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 Es­qui [...]es, Robert Shaw, and Joseph Graves, George Hulbert, Michael Gardiner, Thomas Langton, and John Wilcoxe, or any three or more of them, [Page 2] (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,

[...]se were the [...]sistants be­ [...]s the gene­ [...]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.

[...]neral [...]rt. At this Court all the vintners and others Retai­lers of wine in London, Westminster, and the parts [Page 3] 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.

• 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.
• [Page 7]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 conferre on them, and to be annexed to their Charter.
• 8 That all Retailors of Wines within London and three miles thereof, may be reduced to be Free­men of the Company of Vintners, for the better go­vernment of their trade in general.
• 9 That your Majestie will be graciously pleased to grant to the said free Vintners licence to sell at 1 d. a quart, over and above the prices yeerly set by the Lords of the Council; whereby they may be enabled to pay to your Majesty 2 l. upon the Tun.
• 10 That high Country Wines in regard of their extraordinary prices and small Cask, may be sold [Page 8] at 1 d. a quart, above the rate allowed for ordinary French Wines.
• 11 That if his Majesty hereafter shall be graci­ously pleased to let to farm the said 2 l. per Tun; Then that the Company of Vintners may be admitted to farm the same before any other.

Whereby, and by the said Order of the 22 of November, it appears that the demand of liberty to raise 1 d. 2 d. a quart, and the offer 40 s. a tun, proceeded originally from the generality of the Vintners, and as it was their voluntary offer and project, so every Article of their desires is for the benefit of each drawing Vintner, the Clark of the Company put the said Articles into writing in the Common Hall, as the several drawing Vint­ners directed and dictated to him.

The next meeting at Vintners Hall was on the 27 of November, 1637. The Order thus.

These the As­sistants this day. 27 Die Novemb. 1637, Reg. Car. 13. William Abel Alderman Master, Master More, Master Courtman, Wardens, Master Wilson, Master Bowyer, Master Shaw, Master Bludworth, Ma­ster Bonamy, Master King, Master Robert Lee, Master Griffith, Master Hulbert, Master Baily, Ma­ster Gardiner.

At this Court upon relation made by our Ma­ster of the passage of the businesse referred to him and other Committees, touching the payment of 40 s. on a tun to his Majestie for Wines retailed, and upon reading of the Petition prepared to be delivered to his Majesty with the several reasons [Page 9] thereto annexed. It is ordered that the master to­gether with the former Committees appointed by the court shall proceed in that businesse as they shall from time to time find expedient, acquainting this court with their proceedings.

By these orders it is manifest, that this project was the worke of the generall company of drawing vintners, for they chose the Committee, they take account of the Committee, and they order and di­rect the Committee to proceed, acquainting them with their proceedings. In all which Alderman Abel was but one of the Committee chosen and employed by his Company for their publick ser­vice; and neither he nor any particular man, but the drawing vintners had, or could have any pri­vate interest or end. For Alderman Abel had gi­ven over his trade long before.

The next Order was the seventh of February, in these words, viz.

Septimo die Februarii, 1637, Reg. Car. 13.

These were Assistants b [...] sides the ge [...] rality. Master Abel Alderman Master, Master Kinaston, Master More, master Courtman, Wardens, Master Wilson, Master Hutchinson, master Bowyer, Ma­ster Davies, Master Robert Shaw, Master Blud­worth, master Bonamy, Master King, Master Dar­ling, master Conradus, Master Griffith, Master Hul­bert, Master Field, Master Ashwell, master Gardi­ner.

A general Court. This day all the Retailors of Wines inhabi­tants within the City of London, and adjacent [Page 10] places being warned to appear at this Court, the greater number of them appeared: To whom the Master related what had been further propounded in that businesse now in agitation with his Majesty, and amongst other things, that his Majesty was pleased to accept of forty shillings a tun for wines retailed, and likewise for the farm thereof thirty thousand pound a yeer, but his majesty would not contract with the whole generality, but with some particular men of ability, to whom his ma­jesty may resort for the performance of that which shall be contracted for, and thereupon the said master propounded to the generality.

First, whether they did hold and confirm their former resolution to pay forty shillings a tun for all Wines to be retailed, and

Secondly, whether they would accept of the Farm thereof at thirty thousand pounds a yeer: To both which Propositions with an unanimous consent, they agreed and declared their consents, by holding up their hands.

