the better establishment of this our good intention and purpose and for the perpetuall and constant continuance direction rule and gouernment of the whole body of the said Art or Mysterie and euery member thereof wee will and ordaine That on the morrow next after the said feast of Saint Bartholmew the Apostle yearely heereafter the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights aforesaid for the time being or the greater part of them for that intent and purpose to be assembled at or in their common House or Hall shall elect choose and nominate one person who hath formerly beene Warden of the said Art or Mysterie to be Master of the said Art or Mysterie for the next yeare then following and shall at the same time elect choose and nominate out of the said Assistants three that shall likewise be Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie which said Master and Wardens so as aforesaid nominated elected and chosen shall be and continue Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie vnto the said terme of one whole yeare then next ensuing and further vntill some Master and Wardens shall be respectiuely elected preferred and chosen thereunto they and euery of them first taking a corporall oath vpon the holly Euangelists before the Master and Wardens being their last predecessors or any two of them or before the Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie or the greatest part of them for the due execution of their seuerall Offices respectiuely and also the oath commonly called the Oath of Supremacie which Oathes wee doe by these presents giue power and authoritie to the said Master and Wardens for the time being or any two of them or to the said Assistants or the greater part of them to minister and take of the person and persons so elected accordingly and then euery such Master Warden and Wardens so remoued shall then instantly be chosen elected to be assistant or assistants and so to remain assistant or assistants in the roome and place of him or them that shal be so chosen out of the said assistants to be Master Warden and Wardens first taking his or their corporall oath or oathes before the then Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them for the due execution of their said Offices and places of assistants before they take vpon them the execution of the same which Oath wee doe likewise giue power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And further our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors grant ordaine and appoint that the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greatest number of them so often as any offence or misdemeanor shall happen to be committed or done by any of the said Master Wardens or Assistants shall and may congregate and gather themselues together in their Common Hall and shall and may haue power and aucthoritie to remoue any or so many of the said Master Wardens and Assistants as they shall finde to haue committed any such Offences or misdemeanors from their said place or places and elect others in his or their roome according to the forme heerein expressed and that when and as often as it shall happen the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any of them to die and depart out of this life or otherwise for any reasonable or lawful cause be remoued or be dismissed from his or their or any of their Office or Offices of Master and Wardens aforesaid or any of them within the yeare wherein they or any of them shall be so elected and chosen as is aforesaid That then and so often it shall and may bee lawfull to and for the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie then for the time being or the greater part of them within fifteene daies next after such death dismission or remouing of such Master or Wardens or any of them to nominate preferre elect and choose any able and sufficient person or persons out of the said Assistants in the steed and place of him or them so dying remoued or dismissed to be and continue Master and Wardens or Master and Warden of the Art or Mysterie aforesaid for and during the residue of the same yeare and from thence vntill some other person or persons shall be elected and chosen vnto the said Office or Offices of Master and Wardens or Warden of the said Art or Mysterie according to the ordinance and prouision in these presents expressed And that this course shall from time to time be taken as often as the case shall so require And that hee or they so nominated chosen and preferred to any of the Office or Offices aforesaid before he or they shall enter into the execution of the said Office or Offices shall take a corporall Oath vpon the holy Euangelists before the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie being their last predecessors or any two of them for the due execution of the said Office or Offices and also the oath commonly called the Oath of Supremacie which Oathes we doe by these presents giue power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens for the time being or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And if it happen any of the Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie to dye or to be remoued from their or any of their said offices of Assistants for some reasonable cause That then and so often it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them then being or remaining within conuenient time after the death or remouing of any the Assistant or Assistants as aforesaid to choose or make one or moe person or persons being of the most honest discreete skilfull and sufficient Shipwrights or workemen of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie to be Assistant or Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie To continue in the said Office or Offices during his or their naturall life or liues except they or any of them for some reasonable cause shall happen to be remoued out of their said Office or Offices as aforesaid First taking his or their Corporall Oath or Oathes before the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them well and truely to execute the said Office or Offices in all things concerning the same And that so often as the case shall require which Oath wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors giue full power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presents grant and ordaine That if any person or persons
