Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n
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A82233
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The declaration of the sea commanders and marriners in the Royall Navie and fleet, now with his Highnesse Prince Charles, riding on the Downes. (August 2.) Directed unto the sea commanders & marriners in a about the city of London, and all other ports of this kingdome. Sent in a letter unto a merchant of this city to be published.
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1648
(1648)
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Wing D765; Thomason E457_6; ESTC R204963
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2,876
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8
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THE DECLARATION OF THE SEA COMMANDERS and Marriners in the Royall Navie and Fleet now with his Highnesse Prince Charles riding on the Downes August 2. Directed unto the Sea Commanders Marriners in and about the City of London and all other ports of this Kingdome Sent in a Letter unto a Merchant of this City to be published Aug 7 th London Printed in the Yeare 1648. THE DECLARATION OF THE SEA COMMANDERS and Marriners in the Royall Navie and Fleet now with his Hignesse Prince Charles now riding on the Downes August 2. OUr late experience of the wofull effects of War raiseth in us many most sad considerations and feares of the unhappie continuance thereof in this our deare Mother Kingdom unto the prevention of whose Calamities wee are assured that God and Nature by all Obligations humane and divine most strictly bind us In discharge therefore of this our duty unto God and our Country we doe in the presence of God publish unto the world that we have already used and shall forever hereafter use the utmost of our endeavours for the happie settlement and quiet of this distracted and bleeding Kingdome In evidence whereof we have heretofore humbly petitioned both Houses of Parliament for a speedie Personall Treaty betwixt his Majestie and the two Houses being the only and so often by them selves acknowledged expedient to establish a safe and well grounded peace yet have been answered with such meditated protractions and delayes as gave us just cause to iudge that all our Endeavours in this kind would prove fruitlesse and that the over-ruling partie in both Houses never meant any such thing So that throughly observing all our pious endeavours with those of others unto this purpose herein frustrate we could not bethink our selves of a more speedie and effectuall course to arrive at that blessed and by us most desired end the peace and prosperity of our Country then by the rendition of our selves our returning unto our due Loyalty Obedience unto his sacred Maiesty our dear Soveraign from whom we cannot without much sorrow but acknowledge that the subtile malice many hypocritical pretentions of his Maiesties most confirmed adversaries did to long alien us And in Order unto that to restore unto his Maiestie as his most undoubted right such Vessells of his Maiesties Navie Royall as were in our power together with what Ships of defence we had of our own being by this course hopefull to render his Maiestie now suffering under unparalel'd Oppressions and his affaires more considerable unto such as opposed him and hereby the better to dispose such unto more visible tearmes of Accommodation that his Majestie might be restored unto his unquestionable rights and royall Prerogatives And this we professe before God unto the whole world that we could not but know and acknowleghe our bounden duty without a fearefull incurring within our own Consciences the secret sentence of damnation having by our Oaths and so many sacred Obligations sollemnly sworn and protested the preservation of Religion established by Law his Majesties honour person and dignity and the Liberty of the Subject All which wee are accordingly resolved God assisting unto our utmost endeavours to preserve though with the apparent hazard of our lives and fortunes And we doe hereby invite all Good Subiects Especially our brethren the Sea Commanders Marriners and Seamen unto a serious consideration of their severall and respective duties unto these mentioned great Interests and conjure them with us vigorously to prosecute so honest and honourable ends unto which both God Nature and their so oft iterated Oaths then which nothing can more awe a good Christian most firmly bind them and from which without manifest sinning against their owne Consciences and the apparent losse even of their soules which God forbid they can no wayes recede Especicially when their Adherence unto so good and just ends may probably put a full period unto the present miseries of this distressed Kingdome or notably contribute unto so good a work to provoke and annimate them unto the undertaking whereof with us let them look upon the most deploreable condition of the present affaires in this Kingdome let them behold the Protestant Religion in the religious exercise whereof God so mightily blessed our Kingdom in the reign of K. Edward 6. in the happie dayes of never to be forgotten Q. Elizabeth and in the good dayes of K. Iames of blessed memory cast out of doores and almost quite overgrown with Schismes and Heresies Behold his sacred Maiestie most disloyallie and treacherously cast into prison and strictest durance debarred the free exercise of his Religion deprived of the society of his beloved Queen the comfort of his deare children the attendance of his faithfull servants Behold our Liberties trampled upon and trodden underfoot by the Arbitrary power of a party supported by force and an Armie of Sectaries who have raised Excises Taxations free Quarter and other unsupportable burthens upon us Look upon the universal decay of forraign trade wherby this Island so much flourished and became rich and potent above all Isles and a wonder and an Amazement unto the whole world what Country so ever we came to trade withall we found this to be true And now wee beseech you Brethren to look upon the sad and ill favoured countenance of things amongst our selves and how many families in our profession are almost or altogether impoverished by the decay of forraign Traffique and Trade which is in a present possibility to be quite lost unto us and our whole Nation and to be seized upon by Strangers And that through the continuance of this most unnaturall war which kept up will bring utter ruin and desolation unto this late flourishing Kingdom Two Armies are already entred into the Bowells of the Kingdom and two more neare the entring whence Trade both by Sea and Land will be so obstructed that it will be impossible to trade with any security which as it will be unto the exceeding Impoverishment of the people of this Kingdome so especially unto those of our profession Let us consider that the persons from whom all these Evills come upon us are some few in the House of Lords and some of the House of Commons and their Creatures Excise-men Farmers Purchasers of Bishops Lands and the Committees of the City of London and of the Countyes Such as have cheated this Kingdome of many millions and now fearing they should be called unto an account will not be brought to heare of a personal Treaty or any course which may bring peace unto this miserable Nation Least their horrid Imposture and Coznage wherewith they have abused the three Kingdomes should be reckoned for to decline which by the Purse of the Commonwealth which they command they maintain an Army of desperate Sectaries to uphold themselves and oppresse our Religion King and Kingdome There is no way or meanes under Heaven left you or us to restore peace unto this afflicted Kingdom to restore our Religion unto its auncient lusture and beauty his Majesty unto his Rights and our selves unto our libertyes then by adhereing unto his highnesse the Prince of Wales who is willing to venture his dearest blood to preserve ours nay there is no other way left unto you to save your Soules For if you will not keep inviolable your just Oathes you run the Hazard of certaine damnation The Consideration whereof is fearfull and calls upon you for a present resolution Which if such as becomes you you will forthwith repair unto the Navy and Fleet with his highnes Prince Charles in the best manner you may tender your loyall Services unto him for the good Ends mentioned which if you shall do assure your selves you shall not only performe an Act exceedingly acceptable unto his Majesty and his Highnesse worthy of your selves and most desired by us but also pleasing unto God as being your bounden duty what he requires at your hands and the neglect whereof he will grievously punish This duty of your loyallty we expect from you and if you shall any wayes decline it know assuredly that as we are able so we are resolved to debar you of all benefit of forraign trade and to deale with you as professed Enemies unto your King and Country the very thought whereof ought to be most odious unto every honest man and contrary unto whom we doubt not you will always shew your selves FINIS