And likewise it was also considered for furthe­rance of the proceeding in the said businesse, that ten persons should be named, who should contract with his majesty, in such manner as learn­ed Council should advise, and for that purpose the generality did nominate William Abel Alder­man, Rowland Wilson, Thomas Hutchinson, William Bowyer, Esquires, Robert Shaw, Edward Kynaston, Ralph More; Jacob Bonamy, George Hulbert E­squire, and Michael Gardiner Citizens, and vint­ners of London; with this, that if any of the said [Page 11] ten should refuse to take upon him to be one of the said Contractors, that then another should be chosen in his steed, and those ten to contract with his Majesty, and to stand engaged for payment of the [...]arm rent at the times, and in the manner to be agreed upon, and it was thought necessary and agreed, that the said ten should take unto them so many as should make up thirty, who should under write, and bring in every man a thou­sand pound, for so much thereof, as should be thought expedient from time to time to disburse, and that every of them should ratably according to their summes disbursed receive profit, if the bu­sinesse proved profitable, and likewise to beare their proportionable shares of charges and losse, if the businesse shall not happen to produce profit, but losse.

By this order it is to be observed, first, that as this project had his birth at Vintners Hall, being there contrived by the generality of drawing Vintners, so it was still prosecuted by the gene­rality, for the greatest number of them appeared at this Court.

Secondly, That the generality confirmed it with an unanimous consent, not one contradicting it.

Thirdly, That for furtherance of the businesse the generality nominated Alderman Abel then Master, and nine more Vintners, who should con­tract with his Majesty on the Companies behalf, because his Majesty would not contract with the generality.

Which shewes with what cheerfulnesse and ear­nest desire they prosecuted the effecting of the pro­ject; and this convinceth those that pretend that the Vintners were perswaded, or threatned by Al­derman Abel, the Alderman did not, nor needed to perswade them, for they nominated and inga­ged him. And had not this and nine other Orders of their Hall clearly manifested with what earnest desires, and unanimous assents they contrived and prosecuted it, they would have out-faced all truth. But against their own orders what can be replied.

And none doe testifie any words of perswasion or threats, but those that are parties and delin­quents in the highest degree.

• 1 Parties to the originall contriving the Pro­ject.
• 2 Parties to the Indenture of creation of the project, and
• 3 Parties that took benefit by the project, 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 [...]ants [...]t that [...] 19 May 1638. Reg. Car. 14. William Abel Al­derman, Master, master Kynaston Warden, master Wilson, Master Robert Shaw, master Bludworth, ma­ster [Page 13] 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 [Page 14] 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.

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 [...]sistants this day. 16 Junii 1638. William Abel, Alderman Ma­ster, Master Kinaston, Master More, Master Court­man, 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 th [...] 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 [Page 16] 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.

[...]neral [...]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 Novemb [...] 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, made a Declaration, and entred it in their Hall Book, wherein are conteined these very words.

And master Alderman Abel and divers other the Contractors never sith-hence dealt in grosse, nor benefited themselves by the advance upon the [Page 18] retail of Wines: so as he hath in all this been but a person even entreated into the businesse for the Company, and no whit for himself, nor hath o­therwise, or in other manner, or for other cause acted any thing at all in or concerning this busines.

For the Medium.

It was first occasioned by the drawing Vint­ners, for in the first Article o [...] their project, they de­manded that all Merchants, may be enjoyned to sell their wines to none but the retayling Vintners.

The Merchants opposed it, and shewed that in case they should be tied up from selling their wines to any but vintners, it would be their undoing, and the overthrow of their trades, unlesse the Vint­ners would oblige themselves to take off their wines at the prizes [...]et by the Lords, for otherwise the Vintners would beat down the Merchants pri­ces, and leave their wines on their hands.

Whereupon after severall debates, touching that particular betweene the Merchants and Uint­ners, it was at a generall Court held at Uintners Hall the 21, of March, 1637. agreed and consented to by the generality of Retailers: That they would yearely take from the Merchants at the set prices, such a quantity of wine as was by them yearely im­ported according to a Medium, to be taken of their last seven yeares importation.

And at another generall Court, the 29 off the same March, they againe consented to take off the Merchants wines, as by the order following ap­peares.

29 Martii 1638.

These we [...] Assistants [...] sides the [...] rality. William Abel Alderman, Master, master Kina­ston, master More, master Courtman, Wardens, ma­ster Wilson, master Hutchinson, master Bowyer, master Davies, master Robert Shaw, master Blud­worth, Master King, Master Clegate, master Dar­ling, Master Hamond, Master Conradus, master Griffith, Master George Shaw, master Hulbert, Master Field, Master Baily, Master Ashwell.

A genera [...] Court. This day upon a general summons of all retailers of wines given by the Officers of the Hall for their apperance here, a very ample number of them came, to whom the Master againe declared what had passed betwixt himself and some other committees of this Company, and the Medium of wines by them required to be taken off, and the Master againe pro­pounded to the said retailers whether they were willing for accomodation of those English Mer­chants to take their wines being good and mer­chantable, as in former times, in such a moderate way as is lately propounded, and hereafter to be agreed upon, not exceeding the Medium; No warres, act of State, contagion, great sicknesse, or mortality hindering the vent of Wines. To which they declared and signified their consents, as also that the farm of 40 shillings a Tun, shall be accep­ted at the rent of 30000 li. per annum, and the granting of Licenses for Taverns at 7000 li. per annum.

