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
five and an half years purchase and to obtain his Lordships security to pay the 3000 l. per annum during the whole time if it should happen that the Licenses should be resumed by his Majesty or by any act of Parliament or act of State which if could be obtained the Committee present consented unto and wished the bargain perfected and those that happen for it any way to be engaged the totall adventurers to save them harmlesse and it was consented unto that if the Lord Goring desired the 400 l. per annum which the adventurers bought formerly of Sir Drue Deane's Executors for 2400 l. he should have it deducting the said 2400 l. out of the 18000 l. for the six years purchase as aforesaid The third of November 1640 present Master Alderman Abel Master Leechland Master Hammond Maptain Foster Master Griffith Master Courtman Master Bowyer At this Court it was ordred that master Alderman master Leechland master Edward Darling and master Griffith should conferre with the Lord Goring to cause master Dickens to seal the Deed for the Licenses with expedition that it be no further delayed which being effected that it be made over for the security of master Alderman and others that are engaged at interest and master Alderman and such others so entrusted to re-assigne the same when they shall be freed of such their engagements BY which foresaid Petition orders the note of subsciiption here following nothing more plain Then that the Wine Licences were by the said Contractors c. ordered to be purchased and moneys likewise to be taken up for the said purchase and the parties that shall become engaged for the said purchase to be re-imburst But that the said Abell and Shaw were and are the parties so engaged and that by their last mentioned Order of the third of November 1640 the Deed of the Wine Licedses be assigned over to them for or towards satisfaction of the said monies or debts so by them entered into which they never did nor ever after the said Order making went about to perform but that the said parties Abell and Shaw are the very parties imprisoned for the said debts there being never any other imprisoned for the same except lately the aforesaid Moore But it doth further appear by the said Petition and Orders that the said Contractors c. under the names of the Master and Wardens c. instead of giving the least satisfaction to the said Abell and Shaw they by their said Petition and the said Orders set forth their claim and Title in and to the said Wine Licenses and endeavour to get them and the profits thereof to themselves and their own uses leaving the said Abel and Shaw like most unconscionable men as in their Petition to continue in prison without redresse The two petitions of the said Abel and Shaw together with the note of Subscription under the hands of the said Copartners and the names of all the Contractors c. as they are set down under the hand of Master George Griffith now Master of the Company and one of the said Contractors here followeth One of which petitions is directed to the Honourable Committee of Parliament for prisons and prisoners and recommended by their Letter to the Honourable Committee of Judges sitting at Salters Hall The other to the said Judges themselves and both for relief against the said Copartners TO THE HONOURABLE the Committee of PARLIAMENT FOR Prisons and Prisoners The humble Petition of William Abel and Robert Shawe now Prisoners in the Vpper Bench. Sheweth THat the granting of Wine Licenses in England and Wales were excepted out of the Statutes of Monopolies in the 21 year of the late King James That the late King Charles the 20th day of December in the seventh yeer of his Reigne by 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 Barwick Devon Cornwall and Exeter excepted for 21 yeers from the 20th of December 1630. That in the yeer 1638 the said late King for valuable considerations granted to Sir Sackvil Crowe Baronet 1600 li per annum to be issuing out of the Rents and Sums of money payable to the late King his Heirs and Successors for or in reâ—pect of granting Licenses for selling of Wines amounting â—hen unto 2166 li. 13 shil 4. d. per annum So as there remained â—o the Crown only 566 li. 13 shil 4. d. per annum out of which â—…600 li. per annum your Petitioner William Abel with three oâ—hers purchased 400 li. per annum which cost 2400 li. That also certain Copartners being before-hand advised â—y learned Counsel of the legality of the said Lord Gorings and â—is Trustees Interest divers of them to the number of thirty â—…d authorize give order under their hands to your Petitioâ—…ers and others to buy the said Interest and did likewise under â—…eir hands engage to save your Petitioners and the rest harmâ—…ss for what moneys they should take up at interest towards â—…e said purchase as by a Copy of the said Subscription hereto â—nnexed will appear That in pursuance of the said Copartners order your Petiâ—…oners and others did in the yeer 1639 for and in consideraâ—…on of 18000 li. paid to the said Lord Goring and of the â—aid 2166 li. 13 shil 4. d. reserved to the Crown purchase the â—aid Lord Gorings Interest and Agency from him and his said Trustees That the said Lord Goring did enter into a Statute of 24000 â—i to your Petitioners and ten others of the Copartners nomiâ—ated by the rest and did likewise himself and one Philip Warâ—…ick his trustee Covenant to and with your Petitioners and â—he said ten others likewise nominated by the rest that they â—hould peaceably and quietly enjoy the said Agencie from themselves or from any other person or persons claiming in from by or under them or either of them c. That one William Dickins sometimes servant to the Lord Goring did manage the said Agencie for the Lord Goring and afterwards for the said Copartners so long as he lived And after him Francis Dickins Gentleman his son did the like for the said Copartners and respectively accompted before Auditour Spachman in their names and to their uses That the said Copartners enjoyed the said Agency and 400 li. per annum until they were interrupted by Francis Dickins under pretence of a former Deed from the said Lord Goring to the said William Dickins Which Francis went to Oxford in the yeere 1643. By reason whereof the then Committee of the publique Revenue sequestred the said Agency and all rents and profits c. and put in other Agents of their own nomination who keep their Office in Fleetstreet and have enjoyed the profits thereof ever since And under pretence oâ— Francis Dickins's Delinquency And your Petitioners thereupon have several times petitioned and appeared before that