An Answer of the Company of Royal Adventurers From England Trading into Africa (1667)

[1]

To the Right Honourable the Knights, Citi-
zens, and Burgesses Assembled in
PARLIAMENT.

The Humble Petition of Sir Paul Painter Knight,
Ferdinando Gorges, Henry Batson, Gentle-
men, and Benjamin Skutt and Thomas Knights
Merchants, in behalf of themselves and others
concerned in His Majesties Plantations inAmer-
ica.

HUMBLY SHEWETH,
THat His Majesties Plantations (having been the
most considerable Trade of this Nation)
were at first raised, and have been brought to
the perfection that they now are at, and now
do, and did alwaies most principally subsist by the labour of
Negro Servants, and a plentiful supply of them.

That formerly there hath alwaies been a freedom of
Trade for all His Majesties Subjects for Negroes on the
whole coast of Guiney, by reason whereof the said Planta-
tions have been plentifully supplied with Negroes of the best
sort, and at an indifferent rate, to the great encrease of the
said Plantations, and the advantage and profit of this Crown
and Nation.

That there is of late a new erected Company of Adventu-
rers Trading into Africa, who claiming to themselves the

[3]

Die Veneris, 15 Nov. 1667.

A Petition of Sir Paul Painter Knight, Ferdinando
Gorges Gent. and others, on the behalf of them-
selves and others, concerning His Majesties Plantations
in America, and the Paper of certain Heads and Particu-
lars relating thereto, and annexed to the Petition, were
read.

Resoved, &c.

THat the said Petition and Paper annexed be committed
to the Committee of the whole House appointed to take
into consideration the general Ballance of Trades; And that
the Clerk of this House do deliver Copies thereof to such per-
sons as shall desire the same on the behalf of the Royal Com-
pany, or other persons concerned, who are to deliver in their
Answer thereto in writing by this day seven-night; and that
the Royal Company do then cause their Charter to be brought in.

WILL. GOLDESBROUGH,

Cler. Dom. Com.

[4]

The Paper of certain Heads and Particulars annexed, and relating
to the aforementioned Petition.

THE great and high Advantages which have formerly accrued
unto his Majesty and his Subjects, by his Majesties Colonies in
America, may much appear in these Particulars.

1. The said Colonies have yearly imployed above Four Hundred
Sayle of Ships, most of them considerable both of burthen and force, to
the great encouragement of Navigation, and increase of Sea-men, which
have been ever reputed as the mayne Bulwark and Defence of this
Nation.

2. The said Ships for the most part were fraughted out with Manu-
ctures of England, (viz.) Shooes, Stockings, Serges, Broad-cloaths,
Carseys, Hatts, all sorts of Wrought Iron; with great store of Provi-
sions, as Beef, Butter, Flower, Pease, &c. which gave Imployment and
Bread to many Thousands of Families here, and put a Value upon the
Commodities of our own Growth and Manufacture; which otherwise
would have soon abated in their price, and been of little worth.

3. The said Ships in return of the said Goods and Manufactures came
laden home with Sugars, Cotton, Ginger, Indigo, Tobacco, &c. all
which were produced by the Industry of the laborious Planter, with the
help and former constant supply of Negroes brought to them from the
Coast of Guiney, &c. without which the said Colonies must inevitably
be reduced to ruine and destruction.

4. The Manufactury of this Nation exported, as also the Sugars, &c.
imported, brought in a great Revenue unto his Majesties Customes;
which was not onely very considerable in its self, in respect of other vast
Advantages which accrued thereby unto his Majesty and Subjects in ge-
neral, (viz.) The most part of the said Sugars, &c. were from hence
shipt out again and exported into Foreign Countries, and by that
means returned back unto us large summes of Money or Commodities
equivalent, for that upon the great Wheel of Trade of good and Staple
Commodities are little inferior to, or less affected than ready Bullion.

[5]

The Answer of the Royal Company to the Paper of certain Heads and Parti-
culars annexed and relating to the afore-mentioned Petition.

