IAmes by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ire­land, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these presents shall come, Greeting. Whereas, Iohn Pinnell, Robert Trow, Robert Baxter, Edward Frier, George Batch, Salomon Law, Thomas Bee, Edward Pigget Richard Windar, Peter Edwards, Edward Heather, Iohn Harlow, Iohn Achley, Iohn Iames, Edward Strensham, Thomas Ghostlee, Thomas Radnor, Richard Lucke, William Pedel, William Eley, Iasper Coard, Iohn Hostler, and others, ma­kers of playing Cards within Our Realme of England, haue by their humble petition lately shewed, and complained, That these being naturall borne Subiects of Our Realme of England, trained and brought vp in the Art trade and skill of making of playing Cards within this Kingdome, and where­on their onely maintenance and meanes to liue dependeth, haue bene, and still are much decayed and impouerished in their said trade by the Importation, conueying and bringing of playing Cards into Our said Realme of England, from sundry the parts beyond the Seas▪ whereby not onely many of Our poore subiects of that, & other trades, do want those meanes where­by they were formerly set on worke, but other Our louing subiects also by the said Cards deceitfully made in the said parts be­yond the Seas, and Imported and sold in this Our Realme, are greatly deceiued to their no small hurt and damage: For re­formation whereof the said makers of playing Cards, for themselues and others, haue humbly petitioned Vs, to nominate and appoint some fit and discreet person, for to view, search, scale and allow, aswel of all such playing Cards, as shall be here­after made within Our Realme of England and Dominions thereof, as of all such playing Cards, as shall hereafter be conueyed, imported, or brought into Our said Realme and Dominions thereof, from any the parts beyond the Seas; volun­tarily offering, That if they the said Cardmakers or any of them, or any others by their meanes or procurement, shall at any time hereafter deceitfully make, or cause to be made any playing Cards, and the same shall sell or offer and put to sale, That then all such Cards should become wholy forfeited vnto Vs: whereby the said frauds and abuses now practized, might be ta­ken away, and the said Cardmakers of this Our Realme much relieued. And whereas the said Makers of playing Cards before named, haue made choice of Sir Richard Cognisby Knight, one of Our Gentlemen Vshers in Ordinarie, for the viewing, searching, scaling and allowing of all such playing Cards as shalbe hereafter made within, or be Imported into this Our Realme, or the Dominions thereof: and haue alreadie granted and assured vnto the said Sir Richard for the terme of one and Twentie yeeres, fiue Shillings vpon euery Grosse of playing Cards by them or any of them, to be hereafter made & vttered within this Our Realme or the Dominions thereof, in recompence of the paines, care and attendance of the said Sir Richard, or his Deputies, in and about the viewing, searching, sealing and allowing of the same playing Cards, to bee from time to time made and vttered within this Our Realme or the Dominions thereof. And the said Cardmakers of this Our Realme haue further humbly prayed, that for the better repressing of the Importation into this Our Realme of the said playing Cards deceitfully made in the parts beyond the Seas, We would be pleased to impose, lay, and cause to beleuied to Our owne vse the [...]ike summe of fiue Shillings, for and vpon euery Grosse of the said playing Cards to be so imported, brought in, and conueyed [...]nto this Our Realme or the Dominions thereof as aforesaid. And that the same playing Cards so to be Imported, might [...]irst be viewed, searched sealed and allowed by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, or his Deputies, before the same should be vttered, [...]old, or put to sale within Our said Realme, and the Dominions thereof. And whereas Wee much commiserating the de­ [...]ayed estates of Our said poore Subiects, referred the consideration of their Petition to Thomas Earle of Suffolke Our high Treasourer of England, Henry late Earle of Northampton deceased, and Edward Earle of Worcester Master of Our horse, then our Commissioners of and for Our Treasurie, who hauing duely considered of the contents of the said Petition, gaue like­ [...]ng and passage thereunto, So as the same might not preiudice the then Treatie with the French. And for their better satis­ [...]action in that behalfe, referred the same to the consideration of Sir Iulius Caesar knight, then Chancellour of Our Court of Ex­ [...]hequer, Sir Thomas Parry knight, Chancellour of Our Duchie of Lancaster, and Sir Daniel Dun knight one of Our Masters of Requests: who thereupon certified that there was nothing in the last Treatie with the French, which did or might impeach [...]he said suite of the said Cardmakers, and that thereby good profit might arise to Vs without damage to Our Subiects of [...]his Our Realme. And whereas Wee affecting the reliefe of Our said subiects the Cardmakers, and the better to represse [...]nd restraine the excessiue Importation of Playing-cards into this Our said Realme, from the parts beyond the Seas, by Our Letters giuen vnder Our Priuie Seale at Our Mannour of Greenwich, the foure and twentieth day of Iune last before [...]he date hereof, directed to Our right trustie and right welbeloued cousin and Councellour Thomas Earle