Catalogue description SIR GEORGE CARY, Treasurer at War in Ireland.

This record is held by Lambeth Palace Library

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Title: SIR GEORGE CARY, Treasurer at War in Ireland.
Description:

"Instructions for George Carye of Cockington in the county of Devon, knight, appointed by us to repair into the realm of Ireland with our cousin the Earl of Essex, and to remain there as our Treasurer at Wars."

 

Having, at the suit of Sir Henry Walloppe, now Treasurer at Wars in Ireland, revoked him from that charge in regard of his great years, and of the great account he has to make, we have made choice of you to supply that room. You are to enter into that office from the 1st inst. Should any sums be issued by him after that date, "the same shall be by you repaid unto him, and run upon your accompt."

 

By your letters patent you are both Treasurer at Wars and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, and further Receiver General of all our revenues there; "which though they be all places distinct and in their true natures not very convenient to be all in one hand, yet, in regard of the great trust we have in you, we are pleased they shall so continue."

 

The greatness of this late rebellion giving us cause to send thither a greater force than ever we previously had there, we have divided the account of that charge from the ordinary charge for martial services, and caused an establishment to be made thereof apart, which has been delivered to the Lieutenant General (Essex). You are not to exceed the payments specified in it "at your peril."

 

The men of war are to be furnished from hence with apparel twice a year, at a certain rate, and victuals are to be issued at certain staples to the soldiers at the rate of 4¼d. a day for each man. These sums are to be defaulked upon the pay of the soldiers. Defalcations also to be made of all sums which ought to accrue to us by the checks cessed upon the bands, according to the certificates of the commissaries of the musters; and for powder or munition delivered to any in our pay, "in cases wherein it is not accustomed to be spent at our costs," according to the certificates of the Master or Lieutenant of the Ordnance. We have limited the "extraordinaries" to 5,000l. by the year, which we hope will serve for all such expenses; but we have given warrant to our Privy Council here to pay any further sums necessary. A monthly certificate is to be sent over of all sums issued "by warrant of concordatum," and to be signed by the Council. See that this is done.

 

A quarterly certificate to be sent hither as usual, to the Treasurer of England or Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, showing the issues of the treasure sent in specie for the payment of the army there.

 

We have caused a list to be drawn up by our Council here, from the half-yearly books sent over by the Muster Master, of "the old ordinary charge of martial affairs." According to that estimate you are to make payment to the officers therein mentioned, "until such time as our Lieutenant General hath reduced the same to a certain charge; for the doing whereof as we have given him special instruction to be taken in hand presently upon his arrival there by conference with our Council, so we require you, as in a matter specially incident to your charge, to call upon him to see it speedily performed and certified over hither to us or our Council, to the end that thereupon both he and you may receive from us a like establishment under our hand as now you have for our extraordinary army."

 

Some of the officers have claimed to hold their retinues without check, "which is a great maim to our service there." We have given special charge to our Lieutenant General to examine by what warrant they claim such exemption. "Be mindful to call upon our said Lieutenant General, among his other multitude of affairs, to see the same done."

 

In the same list we have limited this part of our charge to 15,000l. sterling by the year.

 

The payments due to officers of justice in the Chancery, the two Benches, the Exchequer, &c. are to be made out of the revenue. If, owing to the disordered state of that kingdom, the revenue will not suffice, payment shall be made to them out of the treasure sent from hence.

 

Of late years the Treasurer at Wars has made up all captains' reckonings "upon the full pays." To remedy the inconveniences which have followed, we have determined to appoint an auditor of the army, to concur with you in viewing and examining your accounts.

 

Your predecessor in the office of Receiver General of our revenues there has not made due certificates, nor has a yearly account been made before the officers of the Exchequer. Every half year send us a perfect book under your hand containing the receipt of our revenue there, and the payments made out of it.

 

On your arrival make us a certificate of the fees and allowances of all the officers of the Exchequer, the Courts of Chancery, both our Benches, "or any other officers of justice or our revenues," and of their fees, showing how far the revenues "do stretch to discharge them."

 

A great disorder has been used by your predecessors and their clerks "in buying of bills of captains and servitors, which have had pay due unto them by us, at under rates, by laying out money aforehand, and then paying themselves out of our treasure, when it hath come for special services or growing charges." Neither you nor any of your servants are to "intermeddle with buying of bills."

 

Former Deputies, when in the field, took an allowance of 10l. a day, by concordatums. As our Lieutenant will spend most of his time thus, and "live in other sort than those who have gone before him," you are to pay him the sum of 10l. a day, limited in the establishment, as a standing allowance, from the day of his taking the sword.

 

Richmond, 22 March 1598.

 

Copy.

Date: 22 March 1599
Held by: Lambeth Palace Library, not available at The National Archives
Former reference in its original department: MS 601, p. 175a
Language: English
Physical description: 9 Pages.
Unpublished finding aids:

Calendar of the Carew Manuscripts preserved in the Archiepiscopal Library at Lambeth, ed. J. S. Brewer & W. Bullen (6 vols., 1867-73, vol. III, document 295.

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