21st July, 1685. Joseph Masters elected Clerk. 17th September, 1685. Charles Hargrave elected “Deputy Clerk.” The business of the Company had of late years increased enormously in consequence of the examinations of and Certificates to Navy Surgeons, examinations held for superannuation of wounded or infirm soldiers and sailors, and other matters connected with the Navy office, all of which entailed vast labour on the Clerk. 28th November, 1688. Charles Hargrave elected Clerk vice Masters. 20th November, 1707. Charles Bernard elected Clerk vice Hargrave. Hargrave had kept the books in a slovenly manner, and appears to have been both a dishonest servant as well as an improvident man. 11th December, 1707. It was reported to the Court that Hargrave’s Estate was indebted to the Company £320 8_s._ 6_d._, moneys which he had received and not accounted for. 8th July, 1708. Mrs. Sarah Hargrave (his Widow) presented a petition for relief, stating that she was in poor circumstances, with six children unprovided for, whereupon the Court, notwithstanding her late husband’s delinquencies, very generously ordered her a gratuity of £12 10_s._ 0_d._ Charles Bernard was a relative of, and Executor to Charles Bernard, Serjeant-Surgeon to Queen Anne and Master in 1703. It is delightful to observe the methodical and careful manner in which Bernard began, and all through his life kept the books and accounts; he wrote a large and elegant hand, though somewhat encumbered with flourishes, and his signature is a characteristic one. [Illustration: Handwritten signature] 7th September, 1708. Hargrave’s son was in the Compter, and the Clerk was directed to see and talk with him about the Company’s papers in his custody, and if he would give them up the Clerk was to make him a present of three guineas. The Court frequently relieved Mrs. Hargrave, and in December, 1709, gave her £15. Among the official list of Clerk’s fees at this period were the following:-- For the use of the Hall for ffuneralls, Country ffeasts or weddings 1 0 0 ffor the ffunerall of every Liveryman, the best hood or 0 7 0 17th July, 1718. The Court as a particular reward to Charles Bernard their Clerk for abstracting and peruseing the Company’s title to the Estate in East Smithfield and for his care in passing the fine thereof whereby the Company saved a sume of money and for his extraordinary trouble in attending the Lords of the Admiralty and prosecuteing several persons for takeing the dead bodys from the place of Execuc͠on Did and do hereby give him the sum̄e of fourscore pounds who accepted the same as a most bountifull Instance of the kindness of this Court to him with a full resoluc͠on on his part to acquitt himself by all imaginable and constant returns of duty and gratitude.