HMS Ruby Prize (1694)
"Ruby Prize" was the French privateer "Entreprenante", commissioned in 1693 at Brest, that captured in 1694 and that the British Royal Navy named "Ruby Prize" (or "Ruby's Prize"), and sold in 1698. Her new owners renamed her "Ruby" and she left the Downs in 1699 on a voyage to Persia for the EIC. She was lost with all hands later that year at Mayota. Naval career. In 1693 French private parties acquired "Entreprenante" at Brest and commissioned her as a privateer of 44 guns. HMS "Ruby" captured "Entreprenante" on 7 April 1694. The Royal Navy  purchased "Entreprenante" on 27 March 1695 and commissioned her as the fifth-rate "Ruby Prize" on 15 April 1695 under the command of Captain Thomas Elkins. "Ruby Prize" was among the vessels that sailed with Admiral Russell on 27 February 1696 from the Downs. The next day she was with him on the coast of France. At the time she had 156 men aboard. She was next mentioned in an order of 2 March 1696 that ordered the named vessels to sail to the Nore and there to turn over their crews to man the "great ships' fitting out there . In 1696 "Ruby Prize" was listed as a storeship at the Nore. In 1696 Captain Samuel Vincent replaced Elkins, and within the year Captain John Herne replaced Vincent. The Royal Navy sold "Ruby Prize" on 24 May 1698 for £501. Apparently it required an Act of Parliament to authorize her to have the "Freedom of trading as an English-built ship". Merchantman. Richard Wells, Rotherhithe, purchased "Ruby Prize" and dropped the "Prize" from her name. Captain John Barber sailed "Ruby" from the Downs on 28 April 1699, bound for Persia on a voyage for the EIC. "Ruby" foundered at  Mayotte in 1699, with the loss of all hands.