On the Method of Plants

THAT the said Company The Somers Isles Company, which held a monopoly over the Bermuda islands on their public account sends but one Ship a year, and that not sufficient to bring away the Crop of Tobacco in the said Islands; and sometimes they send but one Ship in Two years, to the great loss of the Planters and Merchants, in perishing of their Commodities, and the loss of their Markets, also to the great damage of your Majesty in the loss of your Customs Import taxes and duties owed to the Crown, the Planters and others being necessitated by such usage, to Ship their Tobacco and Goods on any strange Vessels which happen to touch there, which carry the same to foreign Markets, which otherwise they would not do.

THAT the Governor of the said Islands hath Licensed strangers' Ships to Trade there, which have carried away great quantities of Tobacco to foreign parts, contrary to several Acts of Parliament, and of which information and complaint was made here in London to the said Company, by one of your Petitioners, but they would take no notice of the same.

THAT some of your Petitioners have a Ship ready to set sail for the said Islands, as well for the supplying the wants of the Inhabitants, with Commodities from hence, as to re-lade and bring their own Goods, which by the said Company will not be permitted to load back, contrary to all Law and Reason, and the great hindrance of Navigation The shipping industry and maritime skill of the nation, as at large appeareth, by the Affidavit annexed.

May it please your Sacred Majesty, in your great wisdom and wonted goodness, for encouragement of Navigation and your Petitioners in their Trade, to direct, That free-Trade may be allowed to the said Islands, for your Majesty's Subjects that are Members of the said Company, and that such By-Laws and Orders that are made by the said Company contrary to Law, may be made void: And that in the mean time the Ship Charles of London, belonging to some of your Petitioners now Laden, and ready to set sail to the said Islands, may by your Majesty be enabled to Land their Goods in the