A. D. 1706. Aiino quinto ANNiE Reginse. C. 4. 217 IV. And be it further enafled by the Authority aforefaid, That the faid Duke of Marlborough, and after Duke miy grant his Deceafe, the faid Duchefs of Marlborouzh, fhall have full Power and Authority, by Deed indented, """^ °^ ^"f to make any Leafe or Leafes in Pofleflion, of all or any of the faid Manors, Hundred, MefTuages, Lands, except^oTfhc ^ Tenements and Hereditaments aforefaid (other than and except the Houfe called Bleinheini., and the Park Houfe and Park, of Woodjiock) for any Number of Years, not exceeding one and twenty Years, or for any Number of for 21 Years. , Years determinable upon one, two, or three Lives, referring the beft and moft improved Rent that can then be had for the fame, without taking any Fine. V. Provided always, and be it further enacSted by the Authority aforefaid, That neither the faid Duke Neither the of Marlborough, or the Heirs Males of his Body, nor any of his Daughters, or the Heirs Males of their OAe nor his Bodies, or any other Perfon to whom the PremifTes fhall come or defcend by virtue of the Limitations ^^'"' ^^- J?"" aforefaid, (hall have any Power by Fine or Recovery, or any other Aft, Affurance or Conveyance in o",^^^^ t'[,g" the Law, to hinder, bar, or difinherit any the Perfon or Perfons to or upon whom the faid Manors, Premiffes are Houfe, Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments or Premifles, are hereby vefted or limited, from holding or limited from enjoying tha fame, according to the Limitations before in this Adl mentioned, other than and except enjoying the fuch Leafes as the faid Duke and Duchefs may make, by virtue of the Powers herein before-mentioned, ^^'"^' **^' and fuch other Leafes as Tenants in Tail may and are enabled to make, by virtue of the Statute made in the two and thirtieth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, and Grants of Lands or Tene- 31 h. 8. c. i%j ments held by Copy of Court Roll, according to the Cuftoms of the refpeftive Manors aforefaid ; but
- all fuch Fines, Recoveries, Aft, AiTurances and Conveyances, other than fuch Leafes, and Grants by
Copy, as aforefaid, fhall be, and are hereby declared and enafted to be void. VI. And be it further enafted by the Authority aforefaid. That this Aft fhall be adjudged, deemed, "^^.'"f * and taken, in all Cafes, and in all Courts and Places, a publick Aft. ^s^eth, «^'t Chapter ftr fittlirg tut Ar.nuity on the Duke, and i G«. I. ft. 1, c, 12. for paying the Arrears due fur building Blenheim Houfe CAP. IV. An Ad for fettling upon Jobft Duke of Marlborough and his Pofterity, a Penfion of five thou- fand Pounds per Annum, for the more honourable Supp>ort of their Dignities, in like Manner as his Honors and Dignities, and the Honor and Manor of fFoodjlocky and Houfe of Bleiti' beim, ^re already limited and fettled. MOST gracious Sovereign, "Whereas the moft noble John Duke of Marlborough, was by feveral ^/^^.^nn. c.9i Letters Patents, created Baron Churchill of Sandridge, and Earl of Marlborough, to him and the 5 ■^'" '• 3- Heirs Males of his Body : And ^)y other Letters Patents, bearing Date the fourteenth Day of December in the firft Year of your Majefty's Reign, in Confideration of his great and eminent Services to your Majefty and your Allies, as well by his prudent Negotiations as your Majefty's Plenipotentiary at the Hague, where to the mutual Advantage of your Majefty and the States General of the United Pro- vinces, he fettled an intire Confidence between your Majefty and the States Genera], as by his Valour and good Conduft in the Command of the Confederate Armies abroad, v/as created Marquifs of Bland- ford, and Duke of Marlborough, to him and the Heirs Males of his Body : And whereas by other Let- ters Patents under the Great Seal oi England, bearing Date the two and twentieth Day of December in the firft Year of your Majefty's Reign, your Majefty was gracioufly pleafed, as a further Mark of yoiir royal Favour and Satisfaftion with his Services aforefaid, and for the better Support of his faid Dignity, to give and grant unto the faid John Duke of Marlborough, one Annuity or year! y Penfion of five thoufand Pounds of lawful Englijh Money, to be ifTuing and payable out of the Rents, lilues. Profits, 5000 1. per Aa- Incomes, Revenues, Sum and Sums of Money v/hatfoever, due and payable, or which fhould from ""■" granted to time to time arife, grow due, or be payable out of, by, or in refpeft of your Majefty's General Letter J^*^ ^f^^ °l Office, Port Of&ce, or Office of Poft Matter General, or for or by reafon of the Poftage or Carriage of ^ut of[he pJa Letters, Packets, or other things within your Majefi;y's Kingdom of England, or elfewhere, to have, office, receive and enjoy the faid Annuity or yearly Penfion of five thoufand Pounds, unto the faid John Duke of Marlborough, and the Heirs Males of his Body, for and during your Majefty's natural Life, the fame during the to be computed from the Feaft of St. Michael the Archangel then lafl paft, and to be paid quarterly at Q^ieen's Life, the four moft ufual Feafts or Terms in the Year (that is to fay) the Feaft of the Birth of our Lord Chrlft, the Annunciation of the bleffed Virgin Mary, the Nativity of Saint jfohn the Baptift, and Saint Michael the Archangel, by even and equal Portions : And whereas an Aft paffed in the third Year of your Majefty's Reign, intituled, An ASI for the better enabling her Majejly to grant the Hottor ■^ic ^Xaak,^Ji, and Manor of Woodflock, luith the H^mdrcd of Wootton, to the Duke of Marlborough and his Heirs, in Confideration of the eminent Services by him performed' to her Majcjh and the Publick, wherein 'tis mentioned and recited. That the eminent and unparallel'd Services of the faid Duke to your Majefty and the Preamble of Crown of England, were well known, not only to your Majefty, and all your Subjefts, but to all Eu- ^^^ Aft. rope ; and that the Alliances which your Majefty's royal Brother King William the Third, of glorious xhe Duke of Memory, had, in a little Time before his Death, contrafted, by the Miniftry of the faid Duke, as his Marlborough's Majefty's Amba'fa or extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the States CJeneral of the United Provinces^ Services, for preferving the Liberties oi Europe againft the Ambition oi France, were immediately after your Ma- jtrfty's happy Accfcffion to the Throne, by the faid Duke, then eriiployed by your ^ajefty in the fame C '.a after, confirmed and improved, and that others were contrafted, whereby the Confederacy, which had been Jiffoived at the End of the laft War, was re-unit;d in a ftridler and firmer League j and that Vol. IV. F f in
