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
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
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
by the said Mr. Violet in this business for almost a year and a half in the finding out and searching this business and the said Mr. Violet hath to his this Deponents knowledg expended very great summes of monie in prosecution thereof to the value of above five hundred pounds besides all his pains attendance and hazzard this Deponent having heard him several times threatned and in danger of his life by several Merchants and others Claimers of the Silver in these Ships they having declared in this Deponents presence That by the said Violets protesting in the Court of Admiraltie against the discharge of these Ships and Silver in Decemb. 1652. the day the Judges appointed for discharging the Ships and Silver and by his further prosecution against those Ships and Silver since hee hath been and is the onely cause of hindering them of their Silver and Ships And that they had had their Silver long since had not Thomas Violet undertaken the prosecution of this Business And this this Deponent hath heard affirmed several times by merchants and others claimers both at the Exchange and elsewhere And this Deponent maketh Oath That this Affidavit is for the affirming and justifying of Mr. Violets pains hazzard and service in prosecution of this Business of the Silver ships and Lading John Glover Sworn the 27th November 1654. before mee ROBERT KELLEWAY Master of the Chancery in Ordinary Thomas Ley. John Gerrel Both sworn the 25. of Novemb. 1654. before me JOHN PAGE Simon Baldwin Sworn the 17. of February 1653. before me JOHN PAGE A Coppie of my Letter sent to the Lord Bradshaw 25th of March 1653. May it please your Honour I Have left with Colonel Harbert Morley this day my Petition to the Council of State against Otho George I humbly desire your honour to take notice if the Council of State do not take some present order in it to consider what encouragement my self or any man that serves the Common-wealth in the discovery of the Ships silver and Merchandize now brought in as Dutch prize shall have when they shall bee assaulted in the streets with Stilettoes and Poniards from Cap Otho George for being instrumentall to do the State service I have been advised by several friends for this eight dayes not to come to the Exchange or Admiraltie least I should bee murthered for undertaking this business Mr. Joachim Pesler Chirurgâ—on upon the Ship Sampson now riding at Eriff of which Ship Otho George is Captaine and Jacob Elaes Otho George his Cabbin Boy hath discovered the Silver in the Ships Sampson Salvador and George that a great part thereof belongs to the Dutch For when they had been ten daies at Sea the Purser was ordered by the Captain to go into the Fore-Castle and take his Book and blot out all the names of the Hollanders and Zealanders and in their place to insert abundance of other names for which discovery Captain Otho George did stab the Chirurgeon of the Ship My humble prayer to your Honour is That the examinations taken about this business before the Lord Mayor of London in the presence of Mr. Will. Reymes John Carleton Jonathan Symonds These Examinations will imforme you at large Your Honors humble servant THO. VIOLET To Our most worthy friend John Thurloe Esquire at White-hall these present The Commissioners for Prize Goods Letter to Mr. Thurloe Mr. Thurloe WEE have a certaine discovery that a great quantity of Gold and Silver hath been stolne out of the Dutch prize ships that call themselves Hamburgers wee desire for the service of the State to have a Warrant to bring all the Bullion in the Dutch prise-ships on shoare Wee have here enclosed sent you Mr. Thomas Violets Letters to us and his proofes taken in the Office every houres delay of not taking the Silver a shoare is great losse to the State Wee finde Mr. Violet the bearer hereof very active and knowing to make these discoveries and he hath done several good and great services for the State already in this businesse We desire you to present the same to the Councel of State We are Sir Dated Dutch prize-Office Decemb. 18. 1652. Your very Friends and Servants Samuel Wilson Richard Hill A Warrant of Doctor Walkers to the Examiners Mr. How and Mr. Arnold in the Court of Admiralty December 1. 