HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal blazon or coat of arms  
¶ By the Examiner and Register to the Commissioners assigned and to be assigned for the execution of the Statutes against BANKRUPTS.  
THe Kings most Excellent Majesty, whose princely care and study is and always hath been to ease and relieve his loving Subjects in all their necessities, and to prevent all mischiefs and inconveniences which may befall unto them: being certified by the right honourable Francis Lord Verulam Lord Chancellor of England, the right honourable Sir Henry Montague Knight, Lord chief Justice of his majesties Bench, Sir Anthony Benn Recorder of the City of LONDON, and sergeant and others learned in the Laws:  
That in respect the Commissioners appointed for the execution of the Statutes against Bankrupts have power to sell the lands, goods, chattels, debts and estates of all such as shall become Bankrupt, and are not bound to make any return of their Commissions, nor of any of their doings, into any of his majesties Courts of Record, as all other Commissioners do, but all their proceed do remain in scattered papers, some with the Commissioners themselves, some with a Clerk of their own appointment, and some with the Creditors, in such sort as those which do buy the lands, goods, chattels, debts, and estates of such Bankrupts, being oftentimes called in question for them again by the Bankrupt or his friends, have no means to furnish themselves with the Copies of the arts and proceed of the Commissioners, whereby they should defend their titles and interests to the same, neither are the copies thereof, as they have been used and made, so authentic as may be given in evidence at trials, or pleaded.  
And that divers other his majesties loving Subjects, who are often grieved and prejudiced by the decrees and orders of the Commissioners, and yet cannot see them in respect no record nor memorial certain hath been kept of them.  
In regard whereof, it hath been by the said Lord Chancellor, Lord chief justice, and the rest, thought very necessary and fit that there should be an Officer made and appointed who shall be known by the name or title of Examiner and Register to the Commissioners for Bankrupts, and be sworn and enjoined faithfully to register all the proceed upon such Commissions, and keep them together in some convenient place or Office, where any of his majesties loving Subjects that shall have occasion may repair to search and take copies thereof.  
Upon which certificate made unto his Majesty as aforesaid, his Highness was most graciously pleased to give and grant his highness Letters Patent under the great Seal of England, bearing date the sixth day of May in the sixteenth year of his highness reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the one and fiftieth, the said Office of Examiner and Register to the Commissioners for Bankrupts, unto Edward Hawkins Gent. to be executed by himself, his sufficient Deputy or Deputies, and none other whatsoever after the date of his Highness said Letters Patent, to intermeddle with taking any examination, setting down, writing, drawing, or engrossing of any order or orders, decree or decrees, deed or deeds, of gift, assignment, bargain and sale, or any other of the proceed of, from, by, or before the Commissioners, as by his Highness said Letters Patent it doth and may more at large appear.  
Now these are therefore to give notice to all whom it may concern, that the said Office of Examiner and Register to the Commissioners for Bankrupts is kept by the said Edward Hawkins in ivy Lane, over against M. Osbornes Office, near S. Paul's Church in London.  
God save the King.