WElcome Captain , I much desire to know you , and to be known unto you .

I humbly thank your Lordship , and am affectionately at your Service .

Your hear ( I doubt not ) that his Majesty hath honoured me with that Command of so high trust , the High Admiral-Ship of his Kingdoms , and because it is not to be denied , but that a long Peace hath well nigh worn out all men of Practice and Experience ( especially amongst those of my Rank ) in matter of War , and especially Sea-War ; I am , for my part , desirous to take the nearest way , to the enabling of my self to this my present Charge ; and this I conceive to be , by an Admittance and free Access of such as your self , and by advising with you ; to which end I have now sent for you , that we may confer upon some such especial Points of your Art , as are most necessarily to fall within the Bounds of my Place and Office .

For mine own part ( my Lord ) I hold it good for us , that we have an Admiral restored unto us , and especially one of this Mind , with whom we shall not only know our certain Addresses , but find a Personal Access , and a due Dispatch , and not be wearied out by over many several Attendances , nor be abused by the Puttings-off and Slightings of subordinate Officers . And I the rather say of this Mind of yours , in respect that I apprehend it very important , that not only the High Admiral ( as your Lordship ) but that all the Generals and Admirals of his Majesties Royal Fleets , The Admiral , Generals , and Admirals to be of Noble Birth . be of that Eminency of Birth and Title , as may both silence Envy , and draw on Adventurers and Voluntiers of Worth and Eminency to serve under them , whereby all Services and Designs may be much advanced . And certainly , when such as these shall be free of Access , and desirous of Conference ; and withall be found of that Practice and Knowledge , as that they shall not need to depend too much upon the prompting of others : It must needs prove a prime Happiness , not only to the Seamen in particular , but also to the whole Common-Wealth in general .

As for the one , it is within the Power of our own Will to effect ; but touching the Sufficiency that you speak of , I hold it for the present a Happiness rather to be wisht for , than hoped after .

You wish well Captain ; but this will ask Time and Deliberation .

Whensoever cause calls for it , an Amends must be made then for the present , by the choice of a good natural Judgment , quick Apprehension , moderate Application , and resolute Valour , and the other Defects made up by a Council of War , Of a Council of War . orderly and impartially composed .

It is to be believed indeed , that an able Council of War , with a tractable and moderate General , may work too much Perfection in all Actions that are to be executed upon the Land , where Councils of War may be assembled at pleasure ; but at Sea , this ( as I conceive ) is not performed , but with much uncertainty , by reason of many Accidents that may hinder these Meetings ; whereas nevertheless , there is no Place , where occasions offer themselves with more Variety , nor where Advantages may be gotten and lost sooner than at Sea .

It is true , and therefore ( for the help hereof ) it is of absolute necessity , that not only the Captain commanding under the General in his own Ship , be the most able and active of all the rest , but likewise that some selected and choice Men of the Council of War be always resident aboard with him besides ; and if the General have the main stroke in the Election of these Men ( as it is reason he should ) that then he would be pleased to ground his Approbation , not so much from the Time of their Sea-Services , as from the Condition and Quality of the Services that they have been exercised in . The Quality of Sea-Services considerable .

And why from the Condition and Quality of their Services , rather than from the Time and Means of Experience that way ?

Because ( my Lord ) as a Man may have a Command in a Merchant Voyage , ten times too and again from the East-Indies , and yet be fitter for a Master than a Captain , in one of his Majesties Ships of War ; so a Man may make himself a Titular Captain , and be all his Life long in a Piratical Way , and yet understand little or nothing how to manage a stout and well resolved Fight at Sea . Because the Pirate assaults not where he expects to find a firm Resistance : and the Merchant Man fights only when he is assaulted ; so that both of these may be likely enough to be very much to seek in those thorow Knowledges of true Fights , which require a fit Commander in His Majesties Royal Ships , and especially Fleets of War ; and therefore , whosoever he be , that shall ground his Choice for the seeking out of Abilities answerable to His Majesties Services , from Experiences and Practices in any of these two ways only , I am much deceived if he find not himself much mistaken .