or Mysterie To bee and continue in the said Office during the terme of his naturall life vnlesse he for some misdemeanour shall be remoued dismissed or shall surrender the same Which Office wee will shall be vsed and exercised by himselfe or his sufficient deputie or deputies such as the said Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them shall allow of And that from time to time and at all times after the death surrender or remouall of the said Richard Newman the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them shall or may choose name and make any other discreete man to be Clearke of the said Art or Mysterie And that he which shall be so chosen and made Clearke of the same Corporation Art or Mysterie after the death remoueall or surrender of the said Richard Newman as is aforesaid shall and may exercise and enioy the said Office of Clearke of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the terme of his life The said Clearke so to be nominated after the death or remouall of the said Richard or his surrendor of his Office as aforesaid first taking his Corporall Oath vpon the holy Euangelists before the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them well and truely to execute the said Office of Clearke of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie in all things appertaining to the said Office to the vttermost of his power according to his skill and knowledge and so often from time to time as often as the case shall require which Oath wee do by these presents giue full power and aucthoritie to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them to minister and take accordingly And further our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors giue and grant to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid and their successors That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their successors for the time being or the greater part of them from time to time when and as often as occasion shall require or to them in that behalfe shall seeme conuenient likewise to name and appoint any other inferiour Officers Ministers and members as shall be needfull and expedient in to or for the said Corporation Art or Mysterie or the good gouernment and affaires thereof and the same and euery or any of them from time to time and at all times at their like will and pleasure to displace remoue put out or discharge and him or them or others in his or their place roome or steed so remoued expelled displaced or discharged to take in againe place or appoint of new and in like manner to doe and performe when and as often as he they or any of them shall fortune to die or to depart this life before hee or they be so remoued expelled or discharged And also wee will and grant by these presents for vs our heires and successors to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors That the said Master Wardens Assistants and their successors for the time being or the greater part of them shall or may from time to time and at all times heereafter at their like will and pleasure admit receiue and take whatsoeuer person or persons being our naturall borne subiects as well within this our Realme of England as in other our dominions and places being vnder our obeysance and not otherwise which would bee and are or shall be willing and desirous to bee of the said Corporation as a member or members thereof and that all and euery person and persons so to be admitted receiued and taken in by the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the more part of them shall from the time of his or their admission be called and accompted a brother and member or freeman of the said Corporation indeede and in name And also that the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them shall or may again at their will and pleasure when and as often as to them or the greater part of them in that behalfe it shall vpon good and iust occasion seeme most meet and expedient remoue displace and discharge all and euerie such person or persons so admitted receiued and taken in as aforesaid of and from the said corporation And to th' intent that as well our selfe our heires and successors as also our Marchants and other our subiects may from time to time heereafter be better furnished stored and supplied with cunning skilfull and sufficient Ship-wrights and workemen of that kinde for the making building and repairing of Ships Pinnaces and other vessels and for the auoiding suppressing or preuenting as much as in vs lieth of the manifold abuses and deceits therein daily practised and committed by such persons as are altogether vnskilfull hauing neuer beene trayned or brought vp as apprentices in the said Art or Mysterie according to the lawes and statutes of this our Realme of England Wee doe therefore of our more especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion for vs our heires and successors will and grant to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights of Redrith and to their successors for euer That euery freeman of the said company shall and may from time to time heereafter haue take and keep one or moe apprentice or apprentices to be trained and brought vp vnder him in the said Trade Art or Mysterie of a Ship-wright And that euery such apprentice shall bee by couenants bound by and to his Master that shall so entertain him as aforesaid duly and truly to serue him as his apprentice for and during the full space and terme of seuen yeares at the least and to be ordered and vsed to all intents and purposes according to the custome of the Citie of London And that the same couenant of apprentiship to be made by writing indented and registred or enrolled at their Common hall before themselues in their said Corporation by their Clearke or his sufficient deputie or deputies for the time being and that such enrolement shall be good and effectuall in the law to all intents and purposes against vs our heires and successors and against all person and persons whatsoeuer Any law statute custome or vsage to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding Willing and by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charging and commanding that no Shipwright Calker or Shipcarpenter or any other being a Freeman of the said Corporation and vsing exercising practising or professing the said Trade Skill Art or Mistery of building making trimming dressing grauing launching drawing stocking or reparing of any Shippes
