AN ABSTRACT Of the most material INTERLOCUTORS of the LORDS of SESSION during the dependence before them of the CAUSE of the two Danish Ships the Palm-tree and Patience of Sunderburg adjudged Prise by the High-Court of Admirality anno 1672. AGAINST Alexander Acheson Captain of the Frigat or Privat Man of War by which the said Ships were brought up and the Owners of the said Frigat viz. John Duke of Rothes Lord High Chancellor and William Lord Cochran deceassed Charles Maitland of Haltoun Lord Thesaurer Deput and one of the Lords of Session Sir John Cohran of Ochiltrie Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie Clerk of the Bills Sir James Standfield of New-milnes Robert Baird of Sauchtonhall Sir William Binning c. EXCERPED Out of the two DECREETS of the LORDS pronounced in favour of the Strangers 25. February 1674. but not extracted till the 30. of July 1680. WITH The Articles of His Majestie 's TREATY with the King of Denmark relating to the Case of Ships and Goods taken at Sea in time of War an Article of His Majesties INSTRUCTIONS insisted on by the Capers against these Ships His Majestie 's LETTER to the LORDS in the Case of another Ship relative to His INSTRUCTIONS and divers other Papers related to in the DECREETS EDINBVRGH Printed for the STRANGERS in the Year 1682. An Abstract of the most material Interlocutors in the two Decreets of the Lords of Session in favour of the Owners of the two Danish Ships the Palm-tree and Patience of Sunderburg against Captain Acheson and his Owners in whose favour they were adjudged Reducing the Admirals Decreets and ordaining the Capers to pay the Value of the Ships and Goods Upon Debate of the Reasons of Reduction in praesentia 22. February 1673. THE LORDS FIND that Reason of Adjudication that the Strangers had not Passes conform to the Formula agreed upon in the Treaty betwixt the Kings Maiesty and the King of Denmark albeit the Ships loosed from Norway in the beginning of Iuly 1672. long after the breaking out and knowledge of the War not to inferre a Confiscation of the Ships and Loadings alone But that it importeth a just ground to seize and bring the same to Tryal and that it putteth the burden of Probation upon the Strangers by Documents and Witnesses above exception That the Ships and Loadings belong to the Kings Allies and Freemen and not to the Kings Enemies AND FIND that the Oaths of the Skippers and Owners which would have been sufficient if they had been adhibited at the obtaining of the Passes conform to the Formula are not now sufficient to clear the Property of the Ships and Loadings AND THAT the being of no Passes aboard relative to the Voyage but general Passes before the War and that by the Skippers Oaths it appears that they concealed the Fraught-Brieffs and that they were hid apart from the rest of the Documents and found by the Privateer and bear a greater Fraught to be paid in case the Ships were brought up to Holland provided a safe Delivery were made of the Goods DOTH IMPORT an intended Delivery of the Goods in Holland notwithstanding of the Missives and Documents aboard AND FIND the same grounds joyntly to be a sufficient presumptive Probation of a Contrivance and that the Ships and Goods are not free BVT YET to admit of a contrary positive Probation by Documents and Witnesses above exception That the Ships and Loadings belong to the Subjects of Denmark His Majesties Allies unless the Privateer prove the same to belong to the Kings Enemies LIKE AS THE LORDS FIND that the true Port being concealled or made Arbitrary by the Fraught-Briefs if the Privateer should instruct That Dail-boards such as were in these Ships are â—ounterband by the Custome of the Admirality of England or Holland that ground was sufficient though the Ships and Goods were proven to belong to Freemen to infer Confiscation of both THEREFORE THE LORDS granted Commission mutually to either Party for proving the Property and Value of the Ships and Goods the quantity of the Loadings and that the Port designed was London And to the Defenders that the Goods were Counterband But upon a Petition given in by the Pursuers Representing a mistake in the said Interlocutor as to the matter of the Fraught the Fraught being not a greater for Holland than for England but a lesse And craving the Benefit of a contrary Probation as to the matter of Counterband c. Eodem die The Lords ordain these words Viz That the Fraught-Briefs bear a greater Fraught to be paid in case the Ships were brought up to Holland provided a safe Delivery were made of the Goods which the Lords find did import an intended Delivery of the Goods in Holland Notwithstanding of the Missives and Documents aboard to be left out of the Interlocutor and grant a contrary Probation to the Pursuers to prove That Dails are not Counterband And ordain the Probation to be hinc inde vp Documents