RECEIPT FOR A SUM OF MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE CASTLE OF HARLECH. [From the original at Porkington.] Reiceyved of Humfrey Stanley, gentelman, the Or iij. 2 These probably are the measurements of the ground within the postern. xyth daye of octobre, in the xth yere of the reigne of our sovereigne lady Quene Elizabeth, the some of syxe pownd, thirtene shillings, and four pence, of thirteane pownd, syxe shillings, and eight pence, vjli xiijs iiijd apoynted for the reparacions of ye Castell of Hardeleigh, by the quenes majesty's warrant, and deliuered bye the Awditor and Reiceyvor of Northwales. ANTHONY TRAPPES. VII. A LETTER FROM CERTAIN BURGESSES OF HARLECH TO SIR WM. Maurice, CLENENNEY, Co. CAERNARVON, Knt., offering a BRIBE FOR HIS INFLUENCE TOWARDS OBTAINING THE HOLDING OF THE COUNTY SESSIONS AT HARLECH. [From the original at Porkington.] Right worshipfull, our hartie comendations remembred, &c., we are beholdynge to your worship for your paynes and good will towards the poor towne of Hardlech, desiringe you styll to contynewe your suet for vs, to vse meanes to obtayne the both Sessions, and the fower quarter Sessions, to bee yeerely kept at Hardlech, by acte of parliament; which if you can obtaine, and bringe to passe, we the burgises subscribed, are contented & willinge to geue you the some of money apperinge apon our Severall names, vnder written to the payment of which some, apon the condicion aforsaed, every one of vs severally, doeth bynde hym Selffe, his executors, & administrators, by these presents, to be paed to you Sir William Maurice, Knight, within one half ayere after the obteyninge of the saed Acte of Parliament. Dated at Hardelagh, the vjth day of June, 1604. Your assured loving ffrends & kinsmen, I Gry: Vaughan1 do promes to pay tenne pounds vpon the condicion aforesaid. & I Moris Wynn, de Glynn, do promis to pay tenn poundes as aforsayd. John Tomson to pay tenn pounds as afforsaed. Humffrey ap Edward, & Anthony ap Jeun to pay tenn pounds as aforsaid. Thomas Poole, & Humffrey Jeun Lloyd to pay tenn pound as afforsaed. & I Robt ap Jeun ap Morgan2 do promes to pay tenn pounds as afforsaed. Humffrey ap Richard Owen do promise to pay tenn pounds. Dauid ap Retherch, & Robt ap Howell, tenn pounds as affor said. Robt Lloyd, ar.3 to pay ten pounds as afforsaed. Robt ap Morgan, & Retherch ap John ap Richard, to pay ten pounds as afforsaed. The whole some is one hundred pounds. 1 Of Cors-y-Gedol. 2 Of Taltreuddyn. 3 Armiger, of Rhiwgoch. And further touching our charter and ffeeferme, beinge in your custodye, we desire you to doe your best to have the same confirmed by the king's Majesties,' & what soe ever you lay out for the doinge thereof, it shalbe paed to you, with thanks; & also your paynes & travell therein taken, shalbe accordingely considered, & soe we comitt you to god. Hardelagh, the saed vjth of June 1604. Your ffrends to vse, Moris Wynn, de Glynn. Robt ap Howell. Richard ap Wittm. Humffrey ap Edward. Humffrey ap Jeũn Lloyd. To the Right worshipfull Sir William Maurice, Knight, delieuer this with speed. VIII. [From a paper at Porkington, endorsed in the hand writing of Sir William Maurice, of Clenenney, who died in Aug. 1622, "Consideracions for the kepinge of the sessions, &c., at Harlech."] A note of remembrance, upon the consideracions herevnder written, to seeke1 the Lords of the councell letteres vnto the Justices of Assise, Custos Rotulorum, & Justices of the peace, for to keepe the Assises and quarter Sessions att Harlech. Imprimis, the said Towne of Harleghe is an Ancient Boroughe, being a verye poore towne, & no through faire place, having no trade, or traphicke, nor other means to live, but onlye relieved by havinge hearetofore the Assises and quarter sessiones most comonlye kepte there. 2. Item, the saide Towne is the shire Towne, in which the county courts are by the new ordinance of Walles, appointed to be kept. 3. Item, the king's majesty hath noe house, fortresse, or holde, within that county,5 but onlye the Castle of Hardlegh, which lieth in that Towne, beinge a verye strong hold, being upon the Sea side, with diuerse havnes, Creeks, and other landinge places, of eche side, neere unto the same. 4. Item, the said Castle beinge, as yet, kepte in somme better 1 Sic. 2 Thorough. 3 Of Merioneth. 4 Wales. 5 Of Merioneth. reparacion then anye of his majesty's castles in Northwalles, by reason that the Justices of ye assise, Sheriffe, & prenotarye, with their trayne, doe vse, when the assises are kepte in that Towne, to lie and keepe ther diet within the said Castle. At which tyme, the said Castle is aired, scowred, cleansed, & some charges bestowed by euery Sheriffe, towards the reparacion thereof, at euery time that they doe vse to resorte thither to keepe the Sessions. 5. Item, the said Castle had beene quite ruinated and decayed, if the Justices of Assise had not resorted to it, as aforesaid, & will daylie decaye hereafter, if they bee not compelled to keepe their Sessions in that towne, as they have done hearetofor, vnles his majesty will be at the Charge in repairinge of it himself. 6. Item, if the great Sessions & quarter sessions be appointed to be kept in that poore Towne, the said Towne wilbe releived therebie, & the Castle kept in reparacion without charge to his majesty, and in default thereof, both wilbe shortlie vtterlye decayed. 7. Item, the common gayle of that county is vsuallie kepte in the saide Towne, and the poore prisoners therein, releived by the inhabitants thereof. 8. Item, vpon the same or like consideracions, the Lords of the Councell, did in the tyme of the late Queene Elizabeth, directe ther letteres vnto the Justices of the Assise, requireing them to keepe the Assises in the said towne, which was doune for a longe time accordinglie, but the Justices now, respectinge ther own ease more then the good of the towne, & ease of the countrey, doe most commonlie vse to keepe their sessions at Bala, being a very fylthie dyrtie Towne, without any lodgings fitt for gentlemen to lie, & a place farre remote, & very vnconvenient for any generall mytings. 9. Item, whereas by an acte made Anno 6. Ricardi II., ca: 5, the Justices of Assise most1 keepe ther Sessions in the cheiffe townes of euery county,2 videlicet, where the countie courts are kept and my request vnto your Lordshipps is, that the Sessions may be kepte by the same lawe, within the said shire towne of Merioneth, where the countie corts are onlie kepte, as aforesaid. 10. Item, the said Castle of Harlegh, standinge vpon the Sea side, with havnes of both sides, as before is said, is very necessarye to be maintained and kept in reparacion, for diuerse respects, and cheifflie for the causes folowing videlicet; 11. Iff it be kept in reparacion, his majesty may easelie (if need be) fortifie the same bye Sea & lande, as well to keepe the countrey in awe from any insurrection or rebellion, as alsoe to resist & withstand foraine powers if they should land in anye of those havens or Creekes, to seeke to invade that countrey. 12. Item, if the king's majesty, or the prince should happene, or have occatione to goe into that countrey, there is noe house or place 1 Must. 2 The following note occurs here in the original, but in a different hand, and ink of a lighter colour:-"You shall finde this acte in Poulton, in the title of Justices of assise. 157." |