AN ABSTRACT OF THE COMMISSION FOR Greenwich Hospital FOR SEAMEN.  

Design of the Commission.  HIS MAJESTY by His Letters Patents directed to His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark, and others, setting forth His Desire, That the Trade, Navigation and Naval Strength of the Realm of England (whereupon the Safety and Fourishing State thereof does so much depend) should by all proper Means be Promoted; and being persuaded that nothing will more Effectually contribute thereto, than by Encouragements to Increase the Number of English Seamen, as well for the Strengthening the Navy Royal, as for Supplying the occasions of the Merchants: And whereas the Seafaring Men of this Kingdom have long distinguished themselves throughout the World, by their Industry, Skilfulness, Courage and Constancy, in Engagements and Hazards for the Defence and Honour of their Country; and nothing being more likely to continue their Ancient Reputation, and invite greater Numbers to betake themselves to the Sea, than the providing, That Seamen, who by Age, Wounds or other Accidents shall be Disabled, may be Supported at the Public Charge; and that the Children of such Disabled, and also the Widows and Children of such as be Slain in Sea-Service may be Provided for and Educated: He hath Determined to Erect an Hospital for the Purposes aforesaid.  

Grant of the King's House at Greenwich.  And in Order to put the same in Execution, His Majesty, with the late Queen, did, by Their Letters Patents Dated the Twenty fifth Day of October last passed, Grant unto trusties therein named, a Parcel of Ground in East Greenwich in the County of Kent, containing and fet out as in the said Letters Patents is fully expressed, together with the Palace at Greenwich, Built by King Charles the Second, to the Intent that the same shall be converted to an Hospital for Seamen, their Widows and Children.  
And His Majesty considering, That the Constituting a Foundation of that Nature, and Framing Rules and Statutes for the Government thereof is a Matter of Difficulty, and such as requires Mature Deliberation; therefore reposing especial Trust and Confidence in their known Discretions, 
Commissioners appointed.  Abilities and Integrities, he hath Appointed the aforesaid Commissioners.  
Who are Directed to Meet from time to time, and so many as shall be present, 
The Quorum.  of whom any one of His Majesty's Privy Council, and any one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, and any one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, and the Mayor of the City of London, or any one of the Aldermen of the said City for the time being, to be Four at the least, to consider of such Methods as they shall judge Expedient to be Observed in Executing the same.  
And any Seven or more of them, of whom Four or more to be such as aforesaid, 
To take to their Assistance such as they think fit.  are Authorized to take to their Assistance such Persons as they shall think fit to Advise with, in the Execution of this Commission.  
And out of their own Number, as often as they shall judge it Expedient, 
To make Sub-Committees.  to Constitute such and so many Sub-Committees, and to Invest them with such Powers, as they shall think fit, pursuant to the Powers given to themselves: and to Revoke and make Void, and to Revive the said Committees, and calling to their Assistance the Surveyor General of His Majesty's Works, and such others as they shall think fit, to consider what part of the Structures now standing will be unfit, 
To Consider how the present Building may be made serviceable.  and in what manner such as they shall think fit to stand may best be Altered for the use of the said Hospital, in order to Represent the same to His Majesty, and to prepare Models of such Buildings, 
To prepare Models and Schemes.  and Conveniencies, as they shall think proper to be Erected upon the Premises Granted, with such Schemes or Draughts as may Explain the same, and with all convenient speed to present the same to His Majesty for His Royal Approbation.  

And a Charter and Statutes to be approved of by His Majesty.  And with the Assistance of the Attorney or Solicitor General or others His Majesty's Council Learned in the Law, to prepare a Charter of Foundation of the Hospital, and Statutes, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances for the Foundation, perpetual Management, Rule and Government thereof, and all other Matters relating thereto, and to present the same to His Majesty's Royal Consideration.  

His Majesty gives 2000 l. per annum to the Hospital.  And His Majesty, as an Instance of His Princely Zeal to so Pious a Work, hath Determined, and doth Declare, That He will yearly cause the Sum of Two thousand Pounds to be paid out of His Treasury, to the Uses of the said Hospital, without any further or other Warrant to be obtained for the same, into the Hands of the Treasurer for the Hospital, at such times as shall be desired by the Commissioners.  
And not doubting but His Example, and the great Advantage it will prove to the Kingdom, will dispose great Numbers of His good Subjects to the Advancing so Charitable a Design, 
The Commissiones empowered to receive Subscriptions of Money, etc.  He doth Empower the said Commissioners to Take and Receive all such voluntary Gifts or Subscriptions of Money, Goods or Chattels, Estates or Interests in any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Hereditaments or other things whatsoever, which any Persons, Bodies Politic or Corporate shall be willing to Give, Bestow, or Bequeath to the same: And requires, 
To ●ake public Notices of this Commission.  That the said Commissioners do Cause Public Notification to be made of these Presents, in such manner as they shall think most conducible to the furtherance of the said Charity.  

