William III: September 1700 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William III, 1700-2. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1937.

'William III: September 1700', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William III, 1700-2, (London, 1937) pp. 115-124. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/will-mary/1700-2/pp115-124 [accessed 23 April 2024]

September 1700



Sept. 3. Whitehall.	Warrant of the lords justices to the attorney-general to permit Theophilus, earl of Huntingdon, in his Majesty's name but at his own charge, to prosecute a writ of scire facias for repealing letters patent lately granted to William Bainbridge, gent., for holding a market and two fairs at Kegworth, co. Leicester, [alleged to have been obtained upon an inquisition clandestinely taken], in order to try whether the grant be prejudicial to the earl of Huntingdon's markets and fairs at Loughborough and Ashby de la Zouch. [S.P.44. 350. pp. 92–3.]
Sept. 5. Whitehall.	Ja. Vernon to the lords justices of Ireland. I have yours of 22nd ult. concerning the disposal of charity in erecting a hospital in Dublin. The lords justices have directed that the draft of the letter sent over be shewn to the attorney-general: when approved, it will be forthwith dispatched. [S.P.44. 101. p. 151.]
	The same to Mr. Minshul. I have not a perfect remembrance of what passed in your servant's affairs. I suppose lord Windsor can say more to it, and wish he were in town. I have no minute, and must refer to what Mr. Recorder took, and I wonder he should do anything contrary to it. If this man be set aside for transportation, they are not used to hurry them away so soon; but there will be time to make fresh application to his Majesty at his return, when lord Romney and lord Windsor will be in town, with whom I shall be very ready to concur. [S.P.44. 101. p. 151.]
Sept. 6. Whitehall.	Allowance of the bill of the earl of Manchester, ambassador extraordinary [to France], for extraordinaries from June 1 to Sept. 1, 1700. [S.P.44. 350. p. 96.]
Sept. 8. London.	"Monsr. Pitot, capucin's, relation of his escape and being trapan'd by a priest belonging to the Portugal envoy."
	I, Allain Alexandre Pitot, late a priest of the Roman church, and a Capuchin of the province of Brittany under the name of Père Eusèbe de Guingamp, declare that I have been a protestant in sentiment since I was 23, but continued to wear the habit of my order. When I was 26 my conscience urged me to quit a superstitious religion; and I had recourse at Belesme in Le Perche to Monsr. Franconet des Buttes and the Misses Crette, who live all three in London. They promised to provide what was necessary for me to go to London; and I had arranged to meet M. Franconet, but I was pursued and sent back to the convent. A week later I escaped again, disguised as a girl, but I was arrested by the archers of the grand provost and was put in prison in the convent. After seven months in prison I was sent to the neighbourhood of Brest, 130 leagues from the convent, whence I escaped on July 8, 1700, to Rotterdam, and so to London. I then presented myself to the ministers and elders of the Walloon church in London, and, after the examination usual in the case of proselytes, I was allowed to abjure on Sept. 8th. But Providence had further trials in store for me. On Sept. 2nd a gentleman came to the house of M. de la fontaine, where I was staying, and asked for the Capuchin proselyte. When I came downstairs he asked whether I didn't know him, and, when I said I did not, he replied, "What! don't you know father Emmanuel of Brussels, the Capuchin?" On collecting my thoughts I remembered that I had seen him at Rennes. Then after many embraces he said he was a proselyte, and would like to hear what had happened to me in France. Offering me a bottle of wine he asked me to go out with him. We went to an inn, where he pretended the wine was not good: he then took me to another inn, a long way off, where another man joined him. It was then late at night, and under pretence of taking me home they took me to the house of the Portuguese ambassador. There the proselyte declared that he was a Capuchin priest, sent on a mission to England. I was then bitterly reproached for what I had done, and was assured that, if I would retract, I might be made an ambassador's almoner. I passed the night supperless, and the following morning, saw five priests saying Mass before a large number of people. I then succeeded in escaping back to the house of Mr. de la fontaine, where I found that the servant maid had plotted with this priest to play me this trick. She was a papist, and used to attend Mass at the house of the Portuguese ambassador. (fn. 1) French. [S.P. 32. 12. ff. 76–77.]