1653. MAster How and Mr Arnold in the business of the three ships Sampson Salvador and George and the Silver and Lading in those ships Mr Violet was ordered to contribute and yield his assistance to bring in Evidence on the behalf of the Common-wealth I did heretofore signe a Warrant that all the Proceedings might be shewed him He now desires that the names of all the Witnesses already produced on the behalf of the State as also the Allegations and Matter upon which they were produced as likewise the names of all Witnesses produced on the behalf of the Claimers and every one of them particularly and the Allegations and Interrogatories upon which they have been produced might be shewen to him I pray your Honours to consider whether I could employ men in this Discovery for two yeares and not to pay them for their paines and yet I have not had one penny for this service Doctor Walker knew that I employed many people every day in these Discoveries several of these being often with me both at the Admiralty and at his chamber and he knew I imployed none in this businesse but credible persons as appears here under his hand And could Doctor Walker have made this Discovery or known the tricks of these Merchants Masters of ships and Pursers by forged bills and many other subtilties of Trade which is not in his Law-books but is common amongst the Dutch Merchants in these times Dr Walker would have saved me the labour and charge for employing people to make this Discovery or from making my Protest in the Admiralty and would have had the credit and thanks from the State for this Service and Discovery to himself But this I dare say though he be a great Lawyer yet for the making of this Discovery he was then 16. Decemb. 1652. utterlie ignorant of the way to do it this being a subtilty amongst a few Merchants and not to be read in the Civil Law-books and had I not had all my Intelligence from their own creatures and plowed with their Heiser I could not have done this service or made this Discovery And upon examination of this business at the Councel of State Doctor Walker confessed that it was not his study nor his place to seek up and down to procure Witnesses or to finde out waies to entitle the State to this Silver and except I could bring legal Witnesse the State must lose this Treasure this hee declared several times before the Councel of State But if the Passengers did confesse this Silver to be loaden a great part of it for the accompt of Merchants of Ansterdam as I had undertaken they would do then
hee would improve that Testimony to the uttermost for the States advantage which indeed Doctor Walker did And I proved these frauds by the testimony of about ten of the Passengers being all Dutchmen Hamburgers and Lubeccars and other Hans-towns men and I had above fourscore witnesses the Passengers and Merchants more to examine in this businesse many of them were after packed away by the Claimers being Dutch marriners and had money given them that they should keep out of the way and not be examined and several Witnesses waited many daies to be examined in the Admiralty and could not Spanish Gold and Silver was plentifully bestowed on some in the Admiralty and they loved it well The Claimers had their Instruments almost every night that stole silver out of these ships to the value of many score thousand pounds which I discovered to the Councel of State as appeared by several papers which I presented to them I imployed several men who spake the Dutch Language at my own charge and gave them money to go on ship-board and to drink freely with the Dutch marriners and in their cups to fish out the secrets of this businesse and when I had once got the end of the string I would by other engines and instruments closely follow and never give it over till I knew the whole bottom of the Flemmish and Spanish cheats which they intended to put upon the Nation These men that I imployed on ship-board for to make this Discovery for mee never appeared to mee in the Admiralty lest the Spanish and Dutch Merchants and marriners should have discovered them to have been my spies And to deal clearly with your Honours they were none of them Book-men Civilians nor Lawyers but such persons as be skellom'd mee soundly in their cups with the Dutch marriners and though I paid for the Brandey-wine strong beer Mum and Spruce beere pickle Herrings and Holland cheese yet I never exspected from them good word or peny of money for all this charge and pains If I were to do the like service again for the State I would never look in any Books of the Civil Law but consult with such persons as know how to humour a Dutch Skipper or marriner and fish out his secrets Thus have I clearly told you the waies and instruments I used to do the Common-wealth this great service I now humbly exspect according to the Councel of States promise the summe of eleven thousand pounds for this service And had I not undertaken it the Common-wealth had lost this Silver which was to the value of two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds This that he desires being just I desire that you would not put him off but let it be done forthwith unto himself and all such others as he under his hand shall nominate for he employes others under him in searching into this businesse He will nominate none but such as may be trusted in it And