above exception Upon Report made of the Commissions by the Pursuers from the Magistrates of Sunderbare and Christiania and from the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London with an Attestation from the Admirality of Holland and His Majesties Declaration in favour of the Danes 25. February 1674. The Lords having advised the Reports with the Depositions of the Witnesses contained therein c. Then find that the property of the said Ships and Goods doth belong to Carsten Matsen and Hanse Petersen and their Owners His Majesties Allies And therefore Reduce the Decreets of Adjudication c. Upon Informations given in hinc inde in Relation to His Majesties INSTRUCTIONS 23. Iuly 1674. The Lords having considered the Informations given in by either Party together with His Majesties Instructions especially that Artcle thereof concerning concealled Documents they notwithstanding thereof adhere to their former Interlocutors and Decreets Reducing the foresaid Decreets of Adjudication obtained before the Admiral in regard of the Probation That the Ships and Goods belong to the Kings Allies and Freemen Item Upon a Hearing in Presence upon His Majesties INSTRUCTIONS 30. Iuly 1674. The Lords having heard c. They adhere to their former Interlocutor And ordain the Decreets to be Extracted Upon a Petition of the Capers for a new Hearing and Delay till November Eodem die The Lords having considered the said Supplication ADHERE to their former Interlocutors And ordain each Party to name a Merchant for Valuing of the Ships and Goods and remit to the Lord Collingtoun to consider the Valvation and to give his determination thereanent And ordain the Decreets to be extracted accordingly The Capers at this time being Trading with the Ships and the Strangers by the Envoy of Denmark having Represented it to the King and made Application to His Majesty for having the Values of their Ships and Goods decerned to them conform to their probation at Sunderburg and London with the Damages and Charges they had sustained And His Majesty having recommended the case
the Court of Admirality for the Reasons therein mentioned together with the said Lords their Interlocutor minuted upon the Margin of the said Act by Mr. John Hay of Haystoun one of the Clerks of the date the 25. of February last bearing That the Lords having advised the Reports and Depositions contained in the Reports They found that the Property of the Ship and Goods belonged to the said Carsten Matzen and his Owners His Majesty's Allies And therefore reduced the said Decreet before the Admirality And also produced the Printed Articles of Alliance and Commerce between the most Serene and Potent Prince Charles the second by the grace of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. and the most Serene and Potent Prince Christian the fifth by the grace of GOD King of Denmark Norway c. Concluded at Copenhagen the eleventh day of July 1670. and 37. Article thereof Whereby it is declared That it should not be lawfull either be fore the giving of the first Sentence or afterwards during the time of the Re-hearing to unload sell or make away the Goods in controversie unless it should happen to be done by consent of Parties And the said Mr. John Inglis intimated to the said William Binning's Wife that he heard and was informed that her Husband and his Partners were to send the said Ship the Palm-tree to Sea and declared his Dissent from their so doing or disposing of the said Ship any manner of way whatsoever as being a free Ship belonging to his Constituents Subjects to the King of Denmark and so found and declared by the Lords Interlocutor above-mentioned and required that the said Ship might be kept in a safe Harbour within this Kingdom â—nd put in safe Custody â—ill the said Lords their Sentence was extracted and he as Factor forsaid put in possession thereof in as good condition as she was the time of the Capture And if they did in the contrary protested likeas he hereby doth protest against their so doing as illegal and unwarrantable and an expresse Violation of the said Danish Treaty and that the Captain and Owners of the said Privateer and the said William Binning as Cautioner for the said Captain might be lyable each of them in solidum for the highest Prices proven or which could be proven by his said Constituents the said Ship was worth when she was taken And for all Cost Skaith Damage and Interest his said Constituents might sustain by the said Persons their disposing of the said Ship contrary to Law the Lords Sentence the Treaty and this his present Requisition and might be censured as Infractors and Violators of the said Treaty To which the said William Binning his Wife made answer That she could say nothing her Husband not being at home Thereafter the said Mr. John Jnglis past to the personal presence of Sir James Standfield