Page:Ruffhead - The Statutes at Large - vol 4.djvu/267

 A. D. 1^66; Anno quinto Ann-b Regin®. C. i — ^ jfeft^ c A 1». 1. rc; An A3i for granting an Aid to her Majefty by a Land Tkx to be raifed in the Year one thouland fevefi' '■ ■ ' hundred aftd feven. 4 ;. in the Pound. EXP. See $ Jm. c. 27. f. 18. c A>; n. An A(S for continuing the Duties upon Malt, Mum, Cyder, and Perry, for the Service of the Ye^ oime ^ thoufand feven hundred and feven. EXP. See 5 Ann. c. 27 . /. 18. - Ait A£t for the fettling oF the Honours and Dignities of John Duke of Marlborough upon his fofterity, and annexing the Honor and Manor of tVoodjUckt and Houfe of Bknbeimy to go aiong with the faid Honours. WHEREAS the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament aflembled, having with much Sa- 3©'4>^™. c. 6. tisfaftion confldered the many great AiStions wrhich John Duke of Marlborough has performed in, her Majefty's Service, to the Honour of his Country, and for the Good of the commoji Caufe of £«r»/»^ (fuch Aftions as the wifeft and greateft People have rewarded writh Statues and Triumphs) and being extremely defirous to exprefs the jaft Senfe they have of his Merit in a peculiar and diftin- guiftiing Manner, and in order to perpetuate the Memory thereof, that his Titles and Honours, wida his Right of Precedence, might be fettled and continued in his Pofterity by Adl of Parliament, as the Method moft effedlual for that End, and beft fuiting fo great an Occaiion : Yet having always a juft Regard for the Prerogatives of the Crown (her Majefty being the fole Fountain of HdnourJ thought it their Duty, in the firft Place, by their humble Add refs, to have Recourle to her Majefty for her royal Allowance, before any Order given for bringing in a Bill of fuch a Nature ; and by their faid Addrefs did humbly defire, her Majefty would be gracioufly pleafed to let them know, in what Manner it would be moft acceptable to her Majefty, the faid Titles and Honours fliould be limited : In anfwer whereto, her Majefty hath been pleafed moft gracioufly to declare. That nothing could be more acceptable to her than the faid Addrefs, and that Ihe was entirely fatisfied with the Services of the Duke of Marlborough, and therefore could not but be pJeafed they had fo juft a Senfe of them; and did thereby declare her royal Intention to be. That after the Determination of the Eftate which the Duke of Marlborough now has in his Titles and Honours, the fame ftiould be limited in fuch Mannef as is herein after declared and enafted ; and her Majefty was pleafed in her mpft gracious Anfwer to the faid Addrefs, further to declare. That fhe thought it would be proper that the Honour and Manor Hononr and Ma- of JVeodfiock, and the Houfe of Blenheim, fliould always go along with the Titles, and did therefore re- nor of Wood- commend that Matter to their Confideration : And the Duke oi Marlboroiirh thereupon declaring, that ^<"^^ and Houfe he had made it his humhle Requeft to her Majefty, and did now/ defire. That the Manor and Park Of ^ ^'°'™^''"; „ WoodJlMk, and the Houfe of Blenheim, after the Deceafe of the Duchefs of Marlborough, fliould go ofX^aHdgetnd along, and be enjoyed with the Titles : And whereas the faid John Duke of Marlborough, was by feyeral Earl of Maribo- Lettersf Patents, created Ba.Ton Churchill oi.Sandridge, and Earl of Marlborough, to him and the Heirs rough, Marquei^ Males of his Body: And by Letters Patents, bearing Date die fourteenth Day of December in the o^ Biandfoia, firft Year of her now Majefty's Reign, was created Marquefs of Blatdford, and Duke of Marlborough, !"^ .^"'"' °*" to him and the Heirs Males of his Body :' Therefore for perpetuating the Memory of the ieveral great " T.°'i"'i6 •. Aftions performed by the faid Duke, and for fettling and continuing the Titles and Honours aforefaid, and the Right of Precedence, in his Pofterity ; may it pleafe your moft Excellent Majefty, that it may ,be enaded j and be it enafted by the Queen's moft Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Coii- , fent of the Lords Spiritual and Teniporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament affembled, and by the Authority of the fame. That in Default of Heirs Males of the Body of the faid Duke of Marlbo- Dokeof Maxl- rough iffuing, the States, Degree, Stiles, Tides, Dignities and Honours aforefaid, fliall continue, rcr borough's Titlej, plain, be vefted in, and fliall be held and enjoyed by the Lady Harriott, eldeft Daughter of the faid Duke *<^' '" *« "»- /Bf Marlborough, and Wife of Francis Godolphin Efquire, Son and Heir Apparent oi Sidney Lord Godolphin, ^^^^ 'g! Lord High Treafurer of England, and the Heirs Males of her Body begotten : And for Default of fuch Godolp^"," and Ifliie, fliall continue, remain, be vefted in, and held and enjoyed h^ Anne Countefs oi Sunderland, fecond her'HeiVs Malp, Daughter of the faid Duke of Marlboriough, and Wife of Charles Earl of Sunderland, and the Heirs &=. Males of her Body begotten : And for Default of fuch Iffue,, fliall continue, remain, be vefted in, and Remainders to held and enjoyed by Elizabeth Countefs ^f Bridgwater, third Daughter of the faid Duke of Marlborough, of"sund°r]a'i^' and Wife of Scroope Earl of Bridgwater, and the Heirs Males, of her Body begotten : And for Default of Elizabeth Cou'j fuch Ifiue, fliall continue, remain, be vefted in, and held and enjoyed by the Lady Mary, youngeft tefs of Bridg- Daughter of the faid Duke of Marlborough, znA Wife of "John Montagu Efquire, called Marquefs of w»terj Monthermer, Son and Heir Apparent of Ralph Duke of Montagu^ and the Heirs Males of her Body be- ^^"l ^"^ gotten : And for Default of fuch Iflue, then to continue, remain, be vefted in, and held and enjoyed by **"' '""''• aji and every other the Daughter and Daughters ^f the fzii Duke of Marlf>orougi, to be begotten, feve- xally and fucceflively one after the other, as they fliall be in Prioirity of Birth, and the Heirs Males of their refpe£live Bodies iffuing; the elder lOf fuch Daughters, and the Heirs' Males of her Body, to be E referred and cake before the younger of fuch Daughters, and; the Heirs Males of her Body : And for )efault of fuch Iffue, then to continue, remain, be vefted in, and held and enjoyed by the firft Daughter «f the Body of the faid Lady Harriot Godolphin begotten, and the Heirs Males pf the Body of fuch firft I Daughter