or warned to appeare vpon any such Iuries or enquests could not nor cannot plead or alleadge the said former Letters Pattents nor these presents or the priueledges and authorities hereby giuen and granted vnto them for their discharge in that behalfe whereby diuers issues fines and amercements are many times returned against them contrary to our true intent and meaning Wee doe therefore graunt for vs our heires and successors vnto the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and their successors for euer That if any issues fines and amercements shall be returned forfeited or imposed by or vppon any of the said person or persons of the said Corporation Trade Art or Mistery for or in respect of not doing or not performing of any of the said seruices or other things whereof they are hereby exempted or freed or mentioned to be exempted or freed That then the same person or persons his or their heires executors administrators and assignes and euery of them and all his and their landes tenements goods and chattels shall be for euer freed and discharged of and from the same issues fines and amerciaments and euery of them And wee doe require and commaund the Barons of our Eschequer that in respect of the pouerty of many that are to be releeued in this case they giue them all expedition and ease in the proceedings and pleading for their discharge in that behalfe And because this Corporation of Ship-wrights hath bin principally instituted made for the mainteinance and encrease of Nauigation and for the better and more substantiall making building and repairing of ships and also for the trayning vp instructing of Ship-wrights Ship-carpenters labourers and workemen to make them more ready able and skilfull for seruice All which things do very greatly concerne the defence safety wealth and profit of our selfe our Kingdomes and subiects Therefore wee doe not onely straightly charge and command all and euery person and persons which are or shall be of the Cominaltie of this Corporation That they doe dutifully submit themselues to such good and wholesome lawes statutes and ordinances as shall be heereafter ordained and made by vertue of these Letters Patents for the gouernment rule order and direction of this Corporation and of all the members thereof But wee doe also straightly require charge and command all Masters Wardens and Assistants deputies and other the principall Officers of this incorporation now being and that heereafter shall bee That they and euery of them in their seuerall Offices and places doe carefully diligently and circumspectly looke to the due and seuere execution of all such lawes statutes and ordinances so to be made as aforesaid that the same may be truely performed and accomplished according to the tenor and true meaning of the same vpon paine of our heauy displeasure and indignation and of such punishment and imprisonment as by our lawes may be inflicted on them and euery or any of them wherein our meaning is to extend the greater punishment vpon such as hauing offices and places of trust and charge committed vnto them shall by wilfulnesse negligence remisnesse partialitie or otherwise offend themselues or suffer others to offend in those things whereof they ought to bee the reformers and redressers and at whose hands wee expect to receiue and haue amendement and reformation of all offences that shall bee committed by any others in that behalfe And forasmuch as the pouertie of Ship-wrights and persons belonging to the said Corporation is now much more increased then in former times and not able to be releeued supported and maintained by the duties and reuenues of the said Corporation which heertofore they haue had or were enabled to haue being so small in yeerely value Therefore and to the end the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and their Successors may bee from henceforth the better enabled from time to time to beare and sustaine their charges and expences drawne and occasioned by reason of the Corporation and to releeue and maintaine the poore of the same wee haue of our more especiall grace certaine knoledge and meere motion giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe giue and graunt vnto the said Master Wardens and Comminalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship wrights of Redrith aforesaid and to their successors especiall licence and free and lawfull faculty power and authority that they their successors for euer shall and may not onely haue receiue and purchase to them and their successors for euer to their owne proper vse and behoofe as well of vs our heires and successors as of any other person or persons whatsoeuer Mannours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions Seruices and other Hereditaments whatsoeuer which are not held of vs our heires and successors in chiefe or by Knights seruice nor of any other by Knights seruice So alwaies that the same Manours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions or Hereditaments by the said Master Wardens and Comminalty or their successors so to bee receiued purchased obtained or had as aforesaid doe not exceed the cleare yeerly value of forty pound by the yeere aboue all charges deductions and reprizes The Statute of Lands Tenements not to bee put in Mortmaine or any other Statute Act or Ordinance prouision restraint or any other matter cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And further wee haue giuen and graunted And by these presents for vs our heires and successors wee doe giue and graunt special licence and ful free power authority to any and euery of the subiects of vs our heires and successors and to all and euery body and bodies Corporate and Politique and other person and persons whatsoeuer and to euery of them That they and euery of them shall and may giue graunt bequeath assigne or by any wayes or meanes whatsoeuer alnie deuize or assure vnto the said Master Wardens and comminalty and to their successors for euer any Mannours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions Seruices and other Hereditaments whatsoeuer which are not held of vs our heires or successors in chiefe or by Knights seruice or of any other by Knights seruice So that the same Mannours Lands Tenements and other the premisses so as aforesaid to bee giuen graunted assigned or deuised doe not exceed in the whole the cleare yeerely value of forty pound per annum aboue all charges deductions and reprizes The Statute of Lands and Tenements not to bee put in Mortmaine or any other Act Statute Ordinance Prouision or restraint or any other matter cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And finally we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and command Aswell the Lord Admirall of England for the time beeing and also the Iudge of our Admirality and principall Officers of our Nauy and al Viz. Admirals Marshals Sergeants and other officers of our Admiralty As also the Lord Mayor of our