I desire you in your several places to give him and all that he shall employ all ready dispatch and encouragement that the businesse of the Common-wealth may finde no obstacle Where there is publication you may likewise shew him the Depositions and I pray let nothing that is just be denied him 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker 3 September 1653. MAster Dorislaus and M. Bud are now again desired to deliver unto Mr. Violet a Copie of the Specifications given in by the Masters and Commanders of the ships Sampson Salvador and George as likewise Copies of all the Pleadings Articulate Exhibited and admitted on the part of the Claimers of the Silver in any of these ships And they are to go with him to the Register and Examiners Offices and to procure him a view of all the Bills of Lading Extracts and Exhibites either brought into the Office or exhibited by any Claymers And whatever Papers are or shall bee exhibited by any Claymers And whatever Papers are or shall bee exhibited by any Claimers in the three Ships I do as Advocate for the Common-wealth desire Mr. Dorislaus to yeild all his endeavours and assistance and also the Register Examiner and Deputy-Register in the Admiraltie from time to time to give Mr Violet free admittance and view of all Acts Bills of Lading and Pleas Exhibited and Extracts and Papers remaining in the Registry or which shall come in And to it readily and effectually the same tending to the service of the Common-wealth and being in order for preparing the Evidence fit to be produced for the Common-wealth I am in this Letter by order of the Councel of State to Doctor Walker entreated to make this Discovery but now I have done the States-work with the hazard of my life and vast expence I cannot by Petitions Certificates or Prayers and many yeares attendance get to be paid my most dearly earned reward which the Councel promised me being eleven thousand pounds had I thought of this usage I could have bin paid by the Claimers If this discovery had bin so easily made and had bin every bodies work to have found out the Spaniards Frauds I should not have had these earnest Entreaties from Dr. Walker according to the Orders of the Councel of State of the 1. of Septemb. 1653. The Commissioners for Prize-Goods have certified to Mr Secretary Thurloe how active and knowing they found me to make these Discoveries and had I not been so the Nation had lost every peny of this great Treasure amounting to above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds And I do according to the Order of the Councel of State of the First of September 1653 earnestly desire and Entreat Mr. Violet and also the Commissioners for Prize goods and their Sollicitors and Agents as also the Proctor and Silicitors for the State and every one of them with all convenient speed severally to set down in Writing all the Informations that they respectively know of or can finde And all the Evidences and Proofs that may be discerned or produced on the part of the Common-wealth That so a full Plea and Articulate Allegation may be prepared and the Proofs brought in for the Common-wealth And no Default bee done suffered or Committed 3. Septemb. 1653. Walter Walker Here follows the Referrees Letter with their desires to my Lord Bradshaw WHereas by an Order of Reference from his Highnesse the Lord Protector dated the 13th of July 1657. the Petition of Mr. Thomas Violet concerning his staying the ships Sampson Salvador and George and therein the Dutch silver is referred to the consideration of Sir Thomas Vyner and Sir John Barkstead Knights Captain John Limbrey Doctor Walker Gabriel Beck Maurice Thomson Edward Dendy Henry Middleton and Isaac Dorislaus Esquires or any three or more of them who according to the said Order of Reference are to examine state and certifie the premisses contained in the said Petition to his Highnesse together with their opinion upon the whole matter And whereas upon reading the said Petition of the said Mr. Thomas
the Parliament by which I conceive hee merited the indempnity and restoration of his estate before this great undertaking mentioned in his Petition about the Silver in Decemb. 