MRP: November 1667, Letter from Henry Oxinden to Sir GO

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November 1667, Letter from Henry Oxinden to Sir GO

BL, Add. MS. XX,XXXX, ff. 47-51

Editorial history

13/12/11, CSG: Created page






Abstract & context




Suggested links


See biographical profile of Sir Henry Oxenden



To do


(1) Check the original manuscript at BL & add foliation



Transcription


Check whether this transcription is completed

[BL, Add, MS. XX,XXXX, ff. 47-51]

Dear Brother

It revived our afflcitions to read yo:e sensible expressions of deepe sorrow w:xh we hope & pray may not seize upon yo:e spirits at ??xelape yo:e into som of yo:e infermities, for worldly sorrow ?causet ?death, & shee cannot nor would not come to ??esbect we shall goe to her she hath not only left a confounded, & degenerate worlde & ?Nation w:th hath lost allkind of morality & religion, & ?xeeps only y:e shall & ??paint of religion, but she hath also left all her affaires confuded & strangly perplexed in XXXX so y:t nothing but yo:e skill, wisdom, presentle (& deterity can put y:m into a tolarable intilligible order, for she left all to memory both as to yo:e business, Jn: Goodier [CSG, 12/09/08 - think this is correct], & her owne proper debts are about 1200:ll w:th her jewells & psonall estate can never satisfie unless wwee take in some of ye:e goods into her indenture, knowing not well how to distinguish in som pticulars, I resolve (God willing) to pay as farr as her estetts will arrise for w:t debts remaine w:n Godshall make as happy in yo:e ?presente we wil advise w:t to doe for her will, w:th yo:w take to plaine w:thout inxxxxx there hath been great exception taken to it & many defects found in it, by my nephew Dallison[1], his sister[2] [CSG, 12/09/08 – could be "sisters"], & his associates, in somme, y:t though I have put him in possession of y:e lease (w:th he is to xxxx) reserving by law yo:e title to 1400:ll in it, if my sister had power so to charge it, yet he hath put in a bill in Chancery ags:t me, where in he denieth my sister to have any power at all to dispose of or charge his lease, & so goes about to avoid y:t charge & condition in Indentures between him & I (in yo:e behalfe) y:t y:r lease at halling shall stand charged w:th yo:e 1400:ll he Xxged [budged?] me hard to put in an answer last terme w:ch I delayed till y:e next terme in hopes his knave farther stand by (who is his great witness) in xxxx before y:t time, I had y:e advise of y:e best lawyers in w:t [?] I did but if it prove she had no power yo:w are gone as to her will w:ch to prevent wee will struggle hard yet if we faile here, we have good hops, y:t we shall be relieved in Chancery, upon yo:e Chatham mortgage, though he did gett away ?y:r originall writing from his mother, by w:ch act we hope he hath not destroyed y:e write & equity to y:e mortgage, wee proving y:t yo:w had a reall title, & by wt means yo:w came to loose yo:e evidence, never was so good another so revilde & abus’d in words & deads. I doe follow yo:e advice in imploring those lawyers formerly ingag’d in yo sutes, w:ch is most proper, & where yo:w say, if yo:e law affaires be for them troublesome, I say they were nevr more difficult & ??pplext, nor so well follow’d by y:e Adversaries who have gotten one maes [??], & crafty, ?broken ??merch:t for their Sollisitors, who constantly liveth in towne, who hath speciall order (as he saith) to torm:t us, w:ch he doth to y:e utmost, inputing [?] us to delayes & XXXX of XXXX charges, & ppetuall quarrellings at Law & Chancery debats & meetings about yo:e bills of Exchange to Britton & Pearce[3] o:r Nephew Masters[4] will fully acquaint yo:w w:th a;; circumstances pticular, y:e L:d Chanceller made a referrance to five East India Merch:ts for their opinions in y:e case, w:th order y:e ?made endeavour to overthrow, & will apply himselfe to y:e new keeper S:r Orlando Bridgman (of whoe coming in mor anon) to EXXarate y:t referance, & prove a new hearing upon y:e whole matter, w:ch we hope to prevent, if possible and get our reference to stand, though he endeavours to get y:m together. Their names are S:r And: Ricarrd[5], S:r Rich: fford[6], S:r Will:m Tompson, Maurice Tompson[7], & M:r Joliffe[8], who I hope will make a good report for us, y:e referance being to five & no less number

