HIGH COURT OF MADRAS. 



25 



the Straights of Magellan ; and also full power to make and 

 declare peace and war with the Heathen Nations in the said 

 Territories, and to appoint Governors and Officers who should 

 have authority to raise Military forces and to execute and 

 use Martial Law for the defence of the said forts, places and 

 plantations, the sovereign right, powers and dominion over 

 all the said forts, places and plantations, and power of making 

 peace and war, when His Majesty should be pleased to inter- 

 pose his royal authority therein, being always reserved ; And 

 for the more effectual encouragement of the said Company 

 and the Merchants that should from thenceforth trade with 

 the parts and places aforesaid, and to the end that more 

 effectual remedies might be applied in the case of former or 

 such other disorders or inconveniences as might happen, His 

 Majesty did erect and establish a Court of Judicature to be 

 held at such place or places, fort or forts, plantations or 

 factories, upon the said coasts, as the Company should from 

 time to time direct and appoint, which Court should consist of — 

 One person learned in the civil laws, and two merchants, which 

 said persons, and such officers of the said Court as should be 

 thought necessary to be nominated and appointed from time 

 to time by the Governor or Deputy Governor and Court or 

 the major part of them ; and which said person learned in 

 the civil laws and two merchants, or the major part of them, 

 whereof the said person learned in the civil law to be one, 

 should have commission and power to hear and determine in 

 all cases of forfeitures and seizures of any ship or ships, goods 

 and merchandize, trading and coming upon any the said 

 coasts or limits, contrary to the intent of the letters patent 

 granted to the Company ; and also all causes mercantile 

 or maritime, bargains, buyings, sellings, bartering of wares 

 whatsoever, and all policies and acts of assurance ; all bills, 

 bonds and promises for payment of money, or mercantile or 

 trading contracts, all Charter parties or trading contracts for 



4 



