Naval Speculations, AND Maritime Politics: Being a Modest and Brief DISCOURSE OF THE Royal Navy OF ENGLAND: OF Its Oeconomy and Government, AND A Projection for an everlasting Seminary of Seamen, by a Royal Maritime Hospital.  
WITH A Project for a ROYAL FISHERY. Also Necessary Measures in the present War with France, etc.  
By HENRY MAYDMAN.  
London, Printed by William B●nny, and sold by Sam. Manship at the Black-Bull in Cornhill, and J. Fisher at the Postern between the two Tower-hills, and A. Feltham at the Parliament-Stairs, and M. Gillyflower, in Westminster-hall, 1691.   


HENRY MAYDMAN. OF PORTSMOUTH. AGED 52.  When England's Rule in British Seas doth cease, Farewell their Wealth, their Glory and their Peace. F. H. Van. Hove. Sculp.   

To the Right Honourable THOMAS Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Baron Herbert of Sherland, Lord Parr and Ross of Kendale, Fitz-Hugh Marmyon, and St. Quintin, Premier Commissioner for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of England, etc. And one of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council.  
Right Honourable,  
THE Author of these ensuing Sheets, approaching towards the finishing his Thirtieth Year, from being Employed a Warranted Officer in divers of the Ships of the Royal-Navy; during which time, by means of his negotiating through the Offices thereof, being many ways Employed therein; as also his sundry Voyages made into Foreign Parts, employed in the said Ships; and in divers Fleets, Battles, General and Particular; in all which Times, Places, and Occasions, he hath been a true Observer, and diligent Inspector into the Proceed, Actions, and Methods thereof: And that his weak and small Genius in so high Concerns, and weighty Affairs, might not be altogether Abortive in his Speculations, through the whole Series thereof, he hath presumed, according to his Abilities, to commit the same to Writing in these few Papers, with his Sentiments Thereon: And now chief when the Nation hath so lately undergone such great Revolutions, and yet lieth under the heavy Pressures of Foreign Wars. And understanding your Lordship hath slighted your Ease, in these Days of Softness and Effeminacy, and condescended to take upon you a Post, wherein you may be most serviceable to Their Majesties, and Their Kingdoms, in the Management of Their Royal-Navy, in these Times of threatening Dangers. Even as all small Rivulets hasten to the great Rivers, so he from his acknowledged Duty unto Your Lordship, inflamed with the Fame of Your Lordship's Indefatigable Industry, to Inspect the Navy for the Advancement thereof in all Military Executions, to Promote and Maintain, the Right and Dominions of Their Majesties, and Their Kingdoms in the Seas. He presumeth therefore humbly to Dedicate these unworthy Papers unto Your Lordship's favourable Perusal, that if perhaps Your Lordship shall find any thing therein, which may conduce to the ends aforesaid, he shall hearty rejoice, to be so happy in contributing, though never so small a Matter, towards Your Lordship's Attainment of Your Desires: And knowing there can be nothing of this Nature written, but some will be Malcontent, and spurn at the same; and perhaps, think that the Bolt is shot at them, which will be their great Mistake; yet may their Malice stretch so far, as may be to the injury of him, and his Innocent Endeavours: Wherefore he humbly prays Your Lordship, favourably to Pardon the Errors therein, to accept his well-meaning Endeavours, and also take him, and it, under Your Lordship's Shadow and Protection; and screen them from the scorching Fury of the Malicious: And that Your Lordship's great Industry and Endeavours, may prove to the Advance of the Naval Affairs of England; to the Overthrow of the Enemies of our Maritime Peace; to the settling us in our Maritime Dominion; to the Honour, Safety, and Wealth of Their Majesties, and Their Kingdoms; to due Honour and Praise to Your Lordship for Your great Care and Labour, and all to the Honour and Glory of God, is the Prayer of  
Your Lordship's most Humble and Obedient Servant, Henry Maydman.   

THE PREFACE.  
IT is high time to lay our Hands hearty to advance, and promote the growth, and strength of the Navy, when our Neighbours easpecially are so busy about the same thing; and do make very large steps towards the pushing hard for the Supreme Command of the Narrow Seas; which is, and ever, from Ancientest Histories, was granted, and accounted to be the Right of the Imperial Crown of England, whose Kings have always been very Jealous of any Competitor, or Rival, as an Italian may be of his Mistress: And they have not spared any manner of cost, of either Blood, or Treasure to maintain, and preserve it, whensoever it hath been questioned; as it hath been often done in former times, as by History appears.  
I mean, by Growth an Increase, by a Progression, for all our Neighbour Nations do so; so that my Thoughts drive me to Implore the King, and Estates in Parliament, That when it shall please God that Ireland shall be in security, that they would put themselves in such a posture of defence with France, as to the Naval part, that England must be content to be at that constant expense for many Years; I mean, to maintain such a constant force at Sea, sufficient to repel the Power of France, and so to continue it in a constant action; and never to slacken a hand, although the French shall decline Equipping of great Fleets, and shall only keep together a Body of a Fleet to act on a surprise of our lesser number of Ships, which shall pass the Seas together; or else to make some sudden Depradations on our Coasts, or Descents into Ireland or Scotland, to fill our hands at home; I say, England must resolve to be at the constant charge, of keeping a great Fleet in continual Action, if ever the Nation hopes to have any Peace or Tranquillity; for it is only the Navy under its Monarchical Government, as in Church and State Established, by God 's Assistance, can bring any lasting Peace or Happiness to this Nation. It might be asked, what shall we do with them? I answer, It is easy to find them Employment, and that they bring in their charges, and make the Nation Rich; and how I will show hereafter. It was observed by the Romans, in their Contest with the Carthaginians, that when the Carthaginians had given them a great blow at Sea, and Destroyed the greatest part of their Fleet, they despaired of Recruiting; but when they saw there was no safety for them, without they did gain the Domonion of the Seas, they set hearty about it, (and in time) with many hard Tugs, and many great difficulties gained it; after which the Carthaginians declined, and in fine lay at the Victor's Feet; who if they had maintained the Mastery of the Sea, had never Submitted to the Yoke, but might have found them Work in Sicily, Spain, or in their Enemy's Country; but for want thereof, had the War brought to their own Doors; for whatsoever Nation hath the Sovereignty of the Seas, shall be courted by all the World; for it is in his Power, to make any of the Nations in Europe, to live Unhappy, Uneasy, and in Poverty, and force them to keep the Product and Manufact of their own Countries to themselves, and shall not have any Commerce with any Foreign Nations, but at a deer and uncertain Rate; and for their Colonies abroad, will soon lose them: So it would be a very great Policy in us, now in our Wars with France, to bid at a very great Rate, at all the Governments they possess in the West Indies: And also, to Scour them from the Banks of Newfoundland; It would utterly Ruin their Navigation at once, it being their chief Seminary for Seamen, beside their Privateering; but for the handling them, I will leave it until I have projected or found out a way for England to reassume her ancient Glory and Prowess, in her Naval Affairs, and the Command of the Narrow-Seas, which we have lost in a great degree; or at least eclipsed; the Reasons thereof I shall show in the ensuing Discourse; the Recovery whereof, will cost great Labour, and much expense of Blood, and Treasure; which, if gained, will soon repay the Nation: And therefore it must not be grudgingly parted with, nor with slow and slack Proceeding gone about; but must be with vigorous Prosecution, and nimble Application followed, until the main point be over; the which, if not gained speedily, I fear it may prove too late afterwards: But hoping it is not too late already, I will address myself to a means, whereby we may assume our former Prowess. To compare our former Actions done, with handfuls of Men, and Cracknels of Ships, for about Thirty five Years past, with our Bulworks, or Castles of Ships, Multitudes of Men, and vast Expense of Treasure; for about Twenty five Years last passed, and downwards, would find no Parallel, but be cause of Grief. For my part, I am well assured, That no Polity, or well-ordered Government, having been a long time in a well settled, and thriving Method and Government, can undergo any Material Change, without endangering the whole Polity thereof, to be unhinged and cast asunder, even as by taking away a Wheel, or Limb material of a Jack, Watch, or Clock; which puts me in mind of that old Maxin; that considerable evils, were better to be suffered in a settled Government, than to alter it, fearing it would break the whole Frame and Order thereof; and fearing, nay, knowing the Affairs of the Navy to have undergone of late great Alterations, which I fear, have broken the Frame thereof; and instead of Old and Laudable Methods, there hath been introduced Novel and Troublesome Inventions, which have, and do nothing, but make a dust and smoke about Business, and perturb, disquiet, and cloy the Affair, and perplex all that serve in it; making it dilatory and chargeable; for it serves as Mudding the Water doth to catch Fish; for Expedition is the vital Spirits of Naval Affairs, and whatsoever Methods procure, that with safety and less charge, must certainly be the better; for Method is of great use in the Affair without, which it cannot perform any Laudable Action: It is even as Salt to season, without which it would be insiped; so likewise if you put in too much, it will be offensive; so is Method in Naval Affairs; if it be too copious, large and intricate, it proves as a Remora to Ships; It hinders, perturbs, opens the Doors for Delays, Pretences, and Protraction of Dispatches, so that the Affair is made Dilatory, Dull, and Heavy in its Actions; thereby to remove which, I will, by God's Assistance, show in the sequel, which are the Novels introduced, and what the Ancient, that the Good and Evil may appear; and what I suppose is hurtful to the Affair; and therefore to be expugned, and what of the Old Methods are best to be retained, and what New; that the Affair may reasume its Renown and former Glory in the doing, which I shall be forced to open the Doors, almost of every Office, and show you what they do there, and tell you what is better to be done, and what left undone; but of each, I'll assure you, I will be very Brief and Concise, and also, be very Tender towards the Affair; being not desireous to expose the Affair, nor any Person therein, to Obloquy or Contempt, and that my Proceed therein, be not void of Rule or Method; I will confine myself to the Ten Heads, following, viz, 
FIRST, 
The Admiralty Office, or the Office of Lord High Admiral of England, etc.  SECONDLY, 
The Government of the Navy Office. 

1. The Treasurer, and Treasury Office.  
2. The controller.  
3. The Surveyor.  
4. The Clerk of the Acts.  
5. The Commissioner for Victualling Accounts, the Clerk of the Petitions, and Clerk of the Ticket-Office.  
8. The Commissioner for Assignment of Cash.    THIRDLY, 
The Yards. 

1. The Commissioner.  
2. The Clerk of the Checque.  
3. The Master-Builder.  
4. The Store-keeper.  
5. The Master Attendent.  
6. The Clerk of the Survey.  
7. The Rope-house.  
8. The other Officers.  
9 The Officers of the Ordinary.    FOURTHLY, 
The Victualling-Office. 

1. A controller.  
2. A Surveyor.  
3. A Treasurer.  
4. An Out-rider, or Riding Surveyor.  
5. Clerk Accountant of Receipts, Issues, and Returns, a Clerk of the Actions of the Board, a Clerk of the Cutting-house, a Clerk of the Cooperidge, Cutters, Salters, Boat-Takers, and Wharfingers.  
6. Agents, and Store-keepers abroad.    FIFTHLY, 
The Clother, or Slopseller. 

2. The Purser, or whom the Slopseller shall get to issue.  
3. The Mariner Buying, and the Paymaster Defalking.    SIXTHLY, 
The Clerical, or Ministerial part thereof.  SEVENTHLY, 
The Government of the Ships at Sea, viz. 

1. The Captain and Lieutenant.  
2. The Standing Officers, and the rest of the Company.    EIGHTHLY, 
The Seminary, and Maintaining of Seamen, viz. 

1. The Chest.  
2. The providing for the Poor Male Children of the Nation.  
3. The Encouragement of Fishery.  
4. Merchant's Employments.    NINTHLY, 
The necessary Measures to be taken in our present Wars with France, and in point of Balancing of Trade for the future.  TENTHLY and LASTLY, 
A brief Summary of the whole Work.     

INDEX OF THE HEADS.  

THE Admiralty Office, or Office of Lord High Admiral. 1  
The Principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy 24  
1. The Treasurer. 36  
2. The controller. 39  
3. The Surveyor. 39  
4. The Clerk of the Acts. Page 43  
5. The Head Clerks, and Others, Page 49  
6. The Commissioner for Victualling Accounts. Page 53  
7. The Commissioner for Assignment of Cash. Page 57  
8. The Yards. And, 

1. The Commissioner. Page 61  
2. The Clerk of the Checque Page 65  
3. The Master Builder. Page 68  
4. The Storekeeper. Page 78  
5. The Master Attendant. Page 80  
6. The Clerk of the Survey. Page 89  
7. The Rope House. Page 91  
8. The other Offices. Page 94  
The Carvers, Painters &c. Page 96  
9 The Officers in Ordinary Page 101    
The Victualling Office. Page 108  
The Agents abroad. Page 123  
The Slopseller. Page 129  
The Ministry. Page 146  
The Government of the Ships at Sea. Page 156  
The Captains and Lieutenants. ibid.  
The Captains Clerk. Page 168  
The Dialogue between the four Standing Officers. Page 222  
The Seminary for Seamen. Page 229  
The Encouragement of Fishery. Page 251  
The Merchants Employments. Page 257  
The Necessary Measures to be taken in the present Wars with France. Page 266  
The Balancing of Trade. Page 300  
The Summary of the whole Work. Page 319    

Naval Speculations, AND Maritime Politics.  

I. Of the Admiralty, or the Office of Lord High Admiral of England.  
THIS Office is of great Antiquity, and of as great Trust; for as far as I have read thereof, it always was put into the Hands of some Peer of the Realm, or Relation of the Crown; of Experienced Fidelity to the Crown, and of known Wisdom, Valour, Conduct and Justice: I speak of that part of the Admiralty, which consists in the Managing and Fight of the Navy Royal of England: There being also Dependant on the said Office of Admiralty, all the Naval Affairs, that shall happen between Natives and Strangers, viz. Controversies within any of the Bounds of our Seas or Rivers, or any where else, if it come within the Power or Custody of any of our Admirals, or of our single Ships of War; whose Case may be brought under the Cognizance of the Lord High Admiral, in his Court; where all Controverfies arising, are Pleaded and Judged by Advocates and Judges, who are certain Doctors of the Civil Laws, which is the same in all Christian Nations; and on which hangs all the Maritime Laws, Ancient and Modern: As the Laws of the Ancient Romans, Phaenicians, Rhodians, Carthagenians, the Laws of Oleoron, Prior and Consul; the British, Belgic, and Baltic Laws, are all grounded on the Civil Law, the Munucipal Laws of each Kingdom, State, or Province, only differing.  
But my purpose being now to speak of the Navy Royal of England, of the Oeconomy and Government thereof, which is at present Executed by Seven Persons of Honour, thereunto Commissioned by the King's Majesty, to Execute the Office of Lord High Admiral; which is to Govern, Fight, and, if need be, themselves in Person to go to Sea in the Wars, or to Convey the King, Queen, or Royal Family, whither they shall Command them. And likewise to commission Admirals, Vice and Rear; Captains and Lieutenants, Judges and Advocates; as also Warrant Officers, viz. Standing Officers, such as Pursers, Boatswains, Gunners, Carpenters, and Cooks of Ships, which are constantly bourn on Ships at Sea, or at home in Harbour, called Shipkeepers, or Standing Officers: All the other Warrant Officers, saving the Chaplains, are made by the Navy-board, Chyrurgeons-Hall, etc. The Admiralty also Commissions the principal Officers and Commissioners of the Navy, Commissioners and Warrant Officers of the Yards; the particulars of which I shall mention, when I shall come to treat of them in their stations.  
Now, in the Choice of all these Officers, there is and aught to be exceeding great care taken, to choose Loyal, Valiant, Wise, and Just Men, Fearing God and not Man, being well approved of for settled Principles, to maintain the present Government, both in Church and State, according to the settled Laws of the Kingdom, ever since the Reformation. I say, into the great and general Commands, there should be such Men put, as was never obnoxious to the known Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom. If there be other Choices made, the Affair will go on at an ill rate; and you will see Parties made, and other Parties discouraged; who will strive to promote and advance, all that are of that Party he does lean towards, and wavers in his Judgement towards others: And when he has the Scale of Justice in his Hand, and the Party he favours not, has sufficiently overbalanced it, yet his Hand will be apt to shake, and give it a Tip the other way: I say, a Person that has been a favourer of those that have oppugned the well-ordered, and well-setled Church, the well-Constituted, Moderate, and Free Monarchy; The Subjects, I say, of this Monarchy, are Free Men, and not Slaves; Imprisoned, Judged, and Condemned, by their own Parity, and by no other Laws than their own Representatives makes, whom themselves choose; which Government is admired, and wished for in other Countries; I say, That Person will never Deal any Trumpets to any Hand but to his own Party: Whereas Unity and Concord in any Polity, or great Affair, agrees with the Health and Welfare thereof; but Discord and Division, I am sure, tends to nothing but to Distraction and Confusion. The old Maxim to Don Juan de Austria, in the Netherlands, (of Divide and Rule) is not applicable here. So that Division in any Polity must needs weaken; and on the other side, Union begets Vigour and Strength. As for Example, If a Man had a great Family, and great Affairs going on, or some great Machine to make or manage, I should wonder, if he should choose for his principal Instruments, Men of different minds, in most material Points, whereby a Man is distinguished from a Brute, viz. his Opinion of his Master's Government of his Family, both in Spirituals and in Temporals; for if he wavers in that Opinion, he can never be a good Instrument in that Machine: But as his Degree or Magnitude in that Affair is, so will he the more or less clog and hinder the Affair. As for Example, What was designed by God Almighty at Babel, by altering their Languages, but to confound their Works? It is indeed inferred there, that instead of Bricks they brought Mortar, whereby we understand it as construed only in the Labourers. But may we not infer, that the Overseers and Principals were also confounded? And may we not conclude, That the greater the Post is of the Dissenting Party, the more capable he is to bring or cause Confusion and Destruction? I am sure, in any less Affair it is also true. If a Man keep but two Servants to Work, if they always differ and fall out in their Opinions concerning their Master, his Work goes on but slowly, and not with any good luck, nor can he hope to prosper; wherefore he were better to part with one of them, and take in another that is suitable to his mind, in his opinion agreeable to the former: Then will some be apt to say, That now he is like to thrive worse; for they agreeing so well in their Opinion of their Master, in Spirituals and Temporals, that let the one do never so much damage to his Master's Service, the other will never discover it; and so will they knit together in the sin of wronging their Master. But the other Party before, who differed, is of a melancholy serious Temper, full of thoughts, and but vainly tenacious of his own Opinion of his Master. But notwithstanding that, he is a true Servant, and will follow his Business diligently, and neither do, nor suffer to be done, any wrong to his Master; a modest Man, for you may perceive his Justice, the smallest things will not pass by him, much more the greater; and his tenderness of Conscience proceeds from his Religious Mind. And a great deal more such stuff, and kind of say, may be objected against Unity or Uniformity of Persons, in the most material points of a Christian, towards their Master or Governor. This is such counterfeit Ware, as hath been put upon the World so often, and so long already, (and known to be such) that I do admire in my heart, that it dares to appear any more, (I hope, it will not.) But yet out of the confidence it ever hath assumed, and observed to be well furnished with, and still laying hold of that Jesuitical Maxim, viz. That never let any denial slacken your paces, still, towards the attempting to be nearest, the greatest, and important Affairs, and in it, if it be possible; so that, let what will be uppermost in the State, yet in points of Spirîtuals, if it erect a Chapel, be sure to purchase a chief Scat in it; that he might appear a principle Member, but only to be in a Capacity to serve the Party; whose over nice Consciences will well reward their Jesuitical or Pharisaical Dissembler, with Huzza's of the Mobile, and applaud his Person in a Crowd, for that which they are told by some Body of him, of his Wisdom, Justice and Piety (of which he may neither be guilty, nor they care to know the Truth of what they say:) But this is all the while Trick, Intriegue, and Design, which hath gulled the World, and the greatest Men thereof; they being not deep-Sighted enough to espy it; but merely Choosed them of their own Reason and Justice, and put upon them that false and counterfeit Maxim, of, Let the Master of that great Affair, never take care of the said Servant, who had the right Opinion of him; but he being in the right Road, and a true Work-horse in the Team, give him little or no Meat, never stroke him; yet he will continue to Labour in his right Road, to his Lives end: But the other Servant, the Melancholy, modest, thinking Servant, as he was styled even now; he must have the best Perferment; he being as a Resty Jade in a Team, he must be well Fed, have the best Harness, and be well Stroaked, or else he will Kick and Fling, Strike at the Master, Start out of the way, pull Backwards rather than Forwards, and out of his Sullen and Dogged nature, overthrew the Load, although it be to his own Ruin: But this is a very wrong Policy, not void of Injustice, Imprudence and Indiscretion, altogether impolitic, and long since experienced upon the first Broachers and Practisers of it: I will only affirm this, That the Man who is an honest, well-Deported, Temperate Man, capable of the business, Religious, according to the Established Government of the Church, and also of the State, never Starting nor Wavering; an Assertor of the moderate Monarchy of the Kingdom, as by Ancient Laws settled, is the best, and most likely to do the Public Service, without disquieting the Affair, void of all Trick, Intriegue, or Design; and the more Knowing, Able, and Just Men of such kind, are put into the Affairs of the Navy, the better will it Prosper, and come into a Regular Government: And let Party-makers, Trickers, Designers, and such as carry half Faces, or, as I may say, changeable with the Times, let them know, that no Man in his right Senses, can deem them to be either Honest, Just, or Good Men, or of any Religion; whose Virtues lies hid in self-interest, which is the very Bane of all Governments of Kingdoms or States, Bodies Politic, Military and Civil.  
Now, I say, if private Interest shall rule the Roast in this great Affair, whereon the Glory and Welfare of the Nation does depend, and Offices shall be disposed of to Friends and Relatives, or for Lucre, Bribery, etc. then may any one Judge, what Able, Qualified, Honest, and Just Persons will Trump up at such Terms; for the best and most deserving Men, will never buy their Chains and Fetters at such Rates (for so I may term them:) For he that takes an Employment, or Office of Trust upon him, if he be a just and good Man, must reckon himself Bound, as I may say, in the Nature and Style as an Apprentice to the King, in that Affair; and thus his Terms runs, and must be Employed to serve the King, Night and Day, in that Affair, and never to absent himself without the leave or Connivance of his Superior Officer, nor to dispose of any of his Time or Service to any other Master or Service; and for his Reward, to have such Allowaoce of Wages, Diet, etc. Now, if this Man does Honestly and Faithfully, so serve his said Master both by Day and Night, neither Purloining, Stealing, Wasting, nor Embezeling his said Masters Goods, nor to his Power suffer it to be done by others, but hinder the same, nor frequent Taverns, tippling-houses, Gameings, nor use Cursing, Swearing, nor any Lewd Living; but, in all things, behave himself as an Honest, Just, and Good Servant, which I think is near the Words and Import of an Indenture, and is also well near the duty of every one that enters into, or takes upon him a Public Office or Employment of Trust, where Wages, etc. is allowed: I say, if he does discharge his said Duty, he may very well deserve his Compensation of Wages, etc. affixed or allowed to his said Office by the Admiralty; and not to spend much Time and Moneys to make Interest, and Fee largely for it, to come in by private Interest; but to study faithfully to serve, and endeavouring to be well skilled in the Affair, and to wait in his Station patiently for his Advancement by his merit unto some higher degree, when it shall happen to fall, by either the Death or Removal of his superior Officer; for this is a sure rule that the worst Officer; for this is a sure rule for the Betts, knowing that he dares not come to the Touch or Proof of his Abilities; and it is employed at the same time of his compact, that he may Purloin, Steal, Embezle, and do Wrong to his Master's Goods, or any other, that shall come under his reach, to benefit himself, to pay himself of whatsoever Monies, Time and Friends has cost him in the Pursuit thereof; and is so meant by his Superior, to have a larger Tither or Scope to do it, without being turned out, or reproved for it; or else he is very unjust to him, and in plain Terms, hath Cozened him of his Moneys, Treats, Obsequious Observances, and slavish Attendance; for it is a sure rule, that the Judge that buys his Commission, will sell Justice to repay himself; which puts me in mind of what I have Read in the old Manuscripts, of the King's  Servants; That the Lord Steward, and Lord Chamberlain of the , in their respective Precincts, did declare in a Written Table of Establishments, what Office was next to supply the Vacancy, either by Death, Defect, or Removal of the next above it. In which order, as long as it was kept and observed, it appeared to be an orderly Family, excellent, and beautiful in its Government, and served for the purpose intended, viz. the Service of their Master, the Glory, Beauty, and Splendour of the Court; and hath been said thereof, by Foreigners seeing it, as the Queen of Sheba said of Solomon, Happy are these thy Servants that stand before thee, to hear thy Wisdom, and see this Order. But what Corruption hath brought it to ever since, is not difficult to relate: So say I of the Navy; if the like Order were made and observed, and such a known method were Registered in every Office of moment, it would be a great Settlement, (as it hath been formerly) it would be an encouragement to all Officers to be Honest, Painful, and Just in their respective Stations; and endeavour to be approved and experienced Men for their Abilities; and not to grind and extort Fees for Reward, and to raise their Profits by Intricacies, and dilatory Pretences, for to bring about their Designs, to enrich themselves betimes, lest they should be turned out, and not be able to live afterwards: But to wait patiently, and expect to rise by their Merit unto better Preferment, as their lot of Succession shall happen; and not fear to be turned aside, and be put out of their Livelihoods, if they faithfully act in their station; altho' some are offended at them, and by their private Picque shall inform against them, and so be dismissed for doing their very Duty; and never so much as have an Hearing, or so much as know for what they are turned out, as of late years it hath been practised. Such Proceed, I am sure, is beside Justice; and that no Man but would endeavour to avoid such a Lot, by breaking the Rules and Methods which are prescribed them (when they know it will be their fate, if they do not violate their Orders to please some men.)  
But heretofore it always was the Method, if any one had done a Crime worthy of being discarded, they were sent for, and permitted to answer their Accusations; and had that Justice done them, which the Ancient Romans used, as is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles; and not to proceed to Judgement, until the Accusers came Face to Face; yet they were Heathens.  
Now, I have farthermore to offer, That if Officers have Commissions or Warrants granted them, and have not at the same time given them ample and sufficient Instructions to act by, in their Execution of the same, (in the performing of which they shall be safe and blameless, although any Superior be offended;) and also if Instructions be given to one Officer to Act thus, and to another Inferior to make no mention of his Obedience to the former; but that their Instructions are as different, and as contrary, as Light is to Darkness.  
It certainly must be, instead of procuring Unity and Concord, a casting a Stumbling-block into the Affair; and be a cause of many to fall either into Discord and Divisions, which is a vexation to them, and an hindrance to the Affair; or else under the guilt of breaking or laying aside their Instructions, and act according to the pleasure of their Superior; then say I, Rules and Methods are of no farther use; and the Service rendered only to truckle to the will and pleasure of the Superior; the evil whereof will not be small. So that the Affair must of necessity prove to be the Expense of vast Treasure; the Service done therein very uncertain, and must attend and wait upon the Humour, Profit, or Pleasure, of every individual Commander, or Superior Officer, of a Fleet, Office, or Ship; which never was the Proceed of the Navy formerly, nor, I hope, never will be; if it be, it would be the prostituting the Glory of the Nation to private Interest; and the prostrating it at the Feet of a few, who may, in time, be able to shake the Quiet and Felicity of the Nation at their pleasures; and be formidable to those that Nourished and Fed them from their low Estate. Wherefore it hath been ever observed, by all Kingdoms, States, and Governments, to be jealous of any Army, or Military Power, that they have in their greatest need been constrained to employ; to be sure to bind them to the strict Observance of Orders, Rules, and Methods of the King, and his Councils, or his Chief Ministers near him, to whom he commits the Command of them; he residing with him, and in his Councils, and communicates the Affair to the King and Council: So likewise States do Theirs, to the Order of the Senate; and whensoever their Commanders shall disobey, or break their Orders, they are immediately Jealous of their Security, and do not easily pass it by, as may appear in the Roman Histories; yet they fell under it at last: Notwithstanding their Care, and also the Care of their Emperors, for the Erecting the Praetorian Guards for their own Safety; yet they exposed themselves to the dispose of the said Guards: For how often was the Empire translated, and the Imperial Crown put upon the Head of whom they chose: As likewise the Mammalucks of Egypt, and the Jannisaries of the Ottoman-Empire: So that, I say, all Nations have been careful to have their Military Men religiously to Observe their Orders, in their Commands; and to have all Officers have their Instructions for their Duties, in their Respective Places, and their Dependence for Preferment from the Lord High Admiral, under the King, for the Sea; and from the Lord General, under the King, by Land; who, except in very Urgent and Sharp Wars, is near unto the King, and in his Councils: Yet there is none bearing Command under the King, but are to act themselves, according to Instructions prescribed them; and also to preserve their Sub-Officers in their respective Stations, they acting according to their Instructions; for the breach of which they are accountable to the Commissioners of the Navy, who are to examine into it, and to inform the Lord High-Admiral thereof.  
Wherefore, as I said before, if there be not a Harmony in the said Instructions, but are of different Meanings; so that no concordance can be interpreted from them, neither do they speak the particular Duties required of them, but is all left to the uncontrolled Will of the Superior Commanding; then is the Affair in a lose Posture, without true Method of Government; and is, consequently, in much Commotion, disorderly, unquiet, and distractedly confused, and at the will of the Superior commanding, and can attain no Laudable Action; and at a Prodigious, and uncertain Expense of Treasure; and grievously burdensome to the Nation, and to the Inferior Officers, and Mariners, serving under them: I say, when ever the Navy is under such Predicaments in its Government, it is running in the Plain road to Ruin, and the total Loss of England's Glory, and the Sovereignty of the Norrow Seas; the which God in his Mercy prevent.   

