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REFLECTIONS On a Scandalous PAPER, ENTITULED THE ANSWER OF THE Eaſt-India-Company To Two Printed PAPERS of MR. SAMUEL WHITE: Together with the True CHARACTER of FRANCIS DAVENPORT THE SAID Company's Hiſtoryographer.
Detecting ſome of the Villanies he has been Guilty of in ſeveral parts of the WORLD; and proving the PAMPHLET now Publiſh'd by the foreſaid Company in his Name to be a Malicious Forgery, under Atteſtations of ſundry Credible Perſons.
Humbly Preſented to the Honourable The Knights, Citizens, and Burgeſſes in PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.
By GEORGE WHITE.
LONDON, Printed in the Year, M.DC.LXXXIX.
SInce the Profligate Age we Live in do's daily produce new Prodigies of Villany, 'tis no very ſtrange thing to ſee thoſe Criminals who are Guilty of Murder, Rapine, and Ingratitude, have recourſe to PERJURY for Protection: And therefore I was the leſs ſurpriz'd when at my return from diſcharging the laſt Offices of Kindneſs to my Deceaſed Brother, I perus'd a Paper, Entituled An Hiſtorical Abſtract of Mr. Samuel White, his Management of Affairs, &c. by Francis Davenport: But that ſuch an Infamous Forgery ſhou'd be brought forth by the Midwifry of the Eaſt-India-Company, and uſher'd into the World by a Sheet which is pretended to be an Anſwer to my Brother's Complaints; and both theſe preſented to the Honourable Houſe of Commons, is ſuch an Amazing Inſolence, that no Mankind of a leſs Aſſurance than He who has Veſted himſelf with Deſpotic Power, cou'd dare to be the Author of the One, or the Editor of the Other.
As to that little Matter in the Prologue, which is pointed directly againſt my Brother, by way of Introduction to the following Fictions, I will not waſte any time in offering a word of Anſwer to it here, but leave his Juſt Cauſe ſecur'd by the Safe-guard of Truth, from the fierceſt and moſt ſubtile Aſſaults can be made againſt it by all the Malice of Hell: And I enter upParliament ſhall pleaſe to grant me a Hearing; and if now, in the inVile Wretch DAVENPORT, on whoſe Evidence the Commoſt Notorious Rogues in Nature, and ſo eſteem'd by all Honeſt Men that ever had the unhappineſs to have been Concern'd or Acquainted with him; and more particularly that he forg'd this Malicious Story to wreck his Revenge on my Brother for Chaſtizing him according to his Demerits: Wherein he was alſo EnElihu Yale at Madraſs, in hopes that by thus Black'ning my Brother's Reputation, 'twould help to take off the force of his Evidence againſt the ſaid Yale, for his Treacherous Dealings with the King of Siam in a parcel of Jewels: And Laſtly, If I make it not appear that my Brother, who has been ſo Barbarouſly Abus'd and Injur'd, has not only never deſerv'd Ill of the King, Nation, or Company, but contrarily, that he did always expreſs himſelf both in Word and Deed a moſt Obedient SubTrue Lover of his Country, and did in his Station maintain and promote the Honour of it: And that he did not only always bear a due Reſpect to the Eaſt-India-Company, but particuGolden-Fleece in her Diſtreſs; and ſo was the Inſtrument of Preſerving 190000
l.
of their Eſtate, which could not but have extorted ſome grateDeſpotic-Power have diveſted themſelves of Humanity. I ſay, If I make not out a full and plain Evidence of all theſe things, I will readily ſubmit that the Remains of my Brother's Eſtate ſhall follow the Fate of the greater
Devour'd by the Company. As on the other ſide, If I do clear the Truth from all theſe Clouds wherewith the Agents of the Father of Lies have endeavour'd to obſcure and ſmother it, I cannot doubt that all thoſe concern'd in the Management of the Company's Affairs, who are but endu'd with the Grace of Common Honeſty, will readily encline to make due Reſtitution of what has been ſo unjuſtly taken from him. And as for the Author, with thoſe who enjoy their Places on condition that their Conſciences are at his Command, I humbly depend on the Parliament to Convince them by ſuch Arguments, as ſhall to the great Wiſdom of the Honourable Houſe ſeem moſt proper for the Occaſion.
AS to the great ſhew the Author has made of his Parts and Principles in ſundry Paragraphs of this that he calls The Company's Anſwer, tho' 'tis Foreign to my preſent Buſineſs, yet I cannot paſs over ſuch Incongruous Stuff without ſome brief Remarks: And I ſeriouſly proteſt it aſtoniſhes me to ſee to what Prodigious Extravagancies the ſucceſs of ſome former bold Actions can Tranſport an Ambitious and Inſulting Temper. For who could think, That a Subject of England ſhou'd dare to Abuſe the Parliament as he has done, with ſuch ſlight Sophiſtry as wou'd be Ridiculous amongſt School-Boys, framing Diſguiſes for his Evil Actions by moſt fallacious Arguments and Inferences; and where he cou'd not ſo ſerve the Turn, he imitates His Friend Davenport in Aſſertions that are moſt falſe, groundleſs, and ſcandalous.
