Minute Book: February 1674

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1909.

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Citation:

'Minute Book: February 1674', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1909), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol4/pp218-228 [accessed 8 November 2024].

'Minute Book: February 1674', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675. Edited by William A Shaw( London, 1909), British History Online, accessed November 8, 2024, https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol4/pp218-228.

"Minute Book: February 1674". Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675. Ed. William A Shaw(London, 1909), , British History Online. Web. 8 November 2024. https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol4/pp218-228.

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February 1674

Feb. 2.
Wallingford House.
Before the Lord Treasurer.
Sir Charles Wheeler and Col. Strode, Viscount Ranelagh, Major Andros, Mr. Nelthrop, and some other merchants called in. The two points concerning the farm of the Four and a Half per cent. duty are : (1) money applied by Col. Strode which Sir Charles Wheeler says was his : (2) defalcations which they pretend to jointly. Sir Charles Wheeler says he refuseth to sign the account till the sum of 6,200l. be decided. His petition is read. He pretends to two several sums, viz. : 1,162l. 13s. 2d. for transporting soldiers, and 569l. 19s. 2d. for special service in the island of St. Christopher : [being] both articles of the abovesaid 6,200l. Col. Strode says that Sir Charles Wheeler drew a bill of exchange on Lord Clifford for 569l. 19s. 2d. and at the same time drew another for 400l. on Mr. Nelthorp. Sir Charles Wheeler desires that the particular account between him and Col. Strode may not interfere with the King's. Col. Strode affirms that Sir Ch. Wheeler is answerable to him for all sums of money by virtue of the broad seal. The Lord Treasurer will see the King's rent answered. Sir Ch. Wheeler avers that Dec. 14, 1671, Thomas Bradgate (agent to Col. Strode at Nevis, from whom Col. Strode says that Sir Charles Wheeler did take part of his estate) had not any effects of Col. Strode's then in his hands. Col. Strode denies this. The minutes of the late Treasury Commissioners on this business are to be looked up.
Mr. Scutt, merchant, pretends to be paid some orders upon the Four and a Half per cent. next after the [Barbados] regiment for 9,000l. and odd pounds. Auditor Aldworth is to wait upon the Lord Treasurer with the state of this accompt of the Four and a Half per cent. duty. The Auditor is to report specially to the Lord Treasurer where Sir Charles Wheeler and Col. Strode disallow one another's vouchers, and when he comes upon the point of defalcations he is to send for the merchants. The 17s. per cent. [hundred weight] demanded by the Farmers [of the Four and a Half per cent.] is to be debated before the merchants and the Auditor and so reported to the Lord Treasurer.
[At this point the minutes of Feb. 6 ensue, but with the note "more of the 2d. day [of Feb.] on the next page." The indication seems to point to the following minutes as belonging to Feb. 2, but there is nothing otherwise to show that they do not rather belong to Feb. 6.]
Friday morning next Col. Strode and Sir Charles Wheeler are to attend the Auditor. The first money that comes in upon this farm [of the Four and a Half per cent.] is to be applied to the payment of the Barbados regiment. Commissary Baines is to certify which of the men on the muster rolls remain in the troop ; and, on particular certificates from the officers or otherwise, to certify who are out of the troops and yet alive and who are dead : and if there be anything before him [Baines] concerning particular debts owing to any persons that he would likewise report [as to such] to the Lord Treasurer. On Monday afternoon next Sir Charles Wheeler and Col. Strode are to attend the Lord Treasurer with the state of their accompts, each of them is to bring a merchant and a law[y]er with them. Mr. Nelthrop and Col. Strode are to attend Auditor Aldworth on Friday morning next, "and the 490l. Sir Cha. Wheeler and Col. Strode agreed to allow 406l." Major Andros has already received 1,500l. upon account of the Barbados soldiers' arrears.
On Monday afternoon next Viscount Ranelagh and Lord Brereton are to attend the Lord Treasurer.
The convocationers about tin in Cornwall are to attend the Lord Treasurer on Monday afternoon.
[Warrant for] 500l. on Sir Stephen Fox's privy seal for secret service.
Sir William Temple to have 1,000l. equipage money out of the 24,000l. besides entertainment as before.
Mr. Mannton (Manaton) to have a deputation for [a place as] landwaiter extraordinary as Bell had.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, pp. 71-2, 73.]
Feb. 6. Mr. Fanshaw's business is to be heard at the Treasury Chambers on Monday afternoon next.
