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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65091	A true narrative of the proceedings in the Court of Admiraltie against the ships Sampson, Salvador, and George, their silver and lading and an accompt presented what silver was taken out of the said ships, and coined in the tower (being above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds), all which silver the common-wealth got by the chargeable prosecution and discovery of Tho. Violet, who saved the common-wealth this silver, Dec. 16, 1652 ... : together with several humble proposals, for the profit and honour of this common-wealth, in saving them many score of thousand pounds ... / by Tho. Violet ...	Violet, Thomas, fl. 1634-1662.	1659 (1659)	Wing V594; ESTC R18686	84,216	166

this Petition together with the reasons thereunto annexed and with this our Warrant VVho are desired to Ordaine and appoint such Rules Prohibitions and Penalties for the effectuall and better management of this service the preventing of all former abuses and restrayning of the Counterfeiting and importation of any the said farthings from the parts beyond the Seas as they shall thinke fit and necessary for the carrying on of this Service for the good of the Common-wealth Given at Whitehall the 19th day of Aprill 1659. To our Trusty VVel beloved Sir William Ellis Barronett our Sollicitor Generall To my much honoured and worthy Friends Sr Thomas Viner Kt. Mr Alexander Holt Mr John Sanders Mr James Hore Mr Will. Baldwine Mr Will. Du-Gard Mr Sarjeant Dendy Mr Gabriel Beck Mr Bovey Mr Ed. Watkins Mr John Heatly Mr Lucas Lucie Mr Thom. Packington Mr Francis Bishop Mr John Burredge Mr Delabar Mr Nowel Mr Emery Mr Hord. Worthy Gentlemen and my good Friends TO you of all others I am most obliged to give a particular account of this business touching my staying this silver mentioned in this Book because I could not have done this great service of staying the Shipps Sampson Salvador and George and prosecuting that business in the Admiraltie but that I had the money to do it from you and I owe it you at this day about 1500 l. I have formerly shewed unto most of you the Orders of Parliament touching this business and what endeavours were acted by Mr James Steneer and severall other Merchants to cozen the State of all this great treasure All the printed Transactions most of you have seen formerly But the orders that mentions seaven severall Letters of Mr. James Steneres and severall other Merchants Letters which were read in Parliament Mr. James Steneer writes to his Correspondents beyond Seas concerning the geting them this Silver out of the Admiraltie wee meaning himselfe and the rest of his confederates have made a great many friends among the great ones to speake for us in the business when it comes before them a wise man may guess who those great ones were and what great ones made a trade by cozining the Common-wealth in their Prizes the Claimers of the silver at that time having stollen several scores of thousand poundes out of these Ships so that they weree full of money and they could bribe any Person in power that would be corrupted in another of Mr Steneres Letter that was read in the Parliament House Mr. Stenere writes to his Correspondents beyond Seas that he must have a care what hee did write to them touching this Silver business left his Letters should be opened when he was brought to the Parliament Barr the first of December 1652. he rather chose to act the part of a foole and a lyer rather then to serve the Common-wealth to discover this design for which tampering of his the Parliament committed him from the Barr to the Serjeant at Armes the first of December 1652. as appeares by the journals of the Parliament at that time Van Trumpe the Dutch Admirall was in the Downes and no doubt but his mouth watered after this Silver there is a Commission under the great Seal of Holland and the originall orders of the States Generall Upon the petition of the Merchants of Amsterdam to guard these ships and silver from the Parliaments forces which will remain to posteritie to show the justice of this Nation in staying this silver for Dutch silver the truth of this being also confest in the Admiraltie by many of the marriners and passengers which came that Voyage from Spain and that the Pursers books and many of the Bills of Lading were forged and altered at sea after that they had heard certainly by some ships that the Dutch were at warrs with England The Parliaments Agent at Cades gave advice here to Mr Wilson his kinsman the day that these ships set saile from Cades and though they gave out there that they were to go for Dunkirk yet their designed Port was Amsterdam they being loaden for the greatest part upon the account of the Dutch and the same was confest in the Admiraltie by many of the Passengers and others Decemb. 14. 