A True NARRATIVE Of some remarkable-Procedings concerning the ships Samson, Salvadore and George, and several other Prize-ships, depending in the Admiralty; humbly presented to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, and Council of State, and the Council of Officers of his Excellency the Lord GENERAL. By THO. VIOLET of London Goldsmith. Humbly desiring them to take the same into their Consideration, it being of very great concernment to the security of this Nation. And further he humbly refers himself to his Papers, Petitions and Letters, delivered to several Members of the Council of State; wherein is discovered many Designs of Merchants and others, upon fraudulent pretences, to have defeated the Commonwealth of all the Silver now coining in the Tower, being near four hundred thousand pounds: Also an Order of the Council of State, for removing several obstructions in the Mint; And several Petitions and Proceed thereupon, by order of the abovesaid Committee: All which are humbly presented to your Honours, and to all true lovers of their Country, who shall Read and take notice of the same. LONDON, Printed in the year of our Lord God. 1653. TO THE PARLIAMENT of the Commonwealth of ENGLAND. The humble Petition of THO. VIOLET Sheweth, THat your Petitioner, in December last, finding the Commonwealth daily deceived in several Prizes that had been unduly discharged in the Court of Admiralty, and else where since August last, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds, which frauds, if continued, had proved highly prejudicial to the Commonwealth, by enabling the Dutch in their mischievous practices to circumvent and eclipse the glory of this Nation, and all this constantly acted by some Merchants, and others, by compliance with some persons in trust in the Admiralty. For prevention thereof for the future, your Petitioner did about the eighth of December last, deliver in writing unto the Lord Bradshaw a Paper, discovering that at that present time, a practice and combination was set on foot and acted against the State, by several Merchants, and others, who at that time (combining with some public ministers of foreign Princes, did endeavour and plot to put a blind on the Parliament and Council of State, and having the connivance and assistance of some persons in power and trust for the Commonwealth and Admiralty, contrived by fraud, false pretences and claims, to get cleared out of the Admiralty, several ships taken as prize, but most espicially three rich Ships, viz. the Samson, the George, and the Salvador, in which ships your Petitioner had certain intelligence there was many hundred thousand pounds of Silver, and Merchandise for the account of several people in Amsterdam, Dort, and other places of the united-Provinces (your Petitioner having been employed by the late King and his Council, for making known many secret practices of the like nature unto them) your Petitioner out of his affection to the prosperity of this Commonwealth, did undertake to the Lord Bradshaw to unmask these frauds. In pursuance whereof, your Petitioner knowing how much it did concern this Commonwealth to have these abuses discovered and made known, he delivered several Papers unto several Members of the late Council of State, and to Doctor Walker in December and January last, which did manifest by what ways and practices these abuses were daily committed, which service was so acceptable to many of the Council of State, that your Petitioner had an assurance from many of them, in the behalf of the Commonwealth, that if your Petitioner could entitle the State to the Silver in the aforesaid ships, and make it out by sufficient proof; then he should have all his Estate both real and personal restored unto him, which is under sequestration upon malicious and untrue information, or the full value thereof, which amounted unto the some of eleven thousand pounds, to be paid unto your Petitioner out of the Silver which your Petitioner should gain to the Commonwealth, out of the aforesaid prize-ships, which by your Petitioners painful endeavours, and to his great and vast expense was then accordingly stayed, and proof made to entitle the State to all the Silver which is now coining in the Tower. Notwithstanding the strong combinations and designs of some in the Court of Admiralty, and some other, great ones in power, to defraud the Commonwealth, as was intimated by Master James Stanieres letter, and in truth your Petitioner hath run as great hazard of being ruined both in his estate and person, for his protesting in the behalf of the Commonwealth, against the discharge of these ships and Silver, which had then, without your Petitioners protest in Court, been all discharged, and at that time the Dutch had such a party, even in the Council of State, that by some of them your petitioner was discouraged to proceed in this business, by which means the merchants were encouraged to claim, as is well known to many hundreds of Merchants in London, insomuch as your petitioner was enforced, in the face of the Court to charge ten several Merchants, who were then all in the Court of Admiralty, for fraudulent practices, in labouring to discharge the said Ships; and your petitioner did then declare to the Judges in the Court of Admiralty, that if they did discharge the said Ships and Silver, upon any pretence of any Merchants or other persons whomsoever, before your petitioners witnesses were examined, they did not Judge, but give away the Commonwealth's Treasure, and that your petitioner did appeal to the Parliament against their proceed to discharge the Silver; which did so exasperate the Judges in the Admiralty, that they complained to the Council of State against your petitioner, for endeavouring to stay the Silver and said ships, and upon full examination of the business before the Committee of forraigne-affaires, these ships were notwithstanding ordered to be stayed, and your petitioner ordered to prosecute with all expedition and vigilance, in the behalf of the Commonwealth,, for entitling the State to it, which he hath done accordingly. Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays your Honours to be pleased to consider the greatness of your petitioners service, in staying the Treasure in December last, and discovering the frauds of some in the Admiralty, at such time when the Hollander was domaniering in the Downs, and how much it did weaken them and disappoint their occasions, and what an advantage it is to the Commonwealth to have the State accommodated with near four hundred thousand pounds of the enemy's Treasure, in this conjuncture of time, for your petitioners doing thereof he hath contracted the malice of many hundred Merchants. In consideration of all which Services, your Petitioner humbly prays his Sequestration may be discharged, and his estate both real and personal restored unto him, or the true value thereof paid him, as was promised your Petitioner upon his undertaking this business, or that your Honours would take such Order for your Petitioners relief in the Premises as by your grave Wisdoms shall be thought agreeable to Justice. And, as in duty bound, your Petitioner shall pray, etc. A Copy of a Paper presented the eighth of December 1652. to the Lord Bradshaw and Master Allen, by Thomas Violet, who the same day delivered the said Paper to the Council of State, and the Council upon several debates before the Committee of Foreign affairs Ordered, the 13. of December 1652. the said Tho. Violet to assist, on the behalf of the Commonwealth, the prosecution in the high Court of Admiralty against the ships Samson, Salvador and George, which had then aboard all the silver now coining in the Tower, and that he should repair to D. Walker, Advocate for the Commonwealth, and acquaint him from time to time what he had to offer on behalf of the public in reference to the said Ships. MAy it please your Honour, having understood from some Merchants that the Council of State have referred the Spanish Ambassadors claim to a great quantity of Treasure, which he pretends to be his Masters, the King of Spain's silver, and all the silver belonging to his Master's subjects (unto the Admiralty, there to receive a Judgement according to the equity of the cause.) In all humility I acknowledge the Justice of the Admiralty, and that I believe they will do their utmost, both for doing the Spanish Ambassador right, and to see the State shall have what belongs justly to them. But withal I think it my duty to acquaint you, that the proceed in the Admiralty must go according to the forms of that Court, except the Judges receive some extraordinary direction from the Parliament or the Council of State in this weighty business; now I humbly say, the proceed at Law will take so much time up that the Merchants will send into Spain for new cocquets, and new Bills of lading, and for money no doubt they will get a post-Registring, and I am confident there are many in London can write and counterfeit Bills of lading and Cockets and never send into Spain for them; besides, I have good reason to believe the hearts, purses, heads and books of accounts of many Merchants of London, will be all ready to assist the Dutch-Merchants to cousin the State of this Treasure; and truly my humble opinion is, that if any public ministers can by their policy get all this silver out of the Parliaments hands, that then they will be extraordinarily rewarded by them of Holland for savage of this Treasure, it will be beyond Commission, money or factoridge. And as the conjuncture of time stands between us and the Dutch this present month of December, some public Ministers in England will have the profitablest employment of any Ambassador in the World, if they can christian all Hollanders goods and Treasure with the name of Antwerpians, Ostenders and Dunkirkers; or by his or their power can make all goods laden in Hamburgers or Hance towns, that those goods must of necessity belong to Hamborough, when I have certain proof to justify the contrary, and I humbly desire, before the ships be discharged, my witnesses may be all examined, and upon the peril of my life I will prove that in these ships there are great quantities of silver for the Account of Hollanders, and people of the united Provinces. I having formerly been privy to the proceed of Merchants that have transported gold and silver out of this Nation, and also acquainted with several Merchants that have yearly imported silver from Spain, I thought it my duty to acquaint you, that if the Parliament and Council of State be not very vigilant in this business; and of the proceed about the silver, they will be cozened of their right, for there will be no stone left unturned both by the Merchants beyond Seas and here, to circumvent the State of this Treasure. This that I say, I speak not out of ill will to the Hollander, for there are several of the Council of State did me the honour to ask me what I thought of a Peace or War; I ever, with all humility, told those that asked me; that there could never come a more safe nor honourable thing to the State, then to conclude a safe and honourable Peace with Holland, yet though I loved them very well while we had Peace, I respect them not now during the time of War, after such a rate that they by craft should cousin the State of this great Treasure, which is now taken, if to the uttermost of my power I could hinder it, or add any thing to the stop of it; and knowing what great mischiefs would come to this Nation, if I did not make your Honours acquainted with these practices; I think I am bound, as any Englishman, not to fear the face of any, though I know it will get me ill will, and a shrewd turn, even with some great ones in power; this service shall bear me record how faithfully I ever loved and do love my Country, and convince all those that have misrepresented me to the State, that after so long oppression I may have my Estate restored; and this is the true reason wherefore I humbly present this Paper to your Honour, vizt. My Lord, when the King of Spain's fleet returns to saint Lucar, there lies out always beyond the bar of saint Lucar, which is out of the command of the Castle, several ships of all Nations, and these lie there purposely to take in silver and gold, coucheneele, and all other India commodities so stolen aboard, which some years there hath been imposed above twenty in the hundred for Registering. These goods being shipped, as aforesaid, than the Master of the ship that takes them in, usually signs three Bills, beside the Register of his own books, which in time of War are many; and every Captain, Master or Purser must keep and carry with him one, to enter all parcels and accounts: One bill of these three the Merchant usually sends along with the ship, with a letter of advice to the Merchant, what he hath sent him, the marks and weight, or number of Ingots, or pieces of eight, and the marks and number of all bails, fardels, chests or cask: Another of these bills is sent over land usually by the Post, with letters of advice of such goods, gold and silver, and those bills a shipboard they altar according to the course they are to steer; if it be through the channel of one two or three enemies, they will show several bills of lading and books of entries, but those bills that go by land are always the true bills, the other bills in these times are usually amusements to defraud the State, but usually those that come by the Post are the true bills, but for those on shipboard usually the Merchants know a month sooner than the ships coming by Sea, what gold and silver or comodities his Factor hath shipped, and in what ships, and giveth order accordingly at Dover, or other Ports in this Nation, for sending his goods to several places beyond Sea, or to London, according as advice shall be given him, where the best market is; the third bill is always kept in the Factor's hands to sue the Master, if he doth not deliver the Goods according to his Bills of lading: And if the Master deliver the Goods, the receipts on any one of the true Bills of Lading discharges the other two Bills. That the State would be pleased to desire any public Agents that lay claim, to show the original Warrants (for sending away this silver from Spain, either at Cales or S. Lucre's, or other Ports) bills of lading or his original Letters, such as he or they will stand upon his or their honour are the true originals out of Spain, taken at Saint Lucar or Cadiz, and that exact copies may be taken by the Admiralty, and this to be done forthwith, and that they put in all their claims they make to any Goods, gold or silver in these ships very suddenly, upon their honour to be just and true claims without any guile or fraud. That the State will be pleased to take order, that the Admirallty strictly examine all the chief Factors and Mariners of these ships, what Country men they are? where there abode is? whether they do not go by false names? and to give a just answer at their peril; and which of them belongs to Holland? and whether they have made any Bills of Lading falsely at Sea, or in the Downs, or since they came into England and antedated the same? if done, by whose advice? and who were privy unto it? or have defaced or torn leaves out of their books of invoices? or altered their Bills or Books since they came from Spain? and who were present at the doing thereof? That they give you an account where each of them lie, and at whose house in Saint Katherine's, or elsewhere, what Merchants in London they know, or have communication with? and who are their Factors? and set down their names, where each particular man dwells. That they declare upon oath, who they know hath sent beyond Seas to have the silver and gold and commodities claimed by the State registered in Spain, since the stay of the treasure here, and what men in London have been advizing and assisting that way, and where they dwell, and what Notaries or others in London have given them advice concerning the premises. What Merchants they know have promised any public Ministers of State any sums of money, and what agreement or satisfaction they should have, if he, or they, could get the silver claimed by him or them, into his or their hands, and sent beyond Seas; to name what Merchants that live in England, and what Nation soever have had any treaty or agreement with them, or any public ministers or others, for the purpose and intents aforesaid. My humble suit to your Lordship is, that the Council of State would be pleased to use all the expedition they can in the business, and to settle some strict order in it, for if they give the Merchant's time to send to Spain, the Merchants will there have what things registered, and upon whose account they please; and seeing that here they cannot have one penny, if that we prove the silver and commodities belong to Holland, they are and will be constrained to go to Spain, and there, though it be a confiscation to send away silver before it be Registered, without the King's Licence, yet the great Officers and Statesmen to have a good share, in all probability will get the King's pardon, and to give what Certificats shall be desired, as they have formerly done in Otho George's case (provided the Dutch will pay well for it.) To prevent which, there is nothing but expedition, before they have learned their lesson from Spain; if these Merchants which claim this silver would speak truth, they know almost all this Silver is for the account of Amsterdam, Dort, and netherlands merchant. My Lord, if the State in the examination of these particulars will command my service in this business, by God's assistance I shall give you a good Account, I shall with all readiness attend it faithfully, & to the uttermost of my power do my duty; for to have this plot discovered highly concerns the Commonwealth; I have been privy to their secret practices of transporting of Treasure to all parts of Christendom, out of this Nation, therefore may know the way to unravel this secret combination sooner than others; for I am assured no man in this Nation hath had the opportunity to know these ways as I do, for I was employed in these discoveries, by the late King and his Council many years; and my Lord, an old Deere-stealer is the best Keeper of a Park. It may so chance that it may be pretended that all the silver that is in these ships, and not Registered, is the King of Spain's, as by the law it is, if it were seized in Flanders, or the King of Spain's dominions; but this pretence if set on foot, will hold no water here, as I humbly conceive, for we are not to answer to that point: the Merchant had been liable in spain or at Dunkirk to have answered the Law for transporting treasure before it be Registered in Spain, but coming into our harbours, as a prize of Holland, and they being enemies to this State, we are not to be accountable for what these goods or moneys owes the state of Spain for want of Registering them, nor any person suffered to claim more than is Registered in Spain, and the State have, clear satisfaction of the real truth of that claim; for they, having cozened the King of his duties, intended to bring this treasure home to each Hollander upon their private account; and this question, I humbly desire to have your honours put to any foreign Agent that claims, whether he or they lay claim to the treasure as forfeit to his or their Master, for want of Registering, or that he or they claim it as all shipped for his Masters and his subjects proper account, upon clear and just bills of lading in Spain? my humble Petition is, that they be desired to answer upon his or their Honours that point. The Dutch Merchants that are concerned in this silver, are so well versed in making false entries, double bills of lading, Certificates, Charterparties, and all other frauds of this nature, that if they have time given them to hatch their eggs, there shall be neither a bar of silver nor pieces of eight but what they will bring a Certificate out of Spain for the Registering it, either for the King of Spain's proper account or for his Subjects or Hamburgers; they will find any Nation to lay claim unto it, saving the right owners, which in truth is the Merchants of Amsterdam and Netherlands, and you may rest assured the Dutch will rather set on foot any pretended claim, either Spaniards or Antwerpians to deceive us, rather than that the English should have it they care not who hath it, for they know we shall lay all this money out in powder and shot for them, and they no doubt will leave no stone unroled to prevent us in that particular, if great care be not taken in this business. All the Premises considered, I humbly desire your Honour that the Council of State may know of these my most humble propositions, and take such Order in it, as the greatness of the cause requires, for the safety and benefit of the Commonwealth, all which I humbly submit to your Honour's great wisdom, and remain My Lord, your humble servant THO. VIOLET. Decemb. 8. 1652. Monday the 13. of December 1652. At the Council of State at Whitehall. ORDERED, That Master Thomas Violet do assist in the behalf of the Commonwealth, in the prosecution of this present Suit, in the high Court of Admiralty, against the ships Samson, Salvador and George. And that he do repair to Doctor Walker, Advocate for the Commonwealth, and acquaint him from time to time, what he hath to offer on the behalf of the Public in Reference to the said Ships. Ex. John Thurloe Clerk of the Council. A Breviat of several Papers delivered to Doctor Walker, & several of the Committee of Foreign affairs, since 13. of December 1652. to the 27. of January 1652. according to an Order of the Council of State of the 13, of December last, concerning several prize-ships, and the silver and merchandise therein, with a Letter to Doctor Walker the 29. of January 1652. concerning all the Premises. Dr. WALKER, My service presented. SIR, the Bullion, Money and Merchandise at present under question in the ships Samson, Salvador and George, depending in the Admiralty, is of so great and considerable a value, and of so high concernment in precedent, and other relation to the Commonwealth, and most of it so probable to prove lawful prize, if timely and duly prosecuted, and the passengers in the said ships, and other witnesses I have presented to Master Bud to be examined; it behoves the State, as I humbly conceive, not to suffer these ships to pass, as many ships of great value since the war with the Netherlands have done, to the unspeakable damage of this Nation, it being no new thing for the Hollanders, in time of war, to sail under the colours and names, and with the cockets of Hamborough, or some other of the Hanse-townes, for they did it all the while they had wars with Spain, nor for the ships of the Hance-townes, Ostenders and Dunkirkers to be transporters of Dutch goods through our Seas, from and to all parts of Christendom, especially Spain. Nay, many times, the better to countenance, their ship or ships shall be built in Holland, and formerly sold to some friend or correspondent in Hamborough, Emden, Lubeck, Dunkirk, Ostend, or the like, and for the better colour called the Lion or Dove, etc. of some of the aforesaid places; when really and actually it belongs to Holland or Zealand, and for instance whereof one of the ships now in question, styles itself by the name of the Hamborough of Hamborough, and is certainly known and will be proved to belong to Rotterdam, and so no question will many more of the ships under arrest prove to belong to some town of Holland, and the united Provinces, when strictly and duly examined. Nor is it any new practice for public Ministrs of other States to make use of their function and Master's Robe, to befriend the subject of their Allies, in case of the like nature of claiming Treasure and Merchandise, wherein the native trade (as in this) may be concerned, or were it not but for the advantage of savage in such cases conived at, and many times by the instructions of their superiors allowed to public ministers, as perquisites of their employments they many times gaining more by such avenies, then by their constant salaries. I have often heard sir Lewis Dives say, that when he lived in Spain with his father in law, the earl of Bristol, and the Lord Cottington, they did do the same for the Dutch in Spain as is now offered for the Dutch in England. And I believe there are some foreign Prince's agents in England at this time, that understand to make their particular profit, in this conjuncture of time, as well, if not better, then either the earl of Bristol, or the lord Cottington did in Spain; and upon this ground and for this end, it is more than probable that some public agents appear in this present question in the Admiralty; not that either their Master or his subjects, in all likelihood, are otherwise concerned, nor he or they warranted therein, but only for their particular profit. Sir, this is not a common cause, and I see you take it so by your care, you keep your word, you bid me find proof and you will hold the ships and silver, let some of the Judges talk what they please, you will discharge your trust. Sir, the state of Spain