Their Majesty's COMMISSION FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE Cathedral Church OF S. PAUL In LONDON.  
W R  
HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE   royal English blazon or coat of arms 
LONDON: Printed by Benj. Motte. MDCXCII.   

Their Majesty's COMMISSION.  
WILLIAM and MARY by the Grace of God King and Queen of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defenders of the Faith, etc. To our Trusty and well beloved Sir Thomas Stamp Knt. Lord Mayor of our City of London, and the Lord Mayor of our said City of London, for the time being;  
The most Reverend Father in God, John Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of all England, and Metropolitan, and the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury for the time being;  
The most Reverend Father in God John Lord Archbishop of York, Primate and Metropolitan of England, and the Lord Archbishop of York, for the time being;  
The Right Reverend Fathers in God, Henry Lord Bishop of London, Thomas Lord Bishop of Rochester, Edward Lord Bishop of Worcester, Simon Lord Bishop of Ely, Thomas Lord Bishop of Lincoln, and the Bishops of London, Rochester, Worcester, Ely, and Lincoln, for the time being;  
Our Trusty and well beloved Sir John Somers Knight, Our Attorney General, and Thomas Trevor Esq Our Solicitor General, and Our Attorney General and Solicitor General, for the time being;  
Sir Thomas Meres Knight;  
George Oxenden Doctor of Laws, Principal Official of the Arches Court of Canterbury, and Vicar General to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Court, and the Principal Official of the Arches Court of Canterbury and Vicar General to the Archbishop of Canterbury's Court, for the time being;  
Sir Charles Hedges Knight, Doctor of Laws, and Judge of Our High Court of Admiralty of England, and the Judge of Our High Court of Admiralty of England, for the time being;  
Sir Richard Reins Knight, Doctor of Laws, Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury and the Judge of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury for the time being;  
Sir Thomas Pinfold, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Our Advocate General, and Our Advocate General for the time being;  
Henry Newton, Doctor of Laws and Chancellor of the Diocese of London, and the Chancellor of the Diocese of London for the time being;  
Sir William Ashurst, Sir Richard Levett, Knights, Sheriffs of our City of London, and the Sheriffs of our said City for the time being;  
William Sherlock, Doctor in Divinity, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, London, William Holder, Doctor in Divinity, Henry Godolphin, Doctor in Divinity, William Stanley, Doctor in Divinity; Residentiaries of the said Cathedral Church, and the Dean and Residentiaries of the said Cathedral Church for the time being;  
Sir Christopher Wren, Knt. Surveyor General of our Works, and the Surveyor General of our Works for the time being;  
Sir William Trumball, Sir Thomas St. George, and Sir Henry St. George, Knts. Greeting.  
Whereas our late Royal Uncle King Charles II. of blessed Memory, was Graciously pleased out of his Pious and good Intentions towards the Rebuilding of the Cathedral Church of S. Paul, in London, to Constitute and Appoint several Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and other Persons of known Worth and Integrity, Commissioners in the Commission under the Great Seal of England, bearing Date the Twelfth Day of November, Anno Domini, One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy and Three: The like Commission was also Granted by the late King James the Second, under the Great Seal of England, bearing Date the Two and Twentieth Day of January, in the First Year of his Reign: since which time a considerable Progress hath been made in the said Building.  
Now to the Intent so good and great a Work may be Effectually carried on, We are Graciously pleased to renew the said Commission, and have Nominated, Constituted, and Appointed, and by these Presents do Nominate, Constitute, and Appoint You, to be Our Commissioners for Carrying on, Finishing, and Adorning of the said Cathedral Church of S. Paul, London.  
