The Attorney General opens the Charge against the Lord Treasurer as Master of the Wardrobe. Then Mr. Serjeant Crewe came to the clerk's table, and opened the Charge against him to this effect: "The Commons of England, being the general inquisitors of the sores and grievances of the kingdom, have presented their Complaint against this great lord and officer; whereof, and of other misdemeanors, their lordships have before taken cognizance. That he is to charge him the Lord Treasurer, with Violation and Breach of Trust, in defrauding the king who trusted him; and with Bribery and Oppression. That he would begin with his lordship's misdemeanors in the office of the Wardrobe and shew, That heretofore, that office being very expensive to his majesty by reason of the charge and provision of his majesty for the queen, for prince Henry, the queen of Bohemia, and the prince's highness that now is, he, the said Lord Treasurer, informed his majesty of the greatness of his charge, and that he would save his majesty a great part thereof; whereupon he procured the office to himself; but he stood charged with nothing, save the ordinary provision for his majesty.--He is made Master of the Wardrobe, Sept. 14, 16 Jac. And Dec. 26, 18 Jac. the king reciting, "Whereas we had certain notice that sir Lionel Cranfield, in the execution of the said office, hath so directly and carefully performed the said trust, in that behalf committed to him, as that, by the small time of his service there, great sums of money have been, and are likely, yearly, to be abated, in comparison of former expences therein for some years past and also that, by the continuance of his care and good endeavours in the said service, our former great yearly expence of the Wardrobe hath been reduced within the sum of 20,000l. and yet with the maintenance of the former state thereof; and that of 20,0007. assigned for the queen's Funeral, he had received 15,500l. and no more; and that the said sir Lionel by his discreet and careful performance of that trust, hath, with the said 15,500. discharged the said Funeral honourably, and in such sort as was requisite, and hath brought the said charge within the sum of 15,500l. and yet there were black cloths and stuffs to the value of 2,000l. or thereabouts, and some part also of the said money saved:" the king, thereupon, grants him all that he had saved of 20,000/. for the year ended at Michaelmas, 1619, and for another year ended at Michaelmas, 1620, the ordinary charges deducted; for which sums he agrees to discharge the ordinary charge of the Wardrobe; and the king grants the black cloths, stuffs, and monies unto the said-sir Lionel, remaining of the said 15,500/. for the Funeral, for his disbursements for the ordinary of the Wardrobe, for which he was to account; but not for the surplusage, which he saved of the 20,000l.-Dec. 27, 18 Jac. the king makes the same Recital, ut supra; and, having given the surplusage for 2 years before, | doth now continue it for life, yearly at Michaelmas, upon his account, for the Wardrobe, the necessary disbursements deducted, and gives him the surplusage without further account.Jan. 11, 19 Jac. the Lord Treasurer surrenders bis Patent. Note, He got, in these last three years, 8,000l. per anp, and had 6,000l. given him at his farewell. In toto, 30,000/-Jan. 18, 19 Jac. the king pardons him all sums of money received by him for the Funeral or Wardrobe'; and he covenants to discharge the king of such debts as were due by him for the Wardrobe. By this it appears how the king trusts the Lord Treasurer, being master of the Wardrobe, and what expectation the king had of his extraordinary service; that the expences should be much abated and diminished, and yet the state of the Wardrobe maintained by competent and sufficient supplies, and that what the supplies were, should appear upon account; and thereupon the account was directed by the patent. And now, see, my lords, how the Wardrobe is brought into confusion, and how far it is from the old state thereof: which by the patent of my lord, should have been maintained. And, in this, will appear unto your lordships plainly, Breach of Trust and Fraud.-The warrants to be served for the Wardrobe, came from my Lord Chamberlain, from the master of the household, and from the groom of the stole. The warrants and emptions thereupon were usually, heretofore, entered in the clerk of the Wardrobe's books, that the provisions and particulars supplied might appear; but, in my Lord Treasurer's time, no warrants are brought in or entered; no emptions entered, nor book of expences kept by the clerk, as it ought to be.-The clerk should have surveyed the parcels; but could not, through my lord's default: neither is there any Account made as ought to have been: and all this is contrary to the patent, to the prejudice of the king, and of the officers and workmen in the Wardrobe. And, to the end his proceedings in that office might not be discovered, this ensued further upon it, that the warrants were served short, and many not served at all; those that were served, were base and ill, stuffed with great delay and long suit; and yet the suitors for the same were slighted by my lord and his officers.