is rarely known to have sent or transported any bars of silver, or coin on their own or other ships whatsoever, to the prejudice of their Mint, that being most absolute contrary to their laws, which makes transporting money death, without the King's original Licence; had the Merchants one, they would have showed it before now. True, it is often stolen away by the Dutch, which is done without the Kings warrant, bills of store, or public allowance, and so you will find this is, and thereby the more liable to question, and upon strict examination it will be clearly proved prize: if the Dutch should cousin us of this money now they are ranting in the Downs, the Commonwealth would suffer extraordinarily. Therefore all persons that claim this silver, I humbly conceive, aught to be pressed to declare specially and particularly, whether he or they pretend the money, or bullion, or any part of it to be the King of Spain's peculiar Treasure, or his subjects? and if so, he or they ought to show some special and authentic Warrant or Order of his or their Masters or Officers for it, Registered in the ports of Spain, and also to prove that by authentic witnesses, by some of his Master's subjects, at the place or Port of S. Lucar or Cadiz, and attested here by like original bills from the officers of the Customs in Spain, which bills of lading correspondent, and their authentic duplicats, with letters of consignement suitable, the Pursers' books of entries, with all the particular and respective marks agreeing with the bills of lading, bills of store and letters of consignement, and all the marks of the bars and bags duly Registered, either for the King of Spain, or his particular subjects. If they cannot spell and speak all this perfectly, justly and truly, at the Port of saint Lucar or Cadiz, they may fail of their ends for all their confident claiming, and the like might every Merchant pretender do, or fail of his. Nor can the Articles (of the old League) supposing it to be renewed and confirmed by this Commonwealth, excuse the ships Samson, Salvador and George, under question, from a search, as is pretended they ought to be, unless they first prove, that those ships, silver, and all the lading do really belong unto his Master or some of his subjects (nor those of the Netherlands) which I humbly say, he or they will never be able to do, and I have sufficient proof to the contrary, if I can but get my witnesses examined: I have about eight witnesses to examine; and the Merchants will pack many of them away now they hear I have used to send some of my Intelligencers amongst them into St. Katherine's and other places. In the mean time, if either his Master or his subjects receive damage by any public ministers claiming silver which is none of theirs, but belongs to Holland, the Commonwealth is excused and free, and the public minister must bear the blame, if any, using his Master or his Subject's title to the silver, when they had no title or interest therein, which if that design had taken effect, all men may see the damage that would accrue to this Nation thereby, whatsoever may be pretended to the contrary. Sir, The law takes no notice of Words; but legal proof and evidence where a public minister bears Parol against the interest of the Commonwealth amounts to no more than a private man's: for when a claim is laid to all this silver by foreign Agents, as the King of Spain and his Subjects silver, I shall prove part of this silver belongs to some Merchants of the united Provinces, our mortal enemies, and a small part of this silver belongs to some Merchants in London. Sir, If I find a man tripping for a penny, I will trace him for a pound; I fear not to speak a truth in this particular, it is for the safety and well being of the Nation that makes me speak so earnestly. Sir, though in Court and matters of State, public ministers be allowed a Credence paramount, agreeable to their letters credential of foreign Princes; yet neither those Letters nor their Function shall, I humbly conceive, allow them any, neither the lest privilege or pre-eminence (beyond civility) in any Court of Justice against the Commonwealth's title in this business of the aforesaid Prizes and silver. 1. The Spaniards are as rarely found to trade out of their own Territories, all writers say (or between) upon Strangers bottoms as their King himself, and so the goods not likely to have been theirs originally, or by original consignment; colourably perhaps they may, that is since their seizure consigned to some of Antwerp to defeat the claim of this Commonwealth, they being commonly partners with the Amsterdammers, that being usual in cases of the like nature, especially where so much respite of time hath been given, and so much money stolen out of these ships, which shall in all likelihood be employed to bribe out of the States hands these ships, if they can fasten on any, in power, that will be so wicked to receive bribes, if my humble advice had been followed, the stealing this silver had been prevented. 2. The like assuredly may be affirmed touching the money bullion and plate in the ships in question since the natural subjects of Spain dare as ill, or worse, transport any silver, as strangers, the crime being alike penal to both, but the subject in a worse condition, if he adventure, being a man of estate, because he remains in the Country, when the stranger perhaps never returns to answer it, if discovered; after he is out of the Country, as upon publication of this business many will not dare to return into Spain, lest they forfeit not only their own particular, and their friends estates, but also their lives. But Sir, suppose it may be objected, that general negatives, from never so many instances, of never so universal non uzans, amounts not to the face of one particular affirmative proof in contra; yet it cannot be denied for reason, and so I humbly conceive, aught to be granted, that some such distinct, particular and signisicant proof in a cause of this high nature and concernment to the profit and safety of this Commonwealth, ought first to be made of the lading of this silver, and that from the original Port of Cadiz or S. Lucar, under the King's Seal, or from the Duanas there, before any credit can be given to generals, against so known, constant and universal custom of frauds daily practised against this Commonwealth, as I have discovered concerning these Prize-ships before mentioned. Sir, I have made some of the Council of State acquainted with the several ways, how the Merchants cousin the State about their prize-ships and goods, and they are very apprehensive of it, and I know some of the State will call this business to a strict account, therefore I humbly desire you therein, still to continue your care as you have done. Sir, truly if at the first those public Ministers that claimed had produced original Warrants from the King of Spain, the attestation of the Ports of Cadiz and S. Lucar from the Duanas there, by authentic witnesses, that this silver was shipped for the King of Spain or his subjects proper account, and that all that was claimed was really true, and made that the ground of their exceptions against the proceed of the judicature of the Admiralty, & therein had appealed to the Council of State or Parliament, my humble opinion is, that perhaps their demands might have arrived at a fairer issue than now they may have reason to expect. And (by God's assistance) they shall have a quick and a vigilant eye on them; for night and day, I and my Instruments shall watch them, so that some merchants and others may live to wish they never had meddled in this silver business, and this I will prosecute according to my Order faithfully, though it cost me all that ever I have in the world; I know I have ventured my life in this business, and I will not pluck back my hand let my hazard be what it will. Sir, whosoever travels, and will enter the confines of another Nation, though in amity; by the civil-law, that is the law of Nations, it behoves him to carry with him a sufficient Pass, declaring from whence, and what he is, to what place bound, and when demanded by any public Officer to make that known and proved, or upon refusal, or for want of such a pass, he is at discretion liable to be arrested and imprisoned until he clear the doubt and give satisfaction to the law, but if it be proved he hath made a false Pass, or that he be of another name or Country than he pretends, he may be hanged for a Spy. The like Law governs at Sea, the Seaman's ordinary Pass for his ship, is his Cockets, I mean true ones, not counterfeit and feigned; his true bills of store, bills of lading, letters of consignment, Pursers and Supercargoes books fairly and truly kept for his goods; not such bills as Otho George presents, and if any Master of a ship be found at Sea without these, or the chief of them at least, he shall be taken under the notion of the Law for a Pirot or common enemy; if he have any such and will not show them when required at Sea, or that any of them be justly to be suspected by the Commander that requires them, such Master my be brought before the Court of Admiralty, or a Court of Delegates for his trial, and if there he refuse to clear himself; ship, goods, and every part of his lading, by the respective ways of proof and warrants, before mentioned; or that the Captain, Master or Purser have torn, imbezeled or fling away any letters of advice, or bills of lading, or forging false bills, or names, if proved, or any miscarriage as aforesaid, such refusal and practices in other Countries is accounted a high contempt to the authority of the Nation, by which such Court sits, and for a sufficient ground to an imediat confiscation. Sir, if this be not made a Law in England, for the future, and the like for any Master or Purser of any stranger's ship, passing the Seas of this Commonwealth, upon summons, that shall present unto the Commander or Judge, false bills or Cockets, and to conceal any part of their lading or faculty, and not to discover the proper owners to whom, or from whom they are consigned, this Nation will dear find much of that which might help to maintain the War will go besides, and the State will still be deluded by the Dutch, as they have been to the value of about two Millions since August last, for it is an usual custom with traders of all Nations, especially the Dutch and Easterlines, in time of War, to carry to Sea, as many Cockets as Colours, and as many several bills as they fear enemies, or question, and if they be surprised, can at a very short warning procure and counterfeit what may serve their turns: And this you shall find to be the true state of the ships Samson, Salvador and George, with all their lading and silver. Wherefore, and for which cause chief, the strictness aforementioned is used in other Nations, viz. to prevent collusion. Sir, in France, one parcel of goods found consigned to an enemy confiscates the ship and goods. In Spain or Holland, a barrel of butter, or a case of Pistols, consigned but as a present to a friend shall do the like, and I hope the same civill-lawe we receive from them shall, by us, be put on them now these ships are in judgement before you in England; it is for the honour and safety of this Nation I press, and I see you do your utmost, would I could say so of the rest in trust in the Admiralty. Sir, it is to be feared, that if this Commonwealth do not make some necessary additions to their Sea-lawes, and give some new Rules and Instructions to their Court of Admiralty, to prevent the many abuses put on us by the Dutch, in the business of the States prizes, other Nations will gain advantage by our neglect, or over easiness; it appearing, that for want of such amendment, or at the least not understanding those laws in force by our Sea Commanders, etc. many a rich ship hath escaped their hands, and safely arrived in Holland since the War (which the Dutch began) to the value of above one million of money by that way, and no less to be suspected that the enemy by his subtle taking advantage of the old, and too gentle practice of our Court of Admiralty, and chief by their not being put to plead specially, may probably get these that remain now under question to be freed likewise, if not timely looked unto, and thereby the State farther abused and prevented, the enemy encouraged and enabled, whiles our own honest Merchants sit at home and break, or thrive not (a fatal mischief to this Commonwealth) our enemies gaining, upon the matter, what we lose or let pass; and to break this confederacy, the State must make sharp laws, and then see them strictly put in execution; the means left for remedy is, securing at present the ships and goods and silver, which lies under question, and I conceive aught carefully to be looked after. Sir, I find some in power and trust forward to gratify the Dutch in this particular, to the unspeakable damage and hazard of this Nation, to prevent which, I humbly propound this way, viz. 1. Sir, I offer in my own name, as for the interest of the Commonwealth, to protest against the late acts and proceed of the Court of Admiralty, to pray respite of Judgement, and to appeal to a Court of Delegates, according to the Statute 2. A Commission being granted thereupon to some select, knowing and approved Persons, whereof some chief to be of the Coram, and before them proving the daily imbezelment of the silver, the unsafety of the goods, and the apparent danger of their imbezeling, whiles they remain on shipboard, which by affidavit, and other good testimony may easily be proved. Sir, I pray that the goods, money especially, may be brought a shore, and secured in safe ward, until the cause be returned, and for better information of the Delegates, that all former proceed of the ordinary Court of Admiralty touching the premises in question by name, may be returned into that Court, and myself Ordered and empowered with a large Commission in several respects, for enabling me to do this service. This cause being agreeable not only with the laws of this Commonwealth, but consonant to the customs, laws and uzance of all other Nations, in cases of like eminency and doubt, the conveniences thereof will be. 1. It will put a stop to most of the abuses and inconveniences afore mentioned, without blemish to the former proceed of the Court of Admiralty, redeem the cause from that loss it is now in danger of, and disappoint many men's expectations, who have laid a design to cousin the State of this treasure, and lay a foundation to Rules, and give matter for further instruction for the government of that Court, a business of great concernment to the safety of the Nation, in this present conjuncture of time. 2. Whiles the cause is but removed into a higher Court and depends there, in order only until a legal trial, neither any public Agent, nor other pretender whoever can justly complain, especially they having given so great a cause of jealousy, by claiming more than their own, in owning other men's treasure, and by refusing to produce special proofs for what they pretend to, it being at worst but lex talionis, we find the same measure abroad in all like courts of Christendom at this present; I humbly conceive the affairs of the Commonwealth do not stand in such a posture, that they should suffer themselves to be cozened of four hundred thousand pounds now I have discovered the fraud to them; this money will save taxes, it will set the Mint on work, and fill the Commonwealth with money, and for every one I displease I shall please a hundred honest men, that are true lovers of their Country. 3. Sir, whiles the plate Bullion, or other goods remains aboard the ships, and in the Master's custody, they pretend an Interest by possession, and taking hold of some ill-customes and prejudicial Rules of our court of Admiralty; you the Commonwealth's Advocate are put to prove the goods in question to be our enemies. Sir, the goods and moneys being once brought a shore, and in the State's p●…session, or under ward by order of the Justice, they which were Defendants before, must be complainants, and of course prove their Interest, especially and upon authentic testimonies out of the books of customs and Records in Spain, whereby many an advantage will accrue in evidence for the States avail, the money for want of sufficient Warrants to transport it, or of special Laders to own and justify the Bills of lading to be truly and justly entered at S. Lucar or Cadiz, will undoubtedly be most of it the Commonwealths, and if the money be gained, certainly much of the goods will endanger the same fortune. 4. In case any difficulties should happen in proof or scruple, upon any thing offered in evidence on the other side, the Court may thereon take time for better information by intelligence from abroad both in Spain and Holland and other parts, and no question much advantage themselves by overtures of proof on the contrary part. 5. Honoured sir, suppose the Commonwealth should at present have any treaty of friendship in hand, which they would not have willingly obstructed, or disordered, or any enemy whom they would willingly invite by kindness, which seldom succeeds to expectation, the Dutch being a stubborn people, here are many helps for both advantages, of both kinds, they may gratify themselves or friends as they please, and pendente lite, take what time they please for either. 6. And lastly, In case, in the mean time, the Commonwealth shall have any present use of this treasure, they may take an occasion at the cost of a compliment, to draw all the Bullion and silver through their Mint, the worst of it being only to promise restitution in case any part of it should prove lawful prize; a conveniency which no state in Christendom having like occasion would balk, or deny itself, in so fair an opportunity, for which there wants no precedents in the best times of government under Monarchy, in several precedents in Queen Elizabeth's time, from which it can be no disadvantage for this Commonwealth, to take some examples, especially in things belonging to foreign affairs, THO. VIOLET. 29. January 1652. Several of these Papers, with some alterations and additions, I also delivered to the Committee of foreign affairs; to Doctor Clarke, Advocate for the Commonwealth, M. Wilson, M. Oxenbridg, and M. Sparrow, Commissioners for Dutch prize goods, with a list of about fourscore witnesses, part of them have been examined in the Court of Admiralty, and some of them told me they could not be allowed to have put down what they said to the examiner, and three of them, holding their hands before their eyes, said; that Spanish silver had put out the eyes of some in the Court of Admiralty, and if there were not some stricter care taken about the State's prizes, the Hollander would laugh in his sleeve, to see how they daily had cozened us, and these persons were Master Long and his two sons, all three ship Carpenters, and people that had for about thirty years lived in Holland, and came over in obedience to the Act that calls ship carpenters home out of foreign Countries, and they knew some of these ships that have been discharged the Court, to be Holland ships, and several of the mariners and masters of ships to belong to the people of the united Provinces; I carried them down to view the ships that were under question, and we found many shot and torn, and yet these ships have been discharged; I seeing the combination of several of the Court of Admiralty to neglect their duty, did sit up together many nights and days, and never slept in that time, with the assistance of several men to write night and day; I did by God's assistance and my intelligence get full proof to entitle the State to the silver, to make it all prize, as appears by my Letter to master David Bud, the Proctor for the Commonwealth. fol. 90. 91. 92. 93. THO. VIOLET. Doctor Walker, SIR, you may be pleased upon perusal of these Papers to see clearly that I look not after the coining of the silver, but will also (by God's assistance) prove that almost all the silver in every one of these ships remaining here is lawful prize, the like I shall do for almost all the goods a shipboard, notwithstanding some in the Court of Admiralties forwardness for the clearing of them; truly Sir, I humbly tell you, the English proverb will prove true in this particular, That soft fire makes sweet Malt, and I am sure in this business, haste hath made wastes in so high a nature, that if it had not been timely prevented by me, the loss had been irreparable to this Commonwealth, to have had this silver come unto the Dutch, in this conjuncture of time. Sir, for the treasure a shipboard the George, Samson, Salvadore, the Peter, the Michael, and several other ships that came in company all together from Cadiz, the thirteenth of October 1652. that is a thing impossible but that the State must have for lawful prize above nine parts of ten, of all the Treasure aboard any of the aforesaid ships, if you pursue the order of this note I herewith send you; Sir, it is for the safety of the State, their well being depends thereon, that makes me so earnest in this business night and day; I have it from knowing hands, that it is agreeable to the civill-Lawe, by prime men that know by practice in foreign Countries these things to be true. And therefore I do most humbly recommend them to your just care, as you have most worthily done, for which I give you humble thanks: Moreover I humbly tell you, I have proof the silver in these ships was stolen a shipboard by night by the Spanish Bravoes, or Boatmen, some of the ships lay four months in the Harbour of Cadiz, only looking for the Spanish fleet, and this is known unto all honest Merchants an ordinary course for the Hamburgers every year to do the same, and that these ships stole in by night, for sixteen or seventeen nights together, several parcels of silver, and that the silver so stolen a shipboard was in returns of goods sent to the West- Indieses, which were goods sent by the Hollanders formerly, and by their own confession if the silver were taken, it would be confiscated by the Commonwealth of England, also it will be proved, when the said ships came away from Spain, they all stole away without leave. Sir, these things according to my order from the Council of State, I humbly present unto you, for the service of the Commonwealth, and remain Sir, Your humble servant to command, THO. VIOLET. London, 29. Janu. 1652. For Vincent De la bar, Esquire, at Dover. SIR, and my most true friend, I received yours of the first of January, in answer to mine of the 26. of December, I find that your urgent occasions call on you to stay at home for the present. Sir, I am most tender of you, as my respects bind me for former civilities. Sir, I conceive we have enough witnesses at home, here at London, about that which I am required to do by the State, for their service, if not, I shall be enforced to make a journey into the Country to Dover. I have sat up seven nights and days within these three weeks, about the Salvador, the Samson, the George, which ships have about four hundred thousand pounds of silver, and I shall prove it Dutch silver; Master Brames will intimate the business unto you how it stands; pray present my service to your Lady, and to Master De la fall, when this business shall come under an examination at Dover, I shall be careful to do you all just respects, I believe I may be in few days commanded to come down unto you in one behalf I am glad that I have an opportunity to see you, the other part is concerning the greatest business in this Nation, in relation to the silver ships that are brought in as prise; in short, you will find that there is a general Imbargo, and I will by my witnesses, make all the silver in the George, the Sampson and the Salvadore prize, when I shall see you I will tell you more than I will write. London, 9 Janu. 1652. Sir, your true friend Tho. Violet. I must suddenly speak with Master Thomas De la fall, therefore I pray let him know it; Ralph Colline, Charles Valey signior, Charles Valey jun. Will. Dunston, Michael Dehuz, James Younricks, and have them all examined about these prize-ships and silver, and the States of Holland's Commission to guard these Hamburgers from the English-fleete, I pray you have a care what Bills you accept, for you will find this business will break a great many Merchants in Holland. For Arnold Brames, Esquire, at Bridge by Canterbury. MY most noble friend I should have waited on you on Wednesday, at Dover, but I am commanded by my Superiors to obey them in London; Sir, the business I spoke last unto you of, I am confident since I parted from you that I have done my discovery, we find enough proof out of London to do that business, so for the present I shall not have the happiness to wait on you, but within few days I think to receive order to come down with Master Charnock unto you, I have writ so much to master Vincent Delabar my most worthy friend, I have divers times prayed to God to make me in such a condition that I may really pay my vows, that is to give you my life and fortune at any time, in requital of your great civilities, and rest assured I do