1638 Thomas Smith. Cal. St. Pap. Earl of Northumberland.
1645 ----? A Committee of both Houses of Parliament.
I have not met with any record of the names of the Secretaries during the period from 1643 to 1649.
1649 Robert Coytmor. Cal. St. Pap. A Committee of the Council of State.
1652 Robert Blackborne. Cal. St. Pap. Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament.
Blackborne had previously held the office of Secretary to the “Navy Committee,” a Committee of the House of Commons. The precise relations existing between the numerous committees and commissions at this period are not very clear.
1653 Robert Blackborne. Cal. St. Pap. Commissioners appointed by Act of the Convention.
1654 Robert Blackborne. Addit. MS. 18,986, Do. by Patent fo. 150 (Letter of the Protector to Blackborne Oliver. from Commissr. Pett).
1658 Robert Blackborne. Admiralty Orders Do. by Patent and Instructions, of the Protector 1656 to 1658 Richard. (Admiralty Library MS.).
1659 Robert Blackborne. Addit. MS. 9,302, Commissioners fo. 183 (List of appointed by Officers and the Rump. Salaries of the Admiralty and Navy before the Restoration).
Blackborne continued to hold the office of Secretary until the appointment of the Duke of York as Lord High Admiral in July, 1660. He is frequently mentioned by Pepys.
1660 *Sir William } Duke of York. Coventry. } From “Mr. } Hewer’s account 1667 Matthew Wren. } of the Duke of York. } Secretaries 1672 Sir John Werden. } of the Duke of York. } Admiralty 1673 Samuel Pepys. } from King King Charles } Charles II.’s II, with a } restoration to Commission. } King James II.’s 1679 Thomas Hayter. } withdrawing, In Commission. } December, 1688.” 1680 John Brisband. } In Commission. } 1684 Samuel Pepys. } (MS. in Pepysian King Charles } Collection, II. (assisted by } “Naval Minutes.”) the Duke of } York). } 1685 Samuel Pepys. } King James II. } 1688 Samuel Pepys. } Prince of } Orange. } 1689 Phineas } In Commission. Bowles. }
1690 James Sotherne. Luttrell, ii. In Commission. p. 10.
1694 William Bridgman. Luttrell, iii. In Commission. p. 341.
1695 William Bridgman Haydn’s “Book of In Commission. and Josiah Dignities.” Burchett, joint Secretaries.
The _date_ of the joint appointment is taken from Haydn, but the _fact_ is proved by Admiralty letters in the Chatham Dockyard Records, which about this time bear the signature sometimes of Bridgman and sometimes of Burchett as Secretary.