Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

FOURTH SERIES.—No. XV. JULY, 1873. SIR ROBERT MANSELL, KNT., VICE-ADMIRAL OF ENGLAND. (Continued from p. 45.) The year 1620 found Sir Robert about forty-seven years of age, and most busily employed. It is clear from various entries in the State papers that all matters con¬ nected with the construction of ships and the general administration of dockyard stores received his close at¬ tention, while at the same time he had to attend, and did certainly attend, closely to the details of the glass- making business, and to the defence of his patented rights. The latter cares must have been by very much the most trying to his temper, for the rising spirit of the century was vehemently opposed to monopolies, of which his was one of the least defensible. His men and material had to be imported, and the former were perpetually leaving him, tempted by high offers from his opponents and rivals both in England and Scotland. He had brought over from Venice John Mariadell'Acqua, who left him to be master of the glass works in Scot¬ land, where however he stayed bat a short time and re¬ turned to England. Sir Robert accused Mr. Ward, the goldsmith of Cheapside, and others of having seduced him. February, 1620, he sent Howgill and Greene to the Marshalsea for importing foreign glass. They alleged that his glass was bad, and he had supplied them with his worst for the king's new buildings at 4TH SEP.., VOL. IV. 15