Old Bailey Octr.
Session 1784}

Concerning a Fine set on William Davis< no role > Merchant
an Elder Brother of the Trinity House in May Session 1784
at the Old Bailey for not attending as a Petty Juryman for
London

Clause in the Charter of
Confirmn. Granted to the
Corporation of Trinity
House of Deptford Strond
dated 1st Jary. 2d.}

"And for as much as the said Master Wardens & Assistants and their Deputies being often
"times in themselves their Servants Apprentices & Ships to be charged & employed at One Hour's Warning
"in our Service at the Sea in & for the good & necessary defence of our Realms & Kingdoms cannot give
"their due attendance therein with such diligence as their duly was & is to do by reason that they be
"many times compelled to bear Armour or to contribute to the charge thereof for Land Service as also to
"serve upon Inquests & Juries at Assizes, Sessions, Courts Leet, Courts Baron; before the Coroner, & in all
"other Courts, Commissions & places of Jurisdictions to the great vexation & further of the sd: Corporatn.
"& to the Peril of the said Service at the Sea by reason they cannot conveniently attend both the one & the
"other. Therefore We of our more abundant grace, certain knowledge & man Motion do Will &
"Grant by these presents for us our Hair & Successors that they & every of them & all & every other
"Brother & Ministers of the same being Mariners & Seafaring Men & their & every of their Servants
"& Apprentices that now be or at any time or times hereafter shall be their Successors & the Successors
"of every of them from time to time & at all times from henceforth shall be discharged & exempted
"of & from the bearing or finding of any Armour to or for any Land Service at or upon any general
"Master or other view to be taken of Armour in any of the Counties or Places where they or any of
"them shall make their Abode or Dwelling at the time of the sd. Masters or view taken & from
"being & contributing to the setting forth of any Soldiers to be employed or set forth to or for Land
"Service other than as Mariners & Seamen in Sea Services as also that they & every of them shall
"be in like manner discharged & exempted from being summoned & put in Assizes Juries Inquests
"Inquisitions Attaints & other Recognizances taken or summoned within the said Counties or Places
"or any of them unless that they the said Master Wardens & Assistants & other Seamen & Mariners aforesd.
"be thereunto compelled or compellable by reason of their Tenures or unless it before Our Service at every
"Admiral Sessions which they & every of them shall be always tied & bound to attend upon their Perils
"being thereunto lawfully summoned as heretofore; And moreover that they & every of them shall
"be likewise exempted & Discharged from being otherwise taxed to for or with any manner of Land
"Service whatsoever other than as aforesd. or to be contributary to the same. And that it at any time
"or times hereafter the sd. Master Wardens & Assistants or any of them or any other Brother, Officer
"Minister or Member of the sd. Corporation for the time being by any ways or means be appointed
"for bearing or finding or Armour or taxed to or with any manner of Land Service (other than as
"aforesd.) or to be contributary to the Same or Summoned or put in Assizes Juries Inquests Inquistitions
"or other Recognizances (other than as aforesd.) taken or summoned within the sd. Counties Juridictions
or places where they or any of them shall remain or abide other than as in regard of their sd. Tenures
"or for our Service at or in the Admiral Assizes or Sessions as aforesd. that then the sd. Appointment or
"Summons & also the sd. Taxation to be utterly void & of none effect any Order Custom Law or Msage
"to the contrary before this time had or used in any of the sd. Counties Jurisdictions or Places
"notwithstanding Provided always that if the Lords & Others of the Prios Council of Us,