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 main­taining [Page 2]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 this [Page 3]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 up­on [Page 4]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 of [Page 5]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.