The reward of oppression, tyranny, and injustice committed by the late kings and queens of England and others by the unlawful entry and unlawful deteiner of the dutchie lands of Lancaster : declared in the case of Samuel Beck, an infant, and directed to his Highness Oliver, Lord Protector of England &c. and to the Right Honorable his Privy Counsel / by Margaret Beck. Beck, Margaret. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A27226 of text R23676 in the English Short Title Catalog (Wing B1649). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 24 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2017 A27226 Wing B1649 ESTC R23676 07869819 ocm 07869819 40223 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A27226) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 40223) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1195:8) The reward of oppression, tyranny, and injustice committed by the late kings and queens of England and others by the unlawful entry and unlawful deteiner of the dutchie lands of Lancaster : declared in the case of Samuel Beck, an infant, and directed to his Highness Oliver, Lord Protector of England &c. and to the Right Honorable his Privy Counsel / by Margaret Beck. Beck, Margaret. [4], 9 p. [s.n.], London : 1656. Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library. eng Beck, Samuel. Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660. A27226 R23676 (Wing B1649). civilwar no The reward of oppression, tyranny, and injustice committed by the late kings and queens of England and others by the unlawful entry and unla Beck, Margaret 1656 3901 8 0 0 0 0 0 21 C The rate of 21 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the C category of texts with between 10 and 35 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-04 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-06 Mona Logarbo Sampled and proofread 2006-06 Mona Logarbo Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion The REWARD OF OPPRESSION , TYRANNY and INJUSTICE , Committed by the late Kings and Queens of England , and others ; by the unlawful Entry , and unlawful Deteiner of the Dutchie Lands of LANCASTER . Declared in the Case of Samuel Beck , an Infant , and Directed to his Highness OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR of England , &c. and to the Right Honorable his PRIVY COUNSEL ; By MARGARET BECK widdow late Wife of Nevil Beck , Mother and Guardian to the Infant London Printed Ann. Dom. MDCLVI . TO HIS HIGHNESS OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR Of ENGLAND , &c. May it pleas your Highness TO look upon the case of the poor Childe concerning his Title to the lands of the Dutchie of Lancaster . It hath pleased God , that the power of Justice is now devolved on your Highness , and the most honorable Privie Counsel . And you are now the fountain thereof . KIng Ed. 4. and his Counsel , heard the Caus of the Masters and poor Brethren of the Hospital of St. Leonard's in York , complayning that Sir Hugh Hastings , John Wombel , and others , withdrew from them a great part of their Living , which consisted chiefly upon the having of a Thrave of Corn of each Plough-land in the Counties of York , Westmorland , Cumberland , and Lancashire , and for which they , being very poor men , were not able to sue for at the Common Law : Rotulo pat . de An. 8. E. 4. part 3. memb. 14. and yet they had for that Hospital a special Act of Parlament , made for them , to give them action in that verie case : 2. Hen. Cap ▪ 2. That there are many Presidents in the like case , where the single person and his privy Counsel heard & determined causes for the poor against oppression Shee make's bold to offer this to your Highness with confidence , becaus heretofore you knew her poor Husband , and have pitied his case , and have been a friend to him out of your bountie and goodness . May it pleas your Highness , shee is so poor , that shee is fain by her Needle to maintain her self and poor Child , hardly . Therefore her humble petition is , that your Highness will bee pleased to order her a hearing in the behalf of her child , before your Highness , and your privy Counsel , in this case ; and to assign her Counsel , and in the mean time out of your bountie and goodness to allow her for the present maintenance for her Child ; A petition as it hath pleased your Highness graciously to afford to others ; and the prayers of the Widdow and Fatherless will bee for your Highness happiness , &c , To the Right Honorable the Lord 's of his Highnes's most Honorable Privy Counsel , The humble Petition of Margaret Beck widdow Humbly sheweth , THat in all ages extraordinary causes were heard and determined before the single person and his privy Counsel , as in the case of Bogo de Clare , notwithstanding hee was dismist out of Parlament for Error in the complaint ; yet the King commanded him by Writ ad faciendum & recipiendum quod per Regem & concilium fuerit faciendum : and so proceed to a Reexamination of the whole Caus 18. E. 1. And in the case of Elizabeth the widdow of Nicolas Audley against James Audley concerning her dowrie , 4● . E. 3. Also in the case of William Goddard against Hugh Straule for divers Mannors in the Isle of Tannet , 6. E. 5. Also in the case of Robert Danvers a Counseller against William Brocket a Clark of the Exchequer , 21. H. 