April 1652: An Act for transferring the Powers of The Committees for Obstructions.

April, 1652.

[1 April, 1652.]

The powers of the Committees for removing Obstructions setled in Commissioners.; The Commissioners Names.

Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament, and by the Authority thereof, and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained, That all and every the Powers and Authorities which any Committee or Committees of Parliament for removing of Obstructions in the sale of the Lands of the late Archbishops and Bishops; or in the Sale of the Lands of the Deans, Deans and Chapters, &c. or in the sale of the Honors, Manors, Castles, Parks, Lands and other Hereditaments, sometimes belonging to the late King, Queen and Prince, and to every or any of them; or in the sale of the Fee-farm rents belonging to the Commonwealth of England, formerly payable to the Crown of England, Dutchy of Lancaster, and Dutchy of Cornwal; or in the sale of the several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, might or ought on the Thirtieth day of March, One thousand six hundred fifty and two, to have used or exercised by force and vertue of any Act, Ordinance or Order of Parliament, be and are hereby transferred from the said Committee or Committees, and are hereby vested and setled in Josias Berners Esq; Francis Mussenden Esq; Sir William Roberts Knight, John Parker Esq; Henry Pit Esq; Matthias Valentine Esq; and Robert Aldworth Esq; who by this present Act, and the Authority thereof, or any four of them, are hereby authorized to do and execute all and every the said Acts, Orders, or Ordinances, and all and every the Powers and Authorities in or by them, or any of them, given, granted, limited or appointed, Any thing in the said Acts, Orders or Ordinances to the contrary notwithstanding.

Any four of the Commissioners to determine Claims before 1 October 1652.; Their Judgements to stand confirmed.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the persons above named, or any four or more of them, be impowered, and authorized by proof upon Oath (which they or any four of them have hereby power to administer) or by such other ways or means as shall be requisite and approved of by them, or any four or more of them, at any time before the First day of October, which shall be in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred fifty and two, to examine, adjudge, and finally determine, all and every the Claim and Claims which were before the First day of December, One thousand six hundred fifty and one, put in before the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, to any the said Lands or Estates: And that all and every such Judgement and Determination shall by Authority of this present Parliament, stand confirmed and good, according to the Tenor and Purport thereof; which said Judgement or Determination shall and may be transmitted by them, or any four or more of them, to the Trustees for sale of the said Lands and Estates, by them to be Entred and Observed accordingly: And being so Transmitted, or Certified and Entred, shall be as good and effectual, as if such Judgement and Determination had been given and made by the Committee in the said Act last mentioned before the said First day of December, Any thing in the said Act, authorizing the sale of the said Lands and Estates, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Petitions, References, &c., taken by former Committees to be allowed.

Provided always, That all Petitions, References and Examinations upon Oath, taken by or before the several Committees of Parliament for Removing of Obstructions; And all the Proceedings before the said Committees or any of them, in pursuance of the Powers to them granted, shall be allowed and admitted by the Commissioners hereby appointed, or any four or more of them, as if the same had been taken, had or done, by or before the said Commissioners.

The Commissioners enjoyned to take this

And the said Commissioners and every of them, are enjoyned and required at or before the Tenth day of April, One thousand six hundred fifty and two, to take the Oath hereafter expressed before the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, or any two of them, who are hereby authorized and required to administer the same in these words; That is to say,

Oath.

I A. B. do swear, That I will, according to my best skill and knowledge, faithfully discharge the Trust committed unto me in Relation to an Act, Entituled, An Act for transferring the Powers of the Committee for Obstructions; And that I will not for favour or affection, rewards or gifts, or hopes of reward or gift, break the same.