1652 but doing this service successfully in staying this Silver I thinke my selfe therefore now much more bound in honour and conscience after so longe a tryall of this mans patience constancy and fidelity and his love to his Country to give you my true observation of the man both in his acting this and other great businesse and this I attest upon my knowledge and experience of the man and not upon hear-say And if the rule of the Gospel be observed viv that all men do to others as they would be done to themselves Mr. Violet cannot be many weekes without a full restoration of his Estate or the value and if Mr. Violet hath had such measure as he hath presented to the world in print surely I must say he hath had hard measure but I wish him not only his Estate but also an honourable memoriall to be left to Posterity of his great service according to former engagements to him by some of the then Council of State for this particuler service of the Silver mentioned in his Petition this just due and deserved Testimony I do give him this first of October 1657. James Harrington This is a true Copy Examined by us Thomas Hewet John Rimmer John Symes WHen I brought these aforesaid Certificates to the Commissioners to whom the Examination of my services touching this Silver was referred by the late Lord Protector Oliver I offered to bring them the Testimonialls of several others of the Council of State to affirme and attest to the same effect as these honourable Gentlemen had don But the Referrees were pleased to say they had seen enough and to forbid mee the troubling any others for conformation of what I had alleadged in my Petition they declaring that these Certificates aforesaid had given them full and ample satisfaction and that they were sorry I should bee so dealt with and that they did see my sad sufferings and would fully and effectually certifie the true State of my businesse to his Highnesse Oliver what I had merrited from the State they not doubting but I should have not only the summe of eleven thousand pounds paid mee for this discovery and great service but also should receive an honourable reward over and above for the same To Incourage others for the future to relie and trust to the Promises of the Council of State and to be faithfull in the trust that was imposed on them by the State The Referrees telling your Petitioner that in Justice Prudence Honour and Policie the States must pay mee and that they could not expect but the end of my labours would come to a happy issue and thereupon the aforesaid Referrees were pleased to give mee this honourable Certificate following concerning the true State of my services and the Council of States ingagements to pay mee the summe of eleven thousand pounds and an honourable reward over and above viz. May it please your Highnesse WHereas by your Highness order of the 13th of July last your Highness was pleased to referr unto us or any three of us Mr. Thomas Violets Petition hereunto annexed whereby wee are directed to examine the premisses suggested therein and to state and certifie the Case to your Highnesse together with our opinions upon the whole matter In obedience whereunto wee having perused the said Petition and finding many perticular services which the Petitioner thereby affirmeth were done by him and well knowne to the Lord Bradshawe and many others of the late Council of State and hee having named to us Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetewood and Francis Allen Esquires who amongst other of the Council knew the Petitioners great service done concerning the Ships Sampson Salvador and George their Silver and Lading mentioned in his said Petition and the Council of States intentions and engagements to him when hee undertooke to disprove the Spanish Ambassador and Spanish and Flemish Claimers thereunto in the yeares 1652. and 1653. For the clearing of the truth of the Petitioners allegations suggested in his said Petition wee held it necessary to acquaint the Lord Bradshawe and the said Sir James Harrington Sir George Fleetwood and Francis Allen Esquires with your Highnesse said Referrence and sent them Copies thereof with the said Petition and with our desires that they would certifie their particular knowledges therein that so wee might the better returne to your Highnesse the true state of the Petitioners Case And wee have accordingly received Certificates from all the aforesaid Persons which wee have hereunto annexed together with the said Petition and Referrence for your Highnesse gracious peruseall all which Testimonialls and Certificates set forth the great services done by the Petitioner by his seasonably discovery of the Spanish Ambassadors and Claimers fraudulent endeavors to deceive the Common-wealth in December 1652. Wee have likewise perused severall Orders of Parliament and Council of State that set forth the intended fraudes and Practices of Don Alonso de Cardenas in coming in his owne Person to the Parliament and to the Council of State with severall other Merchants and their Claiming the Dutch Silver then aboard the said Ships And wee finde Mr. James Stenere committed by the Parliament for tampering in this business Wee finde it attested under the hands of Mr. George Brett James Hoare and Thomas Birch all Offieers of your Highnesse Mint they being then in the Court of Admiraltie the 16th of Decemb. 