Sept. 9. Whitehall.	Allowance of the bill of Sir Paul Rycaut, late resident of Great Britain with the Hanseatic towns of the Lower Saxony, for extraordinaries from Jan. 1 to June 28, 1700, [including] presents at my departure from Hamburg, £28: to Lubeck and back to deliver the king's letter to that government, £20: expenses of my journey to Harburg and Breme, on my way to England, £13 7s.: thence to Lingen, £30 10s. 6d.: the cost of a Berlin coach, to save a greater charge of hiring coaches, £10: to the captain of the yacht, 20 ducats in gold, £10. [S.P.44. 350. pp. 94–95.]
	Allowance of the bill of Philip Plantamour, employed at the court of H.E.H. of Brandenburg from Oct. 18, 1699, to July 18, 1700. [Ibid. p. 97.]
Sept. 9. Dublin.	Jo. Methuen to [James Vernon]. I have yours of the 27th ult. I am pleased to hear the match of the duke of Shrewsbury proceeds, hoping his health is then in some good condition and that his thoughts will be toward this world. I hear he is expected at Altrope with other good company, and hope Lord Sunderland's resolution concerning his coming to town this winter will not be taken, finally at least, until the king's return.
	Our quiet continues here. I am every day more secure of the north of Ireland. I am able yet to maintain my character with all sides. The most considerable advantage to me is the great number of the trustees, which I foresaw and endeavoured in the House. They are the less capable of being united amongst themselves, and I have room by private friendships with particular persons of them to be very exactly informed, and sometimes to influence in the greatest points.
	If the duke of Zell come to Loo, the king cannot return so soon as you mentioned at his going Pray, when you should think there might be any thought of a new Parliament, advise me; that I might take a little care of my election.
	By a ship to Cork my son has sent me from Lisbon all the papers. I must own that I think he has acted like a good minister, but that I am not pleased with his success, and do not see the advantage of this treaty, neither to England nor personally to our master, who could have made greater use of the king of Portugal in a better design. If you have the copy of all the long despatch to Mr. Blathwait, pray tell me, without any compliment, whether his whole conduct in that matter, and the relation of it in that despatch, be not equal to any other person's in the king's service abroad. He hath wrote however a very melancholy complaining letter to me, how little light he hath of what the king desires he should do; and what great hazard a man is in, who must act in matters of such consequence only by his own discretion.
	The truth is, were it not for that consideration and that he is my son, I should endeavour to have recommended him to go to Madrid; where, in nine months he spent in Mr. Stanhope's family, he made engagements that during all our misunderstanding made him master of all that passed in the Court.
	In folding up my last letter I forgot to put one designed to my son at Amsterdam. [Endorsed] Ld. Chancellor of Ireland. [S.P.63. 361. ff. 51–52.]
Sept. 11. [Whitehall.]	Warrant to apprehend Hercules Brown, for suspicion of high treason. [S.P.44. 349. p. 133.]
Sept. 11. Marlea.	M[ichael] Harrison to [James Vernon]. Your kindness reaches me everywhere, and I wish I may deserve it. I thank God I have recovered my late illness, but am here at my father's, on the unhappy occasion of a mighty indisposition which I fear he never will recover. He has been of late very dropsical, and by a wonderful benefit of nature had a vent for it, by his legs breaking and evacuating that way; but now has relapsed, and I fear fatally. He desired me to give his most real respects to you, and to assure you nothing is of greater trouble to him than that he fears he will never be able to wait upon you.
	Before I came from Dublin I looked into the perquisites of the office; and, as you ordered me, will give you a just account of them. [S.P.63. 361. ff. 53–54.]
Sept. 12. Whitehall.	Certificate that Abraham Stanyan returned, from his employment of secretary to the embassy to the French king, on July 3 last. [S.P.44. 350. p. 99.]
	— to lord Lexington. I took it for granted that Mr. Vary, by his constant correspondence, had sent your lordship regularly all the news and scandal, otherwise you should have had many a volume in folio. I furnished him with a receipt to be sent you, called Pills against Melancholy, in which you will find a great many humoursome ballades with the tunes to 'em, They will serve to rub up your memory, and give you agreeable notions of times past. Since the last lampoons I equipped you with, the enclosed are all that are come in my way. The Epigram is not bad, and the other (being current here) must be had, whether you like it or not.
	The Forrainers I think came out before you last left us. It has been dully answered, after two ways; one paragraph by paragraph, and the other by bou-reimees, keeping to the same rhymes with The Forrainers, under the title of The Natives: horrid dull stuff, we generally believe the forrainers made it.
