A DECLARATION OF Sir WILLIAM BATTEN Late vice-admiral for the PARLIAMENT, CONCERNING His Departure from London, to His highness the PRINCE of WALES.  
For satisfaction of all Honest seamen, and Others whom it may concern.  
At LONDON, Printed in the year, 1648.   

A DECLARATION OF Sir WILLIAM BATTEN late vice-admiral for the Parliament: Concerning his Departure from London, to His highness the Prince of Wales.  
I Suppose it is not unknown to the greater part of this kingdom, how for 7 years I have served the Parliament; with what zeal and fidelity I obeyed their Commands (while I was their vice-admiral, and held their Commission) God the searcher of all hearts and themselves can best testify. What benefit they received by my endeavours becomes not me to mention, and (to do them right) themselves were still prompt enough to send their voted Thanks for my reducing the Fleet in the downs, fetching in the Swallow and Bonaventure, for regaining Weymouth, for securing lime and Plymouth, for taking Hartford-west, Portland, Pendennis, and Silly, for assisting Major general Laughorne to rout the Forces in Pembrokeshire, for relieving the Ld Inchiquin when Youghall was besieged, for repairing deal-castle with 600l. of my own money, for building a Fort at Plymouth with lime and stone, which cost me 500l. whereof I never received but 200l. and that (as the custom was) not without a sufficient Bribe; with many other services, all which they cannot be more willing to forget then now I would have them.  
But why after all this (when their work was done and without any cause showed) I was displaced by a Committee at the headquarters at Putney with the advice of their Adjutators, I could never understand; nor why I was sent for up by land, as not to be honoured to come in with the Ship, threatened (by that false man Mr. Smith) to have a Charge drawn up against me unless I would instantly lay down my Commission, though nothing was objected, but my suffering some of the 11 Members to go beyond the Seas, when all of them had the Speakers pass; this, and because I was not of the temper of the Army, were judged sufficient to have me dismissed, & another (such another) thrust in to be my successor as till then I never imagined would be vice-admiral of a Navy.  
My Commission thus surrendered, I was presently turned out of deal-castle, and could not obtain leave for two nights longer, though my Wife was then sick, and forced from her Bed to lie at an alehouse. But how this wrought upon my Brethren the seamen, I hope all my life I shall thankfully remember; they best knew what service I had done, and now beheld mine and their own reward; whereof they expressed so just resentment when all those injuries offered to me were repaid to my new successor, whom they refused to come on Board, sent him back to the shore, and bid him return-to the place from whence he came; it being most reasonable that that man should hold no command who openly professed himself to be a Leveller.  
This new vice-admiral was no sooner rejected, but Letters came to me from several friends, that I would return to the Ships; and the City of London (I heartily thank them) petitioned the Parliament to restore me to my place; so that some who had been most keen against me, did now make fresh Overtures of a Commission (if I would embrace it) but I had resolved no longer to serve those persons, who (as HIS MAJESTY Himself told them) do change their Principles with their Successes; and (to deal clearly with the world) I had engaged myself to His highness the Prince of WALES, to accept no Commission but such as His highness should please to allow me, though this I presume was then unknown, both to Derby-house and the headquarters.  
Now (according to their custom) they began to make me a Delinquent; and that most unworthy man, Sir Henry Mildmay, accused me for assisting the Earl of NORWICH at Stratford-bridge, and (as the Ld Say told me) for sending Horses to Sir CHARLES LUCAS at Chelmesford, which whether true or false, was to them indifferent; since now they resolved to find me a Malignant, whereof they have given their usual Testimony by violent breaking into my House. Plundering my Goods, and sequestering my Estate, with no small incivilities to my Wife and Family, whereat I nothing wonder since I hear Sir Henry Mildmay's hand was to the Warrant.  
But why should I complain when I see how they required persons of the greatest eminency, that had done them best service, as the Ld WILLOUGHBY of Parham, the Ld INCHIQUIN, Sir WILLIAM WALLER, Major general LAUGHORNE, Maj. Gen: MASSEY, Major general BROWNE, Maj. Gen: Poyne, Colonel GRAVES, Col. WEST, Col. BLAKE, Col. FORTESCUE, and many others yet living, besides those already dead; but especially the City of LONDON, whose lives & purse were so frankly exposed, that above fourscore times they had solemn Thanks for their great affection to the Parliament; yet as a Reward for all their blood and coin) an Army was brought in upon them, the Tower, Forts, and Magazines seized, their Militia and Officers ta'en from them, their Lord Major and Aldermen imprisoned, with all other marks of slavery from this ingrateful Faction, who take no consideration but of their advantage, the world not having so ill Subjects, nor worse Masters.  
I had not said this, if these injuries concerned only me in particular; but such injustice hath been exercised on my profession, as if the seamen were none of the KING'S Subjects, and were to expect no benefit by the laws of England: insomuch, that lately when we expressed our desires for Peace, the Lord Say told us (in too much scorn) he would have us know, the Parliament should not be Governed by a company of sailors. To say nothing of that malicious design of bringing Land-Soldiers on board, to awe and enslave the seamen, which to all sober men is the most ridiculous Tyranny ever yet imagined; and which they I find will not hastily be forgotten.  
I must confess, after the Vacating my Commission; I began more seriously to examine whom I had served, for till then, I was so diligent in performing their Commands that I took small leisure to examine their Actions, but when I remember we fought all this while to fetch the KING to His Parliament, and yet now 'tis made Treason to offer to bring Him thither; that some Members were Voted Malignants for deserting the House, and others made Delinquents for staying in it, that we took oaths to defend the King's Person and Authority; and now must have a Government settled without Him, and no Addresses made to Him, but Plots and designs to poison and destroy Him: These and many other such horrible contradictions cause me to abandon these enemies of Peace, and to make my humble addresses to his highness the Prince of Wales, whom (God is my witness) I come to serve faithfully as becomes an honest man & a loyal Subject; not drawn by hopes either of honour or profit, as my friends & acquaintance (especially Capt. Jordan, a person of known integrity, & great skill in his profession, who also comes along with me upon the same resolutions) can sufficiently testify. And I humbly conceive (were nothing of Conscience in it, yet in common prudence) others are obliged to run the same course, it being impossible (considering His majesty's personal virtues now evident to all the world; the large possession He hath in the hearts of His people, of all His 3 kingdoms, His numorous Progeny and Allies) that ever Peace should be obtained till our KING be restored.  
But I would not be mistaken, as if I were now turned an enemy to Parliaments; for I profess, I shall with the hazard of my life and fortunes, endeavour the welfare and being of free Parliaments; provided it be with the just Rights of the KING and His Subjects, that by a personal Treaty, or what other way it shall please God; the good known laws of England may be revived, by a firm and lasting Peace.  
Will: Batten,  
FINIS.