AN ACCOUNT OF Dr Assheton 's PROPOSAL (As Improved and Managed by the Worshipful Company of Mercers, London) for the Benefit of Widows OF Clergymen and Others;  
By Settling Jointures and Annuities at the Rate of Thirty per Cent.  
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might: for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the Grave whither thou goest, Eccles. 9 10.  
Plead for the Widow, Isaiah 1. 17.  
LONDON: Printed for B. Aylmer, against the Royal Exchange in Cornhill. 1699.   

An ACCOUNT OF Dr Assheton's PROPOSAL, etc.  
TO Relieve poor Widows of the Clergy, is a truly Charitable Work. But to find out some Expedient, whereby the Poverty of such Persons may for the future be prevented, is a more desirable Undertaking.  
In order to which good Design, the Occasions of such Poverty must first be inquired; and how it comes to pass, that the Relics of some Churchmen are exposed to so much Want. Which being distinctly known and considered, we shall then better be enabled to apply the Remedy.  
And, First, Several Church-living (being Impropriate) are of so small a value, that the Incumbents are scarce able to Subsist, much less can they expect to make Provision for Posterity.  
This is indeed a very sad Truth. And though there is a way to redress this Grievance, yet it is too big for our present Thoughts. And therefore,  
Secondly, It must further be acknowledged, That some Churchmen who have competent Preferments, do not yet make over-plentiful Provision for their Wives and Children. And the cause seems to be this:  
These Gentlemen, though otherwise well Descended and of good Families; yet being younger Brothers, or the Sons of such, they have seldom any Estates in Land; but according to the Custom of our Country, either a Sum of Money, or some yearly Annuity for their Lives: The Effects of which being usually expended in a Chargeable Education, when the necessity of their Affairs doth incline them to Marry, they cannot expect considerable Portions with their Wives, because for want of real Estates, they are not in a Capacity to settle Jointures upon them. Hence it too often comes to pass; That a free and generous Way of living, a scanted Portion, and a fruitful Wife (who brings a Charge without a Competency to maintain it) do so entangle his Affairs, that our honest Churchman is not only disturbed in his Thoughts, diverted from his Studies with perplexing Cares, but also is so clogged with the Necessities of a Family and other Expectations, that his Widow is many times left in a very mean, if not indigent Condition.  
If therefore such an Expedient can be found, whereby Clergymen may, upon easy Terms, settle competent Jointures upon their Wives; if, for instance, they may be enabled to secure them Thirty per Cent. to be yearly paid during their Natural Lives; This would not only take off the Reproach of Steepl●house Jointures, but would also encourage that Hospitality which is an Ornament to their Profession. They may then be obliging to their Parishioners, Charitable to the Poor, and may live without Distraction. And though their Death should be sudden and unexpected, yet their Wives are competently provided for. The very Thoughts of which will compose their Spirits, raise their Parts, and make the whole Course of their Lives comfortable and easy to them.  
And not only Churchmen, but also all other Orders of Men may receive the Benefit of this Proposal.  
There are several Physicians, Lawyers, Merchants, Traders, etc. who, during their own Lives, are either Men of competent Estates, or have the Credit to be thought so: and consequently their Wives are suitably maintained. But at their Deaths, their Wives (as well as those of the Clergy) are sometimes left in a mean, if not indigent Condition.  
For as a Churchman's Preferments are only for his Life; so neither can a Physician Practice, nor a Lawyer Plead in the other World. I have therefore sometimes wondered, why the Clergy should be upbraided with Steeplehouse Jointures: Since the Wives of other Professions, are in this respect as liable to be exposed as the Clergy.  
For as the Clergy (who are of a Generous Disposition) do too often Live above their present Preferments; so Physicians and Lawyers do sometimes yearly expend to the utmost of their Practice. In such Cases (which too often happen) it must needs be acknowledged a great Advantage to such Persons, to have 30, or 60, or 90 l. per Ann. Settled upon their Wives, by way of Jointure or Rent-charge, in case they survive them.  
