Minute Book: May 1701

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 16, 1700-1701. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1938.

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'Minute Book: May 1701', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 16, 1700-1701, (London, 1938) pp. 65-71. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol16/pp65-71 [accessed 19 April 2024]

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May 1701

May 2,
forenoon.
Present: Sir Stephen Fox; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
The [draft of a royal] letter to the Officers of the Works for fencing in the King's ground in the Wilderness is read and approved.
The [draft of a royal] letter to Mr. Blathwaite concerning Col. Hen. Holt's Regiment is read and approved.
[Write] to Mr. Borret and the Auditors to be here on Tuesday morning.
[Write] to Mr. Strickland and Mr. Courthop to attend on Tuesday morning.
Prepare a sign manual for issuing to Mr. Fra. Stratford any sums not exceeding 20,000l. without account for cloth by him furnished and to be furnished for the service of the King of Sweden's Forces: and pay 5,000l. in part forthwith out of the Civil List moneys.
Prepare a warrant for issuing the remainder of the two credits of 50,000l. each to the Earl of Ranelagh by tallies: as for the pay of Guards and Garrisons. Ibid., p. 262.
May 5,
Monday forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
Write to Mr. Lilly to pay [out of Post Office moneys] 100l. a week from time to time to the Duchess of Cleveland on her warrant: and my Lords will before Xmas give order for so much more as will complete her warrant.
Pursuant to the King's pleasure 200l. a week from this time is to be issued to the Office of the Works for the works at Hampton Court.
Memorandum: to speak to the Navy Board about the arrears of the Marine Regiments. Ibid., p. 263.
May 6,
Tuesday forenoon.
Present: Sir Stephen Fox; Chancellor Boyle; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
[Write] to the Customs Commissioners to be here on Friday in the afternoon about the business of the hoymen of Kent and Essex.
[Write] to Mr. Edwin or his deputy to be here on Monday morning with Mr. Twitty, Mr. John Pelham, and the chief clerk of each of the Tellers' offices.
Order for not exceeding 500,000l. to the Navy for wages: out of the rest of the loans on the [Vote of] Credit: at present 51,450l. [to be issued].
[Write] to the Navy Commissioners to be here to-morrow morning about Lord Orford's accounts. Ibid., p. 264.
May 7.
Wednesday forenoon.
Present: all my Lords.
[Write] to the Navy Commissioners to send my Lords a certificate of all the moneys paid by way of imprest or otherwise to the 4 Marine Regiments from the time they were formed till the disbanding thereof: out of [what] money and by what orders. The like letter as to the two old Marine Regiments.
Write to the Earl of Ranelagh to certify what money be paid to or for the four Marine Regiments and to whom and how.
Mr. Secretary Vernon puts my Lords in mind of the address of the House of Commons of yesterday that the seamen be immediately paid bounty money and wages. [Hereupon my Lords order] that money be sent down [to the outports] to pay those in country discharged and that before more be discharged they be paid on board.
The Earl of Orford, the Navy Commissioners, Auditors of Imprests and Mr. Dodington [attend about perfect bills before 24 June 1701 in said Earl's accounts]. The Earl desires that his payments by imprest may be allowed in his account for dispatch and that the perfect bills may be brought to the next account, saying that he cannot begin the work of those perfect bills till after Xmas before which he hopes to have his account finished.
It's answered those imprests are discharged by perfect bills and it would be injustice to set persons in super that have accounted: and it's proposed that notice be given to bring in these perfect bills in a short time. Treasury Minute Book XII, pp. 265, 263. [The minutes of May 7 are incorrectly entered in duplicate under May 5.]
May 7,
afternoon. Kensington.
Present: the King; all the five Lords.
Mr. John Ellis is to be Comptroller of the Mint.
The petition of John Weld and Christopher Gerard is read and granted.
[The King decides that] the grant [is] to pass to Lady Perkins and [that] Mr. Tunstall is left to the law.
[The King orders] Mr. Vernon to be paid to 28th April.
Lady Howard's petition is read and dismissed.
Henry, Earl of Lincoln [his petition is read. Ordered] to be paid as much out of Secret Service as he had last time.
