Freeman's Letters, 1678: nos 29-57

Freeman's Letters, 1678: nos 29-57

29. General William Stapleton [Montserrat]

London, September 19, 1678
I had writt you p.r Capt. North in answer to yours by Capt. Hare and of your sonn Jemy and Randoll Russells safe arivall. (fn. 1) But ship not stoping in the Downs, my letters ware left behind, and this searves now to give you an account of your sonns good health, as also of young Randoll Russels, and how I have disposed of them. I had intents of keeping them sometime in the howse with mee, but my wife being in the cuntry, 35 miles distance, and considering thay could not make any improvement in their learning, I thought it better to dispose them abroad. Meeting with a very good woman at Camberwell, next doore to Doctor Parrs wher my Lady Marsh now lodges, and but a mile from the towne, wher I goe or send to them three times a weeke constantly to see that care is taken of them. (fn. 2) In all respects I thought it much better then to keepe them at home with mee. The woman wher thay are is exterordinary carefull and tender of them and teacheth them to reade English, which neither of them yett is very perfect in. But nevertheles I shall spake to a Lattin master to put Randoll to, that keeps a schoole the next doore. But my Lady Marsh on noe termes would suffer itt, understanding of Mr. Lamberts comeing home, who shee designs as a tutor for them both. I was willing to submitt to her, being soe neerely related. I hope it will be with your probation. I designe them to learn to dance and what else needfull. They are both in very good helth [p. 26] and in a comfortable, ordinary, pleasant pleace. And assure yourselfe ther shall be noe care wanting in mee to see them provided with all things necessary. The King and Duk have been at Winsor ever since their arivall, but, as soon as thay come to towne, will wait upon Jemy to kiss both theire hands according to your desire. Shall also pr.sent the little negro to which of the Duks family I understand hath a fancy for him, but am informed the Duke doth not care for any of them. The ducks I shall also send to bee put in the parke, haveing allready acquainted Mr. Chiffinch therewith. (fn. 3)

I observe you have made mee one of the trustees for the puting out Francis and Randoll Russells portions, which I shall bee ready to doe with all the care I can for them, but desire to bee excused from the trust. Becaus if I should then put theire mony and the security should proove bad, I am accomptable for it myself. My care shall be as great as if I tooke the trust upon mee, in doeing them all the kindnes in that respect or any other that lyes in my power, and shall not bee wanting to follow such orders as from time to time I shall receive from yourselfe or any other p.rson you shall pleas to appoint therein. You are pleased to signifie to us to stopp the mony in those hands its in here, which I have taken the adviese of a Counsell upon, who tells mee we are capable of doeing noe such thinge without the order of the executor who you must compell ther to doe them justice, in ordering there mony to be put out, according to the contents of the will, or if he be wanting therein, whoever calls the mony out of his hands is liable to secur and pay intrest for the same. But you as ordinary may compell him to put it out, if you can propose a good security for it, and not otherwise; which, if he orders, I will use my indeavers to gett it into the Chamberlins hands or finde some other good security for it, as soone as possible I can.

Sir Tho. Estcourt hath p.d in your 500£ with 9 mo.s intrest. The 2d of July Last I put out for you 1,000£ for 6 mo. upon a morgage to Mr. Griffeth, which will be punctually p.d in at the time. Mr. Bradshaws 1,000£ will now be speedily p.d in alsoe. (fn. 4) As soon as I can finde any other good security for you, shall be placeing out your mony. I doubt not speedily but to rec.e your last yeares pay & sallery; but can doe noe good upon your arears yett. As soon as the King and my Lord Treasurer comes to towne, will be mooveing againe for it, and put it to an issue if possible. If not to bee donn otherwise, I will try Mr. Bertie what may be donn that way. (fn. 5)

Your bill to Col. Mathews have p.d accordinge to his order. I suppose the seale is now donn, which I shall send you p.r first, and will endeavor the procureing you a pattent for it for lives. But for procureing a pattent to being the Kings Escheat without account to be given, I doubt it will be difficalt. I will moove the Duke in it. Your Privy Seale for the negros if you pleas shall bee sent you, but I will waite your next order for it, it being of noe use to you there. And if the Dutch Agent should moove here in it further, it will be wanting here. You may bee sure if anything be donn by him, it will bee here the tryall will be, not there. But I have heard nothinge from him lately. I inquired of Mr. Cary what evidence he could give if there should be any occation, which accordinge to what he ther declared would have been rather against your intrest then for it. (fn. 6) I shall indevor to procure you 2 chirurgeons, a groome, and smith, if to be had, and send you over by first. I shall alsoe sattisfie Capt. Hare accordinge to your desire.

The Kinge being at Winsor and Mr. Crisps being ill since his arivall, there hath been little donn by them. (fn. 7) Nor indeed doe I know of much is to bee donn by them, the whole buisnes being in a maner affected before their arivall. I went to Winsor and delivered your letters to the Duke and Secretary, and as soon as thay come to towne (till when will bee little donn in any buisnes) will give you an account of all things. I have not as yet received the 100£ of Mr. Crisp (but hee tells me he had orders for it). Nor would I receive it at all but in part of sattisfacion of the expence I have been at for them. For since the country thought me deserving of noe better a present, I could have been without that alsoe.

Capt. Cotter is not now in towne but was two dayes since. Hee hath not as yett received any rent of any his tenants that I know of, but Mr. Russell and Mr. Nugent one yeares rent. Mr. Lewis Mago I lately rec.d a letter from with a bill for 20£ 5s and a Bill of Ladeing for a runlett of indico and tearce of sugar; neither of all which is yett received. I have some mony in my hands of Mr. Mahox but noe order from him to pay Capt. Cotter anythinge as yett. I belive all things now will end in a gen.ll peace, which is already concluded betwixt the Dutch, Spaniard, and French. The latter very invictive against our late proceedings, which doubtles hath brought him to tearmes; but all people jealous. Our amity will not be of long standing. This, with my humble servis, to yourself, good Lady, and family, is what as prsent offers from –

[p. 27] This day I receive yours of the 26th July (with the included). I shall duly observe the commands thereof, following such directions as you have given, except that in complaininge against Haddocke, which will be lookt upon as mallice. (fn. 8) But will keepe the depositions to make use of when occasion offers. A list of the officers is not to be procured, it being forbidden.

30. Robert Helme [Nevis]

London, September 19, 1678
Sir,
This sarves to advise you that wee have bought the ketch Batchellor, burthen about 50 tuns, in equall thirds betwixt you and ourselves. Shee cost us first penny 120£, but being an old vessell will cost us a greate dale of mony to fitt her to sea. The which wee are now upon with all expedition, designing her voyage in France, there to lade about 20 tuns brandy, and to fill up with salt, which wee shall order to be discharged at Watterford in Ireland, where wee will order as much beefe as will fill her up and from thence to sayle directly to Nevis to yourselfe. Only have given the Master orders to touch at Mountsarat in his way for an hour or two to receive such instructions from you as you shall think convenient which you may have lyinge in a readines for him there, either for him to proceed to Nevis and discharge there or keepe him at Mountsarat to discharge, which you shall judge most safe. But wherever you discharge his ladeing wee desire you may be yourself in p.rson if possible for the better manadgem.t of the designe. And this wee thought fitt to give you timely notice of in regarde of the adventure wee runn in it that you may be soe prepared against her arivall that all things may be caryed on with seafty and silence which wee have not been wantinge in here. In laying it as well as wee can, in the first place, wee hope we have pitch upon a master that will proove trusty and diligent, who tells us he hath provided himselfe with such men as he can confide in – but wee would not depend two much upon that. You to well know the quallity of seamen in such cases when they gett into punch howses amongst theire comrads, which you must indaver to prevent. In the next place, wee will procure a cocket from hence, for as many tunns of brandy as wee lade as being ships from hence. Which wee must use a little art in makeinge a small alteration in, soe that there can be noe evidance against us but our owne ships crue who are at the ladeing of it in France, the ketch being entred out from hence to Watterford and Nevis. For the prevention of which we judge this to be the most safe way: that imadiatly upon her arivall after the Master hath wayted upon the Gen.l or Governor of the island where you discharge her, that you have a sloop or good bote to give theire assistance with all imaginable dispatch, and to unlade the beefe first; and as soon as that is discharged and not before, to enter the brandy in the Custome House (because if you should enter it before) the rumor of such a quantity of brandy being arived in such a small vessell may give occasion of suspicion; & as soon as your entry is made, to discharge it as soon as its possible to be donn; & imeadietly after the vessell is discharged, to send her to some other island to relade. If you land it at Nevis, as I thinke may bee the best way, then to send her to Mountsarat where be sure to order her ladeing in a readiness which I judge may not exceed 25 or 30 tuns at most of sugar. If there is not or canot be soe much procured of our owne in a readines, exchange with the Royall Comp. and pay them at Nevis, that soe the vessell may have a quick dispatch there. And you may order her to this port or Leverpoole, which you judge conveniant. But lett your Bills of Ladeinge runn in the name of Mr. Fox or any other p.rson there, laden p.r him upon his proper acco.tt and consigned unto Mr. Ben. Skutt, that the goods may be made out as not belonging to us, in case of any trouble or saisure of her upon the vessells retourne. (fn. 9) And under our cover you may write a letter to Mr. Skutt from the p.rson you name in the bills, that wee may be prepared for that purpose. But if you judge it most safe to discharge her at Mountsarat, then order her ladeinge at St. Christophers or Antigue as afores.d. Wee had designed you should have sent her to N. England after being discharged, but that the Master is not willing to consent unto, unles you finde a necessity for soe doeing that you canot otherwise be secure then you may, but must pay the men their wages dew to that time, if it should soe hapen. But wee have promised the contrary if it can be avoyded. Wee have given the Master in his instructions (whose name I omitted, that is, Mr. Clayton) orders to be very carfull to keep his men from conversing with any other seamen whatever, and to keepe them constantly on bord his vessell until shee is discharged and afterwards, unles at such time as they goe with theire bote to take in theire reladeing, when he hath promised to be allwayes with them, and to laye a strickt charge with his mate to keepe such of his men as remaine on bord the vessell constantly imployde that they may have noe oppertunity of conversing with any others. This is the best method wee can proscribe. But I submit

[p. 28] all things to your proudent manadgemt, and subscribe ourselves. Pray fayle not to suply Mr. Fox with the 100£ accordinge to advise; and if he should want 50£ more, desire you to doe the like, which I shall make the like care to reimburs. The foregoeing is a copie of what writ you p.r via Bristoll. This now accompanies the s.d ketch Batchellor, Will. Clayton, Comander. ...

