MRP: Synthesis

Synthesis

Editorial history

26/04/12, CSG: Created page

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Suggested links

See Commodities
See Geography
See Shipping terminology
See Style Sheet One
See Transcription

See Admiralty court cases

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Current topics for synthesis

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Adventures, money, cloathes and instruments

- "the arlate Captaine Hosier and his Company had at the tyme of the seizure of the Lady ffrigott& her ladeing by the sayd Gen?uoa man of warr the Sta Cruse goods which were her & their adventures and money cloathes and Instruments aboard her to the value in this deponents Judgement of eight hundred pounds of lawfull English money All which were seized and taken from the sayd Hosier & his Company & they utterly deprXed of them by the Captaine & Company of the sayd Gennoa man of warr who plundered them of them and having soe done kept the Company of the Lady ffrigott prisoners for a teyme the most of them being cheyned, and after wards sett them on shoare in the Island of Cephalonia to shXXX for themselves without allowing them money or provisions"

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Amsterdam to the Spanish West Indies

English merchants sending ship from Amsterdam to Spanish West Indies

- "M:r John Page one of the Merchants concerned in this busines, having with his associates a designe in hand to send a shipp from Amsterdam for the West Indies to trade for their account upon the coasts of the Spaniards, and understanding that this deponent understood both the Spanish and dutch tongues (besides English) and could speake them, and alsoe understood the busines of traffique and XXXXX as a marchant treated and agred with this deponent to goe the said voyage for five pounds per moneth wages and XXXX for XXX goods for his owne account, wherein hee this deponent was to give assistajce to John Lo?pes his ?precontest who was alsoe then XXX and being XX hired this deponent was XX XXX XXXXX in a dutch shipp called the ?Mackerell bound for Amsterdam and concerned with him in the said shipp XXXXX, perpetuanas, ?hatts, and many other particulars of goods w:ch were here ?provided by the said M:r Page and XXXX ffernandez, M:r ?Robles, M:r Jenkin and M:r ?Painter Merchants of this citie, to be at Amsterdam put aboard such a shipp as could be provided for that XXXX and voyage."

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Appraisal

Appraisal of the estate of a deceased person

- "there was also a warrant granted from the said Governor to M:r Humfrey Kent and M:r Richard SXXXswicke, to appreize the said goods accordinge to theire trew value, uppon theire oathes who (being sworne before the said Governor or some Justice of the Peace att the Barbados to the effect a forsaid) did apprize all the said goods uppon the XXXoathes att five thousand nine hundred seaventy and eight pounds of Tobacco and more as hee beleeveth"

- "hee this rendent did deliver a pticular of Inventary of the said goods as they were apprised by the said Appraisors under theire hands to the said M:rs West or M:r William ffisher then Proctor for her in the Prerogative Court with a testification of theire being sworne uppon the said appraisem:t w:ch they the said M:rs West and her Proctor did ever since detaine from him"

Appraisal of a ship for a prize court

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Bad weather

A great and violent storm on route from the Barbadoes to London

- "y:e Oporto Merchant being laden at the Barbadoes, with Sugars & Cottons & some other merchandizes for the account of several merchants Departed from thence bound for this Port of London and in her Course hetherward (sic), neere y:e Islands fflowers and Calves, being two of the Westerene Islands on XX or about the 20:th day of January last, shee met with a great , and violent Storme; w:ch Continued about sixteene houres very violent the Winde being then at West, and y:e sd. shipp tunning before y:e Sea, for her better preservaccon) under aforesaile, her sterne gave way, And thereupon, her Company were forced to hang their foresaile, and lye under a mizen, and y:e said Ships Tiller by Violence of the said Storme was broken, w:ch did much endanger her Rudder and sterne post, and by meanes of y:e breaking of her Tiller y:e said Ship, shee receaved much water in at her ?behind port ?w:ch came into y:e said Ships hold, and y:e said Ships mizen XXX by y:e violence & force of the said Storme was Torne in peeces. and y:e greatest part of it blowne away, and y:e said Ship lying broad off to y:e sea, shipped a great Sea, w:ch washed over board her sheath Anchor, w:ch was fastned by y:e said Ships side and washed her Boate and Skiffe, to Leewards, and y:e said Anchor, hanging by a Rope where with it was fastned to the said Ships side, and y:e said Ship, Turning or rowling too and fro, y:e said Anchor bilged a hole, neere y:e Lough of ?the Said Ship, and made a Leake in her, through w:ch ?there went some water, and their being as aforesaid much water receaved ar rge XXXX Port of the said Ship, y:e said Ship had about foure foote water in her hold, w:ch caused y:e said Ship to lye dead in y:e Sea. And saith that by the Violence and Duraccon of the said Storme & y:e pXXX aforesaid, the said Ship and her Lading and Company on board her were in Great Danger of Sinking and Perishing in y:e Sea The prmisses hee deposeth being on board y:e said Ship y:e said time, and Carpenter of her."

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Bills of lading

Colourable bills of lading

- "[In context of trade in Brazil wood between Lisbone and Newhaven by the Portuguese Brazil Company] sometimes there are Colourable bills of Lading made & signed for goods, and noe reall bills, but in such Cases, the M:r of the ship hath Instrctions where and to whom to Deliver the goods mentioned in y:e Colourable bills./:"

Tenor of bills of lading

- "after the reception thereof [138 bags of Spanish wooll sent to Antwerp] this dep:t signed three bills of lading of one teno:r and caused the same to be entred into his books. the receipt of the same, and to whome they were consigned as aforesaid"

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Bottomery

- "in or about the moneth of November 1656: the arlate  ?James Nuthall did send unto the foresaid Henry Potts, for buying of provisions & to provide a Stock for y:e said Ship to goe the foresaid Voyage; and saith that the said Potts hath acknowledged soe much to this depo:t And saith further ?that the said Potts hath told this depo:t that the said Nuthall lent the foresaid money upon Bottomry:"

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Books of accounts

Books of accounts left on wrecked ship

- "the winde was very high when y:e Anne was driven upon y:e sd sands, and the Seas were ?mighty boysterous. Insomuch that they beate over y:e Deck of the sd ship with such a fforce that y:e Company on y:e Deck could Scarce Stand upon their Leggs, and saith there were XXXXX saved, and brought out of the said ship, just before her breaching in peeces, and saith y:e bookes of Accounts belonging to y:e ship, was not brought out. but left in her, when her Company left her. And saith that, after the sd ship  ?Struck upon y:e Sands, her Company had noe time to Take any of their owne goods (save what they had about them) were all busied about hoysting out their boate (OR, boats):"

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Brokers

Common broker

- "John Roles is of this Depo:ts knowledge a Comon Broker, betwixt Merchts and M:r of ships and other Trade:?s and hath noe pticular relaccon to the said Brazil Companz that this Depo:t knoweth of/:"

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Cape merchant

- "all w:ch goods were laded by the said John Lopez (as hee saith) who was Cape merchant of the said shipp the sad voyage, and is (as hee taketh it) a Spaniard"

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Characteristics of a good ship

Strong and tight

- "att such tyme as the sayd shipp Free trade now seized at Lisbone as aforesd she was a strong and tight shipp and had bene but one voyage before att sea from the tyme of her sd building"

Good Decks and was well rigged & fitted

- "y:e said ship was at her departure from the Barbadoes, y:e said voyage; and untill the said Storme happened, a strong tight and stXXXX Vessell, and had Good Decks and was well rigged & fitted with all XXXXs of materiall for such a voyage & Imploym:t and saith she was not over laden the said voyage, And further deposeth that the foresd Sheat Anchor, was well & Sufficiently fastned to the said Ships Side,  ?al Anchors use to be for ought hee knoweth ?to the Contrary: And what damage is happened to y:e sd Ship & lading Came & happened meerely by the sd Storme & Timpestious (sic) XXXX & not through Insufficiency of y:e sd Ship. or Carlessnes of or in her Company or any of them."

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Chief Mates

Promotion from chief mate to Master on death of Master

- "upon y:e Death of the foresaid W:m Malim (w:ho was M:r of the said ship) this depo:t became M:r of her, hee being before: y:e said W:m Malims Cheife mate; And for that hee received at Satalia, of the sayd William Malim ?twenty Eight ryalls of Eight, and at Scanderoone hee received of y:e sd Malim either Eight or tenne Ryalls more (but, whether eight or Tenne he ?cannot ...."

