Prisons

Prisons.

I. 24. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor, with reference to disorders committed within Her Majesty's prison of Newgate by such as had charge there. Desiring to be throughly informed of every particular disorder committed, and by whom, they had appointed Sir Own Hopton, Knight, Robert Colshal, Esq., one of Her Majesty's gentlemen pensioners, and Mr. Haulton, of the Temple, to repair to the prison, and they requested the Lord Mayor to appoint two or three persons to assist them.
23rd February, 1579.

I. 116. Letter from Sir Christopher Hatton to the Lord Mayor drawing his attention to the charge made against Crowther, Keeper of Newgate, and requesting to know what steps had been taken to inquire into the disorders and abuses committed there.
29th July, 1580.

I. 117. Letter from the Lord Mayor in reply; certain persons had been appointed to inquire into the whole matter, who had not yet made their report.
August, 1580.

I. 185. Letter from Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lord Chan cellor, to the Lord Mayor. Upon the petition of William Crowther to Her Majesty, touching his removal from the office of Keeper of newgate, the Queen had directed him to inquire into the matter, which he had done in the presence of sunday aldermen and learned counsel of the City, when it appeared that the charges against him had been made partly in malice. He had therefore desired the proofs given by accusers and witnesses to be put down in writing, and a copy to be supplied to Mr. Crowther, that he might give his answer in writing under the advice of his counsel. He had also suggested to the aldermen present and the other parties that they should have a conference together, and determine as to whether some good composition might not be come to for the benefit of both parties. Understanding that nothing had been done in the matter, he requested that immediate steps might be taken for a settlement of the case.
Dated from his house at Charing Cross, 16th January, 1580.

I. 187. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor. The Aldermen appointed to inquire into the charges against William Crowther, having given the case their best consideration, had been willing to relieve him, but he persisted in refusing. They had therefore set down certain principal articles to charge him with, and the manner of proceeding, of which they enclosed copies. The names of the witnesses had not been given, in order that no sinister means might be taken against them.
27th January, 1580.

I. 188. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor, in reply to his letter (No. 185). The Aldermen had been prepared to inquire into the case against William Crowther, and do therein as his lordship had advised. He, however, would not come to their meetings, but stood upon his reputation.
17th January, 1580.

I. 219. Letter from Sir Christopher Wraye, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen. One Glascok, who was deputy to Mr. Thrower, for keeping the prisons of Ladgate, was contented before the Master of the Rolls to relinquish the same, and give up possession at Easter, instead of which he had lately uttered some very lewd and slanderous speeches against the late Master of the Rolls, and refused to leave the prison, and had entered into the keeping of the same again by unlawful means. He requested that Mr. Thrower might be put in possession of his office. If Glascok had any claim it might be tried by law.
8th June, 1581.

I. 276. Letter from Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lord Chancellor, to the Lord Mayor, stating that, in his opininon, William Crowther, Keeper of Newgate, had been death with very hardly, and that his accusers were persons unworthy of credit.
8th October, 1581.

I. 324. Letter from Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lord Chancellor, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, as to the insufficiency of the pension granted to Crowther, and suggesting it should be made up to 40l. twenty nobles of which should be paid by his successor.
5th April, 1582.

I. 562. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, recommending them to appoint Leonard Blanchard and John Hankin, now deputy-keepers, to the office of principal keepers of Ludgate Prison, Thrower, the principal keeper, being contented to resign. They were willing to satisfy a demand of 100l., in respect of an escape made while Glascok was deputy-keeper, which had been answered out of the Chamber.
26th January, 1583.

I. 567. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, acknowledging their letter. The Aldermen could not lawfully farm the office, nor allow the same to be executed by deputy. They had already granted the reversion to one Lutwich for services performed, and after him, upon request of Her Majesty, to George Southack, both of whom were fit to execute the office when it should be void. In the mean time they had resolved to call upon Thrower personally to perform his duty.
5th February, 1583.

I. 568. Letter from Ambrose Earl of Warwick and Robert Earl of Leicester to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, stating their dissatisfaction with the above answer to the Lords of the Council, and urging the qualifications of Hankin and Blanchard. It had been usual, both in the Prisons of Ludgate, the Compters, and Newgate, for the chief office to be performed by deputy. The Chief Justices also recommended these persons as most suitable. They therefore requested them to reconsider the matter.
10th February, 1583.

III. 179. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen. They had taken into consideration the necessity of having a House of Correction or two in the County of Middlesex, and had called before them the Justices of the Peace for the County, requiring the erection of one or more of such houses. The Justices had expressed their readiness to set in hand so good a work, but had directed the Council's attention to the great cost of building or purchasing of such houses and of maintaining them. The Council therefore suggested that the City, having regard to the advantages which would accrue to it from the erection of such houses, should contribute 500l. in aid of the work.
20th October, 1614.

Note in Margin.— This request was referred to a Court of Common Council, and upon a question made to the Commons they willingly consented to give 500l. towards the erection of the said House in Middlesex.