WELL met again Captain.

As our first days discourse pointed upon Sea Com∣manders in Chief, and their subordi∣nate Officers; so let our second be concerning the common and ordinary Sea-man, and about some particulars, that in that way do most reflect on the present Times.

I shall attend your Lord∣ships Commands and Demands.

Let us then begin with that Loathness, if not Loathing, which of late days hath so possessed these Peo∣ple against all Services in His Majesties Ships and Fleets. What do you con∣ceive to be the main and true motives hereof?

I apprehend they may be chiefly these three. 1. Some Pro∣crastinations and Delays of their Pays, at their returns Home. 2. A stoln Trade, and Profit that way, which they find in Merchant Voyages, over and above their Wages and Hire. 3. The extravagant Hopes that they flatter themselves withal, when they serve in private men of War, where they go upon their Thirds. And 4ly. The loose Liberty and uncon∣trouled Life that they lead, when they are entertained in any of these Courses; and especially in that of pri∣vate Men of War.

These are indeed likely ways all of them, to work upon this kind of Men. But what Courses can you propound for their Recovery?

Since your Lordship is pleas∣ed herein to demand and hear my mean Opinion, I shall not fear to speak freely.

First then, touching the first of these. The which, since I apprehend it might be occasioned by those migh∣ty Disbursments, the which, a long Page  46Disuse did put upon the Exchequer, in the fitting up of His Majesties Ships, and the victualling of them out, together with the Failings of such Supplies, as upon just grounds might well be relied upon, and were expect∣ed would be continued; there is no doubt, but that for the future, the Wisdom of the State will find it fit, either to be sufficiently furnished a∣forehand, and have in possession these Nerves of all great Actions, and espe∣cially Military ones; or will forbear over vast Designs, until it be found that there is Fulness and Growth e∣nough to grapple with them. And then I doubt not, but that one only Voyage and Employment, bringing with it a full and quick Discharge of all Pays and Arrears of this nature, will help well, to rectifie all former Misconceits, and recover all that Af∣fection which hath been lost by the contrary Courses.

This is not improbable. But what say you to the second motive that you mentioned, as leading to this dislike, which was the Overplus of Page  47their gain by their secret Trading in Merchant Voyages.

This hath in some good part, been already ballanced by his Majesties late Augmentation of Sea-mens Pay in general, which hath been improved al∣most half in half. For there is no Prince, or State in the World, that alloweth larger Wages to Sea-men, then his Majesty now doth to his: And that late Addition also, of providing some convenient Cloaths for them before∣hand, hath bin very well thought upon. For these People, when they are left to themselves, are generally found, to make more of their Bellies than their Backs; and yet are in nothing more dis∣abled in their Services, nor more discon∣tented abroad then by the miss of Shift, and Sence of Cold, by the want of sufficient Cloathing: So that, if with these provent Cloaths, [ Some small imprest mo∣nies allow∣able.] some small part of their Pay, might be imparted unto them, also aforehand, by way of some Spending Money) I assure my self, they would be well wrought upon, as well to a willingness to serve, as a constancy to stay where they shall find Page  48themselves so pleasingly supplied from Day to Day.

And I conceive that this might be done, without any inconvenience a∣ny way; and especially when his Maje∣sties Coffers are full; and that care be had, that these imprest Monies, be not farther entrusted, then at the most, from Week to Week.

Proceed to your third Observation, about the Extravagancy of their Hopes, in point of Pillage, when they are employed abroad, in private Men of War.

