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[March 1.] |
22. [Secretary Coke] to the King. Reporting the state of the
preparations. According to your Majesty's letters and commands of
the 25th of February last, I have endeavoured to render unto your
Majesty a due and just account of such services as your Majesty
hath thereby required, which I humbly present unto your gracious
and favourable construction. First. Whereas you expect that the
ten ships should set to sea some time this week at the furthest, I
certify that the Victualler of the Navy was paid and assigned
before the receipt of your letters according to his contract with us
in writing, and hath since under his hand, dated upon Tuesday last
[the 27th of February], declared that the victuals for the "Lion"
were sent from hence to Chatham upon Saturday last, and that he
doubted not but that it was by the ships side before that date;
for the other six ships of merchants and His Majesty's pinnace
here in the river [Thames] their victuals were most aboard, and
the rest lay by the ships' side, and all ready to be delivered as fast
as they would receive it in; and for the other three merchants'
ships at Portsmouth their victuals were likewise ready, and some
provisions which that place could not yield were put aboard to go
from hence for more safety with the ships from London. The
Treasurer of the Navy [Sir William Russell] likewise was all paid
according to his contract, and he hath declared under his hand
upon Tuesday last, that for so much as concerneth his office the
same is and shall be dispatched as fast as the Commissioner [of
the Navy's] warrants come to his hands, for the payment of what
is included in the estimate, and that in true substance the work is
already done. And, lastly, the Lieutenant of the Ordnance [Sir
William Heydon] hath declared under his hand, upon Wednesday
last [28th February], that he did undertake that by Saturday
or Monday night next all munitions and provisions required
out of the office of the Ordnance shall be delivered aboard the
10 ships. Secondly. The recruits [for the King of Denmark] are
appointed by the Lords [of the Council] to be at their rendezvous,
viz., part of them at Hull upon 30th March, and the residue at
London and Harwich upon the 25th. Mr. Burlamachi hath
accepted assignments for his satisfaction upon the loans of cos.
Somerset, Wilts, Leicester, and Derby, and the tin farm for
40,000l., in consideration whereof he hath undertaken, under his
hand dated upon Tuesday last, to furnish such money as shall
be necessary for transporting the troops out of the Low Countries
to Stade; also for the charge of sending over the recruits from
hence, and likewise for three months' pay for these troops after
their arrival. Thirdly. Although there be no estimate come unto
me for the great fleet, yet I have treated with the Farmers of the
Great Customs for the advance of 30,000l. or thereabouts upon the
next year, who promise, shortly after conference between them,
to give me an answer; but it will be better for your Majesty's
service to spare that advance until the greatest extremity of wants
shall require it, and rather to take into contemplation the sale of
the French goods, the money raised upon the sale of Barnwood
Forest and the woods there, the creation of two barons, and some
things else which you may please to acquaint me withal. And it
is to be considered that the freight of the ships returned from
Cales [Cadiz] will shortly fall upon your Majesty, which will
amount to 50,000l. or thereabouts, besides 1,000l. is vehemently
called for by the Ambassadors from the States [of Holland] for the
interest due to the States, by which means the provision for the
fleet will rather seem more impossible than difficult if it be truly
intended. Touching the 4,000l. payable to "my Lord of Espiny"
and Sir James Sinclair for the raising of certain Scottish companies for the service of the King of Denmark, Mr. Burlamachi
hath declared under his hand, dated upon Tuesday last, that he
hath undertaken to disburse the same upon an assignment then
made to him of so much out of the French [prize] goods at Dover,
and having already given satisfaction to them there is no further
delay or impediment of this service. Touching the 350l. a week
for the shipwrights, Sir William Russell declared on Wednesday
that he acknowledged himself satisfied for a fortnight's pay thereof
according to the order of the Lords, and from the thenceforth the rest
shall be also weekly paid to him. Touching the four ships set
forth to guard the fishermen, the Treasurer of the Navy on the
same day declared that he had received payment for that service,
and has accordingly despatched the same; and the Victualler hath
already received all the money due for his part out of the loans
of Suffolk, and has accordingly performed that service as is testified
under his hand. The Lieutenant of the Ordnance hath likewise
undertaken under his hand that all munitions, &c., shall be
delivered as fast as the gunners will attend to receive the same.
