Act, 19 January 1694, Edinburgh

Act, 27 December 1694, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The nynteenth day of January Jaj vic nyntie four years

A1694/1/321

Act

Act The merchants of Montross

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of their Majesties privy Councell Be James Milne merchant in Montross for himself and in name and behalfe of the remanent merchants of Montross ouners of the ship and Cargo quherof Walter Keith was master Sheuing That wher in the month of Juny last The petitioners having fraughted the said ship for London and Loaded her uith Linnen cloaths to the value of about ane Hundreth and tuenty thousand merks at first buying The said ship and Cargo did unfortunatly fall into the hands of a Dunkirk privateer But the said Cloath being a Commoditie of which the takers Cannot make so Good profeit in France as the petitioners would have made therof at London It is now understood and the petitioners have it Insinuat by their Factors in Holland that the said Cargo lyes yet upon the hands of the ouners of the privateer in Dunkirk unsold And that ther is Incouradgement given That if the petitioners uould send one of their Number to Dunkirk And by him offer reasonablie for the said Cargo they might be preferred And seeing the petitioners dare neither goe to France nor have any Correspondence uith it uithout their Lordships express warrand and allowance And the Loss of the said Cargo being not only a Great one to the petitioners But Lykewayes a nationall prejudice And that by a rebuying of the said Linnen cloath somewhat of the said great damnage might be repaired And Therfore Humblie Supplicating the saids Lords to Grant warrand and Licence to one of the saids merchants of Montross ouners of the Cargo abovenamed to Goe over to Holland and from thence to Dunkirk for rebuying of the petitioners oune ship and Cargo of Linnen cloath And to declare that his going thither for the end forsaid shall be no Contraventione of the Act of parliament as the said petitione Bears The Lords of their Majesties privie Councell Having Considered this petitione Given in to them be the above merchants of Montross uith the oath and declaratione of Walter Keith skipper of the above ship Bearing that upon the sixteenth day of Juny Last he was taken be John Suce Captaine of the Fox frygott belonging to Dunkirk and the ship and goods carryed to Dunkirk upon the nynteenth day of the said month uith the declaratione of the Magistrats of Montross That the merchants of Montross have Commissionat Alexander Pyper merchant ther who is presently in Rotterdame for rebuying the said ship at Dunkirk They Heirby allow and give warrand to the said Alexander Pyper to repaire from Rotterdame to France and particularly to the City of Dunkirk for rebuying of the said ship and Cargo of Linnen cloath And declares that the said Alexander his going thither for the end forsaid shall be noe Contraventione of the Act of parliament made against persones going to France In respect the said Alexander hes given bond subscribed by sufficient persones acted in the books of privie Councell That he shall not Act consult nor Contryve any thing in prejudice of the government of their Majesties King William and Queen Mary nor Carry any message by word or wryte aither in his coming or going to that effect under the penaltie of fyve Hundreth pounds sterline

At Edinburgh 19 January 1694

A1694/1/321

Act

Act the merchants of Montrose

Concerning the petition given in to the lords of their majesties’ privy council by James Milne, merchant in Montrose, for himself and in name and behalf of the remanent merchants of Montrose, owners of the ship and cargo whereof Walter Keith was master, showing that where in the month of June last the petitioners having freighted the said ship for London and loaded her with lined cloths to the value of about 120,000 merks at first buying, the said ship and cargo did unfortunately fall into the hands of a Dunkirk privateer, but the said cloth being a commodity of which the takers cannot make so good profit in France as the petitioners would have made thereof at London, it is now understood and the petitioners have it insinuated by their factors in Holland that the said cargo lies yet upon the hands of the owners of the privateer in Dunkirk unsold, and that there is encouragement given that if the petitioners would send one of their number to Dunkirk and by him offer reasonably for the said cargo, they might be preferred. And seeing the petitioners dare neither go to France nor have any correspondence with it without their lordships’ express warrant and allowance, and the loss of the said cargo being not only a great one to the petitioners, but likewise a national prejudice, and that by a rebuying of the said linen cloth somewhat of the said great damage might be repaired, and therefore humbly supplicating the said lords to grant warrant and licence to one of the said merchants of Montrose, owners of the cargo abovenamed, to go over to Holland and from thence to Dunkirk for rebuying of the petitioners’ own ship and cargo of linen cloth, and to declare that his going thither for the end foresaid shall be no contravention of the act of parliament, as the said petition bears. The lords of their majesties’ privy council having considered this petition Given in to them by the above merchants of Montrose, with the oath and declaration of Walter Keith, skipper of the above ship, bearing that upon 16 June last he was taken be John Suce, captain of the Fox, frigate belonging to Dunkirk, and the ship and goods carried to Dunkirk upon 19 of the said month, with the declaration of the magistrates of Montrose that the merchants of Montrose have commissioned Alexander Piper, merchant there, who is presently in Rotterdam, for rebuying the said ship at Dunkirk, they hereby allow and give warrant to the said Alexander Piper to repair from Rotterdam to France, and particularly to the city of Dunkirk, for rebuying of the said ship and cargo of linen cloth. And declare that the said Alexander his going thither for the end foresaid shall be no contravention of the act of parliament made against persons going to France, in respect the said Alexander has given bond subscribed by sufficient persons acted in the books of privy council that he shall not act, consult, nor contrive anything in prejudice of the government of their majesties King William and Queen Mary, nor carry any message by word or writing either in his coming or going to that effect under the penalty of £500 Sterling.

1. NRS, PC1/49, 229-30.

1. NRS, PC1/49, 229-30.