Charles II: March 1684 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1683-4. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1938.

'Charles II: March 1684', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Charles II, 1683-4, (London, 1938) pp. 302-353. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/chas2/1683-4/pp302-353 [accessed 13 April 2024]

March 1684



The Kalends of March. [March 1]	"Anonymous" to the King. The petitioner some months since indicated to Secretary Jenkins that Joseph Browne, that anti-monarchical clerk of Coopers' Hall, continues a fomentor of fanatical sedition in that Company, which will be proved by Lieut.-Col. Wynborrow and several of that society. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 1.]
March 1. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Sunderland. Mr. Pendarvis, the Consul at Malaga, on 1 Feb. N.S. writes thus:— Yesterday came into this port the Oxford and Dragon frigates, leaving eighteen men-of-war in Tangier Road and the mole quite demolished. The vice-admiral of the Spanish fleet and eight men-of-war are in Gibraltar Bay. Eight of their men with three fireships are in Carthagena. 'Tis uncertan whether the Spanish general be there or in Alicante. They are in some fear of his Majesty's fleet, supposing there may be some design against them.
	Lame Mr. Carleton has bestirred himself to-day in going from house to house among the gang, ending his visits at Lord Clare's. I'll watch his steps as well as I can, for I am told to-day that that party intend to bestir themselves by caballing in the King's absence. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 189.]
March 1. Whitehall.	Postwarrant for John Mountsteven for one horse and guide to go from hence to Newmarket. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 90.]
March 2. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. The King came hither in very good time last night, which nobody else could do, the ways being abominable and not having coaches to change so often as his Majesty. He is very well and very well pleased. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 2.]
March 2. Salisbury.	Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to Secretary Jenkins. According to my last I enclose an account of the seditious words and have bound over the persons to appear the first day of next term and other testimony for further proof of the charge, for I find the person accused and her husband very ill-affected, living near Andover, where you may remember Braddon endeavoured to obtain a belief that the Earl of Essex was murdered, but making their example public may, I think, contribute much to the King's service. The other enclosed paper gives you an account how Davies, now attainted for highway robbery, who murdered the man of Chichester, for which Farrington escaped, but this well managed may perhaps reach him, we have reprieved him for fourteen days to know his Majesty's pleasure (sic). It were to be wished that all the persons named by him were secured and examined. I pray directions herein. Pray let the Duke of Ormonde know that the business relating to the King's carriages was effectually done as desired by the Grand Jury and Justices of Hampshire. We arrived here last night. [Ibid. No. 3.]
March 2.	Dr. John Lloyd to Dr. Owen Wynne. I most heartily thank you for all your favours to me and now in an especial manner for your great kindness and assistance in reference to the University concerns, which the Doctors, our late agents above, inform me we all here stand obliged to you for very highly and who have therefore desired me to thank you. What makes me yet more ashamed and troubled is that though we engage you in so many troubles, you would not leave us any way of making the least return. Pray present my thanks to Mr. Secretary. No member of the University but is highly sensible how much we stand obliged to him for so zealously espousing our cause and, I am very confident, would be most heartily ready to serve him, if any occasion required it. I think by the next to trouble him with a few lines about some little concerns of the college. (fn. 1) This week we had the assizes where the business of the riot here came on. All the rioters save one submitted to the court and had a small fine imposed on them. As to the person that traversed it you might observe in the managery of the whole matter on that side the good humour of this town and how well affected they still stand towards the government as well as the University. For counsel they had Mr. Williams and Sir F. Winnington, who both talked after their usual manner very scandalously and im pudently, not to say very ignorantly and maliciously, to the apprehension of all bystanders. A jury was packed by the UnderSheriff or his substitutes suitable to the counsel, who notwithstanding the judge's having declared the fullness and pregnancy of the evidence acquitted the criminal and, though the judge told them that he admired how it was possible for them to bring in such a verdict, they stood obstinately resolved in the same, and the whole body of townsmen, not content with this success unless they added in contempt a rude unmannerly humming and noise, which they repeated at least thrice in the court, and also not content with that the whole rabble accompanied the acquitted criminal along the streets to his own house with shoutings and huzzahs. [1½ pages. Ibid. No. 4.]
	A copy of the part of the above from the asterisk to the end. [Ibid. No. 5.]
March 2. Chichester.	Robert Tayer, Mayor, and Stephen Wenford to Secretary Jenkins. John Davis, who murdered Habin, now condemned at Winchester for another crime, is to be executed next Wednesday. Because there have been very dishonourable reflections on our good bishop and several worthy persons here, who were zealous to have the abettors of that malicious and premeditated murder justly punished, we think it our duty to lay before you an account of our proceedings since we heard the malefactor was taken, which was but the night before the assizes began, and have sent copies of our certificate to the judges there and of the examinations of Davis and of Baker mentioned therein, who is of that stubborn nature that he would not set his hand to the examination though he owned the truth of it on oath. The rest either will confess nothing or are out of our jurisdiction and Mr. Farrington is now in London. The deceased's widow would bring an appeal against him now that the principal is found and has so positively accused him of putting him on to commit the fact. If the testimony of Davis would conduce any thing to the discovery of others concerned in that murder, we would petition his Majesty to grant him a reprieve. [Ibid. No. 6.]
March 3.	Roger L'Estrange to Secretary Jenkins. On information from the bearer I wrote to the Common Serjeant to assist him with a warrant for taking old Frank Smith, who is able to give as much light towards discovering the conspirators' persons and practices as any. He was seized about midnight and there was a ladder set against the wall to favour his escape. I doubt not he can discover the hiding places of several of his confederates. There are bundles of papers ready packed up, which are not searched. You may direct the seizing and searching of them as well written as printed and specially to look for short-hand papers. [Ibid. No. 7.]
[March ?]	— to Secretary Jenkins. It will be necessary that Francis Smith be strictly examined who were his partners and associates in printing and dispersing the seditious and treasonable books which passed through his hands, for it is believed other booksellers were confederates with him, he being only the instrument in dispersing them. [Ibid. No. 8.]
March 3. Newmarket.	Warrant for a grant during pleasure of the offices of Governor and Captain of the Isle of Wight and of other the offices therewith formerly granted to Sir Robert Holmes to the Duke of Grafton on the surrender thereof by the said Sir Robert Holmes. [1½ pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, p. 102.]
March 4. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. Acknowledging his letters of 1 and 2 March. His Majesty continues in good health and is well pleased with the place though the weather is such as he cannot take the divertissements which are most proper here. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 9.]
March 4. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Lord Chief Justice. As soon as I had yours of the 2nd I had the opportunity to lay it before his Royal Highness and the lords that use to meet at my office. They were all of opinion that Davis (Farrington's coachman) should have a further reprieve, if his Majesty should so please, and that I should send to the Mayor of Chichester to examine all the comforters and receivers of that felon. And I should examine Ward, the distiller, in this town, since it is very probable that it will appear from the several testimonies what are the true colours of Farrington.
	Amsterdam is still in the same humour and Friesland falls into it. The French and the Empire are more likely to come to terms of accommodation than the French and Spaniards. Our friend, the Consul of Alicante, has done wisely and much for the King's service in hindering one of our men-of-war from falling out with a Spanish admiral that was in that port. The King approves very much of his active diligence on that occasion.
	His Majesty got well and betimes to Newmarket on Saturday notwithstanding that his coach broke at the Green Man, five miles off. His Royal Highness went for Newmarket at half past 5 this morning. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 189.]
March 4. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Lord Deputy. You expect, I doubt not, the issue of the heats at Amsterdam. We have no late news thence. The last we had speaks of them as stiff and as high as ever against the new levies and that the province of Friesland is fallen fully into their sentiments. I send you the last memorial of M. van Citters, the Dutch Ambassador, and Lord Sunderland's answer to it. The Most Christian King will, 'tis thought, be in the field three weeks hence. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 341, p. 161.]
March 4. Cork.	Viscount Shannon to the Lord Deputy. I am ashamed to give you a trouble of this nature, which I utterly detest, having taken a surfeit last plot season of such informations vouched only by a single witness of so mean a quality and I believe of so little truth. But this Alexander Wallis meeting me at Col. Cotter's house and assuring me he had no other business than this from Galway, I desired him to acquaint the same to the said colonel and James Barry, two Justices. We are all of opinion that how improbable so ever this information is, yet, the murder of the King being named, we are bound to acquaint you with it and wait your commands. I keep Wallis in safe custody, till I receive your orders. The Galway merchant, William Stanley, is now here and tells me that John Donovan is his servant in his house at Galway. If you would have the men he accuses seized, Sir Emanuel Moor lives just in the midst of them all and will apprehend them on your commands. I beg your pleasure what I shall do with this informer Wallis. [Copy attested by Gerard Bor. S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 343, No. 154.] Enclosed,
March 4. Cork.	The information of Alexander Wallis, merchant, of Bar[n]staple taken before Lord Shannon, Col. Cotter and James Barry. About two months ago he lodged in Galway at the house of William Stanley, where he met John Donovan, who came to offer his services to Stanley to go to the Islands. — I observing Donovan to lie under some great trouble of mind, asked him the reason and at last he told me he knew of a plot and was troubled he could not go for England to discover it and that, if he spoke of it in this kingdom, he should be certainly made away with. At length he told me he had been at West Carbery to see Daniel O'Sullivan, his kinsman, who lives at Ardagh near Castle Haven, who asked him if he continued of the Roman religion. Donovan told him he was sent a boy into Maryland, where he had lived 14 or 15 years among the Protestants and had gone to church with them. Daniel said he hoped he had not lost an inward love in his heart for the old religion. Donovan told him he had not, on which he told him he would trust him with a secret, if he would swear secrecy, which he did. Then he told him the Irish clergy and gentry were out of their livings and estates and had made their addresses to the French King for his assistance, whose answer was, his thoughts were on greater matters and he could spare them no assistance but he would settle his affairs so as by May '84 to be able to assist them with a great army. The said Daniel further told him that he and his complices were employing four or five persons to go to England and wait in London for an opportunity to kill the King, and that, if he would make one, he should have a great reward as soon as it was effected. Donovan told him he would. Then said he, You need never return to Maryland, for, as soon as the work is done, we have arms all ready to destroy the English root and branch. Donovan asked him who were to join with him to kill the King ? He told him five persons (names given), among them Cornelius Donovan, who, Donovan believes, may make some discovery, for talking with him about massacring all the English, Cornelius told him 'twas pity so many women and children should be killed. All these five live in West Carbery and John Donovan further said that Jeremy Donovan, belonging to the Queen, was to assist them in London and that he went to Waterford with his said cousin Daniel, who, fearing he might discover this secret, sent to Osborne, a Waterford merchant, to arrest him in an action of 500l., so he was kept in prison there six months. Osborne told him, if he would return to his cousin, he would give him a guinea and lend him a horse, but he, fearing for his life, would not go and he believes all these persons are gone for England on this design, which they said they would attempt next May. [2½ pages. Ibid. No. 154 i.]
March 4. Cork.	Col. J. Cotter to Lemuel Kingdon. I'll not trouble you with a long letter, not being able to get out of bed to write, nor dare I trust any body to write for me. Yesterday came to Lord Shannon a merchant or a pretended one of Ba[rn]stable and informed him of a new hellish design against his Majesty's person, which my lord has put into writing and, though very indisposed, came with the said person to my bedside, where he swore to his information. An account is by this post sent by Lord Shannon to his Excellency, and the persons named to manage this great villainy are half a dozen men of the barony of Carbery, which to me seems to make the whole but a malicious sham. However, none knows how far the Devil may push on disaffected persons. [Copy attested by Gerard Bor. Ibid. No. 155.] Enclosed,
	Another copy of Wallis' examination. [Ibid. No. 155i.]
	Other attested copies of the last two letters. [Ibid. No. 156.]
March 5. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. Acknowledging his letter of the 3rd. The King thinks it very fit that Davies should be reprieved till the Lord Chief Justice returns and would have you signify as much, if you have not done it, hoping that more of the Chichester villains may by that means be discovered. The Duke arrived last night. Both the King and he are in perfect health. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 10.]
March 5. Doctors' Commons.	Dr. Henry Fauconberge to Secretary Jenkins. Being confined by an extreme cold I send you the enclosed from a person of known fidelity to his Majesty and the government. I hope in a day or two to give you further satisfaction by my personal attendance. [Ibid. No. 11.] Probably enclosed,
March 5. Doctors' Commons.	Theodore Hooke to Dr. Fauconberge. There is a judgment against Oxford charter for want of appearance to the Quo warranto, which was brought on purpose to set aside Sir John Duke's interest and to place some loyal gentleman in his room in case there should be a parliament. But this good design is in danger by a gentleman [Sir Cæsar Cranmer] who lives not in this country and is utterly unacquainted with the concerns of this town, who makes this proposition to the Hastlyns, who are sworn friends to Sir J. D. and promised to choose him one of the burgesses (though out of his Majesty's favour and the commission of the peace), that, if they will choose him one of the burgesses the next parliament, he will renew the charter at his own charge. I understand he has interest to do it and is himself a very loyal person, but knows not that, if the persons he treats with will be put into the new charter, Sir J. D. must be chosen with him, whereas, if there be no charter, and we are allowed a prescription to send burgesses, I can make sure of two loyal gentlemen, having sufficient interest in the greatest part of the scot and lot men. However, if the charter is to be renewed, great care must be taken concerning the new portmen and freemen, for the poor town cannot supply sufficient and loyal men but they must be made up out of the gentry in the country, who are first to be treated with. You know my interest in that town. I thought it my duty to give you this trouble, not doubting you will let Sir Lionel Jenkins know. If there is any design to renew the charter, pray let me know. It is a matter carried on very privately. I have acquainted only Sir Robert Broke, who is going to wait on the King at Newmarket and has promised to put a spoke in this wheel. [Ibid. No. 11 i.]
March 6. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. For your letter of the 4th I have nothing to return but three memorials of the French Ambassador, which the King commanded me to send you. As to that relating to Ostend, the King is of opinion care should be taken to prevent what is complained of and that you send directions to the ports to that effect. The others he recommends to you, as in such cases he uses to do. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 12.]
