CHARLES by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, etc. TO all to whom these Presents shall come, greeting.  
WHEREAS the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, now assembled in Parliament upon the sixth day of this instant month of August, entering into a due and Christian consideration of the Wants and Extremities, which many poor people inhabiting in or near the Cities and Suburbs of London, and Westminster do undergo by reason of the grievous visitation of the Plague, and the want of necessary relief; made an order, the tenor whereof followeth in these words, viz. In Parliament, Oxon. 6. of August, Anno primo Regis Caroli. The Lords having this day taken into their charitable consideration the lamentable distress of the poor people, Inhabiting in the Cities and Suburbs of London, and Westminster, and in the Out parishes adjoining, and in the Parish of Stepney, who in this time of the great contagion of the Plague now raging in those parts, are less subject to good orders, being left destiture of convenient relief, in respect that the rich and able Citizens, and other Inhabitants of all sorts, being departed thence for avoiding the infection, have not taken sufficient order, for relief of the poor people remaining behind, have thought fit, and do now order, advice, and direct, that over and beside all provision already made, there be this further added for their better relief, viz. That all persons taxed or taxable in the limits and places aforesaid, either for houses, lands, goods, or otherwise towards the relief of the poor, ●eing not to impoverished themselves by this visitation as they shall be forborn to be taxed, shall by the proper Officers be taxed to bear a double proportion of tax 〈◊〉 the least, during the times of this Visitation, and more if it shall be found requisite by the Magistrates, justices of Peace, or other Officers there abiding for the time: ●nd after notice given to any person so taxed, or left at his house, wheresoever he shall be remaining, he is hereby ordered to make due payment, weekly, or monthly ●s shall be required: And because it is conceived, they very many are remooved so fare from London, as that notice cannot be conveniently given with such speed as 〈◊〉 presently supply the necessity of the poor; Their Lordships do desire the Chamber, or Bridge-house of London, to lend and disburse a thousand pounds at the 〈◊〉 for this purpose. And it is ordered that they, or any charitable and able Inhabitants, laying out that sum, or any farther sums which shall be wanting, shall ●e … lie repaid whatsoever they shall disburse, out of the sum so taxed, so soon as they may be levied, and out of a general Collection which His Majesty at 〈◊〉 Lordships humble suit, hath to recommend throughout the whole Kingdom for the relief of the said Poor: Wherein their Lordships now assembled, will ●●●●selues set an example for encouragement of others. And to the intent, that the Moneys to be raised by way of taxation (as is first abovementioned) may be the 〈◊〉 truly and speedily levied, their Lordships during the time while they shall sit, will be pleased to take knowledge of all Complaints against such as shall refuse to 〈◊〉 the said Taxation, and punish them so exemplarily, as shall be a terror to others. And they do further order, that after the sitting shall end, the Lords of His ●●●esties Privy Council upon complaint to them, and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England upon complaint to him, shall do the like. And their Lordships ●●●ing been informed of the good and charitable course held by some Companies and others within the City, in forbearing the Companies and Hall-dinners, and tur●●●g them unto the relief of the poor, do highly commend those that have so done; and do with their example may be followed by the Lord Major, Sheriffs, and 〈◊〉 ●●e rest 〈◊〉 a thing much pleasing to God, and agreeable to the time. Exam. H. Elsing: Cler. Pa●liament. AND WHEREAS the said Lords have freely of them●●●●●s paid down presently every of them above the state of a Baron, forty shillings apiece, and every other of the state of a Baron, being Spiritual or Temporal Lords, twenty shillings into the hands of the right Reverend Father in God, George Lord Bishop of London, to be disposed of as the rest of the Moneys to be collected ●or the use abovementioned:  
