ELIZABETH by the grace of God Queene of England , Fraunce , and Ireland , defendour of the fayth . &c. To all and singular Archbyshops , Byshops , Deanes , Archdeacons , & other Officials persons Vicares , Curates , Ministers , and to all other spirituall persons whatsoeuer they be , and also to all & singular Iustices of peace , Maiors , Shireffes , Baylyffes , Constables , Hedboroughes , Churchwardens , Tythyngmen , and all other our Officers ministers & subiectes , to whom these presentes shal come , greetyng . Wheras we vpon humble sute made vnto vs by diuers of our Nobilitie , and many others of great credite , & specially at the most humble desire and zealous sute of the Maior & Citizens of our Citie of Bathe , haue giuen licence to new builde and erect one Church , vpon the foundations of the late Abbey Church of the late dissolued Monastery of Bathe , for the receauyng of such of the Nobilitie , and other our subiectes as resort or shall from tyme to tyme haue occasions to resorte to that Citie , there to haue conuenient place to heare Sermons , and other diuine seruice , which cannot conueniently be in any other Church within our sayd Citie , for the smalenes of the rowmes & buildinges of the same . And heretofore for lacke of conuenient rowmes in the now Churches within our sayd Citie , the Sermons haue ben made in the open market place there , beyng not mete nor conuenient for such purpose , which greater Church cannot be of new buylded and finished without greater summes of money thē the Citizens there be able to beare or sustayne . And albeit they shew them selues very zealous , and do employ great trauayles and charges therin , yet are they not hable to finish the same , therfore haue made their further humble sute vnto vs to licence them and theyr assignes & deputies to receaue the gratuities of our subiectes within this our Realme of England and Wales for the finishyng of the sayd Church .

Know you therfore that we acceptyng very well of this zealous entent & good meanyng of the sayd Maior & Citizens & tendryng their ayde and helpe to wardes the new buildyng of the sayd Church , & also towardes the enlargyng & betteryng of an Hospital within that Citie of Bathe called S. Ihones , there erected for the relefe and comfort of certaine sicke & diseased poore persons that resort thether , from diuers partes of this our Realme are pleased & contented , and by these presentes for vs our heyres and successours do giue licence & free libertie vnto the sayd Maior & Citizens of our sayd Citie of Bathe & their assigne or assignes , deputie or deputies bearers of this our licence & graunt or the duplicate , or true copy hereof duryng the space of vij . yeares , next commyng to aske gather receiue & take the gratuitie , gift , almes , and deuotion , of all and euery or any our louyng subiectes dwellers within this our Realme of England & Wales , aswell within the liberties as without for the buildyng & erecting of the sayd Church and Hospital .

Wherefore we will and commaunde you the sayd Parsons , Vicars , and Curates , & all other aforesayd that you and euery of you at such tyme and tymes , as the sayd Maior and Citizens or any of their assigne or assignes deputie or deputies , or any of them bearers or bearer hereof or the duplicate hereof , shall repayre vnto your Churches and other places to aske and gather the gratuities , giftes , almes , and deuotion of our louyng subiectes or any of them , that ye permit and suffer the sayd Maior and Citizens & theyr assigne or assignes deputy or deputies so to do , without your let or interruption and to declare the tenor and effect of these our letters patentes vnto our louyng subiectes exhortyng them to extend to so honorable a worke their gratuities and charitable giftes and almes , redoundyng greatly to the glory of almighty God , and the great renowne of this our Realme , and the ease and commoditie of our louyng subiectes .

And we further straitly charge and commaunde all and euery hygh Constable of the hundredes Hedboroughes and other Constables , Churchwardens , and Tythyngmen that vpon the open readyng of these our letters patentes or the duplicate or true copy therof in any Church or other open place or places what soeuer , to collect and gather all the giftes and deuotions of all our louyng subiectes , where soeuer the same shal be read or declared and what summe or summes , soeuer shal be so leuied and receaued to be deliuered to the vse of the sayd Maior and Citizens for the purpose aforesayd , and cause the same summes to be endorced vpon these presentes or the duplicate or true copie hereof , to the entent it may playnly appeare what hath bene collected towardes the erectyng of the sayd Church and Hospitall , within this our Realme of England and Wales .