BHO

Cecil Papers: August 1605

Pages 28-29

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:

August 1605

Roger Booth to the King.
1605, August 17. He is of the parish of Watford, Hertfordshire. His former petition was referred to the Earl of Salisbury at Greenwich on June 22 last, and by the Earl's direction he has written down all relevant information concerning the legality of a claim which the King is entitled to make to the possessions of the late Sir Thomas Gresham, and which are now held by Sir William Read and detained from the Crown. He requests that Sir William be summoned and interrogated on the matter; or, alternatively, that it be examined by the Earls of Salisbury and Cumberland, Lord Kinloss and the Lord Chief Justice, and a report drawn up by such of the King's counsels as the two Earls would recommend, for the further prosecution of the matter. Petitioner is ready to discharge his duty loyally and impartially. He also asks that Richard Bilborough the forger and others chosen by the abovementioned Lords be arrested and placed in the custody of certain aldermen or merchants of London until they are questioned and the genuine and forged deeds compared. Finally, he requests to be given protection for one year from molestation by Sir William Read, who has already been the means of detaining him in prison for almost nine years without just cause. August xviith in the thirde yere of your Mats reigne.
PS.—Petitioner protests that now, at the age of 56, he has always led a lawabiding life and has never been charged with such offences as forgery or perjury, nor suffered imprisonment for debts. He has spent more than £4000 during the last ten years to defend his good reputation.
Endorsed: "In the behalfe of your Highnes, humble besechinge your Matie to vowchesaufe the readinge of this petition. And that upon the parsonall callinge of Sir Read, knight, this your Mats sarvice (beinge of good ymportannce) maye be opened before your Matie or referred to the Erle of Comberlande, Erle of Sallesburie and others as ys within appoynted concerneinge a former petition delivered by your Matie to the said Erle of Sallesburre at Grenewich 22 of June last, 1605." 1 p. (P. 1130.)
Captain George Kingsmill and Captain Edward Doddington to the Earl of Salisbury.
[c. August, 1605]. They refer to a previous suit submitted to him and the Privy Council for the incorporation of the carmen of London, when they were advised to wait until the present Parliament met; they were also given to understand that their request would be granted if found convenient. However, the King has been informed during his progress at Woodstock (fn. 1) that the woodmongers and carmen are already incorporated into one company. In this he has been deceived, and many carmen are prepared to testify to that effect on oath, and to declare that they have opposed unification with the woodmongers. Petitioners fear that all their labour and charges will have been in vain, and therefore request that either the woodmongers and carmen's company be dissolved by the consent of the carmen on the grounds that the patent was fraudulently obtained, or that the said corporation agree on a sum to indemnify petitioners.—Undated.
½ p. (P. 463.)
The Mayor and Burgesses of Hertford to the Earl of Salisbury.
[After August, 1605]. The plague is raging in the cities of London and Westminster, and it is doubtful whether the Michaelmas law term can be held there. Should it be decided not to do so, petitioners request Salisbury, who is High Steward of the Corporation of Hertford, (fn. 2) to persuade the King to agree that the term be held in Hertford instead, since that town, as well as Ware, is free from the plague. The courts have often been held at Hertford, particularly in the time of the late Lord Burghley, "and the courts as yett do stande readye buylte in the castell there for the same purpose".—Undated.
½ p. (P. 2050.)

Footnotes

  • 1. He was at Woodstock from August 21 to 24, 1605. See Nichols The Progresses of James I, Vol. 1, p. 529.
  • 2. Salisbury became High Steward of Hertford on August 8, 1605.