-And although my lord had his money impressed to him, yet he made slack and slow payments with great abatements of the prices formerly allowed. And at my lord's departing from the office, in Jan. 19 Jac. he gets a pardon for all he hath received, without any account, and obtained a lease of the Sugars, for a recompence of his surrender of that office." Mr. Serjeant Crew having thus far opened the Charge; the clerk by his direction, read the Depositions of Witnesses taken to prove the same: which Depositions will be found at length in the Lords' Journals, vol. 3. p. 345, after which the Lord Keeper moved, That the Lord Treasurer might answer his particular Charge touching the Wardrobe. His lordship thereupon demanded ink and paper, and had it. The Lord Treasurer's ANSWER as to the Ward-ness of gains in that office; but, to the end he robe. might have a great recompence, first he named 4,000l. per ann. and afterwards 8,000l. and that this drew on the lease of Sugars to his lordship. Then Mr. Serjeant Crew observed, That the Charge against the Lord Treasurer is upon which he humbly referred to their lordships' consideration. And thus ended the Charge touching the Wardrobe. And then the Lord. Treasurer was withdrawn. to the duke, that it was 4,000l. per ann. 2ndly to the king, that it was worth 6 or 7,000l. per ann.; whereby he got the Lease of Sugars at 4,000l. per ann. less than they are worth; and his successor, the earl of Denbigh, had 4,0001. per ann. less than his lordship, for disbursements of that office of the Wardrobe. That the duke being moved at this, the Lord Treasurer then told his grace, that his gains in that office had been 8,000l. per annum; nay, more than he could well tell; and, till then, his grace knew not of the great gains of that office; and if his grace, who hath been ever careful for the king's profit, had known of it sooner, the Lord Treasurer had not held that place so long; for his grace is amicus usque ad aras.'—Then it was ordered, That the Lord Treasurer be warned to be here again, at two in the afternoon at the bar." Then the Lord Treasurer answered, "That his majesty used his service in many particulars touching his estate; as, in the Navy, the Household, and Wardrobe That he found the ex-proof; his lordship's Answer upon averment; pences of the Wardrobe of a vast sum; every one made what bills they would, and did set what prices they would. When he was master of that othice, he sent for the artificers, and told them, That he would not look upon what was The Lord Keeper removed to the earls past; but that hereafter, the prices should be bench, to satisfy the house touching the Lord reasonable, and the king's money should be Treasurer's speech, That the duke of Buckingready, and they duly paid. That there were ham knew of his gains in the Wardrobe; and many fees to be quarterly paid in the Ward- told their lordships, "That he well remembers, robe; all which were duly paid. As for Can- that when the duke of Buckingham moved his ning and Pulford, he gave them 28. in the pound majesty to place sir Lionel Cranfield Treasurer, more than another would have sold for: be, (which he desired, though afterwards he seembought little of those of the Wardrobe, but ed unwilling) that then the king required the chiefly much of the merchants; and had a good surrender of the Wardrobe to the earl of Denmerchants shop in the Wardrobe, and bought | bigh. That when the Lord Treasurer heard of of the best.--That Pulford complains not of ait, he magnified the profits of the place; first hard price, but that he had not the ancient price. As touching the not serving of divers warrants, That his business being many, he referred those to his servant Colebeck: That not above the value of 7 or 800l. remained unserved; whereas he hath laid out 6 or 7,000l. upon the extraordinaries of that office; as, for fur nishing Ely-house for the Spanish ambassador, a rich barge cloth for the king, and many other things; and that he gave the earl of Carlisle, his predecessor in that office, 3,000l.-As touching the baseness of the stuff served in, he desired they might be compared with those for merly served in; and affirmed they were much better. And whereas some complain they were slighted, when they were suitors for the warrants to be served, his lordship desired they might be examined, whether they were slighted by him or no.