A BRIEFE Discovery or Description Of the most Famous Island Of MADAGASCAR or St LAURENCE in Asia neare unto East-India With Relation of the Healthfulnesse Pleasure Fertility and wealth of that Countrey comparable if not transcending all the Easterne parts of the world a very Earthly Paradise a most sitting and desirable place to settle an English Colony and Plantation there rather then in any other part of the knowne world Also the Condition of the Natives their inhabiting their affability Habit Weapons and manner of living the plenty and cheapsieÌ„sse of Food Flesh Fish and Fowle Orenges and Lemonds Sugar Amber-Greece Gold Tortle-shels and Drugs and many other Commodities sit for Trade and Commerce to be had and gotten there at cheaper Rates then in India or elsewhere Also trading from Port to Port all India and Asia over and the great profit gained thereby The chiefest place in the world to enrich men by Trade to and from India Persia Moco Achine China and other rich Easterne Kingdomes I being the fittest place for a Magazine or Store-house of Trade between Europe and Asia farre exceeding all other Plantations in America or elsewhere Also the excellent meanes and accommodation to fit the Planters there with all things needfull and superfluous for backe and belly out of India neare adjacent at one fourth part of the price and cheaper then it will cost in England yea Fat Bullocks Sheep Goats Swine Poultrey Rice and Wheat and Barley reasonable c. exceeding cheap for the value of twelve pence or one shilling English will purchase or buy of the Natives as much as 5 6 7 pounds or more in England in this famous Island at their first arrivall which no other Countrey hath afforded By R. B. and Francis Lloyd Merchants The second Edition corrected and amended London Printed for Iohn Hardesty at the Signe of the Black-spread Eagle in Duck-lane 1647. TO His most Royall and I trust in God yet Most Gracious Soveraigne Lord King CHARLES of England c. and to the Right Honourable the Peeres Lords and Commons Assembled in the High and Honourable Court of Parliament MOst Gracious Sacred and dread Soveraigne and most Honourable pious Peares and Commons in Parliament Assembled The despicable condition of my poor Estate ruined through envy malice and revenge abroad in India and cruelly oppressed by deep ingratitude partiality and injustice at home in England the weaknesse and infermity of my decrepit person debillitated by along continued sicknesse now almost six yeares compleat with my simple Ignorant and weak understanding yet true loyall hearty affection to my King and Countryes glory and renowne right Humbly and in all Lowly and Reverend Submission to Your Highnesse and Honours Vertues and Authority craves pardon and remission for my boldnesse in interrupting your most serious and most weighty affaires of State with the dull apprehension of my zeale and affection to Gods glory the Honour of my gracious Soveraigne and his most Royall Posterity and the welfaire and accommodation of my indeared native Country which hath induced or rather impulsed and coacted me to come to counsell before I am called and to lend the opinion of an unintelligent and unfortunate Merchant concerning the aptnes accommodation and assured great benefit of this Kingdom of England by settling a considerable Plantation in the most famous Island of the world Madagascar or Saint Lawrence and that thereby the glory of Almighty your Majesties Honour and the Common-wealths happinesse may redownd to all the world as well out of Asia as Affryca or rather more and better in hopefull or assured expectation as out of America and other parts of the world May it therefore please your Highnesse and Honours to pardon my servent zeale and affection to this worthy designe which if the Lawes of England did forbid or give causion to the projectors of new busines to the Common-wealth under paine of losse of life if their projects proved hurtfull to the same as that as I take it of the Lacedemonians or some otherwell governed Common-wealth and such law perhaps not hurtfull to this Kingdome yet would I adventure without any hope or expectation to my selfe of reward or accommodation to exhibit this project so apparently beneficiall to the common-wealth in my own strong confident opinion if so be it should please his Royall Majesty and the Honourable High Court of Parliament to undertake it as abusinesse of State and of great consequence to this Kingdoms its welfare and Indempnity To insist upon a large Epistle were obnoxious to Your Majesty and Honours weighty and importent affaires and my dull apprehention with the tymorousnesse of my deep offence in such bold presumption forbids me to take that unpleasing task upon me I verily acknowledge it a transcendent haughty presumption in me to exhibit so rude and unpollisht a Pamphlet to Your Highnesse and Honours perusall yea to the meanest of the Honourable House of Commons which though it cannot expect gracious acceptance from any yet if it incurre not unto me thereby Your Majesties and Honours just indignation for my impulsed zeale to my King and Countryes good out of the small experience and weake iniuditious apprehention of my unfortunate travels untill such time as more juditious and better intelligent persons by their more skilfull prevalent perswasive pens give better incouragement for speedy and effectuall means to proceed in so weighty yea most hopefull successefull a businesse I shall have some cause yet to rejoyce in the depth of my misery and affliction in the meane time my daily earnest Prayers to God shall be for his abundant blessings spirituall and temporall to his Sacred Majesty and his most Royal Posterity the Right Honourable High Court of Parliament and all His Majesties true Loyall Subjects and that the Lord Jesus would please to break in peeces the most hurtfull Cords of Contention with the spirit of truth and concord