By the Honorable Nicholas Cooke Esquire Governor
Captain General and Commander in Chief of and over
the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations —

Instructions to James Munro Commander of the Ship Blaze Castle a Private Vessel of War to whom I have issued a Commission or Letters of Marque and Reprisal.

First. You may by Force of Arms attack, subdue and take-all Ships.and other Vessels belonging to the Subjects of the King of Great Britain or any-of them (other than the Inhabitants of Bermuda or the Bahama Islands) on the High Seas, or betweeen high-water and low water Marks, except Ships and Vessels bringing Persons who intend to settle and reside in the United States of America, or bringing Arms; Ammunition or warlike Stores to the said States for the use of such Inhabitants. thereof as are Friends fo the American Cause; which you shall suffer to pass unmolested, the Commanders thereof permitting a peaceable search, and giving satisfactory Information of the Contents of the Ladings and. Destinations of the Voyages.

Secondly. You may by Force of Arms attack, subdue, and take all Ships and other Vessels whatever carrying Soldiers; Arms, Gunpowder, Ammunition, Provisions, or any other contraband Goods, to any of the British Armies, or Ships of. War employed against these States.

Thirqly. You shall bring such Ships and Vessels as you shall take with their Guns, Rigging, Tackle, Apparel, Furniture and Ladings to some convenient Port or Ports within the United States, that Proceedings may thereupon be had in due Form before the Courts which are or shall be there appointed to hear and determine Causes civil and maritime.

Fourthly. You or one of your Chief Officers shall bring or send the Master and Pilot and one or more Principal Person or Persons of the Company of every Ship or Vessel by you taken, as soon after the Capture as may be, to the Judge or Judges of such Court as aforesaid to be examined upon Oath and make Answer to the Interrogatories which may be propounded touching the Interest or Property of the Ship or Vessel and her Lading, and at the same time you shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Judge or Judges, all Passes, Sea Briefs, Charter Parties, Bills of Lading, Cockets, Letters and other Documents and Writings found on board, proving the said Papers by the Affidavit of yourself or of some other Person present at the Capture, to be produced as they were received without Fraud, Additions, Subtraction or Embezzlement.

Fifthly. You shall keep and preserve every Ship or Vessel and Cargo by you taken, until they shall by sentence of a Court properly authorized be adjudged lawful Prize, not selling spoiling wasting or diminishing the same or Breaking the Bulk thereof nor suffering any such thing to be done.

Sixthly. If you or any of your Officers or Crew, shall in cold Blood Kill or maim, or by Torture or otherwise, cruelly, inhumanly, and contrary to common usage and the Practice of civilized Nations in War, treat any Person or Persons Surprised in the Ship or Vessel you shall take the offender shall be severely punished.

Seventhly. You shall by all convenient Opportunities send to Congress written Accounts of the Captures you shall make with the Number and Names of the Captives, Copies of your Journal from Time to Time and Intelligence of what may occur or be discovered concerning the Designs of the Enemy and the Destinations Motions and Operations of their Fleets and Armies.

Eightly. One Third at least of your whole Company shall be Landsmen.

Ninthly. You shall not ransome any Prisoners or Captives but shall dispose of them in such Manner as the Congress or if that be not sitting in the State whither they shall be brought as the General Assembly Convention, or Council or Committee of Safety of such State shall direct.

Tenthly You shall observe all such further Instructions as Congress shall hereafter give in the Premises when you shall have Notice thereof.

Eleventhly. If you shall do any Thing contrary to these Instructions or to,others hereafter to be given, or willingly suffer such Thing to be done, you shall not only forfeit vour Commission and be liable to an Action for Breach of the Condition of y[our] Bond but be responsible to the Party grieved [for] Damages sustained by such Malversation.

Given under my Hand at Providence in State aforesaid this
Twentieth Day of November iri the Year of Our Lord
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Six.

[Endorsed] Providence Novemr 20th 1776 I acknowledge the aforewritten to be true a Copy of the Instructions given me by his Honor the Governor with my Commission as Commander of the Ship Blaze-Castle a private Vessel of War.

Witness Henry Ward Secry

James Munro