II. Of the Principal Officers, and Commissioners in General.  
THEY are Commissioned by the Lord High Admiral; whose Office is to execute all Orders from the Admiralty, for fitting out of Ships, what allowance of Men, the Unrigging and laying them Up, Building and Repairing of Ships or Houses; they direct the manner of doing it; they represent to the Admiralty the Quality and Condition of Ships, Houses, Docks, etc. the Qualities and Conditions of all Officers, for Preferment; viz. Warrant-Officers, if not some Commissioned: In fine, they represent the whole Affair of the Navy to the Admiralty, and receive Orders from them; which they put, and cause to be put in Execution, by making By-orders grounded upon them: They Contract, and Pay for Assign-Bills, for Payment for all Stores, Wages, and Victuals, and all the Expense of the Navy; and Audite all the Accounts, and avouch all the Payments to the Treasurer, by a Ledger; which Ledger the Paymaster of the Navy, for the Treasurer, passes into the Exchequer every Year, which undergo the Examination and Casting again of the Auditor of the Exchequer; which Ledger contains the Treasurer's Debtor and Creditor Account; which Examination being over, the Treasurer hath a Quietus out of the Exchequer, for his Acquitment. But yet, in general, these aforesaid Commissioners are of very great Trust; for they so negotiate the Affair of the Navy, that not an Officer or Person in it, but what comes under their Cognizance: Their Office is partly Military, and partly Civil-Military; for they Execute, or Direct, all Councils of War, which in the Roads, or Rivers, where no Admiral is, they are Deciders of all Controversies between Man and Man, concerning Debts to be defaulted out of their Pays: They have Power to mulct any Man's Pay, for Neglects and Offences committed: They examine into all Men's Facts; the lesser to punish by Pecuniary Mulcts; and the greater to represent to the Admiralty; and, in the Interim, to suspend them from the Service; and, in fine, to do Justice between the King and the Subject.  
To their Commissions from the Admiralty, is generally added Commissions of the Peace, for those Counties where it's thought the King's Affairs will lead them; whereby they are enabled to Act in Civil Matters, by doing Justice no any appertaining to the King's Affairs; to decide Matters of Justice between any in the Yards, or in their Travels; commit any to Prison for Burglary, Murder, or Petty-larcony; and may sit on the Bench at Assizes, or General Quarter-Sessions: And, in fine, may do any thing that a Justice of the Peace can do, within the Limits of his Commission.  
And for the Military, he is the very Image and Deputy of the Lord High Admiral; to put in Execution the Power which the Admiralty delegates unto him. And if he be Precedent of a Council of War, he sits by virtue of a Commission from the Lord High Admiral, and as his Proxy.  
In fine, It is a Place of very great Trust and Business, and requires Men of Knowledge, Wisdom, Justice, and Experience of the Naval Proceed; and of Courage also, and Conduct; for they are many times called to Sea to wear Flags, such as have been made out of the Commanders at Sea, Knowledge, and Experience of the Navy; to soon decide any Controversy arising between Officers, concerning their respective Duties; else the Officers will be apt to put Novelties, and to raise Scruples, if they know the Commissioner is not able to decide them; whose Umpirage ought to be absolute in any of the Yards; also when he is alone. But when there is a Board, it may be appealed to the Board; but if the matter be not very great and grievous, it were better to abide by his Umpirage: For the Others will not care to meddle within his Precinct, concerning any one in the Yard or Ordinary, except they do belong to any Ship in Extraordinary: And though there is a Captain, who will assume the Power; yet a Commissioner may grant Relief to a Wronged Person, against the will of his Captain, if the Ship be within the Harbour. But, of late Years, the Commissioners of the Navy have been eclipsed, and lessened by the Captains, and the Rules of the Navy, and the Ancient Customs, much broken: For the Authority and Business of some have been stretched to that length, that they themselves know not the end; but of that I shall speak, when I come to their particular Post.  
As for a Commissioner of the Navy, I have known him to bear very great Authority in the Harbour, and at Pay; and have done great Justice to particular Men, who have been wronged by their Commanders unjust and merciless Spleen; so that the grieved Officer and Mariner have rejoiced, when they have come where a Commissioner was; who would take the Captain to Task, for his Inhuman or Unjust Deal, and reprimand him severely; and, if worthy, would transfer the Matter to the Admiralty; where the Commissioners Representation should be heard, to the Others disadvantage. And if a Ship came into the Harbour, and the King's Affairs stood in need of hands, he would not scruple to order one Ship's Company to work on another, to clear her for the Dock, Rigg, Refit, and what not; by which the Service might be furthered.  
But, as I said before, the Case is much altered, and the Hinges of that Affair quite Lame; they will not move any way, except you would have them go Backwards: But I will not meddle with Particulars, lest I should come within the Account of an Informer, the which is reckoned a thing of great Odium in the Navy-Affairs: But I greatly admire, that the Officers of the Upper-Rank should brand any one, that lets them know of any fowl Fact, with the Odium of an Informer, and seemingly, nay, openly, treats him unkindly: It has seemed strange unto me, (and looked like the unjust Steward, who not only Wronged his Master himself, but showed others to do it; or looks like a Great Man's Steward, who discourages, or is angry with any one that comes to him, and tells him, That such an one hath cozened his Master, or stolen his Goods, of which he is the Head Steward;) what might be the Reason, that generally, in the Navy-Office, and through the Practice of the Navy, one that Informs of Cozenage, or Theft in the Navy, is styled with an Odium, and generally hated and discountenanced; as also, a Ticket-Buyer, or Ticket-Monger, as they in hatred term him; and is looked upon, as some ill Office done by him. But, in my mind, these Two Persons are the King's Friends; the former, to deter Thiefs, and Unjust Men from their Evil Practices; and the latter I shall speak to, when I shall arrive at the Ticket-Office. But these Treatments are very strange to me, and seem, as if there were a general Agreement against them, as Evil Men, and not fit to negotiate in the Navy.  
But I shall say no more at Present, but hid my Face with Shame; and follow my Discourse of the Commissioners, who are of that weight in this Aflair, that if they be right, and good, and well-fitted to the Business, they are the Vital Heat of the Affair; and should, as the Action do require, be multiplied, in a great War, with some Young, Sharp, Wise, and Just Gentlemen; who have Traveled, and are of Years for Gravity enough for the Affair, and of Experience for Business, to Post away to the Ports, where the Ships are newly arrived, and step on Board, and Examine what occasions the Miscarriages, either by Wether or War: And there shall he see to the Life, Neglects and Misdemeanours, in an high degree, by Commanders, and Officer's indiscreet Management: And, for want of which Visit, there is nothing known to the Admiralty, but a Letter from the Captain, whose Word passes at all Times, both for Himself, and all the Ship's Company. So the Ships are turned in, and others are turned out, to please him, without any Enquiry, how the other became damnified. The Custom heretofore was, That before one Ship was ordered in, the Commissioner of the Place, or one Extraordinary, as before-said, went on Board, and called all the Officers to Account, and surveyed the Defects, and examined the Cause of the Defects; and, if need were, to take their Oaths to it, if it were of Moment; and so gave the Admiralty an Account of the whole Business, with every Circumstance material. And so the Admiralty knew all material Matters, and, by that means, did save the like Mischances for the future; which may amount to many Thousands of Pounds quickly, and men's Lives, if it were so looked after; and would create a greater Care.  
I forbear Particulars, for my former Reasons; but Miscarriages come very fast, and no body blamed. I say, a Commissioner of the Navy is of Great Use, if he sets to it with good Application, and be not baulked easily, nor blinded by Commanders; and if he do not love his Ease or Grandeur too well, designing to set himself down, and rest himself on a Soft Chair, in a Warm House, with a good Salary added to it; and not care to contend with the Active Captain. Let him do his Pleasure, faith such an one, why should I trouble myself with a Captain, full of Mercury and Sulphur? What need I embroil myself with him? I am in a good Station, and may be quiet, if I will let things slide, and not let my Interest be called aloft at every Turn, to support me; and if my Interest happen to fail, I may, by a Misconstruction, or a wrong Representment, be called away to give Room for another, who has gotten a Commission for the same Place, before I knew on't. So that, I say, if such Proceed be, that Men are laid aside by Representments barely, without ever being heard, it will cause all Men to sooth, cog, slatter, and let Business slide, and nothing will run in its right course; that a Man shall not know, in a little while, what were the Rules and Lines of Government of the Navy, there being so little sign left of them already. For, if it comes to pass, that the Customs and Practices of the Methods of the Navy, be broken by Novel and Unexperienced Officers, fraughted with sufficient ill Temper, no ways qualified, but boasting of their great Interests that brought them in, and will Maintain them there, in despite of all Complaints; leaving over Methods at pleasure, refusing Justice, and squeezing Inferiors that do not bend or truckle the right way: I say, Such things as these will rend the Concern, and pester it, and be as bad as a Quartane-Ague, and spoil its Form and Beauty; and make the Nation groan under so ill amanaged Concern, by means of its Weight and Burden, as hereafter will more plainly appear.  
Having said enough, I hope, of that kind Here, I will now proceed to the Navy-board; where I find a Treasurer, a controller, a Surveyor, and a Clerk of the Acts, all Principal Officers; to which are added, a Commissioner for Victualling Accounts, and a Commissioner for Assignment of Cash, and divers other Commissioners.  
And, First, of the Treasury, and therein the Treasurer; who heretofore was a Courtier, or Officer at Court, and was of the Privy-Council; and had Poundage for all his Payments, at Three Pence per Pound: But it being too large, by the increase of the Navy, it was since brought to a Salary.  
He always assisted at the Navy-Board: But, I think, the Placing the Treasury so far off the Navy-Board, is not so well for Dispatch of the Affair; for there might be an House built on the Waste-Ground on Tower-Hill, with a Dwelling for the Treasurer, and fit Offices for that Affair; which would be near, and adjoining to the Navy-Office; wherein the Ticket-Office might also be contained, and be a means of more quick Dispatches with more Security; the Tower being near, and Help soon called, to stop such Tumults and Mutinies, as I have seen about that Office; and the Commissioners and Clerks may soon be there, to execute their Pays with ease, without loss of Time; and Errors and Mistakes may soon be righted; which the distance of it now doth greatly hinder: And also the Treasurer need not be charged with the Cash, no more than the Treasurer of the King's Household is; but as the Cofferer is There, so the Cashier Here: The Paymasters also, being responsible Men, and giving Security for their Employments, as they do the Treasurer now, would be sufficient.  
Now the Cashier is an Officer that the Treasurer puts in: He receives the Cash from the Exchequer, by Assignment upon some Branches of the Revenune; and sometimes receives it in Specie, from the Exchequer: But the Paymaster of the Bills and Tickets, is an Encroachment that the Cashier has made upon the Paymaster of the Navy, charging him with the Moneys which he Pays in Bills and Tickets, and gives the Paymaster only Bills and Papers for so much; which the Paymaster must take care to bring to Account in his Ledger before spoken of.  
The Paymaster of the Navy, is a Responsible Officer, and put in by the Treasurer, giving him good Security, and Discharges the greatest part of the Affair: They, and all the Salaries of the said Office, were at the Treasurer's own Charge formerly, except one Clerk for the making up of Books. But how it is now, I cannot tell. And thus much of the Treasurer.  
Secondly, The controller is also a Principal Officer, who comptrolls all Payments of the Navy: His Office is to Imspect all Sums paid; and, by his Clerks, to cast up all Bills; the Ticket-Office also being under his Inspection. His Business being very large, is done by his chief Clerk, and Sub-clerks, and a chief Clerk of the Ticket Office, with Subs. Now, the Clerk-Comptroller should (with the Clerk of the Ticket-Office) be Warranted by the Admiralty. and give Security for the Actions of each Office; and the Sub-clerk only be put in by the controller.  
Thirdly, The Surveyor is also a Principal Officer: His Office is to survey all the Ships to be Built, or Repaired; as also, all Houses, Docks, and Stores, remaining of Store-keepers every Year; as also, the Remains of all Boat-Swains, and Carpenters, coming from Sea; and to pass their Accounts, which he executes by his Assistant, or Out-riding Surveyor; but chief by the Clerk of the Survey, resident in every Yard, and presented to the Office by the Surveyor, but Warranted by the Admiralty.  
I mention an Out-riding Surveyor; but there was never any one yet, nor Assistant to the controller, nor Clerk of the Acts Assistant, until of late. But that Assistant, which I call an Out-riding Surveyor, should be often at every Yard, and where any Ships do put in; I mean, Fleets; to survey any Damages, which any Ships do receive by Storm of Wether, or Accident of War; who should return the same to the Surveyor; and he communicate it to the Board, and they to the Admiralty, as I . Also, this Riding Surveyor should often be at all Timber-Falls, or where any Quantity of Timber is bought, and Marked for the King's Use; and not to leave it wholly to Purveyors, of whom I shall speak in the Yards: And moreover, he should be the Measurer and Taker-up of all Ships, which are Taken into the King's Service, either for War, or Stores; and not to leave it to Purveyors, as is usual: Also, he should be often Inspecting, and Surveying of the Ships in Harbour, how they are kept from Drops, their Masts, Yards, and Rigging, etc. of the Ships, whether they lie not, by bad Managing, in a Damaging Condition; and give Orders for their Preservation; and converting, and contriving it most for the Benefit of the Service; Alterations on Ships, Hulks, Lighters, and Houses made; Wells, Pumps, Docks, Conveyances of Water by Pipes; Contrivances of Conveniences for Stores; and not only of the Storehouses of the Yards, but also of all the Victualling Offices, Cooperidge Dwellings, etc. And in fine, all that appertains to the Navy; and not leave it wholly to Commissioners, Builders, Mast-makers, House-Carpenters, and Carpenters of Ships, and others usually resident, and acting there. I mean, when any considerable Buildings, or Alterations and Repair are needful to be made: This being all directly under the Inspection and Care of the Office of the Surveyor of the Navy, and his Assistant, or Riding-Surveyor; and so to transfer the Account thereof, to the Navy-Board; that they may be able to give Account to the Admiralty, whensoever it shall be required; causing it to be entered into the Clerk-Surveyor's Office, at the Yards, and then to the chief Clerk-Surveyor's Office, whensoever any Orders are made thereupon.  
And now it is needful, I should mention one great Conveniency wanting in Portsmouth Yard, if not in others; and that is, a large Well and Pump, and Pipes to convey the Water to some convenient Place, for the watering of Ships at the Waterside; that their Boats might at all times of Tide, come and fill fresh Water, their Casks lying in the Boats; that they be not forced to hoist them out and in, and roll them in the Dirt, with great labour, loss of time, destruction of Cask, and slaving out of the Men; when a tenth part of the labour and time, and damages, would do it, if a little Charge, laid out for that Convenience, were bestowed: I admire at the neglect. I say, The Surveyor's Office would be of much greater Service to the King in the Navy, if it be attended with such good Application, as is herein hinted.  
Fourthly, The Clerk of the Acts, is also a a principal Officer, signing of late; but, I conceive, that Officer was never intended formerly to act through the whole Series of that Affair, done at the Board; but as a Clerk and Accountant, to assist the Board in their Contracts, Orders, Letters, Warrants, etc. Digesting and Clerking of Matters done at the Board; finding of Precedents, preparing and laying up of all Precedents and Papers ready for view, viz. all the Actions of the Board, except such Papers as fall under the Treasurer, controller, Surveyor, Commissioner for Victualling, and Commissioner for Assignment of Casks, their respective Offices.  
Now this Officer should Sign only under, as Secretary, to avouch he Action passed by the Board, under his Registry and Notification: For it cannot be thought that he should have Skill and Knowledge in all the Affairs of Treasurer, controller, Surveyor, Commissioner for Victualling, Accounts, and Commissioner for Assignment of Cash, their distinct and intricate Proceed, well seasoned with Justice; and to speak thereunto, and to cause the dispatch thereof equally, if not more than them. I say, It is inconsistent with Reason, to think this Officer ever was, or can be, capable to attain to the Insight, Skill, and Knowledge of those Affairs, which is required, and herein mentioned, to appertain to their respective Offices; and wherein is the Exercise of great Justice also: The doing whereof would perplex, molest, and make the Affairs full of Intricacies, and troublesome Methods; and be a means to misled them in their Places, and cause delays in their Proceed, or precipitate them in their Debates, when dispatches are required, so as I have elsewhere said: Too much Intricacies by Method multiplied, clogs, perturbs, molests, and hinders the Affairs in their dispatches; which is the Vital Spirit of all Naval or Military Proceed.  
Fifthly, The Commissioner for Victualling Accounts, is to pass the Accounts of the Commissioners for Victualling the Navy under his Inspection; as also, the Pursers of Ships; and by his Chief Clerk, who should be warranted thereunto by the Admiralty, and giving Security for the Papers, Bills, and all Matters and Transactions in that Office depending; and to digest them into their proper Methods; and offer them to Inspection and View for Approbation; first, unto the Commissioner; and, by his Order and Direction, be presented to the Board, for Allowances they shall agree to; and by their Orders, to prepare Bills for their Signing, and Passing the Accounts.  
The Sub-Clerk, or Clerk of that Office, should be put-in by the proper Commissioner: But the head Clerks of every Office, if they should be put in by the respective Commissioners, as they have been accustomed, as when the Navy-Affairs were of less quantity, and shorter Proceed; even Than it was not void of Interest, Confusions, dilatory, promiscuous, and uncertain Proceed; much more Now, when the Navy is swollen to so vast a Bulk, and a prospect of yet greater, that it would require to each of the said Offices a Head Clerk, well skilled, and every-way trained up in that Experience and Affair of known Fidelity, Justice, and Honesty; diligent and Industrious in his Attendence; I say, in the Navy now: As for instance; at the Premier Institution of the Court of Chancery, Six Clerks were enough to Clerk that Affair, under which Demonstration it still Runs: But after the increase of the Practices, how many are there required, and how great and important a Six Clerks Office is, doth appear: So also here is Room for Eight Principal Clerks, that none may be delayed, that attend their negotiations in the said Office, by Pretences and Demurs made by Under-Clerks, or Apprentices, for Lucre: And therefore these Clerks ought to be permanent, settled, and steady in their Employments, with a prospect of Advancement; and that by a Table of Advancement or Establishment, for each Clerk's Preferment, as formerly mentioned; and to have their Warrants from the Admiralty; and not to have their whole Hopes and Dependence hang upon the mutable  of the Commissioner of that Office: And also, the Under-Clerks to be under the like circumstance of an Establishment, for their Advancement by the Commissioners of the Navy Board: So will there be Able, Skilful, Modest, and Industrious Head-Clerks, giving Security for their Offices, viz. the Cashier, and Paymaster of the Navy, Clerks of the Ticket-Office, Clerk-Comptroller, Clerk-Surveyor, Clerk of the Board, Clerk of Victualing-Accompts, and Clerk of Assignment of Cash: And the Under-Clerks would be Industrious and diligent, and all aspire to be expert, and able instruments, and be moderate in their Fees, and quick in their Dispatches, and with patience wait for their Advancement; which is an Object they see settled daily before their Faces; which should be as certainly their Reward, if they live, and be so approved of; even as unalterable, as the Laws of the Medes and Persians were.  
The Clerk of the Petitions and Requests is grown, of late, out of the Clerk of the Acts-Office, and is a particular; and, I think, appointed thereto by him, having a small Apartment; where all Persons Petitioning for some small Dispatches, may have easy and free Access to put in their Requests, and receive their Answers, without delays; if it be well performed, and not delayed for Lucre; the due Execution of which should be well regarded; for many Persons attending for small dispatches, viz. to be Transported, and expedited on Board their Ships, Entered into the Yards or Ships, and hundreds more of like sort, are in need of like dispatches, and wait there, being ignorant of their Proceed.  
The Care and Dispatch of that Office, I reckon, belongs to the Clerk of the Acts, or Clerk of the Board.  
The Clerk of the Ticket-Office is also of great Trust: He is to Examine all Tickets, cast up the Wages, Examine all Pursers Victualling-Books, keep all Masters-Books from time to time, sent by all Checques, Mustermasters, Captains, and Pursers: If he be a Man given to Bribery or Lucre, he may cast a great Scandal upon this Affair, and abuse the King's Service; because the Men's Tickets are all to pass through his Hands; and he Acting alone, and apart, he may have opportunities for Protraction: But his Office is most immediately under the Inspection of the controller, but not of the Clerk-Comptroller: He ought to be a Man modest and moderate in his Fees, of great Patience, and Compassionate of poor ignorant Men and Women; and of a nature easy to be talked to, by the Vulgar and Ignorant People; and ready to put them in the Right-way, bearing with their weak Expressions, and idle Questions about their Business; and not be of an elevated Mind, short and sharp Speech, expecting to have Sentences and Rhetoric spoken to him: For the People Soliciting that Affair, and also generally of the Navy-Office, are not much Lettered.  
And now I am in the Way, I will give a Lecture for the Clerks, in general, of the Navy; who, perhaps, may come in time to read it, or to hear it from the Mouths of their Superiors, who have the Oversight and Correction of them more amplified, and in a better Accent, and more suitable to their Capacity, and most likely to take Effect upon them; which is briefly thus: viz. to consider, that the Affair is of such great consequence, that the very Welfare of the Politic Body of this Nation does hang upon it; and that generally, the People that act in the Affair, are mere strangers, pulled and haulled into the Service by the Necessity of the Nation, to require Help of all People of the Nation, to be contributing to withstand our Foreign Enemies; to preserve the Honour and Trade thereof, and these People that are drawn into it, either by Force, Persuasion, or by Commutation, are generally not much skilled in Letters, and commonly Women-Solicitrixes, Wives, Widows, or Friends; and therefore, very testy, and very impatient of delays; well stocked with Curses, and hard Wishes; yet more than all, are grinded by their Creditors, and pinched to the heart by Poverty, and insupportable Necessities, the which is partly brought on them by their imprudent management of themselves and Family, when they have it: But, chief, the exigencies which the Affair puts them into, viz. Travel, Wounds, Sickness by Mischances, Wetness, Cold, bad Diet, Lodging, etc. yet more by the Methods and Proceed of the Naval-Offices, whose compassions go but a little way, to spare Money, or Advice, nay Liberty under their Commands, to provide necessary Relief at the best hand for themselves: For, first, when they come on Board, they have no ; and to have them, the Methods are not, until they have served Two Months: But, perhaps,  that he stinks, or crawls with Lice, or Sick, if not all together: And then when he has it, it is at a dear Rate, and perhaps not that which he wants; and none dares to Credit him, as I shall show hereafter, on the Slop-seller's Part. But this being too long a Lesson for my Clerk to hear, I will leave this Subject unto another Place; thinking I have said enough, to move him to compassion towards the Seamen, their Widows, and Fatherless Children; and to give them dispatches the easiest, quickest, and cheapest Way, in kind and Familiar Expressions, except they be rude and impudent towards the Clerk.  
And here I will acquaint the Clerks, That when we did the greatest Feats of Arms at Sea, viz. with the Dutch their First War; with the Spaniard, in the Mediterranean, St. de Croix, and West-Indies, &c, and all the Wars we had in the Time of King Charles' Exile; the Navy-Office was so ordered, that a Man might have dispatched any Affair almost, at one Board; and with the Ticket-Office and Treasure, in a Tides-Time; and with the greatest ease imaginable, and cheapness too: For none were suffered to take any Fees publicly, but what was forced on them, and in private, with a modest Acceptance: But their dispatches were with all imaginable quickness, and every one endeavoured to exceed each other; and strove who should serve the Public best, and cheapest: For their public Business were carried on with all imaginable Application, and it was a Crime for any one to absent himself from his Post, and not easily passed over without very good Reasons given; nor any kind of delays, by keeping any Bills, or Tickets, or Papers, in their hands, without dispatch, under pretence of not being at leisure: And for their quick Equipping of Fleets, and putting them into Action, there is sufficient Testimony and Proof remaining. Indeed, it did behoove them to bestir themselves, when they had the whole World upon their backs almost, at once, to deal with; and a discontent in their Bowels, at the same time; yet you see, with what Vigour and Resolution, Pains and Industry they waded through it, to the Terror and Amazament of their Enemies; the Situation of this Kingdom, and Benefit of its Ports; but the paucity of their Ships and Men, and smallness of their Provision of Artillery and Munition, was no small Obstacle.  
Wherefore I conclude, that since the said Obstacles are removed far from us, and the Benefits, by God's Goodness, continued unto us, (unto which might be added an Heroic Monarch, with good constituted Laws,) why we might not, by the Divine Assistance, do as great matters by our Navy, as ever; which might produce us both Splendour, Peace, and Riches, I know not.  
And therefore I conclude this Exhortation to the Clerks, that they be expert, painful, and industrious, moderate in their Fees; but of quick dispatches, which is the Life thereof; and I doubt not, but that their Superiors will settle them a good Compensation, suitable to their Merit; and an Establishment for their Advancement, as a Reward for their patiented Expectation.  
Sixthly, the Commissioner for Assignment of Cash, is of a late Comencement, but a very good Method: His Office is to inspect the keeping of a Ledger, by his Head Clerk of all the Cash, assigned to be paid by the Treasurer or Paymaster, in the nature of Debtor and Creditor, the Italian Account; by which Book the Board may see the State of the Treasury, what hath been Received, and to what Uses it hath been paid, and what Cash remains to be Assigned: Also, he prepares Lists of what Bills or Tickets, Ships, Books, or Yards, are yet unpaid, and are presented to the Board, as often as necessity requires; that they may agree in the Order or Preference, what is most necessary or needful to be next assigned for Payment, out of what part and proportion of the remaining Cash; and of the next Receipts, as appropriated for this Use, and what for that; and accordingly they are Listed, and Assigned, and Paid in their courses, without any deviations, or preferences, as the said List runneth. If it be Rightly Executed, the method is laudable, if there be no delays nor preferences in the drawing the said Lists, but impartially assigned.  
The Just and Impartial proceed of this Office, is committed to the care of a Commissioner; who directs and order the Head-Clerk therein, and he the Subs, for his Assistance: This is a Branch of the Comptroller's Office; but his Comptrolment, being of too large Business, is eased by this Commissioner, as is also, by the Commissioner for Victualing-Accompts: The Other Commissioners also do contribute their Help, to see the due Execution of Pays of Ships, Yards, etc. They go to the Ports where Fleets ride, and give necessary Orders: But formerly, they went on Board the Fleet, and into Battles, and were of Council to the Flags: For, it has not been thought safe, nor expedient, for a general Flag to go without Coadjutors, or Assistants in Councils. I say, they have also noted the Transactions, and took notice of the diligent, careful, and industrious Officers; and who did a brave Action, he gave the Admiralty an Account, for Preferment and Reward; and the Careless, Slothful, Debauched, and Ill-behaved, he also noted to the Admiralty, for their Dismission: But for some small rewards, and other reprehensions, he had power to do himself, and never failed to do it.  
So likewise, in the Ports, Harbours, and Yards, where any quantities of Ships were, they visited, and spurred, enlivened, quickened, and dispatched the Affairs, making their Observations as aforesaid: Yet not to Eclipse the Admiral's Authority, or the Commissioner's of the Place; but all went on in a mutual Assistance to the Affair, in Unity and Concord; and whatsoever the One did, was approved of by the Other. But a Captain never attempted to Disobey, Contradict, or Dispute the Commissioner's definite Orders, within the Ports or Rivers; nor his Advice or Directions in points of Government abroad, if it were not opposite to the General's or Admiral's Instructions: But how it is now, and what Figure a Commissioner bears, is plain and obvious in proceed of late, which brings me into   

Thirdly, The Yards:  


