BHO

Volume 19: July 1-September 28, 1692

Pages 245-260

Calendar of Treasury Papers, Volume 1, 1556-1696. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1868.

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July 1–September 28, 1692

1692.
July 1.
1. Letter of the Earl of Nottingham to the Lords of the Treasury, stating that the Queen was informed that there was a great mortality at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands, suspected to be the plague; and telling them Her Majesty would have them give directions for vessels from thence to make a quarantine. Dated 1 July 1692. 1 small quarto page.
[About
July 1.]
2. Petition of John Underwood, John Charters, Abraham Hackenbrook, Thomas Abrahams, and Edward Price, showing that they had given credit to several of the Dutch “provoes,” and some of the officers, for meat, &c., since they came from Ireland, and to their wives and families, whilst they were there, or they must have perished; and 70l. was due for the same, which Capt. Velt Hoven, Provost Marshal General to the Dutch forces, promised to pay; praying it might be stopped and paid to them, out of what was to be paid to the Provost Marshal. Received 1 July 1692.
Minuted:—“Referred to my Ld Ranelagh.” 1 page.
July 6. 3. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury upon a great variety of charges made against John Dutton Colt Esq., collector of Bristol, of misconduct in his office.
They state that the evidence was very conflicting, and so they laid the testimonies themselves before their Lordships. Dated 6 July 1692.
[The other papers which should accompany these, are not now with them.] 10 pages.
July 6. 4. Memorial of the Comrs of Excise to the Lords of the Treasury, concerning cracked money received by the officers of excise, in pursuance of an Order in Council, but refused to be received from them by the officers of the Exchequer, amounting to 1,708l. 12s. 3d.; which when melted was of the value of 1,329l. 7s.d., praying for a warrant to allow the loss. Dated 6 July '92.
Minuted:—“Agreed.” 1 page.
July 7. 5. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of David de Bery, merchant, advising that liberty should be given to reship certain lead; the ship having been wrecked and the cargo landed. Dated 7 July 1692.
Minuted:—“12 July '92. Agreed to.”
[See 19 Apr. 1692 for another report on the same matter.]
Also the petition. 3 pages.
July 7. 6. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of Cornelius Noortwick and Derrick Meyn, respecting a certain commodity called “hars,” 400 casks of which had been imported, being of a similar nature to resin, which was prohibited to be imported from Holland; advising that it should be admitted. Dated 7 July 1692. Also the petition.
Minuted:—“12 July '92. Agreed to, provided there be nothing in it of ye growth or manufacture of France.” 2½ pages.
July 10. 7. An attested copy of a letter of Lord Lucan, dated at Paris, addressed to Mr. Geo. Clarke, begging him “to represent the matter right” about certain ships and goods in which he was concerned, which appear to have been seized as prizes, in violation of some agreement entered into by General Ginckell and the then Government of Ireland. Dated 10 July 1692.
Minuted:—“My Lds agree to it, paying ye charges of ye officers of ye prizes.” 2 pages.
July 12. 8. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Richard Bere, officer of customs at Carlisle; praying to be reimbursed 74l. 4s., laid out in pursuance of the directions of the Earl of Shrewsbury, late Secretary of State, for subsisting Irish prisoners in the garrison of Carlisle; offering no objection to his being reimbursed. Dated 12 July 1692.
Minuted:—“Agreed to, & ye mony to be pd by Mr Fox to M'Knight.”
Three enclosures. 6 pages.
July 13. 9. Report of Sir John Somers, Attorney-General, on the petition of Elizabeth, Countess Dowager of Castle-Haven, praying for the continuance of certain quit rents to the value of 500l. per ann., and that the Comrs for the Revenue in Ireland might grant process for levying those rents; recommending compliance with the prayer of the petition. Dated 13 July 1692.
Minuted:—“To be sent to the Justices of Ireland, to know if they have any objection to Mr Attorney's rept.”
Also the petition and copy of three certificates respecting the kindness manifested by the Countess to the Protestants in Ireland. 5 pages.
July 15. 10. Report of Sir Christopher Wren to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Stephen Chase, chafe-wax to the Great Seal of England, in favour of his claim of 75l. for rent, &c., his room being useless during 12 years, from the ruin of the buildings of the Court of Wards, at the end of Westminster Hall; in favour of his claim. Dated July 15, 1692.
Minuted:—“To be paid by the paymr of ye work, 75li.” 3 pages.
July 15. 11. Memorial of Peregrine Bertie, Esq., to the Lords of the Treasury, showing that he had made a survey of the port of Bristol, and delivered a report thereof, in which he set forth certain frauds and irregular practices in that port; which report Mr. Colt, the collector there, affirmed was malicious and false; praying to be heard by counsel. Signed P. Bertie. Dated 15 July 1692.