1652. The Spanish Ambassador Don Alonso de Cardenas Embassador extraordinary for the King of Spain came in person to the Parliament and made an Oration in the House claiming all this silver in these three ships to belong to his Master and for his Masters subjects account which Speech hee also at the same time presented to the Parliament in writing both in Spanish and English together with two bundles of papers touching this silver which hee referred to the consideration of the House And for several daies hee made his appearance at the Council of State and put in the like claimes for this silver hee ingaging his Honour that no part of it did belong to the Dutch as will appear by the proceedings and the records of the Council of State and Mr Stenier was bayled and his businesse never called on to this day While these businesses were transacted at the Parliament Councel of State and Admiraltie I made the Lord Bradshaw and many of the Council of State acquainted with the whole practice and fraud that was intended to be put on them by the aforesaid parties and that if they had not a special care the Judges in the Admiraltie would discharge this silver and the Dutch had rather it should be in the bottom of the sea than wee should have it Upon this Information the Council of State commanded mee to attend carefully the motions of the Court of Admiraltie and the Merchants touching this Silver and from time to time to give the Council an account what was done in the businesse Whereupon December 15. 1652. I made the Council acquainted That the Judges of the Admiraltie had appointed to bring these ships Sampson Salvador and George their silver and lading to a judgment the next day being Decemb. 16. in the Admiraltie And that I did believe the Judges would cleare the ships the Lord Bradshaw and some others of the Council askt mee what reason I had to say so or to suspect so Whereupon I told them the Commissioners of Dutch prize Goods had given me a warrant to go aboard these Dutch prize ships when I pleas'd and to imploie whom I thought good to get acquaintance with the sea-men aboard these ships And I had certain intelligence that Otho George Captain of the Sampson had commanded all his men to be in readinesse and had taken in fresh victualling and biskets and that in a few daies they should be at Dunkirk declaring that Van Tromp would do them no hurt though hee were on the Downes Upon this discovery many of the Council of State did apprehend the great dammage and danger the Nation was in if this great treasure should fall into the hands of the Dutch and after much debate I was commanded by the Council to attend in

hee would improve that Testimony to the uttermost for the States advantage which indeed Doctor Walker did And I proved these frauds by the testimony of about ten of the Passengers being all Dutchmen Hamburgers and Lubeccars and other Hans-towns men and I had above fourscore witnesses the Passengers and Merchants more to examine in this businesse many of them were after packed away by the Claimers being Dutch marriners and had money given them that they should keep out of the way and not be examined and several Witnesses waited many daies to be examined in the Admiralty and could not Spanish Gold and Silver was plentifully bestowed on some in the Admiralty and they loved it well The Claimers had their Instruments almost every night that stole silver out of these ships to the value of many score thousand pounds which I discovered to the Councel of State as appeared by several papers which I presented to them I imployed several men who spake the Dutch Language at my own charge and gave them money to go on ship-board and to drink freely with the Dutch marriners and in their cups to fish out the secrets of this businesse and when I had once got the end of the string I would by other engines and instruments closely follow and never give it over till I knew the whole bottom of the Flemmish and Spanish cheats which they intended to put upon the Nation These men that I imployed on ship-board for to make this Discovery for mee never appeared to mee in the Admiralty lest the Spanish and Dutch Merchants and marriners should have discovered them to have been my spies And to deal clearly with your Honours they were none of them Book-men Civilians nor Lawyers but such persons as be skellom'd mee soundly in their cups with the Dutch marriners and though I paid for the Brandey-wine strong beer Mum and Spruce beere pickle Herrings and Holland cheese yet I never exspected from them good word or peny of money for all this charge and pains If I were to do the like service again for the State I would never look in any Books of the Civil Law but consult with such persons as know how to humour a Dutch Skipper or marriner and fish out his secrets Thus have I clearly told you the waies and instruments I used to do the Common-wealth this great service I now humbly exspect according to the Councel of States promise the summe of eleven thousand pounds for this service And had I not undertaken it the Common-wealth had lost this Silver which was to the value of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds This that he desires being just I desire that you would not put him off but let it be done forthwith unto himself and all such others as he under his hand shall nominate for he employes others under him in searching into this businesse He will nominate none but such as may be trusted in it And I desire you in your several places to give him and all that he shall employ all ready dispatch and encouragement that the businesse of the Common-wealth may finde no obstacle Where there