LINCOLNSHIRE BMD

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Berchet & al. Petition, for the French and Dutch Congregations to enjoy their Possessions quietly, in Hatfield Chace, in the Isle of Axholme; and for the Minister to have his Stipend.
To the Right Honourable the Lords in the most High Court of Parliament assembled.
The humble Petition of Peter Berchett Minister of God's Word, John Barrell, and John Amorye, as well for and on the Behalf of themselves, as other the French and Dutch Inhabitants of the new-improved Grounds, lying in the Level of Hatfeild Chace and Parts adjacent, in the Isle of Axholme, in the several Counties of Yorke, Lincolne, and Nott.
Shewing,
That your Petitioners, and other the said Inhabitants, or some of them, have, for the Space of Sixteen Years now last past, been Farmers and Occupiers of divers great Parcels of Land, lying in the said Level, and Parts adjacent thereunto belonging, in the said Isle, which were heretofore surrounded and drowned with Waters, and, at the great Expence of above Two Hundred Thousand Pounds, drained by Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, and other the Participants in the said Level, which Lands were before of little or no Use or Value; but, by the great Industry, Charge, and Labour, of the said Participants and your Petitioners, are now become very fruitful, and commodious to the Commonwealth, by the great Quantities of Corn and Rapeseed there growing.
That they have built many Houses, and a Church; and have a settled French Congregation amongst them, consisting of above One Thousand Souls; and that the said Participants have, by Agreement amongst themselves, contracted to allow their Minister Threescore and Ten or Fourscore Pounds per Annum, for his Pains to be bestowed, among your Petitioners.
That, notwithstanding your Petitioners so long and quiet Possession of the said Lands, and that that Part thereof which lyeth in the Isle of Axbolme was settled upon the said Participants by a Decree of the Court of Exchequer, made by Consent of the most Part of the Inhabitants of the said Isle; yet nevertheless a great Multitude of the meaner Sort of the Inhabitants of the said Isle have, about a Month since, raised a Commotion, and, in a most riotous, violent, and barbarous Manner, without any Order of Law, entered upon your Petitioners Possessions, lying in the Manor of Epworth, within the said Level; thrown down their Fences and Inclosures; destroyed the most Part of your Petitioners Corn and Rape-seed there growing, to a very good Value, with their Cattle; broken, cut in Pieces, and burnt, most of the Petitioners Ploughs and Implements of Husbandry; and offered and committed other great Outrages, by beating and wounding your Petitioners; and daily threaten to pull down all the Petitioners Houses, and their Church; and thereby utterly supplant and drive them away, to the utter Undoing of your poor Petitioners, their Wives and Children.
Their humble Petition therefore is, that this Honourable Assembly (the Premises tenderly considered) will be pleased to Order, that they may quietly enjoy their Habitations and Possessions, and the Comfort of their Labours, without any further Disturbance; and that some speedy Course be taken, to suppress such exorbitant Riots and Outrages; and that your Petitioners may receive Satisfaction for the great Loss and Damage they have sustained from the Ringleaders of the said Commotion; that their Congregation may be established in Peace; and that their Minister may have his promised Allowance duly paid him, which is detained from him by the said Participants.
And the Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.
"John Barrell.
John Amory."

From: 'House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 15 November 1645', Journal of the House of Lords: volume 7: 1644 (1802), pp. 705-07. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=33447&strquery=barrell. Date accessed: 20 April 2005.