S Ae Shs 
5 
_ three are almost identical. 
ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACKFRIARS 65 
\ 
Very soon after the death of Richard Bower, Elizabeth empow- 
_ ered his successor, Richard Edwards, with a commission for tak- 
ing up children under date of 4 Dec., 1561. This document served 
as a model for the later commissions to Hunnis and Gyles. 
As the commission to Edwards throws 
All 
much light upon the present history by its identity in purport and 
near likeness in wording, and has never before been published, it 
is here subjoined.* 
patent specifies that these condi- 
tions and the powers granted are 
all as formerly enjoyed by the same 
Bower under Henry VIII, Edward 
VI, and Mary.—Public Record Of- 
fice, Patent Rolls, 1 Elizabeth, Part 
9, membrane 5. 
See also supra, 63%. 
*IT have found both the Privy 
Seal and the Patent of this com- 
mission in the Public Record Office, 
and publish, as usual in such cases, 
from my transcript of the Privy 
Seal as of prior authority over the 
engrossed Patent. The Privy Seal 
bears date 4 Dec., 1561, and the 
' execution 10 Jan. next succeeding. 
Memorandum quod x°® die Jan- 
uarii Anno infra scripto istud 
breve deliberatum fuit domino 
Custodi magni Sigilli apud 
Westmonasterium exequendum 
Elizabeth by the grace of god 
Quene of England fraunce & Ire- 
land defend*™ of the faythe &c. To 
o* right welbeloued & faythfull 
Counsaylo™ S* nicholas Bacon 
knight keper of o* great Seale of 
Englande, commaundinge yo" that 
vnder o* great Seale aforsayd ye 
_ cause to be made o* lettres patent** 
in forme followinge. To all Mayo™ 
sherifs baylief** constables & all 
other o” officers gretinge. For that 
it is mete that o* chappell Royall 
should be furnysshed w‘™ well sing- 
ing children from tyme to tyme we 
have & by these present®* do au- 
thorise 0° welbeloued servaunt Rich- 
ard Edward®* m* of o” children of 
o* sayd chappell or his deputie be- 
inge by his bill subscribed & sealed 
so authorised, & havinge this o* 
presente comyssion w‘" hym to take 
as manye well singinge Children as 
he or his sufficient deputie shall 
thinke mete in all Chathedrall & 
Collegiate Churches aswell w'*in 
libertie as w‘out win this o* 
Realme of England whatsoever 
they be And also at tymes neces- 
sarie, horses, boat®*, barg®*, Cart®* 
& carres, as he for the conveyaunce 
of the sayd Children from any place 
to o* sayd chappell Royall. w* all 
maner of necessaries apperteynyng 
to the sayd Children aswell by lande 
as water at o* prices ordynarye to 
be redely payed when they for o* 
service shall remove to any place 
or plac** provided also that if o* 
sayd Servaunt or his deputie or 
deputies bearers hereof in his name 
cannot forthwt" Remove the chyld 
or children when he by vertue of 
this o™ Commyssyon hathe taken 
hym or them that then the sayd 
child or children shall remayne 
there vntill suche tyme as o* sayd 
S*vaunt Rychard Edward** shall 
send for him or them Wherfore 
we will & commaunde yo" & everie 
of you to whom this o* Comyssion 
shall come to be helpinge aydinge 
& assistinge to the vttermost of 
yo" powers as ye will answer at 
yo"vttermoste peryll**. In Wytnes 
wherof &c. Geven vnder o' privie 
Seale at o” Mano” of St James the 
fourthe daye of Decembre in the 
fourthe yere of o* Raigne. 
R. Jones [engrosser of 
Patent. Name written in same ink as the 
memorandum at top], 
The Patent is found in the Pub- 
lic Record Office, Patent Rolls, 4 
Eliz., Part 6, Membrane 14, dorso. 
179 