As for this business of Pillage, (which is with them, a going upon their thirds; and that is, when they have the third part shared amongst them, of whatsoever shall be gotten) it is sure enough, that there is nothing, that bewitcheth so much; nor any thing wherein they promise to themselves so loudly, and delight in so greatly; in∣somuch, that I have known some of them, who though they might look for a hanging from their own Comman∣manders at their return, for their irre∣gular going out; and adventured the Page  49the cutting of their Throats, by the Ene∣my, in their going out; yet stuck not to rove into an Enemies Quarter, two or three Miles, in hope only to pillage some rotten house-hold Stuff: And I saw one of these returning with a Feather-bed on his back, all that way, in an Extremity of hot weather, that was not worth ten Shillings when he had it at home. A Voyage and an Ad∣venture, that all the Commands and Compulsions in the World, nor (as I think) ought else, save this (for these Ladds know but little of any other Terms of Honour, and Reputation) should ever have brought them unto. And by this your Lordship may know their Nature; the which in this kind and by this means, may be made use of.

It seemes by this, that you would infer, that these good Fellows (as part of a cure of their unwilling∣ness to Services of the State) should have some allowance of Pillage gran∣ted unto them whilst they are in His Majesties Services. [ Some Pil∣lage to be allowed.]

I would so indeed; for sure I am, that it would not only whet their Stomachs to the Service, but to the Fighting that belongs to the Ser∣vice.

But how can this be done, without much dammage and loss to His Majesty, whose sole charge it is to Furnish out all His Ships and Fleets, and who payeth the Company largely and fully at the end of the action, whether the Voyage be successful or not.

But the Pillage, the which I wish might be allowed, being only that which shall be found betwixt the Decks (and of this we have a Presi∣dent from our thriving and thrifty Neighbours the Netherlanders) is not of any such considerable Value, as to ex∣tend to any notorious loss to His Ma∣jesty by their pillaging of it, and yet the very only hearsay of an allowance, shall not only (as aforesaid) entice and recover them to a forward employing of themselves in these Services, but withal make them adventurous and stout in Fights, when they are brought Page  51unto them; whereas at the present, not finding any other Tast or Feeling this way, or by this means than dan∣ger and knocks, and that it is all one with them, whether they take any Prizes, or take them not, they pro∣pound it, as the safest of their ways, to receive their pays in a whole Skin.

I must confess, that you have satisfied me in this particular also; But what say you to that fourth motive you mentioned, which was that of Liberty?

Surely Experience hath taught, [ Mariners not over rigorously to be kept on Ship∣board, when they are in Harbour.] that those so strict restraints, which so frequently have been urged of late, and wherein, the Captains have recei∣ved so peremtory Commands against sufferance of their common Men to go on shore, whilst they lay in Harbour, in His Majesties Ships, which hath been sometimes, three and four Months to∣gether, instead of preventing a go∣ing away, and running from the Ser∣vice (which was aimed at) have pro∣duced the quite contrary effects; for these prohibitions being not in possibi∣lity to be made good to any purpose, Page  52by reason of the many Shore-boats, that haunted the Ships continually, and stole aboard them in the night time; wherein the Mariners got to the Shore, in spight of all care to the contrary: They being thus gotten on Shore, and having there spent their little money, they became (as they grew sober) to be so gastred from a return to their Ships, for fear of the punishment due unto the breach of the restraint, as that as many of them as could (and some of these Officers) conveyed themselves quite away, and utterly forsook the Service; the which but for fear of this punishment, in all likelyhood they would not have done; and yet would rather adventure upon any hazard, then to be so imprisoned and strictly held on Ship-board, within smell and sight of the Shore, as their Captains were compelled to keep them.

This may well be; and be∣sides, I conceive that another mischief might hereupon also ensue, in that the long and continual Tying of these Men to the Salt Fare and Feeding up∣on Sea Victual, before they came to Page  53any Service or Action, could not but be one main means of the much Sick∣ness, and Infection, that hath of late been every where found amongst them, whereby they became utterly disabled in the Service when they came unto it.

