MRP: 14th September 1665, Letter from Whinchelsea, Pira of Constant:ple
14th September 1665, Letter from Whinchelsea, Pira of Constant:ple
BL, Add. MS. 40, 710, ff. 5-6: 'Coppie booke of letters from August 1665 to June 1666 from friends in India'
Editorial history
25/12/11, CSG: Created page
Contents
Abstract & context
This letter is from Lord Winchelsea, the English ambassador at Constantinople, who had replaced Sir George Oxenden's friend Sir Thomas Bendyshe.
After supplying diplomatic news, Winchelsea made a request for Sir George Oxenden to send him tea, he having "a pticular likeing to y:t Drinke w:ch they call Tea." Rather presumptiously he requested a year's supply for two people, preferably two year's supply, to be sent by the Aleppo caravan. He also requested a "handsome cabinet", for which he offers Oxenden reimbursement.
Winchelsea's own correspondence has been calendarised.[1]
Suggested links
See Constantinople
See Aleppo
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
(2) Add foliation
(3) Look at calendar of Winchelsea's correspondence for further correspondence with Sir George Oxenden
Transcription
This letter has been transcribed, but requires checking
[BL, Add. MS. 40, 710, ff. 5-6]
S:r
Though I am att Const:ple & you as remote as y:e Indies yett are wee still under y:e notion of neighbours whilst wee best retaine o:e relation to y:e same country, & I hope before wee dye itt will please God though never soe distant at present to Confine o:e dwellings to a nearer compase.
In y:e meane time y:e Caracter of yo:e office , & yo:e good fame [definitely fame not name], & y:e cuyositiie I have to understand y:e state & affaires of y:e east Indies invite mee to a desire of correspondence w:th you which I shall willingly begin in confidence of y:e like returnes from you desiring to exchange y:e intelligence of Christendome yor y:e newes of India
Tho Comon face of y:e affaires of Christendome in ?Grall: lookes very turbulent & clouded, threatening stormes of warr in all pts of itt, especially in Eng:d where itt having pleased God to bless y:e Armes of his Maj:ty w:th a signall victory over y:e Dutch, y:e ffrench is ?emulous & jealous of this prosperity have resolved & accordingly promised y:e Hollanders to provide and maintaine for them at theire owne charge 13000: landsmen & 30: saile of shipps until y:e End of y:e warr, & as a beginning of this rupture, by my last lres out of Ittaly it was advised y:t his Majesties ffleete had taken 45 saile in one weeke, 26: of w:ch were bound for Holland w:th provisions & amunition for warre, & to counterpoise y:e Seale [OR Seall] itt is very probable y:t y:e house of Austria will Joyne w:th ?us w:ch treaty if soe farr proceeded y:t itt is confidently reported that ostend & newport are to bee delivered into y:e possession of his Maj:ty
Amongst other curyosities of y:e East Indies I have a pticular likeing to y:t Drinke w:ch they call Tea, & therefore I must desire you to doe mee y:e ffavo:e to send mee by y:e Caravan w:ch come for Allepo such a proportion thereof as may serve for 2:psons á whole yeare, & if itt will keepe á proportion for 2 yeares, w:ch the recept how to make itt, & with y:e vessells to make itt, & drinke itt in, & á silver cupp after y:e Chinese manner w:th wood in y:e midll, alsoe I desire some oyle & spiritt of cinnamon. And y:t you would send mee á list of such curyosities as are to be found in the pts where you reside
If when you cast yo:e eyes homewards & intend for y:e owne Country you bring w:th you a handsome Cabinett for mee you will much oblidge mee, & I shall w:th many thankes repay you y:e Charge & for y:e things you send mee hither I shall make good y:e Cost to any you shall appoint sited [I think this is correct] at Allepo, or Smyrna to receive itt, & shall very much acknowledge my selfe engadged to you who am
[RH SIDE]
Yo:e very loveing ffreind to
serve you.
Whinchilsea
The former is á Coppie sent you by y:e way of Allepo wo w:ch I had nothing to add but only to recommend to your care & courteous reception, y:e bearer hereof, y:e ffather Jesuites, Henry, Roy, & Jean Grubert[2] who having beene at Constantinople have desired mee to accompany them w:th these presents; soe y:t I doubt not of yo:e courtesie & Civillity to them in all ?offices w:ch may not bee to yo:a prejudice
If you finde not y:e Rarityes I wrott to you for in y:e fforegooing lre, in y:e Country where you reside itts possible y:e ffather jesuits may assist you therein, which having procured you may please to satisfye them y:e Expence, & make yo:e selfe good as before intimated. And soe I remaine
[LH SIDE]
Yo:e very loveing ffreind & serv:t
Winchilsea (sic – different spelling from first signature above!)
Notes
Possible primary sources
Possible secondary sources
Alden, Dauril, The making of an enterprise: the Society of Jesus in Portugal, its empire, and beyond, 1540-1750 (Stanford, 1996)
- ↑ Historical Manuscripts Commission, Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, Esq., of Burley-on-the-hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913)
- ↑ The Jesuits Henry, Roy, & Jean Grubert were XXXX
