Minute Book: December 1699 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 15, 1699-1700. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1933.

Citation:

'Minute Book: December 1699', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 15, 1699-1700, ed. William A Shaw( London, 1933), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol15/pp28-35 [accessed 24 November 2024].

December 1699


1699–1700.

Dec. 1.	Present: Earl of Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Boyle.
	[Order for] 19,004l. 1s. 8d. to be issued to the Ordnance out of loans on the Land Tax: to be applied in part of 19,250l. for 500 tons of saltpetre bought of the East India Company at the rate of 38l. 10s. 0d. per ton.
	Col. Godfrey [attends]. He complains that his officers [in the Jewel House] allow the goldsmiths' bills without consulting him "and [that they] reckons 12s. an ounce for that which may be furnished at 8s. an ounce: and so for other things."
	[Ordered that] two months' subsistence for the Garrisons, two months' clearings to the officers and one week's subsistence to the Forces amounting to — are to be paid out of the money remaining in the Earl of Ranelagh's hands. Ibid., p. 227.
Dec. 4, forenoon.	Present: All the five Lords.
	The [Principal] Officers of Ordnance [attend]. They desire Mr. Mordaunt may not act by a deputy but by a clerk.
	Mr. Churchill says he does not expect to sit at the Board as a deputy and that his business is only to receive and pay.
	My Lords think the deputation [from Mordaunt to Churchill] should be changed into a letter of attorney. The Officers of Ordnance agree to this. Ibid., p. 228.
Dec. 5, forenoon.	Present: Earl of Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Hill.
	[Order for] 300l. to Mr. Nicho Baker; out of which he is to pay Wedal 55l. 18s. 3d.
	[Write] to Mr. Charles Shales to be here to-morrow morning. Ibid., p. 229.
Eodem die, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King; all the five Lords.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Blathwaite [attend]. The officers' objections to the Earl of Ranelagh's charge [debit charge in the state of their accounts] are read [namely concerning the heads of charge as follows] respits 73,000l.; provisions 56,000l.; arms 3000l.; in all 132,064l. 17s. 0d. besides about 30,000l. [under the head of] clothing (in round numbers).
	The King orders that the head of provisions be allowed.
	As to the clothing, the case of every Regiment must be considered particularly, and what is reasonable must be allowed and what is unreasonable must be disallowed.
	The King will allow the article concerning the loss of horses to the First and Third Troops, Col. Wood and Lord Raby and such others as can prove they lost horses at their last crossing over.
	The article of dead freight [is] disallowed, except where they can prove error in the account of the Commissioners of Transports.
	Arms lost at Steinkirk, Landen and Namur are allowed.
	The loss in the James galley is allowed as [of] the King's bounty.
	The pay of the reduced men for the time they continued in pay (about 10 or 14 days) to 1697 Nov. 1 is allowed: to wit: 13 or 14 men in each Troop that were reduced in Flanders; 13 men per Company of Horse; 14 [per Company of] Dragoons.
	[As to] respits for not producing the lead horses [the King orders that the officers be] allowed for respits made before 1699 March 25 but not for the future.
	Respits of the Dragoons' hautboys. Disallowed.
	[As to] respits on the detachments (drawn out for the sea or Flanders) on the next musters [the King orders this head] to be examined.
	As to the Independent Company in the Leeward Islands the King orders it to be continued and my Lords are to subsist them as soon as they can.
	[Write] to the [Principal] Officers of the Works to attend my Lords on Thursday morning.
	[The King orders that] my Lords must take care that two quarters be paid before Xmas to his staghounds: which comes to 1170l. 10s. 0d.
	The overplus of the weekly money [paid in to the Exchequer] for the Civil List [is ordered] to go for the Judge's salaries. Treasury Minute Book XI, pp. 229–30.
Dec. 7, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Cockpit.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hill.
	[Order for] a warrant for a privy seal to take in the loan of 220,000l. in the Vote of Credit.
	Write a letter immediately to the Exchequer to take in the said loan.
	Issue the present surplus of the Customs to the Navy Treasurer for wages. See the Vote [of the Commons].
	The King's pleasure is that in his works at Kensington or other places where the old wainscot or other materials will serve, the King will not be at the charge of new. Signify this to the [Principal] Officers [of the Works].
	[Order for] 42l. 9s. 0d. to Mr. Hume for the half fees [of the Exchequer on issues] of 1250l. for Dr. Robinson and of 120l. to Mr. Hume disbursed for an additional present to the Dey of Algiers. Ibid., p. 231.
Dec. 8, forenoon.	Present: Lord Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hill.
	Ordered that the 147l. for the Officers of Windsor Castle be paid forthwith.
