MYSTERIES, AND SECRETS OF Trade and Mint-affairs:  
With several REASONS against transporting Treasure; and ways set down for preventing the same: formerly presented to the Right Honourable the Lord Bradshaw, (at whose desire I undertook this pains,) and presented it to the late Council of State: and now enlarged, and humbly presented to this present Parliament of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, in Aug. 1653.  
By THO. VIOLET of London, Goldsmith.   coat of arms surrounded by six cherubs 
London, Printed by William Dugard, Anno Dom. 1653.   

A List of all such Ships as the Fleet of the PARLIAMENT of England have brought into this Commonwealth as Dutch-Prizes, (which Ships have all been discharged by the High Court of Admiralty, the days here-under written) besides several other Ships discharged as Dutch-prizes brought into this Commonwealth by divers private men of War, the particular names and times of their discharge, I humbly desire the Register of the High Court of Admiralty may be ordered to bring into the Parliament.  
Also I humbly desire, that the Right Honourable Admiral Blake may be desired to send up unto the Parliament what Ships of Hamborough, Lubeck, Danzick, or any of the Hans-Towns, he or any of his Officers hath given passes to sail to the foresaid places, since August 12, 1652.  
 Ships and Goods therein restored Masters. The Parties to whom. Decem. 10. 1652 A Slope called the Love and Goods, London Luther Mayeer Unto the Mr and Comp. Decemb. 16. 52 Fisher of Straelsondt and Goods, Dover Gaspor Viscar Unto the Mr and owners Decemb. 16. 52 Peter of Straelsondt and Goods, London Albert Hubertson Unto the Mr and owners Decemb. 16. 52 Abraham's Sacrifice and Goods Ditto  Unto Peter Scrother for the use &c: Decemb. 16. 52 Fortune and Goods Ditto Berent Van Dunk Unto the said Mr and owners Decemb. 16. 52 St John Baptist, and Goods Bartle Johnson Unto the Mr for the owners Decemb. 18. 52 St John Baptist, and Goods Rattey Buy Mr Unto the said Mr for etc. Decemb. 18. 52 George of Hambrough and Goods, Falm ᵒ Martin Stehew Unto the said Mr for etc. Decemb. 18. 52 St John and Goods Ditto Berent Johnsonson Unto the Mr for etc. Decemb. 18. 52 Temperance, and Goods Frederick Witherick Unto the Mr for etc. Decemb. 4. 52 Peter and Goods except the Silver, Ditto Daniel Stretman Unto the Mr for etc. Octob. 15. 52 St Jo. Baptist of Horn, & goods, except 1/16 part, Ditto Inebrand Peterson Unto Laurence de Gear Octob. 1ᵒ 52 Goods Scedulate in the Cock, alias Rosecrame Tenby Unto Don Antonio de Plato Octob. 22. 52 Young Tobias, and Goods, Cows weasel Gosenson Mr Unto Zacharie Lappa July 30. 52 Love Galliots, and goods, London Sveyer Johnson Unto Lewis de Gear, and comp a Septem. 29. 52 Goods Scedulate in the Cock, alàs Rosecrame Tynby Unto jacintho Lopez, Octob. 12. 52 Ann of Ostend, and Goods, Plim ᵒ Daniel Cornellis Unto Joos Fremont, and Comp a Decem. 10. 52 Sixty eight Butts of Oil in the Griman, London  Unto Cornellis and Gerard Knife Septem. 21. 52 A Sixth part of the Ship Hopewell, and Goods Peter Johnson Unto John Southwood, or assigns Octob. 8. 52 ⅓ part of Ancona of Venice with freight due, Ditto Adrian Hendrickson Unto Eustace Van Ekey Decemb. 22. 52 Katharaine of Hambrough, and goods, Ditto Bristol Unto the Mr for etc. Decemb. 10. 52 A Chest and half & Barrel of Sugar, Fortune of Flushing  Unto John Hubine, or assigns Octob. 15. 