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Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2044

Autographs
Stop of the Exchequer
1671 (3 November) memorandum "To make an account of all Orders past to Sr. Thomas Osborne & Sr. Thomas Littleton dureing their joint management of ye Office of Treasurer of ye Navy. Also an Account of payments made to them on any of ye said Orders since your last certificate ending ye 21st of February last. For my Lord Bruckner". Followed by various calculations of sums to be paid including, among others, "Assigne of Edw. Backwell - 104.15.6", "Assignee to Doctor Chamberlaine - 200.0.0", and "To be paid in to the Exchequer 00.4.9". Written in more than one unidentified hand on folded page. This is perhaps an example of rising financial fears that lead to the Stop of the Exchequer in January 1672. Photo

Stop of the Exchequer 1672 (January) saw a freeze on all payment from the Exchequer for 12 months after the debt of crown became too great owing to the Naval efforts against the Dutch and the current fiscal policies of Charles II. The Stop had a disastrous effect on the goldsmith bankers who had loaned vast sums to the crown.

Sir Thomas Osobrne and Sir Thomas Littleton were joint Treasurers of the Navy who had been the subject of a discussion regarding outstanding orders from them, of which it was noted there were still several unpaid.

"My Lord Brouncker" - William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount, was a mathematician, became the first President of the Royal Society and Navy Commissioner at the time of this memorandum.


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Estimate
£350 to £400