House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 7 March 1648

Die Martis, 7 Martii, 1647.

Prayers.

Chepstow Bridge.

ORDERED, That the Committees of Gloucester and Monmouth shall have Power to sell and cut down so many Timber Trees as shall be necessary and sufficient for the Repair and making good of Chepstow Bridge, out of the Wood called Frythwood, within the Manor of Chepstow in the County of Monmouth: And the Lords and Commons do allow and approve of the Felling of such Timber Trees as already have been felled by the said Committees, for the Repair of the said Bridge, notwithstanding any Ordinance passed, or to be passed, for passing away the said Manor of Chepstow.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Grant to Gen. Cromwell.

An Ordinance for passing unto Oliver Cromwell Esquire, Lieutenant General, certain Lands and Manors in the Counties of Gloucester, Monmouth, and Glamorgan, late the Lands of the Earl of Worcester, was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Chancellor of the Duchy.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Gilbert Gerrard Knight, be nominated and appointed Chancellor of the Duchy, to enjoy the same, with the like Privileges, Rights, and Pre-eminences, as any former Chancellor of the Duchy of Right enjoyed, and held the same: And that Mr. Solicitor do prepare and bring in an Ordinance for nominating and constituting Sir Gilbert Gerard Chancellor of the Duchy, accordingly, To-morrow Morning.

The General.

Ordered, That on Monday Morning next, the House do take into Consideration, to make effectual to the General their former Resolutions, of some Compensation for his eminently faithful and good Service to the Parliament and Kingdom.

Delinquents.

Mr. John Ashe reports from the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, Ordinances concerning the Fines and Compositions of Delinquents; viz.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of One hundred Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of William Cockayne, of the Parish of Huxham in the County of Devon, Gentleman: His Offence, That being an Inhabitant of the City of Exeter, did bear Arms against the Parliament; and, being there, when the said City was surrendered, is comprised within those Articles: His Estate, for Two Lives, per Annum, Twenty-eight Pounds Eighteen Shillings; for Twenty-five Years to come, per Annum, Eighteen Pounds; personal Estate, Fifty Pounds: For which his Fine, at a Tenth, according to the said Articles, is One hundred Pounds.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of One hundred Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Philip Westcoate, of East-Budeleigh in the County of Devon, Yeoman: His Offence, That he, executing, in these Troubles, the Office of a Constable, pressed divers Men for the Service of the King, against the Parliament: He rendered in November 1645; His Estate, for One thousand Years, per Annum, Forty-four Pounds Eight Shillings; in Fee, per Annum, Four Pounds Eighteen Shillings: For which his Fine, at a Tenth, is One hundred Pounds.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Sixty Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of George Stoakley, of Milton in the County of Oxford, Gentleman: His Offence, That he was in Arms against the Parliament: He rendered before December 1645: His Estate, in Fee, per Annum, Thirty Pounds: For which his Fine, at a Tenth, is Sixty Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto the said Wm. Cockayne, of Huxham in the County of Devon, Gentleman; and Philip Westcott, of East Budeleigh in the same County, Gentleman; and George Stoakley, of Milton in Com' Oxon, Gentleman; for their Delinquencies, and for taking off the Sequestrations of their Estates; were this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Eight hundred and Fifty Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Mathew Robinson senior, of Long Thorpe in the County of Northampton, Esquire, and Mathew Robinson, his Son: His Offence, That he deserted his Dwelling, and resided in the Enemies Quarters; He rendered in March 1645: His Estate, in Fee, in Possession, per Annum, Two hundred and Fifty Pounds for Three Lives, per Annum, Eighty-seven Pounds: Out of which is deducted Fifty Pounds per Annum, for Charges in keeping the Banks, by reason of the Sea: Which leaves the Fine, at a Sixth, Eight hundred and Fifty Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Mathew Robinson senior, of Long Thorpe in the County of Northampton, Esquire, the Father, and Mathew Robinson the Son, for their Delinquencies, and for taking off the Sequestration of their Estates, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Two hundred and Ninety Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of John Dalston, of Accorne Banck in the County of Westmoreland, Esquire: His Offence, That he was in Arms against the Parliament: He rendered before December 1645: His Estate, in Fee Tail, per Annum, One hundred and Fifty Pounds; in old Rents, per Annum, Six Pounds; for Six Years, per Annum, Twenty Pounds: after One Life, per Annum, Sixty Pounds: Out of which issues, for Life, One hundred and Ten Pounds: Which leaves . . . Fine; at a Tenth, Two hundred and Ninety Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto John Dalston, of Accorne Banck in the County of Westmoreland, Esquire, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Two Thousand and Eleven Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Sherrington Talbott, of Salwarp in the County of Worcester, Gentleman: His Offence, That he was in Arms against the Parliament: He rendered before December 1645: His Estate in Fee Tail, per Annum, Nine hundred and Sixty-eight Pounds: Out of which issues, for Life, per Annum, Three hundred and Thirty Pounds; and there is Five hundred Pounds charged upon Part of the Land compounded for by Mortgage: Which, being allowed, leaves the Fine, at a Tenth, Two thousand and Eleven Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Sherrington Talbott, of Salwarpe in the County of Worcester, Esquire, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Sum of Two hundred Eighty-five Pounds, for a Fine, for the Delinquency of Henry Townshend of Elmeley Levett in the County of Worcester, Esquire: His Offence, That he adhered unto and assisted the Forces raised against the Parliament: He rendered upon the Articles of Worcester: His Estate, for Life, per Annum, Ninety Pounds; for Two Lives, per Annum, Forty Pounds; in Fee, in Reversion, after Fifteen Years, per Annum, Sixty Pounds; For which his Fine, at a Sixth, is Two hundred Eightyfive Pounds.

