XV.
To the right honorable the Lords Comissioners for his Majesties Navie and Admiraltie of England.
The petition of Sr. William Allexander Knight, Capt. David Kerk and others the adventurers in the joynt companie of Canada.
Whereas it pleased his Majesty some three years agoe to give Comission under the great Seale of England to the petrs for planting Colonies in the river of Cannada, and displanting of those who were then his Majesties ennemies in the said Landes, and for the better encouragement and enabling of the petrs to give them by the same Commission sole power to trade with the natives within the Gulfe and river of Cannada: Now the petrs are informed that there are divers shipps bound for the said Gulfe and river without warrant from them and contrary to his Majesties expresse pleasure by his Commission to them, which cannot but turne greatly to the prejudice of his Majesties service and the losse of the petrs And they are particularly enformed of one shipp, called the Whale of London whose 14/1426owners are Nathaniell Wright and Nathan Wright, the Masters Richard Brewerton and Wolston Goslyn, that is presently ready for the said voyage.
Wherefore they doe humbly entreat your Lordshipps that for the foresaid shipp or any other which upon due information shalbe found to have any such intention contrary to his Majestys Commission to the petrs there may be such course taken that they may be stayed or sufficient assureance given that they will prosecute noe such voyage.
And they shall pray for your Lordshipps.
The Lords Comissioners for ye Admiralty desire ye Lord Viscount Dorchester to be pleased to take this petition into present Consideration, and calling all parties before him to examine how farre ye limitts granted to ye petitioners (by Commission from his Majestie) extend in Latitude and Longitude, and if his Lordshipp shall find that the parties complayned of have intention to goe into those partes contrary to his Majesties Commission their Lordshipps thinke fitt and order that they be staid as is desired.
Wallingford House, 26. Febr. 1630. (8 march 1631.)
EDW. NICHOLAS.
(Sur le dos est écrit.)
R. 26°. Febr. 1630. Pet. of Sr. Wm. Allexander.
(State Paper Office, Colonial Papers, vol. VI, art. 4.)