And yet you said but now , that you could wish that our Nobility in general , were used in Merchants Voyages : How is it then , that you say here , that they will deceive themselves , that fetch their Election from this way ?

This was not then so propounded , as a Course so to compleat them , as from thence to step immediately into a Command in Chief , in any of his Majesties Ships Royal ; but only to inure them to endure the Sea , to learn them Sea Language , and to know Sea-men : Commanders to rise by Degrees . that so by Degrees , they might come , first to be Lieutenants , or ( if it must be so ) to be Captains in some other inferiour Ships , serving in his Majesties Pay upon extraordinary Occasions , where less Care and Skill is required , and then upon the Improvement of themselves , to be culled out , and called up higher to Employmen●s of greater Charge and Worth : for otherwise ( besides the Peril ) how can it but beget both Scorn to themselves , and scandal with the World ?

I perceive by this ( as I said before ) that there is but small hope to find any store of able Commanders for His Majesties Royal Ships for the present , nor scarce for an Age hereafter .

I shall not go about to alter your Opinion in this particular : For , as touching the meer bred Mariner , for mine own part , I am of Opinion , that even such Seamen as are part Owners of Ships , are not so much as to be admitted to go Masters in their own Ships , whilst they serve in the Kings Pay ; for in this Case it may be probable enough , that some of them will shew themselves less forward in point of Service , and more favourable to their beloved Ships Sides , Sails and general Rigging , than shall stand with the Honour and Welfare of the Service ; neither can the Redress be found by the Captain at the instant of Service ( be he never so sufficient , much less if ignorant ) because the Masters are of necessity to be entrusted in many particulars , and in this especially , that the Sailing and Conducting of the Ship is peculiarly belonging unto him , and is his particular Charge .

And by the same reason , and upon the very same ground , it seemeth to me unfit also , that the Masters of such Ships as are in his Majesties Service , should be entrusted with the placing of most of the subordinate Officers in those Ships , and have Commissions for the pressing of the common Men into them ; for it may fall out , that in this Employment , they may mainly aim , either to bring in as many of their own Servants as they can , and that without all respect of Sufficiency ; or at the least , of their old Acquaintance and Confidents , and so make up a Pack , as well for a Party as a Concealment , whereby to contrive and act what they list , and this the Captain shall be never able to discover untill it be too late , and much less redress , by reason of his coming in amongst them as a meer Stranger , and not being admitted but at the last Cast , and perhaps not until the Ships Company do enter into Sea-Victual , which I dare boldly say , is the ready way to multiply all these Disorders , and may well cause all men of ability to retire themselves .

The like Exception likewise , or a greater , may be taken ( methinks ) to those resident Officers for term of Life , Of the resident Officers in the Kings Ships . which are in His Majesties Ships Royal , who are the Pursers , Gunners , Boat-Swains and Cooks , for these also have the means to cull out a Company of their own Consorts , who shall mainly depend upon them , and perhaps be neither serviceable nor fit for the Places and Offices that they are entred for , nor indeed can be made use of in any other place whatsoever , upon any occasion : So that for my part , I shall willingly give my Voice that none of these kind of men , have ever my Power , or Commission given them to make up their own Gangs or Companies , when they are to be employed in any Service abroad . I grant , that whilst these Ships lie idle in Harbour , or are over the Chain at Chatham , that these kind of Officers are absolutely necessary ; for how else should His Majesties Ships there be conveniently guarded and looked unto ? How can the Implements of their Cook-rooms , their Sails , Cables , and general Ropes , their Ordnance and the Appurtenances be kept and preserved , the Ships kept clean and wholsom , unless some such Officers as Gunners , Cooks , Boat-swains and Swabbers be held always aboard them , and so have their Places for their Lives ? And how can these Men be furnished with Victual aboard , unless there be a Purser to provide it for them ? I deny not therefore , but that such Officers as these , are in this Case to be admitted and held on , and it may be a convenient Reward also for such old Seamen as have been long Servitors , and well Deservours in His Majesties Employments . But yet it followeth not , that these , and none but they are to be used and had in their several Offices during a time of Service , and when these Ships are abroad : because ( at least for that time ) they may deliver over their Stores by Inventory , to such other as the Captain shall find to be more fit and better known unto him , and be installed in their Places again at the Return of the Ships ; or at the least , that it be left unto the Captains Choice , whether he will have them with him or no. And much less doth it follow that these old Officers for term of Life , should ( though they do go the Voyage ) have the only Trust put upon them , ( the which they now claim by prescription ) of the providing and Election of their own Gangs , when the Ships are to be fully Manned ; the Complement whereof , in some of these Places , as in that of the Gun-room , amount in some of His Majesties great Ships , to no less , than thirty , forty and fifty in number . These ( say I ) at all times of Service , are in all Equity and Providence to fall within the Compass of the Captains Choice and Ordering , Captains to choose their Officers . that so he may the better stand answerable for them , be the better obeyed by them , and find no cause to complain , if he be not .

