THE EARL OF DANBYS ANSWER TO Sr. Robert Howard's BOOK, ENTITLED An Account of the State of his Majesty's Revenue; as it was Left by the Earl of Danby at Lady-Day, 1679.  
LONDON, Printed for Randall Tailor, 1680.   

THE EARL OF DANBYS ANSWER TO Sr. Robert Howard's ACCOUNT, etc.  
I Know not whether I should find fault, or thank Sr. Robert Howard for his late Book, called An Account of the State of his Majesty's Revenue, as it was left at Lady-Day 1679, etc. Because, upon Examination it will appear to have done me no injury, and has showed the Examiner that there was nothing to be said in Justification of any other part of his Book, but only what concerned the State of the Revenue, as it was found by Me at June 1673. and left at Lady-Day, 1679.  
Sir Robert does likewise show how he detests such Scurrilous Language as the Examiner is full of; for in my Answer, I have but once called a certain untruth, a notorious Falsehood, and Sr. Robert seems to be much offended at the Expression.  
He shows himself also far more ingenuous than the Examiner was, for he confesses many Errors in the Examiner's Book, although the Examiner be very positive in the defence of them; viz. In his absolute affirming that my Salary was never included in secret service. In his double charging of 200000 l. on the one fifth of the Excise. And in saying that the whole Tax upon the first Act for Disbanding the Army was come into the Exchequer in my time, etc. which Sir Robert is so much my friend as to acknowledge, he believes to be otherwise, although he confesses, Fol. 7. that he has not given himself the trouble to examine it; and in the same page he says, he shall not meddle with their Arguments (meaning I suppose the Examiner's Arguments and mine;) so as I perceive we must stand upon our own legs for what either of us have said, he being resolved only to give the Public an Account how the Revenue was left at Lady day, 1679. and not to meddle with Politic Disputes, nor matters of State, which fills the greater number of Folioes in the Examiner's Book.  
Sir Robert does also know that if all the matters of Fact contained in his Book were true, it could be no Crime in me, that the Revenue was more or less in Debt at my leaving it: unless I had either lessened the Income of the Revenue, or not truly answered the whole Income according to his Majesty's Directions: or had diverted any of the Moneys given by Parliament to other uses than were limited by the several Acts; and he does not pretend to say any thing either as to the lessening, or not answering the whole Revenue; (but on the contrary confesses the Revenue to be increased in my time.) And for diverting any part thereof, he speaks as if some others did complain to him of it; but I do not understand that he directly charges any such thing himself; nor can any man do it but with great untruth: insomuch that were it not for some expressions not so becoming a man's own Secretary to be guilty of, and that the time of publishing his Book hath not been so generously taken, as some men of Honour would have done, I should not only have forgiven but have thanked Sir Robert for the opportunity of clearing the integrity of my management in the Treasury, however I may have been wanting in those abilities which God hath given to himself above other men: And he ought not to blame me, but my understanding, if I could not always comprehend such Schemes and Projects of his concerning the Revenue, whereof I have some still in my custody, which I must acknowledge I do not yet understand, any more than I did when I first received them.  
That which makes me complain of the time Sir Robert has taken to divulge his Book, is, because it may be too reasonably suspected, that those Reasons he gives for having deferred it so many months, are not so probable, as some other reasons may be, which he does not think fit to give, because if his Relations were not well at Tunbridge; yet it seems he was well himself; and how a man whose Office and Dwelling is in the Exchequer, and who hath so great a control over it, could want either Records or Certificates from other Offices so long as he hath taken to satisfy his Friend's inquiry is not very likely.  
But these Reasons were likely; First, That such a Book as this (though I dare say understood by very few that reads it,) would make a great noise against a man in my condition, in the time of a Parliaments Sitting. Secondly, That in Probability, it would be impossible for me under a confinement, (and who am without Power to send for any Records or Papers, and who am now without the help of those Officers who acted then under me) to give any full answer (during the sitting of Parliament) to what he has found so many months little enough to do, who had all the Leisure and Helps for it he could desire.  
3. That being under Accusations in Parliament, I might probably be called upon to answer them at this time; So as I should not only want leisure, but in all Likelihood I could not have my thoughts free to attend to such a matter as this, when I had so much greater concerns upon my Hands.  
And lastly, Though it contain nothing of Criminal in it; Yet it might be hoped that any small weight, which could not receive an Answer in due time, might contribute to the heightening of men's ill Opinions, against one he thought not yet enough Loaded with false Aspersions.  
