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INTRODUCTION
The
extreme exercise of prerogative by James, the last Stuart King, and his
Romanizing policy alienated the majority of his subjects in England and
Scotland, who brought over from Holland his Protestant nephew and
son-in-law, William of Orange. That prince landed at Torbay on 5th November,
1688. James, deserted by his army, on nth December fled to France, and the
Revolution was inaugurated in England and Scotland without a blow. In
Ireland alone, with a predominant Roman Catholic population, the adherents
of James, under Tyrconel, were able to uphold his government, and
Protestants were either driven out of the island or behind the walls of
Enniskillen and Londonderry. Convoyed by a French fleet, James landed from
France at Kinsale in the south of Ireland on 12th March, 1689, and war with
France, though not formally declared until later, began, Great Britain
corning into line with the European confederacy banded against Louis XIV and
the then French ascendancy.
In
Scotland, where the Duke of Hamilton and General Mackay managed for
William, the Convention Parliament met on 14th March, 1689. On the 18th
Viscount Dundee rode out of Edinburgh, ' whither the spirit of Montrose
might direct,' to the Highlands to raise the standard of James. Next day
the Convention declared for William, and immediately took strong measures,
with the aid of General Mackay, to suppress Dundee's rising, to prevent the
Jacobites in Ireland from assisting him, and to help the distressed
Protestants of Ireland. The command of the Irish Channel and of the
western seas of Scotland was therefore of great importance to the new
government, if they were to maintain themselves and their policy, and were
not to be entirely dependent on the English fleet. Measures were
accordingly taken on 21st March to create and put to sea something of the
nature of a small Scots fleet, consisting of two hired frigates, the
Pelican and Janet, both of Glasgow. These were commissioned on 13th
April, and were ordered to keep the western seas from Cornwall to Skye.
Minute details are given in the Acts of the Convention Parliament of
Scotland of the hiring, victualling and arming of these two frigates. So
scarce were munitions of war that Captain Hamilton, the commodore, and
Captain Brown were authorised to seize for the frigates any suitable
cannon that could be got, and on 19th April cannon-ball and ' granadoes,'
seized in the house of an Edinburgh Jacobite, were given out for their use.
After the indecisive engagement of 1st May, 1689, between
the French fleet under Admiral Chateau Renaud and the English fleet under
Admiral Herbert (afterwards created Lord Torrington), in Bantry Bay, Captain
Rooke of the English Navy, afterwards Sir George Rooke who captured
Gibraltar, was sent north with a small squadron to assist in keeping command
of the seas between Scotland and Ireland. On 7th May instructions were given
to the Scots frigates then lying at the mouth of the Foyle, and intending
for Dublin Bay, to cruise on the coasts of Kintyre and Mull to prevent a
landing in Scotland from Ireland, and on the 18th they were directed to
co-operate with Rooke. Their service was not ineffective. Early in June they
captured a party of Scots Jacobite Highlanders on their way from Argyll to
Ireland. That same month, after refitting, they were employed in carrying
dispatches to Major-General Kirke, who was then charged with the duty of
relieving Londonderry. On 10th July, in a gallant though ineffectual attempt
to prevent a landing in the west of Scotland of Jacobite reinforcements from
Ireland for Viscount Dundee, they were overwhelmed by three French frigates
of superior power. A graphic account of this obscure sea-fight, printed in
London on 2nd August, 1689, and found by the Editor bound up with
contemporary London Gazettes in the British Museum, seems to overstate the
number killed. The closing papers of this chapter tell the story of the 143
Scots seamen captured in this fight, and their relatives' endeavours to
recover arrears of pay during their captivity in Kinsale and Duart in Mull,
and correct the broadside account of the number killed. An interesting
incident, a fitting termination to this episode, was the daring recapture of
the Pelican in Dublin Bay by Sir Cloudesley Shovell in the Monmouth on 18th
April; 1690. Later in July the Pelican was lying in the Catwater,
Plymouth—an effective unit of the squadron under Sir Cloudesley Shovell, and
her log is still preserved in the Public Record Office, London.[Admiralty,
Captains' Logs, 4284, in Public Record Office] Classeci as a fireship of two
decks, after some short service in the English Navy she ended her career as
a breakwater at Sheerness in September 1692.
Meantime,
in the summer of 1689, the Scots Parliament and Privy Council took strong
measures to support their kinsmen, the Protestants of Ulster, in their
resistance of James and his forces beleaguering Londonderry. Embargoes were
imposed on Scots and Irish shipping, and were removed as expediency
suggested. More important was the issue of letters of marque to adventurous
friends. On 28th May commissions were issued by the Privy Council to the
captains of three privateers, the Dogarvine, the Phoenix and another unnamed
against the French and Jacobite Irish. On the 31st of July, 1689, the first
to bring relief to Londonderry was the Phoenix privateer under the command
of Captain Andrew Douglas, a Scots-Ulsterman of Coleraine. Macaulay recounts
in graphic language how, after the boom across the Foyle was broken, the
Phoenix arrived first, and how from the relieving ships there were rolled on
shore barrels containing six thousand bushels of meal for the famished
inhabitants. The Privy Council records of 30th May recount that these
barrels of oatmeal came from the garrison store-house in Stirling and were
carried by the Phoenix. For his gallant services at Londonderry Douglas
subsequently received a captain's commission in the English Navy. The
English Admiralty minutes [Admiralty 3, No. 2, in Public Record Office.] of
30th September, 1689, bear : 'My Lord Carbery, one of the members of the
Board attending his Majesty yesterday at Hampton Court, his Majesty
delivered to his Lordship Lieutenant-General Kirke's recommendation to his
Majesty of Captain Douglas, commander of one of the ships that relieved
Londonderry, for a better employment, with his pleasure to his Lordship that
the Board should take care therein.' A minute [again Admiralty 3, No. 2, in
Public Record Office.] of 25th October, 1689, bears: 'Upon my Lord
Shrewsbury's letter of this day's date signifying his Majesty's pleasure
that Captain Andrew Douglas of the Phoenix, who did good service at the
relief of Londonderry, have such employment in the fleet as the Board shall
judge him capable of : Ordered that this be considered when Lord Torrington
shall be at the Board.' After some delay he was by the King's intervention
appointed in February 1690 to the command of H.M. sloop Lark in the English
Navy.
During
that year he was engaged on the west coast of Scotland under Captain
Pottinger of H.M.S. Dartmouth, and chapter ii contains various references to
the services of the Lark. On 30th August, 1691, he was posted to the
Sweepstakes frigate, and thereafter to the Dover, Lion, and Harwich, doing
service during the French war on the coasts of Ireland and Scotland. In
November 1697, after the peace of Ryswick, the Harwich was paid off, and for
three years Douglas was unemployed. In February 1701 he was posted to the
Norwich of 60 guns, and for eighteen months was on the English Channel
station. In July 1702 he sailed on convoy duty for the West Indies,
where he remained for eighteen months commodore on the station, returning to
England in July 1704 to be paid off. While on the West Indian station he
quarrelled with his officers and crew, and on his return to England they
brought a series of charges against him, on which he was court-martialled
on 16th November, 1704, Sir John Jennings presiding. He was found
guilty (1) of sutling on board his ship the Norwich by selling to his men
rum and sugar, &c, and being paid therefore out of their short allowance
money ; (2) of bearing men unduly on board his ship, who were put on board
a sloop for his private advantage; and (3) of exorbitantly punishing
his men. He was found guilty, and was dismissed from employment as
commander of the Norwich, at the same time losing his post in the rank of
captains of the English Navy. At this time the feeling in England was
bitter against Scotsmen, and, whatever the merits of the case, as a Scotsman
Douglas would get scant justice. Convinced that he had been unjustly dealt
with, Douglas tried every means to get the sentence set aside, and in July
1706 a petition [See S. P. Dom. Naval, 1703-8 (3rd July, 1706), in the
public Record Office.] of his, ' setting forth his services [Assisting at
the relief of Londonderry.] in the late reign, in consideration whereof he
was preferred to the command of a man-of-war in the Royal Navy, from whence
he was dismissed upon misrepresentation exhibited against him by
some of his seamen for ill-usage of them, and other irregularities, and
praying to be restored,' was considered by the Admiralty but was not
entertained. Three years later, on 24th September, 1709, the Lord High
Admiral, Lord Pembroke, in view of fresh evidence reinstated him in his rank
of captain, and in March 1711 he was posted to the command of the Arundel,
and was engaged on convoy duty in the North Sea. In 1712 he stood a
second court-martial on a charge of using indecent language to his officers,
and of confining some of them to their cabins undeservedly. He was fined
three months' pay, but his lieutenant—his chief accuser—was at the same time
fined six months' pay. In March 1712 the Arundel was paid off. In February
1715 Captain Douglas was appointed to the Flamborough on the home station.
She was paid off in October of the same year, and Douglas received no
further command thereafter, but remained on half-pay until his death on 26th
June, 1725.
