Transported Convicts

24 March 1617
An open Warrant. Whereas it hath pleased his Majesty out of his singular Clemency and mercy to take into his princely Consideration the wretched estate of diverse of his Subjects who by the Laws of the Realm are adjudged to die for the sundry offences though heinous in themselves, yet not of the highest nature, so as his Majesty both out of his gracious Clemency, as also for diverse weighty Considerations Could wish they might be rather Corrected than destroyed, and that in their punishments some of them might live, and yield a profitable Service to the Common wealth in parts abroad, where it shall be found fit to employe them. For which purpose his Majesty having directed his Commission under the great Seal of England, to us and the rest of his privy Council, giving full power Warrant and Authority to us or any Six or more of us whereof the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Lord Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal, and one principal Secretary to be two, to Reprive and stay from execution such persons as now stand Convicted of any Robbery or felony (willfull murther, Rape, witchcraft, or Burglary only excepted) who for strength of body or other abilities shall be thought fit to be employed in foreign discoveries or other Services beyond the Seas, as shall be Certified unto us in writing by any one or more of the Judges, or Sergeants at Law before whom such felonies have been tried, or in their absence, then by two such principal Commissioners, before whom such felons have been Convicted, and the said parties so reprived and certified as aforesaid, to appoint, bestow, and Commit to serve in such Discoveries or other foreign employments, as we or any Six or more of us shall assign, or appoint, and the time to be prefixed by us or any such Six of us as aforesaid, how long the said Offenders or any of them shall remain in such Employments. Willing and Commanding by virtue of the said Commission all his Majesty's Judges, Justices, Sheriffs, Gaolers, and all other his Majesty's officers and loving Subjects to whom it shall appertain to be aiding and assisting to the Due performance of the premises with this special proviso, that if any of the said Offenders shall refuse to go, or yielding to go, shall afterwards come back, and return from those places where they are, or shall be sent or employed, before the time limited by us his majesty's Commissioners be fully expired, that then the said Reprivall shall no longer stand nor be of any force, but the said Offender or Offenders shall be thence forth be subject to the execution of Law, the the offence whereof he was first convicted as if nothing had been done by virtue of this Commission. Theese are therefore to signify unto all his Majesty's Officers and other persons whom it may Concern, that having received a Certificate from Sir Henry Finche knight, one of his Majesty's Sergeants at Law, and Sir William Lovelace knight one of the Justices of peace in the County of Kent, that John Browne now prisoner in his Majesty's Castle of Canterbury, being a person of able body, and fit to be employed in the parts beyond the Seas, hath had his Trial before them, and stands convicted of felony (but not for any Murther, Rape, Burglary or Witchcraft) We do by virtue of his majesty's said Commission Reprive the said John