THE LAST

WILL and TESTAMENT

j t. OF

Sir THOMAS GRESHAM, Knt.

 GARR ATT, Mayor*
A Common Council, holden in the Chamber of the Guild¬
hall of the City of London, on Thursday the 10th day
of February, 1825.
, s *> ' ) * ' i :‘ ? 3 ^

ORDERED, That the Will of Sir Thomas Gresham, Knight,

be printed, and a Copy thereof sent to every Member of this Court.

WOODTHORPE.

i
 THE LAST

WILL and TESTAMENT

O F

Sir Thomas Gresham, Knt.

T HIS is the last Will written, and Disposition, of me Sir Thomas

Gresham of the City of London, Knight, concerning all my Mannors,
Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, mentioned and contayncd in
one Indenture Quadrupartite, made between me the said Sir Thomas Gresham
and Dame Anne mv Wife, on the one partie, and Philip Scuddamore, Gent,
and Thomas Celey, on the other partie, dated the twentieth day of May, in the
seventeenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth.
First, concerning the Buildings in London called the Royal Exchange, and
all Pawns and Shops, Cellars, Vaults, Messuages, Tenements, and other what¬
soever inyne Hereditaments, parcell or adjoining to the said Royal Exchange;
I Will and Dispose, that after expiration and determination of the particular
uses, estates, and interest for life, and intayle thereof, limited in the said Inden¬
ture bearing date the twentieth of May: I Will and Dispose, that one moiety
thereof shall remain, and the use thereof shall be, unto the Major and Commo¬
nalty and Citizens of London, by whatsoever especial name or addition the same
Corporation is made or known, and to their successors, for term ot fifty years
then next ensuing, Upon trust or confidence, and to the intent, that they do
perform the payments and other intents in these Presents hereafter limited,
thereof by them to be done and performed. And the other moiety ot the said
buildings called the Royal Exchange, Pawns, Shops, Cellars, Vaults, Messuages,
Tenaments and other mine Hereditaments, with the appurtenances thereto
adjoyning, shall remain, and the use thereof shall be, to the Wardens and Com¬
monalties of the Mysterie of the Mercers of the City of London : (viz.) to the
Corporate Body and Corporation ot the Company of Mercers in London, by
whatsoever especial name or addition the same Corporation is made or known,
and to their successors, for term of fifty years next ensuing, Upon trust and con¬
fidence, and to the intent, that they do perform the payments and other intents
in these Presents hereafter lymited, thereof by them to be done and performed.
And I Will and Dispose, that after such time as the one moiety ot the said Royal
Exchange, and other premises, according to the intent and meaning of these
Presents, shall come to the said Major and Corporation of the said City, and
from thence so long as they and their successors shall by any means or title *
have, hold, or enjoy the same, they and their successors every year, shall give
and distribute to and for the sustentation, maintenance, and finding Four Per¬
sons, from tyme to tyme to be chosen, nominated, and appointed by the same
MajorandCoinmonaltie and Citizens, and their successors, meete to readtheLec-
tures of Divinity, Astronomy, Mtisick, and Geometry, within rnyne own dwell¬
ing-house in the Parish of St. Helens in Bishops-gate street, and in St. Peter s
the Poor, in the City of London, (the moiety whereof hereafter, in this my last
Will, is by me limited and disposed unto the said Major and Commonaltie and
Citizens
 ( 4 •)
Citizens ofthe-saul City)- the aummc of Two Hundred Pounds of lawful money
of England, in manner and form following, (viz.) to every of the said
Readers for the time being, the sum of Fifty Pounds of lawfull money of
England, yearly, for their sallaries and stipends, meete for four sufficiently
learned, to* read* the said Lectures : the same stipends and sallaries, and every
of them, to be paid at two usual terms in the year, yearly, (that is to say) at
the feast of the Annunciation of St. Mary the Virgin, and St. Michael the
Archangel, by even portions to be paid.
And further, that the said Mayor and Commonaltie and Citizens of the said
City, and their successors, from henceforth and so long as they and their suc¬
cessors shall by any means have, hold, or enjoy the said moiety before in these
Presents to them disposed, shall give and distribute the sum of Fifty-Three
Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence of lawful money of England, yearly, in
manner and form following, (viz.) Unto Eight Almes-Folks, whom the said Mayor
and Commonalty and Cityzens, or their successors, shall appoint to inhabit my
Eight Almes-Houses in the said parish of St. Peter's the Poor; to every of them
the said Almes-Folks the summe of Six Pounds Thirteen Shillings and Four
Pence, to be paid at four usual terms in the year, yearly, (that is to say) at the
Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, theNativity of our Lord God, the Annun¬
ciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Nativity of St. John Baptist, by even
portions.
And further, that the said Mayor and Commonaltie and Citizens of the said
City, and their successors, from thenceforth and so long as they and their suc¬
cessors shall by any means have, hold, and enjoy the said moiety, before in these
Presents to them disposed, shall give and distribute, at the terms aforesaid, to
the relief of the poor persons and prisoners in the Prisons and Places called or
known by the names of Newgate, Ludgate, the King's-Bench, the Marshalsea,
and Counter now kept in JEood. street, and wheresoever the same Prisons here¬
after shall be kept, Fifty Pounds of lawful money of England, in money or
other provisions and necessaries for them, (viz.) to every of the same five pri¬
sons or places, Ten Pounds, at the four usual feasts or terms of payment of
rent within the same City of London most accustomed, or within eight and
twenty days next after, by even portions.
And as concerning the other moietie, before in this my present last Will
disposed to the said Wardens and Commonaltie of the Corporation of the Mer¬
cers : I Will and Dispose, that after such time as the said moietie, according to
