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| 1655 ? |
184. Petition of Dr. Ralph Cudworth, master of Clare Hall,
Cambridge, to the Protector, for payment of his arrears, as granted
to other masters of colleges in like case. By an order of Parliament,
an augmentation was annexed to the mastership, and is stayed by an
obstruction on the Treasury, whence it was to be issued. [1 page.] |
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185. Petition of the gentry, freeholders, and inhabitants within
the Forest of Dean, co. Gloucester, to the Protector, for the appointment of a constable of the said forest, for protection of the timber,
and for the holding of two courts to allow their rights of estovers,
pasture, pannage, and to try matters in difference of whatever
value. The forest, from its nearness to the Severn, is fit for
building ships of great burdens, and was so pronounced on a late
survey by Augustine Aldridge, shipwright of London. [113 signatures. 1 sheet.] |
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186. Petition of Capt. Dan. How to the Admiralty Commissioners. I waited in Virginia 5 months, at a charge of 50l. a month,
after my ship, the Hopewell, was taken from me, and then the
governor freed me, but sent me to England under 1,000l. engagement.
On arrival I fell sick, and all my men were pressed at Plymouth, so
that I could not come to London. Meantime my adversaries, from
whom the Governor and Council of Virginia freed me, proceeded
against me in the Admiralty Court, and got my ship condemned as
prize without my knowledge. I appealed, got a summons for Major
Hazard's appearance, and petitioned the Protector, who referred me
to you; but Hazard is not willing to appear, though he was willing
to take my ship, for which I have been in trouble since Feb. 1652–3.
[2/3 page.] |
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187. Petition of Nich. Harris and Sam. Gamble to the Admiralty
Commissioners. Have served by land and sea and against the Hollanders, and lately Harris in the Marmaduke and Gamble in the
Heart's Ease, but cannot get pay; Harris because, having a 10 days'
leave to come to London, he fell ill, and when recovered, was too
weak to repair to his ship, and enlisted under Col. Barkstead, and
now cannot get leave to return to sea. Gamble is also under Col.
Barkstead in like condition. Both beg to receive what they faithfully served for. [1 page.] |
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188. Petition of Anne, widow of Capt. Rich. Jolliffe, and also of
Lieut. Thos. Croney, both of whom died in the service, to the Admiralty Commissioners. My son, And. Croney, was servant to Mr.
Cottington, surgeon of the Newcastle, for 23 months, but his pay is
suspended, on an allegation that he stole 5l. or 6l. worth of victuals,
though he only took 2 or 3 lbs. of flour and 9 biscuits for hunger.
For this he was so severely lashed by the boatswain that his flesh
was torn and he left almost dead. Begs pity and his wages, for she
sold her bed from under her to fit him for the service. [1 page.] |
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189. Petition of Anna Jones, widow, to the Admiralty Commissioners, for release of her son John, aged 14, who "by the enticement
of some idle persons called spirits was carried aboard the ship
William, lying at Gravesend and bound for Barbadoes or Virginia,
and there detained aboard and intended to be by them sold." He
is her only son and the staff of her age. Noted in short hand that
the boy is to be brought up, and those that claim him to appear.
[2/3 page.] |
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190. Petition of John Read, steward of the Worcester, to the
Admiralty Commissioners. I lately asked compensation for loss and
damage under Capt. Nixon, the master, and for leave to exhibit a
charge against the captain, for illegal judgments and cruelties in the
late expedition against many mariners and soldiers, and for defrauding the State. For so doing he threatens me with actions at
law and arrest. I am informed that actions are often so obstructed,
and if I be so troubled, I shall never get bail, the good of the
Commonwealth will be obstructed, and offenders will go unpunished. |
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If protected according to law, I can gain the Commonwealth very
much money. I beg protection against all arrests at the captain or
master's hands, till the cause be heard and the Commonwealth satisfied,
and the injuries and wrongs to the seamen and soldiers by the
inhuman tyranny and cruelty of the captain be righted. [¾ page.] |
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191. Petition of Jer. Rich to the Admiralty Commissioners. Has
served 11 years, but the differences with neighbour nations, wherein
he was clerk of the check under Captain Wm. Rous, being composed,
begs other employment, having good certificates. Will not relate his
troubles in the late wars; has sailed through a Red Sea of sorrow
in the midst of the Valley of Achor; yet adversities are good except
to those who have too little faith or too much fear. Noted, "To bring
a certificate that he has cleared his accounts." [2/3 page.] Annexing, |
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191. i Jer. Rich to Major Thompson. The General and Admiralty Commissioners say it is not usual for them to
give certificates, but you might give me one if you knew
no fault in me. Gen. Blake spoke to Commissioner Pett
about it; my making or undoing stands in having your
certificate. Gen. Penn told me yours only would serve.
