the Council for aâ— explananation upon some of the said two and twenty Articles and for further power for the preservation of the said River especially upon the one and twentieth Article to whom the bonds should be made It was Ordered to the Mayor for the time being c. B Also prayed resolution who should repair and mantain the Ballast shoars and Coal-Wharf as is exprest in the nineteenth Article Ordered that as well the Owner as the Tenant be bound to such reparation during the time use was made thereof and onely the Owners afterwards They also humbly craved their resolutions of the sixth Article and twelfth Article who should be at the charge of cleansing the River of the Ballast and pay the Watchmen c. It is Ordered that the Town-chamber defray both the one and the other by reason they receive the profits of the River c. See Chap. 12. 6 Chap. 34. 39. 49. C They also prayed the resolution of the eighth Article for the punishing of Masters of Ships It was Ordered that the Commissioners should take bond * with sufficient Sureties to appear before the Council to answer their contempt and to such as refuse to give bond then the Commissioners to commit them to prison till they give Sureties to answer at London c. See Chap. 41. C Ordered that the Commissioners shall have power for ordering the Wharf and new shoars in every place in that River after they are once erected as well for the strengthning as backing of them with Ballast as with other Earth See chap. 18. F E That the Commissioners there at least shall subscribe every Ticket and the Mayor * for the carrying up of every Keel of Ballast from the ships at Shields to Newcastle ballast shoars for the more faithfull execution of that service See chap. 49. G. * F Ordered that the Commissioners shall have power to order and determine of such rewards as shall be given to every Wherry-man or Fisher-man * or other that shall truly present any offence or offenders against any of the Articles prescribed to be taken out of such Fines Muâ—cts and Amerciaments as shall be imposed upon any the Delinquents against the said Articles See Chap. 39. A * G Ordered that the Commissioners shall have power to cause the ballast already become noysome or in any part of the River or like to do hurt from the Land to be removed to a new Wharf or fit place See Chap. 34. A 35. A. B. CHAP. XV. KIng James on the 14. of April in the seventeenth year of his Reign grants unto Alexander Stevenson Esq and his Assigns for fifty years the whole Castle of Newcastle with all Appurtenances thereunto any way belonging at the Rent of forty shillings per annum except the prison wherein is kept the sons of Belial it being the County prison for Northumberland the said Mr. Stevenson dyed and left Mr. Auditor Darel his Executor and left him that Lease it being all he was like to have towards the payment of the said Mr. Stevensons debts which was due to the said Executor and others amounting in the principal to two thousand five hundred pound besides damages which amounted to as much more who is kept from his right by the instigation of the Mayor and Burgesses upon an Inquisition taken the 18. of August in the 18. year of King James at Newcastle It was found to be in Stevenson and now in his Executors the said Stevenson dyed in October 1640. they claiming a right from one widow Langston relict to one John Laugston Groom Porter c. but that Title the Law will quickly decide upon a legal Trial but the County of Northumberland hath the reversion who is kept from having a free passage to the Assizes by the Mayor and Burgesses who shuts up the gates which is the right passage and at such gates which be open the people of Northumberland coming to do their service at the Assizes holden for that County in that Castle are arrested and cast into prison by Newcastle where none can bail them but Burgesses of Newcastle and often thereby such people have their Cause overthrown by such restainment In Easter Term in the 18. year of King James Sir Henry Yelverton Kt Attorny General exhibited an Information against the Mayor and Burgesses concerning the premises above mentioned where all plainly appears amongst other things of the Town not to belong to them c. CHAP. XVI A IN or about the eighteenth year of King James an Information was exhibited in the Star Chamber by the Attorny General against the Mayor and Burgesses of Newcastle by the name of Host-men for that they having the preemption of Coals from the Inheritors in Northumberland and County of Durham by their Charter of free Hoast-men 42 Queen Eliz. * they having the sale of all Coals who force ships to take bad Coals or will not load them with unmarketable Coals being brought for London prove much to the damage of the people Which grief begot