BERKEAMSTEB COMMOX. 71 



On April 2nd, 1641, William and John Edlyn and 

 Francis Fenn appeared before the House of Lords to 

 answer the complaint of the Council of the Duchy ; they 

 were then committed to custody till the case should 

 be heard. This appears to have been deferred till 

 August 6th, when counsel were heard, and the House 

 of Lords made an order for the quiet enjoyment of 

 the inclosed land during the continuance of the then 

 Parliament, but declined to give any decision as to the 

 merits of the case. The following entry appears in the 

 Lords' Journals : 



" Upon the Commissioners for the Prince his Highness's 

 Revenue, shewing that of late and now sitting the Parliament, 

 diverse disorderly persons have entered into certaine improved 

 lands of the Prince his Highness, within the Manor of Berk- 

 hamsted and Meere, being parcell of the Dutchie of Corn- 

 wall, and have pulled down and carried away the fences of the 

 said grounds : Whereupon William Edlyn, John Edlyn, and 

 Francis Fenn, complained of by the said Commissioners, were 

 convened as delinquents before their Lordships, and counsel 

 being heard at large on both sides in open Courte at the bar, 

 and after due consideration of the whole matter : It is ordered 

 that the Prince His Highness (being a member of this House) 

 shall quietly and peaceably hold and enjoy the said landes 

 within the Manors aforesaid, for and during the continuance of 

 the present Parliament, and the privileges of the same. And 

 although this House was fully satisfied upon hearing the said 

 matter that the Petitioners before complained of were delin- 

 quents, yet upon their submission this House was pleased to 

 remit their offence, with this caution : that if they or any others 

 whatsoever shall again, during the tyme aforesaid, offende in 

 the like kinde, that then they shall be severely punished for the 