An account
of Captain Douglas is given in Charnock's Biographia Navalis, vol. ii, p.
387, in Lediard's Naval History, p. 627, and by Sir John Knox Laughton in
the Dictionary of National Biography, while additional information about him
will be found in this volume.
CHAPTER I
The Acts
of the Parliaments of Scotland, Vol. IX, p. 17.
Edinburgh. 21st March, 1689.
The
meeting of the Estates do ordain two frigates to be provided to cruise on
the west coast of this kingdom, and appoints Sir James Montgomery of
Skelmorlie, John Andersone of Dowhill and John Boswell[Probably skipper in
Kirkaldy, frequently referred to hereafter] to calculate the charge thereof
for a month, and to employ Captain William Hamilton[ Sometimes written '
Hamiltone ' and ' Hamiltoune.'] and Captain John Brown, [ Sometimes written
' Broun,' ' Broune,' and ' Browne.'] who are to command the said frigates,
to look after fit ships and seamen, with power to the said persons to make
bargain thereabout, and to report.
Ibidem,
p. 25.
Edinburgh. 30th March, 1689.
. . . Skelmorlie Dowhill and John Boswell . . .
accordingly gave in an estimate subscribed by them of the expenses and
charge for a month, extending the particular articles to four hundred and
ten pounds sterling, by and attour[ Over and above.] tear and wear of the
said ships, anent which they could not condescend, in respect the owners are
not willing to bargain, as the foresaid report produced and read to the
meeting more fully bears : The Estates therefore finding it necessary that
this affair be immediately dispatched by the care of the foresaid persons
to whom it was recommended, do grant warrant to the Duke of Hamilton their
president to give order to James Oswald or Sir Patrick Murray general
receivers of the cess excise customs and crown rent to make payment of the
foresaid sum of four hundred and ten pound sterling, to be disposed of by
them for the ends and uses aforesaid.
Ibidem,
p. 35.
Edinburgh. 5th April, 1689.
The
meeting of the Estates of this kingdom ordain Sir Patrick Maxwell of Nework
to deliver and give up to Walter Gibsone provost of Glasgow such arms of
what so ever kind the same be, as were taken by the said Sir Patrick furth
of the said Provost Gibsone his ship in the river of Clyde.
Ibidem,
p. 43.
Edinburgh. 12th April, 1689.
The
meeting of the Estates do ordain the keeper of the public arms at Stirling
to deliver to Captain William Hamilton and Captain John Brown or either of
them, or any person they or either of them shall appoint, the number of one
hundred grenades for the use of the two frigates appointed to cruise on the
western coasts of this kingdom under the command of the said two captains;
and do hereby authorise and give warrant to the said two captains or either
of them to seize and make use of any cannon which may be fit for the service
of the said two frigates, wherever the same can conveniently be had, and
that they give receipt to the owners to the end that the hire damage or
value thereof may be repaid by the public.
Ibidem,
pp. 44-79 (resume).
On 13th
April 1689 the Convention order Captain Edward Bryce and a company of foot
to embark on board the two frigates commanded by Captain William Hamilton of
Ladyland and Capt. John Brown in Irvine. The same day the Estates issue a
commission to Captain Hamilton to command one [The Pelican] of the
frigates. Hamilton is commissioned to cruise on the western coasts from the
point of Cornwall to the Isle of Skye, and to fight and sink all ships
belonging to the late King James ; and the seaports of England are requested
to furnish him with victuals should he put in to any of them. A commission
in similar terms is the same day issued to Captain Brown to command the
second frigate.[The Janet]
On 16th
April an embargo is placed by the Scots Estates upon ships on the western
coast of Scotland forbidding their going to Ireland in case they may be used
to assist an invasion of Scotland. That embargo is two days later removed,
on a representation that several thousand Protestants have retired on Derry,
and cannot be taken into that city, and being unable to keep the field
against the Irish are desirous of coming to Scotland in any Scots shipping
which can be made available. The same day the Convention order Captain
Hamilton with one of his frigates to convoy any Scots ships that may be
chartered for that purpose. On 19th April the Estates direct the two
frigates, the Pelican belonging to Walter Gibsone provost of Glasgow and
[the Janet] belonging to Robert Campbell late dean of guild of Glasgow, to
be valued, so that the owners may be reimbursed by the Treasury for damage
or deterioration. The same day cannon ball and ' granadoes' seized in John
Trotter's house, Edinburgh, are ordered to be given out for their use. On
23rd April Major Arnot deputy governor of Dumbarton Castle is directed to
deliver to the frigates forty firelocks and one hundred great shot; while
the same day the two captains are authorised to take any great guns where
they can be got. The same day an embargo is placed on all ships sailing for
France or Ireland.
On 29th
April a letter is read in the Convention Parliament from Alexr. McAlister
laird of Loup and Angus Campbell of Kilberrie both in Kintyre intimating
that they have detained a French ship from Ireland with several passengers
of quality. They are directed to bring the ship to New Port Glasgow [Port
Glasgow] and to deliver the prisoners to the magistrates of Glasgow. The
same day the Estates dissatisfied at Captain Hamilton's failure to sail,
though he had received his commission and instructions several days before,
order him to sail at once and to carry out his instructions including the
breaking or burning of boats at Carrickfergus.
Ibidem,
App. p. 11.
7th May,
1689.
The
Committee of Estates to Captain Hamilton.
Yours of
the second instant from Greencastle [Near the mouth of the Foyle] directed
to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton being communicate to us, and that from
thence you were bound towards the Bay of Dublin, it is thought fit that you
sail rather to the coast of the Isle of Mull and the back of Kintyre, and
there destroy such of the birlines [Birline—a long-oared boat of the largest
size, often with six, sometimes eight oars, generally used by chieftains in
the Western Isles. It seldom had sails. Gaelic—Birlinn.] or boats,
which may be useful to the enemy as you can, to which place you are
commanded forthwith to repair ; and so much the more because we have an
account from Kintyre that there are some of the McDonalds and others come
over there, and some more to come from Antrim and Balentry [Probably Port
Ballintrae.] in Ireland to that place, so you would not neglect to sail
thither at least with one of your ships and cruise betwixt Mull and
Glencairine, and send a frequent account of your diligence either from the
coast of Galloway or from Kintyre, and do you order the next magistrates of
burghs or heritors to send expresses with these accounts to the Committee,
which in their name is signified to you by, Sir, your affectionate friend
(sic subtur.) ROSSE, [William, twelfth Lord Rosse] P.
English
Admiralty Minutes, 3, No. 1, Public Record Office (P.R.O.).
11th May,
1689.
Ordered
that Captain Rooke now cruising between Scotland and Ireland do order one of
the least of the 5th rate frigates under his command to cruise at the mouth
of Londonderry river, and convoy up to the town all such recruits of men
victuals stores arms and ammunition as shall be sent.
