|
July 1. |
1. Sir Michael Ernie to Sec. Windebank. On Monday the 29th
of June there came to Dunse 200 horse loads of provisions, and there
are come to Haddington, Dunbar, and Preston Pans divers forces to
the number of 3,000 or 4,000, so that they now make a show as if
they meant to draw to a head. Monroe was on the 27th of June
still at Aberdeen, though divers gentlemen that came out of the
North with the Marquis Huntley's son reported he was marching
towards Edinburgh, 9,000 or 10,000 strong; but he has not the
third part of that number, and is ill-provided with ammunition.
Some forces are sent, and as I am informed, six cannon to take in
Lord Ogleby's [Ogilvie's] house in the North. Those that went long
since into the West of Scotland to take Lord Nislet's [Nithsdale's]
house, as it was conceived, are still at Dumfries. Edinburgh Castle
remains in the same state; it is reported by one that came thence
that to-day they intend to make some great attempt upon it; but I
can give little credit to the report. I shall not fail, as well as I can
inform myself, to give you account of the proceedings in these parts.
[Endorsed: "Received July 6." Seal with crest. 1 p.] |
July 1. |
2. George Payler to [Lord Treasurer Juxon]. The 6,000l. lately
advanced for the garrison of Berwick is sufficient for the payment of
the 12 companies and train of artillery for two months from this
date; but the fortifications, repairs, and materials, together with
other emergent occasions, require a further supply of 2,000l. for two
months, and in regard of these large disbursements the great distance
betwixt London and Berwick, the hazard in open postage of moneys,
together with the charge, especially if attended with my own person.
May it pleace your Lordship to give order that a further advance of
10,000l. be prepared, which will continue the discharge of all occasions belonging to the garrison until the 1st of November next, that
I may return to my employment at Berwick. [2/3 p.] |
July 1. Newcastle. |
3. George Vane to his father Sec. Vane. The building at Raby
Castle is progressing well; I have not yet seen Richeson, the surveyor.
I am going to Raby Castle to-morrow to remove my troop to within
two miles of Newcastle, to be in readiness, the report here being constant and general that the Scots without fail will be here next week.
I shall take order before I go from Raby about your breed, if I take
John Betty with me, so that it shall not be neglected in his absence.
Also Mr. Conyers and I have appointed a meeting for enrolling such
tenants of yours as shall be able to take arms in time of need for the
defence of the castle, and you shall have a list of them. I shall also
take care your armoury is in good order. [Seal with crest, broken.
2 pp.] |
July 1. Donington. |
4. Henry Earl of Huntingdon to Nicholas. The draught horses
shall be at Newcastle the 15th of July, according to the Council's
directions, signified by your letter of the 29th of June last. Next
week the Lord General shall have an account of the performance of
this business. [Endorsed: "Received 3rd July." Paper seal with
arms and coronet. ½ p.] |
July 1. |
5. Petition of Robert Gilbert, vicar of Flixton, Suffolk, to Archbishop Laud. Petitioner was presented by the University of Cambridge to this living on or about May 10th, 1639. Prays for assistance,
because divers tenants of Lady Lettice Tasburgh, pretended patroness
of the said living, who is a convicted recusant, have defrauded him
of the tithes due out of the lands they occupy to the value of 600l. per
annum. He has proceeded against them in the Court of Arches, and
sentence is to be given next Monday, but petitioner cannot discharge the fees to the court for that sentence, by reason of the subtraction of his tithes, and the money he has already expended.
Underwritten, |
5. i. "I desire Sir John Lambe to take this poor clergyman's case
into consideration, and afford him all lawful favour for
"his just relief. W. Cant. 1st July 1640." [2/3 p.] |
July 1. Lambeth. |
6. Archbishop Laud to Edward Viscount Conway. I doubt my
last letters, which I gave Sec. Windebank to send you, miscarried,
because I hear not from you since, considering those letters gave you
an account of your four propositions entrusted to me about fortifying
Newcastle. In those letters I sent you word that I had showed
those propositions to his Majesty, who liked them well, but misdoubted the first, as if it would unsettle the new duty to him upon
the coals. I further said I would again press the King for the
necessity of this work and get your propositions referred to my
Lord Lieutenant [of Ireland], who now I hope [mends] indeed. I
did so. His Majesty answered the Lord Lieutenant was a stranger
to the whole business about the coals, and, therefore, could not be fit,
besides the consideration of his weakness, to have the reference
made to him, but commanded me to deliver them to Lord Cottington. I did so, and have since called on him for his judgment. He
tells me plainly he conceives them impracticable, because the
Corporation cannot have less than 2d. per chaldron, and the
owner and sel[lers] have great impositions already laid upon
them both at Sunderland and Newcastle. For my own part I
would have something done to secure Newcastle both for the
present and the future. [Seal with arms; damaged by damp.
1 p.] |
July 1. |
7. Deputy-Lieutenants of Somersetshire to the Lords Lieutenants
Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery and William Earl of
Hertford. We received, the 28th of June, your letters of the 20th
of the same, and therein a transcript of one from the Council unto
you of the 19th June, by which we perceive they are offended with
some neglect of ours in this service. We desire you to let their
Lordships know, that according to his Majesty's command and their
directions we pressed 2,000 able men, and brought them to the rendezvous at Bruton and Wincanton on the 10th of May, where two of
us continued with them till the 17th of the same, expecting they
should depart on the 20th towards Newcastle, and we provided for
them 2,000 coats, and laid out for their pay almost 600l. But after
all this your letters of May 6 were sent us, and in them a transcript
of another from the Council of 3rd May, which were not delivered
to us till the 16th, commanding us not to bring the soldiers to the
rendezvous till the 1st of June, when they had been there already
seven days. Had they departed thence, according to the former directions, there had not gone out of any county a band of more able and
well ordered soldiers. But what disorders they committed after
their disbanding we are unwilling to relate, and yet two of us
always remained among them to keep them in order as well as we
could, and to see them duly paid; had we not supplied them out of
our own purses with above 100l. when money came not in readily
out of the country they had all dispersed and gone away. The
whole fault must rest on those that kept your letters so long from
us, by means whereof there was near 600l. cast away. On receipt of
your letters, dated Marlborough, June 10, which came to us at
Bruton when all things were full of tumult, that being the day
appointed for the soldiers to march towards Selby, we offered some
of them press-money, but they utterly refused it, and we thought it
at that time no indiscretion to connive at it. And at our coming to our
homes we intended to prosecute the service, but at our return and
ever since we find these parts in and about Taunton and the adjoining parishes so dangerously infected with the plague that we fear to
call any companies together lest we might send some to the King's
army bringing with them more prejudice than we hope the enemy's
sword shall ever be able to do. Another reason which made us forbear
to trouble the country with a new press was because we conceived,
and so it fell out, that many soldiers upon our warrants which were
sent throughout the country would daily come in before their removing from their rendezvous or speedily after. But the chief cause of
this omission is the want of money. For whereas we are commanded to press almost 400 men, and send them by conductors to
Selby at the charge of the county, we assure you there is already spent
in the former pressing and paying of the soldiers above 1,300l., and
the draper who furnished the coats is paid but 300 odd pounds of
the 1,000l. due to him, so that there is owing to him almost 700l.,
which if it be not speedily paid he is utterly undone, and we have
not yet one penny towards it, and have cause to doubt that it will
come in very slowly if at all. To press so many men anew, and
cause them to be conducted and paid till they come to Selby, at the
charge of the county where there is not one penny to pay them, we
leave it to you to consider how dangerous it may prove to ourselves
and the country to bring together so many unruly men and have
nothing to pay them. We have often heretofore and lately called
most of the constables before us requiring them to bring in the
money laid on their several hundreds, but many brought not in one
quarter of their dues, others nothing at all, alleging their neighbours
excused themselves saying they had no money; and we requiring
the names of such refusers, their answer was they must bring in the
names of every man in some hundreds, which we believe will be such
a number as you will not think fit should be sent you. Touching the
soldiers which are run away, we have sent abroad warrants and
hue and cries for them, and will send out others to have them
apprehended and punished according to law, but at present we hear
of none that are taken. [Seal with arms and crest, broken. 2 pp.] |
July 1. Bodmin. |
8. The Deputy-Lieutenants of Cornwall to the Lord Lieutenant
Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery. We have endeavoured
the levying of the 1,600 pressed men imposed on this county, and
have impressed the greater part of them with the assistance of the
commanders sent hither for that purpose by the Lord General.
We have observed your directions in pressing others instead of the
freeholders that were of the trained bands, and who were unable or
unwilling to serve themselves, and have spared seiners and sailors.
This has been more difficult than you may conceive, for we have
been even compelled to press the constables of many parishes to
enforce them to bring forth their able-bodied men. We have
given orders for levying as much money as we conceive will be
necessary for the coating and salary of these 1,600, and for conducting them to their rendezvous; but although we have commanded that the money should be brought us hither at Bodmin, at
this time of our meeting, by the petty constables, it is not, and
could not yet be so fully effected as we expected, so we are forced
to appoint another meeting on Tuesday next in our several
divisions, and then we hope to have our men ready to come to
their rendezvous. For the whole number of the soldiers we yet
want about 50 men, 25 of them were to have been raised out
of the parishes of St. Just, Filley, Gerrans, and Antony, but
Capt. Hannibal Bonithon in a violent way commanded the menof those parishes to attend to be mustered before him at the same
time we had commanded them to have been brought before us to
be mustered. The particular of Bonithon's doing and contempt
herein we herewith certify under our hands, commending it to you
to be reformed. We are informed, and are very doubtful, many
will refuse to pay coat and conduct-money for these soldiers, which
will retard the service. Concerning those that refuse to receive
the prest-money, we desire further directions how we shall proceed
with them. We cannot sufficiently express to you the lamentable
complaints of all sorts of people that are brought us for the impressing so great a number, and we again solicit you for the
lessening of the number, if it may be obtained. We are forced to
present also to you the mischief lately done on our coast by the
Turkish pirates, who have fought with our ships, and taken away
divers of our people at Looe, Penzance, and other places, whereof
we are unable to certify the numbers. These Turkish miscreants
are reported to be at least 60 men-of-war. The fishermen are
afraid to put to sea, and we are forced to keep continual watches
on all our coasts. [Seal with device. 1½ pp.] Enclosed, |
8. i. The certificate of the same deputy-lieutenants touching the
contemptuous misdemeanours above mentioned, of Capt.
Hannibal Bonython, lieutenant of St. Mawe's Castle. Bodmin, July 1st, 1640. [1½ pp.] Enclosing, |
8. ii. Copy of warrant of the deputy-lieutenants to the constables
of St. Just, Gerrans, Filley, and Antony, for mustering
the trained bands and able men at Truro, on the 20th of
June. June 12th, 1640. [2/3 p.] |
8. iii. Copy of certificates of the constables above mentioned, that
they had received and published the warrants of the
deputy-lieutenants, and then of Capt. Bonython, for
assembling the able-bodied men of their parishes as above.
Truro, June 20th, 1640. [1½ pp.] |
July 1. Middle Temple. |
9. Robert Henley to [Robert] Read. According to what I
spoke of last night, I find in one of my servant's letters that he did
write twice to me concerning a boy's going away, and that it
seemed his letters miscarried. I believe that one of his letters did
miscarry. This is all I can find at present concerning that matter.
Had I known before that you desired a certificate I should have
furnished myself better and shall hereafter. P.S.—Mr. Freke has
brought you a certificate from Lord Paulett and myself, who are
the two next justices to Crewkerne. If such men were put in it
would credit the business. [Seal with arms and crest. 1 p.] |
[July 1.] |
10. Sir Richard Tichborne, Sir Henry Clerk, and Sir Wm. Lewis
to [James Stuart Duke of Lennox], and Jerome Earl of Portland.
lords lieutenants of Hants. We having received your letters
of 17th April last for the examining a complaint against Capt.
Tucker, by Mr. Dare, whereof his Majesty and the Council took
notice, and thereupon made an order which we received, together
with a petition of Captain Tucker recharging Mr. Dare with private
ends of his own; the examination whereof it pleased you to refer
to us to report on; accordingly we met at Winchester the 5th of
June, and called before us Captain Tucker and Mr. Dare, with all
such testimonies as were necessary. In the first place we required
Mr. Dare to deliver unto us the examinations formerly taken
therein, which he refused to do in the originals, but delivered
unto us, as he alleged, a true transcript of the same, but not under
the hands of either of the former referees. Nevertheless we accepted
of the same to prevent any exceptions that might be pretended,
and examined all witnesses that Capt Tucker or Mr. Dare then
offered us, the true copies [of which examinations] we here present.
In which we do not find that Capt. Tucker received any money
for the discharge of any prest soldiers, some overtures were made
and small sums deposited in the hands of second parties, which
were to obtain supplies, if they might be had. But we find not
any discharged by Captain Tucker without the consent of the
deputy-lieutenants or some of them, nor that any of the parties
accused of offering money to be exempted from that service held
themselves aggrieved, or would have complained if they had not
been pressed thereunto. You may haply find some difference
between these examinations and those taken by the former referees,
whereof we informed the examinants, and willed them to be careful
to express truth, although we had no authority to administer an
oath. Some of them answered that what they said before us they
would be disposed to, and that what they had formerly done they
were drawn unto by fear or respect unto Sir Henry Mildmay, one of
the former referees. As for the offers of accommodation made to
stay further prosecution of the business after the complaint exhibited (as is alleged in Captain Tucker's petition) you may find
by the examinations of John Imber, clerk, Mr. Baker, Richard
Braxton, Anthony Cleeter, and George Hide, that the charge of
recrimination was not without ground, both touching the yielding
up of the captain's place to Sir Henry Mildmay, and a coppice to
Mr. Dare. Some law suits have formerly been between the parties.