great Suits between the Merchants and Masters of ships to their disquieting and high charge upon which this Information was brought against the said Hoast-men for selling of bad and unmerchantable Coals and much Slate amongst them for which they were all fined some 100 li. a peece some more others less being found guilty and ordered to do so no more but it is proved they continue the same to this day See chap. 43. A CHAP. XVII A KIng James upon the 28 of January in the 16 year of his Reign grants the Admiralty of all England c. to the Duke of Buckingham it being surrendred by the Lord High Admiral so that the Title of Newcastle by vertue of the Chrater of the 31 year of Queen Elizabeths Reign is conceived of little force See ch 10. B CHAP. XVIII King Charles The high and Mighty Monarch CHARLES by the grace of GOD King of Great Brittaine France and Ireland P. Stent exâ—udit A SIr Robert Heath Lord Cheif Justice of the Common Pleas was building a Ballast Wharf or Shoar on his own Land at Shields adjoyning upon the River of Tyne seven miles from Newcastle but the Commissioners of Newcastle the Mayor and Aldermen with others obstructed the building thereof pretending it would spoil the River but the Lord Cheif Justice well knowing it to the contrary by the advice of most of the antient Trinity Masters of London other experienced Traders thither went on with the building thereof upon which in the year 1632. the said Mayor and other Commissioners exhibited a complaint to the King and Council against the same at Whitehal complaining that if any Ballast Shoars or Wharfs were built at Shields it would much spoil the River and hinder Trade and Navigation at which there was a legal Tryal it appeared to the contrary the King and Council upon the 13th day of July 1632. Ordered that Sir Robert Heaths Ballast shoar should bee built D In February next the Commissioners
the Realm and to the dislike of all the good members thereof and what punishments she hath imposed upon the Transgressors therein and by whom and in what manner to be inflicted especially upon Murder Robbery Riots Forgery Perjury Extortion and Oppression in any of which cases any person maketh it his own cause and doth in a sort take it to be done to himself and ought to reduce the Transgressor Nay his Highnesse by his Oath and all people else are bound to punish them as being Transgressors of his Laws and disquieters of the Peace therefore ought to be rooted out as the Husbandman the thistle from the good corn and the Gardner his nettles from his sweet flowers wherefore seeing a guilty person in any of the offences aforesaid is persecuted in deed or consent by all wishing well to the Weal-publick or their own private estate It is requisite that good men which eschew to offend for the love of vertue and evill men which fear to offend for the dread of punishment should both know those Laws which they are to make use of and the penalties which be threatned to the infringers thereof to the intent the good man having a will to stand may trust to his feet remain firm and continue his integrity and the evill man beginning to stagger may bend his endeavour to stay and slide no further this labour being to the intent that the well-meaning man being made the better and he or they that before were lewdly disposed the lesse hurtful may all at the last meet and joyn in seeking and â—urtherance of that peace which will be comfortable to the Lord Protector and Nation and pleasing both to God and man These Laws are preservers of the peace and layes heavy punishments upon the withstanders or deniers thereof they are his Highnesse Privy Councellors incessantly respecting the preservation of his Person and Dignity they be as his Gentlemen Pentioners attending daily his presence to do him all Honor and Service being as the Yeomen of his Guard waiting day and night to protect him for his protecting the Nation and them and from all forcible assaults and other perils Also they be as his great and goodly Ships which hath purchased Freedome on the Seas and now lyes hovering up and down as his Castles and strong Forts of defence as wel as they which stand upon the land wherewith he doth prevent foreign Hostility represse inward tumults so keep himself and the people in peace and safety Likewise as his Judges Justices Sheriffs Constables and other Officers watching every hour and moment in all Shires and Counties places and corners of the Nation to represse outrages and to maintain peace To maintain these Laws every good member hath the like benefit as himself hath for in fear of them every person doth enjoy his life and limbs in peace and is defended from the bloody-minded Murderer and Man-queller and the rage of the furious Quarreller and Fighter and in fear