MRP: March 1665/66, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
March 1665/66, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
Editorial history
03/06/09, CSG: Completed transcription
Contents
Abstract & context
John Mascall wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated March 1665/66, from London.
The letter deals with XXXX
The letter reveals that John Mascall was well enough known to the Oxenden and Dallison family to have been be invited by Sir Henry to Elizabeth Dallison's funeral at Clerkenwell. In an earlier letter, dated March 20th, 1662/63, sent from London, John Mascall had mentioned that he had been drinking with Sir George Oxenden's nephew, Richard Master, a merchant of Antwerp, and that Sir Henry Oxenden's parents-in-law, Sir William and Lady Meredith of Leeds Castle, Kent, had told him that Sir Henry had been very sick, but was now recovered.[1]
Sir Henry Oxenden's immediate thought after the death of his sister was to to seek the assistance of John Mascall:
for Merchants affaires I do intend to XXX the assistance of Mr. Mascall who I judge to be wise and faithfull and a XX XXX of you[2]
A few days later, having had more time to pull together his thoughts about Sir George Oxenden's commercial affairs, Sir Henry was still intent on relying in the honesty of John Mascall, together with the advice of others:
Now Brother I shall intreat yo:r directions as to your affaires, & in the meantime transact them w:th all the diligence & prudence yt I have, taking to my Councell yo:r best friends, whome I find now ?worry to serve you, and assist mee as Papillon,[3] Honest maskall, S:r Will:m Rider[4] Boone,[5] and others of the labor and more XXX XXXX as S:r Andrew Riccard[6] & Co.: who have promised all Civilities[7]
A week later, Sir Henry Oxenden had wised up on the factions within the English East India Company, and found John Mascall to be a friend and supporter of his brother:
I made enquiry about your friends & Foes & I must without flattery tell you y:t all the wise & with mony of the Comm:tee do prize you highly & say they never had such a Pt: & Pson y So much XXXX XXXX ?charge XXXXX [worm hole] them more Bennefitt, and these psons are S:r: Barnardiston[8], S:r Wllm Thomson,[9] Boone,[10] Rider,[11] Mascall,[12] Papillon,[13] Clarke,[14] S:r Andrew Ricault,[15] yea and Jolliff[16] too[17]
John Mascall wrote three times to Sir George Oxenden in the 1660s.
Suggested links
See 20th March 1662/63, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
See 4th October 1667, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
To do
Transcription
[f.36]
Honnoured S:r
Your most gratefull Letters of January 1664 (sic) p Loy:ll Merch:t and of the 6:th March 1664 (sic) p shipp London came Safe to my hands, the relation yo:w made me in y:e former of y:e State wherein yo:w found y:e Comp:as affaires by Ill mannagem:t before your arrivall there, I being that yeare off from the Committee, yet did commiserate y:e Same to Some that were in, and indeed Since youre taking the gouvernm:t there upon yo:w they have found experimently the Bennefitt thereof by those grand advantages that they have reaped by yo:r mannadgm:t and as I am now and Doo find the Comm:t very much Satisfied in what yo:w have Done in y:e tract of their affaires & allthough pticula:r ?Residings are not distinctly separated to know exactly the gaine or Loss of each Prsidency, yet yo:rs is evident, to be well mannaged, & to greatest advantage, & could wish it could be said the like of the other Prsidencys, God be blessed our last shipps disposed by yo:r Selfe from Surratt are Safely come into the River Thames & allmost unladen, their Cargos p[xxxx] gives great Contentment to all y:e adventurers, But S:r as yo:w will have heard from all hands, It pleased the Allmighty to powre (sic) forth his Anger upon the Citty in a very Sadd manner, that in y:e space of 50 days from the 14:th Aug:st till the 3:d October there was in o:r Mortallity Bills 50 thous:d people, that were buried of the plague & other Diseases, be God in this last mo:th of Janu:ry
[f.36]
