William III: May 1696 | British History Online

Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William III, 1696. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1913.

'William III: May 1696', in Calendar of State Papers Domestic: William III, 1696, (London, 1913) pp. 157-209. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/domestic/will-mary/1696/pp157-209 [accessed 19 April 2024]

May 1696



May 1. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Archbishop of Canterbury. About two years since the King granted an almsman's place in Canterbury Cathedral to John Widupe, who has never been in possession thereof, having ever since been in the King's sea service in the West Indies. He has now returned, weakened by sickness, and is to be admitted to the place vacant by the death of William Harrison. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 274.]
May 1. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Lords of the Treasury. The King has granted the request of several distressed French ministers, who have come hither from France for the sake of their religion, in relation to the distribution of 3,000l. charity money. [Ibid., p. 275.]
May 1. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the same, referring for their report the petition of Arthur French and James Farrell, with the Lord Deputy's letter and the report of the Solicitor-General of Ireland thereupon. [Ibid. 100, p. 244.]
May 1. Whitehall.	The same to the same, referring for their report the petition of Colonel Richard Coot, with the Lord Deputy's letter, and the report of the Solicitor-General of Ireland thereupon. [Ibid., p. 247.]
May 1. Kensington.	Commissions for Mr. George Heppisley to be ensign to Captain Thomas Parsons in Colonel Stanley's regiment [Ibid. 167, p. 262]; for Mr. Laurence to be ensign to Major Patrick Mead in the Marquis of Puizar's regiment; for Mr. Andrew Mout to be captain of Captain Robert Bruce's company in Colonel Robert [sic] Mackay's regiment [Ibid., p. 263]; for the same to be captain of Captain Robert Bruce's company in Colonel Æneas [sic] Mackay's regiment [Ibid., p. 265]; for Mr. Samuel Lannard to be captain of Captain Wondesford's troop of dragoons in the Earl of Denbigh's regiment; for Mr. George Powell to be chaplain of Colonel Webb's regiment; for Mr. James Chambers to be surgeon of the same regiment [Ibid., p. 266]; for Mr. Herbert Laurence to be ensign to Major Mead in the Marquis de Puizar's regiment [Ibid., p. 267]; and for Edward Cole, gent., to be first lieutenant of that company whereof Major Thomas Webberley is captain in the marine regiment of foot commanded by John, Lord Berkeley. [Ibid. 168, p. 211.]
May 1. Whitehall.	Letter approving the appointment of George Whichcoate, esquire, as a deputy lieutenant for the county of Lincoln, and commanding the Earl of Lindsey, lord lieutenant of the county, to issue out his deputation accordingly. [Ibid. 167, p. 265.]
May 1. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Charles Chapon. The petitioner shows that his uncle, Mr. Lassaigne, deceased, was governor of Drogheda, by which place there was due to him 275l., as Lord Coningsby's report shows, to the 1st January, 1692. After this a new establishment was made in Ireland, wherein his allowance was omitted, though he acted in the said government to July, 1694, from which service there is 655l. due to him, making in all 930l., whereof only 10 guineas have been paid. His uncle borrowed several sums of money from him. He prays the King to order the payment of his uncle's arrears. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 238, p. 76.]
May 1. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Peter Gaillardet, on behalf of himself and partners. The petitioners show that, pursuant to an agreement between them and Sir Paul Rycaut, the King's resident at Hamburg, they gave information from time to time during three years, with much expense, to the said Sir Paul Rycaut, of several ships trading with contraband goods from Hamburg and the Elbe to France, by which means several of those were taken and confiscated in England. Eight months since the petitioners petitioned to be paid a third part of the value of such ships and their cargo, but only received 127l. 10s., which was above 60l. short of the compensation for the loss of several goods to the value of 1,700 guilders, which they had laden on board the Unity, with a prospect of giving undeniable testimony both against the ship and goods, which accordingly happened, the ship being carried into Plymouth and condemned there. They pray the King to order a third part of the value of the said ships and their cargo to be paid to them, as also 60l. more to make up the loss of their goods amounting to 1,700 guilders, or an equivalent for both. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [Ibid., p. 78.]
May 1. Kensington.	Passes and post-warrants for Thomas Balle, merchant, to embark at Harwich for Holland or Flanders, in order to go to Leghorn through Germany; for the Earl of Essex and his two servants to go to Margate, or elsewhere, with three post horses [Ibid. 344, p. 499]; for Mary Anne le Saigneur, Mary de Blesseboir, Cécile Guerout and Elie du Lac, to go to Harwich for Holland; for Carl de Veer, ditto; for Mr. Brunet and Mr. Torard, with three post-horses, to go to Margate; for Samuel Saunderson, esquire, to go to Harwich and Holland, on the recommendation of Lord Castleton's son [Ibid., p. 500]; for Thomas Bellasys, esquire, to go to Harwich for Holland or Flanders, in order to reside in the territory of any prince not at enmity with England; for Sackville Tufton, esquire, ditto; for Captain Peter Mongy to go to Harwich and Holland [Ibid., p. 501]; for Isaac Gellius to embark at Chester for Ireland; for Brigadier Thomas Earle and his three servants, James Frith, William Austen and William Croft, Major Morgan and his servant, and Lieutenant John Penny (sic); for Major-General Charles Churchill, Major Broughton, Captain William Leech and their nine servants, viz., Elizabeth Hanrey, Francis Jevers, Matthew Allen, John Ford, Rowland Evans, Roger Moor, Charles Harbin Ralph Junior and a black boy, to embark at Harwich for Holland or Flanders [Ibid., p. 503]; for Mrs. Bawdestein and three servants to go to Holland; for Christian Grave, ditto; for Etienne Gererd, ditto; for Mary Bosch, ditto; for Henry Verport, ditto; for John Sigismund Ferber, John Ernest Niadorff, and Peter Edigus their servant, to go to Dantzig; for Mr. Kean Osborne, merchant, to go to Ireland; for Thomas Micharius, with Judith Vroen his wife, and Ann Vroen his sister, and four children, to go to Holland; for Colonel John Cunningham, ditto [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 328]; for Thomas Earl, Esquire, with two horses, to go to Margate; for Luder Spicemaker, with one horse, ditto; for Brigadier Francis O'Farrell, David Lamb and Darby Farrell, his servants, to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 330]; for Peter Beaubuisson and Mons. de Belleau, guidon in the troop of guards commanded by the Duke of Ormond, to post with four horses [Ibid., p. 331]; and for Andrew Verport to go to Holland [Ibid., p. 340.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for a grant of nolle prosequi to David Urry, gentleman, who through inadvertency forgot to take the oath required of him to make him capable of holding the office of mayor of Newtown in the Isle of Wight, to which he was elected in 1692. It is a small place, having but three or four (sic) inhabitants, and very few acts of magistracy are there done. [Ibid., p. 329.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for a pardon to Francis de la Rue, gentleman, of all treasons, robberies, murders, etc. [Ibid. 345, p. 398.]
May 1. Kensington.	Four similar pardons to George Porter, esquire, and George Harris, Henry Crymes and Richard Fisher, gentlemen. [Ibid.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant confirming the election of John Warner, esquire, counsellor at law, to be recorder of the borough of Pontefract. [Ibid., p. 401.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for a free pardon to Clement Clerke, gentleman, of high treason by clipping coin. [Ibid., p. 402.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for the grant of a baronetcy to Oliver Ayshcombe of Lyford, co. Berks, esquire. [Ibid., p. 403.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for James Vernon, esquire, to be provost marshal of the island of Jamaica, to execute the office by himself or his deputy during his life and the life of John Blancard, esquire. [Ibid., p. 444.]
May 1.	Admiral Russell to the Lords of the Admiralty. I have received your letter, in which were enclosed the letters from the several captains that were by my order sent up the Levant, as also the petition of Captains Norris, Grantham, and Cornwallis. During my being abroad I had this matter particularly enquired into. Captain Killigrew, who commanded the Plymouth, performed his duty very well, while he lived, but was quickly taken off, and the ship soon after disabled. There did not seem the least prejudice to the Content from the Plymouth, and the French officers declared the same at Leghorn. I observe Captain Wager says in his letter the same thing that he told me upon my enquiry; so that upon the whole matter, to the best of my judgment, the prizes were taken by the petitioning captains, and the others have no pretensions to them, more than what agreement was made amongst themselves, of which I have no cognizance; but I suuppose if any such agreement was made as is mentioned, they will accord the same among themselves. Copy. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 3.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for a free pardon to Oliver Grace, who was indicted of high treason, but not outlawed, although he submitted to the King's government in Ireland, and took protection on the 10th of July, 1690, from Sir Robert Southwell. He never bore arms against his Majesty, and was always kind and serviceable to his protestant neighbours. He has a wife and many young children, and his whole freehold estate does not exceed 78l. per annum.
	It appears by the certificate of Lord Chief Justice Pyne that he was bred, many years before the late revolution, in the Chief Remembrancer's office in the court of Exchequer, and served therein as deputy to Francis Godolphin, esquire, and, since his death, as deputy to Richard Aldworth, esquire, now Chief Remembrancer.
	Being of Irish extraction, he was employed in the said office during the late King James's being in Ireland, and was elected and served as a member of the late pretended parliament held in Dublin; but this was not by his own procurement. [S.P. Dom. Signet Office 13, p. 310.]
May 1. Kensington.	Warrant for a commission, under the great seal of Ireland, to Francis Roberts, Thomas Keightley, John Lowther, John Evelyn and Bartholomew Van Homrigh, to be commissioners of excise, and, with Christopher Carleton and John South, esquires, to be chief commissioners of the revenues in Ireland, Zacheus Sedgwick, late a commissioner, being now deceased. [Ibid., p. 315.]
[May] 1. Kensington,	Warrant for the grant of a custodiam to Sir James Caldwell, bart., of the lands forfeited by Dudley Bagnall, of Dunleckyney Esquire, formerly in the possession of his Excellency Lord Sydney, and by him surrendered to the crown, 21st March, 1692–3 upon the passing of letters patents in lieu thereof.
	The said lands were forfeited by the rebellion of the said Dudley Bagnall; an allowance of 400l. a year is made out of them for the maintenance of Mrs. Bagnall and her children, under an order of 29th March, 1693. Sir James's sufferings and losses have been great, and he and his family zealous for the King's service. The lands in question lie in co. Catherlogh, and are in the occupation of the following tenants, viz., Richard Butler, John Tench, Esquire, Thomas Hardy, Richard Newport, James St. John, Eliphall Dobson, Firlagh Breen, Hugh Fagan, James Gerrard, Morgan Doyle, Furlogh Byrne, Nathaniel Evans, Gerald Doyle, William Ryan, William Blackney, Francis Blackney, Uny Byrne, John Watson, Daniel Ward, Thomas Fagan, Hugh Fagan, Thomas Cooper, Francis Eustace, William Turner, Major Dunbar, Henry Carter and James Holding. [S.P. Dom. Signet Office 13. p. 333.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Lords of Treasury, directing that John Wombell be made a land carriage waiter in ordinary upon the next vacancy of that kind, and that in the meantime he be admitted a land carriage waiter extraordinary. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 275.]
May 2. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the same, referring for their report the petition of William Shee, with the Lord Deputy's letter and the report of the Solicitor-General of Ireland thereupon. [Ibid. 100, p. 244.]
May 2. Kensington.	Commissions for Francis Savage, gent., to be lieutenant to Captain William Grill's company in the regiment of foot commanded by Sir Bevill Granville [Ibid. 168, p. 195]; for John Bennet, gent., to be quartermaster to the first regiment of foot guards commanded by Henry, Earl of Romney; for George Touly, gent., to be ensign of that company in the regiment of foot commanded by Brigadier Thomas Erle, whereof he himself is captain [Ibid., p. 196]; and for Stremer Thomas, gent., to be lieutenant of the company of grenadiers, whereof Captain George Freke is captain in the same regiment. [Ibid., p. 205.]
May 2. Kensington.	Appointment of Major General Charles Trelawney to be captain and governor of the town of Plymouth, and captain, governor or keeper of the citadel and all forts, etc., there, and of St. Nicholas Island. [Ibid., p. 197.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Approval by the King of the appointment of George Sayers of Charing, Bartholomew Deale of Goodneston and Thomas Oxborne of Hartlip, esquires, to be deputy lieutenants of the county of Kent. Henry, Earl of Romney, lord lieutenant of the said county, is to issue out their deputations accordingly. [Ibid. 168, p. 200.]
May 2. Kensington.	Appointment of Hugh Boscawen, esquire, to be captain or keeper of St. Mawes Castle, co. Cornwall. Appended is note of a commission dispatched for the same Mr. Boscawen, 12 October, 1696. [Ibid, p. 201.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for the payment of 100l. per annum to Christopher Musgrave, esquire, clerk of the ordnance, over and above his established salary, out of the treasury of the Ordnance Office, to commence from Lady Day last past, which sum of 100l. per annum was also allowed to Sir Edward Sherburne, clerk of the ordnance by the late King Charles II., in consideration of his keeping a check ledger upon the store keeper, which he did for divers years until he was removed from the said employment, and the same sum likewise granted by us to Sir Thomas Littleton during the time of his execution of that office. [Ibid., p. 202.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Thomas, Bishop of Killaloe in Ireland. The petitioner shows that by the late Act of Settlement in Ireland an augmentation of 200l. per annum was given to the see of Killaloe out of the lands forfeited by the rebellion in 1641. The then bishop endeavoured to place this on the lands of the late Lord Clare, who held 25 plough lands of the said see at the yearly rent of about 26l. The Bishop was passing a patent for the said lands, but was prevented by an order of King Charles II. for restoring the said Lord Clare to his estate, by which the see then lost the 200l. per annum. The said lands are now forfeited a second time by the present Lord Clare in the late rebellion in Ireland, and eleven of the aforesaid plough lands are now under the orders of the King's commissioners for forfeited estates, the other 15 [sic.] being mortgaged by the late Lord Clare before forfeiture. He prays that the said eleven ploughlands may be annexed to the see of Killaloe for ever, as the said see is very much impoverished. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 237, p. 176.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Mary Stedman. The petitioner shows that she lost her husband and brother in the King's service, and is left with five children. One of her sons is an ensign under Colonel Webb, and has gone to Flanders. He writes that he will be turned out, unless a speedy supply be sent him. Another son is at sea. She is unable to provide for them and prays the King's order that she may have 50l. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury to do as they think fit. [Ibid., p. 178.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of John Nutt. The petitioner shows that his father was an East Country merchant of London, and furnished stores for the royal navy in the time of Charles II., to the value of many thousand pounds. By the non-payment thereof his father was unable to carry on his trade, and support his family, and accordingly the King ordered the Lords of the Admiralty to provide him some office, as there should be vacancies. His father died before any vacancy occurred, and left the petitioner and a younger son destitute. He prays to be admitted into an employment. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [Ibid., p. 179.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Sir Charles Meredith. The petitioner shows that he formerly granted a piece of ground in Oxmontown, Dublin, to one Chamberlain and his heirs at a peper corn rent. On this ground the Jesuits built a chapel in King James' time, which is forfeited to the crown by the late rebellion. This said ground was in Michaelmas last past granted by lease for two years to Mr. Griffith, schoolmaster, at 5s. a year. As there are now a great number of distressed French protestants, who have no place for public worship, he prays for a custodiam of the said chapel after the expiration of the lease, for the French protestants. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [Ibid., p. 180.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Thomas Hutchins. The petitioner shows that he was at sea in the merchant service, since he was twelve years of age, till the King's accession. Since then he has been on board several of the King's ships of war, as the Lion, Diamond and Swallow. On the last he lost his right leg in an engagement against the French off Beachy Head. He prays an almsman's place in the hospital of St. Stephen's, Westminster. The petition is allowed. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 237, p. 181.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of David Mitchell, ViceAdmiral of the Blue. The petitioner shows that, while he was in the Mediterranean, a French vessel called the Constable was taken by the King's ship Romney, and brought into Cadiz. There she was condemned as prize in the admiralty court, and sold, Consul Westcomb paying to Captain Loads, commander of the Romney, what was due to him and his ship's company as their share, and to the petitioner the remainder of the sale, amounting to about 1,170 pistols, part of which has been expended in the King's service. He prays for the King's share of the said prize, and for a discharge of what he has received accordingly. The petition is allowed. [Ibid., p. 182.]