[See a report of the Comrs of Customs, dated 6 July 1692, which throws great light on the charges brought against Mr. Colt. No. 3.] 1 page.
July 19. 12. Memorial of the Comrs for sick and wounded seamen and exchange of prisoners at war to the Lords of the Treasury, earnestly praying for payment of 3,612l. 10s., for arrears, and for a supply for the maintenance of near 400 French prisoners at several ports, which would amount to about 70l. per week; otherwise they would perish, and the English in France would run the same fate. Dated 19 July 1692. 1 page.
July 19. 13. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of John Yates, of Kingston-upon-Hull, who was prosecuted in the Exchequer upon two bonds, given not to send a ship and her lading to France, which ship was afterwards taken there; certifying that he was so weakened in his credit by his imprisonment, &c., that there was little prospect of recovering anything out of his estate. Dated 19 July 1692.
Minuted:—“The Lds do not think fitt to stop process.”
Accompanied by five enclosures. 7 pages.
[About
July 19.]
14. Proposal of Francis Molyneux, Wm. Woollet, Wm. Willcox, and others, concerned in clothing the regiment of horse commanded by Col. Francis Langston, to advance 4,000l., provided their Lordships would strike tallies on three fourths of the customs for their debt of 3,235l. 4s., and the 4,000l. on the quarterly poll.
Minuted:—“July 19, 1692. Agreed by the Lords,” &c. 1 page (quarto).
July 20. 15. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of John Harrison, master of the ship “Elizabeth and Mary,” going to Oporto; stating that notwithstanding a protection from the Admiralty four of his men were pressed from him in the Downs into their Majesties' service by the “St. Alban's,” prize, in consequence of which he was unable to get English hands, the convoy being just ready to sail; not objecting to relief being given. Dated 20 July 1692.
Minuted:—“Agreed to.”
Also the petition, and an affidavit. 2 pages and 2 halves.
July 20. 16. Report of Charles Fox, Esq., one of the Paymasters-General of the forces in Ireland to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Elizabeth Danvers, widow, executrix of Capt. Michael Miller (of Sir Henry Ingoldsby's regiment of foot); who was killed at the Newry, in Ireland, viz., as to the claim made by her for his pay. Dated 20 July 1692.
Minuted:—“She must stay till ye accts of the regmt be adjusted.”
The Report is on the back of the petition; there are also four certificates relating thereto. 6 pages (quarto).
July 21. 17. Presentment by the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, respecting the arrangements for the observance of quarantine in the River Thames; expressing their apprehension that sufficient caution was not exercised, in distinguishing ships from the West Indies from others in the impressment of seamen, and praying to know whether the order for performing quarantine might not extend to ships from Jamaica, as well as the other islands, commonly called the Leeward Islands, as they were informed that the sickness and mortality was at Jamaica as well as the Leeward Islands. Dated 21 July 1692.
Minuted:—“A ketch order'd as is desir'd, ye Comrs of the Cust to give an acct of the information they have of ye mortality in Jamaica.”
There is also a proposal for an effectual execution of the quarantine by the appointment of certain ships, &c., between the Essex and Kentish coasts. 1½ pages.
July 22. 18. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of Thomas Tyndale, praying for the place of one of the patent waiters in the port of Bristol; certifying that he was qualified for the same. Dated 22 July 1692.
Also the petition. Two half pages.
July 22. 19. Paper, docquetted:—“Coppy of my Lord Melforts lettre to Monsr de Pont Chartrain.”
The writer [who was secretary to King James the Second] had previously written in favour of Geraldine (or Gerardin) but that letter was not to be considered in opposition to the claim of Butts, the English commissary. The Lord Lucan had shown the writer the article in the capitulation of Limerick, referring to the transport of the Irish troops into France; and the King did not wish to give any advantage to his enemies by infringing the terms of the capitulation. The claim of Butts is therefore to be strictly discharged, and he is to be treated well by the officers of justice, when engaged upon his affairs at Nantes.
Dated at St. Germain-en-Laye, 22 July 1692. (French.) 10½ pages.
July 22. 20. Letter of the Comrs of Farthings addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, acquainting them with a grant made to Mrs. Bridget Darcy of 400l. per ann. to be paid by them requesting their Lordships' directions before they made any payment. Dated 22 July 1692.
Minuted:—“The Lds do agree to ye paymt & a letter to be sent to ye Comrs accordingly.” 1 page.
