Whereas there is nothing more pleasing to God , and profitable to the Common-wealth of this Our Realme , then the training vp of youth in good and commendable Arts , Trades , Sciences , and Mysteries , whereby they may be , not onely kept from idlenesse and sloth , ( the parent of all enormities ) but also made apt and expert for the seruice of the Common-wealth , in the vse and practise of those Arts and misteries wherin they haue been educated and brought vp : To which end and purpose , diuers good and wholsome lawes haue beene made within this Our Realme of England ; as namely , in the fift yeare of the raigne of our late deare Sister of famous memorie Elizabeth , late Queene of England , Capite quarto , a certaine Act or Statute was made , entituled , An Act touching diuers Orders for Artificers , labourers , seruants of Husbandrie , and Apprentices ; Wherein it is ( amongst diuers other things ) enacted , that after the fift day of May then next comming , it should not be lawfull to any person or persons ( other then such as then did lawfully vse or exercise any Art , Mysterie , or Manuall occupation ) to set vp , occupie , vse , or exercise any Craft , Mysterie , or Occupation then vsed , or occupied within the Realme of England or Wales , except he should haue beene brought vp therein seauen yeeres at the least as an apprentice , in manner and forme as in the said Statute is expressed ; nor to set any person on work in such Mystery , Art , or Occupation , being not a workman at that day , except he should haue beene apprentice , as is aforesaid , or else hauing serued as an apprentice , as is aforesaid , should or would become a Iornyman , or hired by the yeare : Vpon paine that euery such person , willingly offending or doing the contrary should forfeit and lose for euery default , Fortie shillings for euery moneth ; As by the said Statute ( amongst diuers other things ) more at large appeareth . And whereas the said Statute is of great vse and importance in this Our Realme , as well for the trayning vp of youth in the knowledge and practise of sundry good and commendable Arts Trades , Misteries , and manuall Occupations , whereby they may liue and be maintained , as otherwise for the benefit of our said Realme . And whereas through the neglect of the due execution of the said Statute , diuers and sundry persons within this our said Realme haue taken vpon them to occupie , vse , & exercise sundry Arts , Mysteries Crafts , and manuall Occupations , wherein they haue not bin brought vp as apprentices by the space of seuen yeares , and haue also otherwise offended against the forme and intent of the said Statute : In which said Arts , Trades , and Mysteries , the said persons hauing now by the space of many yeares together imployed and bestowed themselues , their labours , stocks ▪ and industries , haue now attained a good and perfect knowledge and vnderstanding in the same , and are become setled in a constant Trade and condition of life , whereby they are enabled competently to maintaine themselues and families , which otherwise were like to perish , and fall into some idle and inordinate course of liuing , in case they should be now restrained of and from the vsing and exercising of the same , or should be punished according to the true intent & meaning of the said Statute , as many of them heretofore h●ue beene by informations and suits brought and prosecuted against them by common Informers and others , to whom they are still exposed , and lie open to be molested , sued ▪ and inquieted by the like Informations and sutes . Vnlesse we out of Our Royall and Princely compassion shall prouide some meanes to relieue them in th●s behalfe . Know yee therefore , that we tendring the publike good of our Realmes ( which especially is procured by the due execution of good and profitable lawes ) doe hereby for vs , our Heires and Successors straightly charge , require , and command all and euery our Iudges and Iustices of both our Benches , Barrons of the Exchequer , Iustices of the Peace , Maiors , Sheriffes , Bayliffes , and all and euery other Magistrates , and other Officers , for the time being , to whom it shall or may appertaine , That they and euery of them in their seuerall places respectiuely , doe take care , and from henceforth see to the due execution of the said Statute , as well touching the training vp of apprentices in commendable Arts and Misteries , ( whereby they may not be suffered to liue idly and inordinately , but being therein well instituted in their apprentiships may afterwardes become profitable members and seruiceable to the Common-wealth ) as in the restraining of others , ( not so trained and brought vp ) from the practise and exercise of any Art , Trade , or Mysterie , contrary to the said recited Statute , or any branch or clause therein contained : vnder the paines and penalties expressed in the same , which hereafter We will shal be duely leuied and executed vpon such as shal be found offenders therein . Neuerthelesse , We being graciously pleased to extend our Royall fauour towardes such of our Subiects , as hauing heretofore taken vppon them , and are now become setled and expert in the vse and practise of Trades , Artes , Mysteries , and manuall Occupations , whereunto they haue not beene brought