by Indenture after they themselues were made Free of this Company But such as are or hereafter shall be admitted a free Brother of this Society Gratis that is to bee vnderstood onely in their owne persons and no otherwise CCCXXII And it is further Ordered that any person or persons his Maiesties Subiects may from henceforth be admitted a free Brother of this Company by redemption That is to say a meere Marchant shall pay Fifty pounds and all others of whatsoeuer Profession vocation or Trade shall pay one Hundred Markes for their seuerall Fines at their admissions by the Gouernour Deputy and Committees CCCXXIII All the Apprentizes of this Company and also such Factors who shall haue serued them faithfully Seauen yeares in the East Jndies shall bee made Free Brethren of this Company CCCXXIIII It shall be lawfull for the Gouernour or his Deputy with the greater number of the Committees to admit into this Society Gratis any Noble or well deseruing persons who haue merited or may by them bee thought worthy to receiue such fauour from the Company paying onely the Officers Fees and XX. s. to the Poores Box at the time of their seuerall admissions CCCXXV All such as shal be made free Brethren hereafter of this Company shall take an Oath in the presence of the Gouernour or his Deputy and Sixe Committes at the least before they be admitted into this Society CCCXXVI From henceforth all such as are to be made Free of this Company by Patrimony or by Seruice shall require the said Freedome within Twelue Monthes after they are capeable of the same Pena Fiue pounds except by motion made in a Court of Committees they shall haue further time granted them Penalties or Fines CCCXXVII GENERALLY whosoeuer in Office for this Company shall bee found to breake any of the Companies Lawes or Orders through wilfull neglect or insufficiency to the performance of his charge hee shall be forth with Displaced and also bee further proceeded against according to the quality of his Offence CCCXXVIII It is Ordered and agreed that all such as hereafter be chosen Gouernour Deputy Treasurer or Committees of this Company and doe refuse or will not take the said Offices vpon them shall Forfeit and pay to be freed thereof for One whole yeare such reasonable Fines as the generall Court shall thinke good CCCXXIX The Forfeitures which hereafter are to be payde by the Committees for absence or late appearance in their Courtes and other meetings without lawfull excuse or for vnseemely speaking or wilfull and vnciuill interrupting of each others speach or priuate conferences to the disturbance of their said Courts and the like Shall be imposed from time to time at such rates as the Gouernour or his Deputy with the greater number of the Committees shall see cause for the better effecting of the Companies Affaires and preseruation of Order among themselues CCCXXX It is ordered for pacification of controuersie in Arguments in the Generall Courts and meetings of Committees and of lowde or confused speaches That when the Gouernour or his Deputy commaundeth silence by the stroke of the Hammer that then euery person bee quiet and still Pena XII d. for euery such Offence CCCXXXI For better and more speedy payment of all Debts due vnto the Company by Bond Bill or for Aduentures or otherwise by any Brethren of the same who shall not make payment to the Treasurer or to such other as shall be appointed for that purpose at the time and place limitted and set downe shall forfeit and pay to the vse of the Generall Company besides their principall Debts the summe of XL s. vpon euery C. l. for each Month they shall omit to bring in the same and so after the said rate for a shorter or longer time whether it bee vpon a greater or a lesser Summe of money to be proportioned CCCXXXII All Fines now or hereafter to be Forfeited by the Brethren of this Company for breach of any the Ordinances of the same shal be by him or them presently paide to the vse of the generall Company or charged vpon his or their stocks or Aduentures with this Society to the vse aforesaid or hauing no Stocke or Aduenture with them to suffer Imprisonment during the pleasure of the Company according to the power which is graunted them by his Maiesties Letters Patents Lawes or Orders CCCXXXIII THE Lawes or Orders now made together with his Maiesties Letters Patents to the Company shall be brought by the Secretary vnto euery Court that they may be perused in all occasions which shall happen CCCXXXIIII The Lawes or standing Orders of the Company shall be publickly read in the beginning of