July 25. 21. Report of the officers of the Mint to the Lords of the Treasury, concerning the proposals of the governor and company of copper miners for the coining of pence, half-pence, and farthings for England, Ireland, and the plantations, of English copper, after the rate of 2s. for each pound weight “Haverdupoiz,” for the term of five years, they paying annually 2,500l. and advancing the first year's rent; and their coinage to be limited during that term to 500 tons, stating that copper had the preference of other base metal for making such small coins; that the produce of 500 tons would amount to 112,000l.; that the proposers might coin with advantage, at the rate of 22d. the pound weight, and include the whole charge of coinage and the proposed rent of 2,500l. per ann. if they could vend such a quantity; that the governor and company should be obliged to make their coins from the ore of one or more mines in England or Wales; that the standard be equal in fineness to the copper, whereof the Swedish money was made; that copper be assayed; that books of accounts be kept by their tellers of what quantities of copper coins were made, and that their proposed coins might not be imposed in payments but only permitted to pass in voluntary exchanges. Dated 25 July 1692.
Also the proposals. 3 pages (one quarto).
July 25. 22. “An abstract of Brigadier Steuarts pretensions,” before the Lords of ths Treasury, showing that there was 4341l. 10s. 11d. due to him for military services in Ireland. Dated (on the back) “July ye 25th '92.”
Accompanied by a copy of a memorial from him, offering to procure an advance of 4,000l. upon the land or poll tax; provided he might have tallies thereon, or upon any other good funds. The memorial was dated 22 June 1692. 2 pages.
July 26. 23. A paper containing memoranda of loans under different heads. Part of a page.
July 27. 24. Memorial of the Comrs for sick and wounded seamen, &c., to the Lords of the Treasury, reminding them of previous memorials; earnestly intreating immediate consideration.
With the following postscript:—
“Since the above written, we have advice of about 150 French prisoners added to our charge, and every day more expected.” Dated 27 July 1692. 1 page.
July 27. 25. Copy of warrant to Sir Robert Howard, Knt., Auditor of the Receipt of the Exchequer, requiring him to cause the principal sums comprehended in the annexed list, amounting to 374,901l. 6s. 5d. to be repaid to the several persons who had lent the same out of the three last quarterly payments of the poll money, together with interest at 6 per cent. out of the one-fourth of the customs unappropriated. Dated 27 July 1692.
A list of the persons who had advanced the loans. 4 pages.
July 28. 26. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Charles Hanbury, one of the King's waiters in the port of London; praying to be allowed to surrender his office in favour of Mr. Henry Esday. Dated 28 July 1692.
Minuted:—“Granted.”
Two enclosures. 1 page and 2 halves.
July 29. 27. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Robert Heysham and Thomas Merret, of London, merchants, to Her Majesty and the Lords of the Privy Council; praying the shortening of quarantine to two ships which had arrived from Barbadoes; stating that the crews looked well. Dated 29 July 1692.
Minuted:—“My Lds can doe nothing in it till a full Board.”
Also the petition. 2 pages.
Aug. 1. 28. Letter from the Duchess of Cleveland to the Lords of the Treasury, stating that she had waited with a great deal of patience for her payments from the Post Office, and was forced by the clamours of her creditors to remind their Lordships of her claims. Dated 1 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“This matter was ordered on deliberation of the whole Board, therefore the Lords do not think fit to consider of any alteration of it till the Board is full.” 1 page (quarto).
Aug. 5. 29. Report of the Comrs of the Revenue of Ireland on the petition of Mr. Francis Babe, Surveyor-General of the Inland Excise and other papers transmitted therewith, expressing their belief that after the victory of the Boyne he contributed to secure the Custom House in Dublin and divers other offices, and the books and papers, which contributed much to their Majesties' service, and that on their arrival there they found him very ready and forward to assist them, wherefore they confirmed him in his employment as surveyor-general, and further speaking highly of the discharge of his duties. Dated 5 Aug. 1692.
Accompanied by four petitions, and some other papers relating thereto. 16 pages.
Aug. 8. 30. Report of the [Comrs] of Ordnance to the Lords of the Treasury on the proposal made in behalf Sir Polycarpus Wharton. They state that the office of Ordnance was alleged to be indebted 7,000l. to him, but they found there was not due to him (imprests deducted) more than 2,000l.; there was, however, one imprest of 3,000l., which had lain long in his hands. He had been at great expense in repairs and providing materials, more particularly under a contract of 1687, for 11 years, obliging him to serve the stores with 1,200 barrels of powder annually; which he performed till they had no saltpetre to deliver to him. The Comrs represent the necessity there was to keep the mills at work during the war, as they made no less than half the powder of England, and they believed that without some encouragement, Sir Polycarpus must dismiss his men and let the mills. It would be no small encouragement if the 7,000l. desired were paid into the hands of the Treasurer of the Ordnance, on his account. Dated 8 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“9th Sept. '92. To be laid before my Lds on Wenesday next.”
A letter of Sir Polycarpus Wharton, in explanation of or reply to the report, and two other papers relating thereto. 4 pages.
