Chapter V: Appendix: Documents Relating to Painter

I.

ASSIGNMENTS TO PAINTER (Abstract).

(_Record Office Dom. State Papers, Eliz._, xl. No. 36.)

July 24, 1566. Assignment by Edward Randolph, Esq., to William Painter, Clerk of the Ordinance, Richard Webb, Master-Gunner of England, and Edward Partridge, Keeper of the Queen’s Harquebutts, Dagges, and Curriers, of certain annuities or pensions for a term of years.

II.

PETITION OF HARTNELL, SAINT BARBE, AND PAINTER (Abst.).

(_Brit. Mus. Lands. MS._ 51, No. 25.)

Petition of Raulph Harknell, William Saintbarbe and William Painter to the Lord High Treasurer, c. 1586.

Having lately been called before Sir W. Mildmay, Chanc{or} of the Exchequer, Mr. Fanshawe & Mr. Dodington for the sum of £7,075 and after conference the division was imposed upon Turville Bowland and Painter, and a brief was drawn, it pleased his Honour to will that if they could show cause why the said sums should not be burdened upon them they were to have allowance by petition which they have done and beseech his Honour to have regard to the present state of themselves their wives and children & by him to at once decide what sum they have to pay.

With regard to their estates:--

Bowland’s goods came to but £431 : 6 : 8. His land is given to three children, the eldest not twelve years old. As the land cannot be sold during their nonage he humbly begs that the land may be extended and prays that some allowance may be made for the education of the children.

Turville’s substance was chiefly in debts, his household stuff was of the value of £120 : 3 : 4. Of this £1,441 : 19 : 7 is to go to William Saintbarbe, the most part of which sum remains in the hands of the Earl of Warwick and Sir Philip Sydney. Notwithstanding he is willing to pay as much as His Honour shall think good.

William Painter craves remembrance of a note of his estate delivered in 1586, expressing the particulars of all he has in the world to live upon in these his aged days, amounting to about £64 a year. He has a wife and five children all marriageable and unprovided for. He begs his Honour’s favourable consideration of his case and promises to be the occasion of saving unto Her Majesty of far greater sums than what he owes to her.

III.

CHARGE AGAINST TURVILLE, BOWLAND, AND PAINTER (Abst.).

(_Brit. Mus. Lansd. MS._ 55, No. 3.)

Charge informed in the Exchequer by John Powell against Geoffrey Turville, Richard Bowland and William Painter.

s d
£7,077 : 8 : 1

Of which
Upon G. Turville 2,715 : 2 : 8
” R. Bowland 2,413 : 2 : 8
” W. Painter 1,949 : 2 : 8

Of this sum of £1949 : 2 : 8 William Painter confesses in his answer to owe £1079 : 17 : 3 which leaves unconfessed the sum of £869 : 5 : 5 of which he himself prays to be disburdened for divers good and reasonable considerations:--

For Iron sold to the amount of £ 16 : 8 : 4 For Powder sold for £ 4 : 8 : 10 For things conveyed from the Storehouse at Woolwich 4 : 0 : 0 For unserviceable shot sent into Barbary 173 : 13 : 4 For Powder Munition &c. 205 : 0 : 0 For sale of Sulphur 10 : 10 : 0 Divers allowances 373 : 6 : 8 Work done at Portsmouth 8 : 6 : 8

He promises to pay what is due from him in reasonable time.

The value of the Lands in Gillingham, Kent, belonging to William Painter is £413 : 10 : 0, which brings him in £94 : 10 of which he has to pay £33 : 3 : 2 leaving him £61 : 6 : 10.

The said William Painter owes £1200 for land in mortgage and is indebted to divers persons besides.

He humbly beseeches Her Majesty to have pitiful regard for his wife and marriageable children.

IV.

POWELL’S CHARGES AGAINST EARL OF WARWICK AND PAINTER (Abstract).

(_Hatfield, Calendar_ iii., No. 581.)

September, 1587. John Powell to the Queen, offers to expose frauds in the Ordnance Office, and begs the Queen to grant him a hearing before the Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Lord Admiral, and Earl Warwick, which last named he accuses of great oppressions, and one Painter of false recording the office books.

V.

W. PAINTER’S CONFESSION.

(_Record Office State Papers, Domestic, Eliz._, vol. 224, No. 102.)

