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The same day
Examined upon the sayd alleg … The same day
Examined upon the sayd allegation
'''6.'''
'''John Merrick''' of Wapping in the County of Middlesex<br />
Mariner late Leiuetenant of the ''Harry Bonadventure''<br />
and afterwards Master or Commander of the ''Saint Peter''<br />
a foresayd, aged one and thirty yeares or thereabouts<br />
a witnes sworne and examined deposed and saith<br />
as followeth.
To the first arle of the sayd allegation This deponent saith that from the moneth<br />
od December 1652 and intill the 25th day of June 1653 last past<br />
the sayd shipp the ''Harry Bonadventure'' was imployed in the service of<br />
this Commonwealth by the directions of Mr Longland Agent for the Commonwealth<br />
now Resident att Leghorne, with Commission and Instructions to seize<br />
and Take Dutch shipps, and other shipps belonging to the Enemyes of<br />
this Commonwealth, and saith the sayd shipp under the Command of Captaine<br />
Robert Swanley did proceed upon the sayd designe and expedition, this<br />
deponent being Leifetenant of her for the most part of the said tyme<br />
And otherwise cannot depose.
To the 2d he saith That on or about the 19th day of May 1653 the sayd<br />
shipp ''Harry Bonadeventure'' under the Command and for the service aforesd<br />
sett sayle from Messina in Scicily and being bound for Tunnis by order<br />
of the sayd Agent Mr Longland did in her Course, off of the Cape [SpXXXX GUTTER]<br />
meet with two dutch shipps, which assaulted the ''Harry Bonadventure''<br />
whereupon a fight was begann, which continued about the space of four<br />
howres, till att last after some dammage done to the ''Harry Bonadventure''<br />
in her sailes rigging masts and hull and killing of some of her Company<br />
and wounding of others, the bigger of the sayd dutch shipps the ''Saint Peter''<br />
aforesayd was subdued and taken, and the master of her slayne in the<br />
fight, and most part of her Companie taken out of her into the sayd<br />
''Harry Bonadventure'', by meanes whereof the sayd captaine Swanly and<br />
his Company became masters and absolute possessors of the sayd<br />
shipp ''Saint Peter'' and all her lading. The premisses he knoweth being present<br />
in the sayd fight and att the sayd seizure. And otherise cannot depose.
To the 3d he saith the ''Saint Peter'' was of the burthen of 400 tonnes or thereabouts<br />
and had 24 gunnes, and two brasse [?bases], and was well rigged and perfect<br />
in all respects with tackle furniture victualls munition and other requisits<br />
fitt for the sea saving the dammage she sustayned in fight, and was full laden and<br />
she could well beare with rich Commodityes, Quicksylver, Rice, Annise seeds,<br />
Currants, venice glasses and silke and other goods, the [?portions] or<br />
quantityes fof all or any of which goods and merchandizes this deponent<br />
cannot sett forth, nor doth he know what the value of the sayd shipp and<br />
Cargozon of goods did or might amount unto. And further cannot depose.
To the .4. he saith that from the beginning of the first Chase to the end of [?the GUTTER]<br />
sayd fight the ''Harry Bonadventure'' had out and wore the Colour of this<br />
Commonwealth and the sayd 2 dutch shipps the ''Saint Peter'' and the other had out<br />
and wore the Holland Colours. And otherwise saving his foregoeing deposicon<br />
he cannot depose.
To the .5. he saith that after the sayd seizure he this deponent heard [?some GUTTER]<br />
ofponent heard [?some GUTTER]<br />
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