THe said Company do acknowledge, That his Majesties Plantati-
ons are considerable for the Trade of this Nation, and so were,
before the Establishment of this Company: But they say,
That the said Plantations were never so well supplied during the pre-
tended freedom of Trade for Blacks, as they have been by this Com-
pany, since they were established, nor his Majesties Revenue by Customs
larger, nor the Trade for those parts ever more fully supplied with all sorts
of Merchandises and Provisions.

[6]

An Accompt of divers Obstructions to the beforementioned Advantages,
occasioned by the late erected Company of Adventurers trading
into Africa, who have solely ingrossed the Guiney Trade for Negroes;
which must inevitably ruine His Majesties said Colonies in Amer-
ica, unless timely prevented.

1. THE said Guiny Trade for Negroes was formerly Free to all
Adventurers, and that without prejudice to the Gold Trade
there, which was heretofore mannaged by the East India Company, for
that the same cannot be well maintained without a great and general
Charge, as the building of Forts, settling continued Factories, &c.
which the Trade for Negroes in no wise requires, It being the most
usual way for the said Adventurers to procure their Negroes by Ranging
or Coasting it along those vast Territories, without intrenching upon,
or assistance from the said Factories and Forts. By which freedom of
the said Adventurers Trade the Planters were heretofore plentifully
supplyed with Negroes upon reasonable tearms, without which they can-
not subsist; And likewise had of course considerable Credit with the
said Adventurers, whereby the said Colonies have attained unto their
late perfection, without any cost or charge to this Kingdom; And unless
such freedom be continued, the Plantations already compleated will
soon decay, and those that are in their Infancy never advance.

[7]

And as to the Obstructions which they object this Company have
given to that Trade, They hope this Honourable House will by
the Answers hereunder written receive satisfaction, and judge
that the Petitioners Complaints are altogether causeless.

In Answer to their first Article, the said Company say,
THe whole Trade of Guiney, Binny, and Angola, was incorporated
many years since by a Patent, as now it is; and those Patentees
purchased Lands of the Natives, and for their necessary security erected
several Forts, Garrisons, and Factories, on the Gold Coast, and other
places; who after they applied themselves principally to the Trade of
Gold, did in few years lose the greatest part of their Stock; and the
reason was, because the profit of that Trade would not defray their
charge of maintaining Forts and Factories, and the hire of Ships, which
brought home nothing but a Pot of Gold to defray their freight, there
being at that time very little or no Trade for Blacks to the Plantations.
About ten or twelve years since they licensed Ships at 10 per Cent. on
the Cargoes: And then, the exporting of Gold out of England being
prohibited, and the Trade of India being principally carried on with
ready money, the East-India Company for their conveniency hired the
Castles, Forts, and Trade of the Gold-Coast, of the said former Com-
pany, which did turn to account to them, in regard their Ships out-
ward bound to India touched there without any considerable charge,
landed their Goods, and carried away the Gold to India: But since this
Company was erected, they having setled several more considerable
Forts and Factories, and been at charge to maintain them, they have
found, That the Trade of the Gold-Coast cannot possibly be maintain-
ed without the Negro Trade: And notwithstanding what the Petitio-
ners say to the contrary, That very Negro Trade cannot be carried on so
well as by going first to the Gold-Coast, and taking thence some of
those Negroes for Guardians to the Leeward Coast Negroes.

And should not this Trade for Negroes be carried on by a Company,
as the Petitioners confess the Gold-Coast Trade ought to be, the Tra-
ders would be subject to the Injuries, Affronts, and Losses as formerly, of
which the private Traders a little before the beginning of the late Dutch
War complained to this Honourable House against the Dutch, alledging
their Losses alone, immediately before the erecting of this Company,
to amount unto 300000 l. Sterling, or thereabouts; for the preventi-
on of which, this Company since their Trading there have constantly

[8]

