1613
35. [f.17] 4 Jan. 1613. Trinity House to lord Ellesmere, lord chancellor
By virtue of his letter of 14 Dec., upon the petition of Daniel Palmer and
other mariners of the Anne of London, they have called before them Mr
Goodlack and Mr Pratt, the ship's merchants. Pratt refused to come
while Goodlack came but refused to submit to their censures. They
therefore certify their findings. The mariners were hired by the month
and the voyage lasted for 5 or 6 days short of a year when the Anne was
sunk in the port of Lisbon. The men salvaged the ship, together with a
great part of the goods and gold to the value, as Goodlack agrees, of over
£1,000, besides the ship. It is considered that the crew should be paid for
the period up to the time the ship was sunk, which is 12 months. Only the
12 petitioners out of the crew of 26 have yet reached home. Goodlacke
refuses to pay because he has no notice from the master, who is still at
Lisbon, what wages had been agreed. Nor had the petitioners the
discretion to bring home a note from the master. Nevertheless, the wages
which they say were agreed, amounting to £112 for the 12 months, are
normal for such a voyage. The award, had Goodlack agreed, would have
been that half the wages, amounting to £60, should be paid, and the
remainder when the master returned.
William Byam, master; Michael Geare, Robert Kitchen, Roger
Gunston, John Vassall, Matthew Woodcott, Robert Rickman, Robert
Bradshew, Hugh Merrit, Nicholas Diggens, Thomas Milton, William
Ivie, William Jurden, Richard Chester, Andrew Shillinge.
36. [f.17v. Before 12 Jan. 1613] John Chaplyn to the farmers of the king's
impost on sea coal [See 37.]
Three months ago at Newcastle he set sail, having loaded the Maryan of
Ipswich with 76 chaldrons of coal for London. Owing to foul weather, the
sails were blown away and the ship was driven to the 'Wezard' [river
Weser] in Germany. To save the ship in the storm, he had to throw more
than 30 chaldrons overboard. He had to wait 27 days at the 'Wezard' for a
wind, and when at last he left, intending to sail direct to England, he was
blown to Emden by a contrary wind. While at the 'Wezard', he had to sell
the cloak from his back, together with some of the coal at below the
market rate in order to buy victuals, and he had to give '6 months day of
payment' against his will. He is ready to testify on oath. In view of his
misfortunes and losses, he prays that he be discharged of the penalty of
his bond.
37. 12 Jan. 1613. Certificate by Trinity House
John Chaplyn of Ipswich, master of the Maryan and bearer of this
certificate, appeared and testified on oath to the truth of his petition [36].
William Byam, master; Robert Kitchen, Richard Chester, Matthew
Woodcott, Robert Rickman.
38. [f.18] 21 Jan. 1613. Award by William Byam, master of Trinity House
Thomas Lanthorne, master of the Gift of God of St Andrews in Scotland,
and Peter Pynder, ballastman of Ratcliff, on 15 Jan. 1613 entered bonds
of £100 to accept the award of William Bygatt, Thomas Milton, Richard
Chester and Robert Salmon, all of Trinity House, concerning damage to
a ballast lighter belonging to Pinder which sank alongside the Gift of God
[in the Thames] and the great cost of weighing her. The award was to be
made by 19 Jan., and if not, Byam was to deliver a decision by 21 Jan.
Since the 4 arbitrators have not concluded the business in time, Byam's
award is that although Lanthorne, the master or owner, 'received great
spoil' to cordage and cables, as well as delay, reported to amount to
above £30, he and the owners must bear it. The best estimate of the cost
of weighing and eventually repairing the lighter is £11 16s, including the
cost of the lost ballast. Lanthorne is to pay two thirds (£7 17s 4d) to Pinder
by 23 Jan. Pinder is to bear the other third. This money is to be paid at the
house of Richard Nottingham, 'our clerk', in Ratcliff and both parties are
to acquit each other of all further liability. Since the business is unusual
and to avoid precedents, it is fitting to record the reasons for this award.
The master or owners must bear the cost of the damage to cables and
cordage and part of the costs of the ballastman because Lanthorne tried
to get the ballast aboard before he was ready for it and failed to control
the crew to ensure that it was brought aboard quickly. The crew should
pay half what is due to Pinder, if they have agreed to do so or if Lanthorne
can deduct it from their wages, because they had failed to prevent the
accident by getting the ballast aboard, throwing it overboard, or mooring
the lighter. Pinder should pay his share because the accident is not wholly
attributable to negligence. [f.18v] The weather worsened quickly
according to the testimony of Thomas Smyth, the [customs] waiter; who
could not appear in person. Lanthorn is ordered to pay the costs of
making the award.
39. [? 31 May 1613 × 20 June 1614] Parishioners of Stepney to Trinity
House [See 40.]
