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
sometimes the State hath been cheated fourty in the hundred to the value of many score of thousand pounds in this businesse Your Petitioner finding these papers that made this Discovery which he delivered to Col. Joanes and Mr. Thurloe by some bribing means in the Custodie of some of the parties complained of and that nothing was done to reform these abuses but this business was stiffed And by your Petitioners discovery of the abuses for the service of the State he had contracted the envie of many guilty persons Thereupon to shew to the world what I had delivered in private to the aforesaid persons was true and that I would justifie what I had complained of privately I printed the several frauds and cheats put upon the Nation by some of the Commissioners for prize Goods and some of their Officers and Agents and demonstrated several wayes for the State to finde it out which was offered to be proved to be true by Mr. John Day and several others at that time but the fate of the Common-wealth in those dayes was to be cozened that makes the debts of the publick now at this time so great and the Publicans of the time so rich Your Petitioner by order of Parliament as appears by your Records of the House for several yeares was commanded to follow and solicite the getting of an Act to passe against transporting Gold and Silver And your Petitioner made several overtures both for punishing and discovery of the offenders that had transported Gold and Silver and melted down the silver coyn of the Nation by whose fines many score of thousand pounds would have justly come to the State But the guilty persons were then so powerfull in the Councills of the Parliament that though the Parliament made several Committees of the House and Council of State for the perfecting the Act and for discovery of the offenders and referred the matter thereof to the consideration of the Commissioners of the Navy Officers of the Mint and Farmers of the Customes who all of them have certified the Parliament of the great mischief and dammage the Common-wealth suffered by several evil-disposed persons who for private lucre and gain daily transported the Gold and Silver of the Nation to the unspeakable damage of the Common-wealth This Bill being twice read in the House and several times committed yet by the power of some guilty Merchants this good Act was stopt smothered and stifled and never finisht though your Petitioner attended many yeares at his great expence and charges to have this good Act past And now at this day it is apparent to all people that you cannot receive in the payment of a thousand pounds twenty shillings in Gold no Gold being stirring in the Nation but in the hands of Gamesters Rooks and Goldsmiths they selling a twenty shillings piece in Gold for two shillings in the pound more then the price current by Proclamation which is against the Statute of the fifth and sixth of Edward the sixth And to give your Honours an information of the present stock of Silver moneys now current in this Nation there is very little left but light and clipt money the weightie silver money being culled melted down and transported by divers Goldsmiths and others for private lucre and gain to the unspeakable damage of the Common-wealth especially at this time now we have War with Spain This your Petitioner hath often complained of to this Parliament and hath humbly offered them a remedy but as yet nothing hath been done by them to prevent this mischief There was several Committees appointed to regulate the abuses concerning the coyne and removing the obstructions of the Mint these times having appointed two Doctors of Physick to be the chief Officers of the Mint Your Petitioner was required to give his attendance on this Committee and commanded by them at his own charge to send for from beyond seas all the principal Coyns in Christendom and to procure the Lawes Orders and Statutes made beyond seas for the due regulating their Mints and their Policies how they used to draw bullion into their Mints these Lawes your Petitioner translated and printed and presented them to the Committee of this businesse for removing the obstructions of the Mint And your Petitioner made Assayes of all these forraign Coynes of Gold and Silver and writ down the just weight and standard of every several forreign Coyne what proportion and value they held with the standard of our Mint and what every forreign piece of Gold and Silver would make to Merchants to be coyn'd in our Mint of London and caused all the several stamps of the Coynes of forreign Gold and Silver to be engraved for the true information of all our English Merchants who generally are not so expert in this mystery as the Dutch Merchants are The true reason of this defect is this viz. In England we have only our own Coynes of Gold and Silver goes currant which makes our Nation in general never to study the