the opportunity of advantage of the negligent and inconsiderate English then and after altogether for the present And the said forreign Nation after some yeares spent in discovery to gain a right understanding thereof at last prosecuted their East-India voyages with one onely joynt stock of about 600000 li. in a Nationall free and regulated way and therewith in forty years gained almost the whole Europian Trade of East-India aforesaid Dutch stock 600000. li. An. 1602. even to admiration in point of power honour and profit so that communibus annis 1400000 li. or thereabouts is conceived returned for Holland being but the superfluity of their stock of India besides imployment of two hundred or two hundred and fifty saile of Ships equall now in burthen to four or five hundred of ours having thereby also gotten and built there about thirty impregnable Cities Towns and Castles Dutch-gain Englands-losse besides Conquest and Command of about 30000 miles coasting with Inland-trade viz. from the coasts of China Japan and Phillippeen Islands Northwards all along to Cape bon Esperanze Southwards the whole contents of the Old East-India Companies Patent or Monopoly Whereas the English being and for some years continuing in particular running-voyages onely to enrich a few were afterward reduced to a generall joynt stock Contrary Constitutions or destructive Monopoly of a different or contrary Constitution and Government to the foresaid Dutch or Neighbour-Nation as might be shewed in sundry particulars and so hath produced different and contrary effects as appears at this day by the said Companies mis-imploying or mis-spending since in one joynt stock about 1600000 li. in severall joynt stocks above 3600000 li. thereby much impoverishing the Nation and Natives by transporting much Bulloigne English-stocks 3600000 li. and native coine elsewhere procurable onely inriching a few at home and abroad in office and imployment and which is wonderfull notwithstanding all this time and treasure hitherto not provided in India with one port or place of their owne for a Rendezvouze or so much as to secure a Ship or Pinnace Company no Rendezvouze but it is not the Authours intention to make search or scrutiny at this time into this mystery whether proceeding from reason prevaricated by the particular interests and profits of the Governing-party here or rather from Deity offended by the cruell and unreasonable intentions and actions of those in office and authority both here and elsewhere belonging to the said Company for to dip my pen in blood's from the Old Companies first Adam's at Japan to Mr. Courtens last Adam at Madagascar or Acheen would be a sad theam Adam Cx. Adam Cm. And to speak of unparalleld injuries and oppressiors is no pleasing story yet duty and necessity with due respect to truth and sobriety at present enjoyns me according to my promise in the Frontispeece to declare somewhat of my long and laborious observation and experience of that hitherto abused East-India-Trade rather Traffique as also of the wofull and sad sufferings therein of William Courten Esquire his friends and creditors which are very many and great onely for orders sake reducing the same to three Terminations or Revolutions Infancy State and Declination therefore ad rem briefly thus The English being thus improvident and carelesse of Cities and Castles ready built Ormus c. neglected Plea National and the Royalties and Customes thereof though of extraordinary value and consequence and properly belonging to the Crown and Dignity of this Commonwealth and the Dutch Shipping and Trade there to the Northward as formerly to the Southward more and more increasing and Portugal depredations whereof the Company had taken good store failing Trade decaying from 161â— to 1634. then fell the English Traffique there also into a deep and languishing consumption insomuch that their Actions or Adventures were frequently sold here from party to party for many years together at 30. 35. and 40. per cent losse some much more others undone and so continued decaying a long time without any hope of recovery and about An. 1632. And since some transactions were said to be again in agitation between the Dutch on the one party Quer. Mr. Boneal and Mr. Boswel the Kings Agent and state of Spice-Islands and the late King and the English East-India Company on the other party concerning their claim or interest in or to any the foresaid Spice-Islands in relation to the Crown of England then said to be comprimized for 80000 li. including the said Companies houses and stores burnt at Jacquetra by the Dutch Aug. 1628. valued by protest then at 200000. Rials of eight Spanish but the said King and Company not agreeing upon shares as reported the monies yet remaine with the Dutch Houses and stores