December 1643
[7 December, 1643.]
Ordinance to appoint the E. of Warwick Lord High Admiral of England.
The Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament, taking
into Consideration the great and faithful Services done to the
King and Parliament by Robert Earl of Warwick, both by Sea
and Land, and his great Experience, Judgement, and Fidelity,
in Maritime Affairs, do Order and Ordain, That the said Robert
Earl of Warwick shall be Lord High Admiral of England, &c.
And they do hereby Ordain and Establish him the said Robert
Earl of Warwick Lord High Admiral of England, Ireland, and
Wales, and the Dominions and Isles of the same, of the Town of
Callice and Marches thereof, of Normandy, Gascoigne, and
Gwines, and Captain General of His Majesty's Seas and Navy
Royal; and they do hereby give him full Power and Authority,
in his own Name, and under his own Seal, as Lord High Admiral
of England, &c. to issue, out of the High Court of Admiralty,
Warrants and Writs for the arresting of Ships and Persons, in
all Maritime and Civil Causes; and to constitute and appoint
Vice Admirals, Judges, Registers, Marshals, and all other Officers
requisite and necessary for the Judicatures for Civil and Maritime Causes, and Captains, Masters, Pursers, Gunners, and all
other Officers requisite and necessary for the Navy; and to do
and execute all other Things belonging and appertaining to the Office of Lord High Admiral of
England, Ireland, and Wales, in as full and ample
Manner as ever any Lord High Admiral formerly did, might, or
ought to have done; to have and to hold the said Office of Lord
High Admiral of England, Ireland, Wales, &c., with all Fees,
Profits, Rights, and Emoluments, thereunto belonging and
appertaining, until the said Office shall be otherwise settled or
disposed by both Houses of Parliament: And the said Lords and
Commons do hereby further Order and Ordain, That the said
Robert Earl of Warwick, and all Vice Admirals, Judges,
Registers, Marshals, Captains, Masters, and other Officers of Ships,
and all others acting under him in the said Office, shall be by
them saved harmless and indemnified, for all Acts that they
shall do according to their several Offices: And finally the said
Lords and Commons do hereby Order and Ordain, That a Patent
shall be drawn of the said Office of Lord High Admiral of
England, Ireland, and Wales, in Manner and Form accustomed,
and according to this Ordinance, in His Majesty's Name, for the
said Robert Earl of Warwick, and sealed and passed under the
Great Seal of England by the Commissioners lately established
by the said Lords and Commons, who are required, and shall be
hereby warranted, to seal the same; and, in the mean Time, the
said Robert Earl of Warwick shall be and execute the Place of
High Admiral of England, as is before Declared.
And forasmuch as Algernoone Earl of Northumberland was
displaced by His Majesty from being Lord High Admiral of
England for his Obedience to the Commands of both Houses of
Parliament, the Lords and Commons do therefore Declare, That,
by this Ordinance, they do not weaken their Intentions, expressed
in their Declaration of the 11th of July, 1642, concerning the
said Earl of Northumberland; but will perform them in such a
Way as by the Wisdom of both Houses shall be thought fit.