House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 4 July 1651

Friday, the 4th of July, 1651.

Prayers.

Disaffected Ministers.

THE Lord Ambassador Strickland reports from the Council of State;

"That this Council hath received Informations from several Parts of this Nation, of the scandalous Carriage of divers Ministers, in contemning the Acts and Orders of Parliament, prescribing Days for Fasting and Thanksgiving; and several Ways venting their Disaffection to the Parliament, and present Government; to the very ill Example of others, and hardening of them in their Ways of Malignancy; whereby the Peace of the Nation is endangered, in many Places, to be much disturbed; and Preparations made for Actions of Sedition and Rebellion, upon the first Opportunities."

"That the Parliament be moved thereupon, if they shall think sit, for Prevention of such Evils, and Punishment of the Offenders, to give like Power to some fit Persons in the respective Counties of England and Wales, as is by them communicated to the Committee for Plundered Ministers, to receive the Informations which shall be brought unto them, concerning the Miscarriages of Ministers in that Kind; and to take the Parties Answer; and to examine the Matter upon Oath; and proceed as touching the Removal and Ejection of such Persons, according to Justice, and their Demerits; and to place other orthodox and fit Persons in their rooms."

Propagating the Gospel.

Resolved, That the Amendments to the Act for the Propagation of the Gospel through England and Wales be reported by the Committee.

Delinquents Estates.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Bill for Sale of the Estates of several Delinquents, and upon the Report Yesterday made by Mr. Challoner, from the Committee for Irish Affairs.

The Question being propounded, That the House doth approve of this Debt of 2,193£. 2s. 11d. to Mr. Gregory Clement;

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

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Contractors, who shall be appointed in the Act for Sale of the Estates of several Delinquents, be authorized and required to admit Gregory Clement Esquire, a Member of Parliament, to have the Pre-emption of a House in Greenwich, late belonging to Andrew Cogan; and likewise of a Farm in Farningham in the County of Kent, late belonging to James Bunch late Alderman of the City of London, and now in the Possession of the said Gregory Clement, or his Assigns, by Lease from the Commissioners for Compounding, as a Tenant in Possession; and give him the like Privilege of Tenant Right, as other Tenants in Possession by the said Act are to have.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; "Provided also, that this Act, or anything therein contained, do not extend to the Taking away of the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, formerly conferred by the Parliament upon Margarett Rainborowe, the Widow of Colonel Thomas Rainborowe, deceased, and upon his Son Wm. Rainborowe, to be so settled out of the Estate of Richard Thornhill, of Olentight in the County of Kent, Esquire, now ordered to be sold; but that it may be lawful for the said Margarett, before any Disposal of any Part of the Estate, to purchase so much thereof, or of the Estate of any other Delinquent, hereby appointed to be sold, as shall amount to the said Sum of Three thousand Pounds, according to the Rate of Ten Years Purchase, for Lands in Possession, and for Lands in Reversion proportionably; allowing the said Three thousand Pounds, upon the said Purchase, as ready Money: And the Trustees and Contractors therein named are hereby authorized and required to contract with, and assure unto, the said Margarett, to the Use of her the said Margarett, and her Heirs for ever, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, out of the said Estate, to the Value of Two thousand Pounds, at the Rate aforesaid, for and towards the Payment of the Debts of the said Colonel Thomas Rainborowe; and likewise to contract with, and convey and assure unto, the said Margaret Rainborowe, to the Use of her said Son Wm. Rainborowe, and the Heirs of his Body, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, out of the said Estate, at the Rate aforesaid, to the Value of One thousand Pounds: And, in case it shall happen, that the said William Rainborowe shall die without any Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten; then the said Lands, and Tenements, and Hereditaments, to be to the Use of the said Margarett Rainborowe, and her Heirs for ever: And the Trustees and Contractors therein named are hereby authorized and required to accept of the Discharge of the said Margarett Rainborowe, under her Hand and Seal, in full Satisfaction for Three thousand Pounds:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words following; viz. "Provided always, That, whereas Sir John Stowell aforesaid did, in the Year 1639, purchase of Wm. Dunch Esquire, a Mansion-house, and certain Lands, in Aubery in the County of Wiltes, and other Hamlets thereto adjacent; and, for the Buying thereof, did then borrow of Sir John Horton Knight, by Two Obligations, Seven hundred Pounds; and of George Savage Esquire, by One other Obligation, Three hundred Pounds; and of Dame Elizabeth Bevill, since deceased, by Two other Obligations, of Three hundred Pounds apiece: In which said Obligations George Long Gentleman stood bound, as Surely for the said Sir John Stowell; and, the said Monies being still unpaid, the said George Long is now prosecuted at Law, by the said Creditors; and will be enforced to pay the same: Be it therefore Enacted, That the said purchased Lands be charged with the said principal Monies, and Interest for the same, amounting to Two thousand Eight hundred Pounds, as so much doubled Monies: And the Committee for Obstructions, herein before named, are authorized to allow thereof, appearing upon Proof; any thing in this present Act contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding:" Which was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Proviso be read the Second time;