The convocationers of the tin are to wait on the Lord Treasurer the same afternoon. Sir John Duncombe, the Lord Chief Baron, Attorney General, Sir Robert Howard, Sir Robert Atkins, Sir Charles Harbord and the Earl of Bath are to be summoned [to attend then].
Mr. Lindsay's business is to be heard on Tuesday. Sir Thomas Pennyston to be summoned [to attend then].
The business about the exported beer is to be heard the same day. Col. Birch and all parties concerned therein are to attend.
Write the Auditor to certify what the interest amounts to for a year for all money stopped in the Exchequer except what relates to bankers.
[Ibid. p. 72.]
Feb. 7. Mr. Bynyon's business is to be heard on Monday afternoon next. Mr. Cottle to attend then.
Mr. Robert Forth and John Cholmeley are to attend at the Treasury Chambers on Tuesday afternoon next. The Farmers of the London Excise are to attend the same day.
Warrant for Lord Chandos' pension.
Warrant for 200l. for Mr. Finch.
[Same for] 2,000l. for Sick and Wounded upon the contingencies of the second quarter [of the present Eighteen Months' tax].
Write for the [weekly and other] certificates [due to be returned from the office] of the Navy.
On Monday afternoon the 9th inst. the business of Lord Holles is to be heard : Capt. Carter and all other parties concerned therein are to have notice.
[Ibid. p. 74.]
Feb. 10. All businesses that were to be heard this day the Lord Treasurer defers till Saturday next : viz. the business about exported beer, Mr. Lyndesay's business and Mr. Morrice's [and also that of] the Vintners and Wine Coopers, in pursuance of an order of Council of the 6th inst. : and [also the business of] Sir Charles Wheeler.
[Ibid.]
Feb. 12. Sir Peter Ball and Col. Cooke are to attend the Lord Treasurer to-morrow morning.
The Marquess of Worcester is to be desired to attend on Monday next about the Forest of Dean.
Give Alderman Backwell Custom House bonds for his hemp, [such bonds to be payable] after the list [of payments] on the Customs.
Lady Scroop to have a warrant for 360l. 18s. 0d. for repairs and adorning her lodgings at Whitehall.
Sir Herbert Price to have a warrant for half a year's pension.
Mr. Smith's arrears [to be paid] for 5 years [the same] as Bridges had.
Mr. Bennyon's business is to be heard on Thursday, the 19th inst.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, p. 74.]
Feb. 13. Consult all the Customs Commissioners concerning the Prizage and Butlerage and show them the Attorney and Solicitor General's report thereupon.
Write the Clerk of the Parliament to send the Lord Treasurer notice from time to time when anything is offered to the House that concerns His Majesty's revenue.
Sir William Godolphin's additional allowance is to commence from the 29th Sept. last.
[Ibid. p. 75.]
Feb. 14. The business of the Wine Coopers and Vintners is to be heard on Monday next. On the same day also Mr. Lyndesay's business and the business of exported beer.
On Thursday Sir Charles Wheeler and Col. Strode's business is to be heard. Put off by consent.
On Thursday the convocationers of the tin are to attend. All parties formerly appointed are to be summoned ut supra under Feb. 6.
Mr. Bennyon and Mr. Cottle's business is to be heard on Thursday, the 19th inst.
[Ibid.]
Feb. 16. Sir Charles Harbord's report on the case of Mr. Montagu, of Gillingham, is to be read to the Lord Treasurer.
The commission of Giles Dowle about tobacco is to be drawn by Sir William Jones.
Mr. Skelton's petition and report are to be put among the Lord Treasurer's papers for the King.
Sir Hugh Cholmly's state of the harbour of Saltwich [sic for ? Saltash] is referred to the Customs Commissioners.
A King's warrant to be drawn for 200l. per an. on the Customs : to be paid to Mr. Hext in consideration of his wife (Mrs. Coningsby) being instrumental in the King's escape at Worcester.
"Monsieur Bapt. du Teile for 3,000l. for the service of the gallies [built at Genoa] : to move the King in it next Council day."
Mr. Daw's [Dawes'] petition is to be considered on Thursday next at the Treasury Chamber. Dawes is to attend then.
Lord Windsor's petition read. The King to be moved in it.
A warrant to strike a tally upon the Treasurer of the Navy for 100l. paid to Sir John Brampston.