If this was the Design, (as I have too much reason to believe, both from what I have said, and because otherwise I do not believe he would have troubled himself, to have Writ, what he knows will be found to have so many mistakes) I do acknowledge, that he hath gained so much of his design, that I shall not be able, under my Circumstances, to give so full an Answer at present, as I hope to do hereafter; If my Condition will permit: And I doubt not but to make it appear, that I have said nothing in my first answer, but what I have still good reason to believe True.  
In the mean time I shall endeavour to show the Fallacies which are in many parts of his Book. The wrong State of the Questions to such Officers from whence he hath got Certificates; so as though the Certificates may be true, yet they are not properly applied by Sr. Robert.  
And lastly, The disingenuous swelling of the Account, to make a noise to the world of a great Debt (besides the Anticipations) which will appear to be no more any Ground for accusing my Management, than it hath been of my Predecessors, and must be of those who succeed me in the Treasury. As the Examiner I doubt not but knew very well, when he made no mention of it in the Range of his Malice, who made appear sufficiently, that he would not have spared those, nor any other particulars to have loaded his Charge; but that he knew how easily they would be answered.  
As to the fallacious Glosses (of which he makes great use throughout his Book) he gins Folio 2. That the third Quarter of the Eighteen months' Tax was signed (Osborn) And hopes from thence to have it inferreed, that I had the disposal of some of the Money of that Quarter, which I can prove that himself knows the contrary (as well as that I never was Lord Treasurer under the Title of Sr. Thomas Osborn;) And from the same Reason of my having signed that Quarter (which was done at the request of my Lord Clifford, and for satisfaction of the Creditors on that Quarter; that they should not be Postponed by my coming to the Treasury,) he would also have it believed, that the 21163 l. 6 s. 8 d. said in my Book to be charged by my Lord Clifford on the fourth Quarter of that Tax, was not so; But I must acknowledge he insists not much upon that matter; but ends that Paragraph, Folio 3, with a Confession, that be knows nothing of it.  
His next pretence is, that upon the three last Quarters of that Tax, there appears to have been paid into the Exchequer, the Sum of 584718 l. 7 s. 5 d. which I call but 565498 l. 13 s. 10 d. ½, all the Charges being deducted (as the forgiving any Receivers, or their Securities, etc.) which is notwithstanding made received in the Exchequer; as if it came to be disposable Money to the King's use. And although I cannot now have the sight of Originals, I have great Confidence, that the Certificates I received of that matter before my leaving the Staff will prove my Computations to be true, when all the Circumstances are Examined.  
In Folio's, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and part of the Sixth, he takes great Pains to show, that I did hinder and divert the Money on the one Fifth of the Excise, from being Paid into the Exchequer, as the Act of Parliament did direct; and says, Mr. Duncomb the Goldsmith did often complain to him of it. The truth is, I have so often heard Mr. Duncomb complain of Sr. Robert himself, that he should not for his own sake much regard his Complaints; But in this matter it happened, that the 200000, l. being Lent by Mr. Kent and Duncomb, and Mr. Kent then being Receiver of the Customs, from whom Sir. john james, Major Huntingdon, etc. (who were then Paymasters of the Army) were to receive 2000, l. a Week out of the Customs: And the said Sr. john james, Major Huntingdon, etc. being Receivers of the Excise, so as the one Fifth was to be Paid by them, to the said Mr. Kent and Duncomb: An agreement was made, or Pretended to be made amongst themselves, (and without any Direction of mine,) for the Accommodation of the King's service, by Mr. Kent and Mr. Duncombs taking the 2000, l. a Week, (which was in their own Hands) for part of the Money due to them from Sr. john james, etc. upon the one Fifth of the Excise: And although some differences did at last arise in this matter betwixt them; yet it was settled in the King's presence at the Treasury Chamber before my leaving the Staff, and was so far from being diverted by me, either from being Paid into the Exchequer, as the Act directed, or from being paid to any other uses than the Direction of the said Act did appoint; that I will put the truth or Falsehood of what either he or I, have writ about the Revenue, upon the proof of that Particular. And for the 83400, l. which he says was unpaid of the 200000, l. I confess I understand not how that could be, when Mr. Kent, and Mr. Duncomb might force the Receivers of the Excise to pay what was due to them, on the one Fifth when ever they Pleased; Besides, that I believe at the time of my leaving the Staff, there was 52000, l. in Mr. Kent's hands, by an arrear of the 2000 l. a Week on the Customs, then due to Sr. john james, etc. By which Mr. Kent and Duncomb, might pay themselves so much of whatsoever Sum was remaining unpaid to them at that time, on the one Fifth of the Excise. And in truth the whole matter concerned me no more, than it did Sr. Robert himself; and I have some reason to think, that the Examiner was not so ill instructed, as to have left that Sum out of his Charge (especially having mentioned it in his sixth Folio,) if it could have been made any Argument against me, which (as I have already said) it cannot be; Unless I had either given Orders to the Receivers of the Excise not to pay the Fifth according to the Act, or had given them Orders for applying any part of it, to other Uses, than the Act directed; either of which, I do Challenge Sr. Robert, or any body else, to prove, and therefore it was, that I called it, Notoriously false.  
