TO all and singular aswell Nobles and Gentiles as others , to whome these presents shall come , William Flower Esquier alions Norroy principall Hearold & King of armes of the North East and West partes of this Realme of England , from the riuer of T●●●● n●●●●ward , sendeth greeting in our Lord God euerlasting . Whereas it hath pleased the Queenes most excellent mai●●●●… of her aboundant grace ●o cal me vnto the roome and place of Noroy ● armes , and in the execution thereof straightly to commaun●… and enioyne me to haue an especiall regarde ●nd vigilant care to the reformation of such disorders as may rise and grow , if the N●bilitie and Gentry shoulde not be preserued in their degrees and euery person be knowne in his estate without confusion or disorder , and for that purpose sufficiently to aucthorize me by her highnes gracious letters pattents vnder the great seale of England , dated the tenth daye of Iuly in the sixt yeare of her happy raigne , therein amongest other thinges prohibiting all Painters , Glasiers , Goldsmithes , Grauers , or any other Artificers whatsoeuer they be within my sayde prouince to take vpon them to painte , glayse , graue , deuise or set forth any maner of armes , creastes , cognisances or petidegrees , or any other deuises appertaining to the office of armes , otherwise then he or they shall be allowed by me the said Noroy king of armes , my Deputie or Deputies . And also inhibiting all other persons to intromit or meddle in any thing concerning the office of armes within my saide prouince , as well within liberties as otherwise without mine especiall licence and authority , in writing vnder the seale of mine office , as more at large it doth appeare in the said gracious letters pattents . Knowe ye that I the sayd Noroy kin● of armes by the authoritie aforesaid , haue aucthorized & licenced my welbeloued Peter Proby of the citie of Westchester , in whose honestie , fidelitie , and discression , I doe greatly trust to exercise and vse his arte of painting throughout my sayde prouince , aswell within liberties as without , aswell in painting and setting forth of Eskuchons of armes for funeralls , with other the furniture thereunto belonging , as banners , standerds , penons , hachements , helmes , crestes , and such like , as also I doe further constitute , ordaine , and appoy●●… him my lawfull Deputie , to 〈…〉 e and take vp for me the s●yd Noroy and to my use all such fees 〈…〉 and be due unto me throughout ●y sayd pro●●●ce , at the funeralls or deathes of any honorable or worshipfull personages . videlicet , of a Baron fiue poundes , of a Knight forty shillings , of an Esquier twenty shillings , of a gentleman thirteene shillings foure pence , and thereof to render vnto me a perfect and true accompt once in the yeare , or as often as he shall be by me thereunto required . In witnes whereof I the sayde Noroy king of armes haue hereunto subscribed my name . Dated from my sayd office at London the xxi . of Iune in the yeare of our Lorde God . 1578. and in the twenty yeare of the raigne of our most gracious soueraigne Lady Queene Elizabeth &c.

2 Furthermore with this my deede graunted to the forenamed Peter Proby . I giue my straight commaundement to all Painters , Glasiers , Goldsmithes , Grauers , or any other that doth or hereafter shall vse the arte of painting , that they nor any of them shall not from this present date exercise nor vse any painting in any wise , appertaining to the office of armes , especially for Escuchons of armes , or banners , standerds , penons , hachements , helmes , crestes , or any thing or thinges appertayning to funeralls of any personages , within my sayd prouince , as well within liberties as without , vppon paine for euery such offence after that this be openly published in my sayd prouince to euery such painter so offending or intermedling without my speciall licence , vnder the seale of my office , or at least being licenced and sett on worke at such funeralls by my sayd Deputie Peter Proby , or his lawfull assigner , or els to forfeate and be indamaged to me the sayd N●●oy , principall Herold and King of armes for euery such offence committed , fiue markes lawfull mony of Engl●●d to me and my vse .

3 Further , if hereafter any other Nobles , Gentells , or others shall ha●● 〈…〉 esion 〈…〉 funeralls 〈…〉 persons 〈…〉 any such armes herein specified wrought and set forth at the solemnizing of any such funeralls . Be it knowen vnto all such Nobles or Gentells , or others within my sayde prouince , that the sayd Peter Proby my lawfull Deputie , is and will be resident and abiding in her Maiesties citie of Carlell now called Westchester , within my sayde prouince or his certaine Atorney for him to supply his want , who will be ready to worke , set forth and solemnize any such funeralls of any such persons .