best market is the third bill is alwaies kept in the Factors hands to sue the Master if he doth not deliver the Goods according to his Bills of lading And if the Master deliver the Goods the receipts on any one of the true Bills of Lading discharges the other two Bills That the State would be pleased to desire any publique Agents that lay claim to shew the originall Warrants for sending away this silver from Spain either at Cales or S. Lucars or other Ports bills of lading or his originall Letters such as he or they will stand upon his or their honor are the true originalls out of Spain taken at Saint Lucar or Cadiz and that exact copies may be taken by the Admiralty and this to be done forthwith and that they put in all their claims they make to any Goods gold or silver in these ships very sodainly upon their honor to be just and true claims without any guile or fraud That the State will be pleased to take order that the Admirallty strictly examine all the chief Factors and Mariners of these ships what Country men they are where there aboad is whether they doe not goe by false names and to give a just answer at their perill and which of them belongs to Holland and whether they have made any Bills of Lading falsly at Sea or in the Downs or since they came into England and antedated the same if done by whose advice and who were privy unto it or have defaced or torn leaves out of their books of Invoyces or altered their Bills or Books since they came from Spain and who were present at the doing thereof That they give you an accompt where each of them lye and at whose house in Saint Katherines or elsewhere what Merchants in London they know or have communication with and who are their Factors and set down their names where each particular man dwells That they declare upon oath who they know hath sent beyond Seas to have the silver and gold and commodities claimed by the State registred in Spayne since the stay of the treasure here and what men in London have beene advizing and assisting that way and where they dwell and what Notaries or others in London have given them advice concerning the premisses What Merchants they know have promised any publique Ministers of State any summes of money and what agreement or satisfaction they should have if hee or they could get the silver claimed by him or them into his or their hands and sent beyond Seas to name what Merchants that live in England and what Nation soever have had any treatie or agreement with them or any publique ministers or others for the purpose and intents aforesaid My humble suit to your Lordship is that the Councel of State would be pleased to use all the expedition they can in the businesse and to settle some strict order in it for if they give the Merchants time to send to Spayne the Merchants will there have what things registred and upon whose accompt they please and seeing that here they cannot have one penny if that we prove the silver and commodities belong to Holland they are and will be constrained to goe to Spayne and there though it be a confiscation to send away silver before it be Registred without the Kings Licence yet the great Officers and Statesmen to have a good share in all probability will get the Kings pardon and to give what Certificats shall bee desired as they have formerly done in Otho Georges case provided the Dutch will pay well for it To prevent which there is nothing but expedition before they have learned their lesson from Spayne if these Merchants which claime this silver would speake truth they know almost all this Silver is for the accompt of Amsterdam Dort and Netherland merchant My Lord if the State in the examination of these particulars will command my service in this businesse by Gods assistance I shall give you a good Accompt I shall with all readines attend it faithfully to the uttermost of my power doe my duty for to have this plot discovered highly concernes the Commonwealth I have beene privie to their secret practises of transporting of Treasure to all parts of Christendome out of this Nation therfore may know the way to unravell this secret combination sooner then others for I am assured no man in this Nation hath had the oportunitie to know these waies as I doe for I was imployed in these discoveries by the late King and his Councell many yeeres and my Lord an old Deere-stealer is the best Keeper of a Parke It may so chance that it may be pretended that all the silver that is in these ships and not Registred is the King of Spaynes as by the law it is if it were seized in Flanders or the King of Spaynes dominions but this pretence if set on foote will hold no water here as I humbly conceive for wee are not to answere to that point the Merchant had beene lyable in Spayn or at Dunkirke to have answered the Lawe for transporting treasure before it be Registred in Spayne but coming into our harbours as a prize of Holland and they being enemies to this State wee are not to be accountable for what