William and Mary, 1692: An Act for the regaining encourageing and settling the Greenland Trade. [Chapter XVII. Rot. Parl. pt. 4. nu. 3.]

Recital that Greenland Trade beneficial; and that neighbouring Nations make Advantage thereby; and that the Merchants have endeavoured to regain the same. 25 Car. II. c. 7. § 1.; 2 W. & M. Sess. 1. c. 4.; Recital of the Circumstances under which the said Trade is now wholly ingrossed by Foreigners.; Recital that for regaining the said Trade a Stock of £40,000 had been subcribed by the Persons herein named.; Power given to the said Persons to raise a Joint Stock of £40,000.

Whereas the Trade to Greenland and the Greenland Seas in the fishing for Whales there hath been heretofore a very beneficial Trade to this Kingdom not only in the imploying great numbers, of Seamen and Ships and consuming great quantities of Provisions but also in the bringing into this Nation great quantities of Oyl Blubber and Fins. And whereas neighbouring Nations do yearely make great advantage thereby not only supplying themselves with that sort of Oyl and Fins but by vending into other parts great quantities thereof and particularly into this Kingdom where the said Trade is now quite decayed and lost. And whereas several Merchants of this Kingdom did heretofore endeavour to settle and regain the said Trade and for their encouragement therein it was by an Act of Parliament made in the Five and twentieth yeare of the Raigne of His late Majesty King Charles the second entituled An Act for the incouragement of the Greenland and Eastland Trades and for the better secureing the Plantation Trade (amongst other things) enacted That [in regard (fn. 1) ] there was then great want of Harpinierers and Seamen skilled and exercised in the Trade of Whale fishing it should and might be lawfull for any Ship or Vessel truely belonging to England Wales or the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and whereof the Master should be an Englishman and inhabiting within the Places aforesaid from and after the First day of May which was in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred seventy and three and until the Five and twentieth day of March which was in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred eighty and three employed for the catching of Whales dureing such Voyage to be navigated with one moiety of the Harpinierers and one moiety [of the rest (fn. 1) ] of the Mariners only English and yet to pay no further or other Custom for the Oyl Blubber or Fins caught or imported in such Ship or Vessel then if such Ship or Vessel had been navigated with Three fourths of the Mariners English Which said Act was by another Act of Parliament made in the Second yeare of Their present Majesties Reign entituled An Act for granting to Their Majesties a Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage and other Sums of Money payable upon Merchandizes exported and imported continued for Four years. And whereas several Merchants and other Persons of this Kingdom were by the ( (fn. 2) ) first recited Act encouraged to fit out and send to the said Greenland Seas some Ships or Vessels for the catching of Whales whereby some small quantities of Oyl Blubber and Whale Fins were imported into this Kingdom but they not being able to carry on the said Trade upon their single or separate Interests in regard that the neighbouring Nations did yearly [send (fn. 1) ] far greater numbers of Ships into those Seas the said Merchants and other Persons of this Kingdom were forced to desist from following the said Trade which is now wholly ingrossed by Foreigners And since the expiration and revival of the said Act there hath not been any Ships sent from England to the said Greenland Seas or any Oyl Blubber or Whale Fins imported into England but such as have been bought of Foreigners whereby great sums of money are yearely drawne out of England for those Commodities and the Rates and Prizes which are now paid for the same are now above six times more then heretofore they were and the said Trade having been for above these Twelve years last past wholly lost to this Kingdom there are very few or no English Harpinierers or English Seamen skilled and exercised in the said Trade of Whale catching so that the said Trade cannot now be regained to this Kingdom nor can be carried on by or without the assistance of foreigne Harpinierers and Seamen or upon the single Interests or Stocks of any particular Persons or by any other way then by a joynt Stock. And whereas for the regaining enlargeing and encourageing the said Trade a Stock of Fourty thousand Pounds att least is a necessary Fond to be raised for the regaineing and carrying on the said Trade whereby it may become beneficial to this Kingdom. And whereas Sir William Scawen Knight Henry Bertie Robert Hookes John Skinner George Boddington Francis Gosfright Edmond Prideaux Edmond Harrison John Jurin Edward Buckley Benjamin Steele Mordecai Abbot Robert Michell John Gunston John Knapp Thomas Skinner William Broughton Robert Bristow Robert Hackshaw John Bridges James Boddington Peter Percivall Thomas Phipps Charles Michell Samuel Howard Samuel Nash Benjamin Smith Nicholas Cutler Thomas Chambers Peter Gray James Ball Thomas Kett Humphry Simpson Richard Munford John Plumbe Richard Cook Peter Godfrey Ambrose Bray Augustine Munford Josiah Ordway Joseph Paice and Thomas Gunston have undertaken and agreed to raise by Subscriptions amongst themselves the said Stock or Fond of Fourty thousand Pounds att least to be wholly employed in the regaining manageing and carrying on the said Trade May it please your most excellent Majesties that it may be enacted. And be it enacted by the King and Queens most excellent Majesties by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That a joynt Stock of Forty thousand Pounds at least shall be raised by Subscriptions by the said Sir William Scawen Henrie Bertie Robert Hookes John Skinner George Boddington Francis Gosfright Edmond Prideaux Edmond Harrison John Jurin Edward Buckley Benjamin Steel Mordecai Abbot Robert Michell John Gunston John Knapp Thomas Skinner William Broughton Robert Bristow Robert Hackshaw John Bridges James Boddington Peter Percival Thomas Phipps Charles Michell Samuel Howard Samuel Nash Benjamin Smith Nicholas Cutler Thomas Chambers Peter Gray James Ball Thomas Kett Humphry Simpson Richard Munford John Plumbe Richard Cook Peter Godfrey Ambrose Bray Augustine Munford Josiah Ordway Joseph Paice and Thomas Gunston on or before the First day of May now next coming and shall be paid to the vse of the Company established by this Act in such manner as by this Act is directed.

