THE ANSWER of Captain STEPHEN RICH, Commander of the STATE Packet barks, and Post-Master of Dublin, to a scandalous Information of Evan Vaughan, late Post-Master of the same City.  
1. THat on the third of July 1646. a Packet of Letters were delivered unto Captain Stephen Rich, by Captain matthew Wood, to be transported from Ireland to the Parliament of England, with Order for all possible diligence, and dispatch, intimating that the Letters were of great concernment touching the Publick-weale and safety of both kingdoms, but most in Particular concerning the sad condition of the godly and well-affected English Protestants in Dublin, that Captain Rich out of distrust, that something might be written to his disadvantage, did break open that Packet, and did not deliver the Letters, but threw them behind his cabin where being found by some well-affected of the Company they took Copies of them, which I humbly present to your honours view.  
To the first this defendant saith;  
That he was not Post-master at the same time when Captain matthew Wood delivered to this Defendant the Letters in the Information mentioned, or intended and therefore conceiveth himself under favour not to be chargeable therewith, and humbly prayeth the Judgement of this honourable Committee, whether he shall be compelled to make any further Answer to this particular Charge, being charged against him, as a misdemeanour in his employment before he had it; Howsoever he this Defendant, for full satisfaction of this honourable Committee, saith and acknowledgeth, That true it is, that about that time he received some Letters from Captain Wood, which he desired might be sent according to the direction thereof; Whereupon this Defendant out of his forwardness to further any matter conducing to the good of the State, did promise to give them the same Conveyance with his own Letters. At which time this Defendant having Order to observe the Command of colonel Mitton, was at his arrival at Holy-head sent for into Carnarvan-shire, where he was forced to attend his duty, whereby he was constrained to commit the Conveyance of the said Letters with his own Letters, to the Care of the Master of the Ship, and the Minister men found honest in as great a trust, to be sent by the first opportunity, that could be, no Post being then settled at Holy-head. But this Defendant doth deny that he broken open any of the said Letters delivered to him by the said Captain Wood, or had any distrust that any thing was written therein to his disadvantage, nor had he any cause so to do, and faith that if any of the said Ships Company did open any of the said Letters, or took any Copies thereof, the same is altogether unknown unto him, this Defendant; neither did, or doth he this Defendant know what any of the said Letters did concern. And truly if the party who pretends to be privy thereunto had acquainted him this Defendant therewith, he this defendant would have examined the same, and punished the Offenders, and therefore conceives the said party was much to blame to conceal the same all this while, being three years, if he knew the State was concerned therein. And also hopeth, that he shall not suffer for any miscarriage therein, it being in his absence during his employment in the public business, he having done his uttermost endeavour for the Conveyance thereof:  
2. That in August 1647. captain Rich came to Holy-head with the Post-Barque where a Packet from the Parliament stayed for transportation but he left the Packet there, and went with the bark to Chester water upon his own occasions, by which means the States service was neglected, and the bark like to be lost.  
To the second Charge, this defendant saith, that about the time therein mentioned, he this Defendant was at Holy-head, to see if there were any Packet there from the State, and finding none, but only the ordinary Letter Packet in a leather bag, This Defendant conceived it his duty rather to go to Chester to see if Master Walley, the States Agent had any service to command him for the public, then to return only with the Merchants Letters, which this Defendant then left to be carried by another bark, then bound for Dublin from Holy-head. But this Defendant denieth that he went to Chester-water upon his own occasions, or otherwise then upon the discharge of the duty of his place for the public service, wherein if his bark had miscarried, this Defendant must have born the loss of it himself.  
3. That in October 1648. The barks was Commanded by colonel Jones for Chester-water to bring over the Packets, but contrarily went to Holy-head, where the Master took a freight, and returned to Dublin without a Packet, by which means the Packet were left at Chester, The governor wanting his Intelligence to the great prejudice of the State.  
To the third Charge this defendant saith that at the time therein mentioned the Stage was settled at Holyhead, and the Packets there constantly received. So as their is no probability, that the States Letters should be stayed at Chester for the Post barks to carry them, when of course they were to be sent by Land to Holyhead.  
4. That in December 1648. The Informat delivered a Packet to daniel Nixon the Master of the Post bark, with Command from the governor to go for Chester-water withall possible expedition, but Nixon contrary to Order lost that Night tide, being then busy about affairs for Captain Rich or his own advantage, the bark being laden with heavy goods could not get off till full Sea, whereof the Informat getting knowledge in the next Morning, and perceiving the bark was bound for Holy-head, was compelled to sand the Packet aboard, Captain clerk then riding in the Bay of Dublin, to the hazard of losing both Packet and Boatemen by stormy weather, which if the Informat had not done the State might have lost that Intelligence, the pirates being then busy at Sea.  
