that they declared themselves within Five Months after which no more should be received upon what Terms soever In this Space of time they gathered together a Fond or Stock of Six Millions and Six Hundred Thousand Livres mony of the Country which make Seaven Millions Nine Hundred and Twenty Thousand Livres of France and no Man since That has been taken anew into the Company at least without having bought the share of some of the First Interessed which they call BUYING OF AN ACTION There were made also diverse Rules for the Maintaining of Order and preserving the Interest of Each particular which were Explained in the Grant In the mean while the First Terme Expiring in March 1623. it was continued for One and Twenty Years longer and in 1643. renewed again for 27. Years in Consideration of a Million and Six Hundred Thousand Livres given to the State and they are now Soliciting to renew their Privilege again for a further Term. The first Sum of Six Millions and Six Hundred Thousand Livres was Employed upon the Equipping of a Fleet of Fourteen Sayle that set out in February 1603. and after that of Another of Thirteen that Departed in the December following Till then the Persons Interessed made no Benefit at all of their Adventure for being divided into so many Private Companies they were faine to lay out all their Gaines upon a Stronger Equipage But upon the Return of these Two Fleets the Profit was so great that in 1605. the Company got Fifteen for a Hundred and in 1606. Seventy five for a Hundred So that in this short time they wanted but Ten in the Hundred of Reimbursing themselves their Original Summe In this Interim the Company did not slacken at all in their Preparations and Provisions They Treated with the Indian Kings built Fortresses and every where enlarged their Conquests which vast expences notwithstanding it appeared in May 1613. that every man was Reimbursed his Principal and had over and above a hundred and sixty Profit As for example He that in 1602. put Foure Thousand Tranks into the Stock of the Company had Received in 1613. Ten thousand and Four hundred profit and yet his Original good in the Common-stock And this Gain has been so much Augmented since that time that there are few Years wherein they get lesse then 30. per Cent. In 1661. They gained 40. In 1662. there was no distribution at all by reason of Four ships lost which they have never heard of since beside the extraordinary Charge they were at for the Seige of Cochin but in 1663. they had 30. again per Cent. The Company at every Ten Yeares End makes a General Inventory of the whole Business and by That which was made in 1661. it was found to be in Possession of the Immense Wealth above-mentioned This Company has not only Enriched Particulars but the Advantages which the Body of the Re-Publique draws continually from it are almost inestimable In the First Place all Commodities that are brought from the Indies into the States Ports pay at Least Seaven in the Hundred and before they come into France are unladen in Holland where they pay all their Rights of IN and OUT before they come to us arising to Six per Cent. and One per Cent. more for the Duties of Convoy which Seaven per Cent. go clear to the Re-publique beside Two in the Hundred more for Factorage and the Charge of Merchandizes So that upon this Reckoning we pay Twelve per Cent. more for Indian Commodities then they would Cost us if we fetched them our Selves Whence it followes that our Negociants making the same Profit of these Merchandizes which the Holland Company does might be able to furnish us at Twelve in the Hundred better Cheap then Others because we should save the Duties that are now paid in Holland an Expence that every Year draws Vast Summs out of France where are Consumed at least a Third Part of what the Hollanders bring out of the Indies A Second Advantage which the States draw from this Company is that upon Every Renewing of their Grant it makes them a Considerable Present The Last as we have said already amounting to no lesse then Sixteen Hundred Thousand Livres In the Third Place it maintaines at least Fourscore Thousand Men the Greater Part whereof would otherwise be a Burthen to the State The Last and the most Important Consideration is that this Company in weakning the Commerce of the Portuguez who were a long time under the Obedience of his Catholique Majesty did also weaken the Spanish Monarchy their great Enemy and by that Means made their way to a Peace They Equipp every year for this Voyage Twelve fair Ships from Eight hundred to Fourteen hundred Tun which depart at several Seasons and every year precisely at the End of June there Return as many or thereabouts The Company and the States usually in the Month of May send out their Men of Warr to meet them Partly as a Convoy and to defend them against their Enemies and partly to relieve them with Fresh Men and other Necessaries as they have occasion The Principal Place which this Company has in the Indies is Called Batavia a Town that