Minute book: March 1696, 16-31 | British History Online

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 10, 1693-1696. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1935.

'Minute book: March 1696, 16-31', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 10, 1693-1696, (London, 1935) pp. 1440-1446. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol10/pp1440-1446 [accessed 25 April 2024]

March 1696, 16–31



Mar. 16.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith, Lord Coningsby, Sir Thomas Littleton.
	[No entry of any minute.]
	[Ibid. p. 262.]
Mar. 17. Afternoon.	Present: Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	The [Principal] Officers of the Mint [attend. My Lords decide that] Mr. Harris is to be accommodated with an house in the Mint.
	See whether there be any Order of Council for officers of the revenue to subscribe the Association.
	[Send] to the Auditors to certify on Friday a state of Lord Griffin's account and why it is not proceeded in for declaration].
	[Ibid. p. 263.]
Mar. 18. Afternoon. Kensington.	Present: The King, Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Chan cellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	[Send] to the gentlemen of the Bank to attend to-morrow morning at 10 of the clock.
	[The King orders] the report of all the Irish arrears to be brought next week.
	[Send to] Sir Joseph Herne and Sir Stephen Evance to attend to-morrow morning.
	[The King orders] a clay to be appointed for hearing my Lord Privy Seal and others about the Lord Rochford's grant.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 264.]
Mar. 19. Forenoon. Treasury Chambers, Whitehall.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	The gentlemen of the Bank come in. The occasion is their refusing to remit money for Flanders upon [credit of] tallies. Sir William Scawen says my Lord Ranelagh offered them only notes for deposits in the Exchequer; and they would fetch only clipt money; and they bear no interest; and when received they can only lend the clipt money again at [to] the Exchequer.
	Sir Hen. Furnes says their enemies [rivals] have protested some of their bills.
	They [the Bank] say they have not received 50,000l. of the last 200,000l. agreed to be lent them in Holland. If the rest be furnished they will go on with remitting; but there has been some stop upon them in Holland of late.
	Sir James Houblon thinks that their credit at the Hague is so absolutely damned at present as that the King's interposition will not set it afoot again.
	They are none of them of that opinion except Sir James.
	Mr. Blathwait will write to Col. Beeston that much money must be in his hand for Lillingston's Regiment upon the credits given by Sir Joseph Herne and Sir Stephen Evance and that he do not dispose of it for any other use without further direction.
	[Send] to the Customs Commissioners to be here to-morrow afternoon.
	The business on Lord Rochford's grant is to be heard tomorrow week.
	Mr. Conyers is to have his pension of 73l. per an. out of the profits or rents of the Lotteries according to the minute of 20 Feb., 1693–4.
	[Ibid. p. 265.]
Mar. 20.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	To speak to Mr. Blathwait to appoint a guard to bring [up to London] about 17,000l. Customs money from Bristol; and if that cannot conveniently be done the Customs Commissioners are to send for it with a guard.
	The gentlemen of the Bank [attend]. They [inform my Lords they] will remit 30,000l. [to Flanders] on the tallies in the Earl of Ranelagh's hands provided that if the new [Land] Bank be set up my Lord Ranelagh may take [back] those tallies again and give them [the Bank of England] so much out of the advance money of the new [Land] Bank [in return] for them.
	The clothiers attend. My Lords direct them 100,000l. [sic for 10,000l.] on the Continued Impositions.
	[Ibid. p. 265b.]
Mar. 23. Afternoon.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Mr. Smith.
	The Excise Commissioners and Mr. Duncomb are called in.
	My Lords tell Mr. Duncomb that the Commissioners still insist on his giving security to them. Mr. Duncomb says he is contented to give a bond for the cash he receives, but to have two or three bonds stand out against him for 100,000l. at a time and be subjected to the accounts of the Excise Commissioners when sometimes they do not pass an account in four or five years, as he thinks their last was in 1691, is unreasonable.
	He promises that he will make good the money lost by Reynolds [sic for Reynoldson], who is run away (though his bond be delivered up), if my Lords shall so direct, and is ready to submit to my Lords' pleasure in that matter.
	Mr. Clark says the [Excise] Cashier is to give bond as well for the performance of articles as [for] making good of the cash, and proposes that since the General Account [of the Excise] may be perfected in two months Mr. Duncomb shall give new security which may be deposited in Mr. Lowndes's hands and delivered back to Mr. Duncomb when the account is passed.
	Mr. Duncomb offers when his bonds now standing out are delivered to him he will give a new bond of 4,000l. with a retrospect to all that is past.
