State Papers are perhaps the most directly interesting records in the custody of the Master of the Rolls. They consist of letters, reports and memoranda relating to a large variety of subjects, which from the reign of Henry VII. to that of George III. have been laid before the sovereign's Prime Minister or Secretary of State. In 1576 and 1577 we have an interesting lot of papers relating to the pirates for whom Cardiff was notorious all through the reigns of Elizabeth and James I.
The information is in 5 columns:
Column 1 :- surname
Column 2 :- christian names
Column 3 :- year
Column 4 :- page number
Column 5 :- short description
ADAMS Robert 1577 350 Comptroller; "chief offender in receyving the Pyratts and theyr spoyles" ADAMS Robert 1577 351 ADAMS Robert 1577 356 AWBREY Tho. 1626 366 name on document BAGOTTE Ryce 1577 357 "not to be founde, but his howse warned by the messanger & sheriffe" BASSETT William 1626 366 name on document BROWN ? 1577 356 "a Scottish man" BURGHLEY W. 1598 362 BUTTON ? Mr 1579 360 CALLICE John 1576 348 a pirate CALLYS John 1577 358 pirate CHAMBERLEN Peter 1577 356 "a frenchman" CHICK William 1577 350/1 a pirate "a greate doer and chief champyon amongest them" CHICKE William 1577 352 "late of Ipswicke in the countie of Suffolke" (examination) COLCHESTER John 1577 350 Comptroller; "chief offender in receyving the Pyratts and theyr spoyles" COLLYNS ? 1577 357/8 "comitted to the gaole" COOKE John 1577 353 witness CROFTES John 1577 350 "informer" CROFTES Nash? 1577 350 "informer" DAVIES John 1576 348 Justice of the peace (writes from Haverfordwest) DAVIES Row: 1666 368 DUN Daniell., Sir 1609 364 DUTTON Richard., Major 1666 368 Comptroler EVANS David 1626 366 name on document EVANS David 1660 367 undersherriff to Herbert EVANS EVANS Herbert 1660 367 Constable of the Castle FERDINANDO Simon 1577 356 FFERDINANDO Simon 1577 350 "a Portingall borne" (examination taken at Newport, Mon) FFLEMYNGE John Thomas 1577 357 "of fflemyngs towne" FO'ERWYN A. 1626 366 name on document HARBERT (HERBERT) William., esq 1577 351 "decessed", late Vice Admirall HERBERT Ned 1577 358 pirate HERBERT Nicholas., esq 1577 352 "Sheref of Glamorganshire" HERBERT William 1577 350 of the High Street; "have used the company of some of the Pyratts" HERBERT William 1577 358 JEUAN John Robert ap 1577 351 gave reasonable cause for his absence JOHN John ap 1577 350 of Coggan; "have used the company of some of the Pyratts" JOHN John ap 1577 353 "Pyratts were receaved at his house, and entertayned". JOHN John ap., esq 1577 351 JORDAN Edward 1609 363 regarding seisure of 398 Barbara hides JURDEN Edward 1598 361 gent., of Cardiff. application for the post of Comptroller. KEMYS Edward 1577 357 of Keven Mabley KEMYSH (KEMYS) Edward 1577 356/7 "warned by the messenger and the Sheriffe" LEWIS LLewelyn 1577 351 "a gent" LEWIS Thomas 1577 349 writes to the Privy Council LEWIS William 1626 366 name on document LEWYS Edward 1626 366 name on document LEWYS Thomas., Mr 1579 360 LLOYD Richard., Sir 1660 367 MANSELL Philip 1660 367 MANSELL Tho: 1626 366 name on document MATHEW Thomas 1626 366 name on document MATHEW William 1626 366 name on document MATHEWE William., Mr 1579 360 MATHEWES Edmond 1602 362 of Radyr; one of the principle ironfounders MATHEWS John., esq 1635 366 of Landafe; "A Passe to travell into foraine parts for the term of 3 years MAWNSELL Edward., Sir 1579 360 MILLON John 1598 361/2 Comptroller., dismissed. fined, imprisoned, and pilloried. MORCROFFT Roger 1577 359 MORGAN Robert 1666 368 Captain. belonging to Colonel SIDNEYS Regiment MORGAN Rowland., esq 1577 351 MORGAN Rowland., esq 1577 358 of Llanternam MORGAN William 1577 358 of Llanternam MORGAN William 1577 358 Servant to Sir William MORGAN., Knight MORGAN William., esq 1577 351 MYLL (MILL) William 1598 362 clerke of the courte. NICHOLAS Edw: 1661 368 PALMER G. 1661 368 PERROT John., Sir 1576 348 PHILLIPS Fabyan 1577 349 writes to the Privy Council PRICHARD John 1635 366 gent; of Lancare "A Passe to travell into foraine parts for the term of 3 years PRITCHARD David 1626 366 name on document RICARDS William 1577 357 "his howse warned by the messanger and sheriffe RICCARDES William 1577 351 ROBERTS David 1577 350/1 Comptroller; "chief offender in receyving the Pyratts and theyr spoyles" ROBERTS David 1577 356 Comptroller; did not appear (he is to be sent for) ROBERTS David 1577 358 of Penhowe ROWDON ? Mr 1609 364 messenger of his majesties chamber STRADLING Mansell 1660 367 "petition to the King" STRADLINGE Edward 1626 366 name on document STRADLYNGE Jo: 1626 366 name on document SYDNEY Henry., Sir 1579 360 THOMAS Edmund 1626 366 name on document THOMAS John 1577 351 "Bruer of Cardiff" THOMAS Lewis., esq 1577 351 Justice of the peace VAUDOR Henry 1577 356 "a merchant of the Styllyard" VAUGHAN ? 1577 358 "comitted to the gaole" WASTELL Florence 1577 351 wife of John WASTELL WASTELL John 1577 351 WHITE Mathew 1577 353 of Penarth, Boatman. WILLIAMSON Joseph 1666 368 secretary to ye Right Honorable ye Lord Arlington at Whitehall. WYTTIES David 1577 353