darknesse Yet further by what I have heard the Court or the most of the elder brothers did not own the paper and I hope never will that nor any thing else that may cause the to be mistrusted as those that would seem to stand as newters And while I am mentioning those aged or Elder ones Solomons passage comes to my minde Prov. 16.3 The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in a way of righteousnesse Then God forbid those should be found out of that way in a way that inclines to detestable newtrality in this cause which by lifting up their hands to God they have acknowledged so much concerns his glory Question 1. But some may ask Is not the case altered Answ Yes somewhat in regard that whereas heretofore the Earle of Mrrlbrough was seeking to destroy us by Sea and the Lord Hopton and Culpepper the Kingdome by land now it is reported that the Earle of Marlbrough is about the same work by Land and the Lord Hopton and his Company is upon the same designe by Sea So the case is altered but the cause is the same Quest 2. But now those pretend to be for a personall treaty and so for peace Answ Oh that there were in them such a disposition As we use to say there is a great deale of difference between saying and doing or between pretending to doe a thing and doing it really We know Ehud pretended faire to King Eglon till he had his opportunity and then he thrust the Dagger to his heart To come a little neerer even to some of the aforenamed persons We know or at least may know the Earle of Marlbrough came towards the ship Merchant Bonaventure as if he were for peace with the Banner of St. George in his Main Top even till the Master of the other ship was provided to drink to him But when the Earle thought he could make sure prize of him he then changed his Banner and like a Beare robbed of her Whelps teares the ship both with great Gunnes and small and thereby the poore man that thought his pretending and doing would be alike lost not onely his own life but some other men lost their lives also Again did not the Lord Goring and his Company at the entry into Colchester pretend a great deale of good will to the inhabitants But now how many of them cry out Our Houses are burnt and otherwise our wrongs by them have been so exceeding great that we may bewaile our selves as Jeremy in his Lamentations Lam. 1 1◠Is it nothing to you all you that passe by Behold and see Is there any sorrow like unto our sorrow and all because 〈◊〉 were caught with the faire pretences of that party and did not joyn heart hand to keep out the cōmon enemy And to come a little neerer Do not some of them that went down into the Downes with confidence that if they met with the revolted Ships they should suffer nothing by thē now advise their friends how that their ammunition and provision is taken away so that their voyages at least are overthrowne and they feare all will be lost If yet mens eyes be not opened to see it is high time to be stirre themselves I would sound an alarm to my friends of the Navigation but because I would not be too tedious consider some of the Heads of what I would speak to in case we now sit still is is not like to be of very ill consequence As first Will not those Merchants in whose imployment under God wee have gained something be ready to charge us with extreame ingratitude that now their goods are already taken by the Revolters and are like more and more so to be and they have no way to have it helped but by our endeavours to redeem the prey out of their hands that have taken it and remedy the like for the future I say if now we should sit still like those that owed them no kinde of service appearing like them that cared not for their destruction but laughed when the feares of their losses came upon them I appeale to you will they not do as abovesaid Object 9. Some Merchants are so far from encouraging us to goe against the revolted ships that it is expressed often by them they hope Seamen have more wit then to fight one against another Answ No man would willingly fight and shed blood if any fairer meanes would serve turn as Indemnity and the like but if no such meanes will doe another course must be taken and I warrant you when such men feel the smart received by their losses you get their estates redeemed out of the hands of those aboard the revolted Ships then they will be so farre from saying you have done ill that contrarily they will say you are and think you to be the bravest men in the world But secondly if we act not to cleare the way for our shipping to passe to and from the Sea without surprizall it will necessarily follow the Merchants will ship off no goods and consequently the shipping wherein the Seamen are not a little concerned must as we use use to say lye by the walls and in their roomes strangers be frhaigted to carry Merchans goods from the vintage to the West of England whereby it 's like London will be served over land although to their great cost and then how many other are the inconveniences that will follow thereupon I shall name onely three The Clothiers and many others that use to vent their wares at London to Merchants for transportation beyond the Seas must desist and consequently the multitudes of poore imployed that way will cry out against those that have been the Obstructors of the Trade 2. Again will not the Manuall Craftsmen about London and the poore under them groan for want of imployment when shipping shall not goe to and againe as usually and lament