Rare 300-year-old ship’s pass to go on public display

AN extremely rare ship’s pass signed by King James II and famous diarist Samuel Pepys is to go on public display in Ireland.

The 323-year-old document, which has been in the hands of the Dublin Port Company since 1924, was designed to secure safe passage for a merchant ship.

Researchers believe it is the only known example of a ship’s pass from the 17th century signed by King James II.