Pages 122-124
Calendar of the Cecil Papers in Hatfield House: Volume 24, Addenda, 1605-1668. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1976.
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Citation:
June 1607
| John Coprario to Thomas Bellott. | |
| [June 1, 1607]. |
"With much adoe I have gotten these stringes.
My lords instruments are unstrung, and all this towne cannot affoord
so many Romane stringes. Besides, this halfe yeare none will com
over. Wherefore I praie deliver this bearer 51 10 shillinges or else
my lords instruments must be unfurnished. When you pay him for
the stringes, I praie receave this sealed up box Mr Harwood will
deliver you, and keepe it untill I com or send unto you for it,
for now I am going agayne to Hackney."—Undated. Holograph. Endorsed: "Coperaries note for stringes for the instruments. The first day of June, 1607." 1 p. (Box U/60.) |
| George Willoughby to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
| [After June 10, 1607]. |
He is a kinsman of the late Earl of Devon,
for whom Salisbury entertained much affection. He complains of
a wrong done to him by Thomas Wansborough who, having been
robbed in his house, accused him of the theft. Petitioner was
forced to sell £100 worth of property to defray the legal charges of
his defence. Eventually the confession of the real criminals proved
his complete innocence, and he had immediately brought an action
against Wansborough for false accusation. Through the mediation of the latter's friends, the matter had been referred five years
ago to the Lord Chief Justice. Nothing was done by him, and
since then both the Lord Chief Justice (fn. 1) and Wansborough have
died, and he has remained without relief. He has submitted
petitions to the King for some assistance in the form of an annual
pension or money from forfeited estates, and begs Salisbury to
further his suit.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 281.) |
| George Eastland to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
| [After June 30, 1607]. | He complains about Thomas Swainsland, to whom he lent money and helped in other ways, and who promised to repay his debt and requite his many kindnesses. Instead Swainsland has refused to discharge his debt for eight years, and has brought a number of legal suits against petitioner. At the same time Swainsland has been guilty of certain felonies which he has confessed before Sir Francis Cheyney, and is likely to be convicted for them. What, however, has impelled petitioner to seek relief from Salisbury is the fact that he has been continually harassed by Henry Fenn, Swainsland's solicitor. Recently he was sent by Sir Edmund Bowyer and Sir Thomas Grymes to summon Fenn to appear before them before proceedings were begun in Chancery. He delivered the message, but Fenn reviled and finally assaulted him with a view to blinding him in his one good eye, "for he had lost his other in attending the Earle of Sussex to the christening of the prince". In defending himself petitioner had hurt Fenn superficially, who had then caused him to be imprisoned and tried for the offence. A verdict had been returned against petitioner and a fine of £50 imposed on him. He and his family are faced with ruin, and he fears to end his days in prison unless relieved by Salisbury. He appends a list of gentlemen living in Blackfriars where the assault took place, who could comment on it and the circumstances which led to it. They are: Sir Edward Hoby, Sir Thomas Shurley, Sir John Leveson, Sir Thomas Vavasor, Edward Jones, Esq, and Robert Sharpey.—Undated. |
|
Endorsed: "The humble petition of your honors most distressed
orator George Eastland, beseeching your good Lordship out of your
generall bounty to give him hearing of his most lamentable storry
at your best leasure or else to unfould this paper by which your
Lordshipp shall understand the greivous state that he and his are
brought unto by the cruell and unjust dealing of his malicious
adversaries, having good hope, yf your honor wilbe pleased to
heare him, your Lordshipp will not faile to helpe him, in which hope
he resteth at your Lordshipps good devotion, ever praying all
happines to attend your honor." 1¼ pp. (P. 1667.) [See PRO, Star Chamber Proceedings, James I, 181/20.] |
|
| Sir Stephen Proctor to— | |
| [c. June, 1607]. |
At the end of Hilary term last, he was given
leave to proceed by ordinary course of law for his defence against
Sir William Ingilby, Thomas Day and others, but he has heard that
efforts are being made to obstruct this course. He refers to the
vexations he has endured during the past seven years, and requests
that he be given a hearing or left to pursue the vindication of his
reputation in the public courts of law.—Undated. 1 p. (P. 263.) [See H.M.C. Salisbury MSS, Vol. XIX, p. 165.] |
| John Lawson to the Earl of Salisbury. | |
| [After June, 1607]. |
He refers to a previous petition to the King
for a lease of concealed lands discovered by him, which he was
directed to submit to Salisbury. This he did at Brickhill, and was
told to present what evidences he had for the King's title to a legal
expert. He showed them to Sir Francis Bacon, (fn. 2) the SolicitorGeneral, who opined that petitioner had good grounds for pursuing
the matter further. He therefore sued forth a commission and
procured commissioners from Wiltshire and London to meet at
Alford, a place in Hampshire, where the land in question was
situated. Despite the issuing of a warrant from the commissioners
neither the sheriff nor a jury presented themselves on the day fixed
for the inquiry. A new date was chosen and Sir Francis Palmer,
who was in possession of the disputed lands, notified of it. At the
inquiry held at Andover, Sir Francis Palmer made the best defence
he could, but there was enough evidence to validate the King's title
to the lands. The jury, however, either through fear or favour,
declined to return any verdict, but requested a postponement
which was granted by the commissioners. Since then, further
delays, procrastination and postponements have convinced petitioner that neither Sir Francis Palmer nor the jury are willing to
arrive at a decision in the matter. And in the meantime, Sir
Francis has been cutting down much wood on the property and
converting it into charcoal for sale. Petitioner therefore asks that
Salisbury direct the sheriff of Hampshire to prohibit any further
spoliation of the woods, and to warn the jury upon pain of £100 a
man to deliver their verdict at their next meeting with the commissioners.—Undated. Endorsed: "The humble petition of John Lawson." ½ p. (P. 511.) |