________________
TIE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
NOVEMBER, 1921
" The Comittee haveing taken into Consideration the many Debty which are remayning Due to the Company and most upon Old Accompts, And the severall Persons having notice to meete the Comittee thiy Day in relation thereunto, which finding them not to comply with, It was therefore Directed that the Sollicitor clos forth with take out Writts against the following Persons and to have them
arrested, vizt., ... Roger Scattergood." In consequence, "At a Coinmittee for Debts" on the 13th June 1666,68 several of the debtors appeared and made statements regarding their liabilities:
"Mr. Roger Scattergood Declareth that there is 520 li. Stopt Due to him for Dividents and that bee will pay in 500 li. more next weeke. Whereupon hee Desireth to have 1000 li. Vallue in Goods Delivered him, and that hee will Cleare his wholo Accompt Depending with the Company by the 20th Julie next, which beeing taken into Consideration by the Comittee, it was ordered that hee paying in 500 li. or what
more hee pleaseth, may have Libertie to take away Goodes for the same Vallue." But fresh troubles were in store. Eurly in September 1666 the Great Fire swept away a Jarge portion of the business premises in the City of London, and soine of Roger Scattergood's property, with that of other debtors, was reduced to ashes. At a Court held on the 2nd October, ' practical sympathy was expressed with the sufferers :
"The Comittee having taken into consideration the sadd Calamities which amongst many other men have befallen some of their Debtors, whereupon they resolved not to prosecute any this Ternje but only the ... Persons whoe [they) conceive have not been any great sufferers by the late fyer, their houses not being
burnt downe." This concession seems to have encouraged Scattergood to make a further effort to free himself of his embarrassments. At a Court held on the 19th November 1666, 50 "Mr. Roger Scattergood saith hee will pay a considerable Summe by the latter end of
December and will make it up 1200 li, with the Dividents. And that hee will runn all losses and damages by fyer or otherwise, But desires to bee excused as
to adjusting his accompt as yett." And on the 6th December, 51
"Mr. Roger Scattergood saith he will pay in Soe much mony with his dividents as shall make it up 1500 li. and will cleare all very Suddainly, But desires to take
away goodes for Sue much mony as he payes in." By January 1666-7 the Court's patience was exhausted. On the 5th it was
"Resolved now to resell at next sale the goods bought by the severall Persons following, excepting such as shall bee cleared or mony paid in upon their acconipts
betweene this and munday night..Roger Scattergood." On the same day 53
"Mr. Roger Scattergood apeareing and being not willing to adjust his accompt or pay Interest for goodes he bought at sales, which hee did not obleidge himselfe to by bonds and seale, but proinisses he will pay in a considerable summe of mony this weeke on his accompt, which the Committee haveing taken into consideration they tould him they were resolved to resell what lawfully they could and would sue him
for the rest." But, at the same time, Mr. Moses, the Company's attorney, was 18 Court Minutes, XXVA, 9.
49 Ibid., p. 16. 50 Ibid., p. 20. * Ibid., p. 24.
63 Ibid., p. 26.
19 Ibid., p. 26.