May 2. Kensington and Whitehall.	Passes and a post-warrant for Dr. John Leslie to embark at Chester for Ireland [Ibid. 344, p. 503]; and for Lord Paston and his servants to go to Margate. [Ibid. 346, p. 330.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Warrant to Lord Lucas, governor of the Tower of London, to allow the Countess of Ailesbury to become a prisoner with her husband, and Ann Speight, her servant, to attend upon her, "provided she do not stir out of the said Earl's lodgings in the Tower." [Ibid. 345, p. 415.]
May 2. Whitehall.	Warrant to the same for Dr. Thomas Brown to have access to the said Earl, now very much indisposed, and to discourse with him in the presence of the physician of the Tower, or such other person as may be appointed. [Ibid., p. 419.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for a bill of denization for the following aliens:—
	Peter Brocas de Houdesplains, clerk.
	John his son,
	Moses Pujolas, clerk,
	James Guestier, clerk.
	Charles Theophilus Mutel, clerk.
	Nicholas Wiltens, clerk.
	John Masson, clerk.
	Irenœus Crusius, clerk.
	James Teissonière d'Ayrolle.
	Anthony Cordes.
	Esther Magdalen, his wife.
	John le Bailli.
	John, his son.
	John Molet.
	Abraham de Mombray
	Elizabeth Ogilby.
	Jacob Couvreur.
	James Barbot.
	Mary, his wife.
	Peter Perpoint.
	Mary Magdalen, his wife.
	Peter Grudé.
	Nicholas and Elijah. his sons.
	Elisha Chupin.
	James Fury.
	Lewis Fury.
	Peter Poincet.
	Sarah, his wife.
	Henry Albert.
	John Bonine.
	Louisa Beauchamp Vareilles.
	Magdalen Olympia Beauchamp.
	John Galissard.
	Berend Lorens.
	Thomas Turst.
	Ann Barat.
	Elizabeth Barat de Salenave.
	Alexander la Plaigne.
	Peter Silvestre.
	Peter Oulson.
	Renatus Grillet.
	John and Renatus, his sons.
	Stephen Rainbaux.
	Charles Brebaud.
	Jonah Benhoste.
	Burchard Poppin.
	David Christian.
	Reinier Sbuelen.
	Theophilus Guérineau.
	Jacob Chrétien.
	John Lestocart.
	David Mortier.
	Charles Clary.
	John Bernard.
	Lawrence Loveroo.
	Jacob Nyna Cruger.
	Henry Mazick.
	Jaquette Stample.
	Daniel Guyon.
	John Guyon.
	William Ballaire.
	Gerard Sohnius.
	Peter Noblet.
Martin Neufrue.
Adam Billop.
John Charron.
Nicholas Charron.
Cornelius Bewkell.
Paul Fenoulhet.
Magdalen, his wife.
Elizabeth, Mary, James, Francis and Lewis, their children.
Isaac le Blond.
John Reyners.
Gabriel Vanderhumeken.
John Michel.
Thomas Michel.
Lewis de Hanne.
Isaac Hoissard.
Daniel Horry.
Elizabetife, his wife.
John Guibal.
Esther, his wife.
Anthony Boureau.
Jane, his wife.
Jane, their daughter.
John le Moine.
Abraham Labourlé.
Peter Oulston.
Peter Horry.
John Hesdon.
Peter la Salle.
Abel Denys.
Christian Bege.
John de Raedt.
John Abelain.
James de Pont.
Peter de Boiville.
Elizabeth, his wife.
Renatus, Ann and Elizabeth, their children.
Peter Triquet.
Daniel Collet.
Elijah Rondeau.
Elijah Derit.
John Beneche.
John le Clerk.
Richard Regnaud.
Guy Babault.
Alexander Mariette.
Magdalen, his wife.
William Bichot.
Mary, his wife.
James, William, Peter and David, their children.
Mary Gilbert Thomasset.
Catharina Gilbert.
Ann Girardot du Perron.
Samuel van Huls.
William van Huls.
Anthony Meure.
Isaac Francis Petit.
Nicholas Louvigny.
Peter du Souley.
Isaac Béranger.
Elizabeth Chalvet.
Martin Eele.
Peter Dove.
Benjamin Barbaud.
Francis Fox.
Francis Gerard.
Mary, his wife.
Gerard Bandertin.
Paul Labesse.
Daniel Bobin.
Benjamin Dariette.
Renatus Rezeau.
Renatus, Abraham and Peter, his sons.
Anthony Pintard.
John Hastier.
James Croze.
Elijah Peltrau.
John Peltrau.
James la Bachelle.
Judith, his wife.
Peter, John and Henry, their children.
Paul Girard.
Mark Huguetan.
Christian Holl.
John Ermendinger.
John Matthieu.
Lewis Gentet.
Benjamin Boulommer.
Mary Ann Dornant.
Mary Gontier.
Francis du Plessis.
James Chevalier.
Francis Fonfrede.
John de la Tour.
Elizabeth Béranger.
Elijah Foissin.
John Bourgeau.
Peter, David and Thomas Carré.
Adam Beaune.
Adam Willaume.
John Petineau.
Judith, his wife.
Humphrey and Paul Torquet.
Stephen Rongeart.
Austin Courtaud.
Daniel Guesnaud.
Charles Cabrier.
Peter le Conte.
Peter, Josias and Michael, his sons.
Daniel Sandrin.
James Malide.
Joachim Bashfield, and Andrew Thauvet.
[S.P. Dom. Entry Book 345, p. 428.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for the reversal of the sentence of outlawry pronounced on John Scott, esquire, in Michaelmas Term, 1682, for killing George Butler. [Ibid., p. 436.]
May 2. Plymouth.	Captain Elliott, commander of the Charles galley, to — The 30th ult. I looked into Brest Water, there being five ships of war, from thirty to fifty guns each, and in Camaret Bay I saw several small ships and vessels. I have seen no fishing boats upon the coast. I spoke with a Dane, which rode off Brest, from whom I had information that the men-of-war at Brest are ready; also that the Toulon fleet is expected daily, and that, on its arrival, those ships now at Brest will join it in Brest Water. The 30th ult. in the morning, being close into land, we saw a great fleet coming from the southward. I hauled upon a wind, as they had two men-of-war, their convoy, of twenty-six, and forty-two guns each, which bore down and engaged me, till the fleet, which consisted of about 200 sail of small ships and vessels, got into Camaret Bay. All the time of our action it was blowing very hard. Then the convoys bore away into Camaret Bay, it blowing very hard S.S.E. The coast was much alarmed. I thought there would be no possibility, in a small time, to take off any prisoners, or take fishing boats, so I stood off to Ushant, where I spoke with a Swede yesterday in the forenoon, who came from St. Martins. They also said it was reported there that the Toulon fleet had come out of the Straits, and that the ships at Brest will join them on their arrival. The wind being E. and E.N.E., I stood over from Ushant yesterday in the afternoon. Extract. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 4.]
May 2. On board The Queen, Spithead.	Sir George Rooke to the Lords of the Admiralty. Since mine to your lordships of yesterday, I have received your orders of the 29th ult., for my proceeding unto the Soundings with the fleet, and had I not met with your orders to proceed to the Downs past this place, the ships might by this time have been ready to sail. We have been near five weeks from Cadiz, and have expended the greatest part of our water, and have not as yet any beer on board; but orders are given for the supply of both, as likewise the stores that are absolutely necessary. To this all possible dispatch shall be given, so that I hope we shall be ready to sail in a very little time.
	Since the service seems to press so extremely for our sailing, I thought I could not make any reply to your orders, without the advice of the other flag officers, a copy of whose resolution I herewith enclose, and pursuant to which I send you a list of the ships remaining for the main fleet, with the number of the men wanting to complete their complements, and an account of the ships you have ordered to be drawn from that list for the several other services. The St. Andrew, Ossory and Royal Katherine must be left behind for want of men, unless some other ships are unmanned to supply them. The St. Michael, that proves very leaky and defective, as will be seen by the enclosed survey, would suffice with another ship's company, if you please to approve of it. I likewise send a list of the Dutch ships that Vice-Admiral Callenberg says will be ready to sail in two or three days. Three more are expected with Admiral Allemonde from the Downs. Copy. [Ibid. 5, No. 5.] Enclosing—
	A copy of the abovesaid resolution of a council of flag officers held aboard the Queen at Spithead, 1 May, 1696, at which council were present: Sir George Rooke, Admiral of the White, Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Vice-Admiral of the Red, John Nevell, Rear-Admiral of the Blue, and Captain William Bokenham. [Ibid., No. 5.i.]
May 2.	Warrant for a commission to Patrick, Lord Polwarth, to be Lord Chancellor of Scotland. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 16, p. 219.]
May 2.	Warrant for a pension of 1500l. to Lord Polwarth as Chancellor. [Ibid., p. 220.]
May 2. Kensington.	A list of the new Privy Council of Scotland, viz.: Prince George of Denmark; Patrick. Lord Polwarth, Lord Chancellor; George, Earl of Melville, Lord Keeper; James, Duke of Queensberry; James, Marquess of Douglas; Archibald, Earl of Argyll; John, Earl of Erroll; George, Earl of Sutherland; James, Earl of Morton; John, Earl of Cassilis; Robert, Earl of Lothian; the Earl of Strathmore; John, Earl of Lauderdale; David, Earl of Leven; William, Earl of Annandale; Charles Earl of Selkirk, lord registrar; the Earl of Forfar; John, Earl of Kintore; John, Lord Murray, one of the principal secretaries of state; John, Lord Yester; John, Lord Hamilton; George, Viscount Tarbat; John, Lord Strathnaver; Lord Montgomery; Alexander, Lord Raith, Treasurer Depute; Lord Ross; John, Lord Belhaven; John, Lord Carmichael; David, Lord Ruthven; Sir James Ogilvie, one of the principal secretaries of state; Sir James Stewart, the King's advocate; Adam Cockburn of Ormston, Lord Justice Clerk; Sir John Lawder of Fountainhall, William Anstruther of that ilk, —Murray of Philiphaugh, Sir Archibald Hope of Ranqueillor, — — of Halcraig, the Master of Forbes, Master Francis Montgomery, Ludovic Grant of that ilk, Sir John Maxwell of Pollock, Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarrony, Sir George Campbell of Cesnock, Sir Thomas Livingstone, commander-in-chief of the forces in Scotland; Sir Robert Sinclair of Steinston, Sir Thomas Burnet of Leyes, Thomas Hay of Balhousie, and Sir Robert Cheesley, lord provost of Edinburgh. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 16, p. 222.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant appointing the persons above-named to be lords of the privy council of Scotland, committing to them the government thereof in all offices that may concern the good, peace and happiness of that kingdom. [Ibid., p. 223.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for a grant to Thomas Keightley, esquire, under the great seal of Ireland, of a custodiam of the following lands, viz.: in co. Louth, the manor of Stone Town, late belonging to Nicholas Darcy; Carrignes Hannagh, in the said county; Begsrue, Lisnaboy and Kennets Town in co. Meath, late belonging to Christopher Cheevers; in the said county of Meath, Plattin, Cales Town and Micknans Town, late belonging to Nicholas Darcy; Fevens, Old Town and Little Ardrums, late belonging to Christopher Hussey; Culronan, late belonging to Walter Nangle; Great Ballarsdens and Duncomb's Land, to Christopher Evere; tenements in Navan and part of Oristown and Kilberry, to Patrick Everard; Dryinidally, to Adam Crump; Chamberlain's town, to Michael Chamberlain; Chumacon, to Robert Balfe; in co. Westmeath, Gigginstown and Rickardstown, to Michael and William Dardis; Drumrany, two-thirds of Inchmore, Brannockstown, Portlick, Whining, Cartron and one-third of the Great Island, to Garrett Dillon; Carray, part of Drumrany, and Carrus, to Peter Dillon; Grangemore, to Redmond and Hugh Mullady; in co. Kildare, Bowlybegg, late belonging to Laurence Eustace; in co. Wicklow, Fassaro and part of Rathdown, to William Talbot; in co. Dublin, Ashtown and Irishtown, to Maurice Connell; also mortgages in co. Kildare, on Landerstown, Ladytown and Haggardstown, and in co. Dublin, on Backstown and Coldrina, all formerly the estate of — Allen of St. Wolstan's; and on Scalp William, co. Dublin, a mortgage by Christopher Mapas, held by Michael Chamberlain and a Jesuit in trust for the Society.
	The grant formerly made to the said Keightley has fallen short in value, and does not amount to above 529l. He wishes to make the said lands security for a provision for Katherine Keightley, his only child. [S.P. Dom. Signet Office 13, p. 316.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for a pardon to John Hussey, a clause for pardon having been omitted in the previous warrant for the reversal of his outlawry. [Ibid., p. 327.]
May 2. Kensington.	Warrant for letters patent, under the great seal of Ireland, containing a grant and confirmation to the master, wardens and brethren of the guild of St. John the Baptist of Dublin, commonly called the Corporation of Tailors, Dublin. See ante, pp. 144–5. [Ibid, p. 328.]
May 3. Whitehall.	Pass for Francis Ratcliff, esquire, and Gerard Conan, his servant, to go from London to Newcastle on Tyne, and return. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 331.]
May 3. Admiralty Office.	Admiralty orders to Sir George Rooke, commander-in chief of the fleet for the present expedition. Upon consideration of your letter of yesterday's date, you are hereby required, notwithstanding any former orders you have received from this Board for leaving ships at Spithead, to convoy the trade to Portugal, Bilboa and the Canaries, taking with you into the Soundings the Berwick, Edgar, Lion and Medway, which you had appointed for those services; as also two of the three fireships hereafter named Owner's Love, St. Vincent and Crescent, leaving the third behind you at Spithead. You are also, notwithstanding former orders, to take the Humber, Stirling Castle and Breda with you. The men ordered to be taken from the Breda are to be returned, except those put on board the Experiment. In case you think it for the King's better service to leave some of the ships behind for better manning the others, you are at liberty to do so, taking care that it shall be done without loss of time, the service requiring all possible dispatch. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 6.]
May 3. On board The Queen at Spithead.	Sir George Rooke to [the Lords of the Admiralty]. Our great want of men in the fleet has given me more thought and trouble, than any difficulty I have met with a great while, so that yesterday I advised again with the flag officers about the best means of helping it. I herewith enclose a copy of the resolution in that matter, which I hope may be agreeable to your inclinations, though a great many ships are yet in a miserable condition in that particular, and very few of them can be called well manned.
	I have received your lordships' orders of the 1st inst. for my proceeding forthwith, according to my former orders, and am very glad that what we have done towards the manning some of our ships is agreeable to the King and your lordships' pleasure. We are getting under sail.
	Admiral Allemonde arrived last night, so we shall this morning consult as to the place of rendezvous, etc., of which, so soon as we have decided, your lordships shall have an account. Extract. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 7.] Appended is a copy of a resolution taken on board the Queen at Spithead, 2nd May, 1696, at a meeting of the flag officers and Captain William Bokenham. The Humber and Stirling Castle shall be unmanned, and their men turned over to the St. Andrew, Ossory, Royal Katherine and Royal William, to put them in a condition to proceed to sea. The St. Michael and Newark shall be left at Spithead, to man the ships in Portsmouth Harbour, according to a clause in the admiralty orders of the 29th ult., which reduces the English line of battle to thirty ships of war. [Ibid.]