[Sidenote: xxiij{clo} Junii 1589.]

Willm Paint{er} confesseth that all those things that stande nowe charged upon Thearle of Warrewicke by the twoe bookes delivered by M{r.} Coniers and M{r.} Bartholme Vodoington were in truthe taken out of the Quenes stoare in the Towre of London and other places, and promiseth that before Michaelmas Tearme next he will in writing und{r.} his hand shewe discharge of so muche of the same as the said Earle is to be discharged of, and will charge his L. w{th} so muche thereof as in truth he ought to be charged w{th} by shewing of his owne warrant or other good proof that the same came to his L. hands or to suche as his Lo. did appoint for the receipt thereof, and the residue he will charge upon suche others as of right are to be charged therew{th}, and for his bett{r} instruction he placeth a coppie of the said twoe bookes delivered by the Audito{rs}.

_signed_ W. PAINTER.

_endorsed._ { 23 Junii, 1589.
{ M{r.} Painters aunsweare for the Charging the E. of
{ Warwick in the 2 books delivered to the Audito{rs}
{ of the Presse.

VI.

(_Record Office Dom. Pap. Eliz._ ccxxv., No. 38.)

June 22, 1589. Answer of John Powell, Surveyor of the Ordnance, to the informations given against him by Mr. Wm. Paynter. Examined in the office of the Ordnance before Sir Robert Constable and the rest of the officers, and noted in the margin accordingly.

VII.

APPLICATION OF A. PAINTER IN BEHALF OF HIS FATHER (Abst.).

(_Brit. Mus. Lansd. MS._ 67, f. 47.)

April 6. 1591. He has many times besought his honour to accept of his serviceable endeavours with regard to his duty concerning the indirect government of the office of ordnance, the entries into the books &c. and as he knows that many irregularities have been committed for which he fears he and his aged father may be blamed he has thought it his duty to crave access to his Honour as well to advertise what has been heretofore done as to declare the manner how this office is managed, beseeching his honour, in regard his aged father is clerk of that office, whose duty it is to register all things, not to sign any proportion books of debt or monthe’s books but by the delivery of the said clerk or his deputy.

VIII.

GRANT IN REVERSION OF PAINTER’S OFFICE (Docquet).

(_Record Off. Dom. State Papers, Eliz._ ccxxxiii.)

1591. Grant in reversion of John Grenewaie of the office of Clerk
of the Ordnance, with a fee of 8_d._ per diem, after the death
of Wm. Paynter.

IX.

ACCOUNTS OF THE ORDNANCE (Abstract).

(_Record Off. Dom. State Papers, Eliz._ ccxliii., No. 96.)

Accounts by John Powell, Wm. Painter and Thos. Bedcock for provisions and stores delivered unto her Majesty’s Ordnance up to 31 Dec. 1592. Total of debts £6,786 0_s_ 5½_d_; of payments during the last year £3,960 17_s_ 6_d_; Balance due, £2,825 2_s_ 9½_d_. Also of debts due for provisions brought into the stores, repairs, &c., during the year: total £4055 9_s_ besides Sir Rob. Constable’s debt. With note that as the books of the office have been delivered to the two auditors, the writers cannot set down every particular debt but have done so as far as they could.

X.

SPECIFIC CHARGES AGAINST PAINTER.

(_Brit. Mus.: Lansdown MS._ 73, No. 59.)

Right Honorable whearas I heartofore exhibited Articles vnto yo{r} Lo{pp} therin revealing and Justlie accusing William Painter clerke of Thordynaunce of notorious Deceiptes and abuses (per)petrated by him in Thexecution of his saide office vnto whiche he hathe made some Answeare as is reported./ May it ffurther please yo{r} Lo I haue thoughte yt my parte to reveall such further and more deceiptes as I haue discovered of his lyke practizes and abuses when he tooke vppon him the charge and discharge of Thoffice as now his sonne seekethe to doe, which I Humblie prostrate heare inclosed. Cravinge of yo{r} good Lo for proofe of bothe my Articles I may haue Aucthoritie to examine suche wittnesses as I can produce by othe before some Baron of Thexchequer as to Remaine vppon recorde leaste Deceasinge her Ma{ties} seruece therbye be hindered and I in some sorte descredited in skeming to Informe your Lo{pp} w{th} matters I cannot proue./

So lyke wise if to yo{r} Ho yt shall seeme good to signe the warrantate here to fore by me (pre)sented Aucthorishinge me and others to (per)vse and vewe Thaccomptes of Sir Robert Constable Knyghte deceased and m{sr} willm Sugdon for Tower matters. I will bringe to lighte suche matters agaynste his sonne whearby yt shall appeare that he is a moste unfitt man to execute anie office of charge or truste vnder her ma{tie} beinge so corrupte a man as I will prooue him to be./ Pardon Right Ho my boldnes for Dutifull zeale did pricke me to discouer that I and sithence they are abroache care of my credite dothe continuallie vrge mee not to be negligent or alowe vntill I haue by good proues confirmed and established them. So restinge Readie to (per)forme the same and accordinge to my Bounden dutie to do her hignes anie service to my vttermoste./ I Humblie cease to trouble yo{r} Ho any further at this tyme. But never will omitt to pray Thalmightie to increase yo{r} Honor with all healthe and happines.

Your Honors most humble

_G. HOGGE._

_Endorsed_ November 1793

George Hogg to my L.

Discouerie of certain abuses committed by W{m.} Paynter clerk of the Ordinance w{t}in his office.

Wronges offered by Willm Painter Clerke of Thordenance entered in his Jornall booke ffor receiptes broughte into her ma{ties} Store Anno _1575_ and _1576_.

Right Honorable, first ther was a receipte for one Laste and a half of Serpentine powder broughte into her Ma{ties} Store and debenter made by Painter for the same as made of forraigne Peeter the xiiij{th} of Julie _1576_, the which I will prooue vnto yo{r} Ho that yt was her Ma{ties} owen powder brought from Windso{r} Castell the verie same Somer./ Wherein he deceaved her Ma{tie}, and made her pay for that w{ch} was her owen./ Desyringe that my proofes may be taken bye Othe before one of the Barons of her M{ties} Exchecquer./

Secondlie, their was another Receipte made for xii{e} wh{t} of corne powder As made of fforraine provision and brought into her ma{ties} Store and debenter made for the same the xxj{th} of Julie _1576_ at the Rate of xij{d} the pownde, the w{ch} did amounte to the some in money of lx{lb} the w{ch} I will prove to be her ma{ties} Owen Powder as aforsayde./

Third, there was another Receipte made for One Laste of Serpentine powder by the sayd Painter at xj{d} the pownde/ and debenter made for the same the xxj{th} of Julie _1576_ as brought into her maties Store beinge made lykwyse of fforraigne provision the w{ch} I will proove no such matter receaved into her ma{ties} saide store and therefore her ma{tie} flatlie Deceaved by him of the Some of one c and x{lb} ∴ /./

ffowerthlie there was lykewyse broughte into her Ma{ties} sayde store by one Constantine Watchindroppe the seconde of auguste _1576_ certaine bowstaves to the number of fower Thousande after syxe Score to the Hundrethe at the Rate of xiij{lb} the Hundrethe the which dothe Amounte to v{C} and xx{lb} and entred by Painter in his Jornall booke and debenter made for the same I will proove vnto yo{r} Ho notwithstandinge his debenter and entrie in his sayde booke that there was xj{c} of them neuer brought into her ma{ties} Store / and therfore her Ma{tie} Apparentlie Deceaved by him of the some of one{C} xliij{lb}.

ffiftlie wheras there was a Deliverie made in Thoffice of Thordinance the xxvi{th} of Aprill _1576_ for Se{r}pentine Powder Delivered out of her Ma{ties} Store for the shootinge of Thordinance vppon the wharfe he did enter into his Jornall xx{c} wh{t} delivered whearas, I will proove vnto yo{r} Ho there was but v{c} Di delivered but heare he Dothe shewe his conninge in the discharginge of the kee(per) of the Store for the overcharge layd vppon the sayd kee(per) by him on his Receipte before specified the xxj{th} of Julie _1576_ whearas he did charge the kee(per) w{th} a laste of Powder which was never brought into the Store which he made her Ma{tie} pay for/

Syxtlie he made a Delyuerie of fower hundrethe wh{t} of Serpentine Powder the Laste of Aprill 1576 for the shootinge of Thordynaunce uppon May Є vo accordinge to the olde accustomed manners I will Proove there was but j Two hundredthe wh{t} Delyvered whearin he hath abused her Ma{tie} as in the Article befor specified/.