intrinsecal value of forreign Coynes of Gold or Silver whereas in Holland almost all forreign Coynes of Gold or Silver goes currant by Proclamation therefore of necessity all Merchants and others must know the intrinsecal value of all forreign Coynes what proportion they hold with their standard and several Books which they call Placarts are printed by Authority of the States with the several Figures of the Coynes of forreign Gold and Silver being marked in the margin at what price the several Coynes shall go not being washed and clipt and full weight And the Dutch allowing these forreign Coynes to go currant having publick banks of treasure that makes them Masters of their Exchange of moneys the mysteries whereof very few of our English Merchants understand for the reasons aforesaid But had the Figures of all the forreign Coynes bin printed which was prepared by your Petitioner by order of the Honourable the Committee of the Mint in 1652. your Petitioner humbly affirms to your Honours that the printing thereof would have been a great guide and advantage to our Merchants and the Nation had Mr. Secretary Thurloe given your Petitioner back again these Prints and Papers which was most model'd and acted by your Petitioner but he buried them in Oblivion as he did many other good Proposals which your Petitioner presented to him for the service of the Common-wealth Your Petitioner humbly offered to the consideration of the Committee for removing the obstructions of the Mint that if they would set the Mint a work they must take order to remove their chief Officers of the Mint these Gentlemen the present master Worker and Warden were never brought up to know the mysteries of the Mint nor the private waies of correspondence with forein mints and merchants and to make every winde bring grift to their mill and to know what ships and merchants bring us in gold and silver and to learn the mysterie to inforce them to coyn it also to know what ships and
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
squandred away was pleased to tell your Petitioner he could do him a courtesie in procuring to your Petitioner three Bonds taken from your Petitioner in two thousand pounds for the payment of your Petitioner one thousand pounds 1644 which Bonds Mr. Corbet told me were at Shrewsbury in Shropshire morgaged by that Committee for fourty pounds which the Committee had laid out for publick use Your Petitioner was glad to hear where these Bonds were and to know who had them though they day in Lavender for fourty pounds your Petitioner for many yeares making diligent enquiry after them and had never got true information where they were had not Mr. John Corbet told him and it was a thousand to one that these Bonds being eleven yeares out of your Petitioners Custodie that your Petitioner ever heard of them or got them again into his hands This Worthy Gentleman Mr. John Corbet advised me to make my Application by Petition to his late Highnesse Oliver Lord Protector and to his Councel for to have these Bonds restored and that if his late Highnesse and his Councel would give him order to do it he wished me so well be would procure your Petitioner these three Bonds safe and uncancelled Provided your Petitioner would pay the Committee of Shropshire for them the summe of fourty pounds which your Petitioner willingly offered to do whereupon your Petitioner petitioned the late Lord Protector Oliver and his Councel for the aforesaid three Bonds And the Councel of State ordered John Corbet Esquire should attend them to give them true information of this businesse which accordingly he did and thereupon this Order following of the Councel of State was made and your Petitioner paid his money to Mr. Corbet accordingly Friday March 21. 1655 At the Counsel at White-Hall UPon reading a Report from the Committee to whom the Petition of Thomas Violet was referred praying that certain Bonds seized upon by the Committee of Salop may be delivered unto him Upon consideration of the said Report and for that the said Bonds are ingaged for forty pounds which the said Committee imploied for publique use Ordered by his Highnesse the Lord Protector and his Counsel That upon the said Thomas Violets paying unto the said Committee the said summe of forty pounds for which the said Bonds are ingaged That the said Committee bee required to deliver up the said Bonds unto the said Thomas Violet and that hee bee at liberty to sue the same and to take the benefit thereof as formerly hee might have done and that it bee referred to John Corbet Esq to see the said Bonds delivered up accordingly upon payment of the said forty pounds Henry Scobell Clerk of the Counsell Mr. John Corbet I attended with this order March 28. 