At a Common council there held the two and twentieth day of August, 1656, 
City of Glouc. ss.  in the time of Dennis Wise, Esq Mayor there.  
FOrasmuch as his highness, the Lord Protector, and his council, the first of July last, have been pleased to order that the late cathedral, or college Church in this City of Gloucester, and the Utensils thereof, with the cloisters, and other things mentioned in the said Order, Be thenceforth enjoyed by the Mayor and Burgesses of this City, and their successors, for the preaching and hearing of God's Word, and other public Uses, in the said Order expressed. And forasmuch as the said Church is now very ruinous, and in great decay, for want of needful and necessary reparations, and great part thereof ready to fall down, unless the same be timely prevented; the charge of which said reparations is too great to be borne by the Chamber of this City, being already much indebted, by reason of their former charges and engagements for the public. And in regard divers Gentlemen, and others, have expressed their willingness to contribute to so good a work, It is thereupon thought fit and ordered by the said Mayor and Burgesses of the said City, that the ruins and decayés aforesaid, especially such as are most needful, be speedily repaired and amended; And that for the better effecting thereof, the benevolence of such Gentlemen, and others, as are minded to be Benefactors to so good a work, be prayed and desired; And to that end it is now further ordered, That Laurence Singleton, one of the Aldermen of the said City, Toby Jordan, Thomas Pierce of the same, Gentlemen, George Guinnet the elder, of Shurdington in the County of the said City Gentleman, John Brewster of the City of London Gentleman, John Singleton, James Commelin, John Tomes, Godfrey Ellis, William angel, Walter Harris, John Donne, and Thomas Burroughes of the same City, Gentlemen, and Master Matthew Haviland, Master John Wells, Master John Langley, Master Thomas Tyther, and Master Robert guide of the City of London, and every of them be entrusted to be Collectors, and to make their addresses to such persons as in their discretions they shall think fit to represent the ruinous condition of the said Church unto, and to receive the subscriptions, or what shall be freely given and bestowed towards the repair thereof, and from time to time to pay in and deliver what shall be by them so received, unto Dennis Wise of the City of Gloucester, Alderman, who is now also appointed to be Treasurer to receive the said money; which said Treasurer is hereby ordered to issue out the same from time to time, according to such Order or Orders in writing, as he shall receive from the Mayor of the said City for the time being, William Cook, Thomas Hodges, Christopher Gise, Richard Atkins of the County of the City of Gloucester, Esquires, Evan Seys, Thomas Pury the elder, Thomas Pury the younger, of the said City of Gloucester, Esquires, and Anthony Edwards, one of the Aldermen of the said City, or any three of them under their hands: Which said Mayor, William Cook, Thomas Hodges, Christopher Gise, Richard Atkins, Evan Seys, Thomas Pury the elder, Thomas Pury the younger, and Anthony Edwards, are desired and entrusted to be trusties and Overseers, to take care for the speedy repair of the said Church, according as money shall come in for the doing thereof. And the said Collectors are hereby also ordered from time to time to give an account of what they shall receive, and pay in to the said Treasurer, and the said Treasurer is also to give an account of his receipts and disbursements, all to be entered into a Register book, to be kept by the Mayor for the time being, to the end that it may appear what is given and brought in, as also laid out for the uses aforesaid.  
Aug: 22 1656 John Dorney, town-clark.