|
April 1.
Gravesend. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. I
have been on board the Charles, Royal Katherine and Lyon and
have examined all the volunteers that expected bounty money, out
of whom on board the Charles I can find only ten capable of the
bounty, 23 on board the Royal Katherine and three on board the
Lyon. I enclose the general list of all of them with 'ab' put to
each man's name I found capable of the bounty, by which you
will see they come far short of 200. This I leave with Mr. Pett
to convey to you and for the payment of the men, as you judge
it requisite. [Ibid. No. 399.] Enclosed, |
|
The said list. [Ibid. No. 399 i.] |
|
Extracts of fines, forfeitures and amerciaments made at a
court leet and court baron held that day for the Honour of
Ampthill, most of them for not appearing at the Court. Among
them is one for "blowing of veal," one for forestalling and one
for breaking the assize of bread. [S.P. Supplementary 135,
No. 74.] |
April 2.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. I am
glad the anchors are coming down, though we have been necessitated to use some of our mooring anchors to supply the ships we
have and are sending down, and keep the smith at work for mending the anchors most necessary for our present use. For his satisfaction therein I shall desire your concurrence, that we may know
for the future how to regulate ourselves. I am glad you will
vouchsafe me your assistance in determining what to do with the
old brazier, he having been and continuing a grand knave, not
only by buying and selling spikes and nails but other sorts of
ironwork, etc. (Summary of his last letter.) |
|
Price Rupert was here all last night and with the assistance
of the ropemakers (most of the riggers formerly warned in failing
us, as they have done several times without order, as I shall give
you a further account at leisure, that some punishment may be
laid on them) we have sent down the Edgar, Rainbow and Staveren
and hope by Monday or Tuesday next, if not before, the Ruby
and Victory shall fall down. I enclose a copy of a contract for
buckets, a demand having been made by the masters attendant,
and for complying with our former demands. Being at reasonable
rates, I hope you will agree to it. We are in great want of
shovels. [1½ pages. S.P. Supplementary 137, No. 400.] Enclosed, |
|
Copy of the said contract by Twimore Goodman of Chatham.
[Ibid. No. 400 i.] |
April 4.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. In
answer to yours of the 2nd I suppose 15 tons of iron ballast
will be requisite for each sloop, the first being ready to take
it in. When those pieces come for the davits, I shall hasten
the making of them. |
|
The soldiers we used to employ are now ordered on board the
ships and therefore I have desired Mr. Gregory to pay them off
out of the little he has left. The riggers formerly warned in have
deserted several times and some have not appeared at all, which
hinders the service very much, and if no course be taken for
preventing these inconveniences for the future, the proclamations
and your orders will be obeyed alike. By the next I shall give
you a list of the names and time of those that have deserted,
that I may receive your commands what to do therein, as also
about the brazier. |
|
Had we had fair weather and wind serving, we had sent down
the French Ruby to-day, notwithstanding the extraordinary bad
weather we have had. The other vessel with deals is arrived,
which will be suddenly spent. |
|
We shall very suddenly be discharging masons, joiners, etc.,
and therefore desire a speedy supply of money and for board
wages. |
|
I desire you to order us more oars, especially square-loomed
oars for pinnaces, with what else has been formerly demanded. |
|
Enclosed is a note of the provisions delivered to the former
boatswain of the Rainbow, which are now wanting, for satisfaction whereof I cannot tell where or how to charge, except on
the widow, where there is little to be had; therefore I refer it
to your consideration. I am daily baited at for board wages,
they supposing it is my fault they are not paid. I desire that
those debts may be at once discharged, for there are daily divers
insolencies and embezzlements that cannot be so well remedied
till we are able to pay them off. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 401.] |
April 6.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
I have yours of the 4th concerning the storehouses and shall
accordingly order the storekeeper to prepare them ready, the
French agent having had the keys of the biggest storehouse
here these ten days. Where to put his Majesty's stores we
do not well know, but must obey orders. There is a large
storehouse at Rochester, belonging, I am informed, to his Majesty,
which the French formerly used and might now, but, as long
as they can have storehouses in the yard for the asking, they
will not trouble themselves about the other. |
|
The horse-boat is arrived but too few barge oars are come,
for which I shall be sufficiently clamoured at, as I have been. |
|
As soon as the shipwright gives in his list of men to be discharged, I shall acquaint you and give you very speedily an
account of the riggers, their names and time of their neglect,
that some punishment may be inflicted on them. |
|
The French Ruby has been ready to fall down these two days,
had we had winds. To-morrow the Victory will be ready likewise and the first opportunity of wind both intend for Sheerness.
