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
name of Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid they shall and may be able and capable in law to haue hold purchase receiue take possesse and enioy aswell any mannors mesuages landes tenements rents reuersions seruices and other hereditaments in Fee to them and their successors for euer As also all and singuler goods chattels and other things whatsoeuer and the same manners messuages lands tenements rents reuersions hereditaments goods chattels and other the premisses and euery or any part or parcell thereof to demise graunt let set assigne and dispose at their will and pleasure and to make seale and accomplish all deedes euidences and writings of for and concerning the same and euery parcell thereof in that behalfe needfull necessarie or conuenient to be made or had And that they and their successors by the same name of Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid shall and may be persons able and capable in law to sue and be sued plead and be impleaded answere and to be answered to defend and to be defended in all or any Court or Courts place or places iurisdiction or iurisdictions whatsoeuer and before any Iudge Iudges Iustices or other person or persons officer or officers whatsoeuer in all and singuler actions plaints Pleas suits quarrels causes matters and demaunds of whatsoeuer kinde nature qualitie or sort in such manner and forme by all those waies and means and to such end and purposes as any other Corporation or any our liege people of this our Realme of England being Corporations or persons able and capable in deede or law may or can haue hold purchase receiue possesse enioy retaine giue grant demise alien assigne dispose plead and be impleaded answere and be answered and to defend and be defended or do permit and execute by any lawful waies or meanes whatsoeuer And also that the said Master Wardens and Cominalty of the Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights of Redrith aforesaid shall and may make or cause to be made and may haue a Common Seale for them and their successors for euer to serue for the ensealing doing and confirming of all and singuler their causes affaires and businesse whatsoeuer And that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors the same Seale at their will and pleasure from time to time to breake deface alter change and make new as to them shall seeme most meete and conuenient And further we will and for vs our heires and successors we do grant by these presents That from henceforth for euer there be and shall be one Master three Wardens sixteene Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid to be constituted and chosen in such manner and forme as heereafter in these presents is expressed and specified And for the better execution of the premisses and also for the good rule and gouernment of the Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights aforesaid from time to time for euer we haue assigned ordained and constituted And by these presents for vs our heires and successors do assigne name ordaine and constitute our welbeloued subiect Phinees Pett our seruant and Master Ship-wright to be the first Master of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights willing that the said Phinees Pett be and shall continue Master of the said Art or Mysterie from the day of the date of these presents vntill the morrow after the feast of Saint Bartholmew Th'apostle now next ensuing and then from thenceforth vntill some other meete and sufficient man of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights aforesaid be elected sworne to execute the said Office of Master of the said Art or Mystery of Shipwrights of Redrith aforesaid according to the ordinances and prouisions in these presents expressed and limited if the said Phinees Pett shall so long liue vnlesse the said Phinees Pett shall happen in the meane-time for some misgouernment or other iust cause to be remoued whom for such iust cause we will and ordaine to be remoueable according to the forme heerein expressed And also we haue assigned ordained named and constituted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors do assigne name ordaine and constitute our welbeloued subiects William Burrell Nicholas Symonson and Thomas Dymock three other Shipwrights to be the first three Wardens of the Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights aforesaid Willing that they the said William Burrell Nicholas Symonson and Thomas Dymock shall be and continue Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights from the day of the date of these presents till the morrow after the feast of Saint Bartholmew the Apostle now next ensuing the date heereof and from the morrow after the said Feast vntill three other meete and sufficient men of the Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights aforesaid be to the said Offices of Wardens elected and sworne to execute the same according to the ordinances and prouisions in these presents limited and expressed if they the said William Burrell Nicholas Symonson and Thomas Dymock shall so long liue vnlesse they or any of them respectiuely in the meane-time shall be remoued for their misgouernment or for some other iust cause whom for such iust cause wee likewise will and ordaine to be remoueable according to the forme heerein expressed And moreouer for the better assistance and counsell of the said Master and Wardens in and about the execution of their seuerall Offices wee haue assigned named ordained and constituted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe assigne name ordaine and constitute our welbeloued subiects Mathew Baker William Bright Edward Stephens Nicholas Clay Iohn Apslin Peter Pett Thomas Ienkins Iohn Graues Robert Bourne Iames Marshe William Hedger Thomas Wells William Pickes Iohn Maye Edmund Iordan and Richard Watford to be the first and present sixteene Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie Willing that they the said Mathew Baker William Bright Edward Stephens Nicholas Clay Iohn Apslin Peter Pett Thomas Ienkin Iohn Graues Robert Bourne Iames Marshe William Hedger Thomas Wells William Pickes Iohn Mare Edmund Iordan and Richard Watford and all other Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being shall be and continue Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid for and during their naturall liues and shall from time to time be aiding counselling and assisting vnto the said Master and Wardens for the better gouernment rule and direction of the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie and euery member thereof vnlesse they or any of them shall be remoued from the same place of Assistant or Assistants for some misdemeanor or other iust cause whom for such cause we likewise will and ordaine to be remoueable according to the forme heerein also expressed And for
the better establishment of this our good intention and purpose and for the perpetuall and constant continuance direction rule and gouernment of the whole body of the said Art or Mysterie and euery member thereof wee will and ordaine That on the morrow next after the said feast of Saint Bartholmew the Apostle yearely heereafter the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights aforesaid for the time being or the greater part of them for that intent and purpose to be assembled at or in their common House or Hall shall elect choose and nominate one person who hath formerly beene Warden of the said Art or Mysterie to be Master of the said Art or Mysterie for the next yeare then following and shall at the same time elect choose and nominate out of the said Assistants three that shall likewise be Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie which said Master and Wardens so as aforesaid nominated elected and chosen shall be and continue Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie vnto the said terme of one whole yeare then next ensuing and further vntill some Master and Wardens shall be respectiuely elected preferred and chosen thereunto they and euery of them first taking a corporall oath vpon the holly Euangelists before the Master and Wardens being their last predecessors or any two of them or before the Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie or the greatest part of them for the due execution of their seuerall Offices respectiuely and also the oath commonly called the Oath of Supremacie which Oathes wee doe by these presents giue power and authoritie to the said Master and Wardens for the time being or any two of them or to the said Assistants or the greater part of them to minister and take of the person and persons so elected accordingly and then euery such Master Warden and Wardens so remoued shall then instantly be chosen elected to be assistant or assistants and so to remain assistant or assistants in the roome and place of him or them that shal be so chosen out of the said assistants to be Master Warden and Wardens first taking his or their corporall oath or oathes before the then Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them for the due execution of their said Offices and places of assistants before they take vpon them the execution of the same which Oath wee doe likewise giue power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And further our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors grant ordaine and appoint that the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greatest number of them so often as any offence or misdemeanor shall happen to be committed or done by any of the said Master Wardens or Assistants shall and may congregate and gather themselues together in their Common Hall and shall and may haue power and aucthoritie to remoue any or so many of the said Master Wardens and Assistants as they shall finde to haue committed any such Offences or misdemeanors from their said place or places and elect others in his or their roome according to the forme heerein expressed and that when and as often as it shall happen the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any of them to die and depart out of this life or otherwise for any reasonable or lawful cause be remoued or be dismissed from his or their or any of their Office or Offices of Master and Wardens aforesaid or any of them within the yeare wherein they or any of them shall be so elected and chosen as is aforesaid That then and so often it shall and may bee lawfull to and for the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie then for the time being or the greater part of them within fifteene daies next after such death dismission or remouing of such Master or Wardens or any of them to nominate preferre elect and choose any able and sufficient person or persons out of the said Assistants in the steed and place of him or them so dying remoued or dismissed to be and continue Master and Wardens or Master and Warden of the Art or Mysterie aforesaid for and during the residue of the same yeare and from thence vntill some other person or persons shall be elected and chosen vnto the said Office or Offices of Master and Wardens or Warden of the said Art or Mysterie according to the ordinance and prouision in these presents expressed And that this course shall from time to time be taken as often as the case shall so require And that hee or they so nominated chosen and preferred to any of the Office or Offices aforesaid before he or they shall enter into the execution of the said Office or Offices shall take a corporall Oath vpon the holy Euangelists before the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie being their last predecessors or any two of them for the due execution of the said Office or Offices and also the oath commonly called the Oath of Supremacie which Oathes we doe by these presents giue power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens for the time being or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And if it happen any of the Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie to dye or to be remoued from their or any of their said offices of Assistants for some reasonable cause That then and so often it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them then being or remaining within conuenient time after the death or remouing of any the Assistant or Assistants as aforesaid to choose or make one or moe person or persons being of the most honest discreete skilfull and sufficient Shipwrights or workemen of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie to be Assistant or Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie To continue in the said Office or Offices during his or their naturall life or liues except they or any of them for some reasonable cause shall happen to be remoued out of their said Office or Offices as aforesaid First taking his or their Corporall Oath or Oathes before the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them well and truely to execute the said Office or Offices in all things concerning the same And that so often as the case shall require which Oath wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors giue full power and aucthoritie to the said Master and Wardens or any two of them to minister and take accordingly And our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presents grant and ordaine That if any person or persons
