[1649/5/373]¹

Procedure: commission to Captain Robert Hall to patrol the west coast

Commission to Captain Robert Hall and the frigate of Greenock

The estates of parliament, taking into their consideration the great losses sustained by various merchants of this kingdom through the capture of their ships by Irish pirates and frigates haunting upon the coasts of this island and elsewhere, to the obstruction of the trade of merchandise and utter ruin of many merchants, and being desirous to provide all due remedy thereto and to prevent the same evils in time coming, to the improvement of the trade and public good of the kingdom, do hereby therefore authorise with full power and commission Captain Robert Hall and [...], captain of the frigate of Greenock, to protect, secure and defend all the merchant ships of the kingdom in the exercising of their lawful trade from the violence and wrongs of the said Irish frigates and pirates and sea robbers whatsoever who shall in any way disturb or pursue the said vessels, and safely to conduct and bring them to their several ports and harbours, and to restore and recover all and whatsoever ships belonging to this kingdom that are or shall be taken or seized upon by any of the said pirates and sea robbers aforesaid. And for this effect, with power to them to resist and oppose and pursue with all manner of hostility all the said Irish pirates and frigates aforesaid and all such who have infested our ships and stopped the trade of this kingdom (as in the year 1641 and 1642) and since then have assisted the rebellion in Ireland, and all others who since then have been in the rebellion with them, to the disturbance of the peace and trade of this kingdom, to take, apprehend, sink and destroy and use them as their enemy and enemies to this kingdom. And it is hereby especially declared that whatsoever ships or vessels the said Captain Robert Hall and [...], captain of the frigate of Greenock, shall happen to take, rescue or recover by virtue of this present commission, the same shall be made use of and disposed upon according to the custom observed in similar cases. And this commission to endure for two months and longer as it pleases the parliament or the committee of estates.