BHO

America and West Indies: November 1629

Pages 102-104

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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Citation:

November 1629

Nov. 2.
Elizabeth City.
32. Examinations of Capt. Thos. Purfrey, Lieut. Edwards, and Geo. Downes, taken before John Pott, Governor of Virginia, and Capt, Sam. Mathews, concerning Will. Capps, carried out of the colony contrary to the orders of the Governor and Council. [Certified copy.]
Nov. 5.
Pendennis Castle.
Sir Wil. Killigrew to Sec. Dorchester. Two Dutch ships have arrived in Falmouth harbour with 24 English planters of good account from St. Christopher's, who were found at sea in distress. They relate that the island had been taken by a Spanish fleet of 34 ships, and that after fighting a day and a half with nine English vessels, the Spaniards took Nevis and St. Christopher's, and burnt all the houses there. About 400 English fled to the mountains and were succoured by the Indians. The Spaniards have forced some of the English ships to serve them; the Spanish fleet upon the coast when these men left. [DOMESTIC Corresp. Car. I., Vol. CLI., No. 20, Cal. p. 88. On 15 Aug. 1629, Ed. Nicholas writes that merchants affirm they have heard from French captains that a fleet of 10 French ships were bound for St. Christopher's with 1,200 men, but he adds it is to be doubted whether they will make themselves masters of those islands. Ibid., Vol. CXLVIII., No. 68, Cal. p. 39.]
Nov. 7. Grant of the Council for New England, by indenture, to Capt. John Mason of the Province of New Hampshire. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LIX., pp. 109–114.]
Nov. 7. Abstract of the above. [Colonial Corresp., 1620, Nov. 3.]
1629? 33. Grievances of the French General and Commissary General, who were taken prisoners by Capt. Kirke in Canada. They acknowledge good usage in respect of diet and lodging, but complain that without any agreement the charges may amount to more than they can pay; that friends and visitors are not allowed free access to them; and that no ransom ought to be demanded for their release, as they are not lawful prisoners of war, having been taken upon a plantation.
Nov. 9. 34. Deposition of Sam. Champlain, of Browags [Brouage], in Guienne, late Lient.-Gov. of Fort St. Louis, in Quebec, before Sir Henry Marten, Judge of the Admiralty. He and the rest of the French have been well treated since Canada was taken by Capt. Kirke on 10/20 July [sic] last. Account of the arms, ammunition, and stores that were then in the fort. There were no victuals, the men having lived for two months upon nothing but roots. He sent his brother with 20 persons in a small pinnace of seven or eight tons to buy food of the savages, and to give notice of their distress in France.
Nov. 9. 35. Examination of Eustacie Boule, of Paris, to the same interrogatories as the preceding. The answers are the same in substance.
Nov. 9. 36. Examination of Nicholas Blundell, of Dieppe. The answers are similar in effect to the above.
Nov. 12.
Portsmouth.
Wil. Towerson, Deputy Vice Admiral, to Lord President Conway. Sends examination of Wil. Cock, who has come home in a Spanish vessel, about the taking of St. Christopher's. Four English ships have brought men from the island, for whom the Spaniards have taken a pledge for every one to be sent back into Spain, being of those ships they took from the English. [DOMESTIC Corresp. Car. I., Vol. CLI., No. 51, Cal. p. 93.] Incloses,
I. Examination of William Cock, master of the Plough of London. In August, last, about ten sail of French went to St. Christopher's and took two or three English ships, which were surrendered seven or eight days afterwards and no hurt done to the island. On 7th Sept. last, 36 Spanish vessels arrived at Nevis, engaged with nine English ships, some are named, which they took, and burnt Nevis Town and St. Christopher's. The Spaniards have expelled the greater part of the French from the island; some 200 English and 40 French alone remain, who "did run up in the woods." 1629, Nov. 12. [Ibid.]
November. 17. 37. Depositions of Capts. David and Thos. Kirke, John Love, and Thos. Wade, factors for the adventurers to Canada, before Sir Hen. Marten, Judge of the Admiralty. They left Gravesend on 26 March 1629, with six ships and two pinnaces. Arrived at Great Caspe on 15 June and at Tadousac and Quebec between that and 3rd of July. Traded with the natives for skins. Thos. Kirke, with 200 men, demanded the surrender of Quebec about 3rd July, which was given up on the 9th. 1,713 beaver skins were taken in the fort, and came into the Company's hands.
Nov. 17. 38. Copy of the above depositions. Endorsed, by Sec. Dorchester, "Capt. Kirke's deposition touching skins brought from Canada." Nov. 17.
Nov. 17. Grant of the Council for New England, by indenture, to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason, of lands upon the the rivers of the Irroquois, which they intend naming the Province of Laconia. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LIX., pp. 115–121.]
1629. Nov. 22.
Whitehall.
39. The King to Geo. Lord Baltimore. Seeing his plantation in Newfoundland has not answered his expectation, that he is in pursuit of new countries, and weighing that men of his condition and breeding are fitter for other employments than the framing of new plantations, which commonly have rugged and laborious beginnings, the King has thought fit to advise him to desist from further prosecuting his designs, and to return to his native country, where he shall enjoy such respects as his former services and late endeavours justly deserve. [Copy.]
Nov. 30.
[Virginia.]
40. Governor John Pott, Sam. Mathews, Roger Smyth, and Will. Claybourne, to the Privy Council. About the beginning of October last, Lord Baltimore arrived in Virginia from his plantation of Newfoundland, with intention, as they are informed, to plant to the southward, but has since seemed willing, with his family, to reside at this place. He, and some of his followers, being of the Romish religion, utterly refused to take the oaths of supremacy and allegiance, tendered to them according to instructions received from King James. As they have been made happy in the freedom of their religion, they implore that as heretofore no Papists may be suffered to settle amongst them.