MRP: 26th March 1663, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London

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26th March 1663, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX,XXX, ff. 51-53

Editorial history

02/06/09, CSG: Completed transcription
18/12/11, CSG: Page created & transcription posted to wiki




Abstract & context


Sir William Ryder wrote to Sir George Oxenden on March 26th, 1663.

He covered a number of topics and people in his letter.



Suggested links


To do


(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

(2) Is Mr. Bull, like Samuel Heron, a servant/apprentice of Sir William Ryder?


Transcription


This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX,XXX, ff. 51-53]

[f.51]

Right Worp:ll S:r Geo: Oxinden.

My good freind I have rcvd yo:r kinde lines Dated in Madera April last & congratulate yo:r safe arrivall & good passage farr retoruning you my heartie thanks y:t you have given yo:r selfe y:e trouble in prssing my severall papers; such slight bussinesse ought not to interrupt yo:r more weighty affaires yett since you are pleased soo farre to take recognizance of them as [OR "at"] hint them in pticular to meee it imboldens mee to bagg up yo:r farther trouble therein, & in y:e first place concerneing M:r W:m Downes[1] estate, according to y:e exammination ?minos guner of y:e Surratt mch:t yould per[XX]ance [OR “pretend”?] it may bee of farr greater valew than our is like to come to y:e Executo:rs hands without yo:r assistance there in who I know to bee so farr á [XXXX] of Justice y:t you will indeavour (sic) Every one may have theire due & D:to [CHECK] Cownds Acco:t comeing home on last yeares shipps wee findd brought into y:e Comp:a Books onely S :[or possibly “$:”] 209:04: over & á Bove his wages, soo y:t

[f.52]

By Ech:a unto Cap:t Torrells[2] Widdoe á good part of w:ch I have caused to bee stopt in y:e Comp:a hands till y:e Arrivall this yeares shipping, & M:r Heron[3] & M:r Bull[4] retournes theire thanks for yo:r kinde remembrance of them.

In the next place concerneing M:r Conyers[5] lre, & the shipp Eagles bussinesse who being safe arrived heere w:th us will have no want of the stores & necessaries sent out for her upon y:e Shipp Rich:d & Martha soo if you please to bee soo kindd to y:e Owners of that Shipp Eagle as to turne them necessaries into á lesser some, goods propp. for this mkett as to Dyamonds or y:e like it will bee greatly acknowledged by them.

Theare are alsoe six great Gunns appertaineing to y:t Shipp Owners left á former voyadge w:th M:r Jn:o Lambton,[6] which wee pray yo:r assistance in theire dispossall & sending retourne, a bout w:ch I presume y:d [or "y:e"] Owners have writt off M:r Lambton; more over three hundred & odd Granado shells y:t were left his liberty (sic), if soo, when you require satisfaction from y:t Rebell for y:d OR y:e] Comp:a Efforts w:ch hee sized at Rajapore & the losse of theire serv:ts there, that you bee alsoe mindfull of us.

I alsoe prayed you to farther M:r Valentine Nurses,[7] sonne to y:e honest D:r[8] w:ch I nedd not a gaine put you in minde of knowing yo:r inclination is to doo good & helpe forward industry. M:r Rob:t S:t Hills [Wills?][9] son: I prayed you alsoe to remember & some others by name w:ch I shall not farther insist on seing you are pleased in yo:r lre soo Cordially to hint y:t all my requests to you are Ent:d in Y:e Booke of life, wishing my selfe in some capacity to merritt yo:r Kindenesse.

Yo:r passage from y:e Downes to y:e place being successfull I hope y:e rest of yo:r voyadge provdd answerable thereunto, & that this may findd you in good health & prosperity at y:e desired port of Surratt where I doubt not but you have found y:e Bird in his nest who has hadd time Enough there to hatch mischefe haveing sufficiently not onely abused the Comp:a but tyrannized over his fellow serv:tts & brought honest Henry Revington[10] at last to his grave where noo doubt (his body being at rest) his Soule is in Glory. & for w:t Efforts of his remaines in them parts I desire yo:r care that his freinds may enjoy them.

