Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

95 Sir William Norris

He went out as Ambassador to the Great Mogul in Harwich, with Anglesea, Hastings, Lizard. On June 14 (Old Style*) he wrote as in Factory Records, Miscellaneous, vols. 19, 20, here transcribed from xerographs. Touched at Maio March 7-10, São Tiago March 10-22. Equator April 9. May 19 fleet dispersed by storm, Harwich now alone: ‘wee shipped a Sea in the great* Cabbin, which carryed away the Bulkhead of the State Room, but did little other damage, except what was to my selfe, which was not much neither.’ May 27 rejoined by Anglesea, May 30 by Hastings and Lizard.

On the 5th of June [Old Style*] in the Evening Wee made the Table Land of the Cape, but (night coming on) were forced to tack, and stand off again....

The next day being the 6th [dr 16/6] instant, about 5 in the Afternoon, Wee came to an Anchor here, with the Anglesey and hastings, but the Wind being Northerly, and the Lizard pretty far to Leeward, She could not fetch in. and the Wind having ever since continued in the same quarter, Wee believe She is forced about the Cape.... Wee found here the Sceptre, one of the Old Companyes Shipps which came in the same day, and five Dutch Shipps whereof 4 outward [?] and 1 homeward bound [dr 19/5].

[p. 454]

On the 7th in the morning, Mynheer Adrian Vanderstell the Governour of this place, saluted me with 7 Gunns, & the Commadore answered him with the same Number, which was severall times repeated on both sides, this was a Civility never shown to any before the ffrench Embassadour to Siam, who touched here in the Year 87 [item 63], having saluted the place first.

On the 9th I came ashore, where I find every thing very good, but dear, and the place farr exceeding any Descrition I have seen of it. The Governour has treated me with all imaginable Civility. Wee shall stay here to gett Water and other Necessaryes, & then as soon as Wind and Weather will prmitt, shall proceed for India.

.....

The Governour has been soe kind to send me an Account of the English Shipps that have lately touched here, of which the following is a Coppy. [Includes the ships of items 91 to 94, dr 19/3 and 10/4, plus Resolution 31/3 to 8/4, Duke of Gloucester 5/5 to 30/5, and ‘Singelde as 'tis writ by the D. Sy’ 13/5 to 19/5, all three homeward.]

Which being all that has occurred worth your notice since my last, I remaine [etc.]

P.S. June 16th O.S. [Old Style*]. This day [dr 26/6] the Lizard came to an Anchor in the Bay, having met with a hard Northerly Wind....

June 19th. Yesterday the Bedford belonging to the Old Company [item 96, dr 28/6] came to an Anchor here. I designe to goe on board to Morrow in order to sayle.

[Copy to the Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool.]

Both sent in a packett directed to the Secretary of State, delivered to the Govr of the Cape on Tuesday the 20th June, to be sent by a Dutch Merchant Shipp then ready to sayle for Holland [Sirjansland].

[By the dr he sailed on July 2.]