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
London by order of the Honorable Hous of Co. the 6. of Januarie 1643. was committed prisoner to the Tower where your Petitioner remained almost four years the said Rilye beeing discharg'd out of the Tower within a year from the time of his commitment his Estate never sequestred or taken away your Petitioner having acted nothing in that business without the approbation of the said Theophilus Rilye And your Petitioner had a Pass to go to Oxford by the Lord General Essex and an Order from the then-Hous of Commons and the Committee of both England and Scotland were by your Petitioner's appointment made acquainted that your Petitioner was within few daies to bring up a Letter from the late King to the Citie for peace which your Petitioner desired Sir David Watkins to acquaint the Parlament with before ever your Petitioner went to Oxford My humble suit is therefore that Sr David Watkins and Mr Rilye may bee examined of the truth of this Your Petitioner acted nothing in this business but by Order and what the Parlament or som prime Members knew of and did consent to the doing of it That during the time of your Petitioner's restraint your Petitioners Estate was by the Committees of Essex Salop Middlesex and London sequestred and taken away Your Petitioner's Estate in Essex beeing by Order of Parment granted unto certain persons through whose informations your Petitioner was sequestred who since the grant and obtaining thereof have never made good their allegations or informations or anie part thereof although by several Orders of the honorable Committee of Essex and Salop in pursuance of an Order of the honorable the Barons of the Exchecquer they have been required to make good their charge against your Petitioner as by the said Orders may appear neither hath your Petitioner during the time of his said imprisonment nor since though to the uttermost of his power endeavored daily and solicited at the Hous-doors been hitherto able to obtain a hearing of his caus whereby all your Petitioner's Estate hath for this nine years last past been out of your petitioner's hands to his utter ruine without the relief of this honorable Hous Your Petitioner humbly praieth that the said sequestration may bee taken off and that all Lands Bonds Bills Leases Moneys Goods Debts Offices Extents Writings and Evidences of what nature soever in whose custodie the same or any part thereof is beeing and remaining maie bee restored to your Petitioner And that a just account may bee given Your Petitioner of the profits received ever since the sequestration by such person or persons who have received the same Your Petitioner humbly praieth this the rather for that hee ever since his enlargement out of the Tower hath don many good and faithful services for the Common-wealth to the best of his skill and power as is known as well to the honorable Council of State as to several honorable Members of this honorable Hous And Your Petitioner shall praie c. THO. VIOLET A Copie of the late King's Letter to the Lord Major and Aldermen of the Citie of London Charls Rex TRustie and well-beloved wee greet you well when wee remember the many Acts of Grace and Favor Wee and our Roial Predecessors have conferred upon that our Citie of London and the many examples of dutie and loialtie for which that Citie hath been likewise famous Wee are willing to believ notwithstanding the great defection wee have found in that place that all men are not so degenerated from their affection to Us and to the peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miserie they now feel and therefore beeing informed that there is a desire of som principal persons of that Citie to present a Petition to us which may tend to the better procuring a good understanding between Us and that our Citie whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may bee procured Wee have thought fit to let you know that wee are ready to receiv any such Petition and the persons who shall bee appointed to present the same to us shall have a safe conduct and you shall assure all our good subjects of that our Citie whose hearts are touched with any sens of dutie to Us or love to the Religion and Laws established in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof they and their Ancestors have enjoied so great happiness that wee have neither passed any Act nor made any profession or protestation for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which wee will not most strictly and religioussy observ and for the which wee will bee alwaies ready to give them any securitie can bee desired and of these Our gracious Letters Wee exspect a speedy answer from you and so Wee bid you farewel By his Majestie 's Command George Digbie Given at our Court at Oxford on the 19th year of Our Reign 26th Decemb. 