Your Lordship judgeth right∣ly; and in these respects, I must con∣fess, that for mine own part, it is mine opinion, that our Sea-men are not to be farther restrained from going to the Shore, whilst the Ships lye in Harbour, then only that they are to acquaint the Captain, or in his absence, his Liente∣nant, or the Master, with their going, and to ask their Licences; the which may be left to their discretions either to grant or deny, as they shall find cause and occasion,

Well Captain, you have spo∣ken sufficiently to the four particulars, which you delivered as Causes and mo∣tives of the present distastes that the ordinary Sea-man hath falen into of late, against all Sea Services, in His Majesties Ships of War; and I approve also of the remedies you have prescribed, to be very probable. Page  54But you know withal, that the Insolen∣cies of these People, are at the present, so overgrown, as that upon the slight∣est occasions, these Lads have been found with nothing more ready in their Mouths, then that mutinous Sea-cry, One and All; and you have seen them affronting Justice even in the High Streets of the City, and at the very Court it self, and Seats of Justice they have been heard in Tu∣mults and Out-cries; so that it may be doubted that these Lenitive Potions you have prescribed, will not work to any perfect and thorough Cure, upon such Surly-natured Patients, whose Diseases may be feared to be inveterate and deeply over-spread.

Indeed (my Lord) these times have produced new examples, [ An over In∣dulgency to be shunned.] and un∣usual Distempers in these kinds; and they have rather been fuelled then al∣layed by an over Indulgency; in that these Men have found their Tumultu∣ous Clamours and demands contented and satisfied, by this Rude and Boy∣strous, (not to say rebellious, Course of seeking them; a president that Page  55may be feared of worse Consequence then (thanks be to God) hath yet been felt; unless it shall be thoroughly and seasonably looked unto, if ever any the like occasion should be offered hereafter: For it is Certain, that no due or right whatsoever, is either to be given or gotten the wrong way.

You hold right; so that per∣haps, this Cure will scarce be perfected without some Corrosives.

Due and fit experiments being first made, by these gentle and win∣ning prescriptions formerly propound∣ed, as ways of perparation; if they prove or work not, there may and must be added unto them, severe poenal Prohibitions against their serv∣ing abroad with any Forraign State un∣less particularly Licenced, and due Executions of some such warranted Inflictions, as have anciently been pra∣ctised upon all such, who having been impressed into the Princes Services, and received his imprest Monies, shall dare either to run away or hide themselves from these employments, [ Run-aways to be severe∣ly punished.] after they have been Mustered; or shall not pun∣ctually Page  56and orderly present themselves at their appointed times and places of Rendezvous, after they are impressed. In all which pariculars, it is more then time, that some pickt and choice Exam∣ples had been offered to the World and Age; and that not only in the Persons of the Refractory Run-aways, but up∣on all such likewise, whether Natives or Strangers, as shall dare and presume to entertain them, much less entice and hide them away, after they have been commanded into any of his-Majesties Services.

And for the more thorough Executi∣on hereof, it is the opinion of some Men, that it were fit that some of the most Ancient Sea Captains that have Com∣manded in his Majesties Ships Royal, should be always commissioned, for the ordering of Delinquents of this nature, and to have Authority in themselves, and power to call in unto their Assistance a∣ny such of his Majesties Officers, (as Costanbles, Justices of the Peace and the like) as may best and fittest be had in all Places, where the Offenders shall be found, that so due punishments may Page  57be inflicted upon all Seamen, and o∣thers, as shall be any way, or in any place, in any of these kinds found in their Insolencies and Disorders; and that these Captains, thus commissioned, (that they may be the better known) should be distinguished, by some Rib∣bon about their Necks, or Truncheons in their Hands, or both; the which they (and none but they should be suf∣fered to wear and carry.

I differ not from you in any of these particulars; and touching this last, I assure my self, that as it would work much to a due respect of these Captains among Sea-men in general, so it would either reduce these Libertines of our Age, unto their old (Queen Elizabeth) Obedience and Discipline, or leave them to the sufferance of de∣served punishment, without all Excuse or Pity; for there are no ways of Go∣vernment either just or prevalent, but Praemio et Paena.