Theſe are ſuch Affronts and Indignities to the Wiſdom of the Nation, that ſpeaks the AUTHOR to be an Old OFFENDER, who having paſs'd with impunity through a long Courſe of Tranſgreſſions, is harden'd into a Conceipt, that he is above the reach of the Legiſlative-Power of the Kingdom: I ſhall now only give a hint of 'em in the following Curſory Notices.
HE ſays, The ground of the Company's Wars with Siam was not only Juſt but Cogent, and offers to prove it by a larger Narrative, which I am reſolv'd to provoke him to produce to the Publick; for I tell him beforeWicked Thing, which was intended to have been Addreſs'd to the Parliament by my Brother, and ſhall be very ſuddenly preſented by me in his Name.
The next is a Fling at my Lord Phaulkon, and all that his Impotent Malice cou'd dictate to diſparage and leſſen him, is to ſay, He was a poor Fellow, and Steward's Mate of a ſmall Ship, which I readily own to be true; and I doubt not but all Ingenious Men will the more eſteem and honour him, who from ſo ſmall a beginning, has meerly by his own Merits rais'd himſelf to be Lord-High-Steward of a great Kingdom; nor is he leſs Advanc'd in Opulency than Power and Dignity: For I'm ſure if our Author's Eſtate (as Bulky as 'tis) were to be compar'd with what his Lordſhip is now poſſeſt of, 'twould look like a Little Child to a great Man.
'Tis a notable Slight of Hand our Author uſes to cover over the Traytenew-made-General, in aſcribing to himſelf Deſpotic Power and Soveraign-Authority, by ſaying my Brother do's in his Caſe play with thoſe Expreſſions: And 'tis well if he can be ſo eaſily brought off from that Charge, which my Counſel tells me is very little leſs than High Treaſon. But I muſt confeſs our Author is bound to uſe all his Art and Cunning
Creature out of that Snare, becauſe I believe 'twill be prov'd he led him into't; and I ſee he is ſtill ſo full of the Humour, that he cannot forbear even in this Paper he preſents to the Parliament; for here he has got a new Phraſe for the Company's Servants, and calls them the Company's Subjects under the King, which is another bold Stroke; and indeed I cou'd wiſh he wou'd in time conſider and refrain theſe Ambitious Exorbitancies, leſt the True Sovereign Authority ſhou'd be at length provok'd to Convince him of his Error, as King Edward the Fourth did the Citizen that Liv'd at the Crown in Cheapſide, for much ſuch another Crime: And then alas! what wou'd become of Our Eaſt-India-Company, if he were ſo Tyed up from Managing their Affairs.
He next tells us, He believes the Company have in Seven or Eight Years paſt, done more for the Publick Good and Honour of the Nation, than all their Predeceſſors ſince Queen Elizabeth's time; and he gives One or Two Inſtances to prove it, which are worthy Examination.
The firſt is their Faithful Defence of the Engliſh Intereſt in the Caſe of Bantam, againſt Eminent Dutch Civilians; and he refers to the Arguments on that Occaſion, that are extant in Print, which I have read; and if I may be ſo bold to give my Opinion of that little Book, I muſt ſay, That the AUTHOR has in the three or four firſt Lines, and ſome other places, diſVolleys of Verboſity upon the Batavian's, but did no more ExOur Company are much to be blam'd for their groſs Neglects and Miſmanagements, which gave the Dutch an opportunity to accompliſh that Deſign.
Another Good Work he attributes to the Company, is what he calls the Reducing the Rebels at Bombay and St. Helena. As to the firſt of thoſe Places I am a ſtranger to the Merits of the Cauſe; but at St. Helena the buſineſs was briefly and truly thus; Robert Holden the Deputy-Governor, had been order'd by SOME-BODY to begin the ſetting up a New Sovereignty there in the Name of the Company; telling the Inhabitants they were no more the King's, but the Company's Subjects, which they apprehending to be Dangerous and Treaſonable Words, one of them complain'd of Him to Major Blackmore the Governor, who being in the ſame Intereſts, took part with Holden, and Impriſoned the Accuſer; at which all the People there were much concern'd, and made Application to him to ſecure the ſaid Holden, and ſet the other at Liberty, who was ſo cauſeleſly Confin'd; whereto he gave Anſwer, by cauſing two great Guns to be fir'd, which kill'd Three and wounded Fourteen; and Three Months after he did by his Own Authority Judge, Condemn, and Hang Two more, ſending an Account of his ProHis Maſters here, and ONE of them who had great Influences at Court, procur'd a Commiſſion from the late King to Try ſeveral others by a Court-Marſhal, whereby five more loſt their Lives. AND ALL THIS FOR THE PUBLICK GOOD AND HONOUR OF THE NATION.