I find it extreame difficult to get y:m togeather som of y:m having bine always out of twone y:s sumer James Masters is now in Kent & hath been there good pt of y:e vacation & my son James is at Dane[9] about his sports, for his healths sake, o:r Adversaries threaten us w:th ten sutes more w:ch I think are y:e greatest torm:ts on this side Hell, considering all y:e trickes, delaies & charges of law, Cap:t Rob Browne (whom I take to be no friend of yo:s) told me lately y:t yo:e old adversaryes are very confident of fetching y:e 4000: againe, w:ch I feare not for I hope that S:r Orlando[10] will not reverse y:e late Chancellors debvise [CSG, 12/09/08 – check a legal dictionary; I think I have transcribed this correctly] unless he finds evident unjustice or corruption in y:m, w:ch I am confident he cannot find in yt case For yo:e Merch:t afaires, I shall by y:e spring shipps give yo:w a punttuall Acco:tt, & answer y:e pticulars of yo:e XXX ???exparthy, w:ch now I cannot so well doe, because y:t having y:t gout in my hands I am forded to make use of another pen. I will follow yo:e orders in returning yo:e proceeds of ye muske & amberg & sending yo:w y:r whole state of my sister Dallons afaires. Yo:e hearty Serv:t S:r George Smith is dead.[11]

October 1667, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO His friends reporte him worth 20000:ll but ye more moderate say it was but 11000:ll his daughter hath married Al:d Fen[12] The Comitee I find take all yo:e service w:th much satisfaction, & doo yo:w all hono:r in their expressions of yo:w, & have purged ymselves in open court of having any ill will or reall exceptions ags:t yow, The Governer S:r And: Ricard & S:r Will:m Rider y:e Dep:t are allwaise ready to serve yow, so is my cozen Boone[13] S:r Sam: Barnardiston[14] & divers others, S:r Sammuell is bound w:th me for yo:w in y:e Comon please about y:e bill sof exchange in recognisance of 4000:ll w:ch was a great courtesy, I have given him Country servty [counter soverignty?] of 2000 [CSG, 12/09/08 – I think this is a “2”], pray acknowledge yo:e obligation to him, for truly yow are very highly ingaged to him for his great ?forwardness to serve yo:w ags:t Love & Britton[15] & all yo:e adversaries, he was a speciall witness for yo:w in Guildhall M:r Papilion[16] labureth in all yo:e causes, as if they were his owne & soe take notice to him from me, & remember him w:th some considerable tokens, for wee shall need his help in many other causes, & pray forgett not S:r Samuell, yo:e muske is but new come on shore, my Cozen Boone & I have not yet view’d it by reason of my illness of y:e gout, w:ch made me keep my chamber, I have ask’d him 3:ll an ounce for it, but he saith he will give me no surprise, though more y:n any man I hope to gett about five & fifty, for it is at present very deare.

I must now acquaint yo:w y:t I have had severall meetings w:th M:r Burkredge[17], Cap:t Browne[18], & M:r [CHECK NOT MRS] Goodier about delivering up her husbands papers & acco:ts, of w:ch I have written pticulerly in my over land letters,

