January, 1652.
The Preparations for the Navy, and the War at Sea with the Dutch, went on with great Vigor; * 1.1 and the Parliament were quick in it, and referred it to the Councel of State to take care of it.
And they were diligent in their Business, and cautious to have money in readiness for it, and to settle Amities with Forreign Princes, and such Correspondences that there might be the less As∣sistance to their Enemies, or joyning with them.
Intelligences came of the continuance of their Success in Scotland, and of the peacable condition * 1.2 of their Affairs in Ireland.
The Kings of France and of Spain, and the Queen of Sweden, sent hither their Ambassadors * 1.3 and publick Ministers to treat for the Settling of Leagues, and Trade.
Upon a Report from them, the Parliament passed several resolutions for the Encouragement * 1.4 of Seamen in their Service. As for advancement * 1.5 of some to Pay to them before-hand, and to leave some subsistance to their Families during their Ab∣sence.
That for every Ship taken, which should be ad∣judged good Prize, they should have 40 s. per Tun and 6 l. for every piece of Cannon taken or found in the Prize Ships, to be equally distributed ac∣cording to their Qualities, and that they should have 10 l. for every Cannon which should be taken abord of any Ship which they should sink or Fire.
That whoever should inroll themselves within 40 dayes in the Parliaments Service, should, as a gratuity, receive a Moneths pay not to be passed to account, That Hospitals should be erected at Dover, Deal and Sandwich, for Sick and wounded Sea men brought on Shoar, and a stock settled for Maintenance of them and of other Sick and wounded Men, who by reason of their Diseases and Wounds could not be brought on Shoar.
These, and other Encouragements caused the Seamen to come Flocking into the Service of the Parliament: and although the Hollanders had pro∣hibited * 1.6 the Importing, of Pitch Tar, Hemp, and o∣ther Materials of Navigation by any Nation what∣soever into England, a Placard of sufficient Inso∣lency; yet the Councel of State had provided suffi∣cient stores, and had prepared and equipped a Gallant Navy.
In the Levant Captain Bodely coming from Port-Longone to the relief of Captain Appleton, who was blockt up in the Mole of Legorn, the Dutch there set upon Bodely, and destroyed two or three of his Ships.