not desire any inconveniency should come upon you, or yours, in any business I have a hand in, but if God should so order it, I would venture as far as my life to serve you really, so far as the States just interest be not hindered, and I know you expect no more, for my faith is engaged to follow this business to the uttermost. Farewell, The Prince of Merchants. Your most obliged friend THO. VIOLET. Lond. 8. Jan. 1653. I sent post haste for master Edward Watkins to come from Dover to assist me in this business, about the Silver in the prize-ships, and I thank him he came up post presently, which hath much obliged me, and though the Parliament have taken away his place these four years past, yet he is as nimble to make these discoveries as ever he was, and he hath all his old instruments. Truly Sir, I should have won your wager, if you had laid, about your old friend Otho George, you will see he will not clear his Silver so easily as you think, for I have both him and others fast in a trap, and this you will find true; I pray have a care what Bills you accept from Amsterdam, for this business will break a great many there, vale. THO. VIOLET. Thomas Violet maketh Oath. THE fourteenth day of December 1652. about four of the clock in the afternoon, he met with Sir Sackvile Crowe in whitehall, he told the Deponent, that the Spanish Ambassadors business was to lay claim to the Ships and Silver that were stayed by the Parliament, and the said Sir Sackvile Crowe further told this Deponent, that within a few days he had some serious communication about the business with master Pompey Calendrine, a man he knew that was well versed in all the subtleties of Trade, for that he was brother in law to Philip Burlamacke, and his bookkeeper for all his accounts by exchange; since he had an employment in master Prideaux office, and managed the Letter office for master Attorney general; Sir Sackvile Crowe, after several arguments pro & con, the result of all was, that Pompey Calendrine said unto Sir Sackvile Crowe, that upon his own knowledge the aforesaid Pompey Calendrine knew that all the silver in the ships claimed by the spanish Ambassador, was and is really belonging to the Hollanders, and people of the united Provinces, and holding up his hand said, doth this hand belong unto me, so truly and really, to my knowledge, doth all this silver belong to the Hollanders, though the Spanish Ambassador claim it. This Deponent further saith, that Sir Sackvile Crowe wished the Deponent that he would take some order to get Pompey Calendrine examined of the truth of this, for it is of great concernment to the State; This Deponent further saith, that friday the thirtieth of December 1652 this Deponent waited on Sir Sackvile Crowe, and found him at his lodging in the Tower, and there this Deponent told Sir Sackvile Crowe, that according to his desire this Deponent would move and Petition the right honourable the Committee for foreign affairs, that a Letter should be sent unto him to attend the Committee of foreign affairs, but I would not but first come and wai● on him, to see if he did not find I had taken his ●ence aright, concerning what he told me about Pompey Calendrine; whereupon he said to me I had, and that if he were commanded he would justify a great deal more, that to his knowledge Pompey Calendrine had reason to say what he did, for if the Ambassador of Spain had not proceeded according to the strict rules of the Admiralty; Sir Sackvile Crowe knew then that there was fraud, knavery and roguery in the Merchant. That if the Committee of Foreign affairs would be pleased to admit him to speak his knowledge in this point, and they to appoint some of the Judges of the Admiralty to be by, he would make it clear unto them, and taking out the engagement, bade me read that, and told me, since he had taken the engagement, he would be as true to them as ever he was to the King, and whatsoever his opinion was formerly, he had not received such obligements from the other party to suffer upon his score, as he had to be a sufferer for his father, and if the Committee for Foreign affairs pleased to hear what he could say unto the Judges of the Admiralty in this point, he made no question but it should be to your satisfaction, and a great service unto the State, and that he would attend the honourable Committee in this business at a day's warning, and bid me return this answer with his humble service. THO. VIOLET. The. 1. Jan. 1652. THis Affidavit I delivered to Alderman Allen who communicated it to the honourable Committee of inspection, and they carried it down to the Committee of Foreign affairs, who presently ordered a Letter to be sent to Sir Sackvile Crowe, and also Ordered the Judges of the Admiralty to be there, with Pompey Calendren, whereupon the Committee for Foreign affairs examined Pompey Calendren before the Judges about the same, who at first denied the thing, but being pressed by the Lord Bradshaw, Sir William Massam and others of the Committee, to consider before whom he was, and to recollect himself well, and seeing Sir Sackvile Crowe affirmed it, and much more to be true, the said Calendren confessed he received letters from Amsterdam that did acquaint him with what he had spoken to Sir Sackvile Crowe, and that he had the Letters by him and that he acquainted master Attorney-general formerly with the contents of these Letters, whereupon the Committee required master Pompey Calendren to attend Doctor Walker with the Letters the same day, which he did accordingly. THO. VIOLET. To the right Honourable the Committee for Forraigne-affaires, delivered to the Lord Whitlock and Sir William Massam. May it please your Honours, THE seventeenth of December, 1652. I Tho. Violet came into the Court of Admiralty, at the request of the Commissioners for Dutch prizes, to assist in behalf of the Commonwealth, against all prize-ships depending there, and had their Warrant to authorise me therein, besides your Honours Warrant to assist concerning the silver-ships, Samson, Salvadore and George, in the Court of Admiralty, I produced my Warrant, and delivered it in to the Judges in that behalf. That day there was appointed by the Court seventeen ships to be discharged, containing three thousand four hundred tonns, being all richly laden with silver and merchandise, worth many hundred thousand pounds; the Judges would discharge them, and though I shown them many reasons, as appears in my book formerly put forth, fol. 75. 76. 77. 78. yet some of the ships were discharged, and though I told them, that in my eye, in the face of the Court, there were about ten Merchants, who by combination with the people of the united Provinces, did colour the Dutch prize-ships silver, and all sorts of merchandise, yet some of the ships goods and merchandise were about the 17 of December discharged. The twentith of December, 1652. I waited on the Committee of Foreign affairs, and made them acquainted with what had passed in the Admiralty, thereupon I was commanded by the honourable Committee, that what I had to present, I should deliver to Doctor Walker, the like Order master Thurloe delivered me from the Council of State, and that thereupon the Judges of the Admiralty, and Doctor Walker should consider of my Papers, and report their opinions to the Committee of Foreign affairs; this Order I received from the Lord Whitlock and the Lord Bradshaw. Thereupon, because I would take witness what these Judges did, I desired master Edward Watkins and master Charnock to go along with me to Doctor's Commons, for that Doctor Walker and the Judges had appointed me to consider of all my Propositions, and would take special care, as Doctor Stephens said in the business, when we came at the day appointed which was about the twenty fourth of December, Mr. Bacon was out of town, Doctor Exton not well or would not be spoken with, for I perceived he did not like my coming to him about the business of the prize ships, and Silver in them, nor my staying them. Thereupon Doctor Stevens moved to put the reading of my Papers off till another day, I told Doctor Walker that, for my part, I saw there was such proceed in the Admiralty, and the Commonwealth's business in the prize-ships stood upon such a point that the State might be cozened of every penny in the prize-ships upon a day or two delay, both all the silver, merchandise and ships, which were worth many hundred thousand pounds, I told them though the Court had given them a discharge, yet God be thanked they wee not gone, and that I would make it appear that a great part of those prizes they had discharged were Duchess goods, and the number in all then in England were about forty ships, according to my intelligence, and that the ships that were of the Hans-Townes were laden with several parcels of goods that belonged to Holland, and that the Commissioners for Dutch prize-good, had done well, and great service for the State, in not obeying the decree of the court till the truth was found out, notwithstanding their Decree the ships at present were all of them in their several Ports of this Nation, and could not get away by reason of the states-general Imbargo; and before the Imbarg should be taken off, I would make the State acquainted how the business was managed about their prizes in the Admiralty. I told doctor Stevens that the court of Admiralty had never so great a business before them as the Silver and these prize-ships, thereupon doctor Stevens went into doctor Walkers chamber, and I took master Edward Watkins and master Charnock, to be my witnesses, and master Charnock read over to them, all my papers, which took up more than two hours' time, I was so weak with sitting up several nights, that I was not able to read them. When they were read, I asked doctor Stevens and doctor Walker what they thought, and whether they were not satisfied by my papers there read, and witnesses, of the danger, damage and mischief this Commonwealth would suffer, if that these very ships, which the court of Admiralty had discharged had gone into Holland; and both doctor Stevens and doctor Walker, looking earnestly one upon another, doctor Stevens said to doctor Walker, what shall we do in this business? I told them that I humbly conceived it did concern the court to consider well what they did in that business either of the silver or other prizes, and that whoever had a hand in the discharge of the ships, I would call them to an account in Parliament, if they let one of the prize ships, or the silver in them go, till my witnesses were examined, and thereupon I delivered a list of my witnesses to doctor Walker, and told him I would sit up night and day, till I had finished drawing up Intergatories, so that they would assign me a clerk or two of the Court; they assigned me master Bud, the State's Proctor; I asked doctor Walker whether he did not know most of my witnesses, for they were the principal Merchants in England that trade for Spain and Holland, he said he did; thereupon I told him that I must have the viewing of the Intergatories and liberty to add more witnesses after the Clerk had put them into a form, and sorting them to such and such men as I know can speak to the particular points; I told them I must have a view of all bills of lading, and other Papers master Bud or the Register had, that this was a business I had been for many years versed in the like kind in the Starr-chamber against the transporters of gold; I told them of many defects in the proceed of the Court, and that the States not mending the proceed in the Admiralty, had given occasion to many duch-skippers to cousin this Nation of millions of money for want of a strict Rule in the court of Admiralty in that behalf. Thereupon Doctor Walker replied, the discharge of the ships was none of his judgement, the Judges must look to that, he had looked faithfully, to the uttermost, as far as he could by his place; Doctor Stevens desired doctor Walker to go along with him to the Council of state, and that there they would desire the Council that the general Imbargo might remain, till the court of Admiralty had made a review, and examined the witnesses that I delivered into the court; and that I should have a view of all Papers concerning the Prizes that were depending in the court of Admiralty. But Dr. Walker replied, that those that had adjudged the discharge of the ships were to look to the stay of them, and that he perceived that their judgement for the discharge would be called unto account, and that therefore it was best for Doctor Stevens who had a hand in the discharge, to go presently to the Council of state, which he did, with master Edward Watkins, master Charnock and myself; where Doctor Stevens desired the Council, that afternoon, that the general Imbargoe might be continued; and Ordered my Witnesses in the mean time to be examined; how well that Order hath been performed, rests now under examination, and Doctor Walker delivered formerly some of my Papers to master Bud, where I pressed with much earnestness his careful dispatch of my Papers. This discourse was in Doctor Walkers Chamber about the twenty fourth of December 1652. in the presence of master Edward Watkins, master Charnock and myself; and doctor Walker told doctor Stevens he did eve● think at one time or other the State would have a revieu, and that made him ever careful nothing should lie at his door, for he would clear himself. The names of several witnesses I delivered in to doctor Walker and master Bud to examine for the discovery of the dutch prize ships, presented to him about the 24. of December 1652. James You●ricks Daniel Skinner Abraham Stock John Perrot Mr. Buddier Arnold Brames. Vincent De la Bar Tho. De la Vall Tho. Waade Edward Ranger Dover Factors for the dutch Merchants of the united Provinces, to examine them about these prize-ships depending in the Admiralty, the sixteenth of December 1652. Adam Laurence Abraham Dolens Pompey Calendrine Anthony Ferrence Master Curcellis Abraham Culline Deric Host Master Beck Master Zion James Staniere Mr. Depester Solomon Morris John Vanderberg Lucas jacob's Master Rushiott Antony Fernando Michael Castell William de Fisher Giles Vandeput Peter Vandeput John Delens Tho courteous Lucas Lucy Jacob jacob's James 'Bove John Sasse Francis Sayon William Vanburge. Merchants, most of them strangers, dealing for the people of the united-Provinces, as their Factors, living all in London, to examine them about these prize ships. Richard King. Nathan. Wright. Tho. Jennings. Roger Kilvert. John Bland. Stephen and Richard Slaney. Daniel Fairvacks. Isaac le Gay. Hugh Sowdon. Tho. Boone. John Tivil. Mr. pickering. Francis Lenthall. Thomas Butler. Moysis Goodiar. These are all eminent English Merchants trading for Spain, to examine them about these ships and the customs of Spain, concerning the registering of all silver and other particulars of these Prizes. Ralph Colline. Charles Vale sen. Benj. Stoman. William Dunston. Mr. Culline. Edward Ash. Alderman Dethick. Mr. Jolly. Tho. Rich. Mr. Long and his 2 sons. Charles Vale jun. John Perine. The Surgeon of the Sa●pson Rich. Scott. Bernard Clauson. Philip Brown. Merchants, Mariners of several places, and others aboard the Ships Samson and George, to examine about the silver and Prize-ships. Tho. Viner. Alexander Hoult. Rob. Cordwell. Samuel Moor. George Day. George Snell. Goldsmiths in Lombardstreet, that usually buy the gold and silver of the Merchants; to examine them about these ships, and silver they bought about Christmas last, and of whom, and if they will tell you the truth, than it will be found that almost all the money coined about December and January last, hath been stolen and conveyed a shore out of the prize-ships Peter, Samson, Salvadore, George and Michael, to the great damage of this State. John Foster John De la Bar John day. Gregory Wiltshire John Baker. Authorized Brokers that deal on the Exchange for moneys. James Whore Thomas Burch Clerks of the Mint. Edw. Watkins, late head searcher of the Port of London May it please your Honours, THese witnesses I delivered unto Doctor Walker the day abovesaid, and I find not one witness produced in Court by doctor Walker, for the stay of Otho George his ship Samson, Salvadore or George, and the rest of the silver-ships, but what were my witnesses, which I delivered in to doctor Walker, and Master Bud the Proctor, and Master Doreslaus before they were examined in Court, I delivered to doctor Walker several Papers according to my Order from the Council of State about the spanish-silver, and the ways used in other Countries, which Rules and practice of Merchants I had from many eminent traders from several parts of this Nation, and from beyond the Seas, besides my own experience; doctor Walker all the days of his trial, made use of them to the full, and all the dutch Merchant's storm at me, and some of them threaten my life, as being the only instrument for the stay of the silver, and I am confident doctor Walker cannot deny it, but these Papers I delivered unto him, shown him more the present customs and usages of Merchants beyond Sea, upon the fraudulent practices of Merchants of this age, than all his books of the civil law, for the old books of that law discover not the hundreth part of the present tricks and practices of Merchants in this age, especially such cunning merchants as the dutch now are, and doctor Walker did confess at several times both before master Edward Watkins, master Charnock and myself, that for many frauds and subtleties of the dutch Merchants and skippers, set down in my Papers, their ways they have to cousin the State of these dutch prizes, there were a great many frauds there in my paper discovered, which he believed are daily used, which by the present Rules of the Admiralty the Court could take no notice of, for they went by a Rule, and if the Parliament would have those frauds prevented for the future, he thought it very necessary that I should present the same to the State, and that an Act should be made to prevent it, especially during this time of War; and doctor Walker did not deny but that many dutch prize-ships, till the State enlarged the Rules of the Court of Admiralty, have and might be cleared, and after go for Holland; and that if it pleased the Parliament to give stricter Rules for the Court of Admiralty during this War, and make it an Act of Parliament, than no man could or should make or press the law further for the Commonwealth's advantage than he would, and that I should see; and he did order master Bud to let me see what writings and proceed he had in this business of the prize-ships and silver. But as I honour doctor Walker for his great pains and care, I do as much blame master Bud for his carriage, for when I first entered on this business, some friends of mine told me they had a jealous eye of master Bud, and indeed I did several times tell doctor Walker, that I would complain of master Bud when I saw time, for several days in the Court some times Letters not translated, sometimes Records not to be found, and upon my complaints doctor Walker told master Bud of it in the Court of Admiralty before the Judges, and said that he saw the business of the silver ships might come to a review by my prosecution, and he would not have master Buds miscarriage in the business of the silver lie at his door, and wished master Bud to mend for the future. And although doctor Walker appointed master Bud to advise with me about my Papers, and to let me see what Bills of lading and Papers I would, concerning the prize-ships, such as master Bud had in his custody, concerning the silver prize-ships, and all other prizes depending in the Admiralty, the sixteenth of December 1652. yet the said master David Bud never did let me come to have a view of any of the bills of lading or Papers in his custody, though he appointed me many times to have a sight of them; and because I would be near him, I took lodgings not far from his house, in Bishopsgate-streete, and continue them to this day. May it please your honours, if I had seen the Bills of lading and books of Entries, and all other Papers, according to doctor Walkers direction, I had stopped many a ship that hath been discharged, but that would have hindered some Proctors of their fees, for I am credibly informed, it is ordinary for the Proctors to put down in their Bills, besides ordinary charges, 40. l. 50. l. and 100 l. upon the clearing of a Prize-ship to the Merchants and owners of the ships. I say if it be not prevented for the future, it will bring great ruin on this Nation. The State should find out (I humbly conceive) by diligent enquiry, the true reason, wherefore so many Dutch Prize-ships have been let slip out of their fingers, after they have been brought into this Commonwealth with so much loss of blood and charge, and blown away in a breath, for the profit of particular men. I humbly desire Captain Bishop's Letters from beyond Seas, may be produced at the Council of State or Parliament, and there you will see what work hath been done by some in trust in the Admiralty. May it please your Honours to avoid that I should not be instrumental to spoil this trade, Master Bud the Proctor, though he hath had order and himself promised me several times, yet he would never show me any of the bills of lading, or papers concerning any ships depending in the Admiralty the 16 Decemb. 1652. though I have been with him, and sent my man to him several times, to have seen how many ships there were under arrest in the Admiralty the 16 December 1652, he hath promised me twenty times, but never performed. When I went to see your Prize-ships, between London & Wollage, there went with me to see in what condition they were in, Mr. Paul Smith, Cap. Brock, Mr. Long and his two sons, all three Ship-Carpenters; and we looking both on the inside and outside of the Dutch prize-ships, we found many of them rent and torn, which by the Law, if they fought in the channel of England against the State's ships, they are prize; and for this I refer myself to Master Reylye's Records in the Tower; and thereupon I made my appeal in Court, in the behalf of the Commonwealth, and have a great many precedents out of the Records in the Tower, upon the like case it hath been done by others, to which Records I humbly refer myself. And I have caused the copies to be attested under Mr. Rylies' hand; he can satisfy you what pains and charges I have been at in that business, yet several of these ships have been discharged, and they are daily labouring to discharge the Morningstar, a ship laden with about forty thousand pounds in silver, which fought in your channel. And finding your Court of Admiralty would discharge many of these prize-ships, I appealed in the behalf of the Commonwealth, and craved respite of Judgement till my witnesses were examined: The like I did for the silver ships Samson, Salvador and George, and all the thirteen ships which I was aboard on by order and entreaty of the Commissioners for Duchess Prizes the 14 December 1652. The Dutch Prize Commissioners had under their charge a great many other ships besides these, about forty at the least. I humbly desire the whole business may come under a strict examination before a Committee of the Council of State or Parl. I humbly desire also, the Commissioners may be ordered to give me a particular account what ships were in their custody the 16 December, the Master's names, and where they now remain, and what number of these ships are discharged out of this Nation; unto whom; and the time when: And when I see a perfect account from them, I shall humbly acquaint your honours how your business now stands. It is very much for the safety of this Nation, for the State to keep a strict account of this business 〈◊〉 the Admiralty, as your honours will find upon a strict examination; for if the State had kept a strict eye on all the ships that have passed out of their hands since August last, and examined the bottom of this business, they would have had millions of treasure in their custody that is now in Holland; and the people of the united Provinces would have been necessitated to seek for peace, because they could not otherways maintain trade, and without it they cannot subsist: there must be some strange connivance with some of your officers in the Admiralty, or else this mischief had been prevented, if all men entrusted had been honest. I pray see my book fol. 99 These things I humbly submit to your honours. THO. VIOLET. To the right Honourable, the Lord Bradshaw, these humbly present. 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 Counsel 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 Captain 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, to avoid that which Otho George, within these few days, offered to do to another man (the Surgeon of Otho George ship) which hath not been, nor can be the hundred part so instrumental to entitle the State to the silver and goods in the Prize-ships as I have been. The Surgeon of Otho George's ship hath discovered the silver in the ships to be Duch-mens', and Otho George's bills of lading counterfeit: I pray let the examinations taken about this business be sent for to the Council, and that will inform you at large. I humbly desire your honours just assistance for a speedy Order about this my Petition, it being of very great concernment to the Commonwealth, to take a speedy order in it, to punish Otho George and restrain his insolence. Your Honour's humble servant, THO. VIOLET. 