February, 1655.
Some Gentlemen added to the Committee of Trade.
Letters of the Sweeds Successes in Poland.
An Address presented from South-Wales and Monmouth-shire to the Protector, Recognizing him, and his Government.
An Order for continuing the Committee of the Army published.
Mr. Fell appointed Commissioner or Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster; and Mr. Bartholomew Hall continued Attorney of the Dutchy.
One who Shot a Soldier that was to guard him being a Prisoner, was arraigned at the Upper Bench, but the Jury found him guilty only of Man-Slaughter; the Foreman was disabled from being a Juror hereafter.
Soldiers in Ireland Condemned for Robberies, the Councel there Sate about Transplanting some of the Irish.
An Order of the Lord Mayor of London, for the Punishment and suppression of Common-Beg∣gars.
Letters, That the Indians near New-England, had burnt many Houses of the Dutch, and taken many Men, Women, and Children Prisoners; but such as they found to be English, they released: the reason thereof was, because the English had been just and kind to them.
Some little stirs in Scotland, the Justices there according to the order of the Protector and his Councel, and after the course in England, pro∣ceeded to the Administration of Justice in Scot∣land, where it was submitted unto.
A Dunkirk Man of War taken Prize.
The Peace ratified betwixt the King of Sweden, and the Elector of Brandenburgh personally.
Order of the Sessions of Middlesex, for suppres∣sing disorderly Innes and Ale-Houses.
[7.] The Lord Commissioners Fiennes, Strick∣land and Whitelock went to the Sweedish Ambassa∣dors House as Commissioners from the Protector to Treat with him, where they had a long debate touching Levies of Soldiers, and hiring of Ships in one anothers Dominions, which had been pro∣pounded by the Ambassador; and certain Cauti∣ons put in by the Counsel here, as to be only in such places and Ports, as the Chief Governour of the Coun∣trey where it was to be done should approve, and not to be employed against the others Friends.
Against those Cautions the Ambassador offered Reasons, That it would then be in the power of him in whose Countrey these were to be hired or levyed, to make it wholly Fruitless, by appointing inconvenient places, as by his Master in Finland, or by the Prote∣ctor in Ireland, or the like.
To which the Commissioners answered, That the Chief Governour of the Countrey knew best the Con∣dition of it, and the State of Affairs there, which might be much endamaged, if the stranger should have the appointment of the places; and then if either had a mind to break the Treaty, It would not be difficult to find an occasion for it; And that in these cases there must be a mutual considence in the Justice and Honour of each other.
After much debate this Expedient was pro∣pounded and not held unreasonable, That the chief Governour of the Countrey, where the Soldiers were to be levyed or Ships hired, In Case he should not think fit to consent to the place desired, he should then appoint some other convenient place for the accommoda∣tion of the party desiring it, and as near as might be to the place which he desired.
As to the not Imploying the Soldiers or Ships against the Friends of the Party in whose Coun∣try they were had, it was propounded by the Ambassador and not opposed by the Commissio∣ners, That the Soldiers might be employed defensively, as in Garrisons, but not offensively against the others Friends.
But concerning Ships, the Ambassador insisted upon a Liberty to imploy them against the others Friends, if those Friends attempted any distur∣bance of the Seas or Trade of him that hired the Ships; and both parties instanced in case of the Kings of France, or Denmark; but neither instan∣ced in case of the Hollanders, though they were most intended.
The Point was left to further Consideration, and there were other debates concerning the Form of Passports for Ships, pursuant to the Treaty made by Whitelock in Sweden, to which they refer∣red