March 6. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Mayor [of Chichester]. I am commanded to communicate to you the enclosed confession of Davis, Mr. Farrington's man, that killed poor Hebbin, the informer against conventicles. His Majesty has reprieved Davis, in order to a further discovery of the truth, that it may the more fully appear who the abettors, receivers and comforters of this murderer were. I am myself in pursuit of Ward, the distiller, mentioned in Davis' confession. As to those out of your jurisdiction in the city of Chichester mentioned in the said confession, I must desire you to entreat the Justices that are next them in the body of the county to get them thoroughly examined and copies of the examinations sent to me, that I may lay them before his Majesty and take his pleasure in them. Pray speak my kind respect to Capt. Binford. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 191.]
March 6.	Sir Robert Sawyer to Secretary Jenkins. In pursuance of my engagement to you I have sent you the heads of my report for the new Oxford charter. Many things were desired I thought not fit to allow, because they might give offence to the University. Those I have pitched on I cannot see will be of any prejudice to the University and therefore I submit to you that the alteration of the number of Aldermen I conceive will be for his Majesty's service, because it will give occasion to introduce a new set of honest men and to leave out the present ill men and those in future will be at his Majesty's disposal to displace. When you are satisfied there is nothing therein prejudicial to the University, pray return the papers. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 357.] Annexed,
	The said heads. The Mayor, Bailiffs and Burgesses of Oxford beseech your Majesty to grant them the ensuing privileges to be added to their charter. 1. They pray a pardon for all past forfeitures. 2. Whereas they have now by charter 4 Aldermen and choose by prescription a fifth and 8 assistants to make up 13, they pray they may be called by the name of 8 Aldermen and 5 assistants, out of whom a Mayor is to be always chosen. 3. They pray a grant of a haire market for all live cattle on every Wednesday in Broken Hayes and a horse fair the first Tuesday and Wednesday in Lent in St. Mary Magdalen's parish. 4. That the Mayor, Bailiffs and 8 Aldermen and 5 assistants be named and settled in the new charter. 5. A grant to them of electing their officers with a proviso that the Crown may by order in Council remove any of them, the corporation thereupon to proceed to a new election. 6. A proviso that nothing in the new charter be prejudicial to the rights and liberties of the University but all their rights be entirely saved to them. [Ibid.]
	Another copy of the above letter. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 13.]
March 6. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir Robert Sawyer. Thanking him for his letter of that morning relating to the Oxford charter with an account of the privileges desired by the city.— I must give you an account of the progress of the first petition of the Oxford men. The first article was to desire a pardon for all past forfeitures. To this the University except that they having had several grants on former forfeitures and seizures of the city franchises, it is prayed that the pardon may be limited in point of time, for instance since the last Act of Oblivion, that it may have no retrospect on such former forfeitures and grants made thereon to the University. This the Lord Keeper thought an over-abundant caution on the part of the University yet said that some word should be inserted in the pardon that should remove all causes of jealousy to the University.
	In the first petition they prayed they might have eight Aldermen and five assistants instead of four Aldermen by charter and one by prescription as also eight assistants. To this the Doctors answered that the number of Aldermen being increased a pretence would be given to have them put into the commission of the peace and consequently let them into an advantage to out-veto the Justices that are of the University at quarter and petty sessions. The Doctors added that in the title of the corporation no notice is taken of Aldermen, the whole being, Mayor, Baliffs and commonalty, and, the four Aldermen they had being instituted by Henry III and granted not to the city but to the University, it was now prayed the number might not be augmented, since there was no necessity for it and that it would be made use of to the prejudice of the University.
	In the first petition they pray for a haire market for all live cattle every Wednesday on Broken Hayes and a horse fair on Tuesday and Wednesday in Lent in St. Mary Magdalen parish. The Doctors answered that, though Broken Hayes was by its situation chiefly offensive to Gloucester Hall and St. John's and Baliol Colleges as lying nearest to it, yet the passage of beasts to and from through the chief streets of the city will be a great nuisance to the whole University. In former ages such regard has been had to the sweetness, quiet and cleanliness of the place that by solemn process of law the Butchers' row (?) formerly kept in the High Street has been removed as a nuisance to another place in the city and by like process all slaughter-houses removed out of the city and not suffered to be kept within the walls, and therefore it is conceived this may be as great a nuisance. There is the less need of it because there are already such markets and fairs very near as at Thame and Abingdon. The place in Magdalen parish for the horse fair is the street before the theatre and public schools, there being no other place in that parish capable of such a fair, and therefore it will be a great annoyance to the University and a disturbance to the students in the performance of their solemn exercises of Lent.
	Under pretence of this haire market in Broken Hayes and what else they may pretend to by a grant of a market therein by King James' charter they would by degrees remove to this place the University market now kept within the city, the government and perquisites whereof now belong to the University, and deprive them of it and cause the creation of a multitude of cottages and alehouses and disorderly houses in these outplaces which will make it more difficult to keep the young scholars in good order and discipline. His Majesty, having heard their reasons, absolutely rejected this article about the market and fair as also the former about the Aldermen.
	Two articles more in the first petition are denied likewise. The first was to have the Mayor for the time being made a Justice for the county; the other was to have St. Clement's parish joined to the corporation. This I note, because it is a wonder to me how the city come to annex these heads to their new petition since they were over-ruled as well as these two last points by his Majesty, who declared to the Doctors at their returning to Oxford that nothing should be done to the prejudice of the University. The Doctors being returned home and having reported that his Majesty had rejected all the points they had been instructed to oppose, it is not in my power without commission from the Duke of Ormonde, our Chancellor, and from the governors of the University to consent to anything relating to the augmenting of the number of Aldermen or the grant of the market and fair. If the city bring these questions before the King again, I must beg his Majesty and so will the Duke of Ormonde too that the University may have notice to attend. [3½ pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 358.]
March 6. Newmarket.	Warrant to Lord Dartmouth, Master General of the Ordnance, for the delivery to Capt. Mark Talbot of 100 barrels of gunpowder, 100 snaphance muskets and 10 cwt. of musket bullets to be sent to the Governor of New York for the King's service there. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, p. 104.]
March 7, 6 p.m. The Talbot inn.	Ezekiel Everest to Secretary Jenkins. I have been informed to-day by a friend of Mr. Farrington's of a maid being now in town that I am sure was Mrs. Farrington's maid when the murder was done, who, I have heard, knows everything about the man's escape. Her name is Mary Rann (gives her address) and I am informed she knows more than any one. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 14.]
March 7. Newmarket.	Warrant for a grant to Francis, Bishop of Rochester, to be the King's High Almoner of all the goods, chattels and debts of all felos de se and of all deodands forfeited to the Crown. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 53, p. 134.]
	Memorandum that this warrant was new writ for the said Francis, as Bishop of Ely, dated 20 March, 1684–5. [Ibid.]
March 7.	Warrant to Francis Strutt to take Germain Ireton and to secure such letters and papers as shall be found about him. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 272.]
March 7. Newmarket.	Warrant to the High Sheriff of Hampshire for the reprieve of John Davis, convicted at the last assizes for Hampshire at Winchester for highway robbery, till the King be fully informed of the manner of his trial and conviction. [Ibid. p. 273.]
March 7. Newmarket.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Claudius, Earl of Abercorn, with the reports annexed. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 327.] Prefixed,
	The said petition setting forth that last May he petitioned (calendared in S.P. Dom., Jan.—June, 1683, p. 239).
	The reference by the Lord Deputy of his petition to the Attorney or Solicitor General of Ireland, 19 Dec., 1683.
	Report of the Solicitor General, dated 12 Jan., 1683–4.
	Report of the Lord Deputy, dated 17 Jan., 1683–4. (All these are calendared in the Calendar of Treasury Books, Vol. VII, p. 1083.) [Ibid. pp. 324–327.]
March 7. Newmarket.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of William Hawley with the report of the Lords of the Admiralty on the reference to them calendared ante, p. 270, which was that on consideration of what is alleged in the said petition and what Capt. James Barrett has said in his annexed certificate they are of opinion he is a fit object of his Majesty's favour in remitting the said fine to him. [Ibid. p. 327.]
March 7. Newmarket.	The King to the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. Whereas John Tresider has informed us by his petition that he and his ancestors have long been tenants to your church for the manor of Eastleach Martin, Gloucestershire, by demise for lives, and being desirous to renew the same for three lives has prayed a dispensation in his behalf of the local statutes of the said church and a letter to you by our father, restraining you from granting leases of the said lands except for 21 years, we, in consideration of his great loyalty to ourself and our father and being informed of some services of his to you in the late rebellion, dispense with the said local statutes and letter in his favour and empower you to renew his said lease for three lives (which we recommend to you), any thing in the said statutes or letter to the contrary notwithstanding. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 57, p. 76.]
March 7. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Attorney General. His Majesty directed the Earl of Sunderland to send me a memorial of the French Ambassador, the translate whereof is enclosed. The words for my direction are these:—His Majesty is of opinion that care should be taken to prevent what is complained against the Ostenders and that you should send directions to the ports to that effect. I could not think myself sufficiently qualified for this service, reflecting on the enclosed proclamation and what is requisite by way of sovereign authority for the due execution of the law of nations.
	The lords that use to meet here at my office having heard the case (whether it be as represented or as it may fall out, it matters not) were all of opinion that the enclosed proclamation should at this juncture be renewed mutatis mutandis, the occasion of it being caused by a peace, though the parties are the same now that were then in hostility.
	My lords are of opinion that in the preface (for you are desired to prepare a new proclamation) you should mention the enclosed proclamation and that you should in few words represent the inconveniencies intended to be redressed and prevented by this new one. It will readily occur to you that the mention of his Royal Highness is to be omitted in this new proclamation and I think there is to be inserted instead Our Lord High Admiral for the time being or Our Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral, if that be the right title of the Commissioners. You are desired to prepare this new proclamation for the Council next Wednesday and to consider whether it should bear date at Whitehall on that Council day or at Newmarket the day the King signs it.
	I had yesterday begun to write to thank you for your kind communication to me of the Oxford business, but I am under such a pressure that I have not been able to finish the letter, but, the matter in hand requiring haste, I think it my duty to dispatch it. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 192.]
March 7. Newmarket.	Warrant to the Attorney General, after reciting the acceptance by the King of the surrender by the city of Bristol of their rights of election and of their liberties, powers and privileges by virtue of any charter, prescription or custom, for preparing a new charter for incorporating the said city by such name and in such manner as they were incorporated by former letters patent, and for regranting them all their ancient privileges, customs and franchises with the regulations, additions and alterations in the annexed paper of heads and such others as he shall judge requisite. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 370.] Annexed,
	The said paper of heads. [9¼ pages. Ibid. p. 371.] Prefixed,
	The surrender by the city of Bristol with a petition for a regrant. 9 Nov., 1683. [1½ pages. Ibid. p. 366.]
	Reference thereof to the Lord Keeper, the Duke of Beaufort and Secretary Jenkins. Dec. 7, 1683, Whitehall. [Ibid. p. 367.]
	Their report on the said petition and the proposals since made for further liberties and franchises that the heads above written as now regulated and modelled may be fit to be regranted and confirmed and also that the new proposals since offered relating only to fairs and markets may be likewise granted. Feb. 29, 1683–4, Whitehall. [Ibid. p. 368.]
	Approval of the said report and reference of the petition and annexed heads to the Attorney General. March 1. [Ibid.]
	His report in favour of granting a new charter pursuant to these heads. March 3, 1683–4, Whitehall. [Ibid. p. 369.]
March 8. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. On your letter of the 6th his Majesty commanded me to let you know he very much approves of what you said to the Lord Mayor concerning conventicles. He thinks any remissness of that kind would be of great prejudice. Yesterday the enclosed petition was presented to the King and he commanded me to send it you and to signify that he would have the gentlemen heard before a new charter be given. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 15.]
March 8. Chichester.	Samuel Carleton to Secretary Jenkins. Sending the enclosed papers by the direction of the Bishop of Chichester.—The Bishop prefers the original, of which this is a true copy sent for your perusal, because it is more ample than that which you received from the Mayor. [Ibid. No. 16.]
March 8. Winton.	John West, Dr. George Bramston and two others to Lord [Chief Justice Jeffreys]. We finding John Davis very ready to make a further discovery of that murder committed against Habin have done our endeavour to have the whole discovery laid more open, which we have with all haste transmitted to you, hoping it may be effectual to the saving or at least the reprieving of Davis, which we have neither promised him nor given him hopes of, but we request you would endeavour the same, for we think him truly deserving. His time of suffering being the 15th we hope before that to hear from you. We pray you to send us word what you have done already and what you design towards his pardon or reprieve. Endorsed, This Davis was coachman to Faringdon at Chichester, who had put him upon wounding Habin. Faringdon was tried and acquitted. Davis, now convicted at Winchester, confesses the other fact. [Ibid. No. 17.]
March 8. Dorchester.	Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to Secretary Jenkins. We have now finished here. Several Dissenters have been prosecuted and convicted for 20l. The gentry seem all unanimous in the county and zealously inclined to the King's service. The Grand Jury have made a presentment in imitation of that at Chester notwithstanding Lord Macclesfield's action. We have reprieved Davis according to the intimation by your last. We are just now setting out for Launceston where we hope to be on Tuesday night. [Ibid. No. 18.]