KNOWYE therefore that We also above all other, most grieved at the pitiful and woeful estate of our said poor Subjects, and much commiserating the same, 〈◊〉 much rejoicing in the forwardness of our said Lords, towards the performance of so Christian and charitable an action, whose good example we earnestly desire 〈◊〉 all other our loving Subjects of quality would follow in this behalf, according to their degrees; Of our Princely Grace, do ratify and much approve their 〈◊〉 Order so set down: And in confirmation, and for the execution thereof, so grant, that according to the said Order, Collection may be made of the charitable de … on and liberality of all our loving Subjects, throughout our Realm of England, & Dominion of Wales, in all places whatsoever, towards the relief of our said poor ●●●●ects, to be executed in manner and form following. That is to say, We will, grant, appoint, and require, That. Arthur Duck Doctor of Law, Chancellor, and 〈◊〉 Christian Esquire, Principal Register to the said Bishop of London, or his, or their Deputy or Deputies, named and appointed by him or them, in writing under or their hands and seals, shall and may procure to be printed so many Briefs of these our Letters Patents, as may suffice for the accomplishing and performance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 good Work: And shall carry and show these our Letters Patents to the said Lord Bishop of London, and shall also leave with his Lordship so many of these … ed Briefs, as there are Churches or Chapels wherein divine Service is usually said, within his Diocese of London, And shall send to every other Archbishop 〈◊〉 Bishop, so many of the said Briefs, as may serve to be dispersed within their several Dioceses  
AND We also require the Lords Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and all and every Lord Bishop within this our Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, 〈◊〉 receive so many of the said Briefs, as may serve to be dispersed within their several Dioceses, the said Briefs to be sent by the Archbishops and Bishops to the Mi●●●ter and Curate of every Parish Church or ●●appell within their several Dioceses. And We also will and require every Minister and Curate of any Church or Chapel, to whom such printed Briefs shall be delivered, that without any long delay upon some Sunday or Holiday, when the Parishioners be fully assembled to 〈◊〉 divine Service, they publicly declare in their several Church or Chapel, unto the Congregation there assembled, the tenure of these Briefs, with an especial ●●●●tation to them, to yield their liberal and extraordinary contribution to so charitable a work. And we also will and require, you the Churchwardens and over … of the poor, to make diligent collection of the charitable devotion of the people in the sai Church or Chapel so assembled: And that after collection so made, 〈◊〉 do publicly declare in the Church, the whole sum of money so by them collected; and then procure the same sum to be set down upon the backside of 〈◊〉 Brief under their own hand, and the hand of the Minister of the said Church or Chapel: And then the said Churchwardens or Overseers, or one of them, af●●● the receipt of the said money collected, shall deliver the sum collected, with the said Brief, unto such Minister of the Deanery where the said collection shall be ●ade, as the Lord Bishop of the Diocese shall assign and appoint to receive the same: And the Bishop of every Diocese is hereby authorized, to name and appoint a ●inister in every Deanery to receive the said collections accordingly. And We also require the said Minister which shall be so appointed, to receive the said money ●●om the said Overseers, that he receive the same, with the aforesaid Brief: And that within ten days after the receipt thereof, he pay and deliver the same, with the ●●●efe whereby the same hath been collected, unto the Lord Bishop to the Diocese, where such collection is made. And we also require, the Archbishops and Bi●●ops of every Diocese respectively, that they require of the said Minister the said money, with the Brief whereby the same hath been collected, and deliver over 〈◊〉 the said collections, made within their several and respective Dioceses, with the aforesaid Briefs, to the said Bishop of London or his Deputies, all the said money 〈◊〉 be disposed of, by the said Lord Bishop of London, with the advice of any two or more Lords of Parliament, to the satisfaction of the money to be deposited, and … de out, according to the said order, and to the relief of the poor and distressed people in the said Cities of London and Westminster, and in the Parishes and places adjacent and near thereunto, in the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, where it is and shall be most needful: And therein We will the Out-parishes, as being most ●biect to poverty, infection, and necessity, be specially regarded: Any Statute, Law, Ordinance or Provision, heretofore made to the contrary, in any wise notwithstanding.  
IN WITNESS whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents for the space of one whole year, next after the date hereof to endure,  
WITNESS Ourself at Our City of Oxford, the eleventh day of August, in the first year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland. Steward. 
 God save the King.   

Printed at Oxford.