a generall Court to bee holden on the last Tuesday of the moneth of May yearely if it be required And then the making of any new Orders or the Abrogating of any of these which are already made shal be offered to the consideration and resolution of the Generality CCCXXXV All Lawes or Orders heretofore made being repugnant or swaruing from these shall henceforth be voyde THE ORDER AND METHOD THAT THE ACCOMPTANTS GENERALL SHALL OBSERVE AND PERFORME IN THE Mannaging and digesting the Accompts of the Company As followeth FOR the more conueniencie in the Mannaging of the said Accompts consisting of so many perticular estates and Aduentures and disposed into such diuersity of imployments and returnes you shall deuide the said Accompts into two Bookes namely two Iournals with their two Lidgers The one whereof shall be the Accompt proper and the other the Accompt currant in each of which you shall handle these perticulars following IN the Booke intituled Accompt proper you shall enter euery perticular mans Aduenture according to the proportion he hath mentioning his name and quality so neere as you may making him Creditor for his said Aduenture in perticular according to the Payments he bringeth and payeth in that the Acquittances giuen per the Treasurers and your Bookes may agree vpon all occasions IN this Booke you shall enter perticularly the payments and satisfaction that is made to euery Aduenturer for his Aduenture as it is taken out by him be it in money or goods plainely shewing wherein and when euery man is satisfied his Aduenture and you shall in these Bookes charge no man for any thing saue what is deliuered on his Stocke IN this Booke likewise you shall enter euery yeares totall imployment sent to Sea be it Merchandize Ships Victuals or Charges incident after the same shall be first at large and after perticularly contracted and digested in the Bookes of the Accompt currant which you shall yearely by a parcell of Ballance bring ouer to this Accompt and here in one accompt enter plainely and distinctly the Merchandize first then the Ships with their victualling and that yeares charge successiuely that it may readily appeare what euery yeares imployment and charge amounteth vnto and wherein it consisteth IN this Booke you shall also enter all Factors Accompts both for Sales and imployments
being absent at the next Court they come vnto and that they keepe their meetings in all occasions of businesse for the Company XVIII The Gouernour at his pleasure shall sit in any Court or Assembly of Committees ordinary or extraordinary except the matter doe concerne himselfe and he is to moderate the Courts causing grauety and good order to be obserued XIX He is to haue care that all the Orders of the Courts be duly performed and that the Committees or other Officers appointed to seuerall businesses doe prosecute the same and giue reasonable Accompt of their doings to the Court XX. The Gouernour vpon receipt of publique Letters from th Indyes shall presently assemble a Court of Committees and in their presence and by their Assents shall cause them to be opened registred and after read in open Court And the like shall be performed with all the Letters directed to particuler men from the Companies Factors or Commanders in the Indyes XXI Hee is to propound and put all thinges to question which the Court shall require being not contrary to his Maiesties Letters Patents or the standing Orders of this Company XXII The Gouernour is to attend his Maiesty and the Honourable Lords of his Counsell vpon all occasions requisite and to be accompanied with such persons as the Court shall appoint Deputy XXIII THE Deputy in all matters which concerne the Company is to assist the Gouernour in whose absence he shall performe his Office to keepe the Courts vpon all occasions requisite and in them hee shall haue a double voyce XXIIII Hee is to haue care that the Gouernour take his Oath openly in Court when he is chosen or being absent at the next Court he commeth vnto Generality XXV A Speciall care is to bee had in the choyse of the Gouernour Deputy Treasurers and Committees that they be not onely fit men and of the best experience in Marchandizing but also such as may and will attend the busines XXVI In matters which concerne the Company all the perticular members thereof shall be subiect to the generall Courts And if any man refuse to obey the said Court hee shall be both Disfranchized and further proceeded against as the cause shall require XXVII All the perticular members of the Company who haue vnderwritten any