1. The Commissioner.  
2. The Clerk of the Checque.  
3. The Master-Builder.  
4. The Store-Keeper.  
5. The Master-Attendance.  
6. The Clerk of the Survey.  
7. The Warrant-Office in Ordinary.  
8. The Purveyors.    
First, The Commssioners formerly, if a Captain brought in his Ship, and was ordered to turn over this Company into another; the Commissioner seeing the emergency of the Occasion, and that it was for the Advancement of the Service; and that his Hands were enough to clear the former Ship, and fit her for the Dock, against the approaching Spring, or to clean her on the ways; and, at the same time, also to Ballast, Rigg, and Store the other, that so the Service might not be impeded or disappointed, the hands at the Dock prepared, and the Dock to receive her: I say, that they be not forced to be employed another way, and the Dock lie void, and a Ship full of Stores and Tackle lie by, for want of hands to clear her: The Commissioner would immediately, either by word of Mouth, or Order in Writing, order, that so many of such a Ship's hands do This, and so many That, which was accordingly done: But of late, other Proceed have been, and clean contrary: Nay, I doubt, to further the Service, the Commissioner hath been constrained to advance the Money imprested for the Yard, to pay the Men for doing it: And also, the Captain to refuse to let some of his Men to Hoyst out the Provisions, which he left in the Former, to put into the New-fitted Ship, without Moneys to Pay his Men for it; If the Commissioner have protested he had no Money, the thing so lies undone, and the Provision lies in the Ship, until his goodwill comes, or that he could not Victual the other without it; and, at last, sendeth some hands for some of it; and the rest, with the Ballast, Guns, and Stores, lies in her till she have slipped one Spring; and, with very great difficulty, may be gotten into the Dock the last Tide of the Second Spring, the Dock lying empty all that while, and the hands prepared for her, for a shift, turned to some other work. O Prodigious Proceed! by one handful may be known the whole Sack.  
How far a Commissioner's Authority runs in respect to a Captain now, I do not pretend to know; but formerly I have known it extended even to the ordering all his Ship's-Company in Harbour, as he thought good, for the Advancement of the Service: Nay, if the Captain (in Spleen) would underrate any Officer, Seaman, or Servant, to prejudice him, the Commissioner would do him right; and if the Captain should abuse any Officer, or use any unreasonable Command towards any Officer, or any of his Company, upon his first knowledge thereof, he would reprehend the Captain; and if that were not enough, he would acquaint the Admiralty therewith, and become an Advocate to procure Justice for the wronged Party. I am sure he is sworn to do Justice, as a Justice of Pace is, and to act so between the King and Subject, in all Matters under his Cognizance; and the like between Subject and Subject, or else I am mistaken. But if the Captain's Commission be now too high for his reach, I know not, but will refer it to those, who gave them both. But this I know, that the Service is lame, and halts shrewdly thereby.  
The Commissioners of the Yards have been of great use and service to the Affair; but how they are now, I have so lately given you a handful out of a full sack, that there is no farther need to declare.  
Secondly, I come now to the Clerk of the Cheque, who is an Officer of great Trust, and musters and cheques all Men, both in the Yard, Harbour, and adjacent Roads, where he can come conveniently, as his Instructions import: He casts up all men's Wages for their Services; makes and delivers Books for their Quarterly Payment, and checques all absent time: He makes out Bills for all manner of Stores: He gives Warrants to the Victuallers, to issue Victuals to all Ships Companies, both ordinary and extraordinary, called Petty Warrants; and he is the Cashier to pay all Contingences of the Yard, viz. Petty Emptions, and all other Emptions and contingent Charges; and the Commissioners Bills, with the Parties Receipts, are his Vouchers, to clear the Impressed Bills granted him, which are great Sums. His Office consists of many intricate and difficult parts, and requires an expert Clerk; one that knows the Rules and Methods of the Navy; a Man of good Judgement in Business, sharp sighted, and crafty, to prevent the Shifts, sham's, and Cozenages, that else will be put upon him; of Skill to discern the Goodness and right Qualities of the Stores served in; to be vigilant, and watchful, that the Men be not out of the Yard, when they should be at Work; or purloining and embezzling the King's Goods; nor be not in their Beds, or at Alehouses, whilst they should be attending the Work of their Nights and Tides, and yet be paid for it: and, in fine, to be a vigilant, painful, honest, and withal, a very just Man; or else he may do many Men much wrong, and discourage many good Men.  
This Officer is of that general Use, that he had need be endowed with as many good Parts, as can be found to be gathered into one Man; I mean, Endowments of the Soul; as, Faith, Justice, Charity, and all Spiritual Graces: and of the Mind; as Wisdom, Patience, Affability, and all the intellectual Graces: and of the Body; as, Temperance, Chastity, Labour, and Industry, Vigilance, and Carefulness; and a true Observer of the Methods and Rules of the Navy and Yards; and no Breaker of those Rules, that are prescribed him in his Instructions, which are, or should be, as a Table of Commandments to him; And, in fine, if he be not well skilled and qualified, as he is in a station of much Service, so may he do much Disservice. As for instance, If he be a Man of no Skill or Knowledge in Maritime Affairs, (viz. a mere Novice to all that Affair,) no good Clerk nor Accountant, and in the general of negotiating, and doing of Business, a Novice; that is Incapability enough to make him useless, and rather, nay, is extreme hurtful to the Affair. For, if the King must put in Novices, and Pupils, into places of Business and Trust, and to endure the Damages that ensue by it, and wait for their improvement, and fitness for it; then Children were fit for it, they may come to maturity: But if to the other Unqualifications, he be fraughted with ill Temper, Peevishness, creeping hypocrisy, Passionate, Troublesome, Malicious, and Revengeful, full of Tricks, Intrigues, and Designs, Self-conceitedness, angry with one that does not flatter him, and that hath not the same opinion of him, that he hath of himself; plotting and designing to enrich himself by new methods of his Office, breaking his Instructions like Cobwebs, with whom Lies, and Denials of Truth are as frequent, as Kisses at a Wedding; and, in fine, makes every one swear to negotiate with him, to save himself harmless; except he learn to procure, and have ready in his Pocket, the Key to unlock his Temper, to have a dispatch suitable to his Time and Occasion; I say, such a Man is put in the fair Road to do exceeding great damages to the Affair: But to particularise the Evils ensuing, were too tedious to number; and therefore I will leave him in the good Conceit he hath, that he that preferred him, will not fail to support him: Let business either truckle or slide, his Ends and Designs are sure to effect. I must needs say then, that the weight of the burden is too heavy for the Nation to bear; and will make it groan, if many such are shuffled into business of moment, to serve private Ends.  
Thirdly, The Master-Builder, who has the Oversight, and all the Direction and Contrivance of the Building of all Ships, Boats, Vessels, Docks, etc. under the Inspection of the Surveyor, and Helps: He hath a sufficient Architecture, called his Assistant, Foremen, Master Caulker, Master joiner, Master Boat-Builder, Master Mast-Maker; and all, in their distinct Stations, execute his Orders, and are material Instruments under him, to carry on the Machine's, which he receives Orders for from Above. Yet he is not so absolute, but the Commissioner upon the place is his superior Officer, and may supersede, if he sees necessary; and is an Overseer and Controller of him, and all other Officers in the Yard: Obedience he may command; but let him take care, it be for the Promotion and Advantage of the Service, and all is right.  
This Master-Builder, I say, is the head of all the Shipwrights, Mast-makers', Joiner's, Boat-Builders, Carvers, Painters, etc. and is a most material Officer of Trust; He and his Assistant, Signing for all Materials to the Store-keeper, for the issuing them; who appropriates and appoints what Services they are issued for, by Notes, or Bills of Issues, by his Clerk allowed him, with an Office for that purpose. Yet I take notice of an Error in it; viz. that although he does give a Bill for the said Issues, and therein specify for what Ship, etc. it is to be expended upon; and the Accounts for that Work are so placed on the said Ship, or Work, with the Wages thereon, in the Accounts sent to the Surveyors Office: Yet it is not practised to take the Parties hands to the Receipt of the said Materials issued, who receives them, viz. the Carpenters of the Ships, Foremen, or Overseers of the said Work; so that they know not what Orders of Appropriation are issued for that use; and thereby is left a Latitude, to direct the said Materials to any other use, and may prove a great abuse to that Ship or Work; and may make it swell in the Surveyor's-Office, where the Board has only the view for their Satisfaction, to give the Admiralty account thereof: And I may say, be a disestimation on the Contractors for the former Building, or Repairing the said Ship or Work, and prove to be an untrue Representation of the Affairs to the Board and Admiralty; and is an open Door for many Evils to enter at, which otherwise might be shut: The Evils are too many for me to mention, but may easily be conjected.  
And here I cannot let slip one great Evil in the Navy, viz. That a Ship which has been built out of the King's Yards, when she comes into the said Yards to be repaired, she shall be cobbled up, and disregarded, and disparaged at a strange rate by every Builder, Assistant, Foreman, nay, every ordinary Shipwright, in favour and imitation of what their Master-Builder saith of her; even he, I say, hath also a Stone to cast at her; and all this happens to her, because he that built her is not in request in the King's Service at that time: But if he were, then may he write to that Dock and Yard to be kind to her; and by that is understood the meaning, viz. to give her due Repairs, and to spare no Costs to fit her forth. But if she hath no Friends, as I said, or Father, (as they call it,) she may be had into the Dock, and bungled up at a slighting rate, and turned out again, without having her full Repairs and Adorn, and put on Float to be done there; the which often lies undone, and she is left open for the Wether to destroy her: Her Scuppers also may be left unset, whereby the Water runs down her timbers years together; the Bolts undrove; not Coats for the Masts, nor Tarpallings to keep her dry; also not good Caulking, and abundance of Work undone; the which the Builder says he can do in an instant; but the Ship being not wanted to be immediately sitted out, she is thus laid by; and the Builder certifies to the Board that she is ready for the Sea, when she wants two or three Hundred Pounds worth of Work to be done to her; and when she is ordered to the Seas the Work is to do: And so do they work over one another's Backs, and hinder each other; which is a loss to the King, and a great Cause why Ships are so long Equipping, there being a mystery under it, which ought to be discovered.  
Now all this while here is a Latitude left by this method, as I spoke of, for the Iron Work, Timber, and Materials, etc. to be spent on a beloved or a favourite Ship, as they call it, and placed to the account of the other, who all this while lies Rotting and Decaying shamefully, for want of careful Preventions.  
As for the Preservation of Ships after built, I account it the most necessary and needful Charges, and that ought most especially to be regarded, before the building of new Ships; for every Hundred Pounds laid out well for Preservation of Ships, is of more Service, than two Thousand Pounds laid out upon new Ships, let it be managed never so well: For I would fain know wherein the Wisdom and Prudence of that Man lies, who, having two Houses required for his use, of equal bigness, they being in Decay, and that every Hundred Pound laid out upon Repairs of one of them, turns to more account for his Profit, and readier for his Use, than five Hundred Pound laid upon a new one: And the other being lately repaired, or built, and wants only some small Expenses to be upon it, to preserve it for his use, at all times of need to be ready; and every Hundred Pound he layeth out upon that's Preservation, turns to his account of profit more than two Thousand Pound laid out towards building a new one; and yet notwithstanding he will neglect the other, and build it new; for that his chief Steward, or else his Master-workman, has blinded his chief Steward, who have large private Interests in the building of new, or else their Interest runs like two Lines from the Circumference to the Centre. I cannot forbear to be thus plain, that Navy Ships, I fear, have been too much neglected in their Preservation, and that Builders have not been without their blame; and that no small Intrigues are and have been carried on for the Building and Repairing of Ships, I am well satisfied thereof.  
I confess this matter, as many Particulars of great Weight, and also that of the Purveyors, and Contractors, may require a long discourse, and would be matter of Discovery of divers Mysteries; but because I have an Eye to my former Promise, not to expose the Affair, nor any Person therein, to the view of the World; and that I do not affect the Title of an Informer; but so as to cast a willing Mite into the Treasury, for the support of the Order and Government of the Navy, whereby it might be easier maintained (as to the vast Expense, and immense charge thereof) by the Nation, and serve the right Ends: viz. To preserve and maintain the Honour and Wealth of the Nation; and by a Progression to increase it, that they be not obnoxious to the Insulting, or Conquest, of their Neighbours, who design no less; which is my chief End herein.  
Now as for the Builders, Assistants, Master-Caulkers, Master-Joyner, Master-Mast-Maker, Master-Boat-Builder, Master-House-Carpenter, Ship-Wrights, Labourers, sawyer's. Tool-Grinders and Setters, and all the Artificers and Workmen men belonging to the respective Works, being under the Inspection of the Master-Builder, and Assistants, having not time to descend into small particulars, I will say no more here: But that the Master Carver, Anchor-Smith, Lock-Smith Painter, and Purveyor of small Stores, or petty Emptions, they being all Contractors, I will say only as I before said of the right Appropriations of the Stores, and true Qualifications thereof, that the Door be shut against any Evils that may come in by Fraud, or wrong Application of the said Works: which brings me,  
FOurthly, to the Storekeeper's-Office, who is also of great Trust in his Receipts and Issues of all manner of Stores; who gives also Security for his Office, to pass his Accounts, Debtor and Creditor, with the Clerk-Surveyor, or with the Clerk of the Control, which was an Officer settled of late years in every Yard, and a Head-Office thereof at London. And therein was found out an Employment for a Commissioner of the Board; but that being only a Branch of the Surveyor's Office, it never appeared to me of any use; but as hiring Men to mud the Water, so it hath been for some time since discontinued at the Yards: But the Office aloft is continued; where many Lines and Columns of Stores are made, for the balancing of Store-keepers Accounts: Yet that heretofore, and now, aught to be kept by the Clerk-Surveyor; but he finding ease thereby, may be silent. The Storekeeper, I say, with his Clerks and Subs, are to be minded, that he, nor any of his Instruments, shall be negligent in their attendance, but be ready to make Dispatch in their Issues, and not to be morose and short in their Answers, and prolong the time in effecting the Import of the Notes and Bills, that are signed to them by the Master-Builder, his Assistant, Master-Attendant, or Clerk of the Survey, (for they all sign upon them respectively;) but that Boatswains, Carpenters, etc. must give long attendance for Dispatches, protracted for Lucre, many great Evils ensuing to the Affair thereby: Yet the Commissioner is commonly to and again; and if he be sharp sighted, and willing to give hinself the trouble, will apply a seasonable Spur, as well to them as all other slow Proceed; which is a great branch of his Office, to quicken, spur, and enliven the whole Affair within his Jurisdiction.  
Fifthly, The Master-Attendant is an Officer of Business, and Trust, for transporting of Ships in and out of the Harbour, taking care for laying the Ships (all that enter the Port) at safe moreings; that they damnify not each other, do not break lose, etc. to take care to unstore, ungun, unrigg, and unballast them; and bring them to and from the Dock, and heave them into the Dock, and out, provide Ballast, and all manner of Rigging, Cables, Sails, Anchors, and Cordage for them; suitable and answerable Stores for their Voyage: And on their Returns again to survey the Boatswain's remains, and take care for the laying them up for Preservation; the Clerk of the Survey being the Surveyor's Instrument, for Surveying the Stores of as well the Boatswain's Stores, under the Master-Attendant his Oversight, as also the Carpenters Store's, under the Master-Builder's Oversight, passing their Accounts by the Vouches signed by the Builders, and Master-Attendant, of their Remains; and of the Captains their expense at Sea. The Master-Attendant also commands and directs the Labourers of the Yard; orders the cutting and making of Rigging at the Rigging House, appoints and directs the Ordinary; that is, the Boatswain's Servants, and extraordinary Men, born on the Ships in Harbour; and takes notice of the respective Persons under his Command, of their either Neglect or Attending their Duty: All which he performs by his Substitutes, as by the Boatswains of Ships for the Ordinary, and when he detaches Labourers to work on Float, to clear Ships, heave Ballast, etc. And for the Labourers, the Boatswain of the Yard, although warranted, works them; yet subordinate to the Master-Attendant: The said Yard-Boatswain also directs the Teams of draught Horses, for drawing of Timber, etc. and heaving it out of Vessels by Labourers; also all manner of Stores received in, and cleaning of the Docks and Yards, providing of Shovels, Pickaxes, Hand-spikes, Ropes, Blocks, and all Instruments to do the said work, and for heaving in and out Ships at the Docks. The Master-Attendant also appoints Pilots for carrying Ships in and out of the Harbour, and signs their Bills for it; as also the Huyes and Lighters, hired for carrying of Ballast. His business is of large Extent, and he ought to be a Man of good Knowledge, as of the Practice of the Navy, so of the Shoals and Tides of the Harbour; a Man of Care, Industry, Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Honesty; and well encouraged and supported in his Commands: So ought also the Checque, Builders, etc. in their respective Stations, appointed by the Commissioner of the Place, and also of the Board: Whereas if he be void of Knowledge, great Damages will ensue to Ships, in their Transportations and Ridings, he not being acquainted with the Shoals; and setting of Tides, and the lyings of Moreings in the Harbour: the elder Boatswain indeed may be his Guide, who officiates under him; but they will be apt to be cross, and think they are wronged of their Birthright, whose opinion I cannot condemn: Neither can I think it either just, expedient, or safe, to the King's Service; to put a stranger who never served, nor knew the Practice of the Navy, over the heads of able Men, who have spent their whole days in the said Service; and therefore I cannot forbear to say here, as I have else where said in the Preferment and Encouragement of Clerks: For it is hard measure, that a Man shall be neglected, and put by Preferment, not for any Inability, but that he hath not made Interest enough, or is not willing to down with his dust; although he has served his Life long, and is a Man of much Experience and Merit; which sort of Men, as I have elsewhere said, are Modest, and backward to offer to buy (as I there called it) their Fetters.  
One thing I have forgotten to hint before, the which perhaps may not be unfitly applied here, it being an Observation I have made in the Navy, viz. That it is the Opinion and Practcie of many, not the best Officers, that they will bid the highest rate for Advancement; concluding, that when attained they are arrived into the Land of Canaan, (viz. Rest,) but not of Promise to them; but was promised, perhaps, to more meritorious Men, but that their Money and Interest came short: yet of Rest they are resolved to make it; concluding, that their Profits being increased, their Cares should be abated: And therefore they do resolve to live quiet and secure, and act that part that shall procure them that; and let the World go round, if their Policy fail not, their sleep shall be sound; and let the inferior be industrious and full of cares: But I think it is altogether unsuitable to the Mind of a good Man or Christian, a good Officer, or Leigeman to his King and Country; and also should think, the higher his Office the more his Cares; not only in the sight of good Men, but required by God: For the Sword of Justice was never designed by him to be put into the hands of one who will sheathe it, and play the Truant: Wherefore I am well assured, that it would contribute to the Welfare and Promotion of the Glory and Strength of the Navy and Nation, and be most agreeable to the Dictates of God Almighty to let Justice be plentifully administered through the whole Series of the Affair; that the least Member thereof may gather enough for the Expense of his Family, of that Heavenly Dew or Manna, which is the Emanations of Heaven upon Man; and he that hath Justice in him, hath (although but weakly) one of the Cardinal Attributes of God. I will end this Paragraph with a Declamation against the Injustice of some years past; To dispose of the places of the biggest Ships, unto young uncapable Men, that never served in the Affair; nor, I believe, never will, when need requires it; but, like the Drones in the Beehive, live at home, and spend the Honey, and the public Service serve only them: Nay, one Employment hath not been enough, but two or three of the best; I mean, of the middle Stations of the Navy; I say, two or more have been one Man's share, and deserving Men, of good and approved Abilities, and of long standing and service, have been put by, or only continued in their low and beginning Station; and by consequence must veil to Children and Pupilsin Business, if they will have Bread.  
But I return to my Master-Attendant, who, if he be not a Man of Novel Inventions, and break the Practices of the Yards, and do not be put upon through his Weakness, and Ignorance of his Authority, and Right of Command, by any malevolent and turbulent Boatswain, that acts under him; and who tells him, that it is not the Duty of the Ordinary to heave out the Provisions left in the Ships; for they are not the King's, but the Purser's; and so cause the Wheels to stand still, and the Docks to stand void, as I have before hinted, and so damnify the Service considerably, and also the Officer: I say, he ought also to have Courage, and stand on his Right of Commanding Men out of Ships, to clear others, as the necessity of the Service requires, and the Commissioner of the place directs; although there be a Captain that denies his Men to do it, except they be paid for it; I say he ought to bid hard up to the positive Point, and there to leave it, and the Damages thereof, at the Captains or Commissioners Doors. So that you see, that the Virtue of Courage must not be wanting; for if it be, he cannot perform the Service well. Also Justice and Honesty he ought to be well stocked with; otherwise he will be tempted to connive with the Boatswain's Embezlements, and sign over large Expenses; and he may be tempted to sign over large Balaft Bills: and again, he may abuse and hinder many other good Officers in their Servants, under the pretence of Uprightness to the King's Business; and pour out his Favours upon his Creatures: I say, this Officer ought to be endued with very good Virtues, or else he may, instead of doing much Service to the Affair, do very much Disservice, etc.  
Sixthly, The Clerk of the Survey is an Officer presented thereto by the Surveyor, but warranted by the Admiralty, who keeps the Account of all Stores received into the Yard by the Storekeeper; surveys them at their Entrance, and is one that signs the Bills for them to the Navy-board. He surveys all Remains of Stores at the Returns of Ships from Sea; of Boatswains, and Carpenters, and passes their Accounts: He signs Vouches to Storekeepers for Sea Stores, with the Master-Attendant, and Builders, with whom, and the Storkeepers, his Business interferes very much; and his Affair or Duty being in a less compass, and without the reach of much Disquiet, or Trouble, he may be the more happy, if he be a Man of that Temper to use it so: His business being retired, and within himself, his Temptations to Dishonesty are the more and more recluse and private, having opportunities thereby to cause him to fall, and break his Trust; and therefore had need be a Man endowed with honest and just Principles: Also he ought to be of good knowledge in the Nature of Stores, and a ready Clerk for Accounts. Mostly the Surveyor takes great care to present a fit and experienced Clerk, otherwise it would distract his Office aloft; and commonly he presents one that has served before in some under Clerkship of the same Office; which is a sort of Justice I wish were practised throughout the Navy: I am sure he is the more safe and quiet in his business; and no doubt the better Dispatches are made therein by People apt and known to the business; without Tricks, Projects or new Fangles for Lucre. I know no Office in the Navy of that Quantity, that transacts their Business with Dispatch, with so little Notice or Perturbation, and are so very sedate and quiet; undoubtedly the more happy themselves, and those that negotiate with them, and the Services of the King in that Affair go or at least run, in the straight Channel, without Meanders and Turn.  
Seventhly, The Rope-house, viz. the Clerk and Master-Rope-maker are the Guides of that Affair, only the Master-Attendant sometimes may inspect or order some sizes of Ropes and Cordage, Cabels, etc. to be made, as they are needed; and also sometimes his Orders are necessary to detatch some of the Ordinary, or Labourers, to twist the great Cables. Indeed this Office is very distinct from interfering with any of the rest of the Offices; only the Master-Attendant may detatch some of their Hands, to help to heave a Ship in or out of the Dock, or the Master-Builder, on some emergencies; the nature of their Work being such, that they do their work often by Task, and so commonly do their day's Work by two or three a Clock: The Clerk hereof has a fine, quiet Business, and very separate, if he be a good spirited Man, so to use it, and to be just towards the King and the Men; for he keeps the Prick and Checque over them, and makes the quarterly Books up for their pay, and the Clerk of the Checque meddles not with them.  
But there is an Affair dependant, or appendent rather; yet it is separate: For there is a Rope-maker that makes up all the old and half worn Cables, and Cordage, opens the Strands and knits them, and makes them up into Cordage again; and it is called twice laid stuff, and serves for running Ropes, Port Ropes, Stage Ropes, and small Cordage. At Portsmouth it is prettily managed; the said Ropemaker contracts for so much by the Hundred, and has Tarr allowed him; the Storekeeper delivers it to him, and receives it from him, and certifies his Quantities; and the King's Rope-maker is excluded, in that particular Yard only, from having any Cognisance therein; who is the most able Man to inspect it, and oversee the Work, that it be done as it ought; and no more made, or certified to be made, than is needful; or that too much Tarr be not put into it: But it is there finely carried; so that there is more made thereof in that Yard in a Year, than is in all the Yards beside put together: It amounts to about four Hundred Pounds, some Years, bare Workmanship, which the Man doth himself, and two or three Servants, Boys, for the most part. I accuse not, but it is worth Observation, which is all I have to say of the Rope-house.  
Eightly, All the other Offices, viz. Mast-maker, Boat-builder, joiner, etc. are under the Bvilder's Orders: But the Clerk of the Checque, if he be a fit Man, will espy some Works doing in the Joinery, Painters, and Carvers Offices, for the Beautifying of men's Houses with Cabinets, fine Utensils of divers kinds, Costly, and more to the King; for what is done there, costeth the King twice as much Time and Materials as it is worth. In this nature divers Offices are corrupted: I fall not on particulars, but great Sums may be spent that kind of way; for Work and Materials may serve to adorn men's Houses, or build them about the Town: These things are too obvious, and may not, nay, must not be denied, and all by connivance; and yet at the same time Thrift pretended, and scruple to let a Warrant-Officer on board have a small Lock for his Cabin, or Store-Room: I say, these all are under the Bvilder's Direction, but he is blinded, and cannot see it; but the Clerk of the Checque ought to visit them, and checque them; as also the Labourers, that are employed by greedy and purloining Officers of the Yard, if they set them to work in their Gardens, do all the small and great Offices about their Houses, run abroad any where about Errands, and absent themselves at any rate, under the pretence of being an Officer's Man, or Boat-man; the King may lose no small matter Yearly, I say, if a Clerk of the Checque be not a Man every way well appointed to his Business.  
And thus I will conclude with the Yards; that they are all warranted from the Admiralty, and are under the Command, and definite Orders of the Commissioner of the Place: But the Carver, Painter, smith's, etc. I reckon not of the Yards, but are dependants; and therefore I will say a few things to them here; That is thus:  
That Carved Work on the Ships is come, with the Painting them, to be a good part of the Charge of the Ship, and is not of any intrinsic value, in any manner of Proportion to the cost, contributing to the good of the Service, or Strength of the Nation; but, on the contrary, serves to rot the Ships, entangle them when two Ships happen to come together, and most dangerous of burning the Ships when Fireships shall board them: For it is generally the Carved Work that takes Fire first, and it runs on it like Wildfire, by means of the Oil of the Paint; and many times the Carved Work is as rotten as Touchwood, and will take fire even with a Wad, or Coal of a Cartridg, or Tobacco. You may moderately compute the charge of Carving and Painting, that is needless unto the Navy, at the twentieth part of the charge of the Hulls of the Ships of the Navy; which now may be thought considerable, when the Navy is swollen to so great a bulk, and a certain necessity to have it greater: For our Neighbours put so fair for the Dominion of the Seas, that I doubt, before the Naval Force of Christendom will be settled in a General Peace, this Kingdom may happen to be put to many hard Tugs, to maintain their Right; and the Wealth of the Nation, together with the Blood thereof, will be greatly exhausted; and therefore for the saving the one from profuse Expenses, and preserving the Breeding and Maintaining the other, is of no small consideration at this time; and the more timely it be considered, we may with the more facility effect our desires. As for the former, I compute the unnecessary charge thereof, by the thirty last Ships, by the Parliament's Order built, if the Money they gave for it (as I think) was six hundred thousand Pounds, and the King spent two hundred thousand more, in all eight hundred thousand Pounds; (admit that that were the cost;) I compute the Carving and Painting at the Fortieth part of the whole, allowing the Hulls to be but the half of that cost, which is Four hundred thousand Pounds: Then the Carving and Painting is the Twentieth part thereof, which is Twenty thousand Pounds profuse Expenses, out of Four hundred thousand Pounds spent on Hulls; which Twenty thousand Pounds might be saved, and with more safety and security to the Ships from Fire, and less rotting their Work.  
The Arguments against this Thrift are usually the Splendour of the Navy, and the Discouragement of Arts. The Arguments being weak, the Confutation may be short; which is thus: The true Splendour and Glory of the Navy lies in the good Government thereof, the Easiness of the Expense to the Nation, and the Achievement of great Actions, preserving the Honour, Safety, and Wealth of the Nation; and not in Adorning of our Ships: And for the Arts of Painting and Carving, it is not worthy to be named, in comparison with the Cost of the Affair. The means of this Profuseness hath been created by Interest of Builders at the Navy Board, every one endeavouring to excel each other in the Beautifying their own Works, thereby to bring them and themselves into the greater Esteem; and that they might be so with the Commanders, they have not stayed there, but endeavoured also to exceed each other in the contriving the Accommodations for them, to that degree, that the other Officers, and the Seamen, are penned up into too little and small Accommodations and Conveniencies; and the Warlike Uses and Intentions thereof neglected, and much impeded; the which I shall more plainly make appear, when I am come on Board.  
Yet before I leave the Yard, I must take leave of the Porter, who hath shut the Gate upon me; who is an Officer also, and warranted from the Admiralty: His Office is to open and shut the Gates, and either himself or helper to be always at his Post, to take notice of all that enter or go out thereof all the day time; and to see the Watch set, giving them such Instructions as he shall receive from the Commissioners: If he be a temperate, careful, and honest man, he may prevent much Evils, which otherwise will slide without notice; by giving the Commissioner, Checque, Builder, and all the other chief Officers, needful notice, and true information of what they shall see, or they inquire after; and tell them I am gone on Board, and dare not lie a night with my Wife, although come lately from Sea.  
Ninthly, The Officers of the Ordinary are, a Purser, a Boatswain, a Gunner, a Carpenter, and a Cook, of each Ship; with Servants according as the Rate of the Ship will bear.  
The Boatswain is ordered by the Master-Attendant to come where he has ordered a Jack to be hoist on the Ensign-Staff, and there to work the Servants and extraordinary Men, till about two a Clock, except the Emergencies be the greater; and after the Work to repair on Board their respective Ships, and to clean them as is needful:  
The Carpenter to go with his Servant to work on Float where the Master-Builder, or Assistant shall direct, in such like order as the Boatswain.  
The Purser and Gunner, in their turns, look to the Ships all the Day time, and in the Night take their Watches in their turns, with either Boatswain or Carpenter.  
The Purser takes care for Victualling them every Month, from the Shoar, and carries the Warrants signed by the Checque, and Master-Attendant, after every Monthly Muster made by the Clerk of the Checque, in the presence of the Commissioner; and takes notice of every absence by Discharge, Death, or Runaway: And to the Checque grounds his Warrants for the ensuing Month's Victuals, which the Purser, when effected, signs to the Victualler, and he provides them Beer, Firing, Candle, and Necessaries, viz. Canns, Platters, etc. and accounts with the Victualler for the Provisions, and the necessary Money which is allowed, viz. One Shilling per Man, per Month.  
The Gunner goes in Guard Boat, in ●…turn with the other Gunners, one every Night in Summer, and two in the ●…ter, to row and drive up and down the Harbour in Guard Boats, kept on purpose, and Men detatched from the Ships, as the Commissioner directs, or committed to some Captain riding there. They are to serve as Spials, or Watches on Float, to take notice what Boats pass, and to examine what they do abroad after the Watch is set; which is by a Gun Fired, about the Twilight, by the said Captain directed for the oversight of the Watch in the Harbour: The said Boat is to go about the Ships, and take notice if there be a Watch kept on Board, and one walking upon the Deck all Night; and where they find any Neglect, or any Disorder, by keeping of Fire, or Candle light all the Night, or Drunkenness, to hale them; and, if not answered, to put on Board, and inform themselves of the Disorder: They also are to see what Boats pass untimely; if purloining of Stores, stealing of Customs, etc. of all which Misbehaviours he is to acquaint the said Captain, and he the Commissioner, if worth the taking notice of; and sometimes the Commissioner visits them in the Night for the same purpose; and oftener the Checque, to observe their Attendance.  
And here I call to remembrance, for some time since, the rigid and strict Hands carried over these poor People, by a colourable Pretence of Vigilance in the King's Business, and exacted constant Duty from them, both by Day and Night, glorying in the act of catching any one on Shoar, to visit his Family, and suspending many, to their great Impoverishment to solicit their Restoration; contrary to every Officer's Instructions, as their Duty given them from the Navy Board; of which I will say more, when I come to Sea. But I apprehend these Proceed tended not to the Service of the King; for two Officers on Board in the Night, and one in the Day, is as much as can in any wise be needful, considering the Hardships Men are put to: But when come Home, and near their own Doors, from the Fatigue of the Seas and Wars; and not to be suffered to converse with their Wives and Families, but even as an Adulterer steals to an Harlot; which Severities acted by them, exceed the Inhumanity of the Egyptian Taskmasters, being beside and beyond the Officers Instructions signed by them, a preposterous Proceeding, where good Method and Order is required: But it served the Trick of their Design, to put a Mask before their Superiors Eyes, when they came before them to acquaint them of the needful, made this their Cardinal Care, to exact a both needless, inhuman, and undue Duty; to the great Discomfort and Undoing of many poor, needy, but good Officers: Insomuch that many died with Grief and Colds, and divers lived miserable with Sickness and Poverty; and sometime an act of Grace was passed: But all this, I reckon, sprang from the same Root, as the Designs were practised for; one time fiercely to vex and disturb the Dissenters, and then to promulgate Liberty by Grace; and all the while to bring an Odium upon the Church: So this to unhinge and and disorder the well settled Government and Tranquillity of the Navy; the which being disjointed, it would, nay, must have expected to have fallen into the Hands, and under the sole Management of a few; who, beside their Policy in twisting Designs to enrich themselves, knew as little of the true Government of the Affairs of the Navy, as they intended it should serve for the Safety, Honour, and Welfare of the Nation. And so I will leave these miserable, poor Officers, wishing themselves Dead, or some way delivered from their Captivity by a Voyage to Sea, where perhaps they might meet with a Discharge from all by Death, Life being become miserable, and Death more desirable to them; and so cursing their Fates to be bred up to an Employment, that hath, in their mature Years, failed to obtain for them, in a reasonable degree, Sustenance for themselves and Families they have contracted about them; their fates falling so heavy upon them, by the Machinations and Devices of designing Men, finding the Juncto suitable both in the Principals and the Adherents, to alter and misgovern such an Affair, and ruin them, together with the loss of the Glory, Honour, and Safety of the Nation, and to the Acquirement of Honour, and Riches to the designing Prosecutors, or rather Persecutors.   

iv Of the Victualling Office.  


1. A controller.  
2. A Surveyor.  
3. A Treasurer.  
4. An Out-rider, or Riding Surveyor.  
5. Clerk Accountant of Receipts, Issues, and Returns; a Clerk of the Actions of the Board; a Clerk of the Cutting-house; a Clerk of the Cooperidge, Cutters, Salters, Boat-takers, and Wharfingers.  
6. Agents and Store-keepers abroad.    
THE Commissioners for Victualling, is a new Office; heretofore it hath been managed by Contractors; as Mr. Crane in King Charles the First's time; but in the late time of Exile, it had divers Contractors; as, one or more at every Port, and divers aloft; which Practice I cannot blame: For that Affair being of that nature, which does admit such sort of Profits, which is the only Support and Gain of the same, without it they could not do it at such rates as they have contracted for; that is, by buying, and encouraging the Pursers to buy, of the Officers and Mariners, their Salt Provisions; (for any one may judge, that those Provisions are neither wholesome nor toothsome;) because the Captain and all the Officers and Mariners that have Money, and opportunity, will, at every Port they come at, get some fresh Eatables, of Flesh, Fish, or Garden Fruits, etc. the Purser buying the Salt of them, and letting them have Money at all times to refresh themselves therewith; the which the Purser does commonly do for all the Ship's Company, when he comes to a Port where the price of fresh Provisions will bear it, having Money by him always for that purpose, and is a piece of very good Service; for it makes the Provisions last out longer, that the Ships may keep the Seas longer; and also refreshes the Men, who are otherwise made sickly, and die for want of Change of Diet; having no Money a long while.  
And although the Commissioners for the King may slight it, yet the Contractors never looked upon it otherwise than as the profitablest Plant in that Garden: Nay, it is many times a Profit to the Purser, for his Encouragement; for without that, I think, it is in vain to expect Men should take upon them to serve the Public; and our Saviour himself saith, Men go not to War on their own cost: And he that pretends to serve the Public, without expectation of some (though smaller) Honour and Riches, at least, I believe him not: Nay, a prospect of a Compensation answerable to his Hazard and Trouble; or, that it may provide him with Competency of Livelihood, even comparable to those of his Brethren, trained up with like Education, and disposed either to the Law, Physic, Merchandise, Shop-keeping, Farming, or Manufacturing at home, etc. Yet often, and very often, it proves nothing so; and most often their Brethren, that spend their Time and Talent at home, have such a gradual Increasement of their Wealth, that, after a term of years be past, they are out of the Danger of Impoverishment: Whereas their publick-serving Brother is, after the said Term, even then as hard at Cringing and Creeping to his Superior, as ever, that he might continue or increase his Maintenance, for the Support of his Family he hath gotten; or else is disappointed by the loss of Friends, who are either dead before him, or put beside the Cushion; and having fallen upon the Lot of bad Voyages; Mischances, cross, and ruining Circumstances, which have left him both Moneyless, and Friendless, and full of Family, and Years, and so with Grief makes his Exit; and leaves his delayed and protracted Accounts to the management of the Unmerciful and Uncompassionate, who too commonly make a Prey of the Remains, if any be; and leave the Widow and Family as ignorant of the Proceed, as without Substance; and rendering the Security for them within their Reach, to be shorn by them: I say, this is the fate of too many that of late years have served the Public in that Affair; their utter Ejection having been projected long since, and the Efforts towards the bringing it about having gone on in a continued Progression, seemingly, now to be ripe for its effecting: Having, I say, so altered the Methods and Management of that Office, That there appears in it but few Persons truly qualified for it; for often those who are put into it, are Recommended by those whose designs are for the Extirpation of them, or at least to continue the Shadow thereof a while longer; yet it shall be only the Shadow, and not the Nature and Substance: But the Methods and Practice of the Office is so altered, and subjected to the Superior, that the Service hath nought but the Footsteps of that Office left; nor can Benefit or Safety thereby in any Measure be expected to the King, the Service, or the Men; but the Affair turned under a Monopolised and Despotical Power. But the contriving the management of the Victualling by Commissioners, being a Principal Wheel to turn about the chief Projection thereof, what relates to their Management and late Proceed therein, I am now to prosecute. And,  
First, Five Commissioners are made to carry on this Affair, with large Salaries, and Allowances of Dwellings, and of what they think good for their Families in the Offices; it being at the King's Charge. These Men, I say, are Grandated at a Board; to hear and receive all Contractors Propositions, and pass their Bills for Payment on their Cashier; inspect the Proceed of their several Offices; giving them Warrants and Orders for their Proceed. Now if these Commissioners be unskilled in this Affair, viz. in the Nature of the Flesh, its Seasons for buying; (for very much skill is required for the knowledge in the buying, not only for the quantity, but the quality; for the  may be bought in the Market after great Drift, and Pineing, only to sweep the Market, because of lower Prices, when the loss thereby will return tenfold; beside the disappointment of the Service, and the destroying of the Lives and Healths of the Men; filling the Service full of Confusion and Discontent, and extremely weakening the Affair; and in fine, making it more chargeable to the King; it having been a well-ordered and well-governed Affair, by the best Management imaginable.) Now, I say, if the said Principals have no Insight nor Knowledge in the Affair, nor in the laudable Customs of Maritime Proceed in the Naval Affairs, (I mean the King's;) What may not the Officers under them put on them? What Methods shall hold them? Or, what Steadiness can there be in their constant Proceed, to be just to all that negotiate with them, and all the whole Affair to be at a certainty of good and wholesome Provisions, provided at the best Seasons, and at the best Rates? I say, How can this consist with Reason, if it may be (not to say it must be) committed to the Subs; and only for form have the Approbation of the Principals; especially if the Subs shall be Novices too, and not Men qualified for business?  
I could say a very great deal more in this Affair; but the sight thereof hath filled my Mind with so much matter of Discourse, that I am confounded, like the Affair; and know not how to speak to it, so as to take a view of each part: Into which Method, if I proceed, I should be too tedious in this Work; which I meant but as an Essay, for a Trial, hoping some abler Pen will erect a Mansion upon my Cottage; and therefore I shall only add hereto, That when Contractors had it, they were forced to look sharply to the Affair, and to employ able and knowing People; and to let nothing of any private Interest creep into the Affair; and to be sure to buy good Provisions, and to have them well preserved: And if any Humorous Commanders refused, or abused the same; then their Instruments gave a good account thereof, and the same was turned to the King's Damage; for if there were any other Proceed in the Receipts, Returning, or Expending the same, than what was the Ancient Customs of the Navy, and according to the Prescriptions in their Contracts; so that all things went on according to the Ancient Methods of the Navy, and Customs in Maritime Affairs; and seldom was there found any great Defects in Provisions, nor any disorderly Returns, Refusing, or Abuses: If any were to their damage, they would be sure to acquaint the Navy-Board for Redress, and cause the Offenders to be questioned; and that deterred them from offering it, knowing that it would not pass without notice; and the Contractors also, knowing that if the Affair were not carefully and diligently managed, it would turn to their great Damages; and if the Fleets were disappointed, it would be their breach of Covenants, and fall heavy upon them: For they could not make such Interest as to have it expiated at an easy rate, nor with colourable Pretences; so that both they, and all their Friends engaged with them, and their whole Value, lay liable to the King for satisfaction; nor could any Sale of Estate, or Gift, made during the time they were Accomptants to the King, defend it from the King's Seizures: So that, I say, there must be no room for insufficient, careless, or negligent Instruments, by private Interest; nor for any Wrongs done to any of the King's Servants, negotiating with them, without making Reparation. Therefore, that the so great Affair might be managed, that there might be computed the certain Costs the King shall be at, for the Maintenance of his Maritime Strength, and not fall under the power of any Interest, to make it cost more; and with surety and safety performed, as by the Contractors is made appear to be, is a Condition most desirable, and requisite, for the Navy to be constituted and settled in.  
But if it does appear to the Wise and Knowing, That it would better answer the ends aforesaid to be managed by the King's Commissioners; then to that end I will make a few steps that way, and premise, as in the Heads aforesaid; That it does consist of a controller, a Surveyor, and a Treasurer, all resident at the Office; except an Emergency calls them to the Ports; to avoid which, there is needful to be an Out-rider, or Riding Surveyor, whose business should be to visit the Ports and Fleet, and to enliven and quicken the Affair, and spur all the remote Instruments to the diligent and careful performance of their Duties, in their respective Stations; and to mark all Errors, and to give account thereof to the Board for Redress; That Provisions be not damnified by tossing them to and from Ships, and suffer great Damages, and Demurrages of the Vessels, by leaving them unspent, whiles they may be preserved; and that the Instruments do not make slow and slack Dispatches, under small pretences for Lucre, and study chief their own Profits; or to damnify any one that negotiates with them, by undue and unpracticable Proceed, and Delays of Payments; the which would bring a general Disreputation on the Action, and cause it to be the more chargeable to the King; and is also extremely hurtful to the Affair. Wherefore,  
Fifthly, The Clerk-Accomptant of Receipts, Issues, and Returns, should be a Man of great Abilities, Honesty, and Justice, rightly to state all Matters to the Board, and to pass all the Accounts under the Approbation and Allowance of the Navy-Board; that they might be engrossed into the Treasurer of the Navy his Ledger, and exhibited to the Exchequer; so that Estimates might be made upon all Exigencies that may offer.  
The Clerk of the Actions of the Board, aught to be a good Clerk and Secretary, to dispatch good Instructions and Reprimands, in proper Terms; and to preserve all Precedents and Orders in good Method for Review, when needful.  
The Clerk of the Cutting-house, aught to be sworn to do his Office justly, and faithfully; as also to see that his Packers under him be Sworn, and do execute their Office truly and justly; to mark the Contents faithfully and right.  
The Clerk of the Cooperidge also to be Sworn to see the due Gauges put on all Casks for Beer.  
The Salters under the Clerk of the Cutting-house his Inspection, aught to do their Office carefully, and painfully; and the Boat-takers, and Wharfingers to be diligent to provide for the Transport of the Provisions where ordered, and to give them quick Dispatches; also to receive the Returns carefully, and to preserve and return them to the respective Offices, where they are to be reposited for Repairs, Re-package, Disposal and Ordering; and not to let Vessels lie by with Demurrage, for want of Deliverance, to the Loss and Discomfort of the Owners, and hindrance of the Affair: In which there is no small matter to be considered, in the doing Right and Justice to the Brewers, Bakers, and to the Cheese-mongers, etc. according to their Contracts; and to the Owners of Vessels, for their Fraights, and Demurrages. In which, if it be not rightly and exactly performed, the Commissioners cannot easily do Justice, and judge aright between the King and them, according to their Contracts and Agreements for Abatements, or Allowances, etc. It is a great point of the Surveyor's Business, to judge and determine of Defects by himself, or to choose two Men Sworn thereto; as their Contracts respectively shall intimate and direct.  
Sixthly, The Agents and Store-keepers abroad ought to do all the same thing that is done at London; but by the Orders and Directions of the Commissioners at the General Office, for Victualling at London, the said Agent buys Provisions, contracting for the same to be served in as the Season offers, and as he hath Directions from the Commissioners, with whom he keeps a continual Correspond, and without whom, or their Directions, he can do nothing of moment: He draws his Bills for Money on them, and receives Money from some Receivers of Taxes, as the Commissioners aloft can get Assignments from the Treasurer of the Navy, and he from the Lords of the Treasury, on parts of the Revenue: He indents with the Pursers, he superinspects the whole Affair of Victualling at that Port, if there be no Commissioner or Riding Surveyor at the place, which in all times of Action extraordinary there should be; and whensoever any one is there, than he supersedes him. The said Agent is a person placed in great Trust; for he has the Oversight of all, even as a Commissioner aloft has; and indeed his Office imports all that theirs does, viz. For the prudent managing and quick dispatching; only it lies not at his door to take care that there be sufficient Provisions at the Port, or moneys to supply all Emergencies; he is only to give the Commissioners constant and timely Account, and to do and see put in Execution all the Commissioners Orders and Advices, that he from time to time shall receive from them: and not to give any Allowances for Damages, or allow any thing of moment for Demurrages, Casual Accidents, or Mistakes, without advising them first, and receive ample Instructions from them for it. And, in fine, he is an Image or Deputy of the Commissioners; yet more properly a Husband; or, as the name more properly signifies, an Agent to act or do; yet as a Substitute to, and put in by the said Commissioners, unto whom he is only accountable, and no where or otherwise concerned, than as his either general Instructions, or particular Orders direct him. His general Instructions ought to prescribe him his Methods in general, for supplying of Ships wants; by what Vouchers or Warrants, he should order Deliveries; whose Orders he must obey, without appealing to them for Advice, and whose not; and whatsoever he hath not in his general Instructions, he ought to advise the Victualling Board therewith, and expect their Orders therein: He is of principal moment at the Port, I say, he being Resident, and in the absence of a Commissione, is to cause the whole Affair to move by his Dictates; and gives his Orders to the Store-keeper, for issuing and receiving; and also for Deliveries to Brewers, Bakers, and Cooper's, &c. And next under him is the Store-keeper, who is warranted by the Commissioners also, but Sub to the Agent: He receives and issues by the Dictates and Orders of him: He takes care for the Cutting, Salting, Packing, and Stowing of the said Provisions, and the Transporting them on Board the Ships; receiving them back as Returns; and taking care for Sifting, Repacking, Overhalling, and preserving them; and should give the Agent an account of the condition and quantities of them, at all reasonable demands. For Quantities the Agent should be as well able to know as himself; for he ought not to receive or issue any thing, without his Orders; the which the Agent ought to enter, as Debtor and Creditor, to him; thereby he should be able to give the Board a state of the Quantities in a Post's time; but absolute Qualities he cannot, without a Survey, but something near he might, if it be duly done, and in good Method, as such an Affair of Quantity requires: For that Affair, the whole Welfare thereof, viz. the Readiness and Serviceableness thereof to the King, is of great moment in the business I am treating of; the which is no small Affair to the Kingdom: I say, it is in the Management thereof, and may easily, by persons that are ignorant of it, or were never brought up, or had any practice or knowledge therein, be brought to great Damages, and be made extreme chargeable to the King: For Prudent Management is a great part of this Affair for Profit; and the best and surest way to it, is to have Good Instruments therein, and not to put Pupils and Novices into such Affairs, to serve Private Interests; that is, to make the Treasure, nay, if not the Wealth and Strength of the Nation, be spent, or do truckle to, and serve the Interest of some particular Persons in their Relatives and Parties. As I have elsewhere decried the Practice, so I do here also, viz. not to putby Men of approved Knowledge and Experience in the said Business, and of long Service, and in the room put in Novices, Pupils, and every way unfit, on purpose to serve a Private Interest: It is but the worst way of making the Public maintain them.   

