WHereas His Majesty was Graciously pleased, in His late Declaration of War against the States General of the United Provinces, of the 17. of March, 1671/2. among other things to De­clare, That if any of the Low-Countries Subjects, either out of affection to His Majesty, or His Government, or because of the Oppression they meet with at home from their Go­vernours, should come into His Kingdoms, they should be by His Majesty protected in their Persons and Estates: His Majesty continuing in the same Gracious Inclination towards all such of the Subjects of the said Low-Countries, as shall desire to deliver themselves from, the Calamity and Distress into which the ill Counsels of some prevailing persons in the Government of those Countries have justly drawn them, hath thought fit in pursuance of His said Gracious Intention, hereby further to Declare,

I. That all such of the Subjects and Inhabitants of the United Provinces of the Low-Countries, of what Profession, Rank, or Condition soever, as shall desire to withdraw themselves out of those Countries, shall have, and from hence­forth they have, by vertue of these Presents, full Leave, Licence and Permission from His Majesty to Transport them­selves, together with their Families, Estates, Goods and Merchandises into this His Majesties Kingdom of England, in what Ships or Vessels they shall think fit, without Seisure, Confiscation, Restraint, Trouble or Molestation whatsoever.

II. That all such persons being arrived in this His Majesties Kingdom, shall be free in their Estates and Persons, with liberty to settle themselves and families where they please, and as they please, and shall have and enjoy full Liber­ty of Conscience, as to matters of Religion and Worship, together with all and singular the priviledges, Immunities and Advantages, enjoyed by, or belonging to, His Majesties Natural born Subjects of this His Kingdom; and par­ticularly not to pay, or be lyable to any Customs, Payments, or Duties whatsoever, other then are paid by His Majesties Natural born Subjects of this Kingdom.

III. That for their greater security in this particular, His Majesty will at the next Meeting of the Parliament Pass a Bill for the Naturalizing such. Persons, their Children and Servants, and that in the mean time they shall be immediately, and without delay made free Denizens of this His Kingdom of England, without their Charge or Trouble.

IV. All such Ships, Boats, Busses, and Vessels whatsoever, as do or shall belong to any of the persons so Trans­porting themselves as aforesaid, shall be held and acounted as of English Built, and shall have and enjoy the same and like Priviledges and Immunities in matters of Trade, Navigation and Customs, to all Intents and Purposes, as if they had been Built in England, and did actually belong to His Majesties Natural born Subjects of this His Kingdom: And if any person or persons shall hereafter bring over to His Majesty any Ships of War belonging to the United Pro­vinces, every such person or persons shall forthwith have and receive to their own use one full moiety of the true value of such Ships, their Tackle, Guns, Ammunition, and Provisions.

V. And for the greater encouragement of all such Seamen, Mariners, Fishermen, Shipwrights, Carpenters and other Artificers relating to Shipping or Sea-Affairs, as shall desire to make use of this His Majesties Gracious Favour and Compassion, His Majesty is pleased further to add, and accordingly He doth hereby Declare and Promise, That all such persons, and every of them shall be and remain free an and exempt from any Press.

VI. And lastly, His Majesty doth Declare, and Promise, That he will from time to time grant His free Passports and Safe Conducts under His Royal Sign Manual, for the Persons, Families, Ships, Goods and Merchandises of all such as shall thus desire to Transport themselves; and if it be found necessary, will appoint even Convoys to secure them and their Estates in their Passage, against whatsoever force, violence or molestation: Further Promising and Declaring, That in supply of the want of such Passports, where the parties might not have the Conveniency of Procuring them, His Majesty will give effectual Order, That whatsoever Ships or Goods shall at any time hereafter happen to be taken at Sea, being bound for any Port of this His Majesties Kingdom, and shall truly belong to any person so Transporting himself and his Estate into this His Majesties Kingdom of England, shall forthwith, and without all delay be discharged from any such Seizure Or Detention, and be immediatly restored to the Owners.