1653. Upon the bringing up to London of the aforesaid Letter I Tho. Violet of London Gold-smith was examined before an honorable Committee of Parlament at Gold smith's Hall Januarie 3 1643 where I made the Committee acquainted that I had acted nothing but by order of Mr Theophilus Riley Scout-master of the Citie of London who was autorized by Ordinance of both Houses of Parlament and by Act of the Common-Council of the Citie of London to hold intelligence in any of the King's quarters and that the said Theophilus Riley by virtue of his place did procure my Pass from the Hous of Commons to go to Oxford the 25 December 1643 as will appear by the Journal-books in the Hous of Commons and that my Lord General Essex did give mee a Pass to go to Oxford the 27 of Decemb. by Sr Arthur Haslerig's and Sr David Watkin's means both which Warrants were procured for Mee Tho. Violet by Theophilus Riley Scout-master and one of the Militia of the Citie of London and the parties aforesaid and that the said Theophilus Riley and I Tho. Violet and Sr David Watkins had made several Members of Parlament and Committee of both Nations acquainted with the Letter before ever wee sent it to Oxford to have the King Sign it and wee had their approbation for doing the same and I Tho. Violet did plead justification for my doing thereof before the said Committee having the Warrant and approbation of the Common-wealth's Scout-master Moreover I declared that there was not then at the time of my bringing up of the late King's Letter beeing the 2d of Januarie 1643 any Order or Ordinance to forbid mee or any other person to bring up a Letter of Peace from the late King besides I told the Committee that by God's Law where there is no Law there can bee no transgression and my bringing the late King's Letter up to London before a law made to shew mee my Rule to walk by I beeing the King's Servant I humbly conceived could bee no offence whereupon the honorable Committee
made their report to the Hous of Commons and thereupon the honorable Hous made this Order viz. Die Sabbathi 6 to Januar. 1643. SIr Henrie Vane Mr Solicitor and Sr Arthur Haslerig report the design of Mr Theophilus Riley Scout-master of the Citie Col. Reade Sr Basil Brook Mr Violet and others concerning Letters a Petition and Propositions touching Accommodation c. and the particular examinations of the said parties and a Letter from his Majestie to the Lord Major Court of Aldermen c. and two Letters from the Lord Digbie to Sir Basil Brook of the 29 of December and the 2 of Januarie were all read Resolved c. Theophilus Riley Sr Basil Brook and Thomas Violet shall bee committed close Prisoners to the Tower Hen. Elsing Cler Parl. D. Com. I shall humbly desire the Committee of Essex to observ this here was no conspiracie charged on any of us by the Order of the Hous of Commons but if they will read the original they will finde it as it is Printed here in the Journals of Parlament onely a Committment to the Tower of London every man that is committed to a prison must not therefore bee guiltie of a conspiracie before hee bee tried either by Marshal Law or the Common Law of the Land And truly I humbly take it my punishment beeing so long in prison was beyond my offence for bringing a letter of peace when I had not broken anie law at that time in beeing without having my Estate under Sequestration or giving Mr Elconhead my Estate for his charging mee unjustly with a conspiracie against the Parlament before the Committee of Essex when hee nor anie other either hath or can prove it it shall bee found upon examination I have don the Common-wealth better service then manie scores such as Mr Elconhead either hath or could ever do and I humbly hope when this present Parlament doth take this business into examination they will leav mee to my remedie at law against Edward Elconhead for his unjust and malitious charge to defraud mee of my Estate to enrich himself by such indirect practice and make him account with mee for all monies and rents hee hath received of mine with dammages for my forbearance since my Sequestration notwithstanding anie pretence or Order from the late Parlament or Committee of Essex THO. VIOLET These papers I left with the Lord Bradshaw Sr James Harrington Mr Tho. Chalenor Mr Alderman Allen with the Committee of Essex at Chemsford Mr Augustin Garland and several other Members of Parlament Upon the dissolving of the last Parlament I made my request to the faithful Lovers of their Countrie Col. Wetton and Lievt. Col. Joice to present my former services about the staying the Silver and other prizes to the Right Honorable the Council of Officers which accordingly they did and brought mee acquainted with several of those noble Gentlemen for which great civilities I give them humble thanks by whose means I sent this ensuing Letter to the Right Honorable General Monk and presented the ensuing Papers to the present Council of State For the Right honorable General Monk Admiral of the Common-wealth of England May it pleas your Honor I Have desired Lievtenant Colonel Joyce to bee pleased to send your Honor this Letter the occasion of my writing to your Honor now is humbly to give you notice of a Book I presented to the late Parlament concerning many abuses about several Prize-Ships brought into this Nation and discharged som out of the Court of Admiraltie and som other waies before they were duely examined as appear's in my Book I herewith send unto your Honor. By reason of your great employment as Admiral I humbly thought it my dutie to present you with my Book In folio 99 you shall finde a particular Invoice Sr the damage hath been to this Common-Wealth to the value of manie hundred thousand pounds which this Nation hath been couzened of for want of a strict Examination of Prize-Ships I was formerly employ'd the 13th of Decemb. 