Minute Book: March 1667

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 1, 1660-1667. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1904.

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'Minute Book: March 1667', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 1, 1660-1667, (London, 1904) pp. 731-733. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol1/pp731-733 [accessed 27 April 2024]

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March 1667

March 5. Petition, read and entered, from the Masters, Wardens, and Assistants of the Corporation of Distillers of London. Set forth that they distil out of wash and tilts of beer and ale a liquor called low wines, not worth above 6d. a gallon at the utmost; out of which by a second and third distillation with ingredients (wherein there is usually three parts in four wasted, rejected and cast away) strong waters or aqua vitoe are made which are rated for the Excise at 2d. a gallon. The present Excise Farmers of London demand the Excise of strong waters upon the said low wines though the latter were never conceived to be strong waters and have never been so reputed by any former farmers of Excise. Pray relief. Referred: to the Excise Farmers. [Ibid. p. 235.]
Nicholas Thurmond's petition, read, together with the Customs Farmers' report thereon concerning a seizure of some bayes for mis-entry. Ordered: to be restored. [Ibid. X. p. 320.]
March 9. Memorial from the Excise Commissioners, read and entered, proposing an allowance of 250l. to Edmond Chamberlaine, the surviving Farmer of Excise of Bristol, for his loss from the contagion which was in that city from the midst of April, 1666, until the beginning of September following, being somewhat above four months, in which time 72 persons died. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. XII. pp. 235–6.]
The like, proposing an allowance of 400l. to John Millicent and Thomas Story, Farmers of Excise of co. Cambridge, and John Dover and John Hunt, Sub-Farmers of same, for losses by the contagion in the town of Cambridge and other infected places, for one quarter ended Xmas last, as sworn to by John Pattison, an officer employed under them. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. p. 236.]
The like, proposing an allowance of 250l. to John Peacock and William Oaks, late Farmers of Excise of co. Berks, for losses in Windsor, Maidenhead and other infected towns by the contagion in the quarter ended 1665, Sept. 29, as sworn to by Henry Washington and Noah Starling, officers employed under them: "The contagion was in several of the great towns on the Western Road though it was not raging in the said towns and continued there but a short time." Ordered: allowed of. [Early Entry Book XII. pp. 236–7.]
Memorial from the Excise Commissioners, read and entered, proposing an allowance of 58l. 8s. 3d. to Lionell Walden, Farmer of Excise of co. Huntingdon, for losses sustained by the contagion in the towns of Coppingford, Ramsey and Upton for 27 weeks ended 1666, Sept. 29: as sworn to by Richard Willis, an officer employed under him. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. p. 237.]
The like, proposing an allowance of 88l. 10s. 2d. to John Aldern and John Ramsey, Farmers of Excise of cos. Leicester and Rutland, for the like losses by the contagion in the Excise collections of the town of Melton and other infected towns and places there in the half year ended 1666, Lady Day: as sworn to by John Copping, an officer employed under said farmers. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. pp. 237–8.]
The like, proposing an allowance of 70l. 6s. 3½d. to Mathew Coppinger, Sub-Farmer of the Excise of co. Dorset, under John St. Loe and George Stiles, Farmers thereof; for the like losses by the contagion in Sherborne and other infected places adjacent for four months ending 1665–6, Feb. 27: as sworn to by Mr. Winter, an officer employed under said Coppinger. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. p. 238.]
March 12. Memorial from the Excise Commissioners, read and entered, proposing to take a lease of Mr. Smith's house "in these your Lordships buildings," as the Excise office has been kept there since the burning down of the late Excise office in Bartholomew's Lane. Ordered: allowed of. [Ibid. pp. 238–9.]
March 20. Petition from several merchants, of London, viz. Francis Asty, Francis Hill, Thomas Lewis, Abraham Moone, James Denew, Thomas Willson, Jasper Kans, John Coney, David Bonneill, William Hewitt, John Jones, Philip Duboys, Cornelius Bolnar, Peter Gerrard, William Panton, Aaron Deudga, and Giles Vanbrugh. Set forth that being constant traders in London, and having presumed upon some former tolerations of the Customs officers in the admitting of post entries of goods where the true contents could not be exactly entered at once, "especially at this time when invoices cannot be exactly returned in due time, they have then landed or shipped the goods in the presence of officers and at lawful times and places: nevertheless the officers cannot without warrant discharge the goods." Therefore pray discharge thereof and the like error for the future they will avoid. With Treasurer Southampton's minute. "Upon conference with the Farmers of His Majesties Customes haveing sett forth an order that this practice in the future cease I thinke fit to dispense these perticular cases, but resolve these shalbe the last in this kind." [Ibid. X. p. 357.]
March 26. The order in Council, dated Whitehall the 20th inst., read and entered in extenso, concerning the complaints of the Company of merchants trading to the Canary Isles against the Customs officers for daily permitting the importation of Canary wines contrary to the Act of Navigation and the King's proclamation, and contrary also to an express order of the Privy Council appointing the Cooper of the Canary Company to taste all wines before they be entered at the Custom House, instead whereof the said Customs officers when they suspect any wines to be Canary wines suffer them to pass without permitting the said Cooper to do his office and revile and abuse him when he endeavours it. Ordered: that the Customs Farmers and officers do conform strictly to the abovesaid order made herein renewing and reviving the execution of the late Proclamation against the importation of Canary wines, and ordering the seizure of such wines found in the Thames or in any port of the kingdom: and further that any such officers so complained of as above hold themselves ready to attend the Lord Treasurer for examination herein. [Early Entry Book X. pp. 359–60.]