House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 6 April 1653

Wednesday, the 6th of April, 1653.

Prayers.

Sale of late King's Property.

RESOLVED, That the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of the Castles, Houses, Parks, Lands and Hereditaments belonging to the late King, Queen, or Prince, exempted from Sale by a former Act, be enjoined to forbear the Sale of the Chapel adjoining to SomersettHouse.

Resolved, That these Words be added to the former Vote, touching the Chapel; viz. "and that the same be made use of by the French Protestant Congregation, for the Publick Worship of God, until the Parliament take further Order:" And so it was

Resolved, That the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of the Castles, Houses, Parks, Lands and Hereditaments belonging to the late King, Queen, or Prince, exempted from Sale by a former Act, be enjoined to forbear the Sale of the Chapel adjoining to Somersett-House: And that the same be made use of by the French Protestant Congregation, for the Publick Worship of God, until the Parliament take further Order.

Resolved, That the said Trustees be enjoined to forbear the Sale of Somerset-House, until the Parliament take further Order.

Dover Pier.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for inspecting the Treasuries, to consider how the Sum of Four thousand Pounds formerly charged upon Goldsmiths-Hall, in course, to be paid to the Assistants of the Harbour of Dover, or their Assigns, for repairing the Pier there, may be paid: And that they do give Order for the Payment thereof, accordingly, out of such Treasuries as they shall think fit.

Melcomb Common.

Colonel Sidenham reports from the Committee of the Navy;

IN Pursuance of an Order of Parliament of the 18th of November 1652; whereby it is referred unto this Committee, to consider of the whole State of the Business touching Melcomb Common, now Parcel of Rodipoll Farm, as the Lands of Alexander Kaines; and whether the same be fit to be sold; and to report their Opinion unto the Parliament; This Committee do find, by several Depositions, taken upon Oath by the Committee for Sequestrations, in the County of Dorsett, certified by Mr. Richard Graves, one of the Council for the Commonwealth; as also by the Testimony of the Knight of the Shire of the said County, that Melcomb Common, Parcel of Radipoll Farm, claimed by Mr. Alexander Kaines, doth in all Probability rightfully belong to the Town of Weymouth and Melcomb: And it appearing unto this Committee, by Certificate under the Hands of the Justices of Peace, and others of the said County, that the said Town hath greatly suffered in the Time of the late Wars, for their good Affection to the Parliament, by the Value of Twenty thousand Pounds;

Resolved, That it be reported to the Parliament, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the House will be pleased to give Order for respiting the Sale of the said Common, until their further Pleasure be signified therein.

Resolved, That the Trustees for Sale of the Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason be enjoined to forbear the Sale of Melcomb Common, now Parcel of Rodipoll Farm.

Ordered, That the said Trustees be enjoined to convey and assure the said Common unto such Persons as the Town of Weymouth shall appoint, in Trust for the Benefit of the said Town, and the Inhabitants thereof, in Recompence and Satisfaction of their Losses and Sufferings, and their Services to the Parliament.

Samuell's Claims.

Mr. Say reports from the Committee of the Army;

IN pursuance of the Order of Parliament, dated the 26th Day of June 1651, referring the Petition of Arthure Samuell Esquire, to the said Committee; they do find, that there is due, from the Parliament, to the said Arthure Samuell, upon the 1st of August 1651, for Monies lent to the Use of the Parliament, the 1st of August 1641, and Consideration for the Forbearance thereof, the Sum of Three thousand Threescore and Nineteen Pounds Three Shillings and Nine-pence: And it is the humble Opinion of this Committee, That the said Arthure Samuell be satisfied the said Debt, together with Consideration for Forbearance of Two thousand Pounds, Part thereof, from the said 1st of August 1651, until Satisfaction made thereof, out of the Estates of some Delinquents, directed to be sold: And that he have the same after the Rate of Ten Years Purchase, and not under.

The Question being propounded, That Arthure Samuell Esquire have Liberty to double the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds, with Interest for the Forbearance thereof, since the same was lent, upon the several Acts for Sale of Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason: And that he have Leave to purchase any of the said Lands or Estates by himself, or his Assigns, accordingly;

The Question being put, That these Words, viz. "That Ten Years Purchase," be added to this Question;

It passed with the Negative.

