'Extracts of Capt. Best's Journals Given by way of Instruction'

IOR/L/MAR/A/XVIII

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The record is made up of 1 volume (59 folios). It was created in 31 Aug 1612-20 Jul 1617. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

About this record

Content

Volume containing extracts from journals kept by Captain Thomas Best during various voyages between 1612 and 1617.

Folios 2-4 cover a voyage aboard the Hosiander from Surat, India, to Achene [Banda Aceh, Indonesia], January 1612 [New Style date 1613]-April 1613.

Folios 6-8 contain an account of a voyage aboard the Lion from the Cape of Good Hope to Surat, June-October 1615.

Folios 9-10 contain an account of a voyage aboard the Hosiander from Daman, India, to Surat, September 1612.

Folios 11-18 contain instructions for sailing from England to Indonesia.

Folios 20-53 cover a voyage aboard the James from England to Surat, March 1615 [New Style date 1616]-September 1616, from Surat to Jasquet [Bandar-e Jask, Iran] and back, November 1616-February 1616 [New Style date 1617], and from Surat to Bantam [Banten, Java, Indonesia], March-July 1617.

The extracts contain information on navigation, winds, weather, contact with other ships, and general observations.

Extent and format

1 volume (59 folios)

Arrangement

Each extract is recorded in chronological order from the front to the rear.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 53; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio.

The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Archive information for this record

Original held at: British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.
Access conditions: Unrestricted
Archive reference: IOR/L/MAR/A/XVIII
Date(s): 31 Aug 1612-20 Jul 1617 (CE, Gregorian)
Copies: A transcript of folios 2-4 is included in The Voyage of Thomas Best to the East Indies, 1612-14 edited by Sir William Foster (Routledge, 2016).

Subjects: Ships logsMarine navigationTrade (practice)Weather
Places: JasquetSurat
People & organisations: JamesLionHosianderLionHosiander

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'Extracts of Capt. Best's Journals Given by way of Instruction', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MAR/A/XVIII, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/universal-viewer/81055/vdc_100000001273.0x0001b1> [accessed 6 July 2026]

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Reference: IOR/L/MAR/A/XVIII
Title: 'Extracts of Capt. Best's Journals Given by way of Instruction'
Pages: front, back, spine, edge, head, tail, front-i, i-r:ii-v, 1r:55v, iii-r:iv-v, back-i
Author: East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
Usage terms: Open Government Licence