of Newmilnes another of the Owners of the said Privateer and having exhibited and produced to him the foresaid Factory Act and Commission Iâ—â—erlocutor thereupon and Treaty and having declared to and required him and protested totâ—dem verbis against him in manner abovewritten The said Sr. James Standfield after his reading of the Lords Interlocutor and the Article above mentioned of the said Treaty answered That no regard could be had to the Lords Interlocutor because the Decreet was not extracted And as to the Treaty it was taken away by the Declaration of the late War To which the said Mr. John Inglis opponed the Lords Interlocutor and Treaty abovewritten and adhered to his Declaration Requisition Protestation founded thereupon in manner above mentioned Thereafter upon the said eightienth day of April instant the said Mr. John Inglis as Factor foresaid past to the personal presence of Robert Baird Merchant in Edinburgh another Owner of the said Privateer and produced to him his said Factory the Act and Commission foresaid Interlocutor of the Lords thereupon and Treaty abovementioned and likewayes declared to required of and protestated against him in manner above mentioned To the which the said Robert Baird answered for himself and in name of the present Owners of the said Ship That he protested against the said Skipper and his Factor and Samuel Makrieth their Cautioner for all Cost Skaith Damage that they had already sustained by arresting the said Ship whereby their voyage was already stopt And likewise protested No respect could be had to the Lords Interlocutor because no Decreet extracted And further protested That no respect could be had to that part of the Danish Treaty in respect the same extended not to the Ships but to the Goods that were perishable without prejudice of their furher Desenses as accorded of the Law To the which the said Mr. John Inglis opponed the Lords Interlocutor and Article of the Treaty above written and adhered to his former Declaration Requisition and Protestation against the said Robert Baird and his whole Partners Upon all and singular the Premisses the said Mr. John Inglis nomine quo supra and the said Sir James Standfield and Robert Baird upon the Answers made by them asked Instrument c. And sicklike I the said Notary undersubscribing at the Request and Command of the said Mr. John Inglis went to the personal presence of the said William Binning upon the said eightienth day of April and made due and lawful Intimation of the foresaid Declaration Requisition and Protestation made to his Wife in the said William's absence in manner above mentioned And having shown to him the aforesaid Factory Act and Commission with the Lords Interlocutor and the Treaty above mentioned The said William declared That he and his Partners sent the said Ship to Sea by virtue of an Adjudication obtained before the high Court of Admirality and had nothing to say to the said Interlocutor or Danish Treaty These things were done at the Places afterspecified viz. to the said William Binning his Wife upon the seventienth day of the said instant Month and year of GOD foresaid in his said dwelling House at Leith betwixt ten and eleven of the Clock in the forenoon before these Witnesses Mr. John Elshner Indweller in Edinburgh and George Davidson Servitor to the said Mr. John Inglis And on the said day to the said Sir James Standfield in the House of James Hamilton at the Sign of the Ship in Lieth betwixt four and five of the Clock in the afternoon Witnesses the said Mr John Elshner and George Davidson and John Davidson Indweller in Lieth And upon the said eightienth day of April and year of GOD foresaid to the said Robert Baird in the old Coffee-house of Edinburgh in Sir James Stuart's Closs betwixt eight and nine in the forenoon Witnesses the said Mr. John Elâ—hner and George Davidson And intimat and protested to the said William Binning the said day in manner above written betwixt the Hours of two and three in the afternoon at the Post Office of Edinburgh before these
to his Grace the Duke of Lauderdale All which after diverse years expectation of the Success taking no effect The Strangers apply to the Lords in the Winter Session 1679. And after long Tergiversation of the Capers obtain at last this Interlocutor upon a full hearing in presence 27. February 1680. The Lords having called both Parties and their Procurators in their own presence and fully heard c. And having advised the Reports anent the value of the Ships and Goods from London and Sunderburg THEY FIND the Ship the Palm-tree proven to be worth 5000. Ricks Dollers And the Ship the Patience proven to be worth 3500. Ricks Dollers and each hundred Dails of which the Loading of either Ship consisted proven to be betwixt 5. and 6. lib. Sterling AND DECERNE the Value of the Ships as proven And modifie the