Chapitre XXI

 

May it please your Lopps.

 

We having herewith retoured the examinations which we have taken

according to your Lopps. order of the 14th of October last upon the

Complaint of the Adventurers to Canada wherein we make bould to observe

unto your Lopps. that James Ricroft named in your Lopps. order (who was

imployed as pylott and merchant in his voyage complained of) had bene

imployed in a former voyage by ye Adventurers of Canada, and that (but by

that imployment) he had noe knowledge of that Coast; We likewise finde by

other circumstances that he was not ignorant that ye Forte of Kebecke in

those partes was taken and mayntained by ye said Adventurers, the charge

whereof is apparent they could not undergoe but by the benefitt of their

trade there; Wee likewise finde that at his last arrival there notice was given

him from the said Adventurers that he ought not to trade there, to which

notwithstanding he would not conforme: And such notice is proved by a

letre subscribed by hymselfe which lre. we herewith retoure, But the said

Ricroft utterly denieth thatt he subscribed the said lettre although it were by

two witnesses to his face attested to us to be signed by himselfe, And

further it appeares unto us by ye examination of Capt. Vincent Harris that

the said Ricroft was not only an encourager of these merchants to undertake

that voyage, but his carriage there did discourage the natives to trade with

the Adventurers.

 

As for Baker the Mr. of the Eliz complained of and Eustace Man (one of the

owners and merchants of that shippe) albeit the notoriousnes of the actions

of the Adventurers to Canada doth give a suspicion that they were not

ignorant of his Majesties pleasure for their sole trade into those partes, yet

by their examinations they deny any manner of notice of his Majesties

pleasure or other order for ye Adventurers sole trade.

 

And for Henry West mentioned in your Lopps. order it was alleadged to us

that he was sicke and could not come to be examyned.

We have also perused an Order termed a Comon which we finde to be made

by the beforesaid H. West and Eustace Man as Merchants unto ye said John

Baker and James Ricroft purporting their ymployment from ye port of

London unto ye Coast of Candia, which word Candia was delivered by

Eustace Man & Ricroft to be intended for Canada, The instrument of which

order wee herewith together alsoe with the examination and letre aforesaid

humbly present your Lordships, leving all the same to ye Lordships

wisdom.

 

5. Nov. 1631.

 

Examinations taken by us underwritten according to ye order of ye l4th of

October 1631, from ye Rt. holl ye Lords of his Majesties ho. Councell.

 

James Ricroft, Pilott of ye Eliz of London, examyned saith that Captaine

Kirke and others professinge themselves to be a Companie did imploy him

in the yere 1630 to Canada, and that he was paid by Mr. Eyres (beinge

casheere for the said pretended Companie) sixe weekes after the end of ye

voyage and that untill he was imployed by that Companie he never was in

ye Gulf of Canada. That he heard ye Forte of Kebecke in those partes was

in ye yeere 1628. surrendred by ye French to the said pretended Companie

and saith, that when he was there imployed by ye said pretended Companie

Captaine Lewis Kirke held ye possession of the said Forte.

 

This examinate denyes that ever he knewe of or ever saw anie pattent to the

said Companie untill he came last from sea.

 

This examinate confesseth that he hath since 1630 bene imployed in a

voyage to Canada by Capt. Eustace Man and one Hen. West in the Eliz of

London. And did trade at Todasecke with ye savages that come thether for

Beaver skins, and Elke skins, but he cannot tell to what quantity or vallue;

but referres himselfe to the Customers Books for the Certaintie thereof. He

saith that there was an order from his Merchants for his trade to the North

parte of Canada and else where, which order is in the custody of Captaine

Eustace Man, and confesseth that he did call to the Mr. of the Eliz (he

beinge then deteyned as a prisoner by Captaine Vincent Harris, Capt. of the

said Companies shippe named the Thomas) willing him to trade 3 for one

which he sayeth was 3 Elkes skins for one Blankett. He denyes that he hath anie Charter parties, writinges or Bookes of accompt concerning his

voyage.

 

Jo. Baker Mr. of ye Eliz of London examyned saith that he did [not] know

when he went out that there were anie that professed themselves to be of ye

Companie of Canada, but heard that Capt. Kerke and others kept a Fort in

Canada. And further sayth that James Ricroft his Pylott beinge deteyned by

the Companie did send ye letre nor shewed him subscribed by Ricroft, and

upon receipt thereof he refused to deliver anie goods therein required to be

delivered and came for England with five Caskes and halfe of Beaver skins

and some Elkes skins, for the certaine number whereof he referreth

himselfe to the Customrs books, And faith that he was with ye said shippe

tradinge in the said Gulfe about 20 dayes and that he had for his particuler

about 40 pounds of Beaver skins; He denies that he wrought by way of

challenge to Captaine Vincent Harris, but if he spake any wordes it was in

his drinke and is forrie for it.

 

Captaine Eustace Man one of the owners of the Eliz examined saith that he

did sett forth the said Eliz (whereof Jo. Baker was Mr.) upon the motion and

perswasion of James Ricroft for Canada and other partes and that untill his

said shippe was gonne to sea he knewe not of, nor heard not of anie pattent

graunted to anie Companie. That the order given ye Mr. for that voyage is

in the Isle of Weight; That there were 531 Bearskins. that were brought

from Canida and that they are all sold for above 500 £. And 100 and odd

Elkes skins which were sold for above 100 £. But for the truth and certaintie

of ye number of the said skins, he referreth himself to the Customers books

And deneyeth that he hath any writinge Charter parties or bookes of

accompts for he saith that the Mr. never gave him anie accompt in writinge

of that voyage.

 

Wm. Holmes purser of ye Thomas examyned saith that he did wright the

letre produced dat. 12 May 1630 and read it unto Wm. Ricroft and saw him

subscribe the same, In which letre it is apparent that Ricroft knewe of the

Comission granted to Sr. Willm. Allexander.

 

Edward Lees attendant upon Capt. Vinc. Harris Captaine of the Thomas,

confesseth as much as ye said Holmes.

Samuell Peirce Bever maker examyned saith that he bought of one Mr. Tho.

Man, a Woollseller dwellinge by London stone about August last, ye

quantitie of about 880 pound weight of Beaver skins in six hogsheads,

which the said Tho. Man told him he had bought and received of one

Captaine Eustace Man Merchant and owner of a shippe that came from

Canada, for which said skins he paid to the said Thos. Man 880 £. saith that

he and some other Beaver makers whome he can name, bought of severall

seamen that said they were belonginge to the said Capt. Mans Barque

severall quantities of Beaver skins to the vallue of 300 weight.

 

Captaine Vincent Harris Capt. of the Thomas examyned said that beinge

imployed by ye Companie of Canada this last yeere to trade in those partes,

and seeing ye said Eliz whereof Ja. Ricroft was pilote come into that Gulfe

he commanded him to come aboard, and when he came he demanded by

what authoritie he came thither, & what he did on that coast, whereto he

answered he came to trade there aswell as this Examinate, whereupon this

Examinate shewed him the Companies Comon, and gave him the same to

read which he did, and then sleighted it very much, and to expresse the

Contempt he had of it went upon the decke and cryed to his shipp the Eliz

that they should give 3 for one of that those of the Thomas did trade for,

whereby those of the Company of Canada were constraincd to leave of the

trade and goe from thence in regard the Savages would not come unto them.

But reported that the Companie came to deceive them for that there were

other of their Countrymen would give three tymes as much as they.

 

(State Paper Office, Colonial Papers, vol. VI, art. 33.)