Biography of William Garway of Ford in Sussex 1617-1701
In 1617 William Garway of Ford in Sussex was born.
On 26 Mar 1661 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 44) was elected MP Chichester.
Pepy's Diary. 03 Oct 1666. At noon Sir W. Batten (age 65) comes to them to invite them (though fast day) to dinner, which they did, and good company they were, but especially Garraway (age 49). Here I have news brought me of my father's coming to town, and I presently to him, glad to see him, poor man, he being come to town unexpectedly to see us and the city. I could not stay with him, but after dinner to work again, only the Committee and I, till dark night, and by that time they cast up all the lists, and found out what the medium of men was borne all the war, of all sorts, and ended with good peace, and much seeming satisfaction; but I find them wise and reserved, and instructed to hit all our blots, as among others, that we reckon the ships full manned from the beginning.
Pepy's Diary. 03 Oct 1666. Waked betimes, mightily troubled in mind, and in the most true trouble that I ever was in my life, saving in the business last year of the East India prizes. So up, and with Mr. Hater and W. Hewer (age 24) and Griffin to consider of our business, and books and papers necessary for this examination; and by and by, by eight o'clock, comes Birch (age 51), the first, with the lists and books of accounts delivered in. He calls me to work, and there he and I begun, when, by and by, comes Garraway (age 49)1, the first time I ever saw him, and Sir W. Thompson (age 37) and Mr. Boscawen (age 38). They to it, and I did make shift to answer them better than I expected. Sir W. Batten (age 65), Lord Bruncker (age 46), Sir W. Pen (age 45), come in, but presently went out; and Sir J. Minnes (age 67) come in, and said two or three words from the purpose, but to do hurt; and so away he went also, and left me all the morning with them alone to stand or fall.
Note 1. William Garway (age 49), elected M.P. for Chichester, March 26th, 1661, and in 1674 he was appointed by the House to confer with Lord Shaftesbury respecting the charge against Pepys being popishly affected. See note to the Life, vol. i., p, xxxii, and for his character, October 6th, 1666.
Pepy's Diary. 06 Oct 1666. So he gone I by water to Westminster Hall [Map] and thence to St. James's, and there found Sir W. Coventry (age 38) waiting for me, and I did give him a good account to his mind of the business he expected about extraordinaries and then fell to other talke, among others, our sad condition contracted by want of a Comptroller1 and it was his words, that he believes, besides all the shame and trouble he hath brought on the office, the King (age 36) had better have given £100,000 than ever have had him there. He did discourse about some of these discontented Parliament-men, and says that Birch (age 51) is a false rogue, but that Garraway (age 49) is a man that hath not been well used by the Court, though very stout to death, and hath suffered all that is possible for the King (age 36) from the beginning. But discontented as he is, yet he never knew a Session of Parliament but he hath done some good deed for the King (age 36) before it rose. I told him the passage Cocke (age 49) told me of his having begged a brace of bucks of the Lord Arlington for him, and when it come to him, he sent it back again. Sir W. Coventry (age 38) told me, it is much to be pitied that the King (age 36) should lose the service of a man so able and faithfull; and that he ought to be brought over, but that it is always observed, that by bringing over one discontented man, you raise up three in his room; which is a State lesson I never knew before. But when others discover your fear, and that discontent procures favour, they will be discontented too, and impose on you.
Note 1. As Sir John Minnes (age 67) performed the duties inefficiently, it was considered necessary to take the office from him: See January 21st.