Another of our Company's Famous Actions, he reckons to be the Wars they have made with the Great Mogul and King of Siam; of the latter, whereof, I have promis'd an Account ſhall ſuddenly be made Publick; and will only here by the way, Charge the Author with a direct Falſity in affirming his Ingenious Capt. Andrews, had his Majeſties Commiſſion under the
Great Seal of England, to War againſt that Prince. And as to the Violences they have acted on the Great Mogul's Subjects, I confeſs I cou'd never yet hear what pretences they have for't; but I know their Proceedings thereFellonious than Hoſtile: For beſides the vaſt Sums they were indebted to the Merchants at Surrat, when they left that place; they did alſo make uſe of another Stratagem to aſſiſt the Succeſs of their intended Force by a Baſe Fraud: For their New-Made-General gave the foreſaid Merchants Encouragement to Adventure their Ships and Eſtates to to Sea, on the Security of the Company's Paſſes, and afterwards took the opportunity to make Prize of thoſe very Effects: Which was ſuch a Breach of Faith, that a Barbarian wou'd bluſh at it. And becauſe I may therefore ſuppoſe the Report of ſo Black an Action will not readily be Credited, I deas any thing can poſſibly be to its own Self: And when he told my Friend the Pleaſant Story, He cou'd not but Applaud the Policy, and declare the great Satisfaction he had in the Succeſs thereof, as he now in this Pa
Our AUTHOR has two or three very ſtrenous Arguments to Inſinuate, That 'tis indiſpenſably requiſite the Company ſhou'd have an Alſolute Power over the Lives and Eſtates of their Fellow-Subjects in the Indies. And firſt he ſays, For that they have ſo many Towns, Forts, and Garriſons; which many Towns (beſides the little Iſland of Bombay) is no more than One, that I ever yet knew or heard of, and that is call'd Madraſs, in the Kingdom of Golcondah, which yet is not altogether their own neither, for they pay an Annual Rent to the King of that Country for it.
Next he reckons the infinite Charge they are at, in ſundry Particulars, and amongſt them he mentions the Demorage of Ships, which by the way I muſt tell him wou'd be very inconſiderable, if our Trade were Prudently and Regularly Manag'd. But however, they have lately found out an ExFreight and Demorage are diſcharg'd without paying a Farthing, as they have already done to three or four Ships; and ſeveral more that are now in India are much doubted to be in the ſame Condition; whereby a very great Injury and Injuſtice is done to the Nation in general, as well as to the particular ProprieIngenious Contrivance, as was lateModena, in putting a piece of News into the Gazette, and Dating it from the Downs, to tell us, THE WORMS DO VERY MUCH DESTROY SHIPPING IN THAT COUNTRY.
The laſt and moſt invincible Argument of this kind, I will lay down juſt as 'tis in the AUTHOR's PAPER, and try if I can frame it into a Sillogiſm.
The Company hope, all Gentlemen know, That the Governments of the Eaſtern Parts of the World, are meerly Deſpotical.
But the never ſufficiently to be Admir'd and Belov'd Common and Statute Laws of this Kingdom, are Plants too Precious to be underſtood, or grow ſo far Eaſtward, or in any other Soil but that of our Bleſſed Native Country.
Ergo, 'Tis indiſpenſably neceſſary our Company ſhou'd have a Deſpotic Power over the Lives and Eſtates of all their Fellow-Subjects, That Adventure themſelves within the Territories of their Charter.
The Major and Minor are the Author's own Words; and the Concluſion is what I'm ſure he drives at: And is not this fit Logick to be impos'd on the Wiſdom of the PARLIAMENT.
As to thoſe SPLENDID ENCOMIUMS wherewith our AUTHOR do's beſpangle his NEW-MADE-GENERAL, I will only ſay thus much; Firſt, That he was in the beginning as Poor a Fellow as ever my Lord Phaulkon was, and had ſo continu'd to this day, had not the great Charity of an Indulgent Ʋncle put him forward in the World: Then as to his GREAT PARTS and LITERATURE, I refer to his Papers in the Company's Regiſter to Teſtifie in his behalf. And Laſtly, As to the Great Eſteem he enIndia, I beg leave to give an Inſtance of it, as 'twas told me by a Friend came lately from Surrat, who try'd to imitate the Banyan's way of talking broken Engliſh, and expreſſing their SenCompany's Chief Factor at Surrat was call'd Preſident, they Saluted him with the Stile of HONOURABLE; but ſince the GENERALSHIP, 'tis mounted to HIS EXCELLENCY, which is ſo uncouth a Word to the Banians, that they loſe the two firſt SyllaEngliſh.