But Captain, before I can dismiss you, from this Days meeting, in regard that I have heard it said and lamented, that there is, at the present, an un∣wonted Page  58want of Sea-men in general within his Majesties Dominions, [ A general want of Sea-men.] and that as well in respect of number as suf∣ficiency, I would entreat you to offer and present some such Ways and Cour∣ces, for the better breeding and multi∣plying of these so necessary Hands, as either in your Apprehension, Experi∣ence, or both, you do conceive to be most proper and probable.

Having your Lordships Com∣mand for it, and having adventured thus far already, under your Lordships protection, and with I hope some ap∣probation, I shall readily and briefly deliver my poor Opinion in this parti∣cular also.

It is not to be denyed (my Lord) but that all Tradings upon the Water, and every Employment in that kind of Life, may be allowed and accoun∣ted in their several Degrees, as ways tending to the encrease and breed of Seamen; for who knoweth not, but that the continual rowing in our Wher∣ries, between London-bridge and West∣minster, maketh expert Oar-men; and this is one step (though the Page  59lowest) towards the Attainment of this Art, and Occupation; and therefore I hold it good Prudence (by way of farther improvement) that in all Sea∣services whereinto any Men are impres∣sed, some numbers of these Fresh-wa∣ter Sea-folk, [ Water-men, and Fisher∣men, to be bred Mari∣ners.] be found out and em∣ployed abroad; and that even the Mer∣chants themselves, be admonished to use some of them aboard their Ships, in their shorter Voyages; provided that they be no where relied upon at the first dash, for any farther piece of the Ships sufficient Manning, than only to row in the Boats, and for a while also in fair Weather only; for other∣wise it is to be confest, that there may be a want and danger.

You say well; for there are many of these Water-men, stout and able; and besides their daily Practice at the Oar, the only Air of the Water, and the motion there, must needs make them sooner Seamen, then such others, as are not at all, or but seldom used un∣to it, though considered but in the particulars, of Sea-leggs and Sea-sto∣machs.

The second growth which I find in our Nursery of Sea-men, is a∣mongst the small Fisher-Boats, used in our Rivers, Creeks, and close by the Shoars; and those of these growth may be admitted unto the second Form in our Sea-school; for besides the Sea∣leggs, and Sea-stomachs, that they have very good and perfect, they have some few Ropes and Sayls to han∣dle and mannage also; some Grapnels to to employ and look unto, and are passing well fore-sighted about sudden Gusts, Storms, and change of Wea∣ther; and therefore I could wish, that of these also, some were always had aboard and carried out to Sea, that so they might be inured to live out of sight of Land, to learn new Ropes and more Sayls, to get an encrease of Sea-language, and to know and Steer by the Compass; the which they would nimbly do, and one Degree sooner, than your former fresh Water-men; and therefore it is pity, but that they should be preserved in all their Rights, and by all means and favourable usage, be encouraged to grow and multiply.

It is indeed pity that these poor Men should be any way disheartned; [ Sea Fisher∣men some made perfect Mariners.] for a good many of these petty Fisher∣men there are, that in a short time might be made good Sea-men.

A third Rank and Order of Sea-scholars, are tutored among those bolder Fisher-men of ours, who not only dare lay the Shore, and Fish out of sight of it, or Sayl as far as Ireland for their Herrings, but adventure upon the Coasts of America, and fish at New-found land, and upon the Bank; and these as they are bolder Men, so they have bigger Vessels, fitted and rigged with all the Ropes, Sayls, Masts and Yards that belong to a good Ship, and be∣come hereby throughly acquainted with every Inch of them, and can rea∣dily mannage and order them with suf∣ficient Dexterity; and can also take their turns at the Helm; so that with a little larger experience, they soon grow up to be very stout and active Men, for any Service and Employment that they shall be put unto. These therefore are carefully to be cherished in their ordinary Courses: The which may be Page  62done by Courses of Provision, for the convenient Venting and Sale of their Fish, when they bring it Home; and hereunto his Majesties Proclamati∣on, touching the due and thorough ob∣servation of Fasting-days throughout all his Dominions, doth providently tend: And whensoever our wonted Fishing with Busses shall be reestabli∣shed, it will questionless be a main mean to work to an Increase among them, and to incourage and breed a Seminary of good Saylers this way.

