Deſign of the Commiſſion. HIS MAJESTY by His Letters Patents directed to His Royal Highneſs the Prince of Denmark, and others, ſetting forth His Deſire, That the Trade, Navigation and Naval Strength of the Realm of England (whereupon the Safety and Fouriſhing State thereof does ſo much depend) ſhould by all proper Means be Promoted; and being perſwaded that nothing will more Effectually contribute thereto, than by Encouragements to Increaſe the Number of Engliſh Seamen, as well for the Strengthening the Navy Royal, as for Supplying the Occcaſions of the Merchants: And whereas the Seafaring Men of this Kingdom have long diſtinguiſhed themſelves throughout the World, by their Induſtry, Skilfulneſs, Courage and Conſtancy, in Engagements and Hazards for the Defence and Honour of their Countrey; and nothing being more likely to continue their Ancient Reputation, and invite greater Numbers to betake themſelves to the Sea, than the providing, That Seamen, who by Age, Wounds or other Accidents ſhall be Diſabled, may be Supported at the Publick Charge; and that the Children of ſuch Diſabled, and alſo the Widows and Children of ſuch as be Slain in Sea-Service may be Provided for and Educated: He hath Determined to Erect an Hoſpital for the Purpoſes aforeſaid.

Grant of the Kings Houſe at Greenwich. And in Order to put the ſame in Execution, His Majeſty, with the late Queen, did, by Their Letters Patents Dated the Twenty fifth Day of October laſt paſt, Grant unto Truſtees therein named, a Parcel of Ground in Eaſt Greenwich in the County of Kent, containing and fet out as in the ſaid Letters Patents is fully expreſſed, together with the Palace at Greenwich, Built by King Charles the Second, to the Intent that the ſame ſhall be converted to an Hoſpital for Seamen, their Widows and Children.

And His Majeſty conſidering, That the Conſtituting a Foundation of that Nature, and Framing Rules and Statutes for the Government thereof is a Matter of Difficulty, and ſuch as requires Mature Deliberation; therefore repoſing eſpecial Truſt and Confidence in their known Diſcretions,Commiſſioners appointed. Abilities and Integrities, he hath Appointed the aforeſaid Commiſſioners.

Who are Directed to Meet from time to time, and ſo many as ſhall be preſent,The Quorum. of whom any one of His Majeſties Privy Council, and any one of the Commiſſioners of the Treaſury, and any one of the Commiſſioners of the Admiralty, and the Mayor of the City of London, or any one of the Aldermen of the ſaid City for the time being, to be Four at the leaſt, to conſider of ſuch Methods as they ſhall judge Expedient to be Obſerved in Executing the ſame.

And any Seven or more of them, of whom Four or more to be ſuch as aforeſaid,To take to their Aſſiſtance ſuch as they think fit. are Authorized to take to their Aſſiſtance ſuch Perſons as they ſhall think fit to Adviſe with, in the Execution of this Commiſſion.

And out of their own Number, as often as they ſhall judge it Expedient,To make Sub-Committees. to Conſtitute ſuch and ſo many Sub-Committees, and to Inveſt them with ſuch Powers, as they ſhall think fit, purſuant to the Powers given to themſelves: and to Revoke and make Void, and to Revive the ſaid Committees, and calling to their Aſſiſtance the Surveyor General of His Majeſties Works, and ſuch others as they ſhall think fit, to conſider what part of the Structures now ſtanding will be unfit,To Conſider how the preſent Building may be made ſerviceable. and in what manner ſuch as they ſhall think fit to ſtand may beſt be Alter'd for the uſe of the ſaid Hoſpital, in order to Repreſent the ſame to His Majeſty, and to prepare Models of ſuch Buildings,To prepare Models and Schemes. and Conveniencies, as they ſhall think proper to be Erected upon the Premiſſes Granted, with ſuch Schemes or Draughts as may Explain the ſame, and with all convenient ſpeed to preſent the ſame to His Majeſty for His Royal Approbation.

And a Charter and Statutes to be approved of by His Majeſty.And with the Aſſiſtance of the Attorney or Solicitor General or others His Majeſty's Council Learned in the Law, to prepare a Charter of Foundation of the Hoſpital, and Statutes, Conſtitutions, Orders and Ordinances for the Foundation, perpetual Management, Rule and Government thereof, and all other Matters relating thereto, and to preſent the ſame to His Majeſties Royal Conſideration.

His Majeſty gives 2000 l. per annum to the Hoſpital.And His Majeſty, as an Inſtance of His Princely Zeal to ſo Pious a Work, hath Determined, and doth Declare, That He will yearly cauſe the Sum of Two thouſand Pounds to be paid out of His Treaſury, to the Uſes of the ſaid Hoſpital, without any further or other Warrant to be obtained for the ſame, into the Hands of the Treaſurer for the Hoſpital, at ſuch times as ſhall be deſired by the Commiſſioners.

