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The 24th of March 1658. [CENTRE HEADING]
… The 24th of March 1658. [CENTRE HEADING]
Wood, Bradley and Company}<br />
against Colquit. Smith. Suckly}
'''dt. Browne.'''
'''.1.'''
'''Peter Hansson''' of Wapping Mariner, aged 27 yeares or thereaboputs<br />
sworne and examined.
Examined upon the libell given in this cause.
To the second article of the said libell hee saith and deposeth that hee well<br />
knoweth the shipp the ''Alexander'' arlate, and about tenn weekes since (the time<br />
more preceisely hee knoweth not) saw her riding at anchor by two cables and two<br />
anchors in the Roade of Oratava, and well knoweth that while shee soe rode<br />
at anchor there happened a greate storme, wherby her master and company were<br />
necessitated (to avoid greater mischeif) to let slipp their said cables, and leaving<br />
them with the said two anchors to then there to put out to sea for her preservation<br />
which hee knoweth being there present in the shipp ''desire'' whereof henry<br />
Colquit (the partie defendant) was master, and seeing the premisses and<br />
alsoe what followeth.
To the third hee saith that before such their going out to sea the said master and<br />
company of the ''Alexander'' fastened a topp mast as a buoy] to their said two<br />
cables soe left, to the end to finde them againe, which hee knoweth seeing the same<br />
soe left.
To the fourth hee saith that the Canaries have all open roades wherein shipps<br />
usually ride, and particularly that of Oratavo is open, and greate stormes<br />
use there to happen, by meanes whereof shipps there riding are<br />
frequently forced to slip their anchors and goe out to sea, till the storme be<br />
over, and then retourne to the same place where they leave their cables and<br />
anchors soe slipped, to which they use (before going out) to fasten a buoy or buoys<br />
(as the Alexander now did) to finde the same by againe. And many shipps<br />
at a time being often necessitated soe to put out and leave their cables and<br />
anchors, they usually upon retourne after the storme goe to their owne cables<br />
and anchors, and not meddle with those of other shipps that are not yet<br />
retourned, well knowing that the shipps to which they belong will certainly<br />
retourne to them as fast as they can after the storme, and againe moore by<br />
or take up their said cables and anchors, to which buoys are constantly left,<br />
this hee knoweth having bin severall times there, And further hee cannot depose.
To the fifth and sixth articles hee saith and deposeth that the said shipp the<br />
''desire'' being alsoe the time aforesaid in the said roade of<br />
Oratavo, and striving to ride out the storme after the ''Alexander''<br />
was gonne out, the ''desire'' her anchors at length came home, and being<br />
in danger of being put ashore, and neare the shipp buoy of the ''Alexander''<br />
the said Colquite tooke the oportunitie and commanded his company<br />
to make fast his shipp by a rope thereto, which was accordingly done, and<br />
in the night time the storme being very violent, soe that the shipp durst not<br />
ride, and not having time to loosen and put off the said shipp buoy of<br />
the ''Alexander'', the said Colquite himselfe cut<br />
the towe to which the said buoy was fastened, and soe leaving the said cables<br />
and anchors of the said shipp ''Alexander'' without a buoy, stood out to sea,<br />
and {?spe] the said two cables and anchors were and<br />
are lost, which hee knoweth seeing the premisses, and helping (by command<br />
of the said Colquite) to fasten the ''desire'' to the said shipp-buoy of the<br />
''Alexander'', and afterwards seeing the said Colquite cut the tow in two<br />
by which meanes the said cables sinking<br />
they and the said two anchors must needs be lost. And further hee cannot deposeeds be lost. And further hee cannot depose +
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