these goods or monies owes the state of Spayne for want of Registring them nor any person suffered to claime more then is Registred in Spayne and the State have cleere satisfaction of the reall truth of that claime for they having cozened the King of his duties intended to bring this treasure home to each Hollander upon their private accompt and this question I humbly desire to have your honors put to any forraigne Agent that claimes whether he or they lay claim to the treasure as forfeit to his or their Master for want of Registring or that he or they claim it as all shipt for his Masters and his subjects proper accompt upon cleere and just bills of lading in Spayne my humble Petition is that they be desired to answere upon his or their Honors that point The Dutch Merchants that are concerned in this silver are so well versed in making false entries double bills of lading Certificates Charterparties and all other frauds of this nature that if they have time given them to hatch their egges there shall be neither a bar of silver nor peeces of eight but what they will bring a Certificate out of Spayne for the Registring it eyther for the King of Spaynes proper accompt or for his Subjects or Hamburgers they will finde any Nation to lay clayme unto it saving the right owners which in truth is the Merchants of Amsterdam and Netherlands and you may rest assured the Dutch will rather set on foote any pretended clayme eyther Spanyards or Antwerpians to deceive us rather then that the English should have it they care not who hath it for they know we shall lay all this money out in powder and shot for them and they
is pretended they ought to be unlesse they first prove that those ships silver and all the lading doe really belong unto his Master or some of his subjects nor those of the Netherlands which I humbly say he or they will never be able to doe and I have sufficient proof to the contrary if I can but get my witnesses examined I have about eight witnesses to examine and the Merchants will pack many of them away now they hear I have used to send som of my Intelligencers amongst them into St. Katherines and other places In the mean time if either his Master or his subjects receive damage by any publique ministers claiming silver which is none of theirs but belongs to Holland the Commonwealth is excused and free and the publique minister must bear the blame if any using his Master or his Subjects title to the silver when they had no title or interest therein which if that designe had taken effect all men may see the damage that would acrue to this Nation thereby whatsoever may be pretended to the contrary Sir The law takes no notice of Words but legall proof and evidence where a publique minister bears Parol against the interest of the Commonwealth amounts to no more then a private mans for when a claim is laid to all this silver by forraign Agents as the King of Spain and his Subjects silver I shall prove part of this silver belongs to some Merchants of the united Provinces our mortall enemies and a small part of this silver belongs to some Merchants in London Sir If I finde a man tripping for a penny I will trace him for a pound I fear not to speak a truth in this particular it is for the safety and well being of the Nation that makes me speak so earnestly Sir though in Court and matters of State publique ministers be allowed a Credence paramount agreeable to their letters Credentiall of forraign Princes yet neither those Letters nor their Function shall I humbly conceive allow them any neither the lest priviledge or preheminence beyond civility in any Court of Justice against the Common-wealths title in this businesse of the aforesaid Prizes and silver 1. The Spanyards are as rarely found to trade out of their own Territories all writers say or between upon Strangers bottoms as their King himself and so the goods not likely to have beene theirs originally or by originall consignment colourably perhaps they may that is since their seizure consigned to som of Antwerpe to defeate the claime of this Commonwealth they being commonly partners with the Amsterdammers that being usuall in cases of the like nature especially where so much respite of time hath beene given and so much money stolne out of these ships which shall in all likelyhood be imployed to bribe out of the States hands these ships if they can fasten on any in power that will be so wicked to receive bribes if my humble advice had beene followed the stealing this silver had beene prevented 2. The like assuredly may be affirmed touching the money bullion and plate in the ships in question since the naturall subjects of Spayne dare as ill or worse transport any silver as strangers the crime being alike penall to both but the subject in a worse condition if he adventure being a man of estate because he remaines in the Countrey when the stranger perhaps never returnes to answere it if discovered after he is out of the Countrey as upon publication