HAving formerly (in November 1655, and April 1650 last) most humbly presented Your Highness in writing with som humble PROPOSALS, for Your Service, in relation to the calling to a true and just accompt all persons that have, directly or indirectly, in their Custodies, the pub­lick Monies, Lands, Plate, Jewels, Merchandise, or [Page 2] any other thing or things of value; and also the Sta­tute made at Westminster in the tenth year of the Reign of Richard the Second: which excellent Law was made to bring to a strict accompt all such as had defrauded the King and State. The then Parlament, in making that good Act, was so carefull to have all persons brought to accompt, that had received the publick Treasure, and all such as had defrauded the King and Realm, that they made it a premunire and loss of a man's Estate, besides impri­sonment, for any (of what degree soever) that perswaded or gave counsel unto the King to have the said good Law defeated. And they found the strict and due execution of that Law to bee the onely Balsom to cure the great dis­tempers and debts of the Common-wealth, and ease the good people in general of great outrages, oppressions, and insupportable charges. These are the very words of that Statute.

Upon the delivery of this Writing, Your most humble Subject received Your Highness's gracious pleasure by M^r Kelleway, that Your Highness did approve of those his hum­ble and loial endeavours for Your Service; and that they should bee taken into consideration.

May it pleas Your Highness; Your humble Subject finding that on the 26 of May, 1656. a Commission was is­sued our, under the Great Seal of England, to certain per­sons, for to make enquiry and discovery concerning all persons that have in their hands or possessions, Moneys, Goods, Plate, Merchandise, or any thing of value apper­taining to the Common-wealth, &c. Whereupon Your loial Subject did present unto Your Highness's said Com­missioners at Worcester-hous (about the last day of May) the names of several persons who had been entrusted and employed as Accomptants and Treasurers to receiv and finger the publick Monies, Lands and Marchandise. Ve­ry many of these persons have made the Commonwealth's Money, Lands, Goods and Merchandise which they [Page 3] were entrusted with, so like their own, that to this day it stick's in these men's hands, and is in their private possessi­on, to the great dammage of the Nation. And many of them (upon examination) will bee found to have at this time vast summs of money in their hands and possessi­ons amongst them all, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds, Likewise your loial Subject hath most humbly presented your Highness how strict Queen Eli­zabeth was to have all her Receivers called to a just ac­compt, never sparing her great Officers and Favorites, by which means shee lived and died rich, never finding want in her Exchequer, nor her Chests without Treasure.

Your faithfull Subject finde's now (upon his Inqui­ry) many of these Gentlemen that were Treasurers and Accomptants, to wonder and make it strange, that ever they should live to see the day that any persons should call them in question upon their accompts (and that a just and true accompt should bee ever expected by the State) from all persons that have received and possessed themselvs of the publick Moneys, Lands, and Merchandise, &c.

May it pleas your Highness, your humble Suppliant saie's, That that opinion of these Gentlemen (for to have a perpetual Indempnity, and to escape scot-free, as hee most humbly conceiv's, is not grounded upon any just or true reason); for there bee hundreds of Orders, Ordinan­ces and Acts to enable them and thousands of people now living to bee Collectors of Subsidies, Committee-men, Treasurers, Excise-men, Commissioners of the Customs, Trustees for the sale of the King, Queen and Prince's Lands, Bishop's, Deans and Chapters, and other Delin­quents Lands, Receivers, Sequestrators, and Collectors of the monthly Taxes, Collectors for Charitable Uses; and all and every one of these persons, by the fundamental Laws of this Nation, their bodies, lands and estates, from the time and hour they became Debters to the Common­wealth, their Persons, Heirs, Executors and Administra­tor [...], [Page 4] their and every one of their Goods, Tenements, in­to whose hands they are sold, converted, or do com. And all other Lands, Tenements, Goods and Chattels, which any other person then had, or now have in trust for their use, or which at any time ever hereafter shall have power to dispose of, are all lyable to the due and true accompting, paying and answering your Highness and your Successors the monies, lands and goods, &c. they have received; and this is by many Statutes known to be the law of England. And many of them (before they were admitted to act as Trustees, Sequestrators, Committee men or Treasurers) took an Oath not to act contrary to the several Rules, Li­mitations and Instructions given them by several Acts and Orders of Parlament and Council of Sate, as appeareth by the Journal books and printed Acts and Ordinances of Parlament and Council of State; likewise many of the abovesaid persons, upon strict examination, will bee found wilfully perjured, which makes the Offenders lyable to fine and ransom for the breach of their Oaths.

The Lawes now in force (to bee duely and truely exe­cuted for to have an exact accompt) will bring your High­ness and the Common-wealth in milions of money: there is not any one of the aforesaid persons can shew any Or­der, Ordinance, Act of the Council of State or Act of Par­lament, (that when they were made Committee-men or Treasurers) to give them, or any one of them, a privilege or indempnity to cozen and defraud the State, or to licence any one of them to pocket up the Wealth and publick Trea­sure of the Nation, which they have fraudulently conver­ted to their own use. And when they can shew no such privilege, (nor so much as a pardon) they need not make it strange, as many of them do at this day, That they should bee forced to give the Common-wealth a just, strict, and true Accompt, or els their Bodies and Estates, as also their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns to bee lyable, till they shall have justly and truly accompted.

Your Highness's humble subject delivered in W [...]iting to your Commissioners at Worcester-Hous certain Queries for his better direction to proceed in this service, and most humbly desired their judgments thereupon, that so hee might know whether his discoveries were within the cognizance of their Commission. All which hee humbly presented unto them, as being verie materiall both for your Highness and the Commonwealths service and hee told the Commissioners; that hee intended to make their judg­ment thereupon to him, to bee his Rule either to proceed or desist in these discoveries, to avoid unnecessary expence and trouble to himself and others.

May it pleas your Highness; in June last your Supplicant left with your Highness servant Mr Kelleway the true copie of the Writing hee did deliver to the Commissioners at Worcester-Hous, and most humbly besought him to present the same unto your Highness. And his most humble petiti­on to your Highness was, That you would bee graciously pleased, upon your Highness's perusal, to signifie your plea­sure thereupon to your humble and loyal subject, concer­ning the premisses; that so hee might know how to pro­ceed but Mr Kelleway having no covenient opportunitie to get your Highness to peruse the same (by reason of your Highness other great and weighty affairs) thereupon your Supplicant received back the said writing again from Mr Kelleway and hath now printed the same.

The true reason wherefore your humble Subject hath forborn to attend the Commissioners at Worcester-hous, to receiv their order and direction concerning the premisses, is, becaus your most humble and loyall subject intends to put in the same Writing into the Parlament, and there will humbly wait for your Highness's and the Parlaments gra­cious Commands, and directions therein, And the results of that most high and honorable Court upon the premis­ses what your Highness and your high Court of Parliament in your great and profound wisdomes shall judg fit to bee [Page 6] don for the glory of God and good and eas of the nation concerning all the premisses.

May it pleas your Highness; your loyal Subject hath in som things enlarged himself more then in his writing hee left with your Highness: hee hopes, it is for the honor of God, the benefit of your Highness, and the eas of the good people of this nation in generall. His daily praiers to God is, That the publique Treasure that is in private mens hands may, by a gracious Act of this ensuing Parliament, bee or­dered, converted and turned into the right Channel, to save the publique Taxes; which will bee as a sweet smelling Perfume in the nostrels of the good people of this nation, when they shall see those Caterpillers (that have not onely eaten the leavs, but barked the trees of this Common­wealth, using all opressions and fraud to grow rich) bee made to restore it. No doubt the work is pleasing and acceptable to God and all good men; and then manie men (who have made their religion a cloak to cozen the Com­monwealth) may bee made to restore their unjust deteined Treasure and Lands. Many men (under the shaddow of sanctitie) having made gain to bee great godliness, (instead of godliness) to bee great gain.

May it pleas your Highness; your most humble and loy­all Subject, at your Highness's feet, imploreth to bee relieved; having been imprisoned almost four years in the Tower of London; viz▪ 1643. to 1647. and two years and nine moneths of that time kept close prisoner; his estate in lands, houses, offices, goods and moneys being taken from him, to his dammage of eleven thousand pounds (there being then, at his bringing up the late Kings letter from Oxford in December 1643. no known law or publique Ordi­nance to prohibit him to bring up the said letter to the Lord Maior and Citie of London); and hee had a Pass from the hous of Commons to go to Oxford, as appears by the Journals in the Parlament-hous; and hee had at the same time a Warrant from the Lord General Essex to go to Ox­ford, [Page 7] procured by Mr Theophilus Ryley, then Scoutmaster of of the Citie of London. May it pleas your Highness (by Gods Law) Rom. 4. 15. Where there is no Law, there is no Trans­gression; and by the known Laws of this nation, such and such Actions are declared Crimes, and lawes and rules set for the degree of punishing. And hee most humbly con­ceaveth, it is not in any just Judges power to exceed the punishment for any offence, more then is prescribed and set down by the Law.

