first, to the Council of State, and afterwards to the two Protectors, Oliver and Richard Cromwell, vols. 1-7, vol. 7 (London, 1742), p. 759