Showing 2790 results

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 could not expect any other success about Harlech when he heard Lord Jeffreys was engaged for another. Jeffreys's interest is too great this time for any ordinary man to contend against. This morning when the King came into the House of Lords he acquainted the House by the Lord Keeper that at about 6 o'clock that morning he had received by an express a letter from the Mayor of Lyme telling him that on the 11th inst. in the evening, a ship of 30 guns had appeared before Lyme together with a 'catch' of 100 tons and a fly-boat of 200. There was no suspicion of them at first: but after awhile five boat loads of men put off from the off-side of the ship, who being covered by the cob - as they call their high land by the haven - came up the back way into the town when they were revealed to be the Duke of Monmouth and Lord Gray with about 150 men. The Mayor knew his danger for the town is full of fanatics. The Mayor immediately fled to Honyton, 11 miles off, from where he wrote to the King. Two officers of the Custom House of Lyme have made oath to the King that they have seen the Duke and Lord Gray. A declaration of loyalty to the King has been presented by the Lords at the banqueting house. The Commons made a similar vote adding the epithet 'the ungratefull traytor James, Duke of Monmouth'. This mad attempt of these infatuated rebels is the less surprising, for they heard since the beginning of the month that the Duke had left the Texel on the last day of May, and ever since the King has been providing for him and taking those into custody who were likely to side with him. The Duke of Albemarle reports from Devonshire that he is within 15 miles of Lyme and has about 4,000 men with him. They hope to engage the rebels before Saturday night. Then the Duke who now styles himself Protector of the Protestant Religion and Laws will have much ado to protect himself out of the kingdom if the King has any frigates - as apparently he has with Sir Roger Strickland on that coast. There have been many Whig libels about the town last night and the night before which show that some were privy to that which now appears. The Earl of Argyle and his party continue in the Isle of Bute where they are besieged by the King's frigate, and they will have much ado to get from there.

William Maurice is sorry to hear of the course taken, against all good order, by his cousin Mr William Gruffydd. Either the justices were far to blame, or he and his company were far too rash. If the interpreter played false in not informing the justices of the truth, and then telling Gruffydd another tale, the latter should have conferred with the justices and settled on the best course. For the bailiffs of Pwllheli (William Maurice sent for Cadwaladr Owen, being one of them) do excuse themselves. William Maurice wishes he had been at home to have the ship and 'them' safe. Gruffydd says he used violent means for the apprehension so that they might be spoiled if enemies; if friends, he would have let them go again in their cock-boat after the ship. Writes so that his correspondent may know what defects Pwllheli men found in Gruffydd's proceeding. Will dissuade the coroner for Pwllheli and the county from intermeddling in the Lord Admiral's jurisdiction. Suggests that a course be followed which was done for the like chance which last happened. Procedure outlined. Business re the appointment of an Admiralty Registrar. Draft.

It was William Maurice's hope to peruse a copy of the letter which ... to the Rev. Father the Bishop of St David's touching the po[int] ... in question in the parliament. The subject of this letter William Maurice hardly liked. It allows diverse authorities for the proof not only of the convenience and justice thereof, but also of His Majesty's prerogative royal [if it so please] to finish the same. But his gracious clemency and mildness desires it rather [and therefore most convenient to effect it so] by general assent and consent of his true and faithful subjects. 'Your diligence in your collection with your choise of persone sufficient to sett ffoorth in parliament a cause, as you terme it, of so highe proporcion and consequence deserve the comendacion and doth manifest your grete reedinge of many auctorities and your good memorye which I will not prayse as it oght least you would judge mee to fflatter, for my cheefest purpose at this time is rather to expostulate with you for your unkinde (I maye well terme it) detraction of your owne contrey and countreymen ... I meane the prediction or prophesye of coronoge vabann, and heerin I will rejoine a littell with you sensiblye on that pointe and stand uppone the maxime of all our prophesyes which is that out of the Bryttishe line shold desende one that sholde restore the kingdoom of Brittaine to the pristine estate. This did Kadwalader, the last kinge of the Brittaines, prophesye at his departure. Thence cometh all our propheticall predictions and oracles. And though coronog vabann was the principal mark of him that would come of the British line, what reason or likelihood can there be that Henry VI (a mere Englishman, and moreover, a stem of the vile enemy of the Britons, his grandfather Henry IV) should be meant or imagined (though he like many others might have been crowned in the cradle) ... It is not so that 'our' nation first came to court in ... [the time] ... of Owen Tudor'. For though he happened to find favour in court with the queen mother of Henry VI, yet 'our' other countryman of the same name of Owen was a great favourite at the court of Richard II, which was the cause of his rebellion against the usurper, Henry IV. His great attempt, 'thoghe with a harde seccesse as many times the like doo', deserved greater commendation for holding out against a king fifteen years than the other for holding favour of a great queen. William Maurice will say no more, what he has said being sufficient to disprove 'bothe those your resones touchinge coronog vaban. The other unkinde glance or rather nipping of our country beirdd (who are muche more beeholdinge to Lucane, a stranger, for his good reporte) than to you theire owne [country]man ...' ... What learning most of them have the writer himself has not the learning to judge ... Compares the golden times of Homer, Virgil and Ovid ... with the verses made to Alexander only by Chorillus, the blind poet ... So now in this brazen world there are many Cherilli and few Homers or the like. Asks his cousin to remember that 'fowle is fowel that files his owne nest'. Exhorts him to show his skill and learning to speak the best of his own country, and to let strangers inveigh against 'us', who will not spare. And if he cannot find it in his heart to do it 'lende mee some of your skill to my goodwill and I will doo it'. Damaged; parts missing. Draft.

