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23 March. 1646. |
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Vol. A |
No. or p. |
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As Gab. Lyon, Geo. Nodes, Rich. Cornwall, and Thos. Pinfold,
sometime clerks in the Registrar's Office of the Prerogative Court, have gone to the King's quarters, and Lyon and
Nodes are now with him at Oxford, and Cornwall absents himself, so that they are delinquents, and also as they are assessed
for their 1/20. order that Sam. Franklin, who is skilled in the proceedings of the office, is to exercise it, that the profits may pay
their assessments, and the committee will satisfy him for his
pains. |
4 |
459 |
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24 April 1646. John Hill added to Franklin as one of the clerks in
the office. Also both deputed to exercise the said office, to receive
the fees, out of which they are to be paid their salaries, and the
residue of the profits they are to pay to the Committee for Advance of Money. |
5
5 |
28 |
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11 Sept. 1646. Order that as Pinfold and Nodes have intruded into
the office, the order of 24 April notwithstanding, and execute
the place and enjoy the profits, the committee's officers remove
them from the said places, put Franklin and Hill into the offices,
taking into custody any who oppose, and bringing them before
this committee to answer their contempt, and certifying the
names of any other opposers, that they may be summoned. |
5 |
156 |
|
18 Dec. 1646. Rathborne, of the Prerogative Office, to be brought
in custody, and to bring the keys of the office with him; with
note that the keys were brought and delivered to Franklin. |
5 |
162 |
H. 5 169 |
1 Jan. 1647. Hearing ordered, Mr. Linch, Mr. Franklin, and Mr.
Hill to attend. |
5 |
166 |
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9 March 1647. The clerks to account to this committee for their
perquisites, fees, and other profits, and keep their receipts in
hand till further notice. |
5 |
215 |
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23 March. Lieut.-Gen. Oliver Cromwell to Lord Howard—I commend to you the suit of this poor man [— Edwards] for a
dividend clerk's place in the Prerogative Office. He deserves it,
having served well as an under-clerk 16 or 17 years. I have known
him 20 years, we having had much of our education together;
and he is a most religious, honest man, but his modesty and
integrity have kept him from preferment. [Holograph.] |
106 |
19 |
R. 5 184
R. 5 190 |
24 March. Mrs. Abbot, wife of John Abbot, late registrar of
the Prerogative Court, to have ⅓ of the profits of the office,
paid by Mark Cottle and Rich. Cornwall, clerks. |
5 |
226 |
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31 March. Cromwell to Hen. Dawley and John Gurdon, to the like
effect as 106 19. [Holograph.] |
106 |
20 |
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7 April 1647. Edwards begs for the office of one of the sequestered
clerks, having been employed about the office records since 1630.
Pinfold, one of the sequestered clerks, came in, after the surrender of Oxford, and resumed his place, till Mr. Franklin sequestered the places to the use of the State. Mr. Ayre, put in
by Mr. Franklin, is a rich man, and very able to live without it. |
106 |
21 |
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7 April. The petition and Cromwell's letters to be considered
when the places are filled up. |
5 |
236 |
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26 April. Abbot begs to know the cause why he is sequestered
on pretence of delinquency, of which he can clear himself; loses
thereby the profits of his office of Master of the Prerogative
Court. Has paid all taxes, lived in Parliament quarters, taken
off a former sequestration, and been restored to his office by a
Parliament Committee. |
106 |
22 |
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26 April. Ordered a copy of his charge and a hearing. |
5 |
244 |
|
12 May 1647. The sequestration of the Prerogative Office to continue until the state of the business be reported to the House of
Commons. |
5 |
253 |
H. 5 230
H. 5 250
O.C. 6 189 |
18 May. John Abbot to have the profits of the office, on s
curity to pay the same if he be proved a delinquent, and also on
security to pay 4l. weekly to Cottle and Cornwall, who are to
pay it to Mrs. Abbot. |
5 |
257 |
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25 Feb. 1648. Roger Pile, of the Temple, to Dallison and Cox. If
anything is stirred in my absence about the Prerogative Court
officers, as Linch will use his friends, when I am out of the way,
to get in again, get it put off till I return, when I will prove that
he has 1,000l. for which he has never accounted. He had only a
charge to keep the keys of the office, that the records might not
be carried to Oxford when Dr. Merrick went thither, and on pretence of that, he has taken the whole profits for a good time without any warrant. |
106 |
23 |
ACCT. 106 24
CERT. 106 25
O. 6 205 |
11 Aug. 1648. Sam. Franklin and John Hill to pay to this committee's treasurer 94l. 3s. 3d. resting on Hill's account for the
profits of the places of Lyon and Nodes, delinquents, in the
several circuits, and their own allowances to be further considered. Also Mr. Dallison to certify that they have accounted
for the profits of the said places. |
6 |
35 |
H. 6 261 |
13 March 1649. Hen. Linch petitions. When Abbot and his
clerks deserted, I informed that some of the records of the office
were to be conveyed by treachery to Oxford, had an order of the
House of Commons to prevent it, and secured them three years.
Some of the clerks from Oxford interrupted me in my duties,
and I was turned out, and other clerks were put in. Mr. Franklin,
one of them, was at Oxford when a King's garrison. I should
have been a clerk 14 years ago, but was hindered for detecting
the unjust prosecution of the High Commission Court. Since
this Parliament began, I have detected many abuses, and have
made many discoveries for the State's advantage, and spent
money therein. I beg an order to execute the places of Gabriel
Lyons and Geo. Nodes, who were sequestered by my discovery. |
106 |
2 |
H. 6 333 |
22 March. The clerk to state the whole matter depending before this committee concerning the office next Saturday. |
6 |
232 |
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March? Objections against Linch that he and his deputies
have executed the office ignorantly and covetously, extorted fees,
received 600l. not accounted for, and created great confusion,
and that he has no show of right to the place. |
106 |
27 |
H. 6 343 |
22 March. Abbot to appear before the committee next Saturday, to answer to matters objected against him. |
6 |
230 |
LET. 2 2 DEP. 106 8 |
31 March 1649. Mr. Vaughan, Secretary to the Commissioners for
Sequestration, to send copies of examinations and orders about
Abbot and the Prerogative Office. |
6 |
248 |
O. 6 326
H. 6 333 |
11 May 1649. The Lord Chief Baron to send copies of the examinations thereon before him. |
6 |
325 |
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21 May. Abbot's estate to be seized and secured. |
7 |
13 |
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25 May. Abbot being proved a delinquent, his estate in London
and Surrey to be seized and sequestered. |
7
106 |
29 |
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Mrs. Abbot allowed 4l. a week from the profits of his office. |
7 |
10 |
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25 May. Hen. Parker petitions. In Nov. 1643, on my petitioning the House of Commons for the sequestered registrarship
of the Prerogative Office, they graciously answered that they
were sensible of my good services, and would consider me in
this or some other way. In July 1644, the House, forgetting
this order, made Mr. Oldsworth registrar, but when they knew
my precedent claims, they referred the case to a committee,
which has not yet reported. I attended with counsel often before I went abroad, and have often crossed the seas about it,
and have maintained agents these 5 years, and suffered so much
that, unless I live long, the place will hardly make me reparation. Mr. Oldsworth has no direct grant of the place, and
I beg that it may be committed to me, and not to my competitor. |
106 |
30 |
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25 May. Order that the office sequestered for John Abbot's delinquency be conferred on Mich. Oldsworth, who is to take possession of the wills, records, &c., and for so doing, to be indemnified
by Parliament. |
7 |
8 |
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6 June 1649. Order that Abbot account to Oldsworth for all
profits of the office received since sequestration. |
7 |
33 |
|
13 June. Thos. Serle petitions that, being a clerk, Abbot sent him
in 1642 to Oxford, to execute his place as registrar, which he did
till the surrender, and then informed against Abbot, for which
Abbot has outed him from his place, disgraced and reproached
him, and continued in office those who concealed the truth.
Abbot also tried to bribe him to disavow what he had said.
Begs to be recommended to the service of the succeeding registrar. |
106 |
31 |
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29 June. Petition renewed to like effect. |
106 |
32 |
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18 July 1649. Order in Parliament, on report from the Committee
for Advance of Money of Abbot's delinquency—that he removed
his office to Oxford, and sent 500l. and some horses to the King,—that the office be sequestered, and Mich. Oldsworth and Hen.
Parker enjoy the profits during pleasure. |
106 |
33 |
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18 Dec. 1649. Information that Hewlett is a delinquent. In 1643
he was present at a meeting with Mr. Abbot and his clerks at
the Prerogative Office, when Abbot commanded Thos. Searle
and Geo. Nodes, two of his clerks, to go to Oxford, to keep his
office there for him, and Hewlett gave his consent to its removal
there. He commanded his man, Thos. Thorne, to send business to Oxford when it was a garrison for the King, and wrote
several letters, and provided messengers to go to and from Oxford and London for dispatch of office business, and sent several
sums of money for the garrison there. He submitted to the
jurisdication of the said court, as it was then set up in Oxford by
the late King, under Dr. Merrick, the judge thereof, and gave
order to his man to send money to Oxford for the office, which
was paid to Jo. Ashburnham, the King's receiver, for the use of
the soldiers there; and when Mr. Abbot's delinquency was in
question, he contributed money towards assisting him. |
21 |
325 |
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18 Dec. Like information that Cottle is a delinquent. In 1642–43
he invited his nephew, Edm. Southwood, son of Alex. Southwood, to go and serve the King in the war against Parliament, and
paid sums to persons at Westminster for Edm. Southwood's use
by direction of Alexander, his father. In May 1643, he was
present at a meeting with Mr. Abbot, the late registrar, and his
clerks, and when Abbot commanded Searle and Nodes to go to
Oxford to keep the office there, he encouraged them to go, and
ordered Mr. Searle, who was his brother's clerk, to personate
him (Cottle) in the office at Oxford, for the passing of wills and
administrations in his circuit. Also to the same effect as in
Hewlett's case. |
21 |
326 |
E.W. 28 15
DEP. 106 34 –37
E.W. 28 21, 25
DEP. 106 29–42 |
25 Jan. 1650. The case to be dismissed unless the prosecutor show
cause to the contrary by Friday next. |
8
106 |
145
38 |
PUB. 8 181
106 343
CERT. 34 19 |
8 March 1650. Case dismissed, the prosecutor not showing cause,
and there not being sufficient cause against Cottle. |
8 |
221 |
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16 June 1650. Tristram Flowers pleads that Abbot was sequestered
as a delinquent, and his estate to be secured, but as it lay concealed, nothing could be done. He is now dead, and has left his
estate by will to his father and others. Begs the benefit of this
discovery, and an order for getting in all his goods, money, bills,
&c.; also for a copy of his will to be sent for. |
106 |
44 |
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17 July 1650. Abbot being a delinquent, all his goods are to be
seized, and his rents, arrears, and debts received. |
9 |
43 |
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21 July. Search to be made for the concealed estate |
9 |
89 |
E.W. 9 105
E.W. 9 185 |
July 1650 ? Tristram Flowers petitions. Having discovered the
estate of Abbot, who left 500l. in legacies, he spent much money
in the prosecution, but John Abbot, the father, being decrepid,
will not be examined, and Wm. Say, one of the legatees, hides
himself. He also sent up a copy of the interrogatories to Sam.
Frisby, another legatee. Begs that Say may be brought up in
custody to tell how he came by the interrogatories, and to
answer his contempt. Asks direction about Damaris Kingsley,
Abbot's sister, who has not come up on summons. |
106 |
45 |
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2 Aug. 1650. Major John Wildman petitions that in 1649, the
registrarship of the Prerogative Office of Canterbury was sequestered for delinquency of John Abbot, who held it by patent
of the late Archbishop, confirmed by the Dean and Chapter in
1639; that by Abbot's decease 4 July last, the right devolves
upon petitioner by the same patent by which Abbot held it, and
therefore he begs that the sequestration may be annulled. |
106 |
46 |
DEP. 106 48–53 |
2 Aug. Case referred to counsel |
9 106 |
66 47 |
E.W. 9 105
106 54
E.W. 9 185 |
Aug. 1650? Statements of the case, to prove that Wildman claims
the office as deputy of Simon Rolleston, the only survivor of the
3 patentees to whom the office was granted in 1639. |
106 |
55
56 |
REP. 106 57 |
11 Sept. 1650. On request of Oldsworth and Parker, the report
about the office to be made on Wednesday. |
9 |
121 |
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18 Sept. Order that Brereton state the whole matter with as
much brevity as may be, and that it be reported to Parliament. |
9 |
132 |
|
11 Oct 1650. Petition of Hen. Parker. I have tried to prove that
the grant of the Prerogative Office by the late Archbishop,
claimed by Wildman, is made void by the abolition of Episcopacy; or if not so, that the grant to 3 was forfeit by the abuses
of one, as more than 1,000 wills and other records have been
embezzled. I can disprove Wildman's statements if I may be
allowed to put in exceptions. I can also prove that Abbot was
sequestered in 1643 by the Camden House Committee for concealing his goods and non-payment of assessments; and that on
report that records were likely to be embezzled and removed to
Oxford, the office was again sequestered, and entrusted to [Hen.]
Linch by Order of Parliament. That in 1644 Abbot begged to
plead to his sequestration, and a committee was appointed, but
they never reported him guiltless, nor took it off. The Camden
House Committee discharged him from his assessment on his
payment of arrears, but not from delinquency, and in 1649 the
Committee for Advance of Money pronounced the sequestration
just. I beg that the report to the House may be respited, and
that I may have leave to produce any new evidence, to be inserted therein. |
106 |
52
59 |
|
11 Oct. 1650. Order that a copy of the petition be delivered to
Wildman, that he may answer on Friday. |
9 |
168 |
H. 9 176 |
30 Oct. Order that Parker be allowed to bring in his new evidence,
and that it be delivered in writing on Friday. |
9 |
190 |
|
1 Nov. 1650. Statement by Parker of his new evidence against
Wildman's grant of the Prerogative Office. |
106 |
60 |
|
1 Nov. Sam. Frisby, of Fleet Street, and John Lander, of Doctors'
Commons, to appear on the case of the late John Abbot. |
28 |
83 |
|
13 Nov. Order, on hearing counsel on both sides, that the case be
dismissed, by consent of both parties. |
9 |
224 |
|
25 Jan. 1651. Thos. Landerne and Sam. Frisby to be brought
in custody to certify to his estate. |
9 |
408 |
|
29 Jan. County Commissioners of Surrey to certify why John
Abbot, sen., is not examined in the case. |
9 |
407 |
|
11 Feb. 1651. The serjeant-at-arms to bring up to-morrow Thos.
Landerne and Sam. Frisby, now in his custody. |
9 |
422 |
LET. 106 61
CERT. 106 62 |
13 Feb. They having been examined by Mr. Carey for their contempt in not appearing to be examined in John Abbot's case, are
now discharged from custody. |
10 |
10 |