If I had been false in the last employment you put me in,
I should not have dared to ask your certificate. [1 page.] |
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192. Petition of John Taylor, lieutenant of the Tiger, and son to
the late John Taylor, captain of the William, to the Admiralty Commissioners. Served under Capt. Gabriel Saunders ever since 14 July
1654; came home from Saonehead, France, in a prize which ViceAdmiral Howett ordered him to bring to the Collectors for prizes.
Then went into the country till his ship came to Portsmouth, when he
repaired to her but she was gone. Came to London and found the
captain had pricked him out of pay since he left Saonehead. This
being done from enmity, begs he may have his pay. [1 page.] |
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193. Petition of Rob. Taylor to the Commissioners of Customs,
for a place as searcher, messenger, tidesman, or any other. Has long
served faithfully in England and Scotland, and has thus lost the
employment to which he was brought up. With blank form of a
certificate of recommendation. [¾ page.] |
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194. Petition of John, son of Jas. Towne of Thornton, co. York,
to Maj.-Gen. Lambert, for employment to get a subsistence. Has
been apprenticed in London, but cannot set up his trade there for
want of stock, owing to his father's sufferings in the late wars from
the King's party. Has served as a clerk at Worcester House, and
since as a messenger. [2/3 page.] |
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195. Petition of Thos. Wilson, M.D to the Admiralty Commissioners.
I was appointed physician to the fleet in the West Indian expedition, and diligently attended all, whether officers or seamen, who
desired my advice, either on board the Swiftsure or any other ship
in the fleet, on advertisement from their surgeons. Since my
arrival I have fallen sick in prison. I beg you to order my salary,
according to the establishment allowed a physician serving the
State on land, and pay it to Edw. Allen, my assignee. [2/3 page.] |
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196. Report to the Protector on the petition of John King, messenger of Council. For his services to the late Council of State,
they bought him a house in Whitehall orchard, the repair of which
cost him 40l.; he was removed thence by Maidstone, your steward,
losing 33l. money and goods in the removal; his salary is 3 years in
arrear, and he was dismissed without cause shown, for which he
craves allowance. We find that he was a deputy to the serjeant-atarms, and had John Kendrick's rooms in Whitehall, Kendrick
receiving 20l. on quitting them; that King spent 20l. on the
lodgings; that the steward, having urgent occasion for the rooms
for your family, removed him after several warnings; that he was
paid his salary to 3 Feb. 1653–4, and any service he has done since
has been voluntary; but that he has been a useful servant, has incurred danger, and suffered from Malignants, and therefore deserves
favour. [2 pages.] |
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197. Report by the Committee to whom John Searle's petition
and account is referred, that the accounts not being large, Council
should themselves determine what should be done. [½ page.] |
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198. Draft of the above and Report by the Committee for removing Obstructions in the discovering of fraudulent Debentures,
that Mr. Tandy should forthwith be paid off all the arrears of his
salary, and the Treasurers be required to do this. [⅓ page.] |
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199. Thos. Haynes to Lord —. When I came from England, I
had lost 25l. but was paid 300 guilders. I have sent moneys last
Lent to Mrs. Randew for her husband, who was starving at Maestricht,
for part of which they assigned me a bill on Lord Wentworth for
money lent him by Randew at Cologne. Please to get this paid. I
have Sir Chas. Cotterel's promise for the remainder. |
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I also beg payment of 2 years' board wages due to the late Mr.
Hind, to whom I often lent money, and who requested me on his
deathbed to pay his small debts, which I promised to do, and they
call on me for it; but though Mr. Fox promises me money, he does
not pay it. I have now a year's board wages due to me. Let not
my compassion to my fellow-servants make me incapable of relieving
myself. [12/3 pages.] |
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200, 201. Wm. Jervis to the Protector. I can prove that the
Trustees for Sale of Delinquents' Estates have, contrary to their trust,
reprized upon several contracts above 50,000l.; and if their books
may be seized and I peruse them, I could prove a great deal more. |
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This should be done at once, if you and Council resolve to raise
the money on the said Trustees or otherwise. |
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I can also prove their frauds in selling estates at undervalues
when there were competitors for them, and when they ought to
have been sold at the box, and in selling them privately at lower
rates than were offered, if Commissioners may be appointed to
examine the case, send for books and papers, and imprison such as
stand in contempt. |
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P.S.—I can also prove that they allowed leases and pretended
leases on most estates sold by them, which were returned by the
surveyors, though they were not claimed, and allowed according to
the directions of the Act for Sale, whereby they have sold 40,000l.
or 50,000l. a year as in reversion, which they were bound to have
sold in possession. [1½ pages; 2 papers.] |
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202, 203. Request by Jervis that 13 persons named, of
cos. Gloucester, Essex, Somerset, Sussex, and Dorset, and of
London and Westminster, may be a committee to examine the case,
with such others as his Highness thinks fit, the quorum not to
exceed 3. [¾ pages, 2 copies.] |
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204. Request by Jervis for 4 other persons named to be added
to the said Committee for Discoveries. [1 page.] |
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205. Request by Jervis that John Hodder may be nominated
their clerk, in respect of his knowledge in the books of the Trustees.