of Suffolke, Lord [...]igh Treasurer of England, Haue ordained, appointed and commanded at the humble suite of the said Cardmakers, and [...]or other considerations Vs especially moouing, That there shalbe leuied, receiued and taken, to the vse of Vs, Our Heires [...]nd Successors by way of Imposition thereby newly set and imposed (ouer and besides the Customes, Subsidies, dueties and [...]ummes of Money then before due payable and answerable) the summe of fiue Shillings of lawfull English Money, for and [...] respect of euery Grosse of Playing-cards, which from and after the Twentieth day of Iuly then next comming, should [...]appen to be brought from any the parts beyond the Seas into Our Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, or Port or [Page] Towne of Berwicke, by any person or persons, Englishmen, denizens or strangers, to the end to be vttered, sold or put to sale, as by the same Our Letters more at large it doth and may appeare. NOVV KNOVV YE, That we minding the reformation of the aforenamed frauds and abuses, and to the intent that the said Cardmakers Our naturall borne Subiects may againe be more freely set on worke, and imployed in the trade and course of life, wherein they haue bene trained vp, and exercised. And for the better effecting of all the premisses, according to the humble Petition of the same Our poore Subiects in that behalfe, We doe by these presents for Vs, Our Heires and Successors ordaine, constitute, make and appoint one Office, of and for the viewing, searching, sealing and allowing of all, and all maner of Playing-cards whatsoeuer, aswell of such as shall from time to time be made by the aforenamed Cardmakers, or any other person or persons whatsoeuer, within this Our Realme of England, and Dominions thereof; as also of such Playing-cards as shall from time to time be made in any the parts beyond the Seas, and Imported, conueyed, or brought into this Our said Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, Port and towne of Berwicke, to be there vttered, sold or put to sale. And out of the good opinion and confidence We haue of the fidelitie, iudge­ment and industrie of the said Sir Richard Cognisby in this behalfe, and at the desire of Our said subiects the Cardmakers, We do create, make, constitute and appoint by these presents, for Vs, Our Heires and Successors, the said Sir Richard Cognisby to be the sole Officer of, and for the viewing, searching, sealing and allowing of all and all maner of Playing cards whatsoeuer, as­well of such as shall from time to time be made by the said Cardmakers, or any other person or persons whatsoeuer, within Our said Realme of England and Dominions thereof, as of such Playing cards as shall from time to time be made in any the parts beyond the Seas, and Imported conueyed or brought into this Our Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, Port or Towne of Berwicke, from and after the Twentieth day of Iuly next comming after the date hereof, to be vttered, sold or put to sale as aforesaid. And him the said Sir Richard Cognisby, Viewer, Searcher, Sealer and allower of all and all maner of Playing-cards, made and to be made within this Realme, and the Dominions thereof: or made and to bee made in any the parts beyond the Seas, and to be Imported within this Realme, after the time before limitted, Wee doe firmely make and ordeine by these presents, TO HAVE, HOLD, exercise and enioy the said Office of Viewing, Searching, Sea­ling and allowing of all and all maner Playing-cards as aforesaid, to the said Sir Richard Cognisby his Executors and As­signes, to be vsed, occupied and exercised by him or themselues, or by his or their sufficient Deputie or Deputies, from the date of these presents, for and during the terme, and vnto the full ende and expiration of one and Twentie yeeres, from thence next ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended: He the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors or Assignes, hauing, taking and perceiuing for the exercise of the same Office, the summes, formerly to him and them granted by Our foresaid Subiects the Cardmakers, at whose instance We haue granted vnto him the said Office as aforesaid. AND FVRTHER, know ye, That We, for and in full satisfaction of the summe of one Thousand and eight hundred pounds of lawfull money of Eng­land by Vs owing, and due vnto the said Sir Richard Cognisby: which said summe hee the said Richard doeth by these presents fully and freely renounce and relinquish: And for and in the consideration of the Surrender of certaine Letters Patents of speciall License heretofore to him granted by the late Queene ELIZABETH Our deare Sister, of, and for the sole Trans­portation of Tinne into the parts beyond the Seas, during the life of the said Sir Richard Cognisby: And for the true and faith­full seruice which the said Sir Richard hath for the space of many yeeres performed to Our late deare Sister, and sithence to our selfe. And in consideration of the Rent hereby reserued, and yeerely payable to Vs, Our Heires and Successors: Of our especiall Grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion, We haue giuen and granted, And by these presents for Vs, Our Heires and Successors, doe giue and grant vnto the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes the said Imposition, duetie or summe of fiue Shillings to be leuied, receiued and taken as aforesaid, for & in respect of