An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Henry Townshend, of Elmby Levett in the County of Worcester, Esquire, for his Delinquency, and for taking off the Sequestration of his Estate, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for accepting the Fine, Pardoning the Delinquency, and taking off the Sequestration of the Estate of Sir Jacob Astley, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for paying the Sum of Three thousand Pounds to Trustees, for the Use and Benefit of the younger Children of Sir Thomas Norcliff, out of the Sequestration of the Estate of Sir Gervas Clifton, or his Fine, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Scotts Commissioners.

Mr. Samuell Browne reports the Instructions to be sent to the Commissioners of both Houses in Scotland, touching the Miscarriages of the Scotts Commissioners here in this Kingdom; as likewise the Proofs and Evidences, to make good the Matter of Fact: The which were all read.

The Question being put, That the Commissioners Names should be particularly inserted in these Instructions;

It passed with the Negative.

The Instructions were particularly voted; and agreed, upon the Question: and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Wm. Armyn is appointed to carry them to the Lords.

Additional Instructions for Charles Earl of Nottingham, Henry Earl of Stanford, Bryan Stapilton, Robert Goomeya, Wm. Ashhurst, and John Birch, Esquires, appointed Commissioners to the Kingdom of Scotland.

YOU, or any Two of you, are to represent unto the Parliament of Scotland, the Convention or Committee of Estates, or Committees, or other Persons whom they shall appoint to debate with you, That when the Commissioners had had a Conference, in the Painted Chamber, with a Committee of both Houses concerning the Interest of the Kingdom of Scotland, in the disposing of the Person of the King, in England; and had protested against any Report to be made thereof unto the Houses, from the said Committee, until they should send the same in Writing; they did, in the mean time, cause the same to be printed: And when it was discovered, and the Printer questioned, he produced a Warrant for the same under the Hand of the Lord Chancellor of Scotland: And, when that was suppressed, they again caused it to be printed, bearing in the Title, That it was printed at Edenburgh; when (besides that it was published wet from the Press) there was not Time, by a continual Post, to have sent it to Edenburgh, and bring it back: And, together with those Papers, was printed a Speech of the Lord Chancellor's, made to the King at Newcastle; wherein he declares a Dislike of the said Propositions; although the same were before agreed upon by both Kingdoms: And they have, from time to time, printed here such of their Transactions with the Houses as they pleased, without consulting the Houses therein; to the Prejudice of the Parliament, and misleading the People from the Interest of this Kingdom: And when the House of Commons had made Answer to those Papers, and had ordered the same to be sent to the said Commissioners, with a Letter from their Speaker; the which he accordingly did, by Mr. Cole his Servant; they refused to accept it; bur returned it in another Cover, by the same Messenger; notwithstanding they had formerly received Letters, upon other Occasions from the Speaker of the House of Commons alone, and had returned Answers unto them.

You, or any Two of you, shall also inform the Parliament of Scotland, the Convention or Committee of Estates, or any other Committee, or Persons, as abovesaid, That the said Commissioners have, from time to time, made Applications to the City of London, in their Common Council, without the Leave of the Houses of Parliament then sitting, as if the said City had been a free State: That when the Parliament, out of their great Desire to settle an happy Peace, had prepared Propositions to be sent to the King; and at divers times sent to the said Commissioners of Scotland, that if they had any thing to be sent on the Part of the Kingdom of Scotland, that they may be sent together with the Propositions; and had put Four of the said Propositions into Bills, to be passed by the King, as a Security to the Kingdom, while they treated with him upon the rest: the said Commissioners did send to the Houses, and after publish in Print, a Declaration against those Propositions; and also protested against those Bills; thereby assuming and exercising a negative Voice against the Legislative Power of this Kingdom.

All which Miscarriages are against the Laws of Nations, and a just Forfeiture of all Right and Privileges of publick Persons and Ministers; of which the Parliament was, and is, deeply sensible; though, out of their great Desire to avoid all Occasions of Misunderstanding, and to continue the brotherly Union of both Kingdoms, they have with Patience borne and suffered the Continuance of their Commissioners here, till themselves took Leave.

Impeachments.

Ordered, That the Impeachments of the late Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and other Citizens, and others, ordered, by this House to be impeached, be read on Monday Morning next, after the Reports at Goldsmiths Hall.