-As touching the Account, his lordship answered, That, by the patent, which was read, he May 7, p. m. The Lord Treasurer being was to account; but that he had another pa- brought to the bar, as before, kneeled not until tent, if he be not deceived, without account; he was remembered thereof by the Lord Keepwhich his lordship delivered: and the clerk read er; then he kneeled, and the Lord Keeper willed the same; and also his majesty's explanation him presently to stand up. The king's Attor upon the lease of Sugars, granted to the Lord ney being commanded to open the second Treasurer, upon his surrender of the Wardrobe." Charge against the Lord Treasurer, his lordship Then Mr. Serjeant Crew observed to the said `“ He was unprovided in the morning for Lords, out of both those," That his lordship the Wardrobe; and besought their lordships to was to account for the ordinary disbursements take into their consideration, that he is denied of the Wardrobe."-The Lord Treasurer an- counsel to speak for him, being charged with swer. d, "That he conceived he was not to ac- great matters, for it may be their own case; and count: That he first reduced that office from he hath precedents, as he is informed, that he the vast charge he told the king of; and where- might have counsel allowed him: that, howas he was allowed 20,000l. per ann. for the ever, he would speak out of his own strength; same, he told the duke of Buckingham, 2 years but desired their lordships, that, if he forget any since, that he got too much thereby; and that thing, no advantage be taken against him," unto it might be defrayed for 12,000l. per ann.; and which their lo, dships agreed.-The Lord Trea that be, having reduced that office from 30, surer made two other requests; the one “for nay 40,000l. per ann. unto 12,000l. is a good that his witnesses have not fully answered touchaccount."-Hereupon divers lords presently af- ing the Wardrobe, that he might have a re-exfirmed, That the duke of Buckingham had ac-amination upon the same interrogatories."— knowledged, that the Lord Treasurer, when he This the house denied, as not usual to be grant was to surrender the Wardrobe to the earl of ed in other courts, after publ cation, for that it Denbigh, did acquaint his grace with the great-might produce perjury. His lordship's other 6 request was, “That he might produce his proofs, or records, that the workmen of the Wardrobe were paid:" which was also denied; for that the non-payment of the workmen is but an accident to his Charge. The Attorney General proceeds on the Charge of Bribery. Then Mr. Attorney was willed to proceed: and he proceeded in this manner, viz.-"The second Charge wherewith the Lord Treasurer is charged, is for three several Corruptions; two of them disguised under the shadow and pretext of a bargain; and the third of a new year's gift. Concerning the two former: it cannot be denied, That, Feb. 6, 17 Jac. his majesty did lease unto sir Nich. Salter, and others, the customs and imposts of French and Rhenish Wines, from Michaelmas, 1622, for 9 years; and did covenant with the lessees not to lett any new imposition upon the wines, during the continuance of that lease, without the assent of the lessees. And, Jau. 19 Jac. the king made a lease unto sir John Wolstenholme, and others, for divers years, of the great customs; in which lease there was a covenant, on the part of the farmers, that they should put in security for the payment of their rents; and, for performance of this covenant, they were to have the allow ance and warrant of the Lord Treasurer, without which the king's remembrancer would not take their bonds. Jan. 14, 19 Jac. a new impost of 34. per tun, was set upon the Wines; and the same being done without the consent of the farmers, and to their great damage, they were to expect recompence for the same upon their covenant. Upon these two occasions, the farmers of the several farms were necessarily occasioned to become suitors to the Lord Treasurer; the one for recompence and reparation of their loss, the other for allowance of their security, and his warrant to accept it. The farmers of the Wines began their suit to the Lord Treasurer about January or February, anno 19 Jacobi, and continued it with much instance until December, anno 20 Jacobi, ten or eleven months together without success; whereupon they found means to have access to the king himself, and represented their grief by an humble Petition: which his majesty answered most graciously, and gave straight charge to the Lord Treasurer to give them a speedy dispatch, and conclude with them upon such a recompence, as in honour and justice was fit. And thereupon, Dec. 31, 1622, the Lord Treasurer did agree with them, that they should be allowed 9,500!. to be defalked in 9 years out of their rent, after the rate of 1,000!. per ann This being agreed on, they were to have his lordship's warrant to the king's attorney, for drawing a book according to the agreement; which warrant was speedily prepared and drawn by his lordship's secretary; but delayed from Dec. 31, an. 20 Jac. until June 24, an. 21 Jac. And the farmers of the Great Customs having divided the farms into 32 parts, every of which part was to give his majesty security of 1,500l. for payment of their rent, they presented their security to the Lord Treasurer, who allowed and gave warrant to the king's remembrancer to receive it; but the parties unto whom five of these 32 parts were allotted, falling off and rethe farm resolved to resume those parts to Jinquishing their parts, the four patentees of themselves; and thereupon tendered the Lord Treasurer their own security for those five parts; which he agreed to accept, yet protracted them till June, an. 21 Jac.