House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 29 March 1653

Tuesday, the 29th of March, 1653.

Prayers.

Petition from Wiltes.

THE House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Wiltes were at the Door; they were called in:

And, being come to the Bar, informed the House, That he was commanded, by divers Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Inhabitants of the County of Wiltes, to present their humble Petition to the Parliament.

Which, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of us Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others, Inhabitants in the County of Wiltes."

Resolved, That the Petitioners be called in, and have Thanks.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do give them this further Answer; That several of the Matters in the Petition are already under Consideration; and the Residue shall be taken into Consideration in due time.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave them this Answer.

Gentlemen,

THE Parliament have read the Petition; and have commanded me to give you Thanks; and, in their Names, I do give you Thanks.

And I am further to let you know, That several Matters in the Petition are already under Consideration; and that the Residue shall be taken into Consideration in due time.

Correspondence with Holland.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, An Answer to the Letter from the States of Holland and West-Freizland, from the Hague, of the 18th of March 1653: Which was this Day read, at large.

He also reports, The Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Lords the States-General of the United Provinces: Which was also read.

The Answer to the said Letter from the States of Holland and West-Freizland was afterwards read, in Parts.

And the First Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Second Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Third Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Fourth Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Fifth Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Sixth Part, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

And the whole Letter, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

Resolved, That this Letter be sent to the States of Holland and West-Freizland.

The Draught of the Letter to be sent to the Lords the States-General of the United Provinces was read, by Parts.

And the First Part being read.

Resolved, That the Word "ought" be put in this Clause, instead of "can."

And the Second Part, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

The Second Part being read;

Resolved, That these Words, "with Successes," be inserted into this Clause, next after the Word "altered;" and that the rest of the Words, which follow the Words "no whit," to the Word "altered," be omitted.

And the said Clause, so amended, was, upon the Question, assented unto. And the whole Letter, so amended, being put to the Question, was agreed unto.

Resolved, That these Two Letters be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament: And that the Clerk of the Parliament do sign the Duplicates.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to put these Letters into Latin, and cause the same to be sent by a Messenger: And that they give him a Pass, or desire a Pass from Mr. Speaker, to that End, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to let the Messenger that brought the Letters from the States of Holland and West-Freizland know, that the Letters he brought be answered; and to give the Messenger Leave to return into Holland.

Ordered, That the Order, appointing the 12th of April a Day of Publick Thanksgiving, be forthwith printed and published; and that it be referred to the Council of State to cause the same to be forthwith sent into the respective Counties within this Commonwealth, to be observed accordingly.