they have built in the Island of Java Major not far from Sumatra they have there their Magazins and Stores of all the Commodities which they bring into Europe from the several Countries of the Indies of Japan of China and of Other Kingdomes They have also Colombo in the Isle of Ceylon which they have lately taken from the Portuguez This Island furnishes the whole World with Cinamome In Fine they possesse diverse other Places even from the Gulph of Persia to the Extremity of China and they have Reckoned a good while since Seaven and Thirty Magazins and Twenty Considerable Forts which they had in the Indies For the Greater Advantage and Liberty of their Commerce they have their Agents about all the Kings of those Quarters as the King of Persia the Great Mogol the Kings of China Japan Cochinchine and diverse Others See now to what degree of Greatnesse this Company is Arrived a Society of Particular Merchants Low enough at First both in Fortune and every way Else but now Advanced not only beyond their Hopes but their very Pretences But there is not any thing which a Company of this Condition by Union Conduct and Courage may not accomplish This Truth being so clear and the same Advantages now offered us shall we not make use of them Or shall we rather acknowledge to the World that we want Unitie Addresse or Courage The Last is a Reproach which our very Enemies will never fasten upon us Nor with any Colour of Reason will it be pretended that we want Addresse For to speak in this Place only of Navigation It is certain that better Seamen cannot be desired then ours are and the Hollanders know That well enough who make use of the French more then of any other Nation and finde
Majesty dos every day I do not speak of his Universal Vigilance over all his Dominions but of the special care he takes for the Protecting of his People in a Forreign Trade They do not know I perceive that it costs the King at least Four Millions a Year to entertain a Liberty of Ordinary Commerce both in the East and Western Ocean And that it is upon this Accompt that his Majesty is now at the Charge of a Navy Royall to suppresse the Corsares of Algiers That it is for this very End that he Entertains another Squadron to defend our Merchants from the Pirates of Gallicia They are strangers doubtlesse to all these things without which it were not possible they should fall foule upon so grosse a Mistake Is it not known that his Majesty does all This for the support of a very Ordinary Traffique and can any man Imagine that he will doe lesse for the Maintenance of so much a greater and more Honourable Commerce No man can perswade himselfe that the King would refuse the same Countenance and Assistance to the Interest of a Company wherein the whole State is Concerned which at this very day his Majesty is pleased to allow in Favour of Particular Merchants We have seen in times of Warr what Peyns has been taken for the Providing of our Frontiers and a Battail fought sometimes onely to hinder the taking of a small Town or to secure a Passe upon a River Much more then will his Majesty provide for the safety of a Fleet that has the Prayers and Wishes of all France engaged in the Venture In a Word if Interest and Honour be the most Powerfull Motives of Humane Resolutions and the Two Poles upon which are turned the Affaires of Princes as well as of Private Persons there can be no Question but the King will Employ his Power upon all occasions to preserve the Company from danger For that it is his Majesties Interest so to do is clear not onely in regard of his Part in the Stock of the Company but by reason of the Infinite Number of Merchandizes and Merchants that this Traffique will draw into the Kingdome to the great Advantage of the Revenue of his Majesties Farmes and Customes So that a man may rationally compute that The Profit of this Commerce when it shall be once Established will be better to the King then the Two best Provinces in his Kingdome Nor is it lesse manifest that his Majesty is Engaged in Honour then in Interest since without dispute it is a point of Honour for a Prince not to suffer his People to be Crusht in a Designe undertaken by his own Allowance and Authority So that to ask if the King will vigorously maintain us both in Peace and War having so many Considerations to engage him to it would be but a kinde of senselesse and unmannerly Question If Necessity which many times forces great Actions from mean Persons has been able to produce those faire Resolutions which we admire in our Neighbours How much more shall the true Love of Glory and Justice operate upon the Soules of Princes The first are carried on by a kinde of Violence The other govern their Actions by Choice and Reason Those at the best are but wise enough to avoid mischieves but these are the Ordinary Instruments of our greatest Good Let us trouble our selves no further then about our Fleets since they are under the Care of One of the best Princes of the Universe and that Miraculous Power which subjects all other