May 3. Spithead.	Sir George Rooke to [the Lords of the Admiralty]. The last clause of the resolution of flag officers, which I send herewith, was proposed and insisted on by the Dutch.
	I humbly presume to inform you that we shall be under a great want of clean ships, and small frigates to be employed as scouts, for by them we must expect to gain all the intelligence we can hope for, and on such intelligence we must base all the measures we take in our intended service. I hope you will therefore order us two or three ships for that purpose, instead of the Mary galley and Scarborough, which are not with the fleet. Extract. [Ibid., No. 8.] Appended is the copy of a resolution taken at a council of flag officers held on board the Queen at Spithead, 3 May, 1696. Present: Admirals Sir George Rooke and Sir Cloudesley Shovell, Vice-Admiral David Mitchell, Rear-Admiral John Nevill, Captain William Bokenham; Admiral Philip van Allemonde, Vice-Admiral Gerard Callenburg, and Rear-Admirals Philip van der Goes and Andries den Boer.
	Upon reading the Admiralty orders of the 29th ult. for proceeding into the Soundings, it is resolved, as the fleet is ready to sail, that we take the very first opportunity of wind after this day to proceed west fifteen degrees from Ushant. If it be fair weather, to stop tides as far as Torbay, endeavouring, as we pass, to send in small frigates and brigantines to gain intelligence, and discover whether the Toulon fleet has got into Brest. Upon our getting to that station, we shall proceed further as may be thought adviseable upon the intelligence we gain.
	In case of separation before we get to the west of Torbay, St. Helen's is to be the place of rendezvous; westward of the Berry [Beer Head ?], Torbay to be the rendezvous; if we separate with the wind easterly, it is to be the abovesaid station off Ushant.
	We offer our humble opinion that, by the several detachments from the fleet, the line of battle is reduced to a smaller number of ships (thirty seven English and twenty Dutch) than the Toulon fleet will be, if they have joined with Mons. Nesmond. [Ibid.]
May 4. Kensington.	Commission for William Middleton, gent., to be lieutenant to Captain Warner Daw's company in the regiment of foot commanded by Sir Bevill Granville. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 168, p. 195.]
May 4. Whitehall.	Post-warrant for Charles, Lord Mohun, and Lieutenant Carcarsonett, with two horses and a guide, to go to Bedford. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 331.]
May 4. Spithead.	Sir George Rooke to [the Lords of the Admiralty]. The three or four days we have stayed here, the fleet have pretty well supplied themselves with stores; so that, as the four store-ships, which came with us from the Straits, are very foul and much out of order in their hulls, and have several species of stores on board them, which, if not removed, will soon be spoiled, I have thought it best for the service to leave them here, for such directions as your lordships shall order the Navy Board to dispense to them.
	If the victuallers had made the best use of the time we have spent here, we might likewise have had a great dispatch in that particular; but they have been so very dilatory, that I am afraid we shall be forced to carry most of the victualling ships along with us, notwithstanding the orders they had to give all possible dispatch therein.
	We have been working out all this day with little wind at S.S.E. and S.E., but the narrowness of the channel making it a kind of difficulty, renders it pretty tedious; but I hope we shall get clear in a tide or two. Extract. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 9.]
May 4. Quex. (fn. 1)	Warrant for the appointment of Sir Patrick Hume, advocate, to be the King's solicitor in Scotland, in place of Sir James Ogilvie, recently preferred to be one of the two principal secretaries of state. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 16, p. 228.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for a yearly pension of 200l. to Sir Patrick Hume as the King's solicitor in Scotland. [Ibid., p. 229.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of " the Whitsunday term's salary " as King's solicitor to Sir James Ogilvie, who served as solicitor during the greatest part of last winter, and who has, "since the late happy discovery of the hellish designs against the King's person and government, been at more than ordinary expense on account of dispatches necessary for the King's service." [Ibid., p. 230.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of 350l. for defraying the public charges and expenses of the last General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and 50l. to Mr. Ballantine, minister, in consideration of his having officiated as clerk to the said Assembly. [Ibid., p. 231.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of 500l. to the Secretary Depute of Scotland, to lie in his hands for secret services and charitable uses at the King's direction. [Ibid., p. 232.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant to the Lords of the Treasury of Scotland for erecting a new guard-house for the foot guards in the court of the palace of Holyrood, in place of the present inconvenient one, and for repairing or rebuilding the kitchens belonging to the royal apartments there. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 16, p. 233.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of 500l. (due to James Stevenson, deceased, late under-secretary for Scotland, for his attendance on the King during the campaign of 1694) to Mr. John Forrest, minister at Prestonhaugh, who is married to Marian Stevenson, sister of the deceased, and has acquired from the relict of the said James Stevenson all her interest and claim. [Ibid., p. 234.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of 300l. to John, Lord Murray, for his expenses in going to Scotland about the King's business. This entry is scored through, with the note: " This letter was not made use of by me. Signed Tullibardine." [Ibid., p. 235.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the payment of what is due to Duncan Buchanan, appointed master-wright of the artillery, castles, forts and garrisons of Scotland, by Major-General Mackay, deceased, late commander-in-chief of the forces in that kingdom. The said Buchanan went with fifty workmen to Fort William, and some other places, for the building and repairing of such works as were found necessary for the King's service. [Ibid.]
May 4. Quex.	The King to the Privy Council of Scotland, approving of the association lately entered into by them, with their proposals for modelling the militia, and disposing of the arms now in the Scotch magazines. [Ibid., p. 236.]
May 4. Quex.	The same to the same, directing them to repossess the Laird of McIntosh of some part of his estate, which is possessed by Keppoch and others of his friends by force and violence, contrary to the law, if the facts be found to be in accordance with his petition. [Ibid., p. 237.]
May 4. Quex.	The same to the same, ordering them to confine Archibald Cockburn of Langton, the younger, to the city of Edinburgh and seven miles round it, and to take bail for his appearance before them, when called. [Ibid., p. 238.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the appointment of Mr. James Scougall, advocate to be one of the ordinary Lords of Session. [Ibid., p. 239.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant to the Duchess of Hamilton, heritable-keeper of the palace of Holyrood House, to give to the under-keeper of the said palace the little lodging in which he was formerly used to live, adjoining to that which is called the Chancellor's lodging [Ibid., p. 240.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for a gift to Christopher Irving, doctor of medicine in Ireland, of the escheat of "the deceased Christopher Irving," doctor of medicine, and Elizabeth Ker, his pretended spouse, concerning all goods, etc., possessed by them "at the time of his adultery with Bessie Deans and with the said Elizabeth Ker," from the year 1669 to the year 1688. [S.P. Scotland, Warrant Book 16, p. 241.]
May 4. Quex.	Warrant for the appointment of James, Duke of Queensberry, to be one of the extraordinary Lords of Session. [Ibid.]
May 4. Quex.	Commissions for Captain Alexander Stevenson to be adjutantgeneral of the forces in Scotland [Ibid., p. 242]; for Lord James Murray, son to the Marquess of Atholl, to be captain of the company formerly commanded by Hugh, Lord Lovat, in Lord Murray's regiment; and a blank commission for another captaincy in the same regiment. [Ibid., p. 243.]
May 5. Whitehall.	Pass for Mr. Samuel Clarke and Mr. Samuel Barlow to go to Derby, and return. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 331.]
May 6. Whitehall.	Warrant to John Gibbons to take John Claney into custody for treasonable practices. [Ibid. 345, p. 416.]
May 7. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate to receive into custody James Donelon for high treason in compassing the death of the King. [Ibid.]
May 7. Whitehall.	Passes for Mr. Barzillai Jones to go from London to Clovelly or Exeter, and return; for Peter Schaning and Jan Pieterson, Dutch seamen belonging to the Muninchdam, a Dutch man-ofwar, to go to Portsmouth; and for Peter Schell and Carel Ibo, Dutch seamen, ditto. [Ibid. 346, p. 331.]
May 8. Whitehall.	Post-warrants for George Fry, Charles Couchman, Samuel Hill, Richard Hayward and Ralph Young, all messengers, with five horses and a guide, to go to Harwich; and for Mons. de Stein with three others, ditto. [Ibid. 344, p. 504.]
May 8. Whitehall.	Warrant to Henry Legat to take Robert Pritchard into custody, and bring him to Whitehall to be examined, on suspicion of high treason. [Ibid. 345, p. 416.]
May 9. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Lord Deputy of Ireland. Before the King gives directions for the reversal of Lord Bellew's outlawry, he must be satisfied whether the case is so distinguished from those of others in the same outlawry, that, if this favour be extended to him, it will not be of such consequence to others by assigning general errors as to affect the whole record.
	I am anxious that convenient care should be taken to prevent, as far as is fitting, Lord Bellews' receiving any prejudice in the growing profits of his estate. [S.P. Ireland King's Letters 2, p. 110.]
May 9. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Lord Deputy of Ireland The King is desirous of recompensing Mr. Pendergrast [Prendergast], for a timely discovery of the late design upon his person, with the grant of an estate of 500l. per annum. You are therefore to give the necessary directions for finding such an estate among the forfeited lands in Ireland. [S.P. Ireland King's Letters 2, p. 110.]
May 11. Whitehall.	The same to Captain Sincock, informing him that directions shall be sent, within a few days, how the bales shall be disposed of, that were designed for Algiers and Tripoli. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 100, p. 240.]
May 11. Whitehall.	The same to the Mayor of Sandwich. Your letter of the 30th past came late to me, it being sent hither while I was attending the King at Margate. It might have been of use, if you had sent up Kelly's examination, and the account he gives of himself, at the same time with the depositions against him. There may yet be time enough to do it, and I desire therefore you will take care it be done, that both may be considered together. [Ibid.]
May 11. Whitehall.	The same to the Lords of the Treasury. His Majesty was informed before his embarking, that no directions had been sent into Ireland since the death of the Queen, for altering the stamp of the copper half-pence in that kingdom, and for want thereof a stop had been put to the coinage of the said species there, to the inconvenience of commerce, and the prejudice of the poor. He therefore commands that you give the necessary directions, pursuant to a clause in the letters patents granting the said coinage to the Earl of Romney, Lord Coningsby and Mr. Roger Moore. [Ibid., p. 242.]
May 11. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Sir Talbot Clarke, baronet, and Thomas Evans. The petitioners show that William Lyndsey, gentleman, obtained a judgment against them in the court of King's Bench in an action of ejectment in the county of Gloucester, in which judgment there is manifest error. They pray the Lords Justices [of England] to allow them to prosecute a writ of error. The petition is allowed. [Ibid. 238, p. 76.]
May 12. Whitehall.	Humphrey Borlase to Sir William Trumbull. Having received the King's protection since his accession, I thought it my duty to assure you that I shall continue to live peaceably under the same, paying such taxes as shall be given for the support of the government. After this assurance I hope no malicious information will prevail with you to continue me in durance, especially when you consider my innocence, which was sufficiently demonstrated by my surrendering myself upon the first notice of being suspected. I therefore humbly move you that I may be enlarged, my age and infirmity making confinement "very anxious." [S.P. Dom. William and Mary 6, No. 28.]
May 12. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to Captain Fairborne. Your letter was sent after me to Margate, but did not arrive before the King was embarked, so I had not the opportunity to represent your case to his Majesty, if this were a proper occasion for it, since Captain Benbow was made flag officer, before his Majesty went from hence, and there were no other promotions designed. I think one of your character and service need not doubt that his claims shall be considered, and I shall be very ready to contribute towards your desires as far as it lies in my power. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 100, p. 241.]
May 12. Whitehall.	The same to the Lords of the Treasury, referring to them the petitions of the pier-wardens of Margate, which was presented to the King in the Island of Thanet. The King recommends the payment of the hundred pounds therein mentioned, formerly granted for the repair of the said pier, which has been already laid out on that service. [Ibid.]
May 12. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Lords Justices' commission read. Passes signed for officers going to Flanders. Bills signed, viz., Mr. Musgrave, Mr. Lowther, the Commission for Trade, Sir Oliver Ayschombe, baronet, Colonel Scott's pardon. The Earl of Macclesfield and Mr. Norris attended with the Lancashire Association signed by 40,000 hands.
	The Admiralty sent for viz.: Mr. Russell, Mr. Priestman, Sir Robert Rich and Colonel Kendall. The advices concerning the Toulon fleet from Mr. Methuen and the commissioners at Plymouth and Portsmouth were considered, and also Rear-Admiral Benbow's letter of the 9th, giving an account that Du Bart had gone out of Dunkirk, as was supposed, by the West Channel. It was considered the first care ought to be to form the strength of the main fleet against all events. The sailing orders to Sir George Rooke of 27 April read. It was judged convenient that he should come to Spithead to make up the fleet, since, by that means, several line of battle ships left behind for want of men might be manned by the help of soldiers to be put on board; and it was necessary that the King should be written to, to hasten the sending off the Dutch ships that were promised. The Duke of Shrewsbury undertook to write to the King.
	Resolved that the Admiralty send orders to Rear-Admiral Benbow to consult the Dutch commanders now with him before Dunkirk, what ships of force may be spared from that service, and to send them to Spithead, leaving behind a strength superior to that which the French have there. Sir George Rooke is supposed to have with him about forty-two English ships of line of battle and twenty-one Dutch. There was a squadron in the Soundings thought strong enough for Nesmond.
	Mr. Colinge to be spoken to about finding a convenient office in Whitehall for the Commissioners of Trade. To enquire of Mr. Thurston what troops are quartered near Chipping Norton. Mr. Baker to be spoken to about the juryman who was summoned by a wrong name. [Ibid. 274, p. 105.]
May 12. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate to receive into custody Samuel Kendrick, committed for high treason in compassing the death of the King. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 332.]
May 13. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices. Rear Admiral Benbow's letter of the 11th read, giving an account that Du Bart had gone North with eight ships. A copy to be sent to the Lords of the Admiralty with the Lords Justices' opinion that further orders should be sent to Rear Admiral Benbow.
	Petition of the East India Company that their ships, now at Spithead, may proceed with their convoy. A copy to be sent to the Lords of the Admiralty with the Lords Justices' opinion that those ships should be dispatched, unless they have any objection to it.
	A message from the Lord Mayor by the Remembrancer, that a sturgeon was taken in the river, and asking what the Lords Justices would do with it, as belonging to the King. They left it at the Lord Mayor's disposal.
	A petition of the sawyers belonging to the yard at Deptford read.
	Mr. Secretary Trumbull brought a memorandum about furnishing a fourth and fifth rate frigate with ordnance stores for a particular service. Directed to acquaint the Earl of Romney and Admiral Russell therewith.
	He proposed the consideration of what allowances should be made to the witnesses. It was thought fit to make a distinction between them, and that those who were of better quality should have a sum of money given them from time to time, instead of a weekly pension.
	Mr. Secretary desired to know what was to be done about passes, he having [been] much solicited on that account. He was told that, until the King should order it otherwise, the Lords Justices would be obliged to sign the passes, but they would write to know the King's pleasure.
	A petition of Lunt, Womble [Wombwell ?], etc., for a subsistence presented. Ordered that Mr. Trell have directions to bring Kendrick before the Lords Justices on Friday morning.
	Lord Godolphin acquainted the Lords Justices with the state of the warrant and the bill for the new subscriptions.
	Notice taken of the practice of goldsmiths in issuing out only clipped sixpences, many of them bad and unpassable, and that many of them have refused to make any other payment than in clipped half crowns and shillings. Ordered that the Attorney General prosecute, by information, those who shall be accused of making such payments, and a warrant was signed to that effect.
	Mr. King, the herald, attended about an augmentation of arms for the Venetian Ambassador Soranzo. Ordered that he go with Sir Charles Cotterell, and wait on the ambassador to settle that matter. [Ibid. 274, p. 107.]
May 14. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Lords of the Treasury, enclosing reports upon the petition of Colonel Cunningham, lately sent from Ireland. The reports are not here appended. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book, 100, p. 243.]