of them the house-keeper resteth in peace with his wife and family under his own roof the terror hereof doth often restrain godlesse people from committing perjuries frauds and deceits and impudent and shamelesse men to wrest from others by Bribery Extortion or Oppression And divers there be who neither by the Laws of God of Nature or Reason will be bridled and reduced to vertue yet by the penalties and fear of our Capital and Criminal Laws do yeeld to be curbed And we should now observe with what care our Forefathers had from one Age to another and what Ordinances they established in Parliament that several Penal Criminal and Capital Laws and Statutes should be read or proclaimed in Churches in Fairs in Markets at the General Assizes and Quarter-Sessions of every County at Leets and Law-dayes and in every Inns of Court and Chancery and how the same is continued and put in practice to the intent that the same Laws and the penalties thereof should be heard learned known and understood by all sorts of persons willing to perceive and apprehend the same Charter-Law is not so but like the foul Spirit in the Air still ranging never at rest nor will let others take any never seen but heard in every corner striking at the pure Law to advance it self it forces people to a kind of an Order in a Town and the whole Nation to a disorder The chiefest reason why I give a recital of the Penal-Laws is that the ignorant may see how well they are provided for and not to be left blind and only being instructed by the Extortioner himself what they must pay for Fees c. but that they may know themselves and to remedy themselves when offended for such Oppressors would discover no more for safety of their purses or bodies then care was taken formerly for others souls when it was ordained that the Bibles should be in Latine and not in English as appears by Statute the 34. of Henry 8. several persons restrained from reading the Bible in English c. to keep them in ignorance c. CHAP. LVIII The Oath of an Attorney at Law A YOu shall do no Falshood nor consent to any to be done in the Court and if you know of any to be done you shall give knowledge thereof unto my Lord Chief Justice or other his brethren that it may be reformed You shall delay no man for lucre or malice You shall increase no Fees but shall be contented with the old Fees accustomed You shall plead no foreign Plea nor suffer no foreign Suits unlawfully to hurt any man but such as shall stand with order of the Law and your Conscience You shall seal all such Proses as you shall sue out of the Court with the Seal thereof and so the Kings Majesty and my Lord Chief Justice discharge for the same Yee shall not wittingly nor willingly Sue nor procure to be sued any false Suits nor give aid nor consent to the same in pain to be expulsed from the Court for ever And furthermore You shall use your self in the Office of an Attorney within the Court according to your learning and discretion So help you God See Stat. 3. K. James 7. The Oath of an Vnder-Sheriffe Bayliffe of Franchises Deputies and Clerks of Sheriffes and Vnder-Sheriffes Stat. 27. Eliz. 12. B I A. B. shall not use or exercise the Office of Under-Sheriffe corruptly during the time I shall remain therein Neither shall or will except rejoyce or take by any colour means or device whatsoever Or consent to the taking of any manner of Fee or Reward of any manner of person or persons for the impanielling or returning of any Inquest Jury or Tales in any Court of Record for the Queen * or between party and party above two shillings or the value thereof or such Fees as are allowed and appointed for the same by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realm But will according to my power truly and indifferently with convenient speed impanel
your bounden Grace with the assent of your Lords spiritual and temporal and the Commons in Parlament to enact ordain and establish that from henceforth any Merchant or Merchants or any other person or persons shall not ship load or unload any Merchandize or other Wares of Goods to be sold here between the said place called Sparhawke and Headwin streams being fourteen miles in length but onely at Newcastle upon pain of forfeiture of all such Goods and Wares and Merchandizes to the King And for the Mayor and Burgesses to pull down all Weires Goares and Engins which was granted by the said Statute provided alwaies this Act be not prejudicial to any person or persons being the Kings Subjects for building shipping loading or unloading any Salt or Fish within the said River and Port or to any of them or to any other persons repairing to the said Port with ships and Merchandizes for selling or buying of any Merchandizes or Wares needful for victualing and amending of