of those that are the cause thereof 3. Will not ordinary Marriners that by consequence must want imployment and they being not usualy so provident as others to lay up against such a time of necessity run to other parts and places of the Kingdome to look imployment or which is worse nto other Countries leaving their poore Families to cry out under wants against them that have been the cause of this great stop of trade and we know that heer yes of the poore and needy come up into the eares of the Lord of Hosts Psal 12.5 Oh then let us not be counted the cause of these evils but in time let us bestirre our selves in a way of endeavouring the reducing of the revolters before it be too late and if men will yet be obstinate give me leave to tell you what I think of Esth 4.14 If we be altogether silent or Newters at this time even Mordecai's answer to Esther Think not you shall escape in the Kings house or if you will under a pretence you are for
on fore-sight thereof should presently desist and say as Naaman to Elisha in another case so in this thing that I have made such progresse the Lord be mercifull unto his servant and I should proceed no further But my conscience beares me witnesse that I am fully perswaded it is the neerest way to peace and a mutuall Agreement between our selves to labour to undeceive one another for now some amongst those that under wrote the printed Paper afore mentioned malignes and speakes disdainfully of others that dissented from their opinion I may truely say they know not for what and peradventure they think in what they doe they keep to the Covenant when every rationall man knowes they seem to breake many Articles thereof as to instance in that passage of the 6th Article wherein we promise not to make defection on the contrary part or give our selves to a detestable Indifferency or Newtrality in this cause which so much concerneth the glory of God the good of the Kingdomes and honor of the King And let me tell you I hope hereupon those men amongst them who are moderate and have not their spirits greatly imbittered will be ready to say the truth is now we see out mistake and therefore we will apply our selves to joyne heart hand against the Common Enemy that there be no decay nor breaking out nor yet complaining in our streets but Merchants be encouraged to trade liberally and our selves may be freed ftom those feares that if those Revolters be sooth'd up in their way will often possesse us as that from their example our own men may turne us a shore and doe what they will with our ships upon every discontent Having thus by way of caution spoken to those two particulars I shall now proceed to the thing intended viz. to endeavour the undeceiving of the underwriters and others amongst whome their printed Papers may be spread First therefore I shal speak a word or two to the occasion of the meeting which produced the printed paper and the rather because many of the Subscribers may be ignorant thereof The Honorable House of Commons made the ensuing votes Die Sabbathi 17. Junij 1648. Resolved that as great a Fleet as the Parliament shall think fit be provided with all expedition for the safety of the Kingdome and the reducing of the revolters Hen. Elsing Cler. Parli Die 17. Junij 1648. Resolved That a Letter be written by the Lord high Admirall to the Trinity House to imploy their best endeavours for the manning the Ships of such a Fleet with cordiall and well-affected men Henry Elsing Cler. Parl. Whereupon the right Honorable the Earle of Warwick Lord high Admirall did write to the Master and Wardens of the Trinity House a Letter whereof followes the Copie I hope without offence to any For without it the errour these men run into could not so clearly appeare After my hearty Commendations YOu cannot but take notice of the defection of some Ships of the Fleet and the great prejudice that may be occasioned thereby to the Trade of the Kingdome besides the interruption it may give to publick settlement which the Parliament are effectually endeavouring In order therefore to the safety of the Kingdome the encouragement and preservation of Trade and the reducing of such of the Ships as have revolted from their duty It is now in agitation by the Parliaments direction That a convenient Fleet bee provided and set to Sea And because nothing is of more importance then the getting of the said Fleet manned with cordiall and well-affected Mariners I doe therefore recommend it to you as that that is of great concernment to the publick service speedily to imploy your best endeavours for getting such mariners to serve in the said Fleet of whose courage and faithfull affection to the Parliament you shall have very good assurance and of the proceedings to make as speedie return unto mee as may bee by your diligent and effectuall compliance And thereby you will not onely give a further testimony of your care of the publique interest of the Kingdom and of your respect to the Parliament the House of Commons having by their Order published those votes a Coppy whereof I send you here inclosed it being resolved that your best endeavours in this behalfe be thus desired I say you will not onely answer their expectation thereby but will also more oblige To my very loving Friends the Master Wardens and the Assistants of the Trinity house Your very assured loveing brother and friend Warwicke Whereupon the younger brothers it seemes were ordered to be called to a meeting at the Trinity house