ARTICLES OF ENQVIRIE TO BE MINISTERED CONcerning the Admiralty in the County of SUSSEX.  
Anno Dom. 1638.  
LONDON, Printed by B. A. for for RICHARD MEIGNEN. 1638.   

Articles of Enquirie to be ministered concerning the Admiralty in the County of Sussex. ANNO DOM. 1638.  
1. INprimis, you shall truly present without respect of persons, all such as have any time within these Twelve years last, profaned the Sundays in going out to take Fish by themselves or their servants.  
2 Item, you shall present all Pirates, Robbers, Murderers, Felons and théeves, that have committed any Piracy, Robbery, Murder or Felony upon the high Seas, or within any Freshwater, Haven, River or tréeke from all Bridges next unto the Sea within full Sea mark, or on the Sea sands within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the County of Sussex, against any of the King's Majesty's Subjects or any other his friends or Allies, and of their Receivers, Counsellors, Aiders or Abetters, procurers, comforters or maintainers, either by words, victuals, Ships, Boats, Artillery, Weapon, Gun, powder, or any other thing, and the Receivers of their spoils and buyers of Pirate's goods.  
3 Item, ye shall inquire and true presentment make, of all petty Pickers, petty Felons, and private Théeves, that breaketh any coffers, fardels, packs, Dry-fats, chests or other like, upon board any Ship or other vessel, or that stealeth Oars, Anchors, apparel, tackle of any Ship or Boat, or any fisher-men's nets, hooks, pots, Fish or other things.  
4 Item, ye shall inquire and true presentment make, of all those that have taken any Ships, vessels, goods, or Prisoners upon the Sea, or elsewhere, for any matter done upon the Sea, or any other River, freshwater, or créeke within the King's Majesty's jurisdiction of his Highness said Admiralty in the County of Sussex, and have not presented the same in this Court accordingly.  
5 Item, ye shall truly inquire and true presentment make of the slaughter of men, done and made by any Ship, vessel, or boat, or any apparel of them. And of all dead bodies found that have come to their deaths upon the Sea, or in any other Haven, River, Freshwater, or Créeke, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty aforesaid, which have not been presented in this Court (as it appertaineth) or that have had any Gold, Silver, jewels, or other things found upon them, and the like presentment hath not been made thereof.  
6 Item, ye shall inquire, and true presentment make of all Riots, unlawful assemblies, contempts, Concealments, routs, trespasses, frays, outcries, bloodsheds, maims, quarrels, menacings, or threatenings, Weapons-drawing, or any other act, crime, or trespass, done and committed against the King's peace, and Laws of this Realm, upon the Sea, or upon any other Haven, Port, place, River, Freshwater or Créeke, within full Sea mark, or on the Seasands, or else where from the first Bridge next unto the Sea within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex in any Ship, vessel, or Boat, or upon the Sea sands within the foresaid jurisdiction, and true presentment make of the offenders, their names and dwelling places.  
7 Item, ye shall inquire and true presentment make of all them that have laden or do use to lad any goods or merchandise, either upon the high Sea, or in any Haven, Freshwater, River or Créeke, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex in or upon any strange Bottom, either within this Realm or without, where they might have had English Ships to serve them, according to the Laws of the Realm.  
8 Item, ye shall inquire and true presentment make of all them that have shipped, or laden any Ship, Vessel, or Boat, lying upon the high Sea, or in any other Haven, Freshwater, River, or Créeke, from the first Bridge next unto the Sea, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, with Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oates, Malt or any other Grain, and have transported the same beyond the Seas contrary to the Laws of this Realm. And ye shall truly declare the names of the Merchants, owners and masters of such Corn and Ships with the names of the same Ships.  
9 Item, ye shall truly present, all them that have laden, shipped, delivered, carried, sold, or conveyed any Wheat, Rye, Barley, Beanes, Malt, or any other Corn, Tallow, Leather, Brass, Led, Candles, Cheese, Butter, or other Victuals, in any Ship, Vessel, or Boat, out of the Realm into any other Realms, from any Freshwater, River, Créeke, or place, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the foresaid county of Sussex, contrary to the Laws and customs of this Realm, whereby his Majesty hath been deceived, and not paid his just customs and Subsidy, and the common wealth hurted.  
10 Item, ye shall truly inquire, and true presentment make of all them that either by day or night, lad any Ships or Vessels in secret Créeks or places (being no common or open Port) or that do help to convey and lead strangers Ships into any such private Créeke or place, whereby the secret Landing places on the Seacoasts may been known to strangers.  
