America and West Indies: February 1686

Pages 147-157

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 12 1685-1688 and Addenda 1653-1687. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1899.

Citation:

February 1686



Feb. 1. Custom House.	559. Commissioners of Customs to Lords of Trade and Plantations. We have considered the address of the Assembly of Virginia touching the new imposition on tobacco. There is nothing therein that we have not heard before from the merchants, and we believe that the mischief to the planters arises rather from the abundant quantity of tobacco than the imposition. As in the case of sugar, we think it inadvisable to make an alteration of the duties as they now stand until after at least a year's experience. Signed, D. North, Ch. Cheyne, Jn. Werden, W. Dickinson, T. Chudleigh. Enclosed,
	559. I. A copy of the address (see No. 458). [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 14, 14 I., and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIII., pp. 109–110.]
Feb. 2.	560. Minutes of Council of Jamaica. This meeting was called to advise as to the means of suppressing the rebel negroes who are now more formidable than ever before. On the advice of the Governor, it was ordered that twelve parties be forthwith raised out of the several regiments, each of eighteen men with suitable officers, that those guilty of neglect of duty should be called to serious account, that petty offences should be punishable by officers commanding parties, with other provision for discipline and quarters, that every party have a good gang of dogs, and be empowered to impress hunters and dogs. Every man killing a negro to have £20, or, if a servant, his freedom; every man taking a negro to have £40; and party killing a negro to divide £20 round; which rules should be heartily commended to the next Assembly for confirmation. Reginald Wilson produced his new Commission as Naval officer, and was sworn. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXVI., pp. 104–106.]
Feb. 3. Barbados.	561. Lieutenant-Governor Stede to Lords of Trade and Plantations. I send you a list showing the disposal of the rebel prisoners brought in the second ship, and a list of those brought for Sir William Booth in the John frigate. I made strict enquiry if any supernumerary rebels had been brought out here privately without being subject to the ten years' servitude, and discovered one, Randolph Babington, brought in the John. I enclose his account of himself, and meanwhile have taken him into custody. I also enclose the deposition of one Daniel Manning, who was sent by the kidnappers from London with about twenty-three more to serve here or at Nevis for a term of four years only, as is usual in such cases. But only Manning had been in the rebel army, to which he says he was compelled, though he never had any arms, and that after two days' march he escaped to Colonel Kirk's regiment, was enlisted therein and discharged after the rout of the rebels, as his certificate from Captain St. John shows. He then went to London, where he was never known to have been in the rebel army, and was kidnapped and sent hither, as I have said. I send the indenture since it is not according to the appointed form, for want of which many are sent to the Colonies against their wills and contrary to the King's orders. I have spent a week in inspecting the forts, and find them to be very defective, chiefly owing to the neglect of my predecessor, but I have given the necessary orders for making good the defects. We want however forty cannon, which cannot be obtained here. I beg that they may be supplied from the stores of Ordnance. As soon as the small-pox abates, I hope to review the militia. Signed, Edwyn Stede. Holograph. 3 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 18 April 86. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 15, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. VII., pp. 367–369.] Annexed,
	561. I. The examination of Randolph Babington. Is a Londoner by birth, and kept a warehouse, but went to the West in July 1685 on business. While he was at Taunton the Duke of Monmouth arrived with his army, but examinant was only a spectator of that army. After the defeat of the rebels he was arrested and tried before Chief Justice Jeffreys, pleaded guilty, and was condemned, but was ultimately granted to Sir William Booth for Barbados. Having some money he stipulated with Sir William for £28 to go to Barbados as a free passenger, and to stay there as a free resident during his term of years, paying also the cost of his passage. On arrival he remained for nine or ten days unmolested, until apprehended by the Lieutenant-Governor's order. Taken before Edwyn Stede. 29 Jan. 1685–6. Certified copy. 1½ pp. Endorsed, Recd. 30 March 1686.