The next head wherein he is knowingly unwilling to do me Right, is, about the Poll Bill, which I find I have spoke so fully to, in my answer to the Examiner, that I see he thinks not fit to make any reply to what I have there said; But only designs to make it a piece of my ill management, that 186585. l. 18. s. 9 d. (for which he says the Commissioners of the Treasury have given Assignments) is added as a Charge upon the Revenue, to make up his Additional Charge at the end of his Book, to amount to the sum of 655634. l. 19 s. 6. d, whereas no body knows better than Sr. Robert, that the Poll Bill was estimated to 400000. l. at least; That Credit was given by the Act for 300000. l. in Money upon it, and an indefinite Credit for stores beyond the 300000. l.; So as no part of the Money or Credits lent upon that Act, was believed would ever have affected the Revenue at all; And if ready Money was promised to any body upon that Act, which was not Performed, I am sure no man can say they had that Promise from me; And moreover though Sr. Robert puts this, 186585, l. 18. s. 9 d. as a Debt due only to the East-land Merchants, I remember that the sum demanded by them in my time was far less, (and as I think not full 40000. l.) so that I believe, that reckoning must be swelled by other Demands, and is no fault of mine if there be now such a Charge on the Revenue.  
In Folio the 8th. I find Sr. Robert brings the same Paper, which was quoted by the Examiner for a State of the Revenue, as it was made up by my Lord Clifford 10th of June 1673. I confess I do not see any use he makes of it; But he hopes perhaps that others will, when he has told them, that the Original of that Paper was drawn by Sr. Philip LLoyd; But that can by no means agree with Sr. Philip's own letter, which is Printed in my Answer; and Sr. Robert must give me also leave to doubt it; because I never saw nor heard of any such Paper from my Lord Clifford, who would Probably rather have designed such a paper for my Information, than any bodies else, unless the King himself. But the Examiner having said, That he has a Copy of it under Sr. Philip's own hand, may put this matter out of Dispute, if Sr. Robert have but interest enough to procure that Copy from the Examiner.  
Those points I have already spoke to, (as having been very Disingenuously handled by Sr. Robert) I take to be all the matters of Fact mentioned by him, till he comes to the main business of his Book (beginning Folio 11th. about the State of the Revenue at Lady-Day, 1679.) Excepting a mistake of the Printer, of Forty Pounds, Folio the 2d, which he believes, Folio 7th. hath been made in the Examiner's Computation, to the Sum of above three Millions (although Sr. Robert calls it a Repetition of the former Sum, (which it is not) And excepting an acknowledgement he makes Folio 3d. that the Customs never yielded so much as in my time: And excepting the Head about secret Service, Folio 7th, where he Confesses that the Sum of 252467. l. 10. s. 5. d. is all that was Paid for secret Service in Mr. Bertie's name, in three complete Years ending Lady-Day, 1679; But does add, 14640. l. in the said three Years, which he does unhansomely (and contrary to his own knowledge) Insinuate, as if the yearly Sums for New-year's Gifts (which I am not provided to say whether they be that Sum he names for three Years or not) were privately directed to be distributed by Mr. Bertie; Which on the contrary he knows was the King's constant yearly Allowances to several of his Servants, and Officers, long before my time, and without any alteration of them that I know in my time, so that I might justly have added this amongst the rest which have had such disingenuous applications made of them; but that I am not furnished to answer, nor do I know what he means, by that Sum which (with the 252467 l. to Mr. Bertie, and the 14640 l. for New-Years Gifts) he pretends to be for secret Service, and to make the Sum of 309556 l. in the said three Years; nor do I know to whom any such Money hath been paid for secret service in that time more than the said 252467 l. 10 s. 5 d. to Mr. Bertie, and of which (as I have said in my former Answer) 57763 l. at least has been disbursed for public uses, and Sir Robert may perhaps be mistaken in this matter as well as he confesses (in the very next Paragraph) that the Examiner was, in his positive Averrment, Fol. 11. of that Book, that my Salary was never included in secret Service.  
Sir Robert gins Fol. 11. of his Book, with the Examiner's Charge, and my Deductions; but confesses in Fol. 13. A mistake of the Examiner, in that Charge, to the Sum of 58352 l. 9 s. 6 d. which it seems is charged by the Examiner as part of the Total Charge, besides all the Advance-monies; of which the 58352 l. is part, and which I could not have known but by Sir Robert's help; so as by that computation, the Examiner's Charge upon the three great Branches of the Revenue at Lady Day 1679. ought to have been but 1427218 l. 6 s. 10 d. and whether it may not be yte less by such double Charges, which I cannot know for want of the particulars of the General Charge, is very uncertain.  