which leads me to the first Quere Quaere 1. Whether you think it were sit or justifiable that some Members of the Corporation should be called and others left out who will thinke otherwise but to carry on the designe intended the more smoothly and in their roomes those not members of the Corporation should be warned to appeare and some of them invited to procure all the friends they could that would be for a Personall Treaty Now if this be not contrary to reason and the Covenant which in one Article tells us wee ought no to make factions or Parties amongst the people let the world be judge But herein I would not be understood as if I meant the Worshipfull the Mr. Wardens and Assistants of the said Trinity house were blameable herein No I am perswaded better things of them But I doubt not but their Officers are to blame therein who if reports belyes them not some of them are very fit for such a purpose 1 Object But it may be said the Officers were ordered to call all Seamen or as many as could be got as well not Members of the Co poration as thosâ— that were Answ But why were not all the Members first called as is usually done in and among all Companies and Corporations in such cases Quere 2. Secondly Whether at such a meeting upon such an occasion where every one should have free liberty to speake his minde it can with the least couler be justifiable that when a Personall Treaty was propounded and one replyed saying under favour it is not the businesse of the day we are called to answer my Lord Admiralls Letter let us therefore do that A very reasonable request yet that this man should be hist at by many Nay that some should take the boldnesse to say it were a good turne to thrust him and some others out of doores that dissented from them or that some should add and say they that are in the revolted ships were as honest as those that were there with what reason such things should passe unreproveable it seems to me very strange And now to the printed Paper it selfe it having for its frontispeice or title The humble tender and Declaration of many well-affected Marriners c. which leads me to the next Quere Quaere 3. Thirdly Whether men that are rationall and no way biassed
THE Sea-men undeceived OR Certaine Queries to a printed Paper Intituled The humble Tender and Declaration of many wel-affected Sea-men Commanders of Ships and Members of Trinity-House to the Commissioners of the Navy Wherein are may Objections answered very necessary for publick use in these times By R. B. a Seaman and Member of the Trinity-House Directed to Marriners and Sea-men in generall and to all others among whom the fore-mentioned printed Papers have been spread But more especially it is commended to the underwriters of the said Paper Published according to Order Read all or none LONDON Painted by Matthew Simmons 1648. The Authours Apologie to the READER VNTILL this time it hath been ever as far from my thoughts to come forth in Print to publicke view as it is for those things of the greatest antipothy to be reconciled to a mutuall agreement Therefore I even wonder my genius should be so metamorphozed which was occasioned by the coming to my hand of a printed Paper intituled The humble Tender and Declaration of many well-affected Marriners and Seamen Commanders of ships and Members of Trinity house to the Commissioners of the Navy which having seriously over looked I was not a little amazed there at considering what application might be made thereof by the generallity in these distracted times And afterwards finding my selfe not deceived in my expectation in regard it had such influence upon a great number in City and Countrie as to cause them to be possessed with an opinion and therefore to averr as to speake truth with some reason considering the latter clause in the afforesaid printed Paper that Seamen in generall except a few inconsiderate persons doe justifie what those aboard of the revolted ships have done in refusing to be under the obedience of the two Honourable Houses of Parliament where upon my thoughts were to have used my interest that the Subscribres might be called together to have spoken something to them by word of mouth in a way of perswasion to vindicate themselves in some other printed paper thereby to undeceive the people But calling to minde how some dissenting from them in the draft of their paper to which I speake was hissed at for speaking but reason as all reasonable men not possessed with a prejudicate opinion against the man must confesse I feared such kinde of dealing my selfe and therefore desisted from that course whereupon I was troubled in so much that my thoughts seemed not to be contented to abide any longer imprisoned where they were conceived but would violently breake forth so I put pen to paper that I might give them vent however thought to deale wisely with them though not to stifle or destroy them yet to hide them for my owne private use and did soe till some weekes being passed and notice being given me that he that stands in the head of the underwriters was gone aboard the revolted ships I then thought it my duty to cast in my Mite amongst others of far better abilities and although the unfittest and unworthiest of all others I speake unfainedly in my owne thoughts it is so yet seeing others silent from an opinion that it may by Gods blessing accrue unto others benefit in a way of undeceiving them I thought good to proceed in the worke and not valuing mens censures but