When Honor have here, English-man very GoodBanian put Life in English-man hand: Now this 'LENCY come, DEVIL thing come, buy Good, run away, no pay Money, then War make, take Ship, take Good, kill Man, DEVIL thing this 'LENCY, this 'LENCY, DEVIL thing have.
In this Extraordinary manner do the People there Celebrate the GEEngliſh thus, He is a Perſon of KNOWN-SOBRIETY, WISDOM, TRUTH, and COURAGE, Eſteem'd and Belov'd by People of all Nations in India; That have ſo much Ingenuity, to Acknowledge Vertue in an Enemy—
'Tis the Caſe of Captain Valentine Pines, whoſe Ship and Goods his EXCELLENCY did by his DESPOTIC POWER Seize and make Prize of, to amount of about 3000
l.
and ſince the Captain has made a hard ſhift to get home on a Portugueze Ship; The Committee of the Eaſt-India-Company, have upon Mature and Conſciencious Deliberation thought it convenient to reſtore to him 1300
l.
in Money, and promiſe to reConſcious to themſelves, that their GENERAL did in that Affair lay aſide his SOand TRUTH, and was Acted by a Spirit of Baſe Revenge and Malice, which put him upon that moſt
Ʋnjuſt and Illegal Seizure.
I have thus run over that Scandalous and Impertinent Paper, and I ſhall now only add, That I am well aware who HE is, that under the Name of the Eaſt-India-Company Contends with me: As to his Original, if he was not altogether A very Poor Fellow, yet he was but at beſt a Very Ordinary Man, tho' he has ſince receiv'd all his Portion of Good Things in this Life, which has Stimulated his Ambition to that Extravalook downward on the reſt of Mankind; nay, he has dar'd to aſſume a Sovereignty over his Fellow-Subjects, whoſe Lives and Eſtates he has Deſtroy'd, and Diſpos'd of at his Pleaſure; and raiſes his Own Family on the BLOOD and RUIN of his Neighbours. But tho' my Enemy be in all reſpects thus Formidable, yet I cannot fear; becauſe I have God, and the King, and the Laws, and all Honeſt Men of the Nation on my ſide: And under the Support and Aſſiſtance of theſe Ally's, I have Adventur'd to Engage with this GREAT GOLIAH.
JOHN CASEY Marriner, now Living in Ratcliff maketh Oath, That he was formerly acquainted with FRANCIS DAVENPORT at Boſton in New-England, who was there employ'd by one Peter Lee his Kinſman, as Maſter of a Ketch bound for Falmouth-Harbour on the Iſland of Antego; where this Deponent has heard they arriv'd, and diſpos'd of the major-part of their Cargo, and were bound from thence for St. John's Harbour on the ſaid Iſland: But FRANCIS DAVENPORT did deſignedly miſs the ſaid Port, and went to the Iſland of Mevis, at which time the aforeſaid Owner, Mr. Peter Lee, being much indiſpos'd in his Health, went Aſhore; and FRANCIS DAVENPORT took the opportunity of his Abſence, to perEngland, without the knowledge of his Kinſ
This Deponent doth further Affirm, That the foreſaid FRANCIS DAVENPORT, was to his knowledge Marry'd at Boſton in New-England, where his Wife now is, or lately was Living: And the ſaid Deponent has heard by ſeveral credible Perſons, that the ſaid DAVENPORT did ſome Years ſince Marry another Wife at Bengall, in the Eaſt-Indie's; and that he has committed ſeveral perfidious Actions in thoſe Parts, and is accounted by all that know him, a very Treacherous Cheating VILLAIN.
GEORGE TASH maketh Oath, That he Arrived at Tonqueen in the Ship Formoſa, Anno 1678. when he found FRANCIS DAVENPORT in the Factory, who had been (as he was inform'd) ſomeEagle, to make a Crane for the King of Tonqueen, which he performed very Ingeniouſly, and the Chief and Factors being inclined to do him a kindFormoſa, whereon he proBantam, being intruſted with Adventures by all the Engliſh in the Factory ſave one; and had the like Credit given him alſo by ſome of the NaBantam, the Ship Johannah in readineſs to return for Europe (as this Deponent was inform'd by Letters from thence) took his Paſſage on her for England, and ſo put a cheat upon them all, except Mr. Thomas James, the Chief, who had cautiouſly provided to have his Correſpondent demand his MoBantam, as this Deponent alſo had done, but unDeponent believes) he broke open; for he did treacherouſly conceal his Letter that gave thoſe Directions. And this Deponent further ſaith, That Captain Dyke, ComFormoſa, at his return to Tonqueen aforeſaid, the next Seaſon, with this bad News of the ſaid FRANCIS DAVENPORT, told this Deponent and the reſt of the Factors, That he had been as troubleſome to him, as knaDeponent left Tonqueen, they had an Account that he was return'd again to India, and had been at Bengall and Siam, where he was alſo notorious for his Villanous Practices: Nor did this Deponent ever hear his Name mention'd, without an Infamous Character.