I presumne M:r ffrench[11] & M:r ffox[12] write M:r Gray a boutt to w:chplease to lend yo:r Countenance & Good advice

As for y:e Poore men M:r Ran:d Taylor Rich:a Taylor & Jeffford, [check whether "Jefford" is not actually Humphrey Gyffard’s son – see LETTER OF HUMPHREY GYFFARD TO GO: XXXX: f. X] who were detained by the Rebell I hope you have gott them released & will use some means to vindicate y:e Comp:a & theire losses least passing by such an Abuse, doo render the Comp:a & theire serv:ts in them parts contemptable

I very much desire to know how S:r Abr:m Shipman,[13] & y:t Collony und:r his Comands are setled y:t o:r Nation may say in o:r dayes they have some considerable place in India & live und:er theire owne Commands, w:ch will not bee pleaseing to o:r Neighbours y:e Holland:s who as wee are informed had notice that Cotheend [could be "Ostheend"] was to bee delivered over unto his majesty as part of y:e Queen es Dowry they imeddiately bent theire forces against it to take it from y:e Portugall y:t it might not come into y:e hands of y:e English, & if theire reports bee true they have it already in theire possession. And now I have begun to say some what of thats insulting Nation whos Gold Chaine you note has hereto fore ?reatchover to Whitehall they must now ??[y]ery much in large & y:e links of it, or that project of theirs will noo longer hold . His Maiesty Being resolved y:t his people shall noo longer bee abused by them, & holds them stoutly ??tot to give satisfaction for

[f.53]

All injuryes they have done our Nation in Grall. Since y:e treaty 1664 but y:e East India Comp:a onely w:t came to light [XXXX] Jan: ry 1659/7: [that’s what it appears to say, though this seems odd] y:epticulers of all W;ch you will see at large in y:e Articles w:ch shall bee sent you by Cap:t Millett

Wee had notice of Cap:t Minors[14] in y:e Leopard, his being at Augustine Bay soo hope you mett well to geather (sic) at Johanna soo hope his Majesties Shipps have done theire worke they went on & y:t you have retourned them full for Europe for three months hence wee shall begin to Export them onely Cap:t Tinker[15] his shipps great Belly wee are apt to beleeve must bee filled w:th Jamby Pepper.

I am Glad y:e Chose of fflorence proved good & y:t it was put to soo good á use as to refresh yo:r Noble Generalls y:e Earle of Marlebrough[16] & S:r Abr:m Shipman & seing yo are pleased soo kindely to except (sic) of soo slender a mite it imboldend mee to pray yo:r exceptance unto two small Cases of spanish wine such as I & my freinds drinke here they are marked G:O: & committed to yo:r Charge of o:r ffreind Cap:t Nich:o Millett w:ch God send safe unto you is but á taste of w:t wee here drink yo:r health in w:th o:r freind S:r Geo: Smith, porter &c:a who I presume doo advise you of all passages heere, & yo:r deare Madam Dalyson who is yo:r great Champion in handling Ald:m Love & comp:a dooth certainely give you a full & pfect relation of all yo:r concernements that way, soo will bee needlesse for mee to insist on.

And where as you desire to have o:r Stock enlarged in them parts you will I presume have no Cause to Complane of y:t wee haveing this yeare sent you aout a very plentifull stock & onely, y:e Loyall Merch:t & Affrican & for serv:ts or ffactors you will not findd any onely y:e young nab w:ch was left behinde out of y:e Convertine, who was farthered to you at y:e request of Madam Dalyson.

Our Comp:a in theire lres have given you a hintt to for beare bying of Cardomons heere beeing Enough (in twone of y:t Comodity for foure or five years & though they bee in pticuler mens hands of w:ch some of o:r frends are concerndd who will not onely bee loosers by them but y:e Comp:a will be sufferrors, in bringing the Comodityu downe to nothing so y:t if you forbeare sending for á yeare or two it will bee a kindenesse to all, w:ch S:r Rich:d fford & my selfe in pticuler will acknowledge. And haveing now sufficiently Respassed upon yo:r patience I shall for beare to give you any farther trouble for present, onely to tender you y:e Cordiall & hearty salutes of my selfe, Wife, Sonne & Daughter Middleton Etc:a doo crave leave and rest

Yo:r assured Loveing ffr:d
To serve you.
W:m Rider


In London y:e 26:th March 1663.


