The copy of the queens highnes commission.  
ELIZABETH by the grace of God, queen of england, france, and Ireland, defender of the faith. &c. To our trusty & well-beloved A.B.C.D. and to every of you, greeting.  
Whereas in the Parliament holden at Westminster, in the .xxxiii. year of the reign of our late dear Father of worthy memory king Henry the eight, one act or statute was then and there made, for the maintenance of artillery, and debarring of unlawful games. By the which good statute, amongst many other things, it was provided, that the Fathers, Gouernours, and Maisters of the youth of this our realm, should in diuers and sundry sorts train and bring up their youth in shooting in the long bow, and should haue for that purpose several bows and arrows, in number and quantity accordying to their ages and yeeres, vpon such pain and penalty as is expressed in the said statute, as by the same statute more at large it doth and may appear. And being given to understand, that for lack of due search whether every person and persons haue bow and arrows, according to the tenor of the said act, the commendable exercise & use of shooting, and the rest of the good devises and provisions contained in the said statute, is therefore in the most partes of this our realm utterly forgotten, and not accomplished. And to thentent that shooting may be used and exercised within this our realm as in times past, and unlawful games suppressed and put out of use, we haue thought it convenient for good considerations us specially moving, to nominate, assign, and appoint you to be our Commissioners, giving unto you and every of you, and to al other officers aucthorised by the said statute, full power and authority by virtue of these presentes, in our name, not only from time to time as often as need shal require, to make due and lawful search in every place within our county of S. aswell within liberties as without, aswell for such as use unlawful games, as also for such as keep houses or alleys for unlawful games: but also whether every person for himself, his servants, and other youth in his or their several houses, haue sufficient furniture and provision of bow and arrows, and haue and do use and occupy the same, according to the true meaning of the said statute.  
And to th'end the same may be the better vnderstanded and known, our pleasure and commandment is, that al such bows and arrows that every person ought to haue by the order of the said statute, ye shal cause the parties to bring to some convenient place or places, within the parish where such parties dwell, by the discretion of you our said Commissioners, or any of you, there to be viewed and seen by you our said Commissioners, or any of you. Vpon which search, view, and examination, yf you or any of you our said Commissioners, or any other our officer abovesaid, shal find any person or persons, either not furnished with bow and arrows, or not using the same, as by the said statute is limited and appoynted, or any person or persons using unlawful games, or keeping houses or alleys for unlawful games, contrary to the meaning of the said statute: that then our pleasure is, that you our said Commissioners, and every of you, by gentle admonition shal do your good endeavour to cause a reformation to be had therein, that the exercise of shooting may be used and continued by as many of our good subiectes of every estate, as can or may use the same. And yf you can not by gentle admonition and order, cause the offenders to reform themselves in the premises: then our pleasure is also that you, or any two of you, shal cause the names and dwelling places of such offenders to be noted and certified unto the lord chancellor, or lord keeper of the great seal of england for the time being, to thintent we may cause such order and direction to be taken and had therein, as by the laws and statutes of this our realm is provided in that behalf. Wherefore we will and command al and singular our officers, ministers, and subiectes of our said county, aswell within the liberties, as without, that they and every of them be aiding, helping, and assisting you our said Commissioners, and every of you, in the due execution of this our Commission, as they and every of them tender our pleasure, and will answer for the contrary at their perils. In witness whereof. &c.  
witness ourself. &c.  
God save the queen.   

❧ Imprinted at London in Powles churchyard, by richard jug, printer to the queens majesty.   

Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.