Catalogue description Petition of JOHN BARKER to the EARL OF LINDSEY.

--Petitioner, late master of the Cock of London, has suffered eighteen months' imprisonment; and although he knoweth not how he hath exceeded his commission from the Admiralty High Court, yet there are suits pretended against him, though none commenced. He therefore prays that his cause may be heard at the Council Table, nothing doubting that they will consider " both the unjust law of the Turks, whereby the Levant Company may have had much trouble and charge " without petitioner's fault, and also petitioner's earnest desire to serve his country. If, for the preserva-tion of the merchants' goods, it is decided to give them petitioner's prize, he prays that he may receive 800l. for his " hindrance and charges," with what shall be thought fit for bringing the prize goods home ; and that he may be freed from all further demands by the said Company; this being no more than they themselves desire, as shown by a letter from them to Sir Henry Marten, to which he referreth himself.

Annexed:-

Statement on Barker's behalf.-In the year 1629, " by virtue of letters of marque, he took a ship called a Sattee from pirates, belonging or which were lately the subjects of the Grand Seigneur."

The Levant Company do not complain of Barker's com-mission, but only " complain against him of an unlawful act; but how or wherein is not expressed." Upon this complaint, Barker was committed to the Fleet in October, 1629, after-wards discharged thence, and then committed again to a messenger, by warrant, but he knows not why.

No suit has ever been presented in the Admiralty Court, as is pretended by the said Company, yet Barker has suffered eighteen months' imprisonment. He therefore prays that the matter may be heard at the Board, and submits a list of particulars and complaints to be examined and debated upon by counsel on both sides. Inter alia he states that the letters of the Grand Seigneur and Sir Peter Wych were sent merely by the instigation of those Turks which were taken in the " Sattee," to whom he offered to deliver their goods if they would go with him to Zante (only three miles away) and clear themselves from suspicion of piracy, but this they refused. He stayed five weeks at Zante, was never questioned for what he had done, and brought home good attestations from the Providore there that the men were pirates ; as was also deposed by John Chambers and William Rider in the Admiralty Court.*

* See petition of the Levant Merchants, S.P. Domn. Chas. I., CLXXXIX.,51.