House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 17 October 1653

Monday, the 17th of October, 1653.

Ratcliff's Petition.

COLONEL Rous reports from the Committee of Petitions, The humble Petition of Allein Ratcliff: Which was this Day read.

Lawson's Estate.

Mr. Sadler reports from the Committee for publick Debts, The Case of Mr. John Lawson: Which was now read: viz.

IN pursuance of an Order of Parliament, of the 7th of September 1653, upon the Petition of John Lawson, of Brough in the County of Yorke, Esquire, this Committee find,

That the Estate of the said Mr. Lawson was, in the Second Act for Sale, of the 4th of August 1652, to be sold, for the Use of the Commonwealth.

And, from Haberdashers-Hall, it is certified, that Mr. John Lawson was returned, by the Commissioners for Northumberland, in April 1652 (where Part of the Estate lay), as Papist and Delinquent; but they find no Matter of Fact certified, as to his Delinquency.

And Captain Ogle being then one of the Commissioners for Sequestrations in Northumberland (and now a Member of Parliament), doth affirm, That no Act of Delinquency came before them against Mr. Lawson, other than Two Months riding in a Troop when he was but Fifteen Years old, under a Guardian, and his elder Brother living.

And the Commissioners of Haberdashers-Hall do further certify, That, in any Return from the Committee of Yorke, they find none by the Name of John Lawson mentioned, otherwise than for Recusancy; nor do they find any Information exhibited against the said Mr. Lawson, other than as aforesaid.

And by Certificate, under the Hands of divers wellaffected Gentlemen of the County of York, it appeareth, The said Mr. Lawson hath lived peaceably and quietly for these Nine or Ten Years last past; and never acted any thing against the Parliament, that they know, or ever heard; but hath submitted to all Acts and Ordinances of Parliament.

And this Committee do not find any Charge of Delinquency for many Years after any such Act committed, nor till Recovery of the said Estate; which he could not recover but in a tedious Suit, in which he spent above Four hundred Pounds (as he hath deposed;) and was at length forced to confess a Judgment of Two thousand Pounds, which we have seen attested before us, for Satisfaction of his Brother's Daughter; so that he is in worse Condition than if he had not recovered the said Estate, except he be relieved by the Favour of the Parliament.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That so much Money as yet remains unpaid, of the Second Moiety of the Money payable for the Purchase of the Estate of John Lawson, of Brough in the County of Yorke, Esquire, be, and is hereby remitted unto him, and the Payment thereof discharged: And that the Trustees and Treasurers named in the Act whereby the Lands of the said John Lawson are exposed to Sale, be authorized and required to take Notice hereof, and to do and proceed in all Respects, touching the Lands and Estate of the said John Lawson, in such Sort as by the said Act is appointed, as if the said Second Moiety had been intirely and fully paid in to the said Treasurers at the Time limited by the said Act.

Chancery Court.

A Bill for Stay of hearing Causes, and making Orders, in Chancery, from the 15th Day of October 1653, until the 12th Day of November 1653, was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, . . . this Bill be committed;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Blank in the Bill be filled with the Word "Fifteen;"

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

In the Debate upon this Bill, there were some Exceptions to something spoken by Mr. Hollistre: He was required to explain himself; and, standing up in his Place, he did make an Explanation of what was excepted against.

The Question being put, That the Blank be filled up with "Twelve;"

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Bill shall now pass for a Law.

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

Mr. Speaker gave his Vote for the Negative.

Ordered, That the Bill for appointing a Way to determine the present Causes depending in Chancery, be brought in on Wednesday next.