Dangos 2887 canlyniad

The soil of the Lordship of Denbigh has of late years brought forth more disasters than ever before. In Llanrwst, a village near 'my' door, the constable of the said town and a tenant of 'mine', has been murdered in his own house, striving to keep the peace, by a company of 'swagrynge gent.' ; whereof the copy of the examinations, already taken, will more at large inform Townshend. Has committed three of the principal offenders to gaol; the rest have fled the country, but has issued warrants for their apprehension. Awaits his instructions in the matter. Overleaf: Partial statement of the case referred to above, in which Thomas Wynn, Piers Salusbury and Owen Wynn are involved.

Particulars of legal matters. Mr Budd cannot pass Wynn's leases as yet. Doctor Merricke's and Thomas Price's suits. Has received £100 of Mr Worrall, by appointment of Robert Vaughan, drover, and £116 of one Webbe, a carrier of Norwich; has paid the money to Ellis Wynn, at Mr John Hare's direction. Has obtained time for Wynn to pay the Privy Seals, until the first day of next term; for he understands that the drovers will leave money here to pay them all; towards which payment the writer has received £ 40 of Mr Hugh Midleton. Has called on Mr Richard Gwynne, the Auditor's man, to procure Wynn's bond. Account of moneys paid and remaining 'this last of November.'.

Desiring him to go to Mr Langford, who dwelt lately at Rithyn, and ask for a note of a certain mortgage on lands of William Lloyd alias Rosyndall, deceased.

Respecting the marriage of Thomas Wynn. The mother sent to the writer laying the fault on the young woman. The marriage was in a garden. If John Wynn had attempted the case in the Star Chamber, he makes no doubt that he would have bolted out a truth in examining the gaoler upon interrogatories. Hopes not to be in the return of sheriffs; neither would he be in the Commission of the Peace but for keeping order 'at my door, dwelling on the confines of both counties, with my parish church standing in Denbighshire.'.

Remembrances [by John Wynn] of 'my' cousin Jones's opinion touching Kenyddoge and Rudderch Powell. Must pay Roderick Powell £60, 24 June next, 1605, at Dulasse, Rudderch Powell's house. Ellice Jhons devised Kenyddoge to Roderick Powell upon certain conditions not yet fulfilled by the testatee. Arguments to prove the nullity of the will follow. Imtructions to Jones for drawing up a Bill for the conveyance of Doluthelan. Other legal matters. Remember to send for process against Sir Richard Bulkeley to the Council. Send to St Asaph to look at Ellice Jhons's will.

Respecting a dispute as to a tythe; discusses the judge's opinion on the merits of the case. Cannot answer Wynn's query as to whether the defendant must personally answer if Mr Sharp's interest be put in the next court.

Respecting land belonging to Edward Owen.

Memoranda [in the autograph of William Lloyd?] of expenses in various law-suits between Sir Thomas Myddelton, Thomas Price and Robert Salusbury.

Is willing to surrender Kay gwyne, for it will not quit cost at the rent now paid, so long as it bears but hay and grass. John David ap Howell will acquaint Wynn that Krug in Llanvayer will soon come into the writer's hands, and he will then be provided with hay in Koydalen.

The mineral which lies in his land consists of earth and dry substance, far more rich than any water can be, whereof he has sent as much as the bearer can carry, less than he wished for a perfect trial. The place is rich in this stuff, for in heat of summer copperas grows in the chinks of the rocks which cover the mineral. There is in the mine great store of brimstone. It may be digged at a small charge and lies within two bow shots of a navigable river which, within 7 miles empties itself into the sea, and will bear a bottom of 20 tons. Turf and 'pett' [peat] is to be had for boiling, within half a mile of the mine. Divers perfect trials have been made out of alum and copperas, both in the country and in London . The copperas would not quit cost. Skill is wanted to destroy the copperas and to make a greater quantity of alum. If there can be found a man of skill, no doubt the thing is infinitely rich, being a commodity that England so much uses in the dyeing of clothes, and which they are fain to procure out of Italy, and is commonly worth 40 marks or more the ton. For Sir John's part, finding such uncertainty in alchemy, he never durst adventure so great a work himself, and was not willing to part with his commodity without a part, though divers times offered a great rent. Hopes his Lordship will use him honourably and he shall not find Sir John difficult to come to any reason if it pleases God to reveal the knowledge and secret to the trier. It seems that Sir John is the first finder thereof. Porphyry and speckled marble of white and red are in that hill not far from the mine, but there are none here who have skill to polish the same. The rest of this letter, which concerns the transmutation of iron into copper by a process which Sir John professes to have forgotten, is printed in History of the Gwydir Family (1878 ed.), p. ix, no. 2. Overleaf is a rough draft of Sir John's letter (see no. 471 in the printed Calendar of Wynn(of Gwydir) Papers (NLW, 1926)) also printed in the same work. See also no. 470 in the printed Calendar of Wynn(of Gwydir) Papers (NLW, 1926).

(A) To [Sir Thomas Myddelton]. Received his letter of the 6th instant. Sends the mineral, not in water, as Sir Thomas required, but in a better and drier substance. Sends also little pieces of ore which are found in other parts of his land. Has written concerning the situation and circumstances of the mine, as also about the mineral water in Anglesey, to my Lord President. If things go on, Sir John will prove a very beneficial overseer of the work, the same lying within two miles of Gwydir. (B) To Lord President Eure. Has received a bottle from him to be filled with mineral water, which he means to send the Lord President 'within this sen-night' with other mineral earth and 'arguments' of metal which he could send no sooner. (C) [To Sir Thomas Myddelton,] Nov. 30. Has sent the mineral water of Anglesey, mentioned in his last letter, to my Lord President and to Sir Thomas. Hopes it will answer expectations when tried, for then the writer will think his labour and charge well bestowed. Could not procure it sooner because it is further than he took it to be. Is desirous to hear of the success of Sir Thomas's trials.

