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An account for £70 rendered to Sir John Owen for ribbons, shoes, wine 'upon the ladies', and substantial payments to individuals.

An account for £9.5.2, rendered to Sir John Owen for mutton, possets, tripe, faggots, poached eggs, chickens, pease, butter, milk for six weeks, lodgings for six weeks, postage of two letters, etc.

Petition from Sir Robert Owen for a grant of the Constableship of Harlech Castle, enclosed with a note from Owen Wynne asking Owen to insert any necessary alteration.

Indisposition and grief prevent William Maurice from travelling or taking pleasure in attending Justice Barker at Merionethshire or these sessions (though he has various complaints), to answer the false suggestions of such notorious fellows as Sir Ieu'n, that irregular minister. Will not [...] other honest gentlemen his cousins Mr Robert ap John ap [...] John Powell ap Owen and his son Robert [...] and unjust dealing with William Maurice to rob him and wrest [...] from him contrary to their pretended recovery. These are emboldened by Justice Barker's favour [...] against William Maurice whom they see Justice Barker disfavours and thought [...] have Justice Barker's countenance against him in law [...] of pleas or in the Chancery Court of equity. William Maurice hoped to find justice in both. Desires no more and deserves no less; grounds his greatest title on King James, who, as Lord Cooke called him, is the fountain of justice, in whose name William Maurice craves the same. Never offended Justice Barker except in being earnest in the King's requests which he hoped Justice Barker would be as willing to perform. If any cause moved Justice Barker to the contrary, he had no cause to bear spleen against William Maurice especially in matters of justice and law. Particularises two or three in which William Maurice thinks and is advised, Justice Barker granted hard order against him, and for two of which he asks redress at Justice Barker's hand. Two are in respect of himself and the King, touching their [...] and inheritance, and the third is for a poor widow with five children, some of them cripples, for whom William Maurice speaks in charity and hopes Justice Barker will act likewise. Ends with a greeting in Sir William Maurice's hand. Torn.

Ralph [Eure, Lord] Eure, Ludlow Castle, to his friends Sir John Gwynne, kt, bart, Sir William Moris, Sir William Thomas, kt, and John Gruffith, esq., deputy lieutenants for Caernarfonshire. The recipients shall see from a copy of the enclosed letters, addressed to Ralph Eure with extraordinary haste, how important are their contents, namely the apprehending of Lord Maxwell, a Scotsman, a convicted traitor. Their discretion and loyalty in this business will enable them to act as required. Adds the following directions: such a person, having broken prison, where he was committed and convicted for such high offences, would probably not return except with worse intentions. Therefore the search for him after his return is as necessary as was pursuit of him on his flight and escape. Requires and authorises the recipients diligently and with all speed to search all likely places, where ships put in or where any strangers are found suspect. Let each of them search his own 'particular', and wherever they are suspicious, extend the search outside the county, using this letter as their warrant. If they come upon Lord Maxwell and are resisted while apprehending him or fear a rescue while they convey him to Ralph Eure as the letter requires, authorises them to raise such power as may [...] him and them. Request for their best endeavours.

The Privy Council (named), at the Court at Whitehall, to [Ralph Eure], Lord Eure, Lord President of Wales and Lieutenant of the Counties of Wales and the Marches. The peace enjoyed since the King came to the crown has bred security and neglect of necessary provisions for war; suspect there has been a great decay in the arms and equipment requisite in a well ordered state for continued peace. The ease of timely provision thereof since it causes less expense and trouble may induce every man to equip himself as necessary to serve the state and prevent the inconveniences which follow neglect. But the times are such both in respect of the recent boldness of the recusants and other causes requiring a ready supply in this behalf, that the King has commanded the Council to order a general muster and survey to be made and certified of the armed forces of the realm and any defects therein to be supplied, which command should be swiftly executed since it is intended not only for the safety of the realm but also to ease each man's trouble which would be much greater if it were left to a sudden necessity. Require Ralph Eure to have a general view made of all the forces, both horse and foot, and to have notice taken and enrolment made of all the numbers, trained and untrained, and especially to see the trained bands made complete, replacing officers or others who are dead, unsuitable or have gone away since previous musters with suitable men such as freeholders, 'ffermors', owners of land or householders. Let him also have defects of armour, weapons and equipment repaired and the numbers of horse, doubtless much deficient, if not increased, at least made as complete as hitherto with arms, equipment and horsemen. If any persons excuse themselves from this duty upon pretence of being servants of the King or any nobleman or peer, or thereby seeks to avoid the charge of providing horses, arms or equipment as charged, let Ralph Eure see that no such persons be exempted except those known to be the King's ordinary servants in court and household servants to noblemen. Others who are only extraordinary or retainers should be charged at the musters and other public services like others of like ability and should send arms and equipment or horses as charged, to be viewed with the rest of the counties. At the general view, it will be expedient for those charged to find arms and others fit to be charged, to be ordered to show them at the musters. Hope the justices of the peace will not be sparing in sending horses, equipment and servants to the musters, but rather do so eagerly for the furtherance of the service and as an example to others so that the musters may be taken with as little trouble to the country as possible. Each division should be mustered apart so that men do not have to travel far for their assembly or continue in the service for longer than necessary. But this abuse has been found hitherto when the musters have been so divided, that some persons, not having provided arms and equipment as charged, have borrowed them from others to serve for their view thereby themselves avoiding the charge. For the prevention thereof the musters in the several divisions should be taken all on one day if possible, otherwise Ralph Eure should take the best order he can for the redress thereof. It was ordered in former directions that in certain places a quantity of powder be kept as a store with match bullets and other provisions for a carriage, always ready for service, which the Council suppose are defective. Require Ralph Eure to have the store supplied and kept serviceable. Let him charge persons of suitable ability in the counties to repair the decay and replace what has been used as necessary, and let him see the store kept in the shire towns or such other towns as he thinks suitable for its safe keeping and not in a dangerous place subject to surprise by ill-disposed persons. Further require him, since the beacons in the counties have been long neglected, to see them quickly repaired and made ready to use if required. Lastly let all directions for the good order of the forces or otherwise concerning the strength of the country be observed; let him have special regard thereof and certify the Council without fail by 1 April of the views and musters, showing the defects, how they were supplied and all other proceedings relating to the service.

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.