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Meadowe in volumes 1 to 4 of Thurloe's State papers

Vol Page Reference Date Full Text
1 Nothing
2 Nothing
3 Nothing
4 546 Meadowe, mr. Philip, to be sent embassador
from England to Portugal.
19 Feb 1655 At the council at Whitehall,

Tuesday the 19th of February, 1655.

Vol. xxxv. p. 173.

Ordered that it be offered to his highness as the advice of the council, that his highness will be pleased to send mr. Philip Meadowes into Portugal.

Hen. Scobell, clerk of the council.

588 Prepares for his voyage. 17 Mar 1656 The Dutch embassador in England, Nieuport, to the states general.

Vol. xxxvi. p. 533.

High and mighty lords,
Last saturday the 11th instant one Alcock, who has formerly been in your high mightinesses service, as captain of a company of English foot, as it is believed, cut his own throat; what reason has brought him to this desperate resolution, is not yet known. His relations use their utmost endeavours to save his estate, (which however is not much,) from being consiscated, since the same by the laws is entirely forfeited. I am told this week by persons that have letters from Portsmouth, that there are already about thirty ships ready; and since it has been now for some days milder weather, it is believed, that all the others will be there the latter end of this week. The weather was here in the beginning of this week very stormy, whereby a ferry–boat in the river betwixt Lambeth and Westminster, wherein a coach and six horses of the lord protector's was crossing the water, over–set and went to the bottom; three horses which got out of the harness saved themselves, and the three others were drowned; the coach was haled out again the next day. The lord protector was gone abroad to take the air, and intended to go to Hampton–court, but came back apparently by reason of the tempestuous weather, and went to Wimbleton to pay a visit to major general Lambert; from whence being come to Lambeth, he crossed the river to Whitehall in a boat with mess. Pickering and Strickland. The day before yesterday the lord protector declared to the lord mayor of London, the aldermen, and common–council, the reasons and motives, which have induced him to appoint major generals over the provinces, which were principally, that by that means the state could best be preserved in peace and quietness, and the people kept from sin and wickedness, and excited to virtue and piety; and having found that the whole country, by the said major generals, was grown stronger in virtue, as he expressed it, for the promoting and bringing about of such a salutary end, he did likewise believe, that it would be of no less effect in the city of London; wherefore he had also, and in the like manner thought good, to make general Skippon major general of the said city, to the end that he, with the assistance of sir John Barkstead, major general of Middlesex, and governor of the Tower, and some other persons, might likewise promote the same; declaring at last, that due regard should be taken for the preservation of the liberty and privileges, as also of the civil government of that metropolis. I am told that the late bishop of Glocester, Godfrey Goodman, departed from this world some time ago, and that he at his last hour had declared, that he was of the Roman catholick persuasion. Some days ago set out from here for Plymouth mr. Meadowe, who goes envoy of the lord protector to the king of Portugal, to sail from thence in a frigat to Lisbon. They tell me, that it is to receive the money for the English merchants, and to hear the king's final resolution, concerning the admission of the ratification of the treaty, as the same is concluded, without any alteration. Because the time of the general stoppage of ships or embargo is not yet expired, capt. Banchart of Ulissingen being here to convoy the ships that were ready thither, I desired, that the said ships under the protection of the said captain might be permitted to depart, notwithstanding the said embargo, which was immediately granted as yesterday; and in the evening the order touching the same was brought to my house, so that the same intend to sail next week.

Westminster, March 17, 1656. [N. S.]

Wherewith, &c.
High and mighty, &c. sign'd
W. Nieupoort.

590 Conjecture at his business there, ibid. His
letter to secretary Thurloe.
11 Mar 1656 Mr. P. Meadowe, envoy to Portugal, to secretary Thurloe.

Vol. xxxvi.p. 358.

Right honorable,
Friday last in the evening we reached Plimouth. My next care was to put al things in readines in order to our speedy going aboard. I found heere 4 frigats in harbor belonging to the fleet, viz. the Fairfax, the Phœnix, the Forefight, and the Jersey. The Fairfax being a 3d rate frigat I thought too big for my design, and first communicating my orders to capt. Hatsel commissioner heer, made choice of the Phœnix, whereof capt. Whitstone is commander. I went aboard him on satterday morning, who immediately losed his topsaile to give notice to his men to come aboard, and be in readines for their voiage. Had our goods been heer, we had set saile yesterday; however we shal doe it to day, God willing. My thoughts dwel upon my buisines, longing to be upon the place; and yet my stay heer hath given me the advantage of preparing and fitting my self, so that upon my arrival I shal forthwith demand audience. I heare the fleet is hastning out, but yet I hope and doe not much doubt, but that our frigat wil salute king John at his palace royal before our fleet be out of the Channel. Commissioner Hatsel entends, that we should convoy some Newfoundland men as far as the Scillies, and some other merchants bound for the coasts of Portugal. I shal willingly comply therewith, so be it they can keep company with us; but I have told the captain, that we cannot spare any of our saile, but must with al speed make for the port mentioned in his highnes warrant. I wrot to your honour on satterday, thinking to have sent it by the expres, which capt. Hatsel was to send to his highnes; but I was disappointed through misinformation. I beleeve we shal go on board within this houre or two, goods and baggage being now att length come, and al things in readines. Wherefore I shal humbly take leave to kiss your hand, and remain

Plimouth, tuesday March 11, 55/6,
about 11 of the clock.