	561. II. The examination of Daniel Manning. Was a black-smith's apprentice near Taunton, and shod the cattle and horses of the Duke of Monmouth's army on their arrival. He was impressed to join the rebel army as a farrier, his master being willing that he should go. After two days he escaped, and joined the King's army between Glastonbury and Taunton, and enlisted in Captain St. John's Company of Kirk's regiment. He was with them until after the fight of King's Edge Moor but had no arms and took no part in it, being ordered to stay at Weston, with about sixty more that had no arms, under charge of a sergeant. Shortly after the fight he was disbanded, and received a pass from his captain, when he returned to his old master near Taunton, who however refused to receive him for fear of getting into trouble. Examinant therefore went to London, where he was questioned whether he were not a fugitive rebel, he was cleared by his captain's certificate; but one day on Tower Hill he met with one who promised to get him employment if he would go four miles over the river, and made him sign (examinant being ill-treated) an indenture to serve in Barbados for four years. He was then shipped off with twenty-two more, none of whom to his knowledge had been in the rebel army. Taken before Edwyn Stede. 25 Jan. 1685–6. Certified copy. 2 pp. Endorsed, Recd. 30 Mar. 1686.
	561. III. Indenture for the transportation of Daniel Manning to Barbados as a white servant by covenant with John Peirson. Dated, 20 September 1685. Copy. 1 p. Endorsed, Recd. 30. Mar. 1686.
	561. IV. Certificate of seventy-seven rebels transported to Barbados by the John frigate, with the names of the masters to whom they were assigned. One master takes as many as fourteen. Certified by Edwyn Stede. 29 Jan. 1685–6. Attested copy. Large sheet. Endorsed, Recd. 30 Mar. 1686.
	561. V. Similar certificate of seventy-two rebels transported in the ship Betty. Certified. 1 February 1685–6. Attested copy. Endorsed as the preceding. Sheet.
	561. VI. List of ninety convicted rebels landed for Sir William Booth at Barbados from the John frigate. Certified. 28 January 1685–6. Attested copy. Endorsed as the foregoing. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., Nos. 15, 15 I.–VI.]
Feb. 3.	562. Duplicate of foregoing despatch. Signed, Edwyn Stede. Endorsed, Recd. 30 March 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 16.]
Feb. 10. Virginia.	563. Governor Lord Howard of Effingham to Lords of Trade and Plantations. I send the proceedings, I cannot say of the last sessions, but of the last meeting of the Assembly, for when after a tedious time matters were approaching a conclusion, a dispute arose between them and me, and I was forced to dismiss them before anything was perfected, unless I would have passed away the King's negative voice. Our method of proceeding is this. When the House of Burgesses have prepared any bills, they present them to the Governor and Council for consideration and amendment. The bills are then returned to the Burgesses, and by them again returned with a signification of their agreement to the amendments; they are then signed by the clerks of both houses as assented to, and returned to be fairly engrossed. The Burgesses presented to myself and the Council a bill appointing several ports and wharves, to what intent you will judge by the bill itself. Several amendments were made by the Council and myself, to which the Burgesses agreed, as their journal shows, excepting that they wished there to be one port in each county, whereas it was limited by the Council and myself to two in a river. We agreed to this, and ordered the clerk to sign the bill and the whole to be engrossed. But sending to the Burgesses for the bills to peruse them before they were publicly read, I found omitted in the Ports bill a material clause, providing for the establishment of fees for the payment of the collectors of dues. For some of these collectors had as many as five districts and property amounting to no more than fifty pounds a year, so that they could not have borne the expense of these offices. I believe that, on the bringing of the bill to me and the Council in the ordinary course, the omission might have passed unnoticed, for it was presumed that all alterations and amendments were fairly inserted. Indeed, my illness prevented me from making so careful an inspection as I had intended to make when the bills were fairly engrossed. On making this discovery, I told the Burgesses that the bill was not engrossed as it had been assented to by the Council. They replied that the bill could admit of no alteration after it had been attested as assented to by the Clerk of the Assembly, and that it had the force of law. I replied that this could not be so until the bill had been publicly signed by me as the King's representative. They persisted in their opinion, however, so I told them that even if a bill were assented to by me and the Council, yet I had power to refuse to sign it, if I perceived it to be objectionable, in virtue of the King's negative voice which had been entrusted to me. This they would not allow, though they admitted that I had a negative voice, asserting that as I had assented to the bill in Council I could not afterwards refuse to sign it. I sent them the clause in my instructions, but nothing would persuade them out of their obstinacy, though I offered to lay the bill aside till the King's pleasure were known, and to sign the others and that bill itself with the alteration as it was agreed on. I am conscious that I was too compliant and fear the King's displeasure for it, but I was anxious on behalf of the country. I knew that the levy could be easily paid as the crop of tobacco was good, and I wished the pay of the soldiers at the heads of the rivers, now two years in arrear, to be discharged. I hope therefore that I may be pardoned.
