House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 25 March 1650

Die Lunæ, 25 Martii, 1650.

Prayers.

Delinquents Compositions.

SIR Arthur Hesilrige reports from the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall, touching Compositions with Delinquents.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, in all Fines for Compositions of Delinquents, which are set, and not finally determined, shall not make Allowance of any Mortgage, Statute, or Judgment, in Abatement of the Fine, which were not allowed by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, or by the Barons of the Exchequer, or whereof the Creditor is not in actual Possession at the Time of such Composition.

An Act for such as hold the Estate of any Delinquent by Mortgage, Judgment, or Statute, to compound for that Estate, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to such of the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall as are Members of this House: Who are to sit, this Afternoon, thereupon; and so de die in diem.

Resolved, &c. That a Delinquent, whose Estate is seized into the Hands of the State, who dieth seized of an Estate in Fee-simple, without making any Composition for his Delinquency, his Heir at Law shall not be admitted to compound for the said Estate, without special Licence of the Parliament.

Resolved, That Mr. Lawrence Caldwell be admitted to a Composition for the Estate, whereof his Father, being a Delinquent, was seized in Fee, and whereof the said Mr. Lawrence Caldwell, as Son and Heir, had the Reversion at a full Fourth Part of the Value of the said Estate; And that the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall be authorized and required to admit him accordingly.

Resolved, That the several Powers, now in the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, shall be transferred to Persons who are not Members of this House: And that the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall do bring in an Act for that Purpose.

Resolved, That the Number of the Commissioners in the said Act shall be Seven.

Resolved, That the Quorum be Four.

Resolved, That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall be required to sit and act as now they do, until this Act be perfected.

Resolved, That Sir Arthur Hesilrige and Mr. Salwey do present the Names of fit Persons to be Commissioners in this Act.

Resolved, That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall do, in the said Act, bring in a Clause for the Commissioners to be sworn; and likewise the Form of the said Oath.

Resolved, That the Salary for each of the said Commissioners shall not exceed Three hundred Pounds per Annum.

Lady Rannilagh, &c.

Sir Arthur Hesilrige reports from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, That the said Committee have examined the Petitions of the Lady Rennilagh, the Lady Blaney, and Mrs. Chichester; and are satisfied, that their Estates are yet under the Power of the Enemy in Ireland; and are therefore of Opinion, That the weekly Allowance, formerly ordered them by the Parliament, ought to be continued and paid.

Resolved, That the Business of Haberdashers Hall be likewise carried on, by the Commissioners to be named in the said Act, under the same Salary: And that the Act be penned accordingly, for transferring those Powers, and for executing the same on Oath.

Sir Roger Palmer.

Mr. Trenchard reports from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, the Case of Sir Roger Palmer; viz.

"That Sir Roger Palmer was fined by this Committee, in October 1646, at a Tenth: That, amongst other things, he inserted, in his Particular, a Lease of the Farm of Knoyle, of the yearly Value, above the Rent, Two hundred Twenty-five Pounds Six Shillings Eight-pence: That, upon paying and Securing of his Fine, he had Letters to suspend the Sequestration of his Estate, and particularly of the said Farm of Knoyle: But the said Letter being presented to the Committee at Wiltes, with a Particular of the Value of the said Farm, the said Committee did except against the Value, and refuse to discharge the Sequestration, unless he would pay One hundred Pounds unto them, in Consideration of the Under-value of the said Farm: And that, accordingly, the said Sir Roger Palmer did pay unto that Committee the Sum of One hundred Pounds; and had thereupon a Suspension of his Sequestration: That, upon the Second of August, 1649, it was, in the Name of Mr. Hartlis and Mr. Haak, discovered unto this Committee, that the said Sir Roger Palmer had undervalued the said Farm One hundred Pounds and upwards, per Annum; the Benefit of which was demanded, in Satisfaction of a Grant made unto the said Mr. Hartlib and Mr. Haak, of One hundred Pounds per Annum apiece, to be settled upon them, by the House: That, on the other Side, it is demanded, That the same may be compounded for."

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, being Members of this House, to consider of something to be offered to the House, touching Under-valuations and Concealments of Delinquents Estates, who have compounded; and to report their Opinion therein to the House.

And Sir Arthur Hesilrige is to take care hereof.