Disbursed and spent when I was High Sheriff, which was before my Estate fell into my hands, £--"

Upon what particular occasion this calculation was made, does not distinctly appear. It is among the private papers of the family already alluded to, and may have been compiled merely for private satisfaction; but it has more the appearance of having been intended to form the basis of a representation to be made to the existing government, by way of set-off (perhaps) against further exactions. At all events, it was at a period subsequent to the baronet's having been admitted to his first composition.

On the 9th of April, 1646, we have seen that the city of Exeter surrendered to the parliament forces, under Sir Thomas Fairfax, upon articles dated the day preceding, the substance of which is to be found in Rushworth, and other collections. Sir John Acland was included in the articles; and we are next presented with a letter from the general to the Speaker of the House of Commons, recommending him to the benefit of a composition. It is a mere formal paper, but will serve to shew the manner in which this business was ordinarily conducted.

"SIR, according to the articles agreed unto upon the surrender of Exeter, I do recommend unto your consideration Sir John Acland, of Columbjohn, in the county of Devon, knight, (a gentleman of quality in this county) for a moderate composition for his estate, and desire you will present this my request on his behalf to the honourable House of Commons, that he may partake of their favour therein accordingly. He seemed to be very sincere in continuing for the future obedient unto the parliament's commands. And, upon his address unto you, I hope he will give that further satisfaction, as to deserve your favour. Having no more to trouble you with, I rest your humble FAIRFAX."

servant,

Exeter, April, 14th, 1646."

"To the Honourable Wm. Lenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons. Vera Copia."

On the 22d of July, 1646, his fine was set by the committee of Goldsmith's Hall, in the alternation, at £1727,* for onetenth, and at £4318, for one-third of the value of his returned property; and on the 4th of August, on payment of £863. 18s. (the moiety of the smaller sum) his sequestrator was suspended by an order, of which the following is a copy:

* The following paper explains the principles of the computation. Rents of assize, (in lots) per ann. £154 2s. 8d... At 6 years' value, £924 16s. Demesnes of inheritance, per ann. 320 Os. Od... At 2 years' value,...640 Os. In lease for one and two lives, per ann.53 12s. Od... At 1 year's value,....53 12s. In expectance. 110... .....At 1 year's value,.. 110 ́ Os. In high rent and day rent paid to me, not improveable, for which we desire abatement.... 14 11s. Od.

.......

£1728 8s.

"At the committee for compounding with delinquents, 4th Aug. 1646; Whereas, by an order of the honourable House of Commons, (23d Feb. 1645.) this committee are authorised, and enabled to suspend the sequestration of such delinquents as shall compound with the said committee, they having paid the moiety of the said fine, and given security for the other moiety; &c. these are to certify, &c. that John Akland, of Columbjohn, in the county of Devon, Esq. (it seems, they did not acknowledge the validity of his baronet's patent) hath accordingly appeared at this committee, and submitted to the fine imposed on him, in manner as is by the said orders directed, and paid and secured the same. And hereof, all committees, sequestrators, &c. are to take notice, and upon sight hereof, to conform hereto, and forbear to proceed upon the sequestration, to the prejudice of the estate, real or personal, of the said John Acland, compounded for according to a particular delivered under his hand, a copy whereof is herewith sent you. Unless there shall be any further estate discovered, not mentioned in the said particulars; provided always, that the said John Acland do sue forth a pardon under the great seal within six weeks after his composition shall be allowed of by both houses of parliament.

"(To the committee of parliament, for the county of Devon; and all others whom it may concern.)"

While Sir John was in London, prosecuting the affairs of this composition, his lady, with the family, appears to have been left at Exeter; the family seat being in the hands of the sequestrator, and, probably, in too dismantled a state to be occupied as a residence.

Their condition, during this anxious period, may be collected from the following letter of the lady* (dated, the 25th July, 1646,) to the steward or agent employed in transacting the business.

"CHARLES KNIGHT,-I expected every week that you would have sent for money to be returned up unto you; but hearing nothing from you to that purpose, Mr. Turpin would not suffer me to return any unto you until now. You shall now receive £600 from me, which is all you must expect from me, being all I have. You write, I must have patience, and expect better times. I was never in a sadder condition than now, seeing the many troubles your master is in, and feeling so many of my own. I have taken the best order I can concerning my goods, within doors and without; so that now I am master of nothing. Yet I have eight soldiers (horsemen) put upon me. am fain to buy all the provision for them and their horses. Where I intended to send my boys to school the sickness is fallen in, so that now I know not how to dispose of them. It is very ill for them being

* This lady, who appears from her letters to have been a woman of great sense and understanding, was the daughter of Sir Francis Vincent (who married for his second wife Sir John Acland's mother) by a former marriage.

I

with me, by reason I am subject to all companies, and from all places; so that I fear myself and them daily; and, therefore, would have you get me some convenient place out of the town, where I might have a lodging for some short time; for I intend to come off with my children within this fortnight, and then to place them abroad for their learning, and then (if it be thought fit) myself to turn back again. Send this letter to your master; and, if he like of it, you may send a coach for me. If not, I must make the best shift I can here. Your master writ for Anthony Croft to come up, who says he will not move until he knows upon what terms, and under twelve pounds a year he will not serve. Turpin desires you to be well advised in the appraising of the goods; for if you appraise them too low, the after-clap will be worse than the first. Pray continue your care in the business, and I hope God will send a good end unto it; and so I bid you farewell, and remain your friend, ELIZABETH ACLAND.

"Fail not to excuse me to your master for not writing this week. I have so much business lies on my hands, that I know not how to bestow myself."