1652. by the then Council of State to assist in the Court of Admiraltie against the Ships Sampson Salvador and George having laden in them manie hundred thousand pounds which silver had been all let gon had it not been for my Protest and Solicitation in the Court of Admiraltie as appear's in my Book fol. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. I have presumed to send you the Book with a Copie of my Petition to his Excellencie the Lord General My humble suit to your Honor is that if you conceiv my Petition is for the service of the Common-wealth to have these great abuses I have humbly presented unto the Parlament found out and prevented for the future that your honor would do mee that just favor to send in writing to Lievtenant Colonel Joyce what you conceiv is to bee don concerning my humble Petition to his Excellencie The Silver aboard all these aforesaid Ships is Ordered to bee landed by his Excellencie and to bee brought into the Tower I humbly desire to bee appointed Remembrancer for all prize-Ships which if I had been in August last employ'd the State had had a Million of monie now which hath by the undue and careless practice of som men been let slip out of England for want of a vigilant prosecution and is how in Holland I humbly leav the consideration of the premises to your honor and remain London Apr 27. 1653. Your most humble Servant THO. VIOLET Lievtenant Col. Joice lieth at the leg neer the Fountain Tavern in the Strand I humbly desire your honor to signifie your pleasure to him This letter I sent by Mr Quatmore The humble desire and Petition of Thomas Violet presented to the Right honorable Major-General Desborrow Col. Benet Col Jones all of the Council of State May 4. 1653. Sheweth 1 THat for want of order and a due regulation and porsecution of the matters of the State 's Prizes and Prizes of private men of War depending in the Court of Admiraltie divers great losses and inconveniencies have ensued which if not prevented for the future will bring unexpressable mischief on this Nation and will not onely discourage all private Men of War for continuing those Ships they have abroad or sending forth of others but deprive the Common-wealth of much if not most of that benefit it might and ought to make by Prizes which are and have been brought in by the Parlament's Ships which Prizes ought to bee employ'd towards the support of this War by which means this State hath been much disenabled and our enemies enabled as by sad experience since these Wars began the State hath found and by your Petitioner it hath been humbly presented to your Honors to take such order that there may bee a timely redress before it bee too late 2. That for want of stricter instructions to all Commanders at Sea for this Common-wealth manie Ships have passed unquestion'd or not fully examined and manie more
A True NARRATIVE Of som remarkable-Procedings concerning the ships Samson Salvadore and George and severall other Prize-ships depending in the Admiralty humbly presented to the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England and Councell of State and the Councell of Officers of his Excellency the Lord GENERALL By THO. VIOLET of London Gold-Smith Humbly desiring them to take the same into their Consideration it being of very great concernment to the security of this Nation And further hee humbly refers himselfe to his Papers Petitions and Letters delivered to severall Members of the Councell of State wherein is discovered many Designes of Merchants and others upon fraudulent pretences to have defeated the Common-wealth of all the Silver now coyning in the Tower beeing neere foure hundred thousand pounds Also an Order of the Councell of State for removing severall obstructions in the Mint And severall Petitions and Proceedings thereupon by order of the abovesaid Committee All which are humbly presented to your Honors and to all true lovers of their Countrey who shall Reade and take notice of the same LONDON Printed in the yeere of our Lord God 1653. TO THE PARLIAMENT of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND The humble Petition of THO. VIOLET Sheweth THat your Petitioner in December last finding the Common-wealth daily deceived in severall Prizes that had beene unduly discharged in the Court of Admiraltie and else where since August last to the value of many hundred thousand pounds which frauds if continued had proved highly prejudiciall to the Common-wealth by enabling the Dutch in their mischievous practises to circumvent and eclipse the glory of this Nation and all this constantly acted by