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Clearing a ship (to depart from a harbour)

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Coasting trade

- "they nor either of them was even with him at Hamburrough neither hath the said Scrother (as they and every of them beleiveth) beene more than once att Hambrough these 7 yeares but doth trade and coast upp and downefrom place to place (as he conceiveth) most advantagious for his benefiitt"

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Coming foule

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Commercial failure

Composition with creditors

- "y:e arlate ffrancis Pardini is (as this Depo:t hath heard) failed) ?in Estate, and y:e arlate John Thacker (as this Depo:t hath also heard) is Employed to make y:e said Pardinies Composicon with his Credito:es"

Failure of a merchant at Genoa or Legorne

- "at Genoa this rendent tooke in some pte of her lading & was to goe to Legorne to take in y:e remainder, & at his arrivall at Legorne the merchant who freaighted this rendents ship failed so that this rendents designe was overthrown" [Answer given June 1659]

False bills of sale to manipulate ownership of goods following a merchant's failure

- "hee doth beleive the said de Silvera not knowing the said ffrancis Pardini was failed did send the bill of lading unto him as he beleiveth but hee doth not beleive the said John Tha?cker did really buy the said wood of the said M:r Pardini or pay him any thing for the same, neither doth hee beleive that the said M:r Pardini or any other merchant that is failed hath a legall power to make any sale of any goods that come to him during the time they absent and are not able to pay their debts, but hee doth beleive the said M:r Thacker being imployed by y:e said M:r Pardini as his sollicitor to make his composicon with his creditors hee & the said M:r Pardini did contrive together to gett the said goods into their hands if possibly they could and in order thereunto he beleiveth the said M:r Pardini did colourably, and fraudulently signe the bill of sale or schedule alleadged and deliver the same for his XXX as hee beleeveth...

To the sixth hee answeareth that hee doth beleive that the said M:r Pardini did in further ?prosequucon of the said fraudulent contrivance betweene him and the said M:r Thacker his sollicitor endorse the bill of ladeing as is alleadged but hee being soe failed & absented hee doth beleive the same is utterly voyd and of noe effect." [Answer given June 1659, referring to events in 1649]

Failure of bankruptcy of a merchant not known for some time

- "4 Itmm interr. Whether before the shippe Stockholme came from Stockholme, and before the Iron in controversie was Laden aboard, was itt nott commonly and generally reported that the said Godfrey Deleau was bankrupt or failed in his estate and in what moneth did the said wittnesse first heare that the said Deleau was failed. Et fiat ut supra."

Failure of a merchant leading to forced sale of a ship to pay mariners' wages

- "after the the foresaid breakeinge of the said Merchants freighters, the said Cravens not haveing monies to paye the marriners theire wages for the said voyage the said Marriners arrested the said shipp for the same & by course of Lawe att Marcelles the said Shipp was condemned and sould for the payment of the said Marriners wages & other debts then due, uppon her the said Owners not takeing order to pay the said wages, and other debts then due uppon her in tyme" (HCA 15/6 Box Two)

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Commercial activities of the King of Spain

- "in the moneth of January 1653. new style, and for about 14. yeares before this depon:t hath well knowne the arlate John de Windt, who is a Merchant and Burgher of Cadiz, and is married there, and saith That by the credible relation of the said John de Windt and others at Cadiz this depon:t: hath understood y:t the arlate Domingo Centurione at the time of the Lading of the said woolls was a Spaniard liveing at Madrid, and Councello:r to his Catholique Ma:tie and his Principall ffacto:r or Agent for the sending of goods wares and merchandizes from Spaine into ffland:rs for the supply of his said Ma:ties occasions there, And saith both the psons arlate were and are commonly accompted Subiects to the said King of Spaine."

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Commercial practices of planters

Promising freight to ships returning to England

- "it is a Comon practise for planters at S:t Christophers and Mevis and parts thereabouts to make Verball Agreem:ts and to make Great and Large promises"

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Commissions

Tenor of a commission

- " they did with the said shippe the Elsabeth goe forth and seize in and take uppon the high Seas as Prize the severall vessells w:th their Ladeinges as is arlate neare about the tyme arlate and brought or sent the same to some portes of this Common Wealth to be proceeded against accordinge to the Tenor of this Rendents Commission"

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Contempt of court

Contempt of the High Court of Admiralty

- "hee answereth and beleeveth that hee hath not committed any contempt against this Court or the authoritie thereof, and thereofore ought not to be punished with havinge XXXXX the same."

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Cost of victualls & provisions

Monthly cost of victualls & provisions for ship of XXX crew

- "the Victualls and Provisions. spent the said voayge, p moneth did amount unto /as the said Luke Wood hath told this Depo:t) about 25:li or 30:li"

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Court at Nevis

Thomas Grove before Court at Nevis

- "hee this deponent saith that hee well remembreth that the sayd Thomas Grove was while hee stayed at Nevis questionned by the sayd Luke Woods in the Court of Nevis (this deponent then sitting there as a member thereof,) touching his refractory and disobedient & uncivill carriage towards the sayd Woods his supracargo tending to the p:riudice of the voyage And hee well remembreth that the sayd Thomas Grove Master of the Peace did openly in the Court before this deponent & divers others who satt as Judges thereof, speake in ?disgrace of the ffish that the sayd Woods had bought & brought to Nevis & sayd that the ffish that hee the sayd Woods had bought & brought thither was Refuse ffish...

To the 35:th arle hee saith as aforesayd that hee being one of the Judges of the Court at Nevis knoweth that while the sayd Grove was there hee was by the sayd Woods conXXXed before the Court touching his refractory and uncivill carriage to the sayd Woods in the voyage in question leading to the preiudice and XXXXXXX of the sayd voyage and severall wittnesses produced & examined against him upon Interrogatories which notwithstanding the sayd Grove did as before hee this deponent hath declared in open Court say that the ffish the sayd Woods had bought & brought to Nevis in the ship Peace was Refuse ffish."

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Court of Probate & Administration

- "shee referreth herselfe the Registry of the Court for probate of Wills and Granting of Ad?conns:"

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Crew numbers

- "[The 'XXXX"", a ship of XXX tonns] hee saith there were twenty men and a boy belonging to the
said shipp when shee XX XXXXX Milford

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Currants

Currants from Petrao and Mahalgo

- "the sayd shipp was hyred and taken to freight by some of the Turkey Company Merchants of London (but their names hee knoweth not in pticuler) to goe upon a Merchandising imployment from London to Petr?ao arlate and ?Mahaligo & other places beyond the seas to lade Currans and other goods for their use & Account & bring them for London & there deliver them to them or their Agents and did accordingly within the sayd tyme arrived at the Roade of Potrea and there & at Mahalago tooke in Currans to the quantity of one hundred and threescore Tonnes which were laden by the Agents of the sayd ffreighters to & for the sayd ffreighters Account to be thence transported to London & there delivered ti the sayd ffreighters or their Agents for their use this hee knoweth being one of the sayd shipps Company and helping to lade the sayd Currans"

Currants from Zante and Mathalago

- "in ffebruary last hee this deponent with William Savage and Thomas ?Atterton, brought the lading of currans of the shipp the Virgin frigot being Zante Currans of the producente William Bowtell ?as XX agreed and paid three pounds and two shillings per ?pound weight for the same and soe much hee saith they were worth XX and saith that Mathalago currants were XXXXX worth twenty XX per hundred more than Zante currants."

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Dead freight

Shee came home about halfe dead freighted

- "the shipp Peace was of the burthen of ?two [this figure appears to have been blotted out] hundred tonnes or neere thereabouts and that of his this deponents knowledge shee came home about halfe dead freighted for that the arlate Luke Woods beside the dammage hee susteyned in the sale of his three eighth parts of the sayd shipps ladeing of ffish & other Merchandizes did suffer losse and dammage in the sayd shipps want of ladeing home the simme of two hundred pounds sterling or neere thereabouts in this deponents Judgement & estimate"

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Debauched behaviour

A man of lewde and debauched behaviour

- "while the sayd shipp stayed at MXXX hee heard divers of the Planters there saye that they would have laded goods aboard the sayd ship the Pease but that they sawe that the arlate Thomas Grove was a man of lewde and debauched behaviour and therefore they dearst not trust him with their goods or words to that effect for which reason hee beleeveth that the sayd Woods was much damnified by the sayd Groves debauched behaviour and lost much ladeing there which otherwise hee might have had"

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Discipline on board ship

Use of the rope

- "Grove did set forward his mariners, and encourage them to doe their dutyes the said Voyage; and upon carles Neglects of the same, the said Grove did XXX some of his said Mariners, giving them moderate?Correccon with a Ropes End or the XXte"

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Disguising the identity of a ship

Colourable bills of lading

- "this Depot (besides these three pipes in question) hath received other wines from y:e said producent. w:ch were likewise mentioned in the Bills of Lading to be laden by & for account of the said Don Juan Corall, although in truth the same belonged to and were for y:e said Cowlings account, & the returnes thereof were made by this Depo:t to the said Cowlings and saith that since the warrs betweene this Nation and Spaine it hath bin and is usuall for English Merchants that trade by Canaryes, to Colo:r their goods by putting in Dutch or Spanish names in the Bills of Lading, in regard it is dangerous for English subjects to trade to at or from Canaryes in their, owne names"

Use of non-English masters and commanders

- "the sd ship haveing unladen her outward goods did receive in other good to y:e value of neare thirty three hundred pounds and was in her returne about July last 1656. mett with by a Dunkirk or ?Dutch Vessell upon a Spanish Comission, and the Comp:ie neglecting to defend their sd Ship & goods (as they ought to have done) or to make any opposition or resistance, or so much as to conceale her from belonging to the English when as there as a dutch M:r & passes & other things necessary to have coloured her ?she was wholly lost from the Owners, to their very great damage"

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Doctors Commons

The Hall

- "Repeated before D:r Godolphin & Coll Cocke In the Hall x:r. November the 22:th 1658."

