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Dear and honoured friend. Hopes Owen will come to St Asaph, not as a stranger, but to stay with him as long as he can find how to bestow his time in this country. Would not have him come until Lent is over unless Owen has a mind to do penance with the Bishop. As to the school at Oswestry the writer is willing to do what Owen desires as soon as he has opportunity - that is as soon as he can find a living for Mr Evans which he is fit for and will accept. These conditions are put in because Wrexham is now in the Bishop's hands; but Evans is, the Bishop belives, so wise that he would not accept it if it were offered to him; so if he did accept it the Bishop would not consider him wise enough to be fit for it. He has nothing to say for Mr Owen who has almost worn out the Bishop's patience, which when he has quite done the Bishop will handle him in his own way - 'that is I shall do the part of a poor British Bishop which is all I can pretend to'. The Bishop is far from assuming papal power to dispense with men for not keeping their oaths, as he is afraid that those who have sworn to do justice allow Mr Owen and such as he is to live in open breach of law without punishment. Sir Robert Owen the writer knows will not suffer it when he has time to look after him. But Sir Robert will do well to warn before striking, like a Christian and a gentleman. If he can prefer Mr Evans he will think of none other for the school until Mr Gr., mentioned by Sir Robert, has refused it.

Owen has asked him whether he can with a good conscience take the oath required of him on the occasion of a treaty of marriage since matters of conscience properly belong to men of the Bishop's function ... Thinks it is not safe to take such an oath, for Owen may be ensnared with it before he is aware. The writer has not many debts himself but believes they are more than he can call to mind. But if Owen is put to swear - as near as he can tell - how much will pay his debts, he may without danger of sin take such an oath with that limitation, always provided that the oath is administered by one with authority to do it. So much for the conscientious part: as to the prudence of taking such an oath the writer cannot judge without knowing more of the circumstances. The same thing that in some circumstances may be stark naught, in others may happen to be very advisable. It were an odd thing to bid a merchant throw his goods into the sea, and yet it would be the most prudent thing that he could do in case of storm. Is Owen desperately in love and cannot endure to live without this lady? And is she not to be obtained without such an oath? If this be the case the Bishop need not tell Owen what to do. But in all the cases he has known - and he has been at pretty many treaties of marriage - he has never known such an oath required in his life. He has never heard such a thing mentioned. But if the Bishop were to advise any friends about to treat with another, he would wish them to consider well before they made such an oath a condition of marriage. For as the world now goes there are few young men who would take it without chewing. And what would the advantage be to her upon whose account it was required? ... It would never secure any woman from a bad husband, though it might hinder her from a good one. Wishes that those Owen treats with knew him as well as the writer does, and then they would not insist on the oath.

Encloses copies of letters received that morning, and a letter from his master [John Wynn], saying that he has received the original letters for Merionethshire and has heard that the Caernarfonshire letters are coming, of which he wished William Lloide go to inform Richard Vaughan and William Mores. Since speed is required of the commissioners, in this service, John Wynn thought that William Lloide, in his master's name, should join with William Mores and Richard Vaughan, as they did the last time, to arrange to rate and levy a sum of money in the county. But William Lloide did not know how many men are to be levied from the county, and has sent a messenger to John Wynn to find out; upon receipt of the answer, will come to Richard Vaughan and William Mores to do as requested. Meanwhile sends by his cousin Thomas Hughes, the bearer, copies of the Merionethshire letters so that Richard Vaughan and William Mores know of the service and may have men pressed in churches tomorrow, if they wish. Thus they and their men from the upper end may meet at Caernarvon a week to-day with John Wynn and the justices of the lower end and the men may be mustered together and sent, and the indentures made. If Richard Vaughan and William Mores have already received the Caernarfonshire letters, they, of the upper end, may send John Wynn copies and meet, agree on a sum of money and have it levied. John Wynn and the justices of the lower end, on receipt of Richard Vaughan and William Mores's letters or copies thereof, may likewise meet and settle on a suitable sum for equipping their half of the men. Is commanded by John Wynn's letters to have men pressed in the commotes of Isgwyrfai and [Arllechwedd] Uchaf, and means to go to arrange with the constables for the performance thereof. Intends to return tomorrow night; by then is sure to have heard from John Wynn. Would also like to hear of Richard Vaughan and William Mores's decision and asks them to let him know so that he can inform his master whether either of them has received the original letters. The time is too short for them and John Wynn to wait to hear from each other. Richard Vaughan and William Mores, upon receipt of the letters, should put them into execution. Postscript: An estimate of the costs 'to sett out' 25 men for the service, made by William Lloide:. Money to be sent to the Exchequer to equip the men, at a. Rate of £3.10.0 a man. £87.10.0. Press money and 'the waste thereof'. 20S. Conduct money at the rate the last men had, for. 6 Days' march. £5. Conductor's fee. £10. Taking the money to London. £10. Extraordinary charges and waste in the collecting and. 20S. to make up the defect of the last and for the. Indenture and discharge at Chester. £16.10.0. Total. £130. If fifty men go from the county, the sum should be doubled. Has sent a similar estimate to his master, whose opinion William Mores shall hear and who would be glad to know William Mores's.

