17.  The  Admiralty  Commissioners  to  consider  the  state  of  the
navy  stores,  which  Council  understands  to  be  very  empty,  and  to
inquire  where  pitch,  tar,  hemp,  cordage,  masts,  and  other  necessaries,
may  be  obtained  within  the  commonwealth.  They  are  authorised
to  bring  [buy  ?]  what  proportions  they  think  fit,  or  any  that  come  on
to  any  of  the  ports,  at  market  price ;  and  for  further  supplies,  to
give  license  and  encouragement  to  all  that  will  bring  in  these  things,
in  pursuance  of  the  Act  of  Parliament  of  December  10th.  [/.  68,
2)p.  138-140.]

Dec.  23.  CouncU  of  State  to  the  Commissioners  of  Customs.  By  Council
warrant  of  September  8,  liberty  was  given  to  Wm.  Boeve,  merchant
of  London,  to  bring  in  linen  from  Holland,  by  way  of  Flanders, — on
account  of  the  difficulties  of  an  immediate  passage  from  Holland
through  the  differences  with  the  United  Provinces, — and  the  penalties
of  the  Act  of  navigation  were  suspended.  Since  then.  Council  has
revoked  all  such  licenses,  but  he  petitioning  that  he  has  already
brought  to  Ostend  for  England  986  pieces  of  bag  cloth,  Emden  cloth,
and  shippers'  cloth,  by  virtue  of  the  warrant,  he  is  to  be  permitted
to  bring  them  in,  on  oath  to  the  truth  thereof     [/.  68,  p.  142]

Dec.  23.  49.  Proposition  that  Parliament  and  the  Council  of  State  should

write  to  all  the  mayors,  bailiffs,  aldermen,  and  burgesses  of  maritime
towns,  to  present  only  honest,  skilful,  and  valiant  men  for  captains
at  sea,  and  not  unworthy  men,  to  the  dishonour  of  the  State,  and
encouragement  to  the  insulting  Dutch.     [^  po^ge.l

Dec.  23.        Committee  to    confer   with  the   Scotch  Deputies.      Day's
Proceedings.