Aug. 10. 31. Report of the Lords of the Treasury to the Queen, stating that they had considered the petition of John St. Leger, Esq., and the report of the Lord Lieutenant thereupon, in which it appeared that the petitioner's estate in Ireland had suffered by the rebels there, to the value of above 6,000l., and himself and family were reduced to great necessities; he further prayed for a grant of the concealments he could discover, to repair his losses, reserving one-fourth to the Crown; expressing their opinion that what moneys should be discovered and recovered, by aid of the Exchequer, should be paid into the Exchequer in Ireland, and one-third be reserved to the Crown, and the residue be issued, as royal bounty to the petitioner, for his services and sufferings. Dated 10 Aug. 1692.
Accompanied by the report of the Lord Lieut. of Ireland, and the petition referred to.
Minuted:—“8 Sept. '92. The King hath appointed a generall commission to enquire into all forfeitures, & therefore this must bee respited, till it bee seene whether these forfeitures bee in the returne of that commission.” 4 pages.
Aug. 11. 32. Report of the Comrs of Excise to the Lords of the Treasury on the petition of Richard Price, executor of Ambrose Thelwell, certifying their Lordships that Thelwell having been a collector of excise in Hertford and Bedford, had returned his money by Willm. Barber, a maltster at Luton, who usually returned the excise money for preceding collectors; and that in the year 1688, Barber having received 603l. from Thelwell, and not paid the same at the Excise Office, Thelwell seized his estate, which realised 249l. 1s. 10½d.; the remainder being due, besides 163l. 17s.d.; advising that 353l. 18s.d. be allowed on the account. Dated 11 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“My Lords do not agree to this report.” 2 pages.
Aug. 12. 33. Report of William Tailer, deputy surveyor, made to the Lords of the Treasury, on the memorial of Mr. Bickerstaffe; finding that the like request was made to King Charles II. in 1668, by the Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who desired a lease of such mines, minerals, coal-mines, and quarries, as he should discover in the county of Merioneth, on which the Attorney General and Surveyor General reported favourably on 16 May 1668. He was uncertain if any grant was obtained, but the contrary was alleged, and suggested that a lease in such general terms as was then advised might be granted to the proposer, but the offer of a thirteenth part was less than usual. He had known a sixth part reserved, and never less than a tenth, as was then made payable on lead and ore, in the county of Flint, by Dr. Edisbury.
He had also reported that day on the petition of the Earl of Macclesfield, wherein the same mines were desired. Dated 12 Aug. '92.
Minuted:—“To stay till my Ld Macclesfield's rept is brought in. 9th Sept.
“To be laid before ye Queen when Dr Ed. Seymour is here. 25 Oct. '92.
Accompanied by the memorial. 2 pages
Aug. 15. 34. State of the case of the “Henry” of London, which was seized in Ireland by the agent to the Commissioners for prizes, and by him delivered to Lieut.-Gen. Sarsfield's agent at Dublin, upon security of 1,700l. for payment of the value of the ship and goods. Dated 15 Aug. 1692. 1 page.
Aug. 16. 35. Letter signed G. Boothe [to the Lords of the Treasury], inclosing the petition of John Fisher and James Ammond, reporting that the petitioners did belong to the smack, which was carrying the Lord Preston, &c. into France; and in many particulars showed their zeal for their Majesties' service. Dated 16 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“To be considered out of the first money that shall come into ye Exchequer, out of ye Ld Preston's estate.
The petition is not now with it. 23 Aug. 1692. 1 page.
