May it please your Lopps.
We having herewith returned the examinations which we have
taken according to your Lopps. order of the 14th of October
last upon the Complaint of the Adventurers to Canada wherein we
make bould to observe unto your Lopps. that James Ricroft named
in your Lopps. order (who was imployed as pylott and merchant
in his voyage complained of) had bene imployed in a former
voyage by ye Adventurers of Canada, and that (but by that
imployment) he had noe knowledge of that Coast; We likewise
finde by other circumstances that he was not ignorant that ye
Forte of Kebecke in those partes was taken and mayntained by ye
said Adventurers, the charge whereof is apparent they could not
undergoe but by the benefitt of their trade there; Wee likewise
finde that at his last arrival there notice was given him from
the said Adventurers that he ought not to trade there, to which
notwithstanding he would not conforme: And such notice is
proved by a letre subscribed by hymselfe which lre. we herewith
returne, But the said Ricroft utterly denieth thatt he
subscribed the said lettre although it were by two witnesses to
his face attested to us to be signed by himselfe, And further
it appeares unto us by ye examination of Capt. Vincent Harris
that the said Ricroft was not only an encourager of these
merchants to undertake that voyage, but his carriage there did
discourage the natives to trade with the Adventurers.
As for Baker the Mr. of the Eliz complained of and Eustace Man
(one of the owners and merchants of that shippe) albeit the
notoriousnes of the actions of the Adventurers to Canada doth
give a suspicion that they were not ignorant of his Majesties
pleasure for their sole trade into those partes, yet by their
examinations they deny any manner of notice of his Majesties
pleasure or other order for ye Adventurers sole trade.
And for Henry West mentioned in your Lopps. order it was
alleadged to us that he was sicke and could not come to be
examyned.
We have also perused an Order termed a Com[on] which we finde
to be made by the beforesaid H. West and Eustace Man as
Merchants unto ye said John Baker and James Ricroft purporting
their ymployment from ye port of London unto ye Coast of
Candia, which word Candia was delivered by Eustace Man &
Ricroft to be intended for Canada, The instrument of which
order wee herewith together alsoe with the examination and
letre aforesaid humbly present your Lordships, leving all the
same to ye Lordships wisdom.