their proceeding. The matter of the councils is distributed to
them by --

The nineteenth order "Distributing to every council such
businesses as are properly to belong to their cognizance, whereof
some they shall receive and determine, and others they shall
receive, prepare, and introduce into the house: as, first,

"The Council of State is to receive all addresses,
intelligences, and letters of negotiation; to give audience to
ambassadors sent to, and to draw up instructions for such as
shall be sent by, this commonwealth; to receive propositions
from, and hold intelligence with, the provincial councils; to
consider upon all laws to be enacted, amended, or repealed, and
upon all levies of men or money, war or peace, leagues or
associations to be made by this commonwealth, so far forth as is
conducible to the orderly preparation of the same to be
introduced by them into the Senate; provided, that all such
affairs, as otherwise appertaining to the Council of State, are,
for the good of the commonwealth, to be carried with greater
secrecy, be managed by the Council of War, with power to receive
and send forth agents, spies, emissaries, intelligencers,
frigots, and to manage affairs of that nature, if it be necessary
without communication to the Senate, till such time as it may be
had without detriment to the business. But they shall have no
power to engage the commonwealth in a war without the consent of
the Senate and the people. It appertains also to this council to
take charge of the fleet as admiral, and of all storehouses,
armories, arsenals, and magazines appertaining to this
commonwealth. They shall keep a diligent record of the military