burnt K. demands 30000 li. but what was then and there positively acted is best known to themselves and whether beneficiall or rather much prejudiciall to this Commonwealth J. H. for it is certainly reported from men of experience in those parts that since that time the Dutch have assumed the sole whole propriety of all the foresaid Spice-Islands to themselves prohibiting the English upon penalty and forfeiture of ship and goods life limbe and liberty A. 1623. trade lost valued at 100000 li. per An. not to come there with any their shipping which said losse of Trade by knowing men viis modis is valued at 100000 li. per annum consequence to this Commonwealth The aforesaid East-India Company having thus lost their trade by undervaluing and neglecting those Islands and Ormus c. An. 1623. as formerly exprest and so brought their coasting and posting Traffique into such a condition that generall Adventurers were altogether discouraged and themselves I mean those in office and authority who onely were gainers as aforesaid still craftily crying up that trade and labouring as for life pretending want of freedome liberty and other immunities and priviledges in Customes and Imposts with an unlimited arbitrary power over all Adventurers and an absolute restraint of the whole Nation Bad government destroyes Trade which could have no other issue save as formerly to damnifie and destroy our owne and enrich all others with the riches and dignities of those vast and glorious Kingdomes and Countries not considering or at least not discovering the main and sole causes of these their so unprofitable practices Good and bad government proceeds meerly and clearly from their unprincipled and generall bad government and this truth is manifest and apparent by their exporting hence our owne coine of gold silver half Crowns and Plate melted or unmelted Quer. the reasons as well as foreigne in as great quantities to maintaine a Traffique of 100. or 150000 li. per annum as the Dutch to maintain a Trade of 2000000 li. per an or more which requires serious consideration and reformation Sir William Courten's Expedition WHilst East-India affairs were in this low languishing and desperate
clamours too plainly demonstrate some other cause which they are not willing to expresse in plaine tearms Comp. discoveries an evill eye A mystery All factories recalled which could be no other then an evill eye at his India Trade and that likewise they might have prevented if there had not been some mystery therein A mystery All factories recalled for when Mr. Courten presently after his fathers death it seems recalls all his Fathers Factories in Europe Asia Africa and America onely this of East-India and of this an overture or proffer with considerable losse was made when the voyage was but newly begun East-India Trade proferred and exceeding hopefull but that proffer was refused by report upon very unreasonable tearms for causes best known to themselves and which I leave to others to imagine as to that Company Dutch design of Dr. and Ka. known or suspected Mr. Courten never intended a Merchant but as to Mr. Courten I will give this note upon it That in the least thereby it appears he intended not to be a Merchant his education being far otherwise but thereto meerly constrained by an accidentall Executorship as by his present revocation of all trade and endeavouring this plainly appeared But as concerning the Presidents at Surrat if they have scaped better of late years then formerly The Moors apprehensions of the industrious English truly the best reason that can be rendred thereof is the Expedition of Sir William Courten for the Moores at Surrat then perceiving that the industrious English could finde trade enough elsewhere would use them with more civility lest they should be deprived of them and their money other reason I know none But I well remember this very particular of C. and E. was vehemently urged by Mr. G. then the Companies Councell Mr. G. Councel late K c. 10 Decem. 1639. and Cities Recorder before the late King and a full Councel-board the tenth of December 1639. when the said Companie prevented the Earles of A. and S. their planting Mauritius and Madagascar Islands no little discourtesie to this Common-wealth and the said G. and Company still pressing earnestly this businesse of C. and E. against Mr. Courten The Dutch presently possest Mauritius wholly and setled upon Madagascar The late Kings testimony The King then suddenly rose up and spake to the said Company thus Gentlemen I pray let me hear no more of it and what you have suffered by it I will see it satisfied some other way but for Mr. Courten to my knowledge he had nothing to do with it yet notwithstanding this testimony the search and view of accounts and what other satisfaction could be desired they still persisted by troops having Baals oddes and Demetriu's advantage to solicite Parliament and Committees with the same continually for many yeares together Baals Odds. and never could prove any thing being impossible in relation to Mr. Courtens depredations and for that very cause of depredations 't was reported Sir William Courten would never adventure with the said Company Sir Wil. Courtens reason but I rather thinke his judgement did therein direct him being an extraordinary industrious and judicious Merchant perceiving the said Company in no rationall or thriving way of management or governement But it so came to passe afterward Comp. depredations that Mr. Courten was admitted by a Committee to prove the said Companies depredations which was by some conceived an extraordinary courtesie but the first witnesse was no sooner entered upon discovery but was presently silenced and suffered to proceed no further and therefore formerly whosoever solely appeared to oppose them must first be sure of Micaiah's cause and confidence Micaiah and Paul and Paul's perswasion and full assurance as it was long since with Mr. R. S. before he was a Parliament man in opposition to Sir H. G. Sir N. C. Mr. R. S. now an hon Member of State Pop Con. Sir H.V. senior Mr. C. Mr. M. and the rest of that then Royall Company not a few who pleaded boldly and judiciously before a Committee in the inner Chequer Chamber Sir H.V. senior Chareman who very discreetly noting the advantage of oddes gave him good encouragement in the prohibition of their uncivill interruption C. E. ended And thus much concerning C. and E. shall suffice NOw to proceed viz. And Captaine W. in China Cap. W. in China part of their fifth Argument and at Mesulapatan c. Here 's news indeed Cap. W. in China for he was the first English-man in China that ever traded upon English account But if you will know the reason in good earnest why both Dutch and English so rage and envy thereat you will finde it to be this The fear of damage by competition in the one Dutch and English true reasons not their pretended difference with the Portugals Dutch Doubts and of shame and dishonour in the other For if ever the English attain a China and Japan Trade which will be very difficult now and all or part of their right in the Spice Islands and elsewhere as Ormus c. all hitherto with incredible prejudice neglected and then the same managed with discretion the Dutch will soon finde and feel a diminution of their present wealth and glory And as for the English Eng fear and shame Sir Wil. Courtens new doctrine and expample What a shame and dishonour to them after-forty or fifty years experience to be taught the principle of East-India Trade by one never there as indeed they were then by Sir William Courten and at present by Mr. T. and the new Modellers proceeding upon the very same grounds and principles and that in one voyage First return clear first Advent if his designe had not been envied and maligned and the Dragon and Katherine come home as well as the Sunne would probably have more then cleared the first adventure of 150000 li. and have left a considerable stock and foundation of Trade for posterity Comp. then no foundation Fort St. George built since by A. C. far better then the Companies then having no foundation with all their expence of time and vast stocks of Nationall treasure the like never known in Europe And for these reasons principally it highly concerned both parties to endevour and agree his ruine The Dutch being very well content with the Companies subjection The Dutch content with Comp. rraffick and poasting Traffique because they can disturb the Natives then accounting them their enemies and so out them at pleasure when and where they list by prohibiting the English all trade and traffique with them upon pain of confiscation of ship and goods Eng. outed at pleasure which the Company must not disobey as formerly exprest Well Cap. W. from China passes the Dutch Pikes through the straights of Malacca with much ado Cap. W. at Mesulapatan as aforesaid and came to Masulapatan upon the Coast of Chormandel being there the
Companies Factors contrary to their Commissions and Orders yet in self-love seemed very well pleased with their comming thither and after some complements The Comp. necessiry the said Factors discovered at last their present necessities the chiefe motive to their pretended courtesie and made it their request to Capt. W. to borrow of him one thousand pounds Cap. W. courtesie alleadging that their expected supplies failed and so their Factories on that Coast were in great want hereupon Capt. W. courteously supplies them with one thousand pounds 1000 li. borrowed and this was all the mischiefe that hitherto I ever heard he did them at least maintaining their credits if not preserving their lives BUt this and many more hath been requited the cleane contrary way Comp. contrary requitals as plentifully appears by this Discourse and whether this 1000 li. was paid again to Captaine W. or any other for Mr. Courten I certainly know not but this I know that one of the said Companies Factors late in India Mr. E. K. was credibly reported to deliver himself in these or the like words openly and plainly viz. That if he list 1000 li. debt doubtfull he could make it appeare how the East-India Company did owe Mr. Courten 1000 li. besides the 5000 li. formerly mentioned which surely was conceived to be meant of this foresaid thousand pounds being unpaid And thus you have the reasons and causes in my apprehension of those their long and lamentable out-cryes Reasons and causes frivolous and insupportable prejudices and smartings as themselves terme them and if any other can hereafter be discovered then what is formerly exprest I hope 't will be no hard taske to see them truly and fully answered unlesse by mentioning and adjoyning therewith Sir K. D. assault of the Venetians in the Road of Scandaroone Sir K. D. if imputed the Author excus'd if they lay that to Mr. Courtens charge truly then Mr. Courten himselfe or some other for him must come and see that imputation answered and removed for I cannot therein say any thing on his behalfe therefore I must be excus'd But I have made my digression farre greater then I expected Too long digression The Authors resolution now I come to the Letter formerly promised whose long silence receiving no answer put me into a muse and at last I resolved to give summons to my treacherous memory to try whether or no I had writ that briefly or in a Mystery which I could not explaine more largely as in this confused discourse or history and now followes the said Letter verbatim which was principally intended to secure Carwar for future advance of Trade The Letter i. e. SIR or SIRS THe product of former Discourses runs into this result That whereas the East-India Company and their Accomplices and Adherents have sundry wayes and times sadly manifested their great dislike of that just and legall expedition of Sir William Courten Knight deceased as by the wofull experience of William Courten Esq his Son Friends Creditors and faithfull Factors and Planters plainly appeareth Yet if any Christian remorse or consideration may conduce for a speedy attonement for advance of Trade and incouragement of the intended subscription and removall of all obstacles and animosities possible for the better clearing a way for the new Modell to passe into an Act whose frame and foundation for ought yet appearing save the Authority and Coyne of the Commons of England seemes plainly to be laid upon the hidden and remaining Basis of the abovesaid Sir William and his Sonne c. in the ruine and destruction of their Trade Shipping Factors Factories and Plantation of Madagascar by the Parties abovesaid done and procured as in due time may be demonstrated And seeing nothing now remaines to the Proprietor or other wel-willers to that Trade on his behalfe save Carwar howsoever sleighted or neglected by ignorant inconsiderate English and present undertakers yet I am confident and that upon good grounds if the Dutch get possession as they have often desired and as 't is said they have already Cannanore for they are wise and discreet Merchants indeed 100000. li. ready money as formerly often exprest will not regaine it out of their hands seeing it is of more consequence then all places possest in India by any other English whatsoever at present And if so as in truth it is then it highly concernes the new Modellers speedily to secure the same for recovery of that Trade if possible and for the good of this Common-wealth seeing the Proprietor and all others by their former and present proceedings are now wholly and altogether prevented to supply the same But as hitherto so now that nothing may be wanting on the Plaintiffes part if it wil not be thought presumption in a mean and private person a common wel-willer of himselfe to make an Overture by way of Proposall which doubtlesse would be wel pleasing both to God and good men if agreed upon especially to the foresaid Company whether New or Old if rightly understood the said party further presuming in time convenient to procure the consent of the foresaid Plaintiffe and other parties therein concern'd though the sum proposed be not a fifth or rather a tenth part of the damage sustained As by particulars besides bloud and other prejudice to the Common-wealth as he conceives may be made plainely to appeare Therefore thus It is well knowne that about 5000. li. and two brasse Guns beyond Cape bon Esperanze were surreptitiously got and upon