|
May 1.
Sandwich. |
1. Mayor and Jurats of Sandwich to the towns of the Cinque
Ports. Request them to join in an application to have their common
charter, with all their privileges and liberties, confirmed by Parliament. Hope they will join to bear the expense, and will influence
their several barons to further the cause. |
| May 1. |
2. Speech of Sir Hen. Yelverton in the House [of Lords]. Was
in a strait about the patents for gold and silver thread, and for
inns, because Sir Giles Mompesson threatened him that Buckingham
would have him displaced in a month, if he did not conform to his
wishes. Thinks this an assumption of regal power, and would remind
his Lordship of Hugh de Spencer's case (here he was interrupted).
Suffers now by his opposition to Buckingham; acknowledges the
justice of his Star Chamber sentence. |
| May 1. |
3. Copy of the above. |
May 2.
Whitehall. |
4. The Council to Lord Zouch. Edw. Sherburn, the collector of
subsidies, will be ready at York House, Charing Cross, to receive
40l., as his payment of one entire subsidy granted by Parliament,
of 4s. in the pound, which is to be paid in before May 10. |
May 2.
London. |
5. Chamberlain to [Carleton]. Accusations accumulate against
Sir John Bennet and the Lord Chancellor, chiefly from their own
creatures. The latter made large offers to Kilvert, the proctor, to
desist from his charges, but Kilvert only told the House of the
offers. His Lordship lies languishing, and defers his appearance.
The accusations and evidence against him are sent to him in writing.
His first submission was too qualified, so he sent one more absolute;
he tries to gain time. He could not be called before the House
whilst he held the Great Seal, because it was not decorous that he
should have it carried before him to the bar; it is now in the
King's hands. Sir Hen. Yelverton's speech was chiefly aspersions
on Buckingham, comparing his tyranny to that of the De Spencers,
at which the Prince asked leave of the Lords to interrupt him for
scandalizing his father's government; he is close prisoner in the
Tower, the King being more angry than ever with him. The Lower
House entangle themselves with needless business, but the King is
very patient with them: they quarrel amongst themselves. Both
the towns and universities of Oxford and Cambridge are unrepresented, Sir Fras. Blundell and the Mayor of Cambridge, returned for
the towns, being cashiered, Sir John Bennet, member for Oxford
University, in disgrace, and Sir Robt. Naunton appearing not for that
of Cambridge. Sir Edw. Coke was reproved for putting Cambridge
before Oxford. Floyd, an obscure lawyer, sentenced to the pillory,
&c., for contemptuous words against the King and Queen of
Bohemia, but respited because the King thinks it better to suppress
such scandals than to blaze them abroad by punishment. The
Lord Treasurer, Lord Chamberlain, Duke of Lenox, and Earl of
Arundel were sent to fetch the Seal from the Lord Chancellor; and
they, with the Lord Chief Justice, are to hold it in commission.
Lady Lake, after many shifts, is at last driven to a complete submission. The merchants are ordered, though reluctant, to keep up
their fleet [against the pirates] till Nov. 10. |
| May 3. |
6. Order in the Court of the Levant Company, consenting to
allow three months' additional victuals for the ships employed
against the pirates, on condition that the rates of levying the tax
for payment may be continued as first laid on, not as they have
been since modified. |
| May 4. |
7. Submission of Wm. Whately, vicar of Banbury, co. Oxford,
revoking the assertions in his work called Bride-bush, that either
adultery or long desertion dissolves marriage. Is convinced by the
reasons alleged in the High Commission Court of their falsehood.
[Indorsed by Laud.] |
| May 4. |
8. Copy of the above. |
| May 4. |
9. Matt. Nicholas to Edw. Nicholas. Private affairs. Desires a
curate of honesty and ability. Is quite unfit to try for a doctor's
degree. |
| May 4. |
Special licence to the [Muscovy] Company to transport to
Russia as many Spanish ryals as shall amount to 3,000l. [Grant
Bk., p. 346.] |
May 4.
