Open Writing

Next morning May went to Muriel's house. Producing her notebook, she said "Here's what I discovered. I have arranged the material in date order.''

She proeeded to list the following:

* Parliament, to see that the Papists be disarmed in those Counties: And that they may have Power to examine where the Defect hath been, that the Disarming and Convicting of them hath not been put in Execution: And to inquire the Cause thereof.

* Next, To let the Lords understand, that the Conviction of divers Recusants hath been hindered, under Pretence of Privilege 7 August 1641.

Proceedings against Recusants -
Sir Wm. Lewis, by Appointment, went up to the Lords with this Message; to desire a free Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning Proceedings against Recusants.
Mr. Pym reports from the Committee, appointed to prepare Heads for a Conference to be desired with the Lords, concerning the Proceedings against Recusants.
Next, To desire their Lordships, all Certiorari's in the King's Bench in this Case be superceded, that do hinder free Proceedings in this Kind; and that those that are Recusants, as also justly suspected, may be disarmed by the Common Law; as, in case of a Riot, or other Mischief, a Justice of Peace may use his Power to prevent it.
Next, That Precedents are extant: That the Marquis of Winchester, the Earl of Arundell, and others, have been disarmed, being Recusants."

"What do you think Recusant means?'' May mused.

Muriel went to consult her dictionary. She returned to annouce "It means displaying the back instead of the front, if that makes any sense. What you read was difficult to understand.''

"Yes, but interesting. The Lords were setting down precise criteria because they were inending to arrest an extremely powerful man.''

She then read "Mr. Sewer, being called in to the Bar, did inform this House, that he did see, on Monday was Sevennight, a great many of Arms in the Marquis of Winchester's House at Basingstoke, a Recusant; and that the Keeper of them told him, there were Arms for Fourteen or Fifteen Hundred Men.''

"Interesting how they talked about sevennight, meaning a week. We still use fortnight, but I never heard the word sevennight before."

"They obviously felt they had good reason to be worried about your relative."

May read on. "18th October 1643. Proceedings against Marquis of Winchester.
A Warrant of the Marquis of Winchester, to levy Monies, was read.
Resolved, &c. That the Marquis of Winchester's Estate shall be forthwith sequestered; and that it to be recommended to the Committee for Sequestrations, where his Estate lies, to put the same in Execution.
Resolved, &c. That the Marquis of Winchester be accused of High Treason: And Mr. Browne is to bring in a Charge against him.

"It took them over two years to go from worrying about the arms at his house to arresting him.
14th October 1645
Marquis of Winchester to be attached.
Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher attending this House shall bring the Marquis of Winchester to this House presently, to acknowledge his Offence committed against this House, he being taken in Arms at Basing House; and then this House will take into Consideration how to dispose of him further; and the Gentleman Usher to take him into Custody wheresoever he shall find him.
Marquis of Winchester committed to The Tower.

This Day the Marquis of Winchester was brought to this Bar, as a Delinquent. And the Speaker, by the Direction of the House, told him, That, for his High Offence, in deserting the Parliament, and for taking up Arms against the Parliament and Kingdom contrary to his Duty, this House for the present doth commit his Lordship to The Tower of London, there to be kept in safe Custody, during the Pleasure of this House.

11th November 1645
March. of Winchester, Leave to come to London, to her Husband.
Upon reading the Petition of Ja. Marquis of Winchester, Prisoner in The Tower of London; shewing, "That, by reason of his Imprisonment, he finds himself deprived of many Comforts he was wont to receive; and it being now Winter Season, and the Petitioner in Want of many Necessaries, and for the present somewhat infirm, he humbly beseecheth, that their Lordships would give Leave that his Wife may come up to the City of London, and have Access unto him, and to bring with her such Servants, and in such Sort, as their Lordships shall seem meet.
It is Ordered, That the Petitioner's Wife shall have a Pass to come to London, with her Servants and Necessaries.''

May paused to draw breath. "I don't expect prisoners nowadays have servants and necessaries. He'd only been there a month.
15 January 1646
Marquis of Winchester to have an Allowance.
The House was informed this Day of the great Necessity of the Marquis of Winchester in The Tower; that he hath nothing to feed him but what his Keeper voluntarily gives him. Therefore to send to the House of Commons, that he might have some Allowance of his own Estate, for his Maintenance.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Dr. Heath and Dr. Aylett to acquaint them of the distressed Condition of the Marquis of Winchester in The Tower; desiring some speedy Course may be taken for his Relief, that he may not starve.

