depiction of the ships Sampson, Salvadore, and St George the Samson Salvadore the St George These Silver-ships brought treasure to our shore Two hundred seventy thousand pounds and more; Coloured by Flemish and by Spanish Claims; The Fraud's discovered, Violet spoile's the games By seasonable Protest, when Great Ones did decree. To th' Nation's Damage, to have set them free Reward is due: o let it not be said The Work is done; But Workman never paid Tho Violet A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE PROCEED In the Court OF Admiralty, Against the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, their Silver and Lading. AND An Account presented what Silver was taken out of the said Ships, and coined in the Tower, (being above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds,) all which Silver the Commonwealth got by the chargeable Prosecution and Discovery of Tho. Violet, who saved the Commonmonwealth this Silver, Dec. 16. 1652. As in this Narrative is Attested under the Hands of many Honourable Persons. Together with several Humble Proposals, for the Profit and Honour of this Commonwealth, in saving them many score of thousand pounds, 1. By making an Act against transporting Gold and Silver, 2. Against the culling and melting down the heavy currant Coins of the Nation. By removing the Obstructious of the Mint, and ways propounded to make the Mint constantly coin money. 4. For the just and due Regulation of the Manufactures of gold and silver Lace to prevent the daily cheats put upon the Wearers. 5. And for the making of a public Copper Farthing, and a great Revenue propounded to be monthly paid out of the same for the relief of the maimed Soldiers: And several other Particulars humbly represented to the Parliament and Council of State. By THOUGH VIOLET of London, Goldsmith. Deut. 24. 14, 15. Thou shalt not oppress an hired Servant, that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of the strangers that are in thy land within thy Gates. Ver. 15. At his day thou shalt give him his Hire, neither shall the Sun go down upon it, for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it, lest he cry against thee to the Lord, and it be sin unto thee. LONDON, Printed Anno Dom. 1659. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE John Lord Bradshaw, Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal of England, Tho. Lord Fairfax, Maj. Gen. Lambert, Sir Arthur Hesilrigge, Sir Henry Vane, Sir James Harington, Lieut. Gen. Ludlow, Lord Whitlock, Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood, Josiah Barners Esq. Coll. Morley, Tho. Scot Esq. Col. Sydenham, Henry Nevil Esq Tho. Chaloner Esq. All of them of the most honourable Council of State. May it please your Honours, IT is a curious Art to make a Watch, and he must be a skilful Artist, that exactly sets a broken Bone, God for the sins of this Nation, hath several times in this Age, took the Clock of this Commonwealth in pieces, and many of the pins and wheels have been and are misplaced. It now requires great skill, to place and set every thing in its due order. Your Honours have a great work to do, God hath broken us in pieces, and divided our Counsels, and none can unite us, but he that hath wounded us, he only must cure us, and bless and sanctify all lawful means, or else our disjointed bones will never be truly knit, or exactly set. For this end hath God appointed a select number of honourable persons, of which number your Honours are Members, whose heart God hath fixed for this great Work, to revive the stones out of the heap of rubbish, and to build the Walls of our Jerusalem, though the Sanballats, Arabians and Ammonites be worth, and conspire altogether to fight against Jerusalem, to hinder this Work. Right Honourable, if you will finish this good Work you have begun, you must do as Nehemiah did, keep good watch day and night, because of your enemies, lest your adversaries serve you, as they served Nehemiah, for they say you shall not know nor see till we come in the midst amongst them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease, if this be not prevented, this Parliament will have a fatal end. Precedents in Courts of Justice is a great Guide to all just Judges, especially when they have been made by the Grave and Learned, and are recorded in the Sacred Bible, the chiefest Book that every good Statesman walks by; such Statesmen that walks by Machiavels rules, the wicked Maxims of these troublesome times, they do as Saul did when he left God, and went to the Witch of Endor, he pretended to go to speak with Samuel, and met with the devil, so these times have produced many a Fast, the pretence hath been to seek God and Peace, when the true end hath been to get to be the Head of a Party and Faction, to make division, and to get the People's money: The People are now very well acquainted with such canting, and as we know after a flash of lightning, there comes a clap of thunder, so hath it many times fallen out, after Fasts hath followed an erecting of an High Court of Justice, or one remarkable oppression or other. I humbly present you here in this Epistle, with a good Precedent made by a great Statesman Nehemiah, such a one as God hath recorded was a Saviour of his Country, a Builder up of Jerusalem, in the like case, and in the like straits as it is now, or suddenly without God's infinite mercy will be with us, he took this course. In the first place, he sought God, and prayed before the God of Heaven, and did not make a mock-Fast; then he used the means, he fell to his Work, and built up the walls of Jerusalem, and did not only build, but he built wisely and politicly, and had there been a Sanballat found amongst them, the people would have stoned him. On the lower places behind the brickwall, and on the higher places, he set the people after their families, with their swords, their spears and their bows; and when he had set himself in a posture of defence, he made the people to be his Guard, and delivered an Oration to the Rulers and People, saying, Be not afraid of your enemies, remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your houses. I shall humbly desire your Honours to observe, what was the effect of this orderly and good posture. Nehemiah and his people did not their work carelessly and by halves, and spent their precious time in needless questions, but did all things upon sound advice. For when great things are quietly without Faction disputed, and the Result concluded; then to use expedition and resolution is just policy. But all hasty and unadvised attempts at long running brings the Commonwealth into great danger, and the Actors generally into contempt and misery, many men in their designs thinking to catch a great Fish, but after long angling bring up a Frog; this daily experience hath showed, and I can experimentally say it to be true. For those men that read Machiavelli, and make it their Rule to walk by, in stead of the Bible, because they are in great places, to practise Iniquity by a Law, as Ahab did for Naboths Viniard, who did not only cheat him of his Land and Inheritance, but rob him of his Life, and to seem holy called a Fast, the effect of that godly Fast was to set two men's sons of Belial, to bear false witness that Naboth had Bsasphemed God and the King, sending a warrant for the Execution of innocent Naboth before ever they tried him, that he should be stoned to death right or wrong, what a sad End the Authors of this murder and robbery come to is well known, how many great and Noble Persons of the eminentest for quality in this Nation, have been Trappaned and perjured out of their Lives, Lands and Estates, and some of the witnesses upon their Death beds with horror of Conscience, and great Remorse have confessed the perjury that they were suborned by others, to the great scandal of the Justice of the Nation by such ways to get men's Estates. This is most apparent God is coming to visit for these things, and when man cannot bring the Delinquents to Justice, he causeth the guilty Persons one to punish another, till by the dividing and subdividing they are so weak, that as the flood come upon the old world and destroyed mankind, so by these divisions the strength of the Nation is disjointed. Every man upon and against his Neighbour, making a passage and way for the common Enemy to come and swallow the Innocent with the guilty, if God be not merciful. Moses divided the Red-Sea, and the Children of Israel passed over on dry Land, God hath by nature made a Sea betvveen us and our Neighbours, he hath hedged us in, and made a brickwall of separation between us and Popery, but our sins at this day are plucking down this wall, the wild Boar of the Forest is come in amongst us, the Devil and the Jesuits have played their parts in this Nation, to the ruining of many Body and Soul, and to the admiration of Christendom, the Jews Crucified Christ thinking to gratify Caesar, Caesar a few years after paid them to purpose for Crucifying him. May it please your Honours, The ten Commandments and Fonts for christening of children at the beginning of these Troubles were plucked down; and now comes Pulpits to be beaten in pieces, and frequent tumults in several Churches within the city of London, as lately at Aldgate parish hath been done, which is a corner of the city, where many poor live, and are fit for any Insurrection. When I see children with a candle amongst powder or chips, I fear the burning of the house, or a blow with powder; when we see the buds appear, the spring is near: these are as certain signs of a mischief; as the plague-tokens are to a man that hath the Plague, the best symptoms are a purple fever; a shaking, an earthquake, if not a dissolution. The pride and vanity of some Lecturers and Ministers, who in the Nation having studied points of dissension and division, instead of the Gospel of Christ preach themselves, (too much plenty have made them wanton.) No doubt but some of them do it with the advice of the jesuits to make a separation in Countries, Cities, Towns, Parishes and Families, till without God's infinite mercy, the jesuits bring a destruction both on the Churches and houses of the Nation, and on this Great City of London, and set every man to cut one another's throats. Would not the end of these things bring an unhappy deformation, instead of a blessed Reformation, when we are exposed to the fury of a foreign Enemy by the vileness of the jesuits, and folly of our own Divisions? What a devilish State trick was put upon the late Protector Oliver, and his Secretary Mr. Thurloe, by Sir Kenelm Digby, and several other Persons Jesuitically inclined, in setting the Protector on that fatal business of Hispaniola and Jamaica, without ever advising and consulting with many of the English Protestant Planters, who had for many years lived in those parts, and had they had the honour to have been consulted with, they could have told them that those fiery Regions was not for the constitution of our bodies. That Fox and subtle Statesman Sir Kenelm Digby, his very name should have been fatal to the Protestants cause, if the Lord Protector Oliver and Mr. Thurloe would have been pleased to remember the Gunpowder treason. This fatal design of Jamaica cost the Protector and the Commonwealth above two millions of pounds, beside the lives of above twenty thousand valiant Englishmen, destroyed by the unhealthfulness of the Climate, and want of necessary Provisions; and when these valiant men were almost famished, (who had they been in any part of Christendom, the Spaniards durst not have looked them in the face, had they been twice their number,) yet these gallant Soldiers were all like sheep led to the slaughter, and their blood spilt like water on the ground, by the treachery of some of their Officers, who no doubt had private instructions from some then in power to do what they did, which upon examination was the cause they kept their heads upon their shoulders, and escaped both with lives and estates. May it please your Honours, I hope your Honours will pardon these sad and necessary truths, proceeding from a loyal heart. I have formerly ventured my life many times to get the Commonwealth two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds in money, I now venture myself in these dangerous times to speak truth. It is now as it was in the days of Noah; no man but Noah and his Family believed a flood would come, till it did come and sweep them all away. And if I be justly used, I may now in your straits bring you in presently as great a sum in money again as I saved you formerly abov three hundred thousand pounds, few of the Council of State when I undertook to discover the Spanish Ambassadors fraudulent claim to this Silver, I say there was but few of that Council did believe that I could ever get the State this Silver, or that I would be so faithful to refuse ten thousand pounds which was offered me by the Claimers of this Silver, which is certified in this Book by several honourable Persons to be true, should I bend my brains as much to study the disturbance of this Commonwealth, as I have ever done the peace and happiness of it, I could Demonstrate to you, a pen and Inkhorne-man as I am can do more service or disservice then many hundreds of Red-coats, I humbly pray my faithfulness be not paid with Ingratitude. As for my own life, I desire to have it no longer preserved than I can serve and benefit my Country. I will wait on God, and expect an happy issue upon this my humble request, knowing that if the Reputation and justice of the State, and the Certificates of honourable persons be of any value in your Honour's sight, my great expense, pains and faithfulness, shall have its due and promised Reward; considering that in these humble Proposals which I have propounded to your Honours for my satisfaction, I take no money from the public, but humbly offer to pay in monthly a great Revenue to the maimed Soldiers, to regulate the abuses of the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace, to give a stop to the Transportation of Gold and Silver, to keep your Mint constantly at work to coin money, great quantities yearly: all which services are of very great consequence to the Commonwealth, the consideration of the premises I humbly leave to your Honours, and remain Your Honours dutiful and humble Servant, TH. VIOLET. THE TABLE. THO. Violets Petition to the late Protector Oliver, for getting the Commonwealth two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, and to be paid his reward according to Promise. p. 51. The Lord Protectors Reference 61 The Officers of the Mint, their Certificate concerning this business. 61 Several persons Affidavits of Tho. Violets Services. 63 A Copy of Tho, Violet's Letter sent to the Lord Bradshaw. 67 Mr. Wilson, and Mr. Hills Letter to Mr. Thurloe. 68 Doctor Walkers Warrants to the Examiner's, Mr. How, Mr. Arnold, Mr. Dorislaws, Mr. Bud, concerning Tho. Violet. 69 Sir Tho. Viner, Sir john Barkstead, john Limbery, Maurice Thomson Esq. their desires to the Lord Bradshaw touching Tho. Violet. 74 Doctor Walkers Certificate. 90 Lord Com. bradshaw's Certificate, concerning Tho. Violets service in staying this Silver. 80 Alderman Francis Allen Esq. his Certificate. 83 Sir George Fleetwoods' Certificate concerning this service, and the Council of States Promise and engagement to Tho. Violet for his reward. 84 Sir james harrington's Certificate of many services done in staying this Silver, and in other Particulars. 92 Sir Tho. Viner, Sir john Barkstead, Gabriel Beck, Capt. john Limbery, Edward Dendy, Henry Middleton, Maurice Thomson, Isaac Dorislaws, Esq. Certificate touching Th. Violets great service in the Silver-business. 99 The Late Lord Protector Richard's Order to Gabriel Beck and Francis Bacon Esquires, touching Tho. Violet. 112 Francis Bacon and Gabriel Becks Certificate to the late Lord Protector Richard. 113. Tho. Violets Petition to the late Lord Protector, in the name of Edward johnson Esq. for the making of a public farthing. 118 The late Protectors Warrant to Master Solicitor General Ellis, to prepare a Grant for these Farthings. 120 An Account given to Sir Thomas Viner, Mr. Alexander Holt, etc. of this business of the Silver Ships. 122 The several abuses and obstructions of the Mint, with ways propounded by Tho. Violet to set the Mint on work. 11 The late King Charles' Letter to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London. 33 An Account of what hath been taken from me by the Parliament. 38 An Order of the Council of State, requiring Th. Violet to pay forty pounds to the Committee of Salop for certain Bonds, with power to take the benefit of them, and sue them as he might have done, before any Sequestration. 47 john Corbet Esq. his Receipt for the aforesaid forty pounds. 48 To the High Court of PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of England, etc. AND TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE COUNCIL OF STATE. I. THomas Violet of London Goldsmith, humbly presents this Narrative, concerning his staying in the Court of Admiralty the Silver in the Ships Samson, Salvador and George, together with the Certificates and Reports of many Honourable Persons, attesting your Petitioners great service done this Nation, in his seasonable Applications to the Council of State 1652. and his protesting in the Admiralty, against the discharge of this silver, and discovering the frauds of the Spanish and Flemish Claimers, and in many other particulars. II. Further showeth, that there was unloaded out of the aforesaid ships, 1653. upon your Petitioners discovery, the sum of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, which your Petitioners stayed by his Protest in the Admiralty, the same hour the Judges would have discharged it. And this silver was all coined in the Tower. And Colonel Barkstead, Lieutenant of the Tower, paid all this treasure to the Army and Navy, for the defence and service of this Common wealth, in 1653. and 1654. as will appear to your Honours, upon the sight of his Accounts concerning this business. III. These Particulars with many others, are certified to his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector, under the hands of Col. Barkstead, Lieutenant of the Tower, Alderman Viner, Capt. John Limbery, Doctor Walker, Sergeant Dendy, Maurice Thomson, Treasurer of the East-India Company, Sergeant Middleton, Isaac Dorislawes, Gabriel Beck Esquires, By virtue of his late Highness' reference directed to them 13. July 1657. iv The true Copies of these original Petitions and Certificates, and several other Transactions touching this silver, are here presented to your Honour's view, to the end your Petitioner may (after so long a delay of Justice) have his dearly earned reward. Your Honours, upon perusal of all the Premises, will see it clearly proved, your Petitioners great expense, eminent zeal, faithfulness, and integrity, with the hazard of his life in this service of the Commonwealth. Your Honour's Humble Servant, THO. VIOLET. May 25. 1659. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE The LORDS and others of the COUNCIL OF STATE. VIZ. Thomas Lord Fairfax, Major Gen. Lambert, Col. John Desborough, Col. James Bury, John Bradshaw Sergeant at Law, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Sir Horatio Townsend, Sir Arthur Hesilrigge, Sir Henry Vane, Lieut, Gen. Ludlow, Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood, Major Saloway, Col. Dixwell, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Josiah Barners, Col. Morley, Mr. Thomas Scot, Mr. Robert Wallop, Sir James Harrington, Col. Walton, Col. John Jones, Col. Sidney, Col. Sydenham, Mr. Hen. Nevil, Mr. Thomas Chaloner, Col. Downs, Lord Chief Justice St. John, Col. Thompson, Lord Whitlock, Sir Robert Honywood, Sir Archibald Johnson. May is please your Honours, YOur Petitioner did about the eighth of Decemb. 1652. deliver into the Council of State a Written Paper, wherein was discovered, that at that present time a Practice and Combination was set on foot by several Merchants and others, to deceive the Commonwealth of a great quantity of silver, above three hundred thousand pounds, which was then aboard the Ships Samson, Salvador, and St. George, then riding about Blackwall. Upon Examination of this Business at the Council of State, the Council within few days after, commanded and engaged your Petitioner in this service, and your Petitioner did faithfully promise the Council his uttermost endeavours, to discover this fraud, and at his own charge to prosecute this Business in the Court of Admsraltie. The Judges of the Court of Admiralty did appoint the 16. day of Decemb. 1652. to give sentence for clearing these ships and silver, being to the value of about three hundred thousand pounds in silver, as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint; Whereupon your Petitioner came into the Court of Admiralty, the very day and hour the Judges were clearing the said silver, and at his own peril made his Protest in the Admiralty against the Judges of that Court, and against all further Proceed of theirs, to discharge this Silver in the aforesaid ships, till your Petitioners Witnesses were examined, and shown the Judges many Reasons, being for the advantage and safety of the Commonwealth, for respiting for some days their Judgement. Thereupon the Court of Admiralty adjourned till the next day; and the Judges being very angry with your Petitioner for making the aforesaid Protest, and for what your Petitioner had said to the Judges in open Court, the Judges thereupon command your Petitioner to attend the Council of State that very day in the afternoon, being 16 of December 1652. the Petitioner to answer before them for his mildemeanor (so the judges were pleased to call it) that morning in the Court of Admiralty. Your Petitioner did accordingly attend the Council of State that day, 16 Dec. in the afternoon, and upon full examination of the Business before them, the Council stayed the silver, and blamed the Judges for their complaining of your Petitioner, and your Petitioner had thanks from the Council for what he had done in his timely and seasonable staying this silver, and commanded to use what expedition he could in proving that great quantities of the silver then aboard these ships appertained to the Merchants of Amsterdam. Thereupon your Petitioner undertook to the Council of State to disprove the Spanish and Flemish clamours, and the Spanish Ambassadors pretences to all this silver in the aforesaid ships. And this discovery your Petitioner undertook to make to the Council of State at his own charge. The Council of State upon the considerations aforesaid, and to encourage your Petitioner to proceed, they did faithfully promise your Petitioner for this his service and discovery, that your Petitioner should be paid the sum of eleven thousand pounds out of the silver that should be taken out of these ships, and converted to the use of the Commonwealth, this sum of eleven thousand pounds, being the value of your Petitioners Estate, which the Parliament 1643. upon misinformation against your Petitioner had sequestered. And the Council of State declared unto your Petitioner, That if your Petitioner should fail to make good his undertaking in disproving the Spanish and Flemish Claims to all this silver, then aboard the ships Samson, Salvador, and George, that the undertaking would undo your Petitioner; for upon your Petitioners failing to make good proof of what he had undertaken, the Council of State would report your Petitioner to the Parliament to be an Incendiary, therefore it highly concerned your Petitioner to be well assured of what he had undertaken, and also to be justly dealt withal when he had done this service. Upon the assurance of the Council of State upon the aforesaid terms, your Petitioner engaged and undertook this great, difficult, and dangerous service, wherein your Petitioner employed above ten several persons, for about two years, and laid out of Purse, besides all his time and hazard, the sum of above seven hundred sixty five pounds, which he pays interest for at this very day, as is deposed by several Witnesses whom your Petitioners employed in this service, and this is attested under the hands of several Honourable Persons, to the late Lord Protector Oliver. May it please your Honours, besides this service your Petitioner did for the Commonwealth, he discovered to the Council of State, in Jan. 1651. That from August. to December 20. 1652. the Admiralty had discharged fifty eight ships, all loaden with rich merchandise, I printed the several days of the month they were cleared out of the Court of Admiralty, the names of the ships, and the Master of the ships names, and the parties to whom these ships and merchandise was delivered at London; and that many of these ships after their discharge from hence, unloaded their merchandise at Amsterdam for the account of the Dutch, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds. Upon examination of this Business, the Council of State had certain intelligence from beyond sea that this information was true, and these Letters were remaining in Captain Bisheps hands who can testify the truth. Whereupon your Petitioner humbly presented to the Council of State in writing several ways for the preventing this abuse for the future, and the Judges in the Admiralty was removed, and other judges put in their places, with particular instructions for the prevention of the former frauds put on the Nation. By which discovery made by your Petitioner, the Commonwealth got many score prizes, which were condemned as Dutch prizes, when they could not bring attestations from Hamborough under the Parliament Agents hands, viz Mr bradshaw's, that they really and truly belonged to Hamborough. The value of the Ships and goods by your Petitioners means discovered was amounting to several score of thousand pounds, besides all the silver your Petitioner stayed, which the Dutch had cousin. cozen.ed us of, had not your Petitioner acquainted the Council in january 1652 with the former cheats put on the Nation, in printing a list of 58 Sail of ships, most of them Dutch prize, which the Commonwealth lost, for want of keeping a good Watch on the Actions of their Judges and Officers in the Admiralty in those times 1652. 1653. It was nothing for ordinary Proctors in the Admiralty to get four of five thousand pounds a year, by cozening the State in their prizes, till your Petitioner by his discovery to the Council of State, spoiled their Trade for a great part of it. This discovery got your Petitioner the envy of many hundred Merchants, and others in the Admiralty. There was not a motion, nor any Proceed in the Court of Admiralty, for about three years, touching the Silver Ships Samson, Salvador and George, their silver and lading, but every day your Petitioner was required to give his attendance therein, at the Court of Admiralty, and forced to employ at his own charge many persons; and your Petitioner was required by Doctor Walker, at his own charge to employ many persons to breviate and have inspection into all the Records, Acts, Bills of lading, Pleas, Extracts, Allegations, and Interrogatories, Witnesses, Depositions in the Silver business, as will appear under the hands of several persons employed and paid by your Petitioner for that service. Your Petitioner did several times move the Council of State, in December, January, February, March 1652. to unload the silver out of the ships, to avoid the embezeling thereof, there being above an hundred thousand pounds stolen out of these ships, while the silver was in the River; there are bills of lading in the Admiralty, for silver that was never delivered into the Tower, to the value of above a hundred thousand pounds in silver, which bills appertain to these ships, Samson, Salvador, and George. Your Petitioner presented to the Council of State, in 1652. 