11

IV. COURTS OF ADMIRALTY SESSIONS.

13 RICHARD II. stat. 2, c. 5.] What things the admiral and 13 RICH. II. his deputy shall meddle.1

ENGL. [A.D. 1389.]

stat. 2, c. 5. Engl stat.

1389.

13 Richard II. stat. 2, c. 5.] Forasmuch as a great and common clamour and complaint has been oftentimes made before this time, and yet is, for that the admirals and their deputies hold their sessions within divers places of this realm, as well within franchise as without, accroaching to them greater authority than belongeth to their office, in prejudice of our lord the king, and the commons law of the realm, and in diminishing of divers franchises, and in destruction and impoverishing of the common people: It is accorded and assented, That the The admiral admirals and their deputies shall not meddle, from henceforth, meddle with of any thing done within the realm, but only of a thing done upon the sea, as it hath been used in the time of the noble land. prince, king Edward, grandfather of our lord the king that now is.

shall not

things done

upon the

15 RICHARD II. c. 3.] In what places the admirals' jurisdiction 15 RICH. II. doth lie.

ENGL. [A.D. 1391.]

15 Richard II. c. 3.] Item at the great and grievous complaint of all the commons made to our lord the king, in this present parliament, for that the admirals and their deputies do

This office of admiral, irrespective of naval distinctions, has been, time out of mind, exercised in England by a high officer, or magistrate, appointed by the crown, by the title of lord high admiral, having the government of the royal navy, and (in his court of admiralty) the determining of all causes belonging to the sea and to offences committed thereon. The office was last held by the duke of Clarence, anterior to his accession as William IV. to the crown of Great Britain and Ireland [1830]. It is now, and has usually been, executed by commissioners, who, by statute 2, William and Mary (Post), have the same authority as the lord high admiral. The judicial and executive functions of this

office have long been separated. The
commissioners, usually six in number,
are removable at pleasure of the crown,
and retire on each political change of
ministry. The duties of the lord high
admiral, or "the commissioners for exe-
cuting his office," are now confined to the
executive government and discipline of
the navy and maritime forces of the
united kingdom and its colonies, and to
matters connected with trade and navi-
gation, given to them by statute.
The judicial functions are vested in a
judge or delegate, who presides as judge
in the high court of admiralty of Eng-
land for the trial of all matters in his
jurisdiction. Vide Stats, post. Also vol.
ii. Tit., COURTS OF VICE ADMY.

c. 3. Engl. stat.

1391.