The particulars which I say aught to be deducted from that Charge, are the nine following, viz. 

1. For the Advance on the Excise.— 270000 l.  
2. For the Advance on the Hearth-Duty.— 150000.  
3. To be Discharged by Orders to the Commissioners of Excise on the first Act of Disbanding.— 101000.  
4. More by Tallies on the Surplus of the Excise for 30000 l. and 99000 l. being no Charge on the Rent, except the Surplus fail.— 129000.  
5. More by Tallies which were to pay the Forces from Lady-Day 79 forwards to July following, which was 97 Days beyond my Time.— 59588.  
6. More by Tallies on the Customs made use of to carry on the Service of the Navy and Ordnance beyond that said Lady-Day 79. 35000.  
7. More by Tallies, struck for Pensions upon the two last Quarters of the Excise, viz. Christmas 78. and Lady-Day 79. for payment of which Money, was left in the hand of the Commissioners of Excise about.— 33000.  
8. More by Tallies on the Customs restored for Tynn deposited in Mr. Kent's hands.— 15000.  
9 More by Tallies on the Customs Accounted by the Examiner to be unpaid to Mr. Montague, which were paid in my Time. 2342.  
Totall Sum 794930 l.    
I agree with Sr. Robert, Fol. 12. That the Examination of these Particulars must determine the true State of the Charge left then on the King's Revenue; and by this Declaration of his own, that it must do so; it appears that Sr. Robert did not think any great weight was to be laid upon his following particulars of 655634 l. 19 s. 6 d. by which he would swell the Debt to 2074879 l. 16 s. 0 d.  
But I can by no means agree with him, nor admit his reasons, why none of the abovesaid deductions should be allowed, but 59588 l. to the Forces, and 2342 l. to Mr. Montague, (nor does he agree with himself in some of them) and for the 4395 l. 3 s. 6 d. which he alloweth on the Tynn 〈◊〉, it will appear in its proper place to be over and above the 15000 l. deducted for the Tynn in my Computation; and must therefore in its due place be added to my former Deductions.  
As to the Advances which are his first Exception, it is to be observed, that Sir Robert, as well as the Examiner, makes use of a pretended Paper of the Lord Clifford's; but omits to draw from thence (as the Examiner doth) a State how the Revenue was left Charged by my Lord Clifford; and yet without doing that, it is impossible to compare whether the Debt be increased or decreased since that time: Insomuch that this omission must be for some other end, and serves particularly that it may not be seen (as it must be by drawing such a State) and as it was in the Examiner's Book, that the Advances in my Lord Clifford's time were Accounted no part of the Debt upon the Revenue, and I wish that all his Majesty's Debts were in such a condition as would always discharge itself, and yet leave his Majesty the full use of his Revenue: and although Sr. Robert be of another opinion, I cannot help believing, that if all his Majesty's Revenue was brought into the same way, which I brought the Excise (viz. of being Let upon a certain great Rent, and that secured by a great Sum advanced, and the Overplus (after certain Salaries paid for management) to be to the Kings own use, with an encouragement to the Managers of increasing their Wages by a small allowance out of every pound which they can improve beyond the Sum secured, the whole Revenue would be increased by the Industry of the Managers (who in that case work for themselves as well as for the King) much more than would pay the Interest of the Sums advanced; as hath been made appear by the Overplus of the Excise in my Time; and which I fear it would not have done by any who had only taken pains for the King, without any prospect of gain to themselves more than their bare Salaries; But to conclude this Point, since it hath never heretofore been reckoned in the State of the Debt (not by the Examiner himself) and his Majesty having the Use of his whole Revenue notwithstanding the Advance Money, and that Sir Robert's best Reason, is only, that he is of Opinion it might be better done by management without Advance: I suppose these first and second Deductions will be thought but reasonable, and I must here desire it may be observed, that Sir Robert, Fol. 12. says, I have reckoned the Advance on the the Excise 20000 l. more than really it was; and yet in the end of the very same Paragraph, he confesses that the Advance on the Excise indeed was as much as I call it, viz. 270000 l.  
My third Deduction is 101000 l. to be discharged by Orders to the Commissioners of Excise, etc. as aforesaid.  