The Revenge we intend to launch to-morrow and the Sovereign
on Tuesday. [Ibid. No. 402.] |
April 7.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
To-day we launched the Revenge, to-morrow we shall launch
the Sovereign and, the hulk being very much out of repair,
we intend to dock her in the single dock, if you think fit. The
ways are so extraordinary deep that I cannot send the purveyor
to look after timber and plank. |
|
I have cleared the storehouse in the dock to-day and likewise
the long storehouse by the old dock, so that now having two of
the biggest storehouses in the dock and the other long one at the
old dock I suppose they will be sufficient. If they want more
room and you judge it fit, they may have the great storehouse at
Rochester belonging to the victualler, as they formerly had. |
|
I desire to know if you have given liberty to the smith to build
in the old dock, he having begun without showing me any order
from you, to which I have put a stand till I hear further from you. |
|
Almost an end is made of the 3,000 deals last sent down and the
reason is the toleration of so many cabins, which on the first
sight of the enemy will all be thrown overboard, and indeed the
under-captains and lieutenants of the great ships keep the joiners
on board contrary to my order to fit up all their cabins and places
of pleasure as long as they please and likewise they and boatswains carry away and keep boats till they are broken or lost
without my order or the storekeeper's notwithstanding all the
care I take to send smacks to fetch them back, by which divers
boats are lost. |
|
I desire you to send down more barge oars, there not being
half enough to comply with the ships here. |
|
Enclosed is a list of the riggers warned in with the time of
their neglect, which I refer to your judicious consideration, as
also a copy of a contract for some broom bavins. [1½ pages.
Ibid. No. 403.] Enclosed, |
|
The said list. [Ibid. No. 403 i.] |
|
Copy of the said contract for broom bavins by Thomas Thickbroom of Upchurch. 5 April, 1673. [Ibid. No. 403 ii.] |
April 8.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
To-day we have launched the Royal Sovereign, to-morrow we
intend to send down the French Ruby, if the wind be fair, and
towards the end of the week the Victory and Revenge. What
dispatch can be made with the Royal Sovereign shall not be
wanting. |
|
In a very few days we shall be in a condition to discharge
above 300 carpenters, joiners, etc. As soon as the shipwright
gives me a list of them I shall transmit it to you; therefore I
desire you to provide money in time. |
|
We shall want 50 oars for the sloops 24 or 25 foot long, which
I desire you to cause to be sent down as also some 3-inch plank
and more deals and to send an order for hauling the hulk here
into the dock. Now is the most convenient time for fitting her
and as soon as she is dispatched to send her down to Sheerness
and dock the other, they being hardly able to swim, and we shall
have occasion very suddenly to use them again. We judge it
best, if you think fit, to continue the mast-makers to fit what old
masts can be repaired and to make new, for I suppose after the
fight there will be great occasion for them. |
|
The yawls sent down are pitiful things, the water boat is not
big enough for the Staveren; if the rest be no bigger nor better,
they will do us no kindness. If you intend us to go in hand with
the hulks you must send us down speedily some 3- and 2½-inch
plank and some deals. [1½ pages. Ibid. No. 404.] |
April 10.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Enclosed is a copy of the shipwright's account, which I suppose
you have received already from him. We have also discharged
some sailmakers, who will be suddenly crying out for their
money with the rest. |
|
I have twice desired to know if you would have us go in hand
with the hulks, but have received no answer. |
|
Sir William Reeves would have several works done in his ship
besides building more cabins, but I shall not permit any thing
to be done without your order, for great expense has been made
both of deals and other provisions on board several ships, the
carpenters and joiners being forced to do it by the captains
and other officers contrary to order, keeping their chests and tools
and men on board by force till they completed what they pleased
to have done; besides the keeping of more boats on board than
belonged to them, which are either staved or lost. |
|
The French Ruby, Victory and Revenge had been down at
Sheerness, if we had had fair winds. [Ibid. No. 405.] Enclosed, |
|
The said list of workmen that may be discharged. [Ibid.
