Att Edinburgh the Threttie day of March J^aj vi^c nyntie four years

A1694/3/46

A1694/3/46¹

Commission by the Council

Commission Captain Bosuell against The Bass

The Lords of their Majesties privie Councell Considering That the Isle and rock of the Bass and Rebells therin who have Long held out in rebellion may be now in some straits for want of provisions And as is Informed are in dayly expectation to be succoured and releived by some of the Enemies shipps or vessells that may arryve therat As also that the rebells in the said Island Have of Late had the boldnes to seise a barke within the firth For which reasons The saids Lords Have already Given Commission to Captain Eduard Burd Captain of the Good ship or friggot Called the Lyon to saile uith his said ship and watch the said Isle and seise all shipps bound therto As the said Commission which is of the Lyke tenor uith this present Commission at more Length bears And the saids Lords Finding it necessar In respect of attempts made by french privateirs for releiving the rebells in the said Island That another ship of force be outreiked for blocking up the said Bass and preventing any releiff or supplie to be sent in or furnished to the saids rebells from the Kingdome of France or other Enemies to their Majesties and their government They have thought Good to outreick and fitt out another friggott sufficiently provyded uith men armes and ammunitione And in the absence of the Duke of Hamilton Lord High admirall and In the present exigence To give Commission to the persone afternamed to Command the said friggott for to watch the said Bass And to hinder all manner of provisiones and supplies to be brought or entered into it And Lykeuayes to secure the shipps and vessells belonging to his Majesties Leidges that may be in hazard from their attacques and surprises And the saids Lords having speciall trust and Confidence in the Loyaltie Courage and Conduct of John Bosuall skipper in Kirkcaldie master of the Good ship called the providence Have therfore nominated and appointed And heirby nominat and appoint the said John Bosuall to be Captaine of the said Good ship or frygott Called the providence of the burthen of tuo hundreth Tunns or therby and tuenty peices of ordinance uith all amunition proportionable as a man of warr Commissionat in their Majesties service to the speciall effect underwryten allenarly Giving Granting and Committing to the said Captaine full pouer warrand Commission and charge to saile furth his forsaid ship or frigot panned and provyded as above to watch the forsaid Isle and fort of the Bass And for that end to Cruise betuixt St Abbs head and Fyfeness day and night uith all care and dilligence and to seise all ships or 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 within the firth for Supplying and releiving therof with any sort of provisiones of men armes amunitione victuall or others whatsomever And if need beis upon resistance to fight destroy or other uayes overmaster the saids ships or vessells as he shall see cause As Lykeuayes to seise all ships boats or vessells whatsomever Coming from the Bass And in caise of resistance to fight destroy or otheruayes overmaster them as above And Generallie to watch and shutt up the forsaid rock and Island and rebells therin uith all possible care and strictnes and use all manner of hostility against them for that effect and to reduce them by all methods possible And ordaines the said Captaine to preserve harmles and skaithles all ships and vessells whatsomever uith their goods and Loading belonging to their Majesties good subjects or alleyes from all attempts or violence aither from the saids rebells in the Bass or of any other of their Majesties enemies As also Gives full pouer and Commission to the said Captaine to seise all shipps belonging to Enemies in propertie or having Commission from them uithin the firth or bounds abovedesigned for the saids frygotts Cruising And that if need beis by fighting destroying or otheruayes overmastering the saids Enemies as he shall see cause And to bring the shipps or vessells so overmastered and apprehended to any port or harbour uithin this kingdome uithout breaking bulk or altering the propperty therof To be proceeded against and Judged according to Law In the high Court of admirality in this Kingdome or such other Court or Courts as by particular and speciall commission shall be sufficiently authorized to doe the samen And to the effect That after such proceedings and adjudications The said Enemies shipps and goods be sold and disposed of as of right appertaines provyded alwayes that of such ships and vessells as also out of waires and merchandize whatsomever found aboard the saids vessells as shall be Judged laufull prise There 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 of by the Lords of Thesaury for their Majesties use authorizing the said Captaine Generallie to doe and performe all and every thing That touards the executione of the haill premisses is necessary and requisite promitting to hold firme and stable all and whatsoever things which shall be Laufullie done by the said Captaine by vertue of these presents And ordaines this Commission to Continow and Endure ay and while the samen be recalled by the Kings Majestie or by us or till the said Island of the Bass be surrendered and Lastly The saids Lords ordaines the said Captaine before he shall Act any thing by vertue of these presents to find sufficient Caution 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 att Edinburgh the threttie day of March J^aj vi^c nyntie four years sic subscribitur Tueeddale cancel: Southerland Cassills Forfar Tarbat Strathnaver James Steuart Adam Cockburne Thomas Livingstoune