Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/309

 BY-LAWS OF THE COMPANY 245 meeting or " court " fined him a shilling for non-ap- pearance, or sixpence should he come late. If he proved obstinate, a warrant for commitment from the Privy Council brought him to reason. No brother could speak above thrice on any matter " upon pain of forfeiture of 3s. 4:d. for every such excess in speech." The fine for interrupting another brother in his lawful discourse " by whispering speech or talk '' was 2s. 6d., while " any uncivil or intemperate speeches or behaviour " were punished by a mulct of 10s. No brother could leave a meeting without permission before its close, under penalty of a shilling. Above all, " when Mr. Governor or his deputy commandeth silence by stroke of the hammer " let every one hold his peace " upon pain of forfeiture of sixpence." These fines, the pre- cautions of serious citizens for the orderly conduct of their business, were enforced by sending those who would not pay them to prison, " there to remain during the pleasure of the generality." The record for the equipment of each voyage may be reduced in most cases to four documents. In the first place, there was the Royal Commission of Queen Elizabeth authorizing the company to undertake the individual expedition, and vesting in its commanders powers for punishing offences during the voyage, and for the " quenching of all such mutiny, quarrels, or dissensions that shall or may " arise. In the second place, the company issued a commis- sion or code of instructions to the " General " or Ad- miral, and to the commanders of the ships, setting forth