V Of other Irregularities in the Navy.  


1. The Clother, or, Slop-seller.  
2. The Purser, or whom he shall get to Issue.  
3. The Mariner Buying, and the Paymaster Defalking.    
THE Slop-seller, is a Person crept into the Navy, I mean to Monopolise the vending of Clothing solely, but since the Restoration of King Charles the Second; nor then, but by degrees, as he could make Interest, and have Interest in the Affair.  
For I remember Mr. Richard Beckford, and Mr. Burrows did vend chief to the Navy; but not to hinder any others to Issue. For Mr. Thomas Beckford, afterwards Knight, Brother to the said Richard and others, but as his Stock, and willingness of the Pursers to Issue for him, did increase, did vend, and did endeavour to under-sell, and outdo each other; but as yet his Interest could not reach to Engross it, until after some time, as he grew able, did procure a Warrant from the Duke of York, than Lord High Admiral, to have the sole vending to the Navy; yet, under the fair Pretences of showing Samples to the Navy-Board, and they agreeing Prices for the Particulars; which Prices were followed indeed, but the Qualities of the Goods were debased, as he thought good: There was also added to the fairness thereof, That when they were opened on Board, if the Commander did not think them reasonable good according to the Prices, he should abate the Prices, or stop the Issuing of them. Who could expect that a Captain should be able to judge indifferently of such Goods, or, that the Slop-seller should stand to the Judgement of every Captain's knowledge, or justice towards his Concerns? But this effect it hath had, That if the Purser have dared to set down any lower price, than what his invoices mentioned, he must pay it himself; and so he had like order to the Paymaster of the Navy, to be accountable to him for all the whole Defalkation of the Ships Books; so that if the Purser took, or bought any Clothing of any at better Prices, and more suitable to the Seamens Wants, and set it off upon the Books, the Paymaster, and Slop-seller understanding each other, brought all, viz. Dead-men's , sold at the Mast, or any one Furnishing the Mariner in his Sickness and Wants, to the Slop-sellers Credit; and out of his Hands it was not easily, nor wholly gotten, but at his Pleasure: And thereby, all People willing to assist the Seaman in his Wants, upon the Credit of his Pay, were thereby Deterred, and the Sailer totally frustrated of any choice, or good Market for his Money, but that called Hobson's Choice, That or none: In all which care taken for the good of the Sailer, and to keep him healthy and well in the Service, seems to me to have a quite contrary Effect; and indeed is no other than a Method to make one Man Rich, at the cost of many Thousands, and to the loss of many men's Lives and Healths; so consequently to the Impairing of the Service, for the truth of it is, That every Man that serves the King for Wages, hath a Right thereto, as good as any Man hath to receive Rend for a House or Land, if he does his Duty, and to buy or sell thereupon, and Engage the same for Payment; which Engagement should be satisfied at the Payment of the Ship, or Tickets thereof, as the said Engagements doth Import: and if more than one appears for the same Sum, no Preferrence to be allowed, but as their Dates, or other Valuation in Law requires; then would the Seamen never suffer such wants, as both them and their Families have and doth suffer; their Wives and Children would be reasonably supported in their Absences, and they supplied at the Commencement of their Voyage, with Necessaries for their Preservation in the Service, by some of the Ship, or Port where they shall frequent, when People know that their Payment is of some Certainty, and not to be turned off Disgracefully to the Honesty of the Sailer, who is apt enough to refuse Payment, when his Wants are satisfied: And herein is the Commissioner of the Pay his Justice to be exercised, to prevent Evil Men from Cheating the People who Credit them, and bring a Scandal upon the Service, which makes the hardheartedness towards them in their Wants.  
Now I intimate, that the Debts contracted, during that Service, should have preference before those contracted before the Commencement of that Service: The Dutch use that Method, that a Sailer need never want Credit for to supply his Wants, viz. As the Sailer hath need, the Captain gives him a Bill for so much Money as his Needs, or of his Families are; which Bill he sends home, where there are enough that will take that Bill at a small Abatement: The just performance of the same, gives such Credit to it, that People will strive who should have it at the least loss, they being paid without Rebuke, or uncertain Payment; which hath been the Fate of the Affairs in England for many Years past, that a Ticket-Buyer is an Odium: And notwithstanding most of the Tickets have been bought and sold, and past to Account by Quantities, and done behind the Curtain; if a Man should happen to be Discharged by a Ticket, and needs Money for his Equipment for another Voyage, he is in a Wood, and knows not which way to bring that into Money, nor have any Friend that is willing to supply him, and send him about another Voyage, nor any Encouragement to do it, lest he does undergo the Gild of a Ticket-buyer, which have been accounted as Cheats; so that if he does, he may lose his Money, or else he must find out the way behind the Curtain, as others do, where is most cruel loss, it going through so many Hands to the Mark. I say, for many Years past, this Practice hath been, That like Woodstock-Bower, or the Inchanted-Castle, except he had that Clew of Thread, viz. found the Mystery he should never attain the end, except the Person himself did attend; yet so he must find out the Knot and untie it, after he had worn out his Patience by Delays, and scornful Answers; but two to one,  that he had worn out both his Patience and his , and had found the way behind the Curtain, and taken some Money for it, but not enough to pay his Creditors, nor relieve his Family, but Packed away on another Voyage, thin Clothed, and Pennyless; cursing the Service, but whom he cannot tell: I say, this hath been the Fate of the Sailer for many Years together, yet fresh enough to Memory; and still the King saves not a Penny, but pays every Groat on't, and perhaps Interest, to raise the said Money for it: Nay, a Stranger would think in himself, if he stood but by to hear the Answers to Questions about the good or bad payment, or wherever it would be paid, that the Parties Entrusted in the Affair did give the greatest Disreputation to it, whose duty it was, to have maintained and supported the King's Credit with the Maratime People, which is of more value than all the Merchant's Credits in England; for their Welfare, and the whole Nations depends upon the Prosperity of the Navy: For if we ever be brought to truckle under the French at Sea, as I doubt, hath been fairly endeavoured for; farewel the Honour and Felicity of this Nation; but perhaps the Actors therein would have made themselves great thereby, according to their Desires: What a dreadful case is it that ever a Man should set his Hand to the utter ruin of his Nation, with the Religion, Laws, and Liberties thereof; and to settle that upon his Posterity, viz. a little Pelf; and knows not but that, as another Pharaoh, who knew not Joseph, would make them all Bondmen. I fear there is remaining upon Posterity too many Honours and Estates of Persons, Gaining them by the daring to adventure the breach of the Laws of God and their Nation: For never did a Nation undergo any great Alteration, whether for the better, or for the worse, but Honours are created thereupon: Wherefore it would be as necessary, as upon the Entrance of any King upon the Throne, to pass an Act of Indemnity; so also to pass an Act for the Confirming of Honours, wherein every Honour by Patent, should be Named: Or, if it be a shorter way to be excepted, that have raised it, or used his Ancestors Honour, to the breach of the Laws established; so that none should pass, but what stood the Scrutiny; which would be a means to deter Men from getting Honours so ill, or preserve their Ancestors at so base a rate: Knowing that if he suffer in one King's Reign, his Posterity will surely be righted in another, if ever the Nation comes to itself again. However, the true Object of a Just and Honest Man, is to fear God, do what is Just, and to wait upon him for the Issue of his Patience.  
Having followed the pursuit hereof, and digressed, I will return to my Slop-seller; and therefore say, That the Sailor's Market, instead of Restraint, should be promoted, and People Invited to come on Board by their Civil Treatment; and to trust the Sailer with their Goods ashore, when they are Bargained for; by endeavouring all that are concerned therein, that they be duly paid for, with the least Trouble or Defalkation to them; and to use all the art to promote his Majesty's Credit in the Affair, not only with his Maratime, but with all his Subjects: For Credit and Honour are too near of Kin to be made Opposites, as for some time it hath been. Nay, it would answer to that great end of Profit to the Service, by taking off the growing charge, viz. if Money be not ready to pay the Ships, they might have Tickets, which would be bought up by Moneyed Men at little loss to the Sailer, and expedite the Affair; there being Money enough in Money'd-mens' Hands, who would be glad thereof, if they were Encouraged and Countenanced therein: The contrary Practice I understand not. I say, let any Man sell his Ticket openly upon the Exchange, Street, or Shops, and countenanced through the Nation, and reckoned a good piece of Service to lay out much Money in them; but that which added greatly to the Sailor's Damages before, being now removed, viz. Buying of Tickets should not be declaimed, and yet sold behind the Curtain, by only those who have private Correspondence; but that it should be free, and declared a Commendable Service: I say, these Indirect Policies being removed, the Sailer would be in mighty Credit, and the whole Affair would go on with Life and Vigour; any thing to the contrary I do not understand.  
I confess, I should add hereto the usual Objections, to back their Practices aforesaid; (and they are,) That the Sailer is Cheated; and again, he spends his Money in Drink, and is kept on Shoar from the Service thereby: the which is all mere Shame, and only a mudding the Water to catch Fish. For to pretend to keep a Man's Money from him, to make him a good Husband, and that he be not Rob on't; and in the mean time to leave a way open for him to be Cheated cleanlily of a fifth, fourth, or third part on't, as he can escape their hands, or to fall under a Post-pone; the which the Cunning Dealers do foresee, and find Preferrence to avoid; but from ever Postponing the Naval Debts of this Nation, Good Lord Deliver the King and Parliament: But instead, to strengthen the Public Credit of the King with the Navy, by an Act, That whosoever should buy the Bills for Stores, Tickets, or Debenters for Wages, etc. should receive their Money without any Defalcation made therefrom, save what was Written fairly to their view upon it, before they bought it; and that in its due Course, out any Preferrence, as they are entered in the Office for Assignments; and that the Public Credit being passed therein, that Officer that should make any Preferrences in Assignment or Pay, should be Discarded, or such Penalties be inflicted as may be thought fit; and whosoever in any Office, that should speak slightly to disparage the Payment, and undervalue the Affair, should be treated in like Terms as a Merchant, or Shopkeeper, Lord, or Gentleman, would Treat his Servant that does, when any one comes to him for a Debt due from his Master, answer him Surlily, and Contemptibly, and Doubtingly, whether ever it would be paid: Such Servants, I confess, I have heard, have been in some Families; But what were they? Such as ranked not Honour and Credit together, and let all run at Hurls; and was Precipitating to an end of Honour, Credit, and Estate. I judge the Affair I am treating of, will aptly enough fit the Comparison; and therefore I will conclude with the Slopseller, That if the Affair were carried as aforesaid, there will need no Slop-seller, but such as shall strive to undersell each other, and trust to the Purser for vending of them, or any one else, and produce their Bill for them to be stopped out of their Pay, and paid at the Pay of the Men; or, that the Paymaster do answer the Draughts of the Purser; as for Dead-men's , Tobacco, Necessaries, or Money for the supply of themselves and Families; and the Purser to make good his Draughts, and account with the Paymaster for the whole Defalcations on the Ships Books; the which he ought to make good and stand to; for why the Slop-seller, or the Paymaster should have the Balances, no reason is to be given. More might be said, but I spare.  
This was the Ancient Custom of the Navy before Corruption, Bribery, and private Interest came into the Affair; and Tricks, and Designs of Exposing the Honour and Safety of the Nation to the Power and Will of some, none of the best Meaning: Since which Designs began, things have run on with a swift Innundation, overflowing the Banks of Method, Discipline, and Government; so now hoping that the source is stopped, and that the breaches will be made up again, and the right Courses well cleansed and scoured, and so kept in the right Channel; to which purpose I will labour yet to bring more Materials, and conclude this Paragraph with Advice to the Slop-seller; That if he will sell as cheap as any others, and take the Purser's Bills, and Balance his Account with him, and not crave Imprest-Money of the Navy-Board, to pay him in part beforehand; then I believe he may sell a great deal of , and be a Gainer enough, but not enough to understand the Paymaster, and Friends assisting; and to keep Coaches, and live like a Peer too; which I think he will not condescend unto; and therefore I take leave of him, and desire no more of his Company in this Affair.   

VI Of the Clerical and Ministerial part of the Navy.  
I Have a few words to speak to this Affair, having observed in the Navy a general decay of Piety; and that I conceive proceeds from the Root in the last Paragraph, for Subverting and Subjecting the Navy, as well in the Ecclesiastical as the Civil and Military part thereof, and for that purpose Men have been sent too often, that have given ill Examples of Lives and Conversation so light, and disposed to Mode and Gallantry, not sparing to go or enter into the Lists of Debauchery, with any of the Officers they shall happen to be accounted of; are also void of good Morals, and over busy with other men's matters, and do become the Ridicule of the Ship; a Stain and Blot to the Function they bear, and an Impairing to the Protestant Religion; for the Maritime People are not naturally over Zealous, yet they can often produce better Temperance, Chastity, Modesty, Honesty, Courage, etc. than appears in some of these Sparks which are taken from the Altars of the Universities: For to see Debauchery, Unchaste Speeches, and Deeds with Immodesty, Dishonesty, fearful Pusillanimity, Covetousness, and busy with other men's matters, prevalent in a Minister's Carriage, certainly his Preaching and Praying, the better it be performed, the worse it fares with his Embassy for belief. As for Example:  
If a Prince sends an Embassy to his Neighbour Prince, for the settling a good Correspondence, of Balance in Trade, or Assistance in Needs, etc. which Ambassador, to cause the Prince he comes to to believe, that what he says, and conditions with him for, will certainly be performed; and therefore extols, and sets forth his Master's Justice, his great Strength, his Kindness for him, viz. his Ability, Justice, Truth, and Willingness to serve him, in very laudable Terms; and by a Person, (viz. the Ambassador,) who must be a Man of good Aspect, and of good Endowments, as may be had in one Man; nay, and his Retinue also; that they may be a Grace and Honour to their Master, Nation, and the Business they come about; but if not, the effect will be clean contrary: And so of the Sea-Chaplains, who if they are of bad Lives, etc. the better their preaching and Praying is performed, the farther they Preach the People out of conceit with their Religion; but if a Sot and Dunce, doing his Office like himself, and living ill, they are the less offended at it, and conjecture that the reason the Affair being so ill presented and set forth to them, is not the fault of the Message, or the goodness of the Religion, but its Fate to fall into the hands of a Slovenly, Sottish, and a Dunce of a Priest; but if an Ingenious Man, though Debauched, Vicious, and a Coward, comes to them, it makes them to question their Religion they profess; and comparing the strict Lives of the Roman Catholics abroad, the Macerating Fast, and in fine, their Pompous Shows fairly set forth, of a True and Sincere Faith, and a good Church-Discipline, and compare it with Ours, would be ready prepared, and apt, when the Iron came to be hot, (as it was heating apace) to declare, That their Religion had been all along in the wrong, and that now they would, if demanded, embrace the right; they thinking, by their bare Speculations to have judged aright. Wherefore there ought to be great care taken, that whosoever is sent on these Missions, should be Man of Excellent Lives and Deportments.  
Now if it should be said, none would go then in the Fourth Rates, because of small Companies of Men for their Profits; and few good Men could be gotten to adventure in the other, but such as by their Insufficiency, or Unfitness, have miss their Preferments on Shoar. To this I Answer, that either the Visitor of the College, or Head of the University, have not power or will to detach able Missionaries for the Sea, and to gratify their Labours with Preferment at their Returns, or there is a Miscarriage in the doing it; for it is better none were sent, than such as I described; and let the Groats go towards the maintenance of the Sick and Wounded Seamen, from whom it is stopped, as it is now ordered in case of no Chaplain, of which more hereafter.  
But in case of sending Chaplains, there should be Dean Rurals appointed. viz. to Correspond with the Suffragan, or he that chooses out these Missionaries, and sends them to let them know of the Misdemeanours of every one; the said Dean to be on Board of every Flag, or Commander of every Squadron, every Ship's Boats-Commander, and Officers frequenting there, he may inquire if any Misdemeanours be; that perhaps a Reproof, or Admonition in the Spirit of Love may do; or else give account to the Suffragan, who should send for him away quietly, and send another in his room; and not let him abide there Preaching backwards, till either the Captain does disgracefully turn him aside, or bring him to a Council of War, and so discard him.  
Now I being come to the Paragraph, of the Government of the Ships at Sea, this relating to the same, I thought it worthy to have a distinct Discourse preluding to the others; and having before told you of an evil Root, that bears evil Fruit in the Navy; also thence sprang this Branch for the Commander to put what Chaplain he pleased into the Ship; so that if the Chaplain pleased not him, he was not to be admitted, or continued: And therefore, as I was saying before, That they had need to have good Courage to oppose the not to be pleased Commander, without he submits either to Cajole him in his Irreligious, Debauched, and Atheistical Expressions; and all others of the same Temper, who must all be his Imitators; or else he must submit to be turned off, and seek for another. But this was not heretofore so, for whom the Suffragan did send was to be the Man: Indeed if a Captain desired any one that he knew, and the Suffragan had not aught against him, he was gratified with him; but no Chaplain should be either rejected by the Captain on his own Knowledge, or from the Splenetic Representation of another, without being led to a Council of War, if he had committed any Crime that came within the Articles of War, or before the Admiral, or Commander in Chief, for less Offences: Where the Dean-Rural is, who should exert his Care over him, to defend his Innocent and Harmless Behaviour? and not suffer him to fall under his Commander's Displeasure, and be disgraced thereby, if Innocence and Inoffence be found in him; and that he be not subjected to the sole Will of the Commander, and therefore forced to submit to base Demaenor, both to the dishonour of himself, and him that sent him: For the Basis of the Design was so laid, whereof I spoke before, That making the Captain Absolute and Despotical, they let him break asunder all Laws, Privileges, Methods, or Prescriptions at pleasure, and let all Superior Officers act consonant thereunto. So that in making sure of them, viz. the Captains, that they would come over at a Whistle, their great design would take effect: But no Humane Policies were ever laid so sure, but that there were Ifs, Ands, and Doubts in it; and never was a Town or Fort made by the Art of Man so strong, but under God's permission, by the Art of Man was found out a place, or means to make it Pregnable; so have these Designers (God be praised) been disappointed, before they could finish their Work upon this Basis, and like Confused Babel's work, made an abrupt stop, and so stand still: I have not read that any means was used to destroy their Foundation, begun at Babel; that none other like attempt might be made upon the same Basis; but as the Scripture says, They were all dispersed, some one way and some another, and divided; that therefore there may be thought no need to make any Provision against a second attempt in that kind, and on that Basis; as was at the turning our First Parents out of Paradise, and setting Flaming Swords to defend it from any more entrance; but in this case it is not as it was with the Babel Builders; but the Basis stands in a great part, and the Builders also; but the Motions are slow, yet the Machine being entire, and so only watches for the moving of the Waters to turn the Wheels which way soever a Few will direct it: This being a Preludim.   