vp as apprentices , as aforesaid , according to the forme of the said Statute , as well by pardoning their offences in that behalfe past , as also by licensing and dispensing with them for continuing the same Arts and Trades for the time to come , for and during their liues , And minding to free and acquit them for euer from those molestations , sutes and troubles which they haue been heretofore and might hereafter be put vnto by Informers , and others , by meanes of the premisses , in case they shall not imbrace our Princely grace in this behalfe . And willing that the rigor of the said Statute shall not be exacted or inflicted vpon such of our louing Subiects , as haue transgressed the said Statute , and lie open and exposed to the penalties thereof , as are yet willing and desirous to take hold of and imbrace this our grace and bountie so fauourably and benignely proffered them . Know yee ther●fore , that We of our especiall grace , certaine knowledge , and meere motion , haue ordained , authorized , named , & appoynted ▪ and by these presents for vs , our Heires , and Successors , doe ordaine , authorize , name , and appoint Our trustie and wel-beloued Sir Iames Spens Knight , Archibald Primrose Esquire , Henry Goldsmith Esquire , and Robert More Esquire , to be Our Commissioners for and during the terme of seuen yeeres from the date of these presents , And We doe giue vnto them the said Sir Iames Spens , Archibald Primrose , Henry Goldsmith , and Robert More , or to any two or more of them , ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) full power and authority by all lawfull waies or meanes , to inquire and informe themselues of all such person and persons being Tradesmen and Artificers , which before the date of these presents haue vsed , exercised , erected , or set vp any Art , Trade , Mystery , or manuall Occupation , wherunto they haue not been bound or serued as Apprentices , according to the forme of the said recited Statute , and thereupon to treat , contract , compound , and agree with all and euery such person and persons , as hath or haue before the date hereof vsed , erected or set vp , any Trade , Art , Mistery , or manuall Occupation , contrary to the forme and effect of the said recited Statute , for such reasonable rates , summes of money , fine and fines , yearely paiments , or annuities , as they shall thinke fit , for pardons , licenses , and dispensation● to be made and granted from vs , Our Heires , and Successors , vnder the great seale of England , in manner hereafter expressed , to all and euery such person or persons offenders against the said Statute , as shall desire the same , as well for pardoning his or their offences past , as for licensing and dispensing with him and them to vse and exercise such Arts , Trades , Mysteries , or manuall Occupations which he or they respectiuely now doe , or any time before the date hereof haue vsed , set vp , or exercised , for and during the time and space of his and their naturall life and liues , without sute , Information , trouble ▪ or molestation to be had or prosecuted against him or them , for or concerning the same by any Informers or others , or for or concerning any paine , penaltie , or forfeiture , mentioned or conteined in the said Statute , by reason of any offence committed , perpetrated , or done contrary to the forme and effect of the same , or any other Statute in that behalfe made to the contrary : And that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Sir Iames Spens , Archibald Primrose , Henry Goldsmith , and Robert More , or any two or more of them ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) to contract , compound , and agree with the sayd offenders , and euery of them , as wel● before Informations , as after Informations against them exhibited in any Court whatsoeuer , for so much thereof as shall concerne Our part , and that before or after plea , or by or without any leaue , licence , or warrant of the Court , where any such Informations shall be exhibited , any Law , Statute , Constitution , or Ordinance made to the contrary thereof notwithstanding . And furthermore , of Our especiall grace , certaine knowledge , and meere motion , We doe for vs , Our Heires and Successors , by these presents giue and grant full power and authoritie to Our Atturney Generall for the time being , to prepare and draw vp in due forme of law , so many bils or bookes of pardons , licences , and dispensations for and in the name of vs ▪ Our Heires , and Successors , during the time aforesaid , to be ingrossed and passed vnder Our Great Seale of England , as shal be desired by the said Sir Iames Spens , Archibald Primrose , Henry Goldsmith , and Robert More , or any two or more of them , ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) for all such person or persons , as they Our said Commissioners , or any two or more of them , ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) shall compound and agr●e with , for and concerning any the paines , penalties , offences , matters , causes , and premisses aforesaid . Prouided alwayes that in euery such seuerall pardon , licence , or dispensation to be prepared , and passed vnder Our great Seale as aforesaid , there shall not be conteined or inserted aboue the number of thirtie