|
| Mr Ananias to the Earl of Salisbury. |
| [1646–47, January 1]. | Petitions him for financial relief. His
estate has been reduced by many afflictions, and his poverty
aggravated by the adverse circumstances of the day, and by the
smallness of his stipend.
At bottom: Receipt signed by him for £5 and dated December
31, 1647.
Holograph. Much damaged. Endorsed: "Mr Ananias his
petition, 1 Jan. 1647." 1 p. (General 72/16.) |
| Edward Ruddocke to William Collins. |
| 1646–47, February 12. | "These are to give you to understand
that Mr Chambers is dead, and that my Lords courte is in distresse
for want of a judge, and was this last courte day being the ninth
of this moneth. I would desire you that you would be pleased
to acquainte Mr Harington thearewith that the courte may be
supplyed with an able man for that place, for I will assure you
there is greate need of an able understanding man and a hongman
for there is two much wronge offered unto the court to the much
dishoner of my Lord. The Courte have a long tyme bin much
abused by one that is a tennante unto my Lord, and one well
knowne unto Mr Harington, one William Bayly of Salford, whoe
did this last Court day in a rebelious manner in oppen Court
abuse my Lords officers in a strange way of words because he
could not take of cattell which I have in custody uppon five small
executions, which he pretends to be none of his which the plaintifes
manetynes to be his owne proper goods. Soe the next Court day
the property of the said goods are to be tryed, and for that cause I
desire that Mr Harington and you would be pleased to thincke
of some fitt man for that purpose. . . . I wishe we had some honest
Attorney out of Bristoll which have noe practice in London, for
your London Attornies doth much wrong the Courte by bringing
wrights of eror and such like wrongs unto the Courte, which I feare
Mr Standish of Wells hath done for the said Bayly, to the much
dishartning of all plaintifes to have any thing to doe in that
Court. I wishe with all my hart that Mr Haggat had some hand
in the Court, for I beleeve he is an able, upright, just and honest
man in his practice, and such a man of men my Lords Court doth
much want, and not such as worke all for their owne ends, soe they
gett they care not whoe loose, soe that when men have spent their
money to bring their busines to a tryall, they shall have just
nothing but a scoffe for their charge."—Ffrom High Littelton,
this the 12th of Ffebruary 1646.
Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (General 19/10.) |
| Order. |
| 1646–47, February 27. | "Yf noe plea be already filed for Mr
John Guninge accordinge to the order of the 30th of January last,
lett noe plea be filed without our knowledge."—27th of Ffebr.
1646.
Signed: Tho. Trever. Endorsed: "The Barons Order that
noe plea be received for Mr Guninge." ¼ p. (General 90/19.) |
| John Curridge to Samuel Stillingfleet. |
| 1646–47, March 5. | "I have had so manie soulders that I am
not able to pay the rent that is past, for I have had one and
twentie that have binn sent unto me with tickets besides manie
others. I have payd contribution monie ever since the warres
begun, at the first two pence the weeke and then one penie, and
since micalmas one halfpenie the weeke. Besides there was
never no gathering for otes, hay or anie thing whatsoever I must
be sure to pay. They eat up my corne that I was enforst to
bye my seede. This is truth and nothing but the truth." He
has only four acres without appurtenances, and begs that Salisbury be told of his pitiable state and inability to pay.—Tarrant
Rushton, March the fifth, 1646.
P.S. "I have payd this half yeres rent."