Has received William Morris's letter and is glad that William Morris has agreed with William Lewys's cousin John Owen and that the marriage is to proceed. William Lewys and his wife must be excused from coming to it because William Lewys's trunk has not arrived, otherwise they would willingly have come. As for the ship, advises William Morris not to trouble the county but to take as much as is in sight; thinks Sir Richard Bulkeley has taken the guns and some masts. William Morris shall know the truth thereof soon; time is short and William Morris cannot tell him now. ? Has not been with her since William Morris was there and cannot give him any more information. William Lewys's wife will send Edward ap Ieuan. Excuses himself for not coming and wishes to be excused to Mr Brinckir and his aunt Mrs Brinckir.

Mr Ieuan Evans's son and brother have sealed a bond to the writer for the payment of £42.8.0 at St Andrew's next. The writer's cousin Griffith Lloyd is to pay the writer 16s. use, and to content Mr Evans 48s. as Mr Evans says, being in all £3.4.0, the use of £40 for a year, and to give Mr Evans a general discharge, as he says it was not fit for the writer to cause Mr Evans to enter into a bond to the writer for use past before the sealing of the bond. PS If the recipient does not finish a full agreement between them, the writer must deliver the bond back again to Mr Evans and rely upon Mr Griffith Lloyd's bond. Therefore the recipient should make a full conclusion between them and send the writer a note that they are fully agreed and concluded under both their hands.

Asks him to peruse the enclosed letter, and all business set aside to go in all haste to Lewis Anwyl to comfort him. There have none other they can trouble. Lewis should put his whole trust in God. He is to desire Lewis when he writes to London to cause some messenger to see in the office of pleas in the Exchequer that Mable's matter may be so continued that it fail not to come to trial at the next assizes in Shropshire. Wiliam Roberts, Mr Cotton's man, deals in it. Prays him again to make haste to Vaynol.

The writer's son, Evan, continues his suit for Wynne's niece of Tan-y-bwlch, and now she has promised to marry him if Wynne will but say the word. She says she is now growing old and her father is backward in bestowing her. Asks that she be told that the writer will give Evan £300 which will be paid at the rate of £100 a year upon every New Year's Day yearly. If Wynne will give his word, the writer will save him harmless. If she be willing, the best course is for them to go suddenly to Kemes and be married out of hand.

As heretofore William Jones has been spokesman for Mr John Griffith, his brother in law, so now he makes bold to renew the same suit unto William Maurice. Is fully persuaded that, if occasion requires, William Maurice will show kindness and courtesy, and will give good testimony of the continuance of his love for the father, though he be dead, in regarding his son after him. As at first it is kindness to grant, so secondly it is acceptable to have swift performance.

Received William Maurice's letter 'yesternight'; this morning has come to Bangor on business of his own and his cousin Brynkyr, and will spend the day there. On Friday or Saturday a commission is to be executed concerning William Jones, and at the beginning of next week sets out for London. Hopes therefore that William Maurice will not blame him for not coming to Eifionydd. Had time permitted, would have been very willing to end all suits between William Maurice and William Jones's cousin; knows it does not please William Maurice to be in suit, and neither is it to the ease and profit of William Jones's cousin. Will endeavour to end things between them as soon as possible.

William Jones's cousin, Robert ap John ap Humphrey, being also his Worship's kinsman and near neighbour, is prepared to agree with William Maurice and to be at peace and unity with him. William Jones for his part is very willing to further the matter all he can for the love he bears to both of them, and because he is sorry to see any discord between two of his good friends, and is loath to be of counsel 'against Sir William Maurice, the good and well natured knight whom I found always lovinge to me'. But this notwithstanding when he considers the matter more nearly, having had a taste of his cousin's mind and resolution, he draws back again, fearing his good intention will not produce any good effect. His cousin is settled in his opinion of right in the lands. He would rather lose all than accept any treaty offered to the contrary. But to make an exchange for lands of like value (though the lands lie convenient for him) William Jones thinks he will do by mediation. Is William Maurice inclined to that course? If so, William Jones will travel to the lands and his cousin will procure Mr Robert to be there, and William Maurice may employ Sir William Thomas and Mr Hugh Gwyn Pennarth. Day of meeting arranged.

Received William Maurice's letter that day and wrote an answer. Cannot answer William Maurice about the business between him and William Jones's cousin until he sees the letter, but will come for a meeting with William Maurice on Wednesday if he can, or if not, very early on Thursday. William Maurice writes that Sir William Thomas will be with him on Wednesday, William Jones knows him to be good-natured enough to stay a little if William Jones cannot come on Wednesday.

