James I: November 1603

James I: November 1603

159. Carey to Cecil (with a letter enclosed by the King for 1,200l. exchange). [Nov. 1.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 105.

On this day received His Majesty's letter, which he sends here enclosed, for the exchange of twelve hundred pounds. His Lordship knows that, the exchange being determined, it resteth not in him (Carey) to give out any more bills of exchange, and farther he is to let his Lordship understand, that the information made by the party that brought the corn hither, and sold it for the relief of the army as he suggesteth, is altogether untrue, for the truth is that the corn was sold to the inhabitants of Dublin, four for one, and the King's army had no part thereof, and though the money be now decried to a third part, yet the merchant is a great gainer, and need not seek a quadruple profit from the King upon the exchange. His Majesty loseth enough upon the decrying of the money, there remaining a great mass in his (Carey's) hands. And therefore he presumes to make stay of this and divers others of the like nature, humbly beseeching Cecil to excuse him to His Majesty, if any complaints be made to His Highness.—Dublin, 1 November 1603.

P. 1. Signed. Sealed. Add.: "Lord Deputy of Ireland to Cecil."

160. Fenton to Cecil. [Nov. 3.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 106.

Sir Richard Coke, being lately returned hither, hath exhibited His Majesty's letter to the Lord Deputy, containing a direction for him to be admitted to the place of one of His Majesty's Secretaries of this State, to be joined with him (Fenton), with the fee thereto belonging, and keeping of His Majesty's signet and privy seal, with all fees and profits incident, and to hold all during his life. Albeit this was strange to him (Fenton). not having so much as a word of notice thereof before, yet he humbly and voluntarily yielded thereunto, as being a commandment from His Majesty; though Sir Richard hath inserted in his letters patents that he is principal secretary, contrary to the express words of His Majesty's letter, which carrieth not so much as a word that he should be principal secretary, but to be joined with Fenton as one of His Majesty's secretaries, and not otherways. By virtue of which grant, he is established principal secretary over him (Fenton), who for 25 years has enjoyed that place by the name of principal secretary, both by her late Majesty's grant under the great seal (Quam diu se bene gesserit) and also by His Majesty's grant under the great seal (durante beneplacito), and hath carried from him the keeping of the privy seal, which hath been in his custody ever since he was secretary, as well by right of his office as by her late Majesty's special instructions, signed with her hand, bearing date at Greenwich, 26th Feb. 1585. So as he submits to Cecil's honourable mind to consider how far he is deprived (by this course) both of the outward credit of his place and the fees and benefits thereof enjoyed by him so many years, and now in his old age thrust out and left at devotion; besides being the ancientest councillor in this State (except the Lord Chancellor), he alone is made the wonder of the world, who has always served faithfully and never was touched with the least reproach. A disaster that doth not a little afflict him, as well for the unworthiness as suddenness, not having heard so much as a sound of the matter till the blow fell upon him. And yet that which giveth the greatest increase to his grief, is to think that he (Cecil) has given way to his misery, whom he has always honoured and followed with an upright heart, never giving the least occasion of taxation in his duty and humble love towards him. Neither will it be hard for him to clear all unworthy suggestions when they shall come to be weighted in their true balance. Thus much he makes bold to impart to Cecil, in some ease of his grief, hoping that he will vouchsafe not to see him so unworthily overthrown, is his aged years, that so long alone have undergone the great toil of his place, without so much as a just taint to his credit, if malicious and injurious surmises may yet take place against him, wherein he humbly submits himself to Cecil's upright consideration.—Dublin, 3 November 1603.

The L. Deputy hath undertaken to work a composition with Sir Richard Cooke for him, namely, that he shall have the half of his yearly stipend, due to the office of secretary, and to have the keeping of the privy signet, answering to him (Fenton) the one half of the fees thereof, whereby it may please Cecil to consider that what shall be ordered to him by this composition, when it is made, he shall have it but by favour, and at the discretion of Sir Richard Cooke.

Hol. P. 1. Sealed. Add.: "Sir Jeffery Fenton to Cecill."