some Merchants and others by compliance with some persons in trust in the Admiraltie For prevention thereof for the future your Petitioner did about the eighth of December last deliver in writing unto the Lord Bradshawe a Paper discovering that at that present time a practise and combination was set on foote and acted against the State by severall Merchants and others who at that time combining with some publique ministers of forraigne Princes did endeavor and plot to put a blind on the Parliament and Councell of State and having the connivance and assistance of some persons in power and trust for the Common-wealth and Admiraltie contrived by fraud false pretences and claimes to get cleered out of the Admiraltie severall ships taken as prize but most espicially three rich Ships viz. the Sampson the George and the Salvador in which ships your Petitioner had certaine intelligence there was many hundred thousand pounds of Silver and Merchandize for the accompt of severall people in Amsterdam Dort and other places of the united-Provinces your Petitioner having beene imployed by the late King and his Councell for making known many secret practises of the like nature unto them your Petitioner out of his affection to the prosperitie of this Common-wealth did undertake to the Lord Bradshawe to unmaske these frauds In pursuance whereof your Petitioner knowing how much it did concerne this Common-wealth to have these abuses discovered and made known hee delivered severall Papers unto severall Members of the late Councell of State and to Doctor Walker in December and January last which did manifest by what waies and practises these abuses were daily committed which service was so acceptable to many of the Councell of State that your Petitioner had an assurance from many of them in the behalf of the Common-wealth that if your Petitioner could intitle the State to the Silver in the aforesaid ships and make it out by sufficient proofe then he should have all his Estate both reall and personall restored unto him which is under sequestration upon malicious and untrue information or the full value thereof which amounted unto the some of eleven thousand pounds to bee paid unto your Petitioner out of the Silver which your Petitioner should gaine to the Common-wealth out of the aforesaid prize-ships which by your Petitioners painfull endeavors and to his great and vast expence was then accordingly stayed and proofe made to entitle the State to all the Silver which is now coyning in the Tower Notwithstanding the strong combinations and designes of some in the Court of Admiraltie and some other great ones in power to defraud the Common-wealth as was intimated by Master James Stanieres letter and in truth your Petitioner hath run as great hazard of being ruined both in his estate and person for his protesting in the behalfe of the Commonwealth against the discharge of these ships and Silver which had then without your Petitioners protest in Court beene all discharged and at that time the Dutch had such a party even in the Councel of State that by som of them your petitioner was discouraged to proceed in this busines by which means the merchants were encouraged to claime as is well known to many hundreds of Merchants in London insomuch as your petitioner was enforced in the face of the Court to charge ten severall Merchants who were then all in the Court of Admiraltie for fraudulent practises in laboring to discharge the said Ships and your petitioner did then declare to the Judges in the Court of Admiraltie that if they did discharge the said Ships and Silver upon any pretence of any Merchants or other persons whomsoever before your petitioners witnesses were examined they did not Judge but give away the Common-wealths Treasure and that your petitioner did appeale to the Parliament against their proceedings to discharge the Silver which did so exasperate the Judges in the Admiraltie that they complained to the Councell of State against your petitioner for endeavoring to stay the Silver and said ships and upon full examination of the businesse before the Committee of forraigne-affaires these ships were notwithstanding ordered to be staid and your petitioner ordered to prosecute with all expedition and vigilance in the behalfe of the Common-wealth for entitling the State to it which he hath done accordingly Your Petitioner therefore humbly prayes your Honors to bee pleased to consider the greatnesse of your petitioners service in staying the Treasure in December last and discovering the frauds of some in the Admiraltie at such time when the Hollander was domaniering in the Downes and how much it did weaken them and disappoint their occasions and what an advantage it is to the Common-wealth to have the State accomodated with neere foure hundred thousand pounds of the enemies Treasure in this conjuncture of time for your petitioners doing thereof hee hath contracted the malice of many hundred Merchants In consideration of all which Services your Petitioner humbly prayes his Sequestration may bee discharged and his estate both reall and personall restored unto him or the true value thereof paid him as was promised your Petitioner upon his undertaking this businesse or that your Honors would take such Order for your Petitioners reliefe in the Premises as by your grave Wisedomes shall bee thought agreeable to Justice And as in duty bound
