June 1645: Order for protecting Petit, De Liques, and Faucult, against Rednes & al. Concerning their Invention of weighing Ships that were foundered.

June, 1645

[4 June, 1645.]

Whereas, by Order of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, of the 26th Day of August, 1643, Power was given to the Petitioners, Dominique Petite, Peter de Liques, and Claudius Fawcult, for the putting in Execution their Inventions, of taking up Ships and their Lading, out of the Sea, at their own proper cost and charges, upon their enjoying of the Moiety thereof to themselves for their Pains, and the other Moiety to go to the Service of the State, as by the said Order appeareth; and whereas the said Inventors have spent much ime, and have been at great Charge, upon the said Service, but (being Strangers) have been much retarded and hindered by some Persons, namely, by Leonard Rednes and James Gardner, Masters of Two Ships, the one called The William and Sarah, and the other The Elizabeth, in the Harbour of Harwich, and by the Owners of the said Ships keeping the most Part of their Inventions and Engines upon the said Ships: It is therefore Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, since the said Inventions and Engines are already upon the said Ships, That Captain John Hunter, Governor of the said Town of Harwich, shall hereby have full Power from this House, for the promoting of the said Service, and for the Good of the Commonwealth, to press the said Ships, with all Things belonging to them, fit and needful for that Service, upon the Wages agreed upon; and also to constrain the said Leonard Rednes and James Gardner to perform their former Agreements made with the said Inventors, and to press such Mariners and others as shall be necessary for the Performance of the Work, the being reasonably satisfied for their Pains, lest the Season of the Year should be spent in Delay; and if the said Governor shall find any wilful Neglect or Disobedience in any touching the Premises, that he return the names of such to this House; and that he take to his Assistance, in the Execution of this Order, the Vice Admiral and the Mayor of Harwich aforesaid, and such others as shall be in Authority in or near such Place or Places where any Ship or Ships shall be drawn out of the Sea, who are hereby required to give their Assistance accordingly: And it is further ordered That the Order of this House, of the 11th of January last, granted to the said Inventors, is hereby confirmed in all Points, both for them and for all such as shall be employed by them in the said Service, during the full Time therein expressed; and, that neither the Owners of the said Ships nor any others shall trouble, molest, or hinder the said Inventors, nor any others employed by them in this Work, as they will answer the contrary to this House at their uttermost Perils.