the intent and meaning of these Presents, shall come to the said Wardens and
Corporation of the Mercers, and from thenceforth so long as they or their
successors shall by any means or title have, hold, and enjoy the same, that they
and their successors every year, yearly, shall give and pay and distribute to and
for the finding, sustentation, and maintenance of Three Persons, by them the
said Wardens and Commonaltie, and their successors, from time to time to be
chosen and appointed, meete to read the Lectures of Law, Physick and Rhe-
torick, within myne now dwelling-house, in the parish of St. Helens in Bishops-
gate street, and St. Peter's the Poore in the said City of London, (the moiety
whereof hereafter, in this my present last Will, is by me appointed and disposed
unto the said Corporation of Mercers) the summe of One Hundred and Fifty
Pounds of lawful money of England, in manner and form following, (viz.) to
every of the said Readers for the time being the summe of Fifty Pounds for
their sallaries and stipends, meete for three sufficiently learned to read the said
Lectures, at two usual feasts in the year, (that is to say) at the feast of the An¬
nunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of St. Michael the Archangel, by
even portions to be paid: And that the said Wardens and Corporation of the
Mercers and their successors, from henceforth and so long as they and their
successors shall by any means have, hold, or enjoy the said moiety, before in
these Presents to them disposed, shall yearly bestow and expend One Hundred
Pounds of lawful money of England, in manner and form following, (that is to
say)
 ( 5 ;
say) severally at fovver several terms in the year in and about the expences and
charges of a Feast or Dynner for the whole Company of the same Corporation,
to be had and made in the Mercers Hall in the said City of London, at and in
every their quarter day, the snmme of Twenty-Five Pounds. And that further,
the said Wardens and Corporation of the Mercers, and their successors, from
thenceforth and so long as they and their successors shall by any means have,
hold, or enjoy the said moiety before in these Presents to them disposed, shall
every year give and distribute to the relief of the poor persons and prisoners in
the Hospitals, Prisons, and Places, called or known by the names of the Hos¬
pitals of Christ or Christ-Church, late the Grey-Fryars, in London ; the Hos¬
pital of St. Bartholomew s near Smithfield, in London ; the Spittall of Bethlem,
near Bishopsgate street; the Hospital for the Poor in Southwark ; and the
Counter now kept in thePoultry, and wheresoever the same Prison hereafter shall
be kept, Fifty Pounds of lawful money of England, in money or other provi¬
sions and necessaries for them, (viz.) to every of the said Five Hospitals, Pri¬
sons, or Places, Ten Pounds, at four most usual feasts or terms of payment of
rent within the said City of London accustomed, or within eight and twenty
days next after, by even portions.
And as touching my eight Almes-Houses, situate in the Parish of St. Peter s
the Poor at the back side of the said mansion-house in the said City of Lon¬
don ; I Will and Dispose, that after the expiration and determination of the
particular uses, estates, and interests for life, and entail thereof, limited in the
said Indenture Quadrupartite dated the twentieth of May, That the same eight
Alms-Houses shall remain, and the use thereof shall be, unto the said Mayor
and Commonaltie and Citizens of the said City of London, and their successors,
for and during the term of fifty years from thence next following, fully to be
compleat and ended. Upon trust and confidence, and to the intent, that they do
perform the payments and other intents in these Presents hereafter limited,
thereof by them to be done. And my trust and confidence, will, intent, and
meaning is, that they the said Mayor and Commonaltie and Citizens and their
successors, after such time as the same Almes-Houses shall, by virtue of this
my present last Will, come unto them the said Mayor and Commonaltie and
Citizens, or to their successors, and from time to time so long as they or their
successors shall have, hold, or enjoy the same by any title or means, shall place
or putt eight poor and impotent persons into the said eight Ahns-PIouses, (viz.)
into every one of the said Alms-Houses one person, and shall from time to time
suffer the said eight persons that shall be so by them or their successors there
placed and putt, to have, occupy, and enjoy the same, without any fine, or other
thing yielded therefore ; and shall also pay unto every of the said persons that
so shall be by them placed and put into the said Alms-Houses, the summe of
Six Pounds Thirteen Shillings and Four Pence, of lawful money of England,
in manner and form before in these Presents expressed.
And as concerning my said Mansion-House, with the Gardens, Stables, and
all and singular other the appurtenances in the said parish of St. Helens in Bi¬
shopsgate street and St. Peter's the Poor, in the City of London ; I Will and
Dispose, that after the end, determination, or expiration of the particular estates,
uses, interest, and intailes thereof, limited by the said Indenture Quadrupartite
dated the said twentieth day of May, the same, my said Mansion-House, Gar¬
dens, Stables, and other the appurtenances, shall remain, and the use thereof
shall be, to the Mayor, Commonaltie, and Citizens of the said City of London, by
whatsoever name or addition the same is made or known, and to their successors.
And also to the Wardens and Commonaltie of the Mysterie of the Mercers of
the City of London, (viz.) to the Corporate Body and Corporation of the Mer¬
cers of London, by whatsoever name or addition the same Corporation is made
or known, to have and to hold, in common, for and during the term of fifty
years from thence next following, fully to be compleat and ended. Upon trust
and confidence, that they observe, perform, and keep my will, intent, and inean-
b ing
 ( 6 )
ing hereafter in these Presents expressed. And my will, intent, and meaning