I cannot see how your Lordship may be gainsaid in any thing touching this particular ; for howsoever , it is likely enough that it will be distastful to some particulars ; yet will it be found necessary and beneficial for the publick Service in general . And surely , if any Elections of this kind be left to any , out of the Office of the Admiralty ( and they seem to be over many to be all of them made there ) it must needs in all Right and Reason belong unto the Captains , whose Reputations and Credits stand chiefly , if not solely engaged for all Failings , and whose Commands also ( which have of late been much eclipsed ) shall hereby be well restored and made good ; neither ( to speak freely ) can I discern with what justice any Captain may be questioned for any Miscarriage of his Ships Company , Or not justly to be taxed for Neglects . or about the short Executions of the Generals Instructions and Commands , whilst he is thus barred from the Choice , and so use of his Instrument to work by ; let him have Men of his own Providing about him , and then stand answerable for Neglects in general , but not till then .

I am well satisfied in this particular , and fully of your Opinion howsoever , some others perhaps may affect the contrary , and strive to effect it . And I likewise approve ( and shall do until I hear more to the contrary ) whatsoever you have said touching our Sea Commanders in Chief . And the Summ thereof is that as the High Admiral , the Generals and the main Body of the Council of War , are to be appointed and directed by the Prince and State ; so the subordinate Comanders and Captains are to be chosen and approved of by the Admiral or Generals , with the Advice and from the Examinations of the Council of War ; and that the Elections of all other inferiour Officers be ( as at land ) left to the Choice and Appointment of the Captains at Sea .

I shall do it willingly ( my Lord ) and as briefly as I may ; And they are , the Captain , his Lieutenant , the Corporal , the Master and his Mates , the Pilot , the Master Gunner and his Mates , the Master Carpenter and his Mate , and ( in great Ships ) the Joyner , the Boat-swain , and his Mate , he Cockswain and his Mate , the Master Cook and his Mate , the Purser , the Steward , the Quarter-masters ; and lastly the Swabber : And every one of these have augmentation of Wages , and their peculiar and several Offices and charges to look unto and to stand answerable for .

Well , and what are these their peculiar and several Offices .

I will , The Swabbers Office and Duty . begin with the lowest , and so pass upwards : The Office of the Swabber is to see the Ship kept neat and clean , and that as well in the great Cabbin , as every where else betwixt the Decks ; to which end he is , at the least once or twice a week , if not every day , to cause the Ship to be well washed within Board and without above Water , and especially about the Gun-walls , and the Chains ; and for prevention of infection , to burn sometimes Pitch , or the like wholsom perfumes , between the Decks : He is also to have a regard to every private Mans Sleeping place ; and to admonish them all in general to be cleanly and handsom , and to complain to the Captain , of all such as will be any way nastie and offensive that way .

Surely , if this Swabber doth thoroughly take care to discharge this his charge , I easily believe that he may have his hands full , and especially if there chance to be any number of Landmen aboard . But go on .

The particular Duties of the Quarter-masters ( whereof there are more or fewer , The Quarter-masters ●●●y . as the Ship is of Burthen ) are to rummage in the Hold of the Ship , upon all occasions ; to accompany and overlook the Steward in delivery of the Victuals to the Cook , and in his pumping and drawing of the Beer ; and to take care in general , that there be no abuse nor wastes committed in any of those Services : They are likewise employed in the Loading of the Ship .

