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ing to our proposition, for Twelve or fifteen Years; but an indefinitive
Duration of it we should never agree to.
Sir Henry Spellman, observes that "Eight Bushells of Wheat
were formerly estimated at Twelve Pence as appears by an Assize
of Bread in the 51.st Year of Henry the 3.d" In Blackstones Com-
mentaries there is this Passage "Bishop Fleetwood about Sixty
Years since fully proved Forty Shillings Per Annum in the Reign
of Henry the 6.th to have been equal to £12 per Annum in the Reign
of Queen Ann, and as the value Money is very considerably lowered
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U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Nov. 26
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since the Bishop wrote, I think we may fairly conclude from this
and other Circumstances, that what was equivalent to £12 in his
Days is equivalent to £20 at present."
The same Author speaking of the Stat: Elizabeth, which directs
that "One third part of the Old Rent then paid should for the future
be reserved on Colledge Leases in Grain, reserving a Quarter of
Wheat for each 6/8 or a Quarter of Malt for every 5/ or that the
Lessees should pay for the same according to the Price that Wheat
or Malt should be Sold for in the Market next adjoining to the re-
spective Colleges, on the Market Day before the Rent becomes Due,
has these Words." This is said to have been an Invention of Lord
Burleigh and Sir Thomas Smith, who observing how greatly the
value of Money had Sunk, and the price of all Provisions risen by
the Quantity Bullion imported, (which Effects were likely to encrease
to a greater Degree) devised this Method for upholding the Revenues
of Colleges. Their Foresight and Penetration have in this respect
been very apparent; for tho' the Rents reserved in Corn were at
first but one third of the old Rent, or half of what was still reserved
in Money, yet now the proportion is nearly inverted, and the Money
arising from Corn Rents is Communibus Annis, almost double to
the Rents Reserved in Money.
The Decent Maintenance of the Clergy is an Object of great Im-
portance, and not to be neglected; but the pecuniary Composition
now adequate, may hereafter from Money's falling in value not
afford them a Competent Support, and therefore an Act giving a
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p. 621
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pecuniary Compensation ought we think to be Temporary. You have
not Answered, or even attempted to Answer our Reasoning on the
Article in the Old Table for filing and recording. Your Doctrine
of Records if it could be supported, would be so far from fixing the
Charge of Abuse, that it would rather prove, more might have than
has been demanded under that Article. You have not either hinted
at any Rule of apportionment, or that the Service of Filing ought
to be performed for Nothing.
Without doubt the Judgments entered in Record Books are Rec-
ords; but it does not therefore follow that Nothing which is not so
Entered, is not a Record, nor do the Acts of 1716 and 1742 prove
the Propriety of your Idea in the Limitation.
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p. 622
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