AGREEMENT OF PHILIPPE CHABOT, ADMIRAL OF FRANCE WITH CERTAIN
ADVENTURERS INCLUDING VERRAZZANO.
From the Fontette Collection, XXI, 770, fol. 60, in the Bibliotheque
Nationale in Paris. First printed by M. Marguy, and her corrected
according to the MS.
Nous, Philippe Chabot, baron d'Apremont, chevalier de l'ordre du
Roi, son gouverneur et lieutenant general de Bourgoingne, admiral de
France et de Bretaine.
Avons ce jourdhuy delibere que, pour le bien, prouffict et utilite
de la chose publieque du royaulme de France, mettre sur deux de nos
gallyons estant de present au Havre de Grace avec une nef
appartenant a Jehan Ango, de Dieppe, du port soixantedix tonneaulx
ou environ, por iceulx troys veseaulx, esquipper, vitailler et
convinyr, pour faire le voiaige des espiceryes aux Indies.--Dont
pour icelluy voiage faire avons accorde avec les personnes
cidessoubz nommes et signez en la maniere qui ensuict pour fournyr
lesd. trois navyres de marchandises, victailles et avance de
compaignons ainsi qu'il sera requis et necessaire.
Et pour ce faire avons conclud et delibere, avec iceulx, mectre et
employer jusqnes a la somme de vingt mil livres tour, c'est
assavoir, pour nous Admiral quatre mille livres tour, maistre
Guillaume Preudhomme, general de Normandye, deux mil livres tour;
Pierre Despinolles, mil livres tour; Jehan Ango; deux mil livres
tour; Jacques Boursier, pareille somme de deux mil livres tournoys,
messire Jehan de Varesam, principalle pilote, semblable somme de
deux mil livres tournoys.
Lesd. parties revenans ensemble a la somme de vingt mil livres
tournoys. Por icelle employer aux vitailles, marchandises et avance,
loyer de compagnons. Et nous Amyral et Ango prometons bailler lead.
gallyons et nef, bien et deuement radoubees et accoustrees, comme il
appartient a faire led voyaige, tant da calfadages, cables, ancres,
doubles appareilz, tous cordages, artilleries, pouldres, boullets,
et tout ce qui est requiz a telz navires pour faire ung tel et si
long voiaige que cestuy et rendre iceulx galyons et nefs prestz, et
apareillez a faire led. voiaige dedans deux moys de ce jourduy Par
ainsy que nous Admiral et Ango, prenderons au retour dud. voiaige,
pour le fret et noleage desd. gallyous et nef, le cart de toutes les
marchandises qui reviendront et seront rapportes par iceulx, sans
aucune chose payer.
Et pour le loyer dudict messire Jehan pillote, lequel s'est submis
et oblige de fournyr deux pillotes bons et suffisans pour conduire
les deux aultres navires, prendra pr son dict loyer et de ses deux
pillotes, le sixiesme de tout se qui reviendra de marchandises, led.
cart por nolliage, les frais et mises des marchandises et loyers
desa copaignons en prealable prins et leves avant que prendre led.
sixiesme.
Et se, par cas de fortune, aucuns d'iceulx gallyons on nef feussent
pdus aud. voiaige, ou que l'ung p quelque incovenient et les deux
aultres feissent leur voiaige, la marchandise qui reviendroit se
pteroit comme dessus et y ptiroit led. navire qui n'ayroit este
audict voyaige et les marchans, chacun au marc la livre, car tout va
a commun profit.
Et se aucun butin se faict a la mer sur les Mores, ou aultres
ennemys de la Foy et du Roy; monseigneur l'Amyral prendera en
prealable sur icelluy butin son xme, et le reste qui revenderoit
dud. butin se ptira comme l'autre marchandise, sanf quelque portion
d'icelluy butin, que ong baillera aux copagnons ainsi qu'il sera
avise.
Et fera mond. sr Lamyral expedier letres du Roy en patent pour avoir
license et conge faira led. voiaige, et que aucun empeschement ne
leur sera fet ou donne par aucune nation des aliez, amys ou
cofenderez du Roy nore d sr.
Pour le voiage de messire Joan.
[Translation.]
We, Philippe Chabot, Baron d'Apremont, Knight of the Ordre du Roi,
his Governor and Lieutenant-general of Burgundy, Admiral of France
and of Brittany,
Have this day determined for the good, advantage, and utility of the
public affairs of the Kingdom of France, to put two of our galleons,
at present at Havre de Grace, with one ship belonging to Jehan Ango
of Dieppe, of seventy tons burden or thereabouts, to equip, victual
and fit these three vessels, to make the voyage for spices to the
Indies. To make the aforesaid voyage we have agreed with the persons
hereinafter named and signed, in the manner following, to furnish
the said three vessels with goods, victuals, and advance money for
the crew, as shall be requisite and necessary.
And to do this we have concluded and determined with the aforesaid,
to put and employ as large a sum as twenty thousand pounds, Tours
currency, that is to say, for ourself, Admiral, four thousand
pounds, Tours; Master Guillaume Preudhomme, General of Normandy, two
thousand pounds, Tours; Pierre Despinolles, one thousand pounds,
Tours; Jehan Ango, two thousand pounds, Tours; Jacques Boursier, an
equal sum of two thousand pounds, Tours; Messire Jehan de Varesam,
Chief pilot, a like sum of two thousand pounds, Tours.
The said parts together amounting to the said sum of 20,000 pounds,
Tours, [Footnote: The sums here named do not make twenty thousand
pounds.--TRANSLATOR.] to be employed for provisions, merchandise,
and advance money to hire the crew. And we, Admiral and Ango,
promise to deliver the said galleons and ship well and properly
refitted and accoutred, as befits to make the said voyage, as well
as caulkings, cables, anchors, duplicate furniture, all cordage,
artillery, powder, shot, and all that is required by such vessels,
to make such a long voyage as this; and to have these galleons and
ship ready and prepared to make the said voyage within two months
from this day. Also, that we, Admiral and Ango, will take, on the
return from the said voyage, for the freight and freighting of the
said galleons and ship, the fourth part of all the merchandise which
shall return and shall be brought back by the aforesaid, without any
cost.
And for the hire of the said pilot, Messire Jehan, who has agreed
and bound himself to provide two good and competent pilots to steer
the other two vessels, he shall take for his hire and that of his
two pilots, the sixth of all the goods which shall be brought back;
the said fourth for freightage, expenses and disposing of the goods,
and the wages of the crew, being previously taken and levied, before
taking the said sixth.
And if, in case of accident, any of those galleons or ship should be
lost on the said voyage, or if one by any mischance does not, and
the other two do make their voyage, the merchandise which should he
brought back, would be divided as above, and the said vessel which
might not have been on the said voyage shall share, and the
merchants each one a mark to the pound, for all goes to the common
profit.
And if any booty be taken at sea, from the Moors or others enemies
of the faith and the King, my Lord; the Admiral, shall take
previously, of the aforesaid booty, his tenth; and the balance which
would accrue from the said booty, shall be divided like the other
goods, except some portion of that booty, which shall be given to
the crew as shall be advised.
And my aforesaid Admiral shall have letters-patent from the king
expedited, in order to have permission and leave to make the said
voyage; and no obstruction shall be made or given to these letters,
by any allies, friend, or confederate of the king, our said Lord.
For the voyage of Sir Joan.