Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tuentie seventh day of September J^aj vi^c nyntie thrie yeirs

A1693/9/39

A1693/9/39¹

Act

Act William Corss and othes anent a ship

Anent the petitione Given In to the Lords of their Majesties privie Councell Be William Corss and pairtners merchants in Glasgow Sheuing That wher ther Is a small vessell of Ten Tuns Cruizing In Clyde The master wherof under a pretence of a Commissione from the Admirality of England for searching after goods from France or from America Enters aboard all shipps Coming out from or Going Into Clyde and takes provisions and what else He finds for him at his pleasure and not only so But threatnes to Carry all the shipps belonging to scotts men Coming from America To be Judged and made prize of by the Admirality of England which is very prejudiciall to trade and to their Majesties Revenues which might be easily prevented if a shipp of Force were Speedily equipped att the charge of the publict for apprehending the said vessell or others and secure the river of Clyde from all such who may disturbs their trade And because ther is noe ship of Force ther belonging to their Majesties The petitioners are Content to Equipp a shipp of their oune of Tuenty Guns now lying in Clyde now ready to Goe to sea and serve uith her tuo or three months tear and weare for nothing which the petitioners Estimat at tuo Hundreth pounds Sterline If their Lordships will be pleased to furnish threttie Land souldiers uith a serjant and threttie seamen uith ane expert Captaine and mate To be payed and victualled by the Thesaury and the shipp to be Commanded by […] Commissionated by his Grace the Duke of Hamiltone Lord High Admirall of Scotland And for making the desyre of the petitioners the more easie to their Lordships They are satisfied to advance money for buying provisiones for the sea and Landmen paying the seamen their Advance wages and defraying all other Charges during the service provyding the Commissioners of the Thesaury uill Give ordors to the Fermers of their Majesties Customes to allow the same to the petitioners In part of the Custome and Excyse of Goods To be Imported by them And if the ship showld be seazed by Enemies during the service or lost any manner of way That their Lordships may ordor the saids Fermers to allow her value and worth in the first end of duty and excyse of goods to be Imported by them And that Commissione for the value of the ship for that effect And because they have not sufficient quantity of Amunitione their Lordships may cause supply what is necessary to the number of six or Eight barrells of pouder and tuo chists of small shott And therfore Humbly craving their Lordships In regaird of the petitioners offer The tear and wear for nothing of their ship To take the premisses to their Consideratione And to take speedie Course against the violence threatned as said Is by the said small vessell or any other wherby the petitioners hes Ground to Hope that not only their oune shipps may be safe But also the Concerns of other merchants may be free from dainger threatned in their oune rivers by any vessells whatsomever as the said petitione Bears The saids Lords of their Majesties privie Councell Having Considered this petitione given In to them Be the said William Corss and partners merchants In Glasgow uith a reference theron to the Lords of the Thesaury and the Lord High Chancellor his Report from the saids Lords They Recommend to his Grace The Duke of Hamiltone Lord High Admirall of Scotland to Grant a Commissione to any persone sufficiently qualified for Commanding as Captaine of the said ship And Recommends to Sir Thomas Livingstoune Commander in cheiff of their Majesties forces uithin this kingdome to Give ordors and Command a serjant uith threttie souldiers to Goe aboard of the said ship And ther to receave and obey the Commands of the said Captaine during their abode in the said shipp And Recommends to Mr Frances Muntgomery and Sir John Maxuell of Pollock to Call for and make use of such skilled persones as they shall think fitt And by them to value and putt ane estimat upon the said ship furniture and tackling upon oath of the saids skilled persones To be Imployed by them And Recommends lykewayes to the saids Mr Frances Muntgomery and Sir John Maxuell to deall uith and Endeavour to bring any other merchants in Glasgow or upon the river of Clyde who may have benefite by the said ship and Commission to Contribute for the expensses and Charge and men aboard of the same To be Reported to the Lords of Thesaury uith their first Conveniency And Recommends to the saids Lords of the Thesaury to ordor six barrells of pouder and tuo chists of Lead to be delyvered to the petitioners upon their recept out of his Majesties stores for the service of the said ship