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
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
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
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
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
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
and the remainder of the aforesaid sum to be paid him as soone as the great occasions of the Common-wealth will permit And the Referrees do bold Thomas Violet to be a person very fit and usefull for imployment either in your Highnesse Mint or in the Office for the due Regulation of gold and silver wyer and Lace c. and in several other emploiments as appears by several Certificates And Violet himself hath made several Proposals unto us in writing for his satisfaction which we have hereunto annexed for your Highnesse gracious perusal In some of these Proposals we do humblie apprehend Thomas Violet may be useful for your Highnesse and the publick service All which we humblie submit to your Highnesse consideration 18. Jan. 1658. Francis Bacon Gabriel Beck Examined by us Jo. Symes Jo Rimmer ABout the middle of April 1659. the late Lord Protector Richard receiving these Certificates and this following Petition blamed some persons whom he had interessed to give him a true Account of my sufferings and of my abilities and willingnesse to serve the Common-wealth that they had not done it before but to shew that his late Highnesse put a great value of my services and sufferings and of my abilities to serve the Nation as some Honourable Gentlemen told me he did he was pleased upon the Reading this following Petition to give me and some other Gentlemen which I had nominated in trust for my use this ensuing Warrant for the making of a publick farthing for the use of England Scotland and Ireland referring the Approbation and Confirmation thereof to the Parliament to provide such Orders and Rules as they thought best for the good of the People I used the name of Edward Johnson Esq and some other Names for my use and here followeth my Petition and Reference from his late Highness And if the Parliament please to employ me in this service and to grant me for thirty one years the entire and whole management of this Office for making a common farthing I will thankfully accept of the emploiment and humbly and thankfully allow it as five thousand pounds paid unto your Petitioner from the Common-wealth in part of his due debt of eleven thousand pounds for staying the aforesaid silver And your Petitioner will be tied to pay the maimed souldiers during the time of this Grant twelve-pence upon every twenty two shillings in farthings which shall be uttered by me or my Assignes in England Scotland and Ireland which will be a constant revenue and I will pay it in monethly to the Treasurers for the maimed souldiers And if the State please to have farthings made of a smaller proportion I will allow the souldiers five shillings for every twenty two shillings and yet these Copper farthings shall be above as heavy again do the ordinarie farthings that now passe among us To his Highnesse RICHARD LORD PROTECTOR of England Scotland and Ireland And the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging The Humble Petition of Edward Johnson Junior Esq c. SHEWETH THat there are many fraudes and deceits daily practiced by diverse petty Retayling Tradesmen Chapmen and others in makeing and uttering farthing tokens of their own stamping almost every petty Retayling Tradesman putting forth a severall farthing token not valueable without any Licence some of Pewter Tinn Lead Brass and some of Copper according to every mans fancy that makes their own farthing tokens Great numbers of these Retayling Tradesmen breake others remove themselves from one place to another and many of them die insolvant and their farthing tokens thus unduly uttered beiug not valueable one of them not being worth in value the sixth part of a farthing and some of their farthing tokens not worth the twentieth part of a farthing the people of this Nation especially the poorer sort are daily cheated and cozened by these indirect practices To prevent these abuses for the future your Petitioners humbly pray your Highnesse that a common valueable farthing may be made of fine Rose Copper of a valueable weight that is to say of the weight of about halfe a quarter of an ounce Haver du poys to a farthing and twenty two Shillings by tail to weigh eight pounds Haver du poys with the remedy of six pence under or over to pass currant within your Highnesse Dominions of England Scotland and Ireland for all such persons as will make use of them for their necessity of change and to prohibit all other farthing tokens now made or to be made or uttered within your Highnesse Dominions aforesaid That to have a valueable common farthing to be made to pass currant within your Highnesse said Dominions is so needfull a thing in the Common-wealth and of such necessity for change that the making of the same will relieve and accommodate many thousands of petty Tradesmen and poore people as will plainly appeare unto your Highnesse in our most humble Reasons and motives hereunto annexed to which wee do most humbly Referr Your Petitioners most humbly pray your Highnesse in respect of the great charge and trouble they shall undergo in performing this service for the good of the Common wealth to grant unto them and their Assignes and Deputies the sole making and uttering of the aforesaid Common farthing for one and thirty yeares and to prohibite all other farthings and the making and counterfeiting of this farthing by any other upon paine and losse of Estate and imprisonment during your Highnesse pleasure and in consideration thereof your Petitioners will serve your Highnesse Dominions with valueable farthings of the goodnesse and weight aforesaid and also pay unto your Highnesse Exchequer to your Highnesse use twelve pence for every two and twenty shillings in farthings which shall be vented and uttered by your Petitioners their Deputie or Deputies in England Scotland and Ireland which will bee certaine revenew to your Highnesse of many hundred pounds a yeare and a great accommodation and benefit to the poore of all your Highnesse Dominions And your Petitioners shall dayly pray c RICHARD P. WEE have perused the Petition of Edward Johnson Junior Esquire c. together with the reasons hereunto annexed and our will and pleasure is that our Sollicitor Generall prepare a booke fit for our signature for the erecting of an Office for the sole making venting and uttering of a Common farthing to go currant in England Scotland Ireland and Wales according to the weight proportions and propositions in their Petition conteined with such Rules to be observed by the Petitioners or their Assignes for the stamps figures and Arms of the said farthings as wee and our Successors shall appoint and for the granting the same to the said Edw. Johnson Junior Esq c. and their Assignes and Deputies for one and thirty yeares Reserving to us and our Successors twelve pence for every two and twenty Shillings of the said farthings so vented and uttered And our Solicitor Generall is to attend and acquaint the Parliament with