is, that the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens and their successors, and
that the said Wardens and Commonaltie of the Mercery, and their successors,
after such time as the said Mansion-House, Garden, and other the appurte¬
nances, shall, by virtue of these Presents, come unto them, and from thenceforth
so long as they and their successors, or any of them, shall have,hold, or enjoy the
same by any title or means, shall permit and suffer Seven Persons, by them from
time to time to be elected and appointed in manner and form aforesaid, meete
and sufficiently learned to read the said seven Lectures, to have the occupation
of all my said Mansion-House, Gardens, and of all other the appurtenances, for
them and every of them there to inhabit, study, and daily to read the said
several Lectures. And my will is, that none shall be chosen to read any of the
said Lectures so long as he shall be married, nor be suffered to read any of the
said Lectures after that he shall be married ; neither shall receive any fee or
stipend appointed for the reading of the said Lectures.
And moreover, I Will and Dispose, that if the said Mayor and Commonaltie,
(viz.) the Chief Corporation of the said City, and the said Wardens and Com¬
monaltie of the Mercers, (viz.) the Corporation of the Mercers of the City
aforesaid, before the end of the said fifty years to them in form aforesaid ly-
mited, shall procure and obtain sufficient and lawful Dispensations and Li¬
cences, warrant and authority had and obtained, shall have and enjoy the said
Royal-Exchange, Messuages, Shops, Pawns, Vaults, Houses, and all other the
Premises with the appurtenances for ever ; severally, by such moieties, rates,
and other proportions, and in such manner and form, as before in these Presents
is lymited: Upon trust and confidence, and to the intent, that they severally for
ever shall doe, maintain, and perform the payments, charges, and other intents
and meanings thereof before lymited and expressed according to the intent and
true meaning of these Presents. And that I do require and charge the said
Corporations and chief Governors thereof, with circumspect diligence, and with¬
out long delay, to procure and see to be done and obtained, as they will answer
the same before Almighty God ; (for if they or any of them should neglect the
obtaining of such licences or warrant, which I trust cannot be difficult, nor so
chargeable but that the overplus of my rents and profits of the Premises herein
before to them disposed will soon recompenee the same, because to soe good
purpose in the Common-wealth no Prince nor Council in any age will deny
or defeat the same, and if conveniently by my Will or other convenience' I
might assure it, I would not leave it to be done after my death*; then the same
shall revert to my right Heirs, whereas I do mean the same to the Common-
weale, and then the default thereof shall be to the reproach and condemnation
of the said Corporations afore God.) And further, in consideration that such
charges of wardship,livery, and primier seizen as by my death shall fortune to be
done to the Queen’s Majesty, of or for all my Lands, Tenements, and Heredita¬
ments, according to the Laws and Statures of this Realm, shall be paid and born
by Sir Henry Nevil, Knight, and by the Heirs Males which he hath begotten
on the body of Elizabeth his late wife, deceased, Daughter of my Brother Sir
John Gresham, Knight, deceased, while she lived, my Cousin and Heir apparent,
their Heirs Males, Executors, or Assigns. I do Will andDispose, as concerning
my Mannors of Maye-fylld and Wardhurst, with the appurtenances, and all
my Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments in the County of Aws-sex or elsewhere,
used or reputed or belonging to the said Mannor or Mannors of Mayefylld or
Wardhurst, that after the expiration of the particular uses, estates, and interest
lor life and intayle thereof, limited in the said Indenture, the same shall remain,
and the use thereof shall be, unto my Cousin Sir Henry Nevil, and to the Heirs
Males of Dame Elizabeth his Wife, my Niece: And if my said Cousin Sir
Henry Nevil, Knight, or the Heirs Males begotten by my said Niece, shall
not within certain time after my death, bear or cause to be born the charges of
wardship, livery, or primier seizen, according to the intent and meaning of these
Presents,
 ( 7 )
Presents, that then such gift, limitation, and disposition as I have herein made
to my said Cousin Nevil, and the Heirs Males of my Niece’s Body, shall be
utterly void to all intents and purposes, as if they and every of them had not
been mentioned in these Presents. And then I Will and Dispose, that the same
Premises at Mayefylld and IVardkurst aforesaid, or to the same belonging, shall
remain, and the use thereof shall be, in such sort as the residue hereafter limited
shall be.
And as concerning all the Residue of all and singular my Mannors, Lands,
Tenements, and Hereditaments, whatsoever they be, after the expiration and
determination of the particular uses, estates, and interest, for years, life, or in-
tayle thereof, lymited in the said Indenture and in these Presents : I do Will
and Dispose, that the same shall remain, and that the use thereof shall be, unto
my said faithful loving Wife, Dame Anne Gresham, and to her Heirs and As¬
signs for ever; and she to use and dispose of the same at her pleasure, as she
shall think meete and convenient; requiring, amongst all other things, that all
my Debts, Legacies, and other Duties whatsoever, by me due, given, lymited,
or bequeathed to any person, or witheld from any person, shall be fully per¬
formed, satisfyed, and paid, and recompensed as the case in law, right, equity,
or conscience shall require. In which behalf I do wholly put my trust in her,
and have no doubt but she will accomplish the same accordingly ; and all other
things as shall be requisite or expedient, for both our honesties, fames, and
good report in this transitory world, and to the profit of the Common-weale,
and relief of the careful and true poor, according to the pleasure and will of
Almighty God: To whom be all honour and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