7 September 1647
Passed the House of Commons the 7th of September, 1647.
It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Marquis of Winchester, a Prisoner in The Tower of London, shall have Liberty to go to Epsom Waters, for the Recovery of his Health; upon good Security given to the Lieutenant of the said Tower of London, to render himself a true Prisoner that Day Five Weeks that he shall go out of The Tower upon the said Security.

"Now he not only has servants and necessaries, and an allowance, and relief, but he also gets to go to take waters in Epsom!''

"But look at the date. This is nearly two years after he was arrested. I think he had served his time.'' said Muriel.
May read on:

"Marquis of Winchester's Bill.
The Lord Marquis of Winchester's Bill was reported, with the Amendments and Additions; which being read Twice, was Ordered to be ingrossed.
Memorandum, The Bond of Ten Thousand Pounds, entered into by the said Marquis of Winchester, for preserving of Woods, and preventing committing of Waste on the Lands, is to be kept in the Hands of the Lady Viscountess Savage, Grandmother to the Lord Marquis's Son.

"While he was in prison he was receiving funds from his mother.''

"That's what it sounds like,'' Muriel agreed. "But perhaps he received those funds before going into prison.''

"Almost a year passed by,'' said May, continuing her reading.

"30 June 1648
Message from Lords.
A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Heath and Mr. Eltonhead;
The Lords desire, That the Marquis of Winchester be at Liberty, upon Bail, by reason of his great Weakness, which very lately so extremely took him, that he was seeming dead for a great while.

"And just over a year later

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.
5 September 1649
Sir T. Jervis', &c, Claims.
Mr. Garland reports from the Lord President's Committee, the several Petitions of Sir Thomas Jervis Knight, Robert Wallopp Esquire, and Peter Weaver Gentleman, That it hath been proved unto the said Committee, That the said Sir Thomas Jervis Knight hath lost by these Wars, to the Value of Fifteen thousand Pounds: That the said Robert Wallopp hath also thereby lost to the Value of Fifty thousand Pounds: And that this Committee do think fit, if the Parliament be so pleased, to give unto the said Peter Weaver the Sum of Five hundred Pounds for his Losses and Imprisonment by the Marquis of Winchester:
And that the said Committee do also think sit that the said Sir Thomas Jervis have the Sum of Nine thousand Pounds, and the said Robert Wallopp the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds, allowed unto them out of the Marquis of Winchester's Estate, by whom principally they suffered such their Damages: And that, for the Relief of the said Sir Thomas Jervis, Robert Wallopp, and Peter Weaver, the said Mr. Garland bring in Acts of Parliament accordingly.''

"So after releasing him from prison they siezed his estate, sold it, and gave the proceeds to those whom they said had suffered because of him,'' said Muriel.

"Yes, that seems to have been the case,'' said May. "Now we are moving on eleven years. Your relative seems to have done pretty ell in the end.

11 April 1659 Coney's Purchase.
The humble Petition of George Coney Esquire was this Day read; and was, concerning a Purchase made by him and others, from the Trustees for Sale of Delinquents Estates, of the Manor of Hooke, and several other Manors, and Lands, late Parcel of the Possessions of John now Marquis of Winchester, in the Counties of Dorsett, Devon, and Cornewall.
The humble Petition of Charles Lord St. John, eldest Son to John now Marquis of Winchester, was this Day read; and was, concerning his Claim and Title to the said Manors.
This Committee are to examine the Matter of Fact in the aforesaid Two Petitions of Mr. George Coney and the Lord St. John; and to report the same to the House: And have Power to send for Parties, Papers, Witnesses, and Records: And are to give timely Notice to all Persons concerned: And are to meet about the same in the Star Chamber, To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock.
Chief Baron of Exchequer

Order to restore the M. of Winchester to all his Estates sold without his Consent.
The House being this Day informed, That the Estate of the Marquis of Winchester was illegally disposed of, aliened, and sold, without either Hearing, Summons, or Proof of any Charge against the said Marquis, and contrary to the Privilege of Peerage, and the fundamental Laws of the Land.
It is ORDERED, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the said Dispositions, Alienations, and Sales, of the Estate of the said Marquis of Winchester, be, and are hereby declared to be, null and void (excepting those Lands which he hath consented to be sold); and that the Marquis of Winchester be, and is hereby, restored to the Possession of his Estate, in whose Hands soever the same is, together with all Arrears of Rents, Fines, and other Profits, which are now in the Tenants Hands, or in any other Persons, not accounted for, and to all Timber and Wood felled off any Part of the said Estate, and to all Materials of Houses and Buildings taken off any Part of the said Estate. And hereof all Persons whatsoever are to take Notice, and yield Obedience hereunto accordingly...''

After trying to absorb this large quantity of complex information, the girls decided it was high time to break for lunch.