Letter: from the council, 20 March 1693, Edinburgh

Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the Tuentyeth day off March Jaj vjc nyntie three years Councill Called Extraordinary

A1693/3/681

Letter: from the council

Letter from the Councill to Secretary Johnstoun anent Robert Dunbar and Earl of Arguylls privateer2

The Lord High Chancellour acquanted the Councill That Robert Dunbar a scotts man who Comands a french privateer Hes now Lately seized a ship with Spanish wyne belonging to scotts merchands And after he hes put a pryce or ransome upon the ship and Loadening hes sent home the same But detaines the skipper or maister as surety for the pryce or ransome And the Lord Chancellour haveing produced a Letter from the Laird of Howstoun to Sir Archibald Muir late proveist of Edinburgh tacksmen of there majestyes customes That a privateer belonging to the Earle of Arguyll haveing one English Commissione Lyes at the bay of Gourock Searches all ships for unfreee goods frae Bilbo and places in the West Indies whereby the wholl merchands in the westerne pairts are in a consternatione And all trade there will be certainly stopt which being read A Letter wes appoynted to be sent to the Secretaries of state by a flyeing pacquet to acquant his maister with this effair And desyre tuo fyfth or sixth rate ships or tuo dutch ships for secureing the scotts coast And this Kingdome will pay the men which being Instantly drawen wes read votted approven3 And ordered to be rcorded and recomended to the Lord Chancellour to signe the same in name of the Councill and dispatch it betuixt and ten of the cloack. The tenor therof followes
Right Honouraball […] Wee are this day Informed that one Captain Dunbar who hath a Comission from the French King and came Lately and Supplyed the Bass and carryed away tuo vessells Loaden with cornes out of our firth hath taken a vessell belonging to our merchands Loaden with Spainish wyne off of Buchanness4 whereby the trade of this Kingdome is Lyke to be much interrupted In prejudice both of our merchands and of the Kings customes wee have Caused try If any of our ships might be found fitt to be reicked out for to Cruize on the east coast But find none And therefore yow are desyred to represent the matter to the King That it may please his majesty To order tuo English fyfth or sixt rate friggotts to be sent doun to Cruize betuixt Tinmouth and Dungsbay head for our Security And if his majesty will Lend us the ships wee will furnish and pay the men For there is a necessity that the Ships be subject to our orders Least otherwayes they trouble our merchands ships In such maner as the trade of this Kingdome cannot suffer If English ships cannot be spared It is thought the King may procure us tuo dutch small friggotts who will be Less troublesome to our merchands And when they come they shall have all the Encouradgement can be given them or otherwayes They shall be free to returne Wee have Lykewayes a report from the Uest That the Earle of Arguylls friggot (as she is called) under the Command of Captain Hugh Campbell Lyes in the bay of Greenock And sends armed men aboard our vessells that come to Clyde and searches them also exactly for all goods as if they were enemyes And therefor wee have ordered the Captain to be brought in and his ship secured untill we know his warrand And wee hope His Majesty will give orders That no Commissione shall be given be the Admirality of England to trouble ships within our sea’s and waters Specially shipps belonging to our merchands unles the users of such Commissiones receave rules from and be subject to this board And that If any such Commissione be given that it may be recalled These things being very concerning to our merchands and to there majestyes Customs and excyse wee expect your diligence and Care to have his majesties orders therein so soon as possible Signed In name and at Comand of the Councill by
your Humble servant sic subscribitur Tweeddale Cancel: J: p: d:

Att Edinburgh the Tuentyeth day off March Jaj vjc nyntie three years Councill Called Extraordinary

A1693/3/681

Letter: from the council

Letter from the Councill to Secretary Johnstoun anent Robert Dunbar and Earl of Arguylls privateer2

The Lord High Chancellour acquanted the Councill That Robert Dunbar a scotts man who Comands a french privateer Hes now Lately seized a ship with Spanish wyne belonging to scotts merchands And after he hes put a pryce or ransome upon the ship and Loadening hes sent home the same But detaines the skipper or maister as surety for the pryce or ransome And the Lord Chancellour haveing produced a Letter from the Laird of Howstoun to Sir Archibald Muir late proveist of Edinburgh tacksmen of there majestyes customes That a privateer belonging to the Earle of Arguyll haveing one English Commissione Lyes at the bay of Gourock Searches all ships for unfreee goods frae Bilbo and places in the West Indies whereby the wholl merchands in the westerne pairts are in a consternatione And all trade there will be certainly stopt which being read A Letter wes appoynted to be sent to the Secretaries of state by a flyeing pacquet to acquant his maister with this effair And desyre tuo fyfth or sixth rate ships or tuo dutch ships for secureing the scotts coast And this Kingdome will pay the men which being Instantly drawen wes read votted approven3 And ordered to be rcorded and recomended to the Lord Chancellour to signe the same in name of the Councill and dispatch it betuixt and ten of the cloack. The tenor therof followes
Right Honouraball […] Wee are this day Informed that one Captain Dunbar who hath a Comission from the French King and came Lately and Supplyed the Bass and carryed away tuo vessells Loaden with cornes out of our firth hath taken a vessell belonging to our merchands Loaden with Spainish wyne off of Buchanness4 whereby the trade of this Kingdome is Lyke to be much interrupted In prejudice both of our merchands and of the Kings customes wee have Caused try If any of our ships might be found fitt to be reicked out for to Cruize on the east coast But find none And therefore yow are desyred to represent the matter to the King That it may please his majesty To order tuo English fyfth or sixt rate friggotts to be sent doun to Cruize betuixt Tinmouth and Dungsbay head for our Security And if his majesty will Lend us the ships wee will furnish and pay the men For there is a necessity that the Ships be subject to our orders Least otherwayes they trouble our merchands ships In such maner as the trade of this Kingdome cannot suffer If English ships cannot be spared It is thought the King may procure us tuo dutch small friggotts who will be Less troublesome to our merchands And when they come they shall have all the Encouradgement can be given them or otherwayes They shall be free to returne Wee have Lykewayes a report from the Uest That the Earle of Arguylls friggot (as she is called) under the Command of Captain Hugh Campbell Lyes in the bay of Greenock And sends armed men aboard our vessells that come to Clyde and searches them also exactly for all goods as if they were enemyes And therefor wee have ordered the Captain to be brought in and his ship secured untill we know his warrand And wee hope His Majesty will give orders That no Commissione shall be given be the Admirality of England to trouble ships within our sea’s and waters Specially shipps belonging to our merchands unles the users of such Commissiones receave rules from and be subject to this board And that If any such Commissione be given that it may be recalled These things being very concerning to our merchands and to there majestyes Customs and excyse wee expect your diligence and Care to have his majesties orders therein so soon as possible Signed In name and at Comand of the Councill by
your Humble servant sic subscribitur Tweeddale Cancel: J: p: d:

1. PC1/48, 649-50.

2. This title appears part-way down the entry.

3. The phrase ‘and signed’ scored out here.

4. Written over another, illegible word.

1. PC1/48, 649-50.

2. This title appears part-way down the entry.

3. The phrase ‘and signed’ scored out here.

4. Written over another, illegible word.