I am confident with you in this, and were there nothing else in it but this Busse-fishing, were a work of regard, and no doubt but may both require and requite the noblest Adven∣turers.

A fourth way of breeding of Saylors with us, [ The Coal∣ships bred Sea-men.] is found with our New-Castle Colliers; the which though they are but Coasters, yet by their employ∣ing of may Ships, and many of them good ones; and by finding occasions enough in our Northern Seas, and e∣specially in their Winter Passages to put them to them to the best of Skill Page  63and practice, they do not only take up and employ many men, but make ma∣ny good Sea-men likewise, who in a short time, by a few enlarged Voyages, do attain to be accomplisht Navigators, and send out from among themselves, some such Officers, as may take charge in the most of Merchant-Voyages: So that this Coal-carrying Course, is not only to be well protected from Enemies in time of War, and Pirates in time of Peace, for Fewel and good Fire sake; but also for the maintenance of good Shipping, and the multiplication of Ma∣riners.

No doubt but it that worketh well both ways; only it were to be wished that they would be won to Man their good Ships better than (for Lucre sake) they usually do; for I believe that many of them are Yearly lost by this means to a loss to the Common-Wealth, as well as to themselves.

Questionless (my Lord) the over slack manning out of Ships pro∣cureth the loss of many an one of them; and therefore I hold it a dangerous thrift and chiefly in long Voyages of Page  64Merchant-men, and at all times of Acti∣on, in Men of War, where there are so many occasions to use many Hands: And I see not but that the biggest and best of Ships, especially if this great Ship be any way open built (of which we shall have occasion to speak more hereafter) may, in a Fight be wronged and taken to, by an Enemy not half so great nor good as her self, that shall over-top her with Men; for what can hinder the smaller Ship from laying of the greater aboard, [ Ships of War to be well man∣ned.] whensoever she hath the better of the Wind; and be∣ing once Board and Board with her, how can it be helped (unless she be very extraordinarily fitted with close Fight? which but few of the great∣est Ships of England are) but that be∣ing more numerous and stronger in Men, she shall enter as many of them, as she list, in some one part or other of her Enemie, in spight of all disadvan∣tage of Ship, and all opposition; and so by oppressing her with Multitude clear her Decks, and take the Ship: and this I say may well be expected, and as easily effected, whensoever a great Page  65Ship much under-manned, is thus as∣saulted by a small (and otherwise weak) Ship, that hath many more Men than her self; unless (as before said) this great Ship be throughly con∣trived and armed with Decks, Bulk∣heads and the like, proper for a de∣fensive Fight; and such as shall here∣after be prescribed, when we come to treat of the best Ships of War.

I find no ground for Con∣tradiction here. But Captain, since we are fallen upon the point of Man∣ning of Ships, I desire to know (be∣fore we go on in the particular touch∣ing the breeding of Mariners) whe∣ther you have, or whether there may be any Rules of Proportion for the due and sufficient manning of Ships in general.