To which Sir Robert gives no colour of contradiction, only he says, it was part of a double Security given to Sir John James, etc. by which he acknowledges there was so much Money in their hands for the discharging of Tallies; and then, whether it was in the Examiner's Charge or no is no great matter, nor is it less to be allowed for one of the Deductions; only here I do observe Sir Robert is so intimate with the Examiner, that he knows of what particulars the Examiner's Charge is made up, which I should have been glad to have known either from the Examiner or Sir Robert, and then I could have answered more particularly every part of the Charge, in the same method as I do now set down every particular of the Deductions which ought to be allowed.  
My fourth Deduction is 129000 l: by Tallies on the Surplus of the Excise, which I say is no Charge upon the Rent, Fol. 10. of my Book; and yet Sir Robert, Fol. 15. of his says, that I say it is no Charge on the Revenue, which I do not say; and the difference I make herein is, because I found the Revenue of the Excise Let at a certain Rent of 530000 l. Per Annum, at my entrance to the Treasury; which I first raised to 550000 l. Per Annum, and then to 560000 l. Per Ann. and it was never Let for more than that Sum under any certain Rent, and it was at the said Rend of 550000 l. and no more, which Sir Robert made his Calculations concerning the State of the Revenue to the King in 1675. about which something will be said in its proper place; but I mention this now, to show that this Branch of the Revenue was no more impaired by me, than himself confesses the Customs to have been in my time: And it is as well known that I raised the Hearth-Money from 145000 l. Per Ann. to 162000 l. Per An. so that how he will make out the Revenues being impaired from June 73. to March 75. and from March 75 to Lady Day 79. (as he says Fol. 21.) I do not understand. Since therefore the highest Rent of the Excise was but 560000 l. Per An. and that by my way of Letting that Branch, betwixt a Farm at the said certain Rent of 560000 l. and a management accountable to the King for the Overplus, there has arisen a Surplus of 129000 l. and more beyond the said Rent of 560000 l. I think it ought to be allowed as a Deduction, the Revenue not being abated by it; but on the contrary is accounted at 560000 l. Per An. which is 10000 l. Per An. more than Sir Robert Accounts that Branch of the Revenue in his computations to the King, and is 30000 l. Per An. more than that part of the Revenue was Let for at my entrance to the Treasury, which is the time taken for making the comparison betwixt the Charge on the Revenue then, and at my leaving the Treasury in 1679. so as in truth I might justly (though I do not) Account all the increases of the Revenue on any Branch of it in my time to balance the increase of the Debt in the said time, and then I am sure the total of the Debt would be much less than it was when I entered to the Treasury; but I have only Accounted this one Surplus, because it could not be depended upon as any certain Rent, nor was it charged to any certain uses, as all the certain Rent of the Excise was; but was applicable to such uses as his Majesty should direct.  
My Fifth Deduction is 59588 l. to the Forces, etc. which Sir Robert is pleased to allow.  
My Sixth Deduction is 35000 l. made use of to carry on the Service of the Navy, Ordnance, etc.  
And my Seventh Deduction is 33000 l. for Tallies struck for Pensions upon the two last Qarters of the Excise, etc.  
These two last, viz. The sixth and seventh I have put together, because Sir Robert hath got Certificates in these two Particulars seeming to contradict the reasons given by me for the allowance of them as Deductions from the Charge; which I am glad to find is all he can pretend to contradict by any Authority; because both the Sums together if they were not allowed, do amount but to 68000 l. and (as I have remarked before) he acknowledges, Fol. 13. that the Examiner hath mistaken 58352 l. 9 s. 6 d. by a double Charge of so much of the Advance Money; so as the difference of my first computation would be lessened but 10000 l. if these two Sums were not to be deducted; but to show that the matter of Fact is as I have said in both these Particulars, I must show that those Certificates (if true) from the Ordnance, and Commissioners of Excise, are nothing to the matter he pretends to make out by them: For as to the Ordnance I must needs say that it was not only the Office from which I could get very little of any Accounts in my whole time; but (notwithstanding any Directions or Orders to the contrary) they would take no notice of that stop which was put to the Exchequer before my Time; but did apply those Moneys to payments under that stop, which were ordered to the payments of Service forwards; so as it was impossible for me without entirely discharging the old Debt of that Office to have brought up their payments to the time of my leaving the Staff; and this makes the latter part of my time seem not to be provided for in that Office; but I do say that Tallies struck in my time to the Sum of 35000 l. (and which is reckoned as part of Sir Robert's Charge of 1419244 l. 16 s. 6 d.) were paid after my time, and the Money applied by the present Commissioners of the Treasury in the stead of other Money which they must have paid: and Sir Robert himself knows that these Lords Commissioners when they appointed a weekly Sum out of the Customs, of 2000 l. a Week, to discharge the Debt by Tallies in Course, made use of the Tallies struck for the Navy, Ordnance and Forces in their Course too, and by that means had so much also of the 2000 l. a Week, which they applied to the payment of the several Offices; as I doubt not but both the Commissioners of the Treasury, and Paymaster of the Forces will own: and to say this was no carrying the Offices of the Navy and Ordnance forward beyond the time of my leaving the Staff (because it did not pay the whole Debt of those two Offices) is no Argument; for until the whole Debt can be paid, all payments are directed in course: and as I paid Debts before my time, (especially to the Navy) so these Gentlemen must pay before their Time, and so must the Payments of any who shall succeed them, be applied to the Payment of Ships and Yards, etc. due before their time, unless it may be supposed that Ships abroad, etc. (at the alteration of the Treasury into other hands) shall never be paid.  