Expected to have word with the money as promised. Wants to send that money to London to his creditor and to send him double consideration for forbearance until the 1st Nov. at which time the writer is to pay £500 without fail. Writes to desire his correspondent to be careful of him and to request him to write to Mr Herbert and the rest to make this payment ready as soon as they may before their last day of payment that he may have all ready to bring with him to London to discharge himself with credit. Draft.

Will agree to no division for Her Majesty's service of musters. Sees not how it can be done 'for your doings ought to be also mine and mine yours'. Knows of neither commission, letters, direction, nor any other instrument which has given John Wynn or himself any limit. Therefore John Wynn is out of the way of good order and challenges over much privilege when he says that he will not meddle in the writer's limit. He speaks against Her Majesty's and the Lord Lieutenant's commission. William Maurice would not willingly do anything in John Wynn's absence, for he wishes his presence to join a company together. John Wynn's end of the country is more populous of serviceable men and greater by reason of the greater towns. John Wynn has objected to bringing men so far to Caernarvon, without thinking how far he brings men to Conwy, as though the case were altered. John Wynn has brought him examples from other shires, so he will bring to his correspondent the example of their next neighboring shire - Anglesey - where they do make the general assembly. Is quite sure that Sir Richard Bulkeley and his associates would as willingly spare the country as any other. Insists again that the commission is hound and not several.

This is a detailed answer to No. 442. Owen has written that William Maurice is wise, circumspect and politic in his bargainings and matches, while he being without experience feared to be outmatched, and so opposed others to deal with William Maurice. Answers that the least of them all had more wit, policy and circumspection in that or any other matter than he or ten more such as he is. Draft.

He has received the Sheriff's letters. If Richard Vaughan had accepted William Maurice's word at their last appointment, William Maurice would have care not to see him 'damnified'. But William Maurice cannot find fault with the Sheriff's scruple, nor trusts the latter's dealing with his son, John Owen, and with his solicitor (whose ways suit not some of the country), nor wishes to take further courtesy at the Sheriff's hands, he will absent himself from their company at the musters, and commits the care for perfecting them to Vaughan as chief commissioner with the rest of the justices. Whether John Wynn of Gwydir will intrude contrary to reason or the contents of the commission, he leaves to Vaughan's discretion together with the justices of that end. If they allow that, there will be no men shortly to be had (they be almost spent and would have been wholly spent because of Wynn's obstinacy and the slackness of the justices of Lleyn and Uwchdwyfor). Here within Isdwyfor, if the writer had not procured every ... of his own for them to pay other volunteers, as he did in one year to ... Salisbury and Capt. Brown - 'and the ... year at Chester to supply the defallts of Lleyn - 7', and so every muster since. Indentures will show that at every muster there are from Isdwyfor, his own limit, tenants and neighbours double their portion, and from Uwchdwyfor more than their rate. They should therefore best be spared, and other places hitherto defective be more charged. He will pay the mise of Isdwyfor - £11 odd - when Richard Vaughan is ready to send it to London. Torn. Draft in the hand of William Maurice.

When it pleased the Lord President to appoint him one of his deputy lieutenants in Caernarfonshire in joint commission with John Wynn of Gwydir, Wynn requested a division of the county (being about forty-eight or fifty miles long) for the trained bands, which the writer agreed to, though his limit was far inferior to Wynn's especially since the three great towns of Conwy, Bangor and Caernarvon were in Wynn's allotment. Realising this, Wynn insisted on the division in all musters including foreign services. Besides the inequality of the number of people, Wynn's limit is the nearer by the half way to Chester, their common port, than the writer's limit. Which division of the muster William Maurice opposed and wanted it held at the shire town of Caernarvon. Wynn utterly refused this and mustered his company at his own door and used his own will and pleasure therein to the great hindrance of the service. Refers to the Lord President's personal command, his cousin and associate refuses to join and says that he has the Lord President's warrant to deal alone for his limit as he terms it. Desires to acquaint his Lordship with these facts.

William Maurice was ready (if Mr Harryes had not prevented him by his arrival there) to send his own servant of purpose to the Lord President to congratulate him on his new office (fallen to him by the death of Sir Henry Lea - God be with him and forgive him the wrong and hindrance he did the poor town) of Constable and so mayor and chief governor of the poor town. Since his Honour has heretofore for charity's sake obtained for the town the King's gracious letters for their good, which the Justices and justices of the peace have not yet regarded, William Maurice now offers himself as deputy-constable etc. He also makes a similar offer as one already made to the King, that whatsoever fee is allowed him, he will wholly bestow the same there on his Honour's behalf. Will do his best to do good to that poor town. Much repair needed to the castle. Copy in the hand of William Maurice.

