purpose shall and may demand levy and receive all Impositions Fines Forfeitures and Payments imposed or to be imposed by the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors or payable or demandable by and from any Person or Persons by Vertue of these Presents at all times hereafter for ever In consideration of the growing Poverty of Seamen they have power of purchaseing in Mortmain to 500 l. per Annum And for as much as the Poverty of Mariners and Seamen belonging to the said Corporation is now much more encreased then hath been in former time and not able to be relieved from the Revenues of the Lands and Possessions of the said Corporation which now they have or were enabled to have purchased being so small in yearly value Therefore to the end that the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors may be from henceforth the better enabled from time to time to bear and sustain their Charges and Expences drawn and occasioned by reason of their Corporation We of our Especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have given and granted and by these presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do give and grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most glorious and undivided Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish of Deptford Strond in the County of Kent and their Successors full free especial and lawful License Power and Authority not only to retain possess and enjoy to their own proper use and behoof without any Accompt to be rendred made or given to Us Without account our Heirs or Successors in that behalf all and singular such Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Goods and Chattels as they have heretofore obtained purchas'd or had and do at present possess and enjoy by force and vertue of any other Letters Patents or Grant had and made to them by the name of any former Corporation by or from the said late Kings and Queens and according to the purport and true meaning thereof or otherwise howsoever But also to have receive and Purchase further to them and their Successors for ever of Us our Heirs and Successors or of any other Person or Persons whatsoever Manors Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reversions and Services or any of them or any part or parcel of them or any of them and any other Possessions and Hereditaments whatsoever without License or Writ of ad quod dampnum so always as the said Manors Messuages Lands Tenements Tithes Rectories Rents Reversions Services Possessions and Hereditaments or such parts or parcels of them or any of them by the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors so to be purchased obtained or had so as aforesaid do not exceed the clear yearly value of five hundred pounds by the year above all Charges Deductions and Reprises the Statute of not puting Lands and Tenements into Mortmaine or any other Statute Act Ordinance Provision or Restraint thereof heretofore had made ordained and provided or any other Cause thing or matter whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And we do further by these presents for Us our Heirs and Successors With Power to others to be benefactors to them in Mortmain to that Value give and Grant to all and every our Subject and Subjects whatsoever full Power License and Authority that they and every of them may at their Wills and and Pleasures give grant bargain set alien convey and assure unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors Manors Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tythes Rents Reversions and Services or any parts or parcels of them or any of them and any other possessions and Hereditaments whatsoever so always as the said Manors Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tythes Rents Reversions Services Possessions and Hereditaments or any of them do not exceed the clear yearly Value of five hundred pounds above all Charges Deductions and Reprizes the said Statute of not putting Lands and Tenements in Mortmain or any other Act Statute Ordinace Provision or restraint to the contrary notwithstanding And further of our more especial Grace Certain Knowledge A Confirmation of all former Grants of Liberties Estates c. and meer Motion We have granted and confirmed and by these presents do for Us our Heirs and Successors grant and confirm unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors all and all manner of Liberties Franchises Immunities Exemptions and Jurisdictions which the said Master Wardens and Assistants or any of them by what name or names so ever by Vertue of what Incorporation soever heretofore have had held used or enjoyed or ought to have had used and enioyed to them and their Successors for ever of an Estate of Inheritance by vertue or force of any Charters or Letters Patents by any of our Predecessors Kings or Queens of England or any other Person or Persons whatsoever by any manner of means heretofore made confirmed or granted or by any other means Right Custom Use Prescription or Title heretofore used had and accustomed to have and to hold to the said Master VVardens and Assistants and their Successors for ever to be held of Us our Heirs and Successors by such the same and the like Rents Services and Sums of Money as the same were formerly holden by and not otherwise Wherefore We will and do strictly Charge and Command for Us our Heirs With an Exemption from all Accounts for any thing claimed or done by them before the Date hereof and