Votes and Resolutions OF THE PARLIAMENT, Concerning the Encouragement to be given to MARINER'S and SEAMEN In the Service of the Commonwealth.  
Wednesday the 22th of December, 1652.  
ORdered by the Parliament, That these Votes and Resolutions be Printed.  
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.  
London, Printed by John Field, Printer to the Parliament of England. 1652.   

Votes and Resolutions OF THE PARLIAMENT, Concerning the Encouragement to be given to MARINER'S and SEAMEN In the Service of the COMMONWEALTH. Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament,  
THat the Rates and Proportions of Pay set down in the List following, be allowed to the Officers of the several Ranks of ships therein named, to commence from and after the First of January next; whereupon the Gratuities allowed of late years to some Officers in the State's Ships are to cease, they being included in the Rates : And that with all convenient speed the State's Ships be distributed into Ranks, and a certain number of Men and Guns apportioned to the Rank of each Ship, not to be varied but by special Order from the State.  


A LIST, containing the Monthly Wages of all Officers, Seamen and others, serving in the State's ships at sea.  Officers Names. 1 rank 2 rank. 3 rank. 4 rank. 5 rank. 6 rank.  l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. A Captain, 21 0 0 16 16 0 14 0 0 10 10 0 8 8 0 7 0 0 A Lieutenant, 4 4 0 4 4 0 3 10 0 3 10 0       A Master, 7 0 0 6 6 0 4 13 8 4 6 2 3 17 6 The Captain to lie Master. A Master's Mate or Pilot, 3 6 0 3 0 0 2 16 2 2 7 10 2 2 0 2 2 0 A Mid-shipman, 2 5 0 2 0 0 1 17 6 1 13 9 1 10 0 1 10 0 A Boatswain, 4 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 A Boatswains Mate, 1 15 0 1 15 0 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 6 0 A Quarter Master, 1 15 0 1 15 0 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 6 0 A Quarter Master's Mate, 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 8 0 1 6 0 1 5 0 A Carpenter, 4 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 A Carpenters Mate, 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 16 0 1 14 0 1 12 0 1 10 0 A Gunner, 4 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 A Gunners Mate, 1 15 0 1 15 0 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 6 0 A Quarter Gunner, 1 6 0 1 6 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 A Chirurgeon, 2 10 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 2 10 0 A Chirurgeons Mate, 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 A Corporal, 1 15 0 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 5 0 Yeomen of the Jeers, Sheats, Haliards & Tacks 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 8 0       A Purser to be Clerk of the Cheque, 4 0 0 3 10 0 3 0 0 2 10 0 2 5 0 2 0 0 A steward to take charge of the Victuals, 2 0 0 1 16 8 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 6 8 1 5 0 A Cook, 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 4 0 A Master Trumpeter, 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 4 0 Other Trumpeters, 1 4 0 1 4 0             A Cockswain, 1 12 0 1 10 0 1 8 0 1 8 0 1 6 0    An Armourer, 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0 1 5 0       A Gun-Smith, 1 5 0 1 5 0             

These to have the Pay of an able Seaman. 

Yeoman of the Powder-Room,  
A Steward's Mate,  
A Cook's Mate,  
A Cockswains Mate,  
These to have the Pay of an able Seaman.  
A Swabber,  
A Cooper, besides Three shillings and four pence a Month, Adds money.  
These to have the Pay of an able Seaman.       

As to Wages for common Seamen; Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament,  
THat from and after the First of January next, the wages of all able Sea men, fit for the Helm and Lead, Top and Yard, be augmented from Nineteen shillings now given, to Twenty four shillings each man by the Month; whereof One shilling to be paid to the Chest, Minister and Chirurgeon as formerly, and the rest to the Party.  
Resolved, etc. That the Wages of all others, who are not capable of performing the Duties aforesaid, be continued at the Rate of Nineteen shillings a month, as now they are, Boys and Gromets excepted.  
Resolved, etc. That Gromets be allowed Fourteen shillings and three pence a month, and Boys Nine shillings and six pence; whereof One shilling to be paid to the Chest, Minister and Chirurgeon, as formerly.  
Resolved, etc. That the Captain, Master and Boatswain of each Ship, do before the payment of their respective Ships companies, rate the wages of each Ships company, certifying the same against each man's name according to their Abilities; and to that end, to sign the Sea-Books with the Purser: And in case of the discharge of any from the Ship, the aforesaid persons are to certify upon the Ticket whereby they are discharged, their abilities, and rate them according to the aforesaid distinctions.  
Resolved, etc. That in case through favour, affection or otherwise, there be found partiality in rating of them, than the Treasurer and Commissioners of the Navy, or any of them who shall be present, have power to determine all such cases, or any other differences that may arise.  
Resolved, etc. That such Mariners and Seamen as shall voluntarily come in to the State's Service, shall have the same Allowance of Conduct-money as the Pressed men have, they making it appear to the Commissioners of the Navy, how far they have traveled to enter themselves into the State's Service; and shall also have the benefit of the Chest.   