Chambers

- "15:° Novemb 1658. Repeated before dror Godolphon one of the Judges x:r In his Chamber x:X"

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Effect of drink

Delayed departure from port due to Master drinking on shore

- "the sayd Grove ordered to sayle the sayd shipp over the barr and there to bring her againe to Anchor and haveing given such order, & there being a Country boate lyeing by the shipp side, the sayd Thomas Grove would needes goe on shoare againe and did goe on shoare in the sayd Country boate, notwithstanding the sayd Woods did earnestly persuade & entreate him not to goe on shoare & told him it would be a great hinderance to the voyage the shipp being bound upon a fishing designe & the winde being ?the fayre for her departure as in deede it was And the sayd Grove being soe gone on shoare some of the shipps company after they had sayled the shipp over the barr & then brought her to an Anchor went on shoare with the shipps boate to fetch the sayd Grove on board which notwithstanding the sayd Grove continewed ashoare most part of that night and came not againe on board the sayd shipp till about two of the Clock in the morning next after and was when hee soe came (in this deponents Judgment) much distempered with drink and began to to curse and sweare and amongst other words sayd that there were some on board thought much of his being on shoare but hee cared not for that, and sayd that the sayd shipp should ride longer there and accordingly did keepe her there at anchor about an hower after such his comming on board & then gave order to weigh Anchor, and did sett sayl, this hee deposeth of certayne knowledge & alsoe heareing the sayd words or others to that effect spoken, as alsoe did most of the sayd shipps company"

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Expression of emotions in commercial discourse

Anger

- " the said M:rs Craford being then p:rsent in the same roome; this depo:t told the said Thomas Middleton that this woman (pointing to and meaning y:e said M:rs Crafford,) was Come to demand his wages And y:e said Middleton replyed in an angry manner, that hee would not give her any account of it, because shee had arrested him; and dis?charged him; for hee had a house to Comand and a Ship to Comand, and tenne thousand pound to Comand, and was able enough to pay her, but nowe hee would not, for shee should have Lawe enough for her money: or to the very same effect"

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Female presence in commercial physical space

Visiting a male merchant's house

- "the producent Anne Craford desired this depo:t to goe along with her to the signe of the Red Lyon at the Old Swan in Thames Streete there to Meete with the said Thomas Middleton, & to aske of him the wayges w:ch was due to the arlate Andrew Hill, And this depo:t at her request did goe with her to the said place; where this depo:t and y:e said M:r Craford found y:e said Thomas Middleton And this depo:t then and there asked y:e said Middlton whether hee had not one Andrew Hill Cooke of his ship, to w:ch the said Middleton Answered Yes; and this depo:t asking him howe long y:e sd Hill served in his ship; and at what what hee was shipped. at. The said Middleton replyed that hee served in his ship about foure yeere, and two Monethes: and was shipped at Thirty shillings p moneth...

M:rs Craford y:e producent required this depo:t to come and testify the truth of her Knowledge in the busnies and saith shee did never belong to y:e said Ship; And saith that this depo:t liveth at the next house; to the house whereof y:e said M:rs Craford Liveth, and hath lived there about four yeeres, & the said Craford hath lived there in her said house a longer time, and this depo:t being y:e time aforesyd the sd M:rs Craford neighbo:r shee was by y:e sd M:rs Craford Caried to the foresd place, to the foresd purpose; And saith she hath not Received neither bin Promised anything for her Testimony herein nor doth shee as shee saith expect to receave any thing for y:e same, And saith shee is worth about two hundred pounds. in her Cleare Estate, and to the rest negatively:/:...

Repeated before D:r Godolphin:/:

The marke of the ?said
Grace [The mark looks like an interlinked WW] Hogs?flesh"

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Fish

Pickled herring

- "To the second Interrie This deponent saith and deposeth that the sayd ship the Hart had att the tyme of the sayd seizure, one hundred and four score Tonnes of pickled herrings on board her. And saith the sayd shipp and all her sayd lading did att the sayd tyme of seizure belong to severall merchants Inhabitants of Skadam subiects of the sayd States of the united Provinces"

Herring laded at Yarmouth for Marsellis [Marseilles]

- "at Yarmouth there was a Lading of Herrings put on board her, w:th w:ch she sailed ?to Marsellis and there delivered her said Lading"

Salmon

- "y:e sayd shipp came from and began this her outwards voyage from Stockholme with her p:rsent lading of goods being Iron pitch tarr Copper shott andSalmon...all to be unladen att this port of London whither she was bound and where she now is the foresayd Salmon excepted which is to be transported to Burdeaux and there unladen and delivered to Jan Van Pullen a facto:r for y:e sayd Swedish merchants there resideing."

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English High Court of Admiralty: procedures

Adjugement of a prize

- "To the .13 he saith that in case the says shipp the Morning Starr shall be adiudged prize he this rendent expecteth benefit thereby according to the office he bore in the Advantage frigot. and according to an Act or Ordinance of parliament made in that behalfe, and not otherwise."

Advocates and Sollicitors of the Admiralty

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Appeal

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- ?Commissioners of appeal in the privy council (existed in 1801, but did this commission exist in mid-C17th?)

Appraisement and sale

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Condemnation

QUESTION: In any case in which a ship is condemned, establish how it is condemned by the court (e.g. condemned as a "droit of Admiralty")

Costs and damages

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Court jurisdiction

- "he answereth & beleeveth that he is a subiect of this Comon Wealth but not subiect to the Juxon of this Court by reason of this Suite"

Court of the Cinque Ports

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Expenses

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Foreign claimants

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Issuing of a warrant

- "he answereth & beleiveth that y:e sd Edward Peascott Michaell Peascott & Edward Randall have without iust cause arrested him by warr:t out of this Co:rt to answere them in their p?dsed cause of complaint"

Judgement of prize

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Judges

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Legal terms

- "[Practice in 1801] In term-time, the courts at Doctors' Commons with the by-week (only unobserved in the short interval of Easter term) make sessions of five weeks; there are five courts in a week, in which many cases of great length and importance, testimentary, matrimonial, and ecclesiastica, are heard."

Lord High Admiral

- Lord High Admiral is styled the Lieutenant of the Admiralty Board, viewed 21/05/12

Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty

- Grant of power to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty is from the sovereign (p. 12)

- Officers of the Admiralty are accountable to the Commissioners of the Admiralty for collecting and receiving (p. 12)

- The Board of Admiralty is executive, and as trustees of the sovereign, and as an inferior board of revenue in the case of droits, is "always subject to be superseded by the superior authority" (pp. 12-13)

Neutral claimants

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Prize Act

QUESTION: When wsa the first prize act passed in parliament and how did it substantively impact process and decisions of the High Court of Admiralty?

- The cruizers act of Queene Anne, 1703
--Gave the sole property, once forfeiture proven, to the captos, not to the Lord High Admiral (p. 17)

- "By the American act the prize offices were suppressed"

QUESTION: Can a prize of war be distinguished from a prize of forfeiture?

Proctors of the Admiralty

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Records of the Court

- "for the ?admidication or release thereof this Rendent referreth himself to the Records of this Court"

Registry of the Court

- "the said shippe the Elsabeth did w:thin the time arlate goe forth upon a man of warre voyage and had a Commission from this Court to all or most of the effects articulate And this Rendent went out Captaine and Commander of her and for more certaintie referreth himselfe to the said Commission remaynninge on the Registrie of this Court"

- "otherwise for his parte hee doth not beleeve hee is bound by lawe by lawe (sic) to answear saveinge hee referreth himselfe to the Registry of this Courte"

- The Register-Office was reported in 1801 to be "in great confusion"

- "in y:e foresaid Letter, there came a Bill of Lading inclosed to this Depo:t for y:e said three pipes of wine subscribed Pieter Bennery sent, and having nowe seene y:e bill of Lading arlate formerly exhibited into the Regry of this Court, hee saith the same is the said Bill of Lading soe receaved by him this Depo:t"

Sentences of the Court

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Waiters of the Prize Office

- "To the 11:th he saith he was not aboard the interrte shipp the Golden Starr till after said tyme as the ?Wayters for the Prize office came upon her in the behalfe of the State, and by authority of the Com:rs for the Prize Office; And he saith that after the sd Waiters were so aboard he saw the master of the Waterhound named BLANK IN MANUSCRIPT Grant take out of the Golden Starr a bag of moneyes of about six hundred peices of 8/8, and saw the Captaine of y:e Water hound Giles Shelley take out of y:e Golden Starr a quantity of moneyes in a Bagg, but how much in certaine he knoweth not, and saw likewise Capt MiXX Commander of the Advantage frigott take out of the sayd Golden Starr, in one or two baggs four hundred and three and twenty peices of eight and 1/2. And beleiveth that severall other parcells of moneyes were taken out of the sayd prize shipp he cannot specify, but beleiveth that all or most of the Company of the Advantage frigot, and of the Water hound that were aboard the Golden Starr att the tyme of seizure and afterwards before she came into the River of Thames had and tooke some small quantityes of the sayd moneyes, the values whereof he knoweth not. And saith that some of the Company of y:e sayd Advantage and Waterhound but who in pticular he knoweth not tooke out of the Golden Starr some small Jarrs of oyle and some other things the particulars or values whereof he cannot sett forth."