And it is expresly provided for in Magna Charta, that no Free-man shall bee taken, imprisoned, or distressed of his free-hold or liberties, or any other waies destroied, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land; That no man should bee deferred or denied Justice, or Right.

Whereas your Supplicant, after he was out of the Tower, petitioned for six years constantly at the Parlament doors the members, and at the Counsel of State, to have a legal Trial by the Parlament, or els by the common Law; And to that end delivered several Petitions to several mem­bers of Parlament, yet your Supplicant could never have Justice. Som of the members of the then Parlament, af­ter his many years constant attendance, and great expence, to com to a trial, told him, Had hee been guilty, hee should never needed to have petitioned the Parlament for a Trial; the Parlament would have granted him a Trial without petitioning for it.

May it pleas your Highness; This is your most humble Subjects sad condition, groaning under, and having so heavy a sentence as the loss of almost all his estate, to his dammage above eleven thousand pounds, almost four years Imprisonment in the Tower, when there was no law made at his acting this Business, nor at the time of his Commitment, for either punishing of him, or any other, for acting the same thing (which was, bringing up the late Kings letter to the City in December 1643) but Ordi­nances [Page 8] and Orders made after hee had brought up the King's Letter, for the Confiscation of his Estate, and Imprisonment of his Person, and a great part of his E­state given to private and particular men. Now with Tears and Sighs hee appeal's to Your Highness, for resto­ring him to his Estate and just Reparation, being oppres­sed and undon for a Pretended Crime, when there was no Law; no, not so much as the Breach of the Good Behaviour made against it in December 1643, either to Prohibit him or any other to do the same.

Hee hath printed this Business, with the several Houses, Offices, Bonds and Mony taken from him; To which hee doth most humbly refer himself, And Your Supli­cant was daily faithfully promised by som worthy Mem­bers of the Long Parlament and Counsel of State, (who pittied Your Supplicant's sad Condition, seeing his wil­lingness to serve the Commonwealth) to have Justice and Reparation: and that held up his Spirits, and kept him alwaies to bee willing, to the uttermost of his power and strength-beyond the abilities of his Estate, to engage both his time and estate, for many years, to do the then Parlament many and great services, as appears by Your Loyal Subject sprinted Narrative, 1653. The several Par­ticulars were to his Charges and Expence of many Hun­dred Pounds, as by many Witnesses hee can and hath proved.

Besides, One most Remarkable Service to the Nation in General Your Supplicant did, by the Command of the then Counsel of State, which shall, and ought to stop the mouths of every one, and all his Adversaries, that have, or shall maliciously traduce him as a Malignant, for a man disaffected to the State, or to the true happiness of the Nation in General.

Your humble Subject did this service when Van Trump was in the Downes. It was no small hazard, his venturing to de­liver in a Paper to the Counsel of Srate; in December 1653. which Writing was by the Counsel of State referred to the Com­mittee [Page 9] for Forrain Affairs: Wherein Your Supplicant disco­vered the fraudulent Practises of the Spanish Embassadour, and Duke Leopoldus and his Agents, to defraud the Parlament of a Vast Summ of Treasure, above three hundred Thousand Pounds; which was brough [...] up into the River as a Prize, in three Ships, viz. The Sampson, Salvador, and George.

And this hee did, at the same time, when the Lord Embassador of Spain, with many other Agents of Duke Leopoldus, and Licensiados of the King of Spain's, living at Antwerp, did all of them affirm both to the Judges in the Admiralty, the Coun­sel of State, and to the Parlament in November and De­cember 1652, that all the Lading, both Silver and Marchandize in the said Ships, did appertain to the King of Spain and his Subjects, and none other.

(May it pleas Your Highness, I was far more troubled to finde out the frauds of the Spania [...]ds Claims to the Silver in these Ships, and to bring it forth to bee proved by good and Lawfull Witnesses, as I have here out of the Admiraltie, to Intitle the State to the Silver in these Ships, Then I shall bee troubled to finde out the Frauds and Deceipts of all the Accomptants in General of this Nation, if once I bee but impowered by your Highness to have an Inspection on the Accompts, and such Rules followed and executed, as by the Laws and Statutes of this Nation, hath been formerly put in practice: and the whole Charge of this Discovery will not stand the State in 12^d the pound, to bring the Monies into the Exchequer: And it may bee so managed, not Six pence Charge upon the Pound.)

The Spaniards in the Court of Admiralty, by their Counsel, pleaded, that they ought not to have the Onus probandum cast on them; being their Ships and Lading, and came from a free Port, viz. Cadis in Spain; and were consigned to Free Ports, Dunkerk and Ostend, that came over from beyond Seas purpose­ly upon this Business: And they affirmed solemnly to the Court of Admiraltie, that there was no goods, silver, or Merchandize aboard all or any of the three Ships that appertained to the Dutch of the United Provinces, or French.

Whereupon, there was an Order of Parlament, about the beginning of December 1652, to the Judges of the Admiraltie to proceed to Judgment, according to the Cours of the Court, con­cerning the Ships Sampson, Salvador and George, and the Exspectation of many hundred me [...] was every day after to see the Ships discharged: and a day appointed for sentence.

Thereupon, som of the late Counsel of State finding, that in som of your most humble Subject's Writings, hee had discovered many secret wayes how Merchants transport Gold and Silver, both out of this English Nation, and Forrein Parts: and som of them conceiving, that if Your Supplicant were impowered, and commanded to find out the Spaniard's Frauds; Hee could do it.

Whereupon, the Counsel of State sent for Your Supplicant, and askt him, if hee could and would serve the Parlament faith­fully, concerning these silver Ships: And if hee could, by good and legall Witnesses, disprove the Spanish Embassador's Claim to this Silver, in the Ships, Sampson, Salvador, and George, the Committee for Forrain Affairs (in the behalf of the Coun­sel of State and Parlament) promised Your Supplicant hee should bee restored to all his Estate, or the value which had been taken from him, or the Summe of Eleven Thousand Pounds in Lieu thereof: and should have of the Parlament a good Re­ward over and above.

After, within two dayes time Your Supplicant waited on the Lord Bradshaw, and Committee for Forrain Affairs, and told them, hee would undertake to disprove the Spanish Embas­sador's Claim to all this Silver, by Legal and undeniable Proof: And would prove, by clear Testimony, That there was several great quantities of Silver in these Ships that did not appertain to the King of Spain, or his Subjects; but to the Dutch of the United Provinces. Thereupon the Counsel of State by their Order of December the 13, 1652, Ordered Your Subject to assist, and bee in the nature of a Remembrancer, and to repair to Doctor Walker from time to time, who is the Commonwealth's Ad­vocate for the prosecuting of these Ships (Sampson, Salvador, and George,) which accordingly hee did.

Thereupon, the day the ships were to be discharged the Court of Admiralty, your humble and faithfull Subject made his protest in the Court of Admiraltie against the Judges and their Proceedings, as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint herewith presented: And your Supplicant likewise declared in the Court of Admiraltie, that the Judges (but at their perils) should not proceed to clear or discharge all or any of the afore-named ships, (as the Sampson, Salvador, or George) till your Supplicant's wit­nesses were examined in the behalf of the Common­wealth. This was Decem. 17. 1643.

Whereupon the Court of Admiraltie required your Supplicant to appear before the Counsel of State, that after­noon at three of the clock, to answer before the Counsel of State to their Charge for your Supplicants Action and Protest in the Court of Admiralty; your Supplicants Pro­test being made against and contrary to an Order of Parla­ment, as Judg Exton affirmed in the Court of Admiralty.

There was many hundred of Merchants in the Admi­ralty, the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary, Duke Leopoldus his Agents, and several Spaniards, when your Supplicant made his Protest against the discharge of these silver ships, silver and merchandise: And that very day in the after­noon, at the Counsel of State, before the Judges of the Admiralty, upon reading of som papers, your Supplicant humbly presented against the discharge of the ships (the Sampson, Salvador, and George) and all their silver and lading. Upon a full debate before the Counsel of State, these three ships and silver were all (by Order of the Counsel) stayed; and your Supplicant had thanks given him by the Counsel for his faithfull service; and presently commanded with all diligence to make his proof, whereby to disprove the Spanish Ambassadors Claims.

In the further prosecution of this Business, your Sup­plicant received several Orders of the Counsel of State and of your Highness's Counsel, which ordered him from time [Page 12] to time to make his Addresses, and advise with Doctor Walker (your Highness's Advocate) in this Business.