52 ¼ part of one two and thirtieth part of the Ship Maid of Enchusen, and ¼ part of one two and thirtieth part of the lading, and 13 saccardave planks Wm Johnson Lawn— London Unto Zachary Lappa, or assigns August 15. 52 15/16 parts of the King David and lading Walter Jacobson Mr Unto Simon Clerk, and Comp a Septem. 21. 52 Fortune of Hambrough, and goods, Plim ᵒ John Strother Master Unto Philip Dunker, etc. Octob 1ᵒ 52 May-Flower, and goods, Portsm ᵒ Andrew Short Master Except ⅛ part of Ship & goods for savage August 5. 52 Gift of God of Air, and goods, Plim ᵒ Thomas Kennedy Mr Unto Thomas Jarvan, and others Octob. 5. 52 Fortune of Newport, and goods, Ditto Joos de Vink Master Unto Gasper Sanson, and others Novemb. 17. 52 Peace of Wisemire, and goods, Dover Claes Maults Master Unto the said Mr and Comp a Novemb. 19 52 St Jacob, and goods, London Christian Vonderwetter Unto the Mr for the owners Novemb. 19 52 Black Eagle, and goods, Dover Harman Luders Unto Hendrick Vanaskine, and others Novemb. 17. 52 St Matthew of Hambrough, and goods, Ditto Henry Cruse Unto Peter Larkines, and others Novemb. 17. 52 Charity of Gottenbrough, Ditto Paul Pawson Boman Unto George Van Lingard, and others Novemb. 21. 52 Hunter, and goods, Ditto Claves Grisel Master Unto the Mr and Comp a Novem. 17. 52 Fortune of Straelsondt, and goods, Ditto Daniel Ranges Unto the said Daniel Ranges, and others Novem. 22. 52 Icedom, and goods, Ditto Pasque Albert's Unto the Mr for the use of Hen. Johnson Novem. 19 52 King David, and goods, London Gillos Lites Unto Vincent Kiningsburgh, and Comp a Novem. 19 52 Samson of Wisemire, and goods, Dover Severt Godtman Unto Henrick Vanderdlen, and others Novem. 17. 52 Hope of Dantzick, and goods, Portsm ᵒ John Johnson Unto Peter Benson, and Comp a Noxem. 17. 52 Land of Promise, Dover Garret Higenloe Unto Burgo▪ Mr Wakeman, and others Novem. 17 52 St Ellen of Rostock, Ditto Hendrick Dureloffe Unto the said M ● and Comp a Novem. 17. 52 Fortune of Hambrough, and goods, Ditto David Beck Unto the Mr for the use of the owners Novem. 17. 52 Fortune of Lubeck, and goods, Portsm ᵒ Joachim Dunke Unto the Mr and Comp a Novem. 17. 52 Justice of Hambrough, London Frederick Fox Unto the Mr and Comp a Novem. 19 52 St John, and goods, Dover Hendrick Pape Unto the Mr for etc. Novem. 17. 52 Concord of Lubeck, and goods, Ditto John Dureloffe Unto Anthony Weffels and Comp a Novem. 19 52 Hope of Hambrough, and goods, Ditto Hendrick Elders Unto John Jennink and Comp a Novem. 19 52 Samson of Hambrough, and goods, London Hans Hiteman Unto William de la Bistrus and others Novem. 17. 52 Black Ox, and goods, Ditto Garret Hendrickson Unto Andrew Garretson and others Novem. 8. 52 Ln ᵒ King David ¼ part, and ¼ part Brazeile-wood  Unto Baldwin Matthews Novem: 22. 52 St Jacob of Hambrough, Falm ᵒ Client Marenson Unto John Lemerman and Comp a Octob. 15. 52 Ln ᵒ Little Prince 1/● part and of Tackle and Furniture Claes Junison Unto Ralph Tomaines Octob. 12. 52 Ditto Antona of Venice ⅓ part and of Taclke, etc. Peter Johnson Unto Baltazar Vandegoes Decem. 1ᵒ 52 Two White Hawks, and goods, Dover Peter Harmason Beker Unto the said Mr Novem. 19 52 Love, and goods, London John Hendricks Unto William Blachford and others Decem. 1ᵒ 52 St George, and goods, Dover John Peterson Greipe Unto the Mr for the use of the owners Novem. 29. 52 Hope, and goods, London Hendrick Martin's Unto the said Mr and Comp a Novem. 29. 52 children's Plea, and goods Simon Fox Unto the said Mr and Comp a Decem. 1ᵒ 52 St Sebastian, and goods John Geest Unto the said Mr. for the use of the owner.  
