WHereas in diuers Ports of this Kingdome, the Officers of the ſaid Ports doe exact a certaine pettie duety, commonly called Head-money, vpon euery Paſſenger, aſwell at their going forth, as at their entrance into the Kingdome, which is now abſolutely taken away and aboliſhed, by a Treatie ſome few yeeres ſince made and concluded betwixt His Maieſtie and the moſt Chriſtian French King, that now is, both in theſe His Maieſties Kingdomes, as alſo in the Realme of France, and all other Dominions belonging to that Crowne, as concerning thoſe of the Engliſh and French Nation: Theſe ſhall bee to let you knowe, that His Maieſtie intending (as alwaies hee hath done) really to obſerue the ſaid Treaty in that and all other Articles therein contained, hath giuen ſtrait charge and commandement, that no Officer, nor other perſon whomſoeuer, ſhall preſume hereafter to exact or demand the ſaid Head-money, vpon any Subiects of His good Brother the moſt Chriſtian French King, that ſhall haue occaſion to paſſe at that Port, or any the members thereof, either at his going forth or landing, but that it may bee free for all ſuch perſons, of what condition or degree ſoeuer, againſt whome there ſhall bee no other particular cauſe of reſtraint to paſſe, as aforeſaid, without the exaction of this or any duetie of the like nature whatſoeuer. To which His Maieſties Royall pleaſure and expreſſe commandement; Wee doe in his Highneſſe name ſtraitly charge and command you and euery of you, whome it may concerne, to conforme your ſelues, that you doe not henceforth demaund, or ſuffer to be demaunded the ſaid pretended duetie, commonly called Head-money, nor any thing in the nature or Lieu thereof, as you will anſwere the contrary at your perill, and as you will auoid His Maieſties high diſpleaſure.

〈1… pages missing〉 receiue, and take the moietie, or one halfe thereof, according to the true meaning of this our graunt of and from the Marchants and owners of the goods in the Shippes, Hoyes, Barkes and veſſells, from time to time, according to the quantitie of the goods and Marchandizes wherewith the ſaid Shippes, Hoyes, Barkes or veſſells ſhall be fraught or laden.

And that the ſaid perſons hereafter named, their or either of their Executors, Adminiſtrators or Aſſignes, ſubſtitute or ſubſtitutes one or more of them ſhall or may likewiſe lawfully demaund, receiue and take of euery Shippe, Hoye, Barke, Fiſherman or veſſell being the Shippe, Hoye, Barke or veſſell of any Aliene, Denizen or ſtranger, not being our naturall borne Subiects, that ſhall happen to ſayle, or paſſe from Port to Port, by or alongſt the ſaid North Coaſt, the like dutie of one pennie upon the Tunne, in the voyage outward and inward, as aforeſaid, which we will and ordaine, for vs, our Heyres, and Succeſſors, ſhall be collected and taken by the perſons hereafter named, their Exequetors, Adminiſtrators, Debutis, or Aſſignes, at or in the Port, Harbour, Creeke, or Roade within any part of our Dominions where the ſaid Shippes, Hoyes, Barkes or veſſells of any ſuch ſtranger, ſhall harbor or put in, although the ſame Shippe, or veſſell ſhall not there be vnladed or diſcharged of any the goods or Merchandizes, wherewith it ſhall be fraught or laden.

And that the ſame dutie of one pennie vpon the Tunne as aforeſaid being once paide, and the receipt thereof being teſtified by thoſe who ſhall be appoynted to receiue the ſame, the ſaid Maſters and owners of Shippes and other veſſells, as well our naturall borne Subiects as ſtrangers, ſhall be then freed and diſcharged of and from the payment of the ſaid dutie, in euery or any Port or Ports in which the ſaid Shippes or veſſells, ſhall or may happen or come in euery or any ſuch voyage as aforeſaid.