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French High Court of Admiralty: procedures

Restoration of funds

- "he hath heard & doth beleeve that y:e said ship & all the goods were sold & the money or pt of it deposited in the Court, and afterwards the sd money so deposited was decreed to be delivered or restored as he beleeveth...what costs & charges, & port charges were necessarily expended about the same is not possible for him to knowe, but hee is willing to allow his pporcon of what shall be legally proved but he doth beleeve his Agent did disburse five or six pounds or thereabouts towards the recovery of y:e sd ship & goods or proceed, & the sd M:r did take up from this rendents factor the summe of thirty pounds or thereabouts upon p:etence of fraight whereas there was none, due as he beleeveth w:ch he still detaineth in his hands"

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Fraudulent sale of a ship

- " after the said Harris and Powicke had used and imployed the arlate Shippe y:e Little George by y:e space of twenty monethes & uppwards as they beleeve and had utterly spoyled her for want of furnishinges and fittinge her with such things as they ought to have fitted her with and had sould or otherwise disposed of the said Shippe and her furniture or parte thereof, and on purpose to deceave these respondents of their shippe and freight as they beleeve they tould these responedents the said shipp was leakye and that they had lost her at Cales"

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Genoese men of war

Genoese men of war seized an English ship

- "the Gunner & an other of her Company duXXXX ?boy who well speake good English told this deponent & others of the Lady ffrigotts Company that the Captainne of the Sta Cruse the better to enable him to seize the Lady ffrigott and her ladeing had a little before the sizure taken some Mariners & souldiers out of the foresayd two other Genoa men of warr And hee saith most of the Company of the Sta Cruse were Italians, and as they confessed belonged to Genoa...

To the 7:th arle hee saith that after the seizure of the Lady ffrigott & her ladeing severall of the Company of the Sta Cruse did confesse that they were sett out from Genoa upon a warlike designe a:t the Turk?s & had bin a great while abroad and Could get noe prizes & therefore they had taken a Spanish Commission which was only to last a certayne tyme, which tyme )as they sayd & acknowledged was expired two monethes before they seized the Lady ffrigott and her ladeing, but sayd alsoe that they were resolved ?although it were expired yet they would take any English shipps they ?would (OR, ?could) meete with This hee knoweth for that hee being Boatswaine of the Lady ffrigott & seized in her heard severall of the Sta Cruse her company speake the sayd words./"

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Grocers

Merchant and Grocer of St Bartholomew Exchange, London, dealing in currans from the Morea

- "hee saith and deposeth that twenty hundred of ?Nathalago (OR, ?Mathalago) currans XXXX to and XXXke a XXXXX, and saith that in and during the monethes of November December January and ffebruary last ?Nathalago (OR, ?Mathalago) Currans were worth in this citie and would have yeilded three pounds and tenn shillings per hundred one hundred with another as the ordinary and XXXXX ?price for that XXXX w:ch hee knoweth ?being a ffreeman and a ?G:rocer of ?London and having XXXX used that trade, and thereby being well acquainted with the condition and price or valew of that commoditie"

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Gunns swords & other Instruments of warr

- "a certayne shipp of about one hundred & fifty tonnes burthen manned for the most part with Italians, and called (as this deponent heard a dutch man who was Ma?ster of her & a dutch man who was gunner of her & an ?Irishman who was of her company & ?could XXX speake English saye after the seizure of the Lady ffrigot and her ladeing) the Sta Cruse, whereof (as they sayd) one ffrancisco Stale was Captaine came into Petrao Road with a white flagg on her poope and made asif shee intended peaceably to have Anchored neere the Lady ffrigott but when shee came neere her the sayd Stale & his Company instead of coming to an Anchor did in a warlike manner with gunns swords & other Instruments of warr...COMPLETE THIS TEXT" ADD SOURCE

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Health risks

Unhealthfullness of the Lisbon to Brazil voyage

- "the Scipio had at Lisbon discharged her ladeing brought from Allecant the sayd Thomas Ewans the Master did take upon him a new voyage to be made from Lisbon to Brazeele & thence to returne to Lisbon & having contracted with the freighters for that new voyage acquainted his shipps Company therewith, who not being hyred for any such voyage were most off ?them unwilling to goe the same & refused to goe the same as being as ?they ?conceived an unlawfull voyage for that thereby they should XXXX the hazard of being taken by the hollanders w:ch were then at ?differences with the Portugueses in whose behalfe that voyage was to be made andalso be reason of the unhealthfullnesse of the voyage it being beyond ?the lyne & to the south latitude about fifteene degrees, whereupon the sayd Ewans seeing the unwillingnesse of the company to goe the sayd voyage to Brazeele did publiquely upon the deck of the Scipio in p:rsuance of this deponent & his p:rcontsts XXXXXhurst & XXgant & divers others of the sayd shipps company to encourage them the more readily to undergoe the sayd voyage voluntarily promised to advance his XXXXX Companyes wages five shillings in the pound per month from that tyme during the sayd XXXX over & above the wages hee had agreed with ?there for when ?hee shipped at London, and to pay every of them their wages then due till..."

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Hurricanes

Spoyling of crops through Hurricanoes

- "a little before y:e arrivall of the said ship Peace at Nevis, the Tobacco plants Indico and Sugar Cane were there at at the other Leeward Islands, spoyled and rooted upp by reason of Hurricanoes w:ch happened there."

- " upon the arrivall of the said ship Peace at Nevis XXX the Leeward Islands that XXXX found that Hurricanoes and Stormes had spoyled most of the Sugar Canes, Tobaccoe, and Indicoes in those places, and had rooted many of them up, and saith hee alsoe then found many of them up, and saith hee alsoe then found many houses upon y:e said Island w:ch were blowne downe (As this depo:t was there Credibly Informed by many of the Islands) alsoe by the Violence of the said Stormes, and Hurricanoes, And saith that the greater pt of those goods w:ch were not spoyled as aforesaid were laden on board y:e fflemish ships w:ch were then there, And the English themselves w:ch were then. there. (in regard of the Difference betwixt England and Spaine) did Lade their goods, and embarque themselves on board y:e said fflemish ships And saith that one Captaine Thorne, Comander of an English ship, did stay at Nevis and S:t Christophers about three monethes to reaceave in a Lading of goods there but at Length came away from thence for London a great Part dead ffreighted, And y:e XX reason was for that y:e Hurricanoes and stormes as aforesaid had spoiled most of y:e Sugar Canes, Tobaccoe and Indicaoes, And alsoe for that the fflemings tooke away most of ..."

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Ill behaviour of ship's master

Rude and uncivill manner

- "in his this deponents Judgment the shipp the Peace her voyage was overthrowne and spoiled by the evell (sic) behaviour of the sayd Thomas Grove therein the sayd Grove behaving him selfe in that rude and uncivill manner wheresoever hee came during the sayd voyage that such persons as had heard of or sawe hisbehaviour did not care to have anything to doe with him the sayd Grave or the arlate Luke Woods for his sake and therefore diverse of them did forbeare the ladeing of their goods aboard the sayd shipp of this deponents sight (OR, right) & certayne knowledge and such the sayd Groves rude and uncivill behaviour was generall observed and taken notice of by the whole shipps Company and by divers who had occasion to lade goods aboard the sayd shipp and have dealings with the sayd Luke Woods"

Stubborne & refractory carriage

- "the sayd Grove did not only in remote parts beyond the seas behave him selfe in such rude and disobedient manner as is before declared but alsoe after the sayd shipp was returned to Plymouth from the voyage in question the sayd Grove by his stubborne & refractory carriage there and his refuseing to obey the orders of the sayd Luke Woods was an occasion of the sayd shipps stay there a much longer tyme than shee needed to have done by reason that seavrll Merchants who had goods aboard the sayd shipp and which were there to be delivered came aboard to demand their goods, and brought their bills of ladeing and severall tymes demanded them andthe sayd Grove refused to deliver them, and stayed there about tenn dayes whereas hee might have there discharged all the goods hee was there to unlade in three dayes tyme at the most & then might have had the oportunity of a fayer winde to sayle for London which oportunitie the sayd Grove by his sayd refractory carriage lost & the winde by his long stay there coming contrary the sayd shipp could not get there and arrive at London soe soone as otherwise shee might have done if the sayd Grove had behaved him selfe civilly and bin obedient to order as hee ought to have done by a moneths tyme or thereabouts"