No. 405 i.] |
April 11.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
In answer to yours of the 9th, wanting your order two posts
together I have docked the dogger boat in the small dock,
which was ordered to be fitted out with all speed for the Revenge,
so that, the tides falling off now, we cannot dock the hulk till
next spring, but I have ordered the shipwright to prepare all
things for it. I shall permit the smith according to your order
to go forward with the new forge. |
|
The shipwright being very ill and his assistant gone to Sheerness by my order to see how the deals have been expended and
what is wanting on board each ship and the master joiner being
also absent either there or in the Hope. I cannot give you that
punctual account of what you desire, but will as soon as I
can. |
|
If the wind would have permitted, the French Ruby and
Victory had been down some days since at Sheerness and so had
the Revenge been yesterday, being all ready to take in guns and
provisions, and no haste shall be wanting with the Royal Sovereign. |
|
I desire to hasten away with all possible speed the long boats
and the remainder of the yawls with barge and round-loomed
oars and the other provisions I formerly demanded. It would
be very requisite to provide plank against the next spring for
rebuilding and fitting the hulks. |
|
Our purveyor has been very sick, so that I could not employ
him in looking after the timbers and plank you ordered me, but
next Monday I shall send him away. Here are great cries for
money for several things, which I hope you will take into consideration as soon as you can command it. [1¼ pages. Ibid.
No. 406.] |
April 13.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
According to your order I shall get the Richmond yacht surveyed and appraised as soon as possible and give you an account.
Had your order come time enough for docking the hulk. I
should have complied therewith, but missing your order two
posts together and having order for fitting the dogger boat the
tide falling off I docked her and, the gates being shut, cannot
begin with the hulk till next spring. |
|
As soon as possible I shall give you an account of what will
accrue for wages for the men that are to be discharged. |
|
We shall go in hand with the masts as soon as we can dispatch
the necessaries requisite for the fleet. I shall forbear till your
further order giving orders for fitting any thing more than is
necessary on board the Edgar. As to the unnecessary works
forced to be done with the detention of the boats, as soon as I
can consult with the officers that complained to me I shall give
you an account. |
|
I shall endeavour to contract with the blockmaker as cheap
as I can. |
|
This morning the French Ruby went down to Sheerness and
this afternoon the Revenge set sail. Whether she can get down I
know not, the wind veering northerly. The Victory might have
got down this morning but neglected the opportunity, though I
ordered all the ropemakers on board by 3 a.m., because I would
not hinder their work to-morrow, but I hope she may get down
to-morrow morning. |
|
Postscript.—I understand that the Revenge is got safe down to
Sheerness. [1½ pages. Ibid. No. 407.] |
April 15.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
In answer to yours of the 14th concerning the Richmond hoy we
have been ready these two days for appraising her, but the shipwright is not yet prepared for it, but as soon as possible I
shall give you an account. I have already ordered the shipwright to prepare the docking of the hulk and shall press him
to it against this next spring. The shipwright is to-day picking
out the men he intends to discharge, therefore the estimate of
what is due to them cannot be so suddenly sent up. As soon
as I can, you shall have an account. I hope by next Monday
the Royal Sovereign will fall down to Sheerness. |
|
As to the abuse of officers keeping boats and making joiners
and others do what they please, the officers of the Royal Katherine
and Charles have been most averse against order. The former
kept our ropemakers on board near Gillingham two days and
nights with contrary winds and would not let them come ashore
to follow their work and carried away a great new long boat
without order, which was built for the Prince, and still keep her,
besides other boats. Likewise the Charles took away the long
boat of the Royal Sovereign with other boats contrary to order.
