House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 15 March 1653

Die Martis, 15 Martii, 1652.

Prayers.

Thanksgiving Day-Victory over Dutch.

RESOLVED, by the Parliament, That Tuesday, the 12th of April 1653, be set apart for a Day of publick Thanksgiving to the Lord, throughout the whole Commonwealth, for the great and seasonable Victory vouchsafed to the Navy of this Commonwealth, upon the late Engagement with the Dutch Fleet, on the 18th, 19th, and 20th, Days of February last.

Ordered, That Mr. Bowles be desired to preach before the Parliament on Tuesday the 12th of April 1653, being a Day set apart for a Day of publick Thanksgiving, for the great and seasonable Victory vouchsafed to the Navy of this Commonwealth, upon the late Engagement with the Dutch Fleet: And that Mr. Scott do give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Knight be desired to preach before the Parliament on Tuesday the 12th of April 1653, being a Day set apart for a Day of publick Thanksgiving, for the great and seasonable Victory vouchsafed to the Navy of this Commonwealth, upon the late Engagement with the Dutch Fleet: And that Colonel Harvey do give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Scott and Mr. Love do draw up a Declaration, setting forth the Grounds and Reasons of the setting apart that Day for a Day of Thanksgiving; and report it to the House.

Col. Row.

Ordered, That the Report touching Colonel Row, be made on this Day Fortnight, the first Business.

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from the Commander in Chief in Ireland, and from the rest of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland, of the 4th Day of March 1652, from Dublyn, with the Articles made upon the Rendition of the Island of Ennisbuffin, and other Islands, were this Day read.

Another Letter, from Colonel Jones to Mr. Scott, was this Day read.

Colonel Sidney reports from the Council of State, A Letter from the Commander in Chief, and the rest of the Commissioners of Parliament, of the 4th of March 1652; and a Copy of a Declaration published by Sir Philim O'Nele, and the Copy of a Commission granted by the late King Charles, under the Great Seal of Scotland, dated at Edinburgh the 1st of October, in the Seventeenth Year of his Reign: Which were this Day read.

Grant to Ly. Caulfield.

The humble Petition of Mary Lady Caulfield was this Day read.

Ordered, That Three hundred Pounds be paid to the Lady Mary Caulfeild, to enable her to pay her Debts here, and to transport her into Ireland; and that the same be paid to her out of the Monies which are or shall come in upon the Composition of North Wales; and that it be referred to the Committee of the Army, who are authorized and required to issue their Warrant to the late Treasurers at Wars, to pay the same, accordingly: And that the Acquittance of the said Lady Caulfield shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Treasurers at Wars for the same.

Ly. Rannilaugh.

Ordered, That Tuesday Sevennight, next after the Report of Colonel Owen Roe, the Report be made touching the Lady Rannilaugh.

N. Wales Composition.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to take Consideration of the Act for Composition with North Wales; and to put into Execution the Powers given in that Act, or any other Powers given unto the said Committee, or to the Commissioners for Compositions, for the effectual bringing in of the Remainder of the Money due upon the said Composition.

Resolved, That these Letters be referred to the Council of State, to take Consideration what is fit to be done; and report their Opinion to the House, with Speed.

Grant to Ly. Blany.

Colonel Sidney also reports from the Committee for Petitions;

UPON Mr. Trenchard's Report from the Sub-Committee to whom the Petition of the Lady Jane Blany was referred; It was

Resolved, That the Petition of the said Lady Blany, together with the State of the Matter of Fact thereupon, reported by the Sub-committee, and this Day read, be reported to the Parliament.

Resolved, That it be reported to the Parliament, as the humble Opinion of this Committee, That the said Lady Blany is a Person fit to receive some Satisfaction for her great Losses in Ireland, to enable her to transport herself and Charge thither, there being considerable Arrears due to her Husband the late Lord Blany, who was slain in the actual Service of the Parliament: For which Cause, and for that the said Lady hath been a very great Sufferer, both in her Person and Estate, by the Rebels, and having many Children utterly destitute of any Subsistence, that the Parliament be moved, for these Considerations, to recommend her to the Commissioners in Ireland, for setting some Land upon her and her many Children, in some safe and convenient Place, for their future Subsistence, to such Proportions as the Parliament shall think meet.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Sum of Three hundred Pounds be paid to the Lady Jane Blaney, to enable her to-pay her Debts here, and to transport her into Ireland: And that it be referred to the Council of State to take care that it be paid to her, accordingly.

Gurney's forfeited Estate.

Col. Marten reports from the Commissioners at Goldsmiths-Hall.