1655. Hee was pleased to tell mee hee was to go down into Shropshire and would speak with the Committee who were to receive the forty pounds and then I should know where to pay my money for hee told mee hee had never received Publique monies and hee was verie unwilling to receive any now But upon his return upon my earnest intreaty and to save mee from further trouble hee told mee hee would receive and keep this forty pounds in deposito for the use of the Committee till he had order from them for the disposing of it That transaction follows viz. MEmorandum That the 24th of May 1656. In obedience to the Order of his Highness the Lord Protector and his Counsel of the 21. of March 1655. I John Corbet Esq have delivered unto Thomas Violet of London God-Smith three Bonds the first bearing date the 6th of June 1638. of eight hundred pounds for the payment of four hundred pounds within one year after the death of the Lady Anne Waad in which Bond the said Lady Anne Waad Charles Mordent Philip Cage and Edmund Lenthal Esquires stand bound to the said Thomas Violet and one other Bond of the 6th of June 1638. in six hundred pounds for the payment of three hundred pounds within two years after the death of the said Lady Anne Waad in which the Persons aforesaid stand bound to the said Thomas Violet and one other Bond of the same date of six hundred pounds for the payment of three hundred pounds within three years after the death of the said Lady Anne Waad in which Bond the Persons aforesaid stand bound to the said Thomas Violet The summe of forty pounds being paid by the said Thomas Violet according to the said Order JOHN CORBET Witnesses then present Edward VVatkins VVilliam Davis Edmund Cogan John English Scr. The Lady Anne Waad of Battels Hall in Essex died about May 1643. And the Bonds are due to mee Thomas Violet at this day as abovesaid Your Petitioner may justly say his Estate was squandred away when a thousand pound of good Bonds of your Petitioners lay in lavender for eleven years for forty pounds and your Petitioner had never known where they had bin had not Mr. Corbet tould him your Petitioners humble Prayer to your Honours is that seeing your Petitioner hath paid Mr. Corbet the forty pounds according to the aforesaid Order and hath these Bonds safe and uncancelled now in his Custody and in consideration of your Petitioner services in staying this Silver That your Honours would be pleased in part of your Petitioners satisfaction of eleven thousand pounds by your Honours Order to Impower your Petitioner by Authority of Parliament to shew and Implead these Bonds notwithstanding any Order of Parliament to sequester the said Bonds and to Impower your Petitioner to take out Judgement and Execution thereupon notwithstanding any Order or Ordinance to the Committee of Shropshire or any other Committee Touching or Concerning these Bonds And my most humble Petition is to John Corbet Esquire one of the Honourable members of this Parliament that as hee received my money for the use of the Committee of Shropshire and gave mee the first notice and discovery in whose Custody these Bonds were so hee would now bee pleased out of his love to Justice to certifie his knowledge of the truth of this Business that so I may have Releif in this business according to Justice and equity Hereafter followeth your Petitioners Petition to Oliver Lord Protector and his Reference thereupon to Col. Barkstead Alderman Viner Capt. Iohn Limbery Doctor VValker c. TO HIS HIGHNESSE OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR Of the COMMON-WEALTH of England Scotland and Ireland And the Dominions thereunto belonging The Humble Petition of Thomas Violet SHEWETH THat your Petitioner did about the 8th of Decemb. 1652. deliver unto the Council of State a written Paper wherein was discovered that at that present time a practice and Combination was set on foot by the then Spanish Ambassador Don Allonso de Cardenas with several other Merchants both Strangers and Natives to deceive the State of a great quantity of Silver near fower hundred thousand pounds which was aboard the Ships Sampson Salvador and George then riding at Eriffe
in any age as your Supplicant hath heard of or read of Your Petitioner trusts and hopes in God and your Highnesse that so great service to your Highnesse and the Nation shall not go unrequited What service this Treasure did your Highnesse and the Nation at that conjuncture of time in 1653. Christendom knows the Dutch then our Enemies felt and this Nation under your Highnesse government do enjoy and have the happy fruit of at this day Your most humble Petitioner prayes your Highnesse to take all the Premisses into your Princely consideration And that your Petitioner may have his estate or the value thereof restored to him in recompence of his services aforesaid And your Petitioner shall ever pray c. THO. VIOLET Whitehall July 13. 