1930.-THOMAS SMITH, OF CAMPDEN, AND HENRY SMITH, OF LONDON.-In Wandsworth Public Library there is a book entitled Notices relating to Thomas Smith, of Campden, and to Henry Smith, sometime Alderman of London, "by the late Charles Perkins Gwilt, B. A. of Christ Church, Oxford, and of the Middle Temple, London, a Descendant of the Family," London, 1836, pp. vi. 80. It was not printed for sale, and a note inside the cover states that there were only one hundred copies.

The first seventeen pages are filled with an account of Smith, of Campden, with three illustrations of Thomas Smith's tomb. The remainder of the book is devoted to Henry Smith, one of the most notable of Wandsworth worthies, with an illustration of his tomb.

On p. 18 it is mentioned that "Henry Smith was born at Wandsworth, in the county of Surrey, in May, 1548; who and what his father was still remains unknown, though, as already asserted, no doubt can exist of his having been a member of the family of Smith, of Campden, in the county of Gloucester; and notwithstanding that strict legal proof cannot be adduced to support this assertion, still the circumstantial evidence is too strong to be rebutted." The author then gives his reasons, and adds, “If conjecture were here allowable, we might account in a likely way for Wandsworth having been his birthplace, by supposing that the father came up from Gloucestershire under the patronage of his relation Thomas Smith (who was then living with the Court at Nonsuch), that he settled at that place, and that the assistance of Thomas Smith afforded his son Henry, in forwarding his views in afterlife, might have been the foundation of the large fortune he afterwards acquired." Unfortunately the parish registers of Wandsworth do not commence until 1603,* and are of no assistance to us in the matter.

A tradition exists that Smith travelled about Surrey as a beggar with a dog, and he is still spoken of as "Dog-Smith;" but this seems to be a fiction. He died January 3, 1627-8, and was buried at Wandsworth on the 7th of the month following. He was very

wealthy, and several parishes have been benefited by his will, one of the number being Longney in Gloucestershire. † In the list of estates of which he was possessed at his death, there is "The manor of Longney, the impropriate rectory and lands there;" and Mr. Gwilt has added this note :-" Purchased by Mr. Smith; rents allotted to parishes not in Surrey. The manor to the general expenses of the trust. Atkyns says [?] he bought it of Sir William Bond, Knight; but this was not the fact, for it was conveyed to him by Lord Lumley 2 James I. So says Mr. Bray." In 1874

*The registers, 1603-1787, contain numerous entries relating to French refugees who settled in the parish from time to time, and have been printed recently by J. Traviss Squire.

"Culkerton" is likewise mentioned as a Gloucestershire parish benefited by Smith's will. There is a hamlet of the name in the parish of Rodmarton, but not any parish so called in Gloucestershire or elsewhere.

Longney Farm, etc., produced £573 6s. 5d., and Longney Manor and Silver Street £789 18. 4d. Of the latter sum £300 was spent in rebuilding the chancel of Longney Church, and £100 went to the church restoration fund. The £573 6s. 5d., less the amount of necessary expenses, was divided amongst twenty-four parishes, Longney receiving £14 148. 8d. CECIL T. DAVIS.

Public Library, Wandsworth, S. W.

1931.-SELECTIONS FROM THE CALENDARS OF STATE PAPERS

(DOMESTIC).

1591.

(Continued from No. 1666.)

The Council to the Barons of the Exchequer. June 6. Direct them to discharge the suit of Leake v. Van Greenwich. Peane and Francis for importing pins into England. It was permitted by treaty made at Bristol, as the stoppage of import of pins had been followed by restraint abroad of import of English cloth, and such prohibitions were found prejudicial. (Copy.) [ccxxxix. 18.]

Nov. 25.

Certificate of Wm. Neale, auditor, of the value of Rowde manor and other lands and possessions in Wiltshire, of Thomas, Lord Seymour, of Sudeley, attainted of treason, to be sold for 1,456l., being 35 years' purchase, on conditions specified. Noted as for Edw. Hungerford. Signed by the Commrs. for the sale of lands. (Copy, 2 sheets.) [ecxl. 68.]