WINIFRED BLEMAIR, Widow, maketh Oath, That in, or about the Year 1681. Capt. Thomas Jowls, and Francis Davenport, comWinifred Blemair, near Ratcliff-Croſs; and ſome Weeks afterwards there was put into the Gazette an Advertiſement ſignifying, That One Mr. Davenport, a Gentleman reſiding in the Country, did thereby Declare, That he being grown Ancient, and having no Iſſue of his own, was intended to ſettle his Eſtate of two Hundred Pounds per Annum, on a Nephew of his, Nam'd Francis Davenport, whom he was therefore very deſirous to hear of. Whereupon the foreſaid DAVENJowls to lend him Money to provide himſelf with Cloaths, and bear his Expences down to his ſaid Uncle's Houſe; which Capt. Jowls acl.
. After which he abſented himſelf from the Houſe for about the ſpace of a Month, and
London in two or three Days, when he invited the ſaid Capt. Jowls to accompany him to the City, to Viſit his ſaid Uncle as he pretended; but as they paſs'd through Cheapſide he took an opportunity to leave the Captain, who never ſaw, nor heard of him afterwards, nor did ever receive any Satisfaction for the foreſaid Money he lent him, ſolely in confidence of the Truth of what was put inGazette, which prov'd to be a meer Forgery contriv'd by DAVENDeponent do's further affirm, That ſhe has been inform'd the ſaid DAVENPORT did ſoon after he with-drew himſelf, as aforeſaid, make a Voyage to the Eaſt-Indie's, were ſhe hears he now reſides, and continues ſuch Evil Practiſes, as he us'd here in England.
THeſe are to Certiſie all whom it may concern, That in time of our Reſidence in the Bay of Bengall in India, FRANCIS DAVENPORT did ſerve the Company in their Sloops in the River Ganges; where he was much complain'd of by all his Fellow-Servants, for a Perſon of a very Turbulent Spirit, making continual Diſturbances among 'em, and was thereDavies an Interloper that then ReHughly, he was by ſome of the Company Accus'd to have taken an opportunity, after that diſaſter befel the Veſſel, to Murther the Supra-Cargo John Naylor, and poſſeſs himſelf of his Money, of which VIL
We do alſo declare, That he Marryed in Bengall to a Native of that Place, and there was thoſe that did poſitively affirm he had another Wife in New-England; and by ſome that came from the South-Seas we had likewiſe InFraudulent Actions in thoſe parts: So that he was lookt upProfligate Scandalous Perſon; nor do we remember that we ever met with any Man that had a better Opinion of him.
Altho' there can need no further Confirmation of what theſe Two GenWilliam Johnſon
Eſq a Member of the Honourable Houſe of Commons, and Mr. Edward Littleton, a Merchant of known Worth and Credit in this City, who were both Contemporaries in Bengall, with the Deponents can give the ſame Evidence, and have been pleas'd to promiſe me, They will readily do it if it be requiſite.
FRANCIS HEATH of London Merchant maketh Oath, That he was well Acquainted with Mr. Samuel White in the time that he Serv'd the King of Siam as Shawbander of Tenaſſary and Mergen, having been Employ'd by him as Supra-Cargo of ſeveral of his Ships, and ſo continued from about the beginning September 1684. to November 1686. In which time he made ſeveral Voyages to Fort St. George, and was always kindly received by the Governor and the Honourable Company's Servants, having free Liberty to Negotiate his Affairs in the ſaid Mr. White's Name: And this Deponent furWhite, and kept by him to Aſſiſt him in the multitude of Bufineſs that was upon him, for that he was very quick at his Pen; but he further Affirms, That the ſaid DAVENPORT had the General ChaDiſhoneſt and Faithleſs Fellow; as to his knowledge Mr. White was warn'd of by ſeveral of his Friends, and particularly by my Lord Phaulkon, in the hearing of this Deponent; but that he neuertheleſs kept him for the neceſſity of his Affairs, being very careful all the while this Deponent was there, not to intruſt him with any Matter which might give him opportunity to wrong him, as he alſo believes he never afterwards did: But this Deponent finds that the ſaid DAVENPORT has fram'd a large Hiſtory of Mr. White's Actions, and preſented it, the Governor and Council of Fort St. George, which this Deponent has lately perus'd, and do's declare, That many things therein contain'd, are to his knowledge direct Lies and Forgeries; and he verily believes the whole thing was deſign'd by the ſaid DAVENPORT in Revenge of the Puniſhments he underſtands Mr. White inflicted on the ſaid DAVENPORT for his Rogueries after this Deponent came from thence.