Pevensey. |
10. Ant. Hill to Nicholas. Requests commissions for Ansell
Nathly, as Captain of the select band, and for Thos. Smith, of
the general band at Hastings; that of the former to be made somewhat large, because he delights in training soldiers. Wishes Lord
Zouch would allow more frequent exercising; once a year is very
insufficient, &c. Mr. Newman consents to be Captain of Pevensey. |
May 5.
Seaford. |
11. The Same to the Same. Sends money for a debt. Commends
Mr. Elfick, who would be glad to explain to Lord Zouch the quarrel
between him and the Gratwicks. |
May 5.
London. |
12. Chamberlain to Carleton. The Lord Chancellor sentenced to
40,000l. fine, imprisonment in the Tower during pleasure, and disability ever to bear office, &c.; he escaped degradation by only two
votes. Sir Fras. Michell sentenced to a fine of 1,000l., imprisonment,
and degradation. The Lower House attended the King to plead
their privilege to punish Floyd. His Majesty said they could not
condemn a man judicially whose guilt was unproved, but as Floyd
had confessed to him, he would take care he should not go unpunished. The House retired dissatisfied; bold speech of Sir Edw.
Cecil thereon. The Upper House also displeased, because the King
has taken the punishment of Sir Hen. Yelverton out of their hands. |
| May 5. |
13. Locke to [the Same]. The Archbp. of Spalato thanks
him for his intended present of 100l. Sir Fras. Michell is imprisoned in the same chamber in Finsbury Gaol to which he
was wont to commit others. The Lower House questioned the
creation of Baronets, as being an honour bought with money. They
fell on the grievances of Ireland, but the King sent them word he
would have the honour of reforming that kingdom. Floyd was sentenced to the pillory by Parliament for saying that Lady Bess must
come home to her father, and that the King of Bohemia had no right
to his title; but the Spanish Ambassador having spoken to the King,
he stayed the sentence, sent for the House, told them they had exceeded their bounds in passing a censure without the Upper House,
and bade them attend to the despatch of important business; he
told them to deliver their mind to him in a petition. Sir Edw.
Villiers was sent out of the House for wishing to speak about a
patent in which he is concerned, but will be admitted at other
times. Lady Lake is released. Sends the Lord Chancellor's
submission. |
May 8 ?
Tenterden. Tuesday. |
14. Ant. Hill to Nicholas. To give the 5l. enclosed to Mr. Dyer,
if he is in London. |
| May 8. |
15. Note of a speech, by Lord Spencer [in the House of Lords] that
[the Earl of Arundel] had little cause to speak against a certain
motion [for Sir Hen. Yelverton to be heard in his own defence, see
May 19], two of his ancestors having been unjustly condemned in
Parliament. With the Earl's reply, that, whilst his ancestors suffered
for services to King and country, his Lordship's ancestors were
keeping sheep. Also of an apology made by the Earl for this
remark, to the House, and to Lord Spencer. |
| May ? |
16. Supplication by Anne, widow of Sir Hen. Day, of Banham,
and Thos. Downes, of Bodney, both co. Norfolk, for reversal, by
Act of Parliament or otherwise, of a transfer by Robt. Hogan, the
King's ward, of all his manors, &c. in Norfolk, value 11,000l., to
his mother, Anne Hungate, then widow, now wife of Sir Julius
Cæsar, Master of the Rolls; showing the fraudulent manner in which
the transfer was effected, and the damage that will ensue both to
King and subject, by admitting fraudulent conveyances of wards. |
| [May 9.] |
17. Recital of part of a Bill in Parliament, preferred by Anne Day
and Thos. Downes, cousins and next heirs of Robt. Hogan, who died
under age, that a deed, by which, under colour of a fine, he conveyed
the manor of Hamonds and other lands in Norfolk, his whole estate,
to his mother Anne Hogan, may be set aside, on plea that the deed
was unlawful, he dying under age. |
| [May 9.] |
18. Digest of the above, and of other clauses in the Bill, on the
impropriety of allowing to wards the disposal of their lands, &c. |
| [May 9.] |
19. Copy of the above digest. |
