A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE True State OF THE CASE OF THE SUEDISH Merchant-Fleet, Lately brought up, on their Voyage from France, by Admiral Rook, and sent into Plymouth.  
LONDON, Printed; And are to be Sold by Eliz. Whitlock, near Stationers-Hall, 1697.   

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE True State OF THE CASE OF THE SVEDISH Merchant-Fleet, etc.  
§. I. WHereas the Suedish Merchant-Ships, lately taken as Prizes, upon their Voyage from France, and sent into Plymouth by Admiral Rook, give Occasion to various Discourses and Judgements amongst Statesmen, as well as Merchants, 'tis hoped, that it will be no less acceptable to the Curious, than satisfactory to such as are well affected to Justice, to give an impartial and exact Account of the true State of the Case, to the end the World may be acquainted with the weighty and just Reasons for which the said Fleet was stopped, and since has been judicially examined, and proceeded against; so that all who are not unconcerned for the common Welfare, may be satisfied of the great and irreparable Damage the Allies have sustained by those Self-Interested People, that have been clandestinely aiding and assisting France in executing its Craft and Cunning, by imposing upon others.  
§ II. In order to which, the Perusal of the ensuing Account will make us hereafter less solicitous in enquiring the true Reason, why France has been able to carry on so great and chargeable a War, against so powerful Enemies, with so much Vigour as it has done hitherto, at a Time when their Outward Trade (which ever has been accounted the Life of that Country, and the only Improvement of its Wealth) was, as generally believed, either much lessened, or, in respect to some Places, utterly lost.  
§. III. For, in as much as the Unquestionable and Impartial Proofs which were brought to Light at the Trials of the said Suedish Merchant-Fleet, by the several Suedish Merchants own Letters, and Original Writings, do (tho' almost too late) make it evident, that France, in respect of its Trade, has been lessened in the Number of Shipping, but not in the Sales of their Commodities, and sending and conveying them to other Countries; whereby the Suedes have supplied the Want of their Ships, by furnishing the French with their own: So that the French have not so much left off the Sale and Transportation of their Goods and Products, as changed the Way and Manner of it. All which did tend to the Unretrievable Damage of all the Allies, but especially of the English.  
§. iv France, indeed, could find no more proper Method for holding up its Commerce to the East Countries, (where, by the Imperial Avocatorial Orders, all the Hanse-Towns are forbidden, upon great Penalties, to entertain the same,) than by engaging the Suedes to assist them therein, because the French Goods might, by that Means, be safely conveyed in Suedish Ships; and under their Passes, on pretext of being Suedish Effects, Imported into the said Hanse-Towns, without the least Hindrance, or Molestation: Which did give no less Encouragement to the covetous Owners of the Ships, who, under that Colour of being Suedes, could save the Customs payable in the Soundt, than an Immense Advantage to the French Trade.  
§. V In which Subtlety of the French, the Suedes have been the easier prevailed with to assist them, because they were sure they could do it with more Gain, and less Fear, than other Nations: Wherein, however, they were not satisfied to carry on this unlawful Trade only in those Towns, which, being situated in the Empire, belong to the Crown of Suedeland, as Stetin, Stade, Wismar, Stralsund, etc. contrary to the Imperial Avocatories published against it; but they went on farther in it, and engaged also with Merchants of the Free Imperial Towns, viz. Lubeck; Hambourgh, Emden, and others; nay, (which is more particularly against the Treaties and solemn Convention with England) with the French themselves, to assist them in their Trade, not only in Trafficking with the East-Land Countries, but also in France itself, by conveying their Goods from one French Port to another, in Suedish Ships, and under the Favour of Suedish Passes, sub & obreptitie obtained for that purpose.  
§. VI And this foul and unlawful Practice has been, especially of late, managed with so much Art, that it is become a difficult Matter to find out all the Tricks used therein, by reason of the equal Covetousness wherein the Suede did join with the other Merchant, his Correspondent, in improving their unlawful Gain; no Oath being so sacred with them, nor prevailing enough, to discover the Intrigue wherein they so closely adhered one to another; insomuch that the Suede oftentimes made no Scruple to lend only his Name to the Ship▪ and under that Colour, did get the Passes for its secure Voyage.  