[Endorsed: "Sir Ric. Tichbourn, &c., letter to my Lord and the Earl
of Portland concerning Capt. Tucker, received July the 3rd, 1640."
2 pp.] |
July 1. Office of Ordance. |
11. Certificate from the Officers of the Ordnance what gunpowder was remaining in his Majesty's stores on the 1st of June
last, with the amounts since brought in and issued for his Majesty's services or otherwise respectively. Total remaining in
store at the Tower and at Portsmouth, 196 lasts 9 cwt. 28 lbs.
[=2 pp.] |
July 1. |
12. Certificate of the names of such of the trained band as
appeared not at the muster at Wokingham, co. Berks., this day.
[1 p.] |
July 2. |
13. Sir Richard Tichborne and Sir Richard Norton to [the Lords
Lieutenants of Hants]. On the first of this July we met at Magdalen
Hill, near Winchester, whither we desired the able horses proportioned on each division to be brought before us, to be forthwith
sent towards Newcastle, some few horses were shown to us, and
those in a manner insufficient, the owners affirming they had no
better and that such as they were they were unable to part with
them upon their own hazard except their value might be satisfied
or secured by the country or some other way. Many who were to
bring horses brought mares, alleging that they had no horses, and
it is true that in many places of this county, especially in the
woodlands, mares, oxen, and small nags are most used for draught.
Out of some divisions we received no returns at all, as out of the
New Forest and King's Clere. The fittest horses are in the hands
of gentlemen of quality or renters of farms, most of which are
charged with light horses, and many are his Majesty's servants,
all of whom desire consideration to be had of that charge, and the
service they are bound to attend. Nevertheless we hope that if
the charge of these 50 horses might be laid indifferently upon the
whole county and not on particular persons the service might
reasonably be done, which we cannot possibly do without further
power from above, for we find by the experience of the ill-payment of the coat and conduct-money with what unwillingness
other demands will be satisfied. If the coat and conduct-money
were paid, or course taken to reduce the refusers to conformity, it
would near suffice to despatch this business, and much encourage
those who have willingly paid on the like occasion. The proportion rated upon the county was 2,500l., of which about 500l. is
brought in for the most part by those nearest us. This is for the
most part expended on the present conducting and allowance for
necessary repairs of apparel to the soldiers gone. The coats are
not paid for, but remain to be satisfied upon our undertaking for
them, and we desire your assistance to make good our undertaking.
We also present to you, that since we delivered the soldiers out of
this county very many of them have returned; some show certificates of discharge, others allege as much, but show nothing, some
followed by hue and cry, of whom, such as are apprehended,
are committed to gaol; concerning these we desire directions.
[1¼ pp.] |
July 2. Bala. |
14. Deputy-Lieutenants of co. Merioneth to John Earl of Bridgewater. We have levied 100 foot with a drum and drummer, coated
them, and to day delivered them to Capt. John Edwards by indentures, whereof we send you duplicates for further to be done
therein as to you shall seem meet. [Endorsed: "Received 11th July
1640." ½ p.] |
July 2. Lambeth. |
15. Warrant from the High Commission Court, signed by Archbishop Laud and John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, to Thomas
Thrasher, messenger of the Chamber, and to all justices of peace,
mayors, sheriffs, and others to aid him in searching all places where
Jesuits, Popish priests, or other dangerous persons, or Popish and
heretical books or any kind of seditious writings or printing presses
employed in the printing of any such are suspected to be, and to
apprehend and search every such person so found, and the parties in
whose keeping any such things are found; as also all persons procuring or permitting mass to be said, or that shall be hearers thereof,
or that shall be vehemently suspected to be present thereat in any
place whatever; and also all makers and sellers of any superstitious
relics or monuments of Popery, and those known or suspected to
carry such from place to place or bring them from foreign parts.
Those that are offenders in any of these ways we authorise you to
bring before me, the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, or the Bishop
of London, or to any who deal in those cases; or if they cannot
presently be conveniently brought, then to commit them to the
next prison or common gaol of the county where they shall be found
and forthwith to acquaint us. All persons refusing to have their
children lawfully baptized, or procuring or Buffering any Popish
priest or other person superstitiously to baptize any child, or that
shall be known or vehemently suspected to send any child or other
person into foreign parts to be kept or taught in any school or
college there or to be instructed in the Romish religion; and all
known or suspected to practise against the State and religion now
established. Likewise all in whose custody you shall find any sum
of money or other things known to be provided to convey or maintain any such child, priest, or person beyond seas, or to be employed
for any other Popish superstitious use; that all such persons and
things you attach and bring presently before us as aforesaid, always
provided that you first note in writing all the parcels under the
hands of the parties in whose hands any such shall be found, or of
the constable and other your assistants herein, to be sent to us
together with the same; and if you cannot presently bring to us
the said persons, that then you commit them as aforesaid, unless
they forthwith enter good bond with sufficient sureties to his
Majesty's use, to appear before some of us at a certain day to be by
you limited according to the distance of their abodes, all which
bonds with your informations against the parties you shall return
into our registry at or before the days of their appearance. [Copy.
3 pp.] |
July 2. Thrusk[Thirsk?] |
16. Capt. Hugh Pollard to Edward Viscount Conway. It has
been my misfortune not to be able to wait on you sooner. Your
chaplain, Mr. Smith, impatient of my slow march, though late,
hastens to you. The commissary's bitter pen is now delivering you
such news as came this night from London. The little I brought
with me I reserve for when I shall wait on you. [Seal with device.
1 p.] |
July 2. Whitehall. |
Henry Earl of Holland, chief justice and justice in Eyre of the
forests on this side Trent, to the officers of Windsor Forest, co. Berks.
Suit having been made to me on the behalf of Francis Kiblewhite,
of Old Windsor, to grant him license to enlarge a dwelling-house,
being parcel of Tyle-place, and standing upon certain grounds called
Remnan's, in Old Windsor, within the forest, and to take in three or
four acres of the grounds for orchards and gardens, with authority
to dig earth and make bricks and tiles, and to burn lime for the
building aforesaid, the which I am certified may be done without
prejudice to the forest. I have therefore thought fit to license Mr.
Kiblewhite to inclose two and a half acres of the lands called Remnan's, to be employed for this purpose, and to have 10 elms or oaks
carried away, but these to be taken in such places and under such
limitations as are here mentioned. [Copy. = 3 pp. See vol. ccclxxxiv.
p. 85.] |
July 2. Whitehall. |
Warrant of the same to Mr. Batten. You are required to repair
to the dwellings of the persons named in the schedule, and to demand
and receive of them the several fines imposed at the sessions held
before me for the forest of Essex, and as yet unpaid to his Majesty.
If any refuse to pay you are to take bond for their appearance
before me at Whitehall on the 12th October next, and if any refuse
to enter into such bond you are to bring such in custody before me
wheresoever I shall then be. [Copy. 1¼ p. See Ibid, p. 88.] |
July 3. |
Petition of Nathaniel Gerard to the King. Some years past
petitioner, by your command, made sundry voyages into Holland
concerning your jewels, in which he aimed only at your profit, as
appeared to the then Commissioners of. your Treasury, and is known
to Sir William Boswell, your resident in Holland, who was joined
with petitioner in that business. In that employment petitioner
left his own occasions and spent two years, so that he was hindered
above 1,000l. and no reward has been given him for his service.
Also he has paid 400l. interest charged to his account for great
charges in loss of time and suit, and money is due to him on a Privy
Seal. As he intends to make a voyage to Spain to follow his trade
in pearls and hopes to do you and the Queen good service, and so
raise his estate, having no hope left to recover himself but this
intended voyage, he prays you to give order that the truth of this
relation be examined, and then order the payment of the Privy Seals
of what he stands charged concerning the necklace of pearls, and
reward his other services. Underwritten, |
i. Reference to Lords Treasurer and Cottington to examine what
sums of money his Majesty owes petitioner, both as
principal and interest, and what reward is fit to be
given him. Whitehall, July 3, 1640. [Copy. See Book
of Petitions, vol. cccciii., p. 203. = ¾ p.] |
[July 3.] |
17. The same to the same. Petitioner was, by your Majesty's
command, sent twice into Holland concerning the King's jewels, for
performance of which service he left his family and business in
Spain, and in these two voyages and long attendance of 20 months
has spent above 1,000l.; prays for reward, not having yet received
any recompense. [2/3 p.] |
July 3/13. Paris. |
18. Charles Louis, Elector Palatine, to [Sec. Vane.] Having as
yet received no answer from the French ministers, upon the point
his Majesty advised me to communicate with them, and fearing a
longer delay of his Majesty's sending to the Imperial Diet may
make it fruitlesss, since it appears by the summons which the King
of Hungary has sent to the States of the Empire, that he will hasten
the consultation and the execution of what will be propounded
there; I beseech his Majesty by the enclosed memorial to hasten
the sending of Curtius to the Diet, with such order as I have presumed to submit to his consideration in the memorial, desiring you
to deliver it to his Majesty and to further the effect of it with your
good advice, lest the subject of it minister the same excuse unto
the princes there assembled, which the Elector of Saxony did
pretend for excluding me out of the peace of Prague; viz., because
there was nobody present to speak for my interests. Monday next,
I go to the Court at Amiens. [Endorsed: "Received the 8th."
1½ pp.] |
July 3. London. |
19. General James King to the same. Regrets having to depart
without having seen him. Craves the continuance of his favour.
[Seal with arms and crest. 1 p.] |
July 3. Hamburg. |
20. John Dury to Sir Thos. Roe. I am desirous to let you know
that in answer to a letter from Bishop Hall, of Exeter, I have told
him of the motion which in my last I made to you concerning my
abode in this place, and becoming a coadjutor to Mr. Elborough.
The great kindness he professed unto me gave me this freedom, for
having told me what passed in the Synod concerning me, and how
he would put my Lord's Grace in mind of his promises on my behalf,
I showed him my intentions to aspire no higher than the preferment
of my work, and that if I could be permitted to stay here and
agitate the business in my own way, and have maintenance to keep
two or three writers to copy out things to be communicated, that
then I would think myself sufficiently assisted. I thought good to
advertise you of this, that your motions for me, or rather my work
(for I desire not to be anything out of the work), may be coincident
and if you think fit also communicated together to second one
another towards his Grace. If my request be granted, one thing I
am. resolved to intend, and that is, to introduce on the Lord's-day,
in the afternoon, a practice of catechising by question and answer.
I hope I shall be able to bring Mr. Elborough to it, either to do it
himself or suffer me to do it; but I would not have this intention
of mine notified to him except my Lord's Grace like that I should,
when I am his coadjutor, intend this, and in this case I would not
have any break the matter to him besides myself, except it be
thought expedient to enjoin us both so to do. Colonel David Leslie
and Colonel Lumsden went to Sweden eight days ago; Leslie is not
fully cured, yet is better than at any time heretofore; he purposes to
solicit a recompense for his services and retire to some corner and live
privately. Lieutenant-General King's lady has an infant daughter.
Mr. Deputy [Avery] is delivered of his ague, but is very weak.
The divines of this town and of Lubeck are beating their brains
about an answer to be given me. J. Lunnius, of Lubeck, has promised
to put it in the best terms he can conceive, and more than this I
cannot desire. [Seal with arms. 2 pp.] |
July 3. Horsley. |
21. Sir Thos. Powell to his brother Lawrence Whitaker. Albeit
I put you to unreasonable charge in very paying the post so many
sixpences for his carriage of my letters to you, yet I cannot forbear
to advertise you, and pray you to certify to the Board my endeavours to execute the service of ship-money. I find such combinations that I cannot as yet get in any more money to any purpose.
I have issued money from my own purse, in bearing the charges
of such special bailiffs as I send, as my trustiest agents, to aid the
constables in distraining, of which moneys I have not yet received
any repayment out of the distresses, or from those officers whose
persons (because of their neglect of his Majesty's service, and their
refusal to give bond to answer the same at the Council) I have
committed. The reason is that no man will buy the goods distrained, and the persons committed continue in their obstinacy, and
refuse to take release, thinking to have more advantage against
me, and aggravate my proceedings as illegal. There is yet in the
Castle at Chester one George Edgley, one of the head constables
of Nantwich Hundred, whom I committed for wilful neglect, and
keep in, for refusing to conform to the duties of his office, until I
receive from the Board notice of his Majesty's pleasure concerning
him, which (because of many threats against me by the great men,
who favour this Edgley, being of the purer sort), I entreat you to
procure me, that I be not justly charged for oppressing him, which
they might have some colour to charge me with if I should not
certify his restraint, and the cause thereof, and desire to know his
Majesty's pleasure thereupon. The quarter sessions for the county
are at hand, and then Edgley, by order of the Bench, hopes to be
released from his head constableship, and consequently from his
restraint. But though his office should cease, I think his crime
committed during his office is punishable afterwards and determinable only at the King's pleasure. The justices of the peace of that
faction will, at their sessions, prefer bills of indictment against me
and my under officers who stir at all in the levy of this ship-money,
and therefore if we be not well backed up by his Majesty and the
Board in our proceedings according to his writ and their instructions
I and all my agents will be utterly discouraged. There is among
the justices one Thos. Standley, of Alderley, the most forward of
all the refractories. He has dared me and my officers, I am told,
to come and distrain, and he would shoot us. This and the like
examples, if they pass with impunity, will prove very pernicious.