To the Fourth he this defendant saith, That he doth not know of any loss of a tide as thereby is pretended, nor that his Master the said Nixon lost his tide or neglected any Commands from colonel Jones, and faith he was not engaged to receive Commands from the Informer, nor did his Instructions require him to attend the private but the public Packet, yet in case that part of the Information had been true, the Informer confesseth the weather grew foul, and the pirates did infest the passage, which might be good Inducements to the Master at that time, not to run head long into danger, and this defendant saith he doth not know that Nixon was then busied about any of the affairs of this Defendant.  
5. That not long after Captain Rich should have sent the Post bark to Chester; but for his own advantage without this Informates knowledge sent her to Holy-head to unlade goods kept aboard her two months, and left the Packet behind, and stayed at Holy-head three weeks and went thence to Chester, and loaded with coals, and thence returned with the Packet of the 16 of January, and put in again to Holy-head the Wind being faire and took in more goods, by which means the bark was taken, the Packet lost and those aboard undone.  
To the Fifth charge this Defendant saith, He knoweth nothing thereof, he being then here attending the State, neither did he ever hear that colonel Jones did Command the barks for Chester-water, and saith he conceiveth it was his duty to deliver the Packets at Holy-head, only since the Stage was there settled, and saith if the then Master of the said bark did in his this Defendants absence any of the matters herein charged as against this defendant, the same was without his this Defendants knowledge or privity, and this Defendant is thereby become a great sufferer in the loss of his bark, which cost him as much as a whole years wages amount unto, and as to the Prejudice pretended to be done to the Publicks service in any of the particulars here complained of, this Defendant hopeth it shall be taken as in truth it is a mere surmise of his adversaries to supplant him in his employment. Since neither Lieutenant general Jones nor Master Walley did ever question the same to this Defendants knowledge, nor acquainted this Defendant therewith, or complained to the State therein, but on the contrary have given Testimony of this Defendants readiness and diligence at all times to observe their Commands. Vide their Certificates.  
6. That the several Packets of the 6.13 20. and 27. of Feburary 1648. Did not arrive at Dublin till the 23 of April 1649. For want of a Post bark to transport them, notwithstanding the said Rich being bound at all times to have a bark in reachnesse for the service.  
As to the Sixth, charge as to the long stay of the several Packets therein men●i●ned this Defendant saith they were only the Merchants Packets, and howsoever could not receive a quicker conveyance from this Defendant, if he would have taken upon him the carriage thereof out of courtesy as formerly, for that both the Defendant barks, as well, as that which the Informers have newly hired for his own use, were all three taken, One of this Defendants barks called the Hare being carried to Wexford, and the other a Catch called the jacob in Dublin, being carried to the Isle of Man. Whereupon this Defendant bought the Catch again, and provided the Speedwell into the Hares place, both which do constantly attend the States service, as appeareth by both the Masters Oaths herewith presented. Vide the Affidavits.  
7. That Captain Rich, did contract with the State to keep two able barks for their service only, but did keep but one for fourteen months together, yet hath received his whole stipend for two, and that one bark did make but one Voyage in the States service from the 30. of September 1648. to the eight of April 1649. And whereas the said barks should at all times be in readiness for the States service, and at no time unballanced, or laden and cumbered with Merchants goods, and yet whither he had one or two, they were always unballasted of purpose to take in Merchants goods or coals for his own best advantage.  
To the seventh charge this Defendant saith, That he ever kept two sufficient barks for the use of the State, save only in that time that both his said barks were carried away as aforesaid and then he provided two barks for the said Service withall the expedition he could, but denieth that the same were unballanced at any time when there was occasion to use them for the States service, and as to that part of the charge concerning taking in of Goods aboard, this Defendant humbly offereth and saith, that although it bring in no profit to the Owner, yet it was never denied the Servant, that whilst the barks did attend, and before the Packet came to hand the men might take in some trunks or Goods, which perhaps might produce for their advantage, and encouragement, sometimes ten shillings, or more or lesser as occasion offered; And the same was the Informers own practise in Master Witherings time, when he hired barks for the Merchants Letters as by the Contracts may appear, and thought sometimes, when the barks go for Chester-water, and the Packets were not ready, the Barques-night take in some coals to pleasure this Defendant, or some Friends, yet was no prejudice done thereby to the States Service, as by Master Wallyes Letter to Master Frost, ready to be produced may appear.  