of this businesse many will not dare to returne into Spayne lest they forfeit not only their own particular and their friends estates but also their lives But Sir suppose it may bee objected that generall negatives from never so many instances of never so universall non uzans amounts not to the face of one particular affirmative profe in contra yet it cannot be denied for reason and so I humbly conceive ought to be granted that som such distinct particular and signisicant proofe in a cause of this high nature and concernment to the profit and safety of this Common-wealth ought first to bee made of the lading of this silver and that from the originall Port of Cadiz or S. Lucar under the Kings Seale or from the Duanas there before any credit can be given to generals against so known constant and universall custome of frauds daily practised against this Common-wealth as I have discovered concerning these Prize-ships before mentioned Sir I have made some of the Councel of State acquainted with the severall waies how the Merchants cozen the State about their prize-ships and goods and they are very apprehensive of it and I know some of the State will call this businesse to a strict accompt therefore I humbly desire you therein still to continue your care as you have done Sir truly if at the first those publique Ministers that claimed had produced originall Warrants from the King of Spayne the attestation of the Ports of Cadiz and S. Lucar from the Duanas there by authentique witnesses that this silver was shipped for the King of Spayne or his subjects proper accompt and that all that was claimed was really true and made that the ground of their exceptions against the proceedings of the judicature of the Admiralty therein had appealed to the Councel of State or Parliament my humble opinion is that perhaps their demands might have arived at a fairer issue then now they may have reason to expect And by Gods assistance they shall have a quick and a vigilant eye on them for night and day I and my Instruments shall watch them so that som merchants and others may live to wish they never had medled in this silver businesse and this I will prosecute according to my Order faithfully though it cost me all that ever I have in the world I know I have ventred my life in this businesse and I will not pluck back my hand let my hazard be what it will Sir whosoever travels and will enter the confines of another Nation though in amity by the Civill-law that is the law of Nations it behooves him to carry with him a sufficient Passe declaring from whence and what he is to what place bound and when demanded by any publick Officer to make that known and proved or upon refusall or for want of such a passe he is at discretion liable to bee arested and imprisoned untill hee cleere the doubt and give satisfaction to the law but if it be proved he hath made a false Passe or that hee bee of another name or Countrie then hee pretends hee may bee hanged for a Spie The like Lawe governs at Sea the Sea-mans ordinary Passe for his ship is his Cockets I meane true ones not counterfeit and feigned his true bills of store bills of lading letters of consignment Pursers and Supercargoes bookes fairely and truly kept for his goods not such bills as Otho George presents and if any Master of a ship be found at Sea without these or the
oblige mee to pray for Honors and then the Council keep 's their promiss which I faithfully had from many of them when I first undertook to make a stop of the silver claimed by the Spaniard I humbly submit all to your Honors THO. VIOLET Martii 4. 1652. For the Lord Bradshaw An Account of what hath been taken from mee Thomas Violet for which I humbly desire Reparations and satisfaction from the Parlament out of the Silver in the prize-Ships which I have staied March 4. 1652. 1. WHen I was sent to the Tower the 6 of Jan. 1643. my Mother had of my Goods Bonds and Bills in her hands taken from her at several times viz. to the value of one thousand three hundred and odd pounds besides manie of my papers and Accounts of great value and consideration to mee seized and manie of my papers were of great concernment to the Common-wealth and yet I cannot com to the knowledg who hath them but this I am sure of if there had been any thing in them that could have made against mee there had been then use made of them 2. My Mother had at another time a Privie-Seal taken from her wherein the late King acknowledged hee owed mee for my expences in the discoverie of the Transporters of Gold and Silver ninteen hundred threescore and eight pounds which money I laid out every penie out of my own purs and am ready to make this discoverie to the State upon passing of the Act against Transporters of Gold which Act hath been twice read in the last Parlament and is in the custodie of Mr Augustin Garland 3. The Committee of Essex put mee out of my possession of the Mannors of Battles and Paton-hall in Essex as appear's by their Warrants