Nor is this Proposal less useful to Traders, than to Men of Professions.  
For though Trade is a Gainful, yet it is an hazardous and uncertain way of Living; Wherein the most Sober, Sagacious, and Industrious Person may without his own fault, be sunk and ruined by the miscarriage of others.  
The Falseness of a Partner, or Treachery of a Correspondent, with many other Accidents, may blast him in a moment.  
And though he may make some tolerable Shift to Trade on (as we phrase it) and may keep his Shop open, even during his Life; yet since he lives only by his Credit, it hence unavoidably follows at his Death, that his Wife (who was ignorant of his Intrigues) instead of her Thirds (the only Jointure settled for a 1000, or 1500 l.) is sadly entertained with the surprising News, That All is seized.  
Now had this Person immediately after his Marriage, when his Portion was Received, or at any other time when he flourished in Money, had he, I say, then Paid in Three, or but Two Hundred Pounds to the Mercer's Company; what a seasonable Support would the Effects of it have been, to his now poor disconsolate distressed Widow?  
From these Premises it appears, That the Advantages of this Proposal (even to All Orders and Professions) are not to be doubted. But the chief Question is, How these Jointures can be secured? What Security shall be given to the Subscribers, that their Widows shall not be Defrauded, but that the Jointures and Annuities here promised shall be punctually paid them?  
This is that which for many years did exercise Dr. Assheton's Thoughts.  
For though he was encouraged by several knowing Judicious Persons (whom he had consulted, and to whom he had communicated his Proposal) that the Design was Practicable; yet where to fix it, or how to provide such a Fund as might secure the Subscribers, was a matter of some Difficulty, not only to himself, but also to the Undertaking.  
As to Himself, He was fully convinced, not only of the Trouble and Charge in managing such a Work, but also of the hazard to his Reputation if it should miscarry. For the generality of Men are very unjust in their Censures, and will allow nothing to be well Designed, that shall want Success.  
However, he did resolve to go on; and if possible, to finish what he had so long Projected.  
His First Address was to the Corporation of the Clergy. Who indeed received him with the greatest Kindness and Respect; But withal Declared, for Reasons not now to be repeated, that they were not capable to accept his Proposal.  
His next Application was to the Royal Bank of England. Where he did not doubt of sufficient Security for the Subcribers. But for some Reasons, which are obvious to Men of Business, this Royal Bank, at present, is not so Modelled, as to manage this Proposal.  
Though thus far disappointed, yet Dr. Assheton was not Discouraged. And being admonished, that a City-Company was very capable to Undertake his Proposal: And that the Mercers was the Best, both for Management and Revenue, he immediately applied himself to that Company. And having first waited upon the present Master, (whose known Worth, and inclination to promote Charitable Designs, gave him great encouragement of Success) he next attended the Wardens, and several others of the Members.  
After some time, a General Court of the said Company was held, on Friday the 11th of November 1698. Where Dr. Assheton's Proposal was read to the said Company. And the Doctor being then asked, what he had further to say; he Replied to this Effect, viz.  He was very sensible, that Wise men, who are not apt to be imposed on, do look upon Projects with Caution, and at a distance. And therefore he was not so vain as to expect, that this Proposal should be unanimously received, after one single Reading, at a General Court. For the Reasons of such an Undertaking are not always obvious, but require some Thought and Application of Mind. He therefore humbly moved, That a Committee might be appointed, to consider and examine the Reasons of the Proposal, together with such a Method, as should be thought most Expedient for the Management of it. 
Whereupon a Committee was appointed to consider of the same, and what Security the Company could give to the Subscribers.  