Within these few days it shall be tried what he will do. I have
returned 100l. more by Mr. Webbe, of Shrewsbury, which is to be
paid at London on the 1st of August with the 400l. [300l. ?] I returned by him before, payable the same day. The bill of exchange
for this 100l. I shall send by Leech, the carrier. I hope you have
received this day two bills I sent you in my letters this day week
ago by Leech. They are for 700l., which with the bill of 300l.
sent first of all, and this of 100l. will make 1,100l. of the shipmoney from Cheshire already returned. [Seal with arms and crest.
1 p.] |
July 3. |
22. Opinion of Sir Robert Heath touching the legal effect of the
writ ne admittas in the case of Durant versus Cragg, in the Arches
Court, Mr. Durant having been presented by the King to the
church of Weston Sub-Edge, in co. Gloucester. If the plaintiff's
clerk should be admitted and the King put to his quare impedit, by
the same reason it must be so in all other cases. Therefore I hold
that the ne admittas ought to be superceded as it was in the cases
of Dr. Sheldon and Dr. Littleton. The ne admittas may be useful
to prevent a lapse [but] may not be used to prevent the King's
clerk to be admitted. [1 p.] |
July 3. |
23. Account of the receipt of revenue between 26th June 1640,
when there was remaining 4,554l. 3s. 2d., and this day. Total of
receipts of revenue, 45,916l. 16s. 7d.; expenditure, 38,290l. 6s. 8½d.;
so there remained this day 7,626l. 9s. 10½d., whereof of the loans,
4,260l. 12s. 4d.; for the Great Level, 470l. 12s. 7½d.; other moneys,
2,895l. 4s. 11d. [2½ pp.] |
July 3. |
24. Account by the Treasurers of the Navy of the ship-money
received by virtue of writs of 1639. Totals, 28,918l. 18s. 9d. paid,
leaving 181,481l. 1s. 3d. remaining. Also 240l. promised to be
brought in to-morrow from the sheriff of Hants. [1 p.] |
July 3. |
25. Account of ship-money for 1639 levied and remaining in the
hands of the sheriffs. Total, 4,112l., making with the 28,918l. paid
to the Treasurers of the Navy, 33,030l. This week were paid in no
arrears of ship-money for former years. [1 p.] |
July 3. |
26. Certificate of Lucy wife of Arthur Staveley, Esq., that for
the ¾ of the year ending at Midsummer last she had not received
any money towards her alimony payable by her husband by order
of Council. [⅓ p.] |
July 4. Chelmsford. |
27. Robert Earl of Warwick, lord lieutenant of Essex, to the
Council. According to your commands I repaired to Chelmsford,
where my Lord Chief Justice and the rest of the Commissioners
read their commission; but finding all things very peaceable here
we saw no cause for further prosecution of the commission at this
time. Sergeant Major Thelwell's information to you of their disorder was true, but since then my deputy-lieutenants have sent
away all their companies but one, to several great towns, hoping
thereby to master any disorder, and I have ordered the captains
adjacent to be ready to assist their officers in case any distemper
arise amongst them, and we shall be ready upon the first disorder
to execute the commission. [Seal with arms and coronet, broken.
½ p.] |
July 4. Cardiff. |
28. Deputy-Lieutenants of Glamorganshire to the same. We
enclose a duplicate of the indentures signed by us and the officers
sent to take charge of the 200 men raised in this county for this
present expedition. [2/3 p.] |
July 4. |
29. The like from the deputy-lieutenants of Cardiff. [2/3 p.] |
July 4. Cardiff. |
30. The same to John Earl of Bridgewater, lord lieutenant of co.
Glamorgan. We have sent to the Council and the Lord General
duplicates of the indentures signed by us and the officers sent to
receive the 200 soldiers raised in this county, and herein enclosed
present you with a true copy thereof. We pray your assistance
that the allowances spent for coating, keeping, and conducting the
soldiers may be repaid as is mentioned in the Lords' letters, a
copy whereof you sent us. [Endorsed: "Received 25th of July
1640." 1 p.] |
July 4. Berwick. |
31. Sir John Conyers to [Sec. Windebank]. I see no great effect
of the noise they [the Scots] made last week of marching into
England, for I am informed the forces they have and intend to
raise will not much exceed the numbers specified under, which are
no way considerable for such an enterprise, so that in my opinion
we might with more ease relieve Edinburgh Castle and march
farther into Scotland with the horse the King has and the army he
intends to raise, if they were ready to march in any reasonable
time, for they [the Scots] want ammunition, victuals, money, and
arms, and I hear not of any considerable horse that they have.
Edinburgh Castle still holds out; the Scots sprung a mine lately
but it wrought no effect, the Governor having countermined and
taken away their powder, having notice given him by a collier
that had wrought in the mine whom he took prisoner. We mustered here last Wednesday, and I find the companies good and very
complete, but great complaints of the bread which the soldiers have
weekly given them, so I beseech you when this corn is spent that
the soldier may have his full money and no more bread. P.S.—List of
the above-mentioned troops the Scots have and are to levy, making
a total of 5,900 men. [Endorsed: "Received July 10." 1 p.] |
July 4. Bowden. |
32. Certificate of the Deputy-Lieutenants of Cheshire to William
Earl of Derby and James Lord Strange, lords lieutenants. That
they have raised, coated, and clothed the 500 men and 5 drummers
at the expense of the county, and delivered them to Sergeant
Major Matthew Appleyard, of Colonel Sir Charles Vavasour's
command, by indentures, to which schedules containing the names
of the men are annexed, and whereof one part is enclosed to be
presented to the Council. [Endorsed: "Received [July] 21st."
Seal with arms and coronet. 1 p.] |
July 4. Rochester. |
33. The Deputy-Lieutenants of Kent to Philip Earl of Pembroke,
lord lieutenant. This day, soon after we had despatched our letters
to you, we received yours, enclosing one from the Council of
30th June. In obedience to the directions whereof we now resolve
to keep the men that shall be impressed at Canterbury, Ashford,
Sittingbourne, Rochester, and Dartford, till they shall be otherwise
disposed of, and for regulating them in those several places to
pursue the Lords' directions. But we hope that they may be on
his Majesty's pay from the time of their bringing thither, which
will be the 11th of this July, for the coat and conduct-money
gathered from the country will not keep them, as well as answer
the other charges, any time after they shall be impressed. [Seal
with arms. 2/3 p.] |
July 4. |
34. Intelligence from Scotland forwarded by Lord Conway.
General Leslie arrived at Dunse last Wednesday, and ever since
has been daily employed posting between Jedburgh, Kelso, and
Dunglass, to view the companies in those places. On Friday last
the Earl of Lothian's company and two more that had been at
Jedburgh 10 days together by command of the General, first
advanced towards their rendezvous, which is at Chowsely Wood,
three miles west of Dunselaw, and five or six from the Border.
The army is lodged in an [in]convenient place far from corn or
meadow, between two hills, a brook running through the gorse, on
the west a wood, and the place is of no strength or advantage.
There came thither last Saturday night 6,000. Yesterday Lord
Ker's regiment marched from Kelso, and two other companies from
Dunglass are commanded to advance, so that the whole there assembled yesterday night are 10,000 or 11,000 without doubt. There are
about 100 or 120 tents advanced to the view of all beholders, which
I saw with a glass. There will be to-morrow night, or Tuesday without fail, at the rendezvous 9,000 or 10,000 more, although they speak
of a great many more, yet these there are and will be for certain;
too great a number to be gathered together and do nothing, they cannot hold long together without taking in hand some enterprise; most
men suspect an invasion. The Governor of Berwick is of opinion
they will not [invade England], but stand upon their own defence
only. All stand amazed that so great a multitude should be
gathered together and none near to withstand them, either to offend
or defend. The general report among themselves goes, and some of
good quality in the army know of no other, but to invade, and give
out in what places their army will lodge. [Endorsed by Viscount
Conway's Secretary: "Intelligence from Scotland." 1 p.] |
July 4. Leicester House. |
35. Sir George Radcliff to Edward Lord Conway and Killultagh.
Here I found the Lord Lieutenant [of Ireland] very weak by
reason of his long sickness and a dangerous relapse; but for this
last fortnight he has daily increased his strength in a slow but
constant way. I fear nothing now but that his mind should hurt
his body by putting him too soon and too earnestly upon business
and travel. I wish he were less confident of his own strength and
amendment. We have had two councillors lately sworn, the Earl
of Cork on last Sunday and Sir Thomas Roe a week before. Some
say the King is now furnished for all things, even to the telling of
strange stories, wherein these two shall vie wonders with any three
in Christendom. You will hear from better hands how a Spanish
regiment and three troops have beaten Count William, of Nassau,
from St. Anne's Fort, near Hulst, where he lost 1,000 men and
is himself hurt. On the other side there is a notable mutiny
in Catalonia, where the people have killed divers of the King's
soldiers there garrisoned, and the Viceroy himself is shot with a
pistol. Here we talk of nothing so willingly as the disorders and
mutinies of soldiers, one lieutenant killed at Faringdon, another
beaten now lately in Essex, and with this some men solace themselves as fine news. I believe it will be more acceptable to you to
know that such shift is made, if I be not foully misinformed, as
we shall have money enough for this year's work, and in probability for the next two. This was at the first as great a wonder to
me as if the Earl of Cork had told it; but I am since converted.
Our Irish army, 8,000 foot, will be all at Knockfergus about the
latter end of next week, and thither is my Lord Lieutenant hastening
more than the weakness of his body doth persuade. I have been
here almost three weeks longer by much than I intended at the
first; my business was to see my Lord [Lieutenant] and keep him
from business, which having done as much as I could, now that I
see him able to walk in his garden, I begin to think of Ireland, and
hope I may there lie in a corner quietly when all this world is in
action, mediis tranquillus in undis. What you may command me
here or there [in Ireland] shall be most willingly obeyed. P.S.—I
cannot tell your Lordship the stress of Mrs. Seymour's discourse
with the Bang about my Lord of Northumberland. G. Garret
[George Garrard] or one that can better, doubtless, will send it you.
It exceeds all romances. Subjoined, |
35. i. I know not what negligence kept this letter by me thus
long till it be out of date. A dare's lands will be no fit
suit for you, as I am now informed. One reason is, I
hear it is in mortgage, and charged with debts which are
not to be avoided. This I got by speaking of it, that as
soon as our revenue in Ireland will bear an assignment,
as it will ere long, if God send peace, my Lord Lieutenant
will readily serve you to supply the moneys, warrant
being gotten from hence. But in the meantime we shall
be slow to pay English debts with Irish money or suits.
13th July. I go hence on Thursday, or perhaps Friday,
17th July, towards Ireland. [1 p.] |
[July 4.] |
36. [Edmund Rossingham to Edward Viscount Conway]. News
letter. The Dunkirkers in 14 ships have given the Hollander a
shrewd blow, thus: The East India Company in Holland have given
order that their East India ships shall go round about by the north
of Ireland, and not through the narrow seas, lest they should be
forced into any of his Majesty's ports and be seized upon by our
East India Company to make good a debt of 70,000l. due some
years since, which the Dutch have no mind to discharge. The
Hollanders therefore about this time of year send some men-of-war
to lie off the north of Ireland to meet those East India ships which
are homeward bound. This summer they have sent four tall ships
which the Dunkirkers taking notice of sent out 14 good ships, and
these meeting with the Hollanders fought till one of the latter was
sunk and the other three taken. The Hollanders fearing the loss
of all those East India ships, which are daily expected by way of
the north of Ireland, have ordered their Admiral Tromp to go
thither with 20 States men-of-war to clear the coast of Ireland of
these Dunkirkers. It is observed that the Hollanders' East India
Company have been much more prejudiced by altering their passage
homeward by the north of Ireland than they should have been by
coming through the narrow seas, although they had been forced to
discharge the 70,000l. debt, besides the interest of the money, which
would not have been required, nor yet all the principal. The letters
from Poland tell us of very great disorders within that kingdom,
the States there having met in Parliament where great differences
arose between those of the Romish religion and those of the reformed
churches, the King siding with the former. The Protestant nobility,
who are said to have set the crown upon the King's head, are quite
fallen from him, and refuse in Parliament to grant supplies to check
the invasion of the Turks and Tartars until their demands for free
toleration of religion be granted, whereupon their Parliament is
dissolved and the common enemy ravages part of Poland where
many Catholics and some Protestants are exposed to their fury. I
cannot yet light upon the heads of those 32 Acts which passed in
the Scoteh Parliament. I hear they passed one Act to justify their
proceedings since the beginning of the disorders to be consonant to
their laws (old sleeping laws worn out by antiquity), and another
Act to make null all proclamations and declarations which have
been published against their proceedings, but the letter which the
Covenanters wrote to the Secretary of State for Scotland, with the
packet in which they sent all their Acts, was very short, and as I
hear to the effect here stated. It was reported that all their ships
were released, but nothing of the sort was intended unless the
masters and owners of them would first take the oath, which I mentioned in a late letter, abjuring the Oath of the Covenant; although
their ships be staid, yet all the Scotchmen who have been taken,
though they have sworn to the Covenant, are set at liberty. The
report that the town and castle of Edinburgh had shot at each
other was a mistake, it was the town ordnance which discharged
all that day; their Parliament was adjourned for joy they had made
a session, i.e., that they had passed all their Acts without opposition.
