House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 December 1652

Thursday, the 23d of December, 1652.

Prayers.

Deputies from Scotland.

ORDERED, That the Commissioners at Leith be, and are hereby authorized and required forthwith to advance Three Months Pay more for the Deputies from Scotland, according to the former Direction.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to meet with the Deputies from Scotland, to prepare and bring in, an Act touching the Borders between England and Scotland, as the Council of State were ordered to do.

Correspondence with Sweden.

A Letter from the Queen of Sweden, dated at Stockholme, the 13th of November 1652, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State, to take the same into Consideration, with all Speed, what is fit to be done therein; and to take such Order therein as they shall think fit, for preventing of all Inconveniencies or Misunderstanding, which may grow between the Two States.

Ordered, That there be a fit Person forthwith sent to Sweden, under a publick Character: And that it be referred to the Council of State to consider of a fit Person for that Employment; and also of Instructions to be given him; and present the same, with the Name of such Person, to the Parliament, on Tuesday next.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to examine how long this Letter from the Queen of Swede hath been detained, before the same was delivered, and the Miscarriage therein; and likewise in publishing, or shewing the same, upon the Exchange, or elsewhere; and report the same to the Parliament: And that Mr. Burrell do give Information to the Council of State, of his Knowlege therein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of this Letter; and such other Letters as have been sent by the Queen of Sweden to the Parliament; and to prepare an Answer to be given to such of them as is requisite: And to report the same to the Parliament on Tuesday next.

Articles of War.

Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Council of State, Laws of War and Ordinances of the Sea, ordained and established by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for the regulating and better Government of the Navies, Fleets, and Ships of War, and Armies by Sea, of the Commons of England, and all and singular Persons, Ships, and Vessels, thereunto belonging, to be put in Execution, according to an Act of this present Parliament, intituled, An Act for constituting Commissioners for the Ordering and Managing the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy; and to be observed, and duly obeyed, by the Vice-Admirals, Rear-Admirals, Commanders, Captains, Lieutenants, Masters, Masters Mates, and all other Officers, Mariners, Seamen, and Soldiers, and all others whomsoever these Laws and Ordinances may concern, under the Pains and Penalties therein contained and expressed: Which were this Day read.

And after, each Article was read in Parts.

The first Article was read.

Resolved, That these Words, "and other Religious Duties," be added in this Article, next after the Word "Prayers."

The Question being propounded, That these Words, "and the Lord's Day religiously observed, do stand;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put: It was

Resolved, That these Words, "and the Lord's Day religiously observed," do stand.

The Question being put, That these Words "and kept, upon Pain to be punished at Discretion, according to the Circumstances of the Cause," do stand in this Article;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That the Debate on these Articles of War be adjourned till To-morrow, the first Business.

Sale of Parks, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Bill for Sale of the Parks and Houses do meet this Afternoon; and report the Amendments To-morrow.

Irish Officers.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Irish Officers be brought in To-morrow, after the Ordinances of War, and the Business of Prizes, are perfected.

Publick Faith.

Ordered, That the Business of the Publick Faith be taken into Consideration on Friday Sevennight, the first Business: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind thereof.