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Ralph Eure has been previously directed to take from convicted recusants and others known to be recusants and ill-affected in religion in the county, all armour, weapons and warlike equipment found in their houses or belonging to them, and to keep it to be disposed of as the occasion requires. The words 'ill affected Religion', being general and subject to various constructions, have caused uncertainty in various counties as to the King's meaning therein; he, with the Council's advice and the opinion of the country's chief judges, explains it thus. His meaning is to deal not only with convicted recusants but with any who may be suspected of ill-affection in religion, including those who do not attend church frequently to hear divine service without a just cause such as sickness or some other impediment, those who for the last three or four years have not received communion at least once a year and those who have wives, children or servants who are recusants, non-communicants or otherwise known to be popishly affected, or have an extraordinary number of retainers or tenants who are recusants or non-communicants. Those being persons whom the King and state have reason to 'hould in jealousy', the Council, at the King's command, requires Ralph Eure to deal with them as he was directed in former letters to deal with convicted recusants. Refer Ralph Eure to the said letters, assuring themselves that his care and endeavours will equal the King's good opinion of his loyalty and willingness to serve him.

Received enclosed letters from Sir John Wynne yesterday night; it seems there is something 'feared of the state'. Sir John Wynne will be at Caernarvon on 26 March; asks William Moris to be there likewise without fail so that they may certify together.

Learns partly from his son William Thomas and partly from some of the recipients' wellwishers that the latter have bestowed between them a thousand pounds with their grandchild Mrs Jane Awbury to match her to their liking. Persuades himself that they have a better liking for William Thomas's son William Thomas, whose condition they know and allow of, than for another more estranged by nature and country. Thought it not amiss to manifest to them his readiness and consent thereto, the more because the young people may justly expect greater kindness at the recipients' hands than of others, besides the portion due to William Thomas for the estate which he means to assure upon them and their heirs. As William Thomas told the recipients in conference at Corsygedol, [this consists of] all William Thomas's lands in Caernarfonshire, namely, Aber, Llanfair, the fields in and near the town of Caernarvon, the lands in Hugh ap Robert ap Yner's hands, the mills, Coedalen and William Thomas's chief mansion house in Caernarvon, all which he values at £500 a year or not much under. That money must go to redeem his lands now in mortgage and to pay his debts. As for the lands in Anglesey, intends to reserve some of them for his eldest son, and the residue towards the preferment of the rest of his children by the recipients' daughter. Will make his son William Thomas a competent jointure such as the recipients think reasonable and all the lands in Caernarfonshire after William Thomas's decease, discharged from all encumbrances, to make the best thereof, except his mother's right. Makes the recipients the first offer of his son with William Thomas's main and principal estate and expects their answers, jointly or severally.

Craves a favour ... that George or another of William Maurice's men shall deliver these three letters according to their superscriptions and with all the speed possible after William Maurice has come to London. Asks that his hearty thanks be given to the Bishop of Bangor, for he has taken extraordinary pains to bring the writer's brother-in-law, Hugh ap William ap Richard, to be friends with the writer, and with his son Griffith also the Bishop did make him friends.

Covering letter with No. 356. He hopes that their late mustering within their several divisions has already made so good a preparation that now 'some small addition of your care and industry for supply of the defects' will make a speedy performance of His Majesty's pleasure declared to the President in the Council's letters. Copy enclosed. He expects their certificate by the last of March.