§ VII. But to facilitate the obtaining of the said Passes, they used the following Contrivance, viz. The Suede did build a Ship, of more or less Tuns, on his own Account; whereupon, he could safely make Oath before the Magistrate, that that same Ship was his own, and did really belong to him, and was built at his proper Cost and Charges; and thereupon he obtained a Pass for the said Ship, as being a Suedish▪ Ship, built in Suedeland, and belonging to one of that King's Subjects. This being done, the Suede sold and transported the very same Ship to a Dutch, Lubeck, or Hambourgh-Merchant; who, in Consideration of the other's Service, did give him one Quarter, or Eighth Part, (as they could best agree upon) in the said Ship, on Condition that the Suede should always provide new Passes as often as there should be Occasion for them, and that the said Ship should always go under the Suede's Name, and by that Means traffic unmolested, to and with France: Which Practice, the Suede flattered himself, that he might securely enough continue, without acting thereby against his Conscience, or committing the least Perjury by so doing; there being no Occasion, according to the Custom and Laws of that Country, to make Oath afresh upon every other Voyage, for getting of new Passes, because the first Oath will suffice for good and all: So that by this Mental Reservation, the Suede could obtain as many Passes as he pleased; and for all that, his Conscience not concerned in the least thereby. Nay, by the Proofs made against the said Suedish Fleet, taken from their own Hand-writings, Books and Letters, now under examination in the Court of Admiralty, it does manifestly appear, that, to take off all Suspicion, and to obviate all Objections and Dangers that might befall such a Ship, the Foreign Merchant ordered the Suede to make a Bill of Sale of the Ship, in the Suede's own Name, though he had not the least Right to the said Ship, nor did any Part therein belong to him.  
§. VIII. Another Artifice has also been used, the more easily to obtain the Passes in Stockholm, viz. Some of those Foreign Merchants sent their Servants thither, to be there made Burghers pro forma; and by those Means they procured the Passes, although such Servant had neither Estate nor Money for himself, but was supplied by his Master, who lived either in Holland, or Lubeck, or Hamburgh, or elsewhere, upon whose Account this glorious Trade was carried on.  
§. IX. This being the very Case of the Suedish Merchant-Fleet, now in Debate, as is manifest by examining the several Letters and Papers which have been found on Board the said Ships, in great Numbers, there being above Four Hundred material Letters and Papers to evidence the same, it is not credible that any Body Papers to evidence the same, it is not credible that any Body should have Confidence enough to contradict so evident a Truth, unless it were one, who, together with his Conscience, has also lost all his Shame and Blushing.  
§. X. In the mean time, these few following. Authentic Extracts from some of the abovesaid great Numbers of Letters and Papers, together with other substantial Proofs, will be sufficient to justify a Sentence against this foul and vile Practice, hitherto used with France.  
Seqvuntur Epistolae sub finem additae.  
Numb. 3.5.6.7.8.11.34.35.37.39.40.45.53. etc.  
§. XI. By such, and the like Solid and most convincing Proofs, which partly appear by the foregoing Extracts of the Merchant's Letters, written by their own Hands; and partly may be drawn from the Translations of the Proceed in Doctors commons, before the Court of Admiralty; all which here to insert, would be too Voluminous, and even too Superfluous a Work: It is plain, and without any Question, that the several Owners of the said Suedish Merchant-ships have their Abode and Families, not in Suedeland, but in France, Holland, Lubeck, Hambourgh, Emden, or Ostend; nay, even in Scotland; although they go under Suedish Passes and Names; wherefore they have Double Bills of Lading, and their Goods double marked, viz. On the Hogsheads of Wine or Brandy, etc. the one Mark on the Bunghole of the Fat, being pro forma, for the Merchant in Stockholm; and the other on the Head of the same Fat, for the right Owner, either at Lubeck, Hambourgh, Dunkirk, etc. By these undeniable Proofs, it appears likewise, what Course was to be taken for Reclaiming such Ships, in case they should have the Mischance to fall into the English Hands, and to be brought in Question in England; namely, The Suedish Merchant did oblige himself to reclaim these Ships and Goods, as being his own, and to stand to all Danger of being made Prizes, on Condition his Correspondence, who were the right Owners thereof, did allow him Two per Cent. to get the Ship and Goods clear under the Suedish Name.  
