The humble petition and desires of the commanders, masters, mariners, younger brothers and sea-men of the shipping belonging to the river of Thames: (whose names are subscribed to the number of 558), presented to the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, on Thursday the 29 of June, 1648. Together with all their transactions concerning a personall treaty with His Majesty : and their undertaking for the timely reducing of the revolted ships, &c. John Kersey, Clerk of Trinity-House. With deliberate answers of the Lords and Commons suitable to the importance of the said petition. John Browne Cler. Parliamentorum. Henry Elsynge Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.

TO The Right Honorable The LORDS & COMMONS now Assembled in PARLIAMENT:

The humble Petition of the Commanders, Masters and Mariners of the Shipping belonging to the River of Thames, whose names are here-under subscribed;

Humbly sheweth,

THat your Petitioners have to this time faithfully assisted (according to their Oaths and severall undertakings) in the de∣fence of this Kingdom, and for the preserva∣tion of His Majestie and both Houses of Par∣liament, in their just Rights and Priviledges, wherein they have cheerfully adventured their lives, and spent much of their estates: And your Petitioners cannot but acquaint

this Honourable Assembly, that they had of late more then hopes, that since His Maje∣sties evill Councell were removed from him, and no face of an enemy appearing to ob∣struct, That by the setling of his Majesty in his just Rights, this miserable distressed King∣dom might have enjoyed a happy and lasting Peace: But to the great terrour and unspeak∣able grief of your Petitioners, they find them∣selves in a far worse condition then ever, un∣less by the great wisdom of this grave Assem∣bly it be timely prevented; for (when we consider the manifold dangers now upon us, and the long time like to be spent before a Personall Treaty is like to be had) we may justly fear the utter ruine of this once flou∣rishing Kingdom, especially considering the many Armies already on foot in the severall parts thereof, besides the late falling off of the Ships, which we cannot look upon but as a business of the greatest danger which hath yet hapned: for besides that its a laying flat of our strong Wals, whereby we are exposed to all forraign Invasions, the loss of Trade will be of such consequence, that we shall not need

to fear a second ruine, nor can your Petition∣ers conceive any way how those Ships may be reduced, when their pretence is that the Peace of this Kingdom may be settled by a Personal Treaty with his Majesty, which your Petitioners are bold to offer to this honorable Assembly, is the sense of all or the greatest part of the Seamen of England.

Wherefore they most humbly pray, That there may be a speedy Treaty had, with his Majesty, for the settling of the Peace of this Kingdom, and that in the mean time his Majesty may be intreated to remove to some one of his Houses, which may be most convenient, where he may be with honor, freedom & safe∣ty: And your Petitioners shall be ready with their Lives and Fortunes, to assist the honorable Houses of Parliament against all those that shall oppose the same; To all which your Petitioners humbly beg a gracious▪ and speedy An∣swer.

Subscribed by 468 Mariners and Seamen, the major part whereof are the most eminent Commanders belong∣ing to this Port of London and River of Thames.