Your honor's most humble,
and most faithfull servant,
Ph. Meadowe.

681 Sends the protector an account of his
proceedings in his negotiation.
16 Apr 1656 Mr. P. Meadowe, envoy in Portugal, to the protector.

Vol. xxxvii. p. 387.

May it please your highnes,
I have heer enclosed the answer returned from the king by his commissioners and signed by his secretary; and am sorry after so much earnest travel and endeavour, I could not ripen this affair to a better issue; yet hope my service wil be never the les acceptable, although it has not hitherto produced that good effect, which I desired. My duty and affection have not been wanting, but the event depends upon the wil of others. Your highnes may be pleased to be informed by mr. secretary of the whole procedure of this buisines; and I most humbly crave your gracious pardon for the failings and miscarriages in the mannagement thereof. It remaines now, that I wait your highnes further orders and instructions for my future comportment in this service, which I entreate may be speeded to me with al possible expedition. In the meane time I shal be sure to carry things so fair with his majestie, that the fleet may upon every occasion freely make use of his ports and harbors for their provisions and accommodation; and my principal care til I heare further out of England shal be converted that way, and shall wait every opportunitie to be useful and instrumental, either by intelligence or any other meanes to that design. God preserve your highnes many yeers.

Lisbon, April 16, 1656. [N. S.]

Your highnes most humble and
most dutiful subject and servant,
Ph. Meadowe.

682 Substance of what passed at his audience of
the king.
8 Apr 1656 Mr. Ph. Meadowe, envoy in Portugal, to the generals Blake and Montagu.

Vol. xxxvii. p. 215.

My lords,
It would be too long to recount to your lordships the many difficulties, which I have encountred in the service, which I am heere upon, for concludeing and ratifying the late treaty betwixt both nations, and setling other affaires relating thereunto. This work, though of great concernement unto both, is not yet finished, such are the shiftings and delayes used here upon a pretended impossibility on his majestie's part to firme these articles in the treaty relating to religion, as being a matter exempt from his secular jurisdiction, the contrary whereof I have cleerely and by evident argument evinced, knowing withall, that this manner of their proceedings is directed by other considerations then that of religion only; for his majesty knows well, that before the instruments of ratification be exchanged, he must pay 50000 l. due to his highnes upon former agreements, which he is not willing to part with presently, thinking that delays may produce alterations of affairs, and so the loss of time may prove the saveing of his money. Besides his Brazil fleet of about 100 merchants, with a convoy of eleaven men of war, are expected the latter end of the next month; and if he can dril off the business, til they are arrived, he hopes then to play his game at leisure. I am not ignorant of some other reasons, which I shall not trouble your lordships with. On saturday last I had conference with the marquess de Nissa, the lord chamberlain, and secretary of state, commissioners appointed by his majestie, from whome I parted with great dissatisfaction, and not without some discontent. Whereupon I immediately demanded audience of his majestie, which was promised me the munday following; the time of 20 dayes limited me by his highnes instructions to await his majestie's answer being now very neere expired. This was the posture of affairs, when your lordships expresse came to me, which was on munday morning. I was very glad to hear of your honours good health, and the safety of the fleet, as knowing that would be my last and prevalent argument for obtaining a more favourable dispatch, then I had hitherto found. But then knowing withall the contents of his highnes letter to his majesty of Portugall, it having passed through my hands, when in England, although I received no coppy either of it, or of that from your lordships, I easily apprehended, that in this juncture of time and state of affaires to present letters of that nature to his majestie, giving all assureances of friendship and good offices, albeit the treaty was not yet ratified, would redound to the prejudice of the business before me; and therefore resolved not to present them at this tyme, for which I beg your lordship's pardon by the next, and should not doubt the obteyning of it, had I opportunity to express more at lardge the several reasons, which induced me heereunto. The tyme of audience being come, I was admitted to his majestie's presence, and had speech in private with him above an hower, acquainting him, that his highnes after so many demonstra tions of his good will and affection towards his majestie and his dominions, and his earnest endeavours to settle a firme and lasting freindship betwixt both the nations, would very ill resent the unkind requitall, which is made him, if so be I could return no other answer to his highnes, then what I had hitherto received from his majestie's commissioners. To be brief, it came to this issue; his majestie promised me within a day or two to send me such an answer, as he doubted not should be to my content and satisfaction. All this while I mentioned nothing of the fleet, knowing his majestie was acquainted with the newes before; onely at the close of all told him, that I had received advice of the arrivall of the English fleet upon these coasts, telling him withall, that it was now in his majestie's choise to serve himself of the best fitted and appointed fleet in the world, to be as a wall and defence to his dominions against the declared enemy of both nations; and that his majestie might make use of them upon all occasions for a defence and security to his subjects in their trade and commerce; trusting he would never give occasion for converting that strength against him, which was designed and employed for his benifitt and advantage. This complement highly pleased the king, who asked me by name concerneing generall Blake, whome he had often heard so much of; assureing me with great affection, that all his ports and harbors should be ready at the service of the fleet, therein to fitt and furnish themselves with necessaryes upon all occasions. By this your lordships may a little taste the temper of affaires heer; and for your letters, which in duty to the publique service I have presumed as yett to conceale, I shall speedily deliver them; at least so soone as I shall have received his majestie's final answer to the demands, which I have made in his highnes name, which I expect to receive at the tyme promised. The pacquett directed to mr. Blackbourne I shall take care to send for England this weeke, there being an English ship in this harbor bound for Bristoll, ready to set sayle, whome I onely deteyne, till I have received the king's positive answer, that soe I might give his highnes a more full and certeine accompt of my negotiation.

