[Extract]
No 57.
My Lord.

The Ship the King of Spain a Letter of Marque from Carron in Scotland Laden with 221 Iron Guns for His Catholick Majesty's Service arrived in Ferrol the 23d Instant with the Ship Emperor of Germany belonging to and bound from Bristol to the Island of Dominica, and the Bay of Honduras with the Articles specified in the List I have the Honor to inclose. This Vessel was taken the 15th Instant by the Civil Usage a Rebel Privateer commanded by one Andrew Gidding and was happily retaken on the 18th in Lat: 47 . . 30' by the Letter of Marque. Nine of the Pirates Crew (who with four men belonging to the Prize were put on board of her in order to guard and navigate her to Bilboa for Sale) remain confined in the Letter of Marque, the Master of which proposes to take the Cargoe on board his own Vessel, and to send the Prize home in Ballast navigated by Spanish Seamen. Without consulting or writing to me he has applied to the Governor of Ferrol for Leave to set the Prisoners on Shore at their Liberty, but as the Governor has not yet determined I have thought proper to advise Capt [James] Hamilton to keep them well secured on board, having no Reason to think this Government will oppose it or prevent their being carried Prisoners to England. One of them named Manuel Gonzales being a Native of Spain may probably be demanded of me in which Case I humbly conceive it, may be proper to deliver him, but as I have wrote fully to My Lord Grantham on this Subject I shall wait His Excellency's Command for the Rule of my Conduct, meanwhile I most humbly request the Honor of some Instructions whether the Commander of a Letter of Marque or other Private Ships having His Majesty's Comission may not in case they apprehend Danger from the great Number of their Prisoners set them on Shore, or discharge them in foreign Parts. . . .