IAMES BY THE GRACE OF GOD King of England Scotland France and Ireland defendor of the faith c. To all to whom these presents shall come greting Whereas wee are credibly informed as well by our right trustie and right welbeloued Cosin and Counselor Charles Earle of Nottingam Lord high Admirall of England and Captaine Generall of our Nauy Royall as also by our principall officers of our said Nauy how slenderly and deceiptfully aswell our owne Ships and Barges as also other Shippes Boates Pinnaces like vessels of our Marchants and other our subiectes vsed in continuall seruice and trafficke are made and wrought to the great losse danger and preiudice of vs and our said subiectes and also of the great needlesse and wastfull charge and expences which wee doe from time to time beare and susteine in building and repairing of our owne Shippes and Pinnaces which are and haue beene the chiefest and greatest defence of this our Realme from the assaults of such enemies as haue practized the ouerthrow of the same Wee weighing the manifould dangers losses and hinderances which might and were likely more and more to ensue thereof if speedy remedy be not therefore had and prouided And intending to prouide for the strengthning of these our Kingdomes and Dominions with sufficient Shipping for defence and seruice thereof And to th' intent that aswell our selfe might from time to time be furnished stored and supplied with the fittest and ablest Ship-wrights and worke-men for the building making and repairing of our owne Shippes Pinnaces and other vessels As also that our Marchants and other our subiects might also in their worke and building from time to time be stored and supplied with skilfull able and sufficient Ship-wrights and work-men And for the better suppressing of deceiptes and abuses of diuers persons which should take vpon without sufficient skill and knowledge to make or repaire any Shippes Boates Pinnaces or other vessels to the great danger and hindrance as well of our selfe as of diuers other our louing subiectes Wee did by our Letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England bearing date the two and twenteth day of Aprill In the yeare of our raigne of England France and Ireland the third and of Scotland the eight and thirteith Incorporate the Company of Ship-wrights and the Persons being Ship-wrights or Carpenters vsing the art or mistery of building and making of Shippes within our Realme of England and dominion of Wales by the name of Maister Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mistery of Ship-wrights of England and did grant vnto them by our said Charter or Letters Pattents diuers Preuiledges Liberties and immunities mentioned and contayned in the saide Letters Pattents tending to the reformation of the saide Abuses and deceites And whereas diuers defects and imperfections haue been sithence by experience found to be in the said Charter aswell in the extend thereof to what persons it should extend As also in the want of sufficient aucthoritie and meanes to gouerne and order the said Corporation and the men and members thereof and the affaires of the same and the Shipwrights workemen apprentices and seruants vsing the said art and for want of power and meanes to reforme preuent order and correct many contempts misdemeanors deceits and offences in the said art or misterie and the matters and things thereunto appertaining and to punish stubborne obstinate and disobedient persons of that profession whereby manifold errors deceits inconueniences are stil practised and continued to the great hindrance of the Nauigation of this kingdom the often losse hazard of mens liues and goods and the especiall preiudice of our owne seruice and the Common-wealth Know yee that wee for reformation amendment and supplie of the defects and imperfections aforesaid and for redresse of the said great and manifold errors enormities deceits and inconueniences at the Petition of the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and for the great desire wee haue that good and conuenient lawes orders and ordinances should be established and vsed in and about the Corporation and Companie and the said Art or Misterie and for the aduancement of the good estate of the Shipping and Nauigation of this Kingdome to the good seruice both of our selfe and the Common-wealth Haue of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion granted constituted and ordained and by these Presents for vs our heires and successors doe grant constitute and ordaine That all and euery person and persons being Ship-wrights Calkers or Ship-carpenters or in any sort vsing exercising practising or professing the Art trade skill or misterie of building making trimming dressing grauing launcing winding drawing stocking or repairing of Ships Caruels Hoyes Pinnaces Crayers Ketches Lighters Boates Barges Wherries or any other vessell or vessels whatsoeuer vsed for Nauigation fishing or transportation within or about our Realme of England and dominion of Wales or of making trymming or repairing of Masts Toppes Pullies Pumpes for ships Oares or any other instruments or appurtenances of wood thereunto belonging or any other Carpentrie worke whatsoeuer belonging to or vsed occupied or imployed in or about any Shippes Pinnaces or other vessell or vessels aboue mentioned or in any sort appertaining to shipping sayling rowing stocking launching or Nauigation shall from henceforth foreuer be and shall be taken and accounted to be one body Corporate and politique in matter deede and name By the name of Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith in the Countie of Surrey and them by the name of Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith in the Countie of Surrey wee doe for vs our heires and successors really fully and wholly erect make ordaine create incorporate constitute and declare by these presents one body corporate politique in matter deede and name And wee will and by these presents for vs our heires and sucessors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion doe graunt to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors for euer That they by the said name of Master Wardens and Cominalty of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid shall from henceforth haue perpetuall succession And that they and their successors by the said name of Master Wardens Cominaltie of the said Art or Misterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid be and shall be at all times hereafter a bodie Corporate and politique able capable in deed in law to haue hold occupie enioy possesse and retaine all and singuler vsages customes liberties priuiledges immunities iurisdictions franchises preheminences benefits profits and commodities whatsoeuer to them heeretofore granted or belonging or heereafter to be graunted or belonging or incident requisite or fitte to or for them or for such a Corporation to haue and enioy of what kind nature or qualitie soeuer they shall be to them and their successors for euer And that also by the same
Citie of London and the Sheriffes Iustices Constables and other officers and ministers of the said Citie for the time being And also the seuerall Mayors of our Cities of Bristoll and Rochester and of our seuerall Townes of Yarmouth Plymouth Dartmouth Ipswich Southampton Woodbridge Hull and Newcastell respectiuely for the time being And all other Mayors Sheriffes Iustices of Peace Bayliffes Constables and other officers and ministers of vs our heires and successors whatsoeuer within our said Realme of England and Dominion of Wales That they and euery of them be from time to time and at all times heereafter helping aiding and assisting to the said Master Wardens and Cominalty and to their successors and to euery or any of them for the time being and to euery of their deputie or deputies Officer or Officers for the time being for euer aswell in and for such search view and suruey so to be made as aforesaid As also for and in the execution of all and singuler graunts ordinances lawes constitutions and orders heerein contained or heereafter vpon or by vertue of these presents to be made allowed and approued in all things according to the true intent and meaning of the same vpon paine of our high displeasure and as they will answere the contrary And these our Letters Patents or the Inrolement thereof shall be good and effectuall in the Lawe to the said Master Wardens and Cominalty and their successors to all intents constructions and purposes against vs our heires and successors for euer Any Act of Parliament statute Law Prouision Proclamation restraint or other matter cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Prouided alwaies that these our Letters Patents or any thing therein contained shall not in any wise extend or be construed to extend or be preiâ—ditiall to our Cinque-Ports or to the liberties or members of the same or any of them or to any Iurisdiction power or aucthority of the Lord-warden of the Cinque-Ports for the time being which hee hath or in any wise or sort hee ought or may lawfully vse exercise or claime to or with the office of the Lord-warden of the Cinque-Ports or of any other office or offices belonging incident or appertaining to the said office of Lord-warden of the Cinque-Ports Any graunt power priuiledge matter or thing before in these presents contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Although expresse mention of the true yearely valew or certenty of the premisses or of any of them or of any other gifts or graunts by vs or any of our Progenitors or Predecessors to the said Master Wardens Cominaltie before these times made in these presents is not made Or any statute act ordinance prouision Proclamation or restraint before this time had made set forth ordained or prouided or any other thing matter or cause whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding In wittnesse whereof wee haue caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witnesse our selfe at Westminster the sixt day of May in the 10. yeare of our Raigne of England France and Irland and of Scotland the fiue and fortieth To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come Thomas Lord Ellesmere Lord Chauncellor of England Sir Thomas Flemming Knight Lord cheef Iustice of England and Sir Edward Coke knight Lord cheefe Iustice