named or elected to be Master Warden or Assistant of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie as aforesaid shall wilfully and obstinately without good and iust cause or excuse reiect or refuse the said Office or Place of Master Warden or Assistant respectiuely or after hee hath agreed thereto shall wilfully and obstinately without good and iust cause or excuse reiect or neglect the same or the execution and performance thereof Then the Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie or the most part of them shall or may impose vpon euery such person so refusing or neglecting the Office or Place of Master or Warden the Fine of Tenne poundes or vnder and vpon euery person so refusing or neglecting the Office or Place of Assistant the Fine of Twentie Nobles or vnder to be paid to the vse of the said Corporation To be had taken and leauied of the goods and chattels of such person or persons so refusing or neglecting and fined as aforesaid by way of distresse or otherwise by action of Debt Bill plaint or Information wherein no essoine protection or wager of Law shall be admitted or allowed to the defendant And this to be done from time to time when and as often as the case shall so require And moreouer our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors grant and ordaine that there shall or may be from henceforth for euer in all and euery conuenient and needefull place and places of our Kingdome of England and Dominions of Wales one or more honest sufficient and skilfull person or persons of the said Art or Mysterie which shall be and shall be called the deputie or deputies of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie to be from time to time heereafter elected nominated and appointed by the said Master Wardens and Assistants or foure of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being to be alwaies two and to continue in the place or places of deputie or deputies of the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being from the time of there said election for the space of one whole yeare then next ensuing or vntill hee bee for some iust cause remoued and some other of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie be elected nominated and sworne to the said Office or place of deputie or deputies according to the true intent and meaning of these presents And moreouer wee will and ordaine that in case and when and as often as it shall happen any of the said place or places of deputie or deputies by death or departure or amotion for iust cause which amotion for iust cause wee will from time to time shall and may be done or otherwise shall happen to be or fall voyde That then and so often from time to time within conuenient time after such auoidance the same Office or Place Offices or Places shall be supplied or filled vp by nomination election and preferment of some other person or persons of the said Art or Mysterie according to the fourme before expressed and the purport and true meaning of these presents And wee will ordaine and command that euery person that shall be from henceforth named and chosen to bee deputie or deputies to the said Master Wardens and Assistants during the time that hee or they or any of them shall continue in his or their Office or Offices place or places of deputy-ship doe and shall from time to time imploy the vttermost of his and their endeuours abilities and skill in the due execution of this our Charter and Letters Patents and of euery braunch article and thing therein contained and of all good and wholesome lawes orders and ordinances which at any time heereafter shall be made and constituted by the said Master Wardens and Assistants in euery respect according to the true intent and meaning of the same and of these presents and in all other causes matters and things concerning the good and welfare of the said Art and Mysterie And that they the said deputies for the time being and euery of them shall bee from time to time accomptable to the said Master Wardens and Cominalty and their successors for all summes of money profits and commodities by them or any of them to be collected or receiued by reason or in respect of his said Office or Offices place or places of deputie or deputies and shall further before he or they execute or vndertake the same Office or Place of deputie or deputies take a Corporall Oath before the said Master Wardens and Assistants or any foure of them whereof the said Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two or their deputie or deputies in that behalfe of and for the true and due execution of the said Office and place and also the oath commonly called the Oath of Supremacie which Oathes wee doe by these presents giue full power and aucthoritie to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or any foure of them whereof the said Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two or to their deputie or deputies in that behalfe to minister and take of euery such deputie or deputies accordingly Andour will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors grant and ordaine that if any person or persons so named or elected to be deputie or deputies to the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being as aforesaid shall accept the same office and deputation and then after shall wilfully and obstinately without good and iust cause or excuse refuse to attend or execute the same So as no person so nominated be compelled against his will to hold such place of deputation aboue the space of two yeares together That then the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the more part of them shall or may impose vpon euery such person so refusing to exercise the said Office or Place after such acceptance thereof as aforesaid a reasonable fine not exceeding Twenty Nobles To bee leauied and paid to the vse of the said Corporation And further wee will and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe grant vnto the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors That they the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors shall and may haue take and entertaine one honest and discreete person in manner and for me heereafter in these presents expressed to be nominated and chosen which shall be and be called the Clearke of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights And wee haue assigned made constituted named and ordained And by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe assigne make constitute name and ordaine our welbeloued subiect and seruant Richard Newman to be the present Clearke of the said Corporation Art
or Mysterie To bee and continue in the said Office during the terme of his naturall life vnlesse he for some misdemeanour shall be remoued dismissed or shall surrender the same Which Office wee will shall be vsed and exercised by himselfe or his sufficient deputie or deputies such as the said Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or any two of them shall allow of And that from time to time and at all times after the death surrender or remouall of the said Richard Newman the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them shall or may choose name and make any other discreete man to be Clearke of the said Art or Mysterie And that he which shall be so chosen and made Clearke of the same Corporation Art or Mysterie after the death remoueall or surrender of the said Richard Newman as is aforesaid shall and may exercise and enioy the said Office of Clearke of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the terme of his life The said Clearke so to be nominated after the death or remouall of the said Richard or his surrendor of his Office as aforesaid first taking his Corporall Oath vpon the holy Euangelists before the Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them well and truely to execute the said Office of Clearke of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie in all things appertaining to the said Office to the vttermost of his power according to his skill and knowledge and so often from time to time as often as the case shall require which Oath wee do by these presents giue full power and aucthoritie to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them to minister and take accordingly And further our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors giue and grant to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid and their successors That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their successors for the time being or the greater part of them from time to time when and as often as occasion shall require or to them in that behalfe shall seeme conuenient likewise to name and appoint any other inferiour Officers Ministers and members as shall be needfull and expedient in to or for the said Corporation Art or Mysterie or the good gouernment and affaires thereof and the same and euery or any of them from time to time and at all times at their like will and pleasure to displace remoue put out or discharge and him or them or others in his or their place roome or steed so remoued expelled displaced or discharged to take in againe place or appoint of new and in like manner to doe and performe when and as often as he they or any of them shall fortune to die or to depart this life before hee or they be so remoued expelled or discharged And also wee will and grant by these presents for vs our heires and successors to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors That the said Master Wardens Assistants and their successors for the time being or the greater part of them shall or may from time to time and at all times heereafter at their like will and pleasure admit receiue and take whatsoeuer person or persons being our naturall borne subiects as well within this our Realme of England as in other our dominions and places being vnder our obeysance and not otherwise which would bee and are or shall be willing and desirous to bee of the said Corporation as a member or members thereof and that all and euery person and persons so to be admitted receiued and taken in by the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the more part of them shall from the time of his or their admission be called and accompted a brother and member or freeman of the said Corporation indeede and in name And also that the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them shall or may again at their will and pleasure when and as often as to them or the greater part of them in that behalfe it shall vpon good and iust occasion seeme most meet and expedient remoue displace and discharge all and euerie such person or persons so admitted receiued and taken in as aforesaid of and from the said corporation And to th' intent that as well our selfe our heires and successors as also our Marchants and other our subiects may from time to time heereafter be better furnished stored and supplied with cunning skilfull and sufficient Ship-wrights and workemen of that kinde for the making building and repairing of Ships Pinnaces and other vessels and for the auoiding suppressing or preuenting as much as in vs lieth of the manifold abuses and deceits therein daily practised and committed by such persons as are altogether vnskilfull hauing neuer beene trayned or brought vp as apprentices in the said Art or Mysterie according to the lawes and statutes of this our Realme of England Wee doe therefore of our more especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion for vs our heires and successors will and grant to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie of the said Art or Mysterie of Shipwrights of Redrith and to their successors for euer That euery freeman of the said company shall and may from time to time heereafter haue take and keep one or moe apprentice or apprentices to be trained and brought vp vnder him in the said Trade Art or Mysterie of a Ship-wright And that euery such apprentice shall bee by couenants bound by and to his Master that shall so entertain him as aforesaid duly and truly to serue him as his apprentice for and during the full space and terme of seuen yeares at the least and to be ordered and vsed to all intents and purposes according to the custome of the Citie of London And that the same couenant of apprentiship to be made by writing indented and registred or enrolled at their Common hall before themselues in their said Corporation by their Clearke or his sufficient deputie or deputies for the time being and that such enrolement shall be good and effectuall in the law to all intents and purposes against vs our heires and successors and against all person and persons whatsoeuer Any law statute custome or vsage to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding Willing and by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charging and commanding that no Shipwright Calker or Shipcarpenter or any other being a Freeman of the said Corporation and vsing exercising practising or professing the said Trade Skill Art or Mistery of building making trimming dressing grauing launching drawing stocking or reparing of any Shippes
