Whereas We are credibly giuen to vnderstand aswell by the humble Supplication and Petition of one Religious Philotheos a Gre­cian, and Procurator generall of the Couent of the holy Crosse of Golgotha in Ierusalem, situate in the very same place where our Sa­uiour dyed vpon the Crosse for our Redemption, as also by other sufficient testimonie. That in the foresaid most sacred and holy Place, that euer renowned and famous Saint HELEN, out of her extraordinary zeale and deuotion vnto our blessed Sauiour, built a most rich and sumptuous Monasterie and Temple, the which (not without great iniurie and dishonour to Christian Religion) the Turkes would haue made a Mesquit of Mahomet, for which cause the Religious of the foresaid Monasterie were forced to promise the pay­ment of three thousand crownes yeerely to the great Turke, that onely they might haue libertie to celebrate diuine Seruice in that sacred place, where the precious bloud of Christ was shed, the Turkes hauing depriued them of the Rents thereunto appertayning, and which heretofore they did possesse, wherfore being perswaded that al Christian Kings and Princes which beleeue that CHRIST IESVS dyed in the aforesaid place, to be bound in charitie to succour with their gifts and almes the foresaid Religious men there re­siding, especially in regard they are ingaged to pay sixe thousand crownes to free from death thirteene of the said Religious men, which were condemned to death vniustly, and in the defence of the holy Faith of IESVS CHRIST, by those barbarous Infidels, as is manifest by euident testimonie, who not hauing wherewith to pay downe the said sixe thousand crownes, were constrayned to vndertake the payment of fifteene in the hundred yeerely for interest, vntill the principall money bee paid, to which end the King of Spaine hath already sent his Royall almes, Therefore the said Religious Philotheos hath most humbly besought Vs, that of Our Prince­ly fauour, and bounty in a matter of so great a consequence, We would be pleased for the better maintenance of the said Temple, and preseruing the same from the brabarous Infidels, and for the redemption of the said thirteene Religious men, to afford them such re­liefe as to others hath beene granted by way of a Collection of the charitie of well disposed persons aswell within Our Citie of Lon­don as in certayne Counties in this Our Realme, vnto whose request (Wee being moued with a Princely and pious commiseration to­wards the poore Christians in that place residing, and for the preseruation of those ancient monuments which yet remayne in the place of our Redemption, from the hands of Infidels, haue thought fit to condescend vnto as a matter well beseeming Vs, being determined to contribute Our Princely almes to the same end and purpose Our selfe: Not doubting but that all good Christians vpon the due con­sideration of the premisses, will be ready and willing, and the rather for Our commendation hereof, and Our owne example herein, to extend their liberall contributions towards the furtherance of so good a worke.

Know yee therefore, That of Our especiall Grace and Princely compassion, Wee haue giuen and granted, and by these Our Let­ters Patents doe giue and grant vnto the said Religious Philotheos, on the behalfe of the foresaid Couent and to his Deputie and De­puties the Bearer or Bearers hereof, full power, licence and authoritic, to aske, gather, receiue and take the almes and charitable beneuolence of all Our louing Subiects whatsoeuer, inhabiting within our Counties of Wilts, Lecester and Buckingham, with our Cities of Salisburic, and in all other Cities, Townes Corporate, Priuiledged places, Parishes, Villages and in all other places whatsoeuer, within our said Counties and not elsewhere, for and towards the payments aboue mentioned, and the reliefe and mai­tenance of the foresaid place, and the poore Christians therein residing.

Wherefore, Wee will and command you and euery of you, that at such time and times as the said Religious Philotheos or his De­putie or Deputies, the Bearer or Bearers hereof, shall come and repaire vnto any your Churches, Chappels, or other places, to aske and receiue 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 deliberately to publish and declare the Tenor of these Our Letters Patents, vnto Our said Subiects in your Parish Church, in your Pulpits vpon the next Sabbath day after your receipt thereof, and that no other Collection bee made on the same day for any o­ther person, exhorting and perswading them to extend their liberall contributions in so pious and Religious a worke. And you the Church-wardens of euery Parish where such Collections are to be made as aforesaid, carefully to collect and gather from Seate to Seate, the almes and charitable beneuolence of all Our louing Subiects aswel Strangers as others, and such as are absent from Church to repaire to their houses for their beneuolence. And what shall be by you so gathered to be by the Minister and your selues, first set downe in words at length and not in Figures in a white paper booke, which shall be tendered vnto you by the said Religious Phi­lotheos or his Deputie or Deputies, the Bearer or Bearers hereof, being subscribed with the hand of the said Reuerend Father in God the Lord Bishop of London, and afterwards to endorse the same vpon the back-side of these Our Letters Patents, or the Copie or Briefe thereof, and the summe and summes of money so gathered and endorsed, to deliuer to the said Religious Philotheos or his De­putie or Deputies, the Bearer or Bearers of these our Letters Pattents, and to no other Person when as thereunto you shall be requi­red: Any Statute, Law, Ordinance, or Prouision heretofore made to the contrarie in any wise notwithstanding.

In witnesse whereof Wee haue caused these Our Letters to bee made Patents for the space of one whole yeare next after the date hereof to endure.