25 March 1653. I have heard about June last the Surgeon is dead that accused Otho George. there is no question but some had order to give him an Italian fig; but before he died he was examined before the Lord Mayor, and in the Admiralty; his confession against Otho George is upon Record, about the silver in all the Prize-ships that came together from St. Lucre's in Spain. To the right Honourable, the Council of State, THO. VIOLET Sheweth, THAT your Petitioner having by order of this Council assisted in the Admiralty against the ships George, Samson, and the Salvador, and several other ships; And that the Court of Admiralty hath judged the onus probandi to be put upon the pretenders for the said ships and lading. And that since your Petitioner hath been engaged in this service, your Petitioner hath made several discoveries of great concernment, which are so large they cannot be contained in a Petition, and the Counsels time so precious, as your Petitioner humbly conceives that the whole Council cannot spend with conveniency so much time as will be requisite to take an exact account of so weighty a business. Your Petitioner humbly desires your honours to appoint a Committee to take a particular account of your Petitioner, what he hath done since the 16. Dec. 1652. in this business, and that the Committee may be empowered to inquire concerning all the aforesaid prize-ships, and what obstructions hath been or are depending in the Court of Admiralty, and to consider of some effectual ways for removing them. And whereas there is no particular and true account what gold, silver or Merchandise is remaining on shipboard the Samson, Salvador and George, and several other ships, so that by this means there can be no account kept by the State of what treasure is a ship board, whereby the State hath received much damage, and will daily receive more, & that the security of ●0000. l given into the Admiralty for the silver and goods a shipboard, is of no consideration to the treasure aboard the aforesaid ships, & as long as the silver remains aboard the State shall never find what silver and gold shall be clandestinely stolen and imbezeled away, and if it be proved, the State shall only have parchment for the damage in stead of moneys, the persons bound being dutch factors, so that if the State will be secure for the future, there is no other course but to land all the Silver, and keep it in some safe place. And whereas there are some of the commodities a shipboard, as Tobaccoes and other Merchandise that are perishable, that your honours would appoint a Committee to examine that business, and to take order that no Bales or Fardels, upon any pretence, may be discharged till they be carefully viewed in the Custom-house, and a true and exact Inventory taken both by Commissioners and Farmers, these Merchandise, being generally false packed in the Indies. That whereas your Petitioner hath been the first, and principal Instrument to discover all the frauds of Otho George, in his Bills of lading, and several other abuses and practices, concerning divers prize-ships in the Court of Admiralty, whereby your Petitioner hath contracted a deadly hatred against him, by the said Otho George, your Petitioner hath been enforced, for the safety and preservation of his body, to swear the Peace against Otho George, the twenty fourth day of March, 1652. before master Recorder of London, and is an humble suitor to your Honours that such farther directions may be given in that behalf, that your Petitioner may be secured from being murdered, for making this discovery against the aforesaid ships, your Petitioner having for several days absented himself, both from the Exchange, and Court of Admiralty to avoid the mischief. And if the State will not take some special order against Otho George, for his assaulting, and offering to stab any such Persons that have, or shall be instrumental in doing the State service in this particular abovesaid. Your Petitioner leaves it to your consideration, whether it be possible to have your business done? And your Petitioner shall pray, etc. This Petition is referred to the Committee for Foreign affairs. 26. March, 1653. Mr. Isaac Doreslaws, SIR you shall find by these Papers here ●…sed, the true reason wherefore I do not come to the Exchange or the Court of Admiralty as yet, till I am secured against the force of Otho George upon my person; you know what I told you at the Still yard about him; I told the same things to my Lord Bradshaw 16 days ago of Otho George. Though I am not amongst you, I have a careful eye of the business, and by my intelligence see when I am absent. My good friend, that is an Art will cost you many years study before you can attain to it, and is not to be done but by many hands and at great expense: I pray let me entreat you that you would be very careful, that when this business concerning the Prize-ships comes under an examination, that nothing may rest at your door that is not like yourself: you have many temptations, and I had rather lose my right hand, than you should do any thing un worthy of yourself in this business: I have good ground for what I speak; I give you this hint out of the affection I ever bore you: Truly I am promised, from some you know well that are in power, this business of the Prize ships shall have a strict examination; and when it comes to account, I know it will light heavy upon some that think they dance in a net: I am not idle but have a strict eye on this business of the silver; you know by sad experience what it was in your father's neglecting and slighting the advice of having a special care of his person; and truly I know this very Otho George hath been in irons in Spain for his mad pranks; and though I know there can be nothing done but by God's permision, yet I will not tempt God, when I have had certain admonitions from my special friends to prevent the giving of an occasion of meeting with Otho George for the present. I have taken all lawful ways, and shall see further what the Council will do in it. About my estate which we spoke lately of, you may rest assured I will not neglect this opportunity of getting satisfaction for it out of this discovery, and that I expect and desire your just assistance in it. You desired me to send you the particulars of what hath been taken from me, which I herewith send you: I ask nothing but my own, which is eleven thousand pounds, which hath been unduly taken from me these ten years past, and I could never get a trial. If you should ever have such a value taken from you, you would, I believe, think as I do, that it ought not to be taken from you without a legal trial; pray send me word where I shall meet with you, and the hour, and I will come and speak with you; for I desire your advice about some business, and I am confident you will give it me as freely as ever I gave you, which was ever to the best of my skill: I pray remember my service to Doctor Walker, and tell him the reason why I do not, as yet, come to Doctor's Commons. My Petition, which I herewith send you, is referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs; you being acquainted with them all, I shall desire your friendly assistance therein. your loving friend Tho. Violet. 25 March 1653. These following Papers I left with my Lord Bradshaw, Sr James Harrington, and Mr Allen, about the 6th of February 1652. May it pleas your Lordship! I Most humbly present unto your Lord ship these papers enclosed; that your Lordship and the Council of State may see in what a posture your business stands with some of your Officer's of the Admiralty: truly my good Lord, the State shall find it was a strange providence that I came in to be engaged in this business about your silver prizes; for upon all the papers and witnesses, and other transactions it will be proved clearly, I, and my Instruments have saved the State the silver in the ships Samson, Salvador, and George. If your Lordship shall have the patience to read my letter to Mr Bud your proctor for the Commonwealth dated the 24th of December last; you will see I found him out at the first, and truly it hath cost me a great deal of time to tract his actions; God be thanked I discovered it timely or else some public Ministers of foreign Princes, and Mr Bud with Mr Roe the State's Solicitor might have served the Commonwealth, as some fencer's do in a prize, make a great deal of nois with drums and flags about the Streets to draw company, but the agreement was made with the fencers how they shall share the money. It is a strange posture your whole business stands in, in the Court of Admiralty; when I see a convenient time, many dark deeds shall come to light, that some men will wonder how it is possible I should ever get Instruments to fathom the bottom out. A great many things which I intended to discover, must not be seen, or known, till I see the sky clear; for I find great divisions even in your own counsels about those prizes. I only rely on your Lordship's faithful promise before Mr. Tho Westrope, that you would see I should have just dealing, and full satisfaction from the State for my service in this business concerning the silver ships; Samson, Salvador, and George. My heart ake's to see what water runs by your mill, and you never know it; the truth is all will be naught, and come to a sudden mischief, if it be not speedily prevented: there must be men of experience employed as well as zeal, for there may be many godly men that have not experience to act in this business; and where you employ one to keep an eye on this business, you will find ten of the ablest men in London, will be little enough, and you would get a hundred times more than the charge. My Lord! you have had ships worth many a hundred thousand pounds slipped through your Fleet, and some of them had convoy to Dunkirk and Ostend, and all the goods carried to Amsterdam; you have had Hamburgers, and other Hance-Town ships had convoys from your Fleet, upon pretence they were free ships; and after they have parted, unloaded themselves in the Harbours of the people of the United-Provinces; I pray ask Captain George Bishop what information he hath received from Holland, concerning several ships discharged by the Court of Admiralty. May it pleas your Honour, there are many hogs in the Corn at London, and ships so strangely slipped away, that your Commissioners for prize-good, and many others wonder at the passages. I say I pray God all be right. I humbly desire your Honour to pardon me, if I speak after such a way to make an Impression, that the State, aught to have more eyes than they employ in this business, and to make some exemplary for miscarriage in their business; and to watch to your Court of Admiralty, and all their Officers. I know this will, and hath got me envy; but when I have once undertaken a business I will be faithful to my trust; it hath ever been my rule, and I will never alter, when my word is once past, and your Honour hath laid your command on me, I shall rather die then break my faith with the State. My most humble suit to your Lordship is, that you would do in this business, I here present unto you, in that manner that the Commonwealth may be secured from future damage; and such employed as may not be so intimate with foreign Ambassador's Secretaries, as Mr Bud and Mr Roe. I most humbly leave it all at your Honour's feet, and remain Your Lordship's humble Servant THO. VIOLET. February 5th 1652. Mr Watkins! SIr! I should be glad to see you: for I am not well, and I am afraid I have gotten a favour with vexing. Truly you know what great pains and vast expense I have been at, to bring this business about to make this discovery of the prize-ships, to entitle the State unto the Silver in the ships Samson, Salvador, George, hoping now to have convinced all my greatest Enemies both of my sufferings and also my zeal to serve the Commonwealth in this business, and in any other they shall employ me in. I have delivered to the Council of State, and to my Lord Bradshaw, and Doctor Walker, several papers with all my witnesses, being the greatest merchants in this Nation, and several persons aboard the ships, and by their clear testimony, by God's assistance I will do the work, which I am as sure the State will carry by my papers, as I am sure I now write to you, if that ●hey pleas but to proceed effectually in the business, even by the strict rules of the Civil Law, and not give away their right, as there are some great ones would have them to do, and without my papers and witness they could never have done it. I find that Bud the Proctor had not in the Court of Admiralty Mr Calandrin's letter translated, and so being in high Dutch Doctor Walker could not make any use of it at that present; and about a week ago I found Bud and Roe the proctor and solicitor of the Commonwealth a feasting together with some foreign Agents; I have made my Lord Bradshaw acquainted with it: if Bud had done so much in the State of Venice I know he would have lost his head, now at this time, he having all the States writings in his hands and knowing all the secrets of this great business. But, by God's assistance I will prevent him in his designs, or any other that goeth about to discharge the silver. There are many great heads and hands a working to cozen the State upon crafty sly pretences. I find the learned Doctor Walker hath served the Commonwealth in this great business with much integrity and care and learning, and a great deal of pains (as much as a man could possible do.) And would I could say so of some others employed in this business: the truth is some men in power juggle and they have a great temptation for it by the Parliaments not taking order to land the silver in secure hands, the which is now aboard the prize ships, the Merchants by their instruments have stolen ashore many a score of thousand pounds; a great part is brought into the mint since Christmas: and all that will be found out, if the Goldsmiths were strictly examined who they bought this silver of. Truly there hath lately little, or no silver been brought into the mint, but what hath been stolen out of these prize-ships and the pretenders to this silver and prizes having got such a vast sum of money to scatter, without the State keep a strict eye, it will blind a great many, I see it too apparently: and if this business have not a powerful hand over it, to prevent such abuses as have been formerly practised, I know in what condition the State's prizes will be in. Sir! I delivered my Lord Bradshaw in December last my papers concerning this great business upon his faithful promise that I should be justly dealt withal about my estate, and that besides I should receiv a good Reward for this Service. I have copies of all my papers delivered unto him and the Council. I protest before God no man in England should have had my first papers touching the prize-silver but his Honour, and I do chief rely on him. It grieves me much to see some Merchants so desperately mad against me for discovering this business, and at White Hall some of the Council think's not of the greatness of the service and my vast charge and hazard I run. For doing this business I have made many of my intimate friends my deadly foes: for every man I speak with at the Exchange tell's me I was the only cause of staying this silver or else it had all been discharged. Truly what they say in this particular is true; for nothing yet was ever produced in the Court of Admiralty about this silver but what my witnesses I gave in to Doct. Walker have, or could have spoke unto: for from several at Dover I had notice of the State's Letter to Dewittee his Commission to convoy all Hambergers and Lubeckers, and to guard them from the English; because these Hambergers, were loaden with silver for the accounts of the Merchants of Amsterdam, as you will see by my letter I formerly writ to Mr Delabar. I protest seriously it makes me stand amazed to see what is likely to fall on this Nation; God help poor England, it is divided and falls among their great counsellors, and many of them carry Dutch and Spanish hearts in English bodies. I find some great ones of the House could eat me without salt, for discovering and staying this silver, and use all their endeavours to sting a slighting and contempt on me, with some of their fellow counsellors of State, and in the Parliament: I will tell you who they are by word of mouth, when I see you. They shall find at long running I shall see their heels tripped up, I am afraid some great ones love Spanish Gold and silver, though it be conveyed unto them by a Dutch hand. Sir! my Lord Bradshaw told me before M Tho. Westrope, that there was some great ones would hang me if they could for staying of this silver, but it was not in their power: for he would to his uttermost, do me right, for which great favour I did give him humble thanks. I pray present my humble service to my Lord Bradshaw, and tell him, next unto God, I rely on him for to do me justice, that I may have my Estate paid me which hath been taken from me, or the value of it out of this money I shall cause to be brought in, to the State, out of the prize-ships and silver, which I have caused to be stayed in December last. Your true friend THO. VIOLET. Feb. 8. 1652. To my good friend Edward Watkins Esquire at the Post-hous. in Ab-Church-Lane London. May it pleas your Honours! I Have presumed to present you with this petition, and papers: and my humble desire unto you is, that you would do me right and justice. I was required by some of the Council to present my desires to your Honours about my Estate: for they conceiv it is all the reason in the world I should have my Estate, or the full value of it. You will see by my particulars, I have had eleven thousand pounds taken from me undulie, and contrary to the law: and though I have ever since my coming out of the tower, had a petition in Parliament to have relief, I could never as yet have right. I have by all ways and means studied night and day to present myself to the world that I was ever in all my actions loyal to the interest of Parliament: in pursuance of that, I have done the Parliament many eminent and faithful services, as is well known to all the Commissioners of the Council of Trade, the Committee of the Mint, and many members of Parliament and Council of State: and now in December last I stayed the Silver-ships and many other prize-ships at my vast and great expense. For my doing this business for the Commonwealth I have at once lost many friends amongst the Merchants and others, spent great sums of money, and in hazard of my life. If this be not sufficient testimony to restore me to my Estate, and to have a good Reward, I shall humbly leave it to the consideration of your Lordship and all good men. I have in print but given the world a little hint, how your businesses in the Admiralty have been and are managed, and so for the Mint; but if the State knew throughly how things stand in their Admiraltie-Court, and how their treasure at Gold-smith's-Hall, Worcester-Hous, their Customs, Excise, and Mint-businesses have been managed and is to this day, they would say it were time to look about them. The truth of it is, had I been employed, and empowered ever since the beginning of August 1652 to have looked after all the prize-ships and had had a moderate allowance for my intelligence, I would have saved a great many hundred thousand pounds, that you have let gone out of your hands, (and is at this day in Holland) whereby this Nation hath been unexpressably abused, which without God's mercy will prove fatal. May it pleas your Honours! Let the hazard, envy, and blame be never so great: nay though it cost me my life and all I had in the world, I would discover unto your Honours the design that was laid to cousin the the State of the silver in the prize-ships. For doing this service in staying the silver I have found just what I expected to the full: for many of the Merchants in London, Officers of the Admiralty, and some others spout reviling words at me, as a whale doth water, and some of them have not scrupled to threaten my life: and they are skilful at it both by poison, or poniard: they are people that have lived in Countries, where for a little piece of money such things are usually done. I most humbly confess were I not satisfied in my conscience, that there was a necessity by God's providence which put me on to make this discovery, I should not have done it. For I feel it, I have raised against me by doing it many hundred enemies. May it please your Honours! I have spoken with divers of the Council of State; and they wished me to put in my humble propositions, and therefore I most humbly present them to your Honours, humbly desiring your Honour's advice, and assistance in this weighty business that I might be justly, and fairly dealt with, about these Prize-Ships, and the silver in them. My most humble suit to the Council of State is, that out of all these Ships that I made a Protest against their delivery, in the Court of Admiralty, and out of the ships Samson, Salvador, and George, I may, in reward for my discovery and charge of intelligence reciev all my Estate which hath been taken from me to the value of the sum of eleven thousand pounds; which is but just my own moneys, which I have had for ten years unduly kept from me, as appears by the particulars hereafter following. With this my humble Petition I have made several Members of Parliament, and of the Council acquainted; and they hold, that I deserv a far greater Reward for doing this service: for here I do the State the greatest service that ever was done in England by any man of my condition: I bring unto the State near four hundred thousand pounds, at this conjuncture of time, in silver, of our Enemy's money; which, if it had not been for me, the State had been cozened of it; I also discovered a fraud and mystery of some Merchants, which, if it had continued, would have endangered a ruin of this Nation. The Dutch at one time, before I discovered the frauds to the State, did get out of the Parlament's hands Eleven hundred thousand pounds in silver, which we had once in our custody since last August, and now it is all in Holland. For this my service to the State I have brought on myself many Enemies; so that now if I should not have just dealing from the State, and my Estate restored, or the value of it, I have by this action for the Commonwealth, made my life bitter, and uncomfortable unto me every way, and it will for ever discourage any to serve you upon the like occasion. My Lord! I do the State this service, and ask not one penny, but to have my own again, which hath been unduly taken from me, as aforesaid, upon falls pretences, and I never get a trial, as is well known unto your Honor. But some of the Members of Parliament when I petitioned for a Trial even by Marshal Law, replied, if I had been guilty, I should never need to have petitioned for a Trial; I should have had one without petitioning. A fearful and sad thing, to jest me out of my whole Estate; they not remembering the rule, do as you would be done to. May it pleas your Honour! For God's sake consider what I say; there is none in England of my condition ever did England, in any age, so great a service, as I have done, in this very particular, about the Dutch prize-ships; and shall not my faith, and true love to my Country at such a conjuncture of time, be, by such as you are, whom God hath set at the Helm, looked on and cherished? I am confident God will never suffer the State to commit such a sin of ingratitude. I dare say I have convinced the greatest Enemies I have in England by deceiving their expectations, they little thinking THO. VIOLET could or would have done the Parliament this service, I have heard so much myself from some of their own mouths; and, I do verily believ, in their own consciences, between God and themselves, they are convinced, that they have oppressed me unjustly; and if so, let some Members of the Parliament have a care when they are in judgement, Not to pronounce a sentence against the light of their own consciences: for the Oppressors that willingly do injustice, to pleas themselves, or others, that are in power, when their conscience shall check them for Oppression, may one day fall under the same affliction themselves. For those Gentlemen, how great soëver, must know, there is a righteous God, who seethe all things, and in his good time will render to every man according to his merits; and those that judge without mercy, shall have no mercy; and they know not how soon God will call their delay of Justice, and their forbearing to do men right to account; truly the cries of the oppressed are many in this Nation. May it pleas your Honours! if I may have my Estate restored, or the value of it, it shall oblige me to pray for Honours, and then the Council keep's their promise, which I faithfully had from many of them, when I first undertook to make a stop of the silver claimed by the Spaniard; I humbly submit all to your Honours. THO. VIOLET. Martii 4. 