STATUTES, PROCLAMATIONS, RULES, ORDERS, ETC. 883 



528 No. 8. 1705: British Statute, 4 Anne, Cap. W. 



An Act for the better enabling the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of Trinity 

 House, to rebuild the Light House on the Edystone Rock. 



"Whereas in and by one Act of Parliament made in the eighth 

 year of the reign of our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, 

 entituled, An Act to enable the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of 

 Trinity House at Deptford Strond, to erect Sea Marks, &c. They 

 the said Master, Wardens, and Assistants are impowered to erect and 

 set up beacons, marks, and signs for the sea ? needful for avoiding the 

 dangers, and to renew, continue, and maintain the same, in such 

 manner as in the said Act is mentioned: And whereas there now is, 

 and time out of mind hath been, a very dangerous rock, called the 

 Edystone, lying off of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, upon 

 which divers ships and vessels have been cast away, and the lives 

 and goods of many subjects of this Kingdom lost and destroyed: 

 And whereas upon application some time since made to the said 

 Master, Wardens, and Assistants, by great numbers of Masters and 

 Owners of shipping, to have a Light House erected upon the said 

 Rock, offering and agreeing, in consideration of the great charge, 

 difficulty, and hazard of such an undertaking, to pay to the said 

 Master, Wardens, and Assistants, one penny per ton outwards, and 

 the like inwards, for all ships and vessels which should pass by such 

 Light House (Coasters excepted, who shall pay twelve pence only 

 for each voyage;) they the said Master, Wardens, and Assistants, 

 having a due regard to the safety and preservation of the shipping 

 and navigation of this Kingdom, did in the year of Our Lord one 

 thousand six hundred and ninety-six, cause a Light House to be 

 begun to be erected on the said Rock, and in three years time a Light 

 was placed therein; and the said Light House in the term of five 

 years was, with much hazard and difficulty, and a very great expense, 

 fully built and completed, to the great satisfaction of the flag officers 

 and commanders of the fleet and ships of war, and of all others 

 concerned in trade and navigation, the same being not only useful 

 for avoiding that dangerous Rock upon which it was built, but also 

 a guide and direction to ships passing through the Channel from and 

 to all parts of the world: And whereas the said Light House was 

 preserved and kept up for several years, notwithstanding the great 

 force and violence of the wind and sea, (to which it was exposed) 

 until the late dreadful storm in November one thousand seven hun- 

 dred and three, when the same was blown down and destroyed : And 

 whereas it was found by experience, that the said Light House (dur- 

 ing the standing thereof) was of public use and benefit to this King- 

 dom, a means to preserve Her Majesty's ships of war, and the 

 shipping, lives, and estates of Her subjects, and was useful and 

 beneficial to navigation ; and forasmuch as the speedy rebuilding the 

 said Light House is absolutely necessary for avoiding the dangers 

 attending the navigation and trade of this Kingdom, and in regard 

 the same is a work of great charge, hazard, and expense, and all due 

 and proper encouragement ought to be given thereunto; to the end 

 therefore that the said Master, Wardens, and Assistants, may be 

 encouraged to new erect and build, or cause to be new erected and 

 built, the said Light House, with all convenient speed, and constantly 