of his Maiesties Court of Common Plees Send greeting in our Lord God euerlasting Whereas in a certaine Act or Statute in the Parliament holden at Westminster the fiue and twentieth day of Ianuary in the Nineteenth yeare of the Raigne of the late king of famous memory Henry after the conquest the seauenth made and ordained for the weale and profit of the subiects it was amongst other things ordained established and enacted that no Master and Wardens and fellowship of Crafts or Misteries or any of them no rulers of guildes or fraternities should take vpon them to make any Acts or ordinances ne to execute any Acts or ordinances by them theretofore made in disinheritance or diminution of the Kinges Prerogatiue or of others nor against the common profit of the people but if the same Acts and ordinances were examined and approued by the Chancellor or Treasorer of England or cheefe Iustice of either Bench or three of them or else before the two Iustices of Assises in their Circuit or Progresse in the Shire where such Acts or ordinances be made vpon paine or forfaiture of xl li. for euery time that they doe the contrary As by the said Act of Parliament doth and may appeare Know you now that Phinees Pett Master of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith in the County of Surrey and William Bright Nicholas Symonson and Nicholas Clay now Wardens of the said Art ot Mysterie with the whole Assent and consent of the Assistants of the same willing and desiring the said Act of Parliament in all and euery thing to be duely obserued and kept the twentieth day of Iuly in the yeare of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defendor of the faith c. the tenth and of Scotland the fiue and fortieth haue exhibited to vs a certaine Petition containing diuers Articles Acts and ordinances for the better order rule and gouernment of the said Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights and of the person and persons now practising and professing or which heereafter shall practise or professe the said Art or Mysterie or any thing thereunto appertaining dwelling and inhabiting or which heereafter shall dwell and inhabit within the Realme of England or Dominion of Wales and for the Common weale and conseruation of the good estate of the said Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights And haue instantly desired vs that wee all and euery their Acts and ordinances heereafter mentioned by them to vs exhibited would examine and approue and them and euery of them to correct and amend in due and conuenient manner and forme as the said recited Act of Parliament requireth Wee well perceiuing and considering their said supplication to be good and acceptable according to their said desires and by the aucthoritie of the said Act of Parliament to vs giuen all and euery their Acts and ordinance so to vs exhibited haue seene read wel vnderstood and all and euery of them examined corrected and reformed the tenor whereof heereafter followeth viz. Inprimis it is ordained that vppon the day of election of new Master and Wardens of the said Corporation the same Master and Wardens so to be elected shall choose foure persons whereof two to be of the Assistants and the other two to bee of the better sort of the Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie who are not Assistants who haue called the Auditors of the said Company for the Accompts and reckonings of all such Officers and Accompts of the said Art or Mysterie are or ought to be Accomptable for or concerning any money goodes plate profits or
by their said Charter there is an oath to be administred to the said Master Wardens and Assistants and also to Iorney-men vpon their admittance and noe fourme of the said oath set downe It is ordered and decreed that the fourme of the said oath shall bee as followeth That is to say The Oath of the Master You shall be true to our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiestie his heires and successors and you shall endeuour your selfe the best you can iustly lawfully and indifferently to execute and cause to be executed your Office of Master so farre forth in euery respect as lawfully you may And in like manner shall obserue and cause to be obserued all the good and lawfull Orders Ordinances and Constitutions herein contained and heereafter to be made for the common good weale and profit of the said Corporation and all the grants powers and aucthorities granted by the Kings Maiestie to the Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights of Redrith in the Countie of Surrey without sparing any person for affection meede dreade or promise of reward during the time you shall remaine and be in the said Office of Master And of all and euery such goods plate and summes of money or any other thing or things that by reason of your said Office shall come to your hands or possession you shall according to Th'ordinances heerein specified make a good true iust and plaine accompt or else pay such fines as you shall be ordered to pay for your not so doing You shall not for any malice nor for loue or affection assesse any person in a greater or lesser summe than after the quantitie and