Treasury Calendar: February 1697 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 11, 1696-1697. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

Citation:

'Treasury Calendar: February 1697', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 11, 1696-1697, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1933), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol11/pp350-358 [accessed 24 November 2024].

February 1697



Feb. 1, afternoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox.
	[No entry of any Minute.] Ibid., p. 70.
Feb. 2, forenoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	Thomas Baley [is by my Lords] recommended [to the Customs Commissioners] to be a landwaiter on the next vacancy.
	[Order for] 600l. out of the loans on the Exchequer [in General] on the Vote of Credit to be issued to the Navy [and] that 500l. out of the same may be paid for Contingencies; to be given to the Commander in Chief of the Squadron ordered to the West Indies: and as my Lords intend him (Capt. Mees) a credit for 2,000l. in the West Indies he is to draw bills for the same upon the Treasurer of the Navy, to be paid out of such money as shall be in his [the said Treasurer's] hands for the service of the Navy. Ibid., p. 71.
Feb. 3, morning.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	[Write] to Sir Robert Howard to cause the Navy Victuallers' tallies for 50,000l. to be forthwith dispatched.
	The Bank Bills in the Exchequer to be issued for the Navy Victuallers.
	[Write] to Mr. Harris to take care of the dies and puncheons in the Mint and to proceed in the work belonging to the graver of the Mint. (In the margin: "respited.")
	[Write] to Mr. Harris, Mr. Neal and Dr. [Isaac] Newton and Mr. Rotier to be here tomorrow morning; and the Provost of the Moneyers to be here then. (In the margin: "respited.")
	[Order for] 200,000l. [to the Treasurer of the Navy] for wages: [to be issued] on the 3s. per £.
	Mr. Rotiers says he will go on with his work. Ibid., p. 72.
Feb. 3, post meridiem. Kensington.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	[Write] to Mr. Duncomb to be here this day sevennight at 6 o'clock to attend the King.
	[Order for] 146,000l. [to the Paymaster of the Forces] for the [army] clothing to 1695–6, Jan. 1: to be struck upon the Salt Act. But my Lords must speak with the Colonels and clothiers. [Write] to them and my Lord Ranelagh to be there [at the Treasury Chambers. Whitehall] on Friday night.
	[Write] a letter to the Earl of Ranelagh that out of his tallies for about 70,000l. which are now striking on the 3s. per £ he apply 18,517l. 13s. 0d. as in his memorial of this day.
	[Write] to Charles Shales to attend the Treasury on Friday afternoon.
	[Write] letters to the noblemen and gentlemen who have the King's plate in their hands to bring it into the Jewel House.
	[Write] Mr. Fox the colonels and [the Regimental] agents to attend the Treasury on Friday afternoon. Ibid., p. 72.
Feb. 5. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	The case of my Lord Macclesfield and the borough of Macclesfield is to be heard on Monday afternoon.
	[Write] to Mr. Smith and Sir Tho. Littleton that my Lords have appointed to meet on Monday evening.
	[Order for] 400l. to Hen. Baker to complete his order: to be issued out of loans made by Mr. Bartholomew Burton on the Excise.
	My Lords will recommend Mr. Harris for some military employ. Ibid., p. 73.
Feb. 8, afternoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	[Write] to Mr. Bridgman and Mr. Burchett that my Lords desire to meet the Admiralty Lords here tomorrow evening at 6 o'clock about the affair of the [Navy] Victualling.
	The [Navy] Victuallers attend. Their memorial is read. They'll attend tomorrow evening.
	The colonels of the Army are called in: say the season is advanced and the clothiers refuse to clothe [their Regiments] because not paid for 1695 and there is order to take the field by the 1st of March. My Lords desire them to attend the King on Wednesday with a memorial and the [? clothiers to be there].
	Sir Thomas Littleton comes in.
	My Lords will hear the case between the Earl of Macclesfield and the borough of Macclesfield on Friday next. Both parties take notice.
	Sir William Scawen and other gentlemen of the Bank [of England] come in. My Lords direct that the arrear of the weekly payment to Jan. 17 last out of the Salt Act in lieu of the Bank's fund on the Tunnage Act be made loans on the Salt Act. They desire an order for the sum which the King will allow them [the Bank] for their loss by remittances.
	[Order for] 30,000l. to be issued to the Treasurer of the Ordnance for land service and sea service by moieties; and that my Lords be acquainted how far the fund of the 3s. per £ Aid is charged, to the end that [the Ordnance] Office may have more.