The letter which follows, written by the same unfortunate lady, is worthy of preservation, not only on account of the personage to whom it is addressed, but as throwing additional light on the circumstances of the case, and affording an explanation of the reason for the employment of an agent, instead of suing out his compositions in person. It is indorsed, "My lady's letter to Colonel Cromwell, 2nd August, 1646.”

"SIR, I received such ample testimony of your love when you were pleased to quarter at my house, as that I cannot sufficiently express my thankfulness for the same. My husband (I hear) hath made his composition at Goldsmiths' Hall, which, indeed, is so high, as that he must be forced to sell his land for payment thereof; and yet, nevertheless, I do much fear that when the same shall be reported to the House, his fine may be augmented, in regard he is constant amongst the number of delinquents, and, in some degree, excepted on the propositions: but I hope the articles of Exeter, if observed, will clear him. He is not a little fearful to come within the precincts of London; being engaged for many public debts for the king, (which, if arrested, he must lye for it,) so that he is at present debarred from waiting on you, or any other of his friends. Therefore, Sir, I make bold to present you with this, my request, by my son, that when his business comes to be reported to the House by the committee, you will be pleased well to give your voice on his behalf, which will be a great addition to your former favours to me, and oblige me evermore ready to demonstrate myself your most humble servant,

"Columbjohn, 23rd July, 1646."

ELIZABETH ACLAND."

The fear of augmentation, expressed in the foregoing

letter, soon became verified; and the following petition, and order made upon it, explain the grounds of surplusage and the nature of the subsequent proceedings.

"The copy of Sir John Acland's Petition to the Committee of Goldsmiths' Hall, March 27, 1647.

"To the right honourable, &c., Sheweth,

"That your petitioner did compound with this committee, according to the articles of Exeter, and his fine by them set at £1727, whereof £863 10s. was paid, and the remainder secured to be paid in November.

"That on 3rd September, 1646, the fine was advanced to a greater sum, which your petitioner has sought to redress, claiming the benefit of the articles by a petition which is in the hands of a member of the House.

"This advance of fine begot his stay of the second payment, with which he humbly acquainted the committee before the day of the second payment, and offered payment if he might enjoy the benefit of the composition and articles.

"That, for want of this payment, petitioner's estate is now lately anew sequestered, and upon pretence of his particular, herein presented, was undervalued.

That, on 3rd September, the surplusage was granted, by order of the House of Commons, to Richard Evans, to recompense his losses and damages he pretended to have received by petitioner.*

"That the said Evans, without ever calling petitioner to it, or any examination by this committee taken, prevailed ou them to have an order from this committee to the commissioners in the county of Devon and city of Exeter, the contents whereof petitioner knows not, nor can obtain a copy.

"That the said Evans thereupon proceeded to make a survey of petitioner's lands, and a certificate from the committee of the county to this committee concerning them, and from the committee of the city, a certificate of goods formerly sold, bonâ fide, by petitioner to one Turpin.

* Among the royalist composition papers, we have "A particular of the goods of Sir John Acland, Bart., which were attached at the suit of Mr. Richard Evans, the 3rd day of May, 1646, by Richard Trigger and William Cholwill, two of the sergeants at mace of the city of Exon." Also, "A perfect inventory of the lands and estates of Mr. John Acland, of Columbjohn, Esq., valued by Capt. Henry Newbery, sequestrator, and John Hawkins, Thomas Osborne (constables,) Edward Eveleigh, and Richard Musgrave, with the true value, that his demesnes and what his yearly rent, what he enjoyed at the time of his composition, were valued at per annum, before the troubles, 25th September, 1646." These are curious documents; but we cannot afford space for their transcription.

"That this committee hereupon authorised the committee of the county and city to deliver to Evans the surplus certified, and to be aiding and assisting to him therein. And all this, although directed by the House of Commons, the informations should be examined, yet was not your petitioner, nor any for him, called hereunto, either here or in the county; but is, by the said Evans, rifled in his whole estate, and his goods, compounded for, violently taken away; whereby his second payment hath been disabled, petitioner ever since lying under (as he doth at this present) a sharp sickness.

"The premises considered, petitioner humbly tenders his second payment, and thereupon prayeth the sequestration newly laid on may be suspended, as formerly it was by this committee. That Evans's informations, directed to be examined by the House of Commons, may so be with indifferency, and petitioner thereunto called, and not concluded by Evans's certificate, penned ex parte, only, and your petitioner's estate and family thereby ruined.

"And your petitioner, &c."

66

"Order for Review, &c.

"Goldsmiths' Hall. By the committee, 2nd May, 1647.

Upon the petition of John Acland of (&c.) Esq., that further consideration may be had of the certificate of surplusage of his estate, omitted in the particular delivered in by him to the committee, which was granted, by order of the House of Commons, to Mr. Evans, of Exeter, it was ordered, that the business be referred to your care; and you are hereby authorised and required to call both parties before you, and to hear what can be said and objected on either side; and, upon due examination and full satisfaction given you in that business, that you make a speedy return thereof to the committee. And for your more certain proceedings therein, we have sent you copies of the particulars returned hither, of which Mr. Acland is to have copies, if he desire it: and in the interim, that all deeds, writings, and evidences, belonging to the said Mr. Acland or his estate, remaining in your custody, or under your power, may be preserved from defacing and prejudice, and kept in safety until he be enabled, by order from this committee, to recover them.'

("To the Committee and Sequestrators for the City of Exeter.")

"At the Standing Committee of Devon, 15th June, 1647. "It is ordered (&c.) that the several agents for sequestration who have sequestered the estate of John Acland, of Columbjohn, Esq., mentioned in his particular, and compounded for at Goldsmiths'. Hall, shall pay unto Mrs. Elizabeth Acland, his wife, the fifth part of all the clear yearly value they shall receive out of the said estate, for the maintainance of her and her children, until further order." (Signed, &c.)

The following are papers without date or signature, but