Pynnaces or other vessell or vessels whatsoeuer for nauigation or traffick shall or may at any time or times hereafter receiue haue entertaine or keepe any apprentise or other seruant being not alredy free of the saide corporation or not hauing serued with some other Shipwright in the same Trade to be vsed exercised trayned or brought vp vnder him in the said trade art or mistery as aforesaide except he first cause euery such his seruant or apprentise to be bound vnto him by Indenture for the saide tearme of seauen yeares at the least or for so many yeares as together with the yeares which he hath serued in the said trade as aforesaide shall make vp the number of seauen yeares and doe likewise cause his saide Indenture of apprentiship to be registred or enrolled before the Clarke of the said company or his deputy for the time being as aforesaide within one month next after the taking thereof vpon paine of our heauy displeasure and of such fine or other punishment as by the lawes and statutes of this Realme or by the lawes and ordinances already made or hereafter to bee made by the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part according to the true intent and meaning heereof shall or may be inflicted vpon him or them that shall offend therein And further our will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion grant to the said Master Wardens and Cominalty and to their successors That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their successors or the greater part of them when and as often as to them or the greater part of them it shall seeme needefull or expedient to assemble conuocate and congregate themselues together at or in the Common Hall or house being now at Redrith in the County of Surrey or in any other place or places for the same conuenient and then and there to keepe Court and consultation for the said Corporation Art or Mysterie and the affaires thereof and the perquisites issues and profits of the said Court or Courts so to be kept and held to leauie take and perceiue to and for the vse of the said Corporation for the better maintenance and preseruation thereof without any account to be made or rendred to vs our heires or successors in that behalfe And that also it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them being so assembled as aforesaid whereof the Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two then and there to treate consult common determine and agree amongst themselues or with any person or persons whatsoeuer of vpon and concerning the good estate benefit conseruation and wholsome rule gouernement and ordering of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie and the men apprentices worke-men worke-man-ship and all other the affaires things to the same belonging or therupon in any wise depending And at in and vpon such their assemblies meetings and conferences to make ordaine and constitute such and so many good wholesome and reasonable lawes statutes articles constitutions orders and ordinances whatsoeuer as to them or the greater part of them being then and there present whereof the Master and one of the Wardens for the time being to be alwaies two shall seeme reasonable neccessarie meete and conuenient for touching or concerning the premisses and for the better aduancement performance and continuance of the same and also for the better directing how and in what order and manner the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and all other person and persons vsing the said Art or Mysterie within our said Realme of England and Dominion of Wales shall demeane and behaue themselues aswell in all and singuler matters and things touching or concerning the said functions ministeries and businesses touching or concerning the said Art or Mysterie as aforesaid And the same lawes orders Articles and constitutions so made or any of them to put in vre and execute accordingly and at their will againe to reuoke alter or change when and as often as occasion shall thereto require And our further will and pleasure is And wee do by these presents for vs our heires and successors graunt and command that whatsoeuer is or shall bee concluded and agreed vpon at any such assembly or meeting of the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens for the time being to be alwaies two and the same entred and registred in some publique booke to be kept for that purpose the same shall be holden as lawes ordinances and statutes amongst them to bee put in vre and execution and shall binde all persons of the said Corporation Art or Mysterie all Shipwrights and worke-men of that profession in any Place Port Hauen or Towne within our said Realme of England and Dominion of Wales aswell the subiects of the same our Realme and Dominions as strangers aliens for or during the time of their being in or vpon any part of our said Realme Coasts or Dominions or any Creekes or Harbors of the same to obserue obey and performe the same from time to time in all things as the same ought to bee vpon the paines penalties and punishments in the same to be imposed inflicted and lymited So alwaies as the said lawes statutes articles orders ordinances paines penalties and punishments and euery of them bee agreeable to reason and iustice and not contrary or repugnant to the lawes statutes rights or customes of this our Realme of England nor derogatory to the Iurisdictions and preheminences of the Lord High-Admirall of England for the time being or to the Court of Admiraltie of England or the Iudges Register or Marshall of that Court for the time being or any of them And wee do further will and grant if any person or persons whatsoeuer shall offend against any of the said lawes statutes ordinances so made or to be made as aforesaid or shall violate transgresse or breake any of them That then it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being or the greater part of them whereof the said Master and one of the Wardens to be two to impose and inflict all and singuler such paines penalties punishments fines and amerciaments and forfetures or any of them in the said lawes statutes and ordinances limited vpon all and euery such person or persons so offending or transgressing the same as they in iustice according to their wisedomes and discretions and the nature quantitie and qualitie of the fault shall thinke fit and the same fines penalties amerciaments and forfaitures or any of them in the said lawes
ordinances and statutes or any of them or in their orders to be grounded thereupon to be appointed and specified of the offendors and euery of them to aske leauie gather and receiue and for default of paiment that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie to distraine the goods and chattels of such offendor and the same to keepe till they shall be satisfied or otherwise to bring their action for the same according to law And our will and pleasure is That all and singuler fines forfaitures sum and summes of money whatsoeuer or heereafter to be due and receiued by reason of the said decrees orders or ordinances shall be to the vse commodity and sole benefit and behoofe of the said Corporation without any account or other thing therefore to vs our heires or successors to be yeelded paid rendred made or done in that behalfe without any let trouble molestation or interruption of any person or persons whatsoeuer for the same And wee haue further of our more especiall grace certain knowledge and meere motion giuen and granted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe giue and grant vnto the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and to their successors for euer That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mysterie for the time being by themselues or by any their sufficient deputie or deputies Officer or Officers or any other person or persons by them for that purpose to be authorised or appointed by writing vnder their common seale from time to time at al times hereafter in lawfull manner to aske leauie haue receiue and take in all and euery place and places within our said Realme of England and Dominion of Wales aswell of euery Master workeman ship-wright or other person or persons that shall heereafter make or build or cause to be made or built any newe ship or ships vessell or vessels of the burden of 100. Tunnes or more or lesse all and singuler such profits dues dueties fees allowances sum and summes of money whatsoeuer after such rate and in such manner and forme as at any time or times heeretofore themselues their predecessors by any name or names of Corporation by vnder or by force and vertue of any former Charter or Letters Patents to them or any of them giuen or graunted or by any other lawfull and reasonable way or meanes haue or ought to haue receiued had taken or enioyed the same by way of tonnage quarterage poundage or otherwise And also all and euery such fines amerciaments penalties sum and summes of money as shall be by force and vertue of these or Letters Patents our any their lawes orders ordinances statutes or institutions alreadie made or hereafter to be made for the good gouernment of the said company assessed or imposed vpon any person or persons whatsoeuer as shall offend or transgresse contrary to the true intent and meaning of the same to the sole vse benifit and behofe of the saide company without any accompt to be yeelded made or giuen to vs our heires or successors for the same And if any person or persons whatsoeuer of the saide Art or Mistery shall at any time or times hereafter refuse deny or neglect to satisfie and paie all and euery such dues duties alowances fines amerciamentes penalties sum or summes of money as shal be so imposed or assessed or wherewith he or they shall be charged as aforesaid vpon lawfull demaund thereof to him or them made either by the said Maister and Wardens for the time being or any of them or any their deputie or deputies officer or officers as aforesaide That then it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Maister and Wardens for the time being or any of them by themselues or by their sufficient deputy or deputies officer or officers so authorised as aforesaid to enter and distraine any the goods or chattels of the person or persons so offending denying or withholding the same in any place or places whatsoeuer where the same goods and chattles or any of them shall or may be found and the same to take beare and carry away and with him or them to detaine and keepe for and to the vse of the said company till such fines summe or summes of money shall be fully satsfied and paied or otherwise that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Maister Wardens and Cominalty for the time being to sue for and recouer the same dues duties alowances fines amerciaments penalties impositions summe and sums of mony in any of our Court or Courts of record By Accion of debt bill plaint information or by any other lawfull waies or meanes whatsoeuer And these our Letters Pattents or the enrolment thereof shall be a sufficient warrant in that behalfe vnto the saide Maister Wardens and Cominalty and to all and euery their deputy and deputies officer and officers and to all and euery other person and persons whatsoeuer for the doing therof And to the end that the secrets of the said Art or Mysterie and the manner of our English building and new making of Ships Pinnaces and other vessels should for more strength and safety of our Realmes and Kingdomes be kept secret to and within our selues and our said Realmes and Dominions and altogether vnknowne to aliens and strangers of other Nations Our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and command that no person or persons whatsoeuer of the said Art or Mysterie of Ship-wrights doe at any time or times heereafter directly or indirectly by any waies or meanes whatsoeuer presume or attempt to discouer or make knowne to any forrainer or stranger not being a naturall borne subiect of vs our heires or successors or not being naturalized or indenized nor to any other person or persons not being free and sworne of and to the saide corporation nor being a seruant or apprentice to the saide art or mistery the secretts of the said trade art or mistery or the speciall manner of our English building or new making of Shippes Pinnaces or other vessells as aforesaid nor to take any alien or stranger borne being not naturalized or indenized to be his or their apprentice or seruant vpon paine of our high displeasure and of such further punishment as by the lawes and statutes of this Realme or the ordinances and lawes so made or to bee made by the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them as aforesaid can or may bee inflicted vpon such offendor or offendors for the same And to the end our will and pleasure heerein may be the better obserued and performed and the offendor punished wee doe further by these presents giue and grant for vs our heires and successors to the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and their successors That if at any time heereafter any