§. XII. This having been the Intent and Practice to secure the Concerns of the aforesaid Fleet, the only Customs whereof will bring in the King Two Hundred Thousand Pounds, and more, any May of Sense may conclude from thence, of what incredible Advantage this Way of Trading, under pretext of being Suedish Ships, and that the Goods belonged to Sueden, must have been yearly to France; and what irreparable Damage the Allies, on the other side, but chief England, must have sustained during the War; since it may be made good, and proved, if need be, that some Hundreds of Ships, yearly, have come from, or gone to France, under Suedish Convoys, whereof oftentimes not Ten in an Hundred were real Suedes, or did really belong to Suedish Subjects, or were actually to unload in Suedeland, though they all had Suedish Passes; and yet their Goods were to be carried to, and unladen in Places prohibited to entertain any such Commerce.  
§. XIII. Hence it has frequently happened, that under such Practices, a Ship being seized in England, and afterwards reclaimed by Colour of her Passes, the cunning Contrivance whereof was not a thing so easy to be discovered hitherto, was discharged; which, as abovesaid, did cost the real Owners at Lubeck, Hambourgh, Stade, etc. no more than Two per Cent; whereas the same Ship might have been a very good and lawful Prize here.  
§. XIV. But this pretended Suedish Fleet is like to pay the Piper, with their Ships and Goods; to which the English seem to have more than a single Right and Claim, because, besides the exquisite French Wines, Brandy, Molossus, Paper, and other Commodities, which the said Ships are laden with, there are also great Quantities of Indigo, Tobacco, Sugar, and some Muslins, on Board them; whereof, the last mentioned Goods have been, for the most part, taken, as Prize, from the English, by the French; and do, by the Revolutions of Things, now return to their former Owners again. There are also several other Goods, which, under the Name of Merchandizes, were delivered to the Masters of the Ships, who took them in, not knowing what they were: Nor can that be discovered before Search made, Trial and Condemnation.  
§. XV. This therefore is the true State of the Case of the pretended Suedish Merchant-Fleet, lately brought to England, which gives Occasion to so many and various Discourses at present, and for which the Suedish Party so grievously complains of hard Usage: Whereof, that the Truth may be known, this short Account will be sufficient for the Reader's Curiosity, and Impartial Judgement.  
Fiat Justitia, & pereat Mundus.   

APPENDIX OF THE Above mentioned LETTERS.  
Numb. 3. A Letter from John Died-Doberik, (at Lubeck,) written to his Brother John Conrade Doberik, (at present in London,) that he has sold One Eighth Part of Henry Scult's Ship to Trescow and Dreyer, in Amsterdam; and One Eighth Part to Messieurs Vanderhaguen and Rebault.  
Numb. 5. A Letter from Monsieur Vanderhaguen, of Bourdeaux, dated the 2d of August, 1696. to Conrade Doberik, that his Brother of Stockholm has written to Monsieur Vanderhaguen, that he had bought a Ship of Two Decks, whereof the said Monsieur Vanderhaguen of Bourdeaux has One Third Part.  
Numb. 6. A Letter from Paulus Hunsburgh, from Stralsound, dated the 30th of March, 1697. to John Conrade Doberik, in Bourdeaux, to buy Ten Pieces of Syrup, with some Wine and Brandy, and insert his Name in the Bills of Lading, that in case of any Miscarriage, the said Goods shall be demanded in the said Hunsburg's Name, as being a Burgher of Stockholm.  
Numb. 7. A Letter from Bourdeaux, from Monsieur Vanderhaguen, dated the 9th of March, 1697. to Peter Sant, Master of the Three Sail-makers, at Rochel; and Order from his Owners, not to take in any Salt, but Freight; and to advise him to take Freight rather at Bourdeaux, than at Rochel: That Skipper Grobert comes there, and hath got him a Freight for Dantzick; and that Skipper Cnak is there, and I offer him a Freight for Emden, of 30 Guilders, and believe he'll take it: Cornelius Wolf's goes to Emden for 30 Guilders; Conik, for Lubeck, for 25, 30, and 35 Guilders; the Deargarden, to Ostend.  
