it appears that Carew's Right and Demand was not abolished or extinguished although seemingly suspended which was revived by the Supream Power and Legislator the Original Grant remaining Extant upon Record in the Rolls to be put into Execution when opportunity best serves until satisfaction and reparation shall be made by the one means or the other Now I must Beg your Honours further Patience and Pardon to shew your Honours who are the most Competent Judges that the States General and their Subjects have not only been Refractory in the Performance of the 8th and 9th Articles agreed upon in the last Treaty but possitively Broke the first and fifth Article of the Treaty Marine Signed at London the 1st of December 1674. By the Commissioners following viz. Thomas Culpeper George Downing Richard Ford William Thompson Iohn Iollife and Iohn Buckworth on the Behalf of the King of Great Britain And Iohn Corver George Sautyn Samuel Beger And Van Vossen P. Duvelaer M. Michielson on the Behalf of the States General IT being agreed by the 8. and 9. Articles between the King and the States General on the 9. of February 1674. New stile that six Commissioners were to be named on each side to settle and conclude upon a Regulation and Adjustment of Trade and Commerce in the East-Indies as also upon a Treaty Marine in all parts of the World as by the two several Articles hereafter follows in Latin taken from the Original appears VIII QUod Tractatus Marinus Hagae-Comitis inter partes utrasque Anno Domini 1668. conclusus coninuetur pro spatio novem mensium post hujus praesentis Tractatus publicationem nisi per subsequentem Tractatum aliter provisum fuerit interea autem ut consideratio novi super hac re Tractatus ad eosdem Commissarios referatur ad quo◠commercium per Indias Orientales in Articulo proxime sequenti referetur Quod si tales Commissarii intra tres menses post primum congressum suum in novum Tractatum Marinum ex voto non consenserint tunc res illa quoque ad Arbitrium ac dispositionem Serenissimae Dom. Reginae Regentis Hispaniae referetur eodem plane modo quo Commercii Orientalis regulatio ad Majestatis suae arbitratione in dicto Articulo proxime sequenti referetur IX EO quod à mutua non turbata commercii ac navigationis libertate non solum opulentia sed pax etiam utriusque nationis summopere pendet nihil magis curae esse debet utrique parti quam justa aequa commerce regulatio praecipuè in Indiis Orientalibus tamen quia res est maximi momenti multum temporis requiret ut firmi ac duraturi Articuli ad satisfactionem securitatem subditorum utriusque Partis conficiantur Cum tamen languens poene intermoriens plerarumque Europae regionum conditio non minus quam duarum partium in hoc bello implicatarum ad properam hujus Tractatus conclusionem anhelet supramemoratus Serenissimus Dominus Magnae Britanniae Rex votis desideriis praedictorum Ordinum Generalium accedere dignatur ut ejusdem consideratio aequali numero Commissariorum ab utraque parte nominandorum referatur eisdem Ordinibus Generalibus spondentibus ut illi quos ipsi nominaverint Londinum mittantur ad tractandum cum illis quos Majestas sua Britannica pariter à parte sua deputaverit idque intra spatium trium mensium post hujus Tractatus Publicationem Numerus item Commissariorum utrimque nominandorum sex erit personarum sin autem post tres menses quam congressi fuerint eorum conatus non tam feliciter suecesserint ut Tractatus inde concludatur capita inter eos controversa ad arbitrationem Serenissimae Dominae Reginae Regentis Aispaniae referentur quae undecim Commissarios nominabit Et quodcunque major eorum pars determinaverit in differentiis non prius compositis id utramque partem obligabit proviso semper quod judicium suum declarent intra spatium sex mensium a die quo primum congredientur quod etiam intra spatium erit trium mensium quostquam Serenissima Domina Reginae Regens Pispaniae praedictum arbitrium in se susceperit Those Regulations and Adjustments of Trade and Comerce in the East-Indies and the Treaty for settling Navigation in all other parts of the World were to have been determined and concluded within three Months after the Treaty Signed by the Marquis Del Fresno on the behalf of the States on the 9th of February 1674. as aforesaid But the Dutch Commissioners were Wrangeling and making their Friends with the Unrighteous Mamon untill the first of December 1674. compleat 9 Months and 19 Dayes and yet in all that time did not any thing concerning the Regulation agreed upon in relation to the East-Iidies but left that Affaire re infecta and as to the Treaty Marine they made several Articles most of them relating to contra bando Gods but as to the first and the fifth Articles contained in the said Treaty Marine whereby the Subjects of England were to injoy the Freedom and Priviledge of Navigations to all parts of the Spanish Dominions and else where the States have absolutly denyed the English Ships any Freedom in their passage to Antwerp through the Sheild contrary to the Words and Letters of the said Treaty which are as follows viz. Article I. THat it shall and may be lawfull for all and every the Subjects of the Most Serene and Mighty Prince the King of Great Britain aforesaid with all Freedom and Safety to Sail Trade and Exercise any manner of Traffique in all those Kingdoms Countreys and Estates which are or at any time hereafter shall be in Peace Amity or Neutrality with His said Majesty So that they shall not be any wayes hindred or molested in their Navigation or Trade by the Military Forces nor by the Ships of War or any other kind of Uessels whatsoever belonging either to the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands or to their Subjects upon Occasion or Pretence of any Hostility or Difference which now is or shall hereafter happen between the said Lords the States General and any Princes or People whatsoever in Peace Amity or Neutrality with His said Majesty Article V. AND that all manner of Differences and Contentions on both sides by Sea or Land may from henceforth Cease and be utterly Extinguished It is Agreed That all Ships and Uessels whatsoever belonging to the Subjects of His said Majesty entring or being entred into any Road or Port under the obedience of the Lords the States and purposing to pass from thence shall be onely obliged is shew unto the Offices acting in the Ports of the said States or to the Captains of the States Ships or of Private Men of War if any happen there to be their Passport commonly called a Sea-brief nor shall any Money be exacted from them for the same AFter the Treaty Marine was concluded divers
