ROCHESTER (Laurence Hyde, 1641-1711, 1st Earl, brother-in-law of James II) and HOWARD (Hon. Sir Robert, 1626-1698, Restoration Dramatist, from 1673 Auditor of the Exchequer Receipt)

Signatures respectively as Lord High Treasurer, 1685-1687, and Auditor, on the upper portion of a Treasury document, for repayment by virtue of "his Ma[jes]t[ie]s L[ett]res of Privy Seale dated the 25th of March 1685", to Charles Toll of £6000 out of "the Lat[e] Imposicion on Tobacco & Sugar ... Lent unto His Majesty", signed 'Rochester' on the recto, with, on the verso, the end of a note signed 'Ro: Howard' stating there are 98 days from the Order to the date of payment, (13th January 1687 new style), followed by Charles Toll's signature against a list of four part-payments totalling £6000 and the individuals involved, also £96 13s 1d as the interest on £6000 for 98 days [at 6% p.a.], 2 sides 4¾" x 6¾", [Whitehall Treasury Chambers], the order 4th October lacks lower half

Rochester was a high Tory of the Court Party, and for some years was Charles II's chief adviser. At the Revolution he favoured a regency on behalf of the absent James II, but reconciled himself to William and Mary and became an adviser to the Queen. Of a strong literary bent, he prepared his father (Clarendon's) History for the press, prefixing it with his father's life.
Sir Robert Howard, knighted in the Civil War, was prominent in the Country Party, opposing 'cabalistic government', but managed to collect many lucrative offices under the Crown, owing to his financial acumen. In 1662 he became a shareholder in the Theatre Royal, Bridge Street, designing scenery and writing comedies, often with political overtones. He collaborated with John Dryden, later his opponent over the used of rhymed drama which the latter preferred.
The document well shows the Treasury symbols for 'a thousand' (ar), 'four score' (xx over iiij), 'halfpenny' (ob.) and 'farthing' (q.).

Item Date:  1686

Stock No:  56125      £325

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