Touching 100 lasts of gunpowder or saltpetre to be provided from
beyond sea for supply of His Majesty's stores, Mr. Burlamachi has
undertaken the same upon an agreement for 14,000l. out of the
moiety of the loans, the other moiety being assigned to the
Ordnance Office for payment of 29,000l., whereof 12,000l. are for
arrears due before my time, and 17,000l. for provision of iron shot
and other necessaries for His Majesty's stores. Thus I have
made my humble relation to your Majesty of the state of these
services, which I have done with the voucher of the subordinate
officers' hands in writing, to the end that the same may be
extant to justify my relations when you shall require the same,
and that if any defect shall fall out (which I hope will not) it may
alight on him in whom the default shall be found; and so assuring
your Majesty that there shall be no neglect of mine in your
service, and hoping that you will not lay greater burden upon
your revenue and means than the same can bear, and that you
will protect me against all inferences or imputations that may be
cast upon me thereby, wherein, as in all other things, I depend and
live by your gracious favour and accustomed justice, I humbly kiss
your Majesty's hands. [Draft. 4 pp.] |
March 4. |
23. Proclamation against furnishing the King of Spain with
warlike stores. [Already calendared under date. Copy. 3½ pp.] |
[March 4.] |
24. Project for dispensing with the above proclamation at sea,
so far as concerns the transporting of corn and linen cloth into
Spain in favour of the French. These are, therefore, to signify to
all the King's subjects having commissions of reprisal that they
forbear interference with any French ship in that regard until
the King's pleasure be signified to the contrary. [Draft with
alterations. 1¼ pp.] |
March 6. |
25. Application for restoration of Robert Brerewood, Esq., to his
former office of Clerk of the Prentice or Town Clerk in the city
of Chester, from which he had been suspended at the instance of
Edw. Whitby, the Recorder, for certain irregularities in his office,
but which was not intended to be of long continuance, subscribed
by 14 aldermen, 10 sheriff peers, and 23 common councillors.
[Sheet of paper.] |
March 7. Guernsey. |
26. Sir Philip Carteret, Bailiff, and five others, Jurats of Jersey,
to Lord Conway. The Lieutenant-Governor here [Peyton] has
acquainted us with the Council's letter to our Governor showing
how His Majesty, out of his princely care for all his subjects in
these so dangerous times, has cast his favourable eye on this
island, and ordered that soldiers be levied and sent from cos.
Southampton, Dorset, and Wilts for its better defence, for which
we return thanks. These precautions are most needful, considering
how the French do daily use His Majesty's subjects, and more
particularly the common rumour that they aim at these isles.