casting my self wholely upon Gods Providence am at length willing it should goe abroad to the publique view What I have to say it chiefely by way of Quere upon certaine particulars in the above specified printed Paper wherein I hope I shall not discontent any that seâ—mes to be most concerned therein but if any be discontented without any just cause given them I say as the Proverbe hath it honi soit qui mali pense evil be to him that evil thinks I thinke none therefore have hardly particularized any one man neither beare I the least private grudge to any one Nay I think many of the underwriters to be as honest and well-meaning men as my selfe and drawne into that businesse through the deceit or rather deceitfulnesse of others that doe make them believe they breake not the Covenant although they expresse themselves as if they would joyne with or at least stand as Newters in reference to what hath been done or is in agitation to be done by those aboard the revolted ships My great aime is of this deceit to convince them Jn fine God that knowes my heart knoweth I desire not Salamander like to be imployed in the fire of Contention Thoughts of advancing the publique good hath put me upon this worke and therefore I doe not feare that I shall be rewarded evil for the good intended hereby Nay I hope it will be digested as it was suggested in much love that as many of us have done heretofore so hereafter on all occasions we may eate and drink and walk into the House of God as friends which shall be the earnest desire and Prayer of Your Friend and Servant to his power Richard Badiley CERTAINE QUERIES to a printed paper intituled the Humble Tender and Declaration of many well-affected Marriners and Seamen Commanders of ships and Members of the Trinity house to the Commissioners of the Nauie Wherein that I may not be mis-understood I shall premise by way of Caution these two ensuing expressions FIRST that although I doe abominate and detest the actions of those aboard the revolted ships as an unparralled breach of Trust and therefore judge my selfe bound by the National Covenant to use my uttermost ability if I am called to it to help to reduce them to their former obedience whether they impede a Personall Treaty or not Yet know I am so far from being against a Personall Treaty with his Majestie if it be the onely remedy to cure our maladies that I wish it were to night before to morrow morning For what Christian would desire the woundes of the Kingdome to lie open and not be healed up But herein we ought to be very cautelous not as it were forcing the Parliament to it before the foundation of a well grounded peace be laid lest the remedy prove worse than the disease while wee seeke to evade running a shore upon Scilla we fall upon Charibdais 2. Secondly that I may not be understood as one that is a Botufeu or kindle fire and one that in these times of division goes about to make the rent wider or a person that is a stirrer up and instigater to the shedding of more bloud I say far be it from me so to doe I say scatter them O Lord that delight in warre Being verily perswaded that as for oathes so for innocent blood the Land mourneth the late unseasonableness of the weather seemed to shew it Insurrections and offences have come but I am affraid woe will be to them that have been the cause thereof and let me tell you friends if any such thing should fall out hereby I shall wish my thoughts had proved abortive and
Gadarens dealt with our Saviour shall we banish it preferring our worldly lusts and earthly enjoyments before it At this passage it may bee some will be ready to say He begins to make a preachment However before I passe from this passage in reference to the Covenant I must make a further digression to expresse my thoughts about it First that although I my selfe have taken the Covenant and intend as God shall enable me to keep close to it in the sense it was expounded to me when I took it and although it be farre from my thoughts to discourage any from taking it yet seeing it is made such a nose of Wax of and so many turn it about to their severall interests leaving the right rule it should be expounded by I heartily wish care may bee taken that men put in Offices and places of Trust may be judged fit and faithfull by some other way and principles then by their meere taking the Covenant lest some men of selfish and corrupt mindes after the example of these Revolters in the Ships should for by respects betray their Trust and so open a way either for the ruine of the Parliament and those that have adhered faithfully to them all along or which is worse if worse may be like those that are bought and sold as sheep they and we should be led to the slaughter before we know who hurts us But now to return again to the printed paper having toward the later end this passage And if they shall impede a personall treaty then with our lives and fortunes we will endeavour to reduce them Quere 7. The Quere then is Whether the well-affected amongst which they professe themselves that framed the paper will not think by that clause you put a meere mock upon the Parliament For who knowes not but the Ships revolted appeare as those that would joyn with the County of Kent one part of whose desire or pretence was expressed to bee for a personall treaty And if so what rationall man can thinke it 's likely or with the least colour probable they should goe to the Isle of Wight to impede his Majesties passage over towards