	I confess that I am also to blame for admitting a bill of this kind at all, since a law of 1680 to the same end already exists. But in that Act many places are appointed which are inconvenient for trade, and there was no provision for the payment of collectors. I was severely angry with their clerk for daring to omit the clause. His only excuse was that he though it did not come in properly, which aggravates his fault by his presumption. I sent to the Assembly to make an example of him, but they rather maintained him. So you will now perceive how advantageous it will be in future for the Clerk of the Assembly to be appointed by the Governor and paid out of the King's revenue here. The expense will be inconsiderable. I suggested this to you last spring, and beg that it may receive the King's sanction before the 20th October, to which date the Assembly is prorogued. I did not dissolve them for these reasons. If the King order them to be dissolved, the rebuke will, I hope, deter them from such peevish obstinacy in future. If, on the other hand, the King only signify his dislike of the proceedings, it might be applied to the persons actually responsible, which would have a like good effect. I could hardly expect good correspondence with this Assembly after their choice of Robert Beverley for their clerk. He is the same man who was so deeply implicated in the plant-cutting riots, but his outward expressions of sorrow were so hearty and sincere, and the Council's assurance of his good service in Bacon's rebellion was so strong that I favoured him, as I find, far more than he deserved. The journals will show you how unwillingly the Assembly yielded to the King's orders concerning quit-rents, and how obstinate they were over the appropriation of fines and forfeitures to the King's service instead of to the public use, and over the disbanding of the soldiers at the heads of the rivers. They preferred to bear the expense of them, which the country is ill able to do, than agree to pay any soldiers pro rata, as those are which I am empowered to raise with the assent of the Council for the safety of the country. This power was granted me by the last Assembly for three years, and because I would not part with it they laid that bill aside until the smart of their purses made them think better of it. You will see also that the Burgesses refused power to the Governor and Council to lay the least levy in order to ease the necessity of calling so frequent Assemblies. The cost of these Assemblies is harder on the people than the levy itself, and I am sure that the other course is desired by all the most reasonable of the inhabitants. I proposed this to them before the Royal instructions came to my hand, but even when reinforced by these, nothing would prevail with them nor I believe will prevail except the King's special command. They were peevishly re-fractory to the least proposition put forward by me for the King's or the country's service, as you will perceive by their refusal to add twenty-four men at the country's expense to the twenty-four whom I had thought of raising. Indeed, so many took liberty of speech over the Duke of Monmouth's rebellion, that I feared it would have produced the same effect here. However, we are now quiet. I put a stop to all that by proclamation, and made a few examples. Pray note also the exception the Assembly took to the small fee laid by order of the Court of Chancery for affixing the seal to all public instruments. This was done by the advice and assent of the Council, more for the honour and dignity of the King's seal than for anything else. The fee was not above ten shillings, five times less than in Maryland, and other Colonies. Besides a special clause in the instructions authorises me to keep and use the seal. I hope that I have not been unduly prolix, and that my action will be approved; unless a curb be soon put on these unruly tempers they will run too far. Signed, Effingham. Holograph. 5½ closely written pages. Endorsed with a full précis. Recd. and read 21 April and 10 May 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 17, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIII., pp. 87–97.]
Feb. 10.	564. Duplicate of foregoing. Holograph. Recd. 1 July 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 18.]
Feb. 10.	565. Abstract of the foregoing letter. 3 pp. Endorsed. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 19.]
Feb. 13.	566. Journal of Lords of Trade and Plantations. Petition of Robert Wright and Francis Pew read, appealing from judgments given against them in the Courts of New York. Order for the parties to attend, when the affair will be considered.
	Draft Commission for Sir William Stapleton as Governor of the Leeward Islands read. Petition of the merchants trading to the Leeward Islands, touching the Treaty of Neutrality read, and reserved for consideration.
	Draft instructions to Colonel Cony read. Agreed to omit the clause prohibiting members of Council from being judges. An instruction to be prepared, continuing such laws of the late Company of Bermuda as do not interfere with the Royal Authority, till further orders.
	Memorandum of documents sent and received. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. CVIII., pp. 244–247.]