1652. For the Lord Bradshaw. An Account of what hath been taken from me, Thomas Violet, for which I humbly desire Reparations, and satisfaction from the Parliament, out of the Silver in the prize-Ships, which I have stayed, March 4. 1652. 1. WHen I was sent to the Tower the 6 of Jan. 1643. my Mother had of my Goods, Bonds and Bills in her hands, taken from her, at several times, viz. to the value of one thousand, three hundred and odd pounds; besides many of my papers, and Accounts of great value and consideration to me, seized, and many of my papers were of great concernment to the Commonwealth; and 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 been then use made of them. 2. My Mother had at another time, a Privie-Seal taken from her, wherein the late King acknowledged he owed me, for my expenses in the discovery of the Transporters of Gold and Silver, ninteen hundred, threescore and eight pounds, which money I laid out every penny out of my own purse; and am ready to make this discovery to the State, upon passing of the Act against Transporters of Gold; which Act hath been twice read in the last Parliament, and is in the custody of Mr Augustin Garland. 3. The Committee of Essex put me out of my possession of the Manors of Battles, and Paton-hall in Essex, as appears by their Warrants, which I have to produce, of which Land I had an extent to the just value of one thousand pound, due to me in 1643. and Phlip Cage Esq; was in possession of the Premises for my use. 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 of me Thomas Violet one thousand pounds by the Lady Waade, Edmond Lenthal, Esq; Philip Cage, Esq; Charles Mordent Esq; as appears under the hand of the said Philip Cage Esquire. 5. I had the Leases of ten several houses at the Postern in little morefield's, and the Tenants owed me, when I was committed to the Tower, in Arrears for Rent, about one hundred pounds; and for above these nine years I never received rend of them; but Mr Elconhead hath received the Rent ever since. 6. Some of the Silver Wier-Drawers, by their unjust clamour, caused my Office to be sequestered from me, which was for the Surveying and Sealing of all Gold and Silver thread; to prevent the deceit of this Nation by course and adulterated Silver-thred, wire and spangels, which at this day is very much adulterared, for want of the said Office; which Office for the surveying and sealing of all Gold and Silver-thred and wire, I had from the late King for three lives, and it hath cost me near fifteen hundred pounds to my Lord Treasurer, Lord Cottington, Sr John Cook and Sr John Banks, before I could get the grant to pass under the great Seal of England; and that Office made me above three hundred pounds a year, besides an house rentfree. 7. I had one quarter part of the Lady Villers Farm for importation of all Foreign Gold and Silver thread, hatbands or lace, and Copper thread throughout England and Wales, for fourteen years; which cost me a little before I was sequestered seven hundred pounds, and it was worth one hundred and fifty pounds per. an. to me. 8. I had a grant from the late King under his signet to be Master Worker of the Mint in the Tower of London, which grant was taken away from me when I had my house seized in Jan. 1643. 9 Besides the aforesaid summs, I spent in my imprisonment in the Tower for almost four years, seven hundred pounds, and could never get my cause to be heard, though by my friends I presented many petitions, and I have attended the late Parliament with my petition this six years, ever since I had my liberty out of the Tower, to have Justice, and relief in the foresaid premises; and have spent on my attendance only in following this business to get my cause heard, above one thousand pounds; besides I have spent all my time for above these last six years, in doing several services for the State, as is well known to a great many of the Parliament and Council of State and Committee for trade; upon the faithful promise of many members that my petition should be granted, and I have my estate restored, or the value, which by these particulars amounts to above a eleven thousand pounds. My good services I have done is well known to your honours, Sr James Harrington, Sr Henry Mildmay, Mr Tho. Chalenor, Col. Herbert Morley, Mr Alderman Allen, Mr Austin Garland, and the Committee of the Mint, and many other members of the Council of trade, about setting the par of Exchanges and coins, Free-ports, and several other great services I did the Commonwealth before ever your Honours and the Council of State engaged me about the Silver Prizes and Goods in the Admiralty; and this hath cost me more charge, trouble and hazard for the time, then ever any business I have done. The first thing that moved me to do this service about the Prizes, was the good and safety of this Nation; but had I not had your Honour's command to do it, and many of the Council of State's promise that I should have both my estate restored, and a good reward for my great expense, pains and hazard; I should not have ventured on so knotty a business; for which I go in hazard of my life daily. I humbly submit the premises to your Honours. Tho. Violet. March 4. 1652. These papers with some little additions I delivered to my Lord Bradshaw, Sr James Harrington, and Mr Allen. Here follow's a Copy of my Petition put into the late Parliament; which petition hath been depending these six years, and I have delivered some hundreds at several times to the Members, and could never be heard, nor I have relief or justice, though I attended it daily, being promised by several members to take the first opportunity for my relief: also a Copy of the late King's Letter which I brought to London, and my answer to the honourable Committee at Gold-smith's-Hall, when they examined me about the same; with the Order of my commitment to the Tower, for bringing up the said Letter for peace, which was before any Law was made to the contrary, to prohibit any person, to bring up a Letter of peace from the late King. To the Supreme Authority, the PARLIAMENT of the COMMONWEALTH of England. The humble Petition of THO. VIOLET. Shows! THat your Petitioner, with Theophilus Rilye, than Scout-Master of the City of London, by order of the Honourable House of Co. the 6. of Januarie 1643. was committed prisoner to the Tower; where your Petitioner remained almost four years, the said Rilye being discharged out of the Tower within a year from the time of his commitment; his Estate never sequestered, or taken away, your Petitioner having acted nothing in that business, without the approbation of the said Theophilus Rilye. And your Petitioner had a Pass to go to Oxford by the Lord General Essex, and an Order from the then-Hous of Commons, and the Committee of both England and Scotland were, by your Petitioner's appointment, made acquainted, that your Petitioner was, within few days, to bring up a Letter from the late King to the City, for peace: which your Petitioner desired Sir David Watkins to acquaint the Parliament with, before ever your Petitioner went to Oxford. My humble suit, is, therefore that Sr David Watkins and Mr Rilye, may be examined of the truth of this. Your Petitioner acted nothing in this business but by Order; and what the Parliament, or some prime Members, knew of, and did consent to the doing of it. That during the time of your Petitioner's restraint, your Petitioners Estate was by the Committees of Essex Salop, Middlesex, and London, sequestered, and taken away. Your Petitioner's Estate in Essex being by Order of Parment, granted unto certain persons (through whose informations your Petitioner was sequestered) who since the grant and obtaining thereof, have never made good their allegations, or informations, or any part thereof, although by several Orders of the honourable Committee of Essex, and Salop in pursuance of an Order of the honourable the Barons of the Exchequer, they have been required to make good their charge against your Petitioner, as by the said Orders may appear, neither hath your Petitioner during the time of his said imprisonment, nor since (though to the uttermost of his power endeavoured daily, and solicited at the Hous-doors) been hitherto able to obtain a hearing of his cause, whereby all your Petitioner's Estate hath for this nine years' last passed, been out of your petitioner's hands, to his utter ruin without the relief of this honourable House. Your Petitioner humbly prayeth, that the said sequestration may be taken off, and that all Lands, Bonds, Bills, Leases, Moneys, Goods, Debts, Offices, Extents, Writings and Evidences of what nature soever, in whose custody the same, or any part thereof is, being, and remaining, may be restored to your Petitioner. And that a just account may be given Your Petitioner of the profits received ever since the sequestration by such person or persons who have received the same; Your Petitioner humbly prayeth this the rather, for that he, ever since his enlargement out of the Tower, hath done many good and faithful services for the Commonwealth, to the best of his skill and power, as is known as well to the honourable Council of State, as to several honourable Members of this honourable House. And Your Petitioner shall pray, etc. THO. VIOLET. A Copy of the late King's Letter to the Lord Major, and Aldermen of the City of London. Charles Rex. Trusty and wellbeloved, we greet you well; when we remember the many Acts of Grace and Favor We, and our Royal Predecessors have conferred upon that our City of London, and the many examples of duty and loyalty for which that City hath been likewise famous, We are willing to believ, notwithstanding the great defection we have found in that place, that all men are not so degenerated from their affection to Us, and to the peace of the Kingdom, as to desire a continuance of the misery they now feel: and therefore being informed that there is a desire of some principal persons of that City, to present a Petition to us, which may tend to the better 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 receiv 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 sens of duty to Us, or love to the Religion and Laws established, in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof, they and their Ancestors have enjoied 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 religioussy observe, and for the which we will be always ready to give them any security can be desired, and of these Our gracious Letters We expect a speedy answer from you, and so We bid you farewel. By his majesty's Command, George Digbie. Given at our Court at Oxford on the 19th year of Our Reign, 26th Decemb. 1653. Upon the bringing up to London of the aforesaid Letter, I, Tho. Violet of London, Goldsmith, was examined before an honourable Committee of Parliament at Gold smith's Hall, Januarie 3, 1643, where I made the Committee acquainted that I had acted nothing but by order of Mr Theophilus Riley, Scout-master of the City of London, who was authorized by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, and by Act of the Common-Council of the City of London, to hold intelligence in any of the King's quarters, and that the said Theophilus Riley, by virtue of his place, did procure my Pass from the House of Commons to go to Oxford the 25 December, 1643, as will appear by the Journal-books in the House of Commons, and that my Lord General Essex did give me a Pass to go to Oxford the 27 of Decemb. by Sr Arthur Haslerig's and Sr David Watkin's means; both which Warrants were procured for Me Tho. Violet by Theophilus Riley, Scout-master, and one of the Militia of the City of London, and the parties aforesaid; and that the said Theophilus Riley, and I, Tho. Violet, and Sr David Watkins had made several Members of Parliament, and Committee of both Nations acquainted with the Letter, before ever we sent it to Oxford to have the King Sign it; and we had their approbation for doing the same; and I, Tho. Violet, did plead justification for my doing thereof before the said Committee, having the Warrant and approbation of the Commonwealth's Scout-master. Moreover I declared, that there was not then at the time of my bringing up of the late King's Letter, being the 2d of Januarie, 1643, any Order, or Ordinance to forbid me, or any other person, to bring up a Letter of Peace from the late King: besides, I told the Committee, that by God's Law, where there is no Law, there can be no transgression: and my bringing the late King's Letter up to London before a law made to show me my Rule to walk by, I being the King's Servant, I humbly conceived could be no offence; whereupon the honourable Committee made their report to the House of Commons; and thereupon the honourable House made this Order, viz. Die Sabbathi 6 to Januar. 1643. SIr Henry Vane, Mr Solicitor, and Sr Arthur Haslerig report the design of Mr Theophilus Riley, Scout-master of the City, Col. Read, Sr Basil Brook, Mr Violet, and others, concerning Letters, a Petition, and Propositions touching Accommodation, etc. and the particular examinations of the said parties, and a Letter from his Majesty to the Lord Major, Court of Aldermen, etc. and two Letters from the Lord Digbie to Sir Basil Brook, of the 29 of December, and the 2 of Januarie were all read. Resolved, etc. Theophilus Riley, Sr Basil Brook, and Thomas Violet shall be committed close Prisoners to the Tower. Hen. Elsing, Cler Parl. D. Com. I shall humbly desire the Committee of Essex to observe this; here was no conspiracy charged on any of us, by the Order of the House of Commons; but if they will read the original, they will find it, as it is Printed here in the Journals of Parliament, only a Committment to the Tower of London; every man that is committed to a prison, must not therefore be guilty of a conspiracy before he be tried, either by Marshal Law, or the Common Law of the Land. And truly I humbly take it my punishment, being so long in prison, was beyond my offence, for bringing a letter of peace, when I had not broken any law at that time in being, without having my Estate under Sequestration, or giving Mr Elconhead my Estate for his charging me unjustly, with a conspiracy against the Parliament, before the Committee of Essex, when he nor any other, either hath or can prove it; it shall be found upon examination, I have done the Commonwealth better service than many scores such as Mr Elconhead, either hath or could ever do; and I humbly hope, when this present Parliament doth take this business into examination, they will leave me to my remedy at law against Edward Elconhead, for his unjust and malicious charge to defraud me of my Estate, to enrich himself by such indirect practice; and make him account with me for all moneys, and rends he hath received of mine, with damages for my forbearance since my Sequestration, notwithstanding any pretence, or Order from the late Parliament, or Committee of Essex. THO. VIOLET. These papers I left with the Lord Bradshaw, Sr James Harrington, Mr Tho. Chalenor, Mr Alderman Allen, with the Committee of Essex at Chemsford, Mr Augustin Garland, and several other Members of Parliament. Upon the dissolving of the last Parliament, I made my request to the faithful Lovers of their Country Col. Wetton, and Lievt. Col. Joice, to present my former services, about the staying the Silver and other prizes, to the Right Honourable the Council of Officers: which accordingly they did, and brought me acquainted with several of those noble Gentlemen; for which great civilities I give them humble thanks; by whose means I sent this ensuing Letter to the Right Honourable General Monk, and presented the ensuing Papers to the present Council of State. For the Right honourable General Monk, Admiral of the Commonwealth of England. May it pleas your Honour! I Have desired Lieutenant Colonel Joyce to be pleased to send your Honour this Letter; the occasion of my writing to your Honour now is, humbly to give you notice of a Book, I presented to the late Parliament, concerning many abuses about several Prize-Ships brought into this Nation, and discharged; some out of the Court of Admiralty, and some other ways, before they were duly examined; as appears in my Book I herewith send unto your Honor. By reason of your great employment as Admiral, I humbly thought it my duty to present you with my Book. In folio (99) you shall find a particular Invoice. Sr! the damage hath been to this Commonwealth, to the value of many hundred thousand pounds, which this Nation hath been cozened of, for want of a strict Examination of Prize-Ships. I was formerly employed the 13th of Decemb. 1652. by the then Council of State, to assist in the Court of Admiralty, against the Ships Samson, Salvador and George; having laden in them many hundred thousand pounds, which silver had been all let gone, had it not been for my Protest and Solicitation in the Court of Admiralty, as appears in my Book, fol. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. I have presumed to send you the Book, with a Copy of my Petition to his Excellency the Lord General. My humble suit to your Honour, is, that if you conceiv my Petition is for the service of the Commonwealth, to have these great abuses I have humbly presented unto the Parliament found out, and prevented for the future; that your honour would do me that just favour, to send in writing to Lieutenant Colonel Joyce, what you conceiv is to be done concerning my humble Petition to his Excellency. The Silver aboard all these aforesaid Ships, is Ordered to be landed by his Excellency: and to be brought into the Tower; I humbly desire to be appointed Remembrancer for all prize-Ships, which if I had been in August last employed, the State had had a Million of money now; which hath by the undue, and careless practice of some men, been let slip out of England, for want of a vigilant prosecution, and is how in Holland. I humbly leave the consideration of the premises to your honour, and remain, London, Apr: 27. 1653. Your most humble Servant. THO. VIOLET. Lieutenant Col. Joice, lieth at the leg near the Fountain Tavern in the Strand, I humbly desire your honour to signify your pleasure to him. This letter I sent by Mr Quatmore. The humble desire, and Petition of Thomas Violet; presented to the Right honourable Major-General Desborrow. Col. Benet, Col Jones, all of the Council of State, May 4. 1653. Shows! 1 THat for want of order and a due regulation, and porsecution of the matters of the State's Prizes, and Prizes of private men of War, depending in the Court of Admiralty, divers great losses and inconveniencies have ensued; which, if not prevented for the future, will bring unexpressable mischief on this Nation, and will not only discourage all private Men of War, for continuing those Ships they have abroad, or sending forth of others; but deprive the Commonwealth of much, if not most of that benefit it might and ought to make by Prizes, which are, and have been brought in by the Parlament's Ships; which Prizes ought to be employed towards the support of this War; by which means this State hath been much disenabled, and our enemies enabled, as by sad experience since these Wars began, the State hath found, and by your Petitioner it hath been humbly presented to your Honours to take such order that there may be a timely redress before it be too late. 2. That for want of stricter instructions to all Commanders at Sea for this Commonwealth, many Ships have passed unquestioned, or not fully examined; and many more are likely to be permitted to pass, and never to have judgement in future, and you have had Millions of Treasure suffered to pass in this manner; which if it had been stopped, had brought the Hollanders on their knees before this time. When your Court of Admiralty and Officers in that Court, are not well regulated, it is a dangerous backdoor to this Nation; and by costly experience, this State upon examination will find it. 3. That whereas heretofore in the Court of Admiralty, several Ships were in question, and upon just grounds and suspicion, were brought in as prise, (but were not put to plead specially) by which means many Ships to the value of many hundred thousand pounds, since August last, have avoided Judgement and after-question, for want of strict examination, (by which means particular proof might have been in all likelihood found out) these Prize-Ships have been discharged. It being alleged, it is contrary to the Rules of the Admiralty; I humbly say, No ill customs should be kept up to endanger the safety of the Nation; for the Owners of all such Prizes, being under question, aught, by the Civil Law, to prove their Interest; especially, as by your Petitioner's endeavours, and reasons given to Doctor Walker, your Petitioner made it manifest to be the constant custom of other Nations, and that attested by the ablest Merchants in London: and by the great care of Doctor Walker, he got a Judgement for the Commonwealth, for the Samson, George and Salvador, being the Ships that have the Silver, to cast the proof on the Claimers, and to cause them to prove specially; and I humbly hope all other Prizes shall expect the like hereafter, for I humbly say, it is the only, and quickest way to curb the Hollander's greatness, to stop them of Trade, in any Vessels whatsoever, which will never be done except the State keep a strict eye on the proceed of the Court of Admiralty, during the War with Holland. 4. That the State hath suffered very much, for want of diligent and special Prosecutors or Solicitors, to take especial notice of every Prize, and for attending as Remembrancer to the Council of State, and to the State's Counsel at law; to have this don, is the work of many men, and to order all business, that so no Prize should come into the Court to receiv Judgement, if there were any difficulty, or dispute in the title, till the State's Counsel had argued it pro, and con, privately; if this course had formerly been taken, many a Prize-Ship, which hath been discharged the Court of Admiralty, and is now in Holland, had been confiscated to the State, And therefore to enable your Petitioner, to do you this service for the future. Your Petitioner humbly desire's, that he may have a perfect list, from the Register of the Court of Admiralty, of all the Prizes brought into this Commonwealth, from the first of August 1652. for the use of the State, and all Prizes brought in by private Men of War, and what Ships were condemned, and the days when, and to whom; and that the State's Commissioners, for Dutch prize-good, may be desired to do the same, that your Petitioner may see they agree. And I humbly say, until this be done, that there be some employed to execute that trust, to manage and prepare business, the Commonwealth's Counsel cannot execute their charge as were to be wished, and expected; and it is not an Ordinary Solicitation to find out witnesses, and the Mysteries and frauds of Merchants, it must be done by men that have had long experience, and great acquaintance, to get your intelligence; and this part cannot be acted by the State's Counsel: for it is out of their Cours, they must have every thing brought to their hands; neither is it for the Judges of the Admiralty, to take notice of any cause further, more than what stands proved before them in Court. 5. That by reason of the premised wants in the course of the Admiralty, and most especially for want of skilful solicitation, and a due care to see every one in trust to do his duty; there hath been about eighty ships brought in as Dutch-Prizes, and many of them shot and torn; many of them had been let gone without judgement, had it not been for Your Petitioner's protesting and appealing in the Court of Admiralty, which hath been followed at the sole endeavours and great charges and expenses of Your Petitioner. 6. That for want of stricter Rules in the Admiralty, great numbers of Prizes brought in by private men of War have been discharged, to the great disheartening of all Adventurers of that kind, and weakening the lesser; but necessary sinews of this Commonwealth; I humbly say, it is highly advantageous for the State to improve all the force of particular Adventurers both Merchants and Seamen, and to let them have all encouragement as possible may be given, for to offend so crafty and potent an enemy; I humbly say, that divers great Merchants complain, that it is in vain for them to put out private men of War against the Dutch, as things are carried in the Admiralty; and from good hands I have it, that the Dutch doth give against this State, all encouragement to their private men of War. My humble desire is, that the Register of the Admiralty may be Ordered to give me the particular of all private Ships discharged since the first of August, 1652, and if I be commanded, I will assist and solicit for to see to the State's part, that the Ships be not discharged for the future as they have been formerly, through the negligence, if not worse, of your Proctor Mr Budd, and some other in the Court of Admiralty. 