and put away from all them that prosesse his name the offence of quarrels and dissention among them that we may be joyned together in one minde in truth love and Christian Charity to the praise honour and glory of God Almighty and such shall be ever the prayers Of Your Sacred Majesties and Your Honours most Loyall Subject and Servant Richard Boothby To the Reader COurteous Reader this Booke was intended to have been divulged in August anno 1644. but many lets have impeded the same my owne weaknesse of body the hinderance of a captious licencer blameing the rudenesse of the stile and my placeing Madagascar in Asia which he would needs have to be in Affrica but whether in Asia or Affrica I yet rest unresolved by the opinion of some Sea-men accounting it in Asia some detracâ—nesse it hath had by long detention of some cheife member of Parliament to whom I committed the perusal which their multitude of more weighty affaires would not admit time for it's perusall and lastly occasioned by the visit in my long continued sicknesse of an
East India Merchant Mr. Francis Lloyd my loving friend whom I had not seen in seven yeeres or more before who beareing of my intention desired to have a sight of the rude manuscript which after some time he returned me and offering to adde some what thereunto touching the incouragement for a plantation at Madagascar and the assured great benefit by trade from thence to all parts of the world by making or setling there a Magazine or store house for trade into all Christian and heathen Kingdomes which his free offer I thankefully accepted knowing his intelligence in the Easterne parts of the world to be second to none of this Nation he haveing been many times imployed Factor and Purser of the Admirall ship into India and five times at Madagascar and often visited those many rich kingdomes and got great experience in the trades trafficke and commerce of them all from place to place which now he having performed I have here into inserted yet not desirous to attribute vain gloriously to my self nor to detract from his deeper judgement far beyond my owne who never was but once in India and that but one yeare and halfe that time a close prisoner not for any crime but in malice and revenge of a leud President and counsell in India I have caused his advice and intelligence to be marked with some marke or signe and his name in the margenâ—t thereby to be distinguished and knowne from what is of my owne weake capacity and so to giue him his due desert far surpassing mine and second in that kinde to none in England Therefore gentle reader I intreat thee to accept both our endeavours and harty well wishings to Gods glory his Majesties honour and the welfare of our endeared native Country in good part which we referre to thy charitable censure The Contents CHAP. I. The occasion of printing this rude Treatise or pamphlet Prince Ruperts intent to plant at Madagascar Master Walter Hamonds book in praise of this Island will give good incouragement for a plantation be that is Lord or King of Madagascar may easily in good time be Emperour of all India also the cheapnesse of necessaries both for backe and belly to be had out of India for the present reliefe of the planters p. 1 CHAP. II. The Countries scituation under the Tropick of Caprieorne the healthfulnesse of the Country Augustine Bay a cheâ—â—e and excellent harbour for multitude of ships the pleasantnesse and fertility of the Country a second land of Canaan or a Paradice of the world the Portugals rich trade to Mussambeg on the coast of Malindia p. 4. CHAP. III. Hogs in Malinda have stones in their mawes as pretious as rich Iewels the affection of the inhabitants to our Nation above all others Portugall Fryers staine to accompany the King of Madagascar at his death to heaven great store of wilde Foule and Turkies the envy of the East India Company against a plantation may give the better encouragement thereunto no Gold Silver nor any rich commodity of so high esteeme in Madagascar as red Cornelian Beads p. 7. GHAP. IIII. The comlinesse of the Natives though naked yet personable and of pleasant countenance their weapons not dangerous or of great annoyance their small use and unskilfullnesse in labour or manufacture great probability of sugar and spices at Madagascar the praise of the Island comparable with the land of Canaan p. 11. CHAP. V. The Idolatrous worship of God or the Devill the Natives addicted to theft and robbery A project of the Bishops disposed to plant at Madagascar Madagascar sauegard rashly attained unto p. 15. CHAP. VI Great incouragement to the plantation the cheapenesse of cloathing or apparell to be had out of India for the use of the planters the rich attire for persons of quality to be had there exceeding cheape all sorts of hearbs roots fruits and foules to be had in plentifull abundance in Madagascar trees yeelding great store of pleasant liquor nothing inferiour to wine and sugar in England the excellent vertue of India Mirabolins p. 20. CHAP. VII The cheapenesse of all sorts of eattell and food at Madagascar the Turkies before mentioned in Mr. Lloyds intelligence are not so large and good as ours and I rather accompt the Sants or such like fowle but being all over speckled blacke and white our people give them the name of Turkies the great benefit to be made by dayries at Madagascar with the meanes to accommodate the making of butter and cheese in that hot Country as also for poudering of Beefe and brewing of good Beere p. 24. CHAP. VIII The accommodation and meanes for dayries brewing of beere and powdering of meat for the use of ships at sea the meanes to make Saltpeter cheaper then in India or elsewhere all sorts of excellent materialls for building to be had in Madagascar poore artificers may live by their labours in all sorts of manufacture out strip all Nations of the world for the price of their labour trade and commerce to and from Madagascar will exceede in benefit all other p. 27. CHAP. IX The Riches to be aecrewd by Trade between England and India may all be converted by a free Trade to the Planters at Madagascar the benefit of particular commodities to and from between India and Persia the Piscash of a Chain of Gold given by Podomsee though of 500. pound Valew not comparable to the benefit he received by fraight and custome in his Massie Treasure in Pearles the Massie rich Trade of Pearles and Diomonds from Persia into India c. p. 30. CHAP. X. The mighty losse to the Portugalls in Customes by the losse of Ormus which might haue been turned to the benefit of the English who Conquered it and indiscreetly deserted it to the benefit of the Persians p. 34. CHAP. XI A brave Sea fight with the Portugals upon the coast of India another brave Sea fight with one English ship against many Portugals in the gulfe of Persia the Portugals cruelty te our men taken prisoners in coole blood p. 38. CHAP. XII The Portugals mediation for peace with the English Nation the Persians valuation of Ormus at twenty Millions of treasure now they are possessed thereof which the English might have enjoyed if they had had wise Governours Committees and Agents of the India corporation the exceeding folly of the East India court in sending treasure into Persia to touch at Surrat where the money being inverted in commodities would have turned almost to double money profit the unconsionable custome of India Courts in not shipping out our own rich native commodities which would yeeld good profit but transporting much Gold and Silver to their countries losse and proofe of their ill office to the Common-wealth the way to drive a rich trade into India without transportation of treasure Multitude of English commodities beneficiall for transportation into India to save exportation of treasure if the India courts were good members of the common-wealth the beneficiall trade in
act of Commerce more proper to my vocation as may give more incouragement for the proceedings herein then in any other already setled in the parts of America for as our English proverbe hath it That there is no service like to the service of a King nor no fishing comparable to the fishing in the Sea So I will adde a third true proverbe that there is no trading or commerce equivolent for profit to that of East India and the parts adjacent and the more beneficiall by the comodity of the fruitfull rich Iland of Saint Laurence or Madagascar its scituation or placing neare India Persia the red Sea Achin Jaua major Bantam Jombee Maccassar Mallabar the five Kingdomes as I take it of Decanij Golicunda Bengala and China c. and multitudes of rich Kingdomes in and neare India which being inhabited with Christians would prove the Magazine for trade of all the Orientall parts of the World as of late Ormus in Persia was so accounted and at present with us in Europe Amsterdam or Holland is held in that estimation And great possibility there is in my simple opinion that what Prince soever of Christendome is once really possest and seated in strength in that brave fruitfull and pleasant Island by computation three times as big as England may with ease be Emperour or sole monarch of East India with all her multitude of rich and large Kingdomes which no doubt but the eyes of many Princes of Europe are fixed upon it but that great disturbance in most parts thereof as at present unhappily in England doe hinder and give impediments to their wished designes which in zeale to Gods glory my Gratious Soveraigne his honour and my native Country its welfare and prosperity I from the bottome of my heart wish that some more learned and perswasive pen then mine rude and ignorant might prevaile with his gratious Majesty King Charles the right Honourable high Court of Parliament and all true hearted able persons of Nobility Gentry c. to take in hand though in these obstructive times to adventure each man some small proportion of meanes throughout this Kingdome which though but small to every particular person yet no doubt would amount to a considerable sum of mony sufficient to undergoe that action as a businesse of state which for the better accomodation therein that plantation may be served for a time withall necessaries both for backe and belly and also superfluity out of India for one fourth part of a penny or three parts of four cheaper then out of England to other plantations in America as farre distant if I be not deceived from England as that Country is from India or further That I may give such advice and incouragement as my weake capacity shall conceave I will descend to some particulars CHAP. II. The Countries scituation under the Tropick of Capricorne the healthfulnesse of the Country Augustines bay a chiefe and excellent harbour for multitude of ships the pleasantnesse and fertility of the Country a second land of Canaan or a Paradice of the world the Portugals rich trade to Mussambeg on the coast of Malindia ANd first to the scituation of the place I mean Augustine Bay the cheife harbour in that Iland it is seated and placed neare the Tropick of Capricorne in 23 degrees of South Latitude The Country is as all those parts so neare the Line are hot but yet in my opinion not so hot as Surrat in India which lyeth in 21 degrees north latt neare the tropick of Cancer during my abode there above three moneths in Iune Iuly August and September 1630. I could ever indure to weare an English suit and that of cloth which I could never so well brooke in India and is of so healthfull condition or constitution that in almost foure moneths of our abode there being about 460 persons in two ships the Charles and the Ionas we did not bury one man in all that time nor to my knowledge was there any sicke and besides the Company we met with foure ships out of England at that place which continued with us making merry refreshing and feasting