--The business of both farms thus delayed, and it being conceived that money was expected, the farmers of the Wines resolved to present the Lord Treasurer with 500l. and they of the Great Farm resolved of the like sum; and Mr. Abraham Jacob being a partner in either farm, was entrusted severally by the farmers of each farm, viz. 500l. a-piece, to be presented to the Lord Treasurer; which he paid in one entire sum of 1,000l. to Mr." Catchmay, the Lord Treasurer's steward, June 27, an. 21 Jac. by the Lord Treasurer's appointment; and thereupon the business of both farms had a dispatch by the Lord Treasurer's means.-But to palliate and disguise these two corrupt gifts, the Lord Treasurer then pretended to have 4 parts of the Great Farm divided into 32 parts; and, in his Answer touching these Corruptions, justifieth the taking of 1,000l. by way of bargain for those 4 parts from the farmers of the Great Customs: this Answer being disproved, and it being made plain that he had no part in that farm, it must needs follow that the money was taken corruptly, for the dispatch of the farmers business, and, for manifestation hereof, it stands proved.-That upon the treaty of the bargain for the Great Farm, the Lord Treasurer propounded to the farmers to have some parts in the farm, not for his own benefit, but to dispose of amongst his friends; but this was rather a proposition than any settled resolution or conclusion: for the farmers doubting, lest, by this pretence, some partners might be put on them with whom they were unwilling to join, desire the Lord Treasurer, that they might make choice of their own partners, and, if their farms prospered, they would be thankful unto his lordship.-This thankfulness was afterwards performed on their part, for they raised his usual new year's gift from 1,000 marks to 1,000/. and, upon this request of the merchants, the Lord Treasurer waved his proposition of having the disposal of any parts in the farm; which appeareth not only by the plain and express testimony of many witnesses, but by these proofs following, viz. 1. The lease of the Great Farm bears date, Jan. 1, an. 19 Jac. between which time and April 29, an. 20 Jac. the farmers divided the whole farm into 32 parts, allowing to each man his part, and reduced the same into writing, expressing therein the sum of the security which every man was to give, without mentioning therein any parts reserved to the Lord Treasurer, or his friends; and this writing, being tendered to the Lord Treasurer, April 29, 1622, was by him allowed, and warrant signed by him to the king's remem torney, the clerk read the Proofs, which will be found in vol. 3, p. 352, of the Lords' Journals. The Lord Treasurer's Answer to the Charge of Corruption. brancer to take security accordingly. 2 When their proportionable parts they were charged the partners, to whom 5 of these parts were al- with for that 5007. upon the aforesaid Account lotted, fell off, and would not give security, the of the 20th Dec.; and as many as could of the patentees resolving to take those parts to them- dispersed copies of that Account to be gotten selves, tendered their own security to the Lord in. He also procures Jacob to write a letter Treasurer,and he agreed to accept it; and,though to his lordship and to antedate the same in June he protracted it long, yet he did not, in that long before; by which Jacob did intimate, that the time of delay, challenge any parts until about 1,0007, was given his lordship for four 32 parts of June, 1623. 3. The fariners resting secure about ¦ the Great Farm; and himself made an acquitthat proposition, did, after the 29th of April, tauce to Jacob with the like antedate, acknow1622, divide the whole farm by indentures, al- ledging that 1,000l. to be received for those lotting to each man his due part, without re- four parts; which indirect courses of changing serving any for the Lord Treasurer. 4. At the accounts, and antedating the said acquitChristinas, 1622, the first year of the farm tance and letter, manifesteth that the former ended; and this year's profit was, by account, proceedings were not sincere, but were to be in April 1623, divided among the partners, re- converted and blanched with these devices. serving no share to the Lord Treasurer. 