Wednesday, the 20th
of August, 1651.
Prayers.
Army Affairs.
COL. Purefoy reports from the Council of State,
That Mr. John Cleypoole may be authorized to raise
a Troop of Horse of such as shall come voluntarily in
unto him in the Counties of Northampton and Lincoln, or
elsewhere; and that they may be paid according to the
Establishment of the Army.
Public Fast.
Ordered, by the Parliament, That Friday next be set
apart for a Day of Humiliation, to be observed by the Parliament in Margaret's Church at Westminster, to seek
unto the Lord for his Blessing upon the Counsel and Forces
of the Parliament, and for Success against the Enemy
now in the Land; and that Mr. Caryll and Mr. Bond
be desired to preach and pray there on that Day.
St. Alban's Ministry.
Ordered, That Mr. Leman do bring in an Act for the
better Maintenance of a preaching Ministry at St. Alban's,
on this Day seven-night.
Delinquents Estates.
Col. Downes reports, from the Committee of the Army,
The humble Proposals of the Commissioners for Compositions, in order to the opening and quickening of the
Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall; to be humbly presented to
the House: Which were this Day read.
To the Right honourable the Committee of the Army.
The humble Proposals of the Commissioners for Compositions, in order to the opening and quickening of
the Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall; To be humbly presented to the House.
THE Delinquents Bill being now passed, it is humbly
offered, Whether the Parliament will please to give a
further Liberty to such Delinquents as are under Sequestration, and not inserted in that Bill, who have elapsed
the Time of Composition given them by former Votes,
to compound for their Estates at a higher Rate than
formerly; viz. Those who did formerly pay Three Years
Value, may now pay Four Years Value; and those who
paid formerly Five Years Value, may now pay Six
Years: Provided, That such of them as live within 18
Miles of London shall exhibit their Petition before the
Day next ensuing; and those at a further Distance, before
the Day of; and shall prosecute the
Composition to Effect within Weeks after they
shall so exhibit their respective Petitions; and to give Liberty to all other Delinquents not exposed to compound,
according to the Rates, and within the Days, hereafter
limited and expressed; viz.
1. That such as are not yet discovered, and whose Habitations are within 80 Miles of London, may be admitted
to Composition at a Sixth; that is, at Three Years Value
for Estates in Fee; and so proportionably for their other
Estates Real and Personal, if they shall discover themselves, and exhibit their Petitions and Particulars to the
Commissioners for Compositions before the Day
of next ensuing; and such who are at a further Distance, before the Day of next
ensuing; and shall prosecute and perfect their Compositions respectively within Days after the Exhibiting
of such Petitions, as aforesaid.
2. That such who are already discovered by others,
and were not under any particular Qualification, as
Members of Parliament, Clergymen, or Lawyers, may
be admitted to compound at the Rate of Three Years and
a half for Estates in Fee; and so proportionably for their
other Estates, if they shall compound before Judgment
given by the Commissioners upon the Charge of Delinquency that lies against them: Provided, that such of
them, whose Habitations are within 80 Miles of London,
do exhibit their Petition and Particulars before the
Day of next ensuing; and such who are at a
further Distance, before the Day of
next ensuing; and shall prosecute and perfect their Compositions within Days after they shall so exhibit their
Petitions, as aforesaid; and that such of them, who shall
stand out a Judgment, may be admitted to compound at
the Rate of Four Years and an half for Estates in Fee;
and so proportionably for their other Estates; so as, according to the Distance of their respective Habitations,
they shall exhibit their Petitions and Particulars, and prosecute their Compositions to Effect, within the respective
Times last before mentioned.
3. That such Delinquents who shall be hereafter discovered by any other Persons than themselves, may be
admitted to compound at the Rate of Three Years and a
half, if they shall compound before Judgment given:
Provided also, That such of them, whose Habitations are
within 80 Miles of London, shall exhibit their Petitions
and Particulars within Weeks after such Discovery
made; and such who are at a further Distance within
Weeks after such Discovery; and shall prosecute their
Compositions with Effect, within Weeks after
they shall have so exhibited their Petitions, as aforesaid:
And that such of them, as shall stand out a Judgment,
may compound at the Rate of Four Years and a half,
for Estates in Fee; and so proportionably; so as, according to the Distance of their respective Habitations, they
shall exhibit their Petitions and Particulars, and prosecute
their Compositions to Effect, within the respective Times
last before mentioned.
4. That such Delinquents who were formerly under
the Qualification of a Third, as having been Members of
Parliament, Clergymen, or Lawyers, and were to pay
Five Years Value for Estates in Fee, and so proportionably, may be now admitted to compound at Six Years
Value for Estates in Fee; and so proportionably; if they
shall, according to the Distance of their respective Habitations, exhibit their Petitions, and prosecute their Compositions to Effect, within their respective Times before
limited, according to the Times of their respective Sequestrations: Provided, That the Delinquency of the
said several and respective Persons before mentioned
were not committed since the 30th of January 1648.
5. That such Delinquents as have been admitted to
Composition, and have elapsed their Times of Payment
of all or any Part of their Fines, may be admitted to pay
in their said Fines, or the Remainder thereof, with Interest;
so as they, whose Habitations are within 80 Miles of London, do pay the said Sum, with Interest, after the Rate
of 8£. per Cent. within Weeks; and such who are
at a further Distance, within Weeks after the Date
hereof.