For matter of intelligence, the letter, which I sent by capt. Whetstone, will acquaint your lordships with what was reported heer, which is since confirmed, that 4 of the Spanish West Indy fleet are arrived at Cales, and two yet missing, having fallen foule one upon the other, and not since heard of; for which there is great lamentation, those two being valued at 4 millions sterling. The Spaniard is reported to be in no condition to fight you, and that if you fight him, you must breake open his dores to come at him, for he intends not to come out of his owne howse. There are ten good able ships in Cales, that came from Naples, which not long since rode in the bay, but are since gone up within the puntalls to carine, whither, upon the least notice of your arrivall, all the rest will quickly retire. I heare, that De Ruyter is there with 15 sayle of Dutch men of warre, and that there are severall other merchants of other nations; and that the Spaniards are fitting out a fleet to go for the West Indies this summer, which if he can but give safe convoy to, that this is all he hath in designe besides the defensive. Two or three ships are expected here from London richly laden; but I could wish they would anchor at Cascais, and not come within command, till all things are setled here. If there be any thing of action, I shall crave your honors favour to command it to me. The newes of your successe will give life to your affaires here. I can very conveniently correspond letters both from Lagus or Pharo, if there were advise vessells waiteing there. I pray God prosper you with the great worke before you; and if in any thing I can be usefull, you may freely dispose of him, who is

Lisbon, tuesday April 8, 1656.

Your lordships ready in all service,
Ph. Meadowe.

758 His letter to Blake and Montagu upon the
ratification of the treaty.
13 May 1656 Mr. P. Meadowe, envoy at Lisbon, to the generals Blake and Mountagu.

Vol. xxxviii. p. 363.

