WHereas diuers good Lawes and Statutes, most necessary for these times, haue, du­ring the happie Reigne of Queene ELIZABETH, and of Our late Father of blessed memorie, and since our comming to the Crowne of England, been with great wise­dome, peitie, and policie, made and enacted in Parliament, aswell for [Page 10]the charitable reliefe of aged and impotent poore people, not able by their labours to get their liuings and for the training vp of Youth in honest and profitable Trades and Mysteries, by putting them forth to be Apprentices, as also for the setting to worke of idle persons, who being of abilitie to worke, in some kinde or other, doe neuerthe­lesse, refuse to labour, and either wander vp and downe the Citie and Countrey begging, or which is worse, maintaine themselues by filching and stealing; And for the punish­ment of sundry Rogues and Vaga­bonds, and setting of them to worke: And for the suppressing of that o­dious [Page 11]and loathsome sinne of Drun­kennesse; And the repressing of idle­nesse, the roote of so many euils: The due execution of which, and the like lawes and Statutes, would preuent and cut off many offences and crimes of high nature.

ANd whereas we are infor­med that the defect of the exe­cution of the said good and politique Lawes and Constitutions in that behalfe made, proceedeth espicial­ly from the neglect of duetie in some of Our Iustices of the Peace and o­ther Officers, Magistrates, and Ministers of the Peace, within the seuerall Counties, Cities and townes [Page 12]Corporate of this our Realme of England, and Dominion of Wales, to whom the care and trust of seeing the said Lawes to be put in execution, is by the sayd Lawes principally cōmitted, which remissenesse & neglect of duty doth grow and arise from this, That by the most of the sayd Lawes, there are little or no Penalties or Forfcitures at all inflicted vpon the said Iustices of Peace, Magi­strates, Officers and Ministers for not performing their duties in that behalfe, or if any be, yet partly by reason of the smallnesse thereof, and partly by reason of their power and authoritie in their seuerall pla­ces, [Page 13]whereby they hold others vn­der them in awe, there are few or no Complaints or Informations made of the neglects and want of due execution of the Offices of the said Iustices and other Mini­sters; and although the care and di­ligence of our Iudges and Iustices of Assise be neuer so great, yet by rea­son of the shortnesse of their Assizes and Sessions in euery County, and multiplicitie of businesse, they nei­ther haue due information of the said neglects, nor in those times, can take such exact courses as were re­quisite for redresse of such generall abuses and inconueniences so high­ly importing the publique good of [Page 14]this Our Realme, by reason whereof the said Justices of Peace, Ma­gistrates, Officers and Ministers, are now of late in most parts of this Our Kingdome growne secure in their said negligence, and the said politique and necessarie Lawes and Statutes laid aside or little regar­ded as Lawes of small vse and con­sequence, whereas vpon the present making of the said Lawes, the same being then duely executed, as also at this day in some Counties and parts of this Our Kingdome, where some Iustices of Peace and other Magistrates doe duely and dili­gently execute the same, there eui­dently appeareth great reformati­on, [Page 15]benefit and safety to redound to the Commonwealth, And likewise when as there was care taken, and diligence vsed to haue the Lawes concerning charitable vses, wel exe­cuted, and all pious gifts to bee im­ployed according to the good intent of the Donors, these poore people were better relieued then now they are: All which We taking into Our Princely care, for the preseruation of the common Peace of this Realme, the performance of mens pious intentions in their gifts of Charitie, and the generall good and quiet of Our Subiects.

After long and mature delibe­ration, finding that there is no bet­ter [Page 16]wayes or meanes to haue the said Lawes and Statutes put in full execution, then by committing the trust and ouersight thereof to the speciall care and industrie of cer­taine persons of principall Place, Dignitie and Order neere vnto Our Person; who vpon their dili­gent inquirie how the said Lawes and Statutes are put in execution, may be able vpon all occasions from time to time to giue Ʋs particular information thereof, and by their approoued Wisedomes, experience and Iudgements, giue Directions and Instructions from time to time for the better execution of the said Statutes.