7. That to enable Your Petitioner to do this business, he cannot have less than two Clerks constantly to write for him and to put your business in Order for prosecution of the business in Order for the Court: And whereas Mr Doreslawes hath a Warrant for prosecution of the business concerning the Prize-ships; Your Petitione● also desire's, he may also have a Warrant with such Instructions and Powers as your Honours, in your great Wisdoms shall conceiv is sufficient to enable your Petitioner to do this service with Mr Doreslawes, or other ways as your Honours shall order him; submitting himself, and his Fee for encouragement, to your grave Wisdoms. 8. Whereas many occasions have and will arise for several sums of money, for several meetings in Wappine, St Katharine's, Limehous, Eriff and Blackwall, and several Sea ports of this Nation where ships are brought in to send Post about Witnesses, and several otherways, hath already cost your Petitioner near four hundred pounds: He humbly desire's, that you would Order your Commissioner for Prizes to pay and issue out such sums of money for this business, as they, or any two of them shall conceiv is for the service of this Commonwealth. 9 That now the Silver is unloaden by the State, which was aboard the Samson, Salvador, and George, your Petitioner may have such a Reward as the greatness of this service deserves, for staying and getting the State so vast a Treasure, in such a conjuncture of time, or at the least your Petition●… may have so much, by way of poundage, as the Parliament hath taken away from your Petitioner, and was promised your Petitioner when he undertook to make his discovery. Every part of the premises, I humbly submit to your Honours, both for such allowance for myself and Clerks; and for moneys already disbursed in your service, and such orders and directions for the future as shall be thought, by your Honours, fit and convenient to enable your Petitioner to do this service, and I will cheerfully accept whatsoever your Honour's pleas to order and appoint; and shall diligently and faithfully discharge my trust, by God's assistance, highly for the benefit and advantage of this Commonwealth, and give a stop to many mischievous practices which hath been formerly put on the State concerning their Prizes in their Court of Admiralty. In the three Silver Ships, there is about four hundred thousand pounds, which had all passed out of the State's hands, had it not been for my Protest in the Court of Admiralty; and daily the said Silver hath been imbeziled away: If I be commanded by the State, I shall show them how they have been abused in many of their Prizes, and in their Silver lately a shipboard, which I humbly desire may be prevented for the future, for the good of the Commonwealth. All which I humbly submit, etc. THO. VIOLET. May 11th 1653. To the Right Honourable Col. Bennet, one of the Council of State, these humbly present. May it pleas your Honour! ACcording to my order I attended this day in the Court of Admiralty, to see what proceeding was about the Prize-Silver which is now in the Tower; truly the carriage and passages of some eminent men in the Court was highly prejudicial to the State's interest about the Silver; and I humbly conceiv, your Honours of the Council of State ought to have a particular Account. I beseech you to acquaint the Council, it falls out concerning this Silver, just as I formerly told the late Council of State, that, for want of a strict care of Examining several Witnesses which I had ready to produce, many of them have been packed away by the Merchants that claim; and there hath been so many delays in the proceed in the Admiralty, that they beyond Seas have had time to lay their business, that almost all the Silver shall be claimed as belonging to them of Flanders; which if diligent and speedy care be taken, may yet be prevented, and I shall make them lose their design. Doctor Walker did this day carry himself in this business with a great deal of zeal and experience for the security of the State, and made his protest in the behalf of the Commonwealth. Sir! The unlading of the Silver is nothing without making out the proof, that it is Hollanders' goods and Silver. If that some Order be not taken to give a stop to several persons, and that suddenly, they will be all sent away out of this Nation, as I am credibly informed some have been; and the State lose their Witnesses; then the Silver will be all claimed under the Spaniard's title, as now they put in their claims; and for want of a due solicitation, by knowing men that understand the secret combination and frauds in this kind, the State will run an hazard to lose this great Treasure, only by the miscarriages of some in the Admiralty. I have been acquainted with these secrets this 30 years, and there was not a Witness produced in the Court of Admiralty, but such as I delivered to Doctor Walker; it will fall so out, all our English Merchants will run a great hazard to have their goods stayed beyond Sea, if the Silver be taken away and coined, without proving it to belong to the Dutch, or the people of the Netherlands, which I had many Witnesses to prove this Silver Prize; therefore great diligence ought to have been given to examine several Passengers and Mariners aboard the said Prize-ships, before they had been shifted away by the Merchants that claim the Silver; which the State may thank Mr Bud the Proctor for the Commonwealth, for his neglect, if any inconvenience come on it. Sir! If I be commanded and impower'd as I have formerly told you, I will see a quick and vigorous prosecution shall be had in the Admiralty for all the former miscarriages, that these frauds shall be discovered, and the State entitled to this Treasure in the Samson, Salvador and George, and several other Prizes, Merchandise and Silver. SIR! If I had had a Warrant from the State in August last, to have assisted in the business about the State's Prizes, the State should have had above a Million of Money now in their custody which is now in Holland, through the connivance of some in the Admiralty. It would have broke the Hollander, and brought him on his knees, if there had been a vigilant prosecution. This Silver had been all let slipped away, had it not been for my Protest in the Court of Admiralty, about the 20th December last; by which means I exposed myself to a great deal of envy, both of the Merchants and others in the Court of Admiralty, as appears in my Book, folio 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84. I desire to have the Warrant enclosed, signed, to autorize me to proceed in this service, which else I cannot do, till I have Warrant from the Council, and so I rest. Your Honour's most humble Servant, THO. VIOLET. 11 June 1653. To the Right Honourable Col. Jones, and Col. Bennet, Members of the Council of State, these humbly present. May it pleas your Honours! ON saturday last you told me, that I should do a very good service to the Nation, if I did discover any of the frauds and practices that had been put on the State, concerning any other Prize-Ships, besides the Samson, Salvador and George; and that if I could, my Warrant should be enlarged in relation to that service, for that you had read in my Book, I spoke of many other Prize-Ships, wherein the State had been deceived, that if I did present you with any such discovery, or propound a way for the finding it out, it would be very good service to the Commonwealth, and you would present it to the Council of State for a speedy and effectual prosecution. May it pleas your Honours, I know by sad, and costly experience discoveries of this kind, when once presented, and not powerfully prosecuted, bring's to to the discoverer a great deal of envy, which hath befallen me in staying this Silver by my Protest in the Admiralty, hath incensed many Merchants, and some in the Admiralty against me, and when a joint purse shall concur together with some persons in power and trust, to bride out a business against a particular Prosecutor (as in many businesses in this last Parliament, I know it hath been, and in this particular of the Silver, no doubt but will be, and hath been done;) I shall find the Burden too heavy for my purse, except you restore me my own estate, which hath been taken from me. I desire notice may be taken, that I cannot prosecute it effectually, but at my great expense, and it hath already cost me many hundreds of pounds out of my purse, for what I have done in this business about staying the Silver Prizes, by direction of the late Council of State, and I had several of the late Council of State's promise, in the behalf of the State, that my estate which hath been taken from me, should all be restored, and I receiv a good reward for my charges and endeavours, if that I could entitle the State to the Silver the Spanish Ambassador claimed, and my reward should be proportioned according to the quantity of the Silver I entitled the State unto; the like promise I had from several Members of the late Parliament: to do leave all the premises to your Honours, and I humbly desire you to present the same to the Council of State, that my Petition is, that I may have some assurance from this present Council, that when I have done this service to entitle the State to the Silver, that my estate may be all restored, and I receiv such a reward, as may encourage all others for the future to serve the State, and in the mean time I may be empowered to receiv such summs of money, out of my own estate, which is under sequestration, as may enable me to proceed in this service. And when this is done, I shall humbly desire an Order to the Commissioners for Dutch-Prizegoods, to have a perfect Inventarie of what Ships were then under their charge, the 16. of Decemb. 1652. and at that time in their custody, and in which ships they had Officers aboard for the use of the State, as near as I can calculate was about fifty, worth about a Million of money, and many of them brought into Harbour, at vast expense and blood, and therefore I humbly conceiv, not to be discharged, but upon consideration and examination, and this you shall find agreeable to former Precedents and Records, and I humbly desire, Mr Ryley the Keeper of those Records, may be required to attend you in this particular, he can acquaint you what I have caused him to do in this business. It is now apparent to the World, what Spirit Rule's in some persons in the Admiralty, to the great damage of this State; it had been well for the State I could have been believed before now. In these particulars they had saved many hundred thousand pounds. May it pleas your Honours, if I could have had my witnesses examined, and a list of all the passengers in the Ships, Salvador, George and Samson, and where they did remain, as I desired ever since Januarie last, you had condemned all the Silver in the said Ships before this time; But Spanish GOLD and SILVER work's wonders; the truth is, this business hath been as slily carried to the prejudice of the State, as ever any business hath been, and that with so much boldness, as all knowing men that were in the Admiralty and heard it, must needs confess, that never was the like don in any Court in the memory of any man, in so weighty a business, when the Commonwealth's title was in question: and in convenient time, I hope the State will have a strict account of it, let me but be empowered by restoring me to my estate, I will find out the bottom. And if this be not done, you will find no man for the future will venture for the State as I have done, and it will be a warning to others, not to believ● Court-holy-water. If you will have me do you service, I desire in persuance thereof, to know what Ships the Dutch Prize-Commissioners have discharged since the 16. of December 1652. and the days when they were put under their charge, and to whom delivered, and where the Merchants dwell. I do humbly desire, that the Register and Commissioners for Dutch prize-good, be Ordered to give me a particular of what Silver, Wool, and Merchandise, is claimed in the Samson, Salvador and George, or any other Prize-Ships within this Nation, by any person, and what goods they have restored out of these Ships, and to whom and by what Order, and the days when; this I humbly desire from the Dutch Prize-Commissioners, because their Accounts and proceed are kept perfect, and many goods have been got from them against their good Wills, and by the Merchants Protests and Clamours; and from the Commissioners I shall have the truth of these particulars. My humble suit is, that Captain Bishop, may be desired to acquaint the Council of State with what letters and advices the late Council received from their several Intelligencers in Holland, of the proceed and carriages of some people in the Court of Admiralty, concerning the abuses and practices in their deceiving the State of their Dutch-Prizes, and what Ships have, immediately after they have been discharged in England, went directly for Holland; I humbly desire that Cap. Bishop would produce the Letters concerning these discoveries to the Council of State. There was an honourable Member of the late Council of State lately told me, that I had given the late Council of State, so much light in the business of the Dutch-Prizes, that if they had not been dissolved, they would have made some in the Court of Admiralty examples; but now he was but a private man, and he hoped I would apply myself to them that govern the State; in doing thereof I should do great service to the Nation, for it was very fit to have these things looked into. Thus according to your Honour's command, I have in this particular made you an humble tender of my faithfulness, and will, to serve my Country in these particulars, if I be commanded, and have a full and ample Warrant to empower me for my doing thereof, and I most humbly desire an assurance from your Honours, for my just and due rewards, when I have done your business in the Admiralty, concerning the Silver and other Prizes. I humbly leave myself to the Council of State, what they shall be pleased to do in this business; in the mean time I desire part of my estate to be restored, and I shall faithfully and vigilantly serve them in making these discoveries, and shall not weigh the envy of particular men, for doing my Country this service, so it be acceptable to the Supreme Power. Your Honour's most humble Servant, THO. VIOLET. POSTSCRIPT. THere hath been great store of Tobaccoes and Wools already delivered out of the Salvador, Samson and George, and other Prizes; and at this instant of time, you are about to deliver near 900 bags of Spanish Wools, which amounts to very great value; I desired particular witnesses might be examined about these Wools and Tobaccoes in Januarie last, both passengers in the Ships and others Merchants, but could not; and many of them by the Merchants are sent away beyond Seas, to avoid the examination; I told Doctor Walker of it yesterday, being the 12. of June; who said he believed many things had been done about these Prizes, which ought not to have been done by some in the Admiralties; but he would impute it to ignorance, and not maliciously done; truly I believ it was selfseeking and covetousness had a great hand in this business; and a general malignancy of most of the Officers in the Admiralty, as any man may see, if he read my letter to Mr Bud, the State's Proctor. I humbly desire to have the marks and numbers of those Wools and Tobaccoes before they be delivered, and what sorts they are off. May it pleas your honour; as no man can build a house without tools; so make these discoveries without an ample Warrant, to empower me, and to be reinvested into my estate, as I humbly desire; and then upon the peril of my life, I will give the Commonwealth an exact and a good account, both of their Silver, and also merchandise in these Prizes; and if the State do this, I will by God's assistance, discover the said abuses, and if they pleas but to punish the Offenders, when they know who hath abused them; that will do the business, to prevent it for the future: but if they be suffered to go on, the State will be perpetually cozened by these falls and dangerous practices. THO. VIOLET. June 13. 1653. May 24, 1653. For the Right Honourable Col. Philip Jones, and Col. Bennet, these humbly present. May it pleas your Honours! M R Lieutenant of the Tower did send for me, to tell me that I should come unto you about some business you had to speak with me, about the Bullion in the Mint; and when I spoke with your Honours, you desired me to draw up in brief for the best management of the Coining of the Bullion in the Tower; your Honour telling me, the Council of State had taken special notice of my great service about the Prize-Silver. You told me you had spoken with the Master-worker and Comtroller of the Mint, and some other Officers; you found them very raw and ignorant in this business, all, saving one Mr James Hore, and Mr Burch, whom you found to be able Clerks. Seeing your Honours, and Mr Lieutenant of the Tower, have requested me to give you in writing, what in my experience is to be done, in carrying on this great work of taking all the marks of the silver, and keeping a particular account of the several parcels of Silver, Weights and Marks. 1. Your Honours must take a special care that every parcel of Silver be distinctly weighed, and that no man, but such as you employ, see the marks of the Bars, or Cases, and that no Silver be weighed but before one of your Honours, being of the Committee of the Council of State, and upon every remove out of the Office the papers of the marks to be sealed up. 2. When you bring your Parcels, you must mark every parcel in Bars, Bags, cases, and Cask, viz. nᵒ 1, nᵒ 2, nᵒ 3, and so forward to the last number if there be ten thousand Parcels. 3. When this is done, you must make your assays distinctly of all Bars, and if there be any little one, they must be melted into one Bar, and a piece cut to make an assay; if you find Plate and vessels of silver, all that is in one parcel must be melted down, and the fineness, and weight, and mark of the Bags, Cases, Barrels kept distinctly; when you melt, you must weigh your silver exactly to the pot, and keep an account of the waist back, and that all the ashes be saved, and at the end of all be washed, for else there may be voluntary spillings out of the Pots, and so you may be deceived. You must have a care whom you trust in the Melting-hous while your silver is melting; for you may have a lay or copper put in, and that shall make it weigh your full weight; but if you employ Mr James Hore in the business, or Mr Burch, they are men that are very honest and able, can, and will do it justly. 5. If you pleas, I offer to melt down the Ingots, after they are all assayed, to deliver unto the Moniers, for the Fee of 12 grains upon every pound weight Troy. whereas Sr John Wollaston hath for this 30 years had 16 grains upon every pound weight Troy; which Office he is now uncapable of to execute, by reason of a late Order from the Cuncil of State, for his late engagement in the late black and serpentine Petition with some of the City. I made a Proposition to the Committee of the Mint, about a year and an half past, to execute the place of Master-Worker of the Mint for an hundred pounds the year, and to melt the silver at 12 grains the pound weight; whereas the Master-Worker allows Sr John Wollaston 16 grains the pound weight for melting the silver. This Proposition was Ordered to be reported to the then Council of State by the Committee of the Mint; and I humbly offer to do it for you now at the price of 12 grains the pound weight, and a 200 a year; by which offer I save the State about fifteen hundred pounds the year, of what the Master-Worker and his man the melter hath allowed them when the Mint goes, in such quantity as formerly. 6. Your convenient's and safest way for your moneys after it is coined, is to bag it up in the Mint; and this may be done for about two shillings the 200 and let it remain in some secure place in the Mint, or the Tower, and none come unto it, but by Order of the Council of State, by this way you will save several Fees that will run out to several people, if by this way they be not prevented. You must keep some purposely to see the exact telling the money; that they keep a perfect account upon Oath, what the Shere makes, and put it down justly to the State; by this way you may save some thousands of pounds in Fees; and the State ought to have a just account of the profits of the Shere, which amounts usually to 8 and sometimes 10 the 200 by tale. You also keep your money in your own custody, under your own lock and key, to be disposed of as the State shall see good at an hour's warning. For some other directions concerning the uncapableness of several of your Officers in the Mint; as the Master-Worker, the controller, the Clerk of the Irons, and some others; your Honours see what ignorant men they are; they may be ashamed to eat the State's bread, and are not capable of any business: your Honours told me you were sorry to see the State so served in the Mint; the like did the Lieutenant of the Tower. May it pleas your Honours, if by God's Providence I had not stayed this silver, there would none have been coined till the State had gotten more skilful Officers in the Mint; and yet these men, I understand, intent to stop the arrears of wages they pretend is due to the Master-worker, the Comptrroller, and the Clerk of the Irons, out of the moneys and profits arising by the coining of this silver which I caused to be stayed, and is now in the Tower; which will be to the Master-Worker about a thousand pounds, and to other Officers twice as much; in all, it comes to three thousand pounds, or thereabouts; When these men have spoiled your mint, they are very confident men to make any such demands; I humbly hope the Committee of the Revenue will look to prevent any such business on their accounts for the future, now they know it. Truly I have justified it before the Committee of the Mint formerly, and afore all the Officers of the Mint, about a year and a half past; That the State had better have given forty thousand pounds for these last five years, then have such Officers as some of the aforesaid persons in the mint; and this I have justified before these Officer's faces, at a Committee of the late Parliament; only Mr Hore and Mr Burch understand the business, and are men fit for their employment, in the Mint, or better places than they have. If I had the place of Master-Worker of the Mint, as the late King appointed me, I would know from any part of Christendom, what great quantities of silver is stirring to be transported. May it pleas your Honours! If I had not known by long experience this Art, your Honours at this day had not had this Treasure in the Tower. I most humbly offer my service to your Honours, and desire such an employment in the Mint, and such allowance as your Honours, and the Council of State shall think fitting for the service of the State, and I shall accept of it as part of my satisfaction which I humbly petition the State for; thus with the Tender of my humble service, I remain Your Honour's most humble Servant, THO. VIOLET. May 24, 1653, a Brevit of the Papers I delivered to the Right Honourable Col. Bennet and Col. Joanes, who several times since have told me, that in every particular I told them, for the carrying on this business in the Mint for the coining of the silver, I had given them the clearest information of any; they found it right and true, and the best way for the service of the Commonwealth about their Mint-business, and were pleased to engage their Honours, that they would, by the first opportunity, present my great services to the Council of State and Parliament, and that they had made my Lord General acquainted with it; and that they at several times had made the Council of State acquainted with my great services I had done, and that they would present my Petition, and speak effectually to it at the first opportunity, to have my Estate restored. That shortly there would be a Committee for the Tower, and then what I had propounded concerning my being Master-worker and Melter, should be presented to the Council of State, and some order taken to get the Mint supplied with abler Officers; Mr Lieutenant of the Tower said the same to me. Some others of the Council I made acquainted, that great care ought to be taken concerning the Prize-ship, Morning Star; and that I had several times beer: with Doctor Clerk, Advocate for the Commonwealth, about that ship, to have a great care of the State's Interest, concerning the Silver and lading, I made him acquainted what charge and pains I had been at in searching the Records in the Tower for Precedents: I told him Mr Riley the keeper of the Records would satisfy him. I found Dr Clerk very ready to receiv any Informati-; and I did see a very hearty and cordial expression from him several times for the State's service. He hath formerly been a Judge in the Court of Admiralty; If your Honours could get him to Execute that place again, his experience and gravity, and his care of Justice, I verily believ will prevent some former abuses which hath been daily practised in that Court, to the great prejudice of the State and Nation. THO. VIOLET. Friday, June 10. 