is publication you may likewise shew him the Depositions and I pray let nothing that is just be denied him 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker 3 September 1653. MAster Dorislaus and M. Bud are now again desired to deliver unto Mr. Violet a Copie of the Specifications given in by the Masters and Commanders of the ships Sampson Salvador and George as likewise Copies of all the Pleadings Articulate Exhibited and admitted on the part of the Claimers of the Silver in any of these ships And they are to go with him to the Register and Examiners Offices and to procure him a view of all the Bills of Lading Extracts and Exhibites either brought into the Office or exhibited by any Claymers And whatever Papers are or shall bee exhibited by any Claymers And whatever Papers are or shall bee exhibited by any Claimers in the three Ships I do as Advocate for the Common-wealth desire Mr. Dorislaus to yeild all his endeavours and assistance and also the Register Examiner and Deputy-Register in the Admiraltie from time to time to give Mr Violet free admittance and view of all Acts Bills of Lading and Pleas Exhibited and Extracts and Papers remaining in the Registry or which shall come in And to it readily and effectually the same tending to the service of the Common-wealth and being in order for preparing the Evidence fit to be produced for the Common-wealth I am in this Letter by order of the Councel of State to Doctor Walker entreated to make this Discovery but now I have done the States-work with the hazard of my life and vast expence I cannot by Petitions Certificates or Prayers and many yeares attendance get to be paid my most dearly earned reward which the Councel promised me being eleven thousand pounds had I thought of this usage I could have bin paid by the Claimers If this discovery had bin so easily made and had bin every bodies work to have found out the Spaniards Frauds I should not have had these earnest Entreaties from Dr. Walker according to the Orders of the Councel of State of the 1. of Septemb. 1653. The Commissioners for Prize-Goods have certified to Mr Secretary Thurloe how active and knowing they found me to make these Discoveries and had I not been so the Nation had lost every peny of this great Treasure amounting to above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds And I do according to the Order of the Councel of State of the First of September 1653 earnestly desire and Entreat Mr. Violet and also the Commissioners for Prize goods and their Sollicitors and Agents as also the Proctor and Silicitors for the State and every one of them with all convenient speed severally to set down in Writing all the Informations that they respectively know of or can finde And all the Evidences and Proofs that may be discerned or produced on the part of the Common-wealth That so a full Plea and Articulate Allegation may be prepared and the Proofs brought in for the Common-wealth And no Default bee done suffered or Committed 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker Here follows the Referrees Letter with their desires to my Lord Bradshaw WHereas by an Order of Reference from his Highnesse the Lord Protector dated the 13th of July 1657. the Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet concerning his staying the ships Sampson Salvador and George and therein the Dutch silver is referred to the consideration of Sir Thomas Vyner and Sir John Barkstead Knights Captain John Limbrey Doctor Walker Gabriel Beck Maurice Thomson Edward Dendy Henry Middleton and Isaac Dorislaus Esquires or any three or more of them who according to the said Order of Reference are to examine state and certifie the premisses contained in the said Petition to his Highnesse together with their opinion upon the whole matter And whereas upon reading the said Petition of the said Mr. Thomas

the Court of Admiraltie Decemb. 16. all the while the Court sate and if the Judges did go about to clear the silver then I should make my Protest against their proceedings till my Witnesses were examined that should discover the fraud And the Councel likewise charged mee That if the Judges askt mee by what authoritie I made my Protest I should deny I had any order from the Councel of State but I should do it upon my owne peril and account if I were certain I could disprove the Spanish Ambassador and if I did prove that there was silver aboard these ships belonging to the Dutch out of the first hundred thousand pounds that was coined of this silver I should be paid eleven thousand pounds being in lieu of my estate that I had for many yeares petitioned for whereupon I told the Council the estate the Parliament took from me endamaged me above sixteen thousand pounds many of the Councel replying Perform you what you have undertaken which we believe you are never able to do and you shall have an honourable reward for this service over and above eleven thousand pounds which you claim for your estate I have done this service and two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds the State hath had and employed it for the desence of the Common-wealth in paying the Army and Navy as will appear by the Accounts of Coll. Barkstead yet to this day the Council of State hath not performed their faithful Promise to me to pay me eleven thousand pounds and to give me an honourable reward over and above for this service It is very remarkable that there was a designe laid amongst some of Mr Steniers great ones to cozen the State of this Treasure and would I have been Knave I might have been one of his great ones and have taken ten thousand pounds to let the silver go as in this Book is cortifiedby many honourable persons might have had And that to some in the Admiralty my appearing in that Court to stay this silver was most distastfull and unexspected and spoiled some peoples markets both in the Admiraltie and other places too for some of the Judges in the Admiralty Exton and Stevens Decem. 