|
| Dec. ? |
29. Petition of Stephen Lesieur to the King for a portion of the
overplus of forfeitures to grow to His Majesty upon penal laws
above that which is answered communibus annis to His Majesty,
and for reference of his suit to some of the Privy Council. |
|
Was employed by the late Queen in services to the present King
of Denmark, and other Princes; as also of late by His Majesty to
the Emperor and other Princes. The late Queen died while petitioner was at Bremen in Germany, assisting her then ambassador,
Lord Eure, Secretary Herbert, and Dr. Dunn, and was thereby deprived of that benefit, which she intended for him on his return for
his many years of services. [½ page, soiled. See Calendar, James I.,
31 Jan. 1608.] |
| 1607 ? |
30. Warrant for a grant to Sir James Erskine of the benefit of
the recusancy of Sir William Roper, reserving to the Crown the
yearly payment of 260l., which the said Sir William Roper now pays.
[⅓ page, copy.] |
|
31. Draft of the above. With a note of a like grant to Sir Ashton,
gentleman of the Bedchamber [of the recusancy of] Sir Thomas
Throckmorton and Edw. Morgan. [¾ page.] |
|
32. Warrant to the Lord Privy Seal to cause letters to be directed
to the Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster, to give order for several books in fee-farm.
[½ page, copy.] |
|
33. Order for a warrant for payment of double customs by aliens
on cloths, perpetuanies, &c., as formerly upon broad cloths, and for
a grant to the Earl of Montgomery of the farm of the said customs,
on rent of 200l. a year. [4 pages, draft.] |
|
34. —— to ——. If the Commissioners be unsatisfied,
either touching the goodness of the wool or whether it has been
bought in by any, before Mr. Jenney found and bought it in last
year, we desire that the Master of the Feltmakers' Company may
be called the next day of sitting, to choose three or four of the
better sort to declare their knowledge. By their reports it will
appear that it is the best that ever they wrought before, and that as
Mr. Jenney first brought it in, it has been and is known as Jenney's
wool. For the rest we are ready to perform all comprised in the
first instruction. |
|
The Spanish merchants [the merchants of London that trade to
Spain] are the most likely to oppose, as they have liberty of
bringing in Spanish commodities; but this wool is such as they
never heard of until the last year that Mr. Jenney went over, and
to his great charge found and fetched it; and is to be distinguished
both by the province that breeds the sheep, the remote grounds
that feed them, the dye, the price, &c. It is to be considered
whether their charter be now in force, as the liberty of trading into
Spain which formerly was proper to that company only, is now, by
Act of Parliament, conferred upon all the subjects of His Majesty.
[1 page.] |
|
35. [Rich. Carnsew] to Mr. Bridgman. Some go about to set
up seats in the church of St. Kew, to the annoyance and defacing
of the monuments of my ancestors. Mr. Parker, the official, has
inhibited them until the cause has been heard, yet notwithstanding,
they intend to procure the Bishop's warrant for their erection. Pray
move my Lord to stay any such warrant until it be viewed by
indifferent men; and if, in their judgment, I cannot give sufficient
reasons for the maintaining of my desire, I shall willingly yield. I
hear my Lord has received some information against me; but
I desire to be heard before I be condemned, and I doubt not but
it shall appear that my Lord is abused with idle informations. |
|
P.S.—Deliver what you do for me to the bearer, Arthur Harris,
who has promised to solicit my Lord for me. I requested my
cousin Langhorne to procure a proctor for me at Exeter assizes.
He got Mr. Langhorne of Exeter, and gave him 3s. 4d. Pray
learn what Mr. Langhorne has done before you go further.
[1¼ pages.] Annexing, |
|
35. i. Directions for the solicitation of the above case:— |
|
Signify that Mr. Cavill intended to erect pews in St.
Kew's church, against the will of many of the parishioners,
and thereupon represented the case to Mr. Parker, my
ordinary, who prohibited the churchwardens from allowing it. Yet Mr. Cavill has erected pews where he ought
not, without prejudice to me, blemish to my ancestors,
disgrace to my posterity, and confusion to many
parishioners. He has larger pews, besides those lately
erected, than I have, his ancestors being richer than
himself. I have two brothers, one an M.A., 24 years
old, the other B.L., of 16, two sisters, and a family of 30,
and yet no seats for 10 persons. These pews would
interfere with the monuments of 14 of my ancestors,—some 300 years' continuance,—and take away the room
my family has enjoyed; he pleads having sat there before
and his ancestors, but it was only by leave of my
ancestors. |
|
I am rated at 15l. in the subsidy, and none are
higher in these three divisions, except justices of peace.
[2 pages.] |
|
35. ii. Draft of the preceding letter from Carnsew to Bridgman,
except the postscript. [¾ page.] |
|
36. Rich. Langhorne to Rich. Carnsew. I send a copy of the
articles against you, to avoid the penalty for your non-appearance
personally, by getting a commissioner to take your answer at home.
Send a reply the Wednesday next before Michaelmas. [½ page.]
