THE DECLARATION OF HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE RUPERT, Lord High Admiral of all the navy Royal, belonging to the King's Majesty CHARLES the II. Wherein he cleareth himself from many Scandalous Ramours which have been cast upon his Reputation.  
Likewise his Highness' Resolution and Intention; Together with the rest of the Officers of the Navy Royal.  
Touching the Death of the late KING, the illegal pretended Power of PARLIAMENT. ●nd their endeavours to Enthrone the now King CHARLES the second.  
ALSO Showing their intentions to maintain the Laws of the Land, the Liberty of the Subject, and just Rights and Privileges of a lawful Parliament.  
Signed by the Princes own hand aboard the Navy Royal, new Riding an Anchor upon the Downs, the 19 th' of March, 1649.  
Printed in the Year, 1649.   

A Declaration of his Highness' Prince RUPERT.  
THe bloody and inhuman murder of my late dread Uncle of ever renowned famous memory, hath administered to me fresh occasion (if I had no other motives which might further my indignation against the usurped power in England, to be assistant both in council and the best of my personal power, as bound by affinity to my dear Cousin now Charles the second King of great Britain, and all other his late Father's Dominions) to take vengeance upon those Arch-Traytors, pretending the name of Parliament, and keeping a perpetual Sessions, of bloodthirstiness and murdering Massacre at Westminster. They being not in any capacity or have they the least colour of honesty, law, or reason, to give them, save only a Libidinous lustful will, maintained by the unjust Sword of usupation, hemmed in with disloyalty, and skinned over with an hipopocriticall pretended freedom of Religion, and Subjects liberty, making show of levelling equality, though no power of a King (which is most rightful both by the written word of God, and fundamental Laws of England) whatever could ever be more tyranically, aspiringly ambitious, and barbarously impious than theirs. Who whatever Promises, Oaths, or Covenants were formerly, or now at present, are their Actions manifest, their intentions to be cruelty, tyrannous, and their rule Arbitrary, every way illegal, and more extorting from the Subjects than the government of a moderate Monarch could in any wise be, who is bounded and begirt both with Law and discreet Council; Nay, the greatest tyrant of a King cannot act such tragical villainies, as a vast number of mischievous wretches which are bend to wickedness may. Of which truth the Assembly of Traitors and rebels an westmin. have given sufficient testimonies, there never being heard on in all antiquity the like subversion that is now intended and with Rebellions force prosecuted in England, viz. First, To murder their lawful King. 2ly, Banish their now King, his Brother, with all those which love or adhere to him, exempting them from mercy, and making them by meek Acts traitors to them, who are Rebels to their King. This me thinks should move all men who are not destitute of understanding (and have common sense) to see how those audacious Rebels have woven their ends, and exploded Loyalty with acclamations, that Rebellion (which is as the sin of Witchcraft) is become a virtue, and murder an Act of mercy. Moreover me thinks it cannot choose but be visible to all eyes (unless wilfully blind) that the numerous Issue of my deceased Uncle will still procure means to keep the Kingdom in broils, either with wars still in it, or threats and invasions, which will be altogether as terrible to the Subject as War itself can be; so long as my dear Cousin now CHARLES the second, the lawful King of England, Scotland, and Jreland etc. or whoever shall succeed him which have any alliance to the Crown of England) are in being.  
I hope therefore and for many reasons to be alleged on my part, that there is no honest loyal heart in all the Kingdom of England or elsewhere, that can with any justice or known truth lay any capital crime to my charge, although it hath been the constant endeavours of some of the English Nation (who are naturally prone to hate Strangers) to seek with false Calumnies and scandalous accusations, to blast and blemish my integrity to my Uncle and his Royal family, by challenging me with treachery to him and his party, to the contrary of all which, his late Majesty was well satisfied that I was honestly real and wholly his. Thus much I thought fit to speak in my own behalf hoping it will be taken from mine own mouth as a character of my fidelity, which hath been much scandalised by black mouth 〈◊〉, which never speaks well of any, and that I thank God is a thing which I have had my share of in England, for venturing so freely and often my life for their Libert es, as I take God to witness was ever my intention, never looking for any preferment at all to raise my fortunes above ordinary by the English nation, which I am confident there are divers now living in England, which have had constant knowledge of my Actions can justify. I having had many preferments proffered me which I have refused, desiring the advancement of my Uncle's cause might be first promoted, and for my own particular I dedicated my life to his will, and did never intent, to make a greater price of my Service then his late Majesty and Council might adjudge me to deserve. Neither hath the abuse laid upon me by my Uncle's pretended friends been sufficient. But the gross Lies and forgeries of that Rebel ●e●t at Westminster, have branded me with the very worst of crimes that possible any man might be charged with. As that I was barbarously cruel and did tyrannically use not only Soldiers but likewise Countrypeople, by Plunder, rapes, thefts, etc. with many more exorbitances, as Ravish of Maidens, and destroying young Children, all which was to no other end then to wound my reputation, and make me abominably odious to the vulgar, whose brains itched with a desire of novelty and were ever willing to embrace any falsities. But to clear myself from all these, I did it was well known to many ever detest and hate such proceed, holding them to be the greatest and most inhuman barbarismes that could by any Christians possible be invented. But I finding the disposition of the English Nation, both pretends friends and open enemies of my late Uncles, to strive nothing more than to cast a perpetual odium upon me, and seeing myself unfortunate in most of my adventures, I do seriously protest it was often my desires to have left that high employment of General, and to serve my Uncle in a lesser and lower degree of Command. But it was ever the will of my dread deceased Uncle (of ever honoured and famous memory) whose love was still to me entire and whose affections I found ever inviolable (to his Subjects good) to have me continue in the Command which his Majesty had been graciously pleased to confer upon me, which as I shall answer at the day of judgement, I did improve to the best of my power without any treachery, deceit, or dissimulation in what kind soever; and for my unfortunateness, I hope, it was excusable, it not only being incident where I had Command and was Personally present, but in all other Places where my late Uncle had any power of soldiers. Yet notwithstanding I was the Butt whereat envy shot its Arrows, and all my Uncle's losses were generally laid to my charge. And I looked upon by many (who were not sensible of my integrity) as a treacherous and perfidious seller of my late Uncle's Cities, Castles, Towns, and Garrisons, yes even his Armies, when it was evident to all, that no man whatsoever either private Soldier, or Officer, did hazard more his life and further engage his Person then myself; and how treacherous dealing and underhand compliance with my Uncle's enemies could be attributed to my charge, for such Acts I know not, and doubt not all honest rational men will be satisfied, and their judgement confuted by these my real expressions, which I call the Almighty judge of heaven and earth to witness is no other than truth.  
