3. Rivals and Piracy

The East India Company offer an extra reward of 4000 rupees for the capture of the pirate Henry Every.

As well as the English East India Company, there were other East India Companies in other European countries, including the Netherlands, France and Sweden. Adventurers from Portugal, Spain and The Netherlands had already made trips to the East Indies before the English arrived. There were also already many traders from India, China and other places trading there too.

Because there were so many people trading, the traders often fought with each other. This is why James Lancaster's ships had so many cannon. Different traders even used to steal from each other. They were a very long way from their homes and there was nothing stopping them from breaking the law.

As well as all these fights, East India Company ships were often bothered by pirates. The picture shows an entry in company records, saying that the East India Company will offer an extra reward of 4000 rupees for the capture of the pirate Henry Every.