But had Sir Robert sent to the Office of the Ordnance for a Certificate to know, how much money I had paid them in all in my time, and what the accrued Debt was in the said time, I doubt not but it would have appeared, that I had supplied more Money to that Office, than would satisfy the whole Debt accrued in the said time.  
As to the 33000 l. or there abouts (for I have not positively named that Sum) the matter of Fact is,  
That a stated Sum for Pensions was directed Yearly; so that if Tallies were not struck, yet the Money remained in the hands of the Commissioners and Receivers of the Excise, until such Tallies were struck: And that this Money did remain in their hands at my leaving the Staff (in part of a greater Sum) Sir Robert who was one appointed to state their Accounts, cannot but know; As also that those Commissioners, and Receivers (being to be laid aside) did apply all the Cash in their hands, to Tallies in Course, and paid over this 33000 l. or there abouts, and the other Moneys in their Hands to discharge Tallies in Course; And such Tallies as are reckoned part of the Charge, left by me on that Branch of the Revenue.  
But the said Commissioners and Receivers of the Excise, might perhaps give the present Lords Commissioners of the Treasury an Account of little or no Cash in their Hands, for the Reason's aforesaid; and yet this is no manner of Argument to prove what Sr. Robert would infer by his printed Paper: Unless, as he had lessened thereby my Deductions, he had also lessened the Charge, as he ought to have done; Knowing that with the Money in their Hands, at my leaving the Staff, they really paid as much in Tallies, which are a part of the Charge said to be left by me. And this if Sr. Robert would have Writ to them to Certify, they must have owned to be True; And consequently (from what I have said concerning these two Deductions) I hope others will think them Reasonable, although Sr. Robert do not.  
My eighth Deduction, is 15000 l. by Tallies on the Customs, etc. This I must needs say was not so plainly expressed, as it ought to have been in my former Book: For these Tallies were given to Mr. Kingdon (than Paymaster of the Army) and not being made use of by him before my leaving the Treasury, they were since delivered up by him, to the present Lords Commissioners of the Treasury; so that they relate not to that 〈◊〉, which Sr. Robert hath taken the trouble to set down, Folio 18th. But I am sure Sr. Robert knows it to be true, that such Tallies to the Sum of 15000 l. were delivered up by Mr. Kingdon to the Lords Commissioners, and he ought therefore in justice to have added them to that Sum of 4395 l. 3 s. 6 d. on Mr. Kent's account, for the Knowledge of which I am beholding wholly to Sr. Robert, because otherwise I should have been ignorant of that Deduction.  
My ninth and last Deduction, is, 2342 l. by Mr. Montague's Tallies, which Sr. Robert is also pleased to Admit.  
Having gone through the Deductions, and having given the reasons on which they are grounded, I hope they are so clear as will give every body satisfaction, and I shall now follow Sr. Robert's Method in his Folio 19 By taking  
First, the Examiner's charge which was 1485570 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
Then Subtract my former Deductions, which were 794930 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
Then Subtract likewise the Deductions now to be added by Sr. Robert howard's assistance amounting to 58352 l. 9 s. 6 d. which is double Charged on that advance of Excise; And also 4395 l. 3 s. 6 d. Deducted on Mr. Kent's Account of Tynn. Viz. 062747 l. 13 s. 00 d.  
Which together amounts to the Sum of 857677 l. 13 s. 00 d.  
And the remaining Charge will be 627892 l. 07 s. 00 d.  
I suppose Sr. Robert admits the Charge left on the three great Branches of the Revenue, by the Lord Clifford, to be as I have said in my Book, viz, 469371 l. Because he says nothing against it, and in that Computation are neither reckoned Advance-Monies, nor moneys unpaid to Ships, & which amounted then to above Triple the Sum Sr. Robert now reckons to Sr. john Narborow's Fleet.  
And then the Charge left by me on the said three Branches being but 627892 l. 07 s. 00 d.  