1653. At the Council of State at White-Hall. Ordered, THat Thoms Violet be appointed (together with some other person hereafter to be named) to be Assistant in the making of Discoveris, in relation to the Ships Samson, Salvador add George, and their lading, whether Silver or any other Merchandise, and likewise of any abuses which have been in the managing of that business since the first bringing up of the said Ships, and he is from time to time, to acquaint the Council or such as they shall appoint with what Discoveries he shall make in this business. Ex. Jo. Thurloe, Secretary 20. July 1653. For the Right Honourable Col. Jones, These humbly present. I Humbly desire the State to take notice, that their business at present, is managed concerning their prize-good, in such a way, as leaves a great latitude to your Commssioners, that are Merchants to defraud the State: So that their fees in the Sale of your goods, and Merchandizes at 2d the pound, is as trifal, and of no consideration, in comparison of the perquesits and profits they may make other ways, (and it is such a BAIT profit) that few men will refuse it, to let it come to them any way; I will not positively affirm, that it is daily practised, till the business is throughly inspected by a Committee of Parliament. It is this, I am a Commissioner for sale of all the State's prize-good and Ships, and by my Interest, I have gotten my Brother to have the charge of all Warehouses, and Sellars where these goods lay. I have all Porters, Packers, Brookers and all other several instruments that are for the buying the State's Goods and Merchandise, come unto my Brother to taste Wines, and Tobaccoes, and to view Corn, Sugars, Oils, Wools, Fruit, Spice, Silks, Beads, Linnings, and all other commodities, when I have done, I will cause some people, viz. Cooper's, Brookers, Porters or other skilful persons in Merchandise, to sort the State's Wines, either French, or Spanish; Tobaccoes, Silks, Linens, Wools, Oils, Fruit, Spice and all other commodities, when this is done, I will make a sale of part of these commodities, and reserv a quantity of the sorted and picked Merchandise, for myself, or friend, who is a moneyed man, and can at a pinch lay down twenty thousand pounds for a bargain; paradventure old Mr Rowland wilson or some other in the City. I beseech your Honours to suppose the Commissioners, that are no merchants makes a sale for ten thousand pounds by the candle of the State's Goods, and Merchandise; and of some of these Merchandise, a Commissioner, that is a Merchant, make a reserv, viz to the value of three thousand pounds of sorted and Picked goods, and after put's these goods down without a sale by the candle on account to the State, for the wines, tobaccoes, silks, wools, oils, sugars, fruit, spice and all other commodities; after the same rate his fellow Commissioners sold the great parcel of seven thousand pounds, pretending this small remainder is not worth calling for a new sale, or I being a Commissioner, will either buy these goods in my own name, or get friends to buy them in their name. These goods thus sorted, gurbled and picked from the gross bulk, may be better in the true value then the gross quantity of Merchandise, sold by the candle unpicked, some times twenty, thirty, nay forty in the hundred, and sometimes where Goods are perrishable half in half, and above. I humbly leave it to your consideration, whether the liberty of sorting, packing and garbeling your commodities, is not a better trade than the bare and single 2d in the pound, upon the Reason's aforesaid. To have some information of this business, and show the Parliament the way to find out the bottom thereof, and to prevent it for the future; I desire your Honours to make an Order of the House of Parliament to Mr John Day Broker, that weekly sells the Printed Bills of the currant Rate and Price in the market for all Merchandise, which Bills pass as the currant Market, both at London, and beyond the Seas, what Rates all Merchandise bare in London; and this is the general Rule for all Merchants to buy, and sell by, as all Merchants know; to require Mr Day to give you all the weekly Bills he hath Printed for these twelv months, of the Prizes of all Merchandizes, unto the Parliament, how Merchandizes is sold every week in London. May it pleas your Honours, many hundreds of Merchant's pay Mr John Day quarterly for these Bills, as being the only guide to buy and sell their commodities by. I humbly desire a Committee of Parliament to view every week your sales, and the Printed Bills, to see what you have sold the Commonwealth's merchandise at, under Mr John Days Printed Bills, you will find it a very considerable business to understand, and profitably to prevent for the future the garbeling or sorting your commodities for the private profit of your Commissioners that are merchants; and that the Parliament see carefully for the future, that none of your Commissioners that sell your Prize merchandise, shall trade as merchants during the time of their Commission and employment for the sale of the State's goods, for if you do, you may be deceived of thousands of pounds yearly. It was so formerly in the Custom-hous, no Officer was admitted to trade, so long as he was employed, either as a Farmer, or a waiter, and it was done in all ages upon weighty consideration. This very intimation, I humbly say, will save you many thousand pounds a year, nay sometimes some thousand pounds in a week, if you pleas to examine it. I believ you have sold your Prize goods this year under the merchant's market, near one hundred thousand pounds. May it pleas your Honours, I had in Offices taken from me above five hundred pounds a year, which I bought of the late King and the Lady Villers. If you employ me for the Commonwealth, in either the Mint, Customs, or Excise, or your Prize-Office, or in the Court of Admiralty, I will in some of these places save the State a hundred times more than they will give me for a pension, if you give me a fee of 1500 a year, I will save you fifty thousand pounds a year, which you are daily cheated of; and this shall not be denied by any knowing merchant, or others that knows trade that shall dispute it with me, if they understands the course of trade, and are not biased with a prejudice against me, for discovering these truth's to the State, which in all likelihood, the State would never have known without my information. If I could be so happy to find out an old Burlie, a Walsingham, a Cecil, or a Secretary Cook, they would presently apprehend this business, as Queen Elizabeth did old Carmarden's business, as the greate●… service that could be offered to the State: there are at present as wise State's-men as they; but it is my unhappiness, I have not acquaintance or friends to bring me, to make my free addresses to them upon all occasions, for the Commonwealth's business, as is requisite for the Commonwealth's service, in this conjuncture of time; and as I have done formerly for many years with the late King and his Council. If I had had for these last six years, the same free address to the late Parliament, as I had to Sr John Cook, late Secretary of State, and many other of the late King's Privie-Counsellors; I would have saved this State many hundred thousand pounds they have been cozened of, in the point of their Prizes, Customs, Excise and Mint. May it pleas your Honours; my staying the Silver, was a miracle that I had courage to do it; considering the many hazards I run in staying the Silver and the multitude of people that had an interest in it, and had a design to have deceived the State of this Treasure and many other Prizes, and if you examine Mr Steneers Letter carefully, you will find no mean persons had their hands and heads in this business. If the Parliament read Cap. Bishop's Letters from Holland, and Mr Steneers Letters stopped by the late Council of State, they will find strange proceed in the business of the Prize-Silver howsoever, for the present it is stifled and not examined; in convenient time I may play the Chirurgeon, and probe it for the service of the Commonwealth. 20. July 1653. THO. VIOLET. S it! I desire you to communicate this Paper to the Council of State; It being for the service of the Nation. IT may be objected by some that are willing to Cavil at any thing I do, that I have not done well, to put all the Transactions of this business into Print, many things in this action being not convenient to come to public view. To give an answer to this objection, for I conceiv I shall meet it in my Dish by some that carp at me; My Answer is, 1. THis Narrative is at the present, Printed only for the information of the Members of Parliament and Council of State, and the Council of Officers of his Excellency the Lord General (this present Parliament and Council of State, being the only Judges to give me relief in my just demands) the former Parliament and Council of State for whom I did this service being now dissolved as a Parliament and Council. 2. I most humbly conceiv that this present Parliament having now in their possession, all the Silver I stayed in the Court of Admiralty, and several other Prize-Ships will be honourably pleased to see me have my due Reward, which was promised me by the late Council of State, and that is my estate again restored unto me, or so much as can be by the power of the Parliament, and to make up the rest of my estate that cannot be restored either in money or Offices; the some of eleven thousand pounds, according to my particular in this Book fol. 63. and this was the agreement and promise I had from the Committee of Foreign affairs, and others of the Council of State, besides many of the Members of Parliament told me, I deserved a greater Reward for this business, more than to be restored to my estate, for that they were of opinion, if once my cause of Sequestration should be heard in the House, I would be cleared of my Sequestration. Truly I humbly say, were I in any Commonwealth in Christendom, and had done them the like service as I have done here, and had nothing to pretend too, but this service; I have heard some Travellers say, I should for my discovery of so great a business, have many thousand pounds beyond what I Petition for as my due. I should be injurious to the Justice of the Parliament, if I should make any declaration as a question of receiving my due. 3. I humbly conceiv, that the former Council were as Factors and Agents for this Commonwealth, and entrusted by the former Supreme Power, and what I did with them, I do the same thing (with humility I say it) to this present Supreme Power, and to the present Council of State. I did them this service for the Commonwealth and not for any particular person, or for any particular man's profit in the Council of State, and therefore though the particular persons be changed in the Government, the Commonwealth is not changed, the Commonwealth hath the Silver, the Commonwealth in honour is engaged to do me right; these present Governors, are as Stewards for the Commonwealth, and if my reward should not be punctually performed by the present Power, it would for ever hereafter be of dangerous consequence to the State, and would discourage any to serve the State. I have done the State in this particular, the greatest service that ever was done in England by any man of my condition, to save them near four hundred thousand pounds in Silver of our enemies, in this conjuncture of time. It will save Taxes and replenish the Nation with money, and it is easy to apprehend what advantages the State hath by it. 4. If I had not given every Member of Parliament in Print, a Narrative of my whole Transactions in this business of the Silver, and Prizes in the Court of Admiralty, how could I put in my Petition into the Parliament, to have a Reward for my services, and never to show all the groundwork, or original occasions, or Transactions, upon which in justice and equity my Petition ought to be granted by this present Parliament, they having the benefit the former Parliament had, having by my means sowed the seed, and this Parliament reaping the harvest; I humbly hope they will allow me a little glean, it is said, Thou shaltnot muzzle the mouth of the Ox, that treadeth out the Corn; the State never had had this Silver in the Barn, had I not trod and trod again for it. 5. I have found many of the late Parliament men, and some of the late Council of State with several others, their followers and friends having relation to them, getting my Papers into their hands, have acted their parts in several Scenes of the State at several Committees, several Treaties in Foreign Affairs, in several Offices, as in the Mint, and at the Council of Trade, and at and in several employments in this Nation: which papers of mine I have presented them with, by means thereof some have assumed more to themselves than was ever in them upon a strict examination; for I have sat up many nights and days at vast expense and study to bring the State's business about; and some others by my papers have gotten great employments (whereas if they had been truly examined of the worth of themselves, they would some of them been found Emptie-beaded and long-billed Woodcocks) these men having served me as the hogs doth the man that shake's them down the Alcorns, they eat them up as fast as they fall, but never look to give thanks to the man that shook them down; being so far from acknowledging my civil respects unto them, that for my courtesies in this kind, to some I have met withal after I have been instrumental to bring them to good Offices and Preferment, they have done me ill offices and disrespect; I shall forbear naming of them, hoping for the future they will have more of Christianity than to render me evil for good; many of my friends that have been privy to their ingratitude, have told me both of their confidence and impudence in Relation to me as aforesaid; and this is one reason wherefore I Print these Papers, that these Rooks for the future may be discovered. 6. For my presenting this Narrative unto the Supreme Power, I am authorized to do it by Order of this present Council of State 10th of June 1653. to present all abuses that are or have been in the managing of the Silver-Prizes, and by Order of Parliament the 12. of July 1653. an Order to examine how the Treasure coming into the State, may be managed with the least charge and expense, and how all persons that have received the money for the Commonwealth, may be called to account; another Order of Parliament of the 20. of July 1653. where a Committee is appointed to receiv such Petitions to the Parliament, as are proper to the legislative power, or not else, were to be relievable with power to send for Papers, Records and Witnesses, by an Order of the aforesaid Date, I am inpowred to present these propositions, for the advantage of the Commonwealth, that so for the future, some good Rules and Laws may be made for the Court of Admiralty; and this Narrative is one of the principallest for the safety and profit of this Nation, that hath or shall, I humbly conceiv, be presented to the Parliament. 1. As in relation of the Silver now a Coining in the Tower. 2. Several other Prize-Ships, and discovering several frauds, and breaches of trust in some persons, to the great damage of the Commonwealth: 3. There is a Committee appointed for the public Treasury, and for the best improoument, these propositions is for them, wherein by careful managing of the sale of the prize-good, they may improve the same many thousand pounds yearly; the carriage of that business of the sale of your prize-good, I humbly desire may be called to a strict and exemplar count. 4. I humbly think that there is not one Member in the House will conceiv his time lost to be made acquainted with the several passages of this Narrative; if I knew any would not bestow the reading of it, I would spare my pains in presenting them with it. 7. If I would have been taken off of the Prosecution of this business, as some are who offered me their assistance several times about Januarie last; now their Actions are turned, they are at present for the Merchants that claim this Silver, and act the Merchants-business against the Commonwealth: if I would have done the same thing, I needed not at this day have petitioned for my damages, to the Parliament; my deserting the prosecution, had lost the State's business, for which I could have had a eleven thousand pounds paid me with thanks, any where in Christendom I would have had it paid me: but I never have or will by God's assistance, leave the Commonwealth for particular profit. Had I done as some have done, (wheled about) the State had been cozened of every penny of these Prizes; but those that know me truly, know I am of another temper; I desire all men whomsoëver in this Nation, to give me a charge to this present Parliament, that directly or indirectly, I ever for my own private use, received one penny of any man for any favour, connivance or other ways whatsoëver in the late King's time; and I freely have gotten many man his pardon, from the late King: and now I am engaged in this business, no man shall directly or indirectly draw me to betray the State's interest; if any can give me a charge, I challenge them to do it, (I know I have enemies enough, I desire them to give me a charge, I desire no favour). Upon the result of all, I humbly desire the Parliament to consider seriously, how many men would have served the Parliament so faithfully as I have done, upon the single account of acting against all Merchants and others in the World, for the Honour of the Parliament, and safety of my native Country. If this be not duly considered by this Parliament, and my estate restored, all men for the future will have a care how they serve the Public, to bring a ruin on themselves for being honest to their Nation. 8. That whereas several Honourable Members of the former Council of State, Members of Parliament are named in this Narrative, I do humbly appeal to their Honours for the particular business they are named in, for the truth of what is ascertained, both for the matter, time and circumstance, only putting it into a form. 9 This Narrative I put forth for the information of the present Judges of the Court of Admiralty, that so they may be acquainted with the several abuses, formerly acted by some in the Court of Admiralty, and that they carefully see, that such remedies, by Act of this present Parliament, may be made for the due regulating the Officers, and proceed of that Court for the future, that all former abuses, and deceits formerly put on the Commonwealth, may be prevented; I humbly desire an Order of Parliament, that the Judges in the Admiralty be Ordered to take an exact account, what Ships have been discharged the Prize-Office, by Order of the Admiralty, since the first of August, 1652. to the first of August 1653. and the days when, and what Ships were seized for the State, and what Ships for Prizes of private men of War, there is now depending in the Court of Admiralty this 1. of August, 1653. and in some other particulars which I will attend the Judges of the Admiralty in. I do humbly desire Sr Sackvil Crow, Doctor Walker, Doctor Clark, Advocates of the Common wealth, Mr Lieutenant of the Tower, Lieu. Colonel Joice, Colonel Wetton, Mr Oxenbridge and Mr Sparrow, Commissioners of Dutch Prize goods; Mr Jsaac Doreslaws, Mr William Riley, Keeper of the Records in the Tower, and all others that are named in this Narrative to declare, whether the proceed and things set down, be not a true Narrative of my transactions in this business, the putting the said business into a form being allowed me; all which pains and charge had been saved, if the old Council of State and Parliament had continued, many of them were privy to every one of these passages, and could have reported it to the House, without putting me to the trouble to Print this Narrative. And I humbly refer myself to the judgement of all judicious men, whether there was not a necessity to Print this Narrative aforesaid, for the due and true information of all the Honourable Members of this present Parliament; I humbly conceiving, every one of them having equal and Supreme Power to do me Justice in this my humble Petition, (and I pray God in Heaven direct them) that they may do me their humble Petitioner right in this cause: for as I am dealt with in this business, it will remain an Record, either to encourage or discourage any for the future, to do the State service in the like kind. In the first place, I have had constantly in my eye, in the whole course of my proceed in this weighty business, the Safety, Benefit, Advantage and Honour of this Common wealth in this conjuncture of time, venturing in this action, both my person, estate and life, to accomplish and do the Commonwealth this service, against public Ministers of foreign Princes, Judges and Officers in a Court of Admiralty, and hundreds of Merchants both English and others, as every Member of this present Parliament may see from the first to the last of this my Narrative. Secondly, I have had a careful eye, that upon doing this difficult service, that the Parliament might ( to the promise of the Council of State, upon my undertaking this business) restore me to my estate which hath been unduly taken from me, that so I might have to live of my own in a plentiful way, as I have done formerly, and be enabled to serve the Commonwealth thereby. And these are the true reasons, that caused me to Print this Narrative, and no other; I would have any that are not of this opinion know, I can keep secrets as well as another man, and many hundred secrets I know both of times past, and present, that shall be buried in perpetual silence, except such a necessity as this is, which is for the safety of the Nation, and for the saving my whole estate, enforceth me to discover them. I humbly leave it to the judgement of any just discreet or honest man; whether I could never get this my business truly stated to this Parliament, without setting forth this, Narrative, and I humbly leave it to any indifferent man supposing he had all his estate unduly taken away from him, as mine is from me, whether he would spare to speak, or leave any stone unturned, if all he had should be lost for want thereof. The whole business is humblly left to the Justice, Equity and Piety of this Honourable Parliament, at whose feet I prostrate it, and shall daily pray for their prosperity in this World and in the World to come. THOUGH VIOLET. Aug. 3. 1653. FINIS. 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 etc. 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, ᵒ Falm 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 a 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, ᵒ Plim Daniel Cornellis Unto Joos Fremont, and Comp a Decem. 10. 52 Six●ie 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 13/16 parts of the King David and lading Walter Jacobson Mr Unto Simon Clark, and Comp a Septem. 21. 52 Fortune of Hambrough, and goods, ᵒ Plim John Strother Master Unto Philip Dunker, etc. Octob. 1ᵒ. 52 May-Flower, and goods, ᵒ Portsm Andrew Short Master Except ⅛ part of Ship & goods for savage August. 5. 52 Gift of God of Air, and goods, ᵒ Plim 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 Larkins, 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, ᵒ Portsm John Johnson Unto Peter Benson, and Comp a Novem. 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 Ma 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, ᵒ Portsm 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 Garrretson and others Novem. 8. 52 Ln ᵒ King David ¼ part Brazeile-wood Unto Baldwin Matthews Novem: 22. 52 St Jacob of Hambrough, ᵒ Falm Client Marenson Unto John Lemerman and Comp a Octob. 15. 52 Ln ᵒ Little Prince ½ part and of Tackle and Furniture Cleas' Junison Unto Ralph Tomaines Octob. 12. 52 Ditto Antona of Venice ⅓ part and of Tackle, 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 Grelpe Unto the Mr for the use of the owners Novem. 19 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. 18. 