Numb. 8. A Letter from Messieurs Berend and Schroder, dated at Lubeck, the 27th of February, 1697. to Monsieur John Conrade Doberick, at Bourdeaux: He gives Orders to buy Ten Tuns of Wine, and to be loaded in a Suedish Ship, with Convoy for the least Freight possible hither, and under your Brother Conrad's Name and Mark, that if it should be taken in England, it might be claimed in the Owner's Names. If Brandy be cheap, to buy him 10 Pieces. You must send Double Letters, and Bills of Lading; one in your Brother Conrad's, and another in my Name; and what it amounts to, draw upon me in Hambourgh.  
Numb. 11. A Letter from Francis le Fever, dated at Lubeck, the 10th of February, 1697. to Monsieur John Conrade Doberik, at Bourdeaux, That I have a Letter from your Brother Conrade Doberik, that he hath Part in 10 or 12 Ships now with you; and promises to reclaim the Goods that shall be shipped in France for me, if brought up, for Two per Cent. and stand to the Clearing of them in England; and will have the said Goods shipped on Board 6 or 7 Ship.  
Numb. 34. A Letter from John Daniel Klett and Michael Woeter, dated at Lubeck, the 24th of February, 1697. to John Conrade Doberik, at Bourdeaux: He thanks him, that he permits him to send Wine and Brandy in his Brother Conrade of Stokholm's Name; and desires him to send it in a Suede 's Ship, and that his Brother will reclaim it.  
Numb. 35. A Letter from Conrade Hazentien, at Lubeck, the 4th of April, 1697. to Monsieur John Conrade Doberik, at Bourdeaux; and thanks him that he will, under his own Reclaimation, send him 4 or 5 Tuns of good Wine, and some Brandy; and if it should be taken by any English Ship, etc. that he would reclaim it.  
Numb. 37. A Letter from Gerhard Luder, dated at Lubeck, the 8th of November, 1696. to Monsieur John Conrade Doberik, that if Brandy comes to 60 or 70 Guilders per Piece, to buy him 20 Pieces; but if it keeps at 70 or 75 Guilders, to buy him but 10; and if it cannot be sent this Winter, to keep it till the Spring. But, Cousin, you must let it go in your Name, that in case it should be taken, and brought into England, you might reclaim it: Let it be laden in good Ships, Freight must be cheap.  
Numb. 39 A Letter from John Died Doberik, dated at Lubeck, the 11th of October, 1696. to John Conrade Doberik, at Bourdeaux; that if Monsieur Vanderhaguen, and my Friends in Rochel, do not take any Part in Hans Fink's and John Stur's Ships, I cannot help them. I will also give them a Part in a Ship of two Decks, which goes off the Stocks 8 Days hence, which is about 150 Lasts: If they will not do so, I must sell it. I am offered for Skipper Hans Fink's Ship 10000 Mark Lubs, but I cannot take it, unless you will buy me 10 Tuns of Brandy, and draw on me for the Value.  
Numb. 40. A Letter from John Died Doberik, dated at Lubeck, the 22th of October, 1696. to John Conrade Doberik, at Bourdeaux; That he is glad he will follow his Directions. First, I will send that Lading which is now in England, in my Ship Pelican, from Riga, to St. Martin's, under your Directions. Secondly, I have ordered that Hans Fink shall go upon the Owner's Account; and John Groat shall load Clap-boards at Riga. I have ordered Skipper Dirrekson to load Salt, and go to Dunkirk; and the second Voyage, to Bayonne, and load there.  
Numb. 45. A Letter from Gerhard Luders, dated the 1st of April, 1697. to John Conrade Doberik, and Bourdeaux: I am contented that if you buy 30 Pieces of good Bourdeaux-Brandy, to take one half Part with you; it must be laden in two or three Ships, and, if possible, your own, that if it should be t●ken, and brought into England, it may be reclaimed by you.  
Numb. 53. A Letter from Roven, dated the 15th of June, 1696. from Monsieur Vanderhaguen, to Monsieur John Conrade Doberik: I have received yours of the 9th, from Rochel, with the Bills of Lading for Skipper Ockim Groat, for 1100 of Salt. who is to come to Haure de Grace.  
Item Numb. 48. An Agreement, dated at Bourdeaux, the 18th of March, 1697. whereby the Subscribers promise to lad for Stade, with a Convoy, on Board the Sail-makers, Peter Saint Master; The Names whereof are these following French Merchants; (1) Vanderhagven, (2) Ratiere, (3) Vander-Brander, (4) Dolfgave, (5) Butille, (6) Cloyce, (7) Leuques, (8) Dupré, n●d (9) Videroy.  