161. Sir Thomas Knyvitt to Cecil. [Nov. 3.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 107.

Upon the receipt of Cecil's letters of the 27th of the last, went to London and conferred with other officers of best judgment and trust in His Majesty's Mint, according to Cecil's direction, concerning the Master of the Exchange's opinion for buying for His Majesty's use the base monies of 3 ozs. fine, after the price of 2d. for a shilling; and, having considered hereof, judges as Cecil may perceive by the particular answers to the several points of direction in his letter,—

1. First: whether any such gain may be made by buying that coin as he offereth?

2. Whether it will quit the cost of transporting the said monies hither?

3. Or whether it may be best made by coining the same into monies of 9d. there, melting it down with other silver?

To the first, he is of opinion that the shilling being bought for 2d. will yield the King one penny profit, the charge of fining the same being deducted. But if it be intended to buy the shilling with 2d. of the last new monies of Ireland, then His Majesty's gain would be much more than is offered. For the King should so have the oz. for 10d. of the new Irish monies of which the merchants, goldsmiths, and finers do make 13½d. ster., all charges borne, some part of which is fined here, and some they transport into France and the Low Countries, which they sell there to make their base monies at a higher rate; and this course they have long held, and will continue, to the great prejudice of the State, if it be not prevented. For the money of the realm will hereby very shortly be exhausted, and the more by this course to be taken for His Majesty, and thereby will be lost all the charge which this State hath been a tin making that great mass of money, and it will stand His Majesty in 150,000l. sterling to furnish that realm with 200,000l. of monies of the new standard.

To the second; it will quit the cost of transporting, as may appear by the course the merchants hold, and more conveniently for His Majesty, he having, by the monies that have been carried thither, all provisions necessary to pack it up and to transport it from Dublin to the Tower wharf without danger, as the time standeth.

To the third; he is of opinion that the erecting or repairing of His Majesty's mint, the establishing and maintaining of necessary ministers, places, and means to perform this service in Ireland, will be so chargeable as that it will cost His Majesty more than he shall gain by the mass that may be gotten in at that price. And, although there hath been a mint used there as in divers parts of England in times past, yet through the greatness of the charge in maintaining them, and the disorders in the ministers, that and the rest have been suppressed, and all have been reduced to the mint in the Tower; where he thinks all services of this kind may be performed with less inconveniences than by multiplicity of mints; neither does he think that it can be best to coin them into monies of 9d. and melt them down with other silver, because every pound weight of those base monies will require about 10 lb. weight of fine silver of 11 ozs. 16 dwt. fine, to make monies of equal value to those of 9d. late made according to His Majesty's standard for Ireland, which fine silver will not be gotten without great charge and time.

Hereby may easily appear to Cecil that the course offered by the Masters of the Exchange will be profitable to His Majesty, or at least to those that shall be the dealers in it. But whether it will answer the inconvenience of want of those monies in the State there, he leaves to Cecil's consideration and that of those who have to do in it. Only in this he is bold to offer his opinion of a means to avoid the inconvenience of exhausting the treasure, with a reasonable profit to His Majesty, with the like profit and with good contentment of the subject there; which, in brief, is, rather to call down the monies there from 12d. to 4d. in current value, and so of the rest; whereby they shall be of equal goodness with the monies of the new standard, or rather better. His Majesty shall thereby get half in half of so many as he can recover at the price aforesaid, and make like profit of those that are said to remain in the exchangers' hands, as he doth of the new monies of the standard made and sent thither; and a convenient mass of monies will be kept still within the realm, which His Majesty must otherwise be forced to supply, at his greater and untimely charges. All which he humbly refers to Cecil's better consideration.— St. James's Park, 3 November 1603.

Pp. 2. Signed. Sealed. Add.: "To the Rt honorable the Lord Cecyll, &c."

162. The King to the Earl of Devonshire, Lieutenant of Ireland, and to Sir George Cary, the King's Deputy there. [Nov. 8.] Philad. P., vol. 1, p. 7.

In regard as well of some services done to the King, as of a sum of money to be paid by the King's order to an ancient and well-deserving servant in Scotland, the King directs a grant to be made to John Wakeman, his heirs and assigns, in fee-simple without rent, of so much of the lands in the King's hands as shall amount to the clear yearly value of 100l. per annum; to be held in free and common soccage (and not by knight's service) of the castle of Dublin, reserving only a rose or such other acknowledgment, without other rents, duty, or services.—Wilton, 8 November 1603.

Copy. Pp. 2.

[Printed in Erck's Calendar, p. 28.]

163. Carey to Cecil. [Nov. 10.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 108.

His Majesty being dealt withal on Sir George Thornton's behalf for a grant to be made unto him of some lands in Munster, which were Piers Lacye's, His Majesty's letters came not to him (Carey) until these lands were passed to Mr. Fullertonne upon his book of fee-farm; so that Sir George Thornton has lost the benefit of His Highness's said favour intended towards him, which he (Carey) could not remedy, the thing being passed before. Wherefore he is bold to signify so much to Cecil; and withal beseeches him to show his honourable favour towards Thornton in some such other occasions as he shall by his friends be a petitioner to His Majesty. For he is very well reputed of here, and of long service in this realm, as the Lord Lieutenant and Sir George Carew, late President of Munster, can better testify.—Dublin, 10 November 1603.

In regard the thing was passed before, he has returned the King's letter back again to his Lordship.