I have heard (my Lord) of some Propositions of this Nature; and some would have the Proportion to be taken after the number and qua∣lity of the great Guns that the Ship doth carry, with an answerable al∣lowance of some spare Hands for the handling of the Sails. Others con∣ceive Page  66that this Rule of Proportion will hold truer, with a respect to the Ships Burthen; and then they will have it, that in all Ships, from forty Tuns of Burthen to four hundred, there be an Allowance of one Man to every four Tuns, [ Of Rules for Man∣ning of Ships.] and so a Ship of four hundred Tuns in Burthen, is to be manned with one hundred men, and so ratably downwards; and from four hundred Tuns upwards, they will have an Allowance of one Man to every three Tuns; and then a Ship of six hundred Tuns in Burthen, shall be manned with two hundred men, and so accordingly upwards. But for mine own part, I cannot find how this Computation can be brought within the compass of a Certainty, but must be varied and regulated accord∣ing to the length or shortness of the several Voyages that Ships are ap∣pointed out for, and with a respect to the Services and Occasions that they are to be employed in; for who knows not, but that for a short Voy∣age, a shorter number of Men may be sufficient, than for a longer; where Page  67it may with all reason be expected, that the length of Time, and often mutation of Climates, will cause some Mortality, even among Merchant∣men; and so likewise in Employ∣ments in Men of War, when an Ene∣my is looked for, and where Blows are to be given and taken, there is in all discretion, a larger number of Men to be maintained aboard, than when there is nothing but a peaceable Voy∣age expected.

Surely Reason compels a full Consent to you in this, in mine Opi∣nion: And therefore I pray now re∣turn to your Sea-Seminaries again, of which, you have already particularized four.

A fifth way of breeding of Sea∣men amongst us, is in our Merchants Voyages, and this is a great and an im∣portant Seminary of Ships also, as well as of Sea-men; [ Perfect Ma∣riners, but not Sea-Soldiers bred in Merchants Voyages.] and herein also (though they are seldom and scarcely bred up perfect Sea-Soldiers) yet may they grow to be accomplished both Mariners and Navigators, and be very sufficiently enabled for all Services in Page  68this kind; and therefore (though it were but for this alone) are these Courses in all reason to be protected and cherished, and especially such of them as overreach not in point of di∣stance; and such are those Voyages and Tradings into the bottom of the Streights one way, and into the Sound and those East-Countries another way; for, as for that tedious Travel, which requires a double doubling of the great Cape, I must make it a due and re∣quisite Quaere, whether it make or mar Mariners most? that is, whether there be not as many good Mariners lost by the length of the way, and the often alteration of Air and Climates, as gotten by that Practice and Expe∣rience.

And I promise you, that for my self, I shall demur with you upon this also, and therefore go on in your way.

The sixth and last way of making of Mariners with us, [ The best Sea-Soldi∣ers bred in His Maje∣sties Em∣ployments.] is by the Service in His Majesties Fleets and Ships Royal, and that especially in the time of a War; for herein they may Page  69not only attain to whatsoever can be taught in any of the former ways, but to an addition of being as well Sea-Soldiers as Sea-men: Here may be learned Discipline and Obedience, the use of their Arms, and chiefly of their fiery Weapons, and the Sea-Gunners Art; the most opportune Courses to be held in the sailings out of Fleets, for Comliness, Convenien∣cy and keeping of Company; the best and most proper parts for all Rendez∣vous and meetings again upon any Separation; The Advantages that may be lost and gained in all manner of Chases; the best ways and helps in all Sea-fights; the safest and fittest Forms to be practised upon all occasi∣ons in all Sea fights and Battels upon the Sea; the surest and most probable ways for any Fleet, either to offend another, or secure it self, being put unto it, in any Rode or Harbour, with other the like Dependencies.

But because it is neither to be hoped nor wisht for, that a War should be immortal (though hereby the Spa∣nish Monarchy, and the States ob∣tain Page  70an Advancement of Sea-Strength, as well as Land, beyond all others in the Christian World:) It is therefore a fit Common wealths Act, that every one of these six several Nurseries for∣merly noted, should be well fenced, watered, and manured in their seve∣ral kinds, that so they may altogether and joyntly produce such Fruit and Encrease, as may be pleasing to all true English Hearts, and profitable to the whole English Empire in gene∣ral.

I wish it be so. And with Thanks bid you farewel until to mor∣row.