1657. His Highnesse is pleased to referr this Petition to Sr. John Barkestead Knight Lievtennant of the Tower of London Sr. Thomas Viner Knight Captaine John Limbery Doctor Walker Gabriell Becke Serjeant Dendy Maurice Thompson Serjeant Middleton and Jsaac Dorislaus Esquires or any three or more of them to take the Petition within written into their consideration examine the premisses and to State and Certifie the case to his Highnesses together with their opinions upon the whole matter Fol 231. Fra Bacon Here followeth an Attestation of my Protesting in the Court of Admiraltie against the Judges clearing and discharging the said Silver and Ships and against the Spanish Ambassadors Claims just that Morning as they were discharging of the Ships and Silver being the sixteenth day of Decemb. 1652. as appears by the Certificate of the Officers of the Mint under their hands viz. WE whose names are here under-written hereby certifie all whom it may concern that we were present in the Court of Admiralty that day the Judges of the Court were reported to proceed to a sentence for the clearing or condemning of the ships Salvador George and Sampson it being about the seventeenth of Decemb. 1652. And there we saw Mr. Thomas Violet the same day in the Court present a Paper unto the Judges which he declared contained several Reasons and Arguments to the Judges for respiting their Judgment concerning the discharging of those ships and several other Prizes till he had examined several Witnesses on the behalf of the State to disprove the Spanish Claimes concerning these Ships at which time the Silver was aboard these Ships After some time spent in arguing the business by Mr. Violet in behalf of the State the Judges seeming to proceed to a sentence concerning the said Prise Ships Mr. Thomas Violet made his Protest in the said Court of Admiraltie aganist the discharge of all or any of these Prises declaring hee did it upon his owne accompt till his Witnesses were examined in the behalf of the State And that the Judges if they should proceed to the contrary should answer it to the Parliament and Council of State at their peril Thereupon the Court desisted from proceeding in the said Businesse and the Judges thereof required Mr. Violet to attend the Councel of State that afternoon about his carriage that day in the Court of Admiraltie touching these ships Dated at the Mint in the Tower of London December 23. 1654. Signed George Brett Thomas Burch James Hoore Here follow the Affidavits and Certificates of the truth of Tbomas Violets Service made by honest men of clear reputation Merchants and others that he emploied and were privie to the whole Proceedings in the Admiralty and other parts of this Nation and by what wayes and meanes he made these Discoveries to entitle the State to this Silver and disprove the Spanish Ambassadours and the Spaniards Claims The Affidavits follow viz. JOhn Glover of London Merchant aged about fourty years maketh Oath That Mr. Thomas Violet having since December 1652. received several Orders and Warrants from his Highnesses Councel and Doctor Walker Advocate for the Common-wealth to assist in the behalf of the Common-wealth against the Silver ships Sampson Salvador and George and all their Silver and lading In pursuance of which service the said Mr. Violet hath constantly intreated his this Deponents assistance amongst several other persons which he the said Mr. Violet emploied for making discovery of the several frauds and practices of the Masters of those ships and of several other Merchants Claimers of the Silver and lading in the aforesaid ships to deceive the State by their several Claims And also of the several Bills of lading and in several other particulars in pursuance of this service for the Common-wealth for several moneths this Deponent with one Mr. Simon Baldwine a Merchant who lived a long time at Cades and St. Lucars in Spain and with Mr. Violet this Deponent and they two did veiw and examine all the Bills of lading and the several pleas and Exhibits Extracts and all other writings and papers which were brought in and remain in the Registrie of the Admiraltie concerning these ships silver and lading the Register declaring that they had seen all the Transactions that was then upon record in that business which were many thousand sheets and that the said Mr. Violet had several Warrants from Doctor Walker to the Register and Examiners of the Admiralty to require them that the said Mr. Violet and all such as he should nominate under his hand to the said Register and Examiner should be impowered to make several Searches which he this Deponent and the rest did almost every day for about three moneths And this Deponent further maketh Oath That after he and the rest had taken such Observations and Directions as Mr. Thomas Violet had given order concerning the marks of several Bills of Lading and several other particulars both Mr. Simon Baldwine and this Deponent delivered the Papers up to Mr. Violet hee having imployed and contented us for our pains This Business concerning the ships and silver this Deponent came to be ingaged in at the request and entreaty of the said Mr. Violet hee having