euery Grosse of Playing-cards, which from and after the said Twentieth day of Iuly next comming after the date of these presents, shall happen to be brought from any the parts beyond the Seas into Our said Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, or Port or Towne of Berwicke, by any person or persons, Englishmen, Denizens or Strangers, to be vttered, sold, or put to sale within this Realme, and the Dominions thereof, as aforesaid. TO HAVE HOLD, aske, demaund, leuie, take, perceiue, receiue and enioy the said Imposition, duetie or summe of fiue Shillings, for, and vpon euery Grosse of Playing-cards so to be Imported, conueyed and brought into this Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, Port or Towne of Berwicke, or any of them as aforesaid, with all and singuler profits, commodities, aduantages, benefits and emoluments thereunto belonging, happening, renewing, incident or appertayning, in as large, ample and beneficiall maner and forme to all intents, constructi­ons and purposes, as Wee, Our Heires or Successors may, might, should or ought to haue, take, receiue and enioy the same, if this Our present Grant had not bene had nor made, for and during the the terme of one and Twentie yeeres from the date of these presents, next and immediatly ensuing, and fully to be complete and ended. YEELDING and paying yeerely to Vs, Our Heires and Successors, during the said terme by these presents granted, for and in respect of the Imposition and duetie aforesaid, the yeerely Rent or summe of Two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England, into the Receipt of Our Exche­quer at the Feasts of S. Michael the Archangel, and the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary, by euen and equall portions. And if it shall happen the said yeerely Rent or summe of Two hundred pounds, or any part or parcell thereof to be behinde and vnpayd, in part or in all, by the space of Threescore dayes next after either of the said Feast dayes, wherein the same ought to be payd, That then, and from thencefoorth, this Our present Grant or demise of the said Imposition and duetie before mentioned, and euery clause or thing concerning or touching the same only, shalbe vtterly voyd and of none effect. Any thing to the contrary thereof in these presents notwithstanding. AND Wee doe hereby expresse and signifie Our pleasure, and doe straightly charge and forbid all maner of person and persons whatsoeuer, That they nor any of them shall attempt or pre­sume by any wayes or meanes whatsoeuer, directly or indirectly to buy, bargaine for, acquire or get into their hands, or to sell, vtter, or put to sale, either in Grosse, or by retaile any maner of Playing-cards whatsoeuer, within this Our Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, Port and Towne of Berwicke, or any of them to be made within Our said Realme and Do­minions thereof, or otherwise from and after the said Twentieth day of Iune next comming, to bee imported into the same from any the parts beyond the Seas: Before the same Playing-cards be viewed, searched and allowed by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Seruants, Agents or Assignes, and sealed with a Seale or Stampe to be for that purpose made, appointed and kept by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Assignes or Agents, vnlesse the said Sir Richard, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes, shall wilfully refuse or neglect to Seale the same, vpon paine of Our high displeasure, and the losse and forfeiture of the same, to be seized and taken by the said Sir Richard, his Executors, Administrators, deputies and Assignes, in the name of Vs, Our Heires and Successors: The one moitie whereof to be to the vse of Vs, Our Heires and Successors, And the other moitie to the said Sir Richard Cog­nisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, without rendring therefore to Vs, Our Heires and Successors, any ac­compt, recompence or other thing for the same. And for the better execution of this Our present Grant, Wee will and grant [Page] to the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, That the said Sir Richard, his Executors, Admi­nistrators Deputies, Seruants and Assignes, shall haue conuenient place in the Custome house of London, and in all other Custome houses and places of Lading and Vnlading of wares elsewhere within Our Realme of England, or any the Do­minions of the same, there at his or their pleasure to be present and attendant, and to haue, receiue, collect, and enioy the saide Imposition of fiue Shillings, for and vpon euery Grosse of Playing-cards to be Imported and brought into this Our said Realme of England, or the Dominions thereof, from and after the said Twentieth day of Iuly next comming. And that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Seruants or As­signes, being accompanied with a Constable, or any other Our Officers for the time being, in lawfull maner from time to time during the terme by these presents granted: and at all times meet and conuenient to enter aswell into any House, Shop, Cel­ler, warehouse, roome or place: As also into any Ship, Vessell, Boate or Bottome, to view and search for all maner of Play­ing cards whatsoeuer, that shall from and after the date of these presents, be made or Imported into this Our said Realme, or the Dominions thereof: and there sold, vttered or put to sale in Grosse, or by Retaile by any person or