To the Kings Most Excellent Majesty.
The Humble Petition of Thomas Kynaston Merchant, George Porter Esq Son and Heir of Endimion Porter Esq Adventurers in the Joint Stock with Sir William Courten to the East-Indies, George Carew Esq Administrator of Sir William Courten, and Sir Paul Pyndar, Charles Earl of Shrewsbury, Sir Thomas Meres Knt. Executor of Sir Erasmus de la Fountain Knt. Deceased, George Cole Esq Thomas Coppin, and Charles Whitaker Esqs on the behalf of Themselves, and Others; With many Orphans and Widows, Creditors of Sir William Courten and his Son; and Sir Edward Littleton, and the late Earl of Bridgewater, Deceased.
THat there is 150000 l. and upwards due to Us from the East-India Company of the Netherlands, by reason of their violent Depredation upon the Two Ships, the Bona Esperanza, and the Henry Bona Adventura; which Debt and Damages was reserved by Your Majesties Treaty Anno 1662. for Satisfaction.
That in the Year 1664. Our said Wrongs and Damages were proved before the Commons of England, and Your Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel, and admitted by Your Majesty as a Ground of that ensuing War against the Ʋnited Provinces.
That Your Majesty upon Report of the Admiralty Court, owned our said Right and Claim in the Premises under the Great Seal, and gave us Letters of Reprisal in the Year 1665. with special Provisoes and Limitations to continue in force, as well in Peace as in War; But afterwards our said Right and Claim seemed for some time to be suspended: For since that our said Right and Claim hath been Revived, and again been owned by Your Majesty, with Intentions that We should receive Reparations at the next Treaty, as appears by several Orders and Referrences from Your Majesty, and the Lords of Your Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel, and Reports thereupon hereunto annexed; All signifying, that in Justice and Honour Your Petitioners ought to be satisfyed in this particular Case. And accordingly in the Month of July 1672. Your Majesty did by Your Letters, Command Your Plenipotentiaries then in the Ʋnited Provinces, to provide Satisfaction for Your said Petitioners. And after that again, Your Majesty Commanded Your Plenipotentiaries at Cologne to the same purpose. Yet hitherto no Satisfaction, or Reparation hath been made unto Us, or any of Us.
Wherefore Your Petitioners do Humbly Beseech Your Majesty, either to Permit Ʋs to make Ʋse of our said Letters Patents for Reprisals Legally obtained, and remaining upon Record; Or to use such Effectual Means with the States of the United Provinces, or their East-India Company to make Ʋs some Satisfastion for our said Losses and Damages out of the 800000 l. Pattacones payable to Your Majesty by the last Treaty; Or that we may receive Satisfaction otherwise according to Justice.
And Your Petitioners shall, as in Duty Bound, ever Pray, &c.