In witness whereof I the said Sir Thomas Gresham have written this Will
all with my own hand; and to each of the eight leaves have subscribed my
name, and to a Labell fixt thereunto all the eight leaves, have set to my Seal
with the Grasshopper, the fifth day of July, in the seventeenth year of the reign
of our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, and in the year of our Lord God
one thousand five hundred seventy five; by me,
THOMAS GRESHAM.

Witnesses to this last IVill and Testament of the said Sir Thomas Gresham,
the persons whose names be subscribed.
P, ScUDAMOR.
Thomas Billingford.
Henry Nevil.

E Registro Curiae Prcerogat. Cant. Extract, 8$c.

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 ACT
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FOR THE PURCHASE OF

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GRESHAM COLLEGE,

fyc.
 GARRATT, Mayor.
A Condition Council, hoi den in the Chamber of tj*e Caiil ti¬
ll all of the City of London, on Wednesday the 16th day
of February, 1825.

ORDERED, That the Act of Parliament relative to the Gres¬

ham Pensions be printed with the Copy of Sir Thomas Gresham’s
Will, and a Copy sent to every Member of this Court.

WOODTHORPE.
 K* J~ri

8 Geo. III. Cap. 32.

An Act for carrying into Execution an Agreement made between

the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City oi JLondon
and the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers
of the said City, and Stamp JBrooksbank, Esquire, Secretary to
the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue of Excise, for the
Purchase of Gresham College, and the Ground and Buildings
thereunto belonging; and for vesting the same unalienably in the
Crown for the purpose of erecting and building an Excise Office
there; and for enabling the Lecturers of the said College to marry,
notwithstanding any Restriction contained in the Will of Sir Tho-
mas Gresham, Knight, deceased.

