Committee for Compounding with Delinquents facts for kids

During the English Civil War, which began in 1642, the English Parliament fought against King Charles I and his supporters, known as Royalists. As the war continued, Parliament needed money to fund its army and government. To do this, they created special groups called committees.

In 1643, Parliament set up two important committees. The first was the Sequestration Committee. Its job was to take control of the properties and lands (called "estates") belonging to Royalists who were fighting against Parliament. This act of taking property was called "sequestration."

The second committee was the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents. This committee offered a way for Royalists whose estates had been taken to get them back. If a Royalist wanted their property returned, they had to pay a special fine. This process was called "compounding." To get their estates back, Royalists also had to promise not to fight against Parliament again. The amount of the fine depended on how much the estate was worth and how strongly the Royalist had supported the King.

Why These Committees Were Formed

The English Civil War was a big conflict between Parliament and the King. Parliament needed ways to control its enemies and raise money.

Taking Royalist Property

The "Parliamentary Committee for the Sequestration of Delinquents' Estates" was created in 1643. Its main goal was to seize the lands and wealth of Royalists who had fought against Parliament. These Royalists were sometimes called "delinquents" because they were seen as disloyal to Parliament.

Allowing Royalists to Pay a Fine

Soon after, the Committee for Compounding for the Estates of Royalists and Delinquents was set up. This committee first met on November 8, 1643, at Goldsmiths' Hall in the City of London. It gave Royalists a chance to get their confiscated estates back.

In January 1646, the committee offered good terms for those who paid their fines before May 1. Many Royalists took this opportunity. They could regain their lands by paying a fine based on the value of their property and how much they had supported the King.

How the Fines Were Paid

If a Royalist wanted to get their estate back, they had to apply to the Committee for Compounding with Delinquents, which was based in London. The local committees that had first taken the estates were later brought under the control of this main London committee.

Declaring Estate Value

To figure out the fine, the Royalist had to give the committee a signed list of all their income and properties. This list was a promise that they were telling the truth about their wealth. For example, a declaration might say something like: "This is a true list of the estate I want to settle with this Honourable Committee, and I agree to the fine they set."

Making the Payment

Most of the time, the fines were paid at Goldsmiths' Hall in London, where the Committee for Compounding was located. The money collected from these fines helped Parliament pay for the war and other government needs.

After the War

After the Civil War ended and the monarchy was brought back in 1660 (an event known as the Restoration), most of the lands that had been taken from Royalists were returned to their original owners.