prietary governor of
Nova Scotia, had bought the ship. _Records of Essex Quarterly Courts_,
I. 319, 320.]

10th 4th 1654 WILLIAM TORREY, Cleric.[3]

[Footnote 3: Torrey was clerk of the House of Deputies, Rawson
secretary of the Court of Assistants. Ensign Jeremiah Howchen, whose
dissent from the majority opinion of the deputies is recorded below,
was deputy for Hingham.]

The magists. Cannot Consent heereto, It Contradicting the last act of
the Court.

EDWARD RAWSON, Secret'y.

[Another copy of the vote, likewise attested by Torrey, has instead of
the above subscription the following:]

this vote to be entred in the booke altho not Consented to by the
magists.

Contradicent., mr Jer Howchen.

THE _BLUE DOVE_.

_14. Portuguese Commission (Letter of Marque) to Charles de Bils.
February 10 (N.S.), 1658, September 10, 1662._[1]

[Footnote 1: Mass. Archives, vol. 60, p. 215. A copy of the Portuguese
original is in the archives, as well as this rough translation. The
dates are new style. The grantor was King Alfonso VI., brother of
Catharine of Braganza, queen of England from 1662 to 1685. War with
Spain had continued since the Portuguese revolt of 1640. This series
of papers shows well to what abuses the whole system of letters of
marque was open. For an English commission, of later date (1741), see
doc. no. 144.]

Alfonso, by the grace of God King of Portugall and of the Algarves [on
both sides] of the seas In Africa, Lord of ginney and of the Conquest,
navigation, and Commerce of Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and of India,
Know all to whom this my letter patent shall Appeare that itt
Behooving mee to provide shipps to oppose sea Roavers thatt frequent
the Coasts of these my Kingdomes, for the conveniency of tradeinge to
them, And Consideringe the merritts and Partts thatt Doe concurr in
the person of Charles de Bils, Confidinge in him that In all thatt I
shall Impose to his trust hee will serve mee to my Content, Itt Is my
will and pleasure to nominate and by these Presents doe name for Capt.
of a shipp of warr, by virtue of w'ch power hee may provide att his
owne charge a shipp of one hundred Tonnes with whatt boates
nessesarie, and provide her with Gunns, People, ammunition and
provisions as hee shall thinke Convenientt, to wage warr with the
subjects of the Kinge of spaine, Turks, Pirats, Sea Roavers, take
there shipps and there marchandizes and all that belongs unto them and
Carry them to Any Port