Certaine Articles delivered to M. John Lok, by Sir William Gerard Knight, M. William Winter, M. Benjamin Gonson, M. Anthony Hickman, and M. Edward Castelin the 8 of September 1561, touching a voyage to Guinea.
A remembrance for you M. Lok at your comming to
the coast of Guinie.
FIRST, when God shal send you thither, to procure, as
you passe alongst the coast, to understand what rivers,
havens, or harboroughs there be; and to make your selfe
a plat thereof, setting those places which you shall thinke
materiall in your sayd plat, with their true elevations.
Also you shall learne what commodities doe belong to
the places where you shall touch, and what may be good
for them.
It is thought good, that having a fort upon the coast of
Mina
in the king of Habaans country, it would serve
to great purpose: wherfore you are especially sent to
consider where the fort might be best placed, and upon
what ground: wherein are to be noted these things
following.
1, That the ground so serve, that it joyne to the sea
on the one part, so as shippes and boats may come to lade
and unlade.
2. What molde of earth the ground is of.
3. What timber or wood may be had, and how it will
be caried.
4. What provision of victuals may be had in the countrey: and what kinde of our victuals will best serve to
continue.
5. The place must be naturally strong, or such as may
be made strong with a small charge, and afterwards kept
with a few men.
6. How water may be provided, if there be none to
be had in the ground where the fort shall stand, or neere
to it.
7. What helpe is to be had from the people of the
countrey, either for the building of it, or for the defence
thereof.
To moove the king of Haban a farre off, for the making
of a fort, and to note how he will like it; but use your
communication so, that although there might fall out
good cause for the doing of it, yet he do not understand
your meaning.
Search the countrey so farre as you may, both alongst
the coast, and into the land.
To learne what became of the marchants that were left
at Benin
.
The matters which shall be of importance to be noted
we nothing doubt that you will omit, wherefore we referre
the order of these affaires to your good discretion.
Also we pray you as occasion shall serve that you ayd
and helpe our factours, both with your counsell and otherwise; and thus God send you safely to returne.
William Gerrard, William Winter, Benjamin Gonson,
Anthony Hickman, Edward Castelin.
