L.c.2158: Newsletter received by Richard Newdigate, Arbury, 1693 March 30

L.c.2158

London the 30^th of March 93

Sir

The Master Gunner of England- & Captain Silver of Whitehall have ordersfrom the King to hold adayly performance in discharging of Cannon & Bombs on Black =heath in order to perfect the Gunners and Montresses in an Exact method Designed for the Descent where those if are curioius in that Art may vpon Applicacion bee received into that service & tought the whole Art of Gunnery

Yesterday they began att Tower wharfe to Ship off such Instruments of warr designed for the Descent as will receive no damage & the most prodigious preparacions that ever were knowne in England are now making for that service

The Lords of the Admiralty this week sent order to Sir John Ashby not to suffer any Interloper for India to putt to sea And Yesterday the Owners Petitioned the King about its alledging that they have 50000^li- Cargo on board & had his Maiesties Letters Mart & none of the seamen to bee Impressed but its beleived the Company will Influence her being stopped

Yesterday morning the Lord Lex =ington was sworne Gentleman of the Kings Bed Chamber

The 6 East India shipps fitted out by the Company are now in the Hope & had theire dispatchers sent them Yesterday & will Saile with Expedicion

2000^li per Annum vpon the Excise to bee paid to the said Keeper soe soone as hee shall bee removed = The Turkey Merchants have advice from Constantinople that a great ffaction rages in that Citty in favour of the Son of the Deceased Mahomett the 4^th in soe much that the Grand Signior dares not stirr from thence fearing a Revolt & should there bee the least misconduct of Affaires the Populacey would make great Revolucions

The Queen has been pleased to dismiss the Lord Bellford from the Place of Treasurer to her Maiesty & 'tis beleived his Lordshipp will bee Succeeded by the- Lord Hide

Plymouth: the 26 of March the Robert of London is arrived here from St Malo haveing brought with himthe 244 English Seamen amongst them 33 Masters of Shipps being all the English Prisoners that were in that Port from whence shee came on ffryday last & brings an account that shee comming in Company of 2 ffrench: Privatteers one of 40 Guns the- other of 16 the Captain of the former Sayed hee was resolved to fight the Dover ffrigatt wherever hee mett her

Sheildes the 26 of March Yesterday arrived here 100 Saile of light Colliers & 10 Saile of other Shipps from the Southward

The King since his returne on Tuesday night has Continued att Kensington but as soone as the wind is fare hee will goe for Harwich by water & See the Shipping in his way

declared whether Sir Thomas: Trevor or Mr Ward shall be Attorney Generall the King haveing promised the Lord Keeper that Sir Thomas: should Succeed him the Earl: of Nottingham presses hard for Mr Ward = Two persons coming this day to speak with Mr Hamilton foremencioned were Seized & one of them proves to bee the [Minister] of some of his Papers - 2 others of his - Accomplyces were Seized a Little after - A Patent is passing the Seales for Charging -

My last told you one Hamilton an Irish Man was Seized since 10th hee has been Examined and found to bee affrench: Spye & a great number of .... dangerous papers found in his Custody with Severall Blank warrants Signed by the ffrench: King & there is some hopes that hee will - discover all his Accomplyces

Plymouth Letters further say that the Master of the Robert Sayes that before hee came away from ffrance all the Capers were called in Except 11 who had King Iames Commission they haveing occasion for the Men on - board theire Grand ffleet

Portsmouth: 23d the Crowne ffrigate is come to Spithead to refitt Sir Georg Rook in the Royall oak & Rear Admirall Aylmer in the Kent are still att Spithead & most of the outward bound Merchant Shipps are in Cowes Road but an Embargo is come downe to them not to Sterr att least 10 dayes

The King has been pleased to appoynt Beniamine Tymewell Esquire Comissioner

of the Dock Yard att Portsmouth in the Roome of Captain Wiltshire who is made one of the Navy = It was ommitted in my last to Informe you that by private Letters from the Hague here is an account of a Hellish designe lately discovered there to have blowne vpp the house where his Maiesty was to Lodge & severall persons are secured vpon itt = This Evening a great Councell is held at Whitehall where 'tis beleived it will bee

30 March 93

News Letter

To the Honorable Sir Richard: Newdigate baronet at Arbury 4^d near Coventry