	We have a new Session of Poets, which we father on lord Normanby, and a very elegant description of an whore's being drawn in by the Bawd of Bath. The vertification [sic] is good enough, and the last scene nicely touched. I sent it for your own use, N.B., it not being altogether proper for the ladies. I cannot get a copy, they are all sold
	"You will have heard how barberously the town hat cut my lord Dorset's throat with a case-knife: and but him to the timble of comming up to town and makeny his appearance in the all the coffee houses to convince the world of the contrary. The rumour was as general and groundless as that of the Irish massacre."
	Lord Shrewsbury has held out a week in town without bleeding, the Court being on the other side of the water. The articles are at last adjusted with old Carbury. (fn. 2)
	The old duke of Bedford is gone to sleep with his fathers. (fn. 3)
	As to politics I find the world divided. Some fancy we shall have a new parliament, and others say shall drudge on with this. Dr. Davenant is labouring at a new book, to be launched three days before the Session. It is upon the Spanish treaty, which he pretends to anatomise, and the ministry likewise; and thinks he has collateral names and characters for 'em out of Mariana and other Spanish histories. Notwithstanding these rods in piss, lord Portland will be here next week, a yacht being gone for him.
	You hear the two electrices are visiting the king at Dieren. I suppose one solicits her husband may be king of Prussia, and the other that her line may be kings of England: very moderate requests. I hope they may be both granted.
	No foreign prince or state is yet come in to the Spanish treaty but the king of Portugal and the republic of Geneva, and the emperor is allowed till New Year's Day to consider.
	Those who advise the king to marry propose the dowager of Frise, (fn. 4) the king of Denmark's sister, or the landgrave of Hesse's daughter. He has his health much better than he had here, as florid Dr. Garth assures me, who came from Holland yesterday.
	Our board jogs on at the usual rate. Pollexfen is come home and Sir Philip likewise after his month, as if he had lain in. (fn. 5) We have run through the drudgery of laws to make a clear house, and this week we polish our draught of frontiers and naval stores, to be sent you for your thoughts on it.
	We hear of no changes, neither Secretary nor Privy Seal. I leave you your choice. If you accept the last, I expect to be clerk of the signet upon the first vacancy.
	The Sqraws a gipsy. I have not seen her Indian face since you left us. But, what is better, my civil behaviour to a mask at the fair has embarked me in a most important and romantic intrigue. The woman is extremely pleasant in conversation, sings like an angel, is lodged like a princess, furnished and attended to admiration, gives me my full of patridge and burgundy, entrusted me with a purse of 60 guineas, will not allow me to touch her petticoats after five visits, and yet looks as if she had the extravagant fancy to be very fond of my person. This works upon my vanity (as you may imagine) to the highest degree, and I am not allowed to enquire what this fairy is. After the rate she lives, she cannot spend less than £700 or £800 a year, and is as unaccountable for a woman as Wilson was for a man. (fn. 6) [Unsigned.] [Endorsed in pencil] Newsletter from Stepney Collection.] [S.P.32. 12. ff. 78–79.]
Sept. 16. Whitehall.	Ja. Vernon to the Treasury. Mr. Sutton, H.M. secretary at Vienna, has represented that he cannot subsist there any longer unless he receive part of his arrears. The king commands that a supply be ordered him. [S.P.44. 101. p. 152.]
Sept. 17. Whitehall.	Warrant of the lords justices for a grant of the office of reader of physick, in the university of Cambridge, to Dr. Christopher Green, in place of Dr. Robert Brady, deceased; with the fee of £40 p. ann., as Dr. Fran. Glisson, Dr. Robert Brady or others held the same. [S.P.44. 350. pp. 99–100: S.O.3. 20. f. 200, v.]
	Grant of the next almsman's place in Norwich cathedral to John Coulson, disabled in the Bedford Gally, Oct. 24, 1698, being yeoman in the powder room. (Annexed) (1) A certificate, signed by Jo. Philipps, that Coulson served on H.M.S. Bedford when" I was a lieutenant." (2) Copy of a certificate signed "R. Hollyman, Alex. Innes chyr.," dated H.M.S. Bedford Gally, Jan. 13, 1699– 1700, that Coulson served "under my command." (3) Copy of a certificate dated Chatham Dock, March 7, 1698–9, that Coulson had a pension of £6. [S.O.8. 27. No. 48.]
Sept. 19. Dieren.	Additional establishment of George, earl of Orkney, as one of the brigadiers in Ireland, over and above the number of brigadiers allowed by the present establishment for Ireland, as from June 1st ult.: £1 10s. a day. (Treas. Cal. XV., 440.) [S.O.1. 14. p. 292.]