52 St Sebastian, and goods John Geest Unto the said Mr. for the use of the owners Signed, THO. VIOLET. Noble Sir! I Have here presented you a true Narrative of some remarkable passages, concerning the Silver Prizes, viz. the Ships, Samson, Salvador, and George, and several Prizes depending in the High-Court of Admiralty, with some prime observations of the Trade of this Nation, and for regulating the Mint in the Tower of London. Sir! There are some men, when they behold a house ready finished, they do not at the first apprehend the several pins, and beams, and materials that makes and frame's the building; there is many a nail driven, which the Spectator never see's; the builder that paie's for it, he only keep's that particular account, as I have done for this Book, Humbly present you. I must confess, this is but a thatched Cottage, but it hath cost me many years' pains and trouble, and great expense, to present it to you, in that ruff, and unpollished shape it is in; I have for many years' night and day, had several helps and hands, both in England and beyond-Seas, from choice intelligencers, and out of several manuscripts in the custody of Sr John Cook, when he was Secretary to the late King; and since the Parliament, I have got what I could by industry, from Merchants and others, both at home and abroad, at my great expense, to make me serviceable to my Country, in studying the individual prosperity of every man, that is a true lover of this Commonwealth. Sir! He that travails far in a Winter's day, had need to be up before Sunrising. And such honourable Members as yourself, shall and have no doubt found the affairs of the Commonwealth, left strangely entangled, the 20. of April 1653. The great God of Heaven direct you to set all straight in the Commonwealth; and that you may amend what you found amiss, to the comfort of this Nation, and to you, and your posterities, everlasting honour, whereby this Commonwealth may bless God for you, and other worthy Members of Parliament, and Army. SIR! There is a Rule in the State of Venice, when their Embssadors come home, the Senate there requireth them to give an account, of the negotiations in Foreign parts, and to declare the conditions, manners, fashions and powerful parties and factions in those Kingdoms or Commonwealths from whence they return. An Ambassador of Venice returning from England, in the late King Charles' time, was, according to custom, to give his usual account in the Senate; he, after a long Oration of the power of the Spanish, Italian, French, Dutch, and Scotch-interest in the Court of England, their several influences on all the actions of the late King, and his Counsel, was required to give an account of the power and interests the English Natives had themselves in their own Counsels; to which the Ambassador replied, That the Natives themselves had little or no power in the Court of England; for though the King's Privy Council had all English bodies, yet they had Spanish, French, Dutch, and Scotch hearts, and many of them Foreign Prince's Pensioners; and the true lovers of their Country, the Natives of England, had little power in their own Counsels; the late King having a resolution to cast off all Parliaments, and to rule by his own Prerogative. The sad effects of those Counsels, and their miscarriages, brought the late great miseries and Wars on this Nation. May it pleas you Sir! I would to God some men could not justly say the like, during some time of the late Parliament: many of their Counsellors and Members in the beginning of the late Parliament speaking all perfect Scotch and Presbytery; and afterwards some of their late Counsellors perfect Spanish, Dutch and French. SIR! I say I have found this a sad truth, ten thousand pounds deep and better, to my particular estate. SIR! let me most humbly entreat you to be instrumental, with all the worthy Members of this present Parliament, to remember they are English, and to act upon true English principles, esteeming the good of the Nation above all private respects; and their faith and word once past, is ever to be kept, either with particular men or States. There was many Noble Gentlemen of the last Parliament laboured it, and studied to bring it about; but they were overpowered by several parties, and divisions even amongst themselves; if there be any that hinder this good work in your Counsels, I pray God to discover him, and to amend and convert him or bring him to Justice. That which I most humbly desire, is, for every man perfectly and freely (with due reverence I humbly say it to the Supreme Authority) to speak his country's language, perfect English in all their words and actions; to be public spirited men; that is, to study the just peace, wealth, prosperity and happiness of every individual member of this Nation; and that they study the restoring of Trade, the erecting of Manufactures, the setting all the poor on work, to the relieving the aged and impotent, even such as have been struck by God's hand, or for their country's defence. My most earnest suit to you, is, above all earthly things, diligently to prepare Ships, men, and materials for to defend your Dominion of the Seas of this Commonwealth; for without this, you, nor any one member in this Nation, can call any thing their own, longer than it shall be lent them by the courtesies of our neighbor-Nation. And what favour upon their prevailing can be expected by us from them, their former courtesies in the East-Indies, and their late actions apparently declare to every true English heart. Upon honourable and just conditions, for the good of both Nations, God in his good time I hope and pray for, that he will find a way to save his servant Isaac, that is, both English and Dutch; and catch the Ram in the Bush, I mean the Jesuits that lately kindled this fire, and to this day blow the coals between both Nations. Noble SIR! I have in this Narrative, shown you a Watch in pieces, and some of the Wheels and Springs that makes the motion, or else a Carpenter's Rule, the inches and Mathematical lines. Yet noble Sir! I humbly tell you, the showing a man a Rule and a Watch doth not enable him, without long study, tools and materials, to make a Watch, or a Rule. I humbly say, I had rather be a Carpenter by daily practice to know how to build a house, than a Mathematitian by Theoric, which can talk of an hundred things in framing an house; but give him a Mallet, Saw and Square, he knows not how to handle one of them. So it is not the Theoric, but the Practic part that can do this service which I have done for the Commonwealth. Sir! I humbly say, there must be Men read, as well as books; and many years study to do this service. SIR! I deliver not this paper to erect Offices and Employments upon the recommendations of friends, for any in Power, to make such use of these my humble Proposals, as some of the late Parliament have done. viz. To put into great places of trust, and skill, ignorant and unskilful men, or Rooks; as many of your Treasurers and other Officers have been; that, by indirect ways, have crammed their purses, and bought incredible vast possessions. Their moneys and lands they now have, belongs truly to the Commonwealth, and every particular member in this Nation, have been abused by their indirect ways. For in the late Parliament and late Council of State, many things were propounded of excellent use for the Commonwealth, both by myself and others; but seldom any thing took in any other mould, then that such, and such Members, their brethren, kindred, or favourites, must have the management of all the Public Treasuries, Customs and Excise, Prise good, Mint-affairs, and all other places of profit. And justly I conceiv they ought to have the pre-eminence, provided every one of their attempts had been just, their allowances moderate, and their whole transactions fairly and truly carried, without fraud. Noble Sir, it will upon strict examination be found for these many years, several public Officers have not duly accounted for their Receipts of money, to the Commonwealth, by which abuses of not calling the Treasurers, or Committee-men to a strict account yearly, or oftener, according to the former customs in the Exchequer. The Commonwealth hath in their Officers hands at this day remaining, Millions of money; which is as due to them, as a man's rent is due when a Tenant enjoys his Land-Lord's lands; and had all the accounts of the Commonwealth, been kept in a Regular way, the public debts might have been far better paid, and the Commonwealth have kept their Lands entire, which hath been sold at an under value above a Million of money, for Rents of Lands that yearly might have been paid this Republic, to the World's end, had some Members and Treasurers of the late Parliament been just. SIR! This Nation may be compared to the poor man in the Gospel, that fell amongst a party of Theius, who have wounded us several ways; these Theius are some of the late Members of Parliament, some Treasurers, Committee-men and several other Officers of the Public; some of them hath served the Commonwealth, as many lewd people do at great fires in Cities, pretend they come to carry away the goods that they should be kept from the fire, and for the use of the owners, and by all outward appearance in their words, express themselves to be very instrumental to squench the fire, when originally in their hearts and actions they blow the coals, and come only to pelfer and proline the money, plate, linen and goods they can lay their hands on. And the poor owners in such times of f●ight, delivering his or their goods to any that will band them from the fire; many a merciless Thief, instead of keeping this money, plate and goods, safe for the distressed and afflicted owner, carry's it directly home to his own house, and there felenously keep's it for his private use, and so adds affliction to affliction; when the poor and distressed man, knows he was careful to keep his plate, his money and some goods from the fire, but hath had the ill luck to deliver it into such hands that have robbed him; who pretended, during the fire, to be friends, but after proved Theius. SIR! I humbly refer it to you, should such a Thief, come afore you, whether you would not think it to little to make the Thief restore to the true owner, the party that had a great loss by fire, his own proper goods, so unduly and felenously detained, and if upon refusal and denial, and just and due proof by good witness, or taking the goods in the Theius custody, whether you ought not in Justice to send such Theius to a house of Correction, or try them by a Jury and hang them. SIR! Let me entreat you for God's sake consider, you having the power of this Nation now in your hands, whether you can answer it to God, your own conscience, or this abused Nation, for whom you serve, now I have with all humility, humbly made you acquainted with it, if you and other worthy Members of Parliament do not do the Commonwealth right in this particular; I humbly say, it is the prayers and expectations of thousands to have this strictly called to account. Sir! I humbly present you not with one Thief, but with hundreds of Theius, not pilfering Theius that steal's for necessity to fill their bellies, but mighty Theius, such as have swallowed of the Commonwealth's Treasure, some of them one hundred thousand pounds a man; these Theius, lurk not in barns, allies, thatched houses or blind places, but in Palaces and Lordships, which they have fraudently gotten; and almost every Parish in this Nation, hath one of the brood of these Caterpillars. SIR! my most humble suit to you is, to remember the time of this Parliament is set, the day's weeks and months run quickly about, many that have caped and crouched to several of the late Parliament men, when they were in power; now Sir, they slight and scorn several of them, for abusing their trust; for God's sake avoid that Rock which destroyed several of them, which was selfseeking and covetuousness, and feeding men's expectation with vain delares; at last the tears of the poor and oppressed ascended to heaven, and God in his good time will call to account, such as while they had a band of being the Commonwealth's nursing Fathers, have almost starved the Child; Sir! when this Commonwealth hath called for bread, some of them hath given it a Stone; when this Commonwealth hath been a thirst, some of them hath given it Vinigar and Gall in stead of wine to refresh them; many of them being men of no conscience, no faith, promiss-breakers and self-seekers. I humbly leave this to your consideration, whether these Gripers, the Treasurers, Committees, and others of the Commonwealth's sponges, ought not to be made restore what they have unjustly detained, and be squeezed; to cut some of these men in pieces and make them Hawk's-meat, they will be as acceptable a sacrifice as Emson and Dudley was in Henry the Eighth's time. Let but the State pay me my money out of the Silver I caused to be stayed, which is now coining in the Tower; which the late Council of State promised me; amounting to the sum of Eleven thousand pounds, I will find ways to bring into this Parliament divers hundred thousand pounds, which will be acceptable to all the good people of this Nation, and save them taxes; and if these Treasurers and Committee-men be angry when they see what I propound, I shall value their anger no more than I do some Merchants, and some others that are mad at me for staying the Dutch Prize-silver; Sir! I had not common reason, if I did not see and know some men have and will leave no stone unturned to do me a mischief for this my affection and faithfulness to this Nation staying the Silver. But if my service be duly respected by such worthy persons as yourself, who is qualified and empowered to do me right; it shall encourage me to proceed in this service, for the benefit of this Commonwealth. Thus with the tender of my service and due respects, I remain, Your humble servant Thomas Violet. FINIS. AN INDEX, For the Narrative of the Ships Samson, Salvador and George; presented to the PARLIAMENT, Aug. 3. 1633. THomas Violet's Petition to the Parliament, p. 1, 2, 3, 4. Thomas Violet's first discovery about the Prize-Silver, 8. Decemb. 1652. Presented to my Lord Bradshaw and M. Allen, p. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. An Order of the Council of State 13. of Decemb. 1652. p. 13. Papers delivered to Doctor Walker, from p. 13. to 26. A Letter to Doctor Walker, p. 26, 27. A Letter to M. Vincent de Bar, p. 28, 29. A Letter to M. Arnold Brames, p. 29, 30. Thomas Violet's Affidavit, p. 31, 32, 33. Papers of the Narrative of the proceeding about the Silver and Prizes delivered in to the Lord Whitlock and Sr William Massam, being of the Committee of Foreign affairs, p. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. My Letter to my Lord Bradshaw, and Colonel Morley, concerning Cap. Otho George's assaulting the Commonwealth's witnesses in the Streets, and stabbing them, p 46. My Petition to the Council of State, p. 46. Referred to the Committee of Foreign affairs, p. 37, 38. My Letter to M. Jsaac Doreslaws, p. 49, 50. Papers I left with my Lord Bradshaw, Sir James Harrington and M. Allen, about the 6. of Feb. 1653. p. 53. 54. A Letter to M. Ed Watkins, p. 54, 55, 56, 57, 58. A Paper to my Lord Bradshaw and others of the Council, about the restoring me to my Estate, p. 59, 60. The Dutch at one time before I discovered it to the Council of State, did get out of the Parlament's hands since Aug. 1652. the sum of eleven hundred thousand pounds, and they had cozened the State of every penny of their money now a Coining in the Tower, being near four hundred thousand pounds, bade it not been for Tho. Violet, p. 61. as appears by this Narrative. An account of my Estate taken away from me by the late Parliament, p. 63, 64, 65. Thomas Violet's Petition to the late Parliament, p. 67, 68 A Copy of the late King's Letter to the Lord Major and City of London, p. 69, 70. Several transactions that followed thereupon, p. 70, 71, 72. Upon the dissolving of the late Parliament, I made my Addresses to Colonel Wetton and Lieutenant Colonel Joice, to present my former services to the Honourable Council of Officers, which accordingly they did, 73. Thomas Violet's Letter to the Right Honourable General Monk, Admiral of the Commonwealth of England, Apr. 27. 1653 p. 73, 74, 75. Tho. Violet's humble Desire and Petition to the Right Honourable Major General Desborrow, Colonel Bennet and Colonel joan's, May 4. 1633. p. 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80. Tho. Violet's Letter to the Right Honourable Colonel Bennet, humbly desiring him to acquaint the Council of State with the contents, p. 80, 81, 82. Papers delivered to the Right Honourable Colonel Jones and Colonel Bennet, concerning several Prize-Ships, p. 83, 84. setting forth, it is now apparent what Spirit Rules in some Persons in the Admiralty, to the great damage of the State, p. 85. as appears by Cap. Bishop's Letters, p. 86. and that Covetousness and Selfseeking hath betrayed many of the State's Priz-Ships, Silver and goods in the Admiralty, p. 87, 88 My Letter to the Right Honourable Colonel Jones and Colonel Bennet, concerning the best ways for the State, both for the least charge and keeping the particular account of every parcel of Silver taken out of the Samson, Salvador and George ships, p 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93. An Order of the Council of State, June 10. 1653. to Tho. Violet, to discover to the Council, what abuses have been acted in the managing of their Prizes, and their lading either Silver or Merchandise, since the bringing up the State's Prizes, p. 94. Thereupon I drew the Draught of the Paper for the Parliament, setting forth several abuses concerning the management of the State's Prizes, and to prevent the like for the future, and to call some that have abused them to account, p. 94, 95, 96, 97, 98. Several reasons which did induce me to Print this Narrative, p. 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106. AN INDEX OF Such Papers as I presented to the PARLIAMENT the 15. February 1652. AN Answer of the Corporation of Moniers to Peter Blondeau. Tho. Violet's Letter to Mr John Benfield. pag. 1, 2. The Corporation of Monier's Letter to Tho. Violet. p. 3. Peter Blondeau's Representation as a Warning, touching several Disorders happening by money illfavoredly coined, p. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Peter Blondeau's humble Memorandum for the prevention of many abuses concerning Coins, and will cost no more than the ordinary unequal Coin which is used now, p. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. An Order of the Committee of the Mint, 14 June 1651, for a trial of making money by the Moniers and the Frenchman, p. 21. The humble Proposition of the Provest and Moniers of the Mint to Sr James Harrington Chairman of the Committee of the Mint, p. 22, 23. The 8 of May 1651, the Committee ordered the Frenchman and Ramadge that worked for the English to make their triel. p. 24. The Provest and Monier's answer to the objections of Peter Blondeau, p. 26, 27, 28, 29. The Provest and Moniers humbly desire a Law to be made for the discovering and punishing all Transporters of Money, according to the Certificate of the chief Officers of the Mint, 20 Decemb. 1647, p. 32, 33, 34. A Letter of the Provest and Moniers to Tho. Violet, to desire him to Petirion, in their behalf, the Committee of the Mint for an allowance of eigbtic seven pounds 18 5d for their trial with the Frenchman, 37, 38. The names of the Moniers and Laborers working in the Mint, the 27 June 1652, p. 40, 41. A Letter from Transmarine parts, setting out the abuses acted on the Coins and Bullion of England, p. 45. In France they have Courts of Record for the Regulating their moneys, such a Court ought to be set up in England, and strict Laws made, and men appointed to see them put in execution, p. 49, 47. A greater quantity of English money counterfeited and made forth of the Mint, then is coined in the Tower, for the last six years, p. 48, till I caused the Prize-silver to be stayed in Decemb. 1652. The great mischiefs that is befallen them in Ireland by light and clipped money; some Goldsmiths and others in London and Bristol the chief autors of this mischief, to have the bottom found out, p. 49 Against culling and melting down of English money, p. 50. The great mischiefs several Exchanging Goldsmiths in Lombardstreet do the State, p. 50. The mischiefs that come to England by the late King's setting up several Mints at Bristol, Shrewsburie, York, Oxford, Carlisle, p. 52. Against the making Gold and Silver Thread in England, being A great consumption of the Treasure, p. 54. Several Orders of Parliament for passing the Act against Transporters of Gold and Silver, p. 55, 56, 57, and proceed of the Committees about the same. The inconveniences of Rasing money, p. 59, 60, 61. A Warrant of the Council of State to search for Silver stolen out of the Prize-ships, p. 67. Tho. Violet's Letter to the Dutch-prize Commissioners, p. 67, 68, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74. The Dutch Skippers will swear any thing to deceiv the State of their Prizes, p. 75 Tho. Violet's proceeding in the Court of Admiralty, the first time be attended that business, showing the Court several reasons against the discharge of the Prize-ships, till all his Witnesses were examined, p. 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80. The damage arising to this Commonwealth by their delay of examining of Witness giving their Dutch-claimers time to forge any claims, p. 81. The Dutch Factors in London deeply engaged to get this silver and prizes out of the State's hand, p. 81, several Expresses sent to Spain by the Merchants to get the Spaniards to claim this silver, with the reasons to induce the Dutch to do it, p. 82, 83. Tho. Violet, greatly feareth things are not fairly carried by some in Doctor's Commons, p. 82 All the Silver aboard Otho George taken in by night in Spain, p. 82, 83. Otho George a more dangerous enemy than is easily apprehended, p. 83, 84. In the Ship Peter so much money claimed by the Merchants, that there is not half the silver found as is claimed. p. 86. Tho. Violet attended the Lord chief Justice Rolls about this business, he being then Lord Precedent of the Council; who upon perusal of his Papers did great commend Tho. Violet for his care of the safety of this Commonwealth, and the 13 Jan. 1653, his Lordship presented the many services I had done the Commonwealth, to the Council of State in staying the Prize-silver, p. 86. Mr Hill and Mr Wilson, two of the Commissioners of prize-good, told me, they were Merchants, and had their estates in Spain, and would appear no further, without they could get an Act of Parliament to indemnify them p 89, so that had I not put in my Protest, though Commonwealth had lost all the Prizes and Silver, p. 89. My Letter and Postscript to Mr David Bud, 24 Dec. 1652, wherein I earnestly press him not to betray his Trust; and that if he did not mend for the future, I would present him and his actions to the judgement of the Parliament; who, if they bade not been dissolved as they were, would have made Mr Bud, and some others in the Admiralty, examples: this Parliament, I hope, will call them to a strict account; for it concerns the safety of the Nation, to watch well the actions of some in the Admiralty, p. 90, 91. A List of the Ships p. 99 Queen Elisabeth's quarrel with the Hans Towns, p. 99 The Jesuits work to set England and Holland by the Ears to destroy them both, p. 100, 101, 102, 103. Tho. Violet desire's the Commissioners for prize goods may be ordered to deliver to the Parliament a List of all ships discharged, and the day when sent, 16 of Decemb. 1652. p. 107. A Letter of the Prize-Commissioners to Mr Thurloe, Secreatarie to the Council of State, declaring, that they they have found Tho. Violet very active and knowing in making these discoveries of the Prizes, both for the Silver and Goods; and that Tho. Violet had done the Commonwealth several good and great services in the business of the Prizes; and desire's Mr Thurloe to present the same to some of the Council of State, with the Tender of their services, p. 108, 109. Tho. Violet's Petition to the Council of State, referred to the Council of Trade, p. 156, 157. Order of the Council of State for to consider of the ways to set the mint on work, and to take some course for the hindering the Transporting Gold and Silver, p. 161. The Propositions of Tho. Violet to the Committee for the Mint, and removing of abuses practised on the Coin and Bullion of the Nation, p. 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168. Another Proposition of Tho. Violet for setting the Mint on work, and saving the State fifteen hundred pounds a year, of what they have allowed the Master-Worker of the Mint on his accounts; ordered by the Committee to be reported to the Council of State, p. 169, to 172. Several orders of the Committee of the Mint about a Trial with Peter Blondeau the Frenchman, p. 173, 174, 175, 176. An Order of the Committee of the Mint, to have the Transporters of Gold or Silver, and all unlawful buying and selling Gold or Silver, or Culling and Melting down the Currant Silver, excepted out of the General Pardon, 24 Jan. 1652, p. 173. Tho. Violet's brief observations of what hath been Acted at the late Council of Trade, from tha 20 Aug. 1650, to the last of December 1651, viz. p. 177, 178, 179, 180. I desire you to take notice, that I being surprised in time, for the sorting of my Papers, and using several Printers for the Expedition, some of my Papers have been misplaced and twice printed, through the neglect of those I entrusted in this business; Which I hope will be no trouble to the judicious that read's them. Also I desire, what literal faults they read may be amended by their Pens; which shall oblige me, if God send me health, and as I see this well taken, to present to your Honours a further addition, in this nature, for the service of this Nation. FINIS.