A man of lewde and debauched behaviour

- "Thomas Grove was a man of lewde and debauched behaviour and therefore they dearst not trust him with their goods or words to that effect for which reason hee beleeveth that the sayd Woods was much damnified by the sayd Groves debauched behaviour and lost much ladeing there which otherwise hee might have had"

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In service of a foreign nation

In service of a foreign nation

- "hee acquainted his shipps company therewith who were most of them unwilling to goe the same they not being hyred as they sayd to goe any such voyage when they came from London as alsoe because the voyage was to an unhealthyfull Country lyeing beyond the Lyne about fourteene or fifteene degrees to the South latitude and in service of a foreigne Nation"

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Insults made at sea and on land

Held upp his bare bumme or breech

- "the Captaine of the sayd Golden Starr in stead of showing submission to the authority of this Commonwealth being upon the Coasts of Englands as was demanded of him and is usuall did in a contemptuous manner returne skurrilous and base language and in an unbecoming and skornefull and reproach full way turned downe his breeches, and held upp his bare ?bumme or breech to the sayd Captaine Mill and Company, and waved his Cuttle axe bidding the sayd Captaine Mill Come to Leeward, all which this deponent saw and observed."

Sayd hee was a roague and a dogg

- "the sayd Grove before his goeing on shoare sayd before most of the sayd shipps Company that whosoever of them did ask any thing for Crispe (meaning the arlate Edward Crispe one of the Owners & Advenurers in the sayd shipp the voyage in question) hee would ?mallise or ?hate them during the voyage, or words to that effect & rayled against the sayd Crispe & sayd hee was a roague and a dogg & other the like expresonsfull towards ?him"

Called him old Roague and old Pedler and old Pimpe

- "the sayd Grove in an outragious manner reviled the sayd Wood and called him old Roague and old Pedler and old Pimpe and other the like disgracefull names and told him the sayd Wood that if hee were not an old roague hee would drubb him And alsoe sayd (speaking to the sayd Woods) yo:u old roague yo:u were in the hold the other day but if ever I see yo:u in hold againe I will ?trice yo:u up with a tackle or hee spake other menaceing speeches to the same effect all which opporobious language & threates and other passages were soe done & spoken on the open deck in p:rsence & heareing of this deponent & the Boatswaine & most of the sayd shipps company"

Yong Roague; and other reproachfull names

- "hee saith the said Luke Wood did all the said Voyage , give the said Grove as bad words as the said Grove gave or spake to or against the said Wood, and y:e said Wood oftentimes in this depo:ts hearing did call the said Grove Yong Rogue; and other reproachfull names and y:e said Wood told this depo:t that if it had not nin for him the said Wood y:e said Grove had never come in to y:e said Ship as M:r or to that effect, w:ch said Woods did disparidge the said Grove, and was as he saith a great meanes to make his Company or some of them slight him./.:

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Insurance

Discharge of an insurance made on a single voyage following completion

- "this rendent haveing notice and intelligence that the said shipp was bound from Marcelles to Scanderoone & soe to Marcelles againe did att the imptantie and desire of M:r Gilbert Moorewood, and some other of her Owners and the said Cravens mother cause an Assurance for the said voyage onlie and noe longer to be made uppon the said shipp to the value of ?700:li and not above as he beleeveth the Premio whereof this rendent beleeveth the said Cravens mother paid w:ch voyage being ended and the said shipp comeinge safe to Marcelles againe the same was discharged, and voyded" (HCA 13/125)

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Irish mariners

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Languages spoken by ships crews

Dutchmen and Irishman who spoke good English

- "all or the greatest part of the sayd shipps company that made the sayd seizure were Italians, except one dutch man who was Master XXXXX & an other dutchman that was gunner of her, & an Irish man who was one of her Company, and hee further saith that after the sayd seizure the sayd two dutch men & Irish man (who could & did speake all XXXX of them good English)..."

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London docks

Billingsgate dock

- "about the time arlate the shipp the Hopewell came and arrived at Billingsgate docke arlate"

Wapping dock

- " in or about the beginning of the moneth of August 1658, the said ship Warewell arived in the River of Thames with her Lading of Coles. and came to an Anchor a little belowe or against Wapping dock, and there moored in a very good and Convenient birth, where ships doe usually ryde at Anchor, and there rid in safety one floud and two Ebbs, during w:ch time there was noe appearance of any Ancho:r or buoy neere unto the place where the said ship was moored The premises hee deposeth for that hee this Depo:t belonged the said time to the James of London w:ch then came up y:e River the Tide before the Warewell came up, and moored a little above the Warewell, and this Depo:t did see the said ship y:e Warewell. take up her birth in y:e foresaid place, and tooke notice of her said mooring & ryding as aforesaid:...

...after y:e said Ship y:e Warewell had layne moored in y:e place aforesaid for the space of One ffloud and two Ebbs. shee happened to be bilged upon an Anchor w;ch lay within the said ships birthe w:ch had not then any boy fastned to it, and saith that soo soone as y:e said ship y:e Warewell was preceived to be bilged by her not XXXXing in the River, this Depo:t and severall other Mariner:rs belonging to other ships that Rid there went p:rsently on board her, and found her then to have foure fooote water in her hold. And saith that this Depo:t & y:e said other mariners & alsoe the Warewells Company, did Labo:r very hard and used their best Endeavo:rs to XXXXX the said ship ashore, and to that end did pumpe her , and heave out about three Lighters of Coles: and then by their greate Labo:rs and endeavo:r go her some what neerer to the shore, and then heaved about another Lighter of Coales. out of her. and did all that they could possibly doe to p:rvent further dammages that might have happened to the said Ship and Coles by reason of her said bilging on y:e said Anchor"

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Long term merchant residents overseas

- "hee [Robert Bevin, of London, merchant] saith hee is of the age of 36 yeeres or thereabouts and hath knowne y:e Said Cowling for y:e time aforesaid. but knoweth not his ffather or mother and hath bin Credibly informed that the said Cowling was borne at or neere Rippon in Yorkeshire...

the said Cowling hath lived at the Canaryes for all the time of this Depo:ts Knowledge of him, but knoweth not when hee went first thither, And saith hee hath, not bin in England since this Depo:ts Knowledge of him, that hee knoweth of, And saith y:e said Cowling is a Bachelo:r and payes Customs , for his goods, as other merchant Strange:rs doe; but no ?Tapes or Contribucons"

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Market glut & death

- "y:e said Ship arrived at Nevis on the Eighth of November 1657: and there lay about four or five weekes before the said Wood, sent any fish or gods. to S:t Christophers: and in that time there arrived att the ?sd Islands severall vessells laden with fish, and other Comodityes w:ch did much glut the market there; and thereby did hinder y:e Sale of the ffish brought in the Peace"

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Mariners' skills

Able Master of a ship

- "for about three yeeres last hee hath sailed in y:e said ship Peace with the said Thomas Grove [Master of the Peace], and thereby Knoweth. that hee is an able skillfull, and Experienced Seaman, & soe Comonly accounted and hath as hee hath heard used y:e Sea for a long time"

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Masters and Commanders

Promotion to Master after twelve years at sea

- "hee hath used the sea for about Eighteene yeeres last, & about six yeeres last hath bin a Master of a ship; And saith hee knoweth not what heis worth"

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Navigational errors

- "the said Ship in her passing from Newfound:d towards the Barbadoes did meet with many Hurricanoes Gal?wes , and Contrary winds, And saith that about three dayes before the said ship arrived at Sta Lasia. aforesyd the said Grove Asked this depo:t (who was one of his Mates how farr they were to windward of the Barbadoes. by his Account, to w:ch hee answered, that by his account they were about 130 Leagues to the windward of the Barbadoes and y:e said Grove alsoe asked y:e Interrate Roger Grove and y:e Interrate William Tizard to the effect aforesaid, and y:e sd Grove made answer that hee was by his account about 140 Leages to windward of the Barbadoes: and y:e said Tizard said y:t by his account hee was about 100 Leagues to Windward of the Barbadoes or to that effect, and y:e said Thomas Grove y:e M:r of the said Ship said y:t by his account heee was above 100 Leagued to Windward of the Barbadoes: And further saith that y:e said William Tizard (who was shipped Cheife mate of the said Ship y:e said Voyage by y:e sd Wood) was and is an illiterate and unskillfull pson, and one that cannot write his name ans was not Capable of his said Office or place; and had noe Instrum:ts on board y:e said ship to doe and performe his said place, but a fewe ?Staffs and saith that hee beleeveth the reason of the said Shipsmissing the Barbadoes y:e said Voyage was occasioned and came by the said Hurricanes; and XXXXX, and Contrary winds"