2. The said late erected Company are of late very much sunk in
their Credits amongst Merchants, Owners of Shipping and Tradesmen,
to many of whom they are very much indebted for Freight of their Ships
and Goods, And being often demanded to pay the same Debts, they
have refused, and still do refuse to pay the same, declaring they have
no effects in their hands to enable them so to do; and so by consequence
their Trade following their Credit, they are, and needs must be very un-
capable to afford the said Colonies any suitable supply of Negroes, and
also mannage their Gold-Trade; Whereupon they have lately taken
up an unknown way of granting their Licences to others of his Maje-
sties good Subjects to fetch Negroes from Guiny, exacting for the same
two, three, four and five Hundred pounds a Ship; which said Summes
of Money some have been inforced to give, or sit still, and suffer their
Plantations to come to ruine, which is the most intollerable Grievance
and Oppression that ever was imposed upon his Majesties Subjects
planting in these parts, and trading to the same.

[9]

sent out Ships of force to protect their Trade for Blacks; and whenever
that care is neglected, that Trade will be lost; for the charge of its prote-
ction cannot be maintained by private Traders.

And the said Company farther say, That they have supplied the
Plantations more plentifully and cheaper, and given as much credit
or more for Negroes, then ever the private Traders did or could give,
as will appear; by which means all the Plantations have flourished more
then ever they did, until the late War broke out: So that it may rea-
sonably be concluded, That if the Negro Trade should be separated
from the Gold-Coast Trade, and so left open, it would certainly lose
the Gold-Trade, which cannot bear its own expence, and prove a great
prejudice to, if not the ruine of the American Plantations.

To the second the said Company say,
It’s too true, That the Company is indebted to several persons, occasi-
oned by their great losses; viz. There was taken from them at Goree by
de Ruyter the value of 100000 l. Sterling, at Cormentine 60000 l. Ster-
ling, at Sereleon 4000 l. Sterling, at Syrinam and S. Christophers 20000 l.
Sterling. But these Losses could not have sunk the Companies Credit,
had the Planters and Merchants, especially those of Barbados, complied
with their obligations, who owe the Company 90000 l. Sterling, of
which they of Barbados owe 60000 l. Sterling, which last debt is thrice
as much as the Company owes to any besides their own Members. Yet
the Company do not refuse to pay their debts, but pay interest to all
their Creditors, and do discharge Principal and Interest as fast as their
effects come in, which are coming daily. Nor have they only enough
left to pay their debts, but likewise to carry on the Gold-Trade, and fur-
nish the Plantations yearly with as many Negroes as they shall have occasi-
on for, and that at moderate rates, hoping they will pay their old debts,
and be more just and punctual in their payments in future.

But yet they acknowledge, because their Effects were abroad, they
were forced rather then the Plantations should want a supply of Negroes
for this time, to give Licenses to several persons to Trade to Guiney,
and have taken of them towards the maintenance of Forts 3 l. per Ton,
or 10 per Cent. on the Cargo, which is less than the Company pays in
proportion upon their whole Trade; which is the course that hath been
taken not only by the former Guiney Company, but by the East-India
Company in their late united Stock: And the Company hath hither-
to been so careful to supply the Plantations, that in the time of the great

[10]

3. They have contracted with the Spaniards to supply them yearly
for a term of years with Thousands of Negroes, which the Spaniard
imployes in planting the same Commodities in his Plantations, as are
now planted in His Majesties Plantations; which Contract the said
Company hitherto have not, and for the future must not faile to perform,
although his Majesties Plantations remain totally unsupplyed; whereby
the Spanish Plantations and Commodities must of necessity flourish and
rise, and his Majestie’s moulder away, and come to nothing, Whereas
the Free Adventurers for the Negroes Trade formerly never used to sell
any Negroes to the Spaniards or other Foreigners whatsoever, but
brought all to his Majesties Plantations, and thereby the same being
plentifully and at indifferent rates supplyed with Negroes, have risen
to be so considerable a part of the Interest and care of the Crown of Eng-
land, as they now are.

