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 21/1433and 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.
22/1434Samuell 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.)