December 1643: An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, to make Robert Earl of Warwick Lord High Admiral of England.

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.