which I have to produce of which Land I had an extent to the just value of one thousand pound due to mee in 1643. and Phlip Cage Esq was in possession of the Premises for my use 4. The Committee of Shropshire seized in my Sister's hands in London three bonds due to mee in two thousand pounds for the payment of mee Thomas Violet one thousand pounds by the Ladie Waade Edmond Lenthal Esq Phillip Cage Esq Charls Mordent Esq as appear's under the hand of the said Phillip Cage Esquire 5. I had the Leases of ten several houses at the Postern in little More-fields and the Tenants owed mee when I was committed to the Tower in Arrears for Rent about one hundred pounds and for above these nine years I never received rent of them but Mr Elconhead hath received the Rent ever since 6. Som of the Silver Wier-Drawers by their unjust clamor caused my Office to bee sequestred from mee which was for the Surveying and Sealing of all Gold and Silver thred to prevent the deceit of this Nation by cours and adulterated Silver-thred wyer and spangels which at this daie is very much adulterared for want of the said Office which Office for the surveying and sealing of all Gold and Silver-thred and wyer I had from the late King for three lives and it hath cost mee neer fifteen hundred pounds to my Lord Treasurer Lord Cottington Sr John Cook and Sr John Banks before I could get the grant to pass under the great Seal of England and that Office made mee above three hundred pounds a year besides an hous rent-free 7. I had one quarter part of the Ladie Villers Farm for importation of all Forrein Gold and Silver thred hatbands or lace and Copper thred throughout England and Wales for fourteen years which cost mee a little before I was sequestred seven hundred pounds and it was worth one hundred and fiftie pounds per. an to mee 8. I had a grant from the late King under his signet to bee Master Worker of the Mint in the Tower of London which grant was taken away from mee when I had my hous seized in Jan. 1643. 9. Besides the aforesaid summ's I spent in my imprisonment in the Tower for almost four years seven hundred pounds and could never get my caus to bee heard though by my friends I presented manie petitions and I have attended the late Parlament with my petition this six years ever since I had my libertie out of the Tower to have Justice and relief in the foresaid premises and have spent on my attendance onely in following this business to get my caus heard above one thousand pounds besides I have spent all my time for above these last six years in doing several services for the State as is well known to a great manie of the Parlament and Council of State and Committee for trade upon the faithful promiss of manie members that my petition should bee granted and I have my estate restored or the value which by these particulars amount's to above a eleven thousand pounds My good services I have don is well known to your honors Sr James Harrington Sr Henrie Mildmay Mr Tho. Chalenor Col. Herbert Morley Mr Alderman Allen Mr Austin Garland and the Committee of the Mint and many other members of the Council of trade about setting the par of Exchanges and coyns Free-ports and several other great services I did the Common-wealth before ever your Honors and the Council of State engaged mee about the Silver Prizes and Goods in the Admiraltie and this hath cost mee more charge trouble and hazard for the time then ever anie business I have don The first thing that moved mee to do this service about the Prizes was the good and saftie of this Nation but had I not had your Honor's command to do it and many of the Council of State 's promise that I should have both my estate restored and a good reward for my great expence pains and hazard I should not have ventured on so knottie a business for which I go in hazard of my life daily I humbly submit the premises to your Honors Tho. Violet March 4. 1652. These papers with som little additions I delivered to my Lord Bradshaw Sr James Harrington and Mr Allen. Here follow 's a Copie of my Petition put into the late Parlament which petition hath been depending these six years and I have delivered som hundreds at several times to the Members and could never bee heard nor I have relief or justice though I attended it daily beeing promised by several members to take the first opportunitie for my relief also a Copie of the late King's Letter which I brought to London and my answer to the honorable Committee at Gold-smith's-Hall when they examined mee about the same with the Order of my commitment to the Tower for bringing up the said Letter for peace which was before anie Law was made to the contrarie to prohibit any person to bring up a Letter of peace from the late King To the Supreme Autoritie the PARLAMENT of the COMMON-WEALTH of England The humble Petition of THO. VIOLET Sheweth THat your Petitioner with Theophilus Rilye then Scout-Master of the Citie of