And We do by these Presents give full Power and Authority to you, our said Commissioners or any six or more of you, whereof the Lord Bishop of London, or the Dean of St. Paul's for the time being to be one, to demolish and take down what is yet remaining of the old Fabric, and carry on the new Work, or such part or portion of it, and in such Order and Method, and by such Ways and Means, and according to such Rules and Directions as to you shall seem best; and to call to your Aid and Assistance, such skilful Artists, Officers and Workmen as ye shall think fit, and to appoint each of them his several Charge and Employment; to minister to such Artists and Officers, and to all and every other person and persons to be employed in the said Service, to whom you shall think meet, such Oath or Oaths for the due performance of their several Duties, Employments, Offices, Charges and Trusts to them or any of them to be committed, as shall by you be thought reasonable and convenient; and out of such Money as shall be received for this Work, to allow to them, and every of them, such Salaries, Wages, and Rewards respectively as to you shall seem fitting and proportionable to their Employment, and the Service they shall do; and to Consider, Advise, and Agree of, and set down particular Orders and Instructions, as well for the safe, and well keeping, both of the Money from time to time, brought into the Treasury, and of the Materials and Provisions to be from time to time brought into the Stores; and also for the faithful and frugal issuing out and disposing of the same, for the Public Use intended, and no other; and to direct and appoint by whom, and in what manner the Books and Accounts of both shall be from time to time kept, controlled, audited, and transcribed, and certified; and to put such a Cheque upon the Receipt and issuing out of both, as you shall judge necessary; And out of yourselves, and such other Persons of known Ability and Integrity, as you shall choose from time to time, and as oft as you shall judge it Expedient, to appoint, constitute, and make, such and so many Sub-Committees as you shall think meet, for the better managing and carrying on of this whole Work; and to invest them with such powers pursuant to the Authorities hereby given, as shall be requisite; and to revoke, annul, and determine the same; and to revive, and make new the said Sub-Committees, or any others, when, and as often as you shall find it needful and conducing to the Service; and Advise, Treat, and Consider of all other things, ways, and means for the better Advancement and Furtherance of this Great and Excellent Work, and to the finishing and perfecting the same, and to put the said ways and means in due and speedy Execution; and finally to Consult of, and Frame meet Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions, for the better preservation and maintenance of the said Cathedral Church in time to come, and for preventing and suppressing of all present and future Annoyances and Purprestures, and Encroachments, which do, shall, or may any way tend to the Damage or Hurt, Blemishing or Disgrace of the same; And the said Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions being reduced into Writing, to present to Us; to the end the same being by Us perused and considered of, may receive Our Royal Approbation and Allowance, with such further Orders from Us for the strengthening the same by Our Royal Signature, or under Our Great Seal of England, or otherwise as We shall find meet, that so they may be put in due Execution accordingly.  
Now, forasmuch as it appears to us, that a Considerable Sum hath already been expended upon the said Work, and that the same is very well advanced; lest after so great an Expense, there should be any obstruction in so good a a Work, We do further hereby give and grant unto you the said Henry Lord Bishop of London, and to the Bishop of that See for the time being, and to you the present Dean and others Residentiaries of Our said Cathedral Church, and to your Successors, the Dean and others Residentiaries thereof for the time being, full Power and Authority to Receive and Take the free and voluntary Contributions of all Persons whatsoever as shall willingly Contribute to the said Work, and to Constitute and Appoint such other Person or Persons, as you or any Three or more of you (whereof the Lord Bishop of London, or the Dean of S. Paul's to be one) shall think most ready, to assist in Gathering and Receiving the said Contributions; and also to provide and keep Books or Registers, such as have been formerly kept upon the like occasion, to take the said Subscriptions.  
All which Moneys already so subscribed or given, raised, collected, or received, or which shall hereafter be given, collected or received, as also such Money as shall become due and payable by virtue of a late Act of Parliament, by an Imposition upon Coals, and shall be issued out by Warrant under the Hands and Seals of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, and the Lord Mayor of London for the time being, or any two of them, for the use of the said Cathedral Church according to the said Act, shall be paid to such Person or Persons as by any six or more of you Our said Commissioners (whereof the Lord Bishop of London, or the Dean of S. Paul's for the time being, to be one) shall be from time to time chosen and appointed to Receive the same, and to give Acquittances and Discharges for it to such Person or Persons as shall pay it as aforesaid.  
