Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh Eadem die post meridiem

A1697/8/21

A1697/8/21¹

Act

Act Thomas Johnstoun one of Everies Crue

Anent the petitione given in to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill By Thomas Johnstoun saylor Sheuing That the petitioner having the misfortune to be named in the proclamation Issued furth against Everie and his Crue Is therby exposed to trouble albeit his being in Company of the said Everie uas not by choice but by force seing the petitioner was Ingadged in ane voyage to be a gun master of the Rebecca of Plymouth And did accordingly saile uith him to the Isle of May about the Latitude of fourteen degrees wher the said Everie in June J^aj vi^c nyntie four Did board the said ship wher the petitioner uas and by force Did Carry him auay and the Master and all the Ships Company as prisoners And plundered the ship And therafter the said Every did release them all except the petitioner whom he Carryed auay uith him by force altho the petitioner himself and the said John Laurie and others used their outmost Entreaties and endeavours to the Contrat And the petitioner did not Joyne uith the said Every in his piracies But was Compelled therto And hes aluayes behaved himself as ane honest man all which the petitioner documents and Instructs by the depositions of the said John Laurie and of Paull Beckfoord master of the James and Thomas of Plimouth (whose Company was made prisoners and ship plundered by the same Everie) taken before the mayor of plymouth And which depositiones were produced uith the said petition wherby It is Evident to their Lordships that the petitioner uas Compelled and prest to Goe alongst uith the said Every Contrair to his Inclination And therfore Humblie Craving to the effect underwryten as the said petition Bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privie Councill Having Considered this petition given in to them by the said Thomas Johnstoun uith the wrytts and documents mentioned therin and produced theruith for Instructing the same They heirby declare the petitioner to be free of the said proclamation or any hazard which he may Incurr therby And Descharges any persons or persone to trouble or molest the said petitioner upon accompt of his being in Company uith the said Captain Every In regaird It is Clearly documented by the wrytts produced that his being in Company uith the said Captain was by compulsione and Constraint And Declares the said petitioner to be at full freedome to goe about his affairs and follow his Laufull Imployment He behaving himself as his Majesties good subject.