the value of three thousand pounds of sorted and Pick'd goods and after put 's these goods down without a sale by the candle on account to the State for the wines tobaccos silks woolls oiles sugars fruit spice and all other commodities after the same rate his fellow Commissioners sold the great parcel of seven thousand pounds pretending this small remainder is not worth calling for a new sale or I beeing a Commissioner will either buy these goods in my own name or get friends to buy them in their name These goods thus sorted gurbled and pick'd from the gross bulk maie bee better in the true value then the gross quantitie of Merchandize sold by the candle unpick'd som times twentie thirtie naie fortie in the hundred and somtimes where Goods are perrishable half in half and above I humbly leav it to your consideration whether the libertie of sorting packing and garbeling your commodities is not a better trade then the bare and single 2d in the pound upon the Reasons aforesaid To have som information of this business and shew the Parlament the waie to finde out the bottom thereof and to prevent it for the future I desire your Honors to make an Order of the Hous of Parlament to Mr John Daie Broker that weekly sells the Printed Bills of the currant Rate and Price in the market for all Merchandize which Bills pass as the currant Market both at London and beyond the Seas what Rates all Merchandize bare in London and this is the general Rule for all Merchants to buy and sell by as all Merchants know to require Mr Daie to give you all the weekly Bills hee hath Printed for these twelv months of the Prizes of all Merchandizes unto the Parlament how Merchandizes is sold every week in London May it pleas your Honors manie hundreds of Merchants paie Mr John Daie quarterly for these Bills as beeing the onely guide to buy and sell their commodities by I humbly desire a Committee of Parlament to view everie week your sales and the Printed Bills to see what you have sold the Common-wealth's merchandize at under Mr John Daies Printed Bills you will find it a verie considerable business to understand and profitably to prevent for the future the garbeling or sorting your commodities for the private profit of your Commissioners that are merchants and that the Parlament see carefully for the future that none of your Commissioners that sell your Prize merchandize shall trade as merchants during the time of their Commission and employment for the sale of the State 's goods for if you do you maie bee deceived of thousands of pounds yearly It was so formerly in the Custom-hous no Officer was admitted to trade so long as hee was employ'd either as a Farmer or a waiter and it was don in all ages upon weightie consideration This verie intimation I humbly saie will save you manie thousand pounds a year naie somtimes som thousand pounds in a week if you pleas to examin it I believ you have sold your Prize goods this year under the merchants market neer one hundred thousand pounds Maie it pleas your Honors I had in Offices taken from mee above five hundred pounds a year which I bought of the late King and the Ladie Villers If you imploie mee for the Common-wealth in either the Mint Customs or Excise or your Prize-Office or in the Court of Admiraltie I will in som of these places save the State a hundred times more then they will give mee for a pension if you give mee a fee of 500l. a year I will save you fiftie thousand pounds a year which you are daily cheated of and this shall not bee denied by anie knowing merchant or others that know's trade that shall dispute it with mee if they understand's the cours of trade and are not biass'd with a prejudice against me for discovering these truth's to the State which in all likelihood the State would never have known without my information If I could bee so happie to finde out an old Burlie a Walsingham a Cecil or a Secretarie Cook they would presently apprehend this business as Queen Elizabeth did old Carmarden's business as the greateâ—… service that could bee offered to the State there are at present as wise State's-men as they but it is my unhappiness I have not acquaintance or friends to bring mee to make my free addresses to them upon all occasions for the Common-wealth's business as is requisite for the Common-wealth's service in this conjuncture of time and as I have don formerly for manie years with the late King and his Council If I had had for these last six years the same free address to the late Parlament as I had to Sr John Cook late Secretarie of State and manie other of the late King's Privie-Counsellors I would have saved this State manie hundred thousand pounds they have been cozened of in the point of their Prizes Customs Excise and Mint Maie it pleas your Honors my staying the Silver was a miracle that I had courage to do it considering the manie hazzards I run in staying the Silver and the multitude of people that had an interest in it and had a design to have deceived the State of this Treasure and manie