Holograph. 1 p. (General 90/20.) |
| James Duport to Mr Lord. |
| 1647, March 30. | "I perceive our last motion concerning Mr
Cecills transplanting from the University has taken no effect, but
only occasioned a sharpe letter from my Lord, which how it will
work with him I know not, but I hope the best. I had thought
to have taken the boldnesse to have answeard my Lords letter,
and have put him in some good hopes and expectations. But
since, I conceivd it better to give the physick some time to work,
for as yet I have no great ground of encouragement to go upon,
and I am loath to return an uncomfortable answear. I could
heartily wish that either yourself or some other of my Lords
gentlemen (but yourself rather) were heer, who upon discourse
had with Mr Cecill and me might perfectly inform my Lord how
things stand and what hopes there were, for letters are lyable to
misconstruction and cannot make so complete a relation." He
advises him to visit Cambridge, if that is possible, to discuss
matters and decide what course should be taken for the future
regarding Mr [Algernon] Cecil.—Trinity College, Cambridge,
30 March, 1647.
Holograph. Seal. Endorsed: "Mr Duport to Mr Lord at
Salisbury House, 1647." ½ p. (General 72/18.) |
| Accounts. |
| 1647, May to 1649–50, March. | Privy purse expenses of
Charles, Lord Cranborne. Inter alia: |
| May 6 | Given to a poore Wiltshire man that
had lately escaped from the Turke. | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| May 10 | Paid to Sir Peter Killigrew that he
wonne with going part with my Lord
at the foot race. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16 | Paid that my Lord lost at Peccadilly. | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25 | Paid to Mr Cressett that he layd out
in favours for the Commissioners at
Holdenby. | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| June 3 | Given to a maid that brought a cow
for my Lord to drinke milke at Hattfeild. | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| June 18 | Given to the musick on the Earle of
Oxfords wedding day. | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| July 6 | For my Lords going by water from the
Parliament home, and afterwards to
Lambeth and back againe when he
went to Bansted Downes. | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| July 6 | Given to the man that weighed my
Lord at the race post. | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| August 6 | Given to the Lady Ffosters mayd for
bringing Lycorice cake to my Lord. | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| December 13 | To Mr Ferrbosco for stringing and
mending his lute. | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| December 22 | Given in a house at Burbith where my
Lord stayed when it snowed as he was
going to Wilton. | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1648 April | My Lord lost severall times playing at
Load'em. | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1648–49, February | To the Leift-Generalls trumpeters. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| To Col. Husons drummers. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| To Col. Prides drummers. | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| March | To Col. Riches trumpeters. | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| To chayremen that carryed my Lord
to the Parliament house. | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| My Lord lost to Mr Russell upon a
wager about going of their watches. | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| To Leift-Generall Cromwells drummers. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1649 June | To Ferrabosco for going to Greenwich
for Mr Lanier by my Lords command. | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| For Col. Riches trumpeters in the
thanksgiving night. | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| To the Lady Fosters sonne for presenting my Lord with poems. | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Changed for new money. | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| 54 pp. (Accounts 127/9.) |
| Samuel Stillingfleet to [? Mr Auditor Collins]. |
| 1647, May 18. | Encloses two estimates; "the one for the
repayringe and fittinge up of Cranborne house in the same
manner which it was in before the warres begun", and "the
other for the newe buildinge, wee have made for the bringing up
of the outeside worke." There will be further estimates for the
inside work. |
| "In pullinge downe the olde buildinge the tymber proved very
rotten and the walles verie weake, beinge fild up with chalke and
earth. The foundation on the north syde was false, and if the
buildinge had not beene taken downe, it would ere longe have
fallen on that syde; butt nowe it hath beene searched to the
bottom and a newe foundation layde." |
| "We shall use about 50 tunes of tymber about the newe buildinge and about ten tunes for reparations (besides the olde) about
the house and without, which Cranborne common doth afforde
us very well without troubling his Lordshipps woodes at Damerham, thies beinge his Lordshipps owne."—Cranborne, the 18th
of May, 1647.
Holograph. 1 p. (General 72/19.) |
| Cranborne House. |
| 1647, May 18. | An estimate of the necessary repairs to Cranborne House, besides the rebuilding of the west end of the mansion. It suffered severe damage during the civil war at the
hands of the King's and Parliament's armies, particularly in iron,
timber, lead work and glass, which was either destroyed or carried
away, although there is a reference to the fact that whereas
55 casements had been stolen another 43 had been redeemed from
the soldiers.
Endorsed: "Cranborne estimate of losses, 6661 15s 0d." 3 pp.
(General 3/4.) |
| James Duport to Mr Lord. |
| 1647, June 1. | He is anxious because no money has arrived for
Mr [Algernon] Cecil, and as the quarter will be drawing shortly
towards its end supplies are much needed. "I am much troubled
about Mr Cecill's private expences, which goes under the name of
spending money. I see I cannot please both my Lord and him.