the said ships * at the time of their being in the said Port this Act or any thing comprised in the same notwithstanding See ch 50. C A Table of Fees for Customs Toles c. in Towns B Stat. 22. Hen. 8. ch 8. Be it Enacted that every City Borough and Town Corporate their Officer shall set up or cause a Table in open place of and for the certainty of all such and every duty of every such Custom Tole and duty or sum of money of such Wares and Merchandizes to be demanded or required as above rehearsed shall and may plainly appear to be declared to the intent that nothing be exacted otherwise than in old time hath been used and accustomed upon pain of each City five pound and every Corporation forty shillings for every month that the said Table shall fail to be set up the moyety to the King and the other to the party that wil sue for the same by Writ Bil Plaint or Information in which the Defendant shall have no assoyn Wager of Law nor protection of Law allowed See chap. 44. E A Commission of Sewers c. C Stat. 23. Hen. 8. chap. 5. The King considering the absolute necessity of granting a general Act for Commissioners of Sewers to be directed in all parts of his Realm for the advancing of the Commonwealth and commodity of this his Realm And likewise considering the daily great damages and losses which have happened in many parts of the Nation in the decay and spoil of Rivers to the inestimable damages of the Commonwealth which do daily increase for remedy whereof it is enacted that there be Commissioners of Suers and other premises directed in all parts from time to time where and when need shall require to such substantial and indifferent persons as shall be named by the Lord Chancellor and Lord Treasurer of England and the two Chief Justices for the time being or by three of them whereof the Lord Chancellor to be one The Commissioners to be residing in the respective Countie where the Commission is directed which said Commissioners will preserve the said River having power given them to constitute and ordain Laws Ordinances and Decrees and to repeal reform and amend as need shall require any defects Also to pull down any Newsances incroachments or the like erected in the said Rivers and to cause buildings of Wharfs for the good of the same and power to Rate and Tax any person whatsoever towards the charge for the good of the said Rivers or having spoyled the same to seize his or their Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels for the said Taxes and to dispose of the same by Sail Lease or otherwise six Commissioners being present and every Commissioner is to have four shillings a day when they â—it and the Clerk two shillings a day out of the Taxes I refer the rest of this power to the relation of these Statutes following 3. Edward 6. 9. 13. Eliz. 9. See 34. Chap. C 35. A. B. An Attaint against a Jury D Stat. 23. Hen. 8. Chap. 3. The Law having first used all good devices to cause Sheriffs Under-Sheriffs Bayliffs of Liberties Coroners and all others authorized to return and impannel Juries to be indifferent and to return the said Jurors and Juries without all partiallity and that they shall be no Furtherers Maintainers nor Assisters to perjury subordination or embracery and also having provided that all those Jurors which be so returned upon Inquests and to try Inquests and to try Issues between party and party may again one by one be sifted tryed and examined whether they standing unsworn be indifferent or not she doth then expect from those Jurors veridictum a true Tale that is to say a true Verdict or Presentment of such things as be given them in charge according to their evidence but if the same Jurors will decline from truth and make a false presentment contrary to their evidence * then it is not to be tearmed veredictum but perjurium and it will be returned to them as maledictum for by the Common-Law they being Attainted by the Verdict of four and twenty other Jurors shall receive a cursed and villanous judgement therefore viz. The said Jurors shall lose the freedom of the Law their Wives and Children shall be thrust out of their houses their houses shall be pulled down to the ground their Orchards and Gardens shall be subplanted their Trees shall be digged up by the roots their Meadows shall be eyred up all their Goods and Chattels which they have at the time of the Attaint brought or at any time after shall be forfeited to the King the King shall have all the profit of their forfeited lands during their lives and they shall be committed to perpetuall prison which judgement was devised and many years put in execution to the intent it might be known how much the Common-Law did detest and punish wilfull perjury and falshood in those who she trusted in place of justice and from whom she accounted to receive truth See Poulton Perjury 16 See Chap. 58. B. C. D. Stat. 23. Hen. 6. 