11 Item, ye shall present all Fishmongers and all other persons, that been forestallers or regraters or keepers of Markets upon the water or the shores within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, whereby the common wealth and the Markets been abused, (That is to say) all them that forestall, regrate and buy any manner of goods, merchandise, or Victuals upon the water or shore as aforesaid, before it come to the place, or Port where it is to be discharged and sold.  
12 Item, ye shall inquire and truly present all that cut or let slip any Boy, or Boyes-rope whereby any Anchor is lost, or cut any Cable, or any Tackling of Ship, Vessel, or Boat, in any Haven, River, or Port, from all Bridges next unto the Sea within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, whereby the Ship or Vessel driveth, or otherwise is in peril of hurt taking, or any man thereby in peril of life.  
13 Item, ye shall inquire of all that send unlawful Anchors, Cable or Tackle, in any Ship or other Vessel to the Sea, whereby the same might stand in danger to been cast away, and the Mariners in peril of their lives,  
14 Item, ye shall inquire and truly present all manner of unlawful Nets, or other Engines used by Fishermen, where with any manner or kind of Fish or fry of Fish is destroyed, to the hurt of the common wealth.  
15 Item, ye shall inquire and truly present all those that have dragged any Oysters or Muscles or put them to sail at unseasonable times (that is to say) At times prohibited by the Laws and customs of the Admiralty, all those that do any hurt or annoyance to the Beds and Brood of Oysters and Muscles; And also those that have taken in severed and ●ngrossed any Oyster plots or Beds for their private profit.  
16 Item ye shall inquire and present all them that have carried any Gold or Silver Bullion, or Plate in any Ship into any other Realm.  
17 Item, ye shall inquire and present all them that have found any Ship, Vessel, or Boat waffing on the high Seas or in any Fresh water River or Créeke, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, without Owner, and have not presented the same to this Court.  
18 Item, ye shall inquire and truly present all those that have found upon the Sea, or any other River, Haven, Freshwater or Créeke, or else where by the Seaside, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, any Flotzon: as Ton, Pipe, Oil, Wine, Bale, Trusts, Masts, Sails, Yards, Timber, or any other manner of thing whatsoever it were, and have not presented the same and them that such things possess.  
19 Item, ye shall inquire and truly present all men that have found in the bottom of the Sea, or in any other Haven, Fresh water, River, or Créeke, within the foresaid jurisdiction any Lagon, as Anchors, Guns, Iron, Steel, Tin, Led, or other mettle or things, Gold or Silver, and have not justly presented the same to this Court.  
20 Item, ye shall inquire and duly present, all them that have maintained upon the high Stream of any Ports, Havens, or Créeks, within the foresaid jurisdicton, any Mills, Wears, Kidles, and stakes or other things, to the annoyance of the navy of this Realm, or hurt of any channel or Stream, or that casteth any Ballast or other things into the same.  
21 Item, ye shall inquire of them that have taken any Fish Royal, or other Fish accustomed to the King's Majesty and the Office of his high Admiralty of England (That is to say) Whales, Ballens, Sturgeons, Grapes, Dolphin, purpose or any Fish that is of great growth, or taken or reputed for a Fish Royal, and have not presented (as it appertaineth accordingly.)  
22 Item, ye shall diligently inquire and true presentment make of all such Mariners, Sailors, Fishermen, and all other Watermen which have at any time before this absented and withdrawn themselves from any of his Majesty's priests or at any other time from the service for the Realm to serve in his highness' Navy, and have become retained servants with any man for that time, or have receiue● Prest money, and so have gone their ways: name all such persons.  
23 Item, ye shall present all idle Mariners, Sailors, Wherrimen, Tiltboat-men, Fishermen, and Bargemen, that use any loitering, playing at Dice and cards, and haunt Alehouses, and Taverns with idle company, and do not continually follow and give themselves to their Occupations, nor are content to serve in Covenant for any reasonable wages: All such you shall by name specify and declare.  
24 Item, ye shall present all those persons that have made any Frays, or drawn any Blood in or upon any ship, Vessel, Barge, Boate, or elsewhere within full Sea mark, (within the foresaid jurisdiction of the Admiralty) or in any wise breaketh the King's peace, and be common pickers of Quarrels: Name all such with their dwelling places?  
25 Item ye shall present all those persons, which have thrown any Dung, chalk, rubbish, or noisome thing into the Sea or any sea passage, to the hurt of the same, within the foresaid jurisdiction▪ Name the offenders therein?  