a personall treaty or otherwise some think such a kind of impeding you mean But if it were not intēded as a mock as I think verily it was not will not such men especially they that know what influence it had upon many men in the Countreyes conclude it a peece which hath much wounded the Parliamēts cause insomuch as they may say by you as in another case Caesar said in the Senate House What you my son Brutus What and you against me also What you Marriners and Sea-men for whom we have done such things what you also against us You cannot be ignorant that whereas in former times the ordering of the Navie and the command at sea was usually put into the hands of Gentlemen that were Land-men yet since our fitting under King and Parliament men of your own coat have been placed at the Stern to manage the maritine affaires of the Kingdome and what else chiefly concernes the Navie insomuch that Masters of Merchant-men being imployed in the service have usually now the command of their own ships not cōmon before And for their better incouragement in those the other ships there is larger allowance for wages given to the Marriners then was given heretofore and that wages from time to time punctually paid them a priviledge above all others imployed in publick affaires and do you thus requite us I beseech you therefore acknowledge your mistake or expresse your selves what you fully meant in time lest great provocations make great alterations But again looking among the Names I cannot but discerne that many amongst them have been in the service of the King and Parliament which makes me premise another Quere Quere 6. Whether indifferent men will not be ready to judge although I doe not think so of many of you you acted against the kings forces for by respects as to gain wealth honour or for some such sinister end and now that the Kingdome hath more immediate need of you in their low estate now you leave them and either side with or at least by your paper seeme to connive with them that are revolted from their obedience and if you were upright at your engagement and not byassed with by-ends why then keep you not to your integrity while you dye I appeale to you all that were the subscribers Will it not be of ill consequence that it should bee told abroad and published among the Heathen among the Turkes Jewes Armenians and those other Nations Italians Spaniards and French that use to honour us in that as they have trusted their persons and estates with us so we have carried them up and down and never betrayed our Trust I say again when it shall bee said we joyn with or at least connive at those that have not broken their trust with Heathens but with their own Nation the Representatives of their own Kingdome c. Object But you may say We see many are seeming to ingratiate themselves into the Kings favour that they may save their estates and gain his good esteeme and why should not we some of us being those that went up with our Boats to Westminster and thereby gave him such great distast As in Mr. Calamies speech at Guild-hall I answer An unjust way of doing that which otherwise may lawfully be done is not the way to have an estate For God may so order it that though you be thought no Round-heads yet your goods may your goods may be Gybalins though you be Gwelfes as the storie is To conclude I will not take upon me to obtest you but I intreat and earnestly desire you by your oath and covenant and by all the good that the Parliament hath done for you that you side not with the Revolters or give your selves to a detestable Indifferencie or Newtrality in this cause which so much concernes Gods glory and the Kingdoms good But in time shew that you abominate that unparalleld breach of trust by joyning with others and that freely to reduce the aforesaid ships to their former obedience Object But some may object If we bee faulty or blame-worthy could you not tell us of it between you and us or some other way and have not you your faults as well as others Would you have them written upon your forehead published to all the world in print as you doe by ours setting it home with a kind of violence The answer is in two parts First when I declare them in that kind to inlect or harden any others in a way that is not good doe it with a very good will it shall be such a kindnesse to me that shall not break my head no nor my sleep neither in the least if I know my own heart Secondly had not the blow of your Declaration sounded farre and neere this Eccho or Countermand had
the Kings cause God will cause enlargement and deliverance to come some other way Quest But how is it likely Answ I cannot very well tell But me thinkes God that hath done so much for his people as he hath done of late for us will yet doe more although by very despicable means how ever our sinnes may be the cause our hope of outward prosperity may be diverted And although I thousands of other men perish however the Lord will carry on his owne worke Beleeve mee friends God will not answer the wishes of Mercurius Aulicus in his pamphlet this week no he will not stand as Newter in these differences Which passage while I am mentioning me thinkes many of the very Heathens would bee ashamed of such an expression I pray God lay it noâ— to our charge that in a Christian Citie where there are so many differing in judgment one speaking against 〈◊〉 Fresbyterians and another speaking against those they call Independents Psal 50. â— and it s feared most speake against