53 



It has already been shown, that the wears 

 and kiddles on the Thames and Medway were 

 directed by the charters of King John and 

 Hen. III., to be removed and demolished. 



By the 25th of Edward III. st. 4. c. 6, it is 

 said, that " the common passage of boats and 

 ships in the great rivers of England, is annoyed 

 by wears, &c.," and directs that they shall be 

 pulled down. 



The Statute of 45th Edward III., c. 2, recites 

 the last statute, and that " such wears, &c. 

 were to the great damage of the people" arid, 

 directs them to be pulled down. 



The Statutes of Richard II., c. 19, and 1st 

 Henry IV. c. 12, recite and confirm the said 

 statutes of the 25th and 45th Edward III, 

 for pulling down wears, &c. on the petition 

 and request of the Commons, " that the com- 

 mon passage of ships and boats in the great 

 rivers of England be thereby greatly disturbed, 

 so that they cannot pass as they were wont." 



The Statute of 4th Henry IV., c. 11, recites 

 that " wears, stanks, and kiddles, being in the 

 water of Thames, and of other great rivers 