[The King orders] Mr. Latten to be paid half a year due to him for the Beagles.
[The King orders] one year to be paid to the Lord President out of Secret Service money.
Col. Codrington's letter is read. My Lords are to speak with Mr. Blathwayte about it.
The petition of the goldsmiths et al is read. Ibid., p. 266.
May 9,
forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.
Present: Lord Godolphin; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
Mr. Browne, a tidewaiter at Bristol, is to be considered for a King's waiter's place there on the first vacancy.
Write a letter [of direction for the issue of] 5,000l. upon Mr. Stratford's order.
[Write] to the Customs Commissioners not to attend till Tuesday afternoon.
Write a letter to the Earl of Ranelagh to pay (out of the money in his hands) 264l. 6s. 8d. to the Agent of the Company at Newfoundland for subsistence, clearings and clothing of the officers and 41 additional men from 25 April to 24 Dec. 1701 inclusive, taking care that this expense do not make an excess upon the Establishment above 300,000l. per an. Ibid., p. 267.
May 13,
Tuesday forenoon.
Present: Lord Godolphin; Sir Stephen Fox; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
Direct Mr. Twitty to prepare an account containing the kinds and quantities and cost to the King of all goods served by the usher [of the Exchequer] in[to] every office [of the Exchequer] for 3 years before the last war and 3 years since, distinguishing each year by itself; so that a comparison may best be made of one year with another in each office. [Order for] 1,000l. to be issued to the said usher on his liberates.
[Write] to the Commissioners of Customs and of Excise not to attend till this day week.
[Write] to the Auditors of Imprests and the Earl of Ranelagh to attend to-morrow morning about the Earl of Ranelagh's accounts.
[Ordered that] 800l. be now paid to Mr. Papillon in full to Xmas 1698.
Mr. H. Baker is to give 100l. to John Farnley who discovered the counterfeited tally at the Exchequer.
Write to Mr. Rowe and Lady Wood with their Counsel to attend on Monday morning; and desire the Attorney and Solicitor General to be here then. Ibid., p. 268.
May 14,
Wednesday forenoon.
Present: Lord Godolphin; Chancellor Boyle; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
The money in specie coming in upon the loan is to be issued to the Navy for Wages.
[Order for the issue of] 1,000l. to the Robes due the 4th inst.
[Order for the issue of] 3,000l. to the Band of Pensioners for half a year to 1699 Xmas.
On the King's behalf my Lords agree with Mr. Borret [as Treasury Solicitor] that in lieu of all termly and other fees and all allowances whatsoever except such as he shall bona fide pay out of his pocket to counsel or others he shall be allowed 400l. a year from the time he entered into his office: and do declare that coach hire and such like expenses are not to be reckoned amongst the moneys which he pays out of pocket.
Prepare warrants for one year for all the Sergeant at Arms.
[Order for the issue to Mr. Lowndes of] 500l. for Secret Service.
The [draft of the King's] letter about the pension to Macclesfield is read and approved. Ibid., p. 269.
eodem die afternoon. Kensington. Present: all the five Lords.
Some of the Customs Commissioners, as they go to Parliament, are to attend on Friday about the Hungary wines from Hamburg.
Write to Mr. Strickland for an account of the tickets embezzled in the Transfer Office and what money he hath applied towards making them good.
Henry Sayer to be tidesman in the place of Francis Farrer deceased, at the recommendation of the bishop of Norwich.
The King comes in.
The report from the Surveyor General of Crown Lands [is read] concerning Audley End. Send it to the Attorney General to advise the King what title he has in point of law and let search be made in the proper Office for the conveyance.
The Auditors' report concerning the allowance of interest craved by the Receivers of the Two Millions [is read]. The King leaves it to my Lords to decide.
Mr. Charles Osborne to have 200l. a year from Lady day last during pleasure but the 100l. a year which Col. Gilby had is to be part [thereof].
The memorial from Lord Fairfax and William Russell is read. Not granted.
Lucius, Viscount Falkland [his petition is read. The King will grant him] no more at present.
John Antoine de Piloty [his petition is read. The King orders him] 50l. as bounty.
The petition of the Yeomen of the Guard [is read. The King directs my Lords to] speak with the Lord Chamberlain.