Numb. 99 A Letter, dated at Bourdeaux, the 3d. of August, 1696. from Gerhard Vanderhaguen, to John Conrade Doberik, then at St. Sebastian; advising, that Vanberg writes, that Gerhard Petersen and Van Coelen had received Orders from Andrew Dirckesen's Owners to lad him, if he had taken a freight for Hambrough, at 53 Mark Lubs: It would have been better, etc.  
Numb. 116. A Letter from Peter Clerk, to John Conrade Doberik, dated at Amsterdam, the 9th. of July, 1696, advising, That the Suedish Convoy (from France) had passed the Channel, and was safely arrived in the Soundt; and all the Ships bound both to the Elbe, and other places, without any Disturbance that he heard of; which is very happy.  
Numb. 238. A Letter dated at Bourdeaux, the 26th. of July, 1696. to John Conrade Doberik, then at St. Sebastian, advising, that all the Ships that sailed under the Convoy, are safe arrived at Embden, Bremen, Hambourgh and Lubeck; and not one missing. I see you will trust to my Paper for your Account, with which I am satisfied. I thank you, that you will help Martin Franc●n. I have bought a Flyboat here, of 230 Tuns, for a good Friend; and would gladly let her sail under your Name, on condition, that you should have a certain profit for it; and assuring myself, that you will not refuse me, seeing it can be done without prejudice to you. I have caused the Bill of Sale to be made in your Name, viz. That I have bought the said Ship for your Account and Adventure: Now I would fain have a Skipper come from Stockholm, who is a Burgher there, and I judge it to be necessary: First, that a Notarial Bill of Sale be sent over. 2dly, That a Declaration be made before a Notary and Witnesses, that the said Ship doth belong to you. 3dly, That you writ a Letter to the Magistrate of Stockholm, to grant you a Pass; and 4thly, To write a Letter to Mr. Conrade, to send such a Master with a Pass, with Order to follow my Direction, whilst you are in Spain. When you come hither, we shall agree what you shall have for each Pass that you shall send for her. The Declaration before a Notary I shall send you to sign, and the Witnesses who subscribe, shall be Anke Willemson, Marcus Begman, and the Broker, they not knowing otherwise, but that I bought the Ship for your Account; in this manner of Pass can be denied, and when once a Pass is taken out, one may always be had, etc.   

A COPY of an Account, which being found amongst the other Ship-Papers and Writings, shows, how Foreign Merchants have made use of the Suede's Name, for which the Suede was paid Two per Cent.  

The Parties concerned in the Ship St. Paul are to pay the the following Charges, on Account of their Goods.   Rixdollars. FOR Charges expended in Stockholm, etc. according to the Specification 575 0 0 The Ship did lie 10 Months waiting for the Goods, the Payment whereof to the Ship's Crew, amounts to 1000 0 0 For Board-Wages, and Victuals 750 0 0 Paid to Mr. Wisnish 520 0 0 Item, To Monsieur Grady 200 0 0 The Expenses of my Voyage from Stockholm amount to 500 0 0 Item, To return thither. 500 0 0 For my Trouble 1000 0 0 In lieu of the Money, I have taken 5800 Neyens of Salt, à 1 ½ Real 870 0 0 To make good the Damage done to the Ship, for the space of 10 Months; as also, the Loss of the Freight within that Time 1000 0 0  6915 0 0 For our Agreement to let the Value of 16000 Rixdollars of the Goods go under our Name, I reckon Two per Cent. 320 0 0 One Quarter Part Freight 1000 0 0 Rixdollars 8235 0 0   

Note.  
THat there are five Brothers of the Doberiks, who were all born at Lubeck; the first whereof, whose Christian Name is Conrade, did live, and lately died in Stockholm; the second, John Conrade, has not fixed Abode, but has been these two Years last passed in France, at Bourdeaux, St. martin's, etc. The third John Died, lives in Lubek; the fourth Paul, at Amsterdam; and the fifth, at Norimberg. The Fraternel and unanimous Understanding of these five Brothers, living in several remote places, fit for carrying on such a Trade, did engage and draw in a great many Persons in the said unlawful Commerce.  
FINIS.