- "Ships doe usually misse the Island of Barbadoes, by reason of Greate Currants. and foule and Thicke weather w:ch often times happens in these parts"

- "by meanes of Contrary windes, and Calmes, and Hurricanoes (w:ch were very frequent then there insoemuch that neither the said Grove nor this depo:t nor y:e other mates on board her could gaine the Latitude) The said ship did misse the Island of the Barbadoes, And not by the Willfullnes Ignorance or Carlessnes of the said Thomas Grove; And after the said Grove did perceive that the said Ship had missed the Barbadoes, hee told the said Wood (in the presence of this depo:t and others of the said Ships Company) that hee would beate it up againe (meaning the Barbadoes) and the said Grove did endeavour to saile to the Barbadoes, and hee haveing spent about Eighteene houres thereabout, (after they perceived that they had missed it,) The said Luke Wood, in this depo:ts presence gave the said Grove speciall order to saile the said ship to Martini?ce, and from thence to Mevis, w:ch the said Grove accordingly did; And saith that hee verily beleeveth that the said Grove would have Got to the Barbadoes with the said Ship, in (about) tenne Dayes of time, after hee perceived it was missed, if the said Wood would have sufferred him soe to doe, and not have ordered him to leave off his Endeavouring and saile to Martinice & soe to Mevis, And saith that all the Voyage from Newfoundland towards the Barbadoes the said Thomas Grove did use, and doe his uttmost endeavo:r in sailing y:e said Shipp directly for the Barbadoes, and did ...."

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Neutral carriers

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Nevis

Plantations damaged by hurricanes

- "hee this Depo:t on or about the first day of January 1657: arrived at Nevis where hee ?found that y:e Hurricanes had spoiled y:e plantaccons ?there..."

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Packers and packing of goods

Packer for a Canary wine importer

- "The premisses hee deposeth being y:e sd producents packer, and hathe as hee beleeveth packed goods at severall times for y:e sd producent to the vallue of above twenty Thousand pounds"

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Payment of ransom

Ransom paid to Tripoly

- "this rendent & his sd ship & ladeing were taken by three Tripoly men of warr, & carried to Tripoly & XXX XXXX ship & lading all lost, & this rendent & his Company made prisoners as he beleeveth, where this rendent continued by the space of Three moneths & ?od dayes, & then was ransomed w:ch cost him ?800. dollars as he beleeves, & this rendent beleeveth that all the rest of the sd Comp:ie who are liveing except Edward ?Paull are there yet in captivity"

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Perception of risk

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Petrao Road

- "the sayd shipp ?y:e Lady ffrigott was in the moneths & tyme arlate taken to freight by Alderman Andrew Riccard & Company for a tradeing voyage from London to  ?Petrao and other pts beyond the Seas to lade Currans & other goods for their Account & bring the same for London & there deliver them to them or their Agents In order whereto the sayd shipp hee saith did in the moneths & tyme arlate safely arive in Petrao roade where and at Ma?thaligo the Agents of the sayd Alderman Riccard & Company laded one hundred & sixty tonnes of Currans of the growth of Mathalago:s and Petrao ad divers other goods & money for their use and Accompt to be transported for London & there delivered to them or their Agents for their use"

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Port charges

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Port Time Sources

- Unlading & Relading time in Lisbon port, 165X

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Probability

Probabilty of a ship arriving if another event had not taken place

- "the shipp the Lady frigot allegate and the said shipp the VirginX frigat were designed and intended to come together in company to this port, to w:ch purpose the Lady frigot was intended to come from Morea to Zante and thence to come along with the VirginXX w:ch if shee had done, and that the VirginX, XXXX had not XXXXXX, the said shipp the Lady frigot with her lading allegate and in all probabilitie arrived here in ffebruary last as the XXX frigot did."

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Problems of navigating to Barbadoes

Great currents & foul weather

- "hee hath used y:e Barbadoes XXXXX of a ship for about six yeeres last. and thereby knoweth that Ships doe usually misse the Island of Barbadoes, by reason of Greate Currants. and foule and Thicke weather w:ch often times happens in these parts"

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Profitability of voyages

Profits could vary significantly between consecutive voyages made by the same ship

- "he answeareth and beleeveth that the voyage from hence to Newfoundland and soe to Mallaga and hence to London the said shipp cleered in the whole shipp 105:li & not above as he beleeveth, and in the next voyage from hence to Mallaga, & home againe 107:li & not above as he beleeveth 14:li whereof more than his share & Randall Crewe receaved of under M:r Roydeon and for the voyage in the service of of the State the said shipp iXXXX XXX had beene XXX ?did cleere betwixt eight and nine hundred poundes about 500:li whereof is still unpaid and the remainder beinge about 400:li and Daniel Bright one of the Owners of the said shipp receaved & paid to everie Owner as he beleeveth theire XXXXX XX shares thereof And for the last voyage from hence to Barcellona and then to Marselles and soe to Barbary and Marcelles againe this rendent beleeveth there was losse uppon the said voyage about 440. or 450:li by reason the said shipp was imbargoed att Marcelles by the space of sixe monthes the Plague beinge then aboard her" (HCA 13/125 Box Two)

Knock on effects of a merchant's failure on the profitability if a voyage through failure to pay freight

- "after such tyme as the arlate Craven came into the said shipp the Jeremie he did make onlie one voyage w:ch was from Marcelles to Scanderoone and soe to Marcelles againe, and that att his returne thither before his fraight was paid as this rendent beleeveth his Merchant broke soe that he lost all his freight as he beleeveth" (HCA 13/125 Box Two)

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Purchase of naval stores

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Pursers

- "the said ship the Saphire (XXXX hee only depose) had Laden and put a bord her a Cargazoone of goods the pticulars whereof & to whom consigned are specified in this depon:ts Pursers booke of fraight delivered to the said General Blake or to such as he appointed to receave the same to ?w:ch for more certainty herein hee refereth himselfe"

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Refusal to take an oath

Refusal to take an oath in the High Court of Admiralty

- "in obedience to his said warrants, and that they XXXXX unto him as hee beleiveth, their said Comission and declared unto him their power given XXXXX and the effect of the said Commission, and that hee was called as a witnesse to be examined thereupon, and that they sitting as com:es did admXXXX this rendent to take his oath as a Witnes to depose the trutht upon such matters as ?any ?could be expressed, and this respondent desiing to know of them what it was hee should bee examined upon, they or XXX of them answered that hee should know that, when hee had taken his oath, and that this respondent againe insisted and prayed them that hee might know before his swearing, what hee should be examined upon, and withall told and XXXX unto them, that hee was readie and would sweare that hee never tooke nor XXX XXX nor bought in XX any of the goods taken or that were out of the said shipp to his knowledge, but they still refusing to acquaint or tell him what matters hee should be examined upon, hee refused to take his oath, and would not be examined by or before them upon oath unlesse hee might know the matter concerning w:ch hee should bee examined before his taking his oath"

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Refusal to pay mariners' wages

Refusal of Duke of Venice to give satisfaction for forced use of ship to service the Venetian fleet

- " there this rendent was offered a fraight to Smirna & soe to Venice againe w:ch this rendent accepted of, but dureing such tyme as he was at Venice intreating about the same the Duke of Venice or his Officers forced this rendent & his sd ship into their Service contrary to this rendents good will & likeing to carry bread from thence to ?candy for the ffleete w:ch this rendents ship accordingly did & arrived & delivered the same there in or about y:e beginning of december 1655. as he believeth for w:ch this rendent never received any satisffaction at all and doth declare that so soone as hee shall receive satisffaction for the same he shalbe ready & willing to pay his sd Marrin:es what shalbe due unto them for y:e same"

Failure of mariners to defend their ship from seizure

- "he [Elias Beake, London merchant] hath bin required to pay wages to the sd Salter & others, & y:t he doth justly refuse as he humbly conceiveth, for the sd pties, or some of them coming to him to demand their wayges he asked them why they did not defend their sd ship & goods & make shott at y:e vessell y:t tooke them y:t so they might have beaten them of & saved the vessell & goods for the Own:es that they might have had incouragem:t to have paid them for their good service, to w:ch answear was made that whoe should have kept them if they had been wounded, or lost a Limb or to that effect, so that of marrin:es should refuse to use their gunnes in this manner the Own:es had as good throw them into y:e Sea as carry them in their Ships & if they may give up their vessells & goods & returne home & receive their wages as usuall"

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Risk

Risque

- "for his the said John Scrother the producents accompt and risque"

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Role of consuls

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Set out against the Turkes

- "the sayd shipp the Sta Cruse was sett out from Gennoa as a man of warr against the Turkes" ADD SOURCE

