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 Assembled in PARLIAMENT,

The humble Petition of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Tri∣nity-house;

SHEWING,

THat whereas they have received a Pe∣tition from the Younger Brothers of their Corporation, as also from many well-affected Seamen, Masters of Ships and others, therein expressing their desires to pre∣sent their humble Petition unto this Hono∣rable House, we do in all humble manner shew our great apprehension of the many distempers both by Sea and Land, occasioned

by the fomenting of a discontented party, who dayly take up Arms against the Parlia∣ment and Kingdom, which, if not timely prevented by the mercies of God, and wisdom of Parliament, is like to engage the King∣dom again in a most bloody War, both by sea and Land, to the endangering of the long ex∣pected Peace of the three Kingdoms, the losse of Navigation, the obstructing of Trade, and the utter ruine of many thousands of Fami∣lies, relating as well to Marine as Land affairs, whose whole subsistance depends upon trade, to and from this Kingdom.

In consideration whereof, they humbly pray This Honorable House to take the Premisses into their grave Wis∣doms, and that a present Personal Treaty may be had with his Majesty, which we humbly conceive, under God, is the only means for settling a well-grounded Peace both in Church and State: And by which, with the blessing of God on your endevors, the present distempers may be removed, and the Kingdom again restored into

a flourishing condition: For which we, with the whole Kingdom, shal have great cause to acknowledge the Lords great mercy, and our thankful∣nesse to this Honorable Assembly, for all their unwearied pains for the good of these almost undone Kingdoms; and as we have ever shewed our selves willing, with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes, to preserve the Parlia∣ment, so we shall be always ready to the utmost of our powers, accord∣ing to the Protestation and solemn League and Covenant, to assist them in all their just undertakings, against their and the Kingdoms enemies:

And pray &c.