House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 22 October 1653

Monday, the 24th of October, 1653.

Rumney's Estate.

COLONEL Rous reports from the Committee of Petitions, The humble Petition of Paul Rumney, of Suckley in the County of Worcester: With the humble Opinion of that Committee, that the Sequestration may be taken off his Estate; Testimony being given to that Committee, by several Members of Parliament, and others, that he was forced by a Constable, and Soldiers, to go to the Rendezvous at Pitchcroft; that he came away from them, and used great Diligence in discovering the Designs of the Enemy; and that he was prosecuted by some of them, who were imprisoned by Mr. Rogers and Mr. Hering, for the said Fact; and also that he hath been always reputed a Man very well affected to the Parliament, and the Interest of the Commonwealth: Which Petition was read.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the said Paul Rumney, and his Estate, real and personal, be discharged from Sequestration: And that the Commissioners for compounding with Delinquents be authorized and required to take off and discharge the said Sequestration accordingly.

Worseley's Petition.

He also reports the humble Petition of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Worseley: Which was now read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Inspection, to consider of the whole Business; and report to the House.

Guise's Petition.

He also reports from the same Committee, The humble Petition of Elizabeth Guise, of the City of Worcester, Widow: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That Colonel James do bring in a Bill for settling Lands upon Elizabeth Guise, and her Children, according to the Order of the late Parliament.

Lancton's Delinquency.

He also reports, The humble Petition of divers wellaffected Persons, now Tenants to Mr. Lancton, of Low in the County of Lancaster, Papist, Delinquent: Which was now read.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for compounding be required to forbear any Composition with Mr. Lancton, of Low in the County of Lancaster, for his Estate, for Ten Days.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Petitions, to examine the Case of these Petitioners, and the State of this Business; and to offer to the House what they shall think fit to be done in this Case, and in other Cases of the like Nature: And that the Committee do confer with the Commissioners of the Admiralty herein.

Embassy from Sweden.

Mr. Lawrence reports from the Council of State, That the Lord Lagerfeldt, lately sent as a Publick Minister to this Commonwealth, from the Queen of Sweden, being ready to return into his own Country, hath signified his Desire of taking his Leave of the Parliament.

Resolved, That the Lord Lagerfeldt, Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden, be admitted to take his Leave of the Parliament; and have Audience before his Departure.

Resolved, That Wednesday be the Day appointed for the Lord Lagerfeldt to take his Leave; and to have Audience in the usual Place, at Ten of the Clock, on that Day.

Ordered, That Sir Oliver Fleming Knight, Master of the Ceremonies, do give Notice unto the Lord Lagerfeldt of this Vote.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do take care and give Order for the providing the Rooms for the Audience of the Lord Lagerfeldt, on Wednesday next.

Scotch Affairs.

Colonel Sidenham reports from the Council of State;

THAT the Council taking into Consideration the present State of Affairs in Scotland, do thereupon find, that the Commission which hath been granted for the Administration of Justice to the People of Scotland, in Things Civil; the Commission for Criminals; the Commission for the Affairs of the Exchequer; the Commission for Universities, and Affairs of the Ministry; and Commissions for placing of Sheriffs, and regulating of their Courts; are all of them expired on the last Day of this Month.

That the Parliament be therefore humbly moved, that the said Commissions may be again renewed, if the Parliament shall so think fit: And, for the Supply of Places of Commissioners for the Administration of Justice in Scotland, that the Parliament be humbly moved, that Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Lawrence may be appointed Commissioners for the Administration of Justice, in the Places of Mr. March and Mr. Owen, late Commissioners there; and the Council having thought fit to recall the said Two Persons into England.

That the Parliament be humbly moved, That Mr. Alexander Person, of Southall, a Gentleman of the Scottish Nation, may be appointed a Commissioner in the several Commissions above named:

That the Parliament be humbly moved, That the same Persons who are put into the Commission for Civil Matters, may be also put into the Commission for Criminals; but that the Commissions may be kept still distinct:

The the Parliament be also humbly moved, That a Clause may be added to the Commission for the Business of Universities, to give Power to the Commissioners to dispose of the Profits of all vacant Places, whether in the Universities, or belonging to the Ministry, to such pious Uses as the Commissioners shall judge fit; the said Commissioners still having special Regard to such Places from whence the said Profits do arise:

Sir John Winter demised the Premises to Three of the Lessees, for Six Years; Mr. Peck was to have the Benefit of the Lease, granted by Sir John Winter for Six Years, but enjoyed only One Year of the said Six Years.

The demised Premises were granted, by Order of the House of Commons, to Major General Massey; but his Ordinance did not pass till October following: Now, in regard that the Parliament hath granted the Premises to Major General Massey, Mr. Peck cannot enjoy the Benefit of his Bargain, though he have a legal Interest in the Premises.

On Mr. Peck's Petition to the House, this Case was referred to the Committee of Haberdashers-hall, to examine and state the Matter of Fact; and to make Report thereof to the House: And

On the Report from Haberdashers-hall, it was referred to the Committee of the Revenue: And

On the Report from the Committee of the Revenue, the House passed Two Votes: First, That there was due to Mr. Peck, out of the Iron Works, in the Forest of Deane, the Sum of Four thousand Two hundred Eightyone Pounds Eighteen Shillings Four-pence ob.

Secondly, That Mr. Peck be satisfied the said Sum:

But the Satisfaction voted by the Committee, being disposed of to the Earl of Salisbury, it was re-committed to consider which way Mr. Peck might be satisfied, without Prejudice to any other.

And, upon the Report, the Satisfaction voted by the Committee being given away to the Prince Elector; it was re-committed: And,

On the Report from the Committee, it was ordered, by the House, that the said Sum should be paid to Mr. Peck, out of certain Recusants Estates, specified in the said Order: And,

It was ordered, by the House, That the Report concerning Mr. Peck, passed on the 16th of the same, should be sent up to the Lords for their Concurrence: Which was accordingly done: And

It passed the House: And

By reason of some Default in the former Order, the House was moved, that it might be amended: Which passed without any Negative; and was then carried up to the Lords: Which passed there also: But the House made Stop of the Execution thereof, till Report should be made from a Committee then nominated, how the said Order was obtained.

The Committee did meet; received full Satisfaction; drew up a Report; and ordered it to be reported to the House; but, by reason of publick Business, it could never be heard.

A Clause was tendered, in these Words; "Provided that Henry Peck Esquire, or his Assigns, be permitted by all Sequestrators, and others, quietly to hold and enjoy the Two Third Parts, now or late of Sir Thomas Timperley, of Hintlesham in the County of Suffolk, Knight, Sir Francis Mannock, of Gifford's-hall in Stoke juxta Nayland in the said County, Knight, Sir Roger Marten, of Long Milford, in the said County, Knight, until he or they be satisfied the Sum of Four thousand Two hundred Eighty-one Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Fourpence Half-peny, or so much of the said Sum as is behind and unpaid, due to him for his Interest in DeaneForest, according to an Order of both Houses of Parliament, of the One-and-twentieth Day of October, One thousand Six hundred Forty-and-eight; or else be paid the said Sum above named, out of the Receipts upon this Act, by Sale of the Two Third Parts of the said Estates: For which the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Henry Peck, or his Assigns, testifying the Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge; any thing in this Act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second Time; and the Debate adjourned till To-morrow Morning.