Received William Maurice's letter and the token. Has informed Sir Thomas Chamberleyn and the rest of the Council of William Maurice's commendations; they return the same. As for William Maurice's matter mentioned in the letter, has required the bill of Mr Harry Pryce, the counsellor, to whom it was entered from the office to peruse, and perceives that the matter is so bad that they have much ado to make a good bill. Therefore, according to the order and rule of the court, they must have time to peruse it and make it as perfect as they can. William Maurice's request for a dedimus potestatem shall be fulfilled; told the Council in the garden on Monday evening that the plaintiff's counsel kept William Maurice's bill to peruse and that John Lloyd could not have it until they had done so, and that William Maurice is employed on the King's affairs and that his being at home was uncertain in respect of his occasions. Therefore requested that William Maurice might have a commission for him and his servants to take their answers at home, retrievable on 29 Aug., the first day of the next appearance. When John Lloyd has the bill, this shall be moved and on John Lloyd's credit assuredly granted, without paying a penny costs if possible. Told Sir Francis Eure that the sheriff of Merionethshire was sick and in great extremity, and that if he thought good, William Maurice thought best to begin the sessions in Anglesey. He answered that he had two days before sent directions that he would begin in Merionethshire and must therefore do so. The President will be at Ludlow tonight or tomorrow; diverse of his people came tonight. Is credibly informed that he will not come to Anglesey, Caernarfonshire or Merionethshire at this time, but will go only to Montgomeryshire with the judges, who begin their circuits on 6 July. The bearer has left with John Lloyd 10s. in silver besides the token in the letter, to be disbursed for William Maurice as required. What remains undisbursed, if any, which John Lloyd does not know until he sees the bill, shall be ready to be defrayed by John Lloyd at the next appearance. Since William Maurice had named no commissioners to take his answer and to swear him, John Lloyd has taken the names of Owen Thomas Owen and Mores ap John ap Mores, gent's, to do so. In making the certificate, let the commissioners be careful that they mention that they have taken of William Maurice and the rest of the defendants perfect and direct answer in writing upon their corporal oaths, for John Lloyd has [had] great hindrance and inconvenience [has] fallen to many when commissioners in like matters have forgotten to mention in their certificate that they had taken the defendants' answers upon their corporal oaths, which is the only point to be certified. Knows the gentlemen aforenamed will perform the same and can rather give John Lloyd directions, but must remember William Maurice. Postscript: William Maurice may get any counsellor he prefers to draw his answer and the rest, and after drawing it up, may let one or both swear him and the others upon the answers and certify. Afterwards the commission must be delivered by the commissioners or one of them to a messenger who will bring it to Ludlow that day or the next, for he must be sworn that he received it from one or both of the commissioners. William Maurice will receive the commission, if not before, at the sessions for Caernarfonshire, from one Mr Thomas Jones, one of the clerks of the court and servant in livery to Sir Francis Eure, chief justice of the assizes.

Wrote his mind plainly to Maurice Robbines and sent Maurice Robbine's letter to William Lacon as a caveat to warn him to deal well with Maurice Robbines and William Maurice. Wrote to Maurice Robbines to deal honestly, which William Maurice does not doubt that he will, and allowed him [William Lacon] to deal for William Maurice this time, so that either of them may look to the other. Would not have Maurice Robbines consider, though William Maurice wrote to him to deal honestly, which is a kind speech to be spoken to anyone, that he therefore charges Maurice Robbines with any dishonesty. As Maurice Robbines, as he says, seeks only his own, so is it reasonable also that William Maurice seeks his own. Desires to be a mean for them both therein. Knows he is much behind every year and thinks Maurice Robbines may be also. So much of that matter. As to the second part of Maurice Robbines's letter touching his [Maurice Robbines's] kinsman, if William Maurice was truly informed, he must think as he said. Will understand the matter when he comes to the Quarter Sessions; wherever the fault was, it is worthy of punishment. How William Maurice's cousin Marye Gruffith should be so troublesome to Maurice Robbines at service time, a thing most unlawful, he does not know, unless upon some abuse offered her. As William Maurice said, upon due examination of the cause the truth shall be known and the offender censured accordingly. Maurice Robbines writes that they expect countenance at William Maurice's hands, as William Maurice wrote to the Chancellor, or else it would be otherwise. What Maurice Robbines means thereby William Maurice does not know, for if Maurice Robbines means to do them wrong, William Maurice will countenance them in their right, but if otherwise, they shall have no countenance of William Maurice in their wrongs or any other misbehaviour. Maurice Robbines knows William Maurice has and will further God's service to the utmost, and the order of the church, which he saw Maurice Robbines neglect sometimes. As Maurice Robbines said, so William Maurice hopes, that when the bishop comes they shall have all things in good order. Touching the words which Maurice Robbines says that Marye Gruffith spoke of all the clergy in general, terming them devils and black dogs, words, as Maurice Robbines rightly says, worthy of severe punishment, if they be duly proved, assures Maurice Robbines that he will further her punishment rather than speak for her. Wishes Maurice Robbines to know that William Maurice is not one to bolster any bad words or actions but will do his best to punish them and to seek redress if he finds fault in Maurice Robbines when the bishop, who, he is sure, will see any disorders redressed, comes. Draft.

