the Sampson Salvadore the St George These Silver-ships brought treasure to our shore Two hundred seventie thousand pounds and more Color'd by Flemish and by Spanish Claimes The Fraud's discover'd Violet spoile's the games By seasonable Protest when Great Ones did decree To th' Nation 's Dammage to haue set them free Reward is due ô lett it not bee said The Worke is don But Workman never paid Tho Violet 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 Commonmon-wealth this Silver Dec. 16. 1652. As in this Narrative is Attested under the Hands of many Honourable Persons Together with several Humble Proposals for the Profit and Honour of this Common-wealth in saving them many score of thousand pounds 1. By making an Act against transporting Gold and Silver 2. Against the culling and melting down the heavy currant Coines of the Nation By removing the Obstructious of the Mint and wayes propounded to make the Mint constantly coyn money 4. For the just and due Regulation of the Manufactures of gold and silver Lace to prevent the daily cheats put upon the Wearers 5. And for the making of a publick Copper Farthing and a great Revenue propounded to be monethly paid out of the same for the relief of the maimed Soldiers And several other Particulars humbly represented to the Parliament and Councel of State By THO VIOLET of London Goldsmith Deut. 24. 14 15. Thou shalt not oppresse an hired Servant that is poor and needie whether he be of thy brethren or of the strangers that are in thy land within thy Gates Ver. 15. At his day thou shalt give him his Hire neither shall the Sun go down upon it for he is poor and setteth his heart upon it lest he cry against thee to the Lord and it be sinne unto thee LONDON Printed Anno Dom. 1659. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE John Lord Bradshawe Lord Commissioner of the Great Seal of England Tho. Lord Fairfax Maj. Gen. Lambert Sir Arthur Hesilrigge Sir Henry Vane Sir James Harington Lieut. Gen. Ludlow Lord Whitlock Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood Josiah Barners Esq Coll. Morley Tho. Scot Esq Col. Sydenham Henry Nevill Esq Tho. Chaloner Esq All of them of the most honourable Councel of State May it please your Honours IT is a curious Art to make a Watch and he must be a skilful Artist that exactly sets a broken Bone God for the sins of this Nation hath several times in this Age took the Clock of this Common-wealth in pieces and many of the pins and wheels have bin and are misplaced It now requires great skill to place and set every thing in its due order Your Honours have a great work to do God hath broken us in pieces and divided our Councels and none can unite us but he that hath wounded us he only must cure us and bless and sanctifie all lawful means or else our disjoynted bones will never be truly knit or exactly set For this end hath God apointed a select number of honourable persons of which number your Honours are Members whose heart God hath fixed for this great Work to revive the stones out of the heap of rubbish and to build the Walls of our Jerusalem though the Sanballats Arabians and Ammonites be worth and conspire altogether to fight against Jerusalem to hinder this VVork Right Honourable if you will finish this good VVork you have begun you must do as Nehemiah did keep good watch day and night because of your enemies lest your adversaries serve you as they served Nehemiah for they say you shall not know nor see till we come in the midst amongst them and slay them and cause the work to cease if this be not prevented this Parliament will have a fatal end Presidents in Courts of Justice is a great Guide to all just Judges especially when they have been made by the Grave and Learned and are recorded in the Sacred Bible the chiefest Book that every good Statesman walks by such Statesmen that walks by Machiavels rules the wicked Maximes of these troublesom times they do as Saul did when he left God and went to the VVitch of Endor he pretended to go to speak with Samuel and met with the devil so these times have produced many a Fast the pretence hath bin to seek God and Peace when the true end hath bin to get to be the Head of a Party and Faction to make division and to get the Peoples money The People are now very well acquainted with such canting and as we know after a flash of lightning there comes a clap of thunder so hath it many times fallen out after Fasts hath followed an erecting of an High Court of Justice or one remarkable oppression or other I humbly present you here in this Epistle with a good President made by a great Statesman Nehemiah such a one as God hath recorded was a Saviour of his Countrey a Builder up of Jerusalem in the like case and in the like straits as it is now or suddenly without Gods infinite mercy will be vvith us he took this course In the first place he sought God and prayed before the God of Heaven and did not make a mock-Fast then he used the means he fell to his VVork and built up the walls of Jerusalem and did not only build but he built wisely and politickly and had there bin a Sanballat found amongst them the people would have stoned him On the lovver places behind the vvall and on the higher places he set the people after their families vvith their svvords their spears and their bovves and vvhen he had set himself in a posture of defence he made the people to be his Guard and delivered an Oration to the Rulers and People saying Be not afraid of your enemies remember the Lord which is great and terrible and fight for your brethren your sonnes and your daughters your wives and your houses I shall humbly desire your Honours to observe vvhat vvas the effect of this orderly and good posture Nehemiah and his people did not their work carelessely and by halfes and spent their precious time in needlesse questions but did all things upon sound advice For when great things are quietly without Faction disputed and the Result concluded then to use expedition and resolution is just policie But all hasty and unadvised attempts at long running brings the Common-wealth into great danger and the Actors generally into contempt and misery many men in their designes thinking to catch a great Fish but after long angling bring up a Frog this daily experience hath shewed and I can experimentally say it to be true For those men that read Machiavel and make it
great expence pains and faithfulness shall have its due and promised Reward considering that in these humble Proposals which I have propounded to your Honours for my satisfaction I take no money from the publick but humbly offer to pay in monethly a great Revenue to the maimed Souldiers to regulate the abuses of the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread and Lace to give a stop to the Transportation of Gold and Silver to keep your Mint constantly at work to coyn money great quantities yearly all which services are of very great consequence to the Common-wealth the consideration of the premisses I humbly leave to your Honours and remain Your Honours dutifull and humble Servant TH. VIOLET THE TABLE THO. Violets Petition to the late Protector Oliver for getting the Common-wealth two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds and to be paid his reward according to Promise p. 51. The Lord Protectors Reference 61 The Officers of the Mint their Certificate concerning this businesse 61 Several persons Affidavits of Tho. Violets Services 63 A Copy of Tho Violets Letter sent to the Lord Bradshaw 67 Mr. Wilson and Mr. Hills Letter to Mr. Thurloe 68 Doctor Walkers Warrants to the Examiners Mr. How Mr. Arnold Mr. Dorislaws Mr. Bud concerning Tho. Violet 69 Sir Tho. Viner Sir Iohn Barkstead Iohn Limbery Maurice Thomson Esq their desires to the Lord Bradshaw touching Tho. Violet 74 Doctor Walkers Certificate 90 Lord Com. Bradshaws Certificate concerning Tho. Violets service in staying this Silver 80 Alderman Francis Allen Esq his Certificate 83 Sir George Fleetwoods Certificate concerning this service and the Councel of States Promise and engagement to Tho. Violet for his reward 84 Sir Iames Harringtons Certificate of many services done in staying this Silver and in other Particulars 92 Sir Tho. Viner Sir Iohn Barkstead Gabriel Beck Capt. Iohn Limbery Edward Dendy Henry Middleton Maurice Thomson Isaac Dorislaws Esq Certificate touching Th. Violets great service in the Silver-business 99 The Late Lord Protector Richards Order to Gabriel Beck and Francis Bacon Esquires touching Tho. Violet 112 Francis Bacon and Gabriel Becks Certificate to the late Lord Protector Richard 113. Tho. Violets Petition to the late Lord Protector in the name of Edward Iohnson Esq for the making of a publick farthing 118 The late Protectors Warrant to Master Solicitor General Ellis to prepare a Grant for these Farthings 120 An Account given to Sir Thomas Viner Mr. Alexander Holt c. of this business of the Silver Ships 122 The several abuses and obstructions of the Mint with ways propounded by Tho. Violet to set the Mint on work 11 The late King Charles's Letter to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London 33 An Account of what hath been taken from me by the Parliament 38 An Order of the Councel of State requiring Th. Violet to pay fourty pounds to the Committee of Salop for certain Bonds with power to take the benefit of them and sue them as he might have done before any Sequestration 47 Iohn Corbet Esq his Receipt for the