My lords,
About 12 dayes since I dispatched an express for England, by whom I gave his highnesse a very lardge accompt of all transactions here. I feare his majestie's answer will be dissatisfactory, because it is insisted therein, that eyther the treaty be ratified with a clause of recourse to his hollines for the consent to the article of religion, or else that the seaventh and seaventeenth article in the treaty 1641 be substituted in the roome of the sixth and fowerteenth of this present treaty. This made me give out things tended towards a breach, which begatt such a muttering in the people, as if they apprehended their Brasill fleete to be in danger of yours, in soe much as my lord chamberlaine was sett upon me to taste my temper in this particular; who asked me very confidently, what security I could give them, that our fleete should attempt noe hostility upon them, till his highnesse's minde was knowne concerneing his majestie's answer? I slighted the proposall, and tould him, it was a gracious demand indeede, that I should engage to tye my master's hands. Ratesy the treaty, and then you are secure. Till that be done, you must run the hazard. Ay but, sayth he, unlesse you, as a publique minister, will give us reasonable security, his majesty in the meane tyme will not grant your fleet the benifitt of his ports. I replyed, that if his majesty denyed us the benefitt of his ports for watering and other conveniencys, which is due by the law of nature and nations to all but professed enemyes, this was formally to denounce a war; and whilest on his owne jealouseyes he supposeth us to be enemyes, he makes us such, whether we will or noe. This difference and uncertainety, wherein I kept them, made his majesty willing to resume the businesse by other commissioners, whereof the principal was the conde de Mira, a man well affected to our nation. I shall wave perticuler passages, being more then a dayes discourse; and barely acquaint your lordshipps with the present state of affaires. His majesty hath ratified the treaty, as it was concluded in England by his embassador, saving some little difference in the articles of religion, which before stood refered to his holiness, but now stand submitted to his highnesse in the manner following the sixth article, provided that if any marriner runs from his ship, upon pretence of being a Roman catholique or any other pretence, the master of the ship may deteine his wages, cloathes, and goods for satisfaction of damages; besides the party offending, if he can be found, shall be compelled to his ship. Now the king would have this clause of compulsion not to be intended to cases of religion. With this the merchants here are generally satisfied, and thinke the detention of their wages, cloathes, and goods wil be provision enough. In the fowerteenth article his majesty is to request his highness, that this clause, for which a blank is set, may be inserted viz. That the English demeane themselves modestly without scandall; and his sayd majesty is to give assureance unto his highnesse, that word scandall shall not be extended to pervert or enervate the sense of the article; with which all here are very well satisfied; for if the word scandall be not expressed, it is still implyed, and the practice wil be one and the same. For these small alterations blanks are left in the treaty, to be filled up after his highnesse shall give his consent. Besides the treaty thus ratifyed, I have obteyned likewise the ratifycation of the prelyminaryes and secret articles, by which the customes are restrayned to three and twenty per cent. to be taken off; the 50000 l. due to his highnesse is payd me. And in case his highnesse dissents to the treaty as propounded, the same may be demanded againe by his majesty; but after his highnesse consent is declared, his majesty hath given me his royall faith by an authenticke writting, that I shal be free to remitt it for England, or otherwise dispose of it, according to the commands of my superiours. Besides this there is a debt due to the English from the Bolsa for fraight and demurrage of ships amounting to about 20000 l. sterling. This by the award of the arbitrators in England was to be satisfyed out of the half customes, which according to that rate wil not be paid off this ten yeares. This after a great deale of hard tuging I have procured to be payd in two and two monthes, immediately after the exchange of the instruments of ratification. And lastly I have obteyned from the king a charter of privilidges under his hand and seale, that the English shall be exempt from the taxes called Meneo & decima, nor be bound to furnish the king with horses for his warres, which was not specifyed in the treaty. It may wel be wondered, how I could bring them to discend to such honorable termes, especially considering what a potent Spanish faction there is in this court, who have used there utmost endeavour to hinder an alliance and conjunction with England. But the accomplishment of this worke soly apperteining to your lordshipps and the fleete under your command; onely I thought good to make the best improvement I could of this advantage for my master's service. In answer of all these performances on their part, I have promised these two thinges; first, to write to his highnesse in the most effectuall manner I can, in order to the obteyning his consent to the aforesaid alterations. Secondly, to give them security, that the English fleet shall not in the mean time attempt any hostilityes upon them; which I did after this manner: I tould them, I knew the generalls of the fleet, when I came out of England, brought with them his highnesse letters to his majesty, wherein his highnesse gives them assureance of friendship and good affection. And the reason, sayd I, why these letters are not yet delivered is, because things are not setled betwixt both the nations; but things being thus concluded, I wou'd write to the generals of the fleete, and obteyne these letters from his highnesse to be presented to his majesty; and that withall I would obteyne letters from the generalls themselves, giveing his majesty assureance of their amicable intentions towards him and his dominions. And, my lords, this is that, which with conformity to your instructions, I must intreat your lordships, that if your intentions are not to fall upon the Brasill fleete, which for my part I must needs say God forbid, you would give his majesty all satisfaction in this particuler; and that in generall all his subjects and people be free of any hostilityes from you; and if you think it convenient, pass a complement upon his majesty, and tell him, you shall be so far from invading the Brasill fleete, that upon notice of their neere aproach, and signification of his majesty's desire herein, you shall be ready, as far as shal be consistent to your present service, to give the said fleete convoy with a squadron of frigotts into the river. The more copious and large you are in expressions of this nature wil give further content to the jealous people. And if you intend the thing, never spare for words. Lett me have coppyes of your letters, and make noe mention of those formerly sent. The bearer hereof, mr. Smith, a Spanish merchant, and very well versed in the affaires of Spayne, is one, in whose integrity I can repose, soe that you may safely committ your letters to him. I received your letters of the 16th of Aprill ten dayes after their date; and I should have answered them sooner, but that his majesty would not grant me safe conduct untill the business was done. You shall receive herewith a quadruplicate of letters of the same date, which I penned in that stile, because they were communicated here. God preserve your lordships many yeares. I am
Lisbone, the 13/3 of May, 1656.

Your lordships very humble servant,
Ph. Meadowe.

My present indisposition of body necessitated me to make use of another hand; the occasion of which the messenger can informe your lordships.

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