[½ page.] |
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206. — Justel to Jos. Williamson, Oxford. But for the gentleman
by whom you wrote me, but whose acquaintance I only made 5 or 6
days ago, on account of his illness, I should have despaired, for want
of your address, of assuring you of my obedience, and thanking you
for your remembrance of me. |
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I am obliged by your introduction of your friend, a man of much
merit, whom I should be glad to serve. He has taken charge of the
genealogical quarterings of the house of Tremouille which I had promised you. When you write, send me your address. [French, 2 pages.] |
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207. Capt. Fras. Cranwell to the Admiralty Commissioners.
Although I have been so unfortunate as to incur your displeasure
through drowning our ship, I nevertheless humbly desire a
re-engagement in the service, when I will stake my life for the
regaining of your good opinion. [½ page.] |
| Dover Road. |
208. Case of Mrs. Marsh, widow of Mr. Marsh, postmaster on the
Dover Road. Petitioned his Highness for her husband's place, and
for the year's arrears due to him at Midsummer last, which petition
was referred to Council, and from them to a committee, where it
still remains. |
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The rest of those postmasters also petitioned his Highness, and
claim other privileges, coming in by purchase at first, and received
their salary quarterly from the Navy Office, their post being
outlandish, but they, like Mrs. Marsh, have now arrears due. |
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Notwithstanding former orders in the late King's time, many
persons going under the name of hackneymen daily furnish persons
with horses, and ride post with horses and guides without order,
whereby the postmasters are much discouraged, being at great charge
in keeping horses and servants, and sometimes at a greater expense
than their salaries amount to. |
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Motion is therefore made for consideration of both cases, and of
the annexed certificate and order, made to settle and pay them their
salaries forthwith. [1 page.] Annexing, |
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208. i. Certificate by Edw. Pashlow, mayor, and the jurates and
inhabitants of Gravesend and Milton, that Arthur White,
deputy-postmaster there, has officiated 8 years with
diligence, and kept a sufficient number of horses and
servants; yet divers hackneymen in the town send horses
and guides with all manner of outlandish persons, which
is a great discouragement to White and the rest of the
posts upon the roads to Dover, and a great prejudice to the
Commonwealth, as many dangerous and disaffected
persons have and still may be guided by such persons into
private byways, and thereby travel the country unknown.
With note by White that from 12 Sept. 1651 to 7 Nov.
1653, he has carried 190 by land, and since he has been
postmaster, he has lost 130l. in horse flesh. [1¼ pages,
with 16 signatures.] |
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Assignment by Thomas Hockin to Thomas Coveney, of Burmarsh
or Burwarmarsh Manor, or Abbots Court, and 288 acres of land, part
of the said manor, leased to him by the Protector 4 July 1655, for
as long as they remain in his hands as forfeit for treason or outlawry, for 40s. fine and 20s. rent. [Parchment not signed. Interregnum Box 3, No. 1.] |
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Duplicate of the above not signed. [Ibid, No. 2.] |
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209. Examinations of Godfrey Petty, John Silk, and Thos. Skinner,
as to frauds committed by Wm. Gardner and Roger Carlisle, in
substituting old for new muskets, not accounting for guns received,
taking and offering bribes, &c. [3 pages.] |
|
210. List of 8 London residents, 2 or 3 of whom are to be bail
for Rob. Manley. [⅓ page.] |
| College of Arms, London. |
211, 212. Grant of Arms to Francis Offley, 6th son by birth, but
by the death of his brothers became eldest son, born in 1611 at
Elbing in Prussia, naturalized by the late King 9 July 1631, and
entered in the College of Arms as son of Thos. Offley, citizen of
London, and agent for English merchants in Prussia, eldest son of
Hugh Offley, sheriff and alderman of London in 1588, second son of
Wm. Offley, mayor and sheriff of Chester, son of Rich. Offley, who
married twice, had 23 sons and 3 daughters, and lived to be 86
years old. He was of an old Staffordshire family, whose members,
by service to princes in peace and war, had attained knighthood and
other dignities, and were allied to many great families by marriage.
Arms, cross fleury, between 4 birds, sable. Motto, Virescit vulnere
virtus. [1 page, and scrap, Latin.] |
