Ottleiana

'Ottleiana'

Extracted from
Collectiana Topographica & Genealogica vol.6

Letters written during the Civil War and preserved by the Ottley family.

Part of a letter from Bridgeman at Chester:
20 January 1642/43
Sir, I can assure you when wee made the Agreemt wch was on Friday night (although the Appoyntment for yr coming to Whitchurch was to have been 3 or 4 days before) we neither heard nor knew of any forces at Whitchurch, excepting some few of Sir Vincent Corbets, who being written to on Wednesday or Tuesday to have advanced to Torporley on Thursday (being or Generall Randevous) returned to answer he had not a considerable strength, nor could stir till hee had order, as may appeare by his letters to Colonell Hastings ......

To the Right Worll Sr Francis Oately, governer at Shrewsbury, these
Sr, This, in hast, is onely to give you notice of a Skirmish we have had wth Brewartons & ye Nantwich forces. I cannot as yet certify of any pticular passage; onely thus far be satisfied for ye psent. the relation of it is not very good, neither is it very bad. this much I wold request you, yt wth all speede you will send unto Whitchurch all ye Churgieons you can possible pvide, for wee are in grt want of them. So I rest yours to serve you V Corbett
Drayton, Sunday morning at 6 A clock (January 29, 1642/54)

For our noble worthy Friend & kinsman Sr Francis Ottely, Governour of the Towne of Shrewsbury, these present
Noble Sir
In regard of the present daunger wee daylie conceave ourselves to be in; and the want of Field Officers to command us, under our Collonelle, the enemie daylie threatning or approachinge; doe request that favoure from you for reasons above sd, that you will bee pleas'd to afford us the assistance of Captaine Rainsford with all possible speede for his Maties service, wee and yo:selves beinge soe much concern'd in it, and you will ever ingadge us to bee reallie Yor faithfull kinsmen to serve
V CORBETT. EDW. KINASTON. THO. PIGOTT. REES TANAT.
Whitchurch, March, fridaye the 17th, 1642.

To his honoured kinsman Sr Fraunces Ottley, Kt. Governour of Shrewsbury, these.
Sir. Soe it that wee are upon continuall service and some of our men are dayle hurte; and cannot avoyde much piuce wthout a surgent to apply psent remedyes: In regard whereof I pray you doe mee the favour to send yong Shelvocke, or some other good surgent whome you will recomend to mee with all speed to Malpas, where I and my regiment are now quartered; and lett him bring with him his ymplements & all maner of necessaryes, and hee shall have a remuneracon to his content. Sir, if he will not come upon your entreatye I pray you comand him; And I shall rest Your kinsman to serve you
V CORBET
Malpas, 13 April 1643
(Note: John Shelvocke, of Shrewsbury, barber-surgeon; sworn burgess, Aug. 22, 1662, as son of Reginald Shelvocke of Shrewsbury, barber-surgeon, son of Jhn Shelvocke, of Great Shrowardine, yeoman.

To my honoured Frend Sr Francis Ottly, Knt. Governor of Shrewsbury, these.
Noble Sr. I now understand by Sr Thomas Corbitt* that you have gotten two sarieants for me, in which you have done me a very good favor. I pray be pleased that the soldiers be put into care. I hope there will be 60 more put to them wch Sir Thomas Salisbury offered to my Lord, or that thaye should be delivered to my Major to bring out of the waye. I have sent this bearer wh a letter frome my Lord unto him, and desier you to oblige me soe much as to let him know he is sent to receave the men; if he should be gone, and that the letter might overtake him at Bridgenorth, I pray let an express be sent to him; if he should be further, let the letter rest wth you. Sr I hope in a day or 2 to come over and give you thankes for yor favors, in the mean time I rest
Yor most faithfull frend and servant
Whitchurch, the 16 of April 1643. Michaell Woodhouse
My service to Mr Trevor - desier him to provide money for these men, and to excuse me. I gave him not a line. I am in haste.
C.T. & G. editorial note *: I cannot correctly identify who this Sir Thomas Corbitt was. There was a Sir Thomas Corbett, of Sprouston, co. Norfolk, whose loyalty had to be compounded for by payment of 1277 l. 17s. 8d. but he had no immediate connexion with the county. Thomas Corbett, of Longnor, was a zealous supporter of the King, and his name appears to "the Ingagement & Resolution of the principall Gentlemen of the Countie," noticed in vol. V. p.300, but with the addition of Esq; he may be the person intended, but I am not aware he ever was knighted, nor does the monumental inscription at Leebotwood, where he was buried, describe him as such. His son Edward had been previously (June 20, 1642) created a Baronet by King Charles.

