Entry Book: December 1683, 21-31

Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 7, 1681-1685. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1916.

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'Entry Book: December 1683, 21-31', in Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 7, 1681-1685, (London, 1916) pp. 996-1000. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-treasury-books/vol7/pp996-1000 [accessed 24 April 2024]

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December 1683

Date. Nature and Substance of the Entry. Reference.
Dec. 21. Money warrant for 10,000l. to Nathaniell Hornby (Horneby) in repayment of so much by him lent into the Exchequer Aug. 23 last. Similarly for 2,500l. to Joseph and Nathaniel Horneby in repayment of so much by them lent into the Exchequer Nov. 23 last: together with 6 per cent. interest: the principal being intended to the satisfied by 500l. a week from Jan. 1 next, whereunto they have agreed and assented. (Separate money orders dated Nov. 23 for 2,500l. to Joseph and Nathaniell and Aug. 23 for 10,000l. to Nathaniell [the money orders being given fictitiously the dates of the tallies of loan]). Money Book IV, p. 327. Order Book XXXIX, p. 123.
Dec. 22. Henry Guy to the Customs Commissioners, enclosing a letter from the Lords of the Council [England] to the Lord Deputy of Ireland concerning the Plantation ships. The King has ordered the Secretaries of States to write the like letters to all the ambassadors abroad. Out Letters (General) VII, p. 262.
Dec. 22. Henry Guy to the Customs Commissioners. Christopher Merett, whom you have presented as waiter and searcher at Margate, is too aged and infirm for that employment. Out Letters (General) VII, p. 262.
Same to same, enclosing a paper relating to the frauds at Bristol. Inquire into same and report. Ibid, pp. 262–3.
Appending: said paper, undated and unsigned. I was at Bristol when the gent[lemen] came from giving their charter to the King and I found the differences they have among themselves were many to reflect on them.Inter alia Sir Richard Crump was charged to have defrauded the King of his customs and it was confidently affirmed that Sir Jno. Knight, junr., had some hand in staving off his prosecution and had paid 100l. for that purpose; that one Browne who was collector about that time complained often that it was not enquired into and thought that the King had lost vast sums in the Customs and would yearly lose more if he [Crump] and some others were not prevented from forcing a trade that way. There was a surveyor sent to Bristol two years ago who was perfectly well acquainted with the whole story of this and other frauds. At the same time Lieut. Ramsey affirmed that when said Crump was waiter he had 500l. paid him out of the Custom House of Bristol of press seamen, but never paid 100l. of it. The writer is frequently at Bristol, and if it be inquired into he will do his part to serve the King.
Same to the Mint Commissioners. Hasten [your report concerning] the proposal about coining tin farthings. Ibid, p. 263.
Treasury warrant to the Customs Commissioners to employ Charles Scattergood as waiter and searcher at Sandwich loco Christopher Merett, who is to be waiter and searcher at Margate. Out Letters (Customs) VIII, pp. 252, 253.
Richard Sanders as boatman of Berdsey Ferry in Ipswich port loco Edward Jones, lately deceased.
Rowland Griffith as tidesman and boatman at Portsmouth loco Nathan Andrews, lately dismissed. In the margin: cancelled 1684, Sept. 4.
Walter Middleton, customer of Pembroke (who collects the customs at Milford Haven for his patent salary) to have an allowance of 10l. to enable him to keep a clerk.
The tidesmen and boatmen at Portsmouth to have 15l. per an. each added to their present salary of 10l. per an. each, their day pay as tidesmen being very inconsiderable.
Money warrant for 5,749l. 0s. 7d. to Sir Dennis Gauden, Sir Denny Ashburnham, Antho. Sturt, Abraham Jaggard and Benja. Gaauden as in full of the surplusage resting upon their account for the year ended 1674, Dec. 31, as late Victuallers of the Navy: they being in surplusage thereon 8,775l. 12s. 11½d. which surplusage is not carried to any subsequent account; but the said Gauden, Ashburnham, Jaggard and Benj. Gauden, together with Jonathan Gauden, subsequently Victuallers of the Navy, appearing to be indebted to the King in 1,026l. 12s. 4½d. on their account [for the year] ended 1677, Dec. 31, which being deducted from said surplusage leaves 7,749l. 0s. 7d., whereof 2,000l. has been paid by the warrant of May 3 last, thus leaving 5,749l. 0s. 7d. due. (Money order dated Dec. 22 hereon.) Money Book IV, p. 315. Order Book XXXIX, p. 118.