Sir William Courten and Sir Paul Pyndar K t s Deceased with their Wills annexed and Thomas Coppin Esq on the behalf of themselves and divers others Interested and Concerned Sheweth THat in Pursuance of two several Orders of the Council-Board Dated the 24th of July 1677. Your Petitioners and other Proprietors Interested have often attended with their Councel Learned in the Law to be heard concerning relief for the matters therein contained according to Iustice and Common Right Humbly Praying that the Ambassador of the States General Resident in England might have notice thereof to make what Defence he could by his Advocates or others against your Petitioners just Complaints but to this day your Petitioners could not be heard although several times were Assigned for that purpose Your Petitioners do therefore most Humbly Pray that Your Majesty would be most Graciously pleased to appoint a Peremptory Day that your Petitioners may be heard at the Council-Board and that the Dutch Ambassador may have notice thereof from one of the Principal Secretaries of State with Copies of the said Orders to make what Defence he can by his Advocates or others if he please that Right may be done according to the Merits of the Cause And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. George Carew Thomas Coppin THe said Petition being Ordered to be Read and Sir Philip Lloyd Clerk of the Councel having Read the same accordingly on the 12th day of May 1680. The Lord High Chancellour was pleased to tell Mr. Carew that he should not be heard but that He and others that offered to put the said Letters Pattents or any Commissions derived from thence in Execution should be Hanged as Pirates And notwithstanding the said George Carew informed the Councel-Board that two or three Ships were out upon the Coast of Spain and other parts in Pursuance of certain Articles and Agreements between him and the Creditors yet nothing would prevail for a hearing upon the Petition or upon the former Order of Councel aforesaid but this new Order was made Ex parte upon a Memorial given in by the Dutch Ambassador stuft with Impertinent falsities as follows At the Court at White-Hall the 12 th of May 1680. Present The Kings most Excellent Majesty His Highness Prince Rupert Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Chancellor Lord President Duke of Albemarle Marquess of Worcester Earl of Ossory Lord Chamberlain Earl of Bridgwater Earl of Sunderland Earl of Essex Earl of Bathe Lord Bishop of London Mr. Hide Lord Chief Justice North. Mr. Finch Mr. Secretary Ienkins Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Thomas Chicheley Mr. Godolphin THis day a Memorial presented to His Majesty by his Excellency the Ambassador Extraordinary from the States General of the United Provinces was read in Council setting forth how that according to Information given upon Oath Sir Edward Graves K nt and George Carew Esq were Equipping and Arming a small Frigat called the Mary under the Command of Tyrence Byrne to be imployed against the Subjects of the States General and particularly to surprize and seize the Ship called the Emperour wherein a part of the said Lord Ambassadors Equippage was Imbarqued in order to his return to his own Country which Equipping and Arming was by colour of a Commission or Letter of Reprizal bearing date the 29th of May in the 17th year of His Majesties Reign that now is and granted in favour of the Creditors of Sir William Courten and others And praying that the said Letters of Reprizals might be Revoked His Majesty considering that the said Commission was Suspended by His Majesties Proclamation bearing Date the 10th of August 1666. for divers great and notable Misdemeanors committed in Execution thereof and that by the Treaty of Peace and Alliance made with the States General of the United Provinces at Breda the 21 of July 1667. It is agreed that all Suits and Pretentions that the Subjects of His Majesty or the States General might or could move or prosecute one against another for any matter or thing before the Date of the said Treaty shall remain void Obliterated and Disanulled and that all Letters of Reprizal Marque or Countermarque both general and particular are by the said Treaty Inhibited and Revoaked which said Treaty was restored in its former Uigour and Confirmed by a Subsequent Treaty made at Westminster in the Month of February 167 3 4. By which Treaties all Letters and Commissions of Reprizal are intirely Revoaked and Annulled His Majesty likewise foreseeing of what Mischievous Consequence it would be to all his Loving Subjects if the States General upon the Execution of the said Letters of Reprizal contrary to the meaning of the said Treaties and after the anulling of them by the same should Grant Letters of Countermarque against the said Subjects and their Goods to the hindring of Commerce and the Ruine and Dammage of many particular Men although unconcerned in the Case of such Reprizal His Majesty doth therefore hereby Order Sir Creswel Levins His Majesties Attorney General to prepare the Draught of a Supersedeas to pass the Great Seal of England whereby the said Letters of Reprizal may be in due form of Law Superseded Revoked and Declared to be void and Determined to all effects and purposes whatsoever to the end the States General may rest satisfied of his Majesties care to have his Treaties duly executed and that it be made known and may appear of Record to all his Loving Subjects that the said Letters of Reprizal are Revoaked and Declared void to the end also that none may hereafter presume to Act by vertue thereof and if any do that they may be proceeded against as Pirats acting without Commission and as Infractors of the Peace and Alliance between His Maiesty and the States General A true Copy Ex. FRANCIS GUYN IT may be remarqued from hence what Dangerous consequences would attend the Subjects of England in their Estates and Properties if such an Order of the Councel-Table should be of force to Supersede a Iudicial Grant upon Record under the Great Seal of England without a Scire facias or hearing the Parties or to Discharge and Release particular Mens-Rights and Interests in the Hands of Forreigners upon private and Land-Contracts in Trade and Commerce without any Restitution or Satisfaction for the same Under such presidents no Man can be safe It 's very remarkable that civil Actions and Pretences for several Matters and Things were not Obliterated or made void by the Treaty at Breda as appears by several Presidents of both sides in the Courts of Judicature at the Hague Amsterdam and Middleburgh viz. By the cause in the Supream Court of Judicature between James Boeve and the Heirs of Peter Boudaen depending many years before the Treaty at Breda and prosecuted several years after to a Definitive Sentence and by other actions in Zealand that had long depended before the Treaty in the Zerick-sea which were prosecuted afterward by Sir William Lower John Monson and Roger