Hester Walker [her petition is read. The King orders her] 10l. Treasury Minute Book XII, p. 270.
May 16,
forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.
Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor Boyle, Mr. Hill, Mr. Pelham.
The [draft of the King's] letter to the Ordnance about the half year to Mr. Bertie is read and approved.
Mr. Godolphin and Sir Wa. Young [attend]. They think that the wines from Hungary are not prohibited to be brought from Hamburg [by the Navigation Acts]. My Lords are of the same opinion but direct the Solicitor of the Customs to attend the Attorney and Solicitor General for their opinion in this case. Ibid., p. 271.
May 19,
Monday forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
[Write] to Mr. Rowe and Lady Wood to attend with counsel to-morrow week. The Attorney and Solicitor General to be here then.
Refer the accounts of the Wine Licences to the Auditor of Imprests to prepare the states of the yearly accounts during the last management and to present the same to my Lords. Ibid., p. 272.
May 20,
Tuesday forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
[Write] to the Navy Commissioners to be here to-morrow morning about the account desired of them concerning the Marine Regiments.
John Hale called in. He offers a paper to discover frauds in the Stamp Duties. He lives at my Lord Keeper's son's chambers in the Temple. [Write] to the Commissioners of the Stamps Office to be here on Friday.
The Earl of Ranelagh and the clothiers [attend]. My Lords resolve that the Earl of Ranelagh out of the money in his hands shall apply 5440l. 2s. 6¼d. for 2 months' offreckonings for the clothing of this year.
Write to the Commissioners of Customs and of Excise to be here at five [this afternoon]. Ibid., 273.
eodem die, afternoon. Present: Lord Godolphin; Sir Stephen Fox; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
The Excise Commissioners attend: their papers [are] read [and my Lords endorse their decisions or] answers upon them.
The Customs Commissioners attend with the gentlemen concerned for the hoymen of Kent and Mr. Bretton. The latter insists that these be cocquets and bonds and to have his fees but said at last he would submit them [i.e. the question of fees to my Lords' decision]. Ibid.
May 21,
forenoon.
Present: Lord Godolphin; Chancellor Boyle; Mr. Hill; Mr. Pelham.
Write to the Earl of Rochester that my Lords will wait for him at this place [the Treasury Chambers] to-morrow morning about Irish affairs. Ibid., p. 274.
May 23,
Friday forenoon.
Present: all the five Lords.
Write to my Lord Rochester that my Lords will wait upon [wait for] him on Monday morning.
Letters [of direction are ordered] for 100l. a piece to Lord Willoughby and Lord Hunsdon.
The Victuallers according to their last memorial must apply to the [Victualling] Course 50,000l. of the Land Tax tallies in their hands.
Desire the Navy Commissioners and Mr. Dodington to be here on Tuesday about the defalcations and to give some account of the ships they have had from the Prize Office.
[Order for] 3,000l. more to be issued to Mr. Stratford. Ibid., p. 275.
May 26,
Monday forenoon.
Present: the Earl of Rochester; all the five Treasury Lords.
Prepare a sign manual for Lord Blaney to have 10s. a day for half pay from the time that his whole pay as Governor of Sligo ceased.
Prepare a sign manual for the Earl of Rochester's entertainment and wool licences [as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland] from the day the sword was delivered to the present Lords Justices viz., 4 April last excepting so much as is already directed to be paid out of the same to the Lords Justices. Ibid., p. 276.
May 27.
Tuesday forenoon.
Present: Lord Godolphin; Sir Stephen Fox.
Michael East to be Commissioner for Hawkers and Pedlars instead of Mr. Davis deceased.
[Write] to Mr. Strickland to be here to-morrow morning.
Order for 6326l. 5s. 0d. according to the Scheme [of Civil List payments] to be paid on June 11 next to the Treasurer of the Chamber for a quarter due at Xmas 1699.
[Order for] 6250l., according to the [Civil List Distribution] scheme, to be paid on May 28 inst to the [Great] Wardrobe.
Mr. Dodington will bring an account of the particulars in which my Lord Orford's balances do lie [consist].