qualitie of his offence according to your discretion and according to th' ordinances in these presents mentioned So help you God 43 The like Oath for the Wardens and Deputies respectiuely mutatis mutandis The Oath of the Assistants You shall sweare that you shall bee true to our Soueraigne Lord the Kings Maiestie his heires and lawfull successors and you shall indeauour your selues so farre forth as you lawfully may to the best of your skill aswell for and concerning the giuing and vsing your faithfull aduices and counsell to the Master and Wardens of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith in the Countie of Surrey for the time being for their more better execution of their said Offices And to giue vse your faithful aid and assistance in euery respect as much as in you lyeth and lawfully you may doe for the due obseruation of all the good and lawfull ordinances heerein contained or heereafter to be made according to the true intent and meaning of the same and of the powers grants and aucthorities granted by the Kinges Maiestie to the Master Wardens and Cominaltie without sparing or impeaching any person or persons whatsoeuer either for affection or malice or in respect of any reward meede dread or promise of reward during the time you shal be an Assistant touching the said Art or Mysterie So help you God 44 The Oath of euery one that is made free You shall be true to our Soueraigne Lord the King to his heires and successors you shall be obedient from time to time in all matters lawfull to the Master and Wardens of this Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights for the time being and readie to come to their lawfull summons except you haue a lawfull excuse Or else you shall pay such reasonable penalties as you shall forfait for your disobedience according to the Ordinances heeretofore made by the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie Which Ordinances and euery of them to your power you shall obserue and keepe and all the lawfull counsels of the Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie which at any time of assembly shall lawfully be had in Communication among them then at their common Hall you shall keepe secret not disclose the same to any person of the same Cominaltie nor to any other especially to any such person whom the same matter doth concerne and touch So help you God All which Ordinances and constitutions in manner and forme aforesaid at the request of the said Phinees Pett Master of the said Act or Mysterie of Ship wrights and of the said William Bright Nicholas Symonson and Nicholas Clay now Wardens and Cominaltie of the same by aucthoritie and vertue of the said Act of Parliament made in the said nineteenth yeare of King H. 7. Wee the said Chauncellor and cheefe Iustice of either Bench aforesaid haue seene read examined and perused and for good laudable and lawfull Ordinances constitutions and Oathes so far as we lawfully may wee doe allow and approue by these presents In witnesse whereof wee haue heereunto subscribed our names and set to our seales the tenth day of September In the yeares of the Raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames by the grace of God King of England France and Ireland defendor of the faith c. the tenth and of Scotland the fortieth THO. ELLESMERE Cane THO. FLEMING EDVV. COKE The preamble The reasons and ground of this Charter Who are to bee of the Corporation The name of the Corporation To haue a Common Seale To haue a Master three Wardens and sixteene Assistants Nomination of the first Master Nomination of the first Wardens Nomination of the first Assistants The day of election of Masters Wardens To bee remoueable for misdemean or and others chosen To be fined for refusall or neglect To appoynt Deputies in remote places Their duty and office To haue a Clarke Power to choose inferior officers To take in any person to bee of the company and again to displace them Keeping retayning of Apprentices To be bouÌ„d and enrolled at their Common Hall Courts and consultation Power to make lavves Offendors to be fined Power to leauie and recouer duties fines c. by distrease or action of Det. Restraint from discouery of the secrets of of the trade PunishmeÌ„t of such as shall depart from their worke and be mutinous Hearing of complaints Searches surueyes Power to trade beyond the seas Surueying of Tounage Power to punish Imprisonment of offendors Freedome from Size or Sessions Submission to the Charter Power to purchase The Kinges charge The Preamble Election of Auditors Election of Stewards The company to heare a sermon vpon the election day For prouiding a dinner vpon the election day Election of Beadles For hauing a Chest with foure lockes and keyes Searches and surueies None to be set to worke vnles he hath beene aprentice to the trade For distinction approbatioÌ„ of Mr. workemen Admittance of yard-keepers Taking of apprentices Binding enrolling and presenting of Apprentises Formerly bound to be enrolled at the Hall Making of Indentures Setting ouer of Apprentices Submission to the ordinances Appearance at the Hall vpon summons Restraining of worke on Sundaies Against inticing away of prentices