VVHereas the Blessing is Ʋniversall, such ought the gratulation to be, upon which account, We in the place, as the principall Agent, give God the praise; and next as the happy Instrument to your Excellencie and your Army, for our present Liberty Redeemed, (not without much Colingta­tion, and losse of precious bloud) from a long insolent, Ar­bitrary, and oppressing Tyranny, and since one of the swee­test flowres in the Chaplet of Liberty (made, as by your late Remonstrance it appeareth, the onely Garland of your many and wonderfull Victory) and is jus suffragii. We are incou­raged to present, as our sence of our hoped approaching hap­pinesse, [Page 4]for our best conceptions and endeavours to compleat, and then conserve it.

And since to your Excellencie as Captain General of the forces of all England, and the Dominions thereof, both Mi­litias are united as well of the Sea as Land, then which an ampler expedient for publique, safety cannot be; It is hum­bly desired between Army and Navy a happy correspond may be commenc't and maintayn'd, by meanes whereof all jea­lousies and mis-apprehensions in both, or either, (Mauger the most close and subtile fomentations of all malignant Spirits) may be prevented, or soone annulled; And to this end, we shall humbly propose, that some Agent, or Agents, may be mutually and reciprocally in the behalfe of each, ta­ken and received into each others Debates, Transactions, and Conclusions; that so upon all occasions, we may by undoub­ted Intelligence, crave and have mutuall assistance and be im­powered unanimously to ingage against the Common E­nemy.

And because they but vainely pretend health, who onely fortifie against the Evils without, and not expell the peccant humours within; With a better providence, but confining it to our owne Sphere, humbly desire, that the dangerous practises, and abuses (of longtime, and yet) acted, and suffered, in, and about the Navie, to the infinte disho­nour and prejudice of the whole Nation; may in this happy Juncture of Reformation, speedily be [...]ken into Con­sideration and Redresse.

THe Commonality of a Kingdom, though a great bo­dy, hath a quick sence, Tyranny and oppressions presently felt, private aymes and self ambitions easi­ly discerned; whence true Patriotts, whose affecti­ons square only with their trusts, redeeming generall free­dom, and improving publique interest, cannot loose their de­served Plaudit. And we no inconsiderable part of this King­doms Commonallty (our vocation, as to use, reflected on) in our sence of your late renownfull resolutions overcoming all obstructions and difficulties) to settle the Nation in a blessed posture of liberty and safety, humbly commensurate with the blessing: present this acknowledgement of our great thankfulnesse; And whereas rumour not able to belye their desperate and implacable malice: loudly speaketh the common enemy, busie in soliciting and inciting forreign Prin­ces and States to an Invasion, We with much joy resent your vigilance and timely circumspection for their repulsion and our defence, and more especially in your present preparation of a numerous and well appointed Fleet; whereunto moved by common piety and duty of devotion, we became thus bold to obtrude zeale, and in this glorious cause of restored freedom, against all malignant opposers, make this hearty de­dication of our lives and services.

And because they but vainly pretend perfect health, who only fortifie against the evills without, and not expell the pecan humours within, We with a better providence, but confining it to our own spheare, humbly desire that the dan­gerous practices and abuses (of long time, and yet) acted and suffered in and about the Navy, to the infinite dishonour and prejudice of the whole Nation, may in this happy jun­cture of Reformation speedily be taken into consideration and redresse.

1. And first the improper and dangerous mode and Custome in electing all sorts of Officers, but more especially of Captains and chief Commanders of Ships and Pinaces in former times, by Court favour and parasitisme, and under pretence of estate (and indeed more frequently pretended then reall) whence issued much disservice to the State in ge­nerall, and no publique pay stated (excepting meerely allow­ance for the table, many subsequent cheates too many here) but upon further discusse and oportunity (to be enumerated in these latter times, by corrupt or indirect meanes, as bri­bing and insinuating into the Secretaries Clarkes, and the like Ministers of Committees, whence disaffected persons that would submit to such dishonest contracts accepted, and wel-affected that would not, excluded, have succeeded many de­faults in our Seas, and that the last years so foule defection and perrilous Revolt.

2 That all, or most places and Offices, in, or belonging to the Navy, are by ancient Custom tenanted, as it were, and to be possest for life, whereby much supinenes, neglect, and dis­service hath, and cannot but accrew, for then a consciousness of being strictly observed, and if faulty, displast; a more no­table both reigne to dissolutenesse and spur to duty cannot be.

3 The great want of time, and consequently detriment to service, occasioned by the present Custom in victualling the Navy, every Ship defaulking six weeks of the six months, she is bound forth, and not seldom lying, as many more wind-bound.

4 The most injurious, and no lesse pernitious ingrosing, committed by the former Committees and Commissioners of the Navy, of all the imployment at Sea, and impropriating it to their own shipping; for thereby at farre greater rates then otherwise would have been, hath the State been long served with Ships lesse serviceable, and undoubtedly, the will and power of the owners (to bear all out reflicted on) unexposeable to any hardship of fight and weather.

