C R  HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  English royal blazon, surrounded by a garter and surmounted by a crown  
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, we by our Commission under our great Seals of England, bearing date with these presents, have given power and authority unto our Commissioners therein named or mentioned, or any two or more of them (amongst other things) to grant Licence and Licences to such fit person and persons as shall have occasion to travel beyond the Seas, and which shall be desirous to go forth of this Kingdom, at our Port of our City of Br●stoll, or at any other Port, Haven or Creek, between our said City of Bristol and Bewmawrice, or at the Port of Bewmaurice, or at any other Port, Haven, or Creek between Bewmawrice and our City of Chester, or at the Port of Chester, or at any other Port, Haven, or Creek between our City of Chester and Leuerpool●, or at our Port of Leverpoole, or at any other Port, Haven, or Creek between Leverpoole and Workington, and before their going forth to examine them of their names and surnames, and the place of their birth and abode, their state, degree, vocation, trade, mystery, or occupation, and the true cause or causes of their going over, together with the place or places whither they intent or are to go▪ and the time that they intent, or are like to stay, and tarry before their return, and all other questions that in the discretions of our said Commissioners, according to the occasions they should think fit of. All which persons and their answers in the points aforesaid, or what else in the discretions of our said Commissioners, should be thought fit to be demanded of them and of the time of their passage, Our will was, that our Commissioners should cause an orderly and perfect entry to be made into a book by such Clerk or Clerks as we had nominated or appointed, or should nominate and appoint thereunto, under our Great Seals of ●●gland, or his or their deputy or deputies, which book might be extant upon all occasions, as by our said Commission, amongst diverse other things therein contained more at large it doth and may appear. Now know ye that we to the end this our pleasure may be the better executed, we do hereby authorise and of Our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have willed, ordained, constituted and granted, and by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors, do, will, ord●●●, constitute, and grant, that for ever hereafter there shall be one certain Office to be called and termed as hereafter in these presents is in that behalf mentioned and expressed. And we do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors erect create and make an Office to be and be called the Office of Clerk of us our Heirs and Successors, for writing and entering of Licences and passes to be granted by any Commissioners to any persons going out of this Realm, from the Port of B●●●●●●l, B●wm●●r●c●, Chester and Leverpoole. And that for ever hereafter there be and shall be one or more officer or officers by us our Heirs and Successors from time to time nominated, constituted, and appointed, which shall be and shall be called the Clerk or Clerks of us our Heirs and Successors, for writing and entering of Licences and passes to be granted by any Commissioners to any persons going out of this Realm from the Ports of Bristol, Bewmawrice, Che●ter and Leverpoole. And our further will and pleasure is and we do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors ordain and appoint that the said officer and officers do from time to time by us our Heirs and Successors, to be named and appointed (and none other person and persons whatsoever) by himself or themselves, or his or their sufficient Deputy or Deputies shall have the writing, Registering, and entering into several books firmly bound and made up of the names and surnames, place of birth and abode, state, degree, vocation trade, mystery and occupation of all and every persons or persons which by virtue of our Commission aforesaid, or any other Commission or Commissions hereafter to be made or granted to the same or like purpose, shall be licenced or permitted to pass out of this Realm at the aforesaid Port of Bristol, or at any other Port, Haven or Creek between B●istoll and Bewmawrice, or at the Port of Bewmawrice, or at any other Port, Haven or Creek between Bewmawrice and Chester, or at the Port of Chester, or at any other Port, Haven or Creek, between our Cities of Chester and Leverpoole, or at the Port of Leverpoole, or at any other Port, Haven or Creek between Leverpoole and Workington aforesaid, and the causes of their going over, together with the place or places whither they intent to go, and the time that they intent and are like to stay and tarry before their return; and other their answers in the premises, together with the passes themselves. And because it is requisite that the said Officer or Officers, their Deputy and Deputies should have some convenient recompense for their labour, care and pains to be bestowed and taken in the execution of the said Office, wherein our Princely care so fare extendeth itself, as that we will not any of our Subjects be unduely exacted upon. We do therefore hereby for us, our Heirs and Successors, ordain, constitute and grant