What the joiners have done on board I know not, but I have been
necessitated to send smacks and to give warrant to the master
joiner to bring away the men per force. But I have ordered the
master attendant at Sheerness since then to give me a particular
account of what boats every ship carried down to Sheerness and
of those that be fit for the sea and those that are not, that thereby
the boatswains may be charged with the boats taken away
without order and not delivered to him there or sent up here, but
I have almost weaned them from taking away boats without
order and have several times writ to commanders that no unnecessary works should be done on board their ships contrary to
order. |
|
I desire you to hasten down a quantity of barge and other oars
for supplying all the ships, for I am almost worried out of my
life about them. I desire you to take notice that the purser of
the Old James has not complied with his contract according to
his promise. We are in want of union, red and blue flags demanded by the flag officers. There is a quantity of colours and
pendants and some waste clothes very much eaten with moth and
rats and made unserviceable. If you permit me, I intend to keep
two or three tailors at work to make as many of them serviceable
as I can. |
|
I have sent you up by this messenger three hamacoes, the best of
them being commonly the outside and the other two the inner
most samples almost of all the packs that have come down,
the goodness of which I leave to your consideration. |
|
We are in great want of the provisions specified in the enclosed
note. I desire to know whether you would have me contract for
them at the price against each. [2½ pages. Ibid. No. 408.]
Enclosed, |
|
Particulars of tiles, bricks, etc., with the prices of each. [Ibid.
No. 408 i.] |
| April 8–16. |
In the Earl of Holland v. Garret list apparently of tenants and
their rents amounting to 215l. [S.P. Supplementary 135,
No. 75.] |
| April 16. |
Receipt by John Ryley to William Jones, deputy receiver for
the counties of Bedford and Buckingham, for 10l., being half a
year's fees due to the Earl of Ailesbury as Steward of the
Honour of Ampthill. [Ibid. No. 76.] |
April 16.
Chatham. Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. I
enclose an estimate of pilotage. Please advise if you approve of it,
for though it be less than has been usually paid they will be better
contented in respect they are to receive their money here. I also
enclose an account of the demand of what blocks are necessary
for supplying the fleet, of which the blockmaker you ordered me
to contract with has not so great a quantity of all sorts to supply
us with at present, but I have in part agreed with him for what
he has and what he can in a few days supply us with. |
|
Lignum vitæ he has none, which must be provided for there.
By the next I shall give you a further account, that what we
want both for the fleet and stores may be supplied in time. |
|
The ropemakers are in great want of tar. I hope you have not
forgot the old brazier. If so, we shall have more receivers than is
requisite for his Majesty's stolen goods. I desire you to remind
the Surveyor of sending down the cables lately spoken for. If
the long boats bespoke at London be not yet built and you give me
order, I can agree for two or three new boats built lately at Chatham, which are better than any that will be built there, the ships
being in present want of them, and I suppose at as cheap a rate as
any contracted for there. To-morrow I hope Mr. Gregory will
give me an estimate of the wages of the men that are to be discharged. Here is a lamentable cry with the people of the yard for
money. [1½ pages. S.P. Supplementary 137, No. 409.] Enclosed, |
|
Estimate of what is judged requisite for piloting his Majesty's
ships to several places from Chatham. [Ibid. No. 409 i.] |
April 16.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Enclosing a certificate of two shipwrights of the Richmond
yacht, which they value at 495l., and also an inventory of all
things belonging to her, with his opinion that if they can have
her at 600l. she will be very well worth it. [Ibid. No. 410.]
