VI. LETTERS PATENT GRANTED BY HENRY VIII. AUTHORIZING THE FRATERNITY TO COLLECT ALMS. 1535.
Henricus Octavus, Dei gracia Anglie et ffrancie Rex, fidei defensor, Dominus Hibernie, et in
terra supremum caput Anglicane Ecclesie, Omnibus ad quos presentes litere pervenerint, salutem.
Inspeximus quoddam breve nostrum de privato Sigillo, dilecto et fideli consiliario nostro Thome
Audeley, milti, Cancellario nostro Anglie directum, et in filaciis (fn. 1) Cancellarie nostre residens, in
hec verba:
Henry the eight, by the grace of God kynge of Englonde and of ffraunce, defensor of the
faith, lorde, of Irelonde, and in yerth supreme hed of the Church of Englonde, To our trusty and
right welbiloued counceller sir Thomas Audeley, knyght, our Chauncellor of Englonde, greting.
And whereas we of late vpon greate and diuerse vrgent causes and considerac[i]ons vs moving, haue
willed and comaunded you by our high and speciall comaundement, that no letters patents of
protecc[i]on ffor Religious houses, Monasterys, Hospitalls, Chappells, Gildes and ffraternities, within
this our Realme, to collecte and gather any almones or other charitable deuoc[i]ons of our subiects
in eny Citie, towne, or borough, for the same, for the supporting and maynteynyng of the said
Monasterys, Hospitalls, Gilds and ffraternyties, shulde passe and be sealed vnder our greate Seale
without our speciall lycence and comaundement by vs gyuen vnto you for the sealyng and
graunting of the same, as by our said comaundement ye haue more perfecte knowledge: Know
ye that forasmuche as the ffraternitie of the blessed and holly Name of JJh[es]us kepte within the
Cathedrall Church of Seint Paule of London is of our fundac[i]on, and founded by our noble
progenitor kynge Henry the Sixth, and moreouer, that the said Gilde and ffraternitie hath no
priuileges graunted by the Busshop of Rome nor his predecessors, nor yet lands and possessions,
but only the charitable deuoc[i]on, helpe, and ayde of vs and our subiects for the mayntenaunce and
supportac[i]on of the said Gilde and ffraternitie: Wherefore we woll and comaunde you that ye
do seale and cause to be sealed vndre our grete seale, from yere to yere, at all tymes hereafter,
our letters patents of protecc[i]on for the Proctors and Collectors of the said ffraternitie to collecte
and gather the devocion and charitable almes of our Subiects in all Shires, Cities, Townes, and
Borowes, withyn this oure Realme and other places vndre our obeysaunce: any Statute, acte,
prouyc[i]on, ordynaunce, restraynt, or comaundement heretofore by vs to the contrary gyuen
notwithstonding. And this our present warraunt shalbe at all tymes a warraunt dormaunt for
your discharge in this behalff. Youen vndre our pryvie Seale at our Manour of Westminster,
the ix day of June the xxvijth yere of our Reigne.
Nos tenorem brevis predicti ad requisicionem Willielmi Turke et Rogeri Barker, Civium
Civitatis nostre London et Gardianorum ffraternitatis sive Gilde predicte, duximus exemplificandum per presentes. In cujus rei testimonium has literas nostras fieri fecimus patentes. Teste
Meipso apud Westmonasterium, xxiiij die Julii, Anno regni nostri vicesimo septimo.