Aduentures in the present second Ioynt Stocke or shall hereafter vnder-write Aduentures in any other Stocke or Voyage shall bring in their iust proportions of money vnto the Treasurer of the Company at the times appointed by a generall Court wherein if any man faile he shall pay the Brokes imposed vpon such defaults And also if vpon further warning and a certaine day giuen him by the said Court hee doe neglect to make due payment the Company haue power to Disfranchize him XXVIII And whereas it falleth out at the setting forth of any Voyage or at the returne home that good Summes of money is sodainly to be taken vp at Interest for payment of mens wages and other occasions for which diuers perticular men of the Company are intreated by the Court of Committees to giue their Bonds It is therefore ordered and agreed for the better security and incouragement of such as shall at any time hereafter giue their Bonds to this effect That they shall not onely be saued harmelesse by the generall Company but also for their better indempnity they shall likewise haue seuerall Counter-bonds vnder the Companies Seale if they shall so thinke good XXIX It shall not be lawfull for any man to transport his Aduentures to another man otherwise then in open Court of Committees and not before it doe appeare vnder the Accomptants hand that the party transporting is not indebted or his Aduenture engaged vnto the Company XXX If any man in Office or otherwise a member of the Company be found through Bribery or corrupt Reward directly or indirectly receiued to preferre a Suter performe a Bargaine make a motion in Court or doe any other thing tending to the hurt or damage of the Company he shall forthwith be made vncapeable of any Office in the Company and also be fined as the Court shall see cause XXXI Euery man speaking in Court shall stand vp and be barcheaded and shall addresse his speach to the Gouernour or Deputy in his absence as representing the Court and all priuate speaches or directed to particuler persons shall be forborne XXXII No man in Court shall speake aboue thrice to one matter saue the Gouernour and the Deputy being to moderate the busines XXXIII No man with his Speach shall interrupt the Speach of another before he haue finished except the Gouernour or in his absence the Deputy see cause to put any to silence for impertinency or other vnseemely speaking and such persons as doe obstinately offend herein shall be Fined at the discretion of the Court. Treasurers XXXIIII THE Office of the Treasurers is to keepe the generall Cashes of the Company for receipts and payments In which they shall performe nothing concerning Payments without sufficient Warrant from the Gouernour or his Deputy and foure Committees at the least vnder their handes to vouch the parcels in the Audite of their Accompts onely the payments to Aduentures vpon Stocke shall passe by the Warrant of the Auditors in the Courts of Committees XXXV They shall giue perfect Acquittances to all the Aduenturers or any others who pay in Summes of money to the Company and they shall likewise for their discharge take plaine Receipts for euery parcell of money which they shall pay forth vpon Warrants XXXVI They are to keepe a Cash of purpose for all the Spanish Ryals which shall be receiued and Issued for the Company XXXVII They shall at the dispatch of any of the Companies Ships deliuer vp vnto the Accomptants a true and perfect note of euery Chest or bagge of Ryals seuerally setting downe the numbers of Peeces and the iust Weight to the end they may bee Inuoiced accordingly vnto the Factors in the Indyes XXXVIII They are to keepe the Bonds and other Billes for Debts owing to the Company and to call for the payment of all when they fall due XXXIX In the first Court of Committees after euery Quarter day they shall there signifie in writing what Summes of money the Company are indebted at Interest XL. They are to acquaint the Court of Committees with the names of such Aduenturers or other Debtors who neglect to bring in their monyes at the due times so that some speedy course may bee taken for Recouery of the Debts XLI They are to haue the Custody of his Maiesties Letters Patents to the Company also all the Orders Letters Directions and other writings from his Maiesty the Lords of his Counsell and other great Officers together with the Letters from the East India Company in Holland and the Coppies of the seuerall Answers made vnto them Also the Companies common Seale the Treaty with the Dutch and Contracts for bargaines All which Writings together with the Companies