March 8. Newcastle.	Capt. Henry Brabant to Secretary Jenkins. On Sir N. Johnson's letter last Tuesday to the Mayor and Aldermen touching the charter we had yesterday a Common Council. I am well assured that Mr. Davison, a leading Alderman, had prepared all his faction to hang the dispute on an unhappy expression in the letter, viz., that his Majesty insists not on the surrender of the charter but that the town would renew it. When it was moved by myself for an absolute surrender, it was utterly rejected and none stood by me in it but Sir Ralph Jenison and two or three commoners, who had this answer given us, that his Majesty did not require it and therefore they would comply to what the letter desired, and thereupon unanimously resolved to renew the charter, whereby they think to preserve that absolute rule they bear now and that it will be but little eclipsed by his Majesty's approbation of the Sheriff only, for they dream of little or no other alteration. I look on this affair, especially at this juncture, to be of infinite concernment and therefore humbly present my thoughts therein, which are that, unless his Majesty reserve the approbation likewise of the Mayor and at least of every new Alderman (for 'tis them that rule here and not the Sheriff), they will not value the Sheriff's being in his Majesty's choice but maintain the advantage they have got here to the great discouragement of the loyal party, who have for several years been basely slighted by this predominant faction, who grow every day stronger, for, if the Mayor and Aldermen be left still to the same liberty they have for some years followed in the choice of Aldermen, the government here will stand worse for the King, for they frequently choose persons that have never been Sheriffs, as I can give several instances. I now take myself bound to lay all open to you, which hitherto I have been backward in, which is that lately I am sure some persons have been elected of republican principles, others downright trimmers and to uphold the faction. I ascertain you none but such will be chosen for the future, if left to their will, for now's the time to curb them, for this Davison is a person of that ambition and affecting popularity that nothing less than the government of the whole town will serve his turn, for, whoever is Mayor, he is dictator and every year industriously packs most of the electors, Common Council and grand jurors, by which means no concernment for the King has been at any time heartily espoused and I have had very ill usage among them, having on all such motions been wholly slighted.
	Sherwood and Bell came well home, to whom I paid 32l. 16s. for full satisfaction, 10l. of which was for loss of time. The rest was charges, so I have still 7l. 4s. which waits your disposal. I beg you will not suffer this letter to be made known to Sir N. Johnson, because of the person named in it. [2 pages. Ibid. No. 19.]
March 8.	Olive Meynell to her cousin. Private affairs. [Ibid. No. 20.]
March 8. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Nottingham. I received the memorial enclosed from Newmarket with his Majesty's command to think of some effectual order to prevent as much as possible the matter that the French Ambassador complains of. I can think of no way more effectual than that his Majesty would renew the enclosed proclamation, mutatis mutandis. I showed it and my orders last night to the Lord Keeper, the Lord President, the Lord Privy Seal and the Earl of Rochester, who directed me to send the proclamation to the Attorney General that he may prepare such another to be proposed to the Council on Wednesday. This I sent word of to Newmarket as advised here and I think myself obliged to send you and your Board this print that you may consider whether anything is to be added to or altered in it besides what concerns the mention of his Royal Highness and your office. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 63, p. 66.]
March 8. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir Paul Barrett, Recorder of Canterbury. I am as a well-wisher to the prosperity of Canterbury to remind you that his Majesty is unsatisfied with the surrender made by that city as it was presented to him. He has therefore directed that the Attorney General proceed on the Quo warranto the first day of next term, unless the city in the meanwhile send up a new and full surrender. You know best what to advise the city. My wishes are that they may follow the best examples such as those of Norwich, Hereford, etc., which have surrendered absolutely and had all they could pretend to with reason and modesty regranted them. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 194.]
March 8. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. You will find enclosed the copy of a letter from the Attorney General to me with three articles which the city of Oxford thinks fit to ask again and three qualifications subsequent to the three articles, which the Attorney General, it seems, intended to make his report of as minutes of a new charter. I have sent you my answer to Mr. Attorney and the minutes. If I be short in any thing, pray advertize me as soon as you can, that I may amend whatever is amiss. I sent my letter to Mr. Attorney by a gentleman and an extract of your last letter about the rioter. His answer was that nothing should be precipitated to the prejudice of the University. I should desire the Doctors were here again, but that I hear Mr. Attorney will be gone out of town on Monday to his estate beyond Newbury for the rest of this vacation. I will watch all things as well as I can and give you notice of what occurs. [Ibid. p. 195.]
March 8. Newmarket.	Warrant for a charter in the usual form re-incorporating the borough of Shaston, alias Shaftesbury, with the alterations and additions in the annexed paper of heads. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 363.] Annexed,
March 8. Newmarket.	The said paper of heads with the names of the first and present members of the corporation. [2 pages. Ibid. p. 364.]
March 8. Newmarket.	Warrant to the Justices of Assize for the Western circuit and to the Keeper of Winchester gaol for inserting in the next general pardon for the Western circuit on condition of transportation Richard Eyres alias Wheeller alias Thomas Eyres alias Wheeller found guilty at the last Winchester assizes of stealing cattle and sentenced to death and for his reprieve in the meantime. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 95.]
March 9. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. I have read to his Majesty your letter of the 7th and the proclamation of '68, which he has commanded me to let you know he thinks may be very proper at this time. He and the Duke are very well. The weather is cruel cold and yet they are not weary of this place. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 21.]
March 9. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Attorney General. The Lord Keeper acquainted the lords that met this evening here at my office that you intended to-morrow to go out of town for some time. They commanded me to mind you of the proclamation now before you touching the neutrality of his Majesty's ports in a time of hostility, as this is, between his neighbours. I therefore desire you to send it me that I may on Wednesday produce it in your name to the Council. My lords wished that your occasions would give you leave to stay in town till that Council were over, but thought it too hard to impose this on you. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 194.]
March 10. The Palace, Chichester.	The Bishop of Chichester to Secretary Jenkins. The enclosed information and letter I received from Winchester, where Davis is now in custody, whose pardon or reprieve the Mayor and myself have earnestly desired, because he affirms that besides Habin's murder he is able to discover many considerable persons and things that relate to the security of the government from the conspirators, but this, he says, he will not discover till he have a pardon in his hand. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 22.]
March 10.	Robert Tayer, Mayor, to Secretary Jenkins. Your kind notice of my last encourages me to make this address enclosing a further confession of Davis. I have examined the two carriers who, he says, conveyed him hence to London, but they on their oaths deny knowing any thing, so I have sent to the ordinary at Winchester to examine Davis more particularly touching that point to find out some other evidence to confirm his testimony, for they are a sort of people that obstinately deny the truth till it is clearly proved and, when forced to confess the fact, will not own the guilt. If this point should not be gained, it will much detract from the whole confession. I have also communicated the business to the county Justices, who, I suppose, will give you an account. [Ibid. No. 23.]
March 10. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Mr. Brisbane. Late on Saturday night came to me a gentleman from Prince Philip expecting that I had had his Majesty's orders for a yacht to transport that prince beyond sea, the French Ambassador, as he says, having moved his Majesty to that effect. I have no such orders come to hand, but the Prince is of that quality and so particularly known to his Majesty that I cannot think but that his request, when it was made, was most readily granted. Therefore I beseech you to lay this case before the Lords Commissioners and to move them to accommodate Prince Philip as he desires. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 196.]
March 10. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to [Col. Bampfield]. I have frequent letters from you since I wrote last and just now I received by Mr. H[ughes] yours of 27 Feb. I am persuaded that you wish well, as becomes an Englishman, to your country, but my unhappiness is not to know how to make use of what you write, because your letters are too general and very obscure, there being in them no designations of persons, actions or other circumstances that direct what to aim at or how to avoid the dangers and consequences you speak of so oft. One thing I must note to you as reasonable to be expected on this side and yet wanting on yours. The King knows of several of his natural-born subjects that were in the late conspiracy and are fled from justice to have been very lately and, for aught that appears, to be still in the province, nay in that very town where you have resided so long, yet your letters make no mention of them, whereas it highly concerns his Majesty to know all and any the least motions of those men and to be well informed of their designs, the company they keep, their correspondence in those provinces and in these kingdoms, their way of conveying and receiving their intelligence, and, which is most important, the great quantity of arms they have sent and are still sending into Scotland especially and also into the northern parts of this kingdom. If you could afford me any light in these points, you would oblige me very much. You should not repent of your time and pains herein and you should be re-imbursed of your charges without further trouble than sending your bill to me. [Over 1 page. Ibid.]
March 10. Newmarket.	Warrant for the reprieve of Edward Cooper, sentenced to death at the last Hertfordshire assizes for killing George Clayton. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 95.]
March 10. Newmarket.	Warrant to the Lords of the Admiralty, after reciting that process was issued out of the Court of Admiralty 28 Oct. last, in pursuance of a warrant from the King, to William Joynes, marshal of the said court, to arrest the Richard and John, whereof Roger Sherwood was pretended to be commander, for executing whereof George Wade was deputed by the said marshal, who endeavoured to arrest the said ship in the Thames, but the said Sherwood fled, passing by the Back of the Goodwin to Ostend, and that the said Wade in performance of his duty pursued the said ship thither and there laid on the arrest, as he was advised he might do, for which the said Sherwood arrested him and got him put in prison, where he yet remains, on a sentence obtained against him on the prosecution of the said Sherwood and Capt. William Parris, who now appears to be the true commander of the said ship, which persons flying from justice have committed at Ostend many insolencies and high misdemeanours and most presumptuously slighted the King's authority and done great injuries to the said Wade, and that it has been made appear by oath that the said Parris and Sherwood intend with the said ship to trade with infidels within the limits of the charter to the Royal African Company and have declared such intention in the places beyond the seas where they now are: requiring them forthwith to issue orders to any of the frigates in the Downs or cruising that way to do their utmost to seize the said ship, provided it be on the high sea and not in the harbour of Ostend or any other port or road belonging to our neighbours and allies, and to bring her into any of the King's ports with the said Parris and Sherwood, that they may be brought to answer the complaints against them. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 169.]
March 10. Newmarket.	The Duke of York to the Prince of Orange. (Printed in Dalrymple, Vol. II, Appendix, Part I, p. 51.) [2 pages. S.P. Dom., King William's Chest 3, No. 96.]
March 11. Norwich.	The affidavit of Thomas Marshall. The letter now shown to him dated London 12 Jan. last and directed to him was brought to his house from the post office here, but he knows not the sender or handwriting. He had a correspondence with William Mason of London, writing-master, who lives in Lombard Street, about five years ago and contracted with him to write to him three newsletters every week for 30s. a quarter to be paid to his brother Joseph Mason, a barber in Norwich, which he paid for two years and then contracted with William Mason for 5l. a year, to be paid quarterly to his said brother, which he has paid ever since. He has three newsletters brought him every week from the post office, but knows not from whom, but believes they are written by someone of W. Mason's procurement.
	With deposition by Joseph Mason that he knows the contents of the above affidavit to be true in the main. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 24.]
[March.]	The certificate of the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Francis Withens and Sir Thomas Jenner in favour of Anthony Horsmonden mentioned in the next letter but one. [Copy. Ibid. No. 25.]
March 11. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to John Good, Under-Sheriff of Hampshire. Enclosing the reprieve to John Davis. (See ante, p. 307.) [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 274.]
March 11.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir William Russell. His Majesty has seen a very ample certificate under the hands of the Lord Chief Justice, Justice Withens and the Recorder of London in favour of Anthony Horsmanden, an attorney, recommending him very much to the Skinners' Company, London, to be elected their clerk. He has so good an opinion of that ancient company that he did not think his letter of recommendation necessary in behalf of so honest a man, where there are to be so many well-affected electors, and where you, that are so well-affected, are Master. These few lines are to recommend Mr. Horsmanden to your care or rather to desire you by your prudence and application to take care that the Skinners' Company may not at this time do anything displeasing to his Majesty, who, though he forbear to interpose by his letter, yet is very well informed of the influences that clerks have had on the proceedings of several London companies and that it is of great consequence to the good order and quiet of every company that the clerk be one of a steady loyalty and unbiased affection to the established government in Church and State. This was his opinion, when I laid before him the above-mentioned certificate. I doubt not you will govern yourself according to it. I shall be glad to represent to his Majesty that Mr. Horsmanden's success is owing not only to your prudent conduct but to the good affection of the Skinners' Company. [Over 1 page. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 198.]
March 11.	Secretary Jenkins to the Deputy Governor of the Isle of Wight. The Spanish Ambassador, having notice of the arrival of an officer in great trust with his master at the Isle of Wight, brought me the enclosed letter and earnestly requested me that I would not only give it a safe conveyance to that officer, Don Alonzo Cornero, but also recommend him and all his concerns, especially all the men-of-war and merchant ships (if any) that are his convoy or under his command, to the Governor of the Isle of Wight. I know that Sir Robert Holmes is not there but lies indisposed at his own house here, but I am certain it is his Majesty's meaning that the subjects of his allies and particularly those of the King of Spain receive all fair treatment and accommodation, such as they shall desire for their money, in his ports. Let me therefore recommend to you to do all good offices towards this gentleman, his retinue, and his concerns, and he will have the more need of your kindness that he has been, as the Ambassador tells me, very much battered with ill weather. I cannot have recourse to his Majesty, who is at Newmarket, to know his pleasure and have his precise orders, but I dare be bold to say that he, resolving to entertain a fair neutrality towards his allies and neighbours, that may have differences and even hostilities among themselves, will approve of everything you shall do in pursuance of those common friendships that we, his subjects, own to the subjects of his friends and allies. I desire to hear from you that I may be able to tell the Ambassador that his letter has been safely delivered and that you, in the Governor's absence, and the officers in the place will not be wanting in doing your part for the service and satisfaction of the said Don Alonzo and his retinue. [1½ pages. Ibid. p. 199.]
March 12. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. I received yours of the 9th and 10th and late last night the Dutch letters came, which the King has not yet read. To-morrow I will send them you. His Majesty and the Duke continue very well. Here is abundance of company and most abominable weather. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 26.]
March 12.	Roger L'Estrange to Secretary Jenkins. There are certainly a great many new faces come lately to town, full and frequent meetings and some persons taken notice of that cannot be understood to have any business here but mischief, as Manly, the broken brewer and one of Cromwell's majors, Tudman, a bold and desperate fellow. Notice is taken of men that walk late more than ordinary. Perhaps a strict account of night-walkers and a diligent search in the stables about Moorfields and Spitalfields to take an account what and whose horses might make some discovery. A young man has lodged two or three months in Vere Street at the house of — Newes, a tailor and a sergeant of the trained band, a very honest man. He has never stirred abroad. Nobody knows what he is, only a lass in the house was saying he looked like a woman in man's clothes. He is visited twice or thrice a week by Major Wildman, who stays commonly two or three hours. He leaves his coach and servants in the next street out of sight of the door and neither the lodger nor the visitor is known to any in the house. [Ibid. No. 27.]