31. Captain William Clayton [Commander of the Adventure]

London, September 30, 1678
Wee doe herby order you to sayle with the first fayre winde to the port of St. Martins in France and, at your arivall there, to apply yourself to Mad.m Moore and Mr. Abraham Duport, and deliver our letter to them, wherein wee have given necessary orders to them for the ladeing your vessell with brandy and salt, and for the giveing her a speedy dispatch, which being accomplished you are to sayle with the first faire winde to the port of Watterford in Ireland, and to apply yourselfe to our corispondent, Mr. Hen. Alland, whome wee have given order to discharge your ladeing of salt, and to relade upon you 100 barrells of beefe and some pipe staves if to be procured. Which after you have taken on bord and received your orders from Mr. Hen. Alland, you are to sayle directly to the port of Mountsarat, where if you receive any orders from our freind & partner Mr. Robert Helmes, to whome wee have given advise of your comeing & have desired him to leave such orders with Mr. John Bedingfeilde, Mr. W.m Fox or Mr. Otto Curtis of whom you are imeadietly to make inquiry, without makeing the least discovery of your ladeing except of beefe from Ireland, and what orders you shall receive from s.d Helmes. If any there lyinge for you, you are to observe and follow, either in unladeing your vessell at that island or in proceedeing to any other as he shall direct, without any delay of time. But in case s.d Helmes hath left noe orders for you at Mountsarat affores.d, then you are imeadietly to way your ankors, and sayle directly to Nevis and apply yourselfe to our affores.d p.tner Mr. Robert Helmes, from whome you are to observe and follow such orders as you shall rec.e from him in discharging your ladeing there or, if he shall thinke fitt to order you to any other port or place to discharge your ladeing, you are alsoe to observe his orders therein. And, haveing soe discharged your ladeing, you are to follow such further orders as you shall receive from him in reladeing your vessell at the affores.d island of Nevis or any other as he shall direct, and to retourn to England or any other port of place as he shall order you. But in case of the death (which God forbid) or the absence of Mr. Robert Helmes upon the s.d island of Nevis, you are then to apply yourself in the same maner as affores.d to Mr. W.m Helmes, and to deliver letters directed to Mr. Rob Helmes to him s.d W.m Helmes and follow his orders in maner as affores.d. Now, at your arivall in Watterforde, you must give out that you are bound to Tangier, and not to acknowledge any other place, and at your arivall in the West Indies at Mountsarat, Nevis, or any other island, you are to enter and give out you come from Ireland and that your ladeing is beefe. But upon entry of the brandy in the Custom Howse, if thereunto required, you must produce your cockett out of this Custome Howse for the same which you have hereinclosed, and offer me the ladeing of it by & at this port accordinge to the tenor of the cocket. Which you must be carefull of but not produce it at any port or place whatsoever upon any tearmes until you arive in the West Indies. If in Ireland or any other port of England they should question the bale of goods contained in the same cocket, rather suffer the s.d bale to be taken on shore than produce the cocket, alleadgeinge you have lost the same. Now at your arivall in the West Indies, you must be carefull to keepe all your men on bord your vessell and suffer them not to have the least converse with any other seamen whatever; and, if at any time there be a necessity for your owne goeinge ashore, as upon your first arivall to wayte upon the governor, be sure to laye a strickt charge with your maete to p.rforme the same dureinge the time you are unladeing or reladeing of your vessell. If your bote caryes any goods on shore or fetches any on bord, be very carefull to goe allwayes with your bote and keepe your men constantly at theire buisness that soe they may have noe oppertunity at any such times, to converce with any other seamen, and leave always the same strickt comand with your men to be kept on bord, dureinge the whole tim of your being there. And alwayes be ready with your vessell to slipp and runn out of the rode upon the least notice from Mr. Helmes if any such occation should happen. This instructions and all other matters [p. 29] relateing to our intrest, we intreat you to be very carfull in observing the manadgem.t thereof and of the whole designe we comitt to your care and prudent manadgem.t, not doubting your diligence in this affare. We hartily wish you a good voyage and subscribe ourselves.

32. Madame Moore & Abraham Duport [St. Martin's, France]

London, September 30, 1678
By the recomendation of my good freinds Mr. Ben. Skutt and Mr. Andrew Slirty, Jun.r, I have consigned unto you the ketch Batchellor, burthen about 50 tunns, W.m Clayton, Master, who is now ready to sayle with the first faire winde and at her wished arivall with you at St. Martins, pleas to lade on bord her the quantity of 80 hhds. the very best St. Martins brandy. & If you have occation to draw it of the peeces on bord, if you put good part of it in barrells about 30 or 32 gallons & sume in smaller caske, it may not be amis but rather the better for our purpose. & For the remaind.r of her ladeinge, please to fill up with salt. By the vessell shall give you orders to whome to consigne it, & that you may take the advantage of the market & be buyinge at the best hand as you see cause are the vessell arive. I have herwith sent you a Bill of Exchange drawne p.r Mr. Peter Barr for one thousand crownes at double usance payable in Parris, which doubt not you may negotiate to your sattisfac.ion. & What further you are in disburs I shall take care to sattisfie you by good bills, or answere your draught upon me as you finde sutable for your occation. ...

33. Madame Moore & Abraham Duport [St. Martin's, France]

London October 2, 1678
The foregoeing lynes is what wrott your p.r the last post. This now accompanyes the ketch Bachelor, William Clayton, Master, of whome I advised you in the foregoeing and whome I desire you to lade the said quantyty of eighty hhds. of St. Martins brandy, the very best you can procure, in such cask as are most my advantadg. And take a Bill of Lading for the same, consigneing it to Mr. Charles Collier in Tanjer. And to fill up said vessell with salt, as much as she can conveniently carry. And to consigne the same to Mr. Henery Alland, Junior, in Waterford in Ireland. We also desire you to writte Mr. Charles Colier, p.r the Master of the vessell. And inclose the Bills of Lading to him, but send the letter to said Collier open under cover of Mr. Henery Allands letter, to whome I intreat you to writte a line or two, also. And inclose him a Bill Lading for the salt. And as sone as you have given the Master & vessell theire dispaches, please to draw upon me what more you shall be in disburse for lading said vessell, beside the 1,000£ already remitted you. Pray give her all dispaches posible. ...

34. John Bramley [Montserrat]

London, September 19, 1678
I have rec.d both yours of the 27th March & 18th June, which I did forbare to give answere to till now for want of time to peruse the acco.tts. As to the troubles you have had occationed by the rumor of warr, I shall say little to it, being a gen.ll calamity that wee as well as others must submitt to. & Blessed be God, I hope wee may now be in a seafty for some time. & Shall therefore proceed to give you answere to the severall heads of your letter. As to the first of the Royall Companies chargeing us with more negros then wee had, I have writt Mr. Carpenter concerninge that p.rticular, for I am not sensible of any other debt then that which wee gave bond for, which was 179,600 lbs. sugar, that you may easely clare to Mr. Carpenter. As to the second, that I expected 28 or 30 hhds. sugar to ballance my separate acco.tt. Upon perusall and examination of the acco.tt, I finde I had comitted an eror in my books in makeing the plant. deb.r 8,559 lbs. sugar more than was dew to mee upon the s.d accounts, & that I had omitted to give creditt for 6,445 lbs. sugar more p.d Mr. Liddell upon my acco.tt, which [p. 30] I suppose was for want of an account of the same, that I canot finde I had any acco.tt of untill this last acco.tt only in groce of soe many caske p.d him without any contents, which occationed me to omitt the makeing an entry of it in my books. Soe that I finde my sugar acco.tt neere upon a ballance. The acco.tt I now herewith send my attorny Mr. W.m Fox to ajust with you. As to the two artickels you have taken the liberty to give the Acco.tt Curr. creditt for of 7,000 lbs. sugar, you may well say they are just (as I suppose you meane them), that is just charges dew to mee. And whereas you call it an eror, I thinke I never comitted soe greate a one as in remitting any part of my intrest, which I did but conditionally, which on your parte you never have performed. And therefore if you insist further upon it, I will require my whole intrest, since you ware not content that I had remitted the greatest part on such easy termes but you would comande the remainder that I made a resarve of. You very well know I tould you that 8,000 lbs. sugar I would reserve & what was that to you if I never had p.d Liddell a pound of it. Could you comande me to give you that or any other parte of it without my vollentary consent? Although to give you sattisfac.ion that I was not anywayes a gainer thereby, I told you I had been at soe much charge for sallery p.d Geo. Liddell; and although I gave him 5,000 lbs. of it in mariage, he had the confidence to tell me to my face that it was not a recompence suffitiant for the exterordinary trouble hee tooke upon my plantation in runing up and downe the country for provitions and other necessaries for it, which was the only reason I had to give it him. For anything elce that ever he did in my servis I recompenced him suffitiently. I shall say noe more to that perticular haveing given myself more trouble then I need to give you sattisfac.ion in it.