other Prizes and if you examin Mr Steneer's Letter carefully you will finde no mean persons had their hands and heads in this business If the Parlament read Cap. Bishop's Letters from Holland and Mr Steneer's Letters stopp'd by the late Council of State they will finde strange proceedings in the business of the Prize-Silver howsoever for the present it is stifled and not examined in convenient time I may plaie the Chirurgion and probe it for the service of the Common-wealth 20. July 1653. THO. VIOLET S ir I desire you to communicate this Paper to the Council of State It beeing for the service of the Nation IT may bee objected by som that are willing to Cavil at any thing I do that I have not don well to put all the Transactions of this business into Print many things in this action beeing not convenient to com to publick view To give an answer to this objection for I conceiv I shall meet it in my Dish by som that carp at mee My Answer is 1. THis Narrative is at the present Printed onely for the information of the Members of Parlament and Council of State and the Council of Officers of his Excellencie the Lord General this present Parlament and Council of State beeing the onely Judges to give mee relief in my just demands the former Parlament and Council of State for whom I did this service beeing now dissolved as a Parlament and Council 2. I most humbly conceiv that this present Parlament having now in their possession all the Silver I staied in the Court of Admiraltie and several other Prize-Ships will bee honorably pleased to see mee have my due Reward which was promised mee by the late Council of State and
that is my estate again restored unto mee or so much as can bee by the power of the Parlament and to make up the rest of my estate that cannot bee restored either in money or Offices the som of eleven thousand pounds according to my particular in this Book fol. 63. and this was the agreement and promiss I had from the Committee of Forrein affairs and others of the Council of State besides manie of the Members of Parlament told mee I deserved a greater Reward for this business more then to bee restored to my estate for that they were of opinion if once my caus of Sequestration should bee heard in the Hous I would bee cleered of my Sequestration Truly I humbly saie were I in any Common-Wealth in Christendom and had don them the like service as I have don here and had nothing to pretend too but this service I have heard som Travellers saie I should for my discoverie of so great a business have manie thousand pounds beyond what I Petition for as my due I should bee injurious to the Justice of the Parlament if I should make anie declaration as a question of receiving my due 3. I humbly conceiv that the former Council were as Factors and Agents for this Common-wealth and intrusted by the former Supreme Power and what I did with them I do the same thing with humilitie I saie it to this present Supreme Power and to the present Council of State I did them this service for the Common-wealth and not for any particular person or for anie particular man's profit in the Council of State and therefore though the particular persons bee changed in the Government the Common-wealth is not changed the Common-wealth hath the Silver the Common-wealth in honor is ingaged to do mee right these present Governors are as Stewards for the Common-wealth and if my reward should not bee punctually performed by the present Power it would for ever hereafter bee of dangerous consequence to the State and would discourage any to serv the State I have don the State in this particular the greatest service that ever was don in England by anie man of my condition to save them neer four hundred thousand pounds in Silver of our enemies in this conjuncture of time It will save Taxes and replenish the Nation with monie and it is easie to apprehend what advantages the State hath by it 4. If I had not given everie Member of Parlament in Print a Narrative of my whole Transactions in this business of the Silver and Prizes in the Court of Admiraltie how could I put in my Petition into the Parlament to have a Reward for my services and never to shew all the ground-work or original occasions or Transactions upon which in justice and equitie my Petition ought to bee granted by this present Parlament they having the benefit the former Parlament had having by my means sowed the seed and this Parlament reaping the harvest I humbly hope they will allow mee a little gleanings it is said Thou shalt-not muzzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the Corn the State never had had this Silver in the Barn had I not trod and trod again for it 5. I have found manie of the late Parlament men and som of the late Council of State with several others their followers and friends having relation to them getting my Papers into their hands have acted their parts in several Scenes of the State at several Committees several Treaties in Forrein