A retrospect into the Kings certain revenue annexed to the crown under the survey of His Majesties court exchequer : with the proceedings upon two sevral petitions presented to His Majesty, concerning the chauntry rents, &c. and the first fruits, and tenths of the clergy ... / by George Carew.

TO THE Right Honourable, EDWARD Lord HYDE, Baron of Hen∣den, Lord Chancellour of England; THOMAS Earl of Sou∣thampton, Lord High Treasurer of England; And the Rest of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council.

Right Honourable,

I Observe in the Act of Free and General Pardon, passed at the Parliament, begun at Westminster the 25 day of April, in the 12th year of the Raign of our most Gratious Sove∣raign Lord King Charles the Second; That in the very next Clause of Exception (after Offences for Conjura∣rations, Witchcrafts and Charmes) are Rancked Accomp∣tants, Receivers, and Collectors, that detained the pub∣like mony of the Nation in their hands: The Antient Genious of our Fore-Fathers, in Framing the Court of Exchequer, with that Policy and Art; was such, That all parts of the World admired that Court, for the Excellency and Invention of it; wherein was observed a Method, that although Land and Mony, there was ever in plenty, Ebbing and Flow∣ing. Yet the Prodigal, Coveteous, and Ambitious, Minister, Receiver, or Ac∣comptant, with all his Sleights and Stratagems, could not deceive the King with∣out Discovery. The Course of that Court being altered (upon the Dis∣solution of Abbies) there followed great Losses to the Crown,* 1.1 and many Inconveniencies and Grievances to the People: In the Imperiall Chambers abroad, The publike Books of Revenues lies open to the view of all people, that any kind of Fraud may be discovered, or better advantages found out for the Imperial Estate: My Lords, I am confident your own Honours binds you, beyond all other Obligations in the world, to Promote those things that may be for the Preservation and Improvement of the Kings Preroga∣tives, Honours, and Revenues, Annexed to his Crown: wherein truly consists the Happiness and Glory of the whole Kingdom: There be two Contradicti∣ons used amongst men, easily Reconciled by your Lordships: Summa ratio est summum jus, and Summum jus; summa injuria. In Extraor∣dinary matters not properly relieveable in any other Court; The Lords in Par∣liament have the Prerogative, (for their Excellency, in Knowledge and Wis∣dom) to Determine such Cases by their own Power.

May it please your Lordships, I am Intrusted as an Executer to pay se∣veral Portions, and Legacies, to Hospitals, Free-Scholes, and poor Chil∣dren out of mony left in the hands of Sir William Courten, and Sir Paul Pinder, who parted with it to the late King, upon his Letters Patents, and other Assignments, out of the Revenue in the Exchequer, before the late War: Not doubting the Credit of the great Seal of England, and payment of the Ex∣chequer, I took upon me, the Execution of the Trust, and paid some part of the Legacies out of my own Estate: And notwithstanding I have used my indea∣vours with others, to get in the said Debt, yet I am daily sued by the Legatees for not recovering the Money charged upon the Revenue: wherefore I hum∣bly conceive, that such Accomptants and Receivers which Convert the Kings Revenue to their own Use, do not only Wound the King in Cheif, but the whole Nation in General; and those poor Hospitals and Orphans in particular, that I am troubled for. All which I submit to your Honours Considerations, and Subscribe my self,

April 20. 1661.

Your Faithful Servant, THOMAS GOULD.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The King hath been paid most of his small Rents with Pen and Ink and Dog-Latine since the Course of the Excheq. hath been Altered, and the Subject often vexed & grieved with∣out cause as in Baron Trevers time, a Tenant in York-shire was put to 3l. charge by Tho. Westly a Messenger for 4d. Rent, Charged upon his Estate without his knowledge; Ma∣ny of the like cases have hapned by false returns and Allowances, of Su∣pers, &c.