620 James II. Naval Expeditions, &c. of the English, Book IB’

1688. " Magnificence: For he had a Hun-

“ dred Thousand Pounds a Year al-" lowed him. He was made High" Admiral: And he came to under-" stand all the Affairs of the Sea very“ particularly. He found, all the" great Seamen had a deep Tincture" from their Education. They both“ hated Popery and loved Liberty:rr They were Men of severe Tempers,<c and kept good Discipline : But, in<e Order to the Putting the Fleet int©" more confident Hands, the Duke be-,c gan a Method of sending Pages of" Honour, and other young Persons of<e Quality, to be bred to the Sea. And" these were put in Command, as soon

V-

as they were capable of it, if notsooner. This discouraged many ofthe old Seamen, when they saw inwhat a Channel Advancement waslike to go; who, thereupon, leftthe Service, and went and command-ed Merchant-men. By this Means,the Virtue and Discipline of the-Na-vy is much lost. It is true, we havea Breed of many gallant Men, whodistinguish themselves in Action :But it is thought, the Nation hassuffered much by the Vices and Dis-orders of those Captains, who haverisen by their Quality, more thanby Merit or Service.

- 688 .

The End of the Third BOOK.

A