Know ye therefore that Wee out of that long experience and full as­surance Wee haue had of the great integritie, wisedome, fidelitie and industrie of you, and euery of you; Haue constituted, authorized and appointed you to bee Our Commis­sioners, and by these presents doe constitute, authorise and appoint, and strictly require you, or any foure or more of you Our Commissioners either by examination vpon Oath, or without Oath, or by all and euery such good and lawfull meanes as to you, or any foure or more of you, in your Wisedomes and Iudgements shal seeme conuenient and requisite from time to time from henceforth [Page 18]to make Inquirie, and thereby to in­forme your selues how all and euery the Lawes and Statutes now in force, which any way concerne the reliefe of impotent or poore people, the binding out of Apprentices, the setting to worke of poore children, and such other poore people, as be­ing able or willing to worke, haue no stocke or meanes to imploy them­selues; The compelling and forcing such lazie & idle persons to worke, as being of bodies able and strong, doe neuerthelesse refuse to la­bour; the maintenance, gouerne­ment, and well ordering of houses of Correction and other places for reliefe of poore indigent and [Page 19]impotent people, the Rating, Col­lecting, and imployment of all such Summes, as by the Statute of the three and fourtieth of ELIZA­BETH, are appointed for the re­liefe of Souldiers and Mariners, the punishment or setting on worke of Rogues and Ʋagabonds: And all Lawes and Statutes now in force for the repressing of Drun­kennesse and Idlenesse, the refor­ming of abuses committed in Innes and Alehouses, the abridging of the number of Alehouses, and the well ordering of such as be licensed, the keeping of Watches and Wards duely, and how other publique ser­uices for God, the King, and the [Page 20]Common-wealth, are put in practice and executed.

To which end and purpose, to you Our Commissioners, or any sixe or more of you, We giue full power and authoritie from time to time hereafter, to giue such Directions and Instructions, and by all other good and lawfull meanes to set downe, and giue such Orders and Directions, as that all and euery the said Lawes and other necessa­rie Statutes may bee duely and effe­ctually executed, and the Paines and Penalties thereof leuied and imployed, according to the purport and true meaning of the same Lawes.

And whereas no Nation of the world hath prouided more libe­rally, or ordeined better Lawes for due imployment of Lands, Goods, and Stockes of money, giuen to cha­ritable vses, then this Our King­dome of England hath done: Yet neuerthelesse the said Bounties and charitable Gifts haue not beene im­ployed according to the minde and intent of the Giuers, by reason of some Deuices, Fraudes, Breach of Trust, Aime at priuate Gaine, and partly by the negligence of those that haue beene trusted to performe the same.

Therefore Our Will and ex­presse Pleasure is, That those Sta­tutes [Page 22]of the thirty ninth and fourtie third of Elizabeth, and all other Lawes and Statutes concerning Hospitals, Almes-houses, Meisons de Dieu, and other pious Donati­ons, Collections, or publike Gifts for the benefit of the Poore, or publike Workes, be strictly inquired and put in execution. And all Deeds of Foundations, Charters, Wills, Deuices, Dispositions of Lands, Goods, Annuities, or Rents, giuen, appointed, or intended to any the Houses aforesaid, or to any cha­ritable vse or publike Worke, be di­ligently sought out and discouered, to the end there may bee an imploy­ment of all the Profits, according to [Page 23]the Will and Minde of the Do­nors or Founders.

And Wee doe further by these Presents, giue full power and au­thority vnto you, or any sixe or more of you, to call vnto you for your assistance in the Premisses, when you shall see it needfull, all, or any of Our Iustices of Assize, as often as you shall see cause, and to giue such Directions and Instructions by your Letters, or otherwise, as well to Our said Iustices of Assize, Oyer and Termyner, and Gaole deliuery, for their seuerall Circuits: As also to Our Iustices, Maiors, Bayliffes, and other head Offi­cers, within Cities and Boroughs, [Page 24]Clerkes of the Assise and Sessions, and other Officers and Ministers within Our seuerall Counties and Shires of this our Realme of Eng­land and Dominion of Wales, and the seuerall Diuisions of the same, as to you, or any sixe or more of you in your wisedomes shall seeme meete and requisite, and shall bee agreeable to the Lawes and Sta­tutes of this Our Realme, for the better execution of the Lawes and Statutes in the time to come. All which Directions, Instructions, and Orders, at any time or times heere­after so to be made or taken by you, or any sixe or more of you, by force of these presents; Wee Will and [Page 25]straitly Charge and Commaund by these presents, to bee sincerely and duely from time to time, obeyed, ob­serued, and kept, by all and euery Officer and Officers, Iustice and Iustices, Person and Persons, to whom it shall appertaine.