about three weekes in which ships could not be lesse by my computation then 600 men at least and also another ship that came with us out of India and abode with us a longer time and departed from us to returne into India three or foure dayes or some short time before the English fleet came in containing in her 150 men yet not one of all these great numbers dyed or were sicke during their abode there to my best remembrance That haven that we all anchored in is called Augustines Bay a very large and safe harbour for Shipping which skilfull seamen can discribe better then my selfe and may containe by report of some 1000 or more or many hundred saile of ships in good and sure hold for Anchoring of great depth within a bow shoot of shore or thereabouts The Country about the Bay is pleasant to the view replenished with brave woods rockie hils of white marble and low fertile grounds what is within the land I can say little having never beene above a mile from the sea side but many of our men which have stragled further have given their good report thereof as also the fame and report of others that have either read or heard of the riches of this Country that the same aboundeth with mines of Gold and Silver and other minerals moreover that in the Island is a large plaine or champion country of Meadow or Pasture ground as big as all England which if it be so which I am somewhat doubtfull of for the large extent yet without question very large in many places must by reasonable consequence afford multitude and variety of Foules and Beasts and other creatures for food cloathing necessary use and delight and no doubt but such low grounds affordeth also store of large and small Rivers Tanks and Ponds replenished with multitude of good Fish water Fowles c. and it is apparently manifest or very probable by the quantity of brave fat Oxen Cowes Sheepe and Goats brought downe and fold unto us by the natives for refreshing so many people that the Country is very fertile selling us brave fat Oxen for about eight nine or tenne pence an Oxe worth by computation in England six seven eight or tenne pounds an Oxe and after that rate for Goats and Sheepe or a little dearer they sold also good Capons for three halfe pence or two pence a peece and excellent good Orenges and Lemmons reasonable and the common men dranke good store of Milke though out of their Callibasses not very cleanly the Bay or creeke neare the Bay affordeth us store of excellent Fish of many sorts as Pikes Mullets Breames and many others which I cannot call to minde their names and shell-fish as Crawfish Shrimps Prawnes and some Lobsters and some Oysters and sure the place affordeth abundance and variety of shell-fish of strange
downe for my remembrance which are somewhat difficult at present to reade being 14 yeares agoe written in such imperfect Manuscript Yet I thought it not amisse to penn downe what I have lately found which with the helpe of others especially of one William Casey late Purser of an Indian ship who took more paines therin then my selfe if his papers can be found will give some light therein to the helpe of others that will endeavour to attaine the knowledge thereof the particulars which I have now found I will here manifest so well as I can Viz nooroon no zeff how call you this Tona a man Codez a woman Tope a childe Coma a house Ose or Angomba a cow Gose a sheepe Cowhee bread Camba water Bingta or Sooa the head Nunqua the eye or eare Toee the nose Umqua or Songe the lips Coonqua or Niffa the teeth Goma or Soca the chin Coaqua or Effena the arme Cabed the elbow Unaqua or Tanga the hand Hongko the finger Chamkee or Noeno the breast Oncoma the necke Hicuma or Toa the belly Coa or Ungoote the knee Noo or Vote the leg. Iqua or Kambo temba the foote Hica or Vota the yard or virill Charaqua the cod Anatnicke the little finger Voylee the buttocke Lemboshe the backe Sowkee the shoulder Mise yea Maligna a roote that smells sweete and is like a bulrusb Moade a chaine of small beades Voyla haire Maca an eye Saffee an eare Leela the tongue Hoho the thumbe Fala tanga the palme of the hand Choroqua the nailes of the hand Syra salt Humeray tomorrow Soo a pot Pingbara a gun Vyra a sword Fajaro a little dart Leffo or Mura a lance or great dart Caba a bat or cap. Lomba cloaths Memma a cloake or skin Hoboqua shooes or slippers Aqua an arrow Fenga or Talle a rope Siffe a knife Hicha a bow Hehoo a turn spit Acuto to dart Renova milke Hihoo a small fish Longora a great fish Hirhoree brasse Chichata or Ruttee naught Chara good Longasba a good man or friend Laga Rattee a bad man or foe Cheruse nay Calibus a bottle cup or basket CHAP. VI Great incouragement to the plantation the cheapenesse of cloathing or apparrell to be bad out of India for the use of the planters the rich attire for persons of quality to be had there exceeding cheape all sorts of hearbs roots fruits and foules to be bad in plentifull abundance in Madagascar trees yeelding great store of pleasant liquor nothing inferiour to wine and sugar in England the excellent vertue of India Mirabolins TO the furtherance of this renowned plantation these advantageous comodities benefits and accommodation as felloweth far above other plantations are inducements sufficient to perswade pious virtuous rich men and others that desire the advancement of Gods glory the honour of their Soveraigne Prince the the welfare of their owne native Country the inrichment of themselves and their posterity and the charitable reliefe of Gods poore Elect upon Earth to enterprize this worthy action And in the first place the Country is healthfull and pleasant Secondly its already of it selfe furnished with most chiefe things necessary to sustenance of mans life especially Beefe Mutton Goates Poultry Fish and Fowle Thirdly it affordeth Oxen for present tillage the chiefest of all wants in all other plantations which no other hath done or affordeth