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PREFACE.

by the sea, that there was noe other way to make themselves considerableto their neighbour nations than by sloping, it is noe wonder that our an-cient kings tor soe many ages have maintained an absolute soverainity inthe narrow seas. Yet wee doe not find they employed any but their sub-jects ships, which though built for trade, upon occasion -were made use offor publicq expeditions, till of latter ages, (when other nations endeavour-ing to be competitors with them) our kings built some ships of their ownas a standing arsenall, to be ready on all occasions, and accordingly settledsome standing officer’s, (the regiment of them.) The most ancient esta-blishment whereof (that I can find) was in the reigne of Henry the Eighth,wherein the officers that were under the lord high admirall were the viceadnrirall of England, the master of the ordinance, treasurer, comptroller,surveyor, and dark of the accounts, called principall officers of the navy ;the surveyor generall of the victualls, storekeepers two clarkes of the checqfor the scverall yards of Deptford and Woolwich, (there being then noemore) the storekeeper of Woolwich being but a substitute to him at Dept-ford, (though since a distinct office.) The master attendant, the mastershipwrite, and boatswaine of the yards, &c. as the navy increased, soesome new officers were erected. The clarkc of the rope yard, formerly abranch of the dark of the checq’s duty, were made distinct places, withmany other petty officers, according to the new occasions ; but as it in-creased in some, soe it Avas abridged in others : the master of the ordi-nance of the na\ r y being discontinued, and his office contracted into thegenerall office of the ordinance. These two great officers of the admiralty,I doe not find, have (of a long time past) satt or acted with the rest of theprincipall officers of the nav} r , the occasion Avhereof, and the conveni-encycs or inconveniencyes Avhich have been, or may be, by their discon-tinuance or restoration, (before I proceed further in this discourse) may beworthy your consideration. .

The principall officers, besides their distinct dutyes in their original con-stitution, appeared to have been as a counsell to the lord high admirall in

his