Contributions for maintenance of the Corporation Suppressing of conspiracies against Charters and ordinances None of the company to reuile another Payment of quarterage Perfecting the company in the Knowledge of the Trade Coming to departure from worke Continuance at worke begun Tonnage of Ships poundage vpon old taske worke Poundage of persons that goe to Sea No insufficient person to goe to Sea Keeping of monthly quarterly Courts Restraining of worke to any forraine Prince Yeelding vp of accompt Deciding of controuersies To restrane the discouery of the Secrets of the trade For imployment so the company at their dweling places An order for Calkers Buriall of the Assistans Freemen to be imployed be one Forrayners Diâ—strayning for Fines Deputy Assistants in the Thames Oath of the Maister c. 1612
reason of such ill stuffe the vse of all which sappy and red-wood other insufficient stuffe we do hereby for vs our heires and successors straightly prohibit and restraine to be vsed or imployed in any sort in or vpon any shippe or other vessell And our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors grant vnto the said Maister Wardens and Comminalty and to their successors for the time being That it shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants for the time beeing or the greater part of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens to bee alwaies two to impose and inflict such punishment vppon euery offendor in that behalfe either by fine or imprisonment or both of them as by the lawes and statutes of this Realme or by any lawes or ordinances to bee made by the said Corporation as is aforesaid shall or may bee imposed or inflicted vppon them for their offence in that behalfe Or otherwise that the said Master and Wardens or any two of them or such other person or persons so authorized as aforesaid and which vpon the search shall find any of the deceipts and abuses aforesaid shall complaine thereof to some Iustice or Iustices of the Peace within the place or county where such deceipts and abuses shall bee found And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and command all and euery our Iustice and Iustices of the Peace whatsoeuer to whom any such complaint or complaints shall so bee made as is aforesaid that they and euery of them shall by all good and lawfull waies and meanes examine and find out the truth of the said complaints abuses and deceipts And if vpon due examination thereof they shall find that any such abuses and deceipts haue beene commited as aforesaid That then they cause the party or parties so offending to be indited or otherwise punished for such his and their abuses and deceipts either before our Iustices of Peace in the county where the same abuses and deceipts shall be committed and found at their Sessions of the Peace or before the Iustices of Assize of the same county or before any other lawfull Iudge or Iudges to the end that the said person or persons so offending may receiue such condigne punishment as by the lawes and statutes of this Realme can or may bee inflicted vpon him or them for his or their offence or offences in that behalfe And our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heyres and successors straightly charge and command the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mistery and their successors for the time beeing that once in euery month at the least such search bee made as is aforesaid And that the authority heereby in that behalfe to them giuen be put in due execution without any respect of persons or partiality whatsoeuer Prouided alwaies neuertheles and our will pleasure is that neither the Master nor Wardens of the said Art or Mistery for the time beeing or any their Deputy or Deputies so authorized to search as is aforesaid shall not by coullor of these Letters Pattents meddle with or doe any thing to the hinderance stay or preuention of any Shippe Pinnace or other Vessell that is or shall bee at the time of such their search as aforesaid ready to go forth for any intended voyage or iourney or the Master Owner Marriner Saylors or other Officers of the same Any thing in these presents to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding And further of our meere especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors graunt vnto the said Master Wardens and Comminalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship-wrights of Redreth aforesaid and their Successors for the time beeing That it shall and may bee lawfull to and for all and euery person and persons lawfully vsing or exercizing or which heereafter shall lawfully vse or exercize the said Art or Mistery by themselues their seruants or Deputies at any times heereafter to buy and prouide in any the places beyond the seas all such timber Plancks Masts Deales Sparres wood and wooden stuffe and also all Pitch Tarre Rozen and Oyle as they shall thinke necessary or conuenient for the building reparing grauing or fitting of Shippes Pinaces or other Vessels and the same so bought and prouided shall and may from time to time for euer heereafter bring or cause to bee brought into this our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales or any part or place thereof and the same discharge and lay on Land paying to vs our heires and successors the full custome poundage and other dueties due or which heereafter shall bee due to vs our heires or successors Any Law Statute Custome Proclamation or any other matter cause or thing to the contrary notwithstanding And whereas for the better mainteinance of Nauigation and incouragement of our louing subiects to increase shipping within this our Realme there is and hath bin of ancient time an allowance giuen by vs and our predecessors of fiue shillings sterling for euery Tunne of any new builded Ship to be rated according to the burden of the said ship so as the said ship did containe in burden one hundred Tonnes or vpwards in Tonnes and tonnage which laudable custome wee being pleased to continue and finding it also conuenient aswell for the auoiding of abuses that might be offered in rating and setting downe the tonnage of the said ships and otherwise as also that the builder might haue his right and due allowance of tonnage to appoint some person or persons of knowledge and experience for the surueying and ouerseeing of the true rates and tonnage in that behalfe Wee did by our Letters Patents vnder the great Seale of England bearing date the 24. day of Aprill in the third yeare of our raigne giue and graunt to Iohn Grent gentleman for and during his naturall life the Office and place of Surueyour of the tonnage and burden of all new builded Shippes of the burden aboue mentioned or vpwards from time to time within this our Realme of England together with the wages and fee of twelue pence by the day of lawfull money of England for the exercising of the said Office or place together with all and singuler other Fees profits commodities and allowances whatsoeuer to the same place or Office in any wise due incident or appertaining with a Prouiso or clause therein mentioned that the said Iohn Grent in the rating and setting down of the tonnage burden of the saidnew builded ships from time to time should vse the aduice and assistance of one of our ship-wrights to be nominated and appointed by our High Admirall of England for the time being And that all and euery such bill and bills of tonnage as should be presented to vs to be signed
ordained that no person or persons practizing or professing the said Art or Mistery or any thing thereunto appertaining shall from hence forth retaine imploy or set to worke any Ship-wright Carpenter or professor in the said Art or Mistery vnlesse he shall haue serued therein as an apprentice seauen yeares at least and whosoeuer shall offend therin shall forfaicte and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation forty shillings of lawful money of England 9 Item it is ordayned that the said Master and Wardens shall forthwith duly examine inquire and informe themselues how many persons of the said profession are at this present able and fitt and of sufficient knowledge skill and practise to be alowed and continued as Maister-workemen in the said Art or Mistery And them and euery of them at a generall Court or assembly shall admit and cause to be registered in the booke of Ordinances of the said Corparation And that from thence forth noe person of the said Corporation shall take vpon him the charge or place of a Maister-workman in the saide profession or any thing therevnto apper taining or the doing or performing of any worke or busines by the day or great either in making building grauing trimming or repairing of any Ship Pinnace Boate or other vessell or in directing guiding leading or hauing the charge or ouersight of any busines worke or workmen in the said Art or Mistery vntill he shall haue serued therin seauen yeares or more as an Apprentice and shall bee approued licenced and admitted by the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them by writing vnder the common seale of the saide Corporation to be a sufficient worke-man And whosoeuer shall offend contrary to this Ordinance shall forfaicte and pay to the said Maister and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation fiue pounds of lawfull money of England 10 Item it is ordained that no person or persons of the said Corporation shall from henceforth bee admitted to take vpon him or them to be a yard keeper except hee be thereunto licenced and alowed by the said Maister Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them whereof the Maister and two of the Wardens to be alwaies three by warrant in writing vnder the common seale of the said Corporation vpon paine of forfaicting to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Coporation fiue pounds of lawfull money of England for euery month that he shall keepe a yard contrary to this Ordinance 11 Item it is ordayned that noe person or persons of the said Corporation Art or Mistery shall from hence forth keepe any Apprentice at all vntill he shall haue beene an apprentice seauen yeares or more in the said Art or Mistery or shall be alowed to be a sufficient worke-man by the said Master Wardens and assistants or the greater part of them And that no Iorneyman shall retaine or keepe any more then one