	Mr. Garrett Cotter's petition was read. My Lords agree that if 400l. be paid to the Commissioners of Excise within a fortnight from this day Mr. Cotter shall be discharged: otherwise the Commissioners to proceed to sell the houses made over to Mr. Noel.
	[Send to] the Attorney General to be here on Friday next between five and six o'clock.
	[Send to] the [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance to be here to-morrow. Likewise the Navy Commissioners.
	[Send to] the gentlemen of the Bank to be here to-morrow.
	Mr. Neal and Mr. Hall desire to speak with my Lords. They are called in and say the tradesmen and workmen, particularly the ironmongers, will not furnish materials [to the Mint] nor begin to work without some money advanced to them.
	My Lords order Mr. Neal and Mr. Hall to bring an estimate of what money will be necessary for that service and propose to borrow it on credit of the Coinage Money.
	Mr. Papillon and Mr. Doddington are called in concerning Mr. Russell's account. [My Lords order] Mr. Tailour to write a letter to Auditor Bridges and therewith to send Admiral Russell's account of money received and expended in the Straits with the Victualling Commissioners' observations thereon, and the Admiral's reply; and the Auditor is to appoint the Victuallers [the Victualling Commissioners] and Mr. Doddington to attend him in some short time in that matter and upon hearing of them he is to report to my Lords whether the rates in the account come out as cheap as the King's allowance to pursers or what the difference is.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 266.]
Mar. 24.	Present: Lord Godolphin, Sir Stephen Fox, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Smith.
	The gentlemen of the Bank are called in and my Lords inform them that they had acquainted his Majesty with their last answer to them [my Lords], viz. that they could not lend any more money on the Continued Impositions because the loans were stopped in Holland; and that his Majesty had commanded them to inform the gentlemen of the Bank that the loans were not stopped but continued in Holland.
	Mr. Sedgwick says the Land Bank [is an obstacle] and Mr. Godfrey [says] the Lottery in Holland and the Emperor, who is borrowing money there, will hinder the loans.
	Sir James Houblon [says] that though the loans may not be stopped, yet they do not go on.
	Lord Godolphin desires them to wait on my Lord Portland and acquaint him with it, [so] that he may write into Holland concerning it.
	Sir James Houblon [says] if the loans do not go on they will continue their remittances as far as they are able.
	The Navy Commissioners and Mr. Doddington are called in. They inform my Lords that the Yards are in arrear three quarters, of which one quarter amounts to 33,000l., [which] they had [been] promised [to be paid to] them, they having worked very hard for the setting out the Fleet; [further] that the seamen would expect to be paid when Sir Geo. Rook came home: [further] that this is the time for contracting with the merchants for goods who expect to have [an assignment on] some of the best of the funds.
	My Lords tell them they think the Continued Impositions a very good fund.
	Mr. Lyddal says they desire the Land Tax.
	My Lords direct the Navy Commissioners to inform Mr. Doddington whether the [workmen in the] Yards would rather discount now tallies for clipt moneys [now to be recoined in the Tower Mint] or stay till after May, when [in consequence of the recoinage] the money will be better.
	My Lords tell them they expect they should prepare as soon as they can a state of the services which are most pressing and what money will be required to carry on same.
	Mr. Jermyn Ireton is desired to be here on Friday with the pieces of counterfeit money which he has seized. Mr. Harris to be here then.
	Mr. Sturt to be here on Friday.
	Mr. Neal and Mr. Hall deliver a memorial of what is necessary to be provided for the immediate service of the Mint. My Lords [say they] will pay 400l. for the first week and 200l. per week [there]after.
	Sir Stephen [Fox] will speak with Mr. Knight to lend the money.
	My Lords agree to Mr. Blathwayt's report on Mr. Hill's account of [Army] Contingencies, and do direct a letter to Mr. Blathwayte to prepare a warrant [for signature by his Majesty] accordingly.
	Mr. Cole's salary [is ordered] to be paid “out of the Customs etc.”
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. p. 267.]
Mar. 27.	Present: ut supra.
	Lord Romney and the [Principal] Officers of the Ordnance come in. They complain that they cannot convert any of the tallies which they have in their hands into ready money which is absolutely requisite to provide the train [of Artillery] that is commanded into Flanders for this year's Expedition.
	My Lords tell them 'tis morally impossible to provide ready money at this time because the clipt money (according to the Act) is to be melted down and recoined and when coined must be paid to the several lenders as far as it will go.
	My Lords promise them the best tallies they can provide.
	They desire my Lords' order to deliver the tallies in their hands to Sir John Fleet.
	My Lords promise they shall have a letter accordingly.
	[My Lords order the] Ordnance to have 30,000l. forthwith out of the best tallies (struck through) funds.
