Bourne Archive:
FNQ: C17 Civil War
http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQ838.htm
Latest edit 11 Aug 2009.
Interactive
version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY
The Bourne Archive
FNQ
Fenland Notes and Queries. Edited by Rev. W.D. Sweeting, Rector of Maxey.
Part 45. April 1900.
This quarterly periodical took the form of a forum in
which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the
Seventeenth
Century Civil War.
838.
The King’s 10,000 Acres. – At the
Restoration, several persons who had lost their estates by adhering to the
King’s cause, petitioned for a grant of some part of the 10,000 acres in the
Bedford Level which were reserved for the King’s use. Francis Underwood, of Whittlesea, who had been a colonel in the army of the
Parliament, obtained a grant of 1156 acres “under pretence of his good service
to His Majesty in the management of his work of draining the fens.”
This seemed strange to those who
had lost all in the royal cause. Dr. Hudson’s widow went begging [See Article 517]. Alexander Downinge was also another petitioner who pointed out the
wrong done to the King’s service by the grant to a rebel colonel. He had served
loyally. His father, Major-General John Downinge lost
life and estate in the King’s cause [Major-General John Downinge,
not Major-General George Downinge, who was
Scout-Master of the Parliament’s forces.]
and his mother had spent the small remainder of
her fortune in vain solicitations.
His petition in the year 1661 is
as follows: ---
To the Kg’s most Exclt. Matie the humble petn. Of
Alexander Downinge esqr
Humbly sheweth
That whereas Leut. Coll. Francis
Underwood of Whittlesey in the Isle of Ely hath upon
pretence of serving yor Matie and other things by him alleaged obteyned for himself and
his sonne a considerable gratuity from yor Matie
--- yor petnr
being able to prove hee never served your Maty but was on of his cruellest and bloodiest
persecutors that were agst yor
Matys cause and friends and did not onely declare himself soe in his
actions before yor Maty’s
happy restauration but in his discourse hath declared
as much since.
May it therefore please yor
sacred Matie To
hear yor petnrs
witnesses agst the said Underwood who are very sufficient
people And able to prove the premises
And
yor petitioner will ever pray &c.
This petition was lodged with this
letter for Sir Henry Bennet, Principal Secretary of
State: ---
These
ffor Sir Henery Bennett, Kt. Principall
Secretary
of State at Whitt-hall
Present ---------
Sir
I have been severall times to wayght upon yor honor about the incolsed but never could find a seasonable opportunity and nowe not being in a condicion to waight upon you for some fewe
days I have made bould to send my Brother to waight upon yor honr. wth this
knowledge of what is mentioned in my petition; first that Underwood hath been a
great Rebill against the King and his interest both
before and since this happy restauracon and also was
fully paid off according to his contract for his services in the fenn and that these are all he can allege for himself wch I can verie well prove by
mane [many] of his neighbours So though my desire be that such men shd not receave his Maties favors or as I
have been promised anything I could find out that weare
reasonable if I prove these things against Underwood I hope this may be as fitt for me as any other. The thing is worth 500£ a year
besides what he pays for it. I will fully prove this against him so I may have yor honor’s assistance and if it
be obtained in my name I freely yeald to have it
equally divided between your honor and yor most obliged humble and unfeyned
servant.
A. Downinge.
Mr Downinge
did not then obtain any part of the King’s acres: but His Majesty provided him
with a commission of captain in the Foot Guards, a force that was raised at the
Restoration.
L.G.