WHEREAS a Commission under the Great Seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the Three and Twentieth day of August now last passed, hath been directed unto Me, and divers others in the said Commission nominated, Authorising the said Commissioners, or any Four or more of them, by such Ways and Means as therein is directed, to inquire within the City and Diocese of Canterbury in the County of Kent, as well within Liberties as without, for the due Execution of the Statute made in the Three and Fortieth year of the Reign of our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth, what Lands, Tenements, Rents, Annuities, Profits, Hereditaments, Goods, Chattels. Money, and Stocks of Money, have been heretofore given by any well-disposed Person or Persons for Relief of Aged, Impotent, and Poor People, Maintenance of Sick and Maimed Soldiers and Mariners, Schools of Learning, Free-Schools, and Scholars of Universities, Repair of Bridges, Ports, Havens, Causeways, Churches, Sea-Banks, and Highways, for Education and Preferment of Orphans, for or towards the Relief, Stock or Maintenance for Houses of Correction, Marriage of Poor Maids, Supportation, Aid and Help of young Tradesmen, Handycraftsmen, and Persons decayed, Release and Redemption of Captives, Aid or Ease of any Poor Inhabitants, concerning Payment of Fifteen, Setting out of Soldiers, and other Taxes, and of the Abuses, Breaches of Trust, Negligences, Misimployment, not Employing, Concealing, Defrauding, Misconverting and Misgoverning of the same Lands, Tenements, Stocks of Money, and other Things given to any of the Charitable Uses aforesaid, and to set down such Orders, Judgements and Decrees, as that the same Lands, Tenements, Money, and other things may be duly employed to and for such of the Charitable Uses aforesaid for which they were given, limited or appointed by the Donors and Founders thereof:  
These are therefore to Will and Require you, the next Lord's Day after the receipt of this Order, in your Parish-Church after the Nicene Creed, publicly to Read the same; to the end that all Persons may know it, and have the benefit thereof. And that all due Proceed may be had for Recovery and Settlement for the future of such Charitable Uses as have been misconverted and misemployed, I have appointed Tho. Bourchier Doctor of Laws, our Commissary of Canterbury, George Thorpe Doctor in Divinity, one of the Prebendaries of Canterbury, and William Man Esquire, or any one of them, to receive all such Complaints as shall be made. And that all Persons concerned may come fully prepared, they are to produce to the Persons abovesaid, or some one of them, all such Wills, Charters, Evidences, and other Writings, whereby the respective Charities were given, limited and appointed, who will then give them such further direction as shall be necessary for the due Prosecution of such Complaints.  
Given under my Hand this fourth day of September, in the Year of our Lord 1683. W. Cant.