As to the next of 2,000 lbs. sugar, I thinke I might just charge 50 s. p.r head for passeges when I had been out 7 or 800 lbs. sugar – exterordinary for rum and provitions – it being the ordinary price for passengers, if I had noe other reason but that but I bought them at Nevis and sent them up to Mountsarat upon my owne risque and adventure, and I know not whether you would except them or not upon the plantation. And had any of them dyed or had they been all lost in the passage up, I am sure the plantation would have borne noe part of the loss. And yett for all this, I writt you that, if you did accept them for the plantation, you should gave them at the same rate they cost mee, only paying 50 s. p.r head for their passages, although the negros ware worth 400 lbs. p.r head buying and noe man would have had the like choyse under. If you had made any objection why would you receive them? But you well anough knew what you did in it. And, if it ware to doe againe, I would not insure soe many negros from one island to the other for 5,000 lbs. sugar, if there ware noe other reason but the casualty of theire lives, and dangers of the seas, and for the good bargaines you have bought for the plantation. I would be glad you could instance one, except that of your old howshold stuff brought up from Nevis. Nor indeed shall you oblidge me in that particular, for I will allow of none but such as my attornys are privy to contract, since you precaution me. I am sure noe reasonable man can judge otherwise then that it is a just charge had there been noe contract. Soe much to that particular. As to the next, I observe you say our joyner helps us a little and yett I finde noe creditts for his labor, which makes mee presume you imploy him cheifely upon necessaries for your owne use, which I hope you will bee soe just to give the plant. Cr. for this and many other necityes I should never insist upon did you not put mee upon them. But since I finde you indeavor to take all advantages of mee, I shall indeavor to give you as few as possible. The next is you wonder I call Bando my p.rticular negro, when as I nor any for mee ever asked for an exchange. When I would freely give my oath, you vollantarily offered him in exchange. And since hee is now the plantation negro, I have charged the plantation for soe many months servis as Vallentine wrought upon the plantation dureing the time Bando was learning his trade. For if he was a negro belonging to the plantation I had noe reason to give you the worke of another slave in his roome for nothinge. And for his learning, you reckon his worke ever since hath dischrged but that will not pay me. You must reckon againe for I shall charge the plantation for it and if you will pay mee for the hire of my negro [p. 31] Vallentine all the time he was upon the plantation after Bando came up and was in my servis, I am content. The plantation shall have all the benifitt of all you can make out he earned at the rate that other workmen hath p.r tunn, discountinge his clothes tooles and other necessaries that I am charged for and have sent him. If you can make out anythinge that he hath earned I should be glad of it, for I canot finde a farthing for the labor of 3 of them, 2 or 3 yeares, nor as yett soe much as will pay my disbursm.t besides their labor. Another objection I have to answere that my cozen Bedingfeild informed me of – that you claime Nero as a plant. negro alsoe. If soe, pray returne my negro Petter to Mr. Helmes who is ready to deliver you Nero or sattisfac.ion for him, that I may know at length what is my owne. And since contracts betwixt ourselves are noewayes bindeing, I have much reason to suspect all other concernes under your manadgm.t, for I can never be sattisfied that my estate should be under the manadgm.t of a p.son whose word is of noe vallew. Wherefore I have now sent my attornyes my objections to your last acco.tt being severall artickles for wine, brandy, and fresh provisions that ware for the use of your owne family and not my slaves or servants, or any of the plant. family, except your owne, which I am sure noe law can oblidge me to the maintenance of. For any necessary charge that belongs to the plantation servants, hired men or slaves I must be content to allow of; but for them I will allow nothing but salt provitions, rum, and Indiens provitions which is as much as any man in those parts allows of and for all the stock that the plant.n otherwise produceth, be it of what cinde so ever, you may take your divident of, and my attorny shall have the other halfe to dispose of for my acco.tt. And if you and your family continue there, you must live upon your owne charge and not upon mine, neither for salt, fish or any other provitions. And for whatever necessaries the plantation hath occation for, my attornyes have orders to suply my halfe part, either for payment of workemen or buying in anythinge for the plantation whatever, untill you put in a stock accordinge to Articles joyntly betwixt us, which I am ready to doe in the intrem. You may suply your one halfe part but not more. That I shall take care for myselfe. And for whatever the plantation produceth as sugar & c., when its filled in caske in the storehowse, it shall be devided by lotts or in the potts by lotts. But its most aquell when caskt. And doe you take your divident and dispose as you please. For mine I will dispose as I see fitt. Nor have you any power to dispose of any of my goods otherwise and for your negros in liverye, horses or any other charge at any time. But at such as they are imployed in the plantation servis, I shall not allow of. If you keepe them to attend you, they must bee your owne and mantained at your owne charge, it being noe more then what you have formerly refused my attornyes. Whilst we continued amicably in our buisnes, I never disallowed of anything nor did I ever intend till now. You have planly demonstrated to me that you slipe noe oppertunity to lay hold of all advantages as those in exchange of the negros to apparant and other contracts betwixt ourselves, which I was not soe prudent nor suspitious as to take under hand for, not imagining I had such a p.rson to deale with. And now I insist upon my due as every honest man ought to doe, and wen you have paid your due I shall require noe more of you, accordinge to your owne maxime. And for my part, I shall be content to referr all matters of differences in acco.tt or otherwise to be divided by the Governor and Mr. W.m Fox who are p.rsons noewayes concerned nor intrested, whose justice you nor noe man else can object against. And I am sure p.rsons of that worth, that they will be as ready to doe you all justice as myself. But you must not be a judge in your owne concern. This is what offers at present from –

For the payment of what mony I am in disburs for the plantation, or the payment of your owne bond, you may ship the concern joyntly if you please or otherwise if you thinke fitt. I presume this next yeare you may be in a condition to doe it.

35. William Fox [Montserrat]

London, September 19, 1678
Worthy Friend, Sir,
I am constantly heaping troubles upon you to my great shame that I should impose soe much upon your freindship. But I am so exasperated by the disingenuity of Mr. Bramley who I finde makes use of all meanes, be they ever soe indirect to circumvent and defraude mee, that I can no longer [p. 32] repose any confidence in him or be sattisfied with any of his transactions in any concerns. For a man that canst be dealth with, unles bound by evidences, I must have a care of. For those objections he makes, as you will finde by the inclosed, I can safely give my oath ware contracts made betwixt him and myselfe, although he soe possitively denyes them. And you or any other man may judge by all circumstances whether they bee soe or not. I hereinclosed send you a letter open to him, which I desire you to paruse, and alsoe lett the Governor peruse it. And please to take a copie of it and keepe by you, wherein you may see how plainly I have answered his objections, which is as full as I can doe to you. And if he doth not allow of those charges, I must desire you to bring an acion against the plantation for them. I have herewith sent you copies of the accounts, and my objection against his last acco.tt. And if he fairely complyes in other things, would not have you insist upon any of the objections except that of 3,000 lbs. sugar for sheepe which, if ware not bought by your consent, as I sopose they ware not, that I will not allow of, nor have them kept upon the plantation, they being of noe advantage to the plantation. But if they ware bought by your consent, pray take halfe theire increase, as well as of all other stock, and appropriate it either to your owne use the Governors, or with you dispose of otherwise for my account. I intreate you to p.ruse the heads of my letter to Mr. Bramley, where you will finde I possitively disallow of any charge whatsoever that futerly shall bee expended by the meanes of his owne or familyes being upon the plantation. But if he continues upon it must be at his owne charge, and not upon the plantation charge. I herewith send you copies of our articles and accounts that are alsoe recorded in the Secretaries Office, where you will finde I am bound to be at halfe the charges of howse-keepinge, such as is necessary for servants, hired men, workemen or slaves, but that canot includ Mr. Bramley and his family. If soe, he may spend the whole revenue of the estate, but that is plaine to the contrary, or otherwise he may bring two familyes upon it. And for the produce of the plantation, I requst you (to make aplication to the Governor) that he may dispose of noe part thereof but with your privity and knowledge, and that he comand the overseer weekly to give you an exact and p.rfect acco.tt of what is made and of all the produce, that it may equelly be divided by lotts in the storehowse after put up in cask or, if you thinke fitt, in the potts. And lett my halfe part bee shippt me home, I meane of the sugar. For rumm or mallasses, you may dispose it theire or send to N. England for provitions or as you and hee can agree. And workemens wages, privitions, servants clothes or any other necessaries whatsoever, lett him buy or produce his halfe part; and for my halfe part, I will send out what necessaries may be requisite from hence, of which pray lett me have a list. And for what there is a necessity of buying there that I doe not furnish from hence (which I will send a convenient quantity of p.r the first ship) let my part be paid for all in ready mony. To which purpose I have now sent you a bill upn Mr. Rob Helmes for 100£, and shall send more as occasion requires, that I may have the full of my halfe part laden home. And to prevent accounts, and for my caske, lett the cooper work joyntly betwixt us, or elce lett him worke one weeke for me and another for him which hee please. And because I would not impose this great trouble upon you, I request you to imploy Mr. Otto Curtius or any other p.rson you judge capable and trusty, to take an exact acco.tt and constant account of all proffits and disbursm.ts upon the same, and to pay of and buy all necessaries on my part. Only I request you will please to take the trouble sometimes to overlooke the accounts and see that he whome you imploy dischargeth the trust carefully. And whatever you agree with him for I shall bee content to pay. And alsoe please to lett him, whenever hee ships of any sugar for mee, to see they be very well filde up at the time of shiping them of, and lett the cask be as large as they can. I have allsoe sent you copies of Mr. Liddells accounts made up betwixt us when I came away under his hand, and a list of what debts ware standing out, which, if any prooves insolvant or unreceived, they must bee caried to Mr. Helmes and my joynt acco.tt, he being equally concerned with mee in them. And I intreate you to see my coopridge acco.tt finished and sent mee, and an acco.tt who is to pay mee, and for the proceeds of my two negros: one of which I understand my cozen Bedingfield hath bought at 4,000 lbs. sugar, the other is worth beter than 5,000 lbs. sugar. Pray lett it be shipt mee home, but not in such cask as tearces that I lost 1/5 part in freight and charges, as he shipt mee last. I never thought I should have had occasion to have given you soe much [p. 33] trouble in this concerne, nor indeed never designed to have taken notice of such particular things as expences in howsekeepeing or the like. But since Mr. Bramley, I finde, in all injust occations to deceive mee, it puts mee upon my gard, and am resolved to allow of nothinge but what of necessity canot be avoyded. Therefore intreat you and the favor of the Governor who I am confident will doe me all right to soe settle this concrn that it may remouve all doubts and further disputes, which will bee to me great sattisfac.ion. And althoug I know Bramley a man very capable of manadgement, yett I had rather loose halfe the produce than give him any advantage of abusinge mee. For beinge soe precautious, I have just reason to suspect him in all things. I begg your patience for which I shall bee eternally oblidged to you, and assure yourselfe that nothinge shall be wanting in my power to doe you any servis. p.r the first oppertunity, shall not faile to send your bedsteed and worme. In the intrem, I hartily bagg your pardon. I am sory my cozen Bedingfield should soe play the foole as to disoblidge Mr. Helmes and my brother by his false informations, for which reason they will not yett be reconsiled to him, soe far as to give him any further imploym.t.