Send to Sir Robert Southwell for one of the commissions of the Sub-Commissioners of the Prizes and also for a commission of every officer in the several districts.
See if any sums of money are paid to any persons without mentioning that 'tis without accompt. Query whether those persons shall be made to accompt.
The Excise Commissioners and Col. Birch are called in about exported beer. The two principal points are (1) what the allowance is to be ; (2) by whom it is to be made. The Excise Commissioners to take cognisance of all beer and ale exported and to make allowances. Col. Birch says the question is whether there be an allowance to be made at all. The Excise Commissioners abate 3 barrels in 23, the brewers demand 3 in 20. Col. Birch says the law is clear for the brewer, but does not justify the actings of the Commissioners. That the King was not intended to be either gainer or loser by the Act. The [London Excise] Farmers promise to refer themselves to the Lord Treasurer for defalcations, and submit the whole matter to his determination whether [such defalcations are to be calculated] by a medium [or average of so many years] or not. The Excise Commissioners [are ordered] to peruse Col. Birch's [calculation of such average or] medium and to see what the brewers complain of, and also that the Commissioners present at the same time an accompt to the Lord Treasurer what the brewers demand from the [London Excise] Farmers for time past since commencement of the Act, which they pretend to. On Monday next the Excise Commissioners and the Farmers of [the London] Excise and also the brewers are to attend. The King's Counsel [the Attorney and Solicitor General et al.] to be summoned for the same time.
The Vintners and Wine Coopers called in. The order of Council of the 6th inst. is read. Mr. Muloy says that several informers prosecute the vintners, though they have cleared all their accounts with the Commissioners. The Counsel on the other side answer that though these men are cleared by the Commissioners yet they prosecute them for other concealments.
Col. Birch proposes one John Howland for the prosecution of the debts due from the Vintners and Wine Coopers.
The Lord Chief Baron and some of the King's Counsel are to attend on Monday next.
Acquaint Mr. Lyndesay that Sir Tho. Player, Sir Ri. Ford and Sir Jo. Robinson will prefer a petition to the King concerning the fee farm rents and that his business must be respited till that time.
Mr. Folio [Foley] is to attend the Lord Treasurer with Sir Baynham Throckmorton and Col. Cooke on Friday morning next about the Forest of Dean.
Warrant for 20,000l. on the sixth quarter [of the present Eighteen Months' tax : to be] for the Master of the Ordnance.
[Order for] 4,000l. for the Victualler : to be paid out of the 24,000l.
There is 60l. to be added to the Lord Privy Seal's diet [charged] on the Customs, which is 1,460l.
The report on Sir William Boreman's case is to be drawn.
Warrant for Widow Hooker : for one year.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, pp. 75-8.]
Feb. 21.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : Lord Treasurer.
Mr. Benyon called in with his Counsel. His petition and the report intended thereon are read, and also the petition of Alice Cottle and Eliz. Smith, daughters and executrixes of Sir George Benyon. Mr. Cottle's Counsel says that George Benyon has endeavoured to suppress his father's will. Mr. Marriot says that every child hath as good a provision as Mr. George Benyon. The Lord Treasurer conceives there is no other thing to be done in this matter than to know upon which of the persons His Majesty will please to place his favour.
Sir Charles Wheeler and Col. Strode called in then. Mr. Buckworth says [that] upon examination of this matter formerly they did not think fit to allow Sir Charles Wheeler's bill to Col. Strode. [Ordered that] Col. Strode bring on Monday next his patent [for the lease of the Four and a Half per cent. duty] to be perused by the Lord Treasurer concerning defalcations. Col. Strode desires the Lord Treasurer that the 1,162l. 13s. 0d. and 569l. may either be allowed him or remain in the Exchequer till a determination of this matter.
[Ordered] that a hearing be had before the Lord Treasurer betwixt Viscount Ranelagh and the Barbados merchants before anything be ordered on Viscount Ranelagh's privy seal.
Memorandum : that Sir Robert Howard give an account concerning the payment of the tally on the Four and a Half per cent. in the Barbados.
This day week, Feb. 28, Viscount Ranelagh, Lord Brereton and Mr. Skutt are to attend the Lord Treasurer concerning their privy seals on the Four and a Half per cent. in the Barbados.
The Lord Treasurer to move the King for 2,778l. 10s. 8d. for the payment of two foot companies raised and kept still in pay in the Isle of St. Christopher : to whom there is [further] due in June next two full years' pay. Also another privy seal is granted to Col. William Stapleton for 700l. as Governor of the Leewards.
