ered that a bill be brought in for
the better protecting and securing the trade and navigation of this
kingdom in times of war; and that the lord mayor of London (since
deceased) and sir John BARNARD, do prepare and bring in the same.

On the first day of April, being the fifty-ninth of their sitting, the
lord mayor of London presented, according to order, a bill for the
better protecting and securing the trade and navigation of this kingdom
in time of war; and the same was received and read a first time, and
ordered to be read a second time, and to be printed.

By reason of some omission, we do not find when the bill was read a
second time; but, on the seventy-second sitting, a day was appointed to
go into a committee on the seventy-ninth, when they did, and made
several amendments, which were reported on the eighty-second day, and
with amendments to one of them, were agreed to, and ordered to be
engrossed. At their eighty-seventh sitting the bill was read a third
time and passed, and the lord mayor of London was ordered to carry the
bill to the lords, and desire their concurrence. And three days after it
was read by their lordships a first time, and is as follows; the words
within these marks [ ] showing how the blanks were filled up, and the
amendments made in its progress through the house of commons, with notes
of the words left out.

_An Act for the better protecting and securing of the trade and
navigation of this kingdom in times of war._

"Whereas it is necessary, in times of war, that a sufficient number of
ships should be appointed, and kept constantly employed, as cruisers, in
proper stations, for the protection and security of the trade and
navigation of this kingdom; be it enacted by the king's most excellent
majesty, by and with the advice and consent of both houses of the senate
in this present council assembled, and by the authority of the same,
that when and as often as this kingdom shall be engaged in war with any
kingdom or state in Europe, (over and above the ships of war for the
line of battle, and for convoys to remote parts,) such a number of ships
of war as shall be sufficient for the protection and security of the
merchant-ships, in their going out and returning home, shall be
constantly employed as cruisers, or for convoys, in and near the British
Channel and soundings, and in such other stations on this side cape
Finisterre, as shall by the lord high admiral, or commissioners for
executin