A LIST

Rulers, Auditors, Comptrollers, Lighter-Assistants, and Water-Assistants,

BELONGING TO THE

WATERMAN AND LIGHTERMAN'S COMPANY.

THE CONDITION OF THE RULER'S BOND.

Whereas, A. B. is chosen one of the Rulers of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen for the Year next ensuing, pursuant to the Statute in that case made: if, therefore, the said A. B. shall well and truly observe, perform, and keep the several Rules, Orders, and Constitutions made, or to be made, for the Government of the said Company, which on his part is to be observed, performed, and kept, and in all other Things well and honestly behave himself, and faithfully discharge his Trust in the execution of the said Place, as long as he continues therein, and shall not embezzle or misapply any Part of the Company's Stock which shall come to his Hand; then this Obligation to be void, or otherwise to stand and be in full Force and Virtue.

RULES, ORDERS,

AND

CONSTITUTIONS,

Of the Watermen and Lightermen of the River of Thames, between Gravesend and Windsor, for the better Rule and Government of the said Society or Company, examined, altered, and approved, by the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London; and confirmed by the Right Honourable Sir John Holt, Knt. and the Right Honourable Sir Thomas Parker, Knt. late Lord Chief Justices of her Majesty Queen Anne's Court of Queen's Bench, pursuant to the Authority and Directions of the several Acts of Parliament in that Case made and provided.

WHEREAS, by an act of parliament, made in the 11th and 12th years of the reign of his late Majesty king William the Third, intituled "An Act for the Explanation and better Execution of former Acts made touching Watermen and Wherrymen rowing on the River of Thames, and for the better ordering and governing the said Watermen, Wherrymen, and Lightermen, upon the said River, between Gravesend and Windsor," it is, amongst other things, I. Clause. enacted, that every lighterman, or owner,

B

II. Clause.

keeper, or worker of any lighter, or other large craft on the Thames, between Gravesend and Windsor, shall be, and be taken to be of one and the same society or company with the said wherrymen and watermen; which wherrymen, watermen, and lightermen are thereby made one society and company. And that all lightermen working on the river of Thames (except Trinity-men, fishermen, ballastmen, western-barges and millboats, chalk-hoys, faggot and wood lighters, and other craft carrying the same) shall be registered in a book kept by the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, and be liable to such orders, rules, and constitutions, made, or to be made, for the better rule and government of the said Company, and the pains and penalties to enforce due obedience thereunto. III. Clause. And that there shall be yearly appointed, elected, and chosen, by the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London for the time being, eight persons of the most wise, discreet, and best sort of watermen; and three persons out of twelve persons to be yearly nominated by the lightermen, of the most wise, discreet, and best sort of lightermen, being householders, having two lighters or flat boats upon the said river, between Gravesend and Windsor; which election shall be at the first Court of Aldermen, to be holden within the said city, next after the first day. of June; which said eleven persons so elected shall be named and called the overseers and rulers of all the wherrymen, watermen, and lightermen, that

shall use, occupy, or exercise any rowing upon the said river, between Gravesend and Windsor; who shall keep good orders and obedience amongst the said watermen and lightermen. And to that IV. Clause. end and purpose the rulers and assistants of the said Company for the time being shall, on the first court day after the first day of June, yearly appoint the watermen of the principal towns, stairs and places of plying, or the major part of them respectively, between Gravesend and Windsor, to choose one free waterman, being a householder, to be of their assistants, so as they exceed not sixty, nor be less than forty watermen; and the lightermen which shall meet at the hall of the said Company on the first of June, between the hours of eight and twelve in the morning yearly, or the major part of them then present, shall choose nine lightermen, who, together with the said watermen, shall be the assistants of the said Company, to advise and assist them for preserving good government amongst the said Company; which rulers and assistants, or the major part of them, shall, on the first of July, yearly, present to the Court of Lord Mayor and Aldermen, for their approbation, five able and fit watermen, and two able and fit lightermen; which seven persons, or the major part of them, shall audit the accounts of the rulers and others of the said Company, and shall enter such accounts in a book kept for that purpose, and sign the same; which book shall be kept in some public place in the Company's hall, for view and