| May 9 ? |
20. Proposal that to prevent the secret export of money, the King
shall keep a register of all bills of exchange; that to obviate frauds
in customs, all bills of lading be registered on oath, and all vessels
obliged to give in bills of lading, and also that all waggons
and carts in seaport towns, which may convey prohibited goods,
be searched and registered; that all charter-parties between merchants and owners of shipping be registered, to avoid contentions
between them; that both merchants and owners enter bonds not to
trade with the enemy, nor export more money than needful; and that
all ordnance, munition, provisions, &c. be registered, vessels often
carrying much more than they require, and selling it to the
enemy. |
| May 9. |
21. Inquiry by Mr. Mould, into the best remedy for the loss
sustained by the English in their commerce with the Dutch, in point
of exchange. |
| May 9 ? |
22. "Answer to Mr. Mould's arguments concerning the undervaluation of our money in exchange," and the "settlement of the
exchange at par pro pari," to prove that it would be disadvantageous,
and that by the present mode of exchange, the English are gainers,
and not losers. |
| May 9 ? |
23. Project by Mr. Barrett to increase the customs and to restore
trade, by making Spanish and French coins current in England,
at their full value. With answers to objections. |
| May 9 ? |
24, 25. Two copies of the above, slightly varied. |
May 9.
Tenterden. |
26. Ant. Hill to Nicholas. The Jurats of Winchelsea slight his
Lordship's recommendation, and purpose to elect two factious men
as Jurats. |
| May 9. |
27. Jurats and Freemen of Winchelsea to Lord Zouch. Robt.
Butler and Giles Waters are incompetent for election as Jurats,
because they do service in Camber Castle, and are therefore
exempt from town duties; request leave to make a free election, if
more Jurats are to be chosen. |
May 10.
Winchelsea. |
28. Mayor of Winchelsea to the Same. The Jurats have no wish
to increase their number. Their excuse that Butler and Waters
belong to the castle is invalid, castle officers having often been
mayors and officers of towns. |
May 10.
Gray's Inn. |
29. John Philpot to Nicholas. Regrets the Lord Warden's displeasure about his cause with Tassell, &c. Has paid 10l. to Sir
Thos. Wynn, and wishes to pay all honestly. |
| May 10. |
30. Petition of Thos. Elfick to Lord Zouch, to bind Edw. and
Thos. Gratwick to keep the peace towards him, an injunction being
issued to stay proceedings on their former recognizances, whereby
his life is in danger from them. |
| May 11. |
31. John King and others to [the Commissioners for the Navy].
Certify the good qualities of the cordage and materials for cordage
at Woolwich. |
| May 12. |
32. Petition of Thos. Gratwick to Lord Zouch. Thos. Elfick,
after long delaying to answer to his bill, which was referred to
commissioners, has entered a counter bill against him and his friends
at the Court of Chancery of Dover. Requests a conclusion on the
former bill, and dismissal or stay of proceedings on the latter. |
| May 12. |
33. Edw. Misselden to Sir Albert Morton. It was decided that,
of the 8,500l. to be raised towards the suppression of pirates by the
Turkey and Spanish merchants, the former should raise 4,000l. and
the latter 4,500l. Mr. Leate opposes this order, and pretends that
the Spanish merchants have bribed Sir Clement Edmondes and
others to obtain it. |
| May 12. |
34. [Proposed] Act for the better making of serges and perpetuanies, regulating their length and breadth, and appointing overseers
in each manufacturing town, to inspect them and seal them according
to quality. |
| May ? |
35. Answers to certain articles relating to the manufacture of
cloths, perpetuanies, and other sorts of new drapery, in the west of
England, and the avoidance of deceits therein. |
| May ? |
36. Report [by Sir Robt. Heath] founded on the certificates of
Norwich, Colchester, and Exeter, concerning the new drapery, that
it must be made of a prescribed length, breadth, and weight, and
be submitted to sundry searches specified, to test its goodness. |
May 14.
Westminster. |
37. Order to Sir Ferdinando Dudley to obey the injunction of the
Court of Exchequer, and yield up certain messuages and lands called
the Old Park, in Sedgley, co. Stafford, to Martha Gravenor, widow.
Latin. |
| [May 14]. |
38. Arguments on the privilege of freedom of trade, claimed by
the Cinque Ports and denied to them by the Merchant Adventurers. |
May 14.
Edmund Hall, Oxford. |
39. Matt. Nicholas to Edw. Nicholas. Fears the curate he recommends countenances dancing, but will try him, and allow him
20l. per ann. if he will not preach better than himself; hopes also
that Mr. Evelyn will allow him his diet, for teaching his younger son.
Has taken lodgings at Dean, at 4l. a year, which is too much for
them. |
May 16.
Greenwich. |
Sir Geo. Calvert to Carleton. Parliament nearly over. There
has been "some justling, in point of jurisdiction, between the two
Houses;" the Lower House having shown extraordinary zeal in
punishing one Floyd, who spoke lewd words of the King and Queen
of Bohemia, the King and House of Lords disapproved the punishment, as being out of the province of the Commons. [Holl. Corresp.,
May 16, 1621.] |
May 17.
Westminster. |
40. Petition of Peter Blancart, of Sandwich, to Lord Zouch,
to dissolve an injunction in the Court of Chancery, for stay of process against Sir Wm. Monings, who tries to defraud him of a debt
of 100l., Sir William refusing to submit to the decision of the
arbitrators appointed. |
| May 17. |
41. Locke to Carleton. No money is to be issued out of the
Exchequer till Lord Digby is supplied. Parliament is about to
adjourn. The Attorney General's sentence is imprisonment during
pleasure, and to pay 10,000 marks to the King, and 5,000 marks to
Buckingham for damages; Buckingham forgave him his fine at
once, and promised to ask the King to remit the rest. The Bp. of
Salisbury lately dead. Dr. Davenant likely to succeed him, &c. |
| May 17. |
Grant to Wm. George of the Clerkship of the Wardrobe, for life.
[Grant Bk., p. 344.] |
| May 18. |
42. Receipt by Wm. Hatcher, from Sir Clement Edmondes, of a
Privy Seal warrant, granting to [Thos.] Boorne and [Hugh] Richardson the office of Searcher of Battery wares. |
May 18.
Guildhall. |
43. Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London to the Council. Have
rated the Grocers and Apothecaries' Companies together at 500l.,
for the contribution for recovery of the Palatinate. The Grocers
paid 300l., leaving 200l. for the Apothecaries, which they absolutely
refuse to pay, as being too large a proportion. |
May 19.
London. |
44. Chamberlain to Carleton. The dispute about Floyd's punishment was ended by an agreement between the two Houses that it
should not be used as a precedent; that about the Attorney
General, by the King's remitting the case to the Lords. The
Attorney's defence was so weak, with little but tears and protestations of good meaning, that his very friends were ashamed of him.
Buckingham stands firmer than ever, and rejoices at being found
Parliament proof. The Earl of Arundel urging warmly that
Yelverton should be condemned without further hearing, Lord
Spencer reminded him of sentences similarly passed on his ancestry,
on which he retorted that Lord Spencer's ancestry were shepherds
then. [See May 8.] Arundel was called to the bar of the House,
but only consented to apologize in the place where he sat, wherewith
Lord Spencer not being satisfied, he was sent to the Tower, where
he was welcomed by the Earl of Northumberland, and is much visited by Buckingham and others. Clement Cooke was also committed,
but is released on his submission to the House and to Sir Chas.