Yt will be exceeding hard (if not impossible) for me to observe
such a mean, and to keep such an even hand as not to offend either
in the excesse or defect. Some money in his purse he must
needs have upon all occasions, provided he have the prudence to
manage it, as it is to be supposed he has beeing of those years he is.
And to give an account of every penny he spends will scarce down
with him. The older he grows the more impatient of restraint in
this kind. I perceive he has no supply from home. My Lord
knows what is fittest to be done heerin. He is loath, I perceive,
to trust him for fear of inconvenience, but may there not likewise
be inconvenience (and it may be a greater) in leaving him bare,
by driving him into discontent? Sir, I am no pleader for liberty
nor profusenesse. Only I would have it considerd whether some
dispositions are not best wrought upon by encouragements. I
should be very glad to be easd of this burden of giving him mony
into his own hands quarterly for emergent occasions; which yet
if I do not, for ought I know, he will be ready to borrow, which
will be a remedy worse then the disease for one of his rank especially. Sir, I purpose (God willing) about a month hence to take a
journy into the country and to continew for 3 or 4 weeks (it being
all the recreation I have to visit my freinds once a year in the
vacation). And I dare scarce leave Mr Cecill here alone, at least
I am loath. I would humbly crave favour of his Lordshipp to
dispense with me and (if he think good) to let him come home for
so short a time. It may be his Lordshipps admonitions may do
him more good then if he were here. But if he think it inconvenient for him to be at home, I shall take the best care I can to dispose
of him in my absence with one that may have a speciall eye over
him."—Trinity College, Cambridge, 1 June, 1647.
Holograph. Seal. 1 p. (General 72/17.)
On reverse: "By Ed. Ashpole, carter, att ye greene dragon
bishopgate. He returnes Thursdaies." |
| A Speech to the Citizens of London. |
| [? 1647] June 2. | "To the Right Honorable the Lord Maior,
Court of Aldermen and Common Counsell, and to all Colonells,
Commanders, Cittizens and Inhabitants of the famous Citty of
London. |
| Noble Cittizens: |
| Ffor such was the tytle of the anntient Romanes, and such may
yours bee if you please by your loyall endeavours to redeame your
forfaited honor and reputations. |
| When ffirst you were seduced and drawne in to bee aydors and
actors by your purses and persons in this unparaleld rebellion, 1,
it was upon pretence to bringe the King to his Parliament from
his evill councell, 2ly, to preserve his royall person, 3ly, liberties
of the subjecte, 4ly, lawes of the Kingdome, 5ly previlidges of Parliament, 6ly, lastly to maintaine the true Protestant Religion. But
now, alas, Quantum mutatus ab illo. Ffor, |
| 1, The Kinge hath left his evill councell and willingly would
come to his Parliament hopinge by his presence there to begett
a true understandinge betweene them, but cannot bee entertained
or admitted to plead his owne cause, though for the good of his
subjects hee would undervalue himselfe and decline severall of his
owne just rights and previlidges. |
| 2, Was his person preserved? When like a pelican in the wildernes or a partridge hee was hunted and persecuted from place
to place by sundry armes of scandalous and bloodthirsty rebells,
did not the Earle of Essex pretend to drawe his sword for the
safetie of the same, and to that purpose has comition, but Sir
Tho: Ffairfax by his may kill and slay it; and yet both the fatall
xes weare for King and Parliament, and that ex concreto to a new
created concept. Judge, I pray, if this bee not pretty juglinge.