At the request of their neighbour Benedicta, wife of William Cradle of
Ratcliff, mariner, they certify that he lived among them in good
reputation for 22 years. He spent £100 or more seeking help for his
former wife, a lunatic, which also drove him into great misery.
Afterwards he adventured his estate on 2 voyages to 'Guiana' [? Guinea],
but lost his entire stock of £60 and his wages. His present wife then fell ill
for a year which caused great expense. In an attempt to recover his losses
he went as pilot of a ship to the East Countries, adventuring his whole
estate and £100 more which he borrowed. The ship was cast away in a
storm and he and a few others barely escaped with their lives. Finally, last
Christmas, in a storm, 2 ships damaged his wharf and quay so that water
threatened to wash away the fence and earth of his house; the repair cost
£22. He cannot pay his debts and dare not show his head to provide a
living for his wife and 4 children for fear of being arrested for debt. Trinity
House are asked to petition the lord chancellor to issue letters patent
authorising a collection in the churches of London, Middlesex, [blank] so
that he can live again as an honest man.
Thomas Johnson, John Muffett, Robert Earle, Richard Beamont,
Robert Goldinge, Roger Fryth, Henry Pickis, John Paull, Thomas Lane,
John Mothe, Edmond Rolfe, Michael Austen, [? Alen ? Lullz], Joos
Prastenborge, John Sitley, Richard Laws.
Ro. Kaile can say little from his own knowledge about these calamities,
but he can certify that Cradle and his wife are very honest and very
poor.
40. [f.19. 31 May 1613 × 20 June 1614] (fn. 1) Trinity House to lord Ellesmere,
lord chancellor
Commendation of the above petition [39].
William Ivie, master; Robert Kitchen, Robert Bradshaw, William Bigatt,
Thomas Milton, Matthew Woodcott, Robert Rickman, Andrew Shilling,
Roger Gunston, John Osborne, Thomas Malbie.
41. 20 June 1613. Certificate by Trinity House
The good services of the bearer, John Deane, mariner and gunner, in
merchant voyages in queen Elizabeth's time is certified by masters under
whom he served. Now, having been taken lame at sea, his disease has
developed into a dumb palsy which surgeons say cannot be cured.
Furthermore, he suffered heavy loss when the Charytie was captured by
the Turks in the Straits 3 years ago. In view of his past service and utter
inability to maintain himself, Trinity House cannot deny him a certificate
to the good people of Norfolk where he was born.
William Ivie, master; Robert Kytchen, Robert Bradshawe, Thomas
Malbye, Thomas Milton, Matthew Woodcott, Robert Ryckman, John
Osborne, Roger Goonstone, Andrew Shilling.
42. [f.19v] 1 Sept. 1613. York House [London]. T. [lord] Ellesmore, lord
chancellor, [to Trinity House. See 43.]
He has had sundry petitions from mariners who served in the Mary Anne
complaining that their wages were unpaid. At the mariners' request, he
referred the case to Trinity House but understands from renewed
complaints that despite their pains the mariners are still unpaid. In
accordance with his former request, they are to summon the mariners,
merchants and owners to ensure payment of what is due.
43. [f.20] 4 Sept. 1613. Trinity House to lord Ellesmere, lord chancellor
In accordance with his letters [see 42] they have tried to secure the
attendance of the owners and merchants of the Marye Anne to show why
the mariners are unpaid. Of the 2 merchants, Mr Eldred is out of town
and Mr Stapers is decayed in estate, in prison, and cannot attend or give
satisfaction. William Squire, who was factor in the ship, came to
represent the merchants and alleged that the master and crew failed in
their duty, which resulted in the overthrow of the voyage; that he was not
party to the charter party and cannot commit the merchants; and that the
owners have brought an action against the merchants for freight in king's
bench. At the request of Trinity House, the mariners agreed to accept 12
months wages for almost 16 months service. But the owners are unwilling
to pay more than 8 months wages because they say that the negligence of
the crew, if proved, may result in the loss of the entire freight. In addition
to paying 8 months wages, they are prepared to covenant to make this up
to 12 months, on condition that they are able to recover the freight from
the merchants, as they suppose they will, and provided that the mariners
undertake to repay the wages if the whole freight is lost. Trinity House
consider that since the mariners were hired on a monthly basis for a
voyage to a country of which they did not dream, and which is forbidden
by a treaty between princes, they deserve to have their wages. The
merchants, having been abused by a 'Hispaniolized fellow' who
frustrated their hopes of profit, have been induced by him to defraud the
owners and the mariners. This happens frequently, and causes mariners
to complain and to turn to piracy. The lord chancellor is requested to
order payment of 12 months wages, subject to whatever conditions he
sees fit.