Morrison. Death of the Bp. of Salisbury and Sir Thos. Tracy.
Report that the Duke of Lenox has married the Countess of
Hertford. The Bp. of London having relieved some poor priests in
his last illness, the Papists declare that he died a Catholic. |
| May ? |
45. Inventory of goods delivered out of the wardrobe for the Queen
of Bohemia, viz., a crimson velvet bed with hangings and appurtenances, and bedroom furniture, en suite. |
| May 19. |
46. Locke to Carleton. Wrote him by John Green, who took
the hangings for the Queen [of Bohemia]. The Earl of Arundel was
three times requested to apologize, which he was willing to do to
the House, but not to Lord Spencer. The contest arose from
Arundel's opposing Sir Hen. Yelverton's desire to explain himself.
The Earl of Northumberland has petitioned the House of Lords to be
admitted to sit as a Peer, and his request is said to be granted. |
| May 20 ? |
47. Thos. Fulnetby to Lord Zouch. A bark laden with lead, belonging to Sir Rich. Gravenor, of Westchester, was sunk near
Margate, but the lead and other merchandise saved, and though she
is now brought into the pier, yet, as six or seven tides washed over
her, thinks she should be considered a wreck. The Deputy of Margate
lays claim to her as the King's wreck. Annexed is, |
|
47. i. Memorandum that a bark laden with lead ran aground,
between St. Nicholas and Reculver, out of the liberties of
the Cinque Ports, and that the boatmen insisted on taking
out more lead than the master wished, and were upheld
by Wm. Coppin, the Lord Warden's servant. Indorsed
[by Nicholas], "Sir R. Gravenor." May 20. |
| May [20 ?] |
48. List [by Sir Robt. Heath] of Patents for Monopolies, some of
which are condemned by the Commons, but referred by the King to
the Council, some are surrendered, some still under discussion, and
some to be decided on by the King. |
| May 20 ? |
49. List [by the Same], of seven patents, condemned by the
House of Commons, but referred by the King to the Council, and
of seventeen patents still under debate; with notes of other similar
patents, and memoranda of transactions in Parliament relating to
some of them. |
May 21.
Edmund Hall, Oxford. |
50. Matt. Nicholas to Edw. Nicholas. The Bp. of Salisbury,
just dead, was a good friend to them. Many deaths in that see.
Thanks for the curate recommended. Will give him a larger salary
rather than miss him. |
May 22.
Winchelsea. |
51. Jurats and Freemen of Winchelsea to Lord Zouch. Thanks
for his permission to choose other Jurats; elected Barth. Pitt and
Geo. Matthew, but the Mayor refused them, and swore in Robt.
Butler and Giles Waters, without their consent. Beg that their
own election may stand, or a fresh one be made. |
May 22.
Mitcham. |
52. Sir Robt. Heath to Sir Geo. Calvert. Cannot find any reason
to suppose that Thos. Middlecote, late Mayor of Boston, was concerned
in cutting off the crosses from the maces, since he used them with the
crosses, both before the damage, and as soon as they were mended,
which was done at once by his order. Incloses, |
|
52. i. Examinations of Thos. Middlecote and Wm. Jenkinson, late Mayors of Boston; of Thos. Brown, Wm.