II. The said Persons made a Corporation by the Name of the Greenland Company.

To have a Common Seal, and capable to purchase Lands, &c. not exceeding £100 per Annum.

And for the better regaining managing and carrying on the said Trade for the public good of this Kingdome Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said Sir William Scawen Henrie Bertie Robert Hookes John Skinner George Boddington Francis Gosfright Edmond Prideaux Edmond Harrison John Jurin Edward Buckley Benjamine Steele Mordecai Abbott Robert Michell John Gunston John Knapp Thomas Skinner William Broughton Robert Bristow Robert Hackshaw John Bridges James Boddington Peter Percivall Thomas Phipps Charles Michell Samuel Howard Samuel Nash Benjamine Smith Nicholas Cutler Thomas Chambers Peter Gray James Ball Thomas Kett Humphrey Simpson Richard Munford John Plumbe Richard Cook Peter Godfrey Ambrose Bray Augustine Munford Josiah Ordway Joseph Paice and Thomas Gunston and all and every other person and persons being natural borne Subjects of this Realme or persons naturalized or endenizend who shall have any share or interest in the said Joynt Stock shall be one Body Corporate and Politick in deed and in name by the name of the Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland And that by the same name of the Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland they shall have succession and a Common Seal and that they and their Successors by the name aforesaid shall be able and capable in Law and shall have perfect power and ability in Law to have purchase receive possesse and enjoy retaine to them and their Successors Lands Rents Tenements and Hereditaments of what kind nature or quality soever so as the same exceed not the yearely value of One hundred pounds And also to sell grant demise alien or dispose of the same and by the same name to sue and implead to be sued and impleaded answer and be answered in any Courts of Record or other places whatsoever and to do and execute all and singuler other matters and things by the name aforesaid that to them shall or may appertain to do and all other things whatsoever which any other Body Corporate or Politicke can or may lawfully doe or execute.

III. The Company may trade to Greenland, &c.

Exception of American Plantations.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the said Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland and their Successors shall dureing the continuance of this Joynt Stock hereby appointed to be raised have use and enjoy the free Trade and Traffick and shall and may freely traffick and use the trade and art of Merchandize and catching of Whales by Sea or otherwise to into and from Greenland and [the (fn. 3) ] Greenland Seas and to into and from the several Ports Havens and Places which are scituate lying and being in Greenland and the Greenland Seas and in all other Seas and Places whatsoever (except in the Seas belonging to their Majesties Colonies and Plantations in America) and to and from all and every of them without any hindrance interruption denyall or disturbance whatsoever any Statute Usage or other Cause or Matter whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding.