Within these few days a very strict arrest has been made in
St. Malo of all shipping over 40 tons, as informed by a ship which
escaped thence in the night. Ten good ships are making ready
there with all possible expedition, and many small boats in other
places. We are suitors that your Honour would move the King
that some soldiers may speedily be sent to reinforce the garrison
in Castle Cornet, for that the inhabitants, who for the most part
are very poor, think themselves sufficiently fatigued with
watching, warding, and repairing the fortifications at landing
places about the isle, and ought not to be constrained as they are,
for fear of a surprise, to watch in the castle 30 per night. We
beseech you that some ships may be stationed near these isles, as
that would frustrate any French enterprise more than anything
else. [2 pp.] |
March 8. |
27. Letters of Dispensation granted by Archbishop Abbot,
containing a license for Tristram Blackden, of Witham, co. Essex,
to practise the art of surgery within the whole province of
Canterbury. Subjoined, |
27. i. Confirmation by the King in accordance with the Statute
of Henry VIII., of the dispensation granted to Tristram
Blackden. Westminster, 10th March. [Latin. 1½ pp.] |
March 11. |
28. Margaret Hyll to Sir Richard Carnsewe [Carnshaw]. Awhile
since it was your pleasure to distrain my cattle, except I fetched
them by virtue of a precept, which I accordingly did. The county
court being to-morrow I have sent to know your pleasure if I
should forbear returning the precept and attend you in person
with a friend that we may have a friendly conference, which I
would defer till after Easter Monday. If you do not like this
arrangement I must return the precept. [½ p.] |
March 13. |
The King to Captain John Pennington. Instructions already
calendared under date March 11th. See Vol. LVI., No. 85. [Copy
in Volume of Admiralty Collections, Domestic, Elizabeth, 1590,
Vol. CCXXXVII., fol. 41b.] |
March 14. |
Grant to Queen Henrietta Maria of the house and messuage
called Oatlands, co. Surrey, and [of reserved rents from] other
lands in various parts of England, as part of her jointure, during
life. [Similar grants already calendared under dates March 8th
and March 12th. [Docquet, see 29th March 1626, Addenda.] |
March 15. |
29. Instructions by Lord Treasurer Marlborough for drawing out
a commission to the persons named to inquire into the condition
and money value of the materials and site of Ruthin Castle,
co. Denbigh. What rent is now paid for the same, what the
improved value, and whether it be granted by lease, and to whom
and for what time. [½ p.] |
March 15. Westminster. |
30. Grant to Gilbert North, Esq., of 700l., forfeited by the
outlawry of Edward Harrison upon a statute entered into by Sir
Henry Fynes. [½ skin of parchment.] |
March 15. Westminster. |
31. Grant to Anthony Hobarte of a weekly market and two fairs
yearly in the town of Lednes alias Loddon, in co. Norfolk. [½ skin
of parchment.] |
March 15. Battersea. |
32. Oliver St. John, Viscount Grandison, to his nephew Sir
Thomas Roe, Ambassador at Constantinople. Acknowledging the
receipt of sundry letters from him, the last being in October, and
excusing his own seldom writing by reason of his infirmity which
prevents him from informing himself of those things which might
avail Roe's service. Howsoever, the letters sent from hence failed
to reach you, yet the resolution continues firm for your return this
year, and Sir Peter Wych is knighted and prepared to go to free
you, yet now I hear he is stayed, owing to some exceptions taken
to his person. I know not what it is till I speak with the Duke
[of Buckingham] again, but if he should, stay here they will send
another. I understand that Sir Robert Killigrew, who was
assigned to be ambassador into Holland is off from that employment,
and I moved the Duke for you, but by reason of his being at
Newmarket with the King, I have not spoken with him again, but
now I will. So I hope to see you return with honour, which your
great services have deserved. I cease to trouble you further until
a better occasion. Postscript.—Commend my love and service to
my noble niece. I got a sight of your cypher from Robert Braithwaite. [Seal with coronet and crest. 1 p.] |
March 16. |
33. Thomas Bredeman, a prisoner in the Gatehouse, to Secretary
Conway. Earnestly beseeches Conway to procure his release
without which he is likely to perish. Represents as reasons his
never tainted loyalty, the loss of a command in his own country,
and the hazard of his shallow well in this solitary cell. Postscript.—This is the fourth or fifth petition to your Lordship. [Seal
with devi[ce. 1 p.] |
March 16. |
34. Exceptions taken to Sir John Eliot's account, amounting to
1,860l. 2s. 1d. In this is included a demand for 337l. 15s. 5d. to be
