That being at Jamaica about the moneth of January last past, there came in the pincke _blew dove_ which was seized at sea betweene Hispaniola and Jamaica by John Morrice Captn. of the _Virgin Queene_ (an english man of war), who putt two or three of his men aboad to bring her into Jamaica harbor, hee with his man of war bearing her Company neere to the harbour; when the sd _blew dove_ had bin three or foure daies at Jamaica there was a Court of Admiralty appointed for the triall of the sd _Blew-dove_, it being expected by the sd Captn. Morrice and Company that the sd Ship would have been a prize to them, and their great Argument was that they were sailing towards Cuba before they had seized them, and that they were laden with ammunition and goods sutable to the spanish trade: but uppon triall in the Court, their billes of Lading appeared that they were bound to Jamaica, their cocketts and dispatches being cleere from the Kings Custome-house at Dover; this deponent speaking in Court to Sr Charles Littelton (then sitting Judge of the Court)[2] that hee knew the Master Robert Cooke, and that hee lived in Ratliffe[3] neere to him, which also testifies Captn: Isack Bowles Comander of the _Blackmore_ (one of the Royall Companies Ships),[4] the Governor (Sr Charles Littelton) did thereupon declare them to be a free ship, and to have their liberty of trade as any other Ship whatsoever that was then in the Harbour; And further saith that the aforesd Captn. John Morrice told this deponent that hee had hoped to have had a good prize of the _blew-dove_, but hee gott nothing of them but an English Ensigne, and a hogshead of strong beare, and that the sd _Blew-dove_ came in with English colours, and did on all occasions weare them. [Footnote 2: Lord Windsor was governor of Jamaica in January, 1664, Sir Charles Lyttelton deputy governor.] [Footnote 3: Ratcliff, London.] [Footnote 4: Bowles was one of the captains, and the _Blackamoor_ one of the ships, of the "Company of the Royal Adventurers of England trading into Africa", the predecessor of the Royal African Company.] Taken upon oath, 27: 5: 64. Before me ELIA. LUSHER. _23. Deposition of John Hunter. July 26, 1664._[1] [Footnote 1: Mass. Archives, vol. 60, p. 225.] John Hunter Aged a bout 40 years deposeth and sayth That this deponant was shipped by Captaine Robert Cooke, Commander of the _blew dove_ of London so Caled, to sayle as a sayler in the said shipp from Jameco to Dover and so for Amsterdam: the time this deponant was shipped was about the begining of Aprill Last past in Jameco.