Enimies But before any of the said Ships returned Sir William Courten died upon whose Foundation the East-India Company of England afterwards take their times steps Measures of Trade and Correspondence Sir William Courten in his Life-time having contracted many great Debts concerning his several undertakings and ways of Traffick aforesaid left his only Son and Heir William Courten his sole Executor obliging him upon his Death-bed to preserve his Credit at home and abroad especially to prosecute the East-India Trade But soon after the News of Sir Courten's Death was spread in the Low-Countreys the East-India Company of the Netherlands by Force and Fraud used all the Stratagems possible to ruine Mr. Courten's Trading Voyages And after the loss of the two Ships Dragon and Catherine richly Laden from China and Iapan The Officers of the Dutch East-India Company in the beginning of the year 1643 and in the midst of the disorders in England took advantage when the King could not protect his Subjects abroad to spoil Mr Courten and his Partners of other Ships Goods and Merchandize in those remote parts of India But the Constitutions of these times for the space of 20 years from 1640. to 1660. rendred Mr. Courten Sir Paul Pyndar and their Associates so obnoxious to the Powers in being that Mr. Courten was forced out of England and died in his Exile The others remained passive until the King 's most happy Restauration who then for 4 years together earnestly sollicited both at home and abroad upon the Kings Recommendation and Order of the Council-Table for restitution and reparation for the spoyls and depredations of the two Ships Bona Esperanza and Henry Bonadventura without effect Notwithstanding a Worthy Member of the Commons in Parliament had a considerable Sum of Money deposited in his hands in trust to be placed in Holland to procure an honourable Composition from the States or the East-India Company of the Netherlands which was not done yet this worthy Member does not only refuse to refund the Mony but being sued in Chancery for it sometimes insists upon the Priviledge of a Parliament and at other times pleads the Statuts of Limitations Then a Grant passed under the Seal of England of common Right in due form of Law for Satisfaction and Indempnity of the persons interested and injured An Authentick Copy whereof hereafter follows A Copy of the Letters Paetents for Reprisals against the States General and their Subjects Inrolled in Chancery for Satisfaction of 151612 l. Sterling with Costs and Damages CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. To all Christian People to whom these presents shall come Greeting Whereas our loving Subject William Courten Esq Deceased and his Partners Anno 1643. by the depredation and hostile Act of one Geland Commander in chief of two Ships belocging co the East-India Company of the Netherlands was betwéen Goa and Maccao in the Streights of Malacca deprived and most injuriously spoiled of a Ship named the Bona Esperanza and of her Tackle Apparel and Furniture and all the Goods and Lading in her upon a very hopeful Trading Uoyage to China which were carried to Batavia and there all de facto without due Process of Law confiscated And that also in the same Year another Ship of our said Subject called the Henry Bonadventura being come on ground near the Island Mauritius was there both Ship and Goods seized upon by some of the Officers and Ministers and others under the Command of the said East-India Company and utterly detained from the right Owners And whereas the said William Courten and his Assigns in his Life time used all possible endeavours to recover the said Ships and Goods and to procure further Iustice against the Malefactors and yet could obtain no Restitution or Satisfaction whereby they became to be much distressed and utterly undone in their Estate and Credit And that thereupon and upon the most humble supplication and Adresses of Francis Earl of Shrewsbury and William Courten Esq Grand-son and Heir of the said Sir William deceased Sir John Ayton and Sir Edmond Turnor Knights George Carew and Charles Whitaker Esqs on the behalf of themselves and divers others Interested in the said two Ships Bona Esperanza and Henry Bonadventure and in the Estates of the said Sir William Courten deceased Sir Edward Littleton Baronett and Sir Paul Pyndar Knight deceased that We would take their Case into Our Princely Consideration We out of a just Sense We then had and still have of their unjust sufferings in that business both by Our own Letters under Our Sign Manual to the States General of the United Provinces and by Sir George Downing Knight and Baronet Our Envoy Extraordinary to whom We gave special Command so to do required satisfaction to be made according to the rules of Iustice and the Amity and good correspondence which We then desired to conserve with them firm and inviolable And whereas after several Addresses made to the said States General by Our said Envoy and nothing granted effectual for Relief of our said Subjects whom We take Our selves in Honour and Iustice concerned to be satisfied and repaid We lately commanded the said Sir George Downing to intimate and signifie to the said States that We expected their final Answer concerning satisfaction to be made for the said Ships and Goods by a time then prefixed and since elapsed that We might so govern Our selves thereupon that Our aforesaid Subjects might be relieved according to Right and Iustice And yet no satisfactory Answer hath béen given so that We cannot but apprehend it to be not only a fruitless endeavour but a prostituting of Our Honour and Dignity to make further Application after so many denyals and flightings And whereas John Exton Doctor of Laws Iudge of our High Admiralty Court of England upon Our Command to certify to Us the value of the Losses and Damages sustained by the said William Courten and Partners whose Interests is now vested in Our Loving Subjects Sir Edmond Turnor Knight and George Carew Esq and Partners hath upon full Examination and Proofs thereof made by Witnesses in Our High Court of Admiralty reported and certified under his Hand that the same do amount to the sum of One Hundred Fifty One Thousand Six Hundred and Twelve Pounds Now Know Ye That for a full restitution to be made to them for their Ships Goods and Merchandizes of which the said William Courten and the Assigns of the said William Courten and Partners were so despoiled as aforesaid with all such Costs and Charges as they shall be at for the recovery of the same We by the Advice of our Privy Cotucil have thought fit and by these presents do grant Licence and Authority under our great Seal of England unto Our said Subjects Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns for and on the behalf of themselves and other Persons interessed as
