Uploaded image; transcribed on 07/11/2016
The 14th of December 1653. On the behalfe of the State '''[?Silver ] dt.''' The 14th of December 1653 '''Thomas Alderman''' of Redriff in the County of Surry Mariner aged 53 yeares or thereabouts sworne before the right worshipfull William Clerke and John Godolphin doctors of Lawes Judges of the high Court of the Admiraltie saith and deposeth by vertue of his oath That after the seizure of the shipp the ''Prophet Elias'' by Captaine Mynns in the ''Elizabeth frigot'' in the service of this Commonwealth (which seizure happened about 11 weekes since) namely the same night after the said seizure the master and three of the company of the ''Prophet'' ''Elias'' being by the said Captaines commannd come aboard the said frigot and there examined, the said master in this deponents presence told the said Captaine Minnes that that were but five men then aboard his the said shipp the ''Prophet Elias'' (hee the said master and three of his company as aforesaid being aboard the frigot) and saith that the said Captaine sent this deponent and six more of the frigots company that night aboard the said shipp ''Prophet Elias'', where thet found tenn sea men (all of the said shipps company) and three Jewes, whereupon this deponent made saile with the ''Prophet Elias'' to the said frigot, and complained to his said Captaine, acquainting him howe many men there were aboard the said shipp, notwithstanding that the master (who with his other three men were still aboard the frigot) had said that there were but five aboard, which things when the Captaine understood hee commannded this deponent to keepe close by him all night with the said shipp for feare of the worst, which hee did, and that night the said three Jewes got this deponent three times into the greate cabbin and endeavoured to plie him with stronge waters to overcome him, but hee tooke but one cup suspecting the worst, and stilll they were questioning him concerning the said shipp and goods what hee thought would become of them, and this deponent tould them they would be prize if they were found to be fflemish, and one of the said Jewes asked this deponent concerning his owne goods, and this deponent tould him that his goods would be prize before any goods in the shippe; And the next day they came into the downes, where this deponent caused him the said Jew to open his truncke then soe this deponent might search for writigs which the said Jew did, and there this deponent found many writings, some of which the said Jewe and another Jew much desired to have againe, and this deponent refusing, they offered him two hundred dollars to let them habe them, one of them chinking money in his hand to tempt this deponent and gave him one dollar in part, and saith that a yonge man that nowe pretends himselfe to be a servant to the said Jewe was a shoemaker and told this deponent that hee had one writing amongest the said writings which this deponent had which hee said was a testimony that hee had served out his time to a shoe maker in Hamborough, and this deponent taking pittie of him, carried him aboard the frigot, to see (if those writings were not sent ashore) that hee might looke for his owne, but they were sent ashore before their comming aboard. And further saith that as this deponent was searching in the said truncke for the
[[File:IMG_117_07_0053.jpg|thumbnail|800px|none|link=Special:TranscriptionInterface/IMG_117_07_0053.jpg|[[:HCA 13/68|HCA 13/68]] f.248r: Right click on image for full size image in separate window
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