MRP: 10th March 1665/66, Letter from Henry Chowne to Sir GO, London

10th March 1665/66, Letter from Henry Chowne to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. 40,708 - 40,713, vol, 235, year 1665, ff. 34-35

Editorial history

09/09/09, CSG: Completed transcription
15/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki

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Abstract & context

Henry Chowne wrote to Sir George Oxenden regarding his son, the eponymous Henry Chowne, who was in the service of the English East India Company for five years. His son had been employed by the Company in November 1661 to be sent to the East Indies.

The elder Chowne sent a small adventure on the ship the Returne, promising more next year when he expected trading conditions to improve.

Henry Chowne senior was probably a member of the House of Commons.

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Suggested links

See 2nd April 1663, Letter from Henry Chowne to Sir GO, London
See 20th April 1667, Letter from Henry Chowne to Sir GO, London

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To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

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Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but required checking

[BL, Add. MS. 40,708 - 40,713, vol, 235, year 1665, ff. 34-35]

[f.34]

Honnoured S:r

Haveing a confidence of being in your favour I take the presumption to trouble yo:w w:th these, I rcvd a Letter from my sonn under your command by the last shipp from your port, w:ch God be prayesed by your prudence come safe, in regard of the warr, between England, ffrance & Holland, the Company sends but one shipp to your port this yeare, and considering the hazards at sea I have sent my sonne Henry but a small adventure Doll:rs two hundred & ffifty, laded upon the ship Returne & consigned to yo:w in his absence, I shall y:e next yeare send him a greater stock, presuming his Disswotion will be able (by your favour) to mannadge the Same to his great advantage, though the Company have taken him in their Service but for five yeares, I hope by your meanes he shall continue longer, for I doo not desire his coming into England untill he is of some abillity, yo:r ffavours to him shall Infinitely oblidge me, we had the plague very much in London this last summ:r but Blessed be God very little now, The Parliament setts next month great preparations for the warrs, all Christendom Divided, great Action will be this Summer, the Spaniard & wee in á Firme league & ?beleeved the Emperour will joyne w:th us, what side the Danes & Swedes not yet Declared, but wee expect their Siding w:th England, others may write yo:w more at large, our good King will endeavour to have the Soveraignity of the Seas for to enlarge his trade & not to be Bound up by the Dutch, God graunt him success to whose protection I Committ yo:u and Rest

S:r Your most humble Servant
Henry Chowne

London 10:th March 1665

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Notes

Henry Chowne the elder

"[24th January 1667: House of Commons] Sir Job Charlton reports from the Committee of Privileges, That the Committee had examined the Matter of Breach of Privilege objected against Thomas White, in causing Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House, to be arrested; and found, That, the First of April last, being Twenty-two Days before the Sitting of the House, Matthew White, Servant and Kinsman of Thomas White, gave a Warrant to Robert Ryde Bailiff, to execute on Mr. Chowne; and charged him to take good Bail at his Peril; for the Damage was great: And the Damage set down at the Foot of the Warrant was Ten thousand Pounds: And that this Warrant was also of the Hand-writing of Thomas White; and was executed on Mr. Chowne on the Lord's Day, as he was coming from the Church: And that this Matter was looked upon by the Committee as a malicious Conspiracy to disgrace Mr. Chowne, and a Design to prevent him from giving his Attendance in Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee of Privileges, That there was a Practice and Design, in the said Thomas and Matthew White, to prevent Henry Chowne Esquire from giving his Attendance in Parliament: And that they are guilty of the Breach of Privilege, in causing the said Mr. Chowne to be arrested.

Resolved, &c. That Thomas and Matthew White be taken into Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for their Abuse, and Breach of Privilege, committed against Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House.“[24th January 1667: House of Commons] Sir Job Charlton reports from the Committee of Privileges, That the Committee had examined the Matter of Breach of Privilege objected against Thomas White, in causing Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House, to be arrested; and found, That, the First of April last, being Twenty-two Days before the Sitting of the House, Matthew White, Servant and Kinsman of Thomas White, gave a Warrant to Robert Ryde Bailiff, to execute on Mr. Chowne; and charged him to take good Bail at his Peril; for the Damage was great: And the Damage set down at the Foot of the Warrant was Ten thousand Pounds: And that this Warrant was also of the Hand-writing of Thomas White; and was executed on Mr. Chowne on the Lord's Day, as he was coming from the Church: And that this Matter was looked upon by the Committee as a malicious Conspiracy to disgrace Mr. Chowne, and a Design to prevent him from giving his Attendance in Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee of Privileges, That there was a Practice and Design, in the said Thomas and Matthew White, to prevent Henry Chowne Esquire from giving his Attendance in Parliament: And that they are guilty of the Breach of Privilege, in causing the said Mr. Chowne to be arrested.

Resolved, &c. That Thomas and Matthew White be taken into Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for their Abuse, and Breach of Privilege, committed against Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House.“[24th January 1667: House of Commons] Sir Job Charlton reports from the Committee of Privileges, That the Committee had examined the Matter of Breach of Privilege objected against Thomas White, in causing Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House, to be arrested; and found, That, the First of April last, being Twenty-two Days before the Sitting of the House, Matthew White, Servant and Kinsman of Thomas White, gave a Warrant to Robert Ryde Bailiff, to execute on Mr. Chowne; and charged him to take good Bail at his Peril; for the Damage was great: And the Damage set down at the Foot of the Warrant was Ten thousand Pounds: And that this Warrant was also of the Hand-writing of Thomas White; and was executed on Mr. Chowne on the Lord's Day, as he was coming from the Church: And that this Matter was looked upon by the Committee as a malicious Conspiracy to disgrace Mr. Chowne, and a Design to prevent him from giving his Attendance in Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee of Privileges, That there was a Practice and Design, in the said Thomas and Matthew White, to prevent Henry Chowne Esquire from giving his Attendance in Parliament: And that they are guilty of the Breach of Privilege, in causing the said Mr. Chowne to be arrested.

Resolved, &c. That Thomas and Matthew White be taken into Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, for their Abuse, and Breach of Privilege, committed against Henry Chowne Esquire, a Member of this House."

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Henry Chowne the younger

"[November 4th, 1661] The following men are entertained for the several factories in India: Richard Frances, Thomas Haslewood, Robert Fleetwood, Gabriel Tounsend, Robert Hopper, James Calthrope, Charles Bendish, Edward Harris, Joshua Bunberry, John March, Francis Minshull, Mathew Vincent, Henry Chune [Chown], George C;ay..."

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