1652. that the Petitioner by his active faithfull and seasonable Protest in the said Court at that very instant nicke of time and the very hower the Ships and Silver were in judgement before the Judges there and upon discharge the Petitioner by his Protest stayed the Silver mentioned in the Petition being to the value of above two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds in Silver taken out of the aforesaid Ships and Coyned in your Highnesse Mint as the Petitioner hath proved to us upon the sight of some accomptes And wee finde by severall Orders of the Council of State and Orders from Doctor Walker the Common-wealth's Advocate and by severall Depositions and Certificates that the whole weight of that businesse was imposed on the Petitioner by the Council of State in 1652. and 1653. as to the discovering part and the Petitioner was required to prosecute this service after the dissolving of the long Parliament by the Council of State then being The Heads of the Lord Bradshaws Certificate Wee also finde it attested by the Lord Bradshawe that the seasonable interposition of the Petitioner and his Protesting in the Admiralty applications to the Council and discovery of the fraudes both of the Spanish and Dutch touching the said Silver those actions of the Petitioner accompanied also with great charge hazard and trouble were the maine occasion if not the causa sine qua non of the after
their Rule to walk by in stead of the Bible because they are in great places to practice Iniquity by a Law as Ahab did for Naboths Viniard who did not only cheat him of his Land and Inheritance but robbed him of his Life and to seem holy called a Fast the effect of that godly Fast was to set two mens sonns of Belial to beare false witnesse that Naboth had Bsasphemed God and the King sending a warrant for the Execution of innocent Naboth before ever they tryed him that he should be ston'd to death right or wrong what a sad End the Authors of this murder and robbery come to is well known how many great and Noble Persons of the eminentest for quality in this Nation have bin Trappaned and perjured out of their Lifes Lands and Estates and some of the witnesses upon their Death beds with horrour of Conscience and great Remorse have confessed the perjury that they were suborned by others to the great scandal of the Justice of the Nation by such waies to get mens Estates This is most apparent God is comming to visit for these things and when man cannot bring the Delinquents to Justice he causeth the guilty Persons one to punish another till by the dividing and subdividing they are so weak that as the flood cam upon the old world and destroyed mankinde so by these divisions the strength of the Nation is disjoynted Every man upon and against his Neighbour making a passage and way for the common Enemy to come and swallovv the Innocent with the guilty if God be not mercifull Moses divided the Red-Sea and the Children of Israel passed over on dry Land God hath by nature made a Sea betvveen us and our Neighbours he hath hedged us in and made a vvall of seperation between us and Popery but our sins at this day are plucking down this wall the wilde Bore of the Forrest is come in amongst us the Devil and the Jesuites have plaid their parts in this Nation to the ruining of many Body and Soul and to the admiration of Christendom the Jewes Crucified Christ thinking to gratifie Caesar Caesar a few years after paid them to purpose for Crucifying him May it please your Honours The ten Commandements and Fonts for christning of children at the beginning of these Troubles were plucked down and now comes Pulpits to be beaten in pieces and frequent tumults in several Churches within the city of London as lately at Aldgate parish hath bin done which is a corner of the city where many poor live and are fit for any Insurrection When I see children with a candle amongst powder or chips I feare the burning of the house or a blow with powder when wee see the buds appeare the spring is near these are as certaine signes of a mischief as the plague-tokens are to a man that hath the Plague the best symptomes are a purple fever a shaking an earth-quake if not a dissolution The pride and vanity of some Lecturers and Ministers who in the Nation having studyed points of dissention and division instead of the Gospel of Christ preach themselves too much plenty have made them wanton No doubt but some of them do it with the advice of the Iesuits to make a separation in Countryes Cities Townes Parishes and Families till without Gods infinite mercy the Iesuits bring a destruction both on the Churches and houses of the Nation and on this Great Citie of London and set every man to cut one anothers throats Would not the end of these things bring an unhappy deformation instead of a blessed Reformation when we are exposed to the fury of a forein Enemy by the vileness of the Iesuits and folly of our own Divisions What a divelish State trick vvas put upon the late Protector Oliver and his Secretary Mr. Thurloe by