price of each hundred Dails to 50. lib. Scots c. Against this Interlocutor the Capers having Represented to the Lords by a Petition given in the last day of the Session 1. Toat the Process had slept and behoved to be wakned 2. Several of the Strangers were dead whose Factories behoved to be renewed 3. By the King's INSTRUCTIONS double and conceall'd Documents both which occurred in these Ships were a positive ground of Confiscation 4. The Value could only be Decerned as the Ships and Goods were worth here 5. The Goods were Counterband by the Dutch Placaets 6. The Value behoved to be Decerned according to the Roupe 7. They behoved to have Allowance of the Admiral 's Tenths The Kings Fifteenths and the Companies Thirds 28. February 1680. The Lords supersede Extracting of the Decreets till the 1. of Iune To the effect the Defenders betwixt and that time may produce the Roupe which was made of the Ships And when June was come and an Answer made to their Petition by the Strangers upon Consideration of Both 22. Iune 1680. The Lords adhere to their former Interlocutor of the 27. Feb. 1680. and Interlocutors preceeding AND ALLOW the Pursuers the Annual-rent of the sums Decerned as the Value of the Ships from the Moneth of February 1674. or after such time as the Defenders traded with the same The Pursuers proving the Defenders have tradrd with them ever since And if the Pursuers and their Procurators will not burden themselves with the said Probation The Lords ordaine the Decreets to be Extracted as to the prices according to the foresaid last Interlocutor After which Interlocutor upon a Petition given in by the Strangers referring the Defenders Trading with the Ships to their Oaths a Term was assigned them to Compear and Depone And whereupon an Act being Extracted and called The Term was circumduced against them After the Extracting of the foresaid Act whereupon the Term was circumduced against the Capers for not compearing to Depone anent their Trading with the Ships Captain Acheson Sir William Bruce Sir James Standfield Sir William Binning and others his Owners gave in a Petition Upon which though ipsis verbis the same with the Petition immediately preceeding the Lords ordained both Parties procurators to be heard in praesentia as they were about three weeks after And then upon a most contentious Debate as to the Dutch Placaets Double and Conceall'd Documents the King's Instructions c. By an Interlocutor 20 Iuly 1680. The Lords adhere to their former Interlocutors BVT ALLOW Deduction of the Admiral 's Tenths and the King's Fifteenths The Defenders producing Discharges thereof before Extracting of the Decreets After this Interlocutor the Capers produced a Roupe which they pretended they had made of the Ships a ter they were declared free And gave in a Petition wherein they again recurr to the pretence of Counterband Upon Consideration whereof and of the Answer made by the Pursuers to the Roupe 24. Iuly 1680. The Lords refuse to grant the Desire of the Petition in respect that point aâ—eâ—â— Counterband was formerly considered by them AND REFVSE to sustain the Roupe in regard the same was not formal and that it was posterior to the Lords Interlocutor whereby they Declared the Ships and Goods free AND THEREFORE ADHERE to their former Interlocutors And ordaine the Decreets to be Extracted Then the Capers gave in another Petition Representing 1. They could be onely liable for the Ships as Rouped and for the Goods as sold to the Exchequer 2. Former Interlocutors allowed them to instruct at what Rates the Ships and Goods were sold here And therefore they could be no further liable than as they sold 3. They could not be lyable for Annual-Rent Because those of them who bought the Shipe might as Lawfully Trade with them as a Stranger 4. They behoved to have Allowance of the Tenths Fifteenths and Thirds 5. They could not be lyable in solidum but singuli pro virili Which being Considered 29. Iuly 1680. The Lords notwithstanding thereof Adhere to their former Interlocutors in respect there was nothing therein Represented but what had been formerly under their Consideration 〈◊〉 refuse to allow any Deduction upon accompt of the Companies Thirds After this the Capers gave in a new Petition Craving a Delay till November thereafter upon these Grounds 1. That several of the Pursuers were dead whose Factories were therefore expired 2. Several of the Defenders were dead as namely the Lord Cochran whose Representatives behoved to be called Which Considered 30. Iuly 1680. The Lords notwithstanding of what was thereby represented ADHERE to their former Interlocutors And refuse to delay the Extracting of the Decreets Which Decreets nevertheless when Extracted were upon the very same pretences which had been so often Repelled by the whole Lords in time of Session Suspended by three of the Lords in time of