10. D. To prevent spoyl in Rivers by Ballast C Stat. 34. Hen. 8. 9. The King for the good and preservation of Rivers Enacted that what person or persons do cast or unlade any Ballast Rubbish Gravel or other wreck out of any Ship Crayer or other Vessels being within any Haven-road Channel or River to any Port Town or other City or Borough within this Realm but onely upon the land above the full Sea-mark upon pain of forfitude of five pound a time the one half to the King the other to the party discovering that will sue for the same by Bill Plaint or otherwise no wager of Law admitted or any Essoyn or protection allowed This is a legal course but Newcastle acts not hereby as you may see in Chap. 34. C 35. A. B. 12. Chap. 6. 14. B. King Edward the First Sheriffes punished for refusing Bail A STat. 3. Ed. 1.
said John and to the evill example of others in the like case offending and contrary to the Form of the Statute in such case made and provided and against the publick peace See Cha. 58. C D B Stat. 23. Hen. 8. 3. King Henry the Seventh Henry the 7. began his Raigâ—e the 22. of June 1485. And was Crowned at westminster the 30 of octob Hee Raigned 25. years and 8. monthes and died the 22. of April lieth buried at westminster STat. three of Henry the seventh Chapter 1. * It is Enacted if any Coroner be remisse and maketh not Inquisition upon the view of the body dead and certifie not according to his Office It is ordained that he shall for every default forfeit five pounds See Chapter 10. O. P. Chap. 48. â—9 49. Weights and Measures c. Stat. 11. Hen. 7. chap 4. For as much as many grievances have been set forth unto this present Parlament of the great fraud and deceit in Measures Weights for remedy whereof it is ordained and enacted that to the Knights and Citizens of every Shire and City assembled in this present Parlament Barons of the Five Ports and certain Burgesses of Burrough Towns ere they depart from this present Parlament be delivered one of every Weight and Measure which now is made of brass for the good of the Subject according to the Kings Standard of his Exchequer of Weights and Measures and that they shall cause all common Weights and Measures to be as abovesaid and all such as prove defective then such weights and measures shall be broken and burnt and the party pay twenty shillings and be set in the Pillory the Quarter of Corn to be eight bushels raised and struck and fourteen pound to the Stone of Wool c. and water measure to be five pecks on ship-board according to the Standard c. See chap. 49 C No Ordinance to be made by Corporations c. By Act of Parlament 19. Hen. 7. 7. That Masters Wardens and people of Guilds Fraternities and of other Companies Corporate oftentimes by coulor of Rule and Governance to them granted by Charter and Letters Pattents made amongst themselves many unlawfull and unwarrantable Ordinances as well in prizes of wages as other things for their own singular profit and to the common hurt and damage of the people Be it enacted and it is hereby Enacted that no such Master Wardens nor Companies * make nor use any Ordinance in disheritance nor diminition of the Prerogative of the King nor of others * nor against the common profit of the people nor none other Ordinance of charge except it were first discust used and proved by good advice of the Justices of Peace or the chief Governors of Cities and before them entred upon Record and that upon pain to loose and forfeit the force and effect of all the Articles in their said Letters Pattents and Charters contained concerning the same and over that to pay ten pounds to the King for every Ordinance that any of them made or used to the contrary the same Ordinance to inâ—ure at the Kings pleasure which Act was then expired and since the expiration of the same many Ordinances have been made by many private Bodies within divers Cities Towns and Burroughs contrary to the Kings Prerogative his Laws and the common weal of his Subjects Be it therefore enacted that no Masters Wardens and Fellowship of Crafts or Mysteries nor of any Rulers of Guilds or Fraternities * take upon them to make any Acts or Ordinances nor to execute any by them heretofore made in dishertion or diminition of the Prerogative of the King nor of other nor against the common profit of the people except the said Acts and Ordinances be examined and approved by the Chancellor Treasurer of England or Chief Justices of either Benches or three of them or before both the Justices of Assizes in their Circuit in the Shire where such Acts or Ordinances be made upon pain of forfeiture of forty pounds for every time they doe to the contrary And over