Section XVII The Subscribers at a Court may make Bye Laws.

Notice of calling a Court.; Bye-Laws to be observed, and not to be repugnant to Law.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawfull for all the Members of the said Company who shall have subscribed Five hundred pounds or more to the said Joynt Stock and shall have paid in one fourth part of their respective Subscriptions and such other proportions of the same as shall be directed or appointed as aforesaid and all and every other person and persons who shall have the sum of Five hundred pounds in the said Joynt Stock and shall have taken the said Oath of Admission from time to time and att all times dureing the continuance of the said Joynt Stock to assemble themselves att a General Court (timely notice thereof being first given as aforesaid by the Governour or Deputy Governour or X1any Five of the said Co[m]mittees for the time being) And that they or the major part of them being so assembled whereof the Governour X2or the Deputy Governour for the time being to be one shall and may make ordain and constitute such and so many reasonable By-Laws Constitutions and Ordinancs as to them or the greater part of them then and there present shall seem necessary and convenient for the good Government of the said Company and of all Co[m]manders Mariners and all other Officers Servants and Persons by them employed in any of their Ships and Voyages and for the better preservation and improvement of the said Trade or Traffick and the same By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs so made to put in X3use accordingly and att their Will and Pleasure from time to time to change revoke and alter the same as occasion shall be or require Which said By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs so as aforesaid to be made shall be duely kept and observed under the pains and penalties therein limitted so always as the said By-Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinancs be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the X4Laws Statutes or Customs of this Kingdom or to any of the Regulations contained in this Act.