Now for my judgement in this new war, in behalf of my dear beloved Cousin, I do protest and really speak it I did ever intent to do him any service & employ my best endeavours for his inthroning as bound by Consangvinity, but more particularly engaged by reason of former favours received from his late Royal Father, my murdered uncle, and though it was my intentions to serve him as I have hear spoke it: yet I do ingeniously confess it was never my desire to be employed in this great and weighty command of his Majesty's Admiral, but should willingly have been well satisfied with an inferior place where I might have had the freedom, in part to bring such great Traitors and Rebels to condign punishment, who had a hand in the murder of my late Uncle, and do still persist in their perverse ways of Rebellion and Cruelty, and my reasons, why I did not wish so great a command were these; viz. I know and was ascertained, myself had been rendered odious to many English who did not throughly understand my real intentions, but only believed lies and forged reports of my mortal Enemies framing. And I did likewise consider that my undertaking the Admiralty, might be a means to draw away the affections of his Majesty's Subjects, by reason such rumours had been upon me. These and many other reasons, (which now I will omit) did move me several times to refuse what at length his Majesty's Council of Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, who are about him: did in a manner force it upon me, which peradventure at first displeased some aspiring Spirits, who gaped for that employment which now I have: and will by the grace of God, to my power manage as may be most profitable for my Cousin, his now Majesty, and for the speediest settlement of him in his late Father's Throne. I will now desire your patience a little longer and do intent (God willing) to give mine and the gentlemen's about me their Intentions and resolutions, both for present proceed and future actings, so long as God shall enable us so to do; and we do hereby declare and protest to all the whole Kingdom, what we with our fortunes (and that which is most dear to us even our lives) will prosecute, and to the utmost of our power perform to a tittle, the particular beads are as follows, viz.  
1. We do protest and declare, That we will use all possible means and employ our interests for to enthrone King Charles the second in his Kingdom of England, and all other his Dominions, which were his late Fathers, and with all our force power & strength, his Royal Person will endeavour to defend maintain and keep. And will ever to the utmost of our powers preserve him from the Treacherous attempts of usurping Rebbels, upholding and suporting so much as in us lieth all his Regal authority, Kingly rights, privileges, and prerogatives, which of due belong to him as successive King of England, and as have been enjoyed by his predecessors of our later ages, viz. Queen Elizabeth, King james, and his late Royal Father of famous memory.  
2ly. That we will ever be careful to preserve the ancient and Fundamental Laws, Statutes, Customs, immunities Privileges, and Freedoms of each Subject of this Kingdom of England. And will never yield consent or assent to have them violated and broken, nor any Arbitrary rule introduced, save only such wholesome Laws as a Parliament freely elected by his Majesty's writ: (and causisting of King, Lords and Commons) shall think fit to constitute.  
3ly. That we will ever be ready with our lives and fortunes, to defend the power of Parliament (when legally chosen) and its Just rights and Privileges, to the utmost of our power will preserve and keep free from violation and never (as now there is over the junto at westminster) constituting any power of Sword upon them, whereby to make them act contrary to the Subjects good, for our private gain: such constraining force being contrary to the known Laws of this Land. And the most arbitrary and tyrannical act, that may be invented: there being now no Law save such as a Rebellious Army of Sectarian Murderers will please to have.  
4ly. And for the City of London in particular, we do declare and protest we will not hinder their trading by See, for Wind, Coals, or any other necessaries, so long as the Captains, and Masters, of such Merchant's Ships, shall pay unto us all such deuce and Customs as do belong to his Majesty, and likewise that they do acknowledge him for their King, and lawful heir to the Crown of England: by striking sail to his Admiral, and yielding obedience to his commands, as one lawfully authorized by his said Majesty, Charles the second King of great Britain.  
5ly. That we have no intention to injure or hurt the person nor diminish, take away, confiscate, or make forseit the goods, estates, or lands, of any the inhabitants of England, who will leave their Rebellion, and engagements of Treason, (now so earnestly agitated) submitting themselves to his Majesty as becomes true Subjects, and as men boundby their several oaths of allegiance to be true to their King, his Heirs and successors: nay further the Covenant hath the same influence of obligation upon all such who will not be perjured.  
6ly. And lastly, that if any Mariners, Watermens, or Soldiers, shall desert that Conventickle of Traitors at Westminster, and repair to us, they shall be rewarded according to their Qualities, and have employment befitting them. Likewise any Gentleman, or other of inferior Rank, who are willing to serve their King, if they will repair to us, shall be entertained with much respect, though they have formerly been our Enemies, yet we will procure an Act of Indemnity for them. All these things God-willing, we do intent to prosecute to the utmost of our powers, and doubt not but that God and all good men will be assisting here in.  
So God save King GHARLES, the Second.   
FINIS.