[Transcriber’s Note:
The symbol represented here by Cyrillic Є has not been identified.
The following “vo” may be an error for “v{o}” (with superscript “o”),
meaning either “quinto” (5th) or “ultimo” (last).]

XI.

APPLICATION OF J. PAINTER (Abstract).

_Brit. Mus. Lansd. MS._ 75, No. 55.)

_Sept. 26. 1593._--The best experience of faithful and true endeavours is to be opposed by politic and malicious adversaries whose slanderous informations have lately been used against him which he has truely answered and has been examined by Sir Geo: Carewe with the copies of the monthe’s books and therefore he trusts his Hon: will be satisfied. He hopes his slanderers will be punished, or it will be a precedent to others. He has served H.M. faithfully being encouraged by hopes of preferment. He yearly increases H.M. Store to the value of £2,000 by taking the returns of such munitions as return from the seas unspent in H.M. ships, which formerly were concealed and converted to private use. He has deciphered so many deceipts as amount to above £11,000. He is ready to show a number of abuses by which H.M. pays great sums of money which do not benefit her service, and finally by his experience he has been able to do Her Majesty profitable service, the particulars of which he is ready to show when required, and he trusts he deserves more favour and regard than to be utterly discredited and disgraced through the information of the person who through malice seeks to be revenged of him, because he saves H.M. £40 a year which this person sued for, for taking the aforesaid remains.

XII.

CHARGES AGAINST PAINTER’S SON.

(_Brit. Mus.: Lansdown MS._ 78, No. 29.)

Right Honourable, I thought it my duty to aduertise yo{r} ho: of dyw{r}se misdemeano{rs} comytted against her Ma{te} in and about the Tower, when yo{r} lo{p} shall please to command me to attend yo{u} in the meane tyme I hold it most fytt to give yo{u} to vnderstand that vnderstandinge of Mr. Anthonie Paynter should make his vawnt of his playnes and truth of thencising of his fathers place being deputye vnto him thus much I am able to averr that in false entryes false debentes ymbeseling of powder, and other deceipte as come XVc{Ii} as by informand re{cd} to be put in against him the last term begonn by hogg who had mistaking the daye ffor his father I send yo{r} lo{p} matter of XXVIj m{ll} Against him It is uery fitt if it may stand w{th} yo{r} ho: good liking all booke and recorde ap(per)teying to her Ma{e} be taken into the costody of some whom yo shall think mete to kepe them to her Ma{te} vse And so leaving the same to yo{r} honourable care I doe humbly take my leave the Tower this XXj{th} of february

Y{r}
ho: most humbly
Att Commandme{t}
N. Raynberd.

_Endorsed_ 21 Feb. 1594
M{r} Rainberd steward of y{e} Tower
to my l:
Informac͠on against M{r} Paynter of abuses in his office.

ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

[In the following notes, _Source_ refers to the origin whence
Painter most probably obtained the tale; _Origin_ to the earliest
appearance of it in literature: these often coincide. I have
included all the information given by Haslewood.]

I. HORATII AND CURIATII.

The Romaines and the Albanes being at warres, for iniuries mutually inferred, Metius Suffetius, the Albane captaine, deuised a waye by a combate to ioygne bothe the cities in one. Victorie falling to the Romaines, the Romaine victor killed his sister and was condemned to die. Afterwardes, upon his father’s sute, he was deliuered.

[_Source and Origin._--Livy, i. 26.

_Parallels._--I. _Ancient_: Cicero, _Pro Mil._ 37; Dionys. Hal. iii.
21, 22; Plutarch, _Par. Min._ 16; Valerius Max. vi. 36; Florus,
i. 3; Zonar, vii. 6. II. _Mediæval_: Holkot, _Moral._ 12. III.
_Modern:_ Wolgemuth, ii. 74; Kirchhof, _Wendenmuth_, i. 13, vi. 61;
Albertinus, _Lusthauss_, 1619, 191; Corneille, _Horace; Acerra
Philologica_, 1708, ii. 15.

_Painter_, Ed. I. (1566) i. 1; II. (1575)[65] i. 1; III. i. 1; IV.
i. 15.]

[Footnote 65: The reprint of 1569 is not taken into account in
giving the pagination.]