June, 1649
[25 June, 1649.]
Council of State to hear complaints.; and to grant Letters of Marque.
Whereas divers well-affected people of this Commonwealth have
sustained great wrongs, losses and damages, as well at Sea in their
Ships, Goods and Merchandizes, being pillaged, spoiled, surprized
and taken by the Ships and Subjects of Forein Nations, as by
divers unlawful seizures, wrongs and violences, used against both
their persons and goods, in Ports and on Shore, contrary to Justice,
and to the breach of the Law of Nations: And although Justice
hath been sought and prayed according to the forms of States in
Amity, yet restitution or satisfaction could not be obtained, so
that the Parliament doth hold themselves tyed in Honor and Justice,
to afford the good People of this Commonwealth such assistance for
recovery of their said losses and damages, as the Laws and Customs
of Nations allow: Be it therefore Enacted and Ordained by this
present Parliament, and by authority of the same, That the Council
of State for the time being, established by Parliament, shall have
full and absolute power, and are hereby authorized and enabled
to receive, hear and examine the Petitions or Complaints of all
such persons of this Commonwealth, as have been or shall be so
unduly spoiled, pillaged, surprized, wronged and damnified in
their Ships, Goods, Merchandizes or persons, by the Ships of any
Forein Nation, or by any Foreiner or Foreiners, and how and
in what maner Justice hath been or shall be therein denyed, or
delayed, and restitution and satisfaction refused or delayed to be
made; and thereupon, and upon consideration, as well of the value
of the losses and damages sustained, and of the nature and circumstances of the cases, as also of the Leagues, Amities and Articles of
the Peace, and upon observation of such due Solemnities, as the
said Council of State shall finde meet by the said Leagues, Articles
and Laws of Nations to be observed, to grant and give Warrant
for, and cause to be issued out under the Seal of the Court of Admiralty, in the name of the Keepers of the Liberty of England by
authority of Parliament, special and particular Letters of Marque
or Reprisal in all such cases, and to all such persons as the said
Council of State shall finde just and requisite, to be repaired in
that course and way of proceeding, by Letters of Marque, to apprehend, seize and take the Ships, Vessels, Goods and Merchandizes
of those particular Nations or Countreys that committed the said
spoils and abuses, and continued the wrong, without repairing
the same by the usual way of Justice, until such person or persons
shall be fully satisfied for all such Wrongs, Damages and Injuries
so by him or them sustained; which said Letters of Reprisal,
shall issue forth in such maner and form, and under such Cautions,
Limitations and Restrictions, as the said Council of State shall
direct and allow of, and not otherwise