that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Officer and Officers, and his and their Deputy and Deputies, to demand take and receive for the execution of the said Office, and for his and their pains and labour to be taken in the premises of every person, who shall p●sse beyond the Seas, as aforesaid, the fee, reward or some of six pence; and hath heretofore usually been taken for the like, and not in any sort to exceed the same. Know ye also further that we for the better execution of this our will and pleasure, reposing trust and confidence in the fidelity, diligence, understanding and discretion of our well-beloved Subjects Patrick Craford and Matthew Birkenhead, Gentlemen: Of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, have given and granted, and by these presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant unto the said Patrick Craford, and Matthew Bi●kenhead, the said Office of Clerks of us our Heirs and Successors, for writing and entering of Licences and Passes to be granted by any Commissioners to any persons going out of this Realm from the Por● of B●●stoll, Bewmaw●●ce, Chester and Leverpoole. And them the said Patrick Craford and Matthew Birkenhead, the first and present Clerk and Clerks of us our Heirs and Successors for writing and entering of Licences and passes to be granted by any Commissioners to any persons going out of this Realm from the Ports of B●●st●●l, Bewmaw●●ce, Chester, Leverpoole and Workington, to do and execute all things in manner aforesaid to the said Office belonging or appertaning, or herein mentioned to be thereunto belonging or appertaining, or by the Officer or Officers afore said to be done and performed, we do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors, nominate, make▪ ordain, create, constitute, and appoint by these presents. To have, hold and enjoy the said Office with the appurtenances to the said Patrick Craford, and M●thew Birkenhead, and to execute and exercise the same aswell by himself or themselves, or his or their sufficient Deputy or Deputies, during the natural lives and the natural life of the longer liver of them, together with the foresaid fees, rewards, and sums of money, in as large and ample manner as we can or may give, grant or dispose of the same. Requiring, charging, and commanding by these presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, that no person or persons whatsoever, other than the said Patrick Craford, and Matthew Birkenhead, and other than the Officer and Officers by us, our Heirs and Successors to be nominated, constituted, and appointed according to the tru● meaning of these presents, and his and their Deputy and Deputies do intermeddle or deal in the said Office, or do, or execute any thing or things thereunto belonging, or herein or hereby mentioned or intended by the Officer or Officers aforesaid to be done, executed or performed upon pain of the indignation and displeasure of us our Heirs and Successors, and upon such further pains and penalties as by the Laws and Statutes of this our Realm, may be inflicted upon them for their disobedience and contempt in that behalf.  
Nevertheless, to the intent that We, our Heirs and Successors may be from time to time satisfied of all proceedings to be had in the premises. Our further will and pleasure is, and we do hereby for us, our Heirs and Successors, require and command that as well the said Patrick Craford and Matthew Birkenhead, as all others who shall succeed them in the said Office, their Deputy or Deputies shall yearly once in every year return and certify in one or more book or books, under their hand or hands writing, all things by them or any of them to be entered or Registered by virtue of this our grant into the Office of the Remembrancer of the Exchequer of us, our Heirs and Successors there to be extant upon all occasions. And lastly, We do hereby for us, our Heirs and Successors, straightly charge and command all and singular justices of peace, Mayors, Sheriffs, Bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughes, and all other the Officers, Ministers and Subjects of us, our Heirs and Successors whatsoever, to whom it shall or may appertain, to be aiding, helping, and assisting unto the said Patrick Craford, and Matthew Birkenhead, and all others which shall succeed them in the said Office, their Deputy and Deputies and every of them in the execution of the said Office, and of our will and pleasure herein expressed in all things, according to the true meaning of these presents, as they tender the pleasure of us our Heirs and Successors, and will avoid the contrary at their perils. Although express mention of the certainty of the premises, or of any of them, or of any other gifts or grants by us or any our Progenitors or Predecessors to the said Patrick Craford, and Matthew Birkenhead, heretofore made in these presents, is not made, or any Statute, Act, Ordinance, provision Proclamation or restraint to the contrary thereof heretofore had, made, ordained or provided, or any other thing cause or matter whatsoever in any wise notwithstanding.  
In witness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be Patents.  
Witness Ourselves at Canbury, the five and twentieth day of May, in the sixth years of our Reign. Per bre. de privato Sigillo. Wolse●ey. 
 God save the King.