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Sheriff's Court of London

Sueing in the Sheriff's Court

- "hee this Rendent hath sued and doth still sue and impleade the said George Cobden in the Sheriffs Court of London for the said sugars in an action of ?Trover; and alsoe beleeveth that y:e six tonnes of sugar soe as aforesaid by him laded or reputed to be laden aboard the said shipp the James in Carlisle bay, and the goods or sugars by him sued for in the sid Sheriffs Court, were and are the same goods or sugars, and not diverse"

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Shipping charges

- "it being very notorious & well knowne to the sd M:r Wayn Wright & all other mrchants that use the East countrey trade that every Last of wheate payeth one dollar the charges at Stettin & Stralsound & the charges for Smacks & boates to bring y:e sd corne on board, & petty pilotage & other dutyes, all w:ch heethis rendent did really pay" ADD SOURCE

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Ship prices

- "a stXXX shipp of the burthen of 200 tunnes and upwards: and was worth with her tackle and furniture having bene newly fitted and equipped the summe of one thousand pounds ?sterl in the Judgm:t of this deponent"

- "she was a strong and tight shipp and had bene but one voyage before att sea from the tyme of her first building and was of the burthen of .200 tonnes or thereabouts and had in her sixteene ?persons, and the tackele apparell and furniture of and belonging unto her were likewise good and new And the freight of the says hipp so provided with gunns and tackle was well worth the summe of 250:li sterl p moneth And soe much was and is usually given p moneth for a shipp of her burthen and goodnes"

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Ship wrecks

Her breaching in peeces

- "y:e Anne was driven upon y:e sd sands, and the Seas were ?mighty boysterous. Insomuch that they beate over y:e Deck of the sd ship with sich a fforce that y:e Company on y:e Deck could Scarce Stand upon their Leggs, and saith there were XXXXX saved, and brought out of the said ship, just before her breaching in peeces"

Breaking and splitting in the sands

- "hee went from Gravesend in y:e sd Ship y:e voyage in question, and Continued onboard till shee was breaking and splitting on y:e said sands"

Using other meanes for saving of their Lives

- "after the ?said Ship came upon y:e said Sand?s her Company had noe time either to save any paps or any of their Cloathes or goods w:ch were in y:e sd Ship, but were most of them Imployed about Hoysting out their boate, and using other meanes for saving of their Lives."

High winds, foule weather, and greate Tides

- "when they came from thence [ffalmouth] y:e winde was faire, and y:e next day y:e weather Changed, and was very Boisterous, and y:e said other Ships which were bigger, and better sailers than the Anne; left her behinde them, and y:e sd ship Anne by y:e said High winds, foule weather, and greate Tides (and by ?noe other meanes) was forced and driven upon y:e Coast of ffrance, about tenne Leagues to the Westward of ?Bullen, where shee as aforesd: was broken in peeces and utterly lost."

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Spanish crew on English ships

Voyage from London to Amsterdam to Trinidad and the Spanish West Indies and back to London

- "hee saith there were twenty men and a boy belonging to the said shipp when shee XX XXXXX Milford, whereof seaven were Spaniards the said John Lopez being one of the said Spaniards, and saith three of the said Spaniards are in London, and the rest were left abroad"

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States service

- "gone in the States Service" (HCA 13/73))

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Stopping, searching, & seizing ships

- "the shipps arlate were stayed at y:e Isle of Wight by the Governour or his deputye at Yarmouth castle in the said Island upon information given by some of their owne Company as hee beleeveth that they were bound for Spayne"

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Sugar

Nevis vs. Barbadoes sugar

- "at y:e first coming of the said ship y:e Peace to Nevis y:e said Wood sold his fish after y:e rate of a pound of ffish, for a pound of Sugar, and Saith that Nevis Sugar is accounted better than Barbadoes Sugar"

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Supracargoe

Powers of supracargo

- "the arlate Luke Woods did goe the voyage in question absolute and sole Supracargo & manager of the sayd shipp Pease as well for the parts that XXXXXXX hee the sayd Woods had hyred as for the other five eighths which was soe freighted by and belonged to the sayde Brewer and Crispe And was soe impowered to goe Supracargo and sole manager of the sayd Brewer & Crispe their five eighth parts by the sayde Brewer and Crispe"

Powers of supracargo touching the lading unlading and reladeing of a ship

- "the sayd Woods being sole supracargo of the sayed shipp for the voyage in question both the Master and Mariners ought to obey and observe the orders of the sayd Luke Woods as Supracargo as touching the lading unlading and reladeing of the sayd shipp & to goe with the shipps boate, & with the sayd shipp from place to place according as the sayd Woods should for his best advantage of tradeing in the sayd voyage direct and appoint"

Conflict between Master and supracargo

- "imediately after the sayd Grove had soe threatned and reviled the sayd Wood, hee the sayd Woods did in a civill & mylde manner demand of the sayd Grove why he would not lett him have any salt from on board and the sayd Grove replyed & sayd that the shipp wanted stiffneing or ballast whereto the sayd Wood answered and sayd to the sayd Grove why then did yo:w not a day agoe send for more stones whereto the sayd Grove replyed and sayd hee had forgott it & the sayd Woods then asked the sayd Grove what hee would doe when he had more stones aboard whereto the sayd Grove replyed and sayd that then hee would carry them on shoare againe And these speeches passed betwixt the sayd Grove & Woods publiquely upon the deck in p:rsence & hearing of this deponent and most of the shipps Company the sayd Wood speakeing soe loude and with such rage & fury that people who stood on shoare stood gazeing and wondering to see & heare such words & behaviour proceede from a Master of a shipp to his Supracargoe./"

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Terra Firma

North American continent as "Terra Firma"

- "?departed in or about November 1657 to ComXXXX a coast on the terra firma"

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Timber yards

Timber yard in Lisbon

- "hee was in y:e said yard (out of w:ch y:e said Logwood was taken & sent on board y:e said ship) whilest, some of the sd wood was weighing, and sawe most of it sent, and brought aboard y:e said ship, y:e said yard being neere y:e waterside & neere unto y:e place: where his ship lay"

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Trade with the Canary Islands

English merchants trading under Dutch names

- "English merchants doe, (and have done since y:e warre betwixt England and Spaine) trade at y:e Canaryes under fained and fictitious Dutch names the better to Colo:r their goods, and p:eserved them from Spanish Capture."

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Travel Time Sources

Inverness to Rochell

- "he answereth & beleeveth That the weather ?serving a ship doth usually & may saile from Innvrnes to Rochell in ?20 dayes or thereabouts"

Gravesend to coast of Greeneland and back to Gravesend

- "the sd ship sett sayle from Gravesend upon or about the fourteenth of Aprill 1656. & not before as they beleeve at w:ch time & not before the sd monethly pay was to begin in case the sd pties had behaved themselves as they ought to have done, & these rendents further beleeve that y:e ship the Greyhound came back againe into the River of Thames & was here discharged upon or about the fowrteenth day of September 1656 as they beleeve"

Lisbon to Brazil (exact Brazilian destination unspecified)

- "y:e sd ship the Scipio did enter upon & begin her voiage for Brazeel to wit in y:e lading of her goods for that place the 3:d of September 1649. and that y:e sd ship did dept from Lisborne upon y:e sd voiage the 5:th day of November arlate 1649 & ?arrived at Brazeele the 6:th day of March 1649 [i.e. 1650] & there discharged her lading about y:e end of Aprill 1650 & that upon the 20:th of June 1650. y:e sd ship did set saile in company of the portugall fleete for Lisborne againe, and was afterwards put back with the rest of y:e fleete by the command of y:e Admrall for Brazeel where they arrived againe about the first or second of July 1650."