[March 12.]	Dr. John Lloyd to Secretary Jenkins. I communicated your letter to my lord of Oxford, the Provost of Queen's, Dr. Levett, etc., desiring their advice, if they could think of adding to or altering any part of what you so kindly on the University's behalf returned in answer to the Attorney General's. I told them your answer seemed to me so full and satisfactory that I could not think of any thing I could add or desire have altered, to which they all agreed and desired me both in their own and the University's name to return you their most hearty thanks for being thus on all occasions so ready to espouse and with so much trouble to assert our privileges and rights. They further desire me to beg the continuance of your favour, desiring we may as far as possible rest undisturbed in the possession of the favours and grants which his Majesty has of late as well as formerly determined on the University's behalf. It seems very strange that the townsmen here should have the confidence especially so soon to prefer any petition to his Majesty for the very same things that were so positively rejected by him, but their restless implacable humour towards the University may very well abate the cause of wonder herein.
	I crave your advice in another business in reference to the College concerns with the town and school of Abergavenny. I am informed that the town look on the lease of Bedgworth as expired last St. Thomas' Day and so I understand that the person that had the right of the former lease looks on it to be so likewise, but looking into the grant to the College, as well as I am able to compute it, the expiration is not till next St. Thomas' Day, for the former lease commenced as our grant expresses it on 21 Dec. in the 27th of Elizabeth and being for 99 years it does not, as I reckon it, expire till next December. I am informed that the last tenant will not give above 80l. a year and indeed I cannot be informed it can be let at above 100l., which will not save the College harmless, except the town take off part of the charge laid on us by the grant. Sometime this week we intend to employ a friend to go and view the thing and get us the best account he can of its true value. I think it our interest to get possession as soon as we can, especially seeing the tenant himself owns the expiration of the lease, but of this and the whole matter I crave your opinion and advice. Henry Rogers, the late schoolmaster, advises me that the young man whom I advised you the town had chosen for schoolmaster is willing to quit his pretences and that the town will thereon be willing to admit of one of the College's recommendation, in case he may have any other preferment of but about 40l. a year any where in the county. [2 pages. Undated but postmarked, 12 March. Ibid. No. 28.]
March 12. Bristol.	John Hellier to Secretary Jenkins. It is commonly rumoured here that Sir Robert Yeamans, one of our ancientest Aldermen, is to be left out on the new regulations. If so, I fear it will greatly weaken his Majesty's interest here, because I can testify on my oath, if required, he has been firm to his loyalty even in the worst of times. No man here, since the death of Alderman Oliffe, has been more instrumental in suppressing conventicles. His being brought up before the last Westminster House of Commons and the pretence for it his Majesty and yourself well know, and I could spend too much of your time in enumerating his considerable services in order to the restoration and for his Majesty's service ever since. It seems some misrepresentations have been made of him to the Duke of Beaufort as if he should treat Sir William Clutterbuck, our present Mayor, somewhat roughly. I confess Sir Robert, being a soldier, does not use much rhetoric in his expressions, yet his zeal for the King and Church was never yet censured. If he has said any thing indecently to Mr. Mayor in the place where he sat, though he may not be justified yet he may in great measure be excused, especially if what he said was meant to oppose the endeavours of some designing gentlemen, who would make the resignation here and the alterations thereupon of no advantage to his Majesty's service. This will appear, if the fact be examined. Wherefore I beg your pardon for this trouble which is neither at Sir Robert's desire nor with his knowledge but purely from my duty. I wish the resignation had been more ample. [Ibid. No. 29.]
March 12. Newmarket.	Reference to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of the petition with the annexed paper of Henry, Earl of Thomond, setting forth that his Majesty having granted him the government of Clare with the fee of 10s. per diem it was always paid him till the last Irish establishment, in which he was not inserted nor has since received the said fee, and praying an order that the same be inserted in the present and future establishments. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 323.]
March 12. Newmarket.	The King to the Master and Fellows of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Dispensing in favour of Henry Hawley, M.A., Fellow of the college, with their statutes whereby they are tied up to have but one Fellow of a county, leaving them at liberty to elect him, if they think fit. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 57, p. 77.]
March 12. Newmarket.	Warrant for a grant during pleasure to Sackville Tufton of the offices of captain of the blockhouse of West Tilbury and of captain or keeper of the blockhouse near Gravesend with the fee of 2s. per diem for the captainship of West Tilbury and 20l. per annum and 4d. per diem for the captainship of the blockhouse near Gravesend payable quarterly, the first payment to commence from Christmas last. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 164, p. 105.]
	Minute thereof. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 72, p. 225.]
March 12. Newmarket.	Proclamation renewing the former orders for the freedom and security of English ports during the time of hostility between foreign princes. (Cf. S.P. Dom., 1667–68, p. 222.) [Printed. S.P. Dom., Various 12, p. 428.]
March 12. Guernsey.	Lord Hatton to Secretary Jenkins. My wife's condition, who is now big with child and has not one left alive, makes me very desirous to accompany her to England and to see her safely delivered, which enforces me to beg you to obtain for me permission to be absent for such a short time as may be requisite. I shall leave all things in a good posture here and I doubt not Capt. Lyttelton's care for preserving them so.
	An Ostend privateer has lately come twice into this harbour to get fresh provisions, but I have restrained him from attempting any thing, as he would have done, on the French vessels in the road under his Majesty's protection. Our merchants have lately sent several of their vessels, which had lain long by for want of employment, to St. Malo to seek for freight, but I find their expectation not answered, whether it be those of St. Malo expect a peace or at least a cessation or that they would beat the price of freight as low as they can. Their losses this winter of vessels taken and cast away have been very considerable. About a fortnight since a frigate of that town stayed some days in this road. The captain informed me he came from the West Indies, where he had been attempting to trade with the Spaniards but without success. [Over 1 page. S.P. Channel Islands 1, No. 133.]
March 12. Newmarket.	Warrant for a charter to Charles, Earl of Lauderdale, his heirs and assigns, of a third part of the lands of Harlaw and Ballerne, acquired by the deceased Patrick Stirling from the deceased Patrick Cranstoun of Corsbie, in the barony of Ballerne and shirefdome of Edinburgh and also of the third part of the lands of Ballerne acquired by the said Patrick Stirling from the deceased Sir Jeremy Lindsay, with a new gift and a change of the holding from simple ward to taxt ward. [Docquet. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 291.]
March 12. Newmarket.	The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal, and John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput, and the remanent lords of the Exchequer. Warrant for passing the above signature with the change of the holding aforesaid, any former orders or instructions to the contrary notwithstanding. [Ibid. p. 292.]
March 12. Newmarket.	Warrant for a charter of new infeftment to John Alison of Glencorse, his heirs and assigns, of the forty shilling land of Glencorse in the parochin of Closburn and shirefdome of Dumfries on the resignation of John Irving, younger of Beltenment, heir to the deceased Hugh Charters of Glencorse, his goodsir's brother, with a new gift and a change of the holding from simple ward to taxt ward. [Docquet. Ibid.]
March 12. Newmarket.	The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal, and John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput, and the remanent lords of the Exchequer. Warrant for passing the above signature with the change of holding aforesaid, any former orders or instructions to the contrary notwithstanding. [Ibid. p. 293.]
March 13. Landguard Fort.	Sir Roger Manley to John Cooke. I am at length got into my old quarters again. You will see our condition by the enclosed to Mr. Secretary, which I desire you to seal and deliver. Here is an odd passage of one of our gunners, who is accused to have ravished a girl of seven, and, there being no Justice nearer, we are forced to send seven nay ten miles off to examine witnesses, which creates me much trouble. A word from Mr. Secretary or yourself would get me or any body in the neighbourhood into the commission. I hope ere long to give you no ill account of my solitude here and do the King more service in this retreat than I have been able to do in 43 years' colonelling. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 30.]
March 13. Landguard Fort.	Sir Roger Manley to Secretary Jenkins. Being returned here I find our works notwithstanding the rigour of the winter, except an inconsiderable slip in one of our flanks, to stand most firmly and, if the two remaining curtains were finished, the most cleansed and a counterscarp made, I should dare affirm that this fortress would be no less strong than considerable. Our wants indeed are many, as stores and a small magazine of arms, wherewith I have acquainted the Ordnance Office. I further offer that we can lodge another company here, which would secure us against any insults. [Ibid. No. 31.]
March 13. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Yarmouth. Your letter of the 4th came enclosing one from the Bailiffs of Yarmouth to yourself. I have considered of what is desired in them and conferred with Mr. Burton about it, who promises that a general writ of Quo warranto against the corporation of Yarmouth shall be sent down next post according to your desire, and, if you know any officers or others there, who may disturb your good intention by opposing the surrender, on notice of their names a special Quo warranto against them shall immediately follow. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 201.]
March 13. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Capt. Gallois, Commander of Cowes Castle. I recommended to you by the last post a letter addressed as this is to Don Alonzo Cornero. I am desired by the Spanish Ambassador to let you know that whatever good offices be rendered to him or his company shall be acknowledged in Spain with a grateful return. I am sure it is his Majesty's pleasure that his allies have all fair and friendly treatment possible in his ports. [Ibid. p. 202.]
March 13. Newmarket.	Pass for Prince Philippe of Savoy, being about to pass out of this kingdom beyond the seas with the Sieurs D'Ornasson and De Villeray, 3 valets de chambre, 2 pages, 4 footmen, 3 Moors, 3 grooms, a coachman and a valet de garderobe. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 380.]
March 13. Newmarket.	Warrant to the Sheriff of Wiltshire for the reprieve of — Bolwell found guilty at the last Wiltshire assizes of counterfeiting the coin and sentenced to death. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 96.]
March 13. Newmarket.	Warrant for a gift during pleasure to John Veitch of Daurick of the office of presenting signatures to the Exchequer and ordering of his Majesty's dispatches in Scotland void by the demission of William Brown. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 294.]
March 14. The Common Side of the King's Bench Prison.	Sir James Hay to Secretary Jenkins. My wife having lately waited on the Marquess of Halifax to implore his assistance in representing to you and others in whose power it is to relieve me that I am in a most deplorable condition here, she was instructed by him to apply to you. I beg you to bestow something on me of your own bounty knowing that I am a gentleman and in great distress. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 32.]
March 15. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. The King, having heard that the Duke of Monmouth had a great many horses in town, would be glad to be informed what he intends to do, whether they are designed for Flanders or to remain here. I have received the French letters you sent me. His Majesty says all the yachts are employed and, if they were not, they could not go to Boston, which he would have you write to Lord Preston. I send the proclamation signed by the King. [Ibid. No. 33.]
March 15.	Robert West to Secretary Jenkins. I beg you to inquire of the Lord Keeper the order his Majesty made on my last petition and particularly what bail I must give before I have the liberty of taking the air. On application I made to him by a friend he said he would acquaint you with it, but greater affairs may put it out of his memory. [Ibid. No. 34.] Perhaps enclosed,
March 15.	Robert West to the King. Petition for relief. Is desirous to preserve his health much impaired by the length of his confinement and more by his continual remorse. Though he has exercised the utmost care and temperance, yet through the charge of a large family and the great expense of a messenger's attendance he is not able to make use of the favour lately granted him by his Majesty. [Ibid. No. 34 i.]
March 15. Newmarket.	Signification of the King's pleasure that, when any governor of forts or garrisons or any commission officer shall obtain leave to surrender his command and it be granted at his request to any other, then the former so surrendering shall pay 12d. out of every 20s. given him in consideration of such surrender and the surrenderee shall also pay 12d. out of every 20s. given to the surrenderor for the use of the Royal Hospital for those that have served in the land forces and that no commission be issued out of the office of either Secretary of State without a certificate from the Paymaster General of the Forces that the surrenderor and surrenderee shall have each duly satisfied the said reservation of 12d. out of every 20s. or given security for the payment thereof. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 50, p. 103, and S.P. Dom., Entry Book 69, p. 105.]
March 15. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Mr. Hellier. As I never heard any thing intended in the new settlement of Bristol to the prejudice of Sir Robert Yeomans, so I cannot believe that any such thing has ever entered into the Duke of Beaufort's thoughts. Sir Robert is known very well to his Majesty to be a gentleman of ancient and unalterable loyalty, not capable of doing any thing not conformable to his principles. Therefore desire him from me as well as from yourself to give no heed to little idle malicious stories. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 202.]
March 15. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Yarmouth. You will receive here enclosed a Quo warranto against Yarmouth. You are desired to send hither the articles assigned already or such as may be assigned by way of breach of charter against the town and also to send Mr. Attorney's opinion on them that things may be ready by the time he comes back to town.
	His Majesty has advice that Sir William Waller is now nestling himself in Bremen and is drawing to him all the disaffected persons he can under pretence of setting up a woollen manufacture there. Some sort of vessel is intended to ply off Yarmouth to take in passengers (even whole families) for Bremen. Pray write to Sir Thomas Medowes and others our friends that none of the King's subjects embark for that voyage, and, if there be cause to suspect that any intend it, good security may be required of them not to depart the kingdom, till his Majesty's pleasure be known concerning them and whether they be not such persons that the writ of Ne exeat regnum should not issue to stop them. [Ibid. p. 203.]
March 15. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Peter Shakerley. The eldest in your commission may, as the Lord Keeper says, serve his turn for Custos rotulorum in this interval between two charters. For Sheriffs there must be the same process in making them as for making those of counties. The names of your two gentlemen shall be sent down to Newmarket and their commission shall be dispatched as soon as possible after the King has nominated them. I have told you already that I have received the writ of seizure and the return and I shall take care to have it entered in the proper place. [Ibid. p. 204.]
March 15. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Henry Brabant. I do not know by what advice the surrender you speak of in your last was proposed, but am sorry no surer measures were taken beforehand. All the service I can now do is to watch that the King receive no prejudice. I'll keep your letter private to myself. Pray let me hear from you what manner of instrument is intended to be sent up. [Ibid.]
March 15. Newmarket.	Commission to Capt. Sackville Tufton to be captain of an independent company in garrison in Gravesend blockhouse. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 164, p. 106.]
March 15. Newmarket.	Warrant to Sir Thomas Exton, King's Advocate General, and Samuel Franklin, King's Proctor, to take care that process be issued out of the Court of Admiralty for staying the Charles, information being given that she is intended for the coast of Guinea to trade as an interloper with the infidels there, till sufficient security be given by the commander and owners thereof that she shall not go to or trade with any infidels and particularly not within the limits of the charter to the Royal African Company. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 171.]