both yet it 's thought many speake not against this kinde of blasphemy or these kinde of blasphemers of which saith â—salmist And because God keepes silence they think he is altogether such a one as themselves but if men will reprove them and set their faults in order before their eyes c. All such would doe well to read the next words Yet before I passe along friends mark they wish God may stand as Newter by which expression they acknowledge God is against them Iob. 9.4 O then what mad men are these to goe on in such a way us Job saith Who ever hardened himselfe against God and prospered I am come now to answer the second part of the objection in these words You desire a reformation in Officers to be put in trust that your selfe may have some preferment therein Answ Is this a course to obtaine such an end Should a man run to the fire to be quenched or runne into a hedge of thornes to finde a better way Again did you never heare how hee that speaketh the truth from his heart makes himselfe but a prey Me thinkes common Reason should teach men that in these times wherein the raines of government are so far let loose that hardly any thing done or said will please men men should be so far from having such thoughts of others especially if they have any calling or way to live and imploy themselves in that contrarily they should think all would make excuse one after another What shall I leave my Calling wherein I have liberty to honour God and serve men and go be promoted over others at such a time But for further answer I shal say no more then what is expressed in my Apologie to the Reader For if a man should make all the asseverations and protestations in the world some would hardly beleeve him the disease is so Epidemicall for men to look after honour and great things in the world that not onely Mucknall for whom the East India Company had done so well for appeares guilty thereof But it is feared others that the Parliament of England hath advanced are likewise troubled with the same maladie For the clearing of which I wish they had sounded in their eares or rather into their hearts and consciences some of the deceased Mr. Burtons observations upon Solomons words Prov. My son feare thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change for their calamity shall rise suddenly and who knoweth the ruine of them both Though this place seemes at first glance to make for them they would then be convinced their going to the other side contrary to covenant were as contrary to the scope of the words as possibly may be Friends is this a time to look after great things what while not an Egyptian an Isralite are one seeking to destroy the other but these of one and the same nation are putting peace far away from them endeavouring daily to dig out the heart blood of each other insomuch that if any loved our Country as Jobs friends loved him came among us they would as men astonished if not sit down and speak not a word for 7 dayes and 7 nights together yet if they did speak it is likely it would be somwhat like the Prophet Jeremies speech My bowels my bowels I am pained at the very heart my heart maketh a noyse in me I cannot hold my peace because thou hast heard Ieremy O my soule the sound of the trumpet and the Alarm of warre destruction here is upon destruction and the whole land is like to be spoyled especially if they should goe abroad and see parties meet and as those that went to a play or a sport as the young men we read of before Abner an Joab 2 Sam 2.14 15 16. suddenly each man taking hold of the other and sheathing their swords in one anuthers sides but more especially if they should take notice of our battels and the issue of them oftentimes both by Sea Land we wonder now and then at the sudden death of a man but there they should see hundreds of healthy stout and strong men struck dead in the twinkling of an eye without so much as Lord have mercy upon us in the Camp oft like what Job expresseth Job 3â— from v. 18. to 25. and in all battels oftentimes some seen with their armes struck off from their shoulders another is by him that hath lost his leg here one with halfe a sace there another fighting upon his stumps a little further another discharging his Musket is discharged of his life And doe you think this is a time for Christians to seek after great things for themselves God forbid this should grow into custome Obj. But why do you put your hdnd to it Is it not out of pride or some selfish end or other Ans God knows I have bin willing enough to eschue putting my hand not that I was afraid to prove any thing of what I have said but all our natures are oft timerous to meddle and own such matters as these are fearing Solomoms words should prove true Rebuke a scorner and hee will scorn thee In fine perswasion of some friends prevailed with me the rather considering that otherwise it would be counted a pamphlet and so throwne aside without doing any good especially if it had not been licensed by those the Parliament hath appointed to such purposes which I judge would not in likelihood have been without my hand were to it and withall I was induced to it from the remembrance of another passage of Solomons If a mans wayes please the Lord Hee will make his enemies his friends I have 〈…〉 purposely to show men the evill of that so◠〈…〉 â—hâ—ng of Râ—ligion that so much 〈…〉 to be among us of the Navâ—gation 〈…〉 some objections one is being this That it is not 〈◊〉 beeing religione but for being