Acknowledging their letters recommending the bearer, Mr Herbert Thomas, for supplying the place of 'mustermaster' in Caernarfonshire. Has thought good to signify to them that he is hereby elected and appointed to that post.

Referring to a match proposed between John Bodvell and the writer's daughter, who is, however, in bad health. When she is restored to perfect health, Bodvell shall be welcome to come to the writer's house, when he shall know his mind further in the matter.

With regard to a debt of £5 due to John Lloyd of Vaynol.

Note, that William ap John ap Jevan has been accustomed to pay to John Gruffith of Caernarfon, esquire, the sum of 6d. per annum for a quillet of land lying in Llanfairfechan, within the close of lands caned Cae Howell Dew, for the space of 33 years. Note underneath, in the autograph of Sir John Wynn, giving the names of certain witnesses who can testify to the truth of the above. Endorsed: 'A witness in Sir Richard Bulkeley's cause for rent paid out of Cay Howell ddu.'.

Perceives from Sir John's letter of the 25th past and 12th present, that he has had some conference with their countryman Mr Owen about placing Sir John's son at Amsterdam, but whether with an Englishman or a stranger he does not write. Their countrymen and almost all English merchants there are what we term interlopers, that is, men trading into that and other countries contrary to the privileges granted to the Company of Merchant Adventurers; would not advise Wynn to place his son with a merchant. Has not in his time known any youth so placed. It is true that they do take their own countrymen for 4 or 5 years with 6, 8 or 10 pounds allowance yearly, but such young men are those who, having been brought up under their parents (who are either merchants or shopkeepers), are more fit for business than the English, for he does not think that any English youth is able in one whole year so to learn the language as to be fit to serve a stranger. Is persuaded that his son has no mind to be a merchant, unless he has altered since his being here. Would advise Sir John to put the young man to something he likes. In answer to Sir John's enquiry: Amsterdam (as well as other towns of the Netherlands) desires to draw the trade of merchants to itself, and therefore suffers merchants of whatsoever country to be as free in its town as its inborn people. Only handicraftsmen may not pursue their trades unless they are free, or as they term it, burghers; but this freedom or burgess-ship may be bought for a very small sum, in some towns 4, in some 5, and in some 6 pounds, English money.

Complains that Sir John taxes him for being backward in the business of the Prince's Aid. Had the late Sheriff, cousin [Thomas] Bodvell, and Sir William Morris entrusted the whole charge thereof to the writer, as Sir John did, the business would have been performed long ere this. Had he done so, he might have been censured for over-forwardness, considering that in years and knowledge he must give place to the rest of the Commissioners. If he had not stirred the late Sheriff, nothing would as yet have been done, for he swerved from the writer's directions in appointing Collectors to levy the money before the cessments were allowed of by his fellow Commissioners. But now, seeing that much of the money is levied, let them all endeavour to increase the sum to one hundred pounds or thereabouts. The writer conferred and expostulated with the late Deputy Sheriff, Maurice Johnes, concerning Mr Sheriff's remissness in that business, but he would have posted over the fault from himself to the High Sheriff and Collectors. The writer demanded from him the rates and cessments in gross imposed on the commotes or hundreds within the county, and was given the enclosed note. The Deputy Sheriff also informed the writer that the greater part of the sum is levied in Evioneth and in one of the commotes of Llyne. Supposes also that Uchor and Iscor money is in the Collectors' hands. It is too great a hindrance and confusion to undo what is already done, therefore let each commote endeavour to make the sum of every commote amount to the note, according to the Prince's mise, which cannot be greatly disliked. The writer would rather compel them to pay than use an apology or excuse for them. Does not know one commote free from the King's lands. Their best course is for Sir John to take charge of Uchaph, Isaph, Nanconwey and Creuthyn; the writer and cousin Williams of Vaynol, Iscor and Uchor; Sir William Morris, Evioneth and some part of Llyne; and so collect and dispatch the same within a few days or as near as may be. Will write his mind at large one of these days on the proceedings of the musters.

Desires postponement of the payment of certain monies.

Upon taste and trial of Sir John's beer it was found to be too small to continue good until Sir John's coming. They have, therefore, thought good to provide stronger beer nearer the time of his coming. Has been with Mistress Gerard to borrow feather-beds and kitchen stuff for Sir John, but she can make no certain promise thereof, for she expects certain friends from London; who these may be Powell cannot guess, but it is like they are papists and seminary priests, whom she prefers before Sir John; or else it is some excuse. She has no spits, having lent them to the Sheriffs at the Assizes, and every Assize week one of them was lost. The writer hopes they will be able to serve Sir John in the matter if she fails. The nearest pasture for Sir John's horses is Mr Puleston's of Allington, a pretty distance.

Will take order for the 'tabling' of all the boys at a house near their school-master. The widow that keeps the house is a friend, and all the writer's friends usually lodge there. She says she will give over victualling if Mostyn's children will come to her. Refers to a suggested match between one of Sir John's sons and a daughter of Sir Richard Mullence.