Kisse and kill the Kinge, ffeight for his office and distroy his
person and posteritie; is any soe blinde as not to see the scope of
this theire miserie whose ecco is meere trecherie. And, |
| 3, Is it the libertie of the subjecte, when all mens persons and
estates are e[n]slaved by a meere arbitrary power, and government
a crime condemned in the late Earle of Strafford but now commended by his accusors and judges? And are not those taxes,
impositions and excises, which lately weare cryd downe for
monopoles and grevances, now cryed up againe and strained to
the height of extremitie? Is not one nights freequarter more
burthensome to the subject then seaven yeares shipmoney would
have been? Oh, the creweltie and inconstancie of these allpoweringe and comandinge senators. |
| 4, How are the lawes of the Kingdome preserved and kept
unviolated when a bare order or ordinance of Parliament shall
check and countercomand an Acte and all knowne and positive
lawes; nay, when a country committee man or his mans man
shall have power to pervert justice and stopp the current and due
course of law and equitie? And, |
| 5, Is it the previlidge of Parliament to overpower all regalities,
to restraine, imprison or dispose of theire ffree borne Prince contrary to his pleasure? Nay, to oppose, yea and depose soveraignetie itself and cutt of roote and branch to the utter extirpation
of Monarchicall Governement? Did our gratious Kinge convene a
Parliament to that end, confirme it tryeniall, yea, perpetuall, to
robb himselfe of his royall and deprive his princely progenie of
theire birthright? God forbidd, to repay good with evill is
inhumaine and develish. Or, |
| 6, How is the Protestant Religion maintained when it is minced
into soe many severall opinions that scarce a morsall therof can
bee found amongst you? Are there not now as many mindes as
men? One cryes, a Kinge, an other, noe Kinge. Some will
have the Booke of Common Prayer, some the new directory, some
neither of them both. And I myselfe have heard Essex theire
late champion both say and swear that if hee thought the Parliament would not maintaine the Booke of Common Prayer, hee
would never drawe his sword againe on theire behalfe. But hee
that made noe conscience of fforfaitinge his allegiance made as
little of perjure. |
| Each mans ffancie is now become his ffaith, and millions of
sects and schismes are risen up to blast the blossome of the tree
of life, and like soe many weedes to overspread the garden of
our Paradise. And will you not yet bee sencible of the same?
Especially when you plainely see the late marters of those newe
beleavers, Burton, (fn. 1) Bastwick and Prinn differ soe much amongst
themselves in theire owne opinions. Nay, when you see theire
adherents and protectors, Parliament men themselves, Presbiters
and Independents, vote soe many severall contrarieties quite
repugnant to theire first pretended principles. And hee that
yesterday fought against the popish army had his late obseques
celebrated with greater superstition then the papists use in theire
needles and prophanish ceremonies. Wittnes theire adored
General late at Essex house, whose servants daily offered up with
bare heads and bended knees severall sortes of costly cakes for his
usual refreshment, doinge obesance to that idoll, theire wodden
and waxen Lord, when they brought them in and tooke away.
O grosse ffopperie, a thousand thousand tymes worse than Poperie. |
| Are these the ways to worke a glorious reformation? Are these
the meanes to make a happy nation? Or doe soe many severall
bypaths tend to everlastinge salvation? Surely noe, ffor there
is but one truth and one way to that Summam Bonum, the true
protestant religion, that savinge doctrine which was taught by
Christ and his Apostles, practiced in the primative Church for
many ages, since sealed by the blood of many marters, and now
professed and maintained by our royall and most gratious soveraigne Lord Kinge Charles, whose pious intentions and endeavours
God in his good tyme will blesse and prosper. |
| O then for God and Kings sake, for your owne and countrys
sake, awake and sleepe noe longer in this sinfull lethergie. Arise,
brave cittizens, arise, and bee noe longer deluded and infatuated
with the false prophitts of these tymes, and indirecte practices of a
pernitious convention, which seeke the ruine of your soules and
bodyes by lullinge you asleepe in that which is worse then witchcraft. |
| Consider into what a sadd condition you and yours are lickly
to bee plunged if not tymely prevented. Thinke what a miserable
nation this wilbe if foraigne fforces invade it, which of necessitie
must bee if seasonably you declare not your abused loyalties.
And waigh well with your selves into what a laborinth these
miscreants had wrought themselves, and willingly would winde
out of it, if they could. But those ffeares and jelosies which at
first weare faigned to devide their prince and his people and render
him odious in his subjects eyes, are now returned reall into theire
owne brests and bosomes. |
| Theire consciences accuse them and theire countenances
bewray them. In theire ffaces you may finde the marks of
guiltines, lookinge like men affrighted and scard out of theire
sences, as well they may doe, havinge been starke madd these
six yeares. Nay, doe but observe and you will admire how they
stand amazed at the constant courage and undaunted loyalty of
the oppressed Cavalrie [? Cavaliers], whose consciences are theire
continuall ffeasts, for it is within that doth justifie or condemne.