aforesaid fourty pounds 48 To the High Court of PARLIAMENT of the Common-wealth of England c. AND TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE THE COUNCEL OF STATE I. THomas Violet of London Goldsmith humbly presents this Narrative concerning his staying in the Court of Admiralty the Silver in the Ships Sampson Salvador and George together with the Certificates and Reports of many Honourable Persons attesting your Petitioners great service done this Nation in his seasonable Applications to the Councel of State 1652. and his protesting in the Admiralty against the discharge of this silver and discovering the frauds of the Spanish and Flemish Claimers and in many other particulars II. Further sheweth that there was unloaded out of the aforesaid ships 1653. upon your Petitioners discovery the summe of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds which your Petitioners stayed by his Protest in the Admiralty the same houre the Judges would have discharged it And this silver was all coyned in the Tower And Colonel Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower paid all this treasure to the Army and Navie for the defence and service of this Common wealth in 1653. and 1654. as will appear to your Honours upon the sight of his Accounts concerning this businesse III. These Particulars with many others are certified to his late Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector under the hands of Col. Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower Alderman Viner Capt. John Limbery Doctor Walker Serjeant Dendy Maurice Thomson Treasurer of the East-India Company Serjeant Middleton Isaack Dorislawes Gabriel Beck Esquires By vertue of his late Highnesse reference directed to them 13. July 1657. IV. The true Copies of these original Petitions and Certificates and several other Transactions touching this silver are here presented to your Honours view to the end your Petitioner may after so long a delay of Justice have his dearly earned reward Your Honours upon perusal of all the Premisses will see it clearly proved your Petitioners great expence eminent zeal faithfulnesse and integritie with the hazard of his life in this service of the Common-wealth Your Honours Humble Servant THO. VIOLET May 25. 1659. TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE The LORDS and others of the COUNCEL OF STATE VIZ. Thomas Lord Fairfax Major Gen. Lambert Col. John Desborough Col. James Bury John Bradshaw Serjeant at Law Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper Sir Horatio Townsend Sir Arthur Hesilrigge Sir Henry Vane Lieut Gen. Ludlow Lieut. Gen. Fleetwood Major Saloway Col. Dixwell Mr. Reynolds Mr. Josiah Barners Col. Morley Mr. Thomas Scot Mr. Robert Wallop Sir James Harrington Col. Walton Col. John Jones Col. Sydney Col. Sydenham Mr. Hen. Nevill Mr. Thomas Chaloner Col. Downs Lord Chief Justice St. John Col. Thompson Lord Whitlock Sir Robert Honywood Sir Archibald Johnson May is please your Honours YOur Petitioner did about the eighth of Decemb. 1652. deliver into the Councel of State a Written Paper wherein was discovered that at that present time a Practice and Combination was set on foot by several Merchants and others to deceive the Common-wealth of a great quantity of silver above three hundred thousand pounds which was then aboard the Ships Sampson Salvador and St. George then riding about Black-wall Upon Examination of this Businesse at the Councel of State the Councel within few dayes after commanded and engaged your Petitioner in this service and your Petitioner did faithfully promise the Councel his uttermost endeavours to discover this fraud and at his own charge to prosecute this Businesse in the Court of Admsraltie The Judges of the Court of Admiraltie did appoint the 16. day of Decemb. 1652. to give sentence for clearing these ships and silver being to the value of about three hundred thousand pounds in silver as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint Whereupon your Petitioner came into the Court of Admiralty the very day and houre the Judges were clearing the said silver and at his own peril made his Protest in the Admiraltie
Treasurer of the East India Company Serjeant Middleton Isaac Dorislawes Esquires or any three or more of them to take your Petitioners Petition into their consideration to examine all the premisses and thereupon to state and certifie your Petitioners case to his late Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector together with their opinions upon the whole matter touching your Petitioners reward and satisfaction for this service as appears by the original Petition and Reference All the aforenamed Referrees upon reading this Petition and the transactions thereupon after many dayes meeting held it very necessarie for the clearing of the truth to acquaint the Lord Bradshaw Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood and Francis Allen Esquires with your Petitioners Petition and his Highnesse Reference thereupon in regard your Petitioner had named all the aforesaid Honourable perjons in his Petitions and Papers amongst others who both knew your Petitioners services touching the staying this silver and were privie to the Councel of States Ingagements and Intentions to pay your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds when your Petitioner undertook to disprove the Spanish and Flemish Claimers And upon Consideration of the Councels promise to your Petitioner as aforesaid was the cause that made your Petitioner undertake this difficult chargeable and dangerous service And the aforesaid referrees received Certificates from everie one of the aforesaid honorable persons which Certificates set forth the great service done by your Petitioner viz. That your Petitioner was upon his first undertaking of this Business looked on by the then Councel of State as the Great Wheel that set all on work and set on foot this discovery in getting the State this great Treasure or else the State had lost it in the Admiraltie and that these Actings of your Petitioner accompanied with great charge hazzard and trouble was the Cause sine qua non of the after-benefit received by the State upon conversion of this silver That the Councel of States Ingagements and intentions to the Petitioner at his first assuming the imploiment was not without good reason uncommitted to writing for avoiding of misconstruction And the Councel of State did not onely promise the Petitioner the restoration of his Estate for his particular service of staying the Silver but did also promise to confer upon the Petitioner an Honorable Memorial and had not the Petitioner had a real assurance from the Councel of State in 1652. for the paying of him the summe of eleven thousand pounds the whole Businesse touching this Silver had been lost and left undertaken had not the Petitioner had such an insurance and promise and also relied on the same for a just Performance It is true they certifie that for some Reasons of State the Petitioners Thomas Violets assurance and reward was not committed to writing to avoid clamour and lewd tongues but this omission was not to frustrate the Petitioner of his dearly earn'd Reward the restoration of his Estate or eleven thousand pounds These are but the Heads of the aforesaid Certificates the Originals certifie all matters touching this Business at large under the hands of the Lord Bradshaw Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood Francis Allen Esquires every person severally certifies all the aforesaid referrees their particular knowledge of this Business Col. Barkstead Sir Thomas Viner and all the before-named Referrees upon consideration of these Certificates and upon sight of the attestation of the Officers of the Mint and several other Witnesses who depose That Thomas Violet was several times offered and might have received from the Claimers of Silver Merchants of Flanders then in London the summe of ten thousand pounds to have desisted the prosecution of this Business in the Court of Admiralty and to have betrayed the trust which the Councel of State imposed on him to make a discovery of Spanish and Flemish fraudulent Claimes and also upon sight of several orders of the Councel of State the Judges of the Admiralty and Doctor Walker and several depositions taken in the Petitioners case upon the whole matter all the aforesaid Referrees certifie his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector viz. That upon Examination of Thomas Violets Petition they finde that the Petitioner is a person who not onely deservs the making good of the Councel of States Ingagement and Promise unto him for the true paying your Petitioner Tho. Violet the summe of eleven thousand pounds but upon due consideration had of the great Travel Charge and Hazard which your Petitioner hath undergone in the Prosecution of this businesse and your Petitioners great faithfulness in refusing to be corrupted or betray the interest of the Common-wealth as hath been fully proved unto them as also upon the Attestation of Sir George Fleetwood and Sir James Harrington concerning the Promise of the Councel of State to your Petitioner Tho. Violet for the restoration to him his estate or eleven thousand pounds all these Referrees report to his late Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector that they humbly conceive upon the whole matter of Fact that over and above the payment of eleven