Notes

Thomas Nurse, doctor of physic


"Nurse's Gift- John Nurse, alderman of Leicester, by Will dated 10th December 1624, and proved in the Court of the Archdeacon of Leicester, 12th February following, gave 13s. 4d. yearly for ever, to be disposed of by the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of the parish of St. Mary for the time being, to the poor of the said parish.

he also gave to the Old Hospital, in Leicester, 13s. 4d. yearly for ever, to be bestowed in two loads of coals to make them fires, before Allhallowtide, if to them it shall seem meet and convenient.

In the churchwardens' book of the parish of St. Mary is the following memorandum, entered in the year 1787:-

'Ist November 1656. Thomas Nurse, doctor of physic, by indenture of this date, reciting that John, father of the said Thomas, by his Will, gave to the poor of St. Mary's, Leicester, the like sum of 13s. 4d., on the 11th day of November, yearly, conveys to Robert Griffin and Alice his wife, and Thomas Griffin, several messuages in Sanvey gate, and an orchard there, subject to the above legacies.'

Under which is written - 'Paid by Biggs and Bellamy.'

The close in Sanvey Gate is now built on; and there are two houses fronting the street 36 ft. 6in. in length, and also tenements extending down Pasture-lane, 217ft. in length, the whole now the property of Mr. Robert Clarke, who pays 13s. 4d. annually, on St. Thomas's - day, to the foremen or collectors of the hospital. The same premises, therefore, are liable to the 13s. 4d. to St. Mary's parish. The payments were formerly made by a person of the name of Goodrich."[17]

"GRANT OF ARMS AND CREST TO THOMAS NURSE, DOCTOR IN PHYSIC, BY SIR EDWARD WALKER, GARTER, DATED 15th APRIL, 1662. [Harl. 1172, fo. 3o.] To all and Singular, unto whom these presents shall come, Sr Edward Walker Knight Garter Principall."[18]

"THOMAS NURSE, M.D., was matriculated at Oxford as a member of Lincoln college 5th May, 1615, and as of co. Leicester. He took his degree of bachelor of medicine 20th November. 1626, had a licence from the university to practise, and was, on the 8th February, 1640-1, admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians. He proceeded doctor of medicine at Oxford 13th July, 1641, but was never admitted a Candidate or Fellow. He was, according to Wood, an eminent physician of his time, and was of great practice in the city of Westminster, especially after his Majesty's restoration. He died 9th June, 1667, aged sixty-nine years, and was buried on the 12th of that month in the east cloisters of the abbey church of St. Peter's, Westminster, where he is commemorated by the following inscription :

Hie jacet Thomas Nurse, M.D.
Vide spectator, hoc spectaculum;
Judica, sed ut te judicaberis.
Discede et cogita.
Ob : Anno Dom. 1667
Mensis Jun: die 9, setatis suse 69.

His will dated 1 March, 1661-2, with a codicil dated 24 December, 1662, was proved 25th June, 1667, by his relict Susan and his son Walter. In it he states that his tombstone with the above inscription was already prepared and paid for at a stone-cutter's in St. Andrews, Holborn."[19]


Valentine Nurse, merchant


""In March the Surat Frigate departed for Mokha, with Ralph Lambton and Valentine Nurse" [WHICH YEAR?][20]

"Valentine Nurse "drunken sott" as he is, he sends home to England instead of leaving him to die in the country"[21]

- This above statement is rather surprising in the light of the good character that Sir George Oxenden gave for Valentine Nurse to the EEIC, as reported in a later letter from Sir William Ryder to Sir George Oxenden, dated August 22nd, 1667[22]

- However, an earlier letter from Sir William Ryder to Sir George Oxenden, dated April 16th, 1667, shows that Ryder was under no illusions about Valentine Nurse (junior), calling him ""Athick sculled peece"[23]


Charles Conyers, London merchant


"[August 4, 1659] On the petition of Elizabeth Viccars, mother of John Lewis, now in the Mogul's service but formerly serving the Company in the Falcon, for the wages due to her son, the Court orders that she be given 5/. because of her poverty, on condition that Charles Conyers gives a bill to repay the same if it shall not appear due."[24]