Signed, THO. VIOLET.   

A TRUE NARRATIVE OF SOME Remarkable Proceed Concerning the Ships Samson, Salvador, and George, and several other Prize-ships depending in the High Court of Admiralty: most humbly presented to the PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND, and to the Right Honourable the COUNCIL of STATE by Authority of PARLIAMENT, and to the Honourable the Council of Officers, of his Excellency the LORD GENERAL.  
By THO. VIOLET of London, Goldsmith.  
Who most humbly desire's them to take the same into their due Consideration, it being for the security and safety of the Nation.   coat of arms surrounded by six cherubs 
LONDON, Printed by William Dugard, An. Dom. 1653.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Major General HARRISON, Major General DESBOROW, Colonel PHILIP JONES, and Colonel BENNET; All of the Right Honourable the Council of State.  
RIGHT HONOURABLE!  
WHen God, by his Providence, had dissolved the late Parliament and Council of State, the 20 of April, 1653; and most of those Honourable Members of the Council, and Parliament (to whom I made formerly my humble Addresses in the behalf of the State, against several Prize-ships and Silver, depending the 20 December, 1652, in the Court of Admiralty) ceasing from their public employments, and reduced into the condition of private persons; It pleased God to put it into my heart, to make my addresses to Col. Weeton, and Lieutenant Col. Joice, whom I had observed in all their actions to be public spirited men, and such as daily sought the honour and welfare of the Commonwealth.  
When I had acquainted them with my business, and how far I had proceeded in the Court of Admiralty, and the present condition and posture of the Commonwealth's Silver-prises, and other affairs in that Court: They were pleased, when they understood my desires, freely to present the state of this weighty affair unto your Honours, desiring your care of the business, even so far as your Honours saw it did conduce to the profit, safety, and honour of the Commonwealth: thereupon I made my humble addresses to your Honours; Major General Harrison being pleased to give me thanks for my pains and care I had taken about the staying the Prize-Silver and Ships; and Colonel Bennet and Col. Jones sending for me, upon the Lieutenant of the Tower's information to them about me, They desired me to give them informations for the carrying on the business of the Silver Prizes, and that I should set down several rules for the managing the Coining of the silver for the State's profit, and for keeping an account of all the particular parcels, which I did, and delivered it to Col. Jones, and Col. Bennet.  
Major General Desborow procured me a new Warrant from the Council of State: these great favours of your Honours, for giving me encouragement to proceed in this business of the Prize-ships and Silver, I humbly conceiv, was only in relation to the service and prosperity of the Commonwealth, and your love to Justice, that every one should have his right.  
May it pleas your Honours! The Court of Admiralty, in time of War, is like a private Postern to a strong Castle that is besieged; the passage is narrow, you can come in but one by one; but if the Garrison neglect to put a Sentinel at that door, that little Postern shall, in short time, through the vigilancy of the Adversaries, let in so many enemies, that the Castle will be taken.  
Your Court of Admiralty is a dangerous Backdoor of the Commonwealth; if the State watch not carefully, to see what goes, and to have a good account of what Prizes come in, either for the State, or for private men of War.  
May it pleas your Honours! there is a great deal of difference between the judgement of any Court of Justice in Westminster, which are between man and man, and the Judgements and Acts of a Court of Admiralty for maritime causes; for if an error in judgement, or any undue practices in the proceed of the Chancery, Upper-Beuch, Common-Pleas, and Checquer doth fall out; if it be for the State, the Commonwealth may have a review, and try their Title again: and the like it is between party and party, if they pleas: the Lands remain, the people are here to give a respons to any such actions. But your Court of Admiralty hath such a Postern door, called, the Sea, that an error in judgement there, is a damage irreparable, in this conjuncture of time; for the Ships and Merchandise may be, and have been, in your enemy's power, to be employed against you in 40 hours after, as in case of several Ships discharged the Court of Admiralty.  
This Postern of your Court of Admiralty was made so wide, by the industry of several Merchants: and no doubt but it was by means of money, that will cut through the Pirenean mountains, that twelv Ships passed out of the Court of Admiralty at one time, the 17 of November, 1652; and seven Ships the 19 Nou. and five the 16 Dec. 1652. & 4 Ships 18 Dec. 1652: quick judgements in such weighty businesses; whereas the safety of the Commonwealth, and every particular person, was concerned to have every Prize-ship strictly examined before their Discharge; and this was done after they were brought as Prize, at a vast charge of your Fleet and loss of blood; a sad thing to think, that the State's business should be so managed.  
