James I: April 1612

James I: April 1612

462. Lords of Council to Sir Arthur Chichester. [April 3.] Philad. P., vol. 4, p. 203.

The case of Henry Violett, merchant, whose petition they enclose, if his information be true, is worthy of redress, and they have therefore referred it to his Lordship for examination; wherefore, if he shall find that his (Violett's) servant, Thomas Chambers, whom he accuses of notorious fraud and cosenage, is as he surmises, in Ireland, they direct that he shall be apprehended, and the ship and goods stayed, until by hearing of both parties his Lordship shall discern what further course is to be taken in justice and equity.—Whitehall, 3 April 1612.

Signed: Lenox, Notingham, T. Suffolke, Gilbert Shrewsbury, E. Worcester, E. Wotton, Jul. Cæsar.

P. 1. Add. Endd. Encloses,

463. Petition of Henry Violet, merchant, to the Lords of His Majesty's Council. Philad. P., vol. 4, p. 204.

Petitioner, in the month of August, in the 8th year of His Majesty's reign, being possessed of the ship "Elizabeth," of Lynn, fitted her for sea, and freighted her with a cargo for Spain, giving ship and freight, to the value of 1,200l., in charge to his servant, Thomas Chambers, for that voyage; whereupon the said Chambers took charge of her and proceeded to sea.

But instead of proceeding on the voyage or making any return or account of the ship or cargo, he took possession of both for his own benefit, and has several times since been in Ireland, where, as petitioner is informed, he is at present. Petitioner therefore prays that orders may be given to His Majesty's officers in Ireland that Chambers may be apprehended, and the ship and goods may be stayed for his, petitioner's, use, and that Chambers may be compelled to answer to the petitioner for these wrongs.

Pp. 1½. Orig.

464. Lords of the Council to Sir A. Chichester. [April 4.] Philad. P., vol. 4, p. 207.

His Majesty is credibly informed that the Lord Maxwell, who, some few years ago, broke prison in Scotland and fled beyond sea, being convicted of sundry treasonable practices against His Majesty's person and state, lately embarked in a Glasco [Glasgow] ship at Bordeaux, probably for Scotland or Ireland. And, forasmuch as by reason of the late gales he is likely to be driven into some port of these kingdoms, His Majesty has issued orders to the lieutenants of the maritime shires of Wales to have strict search made there for him; and he likewise thinks it well to command his Lordship to order a similar search in Ireland, and to direct that, if the said Lord be apprehended, he shall be sent forward with as much speed and security as befits a person of such importance to the State. —Whitehall, 4 April 1612.

Signed: R. Salisbury, Nottingham, H. Northampton, T. Suffolk, E. Worcester, E. Wotton, Jul. Cæsar.

P. 1. Add. Endd.: "Hast, hast, post hast for lyfe."

465. The King to Sir Arthur Chichester. [April 20.] Philad. P., vol. 2, p. 13.

Sir James Cunningham, Kt., and James Cunningham his uncle, British undertakers of the proportions of Dacostrosse and Portlough in the precinct of Portlough in the county of Donegal, and Moyaghe and Tryane in the said county, complain that two quarters of Tuberslane and Altagheary belonging to the said Sir James's proportion, and also two quarters of the lands of Moyaghe and a quarter of the lands of Tryane, belonging to his said uncle's proportion, expressly granted to them by His Majesty's letters patent, are wrongfully detained from them by Sir Ralph Bingley, to the great hindrance of their proceedings, the said lands lying so intermixed with their proportions and being of so commodious a situation for their building and fortification there, that, without the enjoying of them according to the King's grant, they are not able to perfect the intended work of their plantation, which will be a prejudice both to the public service, and to their private interest. He (Sir Arthur Chichester) is therefore required, as well for the upholding the King's grant, as "in regard that they entered not into this action of expense by their own suit but by his (the King's) own election, as being men particularly known to him," to call Sir Ralph Bingley before him, together with the said Sir James Cunningham and James Cunningham's uncle; and if, upon examination, he shall find that the said parcels of land in controversy belong to the said Sir James and his uncle, he is to put them forthwith into possession; but if contrarywise, they belong to Sir Ralph Bingley, that then he do compound the matter between the parties; which if he cannot effect by their mutual consent, then he is to certify the state of the case to His Majesty that he may receive his pleasure thereupon.—Westminster, 20 April, in the tenth year of the reign.