Feb. 15. Custom House Dublin.	567. Commissioners of Revenue in Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant. We send the accounts of the halfpenny a pound on tobacco and of the half duty on the other enumerated plantation goods collected in this kingdom from April last to Christmas last. The total amounts to £5, 170. Since the law relating to plantation goods was revived last Session, the merchants have complained grievously; on which complaints we report as follows. By the Act of Navigation of 12 Car. II., Ireland had the same freedom of trade with the plantations as England. By the Act of 22 and 23 Car. II., Ireland is totally excluded, and all enumerated goods are to be brought to England on pain of forfeiture of ships and goods. This law was in force nine years, from 1671. By an Act of 25 Car. II., revenue duties are imposed on tobacco, sugar, &c., exported from the Colonies to any other country but England. This temporary law of 22 and 23 Car. II. has been revived by the present Parliament, and has totally excluded Ireland from all trade with the Plantations. While the law was in force during the nine years already mentioned, all the plantation goods were imported direct into Ireland as freely as when the trade was open by the Navigation Act, and though the Act of 25 Car. II. took effect from September 1673, by which all the plantation goods imported into Ireland ought to have paid the duties imposed by it, yet the same have returned little or nothing to the King in the Plantations, as the Commissioners of the English Customs are aware. And though they used every effort to seize ships and goods under the Act of 22 and 23 Car. II., yet it is plain that the same neither prevented the direct importation of tobacco into Ireland, nor compelled the merchants to pay the plantation duty. Then the present Commissioners of Revenue in Ireland proposed to you that tobacco, sugar, &c., should, when imported direct into Ireland, pay one moiety of the duty imposed by the Act of 25 Car. II., in lieu of the full duty collectable in the Plantations and payable to the English Customs. This was agreed to, and we collected £4, 831 from April to Christmas last, together with exchange at 7 per cent. for remittance of the same, making altogether £5, 170. From this it is plain that the King will gain more by collecting the half duty in Ireland instead of the whole duty in the Plantations, which did not in ten years, even including the whole trade from Colony to Colony, answer the sum collected here in nine months. And this would have been returned to the King annually, all the merchants here paying the half duty without regret or trouble. But now since the revival of the temporary law aforesaid, not only has the half-duty ceased, but the whole plantation trade of Ireland will be totally lost, and the ships will "go by the walls," to the loss and ruin of merchants and the prejudice of the King's revenue, as will soon become evident. If Irish ships are obliged to enter outward and inward from England before they can go to Ireland, there is in the first place the hazard to ships and goods. They are at their own doors, for Ireland lies nearer to the Colonies, and the whole of the duty could be collected at once; but now they have to make a voyage to England and back, and if anything go amiss everything is lost and the King's revenue with it. Secondly, there is the loss of time, amounting to three or four months on every voyage, which would otherwise be employed in voyages to French and other foreign ports. Thirdly, such ships returning to England from the Colonies must pay the customs and duties of the whole lading, amounting now to fivepence a pound, which on exportation leaves but a halfpenny, to be repaid in a month after the debenture is passed, according to the formality of the law. This is a great hardship on the Irish merchants, since it will require a bank of money and security at every port, which is absolutely impossible for them to compass. Fourthly, we conceive that the King's interest will be well secured by the collection of the half duty as lately practised, without the difficulty, risk, and delay already alluded to. Lastly, looking to the frauds in the importation of tobacco, and still more in the exportation thereof by debenture from England to Ireland, the practice cannot prejudice England in supplying foreign merchants, for no tobacco is exported from Ireland, and at importation it pays the full duty without allowance, as in England, for mean and defective tobacco. To avoid the exportation of European goods from Ireland to the Colonies, which we believe to be the greatest objection of the Commissioners of the English Customs to our proposal, we shall transmit to them duly the names of all ships bound to the Plantations, together with true accounts of their ladings, and take all possible care that no goods but such as are allowed by law shall be exported there. Signed, Longford, Will. Strong, Rob. Bridges, Will. Culliford. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XCVII., pp. 183–191.]