26 Item ye shall present all those, that have cast any Anchor into the Sea, or River without a Boy or mark upon the same, whereby danger hath or might ensue to any Ship, Vessel, Barge, Boate, or man's body?  
27 Item ye shall present all Handicrafts men, and other persons, that have used and exercised this year past, or at any time before, any Nets, or other Engines to take Oysters, or other Fish, and have not been Apprentice to the craft of Fishing?  
28 Item ye shall present all those that take any to service in the craft or science of Fishing, but for term of years whereby they may have their present knowledge and learning in the Water-craft and trade of Fishing.  
29 Item ye shall present all those that have v●xed, troubled, arrested or imprisoned a●y Mariner, Seaman, Fishermen, or other persons, for any contract, bargain, trespass, hurt or other thing done upon the Sea in any Haven, Fresh water, River or Creek, within the jurisdiction of the King's Majesties said Court of the Admiralty in the county of Sussex, in any other court or place, in contempt of the King's jurisdiction of his Admiralty aforesaid. Inquire diligently for this and specify their names, surnames, and dwelling places?  
30 Item, ye shall inquire diligently, and make true presentment of all such customs, orders, and usages, as have formerly been observed in the Township, Villages, and places, in which you now severally dwell, touching the taking of Cockles, and all those that have broken any of the said customs or Orders within these Twelve years last passed.  
31 Item, ye shall present all those that have privately sold at the water's side, or elsewhere, or carried to Market in Bags, or that selleth abroad in the countries, any small brood or fry of Fish not marketable, or that have taken any Fish before the accustomed time of taking thereof, to the great destruction of the increase of the Fish. Name the offenders in this point.  
32 Item, ye shall diligently inquire and truly present, whether any Kidles, Stanks, Stakes, or Wears, have been or been newly erected, builded used, and occupied in any Creek, Port, Haven, or other place unto the same adjoining within the King's jurisdiction of the Admiralty in the county of ●u●●ex aforesaid, whereof let true presentment been made, declaring in what places, and by whom the same were or are so builded, made or used, how many there been in number: who be their owners, and what kind of young fry of Fish they do commonly use to destroy, and when the time is to begin to fish, and to leave of by ancient custom.  
33 Item, ye shall present the maish of the unlawful Nets and other unlawful Engines, used and occupied in the said Kidles and Wears.  
34 Item, ye shall present all other ancient customs, Orders, and usages used and frequented in fishing trade amongst the old Fishermen of the Townships, Villages, and places, in which you do now severally dwell, as well of the times and seasons accustomed to Fish, the names and Assizes of your Nets, as what kind and sort of Fish are commonly taken by your labour from time to time.  
35 Item, you shall inquire diligently and make true presentment of all such Fishermen, as have taken, sold, or brought to Markets in the high Sea, or in any Haven, Fresh water, River, or Créeke within the King's jurisdiction of his Admiralty, within the county of Sussex, below the lowest Bridges next to the Sea, any Base, Mullets, Soles, Plaice, Flounder, Turbots, or other Fish of a less assize, or scantling, then by your ancient customs, usages, or the law is allowed.  
36 Item, you shall present all Podders that come to secret places on the Seacoast, and there regrate the Fish whereby the common Markets are defrauded.  
37 Item, you shall present all Fishermen that do sell their Fish at such secret places of the Sea coasts, where no private Markets ought to been.  
38 Item, you shall present all Cable-hangers, That is to say, Tailors, Shoemakers, or Handicraftsmen, being not brought up in Mariner's Science, that do go, or send any of their Servants to the Sea, whereby Mariners and Fishermen or their science should in any wise decay, or be hindered.  
39 Item, you shall present all sea men, that do send any young men, or Lads either to fishing or sailing in any vessel or boat, except there be a sufficient number of able men therein, to guide the same without peril of drowning, or casting away for lack of government.  
40 Item, you shall present all nuisances committed or done upon the Sea shore, or upon the shore of any Haven or Créeke below high water marks, whereby the shore is any way impaired, or annoyed, or the liberty of the passage hindered.  
41 Item, you shall present all other annoyances, Crimes, evil facts, disorders or hurts, which are in any wise prejudicial or hurtful, aswell to poor Fishermen and Seafayring men's lives, or to the common wealth or Navy of this Realm.  
42 Of these and all other offences, hurts and annoyances used committed or done in any respect upon the Sea, or in any River or Créeke belonging to the same within the jurisdiction of his Majesty's Admiralty in the county of Sussex, for the space of Twelve years last passed, you are diligently to inquire and true presentment make, upon the Oaths of every of you, and the same to give up in writing under your hands.  
FINIS.