	[Write] to the Earl of Ranelagh to deliver 1,000l. more in tallies to Col. Edw. Dutton Colt for the subsistence of his Regiment.
	"Eastland Merchants [? desire payment] for the fifth part for the goods lately imported. My Lords will speak with the Commissioners of the Navy when they attend the [Treasury] Board, about this." [Write] to the Navy Commissioners to be here.
	[Order for] 1,403l. 4s. 6d. to be paid to Sir William Gore for balance of his account of the remittances to Hamburg out of loans [made or to be made] by the Earl of Ranelagh on the 3s. per £.
	[Order for] 3,000l. to the Navy for the Commissioners of Sick and Wounded, viz., 1,800l. [to be charged] on the head of Wages and 1,200l. on the head of Victualling. The said Commissioners (who are to have the tallies for this on the 3s. per £ tax) are to raise the money thereupon at as cheap a rate as possible and not to depart with more at a time than absolutely necessary.
	[Write] to Admiral Russell to pay the balance of his account [of the Mediterranean Victualling] into the Exchequer to the end it may be issued for the service of the Victualling which is under great extremities for want of money.
	[Order for applying] 584l. out of the first money coming into the Exchequer to the warrant [which is] to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh to discharge quarters at Lewes.
	The landcarriageman's place now void [in London port] is to be bestowed upon Thomas Pistoll recommended by Mr. Stonehouse a member [of Parliament].
	The warrant signed for Dillon to be a landcarriageman [is] to be delivered out. Treasury Minute Book IX, pp. 74–5.
Feb. 9, afternoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	The Commissioners of the Admiralty come in and the Victuallers. Their memorial of Feb. 2 and the letter from Mr. Addis at Plymouth are read. My Lords direct the Victuallers to provide for the West India service out of the tallies in their hands on the Land Tax by raising money thereon at as easy a discount as they can. Mr. Papillon desires Exchequer Bills of Credit to carry on the Victualling in the several ports. He proposes 10,000l. a week in those bills for London and proportionably for the out ports. Mr. Main says 5,000l. a week [is required] for this port [London] till 1st May for beef and pork only and for the other species [of provisions] as much as will make up 10,000l. a week. Mr. Agar says there must be at least 20,000l. a week for London and the outports for all uses. The Victuallers are [ordered] to carry on the service as far as they can with the tallies already directed [to them] and my Lords will furnish them further with tallies or money as far as they possibly can.
	The estimate of the Commissioners of Transportation and the [paper or estimate or] Proportion given in by Sir John Parsons and Sir Joseph Herne (the latter supposing the payment in tallies) is to be referred to the Navy Commissioners and Victualling Commissioners to give their opinions as to the charge in the respective offices. Ibid., p. 76.
Feb. 10, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: all my Lords.
	Paul Bauens instead of 300l. is to have 360l. out of loans by the Earl of Ranelagh on the 3s. Aid: to be paid him by [army] contingency warrant for intelligence and other services.
	The King comes in.
	Alderman Duncomb being present is told by the King that he is sent for about furnishing some money for the Household. He says he has lent money into the Exchequer as he was desired upon the late [Vote of] Credit. Sir Stephen Fox says he [Duncombe] came into his place [of Cashier of Excise] upon the account of lending [on credit of the Excise Office running cash or] money which [loans] used to be above 100,000l. and proposes he should lend 50,000l. by 1,000l. a week. Mr. Duncombe says he is sensible of his Majesty's necessities but formerly when he had lent great sums there was still a necessity and for want of [lending] more money he was turned out. If Sir Stephen will find anybody will supply his Majesty better than he has done or will do he will give up the place [of Excise Cashier] to him. If it be the point that his office is desired [for some one else] he will never be against his Majesty's service. The rule is that before a place is given away the person that has lent money should be first repaid. And if Sir Stephen will repay him he'll be contented. The noise of this has taken 5,000l. [in credit loans] away from him, though it can do him no greater damage in his credit, he has made but 800l. a year besides what paid his clerks. Profit might be made out of his Majesty's money [the running cash of the Excise Office] but he never did nor will make any. Sir Stephen says he never made any noise about Mr. Duncomb.
	Mr. Duncomb says he means only to be repaid lent money and not any bought tallies, for he has none. Sir Stephen says he only desires the King may be supplied by Alderman Duncomb in his place.
