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The 23th of August 1654. [CENTRE HEADING]
… The 23th of August 1654. [CENTRE HEADING]
On the behalfe of Nicholas Opie, Stephen}<br />
Trevill and Richard Lobb owners and freighters}<br />
of the shipp the ''Walsingham'' whereof John}<br />
[?Trenaman] was master.}
'''George Chappell''' of London Mariner<br />
aged 54 yeares or thereabouts, sworne<br />
before the right Worshippfull William Clarke<br />
and John Godolphin doctors of lawes<br />
Judges of the high Court of the<br />
Admiraltie, saith and examined upon<br />
certaine Interrogatories saith and deposeth as<br />
followeth videlicet.
To the first Interrogatorie hee saith and deposeth that hee well knoweth<br />
the island of Saint Jago Interrogated and was at the<br />
same in Aprill last was a twelve moneth, and sawe and well knoweth<br />
that the said Island is Inhabited by Portugueses and under the power<br />
dominion and command of the kinge of Portugall, and the same hath<br />
for many yeeres last past bin and at present is commonly accompted<br />
reputed and taken to be part of the dominions of the said kinge<br />
and sent thither by the said kinge, and appointed to the said<br />
of Portugall; And saith the Governour of the said Iland is placed<br />
thither by the said kinge, and appointed to the said Govenment<br />
by the said kings speciall Commission, and this deponent being at<br />
Lisbone in March last was twelve moneth, and thence bound for<br />
the Iiand of Saint Tome and to touch at the said Iland of<br />
Saint Jago, hee was spoken unto by Pedro ffarras Barretto (who<br />
was appointed by the said kinge to goe Governour to the said Iland of<br />
Saint Jago upon removall of the former Govenour) to transportt him<br />
thither to his said Govenment in this deponents shipp.
To the second Interrogatorie hee saith and deposeth that hee well<br />
knoweth the shipp the ''walsingham'' interrogated, and hath so donne for<br />
theise two yeeres last past and upwards and saith shee was under<br />
of the burthen of 240 tonnes and had fourteene guns in her; and<br />
saith further that in Aprill last was a twelve moneth hee this deponent<br />
being at Saint Jago as aforesaid was informed by the Sergeant Maior of<br />
the said Iland a Portuguese, and others that by the said shipp in the<br />
yeere 1651 was seized and taken at the Iland of May by the<br />
Portuguese, and of 36 mariners that shee had aboard, thirtie were<br />
murthered, and that they were commanded to doe the same by the<br />
authoritie of the Government of Saint Jago, as the said Sergeant<br />
Major told this deponent, who alsoe said and acknowledged<br />
that hee himselfe was the principall of the<br />
Portuguese in the said action, and that hee was sent and imployed therein<br />
by the said Govenour of Saint Jago; and as this deponent was<br />
then and there likewise informed, the said shipp was carried into<br />
Jago, and that there her lading of salt and other goods were sold and disposed<br />
of, and that the Government of the said Iland of Saint Jago, by<br />
the said kings command sent the said shipp to Lisbone, whether<br />
as this deponent was alsoe informed shee was carried by<br />
Portugueses and there delivered into the said kings possession and<br />
further saith that shee was restored to the owners in december last<br />
was a twelve moneth which hee knoweth being then there and seeing<br />
the said restitution. And otherwise hee cannot depose.
To the third hee saith the said Iland of Saint Jago is a place fortified<br />
for defence of it selfe of this deponents sight and knowledge.
George Chappell [SIGNATURE, RH SIDE]dge.
George Chappell [SIGNATURE, RH SIDE] +
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