Transcript:Gervase Dodson Pardon Claim, 1660

1 Dodson's claime of } These may certify that I Gervase Dodson haveing

2 the King's Pardon } beene a soldier severall yeares in Ireland & England

3 for the King & Parliament till the death of the late

4 King Charles the first when I left all & came into

5 this Country, & now God haveing pleased in mercy to

6 restore his hopefull sonne Charles the second to the

7 Crowne who hath given a free pardon to all & alsoe

8 liberty to tender Concsciences if witin fforty dayes

9 by any Publiq act they lay hold & claimes the same

10 & returne to their obedience, I the said Gervase --

11 Dodson whoe ever loved the Kings [per]son & posterity

12 onely opposed that which the Parliament said ruined

13 him & the Land (Evill Counsell) which I could not

14 presume to know soe much as they doe hereby lay--

15 claime to the said Par[..] & [senever], & if I have - [comment: hole in document, word unknown, unintelligible]

16 done sayd or written any thing at any time which

17 might be soe construed [..] doe here desire to fly [comment: Jett adds "I" here]

18 to the same a[.....] full & absolute indemnity; and [comment: beginning of tear in document, missing text]

19 [enga]ge to be faithfull to the sd. King Charles the

20 Second [...] Prince ext under Christ Jesus [comment: missing word]

21[ .....] to every Protection & liberty of conscience

22[........] my God as the King hath promised in

23 [............] in which I have claimes as my right; and I

24 [..........] beloved wife & attorney to deliver this in

25 [..............] Richard Lee & the Coms. of Northumberland

26 [.................] Recorded & if need be get it set over

27 [.....................] do[..] or read publiquely witnes my

28 [...........................] 15th of the 9th month 1660

29 ..........................................Ger: Dodson

30[...........................................] this was recorded. [comment: missing date, the subsequent entry was recorded 17 Dec 1660]

References

Northumberland County Order Book 1652-1666, p. 49.

See Carolyn H. Jett, Gervase Dodson Claims Pardon of King Charles II, The Bulletin of the Northumberland Historical Society, Vol 22: p 45, 1985.

Note: this transcript expands upon the transcription of Ms. Jett published in her article but also adds comments, additions and suggested corrections to the text.