P. 1. Signed. Sealed. Add.: "Lord Deputy to Cecil."

164. The King to the Earl of Devonshire, Lord Lieutenant. [Nov. 12.] S. P., Ireland, vol. 215, 109.

The information the King has received from him (the Lord Lieutenant) and others who have served in that realm of the good services done to the late Queen by his cousin the Earl of Clanricard, as well in the beginnings of the rebellion as last of all at the siege of Kinsale, besides His Majesty's own knowledge of his love and duty to him in all things, hath moved him to think Clanricard worthy of all grace and favour, which may be an encouragement to others of his rank to enable themselves to do the King service and to yield like extraordinary proof of their loyalty. Wherefore he has made choice of Clanricard to commit to him the chief charge of the province of Connaught in that kingdom; and he hereby authorizes and requires the Lord Lieutenant, upon the receipt thereof, to make out to him such commission and authority as of late Sir Conyers Clifford, Knight, or Sir Richard Bingham, Knight, have had in that province. And further to allow unto him all such entertainments, fees, and allowances as by the King's establishment are allotted to the chief commissioners here, and such other allowances and entertainments as the said Sir Richard Bingham and Sir Conyers Clifford, Knights, lately had and received in the said place. And His Majesty's pleasure also is that there be continued to him in the King's pay such companies or bands of men as now he hath, until the King's pleasure be known to the contrary, his entertainment of Colonel excepted; and that he shall have the possession and keeping of the King's house of Athlone, with the lands and other commodities belonging to it, as other governors have had. And His Majesty's further pleasure is, that he be admitted one of the Council there; and therefore he requires the Earl of Devonshire, upon the receipt hereof, to give him the oath accustomed of a counsellor, and so to use him hereafter in all the King's affairs there. And these letters shall be, as well to the Lieutenant, Deputy, and Chancellor, there now being, as to any other Deputy, Governor, Justice, Chancellor, or Keeper of the Great Seal of that his realm or that thereafter for the time shall be, and to any other his officers and ministers there to whom it may appertain, sufficient warrant and discharge in this behalf.—Wylton, 12 November 1603.

Copy. Pp. 2.

165. Fenton to Cecil. [Nov. 19.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 110.

Notwithstanding his late affliction by so great a privation of his credit and most part of his living, at a time when he was least able to bear it by reason of his poor estate and old years, yet his lewd servant, whom he employed at the Court this summer past, specially to attend Cecil in some small causes, being yesterday returned without bringing him so much as a line of a letter from Cecil, doth disquiet him more than all the rest; for that in calling him to account for his time spent, he finds that he hath utterly fallen from his directions, and followed the vanity of his own mind in seeking to others, mere strangers to him (Fenton); pretending (as he confesseth now) to make use of their favour, more to prefer some suits for himself than for his master's service. And in that humour (altogether without Fenton's privity) he hath run into Scotland after the Lord Elphinston, to procure letters from him to countenance his own suits at Court. Fenton has for this cause banished him, as part of a punishment for transgressing his directions, whereby (as much as lay in him) he hath given occasion to draw Cecil's displeasure upon him (Fenton), as though he had a mind to halt with Cecil, in his duty towards whom he had always professed most constant fidelity and uprightness. Yet to deal truly, he cannot deny but, upon a letter from Mr. James Hamleton and Fullerton, to whom he had borne favour in Ireland, (they being students in the college here,) and the same seconded by his unhappy servant, that they had out of their own courses wrought some good impressions in the Lord Elphinston towards him, he confesses he gave orders for a small token to be given to him (Lord Elphinstone), more to signify his gratefulness than for the value of the thing, for the price exceeded not 22l. This is truth which he cannot stand against; and if, in this small point of ceremony, he has erred to draw an alteration of Cecil's former favour and opinion of him, he humbly submits to his fault, being the first, as it shall be the last; most humbly desiring Cecil that all his former well experienced duty and love towards him and his house may not be defaced through this one omission, done more by other men's faults than out of any settled will in him. And yet he saw that sundry others, both here and in England, far his superiors, were forward to seek new friends about His Majesty at his first entrance; by whose example he thought he could not offend much, while he saw so many of very great quality, in such a change of time, apply themselves to the stream that then did run. But for his part, howsoever others have continued, sithence, to follow that vein of the time, and have sought still to make their way to new favour, he has forborne to use any further proceeding that way, reposing himself wholly upon Cecil's support and countenance, where his first love and envy was planted. And he cannot but hope that, when Cecil shall measure him according to that he is and has been, this first and last poor fault will not remain as a ground in his heart, either to diminish his wonted favour towards him, or to suffer him (an ancient servitor) to be overthrown both in credit and fortune, at a time when there was reason to comfort him; humbly assuring Cecil that, in case he had been put to the trial, he should with less perturbation have yielded to the cutting off of his right arm, so grievous is this sudden perversion of his credit and fortune at one blow; being alone made the wonder of the world, to be so unworthily oppressed and defected by the malice and ambition of his known adversary, having lived so many years in a honourable reputation, and his course of life always justifiable. Prays that God may prosper and preserve Cecil, whom he will never forsake to follow and love, however the malice of his enemies may not fail to persecute him.—Dublin, 19 November 1603.