6. Another concerning the innocency of the Lord Ralph Cromwell Chamberlain to H. 6. concerning the villanous accusation of one Robert Colindona Priest for suspition of treason , 31. H. 6. also . In the case of the Abbot of S. Edmond's-Bury against Walter Thurston and others , 20. E. 4. also In the case of Fardinando de Sanciago a Spaniard H. 7. with many more presidents in those and other Kings raigns , and in the book of orders by the privy Counscel in the Minoritie of H 6. in the ● Article that all bills terminable at the Common Law , shall bee remitted thither , unless the discretion of the Counsel feel too great might on the one partie , and unmight on the other , or caus reasonable to move them ; and in the 14 article that the Clerk of the Counsel shall bee swo●n that each day of sitting hee shall call the bills of the poorest sutors to bee first read and answered , so neer as hee can ask and inquire , and the Kings serjeant to bee sworn to give Counsel without fee to such as shall bee accepted upon pain to bee discharged of their offices which were the verie words of the articles . Therefore her humble petition is , that you would be pleased to look upon the following case , and to assign her counsel , videl. Sergeant Maynard , Mr Lach , and Mr Freeman &c. And to order that shee may have Coppie of such records as concern the Dutchie of Lancaster and that her Counsel and Agent may search for the same without Fees , shee being miserably poor ; and that those who have entered on the Lands of the said Dutchie may bee summoned to answer to her Bill in the behalf af the Infant : and shee shall daily pray . &c. HENRY the 4. after his Coronation , created Thomas Beaufort Earl of Dorset , and gave him 20 l. per An. out of the Exchequer , for maintaining the King's Title to the Crown , both at home and abroad ; and also made a Charter of the Dukedome of Lancaster , to the second Hous of Lancaster in expectancie , which then was Tho. Earl of Dorset , who after the deceas of H. 4. by virtue of the Charter did enter into the Dukedome , and did enjoy the same nine years in the raign of H - 5. and six years in the raign of H. 6. and being lawfully thereof seized , died without issue ; after whose deceas the said Dukedom descended to the next heir at the common Law , which was Joan Countess of Westmorland his Sister , who had issue George Nevil Lord Latimer , who had Sir Henry Nevil , who had issue Richard Lord Latimer , and Thomas Nevil twins , Richard died without issue ; Thomas had issue Elizabeth his onely daughter and heir , who intermarried with Wil. Beck Esq . who had issue Sam. Beck , whohad issue Nevil Beck , who had issue Sam. Beck , an Infant now living . H. 6. Contrary to the Charter made by H. 4. entered by intrusion , for which the quarrel began between the Houses of York and Lancaster . E. 4. conquered H. 6. and entered upon all his Lands as escheted , becaus hee found the Lands of the Dukedome of Lancaster in his possession , hee kept that also for his better strength and securitie , and died ; who had issue Edward and Richard Infants , murthered in their Infancie by Richard 3. who usurped both the Crown and Lands of the Dukedome of Lancaster . H. 7. who had been banished , came into England with forces onely to claim the Earldom of Richmond , and fought with , and killed R. 3. and took upon him the Crown , and also entered upon the Dukedome of Lancaster , taking his president from R. 3. E. 4. and H. 6. and kept it all his time , and left it to H. 8. In the first year of Mary an office was found , after the death of Elizabeth , daughter of Tho. Lord Latimer and wife of William Beck , whereby Samuel Beck grandfather to this Infant was found heir to the Dukedome of Lancaster , as heir to his Mother who had been lamentably persecuted , and constrained to flie from place to place , for fear of beeing burnt for Heresie ( as they called it ) by that Cruel woman Queen Mary . This office was prosecuted and found by one Heath , Father in law to Samuel Beck the Grandfather ; Hee beeing an Infant , and at School at Westminster , and in the 3 year of Philip and Mary , Samuel Beck beeing under nine years of age , was seized by Warrant , and delivered to Rixam a Romish Priest to bee bred up in the Romish Religion , ( the Queen then pretending love to him being her Kinsman ) and hee must bee carriried away from all his honorable Kindred , and there must bee called Heath after his Father in Law's name , hoping by this cheat to defraud the Office , and that hee was not that partie found heir in the Office . When that Queen died , Heath found out the child , and bred him at Oxford , and matriculated him by the right name of Beck : and when hee came to bee capable of the Ministry , Queen Elizabeth gave him two great benefices in Devonshire and Cornwall , with which preferment hee contented himself untill much importuned by many of his noble Kindred , and especially the then Earl of Worcester , to challenge his right to the Dukedome of Lancaster ; whereupon hee made his application to Queen Elizabeth by Petition , who answered , that the Dukedome was cast upon her without her means or procurement , and that shee desired to have him advanced to his right and dignity , hee beeing so near allied to her ; and ordered , that no more grant of the Dutchie lands should pass untill it was tried in Parlament , and also offered him great honor and dignity in the Church of England ; but before it was determined in Parlament , the Queen died . Then hee petitioned King James for a hearing in Parlament , and to assign him Counsel , who did ( viz. ) Sergeant Harris , Sergeant Jones , Mr Dyett , and Mr George Crook , and then contrary to Law committed him close prisoner , without Ink or Paper , and so kept him in prison untill a little before his death , that the King intended to call a Parlament ; and being fearful that the horrible piece of tyrannie would bee questioned , hee released him , and promised him fair , ( as hee knew well enough how to dissemble , and called it nothing but King-craft ) but performed nothing during his life . And after his death , it beeing told , King James , that the Duke of Lancaster was dead , hee answered , God have mercie on Charls and his Issue , for hee had don the Duke of Lancaster mickle wrong , and that hee ( meaning Mr Beck ) had left a heavie curs behind him ; which were King James his own words ; for it was Mr Beck's custom when hee spake with the King , to desire God to deal by the King and his , as the King had dealt with him . Shortly after King James dyed , Then Nevil Beck beeing in his travels beyond the seas came back to claim his right to the Dukedom of Lancaster of King Charls , who delayed him , and would not consent to a hearing ; whereupon Nevil Beck desired 400l . per An. for his maintenance for the present ; but the King answered , that , if hee gave him that , it would enable Nevil Beck to make a case of it , and so go to Law with him : whereupon som high words of discontent passed from Nevil Beck in relation to his wrong , that the King in fury caused him to bee put out of the Court Gates , and gave order that the Porters should not suffer him to com in at any time after , which caused Nevil Beck to use these words to the Kings servants , I do believ I shall live to see him turned out , and that neither hee nor his shall have any thing to do with this hous , meaning Whitehall . Then Nevil Beck petitioned the Lord's and Commons of the late long Parlament to hear his case , who deferred the hearing of it , telling him that hee must first get an allowance from the King , who was then at Oxford in open hostlity against the Parlament ; and unless that were first don they could not give allowance to his Bill , which how impossible that was to bee don , let the world judg ; and after the King's execution they answered him , that they had pulled down the hous of York , and abolished Kingship , and therefore it would bee dangerous to set up the hous of Lancaster ; but issued out to him som small summes at several times , which kept him onely from starving , and also forbad the sale of the Dutchie Lands , and after his death issued out 20 l. to the use of his Son Samuel Beck the Infant by way of acknowledgment ▪ The Dutchie Lands were unfold untill the assembly after at Westminster , ( who voted themselvs a Parlament ) ordained the sale of the Dutchie Lands . The answer of his HIGHNESS most honorable privie Counsel , to the Case of Samuel Beck , as followeth . JOhn of Gaunt had the Dukedome of Lancaster by his first wife , heir of Henry , Duke of Lancaster . pag. 326. By that first wife hee had H. 4. and Philip marrried to John King of Portugal , and Elizabeth married to John Holland Duke of Exeter , and afterwards to Sir John Cornwall . But Thomas Earl of Dorset came from Katharine Swinford the third wife , so did Joan Beaufort married to the Earl of Westmerland , from whom Beck claimes pag. 327. And pag. 328. it is said that H. 4. united the Ductchie to the Crown which himself held , and H. 5. and H. 6. which are true heirs to it . Neither is it likely that H. 4. would pass it to a female descended from Katharine Swinford , who had divers sons himself pag. 992. Joan Beufort , sister of Tho. Beufort of Dorset , was second wife of Ralph Nevil Earl of Westmorland , and this Earl had a son called Richard Nevil Earl of Salisbury , in right of his wife , and hee had issue first Richard Nevil the King-maker , and six daughters , from whom came the Earl of Derby , Earl of Arundel , the Lord Beuchamp , the Earl of Huntingdon , the Earl of Pembrook and Montgomery , hee had also a ninth sonn called William Nevil , Lord Falconberg after Earl of Kent , whose three daughters married Coyners Strange waies , and Bedbaring , and a twelvth was George Nevil , Lord Latimer ( whom the printed paper cites ) which Barony his Father purchased with the Lands of Latimer , and bestowed them on his sonn George , Lord Latimer from whom Beck claims in the paper . But how can any thing descend on the daughter of this Lord Latimer from John Beufort , when all the families before mentioned , Derby , Arundell , &c. descend from the elder son of Joan Beufort , by marriage with his daught●rs , and George Latimer was the twelvth son of that eldest son . The reply of Margaret Beck widdow , Mother and Guardian to the Infant . IT is true , that John of Gaunt had the Dukedom of Lancaster by his first wife , and that hee had H. 4. and two daughters by the first wife as is expressed in the paper . And that Thomas Earl of Dorset , and Joan de Beufart came of the body of Katharine Swinford his third wife . As to pag. 328. the paper faith , it is said that H. 4. united the Dukedome of Lancaster to the Crown , which proves nothing , but it will bee prooved that H. 4. was so far from uniting of it to the Crown , that hee made a Charter of the Dukedom , and confirmed it by act of Parl●ment to Thomas de Beufort in expectancy after his death , and that after his death Thomas did enter , and did enjoy it all the time of H. 5. and six years in the time of H. 6. and in all that time let Lease , and granted Estates . And for that it was unlikely that H. 4. would pass it to a female , which is no proof ; for Beck's case is not that H. 4. passed it to a female , but that Thomas dying without issue , Joan was his next heir at the common Law , And it doth appear by the grants made by H. 4. to Thomas de Beufort , that hee esteemed him above all others of his family , for in the grants it is for maintaining his Title to the Crown both at home and abroad , and so might verie well trust him to keep up his Childrens Title to the Crown after his deceas . Also it appear's by Record that H. 4. created him Earl of Dorset , and afterwards Duke of Exeter , and after that this grant of the Reversion of the Dukedome of Lancaster thereby the more to enable him to maintain his Children's Title to the Crown . It doth not appear that Ralph Nevil had any more Children by Joan de Beufert his second wife , then George Nevil Lord Latimer , and Cicilia , afterwards married to Richard Plantagenet Duke of York , from whom the Stewards family descended , but it must needs bee , that the Children of Ralph Nevil were of his first wife , otherwise how could it bee found in the office after the death of Latimer , and wife of Beck , that her Child was heir to Jone Countess of Westmerland , and so to Thomas Earl of Dorset , and Duke of Lancaster . All this appeared by the coppies of the Records allowed by King James taken out of the Tower , Court of wards , and Heralds office , when King James assigned the Child's grandfather Counsel . Notwithstanding all this the mother and guardian of the Childe do submit to the Lord Protector and his privy Counsel , to deal with her and her poor Childe as they shall pleas , whereupon the Childe was sent to Eaton Colledg to bee bred there at School , to eat the bread given by H. 6. who first intruded on the Dutchie Lands ; but the privy Counsel would not hear any further in the case . OBSERVATIONS . HENRY 6. entered first by intrusion on the Dutchie Lands of Lancaster after the death of Tho. de Beufort Earl of Dorset , and Duke of Lancaster and Exeter , and was afterwards conquered by E. 4. taken prisoner , and murthered in prison , and so lost the Dutchie Lands , Crown , and Life : Also E. 4. kept it by wrong all his life , who was wicked in murthers , and adulterie ; hee caused his Brother George Duke of Clarence to bee drowned in a Butt of Malmsey , his adultery with Jane shore and others , and had wars all his time , with those who took part with the hous of Lancaster , his two sons after his death murthered in the Tower by R. 3. The Children are paid for the sins of the Father . R. 3 would not part with it untill H. 7. killed him at Bosworth field , where his body was disgracefully drawn to Lecester , and there buried basely . H. 7. entered upon the Dutchie Lands and sold much of it , and made abundance of mony by that and unlawfull taxes upon the people , as a most wicked Tyrant , and left it to his son H. 8. who as wickedly spent it as his Father got it , and left E. 6. his son , who died an Instant , and Mary his eldest daughter , who wickedly persecuted her sister Elizabeth . Shee reigned all her time in a bloody persecution , and died ; all three Children of H. 8. raigning successively one after the other , and dying Childless , a curs upon that line . King James entered upon the Lands of the Dukedom left unsold and kept it by oppression , died unnaturally by poison , as hath been apparently prooved ; and left King Charls , who refused to restore the Lands or give any satisfaction : His end most miserable , arraigned , condemned , and executed at his own door , his wife and Children constrained to live on Alms , in strange Countries : And for the members of the late long Parlament , they were disgracefully turned out of that power : And lastly , for the Assembly who called themselvs a Parlament , brake up themselvs in confusion , oppression and injustice , visibly punished in this verie case . It is observed by good Historians , that from the body of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster have descended lineally one Empresse , 32 Christian Kings and Queens , 2 Cardinals , 10 Princes and Princesses , and 49 Dukes and Dutchesses , &c. as from another Abraham , whereof this Infant Samuel Beck is the last onely heir of that line left in England . The Stewards family is also descended from the second hous of Lancaster , in expectancie from Joan Countess of Westmorland , the daughter of John of Gaunt ; but their descent is by her youngest daughter the Ladie Cecilia , who intermarried with Richard Plantagenet Duke of York , who had E. 4. and R. 3. but Samuel Beck is lineally descended from George the son of John Countess of Westmorland , who was B●●●her of the whole blood to Cecilia Dutchess of York , the issue of the Son , in right of his Mother , is to bee answered before the issue of the daughter , which clear's the case for Samuel Beck the Inffant . FINIS .