The moſt material Paſſages this Deponent obſerves in the ſaid pretended Hiſtory, are, Firſt to Inſinuate that the ſaid Mr. White acted ſeveral things that were inconſiſtent with his Duty to His Majeſty, and prejudicial to the Honourable Company, which are baſe and ſcandalous Calumnies, from which this Deponent holds himſelf oblig'd in Juſtice to vindicate him. And he Affirms, That in all the Converſation he ever had with the ſaid Mr. White, he never heard one Word come from him, that did miſ-become a moſt Loyal and Obedient Subject. And for a further proof thereof, this Deponent Declares, That he has now by him a true Copy of a Remonſtrance, which the ſaid Mr. White did Preſent to my Lord Phaulkon, in Septemb. 86. wherein he expreſſes all poſſible Duty and Obſervance to the King's Majeſty, and Reſpect to the Honourable Company. And whereas he was then apSiam's War with Gulcondah, was manag'd chiefly by Engliſh-men, and thereupon procure His Majeſties Command for re-calling all his SubEngliſh-man would dare at his Peril, to oppoſe or refuſe, but muſt diſcharge themſelves of their preſent Truſt under the King of Siam, and be punctual in paying Obedience to their Native Sovereign. And in the ſame Paper he offers to my Lord's Conſideration, that great care be taken in the management of the War, ſo as the leaſt diſguſt may not be given to the Honourable Company, nor any Injury accrue to them thereWhite the
Siam's Command; I declare, that the contrary is apparently manifeſt in the firſt Paragraph of the ſaid Remonſtrance; and fully to convince all Impartial Men, that the foreſaid DAVENPORT has (without any regard to Truth) deſign'd in that Paper he calls his Hiſtory, maliciouſly to Traduce and AWhite; I affirm, That the foreſaid Remonſtrance in my hands, is Atteſted by the ſaid DAVENPORT, to be a true Copy of the Original deliver'd to my Lord Phaulkon.
As to the Relation DAVENPORT makes of ſundry Paſſages, when Mr. White went up to Siam, this Deponent declares, That to his knowledge ſeWhite in the ManageMergen, had made ſundry Complaints which occaſion'd his being ſent for up, yet upon the Examination thereof, he was not only clear'd, but it appearing that the Complaints were more grounded on the Revenge of thoſe from whom he had with ſome Severity exacted the King's Dues, than on any real Miſdemeanors in himſelf; they were by the King's Poſitive Command Fin'd, and Corporal Puniſhment Inflicted on ſeveral of them in preſence of this Deponent, and one of the Principal of them was Sentenc'd, and had Suffer'd Death had not Mr. White Charitably interpos'd and obtain'd his Pardon; and to manifeſt that Mr. White's Credit and Eſteem in the Court of Siam, was rather augmented than leſſen'd by this Matter; this Deponent further declares, That after the ſaid Mr. White had excus'd himſelf from continuing in the City (tho' Invited to it by very great Emoluments and Honours) he did afterwards return to his former Employment at Mergen with greater Reſpect, and a much larger Commiſſion than he had before. This Deponent alſo thinks himſelf oblig'd to do right to Mr. Samuel White (who he hears is after all his Troubles and heavy Loſſes lately deceaſed at Bath:) Not only in Vindicating him from the Aſperſions endeavour'd to be caſt upon him by DAVENPORT, but alſo to tell the Truth of what he knows of the conſiderable Good Services he did to the Honourable Company, when Capt. Cook came to the Port of Mergen in the Golden Fleece in great Diſtreſs, this Deponent arriving there at the ſame time, and Affirms, That the ſaid Mr. White did not only give ſaid Capt. Cook the Aſſiſtance of his Slaves to help the unlading of his Ship without the leaſt Conſideration for their Labour; but did alſo at his own Charge fit up ſeveral Ware-houſes for the Receiving and Securing his Goods aſhore, and ſuppli'd him with all things neceſſary at the cheapeſt Rates, for the refitting his Ship, doing every thing with that Chearfulneſs and Forwardneſs, as it 't had been his own Concern.
As to the latter part of DAVENPORT's Hiſtory, wherein he pretends to give an Account of the Paſſages at Mergen, after Capt Weltden's Arrival there, endeavouring to impute the Deaths of thoſe Engliſhmen that were Maſſacr'd, to Mr. White, this Deponent affirms, That he do's verily believe that the whole thing is entirely Falſe and Forged, and that the Maſſacre of all thoſe Men was really and truly occaſion'd by Capt. Welden's Indirect and Imprudent Acting, to which he was inſtigated by the Wicked Counſel of the ſaid DAVENPORT, as has been more at large related in the Paper preHonourable Houſe of Commons, which this Deponent do's believe is a True Account thereof, and was taken out of a Diary kept by Mr. White of all thoſe Tranſactions, as this Deponent ſaw and read, when he was with him at Kingſale in Ireland, in October laſt.
