so they all speak in excuse of themselves At another general Court 21 Martii 1637. and a Court of Assistance held 29 of March 1638 they all ratified and confirmed their assents formerly given to the said project not any one gainsaying it On the nineteenth of May 1638 they appointed who should seal the quadupartite Indenture which is the Deed of Creation of the Project the Order is in these words 〈◊〉 were the â—…ants â—…t that 〈◊〉 19 May 1638. Reg. Car. 14. William Abel Alderman Master master Kynaston Warden master Wilson Master Robert Shaw master Bludworth master Bonamy master Darling master Leechland master Conradus master Griffith master Hulbert master Ashwell master Gardiner At this Court the names of such as are appointed to seal to the Indenture between his majesty the French and Spanish merchants and the Corporation of the Vintners were here appointed and declared viz. William Abel Alderman Edward Kinaston Ralph More Robert Shaw Jacob Bonamy Ralph King George Gopsel Henry Barns Cordwell Hamond George Shaw George Hulbert Anthony Baily John Birch Francis Ashwell Michael Gardiner Matthew Forster John Gregory William Hancock William Kimpster Thomas Simcots Thomas Dudley George Stanley John Wilcox Mark Hillesley William Bellamy Ralph Hutchinson Joseph Rogers All these except the Alderman then master are drawing vintners wherby it appears by whom and for whose ends this project was set on foot and prosecuted 25 May 1638. The several persons here undernamed brought and paid at vintners Hall the several summes here under mentioned as Farmers and Adventurers of Sharers and the persons and summes hereunder set down are entred in the Hall Book excepting two or three of them who afterwards brought in their said sums of a 100 li. a piece to master Travers the Under-treasurer to the said Farmers and their names and summes are entred in his Book  li. William Abel Alder. 100 Ralph King 100 Thomas Dudley 100 George Stanley 100 Mark Hillesley 100 Thomas Simcots 100 William Conradus 100 William Leechland 100 Cap. Matthew Forster 100 John Gregory 100 George Hulbert 100 Jacob Bonamy 100 Thomas Darling 100 Joseph Rogers 100 William Dickens 100 Cordwell Hamond 100 Edward Darling 100 George Griffith 100 Thomas Wilcoxe 100 Robert Lee. 100 Ralph More 100 Edward Kinaston 100 Rowland Wilson 100 Michael Gardiner 100 Ralf Hutchinson 100 Andrew Courtman 100 Matthew Terry 100 Robert Shaw 100 Richard Davis 100 Francis Ashwell 100 Henry Crone 100 Cap. Henry Sanders  Thomas Gough 100 Christ Metcalf Cap. Langham 100 Henry Lee. 100 William Bowyer 100 Roger Kilvert 100 Note the said sunmes were not brought or paid to Alderman Abel but at Uintners Hall whereby it still shews this to be the work of the Company After all this at two severall assemblies of the Company in their Hall it was ordered that the seale of the Compnny should be put to the said Indenture of creation of the project The Orders follow in these words These the â—…sistants this day 16 Junii 1638. William Abel Alderman Master Master Kinaston Master More Master Court-man Wardens Master Wilson Master Bowyer Master Davis Master Shaw Master Hart Master Bludworth Master Clegate Master Darling Master Hamond Master Conradus Master Griffith Master Baily Master Ashwell Master Gardiner Whereas for the setling of the Farme of forty shillings to be paid to his majesty upon every tun of wine to be imported and sold in this Kingdome there are Indentures quadrupartite to be passed betweene the Kings most excellent majesty on the first part the Corporation of Vintners on the second the Company of French merchants on the third and the Spanish merchants on the fourth part which are to be sealed on the companies behalfe with the common seale of this company which is to be performed at the Kings Aturnies chamber It is ordered that the common seale shall be taken forth and delivered to our master and he to cause the same to be put to the said Indentures and to returne the same seale to be safely kept in the treasury Secundo die August 1638. Reg. Car. 14. These were thâ— Assistants present besides the generality Master John Hart Master Master Griffith Master Alexander Child Wardens Master Alderman Abel Master Wilson Master Davis Master Robert Shaw master Kinaston Master Bludworth Master Bonomy Master King Master Darling Master Leechland Master Robert Lee master Courtman Master Conradus master George Shaw master Gardiner M. Hulbert master Birch Master Foster â—…neral â—…rt The generality here assembled gave consent that master Alderman Abel should have the Companies common Seal delivered unto him and that he should therewith seal the Companies part of the quadrupartite Indenture made with his majesty and others and when that is done to return the same to be safely kept in the Treasury together with the Companies part of the said Indenture And accordingly the Seal was sent by master Hart then master of the Company to Alderman Abels house by the hands of their Beadle and master Griffith one of the Contractors then Warden of the Company carried it to master Atturnies and sealed the Indenture with it the Alderman being then out of town What can be more plain then that this was the work of the whole Company The Companies part of the Indenture must be kept with their common Seal in their Treasury for so was it appointed by this last Order of the General Court The Project was contrived by the generality at a general Court as by the Order of the 22 of November It was confirmed by the generality with unanimous consent not one contradicting it at a general Court 7 Feb. 1637. and then the generality nominated and appointed ten of their Company to contract with his majesty on behalf of the whole Company And their common Seale was ordered to be put to the Indenture of creation of the project at a generall court when Alderman Abel was not Master And besides out of Towne So all the material and principal passages of the creation of this Project were acted in their Hall at general Courts and by the generality And it cannot be denied but that a greater number of drawing Uintners appeared at those general Courts then hath been known at any Court of former times And as it appears by the Orders of those general Courts that Alderman Abel was ingaged in the businesse by the generality as he was master of their Company so it appears also by the same Orders that neither he nor any others were single actors of any thing in the creation or contrivement of the Project but that it was the very Project of the generality of Retailing vintners for the profit of themselves only The 20th Novembâ—… For upon reading the Petition of James Mason and Robert Quarterman and others preferred against Alderman Abel and the rest of the Farmers upon the 20th day of November at their Hall The then Master and Wardens of the Company of the vintners with the rest of the Court of Assistance
A full and true Relation of the whole Transactions of the Company of Vintners the Farmers and Co-adventurers as to the Farmes of 40 s. per Tun and Wine Licenses and the Medium ON the sixth of November 1637 at a general meeting of all Retailers of Wines in London Westminster and the Confines thereof at Vintners Hall the generality made choice of Alderman Abel then Master of their Company Edward Kynaston Ralph More Wardens Rowland Wilson Thomas Hutchinson William Bowyer Esquiâ—es Robert Shaw and Joseph Graves George Hulbert Michael Gardiner Thomas Langton and John Wilcoxe or any three or more of them whereof the Master and the chief Warden to to be one to deal for the generality touching an advancement of price upon retail of Wines suppressing the Coopers a general pardon and divers other benefits to be granted by his Majesty to the retailing Vintners But the Committee was not to conclude any thing therein without the consent of the generality of Retailers as by the Order made that day at Vintners Hall may appeare The Committee proceeded therein accordingly by and with the advice consent and direction of the generality from time to time as appears by their own Orders at Vintners Hall which are here faithfully set down as they were truly transcribed and compared with their Book of Orders there The Orders are in these words â—…se were the â—…sistants beâ—…s the geneâ—…y 22 Die Novemb. 1637. Master Abel Alderman Master Master Kinaston Master More Master Courtman Wardens Master Bowyer Master Davis Master Robert Shaw Master Wilde Master Bonomy Master King Master Darling Master Leechland Master Hamond Master Griffith Master Hulbert master Field master Gardiner â—…neral â—…rt At this Court all the vintners and others Retailers of wine in London Westminster and the parts thereunto adjoyning were warned to meet together at the Vintners Hall in London the greater number whereof there appeared and upon report made to them by the Committees formerly chosen by them what was demanded for his Majesty It was assented unto by the generality that the Committees might yeeld to pay forty shillings upon a tun provided that they might be assured to have from his Majesty the immunities and benefits proposed the which their assents was shewed and expressed by holding up of their hands and they to report their proceedings to the Court from time to time The immunities and benefits were then put into writing by the Clarke of Vintners Hall and were comprehended in eleven heads or Articles and intituled The humble desires of the Retaylers of Wines and were Presented together with a petition to his Maiesty a true Copy of both which here followeth The Petition of the retailing Vintners of London and their Propositions and Demands contrived and made amongst themselves at their Hall in November 1637. Whereby it may appeare who projected the penny a Quart on Wines To the Kings most Excellent Majestie The humble Petition of your Majejesties Loyall Subjects the Vintners and Retailers of Wines Freemen of the City of London Most humbly sheweth THat whereas the Company of Vintners of London hath anciently in times past been a flourishing Company and hath had and enjoyed sundry ancient Priviledges and Immunities whereby the Freemen of that Company have in the exercise of their Calling become men of eminent place and authority in this your City of London May it please your most excellent Majesty to be informed that of late times the Wine Coopers have so invaded the priviledges and intruded into the Trade and Profession of the Vintners as that the said ancient Company is much decayed thereby and impoverished and like further to decline unlesse by your Princely Clemencie the same be restored and upheld And therefore your humble Petitioners prostrating themselves at the feet of your sacred Majesty do most humbly pray your Majesty wil be graciously pleased to restore them to their ancient freedom in the use of their profession And withal for the better enabling them to do your Majesty service and go on cheerfully in their Callings and to grant unto them such