File NLW MS 9062E/1624. - Letter from [Henry White] to Richard Bulkeley,

Acknowledges Bulkeley's letter. The insolence of Chedle in the matter of the captainship of Beaumaris is grown to the greatest height by the affront of the Lord Lieutenant and his deputies. On Thursday last the Deputy-Lieutenants sent Chedle a letter, subscribed by Sir Thomas Holland, Owen Wood, and Row. White, to demand by what warrant or authority he had countermanded the writer, whom they had appointed captain of the town (a copy of which letter the writer sends herewith). As soon as Chedle received this letter, he caused his own private drum to be beaten in the open streets of the town, and his ensign borne. When they came over against Sir Thomas Holland's house (he being then in town), they made a stand there for a good while, and, by way of defiance of him as Deputy- Lieutenant, beat their drum and advanced their colours there a long time. After this a boy who waits on Dr Chedle came to Sir Thomas Holland and told him that Mr Chedle had sent him thither with a paper, which he delivered, and which the writer sends herewith. It seems to be only an extract from the Earl of Dorset's Patent, but the boy showed neither the Patent itself nor any warrant from the Earl of Dorset authorizing Chedle to be his deputy, neither has Chedle so much as subscribed his name to testify to its being a true copy, but in a slighting manner sent the enclosed bare scrawl to the Deputy-Lieutenants in answer to their letter. He has shown no one a warrant but tells all the townspeople that he has the Great Seal of England, meaning the Patent, frightening and terrifying them thereby. As soon as he had sent this paper to Sir Thomas Holland, he marched down the streets in his scarlet, with a great plume of feathers, afore his drummer, with Richard Vaughan carrying the ensign, and William Hughes and Jarrett Terry in attendance as officers of his band. And so he marched into the castle, having previously, by his drummer, summoned all the soldiers of the town to appear before him there. He and his drummer were followed through the streets by his created officers and by all the idle people and boys, making very unlawful assembly in these troubled times. The next day, being Friday, he caused his drum and ensign again to be beaten about the streets, and proclamation to be made at the Cross and divers other places to this effect, viz.: 'All gentlemen, soldiers, and inhabitants of Beaumaris, you are to appear before Mr Chedle, Lieutenant to the Earl of Dorset, who is captain of the town of Beaumaris, at the castle, by two of the clock, upon peril that may ensue.' On Saturday again, through the midst of the market (that the country as well as the town might take notice of his authority), he marched with his drummer, colour, and officers, to the castle, and then, by reason of threats that he would return their names and have them fetched up if they appeared not, very many came thither with their arms to him, while he wrote their names in a list, and all this in such an insolent and arrogant way, and with boasting words and behaviour, which is an affront to the noble Lord Lieutenant and his jurisdiction. He has proceeded to an actual usurpation of the rights of the Lord Lieutenant and of his deputy officers, all of whom, as well as the writer (who was appointed by them all to discharge the place that Chedle has usurped), desire Col. Bulkeley to move the Lord Lieutenant for redress. Endorsed: 'Letter Mr H. W. to Mr Richard Bulkeley, 24 Martij, 1638. Copy.'. See Richard Fenton (ed. J. Fisher), 'Tours in Wales (1804-1813)' (Cambrian Arch. Assoc., 1917), pp. 290-291.