Pp. 1½. Sign manual at head. Add. Endd.

466. Sir John Davys to Salisbury. [April 20.] S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 17.

The things that are to be done for the preparation of the Parliament in Ireland will scarcely be all ready to be transmitted into Ireland before Midsummer, which will be early enough, as the Parliament will not begin before November.

Prays that in the meantime he may make some use of his calling and practice here, which shall not divert him from the Irish business.

Has already moved the Lord Chancellor, and he thinks the motion reasonable, but tells him, that, in regard the King, immediately after he (Sir John) was made a serjeant-at-law, discharged him by a special warrant under the Privy Signet, of wearing his robes, during his pleasure only; it is now fit that he procure like warrant to put on his robes again. Prays his Lordship's directions to some of the clerks of the Signet to procure a warrant for him to be signed before the beginning of this term.—20 April 1612.

P. 1. Hol. Add. Endd.

467. The King to Sir Arthur Chichester. [April 21.] Philad. P., vol. 2, p. 15.

Alexander Maccaula [M'Aulay] of Durling complains that in April 1611 he obtained His Majesty's letters to Sir Arthur Chichester, and that pursuant thereto he (Sir Arthur) directed a warrant to Sir Ralph Bingley, then high sheriff of the county of Donegal, to put him the said Alexander Maccaula into possession of the proportion of lands called Balline, within the precinct of Portlough, in the county of Donegal, according to the tenor of the King's letters patent granted to him as a British undertaker.

That nevertheless the said Sir Ralph Bingley refuses to execute the said warrant and to give him possession of the quarter of land called Mundachlis, parcel of the said Alexander's proportion, the said quarter being at this present wrongly in the possession of the said Sir Ralph Bingley (as the King is informed), "whereby the said Alexander and such people as he carried over thither for the plantation and inhabiting of the said proportion of land granted unto him are disappointed of the most commodious place for their plantation, to their great loss and hindrance." He (Sir Arthur) is therefore to call both parties before him, and if he shall find the right to the said parcels to belong to the said Alexander Maccaula, he is to put him forthwith into possession; but if to Sir Ralph Bingley, then he is to try to compound the matter between them; and if he cannot effect this by their mutual consent, he is to certify the state of the cause to him (the King) to learn his pleasure,—Westminster, 21 April, in the tenth year of the reign.

Pp. 1½. Sign manual at head. Add. Endd.

468. Sir A. Chichester to Sir J. Cæsar. [April 25.] Lansd. MSS., 159, 61. f. 211. B.M.

It is very acceptable news to hear, that he (Sir J. Cæsar) has been so nobly pleased to discharge Mr. Treasurer's credit and his (Chichester's) by payment of the moneys which they have had to take up here for the public service. Requests him to take the same course as regards other payments which he notifies.—Dublin, 25 April.

P. 1. Signed. Sealed. Add.

469. The King to Sir Arthur Chichester. [April 29.] Philad. P., vol. 2, p. 17.

He (the King) has ever esteemed it to be a principal duty of a Christian Prince to endeavour the preservation of the Christian faith, and to protect the temporal state and dignity thereof from contempt and diminution. He has not been wanting in demonstration of his ready cheerfulness to take hold of any occasion to manifest his zeal to the people of Ireland, as may appear by his frequent directions to Sir Arthur, expressing his affections therein, and especially by his liberal gifts of large portions of the escheated lands in Ulster to sundry bishops there.

His purpose was, by those endowments, to encourage a continual succession of worthy prelates to reside and inhabit there for the propagating of religion amongst those rude and ignorant people, and not to enrich any particular man and his family. He is informed, however, that the unconscionable avarice of some bishops has already perverted his godly intentions therein; some of them in other bishoprics having already conveyed away the very inheritance of the possessions belonging to the church, and others of them having made such long leases of them, and at such under-values, that no man of quality, for want of maintenance, will be able to undergo the episcopal charge of any of those places.