May 14. Whitehall.	The same to the Deputy Lieutenants of Worcestershire. His Majesty having thought fit that the names of such persons as have refused or neglected to take the oaths, and such of the deputy lieutenants and militia officers as have not signed the Association, be forthwith transmitted to the Council, their lordships have given directions for that purpose; and to prevent any mistake it may not be amiss to explain that it is not meant you should tender the oaths anew, but should send up an account of all such gentlemen, and other persons of any consideration within your county, as have not hitherto taken the oaths, and of such of the deputy lieutenants and militia officers as did not sign the Association before it passed into an act of parliament. [Ibid. 169, p. 15.]
May 14. Whitehall.	A like letter to the Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire. [Ibid.]
May 14. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. The Lords of the Admiralty called in. They gave an account that they had dispatched the orders last night for sending the East India ships from Spithead, and that "the rest of the trade" was lying ready to sail. The Lords Justices approved of orders being sent for their going, and it was supposed they might sail together, and would be a strengthening to one another. As for Benbow's following Du Bart, the commissioners did not see what use it would be; his meeting with him would be uncertain, and they did not know how he should be strengthened for it, since the Dutch commanders declared they had no orders to stir. Directed that Benbow be asked to explain the method he proposed in following Du Bart; and, if this were not approved of, it might then be considered whether he should be employed in some attempt upon Dunkirk or Calais.
	The Recorder brought a paper that Mr. Cooke delivered before he received sentence. Acquainted that he should have notice when the Lords Justices would have Cooke's execution ordered and what time. Resolved that on Saturday next the informations against Chaloner, and those given in by him about counterfeit coins, shall be examined. That some of Mr. Cooke's relations be told that, if he would recommend himself to the King's mercy, he must think of doing it immediately by an ingenious discovery.
	Mr. Bridgeman returned, and brought Benbow's letter to the Admiralty of the 11th instant, which contained his opinion of Du Bart's design, and what should be done to meet with him. Resolved that the Lords Justices would consider on Saturday Mr. Meisters' demands that have been so long depending between the office of the Ordnance and the Navy Board.
	The Lords of the Treasury called in. The business of the warrant for the new bank opened. It had been prepared by the persons interested in it. Mr. Lowndes had carried it to the King, who signed it the night before he went; it was brought to the Lords of the Treasury on Thursday, and they did not then consider it, but referred it to the Attorney or Solicitor General; some of the Lords who had opposed setting up that bank, in Parliament, were for giving it all despatch now, lest they should be thought to oppose through obstinacy; the Attorney did not see it until it was signed, but the Solicitor did. The Lords of the Treasury, upon perusing it when it was signed, found it necessary to alter it in the bill; the charter of incorporation was added in the bill, but not when first it was brought to them; peers were named in it to take subscriptions and receive public money, which was unusual. Resolved that it be brought to Council this day as being necessary to be considered there, and that all dispatch be given to it, this appearing to be the only source left for carrying on the public business. Some considerations had about the blow given to credit. It was considered that it rose from the malice of goldsmiths against the bank, which had lessened their profit; and the Jews combined with them; the latter had found out a new way for remittances in gold at 31s. 9d., silver 31s., and bank bills 30s., which was to ruin the credit of the bank; that the goldsmiths kept up their gold, and new and broad money, and issued only clipped sixpences.
	Resolved that four of the merchant Jews attend the Lords Justices to-morrow, viz., Alvarez da Costa, William Viega, John Mendez da Costa, Peter le Pierre Henriquez, and also Sir Francis Child and Sir Stephen Evance.
	A letter read from Lord Ailesbury's steward, desiring Sir Edmund King might attend his lord in his illness, which was granted. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book274, p. 109.]
May 14. Whitehall.	Passes for Captain le Wright and a servant to go to Holland; for Lieutenant Robert Stapylton, John Marshall his servant, John Davis, Richard Jones and Hugh Spencer, troopers in Brigadier Lumley's regiment, ditto; for Lady Semple and her son, Grizell Primrose, Captain William Cunningham, and three servants, ditto [Ibid. 346, p. 336]; for Captain la Brousse, his wife, and "Desgrouan his aunt," to go to Ireland; for Ensign James Dennis and John Cotton, to go to Holland [Ibid., p. 337]; for Captain John de Secqueville of Major-General de la Meloniere's regiment, ditto [Ibid., p. 339]; and for Captain William Bretton and his servants, ditto [Ibid., p. 352.]
May 15. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. The bearer informs me that he can charge several persons with counterfeiting passes, some of which I herewith send you. I have directed him to attend you, that you may please to give such directions as you think proper for their prosecution. [Ibid. 100, p. 243.]
May 15.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Mr. Clarke presented orders to be signed for the troops. Mr. Ball delivered a paper about Mr. Cooke. It was ordered that Mr. Cooke put in writing what he has to say.
	The merchant Jews called in and advised not to augment the difficulties that are now upon credit. Sir Francis Child and Sir Stephen Evance spoken with to the same purpose.
	The Lords of the Admiralty called in. Resolved that the Lords Justices write to the Dutch ships off Dunkirk, desiring them to accompany Rear-Admiral Benbow in following Debart. A copy to be sent to Mr. Blathwayt, with the Admiralty's orders to Benbow, for the King's further orders, and the King to be moved to consider what orders may be given to the commanders of any Dutch ships, put under the command of any English squadron, for their acting together, as they shall think advisable upon any sudden emergency.
	Kendrick called in. He owned only that Porter would have had him go out with him, but he knew not for what, and resolved not to go. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 112.]
May 15. Whitehall.	Passes and postwarrant for Mr. James Finlater, with a horse and guide, to go to Harwich, on the recommendation of Mr. Alexander Stevenson; for Adrian van Brakyll to go to Holland; for Lorenzo Morandi to go to Spain; for John Peter Chaumel to go to Ireland; for Dirk van Nunderen to go to Holland; for John Muller, his wife and four children, ditto [Ibid. 346, p. 337]; for Mrs. Mary Grove, ditto [Ibid., p. 338]; for Mr. John Lewin, ditto; for Ensign Bruce and Andrew Bolt, ditto; for Lieutenants John Gifford and William Gifford, three serjeants, and thirty-four recruits of Colonel Frederick Hamilton's regiment (sic); for Mr. James Pomier, servant to the Duke of Ormond, John Warden his cook, Signor Riccardini, the Duke of Bavaria's musician, and James Castre, the King's cook, to go to Holland; for Louise Beraud, her two nieces and one maid-servant, to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 339]; for John Soblet, a French protestant, ditto; for Mr. Christian Meyercrone and his servant to go to Holland [Ibid., p. 340]; for Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Edgworth and two servants to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 343]; and for Francis Charleton, esquire, and—Barbot his servant, to go to Holland. [Ibid., p. 344.]
May 16. Whitehall.	Sir James Ogilvie to Sir William Trumbull. The King by a letter to the Lords of the Privy Council of Scotland has ordered that Archibald Cockburn of Langtoun be confined within the town of Edinburgh and seven miles round it; and he is to find bail there to behave himself peaceably and to keep his confinement, in obedience to the aforesaid letter. He has now found sufficient bail to Lord Murray and myself to present himself before the Lords of the Privy Council between this and the 1st July next. I thought it fit to acquaint you with this, being informed he is under bail at your office. [S.P. Dom. William and Mary 6, No. 29.]
May 16. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire. I have now to send you from the Lords of the Council further directions for your proceeding with relation to the persons that have been secured, or have absconded, as the enclosed will more particularly inform you. It is intended you should send up your opinion what persons, of those now in the custody of the sheriff, are dangerous to the government, and fit for that reason to be continued at this time under confinement, so that the others may be discharged. Enclosure not entered here. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 169, p. 16.]
May 16. Whitehall.	A like letter to the deputy lieutenants of Worcestershire. [Ibid.]
May 16. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Fasher Coronells presented his globes and four volumes of maps. Ordered that 100 guineas be given him.
	The officers of the Ordnance, commissioners of the Navy Board and Mr. Meisters attended about paying off some ships and stores taken up by Mr. Meisters last summer.
	Ordered that the two Chief Justices give their opinion upon a clause in the act for the better security of the King's person and government, folio 563, relating to a security to be given by such as have come from France since September last.
	That Mr. Attorney attend on Monday with the draft of a proclamation to give notice that parliament shall not sit at the time appointed for their next meeting, but be prorogued to a further day. That Mr. Baker be spoken to about an allowance for Lunt and Womble [Wombwell].
	The Lords of the Treasury called in. Chaloner attended and offered to prove that light money had been coined in the Tower, that false guineas had been made there, the blanks made out of the Tower and the stamps within it, and that stamps for guineas had been delivered out of the Tower. The Recorder brought some old proofs against Chaloner. [Ibid. 274, p. 114.]
May 16. Whitehall.	Passes for the Hon. William Cecil, Mr. Octavian Pulleyn, his governor, Mr. Francis Rogers, his tutor, Francis Child and Edward Wallis, his servants, to go to Holland [Ibid. 346, p. 339]; for Captain Olivier d'Harcourt of Colonel Colt's regiment, intending to serve this campaign in Flanders as engineer, ditto; for Peter Main and Anne, his wife, ditto; for Conrad Six and Floris Six his brother, ditto; for Mr. Robert Lyell with his goods. ditto [Ibid., p. 340]; for Mr. George Wood and a servant to go to Ireland; for Mr. William Lodge, ditto; for Andrew Kirby, merchant, to go to Holland [Ibid., p. 341]; for Mr. Joseph Gardner to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 342]; for William Lodge, clerk, ditto [Ibid., p. 343]; and for Captain Michael Richards, with one servant, to go to Holland. [Ibid., p. 345.]
May 17. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of John Tilley. The petitioner shows that Thomas Kewellin obtained a judgment against him in the court of Common Pleas, whereupon he brought a writ of error returnable in the court of King's Bench, where said judgment was confirmed. He is advised that therein is manifest error. He prays the Lords Justices' leave to bring a writ of error. The petition is allowed. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 238, p. 77.]
May 18. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. The commission for the Bank signed. Cooke's papers of the 16th read. Ordered that these and the former papers be sent to the King, and that Dr. Wake and Mr. Baker go to Mr. Cooke and take from him, in writing, what he may have to say that is material.
	Ordered that the Earl of Bath be acquainted that the Lords Justices would have St. James's Park kept clear of coaches as it was last year, and that the same orders be renewed as were then directed by the King. That the Deputy Ranger of Hyde Park renew the orders of last year for hindering hackney coaches from going into Hyde Park.
	Information being given by Davis, the messenger, that a woman had seen Sir John Fenwick and Lord Montgomery in Somerset House, the Duke of Shrewsbury undertook to sign a warrant for searching that part of it, which was done, but Davis, to whom it was directed, being out of town, Dr. Kingston, from whom the information came, was spoken to, and said it would be of no use now, because Davis had, since Saturday last, acquainted the Earl of Feversham with the intended search.
	Captain Lyell's account about Du Bart being off the Well Bank read. The Admiralty written to, and asked whether the same had been sent to Rear Admiral Benbow. Captain Sincock's letter about the presents for Algiers and Tripoli on board the Berwick. Ordered that the letter be sent to the Lords of the Treasury for their directions how these presents shall be disposed of, until another opportunity offers. A draft of the augmentation of arms for the Venetian Ambassador, Soranzo, being a lion between two roses, the white and red, was approved of, and ordered to be put into an instrument and sent to the King for his signature in order to the passing the great seal.
	Knightly's petition read. It was not thought fit to stop his trial, but the circumstances of his case might be afterwards represented to the King. Clancy's case considered. Thought fit that he be sent to Newgate for high misdemeanour, and that Mr. Attorney express the offence, which was done. Ordered that the bills of exchange and papers seized upon Clancy, and now sealed up, be opened when Mr. Baker, Gibbons, and the officer of the guards who secured Clancy and Donnellan, are present, and that Mr. Baker advise with Mr. Attorney what should be done with the bills. That Mr. Baker speak with Goodman to know how he may be helped in the management of his private concerns, since it is not thought fit to give him his liberty. That the keeper of the Gatehouse be asked whether he will connive at Blair's being at Gibbons', if the state of his health require it. That Mr. Baker consider what may be done for Hunt.
	The Lord Keeper reported that it was Lord Chief Justice Holt's opinion that the security to be taken by the judges from people, who came from France, on leaving the kingdom, should be by recognizance and the security taken by the secretaries, should be by bond to the King. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 116.]
May 18. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate for Dr. Wake and Mr. Nicholas Baker to have access to Mr. Peter Cooke, now attainted for high treason. [Ibid. 345, p. 419.]
May 18. Whitehall.	Warrant to the same to receive into custody John Clancy, for high misdemeanour in endeavouring, by corruption, to prevail on Captain George Porter (knowing that he was a witness for the King in detecting a conspiracy against his Majesty's person) to withdraw into France, so that he might give no further evidence. [Ibid., p. 420.]
May 18. Whitehall.	Passes for Lieutenant Thomas Lane, with a servant, to go to Holland; for Terence Swiny, ditto; for Mr. Thomas Cornwallis, his wife, and Mrs. Catherine Crake, a child, to go to Hamburg, on the recommendation of Lord Cornwallis; for Charles Duplessis, a French protestant, to go to Ireland [Ibid. 346, p. 341]; for Lieutenant James Bornard to go to Holland; for Henry Turner, merchant, Elizabeth his wife, and Sarah Bellamy, with William van Snowden his servant, ditto; for Mr. Moses de Casarez, Robert Hackshaw, Stephen Mason, Quintus Spencer, and one servant, ditto [Ibid., p. 342]; for Alexander Forbes, ditto [Ibid., p. 344]; and for Lieutenant William Stewart and one servant, ditto [Ibid., p. 355].
May 18. Dieren.	Warrant for a grant to Thomas, Lord Coningsby, under the great seal of Ireland, of the forfeited estates late belonging to Richard Fagan of Feltrim, and the lands of Portmarnock and Carrick Hill, late belonging to William Plunkett, on the surrender of the lease thereof granted to the said Lord Coningsby by Queen Mary, 8th June, 6 William and Mary. [S.P. Dom. Signet Office 13, p. 325.]
May 18. Dieren.	Warrant for a grant to Henry, Viscount Galway, under the great seal of Ireland, of lands of which custodiams were granted him 28th April and 24th May, 1693, to hold as freely as Sir Patrick Trant held them before his forfeiture thereof. [Ibid., p. 326.]
May 18. The Council Chamber.	Proclamation by the Lords Justices of the further prorogation of parliament from 16th June to 28th July next. Printed. [S.P. Dom. Proclamations 4, No. 132.]
May 19. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Proclamation signed for proroguing Parliament to 28 July. Commission signed for hearing causes in Chancery in the Lord Keeper's absence.
	A committee of the Turkey Company attended with a petition, that care might be taken for the security of their ships returning from the Levant, and a representation of the prejudices they might receive from some ships that were fitted out at Leghorn with commissions from the Duke of Florence or the Duke of Savoy. Three such ships were ready to sail, or had lately gone from Leghorn towards Egypt, with design, as is pretended, to make prize of the French; but it was to be feared that they would prey likewise on the Turks, or at least violate the privilege of their ports, and thereby subject the estates of the English merchants in Turkey to be seized, by way of making reparation.
	A petition of Lord Ailesbury's read, to be bailed or to have more liberty in the Tower, grounded upon a certificate of Dr. Brown and Sir Edmund King. Ordered to be given to the clerk of the Council, to be laid before the Lords Justices in Council. Letter of the Lord Deputy of Ireland of the 12th instant read, with the enclosed draft of a letter for constituting three Lords Justices, viz., the Earl of Drogheda, Viscount Blessington and Brigadier Wolseley, during the absence or indisposition of the Lord Deputy. Ordered that the said letter be sent to Mr. Blathwayt to be laid before the King, if he pleases to sign it, but the names to be left blank to be filled with such as the King shall direct. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 119.]
