To the Right Honorable the Commons assembled in Parliament the humble petition and representation of divers well-affected masters and commanders of ships;
      
       
         This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A94601 of text R210918 in the  English Short Title Catalog (Thomason 669.f.13[17]). Textual changes  and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more  computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life.  The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with  MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish.  This text has not been fully proofread 
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         EarlyPrint Project
         Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO
         2017
         A94601
         Wing T1614
         Thomason 669.f.13[17]
         ESTC R210918
         99869667
         99869667
         162912
         
           
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         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A94601)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 162912)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 246:669f13[17])
      
       
         
           
             To the Right Honorable the Commons assembled in Parliament the humble petition and representation of divers well-affected masters and commanders of ships;
             England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons.
          
           1 sheet ([1] p.)
           
             s.n.,
             [London :
             1648]
          
           
             Imprint from Wing.
             Seafaring men have not gained by the late war. Customs are paid so that the seas may be guarded, but now there is no convoy to the Netherlands or France, so that all goods are sent in Dutch bottoms who can set sail in a day. Cites statutes forbidding this. Prays that four or five ships be set apart as constant convoys between Gravesend and the Netherlands. [With two orders of the Commons concerning the matter] -- Cf. Steele.
             At foot: This petition being presented by several masters and commanders of ships, the honorable House of Commons after the reading thereof made two orders to this effect: Die Lunæ, 11 September 1648. Ordered by the Commons assembled in Parliament, that it be referred to the Committee of Complaints to receive the particular grievances complained of in by the petitioners, and that they report them to this House. Ordered that a reference be sent unto the lord admirall, to the end that a constant convoy may be provided to guard the merchant ships, for the advance of the trade of the nation.
             Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Shipping -- England -- Early works to 1800.
           Merchant mariners -- Great Britain -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- History -- Civil War, 1642-1649 -- Early works to 1800.
           Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 17th century -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
       A94601  R210918  (Thomason 669.f.13[17]).  civilwar no To the Right Honorable the Commons assembled in Parliament: the humble petition and representation of divers well-affected masters and comma England and Wales. Parliament.  1648    1252 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 B  The  rate of 8 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 
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           To
           the
           Right
           Honorable
           THE
           COMMONS
           Assembled
           in
           PARLIAMENT
           :
           The
           humble
           Petition
           and
           Representation
           of
           divers
           well-affected
           Masters
           and
           Commanders
           of
           Ships
           ;
        
         
           Sheweth
           ,
        
         
           THat
           as
           in
           Judgment
           and
           Conscience
           (
           being
           thereunto
           induced
           by
           the
           solemn
           Declarations
           of
           this
           Honourable
           House
           )
           they
           at
           first
           did
           ,
           and
           still
           do
           ,
           contribute
           their
           Estates
           ,
           and
           adventure
           their
           lives
           ,
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           the
           Parliaments
           honor
           ,
           so
           they
           also
           expected
           the
           securing
           of
           the
           peoples
           just
           Rights
           and
           Liberties
           .
        
         
           That
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           said
           
             Declarations
             ,
          
           and
           their
           own
           
             Expectations
             ,
          
           they
           have
           found
           such
           practises
           promoted
           of
           late
           days
           ,
           as
           hath
           not
           only
           wounded
           the
           
             Parliaments
             honor
             ,
          
           and
           made
           them
           become
           odious
           in
           the
           eyes
           of
           many
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           but
           also
           (
           instead
           of
           
             Freedom
          
           and
           
             Preservation
             ,
          
           so
           solemnly
           promised
           to
           the
           
             People
             )
             slavery
          
           and
           
             oppression
          
           is
           entaild
           to
           them
           and
           their
           posterity
           ,
           as
           the
           only
           
             price
          
           of
           that
           
             blood
          
           and
           
             treasure
          
           so
           freely
           
             lent
          
           and
           
             expended
          
           in
           the
           late
           War
           .
        
         
           That
           as
           
             Seamen
          
           have
           not
           had
           the
           
             least
             share
          
           in
           contributing
           their
           
             Estates
             ,
          
           and
           venturing
           their
           
             Lives
             ,
          
           for
           to
           preserve
           your
           
             honor
          
           and
           their
           own
           
             Freedom
             ,
          
           so
           none
           hath
           reaped
           
             less
             benefit
             ,
          
           nor
           found
           more
           
             disrespect
          
           nor
           
             discouragement
          
           from
           the
           
             Parliament
          
           then
           they
           .
        
         
           That
           though
           they
           have
           constantly
           paid
           
             Customs
             ,
          
           which
           were
           
             ordained
          
           and
           
             granted
          
           for
           no
           other
           end
           but
           that
           the
           
             Seas
          
           might
           be
           
             guarded
          
           by
           a
           competent
           number
           of
           Ships
           for
           the
           advancing
           of
           
             Trade
             ,
          
           and
           encouragement
           of
           those
           men
           which
           should
           venture
           their
           Estates
           in
           a
           Merchandizing
           way
           to
           support
           the
           several
           Manufactures
           of
           the
           Nation
           ;
           as
           appears
           by
           many
           Statutes
           ,
           especially
           that
           of
           the
           1.
           of
           King
           
             James
             ,
          
           Chap.
           33.
           