Successors that the said Master Wardens Assistants and their Successors shall and may have hold and enjoy for ever all the aforesaid Lands Tenements Liberties Authorities Jurisdictions and Franchises aforesaid according to the Tenor and Effect of these our Letters Patents without let or hindrance of Us our Heirs and Successors or of any Justices Sheriffs or other Bayliffs or Ministers of Us our Heirs and Successors whatsoever willing that neither the said Master VVardens and Assistants nor any of them by reason of the Premisses or any of them by Us our Heirs and Successors the Justices Sheriffs Escheators or other Bayliffs or Ministers of Us our Heirs and Successors whatsoever be thereof hindred molested vexed grieved or in any wise troubled Willing and by these presents charging and commanding as well our Treasurer Chancellor and Barons of our Exchequer at VVestminster and other the Justices of Us our Heirs and Successors as our Attorney and Sollicitor General for the time being and every of them and all other our Officers and Ministers whatsoever that neither they nor any of them do prosecute or continue or cause to be prosecuted or continued any Writ or Summons of Quo VVarranto or other Writ or Writs or Process whatsoever against the said Master VVardens and Assistants or any of them for any Cause Thing Matter Offence Claim or Usurpation or any of them claimed attempted used had or usurped before the making of these presents
TRINITAS IN VNITATE THE ROYAL CHARTER OF CONFIRMATION Granted by His most Excellent MAJESTY King JAMES II. TO THE TRINITY-HOUSE OF DEPTFORD-STROND For the Government and Encrease of the Navigation of England and the Relief of poor Mariners their Widdows and Orphans c. LONDON Printed Anno 1685. THE Royal Charter OF CONFIRMATION Granted by His most Excellent Majesty King JAMES II. TO THE TRINITY-HOUSE OF DEPTFORD-STROND JAMES the Second By the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Foundation of this Charter Whereas our well beloved Leiges and Subjects Shipmen and Mariners of this our Realm of England consisting of Master Wardens and Assistants of the Guild or Fraternity of the most glorious and undividable Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish Church of Deptford Strond in our County of Kent are and have been of long time a Corporation and have enjoyed sundry Grants Liberties Priviledges and Immunities by force of divers Charters Former Charters and Letters Patents heretofore made unto them by several Kings and Queens of this Realm And Whereas the said Master Wardens and Assistants have humbly besought Us to Renew and Confirm their said Charters and to Grant unto them such further Authorities and Priviledges The Ends thereof as well for the good government and increase of the Navigation of this Kingdom as for the better ordering and establishing of the said Corporation and the releif of the poor Mariners their Widdows and Orphans as We in our Princely care should think meet Know ye therefore that We taking the premisses into our Royal consideration and well weighing how highly it imports the good state and welfare of this our Realm and of our good Subjects thereof and the encrease of Navigation that all disorders in the said Corporation should be redressed And out of an earnest desire that such good and decent orders may be established and practised in the said Corporation as may most tend to those ends for which the said Corporation was first instituted and to the promoting of the general good Have of our Especial Grace certain Knowledg and meer Motion Given Granted The Corporation confirmed and Confirmed and by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant and Confirm unto our said trusty and well beloved Subjects the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Guild or Fraternity of the most glorious and undividable Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish Church of Deptford Strond in the said County of Kent That they from henceforth be and shall be called and accompted one body Corporate and Politick indeed and in name by the name of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most glorious and undividable Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish of Deptford Strond in the County of Kent Their Name And them by the same name of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most glorious and undivided Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish of Deptford Strond in the County of Kent We for Us our Heirs and Successors do erect make ordain constitute declare and confirm by these Presents one body Corporate and Politick indeed and in name And that by the said name of Master Wardens and Assistants of the Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood of the most glorious and undivided Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish of Deptford Strond in the County of Kent they shall from henceforth have perpetual Succession Their Succession perpetual and that they and their Successors by the same name be and shall be at all times hereafter a body Corporate and Politick and Persons able and capable in Deed and in Law not only to have hold occupy possess enjoy and retain all and singular the Usuages Customs Liberties Old Rights continued Priviledges Jurisdictions Franchises Preheminences Benefits and Commodities whatsoever which they or their Predecessors by the same or any other name or names of like Corporation have heretofore had and enjoyed