March 15. Newmarket.	Warrant for a gift to Capt. Robert Middleton, his heirs and assigns, of the lands of Haughead and all other lands which pertained to Harie Hall, deceased, at the time of his forfeiture for treason and other crimes and now are become in his Majesty's hands and at his gift by reason thereof. [Docquet. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 296.]
March 17. Exeter.	Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys to Secretary Jenkins. I received yours of the 13th on my arrival here last Saturday. In Cornwall and this county the gentry are for the most part very loyal and seem well pleased with my assuring them that the King is resolved to be steady to his party and not to be guilty of any more slips, nor are they wanting in expressing their good affections by often remembering the indefatigable old Secretary's health. In my return from Cornwall I called at Plymouth and have prevailed with that corporation to abide by their former resolutions of surrendering their charter notwithstanding the endeavours of my brother Maynard, their Recorder. I shall attend you at my return with a copy of his letters to dissuade them from complying with the King. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 35.]
March 17. Yoxhall near Needwood.	William Harbord to Secretary Jenkins. This morning Col. Vernon was with me and he takes great exceptions at the recital in the warrant to me, which was purposely so penned out of civility to Sir Thomas Chicheley and he seemed at first to receive it as such, the colonel alleging that it plainly appeared by it his Majesty had been misinformed and that, had he known of the grants being under seal, he would not have sent me hither, to prevent which and all other mistakes I have sent up this post a draft of another warrant under cover to Lord Rochester to give it you for his Majesty's signature, and pray get it signed as soon as you conveniently can and let Mr. Cooke send it me. [Ibid. No. 36.]
March 17.	Joshua Sabine to Secretary Jenkins. Importuning him on behalf of Mr. Dunn, for the multitude of the factious parishioners have importuned the Dean to gratify them, but the best of our divines will testify for his ability and all his Majesty's friends that know him for his freedom from scandal and great zeal for the government. [Ibid. No. 37.]
March 17. Newmarket.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Lady Frances Keightley and Thomas Keightley that the pension to them of 200l. per annum on the late establishment be made up to 400l. per annum, as the salary of the Comptroller General was formerly, and that it may be placed on the new establishment. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 328.]
March 17. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Earl of Clarendon. I beg you to inform yourself at your leisure whether one Jeremy Donovan be among the Queen's inferior servants. If so, it will be a favour to me to let me know where and when I may wait on you to ask him some few questions in your presence. He is an Irishman. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 204.]
March 17. Newmarket.	Warrant to Col. John Strode, Lieutenant of Dover Castle, to admit and swear Richard Field to be a gunner in Walmer Castle in the place of Simon Bowles, deceased. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 173.]
March 17.	Minutes of like warrants for Peter White and John Warde to be gunners in the same castle. [Ibid.]
March 18. Newmarket.	The Earl of Sunderland to Secretary Jenkins. Acknowledging his letters of the 14th, 15th and 16th. Whatever you care to know from hence Lord Rochester will tell you. The Duke intends to be at London next Thursday and the King on Saturday. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 38.]
March 18. Harwich.	John Elton to Secretary Jenkins. I arrived here Saturday night and, as soon as I came, I saw one of the Duke of Monmouth's servants in a disguise, so I pretended not to be well Saturday night and did not go by the mail. Here are 13 horses of the Duke of Monmouth and Mr. Cutts with their grooms going for Ostend on pretence of going for Zuricksee to a merchant, and a pilot is sent hither by the Marquis de Grana to conduct them thither, who pretends to be a man concerned with the horses from a merchant in Holland, but I am sure it is as I have given an account, for I know all the grooms. The horses are shipped to-day, but I think the wind will not carry them away. The Duke and Mr. Cutts go not these twelve days and are not come out of London, as I am informed by their own servants. I could give no account of this sooner by reason of the post not going till to-day. No inquiry is made here as to any passengers, but everything passes here that will and the King is very ill served here as to the officers of the Customs, so that any one may go where he will and carry letters or anything else. I think to go in the packet to-morrow. I intend as soon as over to wait on Mr. Chidley to let him know where to send your commands to me. [Ibid. No. 39.]
March 18. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Major Breames and others, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer for the Admiralty of the Cinque Ports, Dover. By the enclosed order of Council I am to let you know his Majesty's pleasure that the persons therein named as being the shallop's company be apprehended and brought to justice as principals or accessories to the death of William Miller, late pilot belonging to the Fellowship of Loadmanage for the Cinque Ports. I hear Gravener is in hold, but on a charge of transporting wool. Miller's wife clamours very much as if justice were not done her in looking after and apprehending Gravener's complices and she is afraid, if he can clear himself about the wool, he will be left at liberty and not brought to trial for killing the pilot, but I doubt not care will be taken that he be brought to answer for the death of the man as well as for wool-stealing. His Majesty looks on the fact as very foul and the scandal as not to be endured under a just government. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 205.]
March 18. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Bath and Wells. Certainly a false alarm has been taken in Bristol about Sir Robert Yeomans. His Majesty, the Lord Keeper and the Duke of Beaufort are so well acquainted with what he has done and suffered in the King's cause that it is morally impossible that any prejudice against him should enter into any of their thoughts. If there needed a remembrancer in his behalf, I should offer you my service, but I hope there is no cause to think so disadvantageously of the government as to need any to prevent an ill office to be done to him. I shall not fail to attend you by my letter, when you are at Taunton. [Ibid. p. 206.]
March 18. Newmarket.	Commission to John Shrimpton to be ensign of Sir Thomas Ogle's company in the Holland regiment. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 164, p. 106.]
March 18. Newmarket.	Warrant to the Sheriff of Surrey for the reprieve of Elizabeth Tyman, widow, found guilty at the last Surrey assizes of the manslaughter of Hannah Tyman and sentenced to death. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 97.]
March 18.	Like warrant for the reprieve of John Norwood of Croydon, Surrey, found guilty at the last assizes of felony for robbery. [Ibid. p. 98.]
March 19, 10 p.m. Harwich.	John Elton to Secretary Jenkins. The horses went to sea yesterday but have had a great wind ever since so that some think they cannot be safe, but I am sure they intended for Ostend. I am just going in to-night's packet and shall forthwith wait on Mr. Chidley to receive your commands. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 40.]
March 19. Newmarket.	The King to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge to be communicated to the Senate. Whereas it has been represented to us by you with the consent of the Heads of the Colleges and the Proctors that the provision by statute for the due performance of exercises for the degree of M.A. has not proved so effectual as was to be desired, we make this order as a statute for the future, viz., that every Senior or Middle B.A. appointed to respond or declaim in the Bachelors' Schools by the combination to be made for that purpose and signed by the Vice-Chancellor and the Senior Proctor not performing his duty in the course allotted to him shall be punished 20s. and moreover stand obliged under the same penalties to perform the same on the next usual day and so from time to time till he have actually performed it or be excused on just cause approved by the Vice-Chancellor and the Senior Proctor and the Master of his college, which method of proceeding we will have also duly observed as to the exercise of opposing in those schools, saving that the punishment for the neglect thereof be but 10s. to be repeated as above directed. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 57, p. 78.]
March 19. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Dr. Stillingfleet. I am desired to beg your favour to Mr. Dunne, curate to the last rector or vicar of St. Leonard, Shoreditch. I have no acquaintance with him nor would I write for him, but that the gentlemen who desire my letter are persuaded he is a very fit man to succeed Dr. Atfield. My acquaintance with them is from their care and zeal for his Majesty's rights and service in the late contests about City elections and other things of that nature. My desire is that you will consider of Mr. Dunne and inquire how well he may have deserved in five or six years' service in that cure. I am sure you will bestow it on him you shall judge most deserving. I ask nothing that should be to the prejudice of the better merit. Please pardon this trouble. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 207.]
Thursday, [March 20.]	The Bishop of London to Secretary Jenkins. I beseech you to take this poor man's case into your immediate care or they will all be ruined. You will see what the order of Council is. The English fishermen have drawn up their reasons and these men desire to answer them and stand to the determination of the Council. Sure you will not suffer any insolence to be done in the meantime. Endorsed, "About the French fishermen." [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 41.]
March 20. Harwich.	Capt. Thomas Langley to Thomas Atterbury. I saw here 13 horses shipped by Mr. Swart and some other servants. He told me he paid the captain and freighted a hoy from here to Flushing. The horses lay here several days. He told me he would shortly be here again for another freight of horses. [Ibid. No. 42.]
March 20. Newmarket.	Appointment of John Wilme and Peter Bennett to be Sheriffs of the city of Chester during pleasure. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 381.]
[1684. March.]	Commission to William Wilme to be Seneschal or Judge of the Port Moot court in the city of Chester. [Latin. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 66, p. 381.]
	Another copy thereof. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 43.]
March 20. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir Thomas Exton, Advocate General. Mr. Norwood, the bearer, who belongs to the Lieutenant of Dover Castle, will bring before you one Kitchener, charged in the enclosed information. I desire you to cause him to be strictly examined on proper interrogatories and then to move the judge for such further proceedings as may be proper either by committing him or letting him go on good bail. You will have a regard to the proclamation newly published about our neutrality, his Majesty being resolved to have that observed in the strictest manner possible. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 172.]
	Memorandum that a letter from Richard Cooke at Dover to Col. Strode of 22 Feb. last was sent with the above letter. [Ibid.]
March 21. Newmarket.	Grant to Nathaniel Hammond, gentleman usher daily waiter assistant, and to his successors in that office of the same fees of honour and homage as one of the gentlemen ushers daily waiters has, and to Benjamin Colinge and Nathaniel Cox, Keepers of the Council Chamber, and their successors of the same fees of honour and homage as one of the gentlemen ushers quarter waiters has, and to Patrick Lamb, the King's master cook, and his successors of the same fees of honour and homage from bishops, baronets and knights (he having fees of the nobility of ancient right) as one of the gentlemen ushers daily waiters has. Minute. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 97.]
[1684.] March 22.	—to Secretary Jenkins. It is generally believed that the Duke of Monmouth is gone or going for Flanders and that many of Cromwell's officers and others will go with him, which may encourage the raising of volunteers, if his Majesty will but grant liberty to beat drums for volunteers to serve under the Duke's command. Ralphson, the Nonconformist minister, died in Newgate Thursday night, who is to be interred Monday afternoon from one of the Halls in Coleman Street. It is believed a great number will accompany the hearse, where I intend to be. I met Oliver, Richard Cromwell's eldest son, yesterday going in haste down Ludgate Hill. The Oliverian officers in and about town are as follows:—(Then follow the names of 17). I have not seen fewer appear these many years. I may meet more at the funeral. Mr. Lyell, a Nonconformist minister, died this morning. At Change they are of opinion and hope that the Duke of Monmouth will not leave the land. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 44.]
March 22. Bristol.	Sir William Clutterbuck, Mayor, to Secretary Jenkins. Sending the copy of informations against Emblen, who is now in gaol there. [Ibid. No. 45.]
March 22. Newcastle.	Capt. Henry Brabant to Secretary Jenkins. I have yours of the 15th and presumed you had been acquainted with what his Majesty discoursed Sir N. Johnson about our charter and doubted not he had since waited on you with the public letter he received from the town in return thereto, but now question not but both have before this been communicated to you. I should here have sent you a copy of Sir N.'s letter and the town's to him but have been put off with pretences from them that now bear sway. I cannot now give an account what instrument will be resolved on, which I suppose I may be able to do when Sir N. gives back his answer, but you may take notice that the ruling party here have agreed that our present Recorder, Sir Robert Shafto, their own creature, shall be principally entrusted to negotiate the whole affair of the new charter. I thank you for saying you will keep my last private and beg the same for this. [Ibid. No. 46.]
March 22. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Dr. Basire. Your letter of the 15th, being an account of a dangerous conventicle at Stockton, came safe. All I can now say to you, his Majesty being not yet come, is, if any of those present at the dispersing of the assembly can make oath of any obstinate contempt or any sort of resistance to the Mayor or his authority and if order be taken to have such oath made and returned hither, it will be proper to lay such a thing before his Majesty that he may judge how far the public peace is in danger and provide how to preserve it accordingly, but, if all that can be objected against them be the holding of an unlawful meeting, the Justices near the place must be desired to put the laws in execution for the suppressing of such nests of faction as these unlawful assemblies under pretence of religious exercises are. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 208.]
March 22. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Esquire Bear of Exeter. One Alexander Wallis now is or lately was at Waterford or Wexford or both places. He gives himself out to be a merchant of Barnstaple. Some reasons relating to the public service oblige me to desire a true and particular character of him, I mean of what principles he is, how he has been bred and what his relations are, what his course of life, engagements and employments have been and are, particularly what his reputation and credit are amongst his neighbours and above all what credit they will give to his oath by way of giving information relating to persons dangerous to the government or to such as he should apprehend or charge to be so. I cannot address myself to any person that will be more accurate and zealous than you will be in such a thing as may concern the public, therefore I give you this trouble, not intending you should be put to the pains of going on the place, but only of drawing by letters from your correspondents in those parts such lights as may inform you and me what credit is morally (not judicially) to be given to this Wallis. [Ibid. p. 209.]
March 22. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Mayor of Rye. One of the Lords of the Council has put a petition into my hands in the name of the French fishermen of that town to his Majesty. They set forth that their fishing nets are threatened to be burnt this Lady Day and desire they may be heard before any such thing be executed on them, which the Council thinks reasonable. His Majesty being come home in perfect health but some few hours ago and the petition not to be read but in Council, I desire you to forbear all seizure and burning of the nets till you hear the resolution of his Majesty in Council, which, if you direct any person to call on me, shall be imparted to you. [Ibid. p. 210.]
March 22. Whitehall.	Post warrant for one horse and guide for John Malone to go from hence to Chester. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 94.]
March 22. Whitehall.	Warrant to Edward Griffin, Treasurer of the Chamber, for delivery to the Bishop of Rochester, Lord Almoner, or his subalmoner of 133l. 6s. 8d. to be by him distributed in alms on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the rest of that week. [Ibid.]