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
of the Common-wealth and remaine Sir Your humble servant to command THO. VIOLET London 29. Janu. 1652. For Vincent De la bar Esquire at Dover SIR and my most true friend I received yours of the first of January in answere to mine of the 26. of December I finde that your urgent occasions call on you to stay at home for the present Sir I am most tender of you as my respects binde me for former civilities Sir I conceive wee have enough witnesses at home here at London about that which I am required to doe by the State for their service if not I shall be enforced to make a journey into the Countrey to Dover I have sat up seven nights and dayes within these three weekes about the Salvador the Sampson the George which ships have about foure hundred thousand pounds of silver and I shall prove it Duch silver Master Brames will intimate the businesse unto you how it stands pray present my service to your Lady and to Master De la vall when this businesse shall come under an examination at Dover I shall be carefull to doe you all just respects I beleeve I may bee in few dayes commanded to come downe unto you in one behalfe I am glad that I have an oportunitie to see you the other part is concerning the greatest businesse in this Nation in relation to the silver ships that are brought in as prize in short you will finde that there is a generall Imbargo and I will by my witnesses make all the silver in the George the Sampson and the Salvadore prize when I shall see you I will tell you more then I will write London 9. Janu. 1652. Sir your true friend Tho. Violet I must suddenly speake with Master Thomas De la vall therefore I pray let him know it Ralfe Colline Charles Valey senior Charles Valey jun. Will. Dunston Michaell Dehuz James Younricks and have them all examined about these prize-ships and silver and the States of Hollands Commission to gard these Hamburgers from the English-fleete I pray you have a care what Bills you accept for you will finde this businesse will breake a great many Merchants in Holland For Arnold Brames Esquire at Bridge by Canterbury MY most noble friend I should have waited on you on Wednesday at Dover but I am commanded by my Superiors to obey them in London Sir the businesse I spake last unto you of I am confident since I parted from you that I have done my discovery wee finde enough proofe out of London to doe that businesse so for the present I shall not have the happinesse to wait on you but within few daies I thinke to receive order to come downe with Master Charnock unto you I have writ so much to master Vincent Delabar my most worthy friend I have divers times prayed to God to make me in such a condition that I may really pay my vowes that is to give you my life and fortune at any time in requitall of your great civilities and rest assured I doe not desire any inconveniency should come upon you or yours in any businesse I have a hand in but if God should so order it I would venter as far as my life to serve you really so far as the States just intrest bee not hindered and I know you expect no more for my faith is ingaged to follow this businesse to the uttermost Farewell The Prince of Merchants Your most oblieged friend THO. VIOLET Lond. 8. Jan. 1653. I sent post haste for master Edward Watkins to come from Dover to assist mee in this businesse about the Silver in the prize-ships and I thanke him he came up post presently which hath much oblieged me and though the Parliament have taken away his place these foure yeeres past yet he is as nimble to make these discoveries as ever he was and he hath all his old instruments Truly Sir I should have won your wager if you had laid about your old friend Otho George you will see hee will not cleere his Silver so easily as you thinke for I have both him and others fast in a trap and this you will find true I pray have a care what Bills you accept from Amsterdam for this businesse will breake a great many there vale THO. VIOLET Thomas Violet maketh Oath THE fourteenth day of December 1652. about foure of the clock in the afternoone he met with Sir Sackvile Crowe in whitehall hee told the Deponent that the Spanish Embassadors businesse was to lay claime to the Ships and Silver that were stayed by the Parliament and the said Sir Sackvile Crowe further told this Deponent that within a few dayes hee had some serious communication about the businesse with master Pompey Calendrine a man he knew that was well versed in all the subtleties of Trade for that hee was brother in lawe to Philip Burlamacke and his booke-keeper for all his accompts by exchange since hee had an imployment in master Prideaux office and mannaged the Letter office for master Attorney generall Sir Sackvile Crowe after severall