The Acts
of the Parliaments of Scotland, Vol. IX, App. p. 30 (resume).
On 16th
May 1689 the Committee of Estates grant warrant to James Oswald, receiver
general, to pay to Hugh Montgomery merchant £295 19 7 stg. the balance of
his accounts for outrigging the two frigates in the west, and £10 stg. for
his pains.
Ibidem,
App. p. 34.
18th May,
1689.
Letter to
Captain William Hamilton and Captain John Brown.
Your
letter of the eleventh to me from Donochadie [Donoghadee] road I
communicated to the Committee of Estates, and they are well satisfied with
the conduct you have hitherto observed upon the Irish coast. The last orders
I sent you were that you should concur with Captain Rooke an English man of
war, who with several other ships of war was ordered by Admiral
Herbert[Created Lord Torrington, and on 24th May, 1689, made Vice-Admiral of
England.] to cruise upon these coasts ; but the Committee understanding that
the Highlanders in Kintyre and Mull had manned several of their birlines and
taken a French vessel that was in Kintyre, and put some guns on her and
carried her to Mull, they therefore ordain you forthwith to cruise upon the
coast of Kintyre and towards the Isle of Mull, and there burn break sink and
destroy all vessels you can find either at sea or in creeks belonging to the
enemy where-ever you can reach them ; and be careful to send account of your
diligence to the Committee and to correspond with Captain Young, who being
sent into that country with a detached party has dissipated some of these
clans who were got together already ; and, if you cannot stay so long at
sea, that you come in to Lamlash and there receive further orders; and if
you be near Captain Rooke you may acquaint him with this, being all at
present from your most assured friend (sic subscribitur)
HAMILTON P.
Ibidem,
p. 85.
Edinburgh.
21st May, 1689.
Ordered
that the beef taken out of the French ship [Captured by McAlister of Loup.]
be given for providing of the two frigates, and that a quantity of biscuit
be provided for them immediately at the town of Glasgow.
Minutes
of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Edinburgh. 28th May, 1689.
Act in
Favour of Captain William Burnsyde.
The Lords
of his Majesty's Privy Council having considered the petition presented to
them by Captain William Burnsyde, master of the ship called the Dogarvine of
Londonderry, [Sometimes written ' Darie ' and ' Derrie.] representing that
the petitioner by reason of the troubles in Ireland hath lost a very
considerable fortune consisting in merchandise and other goods in and about
the city of Londonderry, which was the place of his residence, being the
whole product of his toil and pains for these many years; likeas since he
came from Ireland he hath been employed by the postmaster-general of England
[Major Wildman.] for bringing intelligence from Ireland, which he hath
effectually done, as the said Lords sufficiently know; and seeing the
petitioner with concurrence of some other gentlemen that are in the like
circumstances with himself intend, God willing, to get off from Ireland
some of their very near relations, and to endeavour to obtain some
reparation from the enemy, whether French or Irish, by land or by sea, of
what they have lost, and further to obtain the best intelligence they could
from Ireland or otherwise, and to that end also to stop and examine all
Highland birlines or other boats or vessels passing to or from the coasts of
Ireland and Scotland, of which the petitioner shall give their Lordships an
account as soon as possible, remitting the petitioner's pains and troubles
therein to the said Lords' consideration as they should find he deserved ;
and it being necessary for that effect to put the said ship into a posture
of force and defence and to enter, land and board in and upon the creeks,
havens, coast and ships of the enemy, and otherwise to infest them with all
acts of hostility, and the petitioner being sufficiently furnished with all
arms and ammunition necessary except cannon, whereof they have only two
considerable pieces, and there being several merchant ships lying in and
about Greenock and elsewhere that are drawn and laid up from any use at this
time, so that they have now no service for their cannon, and humbly
supplicating to the effect aftermentioned, the said Lords of his Majesty's
Privy Council do hereby grant warrant to the said Captain William Burnsyde
to act in a hostile manner (if need be) upon the ships and coasts of the
French or Irish, and stop and examine all Highland birlines or their boats
or vessels passing to and from the coasts of Ireland and Scotland, and do in
like manner grant warrant to the judge ordinary or admiral deputes at
Greenock to furnish the petitioner with six or seven cannon from the ships
aforesaid, he finding sufficient caution for redelivery of the same or the
value thereof, as the same shall be esteemed by the judge ordinary. And for
the effectual prosecution of the premises they ordain a commission to be
drawn to the said Captain William Burnsyde to act in a hostile manner to the
effect abovemen-tioned in the form of the commissions granted by the Privy
Council to privateers the time of the former wars.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 29th May, 1689.
Act in Favour of Captain John Woodsyde.
The Lords
of his Majesty's Privy Council having considered an offer made by Captain
John Woodsyde of Irvine, that he will fit out a ship well manned and aimed
for his Majesty's service against the King's enemies, providing the said
captain have a commission, with the two barrels of powder, two chests of
ball, and, if any of the guns lying at Kelburne[Near Largs, Ayrshire]. can
be spared, that he have them, the said Lords do ordain a commission of a
privateer to be drawn for the said Captain John Woodsyde, he finding caution
for the faithful execution of his commission ; and do also ordain the
cannon lying at Kelburne to be delivered to him for the use of his frigate,
he giving receipt and caution to restore the said cannon, which shall be
delivered to him or the just value of them in case they be lost.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 29th May, 1689.
Act in
Favour of Andrew Douglas[Sometimes written ' Douglass ' and ' Dowglas.']
The Lords
of his Majesty's Privy Council having considered the petition presented to
them by Andrew Douglas, master of the good ship called the Phoenix of
Coleraine in Ireland, shewing that where the petitioner being a Scotsman,
born at Glasgow, descended of the Douglas of Keystowne, and having been bred
a skipper and lived there ten years bygone at Coleraine in the county of
Londonderry, in the Protestant faith with his partners, above thirty in
family, and having been by the Irish army plundered and robbed of all the
goods and gear they had in the world except the said ship, which at the time
was in Londonderry for to lade goods for France, and at the breach of
Belfast and Antrume[Antrim] did stop the said ship for to carry off
passengers for Scotland, who, amongst many others, was the Lord Maserine and
several loads of passengers more to Clyde, and seeing the petitioner with
concurrence of some other gentlemen that are in the like circumstances with
himself intend, God willing, to get off from Ireland some of their near
relations and other poor Protestants that are now under the cruelty of the
Irish, to endeavour to obtain some reparations from the enemy, whether
French or Irish, by land or by sea, of what they have lost, and further to
obtain the best intelligence they can from Ireland or otherwise, and to that
end also to stop and examine all Highland birlines, &c. [as in the Act in
favour of Captain William Burnsyde, except that the Phoenix is not stated to
have any cannon of her own].
Ibidem (resume).
Edinburgh. 30th May, 1689.
The Lords
after consideration of the petition given in by the Irish Protestants and
having heard the report by the Earl of Crafurd[William 18th Earl was about
this time appointed President of the Scots Parliament, on the Duke of
Hamilton's appointment as Lord High Commissioner. Also written ' Craufurd,'
' Crauford,' or' Crawford.'] and Sir Robert Sinclar, grant warrant to Sir
Patrick Murray, general receiver, to give out 800 bolls of meal from the
storehouse in the garrison of Stirling to be transported to Londonderry for
the use of the poor Protestants in and about that city. It is to be sent to
Dumbarton and shipped thence. Sir Patrick Murray is to take bond from the
petitioners and from Mr. Alexander Leckie, merchant, alderman in Derry, Mr.
Horras Kennedie, sheriff of Derry, Thomas Knox, late of Belfast, now
merchant in Glasgow, and Captain Andrew Douglas, who transports the said
victual, that should they be stopped by pirates or otherwise prevented from
getting the meal to Londonderry, they will bring it back to Scotland, sea
hazards excepted.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 30th May, 1689.