VII. Of the Government of Ships at Sea.  
FIRST the Captains and Lieutenants are to be considered: The Lieutenant being the Image of the Captain, and the Executor of his Command; I conclude them under the Captain's Circumstance, he being the Head and Principal of the Ship, and may be fitly compared to an Emblem of Monarchy; which, with Moderate Bounds and Constitutions, is the best of Governments ever yet found out in the World; and therefore most to be desired and maintained. The Captain, I say, is the Ruler and Governor of the Ship and Men, in all Matters, both Military and Civil; nay, and Ecclesiastical too; he order and disposes of the Ship, and its Military Provisions and Stores, and prepares her, and fits her for Military Execution, either for Defence, or Offence, as he sees occasion; and for the doing it, he hath of all sorts, of both Commissioned and Warranted Officers, Temporary and Standing Officers, appointed from the Admiralty, and Navy-Board, etc. to act in their several Stations and Trusts; and they all having, or aught to have, as well as himself, Ample Instructions, to act in their particular Places and Trusts; the which if they follow, they ought to be protected in Safety, as well by him, from any Injuries offered them, or their Charges by any others, as also encouraged in their Duties; so also by the Admiralty and Navy-boards, from any Injuries offered them by him, or suffered by his Connivance.  
Now as to Instructions, I having said something thereof elsewhere before in general, I shall here speak more particularly; and that is, That although the Forms and Prescriptions for the Captains Command hath been so enlarged and altered of late, in every Circumstance relating to the Standing Officers, unto whom are committed all the Stores of the Ship, that there is scarce any sign of the former Practice remaining, the Particulars being too many for me here to speak to: Yet I say, the standing Officers their Instructions are the same which have been near these Thirty Years standing, to my knowledge, and not one Tittle of them is of use, or practice, or have been expected from them some Years past, saving the passing their Accounts, and making their Returns; the which Instructions, if they should stand to, and abide by, they would be ruined: Neither have the Captains, and Lieutenants, and the Warrant Officers Instructions, any Concordance or Coherence together; but the Practice hath been to submit to the Commander's Pleasure, and if he be not Angry all is well; the which is a very hard matter to please, except they will be content to go to Sea for nought, and truckle under his Creatures: I say, this is the case in general, now grown to that height of Pride and Imperial Command, that an Officer that cannot screw himself into his Favour, were as good be a Slave in Algiers, for he must undergo all Hardships and Indignities that all wicked-minded Men can put upon, or devise against him; and, as I may say, suffer himself to be Pist upon by every Inferior, that the Captain will either favour or connive at; this is so true and common to the knowledge of all that know the Navy, that it may pass without farther proof: So that if any one should not be tempered for this usage, but be so hardy as to vindicate his Right, he is certainly ruined, and turned to seek his Bread elsewhere, perhaps in his Latter Days; and must not expect to be heard in his own Defence.  
I confess, there is no General, for so I speak, but does admit of particular Exceptions; that is, there are some Moderate Men in their Commands, but too too few, and they not fully arrived to the design, which is yet more, viz. to have the Office of the Purser annexed to the Captain, than were they as Absolute and Despotical as the King of France is, and of late hath proved to be, over his Subjects; and he no doubt did concur in the design of Contracting the Navy of England under the Despotical Power of a Few, for the purpose, rather than many: To which, I say, and no other, tended these discordant and incohering Circumstances, which caused Jarrings, disheartenings, and thence the Murmur and Complain in our Ships, and the Navy abundantly weakened. And as to the Safety and Welfare of the Navy, for the Victualling to be deposited into the hands of the Captain, What may be the Effects thereof, I cannot so well speak to, because it is not yet agreed how to order it: Some project, after the Dutch Example; Others, for the King to Victual, and the Captain to act by an Instrument under him; And a third, a mixed way. As to the Dutch way, the Captains agree with their Admiralties, at a certain price, for so many men's Victuals, for such a Ship under their Commands, and the Particulars thereof are specified; and a Scrivan or Muster-Master of every Ship is sent, beside a General Muster-Master in every Fleet, to keep Checque, and Muster all the Fectives, noting all the Dead, and Runaways; and by his Book the Captain is paid for Victuals, and the Bills are paid which he draws home, viz. for Wages to Men: He pays, when abroad, according to Instructions; of all which, the Scrivan keeps due account with him. Now the Victualling of the Dutch, is chief Groat or Oatmeal, Grey-pease, Stockfish, Butter, and Cheese, etc. and a little Flesh once a Week: Now they have not Flesh in their Country, to do as we do; therefore, if the King will alter the Quantity and Specie of his Victualling, he may; but it will not agree to the Temper of his Subjects, but cause a great murmuring; First, By his Seamen: And Secondly, By the Farmers, Gentry, and Nobility of the Nation, that the Product of their Lands be not bought off and expended, with the Money they are taxed to maintain the War with; and urge, That the Strength of the Navy would be impaired and weakened thereby, and be the cause of an Universal Disquiet. And next, the King must put in Captains stocked with Moneys, or Security for the performance of their Duty, else the Ships would never be in readiness to Sail, for want of Provisions to act together; the Money else would be spent that should buy them, and few would trust them, and the Men would be abused with wants, and cannot, nay, dare not complain. It may be said, Why with us, more than the Dutch? I Answer, The Dutch are a different People by Nature, and different in their Government, which is partly democracy, and partly Aristocracy; they are severe Justiciaries, and strict Performers of Contracts to the Public; in which, from one degree of Office to another, they are all sharply looked to, and therein are not pestered with so many Methods, pretending to avoid wrong, whereas 'tis only a Mist cast before our Eyes, and proves a burden to the Public, and has contrary effects to the intention, and makes the Proverb true, That the more Cooks, the worse Broth: For the Dutch, if any should be caught Cheating or Abusing the Public, he must run his Country, or never hope to escape great Punishment, with Confiscation of all he has; for such is the Hatred of them all, to those that hurt the Public, for every one reckons himself a Sharer in the Public Wrongs, that if his Wrong hath taken wind, and it be considerable, two to one but before he can withdraw, the Mobile will cut him off, and none dares to countenance his Escape, for fear of the Mobile: Remember the De Wits; for if such profuse exhausting of Treasure, and Misapplication from the true Intentions, and Plots against the Public, had been committed there, as have been here, they would not have Escaped; but if the Public Justiciaries had not done Justice, the Mobile would have Carved it out themselves: So I say, their Constitution is far different from ours, for Interest runs not so high there: Now would they who labour for this Alteration in the Navy, also bring the Nation under such a Government as they are, than they may expect it should answer the end as theirs does: But it is not better than ours, nor half so well, if our Constitutions had been preserved, and Private Interest cast out, and Commands carried so Moderate and Just as theirs; but it is plain and obvious to me, that this Practice and Endeavour is only the Basis of the Work, or Design on foot, which I e'er while compared unto Babel; and a Superstructure to be thereon built, to have the Navy in a few hands, who would be Absolute and Despotical therein: And if they do design to have the Navy after the Dutch Government, if they would have it thrive in like manner as they do, they must intent to alter the Government of the Nation into a Commonwealth, as theirs is, or else it will never frame as theirs, for the Reasons I have before mentioned; but I think it is passed their skill yet. I could add many more Reasons, but it is needless; and therefore I would have them put out of hopes of ever Engrossing or Enslaving the Navy of England under a Despotical power, and consequently of turning the Government of the Nation upon Hinges which have but few Joints; the which is very dangerous in a Monarchy, but not so in a Commonwealth, who by their long-continued and beloved Constitutions, having been accustomed by Alarms of being Rob of their Liberties, will, on any Alarm, as a Flight of Starlings, cast themselves into an orderly Flock, when they espy a Hawk at hand; but in a Monarchy, it is altogether unsafe to put their strength at the Devotion of a few hands: Moreover, it is against all Maxims in Policy, to make any Alterations in a long-setled and approved Method of Management in a material part of the Government, Strength, and Wealth of a Nation.  
This Project was on foot in King Charles the Second Time; who Answered, And Captain, When your Men suffer, unto whom should Men complain? To yourself, for Justice? He said, He would be Just. The King said, He had a good Opinion of his Captains, but laughed at the Project; and so it died for that time. And as for those who would have them Victualled by the King, and the Captain account with him for it, instead of the Purser, they are thus Answered, That their Projection is yet more open for Despotical Power, for than it will be brought to a far heavier burden for the Nation, by the Commissioners Providing, and the Captains Commanding, who will have the King's Purse open at their pleasures, and every one must bow to them for a piece of Bread; and what Rule an Admiralty will have over them, to keep them to Methods and Prescriptions, or a Navy-Board, is pretty well seen by a handful out of a full Sack aforesaid; and therefore those that are for this way, are more beside the Mark; for here they have a means to make it a greater uncertainty of Charges, and have a greater influence on the Affair, and create Necessities at their Pleasure, and will account at their Leisure. And as for those that are for a mixed way, when they have form and declared their Method, I may be able to give them a full Answer, and in the mean time I will only pursue my Purpose, to unravel the Proceed of late, in the Confused Methods left standing of the Babel-Builders; and that is,  
First, There is created a Captain's Clerk, for the Captains Mustering, Ticketting, and ordering as well of the Purser's Books, as of all the Expenses of the other Officers, who has a Midshipman's Pay for his Service, and double Midshipmens' Pay more added, to enable the Captain to gratify his Creatures that deserved his Favours; and for some time he had Orders for double Pay, I hope this was not for nothing; but that part of the Building soon fell down: I say, here is new Charges for him to place it upon his Cocswain, Steward, Servants, or whom he thinks good to deserve it: The aforesaid Clerk, I say, being one chosen by him, on hopes for him to prefer him to some Office, as he will deserve by promoting his Interest, by the sole management of the Purser's Books, and the Officers Accounts; and after his Master's turns are served therein, than his own must be next, and all the Officers Instructions given them, must be laid aside, and serve no longer than those ends they like of; and the Officers must Trump up to this, or undergo what I have said before; and if this be not Babel-Building, aspiring to reach their Heaven, Wealth, and Despotical Power, the great Object of their Industry, and this to be raised out of Confusion, I know not what to term it unto. But I doubt not but the Quicksighted will take timely warning to prevent the design of Enthralling the Power and Wealth of the Nation, and settle it again in good Order, Method, and Government. As to Command, the needfulness and necessariness thereof is, out of all doubt, acknowledged by all that would live under a Government in any Nation, City, Ship, or Community; but the manner of this Command, is that which makes all Governments differ, of which I will say in the Originals thereof, none differs which is thus; that whatsoever a Superior Officer does or commands to be done at his own will or choice, viz. that he may do it, or leave it undone, which Act or Order, if it exceeds not the bounds of Justice, Lenity, Kindness, and such favourable Command as a Man might expect from his Father, Relation, or Friend, it is well, and according to the first Institution of Government, and requires Alacrity in Obedience; but if it be Rigid, Austere, Morose, nay, Inhuman, and such a Command as he may expect from his Captor, or Enemy, than also he may obey: But how? As Tyranny is obeyed; wishing ill success even to that, which he is out of necessity laying his hand to: For Mankind how weak soever they may be thought to be in the Wiles of Policy; yet this knowledge they have by Instinct of Nature, if they are not told it by others; That from him that commands him he may expect as his due, Justice, and Protection from all Wrongs from others, and to receive none from himself, nor any hardship, but what the Service must of necessity force his Officer to lay upon him, without doing any Man wrong to favour him; for if he does at any time do wrong to another to favour him, he by secret Instinct disallows the Justice, and in his heart pronounces his Officer unjust, and expects the like Justice towards him when the wind of his Favour changes; so that Superior Officers, according to the Steps and Degrees of distance they were from the Commanded, ever were, and indeed aught to be as the Patriarches of old were; their Sons, Grandsons, etc. divers Generations had their degrees of Command over the whole Lineage, and all by due course of Seniority, in the Order of Government Instituted by God Almighty; so that whenever they were (by the unfitness of the Senior to govern, or conduct) forced to alter, they always chose one of the same Lineage, nearest of Kin, to govern and conduct the Tribe; this being God's Institution to his Peculiar People for an Example to the rest of the World; but the other Governments then in the World, as they were practised, might be supposed to be Despotical and Tyrannical: As Nimrod the mighty Hunter, who began the First Empire in the East, and was worshipped as a God, and the Grecian Empire after; but after that the Justice of the Western Empire, or Roman, in their Conquests, may not in this Island easily be forgotten, (although Pagans;) but I leave it to History, and pursue my purpose, and follow the Patriarches and Fathers of Israel, our Pattern; for so were all styled that sat in Judgement, or led the People; and they ever Treated all that came before them, with the Appellations of my Sons and Daughters. Likewise also did all Generals and Commanders treat all that came before them, for Justice to be done them; or to have Justice done on them, Mildly, Friendly, and with great Clemency; and was sorry for the Offender, even as a Father is sorry for his own Son, when he is forced to correct him: But other sorts of Government run parallel in the World, as those mentioned, and also thereof are now extant, who may run their Bounds which God hath allotted them, for the Scourge of Mankind to serve his Eternal Purposes: These also, I say, are obeyed; as I said, through the Law of Necessity, who carry their Commands over all, whom by Policy and Strength they have gotten under them, by Austerity and Morosity; it being their Policy of Command to imitate Greatness in Apparel, Habiliments, Attendants, and Retinue, using overmuch Haughtiness, and slighting Reservedness, accompanied with Opprobrious and vilifying Terms to their Inferiors, even before the Faces of all Spectators; and spurn even themselves, and their Caps cast at their Feet in undue Honour and Respect paid them; all which is sprung from a Weed gathered lately in France, and planted in England, whose Soil hath nourished it, that it is suddenly grown to Magnitude insupportable; and it is no other than a Relic of the Government, where Tyranny, Arbitrary, and Despotical Power is used and maintained, there being no other means for a Tyrant to have Obedience paid him by: The large, and once Oppulent, and Populous Dominions under the Grand Signior reduced to Poverty, and Paucity of People, may be a sufficient Example thereof: And it is not to be doubted, but that God's appointed time for the Alteration of that Government, draweth nigh; it being a certain truth, That all Sublunary things have their Increase and Decrease, and never stand in a state of steddiness: So all Politic Bodies, as Governments of Kingdoms, Cities, etc. have for their Strength and Glory, Increase, State, and Decrease; but in its State it cannot stand long: For, as Doctor Heylen very well observes, That the Elective Kingdom of Poland, and the Seignory of Venice, neither of them of any great strength comparable to that Empire; yet they have held it at a stop near these Hundred Years, and, for five or six Years last passed, may be noted, hath been under a great Declension; so may the Kingdom of France, in all probability, by another Observator, undergo an Alteration; having been at the top of its Power, signified by exerting its power by Burning, Destroying, and Devastation of Countries; for that Kingdom cannot hope to enjoy a long continuance, that uses such ways for their Increasing and Maintaining; they do serve only for the Divine Vengeance of the Almighty's Decrees; for the Scourge of Mankind, to bring to pass his Eternal Purposes: So I allude, That no polity of Government, that is not grounded, and settled upon the Basis and Foundations of the first Institutions of Government, can consist with the Welfare, and lasting Prosperity thereof; for that Government which is at the Will of the Governor, must either imply, That he that governs is something more than a Man; nay, must be endued with all the Celestial Graces, and so permanent and steady therein, even to the Imitation of the Deity; or else it will fall under all the Humane Errors, that Mankind is subject unto, and what the product of them may be, I need not declare: Wherefore, for the assistance of Mankind, for their Propagation and Government, in all well-setled Governments, were added to the Governor, just and wholesome Laws devised and enacted by the Sages, Elders, and Heads of the People, for them to be governed by; in which the People saw their Instructions for their Duties at large, inculcated to them; as also the Rocks and Precipices they were to shun, from being made Shipwrecks of by the State; so that all the Inferior Officers in that State or Policy, hath in the same their particular Instructions for their Offices; all which Instructions, or Constitutions ran ever from between the Governor, Superior, Inferior, and all degrees of Officers consistant to Unity and Concordance, all tending to one end and design, viz. the Welfare of the Governor and Governed; and in the doing of which, they might stand and be justifiable before their Superiors, and shall be Freed, or Condemned by their Parity; of which this Nation hath no small reason for its practice to bless God; which leads me to a practice of the Navy, not much to be admired, which is this:  
That all Warranted Officers upon any smaller Offences, have been Caned, Bilboed, Despitefully entreated, and made vile and Contemptible to the Ships Company, and perhaps upon slight Occasions: And again, if the Crime hath been greater, and deserved to be brought to a Council of War, or Court-Marshal, there even his Accuser shall be one of his Judges; or at least he shall be Judged and Condemned by his Superiors; and perhaps of the same Class of his Accuser, wherein his Parities are wholly excluded; now how this agrees to the Municipal Laws of this Nation, to which they are all Subjects, and what Justice they may expect, may be guessed at: To say no more, but that I do not admire it; for the Peers of this Nation claim to be Judged by their Peers, and the Commons by their Parity, etc.  
Now, as it is all my endeavour in this Discourse to invite into the Government of the Navy, all possible Just and Equitable Proceed, administered with Mildness and Clemency towards Offenders for their Shame and Punishment; so is it no less my aim and desire to Inculcate that with Affection, and no less Justice, for the due Reward, and deserved Encouragements of all Experienced, Active, Vigilant, Honest, and Valiant Officers, Preferments be freely and indifferently granted; and to let the warm Beams of Favours, even like the Beams of the Sun shine indifferently upon all Heads, and not to have it confined to Private Recommendations on Private Interest. As,  
First, For Punishment in Criminals, where Life is questioned, why it may not be consistant to the Municipal Laws of this Nation, that a Warrant Officer be Tried by a Jury of Twelve Warrant Officers, and the Council or Court sitting, and superseding, as the Judges and Justices at the Assizes; I know no reason to the contrary.  
Secondly, For Crimes of Petty larconies, for Stores, Cowardice, Ill-behaviour in Battle, Disobedience to Command, or any Offence which may require either Corporal or Pecuniary Punishment to be inflicted; if it be brought to a Court-Marshal, Why they may not be Tried by their Parity, I know not.  
Thirdly, Where they deserve to be Degraded and Discarded, why they may not be Judged, and undergo their Parities' Sentence as to Matter of Fact, and be sent either to the Admiral at Sea, or to the Lord High Admiral within the Narrow-Seas, or Rivers, to be dealt with as they shall think fit? For then the Merit of the Cause will appear, viz. Matter of Fact, and not be turned out barely upon the Captain's Word or Letter; which never yet was practised, till of late Years, and sprang from the Root I so often spoke of before: Now as I spoke before, that Ample and Concordant Instructions are most needful to be given to all Officers for the Performance of their respective Duties; so that I here intimate, That upon the proof of Fact, the breach of their Instructions would be a ready Condemnation, if considerable for their Dismission; as also their Performance a Justification for them, without which can be nothing expected, but Distraction, Confusion, and Arbitrary Proceed: And then for their Encouragements by Preferments, Why may not their Capacities and Abilities be also taken notice of, when certified by Warranted Officers, that are reckoned ancient experienced Men of the same Employments, some nominated, and appointed for Probators, as well as all from the Captains and Commissioners; and let no Certificates be made or valued, that hath more than one Hand to it, who ought to certify no more than he knows to be true of that Man; and let some body of Credit also certify of their knowledge of his Sober Life, and a constant Adherer to the Government established, both in Church and State; the Certificates being all single, if it happens not to be true, it should reflect upon the Certifier to his damage, to certify a Lie; and thereby endeavouring to introduce into the Affair (as lately) Papists and other Persuasions, that the Management of the Affair of the Navy should not be Committed unto, and Pestered with, to avoid Divisions, Party-making, Trickings, and Designing, as I have elsewhere spoken, instead of Unity and Concord to be desired, as there instanced: I say, Why these, or the like may not be done, I find no Reason.  
Indeed some may say, that by Trying by Parities, and the like, by Certificates, there would run such a Propensity in them towards the favour of their own Employments, that it would not answer the end described.  
To which I Answer: If the Officers were all chosen for good Qualifications, as I before intimated, no doubt but that there would be as Impartial Proceed as could be expected; but if the Officers be made only from the Captains, etc. on their bare Recommendations, as of late; then there may be expected such Officers, as hath, or can, by the Art of Fawning, Flattery, Slavish and Obsequious Observances of the Captain or his Creatures; or for some service done, not very commendable in its self, yet bespeaks him to be in the Captain's Favour: I say, from such Officers cannot be expected much Justice: But this Argument, that no Justice may be expected from them, you may as well say so of all the Proceed of the Courts of Justice in the Nation: You may by the same reason put by all the Juries of the Kingdom, and pretend their Partiality to their Equals, and Try all Matters by the Judges and Justices of the Benches, and by such as the King shall Commissionate for that purpose, and then may you have such a Government at Land, as you desire at Sea; and only than you will be sensible thereof: And this is a Fruit born on another Branch of that Weed I have so often mentioned; the which, if it should be used so on the Land, I say, it would be very Unsavoury Fruit to the Palates of the Nation.  
But some Man will say, that there cannot be a proper Comparison between the Government at Sea, and the Land.  
I Answer. It is very fit and proper; for they are the same People that govern the one and the other, viz. Commissioned and Deputed; and the same that obey at Sea, and at Land; and the same Lawmakers for the Government of the one as the other; and Justice bears the same Face, and is the Attribute of God, and as much required at Sea, as at Land.  
Having, I think, said enough to Convince any Moderate Man herein, I proceed to the Emoluments and Profits of the Officers, as a Recompense to each Man for his Labour, and Jeoparding his Liberty, Limbs, and Life itself, for the support of their Families; a great Object to them in their Absence, or Death, or for their Maintenance in Old Age, Sickness, and loss of Limbs; which is by certain Wages allotted them; Allowances of Perquisites in divers Cases and Accidents happening; as also by Prizes taken, and by Goods and Moneys acquired by Adventures; and also their Privileges for themselves, and Instruments under them, that they be not abused, nor discountenanced, nor their Cabins Store-Rooms, and Easements taken from them, and abridged of all Happiness, or Healthy Living on Board, by being too straitlaced, and confined; all which are according to ancient Prescriptions, and known Customs and Practices of the Navy Royal to be their Deuce. Now if the Government thereof, is become Arbitrary; and if any one is abridged thereof, and his Profits, etc. either taken from him, diverted to others, or converted to the Commanders Profit; every one so served, must needs be grieved, and disappointed of his hopes for his present Maintenance; and also for his Old Age, etc. and so hath he served for nought but Misery and Contempt: Now if there be no Appeal for that Party lying, with some reasonable safety, to complain to the Lord High Admiral, or to his Deputies, viz. the Commissioners of the Navy, for his Redress; I mean, that it might lie open and easy for him to have access to be heard, and that there he may expect Justice indifferently to be administered: I say, if there be not, a Man may easily conclude, that Government to be Despotical and Unjust; I mean an Appeal that a Man may come off with Safety, being protected from the future Injuries he may receive from the Offender, by the anger or malice of him that hath done the wrong, by reason of this Appeal taken: For it is recommended by God unto Man, to defend the Weak and Oppressed, and to resist the Proud; meaning, That the strong Man be bound by a stronger than he, and made to restore the Wronged to his Right, and let him not dare to injure him again; but not as it is, to force a Prey out of a Lion's Paw, and let him lose to the Party, whose Right it is to be protected, to be worried by him to death afterwards; I mean, that Justice be plentifully administered on Board the Ships, that it might flow even out at the Scuppers; then will men's Hearts be glad in the Service, and bear their Labours, Watch, Pains, and Hazards, with Alacrity, and have cause to bless God, for the Promoters and Maintainers of these Blessings under God unto them; and from such Government, may be expected, Prosperity and Happiness to the Affair, and Achievement of great Actions abroad, to the Glory, Honour, and Wealth of the Nation; and the Navy be in a Progressive motion, as I at first intimated.  
Again, The Government of the Ships at Sea, was, That in Times of all considerable dangers approaching, viz. whether it were best to Engage, or which way to manage it; which way, or what course to steer; if it be best to cut a Mast; and in fine, in all great and important Matters, if the Commander did not call his Warrant Officers together for Council, and took their Sentiments in the majority, and put it in execution; but executed his own Will, and thereby Mischief ensued; it would have been very hard for him to have escaped deserved Shame and Punishment; for his Officers are, or aught to be material Limbs, or Parts of that Government; and in all Difficulties their Concurrence ought to be taken; but the practice of late, is clean otherwise: I say, his Officers being not awed by their dependence on him, would have witnessed freely the truth, and have laid the blame, or the burden of the Miscarriage, upon the right shoulders: but no such thing can be practised, where Despotical Power is: It is mere Nonsense to pretend examining of Parties, hoping to come to the truth of the Matter of Fact, when the Witnesses dare not speak truth; and especially if they know that a well packed Lie, or cunning evading of the truth, will better please the Court: Nay, if the Horse must of necessity be saddled, how easy may a Man wilfully put it upon the wrong Horse, when he knows it is not safe for him to put it on the right, for fear of being spoiled? I say, it is mere mockery, or but a shadow of due Proceed, and is also of the Unsavoury Fruit, I elsewhere mentioned.  
Again, if a Ship happens to meet with Disasters at Sea; and that not for want of Carelessness, and neglect of Duty, to the endangering of Ship and Lives; and when she comes home, there be no Commissioner, or Surveyor, of power to call all the Officers before him, and examine the truth; to find out how, and by what means it came to pass, and to know the true state of the thing, and what is most necessary to be done now, for the good, and beneficial managing of the same for the King and Service, and by knowing the truth of the Accident; they may be able to put a Preventer for the future like Accidents: But, I say, instead of this proceeding, if there be a Letter writ, only known to the Captain, and there be another Ship ordered for him, and the other laid by, and the King damaged Five Hundred or a Thousand Pounds, and the Service impeded thereby; Will any one think this a right Method? But as for Examining, I had almost forgotten what I said, even now, That it must be Nonsense to expect the truth to be known, where such Dependences are upon Arbitrary Power: And therefore I conclude, it must be also the baneful Fruit of the foresaid Weed. I could instance many more Particulars, which are the true, and genuine Fruits of the said Weed; but I suppose, by what hath been already said, will be sufficient proof of the unwholsomness of him, and therefore fit to be rooted up.  
Secondly, I will descend to the particular standing Officers of this said Government, so called, for that they are Warranted by the Admiralty; for each Ship, during life, in case they commit no Misdemeanour worthy of their being turned out; and at the receipt of those Warrants they do, or aught to receive, also ample and plenary Instructions for the execution of their Offices, who are the Purser, Boatswain, Gunner, and Carpenter; unto whom are committed all the Stores of the said Ship, or Service; and for the securing, preserving, and laying the same up to be ready upon all minute Accidents for the said Service.  
They by ancient Prescriptions and Customs have allotted them Apartments of the said Ship, proper for the same, viz. Cabins, Steward-Room, Store-Rooms, and Accommodations, and Avenues to the same, for themselves and their Instrustruments, to perform their respective Offices under them: Now if they be abridged thereof, viz. curtailed, lessened, or taken from them, at the Will of the Captain, it is not easy to judge, what Damages may ensue to the King and and Service thereby: Unto which may be added, the Discomfiture by Losses the Officers may sustain; for they are accountable to the King, by way of Indentures signed for the same. As for Example.  
First, The Purser, and no other Officer of the Ship, at his receipt of his Warrant, gives Bond to the King, with two sufficient Sureties, with a Penalty of Five Hundred Pounds, more or less, according to the Rate of the said Ship, which Bonds, in case of failure of his Duty, are certainly Estreated in the Exchequer, and Process are issued out, for the Seizures of Body and Estates of him, or his Sureties, of what Estate soever they were possessed of, during the time of their being Accomptants to the King: Now if the Instructions they receive for their Duties, be not sufficient to bear them harmless in the performance thereof; and that they be not consonant to the Captains, nay, nothing more contrary, or less observed in proceeding; How possibly can this Man be in any degree of safety, or Friends giving Pledge for him, let him be never so good an Officer? (I say none.)  
But it is Answered, The Captain is answerable at the Determination of the Voyage, by the stoppage of his Pay; the which he is not to receive until he passes his Accounts, required by his Instructions, by giving in Journals of his Voyage, and Muster, and Checque-Books, and a Certificate from each standing Officer, that he hath not commanded any thing, during the Voyage, irregular; for which he hath a Clerk allowed him to perform for him; which Checque-Book the Purser sees not till a long time after, and may be ruined thereby; and there is also added unto him, double Allowance of Midshipmen's Pays to each Rate, for him to dispose of, as I ere-whiles mentioned: All this being a late Invention, to bear the resemblance of a safe Method, for the King, and Sub-Officers; yet it proves but as a Shooing-Horn to draw on more Charges to the King and Service, and as Cobwebs, in the behalf of the Officers, to bind a strong Man with: For it is an evident increase of the King's Charges, and the maintaining more Cooks, which, according to the old Proverb, Is a marring the Pottage. And,  
Secondly, For the binding him, it is on the quite contrary; for it gives him the greater Latitude of Arbitrary Power and Command, to awe the Officer to Sign the said Certificate, and to comply to his, and his Creatures Pleasures, concerning the Stores, Books, and Proceed of the Ships Accounts. I forbear Particulars to instance more, there being room enough, by what hath been said, to guests: For before this Invention, by the ancient practice of the Navy, he was liable, by the stoppage of his Pay, to answer the Complaints of his Officers, for his Irregular Commands; but this put him into more Despotical Power, to dispose of the Stores; and by a Dash of his Clerk's Pen, to ruin both the Officer's Voyage and Reputation, in case he Signs not such a Certificate as required: So that this also seems to me, to be a Fruit of the Weed aforesaid.  
As for the Purser's Instructions formerly, and now, they are the same verbatim; but for the Observation of them, there remains nothing thereof, saving to pass his Accounts, the which he is forced to, by his triple Bond aforesaid; the which, if it were also omitted, the Laws, for all that are Accomptants to the King, to adjust, were sufficient Ties for him: So that the whole matter of his Instructions, as they are put in practice of late, since this new Invention, I will (not to descend to Particulars) bind them up together as useless; except it be to expose them to the Ridicule of the Captains and Lieutenants: and to be used when they have occasion to go into the Gallery.  
Now, as I said, the Purser Indents for the Provisions, and issues the same by his Instruments; with which Provisions, he receives, or aught to do, an Allowance of Money, viz. Fourteen Pence per Month, for every Person in the Ship, to find Candle, Wood, Canns, Platters, Spoons, Lanterns, etc. called Necessaries for the Ship; but the little or much Necessaries, viz. profuse Expenses thereof, is at the Pleasure of the Captains and Lieutenants to command; and how that is of late managed, is too tedious for my intended Discourse: Also, what kind of respect the Provisions meet with in hoisting into the Ship, and Stowage of them, and of the Remains to be hoist out, to be sent a Shoar to be preserved; and Cask-wood, and what relates to his Stores, it going under the notion of the Purser's, he being bound to answer for it as beforesaid. I could say much therein, but I leave that to every Man to relate his own case, according as he finds his usage: But this I will say in general, That since the Project of the Captains being Pursers, have been promoted, both the Pursers, and their Instruments, have gone under great Scandal and Obloquy; insomuch, that the Purser can get no Instruments, but at a dear and uncertain rate, to act under him, by reason of Ridicule and evil Treatment; and I do moderately calculate it, That if the Captain had the Victualling, he would save of what is now profusely spent, and wasted maliciously with Salaries, which the Purser pays, and Moneys he is constrained to spend, to soften men's Morosities towards his Affairs, that he might come to the less damages, sufficient recompense for a very good Officer for his Voyage: By means whereof, as it is now carried in the Offices at home, and Command abroad, that when he has passed his Accounts, he will have nothing left to support his Family, or maintain him in his Old Age: I say, if he be an Honest and Upright Man in his Office, and do not Fawn, Flatter, and Trick it, and truckle to the Creatures he has to deal with, the which is now become his Fate; and therefore, I wish him to furnish himself with a well-tempered Disposition, To be as Wise as a Serpent, and as Harmless as a Dove; patiented of Wrongs, a good Humour-monger; and carry a good Menstruum in his Pocket, that will dissolve Morose, Obdurate, and Flinty Tempers; or else better Fortune, than to be cast into so ill a reputed, and disrespected an Office: All which Fate is befallen him, and is an effect of that ill Weed I spoke of come from France, and hath infected the Naval Affairs of England with a Scurvy Disease, and, if not in time cured, it may taint the Vital Spirits thereof; and render it to be decrepit, and of slow motion.  
As to the Boatswain, he is an Officer that Indents for all the Sails, Cables, Cordage, and Stores of the Ship, and by the Captain's Hand to the Expense, passes his Account with the Clerk of the Survey: As doth also the Carpenter for the Masts, Yards, Planks, Board's, Spikes, Nails, and many Particulars: The Gunner with the Officers of the Ordnance for the Guns, all sorts of Shot, Powder, and many particular Stores of Artillery. Now heretofore, nay, yet it is in the Purser's Instructions, although I left them, even now, in the Gallery, for the Captains and Lieutenants uses: I say, the Purser was required, and did enter from time to time, the Weekly Expenses of both Boatswain, Gunner, and Carpenter's Accounts into a Ledger; and drew a Monthly, or oftener Account for the Captain, and took the Captain, and Master's Hands, to whom the Expense was known, and Signed it himself, and gave it them to pass their Accounts by; but, I say, since the new Project aforesaid, it is useless, and the Captain's Clerk is instead of a Servant of the Captains; and by what hath been said before, may be easily guessed, what safety in the Affair to the King, may be expected, and what dependence the Officers have, and on whom it is obvious.  
Again, If the Ship happens to fall into great Action, as it often does, and that good Exploits are done, either for the Preservation of the Men and Ship, or in damaging the Enemy, the Practice therein hath been used of late, to take the full Relation of the said Action, from the Captains and Lieutenants Mouths, or Writings; and the other Officers are Mutes in that case; how easily then may the matter be represented, and the truth thereof either lie hid, and Honour and Rewards be placed unduly, and undeservedly, by Interest, or Influence of the Representers made, and instead of Rebuke for Misbehaviour, Honour and Reward, to the discouragement of the well-deserving; and the stifling of the truth of the Fact, from the knowledge of the Admiral, Commander in Chief, Lord High Admiral, and Commissioners at home: For it cannot be thought, that the Captains and Lieutenants have all the Eyes in the Ship that see, or all the Hands that act therein; but that other good Officers may be in the Ship, that may see that which they do not, and do that which they do not; for they have like opportunity with them, by their Speculations, Motions, and Conversing in their respective Places and Duties; they having Eyes to see, and Hands to act with, more than two or three; and Converse through the whole Ship by themselves, their Mates, and Instruments.  
Now upon any such extraordinary Occasions or Accidents, if there were a Commissioner of the Navy, in the Ports and Roads, or one deputed from the Admiral at Sea, (with the assistance of his Secretary,) who did go on Board the said Ship, and summon before him all the Officers of the said Ship, and take their Examinations; and if need be, their Depositions, to the Matters in question; and freedom for any one to come in and declare their knowledge of the Action; then may the truth be known, and a right Information be transmitted to the Superior Power, whether abroad or at home: For the Purposes before mentioned, which looks like direct proceeding, if it be solemnly done, but the contrary, is a Fruit of the former Weed.  
Again, The Ships heretofore had not so great Accommodations for Commanders, as of late; for every Builder hath striven to exceed each other, in making Accommodations for the Captains; for which, it costeth the King no small Charges: Nay, I say, great Charges; yet that does not give content but rarely; for he is reckoned a Man of but small Invention, that cannot continue to make great alteration in the Steeridge, Round-house, Cabins, Store-Rooms, etc. and a great deal of Work for Carpenters, Joiner's, Painters, etc. And as the Currant has run, scarce desired it of the Commissioner; but if he does, to be sure its never denied him; and these Alterations are sure to be the enlargement of their own Accommodation, and the Abridgement of others: Notwithstanding all the Accommodations he hath contrived by the Builders, ten to one, but he is to enlarge his Store-Room, and confines the Steward-Room into so small a Room, that it is a miserable place to handle the Ships Provisions in, from which proceeds no small damage; many times to the King in his Provisions, and also the Purser; and the Cockpit, a Hellish Pit, to transact the most, and constant business of the Ship; and by the thronging it with Cabins for Creatures, Boys, etc. that they are merely choked up: And to add to it, the Steeridges are generally taken away from the Officers, that they shall not Eat, nor Walk, nor Refresh themselves; the way going out of the Steeridge to the Gun-Room being totally shut up, and in divers, a Pantry contrived for the Captains; so that the Ship is made useless for a close Fight: For the Communication between the Decks, is shut up; and all that were wont formerly to go from the Gun-Room, and some abaft the Mast, up and down through the Steeridge, are all confined to go up and down at a small Scuttle without out the Steeridge, abaft the Mast; where all are to pass and repass, with their hot Meat, Lame and Sick Men; and in any Wether at Sea, the Boats hoist in, Ports Caulked, and Tarpallings laid; there is all the passage for the whole Ships Company below the Deck, and all the Air can be spared them: Officers and all, if but a sudden Alarm of Wether, Accident, or Enemy happen, you would bless yourself to see Men tumble on one another's Backs, and a long while before gotten up: No wonder if the Men fall sick, and Infections run from one end of the Ship to the other, and the Provisions Taint, and grow stinking: Butter, Cheese, and Bread, in a little time after received, prove unfit to be eaten; Pease, and Oatmeal grow Musty, and the Men extremely stifled, for want of Air: If such things should have been done in Blake, Lawson, Minns, or any of the former Commanders in Chief their Times, they would soon have been turned to seek for Commands; and for the Warrant Officers, they live more like Dogs; I mean, Spaniels than Men, For he, by Nature, Fawns on him that beats him; so ought a Warrant Officer to do, if the Cane of his Captain, comes over his Shoulders; there is no better Remedy, than to be like the Spaniel: Nay, I am much mistaken, if Lieutenant's scruple to strike a Warrant Officer, and that upon slight occasions: But I am now something in Passion on this matter, but I hold, and am really not desirous to expose the matter, but rather to cast a Mantle over it a while; but if I had said nothing of it, I had said nothing to purpose; but out of the whole bundle, I draw you these few Samples, by which you may know the rest; and if I am not mistaken, the Officers must be pitiful small-souled Men, and know little, and cannot possibly be Men fit for their Employments, as they ought; for they must acquire their Offices, by those ways I formerly told, and must have a Faculty of Lying, Fawning, Flattering, and Creeping to the Captain's Servants; for it's well if they be not too high for their Converse: I am sure they are better accommodated, and have more quiet Enjoyment; for they have the Steeridge and Cabins at large, and the Warrant Officers have no way to the Air from between Decks, but under the Lousy Hammocks, and Sick Bodies in the way, where the Men are hung in bundles, the Ports Caulked in, no breathing, but the Stench of one another: Abominable Proceed, Inhuman Command, and Preposterous Management, and such as, I thought, I should never have lived to have seen an English Ship so governed, much more in general; yet out of it some are to be excepted, but too few. Also this smells rank of the said Weed.  
Again, The Ship is furnished with Boats, viz. Barge, or Pinnace, Yawl, and Longboat, according to the Rate of the Ship; and it hath been meant formerly, that these Boats were to be serviceable to the Ship, and Company, in transporting them on Board, and on Shoar, with Necessaries, and Conveniencies that may be wanted, for the Company, at the order and direction of the Captain: Now if such Commands are carried, that no Officer dare to ask, or expect to have a Boat, upon any urgent occasion, for the transporting himself, Stores, etc. in the execution of his Office, upon his reasonable Request, but must hire Boats: Nay, that an Officer cannot be carried on Shoar, or on Board, but slightingly refused, left behind the Ship, himself and Stores, and in Places and Times when Boats cannot be had for Love, nor Money: I mean, when the Practice is such, that his Superior shall declare it beneath him, to go in Boat with his Officer; or, that the Lieutenants shall be in their Commands, slighting their Officers, and Mariners, for their Transports on Board, or on Shoar, with their Servants, and Necessaries, for their reasonable Accommodation; and are thereby left behind, or put to great Shifts, and Charges therein; and a general Disregard, and Disrespect shown them before the Company: So that all the whole Series of the Command, in the Affairs of the Ship, runs upon hard terms, in slighting, and Contemptible usage of Warrant Officers, the Particulars being too many to mention here; all which are sprung up of late, in the practice of the Sea Commands, since the planting of the aforesaid Weed; were it not a Protection of such Imperial Commands, to settle Arbitrary, and Despotical Power at Sea, as I have before shown: It would not have found such a Harmony in so many of the Commissioned Officers, to act in so direct a Line to the said Mark. But those Babel-Builders, as I said elsewhere, having been disappointed of their Designs, by God's Providence on the Nation, on Shoar, and the Builders divided and dispersed: So I doubt not, but that the Navy also, may feel the warmth of the Divine Favour, to dispel the Sulphurous Vapours of that noisome Weed of Arbitrary, Despotical and Tyrannical Power, and pack it away to the Frippery of those dark Regions of Lucifer's Kingdom, by whose Contrivance, and for whose Dominion it was only calculated and invented, ushered in by Superstition, and Idolatry; but to our Sovereigns, and their Kingdoms, God grant there be confirmed, a lasting Monarchy, Governing by wholesome Laws, Watered, and Pruned by multitude of Council, wherein there is safety; and never to root up the beautiful Plants, and Scions engrafted, and moistened with the Blood of our Ancestors, viz. The Fundamental Laws established in Church and State.  
Again, They being the essential parts of Government, viz. the Civil, as well as Military, which are both to be here respected; I mean, for Men to be kept in due obedience to the Penal Laws of the Nation; the Executor of which Laws, is the Captain: Now if he does not cause a strict Enquiry to be had, when Robberies and Thefts are committed on Board, men's Chests broken up, their , Victuals, Moneys, or Goods stolen from them; for it is a very hard matter to have a Search, (or dare any to accuse some Persons, because they are Favourites, or so far off) as the Favourite of a Favourite, because it is not easy for any one to bring his matter into proof, every one doubting, that it is not safe to give in Evidence against one that has favour: And in fine, thy meaning is, when Justice is administered to the People at such a distance, and at such hazard to receive it, that it were better to let it alone than to receive it; that then Theft, Robbery, Cozening, Cheating, and all Wrongs to each other, must needs be very rife: As for Example.  
If the Itinerant Judges of the Nation, should omit the Execution of their Offices in the Circuits; as also the Judicial Courts aloft in the Terms, at their Pleasures? What manner of Living, for safety of Goods, or Lives could be expected in such Government? Will you say it is the Captain's Pleasure to remit the wrong done to Tom by Jack, and let the Offender go free? By the same Rule, the Judge may pardon the Offender, that is accused of wrong done to his Neighbour: This is also a Fruit of the aforesaid Weed, and would be very unsavoury to the Palates on Shoar: And why not on Board, I know not. But, as I said before, Justice ought to run down, as a mighty stream, that the meanest of the Ship may catch it in their Caps at will; nor do I believe, that the Captain hath power to dispense with any of the Punitive Laws of the Nation, provided against Pettilarconies, or Thefts, Burglaries, of Breaking, or Picking of Locks, Pocket-picking, Cheating, Borrowing and not Paying, but that falls more immediately under the Pay of the Ship; but all things that may be executed at Sea, aught to be done by the Ancient Laws and Constitutions of the Seas, and not to suspend the Execution thereof at the Captain's Will; but if it be more proper to suspend the Execution thereof, till come to a Flag, or Commissioners a shore, that then also, although it be not under his power, yet than he ought to bear such favour to Justice, as to defend the Innocent, and bring the Offender to Punishment; that he should make it his business to become as an Advocate for the wronged Party. I say, where you find these Matters of Justice to be stopped in the Currents; and, that Abuses, Robberies, Cheat, Revellings, Brawling, and Batteries, are frequently committed, and seldom taken notice of for redress, except to a Favourite: Nay, the very Provisions of the Ship, embezzled, and abused; and many Enormous Outrages committed: And, I say, Redresses not freely, hearty, and indifferently administered; that there you may see the plain Fruit of Arbitrary Power, and that Commander is glutted with it, and wants a strong Purge of the Extracts of Abdication.  
Now, after the Military and Civil Government of the Ship, although worthy of Preference, yet it comes in here to bring up the Rear, viz. Ecclesiastical Government, the keeping the People to the due Resort to the public Service, according to the Laws of the Nation; and to observe as well the Neglecters thereof, through an Atheistical, Debauched, and Irreligious Temper; as the Contemners, viz. Roman Catholics, or lately so, and divers other Opinions, and Persuasions, and to bear such a respect towards every one of them, in their Persuasions, as is agreeable to the Laws of the Nation, by which he ought to Govern. And moreover, according as he finds the Practice of Their Majesties are towards differing Persuasions, in their Government, provided it be not against the Fundamental Laws of the Nation, so ought he to be consonant thereto in his Government; but on the contrary, if he shall favour Roman Catholics, or those that were so lately, and keep them in his Favour, endeavouring to prefer them to Employments, or that he shall so dispose his Favours, that it ever tends to a particular Party, whatsoever it be that is repugnant to the Established Laws of the Nation; he does endeavour thereby, to introduce, foster, and nourish Division in the Fleet, and consequently in the Nation, and doth not serve the Public, according to the Compact and Conditons he received his Commission upon, and thereto plights his Troth; but with that part of the Wealth and Strength of the Nation that he is entrusted with, does endeavour, what lies in him, to deceive his Employers; and causes their Money, etc. to be expended, contrary to their Wills, or Knowledge, to the Maintenance of theirs, and the Nations Enemies, viz. the Enemies of the Laws, which are the Enemies of the Nation; which is to Tantamount holding Correspondence, and disposing of the Treasure of the Nation to their Enemies.  
Again, If the Captain be a Drunkard, Swearer, Curser, Liar, Cheater, Gammer, profuse Spendthrift, Riotous, Reviler, Libidinous Whoremonger, or Flagitiously wicked, where any, or many of these, or the like Sins, are eminently found in him, his Service cannot be good; and also his Examples are very taking to the Officers, and Mariners in general; and more especially, where Despotical Power is exercised: For it has been an Observation made on the Lives of the Caesars, That in the Life of Augustus, he made Learned Men to flourish, and the Empire to abound with them; Tiberius his Successor, made the Empire to abound with Debauched Persons, Sycophants, and Villains; Trajan with grave Men, and good Soldiers; so likewise here a Debauched Captain can never expect a sober Ships Company, and the like of all other Vices: So that, I say, the Example of a Commander in the Government of the Ship, carries with it as great Imitation, as any thing I know.  
Again, How can it be expected, that a Captain that Swears at a shameful rate, and Damns at every Sentence almost, can command, according to the ancient Government of the Navy, or the present Laws of the Nation, which puts me in mind of some old ways of Government in these things; viz. Any Man that was found to be Drunk, the Gunner had a certain Shoulder-Belt, kept for that purpose, and he was to wear it, until there was another found in the same fault, who should take it off him; but it was not at all pesting, for if he wore it often, and much, it was a blot to his Reputation, and a clog to his Preferment: Also a Swearer, when taken, had a Ridiculous Cap, which was his lot to wear, till he caught another in the same fault: Also for a Liar, there was found one or two who had told Lies, and on proof, they were hoist up on the main Stay, with Brooms, Buckets, and Shovels tied to them, and all the Ships Company crying out, A Liar, a Liar, etc. and for that fault they were to Swab, and make clean such parts of the Decks all that Week, or until others were found; but if the Swearer now were to wear the Cap, or the Drunkard the Belt, where Swearing is used most by the Officers, beginning from the Captain, to the Cook, and Men, from the Midshipman, to the Swobber; Drunkenness, unclean and filthy talk of Whoring, boasted of openly before the Ships Company, and by the Officers, and as well allowed of; nay, better than a Sober, Temperate, Honest, and good Behaviour. Now if any of these Practices are in any of Their Ships, I know, and am sorry to speak it, That for many Years past, that not only the Navy, but the Nation in general, hath had a vein of Debauchery running through it at a prodigious rate, not one Vice only, but all Vices, from the Cardinal's Vice, to the Parish Priest; from the Peer, to the Peasant: And all these Abominations were brought amongst us, by like Policies, as the Moabites did to the Children of Israel, by the Advice of Balam, to commit wickedness with their Women, and anger the Lord; so was this no less a design contrived at Rome, That finding they could not shake the Church of England, by dint of Argument, nor undermine it by secret maintaining of Heresies and Schisms within her Bowels; this third Project of Balam is tried, with the pleasures of Wickedness, of the most flagitious and sinfullest Nature; nay, both Prince and Prelate, that Religion was as little practised, as meant, in any Matters; nay, it was rather a Subject for Ridicule: This did go near, and bid for the Mark, having effeminated, and destroyed the Prowess, good Methods, and Government of our Armies, by Sea, and Land, and shook even the Pillars of the Church. Wherefore, I think, it may be high time to apply a Remedy to this foul Disease, insinuated, and dispersed as well into the Navy, as Land, that the Nation do not lie under God's Interdict, for their former Pollutions spoken of; for Israel had a smart Scourge sent them, for being taken with Balam's Device: So hoping as well the Navy, as the Land, may reassume their Pristine Order, Government, and Innocence, and then may we hope God's Judgements may be averted for what is past.  
But before I take leave on Shipboard, I will entertain you with a short Dialogue, between the four standing Officers, viz.  
Jack Purser, Tom Boatswain, Ralph Gunner, and Stephen Carpenter.  
Enter Purser. 
HOw is't, Brother Tom, to day, after your Quarter-Deck Lecture?  Boatsw. 
Heartwhole still, for that will not easily break, though my Young Lieutenant's Cane fell pockily upon the string on't.  Pursenet. 
But how came it to pass? Prithee tell me, Tom.  Boats. 
Thus: As I was sitting upon that Step, the Captain's Raft of Boys, playing in the Steeridge, came thundering out of the Door over me, and over-set me Horse and Foot, with my Victuals in my hand; you know, I durst not go in and sit down to eat my Victuals, for there stands a Centinel with a drawn Sword, to keep us out, and another with a flaming Blade at the great Cabin-door; so I recovered up, and took one of them a Lick or two, with this little Rod, he happened to be the Young Lieutenant 's half-pay Man, but I knew it not; he seeing it off the Quarter-Deck, came to me saying, Sirrah, How dare you strike that Fellow? And paid me double, I faith, and called me all to nought beside.  Pursenet. 
Ha', I'm sorry; But wont you complain to the Captain on't?  Boatsw. 
You know enough of that, so I may have as much more; remember your Steward t'other day, for denying the Captain ' s Boy's Candle to play at Cards with.  Carp. 
You may remember, Purser, yourself, how you were treated but last Week, for bidding the Cooper deliver no more Pease, nor Oatmeal for the Captain ' s Sheep, and Fowls, till that was spent; I looked for the Strappado on you, but, I think, the Cooper bore the more for that time: Prithee Gunner, Why dost Scrub so? Art Lousy?  Gunn. 
Faith, very Lousy, going up and down this Scuttle, under the Hammocks, and the poor Men hang so thick, that I cannot pass, and the Men are stifled for want of Air: Purser, Are not you Lousy?  Pursenet. 
Faith, never so Lousy in my life; and we are choked all in the Cockpit, the steem of the Hold, for want of passage up the Steeridge way, kills us: I cannot endure my Cabin, for the Men come so thick down, and the Room is so straight, that we cannot turn; for you know, the Captain's Store-Room, is half the Cockpit.  Carp. 
You know, I was forced to enlarge it thither, lest I should have my Pate broke, and do it afterwards.  Pursenet. 
I cannot tell where to go and breathe a little; come let's go down to the Gunner' s Cabin, there's a little Air; I'll make a Can of Slip, Boys.  Gunn. 
Faith, I'm a most afraid of your coming there; for you know, the Captain ' s Cousin is in the Gun-room side Cabin, and it will be carried up to the Captain, that we are all together: Whist, This is one of the Captain ' s Servants stands and hearkens to us; come hang it, let us go down Tom, Stephen. A Nod.  Pursenet. 
Send your Boy for a Can of Beer, Gunner, I'll bring t' other things.  Boatsw. 
But how comest thee off, Stephen? I heard that you was sent for up to the Eldest Lieutenant, for not making a Locker aloft for their Boys.  Carp. 
Faith, Tom, I gave sugary Words, and came off better than I did a Fortnight ago, for not making his Boy a hanging Cabin in the Cockpit; he gave me a scurvy drub or two, and a curse or two at the end on't.  Gunn. 
Faith, I am heartless; here's no hopes of comfort in this Voyage; I was never so cast down in my life: For I hoped that this Voyage would have mended our Lives; and now, I'm out of hopes, although the Captain says little, yet he leaves the Lieutenants too rampant over us: Gentlemen, our dancing Days are over, I see it grows worse and worse; 'tis not us alone, but I hear it a Board of most Ships, I speak with: Would to God, I had been a Tailor, Tinker, any Trade to get my Living on Shoar with; for the Navy Employment, viz. Warrant Officers are turned to a Vassalage unsufferable: Well, I'm resolved to find some way to live on Shoar.  Pursenet. 
Here, Tom, Health, and a good Arrival at Portsmouth, I'm resolved as soon as I can wind up my Bottoms; I'll leave the Sea. Cheer up, Lads.  Carp. 
Well, I lived a better life with my Adds on Shoar, than I do here, and saw more merry days in a Week, than I shall in a Month at Sea, as things are now: I was born to work, and so I do here, but no content; the Egyptian Bondage was not worse, I believe.  Pursenet. 
Why truly, Gentlemen, the Navy is come to a bad pass; happy is that Man that hath but a Morsel to eat at home in quiet: Since I've known the Navy, there was some comfort in our Lives at Sea, and a Warrant Officer had some Countenance from the Captain, and would often eat and drink with them; but now they are Pist upon by every Body: Well, I'll take care for one, shortly; our Drink is done, and so Farewell, before we be ill represented to the Captain, for this meeting: Exit.  
Thus having run through the Affairs of the Naval strength of the Nation, with a swift motion, as I promised, not daring to tarry longer upon it, lest my Ink should gall, and fret it; but my Application and Intention, being only as a Balsamic Ointment; and therewith to stroke it gently, to heal it of the Scurf and Taint, that it hath been lately infected with, by that Infernal Weed so often mentioned before.    

