AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT, DECLARING, That it shall and may be lawful for all Foreigners and Strangers, in amity with this kingdom, to have free Trade and Commerce, to, and from the City of London, and all other Ports and places within any of His Majesties Dominions, standing right, and keeping fidelity to the King and Parliament.  
Provided that they bring over no quantity of Ordnance, arms, and other warlike Ammunition, into Newcastle, Topsham, Falmouth, Dartmouth, or any other parts in this kingdom in hostility against the Parliament; or to assist the Irish Rebels.  
Die Veneris, 30 August. 1644.  


ORdered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the clerk of the Parliaments shall cause this Ordinance to be printed. And that the Sergeant of the Mace that attends the Commissioners of the great seal shall publish it, as is directed in the said Ordinance.  
J. Brown clear. Parliamentorum.    
LONDON, Printed for John Wright in the Old-baily, August 31. 1644.   

Die Veneris, 30 August. 1644.  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament.  
WHereas the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament finding by continual experience, that very great quantities of Ordnance, arms, and other warlike Ammunition, together with Ships, Goods, and Victuals of all sorts have been and still are brought into Newcastle, Fallmouth, Topsham, Dartmouth, and other parts of this kingdom, being in hostility against the King and Parliament: as also into the realm of Ireland from foreign parts, to be employed for the relief of the Rebels of the said kingdoms of England and Ireland, and against the Parliament and their adherents, the well-affected persons of this kingdom, have by their Ordinance dated the last day of November, 1643. Ordered, Established, and Ordained, that it shall and may be lawful for any of His Majesties good and loyal Subjects to be approved and thereunto appointed by the Lord High admiral of England for the time being appointed by them the said Lords and Commons to equip, furnish, and set forth such and so many Ships, and other vessels warlikely appointed, as they shall think fit, and with the same to seize, surprise, and take all, and all manner of Ships and Vessels, with the Ordnance, Ammunition, Victuals, Goods, Commanders, and Souldiers that they shall meet withall, in, or outwards bound, from any part or place within any of His Majesties Dominions, being in hostility against the King and Parliament: or coming from, or returning to any such part or place, or that shal be found to have traded with the inhabitants of any such parts or place, since their defection from the King and Parliament: And also to surprise and take all& all manner of Ships and Vessels, with the Ordnance, Ammunition, Victuals and Goods therein belonging to any rebel or rebels in Ireland; and further, to surprise and take all, and all manner, of pirates, and Sea-rovers, of what Nation soever, and their Ships and Goods whatsoever, and to have and enjoy the same, after adjudication in the high Court of Admiralty, as their own proper goods, according to the purport, and intent of the said Ordinance.  
And forasmuch as it hath not yet been declared by the said Lords and Commons what Ports and places they account to be in defection from the King and Parliament in the kingdom of Ireland, since the making of the pretended cessation of arms there, The Lords and Commons aforesaid do hereby declare, that all and singular the Ports and places in the kingdom of Ireland are in defection from the King and Parliament, and within the compass of the said Ordinance, except the ports in the Province of Ulster from Strangford inclusive Northward,& so along the cost to Callebecke inclusive, and except the fort of Duncannon,& except the Port of Youghall, Cork,& Kensale in the Province of Munster. And yet notwithstanding, the said Lords and Commons being very willing, that Foreigners, and Strangers should receive all encouragement for Trade, and commerce with the City of London and other ports, and places that stand right, and keep their fidelity to the King and Parliament, and such further liberty as may consist with the weal and safety of the kingdom, have ordained and declared, and by these presents do ordain and declare; That it shall and may be lawful for all Foreigners& Strangers in amity with this Kingdom to have free Trade and Commerce, to and from the City of London and all other ports and places within any of His Majesties Dominions standing right, and keeping the fidelity to the King and Parliament, they paying the customs and discharging such duties as are due and accustomend; And whereas it is alleged that some Foreigners and Strangers subjects to other Princes, and States, Confederates, and Allies to His Majesty, have some part of their estates remaining in the Cities of exeter and bristol, and other towns and places of this kingdom of England in defection from the King and Parliament, and licence and leave is desired by the Ambassadors, and agents of those Princes and States, for the withdrawing of the same from those Cities, towns, and places; The said Lords and Commons being very willing to maintain a good correspondency, and understanding between His majesty and all his confederates and allies, and their subiects respectively, and desirous that the subiects of such confederates and allies should not receive any manner of loss, damage or prejudice in their Estates by the unhappy differences and troubles that are risen in this kingdom, but should have all such liberty as may consist with the sea-coal and Safety of this realm and other his majesties Dominions; do hereby declare, That notwithstanding their former Ordinance aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful to and for any foreigner or Stranger, subject to any Prince or State in amity with his majesty, with such and so many Ships or other Vessells as shall be needful to sail, or go to the ports or harbours of exeter, bristol, Falmouth, Topsham, Newcastle, or any other port or place in this kingdom of England, which are or shall be in defection from the King and Parliament, and from thence by all lawful ways and means to withdraw, trans-port, and carry away their Goods and estates; provided, that those Ships or Vessells which they shall carry into any such port or place, do not carry or bear any Ordnance, nor carry into any such port or place any goods or merchandises whatsoever, moneys, arms, ammunition, materials for Shipping, or victuals, more then such victuals as shall be necessary for the sustentation of the company of such ship or ships, and such moneys as shall be necessary for the uses of such ship or ships, for the necessary supply of them and their companies; And provided further, that such City or town be not then besieged by the Ships or any other forces of the King and Parliament, and that such foreigners and Strangers, under pretence of withdrawing their own estates, do not bring away the goods of any his majesties subiects, and in case any ship or other vessel coming from any such port, or place as aforesaid shall be found to have aboard her any Goods, moneys or merchandises belonging to any of his majesties subject, or subjects; The Lords and Commons do hereby declare, That not onely such Goods, Money and merchandises, shall be good prise to the takers, being so adiudged in the Court of Admiralty, but also all the Goods, moneys, or merchandises belonging to any Stranger, or foreigner, in whose name any such Goods, moneys or merchandises belonging to any of his majesties subjects shall be shipped or coloured, and the ship itself in which they shall be found, shall also be prise to the takers, in case it shall be proved that the Master or Owner of that ship, or the Owner of such Goods and merchandise, in whose name such Goods were colourably shipped, knew that any such Goods, moneys, or merchandises at the time of the lading thereof did belong to any of his majesties Subiects.  
And be it further Ordained and Declared, that no Commander of Ship or Ships, or other person whatsoever do or shall under the pretence of this Ordinance, or any clause therein contamed, presume to seize, surprise, or take any Ship or other vessel whatsoever, or any of their lading, during the time such ship or vessel shall remain, or be within any of the ports, or Havens belonging to any kingdom, or state, in amity with the Crown and kingdom of England.  
And to the end that public notice may be taken of the said Ordinance aforementioned, and of this present Ordinance, as well by Foreigners as His majesties subiects; The Lords and Commons aforesaid do hereby order, and command that the said former Ordinance, and this present Ordinance and Declaration, shall both be published by a sergeant at arms, three several dayes upon the exchange London, at the time of the concourse of Merchants thither, and Copies of them both subscribed by the clerk of the Parliaments, to be sent to the Ambassadors, and Ministers of foreign Nations here resident, by the Speaker of either of the said Houses to be by them, or either of them intimated and made known to the subjects of those Princes or States which they represent: or from whom they are employed.   
FINIS.