thousand pounds that there be some signal reward conferred on the Petitioner for this his eminent service that all other for the future may be encouraged to serve the interest of the Common-wealth with that singular faithfulness and integrity as the Petitioner hath done and they all certifie that they finde It proved that the Petitioner by his chargeable prosecution of this business in the Court of Admiralty hath contracted debts amounting unto the summe of seven hundred sixty five pounds which the Petitioner borrowed at interest all his own estate being under sequestration ever since 1643. besides several other great summes of money your Petitioner borrowed at interest for his support ever since his sequestration upon consideration whereof they finde the Petitioners Engagements are very pressing upon him and they all humblie offer that for the present lest the Petitioner should be thrown into prison for the very moneys he hath expended in getting the Common-wealth this great treasure of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds the just accompt thereof they had seen presented unto them by Col. Barkstead That his Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector in consideration of all the Premisses would be pleased presently to pay the Petitioner Tho. Violet some considerable sum of money to pay off his great engagements for the State and for his support for the future according to his quality and that the remainder of the money to make up the summe of eleven thousand pounds be paid unto him according to the Promise of the Councel of State the Petitioner Tho. Violet having served the Common-wealth in this great businesse with a great deal of resolution faithfulness and activity This Report is at large signed and certified to his late Highness Oliver Lord Protector the first of May 1658. by Col. Barkstead Lieutenant of the Tower Mr. Alderman Vyner Gabriel Beck John Limbery Edward Denly Henry Middleton Maurice Thomson Treasurer of the East-India Company Isaac
Violet there are many particulars of service alledged by the Petitioner which he affirms the Lord Bradshaw to have knowledge of It is therefore desired in order to a speedy and effectual proceeding upon the said Petition That Gabriel Beck Esquire Mr. Serjeant Dendy or either of them will take the paines to wait upon the Lord Bradshaw and in the names of the above-said Referrees to Present the Petition and Reference relating to the said Thomas Violet with the desire of the said Referrees That his Lordship upon perusal of the same will be pleased to certifie his knowledge of the premisses dated the one and twentieth day of August 1657. Tho. Vyner Jo. Barkstead Jo. Limbrey Maurice Thomson This same Letter which these aforesaid Referrees writ to the Lord Bradshaw the Referrees out of their love to Justice and to know the Truth were pleased to write to Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood and Francis Allen Esquire and sent them Copies of your Petitioners Petition and Reference subscribed by the aforesaid Referrees that so these Honourable Gentlemen upon the perusal of your Petitioners Petition and the Reference thereupon would also be pleased to certifie their knowledge of the Premisses to the aforesaid Referrees which they all of them were honourably pleased to certifie accordingly For which Justice of theirs I am bound to pray for every one of them the like great Obligations your Petitioner owes to the following Referrees let the issue of this Business be what God please I have learned to submit unto his Providence I am as clay in the Potters hands And though I was very unwilling to print these Certificates and the Referrees report to their late Highnesses Oliver and Richard knowing these Honourable Gentlemen love to do the oppressed right for conscience sake without blowing a Trumpet not looking for thanks from men that so God may reward them openly Yet the present posture of my business is such that to demonstrate the many services your Petitioner hath done this Common-wealth your Honours shall see it certified under the hands of twenty four Honourable and Credible persons the Originalls I have ready to produce I humbly crave pardon of these Honourable Gentlemen for doing thereof without acquainting them therewith it is both by the Lawes of God and this Nation that out of the mouth of two VVitnesses every thing shall bee established both for mens Estates and Lifes by the Laws of this Land a Jury of twelve persons either quit or condemn all persons of what degree soever For your Honours Information your Honours upon the perusal of these Certificates would see a concatenation of faithfull and difficult service which your Petitioner at his great expence charge trouble and losse of time from the very houre your Petitioner was discharged out of the Tower viz. 1647 to the year 1651. the year before your Petitioner undertooke this great service of staying the Silver in the Ships Sampson Salvador and George In consideration of which service done as aforesaid many of the Council of State and members of this Parliament did promise your Petitioner the restoration of his Estate and they watched but for an opportunity to acquaint the Parliament therewith that so his Estate may bee restored unto him againe all these services and promises made by the Council in the year 1651. before ever this Silver was brought into the River or the State had seased on it May it please your Honours in Decemb. 1652. before your Petitioner would undertake to make his discovery of the Spanish and Flemish fraudulent Claimes to cozen the State of this Treasure and to be at the charge of prosecuting the same in the Admiralty your Petitioner was necessitated to come to a certain agreement about his estate with the Councel of State and how he should be paid for this service or else it had been a thing impossible for your Petitioner to have undertaken this task or to have gone through with it in respect the Councel of State would not advance any money to your Petitioner but would rather have let this silver go in the Admiraltie as it had gone had not your Petitioner in the very minute of time stayed it as is attested under the hands of the Officers of the Mint whereupon your Petioner was forced to borrow great summes of money to enable him to employ instruments to finde out the bottom of this fraud Several Gentlemen lent your Petitioner seven hundred sixty five pounds at interest every penny spent in this service the reason that both made your Petitioner undertake this difficult businesse and made these Gentlemen lend your Petitioner this money was upon the credit and faith of the Councel of States promise to your Petitioner that if this silver was forfeited to the State your Petitioner should faithfullie be paid out of the same the summe of eleven thousand pounds in lieu of his estate and this you will see clearly proved and my friends knew me so well that I would not to fail of your Petitioners undertaking and for that your Petitioner was and is ready to prove to the Councel of State his damage is far greater by his Sequestration and Imprisonment then eleven thousand pounds the Councel of State did faithfully promise 1652. that over and above the paying of your Petitioner the summe of eleven thousand pounds for this service of getting and staying this silver your Petitioner should have an Honourable Reward and Memorial left to posterity for the same and it was upon this score of getting my estate again off Sequestration or eleven thousand pounds satisfaction that I ever acted in this businesse of the silver or in any other publick businesse from the year 1647. to 1651. or since 1652. to this time for had I not been assured faithfully of my estate from the Councel of State and relied on just performance or had I had the least thought of such usage and putting off from day to day with References and Reports now my work is done when my business and what I deserve is as well known as the begger knows his dish or a man knows his right hand from his left I do humblie declare reallie to all the world I would have remembred that saying a man may be over just or else I would have taken more consideration then I have done of my own preservation when I was offered ten thousand pounds by the Claimers for to have conniv'd and let the State be cozened of the silver in the Admiraltie as they were at the time of many Dutch prize ships and goods It could not enter into your Petitioners heart to exspect such delaies by references and old Court tricks had I thought of such dealings I had known a waie to paie my self Had your Petitioner spent his spirits time and estate to have studied disturbance and malignancie as much as hee hath studied the honour peace profit and welfare of this Common-wealth the silver in the ships Sampson Salvador and George had