Nov. 25. Docquet of patent appointing Sir John Poyntz Westminster. sheriff of co. Gloucester, who was sworn in before Sir Richd. Berkeley, Hen. Winslow, and Wm. Chester. [ccxl.]

Nov. 27. Commission of rebellion to Richd. Vaughan and Westminster. others, of Gloucestershire, to apprehend Richd. Edwardes. (Docquet.) [ccxl.]

Nov. 29. Commission to Geo. Snigge and three others, of Westminster. Gloucestershire, to inquire after the death of John Roberts. (Docquet. Dec. 1, 1591.) [ccxl.]

Nov. 29.

Commission to Robt. Hurte and three others, of Westminster. Bristol, to inquire after the death of Thos. Young, sen., and Thos. Young, jun., his son and heir. (Docquet. Dec. 1, 1591.) [ccxl.]

1592.

Grant to Thos. Crompton and Robt. Wright, of Feb. 7. the manor of Nether Swell, and a messuage near, Westminster. called Bold, and of Swell park, &c. (Docquet.)

[ccxli.]

Feb. 14. Special livery for Sir John Tracy, son and heir of Westminster. Sir John Tracy, deceased. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Feb. 14. Commission of bankruptcy to Ant. Rudd, dean Westminster. of Gloucester, Thos. Seames, alderman, and five

Feb. 15.

Feb. 15.

others, on behalf of the creditors, six of whom are named, against Edw. Chatterton, alias Thos. Pilkington, chapman, of Gloucester, broken 2 Nov. last, for 401. and upwards. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

of

Lease to Robt. Stephens, for 21 years, Cheltenham parsonage and Charlton [Kings] chapel; rent, 751. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Commission of peace for co. Gloucester, renewed Westminster. for placing John Hungerford, sheriff last year. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

[Feb. 23.]

Dispensation for Chris. Windle, B.A., to hold Bisley vicarage with Syde rectory, both in Gloucester diocese. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Mar. 4. Patent granting to Martin Smith and Walter Westminster. Vaughan, on surrender of Humphrey Michell, the office of water bailiff in the Severn. (Latin, damaged.) [cexli. 93.]

Mar. 23.

June 6.

Protection for burning to Wm. Hamlyn, of Wickware, to gather in COS. Gloucester and Northampton, on testimonial of Sir John Poynts, Sir Richd. Berkeley, Mat. Poynts, and Nich. Thorp, justices of peace. (Docquet.) [ccxli.]

Bernard de la Laude, deputy of the inhabitants of Bayonne, to the Privy Council......In April, 1591, the ship of Peter de Hody, merchant of Bayonne, returning from Newfoundland, laden with 108,000 dry fish, 4,000 green, and 14 hogsheads of train oil, total value 6,000 crowns, was taken by a ship of war appointed by Sir Walter Raleigh, and brought to Uphill, near Bristol; and though Peter de Hody obtained letters from Madame, sister of the French King, to Her Majesty, for its recovery, and sent two men, who have been continual suitors these eight months, and spent 500 crowns, they were fain to leave off their suit and return to France to save their lives, being threatened by the owners and victuallers by the said ship of war, rich merchants in Bristol, who have received the proceeds of the merchandise, and still withhold the ship.

Martin de Crutchette and Matthew Dollines, also burgesses of Bayonne, in Dec. 1590, freighted a ship with pitch, linen, &c., worth 1,000 French crowns, which was also taken by an English ship of war, commanded by Capt. John Austin, of Southhampton. Martin Daguerre, last December, had a ship laden with 200,000 dry fish shot at by two other English ships, and was constrained to put into the port of Bayonne, so damaged that he was forced

June 17.

Sept. 26.

1593. Jan. 18.

March?

VOL. IV.

to relade the fish in another hulk; this was taken by three other English ships, and brought to Bristol, where it was sold, together with the fish, by the captains, owners, and victuallers of such ships of war, viz., Capt. Robt. Johnson, Capt. Wm. Fletcher, Hump. Lovell, and Sam. Lovell, owners and victuallers, dwelling at Bristol; the loss to Daguerre is 7,000 crowns, besides what he has spent in attempting its recovery, having kept a man in England at great charge ever since, by means whereof he is utterly undone. [ccxlii. 44.]