And the next Court day being the 19 of May 1638. the Company appointed a certaine number of retailing Vintners to seale the quadrupartite in­denture on behalfe of the whole company which, indenture was severall times openly read and rati­fied in their Hall at generall meetings, and in that Indenture the vintners covenant expresly to take off from the Merchants 4000 tunne Spanish, and 5000 tunne French wines; (being the Medium a­greed on by the merchants and vintners) and in consideration thereof the merchants covenanted and obliged themselves to sell to no coopers, nor countrey vintners.

Thus was the Medium begot by the London vintners and for their benefit, who by this meanes monopolized the retailing of wines both in city and countrey, and were the sole Authors of the Medium; and afterwards to make sure work, they got an order from the Council-board that those merchants that should breake their contract by sel­ling wines to coopers or countrey vintners should not have their wines taken off.

The vintners having thus tied up the merchants from selling to any but them, would not take off their wines, as by contract they were bound, but furnished themselves from Strangers, and left those native merchants wines on their hands to their great losse and almost undoing.

Thereupon, those merchants were driven to petition the Lords of the council, and to set forth the unfaithfull and fraudulent dealing of the vint­ners, and upon several hearings of what could [Page 21] be said on both sides, their Lordships ordered the vintners to take off from those merchants who had beene so much wronged a small quantity, farre short of that which the vintners by their owne contract were bound to take, and were wines which a select committee of vintners ( Michael Gardiner being one) had chosen and marked out for good and merchantable wines.

True it is, in regard of the great quantity of wines imported that yeare, the vintners might have bought those wines somewhat cheaper, but they retailed them all at the highest prices, and lost not, but gained by them, and in case any one peece of those wines failed on their hands, it was through the Uintners owne wilfulnesse, in that they would not husband them, rack them from their lees, and take them from the Merchants in due time as by their contract they were bound and ought to have done.

In the great and numerous company of Vint­ners, there are about 40. whereof some would not pay the Merchant for their Medium wines, others would not pay the 40. shillings a tunne to the King, and some of the refusers to pay for their Medium wines were upon complaint of the Mer­chants, owners of those wines committed to the Fleet by the Lords; and others that would not pay the 40. shillings a tunne, after long forbear­ance, were sued.

These forty being indebted to his Majesty in great summes for the forty shillings a tun, petitio­ned the Honourable House of Commons against Alderman Abel, Ralph More, George Grifsith, Row­land Wilson, and the rest of the Farmers, and by their Petition they set forth, that they were com­pelled to take medium Wines to their loss, and in­forced to pay fotry s. upon a tun all Wines, both which are untrue, for they had voluntarily obliged themselves by their said contract to perform both, upon more then valuable considerations as is be­fore declared, and upon those and the like false pre­tence, that they opposed the project, they would exempt themselves from making restitution to the Common-wealth of the great summes which they have gained by the project.

To these its answered, that they amongst the rest were present at the contriving of, and gave their consents to the project at vintners Hall, and againe, though they refused to pay the 40 s. per Tun to his Majesty yet they have the conscience to take the 1 d. and 2 d. a quart, and enjoyed all other benefits and advantages by the project, and yet more, some of them had the faces to take the 3 d. a quart, which was half a Tun above the set prices on Malligoes and Sheries, as was proved before the Committees of Parliament.

Thus you may see how these men had the con­sciences to take on all wines 4 l. on some 8 l. on others 12 l. a tunne above the set prices (although in the set prices there's included a competent gain to them) and to exact all other the advantages by [Page 23] the contract, but they will not pay the King 40. shillings a tunne, nor take off the Merchants wines as other vintners did, and as they by their contract were bound to doe.

These will enjoy all profits, but will endure no losse.

Are not these men more inexcusable to blame, then the rest of the vintners, that taking the 1 pen­ny and 2 pence a quart paid the 40 shillings to the King, and performed their contract with the mer­chants. For the end of these mens complaint in Parliament, was to free themselves from payment of the 40 shillings a Tun to the King, on those Wines for which they had taken from the Sub­ject 4 l. 8 l. and 12 l. a Tun, above the set prices.

But the truth is, that the Vintners, having recei­ved a double benefit by this their Project, to wit, pardon for their fore-past delinquencies, and in­crease of price on all their Wines, would have e­scaped the justice of the high Court of Parliament, and have prevented both punishment and restitu­tion by casting their Project from off themselves and others, and by conceasing and denying their most unconscionable benefit, but their own Or­ders which they so long denied, and would still de­ny, have been several times proved at the several Committees, and out of those their own Orders (against which no modest man would con [...]end.) They have upon ten several hearings before the said Committees been four times voted by the Committees to be the Contrivers of the Project and Delinquents.

