The Voyage of Verrazzano Part 9

We have received from Mr. Henry Harrisse of Paris copies, taken from the archives of the Parliament of Rouen, of two powers of attorney made by Verrazzano. They do not relate to his reputed voyage of discovery, but apparently refer to the projected voyage to the Indies for spices, and serve to establish the authenticity of the agreement with Chabot in regard to the latter voyage. They are important in so far as they fix the year 1526 as that in which the contract was made, corroborating the opinion which we expressed in that particular,[Footnote: page 35.] and conforming to the doc.u.ments from the archives in Simancas in regard to the capture and execution of Verrazzano by the Spaniards. They also prove that Verrazzano had a brother Hieronimo, a relations.h.i.+p conceded [Footnote: Page 91] to the author of the map, in the Borgian collection,[Footnote: The Propaganda College in which this collection is found, is not in the Vatican, as inadvertently stated, but in the Via Due Macelli on the opposite side of the river.] bearing his name, though not ascertained, but regarded as of no practical importance, inasmuch as the mere consanguinity of these parties could not verify the representations on the map, even if they were made by Hieronimo, of which as yet there is no positive proof. Indeed on the contrary we are a.s.sured from Rome, on high authority, that this map appears to belong to a period subsequent to 1550, and is regarded by its custodians is only a copy at the best.

This note with the two papers from Rouen appended are intended as a supplement to the Memoir on the "Voyage of Verrazzano." H. C. M, Brooklyn, April, 20, 1876.

DOc.u.mENTS FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE OF ROUEN.

"Du vendredi onze mai 1526

n.o.ble homme Jehan de Varasenne, capitain des navires esquippez pour aller au voyage des Indes, lequel fist, nomma, ordonna, counst.i.tua et estably son procureur general et certains messagiers eapeciaulx cest a.s.scavoir Jerosme de Vurasenne son frere et heritier et Zan.o.bis do Rousselay en plaidoirie et par eapeciaL de recevoir tout ce qui au dit const.i.tuant est, sera peult et pourra estre den par quelque personne et pour quelque cause ou causes que ce soit on puisse estre tant a raison du dit voyage des Indes qur autrement, du dit deu ensemble de ses descords et procez traicter, composer et appoincter par tels prix moiens et conditions que les dita Jerosme et de Rousselay pourront et de receu et bailler quictance et discharge telle que mestier sera et generalemeat promettre, tenir et obliger biens et heiritages--presents m Gales et Nieolaa Doublet Ja.n.u.s Verraza.n.u.s"

Sur le meme feuillet--

"Du samedi douzieme jour de mai 1526.

n.o.ble homme Messire Jehan de Varasenne, capitaine des navires esquippez pour uller au voiage des Indes, confessa avoir commis, const.i.tue et estably Adam G.o.deffroy, bourgeois de Rouen auqel il a donne et donne par ces presentes pouvoir et puissauce de faire pour le dit de Verra.s.sane [Footnote: Les mots "en sa charge de capitaine es dits navires," sont ici rayes dans l'original, et l'on ajoute en marge ceux ci: "et pour le dit G.o.deffroy." ] en ung dea dits navires nomme la Barque de Fescamp, du port de quatre vingt et dix tonneualx ou environ dont est maistre, aprez Dieu, Pierre Cauuay pour ouicelluy navire faire traffiquer et negossier par le dit Varra.s.senne en toutes choses pour le dit voiage des Indes ainsi que par le dit de Varra.s.sene sera baille par articles et memoires soubz son seing audit Grodeffroy. Et pour ce faire le dit de Varrasene a promis payer au dit G.o.deffroy pour sa peine et vaccation de farie et accomplir les dits articles et memoirs a son pouvoir en faisant le dit voiage de la dite barque la somme de cinq ceuts livres tournois icelle somme payer au retour du dit voiage a quoi faire le dit de Vara.s.sene a oblige et oblige tous ses biens meublea et heritages et iceulx prendre par execution incontinent le dit retour.--Etaussai le dit G.o.defroy s'est submis faire le dit voyage et deuement et loyaument servir le dit de Vara.s.senne et accomplir a son pouvoir les dits articles et memoires qui ainsi lui seront baillez par le dit de Varraesenne.--Et est ce sans prejudice des biens, deniers et merchandises que le dit G.o.deffroy aura et pourra mettre es dites navirea pour faire le dit voiage, lesquels lui et les siens auront avec eux emportez pour le profit d'icculx oultre la dite somme de cinq ceuts livres tournois pour le dit voyage et a ce tenir obligent par l'uu et l'autre chacun en son regard leurs biens et heritages.-- Presents Jehan Desvaulx et Robert Bouton."

(Translation.)

Friday the Eleventh of May, 1526.

Jehan de Varasenne, n.o.bleman, captain of the s.h.i.+ps equipped to go on the voyage to the Indies, has made, named, ordained, const.i.tuted and inst.i.tuted his attorney, and certain special commissioners that is to say, Jerosme de Varasenne his brother and heir and Zan.o.bis de Rousselay, to sue and especially to receive all which to the said princ.i.p.al is, shall be, may and may become due by any person and for any cause or causes whatsoever as regards what is thus due as well by reason of the said voyage to the Indies as otherwise; and also his disagreements and law suits to treat compound and settle by such prices, means and conditions as the said Jerosme and de Rousselay shall be able to do, and to receive and receipt for and discharge according as the case may be, and generally to pledge, hold and bind chattels and lands.

Present mol Gales and Nicolas Doublet.

Ja.n.u.s VERRAZa.n.u.s.

On the same leaf:

Sat.u.r.day the Twelfth day of May, 1526. Messire Jehan de Varasenne, n.o.bleman, captain of the s.h.i.+ps equipped to go on the voyage to the Indies acknowledged that he had appointed, const.i.tuted and inst.i.tuted Adam G.o.deffroy citizen of Rouen, to whom be has given and gives by these presents power and authority to act for the said de Varrasenne [FOOTNOTE: The words "in his quality of captain of the said s.h.i.+ps" are here erased in the original, and they have added in the margin these; "and for the said G.o.deffroy."] in one of the said s.h.i.+ps named the barque of Fescamp of the burthen of ninety tons or thereabouts, of which the master is, after G.o.d, Pierre Cauvay, the which s.h.i.+p to employ in trading and traffic for the said Varrasenne in all things for the said voyage of the Indies as by the said de Varra.s.senne shall be directed by articles and memoranda under his sign manual to the said G.o.deffroy. And for doing this the said de Varrasenne has promised to pay to the said G.o.deffroy for his trouble and time and attention in doing and fulfilling the said articles and memoranda according to his ability in making the said voyage of the said barque, the sum of five hundred pounds Tours currency, and this sum to pay on the return from the said voyage, to do which the said de Varrasenne has bound and binds all his chattels and lands, and to take them by execution immediately on the said return. And in like manner the said G.o.deffroy has undertaken to make the said voyage and duly and loyally to serve the said de Varrasenne, and to carry out according to his power the said articles and memoranda which thus shall be given by the said de Varrasenne.

And it is without prejudice of the goods, funds and merchandise which the said G.o.deffroy shall have and might place on the said s.h.i.+ps to make the said voyage, which he and his shall have carried away with them, for their profit, besides the said sum of five hundred pounds Tours currency for the said voyage. And to keep this, each for himself, both parties bind themselves, their chattels and lands.

Present Jehan Desvaulx and Robert Bouton.