Dec. 22. Treasury warrant to Brooke Bridges and Thomas Done, Auditors of Imprests, to carry over the arrear of 44,301l. 15s 10½d. as follows, from the account of the executors of the late Nicholas Johnson, late Paymaster of the Forces, and to charge same upon the account of Charles Fox, present Paymaster of same, for the year ended 1682, Dec. 31: it appearing that Sir Stephen Fox and Richard Kent, executors of said Johnson, are charged in the said account for the year 1681 with the value of several tallies delivered to said Johnson towards payment of the Guards to said amount, but the said Charles Fox owns the receipt of the money payable upon the said tallies and is willing to be charged therewith and to account for same. Money Book IV, pp. 315–6.
Money warrant for 4,250l. 19s. 5d. to Anthony Sturt, senr., esq., in repayment of so much by him lent into the Exchequer this day: together with 6 per cent. interest till repayment thereof which is intended to be on 23 Dec., 1684; to which said Sturt has agreed. Ibid.
Same for 5,749l. 0s. 7d. to same in repayment of loan similarly made this day and with like interest etc. ut supra. (A single money order dated Dec. 22 hereon for 10,000. representing the total of the above two sums). Ibid, p. 319. Order Book XXXIX, p. 174.
Henry Guy to the Auditor of the Receipt to issue (out of the 10,000l. to be lent into the Exchequer this day) 5,749l. 0s. 7d. to Sir Dennis Gauden and partners, late Victuallers of the Navy and to reserve the remainder of said loan for the Treasury Lords' disposal. Disposition Book II, p. 295.
Same to same to issue as follows out of such Customs money as is directed to be this week paid into the Exchequer, viz. Ibid.
l. s. d.
to the Treasurer of the Navy for one week [of the Navy's weekly] money, whereof 1,000l. is for the old Victuallers 2,500 0 0
to ditto for bills of exchange for Mr. Mellish 430 0 6
to the Keeper of the Privy Purse 200 0 0
to ditto for the general service [of the Privy Purse] 1,500 0 0
to ditto for Healing gold 500 0 0
to Mr. Griffith for the Stables 1,000 0 0
to the Privy Purse for Mr. Folliard 200 0 0
to the Treasurer of the Ordnance for one week [of the Ordnance Office's weekly] money 500 0 0
to ditto 3,000 0 0
£9,830 6 6
Same to same. For his Majesty's secret service there is a necessity that 100l. be forthwith put into my hands before the necessary warrants for the issue of same can be passed. Get one of the Tellers to advance same to me out of the Four and a Half per cent. duty moneys. The necessary warrants for the issue shall be passed with all speed. (In the margin: a regular order dated 1683–4, Feb. 4, was signed for issuing this money; and a letter [of direction] was sent Feb. 5.). Ibid, p. 296.
Dec. 22. Henry Guy to the Auditor of the Receipt to issue (out of loans made by Sir Benjamin Bathurst) 1,500l. to Sir John James and partners. Disposition Book II, p. 296.
Dec. 24. Same to the Hearthmoney Farmers enclosing an affidavit on behalf of the Capt. Todd, which the Treasury Lords received this morning from the Earl of Craven. Out Letters (General) VII, p. 263.
Same to Mr. Brisban. Yours of the 22nd to me did not contain the enclosures mentioned therein as sent from the Admiralty Lords, viz. the petition and papers of Alexander Fettiplace, purser of his Majesty's ship St. David. Ibid, p. 264.
Same to Mr. Duncombe. Take care that the weekly money ordered by the Treasury Lords for naval stores be duly paid. Ibid.