Thanks the recipient for taking pains for William Maurice's business in the Star Chamber and putting in a demur[rer] to the bill of Owen Ellis against William Maurice and thirty others in the Star Chamber, seventeen of them a jury and the others witnesses for the King touching his inheritance upon a Commission of Survey, as appears by the Answer of Demur[rer]s which was referred to the King's sergeant, who should have best course to consider the King's title, and to countenance all that truly endeavour therein. For if juries and witnesses [that] upon their oaths and evidence set down the King's right shall therefore be called to the Star Chamber without good cause, it will procure unwillingness and unreadiness for any to appear to do the King's service. Marvels at Sergeant Finch's report that this new trouble should arise, firstly for William Maurice to make a better answer, for he had hoped the recipient had answered all points reasonably, being no great matter and fit for the Star Chamber, but especially for the jury and witnesses for the King, the cause being already in the Exchequer Chamber to be tried there. As for the rest of the matters against William Maurice in the bill, touching incontinence in his younger years, a matter already pardonned and fit for ecclesiastical censure otherwise, and touching mises and other defects falsely supposed against William Maurice as one of the deputy lieutenants of his county, fitting for the Lord Lieutenant to examine rather than the Star Chamber, and such other trifling matters in the bill, William Maurice was ready (but upon the recipient's opinion upon his demurrer, that all should be dismissed) to answer. So he now only desires a dedimus potestatem to make his answer at home, being a man employed in the King's service of musters appointed at this time, and also of 80 years of age and unable to travel, especially since the process is served only seven days before the day of appearance. For the rest, [desires] upon so short a warning, to have such a Commission as the other five defendants had, the proceedings wherein appear by the Commissioner's Certificate which William Maurice hopes will declare the manner of his proceedings, that after he [?the Commissioner] had examined them upon a number of articles, he left the Commission with the Commissioners' clerk to be engrossed and went on his way. Also hopes the recipient will talk with Sergeant Finch of how he reported the cause and the matter referred to him. Commits all to the recipient's care and consideration and the rest to the report of William Maurice's cousin Mr Evance, William Maurice's solicitor.

Has a commission to be executed at Dolbenmaen on the 20th day of this month. Desires William Owen's favour to write to Hugh Owen, Gwnnynog, to ask him to come to William Maurice by that time since he has skill in surveying land. The principal thing that William Maurice would learn is the quantity of the bovate and how many acres the same contains. Will consider William Owen's charges and gains therein. Subscribed: William Owen's reply. Begs William Maurice to accept reply by word of mouth with his man, as William Owen has no time to express his mind at length in writing.

Lengthy account of legal business. Issues not clearly indicated. John Lloyd gave 2s. fee to Mr John Powel and spared further charges at this time, for if he had given more it would have been needless and therefore better spared 'for when you are present in person you may do as you please'. In William Maurice's absence the John Lloyd will disburse bare, ordinary and necessary fees and no more. Means to be in London on the 26th Oct., where he hopes to see his Worship, for he has special occasion to travel hither. But he will confer at large with Mr John Powel before going and will leave him his fees and all other fees whatsoever to be disbursed in William Maurice's causes. Therefore William Maurice need only send his letter to Mr Powel. There are not any of the Council resident here at this time. Sir Harry Townshend went to Shrewsbury with my Lord President.