never been coined in the Tower being two hundred seventie eight thousand pounds but by the treachery of some Merchants and others in the Admiraltie had been cleared out of the Nation and sent to the Dutch Had your Petitioner December 16. 1652. at nine of the clock in the morning in the Court of Admiraltie been possessed with the dumb spirit of malignancie your Judges of the Admiraltie that verie daie and hour had cleared the aforesaid silver the Admiral Van-Trump then lying on the Downes to have wasted the silver to Holland which had not your Petitioner prevented by seasonable applications to the Councel of State might have prov'd of sad consequence and have cost many thousand English mens lives and God knowes what other dammages to this Nation such an over-sight in the Court of Admiraltie might have brought upon this Nation Here followeth the Lord Bradshawes CERTIFICATE upon the Desire and Request to him of Sir Thomas Viner Sir Iohn Barkestead Iohn Limbery Maurice Thompson Esquires Authorised by his late Highness Oliver to be Commissioners to Examine this Business The Lord Bradshawes CERTIFICATE I Have perused the Petition and considered of the desires mentioned in the annexed Paper and in compliance therewith so farr as my memory serves mee which hath bin assisted by the view of several Orders Certificates Depositions and memorialls formerly made in the Petitioners Case and now shewed unto mee I signifie and declare as followeth That although I may not take mee to make a narrative of Mr. Violets Case much lesse to give a punctuall accompte after so many years of what passed at the Council relating to that engagement of theirs asserted in the Petition which to be in the manner therein set down I can neither knowingly affirme nor deny yet the Petitioners addresses in the time of the Warr with the Dutche concerning the stay of the Ships which had the Silver in them being very remarkable I can for the substance testifie and do well call to minde the Petitioners tenders and intimations to the Council and undertaking the service touching the Silver specified in his Petition and that upon good deliberation taken of the matter the probability of his allegations being also much strengthened by the concurrant circumstances of some Letters about that time intercepted he had thereupon very good encouragement given him by the Council that performing hâ—s discovery his paines cost and care should bee throughly considered and he honourably rewarded or was told or promised to that effect Whereupon hee was Authorised and appointed by the Council to sollivite and assist in that whole business as by their Orders appeareth and whilest that Council satt was taken notice of as the maine Agent in the whole conduct thereof as the proceedings of those times will shewe what the beneficiall consequence of that imployment and what fruite thereof hath been to the State may bee better manifested by others who have been at the Heline of Affaires since the 20th of Aprill 1653. the day of the dismission of the Parliament and old Council But if I may offer my sence of the man and his actings which I apprehend to be in part expected my opinion was and is that his seasonable interposition and protest in the Admiralty applications to the Council and discovery of the Dutch and Spanish frauds touching the Silver Contested for these actions accompanied also with great Charge hazzard and trouble on his part as hee offers to Demonstrate and affirmes to bee well knowne adjoyning thereto for the legall part the constant assistance of the learned Advocate for the Common wealth were the maine occasion if not the causa sine qua non of the after benefit received by the State upon conversion of that Silver the Petitioner being looked upon as the great Wheele that sett all on work as I believe it would bee testified for him by others who had the honour to serve the Common-wealth in Council when this businesse was first began and afterwards untill the close of the same if they were consulted herein His losses Anno 1643. and his disburstments aboute the Silver for which hee prayes satisfaction and indemnity I must leave to his own Evidencinge and it seemes hee is ready for it The Councils Ingagements and Intentions to him-wards at his first assuming the employment were not without good reason uncommitted to writing for avoiding of all misconstruction they proposing on the one hand a faire and just proceeding and on the other all due encouragement to that person whose disquisition and effectual prosecution for making good the claime they knew must needs be very expensive and liable to many difficulties and hazards from the multitude of the contrary interessed parties and their many and powerful abettors So as any one in reason may conclude that without such assurance of the part of the Councel and relying upon it on the Petitioners part the whole business had miscarried as left un-undertaken and undone The Petitioners sore task and merit of the State in this particular I shall not further meddle with or take upon me to divine or determine what the issue will or should be as to his just recompence and compensation His zeale resolution activity and ability to promote the publick interest in divers respects being known to me heretofore in good measure as I formerly held my self obliged to cherish and so much as in me was to improve for the States advantage So upon the occasion now offered wherein the honour and justice of the State and their profit also as I conceive is mainly involved I am very free to render him according to my best observation of him and his actings this due and deserved Testimony Septemb. 5. 1657. John Bradshaw This is a true Copy of the Lord Bradshaws Certificate on the behalf of Mr. Thomas Violet examined by me Thomas Hewet Iohn Rimmer Francis Allen Esq Report and certificate upon the desire and request to him of Sir Tho. Viner Sir Iohn Barkstead Iohn Limbrey and Maurice Thomson Esquires Gentlemen I Have received an intimation from you as referrees by vertue of an order from his Highness the Lord Protector referring to a Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet concerning his staying the Ships Samson Salvador and George And the silver therein contained That I would testifie my knowledge in writing concerning the same or what else is contained in the aforesaid Petition in a ready compliance with what is so intimated I do in the first place say That I had not the particular knowledge of those affairs as they respect Master Violets actings in them which other Honourable Persons had and therefore cannot testifie so particularly concerning those transactions as others may see just cause to do on Mr. Violets behalf only Thus much in general I can and do freely testifie from my own observation and knowledge that Mr. Violet did engage in that concernment of the staying the ships Samson Salvador and George and in discovering the fraudes endeavoured to be put
Dorislaws as appears by the original Certificate Your Petitioner petitioned the late Lord Protector Oliver 29. July 1658. and annexed the aforenamed Report of the Referrees and petitioned to be paid the sum of eleven thousand pound The Lord Protector Oliver upon reading the aforesaid Petition and the Report annexed refers your Petitioner for satisfaction together with the Report of Col. Barkstead Sir Tho Vyner and others for your Petitioners satisfaction unto his privy Councel that they take consideration of all the maters therein contained so that the Petitioner may have and receive satisfaction according to Justice and Equity for this service 29. July 1658. but his death shortly following nothing as yet hath been done for your Petitioners satisfaction Your Petitioner thereupon in Octob. 1658. petitioned the late Lord Protector Richard for his satisfaction and annexed the aforesaid Reports and Petitions upon his Highnesse perusal of the same he was pleased to referre the same unto the consideration of Francis Bacon late Master of his Requests and Gabriel Beck Esquires Solicitor to the late Councel of State They after many dayes meeting concerning this businesse have certified accordingly as Col. Barkstead and the former Referrees have done viz. for the due paying your Petitioner the summe of eleven thousand pounds and that they hold the Petitioner to be a person very fit and useful to be employed in removing the obstructions of the Mint and that the Petitioner be employed for regulating the Manufacture of gold and silver Wyre and Lace which Certificates are here to be produced to your Honours signed by Francis Bacon and Gabriel Beck Esquires 18 Jan. 1658. Your Petitioner humbly prayes your Honours to take into consideration the great and eminent advantages your Petitioner did this Common wealth in staying this silver at that juncture of time in Decemb. 