To my much esteemed freind Sr Francis Ottly, Governor of Shrewsbury.
Sr. I desier you, if it maybe, that we might have further Intelligence whether Sr John Corbett* be certaynly before Tanworth or not, or whether hee be advanced further this way. I pray send to Lichfield for further notice, that I may know by 11 of the clock to morrow, it wilbe of greate consequence to this countrie to know the certaynety of these particulars.
Sr, I rest, your very affectionate frend,
5 of the clock this morning 24 June [1643] Arthur Capell.
*C.T. & G editorial note: Of Stoke and Adderley, Knt. and Bart. One of those five illustrious patriots, who, in the year that he was created Baronet, opposed that most illegal measure of Charles I. whilst under the sway of Buckingham, the forced loan of 1627. The same year also he was fined and imprisoned for saying at the Quarter Sessions for Shropshire, that the Muster Master's wages throughout England were illegal and against the Petition of Right. He espoused the cause of the Parliament, represented the country in the long one of 1640, was High Sheriff 1629, married Ann, daughter of Sir John Mainwaring of Ightfield, by whom he had twenty children and died 1662, aet 68. His eldest son opposed to him in politics, and espoused the royal cause, for which, as John Corbet of St James, Middlesex, Esq. he had to compound by payment of 1000 l. He represented Bishop's Castle in the Long Parliament, and in that of 1653.

For his honored frend Sr Francis Ottley, knight, at Salop, these.
Sr. This inclosed paper will give you an accompt of actions; and I hope yor goodness will excuse mee at yor Club of good fellowship for not writinge particular letters to all those, whom I honor in yor parts, in regard of my multiplicitye of busines. There are some persons wch seeke for the place of Governor of the towne of Shrewsbury, but I have stopt the currant, and if the Mayor and some principle gentlemen will recommend you, I know the kinge hath that confidence in yor worth, and merritt, that he will trust you before any who now stand for it. Seale this lre when you and my noble frends Sr Vincent Corbett* and Sir Jon Wilde have read it; but be sure this letter of the kinges be printed and dispersed at yor generall mustars: present my service to those vertuous ladyes at Sr Jon Wildes, whom I shall ever honor; and remayne the servant of
Yours and their Commands,
Januarie the 6th, 1642. Thomas Bushell

The King will take it for an acceptable service, to procure amunition of guns, clubbs, or bills, such as Sr Vincent Corbett gave me notice, of wch I acquainted his matie; care wilbe had for the paymt, as soone as they shalbe made & provided weeklye.
(C.T. & G editorial note: Of Moreton Corbet, co. Salop, knt. and bart. This active and staunch supporter of the King had, in July 1643, a commission to raise a regiment of 1000 volunteers. He was admitted to Queen's College, Oxford, 1634; elected Knight of the Shire 1640; was one of the leading loyalists of the county; and married Sarah, daughter and coheiress of Robert Monson of Carlton, co. Lincoln, created Oct. 23, 1673 Viscountess Linchlade for life. His branch of this ancient family terminated in his granddaughter Beatrice, who married John Kynaston of Hordley, esq. He died Dec. 28 or 29, 1656.
These letters contain many abbreviations which make it appear that certain words were spelt in a different manner. Some, of course were, but in the last paragraph of Thomas Bushell's letter he uses the abbreviation "matie" for "majesty" which, perhaps, clarifies exactly who he was referring to.
The last extract from the Ottley manuscripts will appear in our next journal and comprises a poem, traditionally supposed to have been written by Colonel Richard Screvens, which ran to 32 stanzas. We shall only cover four verses and a few details about Colonel Screvens.

