The CASE Of the OWNERS of The Ship Redbridge.

⟨8. Jan. 1693/4.⟩

DUring this War, it is become a constant Method, used by all Ships that go to Sea on any Voyage whatever, to have Protections for their Seamen; upon which score the Owners of this Ship obtained an Order of Council, and Pro­tection from the Lords of the Admiralty for 50 Seamen for this Ship, for Allicant.

And just when She was ready to depart, viz. the 21 October last, the Governor and Company of Merchants of London, Trading to the East-Indies, Petitioned Her Majesty in Council, that the said Ship might be Stopt, in these words, viz.

To the Queens Most Excellent Majesty: The Humble Petition of the Governour and Compa­ny of Merchants of London, Trading to East-India.

Sheweth,

That there has been lately obtained of Your Majesty in Council, and the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England, a Permission and Protection for the Ship Redbridge, Edward Smith Commander, with Fifty Seamen, to proceed on a pretended Voyage to Alicant in Spain. That Your Petitioners have notice, That the said Ship is really Bound (not for Alicant, as pre­tended, but) to East-India, or other those Parts and Places; the Sole Trade whereof is Grant­ed to Your Petitioners, by Your Majesties Gracious Charter. Which Proceedings, being as well in Contempt of Your Majesties Government, and the known Laws of this Kingdom, as to the very great prejudice of Your Petitioners. They Humbly Pray a Stop may be put to the said Ship, till Your Majesty shall be satisfied where she is really Bound.

And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray, &c.

Upon the bare Allegation in which Petition, an Order of Council Pass'd, directed to the Lords of the Admiralty, for Stopping the said Ship, in these words, viz.

At the Court at White-Hall, The 21th. of October 1693.

Present, The QUEENS Most Excellent Majesty in Council.

Ʋpon Reading this day at the Board, the Humble Petition of the Governour and Company of Merchants of London, Trading to the East-Indies, setting forth, That they have notice, That the Ship Redbridge, Edward Smith Commander, with Fifty Seamen, who had License to proceed on a Voyage to Alicant in Spain, from the Commissioners of the Admiralty, pur­suant to an Order of this Board, of the 12th. of September last, is really bound (not for that place, but) to the East-Indies, or other places; the sole Trade whereof is Granted to the Petitioners by Their Majesties Charter; and therefore Praying, a Stop may be put to the said Ship; It is Ordered by Her Majesty in Council, that the said Ship Redbridge be im­mediately Stopt from proceeding in her pretended Voyage to Alicant, or elsewhere, until far­ther Order from this Board, and the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, and Commissioners of the Admiralty, are to give the necessary directions accordingly.

And by virtue of an Order of the Lords of the Admiralty, grounded on the said Order of Council, the said Ship was Stopt, and continued under Restraint about three Weeks; during which time, Four other Ships bound for Allicant, belonging to some of the same concerned (who were under Covenants of Two Thousand Pounds, each to keep Company together) were detained in the Downs, with a fair Wind; whilst other Ships Bound for the same Place embraced the Opportunity of it, and got the start of them in their Voyage. And this Ship being thus Detained, lost the Oppor­tunity of the Company of those Four Ships, who were Ordered not to stay longer for Her: So that She not depart till the 27 December, along with the Turkey-Ships, under the Command of Sir Francis Wheeler.

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