As to the Shares in Prizes; Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament,  
THat there being many and great disappointments attending the service, and discouragements to the Seamen by the present way of sharing Prizes; All Captains, Seamen and others, that do or shall serve in any of the States own, or Merchant's ships employed in their service, shall (for time to come in lieu of all Prizes) have and receive from the State, for every ship or Prize they shall lawfully take, whether Merchantmen, or men of War, laden or light, the sum of Ten shillings for every Tun the said ship shall measure, according to the ordinary rule of Shipwrightshall; and Six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence for every piece of Ordnance, whether Iron or Brass, the same to be paid by the Collectors for prize-good, within three days after the payment of the wages of such Seaman (in case Adjudication be made of the ship in the Admiralty Court) to be shared and divided amongst them proportionably, according to the respective Places and Offices in the ship in which they served, and according to the custom of the Seas in that case. And further, That it be lawful for all Captains, Seamen and others, serving as aforesaid, to take and have to themselves as Pillage, without further or other account to be given for the same, All such Goods and Merchandise as shall be found by them or any of them, in any ship (they shall take in Fight as Prize) upon or above the Gun-deck of the said ship, and not otherwise: And for every Man of War sunk or destroyed by firing or otherwise, to have Ten pounds a Gun, only to be divided as aforesaid, to be paid by the Commissioners for prize-good within three days after the payment of the ship as aforesaid, upon Certificate of the matter of Fact stated by the Council of War.  
Resolved, etc. That all common Seamen, who have served Four months or upwards, since the War began with the Dutch, and do continue in the Service; or being discharged, shall voluntarily come in to the Service for this year ensuing, within Forty days, to commence from the First of January next, shall, out of the proceed of Prizes already taken or to be taken, have allowed unto them one months pay at the coming in, and paying off their several ships in which they shall so serve, to be paid unto them by the Treasurer of the Navy.   

As to sick and wounded Men; Resolved upon the Question by the Parliament,  
THat for supplying of necessary provisions unto sick and wounded men on board, there be allowed by the State, Five pounds for six month's Service for every hundred men.  
Resolved, etc. That upon the discharge of sick and wounded men from the Ships in the State's service, care be taken for the payment of their Tickets and Conduct-money.  
Resolved, etc. That directions be given to all Majors, Bailiffs or other Magistrates in any Port-Towns, to take care for all necessary accommodations at the charge of the State, for the relief and cure of such sick and wounded men as shall be sent on shore.  
Resolved, etc. That a convenient house be provided in or near Dover, Deal or Sandwich, as an Hospital for the Receipt and Accommodation of wounded men that shall be there sent on shore.  
Resolved, etc. That the moiety of all Hospitals in England, employed for the care of wounded and sick people, be reserved during this War at Sea, for such as shall be wounded in the service of the Naby, as they shall become void, from and after the first of January next.  
Resolved, etc. That the Tenths of all Prizes taken or to be taken, customarily due to the Lord High-Admiral, be appointed for defraying the charges of sick and wounded men as aforesaid, and for the relief of widows Children and impotent Parents of such as shall be slain in the Service of the Commonwealth at Sea; and for Medals, or other rewards to such Officers and Seamen of the Fleet, as shall be found to have done any eminent or extraordinary service.  
Resolved, etc. That it be referred to the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament, for ordering and managing the Affairs of the Admiralty and Navy, with power to see the Particulars aforementioned put in execution, and to give such Orders from time to time, as shall be requisite for the effecting thereof; and to cause publication to be made of the premises, in such manner as they shall think fit.   
Hen: Scobell, Cleric. Parliamenti.