Sept. 19. [Whitehall.]	Warrant to receive into custody John Wood, for high treason for having been in arms in Ireland and returning without licence. [S.P.44. 349. p. 133.]
Sept. 21. Dublin.	M[ichael] Harrison to [James Vernon]. I came to town yesterday from my father's, being obliged so to do by lord Galway's orders about sending out the Commissaries. I left my father in a very miserable condition: upon his growing any thing worse I go down immediately.
	I most humbly thank you for the trouble about our goods. My wife longs very much for them, that she may put in practice her contrivances.
	I am very glad to hear of my brother Ned's being safe, and his behaviour. I always thought he was cut out for that business, and hope in God he will go on as he has begun.
	You ordered me to give you an account of the perquisites of my employment. From 1st Jan., 1699–1700, to 31 Aug., 1700, all the fees of the office come to £95 0s. 8d., by which the remaining four months may be computed; out of which I am to maintain a deputy, which I propose to get for £30 or £40 p. ann. I am to pay all stationers' accounts [and] to pay clerks. One I am constantly to keep at £25 p. ann. The others are casual. My reason of mentioning clerks is because they were imposed on Mr. Muschamp on an emergency. I am also to keep the office in fire and candle, which no office, or very few do. Lord Galway is very just, but not favourable; for many things that pay fees in Mr. Crawford's office, which did pay in mine, are taken off. More than 2,000 certificates for soldiers of the army were given out of my office in this last year, for which he ordered no fee should be taken. [For this and other reasons] the perquisites of the office will just bear the charge of deputy, clerks, &c. Formerly the salary and perquisites were worth £900 p. ann., which possibly may be recovered under another government here, and nothing but what is honest: but now very little is got but the salary, £500 p. ann. I beg your advice. I was thinking to lay before the lord chancellor the difference of fees in the office in England and here, which has only been of late; but will do nothing but as you order.
	I beg pardon for troubling you with so tedious a letter, which I would not have done, but that you ordered me; and I assure you I do not give you an account of anything as dissatisfied; for I have every reason to be pleased with what you have done for me. [S.P.53. 361. ff. 55–56.]
Sept. 24. Whitehall.	Ja. Vernon to Mr. Blathwayt. I have yours of the 30th inst. I have acquainted you already that the lords justices had signed lord Wharton's commission for the custosship of Westmorland.
	You may expect Sir George Rooke very soon on that side, for he talks of sailing with the convoy at the end of this week. I suppose he will come sooner than you want him; but, having his provisions on board, he will like being at the Goree (fn. 7) as well as in the Downs.
	The princess has had a fit of vapours.
	Lord Portland came hither on Sunday last.
	I had letters yesterday from lord Bellomont of July 15. (fn. 8) He had received an account of what was done in relation to Kid, as well in Parliament as since. He is very much amazed at it, but is under no concern as to his own particular.
	He has sent to the Council of Trade an Address from the Assembly of New England, in which they pray two things of his Majesty: first, that the French should be contented with the river Ste. Croix for the bounds of Acadie, but that I take for granted they will not be persuaded to: the other is to beg for his Majesty's favour for settling their college. (fn. 9) I think the charter only sticks at the power of visitation, which lord Bellomont desires may be in the governor and council, and I suppose my lord of Canterbury will not except against it.
	They have settled an allowance upon lord Bellomont of £1000. p. ann. He reckons that but at £700 sterling. He hopes still that his allowance for that government will be £1200 p. ann., but expects no more of it from that country than they have already given, which indeed is more than I thought they would give him, they never having yet allowed a governor above £100 p. ann.
	He was going to New York, where he had appointed the Assembly to meet the 26th of July. He was to try whether he could get them to grant to his Majesty £2000 to build a fort for the Five Nations at the Onandage's Castle and to repair with new stocks the forts of Albany and Schenectady. He was to go likewise to Albany, having appointed the Sachems of the Five Nations to meet him there the 10th August, and he would do all he could to encourage their obedience to the king.
	[P.S.] I send you the case of a merchant who has received a very great injury from a Portuguese governor on the African coast. He was not well used by them before upon the coast of Brazil, when his ship was carried thither; that had been seized by the men that belonged to the Hannibal, a ship of the African Company that turned pirate. He has no account of any reason the Portuguese governor could allege for seizing his negroes and turning his men on shore. He looks upon it as an arbitrary act of violence, and he hopes for reparation if his Majesty will sign the enclosed letter for the king of Portugal. Copy. [S.P.32. 12. ff. 80–81.]