IV. A Governor, &c. to be chosen.

And be it further enacted That a Governor Deputy Governor and Sixteen Committees of the said Company shall be elected and chosen in manner as hereafter is appointed who shall have the management and direction of the said Trade and of the Voyages and Affairs of the said Company.

V. A Book of Subscriptions, and each Subscriber

to subscribe not less than £500 nor more than £2,000.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That a Book for Subscriptions shall be provided within Ten days after the passing of this Act by the first Five of the aforenamed persons or any Three of them In which said Book shall be subscribed on or before the said said First day of May now next comeing by all the persons in this Act before named or the Survivors of them the said Joynt Stock which shall not be lesse then Forty thousand pounds And that each of the said Subscribers shall not subscribe lesse then Five hundred pounds nor more then Two thousand pounds.

VI. Money subscribed how and when to be paid;

within Four Years.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That all and every the said persons so as aforesaid subscribeing shall on or before the said First day of May now next comeing actually and bona fide pay downe unto such person or persons as the said persons herein before named or the major part of them shall nominate and appoint one full and entire Fourth part of the severall sums of money by each of them respectively subscribed to the said Joynt Stock and shall alsoe pay the remainder thereof att such times and in such manner as shall be directed and appointed from time to time by the Governor or Deputy Governor and Court of Co[m]mittees of the said Company for the time being so as the whole sum to be subscribed be paid within Foure years next after the said First day of May.

VII. Defaulters to enjoy in proportion to Money actually paid.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That all and every person and persons makeing default in any of the said payments shall im[m]ediately from and after such default have or enjoy no further or other benefitt or advantage by such Subscription then according and in proportion to such sum or sums of money onely which such person or persons shall have actually and really paid into the said Joynt Stock as aforesaid.

VIII. Defaulters to forfeit £10 per Cent. of what they have paid.

And be it [further (fn. 4) ] enacted by the authority aforesaid That every person or persons who shall make default in paying any part or proportion of such his Subscription in such manner as by this Act is appointed shall forfeit and loose to the use and benefitt of the Adventurers in the said Joynt Stock after the rate of Ten pounds for every One hundred pounds of such sum or sums which he or they shall so neglect or omitt to pay in as aforesaid to be deducted out of the money paid in by such person makeing default as aforesaid.

IX. Choice of Governor and Deputy Governor, and Sixteen Committees.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That before the Five and twentieth day of May now next comeing any Thirteen of them the said persons herein before named shall sum[m]on and call together a General Court of all the said Subscribers and of all and every other person and persons who shall then have any Share or Interest in the said Joint Stock who shall and may quietly and freely assemble themselves and meet together att the time and place so appointed and then and there att their will and pleasure name choose and elect one fit person who shall have subscribed One thousand pounds or upwards to the said Joynt Stock and actually paid in one fourth part thereof as aforesaid to be Governor of the said Company And one other fitt person in like manner who shall have subscribed the Sum of One thousand pounds to the said Joynt Stock and actually paid in one fourth part thereof as aforesaid to be Deputy Governor of the said Company And also Sixteen other fitt persons in like manner each of them having severally subscribed the sum of Five hundred pounds or upwards to the said Joynt Stock and severally paid in one fourth part thereof as aforesaid to be Co[m]mittees of the said Company the said Governor Deputy Governor and Co[m]mittees to continue in their respective Offices and Places until the Twentieth day of October which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and foure.

X. Oath to be taken by Governor and Deputy Governor.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That every Governor and Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time being before they be admitted to the execution of their respective Offices or Places of Governour and Deputy Governour shall take the following Oath, viz

You swear That you shall assist and with all your Power support and maintain the Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland and the Priveledges of the same haveing no respect to your selfe in derogation hindrance or prejudice to the good Government Order and Co[m]mon Weale thereof The By-Laws and Ordinances which shall be made by authority of this Company and which are not repugnant to the Laws of this Kingdom you shall uprightly and duely execute according to your knowledge thereof And to every person you shall [administer (fn. 5) ] upright Justice And you shall not engage or oblige the said Company in any wise as Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company without agreement and consent of the Court of Committees of the said Company. So help you Almighty God.

