To the PARLIAMENT of the Common-wealth of ENGLAND.
The humble Petition of Samuel Vassall Esq
THat for his opposing the illegall Taxes laid by the late King as the Royall Loan Kinghthood money, Coat and Conduct money and Costomes; your Petitioner endured severall Imprisonments and commitments into Custody of many Messengers, and to the Marshal seys, Fleet, and Gatehouse for about 16 years: Untill the Parliament was to be called, your Petitioner could not be freed out of the Gatehouse, and your Petitioners goods being taken away from him, were never restored to this day. All which losses and sufferings he endured for the Liberty of the Subject, still living in hope of a Parliament wherein your Petitioner should be relieved, and accordingly the Parliament referred the consideration of his losses to a Committee, upon whose report this Honourable House was pleased to Vote him 10445 l. 12 s. 2 d. for his dammages; and also Voted they would take him into their further consideration for his Imprisonment and Charges in Suits of Law; of all which your Petitioner hath never had one penny. Besides there is due to your Petitioner 2591 l. 17 s. 6 d. for moneys lent the Parliament in Ireland in their great straights (as by the Votes of Parliament appears) placed upon the Excise with Interest, which hath been stopped without any cause known to your Petitioner. There is also due for one of his Ships service called the May Flower, 3328 l. 2 s. 7 d. as appears by the Books of the Treasurers of the Navy. Also he hath part of three Ships which were in the Service, and are yet unpaid.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly prayeth, That this Honourable Parliament will appoint him the money already placed on the Excise, as also his money due for the service of his Ship May Flower, that he and his Posterity be not ruinated by their hands, for whose sakes, and in obedience to whose Commands he ventured his life, and utter ruine of his Posterity; and for that the Parliament was pleased to Vote him, That your Honours will be pleased to give him leave to bring in so many French wines as the Custome and Excise may pay him, or any other way that your Honours shall thinke fit.
Die Lunae 28. January 1646.
Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Mr. Samuel Vassall shall have the summe of 10445 l. 12 s. 2 d. paid him for his losses sustained for denying to pay Tonnage and Poundage, not granted by Act of Parliament, in pursuance and obedience to a Declaration of this Honourable House.
Resolved upon the Question, That this House doth declare, that they will in due time take Mr. Vassall into their further consideration for his Imprisonment and personall sufferings.
Die Jovis 6. May 1647.
Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the summe of 2591 l. 17 s. 6 d. due to Mr. Vassall for moneys and Commodities taken in Ireland for the service of the Parliaments forces, there be charged upon the Excise in course with interest for the same, from this day payable every six monthes, and that the Acquittance of the said Mr. Vassall or his Assignees for the said summe of 2591 l. 17 s. 6 d. shall be a sufficient discharge to the Commissioners of Excise.
Your Petitioner hopeth, That this Honourable House will take him into their further consideration for his great charges and expences in Suits in Law and Imprisonments, besides his personall sufferings, and losse of Trade, which to him was at least 2000 l. per annum; which hath been utterly lost to your Petitioner and this Common-wealth ever since for at least 25. yeares.
l. | s. | d. | |
Due from the Excise, and lent the Lord Inchiqueen in Ireland | 2591 | 17 | 06 |
For interest of the same 2552 l. received for one years interest 207 l. Rest | 1345 | 10 | 00 |
Due for the service of the May Flower | 3328 | 00 | 00 |
For interest of the same | 1600 | 00 | 00 |
For that the Parliament was pleased to Vote him for his losses | 10445 | 12 | 02 |
Besides a good summe due for the service of two other Ships | 700 | 00 | 00 |
20010 | 19 | 08 |
Note that the 2591 l. 17 s. 6 d. abovesaid, was ready money and Victuals furnished out of my Ships to supply the Souldiers under command of the Lord Inchiqueen, when they were ready to mutiny, which your Petitioner was forced to supply from this place to his great losse.
Also his Ship May Flower was taken from him when she was ready to set sail from Blackwall on a Merchants Voyage, being Loaden, Victualled and Manned with 60 men for the Straights, by order of the Committee of the safety, was presently carried away to intercept some Vessels bound for Ireland with provisions to the Rebels, which she performed, but to the overthrow of his Voyage, to his great dammage.
And after she was returned she was fitted for another Merchants Voyage, and ready to set sail as before, she was again taken from him to prevent some designe of the enemy, to the overthrow of his Voyage, and his great losse.