persons whatsoeuer; before the same Playing-cards shalbe first viewed, searched, sealed and allowed by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes: and before the said Imposition of fiue Shillings for and vpon euery Grosse of the said Cards to be Imported, from and after the said Twentieth day of Iuly next comming, shall be payd or compoun­ded for, to or with the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes. And to take and seaze the same to the vse and intent aforesaid. AND FVRTHER, We doe straightly charge and command all and euery person and persons Merchants, Denizens or Strangers whatsoeuer, That they or any of them doe not attempt or presume to Vnship Discharge, Vnlade, or lay on land any of the said Playing-cards, to be Imported and brought into this Our said Realme of England, Dominion of Wales, Port or Towne of Berwicke, or any of them, from any the parts be­yond the Seas, from and after the Twentieth day of Iuly next comming, before such time as the said Imposition of fiue Shillings, for and vpon euery Grosse of the said Playing-cards so to be Imported as aforesaid, be duely answered, payd or compounded for. And the same Viewed, Searched, Sealed and allowed by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Ad­ministrators, Deputies, Seruants or Assignes, or some or one of them, vpon paine that euery person or persons, Merchants, Denizens or Strangers whatsoeuer that shall vnlade, or lay on land any of the said Playing-cards, during the terme here­by granted before the said Imposition be duely answered, payed or compounded for, to and with the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes: shall forfeit and loose the same so Vnshipped, vnladen, or layd on land, contrary to the intent and meaning of these presents. The one Moitie of all which forfeitures to be to Vs, Our Heires and Successors: And the other Moitie thereof to be to the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, without any accompt thereof to Vs, Our Heires or Successors, to be rendred or payd for the same. AND We doe further charge and command all and euery Customers, Comptrollers, Surueyors, Searchers, Waiters, and other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoeuer, of all and euery the Ports, Hauens, Creekes, members and passages within this Our Realme of England, or any the Dominions of the same, That they or any of them shall not permit, tollerate or suffer, di­rectly or indirectly, any Merchant English, Denizen or Stranger, or other persons whatsoeuer, to Discharge, Vnlade, or lay on Land any Playing-cards to be Imported, conueyed, or brought from any the parts beyond the Seas, into this Our said Realme of England, or any the Dominions of the same, before such time as the said Imposition of fiue Shillings for, and vpon euery Grosse of the same Cards be duely answered, paide or compounded for, to and with the said Sir Richard Cognis­by, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes, or some of them. And that the same be first by the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Agents or Assignes, likewise Viewed, Searched and allowed, ac­cording to Our intent, will and meaning herein before declared, as aforesaid. And that if any such Playing-cards bee dischar­ged, Vnladen or laide on Land, That after knowledge thereof, they shall foorthwith, and with all conuenient speed, giue notice thereof to the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Seruants or Assignes, to the end they may haue, and take the benefit of this Our grant, vpon paine of Our high displeasure, and of such forfeiture, paine and pu­nishment, as by the Lawes of Our Realme, can or may be inflicted vpon them, and euery of them in that behalfe. AND FVRTHER, Wee will and command by these presents, all Maiors, Iustices of Peace, Shiriffes, Bayliffes, Constables, and other Our Officers and Ministers to whom, and in that behalfe it shall appertaine, That they and euery of them bee aiding and assisting to the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Assignes and Agents, in the due execu­tion of these Our Letters Patents. And that they nor any of them doe any way hinder, molest, interrupt or let the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators, Deputies, Assignes or Agents, or any of them concerning the premisses, as they tender Our displeasure, and will auoyd Our indignation at their vttermost perils. And these Our Letters Patents or th'inrollment thereof, shall be their sufficient warrant and discharge in that behalfe. AND We are further pleased, and doe for Vs, Our Heires and Successours, of Our like especiall grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion, grant by these presents to the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, That these Our Letters Patents, shall be taken, construed and adiudged in all and euery of Our Courts of Iustice, or elsewhere, to bee most auaileable for the said Sir Richard Cognisby, his Executors, Administrators and Assignes, against Vs, Our Heires and Successors: Notwith­standing any incertainties or defects in the same, or any Statute, Prouision, Proclamation, or Restraint to the contrary.

In witnesse whereof, We haue caused these Our Letters to be made Patents.

Witnesse Our selfe at Westminster the one and Twentieth day of Iuly, in the Thirteenth yeere of Our Raigne of England, France and Ireland, and of Scot­land the eight and fortieth.

GOD SAVE THE KING.