Sir John Shaw's account is referred to Mr. Litcot's examination : and the other patent officers [of the respective outports] are to give such accounts of [their receipts] of the Coinage [money or duty] as Mr. Litcot shall demand.
[The Lord Treasurer] to move in [the Privy] Council for the naturalising of foreign ships that shall be bought [by native subjects] till such time as the trade can be carried on by our own [vessels].
Harman's business is to be answered the next time the [Customs] Commissioners come.
[Ibid. pp. 78-9.]
Feb. 23.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Lord Holles and creditors [of Sir Frescheville Holles] called in with their Counsel in relation to Sir Frescheville Holles's estate and debt of 1,500l. to the King and the disposal of it. Mr. Ofly reads the petition to the King from the creditors, and the reference [thereof from the King] to the Treasury. Then opens the case and says Lord Treasurer Clifford looked upon the creditors' pretensions as preferable before all others. The Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer are of opinion that the King be advised to pay the creditor's debts in the first place.
The Vintners and the Commissioners of the Retrospect are called in. Mr. Muloy says the question was whether the King by law could discharge the Vintners upon the prosecution of informers. The Attorney and Solicitor General are of opinion the King may discharge. Mr. Milward pretends to the benefit of such concealments as were not known by the Commissioners [of the Retrospect] and shall be discovered by him. The Lord Treasurer directs that the names of such men [as he pretends to discover] shall within a fortnight be named by Mr. Milward and be produced to Col. Birch and that in case they do not come in and compound then he shall be at liberty to prosecute them.
The business of exported beer. The Excise Commissioners present to the Lord Treasurer an account of exported beer for 2 years [last past]. Mr. Breedon says the brewing within the city of London decreased the very year the Act for exported beer took place. The Attorney General says the Farmers of the Excise are only to be considered for what had been exported in case the Excise had lain upon it. Col. Birch says the increase of brandy is the cause of the falling of the Excise. The brewers desire the Lord Treasurer would direct the Commissioners to discount with them the sum of 364l. 11s. 6d. When the brewers come again the Lord Treasurer appoints that the Farmers' accompts be made up by Col. Birch's medium.
An order to the Customs Commissioners to consider the drafts of the conveyances concerning the Custom House and the exceptions thereon. The officers of the Works and the Customs Commissioners are to view the ground together to see if it be butted and bounded aright.
Mr. Tregagle, Mr. Courtney, Sir Ch. Harbord, Lord Arundell of Trerice, Earl of Bath, the Lord Chief Baron and Sergeant Mainard are to meet at the Treasury Chambers on Thursday afternoon about the tin business.
Business of exported beer. His Majesty's Counsel and the Farmers and Commissioners of Excise are heard upon complaint of the brewers who are exporters of beer by a late Act of Parliament for that purpose, who affirm that the said Farmers and Commissioners detain from them several sums of money which they ought to have been allowed upon exportation of several quantities of beer, [such detention being] under pretence of abating three barrels in 23, whereas the brewers offer, by witness, to prove upon oath that 23 barrels gauged in the guile will not make more than 20 barrels when it is settled and filled up ready for exportation. And upon full examination of the said complaint and causes thereof in presence of the aforesaid persons and the Auditor of Excise it was agreed that the money so detained from the exporters was not any way beneficial to His Majesty but to the benefit of the Farmers, neither did any clear reason appear from the Farmers or Commissioners for such detention, and therefore it was ordered that the money so detained, being about the sum of , shall be forthwith repaid or defalked by the Farmers to the said brewers, who are, or have been, exporters, and now complain : and that for the future, during their farm, no such money be detained by the Farmers or Commissioners, nor any office kept to the charge of His Majesty for or concerning any beer so to be exported : it being agreed on all hands that His Majesty ought not to be either loser or gainer by the said Act or [by] any beer exported or to be exported thereupon. And whereas Auditor Birch, now present, informs the Lord Treasurer that the Farmers of the London Excise, &c., demand allowance of several sums of money for beer exported since 1671, June 24, the matter being now debated with the advice of the King's Counsel, and it appearing that the King ought not to gain or lose by that Act, made for the free exportation of beer, it was therefore resolved that by a medium of three years next before the commencement of that Act for exportation of beer the Farmers' account for the three years ended June 24 next be made up, and deductions [are to be thereupon] made and allowed to the Farmers by the Auditor according to that medium, unless the Farmers of the London Excise shall, within seven days, show to the Lord Treasurer some further reason to the contrary. Orders in pursuance hereof to be sent to the Farmers and the Auditor.