To my honoured Frend Sr Francis Ottly, Knt. Governor of Shrewsbury, these.
Noble Sr. I now understand by Sr Thomas Corbitt* that you have gotten two sarieants for me, in which you have done me a very good favor. I pray be pleased that the soldiers be put into care. I hope there will be 60 more put to them wch Sir Thomas Salisbury offered to my Lord, or that thaye should be delivered to my Major to bring out of the waye. I have sent this bearer wh a letter frome my Lord unto him, and desier you to oblige me soe much as to let him know he is sent to receave the men; if he should be gone, and that the letter might overtake him at Bridgenorth, I pray let an express be sent to him; if he should be further, let the letter rest wth you. Sr I hope in a day or 2 to come over and give you thankes for yor favors, in the mean time I rest
Yor most faithfull frend and servant
Whitchurch, the 16 of April 1643. Michaell Woodhouse
My service to Mr Trevor - desier him to provide money for these men, and to excuse me. I gave him not a line. I am in haste.
C.T. & G. editorial note *: I cannot correctly identify who this Sir Thomas Corbitt was. There was a Sir Thomas Corbett, of Sprouston, co. Norfolk, whose loyalty had to be compounded for by payment of £1277 . 17s. 8d. but he had no immediate connexion with the county. Thomas Corbett, of Longnor, was a zealous supporter of the King, and his name appears to "the Ingagement & Resolution of the principall Gentlemen of the Countie," noticed in vol. V. p.300, but with the addition of Esq; he may be the person intended, but I am not aware he ever was knighted, nor does the monumental inscription at Leebotwood, where he was buried, describe him as such. His son Edward had been previously (June 20, 1642) created a Baronet by King Charles.

To my much esteemed freind Sr Francis Ottly, governor of Shrewsbury, present this.
Sr Francis Ottly. I desier you would continue Mr Robert Kilvert, Corbett to Sr Thomas Corbett, under the same manner of restrainte that hee formerly was, which is to continue in the house where hee is, and a centry att the doore to guard him.
Sr, I rest, your affectionate freind
4 July, Shrewsbury Arthur Capell.

For his honored frend Sr Francis Ottley, knight, at Salop, these.
Sr. This inclosed paper will give you an accompt of actions; and I hope yor goodness will excuse mee at yor Club of good fellowship for not writinge particular letters to all those, whom I honor in yor parts, in regard of my multiplicitye of busines. There are some persons wch seeke for the place of Governor of the towne of Shrewsbury, but I have stopt the currant, and if the Mayor and some principle gentlemen will recommend you, I know the kinge hath that confidence in yor worth, and merritt, that he will trust you before any who now stand for it. Seale this lre when you and my noble frends Sr Vincent Corbett* and Sir Jon Wilde have read it; but be sure this letter of the kinges be printed and dispersed at yor generall mustars: present my service to those vertuous ladyes at Sr Jon Wildes, whom I shall ever honor; and remayne the servant of
Yours and their Commands,
Januarie the 6th, 1642. Thomas Bushell
The King will take it for an acceptable service, to procure amunition of guns, clubbs, or bills, such as Sr Vincent Corbett gave me notice, of wch I acquainted his matie; care wilbe had for the paymt, as soone as they shalbe made & provided weeklye.

C.T. & G editorial note: *Of Moreton Corbet, co. Salop, knt. and bart. This active and staunch supporter of the King had, in July 1643, a commission to raise a regiment of 1000 volunteers. He was admitted to Queen's College, Oxford, 1634; elected Knight of the Shire 1640; was one of the leading loyalists of the county; and married Sarah, daughter and coheiress of Robert Monson of Carlton, co. Lincoln, created Oct. 23, 1673 Viscountess Linchlade for life. His branch of this ancient family terminated in his granddaughter Beatrice, who married John Kynaston of Hordley, esq. He died Dec. 28 or 29, 1656.
These letters contain many abbreviations which make it appear that certain words were spelt in a different manner. Some, of course were, but in the last paragraph of Thomas Bushell's letter he uses the abbreviation "matie" for "majesty" which, perhaps, clarifies exactly who he was referring to.