LETTER OF MARQUE
A letter of marque was an
official commission issued by the Admiral of France
authorizing a private ship to make war on behalf of the King.
Letter of marque delivered to Jacques Gouin de Beauchene
Captain of the Prudent
December 18, 1692.
Source: AD64 B8700 v 20/97
Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse, Admiral of France, to all who shall see these present letters, Greetings.
The King having declared war
on the Catholic King,
on the instigators and usurpers of the Crowns of England and Scotland,
on the United Provinces,
for the reasons contained in the declarations that His Majesty published [...] in accordance with the orders and authority given by His Majesty
we have given leave, power and permission to Jacques de Beauchene Gouin of Saint Malo to arm and equip the frigate named the Prudent de Saint Malo of 350 tons or approximately, presently in the harbor of Bayonne, with whatever men, cannons, balls, powder, and lead, and other war ammunitions and provisions as shall be necessary for him to put at sea and attack Pirates, Corsairs, and other lawless men,
regarding the Catholic King, the United Provinces, the instigators and usurpers of the Crowns of England and Scotland, and other enemies, in whatever places he may encounter them, on the coasts of their own countries, in their ports or on their rivers, and even on land in such places as the said Captain de Beauchene Gouin will decide that this is the best place to attack the enemies, utilizing all the means and actions permitted by the laws of war, to make them prisoners, with their ships, weapons, and other possessions,
the said Jacques de Beauchene Gouin is responsible
to apply and to make apply by his crew the French Navy Rules,
to display during his voyage the flag and ensign of the King, and our own,
to register this present letter at the record office of the nearest Admiralty,
to deposit a list signed and certified by himself containing the names and surnames, birthplace and dwelling place of all members of his crew,
to return to the same port, or to another port in France within our Admiralty, and there to make a report to the officers of the Admiralty, and no others, of whatever has happened during his voyage,
to inform us and send to the Secretary General of the Navy his said report and its attached documents that the whole may be ordered by the Council as is fitting.
Bayonne , December 18, 1692.
Original signed by Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse, Admiral of France
and Monseigneur de ValincourSEAL