THeſe are to certifie all whom it may concern, That about the Month of June, Anno 1686. Mr. Samuel White, who then Serv'd the King of Siam as his Shawbander of Tenaſſary and Mergen, came up to the City Judicah, where I then Reſided, and brought with him FRANCIS DAVENPORT whom he had ſometime before taken into his Service, which was very much wonder'd at by ſeveral perſons there, who had formerly had ſome knowDavenport, and did in my hearing, caution Mr. White to be careful of him, for that he had prov'd a moſt falſe and treacherous Vil
And whereas there is a Book lately publiſhed in the ſaid Davenport's name, charging Mr. White with many irregular and unjuſtifiable actions; I declare, That I do really believe the ſaid Davenport has in that very thing prov'd himſelf deſerving that ill character Mr. White had before receiv'd of him, in endeavouring by moſt malicious miſrepreſentations to abuſe and injure him: And particularly, as to what he endeavours to inſinuate to the ſaid Mr. White's prejudice, concerning the occaſion of his being ſummon'd up to Court, and of what paſs'd in that Affair, I declare, that great part of what he alledges, is falſe and ſcandalous, and I affirm, that Mr. White did ſo effectually clear himſelf from all matters objected againſt him, that rais'd him higher in the King's good Opinion, and he afterwards return'd to his Charge with more credit and reputation then he enjoy'd before; and to my certain knowledge, he continued in very great eſteem wirh the King of Siam, and his Chief MiMergen.
THOMAS DENNET maketh Oath, That he went to Mergen in the Curtana, Anthony Weltden Commander, at which place he firſt ſaw Francis Davenport, who, as he underſtood, had ſometime before been put out of Mr. Sam. White's Service for ſome fraudulent Actions he had been found guilty of, for which he heard Mr. White had publickly whip'd him, and impriſon'd him, and he had a general ill Character amongſt all the Engliſh at that place.
This Deponent doth alſo affirm, That at the Curtana's arrival there, Mr. White did receive the Commander and all the People with very friendly kindneſs, and ſupply'd his Ship with abundance of Proviſions, and as he unWhite and all under him, did readily and chearfully expreſs their obedience thereto, and every thing ſeem'd to look very well till the foreſaid Davenport did ſlily inſinuate himſelf into a private intimacy with Captain Weltden, telling him many falſe ſtorys, and by his evil advice prevail'd with him to ſeize Mr. White's Ship the Reſolution, and to break up the Piles that were for the defence of the Port, which did ſo incenſe the Inhabitants, that they took the opportunity to aſſault the Engliſh on the Shore, and kill'd near ſixty of them, Mr. White and Captain Weltden very narrowly eſcaping, at which time this Deponent was on board the Curtana, and took notice, that the aforeſaid Davenport, as ſoon as he heard the ſad news, did earneſtly perſwade the Ships Company to cut the Cables and make haſte away, as they accordingly did, and went as far as the Tide would permit them, when they were forc'd to come to an Anchor, and in this Interim Mr. White and ſent the ſaid Captain were got aboard the Reſolution, about two Leagues diſtant, and ſent the ſaid Ships Boat for the Doctor to dreſs the CapCurtana nearer the Reſolution,
Davenport inſtigated the Men to take no notice of the Captains Commands, but to proceed without any delays, and he wou'd carry them to a place where they might be provided with Victuals and all things elſe that they wanted; and having got one of the Mates and Boatſwain to join with him, they had wrought upon moſt of the Ships Company, and did enDavenports advice, in running away without the Commander, which they had certainly done, if the Wind had not prevented, and gave the Captain time to overtake them in the Reſolutions Long-Boat, and when the Captain was got aboard, being by all theſe ſad effects, ſenſible how he had been betray'd by the Treachery and Villany of Davenport, he exDavenport ſet himſelf cloſely to writDeponent obſerv'd, and do's verily believe, he then employ'd himWhite and CapWeltden.
WILLIAM SMITH Maſter of the Ship Reſolution, and Hugh Wilkiſon Mariner on board the ſaid Ship, make Oath, That they did both ſerve the King of Siam, under the command and direction of Mr. Samuel White, Shawbander of Tenaſſary and Mergen, And they declare and affirm, That the ſaid Mr. White did ſo behave himſelf in that employment, that he was generally well-belov'd both by the Pepple of the Country and the Europeans of ſeveral Nations that were in the ſaid Service; and whereas there is a Book lately Printed in the name of Francis Davenport, called, An Hiſtory of Mr. White's Actions, Theſe Deponents declare, That they have read over the ſaid Book, in which they find many things, that to their certain knowledge are falſe and ſcandalous Lies, as they will more particularly evidence, if it be required: Nor do they know that the ſaid Mr. White was guilty of any one lieve, that the ſaid Davenport (who was by all at that place, and where-ever elſe theſe Deponents have heard of his Name, accounted a very treacherous Perſon) did frame thoſe falſities of Revenge and Malice to the ſaid Mr. White, who ſometime before had publickly whip'd and impriſon'd the ſaid Davenport, upon diſcovery of a fraudulent contrivance of his to have cheated him of a conſiderable ſum of Mony.