heard how necessary and advantagious hee this Deponent should bee in making this discovery of the truth of this business For that this Deponent for many years was an Inhabitant and merchants in Rotterdam and had Commerce and Trade with most Townes in Holland where Trading was stirring And this Deponent know's many of the marks of the Bills of Lading of these Silver Ships though they pretend to belong to Spaniards Hamburgers and Flaunders yet they are the same marks as divers Merchants of Holland give to their goods and Merchandize And that since the War with Holland divers Ships and their lading have been condemned in the Admiraltie and made prize of which had Silver and merchandize aboard them at the time of the condemning with the same markes which are in these Ships Sampson Salvador and George And this Deponent further deposeth That hee knoweth the said Mr. Violet imployed besides Mr. Simon Baldwin several other people for the making these discoveries ever since Decemb. 1652. And this Deponent hath been imployed
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
pains hazard and labour five hundred pounds in this service And I am perswaded had not Mr. Violet undertaken this businesse in that very nick of time he did 13. of Decemb. 1652. and constantly and vigilantly followed and agitated in this businesse both at the Council of State and Admiralty this great quantity of silver had been lost and the State deluded with pretended claimes and how seasonable a service this was at that conjuncture of time and the happy fruit and effect so great a treasure brought to the Nation is visibly to all men My opinion is that for the Honour and I may say profit of this Nation to encourage all men for the future to be faithful to the Common-wealth and to expose their Persons and expend both their spirits and purses for the Honour and safety of the publick as Mr. Violet hath done in this great undertaking and brought it to a happy issue That as the sum of money was the greatest that ever I think at one time was saved to this Nation by any one mans discovery so his reward should be sutable not only to have the ful restoration of his Estate which was faithfully to my knowledg promised to him both by many of the Council of State and Parliament before ever Mr. Violets undertaking this service mentioned in his Petition But this service being finished Crowns all his former undertakings and in my opinion he not only deserves the full restoration of his Estate but to have an honourable memorial left to posterity of his seasonable and faithful discoveries and services concerning the aforesaid silver That so all others may be encouraged to trust to the faithful promises of the Council of State when they shall see the States promises faithfully performed in such a conjuncture of time as when the Government was changed And I think I am bound in my conscience that taking notice of such high proposals as were propounded either in Parliament or Council of State during the time I had the honour to serve the Publick amongst which I have and do hold this service mentioned in Mr. Violets Petition to be one of the first rank that was ever presented in Parliament or Council of State when the work is finished I hold my self obliged both in honour and conscience to give the undertaker such as Mr. Violet that hath in this business laboured all along to the perfecting of the work The State having gotten by this discovery and undertaking about three hundred thousands pounds as M. Violet affirms to me so much money coined he having finished his sore task I think I am bound in justice to help him what I can that so after so great paines and hazard Mr. Violet might not work in vain And upon this account I make this certificate whereof one part is upon my own knowledge and experience I have had of Mr. Violet the other Part I refer to the Orders of Parliament Council of State Doctor Walkers warrants and the Certificates of the Officers of the Mint And I wish for the due encouragement of all active Persons that shall hereafter venture upon great and high undertakings for the profit honour and safety of this State and Common-wealth that Mr. Violets reward and compensation for this great service may alwayes be had in remembrance for no doubt so great and faithful a service discovered so seasonably will have a happy issue and the reward from the State will be sutable to the greatnesse of the Service Septemb. 22. 1657. G. Fleetwood This is a true Copy of Sir George Fleetwoods certificate on the behalf of Mr. Thomas Violet examined by me Thomas Hewet John Rimmer Doctor WALKERS CERTIFICATE I Can truly and do certifie That when the Cases of and touching the Silver in the three ships the Sampson Salvadore and St. George were depending in the Court of Admiralty touching the same being Prize And before the Argument touching the casting the Onus probandi thereupon in that Court were made Mr. Thomas Violet did repair to the said Court of Admiraltie and to my self being Advocate to the then Parliament and did produce from the then Council of State one order bearing date the 13. of Decemb. 1652. And also some other Orders of the then Council of State whereby he the said Mr. Violet was ordered to repair to the said Court of Admiralty and also to my self as Advocate for the then Parliament And to look after and take care of those said businesses touching the said Silver in the said three Ships or to such effect and accordingly hee the said Mr. Violet was therein very carefull and industrious and did by himselfe and others imployed by him and at his owne charge take great paines in following the said businesse and in searching after and examination of the said Ships Papers and Bookes and writings and other matters that were exhibited into the Registers of the Admiraltie and in making his observations thereupon and collecting thereout what might make for the State and looking after such other evidences as hee could finde out wherein hee was noe way remiss or negligent and the said Mr. Violet did openly owne the same business in Court and moved therein on behalf of the Parliament and that earnestly and with zeal and made or declared some Protest therein in the said Court of Admiraltie And did not only particularly apply himself to me but did also in my hearing privately press it to some of the then Judges of the Admiralty And I did finde that the said Mr. Violet by his much publick owning and appearing therein in the behalfe of the Parliament and then Council of State did contract much envy and ran great hazards of his person and it cannot bee but that he did lay out and expend much money to such as he imployed therin 10. March 1657. Wal. Walker I shall humbly desire your Honours to observe that Doctor Walker if hee had pleased could have certified in this his Certificate the day of the moneth I made my Protest against the Judges of the Court of Admiraltie being the 16. Decemb. 1652. against their discharging this Silver and the great Contest I had with them about it before I could get the Judges to Respite their Judgment and that to his knowledge the Judges of the Admiraltie complained of mee to the Council of State that very day in the afternoone for doing this service and that had it not bin for your Petitioner the State had bin cozened of all this Silver But because I printed the list of the Dutch prizes and discovered the abuses and cheates put on the Nation by some Officers in the Admiralty no doubt but this business stuck in his stomack and to gratifie some guilty persons that had cozened the State and that made him to certifie my business by halfs and but part of his knowledge But it matters not as long as your Petitioner hath his services fully certified concerning this Silver business under the hands of Sir James
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
merchants transport gold and silver without licence from the State and to keep good intelligence and watch upon their actions that so the gold and silver endeavored to be unlawfully transported may be seiz'd and forfeited For a man to be his Crasts-master in this mystery requires as many years study as to be a Doctor of Physick and is never to be learn'd by looking on an Vrinal Your Petitioner humbly saies The Parliament had made a better bargain to have given these Doctors of Physick fortie thousand pounds for a pension than to suffer that dammage they have received by the not imploying of the mint daily gold and silver being imported into this Nation and before ever it be coyned transported out again without licence to the great dammage and weakning of the stock of this Common wealth There is silver and gold vast and great quantities brought daily from beyond the seas and landed in this Nation without paying of Custom and this verie silver and gold is stoln out of the Nation again before ever it be coyned without licence or paying of Custom so here is a Trade to the value of some hundreds of thousands of pounds by the year for the particular profit of some covetous merchants and the Common-wealth have no profit either by Excise Custom or Coynadge and till skilfull men in these Mysteries be imployed in the Mint this mischief will not be stopt or removed either by Doctors or Apothecaries Your Petitioner did formerly offer and now doth humby offer unto your Honours that he may be impowered and commissioned to be master-Worker and melter of the Mint to undertake now at this time to set your Mint to work notwithstandidg the present Warre with Spain provided your Petitioner may be impowered by your Honours order for the execution of what he shall humbly propound for the honour of the State and service of the Common-wealth in this business God send your Honours to order all these abuses by mee here presented may be prevented for the future and care taken where corrupt ignorant and unskilfull persons are