aforesaid to equip victual furnish and to set to Sea from time to time such and so many Ships and Pinaces as they shall think fit Provided always that there be an entry made and recorded in the Admiralty Court of the Names of all Ships and Uessels and of their Burthen and Ammunition and for how long time they are victualled And also of the Name of the Commander thereof before the same or any of them be set forth to Sea And with the said Ships and Pinaces by force of Arms to set upon take and apprehend any of the Ships Goods Moneys and Merchandizes of the said States General or any of their Subjects inhabiting within any their Domainions or Territories wheresoever the same shall be found and not in any Port or Harbour in England or Ireland unless they be the Ships and Goods of the Parties that did the wrong And the said Ships Goods Moneys and Merchandizes being so taken and brought into some Port of Our Realms and Dominions an Inventory thereof shall be taken by Authority of Our Court of Admiralty and Iudgement shall be given in Our Court of Admiralty by the Iudge or Iudges thereof for the time being upon proofs made before him or them that the said Ships Goods Wares Merchandizes or Money did belong to the States General or any of their Subjects as aforesaid That they shall be lawful prize to the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Exetutors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid to retain and kéep in their or any of their Possessions and to make sale and dispose thereof in open Market or howsoever else to their and every of their best Advantage and Benefit in as ample manner as at any time heretofore hath béen accustomed by way of Reprisal and to have and injoy the same as lawful Prize and as their own proper Goods so that neither Captain Master nor any of the Company that shall serve in his own Person or shall promote and advance the said enterprize in manner and form aforesaid shall in any manner of wise be reputed or challenged for an Offendor against any of Our Laws And that also it shall be lawful for all manner of persons as well Our Subjects as any other to buy the said Ships Goods and Merchandizes so taken and apprehended by the said Captains Masters and others and adjudged as aforesaid without any damage loss hinderance trouble or molestation or incumbrance to befal the said Buyers or any of them in as ample and lawful manner as if the Ships Goods Wares and Merchandize had been come and gotten by the lawful Traffique of Merchants or of just prizes in the time of open War Provided always that all Ships Goods and Merchandizes taken by virtue of this Our Commission shall be kept in safety and no part of them wasted spoiled or diminished or the Bulk thereof broken until Iudgement have first past as aforesaid That they are the Ships and Merchandizes of the States General or some of their Subjects aforesaid And if by colour of this our Commission there shall be taken any Ships Goods or Merchandizes of any of our loving Subjects or the Subjects of any Prince or State in good League or Amity with us except the States General or their Subjects as aforesaid and the Goods therein laden and imbezelled or diminished or the bulk thereof broken in any place before they shall be adjudged to belong to the States General or some of their Subjects as aforesaid That then this Commission shall be of no sufficient Authority to take the said Ships Goods and Merchandizes or to warrant or save harmless such as shall receive buy or intermeddle therein but that the prizes so taken and the said Ship of War shall be confiscated to Our use And further We do hereby declare that it is Our Will and Pleasure that this Our Commission shall remain in full force and power to all intents and purposes until the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid shall by vertue thereof have by force of Arms apprehended taken seised recovered and received from the said States General or their Subjects One hundred fifty one thousand six hundred and twelve pounds according to the Appraisement to be made by sufficient Appraisers upon Oath nominated and authorised in Our said Court of Admirally of all such Ships Goods Wares and Merchandizes as shall be taken from the said States General or any of their Subjects by vertue of this Commission or shall otherwise receive satisfaction of the Debt aforesaid by Composition to be made between those of the East-India Company of the Netherlands and the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid Notwithstanding it so happen the present difference between Us and the States General depending upon general Reprisals may be agreed and composed and that in the interim a Peace and good Correspondence may be renewed between Us and the said States General In which case nevertheless it is Our will and pleasure that in the execution of this Our Commission no violence shall be done to the Persons of the said Subjects of the said States General but only in case of resistance and that after in cold blood the Subjects of the said States General if hurt or wounded shall be used with all convenient office of humanity and kindness And further Our Will and Pleasure is that although it shall happen that all hostility between Us and the States General and Our respective Subjects shall cease yet this Our Commission shall remain and be in full force and power to the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid by vertue thereof to apprehend take and seize by force and Arms so many more of the said Ships and Goods of the States General or any of their said Subjects as besides the said sum before mentioned shall countervail satisfie and pay all such Costs and Charges as the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators or Assigns as aforesaid shall from time to time make proof to have disbursed and paid towards the equipping manning paying furnishing and victualling of the said Ships so licensed and Authorised as aforesaid by this Our said Commission to be equipped manned furnished and victualled by the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid for the purpose aforesaid And Our Will and pleasure is and We de hereby require Our Iudge or Iudges of Our High Court of Admiralty for the time being and all other Officers of the Admiralty and all other Our Iudge or Iudges Officers Ministers and Subjects whatsoever to be aiding and assisting to the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators Assigns as aforesaid in all points in the due Exectuion of this Our Royal Commission and to procéed to adjudication and adjudge all Ships Merchandizes Monies
