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To the first and second Articles of the sa … To the first and second Articles of the sayd Allegation This deponent saith<br />
that from about the 7th day of december 1652 English Stile till about the<br />
25th day of June then next ensueing the arlate shipp the ''harry Bonadventure''<br />
was ymployed out to sea as a mann of warr in the service of this Commonwealt<br />
under Command of the sayd Captaine Robert Swanly by vertue of a lawfull<br />
Commission which this deponent saw and heard read, with authority to take<br />
Dutch shipps and all other shipps belonging to the<br />
enemies of this Commonwealth, and saith that in pursuance of the<br />
saud Authority in their Course from Messina to Tunis in orabout the month f [?May] 1653 the sayd ''harry<br />
Bonadventure'' neere to Cape Sp[?o]rt[?a]vento mett with two dutch shipps<br />
and fought with them for about three or four howres, and att length<br />
subdued and tooke the bigger of them called the ''Saint Peter'', and the<br />
master of the sayd ''Saint Peter'' being slayne in fight, tooke the greatest<br />
part of the Company out of the sayd dutch shipp into the ''Harry Bonadventure''<br />
by meanes whereof the sayd Captaine Swanley and Company became possessed<br />
of the sayd shipp ''Saint Peter'' and her lading And otherwise cannot depose<br />
saving that he knoweth the premisses to be true being Chyrurgeon of the<br />
''harry Bonadventure'' and present aboard att the sayd fight and seizure.
To the third fourth and fifth articles of the sayd allegation this deponent saith that the<br />
sayd shipp the ''Saint Peter'' was a very large and able shipp and had 24.<br />
gunnes and tackle and furniture requisit. and was full laden with goods<br />
of great value, And saith he heard the steersman of the sayd shipp the<br />
''Saint Peter'' in broken English he being this deponents patient, and the Chirurgeon<br />
likewise of the sayd shipp in the Italian tongue and to the understanding<br />
of this deponent say and affirme that the whole Cargazon of the ''Saint Peters''<br />
ladeing according to the Bills of lading for the same did amount to the<br />
summe or value of four hundred thousand Crownes, and that her lading<br />
was quick sylver, annis seeds coriander seeds, Currants Venise Glasses<br />
and other rich Commodityes the quantityes of any whereof in certayne<br />
or the values of them otherwise than as aforesayd this deponent cannot sett<br />
fourth. And moreover saith he heard the sayd Chyrurgeon of the ''Saint Peter''<br />
say that the sayd shipp ''Saint Peter'' was with her ladeing bound<br />
for Amsterdam; and saith that the greatest part of the Company of the<br />
sayd shipp were dutchmen. And further hee cannot depose saveing that the ''harry''<br />
''Bonadventure'' in the chase and fight wore the English Colours and the ''Saint Peter'' [?the] Dutch shipp the Holland Colours.
To the sixth he saith the sayd Captaine Swanly carryed back the sayd shipps the<br />
''harry Bonadventure'' and ''Saint Peter'' back to Messina a Citty subiect to the King of Spaine to repaire and make good<br />
the hurt they had sustayned in the sayd fight, and to enable them to goe for Tunis [?all GUTTER]<br />
which he knoweth goeing back in the sayd ''harry Bonadventure'' to Messina<br />
and otherwise cannot depose.
To the 7th he saith that the sayd Captaine Swanley did present the Governour<br />
of Messina with a gift or present. and that the foremast of the prize being<br />
putt a shoare there was taken or stoll[?o]ne away by some of the Inhabitants, and<br />
Captaine Swanley forced to redeeme the same being deprived of two [?new] masts<br />
which this deponent then and there heard he had provided for supply of<br />
his sayd shipps. And otherwise cannot depose.
To the 8th he saith that the sayd Captaine Swanley whilest the sayd shipps remained<br />
att Messina sent John Merrick newly appointed Commander of the ''Saint Peter''<br />
and Lorenso Michaell Corporall of the ''harry Bonadventure'' being a<br />
Spaniardonadventure'' being a<br />
Spaniard +
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