persons at the most . And Our further Will and pleasure is , And We doe hereby for vs , Our Heires , and Successors , grant , will , and ordaine that all and euery such pardon , licence , or dispensation , as shall be so made or granted as aforesaid , shal be good sufficient , and effectuall in law to all and euery such person or persons to whom the same shall be made and graunted , to authorise , enable , and warrant him and them to the free vse and exercise of all such Trades , Arts , Mysteries , and manuall Occupations which he or they at the date of these Our Letters Patents , or at any time before did vse or exercise , whereunto he or they neuer serued , or were bound as Apprentices , according to the forme of the said Statute , without being sued , molested , questioned , or any way troubled , or enquieted by vs , Our Heires , or Successors , or by any the Iudges , Iustices of either of Our Benches , Barons of Our Exchequer , or Our Atturney Generall for the time being , or by any other the Officers , Ministers , and Subiects of vs , Our Heires , or Successors , for , touching , or concerning the practising , vsing , & exercising of his or their said Arts , Trades , Mysteries , or manuall Occupations as aforesaid , contrary to the purport of the said recited Statute , or any other Statute in that behalfe made ; The said Statute of Quinto Elizabeth , or any clause there●n conteined to the contrary notwithstanding . In which said Letters Patents , or discharge , pardons , and licences of dispensations to be so drawne , or made to any person or persons compounded with as aforesaid , We will shall be conteined therein a clause of expresse charge and command in the name of vs , our Heires and Successors , to the Iudges and Iustices of both our Benches , Barons of Our Exchequer , Atturney Generall , Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Bayliffes , Aldermen , Sheriffes , Escheators , and all other Officers and Ministers to whom it may or shall appertaine , in their seuerall offices and places respectiuely , that they and euery of them respectiuely , in their seuerall offices and places vpon the sight or shewing forth of any such pardon , license , or dispensation , or the inrolement , constat , or exemplification thereof , or a true Coppie of the same signed with the hands of the said Sir Iames Spens , Archibald Primrose , Henry Goldsmith , and Robert More , or any two or more of them ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) testifying the same , shall forthwith disallow and discharge all Informations , sutes , billes , plaints , Iudgements , and actions whatsoeuer , which are or shall be mooued , stirred , commenced , sued , or prosecuted against all or any of the said persons so compounded with , pardoned , licensed , and dispensed with as aforesaid , for or touching any offence or offences , committed , perpetrated , or done contrary to the forme of the said Statute , or any branch or clause therein conteined . And to giue order that no further proscesse or proceedings shall be had or awarded against them or any of them in that behalfe : And these presents shal be to our said Iudges , Iustices , Barons of Our Exchequer , Atturney Generall , and all other Our said Officers , a sufficient warrant and discharge for the doing and performing of the premisses , according to the tenor and true meaning of these presents . And Our further Will and pleasure is , and We doe hereby require and charge , that from time to time , and at all times hereafter , Our Iudges and Iustices of either of Our Benches , Barons of Our Exchequer , & Our Atturney Generall , and all Iustices of Peace , as well within liberties as without , Maiors , Bayliffes , Aldermen , and chiefe Magistrates of Citties , Boroughes , and Townes Corporate , Sheriffes , Escheators , and all others , to whom it shall or may appertaine , That they and euery of them respectiuely in their seuerall offices and places , shall at all and euery time and times hereafter , accept , approue , and allow in all and euery Our Court and Courts of Record , and other place and places , as well of all and euery such Letters Patents of pardon , licenses , & dispensations , vnder the Great Seale of England , so to be made and granted as aforesaid , as of the inrolement , Constat , or exemplification thereof , or of a true Coppie of the same , vnder the hands of the said Sir Iames Spens , Archibald Primrose , Henry Goldsmith , and Robert More , or any two or more of them ( whereof the said Sir Iames Spens , or Archibald Primrose to be one ) testifying that the said person or persons haue compounded and receiued his Maiesties pardon , licence , or dispensation as aforesaid , as a good , full , and sufficient barre , release , dispensation , and discharge against vs , Our Heires , and Successors , without pleading the said pardon , license , or dispensation at large , of , for , or concerning any penalties , or forfeitures accrued , or hereafter to be accrued vnto vs Our Heires , or Successors , by or from any person or persons , named in the said Letters patents of Pardon , license , and dispensation for any of the offences and breaches of them or any of them respectiuely committed against the said Statute aboue recited , or any clause or article therein contained .