Same to the Navy Commissioners for an account what quantity of stores which come out of the Sound will be necessary for the Navy this [coming] year. Ibid.
Same to Baron Worth to attend the Attorney and Solicitor General about the [draft of the] commission for defective titles [in Ireland]. Ibid.
Royal warrant to the Clerk of the Signet for a privy seal for 200,000l. to Anthony, Visct. Falkland, Treasurer of the Navy, as imprest for the service of the Navy and Victualling. (Money warrant dated 1683–4, Jan. 14 hereon. This money warrant quotes the privy seal as dated Dec. 31. Money order dated Jan. 15 hereon.) King's Warrant Book IX, p. 243. Money Book IV, p. 321. Order Book XXXIX, p. 122.
Henry Guy to the Attorney and Solicitor General [Ireland] enclosing the draft [sic for copy] of a Commission for remedying defective titles in Ireland in 1639, a new draft of a Commission [now intended] for that purpose, a paper concerning same, the Lord Keeper's opinion with objections [thereon] and the opinion of the Attorney General, England, thereon. After consideration thereof you are to draft such a commission for remedy of defective titles, Ireland. Take Baron Worth's assistance therein. Out Letters (Ireland) III, p. 227.
Same to Mr. Burton [Treasury Solicitor] to send back to Ireland forthwith for amendment (if not already sent back) the certiorari relating to [the Earl of Ranelagh's bond of 30,000l., the Lord Chief Baron of Ireland not having returned a judgment upon said bond recovered against said Earl. The Treasury Lords were informed that Alderman Breedon and partners were willing to pay in the balance upon their account. Inform my Lords whether anything was done last term therein. Ibid.
Dec. 29. The Treasury Lords to the Revenue Commissioners, Ireland. On the 14th inst. Mr. Strong wrote the Earl of Rochester relating to Mr. Babe's contract about the Excise and about the future management of the Excise. We place great reliance on his skill and knowledge of the Excise. We find by daily experience [as to the Excise here in England] that an additional charge well disposed in the collecting is amply recompensed in the return it makes and we think with Mr. Strong that the King will run very little hazard [in Ireland] in being at additional charge with the surveyors. It seems inadvisable to make a new contract with Mr. Babe on any terms till we have an account what he really made of it this last year and this cannot be [known] till midsummer [next]. And to carry it [the Excise collection] on by way of [management by] a Commission with no better allowances to officers than Mr. babe gave may prevent the improvement that seems probable if due encouragement be given. We wait your opinions hereon, but no time must be lost in mending some errors that may have been committed in last year's collection "since it is so plain that this is an improving branch of the revenue, a perfect management with competent salaries for the encouragement of good officers being as well what we practice in the collection of the King's revenue here as what in our judgment seems to be the best way of answering truly to the King the utmost that his revenue doth or can make." Ibid, pp. 227–8.
As to yours of the 16th we approve of your having seized what you could find of Mr. Hill's estate for we think it better to fall on him than on his securities. As to your recommendation to us to write to the Barons of the Exchequer relating to Sir William Petty and the Earl of Antrim we will take care thereof in time.
Dec. 31. Dormant privy seal for 10,000l. to be issued in such proportions, to such persons and for such uses and services as the King shall from time to time direct by warrant under his royal sign manual. (Royal warrant dated Dec. 19 for said privy seal.) King's Warrant Book IX, p. 243.
Privy seal to discharge Sir John Witham of Goldsborough, co. Yorks, of the baronetcy fee of 1,095l. due from him to the King. (Royal warrant dated Dec. 24 for said privy seal. Treasury warrant dated 1683–4, Jan. 17, to the Receipt for tallies to discharge said fee accordingly.) Ibid, pp. 244–5. Money Book IV, p. 324.
Henry Guy to the Auditor of the Receipt to issue as follows out of such Excise money as is directed to be this week paid into the Exchequer, viz.: Disposition Book II, p. 296.
l.
to Mr. Fox, Paymaster of the Forces for subsistence 2,000
to ditto for off-reckonings 2,000
to the Cofferer of the Household 1,000
to Mr. Horneby for secret service on the weekly payment 300
£5,300