May 19. Whitehall.	Passes for Mr. Richard Bagot, with Thomas Partington, his servant, and two horses, to go from London to Oxfordshire, or elsewhere, on the recommendation of Sir Fleetwood Sheppard [Ibid. 346, p. 341]; for Mr. John Parry, clerk, to go to Holland; for Margaret Atkinson to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 342]; for Anthony Collow to go to Holland; for Captain Godfrey Richards and a servant to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 343]; for Derick van Toll to go to Holland [Ibid., p. 344]; for Abraham Reyswick, ditto [Ibid., p. 345]; and for Captain Charles Salisbury and a servant, ditto [Ibid., p. 352.]
May 20. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Lords of the Treasury. Having a bill drawn upon me by the consul at the Groyne, of 82l. 10s. for expresses sent with orders to Sir George Rooke, while he was at Cadiz, I suppose it belongs to the Post Master General to discharge the same. [Ibid. 100, p. 245.] Appended is a copy of a bill of exchange drawn by John Parker in favour of Mr. Samuel Eyre and dated at Corunna 30 April, 1696. [Ibid.]
May 20. Whitehall.	The same to Commissioner Greenhill. As regards the person you have secured, who is supposed to be Hungate, mentioned in the proclamation, I have enquired of one who knows Hungate very well, and who gives a very different description of him, for he says he is not at all disfigured by the small-pox but that he is a fresh coloured "well-looked" man. Mr. Hungate is of a very good family and has had a gentleman's education, so may be easily distinguished from one who has been really bred a waterman; and therefore I do not take this to be the Hungate accused of the assassination. But you will do well to be further satisfied about him, before you discharge him. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 100, p. 246.]
May 20.	The opinion of Robert Rochfort and Alan Brodrick, attorney and solicitor general of Ireland, addressed to Lord Blessington and Brigadier Wolsley, as to the subsistence of the Lords Justices' commission, in the event of the Lord Deputy's death.
	In obedience to your lordships' order, dated the 19th instant, requiring us to state the case as to your power and authority, given you by the commission which constituted you Justices of Ireland, and our opinion thereon, and also whether the same determines, or not, on Lord Capell's death, and of the statute of 33 Henry VIII in this kingdom, we have considered the said matter, and the state of the whole is as follows, viz.:—
	The King by his letters patent under the great seal of England, dated the 9th May in the seventh year of his reign, nominated Lord Capell his deputy of Ireland during pleasure, and empowered him to appoint two suitable persons to carry on the government in case of his possible sickness, until his recovery.
	The Lord Deputy, being sick, nominates Lord Blessington and Brigadier Wolseley, master general of the ordnance, Justices according to the said power, to continue Justices of Ireland during the King's pleasure for the government of Ireland, until the Lord Deputy recover his health, and accordingly a commission is passed under the great seal of Ireland to that effect.
	By a statute made in Ireland, 33 Henry VIII, entitled an act for the election of the Lord Justice, it is recited, that it has been used in Ireland that, at every such time as it has chanced the same realm to be destitute of a Lieutenant, Deputy, Justice or other head governor, by death, surrender or departure out of the same realm, or otherwise, the council have used to assemble themselves together, etc.; and whereas there were also Statutes, which settled another method therefor, for establishment of a certain order to be had for the election of the Justice within this realm at every such avoidance of his authority, it enacts that immediately upon the avoidance of every the King's lieutenant, deputy or justice of this realm, by death, surrender of their letters patents or office, or departure out of this realm, or for any other cause, the King's chancellor, etc., for the time being shall, by the King's writ or writs, assemble the King's councillors, being, inhabiting, or dwelling in the shires (sic.) of Dublin, and those of them assembled shall have full power and authority to elect and choose one such person, as shall be an Englishman and born in England, being no spiritual person, to be justice and governor of Ireland, during the King's pleasure, if there shall be at that time any such person within this realm. And if there be no such person, then they shall elect and choose two persons of the said council of English blood and surname, etc.
	If the Lord Deputy should die, does the said commission of the Lords Justices determine or not; and in such case can the council make choice of a Justice or Justices as that act directs ?
	It would seem to us that, in case the Lord Deputy dies, the commission should continue after his death, until his Majesty's pleasure be declared; because, in the limitation in their commission, it is during the King's pleasure, until Lord Capell recover his health. In which case it is expressly declared to be the King's pleasure that Lord Capell should succeed them in that government, if he recovered; and if not, the intention seems to be that they should continue till the King's pleasure should be declared who should succeed. And without any strained construction it may be said, that the King's pleasure is not determined by Lord Capell's death; but, on the contrary, that in case of Lord Capell's death the government was to continue in the Justices till his Majesty's pleasure was further known. But in the case of the Lord Deputy's recovery, then their authority might be determined by the Lord Deputy's own signification thereof, without waiting for the King's express pleasure therein.
	His Majesty may have foreseen that Lord Capell might as well die as be sick; in both which cases his Majesty's affairs might be prejudiced for want of a chief governor. We do not think that that statute extends to this case, because the death of Lord Capell is not the death of the head governor; for, at the time of his death, the said Lords Justices are the head governors, and that statute can only take place when there is no chief governor.
	We do not find any "footsteps" of the privy councillors, executing that power, given by that old statute, since the making thereof. And indeed that statute seems to be made to answer the absolute necessity of having a chief governor in those times, every moment, at the capital city; for then Ireland was divided into the English Pale, which contained a few counties only, and a great part of the province of Leinster; the King's County and Queen's County were not then made shires, nor were they so till the reign of Philip and Mary. Connaught and Ulster were entirely (except some few garrisons) in the hands of the King's Irish enemies, with whom the English were in continual war, and therefore had need of a leader, which in those days was most commonly the chief governor, to head them against the Irish.
	When that act passed, there was little correspondence between England and Ireland, the methods now used for that purpose not being then known. So that it might be two, and sometimes three, months before any account could be had from thence, which might prove the loss of all the kingdom to the crown of England, if this wise provision had not been made by this statute, which was copied from the usage mentioned in the statute to have been since the conquest of this kingdom, introduced and connived at, or rather tolerated, by the Kings of England out of pure necessity.
	Then the King's councillors in eleven counties named by this statute are to be summoned by writ to be issued. If this be so, the Chancellor cannot issue writs to any other counties, though the number of counties now in this kingdom are above thirty, and more privy councillors inhabit and dwell in other counties not named in that statute, than in the eleven counties named. So that none of the privy councillors, who live out of those counties named in the act, can be summoned by that act, the writs thereby being to be directed to the particular counties there enumerated, wherein a negative is employed and no other county. So the intent of the act, which was to summon all the privy councillors, is not answered. And now that Ireland, is reduced to the obedience of the crown of England, there is not that necessity of proceeding in that method, but [it is better] rather to wait and attend his Majesty's pleasure.
	Then disorders may arise by this manner of election of Justices or Lords Justices. For if there should be many competitors for this office, and they make their several interests among the privy councillors, it may chance that the number of the electors for each party may be equal; from whence such animosities may arise, as may not be easily made up.
	Therefore we are of opinion that this manner of proceeding ought to be avoided if possible, or only practised in case of very great necessity. Nevertheless, we cannot be positive in our opinions, but conceive they are matters of very great importance to his Majesty and the peace of this kingdom, and that therefore his Majesty's pleasure should be known herein with all convenient speed. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 18.]
May 21.	List of Dutch ships in the fleet. [S.P. Dom. Naval 5, No. 9a.]
May 21. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Mayor of Liverpool. I have laid before the Council your letter concerning several persons who lie at Liverpool, designing to go for Ireland, but stopped there for want of passes. No persons are to be permitted to go over into Ireland, except such as have passes according to the King's proclamation. You are to send me the names of all such persons as desire such passes, and they will be dispatched from here; but you are to take care that none go that are disaffected to the government. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 276.]
May 21. Whitehall.	The same to the Mayor of Coventry. In connection with the letter signed by you and Mr. Nathaniel Harryman, concerning one Thomas Gardiner, secured by you on suspicion of being engaged in the late conspiracy against the King, upon the information of Mr. Christopher Dawson, I learn from Mr. John Bowles, one of the commissioners for collecting the duty upon glass and earthenware, that the said Gardiner is employed by them to inspect earthenware in Lancashire, upon the recommendation of some persons in the Treasury. Mr. Dawson has certified that he has no particular matter to inform against him, but suspected him to be an Irishman; I therefore desire you will discharge the said Gardiner. [Ibid.]
May 21. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. The Archbishop brought a paper from Peter Cooke, as he dictated it to Dr. Hoddy. The Recorder called in, and directed to appoint Mr. Cooke's execution for to-morrow fortnight. Ordered that the said paper be sent to Mr. Blathwayt, and that the King be acquainted that the Lords Justices, considering Mr. Cooke as a very weak man, do not conceive his execution will be of any advantage, or that suffering him to live can be of any prejudice, if the King should be disposed to save his life; they do not, however, propose his being pardoned, but that he be continued under a reprieve until further order.
	Mr. Knightley's petition read. Ordered to be sent to Mr. Blathwayt, and that the King be acquainted that what is particular in Knightley's case is that he sometime since voluntarily desired to be brought before the committee of the Lords of the Council, and, besides other things with which he acquainted them, he was the first and only person who mentioned Harris, upon which he was put into a proclamation. This gave occasion to his coming in to be a witness against Knightley and some others, who have been convicted upon his evidence. Knightley being now brought to trial, expresses a great detestation of his crime, pleads guilty, and throws himself on the King's mercy. The Lords Justices, being informed that his behaviour was such on this occasion as raised great compassion in those who were present, propose him as a fit object of the King's mercy, if he order him to be reprieved.
	Read the petition of Mr. Brown, to be released from the Tower, and have the benefit of the late act for departing the kingdom, unless the King shall allow him to stay here. Ordered that it be sent to the King to know his pleasure, it being supposed that, when he was ordered to be detained, it was not considered how far he was " in the benefit " of that act.
	The Lords of the Admiralty called in. The Turkey Company attended again, and brought their proposals for removing the apprehensions they were under from ships fitted out at Leghorn, under pretence of cruizing against the French. Ordered that their memorial be sent to Sir Charles Hedges. That Sir Alexander Rigby attend, with others concerned in the ship called the Charles, Charles Pickering commander, and give an account what that ship is designed for. The Admiralty offered to revoke the letters of marque granted to that ship, if it might be any remedy. The petition of the Turkey Company read again, desiring that some care be taken for bringing back their ships in safety, and showing that they had sent them orders to stop at Smyrna, from whence they would not stir without fresh orders. They proposed that a greater strength should be sent into the Mediterranean. They were told it should be considered.
	A memorial from the Admiralty read consisting of three points:— the Virginia convoy, the fleet with Sir George Rooke, and the bomb ships in the river. As to the first, the merchants demand an unlimited time for the convoy's staying for them, and the Admiralty think fit to restrain it to 110 days, which is more than usual. The Lords Justices approved of this, as being a means to prevent a practice of bringing the product of two years together, to the great detriment of the customs. As to the second, whether the fleet should "unshift their holds" at Torbay or Spithead, Sir George Rooke preferred the latter, but the Admiralty were for Torbay, the same thing having been twice done there, and the men would be in greater readiness for service; whereas, if they came to Spithead, there would be great danger of the men's deserting, and they would expect a payment there. The opinion of the Admiralty was approved of. As to the bomb ships now in the river, it was ordered that they continue at the buoy of the Nore till they can be with safety in the Downs.
	It was resolved that it be considered, at Sir George Rooke's return, of what number the main fleet shall consist, and what ships may be spared for other services, particularly for bringing home the ships from Turkey.
	Mr. Russell proposed a service that Benbow might perform, there being an absolute necessity for sending for stores from the East country, and the convoy appointed for it being inconsiderable in case they should meet with Du Bart; Benbow might accompany them, and see them out of danger, and then cross over to the English coast, and give protection to the coal trade. All this would be consistent with his former orders of looking after Du Bart, there not appearing the same necessity for his going toward the north of Scotland, since it is now evident that the Barbados and East India ships had no intention of coming that way. It was observed in this connection, that great care should be taken that Benbow does not leave Du Bart behind him, and give him an opportunity to return to Dunkirk, while he is at a distance to the northward, thus leaving the French at liberty to embark and transport troops for a descent. The Admiralty answered that Benbow need not spend above twelve days in the voyage, if the winds are not very contrary. One thing to be apprehended from Du Bart is his intercepting the convoy going with the Scotch recruits. An account given that the fleet with Sir George Rooke, including the squadron in the Soundings, consists of eighty-five men-of-war from fifty guns and upwards, whereof fifty-one are English ships.
	A petition of the sawyers at Woolwich for augmentation of wages read and delivered to the Admiralty.
	The case of Welsh was represented. He was taken serving the French, and has lain in irons on board ship twenty-one months. It was approved that he be removed to the Marshalsea, being under sentence.
	Petition of Sir John Friend's relations read. Nothing ordered. A letter signed for making Colonel Holt a privy councillor in the Leeward Islands drawn upon a minute of Council. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 121.]
May 21. Whitehall.	Warrant to Henry Legat to apprehend Charles Edwards, on suspicion of high treason, and to bring him to Whitehall to be examined. [Ibid. 345, p. 421.]
May 21. Whitehall.	Passes for Peter van der Broocke to go to Holland; for Mr. Thomas Gipps to go to Ireland; for Hester Plunkett to go to Holland; for Joan Martin and Eleanor Atkinson, with one child, to go to Flanders [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 343]; and for Mr. Alexander Pendawes [Pendarves], Mr. Edward Eyre, and one servant, to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 345.]
May 22. Whitehall.	Approval by the Lords Justices of Mr. Charles Whitaker as a deputy lieutenant for the county of Suffolk. Lord Cornwallis, lord lieutenant of the county, is to issue out his deputation accordingly [Ibid. 167, p. 266].
May 22. Whitehall.	Commission for Lewis Billingsley, gent., to be lieutenant of that company whereof Captain Rodney is captain in the marine regiment of foot commanded by John, Lord Berkeley [Ibid. 168, p. 204.]
May 22. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Commissioners for the Exchange of Prisoners. I send a certificate of Mr. Satur, a French minister, and others, in behalf of John Gauvin, a French protestant taken at sea, and now lying sick in the hospital at Plymouth. He is a protestant, and desires to stay in England, that he may enjoy the privilege of the free exercise of his religion. If his allegations are true, and he gives sufficient security not to go out of England without leave, I desire he may be set at liberty to remain here, on account of his being a protestant [Ibid. 204, p. 120.]
May 22. Whitehall.	The same to the Lords of the Admiralty. I send an extract of a letter of the 15th inst. received from Sir Paul Rycaut, his Majesty's resident at Hamburg, concerning a sufficient convoy for a very rich fleet of merchant ships bound from Hamburg to London, many of them laden with naval stores for the King. I earnestly recommend it to your consideration, the security of this fleet being of great importance to the service, and advantage to the nation. I do not doubt that you will send them such a convoy as may secure them from the designs of Du Bart, or other force of the enemy at sea.
	I desire you will give orders to the commander-in-chief to receive on board one of the King's ships Captain Vaughan mentioned in the said letter, and to bring him carefully to England [Ibid. p. 121.]
May 22. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Sir Philip Meadows' paper read, about the inconveniences of having the office for the Commission of Trade kept in Scotland Yard.
	Ordered that Sir Miles Cooke have leave to see his son, it being moved by the Archbishop.
	The Turkey Company, Sir Charles Hedges and Sir Alexander Rigby attended. The latter, as he desired, was called in by himself. He gave an account of what Mr. Plowman wrote to him from Leghorn, as to his design in going out with the Charles, commanded by Pickering; their design was to go to Alexandria for "a coffee"; two sloops were to meet them at Tunis, and, by their interest with the Dey, whom they had obliged, they hoped to get Cape Negro out of the hands of the French; and, if they happened to meet with a rich Marseilles ship either going or coming, he supposed it would give no offence if they made prize of her, having no authority from the Admiralty for so doing. He knew nothing of their having any double commissions, or of any promise made to the Duke of Florence to let the French alone, nor did he believe there was any such thing.