           Yea
           though
           as
           an
           Additional
           Charge
           we
           have
           paid
           
             Excise
          
           also
           ;
           yet
           we
           have
           found
           our selves
           wholly
           
             neglected
          
           and
           
             oppressed
             ,
          
           and
           the
           
             Seas
          
           worse
           guarded
           then
           ever
           ,
           no
           
             Convoy
          
           being
           allowed
           to
           secure
           our
           ships
           and
           goods
           in
           their
           passage
           to
           the
           
             Netherlands
             ,
          
           or
           
             France
             ,
          
           by
           reason
           whereof
           Your
           Petitioners
           are
           almost
           utterly
           ruined
           .
        
         
           That
           for
           want
           of
           provision
           herein
           
             Merchants
          
           daily
           
             refuse
          
           to
           ship
           their
           goods
           with
           us
           ,
           and
           choose
           rather
           to
           ship
           them
           in
           Dutch
           Bottoms
           ,
           whom
           they
           say
           have
           a
           constant
           Convoy
           ,
           and
           can
           set
           sail
           at
           a
           day
           ,
           then
           with
           us
           ,
           who
           they
           say
           must
           (
           to
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           markets
           )
           stay
           in
           the
           Downs
           till
           a
           
             Convoy
          
           be
           ready
           ;
           for
           which
           cause
           several
           goods
           hath
           been
           several
           times
           taken
           from
           abord
           us
           ,
           and
           shipt
           with
           
             Hollanders
             ,
          
           so
           that
           hereby
           the
           
             Dutch
          
           have
           engrossed
           all
           the
           Trade
           from
           the
           
             English
             ,
          
           to
           the
           great
           prejudice
           of
           this
           
             Nation
             ,
          
           and
           to
           the
           impoverishing
           of
           many
           hundred
           families
           ,
           whose
           livelyhoods
           depend
           thereon
           .
        
         
           That
           we
           find
           our
           real
           and
           constant
           adherence
           to
           the
           Parliament
           hath
           added
           in
           a
           great
           measure
           to
           our
           misery
           ;
           for
           such
           is
           the
           Malignancy
           of
           many
           Merchants
           ,
           that
           they
           
             refuse
          
           to
           employ
           us
           because
           we
           have
           been
           
             active
          
           in
           supporting
           your
           
             Interest
          
           in
           the
           
             Navy
             ,
          
           especially
           in
           assisting
           the
           Earl
           of
           
             Warwick
          
           in
           the
           making
           up
           the
           
             present
             Fleet
             ;
          
           for
           which
           we
           receive
           many
           
             reproaches
             ,
          
           nay
           ,
           
             assaults
          
           and
           
             affronts
             ,
          
           not
           only
           to
           the
           detriment
           of
           our
           
             names
             ,
          
           but
           hazard
           of
           our
           
             lives
             ,
          
           by
           evil
           affected
           persons
           ;
           so
           that
           unless
           this
           honorable
           House
           be
           pleased
           to
           take
           us
           into
           timely
           consideration
           ,
           we
           are
           like
           not
           only
           to
           be
           exposed
           to
           
             want
          
           and
           
             misery
             ,
          
           but
           also
           to
           be
           necessitated
           to
           fly
           to
           the
           
             prime
             Laws
             of
             Nature
             for
             refuge
             ,
          
           and
           to
           abandon
           those
           (
           whose
           hands
           we
           have
           strengthened
           hitherto
           with
           hopes
           of
           p●eservation
           thereby
           )
           who
           had
           a
           
             power
          
           but
           not
           
             wills
          
           to
           relieve
           us
           ,
           and
           become
           
             servants
          
           to
           
             other
             Nations
             ,
          
           who
           will
           doubtless
           suffer
           us
           to
           reap
           
             some
             fruit
          
           of
           our
           
             labour
             ,
          
           if
           we
           be
           instrumental
           in
           the
           increase
           and
           support
           of
           their
           glory
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           sensible
           ,
           though
           willing
           to
           forget
           the
           great
           oppressions
           we
           lie
           under
           by
           
             Monopolies
          
           and
           
             restraint
             of
             Trade
             ;
          
           the
           
             illegal
             Liberty
          
           taken
           ,
           and
           countenanced
           in
           Merchants
           shipping
           Goods
           in
           Forraign
           Bottoms
           ,
           contrary
           to
           several
           Statutes
           ,
           especially
           2
           
             Rich.
          
           2.
           chap.
           3.
           14
           
           
             Rich.
          
           2.
           chap.
           6.
           1
           
             Eliz.
          
           chap.
           13.
           