Apprentice at any one time vntill he be alowed and licensed to be a master work-man Nor any master worke man shall haue or take aboue the number of two Apprentices at any one time vntill he shall be an Assistant of the said Corporation Nor any Assistant aboue the number of three at any time vntill he shall be a Warden of the said Corporation Nor any person being or hauing beene a Warden aboue the number of foure at any one time vntill he shall be Master of the saide company nor any person beeing or hauing beene a Master aboue the number of fiue at any one time And whosoeuer shall offend this ordinance shall forfaicte and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation fiue pounds of lawfull money of England Prouided alwaies that it shall be lawfull to and for euery person and persons hereby authorized to retaine or keepe one or moe apprentice or apprentices at any time within the space of two yeares before the expiration of the tearme of any such apprentice to take another prentice to succeed him that is growing nere the end of his time as aforesaid And that two apprentices in this case shall be accompted but as one 12 Item it is ordained that noe person of the said Art or Mistery shall retaine or keepe any person in the said profession aboue three months before he bring him to the Hall or place appointed to be there bound apprentice by the Clarke of the compay or his deputie or deputies for seuen yeares at the least not to expire before he be foure and twenty yeares old and to be there enrolled before the said Master and Wardens or two of them or before their deputies in remote places according to the true intent and meaning of his Maiesties Charter in that behalfe paying such ordinary alowances for the same as heretofore hath beene vsually accustomed that is to say two shillings sixe pence for presenting sixe pence for enrolling and foure pence to the Beadle And whosoeuer shall offend in binding his Prentice else where shall forfaict and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery such offence forty shillings of lawfull money of England and for euery weeke that he shall keepe him vnbound after the said three months ten shilling of like money 13 Item it is further ordered that for all apprentises formerly bound elswhere their Maisters shall within three months next ensuing vpon paine of forty shillings to be imployed to the vse of the said Corporation bring their Indentures to the said Clarke or his deputies to the end the same may be by him regestred and enrolled for which they shall pay such fees and alowances as are before expressed viz. two shillings sixe pence for presenting sixe pence for enrolling and foure pence to the Beadle 14 Item it is ordayned that all Indentures for prentices of the said Corporation shall be from henceforth made by the Clarke of the said Company for the time being or his deputies for which he may receiue and take the vsuall alowance of sixtene pence a pare vpon paine of forfaicting for euery pare made elsewhere to the vse of the said Clark three shillings foure pence of lawfull money of England And it is further ordered that the foresaid charge of presenting binding and enrolling shall be paid by the friends of the prentice except the Master be otherwise contented 15 Item it is ordayned that noe person or persons of the said Art or Mistery shall bargaine sell giue or set ouer his prentice or prentices without the special priuity licence and consent of the said Master and Wardens or their deputies in remote places to the end they maye forsee that they may be set ouer to such as may lawfully take them and shall be able to teach them their trade and find them all things necessary vpon paine to forfaict to the said Master and Wardens to the vse
of the said Corporation for euery such offence forty shillings of lawfull money of England And if it hapen any person of the said Corporation to dye and depart this life leauing any apprentice who hath serued two yeares or aboue of his tearme It is ordayned that it shall be lawfull for the widdow of the party deceased to make her best benefit of him during her widdow-hood that shee can And that vpon request made to any Master workeman of the said Art or Mistery that he hath meanes to imploy him hee shall set him to worke for such reasonable wages as he is able to earne But if at the time of his Masters decease he shall not haue serued the full time of two yeares or that the widdow die before the expiration of such apprentiship or that his Master shall giue ouer his profession That then it shall be lawfull for the said Master and Wardens and their deputies to assigne and set ouer euery such apprentice to such persons as they shall thinke conuenient And if they refuse so to serue them to correct and punish them according to the quality of the offence and person 16 Item it is ordayned that euery person of the said profession shall vpon reasonable warning in that behalfe giuen repaire and come to and before said Master Wardens and assistants or foure of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two or before their deputies at such time and place as shall be by them appoynted and then and there respectiuely