W ILE REAS the House and Buildings now made use of for the ma¬ Preamble.
naging and conducting the business of His Majesty’s Revenue of
• C

Excise, situate in the Old Jewry, London, and called or known by

the ,ptame of The Excise Office, are, for want of necessary room for the officers
and clerks, found very inconvenient and insufficient for the well ordering and
conducting the business of the said Office, which business hath of late years
been considerably increased; and whereas the said House and Buildings, as
well from their construction, as from the number and nearness of the ancient
houses which confine and surround the same, are greatly exposed to fire, and
no place has been, nor can be there found sufficient and proper to secure file
Records and Papers of the said Office from such accidents ; and as the Lease of
the said House and Buildings will expire on the Tenth day of October, One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy, it is necessary that some more safe,
fit, and commodious place be prepared, to which the said Office may he re¬
moved : and whereas the Messuage, Tenement, Edifices, and Buildings now
called and known by the name of Gresham College, situate in the Parish of
Saint Helens in Bishopsgate street, and in Saint Peter s the Poor, in the City
of London, have, upon enquiry, been deemed a proper and convenient place
lor the erecting and building an Office for the managing, conducting, and car¬
rying on, the business of His Majesty’s Revenue of Excise : and \yhereaspipon
consideration of the premisses, the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue of
Excise did, by and with the consent, approbation, and direction, of the Com¬
missioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, treat with the Mayor and Commonalty
and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and Commonalty of the
Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, who are seised of the said Col¬
lege called Gresham College; and in pursuance of such Treaty, Articles of
Agreement, bearing date the Tenth day of December in the Year of our Lord
One Thousand Seven.Hundred and Sixty-seven, have been mutually entered
into by and between the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City
ot London and the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of
the City of London, of the one part, and Stamp Brooksbank, Esquire, Secretary
to the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue of Excise, of the other part,
wherebv the said Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London
and
 ( 4 )
and the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City
of London, for and in consideration of one yearly Annuity of Five Hundred
Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, free and clear of all Parliamentary
and other taxes, payments, charges, and deductions whatsoever, to be settled on
the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the War¬
dens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, for
ever, to commence from the feast-day of Saint Michael, One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Sixty-eight, and to be issuing and payable out of His Majesty’s
Revenue arising from the Duties of Excise, as in the said Agreement is men¬
tioned, have consented and agreed to surrender, yield, and give up, the said
Messuage or Tenement called Gresham College, herein after more particularly
mentioned and described, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances, to
be settled unalienably in the Crown, for the purpose of making, erecting, and
establishing there an Office for the conducting and carrying on the business
of His Majesty’s Revenue of Excise, and to be called or known by the name of
The Excise Office : and whereas the said Agreement cannot be carried into full
and compleat execution without the authority of Parliament: May it therefore
please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King’s most
excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the au¬
From and after thority of the same, That from and after the Twenty-fifth day of March, One
March 1768,
the Messuage Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-eight, all that Messuage or Tenement called
called Gresham
College, and
Gresham College, in the Parish of Saint Helens in Bishopsgate street, and in
the Ground 8fc• Saint Peter s the Poor, in the City of London, and all the ground thereunto be¬
thereunto be¬
longing ; longing ; containing on the West front next Old Broad street, in length from
North to South, Two Hundred and Five feet, little more or less ; and from the
South end of the said front, pointing Eastward, extends Ninety feet Six inches ;
then turning to the North Fifty-five feet Six inches, then to the East Eighty-
five feet Three inches, then to the South Five feet Six inches, then to the East
Nine feet, then to the South Twenty-one feet Five inches, then to the East
Twenty-eight feet Nine inches, then to the South Twenty-six feet Two inches,
then to the East Twenty-seven feet, then to the North Twenty-seven feet Two
inches ,• and from thence to Bishopsgate street Eastward in an irregular line
Eighty-four feet Nine inches ; from thence to the North on the East side there¬