Amongst others His Majesty has taken particular knowledge of the waste which has been made by long leases, at extreme under rents, of the lands of the bishopric of Derry, by Doctor Babington, late bishop of that see, a man very much commended unto him when he advanced him to that dignity, but in proof not so worthy of it, having shown himself so greedy for the profit of himself and some about him, and so careless of the good estate of his successors.

The Archbishop of Armagh too, and, as the King is credibly informed, some others, are forward enough to follow that pernicious example. Sir Arthur therefore is to lay the King's express command upon the said archbishop, and all others whom it may concern, to forbear from making any future grants or long leases of their possessions, to the impoverishing of their churches, and to let them know that, if any shall presume contemptuously to disobey him therein, he shall hold them unworthy of any favour, and will proceed against them as manifest contemners of his royal power. And Sir Arthur is to countenance such private persons as shall institute proceedings to make void these bishops' unreasonable grants, many of which are probably void in law.—Westminster, 29 April, in the tenth year of the reign.

Pp. 2. Sign manual at head. Add. Endd.

470. The King to Sir Arthur Chichester. [April 29.] Philad. P., vol. 2, p. 19.

Understands that Sir Nicholas Walshe, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland, is very desirous to resign his office, as he finds his own infirmity daily to increase so much upon him, that he is not able to continue his personal attendance. Sir Arthur Chichester is to accept his resignation, and Sir Dominic Sarsfield (according to the King's former letters that he should succeed on the first vacancy) is to be appointed Chief Justice in his room, and to be sworn as of the Privy Council.—Westminster, 29 April, the tenth year of the reign.

P. ½. Sign manual at head. Add. Endd. Enrol.

471. Petition of William Saxey to Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 34. (fn. 1)

Prays his Lordship's favour concerning his entertainment due for service in Munster. The recognizances of the Irish remaining in his hands amount to more than 100,000l. Represents also his honourable service done in Munster concerning spiritual livings.

P. 1. Hol. No date.

472. Petition of Robert Stafforde to the Earl of Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 35. (fn. 1)

Petitioner's father, Sir Francis Stafforde, being a servitor in the wars of Ireland, left so mean a fortune that petitioner is not able to maintain himself as a private gentleman.

Prays his Lordship to grant him a pension of 6s. per diem.

P. 1. No date.

473. Petition of Thomas Drewry, servant of the Lord Danvers, to Lord Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 36. (fn. 1)

Petitioner has been a suitor for the sum of 92l. 5s. which was disbursed by order of Lord Danvers for the victualling of 60 men for six weeks in the King's ship called the "Tremontaine." His Lordship (Salisbury) required that he should show his answer on that petition to Sir Marmaduke Dorrell and Sir Thomas Bludder, that they should attend and give Salisbury satisfaction therein; which they have now done; and his Lordship resting satisfied with their answers, petitioner begs that such order may be taken with Sir Marmaduke and Sir Thomas that the money disbursed may be paid him for his Lord's use.

P. 1. No date.

474. Petition of Thomas Crooke to the Lord High Treasurer Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 37.

Complains of the false accusations brought against him of relieving pirates in Munster, and requests that a speedy day of hearing may be appointed.

P. 1. Not dated.

475. Petition of Patrick Conley to Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 18. (fn. 1)

That Sir Neale O'Donnell, Knight, owes unto himself and John Conley, his brother, the sum of 1,314l. 6s. 6d. upon a statute staple, which was forfeited by his treason. Prays that satisfaction may be made to him.

P. 1. Not dated. Endd.

476. Petition of Patrick Conley to Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 19. (fn. 1)

That Earl of Tyrconnell owed petitioner 1,774l. 7s. 8d. on a mortgage and lease of 64 quarters of land, which land is forfeited by the rebellion. Prays for relief.

P. 1. Endd. Not dated.

477. Petition of Patrick Conley to Salisbury. S.P., Ireland, vol. 232, 20. (fn. 1)

Referring to his former petitions, alleges that he is no longer able to continue his suits on account of the great charge. Prays for favourable letters to Ireland, that he may retain possession of the land he now holds, the rather for his acceptable service done in the late rebellion of Cahir O'Dogherty and in apprehending Phelim Reaghe.

P. 1.