VIII. Of the Seminary for Breeding, and Maintaining of Seamen.  


1. The Chest.  
2. The providing for the Poor Male Children of the Nation.  
3. The Encouragement of Fishery.  
4. Merchant's Employments.    
THE Navy, as I have said before, by which we must gain, and maintain our ancient Rights of the Dominion of the Narrow Seas, etc. will require a settled Policy; as for the Government thereof; so also for the Breeding, and Maintaining of Mariners, and maritime People, such a Policy, as shall produce a sufficient number of the product of the People of the Nation, by a kind of willing Constraint, to addict themselves to Maritime Lives; I say, sufficient for the increase of our Power at Sea; and to supply the places at all times of those that the Wars and Accidents thereof, shall from time to time consume.  
First, The Chest, being an old Provision, or Policy devised, and enacted in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, whose Memory may never be forgotten in this Land; not only for settling and confirming the Protestant Religion; but by putting the Nation into such a posture of Military Defence both by Sea and Land; by building of Ships, Docks, Forts, Castles, etc. and providing of Artillery and Munitions for War, that this Land hath not only defended themselves against the shocks of War, made by most of the Potent Princes, upon it, abroad: Notwithstanding the often Rebellions in Ireland, and Jars of Scotland, near two third parts of the now British Dominions, giving her continual Diversions at home; yet by the Divine Assistance, with good Counsellors, Public, and Heroick Spirited, Just, and Wise Leaders, and Commanders, and a Consentaneous, Agreeable Disposition in all her Subjects together, for the end desired, viz. To maintain their Sovereign, Religion, and Laws from being Conquered, or Imposed upon by any, or all the Princes of Europe; notwithstanding they were destitute of Allies to assist them; but on the contrary, gave often Assistance, and Succours to the Dutch and French Protestants: I say, notwithstanding all these great Rubs, she defended this Island, not only from any great Exploits done on her; but scoured the Seas, and carried the War into her Enemy's Countries, to her eternal Fame, and their no less Shame: The Particulars of which are easily gathered out of the Histories of her Life, and the Monuments of her; as, Castles, Forts, Ships, Artillery, and Military Provisions remaining, with us, to this day, will witness; the Memory of whom, and the Actions of whose days, I cannot let pass, without mentioning: viz. She came to the Crown in a time when the Nation was fresh bleeding of the Wounds given them by their most cruel, and bloody Enemies; beside which Wounds, it was inwardly sick of Malcontents; and the Extreme Parts, viz. Ireland, and Scotland, so gangrened, that it had been more happy for her, they had not been: At which time, I say, God gave them a Sovereign, that with his Divine Assistance, etc. bound up their Wounds, and healed their Sickness in Church and State; in comparison of which Time and Opportunity, I think it very proper to bring in our Sovereigns; yet, I hope, not from a Temper of an illboding Prophet, to forewarn us, to prepare for some long time of Maritime Contentions, believing, That before the Seas will be again settled in Peace, there may be many hard Tugs, but between what Nations, I guess not: But, I say, that both the Dane, and Swede are Arming to put in their Sickles for a Harvest; beside Dutch, French, Spaniard, and Portuguese. As in a Brawl, Riot, or Breach of the Peace, whosoever pretends to preserve the Peace of that place, or would preserve himself, and have a Rule and Dominion there, he ought to be of greater strength than the Rioters, or else he were better to hold his Peace, and keep farther off, lest the said Rioters shall do, as I have known, in divers Frays; many have joined upon one, whose design was only to part them: Wherefore, I say, we pretending a Right and Dominion in the Narrow Seas; and being, by God Almighty, so advantageoufly seated, as if he intended our Island to be the Husband of these Northern and Western Seas, from the Baltic, to Cape-Finister, and by a properer Dominion, and Right to be Married to her every Year, than the Venetian has to be Married to the Gulf of Venice, and those Seas, as they are in solemn manner; the which Mistress, if we neglect to pay our due Visits, and suffer her to be Caressed, or evil entreated by others, we may lose her Affection, and ever after may Court her in vain for a Smile, to our eternal loss, and shame, and not to be too sparing of our moneys in Treating her, like the Constantinopolitans, when the Turk Besieged it; the Emperor went about praying them to spare him Money to pay his Soldiers to defend it; who excused themselves, that they had it not: But when the Turk took it, he found enough to pay his Men therewith.  
It is high time now to return to the Chest, settled in the said Queens Reign: which is, That every Warrant Officer, and Seaman, in the Service, has deducted out of his Pay,  per Month, by the Paymaster of the Navy, who pays the same to so many, viz. Pursers, Boatswains, and Gunners, (of the First Rates, commonly,) in all, I think, five, who are new chosen yearly, and are called Governors of the Chest; who have their Annual Meetings, to adjust their Accounts with their Receiver, or Clerk; and to appoint the Gratuities they allow for Smart-Money, what they shall think good to allow a Man either at that instant, and an Annual Pension during life, or according to his Wound, or Loss, only to give him a Sumn, and no Pension: I say, that present Money is called Smart-Money, and the other a Pension. Now they are a Corporation by Act of Parliament, with power to buy or sell Land, etc. They have also, a Supervisor, who is most commonly a Commissioner of the Navy: And moreover, the Lord High Admiral, or Commissioners of the Admiralty, hath a Superseding Power over them; an excellent Policy; for if a Man loses a Limb, he receives six Pounds thirteen Shillings four Pence Yearly, for his Life, and one Year at entrance, for Smart-Money: The whole Man, that hath paid his Six-pences all his Life, and never received any, may bless God that he never came under that Circumstance; and he that does, may also bless God for raising the said Queen's Heart to make that Provision for him to support his Needs. I have not a mind to find Fault with the Management, nor have I heard much cause for it; but I do not admire the giving of Salaries to Surgeons abroad, to certify, etc. whereas the Parties aggrieved, would find of the Officers that are Witnesses of the Chance, enough to let them know the truth thereof, and not Persons interested in their Cure a Shoar, and never saw the Mischance. I will say no more, but thus, That the best Constituted Policies that ever yet were in the World; nay, go so high as God's Church, they are Humane, and Servants, or rather Subjects to time, which corrupts, and rusts the most durable things; and therefore, for its perpetuation, it must undergo some time of cleansing away the Corruptions; after which, it may reassume its pristine Vigour and Beauty. So, I say, if the Navy may undergo a cleansing, and scouring, so may this also, viz. of the right Channels in the first Act and Institution thereof, and pair off all evil, by Orders, or by Constitutions crept in as by Allowances of Wages, and Salaries to Receivers, Paymasters, Clerks, Chyrurgeens, etc. Sale of Lands, and Rents, and make due Elections, and also for due accounting with the Paymaster: Although I accuse not, yet it is not to be doubted, That Corruptions have not failed to be here also; and therefore, I do hearty recommend it to the Inspection of the Supervisors, and Visitors of the same: And for an increase of the Revenue, That whereas of late Years, the Ships of small Compliments seldom have Chaplains to supply the place, that those Groats are ordered for the Chest: I confess, for some time before, that Money was begged of the King, by some Navy Officers; I think, as odd a sort of Request, as Gift, to beg the Money stopped out of men's Pay, to enrich them; but now it goes to the Chest to relieve the Limbless, and Maimed Sailer, from whom it is taken.  
I say no more, but that if the Ships, which are fitted out only for the Channel, had no Chaplains put on Board them, save some in the Flags, and only the Allowance of the Chaplains Eighteen Shillings per Month, be given to one, whom the Captain, or majority of Officers shall choose to read Prayers, and do the Offices for the Dead; the said Eighteen Shillings per Month, added to his other Pay, would be a sufficient Recompense for the same; but any that goes out of the Channel, should have Chaplains, and they able, as I said before: But in the Channel, there is the greatest Ships, and most Money given away, and for the least purpose, for very seldom have they Opportunities for other than Prayers, and that rarely, for they are either coming in, or going out, heaving, working, or coming to Anchor, or bad Wether in the Channel; so that I say, the use of such Missions serves to a very little purpose, viz. to instruct Men to a Godly Life: For the Prayers, I spoke before of, would amount to as much, and many poor maimed Men be relieved with the same; the which is no small Sums in the great Ships, which are in the Channel; but when Ships are to go on a Foreign Voyage, they should never go without able Men.  
Secondly, To Provide for the Poor Male Children of the Nation, That is, a great part of the product of the People of the Nation are poor People, who are not able to provide for the Fruit of their own Bodies; so that in the Reign of the said good Queen Elizabeth, was devised, and enacted a Law for an equal Tax to be raised from all Estates, Personal, and Real, for the Relief of the Poor; and therein prescribed a Method to keep the Poor on work, to avoid their being idle and useless in the State, that they might not live in Idleness, and Looseness at the charge of their Neighbours, which part of the Law took so little effect, that no Workhouses were used out of a general pity to the Poor, which made that defect; so that of that Act, only one part took effect, viz. the poor were provided for in their Wants, which fell upon them by Converting the Lands of the monastics, and Recluses, into Lay Possessions, on which depended great numbers of People, Poor, and Idle; but for that part which was to provide for their Idleness, that they might not live useless, and burdensome Members of the State, took, I say, no effect; but that they, and their Children also, bred up in the said Idle Life, are generally Heirs of their Parents Poverties; by which they are constant sharers of their Neighbours Estates, and Labours, and are of no more use to the State, than by their generally fruitful Procreations, and serve to people the Nation; of which there is great want, considering the Situation, Product, and Manufact thereof, sufficient to afford Maintenance, and Employment for five times the number; and especially upon the Seas, to Employ five times the number, which would Employ, and Maintain ten times the number on the Land.  
Now that there might be a kind of willing Constraint (if I may say so) on the People, to addict themselves to Maritime Lives, which might produce the effect of producing Seamen, and increasing our Maritime strength: If there were a Law enacted, that every poor Boy of a Parent, that receives Alms from the Parish, shall, at the Age of Fourteen Years, be brought to the Sheriff of every County, with an Indenture made by a Justice of Peace, and Bound to the King, until he comes to the Age of Twenty four Years, as the former Law directs; which Sheriff shall cause a Pass to be made, and convey them from Parish to Parish, at the Countries Charges, to London, to a general Hospital, viz. at Greenwich, the great new House that stands void there, it might soon be fitted into an excellent general Hospital; where should be Officers appointed to keep them, viz. a Superannuated Captain, to Command the House, a Purser, to Victual them, with Petty-Warrants from the Victualling-Office; a Boatswain, Gunner, and Carpenter, all Superannuated Officers; each to take a Squadron of them under their care, to go with them, and Employ them in the Yard at Deptford, to serve the Caulkers, and such Work as Boys may do; and to have Junke to the House, and pick Oakam there, and dry it ready for all the Yards; and some of them that are fit to be taught, there, to Write, and Read, and learn Navigation; to be divided, and ordered into Squadrons, by the said Captain, and lodged in Beds, and Hammocks, as if on Board; and also, at every one of the King's-Yards, let there be a proportionable Hospital provided to keep a convenient number of them, to be sent from the general Hospital from time to time, as they shall dispose of them, viz. all the King's Officers Warranted, that have Servants allowed them, if there be Servants in these Hospitals, should take of them; to be Turn'd-over, with their Indentures, and bound to them by the Commissioner of the place, who shall serve them in the full of their Indenture made to the King; also at the general Hospital, should be a Commissioner of the Navy, whose particular Station shall be to Oversee the same, and by his Clerk enter all the Names in a general Entry-Book, and dispose them to their Places, Yards, etc. keeping a fair Ledger of their Names, Places, Whence, Time, Whither Disposed, and When; and also shall at their Matriculation, or Entrance, cause on one of their Arms to be made a Mark in the Skin, with Powder, that may never be gotten out, viz. a K, or what other Letter may be thought good, to signify whose Servants they are, in case they should desert their Service; that it should be a damage sufficient to any one that entertains them, to deter them from it.  
I do herein but mark out the rough Lines of the Projection, which must be amply Polished by the Act of Parliament, and by the Admiralty, to methodise it: It would be too tedious for me here; beside, it would be Presumption in me, to light a Candle to the Sun.  
I will only hint a few things necessary thereto, viz. if such Orders were, That no Merchant Ship shall go to Sea, but shall receive of the said Commissioner, to every Six or Ten Persons the Ship shall carry, one of these Boys; they to bring their Certificate for their clearing, as from the Custom-house, so from the Commissioner of this Affair; and at their return, to give the said Commissioner an Account of what is become of the Boys, and return them, and pay, or Account with the Commissioner for the time they had served them, at the rate of so many Shillings per Month, as they are Years old; and if the Commissioner, and Master does agree, than he to take him for the King's Term; or else the Commissioner, upon the receipt of his Wages, out of which he is to allow for , in the Voyage, not exceeding Five Shillings per Month, to order him elsewhere; Clothing him with the remainder, and dispose of him without further Charge to the King, if possible: So that after the time he is so put abroad, whatsoever Money he clears at his return, he must have an Account, Debtor, and Creditor, kept for him; so that he must either clear so much, as the King hath been at Charges with him, at five Pence per diem, which Account he must clear, before he receives a Certificate from the said Commissioner, that he is Manumised, or cleared the Service: And in the mean time, if he serves any other Master, and produces not the said Certificate of his Manumisement, the said Master is chargeable with the said Wages, all, except so much as he hath received in , which must not exceed five Shillings per Month; and what he shall have gained beyond his Charges, should also be justly paid him at his Manumisement, Moreover, all the King's Officers that shall take them for the whole Term, should pay for one Boy Ten Pounds, and receive them at Sixteen Years Old; which Moneys should be stopped out of his Pay; for every one that wants Servants, hath not Ten Pounds to lay down, which Servants shall be paid Wages by the King, to his Master, for every Year they shall serve of the Indenture, so many Shillings per Month, as they are Years Old; which Servants will be better to the Officers, than such as they can get themselves; for they never need fear the running away of them; if they run, they are to be found easily, by their Marks, that they cannot deceive any one that Entertains them; the said Officers having the same Right to gain them again with their Wages, for their absent time, as the King hath for such as he puts abroad to Merchantmen: The same Privileges to all Carpenters, Caulkers, Rope-makers, etc. that shall take any of them: So that every one will covet to take the King's Servants, for the certainty of them; and they well consequently prove better Servants, knowing they cannot shift their Services: And also there should be a Respect had to them in the Service, during their Indentures, by the Commissioners, to see them not wronged by their Masters: And also at the end of their Indentures, or before, according to their Deserts, they should be preferred.  
Now every Parish that hath not one Boy, to send to the King, should be joined to the next adjacent Parish, for the relief of their Poor, who sends above two Boys Yearly, as aforesaid; this to be done by the Justices of the Peace, in their respective Divisions, and every Overseer, and Churchwarden of every Parish, shall at every petty Sessions, at one set time in the Year, produce, to the said Justices, a receipt from the Sheriff, of the Boys delivered the Year past, with the Names, and Ages of the said Boys; and also, the said Sheriff shall, at the passing his Accounts for his Year, deliver into the Exchequer, a true Roll, or List, in Parchment, of the Boys sent that Year, containing the Age, Name, and Place of Abode, of the said Boys; and when, and whither sent, with the Commissioner's Receipt for them, which should be transacted, by a Post Letter of Advice to the Commissioner, when he sends, which should be answered by the Commissioner, whether received, or not.  
In the said Roll, given into the Exchequer, their Names should be set Alphabetically, for easy finding them; which should be there filled up, and kept safe, to be examined by any one that shall inquire after any Boy, viz. their Parents, Relations, Friends, etc. who may have liberty to redeem them out of the Service, paying so much for every Year the King has been at Charges with them, by Methods ordered; for some may have Estates fallen to them, or Parents: And also, once every Year, the Commissioner at the General Hospital, shall by his Clerk, transmit into the Exchequer, a fair Ledger Book of all the Boys entered, and sent out that Year, from whence received, and to whom bound out; that a good Account may be had thereof, when desired: Also the Justices of the Peace, at the Binding the Boys to the King, should take care, that he binds none that are not sound in Body; and for his guidance therein, should receive a Presentment, signed by the Minister, Churchwardens, and Overseers of the Poor of that Parish, containing the Age, Name, and place of Abode, and soundness of Body and Limbs of the said Boy, and that they desire may be received into the King's Service, according to the said Act; and if it may be, let the Parent, if alive, or nearest of Kin, sign it also. I say, I do only hint the matter, and will hereto add, That the Benefits hereby, would be in a greater degree than I can set forth, and be of little purpose to endeavour; it would only serve to lengthen my Discourse, and yet come short of every Intelligent Man's Reasons, which they may collect out of their more large Speculations. Wherefore I only affirm, That within Ten, nay Seven Years, would be added to our Naval Strength many Thousands of good and able Mariners, and Artificers, and would be an everliving Seminary thereof; and for their constant Employment, both in War, and Peace, I shall (God willing) show in the Sequel.  
Thirdly, The Encouragement of Fishery.  
By the Fishery, I understand, this Nation had their first introduction to their Maritime Growth, and together with their large Drapery, or  Manufactures, not omitting their Acquisitions by Trade in the West-Indies, and also the East; all which, and especially the former, and the latter, are now suffering under a very great declension. As for the latter, I can say little as yet; but the former I will say it is in our power yet to regain by these means following.  
1. That a great reason of our decay of Fishery, is our laying aside the Observation of Lent, upon the Account of a Religious Observation; the which, I fancy to be a general mistake; for the Institution thereof was never in England, upon any other than a Politic Account; although the Church, according to the Primitive Examples, hath advised all in her Community, to keep some certain Days in the Week of Abstinence, from the more liberal Feeding, for the easier subduing of Carnal Concupiscence, and casting up their Errors of the Week, and chief on Friday, the Day of our Saviour's Suffering; so once in the Year, for the whole Years Account, and according unto Primitive Institution, and in Imitation, or Example of our Saviour's Forty Days Abstinence in the Wilderness, setting it at the time of the Year in preparation to the Celebrating the Commemoration of that great Work of our Saviour's, The Redemption of Mankind, at the Passover, or Paschal-Feast of the Jews; so with us, the Feast of Easter, at which time she advises all her Disciples, to receive the Holy Communion, in a more Particular, and Universal Communion, and Conjunction; and Invites, at that time especially, the Catechumene, or Younger Christians, to enter into the said Communion: yet notwithstanding, I say, I do not find by the Constitutions of the English Church, that she denounces any Judgements, or Excommunications, for the nonobservance of the said Lent, or Days of Abstinence; but by way of Request, and Advice thereto, for their better preparation for the receiving that most Holy Sacrament; but he which thinks it no means towards it, may not observe it, but may be under a mistake; and he which thinks it may be a means, may observe it, and may be in the right: Yet to learn of the Apostle, Him that eateth not, not to despise him that eateth; and him that abstaineth not, not to despise him that abstaineth: But, I hope, no Religious Man will deny, but that Days of Abstinence, and general Public Fasts, are useful Preparations to Holy Duties; yet so I take it, That it is the Civil Policy of the Nation that enjoined the keeping of Lent, upon the Account of encouraging the Trade of Fishery, to advance the Naval Strength, in the increasing of Maritime People for the taking it, and the supporting of Navigation, and promoting of Foreign Trade, by the Transporting it abroad into other Countries, where it is acceptable, and for the increase of Cattle, Fowl, etc.  
Now the common Objections, are these two:  
First, That it is the Relics of Popery and Superstition.  
It is Answered already, That the Church makes no necessity for the Religious Observation thereof.  
The Second is, That our plenty of Flesh requires no preservation, etc.  
I Answer, That the Season of the Year is such, that there is not so great plenty of Flesh at that time of the Year, as at oothers, which Flesh generally is Calves and Lambs, who if they were more sparingly slain for those few Days, after which they would be more mature, and better Meat, and some more would escape the Slaughter, and  Breed; and instead thereof we should feed, in some of the Interim on Fish, which would be Encouragement, and Maintenance of Fishermen, and Seamen; who are themselves to be fed all the rest of the Year, by their Provisions for their other Voyages from the Land, which would take up far greater Quantities of the Product of the Nation, viz. Malt, Beefs, Mutton, Bread, Butter, Cheese, and Pease, Oatmeal, and all manner of Clothing; for one of these at Sea, spends thrice the value of the aforesaid Products, with Manufacts of Clothing, Ship, and Tackle, than a Countryman, or Husbandman doth; and, I say, be a far more Consumption of the Product, and Manufact of the Nation, than the slaying for those few Days will cause. And moreover, be the answering the main end now in hand, viz. The increasing of our Maritime Strength, and promoting Navigation, for the more large Exportation of our Manufacts, to our great enriching, and security from our Enemy's abroad, and to the every way procuring the Strength, Wealth, and Happiness of the Nation: To which, if it were needful, might be added a great deal more, to Invite the practice thereof, against those groundless Exceptions of debasing the price of Lands; but it is sufficiently answered, in the foregoing, to all reasonable Men: Therefore I only add this one, That we should be capable to fill the Empories abroad, with the product of our Seas, and grasp a better part of the Foreign Trade, which, of late Years, hath been grasped from us, which may prove to our Enlargement, and a stop to their Progress; the which is a more justifiable Proceeding, before God, than Arms; and more suitable to the practice of the Servant in the Gospel, who managed his Ten Talents, to the gaining of Ten more; which entitled him to the Euge bone, etc.  
Fourthly, As for the Merchant's Employments, for the advance of Seamen, and to avoid the great Trouble, Charges, and Abuses in Pressing of Men, which hath so little effect; I have said something already in their carrying of the King's Boys. Now if all Merchantmen, who are bound to any Foreign Parts, should at their clearing, at the Custom-house, leave a List of their Ships Company, containing the true Names, and Surnames, and places of their usual Residence, Ages, etc. of the Master, and Ships Company, whither bound, and when cleared the Custom-house; and also at their entrance of the Ships into the Custom-house upon their returns, a like Book, or List of what Men she brought home with her, and Signed by the Master; which Books shall be sent by the General Custom-house Messenger, every Week, unto the Admiralty, where should be an expert Clerk, in a particular Office, only for that purpose, to receive the same; and out of the said Lists, to enter into Books, he should keep for that purpose, viz. an Alphabet of Books, a Book for each Letter Yearly; or perhaps Twenty Books, may contain the Twenty four Letters, some Letters being not so much used, that a Book may contain two or three, all ruled with Columns, viz. The Master, Ship, and Companies Names, Places of usual Residence, whence Come, whither Bound, when Entered, Inward, and Outward, etc. And also, that the Vice-Admiral of every County, do by himself, or sufficient Deputy, every Year, or as often as the Lord High Admiral shall direct, Visit all the Sea Ports, Rivers, and Creeks of every Parish, and place where Maritime People Inhabit; as Seamen, Fishermen, Hoymen, Ferrymen, Bargemen, etc. within their several Counties, and there shall send for, or summon before them, the Churchwardens, and Overseers of the Poor, who shall give them account of what such Men live within their Precincts, their true Names, Surnames, Ages, and Abodes; which said Accounts shall, by the said Vice-Admiral, be drawn into a fair List, and sent unto the said Office, and there be entered into the said Books. Now the Vice-Admiral might, by his Warrant, send to the said Parishes, to send in to him, by such a day appointed, at a most convenient place for their ease, the said Account; and in case any shall neglect the said Duty, or Conceal any Man that hath used the said Practice, and place, for the space of Six Months, from between the Ages of Eighteen, and Sixty, that are not worth one Hundred Pounds clear, when Debts paid, or in such sort as the Lord High Admiral shall direct his Warrant to the Vice-Admiral; the Nature, and Substance of the Vice-admirals' to contain the substance of the High-admirals'; which Returns, or Presentments, lest they prove to be false by Concealments, and Partialities, they should be required upon Oath: After which, if the said Vice-Admiral shall upon his Visits find false, or partial, he should send to the Quarter Sessions next, his Information of that Officer's Perjury, under Hand and Seal, to the Clerk of the Peace, who should file the said Information against that Churchwarden, or Overseer of the Poor, and proceed against him, in behalf of the King, as for Perjury, and punished by the Judgement of the Bench. If the Laws extant, are not sufficient to empower the Lord High Admiral to do these things, as here mentioned, there might be a Clause added to his Power, as the King and Parliament shall think meet, for the better governing of the Maritime Affairs; by which Methods aforesaid, being duly observed, and kept, it would cost the King for keeping the said Office, but a small matter, which would soon be saved, in the great Expenses for Pressing of Men; beside the great Abuses done in the Countries, be prevented, if the Vice-admirals' be good Men. Also, if the said Law were, That if any Parish shall Conceal any one between the said Sessions, and summoned, and not bring him forth, That for every Man so Concealed, and proved by the Oath of one Man, That he was in the Parish, by the space of Twenty four Hours, and not seized by any of the Parish, than the Vice-Admiral's Deputy, shall take Distress upon the said Churchwardens, or Overseers of the Poor, for Ten Shillings for every such Man, and for every time so Concealed, to be born by the Parish equally, out of the Parish Rates.  
I only add, That if the Lord High Admiral's Warrants to all the High Sheriffs of England, that they do send their Warrants to the Constables of Hundreds, Wapentakes, etc. and they to the Petty-Constables, or Tything-men, That they should make a like Presentment, viz. The Constable of the Hundred, should deliver it in every Assizes, or Goal-delivery; which Presentment the Petty-Constables should be sworn to the truth thereof, before some Justice of the Peace, before the High Constable receiveth it, and then he should from thence draw one Presentment for the Hundred, to give in at the Assizes; and say, as from the Petty-Constables, under their Oaths, thus presenteth; out of which Presentments, the Clerk of the Assizes shall give the Admiralty, the needful Account, at the end of every Circuit, there to be entered into the Office aforesaid: For many Men, when War is, do betake themselves to live with their Friends in the Inlands, and follow their Occupations, and at the end of the Wars, do return to their Maritime Lives, or wait to make slips into Merchantmen; but this being duly executed by Vice-admirals', Custom-houses, and High-Sheriffs, and trinsmitted unto such an Office, as before mentioned, and there well digested into Method, and duly kept; so it would enable the Lord High Admiral, at all times, to give the King, his Council, and Parliament, when required, a true, and certain state of the Kingdom, as to Maritime Strength; and also enable him to collect them from all Places, in little Time; less Charges, and less Trouble to the People, in their Disquiet of the Country: So there might be made good Estimates of the Increase or Decrease of our Maritime Strength; at any time to be gathered out of the Ledger-Books of the said Office, and only Communicable to the Admiralty; and yet farther, at the King's, or perhaps the Lord High Admiral's Order, Proclamation might be made upon the Exchange, or put out in Gazattes, Requiring all Merchants, Owners of Ships, etc. to signify by their Letter to the said Office where their Ships were, by their last Advices, and whither Bound, and where expected next, with some Estimate of the Ships number of Men, Burden, and some value of Cargo; that care proportionably might be taken, for their Protection, and Preservation; the which may often prevent the sudden Seizures of the Subjects, and Wealthy Effects of the Nation; for it is not possible, that Merchants, etc. can be privy to the Intrigues of States, which ought to have their Paths in Secret and Select Councils. As for the Methodizing these things, I do not project; but only hint the Basis, and Foundations thereof; that the Superstructures might be raised thereon, to perfection, by the Skilful Architectors of the Wise Legislators, and State Politicians of the Nation.   

