Parliamentary Nominations

[Transcribed from HCRO 2M30/362]

Thomas Pawson.
Hearing that there is a Parliament expected, I thought good to write unto you, that you would certify the Mayor and burgesses of Christchurch that I think it fit to choose a couple of sufficient gentlemen to the burgesses of the Parliament house that may do the town some good, and therefore I mean with all your consents to choose Mr. Laurence Hyde [father of Lord Clarendon who bought the manor in 1665?] a Lawyer, a very sufficient gentleman, and Mr. John Foyle, whom you all know, who no doubt will speak sufficiently for your good, if they may be but well informed from you, and so expecting your answer send this 13th of September 1601.

Your good friend to use,
Henry Hastings
Woodland
To his good friend Thomas Pawson

Mr. Mayor,
If you please to do me the favour to move the burgesses of Christchurch that I may stand for one of the burgesses this Parliament, it will confirm the good opinion they have received of me, and tie me for ever to be ready to be commanded by you.

G. Hastings Woodlands
20th December 1639
To the Right Worshipful Mr. Henry Rogers, Mayor of Christchurch

After my very hearty commendations,
Whereas I lately wrote unto you on the behalf of Sir Gregory Fenner to choose him to be one of the burgesses of the Parliament for the town of Christchurch, whom I understand you have in the first place consented to elect and choose, for which I kindly thank you. I now desire you to choose Mr. Thomas Hanham in the second place to be the other of the burgesses of the Parliament for the said town, of such I doubt not of your willingness, he being your neighbour and well known unto you, wherein you shall cause him to endeavour the best he may for the good of you and the whole town, and I shall ever remain

Your very loving friend,
C. Baltimore
Wardour Castle
This 23rd of December 1639
To my loving friends the Mayor and Burgesses of the Borough of Christchurch

After my hearty commendations,
Whereas I heretofore by my letters desired you to elect and choose Sir Gregory Fenner of London, knight, in the first place, and Mr. Thomas Hanham in the second place to the burgesses of this next ensuing Parliament for the Borough of Christchurch, to which as I am informed diverse of you have consented, now forasmuch as Mr. Thomas Hanham hath had a late sickness by which means he doubteth of his ability of body to performance that that service and attendance which belongeth to such a place, and for that cause doth forebear to prosecute his further request unto you therein. Therefore I have thought good to commend unto you Mr. John Harvey of Knowth in the County of Suffolk, Esq., desiring you to choose the said Sir Gregory Fenner in the first place, and the said Mr. John Harvey in the second place to the Burgesses of the said Parliament for the said Borough for whom I will undertake that they shall not only give attendance at their own charge, and discharge the said Borough from all damage therein, but also endeavour the best they may for the good thereof. Thus not doubting of your willingness herein, I bid you heartily farewell.

Your loving friend,
C. Baltimore London
This 25th of February 1639[/40]
To my very loving friends the Mayor and Burgesses of the Borough of Christchurch in the County of Southampton

After my very hearty commendations, Whereas I desired you by my former letters to make choice of Sir Gregory Fenner in the first place for one of your burgesses, and of Mr. John Harvey in the second place for your other burgess to serve for your borough in this Parliament, forasmuch as the said Sir Gregory Fenner and Mr. John Harvey are since that time elected to serve for other places: I do now desire you to make choice of Sir Arnold Herbert in the room of Sir Gregory Fenner to be chosen by you in the first place for one of your burgesses for the aforesaid Parliament, and of Sir William Harvey in the second place to be your other burgess for the same purpose instead of Mr. John Harvey, and as I doubt not of your fair respects in giving me satisfaction herein, so do I hereby promise you that neither of these men that I recommend unto you shall be in any way chargeable to your Borough, and shall heartily endeavour to do any good office they can in the said Parliament for the said Borough which you shall desire of them or which they shall find for your advantage. And so I bid you heartily farewell.

Your very loving friend,
C. Baltimore
3rd March 1639[/40]

To my very loving friends
Mr. Mayor, I verily believe you are not ignorant of the several claims which are laid unto the manor of Christchurch, and I shall and do presume my own to be the best (as precedent before all others) until the law have otherwise decided it; I thought fit therefore in a matter of this moment to advise and heartily to pray you to beware, lest you give way that any pretender whatever (especially the Lord Baltimore who is likeliest to be most bold though with least reason) should usurp the privilege of naming the burgesses belonging to your town, and I desire you by this to take notice that I have given my right and interest to the Lord Chamberlain. I hope you will not refuse to comply with his Lordship’s desires herein, for you may be sure no man can endear the good of the country than that noble Lord, and it will be a great happiness to you and to me if we may be able to serve him, his Lord will require you, and I shall be thankful to you for it,

as your very loving friend,
W. Arundell
Horningham
20th October [1640]

For the Mayor of Christchurch
After my very hearty commendations, I understand by my very worthy friend and cousin, Mr. William Arundell, that he hath some interest in your town of Christchurch, and that he presumes you stand well affected towards him for his disposing of your burgessships this Parliament. What Right or Title soever my said cousin hath thereto, he hath freely transferred over to me, to nominate in his Right, such fit men for burgesses for your said town as I should think fit. I do therefore, in the Right of my said cousin, recommend to you favour the Right Honourable my very good Lord and cousin the Lord Lisle, and my cousin Henry Wroughton Esq., the election of whom (being beyond all manner of exception) though it will principally tend to your own and the country’s good, yet since I have invited you thereunto, I shall ever acknowledge the respect by doing to your Corporation, or to any particular member thereof, the best offices that may be performed by

Your very loving friend,
Pembroke
Memsbury,
The 20th of October 1640
To my very loving friends, the Mayor, Aldermen and others the Electors of Burgesses for the town of Christchurch

My Mayor and the rest of the burgesses of Christchurch,
The writt is now come for the election of burgesses for the Parliament, but I cannot possibly be there this week. I pray therefore proceed to the election of Mr. Kempe and Colonel Edwards according to your promise, and let Mr. Willis make ready the indentures and return them to the Sheriff, thus not doubting of your lawful performance herein,

I rest your assured loving friend,
John Hildesley [M.P. 1660 with his step-son, Henry Tulse]
Hinton
22nd November 1645

Good Mr. Mayor,
These two gentlemen, Sir Thomas Clarges and Mr. Tulse are the two persons whom I recommend to you to serve for your burgesses in this next Parliament. They are two worthy persons and have given me good evidence of their being good patriots in the last Parliament, by their steady adhering to the true interest of their country and the protestant religion, that you cannot choose two better and abler persons, as I have had your promises both formerly and now of late, by my officer Mr. Ewer (whom I sent to you the last week on purpose), to choose whom I should recommend to you; so considering this is the first recommendation I have ever made to you of this kind, I cannot doubt but you will gratify me in it, which I do assure you I shall take most kindly from you, and you can desire nothing from me for the good of your town, yourself and your brethren, that I will not do for you.

Your very affectionate servant,
Clarendon
For my worthy friend Mr. Peter Smyth, Mayor of the Borough of Christchurch, Hampshire