Enclosed, |
|
The said certificate. [Ibid. No. 410 i.] |
April 17.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. I
suppose Mr. Gregory's account of what is due to the men
discharged by the shipwright is come to you ere this. If not,
their whole wages come to 1,794l. 0s. 6d. and the daily growing
charge is 17l. l0s. 9d. The people of the yard are very impatient
for want of their money. [Ibid. No. 411.] |
April 17.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
In answer to yours of the 16th, though I have not particularized the names of any officers on board his Majesty's ships
about the detention of joiners doing unnecessary works and
keeping of boats, yet I have had reason enough to complain by
the vast expense of deals sent down and the complaints of joiners
and shipwrights for the detention both of their persons and tools
several times, but, seeing there has been a necessity of putting
so many soldiers aboard all the ships, there has been more
than ordinary reason for providing cabins for the officers and
I doubt not you will find a prudential course has been and shall
be taken for preserving boats. |
|
I shall contract with the blockmaker for what he has necessary
for our present supply. I have seen an order from you for the
fitting of the St. Jacob dogger boat, which cannot be done except
we leave the hulk for another spring. Therefore pray advise
whether we shall get the St. Jacob into the dock on the launching
of the Shellfish dogger and let the hulk alone, for there will not
be room enough to bring the hulk and dogger together into the
single dock. [1¼ pages. Ibid. No. 412.] |
April 18.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners. I
have been this morning to survey the wharf where the three
crabs are for hauling over the boom, which I find sunk down very
low, the wharf all broken down by the sea and the bank fallen
down on them, which will require a speedy repair, an estimate
of which I shall give to-morrow. I have preserved all the
planks and wales and what shall come off from the decks both
for repairing the wharf where those crabs are and our wharves
here which want repair and for fitting up another storehouse,
where the turner wrought, which will be very serviceable for
us, being near 40 ft. below and 40 aloft, and have ordered the
turner another place to work in and have also with old boards
made up another place in the yard for the mooters (muters) of
treenails, ordering the place where they wrought in the plank
yard for other uses, all which I hope you will judge very requisite.
I could wish the Surveyor on his return from Sheerness could
spare a day or two to settle other things. [Ibid. No. 413.] |
April 19.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Yours of the 18th received. As to the blocks for present supply,
which can be had here, I shall contract for and give you an
account thereof. The horse-boat has arrived, but has brought
no oars, of which there is an extraordinarily great want. The
Surveyor was here, but stayed not a quarter of an hour. |
|
I shall endeavour to contract for what long boats are here at
the cheapest rates I can, which, with what we have made and
trimmed up here, will supply the ships that were in this river
together with the Constant Warwick. According to your order
I shall order as many riggers as shall be necessary for making
trial of the Richmond yacht. The purser of the Old James has
brought in no part of his contract for 40,000 broom bavins nor
do I find the King fail in anything as to imprest of money. |
|
In surveying our sails I find a great complaint made by the
sailmaker for the badness of the canvas sent down lately. If it
be in accordance with your contract, I am satisfied, but send you
up samples of three sorts, that you may see whether it be in
accordance with contract or no or fitting for the service, paying
so great a price for it as I understand you do. |
|
I enclose a certificate by the shipwright's assistant and house
carpenter about the wharf where the three crabs are, which I
hinted to you yesterday, and also two copies of contracts. To-day
we were ready to have sent down the Royal Sovereign and Victory,
but, the wind not favouring, we must wait another opportunity.
Your order concerning the two doggers shall be complied with,
but I can find little or nothing on board them, so that both for
sails and all other things they must be fitted out of the stores, nor
shall we be able conveniently to bring the hulk and the other
dogger into the single dock at one time. [2 pages. Ibid. No.
414.] Enclosed, |
|
Contract by John Couchman of Cranborough for the delivery of
3 quarters and 22 lbs. of woollen flocks at 7d. per lb. 16
April, 1673. [Ibid. No. 414 i.] |
|
Contract by Edward Smith, blockmaker, for the delivery of the
blocks, dead-eyes, etc., therein mentioned at the prices
specified. 18 April, 1673. [Ibid. No. 414 ii.] |
[April 20.]