Forthly it is as near or nearer to India then other plantations to England where all things either for necessity or superfluity are to be had for the fourth part of the price and lesse then in England or other Christian Kingdomes as Rice and excellent dainty food as it is cookt in India whereof Kings and great men daily eate with pleasure and contentment and never furset therein Wheat Barley and other sorts of graine and good rack and excellent strong drinke made of Rice which mixed with Sugar water and Leamonds or surrop of lymes or drunk alone all which are to be had exceeding cheape with all manner of spices make a pleasant wholesome drinke surpassing any wine to be had in London of which good use may be made though water there is more contentfull it being so good and better then in England untill beere made of mault by barly may be brought to perfection which may suddenly be affected as I shall shew hereafter Also from India may be had cloathing fit for those warme Countries to maintaine a man or woman neately comely and cleanly for twenty shillings a yeare and under nay I dare make it good for ten shillings a yeare bedding exceeding cheape and dainty either for cotton wooll or silke cotton far better and more desired then fetherbeds or down-beds and coverlids whereof in those warme countries they vse but few of all prizes and curiosities even fine dainty quilts for five shillings a piece sheets and all sorts of linnen so cheape and fine that no part of the World affords the like Againe good shirts whiter and finer for meane people at-eight ten or twelve pence a piece and cheaper and not so fine and white to be had in England for three or foure times dearer in price my selfe have worne no other these sixteen yeeres of which six of three shillings a piece have lasted me continually three yeeres together of the like finenesse not to be bought under twelve shillings a shirt or dearer in England shooes of English fashion for sixpence a paire and bootes for two shillings a paire capps or mounteiâ—s light and easie and farre better then stiffe heavie hats made of sattin and taffaty fine painted linnen c. quilted or inbroydered much cheaper then hats The better sort of people that affect to cloath themselves wives and children in rich gentile fashion may doe it of sattin taffaty wrought damaske blacke or coloured and rich stuffes mixt with gold silver threed at cheaper rates then with our cheape English cloath or stuffes Jewels of all sorts Pearls Diamonds and other rich stones with curious bracelets for Gentlewomen and others of Christall agget Jasper Cornelion red and white and Elutropian stones c. cheape with rings and pendants of the same so cheape that I have sold that in England to be sold againe by Exchange men and Goldsmiths for five or ten shillings a ring or pendant which have not cost me in India above a penny or two pence per ring or pendant likewise Estredges feathers for womens fannes or for use of Gentlemen Captaines Souldiers and other uses c. with curious paper or leather fannes guilded and painted with brave Cabanets of Ivory Ebony and Sandall wood c. artificially inlayed with mother of pearle Aggets and other stones and Ivory so cheape as cannot be imagined with all dainty purfumes of Civic Muske Amber-grease and rose water in abundance extraordinary cheape which I hope will induce Lords Ladies Knights Gentlemen Gentlewomen Farmers Artificers and Manufactors to put on a resolution to undergoe a pleasant easie votage of three or
more that which is yet behinde to expresse may animate them thereunto And that is by the exceeding great profit to be made by Trade and Commerce to and from thence in all parts of the world farre transcending all Trade and Commerce else-where For that Countrey being once well planted and inhabited with Europian Christians will draw Trade from all the Orientall parts of the world as India with her multitude of Rich and Spatious Kingdoms as also those large and rich dominions of Persia Arabia China Achin and the Countreys adjacent to Moco Bagdat or Babilon in Perua and will also draw Trade and Commerce from all the wealthy Europian Kingdoms as England Spaine Portugall France Germany Italy Denmark the Low-Countreyes and other Principalities and prove the best and chiefest Magazine or Store-house both of exportation or importation of Trade between all Europe and Asia which must needs make that Countrey rich and to flourish above other Kingdoms And because I have gone thus farre with my rude and unskilfull Pen to mention the benefit of Commerce in generall I will descend a little to particulars to give some People better satisfaction yet before I proceed therein I will endeavour to clear my self of aspertion which I expect will be cast upon me by the unworthy Governour and Committees of the Honourable East-India Corporation who I presume will tax me of perjury and false-hood to the same Honourable company whereof my self am a Member for discovering that which may prove hurtfull or prejudiciall to that worthy Society though unworthy Governement as one already hath endeavoured though he shall never be able to make his accusation good but by sturring therein shall rather discover his own shame and Malignant Spirit And I trust in God that the discovering of any matter that the knowledge thereof shall tend to Gods Glory my Royall Soveraignes Honour the yet hopefull gracious King Charles and the welfare of the Common-wealth wherein I am born and live shall not be accompted perjury either by Gods or mans Law though it tend to the prejudice of a Corporation whereof I am a Member and have taken Oath to perform all good and no bad Service to the prejudice or detrement of the said society which as I take it alwayes in all Oathes to Corporations include the greater good to God King and Countrey to be proferred before the lesser And because I have had experience of the envy and malignancy of