CLVI And the said Chirurgion generall shall assist the Committees to hire vnto the Shipping and voyages of this Company skilfull and honest Chirurgions and their Mates at such reasonable rates of wages as possible he may and he shall acquaint and shew them from time to time all such Medicines and things as shall be furnished into the Chests of which they are to take charge for the voyages CLVII He shall vse diligence to furnish vp all the said Chests in such due times that they be hereafter brought vnto the Companies house foureteene dayes at least before there shall be occasion to ship them that so euery perticular thing may be seene and allowed by those Committees Doctors Apothicaries or any others whom the Court of Committees shall please to appoint for that purpose CLVIII He shal at the returne home of the Companies Ships from the Indies receiue also giuen a Receipt to be accomptable to the said Company for the Chirurgions Chests Tooles Medicines Ingredients of all which he shal take a due accompt of the ship Chirurgion when he deliuereth vp his chest Keepers of Anchors and Stores in the Downes CLIX. HEE shall haue charge of the Companies Cables Hawsers Anchors Boates or any other prouisions already sent or hereafter to be sent into the Downes and shall keepe a true Accompt in his Booke of euery perticular setting downe orderly the time and the parties name from whom he shall receiue such things shall giue them Receipts for their discharge CLX He shall vse diligence when any of the Companies Shippes arriue in or neere the Downes to see them speedily furnished with such part of the said prouisions as they shall need or require and for what he shall so deliuer he shall take a Receipt for his discharge of the Master and Purser of such Ships whereof he shal giue present notice by his Letters vnto the Gouernour Deputy and Committees that so they may demaund an accompt of all accordingly Cowper Boatmaker Caruer Mast-maker Paynter Ioyner CLXI THey shall in their seuerall places performe their workes in due time substantially and well wrought according to such agreements and rates as now are or hereafter shall be bargained with them in the behalfe of the Company CLXII They shall keepe a true Accompt of all the Materialls whatsoeuer which shall be deliuered them from time to time by the Companies Officers or any others to the performing of their said works and so the said Accompts orderly kept of each Ships Materials by themselues they shall deliuer vp together with those Accompts which they shall giue in for their owne workmanships thereby to receiue satisfaction payment from the Company CLXIII They shall once euery weeke at least compare their Bookes with the Companies Officers to see how they agree vpon the perticulars that errors may be auoyded Clarke of the Slaughter-house CLXIIII THE said Clarke shall hereafter vse his best endeuour and diligence to see all those Orders duly performed which are giuen him by priuate Instructions in writing for the pounding killing bleeding cutting salting repacking pickling all other diligences to be vsed in the Slaughter-house for the better preseruation of all the Beefes and Hogges which shall be hereafter packed and shipped for the voyages of this Company CLXV He shall appoint a trusty man to keepe the doore of the cutting Roome who shall suffer no man without good cause to goe out and in and to haue a speciall care that they carrie nothing with them more then their owne setting a Watch likewise ouer the windowes and to search all the Labourers at such times when they leaue worke and depart the Roome CLXVI He shall keepe a true Accompt of the Receipts of all the Beefes Hogs by their waight and thereof shall giue a Copie to the Committees appointed for that businesse that thereby they may cause a Warrant to be framed for the payment of the Debt CLXVII Hee shall likewise keepe a true Accompt of the deliuery of all the said Hogges and Beefes by the number of peeces in each Hogshead waight and to what seuerall Ships plainely setting downe the waste shancks Harborough victuals Sewet Tongues and the like distinctly that the Company may see that all is orderly and iustly issued to their vses and hee shall require sufficient Receipts from the Pursers or others to whom he shall deliuer any thing that they may serue for his discharge in the Audit of his Accompts CLXVIII He shall keepe a true Accompt of the Charges in the Slaughter-house and of the Salt Caske and other things expended there CLXIX He shall also receiue the Remaines of all the victuals