Pepy's Diary. 10 Oct 1666. So to the Swan [Map], and 'baise la fille' [Note. kissed the girl], and drank, and then home by coach, and took father, wife, brother, and W. Hewer (age 24) to Islington [Map], where I find mine host dead. Here eat and drank, and merry; and so home, and to the office a while, and then to Sir W. Batten (age 65) to talk a while, and with Captain Cocke (age 49) into the office to hear his newes, who is mighty conversant with Garraway (age 49) and those people, who tells me what they object as to the maladministration of things as to money. But that they mean well, and will do well; but their reckonings are very good, and show great faults, as I will insert here. They say the King (age 36) hath had towards this war expressly thus much
Pepy's Diary. 01 May 1667. After dinner my Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an account of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is one. How some of the gentlemen, Garraway (age 50), Littleton (age 46), and others, did scruple at their first coming there, being called thither to act, as Members of Parliament, which they could not do by any authority but that of Parliament, and therefore desired the King's direction in it, which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater (age 43), who brought answer, very short, that the King (age 36) expected they should obey his Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power to be given them of administering and framing an oath, which they thought they could not do by any power but Act of Parliament; and the whole Commission did think fit to have the judges' opinion in it; and so, drawing up their scruples in writing, they all attended the King (age 36), who told them he would send to the judges to be answered, and did so; who have, my Lord tells me, met three times about it, not knowing what answer to give to it; and they have met this week, doing nothing but expecting the solution of the judges in this point. My Lord tells me he do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good; it may undo some accounts, if these men shall think fit; but it can never clear an account, for he must come into the Exchequer for all this. Besides, it is a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England; and he believes it will never, besides, give any satisfaction to the People or Parliament, but be looked upon as a forced, packed business of the King (age 36), especially if these Parliament-men that are of it shall not concur with them: which he doubts they will not, and, therefore, wishes much that the King (age 36) would lay hold of this fit occasion, and let the Commission fall.
Pepy's Diary. 05 Jun 1667. Here a very good and neat dinner, after the French manner, and good discourse, and then up after dinner to the Duke of York (age 33) and did our usual business, and are put in hopes by Sir W. Coventry (age 39) that we shall have money, and so away, Sir G. Carteret (age 57) and I to my Lord Crew (age 69) to advise about Sir G. Carteret's (age 57) carrying his accounts to-morrow to the Commissioners appointed to examine them and all other accounts since the war, who at last by the King's calling them to him yesterday and chiding them will sit, but Littleton (age 46) and Garraway (age 50) much against their wills. The truth of it is, it is a ridiculous thing, for it will come to nothing, nor do the King (age 37) nor kingdom good in any manner, I think.
Pepy's Diary. 25 Jul 1667. At noon home to dinner, and there sang with much pleasure with my wife, and so to the office again, and busy all the afternoon. At night Sir W. Batten (age 66), Sir W. Pen (age 46), and myself, and Sir R. Ford (age 53), did meet in the garden to discourse about our prizes at Hull. It appears that Hogg is the eeriest rogue, the most observable embezzler, that ever was known. This vexes us, and made us very free and plain with Sir W. Pen (age 46), who hath been his great patron, and as very a rogue as he. But he do now seem to own that his opinion is changed of him, and that he will joyne with us in our strictest inquiries, and did sign to the letters we had drawn, which he had refused before, and so seemingly parted good friends, and then I demanded of Sir R. Ford (age 53) and the rest, what passed to-day at the meeting of the Parliament: who told me that, contrary to all expectation by the King (age 37) that there would be but a thin meeting, there met above 300 this first day, and all the discontented party; and, indeed, the whole House seems to be no other almost. The Speaker told them, as soon as they were sat, that he was ordered by the King (age 37) to let them know he was hindered by some important business to come to them and speak to them, as he intended; and, therefore, ordered him to move that they would adjourn themselves till Monday next, it being very plain to all the House that he expects to hear by that time of the sealing of the peace, which by letters, it seems, from my Lord Holis, was to be sealed the last. Sunday1. But before they would come to the question whether they would adjourn, Sir Thomas Tomkins (age 62) steps up and tells them, that all the country is grieved at this new raised standing army; and that they thought themselves safe enough in their trayn-bands; and that, therefore, he desired the King (age 37) might be moved to disband them. Then rises Garraway (age 50) and seconds him, only with this explanation, which he said he believed the other meant; that, as soon as peace should be concluded, they might be disbanded. Then rose Sir W. Coventry (age 39), and told them that he did approve of what the last gentleman said; but also, that at the same time he did no more than what, he durst be bold to say, he knew to be the King's mind, that as soon as peace was concluded he would do it of himself. Then rose Sir Thomas Littleton (age 46), and did give several reasons for the uncertainty of their meeting again but to adjourne, in case news comes of the peace being ended before Monday next, and the possibility of the King's having some about him that may endeavour to alter his own, and the good part of his Council's advice, for the keeping up of the land-army; and, therefore, it was fit that they did present it to the King (age 37) as their desire, that, as soon as peace was concluded, the land-army might be laid down, and that this their request might be carried to the King (age 37) by them of their House that were Privy-councillors; which was put to the vote, and carried 'nemine contradicente'. So after this vote passed, they adjourned: but it is plain what the effects of this Parliament will be, if they be suffered to sit, that they will fall foul upon the faults of the Government; and I pray God they may be permitted to do it, for nothing else, I fear, will save the King (age 37) and kingdom than the doing it betimes. They gone, I to walk with my wife in the garden, and then home to supper and to bed.