further additions of your Princely Favours and Immunities as are conteined and expressed in the Schedule annexed and to pardon all their Delinquencies and transgressions past And in an humble and thankful acknowledgment of your Majesties so ample and royal favours extended to them your humble Suppliants will with a free and unanimous consent pay to your Majesties useâ— and your royal Successors the sum of 2 l. for every Tun of Wine which they shal hereafter retail or vend within this your Kingdom and as in duty bound wil ever pray The humble desires of the Retailors of Wines THat all Merchants and others Importers of Wines into the Ports of London may be enjoyned to sell their Wines to none but Retailors of Wines being Vinters to the end your Majesty may have 2 l. on the Tun upon all the Wines that shall be imported whereby the Merchants and others may not undersel the Vintners and deprive your Majesty of the said 2 l. on the Tun aforesaid and the said Vintners be hindred both in their whole Sale and Retail 2 That no Retailors of Wines and other Buyers of Wines within any place or places of this Realme be permitted to buy any Wines at any Port or places within this Realm unlesse the said Retailors or Buyers do pay the aforesaid 2 l. on the Tun to his Majesty otherwise it will come to passe that all Retailors and other Buyers of Wines will furnish themselves to save the 2 l. a Tun and neglect the free Vintners of London 3 That all Coopers and others may be restrained from intruding into the Vintners Trade buying or selling Wines either in grosse or by retail for time to come 4 That all free Vintners may dresse and sell Victuals Beer Sugar and Tobacco in their Houses in London or elswhere as anciently they have done heretofore they buying their Tobacco of any licensed to sell it 5 That there may be a repayment by way of defalcation of the 6000 li. which the Vintners payed into your Majesties receit of the Exchequer for a great part whereof they pay Interest at this day 6 That the granting of Licenses to retayle Wines within London and three miles compasse may be hereafter and hence forth restrained and none to be hereafter granted And also that the free Vintners may have power according to their ancient Charter to draw wines freely in the four principall Roads and all Cities and Port Towns within this Realm 7. That his Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant to all free Vintners and retaylors of Wines his his most gracious generall and free pardon for all delinquencies and transgressions whatsoever by them committed in the exercise of their Trade either by whole sale or retail to this day And also a confirmation of their ancient Charter with liberty to adventure for Wine of all sorts with such additions as it shall please your Majesty to
Treasuries and regulating Officers and Salleries Nove. 2â—… Dickins 〈◊〉 his Sistâ—… WHereas upon reading of the Petition of William Dickins Anne Elizabeth Tomazin and Mary his sisters being the younger Children of Mr. William Dickins their late Father deceased wherein they alledge that the said William Dickins having an Interest in the profits of a Patent made from the late King unto the Lord Goring and others for compounding for and granting Licenses to sell wine by retail throughout England and Wales Devon and Cornwall excepted did by his last Will whereby he made Francis his Son his Excecutor bequeath unto the Petitioners severall summes of money amounting in all to three thousand nine hundred pounds to be raised out of the yearly Revenue of the said Patent out of which the Petitioners assert they have not yet received any thing towards their said portions for that the profits of the said office were in May one thousand six hundred forty four sequestred for the Delinquency of Francis Dickins Executor of the said William though he was onely Interessed in the said Revenue as an Executor and Testementary Trustee for which Causes they prayed satisfaction of their Portions out of the arrears of the said profits of the said Patent This Committee upon the whole matter finding themselves uncapable to determine any thing as to the relief of the Petitioners untill the present Commissioners and Agents for Wine Licenses and also the Master and Company of Vintners London who claim severall Interests in and to the office of Agency and granting of Wine Licenses be heard do therefore Order that the present Commissioners and Agents for Wine Licenses as also the Master and Warden of the Company of Vintners and likewise Master Cozens late Clerke to the Committee for the Revenue together with the Petitioners do attend this Committee in the Inner Court of Wards on Tuesday the twenty ninth day of this instant November by two of the clock in the afternoon to offer and manifest what they can unto this Committe relating to each mans respective Interests and thereupon this Committee will declare their 〈…〉 make such Order theâ—ein as shall be 〈…〉 At the Committee of Parliament for Inspecting the Treasuries and regulating Officers and Salaries Decemb. â—… Dickins Vintneâ—… â—…don WHereas vpon reading of the Petition of William Dickens Anne Elizabeth Thomazin and Mary Dickens his sisters It was ordered the two and twentieth day of November last that the matter of the said Petition should be taken into consideration the twenty ninth day of the same moneth and that the Master and Company of Vintners London who make claim to the same thing as the Petitioners do