Upon supplication {28} by the ancient fishermen of Brighthelmston, unto the Right Honourable the Lords of the Council, for remedy and redress of certain disorders in their town, touching the annual payment of certain money called a _quarter of a share_, heretofore of ancient time usually paid out of every boat in every fishing voyage, to the churchwardens there, towards the maintenance of their church, and other public charges about the necessary defence of their town; and for a contribution by the rest of the parishioners, not being fishermen, toward the bearing of the said charges to be had and levied: and after commission by the means of the Lord _Buckhurst_, for the purposes aforesaid, obtained from the Lords of her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, unto the Right Honourable Earl of _Arundel_, the said Lord _Buckhurst_, Sir _Thomas Shirley_, Knight, and _Richard Shelley_, Esquire, or to any two of them directed, bearing date the 12th day of February, _in anno Domini_, 1579, it pleased the said Lord _Buckhurst_ and Sir _Thomas Shirley_, by authority thereof, to will and command certain of the said ancient fishermen to set down in writing their ancient customs and orders, concerning the true making, payment, and employing of the said _quarter share_, and the certainty thereof; which they, the said ancient fishermen, being assembled together, have done accordingly in manner and form here following. _The Ancient Custom used for_ TUCKNET FARE.—“_Imprimis_, there have used, time out of mind, between February and April yearly, certain small boats called _Tuckers_, to go to sea upon the coast for plaice, of the burden of three tons or thereabouts. Every of these boats have used eight or nine men, or thereabouts, and two nets. Every man hath used to take for his body in this voyage, a share. The boat, the nets and necessaries thereto belonging, hath used to take four shares: and besides, one other share hath been used to be made, whereof half is due to the Vicar, a quarter to the master, and the other quarter to the Churchwardens, for the use of the town: so that every boat in this voyage, having eight men, taking a share a man, maketh thirteen shares, viz., for eight men eight shares; for the boat, the nets, and necessaries, four shares; and for the Vicar, the town, and the master, one share; and if there be more or less men, then the shares are more or less in number, according to the number of the men proportionably.”