Not above 2 or 300 p week of all Diseases, as likewise yo:w ill have heard y:e warr broken out twixt England & Holland, which as to point of trade as it hath much Dammaged them in all their trades, So it hath á little Straightned our trade for all the ptes of Europe, the resentment of the Contagion and warr doth Damp the expectations of the Sales eith:r of East India or European commodities for y:e pres:t & we now point Blanck [TBC] w:th á Breath [xx:th ffrance, they taking the pte of the Dutch & seazed some ships of our nation & wee understand they turne adventurers for India, upon all which condiserations our Comm:tee will make but Small adventures forth of England this yeare and onely this shipp the Returne Cap:t Stanton is dispeeded your ptes this Season wee are in hope our Kings Maj:ties grand preparations for this Spring may reduce the Hollanders to better tearmes before the Summer doo passe over notwithstanding the French Kings Zeale in countenancing their Quarrell by his now Declaring warr ag:st o:r nation, S:r I am herewith to render yo:w mine & my Wifes[18] thankes for you token sent by Cap:t Bowen[19] which was punctually deivered accoring to your Direction, your Dearre Sister and my good freind M:rs Dalyson[20] came to London some few dayes Since, upon her arrivall sent to have a time to vissitt her, but heard she was very ill, yett upon her desires I went to see her and found her very weake in her bede where she was pleased to aske my oppinion, concerning the Dispeeding some effects to yo:w (which by reason of the great danger of the passadge in this time of warr) my advice was y:t shee might governe her Selfe in the largeness of the adventure, according to y:e example of the Comp:a who doo not adventure above 1/3 pte of what they would have done had it been times of peace, I acquainted her likewise, that one M:r Broomfield[21] w:te had been recommended to the Comp:a in your genn:ll Surratt Letter to be admitted into their Service was amply Debated, which had this Issue, Whereas on Sunday, petitions of other psons y:t had dormerly been presented to obtaine y:e favour of admission to their Service, an order was made possitive to admitt none into their Imployment till they saw the Success of this yeares warr, now y:e recommendation for M:r Broomfields admission had it been granted had thwarted this order, But such was y:e Comp:s respect to S:r George Oxinden as that they intended Kinsman M:r Broomfield & y:e pther pson Recommended to be admitted in first place when they Seatle any in their Service in that nature
[f.38]
I allsoe acquainted M:rs Dallyson that one M:r Guibon Goddard[22] that was at Surratt w:th yo:w had á ffreind by name M:r W:m Gosilin of London that did pack up in á BoxN:o 1: á pcell of gould & silver Lace & by his Letter consigned them to y:e said M:r Guibon Goddard which werre ?contneighed by M:rs Dalysons directions aboard the shipp London Cap:t Bowen[23] Commander to be dispatched of for acco:t of the Said M:r Will:m Gosilin to y:e amo:t of as p Invoyce enclosed 108:ll 12:s:6:d: stocke and hearing that the said M:r Goddard is dead I was desired to enquire of M:rs Dalyson touching the Success of the Same and shee desires me to acquaint yo:w y:t indeed she did cause y:e Said Box N:O: 1 w:th those laces to be laden aboard the London and that the Same Shipp Shee understands was deliverd at Surratt to M:r Streynsham Masters, M:r Goddard being deceased, But by these Shipps London &c:a came no Returnes nor acco:tt now SLr because of your good Sisters indisposition I would not give her y:e trouble to write yo:w of this matter; but have taken the Bouldnesse my selfe and by her Direction to Intreat yo:w to enquire into the promisses to gett M:r Trensham [should be Streynsham but is written "Trensham"] Master to delliver yo:w the proceed to be Sent home to mee, In such commodities y:t are free as in your wisedome may seeme most meet, S:r I assure yo:w the freind for whome I trouble yo:w in this matter is soo neare as the favours will be as done to my Selfe which I must acknowledge S:r I have á small Designe to send yo:w for my acco:tt to Invest in Dymonds, or other free goods, but being Disappointed by being out of towne w:th my ffamily missed of my Aime in y:e speaking w:th the Cap:t soo omitt it till next opportunity do Salute yo:w Remayning
S:r
Yo:r assured to command
London the 6:th March 1665/6
S:r Inclosed I send yo:w Mr: Goslins Memorriall of the pticulers of the goodes
Honnoured S:r There was sent by Will:m Gostlin of London a pcell of gould & Silver Lace & one peece of Silke Lace amounting to 102:ll 12:s 6:d unto Guiben Goddard in the M:th of march Anno:o 1663: p the Shipp London bound for Surratt of which there hath been no returne made nor Acco:tt yett given to him, onely he understands that the said Guiben Goddard is since that
[f.39]
Time dead which he Judgeth is y:e cause of the no returne made, Now the said Will:m Gostlin desires that the said goodes may be disposed of upon as good an Acco:tt as may be made of them & the returnes to be Sent by the next Shipping which comes for Londonn, in what goodes Shall be thought most fitting and an Acco:t thereof to be given by the first unto his very good friend (sic) M:r John Mascall of London merch:t
Will:m Gostlin
London Februa:ry 7:th 1665
March y:e 5:th 1663
Goodes sent to Guiben Goddard from Will:m Gostlin at y:e Catt in Paternoster Rowe London
N:o Yds ll. s. D.