Aug. 18. 36. Report of the Commissioners of Sewers for Sussex on the petition of Robert Colepeper, gent., setting forth that the lands mentioned in the petition contained several thousand acres of which the petitioner had about 50; 5,000 acres or more were anciently very low brook lands, or moors adjacent to the river of Rother, and long before the reign of Henry VIII. “sewed” into the sea at Rumney, through Rumney Marsh, distant from Rye towards the north-east several miles. The harbour of Rye then and now ought to lie on the west side of Rye town, towards Winchelsea, but the sea breaking suddenly into a small sewer between Guildford Marsh and some low brook lands near the town of Rye, on the south-east side, flowed several miles up into the counties of Kent and Sussex, and drowned several thousand acres of land, and by the violent flux and reflux of the sea far up into the country formed a channel on the east side of the town of Rye; and thereupon the inhabitants of Rye and their western neighbours began to divide and share the harbour by “inning” or embanking several parts thereof from the sea. This increased the flow of the channel and made it more easy to gain more land out of the harbour, which the inhabitants did not omit to do; and thereby left little more than a channel, now called Rye ferry. Afterwards the owners of the drowned lands gained them from the sea, and in 1627 there was not 18 inches of water at ebb tide, where Rye town would then have a harbour, instead of their own harbour, which lay on the other side of the town. When the drowned lands were regained from the sea and the harbour of Rye shut off from the sea, the sea lodged so much “sleech or slubb” in the Rother, as soon stopped the sewer thereof; and thereupon the Rother rose to that height that it surrounded 3,000 acres with fresh water. This alarmed the country, as well to recover the drowned lands as to preserve the 2,000 other acres of land, then decaying, and in danger of being lost, and thereupon several “indraughts” or receptacles were made to receive the salt as well as the fresh water at convenient times to be issued forth, both together, violently on a bare channel so as to maintain a depth and breadth sufficient to “sew” the said lands; and whilst the indraughts had any good effect the channel was of some tolerable depth, but the sea in time lodged so much slubb or sleech in the “indraughts,” that it became feazable to make dry land of the same, and to preserve the sewer of the river of Rother also. And thereupon the country was at vast charge in designing the recovery of the one and the preservation of the other. The town of Rye foreseeing that they might lose the channel, exhibited a petition to King Charles the Second, and His Majesty was satisfied that the town of Rye had no pretence for a harbour on the east side of the town, which was formerly firm land, and part was meadow or “brook” land, and given by the Abbot of Roberts-Bridge to the corporation of Rye. The deed of grant among the records at Rye, was not many years before perused, and they conceived that His Majesty was satisfied by the Governor of Dover Castle that no charge or art could make a convenient harbour at Rye, to receive either men-of-war or merchant ships. And the Comrs of Sewers shut the sea out of a level called Wittersham Level, for which the owners of the upper levels had for many years paid over 3,000l. per ann., and they had embanked nearly all that level. One end of Wittersham Level lay near the channel, on the east of the town, and the sea, by agreement between the owners of Wittersham Level and of the upper level (decreed in Chancery) being let into part of Wittersham Level, as an indraught, soon blew up all walls and drowned the whole level, and by the flux and reflux of the sea over that level, for about 50 years, the town of Rye during that time had the conveniency of that channel, &c. The town of Rye ought to consider that their harbour was and ought to be on the west of their town, and to consider the means to retreive their harbour, and not to imagine the drowning a country which had been at several hundred thousand pounds charge, to secure itself from being drowned. The country had also been at great charge to procure the famous Mons. le Plau, (the surveyor of the Fen Level in Lincolnshire,) to take a journey to view these levels and works. The Comrs further thought it not requisite for the security of the country to consult new surveyors about projects of navigation, and forts which no law obliged them to undertake; and they conceived the petition and the two certificates were altogether “projectory” and would never tend to the service of the public. Dated 18 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“5th Octo. 1692. Nothing to be done.”
Accompanied by the petition and the certificates of the Mayor and jurats of Rye, and the Mayor and jurats of Hastings, in relation to the said harbour. The former is in favour of Robert Colepeper's scheme, and states they “make no doubt but the navigable channel, proposed by Robert Colepeper, gent., will soon render that harbour very serviceable to men-of-war to defend the coast and other navigation and be presented safe and fit to be done by a jury;” without which the town would soon be undone, and the navigation both of these countries and the kingdom much damnified, &c. 3 pages, 2 of them large brief size.
Aug. 19. 37. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury stating that they had nothing to object to the grant of the office of collector of the woollen cloth and petty customs prayed for by Nicholas Hardy. Dated 19 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“Granted.”
Also two enclosures. 4½ pages.
Aug. 23. 38. Report of Sir John Somers, Attorney-General, addressed to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of William Williams, gent., respecting the lordship and town of Haverfordwest, in the county of Pembroke, which the petitioner claimed by assignment from the trustees for the city of London, and respecting the rent reserved to the Crown, &c. Dated 23 Aug. 1692.
Accompanied by the petition and a schedule containing “A true coppy of the severall rents as they stand charged in the view books & records” in the office of the auditor of Wales, “as alsoe an acct of what rents are reserved to the Crowne out of the grants made to the trustees for the citty of London.”
This was sent to Sir John Somers, Knt., Solicitor-General, and is gathered from a letter dated 29 Feb. 1691–2, written at the end of the schedule.
Minuted:—“The Lds cannot alter ye charge.” 9 pages and 2 halves.
Aug. 23. 39. Order in Council on the petition of Thomas Taylder and Avice his wife, who were tried at the assizes in Cornwall for fraudulently and deceitfully persuading one Gertrude Crowgie, widow, who was then “languishing,” to seal a certain deed in their favour; the petitioners allege that although the evidence was not sufficient, yet it being urged by the counsel against them that they were fanatics and frequenters of conventicles, the judge directed the jury to find them guilty, which they did, and the said Thomas had remained in prison for four years.
The order refers the matter to the judges, who go the Western Circuit, to report to this “Board” Dated 2 June 1692.
There are divers minutes on the back in relation to it, one of which, on 14 Oct. 1692, states that my Lords have no objection to the judges' report.