And (hopeles themselves of mercie) they knowe theire owne
distruction is at hand, havinge wound up the stringe of theire rebellion to that height that it now cracks and must breake, soe that
now they have noe other harbor or haven to make for but New
England, whether they have sent a masse of treasure, and whether
they will flock and ffly togeather, if with Judas they doe not
dispaire for betrayinge theire maister, Kinge and country, and
hange themselves to save Gregorie the labor. |
| Oh, then bee wise before it bee to late. It is noe dishonor to
repent an error, nor are you tyed to dy in sinn though you have
longe lived and slept therin. Arise then, I beseach you, and rouse
up yourselves. Looke on that man of men and paragon of princes,
our dread and most gratious soveraigne, who like a glorious star
now shines bright through the darke cloude of affliction. Observe
his words (like apples of gould) winninge the hartes of all his
hearers, and his deeds like dymonds in the darke, sparklinge to the
admiration of all behoulders. Nay, see in what happy meane
hee steeres his course to that Summam Bonum, neither enclininge
to the Presbit[e]rian madnes on the one syde, nor to the Independant ffolly on the other, but casts him selfe on his good God and
the loyall affections of his loving subjects, the true Protestants
of this Kingdome, with assured confidence to reduce the same to
its quondam happines (though in all probabilitie it appeares
otherways), plainely foreseeinge Presbit[e]rian tyrinnie worse then
the Egyptian bondage, and the Independant tricherie to roote him
out and his posteritie. |
| Judge then, I beseach you, if it bee not high tyme to looke
about you for preventinge that misery which now is like to fall
upon you, which (next under Gods speciall providence) must bee
by your meanes and endeavours in bringinge home the Kinge
with honor and safetie, and to repay such your love and service.
His Maty by Gods blessinge shall protecte you and yours, your
lives, liberties, lawes and previlidges, and above all the true
Protestant Religion in its puretie, without the least connivancie
at Poperie, as hee hath often solemnely promised and protested. |
| Then shall you see a new earth and a Heaven on that earth,
when every man shall reape the ffrutes of his owne labor, sitt
under his owne vine, and eate of his ffig-tree in peace and plentie,
without danger or ffeare of pillaginge or plundringe. |
| Then shall you see a happy Parliament by a new and due ellection of discreet and upright members (instead of the now corrupt
and bloodthirstioues). who shall reestablish his Maty on his throne
with his just rights and previlidges, and enacte such good and
wholsome lawes for the benefitt of his subjects that all teares
shall be wept [? wiped] from theire eyes and noe complayninge
heard in your streets, ffor all illegal and unheard of taxes, all
excises and new devises shallbe taken away. The very tearme
and tytle of an imposition, contribution or sequestration shalbe
as unquoth to the people as now they are odious, and the name of
a Committe man as hateful as the name of a hangman. |
| Then shall you see (instead of an illiterate and seditious synode
pickt out on purpose by this Parliament to brock sects and schismes
in this Kingdome) a religious convocation of grave and learned
divines chosen by the clergie in theire proper precints and diocesses
accordinge to anntient and most commendable custome of former
tymes, who will settle religion in its quondam primative puretie,
and make theire lights soe to shine before men that they may
glorifie theire ffather which is in Heaven. |
| These blessinges, if you please, you may see and you and yours
participate therof, ffor (next under God) it is now in your power to
stanch that blooddy issue which soe longe hath streemed out soe
much gallant English blood, and to prevent a seacond warr now
threatened which in all probabilitie may prove worse then the
fformer. |
| It is now in your power to reduce England to its prestine
happines and prosperitie, and by an endles peace to put a period
to all these wofull distructions. |
| In one word, it is in your power (by Gods assistance) to bringe
home our Kinge, to preserve his royall person, the liberties of the
subject, lawes of the Kingdome, and previlidges of Parliament,
to the maintenance of the true Protestant Religion. And therfore
againe and againe I beseach you, nay, I conjure you by the duty
and allegiance you owe to God and your Kinge and love to your
country, that you resolve like Christians and acte like men of
resolution in securinge the persons of such wicked rebells as have
brought these miserable calamites on this late florishinge nation,
that they may receive condigne punishment for the same. |
| This doe and the worke is donn, or else you wilbe undonn, ffor
theire ffall must bee fatall, unavoydable and irrecoverable as yours
undoubtedly wilbe if timely you lay not hould on this happy
opportunety; which if you doe the babes unborne shall blesse
you, both bond and ffreemen praise you, and court and country
honor you for your love and loyalty to prince and people. |
| Which that you may doe shalbe the prayer of a souldier that
desires peace, of a subject that wishes the welfare of his soveraigne,
and of a Christian that ardently desires the settlement and
propagation of the true Protestant Religion.—July 2.
