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Certaine Articles deliuered to M. Iohn Lok, by Sir William Gerard Knight,
M. William Winter, M. Beniamin Gonson, M. Anthony Hickman, and M. Edward
Castelin the 8 of September 1561, touching a voyage to Guinea.
A remembrance for you M. Lok at your comming to the coast of Guinie.
First, when God shal send you thither, to procure, as you passe alongst the coast, to understand what riuers, hauens, or harboroughs there be; and to make your selfe a plat thereof, setting those places which you shall thinke materiall in your sayd plat, with their true eleuations.
Also you shall learne what commodities doe belong to the places where you shall touch, and what may be good for them.
It is thought good, that hauing a fort vpon the coast of Mina in the king of Habaans country, [Marginal note: The English marchants intend to fortifie in Ghinea, in the king of Habaans country.] it would serve to great purpose: wherfore you are especially sent to consider where the fort might be best placed, and vpon what ground: wherein are to be noted these things following.
1. That the ground so serue, that it ioyne to the sea on the one part, so as shippes and boats may come to lade and vnlade.
2. What molde of earth the ground is of.
3. What timber or wood may be had, and how it will be caried.
4. What prouision of victuals may be had in the countrey: and what kinde of our victuals will best serve to continue.