1653. several frauds and abuses put upon the Commonwealth, in the Sale of their Prizes, Ships, and Merchandise, by the indirect means of some Officers they entrusted to sell the same, sometimes the State hath been cheated forty in the hundred, to the value of many score of thousand pounds in this business. Your Petitioner finding these papers that made this Discovery, which he delivered to Col. Joanes, and Mr. Thurloe, (by some bribing means) in the Custody of some of the parties complained of; and that nothing was done to reform these abuses, but this business was stiffed. (And by your Petitioners discovery of the abuses for the service of the State, he had contracted the envy of many guilty persons) Thereupon to show to the world, what I had delivered in private to the aforesaid persons was true, and that I would justify what I had complained of privately, I printed the several frauds and cheats put upon the Nation by some of the Commissioners for prize Goods, and some of their Officers and Agents, and demonstrated several ways for the State to find it out, which was offered to be proved to be true, by Mr. John Day, and several others at that time, but the fate of the Commonwealth in those days was to be cozened, that makes the debts of the public now at this time so great, and the Publicans of the time so rich. Your Petitioner by order of Parliament, as appears by your Records of the House, for several years was commanded to follow and solicit the getting of an Act to pass against transporting Gold and Silver. And your Petitioner made several overtures both for punishing and discovery of the offenders that had transported Gold and Silver, and melted down the silver coin of the Nation; by whose fines many score of thousand pounds would have justly come to the State. But the guilty persons were then so powerful in the Councils of the Parliament, that though the Parliament made several Committees of the House and Council of State, for the perfecting the Act and for discovery of the offenders, and referred the matter thereof to the consideration of the Commissioners of the Navy, Officers of the Mint, and Farmers of the Customs, who all of them have certified the Parliament of the great mischief and damage the Commonwealth suffered by several evil-disposed persons, who for private lucre and gain daily transported the Gold and Silver of the Nation, to the unspeakable damage of the Commonwealth. This Bill being twice read in the House, and several times committed, yet by the power of some guilty Merchants, this good Act was stopped, smothered and stifled, and never finished, though your Petitioner attended many years at his great expense and charges to have this good Act past, (And now at this day it is apparent to all people,) that you cannot receive in the payment of a thousand pounds twenty shillings in Gold, no Gold being stirring in the Nation, but in the hands of Gamesters, Rooks, and Goldsmiths, they selling a twenty shillings piece in Gold for two shillings in the pound, more than the price current by Proclamation, which is against the Statute of the fifth and sixth of Edward the sixth. And to give your Honours an information of the present stock of Silver moneys, now current in this Nation, there is very little left but light and clipped money, the weighty silver money, being culled, melted down, and transported, by divers Goldsmiths and others, for private lucre and gain, to the unspeakable damage of the Commonwealth, especially at this time, now we have War with Spain. This your Petitioner hath often complained of to this Parliament, and hath humbly offered them a remedy, but as yet nothing hath been done by them to prevent this mischief. There was several Committees appointed to regulate the abuses concerning the coin, and removing the obstructions of the Mint these times, having appointed two Doctors of Physic to be the chief Officers of the Mint. Your Petitioner was required to give his attendance on this Committee, and commanded by them at his own charge to send for from beyond seas all the principal Coins in Christendom, and to procure the Laws, Orders and Statutes made beyond seas, for the due regulating their Mints; and their Policies, how they used to draw bullion into their Mints: these Laws your Petitioner translated and printed, and presented them to the Committee of this business, for removing the obstructions of the Mint. And your Petitioner made Assays of all these foreign Coins of Gold and Silver, and writ down the just weight and standard of every several foreign Coin, what proportion and value they held with the standard of our Mint, and what every foreign piece of Gold and Silver, would make to Merchants to be coined in our Mint of London, and caused all the several stamps of the Coins of foreign Gold and Silver to be engraved, for the true information of all our English Merchants, who generally are not so expert in this mystery as the Dutch Merchants are. The true reason of this defect is this, viz. In England we have only our own Coins of Gold and Silver goes currant, which makes our Nation in general never to study the value of foreign Coins of Gold or Silver; whereas in Holland almost all foreign Coins of Gold or Silver goes currant by Proclamation, therefore of necessity all Merchants and others must know the intrinsecal value of all foreign Coins, what proportion they hold with their standard; and several Books which they call Placarts, are printed by Authority of the States, with the several Figures of the Coins of foreign Gold and Silver, being marked in the margin at what price the several Coins shall go, not being washed and clipped, and full weight. And the Dutch allowing these foreign Coins to go currant, having public banks of treasure, that makes them Masters of their Exchange of moneys, the mysteries whereof very few of our English Merchants understand, for the reasons aforesaid. But had the Figures of all the foreign Coins been printed, which was prepared by your Petitioner, by order of the Honourable the Committee of the Mint, in 1652. your Petitioner humbly affirms to your Honours, that the printing thereof would have been a great guide and advantage to our Merchants, and the Nation, had Mr. Secretary Thurloe given your Petitioner back again these Prints and Papers which was most modelled and acted by your Petitioner; but he buried them in Oblivion, as he did many other good Proposals, which your Petitioner presented to him, for the service of the Commonwealth. Your Petitioner humbly offered, to the consideration of the Committee, for removing the obstructions of the Mint, that if they would set the Mint a work, they must take order to remove their chief Officers of the Mint; these Gentlemen, the present master. Worker and Warden, were never brought up to know the mysteries of the Mint, nor the private ways of correspondence with foreign mints and merchants, and to make every wind bring grift to their mill, and to know what ships and merchants bring us in gold and silver, and to learn the mystery to enforce them to coin it; also to know what ships and merchants transport gold and silver without licence from the State, and to keep good intelligence and watch upon their actions, that so the gold and silver endeavoured to be unlawfully transported may be seized and forfeited. For a man to be his Crasts-master in this mystery, requires as many years study as to be a Doctor of Physic, and is never to be learned by looking on an Urinal. Your Petitioner humbly says, The Parliament had made a better bargain to have given these Doctors of Physic forty thousand pounds for a pension, than to suffer that damage they have received by the not employing of the mint, daily gold and silver being imported into this Nation, and before ever it be coined transported out again without licence, to the great damage and weakening of the stock of this Common wealth. There is silver and gold vast and great quantities brought daily from beyond the seas, and landed in this Nation, without paying of Custom, and this very silver and gold is stolen out of the Nation again before ever it be coined without licence or paying of Custom; so here is a Trade to the value of some hundreds of thousands of pounds by the year, for the particular profit of some covetous merchants, and the Commonwealth have no profit either by Excise, Custom or Coynadge; and till skilful men in these Mysteries be employed in the Mint, this mischief will not be stopped or removed either by Doctors or Apothecaries. Your Petitioner did formerly offer, and now doth humby offer unto your Honours, that he may be impowered and commissioned to be master-Worker and melter of the Mint, to undertake now at this time to set your Mint to work, notwithstandidg the present War with Spain, provided your Petitioner may be impowered by your Honour's order for the execution of what he shall humbly propound for the honour of the State and service of the Commonwealth in this business. God send your Honours to order all these abuses by me here presented, may be prevented for the future, and care taken where corrupt, ignorant and unskilful persons are got into employment for the public they may be removed, and trusty skilful Officers put in their employments. Your Petitioner humbly says, This is a sure way to abate and lessen the great engagements of the Commonwealth, when Drones are discharged and Bees employed: for if your Honours take away the cause, the cure of the disease follows of course. OLIVER the late Lord Protector the 20. of April 1653. dismisses the Parliament, and the same day put a Guard of soldiers aboard the aforesaid ships, Samson, Salvador, and St. George, then riding about Black wall. And shortly after unloads all the silver into the Mint, which your Petitioner stayed for the use of the Commonwealth: your Petitioner can prove it by the Account of the Mint, that the silver which was taken out of the said ships, beside what was stolen and embezeled, amounted to the sum of two hundred seventy eight thousand odd hundred pounds, and Mr. Lieut. of the Tower, Col. Barkstead, paid out all this great Treasure. In reducing the Dutch, paying the Army, and other services for the Public, as will appear by the particulars of his Account; and your Petitioner never had farthing, so that this great Treasure your Petitioner stayed, was every penny laid out in defence of the Commonwealth, and subduing the Dutch. It was a great mercy of God to this Nation, that your Petitioner prevented the Dutch from getting this great Treasure, at that juncture of time, 1652. that silver would have made work for us else, had the Dutch had it. When your Petitioner see all this money disposed of by Col. Barkstead, and not one penny thereof paid unto your Petitioner, according to the promise of the Council of State; yet at the same time your Petitioner to be daily commanded and enjoined by the late Lord Protector Oliver, and by his Council, and by the Judges of the Admiralty, and Doctor Walker 1653. 1654. daily required at his own charge to attend and prosecute this business, and to pay about ten other persons for about two years, who assisted your Petitioner in the prosecution of this business, as appears by the Warrants of the Council of State, Court of Admiralty, Doctor Walker, all of them dated after the 20. of April 1653. which Warrants and Orders your Petitioner hath ready to produce to your Honours. Your Petitioner finding this unmerciful and hard usage in this business, to be daily forced to borrow great sums of money at interest, and to expend the same in prosecuting this business in the Admiralty to maintain the States claim to this silver against the claimers, and your Petitioner never to receive one penny from the States for his service, he was enforced to petition the late Lord Protector OLIVER for his reward and satisfaction, according to the promise of the Council of State, his Highness being one of the Members that had faithfully promised your Petitioner the sum of eleven thousand pounds when your Petitioner first undertook this service, before Col. Bingham and Mr Sadler. In his Petition he sets forth the several services, chargeable and dangerous employment, together with the Council of States engagements and promise, to pay your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds for this his discovery and service, and named several of the Council of State which knew this to be a truth, and that your Petitioner wholly relied upon the Counsels Promise as aforesaid (which was the true cause) that engaged your Petitioner, to undertake this difficult, chargeable, and dangerous task and employment. And had not your Petitioner borrowed above seven hundred sixty five pounds, and expended it all in this service, which he pays interest for at this very day, besides your Petitioners daily attendance in the Admiralty, with about ten persons whom he paid and employed in this business to assist your Petitioner; had not your Petitioner done this, the Commonwealth had lost every penny of this great treasure. The late Lord Protector Oliver, upon your Petitioners addresses unto him, and after his daily attendance for above two years, with Petitions at Whitehall and Hampton Court, for his dearly earned reward, the reasons wherefore the Protector delayed your Petitioner so long, before his reference touching this business, was (he knew the Referrees would certify the debt, and that he knew I could prove his particular Promise, for the paying of your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds for this service which he made me at the Cock pit at Whitehall, before Col. Bingham and Mr. Sadler, who were of the then Council of State, and brought me to him, to give him a particular Account what your Petitioner had done in this business, your Petitioner by his importunity and daily attendance, following him every day, got his Highness Oliver at last, to refer the aforesaid Petition to Col. Barkstead Lieut. of the Tower, Mr. Alderman Vyner, Capt. John Limbery, Doctor Walker Advocate for his Highness, Gabriel Beck, Sergeant Dendy, Maurice Thomson Treasurer of the East- India Company, Sergeant Middleton, Isaac Dorislawes Esquires, or any three or more of them, to take your Petitioners Petition into their consideration, to examine all the premises, and thereupon to state and certify your Petitioners case, (to his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector,) together with their opinions upon the whole matter, touching your Petitioners reward and satisfaction for this service, as appears by the original Petition and Reference. All the aforenamed Referrees upon reading this Petition, and the transactions thereupon, after many day's meeting, held it very necessary for the clearing of the truth, to acquaint the Lord Bradshaw, Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetwood, and Francis Allen Esquires, with your Petitioners Petition, and his Highness' Reference thereupon, in regard your Petitioner had named all the aforesaid Honourable perjons in his Petitions and Papers, amongst others, who both knew your Petitioners services, touching the staying this silver, and were privy to the Council of States Engagements and Intentions, to pay your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds, when your Petitioner undertook to disprove the Spanish and Flemish Claimers. And upon Consideration of the Counsels promise to your Petitioner, as aforesaid, was the cause that made your Petitioner undertake this difficult, chargeable and dangerous service. And the aforesaid referrees received Certificates from every one of the aforesaid honourable persons, which Certificates set forth the great service done by your Petitioner, viz. That your Petitioner was upon his first undertaking of this Business looked on by the then Council of State as the Great Wheel that set all on work, and set on foot this discovery in getting the State this great Treasure, or else the State had lost it in the Admiralty, and that these Actings of your Petitioner, accompanied with great charge, hazard and trouble, was the Cause (sine qua non) of the after-benefit received by the State upon conversion of this silver. That the Council of States Engagements and intentions to the Petitioner, at his first assuming the employment, was not without good reason uncommitted to writing, for avoiding of misconstruction. And the Council of State did not only promise the Petitioner the restoration of his Estate for his particular service of staying the Silver, but did also promise to confer upon the Petitioner an Honourable Memorial, and had not the Petitioner had a real assurance from the Council of State in 1652. for the paying of him the sum of eleven thousand pounds, the whole Business touching this Silver had been lost and left undertaken, had not the Petitioner had such an insurance and promise, and also relied on the same for a just Performance. It is true, they certify that for some Reasons of State the Petitioners (Thomas Violets) assurance and reward was not committed to writing, to avoid clamour and lewd tongues, but this omission was not to frustrate the Petitioner of his dearly earned Reward, the restoration of his Estate, or eleven thousand pounds. These are but the Heads of the aforesaid Certificates, the Originals certify all matters touching this Business at large, under the hands of the Lord Bradshaw, Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetwood, Francis Allen Esquires, every person severally certifies all the aforesaid referrees their particular knowledge of this Business. Col. Barkstead, Sir Thomas Viner, and all the beforenamed Referrees, upon consideration of these Certificates, and upon sight of the attestation of the Officers of the Mint, and several other Witnesses, who depose, That Thomas Violet was several times offered, and might have received from the Claimers of Silver, (Merchants of Flanders then in London) the sum of ten thousand pounds to have desisted the prosecution of this Business in the Court of Admiralty, and to have betrayed the trust which the Council of State imposed on him, to make a discovery of Spanish and Flemish fraudulent Claims; and also upon sight of several orders of the Council of State, the Judges of the Admiralty, and Doctor Walker, and several depositions taken in the Petitioners case, upon the whole matter all the aforesaid Referrees certify his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector; viz. That upon Examination of Thomas Violets Petition, they find that the Petitioner is a person who not only deservs the making good of the Council of State's Engagement and Promise unto him, for the true paying your Petitioner Tho. Violet, the sum of eleven thousand pounds, but upon due consideration had of the great Travel, Charge, and Hazard, which your Petitioner hath undergone in the Prosecution of this business, and your Petitioners great faithfulness in refusing to be corrupted, or betray the interest of the Commonwealth, as hath been fully proved unto them, as also upon the Attestation of Sir George Fleetwood and Sir James Harrington, concerning the Promise of the Council of State to your Petitioner Tho. Violet, for the restoration to him his estate, or eleven thousand pounds, all these Referrees report to his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector, that they humbly conceive upon the whole matter of Fact, that over and above the payment of eleven thousand pounds: that there be some signal reward conferred on the Petitioner for this his eminent service, that all other for the future may be encouraged to serve the interest of the Commonwealth, with that singular faithfulness and integrity, as the Petitioner hath done, and they all certify that they find, It proved that the Petitioner by his chargeable prosecution of this business in the Court of Admiralty, hath contracted debts, amounting unto the sum of seven hundred sixty five pounds, which the Petitioner borrowed at interest, all his own estate being under sequestration ever since 1643. besides several other great sums of money your Petitioner borrowed at interest for his support ever since his sequestration, upon consideration whereof they find the Petitioners Engagements are very pressing upon him, and they all humbly offer, that for the present, lest the Petitioner should be thrown into prison, for the very moneys he hath expended in getting the Commonwealth this great treasure of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, the just account thereof they had seen presented unto them by Col. Barkstead. That his Highness Oliver Lord Protector, in consideration of all the Premises, would be pleased presently to pay the Petitioner Tho. Violet, some considerable sum of money to pay off his great engagements for the State, and for his support for the future, according to his quality, and that the remainder of the money to make up the sum of eleven thousand pounds be paid unto him according to the Promise of the Council of State, the Petitioner Tho. Violet, having served the Commonwealth in this great business, with a great deal of resolution, faithfulness and activity. This Report is at large signed and certified to his late Highness, Oliver Lord Protector, the first of May 1658. by Col. Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower, Mr. Alderman Vyner, Gabriel Beck, John Limbery, Edward Denly, Henry Middleton, Maurice Thomson, Treasurer of the East-India Company, Isaac Dorislaws, as appears by the original Certificate. Your Petitioner petitioned the late Lord Protector Oliver 29. July 1658. and annexed the aforenamed Report of the Referrees, and petitioned to be paid the sum of eleven thousand pound. The Lord Protector Oliver, upon reading the aforesaid Petition, and the Report annexed, refers your Petitioner for satisfaction, together with the Report of Col. Barkstead, Sir Tho Vyner, and others, for your Petitioners satisfaction unto his privy Council, that they take consideration of all the matters therein contained, so that the Petitioner may have and receive satisfaction according to Justice and Equity for this service 29. July 1658. but his death shortly following, nothing as yet hath been done for your Petitioners satisfaction. Your Petitioner thereupon in Octob. 1658. petitioned the late Lord Protector Richard for his satisfaction, and annexed the aforesaid Reports and Petitions (upon his Highness' perusal of the same) he was pleased to refer the same unto the consideration of Francis Bacon late Master of his Requests, and Gabriel Beck Esquires, Solicitor to the late Council of State; They after many day's meeting concerning this business, have certified accordingly, as Col. Barkstead, and the former Referrees have done, viz. for the due paying your Petitioner the sum of eleven thousand pounds, and that they hold the Petitioner to be a person very fit and useful to be employed in removing the obstructions of the Mint, and that the Petitioner be employed for regulating the Manufacture of gold and silver Wyre and Lace, which Certificates are here to be produced to your Honours, signed by Francis Bacon and Gabriel Beck Esquires, 18 Jan. 1658. Your Petitioner humbly prays your Honours to take into consideration the great and eminent advantages your Petitioner did this Common wealth in staying this silver, at that juncture of time in Decemb. 1652. for had that silver come into the hands of the Dutch, they would have laid it all out in powder and shot against this Commonwealth, as we employed it against them, as will appear by Col. barkstead's Accounts, which moneys under God was a principal mean to reduce the Dutch; what service this treasure did the Nation in that juncture of time, Christendom knows, the Dutch then our enemies felt, and this Common wealth at this day enjoys the happy fruit of it. But had all advantages been home followed against the Dutch in the last War, we had grubbed up their greatness by the roots, and flayed his Zealand Lions skin, and broken their sheaf of Arrows to shivers, making them unable for ever to trouble us, (but we only pared their nails, and parted with them upon too gentle conditions, and made such a peace with them, that at this time they carry all our Trade from our Merchants in a manner, and do us more damage by being our feigned friends, than they could do being our open enemies, the due consideration thereof is humbly hinted here to your Honours. And if your Honours require a more particular Account, I can demonstrate it to you in many particulars. May it please your Honours. These Certificats, though they do declare the truth of your Petitioners service really performed, by a great number of Witnesses, yet without further consideration they pay not your Petitioners engagements, which were disbursed by him for the accomplishment of this service; and those Gentlemen that have lent their moneys really to your Petitioner, to enable him to do this service, look for real payment in moneys, and not in words, your Petitioners engagement at this day for this business of staying of the silver, being above fifteen hundred pounds. St. James saith what profit is it, if a Brother be naked or destitute of daily food, for one to say to him, be thou warmed, and be thou filled, if he supply him not with food and raiment, so likewise a bare Certificate, without further supply, will neither pay debts, nor cloth, nor feed a man, many words will not fill a bag, (it is Justice that establisheth a Nation, and payment of money quits debts, and not words) What a shame would it be to those, that profess so much Justice, and reformation, as this age doth, to have it left to posterity and record, That your Petitioner that hath done this Commonwealth such an eminent service, in getting them more money than any man in this Nation ever did before, should not be justly rewarded, according to the promise and engagements of the Council of State, which made your Petitioner undertake this chargeable, difficult, and dangerous service, your Petitioner might have had ten thousand pounds from the Claimers, to have held his peace and been quiet, and to suffer the Judges of the Admiralty, to let this Silver pass, the truth of this is certified under the hands of many persons of quality, had your Petitioner taken this course, to have been bribed off, it had been most for his ease but less for his honesty. The Commonwealth's interest, and his own reputation, in making good his promise and engagement to the Lord Bradshaw and Council of State he valued more than his life; your Petitioner hath done his duty, and will leave the issue to God. 'tis Solomon that saith a poor man delivered the City, yet no man remembered the poor man, when he had done his work. I humbly hope that your Honour's Justice will prevent me, that I may not have occasion to say the same, that is true of this Age, or leave so sad a memorandum of the ingratitude of these times. If the Rules of our Saviour were observed by men of power in this Nation at this day, to do to all People, as they would be done unto, your Petitioner should not have been so long from time to time delayed with references, in so Just and equitable Petition. If your Petitioner hath not this his dearly earned reward, it will remain to posterity in print, to fright and terrify all persons, and make them wary how they engage for the future, upon English statesmen's promises, when they shall see and read these Transactions and Certificates, If your Petitioner hath not satisfaction according to Justice, it would be a means to make other men to take money when it is offered, and not to trust to English States men's promises. About the 20. of April 1659. your Petitioner did engage an Honourable person, to present to the Lord Richard Cromwell the late Protector these very Petitions and Certificates, which I now present unto your Honours in print, I am credibly informed, upon his perusal of them, he was most honourably pleased to be very sensible of your Petitioners sad sufferings, great expense, pains and fidelity for the Commonwealth in this service. And that seeing all this Treasure (which your Petitioner stopped in the Ships Samson, Salvador and George) was employed and spent in the defence of the Commonwealth, his late Highness was pleased to declare, to an Honourable person that informed me your Petitioner, his late Highness did think my promised reward to be a just debt, and that the Commonwealth ought to pay it, and had not the Government been changed, I am assured from several honourable persons, his late Highness the Lord Richard Cromwell would have seen me justly paid the sum of eleven thousand pounds, and given me an honourable reward and Employment over and above. Your Petitioner implores your Honours to consider of all his premises, and that as your Petitioner did this Nation the greatest service, that ever was done by any man of his condition, in saveing this Commonwealth two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, which was all employed in defence of this Commonwealth. Your Petitioners humble prayer is, after so long a delay of Justice, he may have his dearly earned reward, the payment of the sum of eleven thousand pounds, in such ways and in such manner, as your Petitioner may be enabled to pay off the great engagements he hath laid out in this service, and to support himself according to his quality, and that others seeing your Justice, may for the future be encouraged to serve the interest of the Nation, with that integrity, activity, and faithfulness as your Petitioner hath done, with the hazard of his life, and all that he had dear in this world, your Petitioner having engaged his Credit, and borrowed above fifteen hundred pounds which he expended every penny in this service, and in his attendance to ge●t satisfaction, and at this day oweth the sum at interest, to save and get the State this great Treasure, besides all his pains and hazard. These several Services and Proposals done by your Petitioner, for the honour and profit of the Common wealth, your Honours will see them certified under the hands of the Lord Bradshaw, Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetwood, and Francis Allen Esquire, and that your Petitioner was faithfully promised the restoration of his estate, by divers members of Parliament and Council of State, for several chargeable services your Petitioner had done the Parliament some years before, from the year 1648 to 1652. before your Petitioner undertook to stay the silver in the ships Samson, Salvador, and George, and this is clearly demonstrated by the said Certificates. But upon your Petitioners happy and successful staying of this silver, and undertaking at his own charge to prosecute this discogery in the Admiralty, upon the Promise of the Council of State 1652 to pay your Petitioner the sum of eleven thousand pounds for this service, in lieu of his sequestered estate, which for so many years your Petitioner had solicited both the Council of State and Parliament to have it. Sir James Harrington, and Sir George Fleetwood, fully and clearly certify, that they think themselves bound in honour and conscience, to certify the truth of their knowledge to his Highness' Referrees, according to their Request and Desire, concerning the Council of States promises and engagements to pay your Petitioner the sum of eleven thousand pounds, that so your Petitioner may have his dearly earned reward for this great service, and not labour for the State in vain; And that if the rule of the Gospel were observed to do to other men as they would be done unto, your Petitioner could not be many weeks without receiving eleven thousand pounds, and over and above an honourable reward and memorial from the State for this great service, and that the State in Honour and Justice, was obliged to pay your Petitioner the above said sum, and that no doubt but so faithful a service, so carefully and painfully performed would have a happy issue, and the Petitioners reward from the State would be suitable to the greatness of the service, upon perusal of Sir James Harrington, and Sir George Fleetwoods' Certificates, your Honours will see this more fully set down and amplified; The Lord Bradshawes Certificate for the substance is to the same effect, so is Francis Allens Esquire, who being a Goldsmith knew experimentally the great abilities in your Petitioner, to regulate and reform the abuses in the Mint, and the services and overtures of your Petitioner. 