Vacance Articles of the Treaty betwixt His Majesty and the King of Denmark in the year 1670. Printed at London Anno 1672. ARTICLE XX. BUt lest such freedom of Navigation or Passage of the one Allie and his Subjects and People during the War that the other may have by Sea or Land with any other Country may be to the prâ—judice of the other Allie And that Goods and Merchandise belonging to the Enemy may be fraudulently concealled under colour of being in Amity For the preventing of Fraud and clearing all Suspition It is thought fit that the Ships Goods and Men belonging to the other Confederate in their Passage and Voyages be accompanied with Letters of Passe-port and Certificate The Form whereof to be as followeth CHARLES the Second by the Grace of GOD King of Great-Britain c. Christian the fourth by the Grace of GOD King of Denmark and Norway c. When therefore the Merchandise Goods Ships or Men of either of the Confederates or their Subjects and Pople shall meet in open Sea Streights Ports Havens Lands and Places whatsoever the Ships of War whether publick or private or the Men Subjects or People of the other Confederate upon Exhibiting only the foresaid Letters of Safe-Conduct and Certificate there shall be nothing more required
Julii anno millesimo sexentesimo septuagesimo etrtio Ad mandatum Senatus subscripsi Christianus Arent Fischer Jud. Secret Juratus Report of the Magistrates of Christiania PRaeses Consul ac Senatores Civitatis Christianiensis notum testatumque facimus oblatum nobis fuisse Rescriptum quoddam Senatus Regni Scotiae datum vicesimo secundo Mensis Februarii proximè praeteriti quo rogati sumus ut testes de capitibus quibusdam controversis in Actione inter Christianum Matthiae Navarchum navis Palmae Sunderburgensis Alexandrum Acheson Praefectum navi bellicae Brussia dictae coram eodem Senatu pendente examinaremus prout dicto Rescripto fuse continetur Quae in re ne officio nostro deessemus ad instantiam actoris testes infra scriptos in Juducium vocari curavimus nimirum Claudium Joachimi Schumacherum Petrum Nicolai seniorem Bartholum Eliae Cives hujus urbis virosque fide dignos atque omni exceptione majores Qui comparentes singulique interrogati juramento Corporali ab ipsis prestito affirmaâ—â—re declaravâ—reiâ— Dictam Navem a Christina Hammer hinc Londinum in Anglia versus conductam fuisse menseque Junio superioris anni fuisse oneratam tabulis abiegnis pineis integris undecies mille octingentis viginti octo dimidiatis verò sexcentis sexaginta sex longitudinis a novem vel decem ad duodecem pedum latitudinis vero pedis circiter unius quae omnes pertinuere ad eandem Christinam preter septingentas quae pertinebant ad Navarchum ipsum atque nautas dictamque Christinam Hammer Civem atque incolam esse hujus urbis proindeque serenissimi Regis Daniae Norwegiae subditam Causam reddentes scientiae Quòd praesentes essent dum inter dictam Christinam atque navarchum de locatione conductionèque navis ageretur Item quód scirent tabulas ab ea ad Navem onerandam comparatas fuisse viderint eas illius nomine Navi imponi quòdque eandem Christinam atque maritum ejus paulò antequam navis conduceretur fatis defunctum qui hinc à longo tempore ejusmodi merces Londinum mittere tam suo quam meâ—â—â—torum Londi â—ensium nomine erat folituâ— optimè noverint Existimare autem se navenm ad 〈◊〉 nomiâ—â—â—um Christianum Matthiae navarchum Ioannem Jebsen mercatorem Cives Sunderburgenses â—oâ—quâ— solâ—s pertinere ac semper ex quo aedificata esset pertinuisse quod eandem ab illis solis exerceri ejusdemque ipsos Dominos habitos ac reputatos esse scirent Inque fidem horum omnium quae à se juratis dicta sunt nomina suae ac figilla apposuere Peder Nielsen elder Claes Jo. Schumacher Berthel Hellesen Comparuit dicta Christina Hammer civis nostra nobisque optimè nota quae ipsa quoque juramento corporali praestito affirmavit declaravit supradictam navem Palmam Sunderburgensem mense Junio anni superioris a Christiano Mathiae navarcho oneris tabularum abiegnarum pinearum Londinum devehendi gratiâ se conduxisse eandemque ejusmodi tabulis numero â—ndecies mille octingentarum vinginti octo integrarum sexcentarumque vero sexaginta octo dimidiatarum longitudinis a novem vel decem ad duodecim pedum uniusque vero circiter pedis latitudinis onerasie quae omnes praeter septingentas quae ad navarchum nautasque spectabant ad â—e propriê pertinuere Optim è autem sibi navarchum notum esse ceu cujus operâ aliquoties vir ejus dum viveret usus fuerit eundemque navarchum Ioannem Iebsen cives Sunder burgenses credere se dictae navis Dominos solos esse quòd ab illis solis sciret aliquandiu exerceri ipsosque illius exercitores semper habitos ac reputatos fuisse Quorum in fidem nomen ac sigillum suum hic apposuit Kirsten Hammer Relict of Jens Paulsen Quae omnia ita in Senatu nostro uti supra scripta sunt peracta esse publico hoc