36. [p. 34] Colonel Abednego Mathew [St. Christopher]

London, September 21, 1678
Honored Sir,
Yours by Capt. Crisp, as alsoe of the 12th July p.r Capt. Croscombe, I have received with the 20 hhds. sugar, which prooves very ordinary in comparison of the 14 hhds. formerly; not soe good by 12d p.r c.t. I have sold them at 24s 8d p.r c.t, the uttmost the present markett would afford, and have herewith sent you an Account of Sales thereof. Your bill of 878£ 15s 4 ½d, drawne p.r the Gen.ll I have past to your creditt, and have sent forward your letter to Mr. Measheek Mathew, and shall pay the 600£ you order as soon as he charges upon me for it, which I expect dayly. I have alsoe p.d your sister Dixon 20£ accordinge to your order but she saith must have neere as much more to buy those things your Lady hath ordered. I desired her to buy them and promised to pay her the surplus. Your trunk at length I have got out of the Custom Howse, but Mrs. Dixon was forced first to make oath the things ware shipt out of England. You sent noe inventory of what it contained, and it was opened in the Custome Howse. But I hope nothine may be wanting. That with all other things you have ordered shall bee sent p.r the first oppertunity that offers.

Mr. Crisp hath been very ill since his arivall. The buisnes he came upon I had in a maner affected before his arivall. What is yett wantinge you need not question my assistance to him in efectinge, though I must needs say the country (fn. 10) hath been very unkinde to desire my assistance for neere three yeares upon a continuall expence to myselfe without any allowance. ...

37. Colonel Philip Warner [Antigua]

London, September 28, 1678
Sir,
I have received yours of the 26th June by Capt. Solloman Cribb with the 20 hhds. sugar, which prooved very good and have sold them at 25s p.r c.t, that is 12d if not 18d beyond the ordinary price of sugars now. Had she come at that time, you had my advice would have yeilded 27 or 28s p.r c.t but the markett is much fallen since that. It was the utmost the present market would afford and never could finde anythinge got by keepeing. Herewith you have an Account of the Sales thereof. Here is a great glut of sugars come in. Yours to Mr. James Hurd inclosed and sent forwards, and have received an answere from him that your sugars are not yett disposed of. As soone as they are and the proceeds received, will follow your orders therein, which I shall remind him of. In my last I gave you an account that I had p.d Lucy and taken up your bond. Those things you order shall bee sent you p.r first conveniencey that offers. Your letter to Sir Rob. Southwell delivered; and if anythinge offers to your prajudice, shall doe you what servis I can. (fn. 11) I here of nothinge but a complaint my Lord Willoghby hath against you concerninge summe negros. (fn. 12) If I here anythinge more of it, shall give you an account. ...

[p. 35] If I can procure such servants as you desire, will send them. I shall doe my best, but tradesmen are very scarce. I could not gett one this 2 yeares to send, and those I sent formerly on high wages. I will lay out for them for you.

38. William Calhoun [St. Christopher]

London, September 21, 1678
Worthy Friend, Sir,
In my former I sent you an account of the proceeds of your sugar p.r Archer & c. Since which I received yours p.r our worthy freind Capt. Crisp and shall follow your directions therein, in case he proposeth anythinge that I judge may bee to your advantage. I was with him in treaty with the Company for a shipp of negros. But upon those tearmes they stand I thinke nothinge can be got by them worthwhile. Soe wee desisted. ...

39. [p. 36] William Calhoun [St. Christopher]

London, October 26, 1678
Sir,
The above lines is a copie of my last. Since which I have received yours of the 29th July p.r via Leverpoole with Bill of Ladeing for 12 hhds. sugar, and 68 bundles of tobacco which I have taken up but not yett disposed thereof. I am informed there is some damage upon the tobacco, which I have taken order to have alowance. For the sugar I am proffered 18d p.r c.t beyond this market price, but hope to make somthing more of it. I shall hereafter order 2 or 3 shipps a yeare to that port, which I have contracted for 18d p.r c.t beyond this market price. That I desire you to keepe to yourselfe. But if you have any goods to lade, you may send them by said vessells, which I know Mr. Helmes will indeavor to accomodat you with freight for, and let them come to me as my owne, in conformity to my contract. Its a great advantage, and rises to mony upon greate quantityes. I observe what you writ touching our haveing 20 hhd. freight more on Archar outwards then you had. But yett it was not halfe soe much as the shipp would have caryed, and, had you ordered a greater quantity, you know it was the same thinge to us as to send a shipp soe much dead freighted. And indeed I had not taken the halfe of the vessell but to accomodate you, your quantity of goods being soe small that I could not gett a vessell soe small. And I knew it your disadvantage to freight a vessell and send her empty, [p. 37] which was the only reason I concerned myselfe and p.r now. For the 190 barrells by Terry you are charged 40s p.r tun, which was very cheape consideringe wee thought it to be a time of warr, haveing then noe other prospect. And indeed wee might have lett and was proffered 50s p.r tunn upon the same ship if we would have taken in any upon freight, but rather chose to send the shipp soe much dead freighted than to spoyle our owne market by lettinge to freight. And I assure you I had much adoe to prevaile with my bro. Baxter who is aqually concerned with us in the shipp and adventure to have that 100 bar.lls upon freight, which I alsoe spared out of our owne beefe, that he resented ill from me, soe that I hope you will put a favorable construction upon my actings therein.

Capt. Crisp hat been very ill ever since his arivall and still continues soe, which is the reason wee have as yett donn nothine. By Capt. North I sent you some sayle canvis, soe that I supose you will not have occation for any more. The Parlim.t is now sitting, and the greate buisnes in hand is the examination of severall in custody who conspired the Kings life, being sett aworke by the Jesuits abroad. (fn. 13) What proofs of it will bee is not yet knowne. But strange surcumstances. ...

40. William Helme & Company [Nevis]

London, October 26, 1678
Itts now the 26th October. The foregoeing was a copie of last since which wee have received yours of the 8th August adviseing of 40 tuns sugar you should lade for our accounts upon Capt. Terry. But considering the danger of the season and that freight was lett at that high rate, wee had rather you had let more freight upon her and give her a dispatch and kept our goods for other ships. But however wee are well sattsfied with what you have donn, and desire hereafter you to bee more frequent and large in your advises to us, which hitherto you have been somethinge wantinge in. We shalle this next insueing yeare, and soe futurely, order 3 or 4 shipps a yeare for Leverpoole which if possible wee desire may bee laden with our owne concerns. Although you keep the shipps longer then ordinary unles they be shipps freighted that theire time must be complyed with, Capt. Lawrance wee hope you will send to that port, accordinge to our desire. Capt. Terry, if please God he arive in seafty, wee shall speedily dispatch out, and order her to retourn to that port alsoe. And wee designe to hire a small vessell to lade out with beefe, that shall order thither alsoe, wee haveing contracted for 18d p.r c.t above this market price for theire ladeing which keep to yourselves. If Mr. Fox should want 100£ upon my account, pray fayle not to suply him with it and, upon the first advise from you that you have p.d it, I will reimburs you from hence. I alsoe desire you not to fayle to send up your sloope or somme others as occations requires to fetch downe my sugars from Mountsarat of my plantation as fast as its made after Xmass, and ship it for Leverpoole, if any of our shipps bound that waye; if not, for London. And please to favor me with timely advise what ships you lode it upon, and the quantity, that I may insure if needfull. Hereof pray fayle not. And another thinge I intreate of you; to write to Coll. Edward Stapleton of Mountsaratt, and Coll. Warner of Antigua; to suply me with some ceador and yallow sanders for the wanscotting a roome or two in a new howse I am now building. And, if they can procure it, be sure to gett it brought downe in our sloope, and shipp upon the first ship wee have comes for London, or any other you can perswade to bestow the freight of it upon mee. I would have it if possible by March Next. Therefore bee mindefull of it. ...

41. [p. 38] General William Stapleton [Montserrat]

London, October 26, 1678
Sir,
Since the writing the foregoeing lines, I had an oppertunity of discoursing the Duke fully to all your buisness, and your sonn Jemy kist his hand. The firs thing I mooved was to desire to know of him what he thought fitt should bee given Haddock. At which hee seemed concerned and told mee hee must have his part. That I desired to know what his part was. He told mee hee intended him the halfe, but would aske the Kinge and kno the Kings pleasure therein. The next thinge I mooved was your arears. He assured me had spoke with my Lord Treasurer about it who promised it should bee donn and would againe mind him of it. (fn. 14) The third was a pattent for being the Kings Escheat and keeping the seale. Which hee told me could not be granted, for the Kinge would adheare to noe such thinge for any longer time then dureing your commission. Alsoe acquainted him of Haddocks behavior, which he wondered at, haveing demeaned himselfe well in the servis here.

The negro boy he retourns you thanks for, but would not receive him, nor will not admitt of any of them in his family. I keepe him untill I receve your further comands. The seale is now finished. Shall bee sent you as soon as I receive it from the Lords.

