The general REMONSTRANCE or DECLARATION of the seamen which inhabit in London and thereabouts, dated the 31, of Jan, 1641.  
WHereas we of the true Protestant Religion and the maintainer of the gospel under our gracious King and Parliament, and have been continually loving and faithful Subjects to his Sacred Majesty, and notwithstanding the general and hard oppressions suffered by subordinate governors, to the ruin of our lives, if it had not been prevented by the providence of God, and the good care of our King and Parliament, to prevent their designs before it came to perfection, yet having all liberty of the true Religion from his Majesty out of the effluence of his Princely care to us, and we weighing no corporal loss in respect of that great Immunity of the soul, we are inviolably resolved to infix ourselves in an immutable and pure Allegiance forever to his Sacred Majesty, and his Successors, for the maintenance of the gospel under them, and to subdue all those which doth oppose it, if his Majesty would be pleased out of his Princely care, and providence, to give us leave.  
So it is, that if his Majesty and this Honourable Parliament, would be pleased to give unto Us and the Owners of these Ships the privileges to have Letters of Marts and free passage into the Seas, by the providence of the Almighty GOD, we shall in a short time subdue all these Rebels and any that doth oppose his Majesty, or this kingdom, or other kingdoms for the maintenance of the gospel which doth belong to his Majesty: and knowing none to be so desirous to maintain it but the true Protestants, and none more readier than we that doth belong to the Sea, and thereby pretending the general good of his Majesty and this kingdom.  
But we the said seamen and true Protestants, and loyal Subjects to his Majesty; do hereby proffer ourselves and Lives for the maintenance of it, touching our Religion in which we were baptised in and under the Faith of our Saviour Jesus CHRIST.  
But likewise, if his Majesty and this Parliament would be pleased to let us be supported there, for to raise the name of the true Protestants here in England and Ireland, and seeing this surprise so dangerous, tending absolutely to the overthrow of the Liberty of our Consciences and country, if it be not prevented in time; and also our gracious King's Power and privileges forced from him, in which, and in whose prudent Care have formerly been over Us and the gospel, our sole quiet, and comfort consisted, and without the which, the fear of our present ruins did prescribe opinion and premonish us to save ourselves; we therefore as well to regain his Excellent majesty's said Prerogative, it being only due to Him and his successors, and being the essence and life of Monarchy, hoping thereby to confirm a strong and invincible Unity between his royal and ever happy Love unto us and our faithful Duty, and loyalty to his incomparable majesty. And the Rebels having taken up arms, and possessed themselves of the best and strongest Forts of the kingdom of Ireland to oppose his Majesty, and all those which doth maintain the gospel, the which we do hope that the Almighty God, will save and defend us from the tyrannous resolution of our Enemies, and this in our Consciences as we do wish the Peace of the same to ourselves and posterity, is the pretence and true cause that doth make us to declare ourselves to God and the World for the relief of these our poor distressed Brethren in Jreland.  
We do declare unto God and the World, that what we do is for the maintenance of our King and our Religion, and to defend our Brethren by our relief at Sea.  
We do desire that the Government of that kingdom of Ireland might be put into the hands of some godly and Religious man, and not to have any Papists to inhabit there, nor within the kingdom of England, nor any Popish Lords to have place in this Honourable Court of Parliament, but to be utterly cast out.  
Also we do desire, that those Commanders which are bound forth for that service into Ireland, should take the Oath of allegiance and supremacy: so that they which do go under them may be secured that they shall not be betrayed into the hands of the Rebels, but to stand to maintain the Faith and the Truth of the gospel.  
We taking it into our serious consideration, do for fear our Brethren should be overcome of a sudden, and for the security of this kingdom of England, we have thought fit to have this our Declaration to be published, that his majesty and this honourable Parliament would be pleased to consider of it, and give us the privileges of Letters of Marts for to keep these our Enemies in subjection.  
FINIS.