Two Ships Have Been Sent Out This Summer, One Of Which Is Of 700
Tons Burthen, And The Other Of 500.
There is a third in the port of
Lisbon of 450 tons; two others at Madeira, one of 350,
And the other of
230 tons; another is fitting out at Setubal carrying above 160 tons.
Besides these six, a caravel is to be added which lately came from the
island of Chio, all of which are entirely at the royal charges; and two
are to be fitted out by the king for certain merchants, one of 450 tons
and the other of 350. It is agreed between these merchants and the king,
that the king shall be at the sole expence of the voyage and payment of
the sailors, as in his service. That the merchants shall carry out as
much money as may suffice for all their purchases; and on the return of
the ships half of the goods shall belong to the king, and the merchants
shall be at liberty to sell the other half for their own behoof. It
appears evident to us that this mode of conducting business will be
greatly more to the benefit of the merchants than going entirely at their
own risk, as has been done hitherto; so that the king will probably find
abundance of people willing to trade to India on these conditions. We
have accordingly a share in these two ships; but of the event, God alone
can judge.
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