Yesterday I received yours of the 13th August, but have not yett delivered the inclosed to the Lords nor Mr. Peeps. (fn. 15) This day I designe it and shall comuniceat your comands touching the depossitions to them. Therewith send you a Bill of Ladeing for the two salts you ordered w.tt 45oz. 15s 10d wtt at 5s 10d p.r oz. and three shillings grooveing cost £13 10s. I am promised your last years pay and salery shall bee paid befor Xmas. Shall keep it all in my hands untill I receive orders what summe you will have sent or remitted, which please to lett me know p.r first. I have received the £1,000 from Mr. Bradshaw. As soon as I finde any other good security will put out what I can for you. Capt. Crisp still continues very ill, and nothinge yett donn in the buisnes of the Islands. I requested His Royall Highness favor in it who did assure mee it should be donn, and that our Ambassidor in France had orders about it, to gett it speedily affected. Our freind John Rookeby departed this life 4 dayes since, for whome I am hartily sory, as I dare say you will be when you here it. Your former letters to His Ma.tie, the Lords and Secretary of State. The news that I have now to acquaint you with I am sure will not be gratefull to you, which is the discovery of a late plott aginst His Ma.ties p.rson contrived by the Jessuits abroad which was soe neere takeing affect that it was twice attemted undiscovered. And since the discovery, Sir Ed. Bury Godfry, one of His Ma.ties Justices of Peace, who took the examination of severall of the plotters, most barberously murthered, but the murtherers yet undiscovered. (fn. 16) Yestarday the Ld. Bellosis, Lord Stafford, Lord Pays and Lord Arundell was comitted to the gate howse, and warrants issued out for the aprehending the Lord Petter and 35 Knights and Barronets, besids seventeen was in custody before. (fn. 17) Hereinclosed I send you a list of such as the Grand Discoverer afferms to have delivered their comissions from the Pope. This seemes to bee a very fowle buisnes, and I feare will have a greate reflections on many honest men. I was yesterday with Sir Ro. Southwell, Mr. Blathwait and somme other of my freinds to intreate them, if anything was mooved to your prejudice, to give me notice of it. (fn. 18) And if I finde occation will produce the inhabitants of St. Xtophers pettition, and gett it seconded by one here from the merchants and planters whose readynes I am sure will not be wantinge.

Your sonn Jemy is now at my howse in good health and soe is Jemy Cotter, drinkeing your good health. ...

42. [p. 40] Daniel Danvers [Liverpool]

London, 5 November, 1678
Sir,
I rec.d yours of the 1st Instant werein I canot but take notice of your seeming commands, which I thinke I have noe such invention upon me as you would lay. For I doe not believe myselfe anywayes oblidged to give you the liberty of puting a price upon my goods nor that I am bound to dispose them on your tearmes. And indeed, when I rec.d your first letter in answere to mine, I did very much admire at your makinge use of them on any other tearmes then what I proposed to you, which was if you ware pleased to accept them on the same tearmes as Mr. Clayton sold the rest of the vessells ladeing. I writt you might make use of them but never gave you any larger lattitude. And, therefore, my proposalls are not soe unreasonable as yours, for if you had not approoved of them on those tearmes I could have p.d warehowse rooms and forborne the sale of them as well as Mr. Clayton. And for you to imagin that I would be bound to sell you a small p.rcell that arives accidentuall on such tearmes as I should by contract sell you a ships ladeing where I order her purposely, is very strange, when, as I know, the markett to be better. Certainly you would beleeve me to be very ignorant if I should acquiest with you in your proposalls. And inded you must pardon me if I am soe bold to tell you that your lines are a little abrupt in chargeing me with doeing you a prejudice in not sending the Abraham thither. For althoug I desire her returne to your port when shee went out, yett I never made you any promise that was anywayes bindeing whereby you might anywayes discomode yourselve by a prospect of her cominge to your port. And I am sure I gave you to understand at lest 2 or 3 mo. since that I had rec.d letters from my freind and corspondent in Nevis that he designed upon her first arivall at Nevis to send her to N England but afterwards takeing it into consideration tooke a freight for London to give the ship a dispatch by rason of the danger of the season, and had then a prospect of shiping above 20 tunn on her for our owne acco.tt, though goods came in beyond his expectation. And for you to thinke that I could or would order a vessell thither whose Bills of Ladeing ware for this port is very strange. And soe assur you that noe man that is concerned upon her will pay a second freight and risque for 18d p.r c.t. Nor doe I in the least question the markett price. If it had pleased God the ship had got out in time, [p. 41] as I hoped shee would have donn, shee had certainly returned thither. But her longe stay at your port and afterwards at Ireland altered the case. Nor can I foresee what may hapen abroad, but must lave that to the manadgm.t of him thats there. Wherefore I now desire you to consider your owne conveniencey, as touching my former proposition of two or 3 vessells this next yeare. For if you thinke it may be anywayes prejuditiall to you in haveing a relyence upon them, I lave you to your liberty to acquit yourselfe if you please. And for what I shall or may send, I will run the hazard of the market. If you thinke fitt, and if you can anywayes comode yourself better, please to make use of the advantage, and leave me to my liberty alsoe, for I can give you noo further assurance then this – that the first of the 3 vessells that I designed for you this next yeare went out of England the 20 August and I hope may retourne in Jan.ry or Feb.ry Next. Her burthen is about 83 tuns of that tunnidge. By her I writ possitively that shee should returne to your port, which I am sure they will indevor to comply with. Yett I canot tell how how things may stand there. And therefor will not have you omit any opertunity. The second vessell I designe you is the Abraham which I will now give all imaginable dispatch in fitting out, whose returne may reasonably be expected about the midell of next summer. Another I will indeavor to comande about Sept. or thereabouts. But yet I say I canot soe determine things as to give you any further assurance then that I will give my possitive orders. What accidents may hapen abroad contrary to my expectations wherby I may be frustrated therein I know not. Therefore you may yett goveren yourselfe as you please. But for two shipps if you think fitt to stand to my former propositions, you and Mr. Henthorne may certainly depend upon some time this next insuinge yeare, the danger of the seas excepted, and I fully purpose to order a third.

If you please by your next to lett me know the very price you proffered Mr. Clayton for his sugar. If it be in reason, I will accept it and send you a bill of parcells. But not 18d p.r c.t. I shall not for soe small a p.rcell. For the tobacco, I desire you to see that justice may be donn, and please to dispose it, and draw your comission upon it. For our ginger that remains unsold, pray fayle not to send it about by the first opertunity on the most moderate tearmes you can gett it, with a certificate from the Custome Howse that the duty was there p.d. And for what you have sold, please to send an acco.tt. And if it be not too troublesome, please to send me 4 fleshes of the best bacon and 2 potts of the best salt butter, I meane about 1 lb. wt. ...

43. Robert Helme [Nevis]

London, November 9, 1678
My Deare Freinde,
In my last I advised you of the rec.t of yours by Capt. Terry who is now unladeing and hope there may be noe damage upon him, althoug his shipp hath prooved very leaky all the voyage. The 10 butts of sugar from our plant.n is not yett landed. Its strange you lade our plantation sugar in butts, which is much to our disadvantage, espetialy upon soe high a freight as these comes at. Pray futurely lett it all be laden in hogsheads. And one thinge againe I must put you in minde of, that I have often donn formerly, that is the badnes of our cask which must cheifly be the fault of the workemen for want of good hooping and nayleing. Wee have severall times been greate loosers thereby, and hope futurely such case will be taken that there may be noe cause of further complaint.

Capt. Terry wee designe to dispatch out speedily. Shall put little on bord him but lumber except 200 pipes of wine wee shall order him to take in at Madera.

[p. 42] Shall order his retourne for Leverpoole, having agreed with the refiners there for 3 shipps ladeing this insueing year att 18d p.r c.t beyond the markett price. Of which I hope Lawrance may be one. Would have them laden with our owne affects, plant.n sugars, or comission sugars, though you keepe them the longer. And if any from my plant., pray lett goe the same way. Wee have alsoe hired another vessell about the burthen of the Abraham to lade in Ireland cheifly with provitions that may sett out about 3 weeks hence to returne to this port. On her shall lade about 600 barrells of beefe, the rest in lumber from hence.

I have in two formers given you an acco.tt of our ladeing 80 hogsheads of brandy on the ketch Batchellor, W.m Clayton, Comander, which since have made up a 100 hogshads, and if my advise reach her timley 2 or 300£ in caneris and dowles. (fn. 19) That will not be to be had here in a little time by meanes of the prohibition. I hope my letters may come timley for the doeing of it. If soe, I thinke you will doe very well to order that to be clapt ashore at Mountsaratt, and have it downe afterwards to Nevis for your conveniencey. It will doubtles be the safest way. The ketch I supose will bring anugh of those comodityes for a years suply. And therefor it will be needles to order her the same way the next voyage. Wherefore pray lett her returne to Leverpoole alsoe, or rather to Chester. I presume the Mast.r is a good pilott for either, being that country man.

By Capt. Terry, shall send you the potts and drippers for our owne plantation, which pray fayle not to stock very well with hands and all other necessaries before you come off. As alsoe to lett it be built with all convenient buildings. And if you can buy out yonge Procters intrest, or make any other additions, it will be very advantagious, I think, to send you another copper and some lead for the makeing some good sistrons, and other convenienceys for the presearvinge molasses. That being againe boyled up into paneels would be much our advantage, and alsoe for leading the workes to preserve skumings I will send some. If you thinke not fitt to convert it to those uses, you may dispose of it.

Here hath been a divelish plott afoote to roote out the Protestants, and sett up the Roman Catholick religion, which hath greate reflections upon the Duk. But being discovered I hope the neck of it may be broke. It hath been the sole buisnes of both Howses ever since theire meeting, who are both very unanimous in the affaire. All papists are ordered to withdraw 10 miles from the Citty by proclemation. To give you a p.rfect acco.tt will be to tedious. But in a little time will send the whole proceedings of the Howses, w.ch will give you a p.rfect acco.tt. ...

44. [Robert Helme [Nevis]]

London, November 22, 1678
Dear Freinde,
The above lines is a second copie of what I writt you p.r via Bristoll, as this now goes by Mr. Richard Cary and is to advise you of the receipt of yours of the 20th Sept., wherein I take notice of the content of your uncopied lines. And as to the first part touching your Procters reversion of our plant., I have in too formers writt you my sence of it, and would not have you by any means omitt the puchaseing of it, as soone as he is of age to make a good sale. As to the next p.ticular, I judge the R. C. will make noe further election as longe as you continue there. And therefore I must now put you in minde of my promisses as well as your owne. Althoug it may be gainst both our intrest, yett I would not by any meanes have you to have the last thoughts to the contrary but resolve upon comeing home the latter part of this next yeare. Otherwise, it will be believed you never design it, you haveing allready exceeded 2 yeares beyond expectation. And therefore I pray request the Comp. leave to come home for 3 or 4 months in the vacent time, which doubtles they will grant when you have put theire buisnes in a good method. And when you are here, you will bee better able to judge whether it may be sutable to returne or not than I can now informe you. In the intrem, leave the buisnes in your bro. hands. And you may alsoe pleade this as an excuse to the Comp.: that make it your request to them cheifely to settle their own acco.tt [p. 43] and many other acco.tt that you have depending in England with severall people of longe standinge. But however if you finde you canot draw your buisnes to a good head and settle all things cleare and plaine and lave them in a good method by June or July Next, then take 6 months longer for the doeinge, rather then to lave any buisnes in disorder. And above all things be careful to settle our accounts with Mr. Carpenter and the Royall Company p.rfectly and cleare them before your comeing off, which I will suply you with mony for the accomplishment of it.

