Page 78 - INDIANNAVYV1

CHAPTER II.
1623—98.
Proposals re£;arding the Occupatiou of Bombay—Position of the Company at
Surat and in the Persian Gulf—Courten's Association—Eflect of the War with
Holland on the Company's affairs—Bombay, its cession to the King, and
subsequent acquisition by the Company—Gallant Defence of the Town and Fac-
tory of Surat by the Marine— Privileges granted to the Company by the
Mogul Government—Development of the Surat Marine and Formation of the
Bombay portion of the Service—Their Defence of the Surat Factory against the
Mahrattas—Threatened Attack on Bombay by the Dutch—The Mogul and
Mahratta fleets in Bombay Harbour—Reduction of the Bombay Marine— Gal-
lant Actions fought by the Service— Rebellion at Bombay—Aggressive Conduct
of the Company against tlie Mogul—Heavy Losses inciu'red by them during
the War with France—English Pirates on the Coast of India—Affau's at
Surat.
IN 1624 the Company petitioned the King for power to
authorise their commanders and agents abroad to try their
servants and ships' crews by common and martial law, which
was granted b}^ His Majesty ;^ and, on the 6th of December, in
the same year, an additional order was issued, authorising them
to build forts in the East Indies for the security of their trade.
In 1625 James I. was succeeded by his son, the unfortunate
Charles, and, two years later, Shah Jehan came to the throne in
succession to his father, Jehangire. At this time the affairs of
the Company Avere in a state of depression ; their factories at
Ahmedabad and Broach were closed in consequence of the
anarch}^ prevailing after the death of the late Mogul Emperor,
while at home the .£100 shares were selling at ,£80. The
Company's trade in the Persian Gulf, also, was not prosperous,
owing to the caprice and extortion of the Persian authorities,
while their agents in the Eastern islands, thwarted by the Dutch,
had abandoned both Bantam and Jacatra, (now known asBatavia,
where their rivals had established their chief seat of government)
* It appears, however, that before the issue of this order, the Company were
invested with legal powers for the punishment of criminals, for we find that in
the year 1616, " a formal trial was held, and sentence of death passed against one
Gregory Lelhngtou, who was charged with murdering Henry Barton iu Sm-at.
The Court assembled on boai'd the ship ' Charles' at Swally. The prisoner, having
confessed his guilt, was sentenced to be taken ashore the next day, and there
shot to death by the musketeers of the guard."