Chapter III: Charter to Shipwrights, 22nd April 1605

[=Pat. Roll. 1684=]

[_Parts in italics abbreviated to save space_]

James &c. To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Whereas we are credibly informed as well by our right trusty and well-beloved cousin and councillor Charles Earl of Nottingham, High Admiral of England and Captain General of our Navy Royal as also by our principal officers of our said Navy how slenderly and deceitfully as well our own ships and barges as also other ships boats pinnaces and like vessels of our merchants and other our subjects used in continual service and traffic are made and wrought to the great loss danger and prejudice of us and our said subjects and also of the great and wasteful charge and expense which we do from time to time bear and sustain in building and repairing our own ships and pinnaces which are and have been the chiefest and greatest defence of this our Realm from the assaults of such enemies as have practised the overthrow of the same. We weighing the manifold dangers losses and hindrances which may and are likely more and more to ensue thereof if speedy remedy be not therefore had and provided, and to the end that the fittest and ablest shipwrights and workmen may from time to time as cause shall require be made known unto our principal officers of our Navy and to be employed for wages for the building repairing and making of our own ships and pinnaces as also may have the oversight of all such other workmen as shall from time to time be employed or shall intermeddle in building of other ships pinnaces or vessels for other our merchants and subjects for the further more better and continual service of us our Realm and subjects. Know ye therefore that we intending to provide for the better strengthening of this our Realm with shipping for the defence and service thereof and to the intent that as well our self as also our merchants and other our subjects may from time to time hereafter be furnished stored and supplied with skilful shipwrights and workmen of that kind to work upon our Navy and other ships and vessels for the better suppressing of deceits and other abuses which may hereafter be practised by divers persons which shall take upon them without sufficient skill and knowledge to make or repair ships pinnaces and other vessels to the great danger and hindrance as well of our self as of divers other our loving subjects, of our special grace certain knowledge and mere motion have given granted constituted and ordained and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do grant constitute and ordain that all and every person and persons being shipwrights or carpenters using the Art or Mystery of building and making of ships within this our Realm of England and Dominion of Wales shall be from henceforth forever one body corporate and body politic in matter deed and name by the name of Master, Wardens and Commonalty of the Art or Mystery of Shipwrights of England.... [_To be_] one Master and four Wardens and twelve Assistants ... do assign name ordain and constitute our well-beloved subject Mathew Baker our servant and ancientest Master Shipwright to be the first Master ... Joseph Pett and William Bright two other of our Master Shipwrights, Edward Stephens of Limehouse and Nicholas Symonson of Ratcliffe in the county of Middlesex Shipwrights to be the first four Wardens.... John Adye of Deptford in our county of Kent, Phineas Pett of Chatham in our county of Kent, John Apslyn of our said town and county, Peter Pett of Wapping in our county of Middlesex, Nicholas Cley of Redriff in our county of Surrey, Thomas Cole of Woodbridge in our county of Suffolk, Robert Wilkinson of Ipswich in our county of Suffolk, James Russell of Southwark in our said county of Surrey, John Head of our City of Bristol, Esau Whitehead of our town of Southampton in our county of Southampton, Thomas Dymocke of Horsey Downe[613] in our said county of Surrey and Thomas Pryme of Yarmouth in our county of Norfolk, Shipwrights, to be the first and present twelve Assistants....

[_Power to hold and dispose of real property; to plead and defend in any Court; to have a common seal._]

[_To meet in a_] convenient house or hall for their use to be by them provided within the City of London or Suburbs[614] of the same or within five miles of the said City ... Nicholas Rabye Gent. to be the first and present Clerk....

[_Power to meet in their hall and_] to entreat consult determine constitute ordain and make any Constitutions Statutes Laws Ordinances Articles and Orders whatsoever ... touching or concerning the good estate rule order and good government of the said Master Wardens and Commonalty ... and in what Order and manner the said Master Wardens and Commonalty ... and all other person and persons using the said art or mystery within this Realm of England or Dominion of Wales shall demean and behave themselves [_with power to punish offenders.... Power to_] view search and survey all and every the Works and Workmanship of all and every person or persons whatsoever making working or building or which hereafter shall make work or build any manner of ships, pinnaces or other vessels and all manner of timber and wood appointed provided and fitted for the building of ships ... [_Ships found to be_] falsely and deceitfully and untruly made wrought and builded [_timber, wood, &c. to be put in safe custody and complaint made to Justices of Peace.... Power to_] buy and provide in any the places beyond the seas all such timber planks masts deals spars and wood and also all pitch, tar, rosin and oil as they shall think necessary and convenient for the building or repairing of ships pinnaces or other vessels [_and bring same to England or Wales on payment of custom and other duties. Since the Master Wardens and Commonalty_] are to be as occasion shall be offered employed and attendant upon the Navigation of Us [etc., _the said Master Wardens and Commonalty shall not_] be enforced put placed or impannelled in or upon any Assises Juries Inquests or Attaints whatsoever [_nor_] be pressed or enforced to serve ... as land soldiers....

[_Power to elect Beadles to gather fines penalties &c. and distrain. Power to hold land, tithes &c._]

Witness ourself at Westminster the two and twentieth day of April.

By writ of Privy Seal.

FOOTNOTES:

[613] Horsleydown, below the Tower, on the opposite shore.

[614] MS. 'Subberbes.'