Charles, by the grace of God, Kinge of England Scotland France
and Ireland, Defender of the faith, etc. To our right trustie
and welbeloved Councellor, Sir Humfrey May Knight
Vicechamberlaine of our houshold. Sir John Coke Knight, one of
our principall Secretaries of State, Sir Julius Cesar Knight
Master of the Rolls, and to our trustie and welbeloved Sir
Henry Martin Knight Doctor of the Lawes and Judge of the
Admiraltie, Greeting. Whereas Captaine David Kirke and his
associats have taken certen goodes moveables merchandize and
skynns, from certaine of the French which were remayning in the
forte of Kebecke, the Colledge of jesuites, and in a shippe by
him taken in Canada in the partes of America, Wee therefore,
minding and resolving to be trulie informed and advertised of
the same, and of the quality and values of the skynns goodes
and merchandize there taken as aforesaid, have assigned and
appointed, and by theis presents doe assigne and appointe you
the said Sir Humfrey May, Sir John Coke, Sir Julius Cesar, and
Sir Henry Martin, to be our Comissioners, giving and by theis
presentes granting unto you or anie three or two of you full
power and authority to call or send for before you or anie
three or two of you at such tyme and tymes, place and places,
as to you or anie three or two of you shall seeme most
expédient as well all and singuler masters of shippes and
mariners as all or any other person or persons whome you shall
understand or conceive can give you informacion in or
concerning the premisses, and shalbe necessarie to be called
for the discovery of the premisses, or anie of them. And wee
doe further hereby give unto you, or any three or two of you,
full power and authoritie, as well by examinacion of the said
masters of shippes marryners or any other person or persons
whome you or anie three or two of you, shall thincke fitt upon
8/1420 theire corporall oathes, or without oathe as by anie such other
lawfull waies and meanes whatsoever as to you or any three or
two of you shalbe thought fitt and expédient to find out and
discover the said goodes moveables merchandize and skynnes,
and all other necessarie incidents and circumstances
concerning the premisses whereby the truth maie the more
plainely appeare and be made manifest unto you. And upon such
examination taken and discovery made, Wee will require and
comaund you or anie three or two of you to certifie and
advertise us or our privie councell of such your proceedinges
and howe and what you find concerning the premises. And theis
presentes or the inrollement thereof shalbe unto you, or anie
three or two of you, a sufficient warrant in this behalfe. And
lastlie our will and pleasure is, that this our Comission shall
continue in force, and that you our said Comissioners, or any
three or two of you, shall proceed to the execution thereof,
although the same be not from tyme to tyme continued by
adjournment. IN WITNESS whereof, wee have caused theis our
letters to be made patentes, Winnes our selfe at Westm. the
fifte day of March in the fifte yeare of our Raigne.
Per ipsum Regem WILLYS.
(_Sur le dos est écrit._)
A comission to Sr. Humfrey May Knight, and others to examyne
what goodes, merchandize and other thinges were taken by
Captaine Kirke, at Canady, in the partes of America. 5 mar. 5
Car. WILLYS.
(_State Paper Office, Colonial Series_, vol. V, art. 58.)