The Voyages of Sir James Lancaster to the East Indies with Abstracts of Journals of Voyages to the East Indies During the Seventeenth Century, Preserved in the India Office and the Voyage of Captain John Knight (1606) to Seek the North-West Passage
Contents: Introduction. 1. Narrative of the first voyage of Sir James Lancaster/Lieutenant Edmund Barker, . 2. Narrative of the first voyage of Sir James Lancaster/Henry May. 3. The voyage of Captain James Lancaster to Pernambuco. 4. The first voyage made to East India by Master James Lancaster (now Knight) for the Merchants of London, Anno 1600. Abstracts: 1. The voyage of Captains Keelinge and Hawkins--I. 2. The voyage of Captains Keelinge and Hawkins--II. 3. The voyage of Captains Keelinge and Hawkins--III. 4. The voyage of Captain Sharpeigh--I. 5. The voyage of Captain Sharpeigh--II. 6. The sixth voyage set forth by the East India Company : instructions to the factors. 7. Commission to Sir Henry Middleton for the sixth voyage. 8. The second voyage of Sir Henry Middleton, being the sixth set forth by the East India Company. 9. Journal of the sixth voyage, by Thomas Love. 10. Journal of the sixth voyage , kept by Nicholas Downton (1610-1613). 11. Journal of Ralph Crosse, Purser of the Hoseander in the tenth voyage. 12. A calendar of the ships' journals preserved in the India Office (written within the seventeeth century). 13. Journal of the voyage of John Knight to seek the north-west passage, 1606. 14. A list of ships of the East India Company (employed during the seventeenth century). Index.
"In the present volume are described the voyages of James Lancaster followed by a calendar of all the manuscript journals of voyages during the seventeenth century present in the India Office during the 1870s. Abstracts of few of the most interesting voyages are given in considerable detail.
"The narratives on the voyages of James Lancaster are based on the collections of Hakluyt and Purchas. Lancaster was one of the leading seamen of his times, and he commanded the first two voyages to the East Indies (1591, 1594). He was the founder of English trade with the East Indies which led to the foundation of the British Empire of India. He afterwards served as a Director of the East India Company in London, where his great experience was invaluable in preparing subsequent ventures, and in the general conduct of the Company's affairs." (jacket)
[Sir Clements Robert Markham was the President of Royal Geographical Society (1894-1900), and also of the Hakluyt Society. He is famous for introducing Cinchona trees from Peru into British India. His published works include Memoirs of the Indian Surveys, History of Persia, History of the Abyssinian Expedition, Missions to Tibet and Travels in Peru and India.]