all demands there denyed and as 't is said coyned and converted in their great necessity to their owne use which said sum and Guns there so unjustly detained with interest and insurance here added would amount in all this time considered either in course of Trade from Madrasapatan to Bantam so to Jambee then againe for Bantam so for England severall returnes without disaster or considered according to interest of Dutch-Battavia or Achen Factory whether it was consign'd would I say amount to 20000. li. and upwards c. which summe the one moyetie forthwith for India to discharge the debts there and by that imployment contracted to the Natives for the honour of the Nation and freedome of Trade And to others whose faithfulnesse is approved in that imployment The other moyetie towards satisfaction of Creditors here in England in time convenient and so all differences of damages dye and all parties acquiesse the one in their cruel unreasonable and uncharitable spoyle whose case can be no better The other in his sad and unparalleld sufferings whose condition can be no worse Sir You may perceive the premises points at sundry particular persons and things of concernment and therein your selfe not the least in regard of former passages and first ingagement and you may conceive what content or profit a happy or speedy attonement might procure to each particular especially the East-India Company the new Modellers and Common-wealth if duly considered all which I referre to your more serious thoughts to move therein as God and your owne conscience can best direct you let not the truth offend you London 25 of December 1649. Delivered Mr. T. Exc. 28. Dtt. Your humble Servant I. D. This melancholly Letter implicitly is the summe or substance of most of this Discourse in relation to the East-India Company and present Traders the proposall and proceed of that 5000 li. excepted and was principally intended for the preservation of Carwar for the good of this Commonwealth as formerly exprest And seeing I have likewise intimated something concerning the Island of Barbadoes c. in the West-Indies I shall attend the pleasure of Authority or others to deliver the best of my knowledge therein In the mean time I will close and conclude both in this generall Assertion and particuler Application thus Assertion THat no Lord or Commoner or society of Commoners in or out of England hath so good if any reall and personall claime Right and Propriety in or to the East-India Mallabar Acheen and China Trade c. or in or to the Island of Barbado's c. in the West-Indies as Mr. Courten or others in his behalfe The Epilogue THus far Sir I have laboured alone in the discharge of this my duty with as much plainnesse and perspicuity as I can to informe your selfe and others of the truth of the Premises And if any doubt or scruple should be made touching any part or parcell thereof I question not but the same may be satisfied I had my Induction here into this work the foresaid 10. Decem. 1639. at Councell-table long before I knew or was known to Mr. Courten where and when I perceived from the principall person there present that publick affairs ran too much upon the by as of particular profit or interest the bane of all Common-wealths proceedings And what paines and attendance hath been given therein upon all occasions is partly knowne to divers Lords and Gentlemen as well as your selfe gaining my labour for my travell Besides I am very sensible what * Great losse and hazards and marvailous deliverances I hope for good prejudice I have sustained thereby both from the East-India Company and others therein concerned And yet truth which is strongest hath hitherto exceedingly appeared in my weaknesse and against such mighty oppositions and hath almost accomplished my aimes and the hopes of my desires the reward of my paines which was and is To see the East-India Trade of such high concernment a State and Commonwealths businesse and willingly will give my further attendance therein if thereto required according to that small talent of knowledge and experience God hath given me And so now I commit this Discourse wholly to your further care and consideration to move therein as your wisdome and judgement can best direct you and so henceforth possesse my selfe with patience and in rest and confidence in beleeving attend if peradventure after a sad and gloomy night of sorrow and adversity a glad and joyfull morning of redresse and prosperity will arise upon that deep distressed and oppressed family And in this expectation resolve to abide Sir Your very humble Servant John Darell FINIS Errata's Page 5. line 25. read tending p. 7. l. 15. r. of l. 25. r. Sir p. 20. l. 5. r. factors and p. 30. l. 8. r. and discoveries l. 10. r. 2 principall Imprimatur 19. June 1651. Nath. Brent