And the Charge by my Lord Clifford, being 469371 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
The Anticipations are increased in my time, viz. In Five years and three Quarters (although no Supplies were given by Parliament, but what were appropriated and were so applied) only by the Sum of 158521 l. 07 s. 00 d.  
And as I have said in my Answer to the Examiner, Folio 11th. I paid in that time, 318473 l. to the Goldsmiths, for their Perpetual Interest, which is almost double the Sum, increased upon the Anticipations; Besides the Rebellion of Virginia, etc. which I have mentioned in that Answer, and therefore will not repeat them here.  
Before he closes his Account, Sr. Robert thinks fit to add to the Examiner's Charge, A further Charge of 655634 l. 19 s. 6 d. By three particulars, viz.  
Unpaid on the one Fifth of the Excise, 83000 l. 00 s. 00 d.  
The Debt of the Eastland Merchants. 186585 l. 19 s. 09 d.  
The Debt to the Navy upon the return of Sr. John Narborow's Fleet, 385648 l. 19 s. 09 d.  
Of which he says the present Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, have paid and satisfied. 478646 l. 18 s. 06 d.  
I suppose the Examiner knew nothing of this matter, or certainly it would not have been Omitted by him; and I must here observe, that what Sr. Robert calls in me, a Charging the Revenue by Tallies, he calls now in Others, A satisfying of Creditors, although it be the very same thing, and by Tallies at a very great distance of Payment; Which if I had done, I perceive Sr. Robert would have made no use of for me, but to have added it to my Load of Anticipations.  
For the 83000 l, as I have already said (and am very confident of the Truth of it) there was remaining in Mr. Kent's hands at Lady-Day, 79. 52000 l. for 26. Weeks, of 2000 l. per Week on the Customs due to Sr. john James and Partners; And for the remaining 31000 l. or for the whole 83000 l. I know no man that either did, or could have Protected them from the Payment of it, according to the Act; If Mr Kent and Mr. Duncomb had prosecuted the Receivers of the Excise about it; Nor did I ever use any Authority or other means in that matter, betwixt them, than by persuading them (as I did all men, who were concerned in the King's Service) to accommodate one another's Occasions in their several Employments, as far as their own safeties and conveniencies would permit: nor should I have either Charged the King or any but the Receivers of the Excise themselves, to have made satisfaction to any Body for any Sum which was due to them by virtue of the Act of Parliament out of the one Fifth of the Excise.  
For the 186585 l. 19 s. 9 d. (which Sr. Robert calls the Debt to the Eastland Merchants (and which I do not remember to be so much in my time as 40000 l.) it became a Debt by the Money of the Poll-Act falling so infinitely short of what it was calculated to be by the Parliament; and for which there will be found very little of my directions, insomuch that as I did not charge the Revenue with it in my time, so I take myself to be no cause of the accrueing of that Debt.  
For the 385648 l. 19 s. 9 d. due to the Fleet upon the Return of Sir John Narborow: I wonder Sr. Robert will name it, when he is comparing the State of the Debt left in 1679. with the Debt left in 1673. when he knows how vast a disproportion there is betwixt that Debt to the Navy, and this in 1679. the Sum then due to the Fleet being much above a Million: So that I look upon this last Addition to be (as I have said before) only to make a noise, besides that Sir John Narborows Fleet came in since I was out of Employment, and I thank God I am able to prove that there never was three Ships in all my time, that were not paid off with ready Money, and as soon as the Ship Books were perfected by which they were to be paid.  
Lastly, if Sir Robert will give me leave to reckon as the Examiner hath done, Fol. 14. I may reckon the Advance of the Excise, viz. 211647 l. 10 s. 6 d. (for Sir Robert does acknowledge, Fol. 12. that I had only disposed of 58352 l. 9 s. 6 d. of the 270000 l. advanced on that Branch) to be so much in ready Money, towards payment of the said Fleet.  
So that upon the whole, I can no more conceive these three last particulars ought to be added to the Charge of the Revenue in my time, than the Examiner did, when he had Must'red up all he could think possible to be laid to that Account; and for the particular of the Ships, it is impossible but there must always be a Debt to be paid by whomsoever shall succeed in the Treasury, only it will be less or bigger, as the Ships kept abroad are more or fewer in number, insomuch that Sir Robert needs not give himself the trouble of proving this particular with that care which he seems to take about it.  
Most of Fol. 21. is taken up about Sr. Robert's Paper which was given to the King the 5th of March 1675. by which he says he intended other uses than have been mentioned in my answer to the Examiner.  