4. They have greatly opposed the Planters in putting an unreason-
able Price upon the Negroes, which were brought upon the said Com-
panies Accompt, for that formerly they were sold for 12, 14, and 16
pounds Sterling a Head, or 1600 l. and 1800 l. of Sugar, And now of
late Five and twenty pounds a Head Sterling would have been given by
his Majesties Subjects the Planters, when at the same time they sold to
the Spaniards the Chief of their Negroes for Eighteen pounds Sterling a

[11]

Contagion (when all people fled from the City) they did dispatch nine
Ships to Guiney purposely to supply them with Negroes, and so have
continued dispatching Ships successively all the time of the late War,
so that there hath not been any want of Negroes in any of the Plantations.

To the third the said Company say,
It is true, That the Company understanding that the Spaniards
were Treating with the Dutch West-India Company to furnish them
yearly with a number of Negroes, for preventing of that Bargain to the
Hollanders (which must inevitably have brought a great inconveniency
upon the Plantations, by the competition with the Hollanders for the
procuring of Negroes) and to bring a considerable return in ready money
into this Kingdom, and hoping thereby in time to introduce a Trade into
the Spanish West-Indies, did contract with them for the delivery of a
certain number of Negroes yearly (though at a low rate, yet such as
would have brought yearly into this Kingdom in pieces of Eight
100000 l. Sterling,) on purpose to keep the Trade from the Dutch:
But they never delivered to the Spaniards more then 1200 Negroes, nor
are they obliged to deliver them any more, because they have broken
their Articles with the Company. And notwithstanding that Agree-
ment, the Company furnished the Plantations with 6000 Negroes and
upwards every year; which were more than they would buy of the
Company, who were forced to keep many of them on their hands until
they perished: And it seems very strange the Planters should complain
of the Companies selling Negroes to the Spaniards, when as they them-
selves sold many of the Negroes they bought of the Companies Factors
to the Spaniards; Nor do the Spaniards, as they alledge, imploy their
Negroes to make the same Commodities as our Plantations do furnish:
For it’s well known they use them chiefly in their Silver-Mines, and Do-
mestick-Service.

To the Fourth the said Company say,
The Company did supply very plentifully all the Plantations with
Negroes; and that there might be no cause of Complaint, they infor-
med themselves immediately after the sealing of the Patent how Negroes
had been sold the four precedent years, and found that 17 l. per Head or
2400 pound of Sugar was the medium price, and they ordered their Fa-
ctors to sell them to the Planters accordingly, and gave notice thereof

[12]

Head, intending thereby to compell the said Planters to a most unreason-
able Complyance; By which means also none but the Refuse Negroes
were left to be sold unto the English Planters, who refusing to buy the
said Refuse most of them died upon the said Companies hands; And
the said Planters have been of late so meanly supplyed, that Negroes are
now sold to them at the rate of Thirty pounds Sterling, or Five thousand
pound of Sugar each Negro; This usage so discontented the Planters,
that they resolved not to load upon the said Companies Ships, although
the Freight was offered by them under half the value then given to other
Ships, and the Grievances of the Planters in this particular in all pro-
bability might too much contribute to the too easie Surrender of St.
Christophers and Syrinam.

5. The Affairs of the said late erected Company are managed and
carried on in a way very grievous; for when any Disputes have arisen be-
tween them and their Masters, and Owners of Ships, or Seamen, &c. they
will ever be their own Judges; They have unjustly, and without any
good colour, seized and converted to their own uses here in England di-
vers parcels of Merchants Goods without any legal proceedings, al-
ledging that they will not be tryed by Juryes, &c. And if it hap-
pen that any Person whose Goods they have wrongfully seized seek
his remedy by his Majesties known Laws of the Land, they presently
threaten to cause the Matter to be brought before, and determined by