1652. for had that silver come into the hands of the Dutch they would have laid it all out in powder and shot agaiust this Common-wealth as we employed it against them as will appear by Col. Barksteads Accompts which moneys under God was a principal mean to reduce the Dutch what service this treasure did the Nation in that juncture of time Christendome knowes the Dutch then our enemies felt and this Common wealth at this day enjoys the happy fruit of it But had all advantages been home followed against the Dutch in the last War we had grubbed up their greatnesse by the roots and flayed his Zealand Lions skin and broken their sheaf of Arrows to shivers making them unable for ever to trouble us but we only pared their nailes and parted with them upon too gentle conditions and made such a peace with them that at this time they carry all our Trade from our Merchants in a manner and do us more damage by being our feined friends then they could do being our open enemies the due consideration thereof is humbly hinted here to your Honours And if your Honours require a more particular Accompt I can demonstrate it to you in many particulars May it please your Honours These Certificats though they doe declare the truth of your Petitioners service really performed by a great number of Witnesses yet without further consideration they pay not your Petitioners engagements which were disbursed by him for the accomplishment of this service and those Gentlemen that have lent their moneys reallie to your Petitioner to enable him to do this service look for real payment in moneys and not in words your Petitioners engagement at this daie for this businesse of staying of the silver being above fifteen hundred pounds St. James saith what profit is it if a Brother be naked or destitute of daily food for one to say to him be thou warmed and bee thou filled if he supply him not with food and raiment so likewise a bare Certificate without further supply will neither pay debts nor cloath nor feed a man many words will not fill a bagg it is Justice that establisheth a Nation and payment of money quits debts and not words What a shame would it bee to those that professe so much Justice and reformation as this age doth to have it left to posterity and record That your Petitioner that hath done this Common-wealth such an eminent service in getting them more money then any man in this Nation ever did before should not be justly rewarded according to the promise and ingagements of the Council of State which made your Petitioner undertake this chargable difficult and dangerous service your Petitioner might have had tenn thousand pounds from the Claimers to have held his peace and bin quiet and to suffer the Judges of the Admiraltie to let this Silver passe the truth of this is certified under the hands of many persons of quality had your Petitioner taken this course to have bin bribed off it had bin most for his ease but lesse for his honesty The Common-wealths interest and his own reputation in making good his promise and ingagement to the Lord Bradshaw and Council of State he valued more then his life your Petitioner hath done his duty and will leave the issue to God 't is Solomon that saith a poor man delivered the City yet no man remembred the poor man when he had done his work I humbly hope that your Honours Justice will prevent mee that I may not have occasion to say the same that is true of this Age or leave so sad a memorandum of the ingratitude of these times If the Rules of our Saviour were observed by men of power in this Nation at this day to do to all People as they would be done unto your Petitioner should not have bin so long from time to time delayed with references in so Just and equitable Petition If your Petitioner hath not this his dearly earned reward it will remain to posterity in print to fright and terrifie all persons and make them wary how they ingage for the future upon English States-mens promises when they shall see and read these Transactions and Certificates If your Petitioner hath not satisfaction according to Justice it would be a means to make other men to take money when it is offered and not to trust to English States mens promises About the 20. of April 1659. your Petitioner did ingage an Honourable person to present to the Lord Richard Cromwell the late Protector these very Petitions and Certificates which I now present unto your Honours in print I am credibly informed upon his perusal of them hee was most honourably pleased to be verie sensible of your Petitioners sad sufferings great expence paines and fidelitie for the Common-wealth in this service And that seeing all this Treasure which your Petitioner stopt in the Ships Sampson Salvador and George was imploied and spent in the defence of the Common-wealth his late Highnesse was pleased to declare to an Honourable person that informed mee your Petitioner his late Highnesse did think my promised reward to be a just debt and
that the Common-wealth ought to pay it and had not the Government beene changed I am assured from several honourable persons his late Highness the Lord Richard Cromwell would have seen mee justlie paid the summe of eleven thousand pounds and given me an honourable reward and Imploiment over and above Your Petitioner implores your Honours to consider of all his premisses and that as your Petitioner did this Nation the greatest service that ever was done by any man of his condition in saveing this Common-wealth two hundred seventie eight thousand pounds which was all imployed in defence of this Common-wealth Your Petitioners humble prayer is after so long a delay of Justice he may have his dearly earned reward the payment of the summe of eleven thousand pounds in such wayes and in such maner as your Petitioner may be inabled to pay off the great ingagements he hath layd out in this service and to support himself according to his quality and that others seeing your Justice may for the future bee incouraged to serve the interest of the Nation with that integrity activity and faithfullnesse as your Petitioner hath done with the hazard of his life and all that hee had dear in this world your Petitioner having ingaged his Credit and borrowed above fifteen hundred pounds which hee expended every penny in this service and in his attendance to geâ—t satisfaction and at this day oweth the summe at interest to save and gett the State this great Treasure besides all his paines and hazard These several Services and Proposals done by your Petitioner for the honour and profit of the Common wealth your Honours will see them certified under the hands of the Lord Bradshaw Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood and Francis Allen Esquire and that your Petitioner was faithfully promised the restoration of his estate by divers members of Parliament and Councel of State for several chargeable services your Petitioner had done the Parliament some years before from the year 1648 to 1652. before your Petitioner undertook to stay the silver in the ships Sampson Salvador and George and this is clearly demonstrated by the said Certificates But upon your Petitioners happy and successful staying of this silver and undertaking at his own charge to prosecute this discogery in the Admiralty upon the Promise of the Councel of State 1652 to pay your Petitioner the summe of eleven thousand pounds for this service in lieu of his sequestred estate which for so many yeares your Petitioner had solicited both the Councel of State and Parliament to have it Sir James Harrington and Sir George Fleetwood fully and clearly certifie that they think themselves bound in honour and conscience to certifie the truth of their knowledge to his Highnesse Referrees according to their Request and Desire concerning the Councel of States promises and engagements to pay your Petitioner the summe of eleven thousand pounds that so your Petitioner may have his dearly earned reward for this great service and not labour for the State in vain And that if the rule of the Gospel were observed to do to other men as they would be done unto your Petitioner could not be many weeks without receiving eleven thousand pounds and over and above an honorable reward and memoriall from the State for this great service and that the State in Honour and Justice was obliged to pay your Petitioner the above said summe and that no doubt but so faithfull a service so carefully and painfully performed would have a happy issue and the Petitioners reward from the State would bee sutable to the greatnesse of the service upon perusal of Sir James Harrington and Sir George Fleetwoods Certificates your Honours will see this more fully set down and amplified The Lord Bradshawes Certificate for the substance is to the same effect so is Francis Allens Esquire who being a Goldsmith knew experimentally the great abilities in your Petitioner to regulate and reforme the abuses in the Mint and the services and overtures of your Petitioner 1650. 1651. 1652. offered the Councel of State both to set the Mint on work and to give a stop to the transporting of Treasure he certifies your Petitioner had taken great paines and spent much money in this business which had the humble advice and proposition of your Petitioner then bin taken by the Parliament you had filled the Nation at this day with Gold and Silver and constantly imployed your Mint to the great honour and profit of the Nation for all the Warr with Spain Your Petitioner at this day humbly offers to set the Mint on work so he may be imployed and not labour for the State in vaine for your Petitioner to take the paines and bee at the Charge and other persons who have no skill in this businesse to run away with the profit Your Petitioner hath too often bin so served by great men in power and shall not do it againe for any ones pleasure whosoever Thus have I humbly presented my services done for the State and the Councils ingagements and promise for your Petitioners satisfaction It is a Rule set down by God and all Nations Christians Turkes and Jewes that there are degrees of rewards for vertue and degrees of punishments for vice the degrees of Punishments and Rewards are in all well-regulated Kingdomes and Common wealths put down and the people know them that so they may not offend and there is no offence to be justly punished either by Gods Law or Mans before a Law be made to give men the Rule for the Apostle saith I had not known sin but by the Law And that punishment that is inflicted on a man before a Law made to prohibit or restrain a man from doing the same let it be inflicted by what Power soever must needs be a very great affliction and punishment sent of God for a mans other sins and cannot as to men be said to be regularly done especially where the offence is taken and the punishment so heavy as it shall deprive a man of all his estate and keep a man almost foure yeares a Prisoner in which time your Petitioner spent eight hundred pounds for charges whereof nine hundred twenty eight dayes of that time he was kept a close Prisoner without ever being brought to a legal Trial according to the Fundamental Lawes of the Nation by a Jury the birth-right of every Englishman rich or poor but after a mans estate is squandred disposed and given away to several Persons and Committees for particular mens profit and upon false and untrue pretences to the value of above eleven thousand pounds as your Petitioner for many yeares hath proued and presented to the Councel of State and Parliament ever since the year 1648. being much about the time your Petitioner was turned out of the Tower without any legal Trial or Reason given for his Commitment or the taking away of his Estate contrary to Magna Charta and all the Laws of this Nation God having given