	The King says the question is whether he will furnish 1,000l. a week. He answers, being out of money upon the Excise and other funds and there being no Parliamentary security in the Excise he fears he shall fail in any undertaking of that kind.
	The Alderman withdraws.
	The King takes notice [that] Alderman Duncomb says he cannot do it. Sir Stephen says there are persons that he is sure, if they were posessed of the place [of Excise Cashier] would furnish 1,000l. a week for a year together, so as [provided] Mr. Duncomb would take that payment of his tallies [already outstanding] on the Excise in course as they are struck. Mr. Duncomb has lent no money on the Excise but on such premiums and advantages as others have lent who have no relation to his Majesty's service.
	The King orders that all the Receivers-General [of Taxes] that have great receipts be called upon to lend money on the Exchequer in general transferrable to the next supply to be given [by Parliament] for the Civil List.
	The King agrees to allow 75,000l. to the Bank of England in full of their accounts of losses by remittances; and W[illiam] L[owndes is] to signify the same to the Governor.
	The [army] clothiers are to have tallies on the Salt Act, viz., so much as will clear them for the year 1695 and half their demand for the year 1696. The other half for 1696 is to be paid out of the funds for the year 1697 when they [the accounts or? the Parliamentary supply] shall be settled, in case [or on condition that] they go on forthwith to provide the clothes for the year 1697. They are called in and told this and say they are very willing to go forward. The [unissued] complement to [complete the total of] 1,500,000l. in tallies on the 3s. Aid is to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for the Forces according to such directions as my Lords shall give for the [application thereof to] particular uses: Of the tallies in Sir Joseph Herne's hands 7,265l. 5s. 0d. is to be delivered by him to the Earl of Ranelagh for the service of the Forces and a warrant is to be prepared for that purpose. Treasury Minute Book IX, pp. 76–77.
Feb. 11, afternoon. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	(No entry of any minute.) Ibid., p. 78.
Feb. 12, afternoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	The Earl of Macclesfield and the borough of Macclesfield [are called in] with their counsel. Sir Thomas Powys for the borough desires that a grant [of lands there which is now] passing to the Earl may be stopped, being of waste, coal mines and profits of fairs and markets which they [the borough] possess in trust for the poor. A lease granted 17 James I. of the encroachments and mines for 31 years expired in 1650. In 1661 proceeding was made in order to a new lease to the town but in 1666 the Lord Gerard obtained a lease (without notice as he thinks to the town) not by the Lord Treasurer [Southampton] but by the Chancellor of the Exchequer [Lord Ashley] for 31 years to end about a year hence. In 1686 or 1687 the Earl being then under an outlawry the town obtained a lease for 31 years which he hopes is good [at law]. It takes notice of the Earl's lease and has non obstantes. The present Earl desires a lease to him. The King's right is not contraverted. But the Earl's lease will run that if he can evict the town it will commence presently [immediately thereon], otherwise it will take effect after the end of the [town's] lease, and deprive the poor of it which is not 30l. a year and will be very little to his lordship.
	Mr. Cheshire says the foundation of the Earl's patent is that the poor's patent is void; but Mr. Attorney-General is doubtful. The Attorney-General's report is read. Sir Thomas says the lease [now] passing is to exclude the poor one way or other, whether their lease be void [in law] or not.
	Mr. Cheshire says the poor will not presume to bring a scire facias against the Earl, without which they cannot make void any grant to him. But if the poor's lease be supposed to be void Mr. AttorneyGeneral can bring a scire facias against the same.
	Sir William Williams for the Earl says they have not shewed the corporation was intrusted for the poor till after King James's lease [terminated] in 1666 or 1667 and then the trust for the poor was introduced: that the lease of James I. depends only on the credit of the deputy surveyor [of Crown Lands]: As to the new encroachments the grant to the corporation may be good for they never were granted to the Earl: Charles II. anno 18 made the grant to the Earl: the Earl's steward swore it was for the Earl's own account and he gave 200l. to the discoverers: the town took advantage of my Lord's calamity when under an outlawry to make false suggestions to King James II. and got their new lease. So this Earl has no reason to show them any favour who have been so injurious to his father's memory. They purchased the inheritance in the time of the usurpation. As to the old encroachments my Lord has a lease in being and may as well have a new lease now as the town could have a new lease from King James II. As to the new encroachments if their lease be good my Lord cannot recover them: and he thinks there is no reason to stop the King's grant.
	Mr. Whitworth's affidavit is read.