6. That such Delinquents who have formerly compounded, and have undervalued or concealed any Part of
their Estates, may be admitted to compound, for such
Undervalues and Concealments, at the Rates hereafter
mentioned; viz. Every Person who hath formerly compounded at a Tenth Part of their Estates, shall compound
at a Sixth Part for whatever hath been so undervalued or
omitted: Every Person who hath formerly compounded
at a Sixth, shall pay one full Third Part; and all such who
formerly did compound at a Third, shall pay one full
Moiety of what is so concealed or undervalued; so as the
said Persons do compound for the same, and pay in the
Fines thereupon to be imposed, before the Day of
next ensuing, or within Weeks after
the said Undervalues or Concealments shall be discovered.
7. Whereas we find, that divers Persons, who have formerly purchased, or pretended to have purchased, Estates
from certain Papists, who were sequestered as Recusants
only, and not as Delinquents, have, after such Purchase
made, petitioned the former Committees for Compounding to admit them to fine for the Discharge of the Sequestration of the Two Third Parts, which were seized
for their Recusancy; and that the said Committee have,
upon such Petitions, accepted of Fines accordingly, altho'
they had no written Rule in that Case from the Parliament, and, upon the Payment of such Fines, discharged
the said Estates; many of whose Cases have been reported to the House, and then confirmed; and that some
Persons in that Condition who have paid Fines, and obtained thereupon Suspensions of the Sequestration from
the said Committee, have not had their Cases reported,
and do now make Application to us for their Discharges:
We humbly desire the Resolution of the Parliament,
what we shall do in such Cases; and, whether the Sequestration shall stand suspended, and be discharged; or,
what Course we shall take therein.
8. That Discoverers may have a Fifth Part of such
Discoveries as they have made since the 8th of August
1650, or shall hereafter make: And if the Parliament shall
please to give Encouragement of a Fifth unto Discoverers, for preventing such Abuses, as may possibly arise
from such Persons, who more mind their own Interest,
than the Publick, and may vex some Men, who have always from the Beginning been for the Parliament:
We humbly offer, That the Commissioners for Compounding may have Liberty to give Costs, in Case they
shall find any malicious or unjust Prosecution; and to
punish such by Imprisonment, who are not able to pay
Costs.
9. The Committees in divers Counties, having formerly, without any Authority from the Parliament,
compounded with some Persons, and discharged their
Sequestrations upon Payment of such Fines as they have
imposed;
We humbly offer, Whether Money paid to the Committee, or Commissioners in the Country, for such Compositions, shall not be accepted as Part of the Delinquent's
Fine payable in at Goldsmiths Hall, upon his Offer of
Composition there.
10. That it may be proposed to the House, to give
Power and Order, That the Surveyors which shall be
appointed to survey the Estates of Delinquents now to be
sold, after they have made their Returns of the Estates of
Delinquents named in the Bill for Sale, do survey likewise
all other sequestered Estates whatsoever; and do make
Return of such Surveys to the Commissioners for Compositions.
11. Whereas we find, That in several Counties the
Revenue of the Sequestrations is so small, as that it will
scarce bear the Expences of the Commissioners; which
causes them to be the more remiss and careless in the
Execution both of the Acts of Parliament, and of our Orders; the Profit being so inconsiderable, and the Trouble
so great, as that they are ready, upon the least Reprehension from us, to lay down the Employment:
We humbly desire, That the House will please to add
to the Salary; or that we may have Power, where we find
the Revenue so slender, to join Two or Three or more
Counties together, and to appoint Commissioners for the
managing of the Service of Sequestrations there, as in an
Association, as we shall see Cause.
12. We likewise humbly offer to their Consideration
the particular Cases herewith presented, that concern the
Power of Compositions in the Counties of Essex, Kent,
Sussex, and the Northern Counties, with such as were
engaged in the later War.
The Cases of John Scroope, Sir Edward Bishop, Henry
Hastings, and Wm. Jervas.
The Petitions and Cases of Thomas Starkey, Humfrey
Berrington, Anthony Hastings, Wm. Furrington, Richard Dutton, George Smyth, Richard Cooke, and Sir
Winkefield Bodenham.
That the House may be moved to call for the Reports
that concern Sir Thomas Jervase, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Kemp,
Lieutenant-Colonel Gerard, in the Speaker's Hands.
All which we humbly offer and submit to your Considerations.
J. Russell, John Berners, A. Squibb, Wm. Molins,
Richard Moore.
Resolved, That the Debate upon this Report be taken
up this Day Fortnight.
Letter received.
A Letter from Major-General Harryson from Leek, of
the 18th Day of August 1651.
Lord Lovelace's Estate.
Mr. Garland reports Amendments to the Act enabling
the Lord Lovelace to sell Lands for Payment of his Fine
and Debts: Which were this Day read the first and second Time; and, upon the Question, assented unto.
And the Question being put, That this Bill be ingrossed;
It passed with the Negative.
And the Bill being put . . the Question passed.
Howard's Estate.
Mr. Garland reports Amendments to an Act enabling
Sir Robert Howard to sell Lands for Payment of his Fine
and Debts: Which were twice read, and, upon the Question, assented unto.
And the Question being put, That the said Act, so
amended, be ingrossed;
It passed with the Negative.
And the said Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed.
Temple's Estate.
Ordered, That the Act enabling Sir Peter Temple to
sell Lands for Payment of his Debts, be read To-morrow
Morning, the first Business next after Mr. Speaker takes
the Chair.
Peck's Estate.
Ordered, That an Act to enable Mr. Peck to sell Lands
for Payment of his Fine and Debts, be read To-morrow
Morning, next after the Bill touching Sir Peter Temple.