your Petitioner his freedom your Petitioner presentlie to shew that he was oppressed and the Parliament misinformed and his estate unduly taken away given and disposed of upon false and untrue pretences for particular mens profit to several Committees and others the Petitioner did humblie addresse himself for relief to many honourable Members of Parliament and Councel of State and presented them with the true estate of his sufferings in Print The Cause of your Petitioners sufferings was for bringing up a Letter from Oxford 1643. from the late King who had then a desire to emploie and make your Petitioner Master-worker of his Mint at Oxford which place the King did give me there and the Petitioner had an Order from the House of Parliament and a Passe from the Lord General Essex about the 28. of Decemb. 1643. to go to Oxford to the King upon condition to put in security in a thousand pounds which security I did accordingly give to make good my Exchange for one Mr. Hesilrigge and did accordingly bring up my Exchange to London and left it with Sir Arthur Hesilrigge about the 3. of Jan. 1643. And the late King Charles upon my Exchange as aforesaid commanded me to bring up a Letter from him to the Lord Mayor Court of Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of London I do confesse I honoured and loved the late King for many benefits received from him and it was my dutie to obey him as my King though I had never received benefits from him but had I known there had been any Act or Order of Parliament to prohibite me or any other to bring up the said Letter at that time or that the Parliament would have taken any offence against me for doing thereof my principles at that time and the whole course of my Actions since hath clearlie demonstrated to your Honours and the World that I would have humblie declined that emploiment for I have ever been an Honourer of the Parliament and my Countrie as this Narrative will demonstrate to posteritie The Tree is known by its fruit and no man I humblie conceive in the Nation of my condition hath yielded better fruit or ever got the Common wealth two hundred seventie eight thousand pounds in silver but your Petitioner At the same instant of time Van Trump was in the Downes with the Dutch Fleet upon the clearing of these ships out of the Admiraltie to have conveyed them to Holland This was a real Plot not a feined one as appears by the Commissions this day in the Court of Admiraltie under the Great Seal of Holland to De Weet and De Ruyter their Vice-Admirals to guard these ships from the English upon the Petitions of the Merchants of Amsterdam I pray God England never forgets this deliverance nor the Councel of State the Performance of their Promise to your Petitioner for this discovery your Petitioner going in danger of his life by the Claimers for several yeares for doing of this service Here followeth the Copie of the late King Charles's Letter to the City of London To Our Trusty and Wel-beloved Our Lord Mayor and Aldermen of Our City of London and all other Our well-effected Subjects of that City Charles Rex TRustie amd Well beloved wee greet you well When wee remember the many Acts of Grace and Favour Wee and Our Royal Predecessors have conferred upon that our Citie of London and the many examples of eminent Duty and Loyaltie for which that City hath been likwise famous Wee are willing to believe notwithstanding the great defection wee have found in that place That all men are not so farr degenerate from their affection to Vs and to the peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel And therefore beeing informed That there is a desire in some principal persons of that City to present a Petition to Vs which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Vs and that Our City whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may bee procured Wee have thought fit to let you know That wee are ready to receive any such Petition and the Persons who shall bee appointed to present the same to Vs shall have a safe conduct And you shall assure all our good Subjects of that Our City whose hearts are touched with any sense of Duty to Vs or of Love to the Religion and Laws established in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof They and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happiness That wee have neither passed any Act nor made any Profession or Protestation for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which wee will not most strictly and religiously observe And for the which wee will not bee alwaies ready to give them any security that can bee desired And of those Our gracious Letters Wee expect a speedy Answer from you And so Wee bid you farewell Given at our Court at Oxford in the nineteenth year of our Reign December 26. 1643. By his Majesties Command GEORGE DIGBY I do most humbly desire the Common Council of the Citie of London to certifie your Honours if ever amongst all their Records ever since the foundation of their City they find such a sad President as mine is And whether that any Messenger from any former King of England suffered the loss of his Estate to his damage at this day above twenty thousand pound for bringing them or any their Ancestors the like Letter for peace as I did from the late KING And at that time viz. in December 30. 1643. there was sent and came from Oxford the Writs weekly under the Great Seal of England without any Countermand My hard usage After-ages will hardly believe had I not Printed it to Posterity that it may serve as a warning to prevent other Persons from beeing got in the like Snares for the future For this cause I Suffered Imprisonment in the Tower almost four years for bringing up the aforesaid Letter from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City of London in December 1643. although I had an Order from the Hous of Commons as appears by their Journal Book and a Pass from the Lord General Essex to go to Oxford for an exchange for Mr. Hesilrigge Sir Arthur Hesilrige his Brother and I left my Exchange with Sir Arthur Hesilrigge about the 2. of January 1643. which were both procured for mee by Mr. Theophilus Ryley Scout-master General of the City of London who was authorized to execute that place by the Common Council of London and I was authorized by the said Mr. Ryley to do the same Mr. Ryley being impowered by the Parliament and Common Council of London to hold Intelligence in any the Kings Quarters as by his Orders hee shewed me Mr. Ryley was a man of a known approved Integritie and in great esteem with the then Parliament and Citie of London at that time and would not have acted
Parliament for drawing the generall Pardon to have these offences excepted James Harrington Herbert Morley Your Petitioner did deliver this Order to Mr. Attorney Generall and this exception is put into the generall Pardon of this Parliament as may bee seen upon perusal 3. The Committee of Essex put mee out of Possession of the Mannors of Battells and Patan-Hall in Essex as appears by their Warrants Of which Lands I had an Extent of One thousand pounds for the payment of five hundred and one Mr. Elconhead received my rents ever since 1643 and never paid the Committee of Essex any thing for your Petitioners Extent of five hundred pounds and the same Elconhead injoyes your Petitioners Lands in Essex to this very day by colour of the Sequestration of the Committee of Essex to your Petitioners great damage 4. The Committee of Shropshire seized in my sisters hands in London three Bonds due to mee in two thousand pounds for the payment to mee Thomas Violet One thousand pounds by the Lady Anne Waad Edmond Lenthal Phillip Cage and Charles Mordent Esq's 1643. which Bonds were carried to Shrewsbury 5. I had the Leas and Extent of ten severall Houses at the Posterne in Little Moor-fields and the Tennants owed mee when I was committed to the Tower in arrears for rent above one hundred pounds And for these sixteen years I received no Rent of them But one Mr. Elconhead hath received the Rents of them ever since by colour of a Sequestration of the Committee of Middlesex 6. I had the Office of sealing and surveying of all gold and silver Thread and Wyer which prevented the making of all sleight and adulterate gold and silver Thread and Wyer granted to mee under the Great