a 
a 
a 
~ 
: 
: 
in the Star Chamber Proceedings 
preserved at the Public Record Of- 
fice. (Discovered by Mr. James 
Greenstreet, and published by him 
in The Athenaeum, Aug. 10, 1889, 
203-4. Reprinted in F. G. Fleay, 
A Chronicle History of the London 
Stage, 1890, 127-32.) 
The Commission has never been 
printed. But more than a hundred 
years ago its existence was merely 
indicated in Daniel Lysons, Envi- 
rons of London (1796), I, 92. 
Both Privy Seal and Patent I 
have found in the Public Record 
Office. The former is enrolled in 
Privy Signet Index and is preserved 
in a bundle of parchments labeled 
“Privy Seals 1597 July.” A further 
enrolment is in State Papers, Do- 
mestic, Elizabeth, Docquets, 1597-8, 
made “quarto die Julij 1597,”—the 
day following the issue. 
My transcript of the Privy Seal, 
dated at the close 3 July, 1597, with 
head memorandum of Patent date, 
is as follows (most signs of con- 
traction and abbreviation, however, 
expanded into ftalics) :— 
Memorandum quod xv‘? die 
Julij Anno infra scripto istud 
breve deliberatum fuit domino 
Custodi magni Sigilli Angliae 
apud Westmonasterium exe- 
quendum. 
Elizabeth by the grace of god quene 
of England ffrance & Irland De- 
fendo’ of the faithe &c. To o* right 
trusty and welbeloved Councello’ sr 
Thomas Egerton knight keeper of 
our greate Seale of England for the 
tyme being greeting. We will and 
commaunde you that vnder our said 
great Seale ye cause o” lettres pat- 
ents to be made forth in forme fol- 
owing Elizabeth by the grace of 
god &c To all Maio™ shirifs bail- 
ifs Constables, & all other o* Offi- 
cers greeting. ffor that it is meete 
that o* Chappell Royall should be 
furnished with well singing Chil- 
ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACKFRIARS 61 
So far as we know, this Commission to Gyles is the earliest 
recorded document in the long history of the Children and their 
influences begun at Blackfriars. 
It is possibly the foundation 
dren from tyme to tyme: We haue 
and by these presents doo authorise 
o” welbeloved servant Nathaniell 
Giles m* of o* Children of our said 
Chappell, or his Deputie being by 
his bill subscribed and sealed, so 
authorised, and having this o7 pres- 
ent Comission w™ him, To take 
suche and so many children as he, 
or his sufficient Deputie shall thinke 
meete, in all cathedrall collegiat, 
parishe Churches Chappells or any 
other place or places aswell w'in 
libertie as without w'in this our 
Realme of England whatsoeuer they 
be, And also at all tymes neces- 
sary horses, boates, Barges, Cartes, 
Carres, and waggens for the con- 
veyance of the said Children from 
any place, w' all manner of neces- 
saryes apperteyning to the said Chil- 
dren by lande or water at suche 
reasonable prises, as by the discre- 
tion of him, or his said Deputie 
shalbe thought sufficient And also 
to take vpp sufficient lodging for 
him and the sayd Children, when 
they for our service shall remove 
to any place or places. Provided 
also, y* if our said servant, or his 
Deputie, or Deputies bearers hereof 
in his name cannot forthwt remove 
the Childe or Children when he by 
vertue of this our Commission hath 
taken him or them That then the 
said Childe or- Children shall re- 
mayne there yntill suche tyme as 
our said Servant Nathaniell Giles 
shall send for him or them. Wher- 
fore we will and commaunde you 
and eu"y of you to whom this our 
Commission shall come, to be help- 
ing ayding and assisting to the vt- 
termost of your powers, as you will 
answer at your vttermost perills. 
In witnes wherof &c Gevin vnder 
our Privy Seale at o* Manno’ of 
Grenewich the thirde day of July 
in the nyne and thirtieth yeere of 
our Reigne. 
Will Parker [engrosser] 
175 