For the Licenses.

The 22 day of Novemb. 1637 A general Court. At a general Court, viz. on the foresaid 22 day of November 1637, when the several immunities & benefits comprehended in eleven heads or Articles were put in writing at Vintners hall by their Clark, one of the said Articles ( viz.) the 6th, was, that the granting of Wine Licenses in and about Lon­don be restrained, and that the free Vintners may draw Wines in the four principal Roads, and in all Cities and Market Towns. But the said Licenses being before that granted by the late King Charles, to the Lord Goring, and he in actual possession thereof.

The 7th. of Februar. 1637. A general Court. The said generality as in the aforesaid Order of the 29th. of March 1638. did consent and agree, That the granting of Licenses should be farmed at 7000 l. per annum, and whereas by the aforesaid Order of the seventh of February 1637, the ge­nerality nominated ten Contractors to contract with his Majesty for the duty of 40 s. per tun, at 30000 l. per annum, who should take to them so many as should make up thirty, who should go 1000 li. a man Adventure at this general Court ( viz.) on the said 29th. of March 1638. The 29th. of March, 1638. A general Court. They order, that the said Contractors shall take to them so many as should under-write 1000 l. a man, as shall make up with the said Contractors 37 shares, and accordingly the said Contractors did take to them so many as did make up their shares, who did under-write their names at Vintners Hall, to go a [Page 25] 1000 l. adventure in the said farms, and brought into stock a 100 l. a man, which was paid into the hands of master Traveis Under-treasurer to the Farmers.

Thus the retailing vintners assumes the whole benefit of all the aforementioned benefits and im­munities to themselves, excepting the farming of the 40 s. per tun, and Wine Licenses, which by the preceding Orders, most plainly appears. They turned over to the said Contractors and Coadven­turers, who accordingly did contract with the said late King Charles, and the said Lord Go­ring for the said farms, and did rent to themselves an house for a meeting place, and did take to them­selves a Treasurer an Assistant and Under-trea­surer, Clarks and Accountants, and Waiters, and several other Officers, and did allot and pay to them by their Under-treasurer their several yeerly stipends, and did sit and make Orders which were first drawn up by Master Griffith, one of the said Farmers, and afterwards engrosse in a fair Book by Master Winton their Clark, and did receive the be­nefit and profits arising by the said Farms, which said Contractors and Coadventurers did take to them several Sub-adventurers. The names of all which are hereunto annexed with their particular adventures in the said Farms, as they are set down under the hand of Master George Griffith, one of the said Farmers & Assistant to the Treasurer, which said Contractors, Coadventurers, and Subadventu­rers did agree amongst themselves, about Novem­ber a thousand six hundred thirty nine, to pur­chase [Page 26] of the said Lord Goring, his whole interest in the said Wine Licenses, and that each of them should have and beare his share of losse or gain in the said purchase, according to his said Adventure. And what moneys soever should be taken up at In­terest, or brought in by any upon that occasion should be born and paid by the said Contractors, Co-adventurers and Sub-adventurers, accord­ing to their several adventures, as will appear by several Orders of the Farmers, and a note of Subscription hereto annexed under thirty of their hands. Which said summe of 18000 li. was paid to the said Lord Goring in manner following, That is to say, 9000 li. thereof out of the joynt stock of the said Contractors, Co-adventurers and Sub-adventurers, and 9000 li. more by the order and desire, and upon the undertaking of the whole number, by moneys taken up at Interest by William Abell and Robert Shaw, together with two or three others, and upon payment of the said 18000 li. to the said Lord Goring, the said Lord Goring did as­signe his said interest to the said William Abell and Robert Shaw, and 10 others in trust for the rest, &c.

Who by vertue of the said Assignement, did receive the profi [...]s thereof, untill Francis Dickens their Clerke under pretence of a former Deed to his father William Dickens in the year 1643 went to Oxford, and carried all the Books of Accounts a way with him.

Whereupon the then Committee for the pub­like revenue, sequestred the Agencie of the said Wine Licenses with the profits thereof, and put in Agents of their own nomination.

And the said Contractors, &c. refusing to pay their just shares, and the said Agents (since the said sequestration) receiving the Rents and profits ari­sing by the said Licenses.

The said William Abel and Robert Shaw after many tedious and vexatious Suits, and after seve­ral times petitioning and appearing before the said Committee for the revenue for release of the said Sequestration, and all without the least redresse.

The said 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 [Page 28] 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.

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, [Page 40] 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.