Seal for three Lives from the Late King which Office cost mee Fifteen hundred pounds to the Lord Treasurer Juxon L. Cottingon Sir John Cook Secretary of State and Sir John Bankes the late Kings Attourney The necessitie of keeping up that Office to prevent the daily Cozenages and frauds of divers Silkmen Wyerdrawers and Refiners in their making Cours sleight and deceitfull Gold and Silver Wyer and Thread Your Petitioner formerly presented unto your Honours and can prove it that forty thousand pounds a year in silver is wasted besides the Wearers daily Cozened for want of a due Regulation of gold and silver Thread and Lace And upon the Discovery of these notorious Cheats 1635. the late King and his Council appointed mee Surveyor and Sealer of the said Manufacture I caused all the abuses to bee laid aside I indicted some offenders imprisoned some caused others to stand in the Pillory and made many of them that wrought adulterate cours silver run away out of London By which means I angred many Cheating Wyerdrawers Silkmen and Refiners and the late Kings Council and Commissioners setled such Rules and Orders during the Regulation of the Manufacture as it was all made of good silver and the Coin and Bullion of this Nation preserved and your Supplicant was bound to the late King to warrant all the Manufactures either of gold or Silver Wyer or Thread which hee sealed or surveyed in the Office to bee good silver and to make it good to any party grieved in the Nation as appears by my Patent under the Great Seal of England For which Assurance Surveying and Sealing I was allowed to demand and take an half penny for every ounce Troy in Wyer Spangles Oes c. I surveyed and 4 pence for every pound weight Venice for all the Gold and Silver Thread I sealed with the Seal of my Office being the Rose and Crown And all that time the gold and silver Lace was as good Silver and as duly assaied as the Plate or Money of the Nation and now it is made under no Rule nor Government but the Wearers many of them cheated by course and deceitfull Lace Wyer silver Thread as I can demonstrate 7. I had a Grant from the late King under his Signet to bee Master-worker of the Mint in the Tower of London for my life with the Fee of five hundred pounds a year for executing that place which Grant was taken from my Mother out of her Custody when I was sent to the Tower 8. I had one quarter part of the Lady Villers Farm at the Custom-house for the Importation of all gold and Silver Thread Hatbands Lace and Copper throughout England and Wales which cost mee a little before I was sequestred above seven hundred pounds And if the making gold and silver thread was put down in England the Custom of gold and silver thread imported would make a farr greater Revenew then now it doth by the Excise and the Manufacture if it bee made here ought to bee kept to a strict Regulation Mr. Edwards and Mr. Tbornbury I imploied to Collect this duty at the Custom-hous 9. I spent in my Imprisonment in the Tower for almost four years about eight hundred pounds reckoning my Fees and Expences and could never get Justice though I petitioned to the Parliament as aforesaid for many years to come to a legall Triall knowing my self to bee innocent both by God's Law and the Laws of the Land and by the testimony of a good conscience which hath ever supported mee in and thorow all these great troubles All this Estate was and is Sequestred to this day but my three aforesaid bonds which I now have in my Custody besides my damage for my four years Imprisonment 10. Since I came out of the Tower by order of the Councel of State 1652. your Petitioner laid out in the Prosecution of the Silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George above the summe of seven hundred sixty five pounds I borrowed every penny of this money paying Interest for it at this day And by my Protest against the Discharge of these silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George and my Discoveries thereupon by many good and legal Witnesses Passengers and others in these Ships I caused all the Silver to become the Common-wealths All which services I did upon the faithfull promise of the Councel of State in Decemb. 1652 to restore mee to all my Estate or the full value of eleven thousand pounds John Corbet Esquire one of the Members of this present Parliament at this day and one of the Committee of Shropshire meeting with your Petitioner in March 1655. was noblie pleased to take notice of your Petitioners good endeavours to serve the Common-wealth and seeing that your Petitioner had put out in Print a List of his particular damages and the particular Bonds Houses Lands Offices set down which had been taken from your Petitioner his Mother and Sister who had then a great part of his estate in their Custody at the time of his imprisonment in the Tower and were plundred of it during that time of my Imprisonment there by the title and name of Sequestration This Noble Gentleman Mr. Corbet being very sensible of my sufferings and how your Petitioners estate had bin
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 Parliament by which I conceive hee merited the indempnity and restoration of his estate before this great undertaking mentioned in his Petition about the Silver in Decemb. 1652 but doing this service successfully in staying this Silver I thinke my selfe therefore now much more bound in honour and conscience after so longe a tryall of this mans patience constancy and fidelity and his love to his Country to give you my true observation of the man both in his acting this and other great businesse and this I attest upon my knowledge and experience of the man and not upon hear-say And if the rule of the Gospel be observed viv that all men do to others as they would be done to themselves Mr. Violet cannot be many weekes without a full restoration of his Estate or the value and if Mr. Violet hath had such measure as he hath presented to the world in print surely I must say he hath had hard measure but I wish him not only his Estate but also an honourable memoriall to be left to Posterity of his great service according to former engagements to him by some of the then Council of State for this particuler service of the Silver mentioned in his Petition this just due and deserved Testimony I do give him this first of October 1657. James Harrington This is a true Copy Examined by us Thomas Hewet John Rimmer John Symes WHen I brought these aforesaid Certificates to the Commissioners to whom the Examination of my services touching this Silver was referred by the late Lord Protector Oliver I offered to bring them the Testimonialls of several others of the Council of State to affirme and attest to the same effect as these honourable Gentlemen had don But the Referrees were pleased to say they had seen enough and to forbid mee the troubling any others for conformation of what I had alleadged in my Petition they declaring that these Certificates aforesaid had given them full and ample satisfaction and that they were sorry I should bee so dealt with and that they did see my sad sufferings and would fully and effectually certifie the true State of my businesse to his Highnesse Oliver what I had merrited from the State they not doubting but I should have not only the summe of eleven thousand pounds paid mee for this discovery and great service but also should receive an honourable reward over and above for the same To Incourage others for the future to relie and trust to the Promises of the Council of State and to be faithfull in the trust that was imposed on them by the State The Referrees telling your Petitioner that in Justice Prudence Honour and Policie the States must pay mee and that they could not expect but the end of my labours would come to a happy issue and thereupon the aforesaid Referrees were pleased to give mee this honourable Certificate following concerning the true State of my services and the Council of States ingagements to pay mee the summe of eleven thousand pounds and an honourable reward over and above viz. May it please your Highnesse WHereas by your Highness order of the 13th of July last your Highness was pleased to referr unto us or any three of us Mr. Thomas Violets Petition hereunto annexed whereby wee are directed to examine the premisses suggested therein and to state and certifie the Case to your Highnesse together with our opinions upon the whole matter In obedience whereunto wee having perused the said Petition and finding many perticular services which the Petitioner thereby affirmeth were done by him and well knowne to the Lord Bradshawe and many others of the late Council of State and hee having named to us Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetewood and Francis Allen Esquires who amongst other of the Council knew the Petitioners great service done concerning the Ships Sampson Salvador and George their Silver and Lading mentioned in his said Petition and the Council of States intentions and engagements to him when hee undertooke to disprove the Spanish Ambassador and Spanish and Flemish Claimers thereunto in the yeares 1652. and 1653. For the clearing of the truth of the Petitioners allegations suggested in his said Petition wee held it necessary to acquaint the Lord Bradshawe and the said Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood and Francis Allen Esquires with your Highnesse said Referrence and sent them Copies thereof with the said Petition and with our desires that they would certifie their particular knowledges therein that so wee might the better returne to your Highnesse the true state of the Petitioners Case And wee have accordingly received Certificates from all the aforesaid Persons which wee have hereunto annexed together with the said Petition and Referrence for your Highnesse gracious peruseall all which Testimonialls and Certificates set forth the great services done by the Petitioner by his seasonably discovery of the Spanish Ambassadors and Claimers fraudulent endeavors to deceive the Common-wealth in December 1652. Wee have likewise perused severall Orders of Parliament and Council of State that set forth the intended fraudes and Practices of Don Alonso de Cardenas in coming in his owne Person to the Parliament and to the Council of State with severall other Merchants and their Claiming the Dutch Silver then aboard the said Ships And wee finde Mr. James Stenere committed by the Parliament for tampering in this business Wee finde it attested under the hands of Mr. George Brett James Hoare and Thomas Birch all Offieers of your Highnesse Mint they being then in the Court of Admiraltie the 16th of Decemb. 