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.