PHILLIP GAMON maketh Oath, That he was a ſervant to the King of Siam, under the Command of Mr. Samuel White, Shabander of Tenaſſary and Mergen, and that he there knew Francis Davenport a ſervant to the ſaid Mr. White, which ſaid Davenport was a Perſon of a very bad Reputation, amongſt all men on that place; and this Deponent is well aſſur'd, that Mr. White was not unacquainted therewith, but however, he kept him becauſe he was ingenious at his Pen, and ſo very uſeful in the multitude of buſineſs that Mr. White had in that great Employment, till about the end of March 87. when he was detected in a villainous cheat he wou'd have put upon Mr. White, (as this Deponent was inform'd, and verily believes) for which and ſome other miſdemeanours he was publickly whip'd and impriſon'd, and reCurtana's Arrival, when he repair'd on board the ſaid Ship, and having by degrees inſinuated himſelf inWeltden, he did daily labour to ſcandalize and miſrepreſent the ſaid Mr. White, and create jealouſies concerning him, which he did at length ſo far effect, that the ſaid Captain was wrought upon to break his word with the Natives, and commit ſome Hoſtilities on the Port, as the ſaid Captain did, to this Deponents knowledge, with much ſeeming reluDeponent do's verily believe, that thoſe raſh and imprudent actions to which the ſaid Captain was inſtigated by Davenport, did provoke the Siamers to that bloody Aſſault wherein ſo many of His Majeſties Subjects loſt their Lives: And whereas there is a Book lately Printed in the ſaid Davenport's Name, wherein he endeavours to make Mr. White the occaſion of that Bloudſhed, and accuſes him of many other high Crimes and Miſdemeanors, this Deponent do's declare, that many things thereWhite was guilty of any of thoſe things wherewith he charges him; but that he fram'd thoſe Papers in Revenge and Malice againſt Mr. White with
AND now I hope I have fully perform'd what I undertook, in proving by a Cloud of unexceptionable Witneſſes, that this DAVENPORT is one of the MOST NOTORIOUS ROGUES in Nature. I have trac'd him through ſeveral parts of the World, and find him the ſame MATCHLESS VILLAIN in all Climates: Nor have I made it leſs apparent, That Revenge and Malice dictated all thoſe Forgeries wherewith he has endeavour'd to aſ
And now after all, I make this offer to the EDITOR of his Hiſtory, That if he can diſprove any of the Teſtimonies I have produc'd; Or bring one ſinShame: And I'm ſure, I may conjoyn the Abettor ELIHU YALE with them, becauſe I well know he is at the bottom of this Black Buſineſs; for when he perceiv'd he cou'd not by all his Stratagems, trappan my Brother into his power, he order'd the Curtana Frigat out in ſearch of him under the Command of Fraſier, one of his Counſellors, with Commiſſion to bring him in dead or alive; but that alſo proving fruitleſs by my Brothers being proceeded on his Voyage to Europe, he had then no other way but to abett and forward DAVENPORTS FORfor the Reaſons I have before mentioned; And tho I can prove by a ſober ingenious Gentleman, Mr. George Petty, that DAVENPORT was at that time and place eſteem'd, (as every where elſe) a moſt INFAMOUS FELLOW, Yet for his encouragement in this matter, he was permitted to attach and recover from Mr. Tho. Lucas, my Brothers Correſpondent, about 100
l.
on no other evidence than his ſingle Oath, that my Brother was ſo much his Debtor.
THus have DAVENPORT, HIS ABETTOR, and HIS EDITOR conſpir'd againſt the Life, Credit and Eſtate of my Brother; And tho God has ſo pleas'd, that they have contributed to the ſhortning of his days; yet I doubt not but I ſhall reſcue his Reputation from All their Calumnies.
And as to his Eſtate which has been ſo barbarouſly Deſtroy'd and rifled by the Eaſt-India Company: I aſſure the EDITOR, that tho he pleaſes himſelf, in ſaying, he fears not what the Houſe of Commons can do, becauſe they are no Court of Judicature, and hopes at laſt to tire me out by a tedious and expenſive Law-ſuit: Yet I will renew my humble Supplications to Our Honourable Repreſentatives, confiding, that ſo deplorable a Caſe will move them to interpoſe for our Relief: Nor will I doubt, that they who have aſſerted our Rights, and defended our Liberties againſt Him who was of late the great