1652. that the Petitioner by his active faithfull and seasonable Protest in the said Court at that very instant nicke of time and the very hower the Ships and Silver were in judgement before the Judges there and upon discharge the Petitioner by his Protest stayed the Silver mentioned in the Petition being to the value of above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds in Silver taken out of the aforesaid Ships and Coyned in your Highnesse Mint as the Petitioner hath proved to us upon the sight of some accomptes And wee finde by severall Orders of the Council of State and Orders from Doctor Walker the Common-wealth's Advocate and by severall Depositions and Certificates that the whole weight of that businesse was imposed on the Petitioner by the Council of State in 1652. and 1653. as to the discovering part and the Petitioner was required to prosecute this service after the dissolving of the long Parliament by the Council of State then being The Heads of the Lord Bradshaws Certificate Wee also finde it attested by the Lord Bradshawe that the seasonable interposition of the Petitioner and his Protesting in the Admiralty applications to the Council and discovery of the fraudes both of the Spanish and Dutch touching the said Silver those actions of the Petitioner accompanied also with great charge hazard and trouble were the maine occasion if not the causa sine qua non of the after
regulating the Work-masters nor the Workers but every one is ' est to cozentle Common-wealth and they have certified it by what several wayes they do it as will appear upon your Honours Perusal of the Certificate of the Committee for Trade And the Committee for Trade finding this to be a great abuse and cheat put on the Nation have upon many dayes consideration presented to that Parliament a Report of a Model and Way for the due Regulation of all these abuses and recommend in their Certificate your Petitioner for the execution of that service to be appointed the sworn Officer and to take the fees for doing that service as formerly your Petitioner did and that your Petitioner for the future put in security in the Exchequer to warrant all these Manufactures of Gold and Silver Lace Wyre and Thread to be good silver that is drawn assayed marked or sealed at the Office And to warrant the same to be sterling silver according to the Standard at the least or to pay all damage to the Party or Parties grieved and that all Gold and Silver Thread shall be duly spun with a due proportion of Silver to Silk to the end that the Silver may not be brushed and rubbed of Lace Buttons and other sorts of works in Gold and Silver Thread as it daily is to the quantity as hath bin proved to the Committee for Trade of thirty thousand pounds a year Whereupon his Highnesse refers this Petition July 13. 1658. and all the aforesaid Reports together with a Report of the Councel of Trade for the regulating the Manufacture of Gold and Silver Thread to the considerations of the Privie Councel to take all the premisses into their consideration and to see your Petitioner paid for these services in staying the Silver and for his former losses according to Equity and Justice And that if the Councel conceived it fit I should have the emploiment to see to the due regulating the manufacture of Gold and Silver Wyre and Lace and to prevent the melting down heavy English money as I desired but the Protector soon after died before I could get the Councel of State to meet and so I renewed my Petition to the late Lord Protector Richard who signed this Order to Gabriel Beck and Francis Bacon Esquires viz. RICHARD P. WHereas wee are informed that Thomas Violet of London Goldsmith hath formerly done our most dear Father of famous memory and this Nation severall great services and that the said Thomas Violet hath made his addresses unto you and in many particulars hath acquainted you with his humble desires and good affections to our service and shewed you severall transactions which ought to be taken into our considerations being as wee are informed both for our service and the profit safety and honour of this Nation Wee therefore require you to give us an accompt of all such particulars concerning the Publique as the said Thomas Violet hath already acquainted you with and if you conceive it fit for our service you are by these presents authorised to send for the said Thomas Violet and to examine him upon any other questions or matters which you shall conceive is fit for our service and in what way the said Thomas Violet may be serviceable unto us and the Publique and the result of your debates to present unto us in writing with what expedition you can Dated 28. October 1658. To our trusty and Welbeloved Francis Bacon and Gabriell Becke Esquires May it please your Highnesse IN obedience to your Highnesse Order of Referrence dated 28. October last hereunto annexed wee have several times mett and finde that Thomas Violet Petitioned your Highnesse royall Father for his promised reward which Petition his late Highnesse 13 July 1657. referred to the Lord Barkstead Sir Thomas Viner and severall other Persons and their Report thereupon is hereunto annexed which Report we have perused and also severall Certificates of the Lord Bradshawe Lord George Fleetewood of the Vache Sir James Hanington and Francis Allen Esquires and severall other Certificates of the Officers of the Mint as also the Orders of the late Council of State Depositions and Orders of the Court of Admiraltie whereby it appears to us that the said Thomas Violet by his seasonable interposition and Protest in the Admiraltie 17. December 1652. his application to the then Council of State and his discovery of the Spanish and Dutch fraudes touching the Silver in the Ships Sampson Salvador and George being neere three hundred thousand pounds this his discovery and prosecution in the Admiraltie in all probabillity saved the State this great Treasure or else the State had been cozened thereof as appeares to us at large by all the aforesaid Certificates ready to bee produced to your Highnesse Wee finde it proved and certified that Thomas Violet expended seven hundred sixty five pounds in the prosecution of this service besides all his time and hazard which monies appeares to us he tooke up at interest for which he stands indebted to severall persons and he hath proved to us he is every day in danger to be taken in execution for the very monies hee expendded in this service to get the State this great Treasure And wee finde it attested unto your Highnesse royall Father by the Certificates of all the aforesaid Referrees that the State did promise unto Thomas Violet upon his undertaking at his own charge to do this service to pay him the sum of eleven thousand pounds and some other rewards for this service in stopping the aforesaid Silver And it is further certified to your Highnesse royall Father by all the aforesaid Referrees that they finde it proved that Thomas Violet was offered ten thousand pounds in the behalfe of the Claimers to have desisted his prosecution in the behalfe of the State touching this Silver And we finde that the Lord Barkstead Sir Thomas Viner and all the other Referrees humbly propounded to your Highnesse royall father as very fit and just that a considerable summe of money bee presently paid unto Thomas Violet for to discharge his debts and for his support lest otherwise hee should bee throwne into Prison and utterly ruined for the very money he hath expended in this service and that care be taken for the future for Thomas Violets subsistence according to his quality and that the remainder of the money to make it up the summe of eleven thousand pounds promised to him by the State for this service may be paid unto Thomas Violet as soone as the great occasions of the State can permit This Certificate is hereunto annexed and signed by all the aforesaid Referrees 1. May 1658. to your Highnesse royall Father And wee humbly offer it as our opinions that it is both just and fit for the honour of the State that the monies Thomas Violet hath expended in this service and a due consideration for his support for the future be speedily paid unto him to preserve him from a present ruine