26 



THE PUKDKCKSSOKS OK HIE 



affreighting of vessels, and wages of mariners, and all other 

 mercantile or maritime cases whatsoever, concerning any 

 person or persons residing, coming or being in the places 

 aforesaid ; and all cases of trespasses, injuries and wrongs 

 done or committed upon the high sea, or in any of the 

 regions, territories, countries or places aforesaid, concern- 

 ing any person or persons residing, being or coming in the 

 parts of Asia, Africa and America within the bounds and 

 limits aforesaid ; all which cases should be determined and 

 adjudged by the said Court upon due examination and proof 

 according to the rules of equity and good conscience, and 

 according to the laws and customs of Merchants, by such 

 methods and rules of proceedings as His Majesty should 

 from time to time direct and appoint : And for want of such 

 directions, and until such directions should be made, by such 

 ways and means as by the J udges of the said Court should in 

 their best judgment and discretions think meet and just, 

 whether it should be by a summary way or otherwise, 

 according to the exigency of several cases that should be 

 brought in judgment before them : And all judgments, 

 determinations and decrees made in the said Courts were to 

 be put in writing, and signified to the persons that were 

 present at the making of the same, and should contain a short 

 state of the matter of fact as it appeared to them, and their 

 sentence and adjudication thereupon. 



A copy of this Charter was sent out to Madras by the 

 Court of Directors with their general letter dated 14th 

 August 1683, in which they appointed their President to 

 supply the place of Judge Advocate till one should arrive. 

 This, in the words of the Minutes of Consultation of the 

 10th July 1684, " occasioned the silencing our former Court 

 of Judicature, and has given great dissatisfaction, to the 

 creating many disturbances and complaints for justice, to 

 the discredit and disgust of our Government ; and though 



