House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 20 August 1653

Saturday, the 20th of August, 1653.

Irish Army Arrears.

COLONEL Cromwell reports from the Committee of Parliament for the Affairs of Ireland;

THAT, upon Consideration of a Petition of Colonel John Gifford, and the rest of the Munster Officers, who declared for the Parliament's Interest at Cork and Yoghall, desiring Orders for the Stating of the Accounts of their Arrears, so that they may receive Satisfaction in Ireland, with the rest of the Officers and Soldiers now upon disbanding: Which Petition was, by Order of Parliament, of the 5th of August Instant, referred to the Consideration of this Committee; who were to report to the House what they think fit to be done therein; The Committee think fit, it be humbly offered, as their Opinion, to the Parliament, That they may please to order, that a Bill be drawn up for authorizing the stating the said Accompts, and paying their Arrears: And that the Committee, to whom it shall be referred to draw up the same, be ordered to insert therein such Qualifications, in reference to the Persons whose Accompts are to be thereby appointed to be stated, as they shall think fit.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee in this Report: And that it be referred back to the same Committee, to bring in an Act accordingly.

Forfeited Estates.

Colonel West reports Amendments from the Committee for the further additional Act for Sale of several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason: Which were twice read, and agreed; and, upon the Question, the Bill, so amended, was ordered to be ingrossed.

Serjeant at Arms.

Resolved, That Henry Middleton, Serjeant at Arms, do attend this House, in the Absence of Serjeant Birkhead, this Day.

Delinquents Estates.

Major General Desborow reports from the Committee of Parliament appointed to receive Propositions for raiseing Monies, A Clause to be added to the Bill aforesaid, touching the Sale of Glebe Lands belonging to Delinquents, in these Words; viz. "And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Glebe Lands, and Rectory Lands, with the Rights, Members, and Appurtenances belonging, or which did belong or appertain on the 20th of May 1642, or at any time since, unto any Delinquent, whose Estate is, by the Three Acts aforementioned, or either of them, forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, be and are hereby settled, vested, adjudged, and deemed to be, and are hereby, in the real and actual Possession and Seisin of Wm. Skinner, and the other the Trustees aforementioned, or any Five of them, and the Survivors and Survivor of them, and their Heirs and Assigns; and that they, their Heirs and Assigns, shall hold every Part and Parcel of the said Premises, in as full and ample manner as any other Lands of the said Traitor or Traitors, or any of them, in the said Acts beforementioned, or either of them; subject to such Trust and Uses, as by this Act, or in and by Authority of Parliament, shall be hereafter further directed and appointed; and shall dispose of the same accordingly."

"And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Contracts or Sales made, or to be made, by the Trustees aforementioned, or any Five of them, according to the Directions, Rules, and Limitations mentioned in this or any of the Three Acts before-mentioned, is and shall be hereby declared to stand good and effectual in Law, to all and every the Purchaser or Purchasers of any the Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments of the said Delinquents or Traitors aforementioned, or either of them; any Law, Act, Order, or Ordinance, in any wise to the contrary notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second time.

The Question being put, That this Clause touching Glebe Lands, shall be ingrossed;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, by the Parliament, That this Clause touching Glebe Lands, shall be ingrossed.

Recusants Estates.

Major General Desborow further reports from the Committee aforesaid, for raising Money, That the said Committee, having had serious Consideration of the Ways and Means for speedy raising of Monies for the Use of the Navy, do humbly propose, That the Parliament would pass an Act for exposing to Sale, or Composition, Two Parts (in Three Parts to be divided) of all the Lands and real Estates of Recusants, now vested in the Commonwealth, by virtue of several Acts of Parliament made in the several Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and the late King James.

The Question being propounded, That an Act shall be brought in for exposing to Sale Two Parts (in Three Parts to be divided) of all the Lands and real Estates of Recusants, now vested in the Commonwealth, by virtue of several Acts of Parliament made in the several Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and of the late King James;

And the Question being put, Whether this Question shall be now put;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, by the Parliament, That an Act shall be brought in for exposing to Sale Two Parts (in Three Parts to be divided) of all the Lands and real Estates of Recusants, now vested in the Commonwealth, by virtue of several Acts of Parliament made in the several Reigns of Queen Elizabeth, and of the late King James.