Last week Sir John Coke, late Secretary of State, wrote from Derbyshire to his son here in town of some disorders committed by the
soldiers in their march towards their rendezvous in the North. These
soldiers cast down some of Sir John's inclosures, although he sent
them first 40s. and then 3l. more, the which they said they had not
yet deserved, but they would deserve that, and more ere they had
done, and so they went and burnt his mill; one letter says they
have done Sir John 1,000l. damage, and I hear that some of his
malicious neighbours hired these soldiers, for which he has given
order to put an information into the Star Chamber against them.
These soldiers also pressed into the county gaol at Derby and
examined some of the prisoners as to the cause of their commitment;
they took out one who lay there for debt and another for running
away from his colours the last year, saying they would have no
soldiers to lie in prison for that fault, and so took both of these with
them. In their march they broke into the Earl of Huntingdon's
park at Ashby, where they killed all the white deer, but could not
kill the other deer being more wild; as they pass they inquire where
they may do mischief, and as people inform them so they are ready
to do prejudice more or less upon such as the people complain of.
At Cirencester, in Gloucestershire, some soldiers took out a prisoner,
being an attorney-at-law, who would by no means be so discharged,
telling them he was in prison only for a contempt, and that he
should be set at liberty again quickly, but if so be they took him
out to carry him with them he should lose all his practice and so
be quite undone; but all was unavailing, they would have him,
saying, he should march along with them and be their Attorney
General, but as good luck is, he is a bachelor and may be spared,
and is a pleasant mad fellow fit for such company. The Bishop
of Gloucester was within these few days in a fair way to be bailed;
I hear he has signed a bond of 10,000l. not to depart the kingdom,
and 10 sureties were to be bound with him, of whom nine subscribed
and sealed, but there was a stop made before the tenth man would
seal, which continues still. The Bishop's trunks have been all
searched, but for what I am not certain, although it was rumoured
to discover whether he held any correspondence with those of Rome,
but it seems nothing was found to do him hurt, wherefore all his
papers are since returned him. Concerning the Canons, there is a
proclamation coming out to authorise them throughout the kingdom.
They are printing and will be ready for sale very speedily. Those
roguish Turkish pirates which lie upon our western coast have taken
from the shore about Penzance, near St. Michael's Mount, 60 men,
women, and children; this was in the night, for in the day these
rogues keep out of sight for fear of the King's ships. General King,
the Scottish commander in Germany, who was sent for by his
Majesty to come over to England, is now sent back to Hamburgh
upon special service, but for what we do not know yet, only this,
that he is suddenly to return, and that this employment has relation
against the proceedings of the Covenanters. Besides the 1,000l. a
year pension given to General King at his first coming over, his
Majesty has now presented him with a diamond of good value.
Last week the soldiers to be raised in Essex were all pressed, and
remained quiet till Saturday, when they demanded 12d. a day
instead of 8d., to be punctually paid them, whereupon one of the
deputy-lieutenants hearing their insolent language struck some of
them, which they revenged upon the same deputy-lieutenant, striking
him again; this was soon complained of to the Board, and presently
the Commission of Oyer and Terminer was sent down. The news
from the Prince of Orange's camp before Hulst is both good and
bad; the particulars are here stated: Count Henry of Nassau
wounded and left for dead; this blow discourages the Prince of
Orange and gives heart to the Spaniard, who was much dejected at
the first news of this attempt before Hulst. On Saturday last, by
a warrant under the King's hand, all the money in the Mint, about
100,000l., brought in by the merchants, was seized upon for the
King's present necessity, the merchants being ordered to repair to
the Lord Treasurer to receive security for their principal, and 8l. per
cent. interest. This stop has put the merchants into great disorder,
wherefore they join all together to petition his Majesty and to set
down the ill consequences that it will beget. The merchants knew
nothing [about the seizure] till Sunday night, after the King was
gone from Whitehall to Oatlands. [4 pp.] |
July 4. |
37. Receipt of Robert Long for 595l. 12s. 0½d. received of Richard
Holling this day, out of the money received for the Recusants'
revenue upon his account for the year beginning Lady-day last,
1640, in which sum Long acknowledges himself to be still indebted
to the account. [⅓ p.] |
July 4. |
38. Account of the charge for coat and conduct-money in the east
division of co. Northampton in the year 1639; total 174l.; followed
by an account of the charge for coat, conduct, and pay upon days
of exercise of the soldiers levied in the east division and delivered
at Stamford Baron, the place of rendezvous, 4th July 1640. Total
236l. 17s. 4d., making in all 410l. 17s. 4d. [1 p.] |
July 4. Whitehall. |
Deputation by Henry Earl of Holland, chief justice and justice in
Eyre of the Forests on this side Trent, to William Lane, appointing
him to be steward in Whittlewood and Salcey Forests, cos. Northampton and Bucks. [Latin. Copy. 1¼ p. See vol. ccclxxxiv., p. 90.] |
July 5. |
Commission requiring the Lords of the Council, archbishops,
bishops, chancellors, and vice-chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge,
heads of colleges, and others to take the oath made in the late Convocation to support the discipline and doctrine of the Church of England, and to administer the same oath to all ecclesiastical persons,
schoolmasters, actuaries, proctors, graduates, &c., on or before the
2nd of November next. [The form of oath which is here recited is
the same as that printed in Rushworth iii., 1186. Skin of parchment. See case E., No. 23.] |
July 5. |
Grant to Sergeant Glanville, of the office of one of his Majesty's
sergeants-at-law, during pleasure, with a declaration that it shall
be lawful for him to continue Recorder of the City of Bristol.
[Docquet.] |
July 5. |
Presentation of William Styles, clerk, to the vicarage of Stalham,
co. Norfolk, void by the death of the last incumbent, and in his
Majesty's gift by reason of the wardship of John Riches, subscribed
by Mr. Norgate by order from Archbishop Laud. [Docquet.] |
July 5. |
Grant to Edward Moseley, and his heirs male, of the dignity of a
baronet of England. [Docquet.] |
July 6. |
39. John Milborne, sheriff of co. Monmouth, to the Council. I have
heretofore sent up 400l. of the 1,500l. ship-money charged on the
county, and more has been already collected; a great part of the
rest the constables undertake to bring in very shortly. I desire your
further directions with regard to suits at common law on account of
distresses, against James Gwillim, chief constable of Skenfreth, and
the collectors of Grosmont, by Anne Saunders in the name of her
daughter Jane Saunders, who made absolute denial of the rate
assessed upon her. I have committed, according to your directions,
the collectors of the town of Usk for refusing to enter into bond to
appear before the Council to answer for neglect of the service, and
appointed other collectors in their place. [Endorsed by Nicholas:
"Received July 17. A letter to be written to the sheriff, to certify
particularly in what courts the actions are brought against
these constables and others by Mrs. Saunders, and that some person
well instructed attend the Attorney General about it." Seal with
device. 2/3 p.] |
July 6. |
40. William Lord Craven to Sec. Windebank. I am extremely
beholden to you that you have given me an occasion to serve you
in the person of your kinsman. Mons. Webb has informed me that
his Majesty has imposed on you the putting him in mind of pressing
on the Spanish ambassador the delivery of Prince Rupert; I know
of yourself you will be willing enough to perform that charitable
work; however the relation I have to that generous prince is such,
I should fail of my duty if I did not entreat your vigilance in
it. [Endorsed: "Received [July] 10, our style; answered 31st July."
1 p.] |
July 6. Whitehall. |
41. Sec. Windebank to Edward Viscount Conway. With yours
of the 30th of June I received the occurrences of the northern parts
and a copy of a very learned despatch found upon the way, with all
which I acquainted his Majesty, who was then newly come from
Oatlands, Mr. Treasurer [Vane] being then absent at the marriage of
his eldest son. He judged the highway letter to have been let fall
upon design to spread it as a libel, such religious ejaculations having
been very frequent lately in most parts of the kingdom. The
rumour of the Scots coming into England is more discoursed of than
apprehended, their party here, which I fear is very numerous, promising themselves rather advantage by it than loss, and others, not
inclined to them, being hard of belief that they have either the
courage or power to make a formal invasion, but rather to pillage
on the Borders. Besides, the arguments you give for their not
coming are to me very convincing. Nevertheless, I am very glad
to understand you are so well provided for them, and hope, notwithstanding all machinations to the contrary, the great nerve
of war shall not be wanting, but that his Majesty shall be supplied
both in time and proportion fit for his occasions. Some restiveness
appears in some counties in raising the forces, and sundry insolencies
are committed by the forces when they are levied, most of which
have been redressed upon repair of the lords lieutenants to the
counties, so that the people are not in themselves refractory, but
where the lords lieutenants and their deputies are well affected the
service succeeds without difficulty. I have delivered your letters to
my Lord of Canterbury; your letters to my Lord Lieutenant I presented with my own hand; he is become so strong that he has
been with the King and begins to fall close to business, which, so it
may not endanger him again, I am very glad of, our business having
been sick with him ever since his indisposition. My Lord of Cork
is become a Privy Councillor, which being a delicate piece I reserved
to close up your stomach. [2 pp.] |
July 6. Naward [Naworth.] |
42. Sir William Howard to the same. I am sorry you saw my
name to the letter from the deputy-lieutenants of Cumberland. I
think the mistake was great, for we are apt to take all reports
for truths, for my part I was absent at their meeting, my Lord then
being in present danger of death and yet very ill; there was a place
left for my name and I set my hand to their act, though I neither
believed the news nor thought their demands reasonable, knowing
your numbers at Newcastle. It is most certainly true we have no
manner of defence to resist if we should be invaded; our country
is extremely factious, and generally inclined to the Scots; our
train bands very defective and no officers to command them. I
commend these things with my faithful service to your consideration. [2/3 p.] |
July 6. |
43. Sir Richard Rogers to Lord Cottington. The horses are in
readiness and the rest of the business [in co. Dorset] as forward as
the shortness of the time would permit, and only that about the conductors demurred on; after two or three hours consideration not one
of us could think of a fit man, when four or five would be needed.
Another thing of no small vexation to us is the providing the carters,
the stock of them is so much impaired by the late press, and the
employment of such people growing greater every day. I wish you
would consider what a trouble it would remove out of our way if
they might be excused. I beseech you think of it. At least we
must have a new warrant to press them, for we have no such
authority yet, only to provide them. Yet lest this should be of more
difficulty for you to alter than I think, I will in the meantime look
about how to supply the want, and beg no word at this time but
your speedy answer to these. [1 p.] |
July 6. |
44. Petition of Thomas Squire, parson of Escrick, to Archbishop
Laud. Sir Arthur Robinson has for many years detained all tithes
happening upon the domains of Deighton, within petitioner's parish,
on pretence of paying 13s. 4d. per annum for the same, and has
lately taken into his hands grounds which were in the possession of
tenants, and seeks to free them from payment of tithes under the
same pretence; so that petitioner has been much impoverished and
his church injured. Whereupon petitioner convented him in the
Ecclesiastical Court at York for tithes, from which court Sir Arthur
removed the cause to common law by prohibition, and on a full
hearing there, finding his proofs insufficient, non-suited himself, so
that petitioner brought the cause back by consultation to the Ecclesiastical Court at York, from which Sir Arthur, upon a pretended
grievance, has appealed to the delegates, threatening he will keep
petitioner in suit all his life. Petitioner therefore requests you to
recommend the speedy prosecution of this cause to the judges
delegates, that he may receive such justice as his cause deserves,
Underwritten, |
44. i. I earnestly recommend petitioner to your Grace's favour,
to deliver him from him who would oppress him by
spinning out the suit by all pretences. Richard Ebor.
6th July 1640. [1 p.] |
July 6. Child Okeford. |
45. Gerard Wood, archdeacon of Wells, to Sir John Lambe. I am
now driven to implore your lawful favour, for our Bishop, who
infringed the liberty of our Synod, now violates the liberties of the
Dean and Chapter of Wells. You may conjecture who drew the Canon
wherein attempt was made to empower the Bishop to concur in the
jurisdictions of the Dean and Chapter, and Peculiars, and to curb all
other ecclesiastical officers. The Dean and Chapter of Wells have by
their charter, which they hold of the Crown in free soccage of the
manor of Greenwich, not only all their lands, dignities, prebends,
&c., but also all privileges, liberties, free customs, both new and old,
together with the cathedral church, and all things therein contained
and thereto belonging, as likewise all free jurisdiction, excluding the
Bishop in all matters of jurisdiction, excepting only the time limited
in his triennial visitation. Notwithstanding all this, he now claims
disposition of seats, and to cite and inhibit any of the canons residentiary, although they live only in the peculiar liberty of the Dean
and Chapter. He lately sent his apparitor to cite me unto his
Consistory, as I lately travelled out of the county of Dorset to my
house, within the liberties of our church of Wells, and threatens
that he will suspend me if I appear not, and that he will suspend
any proctor that shall appear for me, I having at this present an
ague I brought from London. But I have secured a proctor who
has undertaken in my absence to appear in my behalf, and to allege
our exemption, which the Dean and Chapter purpose to try with him.
I entreat you, if the Bishop shall proceed, to grant an inhibition
and a restitution of my estate, and the proctor's too, if he suspend
both or either of us; and we will prosecute our appeal with effect.
