To the honorable the knights, citizens and burgesses, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of Robert Tayloe, Joseph Emerson, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce on the behalf of themselves and other poor marriners, to the number of five hundred and upwards, who served the East-India Company in their late wars against the great mogul, and other heathen princes: and on the behalf of the widows and orphans of other marriners to the like number, that perished in the said wars.

To the honorable the knights, citizens and burgesses, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of Robert Tayloe, Joseph Emerson, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce on the behalf of themselves and other poor marriners, to the number of five hundred and upwards, who served the East-India Company in their late wars against the great mogul, and other heathen princes: and on the behalf of the widows and orphans of other marriners to the like number, that perished in the said wars.

Table of contents

To the HONORABLE The Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

To the HONORABLE The Knights, Citizens and Burgeſſes, IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

[Page]

The Humble Petition of Robert Tayloe, Joſeph Emerſon, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce, on the behalf of themſelves and other Poor Marriners, to the Number of Five hundred and upwards, who ſerved the Eaſt-India Company in their late Wars againſt the Great Mogul, and other Heathen Princes: And on the behalf of the Widows and Orphans of other Marriners to the like Number, that Periſhed in the ſaid Wars.

SHEWETH,

THAT the ſaid Company, in the Years 1683, 1684, 1685 and 1686. entered your Petitioners and others, on Board ſeveral of their Ships, viz. in the Ships called The Charles the Second, the Beauford, the Ceſar, the Rocheſter, and other their Ships, to make direct Voyages to and from the Eaſt-Indies, at very low Wages and Sallaries, in a Merchant-like way (there being then no Wars betwixt this Crown and any other Princes or State in the World, nor did your Petitioners apprehend any War was like to be between this Crown and any the ſaid Princes.

That in ſome ſhort time after your Petitioners Arrival in the Indies, the ſaid Companies Agents and Governors there, ingaged their ſaid Ships in an Actual War againſt the ſaid Great Mogul, and other Heathen Princes; and by exceſſive Tortures, as Nailing their Hands to the Main-maſt, Whipping, and waſhing their Wounds in Brine, and other great Torments, the Commanders of the ſaid Ships compelled your Petitioners, againſt their Wills, and contrary to the Statute made 5 Eliz. chap. 5. to ſerve in the ſaid Companies Wars, againſt the ſaid Heathen Princes, upon their Land, in Parts very remote from any Sea, and to make Depredations without any Juſt Cauſe (as your Petitioners could underſtand) and Robbing the Subjects of the ſaid Heathen Princes to a very great Value.

That the ſaid Commanders, Agents and Governors, finding the ſaid Ill Uſage of your Petitioners not to take its full Effect according to their Expectation, the ſaid Governors cauſed an Order to be made in their Court of Admiralty held in the ſaid Indies, that your Petitioners ſhould have (over and beſides their low Wages) a Sixth part of all Prizes, to be divided amongſt them, and the ſame Order to be publiſhed on ſome of the ſaid Ships, and to be affixed to the Main-maſts of the ſame Ships, to make the ſame more publick, and to encourage your Petitioners to Fight for them; which your Petitioners accordingly did. That during the ſaid War, there was taken, by your Petitioners, in Prizes, to the value of 1500000l. and upwards, which is proved in the Court of Exchequer, in a Suit there brought, and now depending, for their Majeſties Tenths of the ſaid Prizes, of which 260000l. belongs to your Petitioners for their Sixth part, due to them not only by Contract, as aforeſaid, but Laws of Nations; and ſo by the ſaid Company confeſs'd, in their Anſwer in the ſaid Court in the ſaid Suit, and accordingly have paid ſome Marriners their Proportions.

That whilſt your Petitioners were in the Indies, your Petitioners were neceſſitated to accept from the ſaid Commanders and Agents, Dollers at 9 s. a piece, the prime Coſt in England was not above 4 s. 6 d. and Rack at 12 s. per Gallon, the prime Coſt not above 9 d. per Gallon, and Brandy at 18 s. per Gallon, by which means all your Petitioners Wages, and more, was expended, and many Marriners, more than by the ſaid Wars, periſhed for want of ſuch Commodities.

That your Petitioners have applied themſelves from time to time to the ſaid Company for the ſaid Share, or what ſhould appear due to them, upon a Juſt Dividend thereof to be made, and for their Nonperformance thereof, your Petitioners, the laſt Seſſions of Parliament, were about to Addreſs themſelves to this Honorable Houſe for Relief therein; whereupon a worthy Member of his Honorable Houſe, then Governor of the ſaid Company, having notice, promiſed your Petitioners Satisfaction if your Petitioners would forbear their ſaid Addreſs; which Promiſe your Petitioners relying upon, did accordingly forbear, but hitherto cannot get any manner of Satisfaction, and in want thereof, are grown ſo Neceſſitous, that many are forced to be relieved by their reſpective Pariſhes wherein they reſpectively live.

And foraſmuch as this Honorable Houſe hath ordered the ſaid Company to bring in their Books, and a State of their Debts and Credits; your ſaid Poor Petitioners do humbly Hope and Pray, that this Honorable Houſe will take notice, that your Petitioners may have Credit upon the ſaid Companies Books for the ſaid Summ ſo due and owing to your Petitioners, in order that they may have Satisfaction for the ſame, for that the ſaid Prizes have been converted to the Uſe and Benefit of the ſaid Company; And to afford ſuch further Relief to your Petitioners, as to this Honorable Houſe ſhall ſeem fit.

And your Petitioners (as in Duty bound) ſhall ever Pray, &c.

Information about this book

Title statement

To the honorable the knights, citizens and burgesses, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of Robert Tayloe, Joseph Emerson, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce on the behalf of themselves and other poor marriners, to the number of five hundred and upwards, who served the East-India Company in their late wars against the great mogul, and other heathen princes: and on the behalf of the widows and orphans of other marriners to the like number, that perished in the said wars.

Edition statement

1685

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2007-10 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A62738

ID [STC]

Wing T1457A

ID [STC]

ESTC R220126

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99831554

ID [PROQUEST]

99831554

ID [VID]

36017

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A62738)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 36017)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 2046:20)

Source

— To the honorable the knights, citizens and burgesses, in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of Robert Tayloe, Joseph Emerson, John Sawbridge and Edward Pearce on the behalf of themselves and other poor marriners, to the number of five hundred and upwards, who served the East-India Company in their late wars against the great mogul, and other heathen princes: and on the behalf of the widows and orphans of other marriners to the like number, that perished in the said wars., Tayloe, Robert. aut, Emerson, Joseph, fl. 1685. aut, Sawbridge, John, fl. 1685. aut, Pearce, Edward, fl. 1685. aut.

Extent

1 sheet ([1] p.)

s.n.,. [London? :: 1685?]. (Imprint from Wing.) (Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library.)

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