Commission in Favour of Captain William Burnsyde.
The
commission in favour of Captain William Burnsyde read and subscribed,
whereof the tenor follows :—
William
Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Clidsdaill,[Clydesdale] Earl of Arran and
Lanrick,[Lanark] &c, Lord President and remanent Lords of his Majesty's
Privy Council for the kingdom of Scotland, to all and sundry kings,
princes, dukes, marquesses, governors of republics, magistrates of burghs,
commanders of navies, governors of ports and castles, and to all and sundry
whom, these presents do or may concern, greeting. Forasmuch as William
and Mary, King and Queen of Great Britain, France and Ireland, have not
as yet nominated and appointed any person to be Lord High
Admiral of this kingdom, nor have given orders for commissions or letters of
mart to private men of war, of whom some are in present readiness to set to
sea and are only kept up for want of commissions, therefore the said Lords
of his Majesty's Privy Council having special trust and confidence in the
loyalty courage and good conduct of Captain William Burnsyde, have nominated
and appointed, and by these presents do nominate and appoint the said
Captain William Burnsyde to be captain of the good ship or frigate called
the Dogarvine [See earlier entry, where the ship is described ' of
Londonderry.' The Dogarvine was likely of Dogar or Ketch build and so
called.]of Edinburgh, of forty tons burden or thereabouts and carrying eight
pieces of ordnance with all ammunition proportionable, as a man of war
commissioned in his Majesty's actual service, giving, granting and
committing to the said captain full power, warrant, commission and charge to
order and command the officers, soldiers and mariners of the said ship, with
men, victuals, arms, artillery great and small, and all other warlike
munition and provisions whatsoever, and therewith to set forth and go to sea
and to search for, follow and pursue after, as also to take and apprehend
and, in case of resistance, to fire, burn, sink and destroy the ships and
goods of the French or Irish in rebellion against their Majesties, or the
ships and goods of any of the subjects of the kingdom of France, or of any
native Irish subjects within the kingdom of Ireland, or of any other
inhabitants of the countries, dominions and territories of France,
and of such within the kingdom of Ireland who are or hereafter may be
engaged as enemies, rebels to our sovereign Lord and Lady, or who are
abetters and assisters to such their enemies ; as also to stay and arrest
all other ships and vessels of whatsoever other kingdom, country, nation or
people conveying any goods or merchandise in them belonging to the French
King or to his subjects and inhabitants, or belonging to any persons within
the kingdom of Ireland in rebellion against their Majesties, or of such as
shall carry to them any soldiers, horses, ships or vessels or any arms
offensive or defensive, or any munitions or provisions or any contraband
goods or merchandise whatsoever, and bring the said ships so apprehended
and arrested to any port or harbour of the said kingdom of Scotland, without
breaking bulk or altering the property thereof, to be proceeded against and
judged according to law in the High Court of Admiralty in the kingdom of
Scotland, or in such other court or courts as by particular and special
warrant and commission shall be sufficiently authorised for doing the
same, and after such proceeding and adjudication to be sold and disposed of
as of right appertains ; provided always that out of such ships and vessels
as also out of all such goods, wares and merchandise whatsoever, as shall
be judged lawful prize, there be paid to their Majesties the just fifteenth
thereof, or the customs as shall be required by the Lord High Treasurer or
the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, and the tenth to the
Lord High Admiral or to any who shall have sufficient warrant and power to
receive the same ; authorising the said captain generally to do and perform
all and everything that towards the execution of the whole premises is
necessary and requisite, promising to hold firm and stable all and
whatsoever things shall be lawfully done by the said captain by virtue of
these presents ; requesting you and every one of you the said kings,
princes, dukes, governors of republics, magistrates of burghs,
commanders of navies, governors of ports and castles, friends and
confederates to our sovereign Lord and Lady, William and Mary, by the
Grace of God King and Queen of Great Britain France and Ireland,
Defender of the faith, &c, to acknowledge the said captain and the company
of his ship as good and lawful subjects of their Majesties, authorised with
this our commission for the execution of the premises ; and if the said
captain come into your or any of your harbours, bounds, castles or
territories with or without any prize or prizes to be taken by him, that ye
furnish him with victuals and other necessaries upon his reasonable
expenses, and that ye resist all violence that may be offered to him, his
company and equipage, to their ships or goods, and that ye show all other
rights of common friendship and alliance to our sovereign Lord and Lady in
treating the said captain and company, as ye may expect the like from their
Majesties, or that those entrusted with the management of the public affairs
of this kingdom shall be careful in all occurrences of that nature to cause
the like be shown to you and your subjects: Ordaining this our commission to
continue and endure aye and while the same be recalled by the King's majesty
or by us ; and, lastly, ordaining the said captain, before he shall act
anything by virtue of these presents, to find sufficient caution acted in
the books of Privy Council for the faithful observing and performing all
things requisite on his part according to the true meaning of this our
commission and for observing such articles and instructions as his Majesty
shall give touching the premises. Signed by warrant from and in name of the
Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council for the kingdom of Scotland by the said
Duke of Hamilton, their president, at Edinburgh the thirty day of May, One
thousand six hundred and eighty nine years.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 30th May, 1689.
Commission
in Favour of Captain Andrew Douglas.
The like commission granted to Captain Andrew Douglas to
be captain of the ship called the Phoenix of Glasgow [See earlier, where the
ship is described ' of Coleraine.'] of fifty tons of burden and eight
pieces of ordnance.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 30th May, 1689.
Commission
in Favour of Captain John Woodsyde.
The like
commission also granted in favour of Captain John Woodsyde to be captain of
the ship called ... of ... tons and . . . pieces of ordnance.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 6th June, 1689.
A letter
from Hugh Montgomery, brother to the Laird of Skelmorlie[Sir James
Montgomery associated with Lords Annandale and Rosse in 1690 in the
Montgomery Jacobite plot. ] anent the two frigates of war being read, the
following answer was directed to him from the Board :—
Letter to
Hugh Montgomery.
Sir,—His
Majesty's High Commissioner[William, Duke of Hamilton, President of the
Convention Parliament.]did communicate to the Council your letter of the
fourth instant, and they require you to write to Captain Hamilton and
Captain Brown to stay out with the frigates till further order, and that you
immediately give direction to make biscuit at Glasgow for their use; and as
to the three boatmen mentioned in your letter that you cause bring them up
to New Port Glasgow to be secured there, if you find that they are prizes
taken from the enemies. And the Council do require you with all expedition
to repair to Edinburgh to receive further orders in relation to the said
frigates. This in name of his Majesty's Privy Council is signified to you by
your affectionate friend (sic subscribitur), CRAFURD.
The
London Gazette, No. 2461.
Edinburgh. 6th June, 1689.
The two
Scots frigates that are cruising between Scotland and Ireland have taken 50
men of the Macdonnels and the McAlisters that were going from Argyllshire
over to Ireland.
English
Admiralty Minutes 3, No. 1, Public Record Office, London.
10th June,
1689.
Captain
Rooke's letter of the 1st inst. off of Kintyre Cape giving an account of his
actings against some Scotch rebells upon the Islands called Geiga and Lara
[Probably Jura.]and of his want of provisions for himself and those other
ships and vessels with him : Ordered that he be acquainted that directions
are given for their being supplied with provisions for completing them for
three months each, and that the Navy Board be directed to send them by the
convoy now going to Londonderry, and that they write the master of ordnance
to acquaint him with what Captain Rooke writes of his want of ammunition and
to supply the same.
Minutes
of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Edinburgh, 11th June, 1689.
Remit anent
the Two Frigates.
The Lord
High Commissioner and Lords of Privy Council remit to the commissary general
and the general receivers to consider what expenses will be necessary for a
new outrig of the two frigates.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 20th June, 1689.
Order to
the Commissioner General for buying biscuit, beer and pease, &c, to the two
frigates.