5. And lastly, the Exiguity of pay for all sorts of per­sons engaged in, and attending on this kind of service, where­by much impoverishment to many particular Families, and generall decay of the Service it self, hath followed; many o­therwise able, for want of a competent support, either whol­ly declining or deserting it.

And forasmuch as we conceive, it is no lesse eminently our duties, then our observations of defaults and grievances, to represent our judgements for their redresses, we humbly Sub­joyne as followeth.

To the First.

That the Commanders of Ships and Pinnaces, be from henceforth made choice of, rather then a vaine pretence of estate (Bribery, Parasitisme, or Lordly favour) by their abilities in Navigation and Sea service, in case they be, as only then apt, for so great Trust, of Religious life, and honest conversati­on; whereby will ensue a greater compliance and love be­tween them and the commanded Sea-Men; and more service done in one yeare, then before this Parliament in one and twenty.

And in regard also that many enormities have been, and will be probably continued, without a timely and powerfull suppression in the Trinity House, and all Officers thereto be­longing. We humbly move, that a free and uninterrupted liberty be granted (and a Declaration, if needfull, to signifie the same to all manner of persons to come and exhibite their Complaints, and without any long tiresome attendance (cou­sin German to injustice) have a day certaine given them for producing their Attestations, And that all such impartially, and without respect of persons) as shall be found guilty of indirect and fraudulent practises, as selling of places, extorti­on of Fees, Bribery, or any other Misdemeanours, in their respective Offices and Charges, May be with open disgrace (as a happy caution to them that shall succeed them) forth­with dismist of their respective places, and be ordered to make due compensation for the wrongs and dammages which in any kind have been sustained by them.

And that the Committee now constituted, may take order and provide, that no Secretaries Clarke, or any other Mini­ster whatsoever, officiating in the said Trinity house, or to the Committee, or Commissions of the Navy, be permitted to hold or execute any place, or charge, that hath in any sort been an abettor to the said Revolt, or shall be lawfully proved guilty of apparant malignancy.

1. Neither here will it be a muse to request Indempnity be not so farre allowed to any person guilty of the late Re­volt, as others by their impunity may be animated to under­take like treasonable Acts, and of so high a degree of treason, make an umbrage or protection for all their precedent delin­quencies.

And whereas the Grandees of Trinity house, gave so cleare a display of their imbosomed malignancy, and how strongly they were byast with affection to the said Revolt, by not only delaying, and in a manner refusing their assistance to their reducement; but by discountenancing that pious and so needfull devotion in others, and traducing them for it.

We humbly move, that a due caution for (non est bis erare in Polemicis) of all such insincere, and so obviously disaffected persons, and that not any of the said house, which cannot give an evident, manifest, or testimoniall of their good affecti­on to, and cordiall complyance with, the reformed Gover­ment, and present power on foote, be intrusted with any power or jurisdiction whatsoever, But that it be forthwith wholly transferred on, such as shall too securely stand on their own integrities & upright dealings, to need protection from great Personages to that end sued unto; and accordingly admitted into their fraternity, a course frequently practised, and but lately, though not succesfully (as on some Lords which we could instance in) attempted on some Collonels in the Army, for as we hope they have refused it.

And whereas Charity inciteth us to take care, that the same good use be made of the Chest-money for which it was intended, we can no longer content our selves with an im­plicite [Page 7]faith; but (having more then probable grounds to suspect the contrary. We desire that for future, what receipts and disbursments thereof, shall happen weekly be weekly printed, and on some place of the Exchange and Custome house affixt for the view and satisfaction of all.

To the Second.

That from henceforth all places in and about the Navy, of what nature or quallity whatsoever, be subjected to a yearly Election; that so fidility and vigilance in their severall charges and duties, may be in a better capacity to be preferred, to the great incouragement and advancement of the same, and the contraries, through the fear of an infamous displacing, be pre­vented, or the subjects of them for examples sake justly ex­pelled.

That no Commander or other Officer whatsoever, be per­mitted to enjoy at one time any more then one place, either in his own name or clandestinely in any others: by receiving all or any of the portion of the Sallary thereto belonging; And whosoever shall be truly detected of the same, be forth­with discharged of his proper place, and otherwise Musted as the nature of the crime shall deserve. And if the tennor here­of extend to all offices, and places Military and Civill on the Land, it will we conceive be of excellent use in it selfe, and very gratefull to the publicke; but we shall not digresse, being so highly satisfied with the Armies Remonstrance, and Petition of the 11. Sept. last, that our hope to see all those provisions for the peoples freedom happynesse therein contained; and wherein, we professe our concurrence shortly brought into act, we totally acquiesce.

To the Third.

That every Captaine who is appointed for Command of shipps for convoyes, may have the victualling the shipp he so Commands, having the same proportionable allowance that the victuallers now, or in consideration of the advance of price in comodities should have; and that all other shipps who are [...]ly appointed for guarding of the Coast, may have their [Page 8]provisions provided in Magazines in the severall Ports, or some of them most convenient along the Coast.

And therefore it is desired, the certainty thereof occasion­ing no small inconveniency that these duties of guard and convoy be distinguisht, and certaine ships be more particular­ly named, to have the charge of the convoy in and out of Marchants ships and goods; That so trade may be as highly advanced by this meanes with us, as it is by the same with the Hollanders, to our long impoverishment through default thereof.