1650. 1651. 1652. offered the Council of State both to set the Mint on work, and to give a stop to the transporting of Treasure, he certifies your Petitioner had taken great pains, and spent much money in this business, (which had the humble advice and proposition of your Petitioner then been taken by the Parliament) you had filled the Nation at this day with Gold and Silver, and constantly employed your Mint to the great honour and profit of the Nation, for all the War with Spain. Your Petitioner at this day humbly offers to set the Mint on work so he may be employed, and not labour for the State in vain, for your Petitioner to take the pains and be at the Charge, and other persons who have no skill in this business, to run away with the profit: Your Petitioner hath too often been so served by great men in power, and shall not do it again for any ones pleasure whosoever. Thus have I humbly presented my services done for the State, and the Councils engagements and promise for your Petitioners satisfaction. It is a Rule set down by God and all Nations, Christians, Turks, and Jews, that there are degrees of rewards for virtue, and degrees of punishments for vice, the degrees of Punishments and Rewards are in all well-regulated Kingdoms and Common wealths put down, and the people know them that so they may not offend; and there is no offence to be justly punished, either by God's Law or Man's, before a Law be made to give men the Rule, for the Apostle saith, I had not known sin but by the Law. And that punishment that is inflicted on a man, before a Law made to prohibit or restrain a man from doing the same, let it be inflicted by what Power soever, (must needs be a very great affliction and punishment sent of God for a man's other sins) and cannot as to men be said to be regularly done, especially where the offence is taken, and the punishment so heavy, as it shall deprive a man of all his estate, and keep a man almost four years a Prisoner, in which time your Petitioner spent eight hundred pounds for charges, whereof nine hundred twenty eight days of that time, he was kept a close Prisoner, without ever being brought to a legal Trial, according to the Fundamental Laws of the Nation by a Jury, the birthright of every Englishman rich or poor; but after a man's estate is squandered, disposed, and given away to several Persons and Committees, for particular men's profit, and upon false and untrue pretences, to the value of above eleven thousand pounds, as your Petitioner for many years hath proved and presented to the Council of State and Parliament, ever since the year 1648. being much about the time your Petitioner was turned out of the Tower, without any legal Trial or Reason given for his Commitment, or the taking away of his Estate contrary to Magna Charta, and all the Laws of this Nation. God having given your Petitioner his freedom, your Petitioner presently, to show that he was oppressed, and the Parliament misinformed, and his estate unduly taken away, given and disposed of upon false and untrue pretences, for particular men's profit, to several Committees and others, the Petitioner did humbly address himself for relief, to many honourable Members of Parliament and Council of State, and presented them with the true estate of his sufferings in Print. The Cause of your Petitioners sufferings was for bringing up a Letter from Oxford 1643. from the late King, who had then a desire to employ, and make your Petitioner Master-worker of his Mint at Oxford; which place the King did give me there, and the Petitioner had an Order from the House of Parliament, and a Pass from the Lord General Essex, about the 28. of Decemb. 1643. to go to Oxford to the King, upon condition to put in security in a thousand pounds, which security I did accordingly give, to make good my Exchange for one Mr. Hesilrigge, and did accordingly bring up my Exchange to London, and left it with Sir Arthur Hesilrigge, about the 3. of Jan. 1643. And the late King Charles, upon my Exchange as aforesaid, commanded me to bring up a Letter from him to the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common-Councel of the City of London. I do confess I honoured and loved the late King, for many benefits received from him, and it was my duty to obey him as my King, though I had never received benefits from him; but had I known there had been any Act or Order of Parliament to prohibit me or any other to bring up the said Letter at that time, or that the Parliament would have taken any offence against me for doing thereof, my principles at that time, and the whole course of my Actions since, hath clearly demonstrated to your Honours and the World, that I would have humbly declined that employment; for I have ever been an Honourer of the Parliament and my Country, as this Narrative will demonstrate to posterity. The Tree is known by its fruit, and no man I humbly conceive in the Nation of my condition, hath yielded better fruit, or ever got the Common wealth two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds in silver, but your Petitioner. At the same instant of time Van Trump was in the Downs with the Dutch Fleet, upon the clearing of these ships out of the Admiralty, to have conveyed them to Holland. This was a real Plot, not a feigned one, as appears by the Commissions this day in the Court of Admiralty, under the Great Seal of Holland, to De Weet and De Ruyter, their Vice-admirals', to guard these ships from the English, upon the Petitions of the Merchants of Amsterdam. I pray God England never forgets this deliverance nor the Council of State the Performance of their Promise to your Petitioner for this discovery, your Petitioner going in danger of his life by the Claimers for several years for doing of this service. Here followeth the Copy of the late King Charles' Letter to the City of London. To Our Trusty and Well-beloved, Our Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Our City of London, and all other Our well-effected Subjects of that City. Charles Rex, TRustie and Well beloved, we greet you well: When we remember the many Acts of Grace and Favour We and Our Royal Predecessors have conferred upon that our City of London, and the many examples of eminent Duty and Loyalty, for which that City hath been likewise famous; We are willing to believe (notwithstanding the great defection we have found in that place) That all men are not so far degenerate from their affection to Us, and to the peace of the Kingdom, as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel: And therefore being informed, That there is a desire in some principal persons of that City to present a Petition to Us, which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Us and that Our City, whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may be procured; We have thought fit to let you know, That we are ready to receive any such Petition, and the Persons who shall be appointed to present the same to Us shall have a safe conduct: And you shall assure all our good Subjects of that Our City (whose hearts are touched with any sense of Duty to Us, or of Love to the Religion and Laws established; in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof, They and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happiness), That we have neither passed any Act, nor made any Profession or Protestation for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Religion, and the Liberties of the Subject, which we will not most strictly and religiously observe; And for the which, we will not be always ready to give them any security that can be desired: And of those Our gracious Letters, We expect a speedy Answer from you. And so We bid you farewell. Given at our Court at Oxford in the nineteenth year of our Reign, December 26. 1643. By his Majesty's Command. GEORGE DIGBY. [I do most humbly desire the Common Council of the City of London, to certify your Honours, if ever (amongst all their Records, ever since the foundation of their City) they find such a sad Precedent as mine is; And whether that any Messenger from any former King of England suffered the loss of his Estate (to his damage at this day above twenty thousand pound, for bringing them or any their Ancestors the like Letter for peace, as I did from the late KING. And at that time (viz. in December 30. 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 believe, had I not Printed it to Posterity, that it may serve as a warning to prevent other Persons, from being got in the like Snares for the future.] For this cause I Suffered 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 House of Commons (as appears by their Journal Book) and a Pass from the Lord General Essex to go to Oxford; for an exchange for Mr. Hesilrigge, Sir Arthur Hesilrige his Brother, and I left my Exchange with Sir Arthur Hesilrigge, about the 2. of January 1643. which were both procured for me by Mr. Theophilus Ryley Scout-master General of the City of London, who was authorized to execute that place by the Common Council of London; and I was authorized by the said Mr. Ryley to do the same (Mr. Ryley being impowered by the Parliament and Common Council of London to hold Intelligence in any the King's Quarters, as by his Orders he shown me:) Mr. Ryley was a man of a known & approved Integrity, and in great esteem with the then Parliament and City of London at that time, and would not have acted any thing but what was Just, and for the Parliaments service, according to his Trust. (If he had thought it otherwise, if he might have gotten a hundred thousand pounds, upon my conscience) and that made me to act this Business, to bring up the King's Letter upon his Entreaty (as he confessed upon his Examination;) and I justified my doing thereof by his Order, he being a public Minister, and impowered to do it, as he told me. 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 the Parliament acquainted therewith, before ever I went to Oxford, and to have their approbation;) which Sir David Watkins (after he had spoken with them) told me, I had their approbation to go to Oxford: And all this was done before any Law or Ordinance was made or declared to forbid me or any other to do the same (that ever I heard of:) or to this day can hear of, and I humbly say, That before a Law made, there is no transgression, neither by God's law nor Man's law. And I was not to question Mr. Ryleys power, abilities and trust, considering he acted as a public Minister, but to act according to his direction, so long as he 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, to take heed how he Transgress. 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 or condition soever he be) shall be put out of Land or Tenement, nor taken, nor imprisoned, nor disinherited, 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 Honours, Had there been a Proclamation or Act of Parliament at that time to have prohibited me, I should have then been afraid; besides, Mr. Ryley should never have made me act against a declared Law, nor the King neither. Now, forasmuch as your humble Supplicant having ever since his Enlargement out of the Tower, made it his daily practice to study to serve the Commonwealth, and doing such remarkable Services (as aforesaid) for the Common-welath, I do most humbly implore your Honour's most gracious Order for the restoring me to my aforesaid estate with damages, or the paying your Supplicant the sum of eleven thousand pounds, according to the promise of the Council of State. 1652. May it please your Honours, If I would have betrayed my Trust to the Commonwealth, about this Silver that was in the Ships Samson, 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 money here, or Bills of Exchange beyond Seas: that money would have made me live plentifully in any part of Christendom. I do most humbly implore your Honours, that I may have such Justice by your Honour's goodness and benignity, as I may have cause never to repent of my being faithful to your Honours and the Commonwealth's Interest in this particular, concerning the Silver Ships, their Silver and Lading. I most humbly here present an Account of what hath been taken from me Tho. Violet; for which I most humbly desire satisfaction, with my damages, or the sum of eleven thousand pounds, as was faithfully promised unto me by the most Honourable Council of State, in December and January 1652. for staying the silver in the ships Samson, Salvador, and George, and disproving the Spanish Ambassadors Claim to this silver, which was above three hundred thousand pounds, my damages at this day by the taking my Estate 1643. is above twenty thousand pounds 25. May 1659. viz. When I was first sent unto the Tower the 6th. 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 accounts of great concernment to the Common-welath; and as yet I cannot come to the knowledge who hath them: But this I am sure of, If there had been any thing in them that could have made against me, 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 he owed me (for my expenses in discovering the Transporters of Gold and Silver) nineteen hundred threescore and eight pounds, which money I laid every penny out of my own purse to do the late King and Commonwealth that service: in prosecuting the Transporters of Gold and Silver, in the Star chamber I caused them to be fined twenty four thousand one hundred pounds, besides several Merchants and others, who had their pardons from the late King, for transporting Gold and Silver, and melting down the heaviest Silver Coins of England, viz. Alderman Wollaston, and Alderman Gibbs, Mr. Peter Fountain and several other Merchants, the terror of which sentence and punishment, for some years did give a stop to transporting of Gold and Silver, to the great service and advantage of the Commonwealth, and if the Parliament please to pass the Act against Transporting Gold and Silver which has twice this Parliament been read in the House, and several times Committed, and empower your Petitioner to see to the due execution thereof, your Petitioner will give a stop to the Transportation of Gold and Silver, and discover the Offenders, if a Commission be granted to make enquiry of the same, according to former Precedents in Richard the Seconds time, by Act of Parliament. This Parliament was so careful to have these Offences prosecuted, that they excepted them out of the general Pardon, being the desire of the Committee of the Mint, as appears by this following Order. Whitehall Janu. 24. 1651. Master Attorney General. AT a Committee of the Council of State for the Mint, this enclosed exception was presented to the Committee to have it inserted in the general Pardon. The Committee do hold it fit, for the benefit of the Commonwealth, to have this exception inserted in that Pardon, and do recommend it to you accordingly. viz. EXcept all offences done or committed by any person or persons whatsoever, in transporting out of England any Gold or Silver, in coin or in bullion without Licence, and all other offences in the unlawful buying, selling, exchanging or melting down of any the current gold or silver coins of England, or of any gold or silver bullion, against whom, or for which, any Information is now depending in the Court of Exchequer at Westminster. Ordered that Master Thomas Violet attend M. Attorney General with this Order of the Committee, and also the Committee of Parliament for drawing the general Pardon to have these offences excepted. James Harrington. Herbert Morley. Your Petitioner did deliver this Order, to Mr. Attorney General, and this exception is put into the general Pardon of this Parliament, as may be seen upon perusal. 3. The Committee of Essex put me out of Possession of the Manors of Battles and Patan-Hall in Essex, as appears by their Warrants. Of which Lands I had an Extent of One thousand pounds, for the payment of five hundred: and one Mr. Elconhead received my rents ever since 1643, and never paid the Committee of Essex any thing, for your Petitioners Extent of five hundred pounds, and the same Elconhead enjoys your Petitioners Lands in Essex to this very day, by colour of the Sequestration of the Committee of Essex, to your Petitioners great damage. 4. The Committee of Shropshire seized, in my sister's hands, in London, three Bonds due to me, in two thousand pounds for the payment to me Thomas Violet One thousand pounds, by the Lady Anne Waad, Edmond Lenthal, Philip Cage and Charles Mordent Esq's. 1643. which Bonds were carried to Shrewsbury. 5. I had the Leas and Extent of ten several Houses at the Postern in Little moorfield's; and the Tenants owed me, when I was committed to the Tower, in arrears for rent above one hundred pounds: And for these sixteen years, I received no Rent of them. But one Mr. Elconhead hath received the Rents of them ever since, by colour of a Sequestration of the Committee of Middlesex. 6. I had the Office of sealing and surveying of all gold and silver Thread and Wire: which prevented the making of all sleight and adulterate gold and silver Thread, and Wyer, granted to me under the Great Seal, for three Lives, from the Late King; which Office cost me Fifteen hundred pounds (to the Lord Treasurer Juxon, L. Cottingon, Sir. John Cook: Secretary of State, and Sir John Banks the late King's Attorney. The necessity of keeping up that Office, to prevent the daily Cozenages and frauds of divers Silkmen, Wyerdrawers and Refiners in their making Cours, sleight and deceitful Gold and Silver Wyer and Thread: Your Petitioner formerly presented unto your Honours, and can prove it that forty thousand pounds a year in silver is wasted, besides the Wearers daily Cozened for want of a due Regulation of gold and silver Thread, and Lace. And upon the Discovery of these notorious Cheats, 1635. (the late King and his Council appointed me Surveyor and Sealer of the said Manufacture) I caused all the abuses to be laid aside: I indicted some offenders, imprisoned some, caused others to stand in the Pillory, and made many of them that wrought adulterate course silver run away out of London: By which means I angered many Cheating Wyerdrawers, Silkmen and Refiners: and the late King's Council and Commissioners settled such Rules and Orders, during the Regulation of the Manufacture, as it 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 he sealed, or surveyed in the Office, to be 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 ounce Troy, in Wyer, Spangles, O's, etc. I surveyed; and 4 pence for every pound weight Venice, for all the Gold and Silver Thread I sealed with the Seal of my Office, being the Rose and Crown. And all that time the gold and silver Lace, was as good Silver and as duly assayed as the Plate or Money of the Nation, and now it is made under no Rule nor Government, but the Wearers many of them cheated by course and deceitful Lace, Wyer, silver Thread, as I can demonstrate. 7. I had a Grant from the late King, under his Signet, to be Master-worker of the Mint in the Tower of London for my life, with the Fee of five hundred pounds 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 Villers Farm at the Custom-house, for the Importation of all gold and Silver Thread, Hatbands, Lace, and Copper, throughout England and Wales; which cost me, a little before I was sequestered, 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 Revenue than now it doth by the Excise; and the Manufacture, if it be made here, aught to be kept to a strict Regulation. Mr. Edward's and Mr. Tbornbury I employed to Collect this duty at the Custom-hous. 9 I spent in my Imprisonment in the Tower for almost four years about eight hundred pounds, reckoning my Fees and Expenses, and could never get Justice, though I petitioned to the Parliament as aforesaid, for many years to come to a legal Trial, knowing myself to be innocent both by God's Law and the Laws of the Land; and by the testimony of a good conscience, which hath ever supported me in and thorough all these great troubles. All this Estate was and is Sequestered, to this day; (but my three aforesaid bonds, which I now have in my Custody,) besides my damage for my four years' Imprisonment. 10. Since I came out of the Tower, by order of the Council of State 1652. your Petitioner laid out (in the Prosecution of the Silver Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George) above the sum of seven hundred sixty five pounds, 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, Samson, 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 Commonwealths: All which services I did (upon the faithful promise of the Council of State) in Decemb. 1652 to restore me to all my Estate, or the full value of eleven thousand pounds. John Corbet Esquire, one of the Members of this present Parliament at this day, and one of the Committee of Shropshire, meeting with your Petitioner in March 1655. was nobly pleased to take notice of your Petitioners good endeavours to serve the Commonwealth; and seeing that your Petitioner had put out in Print, a List of his particular damages, and the particular Bonds, Houses, Lands, Offices, set down, which had been taken from your Petitioner his Mother and Sister, who had then a great part of his estate in their Custody, at the time of his imprisonment in the Tower, and were plundered of it during that time of my Imprisonment there, by the title and name of Sequestration. This Noble Gentleman Mr. Corbet, being very sensible of my sufferings, and how your Petitioners estate had been squandered away, was pleased to tell your Petitioner he could do him a courtesy, in procuring to your Petitioner three Bonds taken from your Petitioner in two thousand pounds, for the payment of your Petitioner one thousand pounds 1644, which Bonds Mr. Corbet told me were at Shrewsbury in Shropshire, mortgaged by that Committee for forty pounds, which the Committee had laid out for public use. Your Petitioner was glad to hear where these Bonds were, and to know who had them, though they day in Lavender for forty pounds, your Petitioner for many years making diligent enquiry after them, and had never got true information where they were, had not Mr. John Corbet told him, and it was a thousand to one that these Bonds, being eleven years out of your Petitioners Custody, that your Petitioner ever heard of them; or got them again into his hands. This Worthy Gentleman Mr. John Corbet advised me to make my Application by Petition to his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector, and to his Council, for to have these Bonds restored, and that if his late Highness and his Council would give him order to do it, he wished me so well, be would procure your Petitioner these three Bonds safe and uncancelled, Provided your Petitioner would pay the Committee of Shropshire for them the sum of forty pounds, which your Petitioner willingly offered to do, whereupon your Petitioner petitioned the late Lord Protector Oliver and his Council for the aforesaid three Bonds. And the Council of State ordered John Corbet Esquire, should attend them, to give them true information of this business, which accordingly he did, and thereupon this Order following of the Council of State was made, and your Petitioner paid his money to Mr. Corbet accordingly. Friday, March 21. 1655 At the Counsel at White-Hall. UPon reading a Report from the Committee (to whom the Petition of Thomas Violet was referred) praying that certain Bonds seized upon by the Committee of Salop may be delivered unto him. Upon consideration of the said Report, and for that the said Bonds are engaged for forty pounds, which the said Committee employed for public use, Ordered by his Highness the Lord Protector and his Counsel, That upon the said Thomas Violets paying unto the said Committee the said sum of forty pounds, for which the said Bonds are engaged, That the said Committee be required to deliver up the said Bonds unto the said Thomas Violet, and that he be at liberty to sue the same and to take the benefit thereof as formerly he might have done; and that it be referred to John Corbet Esq. to see the said Bonds delivered up accordingly upon payment of the said forty pounds. Henry Scobell, Clerk of the Counsel. Mr. John Corbet I attended with this order; March 28. 1655. He was pleased to tell me he 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 he told me he had never received Public moneys, and he was very unwilling to receive any now. But upon his return, upon my earnest entreaty and to save me from further trouble, he told me he would receive and keep this forty pounds in deposito, for the use of the Committee till he had order from them for the disposing of it. That transaction follows, viz. MEmorandum, That the 24th of May 1656. In obedience to the Order of his Highness the Lord Protector and his Counsel of the 21. of March 1655. I John Corbet Esq. have delivered unto Thomas Violet of London God-Smith, three Bonds: the first bearing date the 6th of June 1638. of eight hundred pounds, for the payment of four hundred pounds within one year after the death of the Lady Anne Waad; in which Bond, the said Lady Anne Waad, Charles Mordent, Philip Cage, and Edmund Lenthal Esquires stand bound to the said Thomas Violet: and one other Bond of the 6th of June 1638. in six hundred pounds, for the payment of three hundred pounds, within two years after the death of the said Lady Anne Waad; in which the Persons aforesaid stand bound to the said Thomas Violet: and one other Bond (of the same date) of six hundred pounds, for the payment of three hundred pounds, within three years after the death of the said Lady Anne Waad; in which Bond, the Persons aforesaid stand bound to the said Thomas Violet; The sum of forty pounds being paid by the said Thomas Violet, according to the said Order. JOHN CORBET. Witnesses then present. Edward Watkins. William Davis. Edmund Cogan. John English Scr. The Lady Anne Waad of battles Hall in Essex died about May 1643. And the Bonds are due to me Thomas Violet, at this day as abovesaid. Your Petitioner may justly say his Estate was squandered away, when a thousand pound of good Bonds of your Petitioners lay in lavender for eleven years for forty pounds, and your Petitioner had never known where they had been, had not Mr. Corbet told him, your Petitioners humble Prayer to your Honours is, that seeing your Petitioner hath paid Mr. Corbet the forty pounds according to the aforesaid Order, and hath these Bonds safe and uncancelled now in his Custody, and in consideration of your Petitioner services, in staying this Silver, That your Honours would be pleased in part of your Petitioners satisfaction of eleven thousand pounds by your Honour's Order, to Empower your Petitioner by Authority of Parliament, to show and Implead these Bonds, notwithstanding any Order of Parliament to sequester the said Bonds, and to Empower your Petitioner to take out Judgement and Execution thereupon, notwithstanding any Order or Ordinance to the Committee of Shropshire, or any other Committee Touching or Concerning these Bonds. And my most humble Petition is to John Corbet Esquire, one of the Honourable members of this Parliament, that as he received my money for the use of the Committee of Shropshire, and gave me the first notice and discovery in whose Custody these Bonds were, so he would now be pleased out of his love to Justice, to certify his knowledge of the truth of this Business; that so I may have Relief in this business according to Justice and equity. Hereafter followeth your Petitioners Petition to Oliver Lord Protector, and his Reference thereupon to Col. Barkstead, Alderman Viner, Capt. john Limbery, Doctor Walker, etc. TO HIS HIGHNESS OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR Of the COMMONWEALTH of England, Scotland, and Ireland, And the Dominions thereunto belonging. The Humble Petition of Thomas Violet. SHOWETHS, THat your Petitioner did about the 8th of Decemb. 