HIS
MAIESTIES
Commission
,
for
the
well-gouerning
of
His
subiects
inhabiting
in
the
New-found-land
.
CHARLES
by
the
grace
of
GOD
,
King
of
England
,
Scotland
,
France
,
and
Ireland
,
Defender
of
the
Faith
,
&c.
To
all
to
whom
these
presents
shall
come
,
greeting
.
Whereas
the
Region
,
or
Countrey
called
New-found-land
,
hath
beene
acquired
to
the
Dominion
of
Our
Progenitors
;
which
We
hold
,
and
Our
people
haue
many
yeeres
resorted
to
those
parts
,
where
,
and
in
the
coasts
adioyning
they
imployed
themselues
in
Fishing
,
whereby
a
great
number
of
Our
people
haue
beene
set
on
worke
,
and
the
Nauigation
and
Marriners
of
Our
Realme
hath
been
much
increased
.
And
Our
Subiects
resorting
thither
,
one
by
the
other
,
and
the
natiues
of
those
parts
were
orderly
and
gently
intreated
,
vntill
of
late
some
of
Our
Subiects
of
the
Realme
of
England
,
planting
themselues
in
that
Countrey
,
and
there
residing
and
inhabiting
,
vpon
conceit
,
that
for
wrongs
or
iniuries
done
there
,
either
on
the
Shoare
,
or
in
the
Sea
adioyning
,
they
cannot
be
here
impeached
,
and
the
rather
,
for
that
We
,
or
Our
Progenitors
,
haue
not
hitherto
giuen
Lawes
to
the
Inhabitants
there
,
and
by
that
example
,
Our
Subiects
resorting
thither
,
iniure
one
another
,
and
vse
all
manner
of
excesse
to
the
great
hinderance
of
the
voyage
,
and
common
dammage
of
this
Realme
:
For
preuenting
such
inconueniencies
hereafter
,
Wee
doe
hereby
declare
in
what
manner
our
people
in
New-found-land
and
vpon
the
Sea
adioyning
,
and
the
Bayes
,
Creekes
,
or
fresh
Riuers
there
,
shall
be
guided
and
gouerned
:
Doe
make
and
ordayne
the
Lawes
following
in
the
things
after
specified
;
Commanding
that
the
same
be
obeyed
and
put
in
execution
.
First
,
if
any
man
on
the
land
there
shall
kill
another
,
or
if
any
shall
secretly
or
forceablie
steale
the
goods
of
any
other
to
the
value
of
Forty
shillings
;
he
shal
be
forthwith
apprehended
&
arrested
,
detayned
and
brought
Prisoner
into
England
,
and
the
crime
committed
by
him
shal
be
made
known
to
the
Earle
Marshall
of
England
for
the
time
being
:
to
whom
the
Delinquent
shall
bee
deliuered
as
Prisoner
;
And
the
said
Earle
Marshall
shal
take
Cognizance
of
the
cause
:
And
if
hee
shall
finde
by
the
testimonie
of
two
witnesses
or
more
,
that
the
partie
had
there
killed
a
man
not
being
at
that
time
first
assaulted
by
the
party
slaine
,
or
that
the
killing
were
by
mis-aduenture
,
or
had
stollen
such
goods
;
the
Delinquent
shall
suffer
paine
of
death
,
and
all
the
company
shall
endeauor
to
apprehend
such
malefactor
.
Secondly
,
That
no
Ballast
,
Prestones
,
or
any
thing
else
hurtfull
to
the
Harbourers
be
throwne
out
to
the
preiudice
of
the
said
Harbours
,
but
that
it
be
carried
a
shoare
,
and
laid
where
it
may
not
doe
annoyance
.
Thirdly
,
That
no
person
whatsoeuer
,
either
Fishermen
or
Inhabitants
doe
destroy
,
deface
,
or
any
way
worke
any
spoyle
or
detriment
to
any
Stage
,
Cookeroome
,
Flakes
,
Spikes
,
Nayles
,
or
any
thing
else
,
that
belongeth
to
the
Stages
whatsoeuer
,
either
at
the
end
of
the
voyage
when
hee
hath
done
,
and
is
to
depart
the
Countrey
,
or
to
any
such
Stages
as
hee
shall
fall
withall
at
his
comming
into
the
Countrey
,
but
that
hee
of
they
content
themselues
with
such
Stage
or
Stages
onely
,
as
shall
bee
needefull
for
them
:
And
that
for
the
repayring
of
such
Stages
,
as
he
or
they
take
,
they
shall
fetch
Tymber
out
of
the
woods
,
and
not
to
do
it
with
the
ruining
or
tearing
down
of
other
Stages
.
Fourthly
,
That
according
to
the
ancient
custome
euery
Shippe
or
Fisher
that
first
entreth
a
Harbour
,
in
behalfe
of
the
Shippe
bee
Admirall
of
the
said
Harbour
,
wherin
for
the
time
beeing
,
he
shall
reserue
onely
so
much
Beach
and
Flakes
,
or
both
,
as
is
needefull
for
the
number
of
boates
that
hee
shall
vse
,
with
an
ouerplus
only
for
one
Boate
more
then
hee
needeth
,
as
a
priuiledge
for
his
first
comming
.
And
that
euery
Ship
comming
after
,
content
himselfe
with
what
hee
shall
haue
necessary
vse
for
,
without
keeping
or
detaining
any
more
to
the
preiudice
of
others
next
comming
.
And
that
any
that
are
possessed
of
seuerall
places
in
seuerall
Harbours
,
with
intent
to
keepe
them
all
,
before
they
can
resolue
vpon
which
of
them
to
choose
,
shall
be
bound
to
resolue
and
send
aduice
to
such
after
commers
in
those
places
as
expect
his
resolution
,
and
that
within
fourty
eight
howres
,
if
the
weather
so
serue
,
that
the
said
after
commers
may
likewise
chuse
their
places
,
and
so
none
receiue
preiudice
by
others
delayes
.