Has received from his cousin and associate John Wyn of Gwydir, deputy lieutenant, copies of the Lord Lieutenant's letters, the Queen's commission and the Privy Council's letters concerning the sending of a number of men from Caernarfonshire to Ireland for the Queen's service. John Wyn refuses to join with William Maurice in musters, but musters by himself to the hindrance of the Queen's service and the greater cost of the Queen and the county. But in performance of his duty, and so that the service should not be delayed and hindered, has sent to Chester seven men out of the fifteen appointed for the county. They are, he hopes, sufficiently equipped (at his own cost) and able men, as appears from the indenture signed by the captain and the mayor of Chester's certificate, which William Maurice encloses. Paid the coat and conduct money out of his own purse, the conduct being for five days and the journey sixty miles, and has received nothing from the mayor of Chester but was referred to the Council. Copy.

The bearer Hugh Price informs William Maurice of a most heinous abuse offered him as he travelled in the county by 'some desparatt willffull gentill'. Has not yet found out who he is, but will do his best to do so. Thought it his duty to inform the Council and to ascertain their will with regard to the punishment of this man, when he is found, and of others like him, who carry daggers and pistols to the terror of the Queen's subjects and as a bad example to others. Will do his best to accomplish their commands, and craves pardon for his boldness. Refers them to the bearer for an account of the abuse. Draft.

William Maurice, late deputy lieutenant of Caernarfonshire, by the direction and at the request of the inhabitants of the said county, humbly informs his Honour that whereas the said county being a maritime county and open to Ireland and other foreign parts, and withal the most part thereof being a hilly, mountainous and bare country, and therefore rather spacious than populous, so the greatest number of men to be appointed for trained bands (and so certified to his Honour) in that county was but 400, which afterwards upon a second certificate, by reason of mortality that there happened, had to be diminished to 300. And whereas in all former levies wherein the county was best able, the proportion of men sent out of that county was but half the number of Denbighshire or Montgomeryshire and the third part of less of Shropshire (which may well allow five for one), yet some three or four years ago by some wrong suggestion or interference to his Honour, Caernarfonshire was doubly charged in levies of men and money, which has brought the county to extreme want of the one and defect of the other. Since July 1598, 515 men have been sent out of that poor shire, and no more out of Denbighshire or Montgomeryshire which should by any due proportion double their number, and not many more out of Shropshire that might treble their men well. Whereby Caernarfonshire was compelled to send forth not only diverse of the trained bands but also man necessary servants of husbandmen, so that there is now a great scarcity of both. Ask for relief in future. For example in Sept. last there went out of that poor county of Caernarfonshire three score and one, out of Shropshire but three score, which might better have spared 300. Draft.

Has received John Wynn's letters wherein William Meirick is told that he should have sent to John Wynn a copy of Her Majesty's mandate to his Grace of Canterbury, and of the Archbishop's letters to the Bishop of Bangor. Writes that the mandate has been kept by the Archbishop, and that the latter's letters to the Bishop of Bangor are the writer's only warrant. These letters were sent to him by the Bishop to be executed in his absence since he is now commanded to give his attendance to preach before Her Majesty on Palm Sunday and Easter Day. Forasmuch as [the musters] meet at Conwy, and Anglesey at Beaumaris, on one day, and that being Friday, he cannot attend at both places 'if any because it is the court day'. But desires on behalf of the clergy of Caernarfonshire (for he means not to trouble John Wynn with others) that every endeavour will be made to help them. William Meirick has no authority to procure them [i.e. men] 'but by your means if you will do so much'. The names of such as are within Caernarfonshire charged to send forth men and furniture are these: - Mr Dean of Bangor, a light horse furnished; Mr D. Edward Meirick, Archdeacon, a light horse furnished; Mr James Ellis, Treasurer of Bangor, a light horse furnished; Mr John Bold, parson there, petronel furnished; Mr Owen Meredith, parson of Llanystyn', petronel furnished; Mr D. Mostyn, parson of Aber, petronel furnished; Mr Arthur Williams, parson of Llanbedrog, petronel furnished; Mr Humffrey Robinson, parson of Llanengan, a musket furnished; Sir John Roberts, parson of Rhiw, a musket furnished; Mr Hugh Evans, parson of Llanllyfni, caliver furnished; the Vicar of Clynnog, caliver furnished; Sir William Davies, parson of Criccieth, caliver furnished; Sir Thomas Mellars, parson of Llavairfechan, caliver furnished.

Thanks Sir William and her ladyship for his cloak. They shall not be forgotten in his prayers, who is Sir William's daily 'beadesmane'. The corn that Sir William wrote for to Mr Thomas Gwyne shall be made ready with expedition when the writer confers with Mr Gwyne's wife, for he knows that they are both willing and ready to please Sir William in everything. This wet weather is unseasonable to dress corn and the sooner Sir William sends the more care they will take for providing his purpose.