person or persons of the said Art or Mistery shall offend in discouering the secrets of the said Trade Art or Mistery to any forrainer or stranger not beeing a naturall borne subiect of vs our heires or successors or otherwise naturalized and indenized as aforesaid or to any other person or persons not beeing free and sworne of the said Corporation or not beeing a seruant or apprentice of or to the said Art or Mysterie or shall take any alien or stranger borne to bee his or their apprentice or seruant contrary to this our said command and the true intent and meaning of these presents That then and so often it shall may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them beeing assembled as aforesaid to impose vpon euery such offendor a reasonable fine according to the qualitie of his offence at the discreation of the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the more part of them the same fine to be forfaited and paid by the person or persons so offending to the sole benefit vse and behoofe of the said Corporation for the better mainteinance and vpholding of the same and the releeuing of the poore of the said Corporation And our further will and pleasure is And wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors of our more especiall grace certain knowledge and meere motion graunt to the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and their successors for euer that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and Assistants or the greater part of them wherof the Master and one of the Wardens to bee alwaies two to examine and punish by fine or such other correction as the qualitie of the offence shall deserue and require euery person which shall vnlawfully depart or goe away from his worke after he hath beene hired or agreed withall for wages before the time or times of his retainer or retainers be expired or shall be found to grow mutinous stubborne or disobedient or any waie a prouoker inticer or seducer of any other to any mutinie or disobedience to the hurt or iniurie or likely-hood of hurt or iniurie of the said Corporation or of the good gouernment and order therein or of any seruice whatsoeuer And also to examine heare and order all and euery the complaints of or against any ship-wrights or other worke-men of the said Corporation Art or profession or of or against any of his or their Iourney-men apprentices or seruants And of our more ample grace certaine knowledge and meere motion and for the better suppressing and reformation of the deceits and abuses first aboue mentioned wee will and haue giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe freely and absolutely giue and graunt to the said Master Wardens and Comminaltie of the Art and Mysterie of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid and to their successors for euer for the time being and to euery of them That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens or any two of them for the time being and also to and for any two of the said Assistants or other two persons beeing skilfull or which heereafter shall bee skilfull in the said Art or Mysterie being thereunto deputed and aucthorised by writing vnder the common Seale of the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie first taking his or their Corporall Oath or Oathes vpon the Euangelists before the Master and Wardens or any two of them for the due execution of their said Offices or Places which Oath wee doe by these presents aucthorise the said Master and Wardens or any two of them to minister and take accordingly at all conuenient time or times taking with them if neede so require a Constable or any other his Maiesties Officer or Officers of the Citie Towne or Place to search view and suruey all manner of timber wood and other stuffe prouided prepared and fitted for the building making or repairing of any Shippes Pinnaces or other vessels in any place or places whatsoeuer within our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales or in either of them And also to search view and suruey all and euery the workes and worke-man ship of all and euery person and persons whatsoeuer in making working building or repairing or which heereafter shall make worke build or repaire any manner of Ships Pinnaces boats or other vessels whatsoeuer within our said Realme of England and Dominion of Wales or either of them And that it shall and may be lawfull to for the said Master Wardens or any two of them or their deputies so aucthorised as aforesaid all and singuler Shippes Pinnaces Boates and other vessels heereafter to be built to view search and suruey and such of them whereof the timber-worke at the time of such search shall not be fully finished and which at the time of such search view or suruey so to be made as aforesaid shall be found to be insufficiently falsely and deceitfully made wrought or repaired as they must needes be by that meanes dangerous to such as shall vse or imploy them to arrest and stay vntill the same shall be reformed amended repaired made fit for Nauigation And our further will and pleasure is that if the said persons before by these presents aucthorised to make such search as aforesaid or any of them shall happen to finde any sappie wood red-wood or other insufficient wood or timber to be put into any Shippes Pinnaces or other vessells or hewen wrought fitted for that purpose That then the said persons or any of them shall forth-with charge and warne the makers or owners of such Shippes Pinnaces or other vessells forthwith to take away the said sappy wood red-wood and other insufficient wood and timber and to supply the same with other sufficient timber and wood And if within conuenient time after such charge and warning giuen as is aforesaid the said sappy wood red-wood and other insufficient wood and timber be not taken away and the same supplied with other good and sufficient timber and wood as is aforesaid That then it shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens or any two of them or any two of the said Assistants or any such deputie or deputies as aforesaid to take and deface all such sappy wood and red-wood and all and singuler such other timber and wood which vpon any such search and view and after conuenient admonition and warning giuen to take the same away and to supply it with better and more sufficient wood and timber they shall finde to bee put in or apparantly intended to be put into any Ship Pinnace or other vessell or hewen cut out or wrought for that purpose manifestly tending to the preiudice and damage of vs our heires and successors or of any other our louing subiects Marchants and Marriners whose goods and liues are hazarded often lost by
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
for the said allowance of fiue shillings vpon euery Tonne of the burden of the said Ships should be first allowed vnder the hand of the said Surueyour and signed by the said Admirall or his deputie for the time being as hath beene accustomed And whereas by our Letters Patents bearing date the 28. daie of Ianuary in the fourth yeare of our Raigne wee did graunt or mention to graunt vnto Humfrey Iobson gent. for and during his naturall life the Reuersion of the said Office or place of Surueyor of the tonnage and burden of all new builded ships of the burden of one hundred Tonnes aboue mentioned or vpwards from time to time within our Realme of England next after the death forfaiture or surrendor of the said Iohn Grent together with the wages and fee of twelue pence a day for the exercising of the said office place and all and singuler other Fees profits commodities and allowances whatsoeuer to the same place or office in any wise due incident or appertaining As in and by the said two seuerall Letters Pattens more at large appeareth And whereas of late we haue bin much wronged defrauded and abused in that sundry of the said shippes for want of exact viewing surueying and measuring haue beene ouer-rated in their burthen and tonnage wherby wee haue beene charged with the payment of a greater allowance then in truth wee ought to haue beene Know yee therefore that we reposing a speciall trust and confidence in the faithfulnesse experience care and honest and true circumspection of the Master Wardens and Comminalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship-wrights And to the end that we our heires and successors may not at any time from henceforth in like sort be defrauded wronged or abused do of our speciall grace certaine knowledge and meere motion giue and graunt to the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and to their successors for euer the office function and place of Surueyour of the tonnage and burthen of all new builded Ships of the burthen of an hundred tonnes aboue mentioned or vpwards from time to time within this our Realme of England Together with the said wages and fee of twelue pence by the day and all other fees proffits commodities and allowances whatsoeuer to the said office or place in any wise due belonging incident or appertaining And them the said Master Wardens and comminalty and their successors wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors nominate ordaine make and appoynt Surueyours of the tonnage and burthen of all new builded Shippes from time to time within this our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales To haue hold exercise and enioy the said office function and place and also to haue receiue and perceiue the said wages and fee of twelue pence by the day immediately when and from and after such time as the Estate and interest Estates and interrests graunted or mentioned to be graunted to the said Iohn Grent and Humfrey Iobson respectiuely by death surrender forfeiture or other occasion cause or meanes whatsoener is are or shall bee voyde ended or determined and whensoeuer the said office or place shall first happen or become void vnto the said Master Wardens and Cominaltie and to their successors for euer And for the better and more exact examination iudging and finding out from hence forth of the true burden and tonnage of euery Ship and vessell that is or shall be capable of or intended to haue or require the said alowance Wee doe hereby for vs our heires and successors ordaine decree grant limit and appoynt and also straightly charge and commaund the said Master and Wardens for the time being by themselues or their deputies being honest skilfull and sufficient persons as well to goe on bord euery such shipp and vessell and there to view and decerne whether shee be sufficiently and substancially built as is fit and required in that behalfe that is to say with two Orlops at conunnient distance strong to carry ordnance aloft and alowe with her fore-castell and halfe deck close for feight As also to cause euery such Shipp and vessell to be brought on ground and by from and according to an exact measure taken of her length breadth depth draught in water so to rate and sett downe the true burden and tonnage thereof and to certifie the same by Letters testimoniall vnder the common scale of the said Corporation and the hands of the said Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mystery for the time being as they will euer after be ready vpon their oaths aleagiance to approue the same And our will pleasure is and wee doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly prohibit charge and command that no person or persons whatsoeuer shall or may at any time or times hereafter be capable of or persume to take receiue or demand the said alowance of fiue shillings a tonne as aforesaid vntill such due measuring rating certificat be first had made as aforesaid Willing and requiring as well our Lord High Tresurer and Lord High Admirall of England our Tresurer Chancellor of our Exchequor as also the said Iohn Grent and Humfrey Iobson and all other persons whome it may concerne to take notice of our wil and pleasure in this behalfe Any former grant prouision limitation custome or vsage to the contrary heereof in any wise notwithstanding And moreouer for the better maintaining strengthning and vpholding of the said corporation and the suppressing and reforming as well of the manifould errors deceiptes and abuses practized in the said profession art and mystery as also of the disorders and misdemeanors of diuers wilfull stuborne and disobedient persons of the said profession Art or Mystery which can very hardly by any other meanes be redressed restrained or reformed and for the better continuing setling and establishing of good orders discipline and gouernment amongst them for the especiall good of our owne seruice and the generall benefit of all our louing subiects as well Marchants as others wee doe of our more ample grace certaine knowledge and meere motion for vs our heires and successors giue and grant to the said Master Wardens and 〈◊〉 and their successors for euer by these presents That if any person or persons now practizing vsing or professing or which hereafter shall practise vse or professe the said Art or Mystery or any thing therevnto appertaining shall wilfully or obstinately oppose or resist the order rule and gouernment of the said Master Wardens and Assistantes of the said Art or Mystery for the time being or shall refuse to obey or to submit him or themselues to this our Charter or Letters Pattents and to such wholsome lawes orders ordinances and institutions as are or shall be made by force and vertue thereof as aforesaid tending to the good seruice of vs and our common-wealth and to the good estate and preseruation of the said Art or Mistery or shall not well and honestly carry behaue and demeane him and themselues towardes the Master Wardens and
Assistants of the faid Art or Mistery for the time being and their deputy or deputies or other inferior officers respectiuely according to the true intent and meaning of these presents but after due and conuenient warning notice or admonition giuen to him or them in that behalfe shall still wilfully and obstinately persist perseuere or continue in any wilfull stuborne obstinate or disobedient course tending to the hurt and preiudice of vs our heires and successors or any our louing subiects or the order rule and gouernment aforesaid either by insufficient negligent or deceitfull working or not performing of his or their duties or by purloyning imbeazling of stuffe or by vnlawfull and disorderly departure from his or their worke after he or they haue bene hired and such like or shall doe or commit any act or acts directly or indirectly to the preiudice or hindrance of the said Corporation or the good estate and procedings thereof either by wilfull absenting him or themselues from the Common-Hall and meeting vpon due warning or by deniall of ordinary and iust duties or shall by mutinies combinations conspiracies or any such like wicked or vnlawfull course or practise persist or continue in the wilfull breach neglect or contempt of this our Charter or any thing herein contained or any law ordinance or institution made by force of these presents That then in all and euery or any of these cases before mencioned it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master Wardens and assistants or any three of them whereof the Master and one of the Wardens to be alwaies two seuerally to correct and punish such offendor or offendors according to the quantity and quallity of his or their offence or offences according to the lawes and ordinances of the said Corporation and according to the lawes and statutes of the realme in that behalfe respectiuely And whereas the greatest number of the workmen and other persons imployed in the trades aforesaid are soe very pore and nedy and of meane condition as no pecuniary mulct can take hold of them and likewise so rude and disordered as noe ordinary or ciuill censure can moue them to yeelde obedience to rule or gouernment And therefore some sharpe and seuere coertion and constraint must necessarily be vsed towards them in many cases Therefore our will and pleasure is and wee doe by these presentes will and ordaine That if any person or persons now vsing or which shall hereafter vse or exercise within the said realme of England or dominion of Wales the said Art Trade or Mistery of Ship-wrights or other the workes or trades aforesaid shall obstinately resist and withstand the gouernment of the said Maister Wardens and Assistants or their lawfull deputy or deputies and shall after admonition and warning giuen vnto them or any of them in that behalfe wilfully persist in such disobedient course either by deceitfull working or by vnlawfull departure from after they haue bene hired or within the time or times of their retainor or shall by combination conspiracies or other vnlawfull practises seeke to ouerthrow destroy and bring into contempt the powers preuiledges and authorities by these presents giuen and granted to the said Maister Wardens and Cominalty and their successors for the vniuersall benifit and good of our said Realme dominion and subiects That theâ—… or in such cases the Lord Admirall of England for the time being vpon complaint and profe therof made to him shall take the body or bodies of all and euery such notorious offendors and keepe them vnder arrest vntill they shall conforme themselues and reforme what they haue done amisse as aforesaide And for so much as a great part of the said Art or Mystery are continually for the most part imploied and attendant vpon the seruice and nauigation of vs our heires and successors We therefore of our especiall grace doe will and grant for vs our heires and successors That the saide Maister Wardens and Cominalty or any of them or their or any of their successors shall not at any time or times hereafter be informed put placed or impannelled in or vpon any Assizes Iuries Inquests or attaintes whatsoeuer before any Iudges Iustices or Commissioners of vs our heires or successors out of the Citties Townes Boroughs Parishes or places where they or any of them doe or shall happen to dwell vnlesse they haue lands or tenements lying out of the said Citties Townes Boroughs Parishes or places by reason whereof they or any of them ought to be charged nor shall at any time be pressed or inforced to serue vs our heires or successors as Land-soldiers but doe absolutely and freely discharge them and euery of them from any such seruice and attendance And wee doe further by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and commaund all and euery Sheriffes Bailiffes and other officers of vs our heires and successors that they every of them doe from time to time forbeare to put or impanel any of the said Maister Wardens and Cominalty or any their deputies or apprentises in or vpon any such Iuries or inquests as is aforesaid contrary to our said meaning intent vpon paine of our displeasure of such paines penalties and imprisonments as by the lawes of this our Realme can or may be inflicted or imposed vpon them or any of them for their contempt in doing contrary to our royall pleasure and commandment in that behalfe And whereas the Master Wardens and Cominalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship-wrights of Redrith aforesaid and their and euery of their deputies and apprentises being continually for the most part charged and chargeable to be ready and prouided at an howers warning vpon diuers seruices and imployments as well at the Sea for the necessity defence and safety of our realmes and kingdomes and for the use and imployment of our Marchants for continuance and increase of trade and commerce with forraine Nations for the benefit and profit of vs and our subiects as also to giue attendance within our Kingdomes for the new building repairing and triming as well of the Shippes Pinnaces and vessels of vs our heires successors as also of the Ships Pinnaces and vessels of our Marchants and subiects Therefore our will and pleasure is That if it shall hapen the said Maister Wardens and Comminalty or other persons which by the true intent and meaning hereof are and ought to be discharged from such seruice vpon Iuries or Inqâ—ests shall by Sheriffes Bailiffes or other officers ignorantly or wilfully be put and impannelled to serue vpon Iuries and Enquests contrary to our true intent and meaning in that behalfe in certaine our former Letters Pattents graunted and also in these presents renued And that any of the said persons beeing absent from their houses and places of habitation at such times as they were or shall bee sommoned
or warned to appeare vpon any such Iuries or enquests could not nor cannot plead or alleadge the said former Letters Pattents nor these presents or the priueledges and authorities hereby giuen and granted vnto them for their discharge in that behalfe whereby diuers issues fines and amercements are many times returned against them contrary to our true intent and meaning Wee doe therefore graunt for vs our heires and successors vnto the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and their successors for euer That if any issues fines and amercements shall be returned forfeited or imposed by or vppon any of the said person or persons of the said Corporation Trade Art or Mistery for or in respect of not doing or not performing of any of the said seruices or other things whereof they are hereby exempted or freed or mentioned to be exempted or freed That then the same person or persons his or their heires executors administrators and assignes and euery of them and all his and their landes tenements goods and chattels shall be for euer freed and discharged of and from the same issues fines and amerciaments and euery of them And wee doe require and commaund the Barons of our Eschequer that in respect of the pouerty of many that are to be releeued in this case they giue them all expedition and ease in the proceedings and pleading for their discharge in that behalfe And because this Corporation of Ship-wrights hath bin principally instituted made for the mainteinance and encrease of Nauigation and for the better and more substantiall making building and repairing of ships and also for the trayning vp instructing of Ship-wrights Ship-carpenters labourers and workemen to make them more ready able and skilfull for seruice All which things do very greatly concerne the defence safety wealth and profit of our selfe our Kingdomes and subiects Therefore wee doe not onely straightly charge and command all and euery person and persons which are or shall be of the Cominaltie of this Corporation That they doe dutifully submit themselues to such good and wholesome lawes statutes and ordinances as shall be heereafter ordained and made by vertue of these Letters Patents for the gouernment rule order and direction of this Corporation and of all the members thereof But wee doe also straightly require charge and command all Masters Wardens and Assistants deputies and other the principall Officers of this incorporation now being and that heereafter shall bee That they and euery of them in their seuerall Offices and places doe carefully diligently and circumspectly looke to the due and seuere execution of all such lawes statutes and ordinances so to be made as aforesaid that the same may be truely performed and accomplished according to the tenor and true meaning of the same vpon paine of our heauy displeasure and indignation and of such punishment and imprisonment