[13]

to his Excellency the L. Willoughby Governor of the Barbadoes, &c. to
be communicated to all the Plantations; Who did publish the same by
Drum and Trumpets, and caused the Companies printed Declaration
to be fixed in all publick places of the Island of Barbadoes, &c. Co-
pies of both which Letters are hereunto annexed. And the Company
say its utterly untrue, That the Planters would have given 25 l. for such
Negroes as were sold the Spaniards, or that none but Refuse Negroes were
left to be sold to the Planters; for that the Company alwayes did order
them to be sold in Lotts according to the custome of the Countrey. It
may be true, they have of late (by reason of the Accidents of the War)
paid 30 l. for Negroes; and so we have in London given 6 l. per Chal-
dron for Coals, when before the War they were sold at 20 s. But it is
utterly untrue, That the Planters for that pretended cause refused to
load Goods on the Companies Ships; for they have constantly refused
those advantagious offers of cheap Freight on the Companies Ships from
the beginning, even at that time when Negroes were sold them at 17 l.
per Head. And it is a sufficient Evidence, that Syrinam and St. Chri-
stophers were very well supplyed with Negroes, by the great Loss the
Company had in each place; and also by Letters received from the Go-
vernor of Syrinam, who ownes, That the Credit they had from this
Company had brought that Place to that good condition they were in
before the Dutch possessed it.

To the fifth the said Company say,
There have never any differences arisen between the Company and
any of their Masters and Owners of Ships, or Seamen, which have not
been amicably ended in the same manner as the East-India Company de-
termined matters of that nature: And as to that charge, That the Com-
pany have unjustly, and without any good colour, seised and converted
divers parcels of Merchants Goods to their own use, the Company say,
That they never did use any such unjust practice; but they acknowledge,
That the Petitioner Skutt having let a Ship to this Company for a Voy-
age to Guiney, and by Charter-party covenanting to carry no other but
the Companies Goods therein, the Company upon search made in the
said Ship found a parcel of Goods which were none of theirs, nor licenced
by them to be carried, and thereupon they ordered them to be taken out
of the said Ship, and carried into the Companies Warehouse; and af-
terwards one John Kirckham, who it seems was Partner with the said
Skutt, brought his Suit in the Exchequer against some of the Servants

[14]

his Majesty and Council; and accordingly have done it, to the end they
might over-awe all Persons at their own will and pleasure, and affright
them from endeavouring to seek after the usual, plain and appointed
way of Legal proceedings for the redress of the Wrongs they receive
from them.

6. The Dutch West-India Company had formerly a farre greater Trade
to Guiney than the English; but for many years past, before the consti-
tution of this Company, and whilst the Trade for Gold was in the
management of the Worthy the East-India Company, and an open free
Trade for Negroes allowed to all Adventurers, the said Dutch Trade did
yearly so apparently decay, that One hundred pound Sterling of their
Original and Principal Stock was not worth Ten pounds Sterling,
Whereas since the said late erected Company have taken place, each
One hundred pounds Sterling of the Dutch is now become worth near
Sixty pounds Sterling, And the Concerns of the English go as much to
wrack, and will undoubtedly in a few years, as also his Majesties said
Colonies in America, unless seasonably prevented, be brought to
nought.

7. If it shall be objected, That this Company doth not participate
of a Monopoly, because their Books were laid open for all men to sub-
scribe that would? It is answered, That their Books indeed were for
some time laid open, But not till upon good grounds it was generally

[15]

imployed by this Company; and thereupon (true it is) that the Com-
pany did humbly represent the truth of the matter before the King and
Council, praying their direction therein, conceiving if a practice of this
nature should be admitted, it would be destructive to the Charter: But
the King and Council made no Order therein; and afterwards the said
Kirkham did agree to refer the matter to two of this Company, yet to
this day has not made any application to have the same determi-
ned; and the Company now are and ever were ready to appear and an-
swer any Suit he or any other shall commence against them at Law; And
they say, that is absolutely false, that the Company ever said they
would not be tried by Jury; which imputation being so scandalous and
false, the Company hopes this Honourable House will give them repa-
rations against the Petitioners.