KNOVV YEE therefore that wee as well in conſideration of the premiſes, as for diuers other good cauſes and conſiderations vs hereunto mouing of our ſpeciall grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion, haue giuen and graunted, and by theſe preſents for vs, our Heires & Succeſſors, wee doe giue & graunt vnto our truſtie & welbeloued ſeruants Sir VViliam Erskin Knight, and Iohn Meldrum Eſquire, their Executors, Adminiſtrators and Aſſignes, as well in regard of the true, faithfull, and acceptable ſeruice by the ſaid Sir William Erskine & Iohn Meldrum to vs heeretofore done, and as being the firſt ſuters vnto vs for the erecting and ſetting vp of Light-houſes at or neer Winterton aforeſaide, as alſo for other good cauſes and conſiderations vs thereunto mouing free libertie, licence, power and authoritie, that they or any of them ſhall and may lawfully make, builde, erect, ſet vp, remoue, and maintaine, or cauſe to be made, builded, erected, ſet vp, remoued and maintained in all ſuch place and places of the ſaid North Coaſt within the compaſſe of two miles of the Towne of Winterton in our County of Norfolke as to them ſhall ſeeme moſt fit, needfull and requiſite, ſuch and ſo many conuenient Light-howſes, with continuall Lights to be burning in them during all the night time, whereby the ſaid Seafaring men may take notice and be warned of the dangers thereabouts and ſo be the more able to auoide and eſcape them, and the ſaid ſhips and veſſells may the better ariue & come into their Ports and Harbors without perill, as to them the ſaid Sir William Erskine and Iohn Meldrum, their Executors, Adminiſtrators and Aſſignes or any of them ſhall be thought fit, requiſite and needfull.

And for the great & continuall charges to be from time to time ſuſteyned & borne in & about the erecting and maintaining of the ſaid Lights and Light-howſes, we doe for vs, our Heires, and Succeſſors will, ordaine, giue and graunt to the ſaid Sir VVilliam Erskine and Iohn Meldrum, their Executors, Adminiſtrators, Deputies and Asſignes full power and authoritie, that they and euery of them ſhall and may lawfully demaunde, receiue, haue and take of, and from the Maſters and Owners of Shippes, Hoyes, Barkes, Fiſhermen, and other Veſſells pasſing or ſayling by or alongſt the ſaid North Coaſt one pennie vppon the Tunne according to the burthen of the ſame Ships or veſſels for euery whole voyage inward & outward as aforeſaid, to be from time to time anſwered and payd either in ſuch Port or places where the ſame Ship or Veſſell ſhall be fraught or laden, or elſe in ſuch Port or place where the ſame Ship or Veſſell ſhall be diſcharged and vnladen as aforeſaid. Neuertheleſſe our will and pleaſure is that for the erection, reparation, renewing remouing and continuall mayntenance of all or any ſuch Light-houſe or Light-houſes heretofore erected & ſet vp, or which hereafter ſhall or may be erected, renued, altered, remoued and mayntained, at or neer Winterton, or within two miles compaſſe of the ſame as aforeſaid, no other or further dutie or payment to be demaunded or taken of our ſubiects or others, then the aforeſaid dutie or payment of one penny in the Voyage vpon the Tunne outward and inward as aforeſaid.

AND WE doe further of our ſpeciall grace, certaine knowledge, & meere motion for vs, our Heires, and ſucceſſors, giue & grant vnto the ſaid Sir William Erskine and Iohn Meldrum, their executors, adminiſtrators and aſſignes, full power and authoritie that they and euerie of them at their wills and pleaſures ſhall or may lawfully erect, ſet vp, alter, change, renue and remoue by or at their proper coſts and charges, and by and with the aduiſe and direction of expert and skillfull Seafaring men, dwelling or trading vpon the aforeſaid Coaſt, ſuch and ſo many Lights and Light-houſes, at or neere Winterton aforeſaid; or within the compſſe of two miles thereof as aforeſaid, as ſhall be thougt fit and as iuſt occaſion or necesſitie ſhall require. To haue, hold, exerciſe and enioy the ſaid liberties, licences, powers & authorities, & the ſaid dutie or payment of one pennie vpon the Tunne as aforeſaid before by theſe preſents giuen and granted and euerie of them vnto the ſaid Sir William Erskine and Iohn Meldrum their Executors, Adminiſtrators & Aſſignes, for & during the full end and tear me of fiftie yeares from the date of theſe preſents fully to be compleate & ended.

