Description | The title page states that the paper is the log Captain William Minors kept on four voyages between England and the Bantam Presidency established by the East-India Company [Banten, Java, Indonesia] between 1641 and 1651.
The first section is a list of all captains and ships in the Honorable English East India Company since it began trading in 1600. The second section is a list of William Minors' rules and conditions for ships and sailors under his command; this is dated 3 May 1647 and was written aboard the 'Royal Mary'. The third section is set of 'articles and instructions for our better keeping company at sea agreed upon by us whose names are here subscribed.' These instructions appear to relate to convoy sailing; included are five illustrations of patterns of lights to be shown. The fourth section is a set of notes and directions on keeping merchants' accounts in the Italian manner by way of debitors and creditors - in other words double-entry bookkeeping. The fifth section is Minors' log of his first voyage from London to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia] and back, in 1641 - 1642. The sixth section is Minors' log of his second voyage from London to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia] and back, in 1642 - 1644. The seventh section is Minors' log of his third voyage from London to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia]and back, in 1644 - 1646. The eight section is Minors' log of his fourth voyage from London to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia] and back, in 1647 - 1648. The ninth section is Minors' log of his tenth voyage from London to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia]and back, in 1650 - . This log incorporates a similar set of articles and instructions on convoy sailing to that in the third section. Five illustrations of patterns of lights are included. This section clearly states that it is Minors' tenth voyage, even though context suggests it is his fifth.
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