His Majesty's High Commissioner and the Lords of his
Majesty's Privy Council do hereby grant order and warrant to George Hamilton
of Binnie, commissary general, to furnish such a quantity of biscuit and
small beer with pease and brandy wine as may sufficiently furnish and
provide the two frigates under the command of Captain Hamilton and Captain
Brown until Lammas next, the said commissary general , always taking receipt
thereof from the said captains; and they do hereby also grant warrant to and
ordain the said commissary general to buy two barrels of small powder from
Mr. . . . Chads or Brooks out of the powder lately secured at Greenock for
the use of the said two frigates, and to deliver the same to the said
captains or either of them upon their receipt.
Order to Thomas McJarro for delivering salt beef to
Binnie.
His Majesty's High Commissioner and the Lords of his
Majesty's Privy Council do hereby grant order and warrant to Thomas Mcjarro
of Barr, surveyor at Ayr, to deliver to George Hamilton of Binnie, general
commissary, the salt beef taken from on board the French ship and allow the
said commissary general to deliver such quantity thereof as will be
necessary for furnishing the two frigates till Lammas next, upon receipt of
Captain Hamilton or Captain Brown, and also allow the said commissary
general to satisfy the surveyor for his usual share of the seizure due to
him.
Recommendation to Colonel Balfour for delivering cannon ball, firelocks and
swords to Binnie for the frigates' use.
His
Majesty's High Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do
hereby recommend to Colonel Balfour, brigadier general, to deliver to George
Hamilton, commissary general, for the use of the two frigates under the
command of Captain Hamilton and Captain Brown one hundred swords, sixteen
firelocks and such a quantity of cannon ball as he shall think necessary for
the use of the said two frigates, which they appoint the said commissary
general to transmit to the said captains and take their receipts thereof.
There are one hundred and ten cannon bullets.
English
Admiralty Minutes 3, No. 1, P.R.O. (resume).
29th June,
1689.
Directions
are given to any of his Majesty's yachts at Greenock or any other vessel
there to carry David Cairnes to the Lough of Londonderry with letters to
Major General Kirke, and return with him. Copy of same is sent to Captain
Rooke.
Minutes
of the Privy Council of Scotland (resume).
Edinburgh. 3rd July, 1689.
Letter
from the Council to Major General Mackay as to his proceedings in Lochaber
and the West Highlands, in which the Council say,—' we have likewise ordered
the two frigates to cruise on that coast.'
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 4th July, 1689.
Warrant to
Captain Cairnes for pressing a vessel and horse, and missive to Captain
Hamilton.
His
Majesty's High Commissioner and Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council do
hereby give order and warrant to David Cairnes Esquire to press two horses
for dispatching him in their Majesties' service, he paying according to the
rates of the country, and ordaines all magistrates of burghs, collectors or
other officers to concur with and assist him in pressing of a vessel for
transporting of him from this kingdom to Ireland with all expedition upon
his own reasonable charges and expenses.
The letter
after specified from the Board to Captain Hamilton anent Captain Cairnes,
Esquire, is as follows :—
The bearer
hereof David Cairnes, Esquire, being sent by his Majesty to the kingdom of
Ireland with commands for Major General Kirke, you are required by his
Majesty's High Commissioner and the Lords of Privy Council to transport him
from Scotland to any place of the next Irish coast or on board of any of his
Majesty's frigates near the Lough of Derry he shall desire, and from thence
to return with Captain Brown to the Sound of Mull arid there destroy or
secure all boats and barks on that coast, and hinder and obstruct all
passage from Ireland to that part of Scotland or from the Isles to the
Continent; and you are to obey the further necessary orders from the Earl of
Argyll, who is presently to go into that country. This by warrant and in
name of the Council is signified to you by your assured friend (sic
subscribitur),
CRAFURD, P.
Memoirs
of the Scots War by Major-General Mackay (Bannatyne Club), p. 46.
[General
Mackay of Scoury afterwards served with distinction in Ireland and in
Holland. He was killed in 1692 at Steinkirke]
About this
time King James being advertised that the Highlanders would lose their
patience, seeing the so often renewed promises of succours like to fail for
good and all, commanded Brigadier Cannon with 500 Irish to embark upon three
small French frigates at Belfast in Ireland for the succour of Dundee, with
large promises to make them quickly be followed by a greater number ; who,
having upon their way met two little Scots vessels armed for the guard of
that coast, and to hinder the passage of Irish into the Highlands, forced
them and landed their men safely in the Isle of Mull, from whence they
joined Dundee with his party.
Broadside bound up with the London Gazettes of 1689 in the British Museum.
[On
10th July 1689. See also Browns History of the Highlands, vol I, p.151]
A FULL AND
TRUE
RELATION
of the
REMARKABLE FIGHT
Betwixt
Capt. Hamilton and Capt. Brown,
Commanders of the Two Scotch Frigates
and
Three French Men of War
That brought over the Irish men to join Dundee
in the western sea, as it was delivered to some of
the Privy Councellors in Scotland, by those that
were eye witnesses during the whole action.
Licensed Aug. 2 1689 J. FRASER
In regard
that the bravery and gallantness of the last actions of Captain Hamilton and
Captain Brown's lives are so remarkable, and not frequently parallelled, I
think it not amiss to give you a particular and distinct account of them as
it was delivered to some members of the Privy-Council here, by one of the
lieutenants of those frigates, that had the good fortune to come off after
he had been taken prisoner, and by other persons
now in town, who were present, and witnesses of what past, which was
thus. On Wednesday the 10th of July, Captain Hamilton commanding the
Pelican carrying 18 guns and 120 men, and Captain Brown of the Janet
frigate, carrying 12 guns and 80 men as they were cruising -between the Mull
of Kintyre in Scotland and Carrickfergus Lough in Ireland,
happened to discover at sea to the southward three sail of ships, to whom
they immediately ply'd up, and when they came within such a distance as to
be able to discern them, they observed them to look like English built
ships, carrying the English flag and colours, which led them into
the mistake of believing them to be English and friends. This obliged
them to make up close to them to salute them; but they did no sooner
perceive their error, than they found it impossible to retreat, they being
three French men of war, having on aboard a battalion of 400 men of Colonel
Porsil's regiment of foot, that was going to join Dundee, the biggest of
them carrying 36 guns, the second 30, and the third 24 guns. And so to
action they fell immediately, and fought it with all the
gallantry and resolution imaginable with their guns above an hour.
The two lesser frigates fell to Captain Brown's share to engage with, and
when his main mast was shot down they came and lay aboard him, in which
action his right arm was shot off with a canon bullet; yet notwithstanding
he maintained the fight resolutely, and continued giving directions and
orders to his men, until he received seven musket bullets in his body, the
last of which killed him dead. One Campbell his lieutenant maintained the
fight with the same gallantry until being overpowered by the enemy's men,
who after great slaughter coming on board found the lieutenant lying on the
deck, shot through the right thigh the right shoulder and left arm, having
only fourteen men alive, whereof eight were wounded and disabled. Captain
Brown's ship being thus taken, these two frigates join the great one, and
all three fall on Captain Hamilton, who made his part good against the
French man alone, and when his ship had been much battered and torn, the two
biggest ships came and endeavoured to board him ; and with them he fought a
considerable time, his ship being better provided for a close fight than
Captain Brown's was. He had the misfortune to be thrice boarded by the
enemy, and the courage to clear his deck as often of them. At last his
forecastle and steerage being torn open by the violence and frequency of the
enemies shot, and hand granadoes doing much mischief to his men, the enemy
boarded him the fourth time in great numbers, so that looking upon himself
and his ship for lost, as his last effort gave orders to his gunner to go
down to the hold and blow up the ship ; and he no sooner gave the word of
command for executing what he had purposed to do, but a cannon bullet at
random shot from the third ship came and dispatcht him, and hindered his
last orders from being obeyed. And so his ship fell into the enemy's hands,
and of the 120 men he had on board, only thirty men were found alive,
whereof the greatest part were wounded and much disabled. In this action
there were killed of our people, the two captains, one hundred and fifty-six
men ; and of the enemies one French captain, two lieutenants, two hundred
and eighteen men, and many wounded.