	[Order for the payment by William Lowndes of] 100l. out of secret service [money in his hands] to Sir Ed. Seymour for keeping the deer bought of the Duchess of Norfolk till such time as they were delivered to the King's use.
	Lord Culpeper's memorial [is read and ordered] to be laid before the King.
	[Order for] 6198l. 5s. 0d. to be paid to Lord Paget by 500l. a week from 1699–1700 Feb. 1 for eleven weeks and 698l. 5s. 0d. in the twelfth week: out of the funds [as they come into the Exchequer] for the Civil List.
	If Mr. Shales [the King's goldsmith] will not make the sconces according to the pattern at 7s. 6d. an ounce Col. Godfrey is to get them done [by some other] at that price. Ibid., p. 232.
Dec. 11, forenoon.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hill.
	[Order for] 10,000l. to be issued to the Treasurer of the Navy out of loans transferable to the next Aid: to be towards providing victuals for the service of next year.
	The Earl of Ranelagh and Mr. Abbot to be here to-morrow morning.
	Pursuant to the King's pleasure write to the Attorney General forthwith to prosecute the Hudson's Bay Company for the value of the goods which were taken in Bourbon Fort and which came afterwards to the hands of the said Company.
	[Write] to Mr. Secretary Vernon to desire that my Lord's letter to the Earl of Bellomont may be speeded away in the ship that goes to fetch Kid and the treasure taken with him; and that my Lords did not send any person on board the Rochester on purpose to fetch the treasure. Ibid., p. 233.
Dec. 12, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hill.
	The Poor Knights of Windsor [are ordered] 285l. 2s. 6d.
	[Order for] 1727l. 2s. 6d. of the second 3s. Aid to be issued to Lionel Hern for taking in Exchequer Bills to be cancelled.
	[Order for payments of 12,230l. 10s. 2d. as follows, to be made by the Earl of Ranelagh: viz.] 9080l. 10s. 2d. for two weeks' subsistence to the Forces to Dec. 24 inst.; and 3150l. advanced by Mr. Abbot to clear Commission Officers of the Garrisons to Nov. 25 ult.: to be satisfied out of the tenth [instalment] payment of the Two Millions [payable] by the new East India Company.
	[Write] to the Excise Commissioners to be here this afternoon.
	The Earl of Ranelagh is to direct the sum, about 1000l., (remaining of the 10,500l. carried to the Leeward Islands by Capt. Taylder for the disbanding of Holt's Regiment) to be paid over to Col. Fox for the subsistence of his Regiment.
	[? Order for the issue of] 26,592l. 6s. 11½d. [? which] rests due to the Ordnance out of the [supply for] Sea Service of the Ordnance.
	The Officers of the Ordnance [are] to have a warrant for their Exchequer fees.
	See what is due to the Secretaries of State for secret service.
	[Order for] 153l. 10s. 0d. to Mr. Carr for Bibles sent to the West Indies. Ibid., p. 234.
Eodem die, afternoon.	Present: ut supra.
	After the Judges are paid for the last term my Lords order 1000l. to the Earl of Jersey and 500l. to Secretary Vernon for secret service, which brings them up to Michaelmas last.
	The Customs Commissioners are called in. They say Mr. Colt put in his answer before them, but Mr. Cocks or Mr. Ballard never replied: only Mr. Cocks insisted on Mr. Colt's letters as the matters which he would proceed upon.
	Mr. Ballard, being called in, says the original letters are delivered to Mr. Handly and that he has no further charge against Mr. Colt but from those letters.
	Mr. Colt says he relies on his answer given to the Customs Commissioners.
	Mr. Ballard says he will reply in writing to-morrow and give it in to the Treasury.
	Mr. Colt is to have a copy of it.
	My Lords order the reply, when brought, to be sent to the Customs Commissioners who are to consider and report the whole matter with their opinion.
	Mr. Boyle comes in.
	If Mr. Ballard do not bring in his reply the Commissioners are to proceed on the matters before them.
	My Lords will consider the report concerning Mr. Williamson, the head searcher [London port] this day week. Mr. Williamson is to have notice.
	Order for 50,000l. out of the loans on the Vote of Credit to be issued to the Treasurer of the Navy: to be for wages [of seamen]. Treasury Minute Book XI, p. 235.
Dec. 13, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King: Earl of Tankerville; Chancellor of the Exchequer; Mr. Boyle; Mr. Hill.
	Lord Coningsby [his memorial is read. Ordered that] the money which he received for paying off the French Regiments in Ireland and which remains unapplied there is to be paid over to the Colonels or their agents in proportion to the monies due to those respective Regiments.
	Lord Culpeper [his petition is read. Ordered] to be paid 200l.
	Duchess of Richmond [her petition is read].
	Duchess of Cleveland [her petition is read]. See what is due to her.