As to what I writt you formerly relateing to the charge of my howsekeeping (that I must say is very great), we shall not differ upon that nor any other paymt. Therefore, trouble not your thoughts with it. I have noe thoughts of traveling, haveing now settled myself in a small estate here with what mony I had to spare that was not in our trade. (fn. 20) And if I have a little exceeded, which I canot absolutely tell untill I have made up all acco.tts (but I hope not), I hope my plant. in Mountsaratt will afforde me something towards it. And I doubt not your care in sending me the proceeds of it, as I have in my former desired it as longe as you continue there. I have sent £300 in mony and goods for the dischargeing all debts that are incumbent upon it, and for the dischargeing my part of futer disbursments; and if they should require a £100 more, pray suply it untill I here further.

The ketch Batchellor arived at Watterford the 13 Instant and is ready to sayle with the first winde. God send her safe. There is noe linens upon her as we intended, but if this come of well, may proceed upon a second adventure. As you shall direct, there is a 100 hogsheads upon her. The Abraham is now neere ready to take in goods and hope to dispatch her from hence in a weeke. She shall take in 120 pipes of Medara, and must resume to Leverpoole. Another vessell wee hired for Ireland, that 10 dayes hence may be ready to depart from hence. The news of the plot and other disturbances here I have not time to give you an acco.tt of, but shall by Abraham, Terry. The case upon him riseth, miserably shattered and great loss of weight, though that occation very little damage otherwise. ...

45. Robert Helme [Nevis]

London, December 3, 1678
Sir,
This accompanyes the shipp Unity, Richard Lister, Comand.r, whome we have hired upon your acco.tt and our owne in thirds and have lad.n upon her upon s.d acco.tt 300 bundles of packt staves, 2 thousand pipe hoops, and have ordered 15 thousand more to be lad.n at Cowes where I thinke wee shall not be abused as we ware last. Have alsoe ordered Mr. Henry Alland to lade 600 barrells beefe, 30 chests of candles, and 30 ferkins butter, all for our accounts, and consigned the same to W.m Helmes. The shipp by Charter P.rty is to stay 60 working dayes at Nevis and 30 upon demurrage. The freight is 6£ 15s p.r tunn. And you have the liberty to send him to any of the Leward Islands if needfull, and to ship in what cask you please. Therefor, whatever is laden for ourselves, lett it be in hhds. well fild (if posible). The Master will shew you the Charter Party if you desire it. And hereinclosed you have a copie of our orders to him. He is to returne to this port. Wee shall not inlarge by him, the Abraham being neere ready to sayle, whome we order to stop at Madera and take in 100 pipes of wine. ...

46. [p. 44] Captain Richard Lister [Commander of the Unity]

London, December 3, 1678
You are to sayle with first fayre winde to Cowes on the Isle of Wight, and there imeadietly after your arivall to dispatch a messenger to Mr. Richard Wyat of Brasledon neere Southampton with my letter to him, and to receive on bord your shipp 15 thousand of hoops if hee hath soe many ready; but in case he hath not soe many in a readines to put on bord, then to take on bord soe many as hee hath ready. But I intreate you before you take the s.d hoops on bord to looke them over carefully to see that they are good hoops according to his contracte with mee, which is that 11 thousand thereof shall be 11, 12, 13 foot long and upwards, and the other 4 thousand 10 foot long. And open some of the bundles to see that they are as good hoops packt in the bundles as are of the outside. And what you shall not finde answerable to this my agreement, I would not have you receive them on bord. And for as many as you shall receive on bord, pray give him three receipts, all of one tenor and date, to bee delivered to Mr. W.m Helmes in Nevis. And write me from Cowes how many hoops you have taken in, and what lengths they are of, how many thousand of each length for my government in makeing sum paym.t, by reason the prices are differant according to the lengths. And those that are put on bord for 11 foot long, if you finde them to be as good as them you have on bord and the lengths answerable to them, though they may not hould full 11 foot yett, you need not scruple takeing them. Haveing dispatched your buisnes at Cowes, you are to sayle with the first fayre winde to the Port of Watterford in Ireland, and at your arivall there apply yourselfe to Mr. Henry Alland, merchant, and deliver my letter to him, and receive on bord your vessall such provitions, servants or other goods as hee shall put on bord, according to the instructions I have given him. And haveing received your dispatches from him, you are to sayle with the first fayre winde, directly to the island of Nevis, and wen please God you shall arive there to deliver your goods according to Bill of Ladeing. Which being accomplisht, you are to apply yourselfe to my freinds and corrispondents Mr. Rob. and W.m Helmes and to receive such orders and instructions from them in reladeing your shipp as they shall thinke fitt to give. And if they shall judge it convenient to send you with your shipp to St. Xtophers, Mountsaratt or any the Leward Islands to take in your ladeing or any port thereof, you are to observe and follow such orders as you shall receive from them, according to the tenor of your Charter Party. And haveing reladen your shipp and received your dispatches from Mr. Rob. and W.m Helmes, you are to returne to the port of London, with all convenient speed, according to the tenor of your Charter Party. ...

47. [p. 46] William Helme & Thomas Westcott [Nevis]

London, December 6, 1678
This comes by the Abraham, Abraham Terry, Comander, and is to advise you that I have laden on bord s.d vessell a bale of blue and browne harfords. (fn. 21) An Invoice of its contents and cost and Bill of Ladeing you have hereinclosed, and goes consigned unto yourselfe. It is a small adventure of a particular freind of mine, who hath donn me some singular kindnesses. Wherefore its my desire that you take the s.d bale to your brothers and my joynt account at 8s p.r c.t according to the Invoice, and lade the full proceeds upon this ship Abraham, without deducting any comission, storidge, or any other charge, but what you realy pay. And lett it be in large hogsheads and consigne it to myselfe. Its a small matter that I know wee canot loose by at that rate. Therefore, fayle not to comply with my orders herein.

Wee have hired the shipp Unity, William Lester, Comander, to lade in Ireland as you will p.rceive by our joynt letters, on whome I have ordered 10 barrells of beefe to be laden for my owne account being for the use of my plantation in Mountsaratt, and consigned the same unto Mr. William Fox. When please God the ship arives, pray take care to send it up to Mr. Fox. I have alsoe by this shipp sent [blank] bundles of but, punch. and hhd. staves upon my owne account which I desire you alsoe to send up to Mr. Fox being for the makeing caske for my plant. sugar, and have agreed with my brother Baxter for 5 tunns freight home upon this shipp Abraham. That I desire you will not fayle to send up a sloope to Mountsaratt for and if any more ready to lade it alsoe upon this ship. And futher intreate you att all times whensoever that I have any sugar there in a readines, you will take care to send up a sloope for it, and ship it me home. And if any of our shipps bee there thats bound for Leverpoole, pray lade it to that port. And fayle not to advise the shipps and quantity you lade upon, that I may make insurance if needfull. Pray comunicate this letter to your brother that he may give you his assistance, according to my requests. And I am sure hee will not be wanting in. And as soone as this comes to hand, give Mr. Fox a line with the inclosed and advise him that the sugar be in a readines against you. Order him a sloope. Thus requesting your p.rformance, and alsoe that you will be further assisting to Mr. Fox in anything that concerns my intrest there as occation shall require, I subscribe myselfe.

48. Henry Carpenter [Nevis]

[London, December 6, 1678]
Sir,
Its now the 6 December. Cince the above lines, I have p.d 10£ to Tho. Haynes and taken up your bill. Mr. Cooper tells me shall want 50£ more, which I shall pay him. I have herewith sent your gowne, cap, and slipers, and sadle, that cost in all 6£. Inclosed you have alsoe a Bill of Ladeing for the hoops, nayles, paper, & c. upon our comission account. I could not at pr.sent procure [p. 47] any more midling hoops, but shall hereafter send more of those sent. The freight is lower than Capt. Hare or any other now bound out would take, they demanding the cost of the hoops for the freight, as indeed is comonly p.d. Your maid hath noe inclination to returne againe. Had shee, I should have taken care for her transportation. Times here are very troublesome, and things look with an ill aspect. Sir Charles Wheeler hath indeavored a chang of government, but I hope he will not accomplish his end, though I veryly beleeve the Generall must sware if he continues. (fn. 22) Mr. Helmes will comunicate you what news is stiringe, to whome I have sent the vol.s of this sessions hitherto. ...

49. General William Stapleton [Montserrat]

London, December 9, 1678
Sir,
Heareinclosed you have a Bill of Ladeing and Invoice of those things you ordered, all except the pendants that are not ready but shall send them by Capt. Hare, who will sayle about a month hence. The cases, wedges & c. are as neere those as I could gett them and our clothes I thought best to have them made up. You may make them bigger or lesser as you finde occation, althoug the p.rticulars are all brought in the taylors note. Yett I bought them, everything myselfe. I have alsoe sent you a chirurgion by this shipp. What agreement I have made with him you will see by his covenants. I could not gett any to goe cheaper and therefore I would not send you another, least you should thinke the tearmes too hard. Hee hath the reputation of a very good chirurgion (and the most ignorant that I could discourse with made as high demands). And I have assured him good accomadation, as to eate at your owne table and the like, which I question not but you will p.rforme. Hee would not undertake to finde medicons, not knowing what the occation of your family may require. And therefore I have sent you a chest; the apothicaryes note of p.rticulars hee caryes with him.

