THE DECLARATION OF THE SEA COMMANDERS and Mariners in the Royal Navy and Fleet, now with his Highness' Prince Charles riding on the Downs. (August 2.)  
Directed unto the Sea Commanders & Mariners in and about the City of London, and all other ports of this Kingdom.  
Sent in a Letter unto a Merchant of this City to be published.  
Aug: 7 th'. London, Printed in the Year, 1648.   

THE DECLARATION OF THE SEA COMMANDERS and Mariners in the Royal Navy and Fleet, now with his Highness' Prince Charles now riding on the Downs. (August 2.)  
OUr late experience of the woeful effects of War, raiseth in us many most sad considerations, and fears of the unhappy continuance thereof, in this our dear Mother Kingdom; unto the prevention of whose Calamities, we are assured that God, and Nature, by all Obligations humane, and divine, most strictly bind us; In discharge therefore of this our duty unto God, and our Country, we do in the presence of God publish unto the world, that we have already used, and shall forever hereafter use, the utmost of our endeavours, for the happy settlement, and quiet of this distracted and bleeding Kingdom: In evidence whereof, we have heretofore humbly petitioned both Houses of Parliament, for a speedy Personal Treaty, betwixt his Majesty, and the two Houses, (being the only, and so often by themselves acknowledged expedient, to establish a safe, and well grounded peace) yet have been answered with such meditated protractions and delays, as gave us just cause to judge, that all our Endeavours in this kind, would prove fruitless, and that the overruling party in both (Houses never meant any such thing: So that throughly observing all our pious endeavours, (with those of others unto this purpose) herein frustrate, we could not bethink ourselves of a more speedy and effectual course, to arrive at that blessed, and by us most desired end; [the peace and prosperity of our Country] then by the rendition of ourselves & our returning unto our due Loyalty & Obedience, unto his sacred Majesty, our dear Sovereign; (from whom we cannot without much sorrow but acknowledge; that the subtle malice, & many hypocritical pretensions, of his Majesty's most confirmed adversaries did to long alien us.) And in Order unto that to restore unto his Majesty, as his most undoubted right) such Vessels of his Majesty's Navy Royal, as were in our power, together with what Ships of defence we had of our own, being by this course hopeful to render his Majesty, (now suffering under unparalleled Oppressions) and his affairs more considerable, unto such as opposed him, and hereby the better to dispose such, unto more visible terms of Accommodation; that his Majesty might be restored unto his unquestionable rights, and royal Prerogatives.  
And this; we profess (before God) unto the whole world, that we could not but know and acknowleghe our bounden duty, without a fearful incurring within our own Consciences, the secret sentence of damnation; having by our Oaths, and so many sacred Obligations, solemnly sworn and protested, the preservation of Religion established by Law, his Majesty's honour, person, and dignity, and the Liberty of the Subject. All which we are accordingly resolved, God assisting, unto our utmost endeavours to preserve, though with the apparent hazard of our lives and fortunes.  
And we do hereby invite all Good Subjects, Especially our brethren the Sea Commanders, Mariners, and Seamen, unto a serious consideration of their several and respective duties, unto these mentioned, great Interests, and conjure them with us vigorously to prosecute so honest and honourable ends, unto which both God, Nature, and their so oft iterated Oaths, (than which nothing can more awe a good Christian) most firmly bind them and from which, without manifest sinning against their own Consciences, and the apparent loss even of their souls (which God forbidden) they can no ways recede; Especicially when their Adherence unto so good and just ends, may probably put a full period unto the present miseries of this distressed Kingdom, or notably contribute unto so good a work; to provoke and animate them unto the undertaking whereof with us, let them look upon the most deploreable condition of the present affairs in this Kingdom, let them behold the Protestant Religion, (in the religious exercise whereof God so mightily blessed our Kingdom, in the reign of K. Edward 6. in the happy days of never to be forgotten Q. Elizabeth, and in the good days of K. james of blessed memory) cast out of doors, and almost quite overgrown with Schisms and Heresies.  
Behold his sacred Majesty, most disloyallie, and treacherously cast into prison, and strictest durance; debarred the free exercise of his Religion, deprived of the society of his beloved Queen, the comfort of his dear children, the attendance of his faithful servants: Behold our Liberties trampled upon, and trodden underfoot, by the Arbitrary power of a party, supported by force, and an Army of Sectaries, who have raised Excises, Taxations, free Quarter, and other unsupportable burdens upon us.  
Look upon the universal decay of foreign trade, whereby this Island so much flourished, and became rich and potent above all Isles, and a wonder and an Amazement unto the whole world: what Country so ever we came to trade withal, we found this to be true: And now we beseech you Brethren, to look upon the sad and ill favoured countenance of things amongst ourselves, and how many families in our profession, are almost, or altogether impoverished, by the decay of foreign Traffic, and Trade, which is in a present possibility to be quite lost unto us and our whole Nation, and to be seized upon by Strangers. And that through the continuance of this most unnatural war, which kept up, will bring utter ruin, and desolation unto this late flourishing Kingdom.  
Two Armies are already entered into the Bowels of the Kingdom, and two more near the entering, whence Trade both by Sea and Land will be so obstructed, that it will be impossible to trade with any security, which as it will be unto the exceeding Impoverishment of the people of this Kingdom, so especially unto those of our profession.  
Let us consider, that the persons from whom all these Evils come upon us, are some few in the House of Lords, and some of the House of Commons, and their Creatures, Excise-men, Farmers, Purchasers, of Bishop's Lands, and the Committees of the City of London, and of the Counties: Such as have cheated this Kingdom of many millions, and now fearing they should be called unto an account, will not be brought to hear of a personal Treaty, or any course which may bring peace unto this miserable Nation; Lest their horrid Imposture, and Cozenage, wherewith they have abused the three Kingdoms, should be reckoned for; to decline which by the Purse of the Commonwealth, (which they command) they maintain an Army of desperate Sectaries, to uphold themselves, and oppress our Religion, King, and Kingdom.  
There is no way, or means under Heaven, left you or us, to restore peace unto this afflicted Kingdom, to restore our Religion unto its ancient lustre and beauty his Majesty unto his Rights, and ourselves unto our libertyes, then by adhering unto his highness the Prince of Wales, who is willing to venture his dearest blood to preserve ours; nay there is no other way left unto you to save your Souls; For if you will not keep inviolable your just Oaths, you run the Hazard of certain damnation, The Consideration whereof is fearful, and calls upon you for a present resolution: Which if such as becomes you, you will forthwith repair unto the Navy, and Fleet with his highness' Prince Charles, & in the best manner you may, tender your loyal Services unto him, for the good Ends mentioned, which if you shall do, assure yourselves, you shall not only perform an Act exceedingly acceptable unto his Majesty, and his Highness, worthy of yourselves and most desired by us; but also pleasing unto God, as being your bounden duty, what he requires at your hands, and the neglect whereof he will grievously punish.  
This duty of your loyalty we expect from you, and if you shall any ways decline it, know assuredly, that as we are able, so we are resolved to debar you of all benefit of foreign trade, and to deal with you as professed Enemies unto your King, and Country, the very thought whereof ought to be most odious unto every honest man, and contrary unto whom we doubt not, you will always show yourselves.   
FINIS.