August 1643: Ordinance concerning an Engine, for Recovery of things out of the Sea, contrived by Delicques and Fancault.

August 1643

[26 August, 1643.]

Whereas Dominique Petit, Peter Delicques, and Claudius Fancault, by their Petition exhibited to the Lords and other Committees for the Admiralty, setting forth thereby, that they had an Invention to draw and bring forth, out of the Seas and Rivers of this Kingdom, upon the firm Land, all or Part of such Ships, their Lading, and Cannons, which are overwhelmed therein, and were ready to put their Enterprize in Execution at their own proper Charges, if they might enjoy the Moiety of all such Ships, Lading, and Cannons, as they and their Associates shall draw forth out of the said Seas and Rivers, exclusively to all others, for a competent Time, according to the Act of Parliament made 21° Jacobi concerning new Inventions; which Petition was referred, by the said Committee of the Admiralty, to the principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy, to consider of the Contents of the said Petition, and to Certify their Opinions concerning the same to the said Committee; who, after due Consideration had of the said Petition, did certify under their Hands, that they could not but encourage the Inventors of so profitable a Design.

Wherefore the Lords and Commons, being well informed of the Abilities and good Affections of the said Petitioners, and conceiving this Design very advantageous to the Commonwealth, if it may be brought to Perfection, have Ordered and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawful for the said Dominicke Petit, Peter Deliques, and Claudius Fancault, and their Associates, for the Space of Seven Years, to be accounted from the 20th of August, 1643, and no longer, to made and put in Use any new Engine, or Invention, for the drawing up of any such Ships, Lading, and Cannon; and to detain, and convert to their own Use, One Moiety of all such Ships, Lading, and Cannon, free and discharged of all Fees; Duties, and Demands whatsoever, demandable by the Admiralties, or any other Person or Court; and the other Moiety of all such Ships, Lading and Cannon, and the Proceed thereof, shall be preserved, and converted to the Use of the Navy or to such other Uses, as the Two Houses of Parliament shall direct.

And it is further Ordained, That the said Dominicke Petit, Peter Delicques, and Claudius Fancault, and their Associates, shall make true Entry of all such Ships, and Part of such Ships, Lading, and Cannon, at the next Port where they shall take up the same, with the Officers of the Customs there, under Pain of Forfeiture of their Moiety hereby granted to them as aforesaid; which said Officers for the Customs are required to take such Ships, Lading, and Cannons, into their Possession for the present, and forthwith to send up true Copies of such Entries, subscribed by them and the said Petitioners, or One of them, to the Committee of the Admiralty, or to such other Committee as both Houses shall appoint to receive the same; which said Committee shall forthwith give Warrant to such Officers of the Customs, to deliver One Moiety of such Ships, Lading and Cannon, to the said Petitioners, or their Assigns, to their own Uses; and that the said Dominicke Petit, Peter Delicques, and Claudius Fancault, and their Associates, shall, as often as they shall be thereunto required, give in a true and just Accompt, upon Oath, of all such Ships, Parts of Ships, Lading, and Cannon, as they shall have so drawn forth as aforesaid, to the Committee for the Admiralty, or to such other Committee as both Houses of Parliament shall appoint to receive the same; and shall make such Satis faction to every Person that shall be grieved by any Thing they shall happen to do in putting this Design in Execution, as the said Committee of the Admiralty, or any other Committee to be appointed by both Houses for that Purpose, shall set down: And for the better Encouragement of the said Petitioners to proceed in this Design, it is further Ordered and Ordained, That no Person (the said Dominicke Petit, Peter Delicques, and Claudius Fancault, and their Associates, excepted), during the Space of Seven Years, to be accounted from the 20th of August, 1643, shall use, or put in Use, the taking up or drawing forth of the Sea or Rivers any such Ships, Lading, or Cannon, with any such new invented Engine, as they the said Dominicke Petit, Peter Delicques, and Claudius Fancault, or their Associates, shall invent and put in Use, for the Purpose aforesaid, under Pain of forfeiting such Engines, and of all such Ships, Ladings and Cannons, as shall be taken out and drawn forth of the Sea or Rivers by the Help of any such Engine; One Moiety of such Forfeiture to be for the Benefit of the said Petitioners, and the other Moiety for the Benefit of the Navy, or otherwise for the Commonwealth as the Two Houses shall dispose thereof.

Provided, That this Design shall be put in Use in such Places, and in such Places only, as shall be appointed by the Committee of the Admiralty, from Time to Time.