I shall say more to that Paper and some others of Sr. Robert's Schemes, as also to some managements of his own in his Office, and his mistaken Certificates, (which I have in my Custody) when my leisure will give me leave to ask him the meaning of them: In the mean time his Paper of the 5th. of March being Printed in my Answer, every man is at liberty to make his own construction of it; and not being present myself at the delivery of it, I can only say what was told me when I received that Paper, from those whom I do perfectly believe. One intent of the Paper Sr. Robert says was to prevent those frauds which had been committed in the Exchequer; but since he hath not thought fit to instance any one particular of those frauds, I am apt to believe, he either knows none, or none that he is willing to speak of; for he knows, that if any fraud came to my knowledge (as some did) I made it always to be examined in public; and I take it for one of the highest Vindications of my Integrity in the Treasury, that Sr. Robert cannot charge me with any other applications of Money to my own use (out of those great Sums which have passed through my hands) more than the Sum of 2747 l. 5 s. 11 d. bestowed upon me at the making up of my Account as Treasurer of the Navy: whereas there are good store of instances of Lord Treasurers heretofore, who from less Foundations of Estates than myself, have left visible Monuments of more Money laid out in some one single Building of theirs, (besides the Estates added in proportion to them) than I have got in near six years' enjoyment of the same Office: So that since the blame can only be laid upon my management (who could be no wiser than God had made me) and not upon any corrupt actings in my employment; I do not only willingly undergo Sir Robert's Rebukes, but do acknowledge my own failings, and hope that by Sr. Robert's good Advice his Majesty will for the future be served as he ought to be.  
In the last Page of his Book Sir Robert says, it is only to give a short Account, to show his Judgement concerning Tallies of Anticipation, and how extremely satisfied he is (which I verily believe) to see his Opinion approved by the present Lords Commissioners.  
He has mentioned something of the Anticipations also, Fol. 5. which I passed over in that place, because they would more properly be spoke to both together, as also the matter of Interest depending upon such Anticipations, which is likewise in the said Fol. 5.  
And in the first place I do agree with Sir Robert as much as any body else can do, that it is better to avoid Tallies of Anticipation (where it can be done) than to make use of them; but that the Revenue must be ruined by them, Ideny; or that the Interest is left to any such uncertainty as he would have believed; but that it must be by the knavery of the Lord Treasurer, Chancellor of the Exchequer, or the sworn Auditor of the Exchequer (before whom the Account is brought) if the King be wronged in what Interest he pays upon such Tallies.  
I doubt not neither, but the present Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have endeavoured to avoid such Tallies, and so did I, till I found it impossible for me to help it, and (if I am not misinformed) although the present Lords Commissioners have spared 2000 l. a Week by their other retrenchments, to discharge Tallies (which I was not able to spare, and supply the Kings other Occasions) yet those Tallies which were in course, being paid, I hear and have good ground to believe true, that now the Lords Commissioners are necessitated to comply with some Lender's of Money so far, as to give them Tallies of Anticipation to a considerable Sum: nor do I know how it can be helped, unless Sir Robert can be able to do more by his Legislative Capacity for remedy of the matter, than he will ever be able to do by his private; and if this be now the Case, as well as it was in my time, then by Sir Robert's Rule the Exchequer will still be no wiser than it hath been in knowing when Interest is to commence upon such Tallies.  
'Tis true that the Exchequer does not presently know the Commencement of Interest upon Anticipations; but I doubt not but the Lords Commissioners do take care, that the Vouchers (though called private ones) shall be as authentic as public ones; and it is the Duty of a sworn Auditor to see they be so, from whence they are entered in the Exchequer, and from that time the Exchequer does know the times of lending upon Tallies of Anticipation, and consequently the charge of Interest upon them; so that the  is made far more terrible than it is, although (as I have said) it were better to be avoided, if the King's necessities will permit.  
I have now gone through Sir Robert's Book, and hope I have made appear that the State of the Revenue at Lady-Day, 1679. was not as it hath been represented either by the Examiner or Sir Robert Howard; and since Sir Robert's friend (to whom he writes) had no curiosity to inquire into those other parts of the Examiner's Book which concerned the affairs of State therein mentioned, I shall repeat nothing upon that Subject, but conclude that his friend is satisfied in those matters, which are of much the greatest Concern to me; but I hope it will be taken notice of, that both the Examiner and Sir Robert (how much soever they may be strangers to one another) have carried on the same design against me, as if it had been with the same hand; saving that Sir Robert has showed himself to be the better Accountant, by rectifying divers Errors in the Examiner's Computations, and that he has been much more civil than the Examiner in his Language.  
I shall conclude this Answer to Sir Robert Howard with this single Request to all my Countrymen; That they would not believe any thing against me by Reports, till they see it proved; And then as I shall desire no other favour; so I doubt not but to be restored to the good Opinion of all such, as have not particular prejudice against me.  
DANBY.  
FINIS