East India Courts to neglect their own and Common good and yet hinder private persons from doing good to themselves in particuler like unto the Dogge in the Manger neither eating Hay himself nor permitting the Ox to eat it and also to take the Childrens bread and cast it unto Dogges which I presume I am able to prove I have rather thought good to imploy my tallent the best I can to doe good to all men but especially to the houshold of faith rather then hide in a Napkin or bury it in the earth to the losse or offence of any And to this purpose most humbly and submissively I intreat all good men to accept of my weake endeavours and abilities in as good and Charitable away or respect as they are offered unto their perusall CHAP. IX The Riches to be accrewd by Trade between England and India may all be converted by a free Trade to the Planters at Madagascar the benefit of particular commodities to and from between India and Persia the Piscash of a Chain of Gold given by Podomsee though of 500. pound Valew not comparable to the benefit he received by fraight and custome in his Massie Treasure in Pearles the Massie rich Trade of Pearles and Diamonds from Persia into India c. FOrmerly in this Treatise I have said that there is no Trade like to the Trade and Commerce of India which the Planters at Saint Lawrence may reape to themselves if they pleased which I make good thus The India Trade to and from India generally produceth in 18. moneths time and lesse 3. 4. or 5. for one in some particulars much more the tradeing in India in several Kingdoms from Port to Port and from India into Persia the Red Sea and Achin China and other parts produceth in 6. moneths generally 30. 40. 50. and 60. per cent and more the particulars of several commodities from India into Persia and from Persia into India I will onely instance in having thereof been an eye witnesse and the others onely by report which others upon examination can and will no doubt give better intelligence of to whom I referre the Reader especially to Master Richard Wylde who told me he had made 7. for one from Surrat to Bantam A Valuation of certain goods bought at Surrat in India in December 1629. And sold at Gombroone in Persia February 1629. viz. Suger 90 per cent profit Green Ginger 70 per cent profit Indico 50 per cent profit Rice 50 per cent profit Cotten Wool 120 p. cent pro Mirabolins 70 per cent profit Shashes 50 per cent profit Saraie Benjamin double Money Cardimon 60 per cent profit Sope. 80 per cent profit Blew Canches 40 per cent profit Tobacco 4 for 1 Gunderoone 47 per cent profit Blew Chundres or Arse-clout 40 per cent profit Pentadoes 35. p. cent profit Dry Ginger 75 per cent profit Narrow Baftas 40 per c. profit Broad Baftas 30 per cent profit Blew Baftas 40 per cent profit Sugar-Candy 75 per cent profit Nosar or Saldermoniack 65 per cent profit Fincades 35 per cent profit Red Selaies 70 per cent profit A Valuation of goods bought at Combroone in Persia in February 1629. and sold at Surrat in India 1629. and in March 1630. Runas 50 per cent profit Walnuts double Money Wormseed 30 per cent profit Cheekens in Gold 4 per cent Almonds 50 per cent profit Gaules 50 per cent profit Royalls of 8. 8 per cent profit Raysons solis 8 per cent profit Almond large 30 per cent profit Pistachees 5 per cent profit Rose-water 20 per cent profit ABC or Abcees persia silver coyne one and a half per cent profit With Multitude of other commodities both outward and inwards between India and Persia in especially Spices as Pepper Cloves Mace and Nut-megges which mallice and revenge prevented me of the knowledge and insight thereinto being most injuriously confined a Prisoner into Persia and not to carry one penny worth of goods for my owne Accompt which others of farre inferiour place then my self made their voyage in 3. or 4. moneths worth unto them 1.2.3 or 4. thousand pounds a man There is no Trade like to the Trade of the East India and Asia And if there was once a Plantation setled at the Island of Saint Lawrence in 7. yeeres time there would be a fine Gallant Trade or Commerce for the Junckes from many places of India and divers other places in Asia would come and Trade with you but he that should happen to be
place called Custake at which place we received 800. Balles of Silk and there the English and Persians did enter into Articles to this purpose that the English would joyne with the Persians in the taking the Island of Kishme and the Island of Ormus from the Portugalls The Persians promised that we should have all the trade of Persia to our selves and our Custome free and half the custome of all other Nations that brought goods into the Gulph and the English to have all the Christians that should be taken at our disposall and the Persians to have all the heathens the Marriners of our Ships to have 6. Monethes pay gratis and what Ammunition we spent in the siege to be all made good the East India Company to have straight for their Ships and the English to have half the Treasure Pillage Ammunition and Ordinance of both the Islands of Kishme and Ormus Ships Gallies Frygots Cities Townes Villages and for to have the command of the Castles These in short was agreed upon which was at that time of both sides performed It will be too tedious for me to relate the whole proceedings The Portugalls did surrender both the Castle of Kishime to us and likewise the Castle of Ormus we gave them two Ships to carry both men women and Children with some provision and some Baggage to Muskat but the Persians put all the heathens to death I have seen 1000. heads for a break-fast cut off in a morning Although we had the possession of the greatest Jewell of the world as Healine and other authors doe report if the Commanders and those of the Counsell at that time had had so much understanding as Bâ—lames Ass. they would not have given it away to the Persians untill such time the King and State