	Sir Charles Hedges' opinion about the Company's proposal was that the King might issue a proclamation forbidding his subjects to serve under any foreign commission, and the Dukes of Savoy and Florence might be requested not to issue commissions to his Majesty's subjects, and that instructions might be given to those who had letters of marque for the Mediterranean, not to violate the Grand Seignor's ports or do anything contrary to the capitulations with the Porte. The first was approved of, and Sir Charles was ordered to make a draft of the proclamation.
	As to the security of the Company's ships coming from Turkey, it was ordered that Mr. Russell be spoken with alone to-morrow at the rising of the Council, and asked what ships may be spared from the main fleet, either for the Mediterranean or any other service, and also what he thinks of Lord Berkeley's proposal for making some attack on the French fleet in Brest, and whether, if such a thing were advisable, there were not a necessity for sending the rest of the bomb ships to join the fleet in Torbay.
	Mr. Bridgman brought the Admiralty's orders to Rear Admiral Benbow, which had been proposed yesterday, and they were allowed to be sent. Notice taken that their orders run in pursuance of directions given by the Lords Justices, when it is in matters that they themselves propose. Directed that it be looked into, whether this be not "a new form of a style taken up."
	Read Mr. Blathwayt's letter to the Duke of Shrewsbury of the 23rd, concerning an embarkation at Portsmouth for ten battalions. The objection to it was the great want of money for that or any other service. It would be well, however, to let the noise of it get abroad, if it were not for alarming the French too soon, in case Lord Berkeley's design went forward. Ordered that the Commissioners of Transports be directed to attend on Tuesday.
	Lord Godolphin acquainted the Lords Justices with the proposals made to the Treasury by the directors of the Bank for summoning the managers of the Orphans' Fund and foreign merchants, in order to dispose them to be assisting in the maintaining of credit. Ordered that the summons go out accordingly, and that Mr. Heathcote be consulted who will be the proper persons to be sent for.
	Mr. Bridgman sent two letters of the 20th and 21st instant, giving an account that the Dutch commander refused to go with him [Benbow ?] in pursuit of Du Bart upon the Lords Justices' letter, and said he must first have orders from the King or the States. Ordered that Mr. Bridgman be acquainted that the Lords Justices wrote to the Dutch commander, upon a supposition that the English ships with Benbow were not of a force sufficient against Du Bart's squadron; but since they could have this assistance it was left to the Admiralty to consider whether the ships under the said Rear Admiral's command are, or may in a convenient time be made, strong enough to go upon this service, and to send him orders accordingly; and that copies of these letters be sent to Mr. Blathwayt, and that it be proposed again to the King's consideration what measures may be taken for making the ships of both nations more assistant to each other on the like occasions. Commander St. Lo's advice about the French squadron gone to Boston to be considered when the Admiralty attend, Mr. Blathwayt having signified the King's pleasure in that particular. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 126.]
May 22. Whitehall.	Passes for Charles Adderley, esquire, and Thomas Farr, his servant, to go from London into Derbyshire, and back again; for Christopher Olssen Amoenius to go to Holland; for Mr. Charles Granott, ditto, on the recommendation of Sir Robert Jeffreys; for Ann Lewis to go to Flanders [Ibid. 346, p. 344]; for Francis Bruner to go to Holland; for John Henry Loder and John Adolph Clanburg, ditto, on the recommendation of John Esdras Edzard, minister of the German Lutheran church in London [Ibid., p. 345]; for Mrs. Margery Gwyllym, her son Meredith, Mrs. Mary Turbridge, Mrs. Anne Harrison and Thomas Cordon, a servant, to go to Ireland; and for Mr. William Dunne to go to Portugal [Ibid., p. 346.]
May 22. Dublin Castle.	The Earl of Blessington and William Wolsley to Mr. Secretary Vernon. The parliament being adjourned to the 27th June, it is necessary his Majesty's or the Lords Justices' pleasure should be known concerning their further meeting. We have advised with the King's counsel, who are of opinion the parliament may be prorogued to the middle of September, which will be a proper time for their meeting, if it shall be thought fitting. In our commission to be Justices there is no clause empowering us to summon, adjourn or prorogue the parliament, as is usually inserted in other chief governors' patents. If it be his Majesty's pleasure to prorogue the parliament, the chief governor or governors here (as we are informed) must be empowered to do it, by commission under the great seal. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 19.]
May 23. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Deputy Lieutenants of Herefordshire, transmitting orders from the Lords of the Council for discharging the horses, that have been seized in pursuance of their lordships' directions, belonging to such persons as are allowed, by an act of the first year of his Majesty's reign, to keep horses above the value of five pounds, except the horses of such as have absconded, the charges for keeping such horses being first paid. Enclosure not here entered. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 169, p. 17.]
May 23. Whitehall.	A like letter to the Deputy Lieutenants of Worcestershire. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 169, p. 17.]
May 23. Whitehall.	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Mr. Russell was called in, and acquainted with what Lord Berkeley proposed should be done against the French fleet, while they lay in Brest. Mr. Russell's opinion was that the difficulty did not lie in going, since great ships might well enough pass by the forts, but, if the same wind that carried them in continued, how would they get them out again. If they could lie within the ports out of cannon shot, they would be within the reach of bombs, and any ships that were disabled would be very hard to get out. This would be better considered at a council of flag officers, who will not undertake it unless they perceive a prospect of doing more good than they shall receive damage. It was resolved that this had better be proposed to a council of war, when the fleet has been at Torbay, and has put to sea again, and nothing need appear of the design until then; but general orders may be despatched to Torbay that the fleet be forthwith put into a posture for sailing. Resolved that Mr. Russell and Lord Berkeley be spoken to upon the subject, and that the Lord Keeper and Lord Privy Seal have notice to come. Lord Berkeley's commission and instructions to be forthwith prepared, he pressing to go on board, while Sir George Rooke expects to come up as soon as the fleet returns to Torbay, and it is necessary that he should assist at the Admiralty board. [Ibid. 274, p. 130.]
May 24. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Lord Berkeley and Admiral Russell called in. Lord Berkeley acquainted the Lords Justices with his thoughts of an attempt to be made on the French fleet in Brest, and what he judged requisite in order to undertake it, viz., that three or four regiments might be put on board with an officer fit to command them; that some engineer might go with him, particularly Monsieur Petit, if he were in England; that there might be as many fireships and bomb vessels as could be got; that the prisoners taken in the Foudroyant, and those taken off the coast, should be kept with the fleet, at least so many of them as he thought might be useful; that the money for short allowance be paid to those who came from the Straits, at the same time as bounty money is given to the other seamen; and that so much be impressed for contingent money as shall be thought fitting.
	Mr. Russell supposed his lordship did not propose it as his single opinion, but that it would be considered at a council of flag officers of both nations. All agreed that the succeeding in it would be of the greatest advantage to the kingdom, as a failure would be of pernicious consequence. As to his demands, it was resolved that he should have two regiments of foot, viz., Brigadier Stewart's and Colonel Coote's, they being so quartered as to be able to march to Torbay with the greatest ease, and in the shortest time, and accordingly Mr. Clarke was sent for and directed to prepare orders for those two regiments to march to Exeter and the places adjacent. As to the second, resolved that Lord Romney be desired to send Petit to the Lords Justices on Tuesday, if he be in England. As to the bomb ships, resolved that those in the river should be ordered to join the rest, that were with the fleet of fire ships; there were but eight upon the list with the fleet, and the Dutch had six or four besides, and, if one or more could be found at Portsmouth, care should be taken for manning them. As to the prisoners taken at sea or off the shore, the Admiralty should send directions to Sir George Rooke not to put them ashore; or, if those orders were too late, the Commissioners for the Exchange of Prisoners should be required to keep those prisoners together in a convenient place, and to deliver such and so many of them to the Admiral commanding the fleet as he should think fit to require, which was signified accordingly to the commissioners of the Admiralty. The short allowance money coming into the victuallers' accounts, Lord Godolphin would speak to them about, and the contingent money the Admiralty would order.
	It was resolved that Mr. Russell should acquaint the Admiralty Board with the Lord Justices' directions that they make ready Lord Berkeley's commission and instructions, and insert in his instructions that he obey such orders as he shall receive from the Lords Justices. Mr. Russell acquainted the Lords that orders were dispatched last night to Torbay for putting the fleet into a sailing posture with all convenient speed, and that to-morrow directions would be given to the victuallers, that they hasten away what ships they have with provisions to be sent to the fleet.
	Mr. Edwards and Mr. Henley attended with a paper about Sir John Knight, setting forth that he was ordered to be brought up to-morrow by Habeas Corpus, and, if he were released, it might disappoint all the measures that had been taken for getting a succession of good magistrates at Bristol. Resolved that it shall be considered to-morrow at Council, together with the case of Mr. Higgins, who has likewise a Habeas Corpus allowed him; and that Mr. Baker be acquainted with it, and that he take care that the bringing up of those persons be deferred as long as it can be done conveniently, so that it may be known in the meantime what the Council, which has appointed to meet at ten in the morning, will determine concerning their being newly charged with a warrant from the Council.
	Mr. Clarke spoken to about removing the soldiers from Newmarket and from Ongar in Essex.
	The Lord Steward produced a letter from Mr. Bayshaw, setting forth the danger there was of an insurrection amongst the miners in Derbyshire, upon their clipped money being refused, when they had nothing else to supply it. An evil without remedy, but the best care should be taken for suppressing tumults. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 131.]
May 25. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the Mayor of Sandwich. I have received your examination of Kelly, and since he declares himself willing to serve the King at sea, and is ready to take the oaths to the government, I think he may be discharged, upon his being put into the hands of those who will take care he be carried on board one of his Majesty's ships. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 100, p. 247.]
May 25. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to Lord Wharton. From Mr. Gore's account of the person taken into custody, I think him very unlikely to be in such a design, if he be, as he says, seventy years of age. I do not find that anyone described in the proclamation has lost an eye; there is mention of one who has been hurt in his hand, and has a scar on his breast, but that is Chambers, a Scotchman, taken some time since, and committed to Newgate. It is fit, however, that this person should give some satisfactory account of himself. [Ibid., p. 248.]
May 25. Breda.	Commission for John Beckwith to be ensign to Captain Dalston in Colonel Northcott's regiment. [S.P. Dom 167, p. 286.]
May 25. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Letters read from the Lords Justices of Ireland of the 18th and 20th instant, with the report of the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General of Ireland, concerning the authority of the Lords Justices continuing until the King's pleasure be signified to the contrary. It was resolved that the same be considered to-morrow when the Lord Keeper is present.
	Read a letter from Sir George Rooke to the Duke of Shrewsbury of the 23rd off Dartmouth, wherein he proposes something to be done by the fleet in the Bay. Directions were given to look out the instructions given by the Queen to Admiral Russell in 1694, when the expedition against Brest was ordered. [Ibid. 274, p. 135.]
May 25. Whitehall.	Warrant to Henry Legat and Nathaniel Wilcox to search the house of Lady Abergavenny, for persons mentioned in a late proclamation, said to be harboured there. [Ibid. 345, p. 422.]
May 25. Whitehall.	Passes for Lord Raby, with Mr. Manrell and two servants, to go to Holland [Ibid. 346, p. 345]; for John Ennis to go to Scotland and back; for John Barents, Jan Jans, Willem Willems, John de Jongh and David Jarels, Dutch seamen, to go to Holland; for Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Boisrond, Captain Isaac de l' Aigle, and three servants, ditto [Ibid., p. 346]; for Frederick Rosecrans and Ulrick Helt, ditto; for Thomas Sellers, ditto; for Morris Fitzgerald to go to Ireland; for Thomas Cropper to go to Holland; for Tristan le Vasseur, Jane his wife, Rowland, Esther, Mary, Simon and Peter, his children, ditto; for Jan Bodianse Brown, ditto [Ibid., p. 347]; for Thomas Wright to go to Ireland, or the recommendation of Sir John Banks; for Jacoba Corvers to go to Holland; for Isaac Fouet and Magdalena Doinon [?], ditto [Ibid., p. 348]; for John Wasson, Nicholas, Peter, Mary and John, his children, ditto [Ibid., p. 350]; and for Elizabeth Monk to go to Ireland [Ibid., p. 351.]
May 25. Breda.	Commission for Robert Pringle, esquire, to be Secretary Depute for Scotland, and to attend the King for such affairs as relate to that kingdom during his absence out of Britain. [S.P. Scotland Warrant Book 16, p. 243.]
May 25. Breda.	Warrant for appointing Patrick, Lord Polwarth, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, to be one of the Commissioners of the Treasury there. [Ibid., p. 244.]
May 25. Breda.	Warrant to the Duchess of Hamilton, to settle Lord Polwarth, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, in those lodgings on the south side of the palace of Holyrood House, sometime possessed by the Earl of Aberdeen, and of late by the Marquess of Tweeddale, excepting those little lodgings adjoining lately set apart for the under-keeper of the said palace. [Ibid., p. 245.]
May 25. Breda.	Warrant for an additional yearly pension of 120l., to Mary Johnston, Lady Bogie, Helen Johnston, Lady Graden, and Euphemia Johnston, daughters of the deceased Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston, and to Mary and — Johnston, relict and daughter of Thomas Johnston, son to the said Sir Archibald, over and above the pension of 80l. already settled upon them, at the direction of their brother James Johnston, late secretary of state for Scotland. [Ibid., p. 246.]
May 25. Breda.	List of persons to be inserted in a new commission of the exchequer of Scotland, viz., the Lord Chancellor and Lords of the Treasury, the Lord Keeper, John, Earl of Cassilis, John, Lord Murray, Lord Secretary of State, Robert, Earl of Lothian, Alexander, Earl of Eglinton, David, Earl of Leven, John, Earl of Kintore, John, Lord Hamilton, George, Viscount Tarbat, John, Lord Belhaven, Sir James Ogilvie, Lord Secretary of State, Sir James Stewart, Lord Advocate, Adam Cockburn of Ormston, Lord Justice Clerk, Sir John Lawder of Fountanhall, Sir Philip Anstruther of that ilk, Sir William Hamilton of Whitelow, Sir James Murray of Philipshaugh, Sir John Hamilton of Halcraig, Sir Robert Sinclair of Steinston and Thomas Hay of Balhousie. [Ibid., p. 247.]
May 25. Breda.	Warrant for a commission to the above-named persons to be lords commissioners of the exchequer of Scotland. [Ibid.]
[May 25.] [Breda.]	Marginal note of a commission (not entered) for George, Earl of Melville, to be president of the privy council of Scotland. [Ibid., p. 251.]
May 25. Breda.	Warrant for a commission to Archibald, Earl of Argyll, to be colonel and captain of a troop of his Majesty's life-guard of horse in Scotland, formerly commanded by James, Duke of Queensberry. [Ibid., p. 256.]
May 26.	An order by the Lord Keeper for Mr. Thomas Meriton, of 5, Fish Street, and Mr. Crook, minister, of 5, Wood Street, to go to visit "the two young Higgins," and others, with Mrs. Margaret Mortimer. [S.P. Dom. William and Mary 6, No. 30.]
May 26. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. The Archbishop brought a petition from the inhabitants of Wapping, to have leave to make a collection to repair their loss by a late fire there, computed at 12,000l. Directed to enquire whether that should be ordered in Council, or done by letters from the King to the Bishop of London and Lord Mayor.
	Mr. Clark's orders signed for the march of Brigadier Stewart and Colonel Coote's regiments to Exeter.
	Brigadier Stewart gave an account, from a court martial, of a corporal and a common soldier in Colonel Gibson's regiment being condemned for desertion. The Lords Justices thought that the corporal only should suffer.
