MRP: 29th March 1663, Letter from John Servys to Sir GO, London, Letter 1

29th March 1663, Letter from John Servys to Sir GO, London, Letter 1

BL, Add. MS. 40,708 - 40,713, XXX, ff. 64-65

Editorial history

02/06/09, CSG: Completed transcription
15/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki

Abstract & context

John Servys wrote a letter to Sir George Oxenden dated March 29th, 1663, from London.

In this letter XXXX

John Servys was XXXX

To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. 40,708 - 40,713, XXX, ff. 64-65]

[f.64]

S:r Geo: Oxinden & my Hono:d ffreind

Haveing by Chance litt upon á small pcell of Emralds I have presumed to Comend them unto yo:r disposure when pvidence shall please to Blesse you with a Safe arrivall unto Surratt whether they bee most vendable there up in y:e Country or amongst y:e Portogezes, yo:r better experience upon y:e place can best direct you, But I am informed they will sell at Surr:t & there I would bee best pleased, that soo upon y:d first ships retourne I may bee favored w:ththeire proceed Invested into such Dyamonds as you shall Judge most profitable for for ???medd theire cost you shall finde at foote heere of incosted amount: unto 250:ll & for theire sale I wholy leave unto yo:r discretion ?to doe for mee as you would in such Case doo for yo:selfe, accepting of any indifferent terms rather y:n lett them lye by whether it bee for money or In Barter for Dyamonds, or any other (not phibited) Comodity that may turne to Acco:t heere in England had not y:e Comp:a Declared pmission for any mans Dealing in such Comodities given mee incouradgem:t in this particuler I should not have putt this trouble upon you, & is I professe, y:d first y:t I have adventured upon since this stock was Conjoyned

With M:r Youngs^[1] unhandsome Dealeing both w:th my Selfe & other psons you have already beene made acquainted & I doo intreatt you to ?receave full information from Prsed:t Andrewes^[2] concerning the same who can by those lres sent upon y:e Roebucke, (now in his possession) [XXXX] y:t great deceipt, M:r Jefson [or Jesson]^[3] who is alsoe concerned in y:e same á buse will bee assistant to you & M:r Andrewes^[4] & M:r Lambton^[5] can informe you y:t my damage by his faileing through Inter & Exch. Was long since Arrived unto more y:n the Principall w:ch is 150 ?Demands of my Acco:t & soo much also for Deseased M:r ??Rist:,^[6] if it bee not alrady done please to make w:t Indifferent Composition you shall think fitt & I will heere w:ll rest Contented & if you can gett any satisfaction from him please to Invest y:e same in Dymonds & send mee by y:e next foll:g opptunity

[f. 65]

You will finde at Surr:t (I thinke) and Old fortunate serv:t of y:e Comp:a M:r Tho: Andrewes^[7] who for some Debts Contracted by y:e Dutch warr is utterly laid aside, if you may safely give him some imploym:t doubtlesse his soo many yeares experience must render him capable of dooing y:e Comp:a good service

I must alsoe take y:e Boldnesse to Comend unto yo:r ffreindshipp & favour a young man (my Cozen) now entertained & voyadge th w:th you his name is Petit,^[8] pray lett his Civill & Dutyfull deportm:t finde yo:r encouradgem:t & I shall take it as á freindship done unto my selfe, w:ch besides of my Best well wishes for yo:r prosperous & healthfull voyadge as Good success unto all yo:r undertakeings is w:t I shall at present trouble you w:thall when I have subscribed My selfe

Yo:r most affectionate ffreind
And Servant

3: Large Pendant Emralds pointed)
2: Ditto unpointed)
33: Large Emralds)
7L Small Emralds)
4: Large Emrald Rings Gold)
5: Small Emrald Rings Gold)

