From this document Articles of war 1757 http://southseas.nla.gov.au/biogs/P000354b.htm   3. If any officer, mariner, soldier, or other person of the fleet, shall give, hold, or entertain intelligence to or with any enemy or rebel, without leave from the King’s majesty, or the lord high admiral, or the commissioners for executing the office of lord high admiral, commander in chief, or his commanding officer, every such person so offending and being thereof convicted by the sentence of a court