that it is Enacted that none of the same Bodies Corporate take upon them to make any Acts or Ordinances to restrain * any person or persons to sue to the King or any of his Courts for due remedy to be had in their causes nor put nor execute any penalty or punishment upon any of them for any such suit to be made upon pain of forfeiture of forty pounds for every time that they do to the contrary See chap. 39. A 30. D 43. D and chap. 10. G This Statute will prove offensive to the free Hoast-men and the Charter of the Admiralty if well prosecuted and pay them for all the wrongs done King Henry the Eighth Henry the 8 was borne at Grenwich Entred his Raigne being 18 yeares of age the 22. of Aprill 1509. was Crouned at Westminster the 25. of June following He Raigned 37. yeares and 9 months died the 28. of June buried at Winsor A SStat 21. Hen. 8. ch 18. In the vacancy of the Sea of Durham Cardinal Wolsey being dead and no Knights nor Burgesses in Parlament for Durham and Northumberland then the Mayor and Burgesses of Newcastle knowing there could be no opposition petitioned the King and Parlament for that whereas the Mayor Burgesses and Commonalty of that Town having been faithfull Subjects and held in Fee from his Progenitors that Town Port and Haven of the River of Tine thereunto belonging and of all ground * which the water covered within the said River of Tine from the Month of the said River called Sparhawke and to Headwin streams in their demean as of fee in right of the Crown and that all Merchandizes carryed by any ship or vessell into that Port or carried out used to be discharged and loaden only at that Town by which means the Customs Subsidies and Tole were received there for his Majesties use 500 l. per annum And that by reason of those Liberties and Franchizes that Town hath been well replenished and maintained and able to furnish his Majesty with four hundred Marriners for the War and by reason of several great personages as well spiritual as temporal having Lands adjoyning to the said River have loaden and unloaden ships with several Merchandizes and paid no Customs to the utter undoing of the Town and the great dishertion of your Highness and minishment to your Customs and that divers Weyers and Fish-gates were erected in the said River by means whereof great Sand-beds and Gravel heaps be grown and cast up in the said River that within few years to come no ship of good burthen or weight * shall be able to come up to the Town to the inestimable hurt of the Countries thereunto adjoyning and to the damage of your Realm * especially to all persons needing Sea-Coals which be onely conveyed from the said Port and no where else to be shipped or had but there In consideration whereof may it please your Majestie out of
the Town of Gates-head unpunished and that often they cast Rubbish into the River and also that the Bridge went to decay very much which belonged to that Town humbly beseeching that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to incorporate that Town with them under their Government with all its members and Salt-meadows and Park and that it may be quite taken from the County of Durham and all the people therein to become subordinate to their Laws Be it Enacted that the whole Town of Gates-head with the Salt-meadows the whole Water and Bridge with all the Liberties thereunto belonging except the Common which shall still remain to the inhabitants be incorporated with Newcastle and dis-joyned from the County of Durham as Newcastle was from Northumberland by Charter King Richard The Second RICHARD the 2. borne at Burdeaux Sonne to Edward Prince of Wales begann his Raigne the 21 of Iune An o Dni 1377. he RaigÌ„ed 22. Yeares was Deposed died the 14. of February 1399. First buried at Langley in Hartfâ—dshire afterwardes of Westmister A Free Trade in all England A STat. 11. Richard 2. 7. and the 14. Richard 2. 9. Be it Enacted that all Merchants Aliens and Denisons and all other and every of them of what estate or condition they bâ— which will buy or sell Corn Wine Averdepoize Flesh Fish and all other Victual or other Merchandizes and all other things vendible from whencesoever they come in whatsoever place they please be it City Borough Town Port of the Sea Fair Market or other place within this Realm within Franchizes or without may freely or without disturbance sell the same to whom they please as well to Foreigners as to Denizons except to the enemies of the King and of his Realm And if any disturbance be done to any such Merchant c. upon his sail of the same in any of the places aforesaid the Mayor and Bayliffs of such Fanchizes shall make remedy but if they do not and being thereof convicted the Franchizes shall be taken into the Kings hand and the party grieving shall make to the Merchant grieved double damages And if such disturbance be out of the Franchized Towns then the Steward or Bayliffe of such Lord who is Lord of the Mannor shall give right or pay double damages the party offending shall be imprisoned for one whole year and that none such shall be disturbed but shall freely buy and sell for his own use or to the Kings c. except that the Merchant Aliens shall carry no Wines out of the Realm as it is contained in their Charters And that the said things be holden kept and performed in every City Borough Town Port of the Sea or any other place notwithstanding any Charter of Franchize to them granted to the contrary nor Usage Custome nor Judgement given upon their Charters Usages nor Customes which they may alleage which Charters Usages and Customes the said King the Grand-fathers the Prelates Earls Barons and great men and Commons in Parliament aforesaid Holds these said Charters c. of no force and as being things granted used and accustomed to the damage of the King the Prelates Earls Barons and great men of his Realm and great oppression of the Commons saving to the King and to other the Customes due of the said Merchandizes And the Chancellor Treasurer and Justices assigned to hold the Pleas of the King in places where they come shall enquire of such disturbances and grievances and do punishment according as is before ordained And by a Statute made the 25. Edw. 3. 2. It was Ordained and Established That the said Statutes made in the ninth year Chapter 1. in all Points and Articles contained in the same should be holden kept and maintained c. And if any Charter Letters Pattents Proclamations or Commandements Usage Allowance or Judgement were made to the contrary the same should be utterly repealed avoyded and holden for none And that it is free for any whatever that brings any provisions whatever to sell the same or other Merchandizes by Grosse or retail either in the City of London or any other Port City Borough or Town-Corporate in England without challenge or impeachment and to sell them freely to any that will buy the same notwithstanding any grant whatever to the contrary notwithstanding any Franchize Custome used since such Franchizes and Customes Usages be in common prejudice to the King and all people c. And that no Mayor Bayliff Catch-pole Minister nor other shall meddle in the sail of any manner of Victuals vendible brought to the places aforesaid And all men that will sue may have a Writ out of the Chancery to attach him by his body that offends herein as a disturber of the common profit c. The King seeing cleerly if the said Statutes were duly put in execution would much extend to the profits and wealth of the whole Nation do Ordain and Establish by assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons great men Nobles and Commons in this present Parliament assembled That the said Statutes shall be firmly holden kept maintained and fully executed in all Points and Articles of the same notwithstanding any Ordinance Statute Charter Letters Pattents Franchizes Proclamations Commandements Usage Allowance or Judgement be made or used to the contrary it shall be utterly repealed avoyded and holden for none This Statute was obtained by a Petition worth reading from all the Nobles and Commons of England as you may read in the ninth of Edward the third Chapter the first it laying open the great grievance of the whole Nation in Parliament of Provisions and other Merchandizes being engrossed into private hands and restraining all others from trading but themselves c. See Chap. 29. C 30. D 32. D 35. A 38. A 51. B. C. This Statute revived would make England as happy as Venice for Riches c. Merchant-strangers shall be well used B Stat. 14. Rich. 2. 9. Be it Enacted that Merchant-strangers repairing into the Realm of England shall be well and courteously and rightfully intreated and governed in the said Realm to the intent that they shall have the courage to repair into the same See Chap. 30. B 41. A. The Duke of Venice by tollerating a free Trade all the Nobility and Gentry trades in Merchandizings which doth so improve his revenew that it maintains his Wars without other Impositions he being able to wage war with the most potentest Prince that is c. No Customers to be Traders nor to have parts of Ships C Stat. 14. Rich. 2. 10. The King ordains that no Customers nor Controlers have any ships of their own nor meddle with the fraught of ships and to eschew as well the damage of the King of his Customes as the losse of the Merchants repairing to the Port as well Aliens as Denizons And that no Customer Controler Searcher Waiter or Finder have any such Office for terme of life but onely as long as shall please the King notwithstanding