Affairs in several Offices as in the Mint and at the Council of Trade and at and in several emploiments in this Nation which papers of mine I have presented them with by means thereof som have assumed more to themselvs then was ever in them upon a strict examination for I have sate up manie nights and daies at vast expence and studie to bring the State 's business about and som others by my papers have gotten great employments whereas if they had been truly examined of the worth of themselvs they would som of them been found Emptie-beaded and long-bill'd Wood-cocks these men having served mee as the hogs doth the man that shake's them down the Alcorns they eat them up as fast as they fall but never look to give thanks to the man that shook them down beeing so far from acknowledging my civil respects unto them that for my curtesies in this kind to som I have met withal after I have been instrumental to bring them to good Offices and Preferment they have don mee ill offices and disrespect I shall forbear naming of them hoping for the future they will have more of Christianitie than to render mee evil for good many of my friends that have been privie to their ingratitude have told mee both of their confidence and impudence in Relation to mee as aforesaid and this is one reason wherefore I Print these Papers that these Rooks for the future may bee discovered 6. For my presenting this Narrative unto the Supreme Power I am autorized to do it by Order of this present Council of State 10th of June 1653. to present all abuses that are or have been in the managing of the Silver-Prizes and by Order of Parlament the 12. of July 1653. an Order to examin how the Treasure coming into the State may bee managed with the least charge and expens and how all persons that have receiv'd the monie for the Common-wealth may bee called to account another Order of Parlament of the 20. of July 1653. where a Committee is appointed to receiv such Petitions to the Parlament as are proper to the legislative power or not els were to bee relievable with power to send for Papers Records and Witnesses by an Order of the aforesaid Date I am inpowr'd to present these propositions for the advantage of the Common-wealth that so for the future som good Rules and Laws may bee made for the Court of Admiraltie and this Narrative is one of the principallest for the saftie and profit of this Nation that hath or shall I humbly conceiv bee presented to the Parlament 1. As in relation of the Silver now a Coyning in the Tower 2. Several other Prize-Ships and discovering several frauds and breachs of trust in som persons to the great dammage of the Common-wealth 3. There is a Committee appointed for the publick Treasurie and for the best improovment these propositions is for them wherein by careful mannaging of the sale of the Prize-goods they may improve the same manie thousand pounds yearly the carriage of that business of the sale of your Prize-goods I humbly desire maie bee called to a strict and exemplar count 4. I humbly think that there is not one Member in the Hous will conceiv his time lost to bee made acquainted with the several passages of this Narrative if I knew anie would not bestow the reading of it I would spare my pains in presenting them with it 7. If I would have been taken off of
the Prosecution of this business as som are who offered mee their assistance several times about Januarie last now their Actions are turned they are at present for the Merchants that claim this Silver and act the Merchants-business against the Common-wealth if I would have don the same thing I needed not at this daie have petitioned for my dammages to the Parlament my deserting the prosecution had lost the State 's business for which I could have had a eleven thousand pounds paid mee with thanks anie where in Christendom I would have had it paid mee but I never have or will by God's assistance leav the Common-wealth for particular profit Had I don as som have don whel'd about the State had been cozened of every pennie of these Prizes but those that know mee truly know I am of another temper I desire all men whomsoëver in this Nation to give mee a charge to this present Parlament that directly or indirectly I ever for my own private use received one pennie of any man for any favor connivance or other waies whatsoëver in the late King's time and I freely have gotten manie man his pardon from the late King and now I am ingaged in this business no man shall directly or indirectly draw mee to betraie the State 's interest if any can give mee a charge I chalenge them to do it I know I have enemies enough I desire them to give mee a charge I desire no favor Upon the result of all I humbly desire the Parlament to consider seriously how manie men would have served the Parlament so faithfully as I have don upon the single account of acting against all Merchants and others in the World for the Honor of the Parlament and saftie of my native Countrie If this