	568. Lords Proprietors of Carolina to Governor Joseph Moreton and others of the Province South and West of Cape Fear. We learn from our Secretary, Robert Quarry, that on the 1st September a ship came into Ashley river which pretended to have been trading with the Spaniards, and afterwards to have been plundered by French privateers, adding that they had afterwards met a fleet of English privateers whose admiral told them to come to Carolina and repair. Mr. Quarry being, as he says, Governor, though not so according to our Fundamental Constitution, prohibited the master or any of the men of the vessel to land or sell goods in Carolina, the ship being (so we are informed) to Robert Quarry's knowledge, a pirate full of plunder, which was landed and sold in Carolina. Wishing to give Quarry a fair trial, we appoint you to make enquiry into the matter and take depositions, which you will send home to us. If you think Robert Quarry allowed these goods to be sold, knowing the character of the ship, you will take security of him not to leave the province until the matter has been reported to the King and his pleasure taken thereon. Signed, Craven, Albemarle, P. Colleton, Tho. Amy. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXII., pp. 75–76.]
Feb. 16. Jamaica.	569. [Lieutenant-Governor Molesworth to William Blathwayt.] About four days since one of the Spanish periagos present at the sacking of New Providence, was brought into Port Royal, having been taken by two of our traders, who were attacked by her on the coast of Cuba. It is the same vessel which seized Captain Stanley's boat and men on the South Cays, and then attacked him. I enclose copy of the examinations taken in the business, also of the captain's commission, which is founded on a Royal cedula of the Queen Regent many years past, and extends only to pirates and enemies of the Crown of Spain. (See next abstracts.) [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXI., p. 143.]
[Feb. 16.]	569. I. Deposition of Edward Goffe, commander of the pink Swallow. I sailed on 16 September last in company with Captain Peartree of the sloop Ann, having the Governor's passes, and his orders to sail to Santiago in Cuba to ask the release of Captain Chandler and others. Arriving at Santiago, and sending the Governor's letter ashore, I received an answer from the Governor of Santiago to leave the coast, and that he had no prisoners. Some of my boat's crew howeve declared that they saw Chandler at work in the wells of the Castle. Peartree and I returned to Jamaica with this answer, and a few days later sailed for the Bay of Honduras. Coming off Trinidad, in Cuba, on the homeward voyage, we sent in a boat asking leave to wood and water, which was refused. I was therefore forced to go to the Cays, ten leagues from Trinidad, for water, whither the Governor of Trinidad sent two galleys out, one of forty and one of eighty-five men, the latter of which, as the master confesses, was present at the sack of New Providence. Both galleys came up to my ship's side, and without hailing poured in a volley, which killed two men and wounded five or six, and then making fast to my ship's side tried to board her. Having the sloop's crew on board we defended ourselves, and after about half an hour's engagement, there were about sixty Spanish pirates killed and thirty-eight wounded. The smaller galley managed to clear herself, but the larger we captured and brought into Jamaica.
	569. II. Deposition of William Peartree and others in confirmation of the foregoing.
	569. III. Deposition of Captain Edward Stanley of H.M.S. Bonito, as to his engagement with the captured galley in November, 1684.
	The whole sworn before John White. 15 Feb. 1686. Sealed and countersigned. Reg. Wilson. The whole 3 pp. Endorsed. Recd. 1 June 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 20.]
[Feb. 16.]	570. Copy of the commissions held by the captured galley, referred to in preceding abstract. Spanish. 8 pp. Sealed with the seal of the Admiralty Court of Jamaica, and certified. Reg. Wilson. Endorsed as the foregoing. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 21.]
Feb. 16. Barbados.	571. The Lieutenant-Governor and Council of Barbados to Lords of Trade and Plantations. Forwarding quarterly returns of the transactions of Council and of imports. Signed, Edwyn Stede, Fran. Bond, John Hallett, John Hothersall, John Gibbes, Henry Quintyne, Stephen Gascoyne. 1 p. Inscribed and Endorsed. Recd. 30 Mar. 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 22, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. VII., p. 364.]
Feb. 16.	572. Minutes of Council of Barbados. Order for payment of £20 to the Marshal of Assembly, William Guddis, on account of salary due. Order for the justices of seven parishes to search the negroes' houses within their parishes for arms and ammunition, to secure the arms and such negroes as shall be suspected of an intention to rebel, there being signs of an insurrection of negroes and white servants. All masters within those parishes to keep good watches over their negroes day and night, and particularly on Sunday next, when many of them design to meet in sundry places to consult as to their bloody purpose. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XI., pp. 675–676.]
Feb. 19.	573. William Blathwayt to Henry Guy. Transmitting a draft clause in the Instructions of the Governor of Bermuda, respecting the duty on tobacco, for the opinion of the Lord Treasurer. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XVII., pp. 183–184.]