The business of vintners and coopers, &c.
Upon hearing the King's Counsel and the Counsel on behalf of the vintners, wine coopers and importers of wine concerned in the Wine Acts, and upon hearing Counsel on behalf of the informers and also the informers themselves (who are complained against for prosecuting several persons on the said Acts) it was resolved on, by the advice of the King's Counsel and by consent of the Counsel on behalf of the vintners and informers, that all persons who have already put in any information or shall desire to put in any information against any person for breach of the said Acts shall bring in the names of such persons and the causes of such their informations to the Wine Act Commissioners within 20 days, and said Commissioners are to send for the persons so complained against and examine the matter and agree the same if they can and receive the money due to His Majesty without further charge or trouble : and in case the said Commissioners or any two of them shall find any such informations or intended informations causeless they are to present the same to the Lord Treasurer to the end he may direct the Attorney General to enter a noli prosequi. That no informers presume to molest any of the said persons under any the aforesaid pretences unless he shall have given in the names and causes as before directed, and if he do a noli prosequi to be entered. That every such informer shall by the end of Michaelmas term next bring all such complaints to a hearing else a noli prosequi to be entered. That notwithstanding the aforesaid orders in case such persons as are or shall be found debtors to His Majesty upon either of the Wine Acts by the said Wine Act Commissioners, and after all reasonable allowance given shall not make payment of the moneys so due upon summons, in that case the said Commissioners are to endeavour to recover such money by the speediest and most effectual course of law they can, to the use by the said Acts directed. Said Commissioners are from time to time to acquaint the Lord Treasurer with their proceedings herein.
Send [the abovesaid orders] to the Commissioners for the Wine Acts ; who are to endeavour to acquaint the informers.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, pp. 80-3.]
Feb. 26.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : His Majesty, Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Chancellor of the Duchy [of Lancaster], Sir Ch. Harbord, Solicitor General, Secretary Coventry.
The petition of the city of London is read concerning the [fee farm] rents of the Duchy of Lancaster [which the city desire to have to complete their security for the 60,000l. loan]. The Chancellor of the Duchy says the case of this matter is misrepresented and that there were more fee farm rents (exclusive of those of the Duchy) than would satisfy the debt to the city. The Lord Treasurer says the fee farms were disposed of before he came in [to office as Lord Treasurer]. The Chancellor of the Exchequer says that Lord St. John [for himself and his partners in the late intended farm of the Customs] and Sir John Banks [for his own debt] made the first breach into the fee farms and so opens the whole case and shows how Mr. Lindsey came into them [sc. into said rents by having undertaken to meet the remain of the King's debt to the city] : that 1,500l. per an. in nomine decimae rents are assigned them [? the city] but that will not do the work [=suffice]. Sir Stephen Fox [Paymaster of the Forces] pays the interest money upon His Majesty's behalf till this debt be satisfied [because the said 60,000l. was borrowed from the city for the pay of the forces] : that 800l. per an. is [still remains] to be paid either out of these [Duchy] rents or [out of] some other [and that this] is the [substance of] the present demand.
Agreed : that the city have nothing of the said fee farms in possession but [only in] reversions. Mr. Brent is to attend the Chancellor of the Duchy to adjust this business.
[Ibid. pp. 83-4.]
[Feb.] 26.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : Lord Treasurer, Earl of Bath, Lord Arundell of Trerice, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir Cha. Harbord, Attorney General, Sir Robert Howard, Sergeant Maynard, Sir Peter Killegrew, Sir Jonathan Trelawney, Mr. Tregeagle, Mr. Courtney, Solicitor General.
Sir C. Harbord's paper read with the state of the tin [affair] and every article therein is examined. Sir C. Harbord acquaints the Lord Treasurer that one William Smith offered 15,000l. per an. at the King's coming in, for the [King's rights of] pre-emption, exportation and [tin] coinage duty. Afterwards in 1664, Sir Richard Ford and partners took the [tin] farm at 10s. per hundred [weight]. Then Billott and Ennis farmed the coinage duty for 2,000l. per an.
Serjeant Maynard affirms that the King's power of pre-emption was never disputed.
The Attorney and Solicitor General acquaint the Lord Treasurer that the [King's right of] sole exportation of tin is not to be found so clear in their books as the pre-emption is.