	Mr. Sturt is called in. He promises to make up the account between him and Sir John Friend to the 1st of March past and to give security to answer what is due thereon to his Majesty. He says the house is not a part of the partnership, but half of it belongs to the King.
	[Send] a letter to Mr. Baker to enquire after and take care on his Majesty's behalf of the real and personal estate of Sir John Friend. My Lords [decide that they] will direct the Excise Commissioners to appoint Mr. Baker to look after this matter.
	The Excise Commissioners are called in. The Attorney General is of opinion that all deputations signed by former Commissioners of Excise to under officers do not determine upon a new Commission of Excise provided there be as many of the old Commissioners left in the new Commission as will make a quorum.
	[My Lords order] Mr. Noel to wait on the Attorney General with the [text of the new Excise] Commission and the deputations etc.
	Mr. Duncomb [is called in and is] heard as to the matter of the bills of exchange. It appears by his articles that he is bound in law to make them good.
	My Lords having appointed this day for the Lord Privy Seal and others to be heard on their caveat for stopping a grant of the estate of the Marquess of Powys etc. to the Earl of Rochfort, the Lord Privy Seal came in and the counsel on both sides were called in.
	Sir Thomas Powys said that my Lord Powys had by deed settled the Middlesex and Northamptonshire estate in trustees, viz. for the payment of his just debts enumerated in two schedules thereto annexed; that they had had two trials at law, one [given] for them and another against them, so that the verdicts being equal he thought upon application to the Court they stood fair for another trial; which they had not moved for but trust in the King's grace and favour to the equity of their pretensions: that the Welsh estate stood yet unimpeached: that Oundle stood under another consideration and was the particular estate of my Lord Montgomery's mother, yet is comprehended within this grant; and that my Lord Powys was but tenant for life to the several estates, though all granted to my Lord Rochfort in fee.
	Mr. Jenings on the same side [spoke] much to the same effect, but added that at the first trial one of the Judges differed with the rest and was against granting a new trial; that upon their [the Treasury] Lords appointing a hearing of this matter last summer he [Jennings] was then instructed to attend my Lords in behalf of Lord Montgomery, whose present unfortunate circumstances hindered him from appointing anybody to appear for him.
	The Attorney General on the other side replied that as to the trial mentioned the first verdict was obtained contrary to the evidence produced, and was the occasion that the Judges granted a second trial, after which there were two trials, and upon full and clear evidence the deeds plainly appeared to be fraudulent, and two verdicts [were] found, the one against the Middlesex, the other against the Northamptonshire estates: that the Welsh estate when tried will prove to be of the same nature: that the trustees themselves knew nothing of this trust and that my Lord Privy Seal's christian name was omitted in the deed: [further] that though it should hereafter appear that my Lord Powys was but tenant for life, yet it ought not to hinder the passing the grant to my Lord Rochfort in fee, for that matter may be tried after the death of the Lord Powys as well as now, the validity of the settlement not coming to be determined at this time, but may be done as well hereafter: but if the King grants this estate only for the life of my Lord Powys the grantee can have it no longer than the life of my Lord Powys, which must be a prejudice to him and contrary to his Majesty's gracious intentions to him; but the heir of my Lord Powys cannot be in a worse condition [by the present grant], but may try the title as well with the King's grantee as with the King himself, “and ought not to be an objection.”
	Mr. Dodd, of the same side with the Attorney General, [says] that whereas they pretend that they stand fair for a new trial there are such notorious proofs of the deeds being fraudulent that the Court will certainly deny one: that the creditors never applied for nor never had notice of such security given them for their respective debts; that the deed bore date the 8th of December, 1688, the day before the Marquess went away; that it did not appear where it was sealed, the witness who was called to that purpose not remembering where, whether in Ireland or in France.
	Sir Thomas Powys [rejoins] that though the heir may try the title with the King's grantee yet he cannot expect to be so well informed in it as in the case of the King where all persons have liberty to repair to the several officers for information, which is never refused them; that the debts are just and honest and due to the creditors mentioned, though probably not intended to be paid at the time of the execution of the deed, and [they] “amounts “ to near 20,000l., so that they [the creditors] humbly beg his Majesty in mercy to them to be pleased that they shall be considered before the grant passes.
	The Attorney General in answer says that though the debts amount to so much yet upon the inquisition the whole estate was found to be worth 4,600l. per an.; that they have had the profits thereof for five years past and never accounted for the same; which will be sufficient to discharge the said debts.
	[Treasury Minute Book VIII. pp. 268–270.]
Mar. 31. Afternoon.	[No entry of the attendance or of any minute.]
Mar. 31. Afternoon.	[Ibid. p. 271.]