148
Ibid., 309, the balance of the company's books on September 4, 1663.
149
These figures are arrived at by a careful examination of the various sums paid to Thomas Holder, the treasurer. As it is not always possible to be sure that the payments were made for stock, too much dependence cannot be put in the figures, especially when the sum arrived at by adding the items which appear to be owing the company for stock in the balance of September 4, 1663, amount to £52,000. This is of course several thousand pounds more than the sum arrived at by the former computation, but here again it is not possible to estimate exactly the money owing the company for stock and for other things.
150
This number is arrived at by a careful perusal of the first book kept by the company, number 309. Sometime in 1664 the company submitted a petition to the king in which it speaks of having sent over forty ships to the coast during the previous year and of supplying them with cargoes amounting to more than £160,000. C.O. (Colonial Office) 1: 17, f. 255, petition of the Royal Adventurers to (the king, 1664).
151
C. S. P., Col. (Calendar of State Papers, Colonial, America and West Indies), 1661-1668, p. 175, warrant to officers of the king's mint, December 24, 1663. Another evidence of special favor was a grant made by the king in 1664 giving the Royal Company the sole privilege of holding lotteries in the king's dominions for three years. The company does not seem to have used it. C. S. P., Dom. (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic), 1666-1667, pp. 531, 532, Blanquefort and Hamilton to the king, February 25, 1667.
152
In the third subscription the king's share was £5,200; in the fourth, £2,000. A. C. R., 309, June 25, August 25, 1663. The king's subscription with that of the queen for £400 seem never to have been paid, although a warrant was issued to the Lord High Treasurer, June 27, 1663, to pay the amount from the customs receipts.
153
Upon this date, book number 309 was balanced and the items carried to another volume, which has been lost. In March, 1664, the resolutions of the general court and the court of assistants begin in number 75 of the company's books. While it is fortunate that these resolutions for the remaining history of this company have been preserved, they do not furnish adequate information regarding the company's financial condition at various times.
154
C. O. 1: 17, f. 255, petition of the Royal Adventurers to (the king, March, 1664).
155
A. C. R., 75: 7, 8, orders of the general court, May 10, 20, 1664.
156
C. S. P., Dom., 1664-1665, p. 7, Robert Lye to Williamson, September 13, 1664.
157
A. C. R., 75: 21, 22.
158
The total of the stock is shown by adding the five subscriptions:
159
S. P., Dom. (State Papers, Domestic), Charles II, 110, f. 18; C. O. 1: 19, ff. 7, 8.
160
The financial status of the company at this time was as follows:
161
A. C. R., 75: 37, John Berkley and others to –, November 4, 1665.
162
S. P., Dom., Charles II, 186: 1.
163
A. C. R., 75: 37, Berkley and others to –, November 4, 1665.
164
On April 6, 1666, the king, in response to a petition from the Royal Adventurers, granted to the company a ship called the "Golden Lyon" which had been captured from the Dutch by Sir Robert Holmes in 1664. C. S. P., Col., 1661-1668, p. 370, the king to duke of York, March 28, 1666.
165
A. C. R., 75: 40.
166
Ibid., 75: 52.
167
Ibid., 75: 57. A part of the debts had been incurred on the common seal of the company and part on the personal security of the committee of seven.
168
A. C. R., 75: 56, 58. An attempt was made to induce the king to pay his subscription. On the other hand, the company owed the king a considerable sum for the ships which it had used from time to time. S. P., Dom., Charles II, 199: 14.
169
A. C. R., 75: 58.
170
Ibid., 75: 59.
171
Ibid., 75: 70.
172
Ibid., 75: 77.