Mr. Courtnay says the farming of the tin has been always looked upon [as] so great a prejudice to the country [of Devon and Cornwall] that the people [the tinners] themselves have advised to give 10s. the hundred [weight] to the King more to prevent the putting it into a farm. The first farm was in Queen Elizabeth's reign. The Kings have always appointed the places where the tin is to be sold.
Mr. Tregeagle proves that the melting down of tin into small bars hath been the great occasion of defrauding the King in the coinage duty and [in] debasing the metal. The Stannary laws are judged to be binding in Westminster Hall. 'Tis conceived that the best way to prevent all abuses in this matter is by a concurrence of the Parliament of tinners with the King. Mr. Tregeagle affirms that all unwrought tin, be it in bigger or lesser figures as in bars, &c., is seizable and forfeitable, in which opinion both the Attorney and Solicitor General concur, giving this reason for it that otherwise the end of coinage is lost. And Serjeant Maynard is of opinion that if the tin be melted down it will be judged to be done for no other end than to defraud the King. The right of pre-emption obliges the tinners to bring their tin to the Coinage Hall.
Question : whether upon bringing the tin to the Coinage Hall and there offering to sell it to the King and he refuses to buy it, one may then carry it home again. Mr. Tregeagle is of opinion one may. The King is first to declare his pleasure concerning the buying of it.
Ordered upon the whole debate that the Attorney of the Duchy of Cornwall, Sir Peter Killigrew and Mr. Tregeagle do collect such laws of the Stannaries as they can and other writings belonging to it, and attend the Attorney and Solicitor General [with same] who upon perusal of them are to draw up a state of the King's right to the pre-emption, the coinage [duty] and the power of sole exportation ; reporting first to the Lord Treasurer. In the margin : The [tin] Convocationers name Sir John Carew, Sir William Godolphin, Sir Richard Edgecomb, Mr. Hugh Buscawen, Sir John Coryton, Mr. Prade.
Summon as formerly the Convocationers and all parties concerned [to attend the Treasury] on Tuesday next at three in the afternoon.
Mr. Tregeagle exhibits a complaint against Nicholas Saunders, collector of Truro, for a contempt of the Lord Treasurer's warrant, and desires his Lordship would please to put him out. The Lord Treasurer will inform himself from the Customs Commissioners before he resolves anything in this matter.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, pp. 85-7.]
Feb. 27. Present : Lord Treasurer.
[Called in] the Marquess of Worcester, Sir B. Throckmorton, Col. Cooke. The Lord Chief Baron to be spoken with about prosecution of those men that commit spoils in the Forest of Dean. [Ordered] to move the King to remove the ironworks out of the Forest as they are conceived to be the destruction of the wood and timber. Sir B. Throckmorton is of opinion that the cutting down of the coppice wood is inconsistent with the raising of timber. The Lord Treasurer thinks it proper to have the woods in Lea Baily cut. Mr. Folio [Foley] called in and the Lord Treasurer proposes to sell the wood in Lea Baily to him and demands what price Mr. Folio will give for it. [There are] 33,000l. cords contained in that wood. Mr. Folio will take off 8,000 short cord of wood every year. Mr. Folio offers the same price as formerly for it. The Lord Treasurer insists that the wood be taken off in three years. Mr. Folio offers 4s. 6d. for every short cord (besides [undertaking the cost of] the cutting) which [price] will come in neat to the King. The Lord Treasurer directs Mr. Agar to prepare some articles of agreement [by] to-morrow morning.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer to be summoned to-morrow morning to be by nine of the clock at Wallingford House.
Mr. Folio will undertake to keep horses out at the cutting of the wood.
[British Museum Additional MS. 28,077, pp. 84-5.]
Feb. 28.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
[Called in] Marquess of Worcester, Sir Baynam Throckmorton, Col. Cooke, Mr. Foley, Mr. Agar, Mr. Strode.
The Lord Treasurer directs that the Lea Bayly Wood in the Forest of Dean be set to sale at the Treasury Chambers in Whitehall, and all persons who are willing to buy the same are to repair thither to bid accordingly. If any have a mind to make any tender for the timber to be fallen in the said Lea Bayly Wood this day week is appointed for the sale, being March 7.
The Lord Treasurer to make enquiry after the Commission that put a stop upon the Exchequer and of the several Acts of Parliament relating to the payments in the Exchequer.
[Ibid. p. 87.]