The Report of the Committee of the Army upon a Reference from His HIGHNESS, in a Case depending between Francis Farrington Plaintiff, and William chamberlain Defendant.  
At the COMMITTEE for the ARMY, May 18. 1656.  
IN pursuance of a Reference from His Highness the Lord Protector of the 3d of January 1655. whereby the Petition of William chamberlain of London Merchant( relating to a difference between him the said chamberlain and one Francis Farrington) is referred to this Committee, with direction to call for the Parties and examine Witnesses concerning the Particulars mentioned in the said Petition, and compose the matters in difference, or otherwise certify the same to his Highness with their opinion.  
Wee do humbly certify, That having appointed a day for Hearing of the said Difference and given notice thereof to the Parties concerned) chamberlain personally appeared before us; but Farrington only by his Counsel, and craved a copy of the Petition and Reference, and time to put in an Answer; which was granted, and a week's time given for bringing in the same,( which accordingly was brought in) and another day was appointed for both Parties to bee present, in order to a full Hearing of the matter in controversy, and examination of the Witnesses to bee produced on each side: On which day of Hearing, chamberlain with his party appeared, but not Farrington, nor any on his behalf. Whereupon this Committee proceeded to the perusal of several Affidavits taken before a Master of the Chancery( and now remaining with this Committee); by which it appears, That the said Farrington is guilty of several notorious and gross Cheats and Abuses in the counterfeiting and forging of several Debenters or Publick-Faith-Bills to a considerable value, and passing some of them upon purchase of Lands at 〈◇〉- hous● For which Cheats and Forgeries notice was given to the parliament by one Colonel John Jackson, and a Warrant issued under the hand of the Speaker for the apprehending of him; upon which he secretly conveyed himself to the Barbadoes under another Name. And upon Articles exhibited to the then Council of State by one joseph Briggs, a Warrant was issued forth for the apprehending and taking into custody the said Farrington, who was thereupon brought over into England, and remained here a Prisoner for some time. The said Farrington upon a pretence that th'aforesaid Warrants were procured and the said Informations and Articles exhibited by the Petitioner William chamberlain, caused the said chamberlain to bee arrested upon two several Actions of thirty thousand Pounds each, at the public Exchange, whereupon he was forced to give special Bail; And he the said Farrington became non-suited in both his said Actions. In defent of which the said chamberlain hath expended at the least three hundred Pounds, besides loss of time, and great discredit to him in the way of his Calling, as appears by the said Chamberlaine's Affidavit taken also before a Master of the Chancery. And there being several other particulars wherein the dishonest and abusive Deportment of the said Farrington( and some that adhere to him) in the prosecution of his malicious and ungrounded pretences against the said chamberlain appears( which would bee too tedious to relate). Wee do humbly take leave upon the whole, to certify, That by what hath now appeared before us, and what wee have seen by former Informations exhibited against him to the former Committee for the Army, and by what some of us have discovered of him upon other occasions, Wee do find the said Farrington guilty of such notorious Cheats and Forgeries, that( wee humbly conceive) he deserv's the severest punishment that can bee inflicted upon a Person for Crimes of that nature; he being at this present( as wee are informed) in custody with the sergeant at Arms for some Acts of forgery, exceeding prejudicial to the public.  
And in regard the said chamberlain hath been so injuriously and causelessly arrested and prosecuted by him the said Farrington,( and liable still to bee farther troubled, unless relieved by Your Highness), Wee do take leave farther humbly to offer as our Opinion, That the said chamberlain ought to bee repaired by the said Farrington for the damage he hath sustained by his vexatious Suits; And that the said Farrington ought to bee made utterly uncapable of ever troubling him the said chamberlain or any other upon such causeless and groundless pretences: Whi●● is humbly submitted to His Highness Consideration.  


John clerk,  
Rich. Lucy,  
Jo. Hildesley,  
Ger. bennet.    
This is a true copy of the Original, examined by Roz. bows.