If the Bishop has anything to object I will be ready to answer it
before you. [Seal, broken. 1 p.] |
July 6. |
46. Funeral certificate by William Ryley, Bluemantle, of William
Cecill Earl of Exeter, Lord Burghley, member of the Privy Council,
and K.G., who died this day at Exeter House, in St. John's, near
Clerkenwell, from whence he was conveyed to Westminster Abbey
and there buried with his ancestors in an aisle on the north side of
Henry VIL's Chapel. He married to his first wife Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Edward Manners Earl of Rutland, K.G., by whom
he had issue William Lord Ross, who died in Italy, S.P. His second
wife who survived him was Elizabeth, sister and coheir of Sir
Robert Drury, and daughter of Sir William Drury, of Hawstead, in
Suffolk, by whom he had issue three daughters, his coheirs, viz.:
1, Lady Elizabeth, married to Thomas Howard Earl of Berkshire, K.G.;
2, Lady Diana, first married to Henry Earl of Oxford, and secondly
to Thomas Lord Bruce Earl of Elgin, in Scotland; and 3, Lady
Anne, married to Henry Lord Grey, of Groby, Earl of Stamford.
[Draft. 1¼ p.] |
July 6. |
Copy of the same. [See vol. ccclx., p. 31. 1 p.] |
July 6. |
47. Certificate by George Longe and Richard Lowther of the
several answers of the persons named resident in certain parishes
of the metropolis and northern suburbs, co. Middlesex, who have
not paid their assessment for coating and conducting 1,200 men to
be employed in the King's service in the North. [4 pp.] |
July 6. |
48. Note of money disbursed for the private expenses of William
and Edward Hunton, total 18s. 2d. [1 p.] |
July 7. Whitehall. |
49. [Sec. Windebank to Ralph Hughes], sheriff of co. Flint. The
King understanding that George Peters, Esq., of Greenfield, co.
Flint, a Roman Catholic, has begun to erect a building in the town
of Holywell, which for reasons of State, best known to his Majesty, is not held fit, has commanded me to signify his pleasure to
you, that upon receipt hereof you repair to Holywell and there
give command that the building do immediately cease and be no
farther advanced. [Draft. ½ p.] |
July 7. Donington. |
50. Henry Earl of Huntingdon to the Council. Last Monday
I sent 70 horses and 23 carters out of Leicestershire, and 20 horses
and 7 carters out of Rutland, to be at Newcastle the 15th of this
month. I raised money enough and bought them, the prices being
between 9l. and 10l. a horse; conceiving the country would be
better contented they should be raised out of a general charge
than impressed from particular towns. [Paper seal with arms and
coronet. 2/3 p.] |
July 7. Langar. |
51. Elizabeth Countess of Sunderland to Archbishop Laud. I have
entered my caveat to the presentation of the parsonage of Hambleton,
void upon the death of Doctor Domelaw, and have presented Mr.
Richard Thornton, my chaplain, to it, and Mr. John Scroope has
entered another caveat, and presented Mr. Roberts, his clerk, which
titles being in controversy you appointed some short day for both
parties to attend Sir John Lambe to hear and determine them.
I have searched for the evidences concerning the title in question,
and am informed that my brother Francis, late Earl of Rutland,
and my brother George, now Earl of Rutland, trustees appointed
by my late Lord Emanuel Earl of Sunderland, committed them to
Mr. Hayes, the late Earl of Rutland's solicitor, since dead, in whose
custody I may find those evidences which will clear the title in
question before your Grace. Now from the short time since it
came to my knowledge that the deeds were likely to be in Mr.
Hayes' custody, and it also being in the vacation, I pray you give
me longer time that I lose not my right through want of means
to come to my own deeds to manifest my clear title, which I hope
I shall do if you put off the hearing of the cause till next term.
Underwritten, |
51. i. I desire Sir John Lambe to peruse this and do further as
he shall find just, provided the other party have warning.
W. Cant. July 14, 1640. [Seal with arms and coronet.
1 p.] |
July 7. |
52. Sir Henry Garwaie, lord mayor of London, to the Council.
According to your letters of the 12th of April last, on a petition
of Peter Welsh, one of the artsmen in Bridewell, against the
Governors of the same hospital, on the 7th of May last I caused the
Governors and Peter Welsh, and all the artsmen, to appear before
me in the Court of Aldermen, and in their hearing were read your
letters and Welsh's petition and remonstrance. Welsh and all the
artsmen being required to speak what they could of the abuses
therein complained of could prove nothing. The Governors giving
a clear answer to every one of Welsh's complaints, neither he nor
any of the artsmen could disprove anything in their answers. And
the artsmen being asked whether they had any grievance against
the Governors, answered they had nothing to complain of, and disavowed any hand in Welsh's petition and remonstrance, and desired
not to be further troubled from their businesses about the same. But
Welsh said he had other witnesses he wished might be heard, and
the court appointed him to bring them all the 2nd of June, on
which day the Governors attended, but Welsh brought no witnesses,
then he had time given him to produce his witnesses on the 11th
of June, but did not, and then till this 7th of July, but now he has
brought none. Whereby the court believes he has none to prove
his complaints, and that the same are untrue and scandalous, only
feigned to hinder an execution upon judgment against him, to put
him out of the hospital for being refractory to the rules, for it
appeared plainly unto the court that when he was first sued he
obtained a reference from his Majesty to your Lordships, which the
Governors answering, his Majesty the 11th of January last, under
the hand of Sir Francis Windebank, signified that he was well
pleased with the answers of the Governors, and that Welsh's complaints were scandalous and in opposition to government, and the
rules of that house, which his Majesty much misliked, and left him
to be proceeded against by the Governors. Thereupon the law
proceeding to judgment before execution he procuring your reference in observance thereof, execution has been stayed; but now
the court hopes you will not only leave the Governors free to
proceed against Welsh, but also will inflict some corporal punishment on him for his causeless vexations. [¾ p.] |
July 7. |
53. Deputy-Lieutenants of the Eastern Division of co. Northampton to the lord lieutenant, William Earl of Exeter. Thursday
last we met at Stamford Baron and delivered 248 able men to
Lieutenant Colonel Kirke appointed by the Lord General to receive
them. We could not complete by 27 the number chargeable upon
this east division, because the long stay betwixt their pressing and
setting forward gave them occasion to convey themselves out of the
way when called for, yet we have sent out warrants to find them
out. We shall entreat you to take notice of the under-mentioned
constables who have been negligent in their duty as also of
certain refusers of coat and conduct-money, whose names are underwritten. [Seal with arms and crest. 1 p.] |
July 7. |
54. Certificate by John Browne and William Hill, J.P.s for Middlesex, of the assessments for coat and conduct-money in the
parishes of Hampton, Teddington, Hanworth, East Bedfont, Feltham,
and Sunbury, co. Middlesex, specifying what has been paid and
what returned by the petty constables as still unpaid. [Endorsed:
A letter delivered to Henry Kyme, the messenger, and a warrant
enclosed. 4 pp.] |
[July 7.] |
55. The like certificate by Thos. Baldwin, J.P., and Peter Heywood, J.P. for Westminster, of the assessments for coat and conductmoney in the parishes of St. Margaret's and St. Martin's-in-thefields. Certify the names of such inhabitants of these two parishes
as refuse to pay. [3¼ pp.] |
July 8. Berwick. |
56. Sir John Conyers to Sec. Windebank. Since my last of the
4th of this present I do not hear that the forces in Scotland are
increased. The forces they have for the most part are said to have
order to be ready when called for. My Lord Montgomery has
brought lately from Fife to Leith 300 or 400 horse, and they make
provision of victuals at Dunglass and Andernock; in the first place
they brew, and in the other bake. They have taken from the Earl
of Nithsdale 11 great horse and above 70 other horses. Those of
Edinburgh sprung a mine in the spur on Friday last, and I believe
it had no effect, because they did not second it with an assault, but
last Monday they sprang another and gave an assault, but were
repulsed with the loss of seven men killed and 10 or 12 hurt, and
it is said they blew up some of those of the castle, for there were
four men's heads found. They said their great mine should be
sprung on Monday night, but of that I have heard no more, and
they have one mine more. Those of the town are importunate to
have the castle, else it is thought they would let it lie. Lord
Loudoun came to Edinburgh on Friday. P.S.—I received yours
with the Marquis Hamilton's letter by the last post. [Endorsed:
"Received 11th." 1 p.] |
July 8. Audley End. |
57. James Earl of Suffolk to the same. I am very sensible of
your favour in staying that which you conceived might be to my
prejudice and therefore the more desirous to give you a just account
of this business. I have therefore sent to my uncle [Sir] William
[Howard] to wait on you with Sir William Witherington, and let
you know the causes of my deferring payment of my debt. [Endorsed: "Received 9th." Seal with arms and coronet. 1 p.] |
July 8. Tehidy. |
58. Francis Bassett to Nicholas. You were at the Council when
the Lord General, the Lord Chamberlain, our Lord Lieutenant, and
Sec. Vane offered me and my countrymen to dismiss 600 or 1,000
of our 1,600 men to be pressed, we undertaking the coat and
conduct-money for that number should be paid in. I hope you
remember how earnestly Sir Nicholas Slanning and myself pressed
that we might receive that favour which Coriton and all our neighbours then present declined, but since traduce us, and have reported
they had obtained the discharge of men and money had not we so
unseasonably interposed, and have brought us into much disrespect,
though now the country curses them for not joining with us, and
petitioning for that grace from his Majesty and the Lords. I was
then so confident of the acceptableness of the service to the country
that had not sickness disabled me I had made use of your and those
Lords' friendship for the dismissal of the men directed to be pressed
out of the hundreds of Penwith and Kerrier, the extremest parts of
this kingdom, and where we want men so much, as I cannot get
men half sufficient either for my tillage for next year, or to thresh
and make the best profit of what I have of the last. In our tinning,
those men now impressed, and those who have fled from the press,
have so utterly abandoned those labours and let in the waters that
the tin farmers (who still refuse to pay us) will have juster cause to
crave defalcation for the want of enough from us than yet they
have for there being too much [tin] in Barbary. I deliver you
these grievous complaints on my reputation, so if you hold it not too
late I beseech you to remonstrate it by petition in my name to the
King or Lords, and I will with my estate and life answer it. In case
you obtain the dismissal of the impressed men of Penwith and Kerrier
(about 300 in number), I will make good the coat and conductmoney, and you will do his Majesty a special service, for the whole
county will sue to be alike admitted, and so you may have, as often
as his Majesty has the like occasion, our money to raise men in
the heart of the kingdom, and leave those few of us for the preservation of this poor part, the Turks having lately infested us, and
most obvious we are to all other enemies. This being thus, I
beseech you to pardon my boldness, the care of my country commanding me to it, and so you be speedy in it you may send directions
for this relief, albeit some of our Cornish soldiers to the east begin
to march next week, ours of the west cannot move this fortnight.
Herein, Sir, you may do the King and country real and good
service, and enable me to serve with power our Royal master, which
shall be even my passionate desire. P.S.—The coat and conductmoney comes very slowly in, but the dismissal of the men will bring
it away roundly, for which I pawn my credit and estate. We hear
of Loudoun's liberty and honour, and hope thereon a speedy peace.
If you find it so you will not need to trouble yourself in the affair.
[Endorsed: "Received July 19th." Seal with crest. 3 pp.] |
July 8. |
59. Warrant to the Petty Constables of the parishes of St. Giles'in-the-fields and St. Clement's Danes to give notice to the persons
whose names are underwritten to appear by 8 o'clock to-morrow
morning at the Muse [Mews] near Charing Cross, before Sir John
Hippisley and Sir Henry Spiller to show cause why they neglect
and refuse to cleanse and repair their parts of a common sewer near
Lewknor's-lane, St. Giles'-in-the-fields, which has become a public
nuisance. [½ p.] |
July 9. Whitehall. |
Notes by Nicholas of the proceedings of the Council of War this
day. A letter is to be presently sent from the Council Board to the
Treasurers of the Navy to give order to Sir Wm. Bellasis, sheriff
of co. Durham, forthwith to pay the 1,560l. which he has received
for ship-money payable by that county by writs issued in 1639, to
Mr. Geo. Payler, paymaster of Berwick, for the use of the garrison,
and the same shall be repaid again here to the Treasurers. Ordered
that Sir John Conyers, governor of Berwick, shall provide two or
more horsemills in or near Berwick for the use of the garrison instead
of the 24 handmills which he has sent for, because handmills are
held to be useless, and the paymaster of the garrison is to pay for
them out of the moneys he has or shall receive for the use of the
garrison. That the Master of the Ordnance shall take order for
sending 10 handmills to Berwick for the use of the garrison.