Bennet, and Thos. Shaw, residents; Ann Howet, a
servant, Wm. Pury, of Lincoln's Inn, John Spring, of
Freestone, Lancashire, and others [previously examined
on April 7], to the same purport as those examinations. David Lewis, the complainant in the matter of
the maces, professed to be the King's servant; the letter
sent him to request him to stay his complaint never
reached him, he having left London. Mr. Cotton, the
Vicar of Boston, not likely to be guilty, as he condemned
the Act. May 21. |
| May 24. |
53. Account of mourning cloaks given at Lady Periam's decease,
[to the Archbp. Abbot and his household]. |
| May 25. |
Grant, in reversion, to Sir Wm. Harrington, of the office of Lieutenant General of Ordnance, &c., for life. [Grant Bk., p. 345.] |
| May 26. |
54. Locke to Carleton. The Earl of Arundel prefers enduring
restraint in the Tower to acknowledging his error to Lord Spencer;
the King has written to him, and Buckingham and others visited
him. Lord Digby is setting out, and has 40,000l. allowed. Floyd's
punishment is increased by the Upper House; he is fined 5,000l.,
sentenced to be whipped to the pillory at Westminster and Cheapside, to be branded in the face, and imprisoned at Newgate. The
Comptroller [Visct. Falkland] is to be Deputy of Ireland, and to be
succeeded in the Comptrollership by Lord Fielding. |
May 28.
Dover. |
55. Mayor and Jurats of Dover to Lord Zouch. John Waad has
been reported to let slip words tending to the dishonour of Parliament.
Inclose, |
|
55. i. Declaration of John Waad, that his true meaning in
calling the Court of Equity a court of iniquity, in a
quarrel with John Broome and John Finnis, about
parish affairs, was that they had long held a court of
iniquity, by slandering their minister and others.
May 21. |
|
55. ii. Depositions of John Broome and others, that on the Bench
of Jurats of Dover, in discussing some parish business,
John Waad called the court a court of iniquity, but
that he did not thereby mean the Court of Parliament.
Guildhall, Dover, May 25. |
May 29.
Admiral Ship. |
56. Sir Robt. Mansell to Capt. John Pennington of the Zouch
Phœnix. The road of Algiers is their place of rendezvous, and the
Admirals are to hang out their lights so as to keep together; no vessel
is to be chased unless the fleet can be regained that night. |
| May 29. |
57. [Lord Admiral Buckingham] to Thos. Wilbraham. Directs him
to take command of the ship Victory, going on the service against
pirates. Annexing, |
|
57. i. Instructions for management of the ship and crew:
they are to proceed, in company with the Dreadnought,
to join Sir Robt. Mansell's Fleet at Gibraltar. |
May 29.
Oswestry. |
58. Clothiers of North Wales to the Council. Request that the
staple for the sale of Welsh cottons may be re-established at Oswestry,
the drapers of Shrewsbury trying to draw all trade to that town,
which will be their ruin. |
| May 29. |
59. Commissioners of the Navy to Robt. Pye. The 800l. allowed
for the Navy for May is to be paid to Sir Wm. Russell, the Treasurer. |
| [May 30.] |
60. Petition of thirty-two Ministers of Norwich to the Council, for
renewal of orders issued fifteen years before, that they may have a
certain maintenance from the English in the town, — as already
granted them from the Dutch and French inhabitants,—of 20d. in the
pound on the rent of their houses; they are at present dependent on
the pleasure of the people. [See June 1.] |
| May 30 ? |
61. List of days appointed by Ant. Hill for musters to be held at
the different towns in the Cinque Ports, from April 30 to May 29. |
| May 31. |
62. Musters of all the trained and untrained bands in the Cinque
Ports; also certificate of provisions, ammunition, the state of the
beacons, &c. |
| May. |
63. Estimate [by the Ordnance officers] of the stores necessary for
furnishing the ship Happy Entrance. Total cost 9l. 14s. |
| May ? |
64. Propositions for erection of an Office of Pomp, to promote
home manufactures by preventing our imports from exceeding our
exports; to repress pride by levying taxes on all articles of luxury, &c.
Imperfect. |
| May ? |
65. Proposition that the King should save the treasure of his
subjects by a Proclamation prohibiting banquettings at christenings,
by which 100,000l. is now yearly expended on sugar, at an average
of 5l. per christening, an expense which most people would gladly
avoid, if not compelled to it by custom; also prohibiting wine to be
drunk at taverns, whereby money would be saved, and quarrelling
and drunkenness prevented. |