All that were to attend this afternoon are to attend next Tuesday afternoon. Ibid., p. 277.
May 28.
Wednesday forenoon.
[No entry of attendance or of business done]. Ibid., p. 278.
eodem die afternoon. Kensington. Present: the King; all the five Lords.
His Majesty resolves, for the security of those that shall clothe the 10,000 men now sending to the assistance of the States General that the offreckonings shall be applied in England to the clothing of the said Forces: and if they should be disbanded sooner than their clothing shall be paid for then the offreckonings shall be continued till they shall be sufficient for that purpose, not exceeding 2 years.
(In the margin, 4 July 1701. Ordered that instead of the words in italics above, the following words be added to the Minute, to wit, then the like payments shall be continued as the offreckonings would have amounted to if the said Regiments had not been disbanded, not exceeding 2 years: and that this minute shall extend to [cover] Major General Stewart's Regiment as much as if the same had been sent to Holland).
His Majesty orders that the 5,000l. out of the 25 per cent. [Duty on] French goods be issued to the Earl of Ranelagh for levy money for the 5,000 recruits to be raised for the States General.
And 5,000l. out of the same for subsistence for the said recruits which are to be raised in England.
The barracks in Ireland for the Horse are to be finished but those for the Foot need not be proceeded upon because 12 Battalions are drawn from thence for Holland. But speak with my Lord Galway whether it be not necessary to have barracks in some places for men to prevent robbers.
[The King orders a warrant for a pension of] 1,250l. per an. to Lord Galway during pleasure to commence from the time he left the Government of Ireland.
Monsieur Buckerow as Library Keeper is to have 200l. a year from Midsummer [next] during pleasure provided that if the Treasurership or Chancellorship of the Cathedral Church of St. Patrick becomes void this pension [is] to cease or so soon as any other preferment is found for him.
Lord Walden's memorial for his Majesty to give back Audley End House to the Earl of Suffolk and his children, with the report thereon from the Surveyor General of Crown Lands and the Attorney General is read. Ordered that further search be made whether there be any title in the Crown.
Newdigate Owseley's petition for 500l. to discharge a bill of exchange drawn on him by Lord Raby is read and ordered.
Jasper English's petition is read with the Surveyor General's report thereon, being for an equivalent in lieu of lands surrendered by him to the King at Hampton Court. The King approves the giving him satisfaction according to the said report and my Lords are to agree with him accordingly.
Mr. Talman's memorial for money for the Works at Hampton Court is to be considered. The Earl of Ranelagh, Sir Christopher Wren, Mr. Talman and Mr. Banks are to attend my Lords on Friday next.
Mr. Blathwayt's memorial for 229l. 18s. 9d. for his expenses abroad last year and for 200l. for 2 Correspondents abroad is read. Ordered that an account be brought of the 229l. 18s. 9d. but the 200l. is to be paid [without imprest or account].
Mrs. Rachell Windham's petition for her marriage portion as late Maid of Honour is read. The King is willing she be paid but her pension is to cease.
Lord Fairfax's memorial about coining copper money is read. It cannot be granted.
Philip Bertie's petition for the continuance of his pension on the establishment of the late Queen's servants is read. Ordered that his pension be continued as Mr. Lloyd's was.
Mr. Blathwayt is to prepare a warrant for taking off the respits which were upon Capt. Wandsborough and his Company; according to the Earl of Ranelagh's report on his petition. Treasury Minute Book XII, pp. 278–9.
May 30,
forenoon. Cockpit, Treasury Chambers.
Present: all the five Lords.
Tho. Franklin to be [put] in the Stamp Office in the vacant place.
The Officers of the Works [attend]. They are exhorted not to proceed in any new work without estimates carefully made and approved by the Board. There is due for the work done in the royal Gardens to Xmas last 4,315l. 8s. 1¾d.
The charge of the conveyance from Young et al and of his patent is to be borne by the King.
Mr. Ryley to have 50l. a week for 6 weeks on his estimates for work to be done at Hampton Court House Park, amounting to 172l. 16s. 0d. and for repairs in Jockey Park amounting to 183l. 12s. 0d.
[Write] a letter for the salary of the Keepers of Dean Forest. Ibid., p. 280.