A DECLARATION OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Aſſembled in PARLIAMENT: Concerning the reducing of the late Revolted Ships To the obedience of PARLIAMENT.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, that this Declaration be forthwith printed and publiſhed.
Imprinted at London for John Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey. 1648.
IT cannot be unknowne to all men that the Commerce and Navigation of this Kingdom hath been by the bleſſing of God an eſpeciall meanes of the honour and greatneſſe of the Engliſh Nation, and that the courage, induſtry, and fidelity of the Engliſh Seamen and Marriners hath been a principall meanes of the increaſe of the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdome in all the parts of the world; the conſideration whereof have cauſed both Houſes of Parliament to have an eſpeciall care unto the Royall Navie, by building many Ships and Frigats, and ſetting forth and maintaining2 Fleets, expending in that ſervice the whole revenue of the Cuſtomes, (the greateſt part whereof in former times was diverted unto other uſes) beſides other vaſt ſummes of Money laid out in that action.
And for the better incouragement of ſuch Marriners as were imployed in the ſervier of the State, they have much advanced their pay above that which it was formerly, and at the comming in of the Fleets have ſo carefully provided for them, that they were never diſcharged from on Board out of Victualls and wages, untill their Moneys were duly paid them, hoping that by theſe and many other incouragements upon all occaſions they would have approved themſelves faithfull to the Kingdome in the diſcharge of the truſt repoſed in them; but contrary hereunto, the Mariners of ſeverall of the Royall ſhips ſet forth in this laſt Summers Fleet, being by the cunning inſinuation of men ill affected to the Peace of this3 Kingdome ſeduced, have rreacherouſly revolted from their duty, and doe ſtill perſiſt in their diſobedience, by which horrid and deteſtable act in breach of their truſt, they have much blemiſhed the honour and credit of the Navigation, and Mariners of this Kingdome, and as much as in them lies, betrayed the publique intereſt and liberties thereof, and retarded thoſe ends of a happy Peace, which the Parliament have ever purſued, and now are more eſpecially imployed in; and although both Houſes of Parliament have (after an Act of Indempnity already offered) good reaſon for to proceed in the reducing of them by force, yet to the end it may appeare that the Parliament doe as much as in them lies, ſeeke to prevent the effuſion of blood, The ſaid Lords and Commons doe hereby Offer and Declare; That if the Seamen, Officers and Commanders on Board the ſaid Ships ſhall within twenty dayes after publication hereof, or forthwith upon4 notice given them by the Lord Admirall, or ſuch other Perſon or Perſons as he ſhall appoint, render themſelves, and the Ships, wherein they are to the Parliaments obedience, and bring them into ſome Port under the command of the Parliament, the perſons ſo ſubmitting ſhall be indempnified in their perſons and eſtates, any former act of theirs notwithſtanding; but if they ſhall after the ſaid time prefixed expired perſiſt ſtill in their diſobedience, then the Houſes will proceed to the reducing of them by force, and doubting not of a good ſucceſſe by the bleſſing of Almighty God, hoping that every true-hearted Engliſh man will contribute his uttermoſt aſſiſtance to this worke, eſpecially the Merchants and Owner of Ships, they being principally Intereſſed in the conſequences thereof, it being to be expected that the Revolters will endeavour to maintaine their defection by rapine and violence, and for the Incouragement of5 Seamen, to ingage themſelves herein, The Lords and Commons doe promiſe and declare, that ſuch Seamen as ſhall ſo ingage and uſe their beſt indeavors in this ſo honourable a worke ſhall have two moneths wages extraordinary duly paid them, as ſoone as the ſaid Ships ſhall be by them reduced and brought into Port ▪
And it is laſtly Declared, that not only the perſons on board the ſaid Ships, who ſhall notwithſtanding this offer of Indempnity ſtand out, but alſo all other the Subjects of this Kingdome, and others whatſoever, who ſhall hereafter joyne with, aſſiſt, ſupply, or any way adhere to them, ſhall be dealt with and proceeded againſt as Traitors and Enemies to the Kingdome, and their Eſtates confiſcate; and for the miſeries that ſhall enſue, they will ſtand charged with the ſame as guilty of them, and authors of that ruine which will attend them and their poſterity.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A82664)
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