CHAPTER XV.

THE WATER BAYLIF’S DUTY.

THE water bayliffs is elected out of y^e sufficientests of ye comonalty. Ye office of a water bayliff requireth a man y^t is of an active spirit, for he hath divers offices included in this one. Generally, he is, as it were, admirall of y^e Island. Hee is to keep a booke wherein he is to write downe all y^e shipps and barques (yt is all, both great and small vessells) yt doe at any time come into y^e Island, in any of y^e havens, and to set downe wth w^ch loading they are freighted in, wt year, month, and daye.

His office is to seize upon all wrecks at sea, and upon all forfeited goods (to y^e lord’s use) of any kinde.

He is to keep an inventory of all goods imported, and this inventory he is to shew to y^e governor, who is to give him a coppy to carry to y^e customer y^t he may enter it into his booke.

He may take recognizances of y^e peace (and returns them into ye clearke of y^e Rolles office) in y^e absence of y^e higher officers ; but he cannot cothitt y^e pty, yet he may raise y^e county, etc.

If any man doe give y^e water bayliff a penny to arrest any man for debt, if y^e water bayliff neglect to pforme his duty, and ye pty doe escape out of y^e Island, he is to pay the debt.

The water bayliff is to send to all y^e ports to stay y^e debtor, or any man else y~ shall offer to steal away out of y^e Island

Mr. Chaloner saith y^t the water bayliff, by his place, is by himselfe or his under officers, y^e custothers of y^e ports of Ramsay, Douglass, Darby Haven, and Peeltowne, to take up, and faithfully collect all y^e customes for ingates and out-gates of goods. Alsoe —It is his place, as he is admirall, to order all ye business for y^e herring fishing, to see y^t strangers and all other have no wrong done them during y^t season, and to judge of and determine, by way of jury (w~ is called an admirail quest), of all matters between party and party in matters of sea-fairing businesses. He is to give out cocketts of goods y^t shall be exported, and to take notice and cognizance of cocketts from other parts of any goods as shall be imported, and thereof to make a certificate at y^e suit or request of ye merchant.

Of all wrecks at sea he is likewise to take care of, y^t they bee disposed of for y^e lord’s proffitt, and to make returnes of his proceedings therein to y^e controwler y^t they may bee recorded, and ye conditions thereof made put out in charge.

In this last pticuler y^e lord’s atturney’s care is likewise required, and y^e business may be done by either of them, as it lyes in their quarters, or way where they shall come.