This
account we have from some that were taken, and now have made their escape,
and from those that have been aboard the French ship since the action, as
also from some of those Irish that were taken prisoners since that time, all
their relations agreeing as above is mentioned.
London,
printed for Rich. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church Yard,
1689.
The London Gazette, No. 3473.
Edinburgh. 13th July, 1689.
This morning we had an account that 7 or 800 Irish were
landed in Argyllshire having been transported by three French men of war and
several other vessels from Carrickfergus ; but its not doubted the Earl of
Argyll, the Earl of Glencairn and the Earl of Eglintoun, who are ordered to
march westward with a considerable body of men will very quickly give a good
account of them. Its said that the two little Scotch frigates that were
cruising happening to meet the said French ships were taken by them after
having made the best defence they could.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 18th July, 1689.
We do not yet hear that the Irish which came from
Carrickfergus, under the command as it is said of Colonel Buchan, are landed
anywhere, but the account we gave you in our last of a boat being taken with
some horses in the west is not only confirmed, but their number proves to be
greater than was at first reported, we being certainly informed that there
are taken 20 horses and 30 men.
English
Admiralty Minutes 3, No. 1, P.B.O.
18th July,
1689.
Ordered
that the Secretary write to Captain Rooke commander of the Deptford to let
him know that the Commissioners have received intelligence that three French
men of war have taken the two small Scotch men of war, and have landed
several men in Scotland from Carrickfergus, that therefore my Lord
Torrington was writ to last night by express to send him three fourth rates
to strengthen his squadron
London
Gazette, No. 2475.
Edinburgh. 25th July, 1689.
The Irish
that came from Carrickfergus are landed in the Isle of Mull, not exceeding
300 men in all. ... It is said that those Irish who came from Carrickfergus,
and also some of the Macleans are joined with Dundee.
Minutes
of the Privy Council of Scotland (resume).
Edinburgh. 26th July, 1689.
On a petition by Alexander Leckie and Robert Lenox,
merchants in Londonderry, the Council grant a pass for a small vessel which
they have freighted, called the Prosperitie of Glasgow (William Adair,
master), of about forty-five tons burden, with four guns, for carrying
provisions to their friends and relations in Londonderry, the petitioners
finding caution in 2000 merks that the cargo shall be conveyed to
Londonderry, if possible, and shall not be disposed of to any of his
Majesty's enemies.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 7th September, 1689.
Act in favour of Elizabeth McGibben and others [widows
of] Mariners in the Frigates employed by the Estates.
Anent a petition given in to the Lords of his Majesty's
Privy Council by Elizabeth McGibben relict of the deceased Uchter Herbertson,
mariner in Glasgow, shewing that where the petitioner's husband having
engaged in his Majesty's service under the command of Captain John Brown to
serve in the good ship called the Janet of Glasgow as a mariner, which was
freighted by the Estates of this kingdom for cruising betwixt Scotland and
Ireland, for which service her deceased husband was to have eighteen pound
Scots a month during his service, which was from the time the said ship
first sailed from New Port Glasgow, till the time she was taken, and at
which time the petitioner's husband was killed, being in all two months and
one half, and the petitioner and her children through the loss of her
husband and by whose industry she lived are now become in a very lamentable
condition ; and for instructing of her husband's service the petitioner
produced therewith a certificate under the hand of Hugh Montgomery, brother
german to Sir James Montgomery of Skelmorlie, who was commissary to the
said ship, nor did she or her husband receive any of the wages, and
therefore humbly supplicating to the effect aftermentioned. The Lords of
his Majesty's Privy Council having considered the above petition with the
testificate produced therewith, with other testificates for Agnes McLeine,
spouse to George Martine mariner in the Pelican, and Elizabeth Pollock,
spouse to James Dean sailor in the said ship, and Elizabeth Cairnes, spouse
to James McRae mariner therein, they recommend to the president of Council
to draw a precept upon the general receivers for payment to the said four
persons above named of two months and one half's pay due to their deceased
husbands, conform to the establishment.
Ibidem
(resume).
Edinburgh. 16th September, 1689.
Warrant is
granted to Margrat Dreden, wife of James Mulline gunner in the Janet, and to
Mary Montgomerie, wife of Heugh McClemun quartermaster of the Pelican, and
to Janet Tulloch, wife of William McCrae mariner in the Janet, each for two
and a half months pay during the whole time these ships were out.
Edinburgh. 26th September, 1689.
Warrant is granted to the fathers of James
Andersone boatman's mate in the Janet and of David Reind mariner in the
Pelican, who at the time of the unhappy engagement with the French were
taken prisoners and carried away to ... in Ireland, where they now lie in a
most miserable and starving condition, having nothing to maintain
themselves, neither have they received a farthing of their Majesties’ pay
since the out- rigging of the said frigates, betwixt which time and the
engagement was two months and one half, the one at thirty shillings sterling
the month and the other at twenty-three shillings, for two months and one
half's pay due to the said James Anderson and David Reind as ordinary
mariners, to the effect they [the fathers] may transmit the same to them for
their subsistence and maintenance, thereby to prevent their utter ruin and
starving condition.
Ibidem (resume).
Edinburgh. 3rd October, 1689.
Warrant is
granted to Janet McMurke, spouse to Fergus McNeill, Janet Air, spouse to
Robert Black, Kathrin Wilson, spouse to Adam Gardner, and Marion Gardner,
spouse to Alexander Hunter, for two and a half months pay due to their
husbands for service as mariners in the Pelican and Janet.
The same
day Agnes Hamilton, spouse to James Blair, Hellen Orock, spouse to John
Kyle, Agnes Wilson, spouse to Richard Beattie, Alexander Bill, son to
Robert Bell in Borrowstounness,{Bo’ness] and John Coldhame, son to John
Coldhame in Blackness, on the narrative that the petitioners' husbands were
all of them employed in their Majesties' service as mariners in the two
frigates called the Pelican and the Janet, when the said ships had the
misfortune to be assaulted by three French ships, and notwithstanding of
their vigorous resistance to the utmost of their power were taken in July
last, the said captains being slain and the petitioners' husbands carried by
the French to Dublin in Ireland, where they were in a miserable
condition among the Irish, petitioned for three months' pay resting[Owing]
to their husbands for their service in the said ships as mariners, to help
to bring home the petitioners' husbands to their own country and to supply
the petitioners' present need, while some of them are lying in childbed and
others near their delivery. Warrant is granted for payment to the
petitioners of two months and one half's pay due to their husbands and
fathers respectively.
The same
day, the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council having considered a petition
given in by the wives and relations of eleven of the seamen who were under
Captain Hamilton and Captain Brown's command, conform to the list therewith
produced, they recommend to the Earl of Crafurd, president of Council, to
draw a precept upon the general receivers for payment of two months and one
half's pay to Euphan Tarbat, spouse to John Hunter, seaman, to Euphan Law,
spouse to William Hunter, to Isobel Sheill, spouse to Robert Hunter, seaman,
to the said Isobell Scheill for Robert Hutcheson, her son, to the said
Isobel Sheill for James Hunter, her stepson, to Margaret Campbell for Robert
McKonochie, her husband, boatswain of the Pelican, to James Bishope for the
deceased George Bishope, his son, who was killed at the engagement, to
Marion Clunie, spouse to James Hunter, seaman, to Janet Davidsone, spouse to
Andrew Ford, boatswain of the Janet, and killed at the engagement, to
Grizell Davidson, spouse to Richard Young, carpenter aboard the Pelican, and
to the said Grizell Davidson, aunt to James Hardie, mate to the carpenter.
