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Letter of
Reprisal
(1. Lord
Admiral's Name) John
Hawkyns Lord Admiral
Greetings &c.
The
condition of this recognizance as such that where
(2.Owner[s]
Names) William Hawkyns,
Humphry Fones
and company of (3. City Name) Plymouth,
are by virtue of a commission of reprisal obtained from the Lord Admirall
authorized to set forth to the seas one shippe called the
(4. Ship
Name) Elizabeth of
Plymouth, of the burthen of
fourscore tons, or thereabouts, and a pinnace of xxiii tons, whereof
(5. Captain's
Name) Thomas Peeres goethe for master,
with men ordinance, and victual sufficient for the same service, for the
apprehending and taking whatsoever the shipps, goodes, and merchandises
belonging to the subjects of the King of Spaine, towards the satisfying
and recompencing of certain of their goodes, moneys, and merchandises,
with losses and damages by the said arrestee of their said goodes made in
Spaine.
If therefore, the said master with his shippe,
pinnace, and company, do bring such shippe, goodes, and merchandises, as
they so take and apprehend, to some port of this her Majestie’s realm of
England as shall be most convienent for them, and do not break bulk before
the Vice Admirall of the same port, or his deputy, and other public
officers of the same port, be aquainted therewith, and also, upon their
said arrival, do cause a just and perfected inventory to be taken of the
said goods so taken, and a true appraisement thereof to be made by some
six honest men, inhabitants of the same port, and do return the said
inventory and appraisement into the said high court of the Admiraltye
within six weeks then after ensuing.
And also do answer and pay, or cause to be
answered and payed in the said court of the Admitaltye, to the use of the
said Lord Admirall, the full tenth part of all such shippes, goodes, and
merchandises, as the said master, with his shippe, pinnace, and company
shall take and apprehend at the seas by the virtue of the said commission,
at the time of exhibiting of the said inventory and appraisement as
aforesaid.
And likewise do not attempt anything against any
of her Majestie’s loving subjects, or the subjects of any other Princes
or states being in good liege and amity with her Majestie, but only
against subjects of the said King of Spaine, that then this recognizance
to be void and of no force, or else to remain in full power and force.
Witness
the great seal on August viii in the year of our Lord 1585.
John Hawkyns.
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