XI. Oath to be taken by Committees.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That every one of the said Sixteen Co[m]mittees of the said Company for the time being before they be admitted to the execuc[i]on of their said respective Offices or Places of Co[m]mittees shall take the following Oath. viz.

You sweare to be faithfull and true dureing the time of your place of trust as one of the Co[m]mittees to the Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland and their Successors the good Estate of the Adventurers in this present Joynt Stock you shall favour and affect and the Priveledges granted unto them (to your power) endeavour to maintaine and preserve You shall be carefull to see and provide that an equal and indiferent hand be carried in the Government of the Company and in the Affaires thereof to all the Adventurers that shall adventure or put in Stock And that an equal Division from time to time be made to all the Adventurers according to the proportion of their several Stocks duely paid in. So help you God.

XII. Subscriber of less than £500 no Vote, of £500 one Vote, of £1,000 Two Votes.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That no person or persons who shall subscribe lesse or shall have lesse then Five hundred [pound (fn. 6) ] in the said Joynt Stock shall have any vote or voice att any General Court of the said Company And that every person or persons who shall subscribe to or shall have in the said Joynt Stock the sum of Five hundred pounds shall have one vote or voice and no more att any General Court of the said Company and that every person or persons who shall subscribe to or shall have in the said Joynt Stock of the said Company the Sum of One thousand pounds shall have two votes or voices att any General Court of the said Company and no more although he or they shall have subscribed more to or shall have in the said Stock more then One thousand pounds.

XIII. Oath to be taken by Subscribers.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That all and every person and persons who shall subscribe and pay in any Sum of money into the said Joynt Stock or shall have any Share or Interest in the said Joynt Stock shall be admitted gratis into the Freedom of the said Company and shall take the Oath of Admission into the same before the Governor or Deputy Governor or any Five of the Comittees for the time being who are hereby impowered to administer the same in words following viz

You swear that you will assist and with all your power support and maintaine the Company of Merchants of London tradeing to Greenland; The By Laws and Ordinancs which shall be made by authority of this Company which are not repugnant to the Laws of this Kingdom you shall according to your knowledge thereof uprightly and duely keep and obey. So help you God.

XIV. Governors, &c. to be chosen annually.

Proceedings.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the said Governour [and (fn. 7) ] Deputy Governour or any Five of the Co[m]mittees then in being shall before the said Twentieth day of October in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety ( (fn. 8) ) foure att any time between the First day and the Twentieth day of October then next following and so annually for every yeare afterwards between the days last menc[i]oned (timely notice thereof being first given) call a general Court of all the Members of the said Company who shall have subscribed to the said Joynt Stock the sum of Five hundred pounds or more and paid in one fourth part of their several Subscriptions as aforesaid and such other proportions of the same as shall be directed and appointed as aforesaid and shall have severally taken the said Oath of Admission then and there to elect and choose out of the Members of the said Company so qualified as aforesaid One Governor One Deputy Governor and Sixteen Co[m]mittees of the said Company to serve for one whole yeare next ensueing his and their respective Elections And if the said Governor or Deputy or any of the Co[m]mittees for the time being shall happen to die before the expiration of the said yeare for which he or they shall be so elected that then and from thenceforth it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governor or Deputy Governour or Five of the Co[m]mittees to su[m]mon and call together a General Court of the Adventurers aforesaid and then and there to choose into the place or places of him or them so dyeing other fit person or persons qualified as aforesaid to continue in their respective Offices or Places dureing the remainder of such yeare.