instrumento Civitatis nostrae Sigillo munito attestamur Christianiae dit 12. Augusti anno millesimo sexcentesimo septuagesimo tertio Locus Sigilli Christianus Rosingius Notar. Christ Report from the Lord Major and Aldermen of London TO ALL that shall see these presents or hear them to be read and specially to the Lords of Council and Session in Scotland Sir ROBERT HANSON Knight Lord Major and the Aldermen or Senators of the City of London send Greeting Know ye that on the day of the Date hereof by virtue of the Commission annexed there appeared and personally came into the Kings Majestie 's Court holden before us in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said City the several Deponents hereafter named being Persons well known and worthy of good faith and credit who in answer to the several Queries and Allegations in the said Commission contained did by their solemn Oath which they severally took upon the holy Evangelists of Almighty God before us then and there solemnly declare testifie and depose for certain and undoubted truth in manner and form as in their several Depositions underwritten is at large contained viz. John Shorter of London Merchant aged fourty eight years or thereabouts sworn and examined by virtue of the said Commission deposeth and saith upon his corporal oath That he knoweth Carsten Matsen Master of the Ship Palm-tree and that he this Deponent believeth him to be one of the Owners of the said Ship and Hans Jebsen to be the other but the said Hans Jebsen the chiefest And this Deponent for reason of his knowledge and belief hereof saith that he hath formerly imployed the said Carsten Matsen when that he was Master of the Ship White Lillie and hath continually imployed him the said Matsen to bring Goods for him from Norway in the said Ship Palm-tree from the very first Voyage she made after her being built until the last Voyage before her being taken and carryed into Scotland and that he this Deponent hath formerly received Advice by writing from the said Jebsen importing his concern and propriety in and to the said Ship Palm-tree And this Deponent also saith that he verily believeth that at the time of the Capture of the said Ship Palm-tree she was designed and coming with her Loading of Daills to this Port of London and that her said Loading did and doth properly and solely belong unto the Widow Christina Hammers of Christiania And this Deponent for reason of his belief hereof saith that in May 1672. this Deponent did write unto Jens Paulsen the Husband of the said Christina who was then living that he should endeavour the loading of the said Ship Palm-tree with Daills in order to her coming again to this Port of London and the said Paulsen being dead before that Advice could come to his hand his Widow the said Christina did accordingly take care and loaded the said Ship Palm-tree with Daills according to the said Order and Advice of this Deponent and consigned the said Loading of Daills unto him this Deponent to
pedum uniusque vero circiter pedis latitudinis onerasse quae ad se propriè pertinuere praeter quas fuisse ad mille integras longitudine latitudineque superioribus pares navi impositas quae pertinuere ad navarchum atque noutas Quorum in fidem nomina sua ac siglla apposuere Jens Jensen Kersten Hammer Rilect of Jens Paulsen Quae omnia ita in Senatu nostro uti suprà scripta sunt peracta esse publico hoc instrumento Civitatis nostrae sigillo munito atestamur Christianiae die 12. Augusti anno millessimo sexcentesimo septuagesemo tertio Christianus Rofingius Notar. Christ Report of the Lord Major and Aldermen of London TO ALL that shall see these Presents or hear them to be read and especially to the Lords of Council and Session of Scotland Sir ROBERT HANSON Knight Lord Major and the Aldermen or Senators of the City of London send Greeting Know ye that on the day of the Date hereof by virtue of the Commission annexed there appeared and personally came into the Kings Majesties Court holden before us in the Chamber of the Guildhall of the said City the several Deponents hereafter named being Persons well known and worthy of good Faith and Credit who in answer to the several Queries and Allegations in the said Commission contained did by their solemn Oath which they severally took upon the holy Evangelists of Almighty God before us then and there solemnly declare testify and depose for certain and undoubted truth in manner and form as in their several Depositions is at large contained viz. Peter Splidt of London Merchant aged fourty nine years or thereabouts sworn and examined by virtue of the said Commission deposeth and saith upon his corporal Oath That he well knoweth Hans Petersen Master of the Ship Patience of Sunderburg and that the said Hans Petersen Tyge Matsen and Hans Christian are the Owners of the said Ship Patience and Inhabitants