May it pleas your Honours! about the 16 December, 1652, seventeen Ships were to be discharged by the Court of Admiralty, containing 3400 Tuns; all laden with rich Commodities, and silver, had not I come into the Court of Admiralty, and protested against the Delivery of them: as appears on Record in the said Court; for my doing thereof I had a verbal Warrant from the Committee of Foreign Affairs. If you will be pleased to inquire what became of many of these Ships so discharged, this Narrative following will acquaint you: Some of them went to Holland, Captain Bishop's Letters from Holland will tell you the same of many of these Ships.  
May it pleas your Honours! The Court of Admiralty was, about Christ-tide last, ruled by three men, of different affections: One, that knew much of the Law, and the practice of that Court, which he did daily show openly; but it was in that way of bitterness against the State's Interest in their several Prizes, that no Counsel at the Bar said half so much for their Clients, as he, being a Judge, declared against the Commonwealth's Title about some of the Prizes, and Silver. The Other just, and would have been glad to have done the Commonwealth's business, but that he was not grounded in the Proceeding of that Court. A Third grown suddenly rich, by the common rule that all Judges that grow suddenly rich, must walk by.  
May it pleas your Honours! When I was first commanded by the Council of State to attend this business, about the Prize-silver, I saw so much in these persons & their practice, and some of the Proctors of that Court, at the first entrance into the Court about this business of my Protest, that I was startled and troubled to consider, what a business I had undertaken to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.  
But I put on a Resolution, by God's Assistance, not to be worded out of this business, but to wade through it; for that the safety of the whole Nation was at the Stake, in that conjuncture of time, the Hollanders being at that time in the Downs. And to terrify me, and to deter me from proceeding to do you this service; when I seriously considered of the business, I had first the Merchant's ready to load me with actions, if I could not have proved my Allegations. Secondly I had public Ministers, that would have taken away my life as an Incendiary, if I could not have proved, there was Silver belonging to the Hollanders, in the Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, which I stayed. And thirdly, had these Prizes been cleared, I had many of the Council of State would have sent me back to my Old Lodging in the Tower. Fourthly I had an enraged company of Doctors and Proctors, and such things, whose Trade I discovered, and was resolved, by God's assistance, to spoil for the time to come; and indeed I had so many obstacles to contest with, as would have startled a thousand men.  
Against this, I set the Safety of the Nation, and restoring me to my Estate: and that I should convince mine enemies that they had done ill in oppressing me, when they see both what I could and would venture to do for my country's service; and the world should see, that I would not fear the face of any to unmask these frauds: And I hope the Justice and Wisdom of Parliament, will make strict laws and rules for the future, to prevent such abuses as have been notoriously practised by many in that Court; and that the State will keep good Sentinels and watchmen for the future, both to examine all papers, Bills of Lading, and the Registers and all the Examiner's, and other proceed in that Court.  
It is not one or two of the ablest men that can be found in this Nation can do this business in the Admiralty duly as it should be done: If I be commanded, and have a moderate allowance, I will give the State a good account for the time to come.  
And at this present time the Prizes are many, and sometimes a man may light on a Letter, a Paper, or sheet of Account, that may be worth to the State a hundred thousand pounds: and there are secrets in the expounding of Merchant's Letters, (that are not easily discovered) Accounts, and Bills of Lading, Purser's Books; and will take up several knowing men's time to understand: a strict eye will improve the State's Interest much; and if the State will have this business well done, it must be well paid for; for small fees and pensions, where great trusts are, makes the Devil suggest invitations to take Bribes; and where a man must lay out two or three hundred pounds, or more, for his intelligence, boat-hire, and messengers, (and without this your business cannot be well done) and if your Officer shall not have much more a year from the State for his yearly Fees in this business; this, I believ, hath made some to take up the temptation, and to make them find out ways to help themselves, seeing the State will not pay them well for their pains, getting more in an hour by delivering a paper, or concealing it, than the State will allow them for seven years' Salary. If I would have driven this Trade to have betrayed my trust, I needed not have asked the State a penny: I could have had my eleven thousand pound, without Petitioning for it. I have good reason to believ this is, and hath been acted by some: I would wish to mend it for the future, lest this fire burst out, and consume them before they be ware of it: I have given some notice of it, if God give them grace to prevent it for the future; for else at one time or other it will burst out. If I have proof of it, I shall not spare him or them, when I am employed by the State.  