of next Bishopsgate street is a gateway under one of the houses there of about
Ten feet wide from North to South, used as a coachway from Bishopsgate
street into the said College anal premisses ; then on the North side of the said
gateway from Bishopsgate street pointing towards the West is Thirty four feet
Four inches, then turning Northwards Thirty feet Eleven inches, then to
the West Forty-five feet Ten inches, then to the North Seventy-one feet Six
inches, then to the West forty-nine feet, then to the North fifteen feet Eight
inches, then to the West Twenty-one feet Seven inches, then to the North
Thirty-six feet, and from thence to the West on the North side, which joins
nearly at right angles to the West front in Old Broad street, One Hundred
and Eighty-six feet Six inches; and at the South end of the said West front
next Old Broad street, over a passage of Five feet wide, or thereabouts, lead¬
ing into Sun yard, is a building belonging to the said College, which extends
from West to East Twenty-three feet Eight inches; together with all erections
and buildings now erected and built upon the said ground and premisses above
described, or any part thereof, or that shall or may at any time hereafter be
with all rights
and privileges
built and erected thereon, or on any part thereof, with all the rights, members,
belonging to privileges, immunities, exemptions, ways, paths, passages, waters, watercourses,
and enjoyed
therewith, are easements, commodities, emoluments, advantages, and appurtenances whatso¬
declared to be
vested in and ever, to the said Messuage, Tenement, and College, or any part thereof, be¬
annexed una¬ longing, and usually held and enjoyed therewith,"shall be and be deemed to be,
lienably to the
Crown; and are hereby declared to be, vested in and annexed to the Imperial Crown
of this Realm, and shall be and remain for ever unalienable from the same ;
and
 ( 5 )
and His Majesty, and liis successors in the Imperial Crown of this Realm,
shall for ever have, hold, and enjoy the same, against the Mayor and Com¬
monalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and Commonalty
of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, and all and every person and
persons claiming, or to claim by, from, or under them or any of them, freed
and discharged of and from all former estates, leases, or other incumbrances
whatsoever, made or granted of the said premisses, or any part thereof.
And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in full satisfaction for the infUu satisfac-
said College, ground, and premisses, so vested in and annexed to the Crown as there^h^be’
aforesaid, there shall be paid to the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the paid oat of the
City of London and the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers ExcfsToffice to
of the City of London, for ever, One yearly Annuity of Five Hundred Pounds ^CanVtothe
of lawful money of Great Britain, free and clear of all Parliamentary and other Mercers com-
taxes, payments, charges, and deductions whatsoever, payable quarterly on the nuity of 500/.
four most usual feast-days, or days of payment, in the year, to commence from thefameTo be
the feast-day of Saint Michael, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-eight; t^afi^*rlyi
the first quarterly payment to be made on the feast-day of the Nativity of our Payment to be
blessed Lord, in the said year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-eight, ™^8e_on25Z>ec'
and to be issuing and payable out of the Revenue of Excise, and to be paid at
the Excise Office in London, from time to time.
And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That on payment of the said the receipt of
yearly Annuity of Five Hundred Pounds, or any part thereof, by the Receiver Pomte<i°by the
General of His Majesty’s Duties of Excise for the time being, the Receipt of com^nyTobe
the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the War- a discharge to
dens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, or GeneIXoVthe
of such persons as they shall appoint to receive the same, shall be a discharge ^efors^ch*"
to such Receiver General for the sum of money expressed in such Receipt, Payments,
and the same shall be allowed such Receiver General on passing his accounts ; mentsarecot
and in case the said Annuity, or any part thereof, shall be behind and unpaid by du,y made>
the space of Twenty-one days next over or after any of the said feasts or days on
which the same shall become due and payable, after having been lawfully de¬
manded at the Office aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Mayor an Action may
and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and again^t^ch
Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, to bring ^eerc^iver Ge_
an Action at Law, in His Majesty’s Court of Exchequer at Westminster,
against the Receiver General of His Majesty’s Duties of Excise for the time
being, to recover the money due ; in which action no essoin, wager of law, or df 11Costs
protection, shall be allowed ; and in case the plaintiff' or plaintiff’s shall recover allowed on re¬
in such action, he or they shall be entitled to full costs. , covering.