March 22. Whitehall.	The King to the Earl of Aberdeen, Chancellor, and the remanent lords of the Privy Council. Warrant for a proclamation for the further continuance of the adjournment of the Parliament to 9 Sept. next. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 297.]
March 23.	The Stationers' Company to the King. Petition for discontinuance of the proceedings on the Quo warranto brought against them and for a confirmation of their charter granted by Philip and Mary, the future officers and clerk of the company to be approved by the Crown before admission, further provisions to be thereby made to prevent the printing of seditious books and for members who are the proprietors of any book to have the exclusive right of printing and publishing the same on entering it in the register book of the company. (Summary given in Kitchin, Sir Roger L'Estrange, p. 326.) [2½ pages. Draft. S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 47.]
	Another copy of the first part of the above petition. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 70, p. 5.]
March 23.	Francis Strutt to Secretary Jenkins. In obedience to your commands I shall continue to watch Mr. Ireton and cannot learn any thing of his going as yet. What makes his going suspected is his father's frequent coming to him, of late not missing one day.
	I also pray to know how I ought to govern Lea, the dyer, he altogether refusing to obey my warrant, pretending to have liberty allowed him at his pleasure. [Ibid. No. 48.]
[March ?]	The same to the same. I have made some progress in the inquiry after Mr. Ireton and find he is in the chamber with Barr[? ister] Leeke of Gray's Inn and some think he will make him his heir. He is, as I take it, son to that Ireton who was Lord Mayor of London in Oliver's time. I have proceeded no further at present, as you allow me some convenient time. What is done hitherto is without the least suspicion. [Ibid. No. 49.]
March 23.	The Bishop of Oxford to Secretary Jenkins. Whereas we hold our interest in printing by a grant of three years, at the expiration of which we shall of course renew our term, next Lady Day determines our interest, so that I am to desire the continuance of your patronage in permitting your name to be still in our grant. [Ibid. No. 50.]
March 23. Whitehall.	Warrant to Sir Thomas Exton and Samuel Franklin for causing process to be issued out of the Court of Admiralty for stopping the Providence of London, information being given that she is bound for Guinea to trade with the infidels—in the same form as the warrants of 28 Feb. and 15 March, calendared ante, pp. 297, 328. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 174.]
March 24, 6 p.m.	— to Secretary Jenkins. I am just come from the interring of Mr. Ralphson. He was carried from Armerrys (? Armourers') Hall to the new ground adjoining the Artillery. I cannot think less than 5,000 attended, not above four old officers. I do not find that any of Cromwell's old officers come out of the country into the City and know of but two more than I gave you the names of last Saturday, viz., Captains Googe and Williams. The Quakers were prevented from meeting yesterday. Collings' and Cocke's Baptist meeting in Goodman Fields was seized most part, the teachers escaping. They paid their 5s. each without giving their names. They say the Middlesex Justices, Mr. Osborne being one, before whom they were carried, treated them civilly, which makes them hope some indulgence is near. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 51.]
March 24. Redruth.	Certificate of Five Adventurers to the Earl of Radnor, Lord President, that David Hawis, who bought a parcel of tin stuff on the grass of his lordship's servant, Mr. Cole, about twelve months ago, which was broken out of Penhellack in the parish of Illogan, Cornwall, for 105l., will lose thereby at least 30l., they being adventurers in the tin mines whence it proceeded. With certificate at foot by David Hawes and John Browne that all the above particulars are true and imploring some abatement from his lordship. [Ibid. No. 52.]
March 24.	Warrant to the Remembrancer of the Exchequer for stay of proceedings against Philip Howard, Receiver of the 17 months', 18 months' and 6 months' taxes, till the end of next term. [Much damaged. Ibid. No. 53.]
March 24. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Thomas, Lord Jermyn, one of the executors of the will of Henry, Earl of St. Albans, for the inheritance of a certain parcel of chambers, coach-houses and other tenements of the yearly value of 11l. built on part of the churchyard near St. James' Square in trust for the religious uses of that church. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 335.]
March 24. Whitehall.	Warrant to William Harbord, Surveyor General, to make an exact survey and valuation of the manor of Tudbury belonging to the Duchy of Lancaster in the counties of Stafford, Derby and other counties with the Forest or Chace of Needwood. [1½ pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 70, p. 1.]
March 24. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Mr. Fanshawe, Envoye Extraordinary in Portugal. By the enclosed memorial from the Lords of the Admiralty you will quickly call to mind whether I have lately written to you according thereto. If I have done so, this serves only for a reinforcement of the same thing, but, if I have not, I must desire you to take this as an order from the Lords of the Admiralty and to use your diligence according to their directions. I shall have occasion to write to you to-night on other matters and shall therefore add no more. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 175.] Enclosed,
	Memorial for Secretary Jenkins. The Lords of the Admiralty desire Mr. Secretary to write to the ministers in Portugal to procure an order from that government for granting all reasonable liberties in landing, housing and issuing such stores as shall be there of his Majesty's for supply of his menof-war, with all freedom from the officers of the Customs or otherwise. [Ibid.]
March 24. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Deputy. Warrant for issuing warrants to the Receiver General of the revenue of Ireland for payment to Charles Fox, paymaster of the forces in England, or to the paymaster for the time being of 33,000l. per annum, viz., 30,000l. for the pay of the forces in England and the other 3,000l. to be paid by him to Thomas Price for the exchange thereof at the rate of 10 per cent., in the following manner, viz., 8,250l. forthwith, whereof 7,500l. is to be in discharge of the first quarter's payment due at Lady Day next on the said 30,000l. and the remaining 750l. is to defray the said exchange, and 24,750l., the residue of the said sum, by 9 equal monthly payments on the 25th day of each calendar month, of which monthly payment 2,500l. is to be for the use of the King's forces in England and the other 250l. for the exchange, the first of such monthly payments to be made on 25 April next and the last on 25 Dec. next. [2 pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 11, p. 268.]
March [between the 15th and 24th.]	Robert West to Secretary Jenkins. According to your directions I employed one to wait on the Lord Keeper to know his Majesty's order on my last petition. He said he would acquaint you with it at the next meeting of the committee. I beg you to remind him of it and particularly would ask him in what sum I must give bail before I have the liberty of taking the air. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 54.]
March 25. Landguard Fort.	Sir Roger Manley to John Cooke. I gave Mr. Secretary and yourself an account of how I found this place on my return somewhat incommoded by the boisterousness of the weather and we suffered no less damage in our tilings and chimneys last Thursday night by a storm, but the ruin it produced amongst the shipping, which it forced in hither from Yarmouth Road, is exceeding great. 76 arrived here on Friday, 74 on Saturday, 15 on Sunday and some few since, most having been obliged to slip or cut their cables, many being damaged in their masts and rigging and some, of which I have no certain account, being cast away. Near 300 are in this harbour covered by this fort, which would be as well very strong as very considerable if the works were finished and a ketch, yacht or small man-of-war in these disorders of our neighbours appointed to attend the service here. We extremely want a boat for our intercourse with Harwich. That we have will scarce swim, which I bought new with my own money, which falls hard, being I have no allowance besides my captain's pay. I applied to the Ordnance Office, but without effect, and afterwards to the Lords of the Admiralty, a copy of whose answer I enclose. I should desire this to be represented to his Majesty in Council and that some small entertainment be allowed for a coxswain as formerly. Three packet-boats came to Harwich last Sunday. I offered in my last that this place is capable of entertaining another company, which the works, when finished, may likewise require. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 55.]
March 25.	Olive Meynell to —. About proceedings against a debtor to her. I intend next Tuesday to go to your brother's at Barnard Castle. [Ibid. No. 56.]
[March 25?]	Statement by Valentine Cogswell, that riding 20 Dec. last with Capt. Thomas Penhallow, nephew to Sir Joseph Tredenham, to Sevenoaks, and thence for London, they drunk plentifully by the way, when the captain compelled him by threats of shooting him to join in robbing a coach at New Cross. 5s. was taken from one passenger, for which, both being taken and committed to Maidstone gaol, he is condemned to death, although the captain, who died in prison, declared that he was the only guilty person and that Cogswell tried to hinder the robbery for which he is to suffer next Friday. [Ibid. No. 57.] Annexed,
[March.]	Certificate that Valentine Cogswell, in whose behalf the Grand Jury and other gentlemen of Kent have petitioned for his sentence of death to be changed to transportation, was son of Robert Cogswell, respected by the late Lord Chancellor Hyde for service done in easing his gout, and that his mother, Mrs. Andrews, was known to his Majesty as being rocker to his sisters, the princesses Elizabeth and Anne. [Ibid. No. 58.]
March 25. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Archbishop of York. Your letter of the 22nd was produced before his Majesty in Council this evening. What you have advised and what the commons of your city have done is very well approved of by his Majesty and I am commanded to tell you and by your conveyance, if you think fit, the Deputy Recorder and the rest of your loyal neighbours that the clause purporting the surrender of the city lands, etc., to his Majesty in the precedent of a surrender sent from hence was intended for the advantage of the city, it being to be understood that, their estates being granted to the King, the same estates could and would be regranted again entirely to the city, his Majesty being the best trustee as pretending nothing but to secure the honour and safety of the public and the preventing of dangers and losses to that corporation and, though it may seem some prejudice to his Majesty to go lower than what was at first proposed in the late assemblies and that thereby the forwardness and zeal expressed by the loyal commons may be abated, yet it may be fit that that city should not be ignorant of the way and of the terms on which Bristol submitted to the King, therefore I send you a copy of the Bristol surrender. If your city should frame itself to a like surrender of the governing part, it were proper to accompany such a surrender with a petition that his Majesty would regrant and confirm their privileges with such reservations as he shall think for his service. I am to observe further that it may be inconvenient for the citizens at this time to ask any new thing of the King, unless very plain, because it would look ill to have them ask any thing the King would not grant. But above all things you may take heed that this be not laid before the city as an offer of the King's or of yourself, but as that upon which you may give them hopes of the King's favour. [Nearly 2 pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 211.]
March 25. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Robert Jacob and others, Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer for the Admiralty of the Cinque Ports at Dover. I received the depositions relating to the murder of William Miller and soon after laid them before his Majesty in Council, but no other resolutions have been taken on them than what were signified in the order of Council already sent you. The question of the way whereby the men accused of the said murder are to be tried and punished and of the court before which it is to be done lies at present under the consideration of his Majesty's counsel. In the meantime all that is expected of you is that the murderers, their accomplices and abettors be diligently looked after and secured in order to answer the law. [Ibid. p. 213.]
March 25. London.	The Duke of York to the Prince of Orange. (Printed in Dalrymple, Vol. II, Appendix, Part I, p. 51.) [1½ pages. Holograph. S.P. Dom., King William's Chest 3, No. 97.]
March 25. Whitehall.	Warrant for an exoneration and remission to Charles, Earl of Lauderdale, of all omissions and commissions in any of the offices of General of the Mint, Treasurer Deput or Commissioner of the Treasury, or as a member of Parliament, officer of State, Privy Councillor, or member of the Exchequer or as a member of any court or judicatory or in any other capacity whatever, public or private, and particularly discharging him of the decreet of the Council and Session in a process against him and the remanent officers of the Mint and of all that has followed or may follow thereon, without prejudice to the donations in the letter of 1 May last, calendared in S.P. Dom., Jan.-June, 1683, p. 225, whereunto he has given obedience, with a further pardon for a long list of offences, and also of all malversations, omissions or commissions by him as General of the Mint or relating to the Mint and of any crime that may be imputed to him in his being a witness in that criminal process against that notorious malefactor and assassin James Mitchell, deceased, or by any missives written by him relating to the said Mitchell. [Nearly 3 pages. Docquet. S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 298.]
March 25. Whitehall.	Warrant for an exoneration and remission to Richard, Lord Maitland, in similar terms to the last warrant. [Nearly 3 pages. Docquet. Ibid. p. 300.]
March 25. Whitehall.	The King to the Earl of Aberdeen, Chancellor. Whereas we are informed that the Earl of Lauderdale and Lord Maitland have fully agreed with you to your satisfaction of the donation granted you by the letter of 1 May last, calendared ut supra, and that in order to their fully satisfying Col. John Graham of Claverhouse a disposition of the house, garden and park of Duddop and of the office of constabulary of Dundee was lately signed by the said Earl and Lady Maitland at Edinburgh and by Lord Maitland at Westminster in favour of the said colonel conform to the said letter, and that the Earl and Lord have not yet renounced all claim and relief that they as Generals of the Mint have or could pretend against Sir John Falconer, late Master, James Falconer, son and heir to John Falconer, deceased, late Warden, and the rest of the late officers thereof, and that seeing we have shown them so much clemency it would be most unreasonable and unjust that they should have recourse to any relief from the said late officers, who have been so considerably fined, for they might thereby reap more advantage than if they had not been called in question for any thing relating to the Mint, and whereas Lord Maitland is willing to submit to our pleasure in discharging the said relief, we have signed a full exoneration and discharge in favour of the said Earl and another to the said Lord, which are herewith sent you, on receipt whereof we authorize you to acquaint the said Earl that, as we have done our part in favour of him and his son, we doubt not he will obey our commands in discharging the said relief and allow him a week for the performance thereof, at the expiration of which or sooner on his giving obedience we require you to call for Lord Collinton, the Justice Clerk, and the said Col. Graham and to cause the said Earl to deposit the said disposition and discharge of the said relief in the said Lord Collinton's custody in trust till the said two remissions be passed under the Great Seal, which we require you to do with all possible speed, and, as soon as the Great Seal has been appended to them, you are again to call for the three fore-named persons with the said Sir John Falconer and James Falconer or any having authority from them and see the said Earl for himself and the said Lord and Lady Maitland deliver the said disposition as their voluntary deeds to the said colonel and the discharge of the relief aforesaid as his own voluntary deed to the said Sir John Falconer, James Falconer or any other for their behoof and at the same time you are to deliver the said two remissions to the said Earl; but, if he shall refuse to obey these our commands within the time prefixed, we intend not hereby to put the least stop to any diligence by the said colonel against the said Earl and Lord for making the said donation effectual to him and in that case you are to return the said two remissions to the Secretaries of State. [Over 2 pages. Ibid. p. 303.]