And for the further easing and defraying of so vast an Expense as this Work shall require, and in order to the better Recovery, and Preservation of whatsoever hath or shall be given, or intended to be given, purchased or provided for that purpose, being very desirous that a true and perfect discovery may be made, as well of all such Legacies, Bequests, Gifts both of Lands and Sums of Money, or other Profits, as have been at any time heretofore, or hereafter shall be given, subscribed, or intended for the Rebuilding, Maintaining, Repairing or Adorning of the said Church; as also of all Materials, Instruments or Utensils at any time purchased or prepared for that Work, but Fraudulently and Sacrilegiously concealed, detained, or converted to private use and advantage: We do by these Presents, give and grant unto you, or any six or more of you (whereof the Lord Bishop of London, or the Dean of S. Paul's for the time being to be one) full Power and Authority, as well by the Oath of Honest and Lawful Men, as by the Examination of Witnesses upon their Oaths (which said Oaths both to Jurors and Witnesses, you or any six or more of you, as aforesaid, are hereby Authorised to administer) or without Oath, and by all other Ways and Means whatsoever, from time to time to inquire and examine as well of and concerning all and every Sum and Sums of Money, or other Gifts whatsoever, which heretofore have, or hereafter shall be given, bequeathed, subscribed, advanced, raised, collected or received for or towards the Reparation or Rebuilding of the said Cathedral Church, or for Beautifying or Adorning thereof, or for providing of any Instruments, Utensils or Ornaments for the same, and touching the Payment and Employment thereof, and what remains yet unpaid or unaccounted for, and in whose Hands; as also of and concerning all and every the Materials and Utensils at any time provided for the Repairing or Rebuilding of the said Church, or any belonging to the same, or of the particular value thereof, and how, and by whom the same, or any part thereof, hath been taken away, disposed, conveyed and employed otherwise than to the use intended; and to send for, and Convene, and Cause to come before you all such Farmers, Tenants, trusties, Treasurers, Receivers, Accountants, Clerks, and other Officers and Ministers, Parties and Witnesses whatsoever, which are any way concerned, or can give Testimony touching the Premises, and which you shall think necessary to call before you, and to Examine them severally upon their Oaths, and to Cause all and every Person and Persons whom you shall think good from time to time, to bring and show before you, either upon Oath or without Oath, all and singular such Books and Records, Registers, Surveys, Accounts, Evidences, and other Notes and Writings any way relating to the Premises, and remaining in their Hands as you shall think fit to be produced, whereby the truth of the Premises may the better and more plainly be found out and discovered, and to let you have use and perusal of the same.  
And for your ease and better Expedition in the Execution of this part of Our Commission, Our Will and Pleasure is; And we do hereby Charge and Command, that all such Surveyors, Actuaries, Registers, Officers and Ministers whatsoever, which you or any six or more of you, as aforesaid, shall think fit and require, shall be ready and attendant upon you or any six or more of you, for the doing and performing any thing necessary and expedient to be done in the Execution of this Our Commission.  
And we do hereby Require and Command all Sheriffs, Justices of the Peace, Constables, Bailiffs, and all other Our Officers, Ministers, and Loving Subjects whatsoever, upon any Warrant or Precept to be issued from you, Our said Commissioners, or any six or more of of you, as aforesaid, to Return Jurors, serve Orders and Summons, and be aiding and assisting in all things tending to the effectual Execution of the said Commission: And we do hereby Authorize you, or any six or more of you as aforesaid, to demand and call for, and Order to be paid into the Hands of the Receiver or Receivers so appointed, as aforesaid, all such Sum and Sums of Money as by the Means and Methods, and in any of the Cases aforesaid, now are, or hereafter shall be found to be remaining in the Hands of, or due and payable by, or Chargeable upon any Person or Persons whatsoever, with Damages for the same; or such Compositions either of Principal or Damages as you shall think fit to be made therein; and in default of payment, to inform Us and our Council of such Person or Persons so found to be Indebted, which shall in Contempt of this Our Commission, refuse to pay the said Debts. And out of such Money as shall be discovered, recovered, and received, to allow fitting and proportionable Salaries, Gratuities and Rewards to such Clerks, Messengers, and others who shall any ways advance the said Service, or be employed in discovery or getting in the said Moneys.  
And lastly, Our Pleasure is, That this Commission shall continue in force; And, We do hereby Authorize you Our said Commissioners, or any six or more of you (whereof the Lord Bishop of London, or the Dean of S. Paul's for the time being, to be one) to proceed in the Execution thereof, and of all and every the Matters and Things therein contained from time to time, as often as you or any six or more of you (whereof the said Bishop, or the said Dean for the time being, to be always one) shall think convenient, although the said Commission be not continued from time to time by Adjournment. And for doing of all this, and for using and exercising all and every the Powers above herein granted, or mentioned to be granted, in such manner as is above directed, these Presents shall be unto you, and unto every of you, and to all other Persons Employed therein, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge. In Witness whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents.  
Witness Ourselves at Westminster, the Third day of June, in the Fourth year of Our Reign. PER BREVE DE PRIVATO SIGILLO. Chute.  
God save the King and Queen.