House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 6 December 1643

DIE Mercurii, videlicet, 6 die Decembris.

PRAYERS.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker this Day.

Answers from the H. C.

The Messengers sent Yesterday to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they do agree in the Ordinance concerning paying One Thousand Pounds to Sir William Waller, with the Alterations.

Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page, sent Yesterday with a Message to the House of Commons, return with this Answer:

1. That they will give a Conference this Day at 10^a of the Clock, concerning Prince Harcourt.

2. Concerning the Petition of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, they will take the same into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

3. Concerning the Petition of the Assembly, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message to them, for a Conference on the State of the Army.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

To desire a Conference concerning the State of the Army.

Pitchley committed, for stealing Wood in Endfeild Chace.

This Day Rob't Pitchley was brought a Delinquent to the Bar, for stealing of Wood in Enfeild Chace, and selling it, and for opposing the Woodward, and beating him for searching for stolen Wood and securing (fn. 1) it according to the Order of this House, as appears by the Affidavits of John Butchett, Wm. Lynge, John Fuller, and John White, John Lawes, and John Wylde: Hereupon this House Ordered, that the said Rob't Pitchley, (fn. 2) for these Offences, shall be committed to the House of Correction at Bridewell, there to remain until the Pleasure of this House be further known.

Baron Henden's Assessment.

Ordered, That this House assesses Baron Hendon at Two Thousand Pounds for the Twentieth Part, according to the Ordinance of Parliament, to be employed (fn. 3) for the Defence and Security of Poole and Lyme.

Upon reading a Certificate this Day, as following: videlicet,

Account from the Committee in Cambridgeshire, of the sequestering the E. of Suffolk's Estate.

"SIR,

"We received an Order from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestration of Delinquents Estates, signed and attested under Mr. Serjeant Wyld's Hand, requiring us to certify the true Causes and Ground of the Seizure of the Estate of the Right Honourable James Earl of Suff. We have conferred with some of the Sequestrators; and do find that Mr. Yoward, Solicitor for Sequestrations, did give it [ (fn. 4) under his Hand, that he did know there was an Ordinance] of Parliament for the seizing of the Earl of Suffolke's Estate, a Copy of which Writing we have here underwritten. And this, they say, is all the Reason and Cause why they did make Seizure thereof.

"This which follows, is a true Copy of Mr. Yoward's Writing, left with the Sequestrators under his Hand, upon which they did seize the said Earl's Estate; videlicet,

"As concerning the Earl of Suff. there is an Order of Parliament for sequestering his Estate as a Delinquent: The Earl of Portland and the Earl of Bedford, I am credibly informed, are in the same Condition.

"Ro. Yoward.

18 Sept. 1643.

"And this is all that we can certify touching the Premises, who are

"Your Servants to serve you,

Ely, Nov. 9th. 1643.

"Miles Sandys.
"Wm. March.
"Hum. March."

Yoward sent for, as a Delinquent, about it.

The House taking the Certificate into Consideration, and it appearing to this House that there is no Order for sequestering the Estate of the Earl of Suff. as a Delinquent, but that it is meer Misinformation of the said Yoward; and because it is a Thing which tends to the great Dishonour and Prejudice of his Lordship; this House Ordered, That the said Yoward shall be sent for as a Delinquent, to answer the aforesaid Misdemeanor.

Answer from the H. C.

The Messengers sent to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they will give a Conference presently, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.

Affidavits concerning Persons who stole Wood from Endfeild Chace, and resisted the Officers who endeavoured to apprehend them.

