Att Edinburgh The Tuentie seventh day of february Jaj vic nyntie four years
A1694/2/59
A1694/2/591
Commission by the Council
Commission Captain Eduard Burd
The Lords of their Majesties privie Councill Considering that the Isle and rock of the Bass and rebells therin who have Long held out in rebellion may now be in some straits for uant of provisions And as is Informed are in daylie expectation to be succored and releived by some of the enemys shipps or vessells that may arryve therat As also that the rebells in the said Island have off Late had the boldnes to seize a bark uithin the firth For which reasons The saids Lords have thought good to outreik and fitt out a frygott sufficiently provyded uith men arms and amunition And in the absence of the Duke of Hamilton Lord high Admirall and in the present exigence to Give Commission to the person afternamed to Command the said frygott for to watch the said Bass and to hinder all manner of provisions and supplies to be brought or entered into it And Lykewise to secure the shipps and vessells belonging to his Majesties Leidges that may be in hazard from their attacks and surpryses And the saids Lords having speciall trust and Confidence in the Loyaltie Courage and Conduct of Captain Eduard master of the good ship called the Lyon Have therfore nominated and appointed and heirby nominat and appoint the said Captain Eduard Burd to be Captaine of the said good ship or frygott called the Lyon of the burthen of tuo Hundred tuns or therby and tuenty peices of ordinance with all amunitione proportionable as a man of uar Commissionat in their Majesties service To the speciall effect underwryten allenarly Giving Granting and Committing to the said Captaine full pouer warrand and Commission and charge to saile furth his forsaid ship or frygott manned and provyded as above to watch the forsaid Island and fort of the Bass And for that end to Cruise betuixt St Abbs head and Fyffeness day and night uith all care and dilligence And to seize all shipps and vessells whatsomever great or small bound or Justly suspect to be bound for the said Isle and fort of the Bass or to any other port uithin the firth for the supplying and releiving therof uith any sorte of provisions of men victuall armes or amunition or others whatsomever And if need beis upon resistance to fight destroy or otherwise2 overmaster the saids shipps or vessells as he shall see cause As Lykewayes to seize all shipps boats or vessells whatsomever coming from the Bass And in caise of resistance to fight destroy and otherwise overmaster them as above And Generallie to watch and shutt up the forsaid rock and Island and rebells therin uith all possible care and strictness and use all manner of hostility against them for that effect And to reduce them by all methods possible And ordains the said Captaine to secure and preserve harmless and skaithless all shipps and vessells whatsomever uith their goods and Loadning belonging to their Majesties good subjects or allies from all attempts and violences aither from the saids rebells in the Bass or of any other their Majesties Enemys And also Gives full pouer and Commission to the said Captaine to seize all shipps and vessells belonging to Enemyes in proppertie or having Commission from them uithin the firth or the bounds above designed for the saids frygotts Cruizing And that if need beis)3 by fighting destroying or otherwise overmastering the saids enemyes as he shall see cause and to bring the shipps or vessells so overmastered and apprehended to any port or harbour of this kingdome uithout breaking bulk or altering the proppertie therof to be proceeded against and Judged according to Law in the high Court of admirality of this kingdome or such other Court or Courts as by a particular and speciall warrand and Commissione shall be sufficiently authorized to doe the same And to the effect that after such proceedings and adjudication The saids Enemyes shipps and goods be sold and disposed as of right appertains provyded aluayes that out of such shipps and vessells as also out of wairs and merchandize whatsomever found aboard the saids vessells as shall be Judged Laufull prize Ther be payed the tenths to the Lord high Admirall or to any who shall have sufficient warrand and pouer to receave the same And the remainder to be disposed off by the Lords of Thesaury for their Majesties use Authorizing the said Captain Generallie to doe and performe all and every thing that touards the executione of the haill premisses necessary and requisite promitting to hold firm and stable all and whatsomever things shall be Laufully done by the said Captaine be vertue of these presents And ordains this Commissione to Continow and endure ay and while the samen be recalled by the Kings Majestie or by us or to the said Island be surrendered And Lastly the saids Lords ordaine the said Captain before he shall Act any thing be vertue of these presents to find sufficient Cautione acted in the books of privie Councill for the faithfull observing of the premisses and such farder articles and Instructions as his Majestie or the Councill shall give toutching the same Signed and sealled by the signet of Councill at Edinburgh the tuenty Eight day of February Jaj vic nyntie four years sic subscribitur Tueeddall cancel: Southerland Cassillis Linlithgow Forfar Raith Ross James Steuart Fra: Muntgomery Thomas Livingstoune signet affixed
1. NRS, PC1/49, 288-9.
2. The word ‘destroy’ scored out here.
3. Opening bracket missing.
1. NRS, PC1/49, 288-9.
2. The word ‘destroy’ scored out here.
3. Opening bracket missing.