with the management of all their Estate theare which hath Cost them some thousand pounds more than the sum demanded to be given bond for & this without ever demandinge my own much less other security. S' I would willingly be so much in the good opineon of this government as to induce them to believe that I shall doe as much nay more that may conduce to itts honnor & interest from that pationate desire of its Welfare & a Constant Affection to itt which I have ever accordinge to my ability discovered then I could be induced to by the feares of any penalty or damage. Excuse S What you judge amiss & beleve me to be S Your obleidged & very humble Servtt

Jon Brake

From Jeremiah Basse to Secretary Popple asking for a reply to the foregoing letter.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Proprietors, Vol. 1, A 49.]

Letter from Mr. Jerem: Basse about Pirates and

SR

Piracies.

LONDON ye 21th July 1697

I was in some hopes to have Receved some replie to mine of the 18th [15] Inst: & the rather In that I feare the time of my stay in England begins sensibly to shorten.

I am shure none ever went into those Colonies with more steady resolutions vigorously to promote every

thing that may be the advantage or honnor of the crowne & shall be extreamely sorry If I am disabled through want of necessary orders from the Right honorble the Lords Comi'tioners of the Counsel of Trade Pyracies the great & just complaint of America ought to be discoraged & though I am sensible Who ever attempts it in that manner yt I would willingly doe will theareby expose themselves to no meane hazards. Yet am fully resolved to Conforme my selfe to the instructions I hope & desire to Receive from that honorable board in order theareunto.

The preventinge frauds in trade Is the ground of those late acts of parliment that Relate to the plantations & even in this also I shall nead some rules to walke by. I should be Obleidged to you If you would favor me with a line in answer either to this or my former & that You believe me to be

Your very humble Serv

SR

For Wm. Popple Esq'

J BASSE.

att Whitehall.

From Secretary Popple to Jeremiah Basse, in answer to the preceding letters.

From P. R. O. B. T., Proprietors, Vol. 25, p 92.]

Letter to Mr. Basse About Pyrats & Piracies.

SR

To M JEREMIAH BASSE.

Your Letters to me of the 15th and 21s Instant have both of them been this day laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Council of Trade and Plantations, And their Lordships upon Consideration thereof being

pleased with the Zeal you Express for the Suppression of Pyrats, and desirous to make use of all the light they can get to assist them in their deliberations how best toattain that end, have Commanded me to desire from you a more particular Explanation of some things which you hint at upon that Subject; Viz': Which of the Provinces are they that you understand to have been most blamable in their Conduct towards Pyrats? What particular Matters of Fact do you know, relating either to the Pyrats themselves or their abettors? who are the Pyrats now Expected to return, and to what particular place. By whom is it that you say you were taken and how did they use you? What methods do you think most proper to be used for the Suppressing of Pyrats? And how is it that you say you are desirous to go about that work? What Court is there in either of the Jersies that can or ever did try Pyrats? And what Law have they there to do it by? Your particular and full Answer to all which heads will be very acceptable to their Lordships.

To the remaining part of your Letter; which concerns the taking of the Oaths and signing the Association, I am not able to give you any better light, than by referring you to the Act of Parliament which relates thereunto; And as for the Bonds or Security to be taken from the Governors of Proprieties, you cannot but have understood by my Letter of the sixth May last That what hath been required by this Board on that subject hath been by his Majesties particular direction, upon the Address of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament, And. ought not therefore to be taken as anything peculiar to your Self, nor ought you expect that this Board should alter from the Rule which his Majesty has so directed them to observe, I am

WITEHALL 22 July

1696

W P.

From Jeremiah Basse to Secretary Popple, about Pirates and Piracies.

[From P. R. O. B. T., Prop., Vol. 1, A 50.]

L're from Mr Jerem: Bass abt Pirates & Piraciss.

SR

LONDON ye 26th July 1697.

As it cannot but be extreamely satisfactory to me who realy desire the Welfare of the Plantations & their settlement on the bassis of honnor & Justis to find that the Right Honorable the Lords Comiss of Trade & Plantations make itt no meane part of their buisness to inspect into the miscariages that have been amongst them & to direct unto wholesome meanes of removeing them So I shall still looke oppon itt as my duty to contribute my mite If that may afford any light to them in their deliberations. And in order theareunto shall distinctly consider yours of the 22d Instant.

As to the first thinge Which of the Provinces &c. I cannot but thinke that Most of the Colonies of America boath on the maine & in the Islands have been somewhat to blame in respect of their conduct towards such persons as have committed thir rapins & piracies super altu mare some of them I believe. through Ignorance of their duty others through inability to doe anythinge towards their Suppression & some no doubt blinded by the prospect of gaine & advantage have given to great a countenance to them but those that have been most noted for protection or furnishinge of them whilst I was in the Country ware Rhoad Island New York Carolina & Providence. I must acknowledge that I have known severall perticuler persons that have been judged concerned in those

ill designes that have been entertained and setled in the provinces of Jarsie Pensilvania Mariland & Virginia, butt as to those in the Jarsies they have on examination produced as A warrant for our entertaineinge a Pass from the Governor of New York which Obstructed any further enquiry by us.

I am informed (& if I err in my informations I hope you will pardon itt) that theare is now out uppon that designe The Kent of about 200 Tuns 18 Guns One Ball late Comand' who dieinge Comeinge from Jamaica was succeded by Thomas Day she is saide to have put into Carolina sould all her loadings att under rates tooke in men and provitions & Is gone privateringe. I suppose you are already informed of Ive & that came into Rhoad Island & thence to New Yorke fitted out againe & carried with him one Want in a briganteen & another Vessell they are saide to have since strenghned themselves by takeing a Vessell belongeing to the Merchants of New Yorke commanded by one Glover. It is reported they have since made some remittances to the owners to make satisfaction for that depredation.

Theare is another Glover that came from Jamaica in a Sloope took a Rich Price from the French afterwards went on the coast of Gunia & is since joyned with the rest on the Coast of Arabia In the whole I have been informed that theare is gon from Boston one, Rhoad Island two New York one Pensilvania one Carolina one, & one from Barbados some others theare are that are run away with Vessels belongeinge to the Merchants but are not yet certainely discovered to be gone thither, one of these rovers was met at the Cape bono Esperansa by the Nassaw homewards bound from India as I was informed by the Mate of her who beinge fearefull least the dutch should make prise of them got leave to putt some chestes of mony one board them which beinge granted he informed me they received