Fiftly
,
That
no
person
cut
out
,
deface
,
or
any
way
alter
,
or
change
the
markes
of
any
Boats
,
or
Traine-fats
,
whereby
to
defraud
the
right
owners
.
And
that
no
person
conuert
to
his
owne
vse
,
the
said
Boats
or
Traine-fats
so
belonging
to
others
,
without
their
consents
,
nor
remoue
,
nor
take
them
from
the
places
where
they
be
left
by
the
owners
,
except
in
case
of
necessity
,
and
then
to
giue
notice
thereof
to
the
Admirall
and
others
,
whereby
the
right
owners
may
know
what
is
become
of
them
.
Sixtly
,
that
no
person
doe
diminish
,
take
away
,
purloyne
,
or
steale
any
of
the
Fish
,
or
Traine
,
or
Salt
which
is
put
in
Caske
,
Traynefats
or
Cookeroome
,
or
other
house
in
any
of
the
Harbours
or
Fishing
places
of
the
Countrey
,
or
any
other
prouision
belonging
to
the
fishing
trade
,
or
to
the
Shippes
.
Seuenthly
,
That
no
person
set
fire
in
any
of
the
wood
of
the
Countrey
,
or
worke
any
detriment
or
destruction
to
the
same
,
by
Rynding
of
the
Trees
,
either
for
the
seeling
of
Shippes
,
holdes
,
or
for
Roomes
on
Shoare
,
or
for
any
other
vses
,
Except
for
the
couering
of
the
roofes
for
Cooke-roomes
to
dresse
their
meate
in
,
and
these
Roomes
not
to
extend
aboue
sixteene
foot
in
length
at
the
most
.
Eightly
.
That
no
man
cast
Ancor
,
or
ought
else
hurtfull
,
which
may
breede
annoyance
,
or
hinder
the
haleing
of
Seanes
for
baite
in
places
accustomed
thereunto
.
Ninthly
,
That
no
person
robbe
the
Netts
of
others
out
of
any
drift
Boate
or
Drouer
for
bait
by
night
,
nor
take
away
any
bait
out
of
their
Fishing-boats
by
their
Shippes
sides
,
nor
robbe
or
steale
any
of
their
Nettes
,
or
any
part
thereof
.
Tenthly
,
That
no
person
doe
set
vp
any
Tauerne
for
selling
of
Wine
,
Beere
,
or
strong
Waters
,
Cyder
,
or
Tobacco
,
to
entertaine
the
Fishermen
,
because
it
is
found
that
by
such
meanes
they
are
debauched
,
neglecting
their
labours
,
and
poore
ill-gouerned
men
,
not
onely
spend
most
part
of
their
shares
before
they
come
home
,
vpon
which
the
life
and
maintenance
of
their
wife
and
children
dependeth
,
but
are
likewise
hurtfull
in
diuers
other
wayes
,
as
by
neglecting
and
making
themselues
vnfit
for
their
labour
,
by
purloyning
and
stealing
from
their
owners
,
and
by
making
vnlawfull
shifts
to
supply
their
disorders
,
&c.
which
disorders
they
frequently
follow
since
these
occasions
haue
presented
themselues
.
Lastly
,
That
vpon
the
Sundayes
the
Company
assemble
in
meet
places
,
and
haue
diuine
Seruice
to
bee
said
by
some
of
the
Masters
of
the
Shippes
,
or
some
others
,
which
prayers
shall
bee
such
as
are
in
the
Booke
of
Common
Prayer
.
And
because
that
speedy
punishment
may
be
inflicted
vpon
the
offenders
against
those
Lawes
and
Constitutions
;
Wee
doe
ordaine
that
euery
of
the
Maiors
of
Southampton
,
Weymouth
,
and
Melcombe
Regis
,
Lynne
,
Plymouth
,
Dartmouth
,
Estlow
,
Foye
and
Barnestable
,
for
the
time
being
,
may
take
Cognizans
of
all
complaints
made
by
any
offender
against
any
of
these
Ordinances
vpon
the
land
,
and
by
oath
of
Witnesses
,
examine
the
truth
thereof
,
award
amends
to
the
parties
grieued
,
and
punish
the
deliuquents
by
Fine
,
and
Imprisonment
,
or
either
of
them
,
and
of
their
goods
sound
in
the
parts
of
New-found-land
,
or
in
the
Sea
,
cause
satisfaction
thereof
to
bee
made
by
Warrants
vnder
their
hands
and
seales
.
And
the
Vice-Admirals
in
Our
Counties
of
Southampton
,
Dorset
,
Deuon
,
and
Cornewall
,
vpon
complaint
made
of
any
of
the
pre●isses
committed
vpon
the
Sea
,
shall
speedily
and
effectually
proceed
against
the
offenders
.
Also
We
Will
and
Ordaine
,
that
these
Lawes
and
Ordinances
,
shall
stand
in
force
,
and
bee
put
in
due
execution
,
vntill
We
shall
otherwise
prouide
and
ordaine
.
And
Wee
doe
require
the
Admirall
in
euery
Harbour
in
this
next
Season
ensuing
,
calling
together
such
as
shall
bee
in
that
Harbour
,
publiquely
to
proclaime
these
presents
.
And
that
they
also
proclaime
the
same
on
the
Shore
.
In
witnesse
whereof
Wee
haue
caused
these
Our
Letters
to
bee
made
Patents
.
Witnesse
our selfe
at
Westminster
,
the
tenth
day
of
February
,
in
the
ninth
●eere
of
Our
Reigne
.
Willys
.
God
saue
the
King
.