September 1642
[15 September, 1642.]
Whereas we, the Lords and Commons in Parliament now
assembled, have taken into serious consideration, that, during
the Vacancy of the Lord Admiral's Commission, and as the
present Conjuncture of Affairs now stand in this Kingdom, there
is a necessity of employing some Person of Trust and Experience,
to take upon him the charge of Secretary for the Affairs of the
Admiralty, by whose, Care, Diligence, and Fidelity such Services
and Negotiations as appertain not only to the several His
Majesty's Fleets at Sea, but likewise to the Admiralty and His
Navy within the Land, may be transacted from Time to Time,
as Occasion shall require, with the more Fidelity and Expedition;
we, the Lords and Commons, have thought fit (out of the
Confidence we have of your Wisdom, Knowledge, and Experience
in Affairs of this Nature), to ordain, nominate, constitute and
appoint and do by these Presents ordain, nominate, consititue and
appoint you, Thomas Smith, Secretary as abovesaid, to give your
constant Attendance upon both Houses of Parliament, and upon
such Committees of theirs as shall have Relation to the Naval
Affairs, and to act and put in Execution all such their Commands
as they shall think necessary for the Well-governing and Ordering of the Admiralty Affairs at Home, or of the Fleets abroad,
and to perform and do all other Thing and Things as may tend
to the Advancement of the said Affairs, and as hath been accustomed or ought to have been done, by any Secretary of the
Admiralty heretofore; and for your Indemnity of the Execution
of this Service, we, the said Lords and Commons, do likewise
Declare and Ordain, That neither you, nor any under you, yours
nor their Heirs or Executors, shall, at any Time hereafter, undergo
or sustain any Loss or Damages, for whatsoever Services you or
they shall do in Obedience to this our Ordinance, and according to the Commands you shall from Time to Time receive from
us, or the Committee for the Navy authorized by us, to regulate
you in: And, for your further encouragement herein, we, the said
Lords and Commons, in Consideration of your Care and Pains in
the Naval Affairs, and your Attendance on us or the Committee
aforesaid, etc. as Cause shall require, do hereby give and grant
unto you, the said Thomas Smith, for you and your Clerks, the
Yearly Allowance of Two Hundred Pounds, which shall be paid
unto you by the Treasurer of the Navy for the Time being, by
even Portions, Quarterly, the said Treasurer being hereby fully
authorized to make Payment of the said Sum as aforesaid,
from Quarter to Quarter, for so long Time as you shall be
employed, by virtue of this our Ordinance, in the Affairs of His
Majesty's Navy; the first Payment to begin the Five and Twentieth
Day of December next ensuing the Date hereof.