The China menn which you sent to refine the silver returne in this shipp. They have refined only one chist of barr plate for triall, and that wee finde so badly donn
that we would not lett them proceede any further. They are not suffitient to performe what they have undertaken, for they spoile all they take in hand; so that what you have agreed with them for is meerely cast awaye and lost to the Honnorable Compa. Wee have payde them no wages heere, which you are to take notice of and reccon with them there according as you can agree with them.
Wee desire no more barr plate; wherefore the rest remayning, lett it be in soma, seda, and fabuck plate. But, if there be any such dannger in bringing out the latter, wee desire not to stand to such an adventure. The Dutch have greate quantities sent, yet make no such dannger as you write of; wherefore, if you cannot gett it as securely as they, wee must take such as may be procured without such hassarde.
Camphire which the Hollanders buy in such quanteties wee knowe no vend for; yett you may provide twenty cases or tenn peculs, which may serve for a triall both for England and Mu[su]lpa[tam]; but any greater quantitie then prementioned send not.
In this shipp we have laden a small parcell of camphire of Barouse, being in all 60 catts. If the quantetie be over greate, you may keepe it secrett and receive it ashore by small parcells, as you can sell it. Wee would have sent more if wee had byn ascertined of its vend there; but, acording to your former advices, this nowe sent may be too much. What part of it you cannot sell bring back with you, or leave it there with him that stays in the factory, if there be occasion to leave a man there; the ordering whereof, with all other busines, wee have referred to Mr. Cockram, as aforesaide.
We expect to have a reformacion in the lavish expences for the shipps companie. It is the Honnorable Compa. expresse order that in any port, where refreshing may be had good cheape, they shall not have allowance of above
foure flesh meales a weeke and three meales with salt fish or such like to eate with their rice. This order you are to take notice of and to perfoarme the same; neither may you feede the saylors both aboard and ashore, which (as wee are informed) hath byn a common costom with you, to the excescive charg of the Honnorable Companie, our masters.
You write the pursers aught not to be allowed the foure per cento which they bring to accompt for losse in monneys, and referr it to us to abate it. This abatement you ought to have made there, knowing it to be unreasonable, and should not send such matters unto us to decide where the pursers want no excuses for themselfes, and wee cannot contradict them but only with your barr (wee cannot see you [how ?] they can loose so much), which is no suffitient reason. Wherefore with this purser of the Bull now better examine that busines, and, finding it an abuse by the pursers, abate it uppon Mr. Watts accompt; and, at your arivall heere, wee will take the like course with the rest or so many of them as are heere remayning.
And because the last yere, to serve your owne turne, you made what construction you pleased of our comission for your coming from thence, wee doe nowe iterate our comission in the conclusion of our letter, least, having redd itt in the former part thereof, you should forgett it before you come to thend. Wee will and comaund in the name and behalfe of the Honnorable Compa. of Marchants of London trading [to] East India, our masters, that you, Mr. Richard Cock, William Eaton, Edmond Sayre, and John Osterwick, shall deliver over into the hands of Mr. Joseph Cockram all monneys, goods, and debts perteyning to the Honnorable Compa. aforesayde, and shall all and every of you aforenamed come away from Japon in the shipp Bull for this port of Battavia. Which our order wee require you to performe, as you will answere the contrary at your perill. And soe, hoping of your conformitie unto the premises,
wee conclude with our comendations unto you, and committ you with your affayres to Gods direction.