XV. Governor, Deputy Governor and Committees to take the Oaths of 1 W. & M. Sess. 1. c. 8.

By whom such Oaths are to be administered.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That every Governor Deputy Governor and Co[m]mittees of the said Company besides the said Oaths already appointed to be taken by them respectively shall alsoe take the [Oath (fn. 9) ] appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance by a late Act of Parliament [mad (fn. 10) ] in the First yeare of their Majesties Reigne entituled An Act for abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths And that the said first Governor to be elected shall take the said Oaths hereby appointed to be taken by the Governor of the said Company for the time being before the [said (fn. 11) ] persons herein before named or any nine of them who are hereby impowered to administer the same And the first Deputy Governor shall take the said Oaths hereby appointed to be taken by the Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time being before the said first Governor who is hereby impowered to administer the same And the said first Sixteen Co[m]mittees shall each of them severally take the said Oaths appointed to be taken by the said Sixteen Co[m]mittees for the time being before the said first Governor or the said Deputy Governour who are hereby impowered to administer the same And that every succeeding Governor shall take the Oaths appointed to be taken by the said Governour of the Company for the time being before the last preceding Governor or any Five or more of the last preceding Co[m]mittees who are hereby impowered to administer the same And every succeeding Deputy Governour shall take the Oaths appointed to be taken by the Deputy Governor of the said Company for the time being before the Governor or in case of his death or absence before any Five of the last preceding Co[m]mittees who are hereby impowered to administer the same And every Member of the succeeding Co[m]mittees for the time being shall take the said Oaths appointed to be respectively taken by the Sixteen Co[m]mittees of the said Company for the time being before the Governour or Deputy Governor for the time being or any Five or more of the preceding Committees who are hereby impowered to administer the same.

XVI. General Courts and Committees how to be called.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That from and after the said Twentieth day of May next ensuing all and every the General Courts and Co[m]mittees of the said Company hereby established shall be from time to time called and summoned by order of the said Governour or Deputy Governour or any Five or more of the said Co[m]mittees for the time being Att all which General Courts and Courts of Co[m]mittees beforementioned the Governour for the time being shall be present or in his absence the Deputy Governour for the time being and in case of equality of Votes or Voices shall have a casting Voice.

XVII. The Subscribers at a Court may make Bye Laws.

Notice of calling a Court.; Bye-Laws to be observed, and not to be repugnant to Law.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawfull for all the Members of the said Company who shall have subscribed Five hundred pounds or more to the said Joynt Stock and shall have paid in one fourth part of their respective Subscriptions and such other proportions of the same as shall be directed or appointed as aforesaid and all and every other person and persons who shall have the sum of Five hundred pounds in the said Joynt Stock and shall have taken the said Oath of Admission from time to time and att all times dureing the continuance of the said Joynt Stock to assemble themselves att a General Court (timely notice thereof being first given as aforesaid by the Governour or Deputy Governour or [any (fn. 12) ] Five of the said Co[m]mittees for the time being) And that they or the major part of them being so assembled whereof the Governour [or the (fn. 13) ] Deputy Governour for the time being to be one shall and may make ordain and constitute such and so many reasonable By-Laws Constitutions and Ordinancs as to them or the greater part of them then and there present shall seem necessary and convenient for the good Government of the said Company and of all Co[m]manders Mariners and all other Officers Servants and Persons by them employed in any of their Ships and Voyages and for the better preservation and improvement of the said Trade or Traffick and the same By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs so made to put in [use (fn. 14) ] accordingly and att their Will and Pleasure from time to time to change revoke and alter the same as occasion shall be or require Which said By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs so as aforesaid to be made shall be duely kept and observed under the pains and penalties therein limitted so always as the said By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the [Laws (fn. 15) ] Statutes or Customs of this Kingdom or to any of the Regulations contained in this Act.

XVIII. The Sales of Goods to be public once a Year at least, and by Inch of Candle.

No Lot more than £300.; The Monies arising from Sales to be faithfully applied.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That dureing the Continuance of this said joynt Stock no private Contract for the Sale of any Goods or Merchandizes shall be made by the said Company to any Member or Members of the said Company or any other Person or Persons whatsoever But that all Goods and Merchandizes belonging to the said Company shall be sold openly and publickely by Inch of Candle att their publick Sales which shall be once in every yeare att the least Of which Sales publick Notice shall be given upon the Royal Exchange in London att least Three Weeks before And that no Lott of any Goods or Merchandizes belonging to the said Company shall be put up or exposed to Sale the value of which shall exceed Three hundred Pounds in the Allotment thereof And that all Moneys ariseing by the sale of any Goods or Merchandizes of the said Company shall be faithfully and bona fide accompted for and applied to the publick and co[m]mon benefitt and advantage of the general joynt Stock of the said Company and of all and every the Persons therein interested rateably and according to every Persons Proportion and Share thereof and not to the private advantage of any particular Person or Persons whatsoever.