I apprehend these Officers to be very necessary , and that not only in respect of the preservation of these necessaries ; but also by way of satisfaction to the Ships whole Company , that they may know that they are not defrauded of their dues and allowances in these kinds ; and so may be kept quiet , from such causeless murmurings and surmises as they are ( now a days ) but too much addicted unto this way . The Office of the Steward ▪

The Office of the Steward is to receive the full Mass of Victual of all kinds from the Purser , to see it well and conveniently stowed in the Hold ; to look well unto it , when it is there ; to take into his Custody all the Candles , and all things of that nature belonging to the Ships use : to look diligently to the Bread in the Bread-room , and to share out the proportions of all the several Messes in the Ship ; to which end , he hath a several part in the Hold of the Ship designed for himself , which is called the Stewards room , where also he Sleeps and Eats .

This Office may be thought to be providently introduced ; for though it seem at the first sight , to be only as assistant to the Office of the Purser ( and indeed many times the Steward and the Purser are but too well acquainted ) yet being cautiously conferred , and honestly discharged , it may be made use of for many needful discoveries , and serve as an over-awing of all such Abuses and cousenages as may be practised that way ▪

The Office and peculiar Duty of the Purser , The Pursers Office . is to receive the full quantity and proportion of all kinds of Victual from the Victualler , according to the number of the Ships Company , and the times that the Ship is to be Victualled out ; to take especial heed that it be every way well conditioned ; to see that it be well layed up and stowed . And this Purser is also , to take the List and Catalogue of the Names of all the Men and Boys belonging to the Ship , and to set down exactly the days of every Mans admittance into pay , and from time to time to acquaint the Captain with every particular , that so at the welcome Pay-day the general Pay-master or Treasurer of the Navy , may issue his disbursments accordingly , and pay by the Pursers book .

Surely this Officer ought to be a man both of integrity and sufficiency ; for were it not for the Captain ( I mean where there is no Muster-master present , as in the employments in guarding of our Channel ) in the point of looking to have his Company full , and for the Steward , in taking notice that the full proportion of Victual be brought in : This Purser might purse up roundly for himself , and that without all discovery .

The Cooks Office is at Sea ( as on the shore ) to dress and accommodate all sorts of Victual in the Cook-room according to the number of Messes , The Cooks Office . and every Mess of men that are aboard the Ship , and this Victual he is to take by tale and weight from the Steward and Purser , and being Cooked , to deliver it to those men which are chosen by every Mess , at Meal times , for the fetching of it away : the which men it behoves him to observe heedfully , lest otherwise both himself and some other Messes be cousened of their dues , by delivering twice to one Mess : The Cook is also to to take especial care , that both the Flesh and Fish be timely and sufficiently watered and shifted , for the holsome feeding of the Ships Company : To which end there are certain men to be appointed , which are tearmed the shifters ; and which I rank as men of the Cook-room ; and therefore do not reckon them among the number of the Officers .

I doubt not but these Cooks know well enough how to lick their own fingers ; and I assure my self that their Fat Fees make them savers , whosoever else loseth by the Voyage .

The peculiar Duty of the Cock-swain is to have an Eye and care of the Barge or Shalop , and of all the Implements thereto belonging , and so to be ready with his Boat Company , or Gang of Men , to Man these Boats upon all occasions ; and when either the Captain or any Person of Fashion is to use the Boat , or be carryed too and again from the Ship , he is to have the Boat trimmed with her Cushions and Carpet , and himself is to be ready to steer her out of her Stern , and with his Whistle to chear up and direct his Gang of Rowers , and to keep them together when they are to wait : and this is the lowest Officer in a Ship , that is allowed to carry a Whistle .

How many be the Officers that carry Whistles ? The Cocksons Office , and who carry Whistles .

They are , the Master ; the Boat-Swain ; and the Cock-Swain .

What is the peculiar charge , and Office belonging to the Boat-Swain ?