arguments pro con the result of all was that Pompey Calendrine said unto Sir Sackvile Crowe that upon his owne knowledge the aforesaid Pompey Calendrine knew that all the silver in the ships claimed by the spanish Ambassador was and is really belonging to the Hollanders and people of the united Provinces and holding up his hand said doth this hand belong unto mee so truely and really to my knowledge doth all this silver belong to the Hollanders though the Spanish Ambassador claim it This Deponent further saith that Sir Sackvile Crowe wished the Deponent that hee would take som order to get Pompey Calendrine examined of the truth of this for it is of great concernment to the State This Deponent further saith that friday the thirtith of December 1652 this Deponent wayted on Sir Sackvile Crowe and found him at his lodging in the Tower and there this Deponent told Sir Sackvile Crowe that according to his desire this Deponent would move and Petition the right honorable the Committee for forraigne affaires that a Letter should be sent unto him to attend the Committee of forraign affaires but I would not but first come and waiâ— on him to see if hee did not finde I had taken his â—ence aright concerning what he told mee about Pompey Calendrine whereupon hee said to mee I had and that if he were commanded he would justifie a great deale more that to his knowledge Pompey Calendrine had reason to say what he did for if the Ambassador of Spayne had not proceeded according to the strict rules of the Admiraltie Sir Sackvile Crowe knew then that there was fraude knavery and roguery in the Merchant That if the Committee of Forraigne affaires would be pleased to admit him to speake his knowledge in this point and they to appoint some of the Judges of the Admiraltie to be by hee would make it cleere unto them and taking out the
trade and without it they cannot subsist there must be some strange connivence with some of your officers in the Admiraltie or else this mischief had been prevented if all men intrusted had been honest I pray see my book fol. 99. These things I humbly submit to your honors THO. VIOLET To the right Honorable the Lord Bradshaw these humbly present May it please your Honor I Have left with Colonel Harbert Morley this day my Petition to the Councell of State against Otho George I humbly desire your honor to take notice if the Counsell doe 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 Duch prize shall have when they shall be assaulted in the streets with Stilettoes and Poniards from Captain Otho George for being instrumentall to doe the State service I have been advised by severall friends for this eight dayes not to come to the Exchange or Admiralty to avoid that which Otho George within these few dayes offered to doe to another man the Surgeon of Otho George ship which hath not been nor can be the hundred part so instrumentall to intitle the State to the silver and goods in the Prize-ships as I have been The Surgeon of Otho George's ship hath discovered the silver in the ships to be Duch-mens and Otho George's bills of lading counterfet I pray let the examinations taken about this business be sent for to the Councell and that will inform you at large I humbly desire your honors just assistance for a speedy Order about this my Petition it being of very great concernment to the Common-wealth to take a speedy order in it to punish Otho George and restrain his insolence Your Honors humble servant THO. VIOLET 25 March 1653. I have heard about June last the Surgeon is dead that accused Otho George there is no question but som had order to give him an Italian figg but before he died he was examined before the Lord Mayor and in the Admiralty his confession against Otho George is upon Record about the silver in all the Prize-ships that came together from St. Lucars in Spain To the right Honorable the Councell of State THO. VIOLET Sheweth THAT your Petitioner having by order of this Councel assisted in the Admiralty against the ships George Sampson and the Salvador and severall other ships And that the Court of Admiralty hath judged the onus probandi to be put upon the pretenders for the said ships and lading And that since your Petitioner hath been engaged in this service your Petitioner hath made several discoveries of great concernment which are so large they cannot be contained in a Petition and the Councels time so precious as your Petitioner humbly conceives that the whol Councell cannot spend with conveniency so much time as will be requisite to take an exact account of so weighty a busines Your Petitioner humbly desires your honors to appoint a Committee to take a particular account of your Petitioner what he hath done since the 16. Dec. 1652. in this busines and that the Committee may be impowred to enquire concerning all the aforesaid prize-ships and what obstructions hath beene or are depending in the Court of Admiralty and to consider of some effectual waies for removing them And whereas there is no particular and true account what gold silver or Merchandize is remayning on shipboard the Samson Salvador