AND for aſmuch as any other order or courſe cannot well be taken for the due leauiyng of the ſaid dutie or payment of one penny vpon the Tunne in the Voyage outward and inward as aforeſaid for and towards the effecting and continuance of this ſo good and neceſſarie a worke, then by appoynting the payment and collection of the ſame, to be had & made within the Ports, Harbors, Roades and Creekes, vnto the which the ſaid Ships, Barkes, and Veſſells ſhall or doe come and arriue, we doe by theſe preſents for vs, our Heires and Succeſſors, will, ordaine and appoynt and alſo ſtraightly charge, command, and authoriſe all and euery the Cuſtomers, Collectors, Controulers, Receiuers of entries of ſhips, Water-baylifes & al other the officers whatſoeuer of and concerning the Cuſtomes to vs, our Heires & Succeſſors, and all other the Wardens or keepers of any our Hauens and Ports now being, and which from the time hereafter ſhall be as well in our ſeuerall Ports of London & New-caſtle, as in all and euery other the Ports, Harbors, Creekes, Roades, and places within our Realme of England to whome it ſhall or may appertaine, that they or ſome of them being firſt lawfully deputed and appoynted by the ſaid perſons herein before named, their Executors, Adminiſtrators or Aſſignes, or ſome of them for the leuying and receiuing the ſaid dutie of one pennie vpon the Tunne as aforeſaid from time to time & at al tunes hereafter during the ſaid terme of fiftie yeares before ſuch time as they or any of them ſhall or may giue any Cocket or other diſcharge whatſoeuer, or before they ſhall receiue or take any entry reſpectiuely of or for any Ship, Barke or Veſſell which hereafter ſhall paſſe or repaſſe by or alongſt the North Coaſt aforeſaid ſhall demaund, collect and receiue the ſaid dutie and allowance of one pennie vpon the Tunne in the voiage, outward and inward herein before ſpecified, reſpectiuely of and for all and euery ſuch Ship, Hoye Barke, or Veſſell, belonging to any Merchant, Fiſherman, or other perſon or perſons our naturall borne Subiects, Denizens and Strangers as ſhall ſayle and teade from Port to Port by or along the Coaſt aforeſaide, except the Maiſter or Owner of the ſame Ship, Barke or Veſſell ſhall produce & ſhew forth a receipt or acquittance of and for the payment of the ſaid dutie vnder the hand and ſeale of ſuch officer or officers as ſhall be deputed and appoynted by the ſaid perſons herein before named, their Executors, Adminiſtrators or Aſſignes in euery or any ſuch Cuſtome-houſe or place from whence the ſaid Shipe or Veſſell ſhall come teſtifiing the payment and receipt thereof to be there duly had and made.

And that all and euery ſuch Cuſtomer, collector, or other officer in our ſaid Cuſtome-houſes to be appoynted and deputed as aforeſaid, ſhall yeeld and make iuſt and true accompts and payments, of all and every ſuch collections ſum & ſummes of money, as by him them or any of them, ſhall be collected or receiued from time to time, vnto the ſaid Sir William Erskine Knight, and Iohn Meldrum their Executors, Adminiſtrators or Aſſignes, to be by them, either or any of them, receiued and reteyned to their owne proper vſe and behoofe, for & in reſpect of their great and continuall charges, to be ſuſteined and borne, in erecting, renewing, altering, remouing and continuall maintaining of the ſaid Light-houſes and Lights, in the night ſeaſon as aforeſaid, without any accompt or other thing therefore, or for any part thereof by them to be made or giuen for the ſame, other then the yearely rent hereby to vs our Heyres and Succeſſors receiued, yeelding, and paying therefore vnto vs, our Heires and Succeſſors, the yearely rent or ſumme of ſix pounds thirteene ſhillings and foure pence of lawfull money of England, at the receipt of our Exchequer at Weſtminſter, or to our Receiuer or Receiuers, of our Countie of Norffolke for the time being, at the feaſt of the Annunciation of the bleſſed virgine Mary, and at S. Michaell the Arch-Angell, by even and equall proportion, during the ſaid terme, or within thirty dayes next after eyther of the ſaid feaſtes.