The which Committee (after several Meetings, and Discourses with Dr. A●sheten) made ●●eir Report to another General Court the 23 d of December, 1698. Which Court having read the Report of the Committee, d●● suspend their Resolution of the same for that time. And another General Court was appointed to be held the 13th of January following, that so all the Members of ●●● said Company might have time to consider ●● the said Proposal, and the Report of the Committee thereupon; that so they might the better be enabled to give their Resolutions in the whole Affair. And at this Third and Last General Court, the Company did accept of the said Proposal. And did Publish and Declare their Acceptance in Manner and Form following.  

By the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of the MERCERS, at Mercers-Hall in Cheapside, London, the 8th Day of February, 1698.  
THE Reverend William Assheton, Doctor in Divinity, Rector of Beckenham in Rent, and Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Ormond, having out of a Charitable Design, for the Maintenance and Relief of Widows of the Clergy, (which very frequently are left in a poor Condition when their Husbands die) employed his Thoughts to consider of a Way for their Relief and Support; and thereupon thought of a Proposal, in which he includes also others beside Clergymen, viz. Physicians, Lawyers, Merchants, Traders, or any other Persons that shall Subscribe the Sum of 100 l. or more, during the Time of their joint Lives; in case the Husband shall die, and leave his Wife a Widow, that then there should be paid her, during her Life, the Sum of 30 l. a Year per Gent. free of all Charges; at the two usual Feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Michael the Archangel; and that the Sum to be Subscribed should be limited to 100000 l. And in case the Wife die, during her Husband's Life-time, the same to go to the Benefit of those that did undertake the same.  
The said Reverend Dr. Assheton considering where the said Subscription-Money might be lodged safely, and reasonable Security given for the due Payment of the Widows, did think it could not be better secured than in the Hands of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, London; and did at a General Court of the said Company, held on Friday the 11th of Nov●mber 1698, make this Proposal to the said Company, who thereupon appointed a Committee to consider of the same, and what Security the Company could give; which Commit had several Meetings thereupon; and having had several Discourses with Dr. Assheton, and acquainted him what Estate they had to settle for Security, being clear rents, 2888 l. 8 s. 10 d. per. Ann. (besides the Payments by the Benefactors to be paid out of the same;) which, by a moderate Calcuation would yield, when the Leases come out, above 13500 l. per Annum clear, as aforesaid; And the said Dr. Assheton judging the same to be reasonable Security, the said Committee made their Report to a General Court the 23d of Decemb. 1698. Which Court having read the Report of the Committee, did suspend their Resolution of the same for that time, and another General Court was appointed to be held the 13th of January following; that so all the Members of the said Company might have time to consider of the said Proposal, and the Report of the Committee thereupon; that so they might the better be enabled to give their Resolutions in the whole Affair; And at the said General Court the Company did accept of the said Proposal. And do hereby publish and declare,  
1. That in case 100000 l. shall be subscribed and paid in to the Company in such manner as i● hereafter mentioned; The said Company do undertake to pay unto the Widows of the Subscribers, according to the aforesaid Proposition, 30 l. per Cent. per Ann. free of Taxes and Charges, at the two usual Feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Michael the Archangel.  
2. That for better Security of the Payments, as soon as the said 100000 l. shall be Subscribed, the said Company will settle and convey in due Form of Law the Lands, Houses and Estate before mentioned, in trusties, for the due payment of the said Annuities.  
3. That all married Clergymen, and other married Persons, (Except as hereafter is Excepted,) that inhabit in the Kingdom of England, and do not exceed the Age of 60 Years at the time of the Payment of the Money, and receiving the Company's Bond, and are then in good and perfect Health, and have Subscribed any Sum not less than 50 l. nor exceeding the Sum of 300 l. in case they die in the Kingdom of England, and leave their Wives Widows, the said Widows shall receive, as , the Sum of 30 l. yearly for every 100 l. so Subscribed; and so proportionably for a greater or lesser Sum, as .  
4. That every Person at the time of his Subscription (which shall be made in Person) shall express the Place of his Abode, the Name of his Wife, and his and her several Age in such manner as is hereafter mentioned.  
