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Commission issued to John Boswell 20 January 1690

William, Earl of Crafurd, Lord Lindsay, etc., elected president of their Majesties' Privy Council of the kingdom of Scotland, in absence of William, Duke of Hamilton, their president, and the remanent Lords of their Majesties' Privy Council for the said kingdom, to all and sundry kings, princes, dukes, marquises, governors of republics, magistrates of burghs, commanders of navies, governors of ports and castles, and to all and sundry whom these presents do or may concern: Forasmuch as his Majesty by his letter of the date the twenty-eighth day of January, 1689-90, direct to the Lords of Privy Council hath signified to them that whereas his Majesty hath given no commissions as yet to any person or persons for managing the office of Lord High Admiral in the kingdom of Scotland, who might grant letters of mark and general reprisal against the vessels and goods belonging to the subjects of the French King and to the Irish now in rebellion, and that his Majesty was informed that John Bosswell in Kirkaldie hath provided a ship with men and guns for taking and apprehending ships or goods belonging to the French or Irish and desired his Majesty's commission for that effect, and that his Majesty hath authorised and granted warrant to the said Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council to grant a commission and letters of mark and general reprisal unto the said John Bosswell against the ships and goods belonging to the subjects of the French king and to the Irish rebels, and hath appointed them to grant protection to the said Captain John Bosswell and his company against all presses and seizures in manner and to the effect aftermentioned: Therefore the said Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council, in compliance with and obedience to his Majesty's commands expressed in his royal letter of the date abovementioned, do hereby give full power, warrant and commission to the said Captain John Bosswell in Kirkaldie, to be captain of the good ship or frigate called the Providence of Kirkcaldy, of the burden of one hundred and sixty tons or thereabouts and carrying twelve pieces of ordnance and the number of twenty-two seamen or thereabouts, and ammunition proportionable such as a man of war commissioned in their Majesties' actual service is in use to carry, giving, granting and committing to the said Captain John Bosswell full power, warrant, commission and charge to order and command the officers, soldiers and mariners of the said ship with men, victual, arms, artillery great and small, and all other warlike munition and provisions whatsoever, and therewith to set forth and go to sea and to search for, apprehend and, in case of resistance, to fire, burn, sink and destroy the ships and goods belonging to the subjects of the French King and to the Irish rebels, as also to stay and arrest all other ships and vessels of whatsoever other kingdom, country, nation or people, conveying any goods or merchandise in them belonging to the French King or to his subjects or inhabitants or belonging to any person within the kingdom of Ireland in rebellion against their Majesties, or of such as shall carry to them any soldiers, horses, ships, vessels or any arms offensive or defensive, or any munitions or provisions, or any contraband goods or merchandise whatsoever, and to bring the said ships so apprehended and arrested to any port or harbour of the said kingdom of Scotland without breaking bulk or altering the property thereof, to be proceeded against and judged according to law in the High Court of Admiralty of the kingdom of Scotland, or in such other court or courts as by particular or special warrant and commission shall be sufficiently authorised for doing the same, and after such proceeding and adjudication to be sold and disposed of as of right appertains: Authorising the said Captain John Bosswell generally to do and perform all and everything towards the execution of the whole premises necessary and requisite, promising to hold firm and stable all and whatsoever things shall be lawfully done by the said Captain John Bosswell by virtue of these presents: Requesting you and everyone of you the said kings, princes, dukes, governors of republics, magistrates of burghs, commanders of navies, governors of ports and castles, friends and confederates to our sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, by the Grace of God King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defenders of the faith, etc., to acknowledge the said captain and the company of his ship as good and lawful subjects of their Majesties authorised with this our commission for the execution of the premises: And if the said captain shall come into your or any of your harbours, bounds, castles or territories with or without any prize or prizes to be taken by him, that ye furnish him with victuals and other necessaries upon his reasonable expenses, and that ye resist all violence that may be offered to him, his company and equipage, to their ships or goods, and that ye show all other rights of common friendship and alliance to our sovereign Lord and Lady in treating the said captain and company as ye may expect the like from their Majesties, or that those entrusted with the management of the public affairs of the kingdom shall be careful on all occurrences of the like nature to cause the like be shown to you and your subjects. Ordaining this our commission to continue and endure aye and until the same be recalled by the King's Majesty or by us. And the said Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do, conform to his Majesty's special warrant and authority foresaid given unto them, hereby grant unto the said Captain John Bosswell and his company protection against all presses and seizures of any sea-captains or other officers of their Majesties' navy at sea, and of any press masters or others within any of their Majesties' ports; and that in respect the said Captain John Bosswell hath granted bond and found caution that out of such ships and vessels as shall be taken by him and also out of all such goods, wares and merchandise whatsoever as shall be judged lawful prize, that there shall be paid to their Majesties the just fifteenth thereof or such customs as shall be required by the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, and the tenth to the Lord High Admiral, or to any who shall have sufficient warrant and power to receive the same, or of such proportions of the said prizes as are due by the laws and custom of the kingdom of Scotland, and that he shall prosecute the said commission in the whole heads, tenors and contents thereof. Signed by warrant from and in name of the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council for the kingdom of Scotland by the said William, Earl of Crafurd, elected president in absence of the president of Council, at Edinburgh the eleventh day of February, 1690 years, by virtue of an Act of Council of the date the fifth day of December, 1689 years, authorising the president of Council for the time being to subscribe all commissions of Council and others, and which is ratified and approven by his Majesty by his royal letter of the date the twentieth day of January, 1690 years; and they have appointed this commission to be sealed with the cachet of Council.

Commission issued to John Boswell 30 March 1694

The Lords of their Majesties' Privy Council, Captain Burd's commission] considering that the said Lords have already given commission to Captain Edward Burd, captain of the good ship or frigate called the Lyon, to sail with his said ship and watch the said isle and seize all ships bound thereto, as the said commission, which is of the like tenor with this present commission, at moie length bears; and the said Lords, finding it necessary in respect of attempts made by French privateers for relieving the rebels in the said island that another ship of force be outrigged for blocking up the said Bass and preventing any relief or supply to be sent in or furnished to the said rebels from the kingdom of France or other enemies to their Majesties and their government, they have thought good to outrig and fit out another frigate sufficiently provided with men, arms and ammunition, and in the absence of the Duke of Hamilton, Lord High Admiral, and in the present exigency to give commission to the person afternamed to command the said frigate for to watch the said Bass and to hinder all manner of provisions and supplies to be brought or entered into it, and likewise to secure the ships and vessels belonging to his Majesty's lieges that may be in hazard from their attacks and surprises: And the said Lords having special trust and confidence in the loyalty, courage and conduct of John Bosswell, skipper in Kirkcaldie, master of the good ship called the Providence, have therefore nominated and appointed and hereby nominate and appoint the said John Bosswell to be captain of the good ship or frigate called the Providence, of the burden of 200 tons or thereby and 20 pieces of ordnance, with all ammunition proportionable as a man-of-war commissioned in their Majesties' service to the special effect underwritten allenarly ... to watch the foresaid isle and fort of the Bass and for that end to cruise between St. Abb's Head and Fifeness, &c.

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