Prefixing, |
|
36. i. Articles of accusation before Dr. Hen. Manning, official
of the Episcopal Court of Exeter, against Rich. Carnsew
of St. Kew's parish, for failing to contribute to the repairs of his parish church, to pay his rates, &c. [22/3 pages
Latin.] |
|
37. Note that Wm. Coksbery, haberdasher, is to continue during
his life, and after him, Denis Peiper, his son-in-law, to furnish hats
and feathers both for beds and stables to the King, Prince, and
Duke, as they now do and did in the late Queen's time, and with
the fees and liveries of the office of haberdasher. [⅓ page.] |
|
38. List of nine aldermen and six gentlemen [of London], with
sums of 1,000l. or 500l. affixed to each. [Probably their intended
Privy Seal loan sums. ½ page.] |
|
39. Memorial of things necessary to be done for the defence of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark, addressed to the Privy
Council. |
|
To send two commissioners, from England to join with four
dwelling there, to inquire after and certify the things following:— |
|
The state of the islands and the number of soldiers requisite to defend them against sudden invasion. Their answer as to Jersey must
be that, as it is the greatest, so it is of the greatest import, and yet the
weakest, having many places open for an invader to land in, and no
provision to prevent it, so it will take up more men than the rest of
the islands, not less than 4,000; for if they do not fortify all places
needful, they had as good let all alone. The inhabitants are not to
be relied upon, seeing they make no profession of arms, though their
hearts are well affected; neither can they be spared from labouring
for their sustenance. |
|
Guernsey is not so big, far stronger by nature, and therefore
1,500 men could withstand an invasion, with help of the inhabitants.
Alderney is not to be valued with the other two in bigness or goodness,
and yet of as great import, to defend it, if we esteem honour and reputation; therefore we assign 1,500 men. The fourth is Sark, and
is far inferior to the rest; we think 1,000 men sufficient for it. |
|
Sixty or more ketches, fishing boats, &c. should attend this service,
to transport soldiers from one island to another. The Commissioners
are to certify what victuals the islands will afford, and what is
necessary to supply them out of England. This must be thus
answered: That their Lordships cannot expect any quantity of
victuals for the relief of 8,000 men, considering the barrenness of
those islands that, in the most plentiful years, can do little more
than sustain themselves; therefore they must have victuals out of
England, and a good proportion always ready to transport as occasion shall be offered, or the garrison increased; and for the present,
not less than four months' victuals for 8,000 men, and two months'
more ever ready; which may be done without loss, for upon the end
of the service, merchant ships will be willing to take the overplus
not spent. |
|
As to the number and greatness of the ordnance necessary to
strengthen the islands; considering the many weak places, and the
little means of resistance, 100 pieces of ordnance, none of them
under a sacker, with all sorts of munition, carriages, &c. should
be sent over, and disposed at the discretion of the commanders.
Concerning pioneers and their number, and nature of their tools,
unless in time of harvest or manuring, Jersey can furnish pioneers,
but not so many as needful for the other islands. The greatest want
will be of tools, which none of the islands can afford in any quantity,
and therefore provision of them must be made in England. Comparing these places with Holland, its soil is moorish and wet, and
therefore soft and easy to work, but these are stony and hard. Our
old English spade, shovels, and pickaxes will be useful, although we
do not dislike the Holland spades and hoes, when we work in soft
and sandy ground. |
|
As to the number and greatness of the ships to be employed, we
refer you to precedents. The number of men-of-war to keep at
sea must be according to intelligence had of the preparation
of that nation that shall threaten an invasion upon the islands;
not to name any country but this in general, and then no Prince
can expostulate with the King upon unkindness. But our opinion is that besides His Majesty's ships, and others employed
upon this service, the better sort of ships that belong to the Newcastle trade should be fortified with ordnance, as in the last wars
with Spain, to resist the Dunkirkers, who are not yet much to be
trusted. These ships are most easy for transportation, spacious, of
small draught, few men to sail them, and of great strength. They
could defend themselves from an easy enemy, such as the Dunkirkers,
and will be always ready to take soldiers on board and convey them
to these islands, without staying for wafters. |
|
As the islands hereabouts and the coast are full of rocks and other
dangers, we will make inquiry for the best and most efficient
pilots of the island, and they shall repair to the place you appoint.
[3¾ pages.] |
|
40. Memorial by Sir John Peyton to the Council. The old castle
in Jersey, called Mountorgueil, is much decayed, and the new castle
called Elizabeth is unfinished. Several pieces of iron and brass
ordnance are broken, and most of the iron dangerous to be used,
and no carriages have been made for a long time, whereby most of
the ordnance is unserviceable. There is also want of powder, muni
tion, &c. A supply is therefore desired. [2/3 page.] |
|
41. List of nine parks, out of which four bucks are to be taken,
viz., Havering, Hyde, Nonsuch, Richmond, Windsor, Eltham, Enfield,
the Chace, and Hampton. [Scrap.] |