1652. deliver unto the Council of State a written Paper wherein was discovered that at that present time a practice and Combination, was set on foot by the than Spanish Ambassador Don Allonso de Cardenas, with several other Merchants both Strangers and Natives, to deceive the State of a great quantity of Silver near four hundred thousand pounds, which was aboard the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, then riding at Eriffe. Which Persons beforenamed, had contrived by forged Bills of Lading, false Claims and Claimers, with other fraudulent pretences to get cleared the Court of Admiralty the aforesaid Silver and Ships, and for the effecting thereof there was no Cost spared nor Stone left unturned, as appeared by intercepted Letters of Mr James Steniere, a principal Actor to have this Silver cleared, which Letters caused the said Mr. Steinere to be Committed to the Sergeant at Arms attending the Parliament, and by Mr. Pompey Callendrens Letter there was fifty in the hundred offered in Amsterdam, to ensure the said Silver and Ships out of our hands. Many of the Council of State did upon the intercepting these Letters concerning the Silver Ships, believe that the Spanish Ambassador had, for a piece of money to be paid him, claimed this Silver as the King of Spain's Treasure and his Subjects, colourably, but they knew not which way to discover it, and to prove the fraud, that so the State might have the Silver as Prize, (there lay the mystery) that then the Council could not fathom, and that made the Lord Bradshaw and several of the Council of State to engage your Supplicant in this service, they telling your Petitioner that if this fraud was to be found out, they were assured your Petitioner could do it, if your Petitioner would be true to the State, whereupon your Petitioner did faithfully promise the Council of State his uttermost endeavours to discover this fraud, and within three days after your Petitioner hearing the Parliament had made an Order upon the request of the Spanish Ambassador, for the Judges of the Admiralty to proceed to a speedy sentence concerning these Ships and Silver, thereupon about 8th of Decemb 1652. your Petitioner made the Lord Bradshaw and Council acquainted, that he had certain Intelligence and would prove it upon the peril of his Life by many credible Witnesses, that a great part of this Silver appertained to several Merchants of the united Provinces, and that these Ships having unfree Goods in them, were by the Civil Law forfeited to the State, and upon the aforesaid Paper which your Petitioner delivered into the Council of State, the Council of State sent for Doctor Walker your Highness' Advocate, who told the Council of State that if what was alleged in that Paper could be made good, the Ships should be stayed let the Judges say what they pleased. May it please your Highness. The Judges of the Admiralty appointed 16th Decemb. 1652. to give sentence for the Clearing or Condemning these Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, and they ordered the Commissioners for Dutch prize Goods to be then in the Court, but the Commissioners Mr. Hill and Mr. W●lson declared unto your Supplicant the day before they were to attend in the Admiralty, that they were Merchants, and a great part of their Goods and Estates in Spain, and therefore they durst not for fear of having an Embargo on their Estates in Spain be seen in the Court of Admiralty to stop these Silver Ships, but they earnestly prayed and advised your Petitioner, that if he knew any way to entitle the State to the Silver in those Ships, he should do the Commonwealth very great and acceptable service, and save the State all the Silver, which otherwise would be discharged that morning; for then there was no other person appeared to stay these ships and silver, but your Supplicant, either at the Council of State, or with Doctor Walker your Highness' Advocate, And this Doctor Walker knows to be a truth. In pursuance of entituling the State to this silver in the aforesaid ships, your Supplicant received a Command from the Counsel of State 13. Decemb. 1652. That if your Supplicant would undertake at his own peril to disprove the Spanish Ambassadors Claim, and to prove that great quantities of the silver in the aforesaid ships, appertained to Merchants of the united Provinces, and Amsterdam, by good and legal Witnesses, That then notwithstanding the Order of Parliament, your Petitioner should make his Protest in the Court of Admiralty, against the discharge of the said silver, till his Witnesses were examined. The Council of State declaring, that if the Court of Admiralty committed your Petitioner for making his Protest then the Council would presently hear, and take cognizance of the same business. The Council of State further declared, that if your Supplicant should fail to make good what he had undertaken, he would be utterly undone, for that they would certify your Petitioner to be an Incendiary, in presuming to contradict the Spanish Ambassador, and Duke Leopoldus Agents, in affirming the silver belonged for a great part thereof to Merchants of Amsterdam, when the Ambassador on his honour affirmed, it was all for his Catholick-Majestie, and his Subjects Accounts, and none other. But if your Petitioner was so assured, as he would venture his life, liberty, and estate, to disprove the Spanish Ambassador, and Duke Leopoldus Agents claim, and prove great quantities thereof to appertain to the Dutch of the united Provinces then our enemies, by good and legal proof, and did perform this his undertaking, your Petitioner should not only be restored to all his estate the Parliament had taken from him, being about eleven thousand pounds, for which sum your Petitioner had for several years before Petitioned the Parliament and Council of State) but also your Petitioner should have both that Estate and a good reward over and above for his good service, and this Promise your Supplicant had from the Council of State and the Committee for foreign affairs, and that they would see your Supplicant justly and truly satisfied, and upon this Honourable assurance your Petitioner engaged and undertook this great service, and when your Supplicant Petitioned the Council of State, for an Order of the Council or Parliament in writing for the States just performance, when he had proved that great quantities of this Silver aboard the three aforesaid Ships appertained to the Dutch the Committee of foreign affairs, and the Lord Bradshaw was much offended that your Supplicant should scruple the Justice of the State, as not to be fully rewarded according to the greatness of the service, Protesting it could not enter into the heart of any honest man to scruple or suspect the Council of State so ungrateful, as not to perform there promise justly with your Petitioner, and had that Council of State continued in power, your Supplicant is assured in his Conscience that he had reeeived every penny of the sum promised, being eleven thousand pounds out of the moneys as it was Coined. The reasons that the Council of State did not give your Petitioner a written Order for the restoration of your Petitioners Estate, or the value being eleven thousand pounds, was that if it was done either by the Order of Parliament or Council of State, than the Spanish Ambassador and other Nations would know, that the Council of State had stayed that Silver contrary to an Order of Parliament, and had promised a reward to your Petitioner to make this discovery before the service done, which the Lord Bradshaw told your Supplicant at the Council-Board the Council would not (to get all the Silver in the Ships) be known to make an agreement, to find out Witnesses to have the business done, but that your Supplicant might rest assured on just and Honourable deal, and the restoration of his Estate or eleven thousand pounds, If your Petitioner did by good and legal Witnesses disprove the Spaniards Claim to this Silver in the aforesaid Ships. Your Supplicant having proceeded so fare as to make his Protest in the Court of Admiralty, against the discharge of these Ships and Silver, he was necessitated to proceed to make his discovery, or else the undertaking it had undone him for ever, and your Petitioner acquainted the Council that to proceed in this discovery would be very Chargeable, and your Supplicant being under sequestration, unsupportable, but no allowance of money could be obtained till your Petitioner had entitled the State to the Silver; and this being done on your Supplicants part, the Council said your Petitioner might rest assured of just and Honourable performance, for the payment of your Petitioners eleven thousand pounds or his Estate. Your Petitioner being at or about that time, several times offered by some Merchants of Flanders, Claimers of great quantities of the Silver, That if your Petitioner would desist and not prosecute this business in the Court of Admiralty, he should have paid him down the sum of ten thousand pounds, either in money here, or in Bills of Exchange, upon the discharge of the Ships and Silver, but your Petitioner refused the offers of the Merchants, and made the Lord Bradshaw and the Council acquainted therewith, and valued more the safety and Honour of the Nation, and his own reputation in this undertaking, than the Spanish Merchant's money, relying wholly on the promise of the Council of State for his just reward and satisfaction. Your Supplicants Expense and Charges in the prosecuting this business, in one year and a halfs time amounted to above five hundred powds, besides what sums of money your Supplicant hath since expended, he having employed constantly ten several persons, some of them lived in Spain and Holland, and several months your Petitioner employed several Merchants and others in the Registry of the Admiralty, to inspect into all proceed, Claims, Exhibites, plead, Bills of Lading, and comparing many thousand sheets of paper and writing, and translating many Bills of Lading and other transactions, all which your Petitioner did by the Command of the Council of State, and upon Warrants and Orders of your Highness' Advocate Doctor Walker; Your Supplicant also employed several persons about Erisfe, Limehouse, Blackwall, Wapping, and St. Katherine's, to find out where the Seamen and Passengers of these Ships lay, paying all charges of their meetings, boat-hire, writing and transcribing all the proceed, and printing them for the Parliament, to vindicate the Justice of the Nation in staying this Silver and Ships, for it is proved out of the mouths of several Passengers that came from Spain that very Voyage. That vast and great quantities of this Silver appertained to the Dutch, and was delivered in Spain aboard these Ships for the accounts of Merchants of Amsterdam, and by the Original Letters under the States general Seal to their vice Admirals de Wit and de Rutter, remaining now in your Highness' Court of Admiralty, commanding them to Convoy and guard these Ships from the Parliaments Forces, and these Commissions or Letters were procured upon the Petition of the Merchants of Amsterdam, and by several advices remaining in the Court of Admiralty, these Ships and Silver were bound for Holland, It is proved that when these three Ships first set Sale to go their Voyage, they went from Holland, and the Ports and Harbours of the united Provinces, also that several Merchants in London for their own proper accounts, had Silver Laden aboard these Ships this Voyage in Spain, which clearly disproves the Spanish Ambassadors Claim to all the Silver in these Ships, to be only for his Master and his Subjects accounts, for Merchant's Natives of London are not the King of Spain's Subjects, It is also proved that several parcels of Silver aboard these Ships, were entered, and Bills made in feigned names and colourably, to avoid the taking and condemnation of the Silver and of these Ships, if they were taken by the English. It is also proved, that although the Bills of Lading were for Oastend, yet the Silver was consigned to Amsterdam. It is likewise proved by several Passengers, that when these Ships had been ten days at Sea, and hearing of the Wars between the English and the Dutch, the Master's Books were altered, and all the Hollanders and Zelanders names were put out, and other names put in their stead, and after three times perusal and examination of the names, the Books were written out saire (which were the Books produced in the Court of Admiralty) And the original blotted Books, which were the true Books, were not to be found, but when these Ships came into the Downs, the Purser of the Ship Samson, took them and tied them to an Iron Barr, and then threw them into the Sea. These particulars with many others, are the volontary confessions of several Passengers in these Ships, being actors and parties in Spain, and privy to all these actions both in Spain and on Shipboard, and the Confession of Dutchmen and Easterlings. Your Petitioner hath humbly presented these proofs and Witnesses to show the greatness of your Supplicants service, and the Justice of the Nation in staying and confiscating this Silver, so that it now clearly appears, the Claim of the Spanish Ambassador to this Silver, was but a fraudulent practice in him to have cozened the State, and cheated them of all this great Treasure. This business your supplicant effected with the assistanee of ten other persons, in a year and halves constant attendance, sitting up many days and nights together when your Petitioner first undertook this service, being daily threatened to be murdered by the Claimers, and expending above five hundred pounds in this service. All which particulars of your Petitioners prosecuting this business, and the charges he was at for doing the same, is attested upon the Oaths of four credible Witnesses, who were employed in this service, and were privy to your Petitioners expense. Which five hundred pounds your Petitioner borrowed, and hath ever since continued at interest, and is now above seven hundred pounds; Several Gentlemen lending the same to your Petitioner out of their good will to the Nation in general, and that your Petitioner might be restored to his Estate again, and had not your Petitioner borrowed this money to enable him to do this service, your Highness and the Parliament had lost every penny of this Silver, being about three hundred thousand pounds. Never any man as yet, brought and saved your Highness, and the Parliament so much money at one time in any age, as your Supplicant hath heard of; or read of. Your Petitioner trusts and hopes in God, and your Highness, that so great service to your Highness and the Nation, shall not go unrequited. What service this Treasure did your Highness, and the Nation at that conjuncture of time in 1653. Christendom knows, the Dutch (than our Enemies felt) and this Nation (under your Highness' government) do enjoy and have the happy fruit of at this day. Your most humble Petitioner prays your Highness to take all the Premises into your Princely consideration. And that your Petitioner may have his estate, or the value thereof restored to him, in recompense of his services aforesaid. And your Petitioner shall ever pray, etc. THO. VIOLET. Whitehall, July 13. 1657. His Highness is pleased to refer this Petition to Sr. John Barkestead Knight, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, Sr. Thomas Viner Knight, Captain John Limbery, Doctor Walker, Gabriel Becke, Sergeant Dendy, Maurice Thompson, Sergeant Middleton, and Jsaac Dorislaus Esquires, or any three or more of them, to take the Petition within written into their consideration, examine the premises, and to State and Certify the case to his Highnesses▪ together with their opinions upon the whole matter. Fol: 231. Fra: Bacon Here followeth an Attestation of my Protesting in the Court of Admiralty against the Judges, clearing and 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 sixteenth day of Decemb. 1652. as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint under their hands, viz. WE, whose names are here under-written, hereby certify all whom it may concern, that we were present in the Court of Admiralty that day the Judges of the Court were reported to proceed to a sentence for the clearing or condemning of the ships Salvador, George, and Samson,) it being about the seventeenth of Decemb. 1652. And there we saw Mr. Thomas Violet, the same day in the Court present a Paper unto the Judges, which he declared contained several Reasons and Arguments to the Judges; for respiting their Judgement concerning the discharging of those ships, and several other Prizes, till he had examined several Witnesses on the behalf of the State, to disprove the Spanish Claims concerning these Ships, at which time the Silver was aboard these Ships: After some time spent in arguing the business by Mr. Violet in behalf of the State, the Judges seeming to proceed to a sentence concerning the said Prize Ships, Mr. Thomas Violet made his Protest in the said Court of Admiralty against the discharge of all or any of these Prizes, declaring he did it upon his own account, till his Witnesses were examined in the behalf of the State: And that the Judges, if they should proceed to the contrary, should answer it to the Parliament and Council of State at their peril. Thereupon the Court desisted from proceeding in the said Business; and the Judges thereof required Mr. Violet to attend the Council of State that afternoon, about his carriage that day in the Court of Admiralty, touching these ships. Dated at the Mint in the Tower of London, December 23. 1654. Signed George Brett. Thomas Burch, James Whore. Here follow the Affidavits and Certificates of the truth of Tbomas Violets Service, made by honest men of clear reputation, (Merchants and others) that he employed, and were privy to the whole Proceed in the Admiralty and other parts of this Nation: and by what ways and means he made these Discoveries, to entitle the State to this Silver, and disprove the Spanish Ambassadors, and the Spaniards Claims. The Affidavits follow; viz. JOhn Glover of London Merchant, aged about forty years, maketh Oath, That Mr. Thomas Violet, having since December 1652. received several Orders and Warrants from his Highness' Council, and Doctor Walker (Advocate for the Commonwealth,) to assist in the behalf of the Commonwealth, against the Silver ships Samson, Salvador. and George, and all their Silver and lading: In pursuance of which service the said Mr. Violet hath constantly entreated his (this Deponents) assistance, (amongst several other persons which he the said Mr. Violet employed) for making discovery of the several frauds and practices of the Masters of those ships, and of several other Merchants, Claimers of the Silver and lading in the aforesaid ships, to deceive the State by their several Claims; And also of the several Bills of lading, and in several other particulars: in pursuance of this service for the Commonwealth, for several months this Deponent, with one Mr. Simon Baldwine a Merchant, who lived a long time at Cades and St. Lucre's in Spain, and with Mr. Violet this Deponent and they two did view and examine all the Bills of lading, and the several pleas and Exhibits, Extracts, and all other writings and papers which were brought in, and remain in the registry of the Admiralty concerning these ships, silver and lading; the Register declaring that they had seen all the Transactions that was then upon record in that business, which were many thousand sheets; and that the said Mr. Violet had several Warrants from Doctor Walker to the Register and Examiner's of the Admiralty, to require them, that the said Mr. Violet, and all such as he should nominate under his hand to the said Register and Examiner, should be impowered to make several Searches, which he this Deponent and the rest did almost every day for about three months: And this Deponent further maketh Oath, That after he and the rest had taken such Observations and Directions, as Mr. Thomas Violet had given order concerning the marks of several Bills of Lading, and several other particulars, both Mr. Simon Baldwine and this Deponent delivered the Papers up to Mr. Violet, he having employed and contented us for our pains. This Business concerning the ships and silver, this Deponent came to be engaged in at the request and entreaty of the said Mr. Violet, he having heard how necessary and advantageous he (this Deponent) should be, in making this discovery of the truth of this business; For that this Deponent for many years was an Inhabitant and merchants in Rotterdam, and had Commerce and Trade with most Towns in Holland, where Trading was stirring. And this Deponent knows many of the marks of the Bills of Lading of these Silver Ships, though they pretend to belong to Spaniards, Hamburgers and Flaunders, yet they are the same marks as divers Merchants of Holland give to their goods and Merchandise; And that since the War with Holland, divers Ships and their lading have been condemned in the Admiralty, and made prize of, which had Silver and merchandise aboard them at the time of the condemning, with the same marks which are in these Ships (Samson Salvador and George); And this Deponent further deposeth, That he knoweth the said Mr. Violet employed (besides Mr. Simon Baldwin,) several other people for the making these discoveries ever since Decemb. 1652. And this Deponent hath been employed by the said Mr. Violet in this business for almost a year and a half in the finding out and searching this business; and the said Mr. Violet hath to his (this Deponents) knowledge, expended very great sums of money in prosecution thereof, to the value of above five hundred pounds, besides all his pains, attendance and hazard; this Deponent having heard him several times threatened and in danger of his life by several Merchants and others, Claimers of the Silver in these Ships: they having declared in this Deponents presence, That by the said Violets protesting in the Court of Admiralty against the discharge of these Ships and Silver in Decemb. 1652. the day the Judges appointed for discharging the Ships and Silver, (and by his further prosecution against those Ships and Silver since) he hath been and is the only cause of hindering them of their Silver and Ships; And that they had had their Silver long since, had not Thomas Violet undertaken the prosecution of this Business. And this, this Deponent hath heard affirmed several times by merchants and others, claimers, both at the Exchange and elsewhere. And this Deponent maketh Oath, That this Affidavit is for the affirming and justifying of Mr. Violet's pains, hazard and service in prosecution of this Business of the Silver ships and Lading. John Glover. Sworn the 27th November 1654. before me ROBERT KELLEWAY, Master of the Chancery in Ordinary. Thomas Ley. John Gerrel. Both sworn the 25. of Novemb. 1654. before me JOHN PAGE. Simon Baldwin. Sworn the 17. of February 1653. before me JOHN PAGE. A Copy of my Letter sent to the Lord Bradshaw. 25th of March 1653. May it please your Honour, I Have left with Colonel Harbert Morley this day my Petition to the Council of State against Otho George: I humbly desire your honour to take notice, if the Council of State do not take some present order in it, to consider what encouragement myself or any man that serves the Commonwealth in the discovery of the Ships, silver and Merchandise now brought in as Dutch prize shall have when they shall be assaulted in the streets with Stilettoes and Poniards from Cap: Otho George, for being instrumental to do the State service: I have been advised by several friends for this eight days, not to come to the Exchange or Admiralty, lest I should be murdered for undertaking this business, Mr. Joachim Pesler Chirurgeon upon the Ship Samson, now riding at Eriff, of which Ship Otho George is Captain, and Jacob Elaes' Otho George his Boy, hath discovered the Silver in the Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, that a great part thereof belongs to the Dutch For when they had been ten days at Sea, the Purser was ordered by the Captain to go into the Forecastle, and take his Book and blot out all the names of the Hollanders and Zealanders, and, in their place, to insert abundance of other names: for which discovery Captain Otho George did stab the Chirurgeon of the Ship. My humble prayer to your Honour is, That the examinations taken about this business before the Lord Mayor of London, in the presence of Mr. Will. Reymes, John Carleton, Jonathan Symonds, These Examinations will imforme you at large. Your Honour's humble servant THO. VIOLET. To Our most worthy friend John Thurloe Esquire, at Whitehall, these present. The Commissioners for Prize Goods Letter to Mr. Thurloe. Mr. Thurloe, WE have a certain discovery that a great quantity of Gold and Silver hath been stolen out of the Dutch prize ships that call themselves Hamburgers, we desire, for the service of the State, to have a Warrant to bring all the Bullion in the Dutch prise-ships on shore; We have here enclosed sent you Mr. Thomas Violets Letters to us, and his proofs taken in the Office; every hour's delay of not taking the Silver a shore is great loss to the State; We find Mr. Violet the bearer hereof, very active and knowing to make these discoveries, and he hath done several good, and great services for the State already in this business, We desire you to present the same to the Council of State, We are Sir, Dated Dutch prize-Office, Decemb. 18. 1652. Your very Friends and Servants, Samuel Wilson, Richard Hill. A Warrant of Doctor Walkers, to the Examiner's Mr. How, and Mr. Arnold in the Court of Admiralty, December 1. 1653. MAster How and Mr Arnold, in the business of the three ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, and the Silver and Lading in those ships, Mr Violet was ordered to contribute and yield his assistance, to bring in Evidence on the behalf of the Commonwealth. I did heretofore sign a Warrant, that all the Proceed might be showed him: He now desires, that the names of all the Witnesses already produced on the behalf of the State, as also the Allegations and Matter upon which they were produced: as likewise, the names of all Witnesses produced on the behalf of the Claimers; and every one of them particularly, and the Allegations and Interrogatories upon which they have been produced, might be shown to him. I pray your Honours to consider, whether I could employ men in this Discovery for two years, and not to pay them for their pains, and yet I have not had one penny for this service. Doctor Walker knew that I employed many people every day in these Discoveries, several of these being often with me, both at the Admiralty, and at his chamber; and he knew, I employed none in this business but credible persons, as appears here under his hand. And could Doctor Walker have made this Discovery, or known the tricks of these Merchants, Masters of ships, and Pursers, by forged bills, and many other subtleties of Trade, which is not in his Law-books, but is common amongst the Dutch Merchants in these times. Dr Walker would have saved me the labour and charge for employing people to make this Discovery, or from making my Protest in the Admiralty, and would have had the credit and thanks from the State for this Service and Discovery to himself. But this I dare say, though he be a great Lawyer, yet for the making of this Discovery, he was then 16. Decemb. 