MRP: October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO

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October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO

BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX, f. 22

Editorial history

13/12/11, CSG: Created page




Abstract & context


Captain Robert Bowen wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated October 1667.

He had written twice before, in letters dated April 14th 1667 and October 3rd, 1667. The first of these previous letters had been sent from Padstow [Plaistow], and the second was from London.[1]

The purpose of this short letter was to chase up a parcel of seventy-four diamonds which Robert Bowen had left in Surat with Sir George. In the meantime Bowen had sold the diamonds to the London merchant Christopher Willoughby. Bowen ruefully acknowledged that he had sold them at a loss.

Christopher Willoughby had himself written to Sir George Oxenden in April 1667 to enquire about the diamonds.[2]

The letter of October 1667 was similar to his letter of April 14th, 1667. It may have been sent as an insurance against the possible loss of the first letter, given the war with the Dutch, which made sea travel most uncertain.

Robert Bowen was on familiar terms with Sir George Oxenden, as were a number of mariners whose letters also survive. He signed off "your loving friend," and included news of Sir George's nephew, Charles Masters, who had returned from Surat in December 1665.

Captain Robert Bowen was mentioned by several other correspondents:

Sir William Ryder commented on the arrival of Captain Bowen's and other commanders' ships in a letter to Sir George Oxenden dated January 3rd 1665/66:

Shipes London & Royall Charles together with the American arrived in safty at the Isle of Weight about 3 weekes past and are now thankes be to God all well in our River of Thames but none of their Comanders as yet com up, soo my thoughts are to send downe unto Cap:t Bowen for the small things comited to his charge by your good sellfe on me & ffrinds[3]

Elizabeth Dallison, Sir George Oxenden's sister and London agent, reported in March 1665/66 that Captain Bowen had delivered a small packet of diamonds to the Customs House on Oxenden's behalf:

The little Box of Dymonds w:ch you sent marked TW:AM: Cap:t Bowen delivered to the East India comp:a who have been very xxxxx upon your Acco:tt & freely gave mee an order for Y:m Nothing wanting now only y:e Clearing the Custom[4]

John Mascall, a respected and trusted friend of the Oxendens, thanked Sir George for a token he had received via Bowen:

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[5]

Sir George Smith mentioned Captain Bowen in a letter dated March 1665/66. This was in the context of the return of an adventure he and Sir William Ryder had sent out earlier to Surat:

that Small adventure K:S: what was sent out by S:r Will:m Rider and my selfe yo:w now Returne by Cap:t Bowen which is very well[6]

Sir Henry Oxenden, Sir George's elder brother, wrote to Sir George in April 1665/66, having spoken with Bowen about prospects for the outward sea voyage to Surat:

the Danes have seased o:r English shipps in Copenhagen, your shipp is given by many for lost, there is 30 given to Insure her Cap:t Bowen told me tis allmost Impossible she cann come to you[7]


Suggested links


See 14th April 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO, Pladsto
See 3rd October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO, London


To do


(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL


Transcription


This transcription has been completed, but required checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX, f. 22]

[f.22]

S:r George Oxinden & Hon: ffreind

Sr

I was in good hopes by ye last suratt shipps to have recvd my small box of Dymonds left in yo:r worps hands contayning seventy 4 dimonds but I soppose it was yo:e love & Care to me y:t yo:w sent y:m not being the times were dangerous but now peece being concluded I doe desire they may be sent unto M:r Christopher Willoughby[8] unto whom I have sould y:m although to losse: therefore for ye future disposure of y:m pray observe his order not already present but remaine

Yo:r loving ffreind
Rob:t Bowen

Charles Masters[9] rememb his duty to yo Wors: & ye rest
of his relations

JO RB


Notes

  1. ↑ 14th April 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO, Pladsto; 3rd October 1667, Letter from Robert Bowen to Sir GO, London
  2. ↑ April 1667, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO
  3. ↑ 3rd January 1665/66, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO, Bethnall Green
  4. ↑ Pre-17th March 1665/66, Letter from Elizabeth Dalyson to Sir GO
  5. ↑ March 1665/66, Letter from John Mascall to Sir GO, London
  6. ↑ March 1665/66, Letter from George Smith to Sir GO
  7. ↑ 1st April 1666, Letter from Sir Henry Oxinden to Sir GO
  8. ↑ Christopher Willoughby, London Merchant. See letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir George Oxenden in which Willoughby discusses at length the missing diamonds: April 1667, Letter from Christopher Willoughby to Sir GO
  9. ↑ Charles Masters returned from Surat in December 1665. His mother, Ann Masters wrote to her brother, Sir George Oxenden, on March 10th 1665/66, telling him of Charles' return. See 10th March 1665/66, Letter from Ann Master to Sir GO, London

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