Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/275

 Chap. I.] SECOND VOYAGE TO THE EAST. 211

to the Hector, which had hitherto kept by him, to continue her voyage and a.d. leos.

leave him to his fate. It must be confessed, that in taking this step he dis- played singular resolution and devotedness. At the time when he gave what voyage he believed to be his final orders to the captain of tlie Hector, he hastily ad- dressed a letter to his employers in the following terms: —

" Right Worshipful, — What hath passed in this voyage, and what trades I have settled for tliis Company, and what other events have befallen us, you shall understand by the bearers hereof, to whom (as occasion hath happened) I must refer you. 1 will strive with all diligence to save my ship and her goods, as you may perceive by the com"se 1 take in venturing my own life, and those that are with me. 1 cannot tell where you should look for me, if you send out any pinnace to seek me, because I live at the devotion of the winds and seas. And thus fare you well ; desiring God to send us a merry meeting in this world, if it be his good will and plejvsure. — Your loving Friend,

"James Lancaster."

The captain of the Hector^ unwilling to leave his commander in de.sperate circumstances, still managed to keep him in sight; and ultimately, after redoubling the Cape of Good Hope during the storm without seeing it, both vessels readied St. Helena. Three months after, on the 11th of September, 1603, they cast anchor in the Downs. The Ascension and Susan had pre- viously an-ived ; and thus, though numbers of the crews had perished, all the vessels and their cargoes returned safe.

Both as a first experiment under the charter, and in a pecuniary view, the successful

result

voyage was eminently successful. Two factories at important stations had been established imder the most favourable circumstances; and the clear profits, estimated at ninety-five per cent., were nearly as large as the whole capital adventured. It ought to be observed, however, that these profits cannot pro- perly be considered mercantile, as a large portion of them had been obtained, not by legitimate trading, but in the course of a predatory cruise.

Before Lancaster returned Queen Elizabeth had paid the debt of nature ; but the deep interest which she took in the proceedings of the Company had previously been manifested by a letter, in which she remonstrated with them for having allowed a second year to pass without entering into a new subscrip- tion ; and plainly hinted, that " in not following up the business in the manner the Dutch did, it seemed as if little regard was entertained either for her majesty's honour, or the lionom- of the country." Strange to say, the remon- strance proved unavailing, and no preparations were made for a second voyage tiU the success of the firet was actually ascertained.

In the second voyage the same vessels were employed as in the first, but secon.i the commands were different — Captain Henry Middleton sailing in the Red Draf/on ns admiral, and Captjiin Sufflet in the Hector as vice-admiral. The subscription, which appears to have been mainly advanced by the same parties Vol. I. 31