Appendix 1
AGREEMENT
Between the Governor and Company
of Merchants of London trading to the East Indies, and the Armenian Nation,
Dated 22nd June 1688
The Governor and Company of Merchants of London trading to the East Indies, to all to whom these presents shall come, send greeting.
Whereas representation hath been made to us by Sir Josiah Child, Baronet, our Deputy-Governor, that, upon long conferences by him had with Cogee Phanoos Calendar, an Armenian merchant of eminency, and an inhabitant of Isphahan in Persia, as also with Sir John Chardin of London, Knight, they had, on behalf of the Armenian nation proposed to him several particulars for carrying on a great part of the Armenian trade to India and Persia, and from thence to Europe, by way of England, which will redound greatly to His Majesty’s advantage in his customs and to the increase of the English navigation, if the Armenian nation might obtain such license from this Company as will give them encouragement to alter and invert the ancient course of their trade to and from Europe.. And we being always willing to increase and encourage the public trade and navigation of this kingdom, after a serious debate of all the propositions relating to this affair, have thought fit to agree and resolve as follows, viz.:
First. – That the Armenian
nation shall now, and at all times hereafter, have equal share and benefit of
all indulgencies this Company have or shall at any time hereafter grant to any
of their own adventurers or other English merchants whatsoever.
Secondly. – That they shall
have free liberty at all times hereafter to pass and repass to and from India
in any of the Company’s ships on an advantageous terms as any free man whatsoever.
Thirdly. – That they shall
have liberty to live in any of the Company’s cities, garrisons, or towns in
India, and to buy, sell, and purchase land and house, and be capable of all
civil offices and preferments in the same manner as they were Englishmen born,
and shall always have the free and undisturbed liberty of the exercise of their
own religion. And we hereby declare that we will not continue any Governor in
our service that shall in any kind disturb or discountenance them in the full
enjoyment of all the privileges hereby granted to them, neither shall they pay
any other or greater duty in India than the Company’s factors, or any other
Englishman born, do, or ought to do.
Fourthly. – That they may
voyage from any of the Company’s garrisons to any ports or places in India,
the South Seas, China or the Manillas, in any of the Company’s ships, or any
permissive free ships allowed by the Company, and may have liberty to trade
to China, the Manillas or any other ports or places within the limits of the
Company’s charter upon equal terms, duties and freights with any free Englishman
whatsoever.
But whereas all persons in
England do pay for bullion outwards two per cent for freight and permission,
and three per cent homewards for diamonds and other precious stones, it is hereby
declared and agreed, that the Armenians shall pay three per cent outwards for
bullion and two per cent homewards for diamonds, for coral and amber-beads they
shall pay six per cent for freight and permission and for coral, amber, raw-cochineal,
quick silver, sword blades, fire arms of all sorts, haberdashery wares, iron
of all sorts wrought or unwrought, paper, all sorts of stationery wares, English
looking or drinking glasses and for all sorts of Norimbergh wares and merchandises,
ten per cent for permission and six pounds per ton freight.
That all sorts of leather
and Venitian wares and merchandises may be shipped out permission free, paying
only six pounds per ton freight. For all cloth or woollen manufactures of what
kind or sort soever, they pay twelve and one half per cent in lieu of all charges
whatsoever, excepting in the freight and the Company’s customs in India. For
lead ten per cent permission and three pound per ton freight. For provisions
of all sorts for eating and drinking, six pounds per ton freight, but no permission.
