blazon or coat of arms incorporating the Commonwealth Flag (1649-1651) The Keepers of the Liberties of England by Authority of Parliament, To all Parsons, Ministers, Lecturers, vicars, and Curates; As also to all Justices of the Peace, Mayors, burghers, sheriffs, bailiffs, Constables, Overseers of the Poor, and Headboroughs. And to all other Officers, Ministers, and People whatsoever, as well within Liberties as without, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.  
WHEREAS at the Gaol-Delivery for the City of London held in the Old-bailey on Wednesday the nineteenth day of February in the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred and fifty, before the Right Honourable Thomas Andrews Lord Mayor of the said City of London, and the rest of the Bench then and there sitting. It appeared unto the said Court (by a Certificate from the Deputy, common-council men, churchwardens, and divers others Inhabitants of the Parish of sepulchers without Newgate London, well known, and worthy of good credit) That on Monday the two and twentieth day of July, in the said year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred and fifty, about seven of the clock in the Evening of that day, there happened a most fierce and lamentable Fire near holborn-conduit in the Parish aforesaid, which within four hours, consumed, and burnt down to the ground five and twenty dwelling Houses; The loss whereof, amounts to the sum of Two Thousand and five Hundred pounds, as appeared upon a full and particular view and examination of many able and experienced Workmen. By the means of which sad Accident Threescore Families are utterly impoverished, and most of them in extreme Necessity and Misery, and like to perish for want, unless God in mercy move the hearts of well-disposed people in compassion towards them; Besides divers other Houses there adjacent, which were partly burnt and spoiled to a very great damage and loss, and which are not herein valued, in regard the Owners thereof are able to bear the same: And the same things were likewise at the said Court testified by divers other persons of good worth and quality then, and there present. For the furtherance of which pious and charitable work: The Parliament having been acquainted with the particulars of the said sad and lamentable Accident, did thereupon the Fifteenth day of August last, Order, That the said distressed Inhabitants shall be Authorised by Letters patents, under the Great seal of England to make a general Collection with the Cities and Counties hereafter mentioned. Know ye therefore, That we being willing that such relief might be afforded to them herein, as to others in like cases hath been heretofore granted, and not doubting, but that all good Christians within the said places (having a fellow feeling of their miseries, will be ready to extend their liberal Contributions towards the relief, help, and Comfort of their distressed Brethren in this their great Necessity) Have, Given and Granted; And by these Letters patents, do Give and Grant unto the said distressed Inhabitants, and to their Deputy and Deputies, the Bearer and Bearers hereof, full Power, Licence, and Authority to ask, gather, receive and take the Alms and charitable Benevolence of all good and well-disposed people Inhabiting within the Cities of London and Westminster, with the Suburbs and Liberties thereof: And in the Counties of Middlex, Surrey, and Kent, the burrow of Southwark, the City of Canterbury, and County of the same City, the City of Rochester, with the Cinque-Ports, and all other the Cities, Towns Corporate, privileged places, Parishes, Villages, and all other places whatsoever, within the said Cities, and Counties, and not elsewhere, towards the recovery of their said losses; And for the relief, Support, and Maintenance of the said distressed Families. Wherefore, We Will and Command you, and every of you, That at such time, and times as the said Inhabitants, or their said Deputy, or Deputies, the Bearer, or Bearers hereof; shall come and repair to any of your Churches, chapels, or any other places, to ask, and receive the gratuities, and charitable Benevolence of good, and well-disposed people, quietly to permit, and suffer them so to do, without any manner your Lets, or Contradictions. And you the said Parsons, Ministers, Lecturers, Vicars, and curates, for the better stirring up of charitable Devotions, deliberately to publish and declare the Tenor of these Letters patents, or the Copy, or brief hereof unto the people upon some Sabbath day after the same shall be tendered or delivered unto you, exhorting, and persuading them to extend their liberal Contributions in so good and charitable a deed. And you the Overseers of the poor of every Parish where such Collection is to be made as aforesaid, to collect, and gather the alms and charitable Benevolence as well of strangers as fellow-parishioners. And what shall be by you so gathered, to be by the Ministers, and yourselves endorsed on the backside of these Letters patents, or the Copy or brief hereof in words at length, and not in figures. And the sum and sums of Money so gathered, and endorsed, to deliver to the Bearer or Bearers of these Letters patents, and to no other person or persons, whensoever you shall be by them thereunto required. And in case it so fall out that any Parish being destitute of a Minister shall be without public Assemblies. Then the Overseers of the poor of the said Parish are hereby required to go from house to house to gather and receive the charity of the Inhabitants. And lastly, Our Will and Pleasure is, for the more assurance of faithful, and equal dealing in the receipt, Account, and Distribution of the Moneys hereby to be collected, by virtue of these Presents. That no man shall receive any of the Moneys so collected, but such as shall be appointed thereunto by Deputation under the hands and seals of Humphrey Primate, Thomas Poultney, Josias Ward, and Thomas Bradbury, Citizens, or any two of them, and that the moneys collected and raised by virtue thereof, shall be distributed amongst such only of those damnified by the said Fire, as are in this case fit to be relieved by public charity. And by such proportions to each of them as shall be thought fit, and set down in writing under the hands of the said persons last above named, or any two of them as aforesaid, at such times and places as shall be by them, or any two of them from time to time appointed for that purpose; Any Statute, Law, Ordinance, or Provision heretofore made to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made patents for the space of Six months' next after the date hereof to endure, and no longer.  
witness ourselves at Westminster the Seventh day of September, In the year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred fifty and three. Daw.