If business had not hindered the writer he would have been in the country during the vacation. He would then have endeavoured to mend the controversy between Sir William and the writer's cousin, Henry. The writer wished the other arbitration to proceed, and if 'they' cannot, he will do it himself upon his return. Has written to his cousin to that purpose. The King of France and his sister are contracted to the Prince of Spain and his sister, and the same was solemnly declared in France on Lady Day. There is an interview arranged in Baion in Galicia between the King of Spain and the Queen of France for a marriage. 'The tyme had beene that Sir William Maurice would have beene glad to have bene attorny for the Kinge of Spayne in such an accion fuit Ilium et ingens gloria troiorum [sic], iam seges ubi Troia fuit. Fo ayth yn llwyd lhe y bu felyn, nid fel yr ayr da ir ayr dyn'. News of a marriage between the Lady Elizabeth and the Count Palatine of the Rhine. Proceedings over precedence between the lords' youngest sons and the knights banneret to be heard before the King. The Council meets at the Lord Treasurer's house where he joins them from his couch. The Lord Warden is to marry the Earl of Duncome's daughter. Remembrances to members of the family.

Legal business. On the advice of Mr Vaughan's counsels the writer yesterday repaired to Mr John Thelwall and found him very courteous. But at the moment Thelwall has been directed by the Lord Keeper to treat with Esq. Roberts about their interests in the judgment obtained in Thelwall's name against Mr Vaughan. Has only this day waited upon Mr Ellis about Owen's queries. Has arranged a meeting between Ellis and others of Mr Vaughan's counsel. Counsel's opinion signed by William Ellis on 17th Nov. appears on the dorse: Sir Francis Russell obtained a decree in chancery in 1649 against John Bodvel, esq., for £500 per annum for the maintenance of his wife, Anne, and her two children. Bodvel resisted and his estates in Caernarvon and Anglesey were sequestrated. In 1656, Mr Vaughan, being then sheriff of Caernarvonshire, by authority of the court, ejected the Lady Elizabeth Bodvel, John's mother, from Bodvel's house, she being in possession of part thereof as her dower, and having goods in the house and cattle upon the land. She was living apart from her husband, Mr Thelwall, and had separate maintenance. Thelwall and his wife then brought an action for battery against Vaughan and the sequestrators in the Common Pleas, and secured £450 damages, and in a further action £1,000 damages for the goods and cattle. The sheriff and sequestrators then exhibited a bill in equity claiming that they acted only in obedience to the order of the court. But the damages are now being disputed between Mr Roberts, administrator for Lady Bodvel, and Mr Thelwall who claims the benefit of the judgment, and suits of equity are proceeding between them for the same. The question is with whom it is most safe for Mr Vaughan to agree while these suits are pending - with Mr Roberts or with Mr Thelwall? And if he agrees with either of them, what security is fit to be taken against the other? Counsel's opinion is that Thelwall has the best title at law, but that Roberts has the better title in equity, and that it is better to agree with Roberts.

Thanks for William Maurice's kind letters. Has written to his cousin Richard Hu[...] enclosing his measure to buy and make him a suit of apparel and asking him if he did not intend to satisfy William Humffrey's request to deliver the letter to William Maurice, who might see to providing William Humffrey's necessities. Believed this rather than fail in his purpose, but as he now sees, is behind unless upon other letters which he has written and sent William Maurice by Hugh ap Harry Caddarne. To prevent the worst, thought it requisite to write to William Maurice fully telling him his mind. Asks William Maurice to procure for him a dozen [?liveries] and cloaks, about 30s. each, a robe for a foot boy and thirteen hats and feathers, with a reasonable day to pay therefor. The purse which William Humffrey sent in William Maurice's trunk is £8 or £9, and is under seal; asks William Maurice to see the money counted himself for William Humffrey had intended to send £10 and cannot remember taking out more than 20s. Sends by the bearer to deliver what he can spare to William Humffrey for buying a suit of apparel for William Humffrey. Expects the suit to be of coloured satin, cut with a 'diamond pincke' all over, with a cloak 'liend befor with vellvett and a fayer lace about of gould and silke and a fayer gould and silver bottom upon the coller hanging dowen further'. Begs William Maurice to have one of his men, or some man of skill, help the bearer to provide all William Humffrey's necessities, according to the note which he has. Asks William Maurice to supply in ready money or credit what the bearer lacks besides the 20 marks in the trunk and what he has; will pay when the drovers come down about All Saints or St Andrew at the furthest, which is 'just half a yeare forbering'. His bidding has wholly emptied his purse. Had to treble what he intended to bestow and as it happened a hundred marks will hardly finish it. Had the weather been such that he might have made it ready against Mr Justice's coming by, would have been well pleased for his charges and toil, which is worse than the charges. Hopes others will have comfort hereafter. Whatever undertaking William Maurice makes for William Humffrey, the latter promises to pay and discharge and to save William Maurice harmless.