Also the petition.
Further Order of Council, on 23 Aug. 1692, transmitting a report in favour of the petitioners, by Mr. Baron Turton, who tried the case, to the Lords of the Treasury for their opinion.
The copy of the report and a petition of Arthur Newman, gent., who married the only daughter of Gertrude Crowgie; praying for time to bring up his witnesses. 4½ pages.
Aug. 30. 40. Memorial of the Comrs for sick and wounded seaman, &c., to the Lords of the Treasury, stating that the French prisoners multiplied daily, and the countries where they were subsisted refused “further to run in score;” they were continually oppressed with clamours; 500 seamen had arrived from France, whose freight with contingencies must presently be paid; the arrears on 24 June were 3,612l. 10s., of which they had received but 1,500l.; the charge since had risen to above 100l. a week; there was no money to pay the weekly subsistence of the prisoners, nor any credit; 470l. 14s. 4d. was due for the Savoy prisoners, in which several poor families were concerned, one of which was reduced to that low ebb that (if not kindly prevented) he would in mere despair of his share, have “liquidated all his accts in the river of Thames, &c.” Dated 30 Aug. 1692. 1 page.
Aug. 30. 41. Letter of Henry Guy, to the Comrs for managing the revenues in Ireland, enclosing the Order of Council, which referred to the Lords of the Treasury, the petition of James Clarke of Dublin, merchant, as to certain barrels of salt taken from the petitioner at Waterford, for the use of the army, for which he sought payment; for the report of the Comrs. Dated 30 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“Report: 4th Oct. 93. My Lds can doe nothing in it.” 3 pages.
Aug. 31. 42. Presentment by the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, seeking that the Comrs of Revenue for Ireland should be directed to transmit an account of what tobacco was landed from any port of England. Dated 31 Aug. 1692.
Minuted:—“A letter to bee written accordingly into Ireland.” 1 page.
Aug. 31. 43. Memorial of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, laying before them the state of the account between the officers of the Customs and the East India Company, seeking that speedy remedy might be taken on their bonds. Dated 31 Aug. 1692.
Also the state of account. 3¼ pages.
Feb.–Aug. 44. Three acquittances given by His Excellency Col. Kendall, and two by Patrick Mein, to Edwin Stede, Esq., their Majesties' Commissioner, of the duty of 4½ per cent. arising and to be collected in the island of Barbadoes, upon the receipt of moneys for salary of the Colonel, and of sugars, &c. to be disposed of to pay the Duke of Bolton's regiment, in the Carribee Islands, under the command of Col. Henry Holt. Dated between Feb. and Aug. 1692. 5 pages.
Aug. 45. Report of Mr. Chas. Fox to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Edmund Maud (in the petition the name is “Maund”), administrator to his brother George Maud, late a quarter master in the royal regiment of horse, praying payment of what was due to his brother when he was killed [in Ireland]. Dated August 1692.
Written on the back of the petition.
Minuted:—“To be considered when ye accts of ye Regimt are adjusted.” 2 pages.
Sept. 1. 46. Order of Her Majesty in Council, on the petition of Edmund Prideaux, Henry Ustick, and Matthew Remington, Esqrs., praying for a privy seal upon a warrant granting them one-third of all such moneys as should be recovered of divers persons, who formerly levied several sums of money upon dissenters, in cases of recusancy, &c., and did not pay the same into the Exchequer; approving the report of the Lords of the Treasury, which was adverse to the grant to the above petitioners, and recommended the employment of Thomas Baker and Peter Stepkins, who were early in the discovery of these concealments, and that others should be employed in the same manner. Her Majesty further recommended to the Lords of the Treasury the above petitioners in addition, for the employment. Dated 1 Sept. 1692.
Minuted:—“5th Octo. 1692. Mr. Prideaux et al., to attend Friday afternoon next.” 1 page.
Sept. 6. 47. Report of Sir J. Somers, Attorney-General, to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Mr. Richard Reed, heir-at-law to Richard Reed, late of Gubberhill, in the county of Gloucester, deceased, who was a papist seised of a house and lands of about 30l. a year value, and made a lease to his niece Mrs. Ann Brent, for 21 years, on the expiration of which the petitioner entered; after which it was found by inquisition that the premises were conveyed by the said Richard Reed, to the use of the nuns of the English monastery at Cambray, and were seized into the King's hands as forfeited, being settled to unlawful and superstitious uses: the report states that the petitioner insists that neither of the two deeds mentioned are real, but set up to defeat him, being a Protestant heir of the estate; and that he prayed he might have a grant of what title the King might have by the inquisition. Dated 6 Sept. 1692.
Accompanied by the petition.
Minuted:—“14 Octo. 1692. Agree with Mr. Atturney's Report.” 4 pages.