And We do hereby further will & require you, that you or any foure or more of you, doe from time to time giue vnto Vs particular and true in­formation of the care and industry of Our Justices of Peace in their seuerall Diuisions, Maiors, Bayliffes, and head Officers, in their seuerall Cities, and Townes Corporate, as vpon the sayd inqui­rie you shall finde to bee diligent in [Page 26]putting the said Lawes, Statutes, Orders and Directions in executi­on, That so by their seruice and your report, they appearing to de­serue well of their King and Coun­trey, may receiue not onely good ac­ceptance at Our hands, but all due incouragement and comfort to con­tinue in their well doings; And if contrariwise you shall finde any of Our said Iustices of Peace, or other the persons before named to be neg­ligent and remisse in their seuerall places and duties touching the per­formance and execution of the said Lawes and Statutes committed to their Charge, or the Orders and Directions giuen by you, or any [Page 27]sixe of you for the better execution of the said Statutes: Then Our pleasure is, that you doe likewise cer­tifie the names of such as you shall finde so remisse and negligent, that accordingly order may be taken for their remouing and displacing out of the Commission of the Peace, as men vnworthy of their said Trust and Places; As also deseruing to receiue such further Punishment in Our Court of Starchamber, or otherwise as may be by Law inflict­ed vpon them.

And further wee doe by these Presents giue vnto you, or any sixe or more of you, full power and au­thoritie to doe and execute all and [Page 28]euery other lawfull and necessarie Act and Acts, thing and things for the better and more due Execution of the Premisses or any of them, as you or any sixe, or more of you, shall in your Wisedomes and Iudge­ments thinke to bee fit and conue­nient.

And because you that are at­tendants vpon Our Person, or o­therwise imployed in Our Seruices cannot at all times bee in Person in the seuerall Shires of this Our Kingdome, to execute this Our Commission in such sort as wee haue appoynted it: And for that it will be very fit and requisite for you to haue persons of Trust vnder you, [Page 29]who may faithfully assist you in the execution of this Our Com­mission.

Wee doe therefore giue vnto you for your better Aide and Assistance, and the better performance of this Our Seruice, full power and autho­ritie from time to time, to Assigne, Appoint and Constitute by your wri­ting vnder your Hands and Seales or the Hands and Seales of any sixe, or more of you, such suffici­ent meete persons as you, or any sixe of you, in your discretions shall from time to time thinke fit and ap­point to bee your Deputies in euery or any Countie, Citie, Borough or towne Corporate of this Our King­dome [Page 30]of England, or Dominion of Wales.

And Wee doe giue vnto such persons, so to be by you deputed, as­signed, and appointed, as aforesaid, or to any two, three, or more of them full power and authority to doe and execute in our said Counties, Cities, Boroughs, and Townes Corpo­rate, as well within Liberties as without; All and euery thing and things, which by vertue of this Our Commission, is to you our principall Commissioners intrusted and com­mitted, or which you, or any of you Our Commissioners, if you were personally present, might or ought to doe; They your said Deputies [Page 31]pursuing such Directions and Jn­structions from time to time as you or any sixe of you shall giue vnto them in writing; And the better to enable them so to doe, you shall de­liuer to such deputies as you shall make in euery Countie, Citie, or Towne corporate as aforesaid, a duplicate, or true transcript of this Our Commission, subscribed with your hands, or vnder the hands of sixe of you at the least.

And Wee doe further by the te­nour of these presents, will and com­mand, and doe giue full power and authoritie to Our Lord Chancelour, or Lord Keeper of Our great Seale for the time being, to cause seuerall [Page 32]Commissions to be made foorth, vn­der Our great Seale of England, to such persons of trust and quality, as any sixe, or more of you shall from time to time nominate vnto him, and shall so signifie vnto him by writing vnder your hands to the same tenour and effect, in euery materiall thing, as in these Our Letters Patents is expressed, with a clause to bee inser­ted in euery such Commission and Commissions, commanding such persons so to be nominated, that they certifie all their proceedings there­vpon to you Our foresaid Commissi­oners, or to any sixe of you, at such times and places, as you, or any sixe of you shall appoint.

Jn witnesse whereof, Wee haue cau­sed these Our Letters to bee made Patents: Witnesse Our selfe at Westminster the fift day of Ianuary, in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne.