Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/590



Extracts from the Ship's Charter party, which requires the attention of the Commanders and Officers in the Maritime Service of the East India Company.

58. The commander to give notice to the secretary, in writing, when the ship arrives at Gravesend, outward bound.

59. The commander also to give notice to the secretary at the expiration of the time limited for the stay of the ship at Gravesend, or in the Hope, outward bound.

60. The Company are to have liberty to survey the ship at any time, and to lay by for their surveyors, who are to be civilly treated, and to be provided with reasonable and convenient food and lodging.

61. The ship not carrying the full number of guns, the commander and owners to forfeit for each gun wanting, 40l., and not to be disposed of without leave of the Company's servants to whom the ship is consigned. The owners and commander to forfeit 100l. for every gun sold, and the commander rendered incapable of continuing in the service.

62. The commander or master to obey the Company's orders during the voyage, and also committees appointed by them, or their governors, president, agents, chief factors, or assigns.

63. The master or officers displaced (or by decease), the next in rank to succeed him.

64. The command, or any office in the ship, not to be bought, or sold.

65. An order of encouragement, to the following effect, to be put up in the ship, and to be continued during the voyage.

66. "The Court of Directors of the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the East Indies, being willing to encourage the mariners of all their ships to be just to the said Company, and careful of their effects and trade, and observant of all injuries done or doing thereto, as also to animate them to defend their said ships and their estates on board, in case they should be assaulted by any enemy, do hereby declare that they will allow and pay the following rewards, at the return of the ship from the East Indies, into the River Thames, and finishing this present voyage; that is to say, to every seaman that shall prevent any wilful and malicious damage to any part of the said Company's effects, or shall save the same from being lost, a reward suitable to their merit therein. To the widow, children,