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
I advised you this morning that the Victory was gone down
to Sheerness, but the wind took her short in Gillingham Reach
and she was forced to anchor at the Royal Sovereign's moorings.
I hope the wind will be more favourable to-morrow, it having
been no better here than S.W. by S. Except it come more westerly,
the Sovereign cannot stir. [Ibid. No. 415.] |
April 21.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
The Victory got down to Sheerness though with much difficulty,
the wind being southerly. |
|
The purveyor is returned from Walderswick and can find no
such timber or plank as was mentioned to me by Mr. Buckingham,
what he proposed to me being yet uncut. What he has the
purveyor has specified in this account, which I suppose is not for
our use. I am sending him elsewhere to survey some other
timber that has been offered, and shall give you an account on his
return. Pray God send us a wind to get down the Sovereign
this spring, which I much fear, the wind hanging so much
southerly. [Ibid. No. 416.] |
April 22.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
The Royal Sovereign is gone down to Sheerness. The Shellfish
dogger is launched with a French sloop and the vessel built for
the clerk of the checque at Sheerness and the St. Jacob dogger is
docked according to your order. I have given orders for going
in hand with the wharf where the three crabs are and what else
you ordered. |
|
I enclose copies of two contracts. As to the boats I am confident I have a great penny worth and hope you will provide
money for paying for those and other provisions contracted for
in time. |
|
I have ordered 100l. more to the clerk of the checque at Sheerness for paying the bounty money. |
|
There is want of old canvas still for cabins, I having surveyed
and cast what sails I could find fit for no other use. |
|
Mr. Pett is gone down with his yacht to try her and to-morrow
I intend to send down the first sloop made to have her tried also,
but no iron ballast is as yet come down. [Over 1 page. Ibid.
No. 417.] Enclosed, |
|
Contract with Thomas Jarvis for tiles, bricks and lime at the
prices therein mentioned. 19 April, 1673. [Ibid. No.
417 i.] |
|
Contract with William Attawell for four water-boats at 16s. per
foot. 21 April, 1673. [Ibid. No. 417 ii.] |
April 25.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Both yours of the 23rd received. I desire to know by next
post whether you will have any more joiner's or carpenter's work
done on the Richmond yacht. When Mr. Wilson goes to London
he will acquaint you about the canvas more at large. |
|
As to the sailing of the double sloop, I believe the commander
does not know how to manage those sails as well as the French,
which occasions a great advantage or disadvantage in sailing,
but she sails very well large, though not so extraordinary by a
wind. |
|
Most unreasonable demands are made by several boatswains
and carpenters, which we regulate as best we can, and have sent
one of the masters attendant and one from the clerk of the
survey to survey all the stores of the ships at Sheerness. |
|
Here are divers poop lanthorns in store which want repairing.
If you please I'll send them up to London to be mended there,
or, if you give me leave, I'll agree as well as I can for mending
them here. We are in hand for repairing the wharf for hauling
over the boom and likewise to get the chain of the boom mended,
which is broken. I suppose the shipwright has given you an
account of the ripping down of the Montagu so low as she is,
finding her very bad, so that she will want a very great repair.
[1½ pages. Ibid. No. 418.] |
April 26.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
We are in great want of elm timber, which the Surveyor
promised we should be supplied with long since from Mr. Clarke
at Gravesend, but none is come. There is some near, if you
give me leave to contract for it that we may go forward with
our work. Here is also great want of large timber, specially
compass timber, to go forward with the Defiance. If we are not
speedily supplied with it, we shall not find employment for so
many men. We shall be suddenly in want of more lime and
bricks and therefore have contracted according to the enclosed.
Enclosed is likewise a copy of a tender of some elm timber.
[Ibid. No. 419.] Enclosed, |
|
Contract with Thomas Jarvis for lime and bricks. 26 April,
1673. [Ibid. No. 419 i.] |
|
Tender by Robert Pangburne of 30 loads of elm timber at
42s. a load. 26 April, 1673. [Ibid. No. 419 ii.] |
April 29.
