2i8 A. D. 160T. 



India, commanded in chief by Captain James Lancafler, having one 

 fhip of 600 tons, oPC of 300, two of 200 each, and one of 130 tons, as 

 victualler to the whole fleet, carrying 480 men, and L27,oooin money * 

 and goods, the remainder of the L7 2. coo being abforbed in the pur- 

 chafe of the fhips, artillery, ammunition, provifions, &c. At Acheen, 

 in the ifle of Sumatra, they loaded fome of their ihips with pepper ; 

 but not meeting with enough, and failing thence for the flraits of 

 Malacca, they completed their cargoes by the capture of a Portuguefe 

 fhip of 900 tons, loaded with calicoes, &c. and I'ailing thence to Ban- 

 tam, they delivered the queen's letter and prefents to the king, as they 

 had before done the like to the king of Acheen, and both kings fent 

 letters and prefents for Queen Elizabeth, and granted privileges to the 

 company. So, having fettled fadors at Bantam, they failed hbmeward, 

 and arrived in the Downs in September 1 603, having made this firft 

 voyage profperoufly in two years and feven months. 



Sir William Monfon, in his Naval trads, obferves, upon the Eaft- 

 India company's fending out their firfl fleet, the Eafl:-India trade was 

 written againft in England, and was alfo briefly anfwered under the 

 following heads, viz. 



I) It exhaufls our treafure. 



* Anfiver. We may by this trade draw as much filver from other 



* countries as we fend to India.' 



II) It will deftroy our mariners by the great difference of climates. 



' Anfwer. As long voyages breed the beft; mariners, this of Eafl-India 

 ' will rather increafe than diminilh their number.' 



III) It will be the decay of our fhipping by the worms, unlefs (heath- 

 cd with lead. 



' Anfiver. So far from this, it will be the increafe of our fliipping, 



* by maintaining eight or nine fhips of each 1000 or 1200 tons, which 

 ' are larger than any v/e now ufe, and which on occafion may be 

 ' of greater fervice to the nation than all the other fliipping of Lon- 

 ' don.' 



IV) It will obflrud the vent of our woollen cloth, in return for which 

 we now take fpices, &c. from Turkey, which our Eafl-India trade, 

 bringing more cheap to us, will prevent. 



' Anfwer. This inconvenience will fall only on the Turkey company, 

 ' whole fpices, 8cc. come to us at the third hand, whereas they will 

 ' now come to us at the firfl hand from India.' 



V) More fpices will be brought home than we can vend. 



' Aufwer. Our own nation, the Eafl country, and RufTia, will con- 

 ' fume more than we can bring home. 



* The money was Spanifli j whence it appears that the Spaniards were already the diggers and 

 that even during tlie long continued hoftilities, importers of bullion for the ufe of the mere induf- 

 Englifli goods found their way into Spain, and trious nations. &•# Parc/ja^, Z,. iii, f. 3, J i. M. 