as by our lawes may be inflicted on them and euery or any of them wherein our meaning is to extend the greater punishment vpon such as hauing offices and places of trust and charge committed vnto them shall by wilfulnesse negligence remisnesse partialitie or otherwise offend themselues or suffer others to offend in those things whereof they ought to bee the reformers and redressers and at whose hands wee expect to receiue and haue amendement and reformation of all offences that shall bee committed by any others in that behalfe And forasmuch as the pouertie of Ship-wrights and persons belonging to the said Corporation is now much more increased then in former times and not able to be releeued supported and maintained by the duties and reuenues of the said Corporation which heertofore they haue had or were enabled to haue being so small in yeerely value Therefore and to the end the said Master Wardens and Comminalty and their Successors may bee from henceforth the better enabled from time to time to beare and sustaine their charges and expences drawne and occasioned by reason of the Corporation and to releeue and maintaine the poore of the same wee haue of our more especiall grace certaine knoledge and meere motion giuen and graunted and by these presents for vs our heires and successors doe giue and graunt vnto the said Master Wardens and Comminalty of the said Art or Mistery of Ship wrights of Redrith aforesaid and to their successors especiall licence and free and lawfull faculty power and authority that they their successors for euer shall and may not onely haue receiue and purchase to them and their successors for euer to their owne proper vse and behoofe as well of vs our heires and successors as of any other person or persons whatsoeuer Mannours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions Seruices and other Hereditaments whatsoeuer which are not held of vs our heires and successors in chiefe or by Knights seruice nor of any other by Knights seruice So alwaies that the same Manours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions or Hereditaments by the said Master Wardens and Comminalty or their successors so to bee receiued purchased obtained or had as aforesaid doe not exceed the cleare yeerly value of forty pound by the yeere aboue all charges deductions and reprizes The Statute of Lands Tenements not to bee put in Mortmaine or any other Statute Act or Ordinance prouision restraint or any other matter cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And further wee haue giuen and graunted And by these presents for vs our heires and successors wee doe giue and graunt special licence and ful free power authority to any and euery of the subiects of vs our heires and successors and to all and euery body and bodies Corporate and Politique and other person and persons whatsoeuer and to euery of them That they and euery of them shall and may giue graunt bequeath assigne or by any wayes or meanes whatsoeuer alnie deuize or assure vnto the said Master Wardens and comminalty and to their successors for euer any Mannours Messuages Lands Tenements Rectories Tithes Rents Reuersions Seruices and other Hereditaments whatsoeuer which are not held of vs our heires or successors in chiefe or by Knights seruice or of any other by Knights seruice So that the same Mannours Lands Tenements and other the premisses so as aforesaid to bee giuen graunted assigned or deuised doe not exceed in the whole the cleare yeerely value of forty pound per annum aboue all charges deductions and reprizes The Statute of Lands and Tenements not to bee put in Mortmaine or any other Act Statute Ordinance Prouision or restraint or any other matter cause or thing whatsoeuer to the contrary notwithstanding And finally we doe by these presents for vs our heires and successors straightly charge and command Aswell the Lord Admirall of England for the time beeing and also the Iudge of our Admirality and principall Officers of our Nauy and al Viz. Admirals Marshals Sergeants and other officers of our Admiralty As also the Lord Mayor of our
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-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
other things belonging or appertaining to the said companie of the said Art or Mysterie To continue in the said place for the space of one yeare after such election and if any of them dye or be remoued another or others to be chosen in his or their roome or roomes Which Accompts and reckonings by them so taken and allowed shall be deliuered to the Clearke of the said Company to be fairely entred into a booke of remembrance to be prouided and kept of purpose for which hee is to haue such reasonable allowance as the said Auditors or two of them shall thinke fitte And whosoeuer shall refuse the said Office of Auditor beeing thereunto elected shall forfait and pay to the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mystery for euery time so refusing to the vse of the said Corporation the summe of forty shillings of lawfull money of England 2 Item it is ordained that the said Master and Wardens vpon their said Election day shall choose and appoint two sufficient persons of the said Corporation not beeing of the Assistants which shall be called the Stewards Aswell for the making and prouiding of the Dinner and Feast for the said Master Wardens and Assistants and better sort of the Companie vpon the said election day As also vpon their Quarter daies when there shall be a meeting for the disposing of businesses and affaires concerning the said Corporation And whosoeuer shall refuse or neglect the execution of the said place of Steward being thereunto elected shall for euery time so refusring forfait and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation Fortie shillings of lawfull money of England 3 Item it is ordained that euery person of the said Corporation vpon warning giuen by the Beadle or any other for that purpose appointed shall yearely from henceforth vpon the day of Election of new Master and Wardens Assemble themselues together at their Common Hall at Redrith aforesaid and from thence in a decent manner shall accompanie the said new Master and Wardens too and from the parrish Church to heare a Sermon where they shall continue from the begining to the end thereof And euery person so warned and making default not hauing a lawful and reasonable excuse shall forfaict and pay to the said Maister and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery such offence fiue shillings of lawfull money of England 4 Item it is ordayned that vpon the said election day the old Master and Wardens shall make and prouide a conuenient dinner to the New Master and Wardens then elected and to such of the better sort of the company as shall be warned or inuited thereunto towards the charge whereof euery person so inuited of the company shall pay two shillings of lawfull money of England Aud whosoeuer being lawfully warned commeth not shall notwithstanding pay the said two shillings which if it be denied or deferred to be paide vpon demaund the party deferring shall forfaicte to the said Master and Wardens for euery such deniall three shillings fower pence of lawfull English money 5 Item it is ordained that the said Master and Wardens and two of the said Assistants for the time being at the least shal from time to time so often as to them shall seem meet conuenient to elect and choose one or moe honest person or persons to be their honest Beadle or Beadles who shall be at all times attendaunt vpon the said Master and Wardens be at their lawful commandements As well to summon warne all persons of the said Corporation and to make returne of their answers as also concerning all other affaires of the said Corporation wherein there shal be cause to imploy him or them 6 Item it is ordayned that the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mistery shall at all times hereafter haue one substantiall Chest with fower seuerall lockes and keies for the safe keeping of all moneys Plate goods Letters pattents euidences ordinances accomptes and writinges to the said Corporation belonging or appertayning Which fower keyes shall alwaies bee and remaine in the seuerall custodies of the said Master and Wardens for the time being who shall be all present at euery opening of the said Chest And if any by necessary occasion shall be letted that he cannot be then present hee shall appoint one of the Assistance to take his keye and supply his rome in his absence 7 Item it is ordayned that the said Maister and Wardens or any three or two of them or any two or more of the assistants or any their deputy or deputies shal once euery month or oftner if neede require dilligently view search and suruey as wel all Ships Pinnaces Boates Barges Leighters Wherries and other veffels whatsoeuer now built or hereafter shall be built in any place or places within the realme of England or dominion of Wales or either of them and all timber planke and other stuffe prouided fit or prepared for the building making trimming or repairing of any such Ships Pinnaces Boates or any other vessels as also all and euery the workes and workeman-ship of al and euery person and persons whatsoeuer vsed or imployed in the said Art or Mystery or anything thereunto appertaining And all such Ships Boates Barges Lighters Wherries and other vessels which vpon any such search view or suruey they shall finde to bee substancially wrought or framed they shall put the marke or seale of the said Company in some conuenient place if they thinke fitt to testifie the same And such of the said Ships or other vessels whereof the timber-worke shall not be fully finished as they shall finde to be so insufficiently or deceiptfully made and wrought or repaired as they must needes be dangerous to such as shall vse them to arrest and make stay vntill the same shall be amended and made fit for Nauigation And all such insufficient wood timber and stuffe as they shall finde to be put into any Ship Boate or vessell or hewen wrought or fitted for that purpose they shall charge the builders or owners thereof forthwith to take the same away and to supply it with others that shall be good and sufficient which if within conuenient time after such charge or warning they shall deny deferre or neglect to doe That then it shall be lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens or any two of them or any two of the said Assistants or deputies aforesaid to impose and assesse vpon euery offendor for euery such offence to the vse of the said Corporation fiue pound of lawfull mony of England or lesse at their discretion 8 And because many vnskilfull persons and such as haue not bene brought vp as Apprentises in the said Art or Mistery haue taken vpon them to vse the same whereupon hath ensued sundry complaints of insufficient worke-manship to the preiudice and discredit of the Companie and the gouerners thereof It is therefore
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