"Whereas the Right Honourable the Lords now assembled in Parliament, by their Ordinance bearing Date the 6th Day of October last, have given Power to the Woodward of Enfeild Chace, in the County of Midd. to call to his Assistance all Constables, to search for and secure what Wood he shall from Time to Time find to be stolen out of the said Chace: In Obedience to which Order and Command, John Butcher, Deputy to the Right Honourable Wm. Earl of Salisbury, maketh Oath, That he, together with Three of his Servants, with a Cart and Horses attending them, having called to their Assistance one John White, now High Constable of Edmonton, in the said County of Midd. and Robert Waters, now Petty Constable of the same, on the 13th Day of this Instant Month of November, being at Winsmore Hill in the said Parish of Edmonton, and searching of some Yards for stolen Wood, one Francis Warley, Robert Warley, Robert Abell, Robert Pitchley, John Darby alias Darbyshire, John Morewood, Babbs, John Browne, Richard Hoare, and between Forty and Fifty other Persons, or thereabouts, with Bills, Axes, and Staves, did, in a most riotous and violent Manner, assault and beat this Deponent and his Three Servants, and cut One of the Horses in Two Places, and also the Harness thereunto belonging, and would not suffer them to go on upon the said Service, notwithstanding the said Ordinance, and the Constable's Power and Persuasion therein.

"John Butchet."

Jur. 17 die Novem. 1643.

John Page.

"John Butcher, Deputy to the Right Honourable Wm. Earl of Salisbury, maketh Oath, That he hath several Times taken Robert Pitchley, of Winsmore Hill, in the Parish of Edmonton, cutting down the Woods in Enfeild Chace; and the said Pitchley confessed unto this Deponent upon Tuesday last, that he hath lately sold unto his own Use Four Loads of Wood, which he had stolen out of the said Chase; and further, that the said Pitchley hath had a Share out of many other Loads of Wood which had been taken in the same Kind, or Words to that Purpose: And this Deponent doth conceive, and so the Neighbours of the said Pitchley report, that he doth take no other Course of Living, but Stealing and Selling of Wood."

Jur. 1 Decembris, 1643.

Ro. Riche.

"John Lawes, Servant unto the above-named John Butcher, maketh Oath, That he hath taken the abovenamed Robert Pitchley cutting down and felling the Woods in Enfeild Chace at least Forty several Times, once whereof he found him about Twelve of the Clock in the Night, where he had felled a Beech of about a Load of Wood; and he doth conceive, and so the Neighbours of the said Pitchley report, that he doth take no other Course of Living but Stealing and Selling of Wood."

Jur. 1 Decembris, 1643.

Ro. Riche.

"William Linge, Servant unto the above-named John Butcher, maketh Oath, that he hath lately several Times taken the above-named Ro. Pitchley carrying away Wood out of Enfeild Chace, which he had unlawfully taken and felled; and the said Pitchley told this Deponent, That he had as much Power to fell any of the Wood in the said Chase as the said John Butcher, or Words to that Purpose."

Jur. 1 Decembris, 1643.

Ro. Riche.

"Whereas, by virtue of an Ordinance of Parliament dated the 6th Day of October last past, Power was given to John Butcher, Deputy to the Right Honourable William Earl of Salisbury, Chief Woodward of Enfeild Chace, in the County of Midd. to call to his Assistance all Constables, to search for and secure what Wood he shall from Time to Time find to be stolen out of the said Chase: In Obedience to which said Order, the said John Butcher did, on the 13th Day of November last past, call to his Assistance John White now High Constable of Edmonton, in the County aforesaid, Robert Waters of the same Petty Constable, William Lynge, John Lawes, and others, as namely John Wyld of Edmonton aforesaid Gentleman, who, at the Request of the said John White and John Butcher, did with them repair to Winsmore Hill, in the said Parish of Edmonton, to search in some Mens Yards there: Now the said John White, Robert Waters, William Lynge, John Lawes, and John Wyld, make Oath, That, upon the said 13th Day of November aforesaid, Francis Warley, Robert Warley, Robert Abell, Robert Pitchely, John Darby alias Darbyshire, John Moorewood, Babbs, and Browne, with divers Persons, who, with Bills, Axes, and Staves, did in a most riotous and violent Manner assault and beat the said John Butcher and his Servants, and would not suffer them to go on upon the said Service, nothwithstanding the Ordinance aforesaid, and the Constables Powers and Perswasions therein.

Jur. 1 die Decembris, 1643.

Ro. Riche.

"Joh'es White.
"Willi'mus Lynge.
"Joh'es Lawes,
"Joh'es Wyld."