And not doubting but His Example, and the great Advantage it will prove to the Kingdom, will diſpoſe great Numbers of His good Subjects to the Advancing ſo Charitable a Deſign,The Commiſſiones impowred to receive Subſ •• iptions of Mony, &c. He doth Impower the ſaid Commiſſioners to Take and Receive all ſuch voluntary Gifts or Subſcriptions of Money, Goods or Chattels, Eſtates or Intereſts in any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Hereditaments or other things whatſoever, which any Perſons, Bodies Politick or Corporate ſhall be willing to Give, Beſtow, or Bequeath to the ſame: And requires,To • ake publick Notices of this Commiſſion. That the ſaid Commiſſioners do Cauſe Publick Notification to be made of theſe Preſents, in ſuch manner as they ſhall think moſt conducible to the furtherance of the ſaid Charity.

To • epute Perſons • o take ſubſcripions, &c. And they are Authorized to Depute Perſons, by Inſtruments under their Hands and Seals, to Take Subſcriptions, and to Collect Monies Contributed, and to bring in to the Hands of the Treaſurer; and to diſplace ſuch Deputies, and appoint others as they ſhall ſee Cauſe; and to eſtabliſh Cheques, Comptrolls and Orders, for the due Charging of the Treaſurer, and alſo the ſaid Deputies, and all other Perſons who ſhall be Chargeable with any Monies or other Profits to the ſaid Uſes: And upon ſuſpicion of Fraud,Powe to Examin upon Oath. or Concealments of Monies or other Things Given, to Examin Witneſſes upon Oath, or by any other Lawful means, and to proceed thereupon with effect.

Required to certifie to the Treaſury all Gifts.And They are Required to Certifie, from time to time, to the Treaſury, the Names of the Perſons, Societies, &c. who ſhall Give to this Charitable Deſign, with the Sums of Monies or other Things deviſed, to the end a Perpetual Memorial may be made of ſuch well diſpoſed Perſons, and whereby the Treaſurer may be Charged in his Accounts.

Treaſurer appointed.His Majeſty confiding very much in the Ability and Faithfulneſs of John Evelyn, Senior, Eſq hath appointed him Treaſurer and Receiver General of the ſaid Hoſpital, during His Majeſty's Pleaſure; And in Caſe of his Death or Removal, doth Impower the Commiſſioners or any Seven, of whom Four or more to be as aforeſaid, to appoint One or more Perſons to the ſaid Place of Treaſurer, and ſuch to Remove or Diſplace, as they ſhall ſee Cauſe:The Treaſurer to give Acquittances. And the Treaſurer is Impowered to give Acquittances for all Sums of Monies or other things Received; and ſhall be ſubject to ſuch Comptrolls as ſhall be Eſtabliſhed by the Commiſſioners: His Majeſty ſtrictly enjoyning, That nothing given to the ſaid Uſes, be diverted or otherwiſe applied, than to the Charitable purpoſes mentioned, or to defray neceſſary Charges relating thereto.

Power after His Majeſty has approved the Models, to Proceed and Finiſh.And the Commiſſioners are Impowered, ſo ſoon as His Majeſty ſhall have approved, under His Sign Manual, their Report in that behalf, to take down, or to alter the preſent Structure, in ſuch manner as ſhall be appointed. And after ſuch time as He ſhall have allowed of ſuch Models and Schemes as they ſhall have preſented, as aforeſaid, under His Sign Manual, or otherwiſe, for the Building, Fitting and Furniſhing the ſaid Hoſpital, To Put in hand, Carry on, and Finiſh the ſame, proceeding therein in ſuch Method as to them ſhall ſeem beſt.

All Monie to be Iſſued by Warrants in Writing.And by Warrants in Writing, to direct the Iſſuing of all Monies, for Buying Materials, and other Uſes and Expenditures of the Hoſpital; and all other Charges incident to the Execution of the Commiſſion; And Agree upon, and Set down Inſtructions, for the keeping of the Money brought into the Treaſury, and the Materials, Proviſions and Stores, and for the Iſſuing of the ſame; And appoint in what manner all Books and Accounts ſhall be Kept, Audited and Allowed.

Powers to be given to • ub-Committes.And out of their own Number, and ſuch others as they ſhall chooſe, to make Sub-Committees, and inveſt them with Power to make Contracts, or other Things which they ſhall intruſt them with, purſuant to the Power given to themſelves; and to make Void, and Revive the ſame, as they ſee needful: And they are to Conſider and Determine of all other Matters for the Carrying on this Deſign, till the ſame ſhall be Compleated.

Commiſſ • oners to be accountable each for himſelf only.And His Majeſty doth declare, That the ſaid Commiſſioners ſhall be accountable only for their own reſpective Receipts, Actings and Doings. And doth Grant to the afore appointed Treaſurer, the Yearly Sallary of Two hundred pounds, from time to time to be allowed upon his Accounts. And doth Impower the Commiſſioners to Proceed, Agree and Conclude in all Caſes and Things left undetermined upon His late Commiſſion granted for the purpoſes aforeſaid, Dated the 12th day of March laſt paſt; which Commiſſion is hereby Revoked and Determined.