1652. utterly ignorant of the way to do it, this being a subtlety amongst a few Merchants, and not to be read in the Civil Law-books, and had I not had all my Intelligence from their own creatures, and ploughed with their Heiser, I could not have done this service, or made this Discovery. And upon examination of this business at the Council of State, Doctor Walker confessed that it was not his study nor his place to seek up and down to procure Witnesses, or to find out ways to entitle the State to this Silver; and except I could bring legal Witness, the State must lose this Treasure: this he declared several times before the Council of State. But if the Passengers did confess this Silver to be loaden, a great part of it for the account of Merchants of Ansterdam, as I had undertaken they would do, than he would improve that Testimony to the uttermost for the State's advantage, which indeed Doctor Walker did. And I proved these frauds by the testimony of about ten of the Passengers, being all Dutchmen, Hamburgers and Lubeccars, and other Hans-towns men; and I had above fourscore witnesses the Passengers and Merchants more to examine in this business, many of them were after packed away by the Claimers, being Dutch mariners, and had money given them that they should keep out of the way and not be examined, and several Witnesses waited many days to be examined in the Admiralty and could not. Spanish Gold and Silver was plentifully bestowed on some in the Admiralty, and they loved it well. The Claimers had their Instruments almost every night that stole silver out of these ships, to the value of many score thousand pounds, which I discovered to the Council of State, as appeared by several papers which I presented to them. I employed several men who spoke the Dutch Language at my own charge, and gave them money to go on shipboard, and to drink freely with the Dutch mariners, and in their cups to fish out the secrets of this business, and when I had once got the end of the string, I would by other engines and instruments closely follow and never give it over till I knew the whole bottom of the Flemish and Spanish cheats which they intended to put upon the Nation. These men that I employed on shipboard for to make this Discovery for me never appeared to me in the Admiralty, lest the Spanish and Dutch Merchants and mariners should have discovered them to have been my spies. And to deal clearly with your Honours, they were none of them Bookmen, Civilians, nor Lawyers, but such persons as be- skellomed me sound in their cups with the Dutch mariners; and though I paid for the Brandey-wine, strong beer, Mum, and Spruce beer, pickle Herrings and Holland cheese, yet I never expected from them good word or penny of money for all this charge and pains. If I were to do the like service again for the State, I would never look in any Books of the Civil Law, but consult with such persons as know how to humour a Dutch Skipper or mariner, and fish out his secrets. Thus have I clearly told you the ways and instruments I used to do the Commonwealth this great service. I now humbly expect according to the Council of States promise the sum of eleven thousand pounds for this service. And had I not undertaken it the Commonwealth had lost this Silver, which was to the value of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds. This that he desires being just, I desire that you would not put him off, but let it be done forthwith unto himself, and all such others as he under his hand shall nominate; for he employs others under him in searching into this business. He will nominate none but such as may be trusted in it. And I desire you in your several places to give him, and all that he shall employ, all ready dispatch and encouragement, that the business of the Commonwealth may find no obstacle. Where there is publication, you may likewise show him the Depositions and (I pray) let nothing that is just be denied him. 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker. 3 September, 1653. MAster Dorislaus and M. Bud are now again desired to deliver unto Mr. Violet a Copy of the Specifications given in by the Masters and Commanders of the ships Samson, Salvador, and George: as likewise, Copies of all the Plead Articulate Exhibited and admitted on the part of the Claimers of the Silver in any of these ships: And they are to go with him to the Register, and Examiner's Offices; and to procure him a view of all the Bills of Lading, Extracts and Exhibites, either brought into the Office, or exhibited by any claimers: And whatever Papers are, or shall be exhibited by any claimers: And whatever Papers are, or shall be exhibited by any Claimers in the three Ships. I do, as Advocate for the Commonwealth, desire Mr. Dorislaus to yield all his endeavours and assistance, and also the Register, Examiner, and Deputy-Register in the Admiralty from time to time to give Mr, Violet free admittance and view of all Acts, Bills of Lading, and Pleas Exhibited, and Extracts and Papers remaining in the Registry, or which shall come in: And to it readily and effectually; the same tending to the service of the Commonwealth; and being in order for preparing the Evidence fit to be produced for the Commonwealth. I am in this Letter, by order of the Council of State to Doctor Walker, entreated to make this Discovery, but now I have done the States-work with the hazard of my life, and vast expense, I cannot by Petitions, Certificates, or Prayers, and many year's attendance, get to be paid my most dearly earned reward which the Council promised me, being eleven thousand pounds; had I thought of this usage, I could have been paid by the Claimers. If this discovery had been so easily made, and had been every body's work to have found out the Spaniards Frauds, I should not have had these earnest Entreaties from Dr. Walker, according to the Orders of the Council of State, of the 1. of Septemb. 1653. The Commissioners for prize-good, have certified to Mr Secretary Thurloe, how active and knowing they found me to make these Discoveries; and had I not been so, the Nation had lost every penny of this great Treasure, amounting to above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds. And I do, according to the Order of the Council of State of the First of September, 1653, earnestly desire and Entreat Mr. Violet, and also the Commissioners for Prize goods, and their Solicitors and Agents; as also, the Proctor and Silicitors for the State, and every one of them, with all convenient speed, severally to set down in Writing all the Informations that they respectively know of, or can find: And all the Evidences and Proofs that may be discerned or produced on the part of the Commonwealth; That so a full Plea and Articulate Allegation may be prepared, and the Proofs brought in for the Commonwealth: And no Default be done, suffered, or Committed 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker. Here follows the Referrees Letter, with their desires to my Lord Bradshaw. WHereas by an Order of Reference from his Highness the Lord Protector, dated the 13th. of July 1657. the Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet, (concerning his staying the ships Samson, Salvador, and George, and therein the Dutch silver) is referred to the consideration of Sir Thomas Vyner, and Sir John Barkstead Knights, Captain John Limbrey, Doctor Walker, Gabriel Beck, Maurice Thomson, Edward Dendy, Henry Middleton, and Isaac Dorislaus Esquires, or any three or more of them, who according to the said Order of Reference, are to examine, state and certify the premises, contained in the said Petition to his Highness, together with their opinion upon the whole matter. And whereas upon reading the said Petition, of the said Mr. Thomas Violet, there are many particulars of service alleged by the Petitioner, which he affirms the Lord Bradshaw to have knowledge of; It is therefore desired, in order to a speedy and effectual proceeding upon the said Petition, That Gabriel Beck Esquire, Mr. Sergeant Dendy, or either of them, will take the pains to wait upon the Lord Bradshaw, and in the names of the abovesaid Referrees, to Present the Petition and Reference relating to the said Thomas Violet, with the desire of the said Referrees, That his Lordship upon perusal of the same, will be pleased to certify his knowledge of the premises, dated the one and twentieth day of August 1657. Tho. Vyner. Jo. Barkstead. Jo. Limbrey. Maurice Thomson. This same Letter, which these aforesaid Referrees writ to the Lord Bradshaw, the Referrees out of their love to Justice, and to know the Truth; were pleased to write to Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetwood, and Francis Allen Esquire, and sent them Copies of your Petitioners Petition and Reference, subscribed by the aforesaid Referrees, that so these Honourable Gentlemen, upon the perusal of your Petitioners Petition, and the Reference, thereupon would also be pleased to certify their knowledge of the Premises to the aforesaid Referrees, which they all of them were honourably pleased to certify accordingly. For which Justice of theirs I am bound to pray for every one of them, the like great Obligations your Petitioner owes to the following Referrees, let the issue of this Business be what God please, I have learned to submit unto his Providence, I am as clay in the Potter's hands. And though I was very unwilling to print these Certificates and the Referrees report to their late Highnesses Oliver and Richard, knowing these Honourable Gentlemen love to do the oppressed right for conscience sake, without blowing a Trumpet not looking for thanks from men, that so God may reward them openly. Yet the present posture of my business is such, that to demonstrate the many services your Petitioner hath done this Commonwealth, your Honours shall see it certified under the hands of twenty four Honourable and Credible persons, the Originals I have ready to produce, I humbly crave pardon of these Honourable Gentlemen for doing thereof without acquainting them therewith, it is both by the Laws of God and this Nation, that out of the mouth of two Witnesses every thing, shall be established, both for men's Estates and Lives by the Laws of this Land a Jury of twelve persons either quit or condemn all persons of what degree soever. For your Honour's Information, your Honours upon the perusal of these Certificates would see a concatenation of faithful and difficult service, which your Petitioner at his great expense, charge, trouble, and loss of time, from the very hour your Petitioner was discharged out of the Tower; viz. 1647 to the year 1651. the year before your Petitioner undertook this great service of staying the Silver in the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George. In consideration of which service done as aforesaid, many of the Council of State and members of this Parliament, did promise your Petitioner the restoration of his Estate, and they watched but for an opportunity to acquaint the Parliament therewith, that so his Estate may be restored unto him again, all these services and promises made by the Council in the year 1651. before ever this Silver was brought into the River, or the State had seized on it. May it please your Honours, in Decemb. 1652. before your Petitioner would undertake to make his discovery of the Spanish and Flemish fraudulent Claims, to cousin the State of this Treasure, and to be at the charge of prosecuting the same in the Admiralty, your Petitioner was necessitated to come to a certain agreement about his estate with the Council of State, and how he should be paid for this service, or else it had been a thing impossible for your Petitioner to have undertaken this task, or to have gone through with it, in respect the Council of State would not advance any money to your Petitioner, but would rather have let this silver go in the Admiralty, as it had gone, had not your Petitioner in the very minute of time stayed it, as is attested under the hands of the Officers of the Mint, whereupon your Petioner was forced to borrow great sums of money, to enable him to employ instruments to find out the bottom of this fraud. Several Gentlemen lent your Petitioner seven hundred sixty five pounds at interest, every penny spent in this service; the reason that both made your Petitioner undertake this difficult business, and made these Gentlemen lend your Petitioner this money, was upon the credit and faith of the Council of States promise to your Petitioner, that if this silver was forfeited to the State, your Petitioner should faithfully be paid out of the same the sum of eleven thousand pounds, in lieu of his estate, and this you will see clearly proved, and my friends knew me so well, that I would not to fail of your Petitioners undertaking, and for that your Petitioner was and is ready to prove to the Council of State, his damage is far greater by his Sequestration and Imprisonment than eleven thousand pounds, the Council of State did faithfully promise 1652. that over and above the paying of your Petitioner the sum of eleven thousand pounds, for this service of getting and staying this silver, your Petitioner should have an Honourable Reward and Memorial left to posterity for the same, and it was upon this score of getting my estate again off Sequestration, or eleven thousand pounds satisfaction, that I ever acted in this business of the silver, or in any other public business from the year 1647. to 1651. or since 1652. to this time, for had I not been assured faithfully of my estate from the Council of State, and relied on just performance; or had I had the least thought of such usage, and putting off from day to day with References and Reports now my work is done; when my business, and what I deserve is as well known (as the beggar knows his dish, or a man knows his right hand from his left.) I do humbly declare really to all the world, (I would have remembered that saying, a man may be over just) or else I would have taken more consideration than I have done of my own preservation, when I was offered ten thousand pounds by the Claimers for to have connived and let the State be cozened of the silver in the Admiralty, as they were at the time of many Dutch prize ships and goods. It could not enter into your Petitioners heart to expect such delays by references and old Court tricks; had I thought of such deal, I had known a way to pay myself. Had your Petitioner spent his spirits, time and estate to have studied disturbance and malignancy, as much as he hath studied the honour, peace, profit and welfare of this Commonwealth, the silver in the ships Samson, Salvador and George had never been coined in the Tower, being two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, but by the treachery of some Merchants and others in the Admiralty, had been cleared out of the Nation and sent to the Dutch. Had your Petitioner December 16. 1652. at nine of the clock in the morning in the Court of Admiralty been possessed with the dumb spirit of malignancy, your Judges of the Admiralty that very day and hour had cleared the aforesaid silver, the Admiral Van-Trump then lying on the Downs to have wasted the silver to Holland; which had not your Petitioner prevented by seasonable applications to the Council of State, might have proved of sad consequence, and have cost many thousand English men's lives, and God knows what other damages to this Nation, such an oversight in the Court of Admiralty might have brought upon this Nation. Here followeth the Lord Bradshawes' CERTIFICATE upon the Desire and Request to him, of Sir Thomas Viner, Sir john Barkestead, john Limbery, Maurice Thompson Esquires, Authorised by his late Highness Oliver, to be Commissioners to Examine this Business. The Lord Bradshawes CERTIFICATE. I Have perused the Petition and considered of the desires mentioned in the annexed Paper, and in compliance therewith so far as my memory serves me, which hath been assisted by the view of several Orders, Certificates, Depositions and memorials formerly made in the Petitioners Case, and now showed unto me, I signify and declare as followeth. That although I may not take me to make a narrative of Mr. Violets Case, much less to give a punctual account, after so many years, of what passed at the Council, relating to that engagement of theirs asserted in the Petition (which to be in the manner therein set down) I can neither knowingly affirm nor deny, yet the Petitioners addresses in the time of the War with the dutch, concerning the stay of the Ships which had the Silver in them being very remarkable, I can for the substance testify, and do well call to mind the Petitioners tenders and intimations to the Council, and undertaking the service touching the Silver specified in his Petition, and that upon good deliberation taken of the matter (the probability of his allegations being also much strengthened by the concurrant circumstances of some Letters about that time intercepted) he had thereupon very good encouragement given him by the Council, that (performing h●s discovery) his pains, cost and care, should be throughly considered, and he honourably rewarded, or was told or promised to that effect. Whereupon he was Authorised and appointed by the Council to sollivite and assist in that whole business as by their Orders appeareth, and whilst that Council satt, was taken notice of as the main Agent in the whole conduct thereof, as the proceed of those times will show, what the beneficial consequence of that employment, and what fruit thereof hath been to the State may be better manifested, by others who have been at the Heline of Affairs since the 20th of April 1653. the day of the dismission of the Parliament and old Council. But if I may offer my sense of the man and his actings, which I apprehend to be in part expected, my opinion was and is, that his seasonable interposition and protest in the Admiralty, applications to the Council, and discovery of the Dutch and Spanish frauds touching the Silver Contested for, these actions accompanied also with great Charge, hazard, and trouble on his part, as he offers to Demonstrate, and affirms to be well known, adjoining thereto for the legal part, the constant assistance of the learned Advocate for the Common wealth, were the main occasion (if not the causa sine qua non) of the after benefit received by the State upon conversion of that Silver, the Petitioner being looked upon as the great Wheel that set all on work, as I believe it would be testified for him by others, who had the honour to serve the Commonwealth in Council, when this business was first began, and afterwards until the close of the same if they were consulted herein. His losses Anno 1643. and his disburstments about the Silver, for which he prays satisfaction and indemnity, I must leave to his own Evidencinge, and it seems he is ready for it. The Councils Engagements and Intentions to himwards, at his first assuming the employment, were not without good reason uncommitted to writing for avoiding of all misconstruction, they proposing on the one hand a fair and just proceeding, and on the other all due encouragement to that person whose disquisition and effectual prosecution for making good the claim they knew must needs be very expensive, and liable to many difficulties and hazards from the multitude of the contrary interessed parties, and their many and powerful abettors: So as any one in reason may conclude, that without such assurance of the part of the Council, and relying upon it on the Petitioners part, the whole business had miscarried, as left, unundertaken, and undone. The Petitioners sore task and merit of the State in this particular: I shall not further meddle with; or take upon me to divine or determine what the issue will, or should be as to his just recompense and compensation. His zeal, resolution, activity, and ability to promote the public interest in divers respects, being known to me heretofore in good measure, as I formerly held myself obliged to cherish, and so much as in me was to improve for the State's advantage: So upon the occasion now offered, wherein the honour and justice of the State, and their profit also, as I conceive, is mainly involved; I am very free to render him according to my best observation of him and his actings, this due and deserved Testimony. Septemb. 5. 1657. John Bradshaw. This is a true Copy of the Lord bradshaw's Certificate on the behalf of Mr. Thomas Violet examined by me, Thomas Hewet, john Rimmer. Francis Allen Esq; Report, and certificate upon the desire and request to him of Sir Tho. Viner, Sir john Barkstead, john Limbrey, and Maurice Thomson Esquires. Gentlemen, I Have received an intimation from you as referrees by virtue of an order from his Highness the Lord Protector referring to a Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet concerning his staying the Ships Samson, Salvador and George: And the silver therein contained, That I would testify my knowledge in writing concerning the same, or what else is contained in the aforesaid Petition, in a ready compliance with what is so intimated, I do in the first place say, That I had not the particular knowledge of those affairs, as they respect Master Violets actings in them, which other Honourable Persons had, and therefore cannot testify so particularly concerning those transactions as others may see just cause to do, on Mr. Violet's behalf only, Thus much in general I can and do freely testify, from my own observation and knowledge, that Mr. Violet did engage in that concernment of the staying the ships Samson Salvador and George; and in discovering the frauds endeavoured to be put upon the State touching the silver in them, contained with a great deal of industry, courage and unweariedness; and indeed I conceive to his very great charge and expense, besides his frequent attending the Committee for the mint in several affairs, referring thereunto, which could not but be expensive to him also; all which is submitted to your further consideration. 27 Octob. 1657. Francis Allen. This is a true copy of this certificate, witness Tho. Hewet, John Rimmer. Sir George Fleetwoods' Report and Certificate upon the desire and request to him of Sir Thomas Viner, Sir John Barkestead, John Limbrey, Maurice Thomson, Esquires. Gentlemen, MR. Thomas Violet showing me his Petition to his Highness, and his Highness, and his desires mentioned in the annexed Papers, and requesting me to certify my knowledge of his services for the Commonwealth, I find myself bound, as I am a lover of Justice and Truth, that would to the uttermost of my abilities have vice punished, and virtue rewarded, in pursuance whereof I do signify, That I have known Mr. Violet for many years, he having daily recourse to my Vnele Watkins, during the time he had the office of head Searcher of the Port of London; They advising together to get an Act pass against transporting gold and silver, and the Bill being brought by Mr. Violet into the Parliament, there was several references to the Committee of the Navy, Officers of the Mint, and Commissioners of the Customs to certify their opinions: and they all centured and agreed in this, that the Parliament, (if they would have the Mint set on Work, and the gold of the Nation preserved) the Act against transporting gold and silver then depending in the House should be passed, this was Anno 1647. as appears by the original Orders. These actings of Mr. Violet for the Public, together with several proposals of Mr. Violets for the advancement of the Trade of the Nation, and Mr. Violets constant attendance for many years both at the Council of State and Parliament, and Council of Trade, to procure the restoration of his Estate: Caused many of the Members of the House and Council of Trade, and myself amongst the rest to take especial notice of the Man, and such of the Council and Parliament as were pleased to make use of him found in Mr. Violet a deep and profound insight into Mint-Busines, and Merchants affairs. And this good opinion of Mr. Violet procured him this benefit in 1651. that many of the Council of State, and Parliament, waited an opportunity for to move in the House for Mr. Violet's indemnity, and for the full restoratiln of his estate being about eleven thousand pounds. And this was promised to Mr. Violet 1651. a year before his undertaking this great service of staying the Silver mentioned in Mr. Violet's Petition, and I am confident▪ if Mr. Violet will take the pains to wait upon some of the Members of Parliament and Council of State, he will have many honourable testimonies of this that I say besides myself. And this was the true ground, and original of Mr. Violets being taking notice of by the State of his abilities to make discoveries of the fraudulent Claims of the Spanish Ambassador to the Silver in the Ships, mentioned in Mr. Violet's Petition, all which Silver Mr. Violet by his seasonable discovery to the State, and by his protesting in the Court of Admiralty in Decemb. 1652. was the only cause of getting the State this great Treasure mentioned in the aforesaid Petition of Mr. Violet, being three hundred thousand pounds, and the Parliament, and Council of State in 1652. imposed upon Mr. Violet the whole care of the management of this business in the Court of Admiralty as to the discovering part of the Spanish Ambassadors fraudulent claims, as appears unto me by the view of several Orders and Warrants. It is most apparent in the whole proceeding in this difficult service, Mr. Violet had always in his eye the restoration of his estate, or the value of eleven thousand pounds, and the particular of Mr. Violets demands to the Parliament in 1651. was about eleven thousand pounds, and had he not had a real assurance from the Council of State in Decemb. 1652. for the restoration of his Estate, or the value, this great Business had been lost and left un undertaken by Mr. Violet, had he not had both such a promise, (and also he relied on the same) for just performance, for Mr. Violet in this his high undertaking ventured all his Estate, Life, Liberty, and expended in this service above five hundred pounds, as I find by the depositions of four persons employed in this service. I remember well the appearing of the Spanish Ambassador in the Parliament 1652. in December, demanding the Ships, Samson Salvador, and George, with their silver and lading. It is very remarkable, the courage of Mr. Violet, in giving the Ambassador of Spain so high a charge in 1652, 1653. concerning his undue practices to defraud the Nation of this silver: And yet the Ambassador never to vindicate his reputation, nor to desire reparation, he being here above a year after: This shows apparently there was a design set on foot by the Spanish Ambassador to defraud the Nation in this business of the silver Prizes, for when I see the Spanish Ambassador make no Addresses to the Parliament for reparation, I was assured Mr. Violet would make him let go his hold and claim of this silver mentioned in his Papers, which he delivered into the House. Upon perusal of Mr. Violets Papers I observed, that though the Parliament was dismissed 1653. the 20. of April, yet Mr. Violets sore task continued on him still, he being by that present Council looked upon as the great wheel that set all on working, as to the discovering part, and this appears under the hand of Doctor Walker in several Letters writing to Mr. Doreslaws, Mr. Bud the State's Proctor, Mr. Arnold, Mr. How, to require them all in their several places to let Mr. Violet, and all such as he employs under him have the full view and inspection of all proceed in the Register of the Admiralty, and to require Mr. Violet's attendance, he paying several persons, and expending in this business above five hundred pounds, as I find it sworn by several persons. It is true for some reasons of State Mr. Violets assurance and reward was uncommitted to writing to avoid claimers, and misconstruction of lewd tongues, and to carry an even hand both in respect of the claimers, and the Spanish Ambassador: But this omission was not to frustrate Mr. Violet of his dearly earned reward, the restoration of his Estate; many of the then Council of State, if they be attended by Mr. Violet, will say this could never enter into their thoughts. To set a man so sore a task; and strictly to impose on him his daily attendance, and to enable him to undergo this great and heavy weight to be assisted by ten several persons, four of them swear Mr. Violet expended, besides all his pains, hazard, and labour, five hundred pounds in this service. And I am persuaded had not Mr. Violet undertaken this business in that very nick of time he did 13. of Decemb. 1652. and constantly and vigilantly followed, and agitated in this business, both at the Council of State, and Admiralty; this great quantity of silver had been lost, and the State deluded with pretended claims, and how seasonable a service this was at that conjuncture of time, and the happy fruit and effect so great a treasure brought to the Nation, is visibly to all men. My opinion is that for the Honour (and I may say profit of this Nation, to encourage all men for the future to be faithful to the Commonwealth, and to expose their Persons, and expend both their spirits and purses for the Honour and safety of the public, as Mr. Violet hath done in this great undertaking, and brought it to a happy issue. That as the sum of money was the greatest that ever (I think) at one time was saved to this Nation by any one man's discovery, so his reward should be suitable, not only to have the full restoration of his Estate, which was faithfully, to my knowledge, promised to him, both by many of the Council of State and Parliament before ever Mr. Violets undertaking this service mentioned in his Petition. But this service being finished, Crowns all his former undertake, and in my opinion he not only deserves the full restoration of his Estate, but to have an honourable memorial left to posterity of his seasonable and faithful discoveries and services concerning the aforesaid silver, That so all others may be encouraged to trust to the faithful promises of the Council of State, when they shall see the States promises faithfully performed in such a conjuncture of time, as when the Government was changed. And I think I am bound in my conscience, that taking notice of such high proposals as were propounded either in Parliament or Council of State, during the time I had the honour to serve the Public (amongst which I have and do hold this service mentioned in Mr. Violets Petition to be one of the first rank that was ever presented in Parliament or Council of State, when the work is finished,) I hold myself obliged, both in honour and conscience to give the undertaker, such as Mr. Violet, that hath in this business laboured all along to the perfecting of the work, The State having gotten by this discovery and undertaking, about three hundred thousands pounds (as M. Violet affirms to me so much money coined) he having finished his sore task, I think I am bound in justice to help him what I can, that so after so great pains and hazard Mr. Violet might not work in vain. And upon this account I make this certificate, whereof one part is upon my own knowledge and experience I have had of Mr. Violet, the other Part I refer to the Orders of Parliament, Council of State, Doctor Walkers warrants, and the Certificates of the Officers of the Mint. And I wish for the due encouragement of all active Persons that shall hereafter venture upon great and high undertake for the profit, honour, and safety of this State and Commonwealth, that Mr. Violet's reward and compensation for this great service may always be had in remembrance, for no doubt so great and faithful a service discovered so seasonably, will have a happy issue, and the reward from the State will be suitable to the greatness of the Service. Septemb. 