And whereas, pursuant to the last Will and Testament of Sir Thomas Gres¬
ham of the City of London, Knight, deceased, Four Persons have from time
to time been chosen, nominated, and appointed, by the Mayor and Commo¬
nalty and Citizens of the City of London, to read Lectures of Divinity, Astro¬
nomy, Musiek, and Geometry, within the said College; and also Eight Per¬
sons have been from time to time appointed by the said Mayor and Commo¬
nalty and Citizens of London, to inhabit Eight Alms-Houses standing
within, or adjoining to, and part of, the said College; and also Three Persons
liave from time to time been chosen, nominated, and appointed, by the War¬
dens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, to
read Lectures in Law, Physick, and Rhetorick, within the said College ; and
such Seven Persons so chosen, nominated, and appointed to read such Lectures
have, by the directions of the said Will, had apartments within the said College
for the purpose of residing there and reading such Lectures ; and whereas the
said several Seven Persons so chosen, nominated, and appointed to read the
said Lectures, and the said Eight Alms-folks, the better to enable the Mayor
and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and
Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, to perform their
B
 ( 6 )
part of the agreement entered into as aforesaid, have respectively agreed and
50/. per Annum consented to relinquish and quit their apartments and Alms-Houses ; Be it en¬
clear of all Tax¬
es to be paid by acted by the authority aforesaid, that the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens
theCity to their
several Lectu¬
of the City of London do and shall pay, or cause to be paid, unto the Four
rers, in consi¬ Persons who now read the said Lectures in Divinity, Astronomy, Musick, and
deration of the
apartments re¬ Geometry, and to their successors who shall from time to time be chosen, no¬
linquished by
them in the
minated, and appointed to read the said Lectures, and to each and every of
said College; them, the yearly sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful money of Great Britain, free
and clear of all Parliamentary and other taxes, payments, charges, and deduc¬
the same to be tions whatsoever, by even and equal quarterly payments, in lieu and instead of
paid quarterly.
their respective apartments so by them agreed to be relinquished and given up,
and over and above the salaries and stipends found, provided, and allowed to
and 50/. per them for reading the same Lectures ; and in like manner that the Wardens
Annum by the
Mercers Com¬ and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London do and
pany to their
Lecturers, in shall pay, or cause to be paid, unto the Three Persons who now read the said
lieu of their
apartments:
Lectures in -Law, Physick, and Rhetorick, and to their successors who shall
from time to time be chosen, nominated, and appointed to read the said Lec¬
tures, and to each and every of them, the yearly sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful
money of Great Britain, free and clear of all Parliamentary and other taxes,
payments, charges, and deductions whatsoever, by even and equal quarterly
payments, in lieu and instead of their respective apartments so by them agreed
to be relinquished and given up, and over and above the salaries and stipends
the first quar¬ found, provided, and allowed to them for reading the same Lectures ; the first
terly payments
to be made on
quarterly payments of the said yearly sums respectively to be made on tbe feast-
25 Dec. 176'8. day of the Nativity of our blessed Lord, in the said year One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Sixty-eight.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That in consideration of
An additional
sum of 501. per the great age and infirmities of Henri/ Pemberton, Doctor of Physick, the pre¬
Annum to be
paid by the sent Rccider in Physick in the said College, and of his long residence therein,
Mercers Com¬ the said Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of
pany to Doctor
Pemberton du¬ London shall, over and above the said yearly sum of Fifty Pounds by this Act
ring his life.
provided for the Reader in Physick for the time being, by like quarterly pay¬
ments pay, or cause to be paid, unto the said Henry Pemberton, the further
additional yearly sum of Fifty Pounds for and during the term of his natural
life, free and clear of all taxes and deductions whatsoever.
The City and And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Mayor and
Mercers Com¬
pany to pro¬ Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and Com¬
vide proper
places for the
monalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London do and shall, from
reading of time to time and at all times hereafter, find and provide sufficient and proper
Lectures;
place or places for the present Seven Professors, and all succeeding persons to
be chosen, nominated, and appointed for the reading the Lectures in Divinity,
and for the ha¬ Astronomy, Musick, Geometry, Law, Physick, and Rhetorick, toieadthe same
bitation of the
Alms-Folks of in accordingly ; and also like sufficient and proper place and places for the ha¬
the College.
bitation of the Eight Alms-Folks now or hereafter for the time being.
The City and And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Mayor and
Mercers Com¬
pany are to pay Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and the Wardens and Com¬
to the Receiver monalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London, do and shall, within
General of the
Excise within a the space of one month from the passing of this Act, pay, or cause to be paid,
Month, 1800/,
towards the unto the Receiver General of His Majesty’s Duties of Excise, the sum of One
charge of
pulling down
Thousand Eight Hundred Pounds, for and towards the expence of pulling down
the College and the said College and the building an Excise Office there; and the receipt of
building an
Excise Office. such Receiver General shall be a sufficient discharge for the same.
And whereas it may be found necessary for the more commodious building
Persons posses¬
the said Office, or for rendering the same more convenient and proper by any
sed 4'c. of such future buildings to be added thereto, that a power be vested in the Commis¬
Lands or Tene¬
ments as shall sioners of His Majesty’s Treasury for the purchasing Lands or Tenements for
he found neccs-
those purposes ; Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid. That it shall
 ( 7 )
and may be lawful to and for all Bodies Politic, Corporate, or Collegiate, and s\ry for render¬