	[? Williams continues] that the Earl will be as good an administrator for the poor who are relieved daily at his house about 3 miles from the town as the petitioners.
	Mr. Astwood [says] King Charles II's warrant for the lease to the late Earl is directed to Lord Treasurer Southampton and Lord Ashley or either of them, and the warrant was signed only by Lord Ashley. The transcript [the Treasury the docquet of the lease] was signed by both.
	The [Army] clothiers are called in and their memorial is read. The King having ordered their arrear for 1695 and half their demand for 1696 to be [paid in tallies] struck on the Salt Act my Lords have resolved that the other half for 1696 shall be paid out of the funds for the war that shall be granted in this Session: [provided that or] in case they forthwith proceed in the clothing for the year 1697.
	The Navy Commissioners and the Eastland merchants to attend on Monday night. Ibid., pp. 79–80.
Feb. 15, afternoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	[Write] to Mr. Duncomb, Mr. Knight, the Chamberlain [of the city of London] and Mr. Williamson to attend the Treasury on Thursday morning.
	The Navy Commissioners are called in. The proportion for the Navy upon the Salt Act [is] to be forthwith stricken in tallies [which are] to be reserved in the [Navy] Treasurer's hands for such services of the Navy as my Lords shall hereafter direct.
	The like [order] for the Ordnance and the Forces.
	[My Lords read] the memorial of Sir Robert Howard concerning interest of loans demanded by the Navy Treasurer upon his [money] orders. My Lords are of opinion this interest ought to be paid to the said Treasurer and that Sir Robert [as Auditor of the Receipt] do certify the same to the Navy Board so that those Commissioners may take care to charge it in the front of the Navy Treasurer's ledger.
	The [army] clothiers are called in. They say they cannot proceed in the clothing for 1697 unless [paid] for the half of their debt for the year 1696: [therefore praying that] they may forthwith have tallies on the Exchequer in General, to be placed on the first Aids that shall be passed in this Session of Parliament [and] to be [the] first paid [thereon]. My Lords are resolved to place them on those funds as early [in the course or register thereon] as they can.
	[Order for] 800l. in tallies (of those in Mr. Burton's hands) to be issued to Mr. Nicho. Baker for [Crown] prosecutions at law. Treasury Minute Book IX, p. 89. [The pagination being incorrect there are no pages missing between 80 and 89.]
Feb. 17, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King; all my Lords.
	Ordered that out of the tallies for 264,335l. 13s. 9½d. [now] striking on the Land Tax for the Forces the Earl of Ranelagh (after reserving the first 100,000l. for remittances) do apply 4,000l. for the service of the King's Forces upon the Rhine under the Count de Frize.
	The Scotch Officers to have 6,500l. for recruits and 2,000l. for transportation money out of the same tallies.
	[Write] to the clothiers to attend on Friday afternoon. Ibid., p. 89.
Feb. 19, afternoon. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: all my Lords.
	[Write] to Sir Robert Howard that my Lords being informed that some persons do receive payments at the Exchequer (on the annuities payable by Acts of Parliaments) further than others can get theirs to be satisfied, do direct that the [Exchequer] officers do not pay any persons on the said annuities for the quarter or half year due at Michaelmas last till the preceding quarterly or half-yearly payments be satisfied to all the proprietors of the said annuities and that they do not begin with any payment upon last Xmas quarter till they be all satisfied to and for Michaelmas last: and that this order be publicly affixed at the Exchequer.
	My Lords will speak with the Navy Commissioners when they come about the money due to the sail cloth makers.
	Mr. Lawton says Mr. Green [Receiver-General of assessments for Co. Stafford] was complained of a year ago by affidavits that he had stopt sub-collectors' fees and bought up money at 12s., 14s., 16s., or 17s. per £; that he had [required] officers to cutt their money and rather than stand to that they would sell their money to him at these rates which [underweight moneys] he paid into the Exchequer. He recommends Mr. Thomas Spendelow [for Mr. Green's place as Receiver]. His security is to be referred to the Agents for Taxes.
	Mr. Duncomb will lend 3,000l. on the Exchequer in general; and my Lords have resolved that as soon as the fund is settled for the Civil List this 3,000l. with the interest thereon shall be transferred to the said fund. The interest to be 6 per cent.
	The Excise Commissioners are called in. Their papers are read and considered.
	[Order for] 10l. to Mr. Henry Killigrew and 10l. to Dr. Otes.
