House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 5 January 1653

Wednesday, the 5th of January, 1652.

Prayers.

Correspondence with France.

MR. Speaker, by way of Report, acquaints the Parliament, That he had received a Letter from the Publick Minister of the King of France in French, with the Translation thereof in English: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State, to consider of an Answer; and present it to the Parliament for their Approbation: And that the Council be impowered to treat with the said Publick Minister from the King of France.

Correspondence with Spaine.

A Letter from the Lord Ambassador of the King of Spaine, of the 10 January 31 /December; 1653/52;, with a Letter inclosed from Leopaldus Gulielmus, from Bruxells, of the 28th of December 1652, in Latin, with the Translation in English: Which were this Day read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State, to prepare an Answer to be sent to the Archduke Leopoldo; and report it to the Parliament.

Correspondence with Venice.

Mr. Thomas Challoner reports, from the Council of State, A Letter to be sent to the Duke of Venice from the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, in Latin and English: Which was this Day read; and, upon the Question agreed unto.

Ordered, That this Letter be sent to the Duke of Venice; and that it be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament.

Letters from Duke of Curland.

A Letter from Jacobus Duke of Curland, dated at Mytow the 31st of October 1652, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Letter be referred to the Council of State, to consider thereof; and to confer and treat with the Commissionate; and prepare an Answer to the said Letter, and present the same to the Parliament.

Another Letter from Jacobus Duke of Curland, from Mytow, of the 28th of November 1652, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State, to do therein as shall be just; and to prepare an Answer, to be signed by Mr. Speaker.

Treaty with Portugall.

Colonel Sidney reports, from the Council of State, That the Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall hath signed and sealed, on his Part, the Six Preliminary Articles; and that his Excellency insisting, that they may be also signed and sealed in Latin, on the Part of this Commonwealth; the Council hath thought fit to report the same to the Parliament, for their Direction, by whom, and in what Manner, the same shall be done.

Resolved, That the Articles on the Part of the Commonwealth be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament; and that it be referred to the Council of State, to prepare the said Part of the Articles to be signed and sealed, accordingly; and that Mr. Speaker do so sign and seal the same.

Governor of Hull.

Resolved, That the Report, touching the Governor of Hull, be made on Friday next.

Members for Scotland.

Resolved, That the Report be made from the Committee, touching the Number of Members of Parliament to be sent from Scotland, on Friday next.

Mass at Ambassadors Houses.

Mr. Gurdon reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly represented to the Parliament, that great Numbers, as well English as others, do daily resort to Mass, at the Houses of Ambassadors and other Foreign Publick Ministers residing here, to the great Dishonour of God, and Scandal of this Government; and that the Parliament be pleased, for Prevention thereof for the future, to make some Signification thereof to the said Ambassadors, and Publick Ministers, who have, by their publick Character, no Pretence to claim a Toleration of this Kind:

That the Parliament be humbly moved to declare a Reward of Ten Pounds, to such Persons as shall discover them that resort to Mass in any Place within this Commonwealth: And that the said Ten Pounds be paid in such manner; as the Reward of Ten Pounds for discovering of Thieves is appointed to be paid:

That the Bill and Proclamation, prepared against Priests and Papists, be humbly tendered to the Parliament; and the Parliament moved for the speedy Passing thereof.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth agree, in Substance, to such a Signification to the Ambassadors and Publick Ministers of foreign Princes and States.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider and prepare such a Signification to be sent: And that they see the same done, accordingly.

Resolved, That a Third Part of the Penalty, which shall be recovered upon the Conviction of any Person that shall resort to or hear Mass, shall go to the Party that shall discover the same, according to the Act of 3° Jacobi, intituled, An Act to prevent and avoid Dangers which may grow by Popish Recusants: And that an Act be brought in to that Purpose.

Proclamation against Jesuits.

A Proclamation commanding all Jesuits, Seminary Priests, and other Romish Priests, to depart out of this Commonwealth, was this Day read.

Resolved, That it be restrained to England and Wales.

Resolved, That the Day of their Departure be the First Day of March next.

And the Proclamation, so amended, being put to the Question, was agreed unto; and ordered to be printed.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to see these Votes put in Execution.

Resolved, That the House do go on with this Report To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Regulating Printing.

Resolved, That the Amendments to the Bill for regulating Printing be reported To-morrow Morning, next after the Business of this Report.