CHAPTER XIII.

CONCERNING THE CONTROWLER OF THE ISLAND, HIS POWER AND DUTY.

NEXT to y^e governor I observe the office of controwler of the Island to be of greatest trust, and requireth a most active spirit. For every Saturday he is to be at Peel Castle to take the accompts there of the steward, cook, brewer, baker, etc., to charge them upon their oath to give a true expence for the week past, and this he must do upon pain of forfeiting his fee.

He must return the next day, for every Sunday he is to do the same in the castle of Russin.

Every Munday, and all days of payments, when the moors do pay in the money, which they had received of the lord’s rents and duties the week before, unto the receiver-general, y^e controwler alone is required to be there and to see the delivery of the money into a bag. The governor is to seal the bag, and put it into a chest where the books are kept, of which I shall have occasion to speak more hereafter ; note y^t if y^e controwler be not there present all is disannull’d.

If either the governor, receiver-general, or any other officer, do conceal any other profit or revenue belonging unto the lord, from the controwler, they loose their fees.

Every three months he is to certifye his opinion unto y^e lord, of all expenses, whether they be needful or not, upon forfeture of his fees.

Every muster is to be called by y^e controwler. The clearke of ye shipps is to show him his bookes.

There is an especiall ordinance y^t he y^t is chosen to be compttrowller must be no merchant.

Hee is a justice of peace in absence of y^e governour and deemsters.

He hath power to sitt as well in y^e spirituall as temporal1 courts.

He is allowed y^e keeping of a horse.

He hath y^t priviledge to sit at y^e lord’s high table, which none else can doe but those that have gentlemen’s wages.’

The comptroller by his place is to call y^e receiver to acct once every yr~ and may sitt by and take notice at all times wⁿ y^e receiver takes money from y^e moOres (as I finde above) ; be is alsoe to take knowledge and give check and allowance of paymts and disbursmts by ye receiver, and to keep his booke thereof, and at y^e end of y^e year to set f debit, and to pfect y^e accompt betwixt y^e receiver and ye moors.

He is alsoe to give out y^e water bayliff his charge soon after midsuthr, having upon y^e midsuther day before received from ye governor his book of licenses and entryes for outgats and ingates of commodityes.

He is alsoe by his place clearke of y^e market, and is to see to ye weights and measures of all sorts, and y^e assise of bread, and etle that it be duly kept ; and he is alsoe head searcher in all y^e ports, yt by his deputyes and under searchers y^e lord may not be abused or wronged in his customs.

For his fidelity, providence and prudence, meriting a greater guerdon than £30 p. annum, his fees and perquisites w^ch he hath (besides this pension of y^e lord’s) you may observe in the practicall part of their lawes, hereafter set downe, or in Mr Chaloner ¹.

He hath alsoe y^e clearkship of y^e Rolles and the pension belonging thereunto ; how much it is I know not yet.

1 But, out of Mr. Chaloner, I am to inform you of other particulars.