Militia of Westmoreland, whom I doe also in his Maj'tes Name command to have their Militia ready, and if any Ship or vessel be in their County to give the Commanders Notice that they may take Care of their Ships and vessels. The Colonel or Chief officers of Northumberland I doe hereby Impower in his Maj'tes Name forthwith to press a good boat and able men and send an account to any of his Maj'tes officers either Military or Civill in his Maj'tes Province of Maryland, of these 3 or 4 ships or vessels being in Lynhaven bay, and that they are desired imediately to Dispatch an Express to his Excell'y Nathaniel Blakiston, Esqr., his Maj'tes Capt. Gen'll and Governor in Chief and Vice Admiral of his Maj'tes Province of Maryland. And I do in his Maj'tes Name Command all officers both Millitary and Civil to Obey and follow these my Commands, and all his Maj'tes Loveing Subjects are hereby required to pay all due Obedience to these my Commands and to be Aiding and Assisting what in them lyes to their officers both millitary and Civill, and I do further hereby command all officers both millitary and Civill, and all other his Maj'tes Loveing Subjects, Strictly to observe and put in Execution an Act Passed last Session of Assembly against Pyrates and privateers.[5] And I doe hereby promise to any person or persons who shall take or kill any Pyrate that shall belong to Either of these 3 or 4 ships or vessells now in Lyn haven bay, a reward of twenty pound sterling for Each pyrate that they shall either take or kill, And lastly I do in his Maj'tes Name Command all officers both Military and Civill and all his Maj'tes Loveing Subjects of this his Maj'tes most ancient and great Colony and Dominion of virginia, that they will give all Due Obedience and follow all these my Commands as they will answer the Contrary at their utmost perills. Given under my hand and lesser Seal at Arms the Day and year above written, in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord William the third, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the faith, etc. [Footnote 3: A guardship of the royal navy was in these days kept in Virginian waters. At the moment, it happened, there were two, the _Essex Prize_, 16 guns, which had been there since the spring of 1698 and was now about to return to England, and the _Shoreham_, Capt. William Passenger, a larger vessel which was to take her place, and which had arrived Apr. 10, 1700. The _Essex Prize_ was careened at the moment, and not available; Beverley, _History of Virginia_, p. 94.] [Footnote 4: A roadstead on the south side of the Chesapeake, between Cape Henry and Willoughby Spit.]