their Master Mistresse of Dame cannot rule them And it is further ordained that if any prentice shall before the end of his terme marrie or contract himselfe to any woman or vnlawfully depart or run away from his Masters seruice he shall loose the benefit of all his time and seruice past and either become new bound to his Master for seuen yeares or else make him such recompence as the said Master and Wardens or their deputies or any three of them shall thinke fit and reasonable who shall likewise inflict vpon him such other exemplary punishment either by fine correction or otherwise as by iustice the nature and quality of the offence shall deserue 21 Item it is ordayned that euery person now vsing practising or professing or which hereafter shall vse practice or professe the said Art or Mistery or anything therevnto belonging shall be from time to time contributory and shall beare and pay vnto the said Master and Wardens for the time being or their deputie or deputies for that purpose authorised all such reasonable summe and sums of money for taxes tallages and other impositions aswell ordinary as extraordinary as shall be thought fit and shall agree with reason and indifferency to be assessed or imposed vpon him or them for the time being as well for the necessary seruice of our soueraigne Lord the King his heires and successors as also for the maintenance support and vpholding of the said Corporation and all other the needfull affaires causes and thinges whatsoeuer for and concerning the common good wealth and estate of the said Corporation according to their seuerall abilities And euery one that shall refuse to pay and discharge the same portion of money which shall be so reasonably assessed rated and taxed vpon him as aforesaid shall forfait and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation fortie shillings of lawfull money of England for euery time that hee or they shall so refuse contrary to the true meaning of this Ordinance 22 Item it is ordained that euery person and persons of the said Art or Mysterie shall at all times heereafter be and shew himselfe to bee of good and honest behauiour and bearing both in word and deede toward the said Master Wardens and Assistants and their deputies Officers and Ministers for the time beeing and euery of them and shall bee and shew himselfe to bee tractable conformeable and obedient touching all and euery their lawfull constitutions ordinances causes and matters concerning the said Art or Mysterie And if any person shall at any time heereafter be found wilfully obstinate stubborne or disobedient or in any wise resisting against the said Master Wardens and Assistants or any of them or any their deputies Officers or Ministers to the let hinderance or disturbance of the due execution of their said Offices or shall at any time begin attempt or make any priuie assemblie conuenticle counsell or conspiracy against the said Master Wardens and Assistants for the time beeing or any of them or in any sort tending to the violation or breach of any good ordinance or order now in force or hereafter to be made and ordained for the good gouernment of the said Corporation or shall at any time directly or indirectly practise or attempt any thinge which may in any wise be preiuditiall or hurtfull to the lawfull and good estate of the said corporation or hauing knowledge or notice of any vnlawfull attempt practise or conspiracy shall not within conuenient time discouer the same to the said Master Wardens and Assistants or their deputies or some of them and this or any of these things being proued before the said Master and Wardens or three of them by the testimony of two honest and sufficient witnesses It is ordained that euery such offendor shall for euery such offence contrary to this ordinance forfaict and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation forty shillings of lawfull money of England And it is further ordayned that no person of the said profession vpon paine of forty shillings to be imposed and leauied as aforesaid shall after sufficient warning giuen imploy or sett any such insolent and disobedient person to worke vntill he hath submitted and conformed himselfe according to his Maiesties expresse pleasure in that behalfe declared in the said Charter 23 Item it is ordayned that no person of the said Art or Mistery shall openly or priuily reuile miscall or misuse with evill speches of reproach any of the said company or vse any vnciuill or vndecent tearmes against any of them vpon paine to forfaicte and pay for euery time so offending to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation fiue shillings of lawfull money of England 24 Item it is ordained that euery person and persons now practising or professing or which hereafter shall practise or professe the said Art or Mistery or anything thereunto appertaining shall truly satisfie and pay to the said Master and Wardens or their deputie or deputies for that purpose authorised towards the maintenance and vpholding of the said Corporation a certaine contribution in the name of Quarterage according to the rate and proportion following that is to say euery Iorney-man not hauing or keeping any seruant or apprentice at all shall pay foure pence euery quarter that is to say sixteene-pence a yeare and euery Iorney-man keeping or licenced to keepe one seruant or apprentice sixe-pence a quarter that is two shillings a yeare euery Master worke-man eight-pence a quarter that is two shillings eight-pence a yeare and euery Yard-keeper and Assistant twelue-pence a quarter that is foure shillings a yeare All which seuerall portions of money shall vpon the quarter day be brought or sent to the Hall or place appointed for the quarterly meeting and paid to the said Master and Wardens or their deputies without any deferring or further delay And whosoeuer shall willfully refuse deny or faile to make payment thereof at the time and place aforesaid shall forfet and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery such refusall denying or failing sixe shilings eight-pence of lawfull money of England 25 Item it is ordayned for the better experience and cunning to bee had in the said Art or Mistery and for the better seruice to his Maiesty and the Common wealth that euery person or persons that doe or shall vse practise or professe the said Art or Mistery any or thing thereunto appertaning as the making building caulking or reparing of Ships Pinnaces Boats or other vessells or the making or triming of Masts Oares Pumpes Tops Pullies or any other Instruments of wood pertayning to shipping shall practise and exercise themselues and their seruants in euery perticular point and mistery of the said profession as members of one entire body and branches of one and the selfe-same Art or Mistery to the end they be not
hereafter diuided to the great inconuenience both of his Maiesties seruice and Common wealth And if any person or persons shall be hereafter found remisse or disobedient therein he shall be reasonably fined and punished at the discretion of the said Master and Wardens or the more part of them 26 Item it is ordained that euery Iorney-man of the said Art or Mistery being hired for wages by the day or week shall betwixt the midst of the months of March and September come and be at their worke at or before halfe an hower before sixe of the clock in the morning and continue at worke and not depart vntill halfe an hower after six at night reseruing onely conuenient times of eating and sleeping in the sommer time And betwixt the midst of September and the midest of March shall be and continue at their worke from the spring of the day in the morning vntill night of the same day except the times appointed for dinner vpon paine to loose and forfet foure pence for euery hower of wilfull absence and two pence for euery hower of negligent absence to be deducted and defalked out of his wages that shall so offend to the vse of the said Corporation 27 Item it is ordained that if any person of the said profession shall be lawfully retained into worke or seruice by the day or great and shall vniustly and vnlawfully leaue or depart from the same vntill such time as the same worke shall be fully finished he shall forfet and pay to the said Master and Wardens for euery such offence forty shillings of lawfull money of England to the vse of the said Corporation And it is further ordayned that if any Yard-keeper or Master worke-man of the said Art or Mistery after he hath retained any Iorney-man into his worke or seruice shall without any iust or reasonable cause put him away and entertaine another he shall forfet and pay for euery such offence to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the saide Corporation tenne shillinges of lawfull money of England 28 Item it is ordayned for the better supporting of the said Corporation and for the maintenance and releiuing of the poore aged and decayed persons of the same euery person of the said Art or Mistery that shall hereafter make or build any new Ship or vessell of the burden of one hundreth Tunnes and vpward shall pay and contribute to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the poore aged and decaied persons of the said Corporation sixe-pence of lawfull money of England for euery tunne that euery such Ship or vessell shall containe in burden And that euery person of the said company that shall hereafter make or build any new Ship Pinnace Boate Barge Lighter or any other vessell or vessells whatsoeuer from one hundreth Tunnes downewards to a wherry shall pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation three-pence for euery Tunne that any such smaller Ship or vessell shall containe in burden and for euery Wherry foure-pence of lawfull money of England And lastly that euery person of the said profession Art or Mistery that shall fom hence forth directly or indirectly take performe or doe any old taske-worke or shall amende or repaire any old Ship Pynnace Caruell Hoy Boate Lighter or other vessell by the great or taske shall pay and contribute to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation twelue-pence of lawfull money of England for euery twenty shillings that all or any such old worke shall amount vnto And whosoeuer shall refuse with-hold or deny the paiment of the said impositions or any of them or any part therof after demaund thereof made by the said Master and Wardens or any of them or any their deputies as aforesaid shall forfaite and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the poore of the said Corporation for such refusall ot deferring double the value of any such imposition 29 Item it is ordayned that for the vse and purpose aforesaid euery person of the said Art or Mistery that shall from henceforth be hired to goe to sea for wages or shares shall pay and contribute to the said Master and Wardens two pence for euery twenty shillings that his wages or shares shall amount vnto And that whosoeuer shall refuse to pay the same vpon demaund shall forfaict to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation double the value and tenne shillings for euery weeke that the same shall bee afterwards detained 30 Item it is ordained that noe person of the said Art or Mistery shall at any time hereafter be hired serue or goe forth to sea as a Carpenter in any Shippe or vessell vnlesse he shall first giue notice thereof and register his name at the common Hall vpon paine of tenneshillinges to be forfaicted to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery time doinge the contrary And that noe seruant or apprentice vpon paine of fiue pounds to be forfaicted by his Master to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation shall serue or goe for Master-carpenter of any Sip or vessell to sea except his sufficiency be first examined and approued by the said Master and Wardens or their deputies vnder the common seale of the said Corporation 31 Item it is ordained that once in euery month or oftner if neede shall require there shall be kept and holden by the Master and Wardens of the said Art or Mistery at their common Hall or some other conuenient place one Court or assembly for the said Art or Mistery for the hearing of causes and complaints and deciding and determining of all questions debates and controuersies concerning the affaires and busines of the said Art or Mistery or betweene â—he workemen or members therof At which Court or assembly so to be kept and holden the said Master and Wardens shall or may call so many of the said Assistants as they shall thinke fit and may conueniently be there to be aiding and assisting to them in all and euery matter and thing that shal be then and there propounded or moued And it is ordained that foure times in the yeare that is to say vpon the feast day of Saint Michaell Th'arkeangell the feast day of Saint Iohn Th' Appostle the feast day of Th' annunciation of St. Mary the Virgin and vpon the feast day of the Natiuity of Saint Iohn Baptist if they fall not vpon a Sunday or ells the day following there shall be holden for the said Art or Mistery foure generall Assemblies or Courts which shall be called the foure quarter dayes of Assembly vnto which there shall be summoned the whole body of the said Corporation or so many as may conueniently be there At which time all the ordinances of the said Art or Mistery if neede shall so require shall be distinctly read vnto them to
