Minute Book: January 1678

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 5, 1676-1679. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1911.

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'Minute Book: January 1678', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 5, 1676-1679, (London, 1911) pp. 834-837. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol5/pp834-837 [accessed 25 April 2024]

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January 1678

1677-8. Jan. 2. Treasurer Danby orders that all the Earl of Plymouth's old debts amounting to about 470l be paid, but Watts the tailor to stay for his [debt], being about 1,000l
The Earl of Clare's creation money to be paid for the period of my Lord [Danby] being Lord Treasurer.
New year's gifts presented as from his Majesty on New Year's day, 1677-8.
in guineas Guineas.
The Duke of York 500
The Lord Treasurer 1000
The Chancellor of the Exchequer 666 13 4
Secretary Coventry 500 0 0
Secretary Williamson 200 0 0
The Lord Treasurer's Secretary 200 0 0
The Duke of York's Secretary 50 0 0
Mr. Chiffinch 50 0 0
Clerks of the Treasury 25 0 0
3191 13 4
The change of 3191 guineas at 21d. a piece amounts to 279 4 3
In silver £ s. d.
The clerks and officers of the [Privy] Council 34 0 0
The Pages of the Backstairs 40 0 0
The Receiver General of the Customs 20 0 0
The King's porters 3 0 0
[ " " ] porters' men 0 10 0
The King's trumpets 5 0 0
" drums 5 0 0
" coachmen 5 0 0
The Gallery Keepers 2 0 0
The King's footmen 5 0 0
The Queen's footmen 2 10 0
The Duke of York's footmen 2 10 0
124 10 0
The Exchequer fees for 3,660l amount to 91 15 0
£3687 2 7
The privy seal allows but 3,660l for such new year's gifts so that the allowance will be exceeded this year by 27l 2s. 7d.
[Treasury Minute Book VI. pp. 26-7.]
Jan. 9. Wednesday. The bidders for [the farm of] the duty of 4£ per cent. at Barbados are to attend in the afternoon [of this day] for answer to their proposals.
The case between the Earl of Crawford and Mr. Legros touching Blackwells estate is to be heard [this day].
Mr. Temple's petition against Mr. Welsted about his [Welsted] refusing to assign [to said Temple] a proportionable part of his [Welsted's] perpetual interest [or annuity on the Excise as the bankers have, is to be heard this day]. In the margin : [this matter is] in treaty.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer's report of Mr. Dowle's case [is to be read this day].
The like on Mr. Plea's case [to be also read this day].
The officers of the Works to be called in [this day].
Mr. Griffin to attend about the payment of Mr. Coleman's bills as Deputy Housekeeper at Hampton Court.
Adjourned to the next Treasury day.
[Day Book p. 141.]
Jan. 18.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Treasurer Danby directs that no dividend be made of White's estate among his creditors till further order and Mr. Ramsey is ordered to take out an extent if any estate of his can be found.
Mr. Griffin, Mr. Bertie and Mr. Shales are to meet together and to consider what may be offered to Treasurer Danby for the satisfaction of bills and wages [due] in the [Office of the] Treasurer of the Chamber ; and to make a list of wages in one column and of bills in another.
Warrant [ordered] for a privy seal to pay Mr. Griffin such extraordinaries as Treasurer Danby shall direct.
[Treasury Minute Book VI. p. 28.]
Jan. 21. Monday Afternoon. The officers of the Works [are to be heard this day] about their claim for 800l upon the Duchy of Lancaster for the new buildings in Whitehall.
The Duke of York, Lord Chancellor, Treasurer Danby, Earl of Essex, Earl of Ranelagh, the two secretaries, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Attorney General are to attend the King [this day] at the Treasury Chambers about the Irish business and the 4½ per cent. and the fees [at the Exchequer on the payment] of the Prince of Orange's money.
[Day Book p. 141.]
Jan. 21.
Treasury Chambers.
Present : The King, Duke of York, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Earl of Essex, Secretary Coventry, Chancellor of the Exchequer. Attending : Earl of Ranelagh and Attorney General.
The proposers for the [farm of the] Four and a Half per cent. duty in the Barbados and Leeward Isles are called in and are asked whether they will make any amendments in their proposals. They withdraw to consider. They come in again and are asked what amendments they will make. Col. Strode and his partners [reply that they] will not advance [increase] the rent proposed, but [will] increase his advance money to 5,300l. Mr. Skutt and his partners abide by their proposal. Sir Jno. Clayton will not alter or amend his proposal. The proposers withdraw. The Lord Treasurer opens [explains] the state of the several proposals with the several amendments or additions. Sir Jno. Clayton is called in and is asked whether he will alter his proposal in that part of it where he demands covenants for defalcations and reduce it to a certainty of having insurance money allowed