All which this Defendant by way of answer to the said Information humbly offereth to the Grave Conside●ation of this Honourable Committee, and humbly craveth the Judgement thereof, he having always upon all occasions used his utmost diligence to perform the duty of his place, and you having received frequent testimonies of his care and faithfullnensse therein, from Lieutenant general jones, and also from charles Walley the States on this side, and therefore hopeth, that this Accusation, contrived merely by the Informer to supplant this defendant in his employment shall receive no favourable Construction.  
 
Right Honourable,  
IN addition to what is further offered in other my Letters of this Date, I make bold herein to represent the great neglect of transmitting hither in convenient time, Letters that concern us here, which is a very great disadvantage to the service, besides what others thereby suffer in their private Interests, opportunity for passages have been let slip whereby we have heard nothing thence sometime in a month together, During Captain Stephen Rich his attendance here, it hath been otherwise, whom I desire to be speedily dispatched hither for looking after that employment wherein he is interested, he hath been one very forward and diligent in your service here, therein deserving much favour and encouragement, This I make bold to offer to your Honours Consideration together with what is in my former Letters offered tending to the advantage of the State, and their Interests here, So remaining,  
Dublin Novem. 10. 1647. Your Honours humble and faithful Servant, Mich: jones.  
To the Right Honourable the Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby-house these.   

Nono Die mensis Novembris, Anno Dom. 1648. 
 May it Please your Honours,  
WEe whose names are subscribed having all good e●perience and knowledge of the good Service performed by Captain Stephen Rich, in these parts for the Parliament, who hath been much employed and trusted therein, do humby certify, That in the time of our tedious Leigure at Chester, being necessitated of a vessel to guard the River against the City without which wee could not have kept the City from relief, Wee entreated Captain Rich to furnish a galley speedily which he suddenly performed, by repairing and trimming up of an old bottom of a vessel, And for the defraying the Charge thereof, Directions was sent forth to the Sequestrators of Wirrall hundred, who having not moneys in their hands to pay for the same, the said Captain out of his good affection and forwardness to the service, laid out his own money, and bought all necessaries thereto, as Dales, Iron bolts, Anchors, Cables, sails, Ropes, Masts, Pitch, tar, and Oacum, caused his own Carpenter to work upon her, besides his own extraordinary care and pains therein, Fitted likewise about thirty men aboard with arms, Ordnance, Powder and shot, without any charge at all to a Country, and as yet hath not received for all his said extraordinary cost, care, and pains, any satisfaction towards his said disbursements, As by the Certificate from the Sequestrators to whom our Warrant aforesaid was directed appeareth, besides, he was very faithful and Serviceable with his men upon the Land, both when we made our battery, against the City walls, and storming the same, to the hazard of his own life, and loss of some of his men. As also at all other times when he was required did much good service, by managing and maintaining the Bridge of Boats over the River, which was very advantageous to the present Service; For all which, as he affirmeth to us, and wee verily believe hath not received any satisfaction. And we make bold further to certify, that in all the time of his very near three years service, we never had any complaint of the country of any injury done by him or his men, So that we can do no less, his service being such, and charge so great but represent it to your Honours, Humbly leaving his merits and rewards unto your more mature consideration.  


Tho. Stanley.  
Robert Duckenfield.  
J. Bruen.  
Henry Birkhened.  
William Daneis.  
Roger Wilbraham. vid.  
Ro. Gregge.  
Edward Bradshaw.     

Worthy Sir,  
THese Lines are onely to prosent my thanks and service to you, having the opportunity of so good conveyance, as the bearer, my good friend, Captain Stephen Rich, one that in all the time of my employment, I have observed, that at all times, upon all occasions, for the public Service of the State, and to expedite the Service of Ireland, no man more industrious and forward then he, and since he had the absolute interest and command of the Post barks. For the Conveyance of the States Packets, there hath been no neglect or loss of time, nor cause of Complaint and if his occasions may have the countenance of your favour: I presume the merit of his good service will be your inducement to do him good. Sir, I confess, I am too prodigal of your favour, and too uncivil to trouble you for myself and friends, but I presume your goodness will forgive it in him that will ever remain  
16. August 1649. Your most thank-full faithful servant, Cha. Walley.  
For my most worthy friend gualther Frost Esquire, Secretary to the right Honourable, the great council of State.