and George and several other ships so that by this means there can bee no account kept by the State of what treasure is a ship board whereby the State hath received much dammage and will daily receive more that the security of â—0000 l given into the Admiralty for the silver and goods a shipboard is of no consideration to the treasure aboard the aforesaid ships as long as the silver remaines aboard the State shall never find what silver and gold shall be clandestinely stolne and imbezeled away and if it be proved the State shall only have parchment for the damage in stead of monies the persons bound being duch factors so that if the State will be secure for the future there is no other course but to land all the Silver and keep it in som safe place And whereas there are some of the commodities a shipboard as Tobaccoes and other Merchandize that are perishable that your honors would appoint a Committee to examine that businesse and to take order that no Bales or Fardels upon any pretence may be discharged till they be carefully viewed in the Custom-house and a true and exact Inventory taken both by Commissioners and Farmers these Merchandize being generally false packed in the Indies That whereas your Petitioner hath beene the first and principall Instrument to discover all the fraudes of Otho George in his Bills of lading and several other abuses and practises concerning divers prize-ships in the Court of Admiraltie whereby your Petitioner hath contracted a deadly hatred against him by the said Otho George your Petitioner hath beene enforced for the safety and preservation of his body to sweare the Peace against Otho George the twenty fourth day of March 1652. before master Recorder of London and is an humble suitor to your Honours that such farther directions may bee given in that behalfe that your Petitioner may be secured from being murthered for making this discovery against the aforesaid ships your Petitioner having for severall dayes absented himselfe both from the Exchange and Court of Admiraltie to avoid the mischief And if the State will not take some speciall order against Otho George for his assaulting and offering to stab any such Persons that have or shall bee instrumentall in doing the State service in this particular abovesaid Your Petitioner leaves it to your consideration whether it bee possible to have your businesse done And your Petitioner shall pray c. This Petition is referred to the Comittee for Forraign affaires 26. March 1653. Mr. Isaac Doreslaws SIR you shall finde by these Papers here â—…sed the true reason wherefore I doe not come to the Exchange or the Court of Admiralty as yet till I am secured against the force of Otho George upon my person you know what I told you at the Still yard about him I told the same things to my Lord Bradshaw 16 dayes agoe of Otho George Though I am not amongst you I have a carefull eye of the business and by my intelligence see when I am absent My good friend that is an Art will cost you many years studie before you can attain to it and is not to be done but by many hands and at great expence I pray let me intreat you that you would be very carefull that when this business concerning the Prize-ships comes under an examination that nothing may rest at your dore that is not like your self you have many temptations and I had rather lose my right hand then you
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
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
INDEX For the Narrative of the Ships Sampson Salvador and George presented to the PARLAMENT Aug. 3. 1633. THomas Violet's Petition to the Parlament p. 1 2 3 4. Thomas Violet's first discoverie about the Prize-Silver 8. Decemb. 1652. Presented to my Lord Bradshaw and M. Allen p. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12. An Order of the Council of State 13. of Decemb. 1652. p. 13. Papers delivered to Doctor Walker from p. 13. to 26. A Letter to Doctor Walker p. 26 27. A Letter to M. Vincent de Bar p. 28 29. A Letter to M. Arnold Brames p. 29 30. Thomas Violet's Affidavit p. 31 32 33. Papers of the Narrative of the proceeding about the Silver and Prizes delivered in to the Lord Whitlock and Sr William Massam beeing of the Committee of Forrein affairs p. 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45. My Letter to my Lord Bradshaw and Colonel Morley concerning Cap. Otho George's assaulting the Common-wealth's witnesses in the Streets and stabbing them p 46. My Petition to the Council of State p. 46. Referr'd to the Committee of Forrein affairs p. 37 38. My Letter to M. Jsaac Doreslaws p. 49 50. Papers I left with my Lord Bradshaw Sir James Harrington and M. Allen about the 6. of Feb. 1653. p. 53. 