1623
202. [f.70] 30 Apr. 1623. Certificate by Trinity House
At the request of the bearer, Elizabeth Haines, they certify that her
husband Thomas, mariner of Bristol, was on a voyage to the Straits in the
Jacob of Bristol when the ship was surprised by Turkish pirates on 'St
Steven the Martyr's day last' [26 Dec.]. The ship was sunk in the fight, and
all were killed or drowned except Haines and another who were saved by
swimming and were taken up by the Turks. He was carried to Algiers and
will remain there in miserable captivity unless charitable provision is
made for his ransom, which is great and which he cannot pay because his
adventure was lost. His wife and children are likely to starve in his
absence.
Messrs Salmon, Case, Gunston, Vassall, Geere, Cooke, Downinge,
Chester, Coytmore, Bennet.
203. 22. Feb. 1623. Privy council order for Sir Henry Martin, admiralty
court judge, and Trinity House to consider a dispute about wages involving
the East India company [Printed in APC 1621–3, 429–30.]
204. [f. 70v] 6 May 1623. [Sir] Henry Martyn [admiralty court judge],
Robert Salmon, John Bennet, Walter Cooke, and Samuel Doves [of
Trinity House to the privy council]
In accordance with 203 they have considered the demands of the
petitioners concerning goods taken from them by the Hollanders and
wages for the time of their captivity. The petitioners have no 'colourable'
claim on the East India company for the goods because the company
apparently received no restitution for them. Indeed the agreement made
with the Hollanders and confirmed by the king releases the Dutch from
liability for goods taken from English seamen unless it appears that 'such
goods came with effect to the use of the Dutch East India company',
which the petitioners can hardly demonstrate. The writers were not
prepared to examine whether the seamen should have wages as of right
from the company for the time of captivity, but since the company had
previously paid one-third by mediation of the admiralty court judge, they
did not rest until they had persuaded the company to pay the residue,
subject only to the deduction of what the company could prove had been
given to the petitioners by the Hollanders either in cash or in valuable
goods during the period of captivity. Should there be any dispute, they
reserved, with the company's assent, the right to impose their rule as to
equity and hoped that they had done enough to ensure that the privy
council need be troubled no further.
205. 14 May 1623. Certificate by Trinity House
They certify at the request of the bearers, Audrey Noble of Wapping and
Jane Micho of Battlebridge in Southwark, that their husbands, Richard
Noble and Matthew Micho, were diligent seamen of good life and estate.
They were in the Hermitt of London, William Sherwyn of Rotherhithe
master, having all or most of their substance with them, when on coming
out of Oporto on 18 Sept. last, Turkish pirates of great force surprised
them. After a fight, the crew were taken to Algiers where they are kept in
extreme captivity. The captives and their friends are unable to procure
without charitable aid the ransoms of £50 for Noble and £60 for Micho.
Their wives and small children are likely to starve and, not paying their
rents, to be turned out of doors by their cruel landlords.
Messrs Salmon, Geer, Cooke, Bennet, Wattes, Gunston, Case, Beck,
Doves, Vassall, Ivy, Coytmore, Davis.
206. [f.71] 23 June 1623. Chelsea. [Earl of] Middlesex [lord treasurer] to
Trinity House
They are to send a note of all iron ordnance for which they have given
certificates during the last 6 months for supply to Dutch ships, signifying
the names of the ships and of the masters or owners, details of the
ordnance and the dates of the certificates.
207. 24 June 1623. [Trinity House to the earl of Middlesex] lord treasurer
In reply to 206, they have prepared a note of certificates [not entered]
granted since 2 Sept. for Flemish ships upon affidavits according to the
lord admiral's directions before the admiralty court judge that the ships
belonged to the king's subjects. Yet they fear that indirect means may still
be used on behalf of Flemish ships, for sundry Hollanders, shippers of
Dutch ships, have of late secured letters of denization to free them, it is
supposed, from the Dunkirkers and to procure English ordnance. Thus
there is now in the river a great Holland ship of 400 dolls*. Her master,
Nicholas Ryser, a Hollander and a 'batcheler', has got letters of
denization, and he and John Triggs have made affidavit that the ship
belongs wholly to Riser and to other denizens who are the king's subjects
and he has asked Trinity House for a certificate for 26 pieces of ordnance,
which they have not granted until they are further satisfied.
Ro. Salmon, Walter Cooke, Michael Gere, Jo. Bennet.
208. 25 June 1623. Chelsea. [Earl of] Middlesex [lord treasurer] to Trinity
House
In reply to 207, the case of the great Holland ship will be considered at the
next meeting of the council and no certificate is to be granted until further
order.
209. 25 June 1623. Privy council to Trinity House about the supply of iron
ordnance to ships owned by denizens [Printed in APC 1623–5, 27.]
210. [f.71v] 21 Nov. 1623. Privy council to Trinity House about the
Lizard lighthouse [Printed in APC 1623–5, 119.]
211. [1] Dec. 1623. Ratcliff. Trinity House [to the privy council. Cf SP
14/155/1; CSPD 1623–5, 122.]
In reply to 210, they consider that the lighthouse lately erected at the
Lizard is altogether unnecessary. Ships never seek the channel from the
ocean at night. Besides, seamen seldom make their landfall at the Lizard
but commonly at Plymouth or Dartmouth. The Lizard is very seldom
seen outward or homeward bound, and the channel is there so broad that
men may sail 'by course' at night or day without fear. As to the collection,
they cannot justly certify, but conceive it may be about £400 a year, which
is a great burden on seamen. Owners and masters here complain of
paying 10, 15 and 20s every voyage in the port of London for such a
needless light.
Robert Salmon, Walter Cooke, Michael Geere, Walter Whitinge, T.
Best, William Case, John Bennet, [Richard Chester, Rowland Coytmor,
John Davis, Joshua Downinge, William Ivey, John Osborne, John
Vassall]. (fn. 1)
212. [f.72] 17 Dec. 1623. Certificate by Trinity House
At the request of John Duffe of 'St Maries', London, a Scotsman, they
certify that he was master and owner of the Angel of London, which was
cast away in foul weather at the Isles of Scilly coming from Ireland to La
Rochelle, to his great loss.
Messrs Salmon, Cooke, Case, Davis, Whitinge, Downinge, Best,
Coytmore, Bennett, Love, Dove, Geere.