East India Company, 1647

Scope and Content

Papers presented to the House of Lords concerning the East India Company's status as a Joint Stock Company, Feb 1647, comprising a paper presented by the Company in defence of their trading as a Joint Stck Company, and a copy of the former endorsed by Alderman [John] Fowkes beginning 'Sixe arguments...to justify the pursuance of the trade to th'east Indies by one Joint Stock Onely'.

Administrative / Biographical History

The East India Company (formally called the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies (1600-1708) and the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies (1708-1873)), was an English company formed for the exploitation of the spice trade in East and Southeast Asia and India. It was incorporated by Royal Charter in December 1600.

Arrangement

Single item.

Access Information

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Acquisition Information

Bought from Sotheby's in 1947.

Other Finding Aids

Collection level description

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

5 leaves

Archivist's Note

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Separated Material

Further material relating to the East India Company is held at the British Library (Oriental and India Office Collections and Manuscript Collections); the Public Record Office, Kew; The Guildhall Library, London; All Souls College, Oxford University; Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archives; the Bodleian Library, Oxford University; and Exeter University Library.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Custodial History

The manuscript was originally in the hands of John Browne, Clerk of the Parliaments from 1638 to 1649 and 1660 to 1691. It later formed part of the collection of Alfred Thomas Townshend Wyatt-Edgell, afterwards Verney-Cave, 5th Baron Braye (d 1928).

Related Material

Other University of London manuscripts relating to the East India Company include MS 712, 731 and 938.

Corporate Names