22. 1657. G. Fleetwood. This is a true Copy of Sir George Fleetwoods' certificate on the behalf of Mr. Thomas Violet, examined by me Thomas Hewet, John Rimmer. Doctor WALKERS CERTIFICATE. I Can truly, and do certify, That when the Cases of and touching the Silver in the three ships, the Samson, Salvadore and St. George, were depending in the Court of Admiralty, touching the same being Prize. And before the Argument touching the casting the Onus probandi thereupon in that Court were made; Mr. Thomas Violet did repair to the said Court of Admiralty, and to myself, being Advocate to the then Parliament, and did produce from the then Council of State, one order bearing date the 13. of Decemb. 1652. And also some other Orders of the then Council of State, whereby he the said Mr. Violet was ordered to repair to the said Court of Admiralty, and also to myself as Advocate for the than Parliament; And to look after and take care of those said businesses, touching the said Silver in the said three Ships or to such effect, and accordingly he the said Mr. Violet was therein very careful, and industrious, and did by himself and others employed by him, and at his own charge take great pains in following the said business, and in searching after, and examination of the said Ships, Papers, and Books, and writings, and other matters that were exhibited into the Registers of the Admiralty, and in making his observations thereupon, and collecting thereout what might make for the State, and looking after such other evidences as he could find out, (wherein he was no way remiss or negligent) and the said Mr. Violet did openly own the same business in Court, and moved therein on behalf of the Parliament, and that earnestly and with zeal, and made or declared some Protest therein in the said Court of Admiralty. And did not only particularly apply himself to me, but did also in my hearing privately press it to some of the then Judges of the Admiralty. And I did find that the said Mr. Violet, by his much public owning and appearing therein in the behalf of the Parliament and then Council of State, did contract much envy and ran great hazards of his person, and it cannot be but that he did lay out and expend much money to such as he employed therein. 10. March 1657. Wal. Walker. I shall humbly desire your Honours to observe that Doctor Walker if he had pleased, could have certified in this his Certificate, the day of the month I made my Protest against the Judges of the Court of Admiralty, being the 16. Decemb. 1652. against their discharging this Silver, and the great Contest I had with them about it before I could get the Judges to Respite their Judgement, and that to his knowledge the Judges of the Admiralty complained of me to the Council of State that very day in the afternoon for doing this service, and that had it not been for your Petitioner, the State had been cozened of all this Silver. But because I printed the list of the Dutch prizes, and discovered the abuses and cheats put on the Nation by some Officers in the Admiralty, (no doubt but this business stuck in his stomach, and to gratify some guilty persons that had cozened the State) and that made him to certify my business by halfs, and but part of his knowledge. But it matters not as long as your Petitioner hath his services fully certified concerning this Silver business, under the hands of Sir James Harrington, Sir George Flettwood, and the Officers of the Mint. This memorial I put down to let Doctor Walker know, that though he could forget me and certify his knowledge by halves, It may ' one ' day I'll in my lot not to forget him, but to certify my knowledge of him fully, when I find a convenient time. If Doctor Walker could have made this discovery without me, he would never have entreated me to do it, as appears by his Orders and Letters to Mr. Dorislaws, Mr. Bud, Mr. How, and Mr. Arnold, Officers in the Court of Admiralty. vid. fol. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. Sir. James harrington's Report and Certificate upon the desire and request to him of Sir Thomas Viner, Sir John Barkstead, john Limbery, Maurice Thomson Esquires. I Have read Mr Thomas Violets Petition, and his desires mentioned in the annexed Paper, as also the desires of the Referrees, and in compliance of his sad request, so far as my memory serves me, which hath been refreshed by the view of several Orders of Parliament, Council of State, Certificates, Depositions, and memorials formerly transacted in the Petitioners business, both concerning the Silver mentioned in the Petition, and several other of Mr. Violets faithful services done by him for this Commonwealth. I do signify and declare, that from the year 1649. to the year 1653. being the time I had acquaintance with Mr. Violet, I observed that he had a deep profound judgement and insight into the secrets of our Mint in England, & knew the mystery and secrets of other Mints in foreign parts, and the several Arts, mysteries, and ways foreign Nations used to induce and draw Bullion both gold and silver to their several Mints and Countries, and the Laws and ordinances foreign Nations made for hindering the exportation in every respective Country. And that both myself and others, my Associates of the Council of State, in business of high and great concernments as to the Civil part, especially concerning the Mint and Trade made use of him in many particular services for the Public. And indeed for myself I must give him this just and due Commendations, that for all the time I knew him at the Council of State, he was very diligent to advance the public service, as will appear by the Acts of the Council in those times, if recourse be thereunto had. Which acts of his, and his diligent attendance at the Council of State, was in prosecution for many years to obtain his estate which was taken from him by the Parliament, as he constantly affirmed both to myself and others, my associates of the Council of State, when we employed him in many great businesses for the Common wealth, and this diligent and vigilant carriage of his, presented him both to the Parliament and Council of State, as a man whose abilities, activity, resolution and fideliry, was very necessary and serviceable for the benefit of the State, and great use was made of him in those times by the State, as appears by the Silver business, mentioned in his Petition. And that to those that knew him both in Parliament and Council of State, his trust and faithfulness was held in very good estemee, and his services were eminently taken notice of both by myself and divers others, both in the Parliament and Council of State, for several years before Mr. Violet engaged in this great undertaking of staying the Dutch Silver in December 1652. mentioned in his Petition. And truly I must attest that both myself and several others of the Parliament and Council, looked upon Mr. Violet in this great undertaking of staying the Silver mentioned in his Petition, in the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, That Mr. Violet was the great wheel of the work that got the State this great Treasure, for he both discovered to the Council of State, the fraud of the Spanish Ambassador, and the frauds of the Dutch and Spanish Claimers to the Silver, which seasonable discovery of his at the Council stayed it, together with his Protest in the Court of Admiralty, being by him faithfully, and actively performed, the true Attestation whereof was examined at the Council of State, and now shown me under the hands of the Officers of the Mint. By all which proceed it appears to me that Mr. Violets engagements in this service, was not only the instrumental occasion of getting the State this great Treasure mentioned in his Petition, but the only cause, and without him and his Protesting in the Court of Admiralty at that very instant nick of time 16. Decemb. 1652. this great Treasure being about three hundred thousand pounds (as Mr. Violet affirms to me there was so much money taken out of the Samson, Salvador, and George) had been all let go out of the Nation, and been discharged by the Court of Admiralty, and of what prejudicial and dangerous consequence, such an oversight in the Court of Admiralty might have produced to this Commonwealth at that conjuncture of time, when Van Trump the Dutch General was in the Downs, is obvious to all men to conjecture, as also the contrary, the great advantage and benefit that hath accrued to this Nation by Mr. Violets happy and successful Protesting in the Admiralty against the discharge of this Silver, and opposing the Spanish Ambassador, and all their numerous interessed parties and Claimers, and their powerful abettors joined with it, the hard and voluntary task he imposed upon himself (as I find it sworn by several Witnesses) and that besides all his pains and hazards, he expended in this service above five hundred pounds. And I find by Doctor Walkers Warrants directed to Mr. Dorislaus, Mr. Bud, Mr. Arnold, and Mr. How, the State's Officers, and ministers in the Court of Admiralty, and by Orders of the Council of State, that since the 20th of April 1653. Mr. Violet was required and enjoined not only to contribute his own endeavours, but also at his own charge to employ many others in making this discovery, which I find to be attested under Doctor Walkers hand, and by the Depositions of several Persons employed by Mr. Violet, for that although the Parliament and Council of State were dismissed the 20th day of April 1653 yet Mr. Violets fore task, expensive, and dangerous employment was imposed and continued on him till the State had gotten the Silver, and this appears by Warrants from his Highness' Council, and Doctor Walker of a later date ready to be produced, which I have seen. These actings of his, accompanied with great charge, hazard, and trouble, shows to all the world Mr. Violets faithful service, constant fidelity, and love to his Country. Upon due consideration of all the premises, I am very willing to testify my knowledge of Mr. Violet, according to that true worth and great abilities I know in the man, with his readiness to serve his Country, and I do it the rather because he had several times my faithful promise (when I was a Councillor of State) that I would testify his several services done to the Parliament, by which I conceive he merited the indemnity and restoration of his estate before this great undertaking, mentioned in his Petition about the Silver in Decemb. 1652 but doing this service successfully in staying this Silver, I think myself therefore now much more bound in honour and conscience, after so long a trial of this man's patience, constancy, and fidelity, and his love to his Country, to give you my true observation of the man, both in his acting this and other great business, and this I attest upon my knowledge and experience of the man, and not upon hear-say. And if the rule of the Gospel be observed, viv. that all men do to others as they would be done to themselves, Mr. Violet cannot be many weeks without a full restoration of his Estate or the value, and if Mr. Violet hath had such measure as he hath presented to the world in print, surely I must say he hath had hard measure, but I wish him not only his Estate, but also an honourable memorial to be left to Posterity of his great service, according to former engagements to him by some of the then Council of State, for this particular service of the Silver mentioned in his Petition, this just due and deserved Testimony, I do give him this first of October 1657. James Harrington. This is a true Copy, Examined by us Thomas Hewet, John Rimmer, John Symes. WHen I brought these aforesaid Certificates to the Commissioners, to whom the Examination of my services touching this Silver, was referred by the late Lord Protector Oliver, I offered to bring them the testimonials of several others of the Council of State, to affirm and attest to the same effect as these honourable Gentlemen had done. But the Referrees were pleased to say they had seen enough, and to forbid me the troubling any others for conformation of what I had alleged in my Petition, they declaring that these Certificates aforesaid had given them full and ample satisfaction, and that they were sorry I should be so dealt with, and that they did see my sad sufferings, and would fully and effectually certify the true State of my business to his Highness Oliver what I had merited from the State, they not doubting but I should have not only the sum of eleven thousand pounds paid me for this discovery and great service but also should receive an honourable reward over and above for the same. To Encourage others for the future to rely and trust to the Promises of the Council of State, and to be faithful in the trust that was imposed on them by the State. The Referrees telling your Petitioner, that in Justice, Prudence, Honour, and Policy, the States must pay me, and that they could not expect but the end of my labours would come to a happy issue, and thereupon the aforesaid Referrees were pleased to give me this honourable Certificate following, concerning the true State of my services, and the Council of States engagements to pay me the sum of eleven thousand pounds, and an honourable reward over and above. viz. May it please your Highness. WHereas by your Highness' order of the 13th of July last, your Highness was pleased to refer unto us or any three of us Mr. Thomas Violets Petition hereunto annexed, whereby we are directed to examine the premises suggested therein, and to state and certify the Case to your Highness, together with our opinions upon the whole matter. In obedience whereunto we having perused the said Petition, and finding many particular services which the Petitioner thereby affirmeth were done by him and well known to the Lord Bradshaw, and many others of the late Council of State, and he having named to us Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetewood, and Francis Allen Esquires, who (amongst other of the Council) knew the Petitioners great service done concerning the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, their Silver and Lading mentioned in his said Petition, and the Council of States intentions and engagements to him, when he undertook to disprove the Spanish Ambassador, and Spanish and Flemish Claimers thereunto in the years 1652. and 1653. For the clearing of the truth of the Petitioners allegations suggested in his said Petition, we held it necessary to acquaint the Lord Bradshaw, and the said Sir James Harrington, Sir George Fleetwood, and Francis Allen Esquires, with your Highness said Reference, and sent them Copies thereof with the said Petition, and with our desires that they would certify their particular knowledges therein, that so we might the better return to your Highness the true state of the Petitioners Case. And we have accordingly received Certificates from all the aforesaid Persons, which we have hereunto annexed, together with the said Petition and Reference for your Highness' gracious peruseall, all which testimonials and Certificates set forth the great services done by the Petitioner, by his seasonably discovery of the Spanish Ambassadors, and Claimers fraudulent endeavours to deceive the Commonwealth in December. 1652. We have likewise perused several Orders of Parliament and Council of State, that set forth the intended frauds and Practices of Don Alonso de Cardenas, in coming in his own Person to the Parliament and to the Council of State with several other Merchants, and their Claiming the Dutch Silver then aboard the said Ships. And we find Mr. James Stenere committed by the Parliament for tampering in this business; We find it attested under the hands of Mr. George Brett, James Hoare, and Thomas Birch, all Offieers of your Highness' Mint (they being then in the Court of Admiralty the 16th of Decemb. 1652.) that the Petitioner by his active, faithful, and seasonable Protest in the said Court (at that very instant nick of time, and the very hour the Ships and Silver were in judgement before the Judges there, and upon discharge) the Petitioner by his Protest stayed the Silver mentioned in the Petition, being to the value of above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds in Silver, taken out of the aforesaid Ships and Coined in your Highness' Mint, as the Petitioner hath proved to us upon the sight of some accounts. And we find by several Orders of the Council of State, and Orders from Doctor Walker the Commonwealth's Advocate, and by several Depositions and Certificates that the whole weight of that business was imposed on the Petitioner by the Council of State in 1652. and 1653. as to the discovering part, and the Petitioner was required to prosecute this service after the dissolving of the long Parliament, by the Council of State then being. The Heads of the Lord bradshaw's Certificate. We also find it attested by the Lord Bradshaw, that the seasonable interposition of the Petitioner, and his Protesting in the Admiralty, applications to the Council, and discovery of the frauds, both of the Spanish, and Dutch, touching the said Silver, those actions of the Petitioner accompanied also with great charge, hazard, and trouble, were the main occasion if not the causa, sine qua non, of the after benefit received by the State upon conversion of that Silver, the Petitioner being looked upon by the then Council of State as the great wheel that set all on work, when this business first began and after till the close of the same; The Counsels engagements and intentions to him wards at his first assuming the employment, were not without good reason uncommitted to writing for avoiding all misconstruction, they proposing on the one hand a fair and just proceeding, and on the other all due encouragement to that Person whose disquisition and effectual prosecution for making good the claim, they knew must needs be very expensive, and liable to many difficulties, and hazards, from the multitude of the contrary interessed parties, and the many and powerful abettors, so as any one in reason may conclude, that without such assurance on the part of the Council, and relying upon it on the Petitioners part, the whole business had miscarried, as left unundertaken and undone. The Petitioners sore task and merit of the State, he saith he will not further meddle with; The Petitioners zeal, resolution, and ability, to promote the public interest in divers respects being known to him in good measure, as he formerly held himself obliged to cherish and (so much as in him was) to improve for the State's advantage, so upon this occasion offered wherein the honour and justice of the State and their profit (as he conceived) is mainly inv olved; He saith he is very free to render the Petitioner according to his best observations of him and his actings, this due and deserved Testimony. Dated the 5th of September, 1657. The Heads of Sir James harrington's Certificate. Sir James Harrington also certifies us, that the Petitioner was the great wheel of the work which got the State this great Treasure, for he both discovered to the Council of State, the frauds of the Spanish Ambassador, and the Dutch and Spanish Claimers to the Silver, which seasonable discovery stayed it at the Council, together with his Protest in the Court of Admiralty, being by him faithfully, and actively performed, the true attestation thereof was examined at the Council of State, and the Petitioner employed several persons at his own charge in the prosecution of this business, being required by the Council of State to do it, by all which proceed he saith it appea●s that the Petitioners engagements in that service, was not only the instrumental occasion of getting the State that great Treasure mentioned in the Petition, but the only cause and without him, and his Protesting in the Court of Admiralty, at that very instant nick of time the 16th of Decemb. 1652. this great Treasure (being about three hundred thousand pounds) had been all let go, and further saith, that the Councll of State did not only promise the Petitioner, the restoration of his Estate, for this particular service of the Silver, but also an honourable memorial, and that both himself, and others of his associates of the Council of State, in business of great and high concernment (as to the Civil part) especially as to the Mint and Trade, made use of him in many particulars for the Public, and that he did observe that all the time he knew the Petitioner, which was from 1649 to 1653. the Petitioner was very diligent to advance the Public Interest. These actings of the Petitioner accompanied with great charge, hazard, and trouble, shows forth to all the world the Petitioners faithful services, constant fidelity, and love to his Country, this Testimony concerning the Petitioner, bears date under Sir James harrington's hand the first day of October 1657. The Heads of Francis Allen Esq. his Certificate Mr. Francis Allen certifies, that the Petitioner did engage in that concernment of staying the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, the Silver and Lading, and in discovering the frauds endeavoured to be put upon the State, touching the Silver in them contained with a great deal of Industry, courage, and unweariedness, and indeed he conceives to his very great charge and expense, besides his frequent attending the Committee for the Mint in several affairs referring thereunto, which could not but be expensive to him also. This Certificate bears date the 27th of October 1657. The Heads of Sir George Fleetwood his Certificate. Sir George Fleetwood likewise certifies, that the Petitioner by his seasonable discovery to the State of the Spanish Ambassador, and Claimers frauds as to the Silver mentioned, and his Protesting in the Court of Admiralty in December 1652. was the only cause of getting this great Treasure mentioned in the aforesaid Petition, and that the Council of State in 1652 and 1653. imposed upon the Petitioner the whole care of the management of this business in the Court of Admiralty as to the discovering part, and that the Petitioner was several times employed by the Council of State, and members of Parliament, and such of the Council for the State or Parliament, as were pleased to make use of him, found in the Petitioner a deep and profound insight into the mysteries of the Mint business, and Merchant affairs. And the said Sir George Fleetwood further saith, that it is most apparent in the whole proceed of this business, that the Petitioner had always in his eye the restoration of his Estate, or the value of eleven thousand pounds, which was the sum of Mr. Violets demand to the Parliament in 1651. which was promised the Petitioner by several members of the Council and Parliament for service done before this great undertaking, and had not the Petitioner had a real assurance from the Council of State in Decemb. 1652. for the restoring to him his Estate, or eleven thousand pounds for this service of the Silver, the whole business had been lost, and left unundertaken by the Petitioner, had he not had such a promise, and also relied on the same for just performance, and he saith it is true that for some Reasons of State, Mr. Violets assurance and reward was uncommitted to writing, to avoid claymor, and misconstructions of lewd Tongues, but this omission was not to frustrate the Petitioner of his dearly earned reward, the restoration of his Estate, as many of the late Council of State (if attended on by the Petitioner) would say this could never enter into their thoughts. This attestation under the hand of Sir George Fleetwood bears date 22th September 1657. These Certificates with the former Attestations are briefly reported. The Originals specifying the Petitioners particular services, in this and other his undertake, more at large are hereunto annexed. And whereas the Petitioner allegeth in his Petition, that had he desisted the prosecution of the said business in your Highness' Court of Admiralty, and betrayed the Trust the Council ●f Sta●e ●eposed in him, he was several times offered, and might have received in the years 1652. and 1653. from several Merchants of Flanders then in London, the sum of ten thousand pounds. Upon examination of this Allegation, we find that the Merchant's Claimers did several times offer the Petitioner ten thousand pounds, to have deserted this business of prosecuting against the Spanish Ambassador and Claimers concerning this Silver. And this was confessed by the Merchant's Solicitor to be true, as appeareth by two several persons Affidavits, viz. Mr. Thomas Hewet, and Mr. William Savill, taken before William Glascock Esq. one of the Masters in Chancery. And whereas the Petitioner allegeth, That in the prosecution of this great business, for the space of about two years he was at the sole charge himself thereof, and paid ten several persons whom at that time he employed in this service, as he hath proved by Affidavit of four Witnesses, viz John Glover and Simon Baldwin Merchants, Thomas Ley and John Gerrell Citizens of London, Sworn before John Page and Robert Kelloway Esquires, Masters in Chancery, in 1654. That the Petitioner to their knowledge expended above five hundred pounds in this service in 1652. and 1653. We find the Petitioners debts and engagements contracted in the prosecution of this business of the Silver Ships to be very great, amounting unto the sum of seven hundred sixty five pounds, and upwards, which the Petitioner oweth at interest at this day. And he hath presented us a particular List of the several men's names, of whom the Petitioner borrowed the said money to do this service, the truth of which appears unto us by the Affidavit of the said Mr. Violet, sworn before Doctor Harrington, one of the Masters of your Highness' Court of Chancery, besides several other great sums of money, which the Petitioner affirms to us to have taken up at interest, for his necessary support and maintenanee ever since the Sequestration of his estate in 1643. May it please your Highness, upon this business of the Petitioner we have had many meetings. And being by your Highness' Reference required not only to slate the Petitioners Case, but to certify our opinions upon the whole matter; We do accordingly in all faithfulness and humility certify to your Highness, That upon due consideration had of the great travel, charge and hazard, which the Petitioner hath undergone in the prosecuting of this business, as hath been proved unto us as aforesaid. As also upon the Attestation of Sir George Fleetwood, and Sir James Harrington, concerning the Promise of the Council of State to Mr. Violet, for the restoration of his estate, or eleven thousand pounds. Upon the whole matter, we do in all humble manner certify your Highness, that we find the Petitioner is a person, who not only deserves the making good the Council of States Promise to him as abovesaid. But also by your Highness' goodness, bounty and favour, that there be some signal Reward conferred upon him for this his eminent service, according to the Promise of the said Council, as by the Certificates of Sir George Fleetwood, and Sir James Harrington, hath been attested unto us, That so all others for the future, may be encouraged to serve the interest of your Highness and the Commonwealth with all faithfulness, as it appeareth to us the Petitioner hath done. We have also considered of the Petitioners debts and expenses contracted in this service, and for his support since 1643. and believe the Petitioners engagements at this present are very great and pressing upon him. Wherefore being ordered by your Highness to certify our opinions upon the whole matter, We humbly offer unto your Highness, That for the present, (left the Petitioner should be thrown into prison, and thereby utterly ruined for the very moneys he hath expended in this service,) That some considerable sum of money in part may speedily by your Highness be assigned unto him, for the paying of his debts contracted in this great service for the public. And also that care be taken for his subsistence, according to his quality. And that the remainder of the money promised him by the late Council of State as aforesaid, may be paid unto him, assoon as your Highness, and the great affairs of the Commonwealth can permit, he having eminently and signally shown his zeal, resolution and forwardness, with the hazard of his life in this service for his Country. All which we Humbly submit to your Highness' Wisdom and Justice. 