That Sir John Conyers shall sell to his Majesty's best advantage
such coals as are or shall be from time to time taken in Scotch
vessels and brought into Berwick, and all such moneys as shall
arise upon the sale are to be paid over to the paymaster of the
garrison, who is to give a true account thereof. Upon the petition
of Drs. Denton, Sheafe, and Caddeman, physicians appointed to
attend his Majesty's army, showing that there being allowed to
each of them but 150l. apiece, and 6s. 8d. apiece per diem during
their attendance on the army, which is too small an allowance, it
was this day ordered that it shall be left to the Lord General to
give them such further reward as he shall think fit, and they shall
by their pains deserve. Warrants are to be issued for so much
money to be paid the paymasters of Berwick and Carlisle as will
pay their several garrisons till the 1st of November next. Ordered
that the Treasurer at Wars shall be hereby prayed to send to John
Gibbons to give an account in writing of the 500l. he received last
year, and the 2,000l. he received this year for providing hay, oats,
&c. for the horse belonging to the army. Ordered that the governor
of the garrison of Carlisle shall take present order to provide two
horsemills for that garrison, in places where he conceives they may
be most conveniently provided, and the paymaster of the said
garrison is to pay for them out of the moneys he has or shall receive
for the use of the garrison. Whereas the pay for the 469 carters
and 1,400 draught horses appointed for the train of artillery and for
carriage of tents, and likewise the pay of 100 pioneers was omitted
in the list of the train of artillery; it was this day ordered that the
Lord General shall be hereby prayed to give warrant for payment
of so many of the carters, draught horses, and pioneers as shall be
employed in the army, and during such time as they shall respectively
serve, the carters at the rate of 8d. apiece per diem, the draught
horses at the rate of 12d. apiece per diem, and the pioneers at the
rate of 1s. apiece per diem. [Written upon the same paper as June
24. See vol. cccclviii., No. 2. 2 pp.] |
July 9. |
60. Geo. Payler, paymaster of Berwick, to the Council. Sir John
Conyers, governor of Berwick, desires an order for the speedy provision of 24 or 30 handmills for Berwick, and for the sale of such
coals as are taken in Scottish vessels and brought to Berwick,
because there is no convenient place to keep them. The paymaster
of Berwick advertises you that the present pay for the garrison,
works of fortifications, &c., amounts to 4,000l. per month, and the
last 6,000l. advanced will not continue longer than the middle of
August. Wherefore he desires a further advance of 10,000l., which
will suffice till 1st of November next. [1 p.] |
July 9. Durham. |
61. Dr. Eleazar Duncon [prebendary of Durham], to Sec. Windebank. I would not presume to trouble you at this time, but I
conceive it expedient for me to relate what Lord Loudoun said in
Durham, as reported by a kinsman of his dwelling here, who had
much discourse with him here on 1st July. Lord Loudoun said
that he had kissed his Majesty's hand, and was in the gallery at
Whitehall with the King in private two or three hours, the Marquis [of Hamilton] only being present, that the King gave him 200l.
understanding his want of money, that he had leave to buy four
of our best horses and carry them into Scotland, that all was like
to be peace for he had a commission from the King to treat with
the Covenanters of Articles of Pacification, that the King would
yield to the abolishing of episcopacy in Scotland, and would provide in Ireland for the Bishop of Ross, and some others, that he
would be back at Court within three weeks and give an account
of his agency, that a stop should be made of all wars till he returned. To this effect was his relation which I thought fit to
represent to you in brief, doubting whether such reports may not
prove scandalous to his Majesty at this time. [Endorsed: "Received 14th, answered 20th July." Seal with device and motto.
1 p.] |
July 9. Newcastle. |
62. George Vane to his father Sec. Vane. His troop being quartered near Newcastle he cannot leave them till they hear some
certainty of the proceedings of the Scots, when he will observe
his father's directions concerning Raby. I have written meantime
to Mr. Conyers to let him know the order I have received from
you, and to desire him to have his accounts in readiness, that as
soon as possible I and my father-in-law intend to be with him,
that in the interim he should send you a particular of the state of
his accounts. I desired him to tell Richeson, the surveyor, to send
you an exact model of your buildings, and weekly information of
his progress in them. [Endorsed: "Received 13th." Seal with
crest, broken. 2 pp.] |
July 9/19. The Hague. |
63. Elizabeth Queen of Bohemia to Sir Thomas Roe. Congratulates him on being made a Privy Councillor. I will say no
more, but wish you may not stand still at this stage but rise
higher. I told you by my last how my son [the Elector Palatine]
had sent Paul to the French King to desire leave to be gone and
come hither since he found his business would take a long time
before that King would do anything in it, for that King had let
my son know he could do nothing for his assistance without the
Swedes and the States joined in the same by treaty with my brother
and him. Chavigny has given him an answer from the King, which
indeed is none, for he refers him to that former answer, and makes
no mention of his leave to come hither. The French King is now
at Amiens, and my son will go thither to see what he can do
himself. Now I would be glad to know your opinion in case he
be refused his liberty to go where he will, or at least a delaying
answer which is all one, whether he may not be excusable before
God and the world if he get away as well as he can? Pray keep
this to yourself, for I have not written anything to him of it, but
will first hear what you think, and have desired Sir Hen. Vane to
know privately my brother's opinion of it. My cousin, Count Henry,
the governor of Friesland, died last week of his hurt. I doubt not
you know how he received it. I never knew one more lamented
both here and in the army, for next the Prince he was the most
considerable man here, and extremely beloved, besides the public
none have lost more than I have in him, for he loved both me and
mine most extremely; I confess I loved him also the best of any
cousin I had for he deserved it, therefore you may imagine how
much his death troubles me. His brother has gone with his body into
Friesland. I hope they will make him his successor in the Government, he deserves it very well, for he is a very deserving young
man both for courage and wit. The army is marching forward.
The Cardinal Infant was to give a general assault on the French
quarters the 9th of this month, but as yet we know not the success.
Bannier and Piccolomini are still in Franconia, and those of Weimar
in the Landgrave of Darmstadt's country, who I wish may be
soundly paid, for he deserves it. P.S.—Sir William Boswell is
[not] yet come, so I know not what resolution the King takes for
sending to the Diet. [Two seals with arms and crown. 22/3 pp.] |
July 9. York. |
64. Sir Jacob Astley to Edward Viscount Conway. There have
passed me at Selby about 4,000 more, besides 900 of the Marquis
of Hamilton's regiment, and two companies of Sir Nicholas Byron's.
My Lord Marquis' regiment I have orders to send to Hull to be
employed in fortifying that town. Those that passed are armed and
mustered of their strength, and who they are I will insert hereunder, and you will know by the list I sent you where every one
of them is lodged, and they have orders to obey all your commands.
I had order from my Lord General to send 4,000 or 5,000 foot to
you at Newcastle, but considering there was not such a number
yet come, and those that are come have neither colours, halberts,
nor drums, I forbore till further order, and now there is come
money to pay the troops for seven days only, so that if I send
you any of these troops, in this case you would be troubled with
them for want of pay. Besides, this begets several inconveniences,
for all the officers come hither for their money, their companies in
the villages the worse in order, and hindered from exercising.
This puts me here to so much trouble that I am over toiled, for
they are to receive their money by my warrant. In my last despatch to my Lord General I passed my opinion that for sending
any of these troops to you as yet I thought it would be better for
the service that these troops might advance upon your summons, who
would know sooner of the Scotch preparations. But if more troops
come, as they will do within 14 days, they must rise higher than
Topcliffe Bridge, for there will not be villages in so small a circuit
to contain them. Now I am to receive all the arch knaves of this
kingdom, and to arm them at Selby, as before I came 500 were
there brought by Lieut. Colonel Ballard, they beat their officers
and the boors and broke open the prisons, so I cast up a sconce
close to my lodgings, where there is a house, part of it is my prison,
the other part a court of guard to contain 60 men, wherein I keep
day and night 20 or 40 [soldiers] as I see cause. I keep Sir
William Ogle's own company of 200 men here in garrison for the
time. Now when [any troops] come here and their officers complain
of any of their soldiers I punish them in my sconce, or if the
country complains of geese stealers, whom I get, I hang the geese
about their necks in irons. Two days past Colonel Lunsford's
regiment came, who had by the way fought with all their officers,
and as they passed abused all the country; two of them went to
my sconce, their fellows would have released them, and two
threatened to set the town on fire, these also were put into my
sconce in irons, neck and heels together. Hereupon they were all
quiet, but I was fain to strengthen my guard and let Sir William
Ogle's company stand all in arms till I was rid of them; thus we
mastered them. I have nothing further but to desire your opinion
concerning the sending of any troops to you. Underwritten, |
64. i. List of the troops that are already come and passed through
Selby, viz.: the Lord General's regiment, 1,164 strong; Sir
Thomas Glenham's whole regiment, 1,000; Sir William
Uvedale's company, 90; Colonel Goring's, 130; Lord
Grandison's, 300; Lord Barramore's son, 360; Colonel
Lunsford's, 640; Colonel Sir William Ogle's, 500; total,
4184. [Extracts from this letter are printed in Clarendon
State Papers, ii., p. 101. 3 pp.] |
July 9. |
65. Memorandum—Endymion Porter, Esq., desires a bill of store for
four hogsheads of white and ½ hogshead of Rhenish wine, packed
in dry cask, which came from Amsterdam in the Elizabeth. Underwritten, |
65. i. Endymion Porter to the Farmers of the Customs. If you
will not allow me a bill of store for my wine I will bring
my friends to your houses, and all those that come home
to mine shall drink water, for I live by your favours.
[1 p.] |
July 9. |
66. Answer of [Mr. Smethwick] to certain charges made against
him. For three things am I maligned and hated by some aldermen
and other citizens of London. 1st, for hindering a few of them from
deceiving the East India Company of 500,000l. or 600,000l. at one
time, and for endeavouring to advance the East India trade,
and hindering them from destroying it as to this kingdom. 2nd,
for giving 1,000l. to the repairing of St. Paul's, and being an instrument to procure that work to go on. 3rd, for offering to give
100l. to his Majesty the last year towards the charge of the then
expedition for Scotland. Hereupon it was given out that I was a
lunatic, and that I could not have paid the 100l. if it had been
called for. And when the rebellious rout was up against his Grace
of Canterbury and others it was reported that I had betrayed all
the rich citizens by giving up a list to his Majesty and the Lords
of 300 names who were able each to give or lend to the King
1,000l. apiece. To which I answer, 1st, that I could as well have
paid the 100l. offered as have bestowed 120l. this year on my son's
outfit for this year's expedition. Now seeing the citizens accuse
me and wish me much evil causelessly, I desire I may be admitted
to show how 200,000l. or 300,000l. may in probability be obtained
from the citizens for the King's service, and that fairly, tolerably,
and speedily. 2nd, that the ways which I have already showed
to the Lord Treasurer and Lord Cottington may be tried and put
in execution; how the East India trade may soon be settled
and put into a way for an ample prosecution thereof, to the great
profit of the Adventurers and to the advancement of the King's
revenue 50,000l. per annum, besides a great increase of customs.
3rd, that trial may be made of the course which I shall propound,
how sufficient money may be fairly raised to finish the repairs of
St. Paul's, and every year to build one new church or chapel in
some of the great out parishes of London, where there are above
10, 15, or 20 thousand persons inhabitants in a parish and but one
church, an evil to be remedied with all expedition for the honour of
God. [Endorsed: "Mr. Smethwick, 9th July 1640." 1 p.] |
July 10. |
67. Deputy-Lieutenants of the East Division of co. Northampton
to the Council. Receiving knowledge of the death of our lord
lieutenant, Wm. Earl of Exeter, by the bringing back of our letter
of certificate sent to him of our proceedings in the levying of soldiers
within the east division of this county, we now conceive ourselves obliged by the duty of that service we owe to his Majesty
to return the account to your Lordships, together with the duplicates of the certificates of the men delivered to Lieutenant Colonel
Kirke. By these you may perceive that we have not been wanting
in our endeavours for the due performance of that which was committed to our charge. [Seal with arms and crest. ½ p.] |
July 10. Chester. |
68. William Earl of Derby to the same. I present to you a list
of the 500 men pressed in Cheshire, and delivered to Sergeant
Major Appleyard; I have also sent the letter from the deputylieutenants to myself containing an account of that service. [Endorsed: "Received July 21st." Seal with crest, motto, and coronet.
1 p.] |
July 10. Bristol. |
69. Bishop Skinner, of Bristol, to Sec. Windebank. Last Wednesday, the 8th of this month, I received your packet for examining
and imprisoning William Collyer, of Bristol. Next morning he
came to my house, and after his examination enclosed I sent to
Mr. Mayor, and showed by what authority I had proceeded so far
with a member of the city, and required him to send a guard and
commit Collyer to prison, which was done. He now lies in Newgate, our common prison, to be disposed of as authority shall think
fit. [Seal with arms. ½ p.] Enclosed, |
69. i. Examination of William Collyer, above mentioned, to the
effect that he bought a horse at Maiden Bradley of Thomas
Webb, the informant against him, and that being at Ded
Martin [Didmarton], within four miles of Tetbury, in
the county of Gloucester, he heard a young man, the
mercer of the said town, speak in his own house in the
presence of the innkeeper's son of the town the very words
charged in the information, viz.; "That the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury was turned Papist and that the
King and his jester had found the cross or the crucifix in
his breast." But he utterly denies that he ever heard such
words in Bristol, or from any inhabitant there, or that
he ever uttered the same to any man living. [½ p.] |
July 10. Llewerllyd. |
70. Ralph Hughes, sheriff of Flint, to Nicholas. Since last week
when I wrote to you an account of my proceedings about the ship
mize, I have paid 160l. to William Salisbury, and taken security
for returning thereof to the Treasurer of the Navy at or before 1st
August. The 110l. odd remaining I am hopeless to get in before
corn harvest for reasons expressed in my last. P.S.—Mr. Rees
Williams, mercer in Cheapside, is agent for payment of the said
sum, as he was of the 300l. by me formerly returned. [Endorsed:
"Received July 18th." Seal with arms and crest. ½ p.] |
July 10. Melton Mowbray. |
71. The inhabitants of Melton Mowbray to Sir John Lambe.
Asking him to grant his license to Mr. Pole, whom they have
elected master of their Grammar School. [Seal with device. ½ p.] |
July 10. Hamburgh. |
72. John Dury to Sir Thos. Roe. Congratulations on his being
made a member of the Council. Professes his only aim in life is
to do good to the Israel of God. I wish that I may be henceforth
more serviceable to you than ever I have been. I have no material
news to impart. The armies are still separated for want of
victuals, and Bannier is hard beset, he lives on the borders of
Hesse and Westphalia, and in the Wetteren; some say he is purposing [to advance] towards Leipsic. Piccolomini is entrenched
in Franconia. Bannier thought to draw the Dutch regiments from
Longeville, but they are constant to the French. Oh, that God
would bless your wisdom to be the instrument of appeasing matters
at home amongst yourselves, then we would have abundantly
matter of joy and you of praise. [Seal with arms. 2 pp.] |
July 10. Brecknock. |
73. Deputy-Lieutenants of co. Brecknock to John Earl of Bridgewater. That on the 9th of this July they delivered to Capt. Henry
O'Brien and Capt. John Fitzgerald, the officers appointed by the
Lord General, 200 able men, well coated and clothed, by indentures,
whereof they enclose copies [see vol. cccclxii.], one for the Council
and the other for the Lord General. [Seal with arms and crest.
