WHereas at this present , there is much speach , and may censures , concerning the profits and Government of the East Indie Company , as well by the Maiors on their part , as by the Aduenturers on theirs , the one making boast of great profits ; and to haue governed the same so worthily as that they conceiue to haue deserved still to continue and bee confirmed in their places . Other maintaining to the contrary , that neither the profit , nor the Maiors governement , to haue beene such , as that either prayse or thankes is due to them ; but that the Adventurers , haue rather iust cause to petition to the Lords the States Generall , for redresse of better ordering thereof in the now next intended Patent , that thereby the profits may be advanced and more increased .

Now the better to explaine this mysterie , and diversitie of opinions , wee will first set downe what hath beene the profits , and next what hath beene the manner of governement , to the ende that euery man may iudge , what prayse and thankes the Maiors haue deserued .

As concerning the profits , first is to be knowne , at what time the Adventurers did bring in and make up their Stocke , viz. in Annis . 1604. 1605. and 1606. which being receiued together faleth to bee in Anno. 1605 — 100. the Interest whereof reckoned to the yeere 1622. which is for 17. yeeres after 6¼ per Cent. per An. with Interest vpon Interest amounteth to little more or lesse then — 180.

Now considering the Maiors from the yeare 1604. to the yeare 1621. haue every yeare sent from hence to the East Indies , a fleete to a certaine number of Ships , which are in all 18. fleetes of Ships , sometimes more some times lesse ; which one with the other I reckon about halfe a capitall : whereof the assurance simply going and comming amounteth to 24. per Cent. though more must be given if one will ensure the trade which passeth from Port to Port in the East Indies , which duties for going and comming amounteth vnto — 2●6 .

Hereof the Interest reckoned at 6¼ per Cent. per An. from Anno 1605. to the yeare 1621. vntill the money bee yearely payd , which amounteth with Interest vpon Interest , to little more or lesse then — 199.

Whereby appeareth that the Capitall with the Interest and Assurance amounteth vnto — 695.

Against this , is to bee reckoned what the Companie receiveth of the Ensurers , for losse sustained by Sea as well in going as comming , which ought to be valued as it cost the Company here , which taken at the highest will hardly amount vnto 150. which being deducted out of the aboue said 695. the Capital commeth to stand in with the Interest and assurance 5. Capitals , 45. per Cent. Now the Maior haue at severall times delivered to the Adventurers : 2. Capitals , viz.

Anno 1610 — 57. ½ 1615 — 42. ½ 1618 — 62. ½ 1620 — 37. ½ Sum-200

From which the Interest being reckoned to the yeare 1622. after 6¾ per Cent. Ann. with interest vpon interest which amounteth vnto — 117.

The rest of the Account or Adventure , prised in March 1622. taken at the highest is worth — 190

In Summe , the Capital with the profits from the beginning vnto this present which the Adventurers haue receiued , 5. Capitals . 7. per Cent. And the Capital commeth to stand in here , with the interest and assurance , as aboue appeareth , 5. Capitals and 45. per Cent. So as the Adventurers haue gained nothing neere the simple interest of 6¼ per Cent. per Ann. and ordinary assurance . By this may bee gathered what profits the Adventurers haue enioyed , and how thankefull they ought to be to the Maiors ,

Now as concerning the Governement , it is a thing certain that be it good or bad , the profits arise accordingly , for we dayly see and finde that by negligence all ill government , a great estate is soone brought to nought : and on the contrary through a good dilligent and provident governing , great gaines arise out of a small stocke or meanes : whereas during all this Patent , so little profit ariseth , though great gaine is ordinarily to be made in the East Indies , so as hereby may well be concluded that the same must be so , by reason of the directing or governing the same .

Now as concerning the well governing : First of all is required a good vnderstanding and experience , which I perswade swade my selfe hath beene and is in many of the Maiors without all doubt , but that is not enough , except there be care and diligence withall , but what care and diligence can be expected from them , who are so continually imployed in their publicke Offices and functions , besides their particuler affaires , that they can scarce once or twise in a weeke , spend a fewe houres in this waightie businesse , which indeede hath need of a constant and continuing sale according as the greatnesse and importancy thereof requireth .