XIX. Dividends to be in Money.

Shares may be assigned by Entry in a Book kept for that Purpose, and may be devised.; Book open to inspection.; Transfers made otherwise, void.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Dividends hereafter to be made of the Profits ariseing by the said Trade shall be made in money and not otherwise. And be it further enacted That it shall and may be lawfull to and for all and every Person and Persons who shall have any Share or Interest in the said joynt Stock to sell assigne and transfer such his or their Share or Interest or any part thereof by and in the Books of the said Company to be for that purpose provided to any Person or Persons being natural born Subjects of this Realme or Persons naturalized or endenized And that all and every such Sale and Assignment when so as aforesaid made and entred and not otherwise shall be good and effectual in the Law against all and every such Person and Persons his and their Executors and Administrators who shall so as aforesaid assigne and transfer any such Share and Interest in the said joynt Stock And [that (fn. 13) ] the said Book or Books for the assigneing and transferring the said joynt Stock shall lie open from time to time for the view of all Persons concerned And all Alienations Transfers or Assignments made after any other manner shall be void excepting for such Stock onely which shall happen to be devised to any Person by Will or shall come to him by being Executor or Administrator to any Person deceased.

XX. No person to sell a greater Share than he really hath.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That it shall not be lawfull for any Person or Persons att any time to agree for contract bargain or sell any or other or greater Sum Share Interest or part of the said joynt Stock then such Su[m]m Share Interest or Part only as such Person or Persons shall actually and bona fide be possessed of and have standing in his or their owne name in the said Companies Books att the time of such Agreement Contract Bargaine or Sale made.

XXI. Sales not perfected within Ten Days void.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Agreements Contracts Bargaines or Sales for any Share Interest or Part of the said joynt Stock which shall not be performed compleated and executed and transferred within Ten days next after the makeing of such Agreement Contract Bargaine or Sale are and shall be null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever as if the same had never been made

XXII. Ships to Greenland may be navigated with One Third English;

and yet not to pay any further Custom.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawfull for the said Company hereby established and for all and every the Ships and Vessells belonging to or employed by the said Company and truely belonging to England Wales or the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and whereof the Masters shall be Englishmen and inhabiting within the Places aforesaid and for no other Ship or Vessell whatsoever from and after the First day of May in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety three and until the First ( (fn. 16) ) of October which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seven employed for the catching of Whales in the Greenland Seas and other the Seas and Places aforesaid dureing such their Voyages to be navigated with one third of the Mariners English att the least and yet [to pay (fn. 13) ] no further or other Custom for the Oyle Blubber or Fins caught and imported in such Ships or Vessels then if such Ships [or Vessels (fn. 13) ] had been navigated with three fourths of the Mariners English Any Law Statute or Usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

XXIII. Greenland Ships not to have the Benefit of this Act, unless victualled for the said Voyage, and proceed direct.

To be attested by Collector.

Provided always and it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no English Ship or other Vessel belonging to England Wales or the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and which shall belong to and be employed by the said Company in the catching of Whales in the Greenland Seas and other the Seas and Places aforesaid and importing Whale Oyle or Blubber or other Fish Oyl or Whale Fins of Greenland or those Seas or other the Seas and Places aforesaid shall enjoy any Benefitt or Priviledge by this Act unlesse such Ship or Vessell did proceed on her Voyage for Greenland and those Seas or for other the Seas or Places aforesaid from England or Wales or the Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and was victualled for the said Voyage in some of those Places to be attested by the Collector of the Port where the same Ship or Vessell was victualled.

XXIV. Corporation to continue for 14 Years.

Provided always That this Act and the said joynt Stock shall continue and the said Company shall have and enjoy the said Traffick and Trade to and from Greenland and the Greenland Seas and other the Seas and Places aforesaid for the Terme of Fourteen yeares to be accounted from the First day of October in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety three and no longer.

XXV. This Act a Public Act.

Provided also and be it further enacted That this Act shall be and is hereby declared to be a publick Act of Parliament and shall be so taken and acknowledged by all and every Their Majesties Judges in all and every Their Majesties Courts att Westminster and by all and every other Their Majesties Subjects whatsoever.