Declaration by John, Archbishop of Canterbury, that in 1571, 1572, and 1573, there was a cause in his Court of Audience, before Dr. Thos. Yale, between Tristram and Grisogan Holcombe, plaintiffs, and Edm. and Eliz. Catesby, defendants, in which, on account of the distance of some of Holcombe's witnesses, a commission was granted for taking their evidence, when it was proved that Ant. Porter left the lease of Mickleton farm, with 2007., to his wife Grisogan, his son William, and in default of their issue, to his daughter Elizabeth, and the child of his brother Edmund; that William Porter wasted the property and died in misery; that William and Grisogan Porter paid the heavy debts of Ant. Porter, as proved by receipts given; that Tristram Holcombe was not an executor, but married the widow Grisogan. Examinations as to the disposal of the lease of Mickleton by Wm. Porter, with consent of his mother, she reserving some portion for herself, for which cause she is sued by the Catesbys as next heirs. (3 sheets. Case E., Eliz., no. 7.) [ccxlii.]

Acknowledgment, by Nich. Porter, of Aston Subedge, and Giles Porter, of Clopton, of a debt to Nich. Overbury, of Nether Quynton, Gloucester, gentleman, of 201., to be paid on 13 Oct. next. With endorsement of the receipt, by Thos. Thurston, of 107. on account, on 13 Oct. [ccxliii. 18.]

List of gentlemen of property and ability residing in the several counties of England, alphabetically arranged, and in Wales, who are fit to serve Her Majesty, some in one function and some in another; giving from 2 to 12 names in each county. (12 pages; written by Maynard, Lord Burghley's clerk; with insertions and corrections by Cecil.) [ccxliv. 17.] Preamble of a [proposed] Act, confirming that of 35 Eliz. touching the breadth of white woollen cloths

TT

May 16.

May 31.

in cos. Wilts, Gloucester, Somerset, and Oxford. (Imperfect draft.) [ecxliv. 110.]

Wm. Hulbert to Lord Burghley. By his favour obtained 10 years since the customer's place inwards at the port of Bristol, but being unable, through infirmity, to perform service, wishes to resign in favour of John Dowlie, his near kinsman, recommended by the mayor and some of the aldermen ; will yield 100 angels for his lordship's favour therein. Encloses,

Thos. Aldworth, Mayor, and John Brown and Robt. Kitchen, Aldermen of Bristol, to Lord Burghley. Wm. Hulbert, one of the customers of that port, wishing to resign his office to John Dowle, they recommend the latter as fit for the place. Bristol, May 3, 1593. [ccxlv. 9.]

Indenture of lease, by Robt. Harward, of Mickleton, to Richd. Harris, Richd. Getway, Thos. Poole, and Robt. White, of the same place, of two yard lands arable, and two closes adjoining, for four years; rent, 231. [ccxlv. 22.]

May. The Council to the Mayor and Aldermen of Bristol. Nonsuch. Upon the earnest complaint of the French ambassador resident in England, of the taking of sundry ships belonging to Bayonne and St. Jean de Luz by English men-of-war, some being of Bristol, &c. [ccxlv. 25.]

Oct. 6. Renard de la Bere to Lord Burghley. Sir Anth. Southampton. Cooke, in consideration of the writer's having apprehended those who robbed him, obtained for him the comptrollership of customs at Gloucester, which he has ever since enjoyed. Is now less able to travel, by reason of sickness, and the place not answering the charge, he is willing to yield it up; holds the place with the good liking of that city, and in their behalf requests that Thos. Wankley may succeed him. [ccxlv. 123.]

Nov. 18. John Taylor, Mayor, and five Aldermen of Gloucester. Gloucester, to Lord Burghley. Renard Delabere,

comptroller of the port there, is willing to yield up his office to Thos. Walkely, a well-disposed and able man, born there, and of good parentage, who has always resided there, and has promised to continue to do so, and to exercise the office to the good liking of the magistrates. Request his appointment, and an order for his residence and due service there, as Her Majesty has hitherto been much deceived, and the city and country much abused, by