A true Copy of the Letters Patents granted by his Majesty to the French Ministers, &c. lately come hither for Shelter and Protection.  
JAMES the Second by the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting.  
Whereas it hath been represented unto us by the humble Petition of Benjamin de Daillon, John Lewis Malide, Samuel Mettayer, Simon Canole, Henry Gervais, Timothy Baignoux, Charles Peter Souchet, William Bardon, John Forent and Bartholomew Balaguier; being all of them French Ministers making Profession of the Protestant Religion, that they together with a great number of French Protestants of their Communion are fled for shelter into this our Realm of England,& are now in& about our City of London, and the Suburbs thereof, of the truth whereof we are fully satisfied. And it hath been also represented unto us, that the aforesaid Ministers cannot perform the Office of their Ministry to such comfort and edification of those of the French Protestants which now do reside, and daily come to reside in our said City of London, and the Suburbs thereof, as they much desire to do, in regard a number of People being French Protestants daily come out of their own Country; amongst whom are many that were under the immediate care and charge of the said Ministers where they lived and resided in France, and for that they are here destitute of, and want places for their Assemblies, in and for matters of Religious Worship, and matters thereto relating: And because these places now used for the Worship of God by those of the French Nation, professing the Protestant Religion, are not sufficient to contain those of their own Communion; And those French Protestants that lately have and daily do come over into this our Realm of England, and do resort to our said City of London, and the Suburbs thereof, Whereby many Families and their dependents are not able to find that Comfort and Edification which they came to seek for in this our Kingdom, and many others may be discouraged from putting themselves under our Royal Protection; And the aforesaid Ministers having humbly besought us that out of our Royal Grace towards Strangers, we would please to grant them leave to exercise their Ministry according to the manner as they did in France, conformable to the Confession of Faith of their Churches, and Liturgy, and Discipline used amongst them, to the end that they may teach their People the Fear of God, the Honour and Allegiance which is due to us, in a Christian and well ordered Conversation: Beseeching us likewise that for this end We would give them leave to build one or more Church or Churches, place or places of religious meeting or assembling, within our City of London, or Suburbs of the same, wherein they may perform the said Functions, and keep their Consistories for the maintaining of the Order amongst them; and that in the mean time, till they can build such Church or Churches, place or places for religious meeting or assembling, they may be permitted to hire such place or places as they can find convenient for the use aforesaid,& after decease or other failure of any of the aforesaid Ministers, they may have leave to fill up their number of ten Ministers, that themselves and their Successors may acknowledge our Royal Bounty, and continue to pray for the Prosperity of us and our Kingdoms. Which Humble Petition of the French Ministers We of our Royal Bounty have granted and do hereby grant. NOW Know Ye therefore, that for the more and greater ease, comfort and encouragement of the said French Ministers, and of those French Protestants that already have fled, or hereafter shall flee for shelter and protection to this Our Kingdom of England, and for the better enabling the said French Ministers and their Successors to perform and exercise their Ministerial Office and Functions to and amongst their People, according as above desired, We of our special Grace, certain knowledge, and mere Motion, have willed, ordained, constituted and granted, and by these Presents for us and our Heirs and Successors, do will ordain, constitute and grant, that the aforesaid French Ministers, that is to say, the said Benjamin de Daillon, John Lewis Malide, Samuel Mettayer, Simon Canole, Henry Gervais, Timothy Baignoux, Charles Peter Souchet, William Bardon, John Forent,& Bartholomew Balaguier,& their Successors Ministers of the said French Congregation of Protestants strangers, from time to time, for ever hereafter be,& shall be one Body politic& Corporate of themselves, in dead& name, by the name of the French Ministers of the French Congregation of Protestants strangers, in or about our City of London,& Suburbs thereof, of the Foundation of K. James the Second. And We do by these Presents incorporate them by the Name