Captain Tinker


"He being in command of the Convertine for the intended journey to India, and having had long experience in maritime affairs, they question not but that his own prudence as well as their desires will cause him before leaving to examine each officer in that ship in order to ascertian if all are supplied with provisions and stores for such a voyage, and also cause them to give in an account of the same to Mr. Elloby the purser, so that in case anything has been omitted it may be supplied according to the contract between the Principal Officers of the Navy and the Company, and so prevent many inconvenience which otherwise might happen."[25]

"[Trinity House] Anno 1678, Transum Master. Captain John Tinker."[[FootNote([Trinity House.] The TEMPORAL GOVERNMENT. [Benefactors.], p. 290; John Strype, Survey of London(1720), [online] (hriOnline, Sheffield). Available from:
/strype/TransformServlet?book5_290[Accessed 26/01/2012])]]

- This date matches PROB 11/356 Reeve 1-55 Will of John Tinker of Deptford, Kent 27 April 1678


Possible primary sources

TNA


C 5/406/188 Breton v. Conyers: Cambridge 1659
C 5/378/72 Fox v. Conyers: Middlesex. 1654

C 6/546/13 Short title: Nurse v [unknown]. First plaintiff: Susanna Nurse. Defendants: [unknown]. Document type: bill only. 1669
C 6/132/91 Short title: Hastings v Nurse. Plaintiffs: Jane Hastings widow. Defendants: Thomas Nurse. Subject: marriage agreement, Leicestershire. Document type: answer only. SFP 1656

C 9/400/44 Conyers v. Doggett (London) 1664
C 9/405/78 Conyers v. Holdsworth 1663
C 9/239/149 Lassells v. Conyers 1647

C 22/628/42 Fox v. Conyers. Between 1558 and 1714

PROB 4/13844 Nurse, Thomas, of St. Andrew, Holborne, London, and the Borough of Leicester Doctor in Phisick 1668 1 Sept. (1667)

PROB 18/11/11 Probate lawsuit Nurse (by guardian) v Nurse and Franklin, concerning the deceased Susanna Nurse, widow of Dr Thomas Nurse of [St Dunstan in the West, London]. Allegation 1679

PROB 20/1927 Nurse, Susanna: 1678

PROB 36/3 Name of deceased: Nurse Susannah St Dunstan in the East, London Case title and other data: Nurse con Nurse 1679

PROB 11/323 Carr 1–58 Will of Charles Conyers, Merchant of City of London 24 April 1667
PROB 11/324 Carr 59-116 Will of Thomas Nurse 25 June 1667
- This will is definitely the will of Thomas Nurse, doctor of physic
PROB 11/323 Carr 1-58 Will of William Downes of Greenwich, Kent 07 January 1667
PROB 11/337 Duke 102-158 Will of Phillip Nurse, Merchant of Saint Mary Magdalen Bermondsey, Surrey 09 November 1671
PROB 11/356 Reeve 1-55 Will of John Tinker of Deptford, Kent 27 April 1678
- Possible Captain John Tinker mentioned by Sir William Ryder in his letter to Sir George Oxenden dated March 26th, 1663
PROB 11/361 King 125-176 Will of Susanna Nurse, Widow 02 December 1679
PROB 11/360 King 66-124 Sentence of Susanna Nurse, Widow of Saint Dunstan in the West, City of London 02 December 1679