Sir Kenelm Digby and several other Persons Jesuitically inclined in setting the Protector on that fatal businesse of Hispaniola and Jamaica without ever advising and consulting with many of the English Protestant Planters who had for many years lived in those parts and had they had the honour to have been consulted with they could have told them that those fiery Regions was not for the constitution of our bodies That Fox and subtile Statesman Sir Kenelme Digby his very name should have bin fatall to the Protestants cause if the Lord Protector Oliver and Mr. Thurloe would have bin pleased to remember the Gun-powder treason This fatal designe of Jamaica cost the Protector and the Commonwealth above tvvo millions of pounds beside the lives of above twentie thousand valiant Englishmen destroyed by the unhealthfulness of the Climate and want of necessary Provisions and when these valiant men were almost famisht who had they bin in any part of Christendom the Spaniards durst not have look't them in the face had they bin twice their number yet these gallant Souldiers were all like sheep led to the slaughter and their blood spilt like water on the ground by the treachery of some of their Officers who no doubt had private instructions from some then in power to do what they did which upon examination was the cause they kept their heads upon their shoulders and escap't both with lives and estates May it please your Honours I hope your Honours will pardon these sad and necessarie truths proceeding from a loyal heart I have formerly ventured my life many times to get the Common-wealth two hundred seventie eight thousand pounds in money I now venture my self in these dangerous times to speak truth It is now as it was in the daies of Noah no man but Noah and his Familie believ'd a flood would come till it did come and sweep them all away And if I be justly used I may now in your streights bring you in presently as great a sum in money again as I saved you formerly abov three hundred thousand pounds fevv of the Council of State when I undertook to discover the Spanish Ambassadors fraudulent claim to this Silver I say there was but few of that Council did believe that I could ever get the State this Silver or that I would be so faithful to refuse ten thousand pounds which was offered me by the Claimers of this Silver which is certified in this Book by severall honourable Persons to be true should I bend my braines as much to study the disturbance of this Common-wealth as I have ever done the peace and happiness of it I could Demonstrate to you a pen and Inkhorne-man as I am can do more service or disservice then many hundreds of Red-coats I humbly pray my faithfulnesse be not paid with Ingratitude As for my own life I desire to have it no longer preserv'd then I can serve and benefit my Countrey I will wait on God and exspect an happie issue upon this my humble request knowing that if the Reputation and Iustice of the State and the Certificates of honorable persons be of any value in your Honours sight my
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
twelve yeares in the Committee of Shropshires hands at Shrewsbury which bonds are in two thousand pounds for the payment of me one thousand pounds and taken from my Sister Anno. 1643. who kept them for me these bonds were due in 1644. I paid John Corbet Esquire a member of this present Parliament forty pound to have these Bonds delivered to me by the Committee of Salop which money I paid by command of the Council of State as appeares in this book Fol. 27. 28. 29. I only humbly desire and pray for an Order or Ordinance of Parliament to confirme the said Order of the Council of State and that I be impowered by Order of Parliament to sue and to implead the said Bonds as formerly I might have done notwithstanding any Order or Ordinance of Parliament to the Committee of Shropshire or any other Committee touching or concerning these Bonds in regard I have paid the Committee of Salop forty pounds for them as aforesaid And I shall thankfully allow and accept of these three Bonds for two thousand pounds in part of payment of the summe of eleven thousand pounds the Council of State promised me Gentlemen for your Comfort these Bonds are good Bonds and the men Solvant that owe me the money and the money is doubled at six in the hundred at this day and I have men of fifteen hundred a yeare tyed for the payment of me of these Bonds at long running though now they keep out of the way they shall pay me 2. Wheras I had an Office for Regulating gold and silver thread as appeares in this Book Fol. 110. 111. 