ER HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE royal blazon or coat of arms ELIZABETH by the grace of God queen of England, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To all and singular Archbishops, Bishops, Archdeacons, deans, and their Officials, Parsons, Vicars, Curates, and to all other spiritual persons whatsoever they be: And also to all Iustices of peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, bailiffs, Constables, Churchwardens, Headboroughes, and Officers of cities and towns corporate, and all other our officers, ministers, and faithful subiects whatsoever they be, as well within liberties as without, to whom these presents shall come, greeting. WHEREAS we are credibly given to understand, as well by the pitiful supplication and petition of our poor and true subiects, the poor inhabitants and townsmen of our towns of Pensance, Mousehole, and Newlin, in our county of Cornwall, as also by the testimonial of sir Frances Godolphyn knight, sir William Beuill knight, and Richard Carew of anthony esquire, deputy lieutenants in our said county of Cornwall, Reginald Mohun esquire, Charles Treuanion esquire, John Wrey esquire, Hannibal Viuian esquire, Thomas Seintawbin esquire, Thomas Chiuerton esquire, George Greinuile esquire, John Hender esquire, and Thomas Trenance esquire Iustices of peace there. THAT vpon the three and twentieth day of july last past, about six of the clock in the morning, being misty, cloudy, and dark weather, certain enemies to our realm landed in the western part of Mountesbay in our said county of Cornwall, and by a very sudden incursion spoiled and burnt the market town of Pensance aforesaid: the towns of Mousehole and Newlin aforesaid: together with the parish Church of Saint paul, and diuers dwelling houses within the said parish, unto the said towns nearest adjoining: And likewise rifeled, wasted, spoiled and burnt diuers fisherboates, & other goods of our said subiects, to the impoverishing & undoing of the greatest number of the said poor inhabitants, their wives and children, and the great loss and hindrance of the rest of the said inhabitants: and presently in all hast fled to the sea again: by reason whereof a great number of the said inhabitants that heretofore were very well able to maintain themselves, their said wives, children and families in good sort, and to be helpful to others that stood in need, are thereby at this present in such poor estate, that a great number of them can hardly recover their estates, or maintain themselves, and their poor wives and children, unless they be charitably holpen and relieved with the deuotions and benevolence of well disposed people in that behalf, know ye therefore, that we tendering the lamentable estates of the said poor inhabitants, and esteeming very necessary the re-edifying, building, and erecting of decayed towns and places near the sea side for the preservation of this our realm, and especially such towns as are very near borderers vpon the sea: Haue licensed, and by these presents do licence the inhabitants of the towns of Pensance, Mousehole and Newlin aforesaid, or any of them, their sufficient deputy or deputies bearers hereof, or the duplicat or true copy hereof, to ask, gather, receive, and take the charity and benevolence of our loving subiects inhabiting and dwelling within our counties of devon, Dorset, Somerset, South. glove. Wigorn. Oxon. Berk, Wiltsh. Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Salopp. mid. Essex, and Warw. with our city of London, the suburbs thereof, our cities of Gloucester, bristol, exeter, and Caunterburie, with all other our cities and towns corporate whatsoever, in any of the same several counties, and not else where, as well for the relief of the said poor distressed inhabitants, their wives and children, the re-edifying, building, and new making of the said parish Church and houses, as also for the better strengthening of that open and naked bay hereafter against the enemy, and so much the rather, for that we haue granted no other collection for the loss and spoil of the said towns, but onely this. Wherefore we will and command you and every of you, that at such time or times as the said inhabitants, their deputy or deputies shall come and repair to any your Churches, or other places, to ask and gather the benevolence and devotion of our loving subiects( as is aforesaid) quietly to permit and suffer them and every of them so to do, without any maner your lets, interruption, or contradiction. And you the said Parsons, Vicars and curates to declare the tenor of these our letters patents unto our said loving subiects, with our recommendation and request therein: exhorting them to extend their charities in this behalf. And for the more better and speedy collection of the charity and devotion as aforesaid: We will and command all and singular you the said Constables and Churchwardens of the parish Churches where collection shall be made, that ye immediately vpon the declaration hereof, do collect and gather of our said loving subiects, their charitable benevolence and deuotions accordingly. And to set down in writing, as well the name of every parishioner in every parish, as also the sum and sums of money by them so given in this behalf: which sums of money so gathered together, with the names of the glovers thereof, we will shall be truly accounted and delivered unto our well-beloved subiects the aforenamed sir Frances Godolphen knight, and sir William Beuill knight, Hannbaill Viuian esquire, and William Trefrie esquire, to be equally and proportionably distributed unto the said poor inhabitants according to their several losses, as in their discretions shall be thought meet. In witness whereof we haue caused these our letters to be made patents for the space of two whole yeeres next after the date hereof to endure. witness ourself at Kew, the second day of October, in the seven and thirtieth year of our reign. Gā—ā— save the queen. steward and steward.