	My Lords acquaint the [Army] clothiers with the King's pleasure that no other terms can be offered to them than those which my Lords agreed to and are in the Minutes lately entered.
	[Order for] 4,000l. to the Victuallers and 1,000l. to the Commissioners of Transports to pay a bill of exchange: [both sums to be issued] out of the new money [proceeding] from clipt money lent on the 3s. Aid or lent on the Exchequer in General and transferred to the said Aid. Speak to Mr. Abot how far he can quiet his bills with 3,000l. Ibid., p. 90.
Feb. 22, afternoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	Pursuant to the King's command my Lords will allow Mr. Eyles 500l. in consideration of his service in remittances for the subsistence of the Forces in Flanders and the loss be sustained for want of a due compliance in the payment of his bills. Send a letter to the Earl of Ranelagh for this to be paid out of the Land Tax tallies in his hands, and another to Mr. Blathwait to prepare a [Army] contingency [payment] warrant for the same.
	The Navy Victuallers' memorial is read. See [my Lords' decision or direction endorsed as a minute on] the memorial.
	The Colonels and the [Army] clothiers are called in. Mr. Harnage says for his part he is willing to go on with the clothing on the terms lately agreed to. Mr Molyneux and the rest say they'l do all that they can. And my Lords resolve that for the clothing for the year 1697 they shall be paid out of the funds which next year shall be granted for the year 1698.
	Colonel Colt's business to be laid before the King on Wednesday.
	The Transports Commissioners and Mr. Povy [attend and] their several memorials are read. He denies his refusing to pay as they allege. Mr. Addison says Povy would never dispose any of their tallies but he would have something for himself. He accuses them of disposing the King's money without authority. He promises to deliver the tallies for 4,000l. to them and to pay their warrant of 100l. in hammered money at 5s. 2d. an ounce this night.
	[Write] to the Excise Commissioners to be here tomorrow night about the fines.
	Mr. Okeley to be clerk to the tidesurveyor [London port]. Ibid., p. 91.
Feb. 23, afternoon.	Present: all my Lords.
	Mr. Greene and Mr. Spendelowe to be Joint Receivers [of Assessments] for Staffordshire.
	Samuel Pacy, Esq., to be joined with the present Receiver for Co. Suffolk.
	[Order for] 200l. out of tallies on the Excise to be issued to Robt. Greenway the locksmith per the Treasurer of the Chamber. Ibid., p. 92.
Feb. 24, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King; all my Lords.
	My Lord Ranelagh must assign 10,000l. in tallies on the Land Tax to the Ordnance for the service of the [Artillery] Train in Flanders. And when the Office of Ordnance is supplied with funds this 10,000l. is to be [by said office] made good again to the Earl of Ranelagh for the Forces. Ibid., p. 91.
Feb. 26, afternoon. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: all my Lords.
	Mr. Dorington et al of the East India Company acquaint my Lords they have about 300 tons of salt petre which they would sell but come first to know my Lords' pleasure.
	Mr. William Hubbold, executor of Capt. John Owen, late Capt. of the Pioneers in Ireland are to attend my Lords on Tuesday afternoon upon a complaint of several persons of that Company for [or concerning] 4 months' pay that was received per the Captain in 1692.
	Mr. Green and Mr. Spendelow to be Receiver of the Land Tax and Subsidy jointly for Co. Stafford: and the Agents [for Taxes are to write] to know if Green accepts it thus: otherwise my Lords will give it to Spendelow and such other person as shall be named by Sir Hugh Gough, Mr. Grey and other gentlemen of the country [county].
	Mr. Neal, Mr. [Isaac] Newton and Mr. Hall come in. A paper signed by Mr. Harris is read concerning the puncheons and dies. Mr. Neal and Mr. Newton say they think Mr. Harris can carry on the service if Mr. Rotiers be turned out. My Lords direct them (with Mr. Harris) to take possession of his [Mr. Rotiers'] house [in the Mint], shop, puncheons, dies and other implements relating to the Mint and to deliver the same to Mr. Harris.
	[Write] to Mr. Aaron Smith to deliver to Mr. Henry Baker all the papers that he has in his hands concerning the owlers in Kent and Sussex. And [my Lords order] a warrant to the Customs Commissioners to direct their officers to assist Mr. Baker in discovering, prosecuting and suppressing the exportation of wool from Kent and Sussex. Write to Mr. Nicho. Baker the same letter as to Mr. Aaron Smith. Treasury Minute Book IX, p. 93.