Act, 28 December 1693, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh The Tuentie nynth day of Juny J^aj vi^c nyntie thrie years

A1693/6/86

A1693/6/86¹

Letter: royal

Letter to the King

May It please your sacred Majestie
Albeit that your Majestie by your former Letter uas pleased to ordor that noe English ship should search for goods but only for persones aboard of our shipps which certainly Implyes that our ships should not be seazed yet Captain Thomas Wilkiesone Commander of ane English ship Called the Countess of London hath had the boldnes to seize a ship called the Fortune of Flenburg Laurence Patersone master uithin the river of Forth and when ordored to restore In stead of obedience did sett saile and took her away wherupon having for the tyme in the road of Leith the Sueepstakes one of your Majesties ships of uarr ue requyred Captaine Douglass Commander to Goe after Captain Uilkiesone and obleidge him to his deuty But when Captain Douglass came up to him they soon agried and Captain Wilkiesone delyvered him the forsaid vessell and took his recept and obleidgement to bring her to the river of Thames and present her to the Lords of your Majesties Admirality And this is not the only instance of this sorte but both in our East and uest seas and in the ports and harboures therof our merchant ships have been seized and some of them Carried away by English and Dutch privateers as if they were our Enemies And furder ue are Informed that severall other merchant English shipps Have taken out Commissiones of Mart from the Admirality Against unfree traders which we see they mostly make use of Against our ships Coming from the plantationes and in our seas and rivers Albeit be certaine that before this late uarr none of our ships could be attacqued or mollested on that account at sea But only in the ports and harboures of America But these abuses are now gone to that height that the Fermers of your Majesties Customes Compleaning of the Interruptione of trade Have Given over And our merchants are soe much discouradged and prejudged by these attempts that many of them already hes given over trade and the rest must follow their example If your Majesties doe not ordor a speedy remedie Therfore ue most humbly Intreat your Majestie To Give the necessary ordors for causing the forsaid vessell uith Its Cargo Carried away by the sueepstakes to be restored to our merchants her ouners And also to Issue furth ordors to all shipps of uarr privateers or others That for heirafter they attempt not to seize or medle uith any shipps (not open enemies) uithin our rivers and ports upon their highest perrill As also to move the Estates Generall of the United Provinces to Give the Lyke ordors which being not only necessary for the security and freedome of the trade of this kingdome and the Intrest of your Majesties Customes but lykewayes for preserving the rights and honour of this your antient kingdome which is undoubtedly absolute and Independent ue are most assured that your Majesties princelie care of us uill fully satisfie in this matter else in all others the Earnest expectiatione of all your good subjects May it please your Majestie your Majesties most Humble most faithfull and most obedient subjects and servants sic subscribitur Tueeddall cancel: Hamilton Erroll Linlithgow Strathmore Kintore Breadalbane Tarbat Polluarth J Johnstoune James Steuart Adam Cockburne W Anstruther