Sir, in my last, I gave you some intimation of the late plott. Since which Coleman, the Dutcheses secretary, and one more hath been executed. (fn. 23) The six Lords I then gave you an account of and many others this next weeke to bee brought upon there tryall, and its verily beleeved will all suffer, the Parliment prosecuteing the designe with soe much vigor. The Duke – nothing apperes against him only Colemans letters, wherein hee often makes use of his name, which gives all people occation to sensure him. All the Papist Lords are expeld from the Howse. I herewith send you all the proceedings of the Parliment, the late Act past and copies of some of Colemans letters. And therefore shall onley give you this breefe relation as I have already donn, but referr you to those for p.rticulars that layes downe the whole scheame of the affaire. And shall only now tell you that Wheeler hath not omitted to make use of this advantage this juncture hath given him against you, endeavering by all meanes possible to have put you out of the government. (fn. 24) Hereinclosed I send you copies of my proceedings in your defence, which the Duke hath given the Kinge the copies of, to prapare him against Wheelers complaint comes, and the originall I have to pr.sent the Kinge, when he setts in Councell. Wheeler had made a party to come to complain gainst you in Parliment which I had notice of, and I thinke I have broke the neck of that designe, and have made a discovery of all his further designes by the means of honest Sir Ph. Loyd, to whome hee makes his aplication to, who is soe just to you as to give me an acco.tt of what passes. (fn. 25) Hee alsoe indavered to stoep the seale that I now send you, promising Sir Ph. great advantage thereby, and would have ingaged him not to send it,

[p. 48] but he, unknowne to him and my Lord Treasurer, delivered it me, and I tould my Lord I had sent it away. Hee alsoe was makeing inspection into James Cotters pattent. In short, he indeavers all the mischeife he can against you or any your freinds and told Sir Ph. in plaine words he was resolved to ruin you if he can and if you ever come to England will sew you for the 500£ for not takeing the oaths according to Act of Parliment. Therefore, I now designe to beg the 500£ for you and gett a Privy Seale for it to prevent his doeing you any prajudice that way. I am now goeing to the Duke about it. Hee hath proceeded soe farr as to put a grant upon putting in for the Government, but I doubt not but to put him by in all his designes untill you have the oaths put to you, which I hope you will not refuse to take, as James Cotter, Mr. Trant, and some other of your acquaintance have donn, and some Lords and gentl.men of quallity who ware reputed Roman Catholicks. (fn. 26) By doeing this you will prevent his mallice against you. Otherwise, I feare it will be impossible to suport you in the Governm.t, nor doe I beleeve any man will be able to live in this kingdome that doth refuse to take them. Such is the Parliment violance. Of Sir Ph. Loyd haveing taken a world of paines in assistinge mee, I have presented him with 50 guineys which, I doubt not your allowance of. Your next years pay I shall without fayle receive the next month. Jemy is very well and send you and his mother his duty. ...

50. [p. 49] Henry Alland [Waterford]

London, December 10, 1678
Sir,
Yesterday I rec.d yours of the 23 Past affirmeing the goodness of your beefe. Sence which I presume you may have received mine, wherein I sent part of Mr. Helmes letter to mee which doubtles will convince you that wee lost 100£ sugar p.r c.t of what it might have made us had it been according to our contract. And to make us amends, I finde you will not deliver any more beefe in Watterford but those 600 barrells already p.d you for, though it had been equall to mee in Dublin had I knowne it before our Charter Party had been signed with the Master (that I presume will be in Watterford before this), he being gon from this port the last weeke. And if you can deliver none other but those 600 barrells, I must be content. You should put them on bord, althoug you proffered them to mee 12d p.r barrell cheaper to lade them at this season, and to lett you knowe that what I suffer in this kinde is by my kindnes and desires I had to deale with you before any other p.rson. Mr. Petter Crainsbourough of your port within this 3 weekes gave me an offer of what I would in cheaper tearmes, which I refused, relying upon, you haveing then rec.d noe answere from you. Yett becaus I must not alltogeather disapoint myselfe, haveing laid my affaires already, if you canot furnish the other 600 barrells of beefe in Watterford, I must be content to receive them in Doublin, where I hope they will proove better then the last. To which pray send mee your possitive answere by next, that I may know what port I must depend upon to receive them at. And for those 600 barrells you may please to charge upon mee for or order the payment of the mony here as best sutes yours occations. ...

51. Robert Helme [Nevis]

[London, December 14, 1678]
Sir,
Itts now the 14th December. The two foregoeings are copies of my last. This now comes by the Abraham, Abraham Terry, Comander, on whome I have laden for the use of our plant. one large copper, 2 large coolers, 1 potting bason, 200 sugar potts and drippers, 4 sheets lead, a cask of 2 doz. sugar baggs, and a box of ratsbane. And if you finde occation for more lead, there is a p.rcell upon the gen.ll acco.tt. If you lead our spouts and bed of the mill & c. and molasses sistrons, you will finde an advantage in it. Pray effect that and all other things towerds the compleate settlement of it, and stock it fully before your comeing off. I have taken the freight of those goods, computeing them at 10 tunns out and home, upon the shipp of my brother att 6£ 10s p.r tunn. The ladeing home I hope you wil accomplish from our plant. Have alsoe taken 5 tunns for my owne p.rticular that I have laden out in bundles of packt staves for the use of my plant. in Mountsaratt. That I desire your care in sending up to Mountsaratt to Mr. William Fox.

[p. 50] And alsoe you will not fayle to furnish a sloope to fetch downe the 5 tunns of sugar from thence with what more there may bee ready to bee laden upon my acco.tt upon the same bottome. And alsoe that you will give your assistance therein from time to time as occation shall require. Wherein you will doe mee a singular favor. And if at any time our shipps are bound to Leverpoole, to ship it upon them before any others, and give mee timely advice thereof. This shipp Abraham wee have possitively designed her returne to Leverpoole, as wee shall 3 or 4 yearley, where wee shall finde an advantage of 18d or 2s p.r c.t in the markett constant, as I have an assurance of. As likewise in the takeing it of on those tearmes to the quantity of 3 or 400 tunns a yeare, lett whose will send more, and on those termes. If you at any time want freight, any p.rson that consignes to mee may depend, though I hope there will be little occation to lett freight.

If the ketch suckseeds well, I would faine try another trip for linens and the same comoditty, but then you must order her returne to this port or elce shee must come about. I supose shee sayled out of Ireland with the last winde.

Pray order your brother W.m to send us an acco.tt from time of what comodities are wanting that are vendable that soe he may have a constant suply, and lett him not fayle to give us advice as neere as possible he can of the quantityes of goods he shall lade upon all shipps for our accounts. I thinke I shall send a cooper but am not sure. I hope you doe bring up negrose suffitiant for our buisnes to the trade. The last 10 butts will come to an inconsiderable summe of mony, the freight being high and the butts small. Pray lade futurely in hhds. that are better tunidge & generally doe rise better conditioned. Pray resolve upon settling your buisnes to come home the latter part of this summer. Though you returne againe for a yeare or two, yett pray be sure to settle all things in a good method. Especialy all accounts depending whatsoever as well betwixt ourselves as others. This, with my harty wishes for thy prosperity, I conclude and am –

I have sent you all the vols. of this session by which you will see what hath past. That pray comunicate to my freinde Knight.

52. [p. 51] Captain Abraham Terry [Commander of the Abraham]

London, December 14, 1678
You are to sayle with the first fayre winde to the island of Madera, and upon your arivall there to deliver such goods as by Bill of Ladeing are consigned unto Mr. Richard Pickford and Mr. Matthew DeGama. And if Mr. Pickford shall desire it you are alsoe to deliver him 2 or 3,000 of the pipe hoops cons.d Mr. Carpenter, which you are to give Mr. Rob Helmes an acco.tt of. And desire him to deliver Mr. Henry Carpenter the like quantity out of the first hoops wee shall have arive in Nevis. You are alsoe to receive on bord your ship 100 pipes of wine for our acco.tts, viz. 50 from Mr. Pickford and 50 from Mr. DeGama, that wee have given orders to them to lade. And haveing rec.d your dispatch from them, you are to sayle with all convenient speed derectly to the island of Nevis and there to discharge your ladeing according to Bill of Ladeing, which being accomplisht, you are to aply yourselfe to our freinde and partner Mr. Rob. Helmes and W.m Helme, and to follow such orders as you shall receive from him in reladeing your ship at any port of place he shall direct. And haveing taken on bord your ladeing and received your dispatches from them or either of them, you are to returne with all convenient speed to the port of Leverpoole where you shall receive necessary orders for the dischargeing your shipp. Fayle not to advise us by all oppertunityes dureing your voyage of your proceedings. ...

53. [p. 52] Captain Matthew DeGama [Madeira]

London, December 12, 1678
Sir,
This searves to advise you of the receipt of yours of the 28th Oct.r Last, adviseing us of your haveing laden the 100 pipes of wine on bord Mr. James Rivett according to our desire. Wee doubt not but s.d wines will proove of the best (according to the character you give us of them) of which as yett wee have noe acco.tt.

This now comes by our shipp the Abraham, Abraham Terry, Comander, and is to advise you of the death of our freinde Rowland Hill, with whome wee had contracted on your behalfe for 200 pipes of wine to bee delivered us this next yeare, betwixt January and the end of Octo.r, as our occations should require, on the same tearmes as wee bought of him the last yeare, viz. att 14 milrs. p.r pipe to bee delivered us cleare of all charges on bord. One moyety to bee p.d in goods to bee laden and consigned yourselfe in Madera, accounting 350 milrs. for each hundred pound sterling that should bee disbursed here; and the other moyety to bee p.d here in London, in mony at the same rate or to bee sent your order in Lisboa in such goods as hee shall direct. Viz. accounting for every 100£ sterl.g, 350 milrs. But Mr. Rowland Hill haveing layne a considerable time very sick and weake, it pleased God (that before our contract was signed by him) to take him out of the world. Yett, nevertheles, in conformyty of s.d contract on our part, wee have laden on bord this shipp Abraham, wereof Abraham Terry is Master, in such goods as you gave us order for to the vallew of 307£ 7s 2d sterl.g. The goods are of the very best, and bought all for ready mony, and goes consigned unto yourselfe as p.r the inclosed Bill of Ladeing will appeare. An Invoice of these cost and charges goes here with s.d goods, which wee send you in part of payment of s.d two hundred pipes, and, as soone as wee here from your freinde Antonio Soarez Conscientia what goods are proper for that place, wee shall send them alsoe. If you abide by this our contract with Rowland Hill deceased, which wee doe not in the least question, of which pray give us your resolution by very first. And alsoe send us your order what goods you will have the rest of your payment laden in, and whether you will have the one moyety sent in goods to Lisboa, or p.d you here in mony. Which order wee shall punctualy follow, and buy for you as cheape as possible, and all for ready mony. As wee hope you will take the like care on your part in ladeing us the very best wines your island affords and giveing our shipps dispatches, both which Mr. Rowland Hill promised us should bee p.rformed on your part. And pray bee very carefull the cask may bee good and wel trimed at the ladeing on bord our vessell as wee shall order. And this now searves to desire you to lade on bord this our shipp the Abraham, by which this now comes, 50 pipes of the affores.d 2 hundred and consigne the same to Mr. W.m Helmes, merchant in Nevis, for acco.tt of ourselves and Mr. Rob. Helmes. 50 pipes more wee designe or 60 or 70 prhaps about 3 months hence, God prmitting, and the remainder of the 200 pipes about Sept. Next, if please God to give a blessing to our affaires. ...