IX. The Measures necessary to be taken, in our Present Wars with the French; and in point of Balancing of Trade for the future.  
And First, For War, it being our present Condition.  
IT would be an extraordinary means to Facilitate our Desires, if we did bid at a large rate, for the whole subjecting them in the West-Indies; and for the doing of which, we should have an especial eye of Intelligence, whensoever they shall send any Succours thither; and if the strength of ours, already sent, were not sufficient to perform it, in December next, a sufficient Supply, with Land-men, and all Military Provisions, with Artillery, should be sent for the effecting it; and never upon making Peace, should they be restored to any Command there, I mean, in any part of America: So would our Colonies thrive undisturbed, and be a mighty help to our Navigation, and as much an Abatement to them: For the whole Commands of those Parts, being once brought under one Interest, it would be like a well-twisted Cord, made up of many Threads, although some thereof were not of any strength of themselves, yet by their near conjunction, and twisting together with the others, all being twisted one way, acquireth a considerable strength: For the Interest of the French, in those parts, have of late Years thriven to a great degree, not only to the Extirpating of us out of St. Christopher's, &c. but to the disquieting us through the whole, putting in for a large share thereof; by which you may perceive already, how pert it makes them, and gives them fair hopes of a large share of the Seas; the which, if longer continued, it would have a bad effect on England, I fear; they not only, by their Strength, disquiet us there, but also Countenancing, and Exciting the Natives to Arms, supplying them therewith, but also Assisting, Abetting, Instructing, and Supporting them with all Necessaries, to disturb, and destroy our Colonies; whereas, if there were no such Pretenders, that part of the World would be mightily Peopled by us, and be a Trade that would take off a vast Manufact from us, and maintain a great Navigation, which would be ready to assist us, in our European Wars, whensoever we should be put to it: Nay, in little time, the Trade thereof might be so increased, that it might take off the greatest part of our Woollen Manufacts in England, and Products of Tin, Led, Iron, etc. especially if we addict ourselves also to a Linen Manufact; the which we may most easily, and advantageously do, as I shall hereafter make appear. Then, I say, we shall not so much abound, and depend on the Woollen Manufact, when part of our Lands, and People are employed about the Linen.  
I say, These Increases of our Colonies, in the West-Indies, would be a mighty advancement to our Trade, by its mysterial way of walk, and make our Bulk of Marine Affairs swell to a vast Quantity; which is the very Strength, Glory, and Safety of the Nation, as I have elsewhere showed; and was also early perceived by the Excellent Sir Walter Raleigh, in his most Elaborate, and Accurate Work, of the History of the World. I say, These things are of a mighty Consideration to us: So that if we do not timely make use of the Talon, that God Almighty hath given us possession of already, we may afterwards find it too late; and so by step after step, and slip after slip, let slip the last opportunity of maintaining our Right, and Dominion of the Seas; the which being gone, the effect thereof may be, to be glad to enjoy the Colonies, and Trade we have already acquired, and our quiet at home; the which we must no longer expect, than that it is according to the Will and Pleasure of that Nation, who is most powerful at Sea; one large step we have made already in the East-Indies, pray God we are not preparing for another in the Mediterranean: The Demolishing of Tangier, the French finds the good Effect thereof, and we the evil. I question, if all Christendom, did not grudge us that place? But it's too late to repine now: Wherefore it becomes us to lay fast hold of those Opportunities God hath given us, to maintain our Navigation; which is, not to let the French hold one Command in the West-Indies, or any part of America.  
If any one should say, It is not to be done.  
I Answer thus, It is much like the lukewarm, and evil Counsel, given at that time, about Tangier; that the cost thereof to maintain it, was more than the Intrinsic Value could be to England, and put the King to straits for Money, and often need of his Parliament: The which, when I heard spoken, it made me fetch my Breath through my Back for Grief: and Answered, That a Hundred Thousand Pounds spent more, were better than to lose it: But I guessed it to partake of the French Politics, as the Selling of Dunkirk; which Town, with Calais (which is kept from us, and so lately in our Possession) are the next Feathers, most needful for England to Plume them with, they being more important to us, than a whole Province elsewhere: I will not enter into the Praises of them, and the Advantages thereby that would redound to England, lest I should be like the Hunter, who before he had caught his Game, took the pains to set forth the Excellent Tastes thereof, and the Ways of Dressing it, but never caught it: Wherefore. I will say no more, but put a— to it until a fit Opportunity: Only I will add, That they should not have the Command of any one Colony in the Universe, but what Factories they have under other Governments, which cannot be avoided, without Wars with that Government: And thus would I deal with them, as to their Colonies.  
Secondly, As to their Fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland, where they are become very numerous, and is their first, if not chiefest Seminary of Maritime People; who are extreme Hardy, and Patient in Hardships, and Labour; and would be glad of the English Benefits of the Harbours there, and Protection in that Trade, and bring their Effects under the English, and carry it in our bottoms, under us, to our Factories abroad; for a great part of them are also Protestants, and would willingly draw their Families and Dependences out of France, if they might enjoy the Immunities, Profits, Privileges, and Protections, as Subjects of England, if they were so treated, viz. thus, That six, or a needful number of Ships of War, were sent to wait upon the Fishery of Newfoundland, Greenland, Iceland, and the North-Seas every Year; which should take all the French upon the Banks, and those Seas; and whosoever would be willing to mix themselves with our Men, to catch and make Fish, and be content to come into our Bottoms, and a like number of our Men go into theirs, for the Season; which Men of War, of ours, should be fitted with all manner of Fishing Tackle, and should make Fish, which should be for the King's Account; of which Account of Fishery, there should go a Merchant, who should be a Husband of the King's Fishery, and give an Account thereof, and be under the Admiral's Command, and in the Ship with him; who should, by his Command to the rest of the Captains, give him all convenient assistance to further the Affair, and go with them up the straits to their Markets, as usual, under the Assistance and Convoy of more Ships, to make a Grand Fleet, to meet at such a place, at such Seasons as shall be appointed for our General, or Grand Convoy; who shall Meet, and Rendezvous at such times of the Year, and Place, as hereafter shall more particularly be showed.  
Now the Masters, and Principal Men of those Captived Ships of the French, I say, should be put on Board our Men of War, and like Men of Capacity, should be Detached out of the Men of War, and there should they Fish, and act all the Season, for the making of Fish for the Public Stock of the King's; and should have like Encouragement in every respect, as the English, if they are willing to work under the English; and at the Determination of the Voyage, at their Arrival in England, they should be paid such Wages, as they were to receive in the French's private Owners Service, every Man, as they were capacitated by them; and also the Masters, for what Shares they can make appear they owned, should be accounted unto them, at their said Arrival, if they will settle here in England, and use the said Trade; which Concerns of theirs, should remain in the public Stock, for some time, as a Pledge for them, that they do not Desert when they have it; I mean, till they can give some assurance of their Fidelity, by getting their Families over, or by going another Voyage; or, some way, finding Sureties for their true meaning, otherwise to remain as Prisoners of War. Now, I mean, there should be three, or five Honest good Merchants of the East-land Company, who should be Commissioned by the King, to manage, and to Husband this Affair of Fishery for the King: And although the said Captains be Commissioned, by the Admiralty, yet they might be referred to certain Instructions, which they should receive from the King's Commissioners for Fishery; and such Commanders, Officers, and Seamen, should generally be chosen, who have used the Trades, and are the more likely to advance the said Affair by their Knowledge, Diligence, and Application; and the difference in their Managements, would in a small time be compared, and in few Years, advance it to be a considerable Affair; and, as I said, the poor French, who have been bred up to it, be glad to shelter themselves under our Protection; and every Man so gained from our Enemy, may be accounted, in point of balancing of Maritime Strength, at four Men, and so proportionably.  
Thirdly, As to repelling their Strength at Sea, by Grand Armadas, and thinking them such an Enemy as will meet us, in a set and resolute point of Battle, as we have been used heretofore by others, I conceive, may prove a Mistake: My Reasons therefore are these.  
First, That they have now, in their Equipment of this Fleet, skimmed, and sifted their whole Dominion for Mariners, nay, Boat-men, Ferry-men, and all that have used the Waters, that there is scarce a Man of that Nature, if I may go so near, that is left out of the King's Service; for they have used incredible Art, and Stratagem to bring them out; and they have lost a considerable Number by Sickness, since their Expedition out of Ireland, amongst which Irish, they brought much Sickness; they have laid by their Merchandise, saving a little in the Levant, and have also drained the West-Indies: All this, if my Information be not false, (to the truth whereof I must refer you,) I say, If it be tolerably true, and will Fight us; it bespakes them rather of that Temper, that a Marquis of theirs, about Ten Years since, was pleased to give our Nation a Character in Ridicule, in a small Tract, called, The Politics of France, presented unto the French King, but soon came into English; wherein he says, We are a heavy, dull People, fit for sudden stroke, or present dint of War, but of no Policy to carry it on for any time; and his Master need not be at any great Expense to make us ruin ourselves, by our own Expenses; let him only cause us to Equip, and keep great Fleets at Sea; and in the mean time they would pray upon our Merchandise, by the Knights of Malta, brought with Privileges into some of the Islands in West-France, we having no Allies; and so goes on.  
Now, I say, if he fights us with any considerable Body of a Fleet; I mean, positively, and plainly to repel Strength with Strength, than I will revert his own Character of us, upon himself, and People; That they are Impolitic, and of no Invention to carry on a War of Time, fit only for a sudden Stroak, or, Sa, Sa; their Circumstances being such, That if they fight but Sixty Sail of us, with much more strength, and get the better on't, if we behave ourselves as we have formerly done, I mean, with good Courage, and Conduct; yet it would be so dear a Prize to him, that it were far more prudent for him to let it alone; for he has no Stores of Masts, Yards, Cordage, Pitch, Tarr, etc. nor no more Men, nor any Allies for either. So I say, That if he be so hardy, I declare him without Policy, for than he has done his Maritime Work at once, without hopes of recovering this Age; whereas, if he does as he did the last Year, collect his Maritime Strength together, and Sail a few Leagues to Sea, to Animate his People, or make some hasty Expedition into Ireland, or Scotland, or Depredation on our Coast, to fill us, and all the World with Noise, and Rumour of his great Armies and Fleet, and put us to vast Expenses to meet him, and in the mean time to neglect our Merchandise, and starve our Factories abroad; and stifle up, and destroy with Fatigue and Sickness more Men than any Enemy's Engaging would do us; which is no small dispiriting of Men, who meet no cheerful Rencounters, either of Prizes, Refreshments of Foreign Countries, and Vicissitudes of Affairs; but only sharp Commands, Wants, and Fatigues, Sickness, if not Death, and the painfulest of Deaths, viz. to see the Picture of Death so long before his Face, viz. his Messmates and Comfratres going day by day before him, caused only by Want, and Fatigue, etc. And when the French hath done his great Expedition, some such thing as I said before, and been a few Leagues at Sea; nay, perhaps, made the Lizard, or come up the Channel, if the Wind be so that he may be sure we cannot find him; but e'er we come where he was, he is gone into Port; and then the Couriers flies with the News, That he hath been out, but could not find the English nor Dutch to fight; so they are come in only to refresh their Men, and to take fresh Water, and was resolved within Fourteen Days to seek for them, and if possible, to find them; which Fortnight being past, and a Month after that (perhaps) we may hear, That the Men he had collected from all the Seaports of the Nation, are a Month before that time returned cunningly, and no noise made; every one to his Station of preparing for a Voyage in a Privateer, and ready to put to Sea; and in the mean time the Seamen which the French King keeps in constant Pay, have by Michaelmas laid up his Ships safely, and put up the Stores safe, not knowing when he shall have any more, and clean up a few Fourth Rates and Frigates to cruise about in the Winter, and his Bulk of Men who are all dispersed Home, perhaps have not cost him above Four Pounds a Man; and now even before our Grand Fleet is returned Home, and especially after the Seas swarm with Privateers and small Frigates, and to be sure all head Lands and Latitudes, where Ships usually fall in with, are well plied by them; so our Merchantmen fall into their Mouths inevitably, and thereby enrich them for all the Winter; and about April he sends to all the Ports, that a Ship stirs not out of Port but is Mustered by the King's Officer, where every Man's Name and Abode is put down, the which Registry they also have in every Province, kept by their Intendant or Provost: But now Security must be given to return by such a Day from Sea, to that or some other Port, by the Captain and Owners; so that by the latter end of April, a Summons may come to have them lay up their Privateers, and repair to such Places for their Transport to Breast, and receives every one a Crown Conduct Money, and so to act over the last Year again; yet to make the Shame hold good for another Year, they shall advance up the Channel, that they might be seen and known to be there, they make Depredations on the Coast on Shoar, but be sure not to meet a Body of our Fleet, that may or dares Fight them in set Battle, for there is Room enough in the Sea for such sham's. And now I will leave the French Coasts, and return to the English; where, if we thus Dance after this Enemy, before or about Michaelmas, we believe it is too late for him to come forth, and we order our Ships Home, and the bigger we lay up, and leave a Squadron of the lesser to cruise; but they Fowl and Sickly, and the rest are gone to clean for a Relief to the others, which about the latter end of December are relieved; so the rest are cleaned, and the Great Ships also; the Sick are put on Shoar and refreshed, and others go home to see their Families, and the Ships are all Cleaned in the Winter in their Turns; and about February we begin to stir, and in March and April we scour the Land for Men; and of the same Men that went out the last Years Expedition, many are dead, nay more than by Fight two General Battles in a Summer would have consumed; so by the middle of May, we may have Manned our Grand Fleet, and be ready to sail soon after to the Westward; and if we please may act over some things, varying, but a like in the Main, viz. That the French Ships be not hurt, but safely laid up with the Stores again, and that we have no Merchandise gone out, nor home, and many Seamen captived thereby; nay are brought to fight against us by Stratagem, and have lost a great many Lives, and spent much Treasure, and disheartened our Men because the edge of our Sword cuts not in Battle: Wherefore I would that this dodging Enemy might be dealt with so, that he may not by his Craft keep a Fleet, and preserve it only to keep us at a vast Fxpence of Lives and Treasure, and dishearten our Men for want of Action, and vicissitudes of Fortune, as I said before; and in the mean time Starve our Factories for want of Trade, so that we thrive not in Trade abroad nor at home, while we are at Wars with the Winds and Seas: I say, let us and the Dutch Join, and keep only two good Fleets of Thirds, Fourths and Fifth Rates, and in the Summer time, some First and Second Rates for Flags, etc. for it were well if no more than three First, and three Second Rates were in England, and all the rest First and Seconds could be wished into Thirds, Fourths and Fifths, according to their Costs, of which I will say more hereafter. But, as I say, these two Grand Fleets consisting, English and Dutch, or Seventy Sail of Good Men of War, with as many Merchantmen as could be Manned, to carry out and home our Merchantdize, and so to take their turns, that when one Fleet comes into the Downs with a Westerly Wind, the other should be ready to Sail outwards: I say, Seventy Sail of good Stout Men of War, each with a convenient number of Fireships: Thus, there should be built Thirty Sail of new light Frigates for Sailing and Rowing, with about Twenty Guns each, which should serve for Scouts to the Grand Convoys, for Intelligence for plying off head Lands, and certain Latitudes, to give advice to Merchantmen, and secure them from Capers; which by their Sailing and Rowing, being always kept clean for that purpose, that no Ship should be able to Wrong them in the Seas; also with the said Grand Convoys, should go some Ships Loaden with Materials for Fire Ships, that upon any Intelligence, that an Enemy is prepared to Attack the Grand Convoy, than they should out of the said Store Ships, fit their Frigates into Fireships, which would by their nimbleness do singular Service, and at their approach leave no more Men on Board than serves for a Fireship to do service with; this Fitting, I say, may be done at Sea, and upon a very small warning; or at the last Port they part with, to enter the Channel, etc. or where they may expect the grand Convoy to be attacked; which place and doubt being past, they may reduce them into serviceable Men of War, for the Uses before: They being thus appointed, would be of extraordinary use to the Nation: It's pity there were not Forty Sail of them, some of Thirty Guns, but no bigger, they would be of mighty use to Ply off head Lands in the Channel, be Scouts on the Enemy's Coasts, and approach great Fleets; Privateers would not care to meddle with them, by whom they should get nought but Blows, and Hazards of the Fortunes of War: These, I say, would serve for Convoys, for Colliers, Coasters, New-found-land-men, and Ply the Capes, and head Lands of the Trading Places of Ireland and Scotland, that they be not so infested with Pirates; serve to attend our Colonies, carry Intelligence any whither; they would be of wonderful use: The neglect, and want of them, is sufficiently experienced of late. And on the other side, providing of Great and Immense Castles of Ships, vast expense of Treasure, constant, and growing Charges, with little use to the Nation; of which I shall speak more in the ensuing Discourse.  
I now return to the Grand Convoy, of which Frigates, they should be accompanied with Fifteen Sail each; the said Convoy to consist of, I say, Seventy Sail of Ships, few less than Sixty Guns, and not above two of Eighty; but most of Seventy Guns, which will do great Service in General Fights, and dare lie by the side of any Ship, and be able to keep the Sea the Winter also; for the fitting out of great Ships, and laying them up again in four Months, is a vast Expense, and discouragement to Men; only serves to gratify the Itch of Grandeur in some Men, and does little more than what a Ship of Seventy Guns will do, who stays out two or three Years on a Stretches; then the Men would have a Sum to receive, and neither they, nor the Service be unhinged so often. Now no Ship should stir without the Landsend, except for Ireland, without the said Convoy, nor to carry less than Thirty Guns, and Sixty Men; if any be found otherwise, they should be seized by our Men of War, or Governors, and caused to pay a certain Fine to the King, ordered by Act of Parliament, or Council; and that this Grand Convoy do call at certain Seasons, at least twice, if not thrice in the Year, at one of the Western Islands; but upon Recollection, there being no Harbours, or Road for so great a Fleet, wherefore Lisbon, Cadiz, or Gibraltar is better; but Cadiz is the most convenient and safe Road, where all our Merchant Ships should have advice to come to from all parts of the World, who must come through the Channel, out, or home; which Grand Convoy, at their coming there, and whiles they stay there, should send out certain Frigates, and other Ships to Cruife at certain Latitudes, and head Lands, where Ships use to fall with, and secure them to the Grand Convoy, and if the Portuguese at those Islands should harbour any French, or on their Coasts to Privateer on us, they should be Warred upon by us both, and treated as open Enemies; the which would please the Spaniard, and cause them gladly to Entertain us: Then shall we not fatigue, and destroy our Men by so unhealthy stifling up, they being refreshed in Foreign Ports, and getting something, if not yet of experience of Countries, and be made complete Mariners, conversing through the World: Then also would we have some Trade go on, without so great Losses; and he that is strongest, to maintain their Trade through the Seas undisturbed, would have the best share, and, in time, have the Dominion of the Seas; we having so lately let slip the Opportunity of a Receptacle for our Merchandise, as a Curb to all Trading through the Straights-mouth, by the Demolishing of Tangier: The Convenience, and Importance thereof, to England, shall I never forget, nor easily forgive the Loss thereof; the Road and Mould had gotten a great many bad Qualities, when the design grew ripe for its Demolishing, which before had as many good, and was a means for their getting of Estates, who were instrumental in the Demolishing it, after vast Expenses. Mighty pretty! But, I say, having lost it so, we ought to secure some place of Certainty to us, about the Straights-mouth, as soon as we can find a fit opportunity, either by Marriage, or Wars; I wish we had the like of Tangier at this time, as it was at Demolishing, in lieu of a fourth of a Million of Money, it would not be too dear bought.  
As for the Corsairs of Algiers, etc. in whose Wars (if I do not mistake) the Dutch dealt more thriftily than us; for they always sent their Merchandise in Fleets, with sufficient Convoys, according to the strength of those Pirates; that if they would at any time bid up for them, they must lay a good Stake for the Betts; and if they ever won them, they would be dear Prizes.  
So I say, If ever the French would dare to attack these Grand Convoys, they should buy them so dear, that they should be no Gainers, and lose soon the Capacity of disturbing our Trade; for this way would force them to win what they get, by repelling Strength with Strength; the which being thus put into the Balances of War, they must needs prove too light for us both, if I am not mightily out in my Computation.  
Moreover, if they should bid up for a Surprise, there is large room in the Seas, and variableness of Winds for to prove the Surprisers surprised, and they be at equal Charges. I say, I do rather commend the former Proceed of the Dutch in their Wars with the Algerines, and those Corsairs of the Mediterrancan, by Convoys, than ours by keeping a Fleet to wait their Motions; if their Charges and ours were computed therein, I doubt, we should be found much to exceed them: Indeed we may have done them more Damages, but have received far greater Losses in our Merchandises: So that I must needs say, That the most Frugal way of Wars, and the most certain to avoid the Policies and Stratagems of our Enemies, that they do not put upon us; and where fewest Accidents do attend our Losses, must needs be the best proceeding with any Enemy in Point of Management of War.  
But this general way of Management, may admit of particular Exceptions, if they altar their Measures, or Circumstances; which part of Frugality leads me to say more thereto, than what I have already said; which is, That we have laid out too much Treasure in building too many great Ships of the the First and Second Rates, with large Expenses of adorning, by Carving, Gild, and Painting, as I have before hinted; which great Ships lie by, and are maintained at vast Expenses, and serve but very seldom, or rarely for the Defence of the Nation, and Preservation of our Merchandise in Foreign Parts, they being not fit for all Voyages, nor all Seas; and whensoever they are used, they are attended with double and triple accidents of War for loss, and not to equal advantages to the strength of the Navy, proportionable to the costs, and of Men required; as for example:  
A Ship of One Hundred Guns, shall carry near One Thousand Men, and Two Ships of Seventy Guns each, or Four of Forty Six Guns, or Seven of Thirty Two Guns each, and are not full the Charges of one of those great Ships, and they are not liable to the Hazard and Casualties of War or Seas, as they are: I might compute the Accident to be Ten time less of the Smaller, and Ten times more of Use. I would fain know of any one, whether one of Seventy, one of Forty Six, and two of Thirty Two Guns, were not Ten times oftener in Service to the Nation, and Ten times less Accidents attending them at Sea, and yet of less Cost to the Nation: Then may I conclude there is now near Sixteen Sail of great Ships which are under the said Circumstances to the Nation, and are for maintenance constantly every Year, at near Forty Thousand Pounds cost lying still; wherefore I cannot commend the building and repairing of some of them fallen into decay; but to let the application be to the multyplying of Ships of the lesser Ranks; the which expenses will be of Ten times the service to the Nation, as before proved, and not to forget to save one Fifth Rate, out of a First Rates Carving, Gild and Painting; for the Ships need no more adorning, than what is of use for Fight; only some Ships might be kept adorned and beautified for Transportation of Princes or Ambassadors, etc. as Ships for State; so was it heretofore, but of late Years we have run to a strange profuseness: For great Shipwrights have created us great Ships, or rather great Ships created Shipwrights; it being a time now to turn Frugal the right way, for lately the pretence for Frugality was lent to the retrenching of the Poor, needy, standing Officers in their Pay, and exacting of unreasonable and unknown duty from them, void of serviceableness to the King, and run the Treasure away by great Contracts secretly and cunningly carried, and the main point of keeping the Navy ready and well prepared with able and well appointed Officers, for the defence and safety of the Honour and Wealth of the Nation, and at the most Frugal rates for the ease of the King and People, was made even as a screw that is made for to turn the wrong way, and screw against the Sun, and in the Interim, our Builders, Contrivers, and Ship-Architectures go over into France, to contrive or build them Ships of War, or what else.  
So hoping I have said enough, to excite us to look a little to the Frugal part of the Management of the Navy, and rightly to apply the Treasure, and also to inspect what sort of Officers have been crammed into the Navy, and whether private Interest, Trick, and Design, have not been busy and prevalent through the whole Series thereof; and if it be found Sick and Distempered, perhaps some seasonable Pills of Extractum Pillulae Abdicationis would do much hood, Working by Vomiting some Ill Contracted Pelf, acquired by contracting; and also Purging others from the scurvy Dregs of private Interest, Trick, and Design; that hereafter it may be in a tolerable degree of Health, and sound Constitution, which is the Summum bonum desired by this Work.    