2/3 p.] |
July 10. Whitehall. |
Warrant of Henry Earl of Holland to Humphry Beckley and three
others, regardors of Windsor Forest, co. Berks. I am given to
understand that Mr. Eastwick assumes the power to dispose of
the herbage of the Great Park of Windsor, and depastures there
great numbers of horses and other cattle, to the damage of the park
and deer. These are, therefore, to require you to drive the same,
and thereupon to certify me what number of cattle you find and
to whom they severally belong. [Copy. = 1 p. See vol. ccclxxxiv.,
p. 91.] |
July 10. |
74. Bond of William Knight and Thomas and Ralph Farmer in
1,000l. Conditioned that Will. Knight shall appear before the
Council or Sec. Windebank whenever he shall be called to answer
such matters as shall be objected against him. [Latin and English.
⅓ p.] |
July 10. |
75. Account by the Treasurers of the Navy of the ship-money
received by virtue of writs of 1639. Totals, 30,388l. 18s. 9d. paid,
and 180,011l. 1s. 3d. remaining. [1 p.] |
July 10. |
76. Account of ship-money for 1639 levied and remaining in the
hands of the sheriffs. Total 3,682l., making, with the 30,388l. paid
to the Treasurers of the Navy, 34,070l. This week were paid in
no arrears of ship-money for former years. [1 p.] |
July 11. |
77. Notes by Sec. Windebank of business transacted at a meeting
of a Committee of Privy Council for the coining of the new money
to be issued from the Mint. [Opinion of the] officers of the Mint, Sir
William Parkhurst and Mr. Palmer. The fourth part silver; shilling,
half shilling, and quarter shilling. The stamp. 60,000l. per mensem.
The mixture silver and copper. Four pound weight in the hundred in
3d. and 2d. Stamp to be the King's arms on one side, on the other
the portcullis crowned with [the motto] "Exsurgat Deus, &c." They
can coin but 12,000l. a week for the first week, the next 16,000l.,
and so every week increasing until it come to 30,000l. Warrants
to the officers for the King's signature for making the stamps and
other things. A proclamation. Whether the proclamation is to be
clogged now with the rules concerning what payments are to be
made to the King in this coin. His Majesty to be advised with.
A clause in the proclamation promising it shall be called in again,
and this to be much enforced. No qualifying until the business be
settled. The army to be paid at first in good coin, not to discontent them at first with the new coin till they be settled, and if you
pay them in this new coin it will fill the skirts of the kingdom with
ill money. The proclamation at first to go out free, afterwards some
private rule concerning the greater payments to the King. Moneychangers to be restrained to 1, 1½, or 2 in the hundred, and this to be
done quickly. The quantity cannot be resolved on now, but to be
left to the occasion. All the King's payments here to be made in
the new money; the best money to be reserved for the army for a
while. [1 p.] |
[July 11.] |
Petition of the Grand Jury impaneled to serve at the assizes
for Berks on behalf of themselves and the rest of the county to
the King. That petitioners have of late years been much burdened
with sundry grievances of divers natures by officers deriving their
authority from Your Majesty, but being directly contrary to your
laws established in this kingdom, the chief of our grievances being
put into a schedule and hereunto annexed for redress whereof as
your petitioners hope. That you were pleased about the middle of
April last to assemble the Great Council or Parliament, and some
three weeks after to dissolve it, for want, as it seems to petitioners,
of a good agreement betwixt the two Houses, nevertheless since the
dissolution [in order to redress] such grievances of your poor people,
Your Majesty has not failed by your declarations to invite them to
pour their complaints into your princely ears. Be pleased to take the
particulars into your tender consideration, and to give petitioners
such ease therein as you shall think fit, and whereby it may appear
to all your subjects, and especially to those of the Privy Council and
other officers and ministers of justice, that Your Majesty is resolved
to give to them all their rights and liberties which they desire by
their Petition of Right, and were confirmed by you in the third year
of your reign. The illegal and insupportable charge of ship-money
as high as ever, though the subjects were not able to pay it, the
last year, being but a third part. The new tax of coat and conduct-money with the undue means to enforce the payment of it by
messengers from the Council table. The compelling of freemen by
imprisonment and threatenings to forsake their places of habitation,
hiding themselves in woods whereby their families are left to be
maintained by the parish, and harvest work left undone for want of
labourers. The infinite number of monopolies upon everything
almost that the countryman has to buy. Besides [in] the eastern
parts of this county Your Majesty's forests of Windsor are particularly burdened with the innumerable increase of deer, which if
they shall go on so fast in 10 years more will neither leave food
nor room for any other creature in the forest. The rigid execution
of forest laws in the extremity. The exaction of inordinate fees by
some officers under the Lord Chief Justice in Eyre. [Copy. =
2½ pp. See September 4, 1640, vol. cccclxvi., No. 42, pp. 18–20.] |
July 11. Whitehall. |
78. Warrant to Sir William Parkhurst, warden, Sir Ralph
Freeman, Sir Tho. Aylesbury, and other officers of the Mint.
We have determined to make a new standard of moneys to be current in England, of which four several sorts of money are to be
coined, viz., shillings, sixpenny, threepenny, and twopenny pieces;
the same to be graven thus, on one side the royal arms and style in the
circumference, and on the other a portcullis with a crown imperial,
with this circumscription: "Exsurgat Deus dissipentur inimici."
Our pleasure is that you give order to Edward Greene, graver of the
Mint, to cause to be graven such number of irons for the striking of
these moneys as by the work-masters of these moneys shall be
thought needful. [Minute. 1 p.] |
July 11. Paris. |
79. Charles Louis Elector Palatine to Sec. Windebank. I have
given Sir Richard Cave special charge to thank you for the affection
you continue towards me and my affairs. [Endorsed by Windebank:
"11th July 1640, from the Prince Elector, received by Sir R.
Cave 24th, our style. Answered 5th October by Sir R. Cave,
and then I wrote to the Queen of Bohemia." 2 seals with arms.
1 p.] |
July 11. Winchester. |
80. Deputy-Lieutenants of Hants. to Jerome Earl of Portland, one
of the lords lieutenant. We received from you on the 9th instant
a copy of the Lords' letter of the 6th. In answer whereof we reply
that we have perused and considered their first letter to you of the
26th March concerning the raising and providing of 50 strong horses
for the train of artillery, and 17 carters to take charge of them. The
horses were to be raised in this county, but no mention was made
in that letter, as we conceive, at whose particular charges they
should be provided, only that the charge for sending them to their
rendezvous at Newcastle should be borne by the country. According
to which letter we endeavoured to raise the horses, and had some
showed to us, for which they demanded money, which we well hoped
might have been had out of the proportions formerly rated upon the
county for this service. But those moneys come in so slack, not that
we have returns of any man that directly denies, but they do pretend,
as is true, that commodities are so dead in the country that they
cannot make money of them to pay their rents. We, therefore,
shall beseech you to ease us from this charge. The times as they are,
we shall have much ado, and must give time to raise the money
which we are already engaged for. [1½ pp.] |
July 11. Pool. |
81. Deputy-Lieutenants of co. Montgomery to John Earl of
Bridgwater. In the absence of the rest of the deputy-lieutenants
here we have set out 200 able men for the King's service in the
present expedition, and have delivered them well coated and clothed
to Capt. Robert Broughton and Capt. William Maxey, authorised by
the Lord General to receive them upon the 10th of this July, by
indentures, whereof we send a copy. The delay of seven or eight
days was occasioned by the several intermissions of the service,
which gave our men some confidence they should not go this time, so
rendering them careless of their appearance upon the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
of July, and putting us to a new labour to get in men to supply
our wants; albeit, we had made our number full more than a month
before. With these men that thus ran away and those that kept
off from the beginning, notwithstanding our warrants requiring
their appearance, we intend to take such course as the law warrants
for the sake of example. Our warrants went out for levying the
700l. on this county for coat and imprest-money, soldiers' pay, &c.,
whereof at a more fit time we will give a more exact account.
[Endorsed: "Received July 26th." 1 p.] |
July 11. Auckland. |
82. Thomas Morton, Bishop of Durham, to Viscount Conway.
I crave your acceptance of some venison, which, although it cannot
commend itself for fatness, I am compelled to do it in respect of the
rareness of deer in this country. It is but even now that I call to
mind your [evavtiophavis] in 2 Kings VIII., the answer of Elisha, which
answers for itself, because [by] the first part thereof, in these
words: "Say unto him thou may'st certainly recover," was meant
a possibility of the recovery of that disease mentioned in the question of Hazael which was an apposite answer and most true; the
other part, "Howbeit, he shall surely die," implied another cause of
his death, which was Hazael's stifling him with a cloth. As I have
written heretofore, "To Mars, so do I now to your Mercury." [2/3 p.] |
July 11. |
83. Modern copy of the preceding. [1 p.] |
July 11. York. |
84. Sir Jacob Astley to the same. I have cast up all things as
nearly as I possibly can with our paymaster, who has brought us
very little money; yet finding the troops come up so slowly for we
have in all but 6,000 come to Selby, and 900 of them belong to the
Lord Marquis [Hamilton], and are to go to Hull, I have as much
money as will pay Sir Thos. Glenham's regiment for seven days
more, until the 22nd of this month, which is 1,190 men, officers and
all, and so for Colonel Lunsford's about 700 men; I have given
them orders to march towards you to Newcastle. Sir Thos. Glenham marches out of his quarters on Monday the 13th and Colonel
Lunsford on the 14th, so that you may please to provide for their
accommodation; and all that pass me here have orders to rise and
march at an hour's warning from you. I yesterday informed the
Lord General that according to his command I have taken order
that these two regiments are to come to you. I hope after the 18th
of this month we shall receive more money from Sir Wm. Uvedale,
otherwise we shall be all broken in pieces, and this new [system of]
paying is extremely difficult to reckon as the captains spend more
time in counting their little money than in spending it. Besides
they are extremely unwilling to give anything back for dead pays
to the King's use. The counties have sent their men very ill
clothed, most wanting shoes and stockings, which the captains much
complain of, having been at great charges to furnish them therewith;
besides they want many of their numbers, so that the army will
fall much short of the strength that was expected. This reckoning
and counting and giving of warrants for money here at York will
be one man's work, for neither paymaster, commissary, nor many of
the officers understand it rightly. P.S.—This paying by seven days
will cause all the captains and officers to come to York, and in the
meantime their soldiers straggle in the country, and are not exercised as they ought to be, and I see no great forwardness in most of
them to provide their waggons as ordered, although they have
received money to do it, whereof I have spoken to the colonels to
take some order in it. [1½ pp.] |
July 11. |
85. Modern copy of the preceding letter. [1 p.] |
July 11. Hereford. |
86. Deputy-Lieutenants of co. Hereford to the [Lord Lieutenant
of that county]. In obedience to the commands imposed upon us
by your and the Lords' letters, we have at length happily, as we
hope, performed that great and difficult service in the execution
whereof we passed through great and eminent dangers both of our
lives and fortunes, in regard of the mutinous disobedience and
insolent behaviour of the soldiers, never before known or heard of
in this county in our times. Yesterday we delivered 150 foot with
one drum and drummer to Lieutenants Butler and Mintridge, and
to-day 150 foot and two drums and drummers more to Captain
Button, Lieutenant Edwards, and Ensign Owen, the officers sent
down from the Lord General. We have made choice of able-bodied
men fit for the service, and furnished them with good apparel according to the indentures we send herewith. [See vol. cccclxii.] We
have just cause to acknowledge it as a great mercy that we have
thus well finished so dangerous a service. One of the greatest
difficulties we encountered proceeded from the long continuance
here of the soldiers after they were impressed, for we found them
tractable at first. The country has been deeply charged, and the
money exhausted. We have provided horses for the train of artillery which lie at great charge, wherein we are again enforced to
solicit your directions to whom they shall be delivered. A violent
flood having spoilt the grass and hay on several rivers, presses us
the more to desire to be speedily rid of them. [1 p.] |
[July 11.] |
87. Petition of Edward Davis, a distressed prisoner in the Fleet,
to the Council. Petitioner about two months since [11th May
1640] was committed by Sir Francis Windebank to the Fleet on
suspicion of being one of the disordered apprentices about the rising
against the Archbishop of Canterbury, whereas he had no hand in
it. Prays, for that he lies in prison in great distress and has no
means nor friends to subsist, that you will give order for his enlargement. [½ p.] |
July 11. |
88. The Act Questions in theology, civil law, medicine, and
philosophy set at Oxford 11th and 13th July 1640, with the names
of the examinees who answered some of the questions. [Printed.
