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CROWN SERVANTS: SERIES TWO

The Papers of The Wynns of Gwydir, 1515-1690 and the Clenennau Letters and Papers, 1584-1698 from the National Library of Wales

Sample Extracts from the Documents

The following extracts give a good feel for the range of topics covered:

Letter from Eleanor Cave to her son in law John Wynn [1613?]

Son Winn, you are verye willing to manifest to the world your discontentments toward me: which allthoughe the were just yet in dewtye it wold be better becom you to deliver them to peoplle of more discretion then servinge men which are hear to daye and gon tomorow.  Also I see you wold have it apear you have a great deale of wrong: butt I assure you my selfe the greaytest wrong is mine: unto whom you should rather add comfort then daylye afflikion without just cause.  I hear you are angry with me for speaking to Sir John Eres att the court: which was noe more but he bid me welcom to the court: to whom I gave not one word more then thankes: the which I could nott in civilytye denye: and wher as you saye I went from you to him: you mistake for att that time my brother Richard showinge me an old aquantance of mine: I went to him and spake to him.  But to consider with whate respect you carve yourself toward me: when you have not stuck-rydeinge by the house wher you knew my husband my self and our children were: to wish it afire: besyde you wish you had never knowne me nor none of mine: which are unkindnesses with manye more I take noe plesure to reherse yet in respect you have protested you wil be ready to doe me anye servis I injoyne you to make your word by coming to speak with me betweene this and noone the which I hope shalbe an occatione to remove albars of dissetion betwene us - and soe for this tyme I comitt to the allmightye god.  [Item 611, Wynn Papers]

Letter from Robert Mostyn to Richard Wynn, November 1659

...I was at Chester Saterday last the newes prepost upon Thursday was that the Armie & Muncke were agreed but by Saterday at noone newes came that they were all to peeces & that Munke is proclamd Traytor; & that Porchmouth was suprisd by 500 men.  The Lord Lambert sent unto the Lord Fleetwood to march into Yorkshire for his presence would doe much, his answer was that he could not leave London but sent 1000 foote to him.  The Quakers are likewise sturringe for upon Monday last six of them came to Emrall & broke open the stable doores; by good chance he and his Lady were abroad soe that they missd of their purpose, one of cossin Pulestons servants demanding of them their orders seeing them with Pistolls and a Trumpett, they drew fourth a paper (which seemes) was a petition to the Governour of Chester that they might ride with Armes.  I heard that they have broken cossin Hanmers stable at the Fenns & tooke thens too horses, what will become of it, God knowes....”   [Item 2204, Wynn Papers]

The Bishop of St Asaph to Sir Robert Owen, 13 June 1685

...This morning when the king came unto the House of Lords he was pleasd to aquaint the House by the Lord Keeper that at about 6 this morning he had received an express letter from the Mayor of Lime, which his Majesty orderd to be read.  The summe of it was to acquaint his Majesty that on Thursday the 11th instant in the evening, there came before Lime a ship of 30 Guns, a Catch of 100 tuns, & a Fly-boat of 200.  That at first there was no suspicion of them: but after awhile on the off-side of the ship there  went away three boat-fulls of men , who being covered with the Cob (as they call their high-land by the haven) came up the back way into the Town, & then appeard to be the Duke of Monmouth & Lord Gray with about 150 men.  Mr Mayor knew his danger for the Town is full of fanaticks & has divers of that sort of ministers in it.  Therefore he writ this to his Majesty.  The Lord Keeper further aquainted the House that there came in the same houre to his Majesty 2 [officers] of the Custom-House of Lime, who stayd there at Lime till they saw all the Company of Guests, among whom they saw the Duke & Lord before mentioned, of whiuch they made oath.  Whereupon his Majesty imediatly calld council and therein gave order for the Public Safety & for a proclamation against the Rebells which is already publisht.  The House of Lords imediatly ordered their thanks to his Majesty & a declaration that they would live & dy with him against the Duke of Monmouth & all other other Rebells & Traitors & all enemies whatsoever, to be presented as soon as the House should rise which was accordingly done at the Banketting-house.  The House of Commons, having receved the like intelligence from his Majesty, made the like Vote onely adding an Epithet that Ungratefull Traytor James Duke of Monmouth.  This mad attempt of these infatuated rebels is not surprizing, because we heard before (ever since the beginning of this month) that the Duke of Monmouth was come out of the Texel with these ships the last of May, & ever since his Majesty has been providing for him and taking those into Custody that were likely to side with him.  The Duke of Albermarl has been sent a week ago into Devonshire, from whence he sent an express to his Majesty that came this day about noon.  He saies he is now within 15 miles of Lime, & has about 4,000 men with him, & has left many many more coming after him.  He hopes to engage the Rebels before Saterday night.  So that probably the work will be done before I shall have written this letter.  And the Duke who now styles himself Protector of the Protestant Religion and Laws will have much ado to protect himself out of the kingdom if his Majesty has any Frigotts (as I believe he has with Sir Roger Strickland on the coast).  There have been many Whig-libells about the town tonight and last night which show that some were privy to that which now appears...

[Item 842, Clenennau Papers]

Deposition of David Owen, May 1689

David Owen of Dolgessy in the County of Merioneth keeper of the Goale for the said County for Robert Owen high sherriffe for the said County desposeth upon oath that upon the newes comeing to the Towne of Dollgessy that the late Kinge James had left England and that the Irish Army were comeing and killed all before them that the Inhabitants of the Towne of Dollgessy all rose in Armes as all or the greatest part of the said County did to put theirselves in a posture of defence against the said Enimy and that upon Wensday the nineteenth day of December last past parte of the said People that were in Armes to the number of thirty persons or there abouts all whose names this deponent doth nor did not know but doth remember and certainly know that Thomas Foulkes Griffith Lewis Griffith Edwards Morris Ellis Moredeth Jones Rowland Jones gent and David Evan Richard were part of the same Company who rescued the prisoners remaining then in this deponents custody vizt Rowland Price Esq Rowland Ellis John Davies gent and Ellis Jones which said Rable or number of people brought horses for the said prisoners to carrie them away and Pistolls for the said Rowland Price and the said persons part of the rable aforesaid who are herein before named beate and assaulted this deponent with clubs and swords and other weapons and told him that neither he nor his sherriffe had any power or Authoritye to detaine the said prisoners there being noe kinge in England...”  [Item 46, Clenennau Papers - Appendix II]

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