Note 1. The peace was signed on the 31st. See August 9th. B.
Pepy's Diary. 17 Nov 1667. Lord's Day. Up, and to church with my wife. A dull sermon of Mr. Mills, and then home, without strangers to dinner, and then my wife to read, and I to the office, enter my journall to this day, and so home with great content that it is done, but with sorrow to my eyes. Then home, and got my wife to read to me out of Fuller's Church History, when by and by comes Captain Cocke (age 50), who sat with me all the evening, talking, and I find by him, as by all others, that we are like to expect great confusions, and most of our discourse was the same, and did agree with that the last night, particularly that about the difference between the King (age 37) and the Duke of York (age 34) which is like to be. He tells me that he hears that Sir W. Coventry (age 39) was, a little before the Duke of York (age 34) fell sick, with the Duke of York (age 34) in his closet, and fell on his knees, and begged his pardon for what he hath done to my Chancellor (age 58); but this I dare not soon believe. But he tells me another thing, which he says he had from the person himself who spoke with the Duke of Buckingham (age 39), who, he says, is a very sober and worthy man, that he did lately speak with the Duke of Buckingham (age 39) about his greatness now with the King (age 37), and told him-"But, sir, these things that the King (age 37) do now, in suffering the Parliament to do all this, you know are not fit for the King (age 37) to suffer, and you know how often you have said to me that the King (age 37) was a weak man, and unable to govern, but to be governed, and that you could command him as you listed; why do you suffer him to go on in these things?"-"Why", says the Duke of Buckingham (age 39), "I do suffer him to do this, that I may hereafter the better command him". This he swears to me the person himself to whom the Duke of Buckingham (age 39) said this did tell it him, and is a man of worth, understanding, and credit. He told me one odd passage by the Duke of Albemarle (age 58), speaking how hasty a man he is, and how for certain he would have killed Sir W. Coventry (age 39), had he met him in a little time after his shewing his letter in the House. He told me that a certain lady, whom he knows, did tell him that, she being certainly informed that some of the Duke of Albemarle's (age 58) family did say that the Earl of Torrington was a bastard, [she] did think herself concerned to tell the Duke of Albemarle (age 58) of it, and did first tell the Duchesse, and was going to tell the old man, when the Duchesse pulled her back by the sleeve, and hindered her, swearing to her that if he should hear it, he would certainly kill the servant that should be found to have said it, and therefore prayed her to hold her peace. One thing more he told me, which is, that Garraway (age 50) is come to town, and is thinking how to bring the House to mind the public state of the nation and to put off these particular piques against man and man, and that he propounding this to Sir W. Coventry (age 39), Sir W. Coventry (age 39) did give no encouragement to it: which he says is that by their running after other men he may escape. But I do believe this is not true neither. But however I am glad that Garraway (age 50) is here, and that he do begin to think of the public condition in reference to our neighbours that we are in, and in reference to ourselves, whereof I am mightily afeard of trouble.
Pepy's Diary. 10 Sep 1668. Up, and by water to White Hall, and there to Sir W. Coventry's (age 40) house, where I staid in his dining-room two hours thinking to speak with him, but I find Garraway (age 51) and he are private, which I am glad of, Captain Cocke (age 51) bringing them this day together. Cocke (age 51) come out and talked to me, but it was too late for me to stay longer, and therefore to the Treasury chamber, where the rest met, and W. Coventry (age 40) come presently after. And we spent the morning in finishing the Victualler's contract, and so I by water home, and there dined with me Batelier and his wife, and Mercer, and my people, at a good venison-pasty; and after dinner I and W. Howe, who come to see me, by water to the Temple [Map], and met our four women, my wife, M. Batelier, Mercer, and Deb., at the Duke's play-house, and there saw "The Maid in the Mill", revived-a pretty, harmless old play.
In Mar 1679 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 62) was elected MP Arundel.
In Oct 1679 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 62) was elected MP Arundel.
In 1681 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 64) was elected MP Arundel.
In 1685 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 68) was elected MP Arundel.
In 1689 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 72) was elected MP Arundel.
In 1701 William Garway of Ford in Sussex (age 84) died.