of Sunderburg aforesaid and Subjects of the King of Denmark and of no other Prince or Nation whatsoever And for reason of his knowledge hereof this Deponent saith that he hath known all the Freights that the said Ship Patience hath brought to this Port of London for several Years now past And by the order and appointment of the said Owners and for their Accompt this Deponent hath received the several Sums of Money due for the said Freights here in London and afterwards remitted the same to them by Bills of Exchange for their own proper use And this Deponent knoweth That the said Ship Patience was laden with Daills at Christiania by Jens Jensen Merchant there a Subject also of the said King of Denmark and was bound for this Port of London and no other Port whatsoever at the time when she was taken and carried into Scotland which was in July last And that the said Loading was for the sole and proper Accompt of the said Jens Jensen and configned by him to this Deponent unto this Port of London to sell the same here for him except what was belonging to the Master and Ships Company For that this Deponent both before and since the Capture of the said Ship Patience received several Letters from the said Jens Jensen concerning the same Loading and consignment thereof unto him to this Port of London with order to take care of the Sale and Disposal thereof for his the said Jensens Accompt as aforesaid And this Deponent further saith That the said Ships Loading of Daills would have been worth and sold for here at this Port of London had they been brought hither when that she was surprised and taken the several Prices following viz. the eleven and twelve Foot Daills for six Pounds the Hundred and the nine and ten Foot Daills for five Pounds the Hundred And that he this Deponent then sold such Daills for the said Prices that were of the same Parcel as those were of loadned in the said Ship Patience at the time of her Capture which came consigned to this Deponent to this Port of London in June 1672. in the Ship St. Peter of Sunderburg John Matzen Master laden at Christiania aforesaid by Jens Paulsen deceassed and the aforesaid Jens Jensen And moreover this Deponent saith That he never knew or heard that by the Custom of the Court of the Admiralty of England Norway Daills were ever accounted counterband Goods or that they are adjudged so during this present War Peter Splidt Hans Paulsen Master of the Ship called the Flying Hart of Sunderburg aged twenty four years or thereabouts and Peter Jebsen Master of the Ship called the St. Peter of Sunderburg aged twenty two years or thereabouts both Inhabitants of Sunderburg aforesaed but at present in this City of London and Subjects of the King of Denmark sworn and examined by virtue of the said Commission depose and say upon their corporal Oaths joyntly as followeth viz. That they very well know Hans Petersen Master of the Ship Patience of Sunderburg in the said Commission mentioned and that the said Hans Petersen is a Subject of the King of Denmark and one of the Owners of the said Ship and that Hans Christian Tyge Matsen Paul Petersen and Jens Jensen who are also Subjects of the King of Denmark are other of the Owners and Proprietors of the said Ship Patience And these Deponents say That in July last past in the Voyage in which the said Ship was taken and brought unto Scotland she was designed and intended with her Loading of Daills for the Port of London and to no other Port whatsoever And that they these Deponents certainly know and solemnly affirm that the Loading of the Ship when she was taken did and doth properly and solely belong and appertain unto the aforesaid Jens Jensen in the said Commission named And these Deponents also well know that the said Ship Patience was built at Sunderburg aforesaid for that they saw the said Ship there upon the Stocks in the time of her building And that they these Deponents were at Christiania in Norway when the said Ship was laden and did therefore know that the said Loading of the said Ship belonged to the said Jens Jensen and that the same was designed only to the Port of London as aforesaid Hans Paulsen Peter Jebsen Charles Moore Notary publick and Deputy Register of the High Court of Admiralty of England aged fourty three years or thereabouts and John Hough Notary publick one of the Clerks of the said Court aged twenty eight years or thereabouts sworn and examined by virtue of the said Commission depose and say upon their Corporal Oaths That by the Custom of the Court of Admiralty of England Firre Daills are not nor never were since their remembrance accounted counterbond Goods Giving for reason of their knowledge for that he the said Charles Moore hath belonged to the said Court as a Clerk and Deputy Register for the space of twenty years and he the said John Hough for the space of seven years and