Is required by his friend Mr Robert Knowles to commend to John Wynne a servant of Robert Knowles, Robert Gruffith of Caernarfonshire, who finds himself and his few tenants heavily burdened by taxes which his master hoped to redress by William Herbert's mediation. Is sure John Wynne can satisfy Robert Knowles's desire; if he cannot do so without his associate, let him make the request known to Mr Morrys, and William Herbert will be doubly beholden to him. Appended is a note of examination by John Wynn.

Compliments and acknowledgment of Owen's letter. He has also received one other which was so tattered and worn out with carriage that he is still ignorant of the substance of it. He will wait on Owen after Christmas provided he receives word when Owen will be at home, which may be sent by post to Shellrock, the postmaster at Salop. The writer will continue to be dear Robin's friend and servant, etc.

Ever truly honoured Sir. Colonel Mark Trevor tells the writer that he has a goshawk which he intends to present to Sir John in discharge of his former promise and testimony of love. The writer did not see 'her' for he conceives that 'she' is at the house of Colonel Hill. But Trevor assured the writer that 'she' would be ready within fourteen days. Humbly requests Sir John to let the writer know how he would have 'her' conveyed to him. If a messenger is sent over Sir John shall have a cast or two of 'merlions' from Trevor by the same hand. Had 'she' now been ready 'she' could have been sent by Richard Wynn of Beaumaris 'who passed this weeke from us over in John Smythe's shipp who brought over to us slates for buildinge, but that opportunity lost I well know not how to sende her you but as you shall please to directe'. Captain Kinaston has newly gone for England with hawks, so the writer understands not now of any other messenger. They have heard there to their no little grief of the extremity of Sir John's sickness, but to their hearty rejoicing of his safe and good delivery. When Sir John writes the speediest way is by post to Holyhead, so to Dublin, thence to Newry to post-master Butterfeild who will safely convey the letters to Green Castle where the writer resides. PS The writer's cousin Dic Price presents his humble service. The writer also heartily entreats from Owen a couple of good and staunch spaniels that may win their credit in Ireland.

At William Moris's request to provide coal and stone for the key [quay], according to William Moris's care of that good work and special means to procure the money therefor at his own charge, received from the bailiffs of Caernarvon £6 which answered as nearly as possible to the proportion set down for William Gryffyth to provide. William Moris's rate was for 24 boat loads of stone. William Gryffyth laid first 10 boat loads of stone under the posters which by William Moris's letter to William Gryffyth's cousin Elis Wyn were carried thence to the work to which they were assigned. William Gryffyth delivered accounts of all he received to the overseers of the work from whom asks William Moris for his discharge to pay the 10 boat loads in money or stone as they have cause to call for them. Endorsed: Accounts in the hand of Sir William Maurice.

He sends three small 'grillipots'. On the one is written the purgation. 'Take half of that on Saturday in the morning fasting. Eat not for fully three hours. Then take a little thin broth. At 5 o'clock eat a light supper of boiled mutton or chicken. Then about 8 or 9 o'clock, in bed, take half of that which is in the box whereon is written to be taken at night. Keep warm. On Sunday morning take half the green ginger which is in the third box or pot. On Monday do as was done on Saturday, and on Tuesday as on Sunday. Mingle the purgation with posset ale and drink it that it may the better be done.' She is to write to him some three days after how she does. Then when she comes to Caernarvon, the writer will finish his cure, God willing, for this year, till next spring. With blessings to his son.

Since William Maurice rides to Shropshire tomorrow, informs him of two letters received by William Gruffith from Mr Hogeson, the 'heade coustomer' of North Wales touching the Queen's customs on the ship laden with bay salt, which he wishes William Gruffith to pay and certify immediately. William Maurice knows that no entry has yet been made, either skipper, merchant or bill of loading, in the customs house, nor any 'Band of ymployment' taken. How well William Gruffith can answer this, he refers to William Maurice's discretion. Unless William Maurice takes order with his factor before his departure, understands that Mr Powell and Mr Williams, with whom William Maurice has bargained, will come to Pwllheli as soon as the wind is favourable to carry the ship and the rest of the salt and iron away without satisfaction to the Queen. Begs William Maurice to consider William Gruffith's position so that he may be answered with payment, without vexation, according to his trust. Otherwise is likely to feel a smart to his discredit, negligence, loss and hindrance. Cannot state what custom to demand because no entry is made. Can only rely on William Maurice's promise to William Gruffith to see all discharged. Asks for William Maurice's answer in writing by the bearer. Would have come in person, but is not well.