THat the Kings Most Excellent Majestie was graciously pleased by Letters Pattents, under the Great Seale of England, to grant unto your Petitioner license, power, and authority, by his owne art, industry, and meanes, to take up any Ordnance, Ships, or other goods, wrackt, or sunke in the Sea, within any of His Majesties Dominions; without reserving any thing thereout unto His Majestie, his Heires, and Successours.

May it please your Lordships, That the Petitioner is informed by under-Officers, belonging unto the Lord Admirall of England, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports (for the time being) that all Goods, Treasure, or other Merchandize, taken up out of the Sea, doe belong unto one of their Lordships, or some of their under-Officers, whereby such, who would otherwise be willing to assist and supply your Petitioner with moneys and meanes, to take up such things out of the Sea, are utterly discouraged to supply or assist him.

That for his owne experience in this Art, he hath expended of his Fathers, his owne, and Friends assistance, many thousand pounds; and is very loath that so much experience of his gained, with much study, labour, and expence, in these dangerous times, should be buried in oblivion, or fall to the ground, (he yet being both active and willing to doe His Majestie and the Common-wealth service.)

His humble suit therefore to your Lordships is, That you would be pleased by Order of this House to enable your Petitioner to make experience of his endeavours in the afore-said Art; (he undertaking the same at his owne proper cost and charges) alwayes provided, that he may be free from any claime or claimes, that the now Lord Admirall, and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, or their Successours, their Deputies or under-Officers, may pretend or make.

And your Petitioner shall ever pray, &c.