The 1601 East India Company Voyage was the first ever voyage by the newly formed English East India Company (EIC) and took place between February 1601 to August 1603 during the latter stage of the Anglo-Spanish War.
The EIC had been established in 1600 with approval from Queen Elizabeth I, and a fleet of four ships was organised and led by veteran explorer James Lancaster. The voyage hoped to break the Spanish-Portuguese domination in the lucrative spice trade. The fleet set sail from England in February 1601 entering the Indian Ocean and East Indies the following year. The fleet visited Aceh, and Lancaster struck up a good relationship with the Aceh Sultanate, but the price of pepper and spice was too high. Looking elsewhere, a Portuguese carrack was captured with the help of a small Dutch squadron in the Straits of Malacca after a short fight. From the valuable plunder taken, the EIC was able to establish a factory at Banten on Java adding to the haul of goods acquired. Another smaller factory was set up on the small island of Run in the Spice Islands.
Having secured the goods the fleet sailed on the return journey back to England. After nearly succumbing to storms and disease on the way, the fleet managed to make it back in September 1603 and Lancaster was knighted by the new King James I. The voyage was a huge success and eventually received a healthy profit, in addition the EIC had successfully breached the Spanish-Portuguese duopoly, allowing for further successful voyages. The establishment of the factories was instrumental for the birth the British Empire.
Background
The English became galvanized in expeditions to explore the New World following Francis Drake's circumnavigation of the world between 1577 and 1580, and after the Spanish Armada's defeat in 1588. The captured Spanish and Portuguese ships, with their rutters and cargoes enabled English voyagers to learn more about the secret trade routes around the globe in search of riches.
By the 1590s the war with Spain and Portugal was at a deadlock, in addition trade in luxury goods, particularly spices had slowed and prices soared, and there was a need to break into the market. Privateering although fruitful at times, was not enough. With demand growing Queen Elizabeth I gave permission for a fleet led by James Lancaster and financed by the Levant Company to sail to the Indian Ocean and the East Indies to break the duopoly of the dominant Spanish-Portuguese Mare clausum in the lucrative spice trade. This part of the world had been apportioned to Portugal under the Treaty of Tordesillas. The first voyage left in 1591 and managed to reach India the following year. Having sailed around Cape Comorin to the Malay Peninsula, Lancaster's fleet preyed on Portuguese ships in and near the Straits of Malacca, in which a number were captured. The return journey however was a disaster with only twenty-five officers and men surviving to reach England in May 1594. Lancaster was left marooned in the West Indies until a lucky encounter with a French ship allowed his safe return.
In the meantime the Dutch who were allied in their fight with England against the Iberian Union had sent their First expedition in 1595. This voyage was instrumental in opening up the spice trade to the merchants on its return two years later. Elizabeth however delayed any such expedition to the East Indies due to potential Anglo-Spanish peace talks which eventually took place in Boulogne in 1600. The talks quickly broke down and while the English dithered the Dutch had already sent another expedition which had just returned that same year making huge profits. The so-called 'Spice Race' had already been won, but the English were still galvanized to be a part of it.
Instead of using an existing company which was set on trading in the Levant, a new company was formed on 31 December 1600 focusing on trade in the East Indies. The East India Company (EIC) was thus granted permission by Elizabeth I with Thomas Smythe as its first governor.
In 1601 a new fleet was organised and set up by Lancaster who also carried a letter from Elizabeth I, utilizing both diplomacy and force to establish English influence in the area and disrupt Portuguese trade.
Fleet
The flagship of the five-vessel EIC fleet was the 600 ton galleon Malice Scourge which had been built for privateering against the Spanish in the West Indies. It was purchased from its owner the Earl of Cumberland for £3,700; he had initially asked for £4,000.
There was at first some reluctance on the part of the EIC to acquire the vessel due to its size and weight, but saw the value in its power.
The fleet was established at the Woolwich ship yards with Henry Middleton working on the flagship Malice Scourge. The Company subsequently renamed the vessel Red Dragon, and granted command of the vessel to James Lancaster. Second in command was Middleton's brother John, a company captain who secured Henry as a mercantile agent with a berth on the voyage. The other vessels in the fleet were powerful Levant company vessels; Hector (300 tons), Ascension (260 tons), Susan (240 tons). There was also the Gift (120 tons) which was the fleet victualler. As well as John Middelton, other chief factors of the company accompanied the fleet; John Harvard and William Brund, and were to sail on the Hector. The Pilot-Major for the fleet was the explorer John Davis; a veteran of the first Dutch expedition. Davis would prove valuable as he had carefully charted and recorded geographical details for the Dutch. For his part Davis was to receive £500 (around £1.5 million at 2015 values). In all the fleet mustered some 480 men, also and included a number of Dutchmen.
