Greenwich Hospital, etc. Act 1695

VI. Registered Seamen absenting themselves from the Service, or not repairing thereto upon Summons as herein mentioned;

not being detained by Sickness, &c. attested on Oath,; or absenting or relinquishing the Service without Consent of the Admiralty,; to lose the Benefit of this Act and serve Six Months without Pay, but not to suffer as a Deserter.

Provided allwayes and be itt further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any such Mariner Seaman Waterman Fisherman Lighterman Bargeman Keelman or Seafareing-man registred as aforesaid shall dureing the tyme of actuall Warre withdraw or absent himselfe from the Service of His Majesty His Heires or Successors in His or Theire Shipps or Navy and shall not within Thirty Dayes next after due Summons or Warneing from the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admirall of England or any Three or more of them now being or the Lord High Admirall of England or the Commissioners for the executing the Office of Lord High Admirall for the tyme being or any Three of [X1 them or the Commissioners of the Navy for the tyme being or any Three of them or such Persons as shall bee appointed by the King for keeping the said Register or any Three of them or by the Vice-Admiralls of the severall Counties or theire Deputies,] repaire on board such of His Majesties Shipps whereunto hee shall belong or by them to bee appointed to bee putt on board such of His Majesties Shipps whereunto hee shall bee directed not being detained by Sicknesse or other bodily Infirmity attested by the Oath of Twoe credible Witnesses to bee allowed by the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admirall of England or any Three or more of them now being or by the Lord High Admirall of England or any Three or more of the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admirall of England for the tyme being [X1 or the Commissioners of the Navy for the tyme being or any Three of them or such Persons as shall bee appointed by the King for keeping the said Register or any Three of them or by the Vice Admiralls of the severall Counties or theire Deputies] or if any such registred Mariner Seaman Waterman Fisherman Lighterman Bargeman Keelman or Seafareing man shall absent him or themselves or relinquish the Sea Service of His said Majesty His Heires or Successors without the consent of the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admirall of England or any Three or more of them now being or the Lord High Admirall of England or Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral for the tyme being or any Three of them first had and obtained in Writeing for that purpose that then every such Mariner Seaman Waterman Fisherman Lighterman Bargeman Keelman or Seafareing-man soe neglecting or refuseing to appeare on board upon such Notice as aforesaid or who shall absent him or themselves or relinquish the said Service without such Consent as aforesaid shall for ever loose the Benefitt of this Act and serve in His Majesties [X2 Navy] Six Moneths without [X3 any] Pay but such Person for such Offence onely shall not suffer as a Deserter.

Editorial Information

X1 annexed to the Original Act in a separate Schedule.

X2 Service, in King's Printer's Copy.

X3 interlined on the Roll.