To ●epute Persons ●o take subscripions, etc.  And they are Authorized to Depute Persons, by Instruments under their Hands and Seals, to Take Subscriptions, and to Collect moneys Contributed, and to bring in to the Hands of the Treasurer; and to displace such Deputies, and appoint others as they shall see Cause; and to establish Cheques, Comptrolls and Orders, for the due Charging of the Treasurer, and also the said Deputies, and all other Persons who shall be Chargeable with any moneys or other Profits to the said Uses: And upon suspicion of Fraud, 
Powe to Examine upon Oath.  or Concealments of moneys or other Things Given, to Examine Witnesses upon Oath, or by any other Lawful means, and to proceed thereupon with effect.  

Required to certify to the Treasury all Gifts.  And They are Required to Certify, from time to time, to the Treasury, the Names of the Persons, Societies, etc. who shall Give to this Charitable Design, with the Sums of moneys or other Things devised, to the end a Perpetual Memorial may be made of such well disposed Persons, and whereby the Treasurer may be Charged in his Accounts.  

Treasurer appointed.  His Majesty confiding very much in the Ability and Faithfulness of John Evelyn, Senior, Esq hath appointed him Treasurer and Receiver General of the said Hospital, during His Majesty's Pleasure; And in Case of his Death or Removal, doth Empower the Commissioners or any Seven, of whom Four or more to be as aforesaid, to appoint One or more Persons to the said Place of Treasurer, and such to Remove or Displace, as they shall see Cause: 
The Treasurer to give Acquittances.  And the Treasurer is Impowered to give Acquittances for all Sums of moneys or other things Received; and shall be subject to such Comptrolls as shall be Established by the Commissioners: His Majesty strictly enjoining, That nothing given to the said Uses, be diverted or otherwise applied, than to the Charitable purposes mentioned, or to defray necessary Charges relating thereto.  

Power after His Majesty has approved the Models, to Proceed and Finish.  And the Commissioners are Impowered, so soon as His Majesty shall have approved, under His Sign Manual, their Report in that behalf, to take down, or to alter the present Structure, in such manner as shall be appointed. And after such time as He shall have allowed of such Models and Schemes as they shall have presented, as aforesaid, under His Sign Manual, or otherwise, for the Building, Fitting and Furnishing the said Hospital, To Put in hand, Carry on, and Finish the same, proceeding therein in such Method as to them shall seem best.  

All Money to be Issued by Warrants in Writing.  And by Warrants in Writing, to direct the Issuing of all moneys, for Buying Materials, and other Uses and Expenditures of the Hospital; and all other Charges incident to the Execution of the Commission; And Agree upon, and Set down Instructions, for the keeping of the Money brought into the Treasury, and the Materials, Provisions and Stores, and for the Issuing of the same; And appoint in what manner all Books and Accounts shall be Kept, Audited and Allowed.  

Powers to be given to ●ub-Committes.  And out of their own Number, and such others as they shall choose, to make Sub-Committees, and invest them with Power to make Contracts, or other Things which they shall intrust them with, pursuant to the Power given to themselves; and to make Void, and Revive the same, as they see needful: And they are to Consider and Determine of all other Matters for the Carrying on this Design, till the same shall be Completed.  

Commissioners to be accountable each for himself only.  And His Majesty doth declare, That the said Commissioners shall be accountable only for their own respective Receipts, Actings and Do. And doth Grant to the afore appointed Treasurer, the Yearly Salary of Two hundred pounds, from time to time to be allowed upon his Accounts. And doth Empower the Commissioners to Proceed, Agree and Conclude in all Cases and Things left undetermined upon His late Commission granted for the purposes aforesaid, Dated the 12th day of March last passed; which Commission is hereby Revoked and Determined.  
Dated at Westminster the 10th Day of September, in the Seventh Year of His Majesty's Reign.   

LONDON, Printed by Charles Bill, and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb deceased, Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1695.