The King[608] to all to whom etc. greeting. Whereas our dearest Sister Elizabeth late deceased Queen of England by her letters patent under the great seal of England bearing date at Westminster the twenty-third day of January in the twenty-sixth year[609] of her reign gave and granted for herself her heirs and successors unto Mathew Baker and John Addey Shipwrights and to the longer liver of either of them among other[610] things a certain annuity or annual rent of twelve pence sterling a day: to have and to receive yearly the said annuity or annual rent of twelve pence sterling a day to the aforesaid Matthew Baker and John Addey and their assigns and to the longer liver of either of them from the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord then last past before the date of the same letters patent during the natural life of the same Mathew Baker and John Addey and the longer liver of either of them from her Treasury and that of her heirs and successors at the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster of herself her heirs and successors at the hands of the Treasurer and Chamberlain of her her heirs and successors there for the time in being at the four terms of the year namely at the Feast of the Annunciation of the B.V. Mary of St. John the Baptist of St. Michael the Archangel and of the Nativity of the Lord in equal portions. And whereas also our same dearest Sister Elizabeth by other letters patent under the great seal of England bearing date at Westminster the twenty-ninth day of July in the thirty-second year of her reign[611] gave and granted for herself her heirs and successors to Joseph Pett Shipwright another annuity or annual fee of twelve pence a day of lawful money of England; to have hold and receive unto the same Joseph Pett and his assigns during the natural life of the same Joseph Pett from the Treasury of her her heirs and successors at the Receipt of the Exchequer at Westminster by the hands of the Treasurer and Chamberlain there and from time to time existing, as by the several said letters patent more plainly doth appear. Which said Mathew Baker and John Addey and Joseph Pett to this day remain alive and to this present have and enjoy the said several annuities by virtue of the several letters patent aforesaid. Know ye that we of our special grace and sure knowledge and mere motion also in consideration of the good true and faithful service to us done and hereafter to be done by our beloved and faithful subject Phineas Pett now serving our dearest son Henry Prince of Wales both in the building of the ships of us our heirs and successors and in his attendance on our marine affairs and causes have given and granted and by these presents for ourself our heirs and successors do give and grant to the same Phineas Pett that annuity or annual fee of twelve pence sterling a day of good and lawful money of England out of the two above named annuities whichever first after the date of these presents by death resignation surrender or composition of any one of the aforesaid Mathew Baker and John Addey and Joseph Pett or in any other manner shall have become vacant or determined or shall hereafter become vacant or cease. To have hold enjoy and receive the said annuity or annual fee of twelve pence a day as is in manner aforesaid vacated or determined or shall hereafter determine to the aforesaid Phineas Pett or his assigns for the term of the natural life of the same Phineas immediately from the time at which either of those annuities shall first become vacant or determine as aforesaid from the Treasury of us our heirs and successors at the Receipt of our Exchequer at Westminster by the hands of the Treasurers and Chamberlains of us our heirs and successors there from time to time in being at the four terms of the year namely at the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel the Nativity of the Lord the Annunciation of the B.V. Mary and the Nativity of St. John the Baptist in equal portions to the aforesaid Phineas Pett or his assigns during the natural life of the same Phineas Pett annually to be paid the first payment thereupon commencing at that feast of the aforesaid feasts which first and nearest shall fall after one of the two separate aforesaid annuities of twelve pence a day shall become vacant or determined in the mode and fashion above specified. Although express mention etc. In witness etc. Witness the King[612] at Westminster the 26th day of April.
By writ of Privy Seal.
FOOTNOTES:
[608] In the enrolment this is given simply as 'Rex'; in the original the commencement would be 'Jacobus Dei Gratia,' etc.
[609] 23 Jan. 1584.
[610] I.e. the office of Master Shipwright with its emoluments.
[611] 29 July 1590.
[612] In the original this would be 'meipso'; myself.
II
Petition of Shipwrights for Incorporation (?) 1578
(No signatures or date)