London to the Canary Islands

- "the sd Ship did go with some small commodities to ?Loratuna in the Canary ?Islands & did safely arrive there & unlade her goods as hee believeth but y:e time of her arrivall & lading he knoweth not, but believeth a ship may goe from home to y:e Canaries with goods & unlade the same within the space of sixe weekes"

Gravesend to Scanderoone and back to Gravesend

- " from y:e time of y,e Departure of y:e said Ship Anne from Gravesend & Untill the say of her discharging of her last goods at Scanderoone ?was about seaven monethes and three weekes"

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Trust

Trust reposed in an executor or administrator

- "this rendent did desire them the said M:r fford, and M:r Mayne to Joyne with him to administer uppon and dispose the said goods,accordinge to the trust reposed in them by the said M:r West decead, but they the said M:r fford ad M:r Mayne did both of them refuse, and then this rendent being unwillinge the said goods should bee lost and miscarye, did in ?order to that trust w:ch was reposed in him repaire to the Governor of the Barbados and there acquainted him with this whole matter, who thereuppon did issue out an order or warrant in the nature of an administration, to this rendent the said M:r fford and M:r Mayne, that they might thereby ?receave the said goods out of the said shipand make disposition thereof"

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Turkey Company Merchants of London

- "in ?Examinate & tyme arlate the sayd shipp was hyred and taken to freight by some of the Turkey Company Merchants of London...COMPLETE THIS TEXT"

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Use of arbitration

Dispute of freight charges deducted from proceeds returned to Master and Owner

- "To the Eighteenth & Nyneteenth he answereth that he hath bin demanded to pay fraight, but doth beleeve there is none due to y:e sd pties, but for their ppoorcon of the monyes pceeding of the sd ship and goods he is & hath alwaies bin ready & willing to allow unto them their pporcon, if they would agree what the same should be or leave the same to any indiffrent psons to state the same betweene them"

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Value of cargo vs value of ship

XXX to XXX ratio

- "hee saith the Postillion at her seizure was of the burthen of two hundred tonne or therabouts and had nyne peeces of ordnance and the sayd shipp and her tackle apparrell & furniture were then well worth (in this deponents Judgement and estimate) two thousand six hundred pounds sterling or therabouts And saith the sayd shipp had aboard he at the tyme of the seizure, (for Accompt of the sayd Delboe Middleton Temmes Britton Taylor and Syon seaventeene hundred forty six parcell and thirty one ?Catees of pepper, and peeces of Eight three thousand three hundred and some odd peeces which pepper would in this deponents Judgment, if it had come safe to England have there yeild Thirteene Thousand pounds sterling besides freight due alsoe to the sayd Delboe Middleton Temms Britton Taylor and Syon as Owners of the sayd shipp which as hee beleeveth would have amounted to two thousand eight hundred pounds more of like money And hee saith that hee this deponent had for his owne Accompt aboard the sayd shipp at her seizure sixe hundred peeces of Eight, and pepper & Cloaves soe much as would have in England have yeilded seaventeene hundred pounds sterling, besides his wages for the sayd voyage which hee beleeveth did amount to ?three hundred pounds more of like money & his cloats amounting to about twenty pounds more of like money all which hee lost by the seizure aforesayd And hee saith the sayd shipps company at the tyme of the sayd seizure had aboard her for their Accompt pepper & ?Caude & other goods to the value of ?three hundred pounds sterling in this deponents Judgment and estimate, besides their cloathes and wages which as hee beleeveth was worth a thousand pounds more of like money all which they were samnified by the sayd seizure And hee saith that beside the p:rmisses there were about the sayd shipp at her seizure fower hundred Jarrs of Greene Ginger for Accompt of the English East India Company which were alsoe lost by the seizure aforesayd and would in this deponents Judgment have yeilded if they had come safe to England one thousand one hundred and twenty pounds sterling..."

Ten to one ratio

- "To the fifteenth he answereth & beleeveth that the said ship & her tackle & furniture & other materialls when they were seized were worth about the summe of One hundred pounds, and not above as he beleeveth, and the sd goods in the said ship were worth as he beleeveth the summe of about one thousand pounds & not under as he beleeveth, but y;e sd ship by lyeing there and being pillaged was much spoyled & damnifyed & worth little as he beleeveth...[Following the sale of the ship & goods, snd subsequent decree to return the proceeds] 16. To the Sixteenth he answereth & beleeveth that y:e monyes which came to his hands as y:e pceed of y:e sd ship & goods did amount to about Two hundred Nynety five pounds as is alleaged & not lesse as he beleeveth, & he hath not since delivered y:e same, but alwayes offered & was & is willing to give them their due ppocon as he beleeveth"

Two point six to one ratio

- "the Lady ffrigott and her tackle and furniture, & freight, and stock & provisions on board her at her seizure aforesayd by the sayd Gennoa (sic) man of warr called the Sta Cruse was in his this deponents Judgment well worth five thousand pounds of lawfull English money and soe much hee beleeveth the says Swift Parker & Harris & other her Owners were dammaged by her being surprized & taken as aforesayd...

the hundred & sixty Tonne of Currants aforesayd on board the Lady ffrigott belonging to the foresayd Alderman Riccard & Company were at their surprizall worth in this deponents Judgement and estimate ?thirteene thousand pounds of lawfull English money and would as hee verily beleeveth have yeilded the sayd Riccard & Company soe much of they had not bin surprized in manner as aforesayd"

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Wages

Pay rates in sample ships

- The Content (London to Gambo (Africa) to Barbados (then lost at sea); wage schedule for twelve persons (1658/59)

Seamens' wages to travel from Lisbon to Brazil and back

- "some consideraccon extraordinary above what they were in the first place hired for"

- "the sayd Ewens in persuance of such his offere & promises did pay unto his sayd Company eight moneths pay according to the first agreement made at London & did promise & agree to pay them an addition of five shillings in the pound p moneth for the future over & above the rates formerly agreed on which promise of addition the Company did agree to & promised to provide on the sayd Brazeele voyage and the sayd ffosse Tucker Howgate this deponent & the rest of the shipps Company did thereupon proceede upon the sayd voyage after the sayd new contract"

Customary exchange rates for mariners

- "thereupon y:e sd M:r did pay them off freely Eight moneths pay in dollars at foure shills six pence per dollar, which is y.e usuall rate that English marrin:rs receive their wages at in dollars"

No paymen of wages overseas

- "this depo:t asking him howe long y:e sd Hill served in his ship; and at what what hee was shipped. at. The said Middleton replyed that hee served in his ship about foure yeere, and two Monethes: and was shipped at Thirty shillings p moneth, And then this depo:t asked him if hee had paid him any of his wages: To w:ch hee replied Noe, I Doe not use to pay men abroad."

Monthly wages for named qualities on voayge from Gravesend to the Streights and back

- "in or about November 1657: ?y:e said W:m Malim did hyre all the Marine:rs severall mentioned in the schedule annexed to y:e said Allon nowe showed unto him, to goe & serve in y:e said ship Anne from this port. to Yarmouth, and from thence to the streights. and to returne againe to this port. And saith that y:e schedulate Christopher Malym Mate; and Carpenter of y:e said Ship, was hyred at 3:li p moneth to goe y:e sd Voyage; Thomas Garret Carpenter of the said ship at 1:XXX p moneth to go y:e sd voayage Bethel Tinke (OR, Finke) A Common marriner of the said Ship at 1:li. viij:s p moneth to goe the said voayage, George Sotherne a Comon man of the said ship at 1:li ix:s p moneth to goe y:e said voyage., George. Rogers a Comon man of y:e said Ship at 1;li. viij:s p moneth, to goey:e sd voyage, Thomas West Coop at j:li. xiiij:s p moneth , to goe y:e sd voyage, & ffrancis RoXXX at 1:li. 10:s p moneth to goe y:e said Voyage; And soe ?much the foresaid Mariners well deserved, and soe much is usually given to Marine:rs that serve in the quality aforesaid. in such voyages. and oftentimes, greater summes, And saith hee save y:e foresaid Marine:rs recvd their halfe pay at Yarmouth and thereby knoweth y:e premisses, but saith hee knoweth not for how much John Roberts y:e Chirurghion of y:e sd ship was shipt at, but saith hee well knoweth y:t hee well deserved 2:li. 2:s. p moneth, and saith hee this depo:t never ?knewe lesse given, to a Chirurgion for y:e same; or y:e like Voyage"

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Will of God

Bilging of ship on sands on coast of France

- "neither her M:r nor any of her Company were in any fault. but the same came and happened meerely by y:e said Extraordinary winds and y:e will of God. The premisses hee deposeth by sad Experience being on board her, when y:e said Disaster happened"

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Possible topics for synthesis

• Attitudes and behaviour towards negroes by sailors and ship masters

• Brazeele trade

• Corruption and kickbacks (prevalence; function)

• Fish

- "he answereth & beleeveth that Salmon & herings were no vendible commodity at Rochell in y:e moneths arlate" (HCA 13/19)
- Relative price of fish
- Whaling described as "fishing"
- Oysters
- Lobsters

• Geographical language

- Areas
- Linked to commodities (Rhenish wine; French wine)
- Non-port towns
- Ports
- Seas

• Greenland fishing

• Insults made between ships during conflict at sea

• Port to port routes

• Ship age

- "an old shipp being about the Age of thirteen or fourteen yeers old" (the Mayflower, ca. ?1659)

• Ship prices

- Create table of price of ships per ton (by age and burthen)

- Prices outside England, e.g. Surat (the Mayflower, 280 tonnes, 13 or 14 years old, badly damaged, valued with tackle and provisions at 910:li sterling by Capt. Robert ffisher, commander of the Smirna Merchant (£3.25 per ton)

• Timber merchants

• Time

- Between ports
- lading in port
- Unlading in port

• Wages

- Levels by job function
- Variances within and between job functions, & over time, & according to perceived risk and supply/demand

• Workings of Vice Admiralty courts outside London

- Regional courts

-- Example: Leith, Scotland
-- Example: Court of West England

- Process

- Registry