Where as in and adioinyng to our Countie of Deuon, there is betwene the Hauen of Exmouthe in the saied Coun­tie of Deuon, and our Cobbe of Lime Regis in our Countie of Dorcet, one Baie verie daunge­rous in tyme of Winter and Tempestes: In and nere whiche place in tymes paste, hath been a good and safe Port and Hauen; called Culliton Hauen at Seaton, in our said Countie of Deuon: as maie well appeare bothe by auncient writynges, and other euidence: and also by sundrie An­chors and Shippe timber, daiely founde in the lande Meddowes, and Marshes there about, as we are enformed. Whiche Hauen at that tyme was of greate vse and commoditie, for the trade and traffique of Marchandize, for the benefite and relief of the Subiectes of this our Realme, for the profite of the Countrey adioynyng, for the maintenance of the Nauie, Fishermen, and Mariners, as well of our Proginitours, as of their Subiectes. And especially hath been a greate succour, and place of refuge, and safegard for shippes and men, arriuyng about the same coastes: and where by the decaie and stoppyng of the saied Hauen, and for lacke of suche a sure place of arriuall in so greate a space, and vpon so large and daungerous seas, greate number of Shippes, and bodies of Englishe Marchauntes, Passengers, Mariners, and other people, and also of sundrie straungers Marchauntes, and other beyng in amitie with vs, haue yerely been moste lamentably caste awaie and perished, and are like to bee caste awaie and perishe, if good remedie in that be­halfe be not prouided: All whiche matters together, with the greate importaunce, necessitie, and profite to this our Realme, that the Hauen there maie be repaired and restored, hath been certified vnto vs by the Iustices of Peace, and other Gentlemen, inhabityng within our said Countie of Deuon. And where our louyng and faithfull Subiectes, the good men and inhabitauntes of our toune of Culliton, in our saied Countie of Deuon, haue not onely made their moste humble suite to vs, that of our gracious goodnesse and clemencie, it would please vs to prouide some conuenient meane, that the saied Hauen maie be new made, and repaired: But also haue offered to employe their trauailes, di­ligences, and expences of their goodes, to the vttermost of their habilities, for the performance of the said good and charitable worke. And for that the finishyng thereof, farre surmounteth their power and substance, and the benefite is to growe thereby not to them selues alone, but to the whole bodie of our Realme and Subiectes, either tradyng the Seas, or hauyng commoditie and vse of thynges caried out, or brought in by waie of Marchandise, and specially to those whose persones of their frendes or goodes, maie by so good a Port be preserued: Thei haue moste humblie besought vs to commende the same good laudable deede, and the charitable furtheraunce thereof, to the beneuo­lence of all our Subiectes, trustyng that all good Christian and Englishe persones, will for common Charitie and loue to their Countrey, and the rather for our good commendation, the more liberally contribute, that the same maie be speedely and substancially doen and perfor­med. Wee therefore tenderyng the saied humble petitions, and of our due and royall care for the preseruation, defence, and aduauncement of this our Realme and Subiectes, esteemyng no one thyng more necessarie then the encrease of the Nauie, Fishermen, and Marchauntes, whiche without good Portes and Hauens, can not bee sustained: Of our speciall grace, certaine knowledge, and mere motion, haue giuen and graunted, and by these our Letters Patentes, doe giue and graunte full licence, permission and authoritie, to our welbeloued Subiec­tes Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, inhabitantes of the saied Toune of Culliton, and Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris Marchan­tes of London, and euery of them, and to all and euery other persone, that shalbe thereunto deputed and assigned by the saied Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris, or any of them, vnder their, or any of their hande writyng, to aske and receiue of all persones, as well Spirituall and Temporall, as also Englishe borne and straungers, in all places within this our Realme of England, and all other our Dominions, the charitablt giftes and contributions, that it shall please any persones to giue, to the newe makyng, repai­ryng, and mainteinyng of the saied Hauen, duryng the space of xij. yeres now nexte ensuyng, and of our saied grace, we doe by these our pre­sent letters Patentes, will, require, and straightly commaunde all our Archbishoppes, and Bishoppes, within this our Realme of England to whom these presentes, or the exemplification thereof, vnder our greate Seale shall bee shewed, that thei, and euery of them in his seuerall Prouince and Dioces, doe at, and vpon the request of the saied Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris, or one of them, not onely by their letters commende the claritable furtherance of the saied good woorke: but also the saied Bishop shall consti­tute and appoint suche, and so many trustie persones, as the saied Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris, or one of them shall name, and in suche limites, Diocesse, and iurisdictions, as to them, and the said Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris, or any of them shalbe thought best, duryng the said terme of xij. yeres now next ensuyng, to aske and gather the cōtributions, and giftes of all persones in euery seuerall Churche and Parishe, towardes the makyng and repairyng of the said Hauen.