54: pcells w:ch cost togeather 250:ll

Notes

Henry Young, Surat, 1650

"The following factors to be continued at Surat : Thomas Merry as President, at 300/. per annum for a year after the arrival of the ships to be dispeeded thither in March ; Edward Pearse, accountant, his salary to be increased from loo/. to aoo/. per annum ; George Oxenden, his salary to be increased from 40/. to 100/. per annum ; both these on condition that they abstain from private trade ; Anthony Clitherowe, Henry Young, John Adler, and Nicholas Buckeridge. To be continued at Ahmadabad : Anthony Smith and Isaac (should be Isaiah) Joyce. At Agra : Richard Davidge and Thomas Andrews. At Lucknow, William Jesson and John Burnell. At 'Sinda' or 'Tuttha' [Tatta] : John Spiller, Nicholas Scrivener, Henry Garry, Richard Newland, Thomas Reynardson, Charles Milward, Daniel Elder, and William Weale. In Persia : George Tash, John Lewis, Thomas Best, and John Goodyeare. The following to return home : John Bradbent, Philip Wylde, Francis Hamersly, Thomas Cogan, Thomas Cooke, and Rivett Walwin."^[9]

John Lewis & Henry Young, Persia, 1659

"The Court resolves that a charge shall be brought up against John Lewis, formerly their Agent in Persia, and directs that certain queries be added concerning the arrival there of ships and goods from Surat, the gratuities and presents received and given by Lewis, and the amount of the returns made by him to Surat and elsewhere."^[10]

Possible primary sources

↑ Henry Young had been in Surat from at least the 1640s, but had now returned to London ('A Court of Committees for the Fourth Joint Stock, February 25, 1650 (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 494), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1650-1654 (Oxford, 1913), pp. 23-24)). He had been criticised in a Court Minute dated February 22, 1659, by John Lewis, the Company's former Agent in Persia, for shoddy commercial practices ('A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, February 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 658), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 314). However, John Lewis himself was subsequently charged by a Court of Committees, with queries including goods arrived from Surat, the returns he made to Surat and elsewhere, and gratuities and presents he claimed to have received and given ('A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, March 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 661), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 320)
↑ President Mathew Andrewes
↑ ?William Jesson
↑ ?Thomas or ?Mathew Andrewes
↑ John Lambton
↑ Mr. Rist was XXXX. See Missing faces
↑ Thomas Andrewes was XXXX
↑ George, Lord Berkeley, also recommended John Pettit to Sir George Oxenden, in a letter dated six days earlier. He described her as a relative of his wife (who was the the daughter of John Massingberd, a former Treasurer of the EEIC). (23rd March 1662/63, Letter from Berkley to Sir GO, St Johns)
↑ 'A Court of Committees for the Fourth Joint Stock, February 25, 1650 (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 494), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1650-1654 (Oxford, 1913), pp. 23-24
↑ 'A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, March 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 661), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 320

[1] Henry Young had been in Surat from at least the 1640s, but had now returned to London ('A Court of Committees for the Fourth Joint Stock, February 25, 1650 (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 494), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1650-1654 (Oxford, 1913), pp. 23-24)). He had been criticised in a Court Minute dated February 22, 1659, by John Lewis, the Company's former Agent in Persia, for shoddy commercial practices ('A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, February 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 658), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 314). However, John Lewis himself was subsequently charged by a Court of Committees, with queries including goods arrived from Surat, the returns he made to Surat and elsewhere, and gratuities and presents he claimed to have received and given ('A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, March 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 661), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 320)

[2] President Mathew Andrewes

[3] ?William Jesson

[4] ?Thomas or ?Mathew Andrewes

[5] John Lambton

[6] Mr. Rist was XXXX. See Missing faces

[7] Thomas Andrewes was XXXX

[8] George, Lord Berkeley, also recommended John Pettit to Sir George Oxenden, in a letter dated six days earlier. He described her as a relative of his wife (who was the the daughter of John Massingberd, a former Treasurer of the EEIC). (23rd March 1662/63, Letter from Berkley to Sir GO, St Johns)

[9] 'A Court of Committees for the Fourth Joint Stock, February 25, 1650 (Court Book, vol. xx, p. 494), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1650-1654 (Oxford, 1913), pp. 23-24

[10] 'A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, March 22, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 661), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 320

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MRP: 29th March 1663, Letter from John Servys to Sir GO, London, Letter 1

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