well and honestly carry behaue and demeane him and themselues towardes the Master Wardens and Assistants of the faid Art or Mistery for the time being and their deputy or deputies or other inferior officers respectiuely according to the true intent and meaning of these presents but after due and conuenient warning notice or admonition giuen to him or them in that behalfe shall still wilfully and obstinately persist perseuere or continue in any wilfull stuborne obstinate or disobedient course tending to the hurt and preiudice of vs our heires and successors or any our louing subiects or the order rule and gouernment aforesaid either by insufficient negligent or deceitfull working or not performing of his or their duties or by purloyning imbeazling of stuffe or by vnlawfull and disorderly departure from his or their worke after he or they haue bene hired and such like or shall doe or commit any act or acts directly or indirectly to the preiudice or hindrance of the said Corporation or the good estate and procedings thereof either by wilfull absenting him or themselues from the Common-Hall and meeting vpon due warning or by deniall of ordinary and iust duties or shall by mutinies combinations conspiracies or any such like wicked or vnlawfull course or practise persist or continue in the wilfull breach neglect or contempt of this our Charter or any thing herein contained or any law ordinance or institution made by force of these presents That then in all and euery or any of these cases before mencioned it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and assistants or any three of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two seuerally to correct and punish such offendor or offendors according to the quantity and quallity of his or their offence or offences according to the lawes and ordinances of the said Corporation and according to the lawes and statutes of the realme in that behalfe respectiuely And whereas the greatest number of the workmen and other persons imployed in the trades aforesaid are soe very pore and nedy and of meane condition as no pecuniary mulct can take hold of them and likewise so rude and disordered as noe ordinary or ciuill censure can moue them to yeelde obedience to rule or gouernment And therefore some sharpe and seuere coertion and constraint must necessarily be vsed towards them in many cases Therefore our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presentes will and ordaine That if any person or persons now vsing or which shall hereafter vse or exercise within the said realme of England or dominion of Wales the said Art Trade or Mistery of Ship-wrights or other the workes or trades aforesaid shall obstinately resist and withstand the gouernment of the said Maister Wardens and Assistants or their lawfull deputy or deputies and shall after admonition and warning giuen vnto them or any of them in that behalfe wilfully persist in such disobedient course either by deceitfull working or by vnlawfull departure from after they haue bene hired or within the time or times of their retainor or shall by combination conspiracies or other vnlawfull practises seeke to ouerthrow destroy and bring into contempt the powers preuiledges and authorities by these presents giuen and granted to the said Maister Wardens and Cominalty and their successors for the vniuersall benifit and good of our said Realme dominion and subiects That theâ—… or in such cases the Lord Admirall of England for the time being vpon complaint and profe therof made to him shall take the body or bodies of all and euery such notorious offendors and keepe them vnder arrest vntill they shall conforme themselues and reforme what they haue done amisse as aforesaide And for so much as a great part of the said Art or Mystery are continually for the most part imploied and attendant vpon the seruice and nauigation of vs our heires and successors We therefore of our especiall grace doe will and grant for vs our heires and successors That the saide Maister Wardens and Cominalty or any of them or their or any of their successors shall not at any time or times hereafter be informed put placed or impannelled in or vpon any Assizes Iuries Inquests or attaintes whatsoeuer before any Iudges Iustices or Commissioners of vs our heires or successors out of the Citties Townes Boroughs Parishes or places where they or any of them doe or shall happen to dwell vnlesse they haue lands or tenements lying out of the said Citties Townes Boroughs Parishes or places by reason whereof they or any of them ought to be charged nor shall at any time be pressed or inforced to serue vs our heires or successors as Land-soldiers but doe absolutely and freely discharge them and euery of them from any such seruice and attendance And wee doe further by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and commaund all and euery Sheriffes Bailiffes and other officers of vs our heires and successors that they every of them doe from time to time forbeare to put or impanel any of the said Maister Wardens and Cominalty or any their deputies or apprentises in or vpon any such Iuries or inquests as is aforesaid contrary to our said meaning intent vpon paine of our displeasure of such paines penalties and imprisonments as by the lawes of this our Realme can or may be inflicted or imposed vpon them or any of them for their contempt in doing contrary to our royall pleasure and commandment in that behalfe And whereas the Master Wardens and Cominalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid and their and euery of their deputies and apprentises being continually for the most part charged and chargeable to be ready and prouided at an howers warning vpon diuers seruices and imployments as well at the Sea for the necessity defence and safety of our realmes and kingdomes and for the use and imployment of our Marchants for continuance and increase of trade and commerce with forraine Nations for the benefit and profit of vs and our subiects as also to giue attendance within our Kingdomes for the new building repairing and triming as well of the Shippes Pinnaces and vessels of vs our heires successors as also of the Ships Pinnaces and vessels of our Marchants and subiects Therefore our will and pleasure is That if it shall hapen the said Maister Wardens and Comminalty or other persons which by the true intent and meaning hereof are and ought to be discharged from such seruice vpon Iuries or Inqâ—ests shall by Sheriffes Bailiffes or other officers ignorantly or wilfully be put and impannelled to serue vpon Iuries and Enquests contrary to our true intent and meaning in that behalfe in certaine our former Letters Pattents graunted and also in these presents renued And that any of the said persons beeing absent from their houses and places of habitation at such times as they were or shall bee sommoned