and Goods by vertue hereof to be taken proved to belong to the said States General or any of their Subjects to be lawfull prize to the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators or Assigns as aforesaid according to our Princely intention hereby signified and expressed and to take care that this Our Royal Commission be duly executed and favourably interpreted and construed in all respects to the benefit and best advantage of the said Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew their Executors Administrators and Assigns as aforesaid In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents Witness Our self at Westminster the 19. day of May in the 17. Year of Our Reign Per ip'm Regem It is to be considered that upon some Spoyls and Depredations done by the West-India Company of Holland to the English upon the Coast of Guinny whereby the Affrican Company suffered great Dammages and Affronts the King and His Royal Highness the Duke of York having particular shares and proportions therein for want of Satisfaction and Reparation In conclusion General Reprizals were Proclaimed against the States and their Subjects before this grant aforesaid passed for Particular and Special Reprizals in Courtens Case although it was in agitation some years before Yet after all this the Proprietors Applyed themselves respectively to the States and Directors of the East-India Company to accomodate that Affair rather then to put the said Grant into Execution and when nothing would prevail several Commissions in the year 1666. were Assigned to Captain Edward Lucy Nicholas Carew Iohn Holmes Edward Manning Tyrence Byrne and other Captains and Commanders who brought in several Ships and their Ladings as Prize but in regard the Hollanders Traded under the Colours and Trusts of the Swedes Hamburgers Flemmings Breamers Dantzickers Lubeckers and other Nations in Common amity with England the Ships and Goods so brought in were most of them claimed by several Agents from the Subjects of those Nations or the Residents of those Princes and States whereupon they were restored by the Judge of the Admiralty so that there was not bona fide Fifteen Hundred Pounds recovered as by the Register in the Court of Admiralty appears before a Proclimation Issued forth on the 10th of August 1666. to suspend the Execution of the said Letters Patents under pretence of Misdemeanours in the Captains with an Order of the Councel Table of the same Date to Commit the said George Carew who granted the said Commissions although neither of the said Captains nor the said Carew were ever Summoned or Questioned judicially to answer any charge against them Then the Proprietors and Persons interested Presented their Petition to His Majestie to have some satisfaction for the present out of the Prizes taken from the East-India Company of Holland and others by the Kings Ships but answer was given that they were to be disposed for other Services the War being Proclaimed for General Reprizals and that the Petitionors might resort to their own special Grant in a more seasonable time the Seamen being wanting for the Kings Ships Then some of the most considerable Creditors made several inspections into His Majesties Speeches and Orders of both Houses in relation to the War against Holland A very remarkable one being deliver'd by the Earl of Manchester Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Household with his Speech made to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and worthy Citizens of London at a Common-Hall on Tuesday the 1. of December 1664. viz Die Veneris 25. November 1664 Ordered by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled that the thanks of both Houses of Parliament be given unto the City of London for their forwardness in Assisting His Majesty and in Particular for Furnishing Him with several great Sums of Money towards His preparations for the Honour Safety and Trade of this Nation And more Especially well weighed several Periods of His Majesties Speech to both Houses of Parliament on the 24th of November 1664. as followeth viz. Mr. Speaker ANd you Gentlemen of the House of Commons I know not whether it be worth My pains to endeavour to remove a vile Iealousie which some ill Men scatter abroad and which I am sure will never sinck into the breast of any Man who is worthy to sit upon your Benches that when you have given me a Noble and proportionable Supply for the support of a War I may be induced by some evil Councelors for they will be thought to think very respectively of my own Person to make a suddain Peace and get all that Mony for my own private occasions But let me tell you and you may be most confident of it that when I am compelled to enter into a War for the Protection Honour and Benefit of my Subjects I will God Willing not make a Peace but upon the obtaining and securing those ends for which the War is entred into and when that can be done no good Man will be sorry for the determination of it WHereupon the Commons of England acknowledging in the Preamble of their Acts with all humility and thankfulness to His Majestie for his abundant care in their preservation at Sea and of the great Charge necessary for the defence thereof Granted at several times Five Millions Four Hundred and Four Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Pounds Eleven Shillings and Eight Pence for Extraordinary Supplies towards the Wars out of which his Royal Highness the Duke of York had the Sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Nine Hundred and Two Pounds Fiftéen Shillings and Eight Pence a Months Tax for his Heroick courage at Sea against the Hollanders Upon this consideration the said Creditors and those intrested in the Letters Patents for the special Reprizals applied themselves again in season and out of season to His Majestie and the Councel for some Reparations out of the Imbeazilments of the Prizes taken by the Kings Ships from the Dutch or out of the Monies given by Parliament but answer was made that His Majestie had done for the Petitioners already all what the Law required and so they might rest satisfi'd therewith the Debt being stated and ascertained by a Grant for reparation under the Great Seal of England Afterwards in the Month of Iune 1667. Preparations being made for a Treaty of Peace and common Alliance at Breda the Creditors and Proprietors concern'd in the Bona Esperanza and Henry Bonadventura applied themselves to the King and Ambassadors Extroardinary on both sides as also unto the Directors of the East-India Company of the Netherlands that satisfaction might be given in that singular Case of Courten to take away the continual Claim and Execution so intailed by the Especial Grant under the Great Seal of England that would perpetually be incumbant upon the States General and the East-India Company of the Netherlands until Restitution be made then Iohn de Wit the Pensionarie of Holland who offered Four Hundred Thousand Guilders in the year
desire your Speedy Advice For if you shall find the Terms such as may be imbraced your Advice will have great weight with Me and if you find them Defective I hope you will give Me your Advice and Assistance how to get better Terms Vpon the whole Matter I doubt not but you will have a care of My Honour and the Honour and safety of the Nation which are now so deeply concerned The Substance of the Overtures in the said Letter being communicated to both Houses of Parliament were as follows viz. THat the States General and their Subjects should acknowledge the Kings Dominion and Soveraignty of the Seas by striking to the Kings Ships as was Proposed That a regulation of Trade should be settled and adjusted in the East-Indies by a certain number of Commissioners to be appointed of Each side and a Treaty Marine also settled by the said Commissioners within a certain time to be prefixed That Eight Hundred Thousand Pattacoons should be paid to his Majestie at four equal payments the first upon ratifying the said Treaty and the other by three Yearly payments That the Queen Regent of Spain should be Guarrantee for the performance of the said Articles Whereupon both Houses of Parliament Adressed themselves severally to the King to accept of the said Overtures for a Peace with the States seperate from France which were drawn into formal Articles wherein this Seventh Article was Interlarded concerning the Memorable Treaty at BREDA viz. VII Quod tractatus Bredae conclusus Anno Domini 1667. Sicut Etiam omnes alii precedentes trastatus per illum tractatum confirmari renoventur maneant in plena vi ac vigore in quantum presenti tractatui nullaetinus contradicunt But as to the Freedom and Advantage of Fishing upon the English Coast a Royalty so inherent to the Crown of England that His Majesty cannot Sell or Depart withall unto Strangers the Hollanders Say was thrown into the Bargain Gratis upon the account of the Prince of Orange so long as he shall injoy the Offices of Stat-holder Lord High Admiral General and other Offices and Honours of his Ancestors This last Treaty being Concluded Ratified and Published the Interested in the Bona Esperanza and Bonadventura Addressed themselves both to the King and the States General respectively to be paid and satisfied out of the Pattacoons Protesting otherwise that they should be necessitated to put their Letters Patents into Execution to Levy and Reprize their Debt and Damages aforesaid The Proprietors were in good hopes they should not meet with any difficulty in attaining their ends when they found the Treaty Signed by five Principal Ministers of State on the Kings side viz. H. Finch C. S. Latimer Ormond Arlington and H. Coventry For that the Warrant and Proceedings concerning the said Patent passed through the Lord Arlington's Office when he was Secretary of State and directed to Sir Heneage Finch to prepare the Bill when he was Sollicitor General in the time that the Lord Roberts kept the Privy-Seal and had been debated by H. Coventry when he was Ambassador at Breda and the Pattacoons left to the disposing of Latimer Lord High Treasurer of England who knew the Kings Honour and Reputation lay at stake with His Subjects concerning that Affair But yet nevertheless a 4th Part of the said Pattacoons were presently Assigned to be paid to Alderman Backwel for other Services and the Six hundred thousand remaining were transferred by the said Latimers advice and another Minister of State much admired in Holland to the Prince of Orange for old Debts due to his Father and Grandfather from the late King as is pretended and no care taken to satisfie the said 151612 l. with Damage either by his Majestie or the States but left in statu quo under all those circumstances aforesaid Wereupon Divers of the Creditors finding there Rights Liberties and Properties Invaded first strictly Examined the several Treaties and then reduced their Case into two Questions as follows and took the Advice of several most Learned Lawyers thereupon viz. 1 Whether the Letters Patents for Reprizals before-mentioned at large in Folio 4 5. and the Powers and Authority thereby granted can be Revoked Repealed or the Execution thereof Suspended by Proclamation Scire facias Supersedeas Articles of Peace or any way whatsoever before Satisfaction and Reparation should be had or made for the said 151612 l. to the Persons Interested and Injured or not 2 Whether any particular Debts due from the Subjects of the States General to Sir William Courten or Sir Paul Pyndar their Executors Administrators or Assigns by Bills of Exchange Bonds Accompts Covenants or other private Contracts in Trade were Released or Discharged by the said Articles of the Treaty at Breda recited in Folio 7. or were ever intended to be Comprized or Comprehended within the said Articles or not Answer to the First Question OUR Forefathers were so careful of Merchants Rights and Properties and so Provident for the Maintenance and Encouragement of Navigation and Commerce that in all Cases of Spoyls and Depredations whereupon any Offences Injuries Damages or Losses at any time happened to the Subjects of England at Sea the Injured applyed themselves for present Relief to the Writ de arresto facto super bonis mercatorum alienigenium pro transgr facta mercatoribus Angliae and the words Recited in the Writ are for that the Offence is done contra Legem Rationem and not contra pacem In those days the Persons and Gods of Merchants Strangers were Arrested in England for the Offences and Injuries committed by the Subjects of the Prince or State unto whom they belonged that did the Damage Whereupon the Subjects belonging to the Maritine Provinces under the Duke of Bourgundy and divers parts of France comming to the Staple and Mart Towns in England made great complaints to the King and Councel of grievous pressures upon them by suffering in English Ports and Harbours for the Offences of other Men. In consequence whereof an Act of Parliament passed in their favour 27. Edw. 3. Statute 2 Chap. 17 That the Rigour of those Writs should be taken away and in liew thereof in all Cases of Spoils the Subjects of England should for their Relief have the Law of Marque without Fraud or Delay therefore to prevent the failer of Iustice such Letters were to be granted Effectually otherwise liberty would be taken to commit the greatest Injuries and Offences whatsoever unpunishable to the prejudice of all Commerce and Humane Society Justinian agreeth herewith in his Book de jure Nat. And Grotius sayes that the later Lawyers calls it the Right of Reprizals the Saxons and old English Withernam and the French Letters of Marque In several Countries they are asked of the Iudges and by the Common Law of England they were used to be asked of the King but the Subjects finding many Delays and great Expences in those proceedings to their vast prejudice by Secretaries of State