To the sixth the said Company say,
It’s wholly untrue what they alledge; for it is notorious that from
the time of the forming of this Company, to the time of de Ruyters ta-
king their Ships at Goree, the Hollands West-India Stock declined from
14 to 10 per Cent. and was never since valued at above 18 per Cent. at
highest, which advance proceeded from their Capture of this Compa-
nies Estate, and not from the mal-administration of the Trade; for with-
out reflection upon the East-India Company, they affirm, (and let their
Books and this Companies be Judges) That this Company sent out more
Goods in one year to that Coast, than the East-India Company did in
all those five years in which they had the Trade: And which is yet more,
for every shillings-worth of English Manufacture which that Company
exported for that Trade, this Company sent a pounds-worth, and that
of Manufactures of the same Species, which this Company procured to
be made here, and the East-India Company bought from Holland: So as
it appears, That neither the Hollanders Trade or Stock is so much en-
creased, nor ours decreased, as the Petitioners most mistakingly alledge;
nor can this Company be affected with any thing but what befel them by
the War, which was their misfortune, and not their crime.

To the seventh the said Company say,
The Companies Books were open when the Charter was first grant-
ed and made publick, as by the several Printed Declarations hereunto
annexed doth appear, which were fixed in all parts of England, and in all

[16]

believed that the most part of their Stocks was consumed, And they
had run themselves upon so many other great Inconveniencies, That
no prudent Merchant, who onely aimed at a Profit upon the Stock,
without seeking after indirect Advantages from the Company in other
by-wayes, would engage amongst them.

Paul Painter. Ferdinando Gorges.
Henry Batson. Benjamin Skutt.
Thomas Knights.

[17]

the American Plantations: And no disparagement to the Petitioners, as
prudent and honest men as themselves did subscribe without any of those
indirect and by-aims as they pretend, as this Honourable House will per-
ceive when they peruse the list of the Adventurers names hereunto an-
nexed; and we doubt not but they will likewise give reparations to so
many worthy persons as by this Article are scandalously abused; Espe-
cially when it shall be considered,

First, That the Stock which preceded this present Stock was never
more than 17400. l. and though the most part of that were laid
out in erecting two Forts, and setling Garrisons to secure the whole
Trade of the River of Gambia; yet no man that knows any thing
of the importance of that River, would think that a consumption of
the Stock, but a most prudent imployment of it, from whence a
plentiful harvest of profit was rationally to be expected, and hath
been, and may yet more abundantly be reaped; and therefore the
Merchants who engaged in the new Subscription were not so im-
prudent as the Petitioners report them.

Secondly, That those Merchants who engaged in this present Ad-
ditional Stock, were not men that aimed at indirect Advantages
by it; for de facto it will appear by the Books, that those who had
the administration of it, did so faithfully and industriously ma-
nage the Trade, and so far engaged their own personal Credits for
the Common Interest, that before 80000 l. of the subscribed
Stock was paid in, they had sent out to the value of 150000 l. and
by a clear ballance of the Books had gained 80000 l.

From all which this Company doth humbly presume to hope that the
Wisedom of Parliament will discover:

That this Trade incorporated to this Company is in its Constitution
National.

That without Forts and force by Land and Sea, it cannot be secured
to this Kingdom.

That without the Royal Authority, and a Joynt Stock, those Forts
and Forces cannot be supported.

That the whole Charge cannot be born, but by the United Advan-
tage of the Trade of the whole Coast of Africa.

And upon the whole, that these Petitioners Allegations will resolve
into this, That they being possessed of a sufficient part of our Stock
on which to manage the Trade of Blacks themselves, they would have
the Authority of this House to follow it for their own Accounts, as they
have had the advantage of the dilatory proceedings of the Courts of Bar-

[18]

badoes, to detain the Companie’s Estate from them, wherein the Planters
(our Debtors) are Judges.

One thing the said Company must needs adde, That they believe a
Correspondence must needs have been between these Complainers and
the Dutch; for before we knew any thing of their Design, or before they
had presented their Petition to this Honourable House, they had ta-
ken care to make the Dutch rejoyce at the Ruine of the Royal Company,
which is expressed in the Harlem Gazett of the 30th. of October. So that
we have too much cause to suspect they are under-hand set on by the
Dutch West-India Company, who doubtless would purchase the Dissoluti-
on of this Company with a greater Summe of Money than ever was
subscribed to support it.

By Order of the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading
into Africa.

ELLIS LEIGHTON, Secret.