or at this present do hold and enjoy But also to have hold occupy purchase receive possess New allowed enjoy and retain any other Liberties Priviledges Jurisdictions Franchises Preheminences Benefits and Commodities of what kind nature or quality soever they shall be to them and their Successors for ever And also by the same name to have hold purchase receive take possess To hold Lands c. and enjoy And also to give grant demise alien assign and dispose Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and Goods and Chattels or any of them and to do and execute all and singular other thing and things whatsoever To plead and be impleaded And that they and their Successors by the same name may plead and be impleaded answer and be answered defend and be defended in all or any whatsoever Court or Courts Place or Places Jurisdiction or Jurisdictions and before whatsoever Judge Judges and Justices and other Persons and Officers in all and singular Actions and Plaints Pleas Suits Quarrels Causes and Demands whatsoever of whatsoever kind nature quality or sort in such manner and form and by all those ways and means and to such end and purpose as any other our Leige people of this our Realm of England being persons able and capable in Deed or Law may or can have hold purchase receive possess enjoy retain give grant demise alien assign and dispose plead and be impleaded answer and be answered defend and be defended or do permit and execute And that the said Master Wardens To have break and alter their common Seal and Assistants and their Successors or the greater part of them whereof the said Master for the time being to be always one may make or cause to be made and have for themselves a Common Seal to serve for all the Causes Business and Occasions of them and their Successors in that Corporation And that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Masters Wardens and Assistants and their Successors the same Seal to break again and from time to time at their will and pleasure to alter change and make new when and as often as to them or the greater part of them whereof the Master or the Masters Deputy for the time being to be always one shall seem convenient And further We will To have a Master and by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do Ordain That there shall be from henceforth for ever One of the said Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood to be elected and appointed in such form as hereafter in these presents touching the same is expressed which shall be called the Master of the said Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood for the time being Four Wardens And that there shall be also from henceforth for ever Four of the said Guild Fraternity or Brotherhood to be elected and
ballasting of Ships as aforesaid which Suits and Differences by Our mediation and interposition We had then finally composed and that whereas the said William Carlos in pursuance of Our said final composition and agreement Carlos thereupon surrenders to the King by his Deed under his Hand and Seal bearing date the two and twentieth day of May in in the Fifteenth year of our Reign and inrolled in Our High Court of Chancery granted Surrendred and yeilded up unto us all that the said Ballasting of Ships and other Vessels the said Gravel and Soil of the said River of Thames and the cleansing thereof with all and every Licenses Powers Priviledges Authorities Profits Commodities and Advantages whatsoever for the cleansing of the said River as aforesaid and other the premises which in and by the said recited Indenture of Demise were granted and demised or mentioned to be granted or demised unto the said Col. William Carlos his Executors Administrators and Assigns and all the Estate Right Title Interest Claim and Demand whatsoever of him the said Col. William Carlos of and unto the same and every part and parcel thereof together with the same Indenture of Demise to be cancelled or made void as in and by the said Deed inrolled in our High Court of Chancery as aforesaid more at large may appear Which surrender we did then accept And whereas We by our Letters Patents The Grant of the Ballaststage 15 Car. 2. to the Trinity-House recited bearing date the eighteenth day of August in the Fifteenth year of our Reign did for the consideration therein expressed give and grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Guild or Fraternity of the most glorious and undividable Trinity and of St Clement in the Parish Church of Deptford Strond in Our said County of Kent and to their Successors for ever to and for the uses intents and purposes in the said Letters Patents mentioned the Lastage Ballastage and ballasting or loading of Sand Gravel Earth Chalk Rubbish Clay Flints Lime Soap-ashes Brick Tyles or any other things Merchandizes or Commodities whatsoever taken from any Wharf Creek Coasts or Shoar upon or adjoyning to Our said River of Thames for Lastage Ballastage or Loading or used instead of such Lastage Ballastage or Loading as aforesaid together with the Office of Lastage and Ballastage and Ballasting of all and all manner of Ships Hoyes Barks Boats or other Vessels whatsoever coming or being or which at any time then after should be coming floating lying or remaining issuing passing sailing or going in upon to or out of the River of Thames or elsewhere betwixt the Bridge of the City of London and the main Sea or any Wharfe Bank Creek Coast Shoar or any part of the same