And to the end, that the ſaid S VVilliam Erskine and Iohn Mledrum, their Executors, Adminiſtrators and Aſſignes, ſhall and may the better haue & enioye the full force, benifit and effect of this our preſent graunt; and to the intent and purpoſe, that the Maſter, Wardens and Aſſiſtants of the Trinitie Houſe of Debtford Strond aforeſaid, and all others whoſoeuer, may be reſtrayned during the terme of Fiftie yeares aforeſaid, from continuing, reparing, renuing, remouing and maynteyning, any Light-houſe or Light-houſes already erected and ſet vp, ſince March laſt, within the ſpace of two Miles of the Towne of Winterton aforeſaid, and from erecting and ſetting vp during the ſaid terme, any other new Light-houſe or Light-houſes, at or neere the ſaid Towne, or within two miles thereof and of and from the receiuing, hauing or taking, by any wayes, meanes, or pretences whatſoeuer, any collection, contribution, ſume or ſumes of money whatſoeuer for the ſame, during the ſaid Terme of Fiftie yeares before ſpecified, notwithſtanding any former courſe, taken or had, by, or for the ſaid Maſter, Wardens and Aſſiſtants of the Trinitie houſe of Debtford Srond aforeſaid, for the Light-houſes ſince March laſt by them ecected, at or neere VVinterton aforeſaid.

Wee doe by theſe preſents, for vs, our Heires and Succeſſors, authorize, the Lords of our Priuie Councell for the time being, and wee doe alſo ſtraightly charge, require and command all Mayors, Sheriffes, Iuſtices of peace, Captaines of our Caſtles, and Forts, Bayliffes and other Officers and Miniſters whatſoeuer, of vs, our Heyres and Succeſſors to whom it doth and ſhall appertaine, that they and euery of them bee from time to time hereafter ayding and aſſiſting vnto the ſaid William Erskin Knight & Iohn Meldrum, their and either of their Executors, Adminiſtrators and Aſſignes, ſubſtitutes, factors and ſeruants, and euery of them, in & concerning the premiſes vpon euery complaint to be made touching or concerning the ſame, according as in Iuſtice ſhall be by them or any of them deſired and requeſted in that behalfe, and theſe preſents or the intolement thereof ſhall be vnto them and euery of them a ſufficient warrant and diſcharge for the doing, performing and executing the ſame.

AND laſtly we doe hereby ſignifie and declare our expreſſe will and pleaſure to be, and we doe for vs, our Heires and Succeſſors, ſtraightly charge and command the ſaid Maiſter, Wardens, and Aſſiſtants of the Trinitie houſe of Debtford-Strond and their ſucceſſors, that they and euerie of them, their factors and ſeruants appoynted by them ſhall and doe immediately from henceforth ſurceaſe and deſiſt as well of and from erecting or ſetting vp of any Light-houſe or Light-houſes at VVinterton aforeſaid, or within two miles compaſſe thereof as aforeſaid, as of and from the continuing or maintaining of any Light or Lights burning in any Light-houſe or Light-houſes ſince March laſt by them there erected or ſet vp, & that they and euery of them ſhall for beare from henceforth to demande, receiue or take any dutie, payment allowance, or benifit of or from any our ſubiects or others trading or paſſing by or alongſt the ſaid Coaſt, for or in reſpect of the ſame Light-houſe or Light-houſes by or vnder any colour, pretence or pretext, whatſoeuer any Act, Statute, Ordinance, Prouiſion, Charter and Graunt, heretofore had made, enacted, or prouided, or any other cauſe, conſideration, matter, or thing, to the contrarie thereof in any wiſe, notwithſtanding, & that vpon the paine and perill of incurring our high and heauie diſpleaſure for their contempt or neglect of this our royall will and commandement herein ſo expreſly declared in this behalfe, although expreſſe mention of the true yearely value or certainty of the premiſes or of any of them, or of any other gift or graunt by vs or any of our Progenitors or Predeceſſors to the aforeſaid Sir William Erskine and Iohn Meldrum or either of them before theſe times made in theſe preſents, is not made, or any Statute, Act, Ordinance, Prouiſion, Proclamation or Reſtraint heretofore had made, ſet forth, ordained or prouided or any other matter, cauſe or thing whatſoeuer to the contrarie in any wiſe notwithſtanding.