whatsoeuer which shall heereafter returne home in the Companies Shippes from the Indies or other places and hee shall giue his Receipts to bee accomptable for the same VVatchmen in the Yard CLXX THE Watchmen shall begin their Watch in the Euening when the Workemen depart out of the Yard and so continue all night vntill the said Workemen at the ringing of the Bell in the Morning returne to their labour againe CLXXI. They shall watch diligently at their standings often calling one to another to preuent sleepe and euery houre when the Clocke strikes they shall walke the Round and likewise ring the Bell in the Yards that the Companies Officers who are lodged there may take notice of their watchfulnesse CLXXII They shall haue charge of the Plugs to performe that worke at due times for which they shall haue allowance as heretofore VVorkemen generally in the Yard CLXXIII ALL the said Workmen shall come to their Labour at appointed times and shall attend to answer to their Calles seuerally for if any of them be absent Then such persons shall not bee entertained into the Companies workes vntill the next call when they shall bee present and apply themselues vnto their Labours CLXXIIII They shall bee obedient vnto the Mr. Shipwright to the Clarke of the Yard the Foremen and other the Companies chiefe Officers who shall haue Authority to direct and order the Affaires of the Yard and shall suffer themselues to be searched by the Porter of the Lodge vpon suspition that they may conuey away any of the Companies Yron workes or other thinges CLXXV They shall not loyter nor hide themselues in the times of worke in the Taphouse or in any other place Neither yet depart the Yard vpon their owne occasions without licence of the Clarke or some other chiefe Officer in his absence CLXXVI They shall not commit or doe any Ryot by Fighting Swearing breaking of Pots in the Taphouse hewing of good pieces of Timber and Planckes into Chips or any other waste or hurt for being conuicted of such defaults they shall pay the Damage and so be presently dismissed out of the Companies workes CLXXVII They shall rebate out of their Wages euery pay day so much money as they shall be found indebted in the Yard to the Taphouse and also to the Chyrurgion after the rate
deliuered the time the parties name his suerties tares trets price and euery other circumstance to make the parcell plaine and perfect and in the Margent to note downe the number of each Warrant CCLXII They shall keepe a true accompt of all manner of charges which they shall disburse to Porters Carmen or the like in the Warehouses and of the Caske or Canuas which they shall receiue to packe or imbale the Companies Goods and they shall likewise render a true accompt of all the Skinnes Wrappers Cotten Wools or other things which shall be sold to the most aduantage of this Company Committees of Ware-houses CCLXIII THE said Committees shall be sixe in number and they shall see all the Merchandize whatsoeuer for this Company safely and orderly lodged in the VVarehouses taking a true accompt of euery Ships lading concerning the quality and quantity of the VVares seuerally and so shall they compare all things by the Accompts from the Jndies to see that the Company be not wronged in their waight number measure false packing or other defects whereof they shall presently acquaint the Court of Committees that such course may be taken for remedy as vnto them shall seeme needfull CCLXIIII They shall ouersee the said Warehouses and commaund that all things there be well and orderly placed so that no part of the Wares may receiue any hurt or be wasted and they shall cause three Locks of seuerall openings to be made to the outward dores of euery Warehouse that so the keyes of two of them may be in the power of two seuerall Committees and the third shall be reserued in the charge of the said Clarke CCLXV. They shall vnder-write the Warrants to the said Clarkes together with the Gouernour or his Deputy for the deliuery of Wares vpon Stocke vnto the Aduenturers or vpon Bils according to the bargaines which shall be made by the Candels or otherwise in which they shall haue a speciall care that nothing be trusted but vpon good security CCLXVI. They shall Audit vp the Warehouse bookes concerning the particular charges disbursed by the Clarkes and take accompt of the Wrappers Skins Cotton Wools and the like to be sold for the vse of the Company Sales of Merchandize CCLXVII THE Custome which hath beene vsed heretofore in selling the Wares of this Company at a generall Court and the Remnants of