got into imploiment for the publick they may be removed and trustie skilfull Officers put in their imploiments Your Petitioner humbly saies This is a sure waie to abate and lessen the great engagements of the Commonwealth when Drones are discharged and Bees imploied for if your Honours take away the cause the cure of the disease followes of course OLIVER the late Lord Protector the 20. of April 1653. dismisses the Parliament and the same day put a Guard of souldiers aboard the aforesaid ships Sampson Salvador and St. George then riding about Black wall And shortly after unloads all the silver into the Mint which your Petitioner stayed for the use of the Common-wealth your Petitioner can prove it by the Account of the Mint that the silver which was taken out of the said ships beside what was stoln and embezeled amounted to the summe of two hundred seventie eight thousand odde hundred pounds and Mr. Lieut. of the Tower Col. Barkstead paid out all this great Treasure In reducing the Dutch paying the Army and other services for the Publick as will appear by the particulars of his Accompt and your Petitioner never had farthing so that this great Treasure your Petitioner stayed was every pennie laid out in defence of the Common-wealth and subduing the Dutch It was a great mercie of God to this Nation that your Petitioner prevented the Dutch from getting this great Treasure at that juncture of time 1652. that silver would have made work for us else had the Dutch had it When your Petitioner see all this money disposed of by Col. Barkstead and not one penny thereof paid unto your Petitioner according to the promise of the Councel of State yet at the same time your Petitioner to be daily commanded and enjoined by the late Lord Protector Oliver and by his Councel and by the Judges of the Admiraltie and Doctor Walker 1653. 1654. dailie required at his own charge to attend and prosecute this businesse and to pay about ten other persons for about two yeares who assisted your Petitioner in the prosecution of this businesse as appears by the Warrants of the Councel of State Court of Admiraltie Doctor Walker all of them dated after the 20. of April 1653. which Warrants and Orders your Petitioner hath ready to produce to your Honours Your Petitioner finding this unmerciful and hard usage in this businesse to be dailie forced to borrow great summes of money at interest and to expend the same in prosecuting this business in the Admiraltie to maintain the States claim to this silver against the claimers and your Petitioner never to receive one peny from the States for his service he was enforced to petition the late Lord Protector OLIVER for his reward and satisfaction according to the promise of the Councel of State his Highness being one of the Members that had faithfully promised your Petitioner the summe of eleven thousand pounds when your Petitioner first undertook this service before Col. Bingham and Mr Sadler In his Petition hee sets forth the several services chargeable and dangerous imploiment together with the Councel of States engagements and promise to pay your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds for this his discovery and service and named several of the Councel of State which knew this to be a truth and that your Petitioner wholly relied upon the Councels Promise as aforesaid which was the true cause that engaged your Petitioner to undertake this difficult chargeable and dangerous task and emploiment And had not your Petitioner borrowed above seven hundred sixty five pounds and expended it all in this service which he payes interest for at this very day besides your Petitioners daily attendance in the Admiralty with about ten persons whom he paid and employed in this business to assist your Petitioner had not your Petitioner done this the Common-wealth had lost every penny of this great treasure The late Lord Protector Oliver upon your Petitioners addresses unto him and after his daily attendance for above two years with Petitions at Whitehall and Hampton Court for his dearly earned reward the reasons wherefore the Protector delayed your Petitioner so long before his reference touching this businesse was he knew the Referrees would certifie the debt and that he knew I could prove his particular Promise for the paying of your Petitioner eleven thousand pounds for this service which he made me at the Cock pit at Whitehall before Col. Bingham and Mr. Sadler who were of the then Councel of State and brought me to him to give him a particular Account what your Petitioner had done in this businesse your Petitioner by his importunity and daily attendance following him every day got his Highnesse Oliver at last to referre the aforesaid Petition to Col. Barkstead Lieut. of the Tower Mr. Alderman Vyner Capt. John Limbery Doctor Walker Advocate for his Highnesse Gabriel Beck Serjeant Dendy Maurice Thomson
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