depiction of ship 
A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL THE GOVERNORS' AND ASSISTANTS OF THE EAST INDIAN MERCHANTS IN LONDON: CONTAINING THE ESTATE OF THE EAST INDIAN: FLEET, WITH THE NAMES OF THE CHIEF MEN OF NOTE DEAD IN THE VOYAGE  
AT LONDON Imprinted for Thomas Thorpe, and are to be sold by William Aspley.  
1603.   

A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE RIGHT worshipful the Governors and Assistants of the East Indian Merchants in London; containing the estate of the East Indian Fleet, with the names of the chief men of note dead in the Voyage.  
RIght Worshipful my duty remembered. It may please you to understand, that we weighed Anchor the 20. of April 1601. and set sail out of Torbaye by Dartmouthe.  
The 21. of june following, being in the height of three degrees to the Northwards of the line, we took a ship of Vianna bound for Brasill, of the burden of 130. tun, her lading was Wine, Oil and Meal, which hath stood us in great steed in this our voyage: five or six days after we turned her off after we had pillaged her as we thought good.  
The 20. day of july we turned away the gift being in the height of 19 degrees to the Southward of the Line, the 24. day we came under the Tropic of Capricorn.  
The 19 day of September we came to Anchor at Saldaiva, being in very great distress by reason of the scurvy disease then raging among us. The Ascension and Susan's company were scarce able to let fall their Anchors without the help of other ships, there we stayed and refreshed our men with fresh victuals, as Beef and Mutton in great abundance which cost us little or nothing, there we stayed about seven weeks, and had stayed there longer if the inhabitants had continued to bring us fresh victuals, so we departed thence the 9 of October.  
The 29. of December we came to Anchor in the bay of Antoga, here we trucked with the inhabitants for Rice, Lemen and Plantaines & such like fruit, we set up one of our Pinnaces: here also we lost diverse of our men which died of the Filx by reason of the great heat, and feeding of the Plantaines and Lemen which they did devour immoderately.  
This Bay is the Inland of Saint Laurence and standeth in the height of sixteen degrees.  
The 4. day of March we departed thence in the evening, and the first day of june 1602. we descried the land Sumatra.  
The 3. day we Anchored in the Road of Achin in seven fathom water. To make any large discourse of matters which passed whilst we lay in the Road of Achin I omit, because time will not permit: But in few words you shall understand, that here we found little Pepper, not sufficient to load the Ascension, having in her little above eight score tons, we could not I think in all the East India's have come to a worse place for loading.  
The 30. of july the General sent away the Susan to Priaman to seek her loading, being an Island which lieth towards the southwards eight score leagues, a little distance from Sumatra, and about 20. days before our coming to Achin, the little Pinnace came from her and certified our general she was almost loaden, that we hope she will not be long after us.  
The 11. of September we departed out of the road of Achin for the straits of Mallaca to seek purchase: The Red Dragon, the Ascension, the Hector and a Fleming which came into the Road os Achin but 4. days before.  
The 3. of October being Sunday about five of the clock in the afternoon we saw a sail and gave her chase, about nine of the clock we fetched her up and hailed her, and found her to be a Ship come from Goa and bound for Mallaca laden with Portugeses goods, as Pintadoes, Calicottes and other stuffs great store, a great part of her loading was Rice and victuals, and in her about seven or eight hundred persons men women and children, we had out of her 958. Fardils: and divers chests with other things as Canistees: we were forced from her by force of weather being put from our Anchors.  
The 25. day we Anchored in the road of Achin.  
The 11. day of November being Thursday we weighed our Anchors and set sail from Achin, viz. the Dragon, the Hector, and a little Pinnace, and the Ascension, they did keep us company till the next day being bound for Priaman unto the Susan, and so from thence they were purposed to go for Bantam, God grant they may get thither in safety, for than it is not to be doubted they shall get their full lading of Pepper according to their desires, as shall appear unto you hereafter: So we leaving them the day above said, departed for England, to the great rejoicing of us all that were to go home into out Country after so tedious a pilgrimage.  
The 3. day of February about 10. of the clock afore noon, we had sight of the Cape Bona esperanse a Frenchman which we left in the road of Achin being in our company, which came out a day after us, who together had determined to go for Saldavia if two Fleming's who came then into our company had not altered our determination, for after we had hailed them, we understood they were unwilling to put in for that place, but to go for Saint Helena, so we stood along with them, and altogether arrived at Saint Helena.  
The 21. day of the same month, the Ascension and the Frenchman called the Creset of Saint Mallows, the two Dutchmen, the Admiral was called the Amsterdam about the burden of 300. Last, and the other called the Tergow, of the bigness of the Ascension: which ship hath been almost thirty three months from home, and as they told us laden at Petavia, most of her lading being Pepper, and in their way homeward they touched at Banton, the people of Banton were glad when they came thither because they thought they would have laden Pepper, having great store lying upon their hands and being cheaper than ours is.  
The general of the Flemings whose name is jacob Cornelius Van Neskes told us that there is Pepper enough to lad four or five Ships, so that if the Dragon came there in any time convenient it is not to be doubted but they are upon the way homewards full laden with Pepper, etc.  
The Frenchmen have determined suddenly to leave our company to departed homewards, which hath made me to trouble you with this discourse, although not so large as willingly I would it were, for that time will not permit me to do otherwise, hoping that it will not be any thing displeasing unto you, having as I think not before this heard any certainty of us since our departure out of England being very willing it should come to your hands before you hear of us any more, the better to prepare your minds for the setting forth of a new voyage. We shall be ready to depart from hence the fifteenth day of this month of March, GOD send us home in safety.  

The names of the chief men of note which are dead in the Voyage.  
THere was 182. men which were dead out of our Fleet before we parted from our General, three of our men dead since. Men of note which are dead, are these: William Leake Purser of this Ship, George Parson's Purser of the Hector, Master Casell, Master Horton who married Alderman Wattes his daughter, which four died before we came to Saldavia.  
Brad●ncke Master of the Dragon, Master Pullion our Preacher, Master Winter masters mate, Master Napper Master of the Hector, these four died at Antogill.  
Master Brand Captain of the Ascension, going a shore in his Boat to the burial of Master Winter, very unfortunately by a shot that was made by the Gunner of the Admiral, was slain, with another called john Parker, who steered the Boate.  
The 27. of February being Saturday, Master Haward Captain of the Susan died in the Road of Achin, Master straddling, Master Winchcomb, john Island, james Chamley, died in the Road of Achin, Master Robert Pope in the straits of Mallaca, Master Thomas Saltin in the Road of Achin.   

Thus being enforced to cut short, I cease for this present, praying for your prosperities in all your intended enterprises, according to your disires.   
Far you well, from aboard the Ascension at S. Helena, the 9 of March, 1602.