[1643/6/39]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as the convention of the estates of the kingdom of Scotland, taking into their consideration the late spoiling, robbing and burning of the ships and goods pertaining to his majesty's good subjects of the kingdom of Scotland travelling toward Ireland with victual for supply of the Scottish army forthwith, committed upon them by certain frigates manned with Dunkirk and Irish rebels and furnished with all hostile provision, who lie at wait for them upon the north and west parts of this kingdom and elsewhere to catch their advantage against his majesty's said subjects of this kingdom, intending thereby not only to stop their course of trade and commerce by sea, but especially to disappoint the army in Ireland for their necessary provision of victual from this. And the estates finding it very necessary and expedient that the remedies provided by the law of nations in such cases in so important a necessity shall be now used for reparation of his majesty's honour against such delinquents and securing of his good subjects from their oppressions, therefore the estates of this present convention have given and granted, and by the tenor hereof give and grant full power and commission, express bidding and charge to James Brown, captain of the ship called the James of Saltcoats, and to [...] of Irvine, captain of the ship called the Providence, to arm and furnish their said ships with men, victuals and artillery great and small, and with powder, lead, lunt† and all other warlike equipment and provision, and to make their address to the sea; and especially to clear the west and north west between Scotland and Ireland, or any place elsewhere they can learn these frigates to be still turning to and again between the west coast of Scotland and the coast of Ireland; and shall not go in to any harbour nor lie there except upon extreme necessity; and there to seek, follow and pursue with all hostility the frigates of the quality above-written who have already or shall be in the act of committing any of the oppressions aforesaid against whosoever of his majesty's good subjects or that have commission to that effect, or shall be lying at wait for them in any part whatsoever; and to apprehend or take such or destroy the said frigates as the said captains shall find necessary; and to bring the ships and goods to be taken from them to any port or harbour to be disposed of by the estates and the said James Brown, captain of the ship called the James of Saltcoats, and [...] of Irvine, captain of the said ship called the Providence in their charter party, the company and equipment of the said company of the said frigates to use as professed enemies to his majesty, and to execute such military laws against them as is usual in matters of these kind. And more particularly if they shall have occasion of rencountering these frigates, they shall not be deficient there for any fear or danger whatsoever; and if they shall enter in combat, that they shall still fight until the death, never rendering their ships, but shall maintain and defend them until they be either burnt or sunk. And if occasion offers that the said captains be detained further in their voyage than the two months for which they are now to be victualled, in that case it shall be lawful to the said captains to take and receive victuals wherever they can have them, and give their tickets thereupon, which shall be thankfully refunded by the said estates, the said captains always using diligence to perfect that service within the said two months. And generally all and sundry other things towards the execution of this commission to do, exercise and use which are requisite and necessary, firm and stable holding all whatsoever things shall be lawfully done in that particular matter.