House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 March 1652

Tuesday, the 23d of March, 1651.

Prayers.

Adventurers for Ireland.

ORDERED, That Mr. Ralegh do report the Propositions of the Adventurers for Ireland on Wednesday Sevennight.

Dodsworth to give Bail.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending the Parliament do take Bail of Mr. Dodsworth, to appear at such a Time as the Parliament shall appoint, to answer such Matters as shall be objected against him: And that his Restriction be thereupon taken off in the mean time.

Scotch Affairs.

Sir Henry Vane reports from the Commissioners of Parliament now in Scotland, the Assent of the Deputies of the Burgh of St. Andrewe's; their Ratification of their Deputy; the Petition of that Borough; and their Propositions.

The Assent of the Deputy of the Borough of Dissert, with his Desires.

The Assent of Deputies of the Shires of Orkney and Zetland to the Union: Which was now read, with the Desires of the said Shires.

Scotch Affairs.

The House, according to former Order, resumed the Debate upon the Tender of the Commissioners of the Parliament for ordering and managing the Affairs of Scotland.

The Third Paragraph being read;

Resolved, That a Bill be brought in, wherein the Names of such Persons in Scotland, whose Estates shall be confiscated, shall be ascertained and inserted; and that the rest be pardoned, in such Manner as shall be thought fit.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of the Council of State, being Members of Parliament, to prepare a Bill upon the last Vote, and to report it to the House with all convenient Speed: And that Sir Henry Vane junior, and the Lord Commissioner Whitelock, do give an Account hereof to the House.

The two last Paragraphs of the said Tender being read;

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to put in Execution the Two last Proposals in the said Paper of Tenders, touching the sending down Persons for Administration of Justice in Scotland, with all possible Speed; and the sending down of Ministers to reside in the several Garisons, and other convenient Places, in Scotland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee, to bring in an Act for preventing the Mischiefs and Robberies upon the Borders; and likewise for settling of the Matter of the Fishery upon Tweed.

Fee-farm Rents.

Mr. Dormer reports from the Committee, Amendments to the additional Bill for Sale of Fee-farm Rents: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed: And the Bill, so amended, was ordered to be ingrossed.

He reports, likewise, from the same Committee to whom the Petition of the Bailiffs and Inhabitants of Dunwich in Suffolk was referred, their Opinion touching a Fee-farm Rent due from the said Town of Dunwich.

UPON Consideration had of the Petition of the Bailiffs and Inhabitants of Dunwich in Suffolk, by Order of Parliament, of the 11th Instant, referred to this Committee, we find, by the Certificate of Sir Henry Crooke, Clerk of the Pipe, thereunto annexed, that the Rent of Sixty-five Pounds per Ann. was answered yearly to the Crown, until and in the Time of Edward the Third: And that in the One-and-Thirtieth Year of the said King's Reign, the said Rent being then much in Arrear, the Farm of the said Town was granted by the said King unto the Burgesses of the said Town, at the Rent of Fourteen Pounds, Five Shillings, and Nine Pence per Ann.; to hold during the Pleasure of the said King, and until the Burgesses should be in a better Estate and Condition: And, in the 25th Year of Henry VIth, the said Town of Dunwich was committed to the Custody of the Marquis of Suffolk for Term of his Life, at the Rent of Eleven Pounds, Eighteen Shillings, and Eleven Pence Halfpenny; and, in the 29th of Hen. VIth. the Fee-farm Rent of the same Town was committed to the Burgesses thereof for Ten Years, paying Twelve Pounds, Two Shillings, and One Peny per Ann. being the Yearly Value the same Farm was extended at before John Markham and John Prusett, the then King's Justices; and Forty Pence per Ann. for an increased Rent: Since which time divers Grants have been made, unto the Burgesses of the said Town, of the said Fee-farm for several Terms of Years expired, under several Rents, which were paid and satisfied until and at Michaelmas 1642; at which time the last Lease expired; and that there was not any more or greater Rent than 12l. 8s. 8d. per Ann. paid unto the Crown for the Fee-farm Rent, for any one Year since the 25th of Hen. VIth: Whereupon we humbly conceive, that, by reason of the Poverty of the said Inhabitants, the Arrears for their Fee-farm, which is due from the 24th of June 1647, be remitted: And that the Rent of 12l. 8s. 4d. is a sufficient Rent for the same for the future; to be reserved to the Commonwealth: And the Process in the Exchequer may be discharged.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth agree with the Committee, in regard of the Poverty of the Inhabitants of the said Borough of Dunwich, that the Arrears for their Fee-farm, which is due from the 24th of June, One thousand Six hundred Forty-and-seven, be remitted: And that the Rent of 12l. 8s. 4d. only, shall be reserved to the Commonwealth for the future: And that the Process in the Exchequer for the said Arrears be discharged.

Scotch Affairs.

Resolved, That after the Business of the Law be reported on Thursday next, the Business of Scotland be again taken up.

Fee-farm Rents.

Resolved, That the Trustees for Sale of the Fee-farm Rents be authorized and required to proceed to contract with any Persons, and to make Sale of the Remainder of the Fee-farm Rents yet unsold; and that such Persons as shall purchase the said Rents, shall have the Rents which shall be due on the 25th of March next; provided they bring in their Monies within a Month.

Proceedings against Clement.

Resolved, That the Committee to whom the Business touching Mr. Clement is referred, do meet; and all that come to that Committee, to have Voices: And the Committee are to proceed with Effect, and to report to the House.

Information against Temple.

Resolved, That the Committee concerning the Information against Sir Peter Temple do meet; and all that come, to have Voices.

Temple's Estate.

Resolved, That to the Committee to whom the Bill for Sale of Lands for Payment of the Debts of Sir Peter Temple is committed, all the Members that come shall have Voices.