Chatham Dock. |
Commissioner Richard Beach to the Navy Commissioners.
Enclosed is a copy of his Highness' to me, by which you may
see we shall be left destitute of assistance for fitting the moorings
and other necessary works, but in obedience to his commands
I am necessitated to use my best endeavours to send them on
board the Sovereign though I know it will be such a great discouragement for the future that the men will rather run the hazard
of being hanged than ever come to work in the yard. |
|
I have received several letters from his Highness for sending
on board several superfluous stores demanded by the boatswain
of the St, Michael, his Highness being prompted thereto by him,
and not only so but I am commanded to send down the clerk of
the survey to indent with him there and one of the masters
attendant, who carry down all the stores demanded notwithstanding what the Surveyor has ordered down from Deptford,
which I hope the Surveyor will take notice of. If the moorings
be not secured against the fleet returns nor other works done
which were intended, I hope we shall not be blamed. |
|
The clerk of the checque at Sheerness has sent for 100l. more for
paying the bounty money, which I ordered Mr. Gregory to
send him. Enclosed is an account of timber which Mr. Eason
surveyed near Maidstone. We have no elm in the yard nor
compass timber, which if we are not speedily supplied with, the
major part of the men must stand idle. [1½ pages. Ibid. No. 420.]
Enclosed, |
April 29.
The St. Michael. |
Prince Rupert to Commissioner Beach. I desire you immediately on sight hereof with all possible diligence to send all
the riggers belonging to the yard on board the Sovereign
and also all the seamen you can find, this being for his
Majesty's most important service. I have written to the
Governor of the fort at Sheerness to assist you with what
soldiers you shall desire. Your expeditious acting herein
will be a most signal service. [Copy. Ibid. No. 420 i.] |
|
Report by Robert Eason on Mr. Mason's timber at Maidstone.
[Ibid. No. 420 ii.] |
| [April.] |
Information. 6 April, being Lord's Day, at a licensed house
in Cambridge of Lawrence Hooper's in St. Andrew's parish,
Mr. Stockton, minister, being also licensed and preaching, Stephen
Perry, who was wont to inform, came to the meeting and made a
disturbance, threatening the people. His Majesty's declaration
being tendered him by a party who is come up to give this
information, he slighted it, saying he did not value it. He took
notice of the names of the persons present and threatened to have
them punished. |
|
The same day at another new-built licensed place in Bridge
Street, where Mr. Holcroft, minister, being also licensed, was
preaching, came Perry in the morning, with a great company,
scholars and others, some of whose names we have. Perry
demanded the minister to desist and with others went about the
meeting writing down names. While they were in exercise,
they made a tumult and threw in stones on the people and
minister, breaking windows and tearing up the boards, which
disturbance continued till morning exercise was ended. In the
afternoon came Perry with a greater tumult of people on the
same meeting, rending down again the boards and forms, breaking
the windows with stones, haling and abusing the people, taking
names again and at last, to the great terror of the people and
endangering their lives, the tumult were rushing with hideous
cries and violence to break us up and hinder us from proceeding
to the end of our worship. In the meantime the Mayor, hearing
of the tumult, sent two constables to appease it. Afterwards
Perry charged the constables to apprehend the minister and
carry him before the Mayor. The minister demanding a warrant
particularly for him from the Mayor, one was showed him from
Sir Thomas Sclator concerning the taking of names, wherein he
was not mentioned. This Sir Thomas not long before was sued
by Perry for his 100l. fine, wherein Perry was cast. The minister
further demanded whether the Mayor had sent for him. They
telling him he had, he was willing to go and was carried by Perry
in a tumultuous manner to the Mayor, who denied he had sent
for him and so dismissed him, wholly disowning the matter and
declaring his dislike. |
|
This account we are come up to give, being speeded up by the
magistrates. Both the Mayor and the Vice-Chancellor gave
order that the same night three men should watch our meetingplace that it might not be fired as was threatened. [1½ pages.
S.P. Dom., Car. II. 441, No. 125.] |
| [April.] |
[Sir J. Williamson to the Earl of Arlington.] In obedience to
your lordship's commands of saying in what state I meant your
office would be in now after my departure:— |
|
1. All your own letters and dispatches sent or received, being
such as usually passed your own hand, will be as they were, I
mean in Mr. Richards' hand. |
|
2. The common orders, business warrants, petitions, etc., in
the office are, I imagine, henceforth to be under the direction of
your secretaries Mr. Bridgeman and Mr. Richards, as they were
in mine and theirs promiscuously. |
|
3. The matter of open ordinary correspondence, whether inland
or foreign (being as I conceive a part of your service which will
naturally belong or agree at least with that relation I shall
beseech to retain at your command) I propose may remain in
Robin Yard's hand, whom you allow to sit at the desk in your
own closet, whose business is to attend constantly at that post
for extracting, copying, translating, etc., all matters of correspondence just as I and my people now do and, when prepared,
to present them to you through your secretaries or immediately
to yourself. As a part of this service without which it could
not proceed, as I conceive, I leave Ball in Scotland Yard to
continue sending abroad extracts of such common news as is
fit to be communicated to the King's ministers abroad and to
some country friends and correspondents at home, who will
continue to direct their letters to me as they have done. |
|
4. All relating to the Foreign Committee you are pleased to
take yourself the trouble of. All maps, books, etc., useful to it
and ordinarily used by the lords in it I leave in your closet as
they are, the keys of the cabinets, etc., with Yard, who is as
well instructed in them as I can make him. This I think comprehends the greatest part of the business of your office. |
|
The persons I leave in your office are only John Swaddell,
who is well versed in all your forms of ordinary domestic dispatches, in the Entry Books and their indexes and in the papers
that lie either bound up or bundled up relating to what has passed
the office these many years, and Robert Yard in the aforesaid
part of your service. Both these to remain under the direction
of your secretaries as they did to myself in all things of the
stations they are in and with the same respect as to myself till
my return. [3 pages. Draft by Williamson and copy. Ibid.
Nos. 126, 127.] |
| [April ?] |
Sir Robert Vyner, Edward Backwell, John Portman, Jeremiah
Snow, Isaac Meynell, John Lindsay, Robert Welstead, Thomas
Rowe, Joseph Horneby, Barnard Turner and Robert Ryeves,
goldsmiths, to the King. Petition for the adjustment of their
accounts and the speedy payment to them of all the interest
money accrued due to them since the stop in the Exchequer
and for preventing the suits threatened against them and their
being thrown into gaol, praying, in case the Exchequer be not
opened the 1st of next month (? May, 1673), that, till his Majesty
shall be enabled to give them a speedier satisfaction, he will
direct some branches of the revenue to the value of 200,000l. per
annum to be set apart to them, besides interest, by grant under
the Great Seal for so many years as the Lord Treasurer shall find
reasonable. [Ibid. No. 128.] |
| [April ?] |
Dame Marya, widow of Sir Mark D'Ognate, his Majesty's
ever obedient servant, to the King. Petition for some small
pension or maintenance, suitable to the condition of such a
person's widow, not left wherewithal to subsist by reason of his
so sudden death. His last words were that he knew his Majesty
would not let his widow want. (See Calendar of Treasury Books,
Vol. IV, p. 117, and Cal. S.P. Dom., 1672, p. 658.) [Ibid. No. 129.] |
| [April ?] |
Capt. John Brooke to the Navy Commissioners. Petition
stating that at the late pay of Chatham Yard there was stopped
by Thomas Wilson out of his salary as late master attendant
and his servant's wages above 10l. which rests in Mr. Chusman's
hands, for what reason the petitioner knows not, being sure he is
not indebted to Mr. Wilson, and praying for direction to Mr.
Gregory to pay him what is so stopped, leaving Mr. Wilson to
take the liberty of the law. [S.P. Supplementary 137, No.
421.] |