And we will that the saied trustie persones, and euery of them so to be appointed, shall not onely aske and collecte, as is abouesaied: but also shall yerely, duryng the saied tearme, within xiiii. daies after euery of the seuerall feastes of the Annunciation of S. Marie the virgine, and of S. Michaell the Archangell, deliuer, or cause to be deliuered in our Citie of London, to the handes of the saied Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris Marchantes there, or to one of them, or to suche other persone or persones, as by suche Bishop or Archbishop shalbe ap­pointed, and to suche Collector so signified, with thassent of the said Ihon Clarke, Walter Rawlin, Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris or one of them, so muche money as thei, or any of them, shall then haue collected, in forme aforesaid together, with a true note and certificat of the seuerall names of suche contributers, and the seuerall summes that thei shall so contribute, and their dwellyng places, takyng and de­ductyng to the said Collectors, for the portage of the said summes, according to the vsuall allowance, vpon paunentes made to our vse. And we doe doe by these our present Letters Patentes, straightly charge and commaunde, and therewith also to appoint, and authorise the saied Thomas Weston, and Willyam Morris, and either of them, and all and euery other persone, to whose handes any of the saied Collectours shall paie any of the saied summes, in forme aforesaied, that suche summes so to them to be paied, thei doe with all conuenient speede paie, or cause to bee paied ouer to the handes of our right welbeloued Subiectes, sir Gawen Carewe knight, sir Ihon Moore knight, sir Robert Denis knight, sir Humfrey Gilbert knight, Bernarde Drake Esquire, and Ihon Clarke, and Walter Rawlin, inhabitantes of our saied Toune of Colliton, or to some one of them: whiche saied Gawen, Ihon, Robert, Humfrey, Barnard, Ihon, and Walter, or any fower of thē, whereof we will alwaie some of the knightes aforesaied to be twoo, wee shall by our letters appoint to ouersee, and directe the saied woor­kes, and paie the workmen about the said Hauen, and once euery halfe yere to aduertise vs, or our priuie Counsell what shall haue been doen in the premisses. And we further will and commaunde all Parsones, Vicars, Curates, Ecclesiasticall Ministers, and Churchwardens, that thei doe their beste indeuours, for the augmentation of the beneuolence, and contribution of charitable persones toward the saied worke, bothe by the declaryng of the entent of our pleasure herein expressed, with the considerations here mentioned that haue vs moued, the bene­fite that shall thereby growe to the commonweale, and the preseruation of our Subiectes, and by exhortyng their Parishioners and Audi­tors to be liberall in suche contribution, and also by aduisyng and puttyng in minde of wealthy persones in tyme of sicknesse, to further the said workes, by waie of their giftes & legacies, in their last willes and testamentes. And out pleasure is that the said Hauen beyng made and finished, that then the inhabitantes of the said toune of Colliton, shall haue the preferment & preheminence, to sue for the obtainyng of a cor­poration, for the maintenance of the said Hauen, before any other Toune within the said Countie of Deuon. In witnesse whereof, we haue caused these our Letters to be made Pattens.

Witnesse our self at Westminster the third daie of February, in the xvij. yere of our raigne.

God saue the Queene.