1. May 1658. John Barkstead Tho. Viner, Gabriel Beck John Limbery, Edward Dendy Henry Middleton, Maurice Thomson Isaac Dorislaus. Examined by us, Jo. Symes, Jo. Rimmer. WHen your Petitioner after much pains, patience, and attendance, had gotten all these aforesaid honourable gentlemen's Certificates, and testimonials aforesaid in May 1658. I cast about how I should bring my business to have it come to a good issue, that after so much delay I might have Justice. Thereupon your Petitioner, Petitioned Oliver Lord Protector, setting forth my former services, and backing the same with so many bulwarks, and Certificates, that in justice nor honour, I thought he could not delay me longer of my dearly earned reward, for I knew he could not deny a tittle in my Petition, but what I alleged I had fully proved, and that your Petitioner might be dealing with him for something to get some employment till he paid me the sum of eleven thousand pounds. I did offer in part of my satisfaction of eleven thousand pounds, to except of the employment of Regulating the manufacture of gold and silver thread, with the fees I formerly had received, and I humbly offered to accept of this office at the value of two thousand pounds, this office being a part of my own Estate, for which I paid formerly 1500l. And had I not been disturbed in the due execution, by some damorous cheating Silkmen, and Wyer drawers and Refiners who make it their common trade to cousin the wearers of gold and silver lace, and have melted down within this twenty years of the Plate and heavy silver Coins of the Nation to the value of a million of money, to the wispeakable loss of the Commonwealth, by wasting of the blood and sinews of this Nation's money, which ought to be kept in people's purses to maintain Trade and Commerce, and not to be put upon women's Petticoats to be burst and wasted away. For to induce his Highness Oliver to grant me the said employment, I annexed to my Petition and Papers a Report of the Committee of Parliament for Trade, Dated June 16. 1657. the original Report I have ready to produce to your Honours, which Report certifies that they have had it fully proved before them upon many day's Examination, the great abuses daily practised in the culling and melting down the currant silver coins of this Nation; for the expensive making Gold and Silver Lace, Wyre and Thread. They certify under their hands the daily abuses and cheats is put on the Wearers by the deceitful making Gold and Silver Thread and Lace, and also by several fraudulent practices in the making Gold and Silver Thread, that there is wasted of the stock of Silver in this Nation, about thirty thousand pounds a year. And that at this day there is no Rule nor Order for regulating the Workmasters, nor the Workers, but every one is ' est to cozentle Commonwealth, and they have certified it by what several ways they do it; as will appear upon your Honour's Perusal of the Certificate of the Committee for Trade. And the Committee for Trade finding this to be a great abuse and cheat put on the Nation, have upon many day's consideration presented to that Parliament a Report of a Model and Way for the due Regulation of all these abuses, and recommend in their Certificate your Petitioner for the execution of that service, to be appointed the sworn Officer, and to take the fees for doing that service as formerly your Petitioner did, and that your Petitioner for the future put in security in the Exchequer, to warrant all these Manufactures of Gold and Silver Lace, Wyre and Thread to be good silver, that is drawn, assayed, marked or sealed at the Office. And to warrant the same to be sterling silver according to the Standard at the least, or to pay all damage to the Party or Parties grieved, and that all Gold and Silver Thread shall be duly spun, with a due proportion of Silver to Silk, to the end that the Silver may not be brushed and rubbed, of Lace, Buttons, and other sorts of works in Gold and Silver Thread, as it daily is, to the quantity, as hath been proved to the Committee for Trade, of thirty thousand pounds a year. Whereupon his Highness refers this Petition July 13. 1658. and all the aforesaid Reports, together with a Report of the Council of Trade, for the regulating the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread, to the considerations of the Privy Council, to take all the premises into their consideration, and to see your Petitioner paid for these services in staying the Silver, and for his former losses according to Equity and Justice. And that if the Council conceived it fit, I should have the employment to see to the due regulating the manufacture of Gold and Silver Wyre and Lace, and to prevent the melting down heavy English money, as I desired, but the Protector soon after died before I could get the Council of State to meet, and so I renewed my Petition to the late Lord Protector Richard, who signed this Order to Gabriel Beck, and Francis Bacon Esquires, viz. RICHARD P. WHereas we are informed that Thomas Violet of London Goldsmith, hath formerly done our most dear Father of famous memory and this Nation several great services, and that the said Thomas Violet hath made his addresses unto you, and in many particulars hath acquainted you with his humble desires and good affections to our service, and shown you several transactions which ought to be taken into our considerations, being (as we are informed) both for our service, and the profit, safety, and honour of this Nation. We therefore require you to give us an account of all such particulars concerning the Public, as the said Thomas Violet hath already acquainted you with, and if you conceive it fit for our service, you are by these presents authorised to send for the said Thomas Violet, and to examine him upon any other questions or matters, which you shall conceive is fit for our service, and in what way the said Thomas Violet may be serviceable unto us and the Public, and the result of your debates to present unto us in writing, with what expedition you can. Dated 28. October 1658. To our trusty and Well-beloved, Francis Bacon, and Gabriel Becke, Esquires. May it please your Highness. IN obedience to your Highness' Order of Reference dated 28. October last hereunto annexed, we have several times met, and find that Thomas Violet Petitioned your Highness' royal Father for his promised reward, which Petition his late Highness 13 July 1657. referred to the Lord Barkstead, Sir Thomas Viner, and several other Persons, and their Report thereupon is hereunto annexed, which Report we have perused, and also several Certificates of the Lord Bradshaw, Lord George Fleetewood of the Vache, Sir James Hanington, and Francis Allen Esquires, and several other Certificates of the Officers of the Mint, as also the Orders of the late Council of State, Depositions, and Orders of the Court of Admiralty, whereby it appears to us that the said Thomas Violet by his seasonable interposition, and Protest in the Admiralty 17. December 1652. his application to the then Council of State, and his discovery of the Spanish and Dutch frauds, touching the Silver in the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, being near three hundred thousand pounds, this his discovery and prosecution in the Admiralty, in all probability saved the State this great Treasure, or else the State had been cozened thereof, as appears to us at large by all the aforesaid Certificates ready to be produced to your Highness. We find it proved and certified, that Thomas Violet expended seven hundred sixty five pounds in the prosecution of this service, besides all his time and hazard, which moneys appears to us he took up at interest, for which he stands indebted to several persons, and he hath proved to us he is every day in danger to be taken in execution, for the very moneys he expendded in this service, to get the State this great Treasure. And we find it attested unto your Highness' royal Father, by the Certificates of all the aforesaid Referrees, that the State did promise unto Thomas Violet, upon his undertaking at his own charge to do this service, to pay him the sum of eleven thousand pounds, and some other rewards for this service, in stopping the aforesaid Silver. And it is further certified to your Highness' royal Father by all the aforesaid Referrees, that they find it proved that Thomas Violet was offered ten thousand pounds in the behalf of the Claimers, to have desisted his prosecution in the behalf of the State, touching this Silver. And we find that the Lord Barkstead, Sir Thomas Viner and all the other Referrees humbly propounded to your Highness' royal father as very fit and just, that a considerable sum of money be presently paid unto Thomas Violet, for to discharge his debts, and for his support, lest otherwise he should be thrown into Prison and utterly ruined for the very money he hath expended in this service, and that care be taken for the future for Thomas Violets subsistence according to his quality, and that the remainder of the money to make it up the sum of eleven thousand pounds, promised to him by the State for this service, may be paid unto Thomas Violet as soon as the great occasions of the State can permit. This Certificate is hereunto annexed and signed by all the aforesaid Referrees 1. May 1658. to your Highness' royal Father. And we humbly offer it as our opinions, that it is both just, and fit for the honour of the State, that the moneys Thomas Violet hath expended in this service, and a due consideration for his support for the future be speedily paid unto him, to preserve him from a present ruin, and the remainder of the aforesaid sum to be paid him as soon as the great occasions of the Commonwealth will permit And the Referrees do bold Thomas Violet to be a person very fit and useful for employment either in your Highness' Mint, or in the Office for the due Regulation of gold and silver wire, and Lace, etc. and in several other employments, as appears by several Certificates. And Violet himself hath made several Proposals unto us in writing for his satisfaction, which we have hereunto annexed for your Highness' gracious perusal, In some of these Proposals we do humbly apprehend Thomas Violet may be useful for your Highness and the public service. All which we humbly submit to your Highness' consideration. 18. Jan. 1658. Francis Bacon. Gabriel Beck. Examined by us Jo. Symes, Jo Rimmer. ABout the middle of April 1659. the late Lord Protector Richard, receiving these Certificates and this following Petition, blamed some persons whom he had interessed to give him a true Account of my sufferings, and of my abilities and willingness to serve the Commonwealth, that they had not done it before, but to show that his late Highness put a great value of my services and sufferings, and of my abilities to serve the Nation, (as some Honourable Gentlemen told me he did) he was pleased upon the Reading this following Petition; to give me and some other Gentlemen which I had nominated in trust for my use, this ensuing Warrant for the making of a public farthing for the use of England, Scotland, and Ireland, referring the Approbation and Confirmation thereof to the Parliament, to provide such Orders and Rules as they thought best for the good of the People I used the name of Edward Johnson Esq. and some other Names for my use, and here followeth my Petition and Reference from his late Highness. And if the Parliament please to employ me in this service, and to grant me for thirty one years the entire and whole management of this Office, for making a common farthing. I will thankfully accept of the employment, and humbly and thankfully allow it as five thousand pounds paid unto your Petitioner from the Commonwealth, in part of his due debt of eleven thousand pounds for staying the aforesaid silver. And your Petitioner will be tied to pay the maimed soldiers, during the time of this Grant, twelvepences upon every twenty two shillings in farthings, which shall be uttered by me or my Assigns, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, which will be a constant revenue, and I will pay it in monthly to the Treasurers for the maimed soldiers. And if the State please to have farthings made of a smaller proportion, I will allow the soldiers five shillings for every twenty two shillings, and yet these Copper farthings shall be above as heavy again do the ordinary farthings that now pass among us. To his Highness RICHARD LORD PROTECTOR of England, Scotland, and Ireland. And the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging. The Humble Petition of Edward Johnson Junior, Esq. etc. SHOWETHS, THat there are many frauds and deceits daily practised by divers petty retailing Tradesmen, Chapmen and others, in making and uttering farthing tokens of their own stamping, almost every petty retailing Tradesman putting forth a several farthing token not valueable without any Licence, some of Pewter, Tinn, Led, Brass, and some of Copper, according to every man's fancy that makes their own farthing tokens. Great numbers of these retailing Tradesmen break, others remove themselves from one place to another, and many of them die insolvant, and their farthing tokens thus unduly uttered beiug not valueable, one of them not being worth in value the sixth part of a farthing, and some of their farthing tokens not worth the twentieth part of a farthing, the people of this Nation (especially the poorer sort) are daily cheated and cozened by these indirect practices. To prevent these abuses for the future, your Petitioners humbly pray your Highness that a common valueable farthing may be made of fine Rose Copper of a valueable weight (that is to say) of the weight of about half a quarter of an ounce Haver du boys to a farthing, and twenty two Shillings by tail, to weigh eight pounds Haver du boys, with the remedy of six pence under or over to pass currant within your Highness' Dominions of England, Scotland, and Ireland, for all such persons as will make use of them for their necessity of change, and to prohibit all other farthing tokens now made, or to be made or uttered within your, Highness Dominions aforesaid That to have a valueable common farthing to be made, to pass currant within your Highness said Dominions, is so needful a thing in the Commonwealth, and of such necessity for change, that the making of the same will relieve and accommodate many thousands of petty Tradesmen and poor people, as will plainly appear unto your Highness, in our most humble Reasons and motives hereunto annexed, to which we do most humbly Refer. Your Petitioners most humbly pray your Highness, in respect of the great charge, and trouble they shall undergo in performing this service for the good of the Common wealth, to grant unto them and their Assigns and Deputies, the sole making and uttering of the aforesaid Common farthing for one and thirty years, and to prohibit all other farthings, and the making and counterfeiting of this farthing by any other, upon pain and loss of Estate and imprisonment during your Highness' pleasure, and in consideration thereof, your Petitioners will serve your Highness' Dominions with valueable farthings of the goodness and weight aforesaid, and also pay unto your Highness' Exchequer to your Highness' use, twelve pence for every two and twenty shillings in farthings, which shall be vented and uttered by your Petitioners, their Deputy, or Deputies in England, Scotland, and Ireland, which will be certain revenue to your Highness of many hundred pounds a year, and a great accommodation and benefit to the poor of all your Highness' Dominions. And your Petitioners shall daily pray &c RICHARD P. WE have perused the Petition of Edward Johnson Junior Esquire, etc. together with the reasons hereunto annexed, and our will and pleasure is, that our Solicitor General prepare a book fit for our signature, for the erecting of an Office for the sole making, venting, and uttering of a Common farthing, to go currant in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, according to the weight, proportions, and propositions, in their Petition, contained with such Rules to be observed by the Petitioners, or their Assigns, for the stamps, figures, and Arms of the said farthings, as we and our Successors shall appoint, and for the granting the same to the said Edw. Johnson Junior Esq; etc. and their Assigns and Deputies for one and thirty years. Reserving to us and our Successors twelve pence for every two and twenty Shillings of the said farthings, so vented and uttered. And our Solicitor General is to attend and acquaint the Parliament with this Petition, together with the reasons thereunto annexed, and with this our Warrant. Who are desired to Ordain and appoint such Rules, Prohibitions, and Penalties, for the effectual and better management of this service, the preventing of all former abuses, and restraining of the Counterfeiting, and importation of any the said farthings from the parts beyond the Seas, as they shall think fit and necessary for the carrying on of this Service for the good of the Commonwealth. Given at Whitehall the 19th day of April 1659. To our Trusty Well beloved Sir William Ellis Barronett our Solicitor General. To my much honoured and worthy Friends Sr Thomas Viner, Kt., Mr Alexander Holt, Mr John Sanders, Mr James Hore, Mr Will. Baldwine, Mr Will. Dugard, Mr Sarjeant Dendy, Mr Gabriel Beck, Mr Bovey, Mr Ed. Watkins, Mr John Heatly, Mr Lucas Lucy, Mr Thom. Packington, Mr Francis Bishop, Mr John Burredge, Mr Delabar, Mr Nowell, Mr Emery, Mr Hord. Worthy Gentlemen, and my good Friends: TO you of all others I am most obliged to give a particular account of this business, touching my staying this silver, mentioned in this Book, because, I could not have done this great service of staying the Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, and prosecuting that business in the Admiralty, but that I had the money to do it from you, and I own it you at this day about 1500 l. I have formerly showed unto most of you the Orders of Parliament touching this business, and what endeavours were acted by Mr James Steneer, and several other Merchants, to cousin the State of all this great treasure: All the printed Transactions most of you have seen formerly, But the orders that mentions seven several Letters of Mr. James Steneres, and several other Merchant's Letters which were read in Parliament. Mr. James Steneer writes to his Correspondents beyond Seas concerning the getting them this Silver out of the Admiralty, (we, meaning himself and the rest of his confederates, have made a great many friends among the great ones to speak for us in the business when it comes before them, (a wise man may guests who those great ones were, and what great ones made a trade by cozening the Commonwealth in their Prizes) the Claimers of the silver at that time having stolen several scores of thousand pounds out of these Ships, so that they weree full of money and they could bribe any Person in power that would be corrupted, in another of Mr Steneres Letter that was read in the Parliament House, Mr. Stenere writes to his Correspondents beyond Seas, that he must have a care what he did write to them touching this Silver business, left his Letters should be opened, when he was brought to the Parliament Barr the first of December 1652. he rather chose to act the part of a fool, and a liar, rather than to serve the Commonwealth to discover this design, for which tampering of his the Parliament committed him from the Bar to the Sergeant at Arms the first of December 1652. as appears by the journals of the Parliament, at that time Van Trump the Dutch Admiral was in the Downs, and no doubt but his mouth watered after this Silver, there is a Commission under the great Seal of Holland, and the original orders of the State's General. Upon the petition of the Merchants of Amsterdam, to guard these ships and silver from the Parliaments forces, which will remain to posterity to show the justice of this Nation in staying this silver for Dutch silver, the truth of this being also confessed in the Admiralty by many of the mariners and passengers which came that Voyage from Spain, and that the Pursers' books and many of the Bills of Lading were forged and altered at sea after that they had heard certainly by some ships that the Dutch were at wars with England. The Parliaments Agent at Cades gave advice here to Mr Wilson his kinsman, the day that these ships set sail from Cades, and though they gave out there that they were to go for Dunkirk, yet their designed Port was Amsterdam, they being loaden for the greatest part upon the account of the Dutch, and the same was confessed in the Admiralty by many of the Passengers and others. Decemb. 14. 1652. The Spanish Ambassador Don Alonso de Cardenas, Ambassador extraordinary for the King of Spain, came in person to the Parliament, and made an Oration in the House, claiming all this silver in these three ships to belong to his Master and for his Master's subjects account; which Speech he also at the same time presented to the Parliament in writing both in Spanish and English, together with two bundles of papers touching this silver, which he referred to the consideration of the House: And for several days he made his appearance at the Council of State, and put in the like claims for this silver, he engaging his Honour that no part of it did belong to the Dutch, as will appear by the proceed and the records of the Council of State, and Mr Stenier was bailed, and his business never called on to this day. While these businesses were transacted at the Parliament, Council of State, and Admiralty, I made the Lord Bradshaw and many of the Council of State acquainted with the whole practice and fraud that was intended to be put on them by the aforesaid parties, and that if they had not a special care, the Judges in the Admiralty would discharge this silver, and the Dutch had rather it should be in the bottom of the sea than we should have it. Upon this Information the Council of State commanded me to attend carefully the motions of the Court of Admiralty and the Merchants touching this Silver, and from time to time to give the Council an account what was done in the business. Whereupon, December 15. 1652. I made the Council acquainted, That the Judges of the Admiralty had appointed to bring these ships, Samson, Salvador and George, their silver and lading to a judgement the next day, being Decemb. 16. in the Admiralty; And that I did believe the Judges would clear the ships, the Lord Bradshaw and some others of the Council asked me what reason I had to say so or to suspect so: Whereupon I told them, the Commissioners of Dutch prize Goods had given me a warrant to go aboard these Dutch prize ships when I pleased, and to employ whom I thought good to get acquaintance with the seamen aboard these ships. And I had certain intelligence, that Otho George, Captain of the Samson, had commanded all his men to be in readiness and had taken in fresh victualling and biscuits, and that in a few days they should be at Dunkirk, declaring that Van Tromp would do them no hurt though he were on the Downs. Upon this discovery, many of the Council of State did apprehend the great damage and danger the Nation was in if this great treasure should fall into the hands; of the Dutch, and after much debate I was commanded by the Council to attend in the Court of Admiralty, Decemb. 16. all the while the Court sat, and if the Judges did go about to clear the silver, than I should make my Protest against their proceed, till my Witnesses were examined that should discover the fraud: And the Council likewise charged me, That if the Judges asked me by what authority I made my Protest, I should deny I had any order from the Council of State but I should do it upon my own peril and account, if I were certain I could disprove the Spanish Ambassador, and if I did prove that there was silver aboard these ships belonging to the Dutch, out of the first hundred thousand pounds that was coined of this silver, I should be paid eleven thousand pounds, being in lieu of my estate that I had for many years petitioned for, whereupon I told the Council the estate the Parliament took from me, endamaged me above sixteen thousand pounds, many of the Council replying (Perform you what you have undertaken, which we believe you are never able to do) and you shall have an honourable reward for this service, over and above eleven thousand pounds which you claim for your estate. I have done this service, and two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds the State hath had, and employed it for the defence of the Commonwealth, in paying the Army and Navy, as will appear by the Accounts of Coll. Barkstead; yet to this day the Council of State hath not performed their faithful Promise to me, to pay me eleven thousand pounds, and to give me an honourable reward over and above for this service. It is very remarkable, that there was a design laid amongst some of Mr Steniers great one's to cousin the State of this Treasure; and would I have been Knave, I might have been one of his great ones, and have taken ten thousand pounds to let the silver go, as in this Book is cortifiedby many honourable persons might have had. And that to some in the Admiralty, my appearing in that Court to stay this silver was most distasteful and unexpected, and spoiled some people's markets both in the Admiralty and other places too; for some of the Judges in the Admiralty, (Exton and Stevens) Decem. 16. 1652. were so fare from giving me thanks for my discovery, and for making my Protest in the behalf of the State to save this silver (which had not their interest and profit lain another way they ought to have done) but they contrariwise openly in the Court before many hundreds of merchants have reviled me and would of discharged this silver. And had I not received a command from the Council of State the day before to act in that manner, to be sure to keep the Judges from discharging the silver, let the Judges say what they pleased, the judges would that morning have discharged the silver, and consulted together to commit me; they disputed the business so loud, that I and many others heard it: And the judges bid Wyeen the then Register of the Admiralty call on the ships Samson, Salvador and George, not minding what I said: this can be proved by many merchants, and is fully certified by the Officers of the Mint. Whereupon I told Mr Wyeen the Register, that if he and the judges did discharge the silver in these ships, and did not forbear their sentence till my Witnesses were examined, I would make it the dearest days work they ever did in their lives or to that effect. And I undertook before the judges in the Admiralty upon the peril of my life to disprove the Sanish Ambassador and Flemish Claims to this silver. Whereupon Monsieur Motett (the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary) hearing me say so to the judges, was in a very great rage, and so were all the rest of the Claimers. Whereupon I told the judges, that if they would clear the silver, notwithstanding my Protest, before my witnesses were examined, it was most apparent the Commonwealth was betrayed, and bribe's given and taken by some great ones to cousin the Commonwealth of this silver, but it should not be in their power to do it, for I would prevent them. And that if the judges did proceed to discharge this silver, and that this silver come into the hands of the Dutch, the judge's lives and estates could not make the Commonwealth satisfaction; for that Van Tromp the Dutch General was then on the Downer, and an hasty judgement, before the truth of this plot was discovered, would put this silver into the Dutch men's power, which might be of sad consequence to this Nation, and may cost many thousand English men their lives. Whereupon all the Spanish and Flemish Claimers were in a great rage, heat and discontent. Two of the judges (Exton and Stevens) told me I had undone myself for ever, in making my Protest against the discharge of the silver, and by my other actions and words that day in the Admiralty; and so the judges commanded me to attend the Council of State that afternoon: And so the Court broke up, the Spaniards and Flemings cursing me bitterly, and I expected every minute to be murdered by them. The judges of the Admiralty prophesied truer than Lily hitherto; for they told me the staying of this silver would undo me: for if the Council of State do not pay me the eleven thousand pounds they promised me, I have by my faithfulness, honesty and integrity to my Country in the protesting against the discharge of this silver in the Admiralty, and by my constant, chargeable and dangerous prosecution thereof, in getting the State two hundred seventy eight thousand pound, in refusing the Claimers money, when they offered me ten thousand pounds to be silent and let the State be cozened of the silver: Would I have been a knave I might have been reckoned among Mr Stenieers great ones, but my faithfulness to my Country in this particular service (if the State be not just to me in their promise) will undo me for ever. Gentlemen, I have formerly delivered a particular of some of your names, and the sums of money I borrowed of you to to enable me to do this great service, all my own Estate being under a sequestration, unto the Commissioners that were appointed to examine this business. Most of you knew when you lent me this moneys, I was to lay it out in this business in the Admiralty, and ten honourable Gentlemen have Certified, I borrowed of you and spent in this service seven hundred sixty five pounds, besides several great sums of money I paid some of you for Interest of this money ever since the year 1652. and great sums of money I have borrowed to do the Council of State other services, as you may find in this book, Fol. 107. 