For if a Marchant here in Towne , findeth so much to doe in his private affaires , that to doe the same well , hee hath very small time besides to spare : how much more time then doth so great businesse require ? when not onely heere within the Land , but also in the Indies , in so many farre remonte partes , so great in Trade is driven from Port to Port , and much more may be , were it well ordered : when vpon any advise comming thence , good regard is to be had , as also good information to be taken from any committie or other person comming thence , that so thereby good advise may likewise been sent backe from hence vpon sure ground , and to settle so good an order for redresse of ought that is amisse there , that the Trade may flourish , and that those places which the Company haue conquered there , may be to vs and our posteritite in all obedience without preiudice . How great and continuall a diligence this may require , and how little hath bin vsed , those that haue any vnderstanding may easily gather by the small profits , which haue bin made .

Further , is required in very Maior , that he by all meanes seeke to procure the common good of that which is committed to his charge , and not his particular : but how or wherein haue they hitherto fought the common good of the Company , so long as they take a libertie to sell the Companies goods vnto themselues , in which sale no doubt they seeke their own particular profit , and not the Companies . At sometimes one Maior buying the Companies goods of another Maior ; and at another time it happeneth quite contrary , viz. that he which was at first the buyer , is now become the seller to him that formerly was the seller himselfe : one may well coniecture how these things are thus carried , by such , who it may be are not so honest as they should be ; what hinderance hereby befalleth the Adventurers , and what profits to the Maiors , one may well coniecture by the small profits which the Adventurers haue made , and the great wealth which the Maiors haue attained vnto .

When as the Maiors haue bought great quantitie of the Companies goods for themselues , is to be imagined what kinde of advise they will send to the Indies concerning such goods as themselues haue bought , and whether their advise shall not ●end to their particular profits .

Further may well be iudged , in what maner the Maiors seeke to procure the profit of the Adventurers , who make it a busines to sell their adventure for long dayes of payment , yea , oft-times more themselues haue in the Companie , which is the cause that they may wish ill successe to the Company , to the end that they may buy it in , the better cheape against the time of payment befalleth , and so to make their profit out of the Companies losses : how much such Maiors doe affect that the Companie may prosper , may be imagined ?

And whether they haue not sometime set out great and vnnecessary Fleets ( for many of them haue quite sould at their adventures ) whereby they could not be able to deliver out any shares to the Adventurers : wherevnto notwithstanding , the Maiors are by the Patent inioyned , so often as 5 per centum , profits may be made . All which they doe to cause the adventure to fall in prise , to the end that they may buy it againe good cheape . But what hinderance hereby is befallen many Adventurers , yea , some vtterly vndone , is too apparant , and they ought to examine their consciences , how free they are , and cleane herein . For might one pervse their Bookes , no doubt thereby would be found , that many amongst them haue little or no adventure ) at all with the Company , and it would plainely appeare , that their provision or factorie concernes them nearer then the profit of the stooke they haue there to exspect , and therefore doe readily resolue to the setting foorth of great shipping or fleets , when as fewer and smaller would haue beene sufficient for Conquest , and fewer for trade from Port to Port : whereof that fleete which went through the straight of Magellane was one , which fleete alone did charge the Company with more then a Capital .

It is likewise the practise of these kinde of Maiors , ( knowing the choyce to be in their own powers ) to preferre their friends and kindred to the governement , and excluding those that are great Adventurers , take ofttimes such as are none , but such as when then stand in nomination to be ; doe then begin to buy conditionally so they are chosen , then their buying to stand : but if not , then the bargaine to be voyd : what good service the Company is to exspect by such nimbling may well bee coniectured . Besides they oft times preferre their friends , to be sent as Committies and other Offices to the Indies , although very vnfitt thereto , whereas it highly concerneth the Company , to haue both honest and fitt persons there , for hardly can it be imagined the great wrong which the Company haue sustained , thorow the having so basely vilde , & proudly insolent Committies in the Indies .

Further , what losse the Companie is put vnto , by the building of so great and costly Shippes ( each Chamber striving which shall make the greatest Ship , and all for great stowage , to cause the greater returne to be brought into their chamber , thereby to procure to themselues the greater factorie or provision ) cannot well be imagined : for as well might it be done with lesser , and Ships not so costly , and so the more stocke to bee imployed in Trade , or otherwise to free themselues of their interest money , which great Shipps , are partly vsed to carry wood and stone in the Indies , for the building of the Fort Iacatra , some being worne and spent there , so as indeed one might haue done as well betweene this and the Indies , with halfe as many great ships .