Voyage
The fleet departed on 13 February 1601, but despite this they did not clear the English Channel until early April due to delays from contrary winds. They sailed towards the Canary Islands, and arriving there, they took in supplies of fresh water under the noses of the Spanish. Following on a fair wind which kept them close to the African coastline, they then fell into the Doldrums, where they remained for nearly a month. A Portuguese vessel was sighted having accidentally separated from its fleet. Lancaster ordered its seizure, and the five ships circled the vessel which they took easily. The crew were disarmed and the ship pillaged and its provisions which included 146 butts of wine, 176 jars of various oils and meal shared amongst the five vessels. They set sail on a light wind and crossed the Southern Hemisphere. During this time the Guest was stripped of any use and set adrift.
With a few weeks however much of the fleet was affected by scurvy by the time they arrived at Table Bay on 9 September. Lancaster had managed to prevent the sailors on his own ship from being so stricken by regularly dosing them with lemon juice. He was forced to send members of his own crew to help man the other ships into the harbour. At Table Bay Lancaster encamped near the shore for the men to rest and recuperate, some 105 were sick or dying. Lancaster meanwhile met up with the local natives asking for beef and mutton of which there was plenty, and good relations were established. The refreshing time was a great success, after nearly seven weeks, all but five of the sick had recovered well. On 24 October, they set sail and went round the Cape of Good Hope.
Indian Ocean They navigated round the Cape and into the Indian ocean passing on the eastern side of Madagascar. Adverse wind conditions and a second bout of scurvy, forced the fleet to drop anchor in Antongil Bay, where they remained from Christmas Day through until 6 March 1602. Trade with the locals was poor and a number of the crew during this time contracted diseases, especially after drinking contaminated water. Red Dragon'''s surgeon, preacher and ten others succumbed. During a funeral for one victim, the captain of the Ascension was accidentally shot and killed during a commemoration volley fire whilst rowing to shore. Morale was at a low ebb, but Lancaster ensured that the voyage must go on.
On the resumption of their journey, they reached Agaléga island, where an anchorage had been found for a brief refreshment. There was an abundance of Coconut trees as well as a number of fowl (Booby). The fleet moved on a few days later.
They then reached the Chagos Islands; here navigation was dangerous due to the numerous reefs. They carefully navigated them and included a brief stop on of the islands on 16 March. Next stop was at the Nicobar Islands, and the fleet took the opportunity to take on water and trim their vessels, and a base was set up near one of the island's shores. Trade however was poor with the locals who were offering inflated prices and fake items. After nearly three weeks the fleet moved on South East.
On 5 June, the fleet arrived in the road of Achin, on the northern end of Sumatra. There, Lancaster sent Middleton to request an audience with the King Ala-uddin Shah, Iskandar Muda. Middleton was well received by the King, he and his officials were delighted by the visit of Englishmen after hearing about tales of the defeat of the Spanish Armada fourteen years previous. Lancaster wanted to deliver the Queen's letter in person to the king and so the latter sent a welcome party of Elephants to greet him. The King was fascinated with the Queen 'by reason of the warres and victories against the King of Spain'. Lancaster and the factors were held in high esteem, the King inviting them to lavish feast. After negotiations had concluded the King was delighted at the prospect of trade with the English, and was happy to grant them an exemption from customs dues. Negotiations were concluded and the English went on the way to procure spices.
The goods at Achin however proved a disappointment, the recent crop of pepper had been poor with the best ones selling at extortionate prices. Other spices and commodities were hard to find and those that were available were also too expensive. What goods were bought failed to even fill one of the ships. Lancaster went back to the Sultan and asked for permission to sail to other ports, and this was granted. Susan under Middleton was sent onwards to Priaman on the west coast of Sumatra where he procured substantial quantities of pepper and cloves.
Capture of the São Antonio
Whilst at Achin Lancaster had some intrigues with the Portuguese ambassador who had become suspicious of the English since their arrival. The ambassador planned to go to Malacca and gather a force to push the English out. Lancaster asked the Sultan to delay his departure by any means, so that Lancaster could leave before him, and the Sultan agreed. On 24 June the Dutch pinnace Lam which had got lost after being separated from a Dutch squadron led by Joris van Spilbergen arrived at Achin . Lancaster purchased the vessel which became a new addition to the English fleet. Spilbergen did arrive with the rest of his squadron, the Ram and Schaap,. Lancaster and Spilbergen met to discuss mutual trade prospects and both agreed the best way was to target Portuguese vessels in the Strait of Malacca and increase their cargo. On 9 September they both set sail and went on the hunt.
On 4 October 1602, a large Portuguese galleon was sighted by Hector in the Straits, Lancaster and Spilbergen decided to engage. The battle was short - six cannon shots was all it took to split the main yard in two which came crashing down, and soon after the Portuguese captain unable to maneuver, surrendered the vessel. The prize turned out to be the São Antonio of some 900–1,000 tons which had sailed from São Thomé in India. The English boarded the vessel taking some 600 prisoners, and then inspected the cargo.