54. [p. 53] Richard Pickford & Obadiah Allen [Madeira]

London, December 12, 1678
Sir,
Wee received yours of the 5th October adveiseing of the receipt of ours p.r Mr. Rivett, as allsoe of the receipt of our goods consigned you by him, and that you had laden upon him the 30 pipes of wine desired, the cost of which wee have past to the credit of your Acco.tt Curr.tt. Wee formerly have answere to yours of the 26th May, which was that wee should not accept of your propositions of ladeing us wines att 5£ p.r pipe, wee haveing been accomodated much cheaper. But have now sent you by our shipp Abraham, Abraham Terry, Comander, the goods you desired upon our owne accounts as formerly. An Invoice of these cost and charges herewith, the amountant of which is [blank]. Wee have only sent you 4,000 hhd. hoops, they being att present exterordinary deare, but have laden a p.rcell of pipe hoops on bord the s.d vessell. Soe that if you finde occation and that they turne to a good acco.tt, you may take out two or three thous.d, adviseing Mr. Helmes thereof, that he may make good as many [out of another vessell wee have sent) to Mr. Carpenter, to whome these are consigned. And wee now desire you to lade on bord our shipp Abraham 50 pipes of the very best wine, and consigne the same to William Helmes for our acco.tt in thirds as formerly. Towerds the paym.t of which we send you creditt to Lisboa upon Mr. W.m Baxter for 300 milrs. that we hope you will esteeme suffitient. Not doubting but you have, ere this comes to hand, disposed the greatest part of our goods. Some of those goods that now goes are sumthing dearer than them wee now send Mr. De Gamma, but you will finde it in the goodnes.

Wee are sory our pipe staves finde noe vent. According to expectation, wee alwayes esteemed them a ready mony comodity. Pray advise by the very first wheather you judge corne or beefe may turne to a good account, and the price it bares with you, because wee judge we may have an oppertunity of purcheaseing those comodittyes pretty reasonable at the port we designe our next vessell that comes to your island (I meane Irish beefe) which wee designe about May Next. We desire you will send us an Acco.tt of Sales accordinge to your last advice p.r first, and an acco.tt of what remaines of ours unsold. We should have now sent you some black baies, but you advise for none. ...

55. Captain Richard Lister [Commander of the Unity]

London, December 28, 1678
Since your departure from hence, I have rec.d letters from Mr. Henry Alland of Watterford (to whome I have given you orders in your instructions to apply yourselfe) who informes me he canot suply me with 600 barrells of beefe without disapointinge mee of 600 barrells which by contract he was to deliver me in April Next, which I would not willingly be disapointed of. And therefore I now send you this order with the inclosed letter to Mr. Rich.d Say, Merchant, in Watterford, the contents of which is to desire s.d Say to lade on bord your shipp 4 or 500 barrells of beefe if he can procure them, or, in case hee cannot procure soe many, to lade as many as he can procure. Or if you finde you canot purchase any yourselfe (if he canot lade them), then I desire you to purchase as many as you can, and on the cheapest tearmes you can, alwayes haveing regard to the goodness of the meate. That pray be carefull in. And I have desired Mr. Henry Alland or Mr. Rich.d Say to take your bill for the same on me getting the best allowance you can for exchange, which now runs at 7 and 8 p.r c.t here, and I hope may not be under these. But in case it should happen [p. 54] that, upon your arivall there, Mr. Rich.d Say canot suply you with s.d quantity of beefe nor noe part thereof, nor that you canot purchase them as afors.d, then you must aply yourselfe to Mr. Henry Alland according to my former instructions given you, and receive the s.d quantity of beefe as I have given orders for. But in case it should hapen that Mr. Rich.d Say or yourselfe can purchase to the quantity of 2 or 300 barrells of beefe and noe more, then you may take soe many on bord, and receive of Mr. Henry Alland as many more barrells as will compleate your number of six hundred barrells. And soe you must doe if s.d Mr. Say lades but 400 barrells, and you canot purchase soe many as will make up 500 barrells. But you can anywayes compleate the number of 500 barrells, then receive more from Mr. Henry Alland.

For the butter and candles, Mr. Henry Alland hath provided in a readines which you must receive from him accordinge to my former instructions. ...

56. Richard Seay [Waterford]

London, December 28, 1678
Sir,
By the recomandation of my freind Mr. John Bowden and Mr. Edmund White, I have presumed to give you the trouble of these few lines. Which is to give you to understand that I have ordered the ship Unity, Richard Lester, Master, that is now ready to sayle with the first fayre winde to your port of Watterford, and there to lade 5 or 600 barrells of beefe which I had given orders to Mr. Henry Alland, who I had formerly corrisponded with to lade for mee on s.d shipp, and had dependancy therein. But two dayes since, rec.d a letter from s.d Alland that he could not suply me therewith unles I would receive 600 barrells which I bought and p.d him for when he was last in London, that he was to deliver mee and warrants its goodnes in April or May Next; that I have designed for the suply for the latter part of the yeare and gave 12s p.r barrell, exterordinary in regards of its quallity for that season, wherefore I am unwilling to be disapointed of that p.rcell, haveing already layde the designe for the shipps comeinge thither to receive it.

Now, Sir, this may advise you that I was in treaty with Mr. Edmound White for 4 or 500 barrells, which he informed me you should deliver, and would warrant such as should be very good, his demands were 20s p.r barr.ll, cleare on bord of all charges, which I thinke somewhat too high, and therefore have thought fitt rather to leave it to yourselfe, and to desire of you to make in a readines 4 or 500 barrells of very good beefe for me against the shipps arivall; or in case you canot make soe many yourselfe, then to purchase them for me on the best tearmes you can, which pray use your indeavers that it may be of the best, and lade them on bord said shipp for acco.tt of myselfe and Comp., consigneing them unto Messrs. W.m Helmes and Comp., Merchants, in Nevis, giveing the shipp her dispatches in 14 working dayes after her arivall, which by Charter Party I am bound to doe, after he shall come and give you an acco.tt that his ship is in a readines to receive on bord what I have given orders for, to be laden upon him.

However I order, in case it should hapen that you canot furnish the quantitye of beefe desired nor purchase the same yourselfe, I have given orders to the Master to purchase what he can himselfe, which intreate you to give him a creditt for and take his bills upon me for the same, makeing the best advantage you can of the exchange, that now runns here at 7 and 8 p.r c.t, as I am informed. And they shall be punctualy p.d. [p. 58] Or if it should hapen that you or he canot procure the full quantity desired but prhapes may a les quantity, viz. 2 or 300 barrells, then please to putt the same on bord. And for what you nor he canot lade, the remainder of s.d quantity I have ordered Mr. Henry Alland to lade out of the 600 barrells to compleate the same which I have already p.d him for. And for as many as he shall lade, if you can furnish me with like quantity about April or May Next, at the time I shall lade his, as will make up his that soe remaines 600 barrells in meate that shall be right good, I desire to know on what tearmes you will suply the same. Alsoe by first pray lett me know what quantity you can now suply me with, that I may by first returne you mony for the same. Or in case you can gett 7 or 8 p.r c.t there allowance for exchange, please to draw upon me, and your bills shall be puntualy p.d., which you may depend on.

Hereinclosed I have sent a letter to Mr. Richard Lester, the Master, which please to deliver him upon his first arivall, it being a copie of an order now sent him into the Downes, where I canot be certaine that it will finde him. And therefore I now send you a copie to deliver him.

Sir, I begg your pardon for this trouble, it being the first of our corrispondency, and doubt not but I may begett a futher, I comonly haveing accations to deal this way for a thousand or 1,500 barrells of beefe yearely.

I had alsoe given orders to Mr. Alland to provide some butter and candles. That he writes to me he hath donn and are in a readines, which I have desired him to putt on bord. ....

57. Henry Alland [Waterford]

London, December 28, 1678
Sir,
I have received both yours, wherein you advise you canot furnish me with 600 barrell beefe more to be laden on bord this shipp. And therefore I have altogather disapointed myselfe, haveing depended upon you when I might have provided myselfe by severall others hands. And being now distituate and unwilling to disapoint myselfe of the 600 barrells of beefe I desired for the latter season, I have therefore now sent my orders to Mr. Richard Say, to provide for me 4 or 500 barrells of beefe, to lade on bord Mr. Lister or as many as he can against the shipps arivall, which I could have contracted here at 20s p.r barrell, provided I would have given a months time, which I would not, the shipp being gone or in the Downes ready. But you did not want a months notice, and you have alwaies p.rswaded me that you could doe as much as any man in Ireland that way. The beleefe of which hath drawne me into this inconveniency I am now at. However, I now desire you that upon the shipps arivall at Watterford, you will please to lade the butter and candles I have given you orders for that you writt me are ready; and if it shall hapen that the shipp shall arive at Watterford before Mr. Say can have his provisions ready, that for as much as he shall be wantinge the number of 5 or 600 barrells of beefe, that I have given him orders for, I desire you to make up the s.d quantity out of my 600 barrell in your hands. If you canot otherwise doe it or in case the Master should purchase any to whome I have given my orders, that you will be pleased to be assitant to him, and give a creditt for the same, which I shall answer your draught in. But in case I canot be suplyed by naither of those wayes, then I must be content you should put on bord the six hundred barrells I have lying in your hands. That pray lett be affected with all expedition if occation requires. ...