5. That no Person that goes to Sea, nor Soldier that goes into the Wars, shall be admitted to Subscribe to have the Benefit of this Proposal, in regard of the Casualties and Accidents that they are more particularly liable to.  
6. That the Book of Subscriptions shall be laid open at Mercers-Hall on or before the First day of March 1698, and shall continue to the 24th day of June 1699, (in case the 100000 l. be not Subscribed sooner) and Members of the Company shall attend to take the said Subscriptions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays every Week during that time, between the Hours of 9 and 12 in the Forenoon, and 3 and 6 in the Afternoon.  
7. That as soon as the said 100000 l. is Subscribed, public Notice shall be given in the Gazette; and all Persons that have Subscribed are then, within 30 Days next following, to Pay in the Moneys by them Subscribed, at Mercers-Hall to the said Company, for which purpose, Members of the said Company shall attend on the Days and Times aforesaid.  
8. That on the Payment of the Mone●▪ the Person shall have a Writing under th● Seal of the Company, acknowledging the Receipt thereof; and engaging, That if his Wife be left a Widow, she shall receive the Moneys in proportion to his Subscription a● before specified, but unless the Money be actually paid within the Time limited, the Widow to have no Benefit by the Subscription; and at the same time the said Person Subscribing, shall give a Bond to the Company, That in case his Wife shall die before him, to give notice to the Company thereof within one Month after her Decease.  
9 That any Widow that shall have Right to receive any Annuity by this Subscription▪ shall give notice of the Time of her Husband's Death to the Company within one Month after his Decease; and when she comes to receive the Benefit of this Proposal, shall bring a Certificate, Signed by the Minister, Churchwarden or Churchwardens, and Parish-Clerk of the Place where he● Husband died and was buried, if her Husband was not a Minister; but if her Husband was the Minister of the Parish where he was buried, then to have the Minister's Hand of the next neighbouring Parish; and the other Hands as .  
10. In case it shall happen that any Man who has Subscribed, shall voluntarily make away himself, or by any Act of his, occasion his own Death, either by Duelling, or committing any Crime whereby he shall be Sentenced and put to Death by Justice; in any or either of those Cases his Widow to receive no Annuity, but upon delivering up the Company's Bond, to have the Subscription money paid to her.  
11. In case any Person that shall Subscribe shall not pay in his Money within the Time limited, such Person's Subscription shall be esteemed null and void, and the Company may admit any other Person, duly qualified, to Subscribe in his stead.  
The Form of the Subscription.  
12. I A. B. inhabiting in the Parish of in the of do Subscribe and Promise to pay Pounds on the Terms , for the Benefit of my now Wife, Aged Years, the Daughter of of in case I die before her.  
The Obligation of the Company.  
13. WE the Wardens and Commonalty of 〈◊〉 Mystery of the Mercers of the Ci●● of London, do acknowledge to have Receiv●● of A. B. Inhabitant in the Parish of in the of the Sum of Pounds, which he hath Subscri●●● for the Benefit of Aged Years, the Daughter of his present Wife; And we ●● promise and oblige ourselves, and our Succes●or●, in case the said A. B. shall Die (Except in su●● manner as is Excepted in the General Proposal) before his said Wife, and leave her a Widow, ●● pay unto her, during her Life, the Sum of Yearly, free of all Charges, being 30 l per Cent. per Annum of the said A. B. ●● Subscription, at the two usual Feasts of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a●● St. Michael the Archangel: The first ●aym●●● to be made on the first of the said Feast-days t●●● shall happen six Months or more after the Dece●●● of the said A. B. she producing this Obligat●●● and due Certificates of her Husband's Death. ●● the which Payment we bind ourselves and ●● Successors firmly by these Presents. In Testimony whereof, We have hereunto affixed the Seal of the said Company the Day of Anno Dom. 169  
14. The Bond to be given to the Company,  
To be of the Penalty of the Sum Subscribed.  
