MRP: 29th January 1662/63, Letter from Roger Myddleton to Sir GO, Goa
29th January 1662/63, Letter from Roger Myddleton to Sir GO, Goa
BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX ff. 29-31
Editorial history
14/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki
Abstract & context
Suggested links
See 10th XXX 1662, Letter from Roger Myddleton to Sir GO, Carwar Road
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
Transcription=
This transcription has been completed, but requires checking
[BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX ff. 29-31]
[p.29]
Hono:ble
And my Ever Hono:d least I bee takes w:th a Just Ingratitude in not payeing a Due tribute of thankfullnesse to soo worthy a benefactor, this acknowledgm:t embouldens mee to signifie unto you, y:t whilst I live my Endeavours to serve you shall never dye as á sad exordium to an unpolished theame I must w:th sorrow lett you understand y:t y:e Dutch have taken Cothcheene[1] y:e Bad Consequences y:t must of necessity Attend my Late Hono:ble Masters Affaires were not beseeming my relation nor a fitt subj:t for Discourse, I am at pres:t in Goa at y:e Barr mouth of w:ch place now remaine seaven great Dutch Shipps none dareing soo much as to looke upon them onely yo:r poore sloope w:ch this night is bound to accost them, I have store of Arrack á board & y:t is y:e onely stratagem I can devise, to knock them downe; y:e Termes on w:th the said place became thears I am ignorant of, onely this I have heard that it was mainetained to y:e Swords point w:th much resolution; I was w:th y:e vice Kinge, soo called who was pleas:d to Dropp some expressions w:ch weare, if guilty of creditt might render his Majesty of great Brittayn Hono:ble Ministers of State as highly culpable as wee in verity know him & his blacke friends too bee really Criminall, leting him to stand or fall to his prop Judg:s As to his Maj:ts small concerns w:th us wee Landed upon y:e Islands of Angedeiva[2] Christmas Day, various theare weare theire censures untill the Cannalia who carryed it downe w:th á full Crgo, y:t it was fitt for none to be in habitt upon But such (as I dare say to any one of them in an other place) as many of them are, Even pure Rogues & vagabonds, making me [blanks pace in original] sayeing I brought them to this wildernesse , & y:t I had a hundred pound given mee at Surratt to bee y:e ??Coyduck; I hope such Hono:ble psons as your selfe will deeme soo of mee as not to esteeme of such a parcell of rascallity either in word or action, and as á Great ffreedome from y:e state of being Continually Baited by those bandoggs y:e Lord of Marlebrough[3] in Mercy was pleased to take a way y:e body of our Drunken Brother Coll: Hungerford & I beleeve hee must pass over thurstyford before he arrives at Dedtdorf neare Aleford pardon Deare S:r my cumming Loose since soo lately I broke my Chaines, yett beleeve mee S:r o:r Governor (as I hope you when I better deserve it from you will returne him thankes) treate mee w:th all possible respect, & not to deceive you now
to flatter
[p.30]
to flatter my slefe if my Judgem:t hath not quite deceaved nee, I have merited something better of him than either to slight mee or harken to such an endeavour to blast mee at my first, at Carwarr I was sent to y:t Governor about such matters as you know were expedient, & proposing unto him y:e Busynesse of y:e Island w:th much earnestnesse, hee w:thstood it sayeing his life could not answer it, y:t hee was caressed sundry tymes by y:e Dutch w:th great proffers in order thereunto, & y:t hee allways answered us, giving us his ffirman & Cowle for a:? safe resideing in any parte of his ?purgamy to w:ch was not commissioned to answer nor any proposalls sending y:t before mentioned upon my returne to S:r Abraham which with much difficulty of y:e passing over such unaccessible hills tenn tymes worse than y:t of the ?Dinely [line in original] on y:e peake, nay my Countrey mountaines are but molehills unto them, in soo much (I begg yo:r beleefe) being not well I was ready to Dye twice or thrice this M:r Ball ?carm well satyfid on my returne after y:e naration of my profed:t discourse it was Concluded for Angedeiva signeing an Instrum:t under o:r hands y:t it was not safe to suffer y:e shipp Leopard to proceed on her voyadge w;ch was detayned untill my Lords arrivall truely S:r as to my opinion of this Island I call heaven to wittnesse tis farr beyond w:t I ever gave out Concerning it; & I could heartily wish, when his Maj:tis fforces desert it, y:t my ??forces:d Honob:le Imployers would cast a review upon it, y:t is y.e benefitt y:t may accrew unto them for it, next being deprived not onely of Comerce but alsoe ?off Convoyes w:th our ffreinds at Carwarr,[4] I went upon a new Discovery and ??fastened upon an Island of y:e Jesuites names Sallsotte[5] near Goa wheare I was plentifully furnished w:th all manner of provision at a very Cheape Rate, though this was well, yett y:e Two Cowes p weeke at Swallow cost them noothing therefore they decryed this place & XXXXXked allowed for Swally[6] not as mentioneing (onely but with Callumny & aspersion, the fountaine from whence this bounty sprung, nor dare any y:t bears any respect to gratitude bee heard to discourse y:e thoughts, without being exposed to y:e points of swords & daggers, yett lett mee Cleare y.e Hono:ble Govern:r w:th most of y:e sober minded from this frenzy yea my Lord of marleburgh at y:e enormous Conflagration sof theese fflashy ??tymes fatuis break out into this expression in my heareing if they
had
[p.31]
had knwone y:e kindnesse S:r Geo:Oxinden had for them & y:t hee carried a large expression thereof about him, they would not offer to deale soo Injuriously w:th á pson of them soo well deserving this I will dispose but signifie nothing to these thereof unless you dignifie mee w:th y:e Tite of yo:r Martir & beleeve did I not beleeve y.e Gallows will Corect theire Insolence as S:r Abrah:m Shipman hath lustily promised, I would as soone dye by them as live w:th them as I have done, The foresaid Lord bee thanked hee hath removed one Block out of my way; If paper had not stinted I had not knowne how to end, I am goeing to Salsett to procure Masons & Carpenter; wth materiall in order to erect a small ffort & howses to keepe us Drye in y.e raines, I pray y:e next may fall on them, may bee y:t of sobriety and gratitude then you may challenge yo:r share of ther thankfullnesse & I appeare to bee as I am yo:r Maj:tis Loyall subject, & your hono:e faithfull servant
[RH SIDE]
Roger Myddleton
[LH SIDE]
Goa y:e 29:th of January 1662