Hol. Pp. 2. Sealed. Add.: "To the Rt honorable the L. Cecill, &c."

166. Carey to Cecil. [Nov. 20.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 111.

On the 9th of this present, received a packet of the 16th of September last, wherein was His Majesty's letter with certain instructions of the same date, meet to be considered of for his service and the well setting of his affairs in this realm, and further to be dealt in by commissioners to be sent unto the several provinces, whereof there shall be due care had, as appertaineth for the effecting thereof. But forasmuch as, by the slow coming of these directions, the term being now in hand and in the dead of the winter, the time is the most unfit for the despatch of matters of this nature, and besides many of those intended to be commissioners are still remaining in England, as namely, the Lord President of Munster, the Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, and Sir Arthur Chichester, they therefore humbly pray Cecil to take notice thereof, and not to impute any slackness in them, if the business be not expedited in so short a time as the service doth require. But no time shall be omitted to effect as much as conveniently may be done, for they have already entered into the examination of divers points of those in structions. And touching the undertakers in Munster, they have sent out commandments unto them to bring in their patents to be enrolled, so that a perfect charge may be made in the Auditor's office, whereof as yet there is none. And he finds, by search in the Chancery, that some of the said under takers had no patent, as namely, Sir William Courtney and Sir John Hollies; for there are no records of them extant, and divers of them are dead, and their executors not remaining in the land.

And for the composition in Munster, the inhabitants find themselves much grieved to pay composition and to endure cess, which he thinks is not meant they should do. Is informed that the commissioners there take up beeves at 15s. the piece, a pork at 4s., and a mutton at 2s., which is far otherways than either the Lord Lieutenant or himself have at any time used, for they always paid for their meats as the market went. Has written to the commissioners to forbear those exactions, and hopes that they will be reformed, and so the composition and other duties better answered to His Majesty; or otherwise, if His Majesty give away so bountifully as of late His Highness hath done, he (Carey) will not be much troubled with the gathering of the revenue. He sends here enclosed a list of names of some of the undertakers absent and in England, and humbly prays that they be commanded, either to come themselves or send their attorneys hither, for the better perfecting of these businesses.—Dublin, 20 November 1603.

Pp. 3. Signed, Sealed, Add.: "Lord Deputy to Cecil. To the Rt honorable my special good Lord Cecil, Baron of Essingdon, Principal Secretary to His Maty."

167. Sir Arthur Chichester to Cecil. [Nov. 23.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 112.

Has written at large to the Lord Lieutenant in what state he found the army, and how it is disposed, being for the most part enforced to range upon the country for want of victuals in the King's store; and albeit the Lord Deputy hath taken up many beeves, as well in the north (which is opprest with extreme famine) as in other parts of the kingdom, yet those being spent, they must needs be a burden to such as are yet able to bear them; which makes him a humble suitor that Cecil will give order that competent proportions may be sent to supply and maintain them in better dicipline and good order. Their carriage, as it is now, brings to the grief and discontent of the poor inhabitants.

Is likewise an humble suitor, that, whereas the letters the King wrote hither in his behalf, touching a patent for the government of Knockfergis and lands of Belfast, are by the learned counsel found defective, Cecil will be pleased to be the means that some other to better purpose may be signed by His Majesty; and albeit, when he has it at best perfection, he will gladly sell the lands for the price which others sell, 5l. in fee simple, in these parts of the kingdom, yet he must ever acknowledge himself much bound to Cecil for procuring the same for him. Other things, concerning the state of this kingdom and His Majesty's service here, he has imparted to the L. Lieutenant, and likewise besought his favour in this cause of his own.—Dublin, 23 November 1603.

Hol. P. 1. Sealed. Add.: "Sir Arthur Chychester to my Lord Cecill."

168. List of lately Discharged Officers whose Entertainments are still continued to them. [Nov. 27.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 215, 113.

30 April 1603.

A list of captains and officers lately discharged, and notwithstanding have their entertainments continued unto them, by order from the Lords of the Council, dated the 27th November 1603.

Memorandum.—The captains that were discharged in the remotest garrisons are not yet entered in the check rolls, but receive their pay in their several garrisons, yet, because he knows not their certain allowances, forbears to name them and their officers, but they are to be added to His Majesty's other charge of the army, payable out of the treasure.—27 November 1603.