The Condition to be as followeth:  
WHereas the above-bound A. B. hath Subscribed and Paid to the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of the Mercers of the City of London, the Sum of for the Benefit of his present Wife the Daughter of and Received an Obligation from the said Company for the due Payment to his said Wife, of the sum of 30 l. per Cent. per Annum, in case she survives him, during her Life. Now the Condition of this Obligation is such, That in case his said Wife shall die before him, if he the above-bound A. B. shall within 30 Days after his said Wise's Decease, give Notice to the said Company of her Death, under his Hand and Seal, and deliver up the Obligation he had from the Company; and also if the said A. B. shall remove his Habitation or Dwelling-place, and shall give Notice thereof ●● the said Company within 30 Days of such his Removal, with the Name of the Place and Par●● to which he is removed; And in default of Notice to be given as aforesaid, Then, if the sa●● A. B. his Executors, Administrators or Assigns, shall pay One Pound per Cent. of his Subscription-Money for every Month he shall delay so to do; That then this Obligation to be void, and of no effect, or else to remain in full force.  
THIS General Proposal, now Published by the Company, is so plain and intelligible, that I will not pretend to Paraphrase upon it. But shall only take notice of the Security here Proposed. Which if some Persons shall think too small, they are desired to consider the Nature of the Estates to be Settled and Conveyed.  
Here is a Rent of Two Thousand Eight Hundred and odd Pounds per An. Proposed as a Security for One Hundred Thousand Pounds.  
Indeed were this Estate of 2888 l. per An. now Rent at its utmost Extent, 'tis then undeniable the Security is not sufficient. But when it is considered, That it is an improveable Estate: And that this 2888 l. per An. will in time be worth above 13500 l. per An. And when it is further considered, That the 100000 l. now to be paid in to the Company, by their prudent Management will presently meliorate, and improve this their Estate: I say, When these Things are duly considered, no Intelligent Person can pretend to be dissatisfied with the Security here Proposed. Especially when it is further declared, That no Subscriber is obliged to Pay in his Money, till he is fully satisfied with the Security. Which is to be Settled and Conveyed in due Form of Law, as the Ablest Council shall advise and direct.  
I shall only add (which indeed is necessary in this Selfish Projecting Age) that as Dr. A●sheton did not Project this Proposal for his own Private Advantage, but doth sincerely design a Public Good: In like manner, the Worthy Members of the Mercer's Company have undertaken to Manage this Proposal, not from any prospect of Advantage to their own private Persons, but only out of a Generous Design to make the Company more capable to answer the End and Reason of their Charter. Which is, To Establish and Manage Public Charities. And thereby to enlarge their Capacity of Doing Good.  
And having often considered the Thing, I presume to declare,  
That the Company of Mercers, by Accepting and Managing this Proposal, will do ● greater and more Public Good to the whole Nation, than they could pretend to do b● founding an Hospital for Widows in eve●● County of the Kingdom. And my Reaso● is this; Because it is a much Nobler Chari●● so to support any Person, as to prevent hi● from being Poor, than it is to Relieve the same Person when he is actually Poor.   
FINIS.   

Books lately Writ by Dr. Assheton.  

A Conference with an Anabaptist, Price 12 d.  
A Theological Discourse of Wills. 12 d.  
A Discourse of Deathbed Repentance. 6 d.  
A Vindication of the B. Trinity. 12 d.  
A Discourse against Debauchery and Profaneness. 2 d.  
A Conference with an Atheist. 2 d.  
A Discourse against Drunkenness, Cursing, and Swearing. 2 d.  
A Method of Daily Devotion. 2 d.  
A Method of Devotion for the Lord's-Day. 2 d.  
An Exhortation to the H. Communion. 2 d.   
These are the Prices single. But cheaper to those who are so Charitable to give away Numbers.