A DECLARATION OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT: Concerning the reducing of the late Revolted Ships To the obedience of PARLIAMENT.  
Die Veneris 14 Julii. 1648.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, that this Declaration be forthwith printed and published.  
Joh. Brown, Cler. Parliamentorum.  
Imprinted at London for John Wright, at the King's Head in the Old Bailey. 1648.   

Die Veneris, 14 Julii, 1648.  
IT cannot be unknown to all men that the Commerce and Navigation of this Kingdom hath been by the blessing of God an especial means of the honour and greatness of the English Nation, and that the courage, industry, and fidelity of the English Seamen and Mariners hath been a principal means of the increase of the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdom in all the parts of the world; the consideration whereof have caused both Houses of Parliament to have an especial care unto the Royal Navy, by building many Ships and Frigates, and setting forth and maintaining Fleets, expending in that service the whole revenue of the Customs, (the greatest part whereof in former times was diverted unto other uses) besides other vast sums of Money laid out in that action.  
And for the better encouragement of such Mariners as were employed in the servier of the State, they have much advanced their pay above that which it was formerly, and at the coming in of the Fleets have so carefully provided for them, that they were never discharged from on Board out of Victuals and wages, until their Moneys were duly paid them, hoping that by these and many other encouragements upon all occasions they would have approved themselves faithful to the Kingdom in the discharge of the trust reposed in them; but contrary hereunto, the Mariners of several of the Royal ships set forth in this last Summer's Fleet, being by the cunning insinuation of men ill affected to the Peace of this Kingdom seduced, have rreacherously revolted from their duty, and do still persist in their disobedience, by which horrid and detestable act in breach of their trust, they have much blemished the honour and credit of the Navigation, and Mariners of this Kingdom, and as much as in them lies, betrayed the public interest and liberties thereof, and retarded those ends of a happy Peace, which the Parliament have ever pursued, and now are more especially employed in; and although both Houses of Parliament have (after an Act of Indemnity already offered) good reason for to proceed in the reducing of them by force, yet to the end it may appear that the Parliament do as much as in them lies, seek to prevent the effusion of blood, The said Lords and Commons do hereby Offer and Declare; That if the Seamen, Officers and Commanders on Board the said Ships shall within twenty days after publication hereof, or forthwith upon notice given them by the Lord Admiral, or such other Person or Persons as he shall appoint, render themselves, and the Ships, wherein they are to the Parliaments obedience, and bring them into some Port under the command of the Parliament, the persons so submitting shall be indemnified in their persons and estates, any former act of theirs notwithstanding; but if they shall after the said time prefixed expired persist still in their disobedience, than the Houses will proceed to the reducing of them by force, and doubting not of a good success by the blessing of Almighty God, hoping that every truehearted English man will contribute his uttermost assistance to this work, especially the Merchants and Owner of Ships, they being principally Interessed in the consequences thereof, it being to be expected that the Revolters will endeavour to maintain their defection by rapine and violence, and for the Encouragement of Seamen, to engage themselves herein, The Lords and Commons do promise and declare, that such Seamen as shall so engage and use their best endeavours in this so honourable a work shall have two month's wages extraordinary duly paid them, as soon as the said Ships shall be by them reduced and brought into Port▪  
And it is lastly Declared, that not only the persons on board the said Ships, who shall notwithstanding this offer of Indemnity stand out, but also all other the Subjects of this Kingdom, and others whatsoever, who shall hereafter join with, assist, supply, or any way adhere to them, shall be dealt with and proceeded against as Traitors and Enemies to the Kingdom, and their Estates confiscate; and for the miseries that shall ensue, they will stand charged with the same as guilty of them, and authors of that ruin which will attend them and their posterity.  
Joh. Browne Cler. Parliamentorum.  
FINIS.