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
May 28, 1694
Source: AD64 B8702  v 111/204

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 described in the declarations that His Majesty published throughout his Kingdom, lands and lordships  under his obedience,
His Majesty having ordered us to make apply these declarations, in accordance with the orders and authority given by His Majesty
we have given leave, power and permission to Jacques Gouin Sieur de Beauchene of Saint Malo to arm and equip to make war the vessel named the Prudent de Saint Malo, 350 tons or approximately, presently in the harbor of Bayonne, with whatever men, guns, 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, we request and require to all Kings, Princes, Potentates, Lords, States, Republics, friends, allies of this Crown, and all others to accord to the said Beauchene any, help, assistance and to protect him and his vessel in their ports.
 As proof of which we have signed and countersigned these letters and sealed, with the seal bearing our arms, by the Secretary General of the Navy
Bayonne, May 28, 1694

Signed by Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Comte de Toulouse, Admiral of France
and Monseigneur de Valincour