together with the present Commissioners and Agents for Wine Licenses should then attend this Committee to say what they could in reference to their Interest And accordingly the said parties then appearing but not being fully prepared to make out their severall Interests Thereupon by consent of all parties the Cause was put over to be heard this present day and now the parties appearing and the Petition of the said Dickins being again read wherein the Petitioners prayed reliefe and satisfaction of the summe of 3500 li. in Legacies given to them by the Will of Mr. William Dickins their late Father deceased and appointed to be paid out of the profits and arrears incurred upon the Patent for granting of Wine Licenses granted by the late King to the Lord Goring the said William Dickins and others and in lieu of a great summe paid and engaged for the Lord Goring he the said William Dickins was to have one thousand eight hundred thirry three pounds â—ix shillings eight pence per annum out of the profits of the said Farme in case it should yield so much above the Kings Rent of which Will Francis Dickens eldest son of the said William being Executour he the said Francis though but a Trustee for the Petitioners in reference to so much of the benefit of the said patent as amounted to satisfie the said legacies yet was the said patent and the profits thereof sequestred by the Commissioners for compounding at Haberdashers Hall for the Delinquency of the said Francis insomuch that the Petitioners have been kept from their legacies upon which their subsistance depends as in their portion is alledged upon consideration whereof and heareing of the Master and Company of Vintners London who also claim an interest in the profits of the said patent for Wine Licenses by grant from the Lord Goring and others wherein the said William Dickens joyned for which the said Master and Company of Vintners paid eighteen thousand pounds in money and 1800 pounds per annum during the time that they held the same and so they affirm that the arrears of Rent and Fines are of right belonging to them while the terme of yeeres in the said patent remained which determined in the yeere one thou six hundred fifty one this Committee upon the whole matter are of opinion that the several intrests of the persons aforesaid are not comprised within their power to determine and doe order that Master Mayer be desired as one of the Committee for Compounding at Haberdashers Hall to report to the Parliament with what convenient speed hee can the true state of the cause relating to the interest of the petitioners as it stands cleered before the said Commissioners 18º Junii 1639. Present Mr. Alderman Abel Mr. Kinaston Mr. Robert Shawe Mr. Darling Mr. Wilcockes Capt. Forster Mr. Rowland Wilson Mr. Griffith Mr. Leechland Mr. Courtman Mr. Simcockes Mr. William Dickins Moved that those that shall be bound for the 7000 l. per annum for the Licenses for retailing of Wines to the Lord Goring be nominated Master Wilson and others moved That Mr. Treasurer and the Deputy should treat with the Lord Goring about the buying in of 3000 l per annum due to him for thirteen years out of the said Licenses and if they could prevail to have it at five and an half years purchase or under then that the Adventurers in the 30000 l. Farme should buy it in and then whom were bound should run the lesse danger and however those bound should be saved harmlesse by Covenant from the other Adventurers pro Rato to their particular Adventures 21th of June 1639. Present Alderman Abel Mr. Darling Mr. Courtman Mr. Dickins Mr. Conradus Mr. Dudley Mr. Griffith Mr. Davis Mr. Bonnamy Mr. Robert Lee Mr. Hilsely Mr. Cox The last Court read and confirmed and Mr. Treasurer and Deputy now moved to have a further consent to treat with the Lord Goring and that they hoped to prevail to obtain his 3000 l. per annum at six years purchase which comes to 18000 l. out of which to abate 1768 l. which is found to be received lesse then 7000 l. the last year which the Adventurers are to make good so that there is really to be disbursed onely 16232 l. which is to the adventurers under
William Abel and Robert Shaw have lately presented their humble Petition to the Honourable Committee of Parliament for Prisons and Prisoners against the said Contractors c. and others in that Petition named which Petition their Honours have bin pleased to recommend by their Letter to the honourable Committee of Judges sitting at Salters Hall and thereupon the said Abel and Shaw have applyed themselves by their Petition for relief to their Honours both which Petitions are here annexed together with a Petition lately presented to the Parliament by some of the said Contractors c. under the names of the Master and Wardens and Company of vintners of the City of London in which Petition they acknowledg the payment of the said 18000 l. for the said purchase of the wine Licences which they say in their Petition they were forced to take up at interest and for a great part thereof some of their members have been imprisoned these 9 yeers past there are like without redress in the premises still to continue to their utter ruine which said petition upon the Parliament referring the examination of the Agency for Wine Licenses to the Committee for inspection into treasuries by their Order of the first of August 1653 The said Master and Wardens c. Contractors and Co-adventurers together have severall times appeared before the said