This day Thomas Fittz Marchant being convented before the Board for a notorious misdemeanor in imbeseling and conveying away certaine Beavor skins, out of a Warehouse wherein they were deposited by way of sequestration under lock hung on by order of the Court of Admiralty, was after examination taken of his Carriage therein, committed 13/1425to the prison of the Fleete, and it was further ordered, that the examinations taken before the Board, should be transmitted to Master Atturney Generall, who after perusall of them is hereby prayed and required to take strickt examination of the business, aswell to discover who were actors or Abettors anie way in conveying away the said goods, as to whose hands anie parte of the same either in specie or anie parte of the moneyes ariseing upon the sale of them, are come, and how the same hath bin imployed, or disposed of, and by whose direction with all such other circumstances as he shall finde requisit touching the same, and that the Messinger who hath the said Fitz in custodie doe forthwith carry him before Mr. Atturney to the end he may take order for the present producing of the said Fittz, his booke of Account, without which he refuseth (as appeareth in his Examination before the Board) to declare what parte of the money ariseing upon the sale of the said goods he had already received.
Whitehall the 16th. of June 1630.
Upon consideration this day had at the Board of the difference depending betweene Monsr. de Cane a subject of the French Kings and Thomas Pittz and others English Merchants Adventurers to Canada, and upon consideration had in particuler of the great contempt and affront of all authoritie and Justice shewed by the said Fittz, whereunto also it is to be presumed that the rest of his partners were privie and Abettors, It was thought fit and ordered that his Majesties Atturney Generall doe proceede in Starr Chamber against the said Fittz, with all expedition, and that he likewise hasten the Commission agreed on and directed for the examination and discovery of the rest of the Actors or Abettors in the said misdemeanors, and that here of he give their Lordshipps an account at their next sitting on Fryday in the afternoone. Lastly it is thought fitt and ordered that the said Fittz be still continued prisoner in the Fleete. And that the Warden be expressly charged and required not to suffer him at all to goe abroad.
(State Paper Office, Colonial Papers, vol. V, art. 97.)
XV.
To the right honorable the Lords Comissioners for his Majesties Navie and Admiraltie of England.
The petition of Sr. William Allexander Knight, Capt. David Kerk and others the adventurers in the joynt companie of Canada.
Whereas it pleased his Majesty some three years agoe to give Comission under the great Seale of England to the petrs for planting Colonies in the river of Cannada, and displanting of those who were then his Majesties ennemies in the said Landes, and for the better encouragement and enabling of the petrs to give them by the same Commission sole power to trade with the natives within the Gulfe and river of Cannada: Now the petrs are informed that there are divers shipps bound for the said Gulfe and river without warrant from them and contrary to his Majesties expresse pleasure by his Commission to them, which cannot but turne greatly to the prejudice of his Majesties service and the losse of the petrs And they are particularly enformed of one shipp, called the Whale of London whose 14/1426owners are Nathaniell Wright and Nathan Wright, the Masters Richard Brewerton and Wolston Goslyn, that is presently ready for the said voyage.
Wherefore they doe humbly entreat your Lordshipps that for the foresaid shipp or any other which upon due information shalbe found to have any such intention contrary to his Majestys Commission to the petrs there may be such course taken that they may be stayed or sufficient assureance given that they will prosecute noe such voyage.