English Prize Money Proclamation
1664
His Majesty, with much satisfaction taking notice of the great resolution and cheerful forwardness of the seamen and mariners in the present service necessarily undertaken for the honour and defence of his dominions, and the commerce and trade of his subjects, and resolving to give due reward and encouragement to their valour and faithfulness, hath thought fit, (by the advice of his Council), to publish and declare:
That all captains, seamen, and others that do or shall serve in any of his Majestie's own or merchant ships imployed in his service shall, (for time to come, in lieu of all prizes), have and receive from his Majesty for every ship or prize they shall lawfully take, whether merchantmen or men of war, laden or light, the sum of ten shillings for every tun the said ship shall measure, according to the ordinary rule of Shipwrights' Hall, and six pounds, thirteen shillings, and four pence for every piece of ordnance, whether iron or brass, the same to be paid by the collector for prize goods within ten days after the payment of the wages of such seamen, (in case adjudication be made of the ship in the Admiralty court), to be shared and divided amongst them proportionably according to the respective places and offices in the ship in which they served, and according to the custom of the seas in that case.
And further that it be lawfull for all captains, seamen, and others serving as aforesaid to take and have to themselves as pillage without further or other accompt to be given for the same, all such goods and merchandise as shall be found by them or any of them in any ship they shall take in fight as prize upon or above the gun deck of the said ship, and not otherwise. And for every man of war sunk or destroyed by firing or otherwise, to have ten pounds a gun, onely to be divided as aforesaid, to be paid by the commissioners for prize goods within ten days after the payment of the ship as aforesaid, upon certificate of the matter of fact stated by the Councel of war.
That care shall be taken for the defraying of the charges of sick and wounded as aforesaid, and for the relief of widows, children, and impotent parents of such as shall be slain in the service at sea, and for meddals or other rewards to such officers and seamen of the fleet as shall be found to have done any eminent or extraordinary service.
And that for supplying of necessary provisions for sick and wounded men on board, there shall be allowed by his Majesty five pounds for six moneths' service for every hundred men.
That upon the discharge of sick and wounded men from the ships in his Majestie's service, care shall be taken for the payment of their tickets and conduct money.
That directions shall be given to all mayors, bailiffs, and other magistrates in any port towns, to take care of all necessary accomodations, at the charge of his Majesty, for the relief and care of such wounded men as shall be sent on shoare.
That the moyety of all hospitals in England employed for the cure of wounded and sick people be reserved, during the time of war at sea, for such as shall be wounded in the service of the navy, as they shall become void, from and after the 1st of November.
R.G. Marsden, Documents Relating to the Law and Custom of the Sea. (London: 1916), II:51-53.