bee not duely considered by this Parlament and my estate restored all men for the future will have a care how they serv the Publick to bring a ruine on themselves for beeing honest to their Nation 8. That wheras several Honorable Members of the former Council of State Members of Parlament are named in this Narrative I do humbly appeal to their Honors for the particular business they are named in for the truth of what is ascerteined both for the matter time and circumstance onely putting it into a form 9. This Narrative I put forth for the information of the present Judges of the Court of Admiraltie that so they maie bee acquainted with the several abuses formerly acted by som in the Court of Admiraltie and that they carefully see that such remedies by Act of this present Parlament may bee made for the due regulating the Officers and proceedings of that Court for the future that all former abuses and deceits formerly put on the Common-wealth may bee prevented I humbly desire an Order of Parlament that the Judges in the Admiraltie bee Ordered to take an exact account what Ships have been discharged the Prize-Office by Order of the Admiraltie since the first of August 1652. to the first of August 1653. and the daies when and what Ships were seized for the State and what Ships for Prizes of private men of War there is now depending in the Court of Admiraltie this 1. of August 1653. and in som other particulars which I will attend the Judges of the Admiraltie in I do humbly desire Sr Sackvil Crow Doctor Walker Doctor Clark Advocates of the Common wealth Mr Lievtenant of the Tower Liev. Colonel Joice Colonel Wetton Mr Oxenbridge and Mr Sparrow Commissioners of Dutch Prize goods Mr Jsaac Doreslaws Mr William Riley Keeper of the Records in the Tower and all others that are named in this Narrative to declare whether the proceedings and things set down bee not a true Narrative of my transactions in this business the putting the said business into a form beeing allowed mee all which pains and charge had been saved if the old Council of State and Parlament had continued manie of them were privie to everie one of these passages and could have reported it to the Hous without putting mee to the trouble to Print this Narrative And I humbly referr my self to the judgment of all judicious men whether there was not a necessitie to Print this Narrative aforesaid for the due and true information of all the Honorable Members of this present Parlament I humbly conceiving everie one of them having equal and Supreme Power to do mee Justice in this my humble Petition and I praie God in Heaven direct them that they maie do mee their humble Petitioner right in this caus for as I am dealt with in this business it will remain an Record either to encourage or discourage any for the future to do the State service in the like kinde In the first place I have had constantly in my eie in the whole cours of my proceedings in this weightie business the Saftie Benefit Advantage and Honor of this Common wealth in this conjuncture of time venturing in this action both my person estate and life to accomplish and do the Common-wealth this service against publick Ministers of forrein Princes Judges and Officers in a Court of Admiraltie and hundreds of Merchants both English and others as everie Member of this present Parlament may see from the first to the last of this my Narrative Secondly I have had a careful eie that upon doing this difficult service that the Parlament might acording to the promiss of the Council of State upon my undertaking this business restore mee to my estate which hath been unduely taken from mee that so I might have to live of my own in a plentiful waie as I have don formerly and bee enabled to serv the Common-wealth thereby And these are the true reasons that caused mee to Print this Narrative and no other I would have any that are not of this opinion know I can keep secrets as well as another man and manie hundred secrets I know both of times past and present that shall bee buried in perpetual silence except such a necessitie as this is which is for the saftie of the Nation and for the saving my whole estate enforceth mee to discover them I humbly leav it to the judgment of any just discreet or honest man whether I could never get this my business truly stated to this Parlament without setting forth this Narrative and I humbly leav it to any indifferent man supposing hee had all his estate unduely taken away from him as mine is from mee whether hee would spare to speak or leav any stone unturn'd if all hee had should bee lost for want thereof The whole business is humblly left to the Justice Equitie and Pietie of this Honorable Parlament at whose feet I prostrate it and shall daily praie for their prosperitie in this World and in the World to com THO VIOLET Aug. 3. 1653. FINIS A List of all such Ships as the Fleet of the PARLAMENT of England have brought into this Common-wealth as Dutch-Prizes which Ships have