or near or adjoyning thereto betwixt the Bridge of London aforesaid toward the West part and the said Main Sea towards the East part of what Burthen soever such Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels were or should be and by what other Name or Names soever and in what kind or kinds soever the said Ballastage and Lastage and ballasting was or might be called reputed or known Exercised or used And further we did by the same Letters Patents give and Grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Trinity-House of Deptford Strond in our said County of Kent and their Successors for ever to and for the Uses intents and purposes aforesaid the Gravel Sand and Soil of the said River of Thames or any part and parcel thereof for the ballasting of Ships or other Vessels and for any other Use or Uses whatsoever And all our Wast Grounds to the said River belonging All the wast Grounds c. belonging to the River of Thames granted also to the Trinity-House with all Purprestures Incroachments Improvements Advantages and Profits in or upon the same which should or might appertain or any way of right belong to Us Our Heirs or Successors from the Bridge of Staines to the Water of Medway And further We did give and Grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the Trinity-House aforesaid and their Successors for ever full Power Priviledg and Authority That they and their Successors by themselves or by their Deputy or Deputies Agents Factors Workmen and Servants or any of them from time to time and at all times for ever thenafter in all and every Place and Places whatsoever within the said River being to the Damage and annoyance of the same at their and every of their Wills and Pleasures should and might dig take up draw forth and raise for the better furnishing of Ships with ballast the said Gravel Sand or Soil out of the said River by all such ways and means as they or any of them should think fit so as the said River might not be annoyed and made Dangerous to Ships Lighters Boats and other Vessels therein passing and the said Gravel and Soil so by them or any of them raised and taken up for the Uses aforesaid to Land and lay on Shoar upon any of our wast ground in all and every convenient Place and Places and to take off the same as their or any of their occasions should require and upon any Wharfe or Wharfes built encroached or gained or which at any time then after should be built encroached or gained from or upon our River of Thames for the better supply of Dry Ballast for all such Ships and other Vessels as should carry Cloath and other like dry Goods And they the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their Successors Deputies and Assigns solely and only to convert utter dispose and sell the said Gravel Sand and Soil of Our River aforesaid To have hold take and enjoy the said Ballastage and Lastage and Office of Ballastage and Lastage the said Gravel Sand and Soil of the said River and the said wast grounds thereunto belonging and all and ever other the premises thentofore in and by the said Letters Patents given and granted or mentioned to be given and granted with all and every Fees Advantagcs Sallaries Profits Emoluments Commodities and Rights Incidents and Appurtenances whatsoever to for out of or by reason of all or any of the premises any way due payable accustomed appertaining or belonging unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of Trinity-House of Deptford-Strond aforesaid and their Successors for ever by themselves their Substitute or Substitutes Deputy or Deputies Assign or Assigns to Use Exercise Execute and enjoy for ever for the use and benefit of the Poor aforesaid and to no other use intent or purpose whatsoever And all and every the said premises to hold of Us Our Heirs and Successors as of our Mannour of East Greenwich in our said County of Kent in Free and Common Soccage and not in Capite nor by Knights Service under the Yearly Rent or Sum of One Thousand Marks of lawful Mony of England payable unto the said William Carlos his Executors Administrators and Assigns
for and during the full End and Term of One and Thirty years to Commence from the Feast of the Annuncion of the Blessed Virgin Mary last past before the date of our said Letters Patents and from thenceforth fully to be compleat and ended as in and by Our said Letters Patents amongst other things therein contained relation being thereunto had more plainly and at large it doth and may appear The first Grant surrendred by the Trinity-House by reason of some doubts arising thereupon And whereas certain Controversies doubts and questions have arisen concerning our said Grant to the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Trinity-House of Deptford Strond whereupon the said Master Wardens and Assistants by their Deed under their common Seal bearing date the ninth day of December last past before the date of these presents and inrolled in our high Court of Chancery have granted surrendred and yielded up unto us the said Lastage and Ballastage and Office of Lastage and Ballastage and Ballasting of all and all manner of Ships and other Vessels aforesaid and all the Wasts Wast-Grounds Gravel Sand and Soil aforesaid and all and singular the Fees Advantages Sallaries Profits Liberties Priviledges Emoluments Commodities and Rights Incidents and Appurtenances whatsoever to for out of or by reason of all or any the premises any way due payable accustomed appertaining