108. I own unto you all this 25th of May 1659. the sum of fifteen hundred forty and odd pounds, currant money of England, which sums I have laid out and a great deal more, in doing of this Common wealth's service. Gentlemen, I have printed this Letter to acquaint the Council of State, that some of you have commenced Suits, and I look every day for your Executions to be served on me, for the very money I laid out to save the lives of thousands of this Nation. I shall humbly leave it to the consideration of the Parliament, Council of State, and all true Englishmen that are Lovers of their Country, and respect the credit of the Nation, when they shall read what I have done in this service, so clearly proved. First, what the State and Commonwealth hath got, and the conjuncture of time when Van Tiumpe the Dutch General with the Dutch Fleets was in the Downs, and at that very time I was offered by the Claimers of this Silver, great Merchants of Flanders who was then in London to get this Silver out of the States hands, I have proved that these very Claimers several times offered me the sum of ten thousand pounds, to have suffered the State to be cozened of this Silver in the Admiralty, and had I not esteemed and valued, the peace and prosperity of this Nation above my life, I would have taken this money without any further trouble, and gone and lived in another Country, where I could have been employed in some Common wealths and States, and have been honourably and thankfully rewarded. I shall humbly desire the Parliament and Council of State to consider how many such malignants there is in the three Nations England, Scotland, and Ireland, if the Parliament could but find a covee of ten such malignants in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Dominions of Wales, to bring them in two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds every one of them as I have done, such a sum of money would pay the debts of the Public, if they can find none of the breed but myself, I humbly desire then to preserve me for a Phoenix, and to pay me eleven thousand pounds which I have so clearly proved they own me, and give me a Commission to go a Kite-catching for the Commonwealth, I shall humbly present them with a great number of pretended godly Buzzards, who since the year 1640. have cozened the Commonwealth of many hundred thousand pounds, I shall humbly show them the ways how they have done this, and find out the men who from the bottom of baseness and beggary, have by unjust ways accumulated to themselves vast estates, in these distracted and trouble some times, to the ruin of many thousands of families, whose cries for their oppressions have ascended up unto Heaven, and no doubt but is the principal cause of these sad distractions and divisions that are now amongst us. If one Achan could trouble all Israel for stealing a golden wedge, and a Babylonish Garment, what disturbance will a thousand achan's do, who have cozened the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland; for my part I humbly say clearly, that I never stayed this Silver in 1652. for any of the then Council of States particular profit, I never minded either Oliver or Rowland, I did it for the service of the Commonwealth, and Honour of the Nation, as I was a true Englishman, without respecting private persons; and let who will have the Government, or Supreme Power, I shall humbly demand it, as it is my right and due, my dearly earned reward of eleven thousand pounds for this service. S. Paul saith, he sought with beasts at Ephesus; I am sure of it, in this business, in staying this Silver, I was fain to encounter with beasts in the Admiralty, at the Exchange, a shipboard, to make myself all things to all men, to spend my spirits, my money, make use of my Credit, engage several of you Gentlemen to borrow great sums of money for me, to get the State this great Treasure: and when I expect my reward, to be delayed with Referrees, and Reports, and Certificates, and to trouble all these honourable Gentlemen to spend their time for several days in taking the Proofs and Collections, and as yet not to receive one dramm of justice, or one penny of Reward; to be used as children are that look into a Fortune-book, to be directed from one spirit to another: how honourable this usage will be for the Commonwealth, to have this recorded to posterity, I leave it to you, and all just men to judge. So contrary to all humane expectation hath God's deal been with me in this business, that where my greatest fear was, I had no need to fear, and where my greatest confidence was, there I am miserably disappointed. For I feared the Spaniards and the Claimers would kill me for staying this Silver, but that was a needless fear, for God hath kept me, I put my trust in man and thought assuredly, that it could never enter into the hearts of Gentlemen, and an English Council of State, but thankfully and honourably to pay me what they had promised faithfully, and I so dearly earned, which was for getting them two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds. The State to pay me in lieu of my Estate taken from me, to my damage twenty thousand pounds, for which the Council of State agreed to pay me as aforesaid the sum of eleven thousand pounds, besides an honourable reward. Had I served my God with that integrity, and broke so many night's sleep to study to please him, as I did to please the Council of State and man, God would not have left, nor disappointed me as man doth. Had the Council of State an intention never to have paid me when I undertook their work, they had done both you and me a Courtesy to have chopped of my head, and eased me out of a troublesome world. Then I had not cozened you of your money, which I must be forced to do if the Council do not pay me, most of you know I could not pay you, till the State paid me, and this some of you will attest, when required to be true, besides it grieves me to the Soul more for some of you, who out of good will to the Nation, borrowed great sums of money for me, and at this day are sued for the same and must pay it, that I should be made an instrument to Trappan you or any honest man for your good will to your Country, to cousin you of your money. It is true my body is at your service to imprison in a Goal, but it is money that you expect, and not my flesh or bones. How shameful a thing would it be, that it should be left to posterity, that Thomas Violet that saved this Nation two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, all employed in the defence of the Nation, at such a time the Commonwealth was in jeopardy, and in great straits for money, discovering this Plot the same day the Judges in the Admiralty would have discharged the Silver, and then it had been presently conveyed to our enemies the Dutch. For which service and undertaking the Council of State faithfully promised him the sum of eleven thousand pounds, and an honourable reward, Thomas Violet having got the Commonwealth all this Silver as aforesaid, but no performance, no promise, nor word kept. That Thomas Violet might have had ten thousand pounds from the Claimers to have deserted this Trust, and to have connived and let this Silver go, but he would not be false to the Commonwealth. But constantly for two years being assisted by ten other persons that followed this business in the Admiralty, a Shipboard, and at the Exchange, and in several other places, and with much Trouble, Charge, and Expense, to get the State the aforesaid great Treasure, borrowing fifteen hundred pounds of several of his dear and loving friends to do this service, who upon the Councils of State not performing with me, in paying me my dearly earned reward, were all cozened of their money, for I cannot pay you before the State pay me, and if this should fall out to be true, would not all good men say, both you and I have had hard measure for our good will and fidelity for getting the State this great Treasure, and make other men for the future to take money when it is offered them. And not to play an aftergame as I now do, to Petition for my due satisfaction. I pray God for the honour of this Nation, and of this Posterity, that the Council of State take order for my satisfaction, and indeed I am persuaded in my Conscience, when the Council sees these Transactions attested by a multitude of honourable Witnesses, and my services so great, that never any man of my quality had the like Contest with mighty men, and brought it to so happy success as I have done, that I shall be truly paid eleven thousand pounds, and the Damages will be considered for the forbearance of my dearly earned reward so long from 1653 to 1659. Gentlemen, I have presented to you the hardest usage that you or I can expect, and if I be not justly and honourably dealt with, let fortune do her worst, I will trust and wait on God's Providance, and tide out these troublesome times, ever keeping this rule where I receive Protection there will I pay obedience, let it be to Oliver, or Rowland, and no longer than I can have Protection will I own obedience, but I will study the happiness and Honour of my Country so long as I live and breath, and let what will come this hath and shall be my rule to walk by. I now think it convenient to give you an account, by what ways I humbly propound to be paid by the Parliament and Council of State this sum of eleven thousand pounds, and to take no money from them, but to bring them in greater sums of money, and also advantage the Nation many scores of thousand pounds, and fill the Nation with great Treasure of gold and silver, the Soldiers delight, and the Merchant's darling, being that which is the measure of all things. Upon the peruseall of this narative, you will see a Watch taken in pieces, and to your eye you see the wheels and springs that makes the motions and the parties employed. A Painter may show you the Colours before he works, but the craft is in mixing and grinding them, and handling the pencel that makes the Picture. There is not one man of a hundred thousand that could, or can go through with this business, but the undertaking of it would brake his neck. It was God that enabled me, and kept up my spirits, and so he doth at this day, or else it had been impossible but I should have sunk under the weight of so much oppression. The showing you a Watch, and painting, inables you not to make either, without long study, Tools and materials. Here you see both the Theoric, and the practic part, that I have and can serve my Country. And me thinks that rule in common Justice should be allowed to me, that having made my proofe-piece as it is amongst most Lawyers or Tradesmen as a reading shows a man well versed in the Law, an excellent Picture once finished makes a man an approved Painter, and several prizes skilfully played approves a man master of defence. I humbly present unto the Parliament and Nation, my getting the Common wealth this two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds to be my proof-piece, to show to posterity, that the Garden of England hath too few such malignant Violets, that would voluntarily venture life, credit, and what is above life, have mortgaged all my well-being for the future for fifteen hundred pounds to save this Nation, and refused ten thousand pounds when I was offered to be bribed. Let any just man consider of what I have done, and no man can deny me this reward of eleven thousand pounds, that hath honesty, honour, or Conscience. When they remember Christ's rule, do as thou wouldst be done unto, (I must put the number of such ungrateful persons, if the sad fate of State have left any of the breed in the Council of State not into the number of English States men, but they are of the breed of Machiavelli,) and I hope not to find one of them in our English Council of State, that profess Christianity and would offer worse measure to their fellow Countrymen, and Protestants, than Turks would use to Christians. God deliver all good honest minded men from such Machiavel-villains, but I hope better things that St. James his rule shall be remembered, show me thy faith by thy works, that I that have worked in the Vinyard of this Commonwealth all my time, so successfully for the profit and honour of the Nation from the year 1648. to 1659. now I have gotten the State this Treasure as I have fully proved it (both the money the State promised being eleven thousand pounds, and an honourable reward.) the honour and Justice of the Nation being so highly concerned to see me Justly satisfied. To conclude, have you but patience till the next Term, and such of you as have commenced your suits go no further, put not yourself and me to expense and trouble, till I get the Council of States Answer to this book, I here promise you all, such of you that will have my person, next Term willingly to submit to your Executions, and if the Council of State will suffer me to be buried in a prison alive, for the money I expended to get the State two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds, and at that time ventured my life in the business, such oppressions will stink in the nostrils of all good and just men, but I hope better things, and trust the Council of State will be more careful of the credit, and faith of the Nation. Your Bondman for the State's service, and would said subscribe myself my own Freeman to do yond service. THOMAS VIOLET. THE POSTCRIPT. The Ways I humbly propound to the State to pay me this debt, are these, in which Employment the Common wealth will get twenty times more advantage than I, as appears, Viz. 1. I Have at this time three Bonds in my Custody, which were out of my possession twelve years in the Committee of Shropshires' hands at Shrewsbury, which bonds are in two thousand pounds for the payment of me one thousand pounds, and taken from my Sister Anno. 1643. who kept them for me, these bonds were due in 1644. I paid John Corbet Esquire a member of this present Parliament forty pound, to have these Bonds delivered to me by the Committee of Salop, which money I paid by command of the Council of State, as appears in this book Fol. 27. 28. 29. I only humbly desire and pray for an Order, or Ordinance of Parliament to confirm the said Order of the Council of State, and that I be impowered by Order of Parliament to sue and to implead the said Bonds, as formerly I might have done, notwithstanding any Order, or Ordinance of Parliament to the Committee of Shropshire, or any other Committee touching or concerning these Bonds, in regard I have paid the Committee of Salop forty pounds for them as aforesaid. And I shall thankfully allow and accept of these three Bonds for two thousand pounds in part of payment of the sum of eleven thousand pounds the Council of State promised me. Gentlemen, for your Comfort these Bonds are good Bonds, and the men Solvant that own me the money, and the money is doubled at six in the hundred at this day, and I have men of fifteen hundred a year tied for the payment of me of these Bonds at long running, though now they keep out of the way, they shall pay me. 2. Whereas I had an Office for Regulating gold and silver thread, as appears in this Book, Fol. 110. 111. 112. and had I not been disturbed in the due Execution of the said Office by several Clamorous cheating Silkemen, Wyer-drawers, and Refiners, who I have proved to the Parliament make it a common Trade to cousin the wearers of gold and silver Lace, as I can attest it under the hands of Mr. Alexander Jackson sworn assay Master of Goldsmith's Hall, and other persons in a hundred parcels. The Refiners and Wire drawers of gold and silver within this twenty years, have culled and melted down the heaviest coins of Shillings, Sixpences, half Crowns, and Plate of this Nation, to above the value of a million of Silver, to the great weakening of the Stock of currant Silver money, the great decay of Trade, and unspeakable loss to the Commonwealth. I have, and can produce to the Parliament a Certificate of the Committee of Trade dated the 16th of January 1657. upon many days examination of all these abuses, I have it certified to the Parliament the several daily cheats of Wier-drawers put on the Nation, and the Committee for Trade recommended me Thomas Violet to the Parliament to be restored to my Office with such fees as I received formerly, and certify the great mischiefs which is daily practised for want of this Office. And that I should be ordered to put in security in the Exchequer in such sums as the Parliament please to appoint me, to warrant all gold and silver Wyer that shall be assayed at the Office to be fine Silver, and not under sterling, and all gold and silver Thread to be justly and duly made, with a due proportion of Silk, and Thomas Violet to pay the damages to any person grieved or wronged, that buy gold or silver Thread, or Lace surveyed as aforesaid. And to prohibit all Refiners, and other persons the melting down the currant Silver coins, or Plate of the Nation, for any of these manufactures upon severe penalties, the Committee recommend me to the Parliament, I should have the power as formerly to make searches, and deface all adulterate gold and silver Thread and Wire, and the Committee Certifies this Regulation of the restoring me to my Office, would increase the stock of Silver in the Nation above thirty thousand pounds a year, the original Order I have ready to produce. And if the Parliament by their Order empower me to Execute that Office again, and confirm me in it for two lives, which cost me fifteen hundred pounds before I could get the grant under the great Seal from the late King, (which money I paid to the Lord Treasurer Juckson, Lord Cottington, Secretary Cook, Mr Attorney General Banks,) if I have this Office again, I will increase the stock of Treasure every year above seventy thousand pounds a year, whereas now as this manufacture is made, without a Rule, it wastes the stock of Treasure thirty thousand pounds a year, and this I will maintain, prove, and demonstrate it to your Honours to be true, this manufacture being under no Rule and Government as it is at this day, is one of the back doors that hath brought such a scarcity and want of currant Silver money on the Nation, and had it ever come to Examination in Parliament as now I desire it may, I will prove it is more profitable to the Nation to keep money in people's purses, then vainly to brush and lose thirty thousand pounds a year of men and women's , as is Certified by a Committee of Parliament it now doth. I will demonstrate this Nation had better have given at this day one hundred thousand pounds to me to have kept up this Office to a due Regulation, then have put down my Office, by the doing thereof they have had a million of money less in the stock of the Nation than they should have had, had my Office continued, if the Parliament please to empower me to Regulate this manufacture, and to receive the fees I took formerly, I humbly will accept of it for two thousand pounds so I may have it for two lises, in part of payment of the eleven thousand pounds which the State owes me. 3. I have for many years attended the Committee of the Mint about Regulating their Mint, as is well known to many members of the Council of State what charge and time I spent in this service, I complained of this business eleven years ago, and for your further satisfaction I recommend you to Fol. 11. 12. 13. 14. in this book, there you will see the true Reasons set down how it comes about that no silver and gold is coined in the Tower. And that the Parliament, I will Justify, had been better to have given the two Doctors Gourdon, and St. John, forty thousand pounds for a Pension, then have employed them in their Mint, that it is not in the power or skill of Doctors or Apothecaries ever to set the Mint at work as I have demonstrated: that had I not stayed two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds which was coined by my prosecution, this sum was as much money as hath been coined in some seven years in the Tower, since the Master-worker and Warden had that employment, I have humbly offered if the Parliament please to command me and pay me for my pains, that I will make the Mint corstantly go, and cause every year some hundred of thousands of pounds to be coined, to the honour of the Nation, and increase of the stock of the Nation. Provided I may have the place of Master-worker and Melter, with the usual fees formerly allowed to them settled under the great Seal, and that I may be impowered by Orders and Warrants from the Council of State from time to time for to see the due execution of my place, for the enabling me to do this service. This business to effect is very troublesome and chargeable. And will be of mighty concernment to the State, for their service, as you will see in this book, by filling the Nation with Treasure and money, the blood and sinews of Commcrce and Warr, what makes so general a complaint of want of Trade, but want of money, and people have not moneys to pay the ordinary and necessary charges, and if the State do not look to settle this business suddenly, this mischief for this many years I have foretold to the Parliament in Print, and I knew would suddenly come upon us. It is a certain Maxim, Not any private person, or a Commonwealth can ever be capable of effecting any great business that is not rich in moneys, or cannot command great sums of money, either of his own, or upon his Credit. I pray read and consider what I have said concerning this business in this book, Folly 11. 12. 13 14. if the State employ me here in the Mint, I will remove all these obstructions, and set the Mint a working, and this employment if I have it for my life, I will humbly accept of it at the value of two thousand pounds, in part of payment of my satisfaction of eleven thousand pounds, and by my industry and care will increase the State's Stock every year some hundred of thousand of pounds of Silver, which now comes in, and is stolen out. I would never undertake to do this diffiult business, were I not assured there is none in the Nation can do it but myself, and till the State employ me, this work will never be done effectually. Three of you Gentlemen are great mints men and Gold smiths, and know the difficulty of this undertaking, and I dare affirm before you, none of you will trouble yourselves to find out the bottom of these difficult ways that must be used to do this service, not for ten times the profit I shall receive by this Employment. Therefore I humbly desire to have an act to enjoy the place of Master-worker and Melter for my life, provided I do this service within three months after my grant, this mischief is come to a gangrene, and the Council of State must make sharp and strict Orders in this business, or else this mischief cannot be remedied, a great deal of care must be used to put these Laws in Execution, else there will be a perpetual consumption of the Stock of the Nation in the Silver coins, as it is come already on the Gold coins, you shall not receive in a thousand pounds one twenty-shillings-peece in Gold, and in few years there will be the like defect in the Silver, not so much as will maintain Commerce, and Trade, pay Rents and Taxes, nor to go to Market. The first Sluce-gate that must be stopped, is the forbidding the melting of gold and Silver currant coins of the Nation, for gold and silver thread it is true there is a Law against it, but who looks after the Execution, Execution is that that gives life to the Law. The like course must be taken against the Transporting gold & silver out of the Nation, it is true old Laws forbidden it, but who makes it their business to discover the offenders Had the Act passed in the House which I prosecuted against Transporting Gold and Silver, and I impowered and employed as I humbly propounded ten years ago, this Nation had had at this day millions of Silver which is now Transported, to the great damage of the Nation. This Act hath been twice read in the House, ten times Committed, Referred to the Committee of the Navies, Officers of the Mint, Officers of the Customs, all their Reports and Certificates certify that if the Parliament will not pass this Act, and appoint able skilful persons to make it their business to hinder the Transporting Gold and Silver, the stock of Gold and Silver in the Nation would be all Transported, and this Nation exposed to very great inconveniences by not preventing it, who can or could say more than these Certificates say. If the Parliament please to pass this Act, I will spend my time and pains, and in that service, take these Transporters in the nick of their action, and confiscate the moneys, had I Warrants and did set my springes I would catch these Woodcocks, my experience would be of great advantage, for an old Dear stealer is the best keeper of the Park, and it is not unknown to some of you that almost thirty years ago I was questioned about Transporting Gold and Silver, I discovered a nest of Transporters of Gold, and the King engaged me to do that service, I caused them to be fined twenty four thousand one hundred pounds, in the year 1635. in the Star Chamber, as appears by the Records, and made Alderman Gibbs, and Sir John Wollaston, glad to Petition and pay well to the late King for their Pardons, for abuses done in their Trades, and this was the true ground of Gibbes, and Wollastones revenge against me. When in the year 1643. they maliciously and Knavishly engaged honourable Gentlemen to present me to the Parliament for a malignant, and to send me to the Tower, and sequester my Estate, to my damage at this day twenty thousand pounds, only to work their malicious ends upon me, when at that time they had Trappaned me, to catch me as a man catcheth a Partridge with their Lowbel, Mr. Theophilus Rily who decoyed me into this snare to undertake to bring up from Oxford the Letter from the Late King Charles, mentioned in this Book, Fol. 33. And then to aggravat it against me with that Violence to some honourable members of Parliament, that it had like to cost me my life, and I suffered almost four years' imprisonment in the Tower, and had my estate sequestered to my damage of twenty thousand pounds as appears in this Book, Fol. 38. I Petitioned the late Protector Richard for to give me and some others I nominated in trust for my use, the grant of making a common farthing, as appears in this book Fol. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. the late Protector accordingly gives me etc. the grant of the same for 31. years in part of my reward for this service of staying the Silver, and orders the Solicitor General to attend the Parliament for their Approbation, who are desired to ordain and appoint such Rules, Prohibitions, and Penalties, for the effectual, and better management of this service, the preventing of all former abuses, and restraining the importation and Counterfeiting of any the said farthings from the parts beyond Sea, as they shall think fit and necessary for the carrying on of this business for the good of the Common wealth, and he reserves to the Commonwealth twelve pence out of every twenty two shillings. I shall humbly desire the Parliament, to give me the grant for the sole making of a Public farthing for 31. years of the value and weight aforesaid, and I shall humbly and thankfully accept of this employment as the value of five thousand pounds towards my debt of eleven thousand pounds, and if the Parliament please to have a farthing made lighter, yet as heavy again as the common farthings, I shall make a common farthing to go currant in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and I will pay unto the maimed Solders five shillings upon every two and twenty shillings that is uttered in the Office, and account, truly upon Oath, this will be a great revenue to the maimedSolders, and I will be bound to account monthly to the Treasurers of the maimed Solders, which will be about three hundred pounds a month for some years. By these ways I shall both pay myself my eleven thousand pounds, and be serviceable to the Commonwealth above an hundred thousand pounds, in doing these services in the Mint, and for Regulating gold and silver Lace, and Wyer, and stopping the Transporting of gold and silver, no man in the Nation hath had the experience to do it but myself, and where I get one penny, the Common wealth in point of bonour and profit will get twenty, the issue of all I humbly leave to God, and submit myself to his good Providence. And remain Gentlemen your Bondman till the State free me THOMAS VIOLET. 25. May 1659. FINIS.