Whereas in the Parliament holden at Westminster , in the .xxxiii. yeere of the raigne of our late deare Father of woorthy memory kyng Henry the eyght , one acte or statute was then and there made , for the mayntenance of Artillerie , and debarring of vnlawful games . By the whiche good statute , amongest many other thynges , it was prouided , that the Fathers , Gouernours , and Maisters of the youth of this our Realme , shoulde in diuers and sundry sortes trayne and bring vp theyr youth in shooting in the long bowe , and should haue for that purpose seueral bowes and arrowes , in number and quantitie accordying to theyr ages and yeeres , vpon suche payne and penaltie as is expressed in the sayde statute , as by the same statute more at large it doth and may appeare . And being geuen to vnderstand , that for lacke of due searche whether euery person and persons haue bowe and arrowes , accordyng to the tenour of the sayd acte , the commendable exercise & vse of shooting , and the rest of the good deuises and prouisions conteyned in the sayde statute , is therefore in the most partes of this our Realme vtterly forgotten , and not accomplished . And to thentent that shooting may be vsed and exercised within this our Realme as in tymes past , and vnlawful games suppressed and put out of vse , we haue thought it conuenient for good consyderations vs specially mouyng , to nominate , assigne , and appoynt you to be our Commissioners , geuyng vnto you and euery of you , and to al other officers aucthorised by the sayde statute , ful power and aucthoritie by vertue of these presentes , in our name , not only from tyme to tyme as often as neede shal require , to make due and lawful searche in euery place within our Countie of S. aswel within liberties as without , aswel for suche as vse vnlawful games , as also for suche as kepe houses or alleys for vnlawful games : but also whether euery person for hym selfe , his seruantes , and other youth in his or theyr seuerall houses , haue sufficient furniture and prouision of bowe and arrowes , and haue and do vse and occupie the same , accordyng to the true meanyng of the sayde statute .

And to thend the same may be the better vnderstanded and knowen , our pleasure and commaundement is , that al suche bowes and arrowes that euery person ought to haue by the order of the sayde statute , ye shal cause the parties to bryng to some conuenient place or places , within the parishe where such parties dwell , by the discretion of you our sayd Commissioners , or any of you , there to be viewed and seene by you our sayd Commissioners , or any of you . Vpon whiche searche , viewe , and examination , yf you or any of you our said Commissioners , or any other our officer abouesayde , shal finde any person or persons , eyther not furnished with bowe and arrowes , or not vsyng the same , as by the sayd statute is limitted and appoynted , or any person or persons vsing vnlawful games , or keeping houses or alleyes for vnlawful games , contrary to the meanyng of the sayde statute : that then our pleasure is , that you our sayde Commissioners , and euery of you , by gentle admonition shal do your good endeuour to cause a reformation to be had therein , that the exercise of shoting may be vsed and continued by as many of our good subiectes of euery estate , as can or may vse the same . And yf you can not by gentle admonition and order , cause the offendours to refourme them selues in the premisses : then our pleasure is also that you , or any two of you , shal cause the names and dwellyng places of suche offendours to be noted and certified vnto the Lorde Chauncelour , or Lorde keper of the great seale of Englande for the tyme beyng , to thintent we may cause suche order and direction to be taken and had therein , as by the lawes and statutes of this our Realme is prouided in that behalfe . Wherefore we wyl and commaunde al and singuler our officers , ministers , and subiectes of our sayde Countie , aswel within the liberties , as without , that they and euery of them be aydyng , helpyng , and assistyng you our said Commissioners , and euery of you , in the due execution of this our Commission , as they and euery of them tender our pleasure , and wyl answere for the contrary at theyr perils . In witnes whereof . &c.