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           The
           rigorous
           exaction
           of
           Customs
           and
           Excise
           ,
           even
           of
           the
           
             poorest
             Seamen
             ,
          
           and
           vexatious
           proceedings
           of
           
             Committees
             thereupon
             ,
          
           to
           the
           total
           disheartening
           of
           all
           Seamen
           ;
           whereby
           our
           
             Trade
          
           at
           
             Sea
             ,
          
           which
           was
           wont
           to
           be
           the
           
             glory
             of
             the
             Nation
             ,
          
           is
           now
           totally
           lost
           ,
           and
           many
           thousands
           which
           lived
           comfortably
           thereon
           ,
           and
           were
           serviceable
           to
           the
           
             Common-wealth
             ,
          
           are
           either
           forced
           to
           abandon
           
             England
             ,
          
           and
           serve
           in
           other
           
             Countries
             ,
          
           or
           else
           apply
           themselves
           to
           some
           other
           way
           of
           Living
           to
           maintain
           their
           Families
           .
        
         
           If
           therefore
           there
           yet
           be
           any
           bowels
           of
           Compassion
           remaining
           in
           you
           toward
           a
           
             distressed
             ,
          
           yea
           almost
           
             destroyed
             people
             ,
          
           let
           some
           
             yernings
             of
             spirit
          
           be
           speedily
           manifested
           :
           and
           as
           an
           evidence
           thereof
           we
           desire
           .
        
         
           That
           since
           the
           
             Hollander
          
           hath
           almost
           
             engrossed
          
           all
           the
           
             Trade
          
           at
           
             Sea
             ,
          
           and
           now
           absolutely
           
             refuseth
          
           to
           grant
           
             Convoys
          
           to
           the
           
             English
          
           as
           heretofore
           ;
           and
           forasmuch
           as
           thereby
           
             our
             Trade
          
           is
           wholy
           destroyed
           ,
           some
           
             Merchants
          
           not
           
             daring
             ,
          
           and
           others
           
             absolutely
             refusing
          
           to
           ship
           their
           Goods
           with
           us
           ,
           for
           want
           hereof
           ;
           and
           several
           quantities
           of
           
             fine
             goods
          
           being
           now
           in
           the
           
             Netherland
             ,
          
           which
           cannot
           be
           brought
           home
           (
           being
           now
           ,
           not
           only
           denyed
           a
           
             Convoy
          
           by
           the
           
             Dutch
             ;
          
           but
           also
           express
           command
           given
           to
           their
           
             Convoyers
          
           that
           none
           of
           them
           shall
           take
           any
           English
           Ships
           into
           their
           protection
           )
           although
           some
           English
           Ships
           have
           waited
           there
           this
           three
           moneths
           for
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           That
           therefore
           this
           House
           would
           be
           pleased
           to
           appoint
           
             four
             or
             five
             fitting
             ships
          
           to
           serve
           as
           
             constant
             Convoys
          
           to
           guard
           our
           shipping
           from
           
             Gravesend
          
           into
           the
           
             Ports
          
           in
           the
           
             Netherlands
          
           and
           
             France
             ,
          
           and
           return
           back
           with
           others
           homeward
           bound
           :
           That
           being
           the
           
             constant
             order
          
           of
           the
           
             Hollander
             ,
          
           by
           which
           means
           their
           
             Trade
          
           is
           increased
           ,
           and
           they
           mightily
           
             enriched
             .
          
           That
           this
           House
           will
           
             prevent
          
           that
           
             necessity
          
           which
           must
           (
           if
           not
           removed
           )
           occasion
           an
           estrangement
           of
           our
           
             affections
          
           and
           
             assistance
          
           toward
           you
           .
           That
           as
           soon
           as
           may
           be
           all
           
             Monopolies
          
           and
           
             restraint
             of
             Trade
          
           be
           removed
           ,
           and
           some
           way
           taken
           to
           prevent
           the
           shipping
           of
           Goods
           in
           
             Forraign
             Bottoms
             ,
          
           to
           the
           end
           that
           Trade
           may
           again
           be
           restored
           ,
           and
           the
           Glory
           of
           the
           Nation
           preserved
           .
        
         
           And
           Your
           Petitioners
           shall
           pray
           ,
           &c.
           
        
      
       
         
           This
           Petition
           being
           presented
           by
           several
           Masters
           and
           Commanders
           of
           Ships
           ,
           the
           honorable
           House
           of
           Commons
           after
           the
           reading
           thereof
           made
           two
           Orders
           to
           this
           effect
           :
           
             Die
             Lunae
             ,
             11
             September
             1648.
             
          
        
         
           Ordered
           by
           the
           Commons
           assembled
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           That
           it
           be
           referred
           to
           the
           Committee
           of
           Complaints
           to
           receive
           the
           particular
           grievances
           complained
           of
           by
           the
           Petitioners
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           Report
           them
           to
           this
           House
           .
        
         
           Ordered
           that
           a
           Reference
           be
           sent
           unto
           the
           Lord
           
             Admirall
             ,
          
           to
           the
           end
           that
           a
           constant
           Convoy
           may
           be
           provided
           to
           Guard
           the
           Merchants
           Ships
           ,
           for
           the
           advance
           of
           the
           Trade
           of
           the
           Nation
           .