Sept. 6. 48. Petition of John, Earl of Bath, to the Queen, showing that he had surrendered his patent, for the office of groom of the stole and first gentleman of the bed-chamber, with a pension of 5,000l. per ann., &c., and had released the crown from a debt of 20,000l., in consideration whereof he had had a new patent granted him for continuing the pension, under which he had received the same until Lady Day then last, when it was stopped by the new Commissioners. Praying that he might have what was justly due to him.
Signed:—“Bathe.”
Minuted:—“6 Sept. '92. The stop shall not do him any reall prejudice, but at this time the money cannot be spared.” 1 page.
[About
Sept. 7.]
49. Petition of the Governor of the charity for relief of the poor widows and children of clergymen, addressed to the King and Queen, showing that King Charles II., in 1678, had erected a corporation for the relief of widows and children of clergymen, and that 240 decayed widows were then, though not proportionably, relieved; and that there were many more whom they were not able to relieve; also showing that Dame Mary Huddlestone, late of the Strand, in the liberty of the duchy of Lancaster, widow, deceased, by her will had left the residue of her property to Gabriel Cox, of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, in trust for such poor “ancient people” as he thought most wanted it; that Cox is a Papist convict, and believed to be in France, and that a considerable part of the estate lay in a chest in a tradesman's house, in the liberty of the duchy. Praying it might be applied to the above charity.
Minuted:—“7 Sept. '92. Referred to Mr. Aaron Smith, to in quire and certify how this matter of fact stands, and if he have a case to attend Mr. Attorney or Mr. Solicitor for their opinions.” 1 page, torn.
[About
Sept. 8.]
50. Particulars of 193l. 14s. 3d., furnished by the Comrs of the victualling to Col. Trelawney's regiment in the Downs.
And for 16l. 5s. 8d. for hay and oats, at Deal, in their passage from Portsmouth to Ostend.
And for 148l. 2s. 6d. for 840 men and 40 horses, of the same regiment, in the same passage.
Also particulars of the following sums charged, viz., 177l. 16s.d. for provision for 800 men of the Lord Castleton's regiment, in their passage to Holland.
114l. 14s. 6d. for brandy casks, with charges thereon, and in shipping 420 soldiers for the Leeward Islands.
4,917l. 16s. 2d. for provisions furnished the several regiments shipped from the River Thames.
347l. 2s. 5d. for provisions furnished Col. Erle's regiment, in their passage from Plymouth to Ostend.
255l. 3s. 6d. for stabling and water casks, for 30 ships, sent to Cork and Waterford, to bring horse to Bristol.
142l. 10s. for pilotage to 31 vessels, from the Downs to Ostend, having the Danes on board which they brought from Ireland, and 861l. 8s. 8d. for provisions for the said Danes.
“Received and sworne to Septemr the 8th 1692.” 12 pages.
[? About
Sept. 8.]
51. “The perticulars of sallaryes paid to February 1691–2. [Transport Office.]”
On the dorse is:—“Received and sworne to, September ye 8, 1692.” 1 page.
Sept. 13. 52. Letter signed Jo. Cope, addressed to Henry Guy, Esq., at the Treasury Chambers at Whitehall, as to the stoppage of payments ordered by them upon dormant warrants; requesting he may be paid his ground-rent of the custom-house forthwith. Dated “Little Chelsey,” 13 Sept. 1692. 1 page.
Sept. 14. 53. Presentment by the Comrs of Transportation to the Lords of the Treasury, setting forth their requirements; viz., 2,888l. for agents' bills at Bristol, for provisions for 2,000 Irish carried to Hamburgh; 375l. to the Scotch masters that victualled and brought three regiments of foot from Leith; 760l. for a month's freight to the same, who went on the expedition from Portsmouth; 1,145l. to the masters of ships who brought three regiments from Holland; 895l. to 13 ships hired in Holland by the month, some to carry provisions to Portsmouth and others to carry horse to Holland, at 10s. per month per ton; 1,005l. to masters that carried 402 horses to Holland; 467l. 19s. for freight of four ships attending the embarkation of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, &c; 12,000l. for transports, the agents in Flanders acquainting them that 40 sail with stores of war were ordered to Newport, and 40 more of the largest to Rammekins in Zealand, and stating that the agents by the Earl of Portland's order passed their word for payment of the pilotage of those ships, and for the freight of “Billanders” that landed stores, &c.; and 1,068l. 15s. for half a month's freight of 12 ships hired to carry horses to Holland that went as far as the buoy of the Nore, &c. Dated 14 Sept. '92. 2½ pages.
Sept. 19. 54. Report of Mr. Charles Fox to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Capt. Tho. Brown, late a lieutenant in the company of fusileers, and the company of miners, and then going a captain in Col. John Foulkse's regiment to the West Indies, praying for arrears of his pay Dated 19 Sept. 1692.