112. and had I not bin disturbed in the due Execution of the said Office by severall Clamorous cheating Silkemen Wyer-drawers and Refiners who I have proved to the Parliament make it a common Trade to cozen the wearers of gold and silver Lace as I can attest it under the hands of Mr. Alexander Jackson sworne assay Master of Goldsmiths Hall and other persons in a hundred parcells The Refiners and Wyer drawers of gold and silver within this twenty yeares have culled and melted down the heaviest coines of Shillings Sixpences halfe Crownes and Plate of this Nation to above the value of a million of Silver to the great weakening of the Stock of currant Silver money the great decay of Trade and unspeakable losse to the Common-wealth I have and can produce to the Parliament a Certificate of the Committee of Trade dated the 16th of January 1657. upon many days examination of all these abuses I have it certified to the Parliament the severall daily cheats of Wier-drawers put on the Nation and the Committee for Trade recommended me Thomas Violet to the Parliament to be restored to my Office with such fees as I received formerly and certifie the great mischeifes which is daily practised for want of this Office And that I should be ordered to put in security in the Exchequer in such summes as the Parliament please to appoint me to warrant all gold and silver Wyer that shall be assayd at the Office to be fine Silver and not under sterling and all gold and silver Thread to be justly and duly made with a due proportion of Silke and Thomas Violet to pay the damages to any person greiv'd or wrong'd that buy gold or silver Thread or Lace surveyd as aforesaid And to prohibit all Refiners and other persons the melting down the currant Silver coines or Plate of the Nation for any of these manufactures upon severe penalties the Committee recommend me to the Parliament I should have the power as formerly to make searches and deface all adulterate gold and silver Thread and Wyer and the Committee Certifies this Regulation of the restoring me to my Office would increase the stock of Silver in the Nation above thirty thousand pounds a yeare the original Order I have ready to produce And if the Parliament by their Order impower me to Execute that Office again and confirme me in it for two lifes which cost me fifteen hundred pounds before I could get the grant under the great Seale from the late King which money I paid to the Lord Treasurer Juckson Lord Cottington Secretary Cook Mr Atturney General Banks if I have this Office againe I will increase the stock of Treasure every yeare above seventy thousand pounds a year whereas now as this manufacture is made without a Rule it wastes the stock of Treasure thirty thousand pounds a year and this I will maintaine prove and demonstrate it to your Honours to be true this manufacture being under no Rule and Government as it is at this day is one of the back doors that hath brought such a scarsity and want of currant Silver money on the Nation and had it ever come to Examination in Parliament as now I desire it may I will prove it is more profitable to the Nation to keep money in peoples purses then vainly to brush and lose thirty thousand pounds a year of men and womens cloaths as is Certified by a Committee of Parliament it now doth I will demonstrate this Nation had better have given at this day one hundred thousand pounds to me to have kept up this Office to a due Regulation then have put down my Office by the doing thereof they have had a million of money less in the stock of the Nation then they should have had had my Office continued if the Parliament please to impower me to Regulate this manufacture and to receive the fees I took formerly I humbly will accept of it for two thousand pounds so I may have it for two lises in part of payment of the eleven thousand pounds which the State owes me 3. I have for many years attended the Committee of the Mint about Regulating their Mint as is well knowne to many members of the Council of State what charge and time I spent in this service I complained of this businesse eleven yeares ago and for your further satisfaction I recommend you to Fol. 11. 12. 13. 14. in this book there you will see the true Reasons set down how it comes about that no silver and gold is coyned in the Tower And that the Parliament I will Justifie had been better to have given the two Doctors Gourdon and St. John forty thousand pounds for a Pention then have imployed them in their Mint that it is not in the power or skil of Doctors or Apothecaries ever to set the Mint at work as I have demonstrated that had I not stayed two hundred seventy eight thousand pounds which was coyned by my prosecution this sum was as much money as hath bin coined in some seven yeares in the Tower since the Master-worker and Warden had that imploiment I have humbly offered if the Parliament please to command me and pay mee for my paines that I will make the Mint corstantly go and cause every year some hundred of thousands of pounds to be coined to the honour of the Nation
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