The Office of the Boat-Swain is , The Boat-Swains Office and Duty . to take into his custody and under his charge , all the Ropes belonging to the Rigging of the Ship in General ; all her Cables , and Anchors ; all her Sayls ; all her Flags , Colours , and Pendants ; and so to stand answerable for them : He is to take care also , in especial of the Long-boat , and the general furniture thereof ; and is either himself , or his Mate to go in her and to steer her , upon all Services and occasions : He is likewise to call up all the several Gangs , and Companies of Men , belonging to the Ship , to the due executing of their Watches , Works , and Spels , and to see that they perform them thoroughly , and seasonably ; and to keep them quiet and at peace one with another : And lastly , besides all this he is ( in the Nature of the Provost Marshals at Land ) to see all offendors punctually punished either at the Capstan by the Bilboes , or with duckgin , at the Main Yard Arm , as they are censured by the Captain , or by the Marshal Court of the whole Fleet.

This Office must needs be of much use and necessity for the due disciplining and ordering of the Ships whole Company , and the Officers had need be Stirring , Stout , and Faithful .

What the Capstan , the Bilboes , and the Yard Arms are , shall be explained hereafter , when we come to speak of the Names of the parts of a Ship . The Punishment at the Capstan is , when a Capstan Bar being thrust through the hole of the Barrel , the offendors Arms are extended at the full length Cross-wise , and so tied unto the Bar having sometimes , a Basket of Bullets , or some other the like weight hanging by his neck ; in which Posture he continueth till he be either brought to confess some Plot or Crime , whereof he is pregnantly suspected ; or that he hath received such condign suffering , as he is censured to undergo , at the discretion of the Captain .

The Punishment by the Bilboes , is , when a delinquent is laid in Irons , or in a kind of Stocks that they use for that purpose ; and which are more or less ponderous , as the quality of the offence is , that is proved against the offending Patient .

The Ducking at the Main Yard Arm is , when a Malefactor , by having a Rope fastened under his Arms , and about his middle , and under his Breech , is thus hoisted up to the end of the Yard , from whence he is violently let fall into the Sea , sometimes twice , sometimes three several times one after another ; and if the offence be foul , he is also drawn underneath the very keel of the Ship , the which they tearm keel-raking , and being thus under water , a great Piece is given fire unto right over his head , as well to astonish him the more with the thunder thereof , which proveth much offensive to him , as to give warning to all others to look out and beware . And these are the common and usual ways of inflicting of punishment upon Sea offenders : The which also in Capital Causes , as Murthers , Mutinies , and the like , are so far transcended , that where there is otherwhiles a Ducking at the Main Yard Arm , there is a hanging exe●●ted in the same Place : But this is not ●●ne , but by some especial Commissi●● , or at the least by a Martial Court . 〈◊〉 for petty pilferings , and the like of ●●at Nature , they are Generally pu●●shed with the Whip ; the Offender , ●●ing to that purpose bound fast to the ●●pstan : And the knaveries of the ●hip boys are payd by the Boat-Swain ●ith the Rod ; and commonly this exe●●tion is done upon the Munday Mor●ings ; and is so frequently in use , that ●ome meer Sea men believe in earnest , ●hat they shall not have a fair Wind , unless the poor Boys be duely brought ●●o the chest , that is , be Whipped every Munday Morning .

Let us now return to our Sea Offices , The Office of the Joyner . and tell me the use of your Joyner a Ship-Bord ?

This is an Officer only used in great Ships , and is rather for neatness than necessity ; as to Wainscot , or Seel the great Cabin ; ( but this Seeling is much grown out of use , in regard that it is a great Harbor for Rats , and maketh an offensive cracking noise when the Ship works much in Foul Weather ) He also is to Trim up those Wainsco● Beds wherein Men use to Sleep ; to settle the Tables and to fix them ; to contrive handsome and convenient Bence in the great Cabbin and else where , for the stowing of small Commodities ; to make those little Boxes by the Ship Sides which are termed Lockers ; as also to fit those little Windows and Holes which are cut out abaft in the great Cabbin and else where , which are called Scuttles : And these and the like Implements are the work and under the charge of this Joyner ; being ( as I said formerly ) a Sea Officer in great Ships only , and indeed no otherwise , then as a limb and an Assistant to the Office of the Carpenter .