	Duchess of Monmouth [her petition is read]. She is to be paid her 4000l. a year as far as others are paid. Let a state be made for the King next Wednesday how far she is in arrear of that 4000l. per an.
	Mr. Charles Bertie [his petition is read]. My Lords are to speak with Mr. Mordaunt about it.
	Lord Sherrard [his petition is read]. The 1200l. is to be paid.
	John Latton [his petition is read]. Referred to the Surveyor [General of Crown Lands].
	Mr. Cromelin [his petition is read]. To be carried to the Privy Council.
	Sir Sam Barnardiston [his petition is read]. Respited till there be some more money.
	Garret Coghlan [his petition is read]. Referred to the Lords Justices [Ireland].
	Mris. Arnold [her petition is read. Ordered] to have 50l.
	Dr. Bray [his petition is read]. Granted.
	Lady Dalton [her petition is read]. Not granted.
	Walter Raleigh [his petition is read. Ordered to have] 100l. a year on Mr. Nicholas's Establishment [of the late Queen's servants pensions, &c.]; from midsummer.
	State the debt on the Civil List to Xmas 1699.
	Bring the two distributions [of Civil List moneys] next week how far they are paid and what remains.
	Let Mr. Talman and Mr. London bring in an estimate of what is to be now done in the gardens at Hampton Court and an estimate for the year ensuing.
	[Order for the issue to William Lowndes of] 500l. for Secret Service: [to be issued] in Exchequer Bills.
	[The King orders] Mris. Ann Franklyn for Lady Fran Keightley 210l. [? per an.] and for Madame Vennevelle 27l. 10s. 0d. per an. pensions: to be paid by Mr. Nicholas [out of the issues for the Establishment of the late Queen's servants &c.]. Ibid., p. 236.
Dec. 14, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Cockpit.	Present: Earl of Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Hill.
	Letters to the Auditors about the Receivers of the Land Revenues are read and approved.
	[Order for the issue to William Lowndes of] 600l. for secret service. Ibid., p. 237.
Dec. 15, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox; Chancellor of the Exchequer; Mr. Boyle; Mr. Hill.
	Mr. Thomas is ordered to make good the [Lottery] tickets missing in the Transfer Office, and he promises it shall be done.
	[Order for] 42l. 10s. 0d. to the Office of the Works: to be paid over to Monsieur Cousin for gilding at Windsor Castle.
	Write to the Navy Commissioners to be here on Monday morning about the methods used in applying the money lately issued to the Navy. Ibid., p. 238.
Dec. 18, forenoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hill.
	[Order for the issue of] 633l. 9s. 10d. to be paid over by the Earl of Ranelagh to the Navy Treasurer to clear deductions made from the men of the Companies of Plunket, Shovel and Williams; according to a letter now read at the Board.
	Mr. Stockdale and Mr. Meek to be here on Friday morning.
	The Navy Commissioners [attend]. [My Lords] direct 40,000l. for wages and to be applied to pay off ships; 10,000l. for wages and to be applied to recalls of ships: [both sums to be issued] out of loans in the Exchequer on the credit of the late Vote.
	The Earl of Tankerville comes in.
	The Victuallers [attend. My Lords order the issue of] 3000l. for the Victualling; to be applied to short allowance due to the men of the Straits Squadron now to be paid off.
	They [the Victuallers] say that at all the brewhouses where [any contracting brewer for] the King brews beer the King is charged for the malt, hops and other materials and not with a certain rate for the beer.
	[Write] to Mr. Papillon that there being an agreement made by Capt. Delaval with the Emperor of Morocco or his Alcaide for redemption of the English prisoners in Barbary, pursuant to which a sum of money inter al is to be paid to the Moors; in case Mr. Papillon will write to Sir William Hedges and any other correspondent of his at Cadiz to give security to the Moors for paying the said money (struck through) performing the said agreement in England [sic] my Lords will take care that he shall be indemnified and that Mr. Papillon shall receive satisfaction from my Lords that the security shall be complied with.
	[Order for issue of] 1000l. for the King's charity to the poor of the city. Ibid., p. 239.
Dec. 19, afternoon.	Present: Earl of Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Boyle.
	The Customs Commissioners [attend]. Their report of the 19th inst. concerning Mr. Colt is read, together with two letters referred to in the same, concerning clipped money.
	Mr. Cocks and Mr. Ballard come in. Mr. Colt comes in. Mr. Cocks is asked whether he insists on anything but the letters. He says Colt has confessed he lent out 2300l. to [sic for of] the King's money to Cary because he was a well affected man and his creditors disaffected.
	Mr. Wade comes in. Mr. Hendley's report (containing Ballard's charge and Colt's answers) is read. To the ninth article Mr. Cocks offers an extract of 13 letters concerning the Glass House.
	Mr. Cock's extract of letters is read concerning clipped money and 3d. per £ from soldiers.