Upon the Complaints of the Commons of England in Parliament an Act passed in the 4th Year of Henry the 5th whereby a remedy was provided for their more speedy Relief in all Cases of Spoyls and Depredations against Leagues Amities Truces and safe Conducts the parties grieved having liberty thereby to Address themselves to the Keeper of the Privy Seal for the time being for Letters of Request who upon Manifest proofs and Evidence of the wrong appearing shall grant Letters of Request in due form if so required for Restitution and Reparations from the parties that did the Injury that is to say from the Prince State or Supream Power which if not made in a convenient time prefixed that then the Lord Chancellour of England shall make to the party grieved Letters of Marque or Reprizals under the Great Seal of England in due form of Law And by a Statute in the 14th Edw. 4th It was Enacted Established and Confirmed that all Statutes and Ordinances against Offences Injuries Damages and Losses done by Breakers of Leagues Amities Truces and safe Conducts shall be in full Force and Effect By which Statute-Law wherein every Subject of England hath an Interest the Lord Privy Seal and Lord Chancellour are bound to grant the said Letters Respectively Ex Officio of Common right they being upon their Oaths to do their Office Iustly otherwise it would be a Uiolation of their trust And therefore without Satisfaction and Reparations first had and obtained in the Case of Courten for the Debt of 151612 l. and Damages the Chancellour cannot legally pass any Act Supersedeas or Proclamation under the Great Seal of England to Revoke or make void the said Letters Patents or to suspend the Execution thereof being the effect and fruit of several Acts of Parliament for Relief of particular Subjects that were Spoyled and Injured against Leagues of Common Amity and Truces Whereas in the High Court of Chancery his Lordship cannot Relieve any Person whatsoever Stranger or Denizon against a Statute-Law Grotius and the Learned Selden agree that after a Depredation Committed by the Subjects of one Nation to those of another and that the Damage hath been Stated and Letters of Request Issued forth and Iustice denied or delayed that Immediatly such Damage becomes a National Debt to the particular Persons Injured and by the Laws of Nations it ought to be recovered and Paid therefore Remedy is provided by the Laws and Statutes of England accordingly When an Authority passeth by the Kings Grant to such injured Persons of Common Right coupled with an interest to Levie and Recover the Debt and Damages when once the Power is Granted as the Law directs the same cannot by any subsequent Act of the King be Bound or Suspended without satisfaction to the Parties Grieved and the reason is plain because such a Grant and Execution upon it is no Breach of Peace or common Alliance between Princes and States And it 's against the Honour and Interest of the King both at Home And Abroad to diminish his own Prerogative and Royal Grant before satisfaction obtained the Patent being published for a President in several Languages amongst all the Neighbouring Nations Answer to the Second Question THat the private Interest of the Subjects of either side upon Debts Accounts Covenants or any civil Contract in Merchandizing upon the Land cannot be in any Measure comprized or comprehended within any Article of the Treaty at Breda under the notion of Offences Injuries Damages and Losses Therefore they cannot fall under that Construction or forced Interpretation of those Words which were intended naturally to Arise from Spoyls and Depredations terms that ought to have been used in the said Articles but that the transgressors would Pallitate Spoyls and Depredations by the names of Losses Injuries and Damages and the two Subsequent Articles being relative to the third having a Dependance upon the said Offences Injuries Damages and Losses no particular or private Debt and Damage can fall under that construction otherwise all English-mens Money in Holland and Consequently all Dutch mens Money in England gotten into the Hands of Bankers on either side might have been confiscated But the Wars being Proclaimed for General Reprizals between the King and States particular Men Traded each with other notwithstanding It was therefore an Apparent Breach of the Laws of Common Amity and of the Alliance with the Crown of England for the States of Holland on the 10th of September 1676. to send their Express Order in Writing to the ordinary Courts of Iudicature in Amsterdam and the Hague interdicting and Prohibiting the Iudges from Granting any Process or doing any Iustice against Jacob Pergens at the Suit of several English-men for Debts due upon Bills Bonds and Covenants for repayment of Moneys gotten into his Hands under several trusts After this Solemn Debate and Resolution upon those two Points in Question were over a grand Objection was raised by the Civil Lawyers then Present which was Answered as follows in Order Obj. THat a Soveraign Prince having the power of Peace and War in his Hands being the Sole Arbiter thereof may make use of a private Interest for the publique Necessity as Sole Legislator in such Cases Answ. St. Augustin sayes that all Humane Laws are Righteous Decrees agreeing with the Natural and Eternal Law and that there is no Law Iust or Legitimate except it agree with them both All Power being confined within the Bounds of Equity and Reason there is no Plea or Bar to be allowed against the Law of Nature which is Immutable It 's Granted that God Almighty having trusted Soveraign Princes with the Government for the Protection and Preservation of their Subjects in their Goods and Properties It if be just the Supream Power hath sufficient Authority to Restrain any particular Mans Right for every Mans Good yet it was ever found most reasonable in all Ages that when a private Interest was Sacrifized for a Common good a recompence was made for the private Damages out of the publick Purse Cicero Tertullian and other most Learned Authors do all agree in this point Verum etsi nostrae tempore necessitatis Patriae conferre debeamus tamen jure naturae congrui ut Communis salus Communis utilitas periculum non unius duntaxat aut alterius sed Communibus impensis jacturis periculisque comparetur BY the Law of Nature if a Soveraign Prince and State enter into a Contract one with the other upon certain Conditions the Contract is viod if the Conditions are not performed To clear this point we need not go far for Presidents the King of Great Britain having declared both the former Treaties in the year 1662. and 1667. With the States General to be void upon that account The States having been refractory in the performance of Agreements concerning Poleroon and in making reparation for other matters As even the Treaty at Breda was Pronounced null and void upon the like score about Surrinam c. Whereby