D:r Parker clames 100:ll by way of promise & bargaine from my sister & would have me as executor pay him, and with out of injustice because I refuse it, his pretended bargaine was, y:t my sister was to give him 100: for his interest in o:r brother Kitts[19] estate, upon w:ch he saith he delivered her his writings, now y:e witness he calls in to prove this bargaine is Sarah[20], & she proveth it not full for his ???twine, for she affermes it was conditionall, in case she recovered his wages & estate, besides, his writing was not formally assign’d to her by law, w:ch M:r Raworth[21] saith it ought to have beene, or else it can give her noe title, but he stormeth fearfully, I offer him his writing againe, had y:e bargaine prov’d good it would have beeb very heard for y:e executors to have paid it, seXXX my Nephew Masters[22] now clames an equall share in Kitts wages & estate, w:n [?] reXXXXXX XXX y:e right of his mother, for he saith it y:t be not grant’d, he will put in a caveat & hinder my taking of y:e administration only in yo:e behalfe & acco:t to reimburse yo:e w:ch my Brother owes yo:w, but they argue y:t she tooke y administration w:th consent & to be divided , w:ch do not beleeve, for I never heard her say so, pray certifie this matter, & tell me if it were not upon yo:e Acco:tt & by uo:e appointmt, Sarah saith it was, & so saith my Cozen Oxinden[23]

Cap:t Barker holds his agreen:t w:th yo:w, & will send yo:w y:e comodity by ye next shups, M:r Frances Coventry[24] w:th his lady, y:e lady Hoskins[25], have often been w:th XXX [mee?] earnestly intreat yo:w to be kinde & helpful to their son Thomas, & have prayed me to be solliciter to yo:w one yt behalfe, she is now I think content he should stay in India till yo:w come home, w:ch I find will not bee so soon as wee hop’d for divers of yo:e good friends in ye Comitee, whom I have spoke to y:t yo:w might have liberty to come home w:n yo:w please, alssure me they cannot possibly spare yo:w until yo:w have settled their affaires upon this yeare [? Peare?] w:th none can do they say but yo:e selfe so much to yehono of ye nation & good of ye Comp:1, Our countryman M:r Portman, ye Goldsmith & his wife have a thousand thanks to give yo:w for their son, & they begg ye continuance of yoe favoure to him, he had bought a hogshead f Canary to have sent yoe by ye London, whose designe being laid aside, he was faine to keep it by him, wee drank yo:e health affectionately w:th a bottle of y:e same wine at his house w:ch M:r Dunker, who psents yo:w his services pray shew kindness to M:r Portmans son, honest Cap:t Mohun w:th whom I am lately acquainted, is yo:e great admirer & xtolls [CSG, 12/09/08 - i.e.”extolls”, but stats with “x”] in all companies, much to yo:e honour, pray take notice of his love to yo:w, he hath represented yo:w to y:e Comite w:th much advantage, & is yo:e professed champion,

I wrote to yo:w by ye little Charles yt went to ye Coast, & lately overland, I suppose this will be w:th yo:w before ye overland bees I heare ye S:t George is now in ye Downes come from Limmerick, where she hath staid for feare of ye ?Duch till now,

I have not yet ??redd [could be received] yoe letters,

The great L: Chanceller[26] is in disfavoure w:th ye King & he hath taken ye seale from him & given it to S:r Orlando Bridgman, his great ennemys were S:r W:m Coventry & my Lord Arlington secretary of state, Tis said he was a good Chancellor, but an ill statesman, The king grew weary of his pride & imposings upon him, he saith he is now more at liberty & a free psonne againe, the Dukes interest could keepe him in ???seate, we know not yett ye xxxiruler matters ags:t him, but may when yxxxxhim:t meets, w:ch will be ye 10th of this month, I am sure we have lost a good freind,

