House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 1 April 1650

Die Lunæ, 1 Aprilis, 1650.

Prayers.

Army.

COLONEL Venne proceeded this Day in his Report from the Committee of the Army.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do, according to usual Course, provide Surgeons Chests in all Places where the same are wanting.

Forging Warrants.

Colonel Venne reports from the Committee of the Army, A Paper, containing the further voluntary Consession of Abraham Granger, and also another Paper, intituled, "The voluntary Discovery of Matters of Consequence acted against the High Court of Parliament, known to Wm. Broome, Captain Nicholas Greenway, John Stephens, John Cotton, John Granger;" the Examinations and Confessions of Captain Nicholas Greenway, John Stephens, John Cotton, John Granger, and John Bond.

Which being read; and the House, having taken Consideration of the several Examinations and Confessions, did proceed to give Judgment upon each of them.

Resolved, That Abraham Granger be adjudged to be set on the Pillory, on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours; viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing in capital Letters, his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterfeiting Hands to Bills of Exchange; whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties:" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said Abraham Granger be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory, and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour, during the Space of One whole Year.

Resolved, That William Broome be adjudged to be set on the Pillory on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard, at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours; viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing, in capital Letters his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterseiting Hands to Bills of Exchange; whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties:" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said Wm. Broome be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory, and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour during the Space of One whole Year.

Resolved, That Captain Nicholas Greenway be adjudged to be set in the Pillory on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard, at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours; viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing, in capital Letters, his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterseiting Hands to Bills of Exchange; whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties:" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said Captain Nicholas Greenway be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory; and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour, during the Space of One whole Year.

Resolved, That John Stephens be adjudged to be set on the Pillory on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard, at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours; viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing, in capital Letters, his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterfeiting Hands to Bills of Exchange whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties;" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said John Stephens be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory; and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour, during the Space of One whole Year.

Resolved, That John Cotton be adjudged to be set on the Pillory, on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard, at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours, viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing, in capital Letters, his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterfeiting Hands to Bills of Exchange; whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties:" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said John Cotton be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory; and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour, during the Space of One whole Year.

Resolved, That John Granger be adjudged to be set in the Pillory, on Wednesday next, in the New Palace Yard at Westminster, during the Space of Two whole Hours; viz. from Eleven of the Clock in the Forenoon until One of the Clock, with a Paper set upon the Pillory, containing, in capital Letters, his Offence; viz. "For forging Warrants, and counterfeiting Hands to Bills of Exchange; whereby he, with others, hath procured Three thousand Pounds to be paid to them, out of the publick Treasuries in the City of London, and several Counties:" And that there he shall lose his Right Ear: And that, on Friday next, the said John Granger be set on the Pillory, at the Old Exchange, London, for the like Space, from Eleven of the Clock until One, with the same Paper set on the Pillory; and there to lose his Left Ear; and from thence to be committed to the House of Correction, there to remain, and be kept to hard Labour, during the Space of One whole Year.

Ordered, That the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex be injoined and required to see the several Judgments aforesaid be executed upon the several Persons aforesaid.

Resolved, That John Bond, Servant to Nicholas Greenway, be discharged.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to pay unto Captain John Vernon the Sum of One hundred Pounds, for his Charges and Pains in discovering the Offenders aforesaid.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to pay such Sums of Money as hath been disbursed in Charges, by the Persons employed in this Discovery; and likewise to give some Recompence to the Marshal and Soldiers, not exceeding the Sum of Thirty Pounds.

Ordered, That the Committee be also required and authorized to pay the Sum of Five Pounds unto * *, who was a Means to discover the Offenders aforesaid.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army be authorized and required to take into their Possession all such Jewels, Rings, and other Goods of the said Abraham Granger, Wm. Broome, Nicholas Greenway, John Stephens, John Cotton, and John Granger, which were taken with them; and to dispose of them for the Purposes aforesaid: And that all such Persons as have any of the said Jewels, Rings, or other Goods, in their Custody, be required to deliver the same unto the said Committee, or such Person or Persons as they shall appoint.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to examine the Matter touching any Sums of Money appearing to have been paid or received as Bribes or Rewards, for Payment of any of the Sums of Money upon the said counterseit Warrants, or Bills of Exchange; and to report their Opinions to the House.

Ordered, That all and every the Persons who have in their Hands any Sum or Sums of Money received from Abraham Granger, or any of his Confederates, and by them received out of the publick Treasury, upon forged Warrants, or counterseit Hands to Bills of Exchange, shall forthwith pay the same to the Treasurers at War at Guildhall, London, to be by them disposed of to the Use of the Army, by Warrant of the Committee of the Army.

High Court of Justice.

Resolved, That the Commissioners, in the Act for establishing an High Court of Justice, have the Liberty of the Painted Chamber for their Use in that Service: Where they are to meet on Wednesday next; and to consider of the Charges, and of such other Conveniences and Accommodations as will be necessary and requisite for that Service; and to present the same to the Council of State: Who are authorized to give Order touching the same, and the Payment of the Charges, as they shall find Cause.

Resolved, That Richard Ask and Robert Nicholas, Two of the Justices of the Upper Bench, John Pulleston and Peter Warburton, Two of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas, Francis Thorpe and Alexander Rigby, Two of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer, be appointed Commissioners in the Act for establishing an High Court of Justice: And that an Act be brought in To-morrow Morning for that Purpose.