May it pleas your Honours! I discovered the frauds of the Merchants, and others, in labouring to deceiv the State of their Prize-silver. But it was my Lord Bradshaw, who, by his power, interest, and influence in the late Council of State, and his profound experience and judgement that caused the embargo of the Silver to be made: and what benefit and Treasure doth come into the Commonwealth by the Silver-prizes. The Commonwealth, I humbly say, owes the primary Remembrance thereof to his judgement and vigilancy in this weighty business: For when I brought him first my Papers, those of the 8th December, 1652. And after other Papers, he presently upon his diligent reading of them, found out the fraud, as to his particular judgement, and asked me many other Questions than I had written; which satisfied him, and that made his Honour press so hard in this business against those that opposed me at the Council of State for my prosecution thereof; and to see that I should not be oppressed for doing the State this service.  
For at one time in the Council of State, it was at a standing-water, whether I should shoot Bridg, and so go back to the Tower, where I had been formerly laid up, by the power of malicious and subtle men, who made many of the late Parlament-men their instruments to keep me in the Tower, upon pretence that I was a malignant, that so I should not discover the nest of Transporters of Gold and Silver; which I then was Ordered by the Parliament to do: and there is about twenty Orders of Parliament and Committees, for the bringing in the Act for the discovery of the same, and the Act twice read in the late Parliament; and an Order for the finishing the Act against the Transporters of Gold, about 14 April last, was appointed in the Parliament.  
May it pleas your Honours! my Lord Bradshaw told me; about Christ-tide last, before Tho. Westroop Esquire, that there was some of the Council would, if they could, hang me for staying this Silver; which doing of mine, as he conceived, was a great and good service to the Commonwealth; but to the uttermost of his power he would see they should not oppress me: So that the State owes his Lordship for that benefit they receiv by the Prize-silver, and I owe my liberty to his justice and goodness, that would engage himself in this business, to see I should not be oppressed for my doing this service for the Commonwealth. I humbly wish, for the safety of the Commonwealth, we had more Statesmen of his profound judgement, vigilancy and courage.  
The God of heaven prosper your Honours in all you take in hand; that so you may be a blessing to this Nation in general; that as God hath chosen you from thousands of your Brethren to do mighty things, and wonderful in the eyes of this Generation, both at home and abroad; so he would out of his infinite mercies keep your hearts upright, that no worldly prosperity make you forget God's infinite mercies to you and yours; but that you may, all the days of your life remember your deliverances in the days of battle, when you jeoparded your lives for the freedom of this Nation: no doubt God heard your vows, and exspects your performances for the good of this Nation.  
May it pleas your Honours! This Narrative I humbly present you, is the unmasking of a cunning and dangerous plot against the Parliament, tending to the ruin and destruction of every particular Member of this Nation.  
When I was first engaged in making my discovery, I met with many Wasps that did sting me, and venomous Adders; but by the good guidance of God, the State hath plucked out some of their teeth; others will storm to see these Truths discovered and laid open to your Honours. I am a most humble suitor to the Parliament and your Honours for your protection and countenance in the doing this service to the Nation.  
God bless and prosper all the counsels and undertake of Your Honours, and every particular Member of this present Parliament; that no force or combination of foreign or home-born Traitors may undermine them; that they being delivered from their enemies both at home and abroad, may never forget God's great mercies, that they may be nursing fathers of this Nation, that they may be tender and merciful to the poor and distressed, that they be bvilders up of our breaches, and that they carefully cherish Arts and Manufactures for the setting all the poor of this Nation a Work, that all the blessings of this life may be bestowed on them. And as God hath raised them above their brethren, so that he would be pleased to raise them all to reign with his Son for ever; it being that which is promised those that rule well here, shall reign with him eternally in the heavens: and this shall be the prayer of  
Your honour's humble servant Tho. Violet. Aug. 3. 1653.