March 25. Whitehall.	Reference to the Committee for Trade of the proposition of Cornelius Vermuyden and his partners for supplying the town and garrison of Portsmouth with fresh water, the Earl of Gainsborough, the Governor, having assisted them in taking the levels and they on the view conceiving the same to be feasible and being willing to undertake it. Endorsed as read 1 April and 21 May. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 59.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrant to Archibald Clinkard, High Sheriff of Kent, for the reprieve of Valentine Cogswell, convicted of a highway robbery and sentenced to death at the last Kent assizes at Rochester, till the King be more fully informed by the Judge before whom he was tried. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 54, p. 269.]
March 26. Whitehall.	The Earl of Sunderland to the Lord Keeper. His Majesty having seen the enclosed report of the Attorney General on the petition of the Justices of the liberty of St. Albans commands me to signify his pleasure that you give order for superseding the commission of the peace for the said liberty. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 56, p. 92.] Enclosed,
March 26. Whitehall.	The said report that he conceives his Majesty may by law supersede the particular commission for the liberty of St. Albans and subject that liberty to the general commission of the peace for the county, which is large enough to comprehend that liberty. He does not see any damage will accrue thereby to the lord of that liberty but rather a profit. March 7, 1683–4. [Ibid.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrant on the petition of Anne Pole, widow, and John Masters, executors of the will of German Pole, deceased, and of William Sacheverell and Gilbert Munday, trustees of the said Pole, and also of John Buxton, surviving trustee of Christopher Pegg, and to the intent that the charities given or designed by the wills of the said German Pole and Christopher Pegg may be enjoyed, for a licence to the governors and assistants of the free grammar school of Queen Elizabeth in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, to hold lands in mortmain not exceeding the value of 500l. per annum with liberty to any persons to convey to them any lands not exceeding the said value. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 70, p. 3.]
March 26. Whitehall.	The King to the Marquess of Queensberry, Treasurer Principal, and John Drummond of Lundin, Treasurer Deput. Warrant in consideration of the loyalty and merits of John Hope of Hopeton as a mark of favour and bounty to his son, the now laird of Hopeton, for payment to his mother, Lady Margaret Hope, of 4,645l. 6s. 7d. Scots for his use and behoof. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 306.]
March 26. Whitehall.	The same to the same. Warrant for payment to Anne, Countess Dowager of Marischal, of 100l. sterling. [Ibid. p. 307.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrant for a tack to James Stewart, Sheriff of Bute, his heirs and assigns of the assize herrings of the west seas of Scotland from Pentland Firth to the Mull of Galloway and where the sea flows within the river Clyde for three years following the term of —, 1685, at which the former tack expires, at the tack duty of 2,000l. Scots yearly. [Docquet. Ibid.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrants for protections in the new form to Sir Alexander Hamilton of Haggs, Sir William Ruthven of Dunglas and William Baily of Littlegill for two years respectively. [Docquets. Ibid. pp. 308–310.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrant for a presentation of George Wilsoune, present minister at Simprin, to be minister at Westruther in the diocese of Edinburgh. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 311.]
March 26. Whitehall.	Warrants for remissions to Robert Fleeming, late of Auchinfin, to Gavin Paterson, late of Bothwellsheills, and to Robert Russell, portioner of Windiedge, as to their respective lives only of the crime of treason and rebellion, whereof each of them was found guilty for his accession to the late rebellion with those defeated at Bothwell Bridge, and of all other treasons and rebellions, without prejudice to the right of the Crown to the estate real and personal of each of them by virtue of the doom of forfeiture pronounced against him. [Docquets. Ibid. pp. 311–314.]
March 26. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy. Whereas amongst the payments of the Civil List of the establishment of Ireland we have appointed that 100l. should be paid to every judge of assize who goes the circuit but the allowance of such as go not is to be saved, and whereas William Worth, second Baron of the Exchequer, is appointed for this Lent assizes one of the judges for the North East circuit whereby the said sum would have been due to him besides the perquisites of that circuit, from which he has been hindered by our special commands requiring his attendance here about some of the public concerns of that kingdom, we therefore require you to order the Receiver General of that kingdom to pay him the said 100l. due to him if he had gone that circuit and likewise to cause to be paid him all such fees, perquisites and dues as he or his officers might or ought to have received as if he or they had gone throughout the whole circuit. [S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 11, p. 270.]
March 26. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy. Warrant for a grant to Denny Muschamp of Dublin of the office of general register, chief clerk and examiner to the persons to be appointed Commissioners for defective titles in Ireland during pleasure, with salary to be fixed by the King and such rewards and allowances as shall be appointed by the Commissioners. [2 pages. Ibid. p. 275.]
March 27.	Extract from a letter from Theodore Hooke. The Quo warranto against Oxford was brought in Michaelmas term and there was judgment against the charter for non-appearance last term. There are since offers to renew the charter from Sir Caesar Cranmer and another provided a burgess place can be secured to the procurer, by which means those persons would be again put into the charter, to remove whom the Quo warranto was brought. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 11 i.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Deputy of the petition of Patrick Whitty for a grant to him and his heirs of the inheritance of about 200 acres of land called Brittas in the barony of Gorry, co. Wexford, of the value of 7l. per annum mortgaged to him for 50l. and forfeited to his Majesty by the conviction of Brian Deoran, the proprietor, for the death of Calcot Chambers. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 328.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Lords of the Treasury of the petition of Sir Ellis Leighton, showing that the Earl of Essex in his government took away from him the pension confirmed to him on abolishing the offices in the Presidentships of Munster and Connaught, he having been one of the Justices of Connaught, and desiring a reference to report the matter of fact. [Ibid. p. 333.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Reference to the Attorney General of the petition of David Stainer for a pardon for the death of Sir William Throckmorton. [Ibid. p. 334.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the report dated 24 March of the Duke of Ormonde on the reference to him of the Earl of Thomond's petition, calendared ante, p. 323, with the petition and annexed papers, which report recites the letter of 3 Dec., 1679, calendared in S.P. Dom., 1679–80, p. 299, for granting to the said Earl the governorship of Clare with the salary of 10s. per diem, but states that a new establishment for Ireland having been signed before this last reference to the Lord Lieutenant, what his Majesty may think fit to do in his lordship's behalf in addition to it is submitted to his pleasure. [1¼ pages. Ibid. p. 345.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Postwarrant for Francis Gargrave for one post horse and guide from hence to Northampton and back. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 335, p. 95.]
March 27. Whitehall.	Licence to Charles, Marquess of Winchester, to impark all that land or ground containing 400 acres or thereabouts, now walled in, in the parish of Wensley in the North Riding of Yorkshire and also all that land or ground now paled in formerly a park called Hackwood Park in Hampshire containing 1,000 acres or thereabouts with liberty of free warren therein, provided that none of the ground so to be imparked be within the bounds of the King's forest. [Ibid. p. 96.]
March 28.	Sir James Hay, a poor prisoner on the common side of the King's Bench prison, to the King and the Privy Council. Petition for a pension of 20s. weekly during his imprisonment. His grandfather and father were 1 March, 1625[–6], granted an estate worth 500l. per annum in Nova Scotia, which his Majesty has disposed of to the French King, and others have been recompensed for their losses through the disposal thereof. He has made what discovery he could relating to the late conspiracy. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 60.]
March 28.	Certificate [by Secretary Jenkins] that it was by his order that Mr. Wharton brought a letter-packet and some books to him, sent from Boston in New England from Increase Mather, said to be a minister there, and directed to Abraham Kick, merchant in Amsterdam, and that they were by his order opened and viewed and that they are still in his custody. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 70, p. 4.]
March 29.	The Bishop of Oxford to Secretary Jenkins. I lately troubled you about the renewing of the term of our printing lease, but now the whole right and interest therein is struck at by the practice of Hill, the printer, and others, who have preferred a bill in Chancery against our tenants, Parker, Grey and the rest, as pirates, who without any right have to their damage printed Bibles, hoping to oppress them and get their rights condemned before they are heard or thought to be in question. Our tenants have offered to have a fair issue put and immediately come to a trial at law and to abide by it, but this is not hearkened to, though directed by the Council Board on a former complaint against us, but a bill of almost sixty sheets is exhibited to create charge and vexation and an answer required in a week. All I desire is that you would have the Lord Keeper informed of this vexatious proceeding and let him know the suit is really levelled against the University and to surprise them before they have means to defend themselves, and to assure him we desire that the whole cause may come to a speedy trial, only we beg that no injunction may be obtained in the meantime to stop our workmen here, which will prejudge the cause and be ruinous to our tenants, whose reputation is a great part of their estate, and undo the poor men here who depend on their daily labour. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 61.]
March 29.	Sir Roger Norwich to Secretary Jenkins. I must confess myself blamable in not sooner thanking you for your letter to Baron Street concerning Goodlad, who was convicted of a felony and another indictment was found by the Grand Jury for the words spoken by him, and I hear his master Charleton is much troubled at it. The judges carried themselves so kindly to the loyal party that they have much encouraged them. An indictment being found by the Grand Jury against Richard Butler, a leading man of the faction, for presenting and reading a seditious address to Fleetwood and Parkhurst, the two knights of the shire chosen for the Oxford parliament, to be secured against a Popish successor and other ill things, which was proved by four substantial witnesses, which I beg may be tried as soon as may be at the King's Bench, being a case of great concern and a precedent, has so affrighted that party that they are silent and would now seem to become loyal, but I hope his Majesty will not admit them into his favour without their showing fruits of their repentance. I have acquainted Lord Peterborough with our proceedings at the assizes and sent him a copy of the indictment.
	I beg leave to inform you of the condition of this county gaol that, if you think fit, you may beg his Majesty's pleasure therein. That may be done at the quarter sessions, which are next Tuesday sennight. The enclosed gives an account of the number of the prisoners and the causes of their commitment. The prison is very full and the smallpox among them and I much fear that, if some order is not given to discharge some of them or the gaol enlarged, it may not only endanger their lives but cause some contagion among others. If the Justices had directions to proceed against the Quakers on the Statute of Conventicles it would be more effectual than for refusing the oaths.
	I am proposing the best method I can to put the laws in execution against rogues and vagabonds, but it's by some strongly argued that Scotchmen or such as go with Scotch cloth are not within the statute, who, I conceive, are the most dangerous, but your opinion therein will be a full satisfaction to all, and also how to regulate the excessive rate of servants' wages, which the judge gave in charge more particularly as his Majesty's command. [2½ pages. Ibid. No. 62.] Enclosed,
	The said list. Debtors 12; felons 8; for deer stealing 1; Quakers for not paying tithes 16; Anabaptists on significavit 4; on sessions process 2; Will. Allen, a Nonconformist preacher, a dangerous man, for refusing the oath of allegiance 1; Quakers for refusing the oath of allegiance, 7 men, 11 women. [Ibid. No. 62 i.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Reference to the Lords of the Treasury of the report of the Attorney General for Ireland on the reference to the Lord Deputy of the Duke of Grafton's petition, calendared ante, p. 242, with the annexed papers, which report was, that in Hilary term 1670[–1] the Attorney General exhibited an information on his Majesty's behalf in the Court of Exchequer against Nicholas Gernon, Alderman Richard Tigh, lately deceased, Quartermaster William Flood and others for the fishing weirs and mills of Kilmainham, to which his Majesty was entitled in right of his Crown and which they claimed by virtue of a decree of the late Court of Claims and were then in possession of by virtue of an injunction of that Court, on which a verdict passed for his Majesty and the premises were seized into his Majesty's hand and 20 May, 1674, a custodium thereof was granted to John Hill for preservation of his Majesty's right therein, but, as he is informed, Sir Maurice Eustace by the compliance and attornment of the miller, tenant of the said premises, has lately intruded into it and is now in possession of the said weirs and mills and lands thereto belonging; that the lands of Kilmackeoge (Kilmacud) in the half barony of Rathdown, co. Dublin, were held in 1641 in fee farm by one Harrold from the Dean and Chapter of Christchurch by virtue of a grant thereof to Walter Harrold by the said Dean and Chapter dated 16 July, 1592, and that the said Harrold was attainted on account of the rebellion of 1641 and thereon the said lands were seized and became forfeited to and vested in his Majesty by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation; that there are several pretensions to the said lands by Nicholas Harrold, Sir Maurice Eustace, Col. Cary Dillon and the present Bishop of Kildare; that the pretensions of the first three are clearly stated in the report of the Earl of Essex, dated 14 Sept., 1676, agreed to by the Earl of Danby, the late Lord Treasurer, so that it becomes him not to add to or diminish any thing from it; that as to the Bishop of Kildare's pretensions he claims a preference to the said lands in part satisfaction of the augmentation of his bishopric to 700l. per annum and grounds his title on the clause in the Act of Settlement enacting that out of the lands and hereditaments belonging to any ecclesiastical person or persons in their politic capacity, which have been granted by them in fee farm under reservation of any rent or other service and which by the said Act are vested in the Crown, such a proportion should be allotted for the better support of the archbishops and the bishops mentioned in the said clause, viz., to the Bishop of Kildare and his successors for ever 700l. per annum, with a further proviso that in case there be not sufficient forfeited lands in their own diocese such deficiency be supplied out of the forfeited lands in such other bishoprics as superabound; that no part of the said augmentation is yet set out to the said bishop, but that as it is one of the prime and most ancient bishoprics so it is undoubtedly the meanest and most destitute; that the said lands of Kilmackeoge are and have been for some time in the possession of Sir Maurice Eustace under the pretensions set forth in the said report of the Earl of Essex, but about five or six years ago at the instance of Sir William Talbot, agent of his Royal Highness, an information of intrusion was exhibited in the Court of Exchequer against Sir Maurice for the said lands, intended to be recovered towards reprizing his Royal Highness in his deficiencies, and proceedings were thereon had as set forth in the annexed certificate of the Chief Remembrancer, all which may be revived when his Majesty shall signify his pleasure therein and Sir Maurice's pretensions may then be legally discussed and allowed or avoided; that it is admitted by all the competitors that the lands of Kilmackeoge and the fishing weirs and mills and lands of Kilmainham are forfeited to and vested in his Majesty by the Acts of Settlement and Explanation, for all claim under that interest, and he therefore conceives that his Majesty may declare to whom and when and how the same shall be disposed of. [4½ pages. S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 329.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Oxford. You do me an honour I value very highly in commanding my name to be subjoined to yours in renewing the lease. I freely give my consent and will most readily comply to bear any share you shall think fit in the loss that happened by the former. I hear from all hands that Lord Abingdon is very much discontented with the University and with me particularly displeased because the citizens did not succeed in any of their pretensions, and the Lord Keeper told me the other day that we should not be so strait-laced as to oppose the adding of an Alderman or two to the present number. I leave this to you as best knowing what use is to be made of this item. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 64, p. 214.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to the Bishop of Worcester. There is a controversy between the Dean of Worcester and Mr. Panting, a petty canon there but a chaplain to yourself. The Dean says he is aggrieved at the obtaining of a letter from his Majesty for Mr. Panting's holding his canonry contrary to the statutes of the church and after Mr. Dean had pronounced his place void. The Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken to me several times of this affair and entering, as he seems to do, into Mr. Dean's sentiments has desired me more than once to write to you to desire you not to encourage Mr. Panting in making use of his Majesty's letter parte altera inaudita or in opposing his superior. I am very unfit to write in this case, having as yet heard nothing on Mr. Panting's side, but this one thing I may venture to say, that, the Dean having proceeded in forma juris (though it may be erroneously as to the method and wrongfully as to the merits of Mr. Panting's case) yet having pronounced a judicial sentence, the legal and proper remedy is by way of an appeal from Mr. Dean, and it is a disrespect to the King's letter to use it for inverting the law of the Church, which never entered into his Majesty's thoughts, his aim having always been to keep the known laws in their proper channel and the jurisdiction of the Church inviolable from extrajudicial proceedings. This at his Grace's desire I could not refuse to write to you, but all this is with due submission to you. [Ibid.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir William Clutterbuck, Mayor of Bristol. Your letter and the enclosed informations were produced before his Majesty. It was matter of astonishment to him and to the lords attending on him that so bold and senseless a thing could be uttered in an orderly government as yours of Bristol is. His Majesty's directions are that you would take order to have the offender prosecuted on the place according to due course of law, he thinking it not worth while to have him brought up hither.