allowed for the moiety of the ship which he pretends the Lord
Admiral gave to Sir Edward Seymour. He is reported to have
received 170l. for the French ship laden with fish taken by the
Turks and seized at Plymouth, and 200l. for a Hamburgher relieved
by men of Dartmouth from Dutch pirates, also 280l. for wines
claimed by Mr. Barker of Plymouth, for all these sums he accompts
not. Suggestion for a commission and examination to inquire into
these matters [affecting his conduct as a Vice-Admiral] by which
the truth of his proceedings will appear. Underwritten, |
34. i. Note the charges to be extravagant, and let the exception be
general to respite the passing of the accompt. [1¼ pp.] |
March 17. |
The Council to George, Earl of Totnes. Proposals for remedying
the great inconvenience which many of His Majesty's ships
suffered by overweight of ordnance. Request his opinion and
advice for remedying the same. [Domestic, Elizabeth, 1590,
Vol. CCXXXVII., Admiralty Collections, fol. 34b.] |
March 19. Savoy. |
35. George, Earl of Totnes, to Edward Nicholas, Secretary to
the Duke of Buckingham. The enclosed project is no child of mine,
but the invention of Mr. Englebert, which he is desirous of
submitting to the King, but desires to have it first pass his Grace's
approbation. Because you know the best times when the Duke is
most at leisure, I thought good to send him and his petition to
you with these lines, praying you to find a time to acquaint his
Grace therewith. [Seal with coronet and arms. 1 p.] |
March 21. |
Docquet of Sign Manual Car. I., Vol. III., No. 30, already
calendared under date 24th March. [See 29th March 1626.] |
March. |
36. Warrant to [John Murray], Earl of Annandale, appointing
him keeper of the deer and game about the castle of Farnham.
Underwritten, |
36. i. Lord Conway desires the Clerk of the Signet to prepare a
warrant for the game keeping in the usual form. [Draft.
1½ pp.] |
[March.] |
37. Note of business for present consideration in the Council of
War. Yesterday the captains who were conceived to have consented to the petition delivered to His Majesty appeared before the
Lords. There were divers that neither gave consent nor had
knowledge of it, but had interest in the sufferance and pretence of
payment as much as any. It was debated amongst the Lords
what course should be held with them, and it was resolved they
should be called in, and after some sharp reprimand for the
indiscretion of the petition both in matter and manner of delivery,
that His Majesty's gracious favour should be showed to them in
passing [over] their offences and contenting himself with a small
example for this time, and then to declare His Majesty's gracious
intention to pay them their whole arrear upon account as soon as
money should come in, and in the meantime to give them a month's
entertainment to carry them down into the country, and order
there to be paid their growing entertainments of 56s. a week which
the Lord President [of the Council] did effectually perform
concerning the narration. For the execution, by disputes, there
arose some difficulties, the Earl of Dorset alleging that if the
arrears should be paid upon Dorsetshire, there would not remain
money to satisfy the growing entertainments, which would much
unsatisfy the country to have the soldiers there, and no money in
their hands to pay them, but to have to depend upon the Exchequer
pay. It was then conceived that the money of some other
counties might be employed for the supply of their payment; but
in this point Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer [Sir R. Weston]
produced a note of the disposition of the moneys which were in any
sort certain in all the rest of the shires. This brought the execution
of this [business] wholly to a stand; besides, there were several
propositions not resolved of, as whether money for the officers
should be paid to them or to the billeters, which is considerable,
and perhaps would be best divided between them. Another
proposition was how the captains who had no companies and their
officers should be enjoined to go down into the country and live
there without charge or receive their pay weekly by some officer,
and so left to their liberty. The Lord President [Henry, Earl of
Manchester] hath the notes of what the sum is of the month's pay;
what the sum is for eight months' pay, and what the weekly
payment is. The resolution of all, what to be done, and how,
remains yet [to be settled], saving that all those captains and
officers are contented to go down into the counties having a month's
pay paid to them. The captains and officers for Ireland, who are
in number 19 captains, 14 lieutenants, 17 ensigns, 28 sergeants, and
20 drummers, are appointed to be heard to-day. [2 pp.] |