The good ship called the Matthew Gonson, of 300 tons burden—whereof was owner old Master WILLIAM GONSON, Paymaster of the King's Navy—made her voyage in the year 1535. In this ship went as Captain, RICHARD GRAY, who long after died in Russia. Master WILLIAM HOLSTOCKE—afterwards Controller of the Queen's Navy—went then as Purser in the same voyage. The Master was one JOHN PICKET, servant to old Master WILLIAM GONSON. JAMES RUMNIE was Master's Mate. The Master Cooper was JOHN WILLIAMSON citizen of London, living in the year 1592, and dwelling in Saint Dunstan's parish in the East. The Master Gunner was JOHN GODFREY of Bristol.
In this ship were six gunners and four trumpeters. All which four trumpeters at our return homewards, went on land at Messina in the island of Sicily, as our ship rode there at anchor; and got themselves into the galleys that lay near unto us, and in them went to Rome. The whole number of our company in this ship was about a hundred men. We were also furnished with a great boat, which was able to carry ten tons of water: which at our return homewards we towed all the way from Scio until we came through the Straits of Gibraltar into the main ocean. We had also a great long boat, and a skiff.
We were out upon this voyage eleven months; yet in all this time there died of sickness but one man; whose name was GEORGE FORREST, being servant to our Carpenter called THOMAS PLUMMER.
In a great ligierbook [ledger] of one WILLIAM EYRUS,
servant unto Sir WILLIAM BOWYER, Alderman of
London—bearing date the 15th of November 1533
and continued until the 4th of July, 1544—I find
that he the said WILLIAM EYRUS was factor in Scio, not only
for his master, and for his grace the Duke of NORFOLK, but
also for many others, worshipful merchants of London: among
whom I find the accounts of these especially, to wit, of his
said master Sir WILLIAM BOWYER; of WILLIAM and NICHOLAS
WILFORD, Merchant Tailors of London; of THOMAS CURTIS,
Pewterer; of JOHN STARRY Mercer; of WILLIAM OSTRIGE
Merchant; and of RICHARD FIELD Draper.