	Mr. Colt's further answer is read.
	Draw up the state of the whole case and lay it before the King. Ibid., p. 240.
Dec. 20, forenoon.	Present: Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Boyle.
	Two volumes of Irish Acts to be provided [for use of the Treasury Office].
	The Warden and Comptrollers of the Mint [attend]. The Warden employs Dr. Fouquier in the vacancy of the master. They are to make and present a state of all the Mints as they stand on [the day of] Mr. Neal's death.
	Sir Stephen Fox comes in.
	The Earl of Tankerville comes in.
	[Order for the issue of] 212l. 11s. 9½d. for the inhabitants of Chester in further part of 733l. 11s. 5d. for quarters [of soldiers: to be issued] out of remains of old taxes in the Exchequer. Ibid., p. 241.
Dec. 22, forenoon.	Present: all the five Lords.
	[Order for the issue to the Navy Treasurer of] 60,000l. for Wages [of seamen] and 15,000l. for the Victualling for the current service of the next year: [to be issued] out of loans on the Vote.
	[Write] to Mr. Montagu that the overplus above 80,000l. arising by the surplus of the Customs be reserved till further direction [from my Lords].
	[Order for the issue of] 375l. for the Lord Almoner for three quarters due at Xmas 1699: to be issued to the Treasurer of the Chamber out of the money for the Civil List [in the Exchequer].
	Ordered that] 13,620l. 15s. 3d. for three weeks' subsistence [of the Forces] to Jan. 14 next is to be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh, out of the produce of the surplus of the Customs above 80,000l.
	[Order for] 30l. to be paid to Gideon Royer.
	A letter for taking off the stop on the half-pay of the Captain and Field Officers of the Marine Regiments is read and approved.
	A letter [is ordered] for allowing the taxes paid by the Commissioners and Clerks of the Navy [Office] for the years 1696, 1698 and 1699 amounting to 3763l. 18s. 1d. Ibid., p. 342.
Eodem die, afternoon. Kensington.	Present: the King: all the five Treasury Lords.
	A particular account [is ordered to be got] of the moneys issued for the Gardens since the beginning of the Works at Hampton Court last summer.
	Also an account [is] to be had, for the King, of all the Works performed with that money.
	The Wardrobe estimate for Hampton Court is to be considered by my Lords.
	Mr. Frontine's paper for repair of the ice-house [is ordered] to be referred to the Office of Works.
	[Order for] 500l. to Mr. Cresset for extraordinaries.
	The quarter's salary which would have grown due to Mr. Neal at Xmas 1699 if he had lived is to be applied to make good the tickets which are wanting in the Transfer Office.
	[A draft royal] letter about 3000l. for enlarging the buildings of the College of Dublin is read and ordered.
	The Household drums and fife [their arrears are considered]. Stay till it be seen whether any contingent money will be granted.
	Bring next Treasury day the list of the widows that used to be paid on the Civil List.
	Bring a list of what will clear all the [Household] servants to Xmas 1698.
	[? Likewise bring or ? the King considers] an estimate of what the overplus of the Civil List money [in the Exchequer] above the payments will amount to by the 1st of February next.
	Write to the Lords Justices [Ireland] that it is the King's pleasure that the fees for the wool licences be taken as formerly and, if any refuse, proceed at law according to the report of the Attorney and Solicitor General.
	[Order for the issue to William Lowndes of] 1000l. for secret service.
	Mr. Nicholas to bring in his list of all pensions paid by him. Ibid., p. 243.
Dec. 29, forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Cockpit.	Present: Earl of Tankerville, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hill.
	[A] letter for rectifying the list of payments at the Exchequer as [far as relates] to Gentlemen and Grooms of the Bedchamber is read and approved.
	[Order for the issue to William Lowndes of] 600l. for secret service.
	Two letters to the Earl of Ranelagh and the Navy Commissioners are read and approved for applying 1575l. 16s. 3d. due to noncommission officers and men of several late Companies of Marines whose accounts are adjusted [the said to letters being (1) to the Navy Commissioners to imprest the money to Ranelagh and (2) to Ranelagh to pay it out accordingly].
	[Write] to Mr. Strickland to come to W. L[owndes] about the Lottery tickets not changed at the Transfer Office.
	Write to Mr. Taylor that Mr. Neal being dead till further order he is not to proceed in the payment of any salaries which were appointed for him or his clerks or for his Office.
	[Order for the issue of] 266l. 13s. 4d. viz. 150l. to the executors of Lord Kingston and 41l. 13s. 4d. to Lord Wharton and 75l. to the D[uke] of Devon[shire].
	Mr. Boyle comes in.
	[Write] to Mr. Fox to be here next Wednesday morning about his account. Ibid., p. 244.