March 1652: An Act for Impresting of Sea-men.

March, 1652

[12 March, 1651/2.]

Council of State and others may press sailors for Navy from 1 April. 1653.; Conduct money.; Wages and entertainment.; Penalty for refusal to serve, or neglect to appear.; Corrupt practices forbidden.; Assistance.; Penalty for taking bribes.

Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament, and by Authority thereof, That if notwithstanding the Act for Encouragement of Officers and Marriners appointed and provided for the Inducement of Sea-men to Ingage more willingly in the Service of this Commonwealth, yet there shall not be the appointed number of Seamen voluntarily Ingaging in this Service, in due time for the setting forth of the said Fleet or Fleets, but that there be a necessity of Impresting of Marriners for this service, Then the Councel of State, the Admiral or Admirals of the Fleet, or the Commissioners of the Navy, shall or may at any time or times, from the First day of April, One thousand six hundred fifty three, by his or their Commissioner or Commissioners, Officer or Officers authorized thereunto by Warrant under their or any of their Hands and Seals; Raise, Levy and Imprest such and so many Marriners, Sailers, Watermen, Chyrurgions, Gunners, Ship-Carpenters, Cawkers, Coopers and Whoymen, as also Carmen for Carriage of the Victuals, &c. as shall be requisite and necessary for the Service aforesaid, or for any such further Defence for the good People of England and Ireland; which said Marriners, Sailers, and other such persons, and such other persons to be so Levied and Imprested as aforesaid, and every of them, shall have paid and delivered unto him or them upon such his or their Impresting, by the person that shall sc Imprest 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 repair, the sum of One peny half-peny per Mile to each man; and the like sum of One peny half-peny for every Mile, from the place of his Discharge unto the place of his abode; and shall be allowed for this Service, the same Wages and Entertainments in all respects, which hath been allowed by the Parliament this last Year to any such person or persons imployed in the said Service, according to their respective places. And if in the case aforesaid, any Marriner, Sailer, Waterman, Chyrurgion, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cawker, Whoyman or Carman, shall wilfully refuse to be Imprested in and for the said Service; or shall voluntarily hide or absent himself at the time of the Press, to avoid the said Service, or receiving his said Conduct Moneys, do not appear at such places and times as by his Ticket he is appointed; That then any such person or persons so offending, shall suffer Imprisonment for the space of Three Moneths without Bail or Mainprize. Provided always, and be it Enacted and Ordained, That no money or other reward shall be taken directly or indirectly, nor any corrupt practice used by any the persons authorized by vertue of this Act, in or for the Presting, changing, sparing or discharging of any person or persons Imprest, or to be Imprest as aforesaid, as they will answer such offence at their utmost perils before the Parliament, or such as shall by Parliament be authorized thereunto: And all Justices of the Peace, Maiors, Bailiffs, Constables and all other Inferior Officers, are hereby required and enjoyned to be ayding and assisting from time to time to the persons Authorized or to be Authorized by vertue of this Act, according to the true intent and meaning thereof. And in case any person or persons imployed or to be imployed in the Impresting of any Marriner, Sailer, Waterman, Chyrurgeon, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cawker, Whoyman or Carman, shall directly or indirectly take or receive any Money, Gratuity or Reward, for Pressing, Changing, Sparing or Discharging of any person or persons so Imprest or to be Imprested as aforesaid, All and every such person so offending against this Act shall forfeit and pay the sum of Ten Pounds for every such Offence, the one moyety thereof to the use of the Commonwealth, and the other moyety to the use of such person or persons who shall sue for the same in any Court of Record.

Persons exempted from the press.

Provided always, That this Act shall not extend to the Pressing of any Master, Masters-mate, Gunner, Carpenter or Boatswain, of any Ship or Vessel that is or shall be in Imployment.

Exemptions.

And lastly, for the further and better Incouragement of Seamen and Watermen, to apply themselves the more willingly to this Service; It is further Enacted and Ordained, and be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament, and the Authority thereof, That all Marriners, Sailers, and likewise all Watermen who have served an Apprenticeship by the space of seven years in their said Professions, or that are Servants and Apprentices by Indenture to any such Waterman, shall hereby be freed and exempted from being Prested to serve as Soldiers in any Land service.