	Mr. Russell gave an account what ships might be sent from hence, both Dutch and English, to strengthen the ships in the Mediterranean, and to form a squadron superior to what the French have here. He gave in a list of the ships now in the Straits, and those proposed to be sent, that they might be dispatched as soon as provisions can be got ready for them. Ordered that directions be sent to the Admiralty to give orders to the victuallers, that they provide four months' victuals for two thousand seven hundred and twenty-six men, butter and beer excepted, and that the same be put on board victualling ships. That the King be acquainted therewith and his pleasure known, that, if he approve of it, orders may be given to the Dutch to accompany the English ships upon this service. Nothing can be more easily and secretly done, there being three ships only to be taken from Lord Berkeley, and it is not only necessary for the protection of the Levant trade, but will oblige the Spaniards to have a number of the allies' ships upon their coast in October, when they expect their galleons home.
	The Lords of the Treasury called in, viz.: Mr. Mountagu and Mr. Smith. The proposals of the commissioners for the new bank were laid before the Lords Justices viz.:
	That one fourth of "their whole sum" be paid in clipped money before the 24th of June.
	That there be a discount of ten per cent. for what they shall pay in gold or lawful money.
	That the notes and bills of the bank be taken as part of their subscriptions.
	That a mill and workmen be set apart for coining the plate they shall take in upon their subscriptions.
	That the notes of their own bank be received at the Exchequer as part of their subscriptions.
	The Lords Justices thought that these proposals should be considered at Council, and also an observation made by the Lords of the Treasury, that there had been an oversight in drawing up the commission, by leaving out a power to take subscriptions of land, which the act provided for; it was an error in the persons concerned for this bank, they having had the drawing up of the warrant; the thing was passed in such haste as not to allow time for the perusal of it.
	Sir William Scawen's letter read, and the list of persons to be summoned, who gave the greatest disturbance to the course of credit.
	Sir Christopher Wren was called in, and directed to consider, view and report, where a convenient place might be found in Whitehall for the Commissioners of Trade to meet. Fell, the keeper of Newgate was called in, and told that it would not be looked upon as an offence, if Mr. Goodman went out sometimes to look after his private concerns, provided he were still in his custody and under his eye; but no other order would be given for it.
	Letters of the 18th and 20th instant from the Lords Justices of Ireland were read. It was resolved that the state of the matter be aid before the King, whether these [Lords] Justices should be continued or others appointed; that in the meantime it would not be fit for the Lords Justices of England to write to those Lords Justices, since it was doubted at the Council in Ireland whether their authority subsisted in case of the Lord Deputy's death; two of the judges were of opinion it would not, and only the Chief Justice differed from them. Their Excellencies declared they would forbear to act in that case, but that the Lords Justices of Ireland should be acquainted that their letters were received and the matters in question submitted to the King.
	It was ordered that Mr. Blathwayt be acquainted that the Dutch men-of-war carried out great quantities of gold and silver, and that the practice is likely to continue, unless the King shall please to consider some remedy.
	Ordered that the draft of a letter to the King be prepared, to be signed by the Lords Justices, upon the following heads:—Lord Berkeley's proposal of an attempt to be made on the French ships in Brest, Mr. Russell's proposal of the English and Dutch ships to be sent to the Straits, and the affairs of Ireland in relation to the administration of the government there.
	The King's directions about an encampment and providing transport ships for ten battalions were ordered to be complied with, as fast as the condition of the Treasury, which was in want of money, would admit. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 136.]
May 26 at night. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Letter to the King signed. A postscript added, for submitting to the King a proposal made by Sir George Rooke in his letter of the 23rd for annoying the French in "the Bay." [Ibid., p. 140.]
May 26. Whitehall.	Passes for Mr. Francis Terry to go to Holland [Ibid. 346, p. 346]; for Jacob Bartells, ditto [Ibid., p. 347]; for Janneken Jacobs, ditto; for Louise la Cherroys, ditto; for Susanna Coupe, ditto; for William Laers, ditto [Ibid., p. 348]; for Mary Corbett, ditto; for John Prevreau, ditto; for Katherine and Frederick Popenhusson, wife and son of a trooper in Lord Oxford's regiment, ditto; for Ensign Colyear in Colonel Columbine's regiment, ditto; for Quintus Spencer, ditto [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 349]; for Peter van Ypeuto, ditto; for Mr. Robert Stewart, ditto [Ibid., p. 350]; for Lieutenant James le Brun, ditto; and for Mr. Luke King, agent of Colonel Frederick Hamilton's regiment, ditto [Ibid., p. 351.]
May 26.	Extracts of two letters from Galway and Wexford, about the French privateers, forwarded by Lawrence Steele. Mr. George Lee, collector at Galway, in his letter of the 26th May, 1696, writes that on Sunday last came in there the Joanna of Bristol, burden 30 tons, Andrew Aldgar, master, being taken on that coast by two French frigates, of whom the master purchased her, and left his mate pledge for the money. She was afterwards taken by a spy boat of four guns and plundered, notwithstanding the orders they had from the other ships. They are in great fear for the two East India ships, as they are not able to come into any place of safety, but lie open to the enemy, and have no other shift if attacked, but to run themselves ashore, which may ruin all. They see, these two days past, ships hovering without the Isles of Arran, and fear they are the two that the Joanna met with, carrying 50 and 56 guns and about 350 men each, and there is no doubt but in Kerry they have had an account of these East India men being at Galway. The Joanna was bound for Galway to take in provisions for Newfoundland.
	Mr. Fenn, collector at Wexford, in his letter of the 26th May, 1696, writes that on Sunday last came into the bay a French privateer. She had taken two small, light vessels, the one called the Ellen, of Wexford, which unloaded at Waterford, and was taken coming home; the other was the Katharine, of Ballyhack, from Dublin. They are both there upon ransom. The privateer, called le Duc de Bourgoyne, has 8 guns and 60 men. She has been seven days from Nantes, and reports that the Toulon fleet have all arrived at Brest. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 20.]
May 26. Dublin.	The Earl of Blessington to the Duke of Shrewsbury. Though by the express last week we gave your Grace (as being one of the Lords Justices) a general account of all the proceedings here upon my Lord Deputy's indisposition, and his constituting Brigadier Wolsley and myself Justices, yet I hope for your pardon, for paying my duty to you in particular, earnestly begging your patronage and advice in everything relating to the King's affairs, to which I will apply myself as strenuously and as faithfully as I am able. If I do not discharge my great trust as I ought, I may be pitied for want of understanding, but never will be condemned for want of inclination. My Lord Deputy continues still weak, but the physicians seem to have more hopes of him than they had, his fit not having returned since Wednesday last. I should think myself extremely happy if in any condition I could be capable of serving you. [Ibid., No. 21.]
May 27. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Dean of Canterbury, concerning an almsman's place in Canterbury Cathedral for John Widupe. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 278.]
May 27. Whitehall.	The same to Mr. Baker. The expenses of Mr. Joseph Beverton, sent by order of the Council to Romney Marsh to search for letters and papers of importance to his Majesty's service, amounting to 21l., are to be paid. [Ibid.]
May 27. Whitehall.	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the deputy lieutenants of Worcestershire. In answer to your letter of the 22nd instant, I send a council warrant for discharging the persons committed to the custody of the sheriff. [Ibid. 169, p. 18.]
May 27. Whitehall.	A like letter to the deputy lieutenants of Herefordshire, in answer to their letter of the 23rd instant. [Ibid., p. 19.]
May 27. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of the Gatehouse to deliver into the hands of Charles Marys, a King's messenger, the body of Anthony Montmorency, a prisoner committed as an alien enemy and spy. [Ibid. 346, p. 349.]
May 27. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate to permit Mr. Thomas Merston, of Fish Street, Mr. Crook, minister, of Wood Street, and Mrs. Margaret Mortimer, to have access to Mr. Bevill and Mr. Thomas Higgins. [Ibid., p. 350.]
May 27. Whitehall.	Passes for Mary Plant and a child to go to Holland; and for Gabriel Louchans, a French protestant, to go to Ireland. [Ibid., p. 351.]
May 27.	Extract from a letter from Carrickfergus, about French privateers, forwarded by Lawrence Steele. Mr. James Spaight, surveyor at Carrickfergus, writes that his Majesty's ship, the Speedwell, sailed thence on Sunday last with several vessels under her convoy for Liverpool and Milford. Yesterday arrived at Larne the Leopard of Whitehaven, burden 70 tons, John Chappell master, from Norway, laden with deal and tar, home bound. The mate and men gave the following account on board. That on Sunday last, about two o'clock in the afternoon, they were taken by a French privateer called the Flatteux, of St. Malo, Captain Poitteuin, commander, 6 guns, 40 men, all French. She is a small snow, and they ransomed for 180l., for which the said master is gone hostage. They were taken close about Cape Kintire [Cantire]. There were two other privateers in company with this, one of 10, the other 12-guns. They say that this ship was the 11th prize taken, and that an hour after they were taken, the privateer took three more, to wit, one from the Canaries, and two from Norway, and they are daily seen about the Raughlins. — is informed that there have gone this year from Whitehaven and Liverpool about 25 sail for Virginia, which are expected very soon home, and, unless there be a frigate or two ordered to cruise between Insterhull [Innistrahul ?] and this Lough (fn. 2) (and not be taken off for convoys), it is much to be feared that some of them will be taken. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 22.]
May 28. Penrhyn.	Thomas Hearle to James Vernon. On April 11th Captain Tuck's company of soldiers belonging to Major General Earle's regiment came to Penrhyn, and with them Lieutenant Norcott, who desired the mayor that they might be quartered there some days on account of the heavy rains. The company at Falmouth is as much as that town can quarter, and there are no quarters at the garrison of Pendennis, where Mr. Norcott's orders were to march. The mayor was unwilling that the King's soldiers should lie in the streets, so he consented to the quartering of them for a few days. We cannot learn that the lieutenant has any orders to quarter them here, and the mayor does not wish to force him to move, but the soldiers are without money, and the inhabitants are scarcely able to maintain their own families. I beg you will endeavour to remove them, and pay the people for their quarters. [S.P. Dom. William and Mary 6, No. 31.]
May 28. Whitehall.	Sir William Trumbull to the Attorney General, sending, for his opinion, copies of affidavits against William Woodhead and four other persons for dangerous words spoken by them so long since, that it seems doubtful whether they are not included in the acts of indemnity. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 279.]
May 28. Whitehall.	Proceedings upon the petition of Thomas Philips. The petitioner shows that he has found a way to recover wrecks out of the sea. In 1690 the King's man-of-war, Breda, was blown up, and her wreck lies in the river of Cork. He is willing to remove the said wreck at his own cost, if the Lords Justices will give him power so to do, and grant him what he shall recover thereof, upon paying the King a tenth, or such other part as is usual. He prays them to direct letters patent to be passed accordingly. Referred to the Commissioners of the Treasury for report. [Ibid. 238, p. 79.]
May 28. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. The petitions of Mr. Pitt, Goring, and Bishop read, for a respite of execution in case they be found guilty of manslaughter on account of the death of Horden. It was ordered that the Recorder be written to in the same manner as the Lords Justices did it last year.
	Sir Christopher Wren made his report where there might be a convenient place in Whitehall for the Commissioners of Trade to meet. His draft to be sent to the King for his approbation.
	Letter read from the mayor of Reading, desiring that some care might be taken of the " quarters " to be discharged there. Mr. Abbot was sent for, and told that part of the subsistence now ordered for the march of Stewart's regiment must be reserved for those quarters.
	The Lord Mayor and court of Aldermen attended with associations from the companies in the city. They gave an account of a confederacy at Colchester, not to give out any work in their woollen trade for a month after the 4th of June. It was resolved that it should be mentioned at Council, and notice should be given in the Gazette for prosecuting those who set it on foot.
	Sir Charles Hedges' proclamation, forbidding the king's subjects to serve under foreign commissions, read and amended.
	The Lord Privy Seal made a proposal for guineas to be sent out of the country and exchanged for new money, which Lord Godolphin thought would not be difficult. Mr. Attorney was directed to oppose the bailing of Lord Castlemaine, and to take care that Goodman, Hunt, Boyce, etc., be bailed.
	The Lords of the Admiralty attended. Advices read to them from Dartmouth and Guernsey about 30,000 men that were drawing together at Cherbourg. Directed that orders be given for getting some men off the shore, to be informed of the truth of it. They acquainted the Lords Justices that the squadron in the Soundings was ordered to Galway, and so to Cork and Scilly, to convoy home the East India ships. The memorial of the Commissioners for the Exchange of Prisoners was read to them. Mr. Russell stayed behind, and the instructions were spoken of that should be given to the ships going to Hudson's Bay.
	The merchants summoned were called in, viz.: Seigneuret, Berionde, Secoppins, Sheppard, Eyles, etc., and recommended to consider the public necessities, and to endeavour to support credit. Seigneuret proposed that directions should be given to the notaries not to "protest" bills that were offered to be discharged by good notes. A practice was noticed that bills were drawn from beyond sea at a low rate, as if it were expected they should be paid by notes, and the payment of them here was insisted upon in gold or milled money, which was to make an advantage to foreigners of 5 per cent. Mr. Sheppard was for accomodating matters with the Bank, and proposed two things to be done, that they should avoid partiality in the little they paid, and give proportionably to every one, and that they should allow a reasonable interest for forbearance as well as receive it, and not show selfishness at this time. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 141.]
May 28. Whitehall.	Passes for Mr. Geoffrey Keating to go to Ireland; for Mr. Charles Boriner, Captain William Bretton, and four recruits, to go to Holland; for Mr. James Cardonnel, ditto [Ibid. 346, p. 351]; for Mr. William Bright, ditto; for Anne, Countess of Longford, with thirteen persons of her retinue, to go to Ireland; for John Sands and Elizabeth his wife, ditto, recommended by Thomas Vicary and others in the Strand; for Robert Strange, a trooper in the Earl of Rivers' troop of guards, to go to Flanders; for Mr. Nicholas Stokes, ditto; for Captain Joseph Bennett of Colonel Ingoldsby's regiment, an engineer, Matthew Lester and Thomas Jones, his servants, to go to Holland or Flanders; and for the Duchess of Gordon, Mrs. Susanna Kendall, Mrs. Mary Jeffs and Mr. Thomas Barker, ditto [Ibid., p. 352.]
May 28. Whitehall.	Warrant for the payment of the extraordinary expenses of Robert, Lord Lexington, envoy extraordinary to the Emperor of Germany, from 1st December, 1695, to 1st March, 1696. The expenses consist of "Christmas fees" to the servants of the Emperor, Empress, archdukes and archduchesses, and a dinner to the Elector of Saxony upon his reconciliation with "Count Frize." [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 346, p. 353.]
May 28. Whitehall.	Warrant for payment of another account of extraordinary disbursements by the same, 1st February to 1st May, 1696. They include the rent of a house near Luxembourg, during the time the Emperor was there, and a "treat" to all the protestant ministers after divine service, in celebration of the King's happy preservation. [Ibid., p. 354.]
May 28. Council Chamber, Whitehall.	Proclamation by the Lords Justices of England, in consequence of a representation by the Levant Company, forbidding such of the King's subjects as have commissions to seize ships and goods belonging to the subjects of the French king, under colour thereof to seize ships, etc., not liable to confiscation.
	No officer or mariner whatever, being his Majesty's subject, shall presume to put himself in the martial sea-service of any foreign prince or state, or to serve under letters of marque from such prince or state, without permission from the King or the lords of the admiralty. Printed. [S.P. Dom. Proclamations 4, No. 133.]
May 29.	[Lord Godolphin] to the King. I gave you no trouble by the last post, being afraid to tire you with repeating my complaints of the slowness of our proceedings here towards a settlement of the new bank, which is the only way I can see of establishing anything like a credit toward the supplying of the army.