of England had been made acquainted therewith and also the Honourable Company of East India adventurers for Ormus being the primest place of the world and the richest trade for the Portugalls whatsoever they desired for their Commodities they had for none brought goods into the Gulph but they for they served all Persia and most parts of Arabia and from those parts was transported into other Countreys by Land and most part of Turky and all parts of Asia came to trade with them from all parts of India from the coast of Cornidell Banggalla from the River of Ganges from all parts of the Island of Sumatra which is the richest Island in all the world for there is more Gold upon this Island then all the world beside for the Poet wrights and calls it the Gold of Opher and Solomon had his Gold from this Island besides many rich Spices Gums and Druggs also from the Straights of Malaco and from the Straights of Sindia Java major from the coast of Chouchichina Burnua the Molookcos and from all parts of China and the Maneelous from all these parts they came with Junckes very richly laden to the Portugals at Ormus for the Portugals did make them come to trade with them otherwise they would make prize of their Junckes wheresoever they met with them for the Portugals was as King of all the Orientall Seas for many hundred of yeares before the English ever knew it at the taking of the Island of Ormus there was over the Castle-gate the date and the yeare of our Lord God which was at that time 500. yeares since they builded the Castle which I and divers other English took speciall notice of saying amongst our selves that the Portugals had been many yeares in India before they builded the Castle of Ormus and they were the first that did discover all these rich places of India and Asia So all men may plainly see that the Portugals did make choise of the best places of their plantations for a Magazine and the hopefull'st of a commerce of rich trading I do verily beleive that the City of London and Amsterdam joyne them both together could not paralell the rich trade of Ormus when it did florish before the English traded into India and hath been such a heart burning to the Portugall since that they have endeavoured to raise all their forces in India which the least Galloones they had did carry 48. peeces of Brasse Ordinance besides they had many more out of Spaine many Frigots and Gallies And all the prime Commanders Officers Marriners and Common Souldiers made a great fast and all took the Sacrament before their great Fleet went out from Goa to fight with the English in the Gulph of Persia The Portugalls taking the Sacrament to take and burn and sinck our Ships and to beat us out of the Gulph of Persia which at that time they failed of their purpose and we could not make great braggs of our Victory so every yeare we did expect a meeting with the Portugals so the English and the Dutch did joyn together in a Fleet to overcome the Portugalls and did meet once in two yeares in the Gulph and had a great Fight and the Portugall had almost surprized the Dutch Admirall if it had not been for our Vice-Admirall for which afterwards the Dutch Admirall gave our Vice-Admirall his Gold Chaine for releiving of him so that their was no great victory at that time gained but the Portugals seeing we were to strong for them they left us and went to Muscat to recruit themselves but never came into the gulph with their fleete of ships to meet our fleete any more CHAP. XI A brave Sea fight with the Portugals upon the coast of India another brave Sea fight with one English ship against many Portugals in the gulfe of Persia the Portugals cruelty to our men taken prisoners in coole blood THe Portugals did endeavour before to beate us out of India because they did first discover it And the last fight that ever the Portugals had with the English in India I was in the Portugals did challenge both the English and the Dutch to fight with them the Dutch had six saile of ships and the English had the ship Ionah riding in Swallow road and the Portugals had their seven great Galloons and twenty foure Frygots each Frygot had 200 men a piece in them and the Portugals riding on the other side of the Bar in Swallow hole or roade where we lade and unlade our ships so that the Portugals could not come to them for but one ship at a time can come over the Bar and at a high water on a spring tide so they could not come together But the Palsgrave Dolphin and the ship Lyon comming out of Europe and we had many sicke men in these three ships and falling on the coast of India between Bassine and Dabull in the morning at the sun rising we spied two Frigots which we found to be spies we called a counsell presently and met aboard the Admirall and all concluded that the Portugals had a fleet of ships neare to Surrat which we found to be true and we plying off it up to Surrat with
out thereof with the assistance of the Persians by land and most indiscreetly left it to the disposall of the King of Persia who would have been glad that the English would have kept it in their possession But now having found that sweetnesse of the enjoyment many hundred thousand pounds will not recover it againe from him to its former perfection And let us not contemne the valour of the Hollanders who in our daies indespite of that mighty Emperour of Java Major have builded themselves a famous strong City in his Country formerly called Jacatra but since called Batavia the ancient name by report of Holland for which the Emperour was so enraged against the Dutch that at my being in India in the yeare 1629. the report was that he vowed by his heathen Gods to race the City and expell the Dutch though with the losse of the lives of many 100000 of his people a most desparate daring nation of them selves who will venture upon most desperate designes though apparent death before their eyes as many experiences have bin proved of late a desperate enraged Java adventured to come a beard an English Ship himselfe with an intent to kill all the men aboard or to die himselfe upon which desperate designe he flew 4. 