It passed with the Negative.-

Publick Faith.

Ordered, That the Petition touching the Publick Faith be read, and taken into Consideration, on Thursday next.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Mr. Foxley's Report be made on Thursday Morning next.-

Delinquents Estates.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, "That the Trustees and Contractors, in this Act named, shall and do bargain, sell, and convey, unto Nathaniell Hallowes Esquire, and his Heirs, for ever, Lands and Tenements of the clear yearly Value, beyond Reprizes, of One hundred Pounds, out of the Lands and Tenements by this Act intended and appointed to be sold, in full Compensation of One thousand Pounds Debt, and his Damages and Losses sustained; any thing in this Act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That the Words "and Losses sustained" be omitted out of the Proviso.

And the said Proviso so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto; and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That the Arrears of the Rent due to the State from Mr. James Nelthorp, for certain Lands, late the Lands of Thomas Beckwith Gentleman, a Delinquent; which the said James Nelthrop now holds by Lease from the Commissioners of Sequestrations, be remitted and discharged: And that the said James Nelthrop shall have the Benefit of the said Lands, without Payment of any Rent, until the same be sold by the said Contractors: And that the Committee for Compounding do take Notice hereof; and allow the same to the said James Nelthropp, accordingly.

The House proceeded to read the Papers in the Glass, for Officers in the Bill for Sale of the Estates of several Delinquents.

Mr. Speaker appointed Mr. Carew, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Garland, and Major Lister, to take the Papers out of the Glass.

Which being read, one by one, by the Clerk, and the Names all written in a Paper, with a Note upon each Name, as often as they were repeated;

The Tellers counted the Numbers.

The Tellers report, A Paper of the Names of the Officers having the greatest Numbers, as followeth; William Skinner, Wm. Robinson, Sampson Sheffield, Samuell *, Samuel Gookin, Henry Seely, Wm. Lisle, Arthure Samuell, Ralph Danall, Robert Manwaring, Randall Manwaring, John Baker.

Resolved, That this Report be taken up, the first Business, on Tuesday Morning.

Relief of Tenants.

Mr. Scott reports from the Council of State;

"That it is the Opinion of this Council, That it would be much conducing to the Publick Safety, and would tend much to the Satisfaction of the Well-affected, that the Bill that hath been some time in the House for Relief of well-affected Tenants against malignant and oppressing Landlords, be speedily passed, if the House shall so think fit."

Resolved, That the Bill for Relief of well-affected Tenants against malignant and oppressing Landlords be read on Friday next.

Reports deferred.

Resolved, That the Reports from the Committee of the Navy be made on Wednesday next.

Lilburne's Petition.

The humble Petition of George Lilburne, of the County of Duresme, was this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That this Petition be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding; that, if nothing more appear against the Petitioner than is contained in this Petition, that then the Petitioner be discharged;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That this Petition be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding; that, if nothing more appear against the Petitioner than is contained in this Petition, that then the Petitioner be discharged.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself until Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.