House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 12 April 1650

Die Veneris, 12 Aprilis, 1650.

Prayers.

Adultery and Incest.

THE House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Bill for suppressing Adultery, Incest, and Fornication.

Resolved, That, instead of the Clause touching Adultery in the Bill, this Clause be inserted; viz. "In case any married Woman shall, from and after be carnally known by any Man, other than her Husband, except in case of Ravishment; and of such Offence or Offences shall be convicted, as aforesaid, by Confession, or otherwise; every such Offence and Offences shall be, and is hereby, adjudged Felony: And every Person, as well the Man as the Woman, offending therein, and confessing the same, or being thereof convicted by Verdict, upon Indictment or Presentment, as aforesaid, shall suffer Death, as in case of Felony, without Benefit of Clergy."

Resolved, That this Proviso be added; viz. "Provided, That this shall not extend to any Man, who, at the time of such Offence committed, is not knowing, that such Woman, with whom such Offence is committed, is then married."

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, to bring in a Proviso, That this Act do not extend to Women whose Husbands are beyond the Seas, or whose Husbands absent themselves from their Wives for the Space of Five Years, when there is a common Fame, that their Husbands are dead.

Mr. Millington, Sir James Harrington, Colonel Marten, Mr. Holland, Mr. Rowse, or any Three of them, are to take care hereof.

Ordered, That that Part of this Bill, touching Fornication, be re-committed; and brought in This-daysevennight: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet in the Speaker's Chamber, To-morrow at Seven of the Clock.

And Mr. Millington, Mr. Rowse, and Sir James Harrington, are to take care hereof.

Surrender of Laughlyn Bridge.

A Letter from Dublin, from Wm. Basill, of the Fourth of April 1650, with Articles therein inclosed, made upon Surrendering of the Castle and Garison of Laughlyn Bridge, were this Day read.

Surrender of Kilkenny.

A Letter from Colonel Huson, of the Fourth of April 1650, from Dublyn, with Articles inclosed, made upon the Surrender of the City and Castle of Kilkenny, were this Day read.

Ordered, That a Letter of Thanks be written to Colonel Huson, taking notice of this Good Service: And that Mr. Speaker be, and is hereby, impowered and authorized to sign such Letter.

Ordered, That Colonel Jones and Sir Peter Wentworth do prepare the Letter accordingly.

Navy Victualling.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to give Order for Payment to be made for such Provisions, as shall be thought fit by the Council of State, for those Ships, by them ordered to go to the Fleet at Lisbone.

Observation of Lord's Day.

Mr. Millington reports Amendments to the Bill for better Observation of the Lord's Day, Days of Thanksgiving, and Publick Humiliation: Which were this Day read the First and Second time; and, after some Amendments at the Table, were, upon the Question, agreed; and the Bill ordered to be ingrossed.