February, 1644/5
[21 February, 1644/5]
Power to Lord High Admiral to press Mariners, Sailors and others, for service of Navy.; Conduct Money.; Wages and Entertainment.; Penalty for those that refuse or avoid service; Corrupt Practices forbidden.; Assistance; Masters, Mates, etc, and Ships in employment excepted. Sailors, and certain Watermen; And their Apprentices exempted from Land-Service, save in extreme necessity.
Whereas both Houses of Parliament, have appointed certaine
Ships to be set forth this Spring for Guard of the Narrow Seas,
preservation of Trade, and for the necessarie defence of this
Kingdome, and other his Majesties Dominions, which at this time
is of great necessity, considering not only the homebred distractions of this Kingdome, and of Ireland; but the great preparations which are making already in forraigne parts in aide and
encouragement of the Papists, and ill-affected Party amongst
our selves now up in Armes against the Parliament: And
whereas there is occasion as well at present as hereafter will be,
for Impresting of Marriners for the said service; Be it therefore
Ordained by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament
assembled, That the Lord high Admirall of England, appointed
by both Houses of Parliament, shall, and may at any time or
times, from the day of the date hereof, unto the first day of
January, 1645. by himselfe, his Commissioner or Commissioners,
Officer or officers, or any of them; raise, leavy, and impresse
such and so many Marriners, Saylors, Water-men, Chirurgions,
Gunners, Ship-Carpenters, Caukers, and Whoymen, as also
Carmen for carriage of Victuals, etc. as shall be requisite and
necessary for the service aforesaid, or for any such further defence of this Realme, or any other of his Majesties Dominions:
which said Marriners, Saylors, and other such Persons so to be
leavied and impressed as aforesaid, and every of them shall have
payd and delivered unto him upon such his Impressing by the
person that shall so impresse him, for conduct money for every
mile from the place where he shall be so imprest to the Ship or
place where he shall be appointed to make his repayre, the
summe of one penny to each man, and the like summe of one
penny from every mile from the place of his discharge, unto the
place of his aboad, and shall be allowed for this service the same
wages and entertainment in all respects which hath been allowed
by the Parliament this last yeare to any such person or persons
employed in the said service. And if any Mariner, Saylor
Waterman, Chirurgion, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cauker, Whoyman, or Carman, shall wilfully refuse to be impressed in or for
the said service, or shall voluntarily hide or absent himselfe at
the time of such presse, to avoid the said service, or receiving his
said conduct moneys, doe not appeare at such places and times as
by his Ticket he is appointed; that then any such Person so
offending, shall suffer imprisonment for the space of three
moneths without Baile or Mainprize; Provided alwayes, and
be it Ordained, that no money or other reward shall be taken, or
any corrupt practice used by any the Persons Authorized by this
Ordinance, in, or for the pressing, changing, sparing, or discharging of any Person or Persons to be imprest as aforesaid, as
they will answer such offence in Parliament. And all DeputyLievtenants, Mayors, Bayliffs, Constables, and all other inferiour
Officers, are hereby required and enjoyned to be ayding and
assisting from time to time to the persons Authorized by this
Ordinance, according to the true intent and meaning thereof;
Provided alwayes that this Ordinance shall not extend to the
pressing of any Master, or Masters mate, Gunner, Carpenter, or
Boat-swaine of any Ship or Vessell, that is or shall be in imployment: And for the better encouragement, both of Sea-men
and Water-men, to apply themselves the more willingly to this
service, It is further Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That all Marriners, Sailors, and likewise all Watermen,
who have served an Apprentiship by the space of seven years in
their said Professions, or that are servants and Apprentises by
Indenture to any such Waterman, shall hereby be freed and
exempt from being pressed to serve as Souldiers in any Land
service, except in case of extreame necessity and that with the
consent and privity of the Lord high Admirall of England, or by
expresse Order of both Houses of Parliament.