TS 21/4 Eagle. Charles Conyers and Thomas Hendra with The Royal African Company 1664
  1. ↑ William Downes was XXXX. See Missing faces
  2. ↑ Captain Torrell was XXXX. See Missing faces
  3. ↑ Samuel Heron was Sir William Ryder's experienced servant
  4. ↑ Mr. Bull was XXXX. See Missing faces
  5. ↑ Possibly the London merchant Charles Conyers. Sir William Ryder wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London in a letter dated April 16th, 1667 telling him of the death of "Mr. Charles Conyers" some ten days earlier, and adding "I must againe begg yo:w to dispose of Y:e gunns y:t he bought of y:e Eagles owners 16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London; PROB 11/323 Carr 1–58 Will of Charles Conyers, Merchant of City of London 24 April 1667 See Missing faces
  6. ↑ John Lambton was XXXX
  7. ↑ Valentine Nurse was at Scindy with Nicholas Scrivener, William Bell, and John Cox (EFI 61-64, p. 27). He had returned to London by August 1667, when Sir William Ryder again wrote to Sir George Oxenden, reporting: "M:r Valentine Nurse is heare & I thank yo:w for y:t good Caracter w:ch yo:w give of him to ye Comp:a whose ffather ye good honest XX died about 2 months past, & it is XXXX hee may have left Valentine some wt but he must abroad againe" (22nd August 1667, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO, Bethnal Green)
  8. ↑ The honest doctor was possibly Dr Thomas Nurse, whose inventory has survived (TNA, PROB 4/13844 Nurse, Thomas, of St. Andrew, Holborne, London, and the Borough of Leicester Doctor in Phisick 1668 1 Sept. (1667)). The inventory is linked to the will of Thomas Nurse, proved June 25th, 1667 ( PROB 11/324 Carr 59-116 Will of Thomas Nurse 25 June 1667). Sir William Ryder reported in a letter to Sir George Oxenden dated August 22nd, 1667 that the father of Valentine Nurse had died around June 1667 (22nd August 1667, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO, Bethnal Green)
  9. ↑ M:r Rob:t S:t Hills was XXXX. See Missing faces
  10. ↑ Henry Revington was XXXX
  11. ↑ Mr. French was Paul French. He wrote to Sir George Oxenden on March 26th 1663, the same day as Ryder's letter, and mentioned he friendship with Sir William Ryder. His son-in-law was the deceased Henry Revington (26th March 1663, Letter from Paul Ffrench to Sir GO). French also wrote two years later to Sir George Oxenden, in response to a letter from Oxenden (10th March 1665/66, Letter from Paul French to Sir GO)
  12. ↑ Mr. Fox was possibly Thomas Fox, who wrote to Sir George Oxenden on March 23rd 1662/63, requesting news of his son Thomas Fox by the next ship (23rd March 1662/63, Letter from Thomas Fox to Sir GO, London)
  13. ↑ Sir Abraham Shipman XXXX
  14. ↑ Captain Richard Minors, commander of the Leopard was XXX
  15. ↑ Captain Tinker was possibly Captain John Tinker, commander of the Convertine, who died in 1678 Captain Tinker was also mentioned by Marlborough in his letter from Angedeiva to Sir George Oxenden, dated January 14th, 1662/63 (14th January 1662/62, Letter from Marlborough to Sir GO, Angedeiva; PROB 11/356 Reeve 1-55 Will of John Tinker of Deptford, Kent 27 April 1678)
  16. ↑ The Earl of Marlborough wrote several times to Sir George Oxenden (5th November 1662, Letter from Marlborough to Sir GO, Swally; 2nd January 1662/63, Letter from Marlborough to Sir GO, Swally Hole; 14th January 1662/62, Letter from Marlborough to Sir GO, Angedeiva)
  17. ↑ 'Inquiry concerning charities' in The sessional papers printed by order of the House of Lords (London, 1838), p. 59
  18. ↑ A collection of miscellaneous grants, crests, confirmations, augmentations and exemplifications of arms in the mss. preserved in the British museum, Ashmolean library, Queen's college, Oxford, and elsewhere, Harleian Society, vol. 77 (London, 1926), p. 158
  19. ↑ XXXX, The roll of the Royal College of Physicians of London, comprising biographical sketches of all the eminent physicians whose names are recorded in the Annals (XXXX, XXXX), pp. 230-231
  20. ↑ EFI 61-64, p. 1
  21. ↑ James Douglas, Bombay and Western India: a series of stray papers, vol. 2 (XXXX, 1893), p. 376
  22. ↑ 22nd August 1667, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO, Bethnal Green
  23. ↑ 16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London
  24. ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, August 4, 1659' (Court Book, vol. xxiii, p. 672), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 338
  25. ↑ 'The company to Captain John Tincker, March 21, 1662' (Home Miscellaneous, vol. xlii, p. 36, Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1660-1663 (Oxford, 1922), p. 193

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