To the Fourth.

That no Committee, or Commissioners of the Navy here­after, be permitted to ingrosse, or impropriate service (to their own ships, but that the proffers of others (when as much or more conducing to the publick good) according to common equity and liberty, may be accepted and prefer­red; and that for future all Committees of the Navy may be admonished to let the doors stand open to receive all proffers and Petitions Sans fraud, or other sinister practises.

To the Fifth.

That for the severall pay every Captain thus employed for the convoying of ships, being suffered to victuall his own ship as aforesaid, be allowed 10 l. per mensem for his pay. And that every Captain guarding the Coast have also 10 l. per mensem and some allowance for his table, for the entertainment of strangers occasioned by councells, or the like, and that every Master have 6 l. per mensem, and every cheif Mate have 4 l. per mensem, and the other Mates 3 l. 10 s. per mensem, the Gunner Boatswaine, Carpenter, have 4 l. per mensem, and the Cooke be allowed 3 l. per mensem, and no other Officer belonging to the Gunner, Gun-roome or Boatswaine, except each a Mate be allowed above foure Mast mens pay from the State; but what the Gunner or Boatswaine shall allow out of their own meanes.

That the Steward, Quarter-Master, Gunners Mate, Boate­swain [...] Mate, Carpenters mate, be allowed 40 s. per mensem, [Page 9]fore mast men clear of all charges have 20 s. per mensem which severall sums though to some, as to our selves may seeme to large, yet if granted may prevent the multiplicity of cheates formerly amounting to much more, and induce those Seamen fallen off to returne to your service.

That the Minister and Chirurgion have such allowance as the State shall thinke fit.

That every Captaine with the approbation of the power electing him, may make choice of all his Officers in the respec­tive ships.

That all Captaines or Masters of Marchant men ships be­ing Commanders in chief, may have to the full value of twen­ty pounds of his own adventure, and his bill of Portage, free of custome and excise.

That all Masters mates have 15 l. of their own adventure upon the said accompt.

That all Chirurgions, Pursers, Gunners, Boatswanes Car­penters and Cookes, have ten pounds upon the same Ac­compt.

That all their mates with Quarter-masters and of their quallitie have eight pounds upon the same accompt.

That all fore Mast-men have five pounds upon the same Accompts.

That all such as by sufficient testimony shall make it ap­pear, they are not of ability either by charge of Children, or losse otherwise, to make good their above-said adventurers accordingly, may be enabled to sell the same at the end of the voyage to him that will buy it, That thereby men may be in­couraged to fight for defence of Ships and Marchants goods, (this being but in liew of our Ton Custome free, formerly al­lowed, and since taken away.

That the names of the severall Captains, Masters, Mates, Gunners, Boat-waynes, Carpenters, Cookes, Quartermasters Ministers, and Chirurgion, and four Mast-men, with all other inferiour Sea-men be with the names of the severall Ships and Pinnaces they serve in, inrolled, and the Pay establisht, respectively paid them in whole, when in service, and halfe [Page 10]pay in the vacation thereof provided, they take no other im­ployment, whereby as they shall not be occasioned through the apprehension of want by fraud to provide in time of ser­vice for maintenance, when out of it: So upon the setting forth of any summers, or winters Fleete, men in every degree fit for imployment, will be alwayes ready to man them.

And if any in what place soever maymed or dying in this service of the State, shall leave, or have a wife and Children, or either of them to slenderly provided for to give them con­venient sustenance for their subsistance, aliment & education, And the State in a blessed imitation of the most flourishing Common-wealths of old, and the Netherlands at this instant, shall ordaine some certain provision for such maimed persons Relict, or Orphans sutable to their severall respective condi­tions and exigencies. It will be an act not only well pleasing to God, and worthy our profession of Religion; but for ma­ny demonstrable reasons of great utility in the mayne, such donatives being in effect, but as a scattering before a harvest, or as Saloman hath it, a casting of bread upon the waters re­payable in a little time with greater abundance.

And whereas it is, and may be falsty suggested, that all dis­affected persons being excluded. A sufficient number of com­mon Seamen for the service of the Navy, cannot be raysd or found; We are confident these our humble desires granted to the satisfaction of all wel-affected persons: there shall be no such necessity to indanger so principall a defence of the Kingdoms peace and safety, as is the Navy in the trust of such inveterate Enemies to it; but that it may be supplyed (and had; had we our desires on the 5. of July last in our first Proposalls formerly) with men of known affections and inte­grity to the State.

In summe since shipping is of greatest concernment to this Nation, one of whose, if not chief Royalities, hath ever been the dominions of the Seas, as deriving to it wealth and defence, either by letter of mart or Trade, and we our selves dubble obliged by publique interest, as English, and particu­l [...]r vocation, as Seamen, to our utmost abilitles to advance [Page 11]the same, have with as much brevity as we could, presented to this Honourable Assembly this expedient, humbly implo­ring as time and affaires shall admit maturity and seasonable­nesse, freedom of enlargement.