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

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Abstract & context

John Mascall (b. 1611, d. 1684) wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated March 1665/66. This is the second of three letters from John Mascall to Sir George Oxenden preserved in Oxenden's letter books.

The letter gives the writer's address simply as "London," though the London hearth tax return for 1662 gives his residence as a fifteen hearth building in the fifth precinct of Coleman Street ward. Nearby East India merchants in Coleman Street Ward shown in the same 1662 hearth tax return included Samuell and Jeremie Sambrooke, in the second precinct, with six hearths and eight hearths respectively, and Thomas Tyte, in the sixth precinct, with twelve hearths.

The letter dealt with a number of topics. It concluded with an invoice dated March 1663 from William Gostlin (alias Goslin), "at y:e Catt in Paternoster Rowe London" to Guiben Goddard, a now deceased factor in the East Indies. John Mascall was a "very good friend" of Gostlin, and was chasing up Gostlin's goods, given that Elizabeth Dallison was sick and unlikely to be able to do so herself. A "Will: Goslin' was listed at "Pancras Lane" in 1677. However, it is not clear whether this is the same merchant.

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. In his later letter, dated October 4th, 1667, he refers to "our Kentish friends."

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

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, Honest maskall, S:r Will:m Rider Boone, and others of the labor and more XXX XXXX as S:r Andrew Riccard & Co.: who have promised all Civilities

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, S:r Wllm Thomson, Boone, Rider, Mascall, Papillon, Clarke, S:r Andrew Ricault, yea and Jolliff too

Elizabeth Dallison similarly believed in the honesty and ability of John Mascall. She had written to Sir George Oxenden on April 1st, 1663, from London:

When I enterdd first on y:e ffardinand:s Busyeness M:r Papillion came to mee to know whome I had provided to act for you; I tould him I had obtained y:e favour of M:r Mascall on your parte hee saydd hee know him to bee an Honest &, an able man

John Mascall was ten years older than Sir George Oxenden. The son of Walter Mascall of Sherrington and Lewes, Sussex, and of Rose Aynescombe, daughter of Thomas Aynescombe of Mayfield, Sussex. He married twice, firstly to Mary, daughter of Robert Underwood, grocer, and secondly, in 1655, to Joyce, daughter of Edmund Clarke, clothworker, and widow of John Lever.

It is not clear from his birth in Sussex, and from his marriages to daughters of London merchants, how his evidently strong links to the county of Kent and to various members of the Oxenden, Master and Dallison families, were formed.

John Mascall was a haberdasher, who had achieved some status and commercial success. He was a warden of the haberdashers in 1664, and was chosen a committee of the English East India Company four times (1660-61; 1661-62; 1665-56; 1667-67).

Almost nothing is known about his commercial activities in terms of geographic interests and preferred commodities.

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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

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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 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 thankes for you token sent by Cap:t Bowen which was punctually deivered accoring to your Direction, your Dearre Sister and my good freind M:rs Dalyson 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 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 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 Box N: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 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 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 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

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Notes

J.R. Woodhead (1966), Mascall, John

"MASCALL, John

Co Co Coleman Street, 1660-2, 1668-70, 1681 (1) St Olave Jewry, 1658, 1671 (2) HAB, L, 1682 (3) bap 30 Jan 1610/11, d 1684 (4) f Walter Mascall of Sherrington, and Lewes, Suss, m Rose, da of Thomas Aynescombe of Mayfield, Suss, mar (A) Mary, da of Robert Underwood, GR, and Dorothy Fairclough of St Stephen Walbrook, (B) 1655, Joyce, wid of John Lever, da of Edmund Clarke, CLO (5) Merchant, "quondam merchant", 1681 Cf John Mascall, merchant in Throgmorton Street, 1677 ? Comm EIC, 1660-2, 1665-6, 1667-8 (6) Whig Presbyterian Ruling Elder of 6th Classis of London Province, 1649-57 (7) Commsr for Lieut, 1660

(1) 1681 SP/29/417/240 (2) VBk, St Olave Jewry (3) Smith (4) LVP, 1664, p 95 (5) LVP, 1664, p 95, Boyd 26817, 646 (6) LVP, 1664, p 95, SP/29/417/240, Directory, 1677, Cal Min EIC (7) SP/29/417/240, Sion College, MS Acc L40 2/E17"

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J.R. Woodhead (1966), Gostlyn, William

"GOSTLYN, William

Co Co Castle Baynard, 1675-82, Dep, 1683 Ald Farringdon Without, Oct 1684-30 Apr 1685 removed to Candlewick-3 Oct 1688 superseded on restoration of Charter Castle Baynard, 18 Oct 1688-May 1690 (1) St Pauls Covent Garden, 1667, Paternoster Row, 1682, St Faith, 1681 (2) MER, fr, 1653, by John Godden, M, 1685 (3) b 1638, d 28 Jul 1690 (4) PCC Admon, 14 Nov 1690 mar (A) Sarah, da of Thomas Norwich of Bury St Edmund, Suff, (B) 1668, Abigail, da of John RANDALL (5) Laceman (6) Kt, 26 Sep 1684 Sheriff, 1684 (7) High Tory ("good", 1682) (8) Da-, mar Sir Henry Bendish, 4th Bt (9) Cf William Goslin merchant in Pancras Lane, 1677 (10)

(1) Beaven, I, pp 164, 186, 96 (2) Boyd 15786, SP/29/417/ 168, 418/199 (3) Beaven, II, p 110, MER, Fr List, p 205 (4) Boyd 17478 (5) Boyd 17478, 15786, 5578 (6) SP/29/ 418/199 (7) Beaven, II, p 110 (8) SP/29/418/199, 435/ 102 (9) Beaven, II, p 193 (10) Directory, 1677"

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EEIC, 1660-1663

"[July 7, 1660] The Governor announces that the following have been elected Committees : Lord George Berkley, Sir William Thomson, Sir Theophilus Biddulph, Sir William Vincent, Sir Thomas Bludworth. Sir John Frederick, Sir Richard Ford, Sir John Lewis, Sheriff Love, Colonel James Drax, Messrs. Maurice Thomson, William Williams, Samuel Moyer, Thomas Kendall, John Jollife, Stephen White, George Smith, Peter Middleton, Christopher Willoughby, Thomas Pearle, Francis Clarke, Christopher Boone, John Mascall, and Captain William Rider."

