House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 15 October 1650

Die Martis, 15 Octobris, 1650.

Prayers.

Door Shut.

RESOLVED, &c. That the Door be shut till Twelve a Clock.

Pardon of Kinsey, &c.

The House being informed, That the Sheriffs of London were at the Door;

They were called in: And Sheriff Titchborne delivered at the Bar, That he and his Brother Sheriff have been commanded by the Lord Mayor to attend the Parliament, and to present to them Two Petitions, on the Behalf of Two Persons condemned:

Which Petitions (after the Sheriffs were withdrawn) were read: And the one of them was intituled, "The humble Petition of Richard Kinsey, Vintner, a condemned Prisoner in the Gaol of Newgate." The other was intituled, "The humble Petition of Francis Mathews, a condemned Man in the Gaol of Newgate.

The Question being propounded, That Richard Kinsey, condemned for levying War against the Parliament, be pardoned: And that Mr. Attorney General do prepare a Pardon for him; and that the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England be impowered and authorized to pass the said Pardon under the Great Seal of England;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That Richard Kinsey, condemned for levying War against the Parliament, be pardoned: And that Mr. Attorney General do prepare a Pardon, in common Form, for pardoning the said Richard Kinsey for the Treasons and Crimes, of which he stands convicted: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England be impowered and authorized to pass the said Pardon under the Great Seal of England.

The Question being propounded, That Francis Mathewes, condemned for levying War against . . . . . be pardoned; and that Mr. Attorney General do prepare a Pardon for him; and that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do pass the said Pardon under the Great Seal of England.

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, That Francis Mathewes, condemned for levying War against the Parliament, be pardoned for the said Offence: And that Mr. Attorney General do prepare a Pardon, in common Form, for pardoning the said Francis Mathewes for the Treasons and Crimes, whereof be now stands convicted: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do pass the Pardon under the Great Seal of England, accordingly.

Letter, &c. read.

A Letter from Plimmouth, of the Eleventh Day of October 1650, from Robert Gubbs, Mayor of Plimmouth; with the Examination, upon Oath, of Edward Witheridge, Master of the Ship the Defence of London, were this Day read.

Abuse in Army Bread.

Mr. Scott reports from the Council of State, The Abuse which hath been put upon the Soldiers in Scotland by the Bakers, by sending corrupt Bread to the Army: And that they desire the Parliament to declare their Pleasure, what Punishment they will have inflicted upon them for that Offence.

Ordered, That the Informations now given in, be specially referred to Mr. Attorney General; to take a speedy Course against the Persons who have abused the State and Army in sending corrupt Bread to the Army, by an effectual Prosecution against them, either Criminally or Civilly, as he shall think fit, with all Expedition.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General do also proceed expeditiously upon all other Informations that shall be given in unto him, touching Deceits used in Bread, or other Provisions, either for the Army or Navy.

Sale of Manors, &c.

An Act for Sale of the Manors of Rectories, and Glebe Lands, late belonging to Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, was this Day read the Third time.

The Question being put, That these Words, in the said Act; viz. "in Manner following, viz. the First One hundred thousand Pounds thereof;" and these Words; viz. and the Residue, according to such Warrants as they shall receive, from time to time, from the respective Trustees in the said Ordinance and first-recited Act, named, for Payment of the Surveyors, and the Salaries due to the respective Officers, and other incident Charges for the better Carrying on of the said Service:" do stand in the Bill;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Proviso in the Act, "That this Act, or any Thing therein contained, shall not extend to the Sale of any Parsonage or Vicarage House, or any Barns, Stables, or Outhouses, or to any Orchard, Gardens, Courts, or Yards belonging unto them, or any of them, or unto any Church or publick Chapel, or any Churchyard, or Ground used for a common Burial-place," do stand in the Bill;

It passed with the Negative.

A Proviso was tendered to the said Act, "That this Act do not extend to any Glebe Lands, or Fee-farm Rents, issuing out of Manors or Rectories, or out of Manors and Rectories jointly, late belonging to any the said Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, &c. which be already sold by the Trustees for Sale of the Lands of the said Archbishops, Bishops, Deans and Chapters respectively, or settled by Act or Order of Parliament; but that the Purchaser and Purchasers, their Heirs and Assigns, shall hold and enjoy the same, according to their respective Conveyance and Conveyances:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, agreed to be Part of the Bill.

A Proviso was tendered, "That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, nor be taken or construed to extend, to the Sale of the Royalties of or belonging to the City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof; or of any Office or Offices thereunto appertaining; or any the Issues or Profits thereof:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and ordered to be Part of the Act.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, "That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to the Sale of any Manors or Glebe Lands belonging to any Rectory or Parsonage presentative, late belonging to any Archbishop, Bishop, Dean, Deans and Chapters, &c. or any of them, as Patrons only of any such Rectory or Parsonage; any thing in the said Act contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Debate upon the Bill be adjourned until To-morrow Morning, the first Business: