WHEREAS wee are credibly giuen to vnderstand, aswell by the humble supplication and petition of our poore distressed Subiect Anne Challons, the distressed Widow of Captaine Henry Challons late of Stone­house in the County of Deuon, as also by a Certificate vnder the handes of our trusty and welbeloued Sub­iects Sir Charles Cornwallis Knight, one of our Iustices of Peace within our County of Norfolke, Sir Allen Apsley Knight, Lieutenant of our Tower of London, Sir Ferdinando Gorge Knight, Gouernour of our Fort at Plymouth, and one of our Iustices of Peace within our County of Deuon, Captaine Iohn Barley of Cauerton in our County of Buck­ingham, and Captaine Iohn Smith of our Citty of London, That our foresaid Subiect Captaine Henry Challons, was in his life time a Gentleman of worth and reputation and very seruiceable for his Prince and Country, who was one of the first sent out by vertue of our geacious Letters Patents for to settle a Plantation in the North partes of America, in whose passage thither in a Ship called the Harry of Stonehouse, whereof he was owner, and wherein all our foresaid Iustices and louing Subiects were aduentures 07 for that voyage, it so fortuned that the said Ship was by the Spanish Fléete comming out of the West Indyes taken, who not onely confiscated both Ship and goods but also detained him and his Company prisoners at which time our foresaid trusty and welbeloued Subiects Sir Charles Cornwaillis was then our Ambassador in Spaine, by reason of which vntimely accident together also with other losses sustained in Ireland, our said poore Subiect lost to the value of Three Thousand poundes and vpwards to his vtter ruyne and ouerthrow, who grew so greatly oppressed both outwardly in body and inwardly in minde as disparing of reliefe, he dyed in Prison, leauing behinde him a distressed Wife and many poore Children without any meanes to sustaine them, whose wofull and vnhappy estate we much pitty and haue thought good according to our accustomed clemency towards the distressed, to commend the same vnto the charitable consideration of all our louing and weldisposed Subiects within certaine Counties hereafter mentioned, not doubting but that all good Christians well weighing the premi­ses, will be ready and willing as féeling members one of anothers miseries, to extend their liberall contributions towards the reliefe and comfort of a poore vnfortunate Widdow and her Foure fatherles Children.

KNOW 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 Anne Challons, and to her 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, Essex, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Suffolke, and Northampton, with our Cit­ty of Westminster and the Liberties thereof, and in our Citties of Canterbury, Rochester, and the Cinque Portes, with our Citties of Chichester, and Peterborough, with our Borough of Southwarke, And in all other Citties, Townes Corporate, Priuiledged places, Pa­rishes, Villages, and in all other places whatsoeuer within our said Counties and not else where, for and towards the reliefe and main­tenance of our said poore Subiect and her Fatherles children.

WHEREFORE wée will and Commaund you and euery of you, that at such time and times, as the said Anne Challons, or her Deputy or Deputies, the bearer or bearer hereof, shall come and repaire to any your Churches, Chappels, or other places, to aske 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 Curats, for the better stirring vp of a charitable deuotion, deliberately to publish and declare the Tenor of these our Letters Patents, or the Coppy or Briefe thereof, vnto our said Subiects vpon some Sa­baoth 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 déed. 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, aswell Strangers as others, and what shall be 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 shalbe required. And last­ly, whereas we are informed of the great abuse which is now crept in amongst these poore people, who sell their Lycences vnto some other person, whereby mens charity goeth not the right way, but vnto such as deserue it least: That from hence forth our will and pleasure is, that if it may appeare vnto you or any of you, that the said Anne Challons, hath contracted any bargaine, or made or shall make sale of these our Letters Patents, whereby the benefit should passe from her to any other person, That thereupon these our Letters Patents shall be voide and of none effect. Any Statute, Law, Ordinance, or Prouision, herefore 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 after the date hereof to endure.