Ravon who obtained several Sentences and Executions thereupon The like at Amsterdam at the Suit of Sir Richard Ford upon Actions for Assurance depending before and after the Treaty Likewise upon several Actions depending at Midleburgh against Peter Boudean and his Heirs at the Suit of George Carew upon Merchants accompts as aforesaid and Legacies whereupon Boudaens Exceptions were over-ruled by the Magistrates and Iudges there in the year 1675. and Sentence given that the Defendants Boudaens should positively Answer to several Charges in the said Plaintiff Carew's Bill which they had delayed so many years together And by a later President in Amsterdam upon two several Actions brought against George Carew in the year 1676. at the Suit of Paulus Buys an Advocate and Arnold Vingbooms a Proctor of the said City Buys for 113 Gilders and a 11 Stivers and Vingbooms for 51 Gilders and 18 Stivers for Fees and Salaries in a Cause Renvoyed from the Hague depending many years before the Treaty against Jacob Pergens upon an obligation for 3000 l. Lent by Sir William Courten unto which Actions of Buys and Vingbooms the said Carew having appeared by Alexander Rynd his Proctrr The Escheevens or Judges there viz. Mr. David de Wilhem Hendrick Becker Mr. Cornelis Cloeck Joan Appelman Mr. Everart Scott de Jonge Dr. Dirk Boelensz Lieve van Loon. Jan van Dijck Mr. Jacob Popta GAVE Sentence against the said Carew for the said Monies and Costs which were Levied by Execution upon the said Carew accordingly as by the Proceedings in the said Court at Amsterdam appears Notwithstanding at the same time the said Iudges were daily Sollicited to Pronounce Sentence against the said Pergens in the Original Action which they refused to do upon the said Obligation in which Cause the said Fees and Salories were recovered by Buys and Vingbooms and also upon his Covenant for 5500. Sterling with Dammages in another Action brought in the same year 1676. against the said Pergens by Mark Fletcher Merchant for Monies received by Pergens in trust for Mr. Courten and his Assigns but the said Iudges possitively denied to pronounce any Sentence thereupon in regard the States of Holland at Pergen his request had by Express Order as aforesaid Dated the 10th of September 1676. Peremptorily Prohibited them from doing any Iustice therein Alledging that moving upon the said Actions and Pretences were publick Breaches of the Peace concluded in the year 1667. and 1674 And so the said causes remained in Statu quo ever since upon the said Extrajudicial Order The said Boudaens having also taken advantage thereof contrary to all Equity Reason and good Conscience and even to the Presidents of their own Courts of Iustice Which were no small Reflections upon the great Interest of His Majesties Honour and the Reputation of his Kingdoms and Dominions being taken notice of by all Forraign Ministers at the Hague and Merchants of other Nations Resident in Amsterdam It 's remarkable that the greatest Ministers of State are subject to gross Errors and Mistakes for that in the first Proclamation Dated the 10th of August 1666. Mentioned in the Order aforesaid it 's recited in the said Proclamation that divers great and Notable Misdemeanours were committed by Sir Edmond Turnor and George Carew and their Assigns And in the Month of September following by an Order of the Council-Board Sir Edmond Turnor was Cleared as a Person never Acting in the said Commission his name being used only in Trust and that Mr. Carew as Administrator and Assignee of Sir William Courten and others solely prosecuted that Affair and so Sir Edmond Turnors Innocency appeared upon hearing the matters of Fact contained in his Petition And after they had Proclaimed him Guilty without calling him to Answer for himself it was Published in the London Gazet for an unadvized Resolution or a hasty Mistake Memorandum That Sir Ieffery Palmer who was Directed to make a Draught of the said Proclamation refused to do it so then Sir Heneage Finch Sollicitor General for the time being very Readily and Officiously did the same Some further Reasons and Arguments Offered in Defence of the Administrators Assignees and Creditors of Sir VVILLIAM COURTEN and Sir PAUL PYNDAR QUeen Elizabeth gave it in Charge to all her Ministers of State that they should have a care of Her Honour which She held as a Iewel so Incomparable that nothing was esteemed more sacred in Her Eyes then Her Honour and Reputation If any Person should now question the Legallity the Iustice or the Equity of the Kings Grant under those Conditions and Limitations in the Letters Patents for Reprizals contained they would not only Arraign the Wisdom and Iudgment of the most Reverend and Learned Ministers and Officers of State and Trust in the Kingdom under whose hands the Grant Passed but lessen the Kings Prerogative-Royal in the Protection of his Subjects The Acts of Parliament expressly Declaring that the Injured Persons shall have the Law of Marque without Fraud or delay the Hollanders Zealanders and other Merchants Strangers having Complained of the old Law and craved Exemptions from the Writ in the Register following in these words REX Ballivis villae de Lenn Episcopi salutem Ex gravi querela dilecti nobis S. accepimus quod cum ipse nuper apud C. partibus de Spinia in villa de C. causa Mercandisandi moram traxisset Bona Cattalla ad valentiam centum librarum emisset I. T. alii malefactores dictae Villae mercatores de dictis partibus de S. praefatum S. apud dictam Villam de S. vi armis ceperunt imprisonaverunt bona cattalla sua praedicta ab eo abstulerunt alia c. ei intulerunt contra legem rationem in ipsius S. damnum non modicum depauperationem manifestam Et licet idem S. adsumptus non modicos penes Dominos partium illarum fuerit prosecutus pro justitia super transgressionibus praedictis habend ipse tamen non potest Justitiam inde obtinere sicut per quosdam fide dignos qui tunc temporis in dictis partibus extiterunt coram nobis est testificatum super quo nobis supplicavit ut sibi de remedio providere faciamus Nos ad testimonium praedictum considerationem habentes nec non injuriore de pauperationi ipsius S. compatientes in hac parte vobis mandamus sicut alias mandavimus quod corpora praedictorum T. I. si ipsi seu eorum aliquis in praedicta villa de Lenn inventi fuerint nec non bona cattalla ad valencia quadraginta librarum quam citius ibidem inventa fuerint arrestari sub arresto salvo custodiri fac quousque praedicto S. de transgressione praedicta ac de damnis de perditis quae occasione praedicta sustinuit fuerit satisfactum Mandavimus etiam ballivis villarum magnae Yernemouth quod ipsi ad valentiam quadraginta librarum de bonis cattalis