Doctor Walker knows, that for 16 months together, your Supplicant employed many people in this Business, against the ships (Sampson, Salvador, and George) their silver and lading. Your Subject employed several persons in the translation of Spanish and Dutch Papers, which are in the Registrie of the Admiraltie; other persons your Suppli­cant daily employed amongst the Passengers and Seamen that belonged to these ships, to finde out and know what silver appertained and belonged to Holland, and all other matters that might tend to the discovery of this Business, constantly (as I said) employing about ten men in this Ser­vice, as appears by their several Affidavits, for neer sixteen months together. All these mens expences at their meet­ings, Boat-hire, and payment of them for their time, your most humble Supplicant out of his own purs hath dischar­ged. And this hee did, to enable himself to do this service, and to finde out the bottom of the Spanish Ambassadors fraud, in claiming this silver. Your Supplicant (at the ear­nest entreaty of Doctor Walker, as appears by his Warrants to the Examiner and Register of the Admiralty) did cause to be breviated and read, and took notes of many thousand sheets of paper: som papers hee caused to bee translated out of Dutch and Spanish into English, concerning the silver ships. For almost three months together, this was your Supplicants and several mens works; viz. one M^r Glover, that had lived a long time in Holland, and M^r Bald-wyne, that had lived in Spain, as also your Supplicant. and others which were daily employed about this Business, as the Registers and Examiners of the Admiralty can testifie: and all this was done by your Supplicant at his own char­ges, never receiving a penny as yet, either from the Parla­ment, Counsel of State, or your Highness, for all his dis­bursments: and this your Supplicant did, at the command of the Counsel of State, & at the intreaty of Doctor Walker.

And had your Supplicant failed to make good his alle­gations, and not to have proved what hee undertook to do, hee had been totally a second time undone. Your Sup­plicant must confess, that the old Counsel of State in Decem­ber 1652. many of them told him, If hee should fail of dis­prooving the Spanish Ambassadors Claim, and could not prove what hee had alleged to the Counsel of State, that in these ships there was silver appertained to the Dutch of the United Provinces, That then his protesting against the dis­charge of this silver, would totally undo your Supplicant, and bee his utter ruine.

Your Highness, and your most honorable Counsel, will see it cleerly proved, the great expence, pains and hazzard which your humble Subject hath been at till this very day, your Petitioner paying interest for above five hundred pounds; which money, every penny, hee expended in this service (as appears by the Oaths of several persons which your Supplicant employed, and they were privy to the lay­ing out of the said summs of money onely in this service. (These original Papers remain in M^r Jessops and M^r Scobels custody.) And your humble Supplicant trusts in God and your Highness, that hee shall have his Estate restored, or the full value, for doing this great service, according to the then promise of the then Counsel of State, whereof your Highness was then a Member.

May it pleas your Highness; Had the long Parlament and Counsel of State coined the money which your Sup­plicant stayed, or altered the property thereof, hee is really assured by many honorable Gentlemen of the long Parla­ment and the then Counsel of State, that hee should have had full satisfaction with thanks for this great service: But they could not pay the Reward, before they received the Benefit. I humbly say, The old Counsel of State set mee (your loyal Subject) to beat the bush for them, but your Highness caught the Bird; and since your Supplicant hath acted by several Orders of your Highness's Counsel, beeing promised by them a just [Page 14] and good Reward, I do most humbly implore your Highness for the same.

Your Petitioner hath printed these Examinations, Wit­nesses, Transactions and Passages, and humbly tenders them at your Highness's and the Parlaments feet; that so your Highness and the Parlament may see the service your Supplicant hath done. Had hee not taken this cours, it had been impossible for him to have cleerly stated it to your Highness and the Parlament, and also to the whole Nation and world in general, what charges and pains hee hath been at to do this service. This will cleerly shew to the world the just caus the then Parlament and Counsel of State had in 1652 for the staying these ships (Sampson, Sal­vador, and George) and their silver, from undeniable Testi­monies. Upon the sight whereof, the mouths of many clamoring merchants will be stopped, when they see upon what grounds this silver was stayed, and the clear witnes­ses and proofs for to justifie the truth, to disproov the Spa­nish Ambassadors and Spaniards Claims to all this silver in these ships.

May it pleas your Highness; it is out of the mouths of many of the Passengers in these ships that (this Voiage) came from Spain aboard these very ships, all able and cre­dible witnesses; they have confessed,

1. That great quantities of this silver and merchandise was delivered a ship board in Spain for the accompt of the Hollanders and Merchants of Amsterdam, and other parts of the United Provinces.

2. By several Advises from beyond Seas from Holland and Spain (by the Parlaments Agent at S^t Lucars in Spain M^r Wilson, and M^r Pompeys Calendrens Letters from Holland, and M^r Steniers Letter, intercepted here in England) that these ships were bound for Holland, and a great part of the silver for merchants of Holland and Zealand: Also the Counsel of State had advice from Holland, that some of the same Fleet that set sail from Spain at the same time with these [Page 15] three silver ships, being taken by the Parlaments men of Warr at sea, were discharged from them, pretending them­selvs to bee bound for Hamborough, and so got discharged; and immediately, when they had got from our Fleet, sail­ed directly into Amsterdam. The ships that so fraudulently cleared themselvs and got into Amsterdam, after they were in the possession of the Parlaments ships, were worth neer upon a million of money: had those ships been brought to London, that Business had broak the Hollanders hearts.

3. It is proved, that when these ships set sail to go their voyage, they all set sail from Holland Ports.

4. It is proved by several merchants of London (that have put in their claims to several parcels of silver in these three ships) That several parcels of silver then aboard these ships, was loaden and put aboard these ships for the pro­per accompt of merchants of London. Which clearly shew­ed the Spanish Ambassadors Claims to all this silver (as his Ma­sters silver, and onely for his Catholick Majestie, and his Subjects accompt) to bee a notortous State trick, and forged to get the Treasure out of the States hands, that was in these ships. And if the Spanish Ambassador could have done it, hee was to have had many thousand pounds of the owners for doing of this State Business; but (by Gods assistance) your hum­ble Supplicant prevented him, to his great expence and danger of his life for doing this service.

5. It is confessed and proved, That several parcels of silver aboard these ships, were entred in Bills of Lading by feigned names, and colorably to avoid the taking of the silver and monies, likewise to avoid the adjudication and condemnation of the same, if these silver ships and their lading were seized on; and that the Bills of Lading now pro­duced in Court of Admiralty, were forged at sea, when they heard wee had warrs with Holland, and all the Dutch names of the Bills altered. This is proved.

6. There is in the Admiralty the States Generals Com­mission to De Wit and De Rutter (their Vice-Admirals) [Page 16] to guard these ships from the English: And this was done upon the petition of the merchants of Amsterdam to the States General. These Letters and original Commissions under the great Seal of Holland I have printed; and the Ori­ginals can bee produced when there is occasion. Without doubt the merchants of Amsterdam would not have petitio­ned the States Generals for a Convey for these ships, had not the Lading and silver belonged to them.

7. Your Highness will see (upon the whole matter and prosecution of this Business) your most humble Suppli­cant hath left no stone unturned, nor spared any cost haz­zard or pains to do the Parlament (and since your Highness) this service.) And your humble Supplicant is fully assured, That it is a far easier work for him to discover the frauds of the Accomptants and Committee men of this Nation, if hee had a Commission to bee your Highness's Remem­brancer, to see this Business effectually prosecuted, than to have made this Discovery of these silver ships.

8. Hee hath clearly proved several unfree goods and parcels of silver aboard these ships, appertaining to the Dutch, (then our Enemies) which hath made all the silver and merchandise lyable to a seizure and confiscation.

9. May it pleas your Highness; In France, one parcel of goods found a ship-board, and consigned to an enemy, confiscates all the ship and goods. In Spain and in Holland, one barrel of But­ter or a case of Pistolls consigned but as a present to a friend, shall confiscate both ship and goods. And your humble Subject hopes, the same Law that is civil for them beyond the Seas to judg and put upon our Merchants and their Ships and Merchandize there, shall not bee held in England to be an uncivil Law, and a breach of Jus Gentium, when it is but the same measure of Justice which hath been in this Business administred to Forrainers here, which Forrainers administer to our Merchants beyond the Seas? And this is a known truth in many Merchants cases, that had not so much Justice in Spain, as wee have given to Forrainers here, even in these their silver Ships.

These Original Warrants and Orders of the States General, and Petition of the Merchants of Amsterdam, were taken in a Dutch ship that was going with them to Cornelius de Witte, vice-Admiral of Holland and Westfriezland, and brought to Dover to M^R Vincent Delabarre and M^R Thomas Delavale, merchants there, before they came to the vice-Admiral of Holland; who, finding them to bee of great Con­cernment and service to the State, acquain­ted Your Supplicant therewith; and they sent them up to the Lord Bradshaw and Counsel of State, to bee made use of for the service of the Common-wealth; to their great Commendations for their Fi­delity to this Nation in this particular.

So that although the Port bee Dunkerk or Ostend where these ships pretended to unlade, yet the Adventurers and Owners are of Amsterdam. And this you shall see cleerly confirmed out of several Papers of the States General, upon the Petition of the merchants of Amsterdam, in the behalf of themselvs and others, [...]nteressed in the Spanish Trade. There were above thirty other witnesses, all passengers in these ships, which I brought daily to the Admiraltie to M^r Budd, the States Proctor, to bee legally examined in the Court of Admiraltie; who could and would have discovered the whole bottom of the Spaniards frauds in the claiming of this Silver: But through the neglect of M^r Budd, and the craft and vigilancy of the Claimers, and the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary, the witnesses that I would have examined for the State, (being most of them Passen­gers in these ships, this voyage from Spain) they had monies given them, and were packed away out of the Nation, before they were examined in the Admiraltie for the State: Of which abuse and injurie to the State, I heavily com­plained to the then Counsel of State; but the Counsell was dissolved two daies after they had made an Order for the strict examination of this Business, which was about the 20^th of April 1653. M^r Budd, the States Procter, was too great with the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary. And that was the reason why my witnesses were not all exa­mined in the Admiralty, but let pass beyond the Seas with­out examination.

In the Registry I finde, amongst ma­ny other proofs, this following.

IN a Letter to M^r Samuel Wilson from M^r James Wilson, Agent for the Parlament at Cades, dated October 19^th new stile, 1652. ‘This day goes away several ships bound (as they give out) for Ostend; and Bills of Lading made thither, but the Port is for Amsterdam: There goeth a­mongst them 7 or 800 Potaccoes of Tobacco, as neer as wee can guess.’

[This was written out of Spain by the Parlaments Agent M^r James Wilson, who is now in London (as I am informed); and, no doubt, can give a reason of his writing the same to M^r Samuel Wilson, the Commissi­oner for Prize Goods.]

In the Registry of the Admiraltie.

SEveral humble Proposals I made to Doctor Walker; and from him to the Committee of the Counsel of State appointed to take an Accompt of your Supplicant touching this Business, for sending of Commissioners in­to Spain, to examine the Laders in Spain, concerning the the Claims of this Silver: which is the common way they do it, not by way of Mandamus, but by Intreaty, according to the Cours of the Civil Law beeween all Countries who have Amity one with another, This is daily done: Which had they sent Commissioners, There is not one of the Spa­nish Merchants that are nominated in the Bills of Lading in the Court of Admiralty, that durst have owned the Trans­porting of Silver out of Spain, for it is loss of Life and Estate in Spain, to Transport Silver (if you confess it, or bee taken doing it) And whether wee had Peace or Warr with Spain, the Silver had been all the States: For what silver belonged to Holland, the Dutch they could not Claim, by the last Articles of Peace, And what the Spaniard Claimed heer, by Merchants, would have all been denyed in Spain; for no man there would confess the Trans­porting Treasure: And if the Bills of Lading and the Laders were denyed to bee true in Spain, the State had done their work.

I have stated this business at large, to shew the great Expence, trouble, hazard and pains, the hard and difficult wayes I found out; I made use of Sea-men that were Pas­sengers, Merchants, English, Strangers, all sors of people, and all interests, to effect this service, I took pains night and day.

And I most humbly say, if I bee impowered by your Highness to have a full Inspection into the Frauds of the Accomptants and Treasurers of this Nation with power to act as Remembran­cer, And to have the same power (as Doctor Walker gave mee in the Admlraltie) to inspect into all manner of proceedings of Committee men and Accomptants and Frauds of the Nation, as aforesaid, I will most humbly undertake (upon the peril of my life) [Page 38] to bring your Highness in many hundred Thousand Pounds: Pro­vided I may have just reward and encouragement for what I have done already.

Ʋpon my humble Petition to your Highness and the Counsel for my satisfaction for the staying the Silver Ships, The Counsel of State made this order.

Ʋpon these Orders of the most Honorable Counsell I writ this Letter ensuing.

For this his Justice in certifying the Truth, I give his Honor most humble thanks.

I Presented this Letter and Certificate to som of the Honorable Council; who, when they had read it, replyed, They wondred my Lord Bradshaw and the Coun­cil of State did not give mee satisfaction when I did this service; saying, They could have done it: and (if they would) they might have kept their promise; they then had power enough to do it.

TO which I humbly answer; My agreement with the Lord Bradshaw and the Council of State was, That I should bee paid eleven thousand pounds for this service, out of the first moneies the State coyned of the sil­ver in these ships, after I should by good and legal witness disprove the Spanish Ambassadors Claim; Or I should bee restored to my estate in Offices, Lands, Bonds, Mo­ney, and Houses the Parlament had taken from mee, with all my dammage. Now (may it pleas your Highness) neither the Lord Bradshaw nor the Council, all the time after [Page 42] their agreement with mee, could pay mee; neither did I desire it, before it was due; for I was to bee paid my monies out of the same monies which were then aboard the Ships: For although by my discovery and protest, the Councill of State stayed the silver; which was the 17^th of December 1652. Yet all the time after of the Parlament and Council of States sitting, which was to the 20^th of April 1653. the suit against these silver ships and their silver and lading went on in the Admiraltie; and my witnesses some of them examined in the Admiraltie, though many other witnesses I would have examined more then I did get to bee exami­ned, but could not have them. And there was no publi­cation till after the 20^th of April 1653. and then the power of the Old Council of State was taken from them, and the silver (though stayed all that time, from December 1652. to April 1653.) remained a ship board, though both the Commissiones for Prize Goods, and my self often times, made the Council of State acquainted with the daily Imbe­zilments of the Silver in these ships.

May it pleas your Highness, Upon the dissolving of that Parlament and Council of State, I received new Or­ders and directions from your Highness's most honorable Counsel, commanding mee to proceed and present to them all frauds and abuses concerning this silver. And when I presented to your Highness's Counsel my humble desires, and told them what agreement I had made with the Old Counsel of State, which was, That I should re­ceiv twelv pence upon every twenty shillings which was paid to the State out of these silver ships for my discovery, till the summ of eleven thousand pounds was paid mee.

After I had attended your Highness's Counsel several daies for my Answer, the right honorable Colonel Sidenham and Colonel Jones (for Answer to my humble Petition for the said Allowance) told mee, the Councils pleasure was, and they required mee in the Councils name to proceed, and that I should have from the Council all my charges, [Page 43] and an honorable Reward for my pains and hazzard, ex­pence and time, both for those I emploied and for myself, if I did disproov the Spanish Ambassadors Claim to the silver aboard the Sampson, Salvador and George; and other particular Agreement your Highness's Council would not make with your Supplicant; for Colonel Sidenham and Colonel Jones told mee, It was below the Council to make any other Agreement: and of the just performance of this, I might rest assured on.

May it pleas your Highness; Till I had this promise from your Highness's Council, I would proceed no further, but refrained my Attendance on Doctor Walker (hee send­ing for mee earnestly to proceed, both by M^r Doreslaus and others) I told them, when the Counsel of State had given mee their answer, how I should bee restored to my estate, and receiv satisfaction for my disbursments I had and should lay out in this service, I would then proceed in this Business.

And upon the right honorable Colonel Jones and Colo­nel Sidenham's promise to mee as aforesaid, and upon Do­ctor Walker's earnest intreaty of mee (as appears under his hand) I proceeded in this service. And this was done since your Highness took the Government, by order and command of your Council of State, and at the entreaty of your Advocate Doctor Walker. And upon these honorable Promises (besides my former Agreement with the Old Council of State) I relyed and proceeded; whereupon, Doctor Walker gave mee several Warrants to the Register, to the Examiner, and to M^r Budd your Highness's Pro­ctor, and M^r Doreslaus. The Copies whereof follow; viz.

WHen I first was required by the Counsel of State to engage in this service, to assist and bee in the nature of a Remembrancer for this Business, my Warrant (of December 13. 1652) from the Counsel of State com­manded mee from time to time to acquaint Doctor Walker (Advocate for the Common-wealth) with what I had to offer, or did desire to bee done in this Business of the Silver ships for the service of the Common-wealth. And truely my Duty and Truth bindes mee to give Doctor Walker humble thanks; for I ever had his uttermost Assistance, Advice and In­couragement to further mee in this service; for hee knew I needed it, having undertaken a knotty work, and had great and mighty Opposites therein, (even such as had great Influence in the State and then Parlament) which would have had the silver then dis­charged; and for my staying it, they do owe mee a shrewd turn to this day.

Doctor Walker made it his Business to keep the Silver here, till my Witnesses were examined. Let the Judges of the Admiraltie say what they pleas, This was a great help and incouragement unto mee in my Discoveries, and made my work so much the easier when I found his vigilancy and integrity to improve by all lawful waies and means the Common-wealths interest to this Silver, that they should not bee cousoned of this great Treasure. The like ready assistance to their power (in their several places) I must truly ac­knowledg I received ever from the Registers and Examiners, when I shewed them Doctor Walkers Warrants. For others in the Admiralty that did not do their duties, and hindred me as much as they could (though they were the Common-wealths officers; and, by their places and duty, ought to have don that they neglected to do: God forgive them, I do; considering though they indeavoured to neglect their duties, I was so vigilant (God assisting mee) that they were disappointed of their purposes. And the Common-wealth and your Highness, by my protest and careful prosecution, got every penny of the silver in these ships Sampson, Salvador and George, which els your Highness and the Common-wealth had lost. For my doing whereof great, men in the State were and are angry with mee, and manie marchants and others in the Admiraltie and els where grinned their teeth at mee; yet for all their malice (through the good protection and guidance of God) they could never bite mee with their teeth though with their tongues they have back bitten mee verie liberally upon all occasions by themselvs & their emissaries. I humbly say, it is an unwor­thy way to say that behind a man's back which they will not say to his face. And I humbly hope now your High­ness sees the true proceedings and my expence, hazard, en­vie and paines so cleerly and particularly proved by manie witnesses, you will in your Justice pay mee what was promised mee, viz. the full Restoration of my Estate, with dammages; or the summ of eleven thousand pounds. For it would bee strange to all men, to have it left to posteritie, [Page 48] that Thomas Violet (out of his zeal for his Countrey) upon the faithfull promise of the Counsel of State of England, borrowed five hundred pounds at Interest, and laid it out every penny to save and get the State Three hundred thou­sand pounds in Silver; which the State had lost, had not Thomas Violet prosecuted the Business, and discovered the fraudulent Claims to all this Silver; which Practices were set on foot by the then Spanish Ambassador, to deceiv the State. The particulars at large I formerly Printed, when I stayed the Silver 1652.

Here followeth an Attestation of my Protesting in the Court of Admiraltie against the Judges, clearing or dis­charging the said Silver and Ships, and against the Spanish Ambassadors Claims, just that Morning as they were dis­charging of the Ships and Silver, being the seventeenth day of December 1652. as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint under their hands, viz.

Here follow the Affidavits and Certificates to the Truth of Thomas Violetts Service, made by honest men of clear reputation, (Merchants and others) that hee imploy­ed and were privy to the whole proceed­ings in the Admiralty and other parts of this Nation: and by what waies and means hee made these Discoveries, to intitle the State to this Silver, and dis­prove [Page 50] the Spanish Ambassadors and the Spaniards Claims. The Affidavits fol­low; viz.

UPpon what is here sworn and attested by able legall Witnesses, I do most humbly appeal to Your High­ness, Whether I did not deal with the Counsel of State and the Committee for Forrain affaires, and Your High­ness's Counsell as publick Ministers in the name and behalf, of the Commonwealth: And that, (if I had not relied on their honorable Promiss, and since, on Your Highnes's Counsell; whether I would have run these hazards, been at this Charge, hiered half a score several persons, and to have spent five hundred pounds, and payed Interest for it till this day, if I had not had the assurance from the State, of just and honorable dealing) the Lord Bradshawe, nor any one of the old Counsel of State were privately interessed in this business, with agreeing with mee for the restoring of my Estate, or the summe of Eleven Thousand Pounds, if I did disprove the Spanish Ambassadors and the Spaniards Claims, they were not, nor none of their relations were to have one penny or farthing benefit by this agreement.

They did onely look upon the greatness of my service and the haz­zard, [Page 58] charge and difficulty I should undergo: And some of the Counsell of State told mee, If I did prove what I undertook, I deserved forty thousand Pounds, for I saved the State all the Three hundred thousand pounds: But if I should faile in what I had undertaken, I deserved to lose my life: And that, if I would bee so rash, to make a Protest against the discharge of the Silver, and, when I had done, could not prove it, I must suffer highly for it, for it was at that time to bring more fists about their ears then the State could well defend them­selves from. Many of the Counsel of State, and some of the Commissioners for Prize goods and Officers of the Mint told mee, I had undone my self if I did not prove, there was great quantitie of silver in these Ships, Sampson, Salvador and George, belonged to the Dutch in the United Pro­vinces.

Many great Personages told mee, The Spanish Ambas­sador would demand Justice on mee for presuming to contradict what so great a Princes Ambassador affirmed to the Counsell of State, and to the Parlament, if I failed of my proofs against him.

Also, the Merchants, many scores of them would have their actions against mee, for their Damages, for my detaining their ships and silver upon a fall pretence, (they having enterred a Protest for their Dammage in December 1652, for detaining this silver.)

And, above all, some of the Councel of State told mee them­selves, if I could not prove what I had alledged to bee true, I should bee taken for an Incendiary (and so they would report mee to the Parlament?) So that, in seeking to get mine Estate, I ran a great hazzard totally to [...]do my self.

May it please Your Highness: In brief, I might with the same security have as well flung my self off of Paul's Steeple, as to have missed to maintain my charge, and not have disproved the Spanish Ambassadors Claim.

Therefore when I had made my Protest in the Admiral­ty I was forced to bee at the Charge to make out my Evi­dence [Page 59] and Proofs, and then fully to follow this business, or bee undone.

The prosecution of this business hath been to my insupportable Charge: to this day I pay Interest for five hundred Pounds I bor­rowed, and laid out in this business, to bring the State in above Three hundred thousand Pounds, as appears formerly, uppon the Oaths of severall credible Witnesses. And although I was pro­mised the summe of Eleven Thousand pounds. Of all that summe I have received as yet (though I attended dayly the State) but three Bonds (which were my own Bonds) in two thousand Pounds for the payment of one thousand Pounds unto mee Thomas Violet: These Bonds being seized, and taken out of my sisters cust [...]dy in Holbourn Anno 1644, by the Committee of Shrop­shire,

And these Bonds I could not haue out of the Committee of Salops Custody, till I paid them forty Pounds, as ap­pears by the Order of the Counsel following. So that, there is nothing that comes into a Committees hands of my Estate that I could yet ever get of Scot-free.

But I must ever humbly acknowledg John Corbet Esq his great Justice and favour to mee, in helping mee to my Bonds, even on those terms I had them: For which I give him humble thanks. And if the said Committee of Salop will restore mee back the said forty Pounds (I have deposited in Mr Corbets hands for their use) now they see my faithfull Affection and Du­ty to my Countrey in these several particulars; I shall like-wise-give them thanks for their Justice, in doing mee right. Their County will bee little the Richer for taking this Forty Pounds of mee.

The Order of the Counsel of State thereupon follow, viz.

Mr John Corbet I attended with this order; March 28. 1655. Hee was pleased to tell mee hee was to go down into Shropshire, and would speak with the Com­mittee who were to receive the forty pounds, and then I should know where to pay my money, for hee told mee hee had never received Publique monies, and hee was ve­rie unwilling to receiv any now, But upon his return, up­pon my earnest intreaty and to save mee from further [Page 61] trouble, hee told mee hee would receiv and keep this fortie pounds in deposito, for the use of the Committee till hee had order from them for the disposing of it. That transaction follows, viz.

The Lady Ann Waad of Battels Hall in Essex died about May 1643. And the Bonds are due to mee Th. Violet, as abovesaid.

May it please your Highness,

OUt of your princely regard to Justice, to reliev your humble Supplicant; and to give that order and direction, that either your Supplicant may bee restored to his Estate again, with his Damages, or the summ of E­leven Thousand pounds paid him, according to the faith­full promise of the Counsel of State; Or any other way Your Highness in your great Clemency and love to Justice shall think most convenient for the just Reward of your Loyall Subject, to give him Satisfaction. (Your Suppli­cant having formerly at large Printed the Grounds and Reasons for his Stay of this Silver; and the severall humble proposalls hee from time to time presented to your High­nes▪s Counsel and Doctor Walker for your service.) And your Highness having disposed of all this great treasure by the hands of Sr J. Baxter, your Highnes's Lieutennant of the Tower; who hath been honorably pleased solemnly severall times upon your Sup­plicants humble suit, to promise mee, if ever hee had a fit oppor­tunity to acquaint your Highnes of the great charges, pains and attendance I had been at in this business: and that hee would faith­fully and effectually do it; and present how seasonably both for the Nation and your Highness I stayed that silver in the Ships Sampson, Salvador and George, when Van Trumpe was in the Downes, ready to conduct the silver home. And this appears upon the attestation of several Gentlemen, your Highness's Officers of the Mints hands, whom Mr Lieuten­nant of the Tower knowes to bee able, honest Gentlemen; And they were in the Court of Admiraltie when I stayed this silver by my Protest. I humbly refer my self to their Certificate in this Book, Fol. 48, and to Mr Lieutennant of the Tower's report to your Highness thereupon.

I petitioned your Highness in February 1653. to take an Accompt of these silver ships, and what I had proved in the Admiraltie: And desired, that your Highness Counsel would advise with Doctor Walker about sending Com­missioners [Page 63] into Spain, to Examine the Claimers in Spain: and for to Advise how this weighty business might be ma­naged for the most advantage of the State: and to vindi­cate the Justice of this Nation in staying this silver in the Ships Sampson, Salvador and George. This was the sub­stance of my humble Petition.

The 3^d of February 1653. Your Highness referred this Pe­tition to the consideration of the Counsel to expedite the business, by Mr J. Sadler.

THe 25 of February 1653. Doctor Walker and your Supplicant attended the right honorable Major Ge­neral Lambert and Colonel Sydenham; to whom [Page 64] your Supplicant delivered a duplicate of many, Papers hee had formerly delivered to Doctor Walker, touching this Bu­siness; wherein, at large, was set down what was proved for the State against the Silver Ships; (som part of which Papers I have here printed, with my then humble desires to the honorable Committee, to have Commissions out of the Admiralty to go into Spain, (as is usual by t [...]e cours of the civil Law) by which means the silver that is pretended by their bills of Lading to bee loaden by Spaniards at Cales and S^t Lucars aboard these Ships; not one penny will bee claimed of it in Spain by the Spaniards; for, the trans­porting Silver out of Spain without the Kings licence, is loss of life and estate: And had the Claimers had the Kings licence to transport the Silver, that licence would have been pleaded in the Admiralty: and this is a certain truth, No man in Spain will make a confession to hang himself; if they did, they would bee accompted mad merchants; so that all this Silver would have pro­ved prize to your Highness, bad wee not had a Warr with Spain: for the truth is, these Spanish Claims were forged on board the Ships when they were at Sea; as appears by the voluntary confession of Mr Joachim Peesler, Chirurgeon of the Ship Sampson, who saith, The Pursers book was alter­ed at Sea, and all the Dutch names put out of the Pursers book, and other names put in, and the true book was not in the Admiralty; and the Spaniards wanted for no help in London to perfect their fraudusent Claims as I have set forth: And Jacob Eleares, the Cabbin-boy of the Sam­pson saith, The Steersman at the Downes took an Iron-barr and tyed a bundle of Writings fast to it, and then flung it into the sea. You will see this at large by both their own Confessions in this book, fol. 17, 20.

I also most humbly presented the insupportable charge and ex­pence, the continuall hazzard of my life, and the envy I had by my staying this Silver.

The right honorable Committee were well pleased with the ac­compt Doctor Walker and my self gave them touching this Bu­siness; [Page 65] And Major General Lambert commanded mee to make my Petition, and to set down my humble desires, and hee would see that I should receive satisfaction and incouragement for this service. And accordingly I made my humble Petition, and delivered it to his Honor; but as yet (by reason of the multitude of great Businesses) it is daily respited: Doctor Walker at the same time made his Report of the great ex­pence and envie I had undergone in doing this Service; and humbly referred mee to the honorable Committee for satisfaction. This was about March 1653

This (that before I have humbly declared) shews to all the world the just grounds and reasons the then Parlament and Counsel of State had for staying the ships Sampson, Sal­vador, and George upon your humble and faithfull Subjects discovery, and his Protest in the Court of Admiraltie, and his great expence and paines: All which hee willingly and cheerfully undertook, to shew his true affection to his dear Countrey, to the then Parlament and Counsel of State, and afterwards to your Highness; by several Orders and Warrants from your Highness's Counsel, and your Highness's Advocate, requiring and desiring your Suppli­cant to do this: And no man of his Condition can shew fuller or clearer demonstration of his duty and love to his Nation and the present Supreme Governors; Nor no man in England (of your Supplicants condition) ever brought to the Common-wealth so much money at one time, as your Supplicant hath done.

May it pleas your Highness; the Scripture saith, The tree is known by his fruit: Had I not loved my Countrey, I would not have ventured my life and estate (as I have done) in this service, and sate up nights and daies to do this service, and imploied half a score persons at my own charge in this Business.

I most humbly here (upon my knees) present your HIGHNESS an Accompt of what hath been taken from mee Thomas Violet; for which I most humbly desire satisfaction in kinde, with my dammages, or the summ of eleven thousand pounds, as was faithfully promised unto mee by the most honorable Counsel of State in De­cember and January 1652. for staying the Silver in the ships Sampson, Salvador and George, and disproving the Spanish Ambassadors Claim to this Silver, which was above three hundred thousand pounds.

1. WHen I was first sent unto the Tower the 6^th of January 1643, my mother had of mine good Bonds and Bills in her hands taken away from her at several times, to the value of one thousand three hun­dred and odd pounds; Besides many of my Papers and Accompts of great concernment to the Commonwealth; and as yet I cannot come to the knowledg who hath them: But this I am sure of, If there had been any thing in them that could have made against mee, there had then use been made of them.

2. My mother had at another time a Privy Seal taken from her, wherein the late King acknowledged hee owed me (for my expences in discovering the Transporters of Gold and Silver) ninteen hundred threescore and eight pounds: which money I laid every penny out of my [Page 67] own purse to do the late King and Commonwealth that service: and I caused the transporters of gold and silver to be fined in the Star Chamber at Twenty four Thousand pounds, besides several Merchants, and gold and silver Refiners, viz. Alderman Wollaston, and Alderman Gibbs, M^r Peter Fountain and others: Upon their Petition to the late King, (and paying well for it) had their Pardon under the Great Seal of England, for several abuses practised by them in their Trades, and complained of at Whitehall to the late King by Sr Henry Mildemay Master of the Jewel-hous, and by som of the Wardens and Company of Goldsmiths, as will appear by the Order of the Counsel-table, 25 Jan. 1634.

3. The Committee of Essex put mee out of Possession of the Mannors of Battells and Patan-Hall in Essex, as appears by their Warrants. Of which Lands I had an Extent to the just value of One thousand pounds: and one Mr Elcon­head received my rents ever since 1643, Mr Philip Cage being in possession for my Use.

4. The Committee of Shropshire seized, in my sisters hands, in London, three Bonds due to mee, in two thou­sand pounds for the payment to mee Thomas Violet one thousand pounds, by the Lady Anne Waad, Edmond Lenthal, Phillip Cage and Charles Mordent Esq^rs, as appears by the Bonds restored unto mee back from John Corbet Esq^r, 24^th of May 1656, by vertue of your Highness and your Counsels Order of 21 of March 1655. And I have put these Bonds in suit, according to the power given unto me by your High­ness, and your most honorable Counsel: For which Justice I most humbly am bound to give to Colonel Syddenham, my Lord Strickland, and Col. Jones most humble thanks; humbly trusting in God, that they will bee honorably pleased to move your Highness, and the Councel to take that order, the rest of my Estate under Sequestration shall bee justly restored: Or, that I shall have the summ to bee made up Eleven thousand pounds paid mee, according to the faithfull promise of the Councel of State 1652, for staying, [Page 68] and intituling the State to the aforesaid Three hundred thousand pounds in silver, which the Commonwealth, (onely by my means,) had every penny of it.

5. I had the Leas of ten severall Houses, at the Posterne in Little Moor-fields; and the Tennants owed mee, when I was committed to the Tower, in arrears for rent above one hundred pounds: And for these Thirteen years, I re­ceived no Rent of them. But one Mr Elconhead hath re­ceived the Rents of them ever since.

6. I had the Office of sealing and surveying of all gold and silver Thread and Wyer: which prevented the making of all sleight and adulterate gold and silver Thread, and Wyer, granted to mee under the Great Seal, for three Lives, from the late King; which Office cost mee Fifteen hundred Pounds (to the Lord Treasurer Juxon, L. Cottington, Sr John Cook Secretary of State, and Sr. John Bankes the late Kings Attourney. The necessity of keeping up that Office, to prevent the dayly Cosennages and frauds of divers Silkmen, Wyerdrawers and Refiners in their making Cours, sleight and deceitfull Gold and Silver Wyer and Toread: I shall at the later end of this book shew at large; having about three hundred Assayes of adulterate and cours gold and silver Wyer, Thread, Spangles, Oes, &c all made and sold contrary to the Lawes and Sta­tutes. These Assayes are in my custody, under the Hand and Attestation of Mr Alexander Jackson Assay-master of Goldsmiths Hall; and the several Silkmens names and shops, and dayes of the Moneth in which they sold this cours, adulterate gold and silver Thread and Lace, Spangles, Wyer, &c. to the great deceipt of the Nation in generall.

And, upon the Discovery of these notorious Cheats, the late King and his Counsel appointed mee Surveyor and Sealer of the said Manufacture.) I caused all the abuses to bee laid aside: I Indicted som offenders, imprisoned som, caused others to stand in the Pillory, and made many of them that wrought adulterate cours silver run away out of London: By which means I angred many cheating Wyer­drawers, Silkmen and Refiners: and the late Kings Councel and Commissioners setled such Rules and Orders, during that Re­gulation, [Page 69] the Manufacture was all made of good silver, and the Coin and Bullion of this Nation preserved; and your Supplicant was bound, to the late King, to warrant all the Manufactures either of gold or silver, Wyer or Thread which hee sealed, or sur­veyed in the Office, to bee good silver, and to make it good to any party grieved in the Nation; as appears by my Patent under the Great Seal of England. For which Assurance, Surveying and Sealing, I was allowed to demand and take an half penny for every once Troy, in Wyer, Spangles, Oes, ctc. I suveyed; and 4 pence for every pound weight Vennice, for all the Gold and Silver I sealed with the Seal of my Office, being the Rose and Crown.

7. I had a Grant from the late King, under his Signet, to bee Master-worker of the Mint in the Tower of London for my life, with the Fee of five hundred pound a year, for ex­ecuting that place; which Grant was taken from my Mo­ther, out of her Custody, when I was sent to the Tower.

8. I had one quarter part of the Lady Willers Farm at the Custom-hous, for the Importation of all gold and silver Thread, Hatbands, Lace, and Copper thread throughout England and Wales; which costmee, a little before I was sequestred, above seven hundred pounds. And if the ma­king gold and silver thread was put down in England, the Custom of gold and silver thread imported would make a far greater Revenew then now it doth by the Excise; and the manifacture, if it bee made here, ought to bee kept to a strict Regulation.

9. I spent in my Imprisonment in the Tower for al­most four years above seven hundred pounds; and could never get to be heard, though I petitioned to the Parlament, as aforesaid, many years, to come to a Triall, knowing my self to bee innocent both by God's Law and the Laws of the Land; and above all, by the testimony of a good Conscience, which hath ever supported mee in and tho­row all these troubles. All this Estate was and is Seque­stred, [Page 70] (but my three aforesaid bonds) to this day; besides my Dammage for my four years Imprisonment.

10. Since I came out of the Tower, by order of the Coun­sel of State 1652. and since I laid out (in the Prosecution of the silver Ships, Sampson Salvador, and George) above the summ of five hundred pounds, as appears by the Oaths of severall persons which I emploied in this Dis­covery, (as you may see in this book, Fol. 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55.) I borrowed every penny of this mo­ney, paying Interest for it at this day.) And by my Pro­test against the Discharge of these silver Ships, Sampson, Sal­vador and George, and my Discoveries thereupon, by many good and legal Witnesses, Passengers and others in these Ships: I caused all the Silver to become the States: All which services I did (upon the faitfull promise of the Counsel of State (in December 1652) to restore mee to all my Estate, or the full value of Eleven thousand pounds) being Required to do this Service by severall Warrants from the Counsel of State, and at the Entreaty of Doctor Walker, as appears in this Book, And no other man in England besides my self did ever (at one time) save the State three Hundred thousand Pounds: which (if it had not been for mee) the State had been coze [...]ed of e­very penny of it, as appears by this and my former Narrative.

Here followeth the Copie of the late Kings Letter to the City of LONDON.

[I do most humbly desire the Common Council of the Citie of London, to certifie your Highness, if ever (amongst all their Records, since the foundation of their City) they finde such a sad President as mine is; And whether that any Messenger from any former King of England suffered the loss of his Estate (to his damage above eleven thousand pounds) for bringing them or any their Ancestors the like Letter as I did from the late KING. And at that time (viz. in December 1643.) there was sent and came from Oxford the Writs weekly under the Great Seal of England without any Counter­mand: My hard usage After-ages will hardly be­leev, had I not Printed it to Posterity.]

I Sufferd Imprisonment in the Tower almost four years, for bringing up the aforesaid Letter from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City of London in December 1643 although I had an Order from the Hous of Commons (as appears by their Journal Book) and a Pass from the Lord General Essex to go to Oxford; which were both procured for mee by Mr Theophilus Ryley, Scout-master General of the City of London, who was authorized to execute that place by the then Parlament and Common Council of London; and I was authorized by the said M^r [Page 73] Ryley to do the same (M^r Ryley being impowered by the then Parlament and Common Council of London to hold Intelligence in any the Kings Quarters, as by his Orders hee shewed me:) M^r Ryley was a man of a known & appro­ved Integritie, and in great esteem with the then Parlament and Citie of London at that time, and would not have acted any thing but what was just and for the Parlaments service, according to his Trust. (If hee had thought it otherwise, and hee might have gotten a hundred thousand pounds, upon my Conscience) and that made mee to act this Bu­siness, to bring up the Kings Letter upon his Intreaty (as hee confessed upon his Examination;) and I justified my doing thereof by his Order, hee being a publick minister, and impowered to do it, as hee told mee. And also the Committee of both Nations was made acquainted with my going to Oxford, for the bringing up the said Letter which I brought from the late King (by Sir David Watkins Knight, I desired him to make them acquainted therewith, before ever I went to Oxford, and to have their approbati­on;) which Sir David Watkins (after hee had spoken with them) told mee, I had their approbation to go to Oxford: And all this was done before any Law or Ordinance was made or declared to forbid mee or any other to do the same (that ever I heard of:) And I humbly say, That be­fore a law made, there is no transgression, neither by Gods law nor Mans law. And I was not to question M^r Ryleys power, abilities and trust, considering hee acted as a publick minister, but to act according to his direction, so long as hee was in the said Office of Scout-master, I having his Warrant and approbation for doing what I did. I have never read nor heard of so heavy a punishment as your Supplicant doth suffer under, before a Law made to give a man warning.

And by the Statutes of 9. Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5. Edw. 3. cap. 9. and 28. Edw. 3. cap. 3. No person (of what estate o [...] condition soever hee bee) shall bee put out of Land or [Page 74] Tenement, nor taken, nor imprisoned, nor dis-inherited, without being brought to answer by due process of the Law; which I have petitioned for, by a legal trial many years, but could never obtain the same.

May it pleas your Highness, Had there been a Procla­mation or Act of Parlament at that time to have probibited mee, I should have then been afraid; besides, M^r Ryley should never have made mee act against a declared Law.

Now, forasmuch as your Supplicant having ever since his Inlargment out of the Tower, made it his daily practice to study to serv the Common-wealth, and doing such re­markable Services (as aforesaid) for the Common-wealth, I do most humbly implore your Highness ▪s most gracious Order for the refloring mee to my aforesaid estate with da­mages, or the paying your Supplicant the summ of eleven thousand pounds.

May it pleas your Highness, If I would have betraied my Trust to the Common-wealth, about this Silver that was in the Ships Sampson, Salvador, and George, I could have had every penny of eleven thousand pounds paid me by the Claimers of the Silver in those Ships; either in mo­nie here, or Bills of Exchange beyond Seas: that monie would have made mee live plentifully in any part of Christendom. I do most humbly implore your Highness, that I may have such Justice by your Highness goodness and benig­nity, as I may have cause never to repent of my being faith­full to your Highness and the Commonwealths Interest in this particular, concerning the Silver Ships, their Silver and Lading.

May it please your Highness,

THe exact looking back into the Accompts of this Nation, which, upon my bended knees, I here humbly have desired a strict inspection into, by approbation and authority of Parlament, and strict Laws to bee made, without favour or af­fection (the prosecution of this great business to bee left to uninter­essed men to doe Justice.) When this is done, it will bring the State in many millions of money; and leav a stock of Lands for the Publick: Which if it bee effectually, justly and strictly done, will make all after ages call this Parla­ment the BLESSED PARLAMENT, the true nursing fathers and builders up of the breaches and ruines of this Nation. It is incredible, the great summs of mo­ney that belongs unto the State, which particular persons have fraudulently concealed, and upon a strict search will bee discovered.

Great Sir,

THere hath been some of Your Higness's Commissio­ners for Customes, (out of a pretended zeal to do Your Highness and the Commonwealth service) offered them­selves to execute those places, without any fee upon th [...] first undertaking; and (upon that specious pretence) turn [...] almost all the old Officers of the Commonwealth for colle­cting of Customes and Custome business out of their pla­ces, to the totall ruine of many scores of Families thorow out the Nation (onely to make way for their one friends and relations to come into beneficiall places (which could not bee duely executed but by persons of skill and trust) to make up many of their broken kindreds and friends decayed fortunes.

This mischief was practised uppon the old Officers of the Cu­stomes; And by the ignorance and insolency of many of these new [Page 76] Commissioners and Officers the Revenues of the Customs have been much abated, and the Commonwealth Damnified. But upon examination of some of these pretended godly Commissi­oners, viz. Colonel Harvey, and M^r Alderman Avery the Father, (now a prisoner in the Fl [...]et) and his son Dudley Avery (now a prisoner in Lambeth-hous) detected and pro­ved, before your Highness's Counsel, to have cozened the State of several thousand pounds: The Father being in­trusted as Treasurer, by the Commissioners of the Customs. Many of their dark actions have been brought to light; some of them (for their bad practises and insolencies to Marchants) being generally cursed and hated in the City of London, and in all the Sea Ports' of this Nation.

May it pleas your Highnes, it caused a general joy amongst all good Marchants and honest men in London, when these men were questioned. And when they were made to restore great summs which thy had fraudulently deceived the State of: It pleased all good men.

The same just cours to bee strictly now taken with all the Treasurers, Sequestrators and Committee men of the Nation, will make all honest men thank God, and bless your Highness and the Parlament, for the ease the good peo­ple in generall shall receiv in their taxes by stripping these [...]ublicans and Sinners: Amongst the many swarms of [...]em your Highness will hardly finde one relenting, re­penting Zaccheus. And for those Treasurers that have laid out the Commonwealths moneys in Lands, their Lands will and is by the Law of this Nation lyable till they have per­fected their Accompts, and come out of the Commonwealths debt: And the like for any Accomptant that is dead, their Heirs and Executors by the Law are lyable to pay the same, if an Estate can bee found in their hands.

May it pleas your Highness, the business of calling the Treasurers of the Nation to a strict Accompt (as hee hum­bly conceiveth) can and will offend none but the guilty; [Page 77] and they will storm to see these humble Proposals, or that any should presume to bee so much a true English-man and lover of his Countrey, as to petition for an accompt of these Treasurers actions, either to your Highness or the Parlament; For th [...]se that have been just in their Trust, this humble Petition will make no impression on them:

It will only concern, vex and griev the Guilty, and such as have cozened your Highness and the Common-wealth; All such as cannot endure this Examination, trial and rubbing, if they winch, they are galled horses and faulty.

But for such as are just persons in their Trust, in their publick Accompts and Payments, that have none of the Common-wealths Blood and Sinews (Money) converted to their private ends; nor have made themselvs and their families rich by fraud in these troublesom Times and common Calamities; there are many such just men (no doubt) in all these Offices; for these Gentlemen (no doubt) it will pleas them: This search and inquisition (the strickter it is) will pleas good men most, for it will purge the dross from the gold; it will clear honest mens credits; it will separate the sheep from the goats; it will vindicate them and their posteritie, that when so many of their Callings and Mysteries (when Inquisition was made) were found guilty of fraud and cheating the State and Common-wealth, they discharged their Trust with a good consci­ence faithfully and truly.

And I hope all this number of Committe-men will bee on my side, for to have a strict Inspection into their Accompts, according, to former Presidents of Parlament, and by the Laws of the Land hath been formerly done.

May it pleas your Highness; An Act to bee revived, and to appoint the Sages and Pillars of the Land to see Justice and execution impartially done, imploying able and dis­creet persons by your Highness's Commissions in every Parish and Countie of this Nation, to enquire (upon oath) into all Frauds and misdemeanors; and what Persons and Estates and their value, have been sequestred, (what Goods and Chattels, Woods felled, money and all other [Page 78] things of value) since the year 1642. and into whose hands and possession the Profits came; and into the monthlie Assesments and the value of every Book of Rates, and what Commissioners signed the Books; the Accompt of the Countie particularly set down, who were Treasureres, an [...] to give them a full charge to inspect into all the Officers of Excize and Customs, Commissioners for Prize Goods, all Treasurers and other Officers both in London and all o­ther Cities, Burroughs, Towns and Ports in the Countrey, that have fingered the publick money, This stricktly and impartially to bee done (upon the oaths of able and discreet persons) in every Parish in England, will lay the axe to the root of the Tree, and grubb up by the roots unjust Committee-men and Trea­surers, and all such as have defrauded your Highness and the Com­mon-wealth: And this will bring your Highness in millions of mo­ney and ease the publick Taxes.

May it pleas your Highness; From such as are true ho­nest English-men and love their Countrey I look for no opposition in setting this Business on foot for calling the Accomptants and Treasurers of the Nation to Accompt; but it is the guiltie partie that will bee sure to sting mee (and they are both potent and numerous) with the venom of their tongues, which is as bad as the poison of Asps; for this Business doth touch them to the quick, and they and their Creatures will leav no stone unturned to do mee a mischief.

Therefore upon my knees I most humbly begg your Highness's and the Parlaments gracious and favorable Countenance and Pro­tection of these my true and loyal Endeavours for the Service of your Highness and this Parlament; Which gracious Protection and Favour shall forever oblige your most humble and loial Subject to pray daily for all Gods choicest Blessings on your HIGHNESS's Person, and on your Princely Illustrious and Glorious FAMI­LY; That all Plots and wicked Designes against your [Page 79] HIGHNESS may bee blasted and com to naught; That your HIGHNESS may bee victorious against all your Enemies both by Sea and Land; That your HIGHNESS may Protect these Nations in Honour and Glory many years: And at the end of your Go­vernment and prosperous. Rule here on Earth, your HIGHNESS may bee taken into the Protection of him that made the Heavens, and there to Reign with his Son for ever in eternal Glory; So praies

WHen I heard (in November 1655.) your most Hono­rable Counsel was upon setling a way for the ta­king up of the Accompts in general of this Nation; and they had recommend­ed it to your Highness for your Highness's confirma­tion (thereupon divers Auditor [...] [...]d worthy [Page 2] Gentlemen were nominated to inspect and take the Ac­compts of some particular persons, viz. of the Commissi­oners of the Customs, and others) I humbly thought it my duty, living under your Highness's Protection, not to neg­lect any opportunitie wherein I might shew my self ser­viceable unto your Highness and the Common-wealth: And having formerly (in August 1653.) humbly presented my humble Proposals to the Parlament, for calling the Ac­comptants of the Nation in general unto a just and due Accompt (but as the sequele proved, it was not Gods time for the then doing of it): Also I did again renew this my humble Petition to your Highness on November 8 1655. (In which my most humble request, I was and am farr from charging all Treasurers, Committee men, Sequestrators, Excize-men, Com­missioners of the Customs, &c. to bee all fals and unjust Stewards; I humbly say, I was and am far from that: for, I beleev, there is som good Corn amongst this great heap of chaff & tares.) My humble suit to your Highness was and is, That this heap of Chaff and Corn (the Treasurers and Sequestrators) may bee winnowed and sifted; the Chaff and Tares from the good Corn, and that a strict Inspection bee made into all their Accompts, both for Pajements and Receipts (accor­ding to the strict Rules of former times, and according to many Presidents and Acts of Parlament in several Ages) by knowing just and unbyassed men, such as will make it their whole Business to inspect into the Frauds, and present your High­ness with the Truth (without respect of persons) and how they finde each mans Actions; That so your Highness (in imitation of the great Judg of Heaven and Earth, whose Deputy you are here over us) may render to every one according to his works. To such Gentlemen that shall bee approved just and faithfull in their Accompts of this Nation, your Highness would bee graciously pleased to set a mark of Respect and Trust upon them, for that they have been found Just in their Ge­neration, and not tempted (as Acan was) with the Babylo­nish Garment, [...] [...]ilver, nor the Wedg of Gold. And for the [Page 3] faulty Treasurers and Sequestrators, and all such as shall bee proved to have cozened the Common-wealth, in de­teining or defrauding the Common-wealth of their Mo­nies, Goods, Lands, Merchandise, &c. or by imbezling any thing of value from your Highness and the Com­mon-wealth, They may bee served as the Unjust Steward was in the 16^th of Lukes Gospel and ver. 2. Give an Accompt of thy Stewardship, for thou mayest bee no longer Steward: And to have a mark put on them, never to bear any Office of Trust in the Common-wealth more; And that according to the Statute of 6. Hen. 4. cap. 3. Commissions may issue forth, directed to discreet and able persons, to inquire and certifie the Profits the said Accomptants have received within each Countie of this Nation; and what shall bee found to bee by them concealed and not accompted for, the said Ac­comptants may bee attainted of the said Frauds and De­ceipts by a Jurie of Inquirie, and bee made to pay the pe­naltie, being treble the dammage.

This excellent Law (for the strict and just taking up all the Accompts of Sequestrators, Treasurers, Collectors of monethly Taxes, Committee-men, Excize-men, Commis­sioners of Customs, &c.) to bee put in execution, will bring your Highness and the Common-wealth in milli­ons of money, and ease the good People in general of the Nation of their Taxes, if they pay but the Principal and Interest for what will bee found, upon a strict and just In­quirie, in your Treasurers and Accomptants hands.

[Amongst the names of many Worthy Persons, I most humbly presented unto your Highness that (to my particu­lar knowledg, if they were impowered) could make great Discoveries unto your Highness of the Frauds of the Ac­comptants of the Nation, concerning the publick Treasure. Your Highness took especial and particular notice of one, namely, Gabriel Beck Esquire, and your Highness com­manded mee to finde him out, and that you would signifie your pleasure to him what you would have done in this Bu­siness; which I did accordingly]