The Virginia Gazette

April 2. We hear that the Negotiations with Spain have a favourable Turn, and some who pretend they have Opportunities of being well informed, seem to be pretty confident that the Freedom of Navigation in the West-Indies, will speedily be the Subject of a final Arrangement with the Spanish Court; it appearing that most of the Captures were disowned by the Guarda Costas, as Incidents which they were no Ways concerned in, nor had they any Knowledge of, but that those Captures were made by Pirates, who infest the West-India Seas, who under the Pretext of Contraband Trade, take such English Ships as are not strong enough to make a Defence: on which Account the Court of Madrid has ordered, that an effectual Stop should be put to those Pirates, and that the Ships sent out to cruize in the West-India Seas shall be provided with Commissions of his Catholick Majesty; and Permission is given to treat as Enemies those that shall be found cruizing without such Commissions. So that our West-India Merchants need only put themselves to the Expence of arming their Vessels to fight the Spanish Pirates; for as to the Guarda Costas, they will for the future behave with as much Honesty and Civility as can be expected.