him instead of defalcations as some have offered. Sir Jno. Clayton refuses to alter his proposal or to submit to what is offered. Col. Strode the next best proposer is called in and agrees that his Majesty shall always have sufficient in his hands to secure his rent and will [pay] his advance money in ready money. [He further] submits the hurricanes to the King to have such allowances for the same as his Majesty pleases and submits to his Majesty the time of the repayment of his advance money so as there may be enough of their rent remaining [unpaid in their hands towards the end of their farm as will cover or suffice] to repay it. He withdraws ; is called in again and is asked when the advance money shall be paid. He answers half on receipt of the [royal] warrant [for the patent] half on the [passing of the] patent. [Their proposal is accordingly] agreed [to, being as follows, viz.]
Mr. Robert Spencer, Col. Strode and partners do undertake to become his Majesty's Farmers of the duty of Four and a Half per cent. of the Barbados and Leeward Islands from the 25th December last, 1677, for seven years on the terms following, viz. (1), to pay 5,300l. advance money, one moiety on the signing of the warrant and the other moiety upon delivery of the patent : to be repaid out of the last [instalments of] rent [due from them] : (2), to pay the yearly rent of 5,300l. by half yearly payments, viz., on the 25 June and 25 Dec. : (3), to be allowed 6 per cent. per an. interest for their advance money ; [such interest] to be defalked yearly out of their rent : (4), there are to be covenants for reasonable defalcations in case of invasion or general rebellion : and in case of war with France, Holland or Spain they are to be allowed 14 per cent, for insurance instead of defalcations : (5), such other reasonable covenants on both sides as shall be thought convenient.
[Treasury Minute Book VI. pp. 31, 35-6.]
Jan. 22. Tuesday. The business of the tin to be considered this day ; and Sir William Smith to attend.
[Day Book p. 142.]
Jan. 23. Wednesday. Mr. Seymour and Mr. Maydwell [are this day] to bring in their account of arrears that remain in the hands of the collectors of the Law duty.
[Ibid.]
Jan. 25.
Friday forenoon.
Mr. Seymour and Mr. Maydwell are to attend this forenoon about the arrears upon the Law duty ; [they are] to bring in their account [thereof] and to give the [Law duty] Farmers a copy thereof.
[Day Book p. 142.]
Jan. 26. Present : The King, Duke of York, Lord Chancellor, Lord Treasurer, Earl of Essex, Earl of Ranelagh, Secretary Coventry, Secretary Williamson, Sir John Ernle, Attorney General, Sir Cyril Wyche.
Upon debate of the Irish [revenue farm] business his Majesty directs that a letter be prepared and sent to the Lord Lieutenant upon these heads. (1) That the Farmers be presently required to renounce their pretence to the 80,000l. by writing under their hands and that in case of refusal the Lord Lieutenant return to the king the names of such refusers. (2) That they make an advance of their 20,000l. for which a longer or shorter time [is] to be allowed as they shall comply with the above mentioned release of the 80,000l. ; but with this caution that 10,000l. be paid in March and the remaining 10,000l. as the Lord Lieutenant shall think fit. But in case they shall refuse to relinquish their pretence to the 80,000l. then no agreement [is] to be made with them for deferring the payment of the 20,000l. but immediate payment thereof to be insisted on according to contract, because his Majesty will [is determined to] be at liberty to take such present order therein as shall be necessary. (3) That the present commission [to the Farmers' Commissioners] be revoked. (4) That the Lord Lieutenant acquaint the present Farmers that in case they shall expect a new Commission they do submit to the direction of the said Lord Lieutenant as to the having such commissioners therein as his Grace shall think fit for his Majesty's service and the management of the farm : and although they may object against this proposal as not being agreeable to their covenants yet that they be made to understand that their good agreement amongst themselves is so necessary for the support of the revenue that in case they shall refuse this motion his Majesty must take such other course against their farm as by law he may do. (5) That the Lord Lieutenant be directed to take care that the Farmers do pay their money precisely at the day and to the uses designed and that in case of failure he take such care of the cash that it may not be in the Farmers' power to divert it from those uses. (6) That the Lord Lieutenant take particular care in case of new Commissions [to Commissioners of the Revenue under the Farmers] that Mr. Pigot be inserted in all Commissions as also Mr. Rider and Mr. Gurney and that his Grace endeavour to compose matters so as such as have the greatest interest in the advance money may have the greatest share in the government of the farm.
[Treasury Minute Book VI. p. 29.]