Powers to it self and attends him where ever he goes shall Influence our new Navigators and protect them both against Enemies and Storms Neither let it be thought that the Conquest which we shall make in his Name will be lesse his Majesties Care then his other Possessions or that he will ever endure to have his Lillies torn up where ever they shall have taken Root There is a Certain invisible Chain that Lincks together the severall Parts of the World though never so Remote when they belong to the same Master So that 't is not possible to shake the One without Violence to the Other It is then upon the Resolution and Power of his Majesty that we may Confidently repose for the Issue of this Enterprize which beginning upon a time when this Great Monarch is in Effect the Arbitrator of all Europe when all Princes make it their Businesse to preserve his Friendship and avoid his displeasure What Question is to be made but that the Reputation of his Greatnesse will carry Good Fortune and Successe to our Colonies Joyn your selves then my Masters Joyn your selves my Generous Countrymen in the pursuit of a Glorious Discovery which has onely been kept from you thus long by our past disorders A Discovery that shall lead you to Advantages not to be numbred and which shall yet grow in the Hands of your Posterity A Discovery in fine that shall carry the Fame and Terrour of Your Armes into those Quarters of the World where the French Nation it self was never heard of No more therefore of these Reproachfull Jealousies which are so unworthy of your ordinary Courage and Virtue but go on boldly under the Banner of the Invincible LEWIS and be assured that as the Awe and Reverence which his Glorious Name Imprints upon Other Nations leaves you Nothing to feare from Strangers So from Himself you are certain to receive all the Comforts of his Goodnesse Munificence and Protection Articles and Conditions Whereupon the Trading Merchants of this Kingdome do most humbly beseech his Majesty to grant them his Declaration and the Graces therein contained for the Establishment of a Company for the Commerce of the East Indies PARIS 1664. I. FIrst that his Majesties Subjects of what Quality or Condition soever shall be Taken into the Company for what Summes they please without Losse either of Nobility or Privilege his Majesty granting them in that Particular his Royal Dispensation Provided that under a Thousand Livres no Share shall be Admitted nor any Augmentations under Five Hundred for the Ease of Accompts Divisions and Sales of Actions A Third Part whereof shall be paid down presently and go to the Furnishing of the First Expedition and the Two other Thirds within Two years after by equal Portions under pain of losing what is already Advanced to any man that shall fail of paying in his full proportion within the said time the mony so forfeited remaining to the Benefit and Stock of the Company II. That all Strangers be they the Subjects of what Prince or State soever shall have free Admittance into the said Company and such of them as shall have Ten Thousand Livres in the Stock shall be reputed as Natives without any further need of Naturalizing by which means their Kindred though Strangers too shall have a right of Inheritance to what Estates they shall be possessed of in this Kingdome III. That no Part or Portion belonging to any
Particulars in the said Company of what Nation soever shall be either Seized by the King or Confiscated to his Profit even although they be the Subjects of some Prince or State in open Hostility against his Majesty IV. That the Directors of the said Company shall not be molested either in their Persons or Estates for or concerning the Affairs of the said Company nor shall the Estate of the said Company be liable either to be made over or Seized upon the Accompt of any debt due to his Majestie from any of the Particular Members thereof V. That such Officers as shall have 20000 Livres in the said Company shal be dispensed their Residence to which otherwise they are obliged by his Majesties Declaration of December last at the Treasury-Offices and other â—laces of their Establishment enjoying all their Rights Allowances and Fees as if they were Present VI. That all such as shall have to the sum of 6000 Livres in the said Company shall enjoy the Privilege of Burgers in the Towns where they Live unless Paris Bourdeaux and Bayonne in which Places they shall not acquire their Freedome unlesse they have the Interest of at least Ten Thousand Livres in the said Company VII That all such as shall be willing to enter into the said Company shall be obliged to declare themselves within Six Moneths to Commence from the Reading and Registring of the Declaration in the Parliament of Paris after which time no more shall be admitted And They that shall have furnished their Parts and declared themselves accordingly shall have liberty within Three Months after the Registring of the said Declaration to Nominate and Establish one Moyety of the Directors of Paris for