A Patent for the Admiralty of Ireland.

Whereas we are graciously pleased, as well for the increase of our Navy and Navigators, as also for the better enabling and enriching Page  91of our subjects in our Realm of Scotland, to give way and liecnce un∣to our loving subjects of Scotland, and so many of them as may make a full, able, and compleat company for Traffick and Merchandizing into the East Indies, to erect and set up among themselves a Compa∣ny, to be called The East Indian Company of Scotland, making their first Magazin Storehouse for the said Company in some parts of our Realm of Ireland. But for that our Ports and Seas upon the Coasts of our said Realm of Ireland, have of late, and still are likely, without our speciall aid and assistance, to be much trou∣bled and annoyed with Pirats, and other Sea-Robbers, to the great discouragement of our loving Subjects and Merchants passing that way: We, for the avoyding of those inconveniences, and for the better heartning of the said Company in their intended voyage and traffick, have, for reasons to us best known, resolved (notwithstan∣ding any other imployments of our Ships there) by our Letters Pa∣tents under our great Seal of England, and at the humble request and Petition of our loving Subjects of the said Company, to nominate and appoint A. B. our trusty servant, to be imployed in those Seas and Coasts of Ireland, as fully and amply as our servant Sir F.H. is now for our narrow Seas. And to the end he may with more cou∣rage and less prejudice to our said servant Sir F. H. by his diligence and industry in the said imployment free those Seas from the said an∣noyances, our pleasure is, That you by your Deed Poll do give un∣to our said Servant such and the like power and authority for the Irish Seas and Chanell of St. George, as the said Sir F. H. hath for the Narrow Seas: So always as the power and authority of the said A. B. may begin where the power and authority of the said Sir F. H. doth end, that is to say, from our Island of Scilie in our Realm of England, unto and alongst the Coast of Ireland, and the Cha∣nell of St. George. So not doubting of your speedy effecting of what is here required for the furtherance of so good a work, We bid you heartily farewell.