Difference between revisions of "MRP: 5th April 1663, Letter from Thomas Thompson to Sir GO, Milkstreet"

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5th April 1663, Letter from Thomas Thompson to Sir GO, Milkstreet

BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX, ff. 100-101

Editorial history

29/05/09, CSG: Completed transcription
18/12/11, CSG: Page created

Abstract & context

The Rev. Thomas Thompson [alt. Thomson] was minister in Surat, who returned to England probably in early 1662, before GO arrived in Surat. He had gone out to Surat on the Eagle in XXXX on a salary of £100 per annum. He knew Christopher Oxinden, who he presumably buried, and who he refers to in his letter. Foster speculated in EFI 55-60, that the Latin inscription on Christopher Oxinden’s tomb came from the pen of the chaplain [I presume, but am not certain, that he is referring to.

Suggested links

To do

(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL

Transcription

This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX, ff. 100-101]

[f.100]

Hono:d S:r

I thinke my selfe happy y:t I am come safely to Eng:d wheare I left a Tyrannt & finde a King & him soo good y:t all good subjects must thinke them selves blessed in his restauration; But had I stayed untill yo:r arrivall there I should have thought my selfe happy though I had bine still in India for y:e Remembrance of your dead Relation there lyes my affection to your name, Buy y:e knowledge I had of yo:r worth, & y:e experience of yo:r goodnesse, & y:e Confidence I had of yo:r Constant Kindnesse as a three fould ?coard [Could just be “recvd”] would have bound mee to a Continuance in y:t place but England is my natural Countrey & India but y:e place of my Refuge till this Lands Tyranny was over past, I cannot therefore but thinke my selfe happy y:t I am here (for it was Love to y:e person not to the place y:t would have kept mee there) & wish you all happinesse y:t yo:r hart Can desire in y:y place. I hope you will have Content in y:e person, by whome I send this (M:r L’Escailler)^[1] who is sent your Minister hee is very much Comended by my Lord Richardson

[f.101]

With whome hee Lived, as I doubt not but S:r Geo: Smith hath intimated to you, by y:t acquaintance I have had w:th him w:ch is onely since hee made for this Imployement, I judge noo lesse for hee is á good nature, of a sober behaviour a competent scollar & not soo young as hee seemes to bee w:ch was y:e onely thing Objected against him. Now seeing S:r I was soo unhappy y:t I missed sending you these for I looked earnestly for you y:e yeare before, I wish there weare any service I could doo you heare for my aboade is in London in Milkstreet & noo man woald more readily embrace an oportunity of serving you than.

S:r
Your ffaythfull ffrend and
Humble servant
Tho:s Thompson

Notes

"…Wee have not only enterteyned Mr. Thomas Thomson (sic), a minister of the Word of God, to come unto you on the ship Eagle, to instruct and direct you in the knowledge and service of the Allmightie and ….[GOOGLE SNIPPET ENDS]" (source: p. p. 149, EFI 55-60

“…notified the grant of a passage to our late Minister, Mr. Thomas Thompson”, who was returning at his own request, and proved himself “a very able and honest preacher”. This letter reached the hands of the Company at the beginning of June, 1662” (source: p. 31, EFI 61-64)

[See p. 201, EFI 55-59 for speculation by William Foster: "The Latin inscription on Christopher’s monument came probably from the pen of the chaplain…"]

Possible primary sources

1. ↑ Dr. Escaliot was appointed Surat minister, and was present at the Surat factory during the siege of the city by the Mahratti army. He wrote a graphic letter from to Dr. Thomas Browne at his Norfolk residence, describing the events in Surat. See Letter of Dr. Escaliot, Surat to Dr. Browne, Norfolk, January 26th 1663/64, MS. Sloan. 1860, fol. 5, published in Simon Wilkin (ed.), The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, vol. 1: Containing Urn-burial, Christian Morals, Miscellananies, Correspondence, Etc. (London,1852), pp. 424-440