aforesaid, and really and fully create, erect, ordain, make& constitute them a Body Corporate and politic, and that they have a perpetual Succession, and shall& may exercise the functions of their Ministry according to their manner used in France, conformable to their Confession of Faith, Liturgy and Discipline by themselves heretofore in their Country used and exercised. And Further We of our special Grace, certain knowledge,& mere Motion, have given and granted, and by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant unto the said French Ministers Protestants Strangers, and their Successors, special Licence and free and lawful Power and Authority to have, purchase, and possess for them and their Successors for ever, and for any term of Years, Life or Lives, any Land or Ground whereon to build one or more Church or Churches, place or places of Worship, within this our City of London, or Suburbs thereof, wherein they may exercise their said Functions, and keep their Consistories, for the maintaining of Order, and the reforming of Abuses; and that in the mean time it shall and may be lawful for them to hire such place or places, as they shall judge convenient for the purposes aforesaid; the Statute of Mortmain, or any other Statute and Ordinance, or provision heretofore had, made, set forth, ordained or provided, or any other matter, cause, or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And further we have given and granted, and by these Presents for us, our Heirs and Successors, We do give and grant unto all and every the Subject or Subjects whatsoever of us, our Heirs and Successors, special Licence and free and lawful Power and Authority, that he, they, or any of them shall and may give, grant, sell or demise unto the said French Ministers Strangers, and their Successors for ever, or for any term of Years, Life or Lives, any Land or Ground, whereon to build one or more Church or Churches, place or places of Worship within our City of London, or Suburbs of the same. And We do hereby for us, our Heirs and Successors will& grant to the said French Ministers, Protestant Strangers and their Successors, that they the said French Ministers Protestants strangers and their Successors shall and may from time to time for ever hereafter, when and as often as any of the Ministers of the said Congregation shall happen to die, or to remove from London aforesaid, and the Suburbs thereof, or be removed from his or their Office or Offices, Function or Functions, for any just or reasonable cause, according to the Discipline heretofore used by the said French Ministers in France, nominate, elect, choose& establish. And We do hereby for us, our Heirs& Successors, give& grant unto the said French Ministers Protestants strangers and their Successors full Power, and Authority to nominate, elect, choose and establish some other person or persons in the room and rooms, place and places of such of the said Ministers, for the time being of the same Congregation, as shall happen to die, or remove, or be removed as aforesaid, to succeed them in the Office or Offices of Minister or Ministers of the said Congregation. Which person and persons so from time to time for ever hereafter to be chosen, shall and may enjoy all and singular the Powers, privileges and Immunities by these Presents granted or intended to be granted. And lastly, We require and command the Lord Mayor of our City of London, and the Aldermen, Sheriffs,& Iustices of Peace there, and the Iustices of Peace of our Counties of Middlesex& Surrey,& also all Archbishops, Bishops,& others our Officers& Ministers whatsoever, both Ecclesiastical& Civil, whom it may concern, that they do permit the aforesaid Ministers& their Successors quietly& peaceably to enjoy the effects of this our Royal Bounty, that so they may exercise their Ministry amongst their own People, according to their own Customs, Ceremonies and Discipline, without let or disturbance; Notwithstanding they are not conformable to the Customs, Ceremonies, Rites& Discipline of the Church of England, or any Act, Statute, Proclamation, Injunction, Restriction, Caution, Ordinance, Constitution, usage, or other matter, case, or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patents.  
Witness ourself at Westminster, the fourth day of September, in the fourth Year of our Reign. By Writ of Privy Seal, PIGOTT.  
Pro fine in Hanaperio 6 l. 13 s. 4 d.  
Cum magno Angliae Sigillo. JEFFRAYS C.  
Pardonatur,  
JEFFRAYS C.   

From the Act for Uniformity in the 14th Year of King Charles II.  
Provided that the Penalties in this Act shall not extend to the foreigners or Aliens of the foreign Reformed Churches, allowed, or to be allowed by the King's Majesty, his Heirs and Successors in England.