AN ACT For Impresting of SEAMEN.   seal of the Commonwealth 
June 28. 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act be forthwith Printed and Published.  
THO. St NICHOLAS Clerk of the Parliament.  
LONDON: Printed by JOHN FIELD and HENRY HILLS, Printers to the Parliament.  
And are to be sold at the seven Stars in Fleetstreet, over against Dunstan's Church, 1659.   

AN ACT For Impresting of SEAMEN.  
WHereas in this time of Action the Affairs of the Commonwealth require that there should be sufficient and full numbers of Seamen for the timely furnishing and setting forth of the Fleets to Sea for Public Service, Be it therefore Enacted by this present Parliament, and by the Authority of the same, That the Council of State, or Commissioners for Ordering and Managing of the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy, or the Generals of the Fleet, or the Commissioners of the Navy, shall hereby have Power within the Commonwealth of England, and Dominions thereof, at any time or times from the Five and twentieth day of June One thousand six hundred fifty nine, by their Commissioner or Commissioners, Officer or Officers Authorized thereunto by Warrant under their or any of their Hands and Seals, Raise, Levy and Impressed, such and so many Mariners, Sailors, Watermen, Surgeons, Gunners, Ship-Carpenters, Cawkers, Cooper's, Hoymen or Carmen, for Carriages of Provisions, as also Ships, Hoys, and other Vessels, as shall be requisite and necessary for the Service, paying reasonable Rates for the same whilst Employed in the Service of this Commonwealth: And the said Mariners, Sailors, and such other persons so to be Levied and Imprested as aforesaid, and every of them, shall have paid and delivered to him or them upon his or their Impresting, by the person that shall so Impressed him for Conduct money for every mile from the place where he shall be so Impressed, to the Ship or place where he shall be appointed to make his repair, the sum of One penny half penny per mile, and the like sum of One penny half penny for every mile, from the place of his Discharge, unto the place of his Abode, and shall be allowed for his Service the same Wages and Entertainments in all respects, which is allowed by the Parliament to any such person or persons employed in the said Service, according to their respective Places; And if any Mariner, Sailer, Waterman, Chirurgeon, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cawker, Hoy-man or Carman shall refuse to be Imprested in and for the said Service, or shall hid or absent himself at the time of the Press to avoid the said Service, he or they shall be Committed to Prison, and there remain for the space of Six Months, unless the Council of State, or Commissioners for Ordering and Managing the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy, or the Generals or Commissioners for the Navy shall see cause to release them.  
And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Mariner and Seaman that shall be Impressed, and receive Impressed or Conduct-Money, or shall be retained or received into the Hire or Service of this Commonwealth to serve in any part of the Fleet or Navy, or Ship or Ships of this Commonwealth, shall be bound, and is hereby required to appear personally at such place and time, as by Tickets delivered to every such Mariner or Seaman, under the hand of the person thereto Authorised, shall be set down, nominated and appointed, and shall make his or their personal and speedy repair to such Ship and Ships respectively, as he and they shall be directed and ordered unto, and go on board such Ship accordingly, and continue on board the said Ship, and do and perform his service therein, without either withdrawing or absenting him or themselves from such Ship and Ships, or removing from one Sh●p to another, without Licence in writing thereto obtained, upon pain of death; And all and every such offence and offences shall be by virtue of this Act, tried before the judges of the Admiralty for the time being, and their Associates Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer for trial of Maritine offenders, upon directions in writing sent unto them from the Council of State, for the trial of all and every such person and persons as shall be proceeded against for his or their lives by virtue of this Act.  
And thereupon, the said judges of the Admiralty and their Associates Commissioners aforesaid, by virtue of this Act, are Authorised and Required to hear and determine the said offences, and to arraign and try all such criminous Delinquents for the Matters in this Act contained; And being found guilty, to give judgement of death upon them respectively for the same, and to cause execution thereof to be done according to the usual course and forms of criminal Trials, before the said judges and Commissioners in cases of Maritine Delinquency: And for all and every such person or persons offending in the Premises, as shall not by such directions in writing from the Council of State be directed to be tried before the said judges of the Admiralty and their Associates as aforesaid, they and every of them shall stand committed to Prison as aforesaid, there to remain by the space of six Months without Bail or mainprise.  
And be it likewise Enacted, That all and every person and persons that shall oppose, or resist any of the Officers entrusted for Impresting as aforesaid, in their execution of that service, or abet or set on any others so to do, shall for the same offences incur the penalty of death, and be tried and adjudged, and executed in manner and form aforesaid, by, and before the judges of the Admiralty and their Associates, upon like directions in writing to be sent unto them from the Council of State; And if no such directions shall be sent for their trial by the Council of State, that then nevertheless they the said Offenders respectively stand committed to Prison without Bail or mainprise for the space of six Months. And all justices of the Peace, Mayor, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other Officers are hereby required and enjoined to be aiding and assisting from time to time to the Persons Authorized by virtue of this Act, for the better putting in execution the same according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And in case any Person or Persons employed, or to be employed in the Impresting of any Mariner, Saylor, Waterman, Chirurgeon, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cawker, Hoyman, or Carman, shall directly or indirectly take or receive any Money, Gratuity or Reward, for presting, changing, sparing, or discharging of any Person or Persons so Impressed, or to be Imprested as aforesaid; All and every such Person so offending against this Act, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten Pounds for every such offence, the one moiety thereof to the use of the Commonwealth, and the other moiety to the use of such Person or Persons who shall sue for the same in any Court of Record. Provided always, That this Act shall not extend to the Presting any Master, Masters-mate, Gunner, Carpenter or Boatswain, of any Ship or Vessel that is or shall be in employment.  
And lastly, For the further and better encouragement of Seamen and Watermen, to apply themselves the more willingly to the Service, It is further Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament and the Authority thereof, That all Mariners, Sailors, and likewise all Watermen, who have served an Apprenticeship by the space of seven years in their said professions, or that are Servants & Apprentices by Indenture to any such Waterman, shall be, and are hereby freed and exempted from being pressed to serve as Soldiers in any Land-service. Provided That no Seaman or Waterman above the age of fifty, or under the age of fifteen years, shall be Imprested by virtue of this Act.  
Provided, That this Act shall continue and be in force, until the first day of December, One thousand six hundred fifty nine, and no longer.   

June 28, 1659.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That this Act be forthwith Printed and Published.  
THO. St NICHOLAS Clerk of the Parliament.