And for all sorts of goods homeward bound they shall pay in manner and from
following, viz., for diamonds, pearls, rubies, all sorts of precious stones,
and ambergris, two per cent for freight and permission as aforesaid. For musk
of any kind six per cent for freight and permission besides freight. For all
raw silk of Persia, twenty-one pounds per ton freight, but no permission custom
or any other charges whatsoever, excepting only two and one-half per cent, towards
demorage of our ships. For all goods whatsoever of the growth and manufacture
of Persia (red Carmenia wool excepted, which is hereby totally prohibited) ten
per cent permission and the same freights as the Company themselves pay, without
any other charges whatsoever. For all sorts of China and Bengal goods, during
the Company’s indulgence for those kinds of goods, and no longer, in what place
soever laden, thirteen per cent for permission and all other charges, whatsoever,
over and above the same freight as the Company pay, and the customs hereafter
mentioned, viz. All goods outward and homeward bound are to pay the Company
in East India five per cent custom on the first cost as per invoices
of the said goods, whether they be laden from or delivered into any of the Company’s
ports or places, or into any other ports or places whatsoever, excepting only
from this article all bullion, diamonds, and other precious stones, ambergris,
musk and raw Persian silk. And it is agreed that the permission money and freight
for all goods outward bound to be paid in India as aforesaid shall be accounted
for at eight and one-half rupees per pound sterling, upon hypothecation of goods
of the Company in London. And we do declare that for ease of accounts, the custom
due to the Company in East India is to be included together with the other charges,
viz. Freight and permission according to the premises and all inserted in one
sum upon the respective bills of loading which sum is always to be paid before
the delivery of the goods to the persons mentioned in the said bills of loading
which is the true intent of the hypothecation before expressed. That all goods
which have once paid custom are not to pay any again, either upon importation
or exportation of the same goods to the place where they first pay it, or to
any other port or place belonging to us in the East Indies. That every person
that shall take passages on any of the Company’s ships shall pay in East India
twelve pounds sterling for his permission outwards, at the rate of eight rupees
and one-half per pound sterling; and the like sum to be paid here for every
person that shall take passage homewards, besides eight pounds per head for
sea provisions, which is hereby agreed shall always be paid in London. And for
such persons who shall board at the Captain’s table, they shall pay ten guineas
to the Captain for the same. But the servants shall be messed apart by themselves,
and always have the same allowance of ship provisions as the officers and the
seamen of the ship have or ought to have. And it is also granted to the said
Armenians that the passengers shall be allowed, both out and home, to carry
with them their wearing clothes, furniture and provisions, not exceeding one
quarter of a ton for each man, freight free. And whereas the said Armenians
have used to drive a great trade from India to Turkey overland, by way of Persia
and Arabia, and are now desirous to drive that whole trade by the way of England,
it is hereby declared and agreed that the said Armenians have liberty
to send upon any of the Company’s ship for England, any sorts of goods of East
India consigning to the Company by true invoices and bills of loading, and not
otherwise, paying ten per cent permission on the value of the said goods in
London, besides the same freight as we ourselves pay. And it is hereby declared
that the Company have liberty to detain and keep in their possession all such
goods as shall be consigned unto them as aforesaid, until they have shipped
them off upon English shipping, bound to Turkey, Venice or Leghorn and taken
security that they shall not be landed in any other ports or places of Europe
except the place to which they shall be directed by the said Armenian proprietors
or their agents.
And, lastly, it is declared
and agreed, that notwithstanding anything aforesaid it shall and may be lawful
for the said Company to reserve and keep for their own use any of the said goods
so intended for Turkey, as aforesaid, paying the proprietors one third part
clear profit on the first cost as aforesaid; all freight charges, and disbursements
whatsoever being first deducted and foreprized, eight rupees in India being
in the case to be accounted for one pound sterling
In witness whereof, the Governor,
Deputy-Governor and three of the Committee of the said Company have hereunto
set their hands and caused the larger Seal of the said Company to be affixed,
this two-and-twentieth day of June, AnnoDomini 1688, and in the fourth year
of the reign of our Sovereign Lord James the Second, by the Grace of God,
King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith etc.
BENJAMIN BATHURST, Governor
JOSIAH CHILD, Deputy Governor
Worcester,
John Morre,
George Boun
| <<< previous page | next page >>> |