Difference between revisions of "MRP: 7th October 1662, Letter from Gerard Aunguier to Sir GO, ye Shipp Lepard in Bombay Road"

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7th October 1662, Letter from Gerard Aunguier to Sir GO, ye Shipp Lepard in Bombay Road

BL, MS. XX,XXX, ff. 1-2

Editorial history

18/12/11, CSG: Page created & pasted transcription to wiki

Abstract & context

Suggested links

See 31st December 1662, Letter from George Oxinden, John Goodyer & Gerald Aungeire to XXXX,(French), Suratt

To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, MS. XX,XXX, ff. 1-2]

[p.1]

Rightte Worp:ll & Most Deare S:r

That I salute you with soo ffamiliar á stile ; (though I Confess it á sin of presumption) yett I know yo:r Worp:s Charity will excuse mee, & accuse yo:r selfe when you xxxxx on y:e freedom yo:r Worp:e was pleased to use mee w:th on Boarde y:e Rich:d & Martha; w:ch is an happing I have not yett forgott; Nor will I tell either my owne Crimes or your unkindnesse force mee to y:e Contrary.

With an Elevated ffancy I doo now suppose my selfe w:th yo:r Worp:e in y:d R: & Marthas Great cabine, or in yo:r Closett at Surratt & lett me begg y:e Liberty to discourse one quarter of an hour w:th yo:r Worp:e & soo proceede on my voyage.

And ffirst lett us ?Discantt á Little on y:e Grand Nationall Intreague of Bombay á designe of such high circumstance, & soo Little substance, & such vast Expectation & soo inconsiderable effect, That I cannot as an Englishman but Blush to thinke, what resentm:t it will finde, not only in y:e Court of England, But in y:e opinion of y:e World, on this, & y:e otherside of y:e cape

Ffor ffirst of this terrible V. Roy had Quietly surrendered y:t (which onely now wee can demand) viz:tts y.e Island of Bombay it is soo unworthy in it selfe, of y:e great Charge expended, of y:e paines adventures, & lives of soo many men, That Certainely those y:t weigh it w:th an experimentall & unbiased knowledge must needs Looke, (if Enemyes w:th scourne) (if freinds w:th Pitty) on y:e manadgm:t of our affaires in England.

Secondly. That if all w:ch was expected by his maj:ty, Viz:tt Bombay Salset^[1]; & ?Tarma (Or, Farma) weare Really Surrendered into our possession, The fforces w:ch are sent out, are very unfitt, in number, Quality, ammunition & warlike provision necessary to keepe, [?&] fortifie y:m soo y:t wee may Conclude an affaire of such Importance was littel understood in England.

Thirdly. Wee may haveleave to thinke, That as in all affaires especially of state, & in this nature, tis Prudence, not only to accept But to provide for y:e Worst, I say y:t it was but necessary to give a latitude of Discretion, to y:e Commanders Depured In case of failure in pformance of Articles to have acted something, y:t might in some respect have preserved y:e Reputation of his Maj:ty & y:d whole Nation; & not by soo tame á submission have exposed us to y.e scorne of y:e whole world

This for y:e affaire it selfe; Now as to y;e Actors in thy Pretty Tragicomedy; as to my L: of M: in my simple Judgem:t I Conclude him as ffitt

[p.2]

As ffitt, for y:e Manadgm:t of such á Concerne as any pson in England, & y:t no man Could have acted w:th more Caution Couradge, & prudence , in his spheere than hee has done, as to his naturall Genias in Converse hee is á Stoicke, & Consequently á very ?humourist.

S:r A:S:^[2] may bee an approved Soldier, & is a Civell Gentleman, but has much English Good nature to deale w:th á Portuguese & I must tell yo:r Worp:e further, That (ultra crepidam) hee has soo many ?capricciees of Trade, y:t had y:e Designe succeeded, our Hon:ble Masters, would have noo reason to thanke him for.