5. But Touching the said Corruption, shadowed under the truth is, That all this time the Lord Trea- pretext of a New-Year's-Gift, it stands proved, surer rested quiet, and neither did nor would That, at Christmas last, 1623, the farmers of challenge any parts; the farm being of that the Petty Customs presented the Lord Treasmall expectation of benefit, as five partners surer with a tun of wine, intending to have gave over their parts, rather than they would added to it a pipe of Canary wine, or the best give security; but, about June 1623, the farm sack; but the Lord Treasurer misliking the being grown more hopeful by the return of some smallness of their present, urged them to a furEast India ships, the Lord Treasurer having in ther gratuity in money, and thereby obtained his hands the business of both farins, which he from them, Lesides the wine, 100/. in money." had so long delayed, meaning to make this a-The Charge being thus opened by Mr. Atvcil and cover for taking those corrupt gifts, then pretended to have four 32 parts, which he had waved so long before. 6. The Lord Treasurer appointing Catchmay, his servant, to receive the 1,000l. of Jacob, which was received the 27th June, 1623, forbad him to give any The Lord Treasurer answered, "That the acquittance for the money, but to leave that to greatest part of these proofs swear not that himself and Jacob; which, had it been paid they of the Petty Farm gave him the 5007. upon a plain bargain, he never would have! That it is true the great farmers paid it to his done. 7. This money was entered into the lordship and laid it on the Petty Farm, and deAccounts and Books of the said Farms; for in ceived them and abused his lordship thereby. the Journal Books of the Petty Farms, July 31, He denied that the petty farmers were suitors to 1623, there is 5001, entered to be paid and pre- | his majesty at such time as is affirmed; but they sented to the Lord Treasurer, by the hands of complained to his lordship and he directed them Mr. Jacob, for a gratification of his favour in to exhibit their bill into the exchequer cham- · accommodating an allowance of 1,000l. per ann. ber, and ordered Mr. Attorney to answer it: to be abated of their rent for the time to come; that they liked it not; but, by some powerful and the like entry was made in the ledger of means, delivered a Petition to the king (a very the same farm. And, Dec. 20, 1623, upon scandalous petition against his lordship) which the general Account of that farm, this 3007. the king referred to the chancellor and himself : is put to account, as a gratuity given to the that they demanded an allowance of 10,0007. Lord Treasurer, and is borne rateably by all to be presently made, and he allowed them but the partners of the farm, of which account 9,500l. to be paid in 94 years; for which he demany copies were given out to the partners; served no bribe: that bis warrant to the Atand, for the other 5007. there is extant a war-torney was delayed for these two causes: 1. rant, dated July 29, 1623, subscribed by sir for that his lordship propounded to buy in their John Wolstenholme and Henry Garraway, two | farm for the king. 2. For that their warrant of the farmers of the Great Farm, directed to Williams, the cashier of that farm, to pay to Mr. Jacob 500l. given by him, by order of the farmers, to the Loid Treasurer, for a gratuity, and to put it to the account of the farm; which was done accordingly: and these Accounts stood in this manner till Feb. last, after the parliament was summoned; and then the Lord Treasurer caused Jacob to procure the 500l. that was set upon the Petty Farms, to be altered from thence, and to be charged upon the farmers of the Great Farm; and satisfaction to be given to the partners of the Petty Farms of was not drawn as it ought to be."-Touching the Great Farm, his lordship said, "He would make it appear, that he had reserved four 32 parts therein for himself and his friends; and alledged, That those farmers have confessed that, their farms próspering, he thereupon did demand a recompence for his part." Here his lordship read the Heads of his Proofs out of a paper, and then required that the examinating taken on his part might be read; which were read accordingly by the clerk.—See Lords" Journals, v. 3, p. 358. Then the Lord Treasurer made a brief repe ments."-Answ, The Lords have appointed a conference concerning Monopolies this afternoon, at three in the Painted Chamber. They have not yet resolved of a time for the couterence touching Accusations against the lord bishop of Norwich; for that divers of the lords are now absent: but, as soon as they can conveniently appoint a time for the same, their lordships will send to them by messengers of their own. As touching the bill of Concealments, their lordships have taken the same into their serious consideration; and it is only deferred for that all the king's council, who are appointed to attend the same, are, at this time, otherwise employed: but their lordships do promise all possible expedition therein. Proceedings against the Lord Treasurer on the Lease for Sugars. May 10. The Lord Keeper put the house in mind of the business concerning the Lord Treasurer, to be proceeded in this morning. And his lordship being brought to the bar, Mr. Serjeant Crew opened the Charge against him on the Lease of Sugars, in this manner : "Quarto Decembris, 18 Jac. The king leaseth to George Herriot the impost on Sugars, to hold from Christmas following, for three years, at the rent of 5,666l. 13s. 4d. per ann. payable at Midsummer and Christmas. Duo tition of his proofs of his interest in some 32 parts of the Great Farm; and took exception against the testimony or Jacob, for it varied in time of payment of his 1,000/. from the testimony of Hyde. And his lordship affirmed, That the 500l. was misplaced by him, the said Jacob and two more, on the farmers of the Petty Farms; whereas he received the same only for his interest in four 32 parts of the Great Farm." And as touching the antedated letter, and the antedated acquittance, his lordship said, "That they were so done, lest Jacob should die, and so his testimony be lost." Unto which Mr. Attorney replied, "That it is sufficiently proved, that the said Lord Treasurer, neither when he received the 1,000l. nor long before, had any right to the said 32 parts:" and thereupon he stated the case as before, and rehearsed the seven reasons by him formerly alledged, to prove that the Lord Treasurer had waved his proposition of having the disposing of any part in the Great Farm. And, as touching the Lord Treasurer's exception to the testimonies of Jacob, for that it varied in time from Hyde, Mr. Attorney shewed, that Jacob deposeth, That he paid the money to the Lord Treasurer on the 27th of June, 1623, by direction from the farmers, and Hyde swears, That the money was delivered to Jacob the 31st July, 1623; which was by way of allowance back again, so no contradiction between them.decino Jan. anno 19 Jac. The Lord Treasurer Then the Lord Treasurer protested, "That, procures Herriot to surrender that lease; and, as he shall answer it at the fearful day of Judg- the next day, takes a lease thereof from the ment, he received that 1,000l. for no other con- king, upto Nicholas Harman and Tho. Catchsideration than for his share in the four 32 may (two of his servants) unto his own use, at parts." And as touching the third Corruption, 2,000l. rent per ann, and lets the same unto the by way of a New-Year's-Gift, he said, "That farmers at 6,000l. per ann. and, to effect this nothing belongs to the Lord Treasurer's place surrender, gives order, in a time of scarcity of but 20s. per diem, the sale of the places when money, for the payment of 14,8657. due unto they fall, and the New-Year's-Gifts; and de- the said Herriot for jewels, which was paid, nied, That he urged them to any certain sum. between the 15th of Dec. 1621, and the 10th All which, he said, he would humbly leave to Jan. following, in this manner, viz. 7,000l. odd their lordships honourable consideration; and, money, out of the arrears of the said Herriot's withal, requested their lordships to forbear his rents, and 7,000l. odd money, out of the Tofurther attendance here till Monday next, be- bacco Farm, by way of anticipation.-Thecause he had spent his spirits so far, that his crime objected against the Lord Treasurer cause might otherwise suffer through his weak- herein is this: had Herriot's lease continued, ness." And so withdrew himself.-The Lords Herriot's debt had been paid out of his rent; granted his request, and commanded the gen- and the said Treasurer has not only caused tleman usher to signify so much to his lordship; the said lease to be surrendered, and procured and further ordered, that he should attend their a new lease thereof unto his servants, to his lordships here again on Monday next, at eight own use, at a far less rent; but hath laid in the morning, at the bar. An order was 7,000l. of that debt upon the Farm of Tobacco : signed by the clerk accordingly, and sent to and this he hath done in a time of scarcity of the Lord Treasurer. money, even then when he caused the imposiMay 8. The Lords received from the Com- tions to be laid on the wines for a supply for mons this message "That the Commons do the Palatinate and further he hath paid the humbly desire to know, what time their lord- smaller rent of 2,000l. per ann. very slowly unto ships will please to appoint for a conference the king; an arrear of 3,000l. thereof being touching the bill on Monopolies. They do also paid since the 31st of Dec. last, after the sumdesire a conference touching some Accusation mons of this parliament. And whereas, for against the lord bishop of Norwich, unto which the advancement of trade, the merchants, upon his lordship has not yet been heard; humbly the exportation of their merchandizes, are releaving the time and place to their appoint-paid their custom, which they formerly paid ment. And they do earnestly recommend to their lordships consideration, that general peace-maker of England, the bill of Conceal upon the importation, this is denied upon the exportation of Sugars, to the damage of the merchants, and for the Lord Treasurer's private |