[Footnote 2: A court of vice-admiralty was first erected in Virginia in 1698, and Hill was the first judge appointed. He was commissioned (Mar. 8, 1698) by Governor Andros, by virtue of the latter's commission (June 26, 1697) from the High Court of Admiralty in England; so say the Virginia council, in _Va. Mag. Hist._, XXII. 245, but the record of this latter commission in London dates it Apr. 29. Am. Hist. Assoc., _Annual Report_, 1911, I. 518.] Virg'a. ss. May the 11th in the 12th year of his Maj'tes Reign, Annoq Domini 1700. To the Hon'ble Court of Admiralty: William Passenger, Commander of his Majestyes ship the _shoreham_, as well for and in behalf of his Majesty as for and in behalfe of himself, officers and Company on Board the said ship, Humbly gives this Court to understand and be Informed that on the 29th Day of Aprill last Past, in his Maj'tyes said ship the _Shoreham_, within the Cape of Virga: he engaged, fought and tooke a Company of Pirates or sea Robbers which were in a ship called the _Peace_, of about two hundred tons Burthen, Mounted with twenty Gunns, which said Company of Pyrates or sea Robbers in the aforesaid ship for severall dayes before their being soe taken did in an Open, Warlike, Hostile, and Piraticall manner Assault, Attack, Fight, take, Robb, Burn, and spoile severall Merchant ships belonging to the subjects of our sovereign Lord the King (Vizt.) A Pinke Called the _Baltimore_, John Loveday Master, A Sloope Called the _George_, Joseph Forest Master, A Ship Called the _Pensylvania Merchant_, Samuell Harrison Master, A Ship Called the _Indyan King_, Edward Whitaker Master, A Ship Called the _Nicholson_, Robert Lurting Master, who in a Peaceable and Lawfull manner were comeing into and goeing out of the aforesaid Cape of Virga. with their severall Goods and Merchandizes, etc. And also the aforesaid Company of Pyrates or sea Robbers, in the aforesaid ship, at and upon the aforesaid time and Place, in a Hostile and Warlike manner, did fight his Maj'tes said ship the _shoreham_, but they being overcome and taken as aforesaid the aforesaid William Passenger, in behalfe as aforesaid, prays Condemnation of the aforesaid Pirats ship Called the _Peace_, with all her Gunns, Ammunition, tackle, furniture, and apparell, to be devided and Proportioned according to the Rules and Orders of the sea, in such Cases made and provided, etc. W. PASSENGER. _100. Deposition of William Woolgar and Others. [June 11, 1700.]_[1] [Footnote 1: Bodleian Library, MS. Rawlinson A. 271, f. 40.] Virginia sct. William Woolgar, Peter Shaw, Francis Warrell and Joshua Atkinson Examined and Sworne say