The V: R: (besides y:e Natureall Virtues y:t doo attend a Portuguese, w:ch render him Obnoxious to us) hath á faculty of more dangerous Consequence to us, w:ch is y:t hee is á pfect Castiliano w:ch when yo:r Worp:e hath well understood, you will not wonder at y:e treatment wee have reced at his hands.

But that such & onely such á person should bee pickt out & Deputed out of Portugall, for this employm:t ought to bee an use of Comfort to heighten o:r expectation of y:e success of o:r match w:th y:e Infanta of Portguall., To conclude. When I reflect on y:e Hon:r of o:r Gratious King, & Nation, I Cannot But bee Passionately Angry at y:e success of this affaire, But when I reflect on y:e Interest of o:r Hono:ble Masters, I am not much sorry; for I doo conclude y:e Designe it selfe absolutely pernitious to theire settlem:t; & shall bee of y:t opinion till o:r Worp:e Convince me.

Pardon Deare S:r my sudenesse in presumeing to offer these Impertinent apprehentions to sage Censure, if yo:r Worp:e will needs bee angrey please to Consider how long it is since I had y:e happiness to kiss your hand, & y:t I may bee pardoned if I take any occasion, of enjoying such oblidgeing, &, Endeared Company.

[?In] Obedience to yo:r Worp:s order I have paid S:r Abra:m Shippman pces of 8/8ts one hundred & [blank in copy] in full for y:d 3: pipes of Madera xxxx, & have taken his receipt, for w:ch please to give meee Creditt in yo:r Bookes, for I have past it to yo:r Worp:s pticular Acco:t.

I have now onely two or Three Humble Requests to make to yo:r Worp & first y:t yo:r Worp:s would Please to thanke my Lord, & my Deare Cap:t Browne^[3] for all y:e kindenesses I have recd of them for your Meritt, is in debt for it, & not mine, & really I must tell yo:r Worp:e y:t my Lord hath often, & often dranke yo:r health w:th more than ordenary expressions of kindenesse; As for Cap:t Browne I know yo:r Worp:e cannot but have a great kindenesse for him as my selfe, for I ??ptest of all y:e seamen I ever yett mett with, I have not knowne his fellow, for an oblidgeing temper, for prudence, & good Goverm:t of A shippe.

Secondly I begg yo:r worp:w y:t this lre after yo:r worp:s prusall may bee burnt

[p.3]

Bee burnt, or put to more necessary uses, but recommunicate to none.

Thirdly. Y:t, yo:r Worp:e would please to pardon all faults w:ch I have Committed, & especially in this lre, & that you would Chide mee when I offend, that I might learne how to doo well, And if after y:s Chargeable & unsuccessfull voyadge, wherein I know you intended mee a kindenesse, yo:r Worp:e hath á spare Roome left for mee at Sur:tt you will lay an Obligation upon mee that will not Dye.

May y:e Blessing of Health, strength & good fortune all wayes attend yo:r worp:e y:t I may bee happy á gaine to kisse yo:r hands & lett yo:r worp:e know how much you are hon:d by

Hono:d S:r

Yo:r ffaithfull & Humble
Servant,
Gerard Aungier

Ffrom Aboard y:e Shipp Lepard in
Bombay Road adj 7:th Octob: 1662

I have writt yo:e Worp:e positively y:t I have p:d S:r Abra:m Shippman for y:d 3 Pepes Madera but am Deceiv:d for when I carryed him y:d I soo according to yo:r order at 36: p 8/8ts p pipe, had tould mee it came to more But how much hee could not tell by reason his notes of it were in a scretore w:ch hee could not readily come at, soo desired mee to defer it till wee come to sea, y:d Money I left w:th him sealed & in a day or two shall adjust it w:th him, & take his receipt.

Notes

1. ↑ Salsette was XXXX
2. ↑ Sir Abraham Shipman was XXXX
3. ↑ Captain XXXX Browne was XXXX