Oeuvres de Champlain
Chapitre IX
Charles, by the grace of God, Kinge of England Scotland France and
Ireland, Defender of the faith, etc. To our right trustie and welbeloved
Councellor, Sir Humfrey May Knight Vicechamberlaine of our houshold.
Sir John Coke Knight, one of our principall Secretaries of State, Sir Julius
Cesar Knight Master of the Rolls, and to our trustie and welbeloved Sir
Henry Martin Knight Doctor of the Lawes and Judge of the Admiraltie,
Greeting. Whereas Captaine David Kirke and his associats have taken
certen goodes moveables merchandize and skynns, from certaine of the
French which were remayning in the forte of Kebecke, the Colledge of
jesuites, and in a shippe by him taken in Canada in the partes of America,
Wee therefore, minding and resolving to be trulie informed and advertised
of the same, and of the quality and values of the skynns goodes and
merchandize there taken as aforesaid, have assigned and appointed, and by
theis presents doe assigne and appointe you the said Sir Humfrey May, Sir
John Coke, Sir Julius Cesar, and Sir Henry Martin, to be our Comissioners,
giving and by theis presentes granting unto you or anie three or two of you
full power and authority to call or send for before you or anie three or two
of you at such tyme and tymes, place and places, as to you or anie three or
two of you shall seeme most expédient as well all and singuler masters of
shippes and mariners as all or any other person or persons whome you shall
understand or conceive can give you informacion in or concerning the
premisses, and shalbe necessarie to be called for the discovery of the
premisses, or anie of them. And wee doe further hereby give unto you, or
any three or two of you, full power and authoritie, as well by examinacion
of the said masters of shippes marryners or any other person or persons
whome you or anie three or two of you, shall thincke fitt upon theire
corporall oathes, or without oathe as by anie such other lawfull waies and
meanes whatsoever as to you or any three or two of you shalbe thought fitt
and expédient to find out and discover the said goodes moveables
merchandize and skynnes, and all other necessarie incidents and
circumstances concerning the premisses whereby the truth maie the more
plainely appeare and be made manifest unto you. And upon such examination taken and discovery made, Wee will require and comaund you
or anie three or two of you to certifie and advertise us or our privie councell
of such your proceedinges and howe and what you find concerning the
premises. And theis presentes or the inrollement thereof shalbe unto you, or
anie three or two of you, a sufficient warrant in this behalfe. And lastlie our
will and pleasure is, that this our Comission shall continue in force, and that
you our said Comissioners, or any three or two of you, shall proceed to the
execution thereof, although the same be not from tyme to tyme continued
by adjournment. IN WITNESS whereof, wee have caused theis our letters
to be made patentes, Winnes our selfe at Westm. the fifte day of March in
the fifte yeare of our Raigne.
Per ipsum Regem WILLYS.
(Sur le dos est écrit.)
A comission to Sr. Humfrey May Knight, and others to examyne what
goodes, merchandize and other thinges were taken by Captaine Kirke, at
Canady, in the partes of America. 5 mar. 5 Car. WILLYS.
(State Paper Office, Colonial Series, vol. V, art. 58.)