	I must desire you to give me an account, if you can, of what is become of Col. Owen and who in Bristol took the bonds for his appearance and who his sureties are. I must desire that the bonds be sent up to me by some safe hand before the beginning of the term, his Majesty being resolved to have some account of him as soon as possible. [Ibid. p. 216.]
March 29. Whitehall.	The King to the Earl of Aberdeen, Chancellor, and the remanent lords of the Secret Committee of the Privy Council. Warrant for giving Ezekiel Montgomery, who is accused of very heinous crimes, assurance of a remission to be granted him for his life or for his life and fortune as by the discoveries to be made by him they shall find cause to recommend. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 8, p. 315.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Warrant, after reciting the gift dated 4 July, 1682, to Robert, Earl of Roxburgh, of the sherifship of the shirefdome of Roxburgh, in respect of whose being within the years of pupilarity, William Ker of Mainhouse, his uncle and one of his tutors, was appointed deput in the said office till the said Earl should attain the age of 14, for a gift to Lord Bellenden, uncle to the said Earl and one of his tutors, to be deput in the said office till the said Earl shall attain the age of 14 in the place of the said William Ker, deceased. [1½ pages. Ibid. p. 316.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Warrant for a gift to James Urquhart of Knockleith, his heirs and assigns, of the lands and heritages of the 20 persons therein named, now fallen in his Majesty's hands and at his gift by reason of the dooms of forfeiture pronounced against them for the crimes of treason and rebellion, and for a gift to him of the escheat of the said persons. [1½ pages. Docquet. Ibid. p. 318.]
March 29. Whitehall.	Warrant for a presentation in favour of Robert Birnie to be minister at Lanrick. [Docquet. Ibid. p. 320.]
March 29. Whitehall.	The King to the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy. Warrant after reciting the petition of Claudius, Earl of Abercorn in Scotland and Lord Hamilton of Strabane in Ireland, representing that his grandfather, Christopher Fagan, deceased, was by decree of the late Commissioners for adjudication of the claims of innocents restored to several lands in Ireland in tail male, the remainder being vested in the Crown, and praying a grant of the reversion therein, and also reciting the report of the Lords of the Treasury dated 27 March, 1684, and the documents prefixed thereto, all calendared in the Calendar of Treasury Books, Vol. VII, p. 1083, for a lease to the said Earl of the said lands for 1,000 years to commence from the determination of the said estate tail at the yearly quit rents now payable thereout, with a condition for granting to him, his heirs and assigns the fee of the said premises on payment of 5l. at any time after the determination of the said estate tail. [4½ pages. S.P. Dom., Signet Office, Vol. 11, p. 271.]
March 30. The Common Side of the King's Bench Prison.	Sir James Hay to Secretary Jenkins. I have employed the bearer to know your opinion concerning my petition I sent last week and to receive your orders when he shall attend again for his Majesty's answer, wherein I beg your assistance. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 63.] Affixed,
March 30. The Common Side of the King's Bench Prison.	Sir James Hay to the King. Petition stating that the petitioner bearing the mark of a discoverer is rendered altogether incapable of effecting the recovery of his estate in Scotland and considerable debts in Ireland and therefore praying his protection and recommendation into the said kingdoms for preferment suitable to his capacity and enabling him in the recovery of his said estate and debts and an order for some present supply for the charge of his journey. (This petition must be of an earlier date.) [Ibid. No. 63 i.]
March 30.	John Beare to Secretary Jenkins. I have this account of Alexander Wallis from very good hands. He was born in Ireland and has for some years driven a small trade between that and Barnstaple. He was married near that town and had by his wife a considerable estate. They conceive him fanatically inclined and disaffected. He commonly associates with such and is a frequenter of their clubs and always very inquisitive after news. He is not given to any debauchery but a sober man, very reserved and of few words. As to his credibility, he has an unblemished reputation. [Ibid. No. 64.]
March 31. Bristol.	John Hellier to Secretary Jenkins. One, who went under the name of Col. Owen and was said to be brother of the late famous Dr. Owen, was sent last year to the gaol at Ivelchester, when I was Under-Sheriff of that county, for want of sureties to appear at the then next general gaol delivery to be held last autumn at Wells to answer some seditious words and other misdemeanours. He was brought there before Sir Job Charlton, the judge on the Crown side. His carriage before him seemed very insolent, but not so much for that as for his crime he was required to find sureties for his appearance at the next general gaol delivery, which began the 22nd instant. But, he not having then sureties and pretending he expected sureties from Ireland, it was referred by Judge Charlton to some Justices near the gaol to take his recognizance with good sureties for his appearance. But the colonel was so beneficial a prisoner that he prevailed with the gaoler himself to be one of the bail and some others, perhaps of the same suit, are bail for him also. The abuse deserves to be inquired into. The last assizes at Taunton, when I expected a turn over of the county gaol to the present Sheriff from my late Sheriff, not only Col. Owen but other criminals were set at liberty by the gaoler, which has hindered the turning over of the gaol till now. However, I was then told the colonel lay sick in Oxfordshire, that he could not for that cause be at Taunton and that affidavits were come to make it out, and the gaoler told me the recognizance is thereon respited, but the truth of it I cannot assert. Andrew Loader, an associate for that circuit, can give an account of the recognizance you mention. I can, if you please, inquire further about these particulars. I never heard that this or any other Col. Owen was ever here of late. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 65.]
March 31. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Dr. Lloyd, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. Recommending for a scholarship, if he finds him qualified, Henry Powell, of whom he has heard a good character, viz., that to the learning he acquired under his father, who was vicar of Glasebury, Brecknockshire, he has added some further improvement at Westminster School, his mother being left a widow with nine or ten children and small means. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 53, p. 499.]
March 31.	Reference to the Lords of the Admiralty of the following proposal, which his Majesty thinks may be for his service, viz., that, whereas the double dock at Chatham is now a yearly charge and almost unserviceable by reason of the springs which continually fall into it, if his Majesty will make a grant of the waters from those springs, such that the undertakers may be empowered to serve Chatham and Rochester with water, which they daily want, they shall be so diverted without any charge to his Majesty, so that for the future the dock may be wrought in at all times, and that, as now never more than one third-rate can be at any time fitted in the dock, for the future they shall be able to cleanse and fit any two of the best ships of that rate. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 55, p. 334.]
March 31. Whitehall.	Secretary Jenkins to Sir Henry Tulse, Lord Mayor. The petition herewith sent will acquaint you with the petitioner's condition and the annexed certificate what opinion some persons of honour and quality have of her. My part is only to recommend the widow and her condition to your consideration, being persuaded that if you gratify her with the liberty of driving a hackney coach in the City, or, as she terms it, give her the first vacant figure of the 400 hackney coaches allowed there, your charity will not be ill-placed. [S.P. Dom., Entry Book 70, p. 5.] Prefixed,
March 31. Whitehall.	Anne Ashbury to the King. Petition showing that she was seven years servant to Princess Elizabeth, that her first husband was slain in the late King's service, and her second, a beadle, killed in doing his duty and that she is by imprisonment for debt and long sickness reduced to great necessity with her children, all which was certified by divers persons of quality and also by her neighbours. [Ibid. p. 4.]
March 31. Whitehall.	Warrant to Sir Thomas Exton, etc., for causing process to be issued for stopping the Welcome, information being given that she is going for the East Indies—in the same form as the warrants of 28 Feb. and 15 and 23 March, calendared ante, pp. 297, 328, 335. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 359, p. 176.]
March 31. Dublin.	The Lord Deputy to Secretary Jenkins. The enclosed from Capt. Langston from on board the Greyhound came this morning and, because I suppose they give a full account of Lord Dartmouth's proceedings, I have ordered a packet-boat to go immediately with them, the weather being very fair though the wind is somewhat scant. The four companies belonging to this country were put into Bantry but bound for Kinsale. I hope they have reached their port by this time, for they have endured great hardships and so has the rest of the fleet. It is believed Lord Dartmouth with the rest of the fleet may be put into Kinsale by this time. I send Capt. Langston's letter. [S.P. Ireland, Car. II. 343, No. 157.]
[March ?]	Richard Warburton to the King. Petition stating that on the last vacancy of a fellowship in Manchester College two letters were sent for the petitioner's presentation thereto, but they were revoked in favour of Mr. Ockdene, to whom a previous promise had been made, that Mr. Row, a Fellow, is now likely to be promoted to be Warden, whereby a fellowship will be void, and Mr. Heyricke endeavours to obtain it, and therefore praying for a mandate to the Warden and Fellows to confirm the letters in the petitioner's favour that so he may be chosen into the next fellowship vacant. [S.P. Dom., Car. II. 437, No. 66.]
[March ?]	Mary, wife of Capt. George Talbot, now under the command of Col. Piercy Kirke, Governor of Tangier, to the King. Petition, stating that she understands that six of the youngest companies of that regiment are to be disbanded, that her said husband having served faithfully for nineteen years in the said garrison had continued as sixth captain, had he not been put by through some pique between Lord Inchiquin and Sir Palmes Fairborne, but was afterwards about the time Charles' Fort was lost restored to the command of the fifth company of which he is now captain, and that he has laid out his estate in building in Tangier, and in consideration of the deplorable condition of her husband, herself and children imploring a grant to him of a command of the grenadiers to be made out of the said regiment. [Ibid. No. 67.]
[March ?]	Anne Smyth, wife of Col. Rumsey, to the King. Petition for the release of her husband on bail, he having been confined about nine months to the impairing of his health. [Ibid. No. 68.]
[March ?]	Mary Fanshawe to Secretary Jenkins. Having heard your intentions to quit the Secretary's place, I beg you will previously inform the King that the 100l. he last ordered me is bated out of my small pension of 200l. a year, of which 100l. more is in arrear. I cannot get the Lords of the Treasury to make any report on my late petition for maintenance and, without the King will order me some speedy relief before he goes out of town, I must certainly perish. All I beg is some ready money to supply my pressing occasions and 100l. a quarter to keep me, my children and family and to carry on lawsuits for recovering my jointure. This is but one half of what his Majesty long since gave me and not near so much as he allowed me when I was but a child, but I will content myself with what will just keep bread in my mouth. If you will show this letter to the King and add your mediation I do not doubt he will grant my request. [Ibid. No. 69.]
[March ?]	Francis Smith, junior, to the King. Petition for forgiveness of his father (seized 3 March, see ante, p. 304), who is unfeignedly sorry and resolved not to offend in future. The petitioner some time since discovered, apprehended. and convicted Cullyford, the author of the Second Part of the Growth of Popery, and has since given evidence against him in an action brought by his Royal Highness, on which he had a verdict of 100,000l. damages (see Luttrell, Diary, Vol. I, p. 288), for doing which the petitioner has lost all his custom and livelihood and is become uncapable of maintaining himself and his family under the misfortune of his Majesty's displeasure by his father's offence. [Ibid. No. 70.]
[March ?]	Francis Smith, junior, to the King. Petition stating to the same effect as the last but praying an order for an employment in the Custom House or otherwise that he may not be starved for doing his duty. [Ibid. No. 71.]
[1684 ?] [March ?]	Susanna de Vine to Secretary Jenkins. Petition. Was 27 Feb. last run over by his coach, her leg bone broken into shivers and the flesh bruised. She languishes in tormenting pains, whereby and by this hard winter she and her child shall undoubtedly perish. Prays him to send his gentleman of the horse to see after her and to pay for her maintenance, cure and loss of time. [Ibid. No. 72.]
[March ?]	Answers to the particulars of the petition of the City of Oxford as far as they concern the University. [Draft and fair copy. 3 pages. Ibid. Nos. 73, 74.]
[March ?]	Animadversions on the proposed new charter to Oxford, making objections to several provisions in it on general grounds. [4 pages. Ibid. No. 75.]
[March ?]	Extracts from the charters to the city of Oxford, 1 Edw. III and 3 Jac. I, preserving the privileges of the University. [Latin. Ibid. No. 76.]