all Trustees, Mortgagees, and Feoffees in Trust, Guardians of Infants, and ing- the aid
Building more
Committees of Lunaticks and Idiots, Executors, and Administrators whatso¬ commodious,
are impowered
ever, and all and every other person or persons whatsoever who are or shall to sell and con¬
he seized, possessed, or interested in, any lands or tenements standing, or be¬ vey the same
for that pur¬
ing contiguous or adjoining to, the said College, to bargain and sell the same pose ;
to such person or persons as the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasurv now
being, or any three or more of them, or the High Treasurer, or the Commis¬
sioners of His Majesty’s Treasury for the time being, or any three or more of
them, shall, by writing under his or their hands, appoint to contract for the
purchase thereof, for the purpose aforesaid ; and such lands or tenements so to
be purchased, shall be conveyed to His Majesty, his heirs, or successors, by
Deed or Deeds to be inrolled in His Majesty’s Court of Kings Bench ; and and after con¬
veyance and
when so purchased, shall be and be deemed to be, and are hereby declared to Inr lin t >f
be, vested and annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm, and shall be and the Deed of
Sale, the Pre-
remain for ever unalienable from the same ; and all contracts, agreements, and m' a to
vest in the
sales, and all conveyances by such Deeds inrolled as aforesaid, which shall be Crown una¬
made by such Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, or other persons afore¬ lienable.
said, shall be valid and effectual to all intents and purposes ; any Law, Statute,
or Usage, or any other matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding; and
all and every sum and sums of money which shall be paid to or for the use of the Money paid for*
same to be
such Body Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, or other person or persons afore¬ laid out in
other Pur¬
said, for the purchase of any lands or tenements for the purposes of this Act, chases, and to
shall be respectively laid out, and invested in, the purchase of other lands, te¬ be settled to
the same Uses 5
nements, and hereditaments, which shall be conveyed and settled to and upon,
and subject to, such titles, uses, trusts, limitations, remainders, and contingen¬
cies, as the lands and tenements sold for the purpose of this Act were settled,
limited, and assured, at the time of such sale, and shall be held and enjoyed
accordingly; and until such purchase-money shall be re-invested in lands and till that
can be done,
as aforesaid, the same shall be laid out in the purchase of Stocks in some of the to be laid out
Publick Funds, or placed out on Government or real Securities, at interest; in some of the
Publick Funds.
and such interest shall be paid to and for the use of such person or persons as
would have been intitled to the rents and profits of the lands and tenements so
sold for the purposes of this Act, as aforesaid.
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That when the Excise All Acts, &c.
done at the
Office shall be built at Gresham College aforesaid, and the said Office shall be Excise Office,
kept and held there, the same shall be called The Excise Office, and that all
and every act and acts, thing and things, matters and concerns, made, done, and lege, deemed
executed there, for the receipt and management of His Majesty’s Duties of done at the’
Excise, shall be and are hereby declared to be as good and valid in the Law, to
all intents and purposes, as such act or acts, matters, things, or concerns, would
have been, had the same been made, done, and executed, at the said Office of
Excise in the Old Jewry, had this Act never been made.
Saving always to the King’s most Excellent Majesty,his heirs and successors, Reservation of
and all and every person and persons. Bodies Politic and Corporate (other than Rlghts’
and except the Mayor and Commonalty and Citizens of the City of London, and
the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London,
and all persons claiming by, from, and under them) all such estate, right, title,
and interest, in, to, and out of, the said College, Ground, and Premisses herein
before mentioned, or any part thereof, as fully and amply, to all intents and
purposes, as if this Act had not been made.
And whereas in and by the said last Will and Testament of the said Sir Tho¬
mas Gresham, the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the City of London, and
the Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery of Mercers of the City of London,
were directed to permit and suffer the Seven Persons elected and appointed
to read the Seven Lectures in the said Will mentioned, to have the occupation
ol all the Mansion-House, Gardens, and other appurtenances, (now called
 ( 8 )
Gresham College) tor them and every of them there to inhabit, study, and
daily to read the said several Lectures; and whereas in and by the said Will
it is directed that no person chosen to read any of the said Lectures should be
suffered to read any of the said Lectures after that he should be married, nor
should receive any Fee or Stipend appointed for the reading of the said Lec¬
tures : and whereas in pursuance of this Act the said College will be pulled
down and taken away, and the collegiate life of the said Lecturers, intended
by the said Sir Thomas Gresham, will, by the pulling down of the said College,
be put an end to ; Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after
The Lecturers the passing of this Act it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Seven
authorized to
marry, aud Lecturers, or their Successors, or any of them, to marry, notwithstanding any
read Lectures
afterwards,
Restriction contained in the said Will; and each and every of the said Lec¬
notwithstand¬ turers, and their successors, shall, notwithstanding their being married, be suf¬
ing any Re¬
striction or fered to read their said several Lectures after they shall be married, and shall
Limitation in
Sir Thomas be entitled to receive the Fee or Stipend appointed for the reading of their said
Gresham’s several Lectures ; and the Mayor, Commonalty, and Citizens of the said City
Will.
of London, and the Wardens and Commonalty of the said Mystery of Mercers,
and their successors, shall not be or be deemed guilty of any misapplication of
such sum or sums of money as shall be paid in Fees or Stipends to the said
Lecturers, though married, any Restriction or Limitation in the said Will
contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

FINIS.

Printed by Arthur Taylor, 40, Basinghall Street,

Printer to tbe Honourable City of London.