shall yeeld their consents and willingly subscribe their names and take their corporall oaths to be ministred by the said Master and Wardens or their deputies to doe their best endeauor to and for the due performance and execution of his Maiesties Charter in al points according to the lawe and of all and singular such wholesome and lawfull ordinances constitutions and orders as by vertue thereof are and shall be made approued and alowed and so yeeld himselfe and be registred a freeman of the said Art or Mistery At which time of such alowing and registring euery Master Worke-man shall pay to the said Master and Wardens a fine of fiue shillinges euery yard keeper thirtene shillings foure-pence euery Iorney-man three shillings sixe-pence or lesse according to the discretion of the said Master and Wardens for and to the vse of the said Corporation And whosoeuer shall offend in any part of this ordinance shall for euery time so offending forset and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the use of the said Corporation twenty shillings of lawfull money of England 17 Item it is ordained that the said Master and Wardens or their deputie or deputies in remote place or places within the Realme of England and Dominion of Wales or either of them by their beadle or other Officer for that purpose to bee appointed at any time or times as often as they shall thinke fitte summon and warne all person and persons of the said Art or Mysterie to come and appeare before them either at the common Hall or at any other conuenient place or places respectiuely And that euery person so lawfully summoned for what cause soeuer it bee concerning the needefull affaires of the said Art or Mysterie which doth not come and appeare at the day time and place accordingly hauing no iust cause of excuse shall forfait and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for his contempt and failling at the first time twelue pence at the second time two shillings at the third time foure shillings and so euery time increasing double vntill hee or they summoned doe make their appearance But if any of the Assistants of the said Art or mysterie shall bee summoned to appeare at the Hall or other conuenient place vpon a certaine day and hower appointed which hower vppon euery Court day shall bee eight of the clock in the morning at the furthest and shall make default not alleadging a reasonable excuse shal be sent in writing to the said Master and Wardens at the place and hower appointed hee shal forfait to the said Master Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery default at the first time two shillings at the second time foure shillings at the third time eight shillings and so euery time increasing double vntil he shal make his appearance to be paid satisfied by the said Master and Wardens before he shal be admitted to sit downe or take place againe amongst them And if any person vpon demand made shall refuse or deferre to pay the said fine or fines imposed vpon him or them as aforesaid hee shall forfait and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery time so refusing or deferring twenty shillings of lawfull money of England 18 Item it is ordained that no person of the said Corporation shall worke or cause to be wrought any thing in or about the said trade vpon any Sunday vpon paine to forfait sixe shillings and eight pence for euery offence to the said Master and Wardens the one halfe thereof to bee to the vse of the said Corporation and the other halfe to him that will informe thereof being a Ship-wright or Officer belonging to the said Corporation 19 Item it is ordained that no person of the said Corporation shall at any time counsaile intice procure or perswade any seruant or apprentice of the said profession to any disorder or dishonest vnlawfull action or to leaue or forsake his trade or calling or vnlawfully to depart or runne away from his Masters seruice either before or after he is bound And whosoeuer shall offend therein shall forfait and pay for euery such offence to the said Master and Wardens to the vse aforesaid the sum of fortie shillings of lawfull money of England or else to be corrected according to the quality and condition of the person 20 Item it is ordained that if any apprentice of the said Art or Mysterie shall at any time complaine to the said Master and Wardens or to any their deputies for lacke of meat drinke apparrell or for any vnlawfull correction or misuseage Or if any Master shall complaine of his apprentice for any matter of misdemeanor whatsoeuer That then in euery such case it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens or any their deputies or any two or three of them to send for the partie against whom any such complaint is made and to take such order therein as they shall thinke agreeable to iustice and equitie which whosoeuer shall refuse to stand to shall bee punished by reasonable fine or otherwise according to the quantitie and qualitie of the offence and person And the like course and order shall be holden against disobedient seruants and prentices in correcting and punishing them when their stubbornes shall be growen to such a head or height as