To the most honorable the Council of State, the humble petition of Captain William Jackett, and his partners:

The State of Captain William Jackett's, and his Partner's Case.

ANno 1647. Will. Jackett Commander of the May-flower, a Ship of 400 Tuns and 30 pieces of Ord∣nance, together with the Peter of 100 Tuns and ten pieces of Ordnance (being laden with several marchandize) set sail from London the 16^th of June, and arrived in Guiny in the Month of September following, where the said Captain Jackett bought 460 Negro's or Blacks, intending to sell them where hee best might: But touching at the Barbado's, hee there met with one Don Lewis de Chaves, a Subject of the King of Spain, unto whom the said King of Spain had granted a free Licence for to freight any Ship of what Nation soëver, that was in peace with the Crown of Spain, for to transport Negro's into the Indies; whereupon Captain Jackett made an agreement with the said Don Lewis de Chaves to go with him into the Indies; and by the said agree∣ment, the said Don Lewis de Chaves was bound to enter the said Captain Jackett's Negro's in the said Li∣cence with his own, which accordingly was don: And on the 25 of March, they arrived in the West-Indies, where beeing com to an anchor, were permitted to com on shoar, where they met the Governour and the rest of the King of Spain's Officers of that place, unto whom Don Lewis presented his Licence, the which when as the said Governor Francisco Baracall de Campo Captain-General of the Province of Catilonia, and Go∣vernor of Barsilonia in the Indies had perused, hee ac∣cepted

thereof as a thing legal and valid, demanding of Cap. Jackett what Countriman, and whence hee was; who made answer, That hee was an Englishman, In∣habitant of London, and that hee came thither freighted by Don Lewis de Chaves, to Trade there by virtue of that Licence the King of Spain had granted unto Don Lewis de Chaves; on the which, if so bee hee could bee received and admitted, to Trade with them hee would: but if the contrary, hee would presently bee gone his waies.

Unto which declaration of Capt. Jackett's the Go∣vernor replied, That Don Lewis his Licence should bee considered of the next day in their Council, and if as then they found it legal or valid (as hee supposed the same to bee) they would give him their positive an∣swer whether or no hee might bee received, and per∣mitted to Trade.

According whereunto the chief Officers of the said Council, together with the Maior of the said Town, did the next day (by the Governor's order) com and visit or search the said Cap. Jackett's Ships, telling him that hee might on the above-said Licence (which they had found to bee verie good and true) freely Trade amongst them; whereupon they took a Register of what Negro's and goods the said Cap. Jackett had aboard his two Ships, to the end, that such Custom, as belonged to the King of Spain in those parts, might bee paid; the which the said Capt. Jackett immediately paid.

Moreover, the said assurance thus given in the King's name to Trade freely there, and the Custom paid, the said Cap. Jackett proceeded to cut Brasielleto wood, and to buy Hides and Tobacco, and such other Commodities as the Countrie afforded, and were requisite to lade his Ships withal, continuing thus in his said trafficking for

the space of near nine months; at the exspiration where∣of, the aforesaid Governor conceiving that the said Cap∣tain Jackett might bee ready to set sail, hee as then cor∣rupted his Chirurgion, and about fortie more of his men; with whom hee made a Covenant to betray in∣to his hands the said Captain Jackett's person, and chief Officers, together with his ships, and lading, for such a summe of monie as hee had contracted for, and obli∣ged himself to give them, the which they received; and accordingly delivered up the said Captain Jackett, his ship, and goods, amounting to the value of three-score thousand pound sterling, into the said Governor's hand, notwithstanding their former and formal decla∣ration, and free admittance of Trade in those parts, by virtue of the afore-mentioned Don Lewis his Licence, contrarie to the which, hee had not acted any thing.

Finally, by this unjust proceeding in the said Gover∣nor, both the said Captain Jackett, and his said Partners were undon, after the said Captain Jackett had in his own person suffered many extremities, during his deten∣tion in prison, where hee had perished, had hee not by Providence been assisted to make an escape.

All which appeareth by the Spaniards own papers, autorized by their own publick Notaries.