Document: Order confiscating captured New England vessels

Whereas Captain Cornelis Ewoutse hath this day brought in here three New England vessels captured by him on the 11/21 and 13/23 of this month on the coast of New England, which vessels and cargoes, according to the declarations of the skippers and merchants of said vessels, are found to be the property of the subjects of England, at present at open war against our state, we therefore, by virtue of our commission, do find ourselves obliged to declare all said three vessels, namely, the sloop Swan, Samuel Woodbridge,[1] skipper; the sloop named the Egmont and Mathew, Pattishall, skipper, and the ketch named the Prosperous, William Lewis, skipper, with all their cargoes, to be forfeit and confiscate as we do hereby confiscate said three vessels, with all their sails, anchors, cables, rigging and appurtenances with their cargoes for the behoof of our Lords Majors, to be disposed of as shall be judged to be most necessary for the public service. Dated as above.