Committee and now lately viz on Tuesday the sixth of December 1653 with Council owning the contents of their Petition and craving releife thereupon as will appear by two several Orders of the said Committee hereto annexed In which petition they acknowledge the Purchase the consideration of the Purchase viz 18000 l. The taking up of the monies at interest and the imprisonment of their members for the same and that even to their utter ruine and there never being any other member either of the Company of vintners as of the Company or of the contractors Co-adventurers and Subadventurers as of them likewise that is or ever was in prison for any of the said 18000 l. other then the said Master Abel and Master Shaw and one master Moore lately imprisoned also for the said moneyes The said Abel and Shaw do humbly conceive that upon comparing the Companies said Petition presented to the Committee for inspection c. and the said Committees two Orders together with three several Orders of the Farmers here following and their note likewise of subscription under their hands hereto annexed That these men will most justly be liable to pay the debts either as the Company or as Contractors c. The Vintners Petition the Committees Orders and the Orders of the Farmers here followeth To the Supream Authority the Parliament of the Common-wealth of England The humble Petition of the Master Wardens and Company of Vintners of the City of London Shewing THat the granting of Wine Licenses in England and Wales were excepted out of the Statutes against Monopolies in the 21th yeer of the late King James That the late King Charles the 20th day of December in the seventh yeer of hise Rign by his Indenture under the Great Seal of England did constitute George Lord Goring and others in trust for him Agent or Agents for the Wine Licenses in England Wales and Berwick Devon and Cornwall and Exeter excepted for 21 yeers from the 20th of December 1630. That in the yeer 1638 the said late King for valuable consideration granted to Sir Sackvile Crow Baronet 1600 li per annum to be issuing out of the Rents and summes of money to grow payable to him his heirs and successours for or in respect of granting Licenses for selling of Wines amounting then unto 2166 l. 13 s. 4 d. per annum out of which 1600 l. per annum your Petitioners purchased 400 l. per annum which cost them 2400 l. and then there remained to the Crown no more then 566 l. 13 s. 4 d. per annum That your Petitioners being beforehand advised by learned Council of the legality of the said Lord Gorings and his Trustees interest did in the yeere 1639 by special command of the late King Charles in consideration of 18000 l. paid to the Lord Goring and of the said 2166 l. 13 s. 4 d. reserved to the Crown purchase the said Agency from him and his said Trustees That one William Dickens some times Servant to the Lord Goring did mannage the said Agency for the Lord Goring and aftewards for your Petitioners and the said Copartners so long as he liv'd after him Franciss Dickens Gent his sonne did the like for your Petitioner and respectively Accounted before Auditor Spackman in their Names and to their uses That your Petitioner enjoyed the said Agency and four hundred Pounds per annum untill they were interupted by Francis Dickens under pretence of a fraudelent Deed who went to Oxford in the year 1643 By reason whereof the then Committee of the Publick revenues sequestred the said agency and all rents and Profits c and put in other Agents of their owne nomination who keepe their Office in Fleet street and have enjoyed the profits thereof ever since And under pretence of Francis Dickins Delinquency Your Petitiones have ever since been kept out of the said Agency Notwithstanding they have used all the means they could to be restored thereunto That when the present Agents entred upon the said Agency there was due to your Petitioners for Arrears and Fines 14000 l. or thereabouts and in annual Rents for Licenses about 3000 l. per annum besides the profit and benefit of making and renewing of Licenses And all arrears and profits except 566 l. 13 s. 4 d. per annum due to the late King all which was of right to have come into your Petitioners hands they having really disbursed for the same 20400 l. which your Petitioners were forced to take up at interest And for a great part thereof some of their members have been imprisoned these nine yeers past and there are like without redresse in the premises still to continue to their utter ruine Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray your Honours will be pleased to commiserate their distressed estate and speedily to take strict examination how and in what manner the present Agents have demeaned and do demean themselves in the said Agency and when and to whom and how much money they have answered to the Common-wealth and in what condition the Agency now stands whereby your Petitioners doubt not but the Interest of the Common-wealth will be much advanced and your Petitioners also receive some competent satisfaction for the great summes of money so as afore by them disbursed The rather for that besides the summes before mentioned They have lent to the use of the Common-wealth at least 12000 l. for which they pay Interest to this day And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. George Griffith Master Henry Croone Edw. Fauconer Richard Maijor Wardens Joseph Rogers Thomas Benson At the Committee of Parliament for Inspecting the