Transcript

For reppressing of pyrats & piracyes./

That it woulde please her Majestie to appoynt by her lres patents, one that maye yerely take a just survey of all such shipps barques and other vessels as shal apperteine and belonge to any pore haven or creeke within her highnes Realme And therof to keepe perfect books and recordes wherin shalbe mencioned the name or names of the owner or owners of everie such ship or other vessel whithe theire several names and the just and true tonage of every of them: as also what ordinance and other muncicon apperteynethe to any the saide ships or vessels by the which office of survey Wil ensue unto her Majestie and Realme as followethe:

• First by keepinge of the records and survey, the said surveyor shalbe able at all tymes to signifie unto her Majestie or her highnes counsaill what nomber of shipps barques or other vesselles are belonginge to this Realme with theire severall tonnage and municicon./
• Item by the saide records and survey it will also appaeare what good shipps of burden do belonge to her Majesties Realme & to what ports beinge fit to serve her Majestie when neede shall requier./
• Item it will also appere what shipps shalbe solde out of the Realme yerly contrary to her Majesties lawes in that behalf which nowe is muche used to the weakeninge of the navigacon of this Realme./
• Item by the same it will appere what shipps are yerly buylded within the Realme and of what tonnage they are & whether suche as do sue unto her Majestie for allowance of money towards the buyldinge of them do make them of suche tonnage as they ought or no./
• Item it will therby be knowen yf any shipps or barques shalbe sett to the seas by any pirats & from what place and who are the setters forthe & supporters of them./
• Item it wilbe knowen when any shippe barque or other vessell shalbe readie to depart from any haven in marchant voyage or fishing that before theire departure the owners [or master] of every such shippes vessell shall first manifest & signifie unto the said surveyor or his deputie and theire hands in writinge theire said pretended voyage to what place or pleaces they ar bounde the name or names of the merchant or marchaunts As also the nomber of the mariners with theire severall names which order the said surveyor shall duly keepe in recorde and make entry therof in a regester booke./

For and in consideracon of the saide service yerly to be donne in the saide office: It may please her majestie to graunt unto the said surveyor that every owner or owners of every suche shippe or other vessell maye paye unto the saide surveyor every yere one penny for every tonne of theire saide shipps or vessells. or as otherwise shall seme convenient to her majestie & most honorable Cowncell./