1: 13: at 18: s p yd 11: 14: 00
2: 19: at 16 s p yd 15: 04: 00
3: 16: at 13s p yd 10:08:00
4: 17: at 9s. P yd 07: 13: 00
5: 11: at 7s p yd 03: 17: 00
6: 41 at 5s 6d p yed 11: 5: 06
7: 25: at 5s p yd 06: 5:00
8: 47: at 4s p yd 07:08: 00
9: 40: at 3s 6d p yd 07: 00 00
10: 186: at 3s: p yd 27:18:00
ll.: 108: 12: 6 [TOTAL]
Honnoured S:r
I gave yo:w acc:o by mine of the 7:th of March instant of such matt:es as was then Occurant, and at present, this Serves to acquaint yo:w of the Sadd tidings of the Death of your Deare Sister M:rs Dallyson, I was by the Invitation of S:r Hen:y Oxinden[24] attendant on her to her grave , the last office we’could pforme to o:r Deceased freind, But this I am to condole w:th yo:w , hose loss & withall to desire yo:w to consolate yo:r Self as to her that she is gone to á bott: [o:r?] habitation then this troubkesome terrestiall Vale, the Lord of heaven fitt is all for oure change to his Divine & heavenly protection & guidance do heartily Committ & Rest
S:r Yo:r assured Freind & Serv:t
John Mascall
London 23:th March 1665/6
S:r Ship Returne was retayn’d wind Bound till now in the Downes
Notes
Possible primary sources
TNA
PROB 11/360 King 66-124 Will of William Gostling, Merchant of Norwich, Norfolk 23 July 1679
- ↑ 20th March 1662/63, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
- ↑ 18th March 1665/66, Letter from Sir Henry Oxinden to Sir GO, Corner (London)
- ↑ Thomas Papillon, London merchant and a cousin of Sir Henry and Sir George Oxenden
- ↑ Sir William Ryder, London merchant
- ↑ Christopher Boone, London merchant and a cousin of Sir Henry and Sir George Oxenden
- ↑ Sir Andrew Riccard was XXXX
- ↑ 24th March 1665/66, Letter from Sir Henry Oxinden to Sir GO, Corner (London)
- ↑ Samuel Barnardiston, London merchant
- ↑ Sir William Thompson, London merchant and brother of Maurice Thompson
- ↑ Christopher Boone, London merchant
- ↑ Sir William Ryder, London merchant
- ↑ John Mascall, London merchant
- ↑ Thomas Papillon, London merchant, and relative of the Oxenden family
- ↑ Sir Francis Clarke, London merchant
- ↑ Sir Andrew Riccard, London merchant
- ↑ John Jolliffe, London merchant
- ↑ 1st April 1666, Letter from Sir Henry Oxinden to Sir GO
- ↑ John Mascall's wife was XXXX. See ["Missing faces"]
- ↑ Captain Bowen, commander of the XXXX
- ↑ Elizabeth Dallison, elder sister and London agent of Sir George Oxenden
- ↑ Mr. Bromfield was XXXX
- ↑ For background on Guiben (alias Gibbon) Goodard and his family see notes to Pre-17th March 1665/66, Letter from Elizabeth Dalyson to Sir GO
- ↑ Captain XXXX Bown, commander of the London
- ↑ Sir Henry Oxenden was the elder brother of Sir George Oxenden