1 p.] |
July 12. |
89. John Winford to Attorney General Bankes. That Mr. John
Founes, of Dodford, in the parish of Bromsgrove, has paid the
1l. 9s. 6d. ship-money imposed on him, and seems very sorrowful
for his neglect. My petition is that Founes' appearance before you
may be spared. [Seal with arms and crest. ¼ p.] |
July 12. Yarm. |
90. H. Wilmot [Commissary General of Horse to Edward Viscount
Conway]. I received last night a command from my Lord General
to send to Carlisle that part of Sir Thomas Lucas' regiment which
is here, being his own, Sir Charles Lucas' and Captain Barry's
companies. I have given Sir Charles Lucas order to march with
them next Tuesday. This afternoon Capt. Cooper goes to view the
quarters you have appointed; to-morrow or the next day he will
wait on you to give an account of them. I have sent to inform
myself of what ships can come to Stockton, and shall, according to
your command, inform my Lord General of that convenience for
receiving our arms. A disorder has fallen out here, which will
deserve your attention: Colonel Trafford's quartermaster is shot
through the thigh by a soldier, only for reprehending him for spoiling his horse. I know not whether he will escape it or no. I should
be glad to know what shall be done with the soldier; he is in prison
for the present. Captain Fairfax is not come nor his troop, but
excuses it that you have given him leave to stay with his company
behind. [1½ pp.] |
July 12. Selby. |
91. Sir William Ogle to the same. Coming here the 18th of June
with 740 of my regiment I found the Sergeant Major General [Sir
Jacob Ashley] who importuned me to stay, and quartered my
company in Selby, to prevent disorders which might happen by the
coming of a most disorderly multitude, and within a little space he
went to York, where he remains. A small work is made here where
we keep a guard and with that and my own company we are able
to punish insolencies. The soldiers on the march to Selby commit
infinite disorders, both against officers in beating them and the
country in spoiling it. But when they come to Selby we put their
commission of disorders out of date, arming and passing them away
with more manners. There are passed to their quarters about York
above 6,000, and a very great number more will be armed and
passed this next week. [Seal with arms. 1 p.] |
July 12. Burdrop. |
92. Sir William Calley to Richard Harvey. Will send his coach
to Chiswick on the 25th of July to fetch his wife, and as Sir Edward
and his lady and divers others are coming with her, he gives Harvey
order to provide wine and provisions. [Seal with arms and crest.
1 p.] |
July 12. |
93. Receipt of Robert Loade for 2l. 0s. 4d. paid by Samuel Danvers as his assessment of coat and conduct-money for his lands in
Culworth, co. Northampton. [½ p.] |
July 13. |
94. Deputy-Lieutenants of Middlesex to [the Council]. Upon our
warrants issued to the petty constables of Hayes, Hanwell, Heston,
Isleworth, Twickenham, Ealing, New and Old Brentford, we
received 61l. 2s. arrears of coat and conduct-money which with the
former sum of 82l. 13s. 11d. is left with John Pearce, high constable, to be disposed of as you shall direct. We enclose the names
of those whose assessments, amounting to 35l. 16s. 6d., remain yet
unpaid. [½ p.] Enclosed, |
94. i. List of defaulters mentioned above. [3¾ pp.] |
July 13. Rushbrooke. |
95. Sir Thomas Jermyn to [the Lords of the Council]. I gave
orders to the officers of the regiment quartered at Bungay and
Beccles to command their soldiers to be ready to march on Thursday the 9th of this present, which they did. On Tuesday I
appointed with Lieutenant Colonel Fielding to go myself to Beccles;
and Bungay being in the way, I desired as I passed to see the companies quartered there, who had formerly a greater inclination to
mutiny than the rest of the regiment, as, if they were not purged of
that leaven, I thought it fitter to have time before their going to
apply the best remedies we had in our power than to leave it in
such uncertainty; being very unwilling either to trouble the country
with the marching of any of the train bands or fill it with the
rumour thereof, unless necessity enforced. On Tuesday at Bungay
I found the soldiers drawn out, and asked them if they would
cheerfully follow their commanders. They answered that no men
were more willing to serve their King, but except they were provided with necessaries they would not stir. I told them I would
make an example of those who spoke so; that I knew his Majesty
had been very careful to provide all necessaries, far above the rate
of any other prince both for equipping them and for largeness
of pay; but if they could charge any constables or officers who had
kept back any part of their due, on just proof they should be assured
of redress. And so descending to some particulars of their wants, as
hose and shoes, &c., after a particular examination of their wants and
promise of relief in them, they grew into a very good disposition
and a resolution of obedience, and marching at the time appointed;
the next morning I sent Sir William Plater, one of the deputylieutenants, to them with some money, who, furnishing them with
what they could not well go without, they were very well pleased
and prepared to march with all cheerfulness; but I not willing they
should mingle with their fellows at Beccles, in whom I had observed
a more settled obedience, I propounded to Colonel Fielding to cause
those of Bungay to advance a day's march before the others stirred,
which he did. That night I went to Beccles, and the next day being
the general fast, knowing the bells and drums could not agree
well together, we gave that day to devotion, and on Thursday drew
the soldiers out of the town, supplied their defects, and on Friday
saw them very cheerfully begin their march. I am returned to my
house to order a new levy to supply those by whose sickness or
disbanding the full number is diminished, whereat though the
country will a little repine, I doubt not we shall very speedily effect
it. On Saturday I received from the Earl of Suffolk your letter of
the 8th, wherein we are commanded to send 20 of the horses for the
train of ordnance to be delivered at Yarmouth to Sir Nicholas Byron
before the end of the month which shall be performed; the other
40 very strong and in good flesh, with 13 carters went from Bury
towards Newcastle the 7th of this month with their conductor.
[3½ pp.] |
July 13. Streatham. |
96. Sir John Howland to Nicholas. Complains that Mr. Ward
whom he had appointed collector of the ship-money in the parish of
Bagshot, and then dismissed from that service at the entreaty of a
friend, appointing Henry Lee and Thomas Gibson in his stead, had
detained his warrant authorising him to collect the money from the
17th of February 1639-40 till 8th July 1640, instead of forwarding
it to the said Gibson and Lee. Ward desires to answer the misdemeanour before Nicholas, to whom Sir John sends him. [Seal
with arms and crest. ⅓ p.] Enclosed, |
96. i. The above-mentioned warrant, printed, and bearing date
February 17th, 1639-40. Endorsed, |
96. ii. This warrant was not delivered to Thomas Gibson and
Henry Lee before the 8th of July 1640. [1 p.] |
July 13. Sion. |
97. Algernon Earl of Northumberland to Edward Viscount Conway. The apprehensions of the Scots coming into England were as
great here as at Carlisle, but our late advertisements give hopes
they are not so well provided to invade us as their countrymen in
this Court report; yet to satisfy those on the west borders I have
commanded to Carlisle the three troops of Sir Thos. Lucas' regiment which are to go with the Lord Lieutenant [of Ireland]. This
with the strength of the adjacent counties will, I trust, be sufficient
to prevent anything likely to be attempted on that side. If Sir
William Howard will both raise and pay his troop on his own charge
there is some hope he may be a captain; otherwise I much fear that
within a few days we shall neither have money to raise the troops
wanting nor to pay those already raised; notwithstanding our confidence and great undertakings, the keeping disorderly and new
raised men without pay, and the coining of copper money are
shrewd signs money is not so plentiful as it ought to be at the
beginning of a war. I could have wished this direction which I
here send you for payment of the army had been forborne till the
men were in better obedience than yet they are, I pray God those
that were the advisers of it do not approve themselves more ignorant
in the ways of governing an army than they would seem to be. Mr.
Wilmot writes that you desire to draw the troops now in Cleveland
to Durham and on this side of it. I think they may be well
quartered there and be near at hand to serve you on all occasions.
The Commissary General, Leonard Pinkney, is coming to you with
all his train and you must give order for their entertainments
according to the allowances I gave them last month, of which he
will present unto you a list. Our other commissary, Gibbons, a
favourite of Lord Cottington's, has this year cheated the King of
2,000l., and is now in the Fleet for 30,000l. debt. I hope before
long we shall meet, either in the North or at the good garrison of
London. [2½ pp.] |
July 13. Norton. |
98. Sir William Belasys to the same. I am by this bearer to
present you with a buck from Lord Lumley, who wishes your health
and that the buck were as good as any he has in Sussex. If there
be any defect I beseech you supply it in thinking you are at Newcastle within 55 degrees of North latitude and near Scotland.
Omne malum ab Aquilone and such like. [1 p.] |
July 13. |
Modern copy of the preceding. [Written on the same paper as
June 14. See vol. cccclvii., No. 19.] |
July 13. Coventry. |
99. William Jesson to Thomas Earl of Berkshire. On Sunday last
the 12th of this July I was served with a warrant by Mr. Holbrook,
to appear at the Board, to answer what might be objected against me.
I know nothing that might lie against me, except a certificate by
me to my Lord of Northampton, by the persuasion of his deputylieutenants here in Coventry, about coat and conduct-money, the
copy of which is enclosed; which I had hoped my Lord of Northampton would have taken in the same sense it was written, and have
given myself and others satisfaction from the Board, whether we in
Coventry were to be charged or not. But hearing he was displeased
at it, and fearing some ill office had been done in the delivery, I
paid the money charged for me to pay in Coventry as soon as I
heard from my Lord it was due for Coventry to pay; and that it is
paid the messenger that served the warrant will wait upon you to
make affidavit, if need be, that the collector of coat and conductmoney did acknowledge that he had received it of me above a week
before I was served with the warrant. Therefore seeing the money
is paid and the messenger satisfied, and no just cause of offence
given to any, let me entreat you to move the Board that I may be
released and excused for not coming in person; the rather for that our
assizes are next Wednesday, where I am to be in the King's service.
[Seal with skull and crossbones, and motto "Memento mori." ¾ p.]
Enclosed, |
99. i. The above-mentioned certificate to the Earl of Northampton
that the reason why he and others of Coventry have not
paid the ship-money is that they have seen no warrant
from the King or Council for charging Coventry, which is
a distinct city and county by itself; not that he opposes
the ship-money, for in the counties of Warwick and
Northampton he pays in six several places, where he is
charged by warrant from the King and Board. [⅓ p.] |
July 13. |
100. Petition of Luke Pepper, John Ford, Nicholas Eaton, and
others, maltsters of Dover, to Bishop Juxon, Lord Treasurer. That
the price of the best malt at Dover is only 13s. or 14s. the quarter,
which is under the price limited by statute, malt being so plentiful
there, pray warrant to transport 3,000 or 4,000 quarters into foreign
parts, by which they hope to get a quicker market, there being no
sale at Dover in spite of the low price. [1 p.] Annexed, |
100. i. Certificate by the Mayor of Dover, under the seal of the
mayoralty, that the price of malt in those parts is 13s or
14s. a quarter, and that being a perishable commodity,
some other course ought to be permitted to the maltsters for
selling it. [2/3 p.] |
July 13. |
101. Note of agreement between John Ashburnham and Nicholas,
by which the former agrees to assign over to the latter all his right,
title, and interest in the parsonage of Wherwell, co. Hants., for
3,850l., of which 3,200l. has been already paid. [⅓ p.] |
July 13. |
102. Examination of Thomas Tapping, servant to James Evett,
vintner, at the "Three Cranes," in Chancery-lane. That on Friday
or Saturday seven-night there were in his master's house a party of
five gentlemen of Lincoln's Inn drinking, and some persons in the
next room, amongst whom was a picture drawer, who had relation
to the Earl of Northumberland, between whom a dispute arising,
the gentlemen of Lincoln's Inn answered they believed his Lordship
would not keep any such servants, but more than this he heard
them not say concerning the Earl of Northumberland. After this
the gentlemen called for a pottle of sack, and one of them began a
health to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and they forced the picturedrawer to drink it, but whether the health went round or no he
knoweth not, neither did he hear any word spoken of the confusion
or destruction of the Archbishop. He never told any that the
gentlemen of Lincoln's Inn had had a meeting to the number of 40
or 50, neither does he know that such a number of them ever met
together. [2 pp.] |
July 13. |
103. Lists of the names of soldiers levied in co. Berks., who disbanded this day without permission at Brackley, co. Northampton.
Names of the men of the Reading division belonging to Colonel
Sir Jacob Astley's company. Names of those of the Newbury
division. [2 pp.] |
[July 13.] |
104. Brief in a suit touching the right of common, &c. in West
Moor, in Galtres Forest, co. York, in which the Attorney General is
plaintiff and Sir John Bourchier defendant. [This copy appears to
have been used for Sir Thomas Dawes' suit. 7 pp.] |
[July 13.] |
105. The heads of the evidence for Sir John Bourchier's title to
the waste lands called West Moss, alias West Moor, in Galtres Forest,
co. York. [2 pp.] |
July 13. |
106. Notes in support of the title of Sir Thomas Dawes and
Robert Long, Esq., to the forest of Galtres, co. York. In 13th July
1640, Sir Thomas Glenham, Arthur and Anthony Samuel, for a
very great consideration in money, sold their claim to Sir Abraham
and Sir Thomas Dawes. Then follows a statement of the claims of
Sir John Bourchier. The answer of Sir Thomas Dawes and Robert
Long, Esq., to the suggestions in Sir John Bourchier's petition.
The West Moor in Galtres Forest is said in the petition to be 320
acres, and that 140 acres thereof are inclosed in the park, so there
remains to Sir Thomas Dawes and Mr. Long but 180 acres, whereof
95 acres are decreed to Sir John Bourchier, and they have always
been ready to set it out to him as they should. [2 pp.] |