And the main Question being put; it was

Resolved, That Arthure Samuell Esquire have Liberty to double the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds, with Interest for the Forbearance thereof, since the same was lent, upon the several Acts for Sale of Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason: And that he have Leave to purchase any of the said Lands or Estates, by himself, or his Assigns, accordingly.

Debt to Pigott.

Resolved, That the Sum of Three thousand Four hundred and Thirty Pounds, owing to Mr. Richard Pigott, Citizen and Grocer of London, for Two thousand Pounds lent upon the Credit of the Act for Two intire Subsidies, be allowed of as a Debt due upon the Publick Faith, and to be doubled accordingly, in Satisfaction of the said Two thousand Pounds and Interest.

Debt to Baker.

Resolved, That the Sum of One thousand Seven hundred Eighty-two Pounds Thirteen Shillings and Fourpence, due to Mr. Wm. Baker, for One thousand Pounds lent by him, upon the Credit of the Act for Two intire Subsidies, be allowed of, as a Debt due upon the Publick Faith; and to be doubled accordingly, in Satisfaction of the said Sum of One thousand Pounds, and Interest remaining due for the same.

Sir H. Anderson.

Mr. Garland reports, from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Sir Henry Anderson was referred.

Impresting Horses.

Sir Gilbert Pickering reports from the Council of State;

THAT it be humbly represented to the Parliament, that the Council finding it very requisite for the Service of the State, in the late Invasion by . . . Scotts Army, under the Command of Charles Stewart, to hasten up a Train of Artillery from hence to Worcester; they sent their Orders to the Commissioners of the Militia for the County of Northampton, to imprest several DraughtHorses for expediting the March thereof: Which was accordingly done: And there hath lately been an Account brought in to the Council, of the Damages the particular Persons, from whom the said Horses were taken, sustained thereby, amounting, in the West Division of that County, to One hundred Eighty-six Pounds Seventeen Shillings and One Peny, and in the Ten Hundred of the East Division to One hundred Fourteen Pounds One Shilling and Two-pence; in all, to the Sum of Three hundred Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Threepence: Which appearing, upon Examination, to be justly due unto them; and it being propounded, That the same may be equally born by the whole County; it is the Opinion of this Council, That the Parliament be humbly moved to pass an Act for enabling the Commissioners for the said County, or any Three or more of them, to assess and collect the Sum of Three hundred Pounds, in the said County, upon all such Persons, and in such Manner, as the Assessments for the Armies and Forces of the Commonwealth are assessed and collected in that County; and to pay out the same to the respective Owners of the said Horses, according to the Damages they particularly received, by the Impresting of them to the said Service of the Train: And Sir Gilbert Pickering is desired to move the Parliament herein; and to prepare and present the Draught of an Act for Assessing and Collecting of the said Three hundred Pounds, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Commissioners for the monthly Assessments, in the County of Northampton, or any Three or more of them, do assess, levy, and collect, within the said County of Northampton, the Sum of Three hundred Pounds, in such manner, as, by the late Act of Parliament for raising the Sum of Ninety thousand Pounds a Month, for Maintenance of the Forces in England, Ireland, and Scotland, is appointed: And that the said Commissioners do pay the same to the respective Owners of DraughtHorses, sent to the Army at Worcester, by Appointment of the Council of State, according to their several and respective Damages in this Behalf sustained.

Claims on Publick Faith.

Ordered, That Colonel Marten do make Report of the Bill for ascertaining the Publick Faith, on Tuesday Sevennight, the first Business.

Grant to Poole.

Ordered, That Lands of Inheritance, of the yearly Value of Fourscore Pounds, rendering yearly Twenty Pounds to the Use of the Commonwealth, of confiscated Lands in Scotland, be settled on Thomas Poole, of Wedsbury in the County of Stafford, and his Heirs, in full Satisfaction of all Demands: And that Mr. Speaker do write a Letter to the Commissioners of the Parliament in Scotland, to settle the same upon him, accordingly.