the end they may the better learne to keepe and obserue the same And likewise it is ordered that these ordinances or the Coppies thereof shall be sent into the seuerall needful places of the Realme of England and dominion of Wales to the end the like course may be held and taken by the deputies there And whosoeuer shall make default in appeareance at any of the said quarter dayes hauing no lawfull or iust excuse in that behalfe shall forfet and pay to the said Master and Wardens for the time beeing to the vse of the said Corporation tenne shillings of lawfull money of England 32 Item it is ordayned and established that euery person of the said Art or Mistery shall vpon his appeareance before the said Master and Wardens or any three or two of them or any their deputies become bound in fiue hundreth Pounds of Lawfull money of England to the said Master and Wardens for the time being vpon Condition to be endorsed or subscribed to this effect following that is to say That they nor any of them shall at any time voluntarily worke beyond the seas for any forraine Prince or State or voluntarily giue any direction or aduice to any other person or persons to worke for any such forraine Prince or state without speciall licence first had and obtained by warrante in writing vnder the hands of three of the Lords of his Maiesties most honorable priuy Counsell his heires or successors at the least And likewise take his Corporall oath to such effect as is mentioned in the said condition-And whosoeuer shall refuse to enter into such bond and take such Corporall oath as aforesaid shall forfet and pay to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation fiue pounds of lawfull money of England and from thenceforth to be disabled to be of the said Corporation or Society For making and entring of which said bond the Clark for the time being shall or may take twelue-pence and for entring and ministring the said oath eight pence 33 Item it is ordayned that yerely within twentie dayes at most after the newe Master and wardens shall be chosen and sworne the old Master and Wardens in their common Hall or in some other conuenient place shall present exhibit and declare vnto them in the presence of foure at least of the Assistants a true and iust accompt to be exacted and alowed of by the auditors of the company of and for all his and their receiptes and payments concerning the said Art or Mistery who vpon their said accompts shal be alowed al and euery such reasoable costs charges expences as they or any of them shall haue disbursed or expended for or about the necessary affaires occasions or businesses of the said Art or Mistery And then and there shall not onely deliuer the said bookes of accompts vnto the said Master and Wardens but also all money plate and goods together with the said keyes of the said Chest and all other thinges whatsoeuer being or remaining in his or their custody or possession or which they or any of them shall or may be duely or lawfully charged to haue receiued to the vse of the said Company or else for such thinges as they cannot presently deliuer they shall within one month next following the determination of the said Accompt well and truly pay content satisfie and deliuer the same and euery part thereof vnto the said new Master and Wardens for the time being to the vse and behoofe of the said Company And whosoeuer shall make default thereof shall for euery day after the said month is ended forfet and pay to the said new Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation forty shillings vntill he or they shall haue made full payment and satisfaction thereof according to the true intent and meaning of this ordinance And if it shall happen any of the said Master and Wardens to be slack or negligent in making or deliuering in the said accompts in manner as aforesaid or be found faultie or vntrustie therein such offendor shall forfet and pay to the said new Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation such reasonable summes of money and fines as shall be assessed by the said new Master and Wardens or the more part of them for the time being The like course and order to be held by the deputies in remote places vpon paine of forfetting to the said Master and Wardens tenne shillings for euery day after the month is ended that he shall make default in satisfiing and deliuerie to the said Master and Wardens or their succeding deputie or deputies such money goodes and other thinges as they or any of them may lawfully be charged to haue in their handes to the vse of the said company besides such further fines as they shall thinke to impose vpon them for their slacknes in giuing vp their accomptes 34 Item it is ordayned that the said Master and Wardens shall imploy their true best endeauor to order compound and appease all complaints and controuersies betweene the brethren and members of the said Corporation to the end to preuent all occasions of sute in law by one of them against another 35 Item it is ordained that noe person of the said Art or Mistery shall retaine keepe or set to worke any stranger borne or reueale or discouer to any stranger or other person not free or seruing for his freedome in the said Art or Mistery the secrets of the same Art or the speciall manner of English building vpon paine of tenne pounds Nor shall discouer to any person not free or a member of the said Corporation any speciall points of the Charter or ordinance or of any busines or matters that at any meeting at the Hall or else where shall be propounded debated or concluded to the preiudice of the said Corporation vpon paine of fiue pounds to be paid to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation 36 Item it is ordayned that no Yard keeper builder or Master Workman of the said Art or Mistery inhabiting or dweling in any Port Hauen-Towne or place within the precincts aforesaid shall retaine imploy or set to worke the people or work-men of any other Porte or place as long as he may haue sufficient and able worke-men of his neighbours dwelling within the same Port or place for reasonable wages toperforme his worke vpon paine to forfet to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation for euery person he shall entertaine or imploy contrary to this ordinance fiue shillings and tenne shillings for euery weeke that after warning giuen he shall imploy or set him to worke And it is ordayned that the Inhabitants of any Porte Hauen or place within the precincts aforesaid shall not at any tyme hereafter be imployed retained or set to worke in any other place except hee be first licensed and authorised in writing by the said Master and Wardens or
their deputies of that precinct or place where he seeketh or is desirous to be set to worke and except he pay and contribute towards the reliefe and maintenance of the poore of the said Corporation three-pence of lawfull money of England or lesse at the discretion of the said Master and Wardens out of euery daies wages that he shall be there imployed to be retayned by him that setteth him to worke who shall be answerable or accomptable vpon paine of twenty shillings to be imposed vpon euery one that contrary to this ordinance shall imploy any man or shall refuse to contribute as aforesaid to be paid to the vse of the said Corporation 37 Item it is ordayned that noe person that is or shall be onely a Caulker shall retaine or keepe aboue one prentice at any one time And that noe seruant or prentice of the said profession shall be set or suffred to Caulke vnder water in grauing vntill he hath or shall haue serued two yeares at least vpon paine of three shillings foure-pence for euery Tide to be paide by him that shall set any such seruant or Apprentice to worke contrary to this ordinance to be paid to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation 38 Item it is ordayned that if any of the Assistants of the said Art or Mistery shall dye or depart this life That then the residue of the Assistants or so many as can conueniently be there being for that purpose warned shall in a decent manner be at the buriall vpon paine of fiue shillings for euery one making default to be paid to the said Master and Wardens to the vse of the said Corporation For which said warning the Beadle is to be alowed fiue shillings for his paines by the Executors or friends of the deceased 39 Item it is ordained that if any person or persons of any other trade or profession whereof there is speciall vse in the said Art or Mistery as Caruers Ioyners Inborers Smiths Painters c. shall bee admitted into the freedome of the said Corporation they shall bee imploied in their proper Art or Mistery before the forrayners so long as it shall be no disaduantage to the common good or to any other perticuler person that shall haue cause to vse them 40 Item it is ordained that if any person or persons vsing or exercising or which hereafter shall vse or exercise the said Art or Mistery or any thing therevnto appertayning in any place or places within the precincts aforesaid doe or shall infringe breake or not obserue any Act or Ordinance in these points expressed and doe or shall deny refuse delay or deferre to pay any such sum or summes of money as shall happen at any time hereafter to be forfetted or due to be paide to the said Master and Wardens for any paine penalty or forfeiture touching any of the ordinances in these presents expressed and doe or shall deny refuse delay or deferre to pay any such sum or sums of money as shall happen at any time hereafter to be forfetted or due to be paid to the said Master and Wardens for any paine penalty or forfetture touching any of the ordinances in these presents expressed limmited and appointed That then it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Master and Wardens or any two of them or their deputie or deputies or any other person or persons by them in that behalfe to be appointed either by themselues or else if neede bee taking with them one Constable Bailiffe or Headborough or any other of the Kinges officers at all or any time or times or their will and pleasure to enter into the howse or howses Boothes Shops Ware-howses and Yards of him so refusing denying delaying or defering to pay any such paines penalties forfetures or any other summe or sums of money by him or them due or payable and to distraine the goods of all and euery such parties offending and to carry away retaine and keepe the same vntill the said paines penalties forfettures or any other summe or summes of money aforesaid and euery part thereof shall be fully satisfied and payed or otherwise to leauy or fue for and recouer the same by any lawfull meanes And this to doe from time to time so often as need or occasion shall require 41 And to th' intent that his Maiesties pleasure expressed in the said Charter and Letters Pattents may be the better obeyed and all the orders ordinances and constitutions in these presents contayned may without any respect of persons conniuence or parcialitie from time to time be duly executed and performed It is ordained that not onely in euery needful place and places within the realme of England and dominion of Wales there be from time to time election made of the most able and sufficient persons to be deputies in all remote places that the Charter and ordinances may be there duely and truly executed But also more especially in the riuer of Thames where there is greatest imployment and greatest numbers of people of the said Art or Mistery are inhabiting and residing It is likewise ordayned that there be for euer sixteene of the most able wise discreete and substanciall persons and workemen who shall be called the deputie Assistants of the said Art or Mistery for the time being Of whom yearely vpon the feast of Saint Mathew the Apostle there shall be choyce made of two to be their Wardens and Gouernors for the yeare following The said deputie Assistants taking their Corporall oath for the due execution of their places shall respectiuely endeauor themselues to put in execution within the River of Thames all the lawes and ordinances herein contained and hereafter to be made for the common good weale and proffit of the said Corporation and all the grants powers and authorities granted by the Kinges Maiesty to the said Master Wardens and Cominalty They shall inquire and informe themselues from time to time of all manner of abuses complaints and misdemeanors contrary thereunto which if they be of ordinary importance they shall examine and decide amongst themselues referring alwaies matters of more serious consequence to the Master and Wardens They shal be assisting to the Master and Wardens in their Searches and in leauying of fines and collecting of duties c. They shall keepe Court euery sixe weeks at the Hall where the Clarke shall attend vpon them to aduise with them and register their proceedings To these Courts they may summon and warne by the Beadle any of the Cominalty or common Worke-men or Iorney men within the riuer and fine them if neede bee They shall continew in their places vntill they come to be Yard-keepers or Assistants and be remoueable vpon iust occasion and others chosen in their places or steedes Lastly they shall be accomptable and fineable for neglect according as the deputies in remote places 42 And for somuch as
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