small value in the Warehouses by the light of a Candle shall be continued onely in some cases excepted where the Gouernour Deputy and Committees shall conceiue it needfull to take some other course for the good of the Company CCLXVIII All aduentures of Stocks which shall hereafter be sold by the light of a Candle in open Court shall be published and put to sale in the names of the Aduenturers of such Stock And it shall not be lawfull for any man either by himselfe or by any others for him to offer price for the said Aduentures onely they haue power in the beginning of euery sale to set downe their lowest rates and then to take their fortune of that which shall follow by the offers of other men Solicitor for Payment of Debts CCLXIX THE said Solicitor shall attend the Warehouses to take notice of all the Wares which shall be intrusted to any man by this Company and shall make the Bils of Debt and procure them to be signed and sealed by the principall Debtors and their Suerties which Bils so signed and sealed he shall deliuer vp to the custody of the Treasurers for this Company CCLXX. Hee shall likewise solicite all the Companies Debtors to bring in their money to the Treasurers at the due time and if hee finde any man negligent or carelesse to discharge his debt hee shall acquaint the Court of Committees thereof that they may take some speedy course for satisfaction Solicitor in the Law CCLXXI. IN all occasions of controuersies actions and suites of Law the said Solicitor shall follow the cause by his owne experience and according to directions of his learned Counsell assigned him by the Court concerning which and all other his proceedings in the affaires of this Company Hee shall from time to time acquaint the Court of Committees and attend their resolutions CCLXXII He shall assist to make contracts couenants and other Writings wherein the Company shall haue any occasion to make vse of his knowledge and endeuours in matters of that kinde Wages CCLXXIII THE Wages or Allowance vnto the Presidents Generals Captaines Commanders Factors and all other Officers in this Companies Seruice wheresoeuer shall be agreed and established by the Gouernour or his Deputy with the greater number of the Committees CCLXXIIII There shall be allowance of two Moneths wages imprested aforehand vnto all such persons as shall serue this Company in their Shipping to the East Jndies and for some speciall reasons there shall be allowance of three Months wages imprested aforehand vnto all the Ship Carpenters imployed in the said Voyages CCLXXV There shall be allowance also of two Months wages vpon Accompt of euery yeares Seruice vnto the Wiues of all such persons as shall be imployed in the Companies Shipping to the East Jndies CCLXXVI All the Factors for the Company in the East Indies shall haue one third part of their wages allowed them there yearely if they require it for maintenance of Apparell and the like after the rate of Fiue shillings sterling for euery Ryall of Eight But the other two third partes shall be paide heere in England vnto their Assignes And the said Factors shall not be entertained into the Companies seruice for lesse then Seauen yeares except onely in some speciall occasions of principall men it is left vnto the discretion of the Gouernour Deputy and Committees to agree with them as they shall see cause CCLXXVII The wages which herafter shall be paide vnto any of the Commanders Factors or Marryners that returne home in the Companies Ships from the Jndies or to the Executors and Assignes of them who happen to dye in the Voyage shall be made vp iustly by the chiefe Accomptant assisted by any one of the Auditors in the presence and with the approbation of one or more of the Committees appointed for entertaining of Maryners and thus by warrant from them all signed the Clarke of the wages shall pay euery perticular man his due reseruing the said Warrants for his discharge in the Audit of his Accompts CCLXXVIII The Companies Officers heere in England vpon yearely Sallary shall haue their wages paide them Quarterly by iust proportions CCLXXIX The said Officers from henceforth shall not take directly nor indirectly any Fee payment or Guift of the Brethren of this Company concerning Warrants Bonds Billes Transportations of Aduentures or any other seruice which ought to be by them performed in their seuerall places but their labours of this kinde shall wholly depend vpon the yearely Sallarie or other rewards which shall be agreed or allowed them by the Court of Committees onely the Secretaries Fees which are