A DECLARATION.

WHEREAS VVe have been given to understand, That several untrue and groundless Reports, have been of late industriously spread among the Seamen of the Fleet, touching the incertainty of their Receiving the VVages due to them for their Service therein, to the occasioning great Discontents and Disorders within the said Fleet; VVe out of the just Regard, which VVe do and shall always bear, to the Satisfaction and Encouragement of the Seamen of this Kingdom, have thought fit hereby to declare, That as well the Arrears already due, as the growing VVages of all and every Officer and Seaman, serving Us in the said Fleet, shall be fully made good to them, according to the known Methods of the Navy; so soon as the Ships whereon they have or shall respectively Earn the same, shall be brought in and laid up.

And whereas among other the ill Effects of the Reports beforementioned, One is, That several Seamen have been thereby misled to the Absenting themselves from their Ships, without Leave, and thereby Subjecting themselves to the Penalties, by the Laws of the Sea; provided on that behalf: VVe do hereby further Declare, That all such Absenters, who shall Return to their Duties, on Board their Respective Ships, within the space of Fifteen Days after the date hereof, shall be by Us Pardoned their said Offence, and Exempted from the Punishment by Law due for the same; And be moreover entitled to the full BeneĀ­fit of this Our Declaration, in Reference to their VVages; But so as that whoever of them shall be found either Refusing or Neglecting to lay hold of this Our Gracious Offer, by a timely Return to their Duties, as before, shall be diligently sought after, and (being ApĀ­prehended) strictly proceeded against for the same, as Deserters, according to Law.

W. H. Prince of Orange.

In the Savoy: Printed by Edward Jones. MDCLXXXVIII.

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