"[August 30, 1660] The Court consents to the business between the Company and Frederick Skinner being referred to arbitration. Skinner and his brother Daniel to seal a bond of 20,000/. penalty to stand to the award or deliver up the person of the former ; John Mascall and John Bence to act for Skinner, and Sir Richard Foard and Thomas Murthwayte for the Company, the award to be settled by the 31st October next."

"[April 17, 1662] The Governor declares that the following have been elected Committees for the ensuing year : George, Lord Berkly, Sir Andrew Riccard, Sir William Thompson, Sir John Lewis, Sir Anthony Bateman, Sir Richard Ford, Sir Thomas Bludworth, Sir George Smith, Sir Stephen White, John Jolliffe, Arthur Ingram, John Bathurst, Maurice Thompson, Robert Lant, Samuel Barnardiston, Christopher Boone, Peter Vandeput, Thomas Kendall, Francis Clarke, John Mascall, Thomas Winter, Christopher Willoughby, Thomas Canham, and Stephen Langham."

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Daniel Lysons (1798), Walthamstow tithes, John Mascall, merchant

"Great tithes.

The great tithes continued in the Argall family till 1663, when they were conveyed by Thomas Argall, Esq. to Robert Shipman, who left them, by will, to his wife Dorothy: from her they passed, in 1667, to John Mascall, merchant; whose descendant having, in the year 1733, married Anne Asgyll"

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Haberdashers

"Londons triumphs celebrated the 29th of October, 1664 in honour to the truely deserver of honour Sir Iohn Lawrence Knight, Lord Maior of the honourable city of London, and performed at the costs and charges of the worshipful Company of Haberdashers, William Justice, Esq., Master, John King, Phillip Owen, Anthony Dowse, John Mascall, wardens / written by John Tatham Gent"

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Possible primary sources

TNA

C 2/ChasI/A5/52 Short title: Aynscombe v Mascall. Plaintiff: Aynscombe. Defendant: Mascall. Document type: [Bill and answer or answers]. Between 1625 and 1660
C 2/ChasI/A51/53 Short title: Aynscombe v Mascal. Plaintiff: Aynscombe. Defendant: Mascal. Document type: [Bill and answer or answers]. Between 1625 and 1660
- John Mascall's father, Walter Mascall, was married to Rose Aynescombe, whose own father was Thomas Aynescombe of Mayfield

C 3/37/9 Short title: Chalener v Mascall. Plaintiffs: Richard Chalener and others. Defendants: Walter Mascall. Subject: rectory of Plumpton, Sussex. Document type: [pleadings]. 1558-1579
- John Mascall's father was Walter Mascall, of Sherrington, and Lewes, Sussex
C 3/128/24 Short title: Mascall v Edwyn. Plaintiffs: John Mascall. Defendants: John Edwyn. Subject: copyhold held of the manor of Plumpton, Sussex. Document type: [pleadings]. 1558-1579

C 5/522/90 Masters v. Mascall: Middlesex. 1668

C 6/119/56 Short title: Freeman v Peerse. Plaintiffs: William Freeman. Defendants: Edward Peerse, Richard Norwich, John Mascall and Joseph Beaumont. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, three answers. 1652
C 6/198/87 Short title: Smith v Mascall. Plaintiffs: Thomas Smith. Defendants: John Mascall. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1671
C 6/255/37 Short title: Mascall v Odiarn. Plaintiffs: John Mascall. Defendants: Gregory Odiarn, Gregory Odiarn, Stephen Odiarn, Charles Odiarn, Robert Yates and John Boswell. Subject: property in Snargate, Kent. Document type: bill, three answers. 1686

C 10/111/55 Mascall v Lovelace, Kitchell and others: Kent 1668

C 21/A8/19 Aynscombe v Mascall: depositions taken in the country 1558-1649
- John Mascall's father, Walter Mascall, was married to Rose Aynescombe, whose own father was Thomas Aynescombe of Mayfield

C 103/154 BASNET v MASCALL: Deeds relating to: Lee, Kent 1641

C 142/226/143 & 160 Mascall, John: Sussex 32 Elizabeth

PROB 11/160 XXXX Will of Edmond Underwood, Grocer of London 14 June 1631
- Possibly related to Robert Underwood, GR, father-in-law of John Mascall's first wife, Mary Underwood
PROB 11/208 Fairfax 58-116 Will of Thomas Aynescombe or Aynscombe of Mayfield, Sussex 10 May 1649
- Possibly relative of John Mascall's mother, Rose Aynescombe, whose own father was Thomas Aynescombe of Mayfield
PROB 11/272 Wootton 1-51 Will of Edmund Clarke, Clothworker of London 28 January 1658
- Possibly will of father-in-law of John Mascall, through Mascall's second wife ("Joyce, wid of John Lever, da of Edmund Clarke, CLO")
PROB 11/360 King 66-124 Will of William Gostling, Merchant of Norwich, Norfolk 23 July 1679
PROB 11/387 Foot 45-89 Will of John Masscall or Mascall, Mariner of Saint Botolph without Aldgate, Middlesex 20 June 1687

PROB 28/475 Mascall con Spencer 1671-2