Entry Book: March 1688

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 8, 1685-1689. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1923.

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'Entry Book: March 1688', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 8, 1685-1689, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1923), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol8/pp2170-2172 [accessed 8 November 2024].

'Entry Book: March 1688', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 8, 1685-1689. Edited by William A Shaw( London, 1923), British History Online, accessed November 8, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol8/pp2170-2172.

"Entry Book: March 1688". Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 8, 1685-1689. Ed. William A Shaw(London, 1923), , British History Online. Web. 8 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol8/pp2170-2172.

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March 1688

Mar. 21. Letter to the Treasury Lords from Col. Edwyn Stede, dated Barbados ("received 1688, May 28"). I have received your commands of Nov. 24 last with the account of the casual revenue received by me here. For my zeal and services I desire the King's favour and allowance of 10 per cent [on said receipts]. I also desire your authorisation to make some allowance to such as have given me information of escheated and concealed estates, by which I have made recovery thereof. This will be an encouragement to them, which for want of it are grown cold; "I having promised them some reward, though the qt. [quantity] was humbly submitted to your Lordships good pleasure." I also pray an allowance of fees of 5 per cent to the executors of Mr. William Chester, his Majesty's late Attorney General here, for his services as King's counsel in all the recoveries I made; he having made me debtor for the same, and his executors owing me money, which they refuse to pay. This allowance is according to the establishment of fees made by Sir Rich. Dutton and his then Council "when the Court of Exchequer was by him erected and established here," which establishment was confirmed by Charles II: but afterwards, conceiving that 5 per cent was too little for the Attorney General's fees, Sir Richard allowed Attorney General Seawell 10 per cent; which Mr. Chester also expected from me. The present Attorney General hopes for this allowance to be continued to him. Out Letters (Plantations Auditor) I, pp. 296–9.
I will be frugal in other charges and expenses, but necessary accommodation and entertainment for the Barons, jurors etc. cannot be avoided; they coming far and having no other allowance than diet. To save such charge the Court is from time to time adjourned by one of the Barons till there be some quantity of business.
I am trying to get good bills to remit to Henry Guy the balance of my account, as you order; but they are very scarce and dear. I am in treaty for a good bill for 1,000l., but cannot get it under 12½ per cent; for so small is our crop and so few good bills by reason thereof that none whose bills will be punctually paid ask less: but I will try others for a little time, otherwise will accept this. At present I send Mr. Guy a bill for 300l. drawn on the Navy Commissioners by the purser of the Mary Rose, whom, by order, I furnished with that sum at several times for said ship's use, by which supply 10 per cent at least was saved to the King in return of his [Majesty's] money. I have also returned Mr. Blathwayt a year's salary and will make a full return of the balance of my account with all diligence.
As to the ships arrived here from the wreck near Hispaniola with their treasure, they are four in number; one from Bermudas. I enclose a particular account of the treasure imported in this latter ship. The King's moiety thereof shall be disposed of as you shall direct, but the owners and importers hope to have it restored to them, pretending they were not concerned in taking it from the wreck, but bought it in Bermudas from those that imported it there from the wreck and was paid them for debts owing to them there and for goods sold; all which they intend to lay before the King. They have brought a certificate in general terms from Mr. Trott, Receiver of the King's dues and duties in Bermudas, that this silver was there paid for, "though up n examination I found at most it had [at Bermudas] paid but tenths [to the King], if that, for which reason I stopped the moiety." I also enclose an account of the like treasure imported in the Raven, for part of which Mr. Constable (his Majesty's Commissioner for that purpose) received the King's moiety. For the rest of the silver which I found in the ship I took the King's moiety; and for the coined money or pieces of eight, which the owners pretend to be the produce of meat and drink sold to the people at the wreck, I have taken security for the King's moiety if not discharged by the King's order.
The next vessel is a sloop that imported 500-600l. sterling from the wreck, which was divided at sea among the sailors and owners, each one being sharers and not on wages. This sloop went hence in consort with a pink called the Elizabeth, Thomas Baker commander, who was set out from London to the wreck and touched here to get divers. When I demanded the King's moiety of what they imported they produced the King's orders requiring that none of the concerns of said Capt. Baker should be meddled with or sued for here, his owners having given the King good security in London for the King's share. By the account I enclose it appears that said John [sic] Baker and this sloop took up 800lb. weight of silver, and thereof the sloop had for their share what money they imported to this island.
The fourth and last vessel is a sloop which was put off from the wreck by Sir John Narborough and had only got about 500-600l. sterling, which before they arrived here was divided into small shares among the owners, sailors and divers, who reserved a tenth only for the King. On my demanding the moiety "he" [? the captain or each sharer] refuses to pay for more than his own share and therefore I must sue him. I will do my best to recover it.
I have not, myself, been concerned in any vessel sent to the wreck till about Sir John Narborough's arrival, "when I was prevailed with to be concerned about 100l. in a cargo of goods to be sold amongst the people [fishing in the vicinity] of the wreck; but Sir John putting them all from thence and not suffering them to work there, I have never had the least account what is become of my little concern, but fear she is fallen into the hands of the Biscayers, who are by the King of Spain employed in those American parts to suppress pirates and unlawful traders in their ports, who spoil and destroy the Englishmen more than any other or former pirates, for wherever they can take the English either on the high sea or elsewhere they confiscate the goods and kill all the men. I am informed these Biscayers have taken many sloops belonging to the Leeward Islands in sight of them and we fear some of [the] vessels that have been long wanting are fallen into their hands."
I have no account of what Sir John Narbrough doth at the wreck, nor what is become of my Lord Mordaunt and his Dutch frigates since he went from St. Kitts, where he touched. "Here is much discourse of a new silver wreck of great value found on the coast of Florida by some people of Jamaica." But we have no certainty of it.
Mar. 27. Treasury order for amending the transcript of the lease of the manor of Hempholme to Sir Hugh Bethell, ut supra, p. 1368. Warrants not Relating to Money XII, p. 80.