Feb. 20. Virginia.	574. Governor Lord Howard of Effingham to the King. Humble thanks for the copy of his Commission, with some reference to the refractory spirit of the Assembly, as reported in No. 563. Signed, Effingham. Holograph. 2 pp. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 23.]
Feb. 20.	575. Duplicate of foregoing. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 24.]
	576. Governor Lord Howard of Effingham to the Earl of Sunderland. You will read in my letter to the Lords of Trades of my dispute with the Assembly (see No. 563), and how I was forced to prorogue them. I have received the King's reprieve for Talbot if he should be found guilty of murder, also a special com- mission to try him here, and my own commission. I beg for early instructions as to my affairs with the Assembly, or I shall be in difficulties as to the levy. Signed, Effingham. Holograph. 2 pp. Endorsed. Recd. 21 Apr. 86. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 25, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIII., pp. 98–99.]
Feb. 20.	577. Duplicate of foregoing. Dated March 23 1686. Endorsed. Recd. 1 July 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 26.]
Feb. 22.	578. Minutes of Council of Virginia. Proclamation repealing three Acts, for limiting time of receipt and payment of public tobaccos, for empowering counties and parishes to make by-laws, and for empowering County Courts to make by-laws. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIV., pp. 221–222.]
Feb. 22. Virginia.	579. The Clerk of Assembly of Virginia to William Blathwayt. Forwarding journals of the House of Burgesses from November 2 to December 12 1685. Signed, Robert Beverley. Recd. 15 April 1686. List of the bills transmitted — Act prohibiting counties from making by-laws. Act repealing Act No. 17 of 8 June 1680. Act to continue an Act for the advancement of manufactures. Act declaring Maryland debts pleadable. Additional Act about runaway servants. Act touching public claims before the Assembly. Act to enforce Act No. 107 of 23 March 1661–2. Act fixing days for Courts in Accomack County. Act appointing ports and wharves. Act repealing Act No. 7 of 16 April 1684. Act for better defence of the country. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. LXXXIII., pp. 83–85.]
Feb. 23.	580. Copy of the indictment of Charles Hudson for high treason. 1 p. (See post No. 591.) [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 27.]
[Feb. 23.]	581. Copy of the inquisition into the estate of Charles Hudson, condemned for high treason. Large sheet. Endorsed. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 28.]
[Feb. 23.]	582. Questions in law arising upon the inquisition on the estate of Charles Hudson. 1 p. Endorsed. [Col. Papers, LVII. No. 29.]
[Feb.]	583. Copy of a bond of Thomas Shuttleworth to the King for surrendering the estate of Charles Hudson. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 30.]
[Feb. 23.]	584. Memorandum, that Charles Hudson, lately condemned, is a man of very ill principles. Scrap. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 31.]
Feb. 27.	585. The King to Sir William Stapleton. Directing that Christopher Codrington shall be sworn of the Council of the Leeward Islands. Countersigned, Sunderland. [Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XLVII., p. 197.]
Feb. 28.	586. Robert Byndloss to John Byndloss. Three months ago there arrived here an interloper with about two hundred negroes. She belonged to Beeston, Waterhouse, Nathaniel Hickes, and Colonel Samuel Barry, one of the Council of L[ynch]'s putting in, a great creature of Beeston's. Her name was the Hawk, consigned to Barry and Hickes. If you acquaint one of the Secretaries of State or my Lord Treasurer, sure B. would be rather tossed out of Court in a blanket. He is mortally hated here, and it is said by his creatures that he values not Sir P.'s [? Philip Howard's] friendship, but scorns and despises him. This is for the King's service; be sure you make use of it. Signed, Ro. Byndloss. Holograph. ½ p. Endorsed. Recd. 10 June 86. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII. No. 32.]
[Feb.]	587. Answer of the French Ambassador to the Memorial concerning the oppression of the French in the West Indies. The King will cause enquiry to be made at St. Domingo as to the seizure of the ship James. As to the ship seized at Petit Guavos in September 1684, her restitution cannot be thought of, since she was condemned according to the orders of the King, my master. Moreover Mons. de Franquinay had apprised the Governor of Jamaica of those orders, and did not confiscate the vessel until he had told the captain of those orders; but the captain, far from obeying, went to another port on the coast to push his trade. 1 p. French. Endorsed. Recd. Feb. 1686. [Col. Papers, Vol. LVII., No. 33, and Col. Entry Bk., Vol. XXXI., p. 126.]