A Balance of Trade, between FRANCE and US, in Times of Peace.  
TRADE between Nation and Nation is of that Weight and Consideration, to the Welfare, Safety, and Peace thereof, that very often bloody Wars are made, and prosecuted fiercely for the procuring and maintaining thereof; for by it Kingdoms and States become Opulent, and Populous, which is the strength thereof; and therefore, for the Preservation thereof, and that the neighbouring Nations do not either undermine us, in our Foreign Trade with others, or overbalance us in the Trade between us and them, 'tis necessary I say somewhat.  
To these two Points I will speak here of France only, and by them to grow Rich, Populous, and Strong; and we, in the Interim, either stand still, or decline towards Weakness, and Poverty; or yet, if we do neither, but increase our Wealth from our Trade with others, which proves gainful to us; and we are bereft of that Wealth by a Series of Commerce with a Potent, and neighbouring People, who bend themselves, by more than ordinary means, (I might say, Unrighteous, and Inhuman Policies, to enlarge their Dominions,) even like those Governments I have elsewhere spoken of: Then every degree or step we permit them to take towards it, will prove to us, like the taking out of one Scale, and putting it into the other, at the wrong end of the Balance, and so will it become a double Weight, in point of balancing Riches, and Strength. I need not Inculcate farther the usual means by which Nations do become Rich, and Strong; and thereby do spread their Plumes, or Talons, rather over their neighbouring Nations; and, in fine, subject them to their Laws, and Injunctions; which History doth plentifully afford, whither I refer you: But I will only give you one Maxim, or Instance, of Accumulating Riches, it being the Foundation of Strength; which Instance shall be in the more private Affairs of Men, viz. Thus:  
If a Nobleman, Gentleman, Merchant, or Tradesman, etc. does in his Consumption, or Expenses of his Family, consume or expend more than his either Estate or Profits clearly brings in; or that he does not make a due Calculation thereof, and give a full allowance for his Losses of Rent, or Moneys, by bad Debts, Repairs of Lands, Houses, or Damages of Goods: I say, if he does not give a full allowance, on his Computation thereof, but continues his Port and Expenses to the height, he must of necessity, at the approach of those Accidents, be disappointed; and must inevitably fall into decay of his Wealth, and, in time, come into Poverty; which might be applied to the Politic Bodies of Kingdoms, or Nations: For if a Kingdom, or Commonwealth, do by their Trade import more Goods into it, the which is therein consumed and expended in their Adorn and Luxury, than they do Export of their Product, or Manufact: I say, with whatsoever Nation they do thus Trade, they are Loser's by them; and the Overplus, or Balance of that Trade, must be made good with Bulloin in Specie.  
Again, If any Nation Trading to another, with Product, or Manufact; and that Nation do by their Laws, lay a heavy Tax, or Impost upon their Commodities; so than the Prince, and Public Treasury of that Nation, receives the greatest Gains by that Product, and Manufact, and has the Labours and Product of the other Nation, to turn to their enriching: Especially if again in lieu of the former Product and Manufact, they do Import Product and Manufact from the said Kingdom, or Nation, and do not lay a like Imposition, that their Public Treasure may also receive a like Profit from the Commodities from them so Imported, here is an uneven Balance of Trade: And yet more unevenness in Trade, is, when the Commodities of the one Nation Exported, is only for the sustaining of Life, or Provisions for Military Strength; and what the other Exports is spent altogether in Adorn, Pleasures, Luxury, and Debauchery: This again makes an uneven Balance in Trade, and tends to the weakening and impoverishing of that Nation, that Trades for the Importation of Vanities, and Pleasures, and to the enriching and strengthening of those who Trade for the Importation of Commodities, which serves the Necessity of Life, or Provisions of War: In which there is a real, intrinsic value inherent, and a necessity thereof: Whereas the Pleasures, Vanities, and Luxuries, might better be spared; it tending to nothing, but the Softening, Effeminating, and Debauching the People; destroying their Prowess, and at the end will make them both Poor and Vnmartial, and in time expose them to the Insult and Conquest of the other.  
I remember, I have read in the History of Anthony Duverdier his Observation of the Ancient and Modern Times; that whensoever a Nation hath been known to Imitate and Adore another Nation in their Manners, Fashions, Diets, Sports, etc. they have proved to be the Insult and Conquest of that Nation: God avert his Judgements from England, and give us a timely sight; for whenever we lose the Dominion of the Seas, we lie the openest for Invasion of any in the World; our Shipping being instead of strong Garrisons in every Province, to prevent the sudden overrunning our Country, which Garrisons others have, and we not.  
Again, If two Nations, as aforesaid, Trading, and the one Imports from the other of its Products and Manufacts, in such Sorts, and Species, of the which they might supply themselves tolerably well at home; but they neglect it, and send their Silver for the others; which is again uneven Balancing, and bad Politics.  
Now, if I mistake not, our Trade with France, for near Thirty Years past, hath run with a very uneven Balance, viz. The Importation of their Commodities, hath far exceeded our Exportations to them; and the Commodities we receive from them, as Wines, Wrought-Silk, Laces, and abundance of Novels, for Ornament and Pleasure, all which are paid for, by either Bulloin transported, or else transmitted by Bills of Exchange out of Spain into France, for Commodities vended into Spain, and the Product, or Effects, by Money, viz. the Surplusage of that Trade is effected into France, and hath been no small occasion of the Growth of the Wealth and Strength thereof, within the said Years: Had not this Nation had a vast Trade with its Woollen Manufacts elsewhere, it must needs have had a considerable apprehension thereof long since; which Trade of Vanities, if they had been Limited, Prohibited, or a great Impost laid thereon, what Wealth of Bulloin would it have caused to have remained in England; nay, a prodigious quantity; whose Expenses have been wholly profusely vain, and debauchedly hurtful, to the People of this Nation in general, effeminating and corrupting them in both Military and Civil Affairs; and enriching and strengthening the French by this uneven Balance; the Superfluities of our other Trades being turned to their Profit; that although we had a great Trade abroad, yet it has had a profuse Currant thereof into France, like unto the Story I have read of two Spaniards, who went to the West-Indies together, to adventure for Silver, intending to live there some Years, and return into Spain with their Wealth: The one when arrived, applied himself to the Mines, to adventure there for Gold and Silver; the other he addicted himself to Farming and Husbandry, in Feeding of Cattle, and Tilling of Land for Corn: So the Miner, as he got Money, came and bought Provisions with it of the Husbandman; and when the term expired, the Miner came home little the richer; but the Husbandman very rich. So I say, That although we have had a vast Trade for near Thirty Years past, yet we have spent a prodigious quantity thereof with the French for Commodities, which we might better have been without, they serving only for Debauchery and Luxury.  
As for the Salt we had from them, which seems to be of necessity; It might have been as well supplied us by the Spanish and Portugueze Territories, with what our own Nation could not have done: Yet great Improvement might have been made therein, if large Impost had been laid on the French, but the Spanish and Portugal Commodities are all Purchased with our Manufact, and at good Price, besides a surplusage of Bulloin coming therefrom, and maintains a greater Navigation, which does all contribute to our Wealth and Strength, and tends not to the enriching of our Potent and Malevolent Neighbour; which considered, is a thing of a double Consequence to us, even like a pleasant Plant bearing two sorts of Fruit, and therefore aught to be digged about, and dunged.  
Now as to the Linen Trade with France, it might have stood well enough with us, if it had been evenly carried between us, as it had been heretofore, that our woollen Manufacts did purchase them, and all other of our Trade with France; for very little French Wines were Imported then; but afterwards our expenses of them grew to a prodigious quantity, and the Prices of them so enhanced, that we set his Subjects to Work on a vast Improvement of Vineyards, and greatly to his Enriching; and he at the same time setting to Work, and encouraging of his Subjects to the  of the Woollen Manufact, and laying so great an imposition upon our Woollen Exported; Nay, they have vended no small quantities of Woollen Manufact to us.  
So, I say, as to our Trade with France, the large Importations from thence, and the neglecting and debasing the Spanish Trade, have been a proceeding not worthy to be ranked amongst the Politics, and therefore fit to fall under consideration for Redress; and finding our Woollen Manufact is done for Purchase of Linen in France, and that both France, Holland, Flanders and Germany, having advanced far into the said  Manufacts, and must needs lessen our chief dependence thereon: It would be very Prudent and Politic in us, to set hearty about the Linen Manufact; I mean, that sort wherewith we used to be supplied from France, viz. Dowless, Lockrams, and all sorts of Canvases: The Manufact of Paper, we having made a fair progress therein already, and the advance of the Linen Trade, will also advance the Paper; for it is not Fifty Years past, since France began its gteat Improvement of the Paper Trade: Now as to the Linen Manufact, I argue thus: Our People, and chief the Women kind, by the Increase of them, and Decrease of our  Manufacts, occasioned by the advance of other Countries, made there into, will not have Employment, to become so profitable to the State, as they might; for a great part of the Linen Manufact is done by Women and Children: Now our Lands are sufficiently apt to produce the plentiful growth of Flax, so would a great part thereof be Employed thereto; that Land that is most proper, viz. Sandy-Land for the growth of Flax; and as otherwise, by our Experience and Improvement we shall find out, and being Employed thereto, which is now either Employed to Pasture for Flesh, or to Tillage for Corn; we should not abound in Provisions, as before I have Intimated, in the case of Fishery, or keeping of Lent; and should maintain abundance of our People therein, and preserve the Money in our Nation, that hath formerly been sent into France to buy it.  
Some will say, That we can have it out of France Cheaper.  
But I answer: It is now come to that pass, that we can make it near as cheap ourselves, as they sell it us, for which we send ready Money; and if we do at any time send away Woollen Manufact for it, that by their Impost laid on it, we must make it here at so low a price, that our People must live at an exceeding low Rate; as also, the Wools must be at a low price, or else we cannot sell them any: Wherefore it behoveth us to lay a large Impost on theirs, whensoever it shall be permitted to be Imported; that our People might be encouraged to make it.  
And to promote and encourage the said Manufact, here should be a kind of a willing Constraint on ourselves, thus:  
Let there be a certain Sum of Money, raised over the Nation, by an Act, in the nature of a Royal Aid; which being collected, let it be paid into the High Sheriff of the County, as a Treasurer; and at the General Quarter-Sessions, held for the said County, let every Hundred, or Division, produce one sufficient Person, who shall give Security for the said Money, and take it for Seven Years, Interest free, upon Condition, That he will employ the said Money, in making of Lockram, Dowlas, or Convas out of Flax, of the growth of England; and after the said Seven Years, let the Money be paid into the said Treasurer, and he pay it back to every Person from whom it was collected, or to the Heirs, or Assigns of such Parties: Or else by another Act, continued for some Years longer, or laid out upon some Public Work-houses for that same Manafact, by some Person, that that Hundred shall present, at a General Quarter-Sessions, to be entrusted by them for that purpose: And in case some Hundreds are not fitly situated for the said Manufact; or that they do refuse, or neglect, to present a Person to carry on the said Work at the said Quarter-Sessions: That then the said Justices of the said County, at the said Quarter-Sessions, may cause the said Money to be paid unto a Person of some adjacent Hundred, in the said County; who is, as before said, duly presented, to employ the same to the said Manufuct.  
And, whereas I have, in this foregoing Discourse, for the increase of Maritime People, which, by a sort of willing Constraint, are addicted to Maritime Lives, by taking all the Male Children, of Poor and Indigent Parents, and Binding them to the Sea, etc. So I here project, That all the Families of poor Parents, that are not able to maintain them, be also bound unto these Persons who are entrusted with the Stock; and there to be employed in the said Manufact, until they shall be of the Age, as is directed, for the Binding of poor Children in a former Act, For the maintaining the Poor: And whatsoever Parish, or Tithing, shall not present one Boy, as before mentioned, or one Girl, as here specified, at a certain Petty-Sessions, held for that District, every Year: That the Justices of the Peace of the said Division, or District, shall present the said Neglect, at the next General Quarter-Sessions; and the said Bench shall make an Order of Sessions, to lay that Parish, to the next adjacent Parish, for to help maintain their Poor; which Parish doth present above two Boys, or Girls, as is before expressed; the said Justices of the Peace of each Division, shall, for that purpose, at every General Quarter-Sessions, give in a List, or Roll, to the Clerk of the Peace, of what such Children are every Year Bound out, which shall be Entered on a Roll of Record, to be kept by the Custos Rotulorum of that County; which Roll should be duly called over at one set Quarter-Sessions in every Year, and that Affair duly Settled.  
I do not herein endeavour to Dictate, or Methodise the way in particular, for the Act of Parliament; but I do only hint it, Rough-hue it out, to be Regulated and Polished by the Skilful.  
Again, Those Men, Entrusted with the said Stocks, might be enjoined to find Work for the Aged, or Decrepit, of any Parish, from whence the said Stock was Collected, viz. Such Aged as craveth Alms of the said Parish; and the Rates, and Natures of the said Works, might be settled, and agreed by the next Justice of the Peace; the Overseer of the Poor to take care for the same, to see it be done by the said Justice for the Poor, that they be not too hardly dealt with by that Person: And if the said Poor cannot do enough of the said Work, at that said Rate, for their Maintenance; then the said Justice to order how much more the Overseer shall allow them, towards their Subsistance; by which Idleness may be prevented: Notwithstanding there hath been a former like Act, for every Parish to erect a Workhouse for their Poor; yet that took little effect, for that the Parishes are often too little for to erect a House for Work, and no manner of Work, of Manufact, was set on foot; so that that Act proved generally to be of none effect in that point.   

A brief Summary of the whole Work.  
AS God Almighty hath made Fire, Air, Earth, and Water, the wonderful Works of his own Hands, in the Creation of the World; and therein hath put Man, and given him a Dominion over all the Creatures he hath been pleased to furnish his Immense Globe with, and given them all living Breath in Common; yet unto Mankind hath he given a more particular and inestimable Gift, viz. a Portion of his Holy and Divine Spirit, that by Wisdom and Justice, he might Rule and Govern the same: To which he has added (by the Writing of his own Finger) Laws of his Almighty's Invention, to be a Guide and Pattern for him: And also more particularly Inspired Princes, Prophets, Priests, Evangelists, Apostles, and Teachers, to promulgate his Will; and yet more, that there might nothing be lacking to complete Man's happiness in this World, and in the World to come, viz. to all Eternity, and be left without all manner of excuse; he hath sent from his own Bosom, his only begotten Son; the Heir apparent and Lord of the everlasting Inheritance, and given him to be a Sacrifice, to satisfy his Justice, to wipe out all the Stores of the Sins of all Mankind; and not only so, but to amplify and confirm the Doctrines of those holy Men, hath promised he will continue his Holy Ghost to guide Man to the World's End; and preserve him from the implacable hatred, the Devil hath unto him: Yet notwithstanding, all these helps Mankind, by the instigation of the Evil one, together with his own evil will and affections, falls into the abominable Sin of Pride, the very sin that moved God to Disband and Expel out of his Heavenly Mansion, some of his Glorious Host. I say, it is this sin of Pride, by seeking for Dominion over others, is the cause of those great Devastations of Countries, of Blood shed of Men, the one endeavouring by Policy and Strength, to gain the other's Right; not caring for God's Laws, promulgated by those holy orders of Men aforesaid, or by God Incarnate.  
Wherefore it is of absolute necessity for all good Men, by Christian Policy, and united Strength, to resist the Proud; for God giveth Grace to the humble, to be content with their own, and to defend it; yet whensoever right is put into the Balance of War, God giveth it an Issue according to his Divine purpose; by which Issue he transfers Rights from the one to the other: Now there is not only a right of Dominion belonging to Countries, by their Divisions, and Subdivisions of Land, but also of the Seas; for every Country bordering upon the Ocean, hath a particular Dominion in the Seas, viz. to govern it, and to keep and preserve it from Pirates and Robbers, that Men might pass in safety, about their Lawful Occasions; and also, to take the Product thereof, as Fish, etc. as God hath endued it with.  
Now the Dominion of the Narrow Seas, being from ancient History always allowed and granted, upon all Treaties and Conditions of Peace, made between all the bordering Nations, to be the proper Right of the Imperial Crown of England; God having placed it an Island, in the Deucalidan Ocean, which makes the Narrow Seas, and stored it with Ports and Rivers, convenient for the receiving of Ships, beyond any other Nation in Europe; and furnishing it with Timber and Iron of their own Product, for the building of Ships; and also, a People sufficiently apt for the same, as it were pointing unto us with his Almighty Finger, to Rule and Govern in it, which our former Princes have done without sparing Blood or Treasure to accomplish it: But now the French King maketh very large Efforts, to the bereaving us of that Right, and Pirating, Roving, and Ravaging in it, he having been increased in Shipping, Navigation, and Wealth, by our late Impolitic Proceed.  
First, by permitting the uneven balance of Trade with us: And  
Secondly, By directing or suffering the changing the ancient and Expeditious Methods of the Discipline and Government of the Navy Royal; putting it into the hands of designing Projectors, to enrich themselves, only confounding the Affair: exhausting much Treasure, to multiply great Ships of little use to our purpose; and neglecting of lesser Ships, which we now want; discouraging, and disanimating, Warranted, bnd Standing Officers, Mariners, and Seamen; by blind-folding Pretences of strict observance of Duty, needless; and from preserving the Mariner from being rooked of his Pay, by having liberty to dispose of it as he pleases; for which purpose, he hath not been allowed an open Market for the same on Shoar, to bring it into Money into his Pocket; nor yet on Board allowed a Market, where more than one Seller for Clothing, and other of their Wants; which Methods, I say, have greatly disanimated all the Maritime People under a Commission Officer: And, I fear, by the Novels introduced, have brought Distraction and Confusion on it, to the great impeding thereof: Wherefore it is high time, if it be not too late, to awaken out of this Lethargy, to recover our Dominion, Honour, and Prowess, before it be past recovery, now in this instant War with France; to effect which, the Nation must not spare Blood nor Treasure, although it prove a Work of time; and great Maritime Expenses must be continued until it be gained; without which, no lasting Peace, or Happiness can be expected for us to enjoy; for the Sword being drawn by so many hands, to carve themselves a share out of this said Maritime Dominion, we are not able to judge, how Sides may be taken; or with whom we may happen to deal with, before the Seas may enjoy a settled Peace: Wherefore I implore the King and Estates in Parliament, to put the Navy into a posture of great and constant defence, to despoil this Common Enemy of all his Commands, or Colonies, in the West-Indies, and his Navigation of Fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland; but first to put the Navy into its former Methods of Expedition, near unto what was practised when England did such Braveries at Sea, as before spoken of, and by expugning all the Novel, and hurtful invented Intricacies; and retain only the Laudable, which is the principal and proper Work of the Lord High Admiral, or Lords Commissioners, for executing the said Office; by appointing, and choosing Experienced, Wise, Just, Valiant, and Religious Commissioners of the Navy, Flag Officers, Captains, Commissioned and Warranted Officers; all well approved in their Principles, for the maintaining of the Monarchical Government of this Nation, both in Church and State, as by the Laws thereof established; and to lay by all Uncapable and Irreligious Persons, unjust Cowards, Private-Interest-makers, Trickers, Dissemblers, Designers, Party-makers, Debanched and Disloyal Persons, to the said Government; and by inviting and encouraging all good Men, qualified as aforesaid, and settling of Just, Safe, Expeditious, and well experienced Methods in the Government thereof; affixing and establishing Rewards and Preferments, independent upon private Interest, Bribes, or immediate Superiors Commanding; and also giving them ample and full Instructions for the performance of their respective Duties; in doing which they shall be safe from violence, or wrong done them by their Superiors; not suffering Methods and Instructions to be either leapt over, or broken like Cobwebs, and they left to Despotical and Tyrannical Power: I say, the King Commissions the Lords of the Admiralty, under him; and by his Dictates unto them from time to time, to Govern, Fight, and Manage the said Navy; and to perform which, they Constitute Commissioners of the Navy, to negotiate under them, and by their Dictates and Approbation, to prepare and provide Ships, Men, Stores, and all Necessaries, Provisions, Moneys, etc. and to Dispose, Account, and Order the same, as Deputies of the Lord High Admiral; having each his distinct Class, or Order, to act in; yet a certain number thereof confirms all Actions, viz. three of them, whereof one is needful to be the controller, him unto whose particular Office, the said Matters do more immediately relate, whose Clerks, in each Office, are under their respective Inspections, and Directions for Dispatches, to keep them to their Duties; duly observing their Errors, in Methods, and Protraction, in Dispatches; yet not wholly confined to their respective Offices, but to mark all Errors in all others, nay, of all Degrees and Orders of the Navy, under the Lord High Admiral; but if they are designed to live at ease, and let Business slide, and do Justice as the unjust Judge did, because he was wearied by the Complainant, that he could not rest, and no otherwise: If he let Officers do their Dispatches at their Leisures, Secretaries, Clerks, etc. do most of the business. I say, if their Actions are with too much Grandeur and Deliberation, and promulgate their Pleasures, at too great distances, and through too many Doors: And if they move in the Affairs, as some Country Justices do to do Justice to their Country; for at their procuring the Commission, it was but to give them Authority to punish those that offended themselves, or Friends, in their Domestic Rights, or slighted their Grandeur; but to serve their Country, or take pains to distribute Justice to relieve the oppressed, and restore Men to lost Rights; maintain Peace and Amity in Neighbourhoods, punish Malefactors and Offenders, and for doing this, and many more good Offices, spends his Time and Moneys at Assizes and Sessions, he never intended any more than to live well himself, and let the World Sink or Swim: I say, if such like proceed be in the Navy, than I conclude it has gotten a filthy Disease, the Lethargy; and to a waken it out of its Drowsinefs, there ought to be some sharp Applications: Wherefore I project, that there should be another Officer created in the Navy, viz. a Superseding Officer, such as the French call an Intendant; but I affect not the French Name nor Manners, but the Latins or Romans, a Censor; one that should Censure all Officers in the Navy, under the Lord High Admiral, and be Commissioned by him, to go and fit at all Board's, Inspect all Officers and Books, and observe their Methods and Practices in dispatches; and censure dictate, direct, and correct the Errors, quicken the Dispatches, hear all Grievances and Complaints, suspend all Contumelious, Negligent, Dishonest, Disloyal, and offending Officers; referring them to the Admiralty for their Appeal, whither he should transmit their Faults, in a fair written Accusation, taken before him, at the place by his Clerk, for that Purpose, where the Accusers and Accused (Viva Voce) should answer, and Oaths for Proof administered in Material causes; and should visit all the Ports, Yards, etc. and go on board the Ships, Flags, etc. and inquire into all Misdemeanours; and at his coming into any Yard or Ship, there should be a Signal hung out, that all Men may know that the Censor is there; and that there is free liberty for any one to exhibit their Complaints, or Informations, which should be received with all Clemency and Mildness imaginable, and written in a Book there, and transcribed fairly into a Ledger-Book, by a Clerk for that purpose kept in the Admiralty Office; called the Black Book for some, viz. Offenders, and the White Book for the Meritorious; wherein the Admiralty may, upon all Occasions, for laying aside of any undeserving Men; see their former Faults, and how many, and how often committed; and for Preferment their Deserts, and how often, and how long waited for Preferment; here would be a Mirror for the Admiralty, and a true Portraiture of all the Affairs ready at all times before them; and may not, nay, cannot be so easily misguided in so great an Affair, if it be rightly managed, he should be in constant motion, and soon be at the Ports, Ships, and Places where he is little expected: And again, at the Navy, and Admiralty Board's, Treasury, Victualling-Office Board, at Pays, etc. he ought to have a good Salary, and allowance of Travelling, Charges to bear his Port above the Malice of evil Men, with which he will be sufficiently embroiled, if he quits his Duty with Faithfulness and Courage; and therefore he ought to have great Countenance from, and free Access and Communication with the Admiralty Board at all times; then would Designers, Trickers, Private-Interest-makers, Imbezlers, Private Contractors, evil Officers and Commanders, pull in their Heads, and not dare to commit such Faults, knowing that the Poorest man may have his Cause easily scanned, and soon censured with equal Favour and Justice; and a Record thereof remain according to its Deserts, without travelling far to great Offices, and when come there, knows not what Door to knock at, nor whom to ask for; and with an Answer from the Doorkeeper, That they are not to be spoke with yet; or not within; or that it is not the right Office, but directs him to another; and there he finds the like Answer: And so he returns weary, his Money spent, and no whit the wiser: And perhaps for this Endeavour, if it come to the Offenders Ear, he shall be totally crushed. I say, this Officer of Censor would be the very Vital Spirits running through every Member of this Politic Body of the Navy, and warm every part thereof with the sweet Beams of his Justice, and cause Men to come cheerfully into the Service, and endure the Fatigues, Labours, Wants, Wounds, and Disorders incident to the Affair, with all imaginable Patience and Alacrity; for Justice would wait at their Doors: So that I say, This Office added to some of the Regulations herein suggested, viz. courtailing of intricate Methods, spuring and moderating of Clerks, expelling the Monopolising of the Sailor's Markets for Clothing and Necessaries, and relief for their Families, by having a free and open Market to sell their Tickets, or engage their Pay; by taking off the Scandal and Abuses of Religion in the Ministerial Function; by having Moderate, Friendly Just, Sober Discreet, yet Absolute, and every way good Commands carried; it would produce such a Harmony in the Affair, that all good Officers would rejoice together; strive to exceed each other in the performance of Duty; and the Sailer would prefer the Service, before any Merchant's Service.  
First, For that he is defended from all ill Men, from any wrong that may be done to him.  
Secondly, That there is room for him to exercise his Ingenuity, Labour, and Industry, in Art, etc. by which there he has a fair prospect of Preferment to Honour and Wealth.  
And Lastly, That he has a good Compensation of allowance of wholesome Diet, and large Wages, well answered to him; and in his Sickness Provision for him; and for loss of Limbs an Allowance, during Life; and in Cases of Captivity, or Death in Battle, some Benevolence for his Family: All which, I say, would animate and invite any Man that has any spark, or sense of Grace, or Goodness, Prudence, or Honesty, or grain of Genius; to crowd and screw himself into the Service, knowing that in Merchant's Employments, he hath not a fourth part of the Chances for his good Fortunes, and ten times the Chances for his ill Fortunes.  
And again, That he would by the Methods herein suggested, be without hopes of evading the Service, by shunning, or bribing of the Press-Masters, his Name, Abode, and Voyages, too well kept account of for his Escape. I say, these things so well Jointed, Ferneered, and Cemented together, would make a beautiful Body Politic, which would serve the true ends thereof, viz. preserve and maintain the Honour, Glory, Peace, and Tranquillity of their Majesties, and their Kingdoms; for without the prosperity of which Navy, as I said before, these Kingdoms can have no hopes of Safety, from being invaded by the Powerful at Sea: Their Colonies all destroyed, and Trade with it, and being an Island, lie sopen to all Invasions and Alarms of Enemies; being divested of Fortifications in the Inlands, to stop the sudden Inundations of Foreigners: The Dangers whereof, I need not farther to Inculcate.  
And for the more case of the Nation, to bear these large Expenses of Naval Forces, and the exposing to loss the Lives of so many of the Inhabitants thereof, I have projected, a Thrift in the building, and repairing of Ships, most useful for us, and by sparing the profuse and prodigal Expenses therein; and a right applying the Treasure, stopping growing Charges, by discharging Men by Tickets, if Money be not ready; the Moneyed Men would buy them with little loss, if they may receive it again with Credit; the Nation's Credit being passed for it; and the Sailer be plentifully supplied with Content: And for the supplying the loss of Mariners, which must follow this Affair, I have projected a sure, and neverfailing Seminary of Seamen, to proceed from the Male Children of Poor and Indigent People, and by the encouragement of Fishery; and by putting into Merchant's Ships some of the King's Children.  
Lastly, For our present War with France, I have hinted Measures, whereby we might maintain our Trade, and repel their Power; I being then upon that Subject, when it was supposed, that the two Fleets were Engaged; not knowing then, nor yet can find the Reasons for their bold Attempt; having the greatest Disadvantages attending them, and we the greatest Advantages attending us: That the Proceed is a Mystery, an Abyss, and Occult matter to me; and therefore I will not farther wade therein: Yet I find no Reasons to retract my then Sentiments in the General, which must admit of some particular Exceptions, as Circumstances do vary, as I there have said.  
And to preserve our Wealth at home, I have projected a Balance of Trade with France, by a due Estimation of their Goods to be Imported to us, and equal Imposts laid; and to encourage a Linen Manufact here, by the poor Females of the Nation, and to shun all Maintenance to Idle and Slothful People.  
Now, I confess, I have let slip one main Matter to treat of in the Navy, viz. The Management of the Provision at Sea, but especially on Shoar, for Sick and Wounded Men, by Hospitals, and Receptacles for them, with Physicians and Surgeons, etc. in which are large Expenses, but not serving the Purposes intended, as I could wish it did, by reason of the Abuses, for want of good Order: I being streightened in time for the unhappy Success of our Fleet in June, caused me to be Commanded to the Seas, which took from me the opportunity of discoursing the whole Matter, as I intended; and being now returned with Sickness, and Cold Wether, and short Days, am forced to bind up the Matter thus roughly and indigested; being a little ambitious to crowd it in, in time, if it might be useful to this Winter's Consultations, and Preparations for next Summer; but if God permit, and that it may serve for the benefit of my King and Country, I will make a Second Edition; wherein I shall endeavour to detect and discover all the Errors and Corruptions in the whole Series and Conduct of the Navy, what have been observed by me, or informed of by others, for divers Years past, unto that present time; for as it is a great and important Affair, and of vast charges to the Nation, and likely of necessity, to be far greater, and of long continuance to be so: If we will procure and maintain the Nations Peace and Welfare, so ought it to be done in good Oeconomy, by Authentic, Honest, and Just proceed, to make the burden as easy and supportable for the Nation, as it is possible to be, viz. with good and answerable Rewards, to all that shall act therein; by being in Perils of Battles, perils by the Seas, imprisoments by Enemies, Fatigues, Labours, Wants and Hardships, incident to the Affair; as also, to the more sedate and quiet Justiciaries, Rulers, Projectors, Overseors, Clerks and Accompters in the same.  
Now if it have happened to be run into Errors in proceed, and made difficult to be Traced, the ways Occult, and the depths not Fordable, by any, but by Men of such Sizes and Statures, viz. parties, the Mysteries acted seclusely, the Commands arbitrarily and chargeably above Measure, and uncertain in its Actions; I say, if it be so, then will it appear so, in scanning the particulars, otherwise not: But if so, then may the Nation Groan under the heavy pressures thereof: Nay, in fine, sink under the Burden, and never attain the end, for which so vast Treasure and Blood, was, and is to be expended.  
Wherefore, I say, my second Edition shall be to detect and discover the Errors, if any appear, such as follow; by whom and what advantages have been made, by selling of Places and Preferments, by preferring of Parties, Sons, Relations, Marrying of Daughters and Relatives into the Affair, and twisting themselves into, and about it, even as the Ivy about the Oak; and then appear with most verdure, in the Winter of Affliction; when the Oak hath no Leaf, nay, no Sap left, how and in what time grown Rich; whether by undue Methods, Gifts, Bribes, cunning and secret Contracts, Purloinings, Embezelling or Conniving, or by extorting Fees, by delays in Dispatches, by encroachieg Affairs to be under their cognisances for Lucre, by Intricate, New, and unpractised Methods, etc.  
Now if any Person is aggrieved at their hard Measure done them, and are desirous not to have it longer smothered, or buried in Oblivion, or do bear so good a heart to their Country; that they would willingly have it prosper in Peace, Wealth, and Honour, or in conscience to Godward, not to conceal such Abuses, as are best known to few but themselves, and be like the good ancient Romans; who, altho' Heathens, yet detested the Robbing of the Public Treasury, or Converting it to private Interest, knowing it to be the Bark in which all their Felicity was Freighted; and therefore voluntarily detected and discovered, all that they found Guilty thereof: So that many of their great Ministers, Generals, and Commanders, were often called to Account, and forced to Disgorge their Ill gotten Wealth, as may be plentifully gathered out of their Histories; for had they not been public Spirited as they were, and to the shame of succeeding Nations (Witness, after the Battle of Cannae) when Hannibal came over the Alps.  
Surely they had never maintained their State against the Carthaginians, much more spread their Plumes over the most part of the then known World: In doing of which, it was generally observed. That they exercised great Justice in their Conquests; the which was always acknowledged by the Vanquished; and seldom but they were Gainers by being Conquered: For although they were in Idolatry, yet they were great Examples of Justice and Equity, abounding in good Morality in their Governments, and excelling in Commands, and Feats of Arms, to the rest of the World: So also in their early Christianity, they were exemplar in Piety, and Orthodox Opinions, to all other Churches; insomuch, that they were often appealed to, for Decision of Controversies; the which was a principal Ground for their Bishop to assume the Ecumenical Title; but Corruptions, long since, hath despoiled them of their Orthodoxy, and private Interest of their excellent Government, and public Spiritedness.  
Wherefore, I say, if there be any yet alive, that bears such a public Spirit as the former, towards his Country; and will advise me truly of any Matters of Moment, pertinent to the Purposes aforesaid, let them direct their Letter to me, (thus:) To Henry Maydman, to be put into his Box at the Post-Office General, in London: Whom I also advise, That they do pay the Postage, otherwise it will never come to my hands. The which I do to avoid the Tricks some Wanton Spirits will be apt to put upon me.  
Also I advise, that they do mention what Directions I shall make use of, if I should have occasion to Write to them some farther Questions in the said Matter; the which being done, I shall give it a Faithful Quotation in the aforesaid Treatise, whose Title shall be, (The Naval Censor Informed.) Wherein also I will not again let slip, that Chargeable, and Important Affair, of the Provision for Sick and Wounded Seamen on Board and Shoar; but I will discourse it from Stem, to Stern.  
FINIS.   

The most Material Errors by the Press, occasioned by the Author's being out of Town, are Corrected as follow, viz.  
Page Line Error Read 13 7 Employed Employed 26 3 Defaulted Defalked 35 18 leaving leaping 41 14 Drops Drips 44 15 Casks Cash 44 18 he action the action 50 17 Masters Books Muster-Book 55 2 Treasure Treasury 61 8 Office Officers 64 17 Pace Peace 68 18 — with every one 69 3 Swear Sweat 69 17 — take effect 71 22 direct divert 81 14 Vouches Vouchers 83 11 appointed — 83 19 Boatswain Boatswains   Guide Guides 90 1 Vouches Vouchers 102 14 to the Checque So the Checque 194 12 Determination Termination 161 14 Fectives Effectives 202 4 Represented Misrepresented 204 10 continue contrive 204 14 to Tantamount the Tantamount 210 18 Protection Projection 219 9 Pesting Jesting 297 14 lent bend 298 22 hood good 320 14 Stores Scores