And what is the Duty and work of this Carpenter ? The Office of the Carpenter .

You know well ( my Lord ) that it is the Ship-Carpenters Trade to Build Ships ; but his office that you inquire after here , is in the general , to keep Ships in repair when they are built , and chiefly when they are out at Sea ; and to this end , besides his full provision of Tools , he is to have with him , all the Materials requirable hereunto ; and in especial ( as being ●ost necessary for the time and Service ) to furnish himself , with some ●●are Pieces of Timber , wherewith to ●…ake Fishes , for to strengthen and suc●our the Masts , if cause require ; to ●ave some spare Yards lashed ( that is made fast ) to the Ships Sides , if any Yard should chance to be broken ; to ●ave every thing requisite , for the ●ending and reparation of all the Pumps ; to have an overplus in his store , of whatsoever may belong to the preservation and safety of the Rudder ; to have stuff for the well Calking of the Ship , if any of her Seams should chance to open ; and to have an especial care , to be very sufficiently stored , with all such needful provisions as many serve for the stopping of all accidental Leaks . In Breif , he is , with his Gang , to be so employed , that the Ship may be well fitted in general , for her well swimming and sayling , and that she be maintained in that plight and Condition .

We shall find a fitter place hereafter , when we come to speak of all the parts of a Ship , to tell what these Leaks are . As for the ways of Stopping of them when they are felt a● Sea , they are commonly two ; either within Board , which is done with much difficulty , when the Leaks be low amongst the Ground-Timbers or Hooks , for then the best Remedy is to sink down some Tallow and Coles mixed together ; and in some cases , some Raw Beef , Oatmeal , Bags , and the like : But if the Leak be any thing high , it is readily and easily stopped , by the nayling of a Piece of sheet-lead upon the Place ; and if it come by a Shot , this is best done , by the driving in of a Plug , ( it is a Stopple of Wood ) wrapped about with Canvas .

And surely these are probable ways for the doing of this Deed. But how may these Leaks be found out , and the certain part known where they are ?

I thank you Captain for this Intelligence and Information , I pray now proceed to the Descriptions of your Sea Officers again , and the next in order , is that of your Master Gunners Place .

The Office of this Master-Gunner , The Master-Gunner his Place . is to take into his Charge all the Ordnance that the Ship carrieth , to see that they be serviceably mounted , and sufficiently supplied with Spunges , Ladles and Rammers , that in foul weather they be traversed with Board ( especially those of the lower Tire ) and that the Ports be shut and calked up , that at all times they be throughly breeched and made fast , least any one of them should chance to break loose , to the eminent danger of the foundring of the Ship ; and for the time of a Fight , he is to provide that every Peece be sufficiently manned ; He is also to be cautious and provident in the Guard of the Powder in the Powder-room , and upon no occasion to suffer any Fire to come near unto it , unless it be a Candle in a well-glazed Lanthorn ; and he is to take and give an account of all the Powder , and of the remainder thereof at all times : To which end , he is is to keep a Reckoning in writing ( as near as may be ) of every Shot that is made , and not to make any Shot without the Knowledge and Order of the Captain , or in his Absence , of the Lieutenant or Master : He is besides to take into his Charge all the Provisions belonging to the Gun-room , which is the proper Rendezvouze of himself and his Gang ( to eat and sleep in ) and is to have there in a readiness a fit number of Carthrages , proportionable to the Cilenders of all his Guns ( filled with Powder , if any present Use be expected ) with lattin Cases also , which serve as well to form as to carry them in a Fight , and thereby to avoid the danger of Fire . And in this Gun-room also , are to be ordered , and handsomly placed all the small Shot belonging to the Musqueteers of the Ship , together with their Bandeliers , and due proportions of Match .

This must needs be an Office requiring a Person of Honesty , Care , and Skill : and I am in doubt , that though we are become generally somewhat defective in our Sea Officers , yet in none more than in this . But what is your Pilots Place and Part ? The Pilots Office and Part.