Ibidem
(resume)
Edinburgh.
15th October, 1689.
The Lords
of his Majesty's Privy Council on a petition given in by James Campbell and
Archibald Ure, mariners in the Janet frigate, recommend payment of two
months and a half's pay due to the petitioners, payable to William Campbell,
father to the said James Campbell, and to John Miller, uncle to the said
Archibald Ure, upon their receipts of the same.
The same
day a similar act is made in favour of Donald Campbell, mate of the good
ship called the Janet.
Ibidem
(resume).
Edinburgh. 17th October, 1689.
A similar
act is made in favour of Christian Home, spouse to William Martine, skipper
of the Pelican on a deposition bearing that the said William Martine had
served as mate to Captain Hamilton during the whole space she was out, for
two and a half months' pay.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 28th October, 1689.
Anent a
petition given in to the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council by Elizabeth
Miller and Margaret Wilson in Greenock, and Ronald Balintyne, skipper of the
Pelican, shewing that where James and Adam Ferguson and John Wilson, who
died upon the place, were mariners in the ship called the Janet under the
deceased Captain Brown his command, and Richard Potts, William Fyfe,
Patrick Chalmers and William Hunter were mariners in the Pelican
frigate, under the deceased Captain Hamilton, his command, during the whole
voyage, and such as are alive being now prisoners in Ireland, and that the
petitioners had only interest to seek their pay during their service and to
look to their relief . . . : Warrant is granted by the Lords of his
Majesty's Privy Council ... for payment to Elizabeth Miller of the two
months and one half's pay due to James and Adam Ferguson and to Margaret
Wilson for the pay due to John Wilson, her brother, during the space
foresaid, and to Ronald Balintyne for the pay of two months and one half due
to William Fyfe, Patrick Chalmers and William Hunter, and for the payment of
two months due to Richard Potts.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh, 1st November, 1689.
Act in
favour of John Miller, Skipper of the Janet Frigate.
Anent a
petition given in to the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council by John
Miller, skipper of the Janet frigate, and Daniel Campbell, his mate, shewing
that where Mathew Muir and the deceased James Kennadie, being both mariners
in the said frigate, and one of them as yet being under severe imprisonment
in Ireland, and that the petitioners had good and undoubted right, under
their nearest relations' hands, . . . and craving the said Lords to order
the general receivers to make payment to them thereof for the said Mathew
Muir and James Kennadie : The Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council . . .
recommend payment to the said Daniel Campbell for the pay due to the said
Mathew Muir and to the said John Millar and Andrew Maclnturner, [Writer in
Greenock]. or either of them, the pay due to the said James Kennadie, as
mariners, for the space of two months and one half.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh.
7th January, 1690.
Letter to
the Duke of Schomberg[Sometimes written ' Schonberg,' ' Schonberge,' '
Skonberge,' ' Shomberg.'] anent Prisoners at Kinsale.
The letter
underwritten from the Lords of Privy Council to [the] Duke of Schomberg was
read and subscribed by the Earl of Crafurd, chosen president in absence of
their president, of the which letter the tenor follows :—
My
Lord,—The Council understand that Claud Hamilton, nephew to the deceased
Captain 'Hamilton, commander of one of the Scotch frigates taken by the
French in May last, for himself and in name and behalf of one hundred and
forty-two of his fellow prisoners at Kinsale, [Sometimes written ' Kinsaill,'
' King-saill,' and ' Kingsaile.'] hath supplicated your Grace for their
relief out of the miserable circumstances they have lain under these six
months bygone, by exchange of the like number of rebels formerly under the
command of the Lord De Clare[Lianiel O'Brien, Viscount Clare.] and taken by
some of the forces under your command, and that your Grace did not think the
matter cognisable by you without application first had been made to the
Council of Scotland or the Lords of the Admiralty of England, and the said
Claud Hamilton for himself, and in name of his fellow prisoners have made
application to the Council; and they, considering that he and they have done
good service to their Majesties, and that their captains were killed and
themselves taken by the French in their service, and being able seamen and
most willing to be again employed in their Majesties' service they may be
very useful at present in their navy, they do therefore seriously recommend
to your Grace that ye will be pleased to take this matter to your serious
consideration, and to allow the like number of rebels whom you have
prisoners at Londonderry, Inshkilling[Enniskillen.] or other places, to be
given in exchange for them, so that the ruin of these poor men may be
prevented, their Majesties' interest advanced and others encouraged
hereafter to hazard in their service. This by warrant and in name of the
Council is signified to your Grace by, my Lord, your Grace's humble servant
(sic subscribitur),
Crafurd I.P.D.S. Con.[ In presentia Dominorum Secreti
Concilii]
Ibidem.
Act in
favour of Claud Hamilton.
Anent a
petition given in to the Lords of his Majesty's Privy Council by Claud
Hamilton, nephew to the deceased Captain Hamilton, for himself and in name
and behalf of his fellow prisoners at Kinsale, shewing that upon the taking
of Captain Hamilton's and Captain Brown's two frigates employed in their
Majesties' service, the petitioner and about 142 more that were in these two
frigates were made prisoners in shackles and put aboard an old rotten ship
in the harbour of Kinsale, where they were many weeks kept in unexpressible
misery and at length brought in and kept prisoners in a house at Kinsale,
where it pleased God to move the compassion of some Protestants to afford
them some small supply: It happened that the Lord De Clare having a
considerable number of his men taken at a conflict with the Inshkilling men,
he was moved out of compassion to the prisoners and for relief of his own
men to allow of a motion to be made to the late King his Secretary of War
for exchange, man for man ; and the Scots prisoners having pitched upon the
petitioner to negotiate the exchange, the Lord De Clare allowed him his
pass, with a letter to the said Secretary in order to the exchange, who was
by the interposition of the said Lord satisfied therein, as the said Lord De
Clare's pass and an act under the Secretary's hand with his pass to go to
their Majesties' camp -'for supplicating the Duke of Schomberg, the general,
for the said exchange there to show would instruct. Accordingly the
petitioner for relief of himself (who is got out on parole) and of his poor
fellow prisoners, having for many days travelled with the danger of his life
amongst the Irish, at length made his application to the Duke of Schomberg
by a petition, who by a deliverance thereupon thought the matter not
cognoscable by him without application first made to the said Lords of
Council or Lords of the Admiralty of England, as the petition with the
deliverance thereupon therewith produced bears. And now, seeing the
petitioner had done all the thing that was in his power and could not
effectuate the said relief, and that he and his fellow prisoners were lawful
prisoners of war being in their Majesties' service by public commission, the
petitioner was at length with great difficulty come to apply himself to the
said Lords and was most willing and ready to serve their Majesties either in
fleet or army when liberated ; and therefore humbly craving the said Lords
to commiserate the petitioner and the other prisoners their sad and
miserable condition, and to write to his Grace the Duke of Schomberg to make
an exchange in equal number of as many prisoners belonging to the Irish army
now in custody at Inshkilling, Londonderry or any other place in the north
of Ireland, with the petitioner and the foresaid prisoners belonging to the
Scots frigates ; and, in order to their more effectual releasement, would
also be pleased to write to the Secretary[George, fourth Lord Melvill, and
first Earl of Melvill (1690).] to interpose with his Majesty to give a
warrant to [his] Grace the Duke of Schomberg for the foresaid exchange,
without which the petitioner would be necessitated to return to the foresaid
garrison at Kinsale and there to undergo all his former miseries, which
unquestionably would be augmented in case the foresaid releasement were not
obtained ; and in the meantime for his present subsistence that the said
Lords would be pleased to order payment to be made to the petitioner of
seven months pay that is due to him for his uncle's Captain Hamilton's
frigate for defraying the expenses of his long imprisonment and travel,
which hath not been without great hazard of his life and penury, and for the
better enabling of the petitioner to effectuate his own and his other fellow
prisoners' liberty, he having a wife and five small children and no means
nor estate whereupon to maintain them but what he wrought for, as the said
petition bears. Which being read in presence of the said Lords and seen the
instructions above mentioned, they ordained a letter to be written to the
Duke of Schomberg and another to the Secretary of State[George, fourth Lord
Melvill, and first Earl of Melvill (1690).] in favour of the petitioners for
their liberation, and recommended to the Earl of Crafurd, elected president
of Council in absence of their president, to draw a precept upon the general
receivers for payment to the petitioner of seven months' pay as a seaman in
Captain Hamilton's ship. After pronouncing of which interlocutor the said
Lords having this day again considered the said petition, they recommend to
the Earl of Crafurd to draw a precept upon the general receivers for payment
to the petitioner of fifteen pounds sterling, and that in place of the seven
months' pay, and for the loss he has been at during his imprisonment.