Sept. 24. [Whitehall.]	Grant of the next almsman's place in Ely cathedral to John Hailes. [S.O.5. 31. f. 61.]
	"Charter, joyners &c., Dublin." [Warrant of the lords justices of England to the lords justices of Ireland]. Whereas John Sisson, James Robinson and Richard Marplas, in behalf of themselves and others the professors of the mistery of joyning, ceyling or wainscotting and feneyreing in the city of Dublin, did prefer their petition to your lordships, setting forth that there are frequent frauds and abuses by deceitful and unskilful workmanship, and as yet there hath been no rules or orders established: that the petitioners are at present subject to the corporation of the carpenters within the city of Dublin and that it would tend much to the improvement of the mistery if his Majesty would grant a charter to the petitioners:
	and whereas by order of Jan. 22nd last you referred the same to the attorney or solicitor-general [of Ireland], and the attorneygeneral [Robert Rochfort, reported favourably, being well satisfied that there is a charter of incorporation granted to the joyners, &c., of the cities of London and Chester]:
	we require you to cause letters patents to be passed for erecting within the city of Dublin one guild or fraternity of the art or mystery of joyners, ceylers or wainscotters, to consist of one master, two keepers or wardens, twelve assistants and of the commanalty of the art or mystery, to be one body corporate, and thereby to constitute John Sisson of Dublin, joyner, to be the prime and moderne master, and James Robinson and Richard Marplas to be the prime and moderne keepers or wardens of the said guild or corporation, and Robert Rochfort, attorney-general; and Allen Broderick, solicitor-general; Wm. Robinson, deputy receiver of the revenue; and William Scriven sen., Thomas Howell sen., John Hart, Francis Armstead, James Mitchell, Wm. Asherton, Thomas Armstead, George Hothard, John Littledale, Robert Rudd, George Gibson, and Peter Iredell, to be the prime and modern assistants and brethren [who are to choose the clerk and commanalty] etc. [S.O.1. 14. pp. 285–91.]
Sept. 26. Loo.	Warrant for a licence to Charles Aldworth, esq., who went into the French king's dominions, to return. [S.O.8. 27. No. 49.]
Sept. 26. Whitehall.	The lords justices approve Sir Rowland Wynn, bart., Sir George Tempest, bart., William Wentworth, Walter Caverly, Bryan Thornhill, John Moyser and Alex. Moseley, esqs., to be deputy lieutenants of the West Riding of Yorkshire. [S.P.44. 167. p. 421.]
Sept. 27. Whitehall.	Ja. Vernon to Mr. Blathwayt. I suppose you will soon hear of Sir George Rooke's arrival on that side. Colonel Crawford is newly come from the isle of Thanet, where he has been with Sir George. He tells me he talked of sailing from the Downs tomorrow.
	The princess continues very well. Copy. [S.P.32. 12. ff. 82–83.]
Sept. 28. Dublin.	J. Methuen to Secretary Vernon. I have your letters of 17th and 21st inst., but am for eight days so very ill of the gout as not to be capable of acknowledging them but by another hand.
	I was indeed alarmed by Mr. Guy and some others in the matter you mention; and, considering the ill humour their news found me in, the account your letter gives came very seasonably. I hope to be able to write myself the next post. [Written by a secretary and endorsed] Ld. Chancellor of Ireland. [S.P.63. 361. ff. 57–58.
Sept. 30. Whitehall.	Ja. Vernon to Sir Chs. Hedges. I spoke to lord Bridgewater concerning the prisoners the French ambassador writ about. He inclined to the opinion that the best way to bring those men off would be to use their evidence against the rest, and we desired Mr. Whitaker to acquaint you therewith. Lord Manchester has writ to me on behalf of the same persons at the desire of Monsr. Torcy, Secretary of State. I hope therefore effectual care will be taken to distinguish these men's case from the others.
	I would be glad to speak with you, when you come to this end of the town, concerning a New York vessel that has been condemned in the Admiralty Court at Nevis for piracy. [S.P.44. 204. p. 292.]
[Sept.] [Whitehall.]	Warrant to seize Thomas Larner, for high crimes and misdemeanours, in suborning the king's witnesses and prevailing upon them for money to withdraw themselves, that they might not give evidence in Court against four popish priests, whom they had before voluntarily accused upon oath. [S.P.44. 349. p. 133.]
Sept.	Note for the dividend. [S.P.32. 12. f. 84.]