I have sent yo:w a quatter caske of Canary newly arrived in England to cherish yo:e heart, tis in bottles hampered up, & in ye custody of cap:t Barker, my Cozen Richard Oxinden dwelleth at Lambeth[27], he is much troubled at ye behaviour of my sisters children, he liveth very retired, & meddleth little w:th Business, he saith my sister Dallison told him, & so doth Sarah, yt mark hath had of her suite ye king came in, 1500:ll, I will send yo:w a pticular of her debts, & an Inventory of her goods by ye next shipps, my gout & James his absence have hindred me a this tim, My wife is yo:e humble servant & thanks yo:w for yo:e courtioustie, she will write to yo:w by ye next shipps, my paine w:th ye gout in my wrist & fingers, fourceth me to borow a friends pen, w:ch cuseth me to omite some things I should she have written, my Mother is w:th us at London, her healthe is as good as I have knowne it a long time, she is now about eighty years of age, my lady Willford[28] [could be Millford] is w:thin three doores of us, but she hath lost her understanding, The King & Court resolve to comply w:th ???ydptim indeed it is their best way, for they have lost ye good opinion of ye Kingdom sadly, by their Ill mannagem:tt of warr & peace, M:r Papillion & Major Tomson, were sent over w:th ye Embassadors, but ??provided nothing for XXX XXXXX interest, never did England suffer so great losses, s great dishonoure, & never were ye people more exhausted of mony, & more discontened, we all hope for good from this pliamt:, I send yo:e some books to divert uo:w, somare pleasant & some are Serious; I send yo:w here also my hearty thanks for yoe: love to me & mine & always remaining,

Yo most affectionate & obliged brother Henry Oxinden



Notes

  1. Maximilian Dallison, eldest child and only son of Elizabeth Dallison
  2. Mary Smith, eldest and only surviving daughter of Elizabeth Dallison. She was married to Henry Smith, who had been imprisoned for treason, having been a signator of the death warrant of Charles I
  3. Thomas Breton and Edward Pearce, London merchants and subscribers to both the King Fernandez and SVJS. They were brothers-in-law, through their marriages to daughters of Sir Dudley Carlton, former English ambassador to the Hague
  4. James Masters, Gray's Inn lawyer and a legal advisor to Sir George Oxenden
  5. Sir Andrew Riccard, London merchant
  6. Sir Richard Ford, London merchant
  7. Maurice Tompson, London merchant
  8. John Jolliffe, London merchant
  9. Deane, house and estate of Sir Henry Oxenden
  10. Sir Orlando Bridgman
  11. Sir William Ryder had written to Sir George Oxenden just one month earlier that Sir George had been gravely ill but had made a remarkable recovery: "not many dayes past was nigh his end, he being grown very weake & Melancholy but meeting w:th a good phision who lett him blood prevented his beleeding more at Noase & Mouth stoped ye reflusion, & he is now preety (here intendin if posssible to write yo:w here w:th I hope he will be able to comply w:th his good thoughts yt way." See October 1667, Letter from William Ryder to Sir GO
  12. Katherine Smith, only child of Sir George Smith, married the London merchant and alderman, John Fenn
  13. Christopher Boone, London merchant, with strong commercial interests in the Spanish trade, as well as a participant in trade with the East Indies
  14. Sir Samuel Barnardiston, London merchant, with strong commercial interests in the Levant
  15. William Love & Thomas breton, London merchantst
  16. Thomas Papillon, London merchant
  17. Nicholas Buckeridge
  18. Probably Captain Arnold Browne
  19. Christopher Oxenden
  20. Sarah Wainman, Elizabeth Dallison's long serving maid, who subsequently married Sir George Oxenden's and Elizabeth Dallison's cousin, Richard Oxinden
  21. Robert Raworth, Gray's Inn lawyer and legal advisor to Elizabeth Dallison and Sir George Oxenden
  22. James Masters, Gray's Inn lawyer and legal advisor to Elizabeth Dallison and Sir George Oxenden
  23. Richard Oxinden
  24. Frances Coventry XXXX
  25. Dame Elizabeth Hoskins, widow of Sir Edumd Hoskins, serjeant-at-law, who had provided legal counsel to Elizabeth Dallison on her and Sir George Oxenden's behalf. For background see Sir Edmund (Edmond) Hoskins
  26. Lord Clarendon, the former Edward Hyde
  27. Richard Oxinden moved to Lambeth following the London fire of 1666, and lodged in the same house as Sarah Wainman, who had moved there following the death of Elizabeth Dallison. For background see House in Lambeth
  28. Identity of Lady Wilford, who appears to be located in London near the Oxendens, is unknown