54. A Letter to M. Ed Watkins p. 54 55 56 57 58. A Paper to my Lord Bradshaw and others of the Council about the restoring mee to my Estate p. 59 60. The Dutch at one time before I discovered it to the Council of State did get out of the Parlament's hands since Aug. 1652. the summe of eleven hundred thousand pounds and they had cosened the State of every pennie of their monie now a Coyning in the Tower beeing near four hundred thousand pounds bad it not been for Tho. Violet p. 61. as appear's by this Narrative An account of my Estate taken away from mee by the late Parlament p. 63 64 65. Thomas Violet's Petition to the late Parlament p. 67 68. A Copie of the late King's Letter to the Lord Major and Citie of London p. 69 70. Several transactions that follow'd thereupon p. 70 71 72. Vpon the dissolving of the late Parlament I made my Addresses to Colonel Wetton and Lievtenant Colonel Joice to present my former services to the Honorable Council of Officers which accordingly they did 73. Thomas Violet's Letter to the Right Honorable General Monk Admiral of the Common-Wealth of England Apr. 27. 1653 p. 73 74 75. Tho. Violet's humble Desire and Petition to the Right Honorable Major General Desborrow Colonel Bennet and Colonel Joans May 4. 1633. p. 75 76 77 78 79 80. Tho. Violet's Letter to the Right Honorable Colonel Bennet humbly desiring him to acquaint the Council of State with the contents p. 80 81 82. Papers delivered to the Right Honorable Colonel Jones and Colonel Bennet concerning several Prize-Ships p. 83 84. seting forth it is now apparant what Spirit Rules in som Persons in the Admiraltie to the great dammage of the State p. 85. as appear's by Cap. Bishop's Letters p. 86. and that Covetousness and Self-seeking hath betray'd many of the State 's Priz-Ships Silver and goods in the Admiraltie p. 87 88. My Letter to the Right Honorable Colonel Jones and Colonel Bennet concerning the best waies for the State both for the least charge and keeping the particular account of every parcel of Silver taken out of the Sampson Salvador and George ships p 88 89 90 91 92 93. An Order of the Council of State June 10. 1653. to Tho. Violet to discover to the Council what abuses have been acted in the managing of their Prizes and their lading either Silver or Merchandize since the bringing up the State 's Prizes p. 94. Thereupon I drew the Draught of the Paper for the Parlament setting forth several abuses concerning the management of the State 's Prizes and to prevent the like for the future and to call som that have abused them to account p. 94 95 96 97 98. Several reasons which did induce mee to Print this Narrative p. 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106. AN INDEX OF Such Papers as I presented to the PARLAMENT the 15. Februarie 1652. AN Answer of the Corporation of Moniers to Peter Blondeau Tho. Violet's Letter to Mr John Benfield pag. 1 2. The Corporation of Monier's Letter to Tho. Violet p. 3. Peter Blondeau's Representation as a Warning touching several Disorders happening by monie ill-favoredly coined p. 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. Peter Blondeau's humble Memorandum for the prevention of many abuses concerning Coins and will cost no more then the ordinarie unequal Coin which is used now p. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. An Order of the Commitee of the Mint 14 June 1651 for a trial of making monie by the Moniers and the Frenchman p. 21. The humble Proposition of the Provest and Moniers of the Mint to Sr James Harrington Chair-man of the Committee of the Mint p. 22 23. The 8 of May 1651 the Committee ordered the Frenchman and Ramadge that worked for the English to make their triel p. 24. The Provest and Monier's answer to the objections of Peter Blondeau p. 26 27 28 29. The Provest and Moniers humbly desire a Law to bee made for the discovering and punishing all Transporters of Monie according to the Certificate of the chief Officers of the Mint 20 Decemb. 1647 p. 32 33 34. A Letter of the Provest and Moniers to Tho. Violet to desire him to Petirion in their behalf the Committee of the Mint for an allowance of eigbtic seven pounds 18s 5d for their trial with the Frenchman 37 38. The names of the Moniers and Laborers working in the Mint the 27 June 1652 p. 40 41. A Letter from Transmarine parts setting out the abuses acted on the Coins and Bullion of England p. 45. In France they have Courts of Record for the Regulating their Monies such a Court ought to bee set up in England and strict Laws made and men appointed to see them put in execution p. 49 47. A greater quantitie of English monie counterfeited and made forth of the Mint then is coined in the Tower for the last six years p. 48 till I caused the Prize-silver to bee staied in Decemb. 1652. The great mischiefs that is befallen them in Ireland by light and clipped monie som Goldsmiths and others in London and Bristow the chief autors of this mischief to have the bottom found out p. 49 Against culling and melting down of English monie p. 50. The great mischiefs several Exchanging Goldsmiths in Lombardstreet do the State p. 50. The mischiefs that com to England by the late King 's setting up several Mints at Bristow Shrewsburie York Oxford Carlile p. 52. Against the making Gold and Silver Thred in England beeing A great consumption of the Treasure p. 54. Several Orders of Parlament for passing the Act against Transporters of Gold and Silver p. 55 56 57 and proceedings of the