The
London Gazette, No. 2552.
From on board their Majesties' ship the Monk, in
Dublin-Bay, 19th April, 1690.
On the
17th instant, as we were cruising athwart Dublin Bay, we saw the Ruby, with
the ships under her convoy from Bristol. The 18th in the morning we stood
into the bay, and saw a ship a mile within the bar at a place called
Potebege, and being come to an anchor, Sir Cloudesley[Sometimes written '
Clouesly ' and ' Clowdisley.'] Shovell went on board the Monmouth yacht, and
at a little more than half flood, the wind being northerly, with the said
yacht, two men of war hoys, a ketch and the pinnaces, went over the bar,
upon which the ship before-mentioned removed above a mile higher up to
Salmon Pool, and there ran aground within shot of a French man of war of 12
guns, and 2 or 3 English ships that lay aground filled with soldiers, who
kept firing at us. We followed and attack'd her, and after some dispute, Sir
Cloudesley Shovell made a sign for the fireship to come in, which when the
enemy perceived, they forsook their ship, and got away in their boats. We
went on board, and got out an anchor, and by heaving some of her things
overboard brought her off. In turning out, the wind veering out of the sea,
one of our hoys ran aground, and we could not get her off before the water
fell away from her ; therefore we all lay by her, and got her anchors out
ready to heave off next high water. At low water the hoy was on dry ground,
and many thousand people came upon the strand, where was likewise the late
King James with his guards. We lay in our boats armed, and two Protestants
among many others that were running about the sand at length got to us. The
guards, to show their briskness, advanced towards us, and among the rest a
French man came riding to the water side, and called us in English, as well
as he could, a great many hard names, and fired his pistols. We shot his
horse and rowed ashore; the French man slipt his legs out of his boots and
ran away, but the sailors went ashore and unrigged his horse. The ship we
took was the Pelican, the biggest of the two Scotch frigates taken last
summer. She had twenty guns and above 40 men; 3 or 4 we found dead on the
deck, and one wounded, as also a Spaniard and an English man, who were
forced aboard. They informed us that 12 men were killed, that several that
went ashore were wounded, and that she lay there to take in some of those
goods which the late King James had forced from the Protestants for his
brass money. This was one of his best men of war. Captain Wright, commander
of the Monmouth yacht, was very serviceable to us, for besides his carrying
us in, he behaved himself very well in the action, as did all the officers
and sailors in general, who showed an extraordinary forwardness to engage,
and the chief officers of all the ships desired to go in their boats,
expressing in this occasion a great zeal for their Majesties' service.
Record
in the Admiralty Library, Whitehall.
Pelican
Fireship (2 Decks) taken by Sir Cloudesley Shovell in Dublin Bay. Made a
break-water at Sheerness.—Admiralty Order 26th August 1692, and Navy Board
Warrant, 13th September.
Minutes
of the Privy Council of Scotland.
Petition by
John Campbell.
Anent a
petition given in to the Lords of their Majesties' Privy Council by John
Campbell, late lieutenant in the Janet frigate, shewing that where the
petitioner having engaged as lieutenant in the said frigate under the
command of the deceased Captain Brown, . . , and having continued in the
said service and, he hoped, had faithfully discharged his duty, until the
tenth of June [? July], 1689, that they engaged with some ships carrying
recruits from Ireland to the rebels in the Highlands, where the captains and
many others 'being killed the petitioner was wounded in three several
places, and all his gold and money and goods seized upon to the value of
£150 sterling, and thereafter was taken prisoner and carried to Kinsale and
transported from place to place at the rebels' discretion where he was
reduced to the utmost extremities, having only the allowance of a penny a
day, scarce enough to sustain his natural life, and kept at that rate for
eight months in a most cruel and inhuman manner, because he would not accept
of any commissions or engage any way with the rebels, till at last by a good
providence of God he procured his liberty ; and the petitioner never
having received a farthing of his wages, which were agreed to be six pounds
sterling per mensem, and fourteen pounds Scots for his servant, the
petitioner humbly expected that the said Lords would order the same to be
paid to him from the time of his accepting the charge, which was the first
of April, 1689, till this day: And seeing his wife and family reside in
England, and that he was hastening thither designing of new to
engage in their Majesties' service by sea, he hoped the said Lords would
order his dispatch. . . . The Lords of their Majesties' Privy
Council having considered the above petition . . . recommend . . . payment
to the petitioner of four pounds sterling per mensem for his pay as
lieutenant in the foresaid ship, and twenty shillings sterling per
mensem for the said Patrick Campbell, now servant to the petitioner, his
pay as a seaman in the said ship from the said first day of April, 1689,
to the fifteenth day of October instant, and ordain these presents to be
recorded in the books of Treasury before payment.
Ibidem.
Edinburgh. 13th November, 1690.
Act in
favour of John Hamilton.
Anent the
petition given in to the Lords of their Majesties' Privy Council by John
Hamilton, now of Ladyland, eldest lawful son and heir and also executor to
the deceased Captain William Hamilton of Ladyland, and William Hamilton, his
second lawful son, shewing that where the said late Captain William Hamilton
being in the beginning of the month of April, 1689, employed and
commissioned by the said Lords as captain and commander of one of the two
frigates put to sea in the west of Scotland for securing of the coast
thereof and discovering and preventing any hazard and damage which might
come thereto or the kingdom of Ireland by the French fleet or their
pirates, and who by his commission was empowered to command and give orders
to the other ship, whereof the late John Brown was appointed captain, the
said Captain Hamilton accepted the said office, and accordingly
did officiate therein together with the said William Hamilton, his son, as
his scrivener, until the tenth day of July, 1689, that he lost his life by
the French in defending himself and the ship against them; and the ship and
all that was therein was made prize, as was well known to the said Lords,
and the said William Hamilton, one of the petitioners, was taken and
carried prisoner to Duart Castle in the Isle of Mull, where he lay and
continued in a most miserable condition hardly to be expressed until the
sixteenth day of October, 1689, that he was necessitated to relieve himself
by his own money, which and his other expenses there-anent cost him above
five hundred merks Scots, by and attour[over and above] all the misery
otherwise sustained by him ; for all which service the said deceased
Captain Hamilton nor the petitioner never yet sought nor received any pay
nor other reward from his Majesty nor their Lordships, and therefore humbly
supplicating to take the premises to their most serious consideration and
ordain the petitioners to be satisfied of the pay due to the said Captain
Hamilton, and the petitioner, the said William Hamilton, for the service
foresaid, and of the other damages and losses sustained in the said
expedition, conform to such quantity, measure and manner as their Lordships
shall judge, equitable and reasonable as the said petition bears. The Lords
of their Majesties' Privy Council having considered the above petition, they
recommend to the Lords of their Majesties' Treasury to cause payment be
made to the above William Hamilton of such pay as they shall find due to him
for his above service, and also to cause payment be made to the executors
of the above deceased William Hamilton or any others who shall be found to
have best right to the pay due to the said John. |