	Yesterday the Lords Justices in Council made answer to the proposals of the new bank to this purpose. As to the first, viz.: the taking of the first fourth part in clipped money, the law did not allow them to direct the Treasury to admit of it, and as to the next of the proposals, they would recommend it to the Treasury, to give all reasonable encouragement for speedy subscriptions and payments.
	We have spoken to them at the Treasury this evening, but to little purpose. They insist still upon paying one fourth in clipped money, but have explained that to be, that they will take bills from the Exchequer for their clipped money, and keep them till the end of the year, so as to make that their last payment. Upon that encouragment, they will furnish guineas and milled money in the meantime. They pressed us very hard to agree to this article, thus explained, or to say that we could not do it by law, neither of which was consented to at your Treasury. It was resolved to acquaint the council to-morrow morning with their explanation of that article, and to take their directions how we should proceed.
	I have the honour of your letters of the 4th June from Breda, which I have shewn to the Duke of Shrewsbury, who has likewise acquainted the Lords Justices with what you have written to him upon the subject of your letter to me. Yet I am afraid all this will not be sufficient to constitute this bank, nor consequently to get us any money for the army.
	The truth is that the difficulties of raising money are such, that the new bank is forced to make demands, that would at any other time be very extravagant, and those who are possessed with prejudices to the thing and to the persons of the men take such advantage from their unreasonableness, as to hinder any agreement with them from taking effect, and are willing to flatter themselves and others that, when this bank is made impracticable, they shall be able to set up a credit in the Exchequer from the same funds. I doubt this will prove but a notion, and in case it should hold right, it will come too late to relieve our wants.
	You are pleased to say I make you a very ill picture of our condition here, but I assure you, upon my word, I endeavour to make it exactly true, and as I am very far from aggravating on one hand, so I think I should be more wanting than I ever will be in my duty to you, if I did not represent this matter truly, as it is.
	Having received this morning from Mr. Lowndes the grant under the great seal which you had the goodness to bestow on me, before you went away, I beg you will accept my most humble acknowledgments of your favour. [S.P. Dom. King William's Chest 16, No. 11.]
	The Duke of Shrewsbury to the King. It has been a great misfortune that, at the same time "the species of money" is for the most part made not current, the credit of bills is also lost. If no way can be found to restore this, it will be absolutely impossible to furnish the occasions of your government at home or abroad. We have taken what pains we could with the bank, the merchants and the goldsmiths, exhorting some and threatening others, to endeavour to make them easy to one another in this common difficulty. Many now appear sensible, it is their interest to be so; and they were persuaded this morning to agree upon a meeting among themselves; if they could conclude upon anything, that might be for the common good, we promised them any assistance in our power. Some among them seemed not to despair that methods might be proposed in a good measure to help this calamity.
	The proposals of the gentlemen of the new national bank, have been heard and considered at Council. Many of the lords and myself would have been most ready to comply with anything possible, thinking that the most likely, if not the only, way of raising the money, that is now so necessary for the service; but the Attorney and Solicitor General were so positive that by law we could not give the directions to the Treasury relating to the first proposal of receiving part in clipped money, which the Treasury expected from us before they would comply with such a demand, that we were forced to tell them, the first proposal was not in our power; but as to all the other, we did most earnestly recommend to the Lords of the Treasury to give them all reasonable encouragement. I believe they are now attending, and conclude Lord Godolphin will give you to-night an account what is to be expected.
	The letters which arrived to-day from Ireland report Lord Capell something better, but yet I doubt his recovery is not to be expected. Your expressions to me are so kind, and so much above my deserts, that I were most inexcusable, if I did not submit everything relating to myself to be disposed on in the manner you shall think most for your service. It were to be wished that the kingdom might be put into the hands of somebody that would not let it return to feuds and animosities, which possibly might be prevented, if a prudent man were there, one who would take in both parties, or at least, as many of them as would unite in your interest, which I think might better be effected by a single person, than by more, who would be apt to divide, and set themselves at the head of the several parties. Lord Dursley has desired me to mention him to you, in case you send Justices. I am sure you can appoint nobody that more sincerely intends your service. I hear Lord Clifford and Sir Joseph Williamson have the same pretension. Though neither of these has mentioned anything to me of it, I name them, that you may have as many persons in your mind, as I can learn are, or will be, pretenders.
	If you shall not think fit to grant Mr. Russell what I have mentioned to Mr. Blathwayt in favour of his brother, perhaps the easiest way of refusing it is by desiring first to receive the opinion of the Committee of Plantations or the new Committee of Trade. [S.P. Dom. King William's Chest 16, No. 12.]
May 29. [London.]	Conrad de Repken to Sir William Trumbull. I was released from prison at Portsmouth on the 25th inst., and dispatched after dinner on the 26th, with certificates signed by the magistrate and governor. I reached London about four o'clock this afternoon.
	As I am a German, and imprisoned, although quite innocent, on suspicion of being concerned in an abominable conspiracy against the King, I beg that justice may be done me according to the laws of the land. For this purpose I had a protest entered upon the proceedings of the town of Portsmouth, an official copy of which was refused me. Latin. [S.P. Dom. William and Mary 6, No. 32.] Enclosing:
	A copy of the said protest, dated at Portsmouth 26th May, 1696, complaining of his being unjustly thrown into prison on his arrival in that port, on the 22nd April last. Latin. [Ibid, No. 32. i.]
May 29. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. Mr. Blathwayt's letter of the 4th of June, new style, read. Ordered that the Admiralty be acquainted with the directions given therein for Rear-Admiral Benbow's reinforcement.
	Benbow's letter of the 27th to the Admiralty read. Ordered that a copy of it be sent to Mr. Blathwayt.
	Read Lord Berkeley's letter of the 27th from Salisbury, about the French engineer to be sent after him. It was ordered that Lord Macclesfield be desired to let him go, that he be dispatched with a messenger, and money be given him for his journey. All this was done the same night, and Legat, the messenger, who carried a draft of Brest, employed.
	It was ordered that the Admiralty be acquainted that the two ships, lately directed by Mr. Secretary Trumbull to be provided, were, as the Lords Justices understand from his Majesty, designed for Hudson's Bay; that Mr. Russell could inform them thereof more particularly, since he was then present; and that the proper orders and instructions should be dispatched accordingly.
	The patent for an augmentation of arms for the Venetian ambassador, Soranzo, was laid before the Lords Justices; they ordered it to be sent to Mr. Blathwayt for the King's hand.
	The proclamation drawn up by Sir Charles Hedges was signed, and also the Lord President's grant of fee farms.
	The directors of the Bank and merchants called in, and recommended to appoint meetings, and adjust among themselves what they think may be most expedient for the support of credit under the present exigency; if there arise any difficulties that require the interposing of the authority of the government, they might have recourse to it.
	It was ordered that Mr. Attorney be desired to prepare such a draft as may be fit for the Gazette, to give notice of the prosecution ordered against those who enter into combinations against employing their workmen, as it is said to be done at Colchester.
	The Commissioners for Transportation called in, and acquainted with the king's directions for transport. Ships are to be taken up for ten battalions, to be hired for two months certain, with a reserve for a third, if there should be occasion. They represented there was so great a debt upon their office that they could make no contracts but for ready money, with which they must accordingly be furnished. They were directed to attend the Treasury that evening with their demands, as they did.
	"Memorandum: Mr. Hopkins told me the estimate they delivered in, and it could not be reduced lower, amounted to about 50,000l., and the provisions were to be furnished by the victuallers."
	It was ordered that Mr. Clarke have notice to attend on Tuesday with an estimate of the charge of the encampment of those forces the King designs, and that, since the two services require so great a sum of ready money, the King be asked to consider whether the proceeding upon them be of immediate use.
	The Commissioners for the Exchange of Prisoners called in. There were eight hundred and fifty French prisoners in England and Ireland, and above six hundred of them at Plymouth. The great number made their custody unsafe, exposing them to contagious diseases, and being a great charge: therefore, though satisfaction has not been given by the French as to the seventy men demanded formerly, and the eleven masters of ships since, yet they would send over about two hundred of the most unserviceable of them to be exchanged for the like number, if they have so many of ours; the former demands should be still insisted on, so as to tell them the exchange could not go on if more satisfaction were not given.
	Read Captain Pitt's petition about two Irishmen taken on board a French ship, whom he promised he would endeavour to get exchanged for two Englishmen, who were released thereupon out of the floating prison. It was ordered that an enquiry should be made in Ireland into the circumstances of those two men.
	Monsieur D'Auverquerque's letter to the Duke of Shrewsbury read; as Mr. Blathwayt recommended, by the King's directions, that some presents taken in the Ostend ship, that was re-taken from the French, might be restored, the Lords Justices ordered that the matter be enquired into, and an account thereof sent to Mr. Blathwayt. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 274, p. 144.]
May 29. Whitehall.	Pass for Francis Whiteson, his wife, three children and a maid servant, to go to Ireland. [Ibid., 346, p. 355.]
May 29. Whitehall.	Warrant to Edward, Lord Russell, Treasurer of the Chamber, to pay bills for stationery delivered to Mr. Secretary Trenchard's office and Mr. Secretary Trumbull's office. [Ibid., p. 361.]
May 30. [Whitehall.]	Minutes of the proceedings of the Lords Justices of England. John Counter alias Romsey brought before them from Newgate. He waived saying anything, only he let it be understood that, if he were assured of the King's mercy, he would say what might be expected from a man of honour. He neither courted death, so as absolutely to neglect his preservation, nor did he covet life to such a degree as to tell an untruth on that account. Mrs. Done, who concealed him, was called in; she owned he had lodged five or six weeks in her house, and was brought there by one Thomas Powell, who formerly kept a hackney coach, and lived in Windmill Street. She pretended never to have seen him before, but that he was brought to her as one who concealed himself for debt. It appearing that her husband had run away, and her sister, she was committed to Newgate for high treason in concealing Counter.
	Counter's wife was called in; she would admit nothing, and was committed to a messenger's custody. Warrants were signed for apprehending Mrs. la Fountain and Charles Thetford, who were mentioned in the papers found with Counter, and Alexander Done and Elizabeth Reynolds, his wife's sister, for high treason in concealing Counter. Colonel Wharton having given an account of an information he had received from Crymes, of the probability that both Sir George Barclay and Father Harrison were concealed at the Portugal envoy's, but more especially the latter, it was considered whether a warrant should be immediately signed and executed for searching the envoy's house. [Ibid. 274, p. 147.]
May 30. Whitehall.	Warrant to Peter Mariscoe to apprehend Alexander Done and Elizabeth Reynold, for high treason in concealing John Counter alias Rumsey, accused of being concerned in the plot to assassinate the King. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 345, p. 423.]
May 30. Whitehall.	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate to receive into custody — Paradise, on suspicion of high treason. [Ibid., p. 424.]
May 30. Whitehall.	Warrant for the apprehension of Charles Thetford, on suspicion of high treason, and for his being brought to Whitehall for examination. [Ibid.]
May 30. Whitehall.	A like warrant to Charles Maris to apprehend Mrs. la Fontaine. [Ibid.]
May 30. [Whitehall.]	Warrant to the keeper of Newgate to receive into custody Mary Done, for high treason in harbouring John Counter alias Rumsey. [Ibid., p. 425.]
May 30.	Extract from a letter from the collector at Belfast. On the 25th instant came into Lough Larne a ship from Norway, that gave an account that she, coming from thence, was taken between the Fair Head and Racheries by a French privateer. That the said privateer had thirteen "ransomers" on board, that had all been taken in four days before, and that there is one large privateer at Racheries, one cruising at the Fair Head, or thereabouts, and one that cruises in the Channel between the Isle of Man and Glenarm. The biggest is said to have 36 guns, the second 10, and the third 5 guns. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 23.]
May 30. Dublin.	Colonel Henry Conyngham to —. Yours of the 16th gives me so just a sense of the great obligations I lie under, that I cannot sufficiently express my acknowledgments, and yet I must beg you will put me further in your debt by the continuance of your favours. I cannot imagine the reason Mr. Tollett should delay calling for my Lord Duke's letter for transmitting my papers to the Lords of the Treasury. When their lordships send them to the King for his further pleasure, my Lord Duke's recommendation into Flanders would be of great consequence to me, and I have reason to hope, from his grace's goodness to me hitherto, this will not be denied when solicited by you. Pray add a line from yourself to Mr. Blathwayt, or some other whom you judge capable to promote my affair. Postscript added May 31:—This letter was written yesterday morning, since when the kingdom hath had the great misfortune to lose my Lord Capell, who died last night at seven, and is truly lamented by all good men. It is heartily wished, though hardly to be hoped, that my Lord Duke would think it worth his while to govern the kingdom. I dare say, and I do not speak without good grounds, that no man living would be so acceptable and capable to do such great things as his grace might for the King's service and good of this nation. [Ibid., No. 24.]
May 30. Dublin.	The Earl of Blessington and Brigadier Wolsley to Mr. Vernon. This evening about seven o'clock my Lord Deputy died at Chapelizod, of which we think it our duty to give their Excellencies this early account. We shall not act any further till his Majesty's or their Excellencies' pleasure be known, which we hope will be signified with all convenient speed, it being, as we judge, for his Majesty's service. [S.P. Ireland 358, No. 25.]
May 31. Dublin Castle.	Humphrey May to Mr. Vernon. Yesterday morning my Lords Justices gave me directions to send you the enclosed list of officers desired by the Earl of Donegal and Lord Charlemont in their respective regiments, as likewise the enclosed account from the custom-house officers in several ports of this kingdom, whereby you will see the danger our trade is exposed to by the numbers of French privateers on this coast. Their lordships are not at present capable of preventing this by the frigates under the command of this government, which are employed as follows, viz., the Dover prize, cruising between this and Holyhead for the security of the packets, the Penzance, gone to Liverpool to refit and clean, the Shoreham, to Galway, to convoy thence the East Indiamen to Kinsale, there to clean, and the Speedwell, gone to Milford with several merchant-men, whence her orders are to come hither. Upon her return my lords intended to send her or the Dover where the safety of our trade shall seem most to require it.
	I send you likewise by this post the Association of our House of Commons, which the Speaker when he presented it to my lord, told me was signed by every member of the House now in Ireland, except one, who he said refused it, viz., Mr. Sanderson, a knight of the shire for the county of Cavan.
	Yesterday in the evening my Lord Deputy died, and my Lord Blessington and Brigadier Wolsley do forbear to act any further in the government till the King's pleasure be known. In the meantime, orders are taken (I am told) for summoning the council, as in case of the chief governor's death by the act is provided.
	I have this morning the favour of yours of the 26th, which as well as your acquaintance, of which I formerly had the honour, makes me bold to desire your protection towards my continuance in this station, in case of a new government here from your side of the water.
	Postscript added the 1st June, 1696:—The easterly winds detaining the packets on this side, give me an opportunity of acquainting you further, that yesterday in the evening Lord Blessington and Brigadier Wolsley sent me to the Lord Chancellor to shew his lordship your letter of the 26th to them, and yours of the same date to Brigadier Wolsley in particular, wherein you say the Lords Justices have resolved to expect the King's pleasure in what they wrote to them about. This morning the Lord Chancellor has issued writs for assembling the council to-morrow at ten o'clock before noon, in order to proceed to an election upon the statute. No enclosures preserved. [Ibid., No. 26.]
[May.] [Whitehall.]	Sir William Trumbull to Mr. Thornhagh. I have received the joint letter of Mr. Taylor and yourself, with affidavits taken before you both of the treasonable words and practices of Mr. Burden and others, the majority of whom you have caused to be apprehended, excepting Robert Mason and four more, with whom you have forborne to meddle, in case they may be included in an act of indemnity. This being a point of law, I intend to take the Attorney General's opinion therein. In the meantime I have issued my warrant for taking Mr. Burden, who I believe is in this town, and I give you and Mr. Taylor thanks for your zeal. [S.P. Dom. Entry Book 99, p. 279.]