16. 1652. were so farre from giving mee thanks for my discovery and for making my Protest in the behalf of the State to save this silver which had not their interest and profit layen another way they ought to have done but they contrariwise openly in the Court before many hundreds of merchants have reviled mee and would of discharged this silver And had I not received a command from the Council of State the day before to act in that manner to be sure to keep the Judges from discharging the silver let the Judges say what they pleased the Iudges would that morning have discharged the silver and consulted together to commit mee they disputed the businesse so lowd that I and many others heard it And the Iudges bid Wyeen the then Register of the Admiralty call on the ships Sampson Salvador and George not minding what I said this can be proved by many merchants and is fully certified by the Officers of the Mint Whereupon I told Mr Wyeen the Register that if he and the Iudges did discharge the silver in these ships and did not forbear their sentence till my Witnesses were examined I would make it the dearest daies work they ever did in their lives or to that effect And I undertook before the Iudges in the Admiralty upon the peril of my life to disprove the Sanish Ambassador and Flemmish Claimes to this silver Whereupon Monsieur Motett the Spanish Ambassadors Secretary hearing mee say so to the Iudges was in a very great rage and so were all the rest of the Claimers Whereupon I told the Iudges that if they would clear the silver notwithstanding my Protest before my witnesses were examined it was most apparent the Common-wealth was betrayed and bribes given and taken by some great ones to cozen the Common-wealth of this silver but it should not be in their power to do it for I would prevent them And that if the Iudges did proceed to discharge this silver and that this silver come into the hands of the Dutch the Iudges lives and estates could not make the Common-wealth satisfaction for that Van Tromp the Dutch General was then on the Downer and an hastie Iudgment before the truth of this plot was discovered would put this silver into the Dutch mens power which might be of sad consequence to this Nation and may cost many thousand English men their lives VVhereupon all the Spanish and Flemmish Claimers were in a great rage heat and discontent Two of the Iudges Exton and Stevens told mee I had undone my selfe for ever in making my Protest against the discharge of the silver and by my other actions and words that day in the Admiralty and so the Iudges commanded mee to attend the Council of State that afternoon And so the Court broke up the Spaniards and Flemmings cursing mee bitterly and I exspected every minute to be murdered by them The Iudges of the Admiralty prophesied truer then Lilly hitherto for they told mee the staying of this silver would undo mee for if the Council of State do not pay mee the eleven thousand pounds they promised mee I have by my faithfulness honesty and integrity to my Countrey in the protesting against the discharge of this silver in the Admiralty and by my constant chargeable and dangerous prosecution thereof in getting the State two hundred seventy eight thousand pound in refusing the Claimers money when they offered mee ten thousand pounds to be silent and let the State be cozened of the silver VVould I have been a knave I might have been reckoned among Mr Stenieers great ones but my faithfulness to my Countrey in this particular service if the State be not just to mee in their promise will undo mee for ever Gentlemen I have formerly delivered a particular of some of your names and the summes of money I borrowed of you to to enable me to do this great service all my owne Estate being under a sequestration unto the Commissioners that were appointed to examine this businesse Most of you knew when you lent me this monies I was to lay it out in this businesse in the Admiraltie and tenn honourable Gentlemen have Certified I borrowed of you and spent in this service seven hundred sixty five pounds besides severall great summes of money I payd some of you for Interest of this money ever since the year 1652. and great summes of money I have borrowed to do the Council of State other services as you may finde in this booke Fol. 107. 108. I owe unto you all this 25th of May 1659. the summe of fifteen hundred fourtie and odde pounds currant money of England which sums I have laid out and a great deal more in doing of this Common wealths service Gentlemen I have printed this Letter to acquaint