DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57079#0160
144 THE EARLY HISTORY OF
they had been at pains to build strong ships
and to man them well both with sailors and
ammunition. Besides which, they had or-
dered all their ships to sail in sseets so that
they might the better be able to defend
themselves against pirates if they met them.6
The levy on the company for fighting the
pirates was unpopular, and if the company
subscribed anything it was because it had to.
In 1619 James had obtained a grant from
the trading companies for 2 years for this pur-
pose, and when the period was ended he
wished to continue the shipping against the
pirates for 3 months longer. Therefore it
became necessary to obtain a further grant
for this extra period, short though it was. A
meeting of the company was called 7 to agree
to another subscription, but there was not a
sufficient attendance to proceed with the
business. It was feared that unless some
6 This order was very often given, e.g. cf. Min.
March 28, 1622, where it is stated that a special mes-
senger was sent to the ships at Leghorn and Messina,
ordering them, if they had not already contracted for
another voyage, to sail for Zant and accompany the
ships there on their homeward journey.
7 Min. May 2, 1621.
they had been at pains to build strong ships
and to man them well both with sailors and
ammunition. Besides which, they had or-
dered all their ships to sail in sseets so that
they might the better be able to defend
themselves against pirates if they met them.6
The levy on the company for fighting the
pirates was unpopular, and if the company
subscribed anything it was because it had to.
In 1619 James had obtained a grant from
the trading companies for 2 years for this pur-
pose, and when the period was ended he
wished to continue the shipping against the
pirates for 3 months longer. Therefore it
became necessary to obtain a further grant
for this extra period, short though it was. A
meeting of the company was called 7 to agree
to another subscription, but there was not a
sufficient attendance to proceed with the
business. It was feared that unless some
6 This order was very often given, e.g. cf. Min.
March 28, 1622, where it is stated that a special mes-
senger was sent to the ships at Leghorn and Messina,
ordering them, if they had not already contracted for
another voyage, to sail for Zant and accompany the
ships there on their homeward journey.
7 Min. May 2, 1621.