Minuted:—“Hee shall bee paid as far as the regiment where hee now is, & his arreares as the others are paid.” And in another place, “My L. Ranelagh to pay wt is due to him upon ye English establishmt, if he have no objection thereunto.”
Accompanied by two petitions and a duplicate of the second. 4¼ pages.
[About
Sept. 19.]
55. Petition of Abraham Yarner, Esq., Muster-master General of the forces in Ireland, showing that he had received 100l. for the journeys he had taken to England, and his attendance there, and that of his clerks, but the work proved more laborious than was expected; occupying him and five able assistants, and could not be completed under two months. Desiring a further sum.
Minuted:—“19 Sept. '92. To give an account wha this extraordinary expences are.” 1 page.
Sept. 20. 56. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Capt. Berenzone, commander of the “St. John the Baptist,” from Geneva, seized under the Navigation Act, expressing the opinion that the case might admit of a favourable consideration, and that the ship might depart with her lading, &c. Dated 20 Sept. 1692.
Minuted:—“Granted.”
Also the petition and an affidavit. 2 pages and 2 halves.
Sept. 21. 57. Memorial by the Comrs for sick and wounded seamen and exchange of prisoners to the Lords of the Treasury, relating to the charge of sick and wounded seamen put on shore at Barbadoes and the Leeward Islands. Dated 21 Sept. 1692. 1 page.
Sept. 21. 58. Presentment by the Comrs for Transportation to the Lords of the Treasury, for the following sums, viz., 2,888l. for agents' bills, at Bristol, for provisions for 2,000 Irish, carried to Hamburgh; 760l. for a month's freight advanced to the Scotch masters, who brought three regiments of foot, and were then gone on the expedition from Portsmouth. [Minuted:—“To bee pd when they return.”]
1,145l. to the masters of ships who brought three regiments from Holland; 1,005l. for masters who carried to Holland 402 horses. [Minuted:—“By 300 a week;”]
467 for freight of ships attending the embarkation of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; 12,497l. 11s. 6d. for transport ships ordered to Newport and Rammekins in Zealand. [Minuted:—“To be pd by assignmnts”].
They had at present endeavoured to satisfy many indigent masters with good words, but if they continued it would be impossible to prevent a mutiny among them.
Further for 1,068l. 15s. for half a month's freight of 12 ships hired to carry horses to Holland. Dated 21 Sept. 1692. 2 pages.
[? About
Sept. 23.]
59. Petition of John Pye to the Lords of the Treasury to be restored to his employment of solicitor for the coast bonds, he having been dismissed for non-attendance, and a Mr. Nash appointed.
Minuted:—“A warrant for Mr. Pye & that hee executes it himselfe.”
Also two enclosures. Dated 23 Sept. 1692. 1 page and 2 halves.
Sept. 24. 60. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of John Johnson, concerning certain silks brought from Holland, which were landed by the master of the vessel which brought them, and taken to his house at Greenwich, where he embezzled part and then gave information to the officer of customs at Gravesend, who seized them. Dated 24 Sept. 1692.
The petition and a letter of Capt. Nash, the officer of customs.
Minuted:—“With the Commiss. of Cust. Fisherman to bee rewarded.”
Again:—“Cannot bee granted.” 3 pages.
Sept. 27. 61. Report of the Comrs of Customs to the Lords of the Treasury, on the petition of Lewis Prothoro, praying to be allowed to resign his office as one of their Majesties' waiters in the port of London, in favour of Mr. Edward Heron; stating that they had nothing to object thereto. Dated 27 Sept. 1692.
Minuted:—“14 Octo. 1692. Agreed.”
Also the petition. 2 pages.
Sept. 28. 62. Memorial of the Comrs for sick and wounded seamen, &c., to the Lords of the Treasury, stating that the French prisoners daily increase, for whose subsistence, bringing back English prisoners, &c., 3,000l. were due, which must be paid immediately or the prisoners must starve; that they were daily called upon for 1,200l. by the commanders of ships at Barbadoes, for disbursements for sick and wounded seamen, &c., and unless they could pay 470l. 14s. 4d., to clear the arrears of the Savoy, several of the poor people protested they would lay their children at the Comrs doors. Dated 28 Sept. 1692. 1 page.
Sept. 28. 63. Presentment of the Comrs for Transportation to the Lords of the Treasury, asking to be allowed 2,888l., 760l., and 1,145l. (as in the presentment of 21 Sept.) [the last minuted 400], 705l. to masters that carried 402 horses to Holland [minuted 300], 467l. 19s. (as in the previous presentment), 12,447l. 11s. 6d. for freight to the masters of ships who carried over ammunition, &c. to Ostend, and 1,068l. 15s., as in the previous presentment. Dated 28 Sept. 1692. 1½ pages.