AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, For the speedy setting forth of certain Ships (in all points furnished for War) to prevent the bringing over of soldiers, Money, Ordnance, and other Ammunition from beyond the Sea, to assist the KING, against the Parliament in England.  
Die Sabbathi, 10. Decemb. 1642.  

ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this Ordinance shall be forthwith printed and published.  
J. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.   
LONDON, Printed for John Wright in the Old-bailey. Decemb. 12. 1642.   

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament.  
WHereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament do find by continual experience, That very great quantities of Ordnance, arms, and other warlike Ammunition, And many Commanders and soldiers have been brought into Newcastle, and other parts of this Kingdom from foreign parts, and especially from the Low-Countries (notwithstanding the prohibition given by the States of the united Provinces to that effect) to be employed against the Parliament, and their adherents, the well-affected persons of this Realm.  
And whereas divers of His Majesties well affected Subjects out of their loyal respect to His Majesty, their pious disposition to the peace and happiness of this Kingdom, and as much as in them lieth to prevent and hinder all such supplies as shall be sent from any foreign parts, to the prejudice of this Nation, Have lately made known to the said Lords and Commons their voluntary disposition and readiness to set forth some Ships and pinnaces, warlikely appointed, equipped, manned and victualled, at their own proper costs and charges, So that in recompense of their charge and adventure therein, they may have and enjoy to their own uses all such Ships, Munition, Goods, Moneys, and Merchandizes which they shall take and surprise by Sea or by Land, intended or designed against the Parliament and their adherents the well affected persons of this kingdom, as aforesaid, or that have carried, or they shall take carrying, any the said supplies to the intents aforesaid, Which being well approved by the Lords and Commons in Parliament as a good and acceptable service, they do commend the same for a pious and laudable undertaking, and are wil1ing to give it all the encouragement and advancement that may be, to bring it to a good and successful issue, as tending very much to the honour of the King & the welfare of this Nation; And therefore for the better enabling the performance of this so free and commendable undertaking and enterprise, It is ordered, established and ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in this present Parliament, and by the authority of the same, That it shall and may be lawful1 for any of his majesty's good and loyal Subjects of this kingdom of England (to be approved and thereto appointed by the Commissioners of the Admiralty established by the Parliament) in warlike manner to equip and furnish for the said intended employment such and so many Ships and other Vessels as they shall think fitting, and to place in them competent numbers of soldiers, mariners and Gunners, with necessary arms and Provisions for that service, and to appoint over them such Commanders, captains and Officers as they shall think fit; and the same Ships and Vessels so manned, equipped, armed and provided to set forth to the Sea, and with the same to seize, surprise, and take all and all manner of Ships and Vessels with the Ordnance Ammunition, Goods, Commanders and soldiers therein that they shall find or understand are sent or are come to any parts of this kingdom to the prejudice thereof, as aforesaid; and further to surprise and take all and all manner of Pirates and Sea-Rovers of what Nation soever, and their Ships and goods whatsoever; And for the better encouragement of all such Adventurers in the said interprize. It is by the Lords and Commons likewise Ordered and ordained, That the said Adventurers shall have and enjoy as their proper goods, all Ships, Goods, moneys, Plate, arms, Ammunition, victuals, Pillage and spoil which shall be seized, or taken by any persons by them to be employed by force and virtue of this Ordinance, which by definitive sentence to be given in His majesty's high Court of his Admiralty shall be pronounced at the time of the taking or seizing thereof, to have been sent, designed, or intended to come into this kingdom against the Parliament, and all well affected persons their adherents in this Nation, or to have belonged to any Pirates or Sea-Rovers what soever: and the same to have and enjoy to their own use, without any account whatsoever thereof to be made, only reserving the tenths accustomed in such cases to be paid to the admiral. And it is further Ordered and Ordained, That there shall be true and faithful inventories taken of the Ships, Ammunition, moneys, Goods, Plate, Pillage and spoil which shall be taken by virtue and authority of this present Ordinance, and a true appraisement made of the same, and the same together with all papers and writings found in any Ship, or other vessel by them to be taken shall be carefully preserved, and two or three of the Officers of every Ship or other vessel, so taken, shall be examined before the chief Officer of the next safe port of England, and the said examinations with the said papers, inventories, and appraisments, shall be sent into the Registry of the high Court of Admiralty aforesaid, to the end that the taking of the said Ships may thereby be justified or restitution by the said Adventurers (if there shall be just cause) there made. And more particularly it is hereby ordered, and ordained by the Lords and Commons aforesaid, and they do by virtue of this ordinance give unto the persons to be set forth to the Seas as aforesaid, and to every of them power, authority and warrant, That if they shall happen upon the Seas or in any port, harbour, or creek, to meet with any Ship or Ships that shall not willingly yield themselves to be visited, and proved by Law and Justice, but will defend themselves by force and violence, than they shall by all means possible, and with all force compel them to yield, and submit themselves to reason and Justice, although it do fall out that by fighting with them one or more of them be maimed, hurt, or slain in the resistance. And it is further ordered and ordained, That the Owners, captain, Master and two or three other of the principal Officers of every of the Ships and pinnaces, so to be set forth upon the said interprize, shall before their going to Sea enter into a Bond in the high Court, of the Admiralty, in the sum of two thousand pounds to the use of the King's Majesty, that the said ships or pinnaces respectively, nor their captains, Masters, nor any of their Company, under colour or pretence of this Ordinance shall rob, spoil, or in damage any of the King's Subjects, Friends or Allies other than such particular persons of His majesty's Subjects, Friends or Allies as shall be found to have carried or shall be found carrying Ordnance, arms, Ammunition, &c. To the prejudice of the Parliament, &c. As aforesaid, or shall have committed Piracy. And that true inventories and appraisements shall be taken of the Ships, and Goods, before the same shall be vended or disposed, and the same together with the papers found aboard any such Ship, and the examinations of the chief Officers of the same Ships as is before declared returned into the Registry of the high Court of the Admiralty aforesaid.  
And lastly, it is hereby further ordered and ordained, That this Ordinance nor any benefit thereby shall extend to the setters forth of any Ship or other vessel upon the interprize aforesaid, where bonds shall not be given as is before expressed, and a certificate under the Admiralty seal obtained of the putting in of such Caution.  
FINIS.