5. or 6. English or more before the rest could knock out his braines and slay him whom yet he threatned and put in execution to scaile their walls with heapes of his own subjects dead bodies forcing them on by an Army behinde them to hinder their retreat but to this day cannot prevaile against them Then why should the English Nation be daunted so famous for valour in all parts of the knowne world to enterprize this most noble and beneficiall plantation that ever was yet attempted and defended if quarrelsshould arise to cause to take armes against such weake and impotent people as well if not more rather then at present the adventurers into Trenedado in America to a place as I conceive strongly defended by Spaniards who will oppose our Nation with their utmost force and pollicy as to their most deadly foes though at present counterfeit friends how necessary is also this plantation in regard of the trade and commerce already on foote by the English in India our own Nation especially Merchants and Sea-men acquainted therewith are capable of And other Christian Nations jeere us for not setling a place of refuge for our selves in 30. yeares time as some of them have attained to great perfection in shorter time upon any occasion either prevention of distaste to the English inhabiting among the tyranous jealous nations of Moores to fetch them off in time of danger if contention or cause of difference should happen as is likely and we have had experience thereof who upon every sleight occasion terrifie our people with whipping and chawbucking and often impose upon them great fines and mucts with strict hard and cruell imprisonments untill they have enforced the payment of their unjust oppressions or for preventing our owne or other nations from robbing sea roving and piracy in those parts to the great dammage of the English Nation which this plantation well accommodated will give good remedy there against or to preserve the credit accommodation and reputation of the English by trade and commerce or otherwise as well in the orientall as occidentall parts of the world which if we neglect the Dutch or Portugals or both will out top and domineere over us by expelling us out of India and encroach that wealthy action of commerce to their exceeding great advantage and our irrecoverable and deplorable losse What an honour accommodation and happinesse must it certainly be to a pious Christian protestant Nation unspotted and undefiled with Idolatry Atheisme Papisme Anabaptisme Brownisme Antinomianisme or otherwise heresie or error to be possessed with a quiet peaceable secure and wealthy habitation in so excellent pleasant and fruitfull a Country a little world in it self though large in extent compared with England being by computation 3. times as bigge or greater for its defence distant from all other Countries many 100. leagues whether neither Heathen nor Idolatrous superstitious or Malignant Christians can come to hurt or annoy them being once setled therein but by their own in supportable charge cost dammage and apparent danger of life both by sea and land And what an addition will it be to Gods glory to reduce and convert so many 100000. of brave personable affable people poore ignorant soules to christianity as the Spaniards boast of their workes of supererogation in that kinde in west India but God forbid that we or any other Christian nation should christen them in their owne bloud or baptize them as by report the Spaniards have done in their west India Plantation or conquest even to the massacring of all or most part of the Natives and nationall inhabitants therein and that with unheard of before and unparalel'd tirannous cruelty by tying many of them together and laying wagers who should slay most men women and children at one thurst with their long rapiers through their bodies I should greatly rejoyce to see the day though I despaire to taste of the comforts as Moses did of the land of Canaan that the English Scotch and Dutch all of one Religion could perfectly and christianly agree together in the enterprize and undertaking of this most honourable action there being scope and roome enough for them all even the whole 3. Nations which I conceive would make them a terrour to all atheisticall heathen and Idolatrous Christians But should as heartily grieve to hear of such persidious treacherous acts among Christians as that heretofore committed by the Dutch Commanders at Batavia upon the English at Amboyna in India which hath been twice published in print to the world and yet no restitution made for the intolerable wrongs sustained to His Majesties subjects neither for the lives of the Massacred nor the dammage of the Merchants wherein I my self suffer in great proportion And I pray God we never heare of any more such cruell Actions and affronts from them which may in time prove prejudiciall and disastrous to both Nations whom I conceive it much concerns to live as neare neighbours in Peace Unity and Amity together which God grant to his glory and the comfort of both Nations CHAP. XVI Esquire Cuourteen his worthy enterprize to settle the beginning of a Plantation at Madagascar the partiallity injustice and ingratitude of the India Courts against their true loyall Brothers Servants and corrupt favour to their Iugling debauched undeserving mere bireling Servants A commodity of great value to be regarded and searched for out at Madagascar and of great advantage to the obtainers thereof Prince Rupert in a great forwardnesse to a hopefull Plantation at Madagascar the Earle of Arundels intention to supply Prince Ruperts fayling in the project for Madagascar REport hath lately since the beginning of this tractat brought to mine care that that Noble