Meliora Speranda als in utramque paratus
6 pp. (253. 1.) |
| Sir Thomas Fairfax to Colonel Horton. |
| 1647, June 19. | You are upon sight hereof to take care that the
guard of horse now kept in the Earl of Salisbury's parks at
Hatfield be removed from thence to some other places as convenient. You are likewise to acquaint the Major of Colonel
Hamond's regiment that none of the officers or soldiers of that
regiment shall quarter in his Lordship's house at Hatfield.—St.
Albans, 19 June, 1647.
Signed. ½ p. (131. 190.) |
| The Forest of Dean. |
| 1647, August 23. | "Coppie of a letter from Mr George Oldfeild,
Woodward, Christopher Worgan, Andrew Horne, Thomas Berrowe and Arthur Rowles, Preservators of Deane Forrest in the
countie of Gloucester, dated the xxiiith of August, 1647, unto
the Committee of Lords and Commons for his Maties Revenue. |
| Right Honoble. Your honors letter of the xith of this instant
August wee received the xxith of the same moneth, and in
pursuance of your Lordshipps directions therein, wee humbly
certifie that the dead and decaied trees by us assigned to and for
Major general Massys use in severall places in Deane Forrest
called Barnehill, Rosell Edge and Phelpes Meadow in the woodwardshipp of Stanton are not cutt downe nor any of them; and
that by vertue of your honors order wee have contracted with
Colonel Robert Kyrle for the same proportion of wood which was
to be delivered unto Major generall Massy, but in another place
of the said Forrest, viz, in the woodwardshipp of Ruardeane
because it is nearer unto Colonel Kyrles Iron-workes, and wherein
there are more decaied trees then in the places where the wood
was assigned to and for Major generall Massy his use, at the rate
of eight shillings and six pence the long corde, for all the stoules
and roots of the trees to be cutt downe for the raising of the said
couplement. Wee have allso agreed that the said Colo: Kyrle
shall give good securitie before Michaelmas next, and before any
wood shall be delivered to him, for the payment of the moneys
unto us due for the said wood (according to your honors order)
quarterly for so much wood as he shall receive everie quarter."
Endorsed: "Coppie of a letter from the Preservators of Deane
Forrest, dated xxiiith August, 1647." 1 p. (General 72/20.) |
| John Hill and Thomas Edmonds to the Earl of
Salisbury. |
| [1647, September 8.] | Troopers under the command of Colonel
Fleetwood. Particulars of the capture by them unaided of a
robber near Hertford Heath. Salisbury has applied to Fleetwood
for the robber's horse, supposing it to belong to him as felon's
goods. But Fleetwood doubts not that Salisbury will be satisfied
now that he is informed of the truth of the matter. Pray to be
allowed to keep the horse.—Undated.
1 p. (P. 2359.) |
| The Enclosure |
| Humphrey Ellis to [Colonel Fleetwood]. |
| Was one of the men attacked by the robber and certifies to the
above capture being made before the hue and cry was sent out or
country raised.—Ware, 8 September, 1647.
½ p. |
| The Countess of Cork to William Collins. |
| [1647] November 19. | Requests him to allow Thornton to
look for a certain paper in the two trunks of writings which she
left in Collins's care, as well as to peruse all papers relating to her
mother's marriage which she had asked him to keep.—Bolton
Abbey, 9br 19th.
Holograph. Seal. Endorsed in another hand: "Countess of
Corke for her Trunkes, 1647." 1 p. (General 20/24.) |