or belonging in or by Our Letters Patents granted or mentioned to be granted And also all the Estate Right Title Interest Claim and Demand whatsoever of them the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the Trinity House of Deptford-Strond aforesaid of in and unto the said Lastage and Ballastage and Office of Lastage and Ballastage or Ballasting aforesaid and of in or unto the said Wasts Wast-ground Gravel Sand and Soil or any part thereof and of in and to all and singular other the Fees advantages sallaries profits Liberties priviledges emoluments commodities and all other things whatsoever thereunto or any part thereof belonging or appertaining or there withall by our Letters Patents aforesaid Granted or mentioned or intended to be Granted together with our Letters Patents aforesaid to be Cancelled and made void which said Surrender we have accepted of and by these presents do accept The Ballastage regranted to the Trinity-House for the relief of poor Seamen their Wives c. Now whereas many decayed Seamen their Wives Widdows and Orphans have from time to time received good relief by the hands of the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Trinity House of Deptford Strond out of the Lastage and Ballastage raised and taken forth of our said River of Thames for Ballasting of Ships and other Vessels Know ye that we as well for the considerations aforesaid as for the consideration of the said Surrender and for divers other good causes and considerations Us hereunto especially moving of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer motion have Given and Granted and by these presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do give and Grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Guild or Fraternity of the most Glorious and individable Trinity and of St. Clement in the Parish Church of Deptford Strond in our said County of Kent and to their Successors for ever to and for the uses intents and purposes aforesaid the Lastage Ballastage and Ballasting or loading of Sand Gravel Soil Stones What to be accounâ—ed Ballast Earth Chalk Rubbish Clay Flints Lime Soape Ashes Bricks Tyles or any other things Merchandizes or Commodities whatsoever taken from any Wharfe Creek Coast Bank or Shoar upon or adjoyning to our said River of Thames for Lastage Ballastage and Ballasting or Loading or used instead of such Lastage Ballasting or Loading as aforesaid The Ballast of all Vessels passing between the Bridge of London and the main Sea Together with the Office of Lastage and Ballastage and ballasting of all and all manner of Ships Hoyes Boats Barks and all other Vessels whatsoever coming or being or which hereafter at any time shall be coming floating lying or remaining issuing passing sailing or going in upon to or out of the River Thames or elsewhere betwixt the Bridge of the City of London and the Main Sea or any Wharfe Bank Greek Coast shoar or any part of the same or near or adjoyning thereunto betwixt the Bridge of London aforesaid towards the West part and the said Main Sea towards the East part of what Burthen soever such Ship or Ships Vessel or Vessels be or shall be and by what other Name or Names soever and in what kind or kinds soever the said Ballastage or Lastage is or may be called reputed known exercised or used Grant also of the Gravel Sand and Soil of the River to the Trinity-House And further We do by these presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors Give and Grant unto the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Trinity-House of Deptford Strond in Our said County of Kent and their Successors for ever to and for the uses intents and purposes aforesaid the Gravel Sand and Soil of the said River of Thames and every part and parcel thereof for the Ballasting of Ships and other Vessels And further We have given and Granted and by these presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do give and Grant to the said Master Wardens and Asstants of Trinity House aforesaid and their Successors for ever full power priviledge and authority that they and their Successors by themselves or by their Deputy or Deputies Agents Factors Workmen and Servants or any of them from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter in all and every place and places whatsoever To dig and take up the said Gravel c. as they shall think fit so it annoy not the River within the said River being to the damage and annoyance of the same at their and every of their Wills and pleasures shall and may dig take up draw-forth and raise for the better furnishing of Ships with ballast the said Gravel Sand and Soil out of the said River by all such ways and means as they or any of them shall think fit so as the said River may not be annoyed and made dangerous to Ships Lighters Boats and other Vessels therein passing and the said Geavel Sand and Soil so by them or any of them raised and taken up for the use aforesaid to Land and lay on shore on any of our Wast grounds other then To lay the same ashore on any Wast-ground not granted to others and except on such wast grounds or Wharfes as are already granted or shall be granted by Us our Heirs and Successors to our trusty and well beloved Servants Sir Robert Killigrew Knight and Edward Progers Esq one of the Grooms of our Bed Chamber and every convenient Place or Places and to take off the same as their or any of their occasions shall require And upon any Wharfe or Wharfes built And upon any