the Chamber General of the said Company and the Rest shall be named within the aforesaid Term of Six Months VIII That there shall be established a Chamber of Direction-General of the Affairs of the said Company in the Town of Paris only to consist of One and Twenty Directors and no more Twelve whereof to be of Paris and the other Nine of the Provinces to be Named and Chosen That is the Twelve by the Persons Concerned in the Town of Paris and the other Nine by the Interessed Persons in the said Provinces every one in his Division for every Town or Province shall have a Right of Nomination which shall be Ordered by the Chamber of Direction-General after the settlement of it in proportion of the Stock that every Town shall have brought into the said Company or otherwise as shall be thought Convenient and for the future the Elections shall be always made after this manner IX In the mean while till the said Company shall be Established as aforesaid for the first time the said Nine Directors for the Provinces shall be chosen and named by the Interessed Parties in the said Towns and Provinces Respectively but Provided that it may not be drawn into Consequence for the time to come That is to say One from each of the Towns of Rouen Nantes St. Malo Rochelle Bourdeaux Marseilles Tours Lyons and Dunkerque or such other Towns of the Kingdome as shall have the most Considerable Interest in the Company And in case that any of the said Towns shall be found without some Interessed Person in it there shall be Two named out of such other Town as shall be Chosen by the Six Directors named for Paris And it shall be lawfull for the Parties Interessed in each of the said Towns respectively to name their Caissier for the Receiving of their Moneys and Remitting them to the Cassier of the Town of Paris who shall be named for the first time by the said Six Directors of Paris and so to continue till the Chambers General shall be Established X. That none shall be Capable of being Directors but Merchants Trading and without Offices except such of the Kings Secretaries as have dealt formerly in Commerce Onely it shall be lawfull to admit Two Burgers into the number of the Directors although they have never meddled with Traffique Provided that they be Persons that have no Offices and that no more be taken into the said Chamber upon any ground whatsoever the Company being perpetually to consist at the least of Three Fourths of Negotiating Merchants and with out Offices Neither shall any man have a Vote in the Election of the Directors unlesse he has at least Ten thousands Livres in the Company Nor be chosen a Director for Paris without Twenty thousand Livres at least nor for the Provinces under Ten thousand Livres all in the Interest of the said Company XI That it shall be lawfull for the Chamber of Direction General to constitute Chambers of Particular Direction in such Numbers and Places as they shall finde most agreeable to the Interest and Benefit of the said Company and likewise to Regulate the Number of the Directers of the said Particular Chambers XII That all the Accompts of the Chambers of Direction particular of the Provinces shall be sent from Six months to Six Moneths to the Chamber of Direction Generall at Paris where the Accompt-Books shall be View'd Examined and Stated and the Profits afterward divided by the said Chamber of Direction General as they shall think meet XIII That the said Chambers of Direction General and Particular shall name such Officers as shall be found necessary for keeping the Cash Books and Papers of Accompts for Buying and Selling for taking Care of all Provisions and Equipage paying of Wages and other ordinary Expences every man in his Proper place XIV That the First Directors shall continue in Power for the First Seven Years after which time there shall be Two Changed every Year at Paris and One in the Other Chambers and the First Second Third Fourth and Fifth Changes of those that go out shall be made by Lot And in Case of Death of any of the Directors within the First Seven Years the other Directors shall have Power to fill that Vacancy with a new Choice and it shall be permitted to Chuse the same Director again after six Years Respite from the Execution of his Office Nor shall it be lawfull for Father and Son or Son in Law nor for Brothers and Brothers in Law to be Directors at the same time and his Majesty shall be further supplicated to Confer upon the said Directors Certain Titles of Honour and Priviledges that may descend to their Posterity XV. That the Directors of the said Chambers Generall and Particular shall Reside by Turns each man his Month to begin with the Antientest in each of them severally XVI That the said Chamber of Generall Direction shall be Empowred to make Statutes and Rules for the Benefit and Advantage of the said Company which in Case of need shall be most humbly presented to his Majesty for the obteyning of his Royall Confirmation XVII That the said Chamber shall make a General Accompt every Six Years