IN the Case of Sir Richard Gurney, besides what is mentioned in the Report from Goldsmiths-Hall, it appears, that after the Estate of Sir Richard Gurney was discharged of Sequestration by the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall, November the 20th, 1646, the 9th of March following, he obtained, by Order of the House of Lords, Liberty to repair to any of his Houses, upon Security to render himself, when required: But several of the Committees in the Country, notwithstanding the said Discharge, continuing Sequestration upon his Estate, the said 9th of March 1646, he obtained Order from the Committee of Lords and Commons to the said Committees in the Country, to certify the Cause of Sequestration; and to the Committee at Goldsmith's-Hall, to certify whether any Petition was exhibited to them for Compounding.

In pursuance whereof, the 31th of March 1647, the Committee of Wilts certified, that they hearing Sir Richard Gurney was sequestered in London, and a Prisoner in the Tower, thereupon sequestered him; and knew no other Cause.

The 5th of April 1647, the Committee at GoldsmithsHall certified the Fine of Five thousand Pounds, set as aforesaid; but that Sir Richard has not petitioned to the Committee, nor submitted to the said Fine.

April 21th 1647, the Committee of Gloucester, being quickened thereto by a special Order, certified the Cause of the Sequestration to be, the Impeachment and Sentence in 1642; and setting of the said Fine in 1644.

Upon Return of the Certificates, Orders passed for Publication in April 1647; and for Hearing in May 1647: But the Committee ceasing to act, and Sir Richard Gurney dying soon after, the Hearing never passed: But Certificates of the Discharge at Haberdashers-Hall being produced, the Committee of Wiltshire, January 14th 1647; and the Committee of Gloucester, 16th of February 1647, discharged the Sequestration.

It further appears, That Sir Richard Gurney, by Deed dated 7th of June 1641, and 15th of July 1641, conveyed his Lands, and Gurney House, to Trustees, to be disposed for Payment of Debts and Legacies, as by his last Will he should declare:

That, by his Will proved, dated 29th September 1647, he enjoins his Trustees and Executors to sell the said Lands and House, for Payment of his Debts and Legacies:

That, in Execution of the said Will and Trust, the Executors and Trustees sold all the said Lands, as by the Deeds appear, before the End of October 1649:

That, the 16th of July 1650, the Committee at Goldsmishs-Hall issued their Summons to the Executors, to shew Cause, why they should not pay the Five thousand Pounds Fine:

That, the real Estate being sold, as aforesaid, for about Seventeen thousand Pounds, and not more, as appears by the Deeds, the Executors paid, as by Affidavit of Sir John Pettus, one of the Trustees, and Executors, likewise appeareth, for Funeral Charges, just and ancient Debts, Legacies, and necessary Charges, above Twenty-eight thousand Pounds; and that before the said Summons, or any Demand of the said Five thousand Pounds Fine: And are indebted for that Estate above Four thousand Pounds, which as yet the Estate is not like to satisfy, not including the said Five thousand Pounds; the remaining Estate, except Eleven Pounds per Annum, and a desperate Debt upon a Mortgage, being due, upon Bond, from several Persons, most of them Prisoners either in the UpperBench, or Fleet, of which Debts neither Principal or Interest hath been paid these Ten Years:

And lastly it apears, That out of Sir Richard Gurnie's Estate, the Parliament hath been advantaged these particular Sums; viz.

Five hundred Pounds lent to Ireland.

One thousand Pounds to Haberdashers-Hall, for his Twentieth Part.

One thousand Two hundred Pounds received by the Committee for Gloucester, being a Debt upon a Mortgage sequestered by them.

Two thousand Pounds lost by the Ruin of ChawfieldHouse in Wilteshire; and for Timber cut down, and employed, for that and other of the Parliament's Garisons:

(fn. 1) Besides Two thousand Pounds lost in Goods upon Seizure, for the Fifth, and Twentieth Part; which, being assessed at Two thousand Pounds, he neglected to pay, as is alleged, because he was assessed in his Ward but at Eight hundred Pounds.

And One thousand Five hundred Pounds lost, as is likewise alleged by the said Sir John Pettus, which he is able to prove by the Under-Sale of Gurney-House, by reason the State had the Use of it: Sir Richard paying before the Purchase, Three hundred Pounds per Annum: But the Committee of Parliament ordered but Two hundred Pounds per Annum to him that purchased it of the Executors, as by the Order appears, dated 11 Augusti 1649.

Friday, 29th August 1651.

By the Committee, Ordered, That Colonel Marten be desired to make this Report with the former.

The humble Petition of Richard Sherwin, Walter Coleman, Gabriell Gouldney, and John Townsend, on the Behalf of themselves, and others, was this Day read.

The Question being put, That the Parliament do adhere to their former Vote;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That the Parliament do adhere to their former Vote.