WHEREAS wée are credibly giuen to vnderstand, by a Certificate vnder the handes of our right trusty and welbeloued Cousen Robert Earle of Warwicke, and William Lord Peter, William Towse Ser­geant at Law, Robert Millan Doctor of Diuinity, William Ayloffe, Robert Sandford, Thomas Fanshaw, and William Beriffe Esquiors, Iustices of the Peace within our County of Essex, That our poore distressed Subiect Henry Kent of Copford in our foresaid County Inholder, hath alwaies beene a man of honest life and conuersation very painefull and industrious to hue, and ready and willing vpon all occasions according to his ability to contri­bute to wards the reliefe of others necessities, but he is now fallen into great want and pouerty, by reason of a sodaine and lamentable Fire hapning on the Tenth day of May last past, which consumed and burnt a great Malting-house of his, being the principall meanes and onely stay of his liuing, with all the houses, vtensils and implements thereunto belonging, together also with a great quantity of Malte and Barley mounting in the whole losse to the value of Two hundred pounds and vpwards, To the vtter vndoing of our said poore Subiect who before this vntimely accident liued well and gaue reliefe vnto others, but hath little or small meanes now left to help himselfe being much behinde hand & indebted, whereby great misery is like to fall vpon him, his poore Wife and Children, vnlesse some charitable course be forthwith taken for their reliefe herein, whose poore estate wee haue thought good vpon the humble sute of our foresaid Lords and Iustices made vnto vs on their behalfes, to commend the same vnto the charitable consideration of all our louing and well disposed Subiects within certaine Counties hereafter mentioned, not doubting but that all good Christians well weighing the vncertainty of mans estate through these ineuitable accidents, will be ready and willing as feeling members one of anothers mise­ry to extend their liberall Contributions towards the reliefe and comfort of their distressed brother in this his great necessity, none knowing how soone nor whose chance may next happen into the like Calamity.

KNOWE yée therefore, that of Our especiall Grace and Princely compassion, Wée haue giuen and granted, and by these our Letters Patents doe giue and graunt, vnto our said poore Subiect Henry Kent, and to his Deputy and Deputies, the bearer or bea­rers hereof, full power, licence, and Authority, to aske, gather, receiue and take the Almes, and charitable beneuolence of all our louing Subiects whatsoeuer, Inhabiting within our Counties of Middlesex, Kent, Essex, Cambridge, Suffolke, and Norfolke, with our Cit­ties of Canterbuty, Rochester, and the Cinque Ports, with our Citty of Norwich, our Vniuersity of Cambridge & Isle of Ely, And in all Townes Corporate, Priuiledged places, Parishes▪ Villages, and in all other places whatsoeuer within our said Counties and not else where, for and towards the recouery of his said losses, and the reliefe and maintenance of himselfe his poore Wife and Children.

WHEREFORE Wée will and Command you and euery of you, that at such time and times as the said Henry Kent, or his Deputy or Deputies, the bearer or bearers hereof, shall come and repaire to any your Churches, Chappels, or other places, to äske, and receiue, the gratuities and charitable beneuolence of our said Subiects, quietly to permit, and suffer them so to doe, with­out any manner your lets, or contradictions. And you the said Parsons, Vicars, and Curates, for the better stirring vp of a Chari­table deuotion, deliberately to publish and declare the Tenor of these our Letters Patents, vnto our said Subiects, vpon some Sab­both day, when as the same shall be tendered vnto you, Exhorting and perswading them to extend their liberall contributions in so good and charitable a déede. And you the Churchwardens of euery Parish, where such Collection is to be made (as aforesaid) to Col­lect and gather the Almes and charitable beneuolence of all our louing Subiects, as well Strangers as others, and what shall bée by you so gathered to deliuer it to the bearer or bearers of these our Letters Patents and to no other person▪ when as thereunto you shall be required. And lastly, whereas wee are informed of the great abuse which is now crept in amongst these poore people, who sell their Licences vnto some other person, whereby mens charity goeth not the right way but vnto such as deserue it least: That from hence­forth our will and pleasure is, that if it may appeare vnto you or any of you, that the said Henry Kent haue contracted any bargaine, or made, or shall make sale of these our Letters Patents, whereby the benefit should passe from him to any other person, That thereupon these our Letters Patents shall be voyde and of none effect, And Statute, Law, Ordinance, or Prouision heretofore made to the con­trary, in any wise notwithstanding.

IN witnesse whereof, Wée haue caused these our Letters to be made Patents for the space of One whole yeare next offer the date hereof to endure.