Findmypast adds Britain, Registers of Licences to pass beyond the seas 1573-1677

This collection of early records is comprised of over 27,000 fully searchable transcripts and scanned colour images of original documents from series PRO 57/4548 entitled Registers of licences to pass beyond the seas, 1573-1677, E 157. There are two main register types in this collection:

Statutory oath of allegiance taken under the Act of 1609 by soldiers before leaving to serve in the ‘Low Countries’ (1613-1633)
Licences for individuals travelling to Europe (1573-1677).

Entries relating to the American colonies have been transcribed in J C Hotten, Lists of persons emigrating to America, 1600-1660 (London, 1874) - internet archive link. See also P W Coldham, The complete book of emigrants, 1607-1660 (1987) and P W Filby, Passenger and immigration lists index (1981)