ll colours, 80 pieces of Devonshire
kersies, and 100 pieces of Norwich stuffs, with smaller articles,
intended as presents for the officers at the ports where it was meant to
open their trade. Captain John Davis, who appears to have gone as chief
pilot, was to have L100 as wages for the voyage, with L200 on credit for
an adventure; and, as an incitement to activity and zeal, if the profit
of the voyage yielded _two for one_, he was to receive a gratuity of
L500; if _three for one_, L1000; if _four for one_, L1500; and if _five
for one_, L2000.[87] Thirty-six factors or supercargoes were directed to
be employed for the voyage: _Three_ of the _first_ class, who seem to
have been denominated _cape merchants_, were to have each L100 for
equipment, and L200 for an adventure; _four_ factors of the _second_
class at L50 each for equipment, and L100 for an adventure; _four_ of
the _third_ class, with L30 each for equipment, and L50 for adventure;
and _four_ of the _fourth_ class, with L20 each for equipment, and L40
for adventure.[88] They were to give security for their fidelity, and to
abstain from _private trade_; the _first_ class under penalties of L500
the second of 500 marks, the _third_ at L200 and the _fourth_ of L100
each.[89] These only exhaust fifteen of the thirty-six, and we are
unable to account for the remaining twenty-one ordered to be nominated.

[Footnote 85: Purch. Pilgr. I. 147. Astl. I. 262.]

[Footnote 86: Ann. of the H.E.I. Co. I. 129.]

[Footnote 87: Id. I. 130.]

[Footnote 88: Ann. of the H.E.I. Co. I. 131.]

[Footnote 89: Id. I. 133.]

In the Annals of the Company,[90] we are told that the funds provided
for this first voyage amounted to L68,373, of which L39,771 were
expended in the purchase and equipment of the ships, L28,742 being
embarked in bullion, and L6,860 in goods. But the aggregate of these
sums amounts to L77,373; so that the historiographer appears to have
fallen into some error, either in the particulars or the sum total. We
are not informed of the particular success of this first voyage; only
that the conjunct profits of it and of the second amounted to L95 per
cent. upon the capitals employed in both, clear of all charges.[91]

[Footnote 90: Id. I.146.]

[Footnote 91: Ann. of the H.E.I. Co. I. 153.]

We may state here from the Annals of the Company, that the profits of
the _third_ and _fifth_ voyage combined amounted to L234 per cent. Of
the _fourth_ voyage to a total loss, a